The Clearwater City Council held its regular meeting on April 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Main Library Council Chambers in Clearwater, Florida. The meeting featured special recognitions, approval of a consent agenda (including a major term sheet with the Phillies), public hearings on several items, and extended public comments on city development and community concerns. Key outcomes include unanimous approval of the Phillies term sheet for BayCare Ballpark redevelopment, adoption of the Connecting Clearwater Active Transportation Plan, and multiple citizens voicing concerns about hotel conversions, community notification, and downtown development transparency.
This time I'll call to order the April 23, 2026 meeting of the Clearwater City Council. If you wish to address the council tonight, please come in a complete comment card. Comment cards are located by the clerk seated to the right of the dais. We call to speak, please hand your card to the clerk. And when you uh we will begin your time running to present when you arrive at the podium tonight. So not when you start speaking, but when you arrive at the podium, we'll start your three minutes. With that, we'll move to item two on the agenda. Please stand for the invitation tonight to be given by Father Bob Swick, who is the National Chaplain of the Red Star Foundation, and also is with Saint Francis of the CC Catholic Church. Good evening. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, God of peace, we invite you to preside over this meeting. May there be an embracing unity of spirit. Help this good counsel to listen politely to others, share their points of view, always striving to serve the greater good. And amid all the calamity, the conflict, and the confusion that screams for our leaders' attention, we pray our council members be filled with your spirit so they may serve with a very special love of community that includes measures of safety for all of its citizens and visitors. Guide and inspire them, we pray, with words of St. John the 23rd, in essential matters, let there be unity. In non-essential matters, liberty, and in all matters, charity. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Father Bob. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance. One day under God for all. Yes. Whereas trees increase the beauty of communities, increase the value of properties, and enhance the economic vitality of businesses, and whereas trees reduce the erosion of precious topsoil by wind and water, help control heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. And whereas Arbor Day was started in 1872 as a special day to plant trees as well as support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands throughout our nation, especially our urban areas, and whereas the City of Clearwater continues to encourage residents to plant, maintain, and protect trees. Now, therefore, I, Bruce Rector, Mayor of the City of Clearwater, Florida, on behalf of Clearwater City Council to hereby proclaim April 25th, 2026 to be Arbor Day in Clearwater. Would you like to say a few words? Yes, thank you for this proclamation. This helps us get our 44th annual tree C USA recognition. And with that, we are having our annual tree giveaway this Saturday. Excuse me, this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Um please come by, get um your two free trees. And this year we also are having fruit trees, but they're very limited, so it's one per household. So get there soon. Thank you. It's a very always a very well-attended event, I know, and uh, I can tell folks who are interested. Uh, the earlier you get there, the better your choice of trees will be. Uh, the more popular trees tend to go pretty quickly. So uh it's a great event, and I know the community really appreciates it and does so much good. So thank you for coming tonight to receive this proclamation. Move to item 4.2 on the agenda, and I would call her forward, but she's already forward. Jen Obermeyer, the library director, thank you for coming tonight, Jen. And I'll read now the National Library Week 2026 proclamation. Whereas libraries spark creativity, fuel imagination, inspire lifelong learning, offering a space where individuals of all ages can find joy throughout exploration and discovery. And whereas libraries serve as vibrant community hubs, connecting people with knowledge, technology, and resources while fostering civic engagement, critical engagement, and cultural enrichment, and whereas libraries provide free and equitable access to books, digital tools, and innovative programming, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, have the support they need to learn, connect, and thrive. Whereas libraries nurture young minds through story time, steam programs, and literacy initiatives, fostering curiosity and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. And whereas libraries, librarians, and library workers across the country are joining together to celebrate National Library Week under the theme Find Your Joy. Now, therefore, I, Bruce Rector, Mayor of the City of Clearwater, Florida, on behalf of the Clearwater City Council to hear by proclaim April 19th to the 25th, 2026 to be National Library Week in Clearwater, and I encourage all Clearwater residents to visit their library to explore the wealth of resources available.