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Minutes 05-29-97MINUTES OF THE CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING HELD AT CITY HALL IN THE MALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON THURSDAY, MAY 25, t997, AT 7:00 P.M. PRESENT Gerald "Jerry" Taylor, Mayor Jamie Titcomb. Vice Mayor Matt Bradley, Commissioner Shirley Jaskiewicz. Commissioner Henderson Tillman. Commissioner Kerry Willis. City Manager James Cherof. City Attorney Sue Kruse, City Clerk CALL TO ORDER Mayor Taylor called this Town Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.. for the purpose of allowing the citizens an opportunity to address the City with any of their concerns. Mayor Taylor explained that the Commission will respond by answering questions this evening, or will research the answers and return a response Martin Halo, 43 Rutland Lane, is President of the 300 Property Owners' Association in the Meadows Subdivision. There are approximately 1,000 homeowners and 400 apartments in this subdivision Mr. Helc reminded the Commissioners of the City's proposed nine-acre park which will be built off Meadows Boulevard between the Windmere subdivision and the CIub Meadows Apartments. The residents would like the City to install a fence on the Windmere side of the canal which would stop trespassing and criminal activities. The fence would be approximately 1.300' in length and cost the City approximately $5,000. The majority of the residents are in favor of this installation. Howard Cooperman advised that there have been discussions with Charles Frederick about the situatio~ in this area. The Police have been called and had to make an arrest. Mr. Cooperman feels that without a fence, there is iability on the part of the City and the homeowners because of the possibility of children falling into the ditch, if the fence is installed. a gate will be installed on one of the properties to allow access by Lake Worth Water Drainage District. Pe~v Cupaiole of Golfview Harbour, advised that the City put in new pavement on SW 27~n Avenue. The speed limit is 25 mph on that road. but people are going 65 mph. Four dogs have been hit by cars in front of her home. She requested that the Commission consider the installation of speed humps on this street. In addition, she questioned whether or not the City can do anything to help the people who live in subdivisions get to know one another better. Commissioner Jaskiewicz advised that there will be a Visions 20/20 kick-off meeting on June 9'r at the Civic Center. More than 300 people are expected to attend and the homeowners' associations will be introduced. She urged Ms. Cupaiole to attend this meeting. Mayor Taylor added that the City Commission has been diligently working to create neighborhood associations. We have been successful in this effort, anc we have hired a Neighborhood Specialist who will help groups orgamze. With regard to the issue of speed humps, the City is receiving many re¢ uests since the implementation of the pilot program in MEETING MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 29, 1997 Chapel Hill. Although many of the residents of Chapel Hill are extremely pleased with the installation, others are unhappy and want them removed. This is an expensive undertaking, and the effectiveness of these humps will be studied for a twelve-month period. Police Chief Gage advised that the City has purchased a radar trailer which alerts the public to the speed at which they are traveling. The Police Department will place the trailer in a location initially unstaffed. No tickets will be written. However. at a point the Police will be at the location and tickets will be written. In addition the Police Department nas a computer which provides an analysis of traffic flow patterns over a 24-hour period This will be done in the area to determine the speed of traffic. Commissioner Bradie, y pointed out that the issue of neighborhood associations is critical. A matching grant project has been presented to the City Commission, City Manager, and the Neighborhood Specialist whereby a pool of money is put in place for access by neighborhood associations. They would qave to match the money with an equivalent amount of money, with only a small amount of the request being n cash. There is a necessity for manhours associated with this grant. In addition Commissioner Bradley advised that the MPC will be holding a traffic calming workshop at 7:00 p.m., on June 11t~ in the County Chambers. George Weide, 2389 SW 9th Avenue, feels the City has gone out of its way to hire in the Police Department. If the City still needs Police Officers, it is time to hire anyone who meets the qualifications regardless of color. The taxpayers are entitled to get the best that we can afford. With regard to the marina Mr. Weide complimented the Commission for making progress, but he is apprehensive about the developer finishing the project. He wants to know the City's policy in this regard. In addition, he feels it is very important to have parking for the public in the manna area. He does not want to park at City Hall and take a trolley to the marina area. Commissioner Tillman advised Mr. Weide that Boynton Beach is a diverse