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.

Thank you, Jim.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the Library Week in Clearwater?

Sure, it's it's one of our favorite weeks of the year.

We get to celebrate all the great things that our libraries do across the nation, and we celebrate all the great things that clear order libraries do.

But I want to thank all of you for your continued support of our library system and its services to the Clearwater community.

And if you'll just indulge me for a minute, also this week, Tuesday was National Library Workers' Week.

Oh, day, sorry.

And I want to proudly acknowledge the dedication of everyone on our library team for who the serve our community each and every day.

I am proud and grateful for their commitment, expertise, and their commitment to serving our community.

So shout out to Team Library.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you.

Now move to item 4.3, which is the Medal of Courage Award presentation to firefighter Charles Stokes and certificate of commendation to Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputy Kennedy Boone.

I'd like to call forward fire chief Pittman for the presentation.

Mr.

Mayor Council, thank you very much.

Firefighter EMT Charles Stokes is to be commended for an extra extraordinary courage and selflessness.

He displayed on the evening of February 23rd, 2026 in the East Lake Olesmar area of North Pinellas County.

While off duty, firefighter Stokes acted decisively and with notable bravery when confronted with a dangerous and rapidly developing situation.

While returning home from paramedic school and pulling into his neighborhood, he noticed smoke coming from a residence.

Recognizing the urgency, he immediately called 911 to report the fire.

Shortly after, a Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputy Kennedy Boone, who was unable to join us tonight, arrived on scene and asked if he knew whether anyone was inside.

Firefighter Stokes informed the deputy that he was familiar with the resident, providing critical information regarding her cognitive and mobility limitations, and advising that she was likely still inside the residents.

Firefighter Stokes and Deputy Boone attempted to enter through the front door but were forced back by intense heat.

Then they moved to the side of the home where firefighter Stokes observed the homeowner seated inside through a window.

Deputy Boone forced entry through a side door, and together they entered the structure and quickly located the elderly woman.

Despite hazardous conditions, they successfully removed her from the burning home safely.

Once outside, responding fire and EMS units arrived on scene, and firefighter Stokes remained with the patient, providing care and relaying vital information to the arriving paramedics.

Firefighter ENT Stokes demonstrated commitment, courage, and sound judgment.

Therefore, we are honored to present him with the Medal of Honor for courage.

And Deputy Chief K do will do that presentation.

All right.

Congratulations.

Okay.

Before we go further in the agenda, I am pleased tonight to uh I want to recognize some folks in the room who have served the city well as former mayors.

So I see former mayor Hibbert, Frank Herbert is here tonight.

Who else can we like to do?

Yeah, we've got uh Hoy Hamilton forward council member as well.

We've got Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Lap.

And we've got former council member Doreen Codes.

We've got a visiting uh commissioner from uh Bellard Bluffs, uh Susie Sophers here.

Now we've got former former council member Bill Johnson.

Wow.

I didn't know, I didn't know what I was starting there.

But uh we we are so happy to have you all here and thank you for your service to uh not just the city but surrounding communities that move to item five on the agenda approval amends approved second all those in favor opposed unanimous move to item six on the agenda of the consent of general items to be pulled from the consent agenda.

No, except for one.

I'm sorry, there is one 6.4.

6.4.4.

Okay.

Forgot about that one.

So a motion to approve the consent agenda with the exception of agenda item 6.4.

Move to approve a consent agenda item other than 6.4.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed, unanimous.

We will move to agenda item 6.4.

Accept drainage easement with indemnification from M Line R.

L.

Little Bowers at 1202 Vista Way in support of the lower spring branch stormwater improvement projects and authorized their perfect officials to execute same.

Dan Slaughter, uh, City City Manager, I'll present this one, Mayor.

With your permission.

Yep.

Uh this item was presented in the work session.

Uh, after the work session, we realized there was uh some additional language we needed to add with regard to the indemnity clauses.

Uh so you have some handouts that I passed out today, which are a little bit different than the agenda packet, but very minor change in the paragraph that uh references the indemnity.

It just adds the language subject to the limitations of Florida State Statute 768.28, which is the uh sovereign immunity statute.

Uh I've talked to Miss Powers today.

Uh we had the opportunity to go over it.

We offered to pull the item completely and give her time to evaluate the new language, but she chose to keep it on the agenda, and she's here if you have any questions for her as well.

Be more than happy to answer your questions.

Okay.

So you want to hear from the public that I desire to speak to agenda item 6.4.

Hearing seeing none.

Uh any council discussion.

If not still motion, motion to approve agenda item 6.4.

Second.

Those in favor.

All right.

Oppose.

Unanimous.

Okay.

Move the agenda item 7.1.

Approving ordinance of the city of Clearwater, Florida, vacating city right-of-way alley drainage and utility easements as more particularly described as recorded in the Bayview City Subdivision, Plat Book 9, page 43, and the abutting Bayview Terrace Subdivision is recorded in Plat Book 12, page 63 of the public records of Pinellas County, providing severance, providing an effective date, and pass ordinance 9888-26 on first reading.

Okay.

Um is there anyone here from the public tonight?

Now can we have a move?

