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01/24/2017 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 24, 2017 City of Clearwater City Hall 112 S. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33756 Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 24, 2017 6:30 PM Council Chambers Parks and Recreation Board Page 1 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 24, 2017 Roll Call Present 5 - Chair Ric Ortega, Acting Chair Candace Gardner, Board Member Emilio Gonzalez, Board Member Lisa Tuttle, Board Member Kristin Langley, and Board Member Empty Seat Absent 1 - Vice Chair Norene M. Marlow Also Present: Art Kader—Assistant Parks & Recreation Director, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter 1. Call To Order Acting Chair Gardner called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve minutes from October 25, 2016 meeting Member Langley moved to approve the minutes of the October 25, 2016 Parks & Recreation Board meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion was duly seconded. Members Gonzales, Tuttle, Langley, and Acting Chair Gardner voted "Aye"; Chair Ortega was absent. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda Robert Meya, representing the Del Oro Groves Homeowners Association, expressed concern a City renovation project will reduce park amenities and degrade their neighborhood park, Del Oro Park. The Association requested the City provide them project updates and gather input from neighborhood residents before finalizing the plan. John Stonestreet said his family frequently rides their bicycles to Del Oro Park to play tennis. Proximity to the park was a major reason he purchased his home in Del Oro Groves. 4. New Business Items 4.1 Parks & Recreation Projects Update Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Art Kader reviewed department projects: 1) Estimating opening Morningside Recreation Center in May 2018; 2) Completing Spectrum Stadium FKA Bright House Stadium repairs before Spring Training, 3) Closing pool 2nd week June to begin 5-month Long Center Page 2 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 24, 2017 Pool & Renovation project(moving aquatic programs to Morningside Pool), 4) Using Moccasin Lake Nature Park rehabilitation grant to raze some structures, install new A/V equipment/smart television at environmental education center, construct restrooms, relocate and replace damaged bridge, etc., 5) Replacing grandstands with 1,000 seats and constructing athletic offices at Jack Russell, 6) Renovating 2 soccer fields and adding new lighting at Joe DiMaggio - other fields remain open, 7) Delaying Missouri Ave. median landscaping project to remove FDOT's (Florida Department of Transportation) subsurface materials; 8) Completed dock/observation portion of Papaya Street Boardwalk, 9) Installed new playground equipment at Coachman Ridge Playground, and 10) Beginning construction of Druid Road Trail Phase 4 in rights-of-way from Glen Oaks Park to Duke in Fall 2017. In response to a question, Mr. Kader said staff is searching for grants to fund McMullen Tennis Complex upgrades. The City has 2 years to use the current $100,000 grant, which was half the amount anticipated. 4.2 Review of Parks & Recreation Council Items Mr. Kader reviewed Parks & Recreation agenda items approved by the City Council. Mr. Kader said the City will lease FDOT property near the Causeway for use as a Welcome Center or trail head and public restrooms. Two residents supported the bicycle overpass at Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Long Center swimming pool renovations, and recommended installing trailhead/restrooms on the FDOT property, it was stated a Welcome Center would provide little value. 4.3 Gulf to Bay Property Update Mr. Kader said owners of retail property abutting the Crest Lake Dog Park parking lot on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard expressed no interest in selling at this time. Parks & Recreation and Economic Development staff planned to continue exploring funding sources for future purchase. 4.4 Crest Lake Park Concept Plan Mr. Kader said 3 concept plans were presented to citizens at the well attended second meeting re Crest Lake Park renovations. Input at the meeting will be reviewed and recommendations will be refined. A slide show from the meeting will be forwarded to board members. The Crest Lake Park meeting process was complimented Page 3 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board 4.5 Election of Officers Meeting Minutes January 24, 2017 Member Gonzales moved to reappoint Ric Ortega as Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Langley moved to appoint Candace Gardner as Vice Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5. Old Business Item: None 6. Director's Report Mr. Kader said the City will schedule meetings with Del Oro Grove residents re Del Oro Park upgrades. After Clearwater purchased 2 properties adjoining the park for trail use facilities, including restrooms if supported by the neighborhood, the City had to rehabilitate environmental issues on 1 of the properties where tanks and a car lift were buried. Mr. Kader apologized for mixed messages from the City re park plans. Stormwater improvements planned for the park would alleviate flooding to residences to the south. The tennis courts, which were being eroded from underneath, will be patched and resurfaced as soon as possible. The courts will be relocated within 5 years to make way for the planned swale. The parking lot may be moved. Two residents supported constructing the new tennis courts with red clay. A resident encouraged the City to maintain the basketball court and install lighting for basketball and tennis players. 7. Board Members to be Heard 8. Adjourn Attest: Chair Ortega requested a report on blue trails in Clearwater between Tampa Bay and the Intracoastal. Mr. Kader said the City may partner with the City of St. Petersburg on blue trails. Chair Ortega recommended the City expand and interconnect its bicycle paths so that residents could commute via bicycle. He expressed concerns roads such as Sunset Point Road, west of Highland Avenue and Old Coachman, by the Long Center, were narrow and dangerous for bicyclists. Mr. Kader said staff will report on the bikeways -r Plan which connects parks with major trails in street rights -of -way; the off- t eet plan was almost complete. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Board Rep City of Clea - ter Page 4 creation Advisory Board