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Minutes 03-11-09 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2009, AT 7:00 P.M. IN CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Brian Miller, Chair Victor Norfus, Vice Chair (arrived 7:06 p.m.) Belky Cruz Blanche Hearst-Girtman Joyce Mura Stanley Sorgman Phyllis Stern Judy Immer Floyd Zonenstein, Alt. Thelma Lyons, Board Liaison ABSENT: Paula Melley Lloyd McKoy, Alt I. Call Meeting to Order - Pledge of Allegiance Chair Miller called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Zonenstein led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll. A quorum was present. III. Recognition of Visitors Chair Miller welcomed Mr. Dan DeCarlo and his daughter, Katie DeCarlo to the meeting. IV. Approval of Agenda The following were added to the agenda: . Correspondence from Sister Lorraine, Woman's Circle . Correspondence from the Boynton Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) . Discussion of the Heritage Yard Sale 1 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 11, 2009 . Report on the Village Royale on the Green COP program Motion Mr. Zonenstein moved to approve the agenda with the additions. Ms. Hearst-Girtman seconded the motion that unanimously passed. V. Approval of Minutes from January 14, 2009 Meeting (Previously mailed by City Clerk) Motion Ms. Hearst Girtman moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Stern seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Chair Miller requested members contact him if they have not had their Board photos taken. VI. Announcements: - Great American Cleanup - Volunteers needed! When: April 18, 2009 Time: 8:a.m. - 12noon Where: Citywide Chair Miller advised the Community Relations Board had their first Roadshow at the Heritage Festival. The Board manned a table and promoted the High School and Great American Clean-up. Nineteen volunteers were recruited, including Commissioners Ross and Hay. The volunteers could participate in the Clean-up and plant shrubs. Over a year ago, the Board spent time planting by the Poinciana Heights sign. A trash receptacle was placed in the area, but the area has not been maintained. A suggestion to contact the President of the Association to enlist volunteers to maintain it was made. The public has to turn the corner on their way to the Sims Center and its condition was bad. The members were asked to forward information regarding who would participate to Ms. Lyons, who was coordinating the event. Ms. Cruz advised the residents from Leisureville were interested in participating, as would residents from Four Seas Sons Condominium. VII. Reports/Updates: PRIDE IN BOYNTON UPDATE- 2 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 11, 2009 A) The Heart of Boynton Heritage Celebration held February 21,2009 Vice Chair Norfus reported the Community Relations Board had a nice showing at the event. He put together a booklet containing information about Martin Luther King Boulevard, Wells Avenue, and some of the local businesses there. The members and Commissioners who participated and donated received a booklet. He also advised other fundraising activities would be held and they planned to hold an event at the Green Market. Mr. Zonenstein reported it was a successful event. The food and the weather were good and about 1,000 people attended the festival on and off. Entertainment was non- stop. Goals for next year were to double the attendance and have greater participation from the community ethnic groups. C. Book Program (Boynton Beach Community High School) - Phyllis Stern (Heard out of Order) Ms. Stern thanked the Community Relations Board for their efforts and advised she received an acknowledgement from the school for their assistance in obtaining books. Discussion of Heritage Fest Yard Sale Ms. Stern inquired about the Yard Sale for the Heritage Festival as she was able to secure a truckload of merchandise. She inquired if the merchandise sold, and if the event went well. Vice Chair Norfus responded many of the items were sold and about $350 was raised. Additionally, he raised another $250 selling his famous ribs. Unused items were donated to Goodwill. Ms. Stern indicated items could be donated again in the future. B) American Assembly CRB Subcommittee "Roadshow" - Judy Immer Ms. Immer explained the intention of the Roadshow was to identify and overcome geographic, economic, age, ethnic or racial diversity within the City. Other than the demographics and involvement in her community, she was not aware of any diversity issues. She was aware many residents attend City events, and of working residents that did not want to mingle or go out when they came home from work. She inquired if she could obtain factual information from the City or the subcommittee that outlined the issues and indicated there was diversity. Demographics were needed to determine what the issues were and to survey targeted areas, as different segments of the population have different needs. 