08/01/2000 - Special
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Agenda: 8-1-00
6:30 p.m.
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City Commission
Special Public Hearing
8-1-00
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AGENDA
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SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING
Community Sports Complex & Letter of Intent with Philadelphia Phillies
Tuesday - August 1, 2000 - 6:30 P.M. - Chambers
1. Call to Order
2. Presentation - Keith Ashby, General Support Services Administrator & John
Timberlake, Director of Phillies Florida Operations
3. Comments by Mr. David Montgomery, Managing General Partner, President & CEO of
the Phillies
4. Public Comment
5. ' Commission Discussion
'6. Announce next Public Hearing - 8/3/00 at 6:00 p.m.
7. Adjourn
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A Communitv
spons Complex
for Clearwa
A Proposa
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Good evening, mayor and commissioners. I am Keith Ashby, General
Services Administrator.
Tonight we bring to you a unique opportunity to build a new community
sports complex, a facility that will truly serve all of Clearwater's citizens and
visitors. \Ve are proud to bring this project forward to the commission and the
public.
With me tonight are NIr. Dave Montgomery, General Partner, President and
CEO of the Philadelphia Phillies,
John Timberlake, Director of the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Operations,
and Kevin Dunbar, Clearwater Director of Parks & Recreation
These gentlemen will later address issues associated with our proposal.
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This sign greets you when you arrive at the entrance to Clearwater. For 43 years, we have been proud of
our association with the Phillies. A new sports complex will ensure that this relationship will continue as
well as give the city a venue which can generate revenue from other sources.
The State of Florida has recognized the economic impact that major league baseball and spring training
have on the state's economy, and, to this end, the state and Pinellas County are providing the majority of
the financing for the proposed complex.
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Background
*. legislation Crafted 1999
* Florida Grapefruit league
Founded
* Ensure Spring iraining Industry
Statewide
* lakeland Summit
This is a project that we have been publicly working on for more than a year. As you
know, through the graces of our state representatives, legislation was crafted in the
summer of 1999 that would support municipalities and counties that sponsored minor
league baseball and spring training throughout the state.
The governor recognized that unless enabl ing legislation was passed, there was a
strong possibility that an industry unique to the state of Florida, MAJOR LEAGUE
SPRING TRAINING, might be seriously impaired.
Commensurate with this activity, nineteen municipalities and counties across the state
united their efforts under the Florida Grapefruit League Association.
The Association in concert with the Florida Sports Foundation hosted a spring
training summit in April 2000 brought together state legislative representatives
and city and county leaders with interest in maintaining professional baseball
organizations in the state.
All of these things were publicized in local and state newspapers, television
and on the internet.
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Why A New spons Complex for
Clearwater;>>
* Expensive
Repairs
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This is the image that the public has of Jack Russell Stadium. The reality is
that every day, the Phillies staff have to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Structural problems in with the stadium in the future will render it either
unsafe or very expensive to fix. At regular intervals, both the city and the
Phillies respond to structural concerns, that if not addressed immediately,
could become safety hazards.
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Why A New spons Complex for
Clearwateril
* Expensive
Repairs
Every roof under the stadium leaks, which if not fixed on a daily basis, can
become both a health and safety hazard~
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* Expensive
Repairs
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Why A New spons Complex for
Clearwateril
* Expensi
Repairs
We are dealing with approximately 50-year-old infrastructure. Here's an
example of the deteriorating concrete which exists throughout the stadiunl and
requires daily repair.
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Why A New spons Complex for
Clearwater=-
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Of course, the stadium is ADA compliant, but it is far from being handicap-
friendly. Try pushing a 200-pound person in a wheelchair up the grade on this
ramp.
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WhV A New spons Complex lor
Clearwater;>>
* NOI Meeting Needs
'Competitive
ms
The current stadiUln does not meet the needs of a modem, competitive
baseball team. It does not have a full-size second field for batting practice and
other activities, and its training fields at Carpenter complex, are not co-located
requiring hourly busing for players and staff.
