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05/15/1944 . . ;.. ,,~,..,~:,~::~~~~~~~;i:::';';:::i'h~:::1:;;i':"""'" '.,. , ,,'1. . .,;,~ ,t::"i:'~:',. . " "'.' " ,;,'~ ./";> .: '~" ~:,<.."'; :~'~.~ :' ", .:'", :';[ ! ~ ': i .'~ 0: l~~' :'. . : . ~,J ...:.,.....k"",. , i " , I .. ' i ,0; " " ", , t' CITY C01WUSSION,MINUTES OF TIm: CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA May 15, 1944 The City Commdssion of the City of Clearwater, Florida met in regular session the evening of May 15th, 1944 in the City H~ll at 8:00 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor-Commissioner, George R. Seavy Commissioners: 'Jesse G. Smith Sumner R. Lowe Dan L. stout emire Herbert Grioe Absen t: None. The DB eting was duly oalled to' order by Mayor Seavy and. the minutes of the previous meeting were read, and approved. The City Comm1 ssion ha d before it.a complaint signed by 106 peo pIe protesting the 'way the presen t manabement is handling the Im* perial Dooks on Clearwater Beaoh. Attaohed to this oomplaint was a letter from Mr. A. T.'Dulaney and addressed to Mr. Frank L. Baasl in whioh Mr. Dulaney made complaints about the present management at the Imperial Dooks. Mayor Seavy appointed City Manager F. t. Hendrix, Cit y .At torney Ralph Hi ohards, and Commis si oner Jesse G. Sm1 th to in- vestigate the handling of' the Imperia.l Dooks and tb..make a report back to the Comm1~sion. (This petition on file in the City Clerk's Office.) It was moved by Mr. Stoutamire, seoonded by Mr. Lowe and oarried that a transfer of $25,000.00 from the Gas and Water Fund to the General Fund on May 8th be ap,proved. ,It was moved by Mr. Smith seconded by Mr. stoutamire and oarried that the Kiwanis Club ot Clear- water be ~anted a five year lease to the East side of the Reoreation Bulldin~ looated on Cle~rwater Beach, said leased part to be used by the Bes: Scouts. The Oity Commission differed aotion on the proposed Fire P~oteotion Ordinanoe until it oould be further investiga~ed. There being no further business to oome before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. ~ Mayor-Commiss ~-~~-- Clerawater, Florida. May 12th, 1944. To the Honorable City Commission of the C1 tY' of Clearwa tar, Olea rwat er, Florida. The undersigned believe that the City of C~arwater permitted the erection of the so-called Imperial DOCk on the theory that it would, be operated as a public utility and enoourage the enlargement of tm boating activitY' in 01earwater. We hereby represent that the tresent operation of the Imperial Dock is antagonistic to the maintenanoe or enlargement of the boating interests in this area and hereby offer.to submit such proofs as the City may ,require to fullY'demonstrate the need of a ohange in the method of operation of th~ aforesaid dook. . (Signed by 106 pers ana) . ------ .' ,', t .~~..... '<', ":'..",.. ""'~;<'~\:"',>~',.; 19/ ',' ""~,.,..'" , '" :.':~;..,:':,:.';<,]:~f; ;:.: t <', '" 'c. ~. 1',1 "'i""." . .". .iT!f~~~~~;~; :'~:<../ .',i .;..:'..:~;: ,I:.:" . ,r :',' ': ',:: " I~.'. :..... '\, ' i ,,. M' . . ~ ,'~ d '; .1' , , ., I l I I I t I "',~L;:> : , :::'~:F':', ,,; '" ':-i:'?~~~ ':',.~ ;:</." c":::::~<1!;~/>', '," " 'I.' ~,' ," ",,' ". . ",.,' '. .' , ~.'" l......:.e~...... {,1[!~!1,1 J:v. ',,"/, '-. \.~ ~.".".:; L ....' I t .... i:'::.;.:'.;:~\~~~,~\i"': < ,"".,,'" "',', , ~. .1\; . , ... ~. .,~'l.,~ .... ',i. .; '. "# I,~' " ....... ''''''''. " E ,',", '" ~}}..~:;~~ .". .rt"'\,(?;r.i.l r ',<::": ',.:', il ", ~~, r I': -.~ , \, ,: l. I' f f r '. ";',.,'J.,' Charlo~tesvi11e, Va. 929 Rugby Road, April 14, 1944. Mr. Frank L. Haasl Whispering Pine Cabins, IAlrgo, Florida: Dear Mr. Haasl: ~ \ I \'" I I Messrs A. G. Fray, F. A. Edd~ns and the writer reoently returned. trom a visit to your state. On Monday March 27th we went to C~ a rwater Be~ch to tind out if we could arrange a fishing trip on the Gulf. A taxicab driver took us to a dock where we met a Mr. C. C. Syphers who stated that he had a large boat which he could take us out on Wednesday March 29th. He stated that his minimum price for that boat was $40.00 per day. He stated that his boat, the "Belview Biltmore" was the largest and best equipped in that vicinity, and that it would carry a crew of two men which he paid .12.50 each per day. We inquired about rods and reels and expalined that we do not fish with hand' lines, and told him ths t we could bring ours along, but he aSal red us that would not be necessary as there would be plenty of rods and reels on the boat and that it would not be necessary to bring ours along. We agreed to go out and made a deposit of $5.00. 