01/27/2015 PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 27, 2015
Present: Chair Ric Ortega, Vice Chair Norene M. Marlow, Board Member Allen Weatherilt,
Board Member Candace Gardner, Board Member Emilo Gonzales, Board Member Carmen
Santiago
Absent: Board Member Nola Johnson
Also Present: Felicia Leonard -Administrative Support Manager, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board
Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Long Center.
2 —Approval of Minutes
2.1. Approve the minutes of the October 28, 2014 Parks & Recreation Board meeting as
submitted in written summation.
It was stated that board members had not received the minutes.
Member Marlow moved to continue Item 2.1 to April 22, 2015. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
3 —Citizens to be Heard re Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4— New Business Items
4.1. Feedback from Park Tour
Consensus was to continue park tours and visit north Clearwater parks next.
It was requested that staff schedule a tour of Coopers Point. Administrative Support Manager
Felicia Leonard said she also would try to schedule a tour of the Ream Wilson Trail.
4.2. Parks & Recreation — Projects Update
Ms. Leonard reported the City entered into an agreement with professional soccer team
Philadelphia Union for one month of Spring Training at Joe DiMaggio Field, beginning February
1, 2015; the City made some upgrades to the field. Florida Sports Foundation opened a satellite
office at the Long Center. The City was working to host US Senior Games. The City requested
CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau) funds to add a second floor press box at Eddie C Moore
complex to attract international tournaments. The City requested a direct legislative
appropriation to expand McMullen Tennis Complex to 20 clay courts to attract tournaments.
Staff was working with Ocean Properties for beach access at the hotel property under
construction. The playground at Cherry Harris Park was replaced and the flag plaza at Pier 60
Park neared completion. FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) will complete work on
the Courtney Campbell trail in May; the City's link to the Ream Wilson Trail should be completed
about the same time. The City will reopen the Courtney Campbell beach for parking. Staff
submitted a grant application for a SR60 flyover for trail users. Ms. Leonard said she felt safe
every time she crossed SR60 at grade but expressed concern SR60 traffic would back up
during heavy pedestrian use of the crossing.
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Concern was expressed that McMullen tennis players are hit by fronds from nearby palm trees.
4.3. Election of Officers
Member Marlow moved to reappoint Ric Ortega as Chair. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
Member Weatherilt moved to reappoint Norene Marlow as Vice - Chair. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
5 — Director's Report — None.
6 — Committee Members to be Heard
In response to comments, Ms. Leonard said Morningside Park's designation as a community
park, instead of a neighborhood park, would not affect the size of the planned community
center. Money set aside for the new facility was insufficient. There may be an opportunity to add
a library branch and share staffing costs. Rentals of space at the center would block resident
access to those portions of the facility.
Discussion ensued with comments that the Morningside /Meadows neighborhood did not want a
gymnasium due to size and staffing level constraints, all information re surveys started in 2006
was available, and a neighborhood committee was meeting re the new center. Concerns were
expressed re difficulties in gathering information re neighborhood preferences on center
programming and traffic and parking issues related a new facility would need to be addressed.
Ms. Leonard will speak to the Parks & Recreation Department Director re strategy to move
forward with a new Morningside center and will report on the cost to construct the Clearwater
Beach Recreation Center. It was recommended that plans for the Morningside Park center be
put into motion.
It was stated that travel ball had become popular and Clearwater could increase its revenues
significantly by converting a City owned golf course into a sports complex featuring a large
number of soccer fields. Sports tourism will be on April's agenda.
Ms. Leonard discussed the importance of cross training children in multiple sports.
7 - Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
NEXT MEETING — April 22 -
Ch.ir■ V
Parks & " = reation Advisory Board
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