06/23/2003 (2)
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'.' RECREATION
Parks & Recreation Board'
Minutes
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CITY OF CLEAR\\'ATER
PARKS & RECREA TIO='l BOARD MEETING
June 23, 2003
Present:
Jonathan \Vade Sr.
Larry Lindner
Stc"e Swanberg
James Appelt
Sarah \Viand
Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Also Present:
Kcvin Dunbar
,Ste"e Miller '
Bobbie Downs
Director, Parks and Recreation Dept.
Superintendent. Recreation Programming
StafT Assistant
Absent:
Thomas Fletcher
Vice Chair
Vacancy
Board Member
To provide, continuit~. for' rcse3,rch, Items arc in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM #1 Call to Order - The Chair called 'the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
,ITEM #2 - Appro\'al ofMinules of Parks and Recreation Board Meeting of April 28. 2003 - The minutes were approved as
submitted to members.
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ITEM #3 Citizen Dav at FRPA Conference ~ Steve Miller. Superintendent of Recreation Programming - Mr. Miller. who is
president orthe Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA), invited members to attend Citizen Day events on August 26,
at the FRPA Annual Conference being held this year at \\'estin lnnisbrook. Palm Harbor. A full day of activities gearedto
citizen board members is planned. Interested membc:rs should reply to staffby July 17. Mr. Miller also noted FRP A's
lobbying efforts to protect FRDAP grant monies in the State budget. '
ITEM #4 Correspondence - None
ITEM'#5 Old Business
, a) Naming TO\\l1 LakelPark . Mr. Dunbar said the City Commission is asking the board to consider more names for
the dO\l~ntO\\l1 property knO\\ll as To\WJ Lake. Commissioners have asked for names reflective of the history of dO\\TItown
Clearwater. Mr. Dunbar said a Public Hearing to select recommendations is scheduled for August 25 at 6:30 p.m. in
Conference Room 130 at MSB. '
b) Skate Park Proposals - Mr. Dunbar showed illustratioris two vehdors have submitted to construct a 28,OOO~
square-foot skate park at the new Ross Norton Complex. Design input also will be sought ftOm the youth community through
open meetings after which the project will go out to bid and be awarded in the fall. StafT will visit other parks constructed by
the vendors before making recommend,3tions. Mr. Dunbar said it would be desirable to redesign the entire propcI1y
containing the skate park, pool and recreation center, Plumb House, horseshoe coun, and Ed Wright Park then connect it all
to the Pine lIas Trail.
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c) Capital Project Update: - Mr. ?unbar updated the following projects:
-Community Sports Complex - Main concourse 2/3 poured; project expected to cost $30 million.
, -Park Amenity Purchase & Replacement ~ Projects continue.
-Tennis Court Resurfacing - Project complete.
-McKay Park - Playground equipment ordered.
-Ross Norton Complex - Project expected to be completed October 2004.
-Fending Replacement Program. ,Project in Countryside Community Park at Sid Lickton Field kick ofT Inter this
summer.
-Light Repair and Replacement - ReJamping and lighting upgrade at Countryside Communjty Park is complcll'.
.Rc~reation Trails: McMullen-Booth Pedestrian Bridge. East-West Trail - Drawings to he 3v,ailnhle in August.
Parks & Recreation Advisory 2003-0623
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-Recreation Trails: Mandalay Channel Pedestrian Bridge. East-\Vest Trail - Drawings to be a\'ailable in
October.
-Recreation Trails: Bayshore Drivc Section. East-West Trail - Construction to begin in October.
-E. C. Moore Softball Complex Fields 8 & 9 - \Vell under way. Mr. Dunbar said the U,S. Ol)1l1pic Sofihall
Team is scheduled to train here this fall. bringing 32 teams to the city.
-Bayview Park - Board wi11 be asked to conduct a Public Hearing later this year to recommend names for the
park.
-Olen Oaks Park. City Commission decided on concept as originally designed. Consultants arc de\'eloping 301!~
of contract drawings.
-Kapok Mobile Home Park Stormwater Improvements - Plans 70% complete.
d) Upcoming Recreation Events - ~tr. Dunbar invited members to the next special e\'ent.' "Clear,,:ater Celebrates
America," on July 3 and 4 at Coachman Park. Entertainment July 3 is Gary Lewis & The Playboys. and Don McLean. and
July 4 is Mostly Pops Orchestra with John and Mary Kay \Vilson, and the Fireworks show. Full summertime recreation
programming also is under way.
ITEM # 6 New Business -
a) In order to balance the City's budget, which is being presented to the Cit)' Commission. the department was
required to reduce its budget by 5500,000. To achieve this. Mr. Dunbar proposed: 1) reducing operations at Joe DiMaggio
Recreation Complex by operating it as an athletic facility and reassignmg recreation staff; 2) finding altemati\'c funding
sources for 'Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival including attractions in the Pier 60 park area; and, 3) taking over operations oCthe
Long Center, which would upgrade the level of programming service while continuing maintenance and saving some
S 150,000 annually for the city and 550,000 annually for the cent,er. The Long Center's Board of Directors is to consider the
issue in July and it" is expected to go to City Commission for approval in August.
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b} Mr. Dunbar reported Clearwater scored highest in Florida in Sports Illustrated Magazine's program to name a
"Sports TO\\ll" in every state. He congratulated Mr. Miller and Ms. Melanic Cornwell, Public Infom1ation Coordinator, for
putting together the Department's informational notebook/entry submitted for judging. Top scorers no\"\' will be judged by a
national panel of authorities as well as judges from Spons Illustrated. \Vinners from each state will be featured in the
magazine.
Not on the Agenda-
In response to a question, Mr. Dunbar \\;11 check on when the McMullen tennis pro's contract expires.
Mr. Appelt questioned the significant differences in fees between Clearwater for Youth and the J':lnior Cougars football
programs.' Mr. Dunbar will have a report at the next m~eting.
Discussion ensued on plans for creating more multi.purpose fields. At the July meeting. Mr. Dunbar will show plans for Jack
Russell Stadium renovation and expansion of site; the Joe DiMaggio Soccer Complex; and the McMullen-Booth Soccer
Project.
ITEM #7 Adiournment - Members adjourned at 8:05 p.m
'The next meeting will be held July 28 at Countryside Recreation Center instead of the City Nursery as prcviously announced.
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Attest:
&~~ if)~(('-.~
I _ ,.
S'tatf Assistant
i~1/ttr Yl F 0tctr
rks & Recreation Board
Parks & Recreation Advisory 2003-0623
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