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Minutes 07-06-21 Minutes of the City Commission Meeting Held Online Via the GoToWebinar Platform and In-Person at the City Hall Commission Chambers 100 East Ocean Avenue, Boynton Beach, Florida On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 4:30 P.M. Present: Mayor Steven B. Grant Lori LaVerriere, City Manager Vice Mayor Woodrow L. Hay James Cherof, City Attorney Commissioner Justin Katz Crystal Gibson, City Clerk Commissioner Christina L. Romelus Commissioner Ty Penserga 1. Openings A. Call to Order Mayor Grant called the meeting to order at 4:31 p.m. B. Roll Call City Clerk Gibson called the roll. A quorum was present for the closed-door session. Closed Door Session Closed-door session held on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. for a private attorney- client session to discuss pending litigation case of: RONALD RYAN, Plaintiff, vs. CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, a local municipality, Defendant — Palm Beach County Circuit Court Case Number: 502016CA007514-XXXX-MB Jim Cherof, City Attorney, announced those attending the closed-door session included the City Commissioners, City Manager Lori LaVerriere, City Attorney James Cherof, Assistant City Attorney Gal Betesh, and a court reporter. The session was anticipated to last about 45 minutes. Attorney Bridgeman noted should a Commissioner who was not currently present arrive during the close-door session, it will be reflected when the meeting reconvened. The meeting recessed at 4:32 p.m. Mayor Grant reconvened the meeting at 5:32 p.m. Invocation by Pastor Amalie Ash, First Presbyterian Church Pastor Ash was not in attendance. Reverend Rae Whitely gave the invocation in Pastor Ash's absence. Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Commissioner Katz Commissioner Katz led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Agenda Approval: 1. Additions, Deletions, Corrections Mayor Grant received a request from City Attorney Jim Cherof to add Certification of Capital Improvement Revenue Bond Series 2018 to Legal Items 12 B. 2. Adoption Motion Vice Mayor Hay moved to approve the agenda as amended. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Other A. Informational items by the Members of the City Commission. Commissioner Katz disclosed that he spoke with Rae Whitely regarding federal dollars. Commissioner Romelus disclosed that she spoke with Rae Whitely regarding the ARPA funds. Commissioner Penserga disclosed that he spoke with Pastor Davis regarding item 11 A. He also spoke with Pastor Rae Whitely regarding ARPA funds. Vice Mayor Hay disclosed that he spoke with Pastor Davis. On June 19th, he attended Juneteenth Festival at Sara Sims Park. On June 20th, he enjoyed his Father's Day. On June 25th, he attended the Food, Wine and Beer Festival at the Cultural Center. On June 26th, he was a participant in Feeding South Florida. Feeding South Florida event will only be on Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the summer. After the summer Feeding South Florida event will be on Thursdays. On July 4th, he attended the City's Red, White and Blue with a Waterview event. He was delighted to see that the City was coming to life again. He thanked Eleanor Krusell and her staff for a job well done. Vice Mayor Hay read the history of Juneteenth Day and its significance to America and why it is celebrated. Juneteenth (June 19th) is now a national holiday commemorating the Emancipation of African American slaves. Juneteenth is the day that all Americans became free. Mayor Grant disclosed that on June 16th, he attended the Riverwalk ground breaking, he 2 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 also attended the Palm Beach County League of Cities Board of Directors meeting. That afternoon he attended a partner appreciation recognizing Stratacon and REG Architect for their dedication in saving the historic high school now know as the Boynton Beach Arts and Cultural Center. That evening he attended South Tech's graduation. On June 17th, he met with Boynton Beach Veterans Task Force to review the events that they had in May and June and helped plan for the next event in August. On June 19th, he attended Juneteenth event he thanked ChevyDTV Foundation and Boynton Strong for being the City's partner for the event. On June 20th, he enjoyed his Father's Day. On June 21st, he attended the Transportation Agency Strategic Plan. On June 24th, he met with the Planning Department. That evening he attended the ribbon cutting for Posh Properties. He also attended the Food, Wine and Brew at the City's Arts and Cultural Center. On June 26th, he attended the Lion Fish Derby. On June 27th, he attended the Florida Public Pension Trustee Association meeting. On July 1st, he met with Community Greening. On July 4th, he attended the City's Fourth of July Event. He thanked Eleanor Krusell and her marketing team for the amazing event. On July 6th, he took some of the City residents to Career Source in the Library. In addition, he spoke to Rae Whitely, Jovan Davis with Lutheran Services, Zachary Tucson, John Markey and Jeff Johnson. 3. Announcements, Community and Special Events and Presentations e A. FY 2021/2022 budget workshops are scheduled to be held July 12-14, 2021 in the Police StationCommunity Room, 2100 High Ridge Road: Monday July 12, 2021: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, 2021: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2021: 2:00 p.m. (If needed) The Commission adopts a Preliminary Fire Assessment Rate Resolution and Tentative Millage Rate Resolution at these workshops. Mayor Grant read the dates and times for the FY 2021/2022 budget workshops. B. Proclaim the month of July 2021 , as Parks & Recreation Month. Kacy Young, Recreation and Parks Director, will accept the proclamation. Kacy Young, Recreation and Parks Director accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Recreation and Parks Department. July is Parks and Recreation month. The Recreation and Parks Department has programs planned that will help tell our story, which is this year's theme for Parks and Recreation Month. Some of the events are: Battle at the Beach Basketball Tournament at Ezell Hester Center, Boynton Tot Olympics at Pence Park, and the Arts and cultural Center will host Wild Wednesday which includes youth orchestra concerts and dance fit fusion demonstrations. Postcards will be available at all recreation facilities for anyone who would like to share what recreation and parks means to them. He encouraged all to visit one of the parks to enjoy the recreation on your own. Commissioner Romelus thanked the Recreation and Parks staff for the work they do and for making life fun. 3 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Acknowledge Mayor Steven Grant's gift of the historical Captain Harold Lyman Charter sign to the Boynton Beach City Library Historical Archives. Georgen Charnes, Library Archivist, thank Mayor Grant for his donation to the Boynton Beach City Library Historical Archives. Mayor Grant inquired how old must an item be to be consider historical. Ms. Charnes responded that is a good question and she was not sure. She did state that If handed photos from a City event she would scan and keep some of them because even though they are not historical they are still part of history. 4. Public Audience Individual Speakers Will Be Limited To 3 Minute Presentations(at the discretion of the Chair, this 3 minute allowance may need to be adjusted depending on the level of business coming before the City Commission) Tory Orr, 106 Northeast 7th Avenue, inquired about why Sara Sims Park was not available over the 4th of July weekend. When he called the City, he was told that there was no availability, yet over the weekend there was nobody at the park using the reserved pavilions. Kathryn Matos, Assistant City Manager, responded that the park was open all weekend. The two pavilions closest to the amphitheater were not available because there was work scheduled to be done on the amphitheater starting right after Juneteenth. Pavilions one and three were available. Bernard Wright, President of the Community Review Board, CEO of Bernard Wright Ministries, Realtalk Radio, 713 Northwest 2nd Avenue stated that he did call the City regarding the park and Kacy Young did confirm that it was an error in the computer. He thanked Mr. Young for getting back to him regarding the issue. His concern on the agenda is the lease beginning renewed on the Lutheran Services of Head Start. Mayor Grant, responded that Mr. Wright will have the opportunity to talk on the Lutheran Services lease renewal when the item comes up on the agenda. 5. Administrative A. Appoint Voting Delegate for the Florida League of Cities Annual Conference on August 12-14,2021 . Commissioner Penserga nominated himself as a potential delegate to the Florida League of Cities Annual Conference. Mayor Grant stated that Commissioner Penserga will be the new appointee to the 4 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Florida League of Cities. Vice Mayor Hay volunteered to be a backup. B. Proposed Resolution No. R21-063 -Appoint a City Commission representative and alternate to the Countywide Intergovernmental Coordination Program. Commissioner Romelus nominated herself as the representative to the Countywide Intergovernmental Coordination Program. Commissioner Penserga nominated himself as the alternate representative to the Countywide Intergovernmental Coordination Program. Motion Vice Mayor Hay moved to approve. