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Minutes 09-24-12 MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 2012, AT 6:30 P.M., IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, 100 E. BOYNTON BEACH BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Elizabeth Pierce -Roe, Chair Wally Majors, Director Recreation & Parks Robert Lapin Thomas Mandler Catherine Scantlan ABSENT: John McVey, Vice Chair Charles Kanter I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Pierce -Roe called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. II. ATTENDANCE Chair Pierce -Roe called the roll. A quorum was present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion Ms. Scantlan moved to accept the minutes. Mr. Lapin seconded the motion that passed unanimously. IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Working with local schools to clean parks, educate students, etc. Mr Majors advised he contacted the new principal at Poinciana Elementary School and would meet with her to work together to determine how a partnership could be created with the students to teach them and involve them in the environment. Galaxy Elementary was an exciting opportunity to educate students on the scrub and exotics. Mr. Majors also mentioned the current relationship with St. Mark School which was adjacent to Mangrove Park. This Park had an aluminum boardwalk that goes through the Park. Students also visited Oyer Park and were taught how to plant trees and learned the importance of having trees. A local sponsor donated the trees. Work was ongoing at Jaycee Park that provides access to the Intracoastal and was a great venue Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 24, 2012 for St. Joseph's Episcopal School that uses it as part of their curriculum about the vital nature of mangroves. Chair Pierce -Roe suggested that possibly schools could pick a day, such as Arbor Day, and take field trips to the area parks for educational purposes. Mr. Majors would follow up. He also mentioned that a sponsor was secured for Barrier Free Park and it was continually promoted so the students would know about it from not only a green perspective, but also a health perspective. There was brief discussion on the Adopt -a- Park program. V. NEW BUSINESS A Funfare Magazine Mr. Majors commented that the quality of the magazine over the last two years had risen tremendously. He praised Sherri Claude who accepted the task of taking over the magazine and had done an outstanding job. In addition, he advised that there was a portion on the inside page available if any of the Board members wanted to write an article about anything related to Parks and Recreation that would be shared with the community. Approximately 15,000 - 16,000 magazines get distributed to subscribers. B. Advisory Board Orientation Manual Mr. Majors advised the Advisory Board orientation manual had been updated. This was put together about five or six years ago and required some changes. The manual provides a background on how the Board was created, what role it has, and gives a summary about the department, the accreditation efforts, the facilities and where they are, how they function, and their role. C. National Park Service — Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program Grant (for assistance beginning next FY Oct. 1 — Sept. 30) Mr. Majors advised that a grant had been applied for which was not a monetary grant, but a technical assistance grant through the National Park Service. This was a grant that would provide a technical expert for a period of 12 -24 months who would be in contact via computer, phone or in person to update our greenway /bikeway plan. This plan was developed around 2002 or 2003. One of the bikeways was recognized by the State of Florida as part of the greenway system, between Federal Highway and Seacrest Boulevard which was recently expanded to go from Seacrest to 1 -95, south to Galaxy. If the grant was awarded, the focus would be updating the entire plan, with Quantum Park being a significant portion of that plan. Once the plan was updated, it would be put 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 24, 2012 before the Commission in the form of a resolution and once approved, would allow it to move forward with development. Mr. Lapin inquired on the status of the beach coverings that were missing. Mr. Majors advised he could not fully respond due to pending litigation. He did advise there had been problems with the contractor and consulting engineering firms. There was discussion on available grants or funding for dock railing replacement at Oyer Park. Mr. Majors advised he would check on grant availability; however, most would be matching grants. He reminded the Board that there were many parks in Boynton Beach that had to be maintained. Mr. Majors commented there had been donations and sponsors in the past through the Adopt -a -Park program which was in place, not for financial purposes, but to assist staff in maintaining the parks. There was discussion with Ms. Hall regarding the costs of maintenance. She advised trash cans alone were over $1,000 each, with a life expectancy of 10 years. Depending on the area, the life expectancy could be only three to five years. There was research being done to investigate the possibility of using different materials that would last longer. She would also investigate the same materials for benches to replace those in the parks that need replacing. Mr. Majors commented that he was working with Board members Lapin and Mandier advising the Palm Beach County Realtors Association approached him about a fundraiser to generate revenue for Barrier Free Park. Thanks to Mr. Lapin and Mr. Mandier, there was a relationship forged that could possibly lead to a tremendous annual event, which would include a 5K run. There was brief discussion on presentation ideas for getting the schools involved. Mr. Majors advised he would possibly meet with the Parents Teachers Association initially and try to get students involved through the curriculum. After that, a generic presentation could be done potentially by the Board members. There was brief discussion on some of the events the other Boards were doing, such as the green market. The Holiday Parade was a big event for this Board and at next month's meeting, a Grand Marshal would be nominated. VI. ITEMS FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S ATTENTION None. VII. NEXT MEETING: October 22, 2012 The Palm Beach County Realtors Association would be invited to the November meeting. 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 24, 2012 VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m. Eac ( //A..c/.4.___ ei f Ellie Caruso Recording Secretary 4