The photo you see is the vendor concession window. If you visited this
concession area, you would see a sow's ear.
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WhV A New spons Complex for
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There is substandard, leaky office space. The pictures you see are the
accounting office and print materials damaged in the most recent storm.
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Attendance at Spring Training games has increased each year for the past nine
years. At a recent spring training game, the Phillies could have sold 1000
additional seats. This picture shows that the Phillies ability to provide food for
hungry fans has exceeded indoor capacity, forcing this outdoor kitchen
facility.
Other inadequate amenities include limited parking, which will decrease by
250 spaces with the construction of a new parks & recreation facility at the
Ray Green Field site. Many fans currently have to park in private lots or
properties over which the city has no control.
We believe we could double attendance at minor league games with full fan
amenities.
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WhV A New spons Complex lor
Clearwateril
* Hesrrooms
The restrooms provide changing facilities, however, we are unable to offer
family restrooms. Note the flooding on this floor from ceiling leaks.
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Why A New spons Complex for
Clearwater;J
* Group 00
Space
There is no designated space for group outings. We have a great deal of
interest from special interest groups that wish to attend games in special
package deals. As you see here, the Phillies are forced to make temporary
accommodations for groups, moving all of their patio furniture to a less than
optimum secure storage area under the bleachers on a daily basis.
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Sharing a New Communitv
spons Complex
* Philadelphia Phillies
* High School Baseball
* Junior College Baseball
* Regional Youth Tournaments
* Amateur Baseball
It is important to tell you how we envision our community will use the new
complex.
-Of course the Phillies will be the primary tenant.
-Other typical events this facility can host will include such groups as
Clearwater High School '
-St. Pete Junior College
-Regional Youth Tournaments
- AA U Amateur League
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Other CommunilV Events
Other community events such as appropriate musical events, Scouting or Kids'
Jamborees (like this one) and corporate or civic organization picnics.
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A New facililV Would Increase.. .
* Baseball's Positive Presence in
Our Communitv
Spring Training and sports in general are a big part of Pinellas County's
economic well-being and is part of the county's vision for a healthy economy.
Constructing a new facility in a more visible location would increase
baseball's positive presence in our community which has a real civic benefit.
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Major league baseball is a clean, positive industry that builds character and a
sense of place for Clearwater. It is a family event.
Can we take the chance of losing this precious community ac:;set????
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A New facililV Would Increase. . .
* Baseball's Positive Presence in
Our Community
* AReDdance
* Team Retention
* Economic Impact
* Communitv Use lor spons and
Other Events
-The Florida Sports Foundation reports that for the 3rd consecutive year,
attendance figures have surpassed figures for previous spring training seasons.
The Phillies total attendance is up more than 10.% over 1999 and the average
per game attendance is up 11 0/0.
-Clearwater is uniquely fortunate to be one of only 30 cities in the entire
United States that is priviledged to host a major league spring training team.
As I alluded to earlier, many other states and cities are trying to entice our
teams away from us.
-Economic studies this year show a $24million impact to communities hosting
major league spring training teams. This total is up fronl the $16million figure
repOlted in 1991. Overall, Florida Spring Training results in a $490 million
dollar impact to the state.
.We want this complex to host something for everyone to enjoy. The city will
reap the economic benetit of these events as well.
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Now, let me introduce lvIr. John Timberlake, Director of the Philadelphia
Phillies Florida Operations.
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Considerations for the
Proposed Site
* Neighborhood Concern
* Access to Major Highwav
* Visibility
* Accessibility to the Carpenter
Complex
-We are taking into consideration concerns which may be on the minds of
neighboring areas. Since the beginning we have been meeting with the
adjoining neighborhood and will make their concerns part of our process. In
preliminary planning we have made adjustment based on lighting, noise and
transportation that address neighborhood sensitivities.
-The proposed site is ideal for many reasons: It provides access to a major
highway
-as well as increased visibility.
