03/18/2021 City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
m
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 18, 2021
6:00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
City Council
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City of Clearwater
City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
Roll Call
Present: 5 - Mayor Frank Hibbard, Councilmember Hoyt Hamilton, Vice Mayor
David Allbritton, Councilmember Mark Bunker and Councilmember
Kathleen Beckman
Also Present: William B. Horne II — City Manager, Micah Maxwell —Assistant City
Manager, Michael Delk—Assistant City Manager, Pamela K. Akin City
Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City Clerk, and Nicole Sprague — Deputy
City Clerk.
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
1. Call to Order— Mayor Hibbard
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Invocation — Pastor Cezar Monterroza from First Baptist Church/Safety Harbor
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Special recognitions and Presentations (Proclamations, service awards, or other
special recognitions. Presentations by governmental agencies or groups providing
formal updates to Council will be limited to ten minutes.) — Given.
4.1 American Red Cross Month Proclamation, March 2021 - Eric Corliss, Regional CEO
American Red Cross of Central Florida and US Virgin Islands
4.2 March for Meals Month Proclamation, March 2021 - David Lomaka, Executive Director of
the Neighborly Care Network
4.3 Florida Food Waste Prevention Week Proclamation, April 5-9, 2021 - Sheridan Boyle,
Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Clearwater
4.4 Centennial Year of Celebration for the Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre
Proclamation, 2021 - Ms. Susan Crockett, President and CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall & Mr.
Michael Bollenback, Chairman of the Board.
Ms. Crockett provided a video presentation and thanked the City for its
continued support.
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City of Clearwater
City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
5. Approval of Minutes
5.1 Approve the minutes of the March 4, 2021 City Council Meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Councilmember Hamilton moved to approve the minutes of the
March 4, 2021 City Council Meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
6. Citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda
Jerry Maguire said the City is doing a good job with bringing people to
Downtown but expressed concern with the number of individuals who
attended a recent event.
Pamela lusi said the Community Dental Clinic is in the business of
providing smiles to those in the community who do not have the
resources to receive needed dental services. She thanked the City for its
continued support and partnership.
Jack Schafer submitted an email expressing his dislike on how
Clearwater has changed since the 60s that was read into the record by
the City Clerk (see page 14).
7. Consent Agenda — Approved as submitted.
7.1 Approve the 2021 Federal Legislative Priorities. (consent)
7.2 Approve revised Fiduciary Investment Committee Charter for the City's defined
contribution retirement plans. (consent)
7.3 Approve the purchase of Excess property insurance, including Bridges, Boiler and
Machinery and Terrorism coverages, from April 1, 2021 through April 1, 2022, at the level
of insurance provided for in this agenda item, at an amount not to exceed $2,800,000 and
at the property rate of$0.3476 through April 1, 2022, and authorize the appropriate
officials to execute same. (consent)
7.4 Award a construction contract to CROM Coatings and Restorations, a division of CROM,
LLC. of Gainesville, FL, in the amount of$149,437.75 for MS WRF Chlorine Contact
Chamber per Invitation to Bid (ITB) 18-0060-UT; approve Engineer of Record (EOR)
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City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
Supplemental 1 Work Order to Tetra Tech in the amount of$168,157, increasing the work
order from $43,481 to $211,638 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
(consent)
7.5 Approve amendment to the construction contract between the City of Clearwater and
Construction Manager at Risk J. Kokolakis Contracting, Inc. of Tarpon Springs, Florida,
for the Solid Waste Transfer Station (Project 15-0007-SW) to include an extended
bonded warranty covering the top one and a half inches of asphalt and authorize the
appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
7.6 Accept FDOT Grant Agreement Amendment (No. 435222-1-94-01) in the amount of
$100,000 for the Clearwater Airpark Hangar-C Replacement Project and authorize the
appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
7.7 Authorize a purchase order to multiple vendors as listed, for the maintenance, purchase
and rental of generators, transfer switches, replacement parts, and services, in the annual
not-to exceed amount of$1,000,000 through January 2022 with one renewal option
through January 2023, in accordance with City Code of Ordinances Section 2.564(1)(b)
Sole Source and 2.564(1)(d) Other Government Entities Bids and authorize the
appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Vice Mayor Allbritton moved to approve the Consent Agenda as
submitted and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Public Hearings - Not before 6:00 PM
8. Administrative Public Hearings
8.1 Approve the City of Clearwater's Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Consolidated Annual
Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). (APH)
The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is the
principal administrative report documenting the City's expenditures for
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment
Partnership (HOME) programs to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD). For Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2020, the City's entitlement
allocation was $764,043 in CDBG and $383,978 in HOME program funds,
$1,682,755 of Prior Year funds, $102,286 of Program Income and $1,192,174 in
CDBG Revolving Loan funding for a total budget of$4,125,236 from federal
funds.
