03/22/2004
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CITY OF CLEARWATER
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING
March 22, 2004
Present:
Thomas Fletcher
Steve Swanberg
J onathan Wade
Allen Weatherilt
Ron Whitcomb
Vice Chair
Board Member
Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Also Present:
Kevin Dunbar
Marsha Beall
Director, Parks and Recreation Dept.
Staff Assistant
Absent:
J ames Appelt
Sarah Wiand
Board Member
Board Member
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm at MSB.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in
that order.
ITEM #1 - Approval of Minutes of Parks and Recreation Board Meeting of February 23, 2004 -
Minutes were approved as submitted to members.
ITEM #2 - Correspondence - None
ITEM #3 - Old Business -
a) Commission Action - The Commission requested arranging a Public Hearing to name
Bayview Park. Mr. Dunbar has received numerous citizen inquiries interested in naming the
park. Mr. Dunbar slated a Public Hearing date on June 28, 2004.
b) Capital Projects Update - Mr. Dunbar updated the following projects:
· Community Sports Complex - Completed.
· McKay Park - Phase I is completed. Playgrounds and amenities are installed.
· Long Center - In process of finalizing an agreement with the architect. Construction
begins later part of this year.
· Ross Norton Complex - Broke ground on Feb. 12th. Project is moving forward and is
in a clearing and grubbing stage right now. Scheduled for completion by December
28, 2004.
· Recreation TrailslPedestrian Bridge - Moving forward. Bids came in $600,000 over
budget. The City is in discussions with DOT to help fund the balance by early May.
Work will commence 30 days following. Mandalay Channel still in design.
· E.C. Moore 8 & 9 - Project is completed. The first activities held there were the
Speedline USF Spring Classic and the Olympic teams. Over 2,000 people attended.
Concurrently, the Chargers were doing a College Showcase at one of the Eddie
Moore fields and Bright House Networks Field held their grand opening game.
Sport Illustrated presented the City of Clearwater their Sports Illustrated Sportstown
award on March 6th.
Parks & Recreation Advisory 2004-0322
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c) Upcoming Recreation Events - April's calendar of events were distributed to members. Next
major event for Park and Recreation is the Fun & Sun Festival in April. The Clearwater
Relay for Life will be held at the Long Center on April 2nd. Neighborhood Day is planned
for April3rd. Coachman Park will host a Christian Rock group "Third Day" on April 30th.
Mr. Dunbar reminded the members of the Advisory Board Dinner on Tuesday, March 30th.
ITEM #4 New Business -
a) Next meeting will be a tour of the Harborview Center on April 26th. Mr. Dunbar is the
contract administrator for Harborview. He is working diligently with the facility and the
leasing partners. Mr. Dunbar plans on introducing Isabelle Blainey, General Manager for
Harborview to the members on April 26th. The tour will follow.
b) Mr. Dunbar announced the May 24th meeting will be held at Jack Russell Stadium. He will
introduce members to the staff of the "Winning Innings" team. Various baseball academies
are being developed at the stadium. A program called "Extra Innings" was created to get
intercity kids involved in baseball. Many major league players have signed up to support
these events.
Not on the Agenda
Mr. Wade inquired as to why Clearwater Discovery softball field now has a fence around it. Mr. Dunbar
said it was his understanding that a group, which played on Sundays, left the place in disarray, therefore the
school requested the area be contained.
Mr. Weatherilt asked about the status of the Joe DiMaggio Complex. At present, any future decisions to
purchase the property are in negotiation. Various funding issues have been discussed but not resolved.
Mr. Dunbar updated members regarding the McMullen Booth Driving Range. Negotiations with Safety
Harbor have not been resolved. Alternative opportunities are on the table.
ITEM #5 Adjournment - Members adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
The next meeting will be April 26, 2004 at Harborview Center at 6:30pm.
Parks & Recreation Advisory 2004-0322
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