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Minutes 03-22-21 CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH RECREATION& PARKS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING "ZOOM ONLINE MEETING' MARCH 22, 2021, 6:30 p.m. PRESENT: STAFF: Julie Mondello, Chair Kacy Young, Recreation &Parks Director Betty Pierce-Roe, Vice Chair Steven B. Grant, Mayor Joel Barsky Gary Dunmyer, Interim Public Words Director Eugene Fagan Crysta Parkinson, Prototype, Inc. Victor Gaud-Cabrera Charles Kanter Jacob Schwartz (alternate) ABSENT: GUESTS: Joshua Van Leuven Tom Warnke, Surfing Florida Museum Brian Bonnell (alternate) L CALL TO ORDER Chair Mondello called the Zoom Online Meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. IL PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. ROLL CALL Quorum was present. IV. AGENDA APPROVAL -- March 22, 2021 Mr. Fagan wanted to add the tree donation to the Agenda; Chair Mondello said it can be put after Oyer Park as VII. New Business Item C. Motion by Mr. Fagan, seconded by Mr. Kanter to approve the amended Agenda for March 22, 2021. In a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously (7-0). V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- February 22, 2021 Motion by Mr. Gaud-Cabrera, seconded by Mr. Barsky to approve the Minutes for February 22, 2021. In a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously (7-0). Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 22, 2021 VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS --None Chair Mondello gave an update on the Kinetic Art Exhibit, commenting it was a beautiful event in a beautiful place; many Board Members were in attendance. A survey was sent by email and Board Members are encouraged to fill it out. Mr. Young thanked the Board for their support. Safety protocols for Covid-19 were in place and observed. It was the first event in the new Arts and Cultural Center; several things will need attention, but all in all well attended and the bar was set high for future events. Mr. Young introduced Gary Dunmyer, Interim Public Works Director, as a presenter, and the Honorable Steven B. Grant, Mayor, also in attendance. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Boynton Beach Tennis Center Improvements Mr. Young made the Board aware there was a Capital Improvement Project(CIP)approved in this fiscal years for renovations for the Boynton Beach Tennis Center. • There will be 17 Har-Tru courts and four hard courts. • The Har-Tru courts will be resurfaced, which includes removal of the current Har-Tru materials, laser grading, removal of the lines, and adding materials back to the courts. • This will make the Tennis Center one of the top clay court facilities in the county. • The project is scheduled to start in April and phase the project so the entire facility will not have to be closed all at once. • The bid went to a local company. • Courts will be safer and play better, last longer, attract more patrons when finished. • Plan to add programming for annual permit holders. • Another project hoping will be approved is to convert two of the hard courts into six Pickleball courts. o Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports nationwide. o Professional Pickleball tournament recently in Delray Beach. Chair Mondello commented on a recently converted outdoor skating rink to Pickleball courts which are packed all the time. Brief discussion followed on amenities and usage of the different courts. Everyone agreed it is the fastest growing sport. B. Harvey Oyer Park Boat Ramp Improvements Gary Dunmyer, Interim Public Works Director, gave a PowerPoint presentation. Before beginning, Mr. Dunmyer informed the Board that Palm Beach County has a project for dredging the Intercoastal waterway. Boynton Beach will pay their pro rata share for the County to do our portion of the canal ($50,000 estimate). Last dredging was eight years ago and is badly needed. As to the presentation, the following are some highlights: • Boat Ramp Replacement Project: 2 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 22, 2021 o History of the boat ramp, how it is in need of renovations and repairs. o A grant was received, has been put out to bid, and is currently in the procurement phase. o Bid came in at less than $1 million, $1.2 million has been budgeted. • Pre-cast concrete wall along north property line: o About two feet on north property line. o Beautify water's edge in disrepair o Prevents trespassing. o Currently out to bid, then pre-cast wall panels will be manufactured. o Expected completion by July 1, 2021. • Dock replacement: o Has been designed, construction expected October/November. o Twenty weeks to order and receive pre-cast parts, two more weeks to install. o Coincidentally, 10-month parking pass will go on sale at this time as ramps will be closed down for two months during construction. • As construction approaches, appropriate signage will be put out so guests know what to expect. • Not sure when dredging there will be done,but expect it sometime during the summer. Discussion followed on various ideas for what can be done with the dredged material, including a created "island" with mangroves and a walkway as has been done in West Palm Beach and other areas. Seagrass and mangroves as they affect kayaking launches was also addressed. Regarding the fishing pier itself, it was acknowledged that it needs some attention and is also degraded; either the outcroppings could be removed or it could also be turned into a capital project. Ms. Pierce-Roe stressed this is used a lot by families on the weekends and at night and needs attention. C. Tree Donation Mr. Fagan noted that the State of Florida, through the St. Andrews Nursery Program, will give thousands