HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RAB 071090CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY CENTER
4404 BURNS ROAD
MAILING ADDRESS: 10500 N. MILITARY TRAIL
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33410
(407) 775 -8270
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
July 10, 1990
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The City of Palm Beach Gardens Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board met on Tuesday, July 10, 1990, at the Community Center.
Those present were Chairman Chuck Campbell, Betsey Yerry,
Ellen Finnerty, John Elsner, Jeff Sabin, Sandy Gottlieb, and
• Chuck Goforth. Also present were Mayor Mike Martino, and
Councilpersons: Don Kiselewski, Joe Russo, Linda Monroe and
Dick Aldred. In addition were Doug Hood, Director and Sue
Ruskay, Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation.
The main issue to be discussed was the nonresidents in our
programs. There were several ideas expressed on how to han-
dle the problems. Grandfathering people that are already
in the program was one of them. Ellen said that she was not
in favor of grandfathering. Doug also suggested that all
Y.A.A board members be residents. He also felt that the ath-
letic programs would suffer if we eliminated the nonresidents
totally. Chuck C. and Doug both agreed that the solution
might be facility dependent. We would take all residents first
to fill our programs. Then if there is any spaces left, fill
them with nonresidents. It was also suggested to not accept
any nonresidents. Doug feels that this suggestion might cause
bad feelings from our neighboring cities, which would not be
good.
The city will be running the basketball program this year,
instead of the Y.A.A. At this point a city resident stood
up and introduced herself as Chyrese Colbert, and said that
she was a member of the Y.A.A. and she was not pleased about
the way the Y.A.A. ran their organization and their softball
• teams.
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The City Council arrived and Chuck C. informed them of the
choices for a solution to the nonresident problem. Dick
offered a solution of a flat $100.00 fee charged to nonresidents
for one year, and the residents filling spaces first in the
programs. The money for the fee will go into the city's general
fund. We are presently charging 4__$15.00_nonresident fee per
family per session. The next suggestion of making all the pro-
grams facility dependent will help delay the urgency for build-
ing bigger facilities. All scheduling of games would be han-
dled by the Recreation Department. Don wanted numbers con-
cerning nonresidents in the Y.A.A. programs. The baseball
and softball programs have 305 or 24% nonresidents. Doug
said about 17% of the soccer participants were nonresidents.
Mike said the main problem is with the Y.A.A., not the Rec-
reation Department programs. He would like to have no non-
residents in the Y.A.A. programs. The Y.A.A. signed up all
residents and nonresidents who registered. Joe feels that we
should go on a program to program basis, like we do now and
come up with a fee that is fair for nonresidents. Doug said
that originally we needed the nonresidents to make the pro-
grams, mainly athletics, successful for our residents. It
was mentioned that the Y.A.A. is a separate organization from
the city, but it utilizes the city's facilities. Doug feels
because of this situation, the Y.A.A. Board of Directors
should be made up of Gardens residents only. The Recreation
• Department would handle scheduling of games. Mike clarified
that the $100.00 nonresident fee is an "access fee" to par-
ticipate in the Palm Beach Gardens programs. Then the non-
residents also pay the fee for each program. Linda said she
liked the idea of grandfathering the nonresidents and having
them pay the previously mentioned $100.00 annual fee. There
was some discussion on the way the girls softball is run by
the Y.A.A. The point was raised that the All Star teams
carry a number of nonresidents and sometimes the Gardens
girls do not play. Doug mentioned that the Y.A.A. should
have to abide by the guidelines set by the Recreation De-
partment, since they use the city's facilities. Chuck C.
pointed out that the Y.A.A. is not very responsive to their
membership. Chyrese Colbert backed up this statement and said
that team selection for the All Stars was not fair or the fact
that each girl has equal playing time. Ellen wanted to know
what the impact would be on the Recreation Department if we
took over the Y.A.A. programs. Doug said that it would be a
large financial impact, because we would have to hire extra
staff. The Recreation Department will still need volunteers
to make the ball programs successful. The Y.A.A. did give up
their basketball program to the city for next year. Joe
pointed out that with the proposed annexation, there will be
no room in the programs for nonresidents. Linda questioned
the timing of the budget process and how quickly the impact
• can be assessed. Doug asked for another person to be added
to work with athletics, but if we took over softball and
baseball, we would probably need another person plus these
two sports are expensive to run. It would put a large dent
in the Recreation budget. Mike finalized the meeting by de-
ciding that the organization of the Y.A.A. Board of Directors
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be made up of all residents and the facilities organization
will be handled through the Recreation Department. The Rec-
reation Department will try to fit the facilities to the needs
of its residents. Nonresidents will be accepted only after
all residents have registered. Mike also feels that the non-
residents should be charged the $100.00 fee plus the program
fee. Also the President of the Y.A.A. should be at all Rec-
reation Advisory Board meetings. The Recreation Department
will tell the Y.A.A. the facilities they can use, how many
teams they can have, and how large the teams can be. Chuck C.
wants more cleared land in the city for practice areas. Mike
will write a letter to the Y.A.A. explaining the guide lines.
Linda suggested that we meet earlier next year on this same
subject. The month of May was suggested. The City Council
will decide the nonresident fee to be charged.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
LJ
W.
E
Respectfully
'4�� ).
submitted,
Linda J. Bullock
Administrative Secretary
Parks & Recreation Dept.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL