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Minutes 04-03-17 TH MINUTES OF THE MAYOR’S TOWN HALL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017, AT 6:00 P.M. AT BAYBAY’S CHICKEN AND WAFFLES, 329 CONGRESS AVENUE, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA Mayor Grant opened the meeting at approximately 6:05 p.m. He explained he met with the owner and decided to hold a Town Hall meeting in a family-friendly location. He had held prior Town Hall meetings. An attendee had a legal issue regarding an unemployment appeal. She asked if it would be helpful to have representation and if the City provides any help. Mayor Grant advised she should have an advocate, but the City does not have assistance regarding unemployment. Mayor Grant gave her a CareerSource brochure and his business card. A question was raised about City-owned canals and maintenance. A member of the Sea Angels was concerned the City was turning over maintenance to the homeowner. The man explained they clean the canals, but there is a problem with vegetation. He approached the Lake Worth Drainage District and they said it was the City’s responsibility. Mayor Grant advised certain canals are not cleaned. He had tried to extend City maintenance another year, but was unsuccessful. The man noted there is a tax to maintain the canals, but the City will not maintain the overgrowth of hydrilla. He commented the Lake Worth Drainage District told him they will pursue the City if the canals clog. Mayor Grant referred him to Lori LaVerriere, City Manager and Colin Groff, Assistant City Manager. A comment was received Old Boynton Road has a traffic light, but it is still a speedway. Mayor Grant explained he was attempting to have a speed camera installed to alert motorists to their speed and the speed limit. Mayor Grant was asked about immigration and sanctuary cities. He responded he spoke with West Palm Beach which is a Safe City. They instruct their staff not to report incidents to ICE. He explained he was trying to get a copy of the resolution. A Laurel Hills resident commented there is an undeveloped lot with a lot of junk on it. She does not know the owner. Mayor Grant recommended she contact the Community Standards Division and they will notice the owner to clean it up. The woman thought they could hold a clean-up; however, she was advised the land is private property. Mayor Grant explained Code Compliance is now Community Standards. The Division is working with residents to improve their property and not punish homeowners. He explained the process. The lady explained there are gopher tortoises onsite. Mayor Grant recommended she contact the owner or Community Standards. Meeting Minutes Mayors Town Hall Boynton Beach, Florida April 3, 2017 A couple was concerned about sober homes in their neighborhood. Mayor Grant explained there is a group home moratorium that expires in June. They were waiting for regulations and revised Codes. He informed them there is also a Sober Home Task Force. They explained they live in the Forest Park area. Drug abuse is everywhere and there are many overdoes. Mayor Grant explained the City was trying to determine distance regulations with these homes and noted many residents of sober homes just cycle through the homes as there is a high recidivism rate. Police do not arrest users unless there are children in a car. Mayor Grant explained the condition is classified as a mental illness and recommended sober homes be reported to the Sober Home Task Force at 1-844-324-5463. He also recommended contacting the Building Department as these homes require a Business Tax Receipt in order to be rented. Mayor Grant also commented the County Tax Collector is unaware of these residential home rentals resulting in a loss of millions of dollars. Even vacation rentals have a bed tax. A Leisureville resident explained there is an issue with smash and grab at the post office on Boynton Beach Boulevard and it has happened a few times. Mayor Grant explained he was trying to obtain more cameras for better security. The woman noted it took the Police Department 87 minutes to arrive, as it was not a priority because no one was hurt. A question was raised about plans to monitor sober homes. Mayor Grant explained the moratorium for six months will expire in June and about the Business Tax Receipt requirements. He recommended if there is a sober home nearby to contact the Development Department or the Sober Home Task Force. The homeowner explained she had and it took three weeks for them to investigate. She called the Police Department, but they do not come in spite of her calling three or four times. She gave th her address as SW 9 Avenue, noting there is another home on the road behind it as well. Mayor Grant reiterated his attempts to impose separation requirements. Mayor Grant was asked about density in the downtown areas, the Heart of Boynton and the CRA plans and if the growth was related to the Coastal Link. Mayor Grant noted there will be a Coastal Link and the area is between two bus lines. The area was planned for the downtown because the same area was the downtown when the Town of Boynton was created in the 20s and 30s. The man asked about Phase I of the Ocean One