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Town Meeting Minutes 03-22-12 NOTES FROM THE TOWN MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 AT THE CAROLYN SIMS CENTER 225 NW 12TH AVENUE, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Woodrow Hay, Mayor Bill Orlove, Vice Mayor Lori LaVerriere, Interim City Manager Matt Immler, Police Chief Mayor Hay welcomed all to the meeting at 6:19 p.m. and explained the meeting was to address challenges in the community. With the recent tragic event that had occurred, he sought to squelch rumors before they got out of hand and to provide everyone with the same information. He explained the Police Chief would speak and a question and answer session would follow. He noted it takes a village to raise a child, and a City to solve the problems of its village. He wanted to put programs together and obtain input from the meeting. Mayor Hay read a letter from Commissioner Mack McCray expressing his regret he could not attend the meeting as he had a scheduling conflict, but he supported the meeting. Mayor Hay noted Lance Chaney, Pastor, St. John Missionary Baptist Church; Lori LaVerriere, Interim City Manager; Vivian Brooks, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency; and Matt Immler, Police Chief, would speak. Lance Chaney, Pastor, St. John Missionary Baptist Church, explained the community should combat fear with faith. He explained when a community needs healing, the community needs prayer. Pastor Chaney explained he was speaking on behalf of a coalition of local pastors. The community should understand its residents are one people. Faith and trust in God was essential. The residents cannot live in a community where violence begets violence, which was the demise of a community. Starting this Sunday, all the churches in the community would lift up the community and were calling for a non - violent, unified march consisting of participants of all races and faiths. He challenged every parent to pull their child aside, to speak to them face to face about the reality of what violence can do. It hurts families and communities and destroys generations. Healing starts with the individual. Lori LaVerriere, Interim City Manager, commented the community was concerned, and the City leadership shared the same concern. She explained the City has an outstanding Police Department working to solve the matter and bring those responsible into account. She invited the attendees to reach out to the City Manager's Office 1 Meeting Notes Town Meeting Boynton Beach, FL March 22, 2012 and their elected officials. She distributed a handout containing departmental phone numbers and general contact information. She hoped the meeting would bring some reassurance to the residents that the leadership was committed to resolving this matter. Vivian Brooks, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency, indicated she has been working in the community for seven years and saw a bright future. She noted the art on the corner of MLK Boulevard was representative of the past and the future, and it expressed the hope of the community. She acknowledged bad things happen, but the community was moving in the right direction and she was proud to be part of it. The Community Redevelopment Agency office was relocated to the neighborhood. She invited the attendees to visit them and to partner with the community. Matt Immler, Police Chief, commented when he was hired in 1999, he and the Assistant City Manager attended a meeting in the Heart of Boynton, (HOB). Over the years, there has been a lot of progress made. At one time it was a high crime area; however, presently and statistically, the HOB does not have the highest crime in the City. It was not even close. He commented this type of crime was the most heinous crime one could do to another. It had their 100% attention, as does all crime, but this crime was different because it changed the community. He acknowledged progress could be lost because of one event. Chief Immler explained he held a press conference at the station. He emphasized this type of crime was not typical of Boynton Beach or this community. There are elements in every crime, such as family, race, background, and family ties that are always present. This type of incident takes more investigation because prosecution was more difficult. He commented they have made great progress, and the community provided great information. Each piece of information was important and they follow up on each piece given. Chief Immler noted this area does not require a lot of patrol, but when something like this happens, the police walk a fine line with the community. There are more police in the area than normal. He pointed out the police were not being heavy handed or intrusive, but they are concerned. The concern was if one event happened, other people may take matters into their own hands and they want to prevent that from happening. He recalled the gang activity in 2005/2006 and how the Department, with assistance from local and federal agencies, eliminated them. They will increase patrols in the community and ensure the community felt safe. He wanted all to know this tragedy was not a random act, and they would do all they could. The community has to let them know if something was brewing. The Police Department was an extension of the citizens. Detective, First Sergeant Paul Sheridan was introduced and was in