10/17/2022 Council Work Session Meeting Minutes October 17, 2022
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
r it if to
Meeting Minutes
Monday, October 17, 2022
9:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Council Work Session
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City of Clearwater
Council Work Session Meeting Minutes October 17, 2022
Roll Call
Present 5 - Mayor Frank Hibbard, Councilmember David Allbritton, Vice Mayor
Kathleen Beckman, Councilmember Mark Bunker, and Councilmember
Lina Teixeira
Also Present: Jon Jennings — City Manager, Micah Maxwell —Assistant City
Manager, Michael Delk—Assistant City Manager, David Margolis —
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 9:00 a.m.
2. Economic Development and Housing
2.1 Approve the Third Substantial Amendment to the City of Clearwater's 2019-2020 Annual
Action Plan to reallocate existing funding provided by the United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development to address needs resulting from the COVID-19
Emergency.
In 2020, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated
$1,351,560 of Community Development Block Grant Program - Coronavirus
Response funds (CDBG-CV) to be used by the City of Clearwater to prevent,
prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. This amount is the total of two
allocations from the first and third tranches of funding authorized by the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law
116-136, which was signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020, to respond
to the growing effects of the historic public health crisis. The second tranche
included an allocation to the City of Clearwater through the Florida Housing
Finance Corporation and is not contained within the city's 2019-2020 Annual
Action Plan.
CDBG-CV Grantees are required to spend 80% of their allocations within three
years of receiving the funds. Accordingly, the City of Clearwater must expend
$1,081,248 by June 2023. CDBG Expenditures to date total $207,509.90.
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The City's administration of CDBG-CV funding has focused on providing funding
assistance to non-profit service providers. Non-profit organizations have
struggled to expand capacity to expend funds in a manner that will achieve the
80% expenditure requirement. Therefore, staff is recommending a portion of the
funds be reallocated for improvements to public facilities.
The Substantial Amendment reduces funding for the following activities and is
shown below as revised allocations:
$29,693.90 - Suncoast Housing Connections - Mortgage
Assistance/Foreclosure Prevention
$211,616.63 - CDBG-CV Administration
The Substantial Amendment adds the following CDBG-CV Public Facility
Improvements:
$51,662.00 - R'Club Child Care - Gateway Facility HVAC Air Quality Upgrades
$47,140.00 - R'Club Child Care - Breeden Facility HVAC Air Quality Upgrades
$190,000.00 - Ross Norton Lake Bellevue Recreational Pier
$190,000.00 - Ross Norton Playground
Contracts are already in place for the following CDBG-CV Public Services:
$104,441.47 - Homeless Leadership Alliance - Housing Navigation
$132,559.00 - Directions For Living - Prospect Towers - Assistance to Tenants
being Displaced
$38,354.00 - Gulfcoast Legal Services (COVID Housing Legal Services)
$345,593.00 - Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County
$8,500.00 - Showered & Empowered, Inc. (complete)
$2,000.00 - Pet Grooming On The Go LLC (complete)
Additional Background Information
A jurisdiction's Annual Action Plan implements its multi-year Consolidated Plan
and is developed through significant citizen participation, analysis, and planning.
A First Substantial Amendment to the city's 2019 Annual Action Plan (AAP) was
approved by the City Council on May 7, 2020, to incorporate $492,592 from the
first tranche of CDBG-CV funding. A Second Amendment to the 2019 AAP was
approved by City Council on October 14, 2020, to incorporate $858,968 from
the third tranche of CDBG-CV funding. Staff is recommending approval of the
Third Substantial Amendment to the 2019 AAP to reallocate funding to
programs and activities that will more effectively distribute CDBG-CV funding
assistance.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
This agreement will be funded with Community Development Block Grant -
Coronavirus funds, a funding source provided by the United States Department
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of Housing and Urban Development.
