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01/09/1992 MAAS BROTHERS TASK FORCE MEETING January 9, 1992 Members present: Ed Mazur, Chairperson Jim Graham, Vice-Chairperson (arrived 4:29 p.m.) John B. Johnson Phoebe Moss Hal Ebersole Stephen Saliga Joshua Magidson Robert Kennedy Wray Register Nancy Simmons Jackie Tobin Bob Bickerstaffe David Little Debra Weible (arrived 4:08 p.m.) Members absent: Joanne Faruggia Also Present: Michael J. Wright, City Manager Jerry Sternstein, Economic Development Director Cynthia E. Goudeau, City Clerk The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. at the Clearwater East Library. ITEM #1 - Public Forum The Chairperson thanked everyone for coming. He stated the purpose of this meeting is to receive input regarding what to do with the property, not how to do it. He stated there would be no debate regarding the ideas at this meeting. Alyce Husa read her letter into the record stating she felt the property should be used as is without any money flow. She recommended generating income from rental and vending machines and using college students and volunteers to run recreation programs from the facility. She also recommending allowing tourists with sleeping bags to use the building for overnight stays. She stated the large areas could be made into dancing areas at night and a convention area could be there during the day. She stated Clearwater artists could provide paintings for the facility. Charles Mason stated he would not reiterate what he had put in his letter which has already been submitted. He indicated he is the grandson of one of the original owners of the property and felt that one of the first things that must be done was to thoroughly clean out the inside of the building to determine what the building needs in order to make it usable. He stated he would like to see the property restored to the original contour. He stated a good solution for the lower portion of the property would be to use it as a recreation center for young people. Robert Wright recommended the facility be converted into a City Hall Annex with the lower story being used for a restaurant and small shops. He stated the basic structure is sound and the parking area could be used as a pick-up point for a trolley or bus. Anne Garris stated the portion of the property up to the 28 foot line should remain an open space. She reported the entire property was purchased from the Coachmans and was dedicated as parkland. She stated the City Commission ignored the dedication for parkland when it was felt there was a need for an anchor for the revitalization of downtown, and the Maas Brothers facility was constructed. She stated downtown Clearwater has moved to Countryside and the most successful things in downtown Clearwater recently have been the concerts and cultural events along with the tennis courts providing recreation. She feels the bluff should be a focal point for cultural and recreational events and open space. She stated the referendum put the protection for the open space in the charter and it should be a place for people to gather. She stated the bluff is not a place for a high-rise building. In response to a question, Mrs. Garris indicated she felt the building should be looked at very carefully before the decision is made to tear it down. It is her understanding it is better to encapsulate asbestos than to remove it. She agreed there was a need to improve the looks of the outside of the building. Questions were raised regarding her assertion regarding dedicated parkland. She indicated the League of Women Voters had done some research into this. She was asked to provide this for the Task Force and the City Clerk would copy it. Desmond Buzzell read his letter into the record stating he felt this site would benefit from a hotel with restaurants and shops with a park provided above a parking structure. He recommended the hotel have two restaurants, possibly in a tiered plan, so that all patrons would have a view of the waterfront and there be a terrace from the restaurants opening onto the park above the parking structure. He stated one of the restaurants should be for fine dining, the other a moderately priced restaurant with at least a portion open 24 hours a day. He stated the shops should face Osceola and be of high quality but not exclusive. He also felt provisions should be made for a station in which to accommodate a monorail or light rail transit system that would tie in with the Countryside and Clearwater mall areas as well as Dunedin, Largo, Belleair, Indian Rocks, Clearwater Beach, Island Estates and Sand Key. He stated development of this site is directly related to the redevelopment of downtown and should take precedence over other downtown redevelopment projects. In response to a question, Mr. Buzzell indicated he was envisioning a monorail system similar to that at Disney World and this would alleviate traffic congestion. A question was raised regarding whether or not he felt the City should own the hotel and restaurants and he felt the City should work with a developer in this regard. In response to a question, he indicated he felt the park above the parking structure would be related to the Coachman Park area. A question was raised why he felt that this development should take precedence over other downtown development projects and he stated there is a need to concentrate on the existing downtown area. Rachel Marshall presented a