0 the morn- ing ot Mar~h 29th we arrived at Mr. Sypher's place and he too~ us to your dock and collect $35.00 balance before ~aving. We agadn asked him about the rods and reels and he told us they were under the seat. Instead of having a crew of two men he had one, and he stated he was sick, had the flu, but would do the best he could for us. Upon arriving at the fishing grounds we asked for the rods and reels and was told there were Done on ,the boat, and we then learned that the boat did not belong to Mr. Syphers. As a result of all the miprepresentation we lost a day and $40.00 plus our other"expense, a total of about $100.00. I have been visiting Florida bout twnety years and have never had such experience, and do not believe that those in authority 1n y.our state approve of stlch fraudulent practice. The master of the boat, Mr. Geo. M. Brandt, appeared to be an honest and capable young man and resented the tactics employed to hire the boat, and stated the matter should be taken up with you. You~ as the owner of the boat is the responsible party in this case, and I am writing YOl giving all of the wfacts en d an opportuni ty to do what:',is right in the matter. N t hearing trom you promptly I w111 send copies of this letter sworn ~o by all members o~ our party to the office of the Tampa Coast Guard, the office of the O. D. T., your gasoline rationing board and the Chambers of Commerce of Clealwater and Tampa, and also take such legal action as may be nec- essary. This letter is be:i.ng sent by registered mail to make sure that you receive it. . \.\.' :, i.';}i~i~*i~ . '., '. . ,,," $~:.",.:,? .. . l':"~''''hr'p.'-.I,'a . ,; . ".:1~f I '...h " ., '( :: . . " . .I [; ',',..', ")1" . ,', . . ~.- " , I i " <1 P,,>,';!. , .1 ,', ,I . "., \ :i' ,. ' "~' .'ii > ......... 'j ,"'"''',''' 'to :: .~. "f . ,~ .., I "":" ..' .' . ~. ' . ~ ~, I~ t~.} '", ." i:"~~ .<.~. .-)... }:\\ f" t; ;'~":::r.~~:>~~\'{~ .~:~ '~ ,~~~~:~: \: . ;: .. F. 'P"';' .....' ..'. ~ \ ,. {.",]" ri:' ':,:;:!;:;~~;;;) ::d:,:',~ ~::,'" . " ':'i"'r".'~ ,,'1:,;',.. ?""'J"' "I' ~':;,:'~~}~~~?J~}2\~~{>i": . '~ '. '.J > \"l.'~I!"" ,( . ~'l ~ .,. ;; rV~t;;r r.' "'V"1 '~~ ,,:.,! ;'.' , 1 i Yours very truly, (Signed) A. T. Dulaney -----.. Clearwater, Florida, May 8, 1944 Office of Defense Transportation, Tampa, Florida Gentlemen: According to the epclosed olipping from the Clearwater Sun of Kay 7, 1944, you will this week be called upon to pass on the test you recently author.1zed the Clearwater Transit Company to make in the operation of a bus line in the East section of this city. The item clearly indicated 8 the company, on the basis of a ,thirty-day test, will ask per.mission to discontinue the EQst end service. We, as a committee represent- ing the residents of the district concerned. 'respectfully request that you authorize the run continued permanently, for the following reasons: o ~:~;~, ,:- , .\ )'^,: ';", " ..;, " ! ,': ." ~~ . :>~ (",<,,;{~;';~:;~:~:~>,,~:,;:,~'~:-",;""~.~...:. '. . '" 'mf"'A .., . ~..,.,~~h..."-l'"",,^ ..,....,.. ..":,( '...";l~~\'.... ", . ';;)M;~; ........ !;'iil J~ 71/ F ,"',,',.' '.' (10 "f':'::);~ 'r"itii!~~t~'f,i't~ ~,;...."..,..... ',i/:', h.'::;:;"..::':.,>.,:',., 1. The test period WRS too short to measure accurstely the demand for and ~e pOBs1blilities of tfie servioe. The Mayor and the City Commission agreed on this point of view when we presented our petition, and authorized a !i'ixty-day tes.~. The oompany, however, we understa d, asked you for a thrlty-day test. Bus riding is a habit, and it takes time to develop a satisfa.ctory bualness. PeopJ.e cannot be expected to sell or lay up their auto8 in order to ride a bus that may cease operation at any time. 2. The bus sohedule during the test period now terndnating was inadequate to win much patronage. There was no Sunday service, though Sunday should have been the best paying day of the week, and the seven dally runs, two or three hours apart, were too infrequent for so short; a distanoe (about two miles). For example, the 8:15 a.m. run acoamo- dated neither the 8:00 a.m. nor the 9:00 a.m. workers, and p~~sengers to town on the 2:15 p.m. bue had to wait until 5:10 p.m. to return. 3. There was little real 8~fort on the part of the company to insure the sucoess of the test. Except for an announcement of the test and a sohedule published in the Clearwater Sun of Easter Sunday, there was no publicity by the company, no time cards d1stri- buted, and no effort whatsoever, exoept those of a very oourteoue bus driver, to get business for the line. After it has been in operation ~or a month, some people in the district conoerned do not know of its existence, and many have no idea of the sohedule. 4. The operation of the bus line does not mean a waste of gasoline in war t~e, but, to the oontrary, a real saving. It would certainly take more gasoline to carry from ~O to 15 daily in taxioabs than in buses. When residents ~ave their pr~vate autos in garages to ride a bus, they are conservin~. not wasting, gasoline. 5. It must be remenbered, the majority of the wintier res- idents, had ~ft the oity before the initiation of the test period. While the company was disappointed in the number of passengers carried, oonsidering the handicaps aforementioned, the showing made was really not bad ~or a beginning. All other lines ot the Clearwater TransIt Company have a town at each end of the 11ne from whioh to draw patronage; henoe, it would be absurd to expeot passengers standing in the aisles on this Ea~end run as is the case in its Largo and Dunedin buses, respectively. 6. Finally, bus servioe is indis~ensa~le to this East end section of this city. Many people are without other means ot trans- ~ortation - two miles from the business oenter of tlle city and the City OOJJmlission owes it to every lBrt of the city to see that adequate transportation facilities are provided. It is a matter of public necess1t~. We are sure the Commission 1s willing to provide the transportation re- quested, and, since it can be done without waste of fuel or Oil, we trust you will Dee fit to authorize the per.manent operation of. the East end line. Representatives of more than 200 f~lie8~ by signing tne ori8inal petition, signified their desire for bus service, and their readiness to patronize it, provided that reasonably satisfactory serv1ce were given. We are convinced that they meant what they said. and, if the line 1s made permanent and the service improved, that there will be a gradual inorease in patronage unti1 it becomes satisfactory to the operators and everyone con- cerned. ',I. ~ I .', : :..:~.