This time we'll call the order, January fifteenth, twenty twenty-five meeting of the Clearwater City Council.

This time we'll move to item uh two on the agenda, and tonight I'd like to call forward Father Bob Swift from Saint Francis of the CC.

To listen to understanding the good will.

And to speak with charity and restraint.

Remind them always that they are stewards of your authority.

And Father, we ask that you renew within these good people the strength of your presence and the joy of helping to build a community truly worthy of your the human person.

And dear Lord, help us all to better understand that the common good isn't measured merely by material social well-being, but more deeply by the measure of your chair, our charity to those in need.

And kindness to all of our neighbors.

We ask all this in your name, Father.

Amen.

Thank you, Father.

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

Before we continue further into our meeting agenda, I'd like to introduce our gayest tonight.

To my far left is our deputy city clerk, Nicole Sprague.

To her right is our city clerk, Rosemary Cole.

Good evening.

To her right is our city attorney David Margolis.

Good evening.

To his right is Councilmember Ryan Cotton.

Hello.

To his right is Councilmember Mike Manino.

Good evening.

To my right is Councilmember David Albright.

Good evening.

To his right is Vice Mayor Tcherham.

Good evening.

To her right is the city manager Jennifer Porrio.

Good evening.

To her right is Assistant City Manager Dan Slaughter.

And to his right is Assistant City Manager Al Battle.

That will move to item 4.1 on the agenda.

And I'd like to call forward the reigning city of Clearwater Employee of the Month.

And Kelsey Johnson from the Parks and Recreation Department to give us a report on the volunteer program and a recap of the activities in 2025.

Sam.

Thank you for the shout out there, Mayor.

And it's an honor to be employee of the month this month.

My name is Kelsey Johnson.

I'm the volunteer specialist here with the City of Clearwater's Parks and Rec department.

And I'm here to present to you our fiscal year 2025 recap.

This is going to be an overview because volunteers do a lot in the city.

Okay.

So first up, we'll just take a little look at the overall numbers.

In 2025, we engaged 4,630 volunteers.

That's overall, not unique volunteers.

These volunteers gave to the city 14,879.15 hours.

Volunteers do a lot in the city, and we'll show you that throughout the presentation.

But one of the things that they do is collect litter from our parks, streets, trails, and beaches during volunteer litter cleanups.

In the year 2025, they cleaned up 63,455.14 pounds of litter.

That's equivalent to a 31.73 tons.

And that does include the post-storm cleanups.

To give a simple calculation of the value that volunteers provide to the city, we'll just take the amount of hours that they gave by a simple wage of 16 an hour.

And that is equal to 238,066 and 40 cents.

Of course, if you try to quantify the spirit that they bring, that's just priceless.

Volunteers cultivate a culture of service, civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and community within the city of Clearwater.

A couple of other quick stats here.

The events with the greatest number of volunteers in hours in 2025 were the big cleanup clearwater with 776 volunteers over the course of one week.

Alright, now for the fun part I'm going to take you through, you're gonna get to look at these pretty pictures while I talk to you about what volunteers do in the city of Clearwater.

Volunteers participated in important environmental and beautification projects throughout the city in 2025.

You'll see here a variety of those kinds of projects from volunteers collecting recyclable items at the Sea Blues Festival in that uh top left corner there to adopt um program cleanups, um invasive plant removals, weeding, gardening, um, volunteers, even clean stickers and graffiti from the fixtures along the beach.

So if you notice that different difference this year, that was volunteers.

We had 29 adopt groups this year working diligently on these projects all across the city.

Additionally, volunteers were at practically every event in the city from rec center community celebrations to large special events.

You could find smiling volunteers running game stations, taking tickets, greeting guests, and so much more.

A notable special project they got to work on this year was being volunteer actors and the active assailant training exercise that our police and fire departments put on.

So that was really cool.

They should win an Oscar for that one.

And yeah, very notable part of the volunteer program.

That's kind of a section in and of itself is the program house at Moccasin Lake Nature Park.

This facility hosts daily dedicated volunteers, including both General Park volunteers and volunteers specifically dedicated to assisting with the Birds of Prey program, which is an entirely volunteer program house out of the park.

In the fiscal year 2025, volunteers gave over 2200 hours just to Moccasin Lake Nature Park.

They are there every single day.

And I do have a little video here from one of the volunteers speaking, so we'll see that.

Just a lot of unique experiences with getting to interact with the animals that are endangered and feel like you're helping, you know, to preserve the wildlife in the area, and then it just feels great to give back to the community.

The other thing that I like about it is I started here with my oldest son.

He was getting his bright futures hours for the college scholarship, and so that kind of to have uh build a relationship with my son, but then also learn new things and learn about wildlife and get a relationship with the birds.

It's been really rewarding.

That's just one of the many experiences of volunteers at that park.

The City of Clearwater, we also partner annually with Keep and All is Beautiful, a nonprofit with the mission to conserve and beautify our natural environment by means of community engagement and education.

In the fifth year 2025, Keep and Ellis Beautiful engaged 3,071 volunteers just in Clearwater.

They completed 94 educational presentations and 153 community projects with volunteers just in Clearwater as well.

Okay, now for the fun fun part.

Um, I would like to present some volunteers, some amazing volunteers with awards.

Some of them are here this evening, so if you are here, can you come up when I call your name?

Um, and then maybe we could take a group picture at the end.

Okay, so firstly, we have the volunteer who gave the most hours at one-time events and projects throughout 2025.

This person is one of the first volunteers I personally met when I started the city and has consistently been a loyal, dedicated volunteer who serves as a friendly face that our local families come to expect, especially at our rec center events.

During the fiscal year 2025, she volunteered at 15 events serving multiple different rec centers and parks across the city.

And that volunteer is Jane Grossman.

Okay, awesome.

All right.

So next up is a community champion award.

This award goes out to someone whose volunteer service to the city has created an entire culture and guest attraction for visiting families.

This volunteer comes to Moccasin Lake Nature Park every Wednesday for the now famous Dennis Day, during which he provides reptile education to guests, allowing them the opportunity to touch, observe, and learn about reptiles.

This program serves tourists, locals, homeschooling groups, and more than that.

They also serve the community through great American teaching programs and more.

The community champion award goes to Dennis Speaker.

We love that.

So this is for the volunteer with the best attitude.

And I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever seen this volunteer without a smile.

She shows up with a positive spirit for every project from gardening at Coachman Park to being a volunteer actor at the Active Assailant Training and helping run the VIP area, the Clearwater celebrates America event.

This volunteer also makes everyone around her smile.

And that is Miss Edna.

Thank you so much.

Okay, this next award is goes to a volunteer for the Long Time Service Award.

This volunteer has been serving the city of Clearwater for over 20 years as a volunteer.

She has participated in waterway cleanups, rec center events, special events, and she even led an adopt a street effort on Druid Road for 20 years.

