09/27/2004
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PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
September 27, 2004
Present:
Jonathan Wade Sr.
Sarah Wiand
Ron Whitcomb
Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Also Present:
Kevin Dunbar
Marsha Beall
Director, Parks and Recreation Dept.
Staff Assistant
Absent:
Thomas Fletcher
J ames Appelt
Steve Swanberg
Allen Weatherilt
Vice Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:40pm at the Long Center.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that
order.
ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes of Parks and Recreation Board Meeting of August 23. 2004 - No Quorum
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ITEM #3 - Presentation - Margo Walbolt. Cultural Affairs Manager - Ms. Walbolt provided a PowerPoint
Presentation highlighting the various disciplines to do with the Arts. The Clearwater Cultural Plan was presented
to and accepted by the City Commission in November 2002. A separate Cultural Affairs division was established
within the Parks and Recreation Department headed up by Margo Walbolt. A dedicated budget and staff were
created and objectives were defined. The highest priority for the next few years will be to create an agency to
coordinate the arts, develop a public art program, allocate a percentage of funds for public and private capital
projects, and use the arts for economic revitalization.
ITEM #4 - Old Business -
a) Capital Projects Update - Mr. Dunbar updated the following projects:
. Long Center - Specifications nearing 50% completion. Addressing firewall system issues.
Work should be completed - January 2005.
. Ross Norton Aquatic Center - Gym floor poured. Moving forward. Occupancy expected - April
2005.
. McMullen Booth Pedestrian Bridge- Utility relocations are underway. On schedule to be
completed - June 2005.
. Mandalay Channel Pedestrian Bridge - Department of Transportation (DOT) is reviewing
completed construction plans and documents. Targeting Jan-Feb 2005 to begin construction.
Bridge will not be operational until 2006.
. E. C. Moore Softball Complex Fields 8 & 9 - Southern most batting tunnel structure in place.
Expecting by end of October to have use of tunnel. This should make it a state-of-the-arts
training facility for fast pitch softball.
. Glen Oaks Park - 100% design completed. Award date scheduled for November 2004.
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Parks & Recreation Advisory 2004-0927
b)
Upcoming Recreation Events - Parks & Recreation Community & Special Events calendar for
October was distributed to members. Mr. Dunbar highlighted a few upcoming events: on
October 9-10 the City of Clearwater and YMCA will sponsor the Clearwater Classic Cycling
Festival at Coachman Park, and October 14-17 Clearwater Jazz Holiday takes place.
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ITEM #5 New Business - Ms. Wiand inquired as to the feasibility to develop soft courts at the McMullen Tennis
Courts. Mr. Dunbar agreed this was initially considered but funds were not available. Also, the existing clay
courts were designed to add additional courts to the East. This decision offered eight courts versus only six
courts. Grant opportunities will be discussed in 2006, assuming the City has available matching funds.
ITEM #6 Adlournment - Members adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
The next meeting will be held October 25 at The Long Center.
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Parks & Recreation Advisory 2004-0927
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