project and understood it included rentals and a hotel. Mayor Grant told him about Mr. Davis Camalier’s project. Mr. Camalier would receive some land for free, but a reverter clause was not included. Mayor Grant advised he wanted the City to require it in writing and wanted to see all the plans. A resident asked about the disposition of Kids Kingdom in light of the Town Square project. Mayor Grant responded he favors a dynamic area for kids to play. He explained the Town Square plan was being reviewed and they will have more information by the end of the month or early May. 2 Meeting Minutes Mayors Town Hall Boynton Beach, Florida April 3, 2017 Irwin Cineus expressed concerns over undocumented aliens and noted West Palm Beach is a Safe City. Mayor Grant explained he spoke with the Hispanic Bar Association and he had information with talking points. There is a think tank of people to help. Mr. Cineus also had documentation from Florida International University showing undocumented individuals contribute millions to the economy each year. Mayor Grant advised he needed to see the resolution. Mr. Cineus also asked if anything was occurring with the ACLU and Mayor Grant responded not to his knowledge. He also questioned if Palm Beach County Schools had a policy about this that would apply to Boynton Beach Schools. Mr. Cineus asked about the moratorium regarding Carolyn Sims Park and learned the moratorium applied to Sara Sims Park due to a block party. In December 2015, a person was shot at the event which got out of control and some pavilions burned down. Mayor Grant explained the City is redoing the Sara Sims Master Plan to make the park smaller and be easier to police. A citizen indicated he would like to see the Shopper Hopper return and he praised Community Standards Officer Pat Hart. There was an issue with a house that burned down and an individual was parking his trailer on the property. After contacting Community Standards, the trailer was gone after two weeks. He sent a thank you letter in appreciation. The man also hoped to see the Town Square Plans. Mayor Grant explained the City was picking a development team with one contractor for all aspects of the project. He noted last year, the City instituted the Consolidated CRA Plan, and the Ocean Avenue and Boynton Beach Boulevard Overlay District. He noted the Riverwalk project would have wide sidewalks. The man noted there are several accidents at Ocean Avenue and Seacrest Boulevard and wondered if there would be a traffic light. He hoped there would be construction with truck routes. Mayor Grant thought a round-about may be better and advised the City was picking the development th team on April 18 or the first City Commission meeting in May. The man inquired about the Old High School and was advised the City Commission voted to save the Old High School and he wanted to save the trees as well A compliment was received about the City’s beach which was widened. The attendee noted over time, beaches shrink. Mayor Grant also commented the City has great clean energy programs. He informed him of the PACE and solar power programs available to residents. He explained information about the PACE program is on the internet. A family new to Boynton Beach advised they purchased a second home in the City and inquired about permitting and codes. Mayor Grant referred them to the Development Department as they handle permitting. They further inquired about landscaping and tree pruning and were referred to Community Standards. They were contemplating adding a second floor to their home and about dividing the property as the lot can accommodate two more homes. Mayor Grant advised it may involve a rezoning. The woman advised she is a yoga teacher and was interested in holding yoga classes at the amphitheater and maybe later instituting a small fee or take donations. Mayor Grant 3 Meeting Minutes Mayors Town Hall Boynton Beach, Florida April 3, 2017 advised there is a fee to reserve City facilities. If she held a class at the beach there is a parking charge. She asked if she could hold a class in her home and was told it most likely would not be allowed. He spoke about the Town Square project and the CRA, noting the CRA has grants for businesses in the CRA District and about the Tax Increment Financing and the upcoming Riverwalk and 500 Ocean projects. Mayor Grant advised he attends Chamber of Commerce events to support Boynton businesses. He sought to hold the Town Hall meetings in May and June, taking July and August off. He gave an update of City activities. He emphasized the Town Halls are to talk about concerns, but the events are fun. If the City is doing well, then he is doing well. He noted the downtown is three to five years away. It will not be designed like Atlantic Avenue. It will be a Town Square. He announced the Boynton Beach Arts th District event on the 15 on Industrial Avenue and pointed out the City has four breweries and a vegan bakery. Boynton Beach holds the second largest Pirate Fest in the Florida, attracting 80,000 attendees. The Blarney Bash and other events make Boynton Beach a family-friendly City. Mayor Grant closed the Town Hall meeting at 7:40 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 4