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Minutes 01-24-11 MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD MEETING HELD AT THE SENIOR CENTER, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2011 AT 6:30 P.M. PRESENT Elizabeth Pierce-Roe, Chair John McVey, Vice Chair Charles Kanter Robert Lapin Catherine Scantlan Janelle Sloan Brian Hopper, Alternate Wally Majors, Recreation & Parks Director ABSENT Corey Cook I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Pierce-Roe called the meeting to order at 6:24 p.m. II. ATTENDANCE Chair Pierce-Roe called the roll. All members were present with the exception of Corey Cook who telephoned Mr. Majors to report he would be absent from this meeting. Chair Pierce-Roe welcomed new member Brian Hopper who offered his background. Mr. Majors reported that Mr. Hopper took part in the adoption of Forest Hills Park. Chair Pierce-Roe asked the guests to introduce themselves. Commissioner Orlove introduced himself as a former member of the Board. Joann Lyons expressed her interest in Pence Park. Richard Katz grew up in Boynton Beach and was present to discuss Pence Park and other options. Commissioner Hay also joined the meeting. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Lapin commented that a section of the minutes did not contain some comments he made. There had been discussion about the beautification of this City and he mentioned strongly that he felt the realtors had gotten away with "murder". He has been a realtor and he knows some of the buildings along Ocean Avenue are atrocious because there is no setback and the retail takes up the sidewalk. That does not beautify Boynton Beach. Mr. Katz pointed out that Ocean Avenue used to be two lanes. When Ocean Avenue was widened, setbacks were eliminated from some of the old businesses. He didn't know what area Mr. Lapin was referring to on Ocean Avenue. Mr. Lapin said he was referring to the new construction. He could not understand how the zoning board permitted this to occur. 1 MEETING MINUTES RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 24, 2011 Motion Mr. McVey moved to approve as amended. Ms. Sloan seconded the motion that carried unanimously. Motion Ms. Sloan moved to approve the quarterly report. Mr. McVey seconded the motion that carried unanimously. IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Pence Park Conversion to a Dog Park Mr. Majors reminded the members of the discussion at the last meeting about Commissioner Holzman requesting feedback regarding the potential conversion of Pence Park into a dog park. All of the members were familiar with the Park. Staff found the use of this Park has grown tremendously over the past year. The Park has even been rented out more than it was in previous years. Mr. Majors believes this is due to the conversion of this Park to a multi-purpose field. It is being used for soccer games by a group of Hispanic youth on a fairly regular basis. There has also been tremendous growth in the sport of kick-ball. Because of this, there has been more interest in using Pence Park and Galaxy Park for this activity. Signs were installed around the neighborhood for people to attend this meeting tonight for the Board to receive feedback from people who use the Park. Mr. Kanter said we have an infinitely better place to put a dog park on the corner of Old Boynton Road directly behind Target. That area is 5.5 acres and is already fenced. He feels the merchants would love it and probably finance whatever it would cost to create a dog park. Parking would not be a problem. Mr. Katz said in the past he witnessed murders at Pence Park. There was discussion a year ago about this Park. There now appears to be less crime there and it is being used more by families. It is becoming a really good park for soccer. He always thought Boynton Beach should have a dog park and when the location on Old Boynton Road was brought up, Mr. Katz felt the location was excellent. He talked about a dog park in the City of Aventura where passes have been issued for entrance. A nominal fee could be charged which could supplement the upkeep of the park. Mr. Majors explained the use of Pence Park is a great way to engage the Hispanic population in government and provide a sense of comfort. Generally there is discomfort because of language barriers. This is a group the City welcomes and it is also working very well with the kickball group. The kickball group is for adults and the City embraces it. Ms. Sloan explained if the Old Boynton Road Park is established early, the community will build around it. 2 MEETING MINUTES RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 24, 2011 Mr. Majors advised the reason for the strategic plan is to accept the feedback received and include it in the plan. The plan spans 10 years. Once this strategic plan is endorsed by the City Commission, these projects remain on the City's "radar". To sum up the discussion, Mr. Majors confirmed the members were supportive of a dog park, but not at Pence Park. The members agreed and felt the City worked very hard to get Pence Park where it is now and it would be a shame to change its venue. There is a great location existing in another part of the City. Discussion ensued about the cost for the dog park in the City of Aventura. They have a double gate system and the card system. It was suggested that a fee be charged for the issuance of the card. When the discussion of sod arose, Mr. Majors said staff researched Palm Beach County parks, the City of Boca Raton and the City of West Palm Beach. Boca Raton and the County were spending $100,000 per year. That amount of money would not be raised from a pass system. The County is looking for alternatives to