charge of the investigation. Sergeant Phil Hawkins was also introduced and was in charge of one of the platoons in the HOB. 2 Meeting Notes Town Meeting Boynton Beach, FL March 22, 2012 Charles Hunt, former resident of Boynton Beach, who recently returned has seen gangs takeover. He wanted to know if gangs were starting to form. He felt the neighborhoods have to prevent that from occurring, and he inquired about a Neighborhood Watch. Barbara Bower, residing at NE 11th, was also contemplating forming a Neighborhood Watch. It was a great idea and she invited the Police Department to help. Chief Immler responded Officer John Huntington and Officer Robert Kellman, of the Crime Prevention Unit, operate the Citizens on Patrol program to help the community organize nightly patrols. They supply marked Citizens on Patrol vehicles, and if suspicious activity is detected, the police are called. In the past, they tried to start a program in this area, but their efforts were unsuccessful. He commented if someone was interested in sticking to the program to ensure things were scheduled, cars were taken care of, and individuals were recruited, they would work with them. He thought holding an organizational meeting with Willie Aikens may be beneficial, and he provided his contact information. Al Pefley, CBS, Channel 12, commented there has been some reporting in the media that this may or may not be gang related. Chief Immler responded they would not address motives as there was an ongoing investigation. The issue with gangs is they were very organized and evident, but they were eliminated. Now, anyone can go to Facebook and pick up a name. As investigators, they hunt down the social media to see what is occurring in the community. It was difficult to determine whether these individuals are a gang or just neighborhood youth. They look at the confederation of individuals involved in what they do, and that defines a gang. The police do not discount any possibilities in any investigation, and they consider the issue on its own merits. Reverend Wright expressed they need to be more active and there needs to be more activities. The community needs to come out and more lighting was needed. He commented there was heaviness in patrolling. With a crime of this nature, no one was safe. He emphasized something had to be done with the children. A woman residing at 1208 NE 2nd Street, expressed her sadness the individuals across the street perished as they were decent individuals. She felt the community does not understand they are supposed to be parents to anyone's children. She opposed the sagging pants, the filthy language and music, and she encouraged the attendees present to let others know it was unacceptable. Guarn Sims, 3021 S. Seacrest Boulevard, agreed with Reverend Wright. As a long- time educator, he deals on a daily basis with good children facing challenges that were different than they were five or 10 years ago. He noted there was an isolated mentality, even in the churches. Everyone was comfortable within their own organizations, but he suggested they have to amass the resources. He questioned when the funeral was over, if the community would still come together to figure out what would be done to 3 Meeting Notes Town Meeting Boynton Beach, FL March 22, 2012 address the challenges the youth face, which is far worse than they were in the past. If they do not address it, they would face this situation again. Martha Meeks - Light, explained the two girls involved in the incident were her nieces. She explained she was frightened. She was afraid to sit in front of her house, walk down the street and there was much fear not only because she is a member of the family involved, but also because she resides in the City. She has not slept, nor have the family and neighbors. She inquired if it was possible to find counselors to work with family and friends of the murdered victims. The older folks are also frightened because they do not know how to handle this. She pointed out most of the youth that are in gangs and the youth in the juvenile system start in the 7th, 8th and 9th grades. They do not attend church. There was a program for the youth at the center. She acknowledged the church has always been instrumental within the community. She suggested if the youth do not come to them, they would go to the youth. It was important to address the issues at a young age. She had a large family and requested assistance where to obtain counseling. Chief Immler suggested she not discount pastoral counseling. The 211 information service would be helpful and if additional resources were needed, she should contact him and he would provide additional resources. Brian Edwards, 629 NE 9th Avenue, explained the Police Department has done a great job in the community. He noted the City was the third largest City in Palm Beach County. In 1999, when they held the charette, the issues were health care and crime. The Community Redevelopment Agency Police was created, but due to the budget, was cut. Mr. Edwards conveyed he had heard there are shots fired all the time. It was an ongoing situation and it was enough so that people were concerned. He inquired if the size of the police force was efficient enough for the size of the City. Chief Immler noted Boca Raton has half the crime and a larger police force, but he was not sure the size of the force was the operative factor in reducing