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Minutes 10-25-10 MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS ADISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 25, 2010 AT 6:30 P.M. AT THE SENIOR CENTER, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Betty Pierce-Roe, Chair Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director Corey Cook Jody Rivers, Parks Superintendent Bob Lapin Catherine Scantlan Janelle Sloan ABSENT: John McVey, Vice Chair Charles Kanter I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m. Chair Pierce-Roe thanked Vice Mayor Ross, James Brake of the Code Compliance Board, and Lindsey Frederick, student intern for the Recreation and Parks Department, for attending. Ms. Rivers commended Ms. Frederick for doing a fabulous job. II. ATTENDANCE Chair Pierce-Roe called the roll. It was noted Mr. McVey was not present as he was having surgery. As Mr. Kantor was unable to attend, Chair Roe noted his credentials, adding that he is the President of the Parkside Homeowners Association. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion Ms. Scantlan moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Lapin seconded the motion that passed unanimously. 1 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 25, 2010 IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. CIP Priorities Mr. Majors noted that the members had toured the parks during the last three meetings. It would be necessary for the Board to determine the projects that would be moving forward and to make recommendations for prioritizing these projects. A list was provided to the Board which contained CIP priorities. Added to the list was the development of a multi-purpose field at Pioneer Canal Park. Most of the parks on the list need to be developed or redeveloped. Sara Sims Park would be completely renovated and the remaining sites were to be developed into parks. The existing parks would be maintained. It was staff's desire to capture the Board's priorities for the new five-to-ten-year strategic plan. It was noted that for park planning, staff would meet with interested parties to determine the scope of the plan and the associated costs. Discussion ensued as to prioritizing the list of CIP projects. Suggestions included moving Winchester Park further down on the list, moving the Oceanfront Park Building Replacement to the top, Quantum Park to the middle and Meadows/Nautica closer to the top. Meadows/Nautica consisted of an empty field, and parking had always been an issue. Vice Mayor Ross advised that she had been contacted by constituents expressing opposing views. Some of the homeowners requested Meadows/Nautica be developed while others were in opposition and had appealed to the City Commission. At a previous Commission meeting, a majority of the Commissioners had voted against moving forward with the design plans. Ms. Rivers commented that staff often used the original strategic plan as a guide with respect to park siting and planning. The strategic plan illustrates areas of the City that are devoid of parks, and as such, helps staff determine development priorities. The existing Sara Sims Park is located off Seacrest Boulevard and is bordered on the th north by MLK Boulevard and on the south by 9 Court. A cemetery is located in the front, near the handball courts and painted wall mural. The CRA recently funded a conceptual master plan for the Sara Sims Park with the intent of incorporating it into the strategic plan. It was the CRA's intent that the master plan be accepted and approved for the strategic plan and, if necessary, housing could be taken by eminent domain. Public meetings had been held and neighborhood input noted. With regard to Winchester Park, it was believed the area to the north would probably be developed once the economy had improved. An asphalt bikeway to the north could 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 25, 2010 be used as a trailhead, and a growing population could be accommodated based upon acreage and undeveloped property. It was believed Quantum Park, with its waterway location, would be the most likely site to provide funding sources and eco opportunities. Winchester, Quantum and Pioneer Parks provided waterway access. Chair Pierce-Roe felt it would be advantageous to the City to complete the improvements to the Oceanfront Park beach area. Vice Mayor Ross inquired whether anything could be done to unite the Meadows/Nautica community. It was believed the community had been promised a park in the past. Maintenance issues for passive parks were ongoing and staff has continued to take measures to provide opportunities for community input. Homeowners whose property abutted Girl Scout Park had expressed their opposition to the development of the Park, which cannot currently be accessed by the public. With regard to Quantum Park, it was staff's belief that there was a need for resources to be provided for the people residing in that area of the City. Quantum also provided opportunities for the development of an eco or community-wide park. As to the City's inventory of parks, Congress Avenue would provide opportunities for development. It was suggested the CIP list be separated into those areas not being serviced, and those which are being serviced, but are in need of upgrading. Discussion ensued with regard to Oceanfront Park. Ms. Rivers explained the Department of Environmental Protection had advised the gross footprint of the Park could not be expanded. The four buildings could be consolidated into one building or the existing footprint could be used to build upward. An option being considered by staff was the renovation of the existing buildings. Ms. Rivers believed the cost to completely renovate Oceanfront Park would be approximately $1.5 million and $2 million to consolidate the four buildings. Citizens residing in the vicinity of FPL Park had expressed concern regarding the prospects for the construction of a plant in the area. It was questioned whether a ramp could be built for small boats and whether funding could be secured from the County. Mr. Majors indicated a determination of