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City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
Through the CDBG and HOME program activities, total expenditures were
$869,395 in FY 2019-2020, which included program income and funding from
the prior year reprogrammed funds. Those funds not expended from this year's
budget will be programmed in future years.
In addition to reporting activities carried out with federal money, a summary of
activities conducted with the Florida State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)
Program and Pinellas County Housing Trust Fund (PCHTF) Program is also
included in the narrative section. For FY 2019-2020, SHIP fund expenditures
totaled $1,185,451 and PCHTF fund expenditures totaled $97,154.
The report provides HUD with necessary information for the Department to
meet its requirement to assess each grantee's ability to carry out relevant
Community Planning and Development programs in compliance with all
applicable rules and regulations. It also provides information necessary for
HUD's Annual Report to Congress and it provides grantees an opportunity to
describe to citizens their successes in revitalizing deteriorated neighborhoods
and in meeting objectives stipulated in their Consolidated Planning document.
The City of Clearwater's FY 2019-2020 CAPER contains information on the
City's assessment of the following activities:
- Assessment of Four-Year Goals and Outcomes
- Resources and Investments
- Affordable Housing
- Homeless and Other Special Needs
- Public Housing
- Other Actions to Address Barriers to Affordable Housing
- Monitoring
- CDBG
- HOME
A list of notable accomplishments utilizing federal, state, and local funds for FY
2019-2020 include:
- Provided one down payment & closing cost assistance loan totaling $20,725
- Provided $278,308 for the rehabilitation of eight owner-occupied units
- Assisted Community Service Foundation with the rehabilitation of two
multi-family rental units
- Assisted Lexington Club at Renaissance Square with the rehabilitation of
seven multi-family rental units
- Provided $115,992 to Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County for the
acquisition of land and construction of one single-family home
- Completed construction and lease-up of Woodlawn Trail Apartments, an 80
-unit family rental complex
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City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
- Completed construction and lease-up of Madison Point Apartments; an 80
-unit senior rental complex
- Committed $208,904 for three Public Facilities projects: Directions for
Living, Homeless Empowerment Program and RCS Pinellas and
completed a Public Facilities Project with Arc of Tampa Bay carried over
from the previous fiscal year.
- Provided $98,855 to assist 4,804 individuals through partnerships with ten
public service providers: Intercultural Advocacy Institute, Pinellas
Opportunity Council, Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center,
Gulfcoast Legal Services, WestCare GulfCoast of Florida, Homeless
Emergency Project, Religious Community Services (now, Hope Villages
of America), Kimberly Home, Directions for Living and Miracles
Outreach.
- Provided $51,575 for technical assistance services to Hispanic Business
Initiative Fund of Florida, Inc. dba Prospera and Tampa Bay Black
Business Investment Corporation that assisted 83 entrepreneurs and
businesses
- Provided $5,530 to three organizations to provide homebuyer education to
assist 79 Clearwater residents: Clearwater Neighborhood Housing
Services, Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation, and Bright
Community Trust.
Overall, federal, state, and local funding assisted 4,388 persons and 169
households
On March 9, 2021, the Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board
(NAHAB) recommended City Council approve the CAPER as written. The
CAPER is due annually to HUD no later than December 31; however, HUD
granted a 90-day extension as the workload of participating jurisdictions was
impacted by the pandemic.
Economic Development and Housing Assistant Director Chuck Lane
provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Councilmember Beckman moved to approve the City of
Clearwater's Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Consolidated Annual
Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
8.2 Approve the request from the owner of property addressed as 1068 Eldorado Avenue,
Clearwater to vacate a platted 5-foot Utility Easement, described as the west 5 feet of lot
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5, Block 70, Mandalay, recorded in Plat Book 14, Pages 32 to 35, of the Public Records
of Pinellas County, Florida, and pass Ordinance 9439-21 on first reading.
The property owner at 1068 Eldorado Ave., Clearwater, has requested that the
City vacate a 5-foot platted Utility Easement along the rear of their property.
The purpose of this vacation will be to allow construction of a pool and pool
deck.
There are no utilities present within this easement. Staff reviewed this vacation
and have no objection.