3 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 11, 2009 A suggestion was made to provide topics of interest and speakers at the meetings, such as authors, politicians, and medical professionals that would draw the community to the Board, instead of the Board going to a segment of the community. The subcommittee could use surveys to identify the interests of the communities. Using Face Book, or utility bills to get the word out to the public was also mentioned. As President of her Homeowners Association, Ms. Immer advised she had not received any notification at her home regarding the Heritage Fest, but did receive information about the Great American Clean-up. She suggested using flyers or notices of what was occurring in the community to get the word out. Ms. Immer questioned if the Board's Mission Statement needed to be revised to better to identify their role. She inquired if it was appropriate to bring speakers to the meeting to discuss issues and noted many other organizations already do. She conducted a random survey in her community about the City and the responses indicated the residents were fine, they were busy and they were not interested in projects other than their daily lives. If the Board wanted to move forward with the Roadshow, they would have to conduct a survey and the Board would have to meet to discuss the issues that were identified. The subcommittee from the American Assembly had resources available on how to gather information and enlist participation. The Committee would need to obtain approval and assistance from the City. Ms. Immer felt that task was very large, and would address a problem that she was unsure existed. Chair Miller and Ms. Stern agreed. Ms. Stern advised the Board had tried to achieve that in the past. They suggested programs for the Boynton Beach Community Relations Board - operating on the premise that the Board was established to listen to the members of the community and pass on to the Commission the suggestions that Board deemed appropriate. If that was the case, the community should be invited to the meetings. The Board could be a clearinghouse and pass the information on to the proper sources. There could be issues with youth, senior activities, and veteran affairs. They could promote other Board's programs and the members could attend different City sponsored activities and report their thoughts to the Board. Subcommittees could act as liaisons with other Boards, attend their meetings and have representatives attend meetings of the Commission. Chair Miller noted the Board has had several programs over the years and it was difficult to get the residents to the meetings. It was easier to go to the people. From his perspective, the Board was a catalyst to promote programs such as the Great American Clean-up into a beautification effort and to motivate the neighborhood residents to improve the value of their homes. 4 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 11, 2009 It was suggested when the Board participated in other events, they incorporate a theme they are trying to implement. An example was gang violence. When they are at an event, they would have an officer to set up something in the community relations area. A suggestion, now that the Heart of Boynton development plan was not moving forward, was to assist the area in its growth. The theme, as a current issue, could be used to disseminate information to the public, and conversely bring back information. An update on the Community Redevelopment Agency's plans for the Heart of Boynton was given. The Master Developer agreement was not moved forward. There was the possibility the Community Redevelopment Agency could handle the project itself and the Board could encourage the Community Redevelopment Agency go get a project gomg. There was discussion the members were already participating in Roadshows without knowing it. . Ms. Stern represents the community with the library, the tennis carnival and the golf outings. . Ms. Mura and other members were CERT members and they represent the Board; . Ms. Cruz speaks on Crime Prevention, she mentions she is on the Community Relations Board. . The Chair was involved in the high school, . Vice Chair Norfus does the Heritage Fest. Each member has been holding a Roadshow. When the activities the members participate in as Board members is reviewed, it was substantial. Ms. Stern thought the level of participation could be elevated and the Community Relations Board could be more active in more activities that enrich the City. She referred to a Chinese Center five years ago, and the marina, but noted taking the involvement to the next level would require information. It was suggested the members document their community involvement and the Roadshow could focus on what the members were already doing. VIII. Old Business: None. IX. New Business: Chair Miller read correspondence from Sister Lorraine. The Fire Department had left debris at the corner of 4th Avenue and Seacrest, as a building had been used for fire training. She asked the Fire Chief if they would be holding training at other locations within the City. 5 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 11, 2009 She advised the City was listed, in a newspaper article, as a participant to help make the City greener; however, the City had turned off the water at both community gardens in November of 2008. The vegetable beds and other plant vegetation dried up. The Woman's Circle has kept the gardens going for eight years. Sister Lorraine's efforts to secure water were unsuccessful. She was disappointed because there were 15 students from the Beacon Center at Forest Park Elementary School ready to cultivate five raised beds in the Triangle Gardens between 5th and 6th Avenue. She provided bedding and seeds, but they need water. Sister Lorraine brings water from her home to water her two beds. A gardener at MLK Gardens was willing to build a bypass system to the City's cut off if they do not get action soon. Sister Lorraine noted they send many postcards to the Police Department regarding crime prevention and the lack of lighting from 1 st Street, northeast from Kentucky Fried Chicken to 6th Avenue and there was no response. She advised the Palm Beach Post and Sun Sentinel had sections where citizens could send in a problem, and she was contemplating doing