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03/04/1998 BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER March 4, 1998 Present: William Baldwin Chair Thelma Blasko Committee Member Delphine Pullar Committee Member Katherine Merriam Committee Member Marcia Blakemore Committee Member Nancy Aft Committee Member - arrived 8:45 a.m. Art Kader Interim Parks & Recreation Director Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter Absent: Sheila Cole Committee Member Robert Sudalnik Committee Member David Stitt Committee Member The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at the Municipal Services Building. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes Member Merriam moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 4, motion 1998, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The carried was duly seconded and unanimously. ITEM #3 - Correspondence - None. ITEM #4 - Ongoing Business a) Discussion of City Manager’s Agenda Deputy City Manager Kathy Rice reported the Land Development Code is being revised as a community redevelopment and development code. She encouraged members to view C- View TV reruns of the presentation to the City Commission at the March 2, 1998, Work Session. The code will include landscaping requirements and encouragement. Ms. Rice distributed copies of “One City. One Future.” Plans for downtown include enlarging Coachman Park and creating entertainment features that attract people to the “East Beach” bluff. A waterfront ballpark is controversial but an entertainment facility is needed to meet community needs in this area. The new Memorial Causeway bridge causes concern regarding downtown traffic patterns. Staff is working with downtown groups regarding construction of parking facilities and the establishment of an institutional district, retail center, city center, etc. The City can provide infrastructure while public investment must drive mbc0398 1 03/04/98 redevelopment. Staff is working with buyers for the Sunshine Mall and former City Hall Annex sites. A vista of the Gulf of Mexico is proposed for vehicles heading to Clearwater beach by moving civic center activities and centering the traffic flow through City-owned land where the Civic Center stands. Current traffic patterns on the beach are confusing. Views of the gulf are compromised by asphalt parking lots that line the shore. Suggestions are to move parking a block from the beach and replace current lots with a boardwalk/ jogging trail. She said 18 Mandalay Avenue stores stand empty. Meeting the needs of pedestrians is essential to attract merchants who will offer quality merchandise. Most consultants’ first comments relate to the lack of sidewalks on the beach. Ms. Rice said the beauty of the Courtney Campbell Causeway ends abruptly at the water treatment plant. Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard is not an attractive entryway to the City. Improving this main thoroughfare through the City to the beach is under discussion. The North and South Greenwood neighborhoods are interdependent on downtown. Staff is working with residents to beautify the neighborhoods. A design charette is scheduled at the Martin Luther King Center on March 28, 1998. Ms. Rice estimated the City will receive $101-million from new Penny for Pinellas funds. Approximately half that amount is available for projects described in “One City. One Future.” including the new Memorial Causeway bridge and a new main library. Other funding could come from a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) or private/public financing. The City has little General Fund debt and owns properties it can sell or swap. The City has received a $5-million grant to meet stormwater needs. The Federal and State designation of the Brownfields area, bordered by Ft. Harrison Avenue, Belleair Road, Missouri Avenue/Betty Lane, and Stevenson’s Creek, will provide funding to clean up contaminated properties. Most contamination is related to oil-based products. Ms. Rice reported the City’s loan processor has helped leverage $100,000 in federal funds for $2-million in private loans for small businesses. Ms. Rice reviewed the “Immediate Action Items”: 1) authorization of market studies for Beach and Downtown; 2) evaluation of Phillies’ economic impact; 3) preparation of a RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for developers to submit ideas for the bayfront, including Coachman Park expansion; 4) selection of site for new Main Library; 5) application for “Mainstreet” program; 6) completion of necessary parking studies; 7) acceleration of community-based initiative in North Greenwood area; 8) implementation of regional stormwater retention project Downtown; 9) creation of incentive program for retail and commercial occupancy along Cleveland Street; 10) evaluation of maintaining the existing Memorial Causeway Bridge as local traffic connection between Beach and Downtown; 11) redesign of Land Development Code; and 12) corridor enhancement along Cleveland Street, Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Mandalay Avenue, and Gulfview Boulevard. Ms. Rice said the Phillies