08/24/2021 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 24, 2021
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
m
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
6:30 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Parks and Recreation Board
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 24, 2021
Roll Call
Present 5 - Vice Chair Mark Rodriguez, Board Member Lisa Tuttle, Board
Member Patrick Raftery, Board Member Scott Thomas, and Board
Member Martin Armstrong
Absent 2 - Chair Bruce Rector, and Board Member Jason Hood
Also Present— Jim Halios — Parks & Recreation Director, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board
Reporter
1. Call To Order
Acting Chair Tuttle called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Main
Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the July 27, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes
Member Thomas moved to approve the minutes of the July 27, 2021
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
Lisa Lanza recommended connecting the Duke Power and Pinellas trails
and suggested providing information that trail users can connect with the
other trail via Montclair Road. She thanked the City for the new playground
equipment and upgrades to the tennis and basketball courts in her
Valencia Park/Cedar Grove neighborhood park.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Update on the August 3rd Meeting with Lake Belleview residents on park improvements.
Parks & Recreation Director Jim Halios said the CSF (Community Service
Foundation) had requested he attend the September 7 meeting as low
meeting attendance was anticipated in August.
4.2 Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update
Mr. Halios said work on Pinellas County's Master Plan included City
parks, providing Clearwater a 60-day head start on its master plan process;
Pinellas County received significant feedback from the public on its plan.
The Parks & Recreation and Planning & Development departments will
work together on park-centric Comp Plan updates. In the new year, an
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 24, 2021
internal team will choose a consultant to oversee development of the new
Parks & Recreation Master Plan, which will have a robust public input
process, providing citizens opportunities to voice their needs and wants. The
Parks & Recreation Board will be part of the outreach effort, provide input,
and vote for their priorities.
4.3 Review 7/27/21 Project Update Report for any new updates.
In response to questions, Mr. Halios said project reports were updated right
after Parks & Recreation Board meetings. CIP (Capital Improvement Project)
funds were budgeted each year for ongoing costs to replace recreation
center fitness equipment, the Countryside Recreation Center facility
supervisor had not yet identified any replacement needs. He will forward the
project report to members when it is updated.
It was stated an updated project list with completion dates was important as
the report was a blueprint of what the board wanted to accomplish.
A resident said the County administrator indicated the County would not
fund BayCare Ballpark upgrades. She expressed concerns the Parks
& Recreation Department did not plan on purchasing additional parkland
and the Landings should not connect to reclaimed water but instead
continue using well water as the property was a great place to recharge the
aquifer. She questioned if the Board reviewed City contracts for use and/or
management of City parks.
Mr. Halios said the Board did not participate in the City contract process.
5. Old Business Items: None.
6. Director's Report
Mr. Halios said next month's agenda will include project updates and
information re the September Bellevue neighborhood resident meeting.
Formal invitations will be sent to members for the September 3 Imagine
Clearwater groundbreaking at 9:00 a.m. on the Main Library terrace.
7. Board Members to be Heard
Member Raftery said the Board of County Commissioners had decided
not to increase the gas tax but to finance transportation needs with a small
millage rate hike. He said a gas tax increase would have provided additional
funds to the City for sidewalk repairs.
Member Raftery said Lisa Lanza had invited him and Chair Rector to see
improvements in her neighborhood.
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Meeting Minutes August 24, 2021
Mr. Halios encouraged individual board members to meet with residents.
Member Rodriguez noted the passing of City Manager Bill Horne and
expressed his condolences to Mr. Home's family and others. He said Mr.
Horne was genuine, amiable, and always took time to speak with citizens.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
City of Clearwater
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