In response to questions, Economic Development and Housing Assistant
Director Chuck Lane said what is specifically being reduced is the mortgage
assistance and foreclosure prevention program; the rental assistance
program is not being eliminated. The city will provide funding to Clearwater
Housing Authority for the TEBA (Tenant Based Rental Assistance) program,
which will replace what is being offset in this item. This funding will assist
their voucher holders that are awaiting placement and will allow the city to
disperse funds to those who can allocate them in the appropriate categories
in the time specified. He said this funding source may not be used to pay for
city owned utility bills. He said there is funding in the HOME ARP program to
provide assistance with first and last months rent and security deposits. He
said one of the challenges across the board with CDBG-CV funding is the
administration capacity of the non-profit organizations that administer funds,
there is not enough staff to administer programs. Local non-profits know
about city programs and funding opportunities. Funding must be tied to
COVID impact related expenses; the recent rent and home cost increases
are not directly tied to the COVID. Eligible use of funds do include outdoor
recreational activities and that is why funding is going to the pier project in
the Lake Belleview community. Comment was made that the federal
government sets spending guidelines and the city must follow the rules.
3. Finance
3.1 Approve payments totaling $150,415.29 to settle claim 22000125 for damages to Solid
Waste vehicle G3973 and surrounding properties, pursuant to Clearwater Code of
Ordinances Section 2.645, Payment of claims. (consent)
On July 26, 2022, Solid Waste vehicle G3973 was traveling on San Sebastian
Way with the boom inadvertently extended. The boom struck utility wires
belonging to Duke Energy and Charter Communications, causing the vehicle to
catch on fire. Damages were sustained to the utility wires, sod in the city
right-of-way, and the property at 2003 San Sebastian Way. The vehicle was
appraised and determined to be a total loss.
Damages are as follows:
Vehicle appraisal 382.50
City of Clearwater sod in right of way 651.00
Damages to 2003 San Sebastian Way 2,174.25
Charter Communications (negotiated amount) 2,576.19
Duke Energy (negotiated amount) 6,218.35
City of Clearwater vehicle G3973 138,413.00
150,415.29
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APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
5907590-545900 $150,415.29
In response to a concern, the City Manager said the budget included a new
training manager position, as the organization lacked the resources needed
to facilitate sufficient training opportunities.
4. Human Resources
4.1 Approve the first addendum to the collective bargaining agreement as negotiated
between the City of Clearwater and IAFF Local 1158 for Fiscal Year 2022/2023 and
authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
The collective bargaining agreement between the City of Clearwater and IAFF,
Local 1158 expires on September 30, 2024. The parties have reached a
tentative agreement for an amendment to this contract, to be effective October
1, 2022, which was ratified by the membership (94 - 2).
The amendment is for the implementation and resumption of a pension cost of
living adjustment. The retirement benefit for all firefighters who are actively
employed on or after October 1, 2022 will be increased by an annual
cost-of-living adjustment equal to 1.5%, including service earned from January
1, 2013 through October 1, 2022. This retirement benefit is payable after a
five-year delay. This change to the City's Pension Plan will occur through
Ordinance 9634-22.
In addition, Article 1, Section 3 was modified to state that the parties agree to
bargain proposed changes to the City's Pension Plan at the same time that
bargaining occurs for the agreement and successor agreements.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
A future budget amendment may be required in FY 2022/2023 to cover
increases related to the pension plan adjustments.
4.2 Amend Clearwater Code of Ordinances Section 2.421 to re-establish a cost-of-living
benefit for firefighters and pass Ordinance 9634-22 on first reading.
In 2012, Pension Fund changes were collectively bargained between the City
and the labor unions. The agreed upon changes were ratified by the IAFF Local
1158, and subsequently approved by City Council and were presented to the
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citizens of Clearwater through a public referendum. The applicable changes to
the Pension Fund applied to the firefighters who were not eligible to retire as of
the effective date of the ordinance (January 1, 2013). Those changes included:
1. The employees' pension contribution was increased from 8% to 10%
of covered salary.
2. The annual 1.5% COLA was eliminated on all pensionable earnings
for years of service after the effective date of the restated ordinance
(January 1, 2013).
In 2022, at the request of the IAFF Local 1158, staff began collectively
bargaining changes to the Pension Fund for firefighters. In September 2022, the
City and IAFF Local 1158 reached a tentative agreement that provides for the
following changes to the Pension Fund:
1. The annual 1.5% COLA would be resumed for all firefighters who are
actively employed on or after October 1, 2022.
2. The resumption would include cost-of-living benefits on service
earned from January 1, 2013, through October 1, 2022.
3. The COLA would only be paid after a five-year delay.
These proposed pension benefit changes have been estimated by the City's
actuary to cost the City approximately $520,000 in the first year after
implementation and approximately $24 million over the next 30 years, equivalent
to a discounted present value cost of$9.9 million.
