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03/29/1994 ~ I: . " i: . t .t.. ' , , , ". t':;~' ~J',~: ,( '>. ' ': ' 'j,' ' .' , :e'!;' . )1", , . " " ',',.' , . ):),\;", .. ..'> , , :~ >, '.' ' ',~ '., . ~ " h, 1'" . ,', '....~, .,' :-'1 ~, .: :~H ". > ~ii",,:. '.:," '..f~> ~ ~....:; ;., ", ", d ' ' ,"l ~' . . " ~ ' ,{r. ' I, " , , '<:',:', ,T::~~::(~~,".~.t/,t.~'... ,. /,. t>~ ,', I,':' '. . " .~. <., ....>' " j , " , , I , , ~ 'I . " I, . 'TOWN: MEETING. ': Date ", , i. ~, . MINUTES, March ~'lil9'i~ c9'3Pc2 ~ ',;', , \,' t~ ~t1~~ ;' , \:) " TOWN MEETING March 29, 1994 The ,City Commission of the City of Clearwater met at the Memorial Civic Center with the following members present: Rita Garvey Arthur Deegan III Richard Fitzgerald Sue A.,. Berfield Fred A. Thomas Mayor/commissioner 'vice-Mayor/Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Also present: Mary K. Diana Assistant City Clerk , The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Garvey. Mayor Garvey distributed Community Consensus Project reports showing how the citizens ranked certain issues., She introduced Lt. Sibbert. He commented that Spring Break has not presented any major problems this year. The 'restaurants, motels and hotels are satisfied with the business they have received. He noted there will be, a Business Crime Watch meeting at the Holiday Inn - Surfs ide on April 12, 1994 at 10:00 a.m. Notices will be sent out to the various businesses regarding the meeting. Arine Garris thanked the Commission for many actions that have taken place on Clearwater Beach such as pier 60, the recreation center, sidewalks, palms, new lights. She noted the cruising ordinance has solved a lot of traffic problems. She also thanked the Commission regarding the marina. She noted the young people at the Clearwater Sailing Center have been assisting in repairing the boats. Ms. Garris requested the Commission hire Betty Deptula as City Manager indicating she is doing an excellent job, is good with staff and has moved up the ranks. Bill Wallo expressed concern Hurricane Pass is filling in and there is very little flushing of the bay. He supported the opening of Dunedin Pass. He noted the majority of citizens had voted, to open Dunedin Pass. Mr. Wallo felt the City should make a commitment by offering to pay for opening and maintaining the Pass. He suggested if the Pass cannot be dredged, due to environmental concerns, to build a lot at the end of Clearwater Beach to park vehicles so people can walk to Caladesi Island. Mayor Garvey noted a public hearing on Dunedin Pass has been scheduled for April 25, 1994 at 6:00 p.m. MINTWND3.94 1 March 29. 1994 '. ,'.. . , ' , j , , '.' .:' ,. :, ...' ." '\: " , '~ Sue Boschen, Vice-President Clearwater Beach Association, noted the beach is looking great due to. clean-up efforts and encouraged other areas to do the same. Robert Wright suggested overhead "beach full" signs at Gulf- to-Bay Boulevard and Court street and signs directing motorists to park and ride lots in downtown and running the jolley trolley oftener. He expressed concern regarding the Florida Department of Transportation doing road work during the tourist season. Mr. Wright also suggested the elimination of pedestrian sidewalks along Memorial Causeway on the north side to bikers and skaters using police cadets to enforce. Mayor Garvey noted a letter has been sent to DOT requesting they not perform road maintenance during the business season except if there is an emergency. commissioner Deegan pointed out the traffic count on Clearwater Beach last Saturday was 54,000 vehicles. He said there is a need to address the traffic problem. Motorists should be encouraged to use the parking garages in the downtown and take the trolley to the beach. He suggested a flyer recommending using downtown bypasses and the trolley to get to the beach. .' "0 Chris Van Slooten thought having town meetings was a great idea. He questioned if the meeting was published, due to the low attendance. It was indicated notice had been given. Julie Nichols gave an update of tourism on'Clearwater Beach this season. She said the businesses have not encountered such a poor season like the present in a long time. She said there have been a lot of hotel/motel cancellations due to the Canadian health care crisis. She felt the media has contributed to business being down due to the publicity regarding tourist safety. A citizen felt a need for staff to clarify