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02/25/2025 - Town Hall City Council Meeting Minutes February 25, 2025 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 m ap ® e Meeting Minutes Tuesday, February 25, 2025 5:30 PM Town Hall - for the purpose of receiving public comments. East Library - 2465 Drew St., SPC Community Room City Council Page 1 City of Clearwater City Council Meeting Minutes February 25, 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, David Margolis — City Attorney, and Rosemarie Call — 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 5:30 p.m. 2. Public Comments 2.1 Public Comments - Each person who wishes to address the Council shall complete a comment card and submit the card to the City Clerk (right-hand side of dais) before the speaker will be permitted to speak. Individuals will limit their comments to a maximum of three minutes. Bryan Beckman requested consideration to start a program to help residents lower their energy bills by using a small portion of the savings from city programs related to energy. He said the city of Dunedin offers several programs that assists residents with lowering their energy bills via appliance replacement, weatherization, or solar panels. Laurie Meggesin expressed safety concerns with Drew Street and requested that neighborhood safety for the residential segment of Drew Street be a priority as DOT completes the redesign. She said the neighborhood has not received any information regarding the safety improvements being implemented in the redesign. Glenna Wentworth, Trisha Kirby, and Kelly Goehl expressed concerns with flooding in the Morningside Meadows neighborhood after Hurricane Milton, which impacted 44 homes. They said the stormwater pipe was not inspected for years and urged the City to prioritize stormwater overflow and mitigation in the upcoming budget. Tony Teller said he invested his savings in the 400 and 500 blocks on Cleveland Street and requested the City to allow the Downtown merchants to have events and be the cultivators of a new narrative. Page 2 City of Clearwater City Council Meeting Minutes February 25, 2025 Jake suggested bringing back annual events that will attract individuals back to Downtown. He said he will be presenting an annual plan that will engage the public monthly. Mr. Holuba expressed concerns with city leadership and the Clearwater Police Department and opposed the use of city funds for the Clearwater Ferry. Mike Taylor commented on how full the room was and said allowing public comment is what the people wanted. He described his experience with Clearwater Police Department. Sean Berry opposed censorship and draconian rules that shutdown free speech. Edgar Garcia and Pastor(did not provide his name) requested city assistance with identifying a facility for UNIMEX to host their meetings and plan events. Erica Escamilla supported removing fluoride from the City's drinking water and requested consideration to dedicate two baseball fields at Sid Lickton for UNIMEX/LULAC to use as a basketball court and soccer field. Sam Quinto requested a meeting with Council and the Clearwater Police Chief to discuss how the new immigrations laws will impact the local Hispanic community. Sam Hutkin thanked Council and staff for their efforts after the storm. He said Council and staff are always at one's disposal to address concerns and make things better. John Felix expressed concerns regarding the Clearwater Police Department and requested a public record regarding the total cost associated with investigating free speech activists for over a year(igIlL�tIL;@_glnail.com Eleanor Lyda said the Downtown Gateway community are pleased with the Mercado and beautiful streetscape, which was more than the community dreamed of. She thanked Council and staff for their efforts. She said she looks forward to the official grand opening and upcoming events at the Mercado. Marianna Arvizu requested security cameras be installed near the site of Emmanuel Perez'accident. Ray Plumb said the Sand Key Civic Association partnered with the Clearwater Fire Department for a live high-rise fire training. He thanked the City and the Clearwater Fire Department for their participation and commended all city employees for their efforts. Jenny Nevin opposed