The Fund's actuary has provided the estimated cost for the proposed changes,
but the City also is required to have the actuary complete an actuarial impact
statement for the State Division of Retirement; this requirement is attached.
On September 16, 2022, the IAFF ratified the proposed changes as stated
herein.
Since the proposed changes have been mutually agreed upon, a referendum is
not required to implement.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
A future budget amendment may be required in FY 2022/2023 to cover
increases related to the pension plan adjustments.
5. Parks and Recreation
5.1 Approve a purchase order to Shade Systems, Inc., of Ocala, Florida for the purchase and
installation of Athletic Shade Structures in an amount of$715,376.50, pursuant to
Clearwater Code of Ordinances Section 2.563(1)(c), Piggyback; increase project
C2212, Athletic Field Shade Structures by $70,000 in donations revenue; and authorize
the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
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In partnership with the Countryside and Clearwater Little Leagues, the City has
identified an opportunity to install 19 new shade structure systems over the
spectator areas of athletic fields located at both Countryside Community Park,
and the Sid Lickton Athletic Complex.
The installation of the shade structures will provide for an enhanced spectator
experience for patrons of various sporting events, including tournaments, little
league games, and community programming at the athletic fields.
This contract will provide for the purchase and installation of athletic shade
structure systems, including structural elements, canvas material, and
associated construction to accommodate the new amenities. The proposed
pricing with Shade Systems, Inc., has been established under a piggyback
contract with the Volusia County School Board, pursuant to ITB #MTS-906BC:
Playgrounds & Related Equipment, which has been extended through January
31, 2023.
A first quarter budget amendment will recognize a donation from both the
Countryside Little League in the amount of$40,000, and the Clearwater Little
League in the amount of$30,000 to contribute towards the total project cost.
This contract is for a period of 14 weeks, to begin upon issuance of a notice to
proceed.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in capital improvement project C2213, Athletic Field Shade
Structures. A first quarter budget amendment will recognize a $70,000 increase
of donation revenue in project C2213, Athletic Field Shade Structures.
In response to questions, Parks and Recreation Director Jim Halios said staff
will remove the shades as part of the Department's storm preparations. The
warranty on the shades is 10 years. He said, in the past, shades have been
used for approximately 15 years.
5.2 Authorize a Guaranteed Maximum Price proposal to Keystone Excavators, Inc. of
Oldsmar, Florida, in the amount of$138,446.00, for park improvements at Soule Road
Park, pursuant to Request for Qualifications (REQ) 40-20, Construction Manager at Risk
(CMAR) Services Continuing Contracts; transfer $79,200 from Recreation Facility Impact
Fees (142-343962) at first quarter; and authorize the appropriate officials to execute
same. (consent)
On September 17, 2020, Council approved the use of 13 firms to serve as
Construction Managers at Risk for Continuing Contracts under RFQ 40-20 and
Keystone Excavators, Inc. was selected as one of the approved firms.
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As part of the original design of Soule Road Park, a roller hockey court was
constructed. This court is rarely used and in need of repair. Staff is
recommending repurposing the roller hockey court to provide for three pickleball
courts.
This proposal is for the construction of the pickleball courts which includes
milling and resurfacing of the pavement, widening of the existing court footprint,
and installation of court surfacing, net posts, netting, and associated site work.
Staff will utilize the existing citywide fencing contract for the installation of
fencing around the new courts.
The contract is for a period of 60 days, to begin upon issuance of a notice to
proceed.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in capital improvement project M2206, Parks &
Beautification R&R. A first quarter budget amendment will provide for a transfer
of$79,200 from Recreation Facility impact fees (142-343963) to project M2206,
Parks & Beautification R&R.
In response to questions, Parks and Recreation Director Jim Halios said the
roller hockey rink is not locked up, the amenity is not listed on the city
website because it received minimum usage and funds were no longer being
allocated to maintain the rink. Benches will be included in the improvements.
The City does not have any pickleball courts currently, three are coming
online at Del Oro Park. He said Soule Road Park was a logical location for
pickleball courts as there is ample parking, tennis courts, and a playground.
6. Public Works
6.1 Approve the final plat for Airport Drive Villages located at 514 Brandon Avenue. (consent)
This plat will create a 6-lot subdivision for a 6-unit detached dwelling
development. The residential development project was approved through DRC
on December 3, 2021. The property is approximately 1.4 acres.
