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Minutes 09-16-10 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 AT 7:00 p.m. IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH, FL PRESENT: Victor Norfus, Vice Chair Blanche Hearst-Girtman Sanford Mayer Brian Miller Phyllis Stern Floyd Zonenstein Doris Jackson, Alternate (arrived 7:08 a.m.) Thelma Lyons, Board Liaison ABSENT: Regina Waterhouse, Chair Joyce Mura Stanley Sorgman I. Openings A. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. B. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll. A quorum was present. III. Approval of Minutes from August 11, 2010 Meeting While no changes were made to the minutes, Mr. Mayer discussed page 3, Item B, regarding valet parking. He brought the matter up because the Sun Sentinel had an article about Boca Raton having a problem with valet parking at some of the restaurants. More specifically, the valet parking comprised a large area in the parking lot, and/or the area closest to the restaurant and patrons opting not to use the service had a lengthy walk. Boca Raton was going to change their rules. Mr. Mayer raised the issue because he experienced the same situation in Boynton Beach. Ms. Lyons researched the matter and advised there were no rules or regulations for valet parking, 1 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL September 16, 2010 only handicap parking. Mr. Mayer suggested if there were no rules, he would like to have rules instituted. He requested the item be put on this agenda. Mr. Mayer also discussed page 3 of the minutes, Item D pertained to business cards. He explained the intent of the cards was to give the members more credibility when they followed-up on issues and projects. He understood the City was not issuing the cards but he commented he had not received an identification badge. The Division within the Police Department that issues the badges had moved. Mr. Mayer thought the members were entitled to some type of physical accreditation about their stature on the Board. Ms. Lyons explained the members could print their own business cards, but it could not say the City of Boynton Beach or have the City logo on it. The card could only say the Community Relations Board. Mr. Miller suggested the members use the brochure which was an official document. It contained the names of all the members, it named the City, and it was complete. A recommendation could also be made to the City Commission about the matter. Mr. Mayer agreed to do so. He thought if the members wanted the City and the Board to grow, they should have a way to do business. Mr. Zonenstein also added he spoke with Officer John Huntington of the Police Department and was told if the members contacted him, he could now issue them an identification badge. Motion Mr. Zonenstein moved to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Miller seconded the motion that unanimously passed. IV. Announcement: Ms. Lyons explained there would be a Community Clean Up held by the Heart of Boynton (HOB) community on September 25, 2010. The contact person was Gertrude Sullivan. Ms. Lyons provided Ms. Sullivan's phone number to the Board. It was noted Ms. Doris Jackson was also on the HOB Board and she explained they wanted the Board to participate. Mr. Norfus commented the Community Family Reunion in the Park picnic event would be held September 26th in the area of Carolyn Sims Park. There would be a stage and food on-site and the City contributed to the event. He explained anything the City supports, the Board should try to attend. The event would be held from 1 :00 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. Ms. Stern commented she would be out of town. The other members were available to attend and Ms. Jackson advised she may be late. V. Approval of Agenda 1. Additions, Deletions, Corrections 2 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL September 16, 2010 Mr. Mayer wanted to revisit the trolley issue. Mr. Zonenstein explained the trolley budget was currently zero. A group called the Coalition for Transportation stated there was a guaranteed $150,000 that could be used to subsidize the trolley. Now the Commissioners were holding off on the trolley decision until the budget meeting on September 27th. The City Commission was trying to figure out where they could come up with the rest of the money. Mr. Zonenstein clarified the trolley has not been eliminated. If the Commission could find the additional funds, they could keep it. After discussion, it was agreed this would be discussed further under Old Business. 2. Adoption Motion Mr. Miller moved to adopt the agenda with the additions. Mr. Zonenstein seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. VI. Public Audience INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO 3 MINUTE PRESENTATIONS None. VII. Old Business: A. Strategic Planning Workshop (set layout, date and time) This item was tabled. B. Brochure Vice Chair Norfus explained he distributes a lot of brochures, as does Mr. Miller when they attend events. He felt it made a good presentation about the Board and it provided contact information. C. Badges Mr. Mayer felt the brochure did not take the place of business cards and he thought a card was an adjunct to the brochure. The members had discussed emails and noted many people did not like email. If the members wanted to print a card, those that wanted to could include their email address. The Chair's email address would be included in the brochure. Mr. Miller commented years ago, they used the City Hall address. Ms. Lyons also