so. Chair Miller explained the issue was a legitimate concern for the Community Relations Board and he suggested the letter be forwarded to the City Commission with an attachment requesting they act on Sister Lorraine's concerns. Motion Ms. Cruz so moved. Thelma Lyons, Board Liaison, explained at the last budget meeting, the City Commission approved scaling back on the community gardens. The issue was the maintenance and the water. Chair Miller explained in deference to the City Commission, they have to extend themselves twice as much to make the Heart of Boynton look better. There was no excuse for the lighting. He advised he and Vice Chair Norfus drove the neighborhood to ensure lights were put in certain areas. Ms. Lyons suggested the Board make the recommendation to the City Commission. Vice Chair Norfus advised they were working on obtaining lighting for NE 1 st Street. As to the water issue, he did not know if a cistern could be used or an alternative could be developed. Dan DeCarlo, 19 Baytree Circle, explained the community gardens were built about 7 years ago with Sister Lorraine and the County. At the time the City agreed to provide water. One key issue was the City historically had problems with debris and lighting there. Due to the recent motion of the City Commission and the uncertainty of what mayor may not occur with the budget, the community gardens were important to the community. 6 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 11, 2009 The property was an eyesore for a long time. That was why the Community Relations Board tries to look beyond the Great American Cleanup, as it is more than picking up trash; it is a year round effort. Chair Miller encouraged the Board to make a motion. He understood there were financial constraints, but the community should be shown a concern for basic services, and for what the gardens represent to the neighborhood. He encouraged a motion to appeal to the Commission to provide adequate water and landscaping to the gardens. He advised he would also be happy to go to the City Commission with the Board and speak on behalf of the gardens. Ms. Immer inquired if the term "Going Green" meant carbon footprint, or if it was green trees. It was explained it was both. She also expressed concern about the extreme drought and they must be extremely cautious where they use their water resources. Ms. Hearst-Girtman provided the history of the gardens. Originally the land on the corner of Seacrest and MLK was her property. For years she allowed the property to be used for beautification and gardening. In 2008, properties along MLK were purchased. She began growing plants with Sister Lorraine, and the Children from Treasure Chest. After Mr. DeCarlo left, the property was for sale. The property was strictly commercial and Ms. Hearst-Girtman advised they could plant on the land until it was sold. Mr. DeCarlo advised over the years the City made a substantial investment in both gardens. The community could use the same gardening efforts, and xeriscape it to encourage the beautification of the corner. One reason for the gardens was to encourage investment in the community. As the Community Redevelopment Agency began the effort to bring an investor into the community, it made more sense to have something attractive there as opposed to debris. Now that Auburn Development was leaving, it was incumbent on the City and Community Redevelopment Agency to ensure the gardens and vacant properties that were purchased did not deteriorate to the point they become unattractive. Chair Miller noted the Community Redevelopment Agency has money in their budget for beautification and for mowing vacant properties. It should not be a problem to ensure adequate water was supplied. With Auburn Development gone, the Community Redevelopment Agency should ensure the Heart of Boynton along the Seacrest corridor does not deteriorate any more. Motion Ms. Cruz moved to submit that information to the City Commission. Mr. Sorgman seconded the motion that unanimously passed. It was noted this was for all the gardens. Ms. Lyons explained the City only has two gardens. The contract for the fruit garden was not renewed and the County did not have any contract with any of the community gardens. The City was trying to sell the property. 7 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 11, 2009 . Correspondence from the Boynton Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Ms. Mura read correspondence advising CERT's Disaster Drill would be held on March 21, 2009 at the Rolling Green Municipal Complex. CERT members would meet at 8:00 a.m. at Fire Station #3, 3501 N. Congress Avenue for a briefing of the day's activities. CERT equipment was needed to participate and the members were asked to RSVP. Chair Miller suggested a member serve as a liaison. The next meeting falls on the first day of Passover. There was discussion this would be addressed early in the year when setting up the calendar to avoid the holiday. It was suggested doing so for next year. Motion Ms. Mura moved to reschedule the meeting as opposed to cancelling it. Chair Miller agreed to check with the City Clerk for the calendar. There was agreement to try to reschedule the meeting. . Youth in Government Day Ms. Hearst-Girtman noted the Board needed to discuss the Youth in Government Day this year. Ms. Lyons explained last year there were 23 youth invited and nine youth showed. Due to the budget, it was cancelled. It was hoped next year the budget would allow the program to be reinstated. x. Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:16 p.m. ,1 .' . LflLh)LJj1~.L- Ulv/l1..j Catherine Cherry 0 Recording Secretary 8