09/17/2025 - Budget City Council Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
6:00 PM
Special Meeting
Main Library - Council Chambers
City Council
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City of Clearwater
City Council Meeting Minutes September 17, 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, 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 6:00 p.m.
2. Administrative Public Hearings
3. Second Readings - Public Hearing
3.1 Adopt Ordinance 9848-25 on second reading, declaring the millage rate to be levied for
the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026, for operating
purposes including the funding of pensions, debt service, and road maintenance for
capital improvement expenditures at 5.8850 mills, which is a 4.34% increase from the
rolled back rate of 5.6402 mills.
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 17, 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.
Ordinance 9848-25 was presented and read by title only.
Vice Mayor Teixeira moved to adopt Ordinance 9848-25 on
second and final 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
3.2 Adopt Ordinance 9849-25 on second reading, adopting an operating budget for the fiscal
year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026; authorizing the City
Manager to issue such instructions that are necessary to achieve and accomplish the
service programs so authorized; authorizing the City Manager to transfer monies and
programs among the departments and activities within any fund as provided by Chapter 2
of the Clearwater Code of Ordinances.
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.
In the General Fund:
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City of Clearwater
City Council Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025
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 spoke in support.
One individual thanked Council for their dedicated efforts and said
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City of Clearwater
City Council Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025
providing the City Manager strategic goals is more important than
adopting a budget, which implements the priorities.
Ordinance 9849-25 was presented and read by title only.
Councilmember Allbritton moved to adopt Ordinance 9849-25 on
second and final 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
3.2 Adopt Ordinance 9850-25 on second reading, adopting the capital improvement
program budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30,
2026; approving the six-year capital improvement program which shall be reevaluated at
the beginning of each fiscal year; authorizing the City Manager to issue such instructions
that are necessary to achieve and accomplish the capital improvements so authorized;
authorizing the City Manager to transfer money between projects in the capital
improvement program; appropriating available and anticipated resources for the projects
identified.
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.
1 Two state grants have been awarded by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) resulting in the following project
increases:
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City of Clearwater
City Council
Meeting Minutes September 17, 2025
• North Beach Stormwater Project - $1,500,000 budgeted in fiscal
years 2026 and 2027.
1 Citywide Docks & Seawalls Project - $1,500,000 budgeted in
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 adopt Ordinance 9850-25 on
second and final 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
4. City Manager Reports - None.
5. City Attorney Reports - None.
6. Closing comments by Councilmembers (limited to 3 minutes)
Councilmember Cotton thanked staff for their efforts in presenting a
budget that safeguards the people's money. He suggested that staff next
year present a budget that is between the current millage and the rollback
rate.
7. Closing Comments by Mayor
The Mayor thanked staff for all of their efforts in identifying savings and
presenting a strong budget.
8. Adjourn
Attest
LULAA-a02,6C
City Clerk
City of Clearwater
The meeting adjourned at 6:16 p.m.
Mayor
ity of Clearwa e
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