04/25/2017 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2017
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
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Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
6:30 PM
Council Chambers
Parks and Recreation Board
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2017
Roll Call
Present 6 - Chair Ric Ortega, Vice Chair Candace Gardner, Board Member
Norene M. Marlow, Board Member Emilio Gonzalez, Board
Member Kristin Langley, and Board Member Michelle Ramirez
Absent 1 - Board Member Lisa Tuttle
Also Present - Art Kader— Parks & Recreation Assistant Director, Jim Halios —
Planning & Project Manager, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair 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 January 24, 2017 meeting
Member Marlow moved to approve the minutes of the January 24,
2017 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
4.1 Introduction of new board member
4.2 Parks & Recreation Projects Update
Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Art Kader said the City was
accepting bids for the new Morningside Recreation Center. The
old pool building and basketball court were razed, a new basketball
court was being constructed and swimming pool pump and heating
systems were being installed. An air-conditioned trailer with restrooms,
changing rooms, offices, and a break room will be onsite this summer.
The pool and related facilities will remain open until Long Center pool
work is completed, probably in November.
In response to a concern re popular racquetball tournaments at
Morningside, Mr. Kader said the exterior racquetball wall would not be
replaced. Staff will see if one could be added inside the center or if
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2017
tournament play could be scheduled at other City parks.
Mr. Kader said the department had no plans to install lights for the
Morningside tennis courts. It was recommended that electric lines be
laid for future tennis court lighting during the project when lights are
installed for the nearby basketball court. Concern was expressed that
residents depended on Morningside tennis courts during the winter
when McMullen Tennis Complex courts were filled with tourists.
Member Gonzales moved to recommend the City Council approve
reinstallation of lights at the Morningside Recreation Center tennis
courts. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Mr. Kader said all contracts were in place to update the Long Center
swimming pool. Work, beginning in June, will include remarciting, and
installation of a new pool pump, lighting system, decking, and baby
diaper changing facilities on the deck. During construction, swimming
programs will be relocated to Morningside and other City pool facilities.
The Board of County Commissioners approved $2 million dollars toward
expansion of the Countryside Sports Complex. The State legislature was
considering a $1 million grant. The $4- to $5-million project will include
restrooms, concession stands, a press box, meeting room, lockers, storage,
and bleacher, drainage and parking improvements.
The $200,000 grant for Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center
will be used to raze old structures and install a sewer line to the
Interpretive Center building which will be remodeled with indoor
restrooms, birds of prey facilities, exhibits, etc.
New athletic offices at Jack Russell Stadium were furnished and will be
occupied in approximately 2 weeks when the elevator is installed.
Work will begin in June to renovate 2 soccer fields and add lighting at
Joe DiMaggio Fields.
Irrigation for the Missouri Avenue medians was installed, palm tree
delivery begins soon.
4.3 Review of Parks & Recreation Council Items
Mr. Kader reviewed department items submitted for City Council
approval.
4.4 Blueways in Clearwater
Planning & Project Manager Jim Halios distributed Pinellas County
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2017
Blueways Guides with trail maps and canoe and kayak launch
sites. Clearwater sites: 1) Mandalay Park, 2) Clearwater Beach
Recreation Center, 3) Seminole Boat Launch Ramp; 4) Sand Key Park,
5) Bayview Park, and 6) Coopers Bayou. The County's Blueways Master
Plan under development will include municipal launch sites.
It was recommended that motorized watercraft be prohibited near some
blueways trails for the safety of kayakers, paddleboarders, etc.
It was suggested the parking lot be enlarged where Sunset Point Road
dead ended at Edgewater Drive Park, a kayak launch be added, and a
future ferry stop be considered. It was stated the location was beautiful.
4.5 Bikeways Master Plan update
Mr. Halios said the Parks & Recreation Department continued
implementation of the 2006 Master Plan, Shifting Gears. A new
Engineering Department staff member, who was an expert in pedestrian
access, will consider significant local increases in non motorized
transportation uses during the road design process.
4.6 Crest Lake Park Final Master Plan
Mr. Kader said the final Master Plan for Crest Lake Park will be
presented to the City Council on June 14, 2017. The City hired
Wannemacher Jensen Architects and W Architecture of New York to
manage the year long process that developed the plan based on
community input via surveys, interviews, group meetings and 2 public
meetings which Councilmembers attended.
5. Old Business Item
5.1 Update on Del Oro Park
Mr. Kader said the Del Oro Park tennis courts were repaired and the
lighting was replaced. Also a sidewalk was added and a bridge
constructed for access from the south. Parks & Recreation Director Kevin
Dunbar attended the Del Oro Grove Neighborhood's Day event and
discussed future plans for the park, including relocation of the tennis courts
in several years to address drainage issues. He said residents were pleased
with the changes.
6. Director's Report
Mr. Kader said the FY 2017118 budget process had begun. The Parks &
Recreation Department had little new money for projects without grants.
It was recommended that staff pursue public/private partnerships.
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Board Reporter
City of Clearwater
Meeting Minutes April 25, 2017
Chair Ortega requested that staff distribute architectural and design
plans and drawings for Parks & Recreation Department projects prior to
meetings for board members to discuss and share with residents.
Mr. Kader will distribute Crest Lake Park Master Plan information
following the City Council meeting. Momingside Center plans and a draft
for a blueways trail at Coopers Point will be forwarded to board members.
Chair Ortega expressed concern portalets at the Seminole Boat Ramp
near the pay station were in bad condition and reflected poorly on the
City.
Chair Ortega said the golf course property at "The Landings" had been
donated to the City for parks & recreation uses. As the City lacked a
sufficient number of rectangular fields, as noted in the Master Plan,
and the City had 2 other golf courses, he recommended the City begin
considering the highest and best use for the property, including its
economic impact before the current lease expired. He said the City would
attract more tournaments if it added rectangular fields.
Mr. Kader reviewed the successful operation of the golf course and its
operator's significant investment in the property over the past 12 years.
He said some land may be available for rectangular field development
near the City's Northeast Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Member Ramirez moved to recommend the City investigate other
options, such as rectangular fields, for "The Landings" golf course
property. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Langley said she was developing a spreadsheet of City
parks and had begun to visit all of them. Discussion ensued re Magnolia
Falls.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
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Chair
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board