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. C. Proposed Resolution No. R21-064-Appoint a City Commission representative and alternate to the Coalition of Boynton West Residents Association (COBWRA). Commissioner Katz nominated himself as the representative to Coalition of Boynton West Residents Association (COBWRA). Mayor Grant nominated himself as the alternate representative to the Coalition of Boynton West Residents Association (COBWRA). Motion Vice Mayor Hay moved to approve. Commissioner Romelus seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. D. Proposed Resolution No. R21-065 -Appoint a City Commission representative and alternate to the Palm Beach County League of Cities. Vice Mayor Hay nominated himself to be the representative to the Palm Beach County League of Cities. Commissioner Penserga nominated himself as the Alternate to the Palm Beach County League of Cities. Commissioner Motion Commissioner Romelus moved to approve. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. E. Proposed Resolution No. R21-066 -Appoint a City Commission representative and alternate to the Transportation Planning Agency (Formerly known as 5 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 the MPO, Metropolitan Planning Organization). Mayor Grant stated that he would like to continue to the be the representative for the Transportation Planning Organization. Commissioner Penserga nominated himself to the alternate for the Transportation Planning Organization. Motion Commissioner Katz moved to approve. Vice Mayor Hay seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. F. Appointment of eligible members of the community to serve in vacant positions on City advisoryboards. Motion Vice Mayor Hay nominated James Jenkins to be appointed to the Recreation and Parks Board as a regular board member. Commissioner Romelus seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. 6. Consent Agenda Matters in this section of the Agenda are proposed and recommended by the City Manager for "Consent Agenda" approval of the action indicated in each item, with all of the accompanying material to become a part of the Public Record and subject to staff comments. A. Approve the one-year extension for RFPs/Bids and/ or piggy-backs for the procurement of services and/or commodities under $100,000 as described in the written report for July 6, 2021 -"Request for Extensions and/or Piggybacks." B. Legal Expenses - May, 2021 - Information at the request of the City Commission. No action required. C. Proposed Resolution No. R21-067 - Approve and authorize the City Manager to sign an amendment to the agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for a Premier One CAD, mobile, records and records mobile solution. D. Proposed Resolution No. R21-068 - Approve and authorize City Manager to sign an amendment to the agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for the Motorola CommandCentral Aware software. E. Proposed Resolution No. R21- 069 - Adopt the City of Boynton Beach's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) One-Year Action Plan for fiscal year (FY) 2020 authorizing the City Manager to sign the CDBG One Year Action Plan FY 2020. 6 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 F. Proposed Resolution No. R21-070 - Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign sub recipient agreements for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), as adopted in the FY 2020CDBG One Year Action Plan, on July 6, 2021 , subject to approval of the FY 2020 CDBG One Year Annual Action plan, from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Mayor Grant pulled item Mayor Grant inquired if this item was advertised. City Manager LaVerriere responded yes and the City is trying to build on the advertising with the radio stations as well. RJ Ramirez, Community Improvement Program Manager, stated that advertisement has been done through different outlets including the City website and the newspaper. Mayor Grant stated that funds will be given to Aids to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Pathways to Prosperity, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach, and the Boynton Beach Faith Based Community Development. Motion Commissioner Katz moved to approve. Commissioner Hay seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. G. Proposed Resolution No. R21-071 -Approve Award of Bid No. 022-2516-21 for"Hydraulic Cylinders and Valve Parts and Repairs" and authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with Construction Hydraulics of Lake Worth, Inc. of Lake Worth Florida for an estimated annual expenditure of $65,000.00. H. Authorizing payment to Florida Power & Light (FPL) in the amount of $55,285.00 for the design and supply of the needed conduit and cabling for a new low voltage buried electrical supply forWells #7 and #8 located in the Boynton Beach Utilities' western wellfield. I. Proposed Resolution No. R21-072 - Authorize the City Manager to sign Amendment No. 1 to Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Agreement between City of Boynton Beach and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) modifying the equipment locations and agreement term. J. Authorize the rejection of the one (1) bid submitted in response to the solicitation for "Boynton Beach Boulevard Extension Hardscape, Landscape and Irrigation Improvements", Bid No. 018-2512-20/RW and re-bid the project with changes to specifications and bid documents. K. Approve minutes from the City Commission meeting on June 15, 2021 . 7 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Motion Commissioner Hay moved to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. 7. Consent Bids and Purchases Over $100,000 ID A. Approve the renewals for employee group medical, dental, vision, long term disability, short term disability, and life/accidental death and dismemberment insurance programs and recommendedemployer subsidies for Fiscal Year 21-22 and authorize City Manager to sign any required documents. B. Propose Resolution No. R21-073 - Approve amendment to agreement with CareATC, Inc. to administer employee health centers through its shared- site network at a per employee per month base rate of $72.50 and authorize the City Manager to execute all related documents. C. Proposed Resolution No. R21-074- Approve and Authorize the City Manager to sign the lease- purchase agreement with PNC Equipment Finance, LLC. for Ninety (90) 2021 RXV Elite Golf Cars from EZGO, Division of Textron, Inc for the previously approved total expenditure in the amount of $409,906.80. D. Approve a change to Task Order UT-1E-03 with Alexis Knight Architects, in the amount of$76,882in accordance with RFQ No. 046-2821-17/TP, General Consulting Services Contract, Scope Category E awarded by City Commission on August 7, 2018 to revise the design plans, provide geotechnical services, surveying services, permitting assistance, bid assistance, and constructionadministration for Mangrove Park and the Boynton Beach Blvd Extension. Motion Commissioner Katz moved to approve Consent Bids and Purchases of $100K. Commissioner Romelus seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. 8. Public Hearing 6 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the agenda permits. The City Commission will conduct these public hearings in its dual capacity as Local Planning Agency and City Commission. A. Proposed Ordinance No. 21-019 - Second Reading - Rescinding previous abandonment of a portion of an unimproved five (5) foot wide alley running east to west from Seacrest Boulevard approximately 436.5 feet (ABAN 21-001), and approve abandonment of an approximately 8 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 76-foot-long section of the five (5) foot wide alley along the south side of Lot 1, Meeks Addition to Boynton Plat. City Attorney Cherof read proposed Ordinance No. 21-019 into the record by title only, on Second Reading. Motion Commissioner Katz moved to approve Ordinance No. 21-019. Vice Mayor Hay seconded the motion. Vote City Clerk Gibson called the roll. The vote was 5-0. B. Proposed Ordinance No. 21-022 - Second Reading - Amend the Land Development Regulations, Chapter 3, Article IV, Zoning, Section 3.D. Table 3-28, Foot note #103 regarding Landscape Debris Stockpiling use, to add a minimum distance separation standard and amend certain existing operational requirements and standards to avoid hazards, nuisances, and otherimpacts on residential land uses. City initiated. City Attorney Cherof read proposed Ordinance No. 21-022 into the record by title only, on Second Reading. Motion Commissioner Katz moved to approve Ordinance No. 21-022. Vice Mayor Hay seconded the motion. Vote City Clerk Gibson called the roll. The vote was 5-0. 