OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Clearwater City Council Meeting – February 19, 2026

Clearwater Municipal Meetings — Thursday, February 19, 2026
BodyClearwater, Florida
SessionClearwater Municipal Meetings
DateThursday, February 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 49:34

Transcript — Verbatim
0:11

This time I'll call call to order the February 19, 2026 meeting of the City of Clearwater City Council.

0:19

If you wish to address the council tonight, please complete a comment card.

0:23

Comment cards are located by the clerk seated to the right of the dais.

0:27

When called to speak, please hand your card to the clerk.

0:30

Move to item two on the agenda, and that is to uh to have our invocation.

0:35

I'd ask that everyone please stand for the invocation tonight to be given by Pastor Steve Kreloff from the Lakeside Community Chapel, and then remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:48

Well Lord, we are so grateful for your many blessings.

0:53

One of which is to live in such a not only wonderful country but a wonderful part of the country here in Clearwater.

1:01

And we thank you for our city council for the members for each one.

1:06

We would ask that you would give them wisdom as they make decisions tonight, give them insight, give them understanding, and we um we would pray that this would be a wonderful meeting and that uh all things would be done that would bring honor to you.

1:25

We pray in your name, amen.

1:28

Thank you, Pastor.

1:29

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:32

I pledge allegiance to the floodplay of the United States of America and to the Republic for which the States, one nation, under God, and do this as well with literature and justice for all before we continue through the agenda tonight.

1:53

I'd like to introduce uh the dais to my far left is our deputy city clerk Nicole Sprague.

2:00

To her right is our city clerk Rosemary Cole.

2:03

Good evening.

2:04

To her right is interim city attorney Owen Kohler.

2:07

Good evening.

2:08

To his right is City Council Member Ryan Cotton.

2:11

Hello.

2:12

To his right, my left is City Council Member Mike Mamino.

2:16

Good evening.

2:16

To my right, Councilmember David Albretton.

2:19

Good evening.

2:19

To his right, Vice Mayor Lena Techira.

2:22

Good evening.

2:23

To her right, City Manager Jennifer Porrio.

2:25

Good evening.

2:26

To her right, Assistant City Manager Al Battle.

2:29

Good evening.

2:30

That will move to item 4.1 on the agenda, and that is the Youth Art Proclamation.

2:36

And I would like to call forward Betsy Adler and Beth Daniels from the Clearwater Arts Alliance for this proclamation.

2:45

And who whoever else you'd like to bring forward.

2:55

Whereas the study and production of art leads to a fuller, more meaningful life, and whereas art education provides substantial educational benefits to all elementary, middle, and high school students.

3:07

And whereas art education cultivates students' creativity, develops problem solving and critical thinking skills by reinforcing and bringing to life what is learned in other subjects.

3:19

And whereas art education teaches sensitivity to beauty, order, and other expressive qualities, and give students a deeper understanding of multicultural values and beliefs, and whereas our national leaders, the National Art Education Association, the Florida Arts Education Association, Arts for a Complete Education Penelis, and the Clearwater Arts Alliance acknowledge the necessity of including art experiences in all students' education.

3:51

Now, therefore, I Bruce Rector, mayor of the City of Clearwater, Florida, on behalf of the Clearwater City Council to hereby proclaim March 2026 to be Youth Art Month in Clearwater and encourage citizens to support quality school arts programs and experience the arts in their daily lives.

4:08

Thank you.

4:09

Beth, would you and your folks like to say something?

4:11

Yeah.

4:12

Just to say thank you for the proclamation and the acknowledgement of the value of creativity for our young people and their educations.

4:21

We will we are particularly proud that this year, although there were some issues about funding for art things in the county, that for the first time in a number of years, the countywide kindergarten through eight full juried art show is coming back to the Clearwater Library.

4:39

So the opening reception last year at Creative Panellists they had over 400 people in attendance honoring their young students who had been awarded and juried with the show with a piece that was put in the show, and it will be right here in our gallery on Tuesday, March the 2nd.

4:57

March 3rd, pardon me.

4:58

March the third.

4:59

So there'll be a lovely reception.

5:00

We hope you'll all see it.

5:01

Those pieces of art from those local students will be up for the best part of a month.

5:06

So you'll have time to enjoy that.

