Loading...
11/07/1990 - Clearwater Beach Blue Ribbon Task Force . . . MINUTES CLEARWATER BEACH BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE NOVEMBER 7. 1990 Members Present: Chairman Deegan. Ms. Garris, Ms. Tiernan, and Messrs. Doran, Fowler, Gans, Henderson, Homer, Keyes, Little, Martin, McDougall, Rosenow, and Seaton Members Excused: Walter Wellborn Also Present: Dr. Walter Klages and Mrs. Claire Klages The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Deegan in the Boardroom of the Sea Stone Resort. A motion was made by Jay Keyes, and seconded by Stephen Fowler, to approve the minutes, as amended, from the October 17, 1990 meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The Chairman gave the following subcommittee updates: 1. Beautification Focus Grouos. John Doran and Gordon McDougall met with a group of people to discuss possible names for the architectural style and ambience on the beach. Mr. Doran will present a report on this at the next meeting. 2. Guidelines for Newsoaoer Disoensers. John Doran obtained a copy of the voluntary guidelines assembled by Public Works Director William Baker. A camera survey should be done to determine whether this is being adhered to or not. 3. Police Survey. Mr. Rabun forwarded copies of memos he received on October 9 and a memo from the Chief of Police summarizing the survey they did on cruising. In general, it stated the police did their own survey and gave a brief report on various cities in FL, CA, TN, TX and WA. The copies were given to David Little for review by the transportation subcommittee. 4. Causeway Toll. Continued research needs to be done with regard to the desirability of a causeway toll and possible funding sources, if that is to be proposed again as one of the final recommendations. 5. Bridae Ooeninas. Specific strategies are needed on how to minimize the bridge openings if we want to include that in our recommendation. ISSUE FOUR: MARKET NICHE/COMPETITION/ATTRACTIONS - Julie Tiernan, Don Seaton, Stephen Fowler. Walter Klages and Claire Klages Don Seaton, the moderator for the committee, stated the report would be presented in two parts with the Market Niche portion presented by Dr. Walker Klages, and the Attractions and Entertainment portion presented by Steve Fowler and Julie Tiernan. He stated Ken Hamilton was not a part of the subcommittee at this time. Mr. Seaton stated the committee would not recommend any major or specific attractions, but rather would present a concept as to the attractions they think are needed by the tourists on Clearwater Beach. He introduced Dr. Klages as the foremost research authority on tourism in the state of Florida, stating he does research not only for Pine lias County, but for the counties of Lee, Orange, Osceola, and Brevard as well as Walt Disney World, and is nationally known. He has been with the Tourist Development Council for almost 10 years, and has his own company, Dr. Klages and Associates, which was formerly Research Data Services. . . . Market Niche - Dr. Walter Klages Dr. Klages gave a comprehensive report on tourism which included a slide presentation. Some highlights from the report are as follows: . Tourism is the No.1 industry of Clearwater. . A recession is in the making; it has not focussed yet; but it will be felt in the next 5 years. (Recession was defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GNP growth.) . Tourism is enjoying tremendous growth. This is dependent on energy availability, but according to research even if gas goes up to $2.00 a gal, 71.4% of the people said they would not change their vacation plans. . 90% of all U.S. travel is within the U.S.; 76% of U.S. travel is for leisure; and Florida is a major focus of both U.S. and European travel. The Midwest and Northeast are the key markets for Clearwater Beach with the Canadian market being very important. There will be an influx of Japanese tourists in the next two to three years also. . The reunification of Germany will have a direct bearing on us, and we need to be there now marketing the Pinellas Suncoast as a vacation destination. The Suncoast is already well known overseas. . Transportation is the key to the tourist industry and the Tampa airport is our single most important catalyst. . There will be a graying in the market over the next ten years, which will translate to mean our tourists will: a. have a median age of 35. b. be affluent couples in their early 40s travelling with children. c. have an average family income of $40,000. d. be well educated, upscale professionals. . We are growing as a target vacation destination because of the need for get away trips by the above tourists. (This is a national long-term trend.) . We are at the rim of an axis with Disney World in the center. The tourists will be coming to us looking for rest and relaxation. Over the next 10 years we need to highlight that we offer rest and relaxation; a scenic, quiet and romantic environment; that we have wide, white unspoiled beaches; and upscale accommodations. We are a discovery market with many people here for the first time, therefore recommendations playa significant role. We need to satisfy them and keep them happy to have repeat business. . No product is as reasonably priced compared to what we are selling. . What is different about us is that we are not remote, we are easily accessible and have an urban setting. Ken Rosenow reported he had just returned from visiting travel agents in thirty cities throughout the Midwest, and that he found people were edgy, there were layoffs in some cities and that the Clearwater Beach Blue Ribbon Task Force 2 November 