Clearwater City Council Meeting - May 7, 2026: Proclamations, Annexations, and Citizen Concerns
Clearwater City Council Meeting - May 7, 2026
The Clearwater City Council met on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Main Library Council Chambers. The meeting began with an invocation by Major Ted Morris of the Salvation Army, who was recognized for his upcoming retirement after 32 years of service, seven of which were in Clearwater. The council then issued four proclamations (EMS Week, Economic Development Week, Building Safety Month, and Older Americans Month), approved the minutes of the April 23, 2026 meeting, and unanimously passed the Consent Agenda containing ten routine items. Under public hearings, the council approved three first-reading annexations and land use changes for parcels on Nursery Road and Sunset Point Road, as well as five second-reading ordinances. During Citizens to be Heard, three residents addressed the council about downtown development, a proposed citizen initiative for voter approval on public street vacations, and concerns about property requests by organizations affiliated with the Church of Scientology. The meeting adjourned after closing comments from councilmembers and the mayor.
Special Recognitions and Presentations
- ID#26-0320 – Fire Chief Pittman and Division Chief Tedesco accepted a proclamation declaring May 17–23, 2026 as Emergency Medical Services Week in Clearwater. The chief noted that the EMS Division Chief was celebrating his 25th anniversary with the department.
- ID#26-0449 – Christopher Edwards, Audra Aja, and Stephanie Scalos of the Economic Development and Housing Department accepted a proclamation declaring May 4–8, 2026 as Economic Development Week. Edwards highlighted efforts in business retention, recruitment, and expansion.
- ID#26-0493 – Lauren Matzke, Kevin Garriott, and Rebecca Mulder of the Planning & Development Department accepted a proclamation declaring May 2026 as Building Safety Month, emphasizing that building codes prioritize safety over aesthetics.
- ID#26-0540 – A proclamation declaring May 2026 as Older Americans Month was read for Ann Marie Winter, Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging Pasco Pinellas, who was not present.
Consent Agenda
The Consent Agenda was approved unanimously by a single motion without discussion. It included:
- 6.1: Purchase order with Olameter DPG, LLC for natural gas locating services, $670,000 annually with three one-year renewal options.
- 6.2: Purchase of seven enclosed trailers ($134,867.50) and one forklift ($54,406.00) via piggyback contracts.
- 6.3: Ratification of $2,635,560.96 reimbursement to the Philadelphia Phillies for Hurricane Milton repairs at BayCare Ballpark.
- 6.4: Maintenance contract with Lake Brothers LLC for lakes, ponds, wetlands, and mitigation sites ($218,684 initial, $174,524 annual renewals).
- 6.5: Construction contract to Concrete Protection and Restoration, LLC for Garden Avenue Garage Restoration ($186,318).
- 6.6, 6.7, 6.8: Acceptance of three FDOT grant amendments for Clearwater Executive Airport: parking lot expansion ($693,992), terminal building construction ($790,369), and remill/overlay project ($374,785).
- 6.9: Appointment of Jasmin Cruz to the Municipal Code Enforcement Board through October 1, 2026.
- 6.10: Legal services agreement with Dayes Law Firm for representation in Blair Houston vs. City of Clearwater et al.
Public Hearings – First Readings
7.1 – ANX2026-02002: Annexation of 2448 Nursery Road
- The 0.63-acre site, currently a detached dwelling, requested annexation to receive sanitary sewer and solid waste services. The council unanimously approved ordinances 9890-26 (annexation), 9891-26 (Future Land Use Map designation Residential Urban), and 9892-26 (Zoning Atlas designation Medium Density Residential) on first reading.
7.2 – ANX2026-02003: Annexation of unaddressed Sunset Point Road parcel
- A 0.14-acre site requested annexation to combine parcels and receive city services. The council unanimously approved ordinances 9893-26 (annexation), 9894-26 (Future Land Use Map designation Residential Urban), and 9895-26 (Zoning Atlas designation Low Medium Density Residential) on first reading.
7.3 – LUP2025-11004: Future Land Use Map Amendment for 2446 Nursery Road
- A 0.4-acre parcel currently used as an assisted living facility sought a change from Residential Urban to Residential Medium to increase bed count. Staff found the request consistent with the comprehensive plan. The council unanimously approved Ordinance 9864-26 on first reading.
Public Hearings – Second Readings
All second-reading ordinances were approved unanimously without public comment or council discussion:
- 8.1: Ordinance 9884-26 annexing 1903 Douglas Avenue.
- 8.2: Ordinance 9885-26 designating the annexed property as Commercial General (CG).
- 8.3: Ordinance 9886-26 zoning the property as Commercial (C).
- 8.4: Ordinance 9888-26 vacating city right-of-way, alley, drainage, and utility easements in Bay View City and Bayview Terrace subdivisions.
- 8.5: Ordinance 9906-26 amending Section 28.04 of the Clearwater Code regarding trading and selling on streets.