The long time service award, it goes to it.

Thank you for letting me go through these.

We have a lot of awesome volunteers in the city.

All right.

This one he couldn't be here today, but I'm calling him the keeper of the land.

He was nominated by Lloyd Simmons and Lonnie Walker at Moccasin Lake Nature Park.

He dedicates his own time, energy, and resources towards tending to the park, building bird gardens, maintaining the bird feeders and water dishes at the park, as well as consistently contributing to other tasks around the park.

And so that is Lou Peterson.

And next is an outstanding birds of prey volunteer.

This volunteer stands out to the leaders of the Birds of Prey program for her hard work, dedication, passion, and adeptness with the rescue birds on the property.

You've seen her face once already.

That's Chris Adkins.

Now, last but not least, um, I have the honor to recognize four volunteer coaches.

Um I think only a couple of them could be here today.

But these volunteers were nominated by the rec centers where they volunteer at.

They all go above and beyond the Call of Duty.

Coaching basketball is just the start of what these volunteers do.

More importantly, they create meaningful connections with the youth in our city and provide a safe space for children to learn, grow, and connect.

So we have Adam Orris, Dave Furick, and Sean Spurbeck from Countryside, and Rocco Ladani from North Greenwood.

Thank you so much for everything you do.

And then I'd love to get a group photo with that one.

And uh just before you do, uh just thank you so much for for what you do for our city and our citizens.

You know, every time I go to you know, a holiday or a fall harvest festival at uh one of our rec centers, it's it's largely staffed by volunteers, people who are coming out there to make make it a fun event for the kids.

And uh whether you're coaching or whatever role you're playing at Mox and Lake, you make such a difference in this community.

We couldn't do the many things we do without you and your your volunteering.

So thank you so much on behalf of the city council and behalf of all the citizens.

Thank you for what you do for Clearwater.

Thank you very much.

I know.

We need to go left or slide in for it again.

One, two, three, smile.

One, two, three, five.

Thank you, folks.

Thank you so much.

Yeah, thanks for coming out.

Before we move in to the next item, uh, just to remind folks that if you want to um address the council tonight, uh please complete a comment card.

The comment cards are located by the clerk to the right of the dais.

We call to speak, please hand your card to the clerk.

That will move to item 5.1 on the agenda.

Approve the minutes of the December 4, 2025 city council meeting.

So move.

Second.

All those in favor?

Opposed, unanimous.

Move item 5.2 on the agenda.

Amend the September 18, 2025 City Council meeting minutes.

Council members, I forgot to include an e-comment, although the action of the item does not change.

We did receive an e-comment for um supporting an eye an opposite an opposing an item for page 13, so it's just recognizing and a copy of those comments were included.

Is there a motion?

I'll move to approve agenda item 5.2.

Second.

Those in favor?

Opposed, unanimous.

We now move to the consent agenda.

Are there items to be pulled from tonight's consent?

Yes, items six point one through six point three, six point eight through six point fourteen, and six point twenty-two.

Yes, six eight through six point fourteen.

What was it?

Six fourteen.

And twenty two and twenty-two.

Okay.

Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda except for the items that were has to be removed just now?

Motion to approve agenda items 6.1 through 6.3, 6.8 through 6.14, and 6.22.

Those are the ones with the polls.

Gotcha.

Um except those to be approved.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed, unanimous.

We will move to item six point one.

Authorized purchase orders to Florida Industrial Products of Tampa, Florida, Hughes Supply, H A J O C A, Corp of St.

Pete, Florida, Mine and Mill Supply Company of Lakeland, Florida, Tampa Wind Supply of Tampa, Florida, and Technicogas LLC of Lake Worth, Florida, for the supply of galvanized steel pipe and fittings and the cumulative annual not to exceed amounts of $100,000 with the option for two one-year renewals pursuant to invitations of bid 02-26 and authorize your perfect officials to execute same.

Uh this item was presented on the work session on Monday at the 12th.

Um I'm happy to answer any questions.

Okay.

Now why does that matter?

It matters because if general tax receipts from clear water taxpayers are being used to make these purchases, then these galvanized goods.

It's a misuse of funds.

And that becomes a wrongful financial burden to clear water taxpayers if tax money is used, but nobody can answer whether it is or not.

It also you know is a you know a total windfall to gas customers that don't live in clearwater now.

Since clearwater gas charges a fee for gas service, that makes it an enterprise funded expense, benefiting only gas customers, no matter where they reside.

Is this expenditure coming from tax receipts, which would make it wrongful?

Or is it expended from gas company sales receipts only?

It makes a huge difference.

Anyone else here from the public tonight?

Hearing seeing none, is there any council discussion?

There's no discussion is there a motion.

Motion approved agenda item 6.1.

Second.

Those in favor, I opposed unanimous.

Agenda item 6.2.

Authorize a purchase order to AECOM Technical Services of Tampa, Florida for design consulting services of Clearwater Beach Gas Pipeline Intercoastal Subaqueous Crossings and then not to exceed amounts of $934,000 to pursuant to request for qualifications 30-25 and authorize your perfect officials to execute same.

Good evening, good evening.

Once again, my name is Alex Leon, assistant director for CGS Energy.

This item was presented on Windows Work session.

Um happy to answer any questions.

Okay.

Or take public comment on this.

Is there any council discussion before we invite the public?

I mean, I'm reading, thank you, Mayor.

Saw the email and read the majority of these that are being pulled off.

I think every single one of them attached to the agenda item, if I'm not mistaken, uh, it says that it's being paid out of the enterprise funds.

Is that correct?

Uh, for 6.2, that's correct, yes.

It was 6.1 as well.

Yeah, 6.1 as well to yes.

Thank you.

Just wanted to clarify.

Okay.

Any of the council discussion?

Okay.

Uh hearing none, is there anyone here from the public tonight that desire to speak to agenda item 6.2?

I'm Mr.

Haluba.

Mr.

Manino, if these items are from enterprise funds, as you stated, why are they not listed as such on the agenda?

Why are they not?

That's why I'm here.

I want to know where these funds are coming from, and not only that, you personally don't have such a great background on keeping track of funds.

Not only should it be published what fund these are coming from as a matter of openness in government, the amount of money in these accounts should also be published.

Otherwise, we don't know what's going on.

Nobody does, not even you all.

So I'm going to give you my opinion for free.

Subaqueus gas intercocial pipeline is really a foolish bad idea.

One reason is I don't know of any underwater gas customers.

It may even become dangerous.

I mean, what happens if it begins to leak?

You know, or get struck by a boat.

I see you smiling, Slaughter.

Keep your head up.

What if the boat is a non-Coast Guard compliant vessel?

Like the Clearwater Ferry.

The gas line in this instance can be run right along a causeway.

That's where the customers are, not underwater.

That would serve, you know, island estates, right next to the road, and everything beyond safely.

If the gas company is paying for this out of enterprise funds, that needs to be publicly disclosed in these documents.

