Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Clearwater public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
BayCare Ballpark Term Sheet Approval
The Phillies' spring training ballpark could get a big new building — up to 55 feet tall with 246 parking spaces — if the board grants use flexibility. Neighbors around North Old Coachman Road may care about height, traffic, and parking.
Commercial dock and boat lift at 1591 Gulf Boulevard
A beachfront residential building wants formal flexibility to keep a commercial dock with a new boat lift for its 64 units. It's on the barrier island, so waterfront use rules are at stake.
FY 2025-2026 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
This is the city's annual report to the federal government on how it spent housing and community development grant money. The board's recommendation goes to City Council for final approval.
Live Local Act Missing Middle Property Tax Exemption opt-out
A property-tax amendment is on next month's ballot, and city staff have published a dashboard and contingency memo showing possible service cuts. Right now, no cuts to housing funding are identified.
Housing Incentive Programs Evaluation
The committee is updating the city's state-mandated housing incentive strategy. All 16 incentive areas — fast permits, fee cuts, flexible densities, ADUs, parking breaks and more — stay on the books, with one tweak tying parking reductions to special-needs housing. These incentives shape how cheaply and quickly affordable housing can get built in Clearwater.
Speeding and aggressive driving enforcement
A $50,000 state grant would pay for police overtime dedicated to catching speeding and aggressive drivers in 2027.
Fire engine replacement
Two new engines cost $2.57 million and won't arrive until fiscal 2031 due to post-COVID industry-wide delays of 48-52 months. The department has built an apparatus forecast through 2040 to plan around it.
Brownfields assessment grant
A $500,000 EPA grant would fund four years of community-wide brownfields assessment, helping identify and plan cleanup of contaminated sites.
Annual Red-Light Camera Report
A $50,000 state grant would pay for police overtime dedicated to catching speeding and aggressive drivers in 2027.
Water Treatment Plant 3 well rehabilitation
A $361,000 engineering work order would fund assessment, design, and construction engineering to rehabilitate wells at Water Treatment Plant 3 — key to keeping drinking water reliable.
Referendum Petition 26-01
The council will take action on Referendum Petition 26-01, a citizen petition process item that could shape what goes before voters.
Annexations and zoning map changes
Six properties — on Pineapple Lane, Owen Drive, Evans Drive, S. Bayview Avenue, Carroll Street, and Canterbury Road — would be annexed into Clearwater with new land-use and zoning designations, from residential to industrial.
South Garden Avenue referendum petition rejected
The Save the Garden petition with 7,577 verified signatures sought to repeal the ordinance vacating South Garden Avenue to the Church of Scientology. The Attorney General opined the petition conflicts with state law, and council voted 3-2 to take no further action. Litigation seems likely.
Public Comment Rules and Electronic Registration
Resolution 26-20 keeps the 'citizens to be heard' period alive through February 28, 2027 — one resident urged making it permanent and repealing Rule 15.
Clearwater Beach Library Restoration and Funding
With Amendment 3 passing, the city faces roughly $12 million in cuts in 2027 and $8 million in 2028. Speakers warned proposed reductions of $8-10 million from Parks and Recreation and $1-2 million from the library would hit amenities residents use daily. The mayor said the whole community must adjust together.
Osceola Corridor Improvements
A $10.4 million project will replace water, sewer, and stormwater pipes and add reclaimed water on Osceola Avenue, starting January 2027. Expect construction impacts along the corridor for about a year.
Lot Clearing and Nuisance Abatement
Five property owners are scheduled to face proposed liens for overgrown lots and an inoperative vehicle. If liens are accepted and owners don't clean up by the deadline, the city can do the work and bill the property. Neighbors of blighted lots have a stake in how quickly these cases move.
Tree Preservation Ordinance Review
Planning staff will present updates and proposed changes to local tree regulations.
FY 2026/27 Budget and Millage Rate Adoption
The DDB established its final millage rate at 0.9700 mills and adopted its annual operating budget of over $1.5 million for the upcoming fiscal year, funding downtown operations and promotions.
Strategic Plan and Budget Planning Strategies
The Finance Department will brief the board on the city's financial plan and budget priorities.
Nagano Lantern Festival Panels & Student Presentations
The board will look at plans for the Nagano Lantern Festival panels and coordinate student presentations from Nagano, fostering international cultural ties.
Trespass Order Appeal for Rose Wilson
Petitioner Rose Wilson appealed a trespass order issued on October 1, 2026, under Case CW26-158334.
Future Land Use Map Amendment at 2448 Nursery Road
A 0.63-acre residential property on Nursery Road wants to change from Residential Urban to Residential Medium, which allows a bit more density. The board recommended it without objection, but the City Council gets the final say.
Municipal Operations Relocation and Meeting Schedule
The next board meeting moves to Thursday, November 19 in the new City Hall Council Chambers. Staff will share parking maps since the move could confuse folks used to the Main Library location.
The Landings Development Proposals and Public Process
A $179.6 million sports and entertainment complex on 77 acres of city-owned green space at 1875 Airport Drive. Neighbors worry about traffic, flooding, noise and lost green space; youth sports groups want the fields. Tonight's vote only starts negotiations — the real decision comes later.
