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Minutes 06-24-19 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH RECREATION&PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING INTRACOASTAL PARK CLUBHOUSE a JUNE 24, 2019, 6:30 p.m. PRESENT: Betty Pierce-Roe Wally Majors, Recreation and Parks Director Charles Kanter Gary Dunmyer, City Engineer Eugene Fagan Eleanor Krusell, Public Communications Director Julie Mondello (arr. 6:44 pm) Tatiana Guerrier, Prototype, Inc. Renee Stern Daniel Shapiro ABSENT: Eric Ammon L CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by Wally Majors. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. IL ATTENDANCE Roll was called, a quorum was present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Majors gave a brief overview of the Parks Tour, that there were no formal minutes taken, but asked that this verbal accounting be accepted as minutes. Motion made by Ms. Stern, seconded by Mr. Kanter, to approve the verbal minutes of the Parks Tour as given by Mr. Majors. In a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously (6-0). IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Parks Tour Discussion Continuing on the topic of the Parks Tour, Mr. Majors asked if the Board would like to continue on with Park Tours over the summer to take advantage of the daylight until after 8:00. Chair Pierce-Roe would like to continue; Barrier Free Park was considered, as well as parks that can be considered as dog parks. Next month's meeting could be a Parks Tour, leaving from City Hall at 6:00 p.m. Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 24, 2019 Motion duly made and seconded, next month's meeting will be a tour at 6:00 p.m. In a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously. V. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Majors moved Item G, July 4th, forward in the Agenda. F. July 4th Eleanor Krusell, Public Communications and Marketing Director for the City of Boynton Beach, gave a presentation for the Fourth of July festivities. Invitations had been sent out to engage Board and Committee Members to volunteer three or four hours for the City. Help is needed distributing posters and post cards. Changes in the event this year include moving the planning over to the City Manager's Office; the main production will be in the Events section. More condensing of the event will include: • Food area moved closer to where restrooms are. • In the east area, will engage the waterfront. • Activities: o Hydroflight o Two stages, one closer to the waterfront, for background music. • Transportation by air-conditioned shuttle rides from parking areas at Drain Church and City Hall, both of which can accommodate over 500 cars. Four buses total as well as Ride & Share for Uber and Lyft at the Boat Club. • Four local food trucks. • Kids area at the Blue Pavilion: o Each table will have an activity. o Benches and tables where parents can watch the children and enjoy the music. Ms. Krusell encouraged following/posting on Social Media in addition to the posters and post cards. Facebook and Twitter pages have received a lot of emphasis the past six months and has received nothing but growth. This is a great way to keep updated on recreation and park activities. Ms. Mondello commended the media coverage for activities. Ms. Krusell said one of the Commissioners in going to try the hydroflight, so there will be media coverage for that, as well as on the barge that comes in for the fireworks show. Also, on the flyers are: • The Census, encouraging every resident to sign up and complete the census forms. Every one completed gets the City $1,600. • Preparing for the Hurricanes, four simple steps to follow. A. Dog Park at Boynton Lakes Park/Resident Inquiry and 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 24, 2019 B. Areas for dogs at existing Parks Mr. Majors introduced Maxwell Greenspan, who is encouraging looking at Boynton Lakes Park on North Congress Avenue as a dog park. Maxwell Greenspan (52 Buxton Lane) spoke about the large open area of land that the City owns as Boynton Lakes Park. The perimeter of the park is a trail with a small playground tucked away in the corner. The vast area is not maintained, no one goes out and plays out there except for an occasional Frisbee-player. An example of an amazing local dog park is at Lake Wolf Park; all that is needed is some fencing, grass, a couple of tables and a gazebo. If the budget allows, Mr. Greenspan would like to propose a dog park at Boynton Lakes Park. Maintenance could be by volunteers; Mr. Greenspan would be one of them. It should create a space that would bring the community together. Ms. Mondello opened the discussion about outside parking, if this was there area that had been previously discussed. Chair Pierce-Roe said putting in some spaces had been considered, but there had been a lot of controversy. Mr. Greenspan said there is a huge grass area that could become a parking lot, but mostly people could walk from their houses to use it. Next discussed was maintenance, including local, neighborhood volunteers as other parks do. The local HOA would have to be consulted via an official meeting. Leash dogs are already permitted there. Among the items that should be discussed in a public meeting: • Strong formal contractual agreement. • Maintained by HOA or residents. • Minimum cost of a couple hundred dollars just for fencing. Mr. Majors said the challenge is in maintaining these areas. An example is up in Jupiter (Palm Beach County) that has a volunteer group with a good track record of maintaining the park for the use of the community. For now, the conversation could be continued with coming up with an estimate for the fencing; visit the site in the Parks Tour in August; make people in the community aware of what is being considered; and allow feedback from the community. Various ideas were floated followed by general discussion, including child safety, on/off leash considerations, hours of operation, promoting the idea in the community. Examples of the seven dog parks in West Palm Beach were considered. Mr. Majors said the Parks Tour will be the Fourth Monday (August 22nd), will make Boynton Lakes the first stop, and Mr. Greenspan will advise neighbors to come out at 6:15 to meet with the Board