12/01/1999BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
December 1, 1999
Present: Marcia Blakemore Chair
Steve Brown Committee Member
Brooks Hammac Committee Member
Candace Hider Committee Member
Jean Stuart Committee Member
Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Parks and Recreation Director
Mark Roether Nursery Superintendent
Leroy Chin Parks, Planning & Projects Manager
Bobbie Downs Staff Assistant II
Absent: Vacancies (2) Committee Members
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. at the Municipal Services Building.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes of October 6, 1999 - Member Brown moved to approve the minutes as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
3. Correspondence - None
4. Old Business
Nominations for Beautification Awards
Member Stuart nominated the Kmart store on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard to receive an award for its attractive landscaping, which exceeds plantings required by City code. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
5. New Business
Comments From Members
Chair Blakemore said she met with a representative of the Clearwater Historical Society, who indicated interest in speaking to the committee and teaming with the committee to sponsor
a millennium project. He suggested incorporating the statues at Memorial Causeway onto the new bridge site. Mr. Dunbar said he would ask Engineering if plans could be incorporated into
the project.
Not on Agenda – Mr. Dunbar announced that Mr. Roether would no longer attend committee meetings since his workload in the field has increased. Mr. Chin will attend meetings regularly
in the future. Member Hammac thanked Mr. Roether for his years of help to the committee.
Project Tour
Members toured Allen’s Creek Park, which is being developed by the Parks & Recreation Department. Prior to the tour, members had received a packet including: (a) Property Ownership
Map of Pinellas County relative to the site; (b) Aerial prior to improvements and including approximate boundary limits; (c) City of Clearwater Zoning Atlas Map that shows boundary limits
and the property owned by Pinellas
County; and (d) Plan showing the improvement to the property thus far. Nearby schools are conducting wildlife studies that have been in progress for several years. Angelea Young with
Pinellas County Water Management is coordinator. Her number is 464-4425 if more information is required for the program.
Mr. Chin asked members for their input in developing the park. Responses were as follows:
Member Stuart suggested a bat house, more trails, and native plants.
Member Hider submitted the following:
1. Small educational building where classes involving Clearwater High, Plumb Elementary, Oak Grove Middle and possibly other schools could take place.
2. Area (uplands area) near educational building could be planted with native host and nectar butterfly plants. Study of butterflies, their habitat, life cycle and beneficial qualities
(pollination, etc.) could be explored. Small caterpillars could be collected from the field and taken to classrooms to observe, then released once they emerged from their chrysalis.
3. “Wetlands” area could be planted with native species. Study of birds, their habitat, etc., as well as other wetland critters could be undertaken.
4. Cleanup of area might be accomplished by volunteer groups of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, community groups or a motivated neighborhood association.
5. Installation of strategically placed motion activated lights in wooded areas might discourage kids from inappropriate use by people and still not disturb neighbors with glaring lights.
6. Xeriscape area could demonstrate to visitors and residents the xeriscape theory in a live setting.
7. Eventually, raised boardwalks through the area would protect the fauna and still allow hiking through the area. Also, the labeling of trees, plants, etc. is important.
8. Workshops, after school activities, vacation schools, nature clubs based on the nature studies of the area could take place.
9. Finally, an effort could be made to involve senior citizens with kids on nature studies, perhaps small woodworking projects such as bird houses or feeders since many kids need adult
time.
Member Hammac suggested more trees, benches, trails, wildlife, and an outdoor archery range. He said he contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Tallahassee,
which would share resources, including funding, to attract life indigenous to the area. Member Hammac also suggested a strong maintenance plan since the site often is strewn with litter.
Member Brown suggested keeping the site as a nature park. He said a map on site might depict the stormwater flow path. He suggested planting Weeping Willow trees.
Chair Blakemore suggested a playground with baseball or soccer field or a combination, four tennis courts, basketball court, swimming pool, walkway and benches, running track or jogging
trail, science center, land for use by Boy and Girl Scouts, wildlife protection, nature center, develop private support for wildlife projects, nature trails, bat house, attract purple
martin birds to eat mosquitoes, xeriscaping, more cypress trees, and an archery range.
Mr. Chin said he would mail to members a cross-section showing aquatic plant species for marsh development and lakes.
The next meeting will be held January 5, 2000, at the Parks and Recreation Department Conference Room. Mr. Chin will discuss the parks master plan.
7. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.