- ~..:. .~.~ . ~:'\ (: ) , .' \~\;.;;~;; " I J I , -:j I ., I I I I , , . - .'.,".r . , .>' " ", . ,~';.. .;, , RespectfUlly submitted, (Signed) H. E. Dornblaser, Chairman 1635 Drew Street Frederick C. LUcas Joseph M. Hahn Wal ter L. Houghton, Comml ttee " ' ;;;:.\ C'h~ . ,. " :; ,"~..; ".!, J:". , .'I.'S~,~ . .~ ~f.'.~~., j.. , , I ..... \ :...~; q , I ,.~., ." t;.-' . ; ,.;".' ~ t..~. . \' , l.'. , ; :/t:" ,'. "if;'?; J~/; .ti' ,~,.::': , "..,',...;" . i;'<~ : !k,i,:, li\'. . ?\: I, i '~. " , ',J,';:;: . :.< .\ .If ,.,', ,',.'j~'.,.: " '. :. . . . ':; .. ~,'..' ' ~. , , . ". .' .,',' '..:l .." ,,'~, '~~~I::/ ,,],:~. .". , ~ 1 ., ',: :. '.: ~ ..; i ,.' , " ',.t ,.;'"':'::' ,. ,',' \ " ;\1'./:". ;:::>. ,.' ......,. '.. ,...."...':' "'1~.~,"..~ ;11:$.~!,>;S\\~;<. ".. , ."'. 'r' \ '.. '::, . ,.'/.\' ,., .... Chamber of Commeroe Clearwater, Fla. May 26, 1944 , " , , 'I " ,'-:; Mr. F. L. Hendrix, City Manager City lia11 Clearwater, Florida ---' My dear 1~. Hendrix: For your in~ormtion eno1osed is a copy ot the minutes taken on the meting of the Ba~bor Committee held in the offioe of the Chamber of Commeroe on Friday, May 25. The entire notes taken at this metting may be of interest to you and the oity oommis- sion. I want partioular1y to oa11 your attention to the aotion taken, which I was instructed to pass on to the city CO!I~ssioners, whioh was the adoption of the motion whioh reads as follows: "Your Harbor Committee further disoussed other matters pertaining to our waterways and passed the rol1owin~ motion, which had been duly made and seconded and unani- mously carried, that we, the Harbor Committee of the Clearwater Chamber of Commeroe, petition the oity oom- mission inviting them to use the experienoe and knowled~e of the Harbor Committee of the Chamber of Commeroe on all matters pertaining to the harbor, harbor improvements, harbor rao1lities, and adjaoent waterways." Will you be so kind as to submit this to the C1 ty Co:~mlss10ners at the next regular meeting? \: ~ . I i i : <.;' 'J';' . ' .... : ~ '-:~.,"',,~.'r': 1,.:._ , ~ '''',:'' ::.: .:'~'~ .::;; ". 5, ':',:' Very truly yours, (Signed) Zum O. E. Zumwinitel OBZ:hb *********** MEMORANDUM OF HARBOR COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT CHAMBER OF COMMEROE AT 1:00 P.M., May 26 The following members of the Harbor Committee were present: Otis Pruitt, Chairman James Bayly Jaok Martens Joe Turner. President o. H. Zumwlnke~, Secretary Donald Robling (unable to attend) POWER LINE TO THE BEACH Tbe subjeot under disoussion was the question of whether or not the Barbor Committee should enter a protest to the distriot engineer at Jaoksonvi1le of the proposal submitted by the Florida Power Corporation to build,'a.'power line from the mainland of Clear- water to C1earwster Beaoh. After disoussing the sUbjeot at lenght, the oo~lttee adopted the ro110wing motion, whioh was properly made and seoonded, that we send the following telegram to Col. A. B. Jones, Distriot Engineer, U. S. Engineering Office, 575 Riverside Avenu~, daoksonville, Florida: The Harbor Committee of the Clearwater Champer of Commeroe wishes to protest the proposed oonstruotion of overhead power lines from the mainland at Clearwater, Florida, to Clearwater Beach as submitted by the Florida Power COlporation notioe of whioh is dated May'22, 1944. Letter follows. Your seoretary was instruoted to send the telegram, immediately fol- lDwed by a registered letter to Col. A. B. Jones indicating that the ~rbor CWDnlttee of the Chamber of Commeroe opposes the oonstruotion of this line beoause: 1. . The obstruotion will be,a definite menace to navigation ;",,':,": ;:, '.' 'end also hazardous. {~:,:){"y:. ,'" ,',.., ' i~y:::::::;(r.,:,,/':..'":~;,q,: -,' :"2.~;/'It: '. will serl.ously, depreoia te bay,property, both on the " "'t":<;':~:::;~;::;:,i>':i,:\.\t,;::~~:;::'~t#l:ii~;X~3;n(:O~~rwatel' ,Beao,h, end 'Will obstr.uot the ,.(~,';.'';'i''':''':'':''~;'';'~I'''' .1~'!i<affb8i$iS:'iD>'ftseltunslghtly ',' ;, ",' ",' d ,.' :;;.~~,~"",/. '.Ig~~{l~iJ~~:~{~:f~{9:t/J~~(~'/<:?":;':Y',,: .' . ,.,',' q , ':,' '\:,::" ' . , ," . . . . '. .. ',''J;'' '-'- /", ;' "......'_..~'--' ':\:., " " ----" ~ '{'Y" ",'".."'.1 h' t., I~ I ~ ' ,. :~r .~ ' ..J, I ,;. ...of . .~ ~ F';':: . ',' -":" <~ . . . . '" !:.~ . '.:J:' " .~... . '::~ 788 ," '" ... } 3. It will be extremely dan~erous to boats and manpower on the boats becuase of the pos- sibility of breakage of high tension wires. Your Harbor Committee further disoussed other matters pertaining to our waterways and Plssed the following motion, which had been duly.made and seconded and unanimously carried, that we, the Harbor Committee ot the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, petition the city oommission in- vitin6 them to use the experienoe and knowledge of the Harbor Committee of the Chamber of Commeroe on all matters pertaining to the harbor, harbor improvements, harbor facilities, nnd adjacent waterways. I .I *************** I , I ;.