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Record of Proceedings

Clearwater Building/Flood Board Approves Marina Kiosk Variance - Nov 12, 2025

Clearwater Municipal MeetingsWednesday, November 12, 2025
BodyClearwater, Florida
SessionClearwater Municipal Meetings
DateWednesday, November 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 29:58

Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

So I I looked at it like how many years I had already been for it.

0:20

And then I got to do that.

0:25

Yes.

0:26

Ready?

0:27

Yes, sir.

0:30

Yeah, we're not going to be able to do that.

0:32

Okay.

0:32

So nine.

0:35

Good morning, everyone.

0:37

Call this hearing to order.

0:40

The proposed is a variance, I believe, uh, by the city for kiosk out on the municipal pier.

0:48

Is that correct?

0:49

That's correct.

0:49

Yes.

0:50

And uh so start with the um staff from the city uh presenting if you could start with that.

1:06

Uh anyone have a motion to approve minutes of the previous meeting.

1:14

Yeah, I wasn't here.

1:16

Yeah, you don't have to you don't have to have many or two to um to move or to approve those minutes.

1:21

Yeah, I approve we have a motion and a second motion and a second.

1:25

All those in favor?

1:27

Aye.

1:28

Any opposed?

1:29

Seeing none, you can move on to your okay variants.

1:32

Thank you, sir.

1:33

So Kevin, you want to start your presentation?

1:37

Yeah, I don't really have a presentation.

1:39

This is part of the marina reconstruction.

1:42

If anybody's been down that way lately, you can see has been uh it's well underway.

1:47

And this is one of the components of that.

1:50

All of the um uh the boat operators down there have like little office kiosks that they sell tickets out of and manage their um their tours.

2:02

And it's below the base flood elevation.

2:05

So you all have been around here long enough to know that uh below base flood elevation is is prohibited.

2:12

And uh so they are asking they being the uh marina in the in the city engineer's office who is uh doing the project to um get a variance for that, and they have a proposal to remove these kiosks, and they have the means and the staff and the equipment to do that, and so um our office, me, I have no objection to it, and so I didn't prepare anything to show, but the city does, and they can show you what these look like and how they're gonna um take care of it when uh need be.

2:50

And uh when we look at the the um construction requirements in a flood zone, the whole intent is to minimize damage and minimize the insurance claims.

3:03

It's all part of the national flood insurance program.

3:06

And when you see that they are uh going to forklift these and truck them out of the way to a high ground, that intent is met.

3:18

It um it they're somewhat temporary, but they'll be there for the most part all the time.

3:25

They're um they're quick connect on electric and they're um connected with um fasteners that can be um undone.

3:36

And so when the storm event would occur in would come the forklifts, flatbed trucks, and they would haul them out of there.

3:44

So um we have no objection to it, and so I think uh we'll just go on and see their presentation and see and see what it's all about.

3:55

Okay, so if uh Tanner, you want to come up and introduce yourself and uh show your slides.

4:05

Good morning, council.

4:06

Um Tanner Hamzawi with the City of Clearwater at uh for the engineering department.

4:12

I just wanted to recap a little bit about what Kevin said uh with a brief slideshow here.

4:19

Um excuse me, what was your name again?

4:24

Tanner Hamzawe.

4:47

Okay.

4:48

Thank you.

4:49

Thank you.

4:50

Um so we're we're here to present on the uh City of Clearwater Marina rehab till rehabilitation of the temporary kiosk.

5:00

And uh just uh wanted to uh briefly describe um so this is a variance request uh on behalf of the City of Clearwater Marine and Aviation and the uh public works department uh to request the variance for the proposed new uh ticket sales kiosk.

5:21

Um this installation is for the variance of the below the design flood elevation, and the flood protection will be done uh by the removal under the city of Clearwater's emergency plan.

5:37

These uh temporary kiosks will be comparable size and scale to the existing, um, and no changes will be uh uh from the use of the existing to the proposed.

5:49

Um these kiosks will uh have improved resilience uh in the event of a storm, and uh it's ideal for tidal changes or extreme wind events uh as we experienced in the past.

6:06

Um this is a proposed uh uh site plan uh overview of where the placement of the kiosk will be.

6:14

Uh there will be 10 low or 12 locations, 10 on the uh west side, two on the east side.

6:20

Uh it is there is a typical uh floor plan of each kiosk, and then there's a typical elevation view of the kiosk uh presented.

6:34

This is just a uh enlarged site plan of the overview of the temporary kiosk.

6:40

Uh like I said, there was uh ten on the west end and two the remaining two on the east end over here.

6:51

This is the uh for the temporary kiosks is just shows that it's in accordance with the Florida building code uh that they withstand the uh wind speeds present in the you know from here I'm gonna leave it to Mike McDonald, director of marine and aviation to uh briefly describe the evacuation plan present.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Marina Operations█████████████████████████████████████████████68%
Procedural███████████17%
Floodplain Management█████8%
Emergency Management█████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Clearwater Building/Flood Board of Adjustment and Appeals Special Meeting – November 12, 2025

The board held a special meeting to consider a variance request from the City of Clearwater to install temporary ticket-sales kiosks below the design flood elevation at the municipal marina. After presentations from city staff and discussion, the board voted unanimously to grant the variance.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The board approved the minutes from the May 6, 2025 meeting by voice vote (motion and second, all in favor).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public offered comments.

