10/28/2015 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes October 28, 2014
Board
City of Clearwater
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Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
6:30 PM
Sid Lickton Sports Complex - Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Present: Chair Ric Ortega, Board Member Candace Gardner, Board Member Emilo Gonzales,
Board Member Nola Johnson
Absent: Vice Chair Norene M. Marlow, Board Member Allen Weatherilt, Board Member Carmen
Santiago
Also Present: Felicia Leonard -Administrative Support Manager, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board
Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at Sid Lickton Field.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the July 22, 2014 and July 29, 2014 Parks and Recreation
Advisory Board meetings as submitted in written summation.
Member Gardner moved to approve the minutes of the July 22, 2014 Parks & Recreation Board
meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None
4. New Business Items
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes October 28, 2014
Board
4.1 Feedback from Park Tour
Administrative Support Manager Felicia Leonard said Clearwater Beach Recreation Center has
parking meters due to competing beach activities; meter revenue funds beach maintenance. The
City Council approved construction of a parking garage behind Pelican Walk Plaza.
Ms. Leonard will send board members a list of parks to visit before the January meeting.
4.2 Parks and Recreation - Projects Update
Ms. Leonard said at the January meeting, she will present architectural plans for the East Shore
boardwalk that will extend from the roundabout to Belle Harbor. The City will construct Intracoastal
pocket parks, each with a dock, at Baymont and Papaya streets. As Intracoastal properties are
redeveloped, those requesting density bonuses will be required to construct a boardwalk based on
City architectural plans along each site's waterfront.
Staff met with a lobbyist re $2 million appropriation strategy to expand McMullen Tennis Complex.
The City Council approved money to caulk Bright House field. A two-story press box with fiber optics
was planned for Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex, where the City wants to add a field and create a
soft ball stadium. Talks were underway for an international tournament.
FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) sent a positive response to consultant
plans to modify the Rockaway Beach sand dune. Staff was negotiating costs with the consultant and
contractor to modify the dune.
In response to a question, Ms. Leonard said the Marine and Aviation Department oversaw the
wind-surfing competition, which received positive feedback and provided a significant economic
impact to the community. Attracting competitions requires staff to assemble packages that highlight
City resources; Clearwater is an attractive destination. Organizers rarely schedule events at the
same location during consecutive years. Based on appreciable sales attributed to a recent softball
tournament, Countryside Mall expressed interest in hosting a tournament.
The City planned to bid for a house next to the trail overpass on McMullen-Booth Road. The
property would be used for trail parking.
Ms. Leonard invited members to attend the Wall of Honor Dedication Ceremony at the Main Library
on November 11 at 9:00 a.m. A portion of the wall that honored residents who served in World War
I was preserved in the Capitol Theatre. Sections removed during renovations were reassembled at
the Main Library. It was stated the sailor and doughboy statutes also were from World War I.
Ms. Leonard invited board members to welcome 51 delegates from Nagano, Japan who will visit
Clearwater February 8 - 117 2015 to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Sister City partnership. On
Sunday afternoon, the City will host a welcoming party at the Clearwater Main Library with typical
American fare. On Tuesday night, a Florida-Caribbean Chemed sayonara party was scheduled at
Clearwater Beach Recreation Center.
Ms. Leonard said a Clearwater delegation will visit Nagano October 24 - 287 2015. Visits to Tokyo
and Kyoto were being planned during the previous week. She requested board members contact
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes October 28, 2014
Board
her if they were interested in being considered for the trip. Delegates are responsible for their own
expenses. Travel cost estimates should be finalized in January.
The Parks & Recreation Board was requested to make a 5 minute presentation to the City Council
before the end of the year. Chair Ortega offered to speak. Ms Leonard will advise board members re
date. All board members were encouraged to attend.
Ms. Leonard reported Member Marlow had requested the board consider changing Morningside
Park's designation to Community Park. In response to a question, Ms. Leonard said should the
board support the change, the 40- member Stakeholder Group, which created the Parks &
Recreation Master Plan, would need to convene and support the change.
Consensus was to place on the January meeting agenda consideration of changing Morningside
Park's designation to Community Park.
It was recommended that Parks & Recreation acquire the strip of retail stores on Gulf -to -Bay
Boulevard at Highland Avenue to expand Crest Lake Park parking. Ms. Leonard said she would
check if the acquisition could be attached to the Master Plan as an addendum.
Member Gardner moved to recommend the City acquire the strip of retail stores on Gulf -to -Bay
Boulevard at Highland Avenue to expand Crest Lake Park parking and to attach the acquisition to
the Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Item
Next year's Parks & Recreation Board meetings were scheduled for January 27, April 28, July 28,
and October 27, 2015. at 6:30 p.m.
6. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Attest:
NEXT MEETING — January 27, 2015 at to 111 determined
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Board Reporte
City of Clearwater
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