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Minutes 01-07-16 MINUTES OF THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL 100 E. BOYNTON BEACH BOULEVARD, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDAAGENDA , J AN UARY 7, 2016, AT 6:00 P. M. Present: Dr. Stephanie Hayden, Vice Chair Wally Majors, Director, Recreation and Parks Carla Colebrooks Carole Lundquist Hattie Miller Angelica Nevin Dr. Tiffany North Valencia Spells Anderson Joshua Braten, Student, Reg. Non - Voting Member Absent: Kathleen Wilkinson, Student Reg. Voting Member Alana Thomas, Student Reg. Voting Member Loretta Wilkinson Alternate Alice Robinson, Alternate I. Call to Order Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director, announced Board Liaison, Sherri Claude would not be present. The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. Self- introductions were made. II. Pledge of Allegiance /Moment of Silent Reflection The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, followed by a moment of silent reflection. III. Approval of Minutes of December 3, 2015 Motion Ms. Lundquist moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Miller seconded the motion that unanimously passed. IV. Approval of Agenda This item was not addressed. Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board B oynton Beach, Florida January 7, 2016 V. Announcements /Presentations /Correspondence A. Recreation & Parks Presentation Mr. Majors advised the Recreation and Parks Department is nationally accredited. To attain that status, they have to attain certain standards, one being educating the public about the benefits of Recreation and Parks. A short PowerPoint presentation about the the services they deliver was viewed. Mr. Majors explained the Department has been accredited since 2006 meeting national standards for best practices in how they operate their facilities and programs. They have seven community centers, which he listed. They operate Oceanfront Park, have nationally certified lifeguards and the Tennis Center. The Department offers youth programs and has a licensed afterschool program, art classes, school break camps, music and dance classes, as well as similar adult programs including fitness activities. The Senior Center is a 10,000 square -foot building offering card games, health screenings, meals, social events and trips. It is one of the City's busier centers and their programs are comprehensive. The City's and the Department's Strategic Plans both emphasized family fun and strived to make Boynton Beach a family - friendly place to live work and play. They offer at least one free event at one of their parks each month. The Department is updating their Master Plan encompassing City facilities, parks, resources, and staff levels so they can identify gaps and address them. They have an impressive level of service. The Greenway, Bikeway and Blueway Plan which were linear corridors that would permit people to walk, jog, or bike off the street has been updated. The Blueway plan accommodates paddleboards, kayaks and canoes. Over the next few years, staff will focus on playgrounds and concentrate on health. Staff is seeking to minimize sun exposure and will start to cover some of their playgrounds. It is an expensive undertaking. A State grant was received for a non - motorized vessel launch. The launch at Intracoastal Park Clubhouse will be upgraded to assist disabled individuals to board canoes and kayaks with specialized equipment. The City recently allowed leashed dogs in certain parks for a trial period. There are still problems with dog waste. The existing park system has 28 developed parks and eight undeveloped parks. There are three cemeteries in the City, the most popular being Boynton Memorial Park on Woolbright Road and Seacrest Boulevard. The Master Plan for the Sara Sims Cemetery included many great improvements and Barton Cemetery is no longer active. The City has a first -rate tennis facility on Congress Avenue with 21 total courts, 17 of which have har -tru surfaces. The Recreation and Parks Department strongly believes in getting people out and staying active. Most people need motivation and they try to educate and motivate then about the benefits of activity.. 2 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board B oynton each, Florida January 7, 2016 Barrier Free Park, through a grant, has a Fit Zone which is an outdoor fitness area. Of the 17 pieces of equipment, five are wheelchair accessible. The department conducts outreach at schools teaching about the environment, planting trees, mangroves and eco- systems. Mr. Majors pointed out they have a strong Adopt -a -Park program, with two parks eligible for adoption. He emphasized there is an economic value to have parks and recreation in communities. Good neighborhood parks add to the value of the neighborhood and it helps minimize criminal activity due to parks being active and lighted. The Civic Center has over 200 ballet students that perform in recitals. Students who participate in City programs have an indirect benefit to businesses as program supplies need to be purchased. Mr. Majors explained if someone builds a home, they must pay impact fees to ensure they have enough parkland and to absorb