9. City Manager's Report A. Approve the Draft American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Funds Investment Framework presented by Carisse Lejeune. City Manager LaVerriere introduced Ms. LeJeune to the Commission stating that she was a former Assistant City Manager. Ms. LeJeune has been a tremendous help. Ms. LeJeune will give the Commission a summary on the Act and the things that the City can do with the funding and the intent of the funding. Carisse LeJeune, Policy and Project Consultant, reviewed the Draft American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Funds Investment Framework to be approved 9 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 by the Commission. City Manager LaVerriere stated that this framework is to identify ideas or areas that the City can use the funding for. Staff has broken down the framework into five categories. This is a primarily discussion tonight to hear what the Commission does and does not like, what are the priorities, and what the City should do as quickly as possible. Is there something we have missed? Staff has thought of things that could be discussed with the Commission tonight. A couple of things we may want to add to the list. Revenue loss: Staff has calculated to date a revenue loss of $3.7 million based on the treasury's calculation formula. Staff is requesting $1.6 million of the funding to be utilized to recapture some of those losses. Staff is anticipating on requesting the remaining portion of $3.7 million next year. Public Health: If there is funding available through other sources the City is going there first. The City is applying to Fema for reimbursement on running the Covid vaccine site, overtime, personnel, and supplies used for Covid response. Healthcare has been listed in this framework because the reimbursement amount from Fema is unknown. Economic hardship: With the Commission's guidance, we can help with programs to assist with rent, food, utility, mortgages, evictions, burials, repairs, response to the Covid emergency, also currently there are numerous programs that are providing that assistance that is still available, staff will research that first and try to utilize those resources and steer people toward that prior to utilizing ARPA funds. Child care: The City can work with expanding or trying to develop enhanced learning, education and partnership with the school district, is also a priority. Anything the City can do to help the students catch up is supported by this program. Staff met with the Coalition of Clergy a couple weeks ago and discussed the potential of having a summer tutoring program. Staff is working on a two-week intensive tutoring program called Jump Start. The school district is going to provide the City with the curriculum and the students who have fallen behind. The two-week program will provide core training to specifically targeting fourth grade students who need it the most. The City is working with Rolling Green and Forrest Park to identify 30 to 40 fourth graders who have fallen behind. The City is going pay volunteers, caring adults, teachers and retired teachers, we have a principal that wants to volunteer an hourly wage to help us run the program. The City has identified four to six volunteers. The City is required to have anybody working with children to have background screening, during the next two weeks we need to identify people quickly, if anyone is interested in tutoring or helping us out. The City will be able to launch the program in two weeks. The school district is thrilled, it will truly help those fourth graders that are not getting tutored this summer. The City looks forward to longer term as well partnering with the school district. Providing enrichment programs and after school programming to kids that otherwise do not really have access to the music and the arts, additional tutoring, programs that lower income families typically may not be able to 10 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 access, so we will be able to use funds to create those programs and facilitate that. The City is going to utilize some of this funding to expand and bring back some of the youth programs and provide engagement with our City, with our youth, primarily in the low- income areas. The City has the opportunity to do great programming that the City has not had the time or the people in the past. Staff is excited about that and would like to hear any ideas the Commission may have. Job training. Anything. The City will continue to work with career source. The City will try to figure out a way to expand that and be more successful in finding and helping people get jobs. Internship programs. Apprenticeship programs. This all eligible as long as the City is serving the population that was hit the hardest, which is north of Boynton Beach Boulevard from 95 to Federal. That does not mean there are no other low-income families or people hit hard in other areas of the City. There is flexibility in identifying people who need the help. The City needs to demonstrate with data and prove that the funding the City is utilizing is helping individuals in those categories. Another idea is a neighborhood resource center. This funding could build a resource center, pay for partnering with nonprofits to bring in services not ordinarily or easily accessible to lower income communities. Like basic health services. The City will not be hiring nurses but will work with agencies like Genesis Health and Baptist Health. Mental health counseling, jobs training, housing assistance, all of that in a center where a community member can walk in the door right in their neighborhood and get help in any of these areas. The City needs to hear directly from the community. What are the real needs and immediate needs are so the City can help with that. Mr. Orr suggested jobs and the City doing what they can to support that. Small business grants, the City would love to do things like that. Ms. LeJeune stated it started off as only small businesses that were directly impacted by Covid. Now the treasury is allowing the City to help with brand-new startups because so many individuals have been displaced across the country. They had a business. They lost the business. It is the American dream. They are reinventing themselves. The treasury said go ahead and support those new startups with technical assistance, job training, loans, grants and in-kind assistance. City Manager LaVerriere stated what exactly that looks like or what the rules are on what we can and cannot do, we do not know yet. The treasury is still figuring that out. The City is delighted they added that to the list. Commissioner Romelus inquired would that be under the purview of our development or director of development? City Manager LaVerriere responded that some of these programs the City may need to hire people to help us run them or someone else doing it, does it already, we can support financially, does not mean we need to necessarily administer the program themselves like Ms. LeJeune mentioned earlier, it is partnering with people. The City is good at delivering services, the City is not good at delivering social services. The City has limited 11 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 staff, but, yes, we can get technical assistance to develop and run programs like that. Absolutely. People were losing their livelihoods. They had to reinvent themselves to survive. It makes sense to her and she is glad the treasury came around to support those efforts of people trying to make an income and trying to survive. There is a housing study the City would like to embark on the staff has added it the project list to talk to Commission about. The City is developing and working on an attainable housing ordinance. I think greater than that is a program, if it is going to be more meaningful partnering with the county, the county undergoing a needs assessment right now. Housing, Commissioner Romelus, you said that you heard that the new number for median house price in Palm Beach County is up to half a million dollars. That creates serious issues. The City is working very closely with the Housing Authority to try to be successful with them disposing of and us being able to purchase through Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency 35 vacant lots in the Heart of Boynton that have been vacant for probably 30 plus years. We worked very closely with them to encourage them to dispose of the property through a HUD process. The City is hoping to be able to bid the option and get affordable housing built in those areas. It would change the face of some of the neighborhoods in the area. There is no guarantee because there will be other people interested in the property as well. Habitat for humanity again, CRA, that is the infill housing. If we are able to, we can acquire land with this. Can the City incentivize a development through land? I do not know if we can use ARPA funds for an affordable housing project. Ms. LeJeune stated that Incentives are very specific in the ARPA but there are ways to do what we need to do to get housing built. City Manager LaVerriere continued this is the last category, and this is one where we are going to have access to moneys from a variety of other sources but we still identified infrastructure, water, sewer, and broadband. She has already spoken to the county administrator. The City is going to partner with the school district and all the cities are getting together to take more of a regional approach on the broadband. The County will be receiving a couple hundred million dollars. Broadband is one of the County's main priorities. Water and sewer, The City has identified some projects very easily and quickly that would certainly meet the criteria of ARPA. However, the City is going to be getting access to another federal infrastructure bill that will provide millions more of access for water and sewer types of projects. The injection well, the City of Delray and Boynton Beach have to build. 