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04/19/1994 " I c' ~. '" t .).,> )'i\~" 1..;.' . '':'' i~ , , ~' I ' " " , ' ::', .,,... , -"10.., ~ : . : '<,. >, . '. ".Y',' , !, :' r> ',," '...t,',' , " . ',. .' ~ t,. 0-:' ( ,', c I ,,' .' . " . ,I I,' I, I, " ". I , ' , , TOWN MEETING f" c'., I I', . Date :.:< IJ 'i, :> " . '., ~:-: ~ {:. .; I., MINUTES ,( . : ,I ~SP/ I '~" .~ '<';>.' {.,' !;~ ,. """"'.) u "4Q:~'I.(.If~.l! ..,...'. .." L . TOWN MEETING April 19, 1994 The City Commission of the City of Clearwater met at the Countryside Library with the following members present: Rita Garvey (arrived 7:32 p.m.) Fred A. Thomas Richard Fitzgerald Sue A. Berfield Arthur Deegan III Mayor/Commissioner Vic8RMayor /Com missioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Also present: Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk The meeting was opened at 7:30 p.m. by ViceRMayor Thomas. , Kyle Barnes expressed concerns regarding the speed of traffic on Enterprise Road. He stated six new exits have been constructed on this road between Landmark Drive and U.S. 19. He stated there are some curves around which you cannot see a small car if it is coming your way. He recommended the speed limit be reduced to 30 or 35 miles per hour. A lady spoke stating she lives on Landmark Drive and she is afraid there will be an accident on that road. She has been taking down auto tag numbers of speeding vehicles. She also stated a left hand turn is needed from Curlew onto Landmark Drive. She stated it took her eight traffic lights to get through that intersection. Howard Cooper also expressed concerns regarding traffic problems in the Countryside area. He stated a police officer clocked a car going 78 miles per hour and could not catch it. He stated, on Landmark Drive, at the pond, there is a poorly slanted curve and there are six intersections within 300 feet. A seventh is proposed. Grace French, of Misty Springs Condominiums, expressed concerns regarding Countryside Park and the problems that condominium is experiencing with vandalism and children cutting through the property. She stated cars use the private road as a cut-off to avoid the intersection at Countryside and State Road (S.R.) 580. Children are climbing the fence and ruining yards and shrubbery. She expressed concerns when the new recreation center is open, the problem will be increased. Barbara Klein questioned what consideration had been given regarding further development of the park. She stated there is a problem with speeding in the subdivision. She questioned the impact of further development of Countryside Recreation Center. MlNlWN04,94 04/t 9/94 'i~ t~i 'f't'Sr,,' ,,0 [. Mayor Garvey pointed out the enhanced traffic enforcement team will target certain areas. Commissioner Fitzgerald stated he has spoken to some individuals at Misty Springs and this was the first he knew of the problems. He stated, currently the design criteria is being developed for the Countryside Recreation Center. He stated the City would be sure to receive comments and coordinate with the community. He stated Traffic Engineering is fully aware of the speeding problems and is attempting to improve them. Ms. Klein referred to an article that indicated 90 percent of the Countryside area approved of the park development. She stated no one in Misty Springs or Westchester were polled. Commissioner Fitzgerald indicated the poll was taken in conjunction with Countryside Days and people polled were those in attendance. Bob Wagner stated he was at the Town Meeting last year and the responses were productive and helpful; however, there is no easy solution to the traffic problems in this area. He stated the increased surveillance helps, but there are still problems. He stated Countryside received more attention than Landmark Drive. He stated all traffic incidents are not reported. He handed out some diagrams of cars leaving roads on Landmark Drive. He stated, due to the configuration of Landmark Drive with its sharper curves, there is a greater potential for serious accidents. He stated increased enforcement is still needed. He stated he would volunteer to have a flashing yellow light on his property and, if a car goes through a radar and is speeding, a red light to make them stop. ' Mayor Garvey questioned if Mr. Wagner thought some of the increased traffic was due to the construction on U.S. 19 and S.R. 580. Mr. Wagner stated he believed that was part of