Minutes 02-22-21 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH
RECREATION& PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
"ZOOM ONLINE MEETING'
FEBRUARY 22, 2021, 6:30 p.m.
PRESENT: STAFF:
Julie Mondello, Chair Kacy Young, Recreation &Parks Director
Betty Pierce-Roe, Vice Chair Gary Dunmyer, City Engineer
Joel Barsky Paola Mendoza, Associate City Engineer
Eugene Fagan Glenn Weiss, Public Arts Manager
Victor Gaud-Cabrera Crysta Parkinson, Prototype, Inc.
Charles Kanter
Brian Bonnell (alternate)
Jacob Schwartz (alternate)
ABSENT: GUESTS:
Joshua Van Leuven
Mr. Young gave the introductory statement for this Zoom Online Meeting.
L CALL TO ORDER
Chair Mondello called the Zoom Online Meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
IL PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. ROLL CALL
Quorum was present.
IV. AGENDA APPROVAL -- February 22, 2021
Mr. Young wanted to add Public Comment to both items under New Business, after the Hester
Center Improvements and the Kinetic Art Exhibit Presentation.
Motion by Mr. Kanter, seconded by Mr. Bonnell to approve the amended Agenda for February
22, 2021. In a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously (7-0).
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- January 25, 2021
Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida February 22, 2021
Motion by Mr. Kanter, seconded by Mr. Bonnell to approve the Minutes for January 25, 2021. In
a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously (7-0).
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Chair Mondello gave an update on the Magic Wheels event. Zoe got her Minnie Mouse Train and
enjoyed it, along with her family. The vendors helped make the event a really beautiful event. Mr.
Young noted that a special sponsorship of$5,000 was received from the Joe DiMaggio Children's
Health Specialty Center, making it possible to rent the large LED television screen to project the
ceremony; also, vendors were limited this year due to Covid-19. Mr. Young also described the
30-Day Virtual Race Packet Pickup and Map. Mr. Fagan posted a picture of the event in chat.
The Ocean Front Bark event was so well attended that the public has voiced their desire to have it
all year. But Mr.Young reminded everyone that this can only be held November through February
due to turtle nesting season the rest of the year. Attendance was 395 people and 261 dogs.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Hester Center Improvements
Gary Dunmyer, City Engineer, introduced Paola Mendoza, Associate City Engineer and Project
Manager who gave a PowerPoint Presentation (see attached). Following are highlights of the
project scope and site plan:
• Provide additional parking areas
• Provide multipurpose fields
• Relocate/redesign playground
• New asphalt walking path
• Overall site lighting
• Security upgrades (emergency call boxes, PTZ, and CCTV cameras)
• Irrigation modifications
• Site drainage improvements
• New access to the park on NW 19th Ave
• Landscape improvements
• Replacement of all benches, trashcans,picnic tables, and other amenities
• Correction of ADA access issues
Speaking next on map of proposed improvements, divided into four quarters, Ms. Mendoza took
questions from the Board along the way:
• NW Quarter:
o New parking lot where it is currently grass
o Access with gate to 19th Avenue
o Artificial turf of football field
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Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida February 22, 2021
o Upgrade press box, bleachers, and storage
o Enclosed dumpster
• NE Quarter:
o Several parking modifications
o Relocating and redesigning play area
o New pedestrian crosswalk to Community Center (striping and making safer)
o Improve flow by making entrance open to two-way traffic (play area moved,
removing restrictions that led to one-way traffic)
o Upgraded sign wall and irrigation enclosure
Chair Mondello wondered if the existing exit will be kept. Ms. Mendoza said yes, but it will
become two-way. There are quite a bit of changes to overall flow of the park. Chair Mondello
added agreement with additional parking for quick use by the building.
