02/04/2026 - COMMUNITY RESILIENCY AND LEISURE SERVICES ADVISORY BOARDCommunity Resiliency and Leisure
Services Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes February 4, 2026
City of Clearwater
Main Library - Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
4:00 PM
Organizational Meeting
Main Library - Council Chambers
Community Resiliency and Leisure Services
Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Community Resiliency and Leisure
Services Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes February 4, 2026
Roll Cali
Present7 - Board Member Candace Gardner, Board Member Timothy Hughes,
Board Member Kelly S. Kelly, Board Member Bianca Latvala, Board
Member Michael Rubino, Board Member Glenna Wentworth, and
Board Member Nana Westmark
Also Present 2 — Rosemarie Call — City Clerk and Danielle DeBois —City Clerk
Specialist
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
Unapproved
1. Call to Order — City Clerk
The meeting was called to order at 4 p.m.
2. New Business Items
2.1 Introductions.
Board Members will introduce themselves.
The Board introduced themselves.
2.2 Review Board Purpose.
The community resiliency and leisure services advisory board shall:
• Provide feedback and guidance to the city council on endeavors that
enhance sustainable recreation, parks, athletic fields, library services, and
cultural programs at city facilities and foster community interest in events
and initiatives that promote community well-being and environmental
stewardship.
• Advise on the establishment of rules or regulations governing the library
system as requested.
• Review challenges from a citizen who questions the inclusion of any item in
the library collection as requested by the Library Director.
• Hold public hearings for requests to rename a city park or a portion of a
recreation facility and provide the city council with a recommendation for a
final decision.
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City of Clearwater
Community Resiliency and Leisure
Services Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes February 4, 2026
• Prioritize recreational needs for inclusion in the parks and recreation master
plan.
• Seek public sentiment on prospective grant applications as requested by the
Parks and Recreation Director and Sustainability and Environmental
Division Manager.
• Provide insight to city council on environmental activities within and affecting
the city.
• Identify educational opportunities and community outreach sessions on
topics or initiatives supporting the city's community well-being and
environmental stewardship objectives identified in the strategic plan.
• Engage residents to build and strengthen community support and feedback
on existing and future projects.
The board will not advise on matters that have specifically been reviewed by the city
council to avoid creating fiscal impacts or undue delays in the implementation of
critical resiliency projects. The board shall submit reports to the city council
regarding their recommendations to include an annual activity report.
Ms. Call reviewed the purpose of the board as well as the focus areas of
the strategic plan the board will be engaging the public in.
2.3 Review Sunshine Law and Public Records Law.
Ms. Call reviewed the Sunshine and Public Records Laws with the
Board.
2.4 Elect a Chair and Vice Chair.
Staff is requesting board members elect a Chair and Vice Chair. The Chair shall
preside over meetings and perform such other functions as the board may
request. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair will assume those
responsibilities.
Board Member Kelly Kelly moved to nominate Bianca Latvala as Chair
of the Community Resiliency and Leisure Services Advisory Board.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Board Member Timothy Hughes moved to nominate Glenna Wentworth
as Vice Chair of the Community Resiliency and Leisure Services
Advisory Board. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
Community Resiliency and Leisure
Services Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes February 4, 2026
2.5 Provide feedback on Parks and Recreation's FDACS Hurricane Ian Grant
Application.
Community Forestry - Hurricane Ian Recovery (CF -HIR) Grant
In September 2022, Hurricane Ian struck peninsular Florida with extensive wind,
flood, and storm surge impacts, causing significant damage to the urban forest.
While making landfall as a category four hurricane with sustained winds of 150
MPH, this storm had significant and clear direct impacts on the urban tree
canopy due to wind damage on the southwest coast of Florida. However, the
impacts of this storm spread much further with flooding caused by excessive
rain (between five and 20 inches, depending on specific location) and severe
erosion in many locations. Hurricane Ian impacted most of peninsular Florida,
with urban forest damage stretching from Fort Myers to Jacksonville.
This program aims to restore and enhance urban forests across 29 counties in
Florida's peninsular region that suffered damage from Hurricane Ian. Its central
objective is to strengthen the resilience of these forests against future storms.
The Parks & Recreation Department has put together a grant application to
request funds for the purchase, planting, and long-term care of 75+ resilient tree
species at eight separate Parks & Recreation sites.
The total projected project cost is $58,823.49, with a 25% minimum grant
match requirement, we will be requesting $44,117.62 in grant funding.
Parks and Recreation Management Analyst Nathan Pandy reviewed
the FDACS Hurricane lan Grant Application for urban tree restoration.
In response to questions, Mr. Pandy shared the grant would be providing 93
native, resilient trees to be planted across eight various parks and be
maintained by city staff. The City is requesting just over $44, 000 in grant
funding and currently anticipates the project to start after June 30th with no
exact timeline.
The Board expressed support for this project.
2.6 Establish meeting schedule.
The Board will meet every other month. Staff is requesting Board Members to
identify a day and time during the second or fourth week of the meeting month.
Ms. Call opened discussions for when meetings should be held on a
regular basis.
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City of Clearwater
Community Resiliency and Leisure
Services Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes February 4, 2026
Board Chair Bianca Latvala moved to hold a recurring meeting on the
fourth Wednesday of every other month. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
It was stated that chambers are not available for the desired meeting time,
an alternative meeting schedule discussion ensued.
Board Chair Bianca Latvala moved to hold a recurring meeting to be
held on the fourth Thursday of every other month and for a special
meeting to be held on March 26 2026. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
2.7 Set agenda for next meeting.
Ms. Call said the following meeting's agenda topics will include adopting
rules and procedures as well as setting a standard order of agenda
proceedings. Discussion ensued to include an overview of special
projects from each department from head points of contact with the
Board and any grant items being brought to the City Council Work
Session.
Chair Latvala said she would like an open session for people to come and
express the citizens' expectations of the board.
3. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 4:57 p.m.
Attest:
Board Reporter
City of Clearwater
Muck.
Community Resiliency and Leisure Services
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