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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RAB 022706PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD February 27, 2006 The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met on February 27, 2006 in the Council Chambers located at 10500 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 7:06 P.M. and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. L ROLL CALL Members Present: Bert Permuroso - Chair Wendy Walker - Vice Chair Carolyn Chaplik Ernest Volonte Mary Anne Hedrick Tory Buckley Philip Milton Also Present: Charlotte Presensky, Staff Liaison and Recreation Director Mike Kelly, Parks Director IL APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Board approved the Minutes from the January 23, 2006 meeting. III. ITEMS BY STAFF LIAISON Charlotte explained that there are two openings on the Board for alternate positions and asked the Board to please spread the word to their friends. IV. OLD BUSINESS Capital Projects Agenda Item Update Charlotte reported on the Capital Projects agenda item. She is waiting for the Finance Department to give her the final details for her report. Capital Projects will go before City Council at the first meeting in April. The letter with the Board's recommendations will be included with the Staff Report. Hurricane Update Mike Kelly presented the hurricane update to the Board. He went over the sports facilities and said that most of the facilities are up and running. The baseball field at Plant Drive is still closed. There was major damage to the poles. Staff is in the process of deciding which lighting will be replaced. The money that they received from FEMA has to be used within a year. Mike went over a list of the parks and repairs that still need to be completed. He presented the Board with a list of all the parks, their repair status, remaining work to be done, and tentative completion dates. Mike told the Board that the "Grounds Workshop" that was put on was very well attended and turned out to be a great program. Charlotte informed the Board that the School Board is interested in using the Plant Drive ball field for school games and activities. She is in the process of discussing the fees and a stipulation for damages and repairs. Tennis Court Progress Report Charlotte reported on the progress of the improvements at the Tennis Center. Eight tennis courts have had extensive hurricane damage. A consultant was called in to give a report on the damage. The report suggested that the lighting system be upgraded in order to avoid future damage. FEMA gave about half of what it would cost to replace or repair the lighting. Charlotte is in the process of discussing this with Alan Owens, Finance Director, to see if this would qualify for the use of impact fees. If the lighting system is upgraded the City will be able to hold tournaments at the Tennis Center that could possibly earn revenue. She believes that long -term, it would be in the best interest of the City to upgrade the system instead of replacing it with the same system. The cost involved to replace the lighting with the same system would be approximately $250,000. The cost involved to upgrade to a better system would be approximately $310,000. Charlotte feels the extra expense will be well worth it in the long run because the upgraded system can sustain high winds and if there were a problem with the lighting staff can control the lights from any computer. Burns Road Community Center Progress Report Charlotte gave an update on the Burns Road Community Center. They are running behind schedule because the hurricane made it hard for the contractor to get laborers. She anticipates they will be moving into the offices toward the end of March and the facility will be open sometime in April. They are running about 45 -days behind the original schedule. V. NEW BUSINESS PGA Park and Walking Tour with Board Members Charlotte presented the Board with a PowerPoint presentation on PGA Park. She went over the background and the drawings of the parks that were done several years ago. She plans on hiring a consultant to do a new conceptual plan. She would like to set up a group tour for the Board to visit the park but because of the "Sunshine Laws". she has to make sure she has enough staff available to walk with each Board Member individually. Charlotte asked the Board if they would rather go visit the park on their own or set up a date when she has enough staff to walk with each individual Board Member. Some of the Board Members are going to go on their own time and others would like to meet on a Saturday when Charlotte can have staff available to tour the park with them. They would like to do this in the near future because there is a significant amount of hurricane damage and the park is in great need of repair. 2 VII. COMMENTS BY BOARD Ernest Volonte asked about the utilization of the dog park. Charlotte stated that there is good attendance and the residents are enjoying it. Bert Permuroso commented on the locking mechanizing on the bridge at Ilex Circle. He would like an update on the lock. Charlotte will report back with status at next meeting. VIII. Next Meeting The next meeting will be changed from March 20, 2006 to March 27, 2006 at 6:00 P.M. because several members will not be available due to spring break. VIII. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 7:49 P.M. Approve: Bert Permuroso Wendy Walker Attest: Susan Bell Public Information/Recording Coordinator 3