Councilmember Cogin.

Yes, sir.

Thank you very much.

Just so everybody is clear.

Maybe there's just a little discrepancy on where to find that.

They are published in both agenda items that have both been asked.

If you go to the legislative text portion, it's uh on one of the pages under appropriations code.

It literally says funded by revenues from the clear order utility enterprise fund.

So on both of the past brought up agenda items, it is clearly listed there on the legislative text.

And I would add on all these agenda items, there are always attachments in here, and the attachment show what entity or which one of our entities is making the purchase.

So thank you for that.

Any further council discussion?

Not is there a motion.

Motion to approve agenda item 6.2.

Second.

All those in favor?

Opposed, unanimous.

Agenda item 6.3.

Right if I can confirm an increase of the purchase order with Trillium Transportation Fuels L L C doing business as Trillium of Houston, Texas for maintenance remote monitoring diagnostics and repair services of compressed natural gas stations in the amounts of 15,575,000 and 74 cents, bringing the total purchase order amount for one year one for year one ending November 30, 2025 to 130,575 and 74 cents pursuant to ITB 61-24 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.

Good evening.

Okay.

Mr.

Cotton.

Where does it say on here?

This is the public disclosure.

Not on here.

Can we get that done?

I mean, you know, you're not going to answer the question, but you know, do any of you read the PDFs?

I'm not sure you do.

This item with no questions from you all is for 15.5, 15 million five hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars for maintenance, remote monitoring, diagnostics, repair service, all these things.

And one of the biggest problems that I read into this is it's for over several years.

In fact, it's until uh I don't see it right offhand, but most of these expenses are going to cover several years.

That's not the way it should be done.

Because in several years, most of you are not going to be here, and hopefully a couple of you will definitely not be here.

So then who's going to be watching that money?

The next group, it's this money that should be appropriated on an annual basis.

And if it comes from an enterprise funds, it needs to be disclosed in the minutes, not in some buried document so that later on it gets lost.

I don't think this uh project for these compressed natural gas stations benefits anyone.

I think this is a wrong guided expense for you know environmentally conservative whatever.

I think that's the big idea, but it's still 15 million dollars.

It could easily be saved, and nobody would notice the difference.

And like I say again, enterprise funding should be on the agenda as such.

So is anyone else here from the public that I desire to speak to this agenda item?

We all want to address that.

Um I guess we'll start on the end.

Councilmember Cotton.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Uh, again, maybe it's just a little bit confusing of where the public can find this.

First off, the 6.3, it's $15,575 and 74 cents.

Just for the record, not 15 million.

Um, secondly, I just went to the city of Clearwater's website, agendas.

You can go right there, find the agenda for the meeting that you wish to see.

Once it fully pulled pulls up, maybe this is where the confusion is.

It gives you the details with the attachments in PDF form.

If you click reports, it'll take you right there.

The first thing, legislative text.

It is what this is.

It is what this is.

Not on here, it is what this is in digital form, and you can scroll all the way down to the areas already mentioned.

So thank you.

Okay, Councilmember Manino.

I'll just anyone else.

No further discussion.

Is there a motion?

Move to approve agenda item 6.3.

Second.

All those in favor, I opposed unanimous.

Move to agenda item six point eight.

Approve an agreement with Cayensa Division of North Harris.

Computer Corps of British Columbia Canada for support and maintenance, professional services, and hosted AI agent services in support of the utility building management system for a total not six seat amounts of $1,192,873.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

I'd be happy to answer any questions.

If it is, you know, enterprise funded, it needs to be disclosed on the agenda.

Not without you all don't even read the PDFs.

So why could you expect citizens to do it?

This is what they read.

But to my point, my previous point, this is for pipe fittings, billing software, you know, other things.

This is a million one hundred ninety-two thousand dollars, basically for software from Canada.

Now, also here in the meeting agenda, it states five-year term beginning November 1st, 2025.

So we're voting on something that's past tense, which is really goofy through October 31st, 2030.

You're gonna be here in 2030, Slaughter?

Let's hope not.

Anyone else desire to speak this agenda?

Are you saying none?

Is there a motion?

Move to approve agenda item 6.8.

Second.

Those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed, unanimous.

Agenda item 6.9.

Except for Department of Transportation grant agreement amendments in the amount of $1,100,000 for the parking lot expansion rehabilitation at Clearwater Executive Airport and authorize your perfect official sex keeping.

Good evening, Council Mayor Mike McDonald, Marine and Aviation Director.

Uh this is to amend a current Florida Department of Transportation grant that was discussed on Monday.

I'll be happy to answer any questions.

But none of you ask any questions.

For instance, are there any upshots with this?

You know, do they really need a parking lot?

Now, again, this is you know, marine and aviation is under the auspices of a utility.

So if it is, you know, or if it were enterprise funds, that needs to be disclosed.

Just like it's disclosed on this one, Mr.

Cotton, that it is coming from FDOT.

Very clear where the money's gonna come from.

But there's many citizens, including myself, that don't want the Clearwater Airport expanded in any way, parking lot or otherwise.

It's a noisy intrusion to many citizens' lives.

I can tell you personally that they don't really stick to the hours of operation.

Many citizens, including myself, would prefer to have this noisy, unnecessary Clearwater Airport just shut down completely, not expanded.

This is a precursor to expanding the runway that people don't want.

Accepting this FDOT grant opens a Pandora's box.

It begins a slippery side to runway expansion, which again most citizens do not want.

But you're just gonna sit there and approve it anyway, no matter what anybody says, without any real in-depth thought on it.

So just go ahead, unanimous.

Anyone else here from the public tonight desire to speak to this agenda item?

Um I feel like I've said this a million times.

Um just because no one up here asks questions about agenda items during work sessions, does not mean we have not done considerable research, and we've talked and spoken with the staff extensively about uh at each one of these items at one point or another.

Some of them are cumulally, we've had many agenda items in the past two years since three of us have been on here, and more since the two others have been on here uh regarding the airport.

So uh this isn't something that uh we need to waste everybody's time asking the same questions over and over again.

I can tell you that uh on average, like all of us five probably spend at least two or three hours a week going over the agenda, reviewing the documents that are attached, asking questions of their staff.

We all have meetings twice a week with the staff.

So this idea that uh unless we ask questions on the record public at a work session indicates somehow that we haven't researched and we haven't uh dove into, we don't know what we're doing.

Uh that's just completely inaccurate.

Uh the five of us work very hard to know what we're talking about and know what we're voting on every time.

Um and we've been up here, you know, at least three years, uh, two excuse me, two years.

So, you know, we've we've gotten in a rhythm now, and it's not always the first time we've addressed any of these agenda items.

So I just want the public to know this is not accurate of what's going on.

We do know what's going on.

We all have great working relationships with our staff, and we're very educated and up to date on each of these agenda items.

So, with that, is there any council comment on this particular agenda item?