of trees away; he has offered to buy 1,000 native Southern Slash Pine to plant in one of Boynton's Beach's parks. A City Manager at one time talked about turning the railway into Boynton Beach into its own version of a landscape park for a better image. Or perhaps another park, like Quantum Park which is void of trees in a lot of spots. Discussion followed. Mr. Kanter feels Quantum Park desperately needs those trees, especially in the area where the new parking lot for the building. Currently, at least a dozen cars always face directly into Parkside Square which, when used at night, can be terrifying with all the lights shining in. Those trees are needed there and along the water's edge to block those headlights from coming into the community. Some discussion ensued on how that park is now used since the renovations. Mr. Young said this Board can provide recommendations to move forward with purchasing the trees and where they are planted. As a side note, Mr. Young said that the gates at the parking lot 3 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 22, 2021 at Eco Park are now being locked from dusk until dawn treating it as a park; this has been added to the Park Rangers' duties, so it won't be accessed 24-hours a day. Mr. Fagan said that he can go ahead and pay for the trees; he just wants to make sure the City Manager and City Council is on board, and that this Board can give some with guidance as to where they need to go. Mr. Young said he could bring the proposal to the City Manager. Other parks will be surveyed to see whether they have slash pine. The trees need to be ordered by May and will arrive in January. Mr. Kanter will take photos for Mr. Young on the parking lot at Quantum Park. The price for all the trees is only $90. Another discussion was launched on other areas that could use such trees on an annual basis through this program. This item should be on the April agenda. Mr. Young made several suggestions for the use of the trees at that time; the first step is to get them ordered and then there's plenty of time to decide where they will go. VIII. PUBLIC AUDIENCE-- None Mayor Steven Grant gave brief presentations on several items: • The Support for the Surfing Museum event he attended in West Palm Beach, including the history of what surfers had to go through in the `50s and `60s to be able to surf. Hopefully this item can be on this Board's April Agenda for an opportunity to review the plan. • American Rescue Plan should have some funds available through the City to be used for tourism; parks are a big aspect of tourism, especially the new Eco Park. • Mayor Grant has spoken with a company bringing the International Seniors Tennis Tournament to Delray and Boynton and Quail Ridge, so was glad to hear about the upgraded tennis courts previously discussed. • In March 2020,there was almost a memorandum of understanding between the County and Washington Prime, the owners of the mall, to do a feasibility study for the Arena. Due to the pandemic, the County backed away with their funding. It is hoped that the American Rescue Plan funds can be used to move the Arena project forward again. • Last of all, he thought the tree project is great (one-foot tall seedlings with six-inch roots); there are a lot of places where they can go in future projects. • Everyone is invited to the City Commission meetings with their comments. Chair Mondello asked about the mall project, wondering what the current status is. Mayor Grant said it was formerly zoned C3, now it is suburban mixed-use to open up all the different uses for that property. Hence the feasibility study as there will have to be a parking garage for an arena. If the residents want it, and only if they want it, it can be done. Some discussion followed on the use of the American Rescue Plan dollars, as well as other State and local resources, for such proj ects. IX. ITEMS FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S ATTENTION Chair Mondello noted several items already mentioned earlier in the meeting. 4 Meeting Minutes Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Boynton Beach, Florida March 22, 2021 X. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Need Assessment Update -- April 26, 2021 Mr. Young should have the Update ready to present at the April meeting. Of note, we are in the last phase of the needs assessment,and it has been a long process due to Covid-19. Board members have been interviewed, data collected. The scientific study is complete; a community survey is being devised and available for the rest of the calendar year. Tom Warnke, Surfing Florida Museum, followed up on Mayor Grant's recommendation for review by this Board, wondering what the process might be. Mr. Young said Mr. Warnke did provide a proposal, the City is in the process of acquiring the Historic Women's Club from the CRA,which means that the City would operate the Women's Club going forward. The Agreement has not yet been fully executed, it is still in the transition period. Ideas are being reviewed,repairs and renovations are needed. The Women's Club is open, it is available for rental. A presentation has been made to the CRA with ideas and recommendations. Mr. Warnke's proposal for the Surf Museum was included in the presentation, but it was almost a year ago, before Covid-19. Items that are part of the transition period were listed. Mr. Warnke was invited to give a presentation to this Board in April. XI. THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 2021. VII. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further business, Chair Mondello adjourned the meeting at 7:26 p.m. A. Attachments: PowerPoint Presentation: Harvey Oyer Park Boat Ramp Improvements [Minutes transcribed by M.Moore,Prototype,Inc.] 5