• SW Quarter:
o Take out baseball field and put in two multi-purpose fields
o Proposed asphalt multi-use trail
o Bleachers elevated on concrete pads
o Artificial turf(if budget allows)
o New lighting
o Sidewalk and team benches
o Crowd separated from team and coaches
o Regarding vegetation, environmental studies being done to make sure anything
that needs to be protected gets protection
• SE Quarter:
o Some vegetation removed to allow visibility
o Additional parking lot to access basketball and tennis
o Two-way entrance
o Relocate tennis court and proposed pickleball court
o Performing platform
• Project Schedule:
o Kick-off meeting -- November 13, 2020
o Task 1 Survey and Submittal Design Development-- January 29, 2021
o Task 2 Construction Documents -- July 29, 2021
o Task 3 Bidding/Permitting -- October 7, 2021
o Task 4 Construction Phase Services -- Date TBD
• Looking to put dream plan together and phase it as budget comes available
Chair Mondello confirmed that as the projects to rework all the fields gets underway that there will
always be something available and will never be without some space for people to play. Mr.
Dunmyer said the plans are to work around the demands of the sports seasons, such as the football
field. First thing will be expanding the parking and putting in the drainage, and then concentrating
on the football field, astro-turf, and fixing the lighting. Mr. Young confirmed the project will be
planned to not interfere with the staple programs throughout the year; accommodations will be
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made if anything interferes with those plans, like moving to a different park not under
improvements at the time. Something is always available to not impact recreation activities.
Mr. Fagan asked about drainage: will French drains be used as much as possible so there won't
be water runoff into the Boynton Canal. Ms. Mendoza confirmed that is the plan. Mr. Fagan
commented that the new playground at the City Hall is fantastic,kids are on it day and night. More
playgrounds like that would be awesome. Mr. Dunmyer said they are looking at installing even
better playgrounds;there will be some age-appropriate athletic training centers when locations are
found. One location is near the football field so when older kids are playing, younger kids have a
place to hang out.
Ms. Mendoza commended their strong design team. Mr. Young added his appreciation to Staff,
engineers,and Public Works as part of that team as he recapped the points made in the presentation.
Also discussed was an after-care program that can be added in the future without having to redesign
the park to meet those criteria. As to the performance area, it has not been fully designed, but the
location is a good spot and, due to Covid-19, there have been a lot of requests for outdoor/parking
lot- friendly events.
Mr. Young put out a call for public comments as this project proceeds, ideas, questions,
suggestions for proposed amenities. One area that wasn't shown was a potential courtyard directly
in front of the Hester Center Community Center; something needs to be done but ideas haven't
been put down on paper yet. Ms. Mendoza said this will be part of the next submittal and she will
make sure any updates are communicated.
Chair Mondello wondered if pieces of the outdoor exercise equipment could be put in a small area
near the playgrounds, like there is at Barrier Free. Ms. Mendoza said they are considering
something"pretty cool," and will definitely look to see if some equipment can be placed nearby.
Mr. Barsky noted he was once involved with the Hester Center and likes seeing the Center grow
as it has a lot of potential. Perhaps it could be made more inviting with art murals to bring people
together; there are many ways the site can be utilized.
Mr. Fagan suggested that perhaps benches and trashcans and other thing that go in the park could
be made to look more like art; for instance, instead of a bench, a series of seats could look like
mushrooms or sitting on the back of a duck, something more visually stimulating that a regular
wooden bench.
Glenn Weiss, Director of Public Art Program, liked these suggestions and would be happy to work
with these programs to find ways to enhance anything within the park. He was drawn right away
to the pedestrian crosswalk to the Community Center to reflect a national movement to introduce
color into a generally bleak and black landscape.
Chair Mondello fielded a question in the comments section regarding a traffic light being added
on Seacrest Boulevard entrance to the Hester Center for the two way traffic and all the kids that
will be crossing the street at that location. Ms. Mendoza said there are no current plans to make
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any additions to traffic lights on Seacrest;besides being close to another traffic light, it is a County
Road and at this moment there are no plans for updates.
Chair Mondello opened the floor to public comments; as there were none, comments continued
from Board.
Mr. Young noted on the subject of traffic lights, there had been some discussion concerning
directing traffic, specifically, that with the entrance becoming two-day, only a right turn would be
allowed onto Seacrest. Mr. Dunmyer confirmed, "right in/right out." Mr. Bonnell noted the exit
on 19th as well, where one would not have to only go east on 19th. Mr. Dunmyer noted the nice
thing about this plan is it does give more ways to leave the park.
