MEETING MINUTES (2)
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MINUTES
COMMUNITY CONSENSUS STEERING COMMIITEE
Wednesday, October 13, 1993
A meeting of the Community Consensus Steering Committee was held on Wednesday, October
13, 1993 at 9:40 AM in the Commission Chambers, City Hall, 3rd floor.
PRESENT: Commissioner Art Deegan
Bill Schwob, Chairperson
Stephen Rils
Elizabeth Mannion
Naomi Williams
James McCurtain
Tony Salmon
ALSO PRESENT: Jeff Harper, Director of Adminstrative Services
Kathy Rice, Deputy City Manager
Nick Karay, Clearwater District Manager, Florida Power Corporation
Melissa Ellis, Staff Assistant
Unable to attend were Bob Bickerstaff, Vito Negrelli, and Janice Case. Mr. Karay was
representing Janice Case for the Florida Power Corporation.
Kathy Rice opened the meeting by describing the Community Consensus marketing slogan
designed by a staff of creative city employees: "There is no CommUnity unless you get
involved" - (emphasizing the "U" in community). Jeff Harper outlined the ad campaign,
which consists of the following: 1) A series of 'teaser ads' using the words "WHO CARES?"
which would lead up to a full page ad. 2) The full page ad which will run in the Times and
Tribune on Sunday, October 17, 1993. 3) Additional ads will run throughout the 2 weeks of
scheduled meetings announcing times and places.
Kathy Rice explained that each Committee memb~r will receive 100 printed invitations to send
oot to their constituents with a personal note encouraging participation in the neighborhood
meetings.
Mr. Schwob suggested that an article describing the project be included in the homeowner's
newsletter which is due to be mailed out within the next few days. Mr. Salmon asked for a press
release to include in the homeowner's coalition newsletter and to hand out at the next
homeowner's coalition meeting.
Mr. Karay asked if there was a letter going out to the major employers in the community. Mr.
Bils suggested that we go through the Chamber to reach this group.
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The meeting locations were discussed. Mr. Karay suggested possibly using the Greek Orthodox
church on Gulf-to-Bay as an alternative to SPJC. Mrs. Mannion inquired about having a meeting
at Condon Gardens and one for the Chamber of Commerce. It was also decided that we should
try to schedule meetings at both Top Of The World and Eisenhower Elementary School.
The Committee agreed that only the beginning times of the public in-put meetings should be
advertised. A tentative schedule outlining how the project is expected to progress in the next
few mOhths was reviewed.
In regard to the Committee members actually facilitating the public in-put meetings, Kathy Rice
suggested that each member attend both Ruth Ann Bramson's facilitators training meeting and
at least one of her pubic in.;.put meetings before they lead their own. Mr. Salmon volunteered
to facilitate the meeting at Countryside Library, Mrs. Mannion with the Memorial Civic Center,
Dr. Campbell with the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and Mr. McCurtain with the Long Center
location. Mr. Schwob recommended Mr. Nigrelli for Morningside since he lives in that
neighborhood.
Mr. Schwob mentioned that he had been receiving a negative response when using the word
'survey' as part of this project. Commissioner Deegan responded by recalling Dr. Graves
saying "this is not another survey" and went on to describe the project more accurately
as "an opinion gathering exercise where we are trying to give the people who usually don't voice
their opinions a chance to do so". He also stated that emphasis should be put on the fact that the
items on the questionnaire will be coming from the people, not surveyors. It was decided. that
the ad campaign from that point on should emphasize the meeting aspect, not the survey aspect.
Mr. Bils stated that the number of people who attend the in-put meetings isn't really that
important because most likely the same issues will arise regardless of the number of participants.
Mr. Schwob asked about the time frame on the Wordsmithing sessions. Kathy Rice expects
this will take only one day, especially if Dr. Graves will be back to oversee this step. The
specific scheduling on these sessions is pending.
Commissioner Deegan suggested that the issues from the in-put meetings be put into a computer
for sorting and grouping prior to the Wordsmithing step. Mr. Salmon proposed that this process
begin immediately after the first meeting. Both Jeff Harper and Kathy Rice agreed that if an
intern joins the project, then he or she could perform this job.
Mr. Schwob asked if the second round of meetings (when the questionnaires are completed) will
be held at the original meeting places. Kathy Rice said she would check with Ruth Ann
Bramson on this and then we would proceed with scheduling for the second round.
Commissioner Deegan explained that the results of the questionnaires will not change anybody's
opinion, but will provide the commission with an idea of what the majority of citizens (eel the
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priorities are.
Mrs. Mannion asked about media coverage other than the newspapers. She suggested that
maybe Vision Cable could tape the facilitators meeting. The idea of using Gardner and Company
was also discussed.
It was agreed that the Steering Committee did not need to meet again until the facilitators
training meeting on October 25 at 9:00 in the Large Conference Room, City Hall. Mr. Bils and
Mrs. Mannion both noted that they will be out of town on that day.
Mr. Schwob concluded the meeting by encouraging everyone to work on the publicity for the
consensus project.
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