HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RAB 072406PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
July 24, 2006
MINUTES
The Regular Meeting of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board of the City of Palm Beach
Gardens, Florida, was called to order at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal
Complex, 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and opened with the
Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Deputy City Clerk Ray Ellis called the roll:
Present
Tory Buckley
Dr. Carolyn Chaplik
Mary Anne Hedrick
Robert Premuroso
Ernest Volonte
Absent
Philip Milton
Chair Premuroso announced that Philip Milton's sister had passed away and members could
send condolences via email.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Tory Buckley noted in the minutes the board was supposed to receive an updated version of the
economic impact numbers. Mike Kelly responded they had been received from the Sports
Commission and would be distributed to the board at the next meeting. Mr. Buckley asked
about the lights at Plant Drive. Mr. Kelly advised the lighting had been approved at the last
Council meeting and would be installed. 99% of the funding had been provided by the insurer
and FEMA, resulting in the City spending less than $10,000 on the system. The high school
varsity team would practice on that field, JV and freshman teams would practice on the church
property and the remaining school property. Mr. Buckley asked about the jogging trail; Ms.
Presensky indicated she had not worked on numbers yet. Mr. Buckley made a motion to
approve the minutes of the April 24, 2006 meeting. Motion was seconded and unanimously
approved.
Mr. Premuroso asked Ms. Presensky about trip to New Orleans. Ms. Presensky said it was the
most amazing thing she had ever seen in her life, to see people living in trailers in front of their
homes, not being able to live in their houses, landmarks that are still not open. It has changed
her viewpoint on public service and how she will respect hurricanes in the future. As a City we
will now be developing our own long term recovery program based upon what we learned on
this trip.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes
July 24, 2006
Page 2
ITEMS BY STAFF LIAISON:
District Park Update-- Ms. Presensky reported the termination agreement had been passed by
City Council; however, the County had chosen not to sign the agreement at this time and
were in conversations about what they felt the City should still be doing. The City Manager
had provided Council with an extensive report and backup material was ready if needed; the
City Attorney felt the City was within their legal rights in terminating the Interlocal
Agreement. Council Liaison Levy provided further information. Discussion ensued.
Attendance/Meeting Calendar-- Ms. Presensky reported term expirations for Tory Buckley,
Robert Premuroso, Ernest Volonte, and Wendy Walker and asked them to let her know if
they wished to continue to serve via e-mail, but she would first check to see if they needed to
fill out a new application.
Meeting dates for the rest of the year were announced: August 21, September 28, October 16,
November 20, and December 18. Ms. Presensky asked if the board would like to move their
meeting date to the 0 Monday instead of and Monday so as not to conflict with holidays. Mr.
Buckley requested the board stick to the scheduled dates. Consensus was to stay with the 3rd
Monday unless there was a conflicting holiday, and to schedule meetings 6 months at a time.
Ms. Presensky advised the resident opinion survey had been completed and she would like it
to be on next month's agenda.
OLD BUSINESS:
Golf Course Renovations — Dan Reidy provided a presentation of the golf course renovation
project. At this point the renovation was approximately 801/6 complete, and the completed
project would be presented at the next meeting. Currently the project was on time and so far
on budget. Target date to reopen was October 1.
Ms. Presensky reported an item had come up at City Council regarding a donation over a
year ago of approximately $800,000 and that the intention of then Mayor Jablin had been to
use those funds to develop the front of City Hall to accommodate cultural events. Recently
Councilmember Jablin, Ms. Presensky, and Mr. Dougherty had discussed a vision using the
golf course as the cultural events location, and Ms. Presensky reported City Council had
requested that the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board take up this issue. Staff provided a
power point presentation of how two programs, social and cultural activity and clubhouse
operations could succeed with indoor climate controlled space, food service for large
numbers of people, and a pleasant gathering space. This would position the golf course for
future success, and allow facility space for private social events. Mr. Reidy expanded on
possible uses for the facility and estimated the project could take 1 -1/2 years to complete, and
suggested funding options, including the $800,000 donation and dedicated impact fees.
Councilmember Levy reported Council concerns were the distance to the location and
whether people would attend, how much this would enhance the golf course operations, and
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes
July 24, 2006
Page 3
whether venues held at City Hall would be moved there. Discussion ensued. Ms. Presensky
requested discussion of elements, thought processes, how the public could be contacted to
see if they would use the facility, potential use, etc., at the next meeting. Mr. Buckley
expressed his opinion the cultural facility needed to be in the center of town and he would
rather focus on the clubhouse for the golf course. Ms. Chaplik expressed her opinion the golf
course was not a country club, musical events could be held at the Burns Road facility, and
there were other spaces that would be available for large gatherings. Mr. Premuroso
commented events for the City should be in the center of the City, and indicated he had no
problem with placing this on the agenda in the next month or two and having staff present
numbers so that the board could recommend or not to City Council.