In closing, Mr. Young thanked Ms. Mendoza for the presentation, noting that their previous
meetings about this project with Recreation and Parks caused a lot of excitement doing everything
they could to bring our ideas to life, and looking forward to Hester Center becoming one of the
best parks in the City, County, State, and even nationally. If anyone has any further questions, feel
free to contact Mr. Young at youngk@bbfl.us (561-742-6236) or Ms. Mendoza at
mendozap@bbfl.us (561-742-6266).
B. Kinetic Art Exhibit Presentation
Glenn Weiss, Public Arts Manager, gave a PowerPoint Presentation (see attached), starting with
the advertising for a few special events related to the show. The following are some highlights:
• Kinetic Show March 6 and 7
• Special invitation to Boards for the opening on March 5,please RSVP and attend
• Palm Beach Post has donated advertising for the event
• Unveiling of featured sculpture at Seacrest and Ocean by a Swiss-American artist
which will become iconic for Boynton Beach
• Eleven artists will be showing work inside in gallery setting in Cultural Center
• Youth programs in City Hall and Library
• Valerie Tyson Band in amphitheater Saturday and Sunday
• Food trucks along Ocean Avenue
• Feature examples were shown and discussed (again, see attached)
• Special activity featuring work entitled"The Healing Heart" (a giant stethoscope)will
be exhibited the week of the show, dedicated to healthcare workers at Bethesda Baptist
and JFK Memorial
• Circles will be painted on the ground at the amphitheater to aid with social distancing
• Work inside Cultural Center will only be available March 6 and 7
• Sculptures outside will be up for a full year for everyone to see
Chair Mondello opened the floor to public comments; as there were none, comments continued
from Board.
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Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida February 22, 2021
Chair Mondello commended Mr. Weiss on a very productive first two months in his position and
asked him to thank the Arts Commission for all they have done. Mr. Young added the Recreation
and Park are excited about this event at the Arts and Cultural Center. This type of event is what
the center was built for. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
VIII. PUBLIC AUDIENCE-- None
IX. ITEMS FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S ATTENTION-- None
Mr. Young had some announcements to make:
• March 15-19 hosting Spring Break Camps
o Traditional Spring Break Camp at Carolyn Sims Center
o Fire and Recreation Spring Break Camp at Fire Station 45
o Safety protocols and registration restrictions in place
• Traditional Summer Camp on this year(cancelled last year due to Covid)
o Camp Boynton
o Carolyn Sims Center
o Hester Center
• Junior Lifeguard Academy at Denson Pool
• Tennis Summer Camp at Boynton Beach Tennis Center for junior players
• Taking proper Covid precautions even if some restrictions are lifted by summer
• Programs available for childcare during Spring Break so spread the word
• Various programs at Arts and Cultural Center
• Youth Flag Football coming up this summer
X. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Ms. Pierce-Roe suggested for next meeting gathering information on parking at Ocean Front Park:
people are complaining about crowded conditions to the point of why pay $50 for a parking permit
if one can never get a parking spot. Citing Lantana Beach, where there are a designated number
of parking spots reserved for purchased permits, can something similar be done for Boynton
Beach. A brief discussion followed on possibility of also having a loading/unloading zone for
dropping off at the beach. Also look into the increased fees at the Boat Club, from $50 a year to
$200, could there be a few designated spots there as well. Further discussion on parking situations
through the year ensued, including a possibility of a "decal only" area in many of the lots and at
the boat ramp. Mr. Young shared what he knew on these topics, will research this further, and
have it on the Agenda at a future meeting.
XI. THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 22, 2021.
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Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
Boynton Beach, Florida February 22, 2021
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further business, Chair Mondello adjourned the meeting at 7:32 p.m.
Attachments: PowerPoint Presentation: Hester Center Draft Site Development Plan
PowerPoint Presentation: Kinetic Art Exhibit Presentation
[Minutes transcribed by M.Moore,Prototype,Inc.]
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