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11/13/1996NORTH GREENWOOD COMMUNITY TASK TEAM CITY OF CLEARWATER November 13, 1996 Present: Reverend William Graham Chair Mayme Hodges Team Member Mary Samuel Team Member Bertha Kelley Team Member Joe Marshall Team Member David Grice Team Member Kathy S. Rice Deputy City Manager Lt. Jeff Kronschnabl Special Assistant to the City Manager/Community Response Team Rich Baier City Engineer Scott Shuford Director of Central Permitting Alan Ferri Economic Development Director Michael Holmes Assistant Economic Development Director Al Hinson Recreation Supervisor II Brenda Moses Board Reporter Absent: MacArthur Boykins Team Member Dennis Golden Team Member Tal Rutledge Team Member Reverend Lucius Pitts, Jr. Team Member Samuel Collie Team Member Beverly Bryant Team Member The meeting was called to order by Reverend William Graham at 6:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center, 1201 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Clearwater, Florida. To provide continuity, the items listed were not necessarily discussed in that order. Ms. Hodges moved to approve the minutes of October 14, 1996 as submitted in writing to each member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Ms. Rice acknowledged Commissioners Johnson and Seel. Deputy City Manager, Kathy Rice, distributed handouts on projects which have been accomplished with the help of this task team (Exhibit A). A draft of recommendations (Exhibit B) to be presented by this task team to City Commissioners was reviewed. Major topics of discussion included: 1) economic development; 2) environmental issues; 3) public facilities and improvements; 4) public safety; and 5) recreational - leisure services. Various grants awarded to the police department were discussed. A $435,000 grant was obtained to add 6 community policing officers in the North Greenwood, South Greenwood and Old Clearwater Bay areas. A $286,000 grant was obtained to fund St. Petersburg Junior College, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County and Clearwater with educational benefits for 40 students to obtain the necessary education for criminal justice jobs. A $450,000 grant was obtained from Cox Universal Hiring to add 6 community policing officers downtown, specifically for the homeless shelter. An urban partnership grant of $50,000 was obtained to fund enhancement to the North Greenwood patrol, including equipment and computer lab stations, and a van for the Sergeant Allen Moore Center. A $35,000 grant was obtained for Weed N Seed elements in the area. A $90,000 grant was obtained to purchase computer hardware and software for 6 stations, $25,000 for staffing, $40,000 for a safe haven for enhancements and job skills training programs in this area. A total of $2,679,000 in grants will mostly benefit this area. Assistant Economic Development Director, Michael Holmes, discussed the City’s economic development plans for the area. He reviewed proposed job training programs and long term business expansion and development. Plans are to work with Florida Job Service, local area businesses, and Career Options of Pinellas County to enhance employment opportunities in the area. As the City’s economic development plans are developed, the Greenwood area will be included. It was suggested placing advertisements in the St. Petersburg Times or using other methods to notify the public of future community meetings. Some residents asked to be kept informed of CRA activities. It was noted in January of 1997, a series of public meetings will be scheduled to propose an effective watershed management program in the area. Targeted dates for various other programs were discussed. As plans for Stevenson’s Creek were discussed, a resident suggested dredging would eliminate the need for replanting in the area. Some residents felt garbage would accumulate in replanted areas and were against littoral shelf plantings. Questions were asked about low interest loans, and it was noted various programs are available to the community. Discussion ensued regarding homes which are torn down because they did not meet minimum housing codes. City staff will look into legal avenues available to inform residents prior to demolition. The meeting recessed at 7:40 p.m. and reconvened at 7:50 p.m. Beautification programs were discussed which included streetscaping. Public safety programs are being developed to address crime, traffic control, eradication of drugs, truancy, increased communications between the Police Department and the neighborhood, and other issues. Recreational and leisure services were discussed. Plans include tying the North Greenwood community to City-wide events, additional North Greenwood Panther parking, stadium issues, a new recreational/community center, and a passive park along the North Greenwood business district. Penny for Pinellas will play an important role in funding some of these projects. Ms. Dorothy Pettis, Treasurer for the Greenwood Panthers, gave a brief background on the organization. The organization was formed to teach children to take pride in the community, respect themselves and others, obey rules and regulations, and enjoy living and working with others regardless of their age, color, nationality or religion. She asked City staff to help obtain funding for this worthy organization. Member Grice moved to approve the Action Plan as amended and submit it to the City Commission at the next meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Members of the task team thanked Ms. Rice and City staff for all their efforts. City Staff thanked team members for their invaluable input and efforts in the development of the Action Plan being recommended to the City Commission. Reverend Graham noted although the Action Plan has been finalized for presentation to the City Commission, this task team may be called upon in the future to discuss pertinent community issues. Citizens expressed hopes that positive articles in the media will ensue as a result of the efforts of this task team and City staff. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.