Title.

Ordinance number 9888-26.

Ordinance of the City of Clearwater, Florida, vacating city right-of-way alley, drainage and utility easements is more particularly described herein and recorded in the debut city subdivision, plat book nine, page 43, and the abutting Baybut Terrace Subdivision.

Recording in Plat Book 12, page 63 of the public records of Pinellas County, providing severance, providing an effective date.

Mr.

Kasmer, is there anything to add on this?

No, I do not, ma'am.

Any other questions, please?

Okay.

No other questions or council discussion.

Is there a motion?

Motion to approve agenda item 7.1.

Second.

All those in favor?

All right.

Opposed, unanimous.

Thank you.

Approve the annexation.

Initial future landing is mapped designation of commercial general CG and initial zoning atlas designation of commercial C district for 1903 Douglas Avenue, together with the abutting right-of-way of Douglas Avenue and Sunset Point Road and pass ordinances 9884-26, 9885-26, and 9886-26 on first reading.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

Marcy Stonmark, Planning and Development.

This is a voluntary annexation request for a 2.8 acre site located at the northeast corner of Douglas Avenue and Sunset Point Road.

The parcel is occupied with a vacant commercial building.

The applicant is requesting annexation to connect to sanitary sewer and receive solid waste services from the city.

Staff bound that the annexation is consistent with the comprehensive plan, the community development code, and Florida statutes.

Thank you.

Hearing none, can we have a reading?

All right, three ordinances.

Ordinance number 9884-26.

Ordinance of the City of Clearwater, Florida, annexing certain real property located at the northeast corner of Douglas Avenue and Sunset Point, whose post office address is 1903 Douglas Avenue, Clearwater, Florida, 3375, together with certain rights of way of Douglas Avenue and Sunset Point into the corporate limits of the city and redefining the boundary lines of the city to include said addition, providing an effective date.

Ordinance number 9885-26, an ordinance of the city of Clearwater, Florida, admitting the future land use element of the comprehensive plan of the city to designate the land use for certain real property located at the northeast corner of Douglas Avenue and Sunset Point Road.

Use post office addresses 1903 Douglas Avenue, Clearwater, Florida 33755 upon annexation to the City of Clearwater as Commercial General CG providing an effective date.

So any council discussion on this agenda.

No, it's no motion.

Move to approve agenda item 7.2.

Second.

Those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed, unanimous.

Agenda item 7.3.

Approved connecting Clearwater, an active transportation plan for the city of Clearwater and adopt resolution 26-24.

I'm sorry, 26-04.

Good evening, Rick Hartman, Transitation Planner and Planning Development Department.

It's good to see everyone again.

And I just want to uh reiterate what the active transportation plan, what it's for, which is to update the shifting gears 2006 bicycle pedestrian plan.

And the focus on this is creating a low stress network that goes throughout the city that will provide alternative travel for active transportation plan, active transportation modes, such as walking, uh rolling and using disability assistive devices and bicycling.

Um safety is key, but we also want to present a feasible project list just first step.

And so we ranked over a hundred crossings and corridors, and by ranking we came up with the top 10 and presented some uh very general planning concept plans for those.

And so that's what I'm here to ask you tonight to approve the resolution uh for the plan.

You want to hear from the public tonight to desire to speak to this agenda item Christine Michael at Clearwater Point.

I just have a question uh related to transportation.

Over a year ago, we talked about transportation and the relationship to traffic, which is abominable.

We have just especially during the time that we just went through.

I was wondering if in the future we could give an update about what has happened to that plan, which I know was being put uh put together by Clearwater and Pinellas County.

It's related to transportation, which I'm sure is somehow meshed.

That's all.

Thank you.

Can anyone else from the public design to comment on this agenda?

Hearing seeing none, uh, may we have a reading.

Resolution number 2604, resolution of the city of Clearwater, Florida approving the connecting clearwater active transportation plan, providing a planning framework for identifying and ranking potential active transportation projects, providing for an effective date.

Is any council discussion on this item?

Not uh council member.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just a quick point.

I want to make sure that we're on the same page.

This resolution and transportation plan does not commit City of Clearwater into any future projects, nor does it commit us to any future spending of dollars.

It's strictly proactively plans ahead, puts us in line and puts us in a better position in case there are opportunities of partnerships and funding and grants to qualify for, or if other projects fall in line and become compatible with this plan.

I appreciate all staff's time uh in tightening up the language on the resolution.

I know that was an issue originally.

Uh I think we're all supportive of this now.

I can speak for myself, but thank you.

Thank you very much.

And you are correct in what you said.

This is really a first step, but it also helps open up funding opportunities as well.

Thank you.

That's good.

Okay.

Any further discussion?

If not, is there a motion?

Move to approve agenda item 7.3.

Second.

Those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed, unanimous.

Thank you.

Agenda item 7.4.

Amend clearwater code of orders to section 28.04 relating to trading and selling on streets and pass ordinance 9906-26.

Presented on Monday.

I don't have any additional comments.

Hearing seeing none, uh, may we have a reading.

Ordinance number 9906-26.