-An additional benefit is access to Carpenter Field
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A Communitv
spons Complex
lor Clearwa
A Proposa
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Shared Funding
* A Three Way Pannership
* State sUIIPon
* What We're GeUing Countv
State
City/Phillies
-Funding for the proposed complex will be a three-way partnership shared
among the state, the county, and ajoint effort of the city and the Phillies.
-The City of Clearwater is preparing an application, which is due October 1 st,
to take advantage of the funding opportunity provided by the new state
legislation. The city hopes to receive $500 thousand per year for 30 years
from state revenues.
-rl1is has the potential to realize approximately $7 million in construction
funds. We are asking the county to match with a net $7 million, the state's
contribution. The Philllies and the city have begun preliminary negotiations to
determine the renlaining funding required.
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August 1, 2000
Mayor & Commissioners:
To Date, we have received 66 letters & e-mails in
support of the Phillies tlew Stadium and
1 telephone message against Stadium at SPJC property
(these are located on large conference room table)
and
1 letter with questions - in front of you.
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COPIES TO:
COMMISSION
AUG- 1 I
August 1. 2000
PRESS
e'=ERK I ATTQANiV
Dear Mayor and City Commissioners:
As a cili~en of the City of Clearwater, I would like to express my d~sire to do what is
possible. within limits. to keep the PhiJIies' Stadium in our area. 'have listed several questions
below thal 1 hope will be tuken into consideration when making your decision un where 10 place
this field.
1) What is wrong with rebuilding the stadium on the current property? A~ mueh as the Phi1lies
bave been a fixture in the area for many years, so has the stadium and its location
2) Why not use the stadium as a draw to the downtown area? It could be placed off of Cleveland
west of Greenwood. Restaurants and shops could be placed in and artlund the stadium bringing
some busines~e~ and life to the downtown area.
3) lias Rny thought been givell to the Clearwuter Malll\>cation? Is it possible tbr the City tQ
partner with the owner of the mall and build a combination malllbaseball complex.? It would be
highly visible lo everyone traveling on US 19 North and Gulf to Day and it is close to the
Phillics' practice field.
4) If SPJC field is used, what will happen to thc teams (yo\1th soccer and basebaJI) that currently
use the fields? Where cun these teams be relucated?
5) b the attraction to the SPJC site because location ;s convenient to for the Phillies?
As a property owner in the College Hill neighh,,)I'hQod I am exh crnely cuncerned over many
issues regarding our neigllborhood, which i~ adjacent to the SPJC field. Many questions were
asked to Mr. RobcI1o at the Neighborbood Meetings regarding the eflects the stadium would
have on our neighborhood. 1 bave not, and to my knowledge, none of my neighbors have
received any answers to the questions raised at these meetings Some of the unanswered
qucslions are as follows:
I} In a neighborhood plagued with SINKHOLES, what effect will the construction have on
our land'] By admission of your own city engineer. some of the current sinkholes may have
been caused by lhe construction done to widen Drcw Street Ifthal is the case are you
willing to subject Olll' neighborhood t() additional problems.
2) What wm happen to the valuc of our properties?
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3) What are the results of the environmental testing that was to be done on the site? Is it
worth spending several hundred thousand, if not more to clean up this field?
4) IF, this field is chosen. bow have you pJanned to control the additional traffic through our
streets? We aJrr.ady battle the commuters 10 SPJC and other people who use this 81'ea as a
shoncul. We have a lot ofclUldren in our neighborhood and for there safety if nothing else,
PLEASt;, do not allow the thnl traffic.
I will be attending the Commissioners meeling this evening. I hope that my questions will be
answered and you will limJ a solulion that will be beneficial to the Clealwate.' COI1JD1Ullity,
keeping the residcnt~ at the top "fyour priority list.
'!11ank you for your time and considcrati\lO.
Patricia Carden
810 Lake Foresl Rd.
Clcarwal~r.liL. 33765