5:08

And of course, there's a lovely exhibit there now, which has been on display for several months.

5:12

So we're happy about that, and we're very thankful for the support this council has given to the efforts of creativity and art in our community.

5:21

Thank you very much.

5:22

And I think we have a little reminder of what's happening and when to be there if you'd like to be there.

5:27

But we think a lot of proud parents and a lot of very enthusiastic young students will be here right in this uh library in very short time with their lovely pieces that they're very proud of.

5:39

Thank you.

5:41

Certainly, our community that celebrates art and uh and really appreciate the importance of involving youth in art.

5:48

And so we appreciate the efforts of Claremore Arts Alliance to do that.

5:51

So thank you for coming.

5:53

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation██████████████████████████████████34%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Procedural██████████████14%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Tourism Development█████5%
Public Facilities████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Clearwater City Council Meeting – February 19, 2026

The City Council met on February 19, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Main Library Council Chambers. The meeting began with an invocation by Pastor Steve Kreloff, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a proclamation for Youth Art Month. The council approved consent agenda items, discussed and approved three pulled consent items, approved several public hearings, and heard public comments on various topics.

Proclamation

  • Youth Art Month (Item 4.1): Mayor Rector proclaimed March 2026 as Youth Art Month in Clearwater. Beth Daniels and Betsy Adler from the Clearwater Arts Alliance accepted, noting the return of the countywide K–8 juried art show to the Clearwater Library on March 3, 2026.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes (Item 5.1): Approved the minutes of the February 5, 2026, City Council meeting.
  • Consent Agenda Items 6.1, 6.5–6.13: Approved by a single motion after items 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4 were pulled for discussion. These included a developer agreement with JEN Tampa 14, LLC; purchase orders for Cues equipment, vehicle upfitting, audio/video equipment, Jolley Trolley spring break service, legal retainers (four cases), and authorization to initiate foreclosure actions.

Discussion Items

  • Item 6.2 – Montclair Park Playground Equipment: Purchase order for $192,509.44 to Rep Services, Inc. for playground equipment. Public comment: Daniel Haluba questioned the cost, noting a similar expenditure at Merrymont Park, and raised concerns about a nonprofit sponsor being inactive. Council approved unanimously after no further discussion.
  • Item 6.3 – Sod for Hurricane Repair: Increase of $60,000 (to $360,000 total) for citywide sod needs due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Public comment: Haluba argued grass seed was cheaper and questioned the need. Mayor Rector defended the expense as necessary for maintaining Clearwater’s appearance and tourism reputation. Council approved unanimously.
  • Item 6.4 – Landscape Plant Materials: Purchase order up to $300,000 annually for three years with Wise Hands, LLC. Public comment: Haluba criticized the expense as unnecessary. Assistant Director Anderson explained the plant materials include ground covers, shrubs, trees, and palms. Councilmember Albretton praised recent landscaping work. Council approved unanimously.
  • Item 7.1 – Surplus Property Sale: Declared surplus and approved sale of unaddressed property at Palm Bluff and North Myrtle to Rosemary Cooper. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 7.2 – Annexation at 1604 Bonair Street: Approved annexation with Residential Low (RL) land use and Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR) zoning. Three ordinances passed on first reading.
  • Item 7.3 – Annexation at 2941 Abbey Lake Road: Withdrawn by the property owner prior to consideration.
  • Items 7.4 and 7.5 – North Greenwood CRA Overlay: Continued to March 30, 2026.
  • Item 7.6 – FDOT Grant for Runway/Taxiway Markings: Approved joint participation agreement and Resolution 26-03.
  • Item 7.7 – Opposition to Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing: Adopted Resolution 26-05 opposing new leasing off Florida’s coast. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 7.8 – Old City Hall Site Conveyance: Adopted Resolution 26-06 reaffirming the site is unnecessary for public purposes and authorizing conveyance. Public comment: A speaker argued the free parking lot was needed for downtown vitality. Council approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Patrick Raftery (Countryside area): Urged balanced consideration of a development proposal for The Landings, emphasizing traffic, stormwater, energy use, loss of green space, and tree buffers. Requested resident involvement.
  • Daniel Haluba: Criticized restrictions on public comment, asserting that all speech at the podium is protected by the First Amendment. Recited “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” to illustrate his point.
  • William Johnson: Thanked council for restoring unified public comment. Suggested prioritizing maintenance of existing facilities over new ones, and shared photos of graffiti, dirty trash containers, and neglected restrooms on Clearwater Beach, indicating a decline in upkeep.