7, 1 990 . business climate was down; all of which were signs that a recession was definitely on its way. He stated David Little had experienced the same things in a similar trip he had recently taken. Dr. Klages responded by reminding the group this was all the more reason for them to be cognizant of their marketing responsibility. The Chairman noted there were some discrepancies in statistics between what was presented tonight and what was contained in the report given by Julie Tiernan a couple of months ago. Don Seaton advised that Dr. Klages is the Pinellas County specialist and the figures given tonight should be used as they were more up to date. Mr. Seaton thanked Dr. Klages for his excellent report on tourism, and stated the remainder of the presentation would be in two parts. He stated they would address optional activities which the tourists need for use in the evening, during bad weather, when they wanted to stay out of the sun, or when just bored. He said they had discussed a water slide as an attraction and it was the committee's opinion this was not the type of attraction needed on the beach. He stated they would present an area of the beach which they felt would better serve the community if it were redeveloped or upgraded with an entertainment complex similar to Rosie O'Gradys. He further stated the committee was not attempting to be the master planners, but were only showing things they felt could work and would bring tourists. ComDetition/Attraction - Julie Tiernan and Stephen Fowler . Steve Fowler passed out a plan showing 1) an area of Poinsettia and Eastshore Drive between Marianne and Baymont which could be redeveloped, 2) a Boardwalk starting at Bay Esplanade, and 3) an area north of Baymont which could be used for an attraction, a theater, or a conference center. He stated this would be similar to Harborwatch in Baltimore and estimated the cost for the development at $60,421,500. Another handout depicted a proposed pavilion for Pier 60 which could be used for official public events, i.e. dances, arts, etc. It was also suggested this could be the site for volleyball and to promote the beach as the Beach Volley Ball Capital of the World. Other suggestions were to provide ferry service to the Marine Science Center and to create an exercise park for health conscious people. Julie Tiernan presented slides of St. Armand's Circle, Hamlin's Landing, John's Pass, The Quay at Sarasota, Harbor Island in Tampa, Church Street Station in Orlando, and Covington Landing in Cincinnati. The latter had developed their river front with barges connected to the land by gang planks. Ms. Tiernan stated these were examples of how other cities had developed their waterfronts to provide for rainy day activities which our beach really lacks. She stated the committee realized this was an expensive concept, but would like to ask the City to approve the concept and to consider looking for a major developer to put a plan together. The Task Force discussed at length the "redevelopment" of this area. Questions arose as to whether this would entail using a redevelopment agency including tax increment funding and condemnation procedures, or whether it should be done through rezoning and free enterprise by letting a private developer package individual properties together for new use. It was generally felt that the community should be more involved with these kinds of decisions, but that the voluntary concept of packaging parcels could be a real opportunity for small hotel owners. Ms. Garris reminded the Task Force her subcommittee had been given the charge to research redevelopment and funding and they would be reporting to them on this at the December 5 meeting. The Chairman stated until more facts were presented the Task Force was not in a position to make any decision. Mr. McDougall presented the idea of having a Jacques Cousteau Museum on the beach, as it was a wholesome attraction for drawing families. Ms. Tiernan stated the subcommittee wanted to support . Clearwater Beach Blue Ribbon Task Force 3 November 7, 1 990 . . . the Marine Science Center as it was an existing attraction that needed and wanted help. She suggested it could have an exhibit incorporated into it. The subcommittee suggested the following recommendations be made to the City Commission: 1 . The voluntary redevelopment of the Eastshore area to provide an up to date entertainment area and to ask the City to cooperate with any necessary zoning changes. 2. Encourage the City to aid in the development of a public beach pavilion in the Pier 60 area; and hope the City would give the Pier concession a new look in keeping with the adopted theme. 3. Encourage the City to consider redeveloping the City Marina and explore the possibility of expanding the site by the realignment of the adjacent streets. The Task Force tentatively approved the above recommendations. The Chairman asked the subcommittee for copies of Ms. Tiernan's notes and Dr. Klages' slide presentation. In response to concern voiced about one committee's recommendations negating those of another committee, the Chairman stated all recommendations would again be evaluated in a way that they can be merged and would not work against each other. The Chairman reminded the Task Force the next meeting would be on November 20 at the Sea Stone Resort and asked the members to bring their calendars with them so they can plan additional December meetings. He further stated they should plan a town meeting to be held after the holidays. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. ~)(, Clearwater Beach Blue Ribbon Task Force 4 November 7, 1 990