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04/25/2023 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2023 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 25, 2023 6:30 PM Main Library - Council Chambers Parks and Recreation Board Page 1 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2023 Roll Call Present 5 - Chair Patrick Raftery, Board Member Mark Rodriguez, Board Member Lisa Tuttle, Board Member Kelly S. Kelly, and Board Member Martin Armstrong Absent 2 - Vice Chair Jason Hood and Board Member Angela Tisdale Also Present—Art Kader— Interim Parks & Recreation Director and Rosemarie Call — City Clerk To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. Unapproved 1. Call to Order— Chair Raftery The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the Minutes of the January 24, 2023, Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Approve the Minutes of the January 24, 2023 Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Board Member Tuttle moved approve the Minutes of the January 24, 2023, Parks and Recreation Board Meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda Steve Harris expressed concerns with the backup of tennis and pickleball players at the Clearwater beach facility and questioned if there were any plans to address it. Interim Parks and Recreation Director Art Kader said there are plans to install new pickleball courts at the McKay Playfield, which will free up the tennis courts. The number of pickleball courts has not been determined yet. Michael Phillips expressed concerns with fishing hooks getting stuck in turtles and requested consideration to restrict all fishing in public parks. Page 2 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2023 4. New Business Items 4.1 Discuss the Impact Fees Proposed for Parks and Recreation Update the status and discuss the impact fees proposed for Parks and Recreation in Ordinances 9638-23 and 9639-23. The Chair said City Council approved two ordinances last Thursday that will significantly impact the fees that are available to Parks and Recreation. He requested staff to provide a brief overview. Interim Parks and Recreation Director Art Kader said one of the companion ordinances addresses the changes needed in the comprehensives plan. Chapter 54 of the Clearwater Community Development Code is being replaced with language that is consistent with current Florida statutes. He said the Florida Impact Fee Act requires that the impact fee be based on current standards and data. Chapter 54 has not been amended since 1983. The City hired Tindale Oliver to gather data and report their findings. The new ordinance is based on their findings and focuses on new residential development. He said the proposed impact fee will replace the recreation facility land fee, open space fee, and the recreation facility fee. The CRA is currently exempt from the fee but the new ordinance will require new residential development in the CRA to pay the impact fee at the time the certificate of occupancy is issued. In response to questions, Mr. Kader said the impact fee will go into effect September 1 and funds received may be spent anywhere within city limits. Current city code requires the funds to be spent within one mile where the fee is issued. Developers submitting building permits prior to September 1 may choose to remain under the current city code. Funds may be used to purchase new park lands or new facilities. One individual questioned if hotels and commercial establishments would be subject to the impact fee. Mr. Kader said the new ordinance does not require hotels or commercial establishments to pay the fee. 4.2 Discuss the Parks and Recreation 10-year Plan Coordinated by Toole Design LLC Discuss the plans for public input on the new Parks & Recreation 10-year plan Page 3 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2023 coordinated by Toole Design LLC. The Chair questioned how the plan is progressing and if the process is at the point to receive community input. Parks and Recreation Interim Director Art Kader said the consultant will conduct three in-person workshops, one virtual workshop, focus group meetings, and an online survey. He said there are plans to conduct a survey during the Coachman Park grand opening, volunteers are needed. The first public meetings are scheduled for June 6, 7, 8 at the Main Library, Aging Well Center, and North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatics Facility. Additional meeting information will be shared with the Board as finalized. One individual questioned where information regarding the public meetings is available. Mr. Kader said meeting dates and locations will be posted on the city website. 4.3 Review and Discuss the Parks & Recreation Portion of the Clearwater Strategic Plan Review and discuss the Parks and Recreation portion (pages 27 - 28) of the Baker-Tilly Clearwater Strategic Plan 2023-2025. The Chair said he reviewed the City's strategic plan and requested an update on the recommendation to relocate Parks and Recreation's administrative offices to the former Countryside Library. Parks and Recreation Interim Director Art Kader said the former city manager made the recommendation but the proposal was eliminated when it was determined the cost to renovate the library facility was too high. City Council has approved funding for the additional staffing needed at Coachman Park, staff is in the process of hiring the key individuals. He said anticipates having staff in place by June 1. 4.4 Discuss the All-Accessible Swings on city Playgrounds. Discussion on the number of all-accessible (ADA compliant) swings on city playgrounds. Board Member Kelly said she saw a post on Facebook citing Del Oro Park did not have an accessible swing and requested staff clarification. Page 4 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2023 Parks and Recreation Interim Director Art Kader said there is an accessible swing at the park. The individual who posted the comment complained that additional accessibility to other playground equipment was not provided. The City's playground at the Long Center is limitless and a fully accessible park. Staff is looking at providing additional accessibility to the main pieces at Del Oro. He said the city website and magazine provide a full listing of amenities for all city parks. 4.5 Review the April 4, 2023 Parks and Recreation Project Update Report Review the April 24, 2023 Parks and Recreation Project Update Report Parks and Recreation Interim Director Art Kader reviewed the project update list. One individual thanked the City for funding the Moccasin Lake Project. 5. Director's Report Parks and Recreation Interim Director Art Kader reviewed recent and upcoming events. The process to fill the vacant department director position is underway, he will advise the Board once it is filled. In response to questions, Mr. Kader said the lawn bowling/shuffleboard property is located on Stevenson Creek and beautiful. Twenty years ago it was a highly utilized facility with large and active memberships. Staff is considering transforming the large property to accommodate activities that are in demand, such as pickleball and volleyball, and a community center. A referendum would be required if the City were to sell the property. He said opening Moccasin Lake earlier for walkers would require additional funding, if the funding is not available, staff would approach the Friends of Moccasin Lake. 6. Board Members to be Heard Board Member Kelly questioned where the City would consider buying additional parkland property. Parks and Recreation Interim Director Art Kader said parkland property would be located within city limits and based on the comprehensive plan. The properties would be purchased as they become available. Page 5 City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation Board 7. Adjourn Meeting Minutes April 25, 2023 One individual expressed concerns regarding the potential elimination of shuffleboard courts. The adjourned at 7:33 p.m. Page 6 City of Clearwater Chair, Park Advisory Board