07/26/2022 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes July 26, 2022
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
6:30 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Parks and Recreation Board
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes July 26, 2022
Roll Call
Present 7 - Chair Mark Rodriguez, Vice Chair Patrick Raftery, Board Member Lisa
Tuttle, Board Member Jason Hood, Board Member Martin Armstrong,
Board Member Kelly Kelly, and Board Member Angela Tisdale
Also Present— Jim Halios — Parks & Recreation Director, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board
Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Vice 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 minutes of the April 26, 2022, Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
Member Tuttle moved to approve the minutes of the April 26, 2022
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 Request for a Bleacher Aluminum Sign Placement at Sid Lickton Park
AND
4.2 Request for a Hall of Fame Award Plaque Placement in the Eddie C. Moore Pavilion
Jack Albertson, with 3 Score Over 60 Men's Softball League, said they play
at Sid Lickton and Eddie C. Moore fields and want to honor 2 distinguished
members with an aluminum sign fastened to the metal back of Sid Lickton
bleachers and a plaque mounted in the Eddie C. Moore pavilion. He said
league outreach efforts include printing 1,000 pamphlets and 500 posters
to increase community visibility and attract membership. He said Clearwater
is friendly to seniors and the league encourages exercise. He said the
approximately 165 members live in the tri-county area and during winter
represent 10 states and Canada. He said league members play/practice 4 —
5 times a week and support local restaurants.
Parks & Recreation Director Jim Halios reviewed City requirements to name
park facilities. He did not think mounting a plaque in the Eddie C. Moore
pavilion would be a problem but fastening a sign to park bleachers will
require additional discussion. City Council approval is required.
Discussion ensued with a suggestion that the league honor members by
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes July 26, 2022
naming tournaments after them.
4.3 Discussion of the July Parks and Recreation Project Update Report
Mr. Halios reviewed August report: 1) Countryside Sports Complex completed,
2) BayCare Baseball Field improvements on hold, CIP (Capital Improvement
Project) waterproofing and replacing HVAC underway, 3) Courtney Campbell
Causeway overpass in design phase —permitting stage anticipated in October,
4) Del Oro Park completion estimated in December—playground equipment
delayed 3 months,- 5) Applied for CDBG (Community Development Block
Grant) to build fishing pier on Lake Bellevue, 6) SWFWMD (Southwest Florida
Water Management District) permitting continued for Coopers Point project, 7)
City awarded insufficient funds to redesign Bird Island breakwater. Mr. Halios
will report on the grant and if funds had been intended for design and/or
construction, 8) Sailing Center's floating dock replacement in final design stage
— FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) permitting request
for larger footprint, 9) Clearwater Beach Recreation Center dock soon
completed, and 10) Long Center Playground completed.
4.4 Addl Staff Required for Parks & Recreation to Support Coachman Park Imagine Clearwater, 2023
Mr. Halios said as volunteers do not have the capacity to book programming,
4.5 new FTEs (Full-Time Equivalents) will book downtown events including
small concerts, markets, car shows, etc. at Station Square Park, the
Mercado and throughout downtown. The department will hire 3 FTEs for a
downtown team to maintain landscape and hardscape along Cleveland
Street and at Coachman and Crest Lake parks.
4.5 Discuss Mission, Members, and Role of the Coachman Park Conservancy Working Group
Ms. Halios said the Coachman Park Conservancy would begin handling
bookings before Imagine Clearwater's completion. More momentum is
needed to organize a large Conservancy group. He requested Board input
re ideas, thoughts, mission, and composition to present to the City Council.
A meeting is scheduled in October to present frameworks. Alternative
models were being considered.
5. Old Business Items
In response to a question, Mr. Halios said for the past 7 years the City has
provided the Lawn Bowling Club approximately$4,500 annually, including a
$2,500 subsidy and the club's stormwater fees. City staff at the facility were
reassigned due to the 2008/09 recession. The club is experiencing
membership loss as most of its demographic have aged out on participation.
St. Petersburg's successful Lawn Bowling Club permits alcohol, Clearwater
does not allow alcohol at its parks.
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City of Clearwater
Parks and Recreation Board
6. Director's Report
Meeting Minutes July 26, 2022
Mr. Halios welcomed new Board Members Kelly and Tisdale. A special
meeting will be scheduled for a working group on the Conservancy.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Member Kelly said people approached him with ideas: 1) hold community
events similar to Morningside Recreation Center's holiday events at other
parks/recreation centers and schedule walking tours of the rear of Moccasin
Lake Nature Park and 2) establish a location similar to Hollywood Walk of
Fame for handprints of celebrities who perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Mr. Halios said he had challenged recreation center supervisors to organize
events and work with disc golf groups.
Member Kelly suggested the City video park visits for the disabled to watch,
including flyovers with narration. It was stated citizens could volunteer .
Member Raftery said in the City Manager's new budget, Parks & Recreation
is the second highest funded department. He encouraged Members to
attend the City Council Public Budget Hearings in September and speak in
support of funding the department at recommended levels.
In response to a question, Mr. Halios the department will lose 22 FTEs to the
new Public Works Department which will assume previous department
responsibilities for urban forestry and street and sidewalk management. The
Parks & Recreation Department will continue to repair all park sidewalks and
Cleveland Street right-of-way.
Member Tisdale suggested outdoor fitness equipment be installed at Cherry
Harris Park or newer recreation centers.
Mr. Halios said the City Manager supported an outdoor basketball court at
North Greenwood Recreation Center. Concerns were that nighttime lights and
noise would disturb neighbors. He suggested outdoor fitness equipment for
adult and disabled use may be appropriate. The City Council will decide.
The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.
,'fly Board Reporter
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City of Clearwater
Chair, Parks
e.,ion visory Board