City Manager and City Attorney Annual Evaluations
The council performed its annual review of the city manager and city attorney performance, compensation, and leave policies.
P3 process transparency
Even project critics and supporters agreed the city's public-private partnership process needs work — better public notices, resident seats on evaluation committees, and documents available at the library.
North Greenwood Community Overlay and PRD Land Use Amendments
The overlay to enable 'missing middle' housing — duplexes, triplexes, quads — in North Greenwood has cleared state review of its land-use amendments and returns to City Council in October. Community meetings run September through December, with public hearings targeted for early 2027.
ICE and Law Enforcement Cooperation (287(g) Agreement)
Multiple residents urged the city to end its 287(g) agreement with ICE, saying immigrant neighbors are afraid to leave home or talk to police, hurting public safety and trust.
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) activity
ADUs are legal in Clearwater, including in some non-residential districts, and interest is clearly rising — three planning applications were filed this month alone. Staff is working to educate the public, and the committee discussed whether the owner-occupancy requirement should stay.
St. Matthew's Cemetery Settlement & Community Healing
The CRA approved a $7.5 million settlement in a lawsuit regarding the former St. Matthew's Cemetery property. Community members and faith leaders urged the city to use this moment to address historical erasure, honor the individuals buried there, and work toward healing and reconciliation.
Employee Pension Vesting and Retirement Approvals
The pension board routinely processed new employee plan enrollments, vesting agreements for departing staff, and retirements for 12 long-serving city workers. These actions manage the city's ongoing obligations to its workforce under established pension rules.
North Greenwood Redevelopment and Comprehensive Plan Overlays
The council reviewed amendments establishing a Planned Redevelopment District Overlay and North Greenwood Community Overlay to encourage development and community revitalization.
Clearwater Heights Heritage and Infrastructure Needs
Residents advocated for placemaking infrastructure, pedestrian safety upgrades, and targeted commercial grants for the historic Clearwater Heights neighborhood.
Major Infrastructure and Facility Capital Investments
Residents and board members discussed the need for public education on stormwater management, master plans, and infrastructure resilience following past flooding events.
Pension Fund Portfolio Restructuring and Manager Terminations
The board voted to replace underperforming small-cap growth equity manager Riverbridge Partners with Driehaus Capital Management to optimize investment returns.
Coachman Park Public Art and Mural Rotations
The city is organizing a mural festival in North Greenwood featuring local and regional artists across several business and civic buildings.
Downtown Revitalization and Business Support
The CRA highlighted Downtown Pizza Bar & Grill as its business spotlight and discussed ongoing efforts to boost downtown foot traffic and entertainment options along Cleveland Street.
EVO Entertainment Center Land Sale & CRA Redevelopment
Five development proposals were evaluated for seven CRA-owned parcels at Washington Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, with the board recommending Archway Partners' mixed-income project.
706 N. Missouri Avenue Property Sale Proceeds Transfer
Proceeds totaling nearly $2 million from the sale of the former Armory building will be transferred to fund the Parks and Recreation Department's relocation expenses.
Unpermitted Construction and Remodeling Enforcement
Property owners installing decks or structures without required permits create potential safety hazards for shoppers and residents. The Code Board enforced compliance deadlines and daily fines to ensure commercial properties meet safety and zoning codes.
PSTA Coastal Route Funding Agreement
The board approved a restated transit agreement to continue funding the Jolly Trolley coastal route, ensuring ongoing public transportation access between downtown and the beach.
Community Event Funding and Grant Approvals
The board approved significant grant funding for major downtown events, including Halloween and lantern festivals, as well as an expanded $120,000 music series on Cleveland Street.
Evo Entertainment Center Right-of-Way Vacation
Residents voiced frustration during public comment about proposed street and alley vacations linked to downtown family entertainment center projects, urging the council to increase transparency and listen to citizen petitions regarding public right-of-way sales.
Seminole Boat Ramp Parking and Trailer Management
City staff are planning Phase 2 repairs for the Seminole boat ramp and reviewing parking striping to accommodate short trailers and jet skis.
Marina Slip Rate Adjustments and Financial Sustainability
The city is recommending raising recreational slip rates to 100% effective October 1, while commercial rates remain steady until marina reconstruction wraps up.
Stevenson Creek Manatee Protection Zone
Residents and board members discussed establishing a slow-speed minimum wake zone along Stevenson Creek to protect the local manatee population, which has recorded over 200 sightings in recent months.
2026 Affordable Housing Inventory List
The city updated its list of 49 vacant properties deemed suitable for future affordable housing development. Placing parcels on this list doesn't force development, but it helps the city tee up future housing projects.
Workforce Employer Housing Program
Housing Director Chris Edwards announced a new program under development in which major employers help workers live near their jobs — covering both rentals and homeownership. Details will return to the committee, and Clearwater hopes to be the first city in Pinellas County to launch one.
Artificial Intelligence Integration and Governance
The city's Accela permitting platform will soon add AI to handle initial completeness reviews, freeing staff for customer service. A front-end tool called Open Counter is also being explored. Faster permit turnaround directly supports housing affordability.