the new pier being installed near Edgewater Drive and expressed concerns with the impact the increased vehicular traffic will have on residents between Sunnydale Drive and Sedeeva Street. Dennis McDermott thanked Council for having tonight's forum. Page 3 City of Clearwater City Council Meeting Minutes February 25, 2025 Unknown Male (did not identify himselo said he was prosecuted for speaking his mind and defended the First Amendment Auditors. George said elected officials work for the people and provided information regarding Smith v. City of Cumming. Patrick Raftery said tonight's town hall was well attended and worked out well. He suggested that it may be time to pause Beach by Design due to the traffic congestion on the Beach in order to better facilitate traffic entering and leaving the beach area. Unknown Male expressed concerns with the inability to post comments on the City's YouTube channel, which is a First Amendment violation. He said he lives in Largo but tries to support the Downtown businesses and is disheartened to see the many vacant buildings. He suggested the City buy the vacant buildings. Allison Dolan reviewed recent renovations at the Clearwater Historical Museum and reviewed recent and upcoming events. Chris Michalek thanked the City for all of the work done to make the Beach normal after the recent hurricanes. She expressed concerns with vehicular traffic in Clearwater beach and requested consideration be given to implement floating lanes on the weekends and the creation of a task force to brainstorm ideas for staff's consideration. Unknown Male said he is being prosecuted for something he said during a recess of a public meeting. Austin said he hosted an after party this past weekend after the Of The Trees event at the BayCare Sound. It was the only after party held in Downtown Clearwater. He said he polled guests regarding Downtown and The Sound, guests provided positive feedback. He requested to meet with Council to discuss ideas to further engage individuals. Heather Young requested the City partner with Pinellas County Schools to open running tracks after hours and expressed concerns with the lack of city communications with residents regarding sand bag availability before a storm. Daniel Amend expressed concerns with the City's efforts to limit free speech at council meetings. Frank said he is proud to live in Clearwater and thanked the Mayor and Clearwater Police Department for their efforts. Mike Mastruserio thanked Council and staff for doing their job and said he supports free speech, but individuals must be respectful. Unknown Female expressed concerns with the narrow lanes on Drew Street and supported enlarging the lanes. Page 4 City of Clearwater City Council Meeting Minutes February 25, 2025 Rudy Michalek said the North Beach area was hit hard by the recent storms and requested consideration to support beach renourishment. 3. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m. Attest c" City Clerk Mayor City of Clearwa Page 5 City of Clearwater Citizen Comment Card K,¢ ✓►Tell Name: 4� Address: 12S-1// / f25r' " i26lve City: is4o3377l � Zip: � Telephone Number: Email Address: I /4-U.s4f W Lc44, Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak. ro.bL 61--114 &A'a ec What is your position on the item? For Against INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: V1kCit si\c'1. t7—LK Address: \ &-k-3 crtrnc i Irk 5k City: Cosa.,. 4i- Zip: Telephone Number: -A2."A) 6 3 A"--3lkZ- EmailAddress:(Y1csr-nen -CO Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? ❑ Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak. What is your position on the item? For Against CLEARWATER BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL • BAY TO BEACH INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: A [ )41'44' Address: 'T7-7 li%it►/!/' h -e4 City: /`/ e.(,/I/"%lJZxL'LS 76 Zip: c Li— Telephone Number: ? Z- "' 430 --39(1: Email Address: 121044A t?,-,.S'U06' 9agt.: Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? 