\ I -I ,] " ,] j Clearwater, Florida, June 2nd t 1944 \ L ,I.. ~n. {,:,' I i" .' ~I,:;, ,., 'j'; .. ~'.:' ~~~ t -' "~ :~::,; {~" .'{ ~.~. {...:' Honorable George R. Seavy, Mayor-Commissioner, Clearwater, Florida. Dear Mr. Seavy:- At the last meeting of the City COmmission you appointed the undersigned as a oo~ttee to investigate certain oomplaints rebardi.ng the operation of the Imperial Dock by Charles C. Syphers. Your oommittee held an open meeting at the City Hall at 8:00 P.M. on June 1st, 1944. My Syphers was present with his counsel. ~. E. B. Cesler* Jr., appeared in behalf of some of the signers of the petition oritioisinb the operation of the dock. All witnesses were plaoed under oath, and the prooeedings were recorded by a oourt reporter. A number of witnesses testified in behalf of the petitioners, relating in detail their several complaints against Mr. Syphers and his manner of operating the dock. Mr. Syphers then testified in his own behalf', and called a number of wi tnesses lIho::testified in support of his oontention that heris operating the dock in a proper mander. Your committee finds that there have been some minor violations of the terms of the Imper ial Dock lease. My Syphers seems to feel that he has the right to rent or to refuse to rent dock spaoe in acoordance with his own preferenoes. and the testimony ::howned clearly that in at least two instances Mr. Syphers had requested the owners of boats to give up their spaces a t the dook and not return. This seems to be a violation of th e provisions of the lease whi ah requires dock spaoe when available, to be rented to any boat owner who delJires to use it. However, the oommittee does not feel that thts situation, and 'other minor violations of the terms of the lease, is suffioiently serious to warrant the Oi ty in takinE, steps to oanoel the lease on account of violation of its terms. '1 7",'/", , , (; The testimony of all witnesses indicated that the dock is kept in asatlsfootor,y physical condition as to oleanliness and good order. The oomplaint of the various witnesses was regarding the personal oon- duot of Mr. Syphers and not as to the condition of the dook. ' In view of the large number of persons 'who si gned the pe ti tion requestinE a change in the management of the dock, and the considerable number of per8Dns~who appeared to testify regardin~ their differenoes with Mr. Syphers, it is the oonolusion of yoo.r oommittee that Mr. Syphers frequently adopts an arbitrary and sometimes unpleasant manner in dealing wi th patrons of the dook. It is the feeline-. of your oommittee the. t such an attitude on the part of the operator of the dook is not oonduoive to the best interests of the City of Clearwater in its efforts to extend every possible aooommodation to those interested in boatine; and fis~ng. Under the terms of the lease, the City has the right to terminate the lease and take Over the property at any time for munioipal oper- ation. The question thus arises as to whether the best interests of the City and our oitizens 'interested in boating would be served bY, leaving the do ok in its present hands or by taking it over for municipal operation. Clearwat er is primarily a resort oi ty and the water front is our 'greatest attraction. Many of our citizens and visitmrs are interested in boa t1nb and fiming a t the present time, and your oommi ttee faels that this interest will be greatly intessified after the war. It is ~.~~ ;~ ,e. '~t ) , , ' ,.', . ," I''; -_._.--~' "".~. .--.:..._-~..- - \. \ .. \,\ .... "','1' .;; " ,",', '"', ;\ .:Jir:),<',:'::':~:~i'.~,}.;.,.h.. 't, '., .. : , ~ " .1l....\'~10;;iff,...-..J~.."-',. ,.' N/fI' '~ , : ~""':(- 4 _ -.... :. .' ..... .....}:..... . f;: ~ "1~.: ,;; .....;,. " .. - ~-' ! w .1.'. I", ' 4:' I ~'.:.1 ,. our opinion tbat tbe present si ze of the' 01 ty, and. its rapid gl"O.'Wtb expeoted in tbe ruture, require that adequate faoilities under o~- pet~n~aanagement be provided tor all.~sons interested in boating and tishihg. And it is the oonclusion of your oommdttee that suoh~' ~ accommodations oan best be provided by munioipal operation. We' therefore reoommend that an immediate survey be made to determine the oost of taking over all docks on the south side of the west end of the Causeway and that a plan'be formulated to erect suffioient new dooks or similar faoilities to assure ad~quate acoommodations to all persons who may wish to use them. It is our recommendation that when suoh a'sur- vey has been oompleted and plans drawn, every effort should be made to secure the necessary funds and materials to 0 arry the plant into immediate efreot. If and when the City is ready to put such a plan into operation, we reoommend that all present ~ook leases in the area above mentioned be oanoelled so that the City will be in a position to develop the entire area as a unit for proper accommodations of boats. . ._....; .,., Very truly your s, (Signed) Jesse G. Smith (Signed) F. L. Hendrix (Signed) Ralph Riohards ',\ . . "., . <.:" .>~. -',. . '" , . '. ' .' . :~'''::;\i/~i:{'(;i;1~~.j;:'. . ;"'::'.'\::::';:8:,' <:: ';', <.~~'\ I,.,^,....~J.,,",.. . . .' .:. r~.~ I~..", ~t; ;.,.' ( ~~ii, '~'."!' . (; ~:;>'.. f.';;:'< . fiL,' " I". .,~,' '. ~~~.~ ~ .'