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01/03/2001BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER January 3, 2001 Present: Jean Stuart Chair Candace Hider Vice Chair Sally Foote Committee Member Brooks Hammac Committee Member Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Parks & Recreation Director Leroy Chin Parks, Planning & Projects Manager Melanie Hasburgh Public Information Coordinator Bobbie Downs Staff Assistant II Absent: Vacancies (3) Committee Members The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. at the Municipal Services Building. Not on the Agenda Mr. Dunbar introduced Ms. Melanie Hasburgh as the department’s new Public Information Coordinator. She was formerly Public Affairs Director for the City of Pinellas Park for 10 years. Ms. Hasburgh said she was glad to be with the City of Clearwater and looked forward to working with the Committee and staff. Mr. Dunbar said, as part of Ms. Hasburgh’s work with Beautification, she possibly will be taking digital photos of Beautification award-winning properties to project on a screen during award presentations at City Commission meetings. She will solicit positive department exposure to media unaware of many of our programs. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. #2 Approval of Minutes of December 6, 2000 – Member Foote moved to approve the minutes as recorded and submitted in written summation to each committee member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. #3 Correspondence – None #4 Old Business – a) Status of Capital Improvement Projects – Mr. Dunbar reviewed the following progress: Ray Green Park Expansion – The City closed on the sixth of the eight parcels available on that block, and negotiations are under way for one of those parcels. The ultimate plan does not require inclusion of the last two parcels. Skate Park – Christopher Potts, formerly an athletic supervisor for the city of Dunedin, has been hired as supervisor at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex. His first task is to put together a skate park and roller hockey facility in such a format that if the City is not able to reach permanent lease or sale agreement with the college, the equipment can be removed and transported to another site. Activity along those lines is expected in late spring or early summer. Recreation Paths – The City is moving forward, particularly with the East-West Trail. A fly-over at McMullen-Booth Road will link with the trail portion completed last spring. Ultimately, the plan is to have the East-West Trail go to Clearwater Beach. Mr. Dunbar showed members a map depicting the present and proposed path of the Trail system. Member Hammac proposed having printed informational material available in businesses such as bike shops. Member Foote suggested a run to formally open the Trail. Mr. Dunbar proposed that members travel the trail as part of their March meeting. Countryside Infrastructure Improvement – Mr. Chin said ground was broken the week before Thanksgiving, pine trees have been cleared from the back portion, and soil testing is under way. Cement slab and utilities will be in by the latter part of the month. One wall in the fitness room was found to be a sheer wall, not a support wall, and tests are under way to determine if the wall can function as it was designed within the expansion of the room. New equipment is on hand and it is hoped the new facilities can open by the first of February. North Greenwood facility – Mr. Chin said a committee from the North Greenwood community has selected a plan, and modifications are now under way. The committee also is looking at corridor enhancement, traffic calming and reclaimed water lines to ensure design guidelines will be met. That area’s master plan is expected to be completed by the middle of the month. Mr. Dunbar said a traffic circle for traffic calming purposes will be at the entry to that area. Beautification Awards – No new nominations. Member Foote asked for a list of previous award winners. Mr. Dunbar said staff will provide the list. c) Discussion of Committee Mission - Member Hammac brought up beautification of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, particularly a strip of less-desirable businesses, and questioned if the City could do anything about them. Mr. Dunbar said that could lead to litigation. Member Hammac said the area around Clearwater High School is littered with trash and questioned who cleans that area and if the Committee could work with the school to get it cleaned up. Mr. Chin said the school board is responsible and it is not required to follow City code. Mr. Dunbar said, in the future, the City may assist with building a baseball-softball facility on the CHS campus, which may give us leverage to work with the overall site. Member Hammac asked if prison inmates are utilized by the City, particularly in road clean-up efforts. Mr. Dunbar said they are utilized successfully by Parks and Recreation, Public Service and Code Enforcement. Member Foote brought an article from the St. Petersburg Times wherein a group is pursuing having Courtney Campbell Parkway declared a Scenic Highway. She also shared a Letter to the Editor of the Clearwater Times of Dec. 3, 2000, opposing land use changes for the Conley property in Bayview. In response to her question regarding cleaning up cigarette butts along Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Mr. Dunbar said that is a State road and it is difficult to hire contractors to work there because of stringent restrictions/requirements they must follow. In response to a question by Member Foote regarding public art, Mr. Dunbar said the City does not have a formal public art program, but rather, works with the County program. However, some individual public projects include the Marine Aquarium’s “Tour of the Turtles” fundraiser, artwork on the City’s parking garage and buildings along the Pinellas Trail, and utilizing the two war memorial statues in design of the new Memorial Causeway. In response to a concern of Member Hider regarding use of water-wise plantings, Mr. Chin said water conservation is a primary concern when planning landscaping in the City. Member Hider suggested that the committee could work with County Extension to present workshops on water conservation and plantings, such as native plants, to neighborhood groups. Member Foote suggested a “Plant of the Month” feature in utility bill inserts. She will provide a source of such information to Ms. Hasburgh to pursue. Member Foote brought up utilizing the Adopt-a-Street program and establishing a dog park. Mr. Dunbar said Adopt-a-Street is administered by Engineering, and dog parks are being looked at as part of the master plan. It was decided to continue discussion of a mission at next month’s meeting. Membership Drive – It was decided to mail the letter prepared by staff to homeowners groups and neighborhood associations in an effort to increase membership. #5 New Business – Election of Officers – Member Foote moved to elect Member Hider to the position of Chair. The motion was duly seconded. Member Hider respectfully declined since she is looking for employment. Member Hider moved to elect Member Hammac to the position. The motion was duly seconded. Upon the vote being taken, Member Hammac was elected unanimously. Member Foote moved to elect Member Stuart to the position of Vice Chair. The motion was duly seconded, and upon the vote being taken, Member Stuart was elected unanimously. Members thanked Ms. Stuart for her fine service as Chair during the past year. Members adjourned at 9:44 a.m.