7 million that needs to get funded and shared by both cities would fall into this category. State grants and infrastructure bills that will pay for that. Bernard Wright, 713 Northwest 2nd Avenue, stated that the Bulldogs has 300 children who were all impacted by Covid. They all have to come to practice Mr. Wright suggested making tutoring apart of practice. Rea Whitely, 223 Northeast 12th Avenue, stated that Ms. LeJeune did an awesome job. Mr. Whitely announced that on July 29th, at 6:30 p.m. at Carolyn Sims Center (tentative location)there will be a Community listening session to hear directly from those who have been impacted the most and how the money should be spent in addition to all the great 12 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 stuff that we heard tonight. Mr. Whitely invited the Commission to the listening session. City Manager LaVerriere asked Mr. Whitley to provide her with the details so the City can help out and be part of the listening session. Tory Orr, 106 Northeast 7th Avenue, stated that some of the money should go to job training, true job training, job training in Boynton Beach. For guys to go work for the City. There are no jobs in my community. Julian Serrano, Executive Director of Head Start at Lutheran Services Florida, stated that it is very important to invest in early childhood education and he will expand his comments on this when commenting on the Lutheran Services item. Commissioner Romelus inquired is it possible to assist with the community input meeting. City Manager LaVerriere responded absolutely the City wants to participate and help with the meeting. Ms. LeJeune mentioned that on the last page of the presentation there is a list of resources that are available now for food, medical, cash assistance, rent and utility assistance, homelessness assistance and training programs, small businesses and non- profit assistance. If needed the Library has numerous laptops that can be used by the public. She encouraged people to look at the resources that are available. Commissioner Penserga thanked Ms. LeJeune for a thorough and clear presentation. He agreed that the City has to make sure there is no redundancy in the funding. If funding is available elsewhere the City should get it from there first and use it to fill the gaps. He wants to make sure that this is not a one time hand out, he wants the investment to last. The City is going to use this to create partnerships. He would like these funds to generate more funds. This way the City will have a source of funding that can be used to continue supporting social programs that is needed in the City. He agreed with Mr. Orr, because of what has happened with Covid, the economy is changing and the kind of jobs people are going to be doing moving forward, people need to get retrained or trained. A long time ago the CRA supported a small company by the name of Modernizing Medicine which became a massive company. Unfortunately, they left Boynton but they are in Boca. He just spoke to their CEO Dan King. They have hundreds of jobs available. They are waiting for people. He has spoken to NYU Langone, they also have hundreds of jobs waiting for people. Let's connect people with these companies. If they need training or retraining, that is a great avenue to do it. He suggested adding to the list current resources that are available. He agreed with what was said about education and early childhood education. Students are falling behind and it is a real crisis. The school district has their plan and what the City can do to close those gaps. Also, there are a lot of teachers on summer break that are certified and bring a wealth of experience and the are ready to help. 13 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Commissioner Romelus stated that she is looking forward to the community input meeting. She sees this as a stopgap. There was a lot of progress happening before Covid. This is a stopgap to stop the bleeding and get back some form of continuity. The City wants to see small businesses, that have the potential, to become multimillion and multibillion-dollar entities that just need that ability to get off the ground. She commended her fellow commissioners who have already shown dedication and commitment to education. In the middle of Covid when everybody was hunkering down the City was donating $75,000 dollars to the education foundation in order to show our true commitment to education in the City of Boynton Beach. The City did before they had Covid and C.A.R.E.S. Money and the City will continue to do it. This is an opportunity to continue to build and uplift and rebuild our Community. Commissioner Katz thanked Ms. LeJeune for the presentation, he was very happy with it. The presentation gave everyone in the public, as well as the Commission, a clear picture of the appropriate uses for these funds. When the City receives money from the Federal Government the City needs to spend it as judiciously as possible. He supports covering the revenue lost in the current year's budget. If the City spends all this money and does not cover the deficit, it will lead to Citywide service reductions that will affect everybody. He wants to make sure that these funds got to those who absolutely need it. He does not like when the Federal Government gives money to people who do not need it. He does not think this money at the local level should be going to people who do not need it. He requested holding a meeting on the west side of 95 as well, specifically in Leisureville, it is a senior community and most of the residents are on fixed incomes. He wants to make sure that the access to City staff is Citywide. It is fortuitous that the City spent the money on the FIU study it is providing the City with an in-depth analysis of our communities to let us know where the most need is. Some people scoffed at the price tag when the City went out for that study, but now the City has concrete objective data that will come to tell the Commission the precise needs from analytics and from studying statistics he thinks that is great help. He likes that the small number of projects the City has identified for immediate funding while only totaling $300,000 dollars, most of the projects are geared towards gathering information to make the remainder of the funds the City spends more targeted and more precise. He is not opposed to furthering the criteria with local requirements before the City gets into doling out money. Not only does the City have the federal guidelines but the City identifies the needs and requirements on a local level so it does not turn into a show up and ask for money to support anything and everything under the sun. He feels that a lot of input from residents throughout the City, throughout District 1, there is a difference between a good idea and an idea that sounds good. The City needs to invest in good ideas, not sounds good ideas. Sounds good might not be good. He wants this to be as objective and analytical as possible to get the best outcomes for the community. Whether that is job training, resource centers, he does not have particular projects in mind because he wants to be open minded to any project if it can be justified and produce definitive outcomes. Vice Mayor Hay stated that he has a few comments. He echoes everything that has been said by the Commission. This is a great start Ms. LeJeune, thank you. When the City has 14 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 projects that are borderline, questionable, who has the final say so as to whether or not that goes forward. Is it the Commission? Is it the ARPA folks? The City needs to be really clear on how this is going to be handled down the road. He knows there are a lot of projects out there that are lined up waiting for guidelines. He pointed out that the Commission needs to wait until after the FIU study comes out. He asked City Manager LaVerriere when will the study be available. City Manager LaVerriere responded no later than spring of next year. FIU has committed to the first quarter of next year, it might be delivered sooner. Vice Mayor Hay stated he would love to see as many of his colleagues at meetings like the on the 29th at Carolyn Sims, as long as we do not have items to be voted on, it is okay to have more than one commissioner at these meetings. We need to hear with our own ears what is being said by the public. He would like to dispel that because he has heard that if you are going I cannot go, that is not true. He noted that this is a huge effort and sees extra manpower will be needed; does the City have enough manpower to monitor this project as it moves forward? City Manager LaVerriere replied possibly on the project. If the City needs assistance the City can utilize ARPA funds. The City can use it if staff needs technical assistance to get the funds out. As the City identifies and breaks down the projects and programs, the City will identify the resources that will be need to help with that. This is why the City wants to partner with nonprofits. Vice Mayor Hay stated that the City is going to receive over $13.6 million dollars. The City has already received $6.8 million dollars. He inquired did the City put those moneys where a couple of nickels can be gained while we sit and wait and decide. City Manager LaVerriere responded yes and the City had to get clarification that it was allowed to be put in an interest-bearing account from the treasury. Commissioner Penserga inquired if the treasury stated anything about keeping the dollars local. On of his concerns is that the City supports a start up and gives them funding then they move to another city. How does the City protect these dollars so they are invested the City and stay in the City? Ms. LeJeune replied that is an excellent question. There is flexibility when it gets to the local level. As long as what your funding has the intent designed to address economic harm resulting from or exacerbated by the public health emergency. Within those programs they have given you