If not, is there a motion?

Motion approve agenda item 6.9.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed to item 6.10.

Appropriate purchase order to and lease agreements with mobile modular management corporation for the lease of one five-wide modular building to temporarily house fixed-based operator operations at Clearwater Executive Airport during terminal and parking lot construction in the amounts of 147,850-33.563 perennial parentheses.

Piggy back and authorized the appropriate officials to execute same.

My McDonald's Marine and Aviation Director.

Uh, this is to lease a module of building uh to house the FBO during construction of the terminal.

Uh, we will be using the F dot uh Florida Department of Transportation grant to pay for this.

I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Anyone here from the public tonight desire to speak to this agenda item?

I'm Mr.

Haluba.

That's the first I've heard that FDOT is paying for this.

Also, not disclosed, like it should be, Mr.

Cotton.

But I take exception, Mr.

Rector, to you saying that you know you all know everything that's going on, and you have all these meetings and everything.

Well, that's done in the shade.

That's not done in public, and therefore, there's every reason for any citizen to doubt this, this money that's being spent, and why and how you know let's not forget once upon a time parks and rec was operating, you know, disclosing things that were not correct.

There was money disappearing, and it went on and on for a long, long time.

So, how are we standing out here looking at millions of dollars being spent, supposed to rely on statements that oh well, you know, we met with staff, and staff says we need this, and you know, it it's it's comical.

I don't trust you people, and I know a lot of people that don't, but this again is for something that most people don't want, and that is expansion of the airport.

Now, you sir, you said it was for the terminal.

You used that word just now.

Is it for the terminal?

Or is it as stated?

You know, in the agenda, temporary housing while a parking lot is done.

So now there's another, there's a question I would ask of any of you to have us man come back up here and make clear.

If not, is there any further council discussion?

If not, is there a motion?

Motion to approve agenda item 6.10.

Second, all those in favor?

Opposed, unanimous.

Thank you.

Authorized purchase orders to core and main LP and PASCO Pipe Supply Inc.

Afford of Florida for ductile iron pipes, fittings, mechanical joint restraints, and polyethylene tubing in the accumulated annual not to exceed amounts of four hundred thousand dollars for the term January 16, 2026 through January 15, 2027, with two one-year renewal options pursuant to ITB 50 57-25 ductile iron pipes fittings and authorized appropriate officials to execute same.

Good evening, Mayor Council, Mike Flanning Public Utilis and Terim Director.

Uh, as discussed on Monday, this is really for uh the ability to make connections within our water and wastewater system.

It's important for us to be able to have uh water that flows to our customers and wastewater that receives is received at the wastewater treatment facilities.

I'm happy to respond to any questions you may have.

Okay.

God, you people.

This is another instance where if it is enterprise funded, it should be disclosed on the agenda, and it is not.

You hold it up and show me, Mr.

Cotton.

It's not you can say, Oh, you gotta pull the PDFs up and look at those, and you go to the dashboard, you know.

Ms.

Poyer's big on the dashboard.

But this is actually for an expenditure that just needs to be disclosed as to why, you know, which of course you don't we want to get our water, but why it is needed so badly, and it can easily be resolved, and I hope you all will do this.

Just put on the agenda where the money comes from.

That's why I'm going through all this.

And this director, I gave you an opportunity the other day to email me and say just that, and you didn't.

Is anyone else here from the public desire to have um uh make a comment regarding this agenda item?

And for the record, Mr.

Luba, I offered to have a conversation with you today, and you refuse that.

So that's that's like you need to be clear about that as well.

Um so is there any council discussion on this agenda item?

Okay, if not, is there a motion?

Move to approve agenda 6.11.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed unanimous.

Agenda item 6.12.

Authorized an increase at a 90-day extension of the existing purchase order with Odyssey Manufacturing Company of Tampa, Florida for the supply of liquid sodium hypochlorite in the amounts of $300,000, increasing the annual not to exceed amount to from $1.5 million to $1.8 million and extending the term for 90 days through April 16, 2026, pursuant to ITB 04-23 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.

Good evening, Mayor, Council, my clinic, interim director of public utilities.

Uh the item before you is for bleach that we utilize at both our water and our wastewater facilities.

Uh, it's important for us to meet regulatory compliance.

We have certain standards that we have to meet.

I'm happy to respond to any questions that you may have.

Okay.

Does anyone here from the public tonight desire to speak to this agenda item?

I'm Mr.

Halouba.

I think this is a uh rather exorbitant expense for something that's fairly common, you know, chemical.

And once again, if it was disclosed as a enterprise funded expense, I wouldn't be standing here, Mr.

Cotton.

Okay.

Hearing seeing none, is there any council discussion?

If not, is there a motion?

Move to approve agenda item 6.12.

Second.

Those in favor, opposed, unanimous.

Agenda item 6.13.

Approving agreement between Hedronics and Inc.

doing business as Smart Cover Systems of Escondillo, California, and the City of Clearwater Public Utilities Department for the use of smart cover software for online mapping and monitoring service.

Continued hardware and extended warranties for all existing wastewater system units.

Participation in the smart care maintenance program, including system troubleshooting, routine proactive maintenance, parts and labor for the term February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2028, and the amount of 438, 398 dollars and 64 cents pursuant to city code 2.563 per n D, non-competitive purchase impractical and authorize the appropriate visionals to execute same.

Uh good evening, Mayor, Council Mike Flanning again, uh term director of public utilities.

Uh these smart coverage systems are uh in my perspective very excellent systems.

Uh they help us prevent sanitary sewer overflows within the wastewater system, so it helps us prevent the opportunity for wastewater to travel the pathogens to travel into homes into the environment and impact uh our community.

I'm happy to respond to any questions you may have.

Does anyone here from the public desire to speak to this agenda?

I'm Mr.

Haluba.

This again is a utility expense that should be disclosed on the agenda as an enterprise funded expense, but it's not but I do find it rather amazing that uh city of Clearwater is so concerned about monitoring sewage when there's uh maybe that sort of attention that should be paid elsewhere, like the streets, which any of you that drive around have noticed have taken a beating recently.

It's another big expanse that's gonna be an ongoing expense past of your time here serving the citizens of clear water.

Hearing saying none, is there any council discussion?

If not, is there a motion?

Motion to approve agenda item 6.13.

Second.

Those in favor, aye opposed, unanimous agenda item 6.14.

Authorized purchase orders to core and main LP of St.

Louis, Missouri, Empire Pipe and Supply Company Inc.

of Stanford, Florida, Ferguson Enterprises L L C doing business as Ferguson Waterworks of Tampa, Florida, Saline Waterworks of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tampa Wind Supply of Tampa, Florida for the supply of service, brass and brass valves in the cumulative annual not to exceed amount of $395,000 with the option of two one-year renewals pursuant to invitation to bid 60-25, service, brass, and brass fittings, and authorize your perfect officials to execute same.