.,\., ****************** PETITION TO THE MEMBERS 0]- THE CITY COMMISSION OF TEE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. . WE, the undersigned citizens end property owners of the Bity of Clearwater, Florida, being advised ~I the intention ot the plan of the Florida Power Corporation to construct across Clearwater Bay from the foot of Marshall Street on the mainland to the foot of Poinsettia Street on Clearwater Beach Island hereby protest the granting by the City of Clearw ter to the Florida Power Corporation right or franchise to construct said power line at siad place. This protest being based upon the fact that it is well-known by the citizens of this city, from the appearance or similar lines oon- structed across water in the vioinity or St. Petersburg, that such structures greatly mar the natural beauty of such scenic bodies of water: as they are constructed across. We, the undersigned, strongly believe that the construction of suoh a line across Clearwater Bay will be a great detriment to the scenia beauty and reoreational at~raction that our city as a whole bears to visitors and permanent residents. , WHEREFORE, the underiJigned petitions the honorable city com- mission to fully oppose, with every means at its disposal, the plan of the Florida Power Corporation to construct said power line across Clearwater Bay. . (Signatures 214, ) "",'(;~~i~'~~;;;-~~ ,,'$-,- ----;:.0.,,- I'~ '/ ,p,::,\' ~, I'-+;~"f\<r} \~~ ~'~~l ,\7ij,;' _ ......,.:~:.. "'"~n~.;",,,1 PHONE: 442 -6131 E.XT. 229 ,'...' OFFICE OF CITY CLERK CITY OF CLEARWATER P. 0, Box 474B CLEARWATER, FI.A, 33518 l.',' � � � 1 � . . . . - � . . .� �� . � . � , CITY QOtJlMLSSION.MINUTES , OF TAE CITY OF CLEAI�1fJAT.ER, FLORIDA �Y 15 : 1944 The City Comm3seion of the . Cit°,� of Cle�+rwater, Flor3da met in regular se�sion the evening of �ay� 15th, 1944 in the City HGIl at 8s00 p.m. with the following mEmbers preseat; • Mayor-Commissioner, George R. Seavy Commissionerss •Jesse G. Smith ' Sumner R. Lowe Dan L< Stout amire Herbert Grice ° ` Absent: Nane. The � eting was duly called to"order by Mayor Seavy and, the mi�utes o� �he previ,ous meeting were rnad,and approved. The Cit;� Commission hafl before it �a complaint signed by 106 peaple protesting the'way the present mana�^ment is handling the Im� periel Docks on Clearwater Beach. Attach�d to this complaint was a letter from Mr. A. T.'Dulaney and addressed to udr. Frank L. Haasl in which Mr. Dulaney made complaints aimut tYie pressnt management oi' the Imperial Docks. Mapor Seavy appointe� City I�a�ager F. �. Hendrix, City Attorney Ra].ph Richards, and C�mmissioner Jesse G. Smith to in- vestigate the handling of' the Imperial Docks and tbA�make a report back to the Commissibn. (This petition on file in the City Glerk�s offices) It was moved by Ldr. Stoutamire, seconded by Mr. I.owe and carried that a transfer of �25,000.00 front the Gas and Water Fund to the General Fund an May gth be approved. ,It was moved by 'W'iro Smith second3d by Mr. Stoutamire and carried that the giwanis plub of Cleax- water be �ranted a Pive year'iease to the Eest side of th� Recreation Building Iocated on Q1e�rwater Beach, said leased part ta be used by • the Sea Scouts. . The City Commission differed action on the proposed Fire P�otection Ordinance until it could be further investigated. There being no Purther business to come before the Board, the meeting was a•djourned. � � Mayor-Comrnis si'oner , ' y Audito and Clerk �� i � Glerawater, F`lorida. .. May 12th, 1944. To the Honorable �ity Commission of the City of Clsarrsa�er� Clearyvater, Florida. The under5ignsd believe that the �3ty o� Cle arwater permitted the erection of the so-called Imperia2 Docl� on the theory that it wauld. be operated as a public utility and encourage the enlargement of tY� boating activ3ty 3n Clearwater. 4;�e hereby reprasent tha� the � esent oparation of the Imperial Dock is antagonistic to �he mainbenance or enlargement of the boat3.ng �.nterests in this area and hereby offer to submit such nroofs as the City may require to ftiilly demonatrste the nesd of a change in the method of operation of the aforesaid dock. , (Signed by 106 persans)., � ■ �� Charlottesville, Va. 929 'Rugby Road, April 14, 1944. DSr. Frank L. Haasl Whispering Pine Gabins, Iargo, Florida; Dear Mr. Fiassl: Messrs A. G, Fray, F. A, Eddins and the wr iter recently returned. from s vi9it:to gour state, �n Monday S�arch 27th we went to Cb a rwater �3e�ch to find out if �ve could arrange a fishing trip on the Gulfs A taxicab driver took us to a dock where we met a Mr. C. C. Syphers who stated that he had a large boat which he could take us out on YVednesday Mareh �9th. He stated tl�at hia minimum price for that boat was �40,00 per dag. He stated tra t his boat, the "Belview Biltmore" was t�e largest and ;�est equipped in that vicinity, and that it would carry a crew of two men which he paid �12.50 each per day. We inquired about rods and reels and exp�linsd ihat we do not fish with hand lines, and toia r�;.m tr� t we could bring ours along, but he asszred us that would not be necessary as th�re would be plenty of rods and reels on the bost and tha t it �vould not be necesssry '�o brin� ours along. dYe agreed to go out and made a deposit of �5.00. 