Ordinance of the City of Clearwater, Florida, amending the code of ordinances, chapter 28, Article 1, amitting section 28.04, trading and selling on streets, providing for inclusion in the code, providing for several ability, and providing for an effective date.

Okay.

Um is there any council discussion on this item?

Not is there a motion.

Motion to approve agenda item 7.4.

Second.

Those in favor?

All right.

Proposed unanimous.

Agenda item 7.5.

Approve a locally funded agreement between the state of Florida Department of Transportation and the City of Clearwater to provide 200,000 for the preliminary engineering planning phase of the State Road 60 corridor study from east of Shore Drive to east of North Rocky Point Drive and authorize your perfect officials to execute same.

Evening, Mayor, Council members, Marcus Williams and Public Works Director.

I was so excited.

So following uh the work session, we did reach back out to uh FDOT to get a little bit more uh clarification.

Uh there has been some new movement, so the county is coming forward with funding at this point.

So they're gonna be uh bringing 150 uh thousand dollars also into it in Ford Pinellas, and they're adding the Belcher uh intersection into the uh the study.

Um the study is a precursor to actually getting to the projects, so in the normal FDOT, they have to do the study followed by the uh other so we've confirmed with them in order to get this so that we can get to the next stages.

Um there would be preference that we can start to pull that belcher intersection and everything into it.

Okay, okay.

Is there anybody here from the public that desire to speak to this agenda?

You're saying none is Mr.

Johnson Council members.

I'm still Bill Johnson.

I am also on the forward Pinellus Citizens Advisory Committee, and the intersection of Gulf to Bay and Belcher has been a major ta thing that we have tacked.

I think uh council member Albright and Benino have heard from us on that.

It's something that started uh it goes back to the late 80s when uh the improvement of that intersection was first started to be scheduled, and it's been pushed out and pushed out and pushed out.

We've seen so many accidents at that at that intersection.

Um there's a kind of a related issue to this, and uh council member cotton.

You may remember that it was discussed in the Courtney Campbell meetings that there was originally a suggestion that the Courtney Campbell go to three lanes in each direction, which didn't make any sense.

If when it gets to Clearwater, it's it doesn't add the capacity.

We've had so many discussions over the years about our good transportation to downtown Clearwater and our economic revival in downtown.

Um it's the olmerton, East Bay, and State Road 580 have all been upgraded by F D OT.

I think it's uh our turn, and it's not just traffic flow, but it's safety.

And I have a couple of pictures I would like to share with you.

So the first one is actually at the very extreme end of 60, it's out on our roundabout, and you can see that the vegetation is uh is very vibrant, but more importantly, there's this real curb there, so traffic is not going to be running into each other, whereas on Gulf to Bay the curbs that were there have been paved over so that you really don't have a curb, and you can see that people have been driving through that intersection.

So I hope that the study will be uh will cover this aspect.

So it's a need to optimize traffic flow and safety on this important corridor.

Thank you for supporting this item.

Okay, is anyone else here for the public that I was out to speak to this agenda?

Hearing saying none.

Is there any count uh yeah?

This is just approved funding.

So any council discussion.

Yeah, thank you.

When when you say um confirmed with them, that's F DOT District 7.

That's because our our questions Monday were bring us clarity because we were getting he was having different discussions that I was having with them, and understandably so correct.

So as we reached out, we learned that they were having some of these additional um discussions, and they were bringing the others, so it was with FDOT.

Thank you.

And the council members brought up um some great points last time.

We have studied this intersection and the whole roadway and corridor, but then studied the study and studied the study of the study again, and it almost feels like we're continually as a group, county, city, and state throwing money in a project.

Do we feel that this is something different this time that we're actually moving forward, hopefully, with some sort of action?

That is absolutely the goal.

So we we've got to get to um some forward progress.

So that's part of coming in uh to help contribute so that we can uh help work some solutions.

Yeah, thank you, and thank you for updating the dollars.

I think it was mentioned Monday that Ford Pinellas was only in a $50,000 committee level.

I'd a matching level for the city of Clearwater at 200,000.

Correct.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Um thank you, ma'am.

Any anything else?

Now is there a motion?

Motion to approve agenda item 7.5.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed unanimous.

Continuing item 7.6.

So that brings us to agenda item 8.1.

So 7.6.

It's going to be continued to a date uncertain.

We put in an ad due to uh requirement for surplus.

The agreement, the proposed agreements between the city and Pinellas County for a roadway transfer agreement between Pinellas County and the city for Oak Avenue.

The agreement is not ready to go, so we want to continue it to another date.

Okay.

Gen item 8.1.

8.1 is a second reading.

Umrdnance number 9901-26.

Ordinance of the City of Clearwater, Florida emitting the operating budget for the fiscal year ending September the 30th, 2026, to reflect increases in revenues and expenditures for the general fund, water and sewer fund, parking fund, and special program fund as provided herein, providing an effective date.

Hearing seeing none, is there any council discussion?

Not as there are a motion.

Move to approve agenda item 8.1 second.

All those in favor?

Opposed, unanimous.

8.2 is another second reading.

Ordinance number 9902-26.

