Loading...
Minutes 09-28-20 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH RECREATION&PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING "ZOOM ONLINE MEETING" a SEPTEMBER 28, 2020, 6:30 P.m. PRESENT: Julie Mondello, Chair Kacy Young, Assistant Recreation &Parks Director Betty Pierce-Roe, Vice Chair Andrew Mack, Director of Public Works Eugene Fagan Wayne Carrels, Park Ranger Manager Charles Kanter Lisa Tayar, Prototype, Inc. Brian Bonnell (alternate) Jacob Schwartz (alternate) ABSENT: Charles Frederick Joshua Van Leuven L CALL TO ORDER The virtual online meeting commenced at 6:36 p.m. IL PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. ATTENDANCE Mr. Van Leuven sent an email that he would not be attending. Quorum was present. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —August 24, 2020 Motion by Mr. Kanter, seconded by Vice Chair Pierce-Roe to approve the minutes for August 24, 2020. In a voice vote,the motion passed unanimously. V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS —None VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Needs Assessment Update The speaker for this item had a scheduling conflict, so Mr. Young gave the update on Needs Assessment. The project has had some delays due to Covid-19, but is back on track. Regarding the questionnaire, a link was sent out to the Board for their feedback and discussion. Chair Mondello reviewed it,thought it was great overall; comments included that some of the fields were Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 28, 2020 not necessarily required and if the survey is too long, some may not want to participate. Mr.Young said this is the third version, it has been shortened and tested through random employees throughout the City. The next step is the actual mailing of the questionnaire in time to receive replies in December for the self-assessment preparation for accreditation. The visitation is tentatively scheduled for May 2021. Unfortunately, the timing of the survey is affected by 1) the National Election and the mail-in ballots, and 2) the 2020 Census. Some discussion followed on the timing of the postcards announcing instructions to link to the survey and follow-up reminders; recommendations ranged from "as soon as possible"to "after November 3rd." Mr. Kanter and Mr. Fagan both encouraged publicity now for the survey via letters to the editor, social media, and online exposure prior to receipt of the survey postcard. The eventual consensus was to contact the Communications Office to begin announcing the survey; make the survey available to the public immediately on or about November 101h to obtain general information; and then take a random sample for the consultant to do the report for the needs assessment. B. Park Mobile Wayne Carrels,Park Ranger Manager, gave a brief background on himself and the proceeded with a PowerPoint presentation on Automated Parking Technology(see attached). Highlights included changes to parking in the City Code: meter operation, fees, time limits, permits, prohibited acts, tickets/violations, and penalties for non-payment of tickets. Also explained was the timeline for Park Mobile, easing into the technology, the ordinances, and fee schedule resolution. Mr. Young added that there have been weekly meetings with the team since July, explaining the transitioning to the Park Mobile system. There will be no parking attendants at Harvey Oyer or Oceanfront Park as of September 30. Parking Services will be under the Public Works Department and the Park Ranger will be under Recreation &Parks Department. Mr. Carrels continued by stating that Park Rangers will do the parking enforcement in addition to being a presence in the parks, locking up the restrooms,noticeably less trash, less vandalism, fewer problems, transients. Residents appreciate the safer feelings with Rangers out there patrolling. Returning to the presentation, also explained were the turnkey parking solutions, kiosks, mobile app,violations handled by Rangers with soft enforcement in the first month(October). Mr. Young noted that signage has been in the two parks to make users aware that Park Mobile is coming. General discussion followed with payment methods (no cash taken), consideration of prepaid debit cards for parking before deciding on annual permits that residents and regular users are already familiar with. The Park Mobile app features were described, along with interactions with DMV and Parking Enforcement(five or more unpaid tickets can result in a hold put on car registration), ticketing procedures,permit rates,boat launch rates, violation fees, and use of the customer portal. Mr. Mack added that a whole new division (Parking Services) had to be created in Public Works and described the interactions with the Park Rangers during this transition, along with all the new conveniences. A brief discussion followed with an overview of all types of parking spots, cars and boats, hourly rates and permits, and future plans for parking expansion in both parks. Permit holders have been contacted about the change and new permits have already been purchased. C. Oceanfront Park Parking—See Item B above. 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 28, 2020 D. Harvey Oyer Jr Park Boat Ramp Parking Mr. Mack continued with his discussion under Item B above. There are two separate projects at Oyer, the boat ramp and floating dock. Everything has been submitted through Army Corps. The grant is in place, and when the fiscal year comes around in October it will be put out for bid. The projects should start in the first quarter of 2021. The parking extension is not budgeted yet, so will take a little longer. A conceptual site plan to redo the entire park will be created to submit to the RPB for feedback with a goal to design this fiscal year and to build next fiscal year. Ramp fees will be reinvested into the park. Parking ordinance is envisioned for other areas; may eventually add into different areas with a goal to no meters, but time parking. E. Department Update Mr. Young has provided the Board an ongoing update; the current status of the Department regarding Covid-19 is that the County has moved into Phase 2 (the State is in Phase 3, but Palm Beach County is following stricter restrictions). Plans are being developed to prepare for Phase 3. [interruption in Zoom transmission] • There is currently an onsite learning program for City employees allowing the Sims Center and Cultural Center to serve as virtual learning sites. At the start of the program, there were 38 students, but the count fluctuates to as few as 15 students daily. • A ribbon cutting at the Cultural Center is being planned; some programs are underway, such as dance trends, karate,that were able to follow CDC guidelines in providing a safety protocol. • Barrier Free Park has a new viewing dock that is ADA compliant, providing a view of the pond; ideas for use of the pond are being explored. • Provided for the public at Oceanfront Park are two beach chairs that are ADA compliant alongside the ADA ramp. • With an eye to moving into Phase 3, the Funfare Magazine will be coming out (currently at the printers); looking into ideas to expand the mailing and distribution list, so welcoming ideas and contacts from the Board, specifically residence complexes and businesses. [interruption in Zoom transmission] Suggestions from the Board: • Vice Chair Pierce-Roe suggested Sterling Village at 500 Boynton Boulevard, and that Inlet Cove Association will participate in magazine distribution. • Mr. Kanter said the little lake would be good for model sailboat racing,which is a big thing, a lot of fun, and doesn't hurt the environment. Discussion followed on this idea's possibilities. • Greater Boynton Race was discussed; hard to say how the county will move into different phases. There is an option for a virtual race, a 30-day challenge; no decision made yet but discussions have started. Chair Mondello mentioned the Fort Lauderdale marathon in February that is scheduled as an in-person race. A hybrid option was proposed for Boynton Beach. 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida September 28, 2020 • Feeding South Florida is being hosted by R&P every Thursday at the Hester Center 8am- 11 am. The goal was 500 vouchers a week, which has been met and exceeded the past two weeks. The volunteer link can be found on the Feeding South Florida website. • Fall Festival at Hester Center will be a drive-through event on October 17 during the day. Venders, businesses, and non-profit organizations are busy planning the event. VII. ITEMS FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S ATTENTION—None VIII. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS A. Quantum Park—Chair Mondello is interested in update on what's being done there. B. Mangrove Extension — Chair Mondello continues to look into why the land can't be leased from the diocese. Plans last seen were pre-Covid. IX. NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held on October 26, 2020. [interruption in Zoom transmission] Discussion caught mid-way, with Mr. Young saying the Board wants to meet in person; he will determine a location if it's not to be the new chamber and check to see if public can attend. X. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further business, Chair Mondello adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m. Attachments: PowerPoint presentation Park Mobile: Automated Parking Technology [Minutes transcribed by M. Moore,Prototype,Inc.] 4