Clearwater City Council Meeting - February 5, 2026
Clearwater City Council Meeting - February 5, 2026
The Clearwater City Council met on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Main Library Council Chambers to discuss a range of routine and administrative items. The meeting included a proclamation, approval of minutes, a consent agenda with several items pulled for discussion, a public hearing to restore non-agenda public comment, and second readings of annexation and zoning ordinances. The council also honored outgoing City Attorney David Margolis.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (Item 5.1): The minutes of the January 15, 2026 City Council meeting were approved unanimously.
- Consent Agenda Remaining Items: Items 6.1, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7, 6.9, and 6.11 were approved by a single motion. These included a land sale to Habitat for Humanity, a lift station construction contract, design services for a disinfection system, purchase of water meter parts, a stormwater grant agreement, a roadway transfer with Belleair, and an appointment to the North Greenwood CRA Citizens Advisory Committee.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 6.2 (Sponsorship Sales): A speaker (Mr. Haluba) opposed the agreement, calling it "misplaced priorities and government overreach" and arguing that parks and recreation should not seek private sponsorships. He criticized the inclusion of splash pads and called for the item to be voted down.
- Item 6.3 (Security Services Contract): The same speaker expressed concern about outsourcing police duties to Sentry Event Services, arguing that the Clearwater Police should handle such work or that the county sheriff should be used instead.
- Item 6.6 (Water/Reclaimed Water Contracts): Mr. Haluba criticized the reclaimed water fee as a tax, questioned the accounting, and argued against the city taking over the electric grid.
- Item 6.8 (Stormwater Grant): The speaker questioned the effectiveness of the North Beach pump stations, suggested that the water would eventually be contaminated, and proposed a special assessment on North Beach residents instead of using state funds.
- Item 6.10 (Solid Waste Camera System): Mr. Haluba called the $769,626 purchase a "waste of money," arguing that GPS and cameras on garbage trucks were unnecessary and that recycling is not truly separated.
- Item 6.12 (Interim City Attorney): The speaker congratulated Owen Kohler but urged the council to enforce a residency requirement for the city attorney, stating that the requirement should not be dropped for expediency.
- Item 7.1 (Restore Public Comment): A resident (Mr. Haluba) commended the council for restoring the opportunity for public comment on non-agenda items, noting that town hall meetings were not sufficient. He expressed hope that order and decorum would be maintained.
Discussion Items
- Item 4.1 (National 211 Day Proclamation): Mayor Bruce Rector presented a proclamation declaring February 11, 2026 as National 211 Day in Clearwater. Micki Thompson (CEO) and Sean Schrader (Board Member) of First Contact accepted and noted that 211 responded to over 62,000 calls, texts, emails, and online requests in 2025, and helped about 8,000 Clearwater residents in the past year.
- Item 6.2 (Sponsorship Sales Agreement): Parks and Recreation Director Art Cater presented the item, explaining that it was part of ongoing efforts to create new revenue streams. He noted that only three responses were received for the RFP, and Instigo LLC was chosen for being local, lower cost, and a minority business. The agreement is $5,000/month retainer plus 12% of gross sales, with a nine-month performance check. The city can terminate at any time. After public comment, the council unanimously approved the motion.
- Item 6.3 (Security Services Contract): Art Cater noted the item was discussed at a work session. After public comment, the council approved the increase and extension unanimously.
- Item 6.6 (Water/Reclaimed Water Contracts): Interim Public Utilities Director Mike Flanning explained the multi-vendor contract for trenchless pipeline work and well maintenance, competitively bid at $9 million annually with renewal options. The council approved unanimously.
- Item 6.8 (Stormwater Grant): Public Works Director Marcus Winson presented the $3 million state grant for Phase 1 of the North Beach Stormwater Improvements Project, with no local match required. The council approved unanimously.
- Item 6.10 (Solid Waste Camera System): Solid Waste Director Kervin (name unclear) described the system as part of modernizing operations with cameras, GPS, and tablets to improve safety and service. Councilmember Cotton praised the solid waste staff for their dangerous work and welcomed technology to enhance safety. The council approved unanimously.
- Item 6.12 (Interim City Attorney Appointment): The council appointed Owen Kohler as Interim City Attorney effective February 10, 2026. The item was discussed extensively at the prior work session. After public comment, the council approved unanimously.
- Item 7.1 (Amend Council Rule 6): The council adopted Resolution 26-02 to temporarily restore public comment on matters not on the agenda. The resolution was discussed at the work session. After public comment, the council approved unanimously.
