Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Clearwater City Council met on October 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM to consider a wide-ranging agenda. The meeting included an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, proclamations for the Sun Coast Jazz Festival and Florida City Week, and a presentation on the 'Art Everywhere' initiative. Major actions included a decision to enter negotiations for redevelopment of the Landings golf course, adoption of comprehensive plan amendments for the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), performance evaluations of the city manager and city attorney, and scheduling of future meetings. The meeting drew extensive public comment, particularly on the Landings proposal and the city's 287G agreement with ICE.
Over 20 members of the public addressed the council. Opposition speakers cited concerns about traffic, flooding, noise, environmental impact, loss of green space, and process transparency. Supporters emphasized the need for youth sports facilities, indoor training spaces, and economic benefits.
Assistant City Manager Al Battle presented the background: the city received an unsolicited proposal from Sunshine Recreational and Entertainment Development in October 2025, evaluated under Florida P3 statute. The proposal includes sports fields, pickleball courts, water park, restaurants, and trails, with an estimated $180 million cost and 3-year construction timeline. City staff recommended acceptance and solicitation of additional proposals. The RFP was advertised on August 19, 2026, and two proposals were received by September 21. An evaluation committee ranked Sunshine first. Staff recommended authorizing an interim agreement to begin exclusive negotiations. Council Discussion: Mayor Rector recused himself, citing a voting conflict. Vice Mayor Cotton presided. Councilmember Manino had a prior conflict but was cleared by the ethics commission to vote. All councilmembers who spoke (Albright, Cotton, Manino, Tosheda) supported moving forward to negotiations, emphasizing that conditions on environmental remediation, stormwater, traffic, and neighborhood protections must be secured. Mayor Rector returned after the vote. Vote: Motion to approve the recommendation passed 4‑0 (Mayor Rector not voting).
The council adopted Ordinance 9860‑26 (Comprehensive Plan amendment establishing the Planned Redevelopment District Overlay and North Greenwood Community Overlay District) and Ordinance 9861‑26 (Future Land Use Map amendment applying the overlay to the North Greenwood CRA). Staff explained that the adoption is a first step; a form‑based code and further zoning changes will follow, with continued community engagement. Despite speakers requesting postponement for better public outreach, the council moved forward. Vote: Both ordinances passed unanimously.
Council members praised City Manager Jennifer Poirrier for her fiscal stewardship, communication, accessibility, and leadership. She received a composite score of 3.16 out of 4 from Councilmember Manino. The council approved a 4% salary increase (in line with general employees) and an amendment allowing her to sell back up to ten days of unused leave. Vote: Unanimous.
Council members lauded City Attorney Owen Colvin for his clarity, professionalism, and ability to explain complex legal matters. No salary adjustment was made, as his contract prohibits an increase until October 2027. Vote: Not required; evaluation noted.
The council scheduled a special budget work session for December 14, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Vote: Unanimous.
The council agreed to move the regular November 16 work session to November 17, 2026, so that newly elected officials can participate and a farewell ceremony for departing members can take place during that work session. Vote: Unanimous.
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 you called to speak, please hand your card to the clerk. Now move to item two on the agenda, and that's her invoction. I'd ask for everyone to stand for tonight's invitation to be given by Reverend Allie Wood from the First United Methodist Church Clearwater, and then to remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mayor Rector. Let us pray. Loving and gracious God, we give you thanks for another beautiful day in this beautiful place that we are all privileged to live. As we gather together to do business, large business and small business, things that feel of utmost importance and importance and things that feel uh like a passing issue. We ask that you would give us a heart and a mind for all of the people of Clearwater. That you would be with us in our decision making, you would be with our leaders in their decision making, and that you would allow us to work together to do the work that benefits all of us. We give you thanks for our first responders, for all those who work for our city, and for all of those who come together to continue to make it a place that is good and beautiful for all of us. We ask all of this in your name, amen. Thank you, Reverend Wood. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance of the United States of America. One nation. Before we continue on tonight's agenda, I'd like to introduce our diaspora this evening. To my far left is our deputy city clerk, Nicole Sprague. Good evening. To her right is our city attorney, Owen Colvin. Good evening. To his right is Councilmember Lena Tosheda. Good evening. To her right is Vice Mayor Ryan Cotton. Hello. To my right, Councilmember Mike Manino. Good evening. To his right, Councilmember David Albright. Good evening. To his right, City Manager Jennifer Poirier. To her right, Assistant City Manager Dan Slaughter. Hello. And to his right, Assistant City Manager Al Battle. With that, we'll move to item 4.1 on the agenda. I'd like to call forward Joan Dragon from the Sun Coast Jazz Festival for a proclamation for the Sun Coast Jazz Weekend that's being held here this year. We don't see Joan here today, but I'll go ahead and read the proclamation. Whereas the art of creating jazz music is a uniquely American form of music that originated over 100 years ago, and that has influenced and enriched not only American music and culture, but also the music and culture of the world, and whereas the Sun Coast Jazz Festival is in its 36th year and brings increased attention to the City of Clearwater and its diverse and vibrant cultural arts. Whereas the Sun Coast Jazz Festival continues to feature local, national, and international musicians, and whereas the mission of the Sun Coast Jazz Festival and its volunteers is to give and contribute to the education of local young musicians to give them performance opportunities, and this year we'll host two master classes for local students to foster the preservation of jazz. Now therefore, I Bruce Rector, mayor of the City of Clearwater, Florida, on behalf of the Clearwater City Council, to hereby proclaim November 20th to the 22nd, 2026 to be Sun Coast Jazz Festival weekend in Clearwater. Thank you for being here, but I'd like to say a few words. Yes, Joan is out of town on family business, and uh it's a chance for us to brag about her because she wouldn't do it if she was here.