03/04/1998 (2)
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Be'autification Committee Meeting
MINUTES
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BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
March 4, 1998
Present:
William Baldwin
Thelma Blasko
Delphine Pullar
Katherine Merriam
Marcia Blakemore
Nancy Aft
Art Kader
Patricia O. Sullivan
Chair
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee Member - arrived 8:45 a.m.
Interim Parks & Recreation Director
Board Reporter
Absent:
Sheila Cole
Robert Sudalnik
David Stitt
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee Member
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at the Municipal Services
Building.
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To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
ITEM #2 - Aooroval of Minutes
Member Merriam moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February
'4, 1998, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #3 - Corresoondenc~ - None.
ITEM #4 - Ongoing Busine~s
sf Discussion of City Manager's Agenda
Deputy City Manager Kathy Rice reported the Land Development Code is being
revised as a community redevelopment and development code. She encouraged members
to view C-View TV reruns of the presentation to the City Commission at the March 2,
1998, Work Session. The code will include landscaping requirements and encouragement.
Ms. Rice distributed copies of 1I0ne City. One Future." Plans for downtown include
enlarging Coachman Park and creating entertainment features that attract people to the
"'East Beach'" bluff. A waterfront ballpark is controversial but an entertainment facility is
needed to meet community needs in this area. The new Memorial Causeway bridge
causes concern regarding downtown traffic patterns. Staff is working with downtown
groups regarding construction of parking facilities and the establishment of an institutional
district, retail center, city center, etc. The City can provide infrastructure while public
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03/04/98
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investment must drive redevelopment. Staff is working with buyers for the Sunshine Mall
and former City Hall Annex sites.
A vista of the Gulf of Mexico is proposed for vehicles heading to Clearwater beach
by moving civic center activities and centering the traffic flow through City-owned land
, where the Civic Center stands. Current traffic patterns on the beach are confusing.
Views of the gulf are compromised by asphalt parking lots that line the shore. Suggestions
are to move parking a block from the beach and replace current lots with a boardwalk/
jogging trail. She said 18 Mandalay Avenue stores stand empty. Meeting the needs of
pedestrians is essential to attract merchants who will offer quality merchandise. Most
consultants' first comments relate to the lack of sidewalks on the beach.
Ms. Rice said the beauty of the Courtney Campbell Causeway ends abruptly at the
water treatment plant. Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard is not an attractive entryway to the City.
Improving this main thoroughfare through the City to the beach is under discussion. The
North and South Greenwood neighborhoods are interdependent on downtown. Staff is
working with residents to beautify the noighborhoods. A design charette is scheduled at
the Martin Luther King Center on March 28, 1998.
Ms. Rice estimated the City will receive $10 1-million from new Penny for Pinellas
funds. Approximately half that amount ;s available for projects described in "One City.
One Future." including the new Memorial Causeway bridge and a new main library. Other
(':"') funding could come from a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) or private/public financing. The
..."" City has little General Fund debt and owns properties it can sell or swap. The City has
received a $5-million grant to meet storm water needs. The Federal and State designation
of the Brownfields area, bordered by Ft. Harrison Avenue, Belleair Road, Missouri
Avenue/Betty lane, and Stevenson's Creek, will provide funding to clean up contaminated
properties. Most contamination is related to oil-based'products. Ms. Rice reported the
City's loan processor has helped leverage $100,000 in federal funds for $2-million in
private loans for small businesses.
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Ms. Rice reviewed the ulmmediate Action Items": 1) authorization of market studies
for Beach and Downtown; 2) evaluation of Phillies' economic impact; 3) preparation of a
RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for developers to submit ideas for the bayfront, including
Coachman Park expansion; 4) selection of site for new Main Library; 5) application for
"Mainstreet" program; 6) completion of necessary parking studies; 7) acceleration of
community-based initiative in North Greenwood area; 8) implementation of regional
storm water retention project Downtown; 9) cre~tion of incentive program for retail and
commercial occupancy along Cleveland Street; 10) evaluation of maintaining the existing
Memorial Causeway Bridge as local traffic connection between Beach and Downtown; 11)
redesign of Land Development Code; and 1 2) corridor enhancement along Cleveland
Street, Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Mandalay Avenue, and Gulfview Boulevard.
