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04/27/2010 PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER April 27, 2010 Present: Ray Shaw Chair Jonathan R. Wade Vice-Chair – arrived at 7:04 p.m. Allen Weatherilt Board Member Ron Whitcomb Board Member Brooks Hammac Board Member Candace Gardner Board Member Empty Chair Board Member Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Parks & Recreation Director Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Clearwater Beach Library & Recreation Complex. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2 – Approval of Minutes – January 26 and March 15, 2010 Member Gardner moved to approve the minutes of the regular Parks & Recreation Board meeting of January 26, 2010, and the special Parks & Recreation Board meeting of March 15, 2010, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3 – Unfinished Business 3.1. Capital Projects Update Parks & Recreation Director Kevin Dunbar reviewed upgrades to the Clearwater Beach Library & Recreation Complex; the main room has been enlarged and features a panoramic view of the water, expanded kitchen, and upgraded deck. Rentals of this space sustain the building. Phase one of the football field area at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex is complete. It is not known if the County will fund the construction of the remaining four fields. The Junior Tornados now can practice at Joe DiMaggio but require permanent structures and storage before relocating their games from the Long Center. New equipment will be installed in the expanded fitness space at the Long Center in mid May. Parking lot renovations will be completed by the time the Senior Center opens there in June. Staff is reaching a conclusion regarding enhanced lightning protection for the Center’s pool. The Morningside Center is almost razed. Pool renovations and the new playground there will be completed by Memorial Day. The tennis courts will be renovated during the summer. The Honeywell project is still working on field lighting at Countryside Sports Complex. The uplands of the downtown boat slip project will be completed soon; boat slips will open in late summer. Three new restroom buildings to be built at the Rockaway beach area, Mandalay Park, and south beach will lock automatically at night. When the Pier 60 Park is expanded in 2012, two additional restroom buildings, to be maintained by vendors, will replace current facilities. Parks & Recreation 2010-04-27 1 Staff has submitted a grant application for McMullen Tennis Complex. The public art project at Carpenter Field is underway. The City and Boy Scouts of America are working on a right-of-way agreement for the Lake Chautauqua area. The Landmark Trail eventually will extend from Curlew Road to Kapok Park and tie in with the Ream Wilson Trail. The next phase of the Ream Wilson Trail will connect Carpenter Field and the Old Coachman bridge. The trail on the Memorial Causeway provides excellent recreation and costs little to maintain. The beach connector will extend to the Pinellas Trail via Turner Street, then north to Druid Road, and on to the Progress Energy Trail. This next phase will reach Keene or Belcher Road. The City will determine what repairs it will make to East Avenue along the Pinellas Trail following the CSX rail tie replacement project. Adopt-a-Park has 22 partners. 4 - New Business In response to a concern that the City may close the North Greenwood Library, Mr. Dunbar said every department was required to submit a budget reduced by 5%. All branch libraries are vulnerable to closing. The Parks & Recreation Department cut its budget by $1.3 million last year; the beach swimming pool may need to be closed and demolished. Concern was expressed that it would be wasteful for the City to close new facilities recently built at significant cost. It was recommended that the board be proactive in opposing additional cuts. It was suggested the City use its surplus to meet the needs of children and keep facilities open until the economy improves. Mr. Dunbar said City reserves are necessary to maintain services following a catastrophic weather event. He said lower budgets reflect the reshaping of local government in Florida. He is considering internal consolidation of the Parks & Recreation Department and ways to attract more partners to support programs. He did not know how reduced hours at some recreation centers could be replaced. Discussion ensued regarding the advisory nature of the board and the need to approach City Council regarding opposition to additional budget cuts. It was stated that the Council had not responded to a previous letter from the board. In response to a question, Mr. Dunbar reviewed past staff efforts to design facilities that serve residents as well as tournaments that provide a significant economic impact to the City. Hotel properties along US 19 N that serve tournaments in Clearwater have been upgraded; they pay property and CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau) taxes. 5 - Tour: The board toured the facility following adjournment of the meeting. 6 - Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m. NEXT MEETING - July 27, 2010 at th on :?n ter Chair Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Attest: Board Reporter Parks & Recreation 2010-04-27 2