flexibility. When it comes to the compliance and reporting, it is going to be very specific. However, there is nothing that says that the City cannot enter into a contract or an agreement with a recipient of the funds with the City's own set of criteria. As Commissioner Katz stated earlier he would like to see very strict requirements even if the Federal Government does no ask for it, the City can ask for it. The City can create a contract that says the City gives you this money, you will have to 15 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 stay in the City for x amount of time. Commissioner Penserga stated that his intent is wherever it is legally possible to keep the funds within the Community and build the Community. Mayor Grant inquired if the City is allowed to give forgivable loans similar to the PPP Program. Ms. LeJeune responded that the City is encouraged to model after some of state and federal grant programs. Mayor Grant commented that when the Commission talks about dividends we turn on investments, it not just the money that comes back it is also goodwill and the public interest that the City gets back that is not necessary a quantifiable time but it is a qualitative term. He inquired that quality also matters and that the City can look at education and standards as a possible metric. Ms. LeJeune stated that the City is encouraged to put metrics to the projects and specially programs. Mayor Grant commented that whatever the Commission feels is in the public interest as a qualitative measure is something we can do moving forward. That is very helpful. He agrees with Commissioner Katz; the City should not give money to people who do not need it. However, he does not think that the City is necessarily the ones to determine who needs help and who does not. The federal government said if you are an individual who makes $81,000 dollars, you do not get that third stimulus check. If you make $74,000 dollars, you get the full amount. He wants to make sure that anybody who needs help, the City should be able to give them help and not necessarily based solely on income. He inquired if the City's urban tree canopy or any sort of resiliency regarding natural disasters, is that included in ARPA? Ms. LeJeune stated that there is specific language for climate projects and it is specifically to resiliency to stormwater flooding, green infrastructure that mitigates that type of flooding, and also natural disasters. As projects come forward, if she can understand the scope of the project, she can see what, if any, elements fit into what treasury has described in the interim final rule (IFR). Mayor Grant commented that whatever the Commission feels is in the public interest as a qualitative measure is something we can do moving forward. That is very helpful. He agrees with Commissioner Katz; the City should not give money to people who do not need it. However, he does not think that the City is necessarily the ones to determine who needs help and who does not. The federal government said if you are an individual who makes $81,000 dollars, you do not get that third stimulus check. If you make $74,000 dollars, you get the full amount. He wants to make sure that anybody who needs help, the City should be able to give them help and not necessarily based solely just on income. He inquired if the City's urban tree canopy or any sort of resiliency regarding natural 16 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 disasters, is that included in ARPA? Ms. LeJeune stated that there is specific language for climate projects and it is specifically to resiliency to stormwater flooding, green infrastructure that mitigates that type also natural disasters. As projects come forward, if she can understand the scope of the project, she can see what, if any, elements fit into what treasury has described in the interim final rule. Mayor Grant stated that if the City can help with stormwater in certain neighborhoods or have those types of programs available, he thinks that is something he would definitely be looking forward to, sustainability. The septic-to-sewer, he knows that there are septic properties within the City. He would like to see if the Commission would be willing to move forward with that. He spoke with Mr. Savage of the Community Partners in regards to navigators. That is dealing with navigating the internet and having the related internet electronics. He wants to make sure that the City deals with the broadband infrastructure, He remembers speaking to Mr. Groff about the fiberoptic backbone that is needed within the City. If the City can expand on that rather than just dealing with wi-fi mesh or 5g, the City wants to have the undergrounding bandwidth than through the air. He inquired if the City starts a new non-profit project is it covered in the ARPA or is it only existing non-profit projects. Ms. Lejeune responded it all depends on what Covid impact need the treasury is addressing and if the program is an evidence-based program. She is not going to say that no you cannot have a brand-new non-profit. But the non-profit does have to be able to show that their programming is evidence-based, either strong or moderate so that there is documented verified experimental and non-experimental studies for what they are doing. Mayor Grant commented for example, a co-working space in a non-profit organization, like a church. That church is now used as that co-working space. They sign a contract with the City to have it open as a co-working space for economic development. Would the City need to find a study that shows that using these non-profit spaces as co-working provides a metric of enhanced economic activity? Ms. LeJeune stated that it is more about what the non-profit is providing. As far as paying for rent for a non-profit to use a private property, that is an answer that I do not have. However, the City does have resources. She can put any specific question that the Commission has to the treasury through the National League of cities. Mayor Grant stated that if the City can help non-profits expand their inside spaces for multiple uses that promote economic activity is something he is looking to do. If the City can help with that along with conference rooms and that type of equipment needed to start a basic co-working space. Ms. LeJeune thanked the Mayor for clarifying his question. You are referring to an 17 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 expansion of services to address an identified need from the impacts of Covid, Yes, an expansion of services is something the City could help fund. Mayor Grant inquired about specific demographics, for example, a resource center for creole speaking residents, is that something that the City could use funding for. Ms. LeJeune replied that there is a section in there that talks about the qualified census track but it also gives local municipalities the flexibility to identify other underserved populations or communities. If there is a data set that the City can show that this is an underserved population or community, then yes, the City can put funding towards mitigating the negative impact the community received from Covid. Mayor Grant stated that he absolutely would want that, along with a Spanish resource center. Feasibility studies along Congress Avenue is something that he would like to do specifically focusing on the Boynton Beach Mall. The property owner did file for bankruptcy. He does not necessarily know what the City can do to help the private property owners along Congress Avenue. He feels that the City needs to help with the land use and zoning to better maximize the economic activity in that district. Ms. LeJeune pointed out that there is a section in the treasury FAQs that came out on June 24th that specifically said that economic development is not eligible. Mayor Grant inquired about a bike sharing program. The City has approved a bike sharing in the past and it did not move forward. Is that something the City can spend the money on? To create a bike sharing program for transportation of underserved communities. Ms. LeJeune replied that if the City can prove the connection and come up with the data that this is an identified need from a negative impact of Covid and show how this addresses that negative impact, then the City could probably find a way to see how that is eligible. Mayor Grant inquired that the City could look at the increased prices of automobiles, the decreased use of public transportation over Covid time and how more people are looking to find alternative means of transportation to travel within the City limits or to neighboring cities? Ms. LeJeune stated that the slam-dunk would be if it connects a qualified census track to where the jobs are. Mayor Grant inquired if the commission would also like to do that. In regards to premium pay he is in favor of a lot of people took risks working as an essential worker here in the City of Boynton Beach. Ms. LeJeune noted that there is a specific definition for essential worker in the IFR and that is: if you had direct contact with the public during Covid and if you directly touched 18 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 anything that was touched by the public during Covid, then you were considered an essential worker. Mayor Grant stated that he would want premium pay to go to is the sanitation department they touched a lot of things that other people touched during Covid. Mayor Grant stated that he would want premium pay to go to is the sanitation department they touched a lot of things that other people touched during