0 the morn- ing of lidar�h 29th we arrived at Mr. Sypher's place and he too� us to your dock and collect �35.00 balance before 1a avin6. We aga�.n asked him about the rods a nd reels and he told us theg w,ere under the seate Instead of having a crew oY two men he had one, and 'ne sts�;�ed he was sick, had the flu, but would do the best he could for us. IIpon arriving at the iishing groun:�!s we a3ked for the rods and r�els and wes told there were none on•the boa}, and we then ,learned thst the boat did nat belong to Mr..Syp�ers. As a result �f all the mi�representation we l.os't a day and �40e00 plus our otherrexpense, a total of. about �100.00. I have been nisit3a�g Flo:ida bcuti tvvnets years and have never had such experience, and do not beZieve that those in authority in �rour state approve of stxch fraudulent practice. The master of th2 boat, b5r. Geoa M. Brandt, appeared ta be an honest and capable young man and resented the tactics employed to hire the boat, and stated tha matter should be takezt up with vou. You, as the owner of the boat i� the reaponsible party in this case, and I am writing yoti giving a11 of the,,facts a1d an opportunity to do what'-is right in the matter. h t hearing from you promptly� I wi11 send copies of this Zetter sworn �o by all members of nur garty to the office of the Tampa Coast Guarct, the oi'fice of the 4. D. T., your gasoline rationing board and the Ghambers of Commerce of Gleazwater and Tampa, and aisa take such legal eetion as may be nec- essary. This letter is being sent by registered mail to make sure that you receive it, Yours very trulg� (Signed) A. T. Dulandy Clear�vater, Florida, BQay 8, 1944 Of�'ice of Defense Transportation, ' Tampe, Florida Gentlemen: According to the eneTosed clipping from the Clearwater Sun of Ma.� 7, 1944, you will tY�.is week be called upon to pass on the test , you recentlg authorized the'Clearwat er Transit �ompany to make in the onerat3on of a bus line in the East sec�ion of this crity. The item clearly indicated s the company, on the basis of a thirty-dsy test, will ask permission to disc�ntinue the Easic end service. We, as a comm3ttee reproaent- ing the residents of the district concernedy respectfullg request that you authorize the run continued permanently, for the following reasans:. a � � l. The test period was too.short to meaauro accuratel.y the demand for and t1�.e posaiblillties of tYie aervice. Tho Ma�or and the City Commission aBreed on this point of view wl�n we presented our petition, and authorized a sixty-da�test. The company, however, we understa d, asked you for a t�ri.ty-dag test. Bus riding is a habit, and it takes time to develop a satisfactory business. People cannot be expected to sell or 1ay up their autas in ordsr to ride a bus that may ceaae operation at an.y t3me, 2;. Ths bus schedule during �tiie tost period now terminating was inadequate to win rauch patronage. There was no Sund,;y sArvice, thou�h Surldag should have been the best paying d&4 oY the v�eak,, and tY�e aeven dai.lg runa, two or th�ee hours apart„ were too inPrequent for so sh�ar t a dis�ance (about two milas). For example, the 8:�.5 a.m. run aceomo- 3ated neither the 8;00 a.m. nor the 9:00 a.m. workers, and g�rssengera to town on the 2:15 p.m. bua had to wait until 5e10 p.m. to return, 3. There was little real e�fort on the part oP the campany to 3nsur�e the success of the test. Except for an announe9ment of the test and a schedule publi�hed in the Clearwater Sun oP Easter Sunday, there was no publicity by the company, no time carda distri- buted, and no e£fort what�eoever, except those o£ a very courteoufi bus driver, to get businese for the line, Ai'ter it has been in operation for a month, some people in the distr3.et concerned do not lmow of its existence, and ma�y riave no idea of the schedule. 4. The operation of the bus line does not mean a waste of gasoline in war time, but, to the contrarg, a real sa_ vingz. It would certainly take more gasoline to aarry irom 30 th 7 daily� in taxicabs tha:� in buses. When residents ]save their pr�vate autos in garages t� ride a bus, they are aonservin�, not wastin�, gasollne. 5. It must be remembered, the majority o.f the win�er res- idents, had left �he city bafore the in3tiation of the test period. 11Vhile the company wea disappointad in the number oi' passengers carried, considering the handicaps aforementioned„ �he ahowing made was really no� bad for a be 3nnin . All other lines of the Cleaxwuater Trans o3�have a ovcn at each end of the line from auhich to draw patronage; hence, it would be absurd to expeot passengers standing in the sisles or. this Fastend run as is the case in its 7�argo and Dunedin bnses, respectively. 6. Finally, bus service is indis ensabfie to this East end section of this city. B4any people are without o er means of trans- port&tion < two miles from the businass aenter of the citp and the bity Con�mission owes it to every �a rt of the city to se� that adequate transportation facilities are provir3ed. It is a matter of puUlic necessitv. We are �ure t�e Commission is willing to provide the transportation re- quested, and, since it can be done without waste oP ftii�l or oil� we trust you will see fit to authorize the germanen� operation of.the est end line. RPprasentatives af more than 200 �a�lies, by signing the ori�inal peti�3on, sign�ified their desire for bus service, and their readiness to patronize ib, provided that reasonably satisfactory serv3ce were given. We sre convinced that they meant what they said, and, if the line is made permanent