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.

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

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.

Thank you very much.

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

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.

Thank you.

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

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

So thank you for coming.

Thank you.