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03/01/2000BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER March 1, 2000 Present: Jean Stuart Chair Candace Hider Vice Chair Marcia Blakemore Committee Member Brooks Hammac Committee Member Steve Brown Committee Member Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Parks and Recreation Director 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 a.m. at the Municipal Services Building. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 1. Approval of Minutes of February 2, 2000 – Member Hammac 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 and 5. b) Millennium Project A letter was read from Chuck McPherson of the Clearwater Historical Society wherein the Society expressed interest in participating in a millennium project. Mr. Dunbar said he would meet with Mr. McPherson and Mr. Mike Sanders of the Society to determine a project, participation level from the Society, a budget, and funding sources. Mr. Sanders will be invited to a committee meeting. Parks Master Plan – Leroy Chin, Parks, Planning and Projects Manager Mr. Chin said a questionnaire is being developed and will be reviewed by staff and the two advisory boards. It may be ready for the April committee meeting. Mr. Dunbar said he and Mr. Art Kader met with the Director of Pinellas County Parks regarding possible money from the county to pay costs of providing recreation programs to residents of Pinellas unincorporated areas. Mr. Dunbar stressed the City’s non-resident participation fees would rise significantly without county funding. Recommended is a plan similar to the fire fee wherein the City would collect a percentage of the county budget. The issue appears in the Master Plan under Financing the Plan, and Pennies for Pinellas. Mr. Dunbar said projects for a possible Pennies III in years 2010 to 2020 also may be identified in the plan. In response to a question by member Hider regarding how downtown development would affect the Master Plan, Mr. Dunbar said any changes to Coachman Park and the bayfront would be an issue. Another issue is to have a park for the downtown community. Member Hammack suggested recording accomplishments as the Master Plan progresses. 5. Old Business Nominations for Beautification Awards – Member Blakemore nominated Peoples Bank to receive a Certificate of Appreciation for its beautification efforts. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Mr. Dunbar said the manager of Kmart was unwilling to accept his award at a City Commission meeting. Members decided to mail the award. In response to a question by Mr. Brown concerning beautification requirements in the City Code, Mr. Chin said code calls for 1- or 2-inch in diameter trees, and one hedge on the property. New Business – Mr. Dunbar apologized for not attending the advisory board recognition dinner; he attended an FRPA meeting in Pasco County that evening. Mr. Dunbar said the staff is recommending to commence operations of a recreation center at St. Petersburg Junior College field house site by October 1. In response to a question from Member Hammac regarding the chain link fence, Mr. Dunbar said the fence was to protect students and will be removed when the City takes over the property. In response to a question from member Blakemore regarding plans for a skate park, Mr. Dunbar said existing tennis courts would be the skate park site. SPJC’s baseball office will remain in the field house. The final draft of the business plan for SPJC is scheduled to go before the City Commission on April 20. Parks and Recreation is committed to operate the facility without requesting additional ad valorem tax dollars. Member Hammac asked about progress toward beautification of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. Mr. Dunbar said the City is working with billboard companies to remove signs. As for power lines, the cost would be prohibitive to bury power lines; placing lines behind businesses that front Gulf-to-Bay is being explored. Part of the Glen Oaks negotiation requires the golf course to enhance landscaping at Court Street and make it comparable with medians. Mr. Dunbar said the City Commission voted against painting a mural at U.S. 19. 7. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 9:14 a.m. The next meeting will be April 5, 2000.