09/16/1996 (2)
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, NORTH GREENWOOD COMMUNITY
TASK TEAM
MINUTES
Date
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NORTH GREENWOOD COMMUNITY TASK TEAM
CITY OF CLEARWATER
September 1 6, 1 996
Present:
Reverend William Graham
David Grice
Joe Marshall
Dennis Golden
MacArthur Boykins
Kathy S. Rice
Lt. Jeff Kronschnabl
Rich Baier
Scott Shuford
Michael Holmes
Brenda Moses
Absent:
Bertha Kelley
Mayme Hodges
Beverly Bryant
Samuel Collie
Mary Samuel
Tal Rutledge
Reverend Lucius Pitts, Jr.
Chair
Team Member
Team Member
Team Member
Team Member
Deputy City Manager
Special Assistant to the City
Manager/Community Response Team
City Engineer
Director of Central Permitting
Assistant Economic Development Director
Board Reporter
Team Member
Team Member
Team Member
Team Member
Team Member
Team Member
Team Member
The meeting was called to order by Reverend William Graham at 6:09 p.m. at
the Martin Luther King Center, 1201 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue; Clearwater,
Florida. To provide continuity, the items listed were not necessarily discussed in
that order.
Deputy City Manager Kathy Rice acknowledged Commissioner Hooper.
A memorandum from Lt. Jeff Kronschnabl addressed to Ms. Rice was
distributed to team members. Included in the memorandum were plans and
accomplishments in the Greenwood area; which were derived from the combined
efforts of citizens and task team members. City staff suggested categorizing issues
and concerns from NGCTT (North Greenwood Task Team) meetings into four major
areas:
1. Crime and Police Issues
2. Economic Development, Jobs and Community Development
3. Recreation and Activities
4. Stevenson's Creek and the Reclaimed Water Plant
Task team members would be assigned to one of the four groups, with City
staff members serving as scribes. Members could invite whomever they wished to
the group meetings. Some task team members expressed concern about being
divided into separate groups, and felt all issues should be addressed as one group.
A remark was made that every city in America has crime and police situations; and
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it was suggested changing "Crime and Police Issues" to "Infrastructure" or
"neighborhood improvements';. Ms. Rlce noted defining specific concerns was the
intent of splitting into groups. Individual groups would come together to discuss
their findings, and the entire team would finalize recommendations to be presented
to the Commission. A member said splitting into groups may result in individual
perspectives; rather than a group effort. He felt the group was being guided to an
extent. He said he was approached by several members of the community who felt
this task team was replacing other organizations already in place. Ms. Rice said the
City Staff's intent is to serve as facilitators, and not to guide the team. She noted
this task team was formed because residents felt the City was not listening to
community concerns.
Issues discussed to date will be put into list form for team members to sort
into appropriate categories at the next meeting. Members will not split into
individual-groups. At that time; members can also discuss ways of sharing NGCTT
information with other existing community organizations. Reverend Graham said the
objective of the NGCTT was to gather information from residents and members. He
asked NGCTT members to review specific issues discussed and listed in previous
minutes before the September 30, 1996 meeting, and be prepared to identify major
issues which can be presented to the Commission.
Ms. Rice reviewed forthcoming community improvements:
",::;
Renovations to the Martin Luther King Center are scheduled to begin
within 30 days.
Chief Klein will address current Police Department procedures,
especially impoundment of vehicles.
Alternatives for more parking on North Greenwood Avenue are being
reviewed.
The City obtained a 1 O-year lease with the School Board to provide a
paved parking lot behind the library. Construction will begin within 3
weeks. The parking lot will be shared with the school system.
The Parks and Recreation Department is addressing landscaping for
North Greenwood Avenue.
Plans for 2 Citypsponsored, City-wide events in Jack Russell Stadium
will be addressed.
Clean up and shrubbery plantings are being scheduled for Stevenson; s
Creek. The Brazilian Pepper clean up will be done when grants are
obtained.
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A tree inventory will be done in the neighborhood.
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A site plan has been developed for a parking lot for the Greenwood
Panthers.
