Loading...
Minutes 12-12-12 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012, AT 7:00 P.M., IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS CITY HALL 100 E. BOYNTON BEA BO ULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORID PRESENT: Vince Piraino, Chair John Huntington, Board Liaison Willie Swoope, Vice Chair (Arrived 7.12 p.m.) Jennifer Gunter Irma Khoja Ben Lowe ABSENT: Wendy Kelly Margaret Newton Floyd Zonenstein I. Openings A. Call to Order Vice Chair Swoope called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. B. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Mr. Lowe led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll and determined a quorum was present. III. Approval of Minutes — November 1, 2012, Meeting Motion Ms. Lowe moved to approve the minutes. Chair Piraino seconded the motion that unanimously passed. IV. Announcements: None. 1 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, Florida December 12, 2012 V. Approval of Agenda 1. Additions, deletions, corrections There were no changes made to the agenda. VI. Public Audience None. VII. Old Business A. Status update on CRB Brochure Chair Piraino inquired if the members received the email from Officer Huntington regarding the brochures. Ms. Gunter, who had been working on the brochures, explained her term was expiring and she was not seeking reappointment. Accordingly, she will turn over the files to the Chair. Officer Huntington explained there was an issue with using the City Logo and obtaining permission to use it would be a drawback. Additionally, the City would not fund the brochures, so that expense would have to be something the Board subsidized. He explained the City was not real big on approval of brochures as they do not believe them necessary. They have a City website and the Community Relations Board was on it. They opposed including personal phone numbers and liked the Board's concept of using Gmail for a Board member, not the liaison's address. They wanted the Board to start from the beginning, issue the memo requesting the brochures, approving the use of the City Seal and then any needed changes would come from there. Chair Piraino explained he would work on the brochure and if needed, fund them. Discussion followed about the validity of the brochure and whether they were effective. Ms. Newton noted other Board members had indicated they were not effective in terms of getting people to the meetings. Chair Piraino commented he would research what programs and Community Relations Boards did in other cities and apprise the members of those activities. Ms. Khoja also knew a Community Relations Board member in Dade County and she agreed to see what type of events their members planned. Officer Huntington recognized the main goal was to get representation from the public. The Board had to have something powerful enough to draw the public to the Board, and once the public understood the Board's concept, the public would be more attentive. As a Community Relations Board, the members must look at the different hats they could wear. One option was to offer the citizens something educational. He pointed out Palm Beach County has a Speakers Bureau that could send a representative to speak about anything of interest to the general public. The Board should take time to put programs 2 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL December 12, 2012 together and then take 30 days to advertise them. He thought the City would back the Board if they agreed the program was good for the community and it was knowledge they would not normally receive. Ms. Newton inquired about domestic abuse guidelines. Officer Huntington explained the Police Department has a Victims Advocate who works with case filings and walks the victim through the court system. Vice Chair Swoope arrived at 7.12 p.m. Officer Huntington explained if victim abuse was the topic used, it would be a general topic to the general public. There may be many women who do not report domestic abuse for various reasons. If they understand what is available to them, they could use it. He commented there are many different entities in the Police Department who could speak to the general public and it was a tool available to the Board. The Community Relations Board was not just a sounding Board to the City Commission. The Board could hold informational programs at their meetings three times per year. If it went well, the public would look forward to the next program. That strategy was more effective in marketing the Board than any brochure. The best way to get the Board out there and market itself to the community was by offering programs. Mr. Lowe commented the Palm Beach Post was not interested in attending Board programs unless it was a big event. Officer Huntington explained if the program had a topic that affects the community and informs the public about resources that are available, the City would assist them. As an example, when the Police held its Identify Theft promotion, over 100 individuals attended. The Police provided the program and the City advertised it on the kiosk. Discussion followed whether the Board should use the liaison to go to the City to determine the best way to advertise. Officer Huntington agreed it was. It was the liaison's role to go to the City Manager, to check on scheduling and locations such as the Chamber. He would check the calendar and go through the proper personnel. The members could put the program together and use the liaison with the City Manager to help. He emphasized it was important to put a program together before seeking approval from the City and he did not think the City would deny a viable program. Officer Huntington explained he holds a Citizen's Police Academy twice a year with an average of 50 to 60 individuals attending the nine -week program. The program has been ongoing for over 15 years and about 1,000 citizens graduated. The program is free of charge. The program is probably now the single, most successful program in South Florida. When the program first started, it was only for the citizens of Boynton Beach. Now individuals from other municipalities attend and about 60% of the participants are no longer residents of Boynton Beach because Boynton Beach residents already attended. Other municipalities do not offer the program. 3 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL December 12, 2012 Announcements are mailed with utility statements that reach about 80,000 individuals. A good program will result in individuals returning for the next program. Discussion followed about the members meeting to brainstorm about programs. Officer Huntington suggested the members think of topics the general public may be interested in, decide when they would use the topics, and how many programs to hold. He suggested starting with a topic that is important to the public. These are things people read about such as taxes, identity theft and hurricane season. As an example, when the hurricane predictions are issued, the Board could host a program about how to prepare for one, where the shelters are and other aspects of preparation. Some communities invite weatherman to the meetings. The Board could prepare programs, but he cautioned it would not be prudent to hold a hurricane program in December when hurricane season is over. Tax season was forthcoming. Last year there was a big fiasco about individuals finding out they were not receiving their checks or their checks going to other people. Officer Huntington suggested obtaining an expert to give a talk with a question and answer session. It was important to have usable topics, have educational topics, and that no other Board was offering the same information. Discussion followed about the importance of having a fruitful agenda the members could work on that had an achievable outcome. Parameters were needed and the key was planning. If the Board started now, they could develop three or four programs for next year. After further discussion the members decided to hold a workshop to develop goals for next year and it would be helpful for the members to research each topic. A suggestion was made that at the workshop, the members start with goals, then objectives and then plan programs. The workshop would be held on January 7 or 8, 2013, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Library. It was thought the goal was clear the Board was to be a resource for the City and was not just for grievances. It was further suggested the programs fulfill the Board's responsibilities as defined in the enabling Ordinance. The Arts Commission planned events. They started talking about it and chose their dates far in advance. The same was true for the Citizens Police Academy. Officer Huntington starts advertising the January class in September. Officer Huntington also explained the Board should not use the turnout for the first program to set the tone for success or failure. That was why the topics were important. It was also helpful to think about what age group to attract. B. Time change for Board meeting A time change for the meeting had been suggested; however, the members expressed they were happy with keeping the meetings at 7 p.m. 4 Meeting Minutes Community Relations Board Boynton Beach, FL Decembe 12, 2 B. Parkside Development — Homeowners Association to pass a resolution. Chair Piraino explained the Parkside Development Homeowners Association was supposed to pass a resolution to be forwarded to the Board, but Mr. Kanter was not present. Mr. Lowe commented he drove by the Community, but did not see anything damaged, but acknowledged he could have missed something. The Board could not, however, act on one person's comments. VIII. Special Business: A. Education Initiative for Boynton Beach — Commissioner Ross wants Community Relations Board to take the lead on this project. Officer Huntington expressed this initiative will probably be tabled as Commissioner Ross had led this effort and she resigned. When further information is received, he would forward it to the members. I. New Business None. X. Adjournment Mr. Lowe noted there was an article about the Breeze into Boynton - America's Gateway to the Gultstream slogan and inquired if it was going to be a second nickname for the City. He also thanked Ms. Gunter for her help on the Board. She did not serve long, but she made a valuable contribution. Motion There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was properly adjourned at 7:47 p.m. s Catherine Cherry Recording Secretary 199992 5