and the service im�,roved, thet there will be a gradual increa�� in patronega until it beco�es satisfactory to the operators and everyone con- cerned. Re�pectfully submitted, (Signed) H, E, Dornblases, �hairman 1635 Drew Street Frederick C. Lucas Jc+seph I�d. Hahn Walter L. Fioughton, Goimnittee � � . �� _ ' ,. •`,`;�� D '�` ��'� � ,. �%1�'%� ,. i t +� � M� '� ( � � _ Chamber oP Commerce .. .' �k' Clearwater, Fla. , Ma�r z6, Y944 � �-- ,•;t�� . . r;�:.. .. � � �� . . . � . A � �i� a i, ,:; Mr. F. Lo Hendrix, City I�anager . �.' Clty Hall , • Clearwate.r, Florida Ix . . ;� ° . ' . MY dear Mr. Hendrix: . , , ^y � � . , • . I'or your informtion er_closed is a copy of the minutes taken on � the meting of tha Harbor Committee held in the office af the � � '' Chamber af Commerce on Frida \ at this metti y� ��y 25, The entire notes taken ng may be of interest to you and the city eammis- �� sion. I want particularly ��o cal': your atten.tion to the action /\�' . taken, which I was instructed to pass on to the citp cor�missioners, ' fl which was the ad,option of the motion which reads as follows: ' "Your F.arbor Committee further discussed other matters pertain.ing to our waterrvays and pr�ssed the f�llowin� , ' • �� motian, which had been duly made and seconded �nd unami- mously carried, that we, the Harbor Committee of the : Clearwater Cham,b'er of Comc�erce, petition the city com- � • mission inviting them to use the experience and knowledge � � of the Harbor Committee of the Chamber oP Commerce on a�l ,r matters pertaining to the harbor, harbor improvementa, , � !"� harbar facilities, �ud ad jacent water�Nays. tt �,i f� Will you be so kind as to submit this to the City Co�issianers • +a � at the ne$t regular meeting? r:� �� - �?i' Very trul,� snurs, a u i _ ' �� Signed� Zum . N . • , . -.�� 0. �i. Zumwin�el • i ;�� OHZ : hb � � � . ;; . , * * �=** �** *** ;; �. ME1vI�RANDUM OF HAR1i0R CObII�GITTEE 1VP�, ETING HEI,D �T CFTAMBER OF COLi]MERCE � . AT 1:00 P.I�. , May 26 Tne following msmbers of the Harbcr Committee were present; • Otis Pruitt, Chairman . � ' Jemes Bayly� daek Martens • • Joe T�ner, President 0. H. Zumwinl��;i:, SEcretary Donald Robling (unabla to att d en ) � POti�R LINE TO TF� BEACH � The subjaet under d3.scussion was the question of whether or no� the Harbor Committee sb;ould entex a protest to the district �� engineer at Jaeksonville of the groposal submitted by the Florida � Power Corporation to buiZcl'a•power line from the aiainland of Clear- ; water to Clear�v�ter Beach. Af tea d3.scussing the sub ject et lenght, t�ae � �o.mmittee adopted t�ie foll�wing motion, which was properly made and ` seoonded, that we ssnd the followir.g tolegram to Col. A. B. Jones, ' F � District Engineer, Li. S. Engineering Office, - 575 Riverside A�enae, Jaeksonvills, Florida: The Harbor Comnittee o£ the Clearwater Champer of Co�erce wi�hes to protest; the pr�powed constructian of overhead :; , �. ,:�;• _,_ �,,h powzr lin�s from the mainland at Clearwater, Florida, to Clearw2ter Beach as submit�ed by the Florida Power Corporation noti.ce of which is � ` dated MaY 22, 7.944. Letter follows. � � ,.:� �'�.' Your sacrotaxy was instructed �o send the telegram, immediately fo1- ' , � �M�"�� lowed bp a registered letter to Col. A. B. J�nes indicatittg that tne ,'��, Harbor Cbmm3ttee of the Chamber of Gommerce opposes the constTuci;ion of ° this line be�cause: . . ' y , ' I � . �� l. The obstruetion wi11 be.� definite menace to navigation and also hazardous. � • 2. It will saxiously deprecir�te bay,property, botfi on the � ma3n3.and and Cleaxwater Beach, and will obstruct �he view, �" as well as being in 3tself unsi�htly, .. � _ ,,;�,� � _�. ._ � !i � <r, _ _ .._ „ �, , �' � �.: �. � �t� � �� ' ■ � �. It will be extrsmely dan�erous tn boats and manpower on�the boats becuase of the pos- . sibility of breakage of high tension wirss. Your Harbor Gommittes further discussed other mstters pertaining to our waterways and passed the following motion, which had �een duly made and seconded �n d unanimously carried, tha t we, the Harbor Committee of the Clearwater Chamber �f Gommexce, petition the city commission in- vttin� tham to use the experience a�,d knowledge of the Harbor Cammittee of the Chamber �f Commerce on all matters pertaining to the harbo•r, �har�bor improvenents, harbor facilities, and adjacent waterwayse **#******�****:k G1es�water, Florida, June 2nd, ]_944 Honorable George R. Seavy, Mayor-Commissioner, Clearwater, Florida. Deai Mr. Seavy;- A� the last meet3ng of the City Comruission you appointed the undersigned as a committee to inves�Gigate certain complaints regardin� the operation of the Imperisl Dock by CY�arles C. Syphers. Your committee held an open meeting at the Gity Hall at 8:00 P.M. on June lst, 1944. My SYphers was present with his counsel. Mr. E. B. C�s1er7 J'r., a�peared in behalf af s�me of the signers cf the peti:tion criticising the operation of tbe �o�k. A1I witnesses were placed under oath, and the proceedin�s were recorded by a court reporter� A nuneber oi witnesses testified in behalf oi the petitioners, relating in detail their several co mplaints against N;r. SyphErs and. , his manner of operating the dock. Mr. Syphers then testified in his own behalf, and calle d a number oP witnesses who�;,�estified in support of his enntention that h�eis opereting the dock in a proper