Ordinance of the City of Clearwater, Florida, amending the capital improvement budget for the fiscal year ending September the 30th, 2026, to reflect a budget increase of 26,120,786, providing an effective date.

Hearing seeing none, is there any council discussion?

If not, is there a motion?

Move to approve agenda item 8.2.

Second.

All those in favor?

Proposed amendments.

Text us to agenda item nine, citizens to be heard on topics pertaining to city business that are not on tonight's agenda.

Comments will be limited to 30 minutes or the first 10 individual speakers, whichever is greater.

The speaker shall give additional time or minutes to or from another member of the audience.

And we ask that you please submit a completed comment card to the city clerk prior to speaking.

Mr.

Michaelak.

Welcome.

City staff.

I am Rudy Michaelek.

First, we a group of us want to thank you for reinstating the citizens to be heard for items not on the agenda.

We appreciate that.

Second, we want to thank Assistant Manager Battle, who's not here, Lauren Metzky, and the planning department staff for updating the hotel density pool reserve as of February 5th, which I have here.

It shows that 10 units remain in the pool and over 942 total hotel allocated but unbuilt units as of this time.

On or about April 10th, we were informed the Captain Bly property had returned 100 units, and 91 units were immediately requested for the Palm Pavilion, which could be the Hamilton brothers.

I have not seen the documents, so I don't know.

We believe the average hotel occupancy for the year-by hotels on the beach indicates at the very least, new grants of hotel density pool reserves may not be needed.

We asked the city council to put any request on a moratorium for an extended period of time because of that.

Even this latest request, the one I just mentioned, may have occurred in a short period of time and may have not allowed others to be noticed to the developers so that they so that they are being treated unfairly and eliminated from applying.

We asked that there really be no more backroom deals between certain owners and certain developers, excluding others.

Council Member Hamilton voted to approve this passage, which passed by a vote of three to two.

That property now almost completed is being marketed as a condominiums for sale, not hotels, and used as an Airbnb according to employees of the property.

It is also given has been given a temporary occupancy certificate.

So we ask, what is the building requirements for the number of units per acre for condominiums?

Can a developer utilize the hotel pool to build the buildings, switch to a condos, and then move the pool units to another property.

These shenanigans should be investigated before any movements are made.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker.

Mr.

DeSantis My name is Richard DeSantis.

I own a condominium at 868 Bay Way Boulevard on Clearwater Point.

My home is east of the 850 Bay Way Decade property site, which was to be the location of the Chart House Hotel.

I'm one of a small group of concerned citizens that has worked for seven plus years to make sure the city and decade properties do the right thing.

The subject of the chart house literally came to light once again when I returned to my winter home in Florida last November, looking out my kitchen window, I saw a bank of lights extending from the ground floor of the Chart House building up six floors.

Lights that stay on every night from dusk to dawn, every night.

The view from my kitchen is a constant, stark reminder of what the developer has done to our neighborhood.

At the time I wrote to Mayor Rector advising him of the problem.

Since last November, residents in the building opposite on Bayway have complained of lights from the pool shining in their windows at night.

I thank the mayor for meeting us at the property last Monday to view the problem firsthand.

However, the lighting issue that affected our quality of life is not my main reason for being here tonight.

Looking back on the approval process for the 850 Bayway project, I refer everyone to the development order signed by Gina Clayton, head of planning department at the time, on September 22nd, 2021, with noted requirements and compliance conditions.

The development order approved the transfer of units from the density pool to the developer for the purpose of building a hotel.

Subsequently, there were restrictions set by the city on the design of the hotel, including restrictions on kitchen facilities specifying that they be limited to a hotel-sized microwave and mini-fridge layout.

Surprise.

The current status of the 850 Bay Wake property is that it's now being marketed as a condo slash AB and Airbnb with listings at 1.265 million dollars.

How did the project morph from a hotel to a condo Airbnb without the city's knowledge or approval?

How did hotel-sized microwaves, mini fridge kitchens, all of a sudden become kitchens suitable for a two million dollar plus condominium?

What will happen to the units originally watered from the density pool to build the hotel?

Will they be re returned to the density pool for a decade or another developer to use them on another project?

Need answers to all these questions.

I don't expect them tonight, but food for thought.

Thank you, Mr.

Sanders.

Next speaker, please.

Miss Michaelak.

Are you?

Hello again, Mayor.

Staff, Council.

Um Christine Michelick, Clearwater Point.

I'm only coming to you today based on the meeting we had earlier this week with North Greenwood.

As I'm only coming to you today based on the meeting we had with North Greenwood.

As you know, even the Tampa Bay Times said, despite despite public I cry, the city of Clearwater accept accepted a proposal for a developer to work on the armory.

Again, at that meeting, many of us did not question the qualifications of the builder.

What we questioned from the very beginning was the fact that the North Greenwood residents were not aware that this was happening.

Each of you, council members, said we must do better.

We must do better.

You individually said that.

In order to help us do better, because I brought this up to you, next week you will all get a letter from me, uh, actually an email, which shares with you since 2017 where neighborhoods have been literally blindsided, where developers have come in.

This is nothing against developer.