In response to questions, Engineering Director Tara Kivett said other
properties along the easement have been vacated. After evaluating the
easement in question, staff decided to process the vacations as each
property owner submitted the request. She said there are at least five
vacation requests being processed.
Councilmember Bunker moved to approve the request from the
owner of property addressed as 1068 Eldorado Avenue, Clearwater
to vacate a platted 5-foot Utility Easement, described as the west 5
feet of lot 5, Block 70, Mandalay, recorded in Plat Book 14, Pages 32
to 35, of the Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Ordinance 9439-21 was presented and read by title only.
Councilmember Hamilton moved to pass Ordinance 9439-21 on first
reading. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote
was:
Ayes: 5 - Mayor Hibbard, Councilmember Hamilton, Vice Mayor Allbritton,
Councilmember Bunker and Councilmember Beckman
9. City Manager Reports
9.1 Amend the City's fiscal year 2020/21 operating and capital improvement budgets at first
quarter and pass Ordinances 9446-21 and 9447-21 on first reading.
The fiscal year 2020/21 operating and capital improvement budgets were
adopted in September 2020 by ordinances 9408-20 and 9409-20. Section
2.521 of the City's Code of Ordinances requires the City Manager to prepare a
quarterly report detailing income, expenditure estimates, collections, the
explanation of significant variances, as well as the financial status of all capital
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City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
improvement projects.
Vice Mayor Allbritton moved to amend the City's fiscal year 2020/21
operating and capital improvement budgets at first quarter. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Ordinances 9446-21 was presented and read by title only.
Councilmember Beckman moved to pass Ordinance 9446-21 on first
reading. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote
was:
Ayes: 5 - Mayor Hibbard, Councilmember Hamilton, Vice Mayor Allbritton,
Councilmember Bunker and Councilmember Beckman
Ordinance 9447-21 was presented and read by title only.
Councilmember Bunker moved to pass Ordinance 9447-21 on first
reading. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote
was:
Ayes: 5 - Mayor Hibbard, Councilmember Hamilton, Vice Mayor Allbritton,
Councilmember Bunker and Councilmember Beckman
9.2 Confirm COVID-19 Emergency Proclamation and adopt Resolution 21-12.
Councilmember Hamilton moved to confirm COVID-19 Emergency
Proclamation. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
Resolution 21-12 was presented and read by title only. Vice Mayor
Allbritton moved to adopt Resolution 21-12. The motion was duly
seconded and upon roll call, the vote was:
Ayes: 5 - Mayor Hibbard, Councilmember Hamilton, Vice Mayor Allbritton,
Councilmember Bunker and Councilmember Beckman
10. City Manager Verbal Reports
10.1 PSTA/Forward Pinellas Update - Vice Mayor Allbritton
Vice Mayor Allbritton said Forward Pinellas considered a change in land use
associated with a light-industrial site to allow a company to construct a
swimming area and a recreational use but some of the surrounding
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City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
neighborhoods wanted an Amazon trucking center. PSTA staff
recommended the Amazon trucking center would be a better use. The PSTA
Board recognized that March is Florida Bike Month and unanimously
approved a resolution to support the Pinellas Safe Streets Action Plan. He
said the TMA Leadership Group approved a name change, the group will be
known as the Suncoast Transit Planning Alliance.
10.2Cult City Tours - Councilmember Bunker
Councilmember Bunker said there has been a lot of consternation about
Cult City Tours. The tours sprung forth from a suggestion he made
regarding Scientology tourism, where individuals who were leery of the
Church could tour downtown and experience what is has to offer. Ted
Reinhard obtained the business license for Cult City Tours. He said
there was a huge flap this weekend and an article in the Tampa Bay
Times correctly criticized Mr. Reinhard for negatively reviewing a
couple of Downtown restaurants on Trip Advisor. He said the reviews were
removed after he spoke with Mr. Reinhard. Councilmember Bunker said
he has reached out to the restaurant owners about the incident. He has
spoken with several individuals who have taken the tour, the individuals
had a positive perception of Downtown and expressed a desire to return.
He said he hoped Mr. Reinhard would reconsider the name as branding
the City as a "cult"is horrible.
One individual spoke in support of Cult City Tours and said that in one
month, 300 reservations were made. He thanked Councilmember Bunker
for calling him and making it clear that the cooperation was necessary.
He said the recent Charity Super Fan tour raised over$1,200 for the
Aftermath Foundation and attracted participants nationwide.
One individual said the criticism heard about Cult City Tours was fair and he
hoped that the concerns raised will be addressed by the tour operators,
who wish to demystify Scientology and direct tour participants to
downtown restaurants. He expressed concerns with how Scientology
representatives visited the downtown restaurants to spread falsehoods
about the charity event.