Good evening, Mayor, Council Mike Flanning Interim Director of Public Utility.

Is allows us to connect water lines and meters within our our infrastructure.

I'm happy to respond to any questions that you may have.

It goes on and on and on.

Why is all this coming to a head at this time on this evening?

Did they not need these things six months ago?

They not need them a year ago, but none of you asked these questions.

You're just gonna sit there and approve it.

Now the money from these expenses, you know, for these expenses, all this piping and so forth, valves, you know, absent public disclosure beyond meeting with you know staff and behind closed doors in secret, which technically is against the law.

It just appears to be you know something evil and unethical, something may be slaughtered thought of but it is very interesting that the city of Clearwater spends so much time and effort on monitoring the sewer system and other utility things, given that no effort is made or has been made to verify the contractual residency requirements of the city manager.

Hearing none, is there any council discussion?

If none, is there a motion?

Motion to approve agenda item 6.14.

Second, all those in favor, aye opposed, unanimous.

Agenda item 6.22.

Schedule a special work session on Monday, February 9, 2026 at 9 a.m.

And on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 2 p.m.

for the purpose of holding a strategic planning session at Morningside Recreation Center.

Council members, as discussed on Monday, this uh year staff is requesting two strategic plan sessions to be held at Morningside, and this is to um and to be in compliance with council policy three-11.

Okay, is there any um council discussion?

Someone here from the public tonight desire to speak to this agenda item.

Mr.

Johnson?

Yeah, good evening.

And yes, I'm still Bill Jeminson, a Clearwater Academy graduate.

I want to address the amount of time that is being scheduled in these two strategic planning sessions by this agenda item.

Last year I personally observed the two strategic planning sessions that you folks made significant progress in adopting strategic objectives for the city manager.

The meeting seemed to be proceeding well with open discussions in front of the entire senior staff.

Yet the second meeting concluded before the top strategic priorities list was identified.

Back in 2001, the city invited Dr.

and Professor Lancey Haven Smith from Florida State University to conduct a work session on governing leadership for the council.

One of his messages, and the prime message, was that the council is fundamentally a collaborative body representing the community.

Its greatest success from arriving at those things that have full agreement across all the council members.

Without focused priorities, the city manager must constantly define the mix of projects and services to allocate resources.

She does this as Mr.

Margolis reported to the Citizens Academy, partially from her one-on-one meetings with the council members.

In discussions with each of you, I know each of you have a passion for excellence, but without common priorities, we seem to fall short and arrive at almost good enough.

Coachman Bark comes to mind as the best example of not quite good enough, yet something you all express support for.

Thank you.

If not, is there any council discussion?

No discussion.

Is there a motion?

Motion approved.

Agenda item 6.22.

Second.

All those in favor?

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Take us to agenda item 6.23.

Sunset the affordable housing advisory committee and adopt resolution 26-1.

Yeah, 7.1.

7.1.

Yeah.

Sunset the affordable housing advisory committee and adopt resolution 26-01.

Sorry.

Good evening.

My name is Dylan Mayo.

I'm the on the uh housing manager.

Um on Monday, I presented resolution 26-01.

The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee has concluded its work for the 2025-2026 program year.

Uh and this resolution will sunset that committee.

Happy to address any questions.

May we have a reading?

Mayor, we have resolution 26-01.

Just kidding.

Mayor, we have resolution 26-01, a resolution of the City of Clearwater, Florida, sunsetting the affordable housing advisory committee required for purposes of the State Housing Initiative's Partnership Ship Program, providing an expiration date for terms of the affordable housing advisory committee members appointed under resolution number 25-11, providing an effective date.

If not, is there a motion?

Move to approve agenda item 7.1.

Second.

Those in favor?

Opposed.

Unanimous.

Thank you.

Agenda item 7.2.

Declare a surpro surplus, certain real property located at 706 North Missouri Avenue Clearwater, Florida, 33755.

Approve the transfer of property to the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency and authorize your private officials to execute same.

Good evening, Council.

I'm gonna address this one as you as our staff mentioned on Monday.

Uh the proposal period for um the ad actually expired on Tuesday after your meeting on Monday.

So uh our goal was to uh declare the property um item before you on Monday at the work session with adoption, hopefully tonight.

I'm here to let you know that on Tuesday, which was the last date for us to receive any letters of interest, we did receive one on the morning of Tuesday.

So it's at your just discretion in terms of how you'd like to proceed, but I'll defer to council if there's any procedural issues you want to discuss.

Um, but you can either, it's my understanding, proceed tonight, or we can hold it over uh until the next council meeting, which would give us an opportunity maybe to provide you any feedback on what we received.

We haven't really reviewed it.

We have the letter, we haven't spoken with the folks who've presented us with said letter of interest, but that would at least be some additional information for you to have uh at that time.

So either way, uh we think we're in a good position to address the item as it's been presented to us.

Okay, what's the um that's the um inclination of the council on this to uh mayor, thank you.

I think this is probably something being as though it just came up this week that uh we take the time to allow staff to do a little homework on it and re read through it and fully understand the project uh and the moving parts of it, and we we get an updated, maybe revisit this at the next session.

Okay, all right.

I have a question.

Um declaring it a surplus needs we need to that that extra, I guess, request or submittal of interest.

How does that affect us approving or not approving this item as a surplus?

We're see to we're not assigning it to anyone, we're just assigning it as a surplus to the CRA.

But because the CRA is a separate legal entity, the item would transfer the property to the CRA.

And so as part of the surplus declaration, it'll go together with the transfer.

So I I don't believe there would be any uh benefit to us to separate them because ultimately, if you were say to let's say, I mean you could, but let's say you were to declare it surplus but not approve the transfer, you're not saving any time, you're not really saving anything, so they typically do go together.

Um so you can legally you could treat them as two separate things, but I don't know that you would necessarily either save time or benefit from that.

So my suggestion would either be to, as councilmember Manino said, to continue it to the next item.

Uh, if the council would like more time to review it and would like staff to provide input, or if you are comfortable moving forward with the item as presented, and if you've had a chance to review the proposal that came in, then you could vote to approve this item tonight.

But to Mr.

Battle's point, it is important to emphasize that although it came in late in the process, uh, that proposal was timely.

And so I do think there's at least some responsibility on the council's part to acknowledge that proposal.

I think Mr.

Battle did the right thing by doing that uh and by disseminating it to the council.

So I think those are really your options.

Either if you've had time to review it and you feel comfortable moving forward with this transfer tonight, you can absolutely do that, or in the alternative to Mr.

Manito's point, you could continue it to the next council agenda item, whatever you're comfortable with.

And just the only other thing I'll add on this is that I know this one feels a little bit different than some other um, I would say property transfers that we've had because it is an internal transfer, kind of to the vice mayor's point.

This is an intergovernmental transfer that I know feels like it's coming to ourselves because it is from the city to the CRA.

