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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RAB 013105PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD January 31, 2005 Minutes The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met on January 31, 2005. The meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex, located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. I. ROLL CALL Members Present: Bert Premuroso, Tory Buckley, Mary Anne Hedrick, Ernest Volonte, Carolyn Chaplik, Alan Leyland, David Lutrin and Wendy Walker Members Absent: Phil Milton Also Present: Charlotte Presensky, Staff Liaison and Community Services Division Director, and Mike Kelly, Parks Director, IL APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Board approved the minutes in a 7 -0 vote. III. CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR ELECTION The Board elected Robert Premuroso as Chair and Wendy Walker as Vice Chair in a 7 -0 vote. IV. ITEMS BY STAFF LIAISON Recreation Survey Charlotte asked the Board for their input with topics and questions for the Recreation Survey that will be published in the fall Recreation Newsletter. She asked the Board to think about the topics and come back with that information at the next meeting. Bert Premuroso asked the Board to really think about the questions so they can get a good prospective of what residents are looking for in the Parks and Recreation department. Youth Festival Charlotte gave the Board details about the City's Youth Festival that will be taking place on February 12, 2005. The parade is scheduled for 10:00 AM and she would like the Board members to be part of the parade. They are expecting about 700 -800 kids to attend the festival. V. OLD BUSINESS Howell Watkins Public Meeting The Board would like to like to hold the public meeting for Howell Watkins Middle School in April. Charlotte will check on dates and email the Board with some choices. Board Calendar Charlotte explained that she is trying to set up meetings at the Golf Course and Tennis Center. The problem she is facing is that the Sunshine Law prohibits meetings that are not accessible to the public. Therefore, is hard to hold a meeting outside of the council chambers because the meetings have to be open to the public. Charlotte stated that she is still working with the City Attorney and City Clerk to work something out for the Board to be able to tour the different facilities. She stated they might be able to tour the property and then come back to City Hall for the actual meeting. The Board expressed that they would like to go to the Tennis Center, Golf Course and the new Pool at Burns Road. Charlotte will have more information at the next meeting. Recreation Impact Fees Charlotte would like to have Dan Clark from LBFH to do an impact fee projection to show the Board what is happening in the City's housing construction market from today through build -out. Next month the Board will address capital planning and Charlotte should have more up -to -date numbers to present. Bert asked if the City is under the funding stream. Charlotte stated that there was a lull for a few months but now everything is back on track. The Board would like to see what was previously projected compared to what is currently being projected so they can recommend which projects are their priorities. Project Update Lake Catherine: The Ribbon Cutting and Groundbreaking Ceremony are set for February 5, 2004. Commissioner Karen Marcus will be attending. Pool at Burns Road Community Center: The spray playground is moving forward. The target date to open the pool is during Spring Break. They are waiting for the shipment of the playground equipment. Upon opening the old pool, new pool and spray playground will all be up and running at the same time. Burns Road Community Center: Bid advertisements will go out in February. The gym will be closing on April 27, 2005 and the Community Center will close on May 15, 2005 for approximately 4 months. The re- opening is scheduled for September 15, 2005. When the building reopens all the old areas will be open but the new areas will still be under construction. This includes the locker room and new gym. The completion date for the Community Center is scheduled for February 1, 2006. The City will not be moving the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) to the Community Center because the technology that is need to run the EOC is located at the police station and it will be too difficult to move equipment to the Community Center in an emergency. The pools will remain open during the closing of the Community Center. Summer camp will be held at Palm Beach Gardens High School and the Riverside Center will hold camp for the younger children. Thompson River Park: Plans for the bridge and trail that will join Burns Road and Lilac Street is being mapped out. As soon as the State gives the OK on the grant they will start moving ahead on the project. Staff would like to see this project completed as soon as possible therefore, when the Community Center is under construction there will be a place for people to walk on the new trail. Dog Run: Mike Kelly reported on the Dog Run. He said the area has been cleared. The fencing will be going up within a week. The hold -up has been with the irrigation. For safety