Loading...
08/01/2000 - Special Public HearingCITY COMMISSION SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF CLEARWATER August 1, 2000 Present: Brian J. Aungst Mayor/Commissioner J. B. Johnson Vice-Mayor/Commissioner Ed Hooper Commissioner Robert Clark Commissioner Ed Hart Commissioner Also present: Bill Horne Interim City Manager Garry Brumback Acting Assistant City Manager Bob Keller Assistant City Manager Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Brenda Moses Board Reporter The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:28 p.m. at City Hall to discuss a new community sports complex and letter of intent with the Philadelphia Phillies. ITEM #2 - Presentation - Keith Ashby, General Support Services Administrator & John Timberlake, Director of Phillies Florida Operations General Support Services Administrator Keith Ashby reviewed the Phillies’ history in Clearwater. He said structural problems plague the Jack Russell Stadium and extensive repairs must be done or a new stadium built. The City has an opportunity to partner with the County, the State, and the Phillies to fund a new baseball stadium if the application is submitted by the October 1, 2000, deadline. The funding opportunity provides for $500,000 a year for 3 years. State legislation requires that the County match $7 million of the State’s contribution. He said a new stadium would increase baseball’s positive presence in the community and provide additional revenue to the City. Baseball brings $24 million to communities hosting spring training teams and approximately $490 million to the State. He said Clearwater is fortunate to be one of only 30 cities in the nation to host a spring training team. Clearwater also has benefited from national and international exposure received from hosting the Phillies over the past 54 years. Mr. Ashby said the proposed site provides access to major highways, high visibility, and accessibility to the Carpenter complex. Neighborhood concerns regarding drainage, lighting, noise, etc. will be addressed. John Timberlake, Director of Phillies Florida Operations, said recent State legislation to provide 3-way funding from the State, County, and City provides a unique opportunity for Clearwater. He urged the City to seek the available funding opportunity. The Phillies also will participate in the venture. He said the Phillies work with various organizations and youth groups in the area, provide housing for players, hold meetings, instructional camps, etc. The team has established a year-round presence in the community, resulting in additional revenues to the City. ITEM #3 - Comments by Mr. David Montgomery, Managing General Partner, President & CEO of the Phillies David Montgomery, Managing General Partner, President and CEO of the Phillies, said the Phillies wish to continue their long-standing relationship with Clearwater. He said the organization considers Clearwater their second home and is proud of their 54-year association. The Phillies feel the recent legislation provides an opportunity to extend that relationship. He urged the City to take advantage of this funding opportunity. ITEM #4 - Public Comment Eight persons spoke in favor of the new stadium; 3 were against; and 15 were against building the stadium at the proposed location. Staff received 66 letters and e-mails in support of the Phillies new stadium and 1 telephone message against a new stadium at the St. Petersburg Junior College property. ITEM #5 - Commission Discussion In response to a question, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Dunbar said staff has met with various soccer organizations. Staff is also exploring sites that could potentially support additional soccer fields and full size baseball fields. The Master Plan will address these issues, financial requirements, and funding levels. Commissioner Johnson said he supports baseball and wants to keep the Phillies in Clearwater. The Phillies have been a valuable partner and the economic impact to the community is unquestionable. The Phillies provide good baseball and good entertainment. The City is known as the home of the Phillies for spring training. He said everyone will share in the costs of a new stadium and everyone will reap the benefits. He asked for the community’s support. Commissioner Hooper expressed sympathy to residents of the College Hill neighborhood regarding problems with sinkholes and flooding issues. He said due diligence will be done on any proposed stadium site. He said many families vacation in Clearwater for the sole purpose of attending Phillies spring training games. He feels the City may not get another opportunity to take advantage of this funding opportunity. If the funds are not used by the City, someone else will use them. He hopes the Phillies will stay in Clearwater and supports a new stadium. This is also an opportunity for Clearwater to receive their fair share of the bed tax. Commissioner Clark said the Phillies have the best community-minded owners any City could have. He does not want Clearwater to end up with an empty stadium, as did Plant City. The Phillies are a job-generator