This has to do with the fact that we in neighborhoods are very often not told what is happening in our own neighborhood.

Besides that, we're not even asked, what do we think?

We aren't even asked for our opinion.

So as I said, I will help will help all of us move forward so that we all can do better.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Thank you.

Sorry, I'm not here yet.

All right.

Good evening, Mayor Rector, City Manager Poirier, Assistant City Manager Battle, who's not here today.

Uh Slaughter, thank you.

Council members, the Shader, All Britain, Manino, Cotton, and Staff.

My name is Barbara Sorry Love.

I am the president of Clearwater, African American Foundation, Inc.

Our mission is to memorialize and preserve Clearwater's African American places, spaces, landmarks, buildings, and streets.

As David Habib has shared the stories of your mama and how he started his business.

This evening I stand before you to tell you a story about my mama.

Her name is Johnny Lee Sorry.

At the age of five and six, my mama told my sister and I stories while sitting at our wooden kitchen table in our brick home at 1161 Gould Street.

Over and over she tell us these stories of how it was for her growing up on a farm in Malone, Florida.

They always had plenty.

She also taught me how to write.

While sitting at the kitchen table in our home at 1161 Gould Street.

Being six years old, I often wondered why she'd tell me the same stories over and over.

I understand now my mama's legacy led laid the groundwork for me to tell and write my stories of growing up in Clearwater, Florida.

Williams Elementary, the first elementary school for black children, was built in the Mac Dixon subdivision on South Madison Avenue in 1947.

Also the year my parents settled in Clearwater.

Williams Elementary was phased out in 1963.

All that's left is a sprawling field of weeds and memories.

In 1957, my parents built one of the first brick homes in the Mike Dixon subdivision, now called the Heights at 1161 Gould Street.

A retention pond now occupies the land where the home with the kitchen where my mama said to share her stories with me and my sisters.

In 1963, Montgomery Wards was built on the top of the St.

Matthew Negro Cemetery at 100 South Missouri Avenue.

Today, six or three years later, descendants are still waiting to give their dissidents a final resting place.

2023, Sunshine Elks Lodge.

100 years of Clearwater African American history demolished.

These are the reminders my mama would want me to share today.

Sad stories, but are of my history of living in Clearwater, Florida, where the sun does not shine bright for everyone, especially for our African American neighbor neighborhoods.

South Garden Avenue, the gateway for its black business owners to Clearwater downtown, erased.

Most of it, not all, most of you, not all your council members born and raised in Clearwater, can go back to your former neighborhoods and see your home, school, and church.

Many of us cannot.

Friendship Baptist Church, located on the corner of South Madison Avenue, and Gould Street in the downtown CRA, built in 1939.

The last of three churches remaining in the Euras Clearwater Heights.

CRA Director Nino stated that that was in excess of $500,000 in surplus surplus dollars.

Thank you, Margaret.

The church only needs $70,000 down.

We can present a proposal to show how to do that.

Thank you, Barbie.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Mr.

Cedro.

Hello everyone.

My name is Alan.

I am a student at SPC College and the public policy administration program.

I'm towards the very end.

I have just finished my capstone project.

My professor is Jeffrey Cronchnopple.

He has probably knows some of you folks.

And my guide is on a resource guide for Latino Community of Clearwater.

I'm also an employee at the city in planning and development.

I'm a development review technician, also like someone who process permits.

We don't have the translated information.

I've spoken to various um people, and they all say that we need to implement something, and we can avoid citations, um, stock work orders.

Um those are some things that I think the city should implement.

Um I did a study, I had to interview our residents across the city.

I had to go to businesses and talk to them.

What are some of their concerns?

What should the city implement?

And a lot of them said that they want more information about city essential services.

Um I think it's really important that we do implement something like this.

Um the guide has a sections of like the history of Latinos in the city, council members, because I asked them, do you know who are your council members?

And a lot of them say no.

They know who the mayor is, but they don't know who the city manager is or other council members.

Um I think with them they want something that shows that hey, you know what, they care about us, and I think implementing like this can show that you guys do care about that.

Um I do thank the residents who helped me put this together, the business um owners, umimex.

Um they said that they saw um the mayor recently a while back ago, and they think that you know he went to go see them, and my professor Jeffrey Cross Noble.

He guided me throughout this program, and I really do thank them.

Um I'm just leaving this to you guys in case you know, one day you guys want to implement this, it would really mean a lot to our residents.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Mr.

Haluba.

I'm Mr.

Haluba.

Miss Poi is the new thin skin face of clear water.

Mr.

Luba, you're you're out of order.

I'm not on order.

Rule 15 calls, there's there's no name calling to individuals.

A jury recently.

Did you start my time over again?

No.

No.

He interrupted me.

A jury recently found Michael Taylor not guilty.

Not guilty of the wrongful criminal charges Miss Poyer leveled against him.

It's amazing.

So here's a little uh help with her stress.

I'm gonna Mr.

Remove you from the meeting.

Pardon me.

I need you you need to leave the meeting.

You violated our rules.

I've warned you.

Alfred Battle is a dirty bird.

Just look it up.

Please escort Mr.

Lumber from the building.

