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02/02/2000BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER February 2, 2000 Present: Jean Stuart Chair Candace Hider Vice Chair Marcia Blakemore Committee Member Brooks Hammac Committee Member Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Parks and Recreation Director Leroy Chin Parks, Planning & Projects Manager Bobbie Downs Staff Assistant II Absent: Steve Brown Committee Member Vacancies (2) Committee Members The Chair called the meeting to order at 8 a.m. at the Municipal Services Building. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. Not on Agenda – Chair Stuart introduced her guest, Tom Fazzina, owner of Chris’ Kitchen, as a prospective member. 2. Approval of Minutes of January 5, 2000 – Vice Chair Hider moved to approve the minutes as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Correspondence – None Parks Master Plan – Leroy Chin, Parks, Planning and Projects Manager Mr. Chin asked members for comments and additions to the master plan outline. He said inventory of Parks and Recreation sites is approximately 40 percent complete. College interns may assist in inventory and assist with meetings with the public. He said Mr. Swanberg’s Points to Consider is the type of input he will seek from members later in the planning process. In response Vice Chair Hider’s concern regarding the Sailing Center, Mr. Dunbar said Harbormaster Bill Morris might be available to speak to the committee. Member Hammac said unless funding mechanisms are in place to provide maintenance, new projects might meet resistance from the public. Under the master plan, maintenance would be included in each project. Mr. Dunbar said Public Works is trying to get Gulf-to-Bay medians “adopted” for maintenance purposes. Mr. Dunbar said no new general fund dollars are requested to operate the SPJC Field House, which will be named the Joe DiMaggio Recreation Center. Revenue will be reallocated from existing resources and fees from programs. Mr. Dunbar said the kiddie pool design and landscape at Morningside has been reworked by Mr. Chin to be more aesthetically pleasing. The master plan will examine each facility for ways to upgrade. Mr. Chin said these improvements pave the way for bringing in more revenue through public usage. Vice Chair Hider expressed concern that higher fees might make facilities too costly for some residents. Mr. Dunbar said the current scholarship process of waiving fees for low-income residents would be better replaced with a scholarship fund that is a pool of money to pay the fees. Mr. Dunbar said he is opening dialog with the Pinellas County Parks Department regarding asking the county for capital and operating money to provide recreation programs for residents of unincorporated areas. An alternative is raising user fees for non-residents. Chair Stuart expressed concern about upgrading Glenwood Park. Mr. Dunbar said Mr. Chin would address her concerns. Member Blakemore complimented current beautification efforts at Courtney Campbell Causeway. In response to member Hider’s question about the process of prioritizing projects, Mr. Dunbar said it is based on a scoring system of greatest need. Member Hammac suggested including security concerns in the master plan. 5. Old Business Nominations for Beautification Awards – None Mr. Chin asked members to look at Peoples Bank and Carlisle Motors, both on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, as candidates for awards. Mr. Chin showed a framed new design for the Beautification Award Certificate of Appreciation. It was suggested former chair Blakemore present the award to the Kmart manager at the City Commission meeting February 17. Not on the Agenda – Mr. Dunbar said Charles McPherson, a member of the Clearwater Historical Society, will ask the society to adopt a millenimum project with the committee. He suggested repositioning two war memorial soldiers currently at the Memorial Causeway entrance. Mr. Dunbar suggested placing them at the new bridge’s link with the Pinellas Trail. Mr. Dunbar said committee tours will resume as new projects begin so members can provide input early in projects. New Business – Discussion ensued regarding the city’s plan to paint a mural on the U.S. 19 overpass above Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard as part of beautification efforts. Member Hider moved that the Beautification Committee go on record as being opposed to spending $60,000 to paint the mural and that a memo to that effect be sent to City Commissioners. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Mr. Dunbar distributed his business cards and urged members to contact him or Mr. Chin with their suggestions or concerns. The next meeting will be March 1, 2000. Discussion about the master plan will continue. 7. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.