sod. It was agreed the City of Boynton Beach could not afford to lose another active park. As one of the most obese countries in the world, children and adults do not exercise enough. The NFL, ABA and MLB all have programs now to get children active 60 minutes each day. Activity for children and adults is important. Ms. Scantlan said owners do not police their own dogs. She looked at places with smaller fenced areas for the small dogs. She has some concern about dogs running loose around children. At first, she thought it might be wise to put a small fenced area in the corner at Pence Park that would be safe and contained. However, she believes dogs should be on leashes and it is not wise to draw children and big vicious dogs into the same area. A suggestion was made that the recommendation be made that Pence Park remain as is and instead consider locations for future contemplation. Staff refers to dog parks as regional attractions. Pence Park is a neighborhood park. People drive to regional parks whereas they walk to neighborhood parks. Mr. Lapin requested that the manager of the complex and his tenants be contacted about paying for or taking part in the upkeep of this type of park. Mr. Majors reminded the Board members they created a priority list of parks in the past and this pOSSible dog park could be added to that list. Mr. Majors felt Mr. Lapin's suggestion was doable. For the edification of the Board, Mr. Majors acknowledged the contemplation to rename Jaycee Park was considered by the Committee which included two Recreation and Parks Board members and their recommendation going forward to the Commission was to keep the name the same. There is some significance to the name Jaycee Park. Chair Pierce-Roe added there were a few people present during that meeting of the Committee who suggested the name Water's Edge Park and Harvey Oyer Park. Someone felt it would be nice to name a park after Mr. Oyer. The Veterans Park on Ocean Avenue has now moved over and been renamed to Veterans/Bicentennial Park. The former Veterans Park is now available for renaming. It was suggested it would be interesting to name that park Harvey Oyer Park since it is right next to where he was known. 3 MEETING MINUTES RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 24, 2011 Consensus There was unanimous consensus that Pence Park stays as a multi-purpose park - not a dog park. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Sara Sims Master Plan Mr. Majors reported staff, in conjunction with the CRA, has been working to develop a conceptual plan for the remodeling and improvement of Sara Sims Park. The plan is based on feedback received from two public meetings that were held with residents and stakeholders in the community. This is a common practice followed with park designs. This issue was now before the Board for support and endorsement of the conceptual design. Sara Sims hosts one of the City's cemeteries. There will be major improvements to the cemetery. Mr. Majors displayed the plan that was reviewed by the members. Mr. Majors reported the CRA hired Mr. Gonzalez, the architect, and the Recreation and Parks Department hired the Engineering firm to come up with the plan. Staff is pleased with the plan and believes this will be a beautiful addition to the area. The Board members were pleased with the conceptual plan. Mr. Hopper recommended putting the basketball courts as far away from the cemetery as possible. There is a need to maintain a separation and that could be done by creating a buffer. Motion Ms. Scantlan moved to adopt the Sara Sims conceptual plan as designed dated today. Ms. Sloan seconded the motion that carried unanimously. B. Discussion about renaming Veterans Park in honor of Harvey Oyer Mr. Majors reported the park referred to as Bicentennial Park was renamed Veterans Bicentennial Park. With the passing of Mr. Oyer, an opportunity arises to rename Veterans Park on Ocean Avenue. Renaming this park would eliminate the redundancy of two Veterans Parks. Motion Mr. McVey moved to rename the Veterans Park in honor of Harvey Oyer. There was no opposition and the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Majors will pass this recommendation to the City Manager. C. Save the Dates . Saturday, February 5th - Oceanfront Boardwalk - 8:00 a.m. to Noon . Monday, February 14th - Congress Avenue Barrier Free Park - 4:30 to 5:30 4 MEETING MINUTES RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 24, 2011 · Wednesday, March 9th - Jaycee Park Interpretative Public Art Markers - 3 to 5:30 p.m. · TBD - Boat Club Park D. Future meetings Consensus There was consensus of the Board for the next meeting to be held in March. Ms. Scantlan pointed out that where tourists enter the Turnpike pavilions, Veterans Park should be advertised as a destination. If a brochure were created, Boynton Beach could be noted as a destination for veterans and their families. Ms. Sloan said Jody Rivers started the Greater Boynton Beach Foundation because of the Park in order to bring money into the parks. The Foundation will also be cultural and educational and they finally received their 501(c)(3) in December. The Foundation is terrific. Mr. Majors reminded the members that this suggestion goes back to the 1990s when Wilfred Hawkins was here. This Foundation is its own entity and is separate from the City. VI. Items for the City Manager's Attention Mr. Kanter reported there was an article in the Sun-Sentinel regarding the greenway project. VII. NEXT MEETING TBD The next meeting of the Board will be in March. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Motion There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m. m.p~ Ja et M. Prainito, MMC ranscribed from one (1) CD 5