drawing of her idea for a convention center. She stated she would like to see the monorail linking the beaches to this area. She feels it is a prime time to build and put Clearwater on the map due to the lower interest rates. She felt the dome shaped convention center would be a compliment to the church across Cleveland Street and recommended a circular parking garage above, with the lower part becoming a part of Coachman Park. She feels the convention center should be built as high as possible with weather equipment being installed for the media to use. A restaurant with full view of the waterfront would be desirable as well as an outside elevator. In response to a question, she indicated she felt the beach had more power over Clearwater due to the impact of tourists. Katherine Harra read her letter into the record recommending a state-of-the-art Clearwater Cultural Arts Museum. She feels the building is ideally equipped for this with the security system, air conditioning, freight loading and elevators already in place. She felt the openness of the interior of the building would allow movable partitions for exhibit space. She recommended the top floor be a working arts center and the second level be the main exhibit area. She felt the lower level would be ideal for use for large meetings, proms, fashion shows, luncheons, etc., in connection with the restaurant area. She felt the installation of a sculpture garden, in the free parking area, would be a beautiful use of the property. She felt fine quality gift shops should also be available along with the art museum. In response to a question, she indicated she was talking about using the existing building. A question was raised regarding whether or not she felt the museum should be City or privately operated and she indicated the City should at least continue to own the property. William Sterrett stated his specialty has been appraisals and there needs to be a look at the present building to see what exists. He stated the City should not try to compete with Tampa and that open space is very important. He cautioned against tearing the building down in the beginning stating you could always take it down later. In response to a question regarding what he meant by clearing out the building, he stated he was referring to taking out all of the non-permanent partitions. A question was asked regarding if the building is found to be in good shape, what did Mr. Sterrett then suggest. Mr. Sterrett responded the City should then go out for bids regarding what to do with the property. William Littell stated the City should use the building as they have it and to use this property for dances. He recommended the Parks and Recreation Division move into the building with the lower floors being a dance area and other areas being used for meeting rooms, etc. He stated this would conform to using Coachman Park as a recreation area. Jim Watson stated the priority should be in studying the relationship with the beach and the question of transportation needed to be looked at. He recommended consideration of the Clearwater Beach Task Force recommendations. ITEM #2 - Review of Sunshine Law The Chairperson distributed a memorandum from the City Clerk regarding the need to abide by the Sunshine Law if more than one task force member belongs to another group or organization. If at a meeting of the other group or organization the subject of the Maas Brothers site is discussed, all but one of the task force members should excuse themselves. The Chairperson emphasized that task force members can not talk about the topic of the downtown Maas Brothers site unless they are in a duly noticed public meeting of the task force. A question was raised regarding if citizens asked questions and it was indicated that would be no problem if a task force member discusses the topic with a citizen. ITEM #3 - Downtown Plan Executive Summary The Chairperson handed out copies of the Downtown Plan Executive Summary requesting the task force members review this study and it be discussed at the next meeting. A question was raised regarding the next meeting with concerns being expressed that the meeting today had been advertised from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and that many individuals who submitted material had not shown up. A question was raised regarding whether or not the second public forum could be advertised in such a way that once people present had completed speaking, the meeting could be adjourned. Member Graham moved to change the notice of the meeting with the beginning time to be 4:00 p.m. with no ending time. The motion was duly seconded. A question was raised regarding whether or not there should be a minimum ending time and it was indicated this was not desired. In response to a question, it was indicated there would be further in-depth investigation of the building and public input prior to the Task Force making its recommendation. Upon the vote being taken upon the motion, the motion carried unanimously. The Chairperson presented the minutes of December 12, 1991. Mr. Bickerstaffe indicated the minutes showed him as absent when he actually arrived at 4:25 p.m. Member Graham moved to approve the minutes of December 12, 1991, as corrected regarding Mr. Bickerstaffe's attendance. