Loading...
10/17/2000CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL WORKSESSION CITY OF CLEARWATER October 17, 2000 Present: Brian J. Aungst Mayor/Commissioner J. B. Johnson Vice-Mayor/Commissioner Ed Hooper Commissioner Robert Clark Commissioner Ed Hart Commissioner Also present: William B. Horne II Interim City Manager Garry Brumback Assistant City Manager Bob Keller Assistant City Manager Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Brenda Moses Board Reporter The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall to discuss Beach by Design. The City Manager said this is the second meeting regarding beach by design plans. Following this meeting, 4 public meetings will be scheduled to discuss design ideas. Staff is requesting the Commission’s guidance regarding plan elements. Planning and Development Director Ralph Stone presented a brief history of redevelopment efforts in Clearwater. To obtain public input, public hearings, a design charette, and surveys of all property owners on Clearwater beach were conducted. Input revealed that residents and business owners want: 1) the City to take action; 2) preserve the single-family character of North Beach; 3) change the overall impression of the beach; 4) new regulations to encourage redevelopment; 5) move parking off the beach and replace it with a promenade; 6) replace parking facilities with garages; and 7) a new major statement for the beach entry. Mr. Siemon of Siemon and Larsen was retained to provide assistance regarding land development regulations and later to assist the City in helping to develop a master design linking the beach and downtown. The new Land Development Code resulted in several new projects and has enhanced private sector confidence through new landscaping and rehabilitation. Mr. Stone said the Beach by Design refines strategies to an implementable level, delivers urban design solutions, and creates action opportunities. He felt the South Beach/Clearwater Pass District and the Beach Walk District are the most important projects in the plan. He reviewed land use, mobility, parking, catalytic projects, economic feasibility and financing, and design guidelines. He said staff is basically comfortable with Mr. Siemon’s recommendations but feels public input and further discussion regarding mobility, catalytic projects, and financing is necessary. He said the downtown would not succeed without the success of the beach. Four public workshops over the next two months will be scheduled; one at the Clearwater Beach Recreation Center, the Harborview Center, the Martin Luther King Center, and Countryside Recreation Center. Mr. Siemon said the Beach by Design document follows the direction given by the Commission regarding parking needs. He said a proposal would be forthcoming for an alternative to the Pier 60 parking garage. He said as conditions on the beach continuously change, the future demand for parking is difficult to define. Mr. Stone said the PPC (Pinellas Planning Council) and the DCA (Department of Community Affairs) must approve changes in density pool concepts. The City could submit a Comprehensive Plan amendment to define the density pool. Clearwater is not the only city facing this issue. In response to a question, Mr. Siemon said costs associated with operation, maintenance, and capital replacement costs of the investments identified in the plan were not included in the proposal, as they cannot be accurately defined. The figures quoted are for costs for redevelopment of South Gulfview including removal of surface parking, North Mandalay, and Coronado and Hamden, but do not include streetscaping and landscaping. Revenues from increased activity will provide the resources to make other investments. Additional revenues also could be obtained from the State and Federal levels as the plan moves forward. The City must implement policy decisions to support improvements in the plan. It was remarked that the City needs to continuously maintain sidewalks. It was commented that vehicle rationing at the beach is needed and must be considered. Promises were made regarding parking in conjunction with a new Memorial Causeway bridge. Discussion ensued regarding the need for alternative transportation to and from the beach. Mr. Siemon said alternative transportation is a long-term consideration. He felt it imperative to transform Gulfview into a great community resource, not a major vehicular thoroughfare. He said the Beach by Design plan is predicated on removing parking off the beach. He said parking considerations are being driven by the negotiations regarding the proposal as a public/private venture. In response to a question, Mr. Siemon said if parking revenues that are currently spent on other general fund programs were used to pay for parking garages, it would create the need for those programs to seek other revenue sources. In response to a question, Mr. Siemon said he would share the names of people who have contacted him regarding redevelopment efforts, unless they requested he not disclosed their identities. He anticipates two parking garage proposals will be ready for review the first week in November. The proposals will include removal of parking on the beach and revitalization of South Gulfview. Mr. Siemon said the if the Commission makes the commitment, the parking garages can be completed by the time the Memorial Causeway bridge is built. In response to a question, Public Works Administrator Mashid Arasteh said the Mandalay streetscape design is 30% complete. The estimate for North Mandalay improvements from the roundabout to Baymont, and for streetscaping for Papaya and San Marco in 2002 – 2004 is $3.5 million. Mr. Siemon said the costs in the plan do not reflect costs associated with improvements on Papaya and San Marco. In response to a question, he said if the Beach by Design document is embraced, including any amendments, long term transportation strategy could take 4 to 6 years and require the City’s investment in various kinds of design and consultant fees. Lobbyist help could assist with a significant share of federal funding. In response to a question, Mr. Siemon said the marked spaces on Coronado are in the public right-of-way. The proposed 3-lane configuration would not require removal of those spaces. His firm evaluated the possibility of replacing parking on Coronado by purchasing small properties on those blocks and found it was economically impractical. The Mayor said he is confident that the City will move forward to redevelop the beach. The City Manager said the public process would provide valuable input in the process. Mr. Horne said before the process is complete, the City will be presented with other opportunities and must decide whether to pursue them. Dates for public meetings will be announced at the Commission meeting on Thursday. The meeting adjourned at 10:46 a.m.