Ms. Rice said the Phillies want a new stadium. The proposed location on the
waterfront would be tight. Concern was expressed Home Plate should be in the
Southwest corner of the stadium. In response to a question, Ms. Rice said discussion is
ongoing with nearby condominium residents. In response to a question, she reported a
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03/04/98
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proposed parking lot along the causeway never was approved nor built. Parking garages
on the beach would serve hotels and visitors and end dangerous back-out parking. This
strategy has worked well in Ft. Lauderdale and South Beach.
The new library site must be large enough to add a future museum and include a
sculpture garden, classes, teen room, meeting area for 500, arts and crafts room, video
conferencing room, and meet the needs of home schoolers. Retention and detention of
downtown stormwater are a concern. In April" the City Commission will select a library
architect who will help choose a site for this signature building. A downtown location
would create a synergy with other public buildings. St. Petersburg Junior College has
suggested collaborating with the City regarding a new library.
In response to a question, Ms. Rice said a monorail is not being considered due to
its high cost. Increasing Jolley Trolley service is under discussion. Access between the
downtown, beach, and Harborview Center are of concern. Harborview Center business is
increasing. The City is considering maintaining the current bridge for local traffic after the
new bridge is built. In response to a question, Ms. Rice said a bay-side boardwalk is not
planned. The City wants to focus on its ocean front, Clearwater's most beautiful feature.
In response to a question, Ms. Rice said the Coachman Park bandshell will be
integrated into the proposed Marketplace. The plan was formulated to stimulate
conversation. The City Commission is interested in board feedback.
Ms. Rice encouraged board members to vote in the March 10, 1998, election:
Concern was expressed regarding the proposed location of the new Memorial
Causeway Bridge. It was felt derelicts will congregate under the 5-story structure. Mr.
Kader noted the importance of attracting activity to that area.
b) "Welcome to Clearwater. Sign Location
Acting Parks &. Recreation Director Art Kader reviewed locations for a "Welcome to
Clearwater. sign: 1) median in front of Countryside High School near the intersection of
McMullen-Booth Road and SR 580 and 2) City-owned lift station lot on McMullen-Booth
Road just South of Curlew Road. City limits are difficult to define due to Clearwater's
irregular border. A .Welcome to Safety Harbor" sign is located on McMullen~800th Road
South of the lift station lot. In response to a question, he said the City has one sign
available for installation but can construct move. In response to a question, he said due to
a lack of right-af-way. the City may have to purchase property on South Ft. Harrison for a
welcome sign. In response to a' question, Mr. Kader said it would be difficult for
Northbound motorists to view a welcome sign on US 19N. The southern boundary of the
City's planning district is Belleair Road. He said additional directional signage for
Clearwater will be installed on US 19N after completion of the Drew Street overpass.
Member Pullar moved to recommend the Parks & Recreation Department locate a
"Welcome to Clearwater. sign at the median in front of Countryside High School near the
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03/04/98
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intersection of McMullen-Booth Road and SR 580. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
c) Beautification Awards Program
A recommendation was made for board members to visit the planned community,
Celebration, part of Disney World's complex. It was suggested streetscaping ideas used in
Celebration's commercial district could be recreated on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. It was
suggested the City provide a van for a board field trip to Celebration.
It was noted the City has set aside $10,000 to enhance neighborhood entrances.
Discussion ensued with members offering suggestions to reduce the speed limit on
Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, incorporate a novel sidewalk design, provide oversight to ensure
properties along main corridors are maintained, and to make downtown pedestrian friendly.
Mr. Kader said Gulf.-to-Bay Boulevard is a commercial corridor and is not pedestrian
friendly. Staff is working to enhance the success of businesses along this corridor. Cross
parking agreements between businesses, for example, could result in fewer curb cuts. It
was suggested routing traffic to Drew Street could alleviate some traffic problems on Gulf-
to-Bay Boulevard.
In response to a question, Mr. Kader stated the Pinelles Trail is a huge asset to the
City and will generate business. Donated murals are being painted along the trail.
d) SoUd Waste Facility
eJ Clearwater Airllark
Engineer Glen Bahnick will address the April 1, 1998, meeting.
ITEM #5 - Staff Reoorts - None.
ITEM #6 - New Business: - None.
ITEM #7 - Adiournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:06 a.m.
[15
hair
, Beautification ,Committee
4
03/04/98
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