Item Pulled.
City Engineer Tara Kivett said the Developer did not address staff comments
appropriately, item is being postponed.
6.2 Approve the request from the owner of real property, described as Parcel ID-
15-29-15-38574-015-0060, Court Street, Clearwater to vacate the 5-foot-wide platted
Utility Easement on the south property line of lot 45, and the west half of lot 44 along with
the abutting 5-foot-wide platted Utility Easement on the north property line of lots 8,7,6,20,
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and the west half of lot 21, located in Hibiscus Gardens, Blk O, according to the map or
plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 14, Pages 55-59, Public Records of Pinellas
County, Florida, and pass Ordinance 9636-22 on first reading.
The property owner of Parcel ID# 15-29-15-38574-015-0060, Court Street,
Clearwater, has requested that the City vacate the 5-foot-wide platted Utility
Easement on the south property line of lot 45, and the west half of lot 44 along
with the abutting 5-foot-wide platted Utility Easement on the north property line
of lots 8,7,6,20, and the west half of lot 21.
The purpose of this vacation is to allow for a 14-unit multi-family apartment.
There are no city utilities present within the easements. Frontier
Communications has facilities within the proposed vacate area. A recordable
non-exclusive easement in favor of Frontier will be required for Frontier
Communications facilities to remain in the proposed vacated easement. All
other private utility companies have no objection to the vacation. City staff have
reviewed this vacation and have no objection.
6.3 Accept a 4-foot-wide Drainage and Utility Easement from William B and Lauren V
Corser, husband and wife, for installation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of
underground utilities on real property located at 1242 Idlewild Drive, and authorize the
appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
The Drainage and Utility Easement will allow the city rights for installation,
repair, maintenance, and replacement of underground utilities located in the
easement.
The City Engineering Division recommends acceptance of the easement.
6.4 Approve Supplemental Two Work Order to Mead and Hunt, Inc. of Tampa, FL, for On-Call
Traffic Engineering Technical Support Services (21-0035-EN) in the amount of$195,000,
increasing the work order from $300,000 to $495,000, pursuant to Request for
Qualifications (RFQ) 26-19, Engineer of Record Consulting Services (EOR), and
authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
December 2021, the City Manager approved the initial $95,000 work order, and
May 5, 2022, City Council approved $205,000 Supplemental One Work Order to
EOR Mead & Hunt for as needed services to review and access technical
reports from the Florida Department of Transportation, Pinellas County,
complete the Traffic Engineering review to support the land development permit
process for private developments and provide coordinated recommendations to
the City.
Supplemental Two Work Order will provide staff with daily assistance on permit
reviews and multimodal impact fees to meet the Traffic Engineering workload
demands until vacated positions are filled and trained (two Engineering
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Specialists).
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
0101331-530100 $195,000
Funds are available in cost code 0101331-530100, Professional Services, to
fund this supplemental work order.
In response to questions, City Engineer Tara Kivett said the Department is
spending as much as $30,000 per month. The City Manager said the
positions are difficult to fill due to their technical and professional nature. The
private sector is paying more than local governments. He said staff is
working on identifying the proper job descriptions. Assistant City Manager
Jennifer Poirrier said Human Resources conducted an internal review of all
positions; compared to other municipalities, the City is behind on salary
offers. Although the salary ranges are competitive, the City is limited on far
into the range one may go for a salary offer. She said some municipalities go
all the way through the range for a salary offer. She said the project manager
position will help and should provide additional opportunities once the
position opening is released.
7. Planning
7.1 Presentation on Clearwater 2045 Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement and Preliminary
Framework Report. (WSO)
The Planning and Development Department initiated the Clearwater 2045
Comprehensive Plan update in September 2020, contracting with HDR, Inc. and
SB Friedman Development Advisors to provide land use, housing, and mobility
expertise.
The plan update is a multi-year planning process, with anticipated completion in
Fall 2023 with the start of the adoption process beginning in late Spring 2023.
The project is divided into five overall tasks: (1) Project Start Up, (2) Data &
Analysis, (3) Visioning & Planning Framework, (4) Plan Drafting, and (5) Plan
Refinement & Adoption. To date, Tasks 1 through 3 are complete, with Task 4
currently underway. Task 3, the Visioning & Planning Framework, will be the
primary focus of the presentation.