crime. It was the community. In Boynton Beach, there is a very small segment of the population that engages in criminal activity, but the police have to control that segment while still providing security for the other areas of the community. James Deacon, 711 NW 3rd Street, returned to the community and was the Chief Executive Officer of the Boynton Beach Rams. He started a football team for young men. Since 1982, criminal activity ebbs and flows, but it does not stop. He would like to sit with the Police Department, the Mayor and City Commission to enlist their support to assist them to move the lives of these men in the right direction. Chief Immler acknowledged there was a lack of social services in the City due to the budget. Elizabeth Densley, moved to Lake Worth and stated most of the police officers were young. She only sees them patrolling down MLK Boulevard, jumping out at people sitting drinking beer. She expressed they were wasting gas and taxpayer money. 4 Meeting Notes Town Meeting Boynton Beach, FL March 22, 2012 Mr. Clemons, Assistant Principal, Boynton Beach Community High School, commented the school was providing counseling to students who were affected. He agreed what happens in the streets makes its way to school, and the community should work together. Steve Miller noted Chief Immler spoke in an apologetic manner about the police presence; however, when the community asks for assistance, sometimes the police come with an attitude and heavy hand. If the community stands up when they think things are moving in a direction they do not like, they see a lack of police presence in the neighborhood. He inquired what the Chief's thoughts were of the community's mindset towards the Police Department. Chief Immler responded he believed it greatly improved and the officers do not have time to make a choice. They are completely driven by the 911 system. They go where they are asked to go. The only individuals who come into the community by choice are the Community Action Team. He clarified he preferred not to be driven by the 911 system because there is a proactive and reactive portion to police work. He noted the reactive outweighs the proactive portion. An unidentified man spoke and stated there was fear everywhere. He referenced the MLK KwikStop. Parents were fearful for their kids and kids carry 9mm guns. If they discipline their children, authorities investigate and they are locked up. He suggested the police investigate who is already locked up, put pressure on them, and they would find out what was going on. Preston Jordon, 217 NE 13th, agreed with the prior comments. He inquired if anything was occurring with the Rider Road incident. Chief Immler commented that was the Sheriffs jurisdiction. There were suspects, but they have to work within the boundary of the law, and they were gathering more evidence. An unidentified woman spoke as a parent who was involved with her child. She commented she did not drop the ball and parents must be involved with their children. She emphasized violence hurts the youth and the problem needed to be solved before it gets out of hand. An unidentified man agreed with Reverend Chaney, and to have the faith to take the streets back. He expressed the residents' hearts go out to anyone who passes away in this town. He noted 22 years ago, the residents marched. They brought in activist Nick Gregory. He noted it was not so important that they marched; it was what they taught their children. James Bean, 25 -year resident, commented the residents have one of the best cities on the southeast coast of Florida, with the best Mayor and the best Chief. The community has some of the best ministers and citizens. He noted the solution to the problem is to love one another, and work together. Do not point fingers. The answers and solutions were already mentioned. Show love to the children, take them to the movies and be parents. 5 Meeting Notes Town Meeting Boynton Beach, FL March 22, 2012 Mayor Hay commented they received good ideas and suggestions. He reminded the attendees his door was always open and the City Manager was available. He acknowledged they have a lot of youth programs, but they do need more youth activities. He promised to do a better job and implored all to do a better job. He praised the community and agreed a non - violent march was a good idea. The High School had counseling available for students. He promised to work hard and invited the community to work together. The Police Department and legal system will do its job. At a later point, there would be information that would be made public so all could gain a better understanding of the situation. He reiterated the tragedy was a targeted matter and not a random act. He encouraged all to write down questions and submit them to the City Manager's office. He invited all to attend the City Commission and Community Redevelopment Agency meetings and take an active part. He encouraged all to become involved and reminded the attendees that behind every tragedy was an opportunity. Reverend Chaney announced there was a youth conference on March 30 and 31st, and all youth were invited to attend. He agreed all have to take a part. He was excited to see pastors come together to make a declaration to work together to bring healing to the City. Pastor Brown gave the closing prayer. The meeting ended at 8:04 p m. Catherine Cherry Recording Secretary 032712 6