Discussion Items

  • Variance Request (Case BAA 2025-0904): The city requested a variance to allow installation of 24 temporary kiosks (10 on the west side, 2 on the east side of the marina) below the base flood elevation. The kiosks would be used for ticket sales by charter businesses.
    • Kevin (city building official) stated the kiosks are part of the marina reconstruction and noted the intent of flood regulations is to minimize damage; since the kiosks will be removed before flood events via forklift and flatbed truck, the intent is met. He expressed no objection.
    • Tanner Hamzawi (City Engineering) presented slides showing the proposed site plan and typical kiosk elevations, noting kiosks are pre-fabricated, aluminum, on skids, with quick-disconnect power and anchoring.
    • Mike McDonald (Marine and Aviation Director) described the city’s emergency removal policy (Policy 2001), which activates when the EOC declares a storm condition. Kiosks would be relocated to the downtown parking garage, future beach marina parking garage, or Clearwater Executive Airport. He said the policy ensures FEMA compliance and operational continuity.
    • Gene Henry (Floodplain Administrator) confirmed the variance does not affect the city’s Community Rating System (CRS) and that the state was consulted. He noted the kiosks are not permanent structures and the variance is the minimum needed to meet code.
  • Board questions clarified:
    • Kiosk dimensions: approximately 10 ft x 9 ft each, not 25 ft as some drawings suggested; two kiosks can sit side by side but are separate for removal.
    • No plumbing, only electrical and communication lines.
    • Previous private kiosks were largely destroyed in storms; new city-owned kiosks will be leased (triple-net lease).
    • Break-even point on cost vs. rent is estimated at 120 months (10 years); life expectancy is 20 years.
    • Kiosks are designed to withstand wind loads (ASCE 7) and tie-downs will be used. Removal during a sudden storm (e.g., 1990s “no-name storm”) is addressed by design wind resistance; staff confirmed the city has adequate personnel and may also secure a dedicated contractor.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Grant Variance: A motion was made to grant the variance as requested, finding that the criteria in Code Ordinance Section 47.0352 are met based on evidence, testimony, application, staff report, and hearing. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously by voice vote (all ayes, no opposition).
  • Administrative Updates: The board welcomed two new members and was introduced to Alba, the new contact person replacing Vicky. The meeting adjourned after the vote.

Meeting Transcript

So I I looked at it like how many years I had already been for it. And then I got to do that. Yes. Ready? Yes, sir. Yeah, we're not going to be able to do that. Okay. So nine. Good morning, everyone. Call this hearing to order. The proposed is a variance, I believe, uh, by the city for kiosk out on the municipal pier. Is that correct? That's correct. Yes. And uh so start with the um staff from the city uh presenting if you could start with that. Uh anyone have a motion to approve minutes of the previous meeting. Yeah, I wasn't here. Yeah, you don't have to you don't have to have many or two to um to move or to approve those minutes. Yeah, I approve we have a motion and a second motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Seeing none, you can move on to your okay variants. Thank you, sir. So Kevin, you want to start your presentation? Yeah, I don't really have a presentation. This is part of the marina reconstruction. If anybody's been down that way lately, you can see has been uh it's well underway. And this is one of the components of that. All of the um uh the boat operators down there have like little office kiosks that they sell tickets out of and manage their um their tours. And it's below the base flood elevation. So you all have been around here long enough to know that uh below base flood elevation is is prohibited. And uh so they are asking they being the uh marina in the in the city engineer's office who is uh doing the project to um get a variance for that, and they have a proposal to remove these kiosks, and they have the means and the staff and the equipment to do that, and so um our office, me, I have no objection to it, and so I didn't prepare anything to show, but the city does, and they can show you what these look like and how they're gonna um take care of it when uh need be. And uh when we look at the the um construction requirements in a flood zone, the whole intent is to minimize damage and minimize the insurance claims. It's all part of the national flood insurance program. And when you see that they are uh going to forklift these and truck them out of the way to a high ground, that intent is met. It um it they're somewhat temporary, but they'll be there for the most part all the time. They're um they're quick connect on electric and they're um connected with um fasteners that can be um undone. And so when the storm event would occur in would come the forklifts, flatbed trucks, and they would haul them out of there. So um we have no objection to it, and so I think uh we'll just go on and see their presentation and see and see what it's all about. Okay, so if uh Tanner, you want to come up and introduce yourself and uh show your slides. Good morning, council. Um Tanner Hamzawi with the City of Clearwater at uh for the engineering department. I just wanted to recap a little bit about what Kevin said uh with a brief slideshow here. Um excuse me, what was your name again? Tanner Hamzawe. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Um so we're we're here to present on the uh City of Clearwater Marina rehab till rehabilitation of the temporary kiosk.

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