1:1 Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak: What is your position on the item? For or. Against INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: C , Ar Gc r-ct Address: /€ scdx City: C /eet rZip: 33755 Telephone Number: ZJ Email Address: 1,0`1 - 8 / 2 enI(1Ag4rll7gjr-74� Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak. Cq M M c• r� *f' (tet%// i� What is your position on the item? For Against INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name:41 /vl eo.eb, ) Address: )L/6� 5 h o(v) City: Cf or- wr Zip: 33 !(o Telephone Number: 7 7— /5-D -S Email Address: �f ,re. Co' Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? ❑ /h ar.•.�-mss `�`� 15:71-"ektAl\Agenda items) to which you wisi tb ;r SirIf--0.:\i' �'r cS .a dry()A� !cv. What is your position on the item? For Against 1'e�,r-G -er,. Name: Citizen Comment Card Address: 15 3 l (10 0 quo City: 61PaLtt-k zip: .3 ';9‘1) Telephone Number: t7 1 0 1' D Email Address: Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? ❑ Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak• What is your position on the item? For Against INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: ttsYi�� Address: � 1%1 /U7i' r I (� City: C/balictiafr-V Zip: -53 76 Telephone Number: Email Address: It -0-(0) oto( Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? EJ Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak: What is your position on the item? For Against INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: L -CA (k` Jk\- Address: /\ C6 Yr l-1 (4‘3')f \ ''V 5 City:6 I e &kr 4' Zip: / 57 (P7 Telephone Number: n Email Address: RAolu(e) coo U(U� (7-5 C 5 T G V C Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? P Agenda items) to which you wish to speak. tA)\‘.,Cj" 15 si L- 0 'fie\U,1cit � qok\,, uj,\ \o,( 4)t ote, What is your position on the item? For Against 01 \ActiltActL) Pu�-k�,w..�purl<..1. T1 ,5 Lavcce uJ \t/tefALkiecp I)\)) t &o,1(,) ifievr-\ os i4 se,ud Rot, ,-k>a41 ftik, 07 INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: a,G44,6 Address: an/ 1 fPlc O) C fF City: /at ,,/ G zip. Telephone Number: `? Email Address: Speaking under citizens to be hard re items not on the agenda? INV Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak. What is your position on the item? For Against Citizen Comment Card Name: �/�1 Ai '(N'I� Address: /,t2-4 /4Me 614/ �!n City: °If -41/4911V 74)_ c "-:A 3e3 Email Address: aliA/V" 'S_ 75J( Ata / com Telephone Number: Zip: 337510' Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? ❑ Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak: What is your position on the item? For Against INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: L (Jo. g Address: I bc0 )►tcInc f' • City: GILoe'c..,071—t-t� Zip:' S S Telephone Number: g $ 7 7 Email Address: Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? ❑ Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak 17d/__LA Strt.e.* bEt i•l)re•Nretrve-SIS i0; a.Ls What is your position on the item? For 7• Against BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL • BAY TO BEACH Name: CA tos7jn e ./1),d‘ r /1,_.. Address: C/ � �J /4/`L- City xir�4.-ctt� Zip:.. Is Telephone Number: Email Address: fits CA •d /C./4'!Z '' ��''Z► Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? ❑ Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak. What is your position on the item? For Against INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: Address: S s— 734,1 cca,t ( L I ilee X701 City: (JA , - rC Telephone Number: ..Z/'f—`1 I b Email Address: 244,17,6414.ts L Zip: 3326 7 — 3.0 7 CAO Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? ❑ Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak What is your position on the item? For Against BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL • BAY TO BEACH INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: A. -C Address: 32,37 Mo -S 5 civ b City: ( \Ai zip:3 761 Telephone Number—la-1 Dk:4-- 3(\ Email Address: \-<.&-q.,70 , C� Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak. What is your position on the item? For %C Against INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: Address: 4 2J C City: tegiwti6,-r" Zip: Telephone Number: 201'324) 9' Email Address:`` /(440tIai C4‘1K Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? ❑ Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak. What is your position on the item? For Against Citizen Comment Card Name: C:-.1 Weit-f-AI6rJk Address: o3D,2i lclkr k( I a • City: C/e4rIsr Zip: 3376 4 - Telephone Number: 3"4 -.256-40 Email Address: Gond Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak. What is your position on the item? For Against INDIVIDUAL SPEAKER Citizen Comment Card Name: :4'CN?J bWA ,s Address: \*S F 1VOLSC W ( Or City C (\k) Zip: Telephone Number: V-3Yo S-1-74' Email Address: A\a 1.)31vt/ ora Vol-) Speaking under citizens to be heard re items not on the agenda? ❑ Agenda item(s) to which you wish to speak. - 0 eaPo Unni(\ci_a citti --Cc (1\6(.