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Minutes 11-09-11 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2011, IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, 100 E. BOYNTON BEACH BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Regina Waterhouse, Chair John Huntington, Board Liaison Victor Norfus, Vice Chair (arrived 7:04 p.m.) Evelyn Duplecy Margret Newton Lesha Roundtree Phyllis Stern Floyd Zonenstein ABSENT: Ben Lowe Vince Piraino 1.Call to Order Chair Waterhouse called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 2.Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 3.Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll and determined a quorum was present. 4. Approval of Minutes: October 12, 2011 The following change, as underlined was made on page 3, third paragraph, the sentence should read, “Chair Waterhouse advised the Board would elevate this to the Board Representative Officer Huntington and the City Commission.” Additionally, Officer Huntington had distributed a handout regarding sub-committee meetings but it was not attached to the minutes and Chair Waterhouse had requested it be part of the minutes. Motion Mr. Zonenstein moved to approve the minutes as amended. Ms. Stern seconded the motion that unanimously passed. 1 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL November 11, 2011 5. Announcements None. 6. Additions to/Approval of Agenda None. 7. Public Audience None. 8. Old Business a.Sky Lake Neighborhood Discussion Chair Waterhouse had a copy of a communication from Officer Huntington which she circulated to the members. Officer Huntington reported on the Sky Lake issue with Ms. Shultz. The Police Department had received the complaints and was asked to write citations for vehicles parked on sidewalks. The issue had been ongoing for years. City streets and sidewalks are governed by City Code. In this development, the driveway could accommodate one or two cars, end-to-end, but one large car would obstruct the sidewalk. As a result, they parked on the street, which was also against City Code. Mike Rumpf, Planning and Zoning Director, had been asked to review the Ordinance as it pertained to the size of vehicles. Trucks that were previously considered work vehicles because of their weight no longer fit the criteria. Trucks with cabs and pickup trucks are family vehicles, although they exceeded the weight restrictions. The City had to review how to amend the Code to affect certain vehicles. Chair Waterhouse noted there were fundamental changes that needed to be addressed. Vice Chair Norfus commented homes on Seacrest have grass and curved driveways, with not much room to backup. He inquired if that was, or could be in the Ordinance. Officer Huntington responded it probably could, but in this particular development, they did not have circular driveways. Sky Lake was a close-knit community. Most homes have single-car garages. When the City approved the development and considered the sidewalks, it made things difficult for a growing family. If a child drove a car, there would be three vehicles in a location that was not designed to accommodate them. 2 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL November 11, 2011 The issues Ms. Shultz brought forth were vehicles parked in the swale and street cause difficulty with traffic movement and emergency vehicles, which the Police Department was concerned about. Chair Waterhouse noted some communities do not have sidewalks, and drivers cannot park in the street. If there was a party, guests would have to park in the clubhouse parking lot or other location. Officer Huntington stated Ms. Shultz had previously consulted with the City Manager about the issue and other community grievances. The matter was in motion before she came to the Board, but the Board had the documentation to expedite the matter. b.Group photo and brochure status Chair Waterhouse circulated the group photograph. The next task was to develop the Community Relations Board Brochure, which she would work on. 9. New Business a.Ocean Breeze Land Trust Ms. Newton had raised two issues at the last meeting: one was the Ocean Breeze Land Trust. Officer Huntington would follow up to see who could address the Board’s concerns. b.Heart of Boynton c.Boynton Beach Brand Promise Committee Chair Waterhouse addressed Items B and C together and explained she received a communication from the Interim City Manager inviting her to participate in the Boynton Beach Brand Promise Committee to make Boynton Beach a destination and develop a unifying theme for the various and diverse components of the City. The first meeting had been held. Several surveys had been conducted. The City was seeking to identify what Boynton Beach is and had to offer. The Committee was assembled to review what had been done in the past and recently issued its own survey, but did not like the results as there were too few responses. Chair Waterhouse stated she would forward a link to the members to take the survey. The individuals participating in the Branding Committee as follows: Glenn Jergensen, President, Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce;  Darren Shepherd, Manager, Boynton Beach Mall;  3 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL November 11, 2011 Margee Walsh, Marketing Director, Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment  Agency; Brian Smith, Waypoint Marine;  Maxine Pierson, Public Relations, WXEL  Marlene Passel, Public Information Director, Children’s Services Council;  Regina Waterhouse, Chair, Community Relations Board;  Jack McVey, Vice Chair, Boynton Beach Recreation and Parks Board;  Barbara Ready, Chair, Boynton Beach Arts Commission;  James Williams, Architect;  Libby Stroud, Heart of Boynton;  Deborah Bottorff, Deborah Bottorff & Associates, Graphic Design and Copywriting  Services; Shelly Vana, Commissioner, Palm Beach County; and  Joseph Schneider, Principal, Galaxy Elementary School.  