01/30/2025 Council Work Session Meeting Minutes January 30, 2025
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 30, 2025
9:00 AM
Strategic Planning Work Session
Morningside Recreation Complex, 2400 Harn Blvd, Clearwater, FL
33764
Council Work Session
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City of Clearwater
Council Work Session Meeting Minutes January 30, 2025
Roll Call
Present 5 - Mayor Bruce Rector, Vice Mayor David Allbritton, Councilmember
Ryan Cotton, Councilmember Michael Mannino, and Councilmember
Lina Teixeira
Also Present: Jennifer Poirrier— City Manager, Daniel Slaughter—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 Rector
The meeting was called to order at 9:06 a.m.
2. Presentations
2.1 Review the strategic plan, long term financial forecast for the General Fund and major
utility funds, and strategies for budget planning.
Per City Council Policy 3-11, Strategic Direction/Planning, prior to the
development of the City Manager's budget, the City Council shall meet in a
strategic planning session to review the five-year financial forecast and update,
as necessary, the City's Vision, Mission, and Strategic Direction.
• Welcome - Hal Beardall and Rafael Montalvo, FCRC Consensus Center
at Florida State University
• Background information (budget review, financial forecast)
• Measures for addressing upcoming key challenges
• Longer-term strategies for addressing budget challenges
• Next steps
FCRC Consensus Center at Florida State University representatives Hal
Beardall and Rafael Montalvo reviewed their professional backgrounds
and expectations for the day.
Budget Director Kayleen Kastel provided a PowerPoint presentation that
reviewed the City's current strategic plan and budget.
In response to a question, the City Manager said staff is still in the
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City of Clearwater
Council Work Session Meeting Minutes January 30, 2025
process of creating dashboards for the online annual work plan portal.
Finance Director Jay Ravins provided a PowerPoint presentation that
reviewed the financial forecast.
In response to questions, the City Manager said staff submitted
eligible reimbursement claims to FEMA for all three storms but staff does
not anticipate the City will receive a 100% reimbursement. Mr. Ravins said
staff is being conservative with the potential FEMA reimbursements. The
City has received $6.2 million in reimbursements for 2025. Most of the
City's hurricane expenses have been related to debris removal. The City
Manager said funds are available for Public Utilities to implement capital
improvements, if the department is able to execute the project and
determines it is needed now. Mr. Ravins said the forecast for Solid
Waste and Recycling are segregated in the financial statement,
identifying the revenues, expenditures, and net income for each program.
For the year just ended, Recycling was at a loss and subsidized by the Solid
Waste fund. The City Manager said staffs belt tightening budget
exercise did not impact the sewer plant relocation project. Mr. Ravins
said the financial forecast for water and sewer includes the sewer plant
relocation project. As part of the next rate study, staff will review the sewer
plant relocation project and the required spending to determine if there are
any changes needed over the next ten years. The City Manager said staff
heard Council's concerns regarding the budget and desire to not increase
the millage rate.
Discussion ensued regarding potential city investments (wants vs. needs)
with comments made that the City needs to remain competitive in the
workforce and salaries are a big part of the budget, that public safety and
infrastructure are needed, that the city needs projects that will improve the
organization's fiscal health over time (such as public-private
partnerships), and that quality of life projects are needed to support
businesses, stakeholders, and residents.
Council recessed from 10:31 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
Discussion ensued with comments made that staffs efforts to tighten
the budget are appreciated and should continue, that staff should
evaluate project scopes to reduce costs and review the schedule of fees
to potentially increase revenues, such as special events.
In response to questions, the City Manager said staffs recommendations
reflect changes to the proposed budget to accomplish Council's desire to not
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City of Clearwater
Council Work Session Meeting Minutes January 30, 2025
increase the millage and not rely on general funds reserves to balance the
budget. Staff is able to provide other recommended changes if Council
directs additional budget cuts. Assistant City Manager Daniel Slaughter said
the funds for the Moccasin Lake Nature Park stormwater repairs project were
reallocated, from the General Fund to the Stormwater Fund.
Discussion ensued regarding constructing a pickleball court in
Countryside with consensus for staff to provide options on how adding a
pickleball court in Countryside could be accomplished.
3. Closing Comments by Mayor— None.
4. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:56 a.m.
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City of Clearwater