OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Clearwater City Council Meeting – March 30, 2026

Clearwater Municipal Meetings — Monday, March 30, 2026
BodyClearwater, Florida
SessionClearwater Municipal Meetings
DateMonday, March 30, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:14:07

Transcript — Verbatim
11:44

This time I'll call for order the March 30, 2026 meeting of the Clearwater City Council.

11:50

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

11:54

Comment cards are located by the clerk.

12:01

This time we'll move to item two on the agenda, and that's for our invocation.

12:05

Ask for everyone to please stand for the invitation tonight to be given by Rabbi Michael Bernholz of the Tip of the Eye Israel and remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance.

12:19

Truly what an honor it is to come before the Clearwater City Council to offer an invitation.

12:26

And this is in the midst of a significant week.

12:29

It is both Holy Week in the Christian calendar, but it is also as we are approaching Passover on our Jewish calendar, one of our three major pilgrimage festivals, when the community of Israel would gather in Israel to remember four thousand years ago when the people of Israel were slaves in the land of Egypt, and they were led through miracles and marvels through the sea and after all those plagues.

12:53

And so later this week, on Wednesday night, Jewish families, and then Thursday night too.

12:58

Jewish families will be gathering, and the youngest child of every family is required to ask a question.

13:04

And the whole goal of the holiday is for the parents to teach their children the questions so the kids ask the questions, so then the parents have to answer why is this night different from all other nights?

13:16

And then, of course, with that prompting, you have then have to tell the story.

13:19

And we do all kinds of things during the Passover Seder.

13:22

This meal we do in a particular order in order to make our kids curious.

13:27

We play hide and seek.

13:29

We sing silly songs.

13:30

We ask force them to ask questions.

13:33

We dip things once, not once, but twice, where you take parsley into salt water, and then you take an apple compote and you put it with bitter herbs.

13:42

We do all sorts of stuff just to get our kids to ask that question so we can say here is this moment where the people of Israel were in slavery where they were in degradation, where they were suffering miserably, and yet connecting with the divine, they were able to go to freedom.

14:26

And I was asking, and there's this as I said, a question why do we dip not once?

14:32

Some nights we never dip anything.

14:34

But tonight we don't just dip once, we dip twice.

14:37

We dip parsley into salt water, and I was asking the kids, and I was asking this community of what were those two acts of dipping.

14:48

Remembering another part of the Seder.

14:51

And so he was remembering a place in the ceder where we actually take wine out of our wine glass to reduce the amount of wine we have.

15:00

And I had started thinking about these two acts that are so that are part of the cedar and so different.

15:05

One is taking, and we call it corosate.

15:08

And there's all sorts of different corrosive.

15:10

If you're from Eastern Europe, it's apples and nuts, and then wine is added to it.

15:15

And it gets mixed with bitter herb in our day and age, so many people use horseradish.

15:20

And it's a beautiful way of combining the sweet and the bitter.

15:24

Because in Jewish life, what do we do?

15:27

We realize that there is the bitterness of slavery of ancestors, but also the bitterness of the challenges we experience, and what do we want to do?

15:35

We want to feel and understand the bitterness that's real, and we also then want to follow it with sweetness, with the joy and with the celebration.

15:44

And so we have this bitterness and sweetness that goes together.

15:48

And on the other hand, here is this person talking about the removing of the wine that was that is part of this other ritual with a kiddish.

15:57

And I'm like, why is it different?

15:59

And then I'm as I stand before you take think about taking a kiddishcut.

16:06

Taking a wine glass, and we are removing each drop of wine to be one of the ten plagues that we have in the story of the Exodus.

16:16

You have this moment where you have the people of Egypt won't let the people of Israel go to freedom, and you have to have these plagues that are come on the that are brought to the people of Israel of Egypt, and there's all this damage and destruction.

16:29

But the last thing you want to do is celebrate, even if you need to stand up to someone, in order to find your freedom, the last thing you want to do is celebrate the destruction of somebody else, even if it leads to freedom.