\ co -4, or\ ( What is your position on the item? For Against 1405 Stewart Blvd Kelly Goehl 727-488-5938 Goehl1@gmaii.com City: CLEARWATER Pipe Seg. Ref: 317A3015.1 1.) Fix the area where the sanitation line is interfering with the water flow. 2.) Line the pipes & provide us with a timeline for job completion. 3.) Meet with the lake committee to discuss plans for the structure on the east side of the storm drain. 4.) Assess the stability of the earth above the storm drain that is affecting the foundation of my home @ 1405 Stewart Blvd. etc 10/23/2024 09:59 Up MH: 317A3015 City: CLEARWATER/� � Down MH: 317A3020 Pipe Seg. Ref: 317A3015 '1, 7,f, irection: U '.'t �1 '�•� i �1. f ; DAA -sit Gf �. FRM ; CN21 .TIJCJ el-1-21S Mlq CITY OF CLEARWATER TOWN HALL - February 25, 2025 UNRESOLVED ISSUE OF TRAFFIC ON CLEARWATER BEACH NOT A NEW PROBLEM! History — Traffic Issues Concerns Submitted to City Leaders, Staff June 2 201 - City Hearing Held: One -Way Streets Proposal Note: There was low attendance due to scheduling in summer and many citizens not in the City. November 2018 - Clearwater Point HOA Presidents (Ilan Wechsler and Chris Michalek) - Sent Proposal to alleviate beach traffic congestion - Request to present at January 2019 City Council Meeting January 2019 - Suggestions presented based on research of other cities plans/implementation) - Suggestion 1 - Eliminate Street parking on Coronado Drive and Gulf View Boulevard. - Suggestion 2 — At PEAK Traffic Times, use Coronado Dr., Gulf View Blvd./Hamden Dr. as One Ways. - Suggestion 3 — On Weekends, Holidays, Spring Break Implement "floating lanes" on Memorial Causeway, one Inbound (heading West) and one Outbound (heading East). - Suggestion 4 — Change East Shore Drive and Pointsettia Avenue to One -Way Streets. February 2019 (testimony at Community Development Hearing for proposed Chart House Hotel) -Concem: Sand Key Bridge very slow-moving, backed -up, noisy especially weekends and during "high season. March 9.2021— Clearwater Citizens appear before the City Council with cc: to City Engineering asking for relief from traffic congestion. Several examples were given, i.e., one example of a Citizen who played tennis at McMullen Tennis Complex off Gulf to Bay and Hwy 19 and the fact that it took 2.5 hours to get home. After, being a native, the "back route" (adding miles) was used i.e., Bellaire Bridge, not the Hwy 60 Causeway. September 20, 2021— Lt. Hasty spoke at the Clearwater Beach Association and shared the most trafficked times on the Beach are between hours of 11AM and 9PM when more police officers need to be on duty February 10. 2023 — Due to increased accidents, correspondence with suggestions to alleviate traffic problems at round -about were sent to Omar Atallah, cc: Tara and Samuel Hutkin, Clearwater Beach Association President. Included was an offer to serve on a joint Staff and Citizen Committee to consider possible solutions. Note: At this time, the City of Clearwater were getting "concerns" raised from Tallahassee about the rising number of accidents on the round -about etc., supposedly over 1,000 reported last year! February 25. 2025 (current) — The City Council most recently has received correspondence regarding the ever- present, increasing traffic backups on Clearwater Beach. NOTE: Adding to Problem? On separate occasions, Clearwater neighborhood Citizens have contested the Reports of Robert Pergolizzi, Gulf Coast Consulting, which have been submitted to City Planning when a new beach development is under review. For example, the Reports on the Chart House Hotel and Viceroy both located near the intersections of Gulf -view and Gulf Blvd. have been questioned due to inappropriate conduct of the traffic studies, i.e., conducted on non -busy week -days and hours. �: Y� r: 4.4t— .iksk '411°*1011-1-4"