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06/23/2003CITY OF CLEARWATER PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING June 23, 2003 Present: Jonathan Wade Sr. Chair Larry Lindner Board Member Steve Swanberg Board Member James Appelt Board Member Sarah Wiand Board Member Also Present: Kevin Dunbar Director, Parks and Recreation Dept. Steve Miller Superintendent, Recreation Programming Bobbie Downs Staff Assistant Absent: Thomas Fletcher Vice Chair 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 – The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes of Parks and Recreation Board Meeting of April 28, 2003 - The minutes were approved as submitted to members. ITEM #3 Citizen Day at FRPA Conference - Steve Miller, Superintendent of Recreation Programming - Mr. Miller, who is president of the Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA), invited members to attend Citizen Day events on August 26 at the FRPA Annual Conference being held this year at Westin Innisbrook, Palm Harbor. A full day of activities geared to citizen board members is planned. Interested members should reply to staff by July 17. Mr. Miller also noted FRPA's lobbying efforts to protect FRDAP grant monies in the State budget. ITEM #4 Correspondence - None ITEM #5 Old Business a) Naming Town Lake/Park - Mr. Dunbar said the City Commission is asking the board to consider more names for the downtown property known as Town Lake. Commissioners have asked for names reflective of the history of downtown Clearwater. Mr. Dunbar said a Public Hearing to select recommendations is scheduled for August 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room 130 at MSB. b) Skate Park Proposals - Mr. Dunbar showed illustrations two vendors have submitted to construct a 28,000-square-foot skate park at the new Ross Norton Complex. Design input also will be sought from the youth community through open meetings after which the project will go out to bid and be awarded in the fall. Staff will visit other parks constructed by the vendors before making recommendations. Mr. Dunbar said it would be desirable to redesign the entire property containing the skate park, pool and recreation center, Plumb House, horseshoe court, and Ed Wright Park then connect it all to the Pinellas Trail. c) Capital Project Update – Mr. Dunbar updated the following projects: Community Sports Complex - Main concourse 2/3 poured; project expected to cost $30 million. Park Amenity Purchase & Replacement - Projects continue. Tennis Court Resurfacing - Project complete. McKay Park - Playground equipment ordered. Ross Norton Complex - Project expected to be completed October 2004. Fending Replacement Program - Project in Countryside Community Park at Sid Lickton Field kick off later this summer. Light Repair and Replacement - Relamping and lighting upgrade at Countryside Community Park is complete. Recreation Trails: McMullen-Booth Pedestrian Bridge, East-West Trail - Drawings to be available in August. Recreation Trails: Mandalay Channel Pedestrian Bridge, East-West Trail - Drawings to be available in October. Recreation Trails: Bayshore Drive Section, East-West Trail - Construction to begin in October. E. C. Moore Softball Complex Fields 8 & 9 - Well under way. Mr. Dunbar said the U.S. Olympic Softball Team is scheduled to train here this fall, bringing 32 teams to the city. Bayview Park - Board will be asked to conduct a Public Hearing later this year to recommend names for the park. Glen Oaks Park - City Commission decided on concept as originally designed. Consultants are developing 30% of contract drawings. Kapok Mobile Home Park Stormwater Improvements - Plans 70% complete. ` d) Upcoming Recreation Events – Mr. Dunbar invited members to the next special event, "Clearwater Celebrates America," on July 3 and 4 at Coachman Park. Entertainment July 3 is Gary Lewis & The Playboys, and Don McLean, and July 4 is Mostly Pops Orchestra with John and Mary Kay Wilson, and the Fireworks show. Full summertime recreation programming also is under way. ITEM # 6 New Business – a) In order to balance the City's budget, which is being presented to the City Commission, the department was required to reduce its budget by $500,000. To achieve this, Mr. Dunbar proposed: 1) reducing operations at Joe DiMaggio Recreation Complex by operating it as an athletic facility and reassigning recreation staff; 2) finding alternative funding sources for Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival including attractions in the Pier 60 park area; and, 3) taking over operations of the Long Center, which would upgrade the level of programming service while continuing maintenance and saving some $150,000 annually for the city and $50,000 annually for the center. The Long Center's Board of Directors is to consider the issue in July and it is expected to go to City Commission for approval in August. b) Mr. Dunbar reported Clearwater scored highest in Florida in Sports Illustrated Magazine's program to name a "Sports Town" in every state. He congratulated Mr. Miller and Ms. Melanie Cornwell, Public Information Coordinator, for putting together the Department's informational notebook/entry submitted for judging. Top scorers now will be judged by a national panel of authorities as well as judges from Sports Illustrated. Winners from each state will be featured in the magazine. Not on the Agenda - In response to a question, Mr. Dunbar will check on when the McMullen tennis pro's contract expires. Mr. Appelt questioned the significant differences in fees between Clearwater for Youth and the Junior Cougars football programs. Mr. Dunbar will have a report at the next meeting. Discussion ensued on plans for creating more multi-purpose fields. At the July meeting, Mr. Dunbar will show plans for Jack Russell Stadium renovation and expansion of site; the Joe DiMaggio Soccer Complex; and the McMullen-Booth Soccer Project. ITEM #7 Adjournment - Members adjourned at 8:05 p.m. The next meeting will be held July 28 at Countryside Recreation Center instead of the City Nursery as previously announced.