01/02/2019 CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEETING
January 2, 2019–5:30 PM–City Hall–Room 222
Members Present: Paris Morfopoulos Chairman
Stu Sjouwerman Vice-Chairman
Caitlein Jammo Treasurer
Thomas Wright Member
Lina Teixeira Member
Ray Cassano Member
Also Present: David Allbritton Ex-officio Member/Councilmember
Hoyt Hamilton Ex-officio Member/Councilmember
Amanda Thompson CRA Director
Anne Fogarty France Board Administrator
Rosemary D'Amour CRA Public Relations & Programs Manager
Members Absent: Venkat"Vincent" Devineni Member
1. Chairman Morfopoulos called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. He welcomed the Ex-officio
councilmembers and asked the board and ex-officio members to introduce themselves.
2. Board Administrator Anne Fogarty France administered the Oath of Office to Members Wright,Jammo and
Teixeira.
3. Election of Officers.
a. Chairman-Member Wright moved to appoint Paris Morfopoulos as Chairman. No
additional nominations were made. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call,the vote
was:
Ayes: Member Cassano, Member Teixeira, Member Sjouwerman,and Member Jammo.
Nays: None.
Motion carried.
b. Vice-Chairman-Member Sjouwerman moved to appoint Member Devineni as Vice-Chairman. The
motion was duly seconded and upon roll call,the vote was:
Ayes: Chairman Morfopoulos, Member Cassano, Member Teixeira, Member Wright,and Member
Jammo.
Nays: None.
Motion carried.
c. Treasurer-Member Cassano moved to appoint Member Jammo as Treasurer. The motion was duly
seconded and upon roll call,the vote was:
Ayes: Chairman Morfopoulos, Member Sjouwerman, Member Teixeira,and Member Wright.
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Nays: None.
Motion carried.
4. Citizens Comments--Items not on the agenda. None.
5. Approve the Minutes from the December 5, 2018, Meeting. No discussion.
Member Sjouwerman moved to approve the minutes from the December 5, 2018, meeting. The motion
was duly seconded and upon roll call,the vote was:
Ayes: Chairman Morfopoulos, Member Cassano, Member Teixeira, Member Wright,and Member
Jammo.
Nays: None.
Motion carried.
6. Adopt November 2018 Financial Statement for Filing. No discussion.
Member Jammo moved to adopt the November 2018 Financial Statement for filing. The motion was
duly seconded. Upon roll call,the vote was:
Ayes: Chairman Morfopoulos, Member Sjouwerman, Member Cassano, Member Teixeira,and
Member Wright.
Nays: None.
Motion carried.
7. Approval to Re-gift Jazz Holiday Posters–Anne Fogarty France, CRA Business Assistance Manager/DDB
Administrator provided a memo for the board to consider re-gifting the posters to the Jazz Holiday
Foundation.
Discussion followed regarding the value of the posters, storage options with the upcoming move from City
Hall and the possibility of a fundraiser. Member Teixeira offered to host a fundraising event and Ex-officio
Member Hamilton suggested the caveat that some percentage of the income go to the Jazz Holiday
Foundation. Member Teixeira will speak with Gary Hallas with the Jazz Holiday Foundation.
Chairman Morfopoulos suggested the item be continued until the February meeting. Administrator
Fogarty France highlighted the importance of a decision by that time.
The board unanimously agreed to revisit this item at the February 6, 2019, meeting.
8. Approval to Make Repairs & Repaint DDB Dolphins–Anne Fogarty France, CRA Business Assistance
Manager/DDB Administrator detailed damage and paint needed to two dolphins that the Board funded
with an estimate of$1,500 to correct and the suggestion was made for a board member to participate in
choosing a new theme for faded "Little Hands for Winter". Chairman Morfopoulos suggested contacting
artist Carol Zurich Wus, who is well-known and painted a couple of dolphins in the downtown area.
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Administrator Fogarty France stated the funds would come from line item 'Future Downtown Initiatives'.
Member Jammo offered to assist with finding a theme for the dolphin that needed to be repainted.
Member Sjouwerman moved to approve the$1,500 expenditure for repairs to and repainting of DDB
Dolphins. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call,the vote was:
Ayes: Chairman Morfopoulos, Member Cassano, Member Teixeira, Member Wright,and Member
Jammo.
Nays: None.
Motion carried.
9. DDB Work Plan (WP) Updates–DDB Administrator Anne Fogarty France.
Board Administrator Fogarty France stated that there were no WP Updates. She reported that the bylaws
are due for update and Chairman Morfopoulos stated there were advertising requirements that had to be
met.
10. CRA Update–CRA Director Amanda Thompson introduced Rosemary D'Amour, newly hired CRA Public
Relations and Programs Manager.
She stated that the Harborview demolition has been approved and will begin mid-January.There is
ongoing discussion about how and what to post on the outside to let the public know that work is being
done inside. She advised that there would be an update for the February meeting. Members Wright and
Jammo were looking forward to working on the demolition party event.
Ms.Thompson stated that the final draft of the parking study will be available at the board meeting on
February 6. Downtown valet solutions will also be revisited at that time.
She alerted viewers that City Hall offices are moving to the sixth floor of 600 Cleveland Street for five
years.
She added that the Winter Extravaganza events were well-attended:
• There were 4,785 people at the carnival and it was the most diverse crowd she'd seen yet in
downtown Clearwater.
• 40 people attended "Christmas Vacation" movie and 70 were at"Polar Express" movie, both
hosted in Station Square Park. Ms.Thompson noted the location was well-suited to the events, the
merchants were particularly engaged, and the guests were well-behaved, including the homeless
in attendance.
The Garden Street parking garage mural is finished. There was some discussion and many compliments
about its theme of unity, diversity, and connection. Three other murals are in progress.
The Dreams of Dali virtual reality experience is opening January 10 at Second Century Studios and will be
free to the public.
The February 6 meeting will be Director Thompson's last before maternity leave.
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11. Chairman's Report—Chairman Morfopoulos advised viewers of upcoming events and noted that more
information was available at DowntownClearwater.com
12. Final Comments
Member Cassano likes that activity is picking up and stated that people all over the world are showing
interest.
Member Teixeira stated that she was looking forward to 2019.
Member Wright believes this is the year of big moves.
Member Sjouwerman is looking forward to seeing the Harborview Center come down.
Member Jammo is looking forward to planning the party for the Harborview Center demolition.
Ex-officio Member Hamilton wished everyone a happy new year.
Ex-officio Member Allbritton wished everyone a successful 2019.
13. The meeting was adjourned at 5:57 p.m.
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