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01/08/1997BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER January 8, 1997 Present: William Baldwin Chair Katherine Merriam Member Marcia Blakemore Member Sheila Cole Member Robert Sudalnik Member Nancy Aft Member (arrived 8:28 a.m.) Thelma Blasko Member Ream Wilson Parks and Recreation Director Mark Roether Parks and Recreation Supervisor (arrived 8:45 a.m.) Rich Baier City Engineer (departed 9:20 a.m.) Brenda Moses Board Reporter Absent: Delphine Pullar Member Candace Gardner Member 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Baldwin at 8:05 a.m. at the Municipal Services Building, Clearwater, Florida. In order to provide continuity for research, the items will be listed in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 4, 1996 Member Sheila Cole moved to approve the minutes of December 4, 1996 as submitted in writing to each member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3. CORRESPONDENCE No new correspondence was received. 4. ONGOING BUSINESS A. Neighborhood Sign Program It was noted that street signs change throughout individual communities to designate different municipalities. Uniformity throughout all City neighborhoods is preferable, but there is no City policy regarding these matters. All the signs in the City on non-state roads are made by the City’s sign shop. The City does not have the necessary laser equipment for sign designs. External contract help would be required to renovate all City signs on major streets. Signs with more intense colors are higher maintenance and would require more frequent replacement. Discussion ensued regarding the number, size and types of signs that could be implemented throughout the City and at entrances to individual communities. It was noted this Board is in favor of the new hibiscus signs. It was suggested in addition to placing the signs in the downtown and beach areas, placing them on State Road 60. City Engineer, Rich Baier, noted some signs will be replaced with Penny for Pinellas funds. A uniform color scheme and symbol is desirable and unifies the City. Focusing on the main entry corridors to Clearwater with signs and landscaping can be discussed with the DOT. It was noted Highland Avenue may be a good starting point, since refurbishment is already underway. It was suggested this Board send a letter of recommendation to Mayor Garvey and the City Commission expressing their support of the hibiscus logo and uniform signage throughout the City. B. Appreciation Program Member Robert Sudalnik distributed a handout listing 4 specific criteria to outline the Appreciation Program. Suggested guidelines included 1) Residential, commercial and public properties along main corridors (excluding individual residential properties); 2) Categories will include new construction, renovation, landscaping and themes; 3) Enlisting local newspapers to print pictures of some of the winners’ properties and business names; and 4) Mailing “framed” certificates to winners. Discussion ensued regarding colors and types of frames to use for the certificates. Member Sheila Cole nominated the Crab House, formerly the Flagship, for their landscaping efforts. They recently renovated inside and outside, and the landscaping is magnificent. Member Marcia Blakemore nominated Magnolia Manner for landscaping recognition. Chair Baldwin will develop a form letter to accompany the certificates and the two nominations will be formerly voted on at the next meeting. Members are encouraged to look at the properties prior to the next meeting. Discussion ensued regarding how to advertise this program. It was suggested 2 separate form letters be developed for properties with outstanding new landscaping efforts, and one for those who continuously maintain existing attractive landscapes. A remark was made that consideration also be given to architecture. C. Memorial Causeway Bridge Mr. Baier distributed a handout regarding the 5 proposed Memorial Causeway Bridge alignments. Sixteen meetings have been held on the bridge proposal which included many different groups throughout the City. Factors being considered for the new bridge include socio-economics, marine factors, the channel, costs, the height of the bridge, parking, traffic, the vista, and the view downtown. He noted on January 23, 1997 the City Commission will receive an agenda item discussing the bridge alignments. The top two preferred alignments will be selected. Discussion ensued regarding the advantages and disadvantages of different alternatives. Member Sheila Cole made a motion that this Board select 2 preferred alternatives to recommend to the City Commission. Although the motion was not seconded, it was suggested due to majority consensus of the Board, a letter be sent to the City Commission recommending the number one alignment as “P4 South”, and the alternate choice as “P4A”. Chair Baldwin will send a letter to the City Commission regarding this recommendation. D. Gulf-to-Bay Beautification Program Parks and Recreation Director Ream Wilson noted there is $40,000 in the beautification budget for palm trees on Gulf to Bay Boulevard between U. S. 19 and Highland Avenue. Penny for Pinellas funds would assist with landscaping at U. S. 19 and State Road 60 in the year 2000. However, rather than wait until 2000, the City may apply for grants to expedite landscaping efforts. 5. STAFF REPORTS No staff reports were presented. 6. NEW BUSINESS A member noticed a massive amount of cigarette butts on the State Road 60 “Welcome Center” property. It was suggested paying high school students 25¢ per bag to pick up the butts. It was noted how sad it was that the adults are polluting and littering, not the children. There are not enough trash cans throughout the City, and not enough enforcement of current litter laws. A remark was made that due to the discovery of the “Virgin Mary” image on the Seminole Finance Company building, approximately 1.5 million visitors are expected in Clearwater in 1997. Volunteers are needed to help operate the Welcome Center during the tourist influx. A suggestion was made to use citrus juice from local orange trees at the Welcome Center. Local churches may be a good contact source for donations of surplus citrus fruit. It was noted the concept is great, but the logistics of collecting, squeezing, and pasteurizing the fruit is not viable. Another suggestion was to bring raw fruit donations to the Welcome Center. Members agreed to write a letter to the Chamber of Commerce regarding litter and citrus donations. Member Thelma Blasko noted she occasionally volunteers at Morton Plant Hospital, visiting people and bringing food to grieving families. Volunteers are always needed. A suggestion was made to plant tall palms on main arteries throughout the City, beginning with the beach area. It was noted trees are not normally planted in right-of-ways due to maintenance issues. A suggestion for involving individual businesses to supply and hang Christmas decorations on the beach was discussed. The cost and maintenance of the lights is prohibitive. Generally businesses do not want to get involved in this type of project. The Parks and Recreation Department was complimented on the red poinsettias displayed over the holidays last year and hopes are that they can be extended the full length of the Courtney Campbell Causeway this year. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for February 5, 1997 at 8:00 a.m. in the Parks and Recreation Department Conference Room, in the Municipal Services Building, Clearwater.