One individual opposed the tours and expressed concerns regarding the
fake negative reviews Mr. Reinhard posted about a couple of restaurants.
Discussion ensued with comments made that the negative reviews were
wrong, the businesses in downtown deserve to be supported, and that the
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City Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
name of the tour is horrible.
11. City Attorney Reports — None.
12. Other Council Action
12.1Amend City Charter to Require Candidates Receive 50% of the Vote to be Elected -
Councilmember Hamilton
Councilmember Hamilton questioned if there was interest to schedule a
presentation by Dr. Scott Paine on the different voting methods. It is
typical to have local officials be elected with less than 50% of the vote in
smaller municipalities. Historically, Clearwater has two candidates run for
a seat but Clearwater deserves to have officials elected with more than
50% of the votes casted.
Discussion ensued with comments made that the charter review
committee is an advisory committee that makes recommendations to
council, that the presentation by Dr. Paine regarding the types of voting
conducted by cities Clearwater's size would be helpful. Concerns were
expressed that the matter should wait for the next charter review process
and that having a primary election would require a lot of fundraising by the
candidates.
In response to questions, the City Attorney said the City is required to
have a charter review every four years. The city council may place an
item on referendum without charter review at any time.
One eComment in opposition was submitted and was read into the record by
the City Clerk (see page 13).
Councilmember Hamilton moved to direct the City Clerk to schedule
a presentation. The motion was duly seconded and carried with the
following vote:
Ayes: 3 - Mayor Hibbard, Councilmember Hamilton and Vice Mayor Allbritton
Nays: 2 - Councilmember Bunker and Councilmember Beckman
13. Closing comments by Councilmembers (limited to 3 minutes)
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City Council
Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021
Councilmember Beckman said she was elected to the Council a year ago
yesterday. It has been an exciting year and she is looking forward to
continuing the work and learning the next three years.
Vice Mayor Allbritton said he asked the City Clerk to put on our legislative
priority list Senator Hooper's Fire Prevention and Control bill, which
authorizes the use of radio communication enhancement systems to comply
with new fire code requirements for buildings taller than four stories.
Councilmember Hamilton said spring break is in full swing and traffic is what
it is. He wished everyone a Happy Easter.
Councilmember Bunker said he attended a Jazz Holiday event in Station
Square Park a couple weekends ago. He said the volunteer who greeted
him was a scientologist, and he made a donation to the festival. He said it
was a great evening and he is looking forward to future years.
14. Closing Comments by Mayor
15. Adjourn
Mayor Hibbard reviewed recent and upcoming events. With Spring Break
underway, he reminded all that alcohol is not allowed on the beach or
sidewalk.
The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
ayor
Attest City of Clearwater
City Clerk
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City of Clearwater
City Council on 2021-03-18 6:00 PM
Meeting Time: 03-18-21 18:00
eComments Report
Agenda Comments Support Oppose Neutral
items
City Council on 2021-03-18 6:00 PM 03-18-21 36 1 0 1 0
18:00
Sentiments for All Meetings
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will be shown.
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City Council on 2021-03-18 6:00 PM
03-18-21 18:00
12.1 ID#21-8958 Amend City Charter to Require Candidates Receive
50% of the Vote to be Elected - Councilmember Hamilton
0
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Sentiments for All Agenda Items
The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented
will be shown.
Overall Sentiment
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Agenda Item: eComments for 12.1 ID#21-8958 Amend City Charter to Require Candidates Receive 50% of the Vote to be
Elected - Councilmember Hamilton
Overall Sentiment
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No ResponsoW%i
Beth Davis
Location:
Submitted At: 5:09pm 03-18-21
This will restrict a diverse, representative council. Money will be a driver to compete with the possibility of a
runoff. perhaps the person should win 40% of the vote, but find a compromise to maintain and keep an open field
of candidates.
CaII, Rosemarie
From: Jack Schafer <jackxschafer@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 10:13 PM
To: ClearwaterCouncil
Subject: What I think...
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Clearwater. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Everything about the Clearwater that I grew up in back in the 60's is gone.
Scientology took over the city, and I recall both Hubbard in the 60's and David M. In the past 4 years calling Clearwater
(city) their campus.
They believe they own our city - anything that takes that thought away from them is Good- This City belongs to the
citizens that live here... not our politicians, and certainly not a single church.
This city needs to grow a pair, and kick them in theirs !
My Best... always,
Jack Schafer
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