PGA Park Master Plan - Russell Moore, RMPK Group, presented a conceptual site plan to
address facilities damaged by the hurricane, what should remain, the kinds of activities to
add, how to improve access, circulation, organization of uses, safety and comfort issues, and
upgrading aesthetics of the park. Staff comments included suggestions for other locations for
storage of maintenance equipment and the dog park, as well as additional parking, restroom
location, police substation location, and a hardened surface around the soccer field. Ensuing
discussion included the gate at Ryder Cup, additional parking, restroom locations, heart trail,
lakeside benches, separating picnic and activities areas, shelters, lighting, re- labeling soccer
fields to all- purpose fields, locating another concession/restroom/storage facility close to the
fields, locating the maintenance facility and dog park by the police substation, having more
pavilions, possibly more tennis and basketball courts, and fenced playgrounds. Ms.
Presensky expressed her opinion this was not the right park for a dog park, and Mr. Buckley
suggested several smaller dog parks around the City. Another suggestion was for a lower
basketball basket for smaller children. Ms. Presensky suggested inviting the public to the
October 16, 2006 board meeting and presenting the PGA Master Park Plan at the Green
Market the day before. Board members volunteered to be at the Green Market to explain the
plan. A Saturday morning site meeting was suggested for November to get public input.
Ms. Presensky announced the first Youth Triathlon and Youth Festival at Burns Road on
Sunday, October 8, 2006.
NEW BUSINESS
BRRC Grand Re- Opening - Ms. Presensky announced the Burns Road Recreation Center
grand re- opening September 8 and 9, reception and re- burying the time capsule on Friday
September 8, and on the 9a' an open house, Wellness Day, tours of the facility, free resident
use of the pool, and Grandparent/Grandchild Swim and Breakfast Day.
Tennis Center Opening — Ms. Presensky announced the Tennis Center opening to be held on
Wednesday, August 16, 2006 from 6 -8 p.m.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes
July 24, 2006
Page 4
COMMENTS BY PUBLIC
Tim Frohling, 152 Euphrates Circle, noted he liked the plan and suggested the amount of
multipurpose fields should be increased, pavilions should be more centrally located, and the
concession stand should be close to multipurpose fields.
Linda Hughey, 9120 Reed Drive, suggested placing the dog park in the northwest corner so
that a bridge could be built to connect to the park in PGA; also, the dog park should be closer
to parking. Ms. Hughey expressed her opinion having cultural facilities at the golf course
would not work, and suggested building a clubhouse where the tennis courts were. Ms.
Hughey advised the kids in her neighborhood still did not have a park.
John Chaplik, 715 Hudson Bay Drive, expressed his opinion that adding a clubhouse to
accommodate 200 people at the golf course would not be appropriate, that cultural events
should be located more centrally, and keep the golf course a cheap place to play golf for the
residents. Mr. Chaplik also commented the social events should be limited to the residents of
Palm Beach Gardens, since not having enough room was many times due to people attending
from out of town.
COMMENTS BY BOARD
Mr. Volonte inquired about the utilization at the City park near the tennis courts. Ms.
Presensky responded there was a lot of use and that Mirasol Park was really being used.
Another comment was that there was insufficient parking at the Mirasol Park. Mr. Buckley
asked if any vacant land had been identified within the City available for parks or green
space. Ms. Presensky responded this issue had been studied, that parks would come with the
western development, and within the City there were only small pockets of land. Mr.
Buckley noted there were parcels of land contiguous to the parks that might be run down or
old zoning and suggested the possibility of purchasing some of those areas and razing the
buildings to use those properties for park land, and asked everyone to look for such areas.
One such area was the building next to the dog hotel on Burns Road. Ms. Presensky
explained that locating parks throughout the city was the proper thing to do.
Ms. Chaplik made a motion to nominate Charlotte Presensky to the National Recreation and
Park Association Assistant Branch for the Professional Excellence Award. Mr. Buckley
seconded the motion. Motion carried by unanimous vote. Ms. Chaplik described the award,
and advised it had been sent out. Ms. Presensky expressed her appreciation and noted others
also deserved the award.
Mr. Kelly commented the new lights at the Skate Park and City Park were on satellite control
and that was working very well, and lighting for other parks would soon be on this system.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes
July 24, 2006
Page 5
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
APPROVED:
Philip Milton
V
Wendy alker, i e Chair
Attest:
Ray Ellis,
7
eputy ity Clerk
Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim
transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the Office of the City Clerk.