09/03/2025 - Budget City Council Meeting Minutes September 3, 2025
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
6:00 PM
Special Budget Meeting
Main Library - Council Chambers
City Council
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City of Clearwater
City Council Meeting Minutes September 3, 2025
Roll Call
Present: 5 - Mayor Bruce Rector, Vice Mayor Lina Teixeira, Councilmember David
Allbritton, Councilmember Ryan Cotton and Councilmember Michael
Mannino
Also Present: Jennifer Poirrier— City Manager, Daniel Slaughter—Assistant City
Manager, Alfred Battle —Assistant City Manager, David Margolis —
City Attorney, and Nicole Sprague — Deputy City Clerk.
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
Unapproved
1. Call to Order— Mayor Rector
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
Public Hearings - Not before 6:00 PM
2. Administrative Public Hearings
2.1 Set final millage rate of 5.8850 mills for fiscal year 2025/26 against non-exempt real and
personal property within the City of Clearwater and pass Ordinance 9848-25 on first
reading.
In accordance with Chapter 200 of the Florida Statutes, which defines
requirements for the Determination of Millage and the rules governing Truth in
Millage (TRIM) compliance, the City Council must hold two public hearings to
adopt a final millage rate for the new fiscal year. The adoption of this ordinance
to establish the millage rate and the two related budget ordinances are an
integral part of fulfilling these requirements.
The City Council set a tentative millage rate of 5.8850 mills on July 10, 2025,
which is the rate that appeared on the TRIM notices mailed to taxpayers in
August. The millage rate of 5.8850 mills represents a 4.34% increase from the
rolled back rate of 5.6402 mills.
Ordinance 9848-25 is presented in order to adopt the millage rate of 5.8850
mills to support the operating and capital improvement budgets for the 2025/26
fiscal year.
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City of Clearwater
City Council Meeting Minutes September 3, 2025
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
The budgeting process aligns resource allocation to the advancement of our
community in all five strategic priorities: high performing government, economic
and housing opportunity, community well-being, environmental stewardship,
and superior public service.
Budget Director Kayleen Kastel provided a PowerPoint presentation.
One individual questioned if the decrease in staff was the result of
eliminating vacant positions or eliminating filled positions and
questioned how the staffing reductions would impact services.
Ordinance 9848-25 was presented and read in full.
Vice Mayor Teixeira moved to set final millage rate of 5.8850 mills
for fiscal year 2025/26 against non-exempt real and personal
property within the City of Clearwater and pass Ordinance
9848-25 on first reading. The motion was duly seconded and
upon roll call, the vote was:
Ayes: 5 - Mayor Rector, Vice Mayor Teixeira, Councilmember Allbritton,
Councilmember Cotton and Councilmember Mannino
2.2 Approve the City of Clearwater Annual Operating Budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year and
pass Ordinance 9849-25 on first reading.
In accordance with Chapter 200 of the Florida Statutes and the rules governing
Truth in Millage (TRIM) compliance, the City Council must hold two public
hearings to adopt the budget. The adoption of this ordinance and the related
ordinances adopting the 2025/26 millage rate and the Capital Improvement
Budget are an integral part of fulfilling these requirements.
On June 30, 2025, the City Manager provided the City Council with a Preliminary
Annual Operating and Capital Improvement Budget that outlined estimates of
revenues and expenditures for the 2025/26 fiscal year. The City Manager
presented the preliminary budget at the City Council meeting on July 10, 2025,
for Council discussion and citizen input. In addition, a Special Budget Work
Session was held on August 6, 2025, for Council discussion of the proposed
budget.
The following changes have been made to the preliminary operating budget and
are included in the ordinance for adoption of the fiscal year 2025/26 operating
budget.
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City of Clearwater
City Council Meeting Minutes September 3, 2025
In the General Fund:
• Ad valorem revenues are increased to account for the change in values
reflected in the preliminary tax roll.
• Intergovernmental revenues are increased to reflect the Florida
Department of Revenue's final projection for state revenue sharing.
• Fine revenues for red light camera fines are increased based on actual
receipts.
• Miscellaneous and transfer-in revenues are adjusted (net zero) to
account for revenues in the correct categories (transfer between funds).
• Non-Departmental expenditures are reduced for the transfer of TIF to the
CRA to account for the change in values reflected in the preliminary tax
roll.
• Expenditures are increased in the Police Department to correct for a
calculation error in salaries.
In the Parking Fund:
• Expenditures are increased to correct the transfer out of Parking
Enforcement fines to balance the transfer to the General Fund.
In the Special Development Fund:
• Revenues are increased for Parks and Recreation Impact Fees and an
allocation of prior year Recreation Facility Impact Fees to provide project
funding budgeted in the Capital Improvement Program.
• Offsetting expenditures are increased to transfer impact fee revenue to
provide funding for the Countryside Pickleball project as budgeted in the
Capital Improvement Plan.