it. ' Commissioner Thomas questioned if more stop signs on Landmark Drive would be helpful. A lady spoke, stating the stop signs might be helpful, but there is a stretch between Eagles Glen and Turtlebrook where there are no intersections. A gentleman indicated a lot of traffic enforcement is during the day and not during the evening and early morning. He stated you cannot legislate people to do right. A lady spoke, stating police enforcement is usually implemented between 11 :00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., which is the wrong time of day. She stated they need to come to the area after the schools have released the children and after the park is closed at 11 :00 p.m. She stated the police are not'catching the proper people. She also expressed concerns that' when she attempted to call the new officer in charge of the crime watch program, she received no answer. M1NlWN04.04 2 04f19/94 , . , ....<<-<, d .-., "' .,~ + ~ I .. . , . " " . . . . . .',., :" ",' I ,'.. " ., " ','. ,." \ . \" ,':~,' , :, ',p ~ . '. '" . " . ..~ " ,".ilr) (.~t ~~ ~ Carlisle Cazedda stated he received three speeding tickets eight or nine years ago. He stated the police are in the area at the wrong time of day. He stated again they need to be in the area after high schools have let out. Bob Pecci questioned what is would take to have additional patrolmen in the area. He also stated the speed limit should be lowered, but has been told that is difficult. He stated houses do not front on landmark Drive and the 35 mile per hour speed limit will stand. He also indicated he has made numerous inquiries to the Police Department, as an example, regarding a helicopter in the area and it is very difficult to receive information. Commissioner Thomas indicated the possibility of a new district will be discussed during the budget session. The Mayor stated the City Management is looking at how to increase police presence. She stated 50 percent of the General Fund budget is for public safety. A gentleman stating he was the president of Japanese Gardens expressed concerns regarding the water supply. He was concerned building was being allowed to continue when the water supply is so constrained. He questioned why a desalinization plant could not be built. Commissioner Deegan pointed out Clearwater is already participating in the mutual study with Dunedin regarding reverse osmosis with brackish water. He stated the City is studying ~he water supply issue. Mayor Garvey stated desalinization has been looked at, but it is unbelievably expensive. Commissioner Thomas agreed the City is looking at alternatives to address the water supply. He stated part of the concern is the cost. The cost of pipelines to bring water down from northern Florida or desalinization have been exorbitant. Mayor Garvey pointed out the City was also looking at a reclaimed water system, but that would cost $25 to $30 per month for each household. She reiterated the City is looking at all kinds of options. A gentleman spoke, stating the City of Clearwater has top notch police here. He stated he came from New York and the police department here is much better. A lady spoke, questioning why there were two stop signs on Wildwood Drive and why the configuration of Cleveland Street was changed. Commissioner Deegan explained Traffic Engineering now strives to attain 14.5-foot wide lanes and there also must be provision for bike trails. He stated, if State standards are not met and there is an accident, lawyers will use that in an effort to claim liability on the City's part. MINTWN04.94 3 04/19/94 , " ~', :, ..' ",.,',' ~ .. .' , " ,1I I' . :....:.. . .',. " ... ," ') ".,: An individual questioned the changes to Cleveland Street downtown. Commissioner Thomas indicated the parking on the street downtown is a test in an effort to revitalize downtown Clearwater. The Mayor reiterated this will be coming back for review. Commissioner Deegan pointed out the merchants have indicated their businesses have increased 30 percent since parking has been placed on the street. He stated there are only seven vacant storefronts in the downtown area at this time. An individual questioned if there was any way to speak regarding any large expenses that would affect taxes. Commissioner Thomas indicated the citizens can talk to the Clearwater Commission, but also indicated many of the taxes going up are not City taxes and the agencies such, as the County Commission and the School