The Clearwater City Council met on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Main Library Council Chambers. The meeting was brief, lasting approximately 25 minutes, and included a proclamation, consent agenda approvals, two public hearings, second readings for annexations, and closing comments. The council approved all consent items and resolutions unanimously, deferred one item, and discussed rescheduling a future meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:25 PM.
If you wish to address 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. With that, we'll move to item two on the agenda, and that is uh for the invocation tonight. I don't see Father Swick here, I don't believe, so I'll um maybe no, that's not Father Swift. You all stand, then I'll meet us in uh invocation, then I will leave us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Father, we we pray tonight for the safety of the men and women serving in our armed forces uh wherever they're at in the world. We uh pray for their safety as uh their lives means so much to many family members who are here worried about them here in the United States and wherever they're at around the world. Um we are so thankful for their willingness to serve our country, and we pray for their safety tonight. We also pray for the continued safety of our first responders here in Clearwater. Uh these men and women and all walks of life in our city uh are out there risking their own lives every day, and we pray for their safety as they serve our community. Finally, we pray tonight for your guidance and uh your wisdom as we make important decisions for the future of this city, and we ask that you help us do so in a way that glorifies your name in all respects. All the all this we ask in your name. Amen. Amen. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I please allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and indivisible. Liberty and justice for all. Good evening. To her right is City Clerk Rose Marie Cole. Good evening. To her right is City Attorney Owen Cola. Good evening. To his right is City Council Member Ryan Cotton. Good evening. To his right is Councilmember Mike Manino. Good evening. To my right is Councilmember David Albreton. Good evening. To his right is Vice Mayor Lena Chichira. Good evening. To her right is City Manager Jennifer Poirier. Good evening. To her right, Assistant City Manager Dan Slaughter. To his right, Assistant City Manager Al Mattle. With that, we'll move to item four on the agenda and specifically item 4.1 for the Flood Awareness Week 2026 proclamation. Like to call forward Cassie Cordova and Gene Henry. Whereas the city of Clearwater has previously experienced severe weather in the form of extreme rainfall or tropical system events resulting in flooding, and whereas flooding has caused damage and losses to homes and buildings in all areas, whether they are in high-risk special flood hazard areas or low to moderate risk flood zones. And whereas the City of Clearwater voluntarily participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, NI excuse me, NFIP that provides residents with the opportunity to protect their property against flood loss through the purchase of flood insurance. And whereas the reduction of loss of life and property damage can be achieved when appropriate flood preparedness control and mitigation measures are taken before a flood. Now therefore, I Bruce Rector, mayor of the city of Clearwater, Florida, on behalf of the Clearwater City Council to hereby proclaim March 9th through the 15th, 2026 to be flood awareness week in Clearwater. Cassie and Jean, would you like to say a few words about uh about the program and the important work of the city? Yes, um, council members and mayor. Um, thank you for having us here this evening, and thank you for um bringing this awareness you know back out to the community. It's amazing all the resilience that all of our agencies have come together to help the residents from the past hurricane season. So keeping this above our residents, it you know it's crucial. The awareness is uh needs to stay out, especially as we approach um hurricane season and um and for you know the rainy season. So again, I appreciate uh your the proclamation and letting the uh residents understand that you know we're we're gonna continue bringing awareness items to you, and again, thank you very much. And I just want to build on that and say thank you very much to council for this support. And I also wanted to flag that we did launch a new program, uh, our adapt a drain to parallel our adoptive park in Cupter Street.