02/12/1998FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 12, 1998
Present: Daniel Moran Member
Carol Warren Member
Richard Lynch Member
Tina Wilson Budget Director
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
Absent: Janet MacNutt Member
Daniel Fleck Chair
FRC (Fiscal Review Committee) members met in the lobby of the Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland Street, at 8:00 a.m. for a tour of the facility.
General Manager Barry J. Strafacci and Director of Sales and Marketing Julie Roberts briefed FRC members on the Harborview Center’s amenities and activities. The first floor is comprised
of 30,000 square feet, administrative offices, and space for a restaurant. The second floor consists of conference rooms and a kitchen. Both floors are used for various types of meetings,
banquets, luncheons and exhibitions. Staff praised the Harborview Center’s Chef John for his culinary expertise, noting he frequently receives requests for outside catering services.
Mr. Strafacci reviewed the Harborview Center’s budgeted versus actual revenue projections. Over 150,000 people used the Harborview Center in 1997. In response to a question, he said
room rental rates are based on calculated formulas. Pricing strategies are implemented during peak and off-peak seasons. Harborview management has been aggressively seeking new business
to increase revenue. In response to questions, he said improvements made to building maintenance and utilities could be costly. The exterior marquee has been upgraded from multicolored
to monochrome letters, and is more legible from the street. Other minor interior improvements were made in 1997. Harborview Center staff have increased advertising and customer surveys
in an effort to better serve and inform its clientele. Mr. Strafacci was optimistic the Center will meet or exceed this year’s projected revenue.
The meeting adjourned at 9:35 a.m.