Members. In a related matter, Commissioner Katz has indicated interest in continuing the conversation about dogs on the beach and this will be an upcoming discussion. The main focus will be the turtle nesting season now through November. Last year's Park at the Beach function and how the matter is handled in Jupiter were briefly addressed as these affect the upcoming discussions. C. Lifeguard Tower 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 24, 2019 Mr. Fagan referred to emails he had sent out referencing the aging lifeguard towers at Miami Beach; replacement cycle is coming up. Mr. Fagan suggested to not use the Miami Beach style, lifeguards dread being shoved into a plastic bubble like some beaches use, but to solicit designs that are more stylish, something that says Boynton Beach, and colorful would be nice. Mr. Majors said such a project is not currently on the CIP (Capital Improvements Program), but should be considered. Artful aesthetics incorporated into function would be something everyone would embrace. Permits would be needed for erecting towers; Andrew Mack, Director of Public Works should be consulted. Mr. Fagan said the permit process may take two years because it is east of the dune lines; which will mean consulting with the Army Corps of Engineers. Maintaining the same footprint and saving the pylons would help the process along. Cleaning up and painting the existing towers was discussed; soliciting local young artists could produce some concepts like they have with garbage can paintings and murals. Mr. Majors will share these thoughts with Debby Coles-Dobay, the Public Art Administrator. Gary Dunmyer, City Engineer, spoke on the proposed improvements at Hester Park. Working with Andrew Mack, plans for Hester Center and Meadows Park were presented. Highlights included: D. Hester Park proposed improvements o Parking shortage ■ 38 additional spaces on the visitor side ■ 52 additional spaces at the middle of NW 19th ■ Seacrest playground area • Not used as should be. • Bus stop and ball courts are busy. • New parking could facilitate pick-up and drop-offs of kids. o Tennis Courts ■ Rarely used; ■ Create "Pickleball" courts instead. o Ball field ■ Needs to be regraded and re-sodded. ■ Make facility available throughout the year by creating multi-use fields. ■ Expand into the scrub area; not currently in great condition, love vines tend to take over, wildlife will be displaced a little, but fire cannot be used to control the scrub. ■ Improving irrigation will enable a better, more functional park. Ms. Mondello commended the more efficient use of the amenities; that pickleball has upped participation in other parks; and food trucks could add to the soccer and other sports usage. Chair Pierce-Roe suggested taking this urban plan outline along on the Parks Tour for a better concept. E. Meadows Park proposed improvements 4 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 24, 2019 o A plus is that there is a lot of shade here. o Six pickleball courts, popular courts for basketball and tennis. o Many people enjoy the pavilions o A minus is that there is no parking, everyone parks at Leonard area. ■ Plans to take out a couple of trees to create safe and convenient parking. o Playing fields are pitted and rutted, water stands due to improper drainage. ■ Plans to add drainage and laser grading the field with new layer of sod. o Asphalt path and fitness equipment around park has reached end of useful life. ■ Not safe to walk due to spalling. ■ Plans to redo the asphalt paths. ■ Concrete paths repaired on path next to Congress. o Extra set of basketball courts (or even a half court) considered as they are heavily used. o Bocce ball courts could use some updating. Ms. Mondello asked about the different path surfaces, asphalt vs. concrete; concrete is more expensive than asphalt to maintain, but asphalt should last about 15 years; existing asphalt has been resurfaced a time or two in the past 20-30 years. Motion duly made and seconded, to approve the concepts as presented for Hester Park and Meadows Park. In a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously. F. Food Truck Event @ Oyer Park June 21 Chair Pierce-Roe attended the event and gave an overview. The publicity contributed to a successful event thanks to six different signs with arrows pointing the way to the food trucks. It was a small get-together, over 100 people present, but the location was perfect. A gentleman was showing kids how to throw nets to catch bait, families were fishing off the pier. Great family atmosphere and community relationship that ended at 9:30 p.m. This could be done once a month and that would be great. Mr. Majors added that necessary permits were approved; none of the neighbors complained about the noise; and generators were strategically placed to not blow the exhaust to the nearby condos. Mr. Majors and Board Members added some miscellaneous items too late for the Agenda: • Permit received for putting matting at the beach at the bottom of the ramp (not stairs), which will enable wheelchair access further onto the sand. Won't be able to install until after hurricane season and until the new sand is added to the beach; but once it is down, will not have to be removed. The ADA Coordinator did an excellent job pushing this through. • The nursery will happen late in the fall, November or December, certainly after the matting is installed. It was noted the sea oats are growing nicely; not sure if more are part of the plan. A new landscape architect is now working with the City. • Addition of Oyster Beds for cleaning the water was discussed; West Palm Beach and Lake Worth with intercoastal waterways/islands have added mangroves, oyster beds, 5 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 24, 2019 and sea grass. Extension of the dock out to Peanut Island could be a nice pedestrian park. VI. ITEMS FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S ATTENTION --None VII. NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held on July 22, 2019, 6:00 p.m. at City Hall for Parks Tour. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:46 p.m. Attachments: Handouts/Posters/Postcards for 4th of July Celebration Presentation on Hester Park and Meadows Park [Minutes transcribed by M. Moore,Prototype,Inc.] 6