- Second Readings (Items 8.1-8.6): All six ordinances were read and approved unanimously. These included annexations of two parcels (unaddressed property on S. McMullen Booth Road and 2265 N. McMullen Booth Road) and corresponding comprehensive plan and zoning map amendments (Residential Medium, Medium Density Residential, Residential Suburban, and Low Density Residential).
Key Outcomes
- Approved: All consent agenda items; the Instigo sponsorship agreement; the Sentry Event Services contract increase; the water/reclaimed water construction contracts; the FDEP stormwater grant; the Routeware solid waste system; the appointment of Owen Kohler as Interim City Attorney; and Resolution 26-02 restoring non-agenda public comment.
- Adopted: Ordinances 9866-26 through 9871-26 on second reading, annexing two properties and setting land use and zoning.
- Acknowledged: City Manager Jennifer Poyer reported on a two-day innovation training session with the Bloomberg Harvard team and a forthcoming strategic planning work session.
- Farewell: Outgoing City Attorney David Margolis gave closing remarks, and council members expressed gratitude for his service on major projects like the Gotham contract and design services redesign.
- Announcements: Councilmember Albrighton noted the upcoming Philadelphia Phillies spring training and the college softball tournaments (NFCA and ESPN Clearwater Invitational) in the coming weekends.
Meeting Transcript
This time we'll call the order of the February fifth, twenty twenty-six meeting of the Clearwater City Council. If you wish to address the council tonight, please complete it. 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. And then ask everyone to remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance. Our mayor, our vice mayor, members of the council, city attorneys, city managers, and all the staff who work with them that uh make the city run. Father, we thank you for our first responders, those who are tasked with keeping our city safe, uh the fire and rescue and police force and and those who help out in this way. Father, we thank you for this place where we can meet and view the business of our community as it's done in a public forum such as this. We pray that the decisions made, discussions that ensue will be in line with your will for our great city. For it's in your holy and precious name we make this prayer this evening. Amen. Thank you, Major Morris. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. And to the Republic for which is one nation under God. Before we continue further into the uh agenda, I'd like to introduce our dayus. To my far left is our deputy city clerk Nicole Sprague. To her right is City Clerk Rosemary Cole. Good evening. To her right is City Attorney David Margolis. Good evening. To his right is Councilmember Ryan Cotton. Hello. To his right and my left is Councilmember Mike Manino. Good evening. My right, Councilmember David Albrighton. Good evening. To his right, Vice Mayor Lena Tshara. Hello. To her right, City Manager Jennifer Poyer. Good evening. Her right, Assistant City Manager Dan Slaughter. And to his right, Assistant City Manager Al Battle. That will move to item four on the agenda, and that is the National 211 Day proclamation. I'd like to call forward Mickey Thompson and Sean Schrader from the First Contact Organization to receive this proclamation. Thank you for coming tonight. Whereas 211 is a free confidential three-digit helpline that connects residents and visitors to essential health and human services, including crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing, and utility payment assistance, employment services, veteran services, and child care and family support. And whereas in the City of Clearwater, 211 services are provided by first contact, ensuring individuals and families have access to compassionate, accurate, and timely information and referrals when they need help the most. And whereas 211 provides expert caring assistance by listening to callers, identifying underlying needs, and connecting people with appropriate community resources that help stabilize households and improve quality of life. And whereas in 2025, 211 responded to more than 62,000 calls, texts, emails, and online requests from Pinellas County residents seeking assistance with critical needs. And whereas 211 maintains a finger on the pulse of community needs by collecting and analyzing health and human services data, which is used by local governments, emergency managers, and community planners to inform decision making and improve services. Now, therefore, I, Bruce Rector, Mayor of the City of Clearwater, Florida, on behalf of the Clearwater City Council, to hereby proclaim February 11th, 2026 to be National 211 Day in Clearwater, and encourage all residents to recognize the vital role 211 plays in supporting health, safety, and well-being of our community. Thank you for coming tonight. And we know you came to work session, shared with us the great work you do. But uh anything you'd like to share with us tonight. Yeah, well, thank you very much, Mayor and Council, as you know, Sean Schrader, proud Clearwater native. And you know, throughout my life, it's been exciting to get engaged in a number of great efforts in the community. And I think one of the most exciting is the work that First Contact does. As you just outlined there, there are so many different types of questions and comments and challenges that constituents face across a broad number of issues, whether that's a hurricane or you know, challenges with housing or challenges with other types of assistance, and to know that you can refer those individuals to trained and talented staff who can help them and can kind of help make their challenging situation just a little bit better is really really important. So to be a board member for first contact is a great honor to work with great leaders like Mickey Thompson, is incredible honor, and we're just very appreciative of your supporting your partnership.
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