Loading...
Minutes 02-26-18 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH RECREATION&PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ;' CITY HALL— CONFERENCE ROOM B February 26, 2018, 6:30 p.m. PRESENT: Betty Pierce-Roe, Chair Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director Charles Kanter Jamie Opperlee, Prototype, Inc. Julie Mondello Renee Stern Christina Johnson(arr. at 6:35 p.m.) Daniel Shapiro Eric Ammon ABSENT: Michael Byrd Lisa Browne-Banic, Alternate I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m. by Chair Pierce-Roe. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. II. ATTENDANCE Roll was called, and a quorum was present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -None IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. System Master Plan review (tabled until March) Mr. Majors said that this item was tabled due to the City Commission asking the Board to help determine the practicality and level of interest in allowing individuals to bring dogs to Oceanfront Park on the sand. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Dogs at Oceanfront Park Public Input/Discussion Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida February 26, 2018 Mr. Majors said they received over 800 responses to the survey that was posted on the City's website. He asked the Board to hear opinions from the public and obtain feedback at this meeting. The survey results will be tabulated next month and emailed to the board. Mr. Majors said that the deadline for submitting responses is not until March 16, 2018, but they have some solid numbers. Regarding the answers, he reviewed the following: • Should the City of Boynton Beach allow dogs on the beach at Oceanfront Park during select days and hours? o Almost 70% answered yes • If the City of Boynton Beach allows dogs on the beach at Oceanfront Park, under what conditions should they be permitted? o Leash on? 495 o Leash off? 420 • Do they own a dog? Over 70%have a dog • If you own a dog, would you bring your dog to the beach at Oceanfront Park if you were allowed? o 83% answered yes • Would you be willing to pay a permit fee to walk your dog on the beach at Oceanfront Park? o Over 67% answered yes Mr.Majors said there were 37 pages of comments, and he would email those to the board members. The comments centered around cleanliness, enforcement, and protection of private property. In response to a question by Mr. Ammon, Mr. Majors said that residents were informed of the survey via social media, the City's webpage, the Palm Beach Post, and Channel 5. He said the responses were anonymous, although he wished they would have included zip codes. He added the Survey Monkey does not allow duplicate answers from the same IP address. Public Input Lucas Vogel, 1090 SW 24 Avenue, said he had voted against having pets on the beach on Survey Monkey "at least a dozen times." He voiced his opposition to the item, citing the following: • Danger to wildlife such as sea turtles • People already bring dogs to the beach and enforcement only works at the time the violation is observed • Some people bring their dogs on leashes - some do not o More worried about dogs off leash • Allowing people to bring pets to the beach opens up a greater risk to the turtle nests, other people, etc. • Bacteria concerns on the beach o Dogs bring their own bacteria or bring the bacteria back to their homes • That particular beach is a bad spot - too many people o Maybe have a different area that is not so populated 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida February 26, 2018 • People are more meticulous with small dogs than with the big dogs,but they will still cause problems (weight limit would not help) Charles Gaulkin, 8 Colonial Club Drive, concurred with Mr. Vogel. He said he was opposed to dogs running around at Oceanfront Park, citing the following: • Space is too small to have a dedicated dog use area • Thought the survey was biased toward the dogs o "Do you want them on a leash or not?" o Thought dog-owner groups were pushing people to respond on the survey • Not well-presented on the website • Dogs might bother children • Did not think anyone would clean up after the dogs after closing time • Limiting a time when dogs could go to the beach would be confusing Ed Brookes, 15 East Ocean Avenue, Ocean Ridge, noted several issues: • County is not going to change their ordinances about dogs on the beach • Thought 800 responses was a small percentage of the town • Did not believe people who said they would be amenable to having their dog on a leash o The beach is small and dogs would run to the south • People will not remember the rules about time, etc. • Other towns have tried having a dog beach and they did not work o Talk to them and see what happened Debbie Brookes, 15 East Ocean Avenue, Ocean Ridge, said walking at the dog beach was "disgusting"trying to get around the dog feces. People came from all over Palm Beach County to bring their big dogs. She also asked if the City had looked into liability issues related to dogs injuring people if the City endorses dogs being on the beach. Brenda Vickery, 1090 SW 24 Avenue, expressed concern about liability: • Dogs may not be comfortable in unfamiliar places/circumstances o Safety issues for children • People probably would not pay attention to designated times and places • People will come from all over the County Mr. Majors reviewed the various ways residents can express their opinions to the City on the matter. The decision will ultimately rest with the City Commission. Chair Pierce-Roe thanked the residents for coming out to the meeting. She said they had been through the process of deciding to allow dogs in specified parks. Mr. Ammon asked how they can clean up the beach after dogs urinate in the sand. Mr. Majors replied that they made a recommendation saying they would need the resources to make sure that each time the dogs are allowed on the sand, the staff would go back over the area to ensure it is clean. They would also need someone to be stationed in that area to ensure people with dogs 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida February 26, 2018 remain within the specific boundaries. Additional resources would be required to move forward appropriately. Ms. Mondello said that Ocean Ridge would have to agree with having dogs on the beach. Mr. Brookes said he was not so opposed to dogs coming from Boynton Beach, but was opposed to all the dogs from the rest of the County. People who live on the beach already have boundary issues with where they can take their dogs. Mr. Brookes said Ocean Ridge would have no inclination to allow dogs. Mr. Kanter brought up existing problems at Renaissance dog park. He said there are other waterfront properties,but they are freshwater properties with alligators. B. Upcoming Events- • Community Fitness Day @ Ocean Ave. Amphitheater - Sat. Mar. 10, 10:30 A.M. VII. NEXT MEETING: March 26, 2018 Mr. Majors said the Board will put forth their recommendation on the dogs at the beach at that meeting. Mr. Kanter mentioned that Rosemary Scrub is over-run with a vine, and Mr. Majors said he would refer it to the County. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m. [Minutes transcribed by J.Rubin,Prototype,Inc.] 4