07/25/2006
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PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 25, 2006
Present:
Tom Fletcher
Brooks Hammac
Ray Shaw
Allen Weatherilt
Ron Whitcomb
Vice Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Also Present:
Kevin Dunbar
Marsha Beall
Director, Parks and Recreation Dept.
Staff Assistant
Absent:
Jim Appelt
Jonathan Wade, Sr.
Chair
Board Member
Special Guest:
Councilmember Doran
Mr. Fletcher called the meeting to order at 6:40p.m. at the Long Center.
Mr. Dunbar welcomed Councilmember Doran to the meeting.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that
order.
ITEM #2 - Welcome new Board Members - The Vice-Chair welcomed Mr. Brooks Hammac and Mr. Ray
Shaw to the Parks & Recreation Board.
ITEM #3 - Approval of Minutes of Parks and Recreation Board Meeting of June 27.2006 -
Member Whitcomb moved to approve the minutes of June 27, 2006 as submitted to members. The motion was
duly seconded and carried.
ITEM #4 - Old Business -
a) Capital Projects Update - Mr. Dunbar presented the Capital Improvement Projects report and reviewed
updates on the following projects:
. Carpenter Infrastructure - finished interior parking lot and completed batting tunnels.
. Community Sports Complex - City carries a $50,000 annual CIP contractual obligation for three years.
Continued improvements are being made. This project will be renamed Bright House Networks
Infrastructure.
. Playground & Fitness Equipment Purchase & Replacement - completed replacement of playground at
Pier 60 Park; ordered new playground equipment for Glen Oaks; ctmtinue to repair additional parks.
. Ross Norton Pool Renovations - The pool was opened this past May. Attendance is up over six-fold.
. Long Center - Project has been closed out. Interior renovations completed. Currently working on
aquatic area. All interior painting is completed. In process of preparing the pool for refinishing.
Looking at reengaging the heat/air condition system. Target date for reopening is mid-September.
Parks & Recreation 2006-07-25
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. Long Center Sunshine Limitless Playground - The old playground has been replaced with a new
Limitless Playground. This project will provide for the first Pinellas County limitless playground,
which is a playground free of barriers so challenged populations will have access to approximately
70% of the equipment. Ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for end of August 2006. Additional work
is on going to provide additional park amenities and recreational trail connection to the East-West
Trail. The East-West Trail has been extended to Belcher Road with a new ten-foot wide sidewalk.
Plans are to reserve some of the parking near Belcher Road for trail parking.
. Glen Oaks Park - Continue completion of park. Ribbon cutting slated for November.
. Myron A. Smith Bayview Park - 2 constructional projects awarded: 1) landscaping and irrigation; 2)
shell paths and parking improvements. Anticipating completion by later part of September.
. Recreation Trials - Mandalay Bridge: reviewing plans and other funding options. Druid Road: 60%
completed. At the next City Council Work Session on July 31 Felecia Leonard will present "Shifting
Gears", a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. This plan supports and implements numerous goals and
objectives that have been previously expressed in existing planning efforts of the City.
. Crest Lake Park - The park features three double-gated dog runs, allowing owners to unleash their pets
in a holding area before releasing them into the play areas that are approximately three-quarters and
one acre in size. Due to time and increased usage the City plans to add a fourth dog run to help
differentiate between the sizes of the dogs.
. Countryside Community Park - with help of FRDAP dollars the City will be replacing the park
restrooms and concession. Working with Little League and County for additional support.
b) Upcoming Recreation Events - The Clearwater Parks & Recreation Calendar for August 2006 was
distributed to members.
ITEM #5 - New Business - Penny for Pinellas - Members received a copy of the approved Penny 3 list, which
will be submitted to the County by August 1st. The Parks & Recreation Department's recommended the
following infrastructure projects during the next ten-year cycle:
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Coachman Park Redevelopment
Youth Sports Fields Renovations & Improvements
Neighborhood Parks Renovations & Improvements
Recreation Trails
Countryside Family Aquatics Center Development
Member Fletcher asked if the referendum for the Downtown Marina passes would it be funded by the Penny
dollars. Councilmember Doran explained the process going forward and that the funding sources will come
from the user, public funds and CRA. Mr. Dunbar mentioned through the rate study the rates that will be
charged would more than offset the cost of operating the marina. The only cost will be the initial investment.
The idea is to create a 20-year bond so after 20 years this project will have a significant cash flow. Discussion
ensued regarding the opportunities a Downtown Marina will bring to this area.
ITEM #6 - Adjournment - Members adjourned at 7:40p.m.
The next meeting will be a PUBLIC MEETING held August 22 at The Long Center.
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Chair
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Parks & Recreation 2006-07-25
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