But technically, the CRA is a separate legal entity, and if this item is approved, whether it's tonight or at the next meeting or whenever, uh, then we will actually execute a deed from the city to the CRA.

So I know it feels like it's not really transferring the property, but technically it is.

Council Member Robin.

You know, this has been a long time coming.

I I would just assume transfer to the CRA because I think that's our best option right now to get it into the CRA and then decide what we're gonna do with it with the CRA.

That's just my opinion.

I think that's my question.

My question was transferring it to the CRA does not assign it to anyone else.

It is not an acceptance or decor or rejection of any proposal.

It's just simply transferring it to the CRA.

So we can make that decision and just transfer it without having to assign it to somebody or approve or not approve, right?

Or no.

I know it sounds strange to say it, but you actually are accepting a proposal from the CRA to obtain the property.

But that we're talking about that submittal on the Tuesday.

Yes, that's that's correct.

That's correct.

Um there's no impact on that proposal going forward.

So that's my question.

Yes.

Um if the council approves the item tonight, uh, then it will be in the hands of the CRA.

At that point, the community redevelopment act will govern the future disposition of the property.

And it's not that much different from city protocols, but it does give you more flexibility in terms of how you dispose of property.

So to the if the vice mayor's question is whether you can approve this item tonight and still later revisit the proposal that has come in.

Uh the answer is yes, you can do that.

So then I would like to approve this uh agenda item tonight and transfer to this area.

That's my view.

Is anyone here from Republican desire to be heard heard on this agenda?

Yeah.

I do have uh participated in this.

Yeah, ma'am, and Ladrilla Jenkins, but in my community, they call me Miss J.

Um.

Nice seeing you, Mr.

Slaughter.

Um I uh inquiring about the NATO, it was back in the day.

I was born and raised in that community.

It was the National Guard Armory.

James Brown and many artists came and performed.

There's been many memories of me learning how to play baseball, softball, basketball in that uh National Guard Armory.

Um I also was the center director for the Head Start Center that's right across from it.

That was our place to go in place in case of an emergency, a gas leak, or we had to evacuate the building across there.

I'm just inquiring whether or not has been put out to the citizens, uh the residents in that community of what we would like to, or do a collaboration with the city.

What I'm seeing now, there's a lot of decisions being made without the input of some of the residents in our community.

I remember uh Jack Russell Stadium with the Phillies, that's where we skate and rode our bicycles at Christmas and all of that.

Those are memories that are leaving.

I am now retired, and I'm taking my 15-year-old and 16-year-old grandchildren, and I'm showing them the various areas of where I played.

So I would also like to know who else is inquiring about that building.

I see the potential of where we could have uh a 16-year-old when when women are coming of age, a man of men are coming of age, or your grandpa's 75th.

It's an it could be an event hall.

It's too much erasure leaving the North Greenwood community.

I can remember the child's friendship plan over there.

It's just too much, and then when the city came in, you know, everybody talks, but I'm one, I'm getting back into that community.

So you will be seeing me a lot.

You'll be hearing me a lot.

As a director, I never told staff what to do.

If there was a problem or an issue, come in with a solution, and we can work it out.

I may be at the top, but you the teachers and the parents made my centers successful.

I've worked from North County to South County.

I've worked with birth to uh 15-year-olds.

I did 22 years with our club, and I just uh retired from head start, and I have a good collaboration and relationship with Chief Slaughter.

So thank you, ma'am.

Just put it out there in North Greenwood quick.

Thank you, ma'am.

Would you mind filling out a uh comment card for us or uh just for speaking?

So we remember who you are, and one of us wants to get you.

Contact with you, we can do that.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Okay, any anyone else who can public if not, is there a motion?

Motion approve agenda item 7.2.

Second.

All those in favor?

All right.

Opposed unanimous.

Approve the annexation initial future land use map designation of residential medium RM and initial zoning atlas designation medium density residential MDR district for unaddressed South McMullen Booth Road together with abutting right-of-way of South McMullen Booth Road and pass ordinances 9866-26, 9867-26, 9868-26 on first reading.

Good evening, Lauren Matsky, planning and development.

This is a voluntary annexation request for vacance.64 acre parcel.

It's located on the east side of McMullen Booth Road, just north of Fulks Bay Boulevard.

Parcels to the north, south, and west are within the city's jurisdiction, therefore making it eligible for annexation.

It will be designated with the residential medium future land use category and will be zoned medium density residential on the city's zoning atlas, both of which are consistent with the current designations in the county.

The development review committee is recommending that a tiny little sliver of McMullen Booth Road that's not currently within the city also be annexed at this time.

It's about 0.005 acres.

Sanitary sewer is not actually readily available to this property, but the owner is aware of that.

And if it at any time it does become available in the future, they're aware of the fees that would be necessary to pay in order to connect, but staff does not see any impacts to city services as a result of this annexation.

Um the request is consistent with the city's comprehensive planning and community development code as well as Florida statutes and staff is recommending approval.

If not, may we have a reading.

Mayor, we have three ordinances in succession.

First up is ordinance number 9866-26.

An ordinance of the city of Clearwater, Florida annexing certain unaddressed real property located on the east side of South McMullen Booth Road, approximately 350 feet north of Gulf de Bay Boulevard in Clearwater, Florida, 33759, together with abutting South McMullenbooth Road right of way into the corporate limits of the city and redefining the boundary lines of the city to include set edition providing an effective date.

Next up, we have ordinance number 9867-26 and ordinance of the city of Clearwater, Florida, amending the future land use element of the comprehensive plan of the city to designate the land use for certain unaddressed real property located on the east side of South McMullenbooth Road, approximately 350 feet north of Gulf to Bay Boulevard in Clearwater, Florida, 33759 upon annexation into the city of Clearwater as residential medium RM providing an effective date.

Finally, we have ordinance number 9868-26 and ordinance of the city of Clearwater, Florida, amending the zoning atlas of the city by zoning CERN unaddressed real property located on the east side of South McMullen Booth Road, approximately 350 feet north of Gulf to Bay Boulevard in Clearwater, Florida, 33759 upon annexation into the city of Clearwater as medium density residential MDR providing an effective date.

If not, is there a motion?

Motion uh to approve agenda item 7.3.

Second.

Those in favor?

Opposed unanimous.

Agenda item 7.4.

Approve the annexation, initial future land use map designation of residential suburban RS and initial zoning atlas designation of low density residential LDR district for 2265 North McMullen Booth Road and pass ordinances 9869-26, 9870-26, and 9871-26 on first reading.

Good evening again, Lauren Matsky, planning and development.

So this voluntary annexation request would bring in a detached dwelling located on a 1.07 acre parcel just west of McMullen Booth Road on Warren Lane.

No relation.

Parcels to the north, south and west are also within the city of Clearwater, thus making it eligible for annexation.

And as noted, it would be designated residential suburban on the future land use map and low density residential on the zoning atlas upon annexation.

