07/24/2000PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 24, 2000
Present: Kim Cashman Chair
Larry Lindner Board Member
Donald Harris Board Member
Sarah Wiand Board Member
Dick Ruben Board Member
Absent: Geri Shriver Board Member
Steve Swanberg Vice Chair
Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Parks and Recreation Director
Ricardo Ortega Board Member as of 8/01/00
Bobbie Downs Staff Assistant II
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Services Building Conference Room 130. Mr. Dunbar introduced Mr. Ricardo Ortega who was appointed to the Board by
City Commission July 20 to fill the position being vacated by Donald Harris.
ITEM #2 – Approval of Minutes of Parks and Recreation Board meeting of June 26, 2000 - Member Lindner noted in Item #5 Ms. Cashman posed the question of corporate memberships at McMullen
Tennis Complex. With that change, he moved to approve the minutes as corrected. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #3 – Correspondence – Mr. Dunbar read a letter sent to Member Harris from Mayor Aungst thanking him for seven years of loyal and dedicated service to the board, and a letter sent
to Mr. Richardo Ortega from Sally Thomas, City Clerk Specialist, acknowledging his appointment to the board for a four-year term.
ITEM #4 – Recognition of Donald Harris’ Service on the Board – Members thanked Member Harris for his service and wished him well. Mr. Harris recalled he was a junior in high school
when he was initially appointed to the board. He said he enjoyed serving on the board and with all board members through the years.
ITEM #5 – Old Business
Capital Project Update – Mr. Dunbar discussed the status of the following:
Ray Green Park Expansion - Five properties have been acquired around Ray Green Field, a contract is held on a sixth, and negotiations are under way to purchase two additional lots in
order to construct a 30,000 sq. ft. recreation center and aquatic facility by 2002.
McMullen Tennis Complex - Construction is under way with completion date set for September 8 or 15. New play fees have been posted, and a Recreation Supervisor position has been advertised.
Countryside Infrastructure Improvement - Completion target date is April 25, 2001, but the expanded fitness facility is expected to be open by end of this calendar year.
Irrigation System Memorial Causeway - Mr. Leroy Chin is designing a plan to irrigate medians and rights-of-way with reclaimed water.
Clearwater Beach Family Aquatics Center – The complex is complete and open, including upgraded tennis courts.
St. Petersburg Junior College (SPJC) - Agreement has been reached to take over the athletic facilities, parking areas, and the field house October 1. P&R is already conducting a summer
youth basketball and athletic camp program there, and plans to start an after-school program in January. Also at SPJC, the first phase of construction of a skatepark is scheduled to
begin during the next fiscal year.
Pinellas County has assumed the responsibility for applying for a $1.2 million grant to improve the Pinellas Trail on East Avenue.
Upcoming Recreation Events – Highlighting the August Calendar of Recreation Activities is the prestigious ASA Women’s National Fast Pitch Softball Tournament at Bomber Stadium/Carpenter
Field, and various camps for children. Mr. Dunbar said staff also is working on lining up a variety events at Coachman Park during Super Bowl. Concerts are planned the Saturday and
Sunday prior to Super Bowl weekend, then two signature events are planned the Friday and Saturday of Super Bowl weekend. All events will be sanctioned as Super Bowl venues.
ITEM #6 – New Business
FRPA Citizen Support/Advocacy Group – Mr. Dunbar urged members to attend one or more programs designed by FRPA to promote citizen support and involvement in the community at the FRPA
State Conference Sept. 19-23 in Kissimmee. Member Wiand and Mr. Ortega expressed interest.
Mr. Dunbar said Clearwater will be responsible for producing two social functions during the National Recreation and Parks Association convention in 2002, which will be held in the Tampa
Bay area. Functions will be held at Busch Gardens and Clearwater Beach. Mr. Dunbar praised the Special Events Section for the quality and caliber of entertainment the staff is able
to produce, particularly the Millennium and Fourth of July celebrations.
Beautification Committee Proposal re: Historic Bayview – Mr. Dunbar said committee members are asking the board join them in urging the City Commission to investigate funding sources
to purchase the William Conley property in the Historic Bayview section and preserve it as a passive city park. The Board decided to invite arborist Loren Westenberger and the Beautification
Committee Chair to the August 28 meeting to explain their positions.
Not on the Agenda
Mr. Dunbar said neighborhood meetings concerning the master plan will begin after the school year starts.
The suggestion was made to sell T-shirts to the public at Coachman Park concerts. Mr. Dunbar said shirts are generally restricted to volunteers since they serve as incentives for volunteers
to donate their time.
ITEM #7 Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. The next meeting is August 28 at Ross Norton Recreation Center.