16:43

And so we decrease the wine, we decrease our sweetness, we decrease our joy, acknowledging that there is pain even coming with our freedom.

16:54

Two completely different rituals, one of adding wine to something to make it sweeter, one to decrease the wine to take away some of the sweetness, all part of that same ritual.

17:05

And so as you hear from this community, as you debate and discuss what is how to build this city and this community into a place of shalom, wholeness, completeness, and peace.

17:20

It is my hope that you think about both of those things.

17:23

What are the things that we add?

17:24

What are the things we take away?

17:26

How do we bit balance those moments of challenge, those moments of conflict, with also with those moments of sweetness?

17:34

And there's a very simple text that I offer.

17:39

May we all find this way to build this world with love.

17:44

May each of us as individuals find that way to build this world with chain with love.

17:50

May all of us as a community find a way to build this world with chesed with love.

17:56

And may we feel as something greater than ourselves bound together, find a way, oh lam chased, to build this world with love.

18:06

Amen.

18:07

Thank you, Redbeh.

18:08

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

18:11

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

18:15

And to which it stands.

18:18

One nation.

18:29

Before we go further in tonight's uh agenda, I'd like to introduce our dayus for tonight.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████20%
Community Engagement███████████████15%
Procedural██████████10%
Environmental Protection█████████9%
Historic Preservation███████7%
Youth Programs██████6%
Religious Freedom█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Clearwater City Council Meeting – March 30, 2026

The Clearwater City Council met on March 30, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included special recognitions, public hearings on comprehensive plan amendments for the North Greenwood CRA, a first-quarter budget amendment, numerous routine approvals, election of a Vice Mayor, and appointments. Public comments addressed concerns about gentrification in North Greenwood and the future of the Landings golf course.

Special Recognitions & Presentations

  • ID#26-0211: Clearwater For Youth (CFY) Scholarship Recipients – 57 scholarships awarded from 500 applicants; 16 Clearwater recipients honored.
  • ID#26-0378: Salvation Army Centennial Day Proclamation – recognizing 100 years of service (March 16, 1926).
  • ID#26-0192: Donate Life Month Proclamation – April 2026; speaker Sonia Piatt shared her story as a 10-year double organ transplant recipient.
  • ID#26-0294: Fair Housing Month Proclamation – April 2026; 58th anniversary of Fair Housing Act.
  • ID#26-0323: Earth Month 2026 Proclamation – April 2026; city events throughout the month.

