The Clearwater City Council met on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Main Library Council Chambers. The meeting included a stormwater resiliency update, consent agenda approvals, several public hearing items, and a lengthy discussion and public comment period regarding an Attorney General opinion letter concerning the Garden Avenue street vacation issue. All votes were unanimous except where noted.
This time I'll call to order the December 4 2025 meeting of the Clearwater City Council. If you wish to address the council tonight, please complete a comment card. Comment cards are located by the clerk seated to the right of the dais. When called to speak, please hand your card to the clerk. Well now moved to item two on the agenda, and that's our invocation. I'd like to ask everyone to stand for the invitation tonight to be given by Pastor Bob Brubaker from the Christ Community Presbyterian Church. And then remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. Well, God, our Father in heaven, we thank you for your sovereign rule over heaven and earth, and thank you that in your providence you have brought together this council to lead our fair city. We pray as they meet tonight that you would grant them wisdom and unity and grace. Indeed, you have blessed in the past, but tonight's a new night. And so we ask you for your mercy and help in Jesus' name. Amen. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States. Before we go further in tonight's agenda, I'd like to introduce our dayist. To my far left is our deputy city clerk, Nicole Sprague. To her right is our city clerk, Rose Marie Cole. Good evening. To her right is our city attorney David Margolis. Good evening. To his right is City Council Member Michael Manino. Good evening. Hello. To his right is our Vice Mayor Lena Techiro. Good evening. To her right is City Manager Jennifer Poirier. Good evening. Her right is Assistant City Manager Dan Slaughter. And to his right is Assistant City Manager Al Battle. With that move to item four point one on the agenda. Regarding stormwater updates, we're continuing with the designs for the pump stations and we're getting closer to completion. We're uh currently anticipating bringing the CMAR before you in the first quarter of next year. We're continuing to clear a bunch of the ditches across the city to ensure flow is uh maintained. And we're also continuing to pursue uh and apply for grant opportunities. And in fact, we've recently been getting questions from the Florida Department of Emergency Management regarding the uh hazard HMGP grants, those are the hazard mitigation grant program, and that's a positive sign that things are moving forward with those grants. Council members, I've received a request to remove item six point nine. So moved. Second. All those in favor, all right. Opposed unanimous. Move to agenda item six point nine. Approve a professional service agreement with Ardura Group Inc. of Tampa, Florida as a water reclamation facilities maintenance and repair program consultants in the not to exceed amounts of 11 million dollars for five-year term pursuance of request for qualification 25.05-25 and authorized appropriate officials tax Q. Good evening, Mayor, Council, Mike Flanning Public Utilities Interim Director. The item before you is for the WRF maintenance and repair program with our DR Incorporated. I'm Mr. Haluba. And there are uh many touted supposed benefits to reclaimed water. There are, however, many health drawbacks as well.