Our next speaker, please.

Gloria Campbell.

Thank you.

Good evening to all.

Gloria Campbell, executive director with the Water Urban Leadership Coalition.

And I won't be as entertaining as Mr.

Baluba, I think.

But actually, what I wanted to say is that of course we you made a decision.

And that is in the past.

But we're really looking forward to and concerned about the future.

So what does that look like?

First, promises made, we expect promises to be kept.

Mr.

Habib mentioned jobs.

He talked about revenue.

He talked about dollars.

He talked about what was going to be returned to the city.

And accountability is the responsibility of all of us, not just you.

But it will be the community's responsibility as well.

You will hear from us.

We will track this.

We will not forget this.

And any other projects that are coming on board, we expect that the community will have an opportunity to weigh in on those.

Thank you for your time, and we look forward to all of us being accountable.

Thank you, Ms.

Campbell.

Next speaker, please.

That's all I have on the move to item 10 on the agenda.

Oh, do we have one more?

Oh, we have okay.

We didn't sign up to the list.

I'm sorry.

You have to sign the list.

Yeah, you will also make an exception.

We know now.

That's fine.

She can come up.

Yeah.

We have we have three more.

I guess.

We have time.

It's okay.

She can come up.

Please state your name before you start.

Uh my name is Jill Gibbs.

To Clearwater's City Council members.

Almost 9,000 people in our community have signed a petition to put an ordinance change on our August ballot.

They want to have a voice in what happens to our downtown Clearwater streets.

64% of the signatures were thrown out.

And today we utilized our right to appeal to the city council to within the next 30 days put this initiative on the ballot where the people of Clearwater want it.

And so now to you, Sir Clearwater City Council, I ask, are you going to say no to every one of the 8,752 citizens who signed this petition?

Are you going to tell those who left work early to come and sign?

Or the elderly who had their family load up their walkers or wheelchairs and drive them to the library to sign, or the college students that came to sign but were told they couldn't unless they were registered to vote.

So they drove to the DMV to get registered and came back later to sign.

All of them wanting to put their name down in favor of voter approval for the vacation of public right of way in downtown.

Are you going to say no to each and every one of us?

The people want to say in the future development of downtown.

It's been said that a politician thinks about the next election, a patriot thinks about the next generation.

And I'm left to wonder, especially after watching the heartbreak that you brought to Greenwood, the Greenwood community this week.

Is there any patriots on this council?

Or is this a council of politicians uninterested in the voice of those who elected you to your seat?

You have a generational decision before you in the next 30 days.

What will you leave to the citizens of Clearwater?

And to the leaders of the institution who are taking over our downtown.

We have determined and experienced that you are the most anti-First Amendment organization that I have ever come across in this nation.

I've read the dozens of emails from your cowardly fake names that you have sent to our city clerk, city staff, and city council, insisting that the voices of thousands of Clearwater citizens be silenced and that we are not be allowed to petition our government.

While we wait in a season of unknown as to what you, our council will decide.

There's one thing that's not unknown.

Clearwater is full of the most special people that care deeply about their city.

The stories that we've heard, the grief we've heard about, and the joy that we've experienced as they thank us for giving them the opportunity to have a voice is something that I am so honored and privileged to have experienced.

Are there any other citizens to be heard on items not on the agenda tonight?

Okay, with that seeing none, we'll move to item 10 on the agenda.

Nothing, sir.

Okay, item 11.

Nothing, sir.

Okay.

Item 12.

Closing comments by council members.

Councilmember Dick Tune.

Um we had all those uh people attend our meeting because of one of the consent items, and that is that we have um solidified our um our relationship with the Phillies, and and I guess it just kind of got past too because it was on the consent item item, but I'm gonna leave it to you to um follow up with that.

But I wanted to start off um by giving real credit to our city manager and staff for booking the country uh Thunder Festival.

This was a huge, huge endeavor with a short timeline, and it wasn't lucky it was a real hustle.

Um, our city manager and staff moved fast effectively and got it done.

And it means a lot because this is a multi-day festival.

Um, and I think it will really solidify Clearwater's uh position as a musical destination.

So thank you to City Manager and all the staff.

I also last but not least, I want to share a story that um I feel really goes to show that in the community when there's passion and it meets persistence, good things happen.

Um the historic plum house was once at risk.

We tried several for several years to engage it, get it engaged, and and it just failed.

But when a small group of people got involved and rolled up our sleeves, we not not only managed to save it, but we created something very special.

It is now um saved and it's become with um with a lot of love and tenderness and and and grease.

We can now have artist lofts on the first floor, a gift shop at the bottom, and a great tea house.

Yes, a tea house, but it's not one of those like grandmother tea houses.

Um this one has uh sort of like a Victorian Vogue edgy feel.

But we had our first soft opening uh last uh this earlier this week, and it was truly special.

And so I wanted to uh give a shout out to all those volunteers that uh put their passion to action and saved a home and created something uh really special.

What is it?

Okay, thank you.

Count uh Vice Mayor Cotton.

Yes, thank you, sir.

Uh, first and foremost, thank you to everybody for coming out again and sharing um your passion.

