08/28/2000PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
August 28, 2000
Present: Steve Swanberg Vice Chair
Larry Lindner Board Member
Geri Shriver Board Member
Ric Ortega Board Member
Absent: Kim Cashman Chair
Dick Ruben Board Member
Sarah Wiand Board Member
Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Parks and Recreation Director
Steve Miller Recreation Programming Superintendent
J.P. Atherholt Recreation Supervisor
Loren Westenberger Arborist
Jean Stuart Beautification Committee Chair
Candace Hider Beautification Committee Vice Chair
Jack Alvord Historic Bayview Homeowners Association
Bobbie Downs Staff Assistant II
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Ross Norton Recreation Center.
ITEM #2 – Approval of Minutes of Parks and Recreation Board meeting of July 24, 2000 - Member Lindner moved to approve the minutes as read. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
ITEM #3 – Recognition of Ric Ortega’s first Board meeting – Vice Chair Swanberg welcomed Mr. Ortega to the board.
ITEM #4 – Correspondence – None
ITEM #5 – Speakers: Loren Westenberger, Arborist; “Historic Bayview Property” and Ms. Jean Stuart and Ms. Candace Hider, Vice Chair, Beautification Committee – Mr. Westenberger, as chair
of the Environet Coalition, said he is petitioning citizens to ask City Commission to explore purchasing the property known as “Historic Bayview” and designate it a passive park. The
County is willing to donate adjacent land if the City would maintain it. Ms. Hider asked the board to support the Beautification Committee’s recommendation to City Commission that staff
investigate funding sources to purchase the William Conley property in the Historic Bayview Section to be used as a passive City park. Ms. Stuart read the committee’s recommendation
of July 13, 2000. Mr. Lindner suggested changing one sentence of the recommendation to read: “The board feels that the best use of the land for the citizens of Clearwater is to preserve
this entrance to Clearwater.” The vote carried unanimously.
ITEM #6 – Old Business
Capital Project Update – Mr. Dunbar discussed the status of the following:
Ray Green Park Expansion – Staff has met with architects and engineers regarding the North Greenwood Recreation Complex. He showed several drawings of proposals, which include a recreation
center and swimming pools. All have a Caribbean theme. It is hoped the project will go out to construction by late summer.
McMullen Tennis Complex - Court Renovation – Construction is underway with completion still projected for Sept. 15. Mr. Dunbar said pictures of the construction are shown on the City
Web site and are updated bi-weekly.
St. Petersburg Junior College (SPJC) – Parks and Recreation will take over the Field House October 1. Programs will begin there after January 1.
Upcoming Recreation Events – Members were given handouts listing the September recreation program.
FRPA Citizen Support/Advocacy Group State Conference Reminder – Mr. Dunbar reminded members of the State Conference, which will feature two sessions of interest to citizen board members.
ITEM #7 – New Business
Presentation and Tour of Ross Norton Recreation Center – J. P. Atherholt showed a slide presentation representing the many programs offered at the center. A new center is planned and
expected to be operational in 2004.
Not on Agenda
Member Lindner expressed concerns about Clearwater Beach Aquatic facility as follows: costs more to swim since parking is metered, changing bench in the women’s locker room can be observed
from the outside, no clock for use by people using parking meters, and a pace clock is needed. He also noted the disparity between setting seniors fees at 62 years and up at McMullen
and 55 and up at Norton.
Member Shriver noted many good comments about Summer Camps at Clearwater Beach Recreation Center.
ITEM #8 Adjournment -
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. The next meeting is September 25 at the Municipal Services Building Conference Room 130.