the impact of additional growth, especially for residential areas. Developers have to set aside land for preservation /parks and the department keeps parks clean. He underscored the value of teen programs and advised the Department of Justice commissioned a study revealing, given a choice, teens usually make the right choice. When they do not have any activities to occupy them, they usually turn to gang activities. Accreditation is a challenge. Mr. Majors praised Ms. Claude, who is the lead in the accreditation effort. Accreditation involves 158 standards and encompassed everything from finance, to education and planning. They also have to prove they follow the standards and a resolution or approval by the City Manager is needed. Mr. Majors advised the Americans with Disabilities Act standards are a challenge. They updated riverwalks, paths, trailways, pools, and park access. They recently completed a transition plan reviewing each architectural feature of each City building. Staff was an integral part of that effort and they identified issues. They are also going through a departmental reorganization. They conduct a comprehensive needs assessment every five years and obtain feedback. The results show special events are always wanted and the Department was shifting towards that end. One senior manager was reclassified to an Events and Program Manager to handle the Holiday Parade and Extravaganza, Easter event, and fireworks. He noted they are almost to the point they may have to limit participation. Mr. Majors advised they received a grant from Keep America Beautiful. They distributed cigarette disposal receptacles and reduced the amount of waste around collection areas. Cigarette butts are still prevalent at the beach and the SandSifters help clean the beaches. The City has a nationally awarded cheerleading program, an Annual 5K fundraiser for Barrier Free Park. The Department has become much more involved in sponsorships and partnerships to help reduce dependence on tax dollars. 3 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board B oynton Beach, Florida January 7, 2016 They obtained a grant through the Department of Elder Affairs and Comcast and offered free computer lessons on tablets and iPads to all age groups. Many seniors are skyping and on Facebook. They had about 100 $50 gift certificates for seniors to use to subscribe and stay on line as much as possible. He noted without access to technology, they would struggle. Mr. Majors pointed out very few agencies accomplish accreditation. This was the City's third accreditation and Palm Beach County was going through its first accreditation. The accreditation organization flies representatives to the City to go through the files. When they were first accredited, they were one of the first 12% to receive accreditation in the country. Now, about 25% of Recreation and Parks Departments are accredited nationwide. Staff was going through the last part of the accreditation process and was compiling its self- assessment to be submitted at the end of the month. A few months later, they would find out if they would be accredited once again. He commented the Department is related to the Senior Advisory Board. VI. Public Audience None. VII. New Business A. Chair /Vice Chair Election Motion Ms. Lundquist moved to nominate Dr. Tiffany North as Chair. Ms. Spells Anderson seconded the motion that unanimously passed. Motion Ms. Spells Anderson moved to nominate Dr. Hayden as Vice Chair. Ms. Colebrooks seconded the motion that unanimously passed. VIII. Old Business A. Shred -A -Thon Mr. Majors advised Ms. Claude would have a few dates for the Board to choose from for the next Shred -a -Thon at next meeting B. Tennis Carnival (April 23, 9:30 -11) Mr. Majors explained a volunteer for the Tennis Carnival was needed. Ms. Claude had confirmed the date with the tennis pro, but a volunteer was needed to purchase snacks and drinks. Ms. Spells Anderson volunteered. Dr. North commented there is an expectation that 4 Meeting Minutes Education and Youth Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 7, 2016 all board members would participate in events. Dr. Hayden suggested setting up a rotating schedule for future events. Ms. Lundquist had attended the Tennis Carnival in the past and advised it is a great morning, but it was very different from the Shred- a -Thon. Several volunteers are needed for the Shred -a- Thons, but not for the Tennis Carnival. C. Youth Volunteer Bank/Bob Borovy Award Mr. Majors advised applications for the Borovy Award are due March 31S and are available on website. The program will be promoted through press releases. She will send information directly to high schools, use social media and would email flyers to the members to distribute. Three judges are needed to choose the winner. Ms. Claude suggested Steve Waldman, former Board Chair, as a judge this year. There were no objections. IX. Future Meeting Dates: February 25, 2016 March 24, 2016 X. Adjournment Motion There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Spells Anderson moved to adjourn. Ms. Nevin seconded the motion that unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 6:31 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 010896 5