advised she was trying to have an updated photo taken for the 3 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL September 16, 2010 brochure but scheduling was an issue. There was agreement Ms. Lyons would advise the members a picture would be taken at the next meeting. Mr. Mayer inquired if area codes for the members' contact information should be included in the brochure. The home phones had 561 area codes but some of the members used cell phones with numbers from different areas of the country. There was agreement they should be added and Ms. Lyons agreed to do so. Ms. Stern explained Boynton Beach has a television and radio station contact and she suggested the Board use those vehicles. She hoped this season the Board could move forward and have a program for community relations conversations, embracing the community, and inviting the public to contact the Board with their needs and concerns. She contended the Board should use today's technology and there must be communities in Boynton Beach who watched community programs. An interview with the Chair or Vice Chair of the Community Relations Board could be held or an interview could be held when the Board was doing something specific in the community. The idea was to get the word out about the Board. There was discussion the station basically aired announcements. Ms. Lyons explained the meetings are announced on BBTV but there were no highlights included. Ms. Stern suggested developing highlights for the next meeting. A highlight could be working for the trolley, or the Community Event Day. She suggested the Board make recommendations to the City Commissioners about their focus. In the past, the Board had a Crime Prevention Summit informing residents about preventing crime or violence in the community. As a result, residents now come in to obtain information about it. Lengthy discussion followed about developing topics and publicizing them in the newspaper, BBTV, and approaching the City Commission about the topics they would like to focus on. Ms. Lyons suggested attending the City Commission meeting and speaking to the attendees there to find out about issues residents may have. She suggested inviting that individual to attend the CRB meetings and that individual may invite other people to the meeting as well. She emphasized that was how the Board would grow. Mr. Zonenstein explained the trolley issue would be heard at the CRA meeting on September 27th. The City Commission meeting would be on the 21 st. Since the Community Relations Board supported the trolley, they could attend the meeting and publicize the item in the paper. Vice Chair Norfus inquired what steps they needed to take. Ms. Lyons suggested they attend the City Commission meeting and provide a list of topics they were interested in discussing and then receive direction. 4 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL September 16, 2010 Motion Mr. Mayer moved that the Board support the existence and continuance of Molly's Trolley. Mr. Miller seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Mr. Mayer volunteered to serve as spokesman for the Community Relations Board at the City Commission meeting. He commented even if the trolley was not saved, at least they were heard as a Board and they took action. It was also suggested the Board contact the organizer of the Public Transportation Coalition supporting the trolley. He clarified if they spoke in support of it they would be assisting the residents who needed the trolley but NOT the owner of the trolley. The highlight for the next meeting would be discussing the parking issue. Ms. Jackson commented the purpose of the Board is to hear the grievances of the people. After doing that, if the Board is to serve in an advisory capacity to the City Commission concerning those grievances, there should be some type of way they could be placed on the agenda, but not as a public comment. She expressed the issue should be made an agenda item so the City Commission members would know the Board has something to offer on the issue. Ms. Lyons concurred when the Board was making a recommendation, it would be the appropriate way to pursue the matter. As to the trolley, the Board was on record they supported the trolley. Ms. Stern thought having programs about how to best handle foreclosures and having a guest speaker could be a future topic of interest. Residents could follow the advice of the speaker to help their personal situations. Ms. Hearst-Girtman suggested the Board send the information to all the religious groups and others in the community to let them know the Board was available to assist them. The Board was started in the 1960s and she explained this was the way to bring people in. Vice Chair Norfus requested the members come up with ideas and look for future speakers. Mr. Mayer explained he put a lot of work into the sidewalk issue, which did not come to fruition due to the budget. The thinking was to work with the schools to educate the children and parents about a safer way to walk to school. This item would be added to the next agenda. Mr. Miller requested the members and public support the High School football team and events. He noted tomorrow was the first game of the season. 5 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL September 16, 2010 IX. New Business A. Set October 13th meeting agenda items x. Adjournment: Motion Ms. Hearst-Girtman moved to adjourn. The meeting was duly seconded and unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m. /1 lCL{jL0'uACC l.! ~)./L(I> Catherine Cherry v Recording Secretary 09/30/10 6