for the City. He suggested a representative group from the College Hill neighborhood be involved throughout the process. He supports a new stadium. Commissioner Hart said it is important to maintain a positive relationship with the Phillies and utilize the available opportunities. He is sensitive to the concerns of the community and agrees that if the proposed site is selected, that the neighborhood needs to be involved in the process as it is developed. The proposed site is merely the most viable site available at this time. He said the neighborhood’s sinkholes are beyond the scope of what the Commission is trying to accomplish at this time. The City wants to take advantage of the available funding opportunities for a new stadium. He wants to retain the Phillies in Clearwater and feels the Commission is not trying to divide the City, but rather bring it together. He is in favor of applying for funding for a new stadium and hopes the County will participate in this venture. Mayor Aungst said the City experienced a significant drop in hotel rooms when baseball was on strike. The economic impact to Clearwater from the Phillies is approximately $24 million annually. In response to a question, Assistant Director of Engineering Tom Miller said a foundation failure due to a sinkhole was reported in the College Hill neighborhood in 1999. Since that time, a number of other sinkholes were reported. He said staff is unsure what has caused the sinkholes, as they are a natural phenomenon. Andrew Smith, Water Resource Associates hydrogeologist, referred to a geologic cross section of the College Hill neighborhood from drilling records from wells drilled. He referred to voids recorded in the limestone in 1995. He said the area is prone to sinkholes. Sinkholes will occur in response to some type of stress such as drought, large rainstorms, or vibrations. He said when the water in an aquifer ceases to provide a buoyancy effect, a sinkhole can occur. He said he believes the cause of the sinkholes in College Hill are the result of the recent drought. In response to a question, Mr. Ashby said staff is not prepared to indicate if a stadium could be constructed in this neighborhood until the results of borings in the area are complete. In response to a question, Mr. Smith said he could not say with certainty if construction of a new stadium will cause additional sinkholes. He suggested methods of construction to avoid: 1) vibrations; 2) investigating the site using various borings and ground-penetrating radar; 3) evaluating the rock mechanics and geotechnical aspects of the site; and 4) design the site to minimize that type of activity. He said as construction on Drew Street was completed 2-3 years ago, it could not be the cause of recent sinkholes in this neighborhood. Mark Farrell, Water Resource Associates principal engineer, said it appears that from construction drawings, etc. from previous construction in the neighborhood, great attention was paid to maintain the ground water elevations and the hydrology of the area. He explained how the Alligator Creek water quality improvement project functions. He said the project is advantageous to the community and draws water away from the area. He said as that project was completed 6 years ago, sinkhole activity would have begun at that time. He felt the project could not have contributed to the recent sinkhole activity. Mr. Farrell said he did not know how the retention pond was originally filled. He said it would fluctuate depending on rainfall. The Mayor suggested another public hearing to discuss the College Hill neighborhood’s sinkhole concerns. He said insurance companies pay for sinkhole damages without third party liability. He said the proposed stadium is not as near the College Hill neighborhood as the current stadium is to the Greenwood neighborhood. The City will need to determine if the proposed site is a viable one after all studies, etc. are received. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said staff is addressing the drainage problems in College Hill. Consideration has been given to increasing the culverts under Sharkey Road. Backwater effects appear to be the major issue as water flows downstream to the neighborhood. Mr. Miller said the Stevensons Creek basin and other parts of the City experience drainage problems with heavy rainfall. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said the Kapok Tree project is scheduled to begin October 1, 2000. The Mayor said the topic tonight is whether to move forward with a new stadium. The City has a deadline to apply for the funds and must move forward. He felt it would be foolish if the City does not take advantage of the available funding opportunities for a new stadium. The City cannot fund a new stadium alone. The Mayor said all the concerns addressed in Ms. Haught’s letter are being addressed regarding a new fire station at Sand Key, etc. ITEM #6 - Announce next Public Hearing - 8/3/00 at 6:00 p.m. The next public hearing is scheduled for August 3, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. ITEM #7 - Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.