Key Outcomes

  • All pulled consent items (6.2, 6.3, 6.4) were approved unanimously after discussion.
  • Annexation for 1604 Bonair Street approved; annexation for 2941 Abbey Lake Road withdrawn.
  • Resolutions 26-03 (FDOT grant), 26-05 (offshore drilling opposition), and 26-06 (Old City Hall conveyance) adopted.
  • North Greenwood overlay items continued to March 30, 2026.
  • No city manager or city attorney reports.
  • Closing comments: Councilmember Cotton had none; Councilmember Albretton welcomed the Philadelphia Phillies for spring training; Vice Mayor Techira highlighted the ESPN college softball tournament (2.5 million views), the successful Valentine’s concert, and the topping off ceremony for the new city hall; Mayor Rector thanked staff and volunteers and wished Councilmember Cotton a happy birthday.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

This time I'll call call to order the February 19, 2026 meeting of the City of 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. Move to item two on the agenda, and that is to uh to have our invocation. I'd ask that everyone please stand for the invocation tonight to be given by Pastor Steve Kreloff from the Lakeside Community Chapel, and then remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance. Well Lord, we are so grateful for your many blessings. One of which is to live in such a not only wonderful country but a wonderful part of the country here in Clearwater. And we thank you for our city council for the members for each one. We would ask that you would give them wisdom as they make decisions tonight, give them insight, give them understanding, and we um we would pray that this would be a wonderful meeting and that uh all things would be done that would bring honor to you. We pray in your name, amen. Thank you, Pastor. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the floodplay of the United States of America and to the Republic for which the States, one nation, under God, and do this as well with literature and justice for all before we continue through the agenda tonight. I'd like to introduce uh the dais 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 interim city attorney Owen Kohler. Good evening. To his right is City Council Member Ryan Cotton. Hello. To his right, my left is City Council Member Mike Mamino. Good evening. To my right, Councilmember David Albretton. Good evening. To his right, Vice Mayor Lena Techira. Good evening. To her right, City Manager Jennifer Porrio. Good evening. To her right, Assistant City Manager Al Battle. Good evening. That will move to item 4.1 on the agenda, and that is the Youth Art Proclamation. And I would like to call forward Betsy Adler and Beth Daniels from the Clearwater Arts Alliance for this proclamation. And who whoever else you'd like to bring forward. Whereas the study and production of art leads to a fuller, more meaningful life, and whereas art education provides substantial educational benefits to all elementary, middle, and high school students. And whereas art education cultivates students' creativity, develops problem solving and critical thinking skills by reinforcing and bringing to life what is learned in other subjects. And whereas art education teaches sensitivity to beauty, order, and other expressive qualities, and give students a deeper understanding of multicultural values and beliefs, and whereas our national leaders, the National Art Education Association, the Florida Arts Education Association, Arts for a Complete Education Penelis, and the Clearwater Arts Alliance acknowledge the necessity of including art experiences in all students' education. Now, therefore, I Bruce Rector, mayor of the City of Clearwater, Florida, on behalf of the Clearwater City Council to hereby proclaim March 2026 to be Youth Art Month in Clearwater and encourage citizens to support quality school arts programs and experience the arts in their daily lives. Thank you. Beth, would you and your folks like to say something? Yeah. Just to say thank you for the proclamation and the acknowledgement of the value of creativity for our young people and their educations. We will we are particularly proud that this year, although there were some issues about funding for art things in the county, that for the first time in a number of years, the countywide kindergarten through eight full juried art show is coming back to the Clearwater Library. So the opening reception last year at Creative Panellists they had over 400 people in attendance honoring their young students who had been awarded and juried with the show with a piece that was put in the show, and it will be right here in our gallery on Tuesday, March the 2nd. March 3rd, pardon me. March the third. So there'll be a lovely reception. We hope you'll all see it. Those pieces of art from those local students will be up for the best part of a month. So you'll have time to enjoy that.

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