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09/24/2001CITY OF CLEARWATER PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING September 24, 2001 Present: Sarah Wiand Vice Chair Jonathan Wade Sr. Board Member Thomas Fletcher Board Member Kim Cashman Board Member Larry Lindner Board Member Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Parks and Recreation Director Steve Miller Recreation Programming Superintendent Al Hinson Recreation Supervisor James Lightfoot Recreation Programmer Mark Roberson Aquatics Leader Bobbie Downs Staff Assistant II Absent: Steve Swanberg Chair Vacancy Board Member To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #1 Vice Chair Wiand called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Recreation Complex. ITEM #2 Approval of Minutes of Parks and Recreation Board meeting of June 25, 2001 – Member Lindner moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 Correspondence – None ITEM #4 Old Business – Capital Project Update – Mr. Dunbar said future CIP reports would reflect dollars allocated for specific projects for the current year rather than the present format. He discussed the status of the following: Community Sports Complex – Parks and Recreation now handling the Phillies project. Phillies looking at former Home Depot parcel as site for stadium. Parks and Rec can now improve fields around college field house; future of St. Petersburg College field house uncertain until spring. Ray Green Park Expansion – City has contracted to buy the lot on Pennsylvania Avenue; one homeowner does not want to sell. Concrete Sidewalk & Pad Repairs – Infrastructure dollars. Will list bigger items in new reports. Skate Park – Have met with college; will be next year before college decides whether to turn over field house or keep it as a college center. Alternative sites for a skate park would be addressed in the master plan. Softball Complex Development – Renovated fields at Eddie C. Moore Complex are expected to be open Oct. 6 for tournament play. Recreation Path – Work from Carpenter Field to Cliff Stephens Park on the East-West trail. Park Amenity Purchase and Replacement – On-going CIP, which will be identified in future reports. City-wide P&R Master Plan – Steering Committee met Friday. Looking at a city-wide Parks and Recreation system. It is hoped Parks and Recreation would be facilitators with partners such as Pinellas County or the YMCA, or Pinellas County Schools. Ms. Cashman encouraged members to attend future meetings. Mr. Dunbar said one issue of concern was the lack of connection with two county agencies: the Pinellas County School system and Pinellas County. He said focus groups with teens and senior citizens were well received. Mr. Dunbar said City Commission would be provided an update October 22. The plan will have the endorsement of the Finance Department of what we can fund; monies available from FRDAP, Pennies for Pinellas, and bond referendums. Tennis Court Resurfacing; and Playground and Fitness Equipment Purchase and Replacement – Ongoing maintenance projects. Long Center – Still working on getting balance of funding. Allen’s Creek Park (Maple Swamp) – Designing of playground in progress. Ruth Eckerd Hall – Parks and Recreation funding development center. North Greenwood Recreation Complex – Bid in $90,000 under budget for the center; will recommend at October 18 City Commission meeting. Construction expected to begin two weeks later at the former Ray Green site. Commission expected to name the complex at the October 18 meeting. Glen Oaks Golf Course Improvements – On hold pending storm water project. Fence Replacement; Light Replacement; and Parking Lot/Bicycle Path Resurfacing and Improvements — On-going projects. Upcoming Recreation Events – Copies of the new program guide, Fun In the Sun, were distributed. This issue highlights McMullen Tennis Center. Mr. Miller highlighted recreation events including focus on teens. He said the UNO Festival may be postponed because of a project going on at Coachman Park; but volunteer opportunities exist for Jazz Holiday, Halloween events at centers, and the Turkey Trot. Members were encouraged to call Birgitt Dowd to volunteer. Sub-Committee Assignments – Postponed until next meeting. Mr. Miller asked the programming committee to consider meeting after the next general board meeting. ITEM #5 New Business – Presentation – Martin Luther King Recreation Complex. The program highlighted services of the center and Holt Avenue Pool. Budgets the center, pool and camp next year were distributed. An innovative program provides on-the-job training for potential camp instructors. User groups and agencies that meet regularly at MLK will continue to do so after the new recreation complex is built. Not on the Agenda Garden Avenue Playground will be maintained by Parks and Rec; money donated will go into P&R budget for that purpose. Member Lindner said the northwest corner at McMullen tennis court #8 is dark, possibly because of shadow from palm trees. Also, on some of the clay courts, a dropped ball in certain spots will not bounce. Mr. Dunbar said that is typical of clay courts but he would look into it. In response to a question, an in-depth study of McMullen’s program and business practices has been submitted to Art Kader for study. Mr. Miller said the city soon would be accepting credit cards for its programs. Member Wiand said the bathrooms at Bayfront tennis courts are dirty and need to be maintained. Mr. Dunbar said it will be looked into. ITEM #8 Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. The next meeting will be October 22 at Municipal Services Building.