A worksheet detailing these changes made to the final budget for fiscal year
2025/26 is attached.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
The budgeting process aligns resource allocation to the advancement of our
community in all five strategic priorities: high performing government, economic
and housing opportunity, community well-being, environmental stewardship,
and superior public service.
One individual supported continuing funding grants and sponsorships for
non-profits.
One individual opposed any changes to the advisory board framework.
Discussion ensued. Council thanked staff for seeking savings and
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City of Clearwater
City Council Meeting Minutes September 3, 2025
presenting a strong budget.
Ordinance 9849-25 was presented and read by title only.
Councilmember Allbritton moved to approve the City of
Clearwater Annual Operating Budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year
and pass Ordinance 9849-25 on first reading. The motion was
duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote was:
Ayes: 5 - Mayor Rector, Vice Mayor Teixeira, Councilmember Allbritton,
Councilmember Cotton and Councilmember Mannino
2.3 Approve the fiscal year 2025/26 Annual Capital Improvement Budget, establish a six-year
plan for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and pass Ordinance 9850-25 on first
reading.
In accordance with Chapter 200 of the Florida Statutes and the rules governing
Truth in Millage (TRIM) compliance, the City Council must hold two public
hearings to adopt the final budget. The adoption of this ordinance and the
related ordinances adopting the 2025/26 millage rate and operating budget are
an integral part of fulfilling these requirements.
On June 30, 2025, the City Manager provided the City Council with a Preliminary
Annual Operating and Capital Improvement Budget that outlined estimates of
revenues and expenditures for the 2025/26 fiscal year. The City Manager
presented the preliminary budget at the City Council meeting on July 10, 2025,
for Council discussion and citizen input. In addition, a Special Budget Work
Session was held on August 6, 2025, for Council discussion of the proposed
budget.
The following changes have been made to the Preliminary Capital Improvement
Budget and are included in the ordinance for adoption of the capital
improvement budget.
• The Clearwater Country Club Bridge Replacement project has been
removed from the Capital Improvement Budget. This change is due to
the golf course operator assuming full responsibility for managing and
funding the replacement of bridges.
• Two state grants have been awarded by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) resulting in the following project
increases:
• North Beach Stormwater Project - $1,500,000 budgeted in fiscal
years 2026 and 2027.
• Citywide Docks & Seawalls Project - $1,500,000 budgeted in
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City Council Meeting Minutes September 3, 2025
fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
The budgeting process aligns resource allocation to the advancement of our
community in all five strategic priorities: high performing government, economic
and housing opportunity, community well-being, environmental stewardship,
and superior public service.
Ordinance 9850-25 was presented and read by title only.
Councilmember Mannino moved to approve the fiscal year
2025/26 Annual Capital Improvement Budget, establish a six-year
plan for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and pass
Ordinance 9850-25 on first reading. The motion was duly
seconded and upon roll call, the vote was:
Ayes: 5 - Mayor Rector, Vice Mayor Teixeira, Councilmember Allbritton,
Councilmember Cotton and Councilmember Mannino
2.4 Approve the recommended Penny for Pinellas project list, as revised for fiscal years
2025/26 through 2029/30.
On March 6, 1997, the City Council adopted Ordinance 6137-97. The ordinance
established the requirement for a special hearing prior to adoption of the capital
improvement budget to discuss the use of Penny for Pinellas tax, and at any
time in which there is any proposed change to the Penny for Pinellas project
funding of$500,000 or more.
The following change is proposed to the Penny for Pinellas project list and
included in the proposed fiscal year 2025/26 capital improvement plan.
Fire Engines/Ladder Truck Replacement - The funding for this project is
being increased by a total of$485,500 and advanced one fiscal year. This
represents cost increases for the purchase of an aerial tiller truck budgeted at
$1,885,500, now planned for replacement in 2028/29 (funded at $942,750 in
fiscal years 2027/28 and 2028/29).
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
The budgeting process aligns resource allocation to the advancement of our
community in all five strategic priorities: high performing government, economic
and housing opportunity, community well-being, environmental stewardship,
and superior public service.
Councilmember Cotton moved to approve the recommended
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City of Clearwater
City Council
Meeting Minutes September 3, 2025
Penny for Pinellas project list, as revised for fiscal years 2025/26
through 2029/30. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3. City Manager Reports
The City Manager thanked staff for their efforts in establishing a conservative
budget. She said department dashboards and the proposed work plan are
available online.
4, City Attorney Reports — None.
5. Closing comments by Councilmembers (limited to 3 minutes)
Councilmember Cotton thanked staff for doing a wonderful job.
Councilmember Allbritton said he attended the Fire Station 47 ribbon
cutting ceremony. He said the new fire station took several years to go
from paper to reality.
6. Closing Comments by Mayor
7. Adjourn
Attest
City Clerk
City of Clearwater
The Mayor thanked all who attended and participated tonight.
The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
Mayor
City of Clea
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