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
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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.