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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RAB 110591CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT 4404 BURNS ROAD MAILING ADDRESS: 10500 N. MILITARY TRAIL PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33410 (407) 775 -8270 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD November 5, 1991 The City of Palm Beach Gardens Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met on Tuesday, November 5, 1991, at the Community Center. Those present were Chairman Chuck Campbell, John Elsner, Betsey Yerry, Braxton Melvin, Ronnye Sands, Ellen Finnerty, alternate Sandy Gottlieb, and Acting Director Sue Ruskay. Arriving later were City Council Liasion Joe Russo, Y.A.A.. President Dave "Panain,..and Jeff Sabin. Mr. Campbell brought the meeting to order and asked if any- one had items to be discussed. Mr. Elsner said that he would like to discuss the tennis court situation. Mr. Elsner gave • an update on the tennis courts. He said that the players have met with City Council twice. The Council was not very receptive to the resurfacing of the eight courts with the Hydro -Grid surface, because of the cost. The bid for the Hydro -Grid surface was $155,000. There also is a problem with the ground under the courts. It used to be a landfill. There needs to be some testing of the ground before any re- surfacing is done. Mr. Elsner felt that the Mayor was in favor of the Hydro -Grid courts. He feels that if we could get four courts done with the clay surface, it would be better that doing eight courts with the asphalt. The tennis community have written letters and petitions to show their support. The board asked if the facility could be moved to the land available on Burns Road. The city could have several of the strongest tennis teams in the county, except that players are leaving to play on clay courts'elsewhere. North Palm Beach replaced their hard courts with a clay surface and their membership doubled. The suggestion was made to repair the present tennis facility and build a new facility in phases on the Burns Road land that is available to the city. The point was raised that we are an award winning community and our tennis facilities are in awful shape." The bids for this resurfacing are open again. The Advisory Board voted to put four Hydro -Grid courts in now, with the testing of the ground underneath the courts first. Mr. Campbell will write a letter to the City Council expressing the Board'$ views. • Mrs. Ruskay introduced Kim Glass from the Planning & Zoning Department. She talked about the city's Comprehensive Plan. RECOGNIZED AS THE #1 PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT IN THE NATION WINNER OF THE NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL. AWARD 2 a The present Comprehensive Plan is in compliance with the State. This plan is usually updated every five years. • Mr. Campbell said that it would be nice if and when the city acquired land, that it would be better to get land in large tracts rather than small pocket areas, and that they would have centralized locations for recreation. Mr. Russo suggested that maybe the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board should meet with the planner for the Mac- Arthur Foundation. The Board was surprised that the new Municipal Golf Course was added into the city's recreational parks, because people have to pay a fee to use it. Regional parks seem to be more popular, than neighborhood parks. The golf course might be open in January of 1992. The drainage problems are trying to be rectified. Mr. Russo would like see the golf course be a turn -key facility. Mr. Panaia had two concerns for the Board. One was the Lake Catherine ball fields and how to correct the problems. He has someone analyzing the problems for a fee of $30 per hour. He said that the Y.A.A. would consider paying for this study, if the city could not. He wants Mrs. Ruskay, Mr. Isles, and Mr. Patty, and himself to meet and discuss the maintenance of all the ball fields. He said that they need to take borings of all the fields to see what is below the surface. Drainage is a big problem. Mrs. Ruskay said that she would check with the City Manager about this testing, and also present this to the City Council. She said that she would put this item on the agenda for the next City Council meeting. The second item that Mr. Panaia brought up was the Y.A.A. trying to join the Little League Association. The problem is the city's boundaries and pocket areas. The Association may reject the Y.A.A.'s application because of the boundary situation. Mrs. Ruskay said that the city's policy is no new nonresidents. This will limit Little League play to res- idents only. Mr. Russo said that Mr. Panaia needs to go to the City Council and explain the Little League situation. Mr. Panaia needs to submit the city boundaries as is, and see if the Little League will accept it. If they do not, then he needs to present the problem to the City Council. The main concern is for the children to be able to play in a better program. Mr. Panaia asked Mrs. Ruskay to find out what pockets are within the city's boundaries. The Board agreed that they will offer support for the Little League program and the Y.A.A. Mr. Russo said that the City Council wants a new Advisory Board Chairman voted on every year. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, 4%Y,,G�U — . `;U� Linda J. Bullock Administrative Secretary Parks & Recreation Dept.