03/26/2026 - COMMUNITY RESILIENCY AND LEISURE SERVICES ADVISORY BOARDCommunity Resiliency and Leisure
Services Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes March 26, 2026
City of Clearwater
Main Library - Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 26, 2026
4:00 PM
Special Meeting - continuation of 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 March 26, 2026
Roll Call
Present: Chair Bianca Latvala, Board Member Candace Gardner, Board Member Kelly
S. Kelly, Board Member Michael Rubino, Vice Chair Glenna Wentworth, and
Board Member Nana Westmark
Absent: Board Member Timothy Hughes
Also Present: 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 — Chair Latvala
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the February 4, 2026 meeting.
Board Vice Chair Glenna Wentworth moved to approve the minutes of
the February 4, 2026 Community Resiliency and Leisure Services
Advisory Board meeting as submitted in written summation. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. New Business Items
3.1 Project updates.
At the February 4, 2026 organizational meeting, the Board requested an
overview of special projects from the Library, Parks and Recreation, and Public
Works.
Staff will provide updates on projects identified in the strategic plan under the
Community Well -Being and Environmental Stewardship categories. In addition,
they will advise the board of any grants the respective department is pursuing
that are scheduled to go before the Board and City Council.
Updates will be provided by:
1. Jennifer Obermaier, Library Director
2. Art Kader, Parks and Recreation Director
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City of Clearwater
Community Resiliency and Leisure
Services Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes March 26, 2026
3. Cassie Cordova, Sustainability Division Manager
The City Clerk said Board Member Timothy Hughes is not present due to
family matters and left relevant questions with her to ask as appropriate.
Library Director Jen Obermaier said the library department has no
current major projects in the strategic plan or part of any major CIP
projects. The library takes part in only regular ongoing CIP projects at
this moment in continuation with the scope of services provided. In
response to questions, Ms. Obermaier reviewed the process involved with
materials are being challenged, she said the last challenge was raised in
2011.
Parks and Recreation Director Art Kader said the width and breadth of the
department spans in a way that touches everyone in one way or another.
Mr. Kader encouraged the board to reach out with any concerns that are
brought before them so the Parks and Rec department can rectify any
issues presented. Mr. Kader reviewed active and future projects
and grant applications that will come within the scope of the board. In
response to questions, Mr. Kader will involve the board when the Park and
Recreation masterplan is scheduled for an update, He said staff is expecting
the Board to hear the renaming request for Edgewater Dr. Park in the near
future.
Public Works Sustainability Division Manager Cassie Cordova
presented a video encompassing the Sustainability Action Plan,
Vulnerability Assessment, and Sustainability Initiatives, as well as current
outreach and educational initiatives and funding status on various
projects. In response to questions, Ms. Cordova shared updates on the
status of the coastal resiliency program and elaborated on the
department recipients to solar panels, the vulnerability assessment as
available online.
3.2 Adopt Board Rules and Regulations.
The board rules and regulations codify quorum, meeting frequency, election of
officers, attendance, board purpose and order of business.
Board Member Michael Rubino moved to accept the Community
Resiliency and Leisure Services Board Rules and Regulations as
presented. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
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Community Resiliency and Leisure Meeting Minutes (March 26, 2026
Services Advisory Board i
3.3 Public Comments on expectations of the Board.
At the February 4, 2026 organizational meeting, there was consensus to allow
the public to express what their expectations of the Board.
Ursula Snow said she values open communication and concise
information availability, giving website suggestions to assist in citizens
access of information for a more responsive public.
Patrick Raftery thanked the board for their dedication to the city and the
service given, going on to emphasize to pay special attention to Article 2
in the Board's rules and regulations before each engagement with the
public. Mr. Raftery emphasized to partner closely with the city
departments in collaborative and constructive spirits as well as to stay
engaged in the community of the city both by visiting the parks and other
infrastructures and community engagements in their purview.
Bill Jonson said he is excited at the prospect of this advisory board
and emphasized the importance of items related to park environments.
Jared Leone thanked the board members for answering the call to action
and serve on the board. He emphasized the need to advocate for
sustainability and building on the foundation laid by the former boards.
Ms. Call said Mr. Hughes requested the planning director provide a
presentation on the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, specifically addressing Parks
and public spaces and the conservation of coastal management sections at
future meetings.
In response to a comment, the City Clerk said all items presented at a
meeting are attached to the agenda item and are available online. Individuals
can also use the search function to find a specific document.
Vice Chair Wentworth encouraged board members to look at Greenpoint 2.0
and wished all a happy Earth Day.
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City of Clearwater
Community Resiliency and Leisure
Services Advisory Board
4. Adjourn
Meeting Minutes March 26, 2026
The meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m.
imak_ a
Chair
Community Resiliency and Leisure Services
Board Reporter
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City of Clearwater