Consent Calendar

  • 5.1: Approved minutes of March 5, 2026 meeting (unanimous).
  • 6.3: First-quarter budget amendment – FY2025-26 operating and capital budgets, increasing capital improvement fund by $26,120,786 (unanimous).
  • 6.4: Annual general permit with Pinellas County for natural gas facilities ($4,000) (unanimous).
  • 6.5: Fleet parts purchase orders, annual not-to-exceed $3,000,000 (unanimous).
  • 6.6: Purchase of 11 Club Car Carryall carts for Parks & Recreation ($248,439.84) (unanimous).
  • 6.7: Security services contract with Allied Universal ($300,000 annual, four renewals) (unanimous).
  • 6.8: Software licensing and telephony support from PowerNet ($167,600.10 for 11 months) (unanimous).
  • 6.9: Construction contract for Air Park Terminal ($13,659,750) (unanimous).
  • 6.10: FDOT grant amendment for terminal construction ($2.4 million additional) (unanimous).
  • 6.11: BayCare Ball Park berm wall repair ($1,626,534.60) (unanimous).
  • 6.12: CMAR agreement for Eddie C. Moore Complex renovations ($93,882) (unanimous).
  • 6.13: Agreement with Carlouel Yacht Club for beach vehicle use per state law (unanimous).
  • 6.14: Marshall Street WRF clarifier improvements ($689,700) (unanimous).
  • 6.15: Emergency water main repair at Keystone and Gulf-to-Bay ($199,402) (unanimous).
  • 6.16: Purchase of three diesel generators ($223,285.56) (unanimous).
  • 6.17: Sodium hypochlorite purchase for water treatment ($2,000,000 annual) (unanimous).
  • 6.18: Professional services agreement with CHA Consulting for water program ($9,000,000 over 5 years) (unanimous).
  • 6.19: Contract amendment for Lift Station 16, $166,390 reduction and $13,200 supplemental (unanimous).
  • 6.20: Six work orders for FEMA-funded slope stabilization ($347,923.01) (unanimous).
  • 6.21: FDEP grant for living seawalls ($3,000,000, no match) (unanimous).
  • 6.22: Pier 60 repair design contract with WSP ($708,227) (unanimous).
  • 6.23: Work order for living seawall design services ($405,533) (unanimous).
  • 6.24: Increase to palm pruning contract ($250,000 increase to $300,000) (unanimous).
  • 6.25: Election of Vice Mayor – Councilmember Ryan Cotton elected for one-year term (unanimous).
  • 6.26: Appointments to Public Art and Design Board – Sherry Aquilad, Maggie Duffy, Mark Lutz, Brian Bollaton, Jonathan Barnes, Gregory Byrd, and Judy Morton (unanimous).
  • 6.27: Appointment of Karen Cunningham to Pinellas Opportunity Council (unanimous).
  • 6.28: Legal services agreement with Bryant Miller Olive for Community Development Board (unanimous).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • On Item 6.1 – North Greenwood Comprehensive Plan Amendments: Barbara Sorrel Love (president of Clearwater Historical Society and Museum) requested postponement until after a June 3 community meeting. LaDrella Jenkins expressed concern about erasing history and lack of communication to older residents. An 80-year-old resident spoke about rising taxes and fear of displacement. Council acknowledged concerns and noted the overlay is opt-in; they directed staff to improve outreach via churches and utility bills.
  • On Non-Agenda Items (Citizens to be Heard): Ursula Snow (Landings neighborhood representative) raised concerns about the proposed redevelopment of the Landings golf course into a multi-sport complex, citing Charter Section 2.01 requiring a referendum for change of use of recreation/open space land designated since 1989. She argued the change from golf course to artificial turf and concrete is a major change, creating an urban heat island.

Discussion Items

  • 6.1 – Comprehensive Plan Amendments for North Greenwood CRA: Staff (Lauren Matsky) presented amendments to establish a Planned Redevelopment District (PRD) Overlay future land use category, incorporating policies for a North Greenwood Community Overlay District, and supporting nonconformity procedures. The overlay allows up to 40 units per acre, density bonuses, and mixed-use bonuses, but is opt-in for property owners. Council discussion emphasized the need for community engagement and preserving history. Two red-line changes were requested: remove Industrial Limited and its zoning district. Public testimony raised fears of gentrification and lack of communication. Council voted unanimously to approve on first reading with red-line changes.
  • 6.2 – Future Land Use Map Amendment: Applied the PRD Overlay to approximately 500 acres within the North Greenwood CRA, excluding CBD, Industrial Limited, Transportation/Utility, Water, Preservation, and Recreation/Open Space. Three additional exclusions (Water, Preservation, Recreation/Open Space) were already excluded; staff requested removal of Industrial Limited and Transportation/Utility to be consistent. Council voted unanimously.
  • 10.1 – Budget Hearing Schedule: Council directed scheduling a budget work session on August 11, 2026 at 1:30 PM, with first hearing September 15 and second hearing September 21, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Comprehensive Plan amendments (Ordinance 9860-26) on first reading (unanimous).
  • Approved Future Land Use Map amendment (Ordinance 9861-26) on first reading (unanimous).
  • Approved First-quarter budget amendments (Ordinances 9901-26 and 9902-26) (unanimous).
  • Approved all other consent items on the agenda as listed (unanimous).
  • Elected Councilmember Ryan Cotton as Vice Mayor for a one-year term.
  • Appointed individuals to boards and committees as recommended.
  • Directed staff to improve outreach to North Greenwood residents regarding upcoming code amendments.