Ms. Stern had recalled participating in a survey, which went as far as creating a concept for a Marina, as opposed to Delray Beach and Boca Raton. The Community Redevelopment Agency researched the concept of a small aquarium to draw people to Boynton Beach that could also be used as an educational tool, but the concept did not move forward. The first step was to gather impressions and peoples’ perspectives of what they think of when they think of Boynton Beach. Questions were raised such as, “What constitutes Boynton?” There are north/south dividers in the City and a Farmers/Green Market by Route 441. Then there is Jog Road, Military Trail and Congress Avenue, with the latter regarded as a commercial corridor. Seacrest leads into the Heart of Boynton and then Federal Highway and the downtown. The Committee discussed if individuals want to enjoy an area, they have to be able to get there, have parking accessible, and attractions. Chair Waterhouse agreed to email the results of the existing survey to the members. She encouraged the members to share the link with different organizations and groups.. The City has evolved and input was important. The Boynton Beach Mall Manager was invited to speak to the Board about plans to revitalize the Mall. Maxine Pierson, from WXEL, was also invited to speak, as she is attuned to Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, and South Florida in general. Chair Waterhouse was excited to be on the Committee, and stated it was an opportunity for the Community Relations Board to help build the community. She learned: Boynton Beach is the closest to the Gulfstream, and has some of the best  weather in the country. 4 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL November 11, 2011 The City is diverse having agriculture out west.  There is a joint effort with the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors  Bureau to bring visitors to the area, but hotels were needed. They were leveraging some of the research and the money being spent to  market Palm Beach County as a destination. They developed items for each city in Palm Beach County that will be put on  luggage tags sent to travel agencies and groups to attract visitors. Delta Airlines Magazine featured an article on Palm Beach County, and all of its cities were listed, except for Boynton Beach. Chair Waterhouse explained the City has a tremendous amount of cultural diversity but needed to determine how, at a time when there are no funds available, to connect all its components to make a unified whole, so people would visit, enjoy themselves from a cultural standpoint, and have something educational. Discussion followed the aquarium could progress, due to its educational value, through grants, and foundations to access funds. A grant writer could also be used to secure funding. Additionally, the term Gateway was not used very much. Boynton Beach is a Gateway to the Caribbean, Gateway to the Gulfstream, Gateway to fishing, shopping and more. Boynton Beach also has a beautiful beach. Vice Chair Norfus commented the City has a slogan, but it should be used better. Ms. Newton commented she did not hear any Hispanic, Creole, or Haitian names on the Committee and noted those populations come to the South County area, but not Boynton Beach. She thought it was important, when deliberating a brand, to include representatives from those cultures because there are nuances that would be missed. There was also a huge amount of money to be gained in tourist dollars coming from visitors from South America, the Caribbean, and other locations. Chair Waterhouse agreed and commented the representative from the Heart of Boynton would be putting her thoughts together for the next meeting. Ms. Newton’s impression was Boynton Beach was a City of small enclaves and nobody thinks of Boynton Beach as a City. It is a small group of different neighborhood communities, and it would be great to come up with a brand that encompassed the entire community. If input from other groups that were not represented was received, the Committee could obtain a different slant on ways to attract visitors to the City. Ms. Newton explained she goes to Boynton Beach for the beach. It does not have the type of amenities to bring tourist dollars to the area. She opined the City was boxed in with its thinking. Chair Waterhouse agreed. Chair Waterhouse stated she would convey Ms. Newton’s comments to the Committee. 5 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL November 11, 2011 Ms. Roundtree thought the City should utilize the Old High School with its stage as a place to perform. If they developed the Old High School as a cultural art center, other ethnicities would come and the area would boom. She loved the idea of the aquarium, and the museum. Restaurants were slowly coming into the area. The City also has a great Library. A strong green market once per month would draw families and young children. Ms. Roundtree expressed Boynton Beach has the resources. Ms. Newton inquired if there was a comprehensive packet of information about the various communities that comprise the City was available. Chair Waterhouse responded there was not and that was part of the reason for the survey. It would help build a coalition. Currently, there was no central clearing point for information, which needed to be addressed. Most members were not familiar with several areas. After brief discussion, Officer Huntington agreed to locate, or create a map of the City for the next meeting. 9. Adjournment Chair Waterhouse wished the Board a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ms. Newton thanked Mr. Zonenstein and Vice Chair Norfus for their service as veterans as did other members of the Board. There was brief discussion many veterans were coming home and were out of work, losing their homes and the government was not assisting them. Chair Waterhouse noted there was legislation passed that banks cannot foreclose on veterans in active service. Motion There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Stern moved to adjourn. Mr. Zonenstein seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m. 0_ak-61VAUL L- Catherine Cherry Recording Secretary 111011 6