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Mr. Saliga read a portion of the minutes from December 12th emphasizing the City Manager stated staff was there not to influence the task force decision but to help them in their task. Copies of ideas which had been submitted to the Clearwater Times, based on Mr. Henderson's editorial, were handed out. The meeting recessed from 5:15 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. Mary Vaughn stated she worked in the downtown area and was a member of the Downtown Development Board. She encouraged proposals that enhanced the tax base. She encouraged the development of the upper portion stating there is not enough property on the Maas Brothers site to develop, however, it should be developed in conjunction with the upper portion from Cleveland Street to Drew Street. She stated there needed to be development in the downtown area to revitalize it and bring people back into downtown. She was in opposition to a park all the way across the bluff. In response to a question, Ms. Vaughn indicated she was not speaking for the Downtown Development Board. A question was raised regarding the property she recommended development and it was indicated she was advocating combining those properties from Cleveland Street to Drew Street into one. Luciano Mendes, President of the Clearwater Resort Owners Association, read a portion of their letter into the record indicating they urge the existing building be retained and used until another use can be shown to be an integral part of an overall plan for downtown Clearwater, Clearwater Beach and Clearwater's bayfront with the building being used for community activities, trade shows, tourist activities and a depot for the start of a tram system to and from Clearwater Beach as recommended by the Clearwater Beach Blue Ribbon Task Force. They are in favor of keeping the open bayfront below the bluff with no building beyond the 28 foot sea level line. They are opposed to a hotel on the Maas Brothers site as they feel there is no need for additional hotel units at this time. Because of the importance of the issue, they recommend the issue be put on a referendum before a final decision is made. He further stated they feel this area is the gateway to the beach and they do not want an albatross or an eyesore. He stated they should concentrate on a project that integrates the beach with downtown. A suggestion was made that the Task Force consider beginning the meeting of January 23rd later, rather than at 4:00 p.m. There was no consensus on this suggestion. The members of the Task Force introduced themselves to the audience. Bill Justice stated he did not have a specific recommendation but he has seen downtown gradually deteriorate. He stated stores will not rebuild the downtown area and that we need to give the public something that we do not have anywhere else. He suggested making it a center for information or a youth gathering location. He indicated he would not like to see big development on the bayfront but something should be done to attract people to the area. A request was made that Mr. Justice be a little more specific and he indicated he did not have anything but felt there needed to be something to attract the youth. A previous auditorium attracted people to downtown. He stated there is no reason for youths to go downtown now. Rebecca Butcher presented a drawing outlining a proposal for developing low income housing in the existing Maas Brothers building. She stated it would be ideal for low income families and it would not cost much to renovate. She indicated its proximity to the bus station and to the park made it ideal. Chuck Carter, editor of the Beach Views, reminded the Task Force of a proposal that was submitted recommending a world class gymnastics center. He stated that while this might not be the ideal use, he wished to remind them to come up with something different and not to limit themselves to traditional ideas. Lucy Butcher stated she has been in Clearwater a long time and was saddened when the previous civic center/auditorium was removed. She stated there are crowds in the downtown area when there are activities at the bandshell. She indicated she was pleased the City owns the property. Joe Evich stated the Task Force has a challenging task ahead of them. He stated it had been indicated that the downtown area represented 5% of the tax base for the City of Clearwater. He stated if the tax base increased 15%, that would allow reduction of the millage rate. He stated revenue needs to be generated from this site and the Task Force should be creative. He did recommend that any decision be put to referendum. He stated it may be expensive to repair and replace the building and the Task Force must look at the long term issue. He stated cost and revenue raising must be considered. He reported there are not a lot of activities in downtown, and it needs better restaurants and activities. He suggested the Task Force look at other waterfront projects which have been successful. Katherine Harra spoke again suggesting the Task Force look into a 2% arts tax that has been implemented in other areas. She believes the tax is a surcharge on construction. Lucy Butcher stated she is with the Legal Secretary Association. She is saddened the area does not have what it needs for inviting people for meetings and conventions. She stated the working class can not afford beach prices. She stated a trolley would be enjoyed and that there is not much to offer families with children in the 8, 9 and 10 year range. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.