A significant amount of community engagement was completed between April
and July 2021, reaching over 300 people. Participants were asked to discuss
the current condition of Clearwater and their vision for the city and were able to
participate through a variety of formats, including Listening Sessions with
community leaders and Community Conversations conducted virtually, in
person, and specifically with youth. The project website - Clearwater2045.com -
included an early survey asking 5 Key Questions, as well as a questionnaire,
"Our Plan, Your Vision", asking participants to indicate which themes they think
should be included in the proposed vision, which is described below.
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The project team has taken the feedback and insights provided by the different
participants and identified planning themes which were used to create a vision
statement for Clearwater 2045. Additionally, building on the current
Comprehensive Plan's Citywide Design Structure, a place-based Preliminary
Plan Framework has been developed to provide generalized direction
addressing land use, development, and community character for types of
places including neighborhoods and neighborhood centers, Downtown and the
beach, and mixed-use centers and corridors. The framework defines the
preferred development character and design quality of these place-types across
the city and is being used to establish goals and policy statements.
The draft Vision Statement & Preliminary Framework Report was presented to
the Community Development Board in October 2021 and then to City Council at
its November 15, 2021 work session for feedback prior to finalizing the report
and moving into drafting of the Plan amendments. Staff will provide an overview
of the final Vision Statement & Preliminary Framework Report and an update on
the overall project's progress.
Planning Division Manager Jayme Lopko provided a PowerPoint
presentation.
In response to questions, Ms. Lopko said the vision statement for the
comprehensive plan is aspirational and will help staff guide the goals,
policies, and objectives to be included in the plan. Staff is reviewing
Greenprint 2.0 to determine what policies should be included in the plan.
Comments were made that Clearwater is not truly economically resilient as it
is overly dependent on tourism and lacks light-industrial sites.
The City Manager said the real estate manager position included in the
budget will focus on the acquisition of properties that could be aggregated for
light-industrial uses. He has been discussing options available to the
Hercules area with the Pinellas County Administrator. He said Council will
hold their strategic planning session with the consultant on Monday,
December 5, 2022, with a draft strategic plan by mid-January 2023.
8. Public Utilities
8.1 Authorize a purchase order to Ferguson Enterprises, LLC dba Ferguson Waterworks for
the supply of backflow devices and parts in the annual not-to-exceed amount of
$227,000.00 with the option for two, one-year renewals, pursuant to Invitation to Bid No.
48-22, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
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8.2 Authorize an increase on purchase order to Odyssey Manufacturing Company of Tampa,
FL, for Liquid Sodium Hypochlorite, in the amount of$355,000.00, increasing the annual
not-to-exceed amount from $533,500.00 to $888,500.00 through the term of the contract
and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Liquid Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) is used as a disinfectant at the City of
Clearwater's potable water treatment plants, water reclamation facilities, and
reclaimed water pump stations to maintain regulatory compliance with the City's
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) operating permits.
On January 17, 2022, there was a price increase for Liquid Sodium Hypochlorite
from $0.5140/gallon to $0.7800/gallon. A market analysis was performed to
ensure the pricing was competitive and in compliance with the PPI index. This
price increase is the driving factor for the increase.
On January 16, 2020, Council approved a purchase order to Odyssey
Manufacturing in the annual not-to-exceed amount of$485,000.00 with two,
one-year renewal options pursuant to ITB 13-20, Liquid Sodium Hypochlorite.
On September 21, 2022, City Manager approved a 10% increase in the amount
of$48,500.00. With this increase, the total not-to-exceed amount will be
$888,500.00 through January 16, 2023.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Budgeted funds for FY23 are available in various Public Utilities cost centers,
cost code 551000 Lab Supplies - Chemicals
9. City Attorney
9.1 Approve amendment to Retainer Agreement with Matthew D. Weidner, P.A., for
representation in lien foreclosures and authorize the appropriate officials to execute
same. (consent)
The City entered into a retainer agreement with Matthew D. Weidner, P.A. on
July 24, 2018, which is set to expire in 2023. Since that time, the City has
recovered over $800,000 in code enforcement liens through the litigation
initiated by Mr. Weidner.
The current agreement requires that any funds recovered from these liens be
submitted to the City, which then processes and pays the accompanying
invoice. It does not have any provisions for a flat fee to be charged in cases
where there is minimal involvement of counsel.
