Clearwater council approves budget moves, annexations and appointments; delays one hotel agreement

At its June 4 meeting the Clearwater City Council handled a mix of routine and substantive business in addition to the contested Garden Avenue item.

Budget and finance: Kaelin Castle, the city’s budget director, presented a midyear operating and capital review for FY2025–26 and the council approved associated ordinances on first reading, including a capital increase (shown in the staff reading as approximately $3,574,619) and a required public hearing for transferring Penny for Pinellas funds. The council also approved a $750,000 transfer of Penny for Pinellas funding from a police equipment facility project to a new PD parking expansion project after the required public hearing.

Franchise and annexations: Brian Langill of Clearwater Gas Energy described a proposed 30‑year franchise agreement with New Port Richey that maintains a historical 6% franchise rate; the council approved the franchise resolution on first reading. The council also approved voluntary annexation, future land‑use and zoning changes for parcels at 5054 Owen Drive and 1399 Pineapple Lane, the latter to integrate 3.4 acres into Moccasin Lake Nature Park, and approved a companion zoning amendment.

Appointments and other business: The council appointed Nancy B. Mag as a special magistrate (resolution 26‑11) and approved the associated services agreement unanimously. A development‑agreement item for a hotel at Bay Esplanade was continued because staff discovered that some required property‑owner notice lists from the county’s database were incomplete; the item will return after renoticing.

Public safety concern raised in non‑agenda comments: During “citizens to be heard,” a resident asked the council for an after‑action report and greater transparency about a recent large gathering on Clearwater Beach that raised public‑safety concerns. City manager Jennifer Poyer and the mayor thanked staff for operational response and said staff would follow up.

Votes at a glance (selected):
- Penny for Pinellas transfer to PD parking expansion — approved (unanimous)
- Midyear budget ordinances (first reading) — approved (first reading)
- CGS Energy franchise for New Port Richey (first reading) — approved (unanimous)
- Ordinance 9907‑26 (Garden Avenue vacation) — approved on first reading (3–2) (see separate coverage)
- Resolution 26‑11 (appoint Nancy B. Mag as special magistrate) — approved (unanimous)
- Annexation & land‑use changes for 1399 Pineapple Lane (Poccasin Lake Nature Park) — approved (unanimous)

The council recessed and will take the Garden Avenue vacation up again for a second reading at a future meeting; other continued items will return after staff completes required renoticing or follow‑up work.