Citizens to be Heard
Three residents spoke during this segment (limited to 30 minutes or 10 speakers):
- Patrick Rathbun (Vice President of Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition) announced a candidate forum for certified council candidates on June 1, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Trinity Church, 2001 Rainbow Drive. He commented on Councilmember Menino’s proposal for a May 28 meeting regarding properties underdeveloped by the Church of Scientology, referencing the 2014 Urban Land Institute advisory report. Rathbun expressed support for recent downtown developments (Coachman Park, BayCare Sound, Ballot Hotel, apartment tower) and urged collaboration for maximum downtown development. He reported visiting the Good Life presentation and being impressed.
- Jill Gibbs criticized the council for not supporting a citizen initiative to require voter approval for vacation of public rights-of-way. She noted that Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala had advocated for citizens’ desires on the county’s downtown property, contrasting this with a councilmember who reposted a “hit piece” against the initiative. Gibbs claimed nearly 9,000 signatures had been collected. She cited Miami Beach as an example where the council placed a similar measure on the ballot after receiving emails, without requiring petitions.
- Kelly Meyer expressed disappointment that the council had not engaged with citizen efforts. She raised concerns about the Church of Scientology-affiliated OSA organization, which she said surveils the public. Meyer noted that the organization had requested not only Garden Avenue but two more streets, an alleyway, and a city parcel. She cited the application’s claim that a proposed family entertainment center was “confirmed and fully developed” pending approval of vacations and conveyance. Meyer urged the council not to be “strong-armed” into giving away public property.
Closing Comments by Councilmembers
- Councilmember Mike Manino recognized International Firefighters’ Day (May 4), National Nurses Week (beginning May 6), and wished a Happy Mother’s Day to mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers.
- Councilmember Ryan Cotton also wished a Happy Mother’s Day and expressed excitement for the upcoming Country Thunder music festival at Coachman Park.
- Mayor Bruce Rector highlighted the momentum of downtown development and noted attending a luncheon for an organization that supports youth aging out of foster care. He extended Mother’s Day wishes to all who love and care for children, including grandparents raising grandchildren.
Meeting Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
This time we'll call to order the May 7, 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 seated to the right of the dais. When called to speak, please hand your card to the clerk. We'll now move to item two on the agenda, and that's our invocation. And I'd like to call forward Major Ted Morris from the Salvation Army. And before he shares his invocation for tonight, I'd like to announce that it is uh Major Ted's last time he'll be presenting the invocation here at Clearwater City Council. He's uh served with the Salvation Army for 32 years and seven of those years here in Clearwater, and we've been blessed to have him frequently to give this indication. I think it's appropriate that Major Ted, you're here to give the invitation tonight on National Prayer Day. And uh with that, I I wrote a uh a letter to you and uh and Major Pamela just thanking you on behalf of the Clearwater City City Council. I'd like to thank you both for years of service and dedication to our local community through the Salvation Army from the many events you have been involved in to countless hours of volunteering to giving wonderful invitations at our council meetings. Your service to this community has been nothing short of remarkable. Our community has benefited greatly from your service, and you both will be greatly missed. Thank you for everything. We hope you both enjoy this well-reserved retirement. Thank you, Major Ted, and thank you for being here tonight. Thank you. It's been my privilege to be a part of this small small part of this uh these proceedings, and thank you for allowing me to be uh to be a part of this. I will miss it. It's been enjoyable. I've learned a lot about the city operation, kept them sort of you as well, and so it's been my privilege to do so. So let's power for prayer. Our father, we thank you for the country in which we live and a city in which we live, where business can be conducted publicly like it is here. In front of the citizenry and those who uh are involved in the city operations. God, we thank you for our mayor. We thank you for the city council, those who have accepted the mantle of leadership placed upon them by our citizens. We pray that you will guide them as they continue to lead our great city. Father, we thank you for those who work behind the scenes uh to keep this city operating. Those uh people who work and people never see them, but work in preparing things for the agenda, preparing items to keep our city running. We thank you for those who work out front, uh, law enforcement, first responders, fire and rescue, those who go into the danger rather than flee from it. Father, we tonight we pray that the proceedings will be according to your will for the city, and that decisions made will be according to your your will for the city as well. Of course, in your holy and your precious name, we pray. Amen. Amen. Pledge of allegiance is the fly of the United States of America for which it stands under God's law and justice for all. Good evening. Good evening. To her right, my left, our vice mayor Ryan Cotton. Good evening. To my right, Councilmember Mike Manino. Good evening. His right, Councilmember David Albruden. Good evening. His right, our city manager, Jennifer Poirier. For her right, Assistant City Manager Dan Slaughter. And to his right, Assistant City Manager Al Battle. That will move to item 4.1 on the agenda. I'd like to call forward fire chief Pittman and Division Chief Test Tedsk for the EMS week 2026 proclamation. Whereas the 2026 EMS Week theme, which is particularly meaningful now, is improving outcomes together, serves to remind people that everyday emergency medical teams are faced with so many new challenges in their lives, and yet they still rise above them and all and continue to respond, support and care for the needs of our communities. And whereas rapid access to quality emergency medical care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury.
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