Covid. Ms. LeJeune stated that the sanitation truck drivers are absolutely essential workers. Office personnel does not qualify. Mayor Grant stated that he understands that. He would like the premium pay number at $300 in the first year and hopefully again the second year. Next is physical activities for the youth. The City understands that eight of the nine schools here are title I schools, if they qualify for free or reduced lunches, they should qualify for free activities as well. Next is wi-fi. This is something that he would like Citywide wherever it can be done. Specifically, in City parks so that everyone has access to the internet while they are there. Going into the talks of internships, he has had conversations with Palm Beach State College to set up programs with them for the internship. He wants to offer to 18 to 55- year-olds or even older that anyone who wants to learn how to work gets that training. Commissioner Penserga inquired if the internships are for specific trades. Mayor Grant stated that this is something that is beneficial of the Community so that anybody who has gone through this type of internship program with the City knows that they are a qualified employee. He wants to help draw the line to help people realize what does it mean to work. As for the clinic, he is in favor of that. A clinic that will provide the essential resources he thinks it is something extremely vital and that he would be in favor of supporting. One of our hard-hit industries is retail. He does not know if that is something that the City can support a lot of our local residents were retail employees. The deadline was 2024 for all the money has to be spent, is that correct? Ms. LeJeune replied that the money needs to be encumbered. If you have a project that you are starting and you have all of the money basically invoiced and promised, then you have until 2026 to actually finish the project. Mayor Grant inquired about the claw-back. Fema has four years. Did treasury determine how many years after the City puts in reports does the federal government have to respond to the reports? Ms. LeJeune replied that in the IFR, they are actually going to have the ability to claw back sooner than that. As we are putting in a quarterly report, at any time that they feel something is not an eligible use, they give the City the opportunity to adjust it. Yet the treasury can ask you for the money back. There is no statute of limitations. 19 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Ms. LeJeune replied let me research that for you. Mayor Grant commented that it is very exciting to be given this opportunity by the federal government to help the local lives of our residents. He is excited that the City is going to be able to spend this money to make a difference. Commissioner Katz inquired is a formal motion required to approve the draft framework. City Manager LaVerriere responded yes. She asked if she could get more direction from Commission on the premium pay. The state is going to be providing $1,000-dollar bonus to all firefighters and police officers. We have not done any eligibility number crunching with our employee population until we got a sense what population of employee you are interested in. The cap at this point, they have to make less than $75,000 dollars is an easy cap to remember. Do you want us to focus on public works and utilities or the general population or look just at eligibility and come back to you with that? Mayor Grant replied that he feels that the employees that came in and did their jobs. more of the City's lower, middle-tier employees that I feel the $300 is going to make a big difference and the City needs to make sure that the employees that served the City for the past 15 months during Covid that they get that type of premium pay. Commissioner Romelus commented that she has no objection. Commissioner Katz stated the Commission needs the data. City Manager replied that staff will identify the eligibility of the employee population and bring that data back to the Commission. Mayor Grant commented that it is not something that is vitally done right now. Hopefully before December 1St the Commission gets that data so that everybody gets it this year. City Manager LaVerriere stated that the other clarification on the project, the identified immediate projects. We have identified the housing study, what the City spent on the FIU study. The summer tutoring program and the first what the City has invested in first responder's wellness total is $253,500 dollars. If the Commission supports that The City would identify ARPA funds to reimburse the ones we have spent already this year that is eligible. Commissioner Katz stated that he supports the remainder of that list that the Mayor presented today. Regarding the potential pay he wants to make sure that we quadruple check eligibility before the City announces it because while the state-funded bonuses for police and fire appear to be permissible, but bonuses for teachers might not be a permissible use. For months educators and public schools have been told that they were getting this money from the state, but it may very well not be permissible 20 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 City Manager LaVerriere stated if the Commission would vote on the framework, that will give staff the guidance needed to regroup, Ms. LeJeune, and then start drilling down in more detail for you. Mayor Grant inquired can staff provide Commission with a similar spreadsheet with short and long-term needs to help identify the strategic plan and to see how it is moving forward. City Manager LaVerriere confirmed that staff will add the sources to the spreadsheet. That is a wonderful idea. Commissioner Penserga stated that he supports the framework. But he has I not seen details yet as to what the summer tutoring program is going to look like and who is in it, Same thing with the first responder wellness. City Manager replied staff can get that to you tomorrow. Commissioner Penserga commented that he is uncomfortable saying yes to something I do not really understand. City Manager LaVerriere stated that she is willing to do that now and follow up in writing tomorrow. She asked to get direction from the Commission tonight on this because the City is committing to running this program if the district can provide the names and identify the 4th grade students that the City going to tutor. The City is going to start the week after next and it is literally an intensive two-week jump start tutoring summer program run by volunteers. We are going to pay them $25 an hour. We are going to provide breakfast, lunch and snack. Mayor Grant questioned paying volunteers $25 an hour. City Manager LaVerriere replied that one is a principal and two teachers. If Commission knows of any teachers or anybody that is t is already trained, it makes it much easier and she would not have to go through background checks. Staff will put that in an email tomorrow. Staff literally just finalized some details with the district today. And it is not certain it is a go but she wanted to get the Commission's approval to spend the funds if it is. We will not meet again until Monday if the district can commit to get us the students. If they cannot, City is not doing it. Commissioner Penserga inquired if the school district will be contributing to some portion of the funds. City Manager LaVerriere responded that the school district is going to provide all the curriculum for us, activity books. The City may contribute towards some of that up to 30 students. A lot of it is uncertain at this moment, but not to exceed that. I do not think it will cost nearly that. 21 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Vice Mayor Hay inquired who should people contact if they know of any volunteers. City Manager LaVerriere responded that they can call City Hall, herself, David Scott or John Durgan and the Clergy is doing a great job. They are the ones that have gotten all the volunteers so far for us. We have also reached out to the Literacy Coalition. The City is asking the teachers to work a half day. The School District recommended $25 an hour for a teacher. Commissioner Katz stated that he appreciates the $25 dollars because that is the contract rate in the collective bargaining agreement with the school district. He would not want to see the City undercut the going rate for a tutor. It is a relatively small chunk of money and it would directly impact the lives of the students the City gets. He is not sure where the City is going to find these tutors or at least credentialed ones because the district does pay hourly rate for summer school a lot of teachers who are willing to give up their summer are getting an hourly rate. City Manager LaVerriere stated that the City will be supervising the program so it could be a caring adult as we talked to the district, a volunteer that can teach some basic core principles to the kids. She has even considered and working through with Human Resources to possibly allow City employees a few hours or one day a week to volunteer on City time to go on over and help us out if we need it. Motion Commissioner Romelus moved to approve Draft American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Funds Investment Framework. Vice Mayor Hay seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. 