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05/06/2002CITY COMMISSION MEETING VISIONING SESSION CITY OF CLEARWATER May 6, 2002 Present: Brian J. Aungst Mayor/Commissioner Whitney Gray Vice-Mayor/Commissioner Hoyt P. Hamilton Commissioner William C. Jonson Commissioner Frank Hibbard Commissioner Also present: William B. Horne II City Manager Garry Brumback Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone Assistant City Manager Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Mayor called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. at the Sailing Center. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #1 - Introduction a) Concepts of Visioning: Strategic Planning vs. Visioning David Kelly, Ph.D., of the Institution of Government at USF (University of South Florida) reviewed visioning strategies. b) Results of the Citizens Survey Public Communications and Marketing Director Jackii Molsick reviewed the results of the Bordner Research, Inc., study, conducted in April 2002 by Diane Bordner, Ph.D. Results are based on telephone interviews with 400 residents. Top concerns include traffic, water, downtown redevelopment, budget resources, and taxes. Approximately 42% of respondents feel the City is balancing infrastructure needs with redevelopment. It was noted 40% felt that is not the case, and that infrastructure needs are not being met. The survey recommended increased public input before the City undertakes large projects. The majority of respondents indicated satisfaction with current services and awareness that cuts are necessary. Ms. Molsick said the results of the survey are positive. She recommended improved communication with residents related to infrastructure improvements. Public input is critical. Staff will assess dissatisfactions and work to keep satisfaction levels up. She recommended the survey be conducted every April and compared with benchmarks established this year. She suggested focus groups could be used to explore unanswered questions. c) Visioning Concepts from Commissioners Dr. Kelly reviewed changes anticipated in the next few decades related to a larger, younger, and more diverse population. The Commission discussed their expectations for today. The City Manager recommended the Commission consider the type of community they envision for the next 40 years. He said residents value the future and express a constant theme of desiring a similar life in Clearwater for their children. ITEM #2 – Visioning Work Commissioners wrote answers to questions presented by Dr. Kelly. Replies to What are we doing that you feel good about? included: 1) Tough decisions through collegial commission process; 2) Taken tough policy issues out to the Public; 3) Beach Plan; 4) Bridge; 4) Downtown Plan; 6) Utility Infrastructure; 8) “Progress”; 9) Neighborhood Services Program; 10) Public Safety-“Long Term” i.e. Fire Department Investment; 11) Good; 12) $300M in next 5 years to update/enhance infrastructure; 13) Refocused on Customer Service (Basic Services); 14) Solid Waste; 15) Parks and Recreation; 16) Police; 17) Fire; 18) Implementing rather than talking; 19) Create a climate where good development can occur; 20) Put emphasis on Neighborhoods (listening); 21) Commission that can agree to disagree and still move forward; 22) Making progress on our “To Do” List; 23) Bridge; 24) Reclaimed Water; 25) Library; 26) Stormwater; 27) Sewer System; 28) Greenwood Neighborhood; 29) Now we can think about the future; 30) Building back faith in our ability to get things done; 31) Public Health and Safety as #1 priority is being achieved; 32) Provided with positive social climate in which to raise family(ies) and foster future success; 33) Promote a positive business environment (foster future growth opportunities); 34) Maintain our “Drawing Card” as destination in tourism driven market; 35) Neighborhood Services and interaction; 36) Infrastructure Maintenance Plan; 37) Situational; 38) County seat; 39) rich history; 40) Airport (Tampa International); 41) Volunteer Resources; 42) Good Economy; 43) Private donors; 44) Edge of Latin American economy; 45) Natural environment, beach, bay, bluff; 46) Strong residential communities; 47) Quality service and retail establishments; 48) Quality of cultural venues; 49) Tourism heritage; 50) City “team” (staff); 51) Infrastructure orientation; 52) Reorientation to “smaller” (fundamental) projects versus flashy; 53) Public Safety – infrastructure; 54) Fiscal Stability; 55) Beautification, i.e. Gulf-to-Bay – sign code; and 56) Parks. Replies to What are we doing that “is not working” or “needs to be stopped? included: 1) Multi-jurisdictional Services; 2) Enclaves; 3) Code Enforcement; 4) Parks/Recreation; 5) Development Process/PPC; 6) Transportation Issues; 7) Discussion re full service government; 8) Fountain; 9) Waterfront Bluff Underutilized; 10) Permanent seat on Convention and Visitors Bureau; 11) “Sunsetting”; 12) Harborview Center (alternative usage); 13) Reorient Clearwater Beach to higher-end clientele; 14) Transition to more than Tourism (Diversify Economy); 15) Regional Centers versus Neighborhood Centers to promote integration (Aquatics/Gymnastics/Libraries); 