Clearwater City Council Meeting - December 4, 2025
Clearwater City Council Meeting - December 4, 2025
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.
Consent Calendar
- Stormwater Resiliency Update (ID#24-1596): Staff reported continuing design work on pump stations, ditch clearing, and grant applications; a CMAR (Construction Manager at Risk) is expected in Q1 2026.
- Approved consent agenda items 6.1 through 6.13 with the exception of item 6.9, which was pulled for discussion.
- Item 6.9 (ID#25-0882): Approved a professional service agreement with Ardurra Group, Inc. for water reclamation facilities maintenance and repair program consulting, not to exceed $11,100,000 over five years, after a public comment against the agreement.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 6.9 (Water Reclamation): A speaker (Mr. Haluba) opposed the agreement, citing health risks of reclaimed water and questioning economic feasibility. The council voted unanimously to approve.
- Item 11.1 (Attorney General Letter): Multiple residents spoke, expressing concerns about transparency, the influence of the Church of Scientology, and the process by which Councilmember Albright requested the AG opinion. Key points:
- Steve Harris asked about two letters from the AG and requested meetings with council members.
- A speaker alleged lobbying by Scientology and contributions to political campaigns.
- Jessica (from the 500 block) referenced 6,000 signatures from the "Save the Garden" petition and urged the council to serve the public interest.
- Mark Bunker noted that Scientology hired a lobbyist and applied pressure at the state level.
- A veteran and former police officer defended the Church of Scientology's humanitarian work and criticized the mayor for questioning Councilmember Albright's First Amendment rights.
- Rochelle Roach expressed concern about Scientology's goal of world domination.
- Joe Corvino argued that the council's bias against Scientology created a war zone and that the AG opinion was appropriate.
- Catherine Finley requested transparency in naming the non-profit mentioned.
- Jill questioned why the council sought an AG opinion after the city attorney had already provided a 30-page legal opinion.
- Kelly Meyer clarified that a previously vacated street for her church was not comparable to Garden Avenue, and urged transparency.
- Brooks Gibbs presented a ballot initiative petition with 6,000 signatures to require voter approval for downtown street vacations, asking the council to adopt the measure.
- Angie Drnowski expressed disappointment in the process and thanked the mayor for raising the issue.
- Becca Kay shared concerns about the changing neighborhood and Scientology's influence.
- Mr. Haluba reiterated that the AG letter should have been discussed in public and implied Councilmember Albright had been compromised.
Discussion Items
- Item 7.1 (Opt out of Live Local Act Tax Exemption): The council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 25-14, opting out of the 80%-120% AMI Missing Middle Property Tax Exemption for calendar year 2026. Staff confirmed no impact on current projects.
- Item 7.2 (2025 LHIS Report): Unanimously accepted the report from the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.
- Item 7.3 (FY2024-2025 CAPER): Unanimously approved the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for submission to HUD by December 29, 2025. No public comments were received.
- Item 7.4 (Pension Plan Amendments): Unanimously passed Ordinance 9858-26 on first reading, removing redundant disability hearing procedures and streamlining processes.
- Item 7.5 (Public-Private Partnerships): Unanimously passed Ordinance 9859-26 on first reading, amending purchasing procedures and repealing previous P3 sections.
- Item 8.1 (Platting Updates): Unanimously adopted Ordinance 9856-25 on second reading, updating platting processes per Senate Bill 784.
- Item 8.2 (Development Review Updates): Unanimously adopted Ordinance 9857-25 on second reading, updating development review processes per Senate Bill 1080.
- Item 11.1 (Attorney General Letter): Mayor Rector introduced the item to discuss the process of requesting and receiving an AG opinion regarding Garden Avenue. Councilmember Albright defended his actions as legal, while the city attorney advised that although no laws were broken, best practice would be to bring such requests to the dais. Mayor Rector noted that the non-profit property owner had sought the opinion for months. Council members expressed differing views on transparency and the impact of the letter. No formal action was taken on the street vacation itself.
Key Outcomes
- All consent items except 6.9 were approved as part of the consent agenda.
- Item 6.9 (Water Reclamation agreement) was approved unanimously after public comment.
- Resolution 25-14 (opt out of Live Local Act tax exemption) adopted unanimously.
- 2025 LHIS Report accepted unanimously.
- FY2024-2025 CAPER approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 9858-26 (pension plan amendments) passed on first reading unanimously.
- Ordinance 9859-26 (public-private partnerships) passed on first reading unanimously.
- Ordinance 9856-25 (platting updates) adopted on second reading unanimously.
- Ordinance 9857-25 (development review updates) adopted on second reading unanimously.
- No action taken on the AG letter or street vacation; council agreed to move forward and discuss best practices for future AG requests in one-on-one meetings with the city attorney.
- Councilmember Cotton suggested creating a public dashboard for AG opinions.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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