Minutes 09-21-09
MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, AT 6:00 P.M.
AT THE BOYNTON BEACH SENIOR CENTER, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
PRESENT:
Betty Pierce-Roe, Chair
William Orlove, Vice Chair
John Allard
Robert Lapin
John McVey
Corey Cook
Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director
Jody Rivers, Parks Superintendent
ABSENT:
Tom Gresh
Janelle Sloan
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:33 p.m.
II. ATTENDANCE
Chair Pierce-Roe advised Janelle Sloan could not make the meeting. She also received
correspondence advising Betsy Wallshein-Radin missed four meeting and her membership on
the Board was terminated as was John McVey's. Thomas Gresh and Corey Cook, Board
Alternates were advanced to regular member status. Accordingly, there were now two vacant
alternate positions.
Attendance was taken with the above members noted as present.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM AUGUST 24, 2009
Motion
Vice Chair Orlove moved to approve the August minutes. Mr. Lapin seconded the motion that
unanimously passed.
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Capital Projects update (Jaycee Park, Boat Club, Oceanfront Park Boardwalk,
Greenways)
Jody Rivers, Parks Superintendent, announced Jaycee Park was halfway complete and
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Recreation and Parks Board
Boynton Beach, FL
September 21, 2009
looked very good. The completion date was anticipated to be the end of October or early
November and the members were invited to view the progress there. Boat Club Park was bid
and they hoped to award the bid in October. The bid responses came in about $100,000 less
than estimated. Oceanfront Park was uploaded to Demand Star and was put out to bid on this
date. The Greenway plans were 100% complete and staff was waiting for the Department of
Transportation's comments before they put the project out to bid.
Improvements to Oceanfront Park were already submitted to Ocean Ridge. The permits were
approved months ago, but there was a technical issue.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. CosWalues Analysis (public meeting on October 17)
Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director, announced last month the Board discussed the
project having to do with a cost/value analysis. The Department was involved in the project with
the assistance of a Florida Atlantic University facilitator. It was important to have a neutral party
formulate a plan when the public's opinions were sought.
The Department was seeking to glean a sense of cost recovery should they charge for a
program and what they could reasonably expect to recoup in fees. Certain recreation aspects,
such as parks, were completely subsidized by taxes. A Jazzercise class, on the other hand,
was on the opposite end of the spectrum because the class was there to benefit only the
enrolled participants and the class was subsidized by the participants.
The facilitator met with the City Commission, the City Manager and Assistant City Manager. The
full cost for this service was about $75,000, but the department's budget for it was about a tenth
of that. Accordingly, staff wanted to host a meeting of recreational patrons and the general
public as well as receive feedback from other boards such as the Senior Advisory Board, and
the Education and Youth Board. The meeting was set for October 17, 2009 at Intracoastal Park
and would take the stead of the regularly scheduled Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
meeting. It was hoped staff could ascertain the appropriate level of subsidy for the programs,
which would lead them to develop a vision and formulate a value statement of what the
Department should be doing, and then change their overall mission to the project accordingly.
The benefit to all the groups meeting at once were the Boards could express what their values
were, and the City Commission could have their say and receive input from the community. It
was hoped it would lead to better insight for next year's budget since staff must identify what
they do in the Department and how much it costs. Programs are being identified as essential or
non-essential.
At the meeting, the facilitator would have an introduction, explain the project, break out into
groups and share information. Staff would then filter it and run the information through various
matrixes. Each program, facility and item would be reviewed. It was anticipated the process
would take nine months. It would be a successful tool to develop what programs are successful
and unsuccessful. It was hoped the Board members would come away with a sense of what the
community wanted.
Recreation and Parks would distribute flyers at the parks and recreation centers to notify users
and non-users to attend the event. The event would be aired on Boynton Beach TV and posted
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September 21, 2009
on their website, blogged and twittered. Members were asked to bring neighbors who have
never used any of the City's facilities.
B. Senior Center receives Flo Goldman Award
Mr. Majors explained the Senior Center was nationally accredited. This year, it was recognized
by the Florida Association of Senior Centers, to receive the Flo Goldman Award, which was
awarded to centers that set the standards for excellence in the way they operate and the
programs they offer the community. It was a most prestigious honor. Staff would be recognized
at the October 6, 2009 City Commission meeting. Staff was excited and Mr. Majors praised
Steve Lulkin, Recreation Supervisor and Ann Forester, Recreation Specialist from the center for
their efforts. It was suggested a letter be sent, similar to what was done at the Golf Course, with
the Chair signing the letter.
VI. NEXT MEETING: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2009, 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon.
The members discussed they would try to meet on November 16th at the Senior Center. At the
November meeting, the Board would determine whether they would meet in December.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 6:58 p.m.
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Catherine Cherry 0
Recording Secretary
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