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Minutes 06-26-17 MINUTES OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017, AT 6:30 P.M. PRESENT: Betty Pierce-Roe, Chair Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director Charles Kanter Glenda Hall, Forestry and Grounds Manager Renee Stern Michael Simon, CRA Executive Director Julie Mondello Sharon Walker, Prototype, Inc. Eric Ammon (Alternate) ABSENT: Michael Byrd Daniel Shapiro Christina Johnson I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m. by Wally Majors. II. ATTENDANCE Roll was called, and a quorum was present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - April and May The minutes for the April 24, 2017, meeting and the May 22, 2017, meeting were accepted as presented. Mr. Majors announced a change to the agenda. Item V.A (Sara Sims Master Plan) will be addressed before Item IV (Unfinished Business). After Item V.A, Susan Oyer will speak. Then the agenda will return to Item IV. IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (to be addressed later in the agenda) A. Quantum Park site B. Girl Scout Park site V. NEW BUSINESS A. Sara Sims Master Plan - Community Input Meeting Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26, 2017 Mr. Simon presented three large exhibits of the park area, pointing out the boundaries. He explained the purpose of the community input meetings. Highlights of his presentation included:  Listed previous meetings  All community input so far supported activities that are depicted in the plan, irrespective of locations  Community support for nice decorative fencing/barrier fencing due to activities in the park (ball games inside, ATV use outside)  Support for a large pavilion, perhaps with BBQ equipment or a stage  Playground was moved to the center for shade, preferably natural shade  Discussion about a water feature (street-level interactive fountain) o Would need more funding  The cemetery will be kept where it is, fenced off for protection o Perhaps expanded to the west and south  Discussion and support for a baseball park, possibly Little League  Funding of $1.367 million is available from CRA and CIP budgets (50% partnership) combined, but about $5 million would be needed to satisfy all concerns  Community thinks the park is neglected o Restrooms are dated o Lighting could be added o No irrigation so no green grass  Short-term solution is to put funds into the park to bring it to level of other parks  CRA hired architects to design housing, but the community was overwhelmingly against putting affordable housing in the park o There is vacant land available elsewhere for housing Mr. Simon mentioned there were comment forms available in the back of the room, and he solicited comments from the Board and the public. There is a park impact fee (from building homes) that would help the park financially, but community members wanted more activity in the park and did not feel ownership of the park. They also wanted it to look better. The CRA did not want to do anything that the community did not support. There used to be two small community gardens - one at the northwest corner -- and Chair Roe wondered if there were any plans for gardens. One garden site is owned by the CRA, and the second garden site is owned by an individual. Mr. Simon remarked that community gardens are great at first, but then interest wanes and they become overgrown. Perhaps the elementary school across the street would be interested in a garden. There is also a little space on the southeast side on Seacrest Boulevard. 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26, 2017 The basketball courts at Hester Center are set back from the roadway according to requirements. If they have a black vinyl fence, like the one at Hester, they need additional signage on the roadway for visibility. The community wanted the basketball courts, but they need to be updated. They also like the handball/racquetball courts, even though Mr. Simon noted their location is not the best - a person cannot see behind them from the street (unless it is from the south side). Mr. Simon suggested a linear barrier to prevent drivers from veering off the road into the park. For pedestrian protection at the gate, they would need to install bollards. Chair Roe thought they did not need to put in a water feature or baseball field because there are both of those down Seacrest Boulevard. Perhaps the community is not aware of the nearby baseball field or the sign-up times/schedules or perhaps the children cannot walk to it. Glenda Hall, Forestry and Grounds Manager, commented that the baseball field at Galaxy is used very little, and if it is used at night, it needs lighting added. The existing playground at Hester is designed to add trees in the middle; however, due to lack of irrigation, the trees were not added. There is nearby reclaimed irrigation that could be used. One of the vegetable gardens (the one close to Tenth) was a fruit tree “garden.” She wanted to see Galaxy used more. Mr. Ammon confirmed that the housing is on Town-owned land, and he wondered if the Town would sell the land to the developer. That could happen, the Town could build the housing themselves, or the land could be donated to Habitat for Humanity or the CDC. It would become taxable as a house, as opposed to a park, which is not taxable. Mr. Ammon thought they could use the proceeds from the land sale to fund the park. It was noted that the CRA would typically set aside monies to assist homebuyers with their down payment in a Habitat for Humanity, CDC, or CRA-built project. Mr. Simon was not sure that the land would bring in enough money to make the sale worthwhile at this time. A multi-family project was discussed, but the community does not want tall apartment buildings there next to the park. Mr. Simon stated that the fenced-in area would be a multi-purpose field of some kind, and it could be used for soccer, kickball, etc. The pool at Denson Park was just refurbished, so it will be around for a while. There is no deep end, and it is used for swim lessons. There is a splash pad at Barrier Free park. They are expensive and challenging to maintain. The Town Square is trying to incorporate something like a splash pad in their public space. Susan Oyer, 140 SE 27 Way, member of the public, said she teaches middle school and very few of