04/28/2015 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes April 28, 2015
Board
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
e
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
6:30 PM
Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes April 28, 2015
Board
Roll Call
Present 7 - Chair Ric Ortega, Vice Chair Norena M. Marlow, Vice Chair
Candace Gardner, Board Member Emilio Gonzalez, Board Member
Nola Johnson, Board Member Carmen Santiago, and Board
Member Allen Weatherilt
Also Present - Felicia Leonard - Administrative Support Manager, Cliff Norris —
Recreation Supervisor I, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at Moccasin
Lake Nature Park.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes from January 27, 2015 meeting
Member Gardner moved to approve the minutes of the January 27,
2015 Parks & Recreation Board meeting as submitted in written
summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
Ayes: 7 - Chair Ortega, Vice Chair Marlow, Vice Chair Gardner, Board
Member Gonzalez, Board Member Johnson, Board Member
Santiago and Board Member Weatherilt
3. New Business Items
3.1 Feedback from Park Tour
In response to questions, Administrative Support Manager Felicia
Leonard said Station Square Park is an urban park without greenspace.
The Greenwood Panther football team, cheerleaders, and others
practice at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Field on North Martin Luther
King Jr. Avenue. The Clearwater Historical Society is headquartered in
the Plumb House museum in Ed Wright Park. The museum is open to
the public from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays of
each month from November through April. The Historical Society has a
30-year lease agreement for South Ward elementary school where they
plan to open a historical museum and perhaps partner with fine art and
theatrical interests.
The Parks & Recreation Board recessed from 6:34 to 6:37 p.m.
Ms. Leonard will send members a new list of parks to visit before the
July meeting.
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes April 28, 2015
Board
3.2 Parks & Recreation - Projects Update
Ms. Leonard said the 10-year lease for Jack Russell stadium is ending
and will not be renewed, the City will operate the facility and wants to
connect with nearby facilities by adding programming space and sports
programs for disadvantaged youth. The facility will provide access to
restrooms for teams practicing at Bucs field. The City has not
determined how all stadium spaces will be used or what repairs are
necessary. A grant for renovations has been submitted.
Ms. Leonard reviewed: 1) reconfiguration of large dune at Rockaway
Beach. After the City obtained all necessary permits, approximately 100
volunteers replanted the lower, wider, and more functional dune with
sea oats, 2) new sign to be erected at Pier 60 Park replicates font face
style on BeachWalk, 3) new public art project is being installed near
Downtown Marina, 4) new volunteer coordinator, Natalie Lamb, has
been hired, 5) Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail grand opening
scheduled for June 19, 2015; 6) City awaiting Army Corps of Engineers
permit to complete Bayshore connection with Ream Wilson Trail, 7) City
purchased property at SR60/Bayshore Boulevard corner to be used as
administration offices for 2016 Florida Senior Games and then as
landing for SR60 overpass that is not funded, and 8) City purchased
property on McMullen-Booth Road by del Oro Park (0.8-miles from the
bridge) to be available for trail parking once house is razed and parking
lot constructed.
In response to a question, Ms. Leonard did not think sand could be
added to the Courtney Campbell Causeway beach, which is smaller
since trail construction and will be open for vehicular parking at $3 1hour.
The City will publish maps for trail parking. Concern was expressed that
the beach may have insufficient space to park vehicles and trailers.
3.3 Recreation Trails Program Presentation
Ms. Leonard presented maps of the Ream Wilson Trail from NE
Coachman to US 19 and the Duke Energy Trail extension, which will tie
into a section of the Ream Wilson Trail that has a substandard bridge
near a blind corner. At only 6 to 8 feet wide, the two trail bridges shown
on the map are too narrow for the increased trail usage that has
occurred and is anticipated with completion of the extension. The City is
submitting a grant application to replace the two substandard bridges as
part of the Recreational Trails Program.
4. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board
5. Director's Report
Meeting Minutes April 28, 2015
Coopers Point Tour
A Coopers Point tour has been scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2015, and
will depart the Florida Department of Transportation parking lot, 3204
Gulf -to -Bay Boulevard, at 4:00 p.m.
Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Ms. Leonard said design elements for Moccasin Lake Nature Park will
be reviewed in October in preparation for a $600, 000 renovation.
Recreation Supervisor I Cliff Norris oversees the Environmental Lands
Division, which is tasked with environmental oversight of 754 acres of
City parklands and working with stakeholders to expand programming to
all City parks. Mr. Norris reviewed the local chapters of national
programs that meet at Moccasin Lake Nature Park and discussed the
club members' efforts on behalf of City parks.
6. Committee Members to be Heard: None.
7. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m. followed by a tour of Moccasin Lake
Nature Park.
NEXT MEETING — July 28, 2015 at the L ng ,,enter
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City of Clearwater
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Par s & creatio Advisory Board