10. Unfinished Business — None 11. New Business e A. Receive update on status of current lease agreement between the City of Boynton Beach and Lutheran Services of Florida for the City- owned property located at 909 NE 3rd Street (Head Start) and potential options for Lutheran Services to relocate within the City. Andrew Mack, Assistant City Manager, Public Services, stated that back in April at the City Commission meeting, Lutheran Services had just received their notice of non- renewal of their lease. They came to the meeting to inquire about the status and what was going on. Since that time, we have had several meetings with them to explore different opportunities working with them on logistics, what was laid out in the agenda item. At this point we basically have three options. One was to find another provider, a day care provider or church to partner with, which I think they have looked at some options there. One other option was to look for vacant land that either the City or CRA owned that 22 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 they potentially could enter into a purchase and sale agreement with the City or the CRA. Then potentially build themselves a building. The last option would be the lease would terminate and they would cease services in the City. At this point, that is pretty much the options we have. I know that they are actively working their options. We also do have MR. Serrano which is the CEO of the Lutheran Services here. Dr. Julian Serrano, the CEO for Lutheran services. He is going to talk briefly about Head Start has been doing the past seven years. In Boynton Beach, we currently have about 200 kids and 300 families that we provide services to. If we do not get the land, we will not be able to provide the services. We went to the church. The church is not feasible it does not meet the code for Head Start, it does not meet the code for licensing. Before this meeting, I talked to the federal government and I asked them if there is any possibility that we can get money for prefabricated building. The answer was yes. Tonight, he is here to ask the City for consideration. Commissioner Katz inquired about the federal government willing to give Lutheran Services money for this purpose. Dr. Serrano replied that the federal government is willing to give money for a prefabricated unit, not for pre-construction or remodeling. Mayor Grant inquired if Dr. Serrano had that in writing. Dr. Serrano replied no, he believes he can have it in writing pretty soon. Mayor Grant stated that the City would like to see what is in writing and what the federal government will not spend money on and what they will. That would make the City's decision much easier. Commissioner Romelus asked for clarification on prefabrication? Mayor Grant replied that prefabrication is similar to a module home. Commissioner Romelus stated she thought so. The building needs be built elsewhere and placed on the property. Commissioner Penserga asked Dr. Serrano to clarify pretty soon? Are you talking in two weeks, a month? Commissioner Romelus stated that Dr. Serrano does not know. Dr. Serrano asked that the Commission gives him 20 to 30 days, he can talk to the federal government and ask if they can write a letter of good faith saying that we are following the process that we and the intention is to be able to provide the money. 23 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Mayor Grant inquired about Dr. Serrano being the CEO of Lutheran Service of Florida. Dr. Serrano stated Lutheran services is in the state and he is responsible for Palm Beach County. Mayor Grant inquired does Lutheran Services have any other locations in Palm Beach County. Dr. Serrano replied 42 locations. Mayor Grant inquired about how many locations in Boynton Beach? Dr. Serrano responded one. Mayor Grant commented there is 42 other locations. Where is the next closest location? Dr. Serrano replied Lake Worth. Mayor Grant inquired does Lutheran Services own those properties or does the cities. Dr. Serrano replied all the cities, the properties that we get is for 50 cents a year. We do not have money for leases. We do not have money for that type of operation. We do have money for maintenance, but not for that. No. When we enter into the transaction about seven years ago, the promise they were giving the building, including Boynton Beach, for 50 cents on the dollar per year. Mayor Grant asked Dr. Serrano the numbers that you gave us are solely for Boynton Beach? Dr. Serrano replied that he gave numbers for both for Boynton Beach and for Palm Beach County. Mayor Grant clarified that the numbers are 200 and 300 year for children and the families. Dr. Serrano replied that Palm Beach County has 200 kids and 300 families per year. Commissioner Katz confirmed that they numbers are for Boynton Beach. Dr. Serrano replied that is 100% correct. Mayor Grant inquired about Lutheran Services partnering with a local day care. Dr. Serrano replied that Lutheran Services has gone to Request for Proposal to find a daycare to partner with, they were unsuccessful. Lutheran Service could not find partner that is willing to give Lutheran Services a property at a dollar per year. 24 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Mayor Grant stated that Lutheran Services does not give money to other organizations. Dr. Serrano replied that that is incorrect. When Lutheran Services receives money from the federal government the money goes to characteristic childcare partners, vendors and family child care homes. That was not calculated in the number that I gave to you. Lutheran Services had to spend almost $4 million on that building. Mayor Grant remarked over the past seven years. Lutheran Services gets over$4 million from the Children's Services Council and that is the match from the federal Head Start program. Dr. Serrano commented that the federal government gives you .80 cents and you have to look for the other .20 cents. Mayor Grant inquired if Lutheran Services looks to raise money from places other than the federal, state or county governments. Dr. Serrano replied Lutheran Services is constantly looking for money. Lutheran Services has received money from Chamber of Commerce $20k, $30K that is nothing for a building of this magnitude. Bernard Wright, 713 Northwest 2nd Street, stated that he was with Head Start years ago. We know this is a historic and cultural Head Start and definitely convenient. I do not know what's going on with the renewing of the lease. All I would like to see is this Head Start stay within this community and give them all the assistance they need. Mr. Jean, Operation Manager for Lutheran Services. This program is a great program. I think that I work for them and realize how great the service is. You can see how interesting it is for the kids, how happy they are, how much brighter they are in the program. But my area is in maintenance. I have a crew that goes around and does all the repairs there is nothing we have not done. I have met with Andrew Mack many times. It was a surprise when I heard the lease was not going to be renewed because we are looking for money everywhere even to put the roof on that building. That is how much we feel like that building belongs to us. Head Start is what we do. And we are in this for the kids. They will be the next mayors, the next city commissioners, the next president, we do not know. Greta Wilson, Assistant Director of Boynton Beach Head Start, 909 Northeast 3rd Street, stated that they have met with Mr. Mack several times trying to see if we can secure a place to keep the program in Boynton Beach. When I look out of that window across the street, I see that piece of land overlooking the center. I do not see reason why we cannot get help or why you cannot give us that piece of land to build and put a center over there. I spoke to one of my staff today and she said, Greta, I am 63 years old. I have been living right in this neighborhood, right at the back of the center for 63 years. And this piece of land, there has been nothing on there but grass for all these years that I have lived in that city. If it has been vacant doing nothing, nothing is ever put out there, why can you not 25 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 just give us that piece of land to build? We have serviced over 800 children and families in that City over the past seven years. We need to stay right where we are. And we are asking you, we are begging you. I am here to support the families. I do not know how long I am going to be out there, but I still want to see a developmentally appropriate center that is really built to conduct business for the zero to 5-year-olds. It is right fitting to have the bathrooms in the classrooms, to have the classroom wide enough to fit the 19 or 20 children per classroom. If we build it, we will make it child friendly. Conference rooms so the parents can have meetings or training. I am pleading to everyone who has the power in your hands to do what is best for the children of the City. This is not the first time I have been up here saying this. I was here for the last meeting saying the same thing. I do not want my words to fall on deaf ears. I am 69 years old. I am standing here asking that the children of Boynton Beach have been living in this City for years and I am pleading that you give us that piece of land for the children of Boynton Beach. It will not go to waste. Mayor Grant inquired if Ms. Wilson was talking about the property located and Northeast 9th Avenue and Northeast 3rd Street. Ms. Wilson replied yes, the land has been vacant for a long time. She does not see any reason why it cannot be donated to Head Start to erect a building that is child friendly, developmentally appropriate for zero to 5-year-olds. Sabine Weisbach, Social Services Boynton Beach Head Start, commented that having Head Start move out of Boynton Beach will make it difficult for a lot of the families that Head Start serves. There are a lot of families that have transportation issues and moving Head Start would make it very difficult for them to have their children attend Head Start. Commissioner Katz inquired if the City was able to convey land is Head Start capable of building a structure, is the land the only thig Head Start needs. Dr. Serrano replied yes if the land is given to Head Start they will be able to get the money needed to build the building. Commissioner Penserga inquired about Head Start getting the money to build if only the land is provided. Dr. Serrano responded that there is money only for the prefab building. Commissioner Penserga inquired if it possible to have Head Start as a tenant in the community resource center once it is built. Mayor Gant replied that day care center requires specific zoning. All the classrooms have to be a certain size. All the classrooms have to have their own bathrooms. City Manager LaVerriere commented that the building cannot be shared with other adults, very tight security. 