Meeting Transcript

This time I'll call for order the March 30, 2026 meeting of the Clearwater City Council. If you wish to address the council tonight, please complete a comment card. Comment cards are located by the clerk. This time we'll move to item two on the agenda, and that's for our invocation. Ask for everyone to please stand for the invitation tonight to be given by Rabbi Michael Bernholz of the Tip of the Eye Israel and remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance. Truly what an honor it is to come before the Clearwater City Council to offer an invitation. And this is in the midst of a significant week. It is both Holy Week in the Christian calendar, but it is also as we are approaching Passover on our Jewish calendar, one of our three major pilgrimage festivals, when the community of Israel would gather in Israel to remember four thousand years ago when the people of Israel were slaves in the land of Egypt, and they were led through miracles and marvels through the sea and after all those plagues. And so later this week, on Wednesday night, Jewish families, and then Thursday night too. Jewish families will be gathering, and the youngest child of every family is required to ask a question. And the whole goal of the holiday is for the parents to teach their children the questions so the kids ask the questions, so then the parents have to answer why is this night different from all other nights? And then, of course, with that prompting, you have then have to tell the story. And we do all kinds of things during the Passover Seder. This meal we do in a particular order in order to make our kids curious. We play hide and seek. We sing silly songs. We ask force them to ask questions. We dip things once, not once, but twice, where you take parsley into salt water, and then you take an apple compote and you put it with bitter herbs. We do all sorts of stuff just to get our kids to ask that question so we can say here is this moment where the people of Israel were in slavery where they were in degradation, where they were suffering miserably, and yet connecting with the divine, they were able to go to freedom. And I was asking, and there's this as I said, a question why do we dip not once? Some nights we never dip anything. But tonight we don't just dip once, we dip twice. We dip parsley into salt water, and I was asking the kids, and I was asking this community of what were those two acts of dipping. Remembering another part of the Seder. And so he was remembering a place in the ceder where we actually take wine out of our wine glass to reduce the amount of wine we have. And I had started thinking about these two acts that are so that are part of the cedar and so different. One is taking, and we call it corosate. And there's all sorts of different corrosive. If you're from Eastern Europe, it's apples and nuts, and then wine is added to it. And it gets mixed with bitter herb in our day and age, so many people use horseradish. And it's a beautiful way of combining the sweet and the bitter. Because in Jewish life, what do we do? We realize that there is the bitterness of slavery of ancestors, but also the bitterness of the challenges we experience, and what do we want to do? We want to feel and understand the bitterness that's real, and we also then want to follow it with sweetness, with the joy and with the celebration. And so we have this bitterness and sweetness that goes together. And on the other hand, here is this person talking about the removing of the wine that was that is part of this other ritual with a kiddish. And I'm like, why is it different? And then I'm as I stand before you take think about taking a kiddishcut. Taking a wine glass, and we are removing each drop of wine to be one of the ten plagues that we have in the story of the Exodus. You have this moment where you have the people of Egypt won't let the people of Israel go to freedom, and you have to have these plagues that are come on the that are brought to the people of Israel of Egypt, and there's all this damage and destruction. But the last thing you want to do is celebrate, even if you need to stand up to someone, in order to find your freedom, the last thing you want to do is celebrate the destruction of somebody else, even if it leads to freedom. And so we decrease the wine, we decrease our sweetness, we decrease our joy, acknowledging that there is pain even coming with our freedom. Two completely different rituals, one of adding wine to something to make it sweeter, one to decrease the wine to take away some of the sweetness, all part of that same ritual. And so as you hear from this community, as you debate and discuss what is how to build this city and this community into a place of shalom, wholeness, completeness, and peace. It is my hope that you think about both of those things. What are the things that we add? What are the things we take away? How do we bit balance those moments of challenge, those moments of conflict, with also with those moments of sweetness? And there's a very simple text that I offer. May we all find this way to build this world with love.

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