her students play or even watch baseball. Football and basketball are 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26, 2017 more popular, because that is where the students believe they will get college scholarships. She said the City should talk to the kids to see what they want, not what the parents or adults want. There are other sports that take up less space or require less equipment (lacrosse, volleyball) that offer scholarships. The possibility of security was brought up by Mr. Ammon, who described the Denson pool area as “pretty scary.” He wondered if there were video cameras or security officers in the budget. Mr. Simon responded there is no line item for the immediate improvement list, but they do have lighting and cameras Cameras also carry a maintenance cost in addition to installation. The parks and recreation industry focuses more on park design to maximize security and prevent crime. Additionally, Boynton Beach is moving forward with a Park Ranger program and an automated fee collection system to redirect resources into the program. Mr. Majors mentioned that bringing positive activities into a location is also a good step. Parks that are passive in nature attract more potential problems. Keeping lights on in a park is important. There is also an effective Citizens on Patrol program that is managed through the Police Department and can be used sometimes. Residents who live near parks also assist by notifying the police of issues. Mr. Majors said that some facilities do have cameras, and they have portable cameras that can be moved about as required. There were incidents of vandalizing at the football field at Hester Park which disappeared as soon as the cameras were deployed there. He said the results from cameras are mixed - they cannot always get a good image of a license plate or it may be a stolen/borrowed car. Mr. Majors stated they try to do whatever they can to improve the parks in terms of safety and security. He agreed with Mr. Ammon that Sara Sims Park was “intimidating.” Mr. Ammon suggested having signs indicating that there were cameras, but Mr. Majors said that “bad guys” do not always read signs. He said the placement has to be strategic and the verbiage/color, etc. have to be carefully considered. It was stated that the Sara Sims Park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The extended hours are due to the basketball court. Parks without courts generally close at sunset. Mr. Majors commented that Hester Park originally had a fence around it, but children can always climb fences. Chair Roe added that cement posts can also be smashed, and Mr. Ammon commented that emergency vehicles need access. Motion made by Chair Roe, seconded by Mr. Kanter, to support the plan and the short- term funding as presented by the CRA. In a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously (5-0). 4 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26, 2017 At this point, Mr. Majors introduced an item that was not on the agenda. Susan Oyer, who is a teacher, had asked why they do not recite the Pledge of Allegiance before the meeting. He said they will do it from now on. Mr. Majors advised that Susan Oyer had requested an opportunity to present some ideas to the Board. Susan Oyer, 140 SE 27 Way, said she lives near Betty Thomas Park and suggested the following:  Have the lights on later at the basketball courts in the summertime o Kids like to play, and she said when they are playing ball they are not causing trouble o She talked to them and they said it would be “great” to have the lights on until 11 p.m. or midnight during the summer instead of 9:00 p.m. o They want to practice so they can go for scholarships o Could help reduce crime if lights are kept on at other parks too o Reduce boredom  Lights at the pavilion o Inappropriate things go on (drugs, etc.) o She and others go in and pick up trash Mr. Majors commented that he would visit the area with Public Works to see what could be done. Solar lights were suggested as a possibility. Mr. Majors advised that when lights are added, they generally have to go into the community for feedback, but he felt confident that Ms. Oyer spoke for the neighborhood and did not anticipate any negative feedback. Ms. Mondello wondered if it would be possible to have motion-activated lights there, and Mr. Majors said it would activate whenever anyone walked by. If someone were using it for a good purpose, they would want the light on constantly. Mr. Majors said they could move the portable cameras there if necessary. In response to a question by Mr. Ammon, Ms. Oyer said the drug dealing goes on until late in the evening. She did not like the fact that the dealers were there when the kids were playing basketball - kids who made a good choice. There was a discussion about making a tour of the parks with basketball courts. Mr. Majors did not want the lights to be on past 11:00 p.m. at Betty Thomas Park, and said it could be a pilot program for the other parks. At this point, they returned to the agenda. IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (from earlier in the agenda) 5 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 26, 2017 A. Quantum Park site Mr. Kanter reported that the City has found a way to fund the park via a land swap with Olen Industries for a piece of land in their development that is now scrub. He said he prepared a large aerial depiction to illustrate the area, but felt it was too late in the meeting to present it. Mr. Majors said they could set it up for the next meeting. B. Girl Scout Park site - nothing to report V. NEW BUSINESS A. Sara Sims Master Plan - Community Input Meeting (already addressed) B. Upcoming Events –  Fishing for Fireworks @ Intracoastal Park – Saturday, July 1, 6 P.M. Fireworks will be on Saturday to accommodate working people’s schedules so they do not have to get up early the next day. Mr. Majors said they are doubling the number of shuttles for after the event (three to go on, and six to go out). Mr. Majors asked the Board to come out to the event, wear their Advisory Board shirts, and take surveys on the performance prior to the fireworks at 9:00 p.m. VI. ITEMS FOR THE CITY MANAGER’S ATTENTION - None VII. NEXT MEETING: July 24, 2017 VIII. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m. \[Minutes transcribed by J. Rubin, Prototype, Inc.\] 6