Um, you know, Monday was definitely a very uh busy day and and very passionate, and and I still feel that, and I thank you again for coming and sharing those sentiments.

Uh, I do want you to know that staff takes it seriously as well.

I had my one-on-ones today with both the uh city attorney and city manager, and they've already started talking about ways forward in how we can improve our communication process with our neighborhoods.

So I do want you to know, and and while sitting up here and listening to more, you know, something else that I I thought of, and I'll just share it now.

Is um maybe when projects do come in, one of our things can be to our neighborhood teams is just sending something out to that president, letting them know a petition or something has been received.

Emphasis stages, we don't have any further information at the time, but as soon as we do, we'll let you know.

So at least you guys know as soon as something knocks on the door step, and we can all move forward from there for that for all of our community communities.

I think that that might be a good step forward.

Um, I did uh say something on Monday.

Want to reiterate it for Thursday night.

Anybody else who's in the audience still today and uh maybe watching is we had a huge announcement from Evo Entertainment Evolution Entertainment Group Adobe Digital Atmos about potentially opening a family entertainment center here right off of Cleveland and Myrtle.

Um it looks interesting to see how that comes uh in the future.

Also want to note that there's an information area that is now open at Cleveland and Osceola under Water's Edge.

It has been opened by the Cleveland Street Alliance.

I believe they're associated with Scientology, and have all of their plans for the four or five, six hundred blocks and the properties that they have to be able to share with you that information.

Um, if you're a citizen to share that information with you if you're a business owner looking to possibly rent one of those buildings, what they'll look like and how that'll grow.

So I challenge everybody.

Please head on down there and check it out to get more information.

Lastly, one of the things that Councilmember Manino asked for.

Uh I have had a recent update on the pedestrian bridge that uh goes over State Road 60.

The question was where are we at with uh the completion status, and we're at 66 percent.

So we're we're nearing the end of the tunnel.

The light is almost there.

Um, barring any other type of um shipping constraints or any of that, we we should be on track to finish uh shortly.

So 66 percent is where we're at.

With that, I appreciate everybody again for being here.

Thank you for uh speaking to us, sharing your voices and letting us know your concerns.

I think it's one of the best things that make this country truly special and great.

So thank you.

Ms.

Mr.

Marino.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Thank you uh for being out here tonight.

I think I was gonna use this time and discuss like some of us so often do the important events and community engagements that we we get around to in between meeting times, and uh Lord knows there is a lot of them.

We definitely um stay busy.

Uh but in light of so many discussions going around our community, um, and in light of the unbelievable excitement and so much development and redevelopment, and it's not just downtown.

Our our beach is changing in front of us, countryside in US 19 is changing, uh, but our downtown is um is definitely changing.

Um there there are some things that are slightly concerning that we're not having those discussions here in the public and in the light, and the all of the education, all of the information seems to be coming from the church of Scientology or from news channels.

Uh and I don't necessarily think that that is uh in our best interest.

I I think it at some point uh we have to have these challenging discussions here in the sunshine.

Um I I think we need to welcome the church, their representatives, their developers, whoever's willing to come in the sunshine with us and our citizens and the community uh and have these open discussions and dialogues.

I think what that does is contributes to the very word we've heard so often for so long, uh begging for transparency.

I think it helps reduce confusion and prevents misinformation that we know uh is all over out there.

I've read materials floating around, um, some in our city hall.

Mom found one on her doorstep, has quotes in it of rebuilding Cleveland Street, reimagining downtown.

Uh, and I think if anybody's rebuilding Clearwater, and we welcome it, but we should be part of those conversations, and it should be here in the sunshine uh with all of our citizens uh and us.

There's way too much unknown when things are described as world's largest and first ever.

Um we've all witnessed, I watched three different news channels today and saw coverage of the very project that council member just discussed.

Uh, but none of us have had those discussions, and we're not allowed to have them uh together, nor nor do we, and these are the only opportunities uh that we can have.

Um I think if we schedule some special session, I think it deserves that attention.

Our citizens deserve that transparency.

Uh I think that would help us improve our communication to our citizens, our visitors send a clear message to developers that are interested in our community, help residents anticipate construction and what future projects are coming before them, and bring clarity to our existing business partners that are downtown and throughout the community.

Because right now, if I'm asked questions, I have no idea.

What's the time frames?

I have no idea.

How many permits are polled or active?

I have no idea.

What are the plans and when?

I have no idea.

Um, and that shouldn't be the case.

Uh, we should all know.

We should all have those discussions.

So, what I asked for the council is I use this three minutes today, not to ask you for a discussion, not to add ask you to advocate or be adversary on either side, uh, but strictly to be willing to put on a future council session and agenda the opportunity to have this discussion and possibly schedule uh a special session uh so that we can get on the same page, have those challenging discussions, uh, but do it in front of our entire community.

Thank you.

That's member Albert.

Well, good ideas.