community, Being born and raised in Boynton Beach. he has seen the times when there were no Black officers in the City. We will continue to strive to put into action the pracbces that reflect all of our community. This is not the time to hire anyone who walks in the door. We have a new policy n terms of hiring practices and will continue to move in that direction. Commissioner Jaskiewicz reported that in attempting to visit a restaurant on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach. she drove around for one-half hour and finally parked six blocks away. This has not inhibited anyone for visiting that area. Commissioner Jaskiewicz also advised that a former mayor recently told her that the same marina plan came up when he was in office that included plans to build a parking garage near the railroad tracks. He will provide a copy of those ~lans Mayor Taylor feels there will be plenty of parking and we wilI have ways to put in additional parking if needed. He further advised that the charrettes will be part of the master plan that is being addressed by the consultant, Mr. Weide suggested that the downtown be renamed to a "classy" name such as "Boynton East". 2 MEETING MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 29, 1997 Pe~q¥ Cupaiole suggested that a program be instituted whereby everyone who works and enrolls a child in school in Palm Beach County notifies their employer that they need to work three days out of each semester in their child's school on a volunteer basis. These volunteers could be used to he! p children learn to read. Mayor Taylor has been advised by Sharon Merchant that during the last Legislative Session the State passed laws whereby the schools will begin testing children in third and fourth grades for reading skills. If they cannot pass. they will not be promoted to the next grade. Vice Mayor Titcomb suggested that Ms. Cupaiole contact the Chamber of Commerce Business/Education Committee to offer her ideas. Joe Balboni questioned how the City intends to proceed on the high school issue Commissioner Bradley reported that he was at an environmental forum when he viewed a slide presentation which depicted a newspaper article in 1953 which said. "Boynton Expects New High School From School Board". Commissioner Bradley is attem oting to get a copy of that photo. Boynton Beach has been promised to be the first high school built, however, everything hinges on funding. The School E~oard is trying to link the growth limits to the penny sales tax. However. if concurrency goes into place, the municipalities could be stifled with regard to approwng development. This is a critical issue. The School Board is insisting that there will be no new schools in order to force the issue of concurrency. This Commission has done a great deal of lobbying, and the School District has appreciated the fact that we have been respectful by not having masses of people attend the meetings crying out for a high school. James Miriana feels the districts should De split, if that happens we will have more control over the educational system. It will be years before we get anything if we remain part of the Palm Beach County education system. Commissioner Bradley said there is an initiative to break up the districts. Having control over the schools would be great, but if the district is broken up, we would be included with Delray and Boca Raton and we will probably end up shortchanged. With regard to education Commissioner Jaskiewicz reported that she was a guest speaker at the Junior Honor Society induction at Congress Middle'School where 111 students were 'nducted. The guidelines for induction are very stringent Therefore. she wanted the parents to Know that not all of our schools are go~ng downhill Mayor Taylor said the City has been very involved in the high school ~ssue. We have been meeting with the School Board members and have tried to figure out a way to make the high school a reality. Mayor Taylor feels the School Board is holding us hostage to get the tax vote. We let them know how we feel about that. He is very upset about this situation. If they want our vote of confidence on the tax. they need to live up to their commitment relative to [he school. Karen Carls requested that the City address the beautification ~ssues on the southeast section of Seacrest. She notices the improvement on 12,n and 13TM Avenue. 3 MEETING MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 29, 1997 Commissioner Jaskiew~cz advised that Code Enforcement is targeting this area. and the absentee landlords are being cited. Approximately one-third of the cases heard by the Code Enforcement Board are absentee landlords. Robert Zimmerman feels we should all be proud of Boynton Beach since this is the "in" City today and a great place to live. George Weide suggested honoring neighborhoods for their beautification efforts by paying their utility bills for two months. Mayor Taylor reported that the Boynton Beach Boulevard Association has "The Most Improved Business of the Month" aware which is voted on by the members. Other neigt~borhood groups are doing very similar things. Some people are painting the homes of the elderly who are unable to do the work themselves, and the