code amendments that are proposed in order for the public to understand. Sheila Cole, on behalf of the Island Estates civic Association, thanked staff for the work that has been done on Island Way. She felt the attendance was low tonight because so many people are diosatisfied and are tired of getting no where with the commission with their complaints and recommendations. She expressed concern regarding traffic impact due to roadway projects. Ms. Cole said she favored a consolidated City Hall. Commissioner Berfield said it is difficult to satisfy everyone. She said decisions are made by majority vote. She felt there could be more positive press coverage. She believed the commission should be commended as the City is moving forward. ,-...) MINTWN03.94 2 March 29, 1994 "T ,f /) ,,,",I , <ro.) '-) Al Atler thanked the City for the beautification project on Island Estates~ He saw no need for a high rise bridge indicating it would eliminate a beautiful part of the Memorial Causeway. He believed the bridge would still not alleviate traffic concerns and found the bridge study useless. Mayor Garvey thanked the Island Estates residents for the work they did on the medians. Discussion ensued in regard to the high rise bridge destroying a portion of the Memorial Causeway. Commissioner Thomas said the results from the bridge feasibility study are not completed. A question was raised if the this is a state bridge and it was indicated it is and the City volunteered to pay the state's share. Ms. Cole felt it made more sense to connect the downtown with the Clearwater Pass Bridge as it could be ,used as an evacuation route. A citizen expressed concern to rising taxes and felt money was being squandered on trying to revitalize downtown citing building a downto~n lake, leasing the Maas Brothers building and the empty parking garages. He believed the parking on Cleveland Street was inconveniencing motorists to and from the beach. Tax money should be spent on all of Clearwater not just downtown. commissioner Deegan believed no city survives without a downtown and felt by having an anchor store (SteinMart) in downtown other merchants would follow. This would be a benefit to the entire city. Ms. Garris said it is important to have somewhere to shop in the downtown. She also mentioned the importance of having evening activities for tourists. A citizen expressed concern that spot areas of Clearwater pay more taxes than others. He felt the parking on Cleveland Street was bringing activity to the downtown. He questioned the impact of building a large lake in the downtown core and it was indicated a feasibility study is being done. Commissioner Berfield questioned whether the Cleveland Street was hampering. emergency access indicated it was not. parking on and it was commissioner Deegan referred to the Community Consensus Project and shared the results with those in attendance. He noted certain areas of clearwater ranked certain issues differently citing Dunedin Pass was ranked higher on the beach. Ms. Cole asked the commission to consider a broader base referendum for' City Hall. MINTWN03.94 3 March 29, 1994 u . ~ , , ,i , : ~ ,'," ~.', "" . ',' ,... . '. . .~!' ~~~~'t ;', " ' , , ',' ~~: ',:'~'.~,~t.-,:", ;~. 0 ',',I,:,,~~: "~ {,:.~. ,~. : r,.' . J. '~, \ . " ' ' , '~"., [, " e '~ ' " e'. "",'.:','! " , " '( ~ '. : " ',~ ~, . "'''I'.r .'1,. i.. ~. ' ,~ ': ',' \, ~~,~ ,.' ',' , r:, ('," ~ T' .: --: '. ,~J , ' " t' , ~ " ~>'Ol .. , ' ., .. ,. " " .~ }, J,. :.r.' , '. ' " . , ~ .} o " . , ,. Commissioner Deegan pointed out several public hearings have ,been held regarding city Hall indicating the ,commission has 'listened and'has made a decision. 'Discussion ensued in regard to the city Hall Annex being in a ,state of disrepair. It was felt it would be best to put this property back on the tax rolls. The Bilgore property was found to be more economical for building City Hall. Ms. Cole felt the question to be asked is whether the public wants a consolidated City Hall. Mr. Wright, Clearwater Coalition of Homeowners, noted they are opposed,to spending $9 million for a City Hall as the need for a new City Hall has not been shown. Ms. Cole noted she chose the starting place 'for the beautification project on Island Way. Ms. Garris asked the commission to, use caution when negotiating with a developer for, the East 'End property. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. " " ' MINTWN03.94 4' March 29.,1994