HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RAB 050592• MINUTES
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
MAY 5, 1992
•
The City of Palm Beach Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met on
Tuesday, May 5, 1992 at the Burns Road Community Center.
Members present included: Chairman Chuck Campbell, John Elsner,
Ronnye Sands, Betsey Yerry, Ellen Finnerty, Braxton Melvin, Jeff
Sabin and alternate Sandy Gottlieb. Staff present included: Parks
and Recreation Director Bobbie Herakovich, Assistant Director Sue
Ruskay. Others in attendance included: Joe Russo, City Council
liaison, YAA President Dave Panaia and other members of the Youth
Athletic Association Board.
Chairman Campbell suggested several items for discussion after
explaining that he had invited the YAA Board to join the later half
of the meeting. Items suggested for discussion included:
I The role of the Advisory Board
II Summer program
III The Oaks park site
IV Ballfield conditions
V Lake Catherine parking problem (cars are being ticketed by
police)
VI Use of the Klock property
I ROLE OF THE ADVISORY BOARD
The role of the Advisory Board in relation to the City Council was
discussed. Ms. Ruskay mentioned that the Advisory Board was
instrumental in the building of the Burns Road Community Center,
the renovation of the Riverside Community Center, revamping the
tennis courts, suggesting changes in the summer camp program and
other improvements in City Parks and Recreation. Mr. Campbell said
that the Director has suggested that the Advisory Board assist with
a survey of the parks and recreation needs of the community.
II SUMMER PROGRAM
There was some discussion of responses to the changes in the summer
camp program. The general consensus is that residents like the new
format. They like the idea of the four two week sessions and not
having to hand out money everyday. Ms. Herakovich stated that next
year camp information will be distributed earlier so that residents
have time to plan for the fee. The main drawbacks seems to be the
increase in price and the fact that residents have to pay for all
trips, even if they do not want to go. A "payment plan" has been
set up for residents requesting an installment plan.
Everyone was pleased with the progress of the tennis courts. The
• Hydro Grid courts were placed on the east side due to the higher
cost of repairing the sinkholes.
• III THE OAKS PARK SITE
Ms. Ruskay presented the site plan for the Oaks park site. The
proposed eleven acre site is referred to in the Comprehensive Plan
in the Oaks development. DiVosta has agreed to put in a jogging
trail and parking lot. However construction of a community center
has been postponed. The site needs a lot of work to bring it up
to the standards of other parks. Mr. Campbell suggested a sports
area to be located there like the one DiVosta put in at Garden
Lakes. There also seems to be a need for more racquetball courts
in the City. The Park site is located off of Burns Road and Campus
Drive and includes a 6' by 25' drainage ditch on the property. It
was suggested that members visit the site before the next meeting.
IV BALLFIELD CONDITIONS
Mr. Campbell stated that he felt that the hardness of the fields
at Lake Catherine were due to not being properly maintained. Mrs.
Gottlieb stated that the Plant Drive t -ball fields were also very
hard. They feel that the fields should be watered, dragged and
filled in more often. They questioned why the Gardens Park fields
were in excellent condition and the others were not. Ms. Ruskay
suggested that the Advisory Board should write out their concerns
and suggestions in the form of a letter to the Recreation
Department with copies to the City Manager and Public Works
Department.
V Y.A.A.
• Mr. Panaia and the Y.A.A. Board arrived later in the meeting to
express their concerns about the parking problem at Lake Catherine.
They requested that another 50 spaces be added and that one of the
six handicapped spaces be changed. Additionally, volunteers who
have to unload and load supplies need parking spaces near the
building. The Y.A.A. did stagger games to help remedy scheduling
problems. Mr. Panaia also stated that there is a problem with the
adult soccer program playing on Gardens Fields. He feels they
should be moved to PGA Park. Mr. Panaia expressed his concern that
it takes too long to accomplish things through the Advisory Board.
Some members agreed. Ms. Herakovich suggested that Y.A.A.
development requests go through the Advisory Board as a part of
prioritizing projects for the budget process. Capital projects will
be covered at the next meeting. Ms. Herakovich reported that three
of the six press boxes are being built and that Y.A.A. will attempt
to raise funds or get donated materials for additional press boxes.
VI Use of the Klock property
The question was raised as to what is being done with the Klock
property. Mr. Campbell stated that the City Manager's office does
not want to cut down the trees to clear the land. Ms. Herakovich
suggested that research needs to be done as to the best use of the
land, based on the needs of the community. Mr. Panaia suggested
there might be a need for more basketball courts and that this
property might serve that need. Mr. Sandell acknowledged the fact
• that Public Works cleared the debris from the area beside the
baseball field on Burns Road adjacent to the 17 acres.
E
•
COMMENTS
Mrs. Finnerty asked about the function of the Advisory Board and
how things can be better presented to the City Council. The Board
agreed that things should be presented to the City Council in
writing with as much as information as possible about the subject.
Mr. Russo will bring the parking problem at the Lake Catherine
complex to the attention of the City Council.
Mr. Campbell said the Advisory Board will work on the Y.A.A.Is list
of problems to be solved.
Ms. Ruskay announced that the Advisory Board will meet in June and
skip the months of July and August due to not enough members being
able to attend during the summer.
Several members recommended that the Council recognize the Y.A.A.
in some special way for all their work.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Linda Bullock
Administrative Secretary
Parks and Recreation Department