City is helping by providing some of the paint. These are the kinds of programs the City is pursuing. The Advisory Board on Children and Youth is working on a program to get children to volunteer anc earn community service hours. The City is also looking at a program of putting up monument signs to identify neighborhoods. These signs give a feeling of ownership. George Weide askeC for a status report on the bridge. Mayor Taylor advised that the time frame for the start of work on the bridge is the end of this year and early next year. This work will coincide with the marina construction and the road improvements on US #1 and Boynton Beach Boulevard. Elizabeth Jenkins requested that the Commission consider including the northwest section of the City on the bus schedule. The people who live on the northwest side from Seacrest Boulevard to 5~" Street and from Boynton Beach Boulevard to the C-16 Canal have no access to bus service. Carel Fisher, Deputy Public Works Director. advised that Ms. Jenkins is talking about the area below Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. west of Seacrest. He explained that if there is not enough ridership n a predominantly residential neighborhood, the route is not worthwhile. Although he sympathizes with Ms. Jenkins. it is not possible to change a route for one person. We are currently running a bus from NE 26~ Avenue to Mentone. n two weeks, we have had no ridership at all. This is a route that will most likely be rerouted. Commissioner Tillman suggested that the following route be implemented as routes with no ridership are taken off line: Travel up Boynton Beach Boulevard ane head north on 4~n Street to 10~'~ Avenue (Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard). Swing east (make a right on 10~"} and come back out to Seacrest Boulevard. This route would cover a majority of the area Ms. Jenkins is concerned with. and will be a good test area for ddership. 4 MEETING MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 29, 1997 Lavonne Girtman, 409 NE '10th Avenue, advised that there are a lot of working women in this area that have to walk to Seacrest Boulevard every morning to get the Palm Tran bus to get to work. The City buses do not accommodate working people. Mr. Fisher explained that there are only two buses and the turnaround time is appreximately one hour and fifteen minutes. The City buses were designed to reach as many people as possible who do not have transportation. This service would not be convenient for anyone who needs buses every thirty minutes. Commissioner Jaskiewicz advised that changes will be made to the routes after a test period. Robert Zimmerman_ suggested that flyers be given out in the neighborhood to advise that bus service will be available in the northwest section of the City. Commissioner Tillman felt the City could send out a survey to determine the areas where the people are interested in riding the buses. Dorian Trauger requested an update on the Gateway Boulevard project from Federal Highway to 1-95. Mayor Taylor advised that this project is out for design bids to three-lane Gateway Boulevard and add sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and lighting. He is hopeful this project will begin by the end of the year. Lavonne Girtman, 409 NE 10~" Avenue, complained that there is an increasing amount of noise around her home on Thursday evenings. She explained that there is a "hot spot" on Railroad Avenue where people congregate and cause a tremendous amount of noise. She has never seen anyone cited. She asked for enforcement of the noise and speed Ordinances. Chief Gage advised that the Police Department will investigate this situation from a Code Enforcement perspective. George Weide asked for a status report on the Riverwalk Shopping Center. Mayor Taylor advised that the developer expects this Center to be completed in the fall of this year. No development is planned along the Intracoastal since that area is private property. There will be a restaurant in this center that will offer a view of the Intracoastal Waterway. Donna Harmening suggested reimplementing "Rid Litter Days" which was a program that was put into effect under former Mayor Emily Jackson many years ago. City Manager Willis advised that the City is working on a program of quarterly clean-up days in each area of the City. We will work with the Solid Waste Authority to waive our tipping fees so that we can have Amnesty Days to collect regular garbage and trash in addition to batteries, tires, and paint. 5 MEETING MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKS HOP BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 29, 1997 Robert Zi_rnmerman congratulated the Commissioners for having d~is Town Meeting, and feels they should be held more often. Mayor Taylor thanked everyone for attending the meeting, and speaking out to [et the Commissioners know about the concerns of the citizens. The Commission will try to have these town meetings as often as possible, ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Commission. the meeting properly adjourned at 8:30 p.m. C TY OF BO_¥N_T j ATTEST: City ~lerk ~.~_ cor_ding Secret ry (Two Tapes) Vice Mayor l~ommis~z)ner Commissioner 6