want a new stadium. The proposed location on the waterfront would be tight. Concern was expressed Home Plate should be in the Southwest corner of the stadium. In response to a question, Ms. Rice said discussion is ongoing with nearby condominium residents. In response to a question, she reported a proposed parking lot along the causeway never was approved nor built. Parking garages on the beach would serve hotels mbc0398 2 03/04/98 and visitors and end dangerous back-out parking. This strategy has worked well in Ft. Lauderdale and South Beach. The new library site must be large enough to add a future museum and include a sculpture garden, classes, teen room, meeting area for 500, arts and crafts room, video conferencing room, and meet the needs of home schoolers. Retention and detention of downtown stormwater are a concern. In April, the City Commission will select a library architect who will help choose a site for this signature building. A downtown location would create a synergy with other public buildings. St. Petersburg Junior College has suggested collaborating with the City regarding a new library. In response to a question, Ms. Rice said a monorail is not being considered due to its high cost. Increasing Jolley Trolley service is under discussion. Access between the downtown, beach, and Harborview Center are of concern. Harborview Center business is increasing. The City is considering maintaining the current bridge for local traffic after the new bridge is built. In response to a question, Ms. Rice said a bay-side boardwalk is not planned. The City wants to focus on its ocean front, Clearwater’s most beautiful feature. In response to a question, Ms. Rice said the Coachman Park bandshell will be integrated into the proposed Marketplace. The plan was formulated to stimulate conversation. The City Commission is interested in board feedback. Ms. Rice encouraged board members to vote in the March 10, 1998, election. Concern was expressed regarding the proposed location of the new Memorial Causeway Bridge. It was felt derelicts will congregate under the 5-story structure. Mr. Kader noted the importance of attracting activity to that area. b) “Welcome to Clearwater” Sign Location Acting Parks & Recreation Director Art Kader reviewed locations for a “Welcome to Clearwater” sign: 1) median in front of Countryside High School near the intersection of McMullen-Booth Road and SR 580 and 2) City-owned lift station lot on McMullen-Booth Road just South of Curlew Road. City limits are difficult to define due to Clearwater’s irregular border. A “Welcome to Safety Harbor” sign is located on McMullen-Booth Road South of the lift station lot. In response to a question, he said the City has one sign available for installation but can construct more. In response to a question, he said due to a lack of right-of-way, the City may have to purchase property on South Ft. Harrison for a welcome sign. In response to a question, Mr. Kader said it would be difficult for Northbound motorists to view a welcome sign on US 19N. The southern boundary of the City’s planning district is Belleair Road. He said additional directional signage for Clearwater will be installed on US 19N after completion of the Drew Street overpass. Member Pullar moved to recommend the Parks & Recreation Department locate a “Welcome to Clearwater” sign at the median in front of Countryside High School near the motion intersection of McMullen-Booth Road and SR 580. The was duly seconded and carried unanimously. mbc0398 3 03/04/98 c) Beautification Awards Program A recommendation was made for board members to visit the planned community, Celebration, part of Disney World’s complex. It was suggested streetscaping ideas used in Celebration’s commercial district could be recreated on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. It was suggested the City provide a van for a board field trip to Celebration. It was noted the City has set aside $10,000 to enhance neighborhood entrances. Discussion ensued with members offering suggestions to reduce the speed limit on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, incorporate a novel sidewalk design, provide oversight to ensure properties along main corridors are maintained, and to make downtown pedestrian friendly. Mr. Kader said Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard is a commercial corridor and is not pedestrian friendly. Staff is working to enhance the success of businesses along this corridor. Cross parking agreements between businesses, for example, could result in fewer curb cuts. It was suggested routing traffic to Drew Street could alleviate some traffic problems on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. In response to a question, Mr. Kader stated the Pinellas Trail is a huge asset to the City and will generate business. Donated murals are being painted along the trail. d) Solid Waste Facility e) Clearwater Airpark Engineer Glen Bahnick will address the April 1, 1998, meeting. ITEM #5 - Staff Reports - None. ITEM #6 - New Business - None. ITEM #7 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:06 a.m. mbc0398 4 03/04/98