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01/25/2022 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 m s Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 25, 2022 6:30 PM Main Library - Council Chambers Parks and Recreation Board Page 1 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Roll Call Present 5 - Chair Bruce Rector, Vice Chair Mark Rodriguez, Board Member Jason Hood, Board Member Patrick Raftery, and Board Member Scott Thomas Absent 2 - Board Member Lisa Tuttle and Board Member Martin Armstrong Also Present—Art Kader—Assistant Parks & Recreation Director, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter 1. Call To Order The Chair 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 October 26, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Member Thomas moved to approve the minutes of the October 26, 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: None. 4. New Business Items 4.1 Presentation of Clearwater Citizen Kelly Kelly's Visit and Observations of all 110 City Parks Resident Kelly Kelly provided a PowerPoint presentation re her Colorful Clearwater blog and her observations visiting more than 100 City parks. She recommended the strategic plan for parks add walking trails, benches, playgrounds, public access, and tree replacement. She encouraged residents to visit City parks. 4.2 Report on Patrick Raftery's visit to the Clearwater Lawn Bowling Club. Member Raftery reviewed his visits to the Clearwater Lawn Bowling Club. He said membership was key to the club's vitality. He said club brochures, featuring the City's logo, were available at City recreation centers. Clearwater Lawn Bowling Club president Richard Judycki reviewed the club's history and said travel restrictions had negatively impacted membership. He said members were working to increase membership to meet high operating costs. He said the City had not responded to the board of director's suggestion that the City take over the facility. Page 2 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 In response to questions, Mr. Judycki reviewed the club's operating schedule. He said the club had requested the City install LED lighting to encourage evening play. He said the club had a Facebook page. He said the short blurb in MyClearwater magazine did not include club photos. He said the facility agreement with the City was unclear. He said he was a Dunedin resident, Clearwater should help provide senior activities for county residents. Mr. Kader said the City would be happy to promote the lawn bowling club and other City cosponsored groups in MyClearwater magazine. Club membership has been decreasing for decades. The City has been willing to work with the club and began paying its stormwater bill and funding some operating expenses. Parks & Recreation offers robust programming for seniors. The department's goal has always been to meet City resident needs first, at last count, the majority of club members were not City residents. The club's beautiful location on Stevenson Creek is underutilized; staff is considering additional uses there such as canoe launching. Discussion ensued with comments that preserving the club's greenery was important and the diversity of many younger people moving to the City could provide an opportunity to increase club membership. 4.3 Nuisance and Exotic Plant Species Survey of City of Clearwater Parks Mr. Kader said Member Armstrong had added this item. The City did not have a park survey of nuisance and exotic plants. Many City parks are undeveloped. An environmental audit would be nice to do. 4.4 Review the Parks & Recreation December Project Update Report Mr. Kader said in February, Del Oro Park renovations will begin and Belmont Park will reopen following renovations. The City Council will discuss funding aesthetics for the SR60 overpass connecting the Bayshore and Courtney Campbell trails. All CIP (Capital Improvement Project) work was completed at BayCare Ballpark. The City Council approved replacement of 2 docks at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center. It was noted some residents said they used Enterprise Dog Park to exercise their dogs and socialize. It was requested that renovations be expedited and a reopening event be planned. 4.5 Rules and Responsibilities of Parks and Recreation Board Members. Concern was expressed that members adhere to Sunshine rules and not overburden staff with multiple inquiries. It was stated that residents used Board Members as sounding boards. Mr. Kader said staff welcomed resident comments and requests. The new Page 3 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 City Manager planned to invest additional resources for sidewalks and tree trimming. 4.6 Elect Parks & Recreation Board Chair and Vice Chair for 2022 Member Thomas moved to reappoint Bruce Rector as Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Thomas moved to reappoint Mark Rodriguez as Vice Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5. Old Business Items: None. 6. Director's Report Mr. Kader said Chair Rector's presentation to the City Council on behalf of the Board was impressive. The City Council soon will consider the Board's request to increase the number of meetings. Mr. Kader said Project Manager LeRoy Chin, who oversaw multiple Parks & Recreation projects, had retired, the City will miss him and wishes him well. Mr. Kader said the City had contracted to update the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and Strategic Plan together. Mr. Kader announced a major event. 2022 St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational Softball Tournament- February 17-20 - Eddie C. Moore Complex. Mr. Kader said more Parks & Recreation photos were being published in MyClearwater magazine. 7. Board Members to be Heard Member Thomas said he had accepted a new position and announced his resignation from the Board. He wished members all the best. Member Thomas was thanked for his service. Member Raftery encouraged Board member attendance at meetings. He complimented the Chair for his excellent, well-prepared, well-received presentation to the City Council. Chair Rector said people were viewing Coachman Park construction from the Memorial Causeway Bridge. He encouraged residents to also view project progress online. He said a Task Force will be assembled re a conservancy to manage the park and programming and achieve investment goals. He said 3 FTEs (Full-Time Equivalents) had been assigned to oversee remarkable updates to Crest Lake Park. Page 4 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes 8. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. City of Clearwater January 25, 2022 Oit-1/4Chair Parks & Recreation Advitsory B ard Page 5