that nature would require that a consultant be hired and an analysis made to ascertain the most practical and feasible uses for the property. It was believed boating could be included in the greenway/blueway plan. The Board agreed the Oceanfront Park project should be given top priority, followed by Quantum Park. It was noted additional parking was not feasible at Oceanfront Park as the existing land could not sufficiently accommodate the additional spaces. The 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 25, 2010 completion of the boardwalk improvements would ensure the efficiency of other structures at Oceanfront Park. The Board members would give further thought to prioritizing the remaining projects. V. NEW BUSINESS A.Selection of Holiday Parade Grand Marshall Chair Pierce-Roe suggested the Board support the selection of the members of the Boynton Beach Community High School Choir, Dimensional Harmony, as the Grand Marshalls in the Holiday Parade. Mr. Majors explained that the process by which staff selected a Grand Marshall for the Holiday Parade had been slightly altered this year, and staff felt the Board should be making the selection. Nominations had been solicited through press releases and water utility bills, and the deadline for responses was October 18, 2010. Since the date of the deadline, staff learned that Dimensional Harmony will be recognized on The Today Show and was selected as the "number one" choir in a nationwide competition. As a result of the Choir's many accomplishments, Chair Pierce-Roe felt it was appropriate for Dimensional Harmony to be selected as Grand Marshalls for the Parade. Mr. Majors reviewed the criteria used to select the Grand Marshall. Nominations had been received for Gene Moore, Brian Russo and Richard "Rick" Beau Lieu. Mr. Moore received the support of six individuals. Mr. Beau Lieu was nominated by the Chair of the Arts Commission, who met Mr. Beau Lieu at the time she joined the Arts Commission in 2004. Mr. Majors reviewed the contributions made by each of the three people nominated. The Board felt Dimensional Harmony should be selected as the Grand Marshalls. Mr. Moore was a strong supporter of the High School, and it was believed he would understand the Board's selection. Mr. Moore had made significant contributions to the City, and as such, it was suggested that he be recognized in some other manner. No decision had been made in this regard. The Board agreed to the selection of the Choir to be the Grand Marshalls. Mr. Majors will be drafting a letter to Mr. Moore informing him of the Board's decision and will contact the members of the Choir as well. B.Renaming of Jaycee Park Mr. Majors advised of the process necessary to rename a facility. The process included the creation of a review committee to determine whether the nominations were consistent with the criteria established and to make a recommendation to the City 4 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 25, 2010 Commission. Prior to the formation of the review committee, staff would review the renaming requests. Staff is requesting four boards (Recreation and Parks, Community Relations, Senior, and Education and Youth) each nominate two individuals who would then join Ms. Rivers and Janet DeVries, the City's Archivist, to review the nominations to rename the Park. It was anticipated the meeting would occur in January. Two requests had been received to rename the facility, one from the artist who had worked on the art markers and the other from the Rotary Club. Motion Ms. Sloan nominated Chair Pierce-Roe and Mr. Cook to serve on the review committee. Mr. Lapin seconded the nominations that passed unanimously C.Boat Club Park – Painting on old bait shop building The City Commission had previously approved the Boynton Beach Fishing Academy's use of the bait shop as a fishing academy. A 14-year-old apprentice artist, known by the president of the Florida Fishing Academy and artists Guy Harvey and "Wyland," will be painting an undersea mural on all four walls of the building. It is hoped signature pieces will also be painted by Messrs. Harvey and Wyland. After the paintings have been completed, staff will work with Messrs. Harvey, Wyland and the Florida Fishing Academy to coordinate an official ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the Park. Staff will advise the Board of the date of the ceremony, which could be as early as December 2010. D.Adopt-A-Park Ms. Rivers advised that an Adopt-A-Park program will be established, and that the Sand Sifters would like to officially adopt Oceanfront Park. Advertisements and brochures for the program will be sent to various organizations including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and schools in the hopes that some of the City's parks will be adopted. It is anticipated that the adopting organizations will beautify the City's parks with monthly or quarterly cleanups and yearly planting of flowers. As further budget cuts and job eliminations may occur, anything that could be done to assist with the maintenance of the parks would be helpful. E.Future meetings While the Board had previously discussed holding quarterly or bi-monthly meetings, it was decided that this item would be placed on the agenda for a determination at each meeting. The Board agreed to meet on November 29, 2010, but would not meet in December. 5 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida October 25, 2010 VI. Items for the City Manager's Attention The Board had previously discussed requests by the Veterans Commission and Bob Borovy to rename Bicentennial Park to Veterans/Bicentennial Park. The Park had been officially renamed by the Veterans Commission in the 1980s and as such, staff felt it was appropriate to honor the request. A sign had been purchased to reflect the correct name. It was noted that the Veterans Day ceremony would be observed on November 11th at the Park. VII. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held at the Senior Center on November 29, 2010 VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m. I 0 ~~ ~ Stephanie D. Kahn Recording Secretary 11/17/10 6