The City Attorney would like to amend the agreement to provide for a flat fee in
certain cases, to amend the invoicing process so that the monetary recovery is
made payable to counsel's trust account so that he may retain the applicable
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percentage and submit the remainder to the City, and to extend the agreement
to provide for an expiration date three years from the effective date of the
amendment.
The proposed process will conserve staff time and reduce the possibility of
errors. Currently, staff must receive and deposit checks through Official
Records, then process each invoice separately through Legal and Finance for
payment. With the amended process, staff would no longer have to process the
invoices.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
There is a project fund associated with this agreement, but it is a revenue code
with provisions for offsetting expenditures such as attorney's fees and lot
maintenance. With the new fee arrangement, outside counsel fees will no
longer be taken from this fund.
9.2 Adopt Ordinance 9609-22 on second reading, vacating that certain portion of a
28-foot-wide alley right-of-way lying west of Lots 20,19,18, 17, and 16 of Block B, being
described in the plat titled "John R. Davey, et. al. Resubdivision" located in Plat Book 1,
Page 87 of the public records of Hillsborough County, Florida, of which Pinellas County
was formerly a part.
9.3 Adopt Ordinance 9619-22 on second reading, vacating the 18-foot-wide drainage &
utility easement as recorded in Book 926, Page 157, official records of Pinellas County,
Florida, being further described as the south 18 feet of Lots 3, 4, and 5, "Rompon's &
Baskin's Corrected Map of Causeway Business District" as recorded in Plat Book 57,
Page 1 of the official records of Pinellas County, Florida.
9.4 Adopt Ordinance 9633-22 on second reading, vacating the south 5 feet of the
10-foot-wide platted utility and drainage easement located on Lot 50, Countryside Tract
5, according to the map or plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 78, Pages 57-58 of the
public records of Pinellas County, Florida, less and except the east 5 feet thereof.
10. City Manager Verbal Reports
The City Manager thanked staff who have been deployed to Charlotte
County to assist with the Hurricane Ian recovery efforts. He said two fire
inspectors, 15 police officers, and six strike teams from Parks and
Recreation have been providing assistance.
11. City Attorney Verbal Reports
The City Attorney said he will not be attending the council meeting but Lead
Assistant Attorney Owen Kohler will be in attendance.
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12. Council Discussion Item
12.1 Update on NOFO regarding Homelessness - Vice Mayor Beckman
Vice Mayor Beckman said the NOFO from HUD was specific to unsheltered
homeless in Pinellas County. The Continuum of Care Executive Board will
evaluate and score the grant applications, with the hope of distributing these
funds to the individuals who do the work. It is anticipated that Pinellas
County will receive a maximum of$4,733,895. She said the NOFO is a
nationwide competitive grant opportunity. Thirteen grant applications were
submitted. She said HUD is focusing on individuals who were formerly
homeless that are engaged in the community work.
12.2Contingency Rates - Councilmember Allbritton
Councilmember Allbritton questioned why contingency approvals are
presented to Council.
The City Attorney said construction contracts are generally bid as a GMP
(Guaranteed Maximum Price), which are designed to have a ceiling on the
total cost. The GMP is required to have a contingency. Contracts for
commodities or services should not have a contingency because the price is
set. He said in the instance that staff underestimated the number of
commodities needed, the City Manager has the authority to approve a
change order, up to 10%. He said the price a contractor provides for a GMP
type bid includes the contingency.
In response to a concern, City Engineer Tara Kivett said for larger
construction projects, such as Imagine Clearwater, the contingency is much
less than 10%. Staff analyzes the scope of the project to determine the
contingency. The City Manager said staff will look at past construction
projects/contingency rates and bring the information forward to Council with
recommendations on how to move forward.
13. New Business (items not on the agenda may be brought up asking they be
scheduled for subsequent meetings or work sessions in accordance with Rule 1,
Paragraph 2).
Vice Mayor Beckman requested a council discussion item about the Thrive
by Five MOU at the next work session and an educational presentation by
the Tourist Development Council regarding its history, funding and grant
program's process, to include accountability and accessibility, at a future
meeting.
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It was requested that questions regarding the Tourist Development Council
be provided prior to ensure the presentation covers desired topics.
Mayor Hibbard requested a council discussion item regarding the New City
Hall at the next meeting.
14. Closing Comments by Mayor— None.
15. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 10:17 a.m.
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