msnfler. Your committee Pinds that there have been some minor violations o� the terms of the Imp�rial Dock lease. Nsy Syphers seems to feel that he :hss the ri�ht to rent ox to refuse to rent dock space in accordance wit� his own prePerences, and the testimony showned clearly that in at least tv�o ittstance3 Nir. Syphers had requested the �wners of boats to ' give Lp their spaces at the dock and not return. This seems to be a violation of th e provisions of th e lease whi ch requires dock space when avail.able, to be rented tr, any boat owner who de�ires tq use it. However, the com�zttee doss not feel that th�s situati:�n, and •ot•her mznor violations of the t�rms of the lease, is sufficiently serious to warrant the City in talcin�; steps ta c,ax��e1 the lease an account of violation. of its ��rms. The t estimony oP ell witnesses indicated that the dock is kept in asatisfoc�tary physical condition as to cleanlzness ancl g�od orfler. The complaint of the various witnesses was r egarding the person�l eon- duct oP Mr. Syphers an� not as to the condition of the doek. � Tn view of the large number of per�ns �who signed the petitian reques�in� a chan�e in the management oP the dock, and the considerable num.ber of persan.s,:who appeared to testify regardin� their diPferences with Mr. Sgrh9rs, it is the oonclusion of your committee that Mr. Syphers frequently adopts an arbitrary a ud sometimes unpleasant manner in �iealingwith patrons of the dock. Tt is the feelin� of your cammi-ttee that such an attitude; on the part oi the operator of the dock is not conducive to t he best interests oi the City of Clearwa�er in 3t.' ef�arts to extend every possible accomm�dation to th �se interesi;�d in boatin� and fishing. Under the terms of the lease, the City has the right to terminate the lease and �Cake over the property at any time Por municipal oper- ation. The qne stion thus ariaes as to v�hether the best interests of the City and our citizens �interested in boating would be servod b�.leaving' the dock in its present hands or by takin� it ovEr for municipal DpBTQtil OY1. Glearwat ex i s priaaariiy a re�ort ci ty ar_d the water Pront is our greatest attraction. Many of our citizens and visi�t�5rs are interested in boa��in� and fi�.in� at the present time, and your commit�tee fe.eZs that this interest will be greatly intessified after the war. It is ' . . L ;.. . .. . . . , . . . �. �. .. . . . . . . . f� k r� �r � ._ �. r r � 9 a � ,:;.1 � R � � r„ _ ` ��.� }.�,;�. , �':�� ,,.,;,r � ..� �.:> our opinion that the present size �f the ci.ty, and its rapid gro•�th expected in the fizture, require that adequate Pacilities under cofn- petznt, �anagement be provided for s1J .�xsons interested in bnatingt� •4, and fishing. And it is the conclusion af ynur committee that such �' acc.�mmodati�ns can best be provided by munici�al operatian. we therefore recommend that an immediate survey be made to detersine the cost of taking over all docks on the south side of the west end of the Ceuseway and that a plan`,be Pormulated to erect suPPicient new docks or sinii�ar facilities to assure adqquate accom�odations to a11 persons who may wish to use them. It is our recommendation that when such a sur- � vey has been completed and plans drawn, every effort should be made to secure t he necessary funds and materials to carry the plant into immediate efi'ect, IP and when the City is ready to put such a plan in.to operation, we recommend tnat all present �ock leases in the area above mentioned be cancelled so that the City will be i.n a position'to - develop the entire area as a unit for proper accommodations oP boats. Very t2uly y�t;¢� s, (Signed) Jesse G. Smith (Signed) F. L. Hendri� (Signed) Ra1ph Richarda ************�*�k*** PETITION TO � MEMgERS OF THE CITY COP4NIISSIaN �F THE CITY OF GLEARWF�TER, FIA�iIDA. , V�, the undersi gned citizens and property owners oP the $ity af Clearwater, Fl,orida, being advised o2� the intetttion of the plan of tlie Florida Power Corporation to construct across Clearw�ter Bay i'�om the foot of M�xshall Street on the mainland to the 3'oot af Poins�ettia $treet an Clearwater Beach Island hereby protest thR gran�ing by the Citp oi' Clearw ter to the Fl�idr� Power Carporation right�or franchise to construct said power line at siad place. mhis protest being based upon the Pact that it is well-known by the citizens of this city, from the appearance of similar lines con- struc�ed acro'ss water in tha vicini.ty oP St. Fetersburgy tl� t such struc�es greatly mar �he natural beauty of such seenic badies of water.�s they are constructed across. �Ne, the undersigned, strongl� believ�e that the construction of such a line across Clearwater Bay will be a great uetriment to the scenic beavty and recreational at�rac°�ion tr.e,t our city as a whole beara to visitors and p�rmanent reside�ts. II� VVI�REFORE, the under�igned petitians the h�norable cit3* �om- missid to fully oppose, with every means at its disposal, the plan o� th ��F'lorida Power Corporation ta construct said power line across Clearv;�'ter Bay. ;'�'�. (Signafiures 21t� ) �t �s �1 �4 , i � _ _.__�.��_ _ ��SFAL��n['�=,= pHONE�442-6131 ' �� \.=i'%t- Exr. 22s �� ; 9 43 `�q�Ea E�.� OFFICE OF CITY CLERK j � � P. O. BOX 4748 � . CITY OF CLEARWATER CLEARWATER, FLA. 33518 � 0 .. y � . . . _ ..._.. � . ,... �...,�..r�,-.. ....,.n. �._. .......,...�.__J�... .�. ■ ■