Um the applicant is requesting city services, including sanitary sewer and solid waste services, and the development review committee upon reviewing it, sees that there would be no impact to our ability to provide those services.

It's consistent with the city's comprehensive plan, community development code and the Florida statute.

So staff is recommending approval.

Thank you.

Anyone else here from the public desire to speak to this agenda?

If not, maybe we have a reading.

An ordinance of the city of Clearwater, Florida, annexing certain real property located on the east side of Lauren Lane, approximately 550 feet west of North McMullenbooth Road, whose post office address is 2265 McMullenbooth Road, Clearwater, Florida, 33759, into the corporate limits of the city and redefining the boundary lines of the city to include said addition providing an effective date.

Next up, we have ordinance number 9870-26 and ordinance of the city of Clearwater, Florida, amending the future land use element of the comprehensive plan of the city to designate the land use for a certain real property located on the east side of Lauren Lane, approximately 550 feet west of North McMillan Booth Road is post office address.

His 2265 McMullenbooth Road, Clearwater, Florida, 33759 upon annexation into the city of Clearwater as residential suburban RS providing an effective date.

Finally, we have ordinance number 9871-26 and ordinance of the City of Clearwater, Florida, amending the zoning atlas of the city by zoning certain real property located on the west side of Lauren Lane, approximately 550 feet along North McMullenbooth Road, whose post office address is 2265 McMullen Booth Road.

Clearwater, Florida, 33759 upon annexation into the city of Clearwater as low density residential LDR providing an effective date.

Okay, is there any council discussion?

If not, is there a motion?

Move to approve agenda item 7.4.

Second.

Opposed unanimous.

Appoint an individual to the Marine Advisory Board with a term set to expire on January 15, 2030.

Council members, for your um consideration, the agenda item has applications from Toby Braddenberg, Yvette Compton, David Ferrar, James Martin, Jamie Smith, and Eric Van Cleef.

Okay, um on this one I'll go first, but uh just because I think Monday I didn't express you know, really um preference for any one of them.

So um uh I indicated all of them were I thought were good, but I've had a chance to look closer at it.

And um I'd like I'd like to see us consider David Ferrar.

Uh David served on the Code Enforcement Board.

Uh the only reason he went off that board was because he termed out and he led that board and uh just did a really good job, dedicated jobs, not an easy board to serve on and lead, and uh but he did it, and he didn't go off that long ago, and now he's ready to get back and serve the community again.

Um and then also he uh he he lives on island estates, he's a boat owner out there, and and although we do want to keep uh distribution of folks from throughout the city on on this particular board.

I think I think having a voice out there where you know arguably there are more boat slips out there on you know separate private individual owned boat slips anywhere else in the in the city, and um so the number of docks, uh the number of boat owners out there in that that area.

I think that uh and David's very active in Island State Civic Association and knows most of those boaters out there, recreates, owns a boat himself.

So uh I although there are two or three others that I think would be great too.

I just um I'm I'm persuaded to support David just because of uh those things I just mentioned.

So Robert Yeah, I think I just want to say I think all these people that uh applied for this are great uh applicants, and thanks for uh asking to be of service.

Uh I know that I had said uh Jim Martin, I've known Jim a long time, and and he owns a boat and he lives on the beach.

There's a lot of people that own boats, you know, on the beach as well.

But I do know David very well, and David uh serves our his community very well, not only Clearwater but Island Estates as well.

I would be fine with David.

Uh and um you know the other people that uh applied uh uh maybe could come in to service at some other point.

So I would be good with uh going with David.

I agree.

Um I looked at all the applicants, and I was actually quite happy with the caliber of applicants we're getting.

Um, but simply because I served on the board with David Ferrar, and it was a difficult board, you're right.

Very challenging.

I saw his leadership skills, uh, his commitment, and so just based on what I witnessed were um I would go with David Ferrar as well.

Anyone else?

I mean, I'll I'm gonna stick with uh Mr.

Braddenborough of the Zipco 33765.

It isn't represented, and he's been a long-term Clearwater resident since 1967 with direct marine experience and U.S.

Navy service.

So I respect your all's opinions, but I think that that would probably be best suited in accordance with uh how these boards are determined.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

I I agree, council member.

I I thought the same thing, and then Navy service and experience when we're talking about marine and aviation is pretty important.

Um I think we can kind of count so that we can probably go ahead and move to approve David Ferrar uh for agenda 7.5.

Yeah.

Uh before we do that, now are any of the the folks who applied are they here tonight?

Would they like to say anything?

Okay, is anyone here from the public like to comment on this agenda?

Well, if not, then we'll entertain a motion.

Motion on it's off.

You made the motion on second.

Yeah, okay.

All those in favor?

Opposed, okay.

Okay.

It would be uh for and support, and council member cotton opposed that we will move to item 8.1.

Mayor 8.1 8.1 is uh second reading, and so we'll bring that up.

We have ordinance number 9858-26 and ordinance of the city of Clearwater, Florida, amending chapter 2, Article 5, Division 3, Employees Pension Plan.

Amending Section 2.063 qualifications and appointment of members, amending section 2.411, purpose of the plan and the trust, amending section 2.412 definitions, amending section 2.413 plan administration, amending section 2.425 pension fund records, providing for inclusion in the code, providing for severality, providing for repealer, and providing for an effective date.

Okay.

If not, is there any council discussion?

And if not, is there any motion?

Motion to approve agenda item 8.1.

Second.

All those in favor?

Okay.

Opposed unanimous.

Agenda item 8.2.

Mary appoint two is the second reading of ordinance number 9859-26 and ordinance of the city of Clearwater, Florida, amending the code of ordinances, chapter 2, Article 6, Division 3 purchasing.

Amending section 2.561, methods of source selection, repealing subdivision 5, private public partnerships, repealing sections 2.581 through 2.587, providing for inclusion in the code, providing for severability, providing for repealer, and providing for an effective date.

Okay.

If not, is there a motion?

Motion to approve agenda item 8.2.

Second.

All those in favor?

Opposed unanimous.

Move to agenda item nine.

City manager reports.

No.

Nothing, sir.

Okay.

Item 10, city attorney reports.

Nothing right now.

Okay.

Item 11.1.

Discuss city attorney search process.

That's mine.

Um before before we talk about the process, um, I you know, I discussed with city attorney today uh that perhaps it might be good to formally um ratify, so to speak, what we did on Monday, and that is to formally accept his resignation effective February 9th per the terms that we discussed.

Uh just to have it on the record that we did that, and that would also make it clear that we're opening it up for the next thing, which is this process that we're getting ready to go through to make sure that we are able to tell candidates that the position is officially open so moved.

Second just real quick, I thought that we were still uh looking for or is this pertaining to the search company that we're looking for?

Because or just solely to his updated resignation.

Whatever.

We can tell that whoever we select is or if we select.

