07/05/2000BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 5, 2000
Present: Jean Stuart Chair
Candace Hider Vice Chair
Marcia Blakemore Committee Member
Steve Brown Committee Member
Brooks Hammac Committee Member
Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Parks & Recreation Director
Loren Westenberger Westenberger Tree Service Inc. Owner/CEO Ms. Sally Foote Visitor
Bobbie Downs Staff Assistant II
Absent: Leroy Chin Parks, Planning & Projects Manager
Vacancies (2) Committee Members
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. at the Municipal Services Building.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
Introduced as a visitor was Ms. Sally Foote, who expressed interest in joining the Committee.
#2. Approval of Minutes of June 7, 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.
#3. Correspondence. None.
#4. Speaker: Loren Westenberger. Member Hider introduced Mr. Westenberger as a certified arborist with 25 years experience in the green industry, specializing in Arboriculture. He
is active in related organizations promoting the preservation of earth and resources including serving as chairman of Enviro-Net, a coalition of environmental groups.
Mr. Westenberger urged members to support preserving 4½ acres of property (known as the William Conley property) at the Bayview section near Bayside Bridge by urging City Commission
to purchase the land and establish it as a passive park. He said the County owns an adjacent 7 waterfront acres, which it would donate it to the City. He said the land has historical
significance in that an Indian mound and artifacts have been found there.
Members noted they sent a memo September 7, 1999, to the Commission opposing a change in zoning to the property and further recommended the land be preserved as a passive park.
Mr. Westenberger said funding for purchase possibly could be obtained through “Florida Forever,” the “Trust for Public Land,” or “Preservation 2000.”
Members voted unanimously to recommend that the City Commission authorize staff to investigate funding sources to purchase the property for use as a passive City park. Members further
agreed to explain the committee’s position at a future Commission meeting, if this is the Commission’s desire.
#5 Parks Master Plan. Discussion postponed since Mr. Chin was unable to attend.
#6 Old Business
a) Discussion on Size of Committee and Attracting New Members – Mr. Dunbar said he is concerned about having two vacancies since 3 absences and a meeting result in lack of a quorum.
Options suggested by the City Clerk’s office were either to ask the Commission to reduce the number of members on the committee or consider merging the committee with the Parks and Recreation
Board. Mr. Dunbar said he favors downsizing the number of members rather than merging since the two boards have distinctly different objectives. Members discussed ways to recruit more
members by making the committee more visible. These included placing items in newspapers and inserts in utility bills. Members unanimously favored continuing to meet at 8 a.m.
Nominations for Beautification Awards – Member Hider suggested the new McDonald’s on Missouri Avenue. Other suggestions were Walgreens, the Storage Place on North Myrtle Avenue, and
the new Home Depot on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard.
#7 New Business – Responding to a request by Member Hider, Mr. Dunbar said members will be given monthly Status of Capital Improvement Projects reports. At members’ request, copies
of the City Code addressing beautification requirements also will be given to members.
#8. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.