Community Resiliency and Leisure Services Advisory Board Special Meeting – March 26, 2026

The Community Resiliency and Leisure Services Advisory Board held a special meeting (continuation of organizational meeting) on March 26, 2026 at 4:00 PM in the City of Clearwater Main Library Council Chambers. The board approved minutes, received project updates from the Library, Parks and Recreation, and Sustainability departments, adopted board rules and regulations, and heard public comments on expectations of the board. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 23, 2026, with a shortened timeline due to a council meeting.

Consent Calendar

• ID#26-0380: The minutes of the February 4, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously. A board member asked about a reference to a request to the public works department; staff clarified that sustainability is under public works. The minutes were approved by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ursula Snow (resident, Patricia Avenue) urged the board to communicate clearly and highlighted the difficulty of finding city documents (e.g., the vulnerability assessment presentation) online. She suggested the board could create highlight links to important presentations. Staff responded that documents are available through the agenda system and city website.
• Patrick Rafftree (countryside resident, former Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member) encouraged the board to partner with departments in a spirit of cooperation, constructive criticism, and to visit parks. He alerted the board to upcoming issues: the proposed development of the Landings, reimagined use of the lawn bowling and shuffleboard courts, and the need to merge Pinellas County’s model tree ordinance with Clearwater’s tree policy.
• Bill Johnson (countryside resident, chair of Courtney Campbell Causeway Corridor Advisory Board) suggested the board highlight quarterly accomplishments, such as the recent seeding of four million baby clams along the Courtney Campbell Causeway. He proposed the board act as “experience expectations representatives” to ensure visitor and resident expectations are met, especially after storms.
• Jared Leone (longtime resident, former Environmental Advisory Board chair) thanked the board for their service and encouraged them to build on the foundation of environmental sustainability and resiliency policies that led to millions in savings. He offered himself as a resource.

Discussion Items

• Library Director Jennifer Obermeyer presented on the library’s materials challenge process. If a patron challenges a book, a staff committee reviews it, and if the patron disagrees with the director’s decision, they can appeal to this board. No formal challenges have occurred since at least 2010. The board asked about guidelines; Obermeyer noted they follow American Library Association guidelines and professional reviews. The library also offers digitization services.
• Parks and Recreation Director Art Cater (47-year city veteran) gave an overview of the department’s scope (beach maintenance, median beautification, 110 parks, 1,700 acres). He explained the board’s role in grant applications and naming parks/facilities. He provided updates on completed projects (Marymont Park, State Street Park, McKay Park – six pickleball courts), in-construction projects (North Greenwood pool repair, $2M; Clearwater Beach landscape renovations, $800K; Pier 60 repairs), future projects (Ed Wright Park, Countryside pickleball courts, Moccasin Lake Park expansion, Eddie C. Moore Softball Fields renovations, $21M), and long-term projects (McMullen tennis courts, Woodgate Park, Sailing Center dock replacement, Coachman Park improvements). The Clearwater Beach Aquatic Center is expected to reopen April 1st. The Phillies contract negotiations are ongoing. Board members discussed pickleball programming and volunteer opportunities.
• Sustainability and Environmental Division Manager Cassie Cordova presented on sustainability initiatives. She introduced Greenprint 2.0 (eight core topics), the recently completed vulnerability assessment (flooding, sea level rise, heat), and ongoing projects: solar installations (four new, including Long Center, North Greenwood, City Hall), four electric vehicles, municipal energy savings program (15.7% reduction so far), Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. New programs: Adopt-a-Drain, urban forestry initiative (tree canopy assessment and management plan), and Coastal Resilience and Education Initiative (multi-agency). She detailed funding successes: $85M in grants applied for, $14M awarded, 30% federal clean energy tax credits, Duke Energy rebates. She noted that sustainability is profitability. Board member Hughes (via written question) asked how the board can support the coastal resilience program; Cordova said they will be engaged as the program develops.
• Board Rules and Regulations (ID#26-0382) : The board adopted the proposed rules as presented, with the order of business kept as “citizens to be heard” after approval of minutes. A brief discussion occurred on whether to move public comments to the end; the board decided to keep it at the beginning to allow early public participation. The motion passed unanimously.
• Next Meeting Agenda: Staff proposed inviting the Planning Director to present on the Comprehensive Plan 2045, specifically the parks and public spaces section, at the April 23 meeting. The board agreed to consider this item. Discussion about the “Landings” development – staff clarified it is not yet a formal city project, so it is not appropriate for the board agenda at this time, but a special meeting could be called if needed. The board also discussed the importance of reviewing Greenprint 2.0 and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved (unanimous).
• Board Rules and Regulations adopted as presented (unanimous).
• Public comments received and noted.
• Next regular meeting scheduled for April 23, 2026, 4:00 PM, with a mandatory adjournment by 5:30 PM to accommodate the council meeting. The board will consider inviting the Planning Director for a presentation on the Comp Plan 2045 parks section.
• Informational items: The board was encouraged to review the sustainability and resilience plans and to attend Earth Month events (April 18 – Earth Day at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, April 22 – beach cleanup and movie screening of The Lorax).