Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Clearwater public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
36 issues with medium priority
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.
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.
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.
Speeding and aggressive driving enforcement
A $50,000 state grant would pay for police overtime dedicated to catching speeding and aggressive drivers in 2027.
Annual Red-Light Camera Report
A $50,000 state grant would pay for police overtime dedicated to catching speeding and aggressive drivers in 2027.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Beach Concessions Operations Renewal
The city renewed its long-standing partnership with Fields, Inc. to operate the Barefoot Beach House and Pier 60 concessions.
South Bayview Avenue Annexation & Development Concerns
Residents expressed concerns that annexing 603 South Bayview Avenue into the city could lead to multi-family residential development that disrupts the quiet neighborhood and retreat center.
City Council Elections
Clearwater's city council elections are officially heating up as familiar political faces jump back into the ring with fresh campaign cash. It's time to pay attention because these upcoming races will decide the local leaders steering your city's daily policies and budget.
Board Documentation Policy Amendment
The board is considering updates to how its documentation and policies are handled, aiming to streamline board procedures.
State Constitutional Amendment
Clearwater residents are weighing how a big state ballot measure, Amendment 3, could shake up local city services and tax dollars. It's a key vote that directly connects state-level politics to your neighborhood's bottom line.
Street Transfer Petition
Clearwater residents are pushing back hard against the city's plan to hand over a public street to the Church of Scientology. Locals have launched a petition to stop the transfer and keep the road in public hands.
Carlouel Yacht Club Infill Redevelopment
A local property received approval to operate a microbrewery with flexible landscaping rules on Fort Harrison Avenue, bringing a new neighborhood business to an existing small commercial building.
Mega Asian Food and Music Festival Grant
The board awarded $30,000 to help bring a major three-day cultural festival to Coachman Park in August.
Cleveland Street Mobile Vendor Initiative
City staff introduced plans to create an exception in local codes allowing mobile vendors to operate in specific blocks of Cleveland Street. The idea is to bring lively street activity without stepping on the toes of brick-and-mortar restaurants.
Property Vote
Clearwater's city council just greenlit a downtown property swap with the Church of Scientology, which is going to seriously shake up local real estate development. If you care about how downtown looks and grows, this deal is a big deal to watch.
Landscape Ground Cover Code Compliance
Residents raised concerns that using shell as ground cover in city parks violates local development code and harms landscape health.
FDACS Hurricane Ian Grant Application for Urban Tree Planting
The Parks and Recreation department is applying for a state grant to plant 93 resilient trees across eight local parks to recover from hurricane damage.
Auditorium Construction Permit
Clearwater just approved a massive new auditorium for the Church of Scientology, and it's already on the verge of sparking a lawsuit. This high-stakes decision means our city could soon be tied up in costly, drawn-out legal drama.
Parking Operations Modernization and Fee Adjustments
The city is updating its parking ordinance to support mobile payment apps and digital permits while revising parking fines that haven't changed in over two decades.
Election Endorsement
Congressman Gus Bilirakis is backing Sam Wilson's run for Clearwater City Council, bringing some heavy-hitting federal muscle into our local race. If you're keeping tabs on who's running the city, this major endorsement gives Wilson a serious visibility boost.
April 2026 Financial Statements
The board reviewed and filed the financial reports for April 2026.
Local Elections
Local heavyweights Chris Latvala and Brian Scott are backing Sam Wilson for the Clearwater City Council. Their endorsement could give Wilson a serious edge in the upcoming local race.
Beachwalk 3D Art Installations
New 3D artwork featuring sea life will be painted onto concrete pads along Clearwater Beachwalk to create interactive photo opportunities for residents and visitors.
Trespass Order Appeal for Daniel Holuba
A petitioner appealed a trespass order issued by the city, prompting a review hearing.