11/28/2005
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
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November 28, 2005
Present:
T om Fletcher
Jonathan Wade, Sr.
Allen Weatherilt
Ron Whitcomb
Vice Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Also Present:
Kevin Dunbar
Marsha Beall
Director, Parks and Recreation Dept.
Staff Assistant
Absent:
Jim Appelt
Sarah Wiand
Steve Swanberg
Chair
Board Member
Board Member
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 6:37p.m. at 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 September 26. 2005 - Mr. Wade
moved to approve the minutes as submitted to members. The motion was duly seconded and carried.
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ITEM #3 - Old Business -
a) Capital Projects Update - Mr. Dunbar reviewed updates on the following projects:
. Long Center - Project is going well. General contractor has turned over the fitness room & multi
purpose room, gymnasium, and athletic office to the City. Work continues on the reception area, storage
closet, and supervisor's offices. Target date of completion is January 2, 2006. Future plans are to close
the pools in August and September 2006 for pool resurfacing, relighting, and painting the superstructure.
During that time, the swim teams will move to Morningside Recreation Center.
. Tennis & Basketball Court Resurfacing - Resurfacing complete at Woodgate Park, Del Oro Park, and
Valencia Park. McMullen Tennis hard courts have been condensed from eight to six courts. The courts
have been redesigned to be the same standard as the clay courts, with the recommended coloring system
UST A uses. Public reaction has been very favorable and usage is quite good.
· Playground & Fitness Equipment - Playground replacement is completed at Forest Run and Montclair
Park. New playground equipment is being installed at Pier 60 playground with completion scheduled for
December 31,2005. Signs have been placed at the park to assure the public that the playground is only
being refurbished.
. Ross Norton Recreation Complex - City Council awarded bids to fund the Aquatic renovations. Work
will begin in December 2005 to build a water playground, 100-foot water slide, pool and decking.
· North Greenwood Recreation & Aquatic Property - Closing on the property on December 2,2005. The
house will be demolished; the garage used for as an auxiliary storage facility.
· Recreation Trails - McMullen Booth Overpass complete. Druid Road Trail at 60% design. Community
meeting coming up December 8, 2005. Mandalay Bridge plans have hit a challenge. Available funds to
pay for the project are just under $4 million; the lowest bid came in at roughly $5.5 million. Plans may
revert to a design-built format to stay in budget. Working with DOT for approval.
· Myron A. Smith Bayview Park - City Council approved to accept a $200,000 Land & Water
Conservation grant that will be used to enhance the trails and boardwalks. On track for 60% Design
Community meetings.
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. Kapok Park - Ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for December 13,2005. Board members are invited
to attend. A trail spur is being constructed to integrate Kapok Park with Cliff Stephens Park.
. b) Upcoming Recreation Events - The Clearwater Parks & Recreation Calendar was distributed to members.
Highlight for upcoming December: December 2 Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, December 3
Downtown Arts Stroll, December 4 Next Big Thing at Coachman Park, December 29 Outback Beach Bowl.
ITEM #4 - New Business -
a) Mr. Appelt was reappointed to a four-year term.
b) Election of Officers - Mr. Fletcher moved to reelect Mr. Jim Appelt as Chairman. Mr. Weatherilt seconded
the motion. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Wade moved to reelect Mr. Tom Fletcher as Vice-
Chair. Mr. Weatherilt seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously.
c) 2006 Meeting Calendar - The 2006 meeting dates for the Parks and Recreation Board was distributed to
members. Board Members will be visiting some off-site locations throughout the year.
NOT ON THE AGENDA
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Mr. Weatherilt inquired about the construction area around the multi-purpose fields at Glen Oaks. Mr. Dunbar
stated the project will serve the dual uses of stormwater management and recreation with the idea to protect the
fields from water. In the northeast portion of the property, a 4-acre pond would be constructed which would
capture, treat, and attenuate the currently untreated runoff from approximately 50 acres of residential and
commercial land uses. The design plan was to have the pond serve as a multipurpose field with berms constructed
along the sides to act as retention areas. The recreational features will be incorporated into the overall facility,
including two fields, bicycle/pedestrian trails, bridges and boardwalks, restroom and vending facilities, parking
facilities, and approximately six acres of dry uplands containing playground equipment, picnic tables, and
benches.
Additional Fields - Working on a partnership with Pinellas County School Board and City of Safety Harbor to
build a four-field complex behind the McMullen Booth Elementary School off Union Street. Plans are to begin
construction FebruarylMarch 2006. The City is also working on a partnership with USA Partners to build an
additional five fields at the Joe DiMaggio Complex. Also, four-six fields are planned at the Plex driving
range property as a Penny III project. In summary, if all the plans work out, the City envisions within the
next six years they would add thirteen-fifteen new multi-purpose fields.
Office for the Aging - Parks & Recreation Department will be recruiting a Office for the Aging Manager to
oversee senior citizen facilities in Clearwater. This person will be involved in planning, coordinating, and
implementing a comprehensive program of services to improve the quality of life for senior citizens within the
community. They will act as a liaison between City government and those agencies. The desire is to have this
person on board in March 2006.
ITEM #5 - Adjournment - Members adjourned at 7:20p.m.
The next meeting will be held January 23 at Long Center.
VI GV Chair
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Par
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