Uh I just wanted to mention the big thing that happened to me tonight is the uh finally the term sheet with the Phillies is put to bed, and uh we've been working on this for over seven years, and um the Phillies have uh really stepped up, they've invested money ahead of this in anticipation of this, and I'm happy to say tonight that we did uh vote to move forward on the term sheet, and what that does it it's not the contract, but it's a term sheet with all the things in it that meet with it were worked out, and then we look forward to having a uh contract uh in the next year or so that'll it'll push our relationship to a hundred years with the Phillies, and um I am so happy they're like family to us here in Clearwater.

We uh love to see the people coming down from Philly that's come down for spring training.

It's good for our economy, and it's a good great relationship between Clearwater and the Phillies.

So I'm real happy that we've sorry if I was gonna take anything away, Mayor, but uh I'll turn it over to you now to finish up on that.

No, uh that that's fine.

You all already bring it up is perfect.

Uh Chris, we did discuss it on Monday quite a bit.

So I want to say a few things.

One is uh echo what's already been said about the folks coming out tonight.

Um I want you to know that I had a call with Mr.

Habib today and talk to him about some you know what I'd heard from you all and some ideas that I had on my own about how he can uh work with the community uh going forward to uh better uh better be a part of the community and uh he was very receptive to that, and hopefully that will happen, and I will be working with him personally to and working with you all to uh to try to make that connection stronger.

Uh like I said, Monday, he has he has a world renowned brand.

It's really um it's um all the the way it happened, the communication at all is unfortunate, and I regret that.

But uh this this CRA now has a jewel in a uh brand name that's known throughout the country, headquartered in this CRA.

Uh and we should all celebrate that.

And uh hopefully we'll we'll get your mama's better connected with the neighborhood.

But thank you for coming out tonight and uh showing your continued interest because I know you've heard from a couple of us.

We we are going to continue to be interested too.

So thank you for coming out tonight.

Um and then I also want to talk about the Phillies too.

We talked about it at length on Monday.

Uh it's not done yet, but it is um a milestone.

Uh not only have we approved our term the term sheet, the county has too, and we said Monday, and we appreciate uh uh the county commissioners voting to support this project as well.

It does take us to a hundred years for the Phillies, and and uh it's the second oldest relationship in Major League Baseball for spring training with any community in the country.

Uh and we are as I said Monday, our relationship with Phillies is special.

They have become family to us, and I know several said that here today.

So that took a lot of people and a lot of different, even before this council working on it and getting it going and nurturing that relationship over the years.

So uh congratulations to everyone in this community.

Our city staff, our council members, current, prior, uh, all the community, the friends of the Phillies who have embraced them and made them feel welcome, our innkeepers, our hoteliers, our restaurants, all the folks who have made the Phillies fans want to come back.

Summer, fall, all kinds, not just for spring training.

We see so many Phillies fans out there all year long because the hospitality that they receive from our community and how they're welcome in our community.

So uh congratulations to our city tonight and extending this and and taking another step forward in that.

Uh also uh, you know, we're not in a debate discussion, and and I agree with having a time to do that.

Uh just want to say publicly that uh I I didn't know anything about uh this company, Evo Entertainment.

Uh I've since done some research and I've reached out to the CEO to see if I can learn more about him and his company and what his plans are.

Uh so it uh was not easy to find that information.

Uh but I've I've found it and I've reached out, and hopefully he'll respond so I can learn more about his interest in Clearwater and what he does and his business model because it does sound like an exciting opportunity.

I think all of us would just like to know more about it and what his business is and his business model and his plans.

And it was a little bit of a surprise to all of us, and I agree with that that's not the best way forward.

We should be having more an open conversation about possibilities and development of our community together.

So hopefully we'll do that.

And the last thing I just want to say, we had um a couple events that have marquee events, but the one that was mentioned earlier with Arbor Day.

It's one of my it's one of my favorite city events.

I go out there and um I didn't have a yard, but now I got a yards.

Maybe I'll get a tree myself.

But uh they pass out two trees to every every citizen that comes out there, and um it it's a wonderful thing.

The people are so excited.

I don't know how I've stood there with our team as they pass out the trees, and the team is excited.

They they really have a lot of energy in organizing that and pride and how they serve the community with with uh passing out the trees.

Uh it's a big day for our community.

And uh I I can't tell you how many citizens that go out there and get the trees are like really there's no charge for this.

We just get a tree, and I can they help you put it in your car.

It's a wonderful event.

I appreciate our team for all you've done for years to put it on.

I know there's a lot of preparation, but I know it's uh they really look forward to it.

The staff members do, and it's a lot of hard work on their part.

But uh I encourage you if you've never been before to get out there Saturday and enjoy that event.

Another event that's not, you know, um, you know, it's not maybe the most glamorous, but uh there's a shred-a-thon and a uh medicine pickup at Countryside Mall.

Um you you really help our environment by uh doing both of those things.

Going to shred those documents at Countryside Mall.

They'll pick them up, take care of it, and it really helps our community environment.

And the prescription drug pickup, it's unbelievable how much they take in out there.

That otherwise in too many places would be flushed down the drain and contaminate our waterways.

So two events that uh are really important for our community this weekend, and I hope that the community will uh look forward to participating.

So, with that, if there's nothing else to come before the city council, we will adjourn the meeting of April 23, 2026.