reasons they are going to be putting up 2 gates. This will make it harder for the dogs to get out. This area will be originally opened as a dog run and when the State grant comes through they will make it a Dog Park. Ilex Circle: Bert stated that a few residents were upset because they are afraid it Ilex Circle Park will become a hang -out. He stated that he and Tory spoke to the residents and explained how beautiful the park is going to be. Mike Kelly stated that he is waiting for FP &L to provide power so they can get the security gates and irrigation going. It should be a quick process after the power is turned on. Tennis Center and Sandhill Crane: Both projects are in the process of taking bids. There should be more information available in a few months and Charlotte will report back to the Board. Hurricane Updates: Mike Kelly reported that there are still some parks where the lighting is out. By February 11, 2005 all the lighting should be repaired. All the lighting prices have come in lower than what was originally quoted. PGA National Park's irrigation system is beyond repair. The quote to repair is close to a quarter million dollars. The city does not have this money budgeted at this time and it does not qualify for impact fees. The entire system needs to be replaced and it needs to be considered in the next budget process. VL NEW BUSINESS Skate Park Lighting Staff has done research into lighting the skate park. The estimated cost will be $150,000.00. Charlotte is looking into allocating impact fees that are currently unallocated. At the next meeting the Board will discuss the Capital Budget for next year and hopefully be able to put funds for the lighting into the budget. The Board expressed that they would like to be able to help the kids as soon as possible but they have to follow the budget process. Portable lighting was much too expensive. With daylight savings time coming and it will start to get dark later, so the kids will be able to use the park into the evening. The Board suggested after the capital budgeting process and the impact fee projection, Charlotte hold a meeting for the kids to attend and explain what the long terms plans are for the skate park. Charlotte said after the budget process she will plan a day with the skate park staff to hold an informational meeting for the kids. Maryanne Hedrick stated she would like to see the lights done as soon as possible. This will send a message to the kids in the City that they can come to the City's Boards and Committees with their concerns and that the Board will help them get things done. Golf Course Ernest Volonte brought up the subject of the Golf Course. Charlotte explained that the Golf Course is run through an enterprise fund that is different from the way any other recreation facility funds are run in the City. Therefore, is not currently eligible for recreation impact fees. Allan Owens, the City's Financial Administrator, will be talking to the auditors to see if there is something that can be done where the golf course would have a stand alone budget and could be eligible for impact fees. Tory Buckley stated he is in full support of doing what ever it takes to improve the golf course and also suggested that having the City look into designating the golf course as a park. VII. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on February 28, 2005. The topic of the next meeting will be capital planning and budget. Charlotte is also hoping to have a list of funds that FEMA will be paying from the hurricane damage. VIII. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC Tim Frohling, of 152 Euphrates Circle, asked about how he can get copies of the minutes from prior meetings. Susan Bell, the Public Information/ Recording Coordinator explained that he needs to put in a public records request and she will be happy to provide him with that information. John Chaplik, of 715 Hudson Bay Drive, stated that he is the chair of the Budget Oversight Committee. He gave the Board information about the Golf Course enterprise fund and reiterated what Charlotte said about Allan Owens talking to the auditors about possibly changing the fund. IX. COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS Carolyn Chaplik stated she would like a map of the upcoming recreation projects. Charlotte will ask the GIS department to formulate new map. Tory Buckley stated he hopes to see everyone on the Board at the Lake Catherine ground breaking on February 5, 2005. He wanted the Board to know that the School Board has decided to use the media center at Howell Watkins Middle for a Montessori School instead of the City using the building for adult programs. Tory also asked Charlotte about the Frisbee Park at PGA National. Charlotte stated that Justin Lucas is working on trying to do some renovations at the Park. Mike Kelly said that Justin was just in touch with him about getting new markers and they are actively working on this. X. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:32PM. Approval: Robert Premuroso, Chairperson Wendy Walker, Vice Chairperson Tory Buckley, Board Member Mary a Hedrick,Bo Member Ernest Vol te, Board Member Carolyn Chaplik, Board Member Alan j yland, Alfernat .� ember J � David Lutrin, Alternate Board Member Attest: -26sanWW, Public Information/ Recording Coordinator