26 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Vice Mayor Hay stated location is very important, the people of the community know where Head Start is located. To have Head Start remain in the general area would be a plus. He feels that something could be worked out. The land is owned by the CRA and the City would have to talk with the CRA. He believes that the land could be given to Head Start to build the building they need, with a specific deadline. If the building is not built within that time frame the land goes back to the City. Dr. Serrano stated in terms of should readiness Boynton Beach as surpassed the national norm by 90%. The minority children are getting the best of the best. Mr. Purdle, on behalf of Pastor Davis of St. John Church, commented St. John has strongly supported and continues to support early education for our youth. St. John's strongly supports keeping Head Start near its current location. St. Johns is currently renovating the first for of their facility to meet the requirements for a childhood education including Head Start requirements. Lutheran Services just recently mentioned this issue to St. John. Unfortunately, they have not been able to talk with Lutheran Services to discuss the requirements that would be required. St. John is willing to participate in those discussions. Commissioner Katz, inquired if St. John is prepared to offer a lease agreement for a dollar a year. Mr. Purdle replied that St. John is not able to offer the building for one dollar a year. Commissioner Katz remarked as a CRA board member he favors looking into the property on ninth and third. If this were to work out Head Start would be able to control their future forever. He commended the speakers for speaking from their experience, and what they said has pushed in a direction he was not sure where he was going, he had a better picture of where he would like to go now. Mayor Grant commented that the land could be use for other purposes as well. Looking at how many daycares the CRA has already given property to. The issue with Head Start is that it is a federal and county funded organization or program. Is best for the community to build this new building when there is surrounding facilities in the Hear of Boynton Beach that provide daycare. He would like to know what the federal government allows in writing before the Commission moves forward. Commissioner Katz agreed with Mayor Grant more information is needed, he is not saying that the CRA needs to give the land away immediately. Vice Mayor Hay commented that Head Start has been operating for decades at the current location. There has never been a problem. He feels that Boynton Beach need more Head Start locations. 27 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Mayor Grant inquired if Lutheran Services has always been running the Head Start program. City Manager LaVerriere responded no, Palm Beach County was running Head Start prior to Lutheran Services. Commissioner Romelus inquired about the cost of Head Start to families. Dr. Serrano commented in order to qualify for Head Start you have to be under the poverty level. Commissioner Romelus stated the point is that Head Start is a free program and no matter how many daycares are in the area no others can offer no cost to these families that do not have the ability to pay hundreds of dollars weekly for daycare. Head Start is a necessity not just a want. She invited Lutheran Services to the CRA meeting to discuss this further. Mayor Grant inquired that the Commission wants Lutheran Services to run the Head Start Program. Commissioner Romelus replied they have been doing it well so far. Commissioner Penserga stated that he supports Head Start staying in the City. 12. Legal A. Proposed Ordinance No. 20-023 First Reading - An Ordinance of the City of Boynton Beach, Florida, amending Article III of Chapter 18 of the Boynton Beach Code of Ordinances entitled "Municipal Police Officers' Retirement Trust Fund;" amending Section 18-169, Requirements for Retirement Benefit Amounts, providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. City Attorney Cherof read proposed Ordinance No. 21-023 into the record by title only, on First Reading. Motion Vice Mayor Hay moved to approve Ordinance No. 21-023. Commissioner Romelus seconded the motion. Vote City Clerk Gibson called the roll. The vote was 5-0. B. Certification of Capital Improvement Revenue Bond Series 2018 28 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 City Attorney Cherof stated this item signifies the completion of public facility the Town Square project. A number of certificates of completion have been signed to date, this one represents the final certificate indicating that the fire station, police station, City Hall, and library projects are now completed and the bond funds that were raised and issued are appropriate for disbursement. The Mayor has the Charter Authority to execute documents such as this on behalf of the City, it seemed appropriate to have the Commission acknowledge that the project is completed and the Mayor should sign the certificate. Motion Commissioner Romelus motion to authorize. Commissioner Penserga seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. 13. Future Agenda Items A. Discussion on funding for expanding Wi-Fi to City parks. - Will be presented during Budget Workshops B. State Representative Emily Slosberg to provide an update on the 2021 Florida Legislative Session. - July 20, 2021 C. Approval of Lease Agreements for City Hall Innovation Space and Cafes Operators - July 20, 2021 D. Consider a recommendation from the PBC Supervisor of Elections to amend the City's candidate qualifying dates and canvassing board for the March 8, 2022 election - July 20, 2021 E. Proposed Ordinance No. 21-020 - First Reading - Approval of Ordinance creating MonumentPolicy for the City. (Tabled from the June 15, 2021 City Commission Meeting) - July 20, 2021 F. Discussion regarding the use of the Historic Woman's Club of Boynton Beach. - July 20, 2021 G. Mayor Grant requested a discussion about the possibility of a Parks & Recreation Bond. — TBD Mayor Grant commented on Item 13D, currently the election is going to cost the City thousands of dollars to run the election next year, he does not want to increase that amount but he would like to have early voting. Under the new Florida legislative law in order to have a drop off ballot box in the city limits of Boynton Beach, the City needs to have an early voting location. Mayor Grant inquired is the Commission is still interested in Item 13G. Commissioner Romelus suggested have a conversation on how ARPA funds could be used on parks and rec improvements rather than having to go on a bound. 29 Meeting Minutes City Commission Boynton Beach, FL July 6, 2021 Commissioner Katz stated anything election related he is not apposed to spending more money rather than reducing the polling location to off set the cost. Regarding the parks and recreations bond, he needs more detail he is not apposed to have that discussion. City Manager LaVerriere stated it would be on the first meeting in August to discuss the process. It depends on what the Commission wants to borrow and for what projects. Mayor Grant stated that he believes that the urban tree canopy does not have al the funding that is needed and to discuss the vacant land that has been slated to become parks and recreational facilities, to do capital improvement to all of the City parks. Mayor Grant suggested the second meeting in August for this discussion. Vice Mayor Hay inquired about having a discussion on safety guidelines and an inspection schedule for the high-rise buildings in the City. Assistant City Manager Mack stated that the County will be do the inspections and it will be County wide. If the City does not see action from the County the City can do a City municipal program that similar to the County. City Manager LaVerriere stated that she has spoken to Ms. Baker of the County, League of Cities has already met with all the building officials. This initiative is already under way. She is going to has staff put together the information the Commission has requested and she will have a better update on what the County is doing at the next meeting. Vice Mayor Hay requested a brief presentation on the City's water treatment and quality. 14. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m. ATTEST: Cry tal Gibson, MMC City Clerk 30