02/25/2019 - Special Council Work Session Meeting Minutes February 25, 2019
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
m
Meeting Minutes
Monday, February 25, 2019
3:00 PM
Imagine Clearwater
Main Library - Council Chambers
Special Council Work Session
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City of Clearwater
Council Work Session Meeting Minutes February 25, 2019
Roll Call
Present 5 - Mayor George N. Cretekos, Councilmember Bob Cundiff,
Councilmember David Allbritton, Councilmember Hoyt Hamilton, and
Councilmember Jay Polglaze
Also Present— Jill Silverboard — Deputy City Manager, Micah Maxwell —Assistant
City Manager, Pamela K. Akin - City Attorney, Rosemarie Call —
City Clerk, and Nicole Sprague — Official Records and Legislative
Services Coordinator
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
1. Call to Order— Mayor Cretekos
The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at the
Main Library.
2. Citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda
Lisa Lanza recalled midnight kayak runs launched at the Shuffleboard
complex and suggested the City contact the City of St. Petersburg regarding
how they activate their shuffleboard court.
3. Presentations
3.1 Presentation of findings and recommendations of concept validation portion of the
bandshell feasibility study by Webb Management Services, Inc.
In January of 2019 the City engaged Webb Management Services, Inc. to
provide a study to assess the feasibility of developing and operating a bandshell
in "The Green" portion of the Imagine Clearwater Master Plan.
The study is intended to be done in two parts, with this first part focusing on the
viability of a bandshell in terms of supply and demand issues in the operating
environment. This portion of the study included a review of project related
materials and studies, a look at the arts and entertainment sector as a whole,
an assessment of the market, a competitive analysis, interviews with potential
users, research on touring product potential for the region, identification of
potential operating, programming, and development partners, determination of
community benefits and impacts, and research of comparable facilities.
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City of Clearwater
Council Work Session Meeting Minutes February 25, 2019
The consultant will provide a set of conclusions and recommendations on the
potential development of the facility at this meeting and city staff will identify
potential direct and indirect impacts of the recommended facilities. Based on
these deliverables, staff would like council to provide direction on whether the
consultant recommended facility or an alternative should be the focus of the
second part of this study.
The second part of the study will consider the financial and operating
implications of the council directed facility. The consultant will be focused on
creating a business plan and testing that plan to identify its financial impacts.
We will have a meeting in early April to review the final portion of the plan, which
will include a recommended operating model, programming plan, staffing
requirements, facility management plan, pro-forma operating budget, and a
critical path from planning through the start of operations. At the same meeting,
city staff will provide Council with the changes to the plan that based the
recommended facility. Based on these deliverables, staff will be requesting at
that time to confirm whether to base final design on the council directed facility
or make further adjustments.
Web Management Consultant Duncan Webb provided a PowerPoint
presentation.
The Council recessed from 4:05 through 4:11 p.m.
In response to questions, Mr. Webb said many venues in Florida have a
split seating capacity, with 2,500 under cover. He said promoters want
more seating under cover. He opined that dropping the number of seats
under a retractable roof would not be as cost prohibitive and would
prevent from attracting performances. Mr. Webb said covered seating
helps reduce the overall sound volume but he noted speakers will be
located outside of the covered area for those seated on the lawn. The
Florida Orchestra was consulted on the seating capacity. The stage,
covered seating and lawn at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in St.
Augustine is 12.5 acres. The park is surrounded by other park land and
parking. He said the site is dominated by the stage and seating areas. Mr.
Webb said the market trend in amphitheater venues is moving away from the
traditional fixed seating as younger people want to experience events
differently. Based on the analysis, he is recommending a total capacity of
10,000 for the City, which is equally important to the number of seats
under cover. The next phase in the analysis includes operation cost
analysis. Assistant City Manager Micah Maxwell said the City received
food and beverage revenue for Ruth Eckerd Hall and Sea Blues concerts
held in 2017-2018. Mr. Webb said the performing area is proposed to be
2,400 sq. ft. stage and does not include the wings or back of house. The
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City of Clearwater
Council Work Session Meeting Minutes February 25, 2019
city charter does not allow permanent seating, a flexible seating system
that is easy to move in and out will be needed. The projects with
retractable roofs highlighted in the presentation had the roofs
installed afterwards and not part of the original designs. He hoped the
design team would be allowed to explore potential retractable roofs as
part of the original design. A retractable roof would accommodate events
with lawn or fixed seating and area would look more like a park when not
in use. Mr. Webb said he requested Council's direction include writing a
business plan for 2,500 to 3,000 seats for the seated capacity, flexibility,
and lawn capacity of 10,000. Stantec consultant Darryl LeBlanc said the
size of the proposed stage is 60 by 40, with two 20 by 20 wings on either
side. Assistant City Manager Micah Maxwell said the wings have been
designed to be permanent structures. Mr. Webb recommended having a
backstage that the desired performers need. Mr. Maxwell said the back of
house will be part of the financial feasibility analysis. Webb
Management's proposed plan falls within the designated area, a tiered
seating area may push outside of the designated area. According to the
Florida Orchestra, the existing 60 by 40 stage is not big enough, the
existing stage with two 20 by 20 wings would be big enough. Mr. Webb
said the current capacity on the lawn is 15,000; from a market
prospective, a lawn capacity closer to 10,000 is recommended.
Discussion ensued with support expressed to proceed with a business
plan for 3,000 fixed seats.
In response to a question, Mr. Maxwell said the next discussion will be
held in early April.
4. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:58 p.m.
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City of Clearwater