Board also have public hearings. The people need to speak to those agencies as well. ',< A gentleman questioned the rationale behind trying to revive downtown when cities are becoming obsolete. Mayor Garvey stated it was a potential for tax revenue that justified the effort. :':) Commissioner Thomas agreed, stating any part of the whole that is allowed to die affects the rest of the body. He stated it was up to the Commission to see the entire body was healthy. He stated a new, significant trend is the malls are dying the shoppers are returning to boutiques and shops. Ed Hogan indicated there is a need to bring middle-class housing to downtown in order for it to be revitalized. He recommendl3d a good townhouse development. Commissioner Deegan stated there are proposals in the works. He stated another trend for downtowns, in the areas where they have come back, is: 1) they areareas that have natural beauty, such as downtown Clearwater's bluff and 2) they are government centers. He stated they are also becoming banking centers. He stated Harbor Oaks considers themselves a downtown residential community and they want a place to shop. He stated the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) uses the tax increment financing, which can only be used in downtown to assist in this area. , " Commissioner Fitzgerald stated there needs to be a balance regarding what to put into revitalizing downtown. He stated the market has to drive the train and the City cannot decree businesses to loca'te in that area. He stated his concern is how much to put into the program, how much will be gotten out of it and what the benefit is to the citizens. ',,' ", :' (': A gentleman questioned who to thank for planting trees along the Florida Power right-of-way along Cypress Bend. Mr. Hogan indicated he felt it was a cooperative effort between Florida Power and the City. '..., , " " '---) MINTWN04.94 4 04/19/94 : ~.:'~. ," j, ,.,' ~t '. ' "."'.:, ," ":,1 , '. I .' .... .....' . ,", . . .. ~.....,' " I, ",.... ~ I:: . '. '. 'c'~: .', l . , ' . . . ...' . < . ,.... .' "';" "'. ;, ';' ": I< . " . " , . . ". ., '" ~,:,,:"'"',',':.'~:.~''' ','" :,:,:- .~'" i' '.' '..>,...'~,',:,',:"',',,...:,'~.' ...... . " , '. .., -, . . ~ .: ,'. .. \,,:::: ,...'.. .' ~.. .'. L.... '. I .'.' ,......:,.~ : . "', ' ,':.: ,:",",:" ,<:",..I"""-"~I:::"':"':~Y>';: :.(: :::<: :,' .::::,:.,..::.',.',',..,".,', ::' ;;'}.'.: .' .'..: ,:: \r ,~:'. ~>:.'=\ :.\!:.'..~....<,L,..~..'~:~,:, ,\'.': .. '. . {'.. .,..j. ". '1/\ ':;,.: ::,: "::;:":',:.:.':".:'~~':: ' ....: '. ,'": ',', ,:t . .ft' .' .;." ,I" ':',... h ~. . c.., .,1 ....;.':~'.'., .' ,~I:l. '.~/':;t"","",,"" , .,~ ", ," :..... .' ,I '. ","'. . ','" ,....."; . '. \ 'L', . ~ . c.. . . , ..'.....' ." '" " ' 0,'. _, .:.1', " " '," . '0" ,. ,,'.,1.. ,'..:. .i~/~.~'.; " c ~. ., .: I ' ,,:'j 0 '..-", " , ':," ,f" , A gentleman spoke regarding proposals to consolidate City Hall" stating total consolidation is not needed. He stated he WDS at Johns Hopkins and they operate in "pods" and Information moves to the furthest reaches with good communications. Mayor Garvey pointed out the current City Hall is trying to consolidate employees from very old buildings 'that need major renovations. She stated there are two buildings, in particular, from which employees need to be relocated. '''~' "'I, oO'} '.". ."'I.}p"~ '\-. , , 1<_', , it' 1I .: . A lady expressed concerns when the AmSouth Bank in the area was robbed, no one from the Police Department called Leila Davis Elementary school to give them advise regarding whether' or not to release the children. , ' , 1.' r A lady indicating she was from Citizens for a Safer Florida, stated she had petitions for individuals to sign after the meeting if they were willing to do so. " ..... /..' ' ~.. '. ~ . ":c . A question was raised regarding whether Clearwater had a business or occupation tax. Mayor Garvey explained the State froze the occupational license rates ten years ago. f~:.:, ' " ~,i: ' I", ' .;, , 1.",1.T L . ' ..,.c , I ~" " . ~~q.,. ~~:'-" . f;,: ;J":;, '. ' r,:t~ {i;', ;' Commissioner Thomas indicated the State has a corporate tax. A lady questioned if, after the widening of S.R. ,580 is completed, there would be a left turn lane at S.R. 580 and landmark Drive. Information will be obtained. >:'.."0 )lo-" ' ~'~ I The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. 1~.':' . ..'<,_ c , , ,) :\' " ' O'~" I, ' MINTWN04.94 0 5 , , 04/19/94'