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More signage was requested to direct people to the Martin Luther King
Center. City Engineer Rich Baier will address the issue.
Mr. Grice stated he was uncomfortable at the last meeting when Chief Klein
asked him to hold a juvenile's rap sheet. It was noted there was a good
representation of residents; and some very important issues were discussed at the
meeting.
Mr. Grice said some of the issues surrounding the Plaza Park area are
different than the rest of Greenwood. He said unemployment and crime are low.
One of the biggest issues is the possible widening of Drew Street and how it will
affect the subdivision. He said a letter from City Economic Director, Alan Ferri,
indicated the City was exploring the possibility of utilizing the property on the
northern edge of the neighborhood for a high tech manufacturing or assembly site.
Plaza Park is situated between the downtown core and the stadium. Residents fear
the neighborhood will be bombarded by traffic, making it an undesirable place to
live. Mr. Grice noted a large piece of property is for sale on Myrtle Avenue, which
is zoned commercial. He said the subdivision is circled on three sides with
commercial properties. Residents do not want the subdivision to get lost in the
growth of the downtown core. A remark was made that most people think of
North Greenwood as the "grove" or the "strip". That area is no longer only a black
t:', residential area. Mr. Grice said neither Plaza Park, nor Country Club Estates have
ever been a part of the "grove". Because of this, residents in these areas do not
always feel they are included as part of the Greenwood ,community.
A stop sign at Vine and Pennsylvania Avenue was suggested to slow down
traffic in the park. Mr. Baier said the speed limit had been lowered in that area. A
traffic count will be done and results provided to team members. Mr. Grice said
there will be traffic problems as more events are scheduled in the stadium. Drew
Street becomes completely blocked when Greenwood backs up. He asked the City
to keep residents informed of all proposed changes in the community.
A resident said blacks are not the only people being stopped in the
neighborhood. While riding his bicycle or driving through the neighborhood, he has
been stopped and questioned by Police. He was not complaining about Police
efforts, although he felt he had the right to be in the neighborhood without being
told he "looked suspicious". A team member agreed with the resident, stating a
black in the Belleair neighborhood would most probably be stopped and questioned
by Police.
The meeting was recessed at 7:07 p.m. and reconvened at 7:16 p.m.
Reverend Graham shared a letter he received from Greenwood Apartment
residents. Residents' concerns included:
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People in Greenwood Apartments who are receiving new housing stop
paying rent and it is becoming a major problem. What can be done
about it?
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Why does it take more than a week to get Florida Power to put street
lights back in order at the apartments?
Would the City put speed bumps inside the complex to better ensure
the safety of children?
Ms. Rice said the problem of residents not paying rent at the apartments
after obtaining new housing can be addressed through CDBG (Community
Development Block Grant). She stated the entire city is experiencing the street light
problem, which is being addressed with Florida Power. Mr. Baier wlll address the
speed bump issue.
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Mr. Boykins indicated his concern about effective task team participation
relative to achievement of goals. The effectiveness of the team could be diluted if
members are not sensitive to City government and the ability of the task team to
address neighborhood concerns. Identifying issues and accomplishing objectives
within the scope of the task team was discussed. He felt it important to "remain
neutral" as an information fact-gathering team in presenting issues to the City. In
answer to a question, Mr. Boykins said he felt some issues at the last meeting may
have been out of scope tor this task team. He felt that focusing on isolated
incidents was not within the charter of the team. Ms. Rice said the City staff who
attend the NGCTT meetings simply serve as facilitators, and everyone's goal is to
make things better for .the community. Reverend Graham said the NGCTT will
gather information from team members 'and the public at NGCTT meetings. He said
he viewed City staff as facilitators. He noted the final report to the Commission will
come from team members, reflecting pertinent community issues. Ms. Rice offered
to contact task team members not in attendance at tonight's meeting to invite them
to upcoming meetings. It was noted Ms. Hodges, Ms. Samuel and Ms. Kelley
, notified her they would be unable to attend this meeting.
The next meeting will be September 30, 1996 at 6:30 p.m. at the Martin
Luther King Center, 1201 Martin Luther King; Jr. Avenue, Clearwater; Florida.
The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
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