Perfect.

So we can move forward to fill the opening decision.

Understood.

Okay.

Uh at this time is anyone here from the public tonight desires to speak for or against the motion.

It's for or against the motion only.

Okay.

Hearing none, is there any um council discussion?

And if not, is there a motion?

Mayor, if I may, um also was discussed uh the um item on appointing an interim city attorney.

Does council want to do that as well?

Or is that something you want to do at a on another item?

I think we've got time to do that.

I think I would I would just stick to what we're doing tonight.

Um I mean I spoke with the city attorney today, and we could just I mean do a compounding motion that all authorizes that as well as appointing Owen, which is what he stated in his letter as well.

Um would just take over February 9th or 10th.

It would be the 10th.

Yeah, I'll I can amend my motion to make it a compound motion uh with that.

Okay.

Only comment I have is not really for or against, um, but the manager and I have also been talking about the process of making sure that oh, it gets appointed successfully, and part of that could involve an uh an employment letter um or amending his employment letter.

And so I think there's a couple ways the council can do this.

Um, number one, does Councilmember Cotton said, and as council member Alburn just indicated, you could make a compound motion tonight.

I think that's totally fine.

I think that's appropriate if you choose to uh making it effective February 10th.

However, the disadvantage to that is that if you would like to wait until the mayor's point, there's no immediate urgency for it.

We could at the next meeting bring back an actual more formal employment agreement with him so that you would see something a little bit more formal, but it's not right or wrong decisions.

Manager and I talked about this.

You can do it both ways.

I don't want to speak for her, but I think we're both comfortable either way with that.

Um, but since you do have time, I think that's you could wait until the next time, or you could just do it tonight.

But if you do it tonight, I think both the manager and I need to know if you would like us to bring back an amended employment letter with Mr.

Kohler, or whether you'd like the motion to stand on its own.

Does that make sense?

Yeah.

So with that, I mean, maybe letting the motion stand with the original motion and then getting the the paperwork drafted so that we have time for that.

We'll slap in probably a minute procedure, but if that's okay, we have time.

Perfect.

Okay, and we'll make sure that we have it on the agenda for the next one.

Okay, okay.

So I'll drop back to my original motion.

Okay, all those in favor?

All right, opposed unanimous.

Okay.

Um second, yeah.

Yeah, the motion wasn't second.

Uh Monino second.

Yeah, but you seconded it with the change as well, correct?

No.

Oh, that's what I need to be ready.

Yeah, yeah.

No, I didn't comment on his when he changed it.

Okay.

Okay.

Good.

So then um uh the rest of it is search process, which we decided Monday.

We were going to uh ask HR to help us uh uh seek some more um potential search companies for that.

So uh I haven't seen anything come through.

I don't know if we're made progress on that or not, but evening Tiffany Macris, HR director.

We've reached out to the four um recruitment agencies that were mentioned at Monday's session.

We've heard back from three.

The fourth one we're still waiting, but we do have a deadline of having something from them by tomorrow.

Okay, so it's a very quick turnaround.

I hope to have something to share with council by tomorrow evening.

And I think we I think we've tentatively have a date for uh special meeting to talk about.

Actually, I have a few dates for council to to uh consider.

So the first meeting would be um or the first date to consider would be Friday, January 23rd.

That's next Friday at 3 p.m.

The second one would be Tuesday, January 27 at 8 a.m.

And that seems to be the one that has the most uh availability of everyone of council, and then Monday, February 2nd at which is the work a regularly scheduled work session, either before or after the schedules work session if if 20 if the 27th is when we have the most availability, that would be fine with me.

I don't know.

I think that gives us enough time to get on the next council agenda as well.

Uh I will not be here, we'll be in Washington.

Okay.

I was told eight o'clock a.m.

would still work for your for your schedule.

It shouldn't take too long.

I actually have to confirm that.

Okay.

Sorry.

It's thinking of moving the the flights around.

Okay.

Is it following me too late for everyone?

I I would like uh personally, I'd like to do it sooner rather than later, so one of the first two for me.

And I think I'm available on all of them, but uh 23rd I'll be in St.

Augustine.

Yeah, okay, so 27th it is.

Thank you.

27th.

Okay.

Very good.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Okay, with that, we'll move to item 12 on the agenda.

Closing comments by council members.

Council member.

Um, first meeting of the new year.

Thank you all for standing by and coming out tonight.

I look uh forward to what 2026 has to bring for the city of Clearwater and for um everything that we have looked forward to.

So wishing everybody a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2026.

Councilmember Manino.

No, sir.

Councilmember Albert.

Yeah, uh, I'd like to on the next work session.

I'd like to uh add a discussion regarding a resolution opposing inclusion of new offshore oil and gas leasing off the coast of Florida.

I know uh the feds are talking about doing this and open it up.

Florida right now is pretty clear, but if they if they come in, I don't want to see any of that.

You know, our main industry here is tourism, and we've been affected by oil spills before, and it has not been pretty.

And so I'd like to uh I sent uh I I guess I've sent you a resolution that can be modified, but it's gonna be, you know, you need to read it because it'll be signed by you and uh supported by city council.

But if we could put it on the next work session and talk about it, I think I'd like to have that.

Okay.

Thank you.

Well, welcome back from all the holidays.

I want to take um this opportunity to share with you all something important as well as personal.

My family, like many others, are navigating the challenges that come with aging parents.

In our c in our case specifically, a parent facing an aggressive illness.

After speaking to my family and the healthcare workers last night, um, and having much reflection, I made the very difficult decision to not seek a second term so that I can focus on my family at this point.

This does not mean that my love or passion for this city has diminished in any way.

It just means that the journey I'm on right now will not allow me to commit to this position in a manner that I think it deserves.

I'm not going away.

I will continue to contribute in any way that I can, just not in this role.

With that in mind, um I'll I have a lot of people to thank.

My family who has been with me every inch of the way, the staff.

Um you've been welcoming, very welcoming, and quickly became part of my life.

First responders, both the CPD and the FIRE.

Great group of people that I'm very proud of.

And last but never least, thank you to the citizens for the privilege of allowing me to serve this great city.

The honor has meant the world to both myself and my family, and will stay with us a lifetime.

I will leave this position grateful, proud, and forever inspired by this city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh very difficult decision for you.

We know.

Um, and I don't have any closing comments other than um uh to say that you know tonight you shared with us before we came in here that that you were gonna make that statement.

And uh I just want to want you to know that uh not just the council but uh the whole community has come to love you with your service to the city, and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Uh, we know that it's a very difficult decision for you, and very difficult for you to talk about it tonight.

Uh, but we we will be there with you as colleagues and friends, and uh the many friends you have of this community to uh to help you and your family through a difficult time.

So that's all I want to say.

We appreciate you so much, and and our thoughts and prayers are with you as as you work through this with your family.

Thank you.

With that, we will adjourn the meeting of January 15th, 2026.