16) Eliminate surface parking on Beach and Bayfront; 17) Obsession with status quo; 18) Stop separating Customer Service from the rest of the organization; 19) Stop trying to address every social service need (focus); 20) Stop ignoring Advisory Boards; 21) Stop beating selves up; 22) Stop being sole provider of P&R services for North County; 23) Stop gold-plating the Police Department at the expense of the Fire Department; 24) Stop spending money on consultants or studies if we aren’t going to act upon them; 25) Stop providing recreation services to non-residents for little or no charge; 26) We need to stop assuming growth in resources and demand for services; 27) No growth in FTE’s; and 28) Stop providing services to non-residents without full payment. Replies to What service or direction needs to be added? Include: 1) Public Transportation to Beach; 2) Link high-speed rail with airports; 3) Beach Parking; 4) Widening Coronado; 5) Maintenance of Neighborhoods; 6) Neighborhood Grants; 7) Orientation of Existing Resources; 8) Good Jobs – i.e. “Economic Development and Redevelopment”; 9) Schools, Neighborhoods, Quality of Life, Infrastructure; 10) Federal/State/Regional Attention to “Built-out” Urban Needs; 11) i.e. Transportation/Roadways Redevelopment Incentives; 12) i.e. Brownfields money for Balk site; 13) Diversify Economy; 14) Target/Market right firms; 15) Create viable Industrial Park; 16) ROI; 17) Partner with School Board to elevate level of school system; 18) Create a functional Downtown; 19) Elevate Beach/Tourist Clientele; 20) Balancing diverse agenda’s from different areas of City; 21) Reduce dependence on tourism economy; 22) More Stable Tax Base; 23) Jobs – higher quality than service and higher paying industry; 23) Neighborhood services expansion; 24) more or reallocated staff; 25) liaison; 26) **technology**; 27) closer to neighborhoods service center; 28) grants programs; 29) Cultural resources/atmosphere/process; 30) Education; 31) Economic Development. (downtown especially); 32) Diversity; 34) Public (Cultural) Art Committee (exhibits); 35) Extreme Venues (Skateboard, Senior Services Center, Entertainment District); 36) Quality Retail in High Traffic Venues, i.e. Downtown, Beach; 37) Enhanced Public Transportation opportunities; 38) Expanded service hours of Library and Recreation Centers (Not Considering Cost); 39) Create a uniquely beautiful tropical environment; upgrade non-conforming landscaping; 40) Partner to solve regional issues: example – cost of water; 41) Urban design for “historic” downtown; 42) Maintain community character; 43) Prevent “mega” homes; 44) Maintain architectural style; 45) Create sense of community identity and pride; 46) Create win/win environment – collaborative, positive, inclusive; 47) Tourism-quality not quantity; and 48) Accelerate infrastructure renovations, as incentive for private development. Following discussion, the City Commission identified recommended direction, to be prioritized at future meeting: Public Transportation to Beach Link high-speed rail with airports Plus City Wide Beach Parking Widening Coronado Maintenance of Neighborhoods (Neighborhood Services Expansion) Neighborhood Grants Orientation of Existing Resources Closer to Neighborhoods Service Center Liaison; Technology Good Jobs – i.e. “Economic Development and Redevelopment” Schools, Neighborhoods, Quality of Life, Infrastructure Viable Industrial Park Federal/State/Regional Attention to “Built-out” Urban Needs i.e. Transportation/Roadways Redevelopment Incentives i.e. Brownfields $ for Balk site Cost of Water Partner with School Board to elevate level of school system Create a functional Downtown Elevate Beach/Tourist Clientele Balancing diverse agenda’s from different areas of City Cultural resources/atmosphere/process Education Economic Development (downtown especially) Diversity Extreme Venues (Skateboard, Senior Services Center, Entertainment District) Quality Retail in High Traffic Venues, i.e. Downtown, Beach Expanded service hours of Library and Recreation Centers*** ***(Not Considering Cost)*** Create a uniquely beautiful tropical environment upgrade non-conforming landscaping Urban design for “historic” downtown Maintain community character Prevent “mega” homes Maintain architectural style Create sense of community identity and pride Create win/win environment – collaborative, positive, inclusive Accelerate infrastructure renovations, as incentive for private development Consensus was to schedule an additional visioning session to prioritze the directions. It was indicated tomorrow, the Board of County Commissioners will consider changes to County guidelines regarding designating and funding Community Redevelopment Districts. City staff concerns and recommendations regarding these proposals were distributed to the City Commission and discussed at the May 2, 2002, City Commission meeting. Commissioner Hamilton moved to support staff recommendations (attached as Exhibit A to these minutes) regarding changes to the County’s guidelines regarding designating and funding community Redevelopment Districts. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:34 p.m.