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03/24/2003CITY OF CLEARWATER PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING March 24, 2003 Present: Jonathan Wade Sr. Chair Thomas Fletcher Vice Chair Larry Lindner Board Member Steve Swanberg Board Member Sarah Wiand Board Member Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Director, Parks and Recreation Dept. Commissioner Bill Jonson City Commissioner Bobbie Downs Office Assistant Absent: James Appelt Board Member Vacancy Board Member To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #1 Call to Order – Chair Wade called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. at the Municipal Services Building, Conference Room 130. ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes of Parks and Recreation Board Meeting of February 24, 2003 - The minutes were approved as submitted to members. ITEM #3 Public Hearing - Naming of Park Area Known as Town Lake and/or Town Pond - Mr. Dunbar said he was pleased with citizen participation wherein 27 "Proposals for Park Name" were submitted in written form to members. During discussion, Mr. Bill Wallace of Clearwater Historical Society suggested honoring the Mac Dixon family, which was among the first developers of the "Heights" area just east of the current Town Lake property. He pointed out that area was known as the "prairie," which contained a seasonal lake or marsh land. He said the two proposals with the most historic value were Prairie Lake and Lake Dixon. Ms. Anne Green spoke on behalf of her nominees, Lake Progress and Sparkling Lake. Mrs. Anne Garris spoke on behalf of her nomination, Lake Lillian, named for downtown business owner Lillian Trickel, whom she said is the longest active business owner in downtown Clearwater. Mr. Lindner said it has been the board's practice not to name facilities for living persons, thus avoiding any controversy. Mr. Dunbar said that also is the practice of the National Park Service. Mr. Dunbar asked the board to consider attaching the word "park" to the name. Members each chose five names then picked the top five from the consensus to be sent to the City Commission. The suggestions, in order of preference, are: Freedom Lake Park, first choice; Prairie Lake Park, second choice; Old Marsh Lake, third choice; Lake Lillian, fourth choice; and Clear Lake, fifth choice. Mr. Dunbar said a name likely will be selected at the first Commission meeting in May. ITEM #4 Correspondence - None ITEM #5 Old Business Capital Project Update – Mr. Dunbar updated the following projects: Community Sports Complex - Project moving forward on schedule. Topping out may be first week of July. Entrance on Drew Street. McKay Park - City will speak to Clearwater Beach Homeowners Association in May regarding a playground site. Ms. Wiand said she favors the open space concept, which also enables Bayflite to land and take off. Mr. Dunbar said there would be space for Bayflit since a playground would not be placed in the center of the park. Ross Norton Complex - Bid package going out this summer. In response to a question, Mr. Dunbar said the skate park could not be built before the center because of safety concerns. He said the one skate park, at 27,000 square feet, will have elements that will attract participation from throughout the area. It will be strictly extreme skating and not include roller hockey. It also will be large enough to accommodate BMXers. Recreation Trails: McMullen-Booth Pedestrian Bridge; Clearwater East-West Trail - Construction will start this summer with completion by early spring. Recreation Trails: Mandalay Channel Pedestrian bridge, Clearwater East-West Trail - Longer construction time expected; will connect the causeway and Marina. Regarding all trail activity, Mr. Dunbar said, a Bikeway Pedestrian Coordinator has been hired by the City and begins work April 7. She comes from Sprinkle Engineering and is currently completing the bikeway plan for the City of St. Petersburg. E. C. Moore Softball Complex Fields 8 & 9 - Completion expected by December this year; awaiting Swiftmud permit for drainage before beginning work. Bayview Park - Cleanup of property continues. Glen Oaks Park - Nearby residents not excited about locating two multi-purpose fields there. Department has made modifications to address citizens' concerns and will present them at the April 14 City Commission Work Session. It is planned to shift the east field to the west, and have lights go off by 9 p.m. This would give the City 18 multi-purpose fields, which is adequate for community needs but 10 short of the demand from unincorporated areas and the City of Safety Harbor, Mr. Dunbar said. Discussion continues with the County over two facilities: possible swap in Countryside with driving range and Complex where two additional fields and parking could be added, and the Joe DiMaggio complex where an 8-field multi-purpose facility could be built while retaining one baseball field. County is agreeable with partnering at the McMullen facility. b) Upcoming Recreation Events – Mr. Dunbar said the 50th Anniversary of Fun 'n Sun begins in April with Summer Beach Fest at Clearwater Beach. Smooth Jazz at Coachman Park on will be followed by a concert featuring performers representing the five decades of music. Also, Florida Orchestra, Cinco de Mayo, and the Fun 'n Sun Parade. Also in April, some swimming pools will open for the season. ITEM # 6 New Business – Mr. Dunbar distributed the department's recent Annual Report listing the department's accomplishments and number of people impacted by its programs during 2002. Mr. Fletcher asked if Clearwater High School baseball team could play at Jack Russell Stadium instead of Carpenter Fields. Mr. Dunbar said that was their choice; also, they may be able to play at the new sports complex, scheduling permitting. Responding to a question regarding status of the new North Greenwood Recreation Complex, Mr. Dunbar said he is pleased with the growing citizen participation. Mr. Wade said he had heard younger kids not accompanied by parents were being directed by staff to go to the Martin Luther King Center. Mr. Dunbar said he would investigate. Mr. Wade asked if fee schedules could be posted since there are discrepancies in fees between North Greenwood and Long Center programs. Commissioner Jonson asked how many skate parks are planned. Mr. Dunbar said one at this time. This park, at 27,000 square feet, will be challenging enough to attract serious skaters from all over upper county. That is not to say another smaller skate park would not be built in the future if needed. Mr. Dunbar said he would bring some proposals to share with the board, showing some of the elements available. Mr. Dunbar said almost 3,000 persons came to Clearwater during athletic events held during Spring Break. ITEM #7 Adjournment - Members adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Next meeting is April 28 at the Marina and Sunsets @ Pier 60.