City Council - workshop

Fire and rescue in May 2001 and has served our community with unwavering commitment for more than two decades. During that time, he has risen through the ranks from firefighter EMT to lead medic, fire lieutenant, fire medic lieutenant and fire EMS coordinator. In 2017, his leadership experience and dedication to excellence led to his promotion to division chief of EMS. Chief Tedesco exemplifies the highest standards of professional excellence and lifetime learning. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, graduating cum laude and holds a Master's degree in management, strategy and leadership from Michigan State University.

As a graduate of the inaugural Executive Leadership Academy, he continues to serve as a mentor and role model for others, helping develop and inspire the next generation of EMTs and paramedics to perform at his highest level. His influence extends well beyond the city of Clearwater. Chief Dadesco is an active leader within the Florida Fire Chiefs Association where he serves as co chair of the EMS section. Locally he plays a vital role in strengthening countywide emergency medical services by chairing multiple committees focused on maintaining and improving the quality of care provided to residents. His leadership and expertise are also recognized at the state level where he contributes to numerous EMS committees dedicated to advancing emergency medical services across Florida.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Chief Tedesco is known for his proactive spirit, collaborative leadership his commitment to the health and well-being of our workforce. He is supported by his husband Leo and their beloved dog Angel. Chief Tedesco's career reflects the very principles of a high performing government and our commitment to providing superior public service. Through his leadership, innovation and dedication to continuous improvement, he has strengthened emergency medical services for our community while maintaining future leaders and advancing best practices across the region and the state. His work ensures that residents and visitors alike receive the highest level of care where they need it the most, embodying the city of Clearwater's mission to serve with excellence, professionalism and compassion. Thank you, Tony.

Chief. Thank you for your service to the City of Clearwater. Okay. With that, we'll move to Item 3.1 on our agenda.

Informational update on Opportunity Zone two point zero redesignation and nomination submission. Print census tracks two five eight, two six two, two six four point zero one and two six four.

Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Council, to our city manager, assistant city managers, other respective city officials on the dais. Today's presentation, really provides, an informational update, regarding the city's opportunity two point o nomination and redesignation efforts. As as you oh, let's see here. So to provide you a brief overview of what we're actually be presenting on is generally just giving a general overview.

Obviously, there is an existing opportunity zone within the city of Clearwater that mostly consists of the Downtown Clearwater area. However, we'll get into the details of why renominated. We'll give you a quick kind of idea comparison between one point zero iteration and the two point zero iteration, as well as why redesignation matters, as well as the process, the timeline, what census tracks we ultimately selected, the potential opportunities on investment areas, and of course, next steps. So a general overview is that Opportunity Zones, basically, the first iteration of it was created under the 2017 Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act under the Trump administration and as a federal government economic development program to encourage investors to reinvest capital gains in those economically distressed areas and and really just serve as another tool ultimately in the economic development toolbox to encourage more private investment in economically distressed areas of the city or in communities across the country. And so obviously we have an existing designation.

If you were to go on our website and under economic development and GIS web tech, you'll see under our special incentive areas, this is actually one of those designations that we currently have. We've had it since the 2017 Act. And generally speaking, the goal of it is still the same. However, as most one point zero iterations of the designation, it required a lot less a lot more less structured, if you will, the first time around a lot less permanent, which obviously kind of went to the fact of why it may have not been as mostly utilized as it could have been. Under the updated federal opportunity zone currently is where we are now with a new iteration coming to us with the two point zero version, which was established under twenty twenty five One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

And it requires every community across the country to update, redesignate and nominate new census tract areas based on different criteria from the United States Census Bureau and other data sets. The existing Downtown Clearwater Opportunity Zone designation is pictured to your screen to the right there. That is kind of overview of the area. It's really census track two fifty nine, but if you break it down, you'll see it'll say 259.01 And 259.02. This is really generally just a real quick snapshot of how the processes generally work.

You have a qualified opportunity zone and right now we don't have one for two point zero. We have one for one point zero. That's that's a given for one point zero. But the two point zero is what we need to be re designated and nominated based on current data. As it stands now, all communities in the state of Florida that have expressed interest in two point o have had to submit an application to the state of Florida, to Department of Commerce, which ultimately gets decided upon by Governor DeSantis who will make the recommendation as other governors around the country to then go and make their recommendations as part of a package to U.

S. Treasury to confirm. Next, you would create what is called a qualified opportunity fund. And usually that is private equity. That is not a city run fund.

That is a private run fund that is formed. Investment restrictions would apply based on the current tax code and the way things are structured there. It is formally structured usually as a partnership or corporation. And then we segue into what are the eligible investments under the opportunity zone from one point zero and it's business and real estate project investments. They must be an opportunity qualified Opportunity Zones, which is our role in the process of looking to nominate and compete to get that designation.

The capital gains reinvested will be then reinvested back into that designated zone. And it would encourage more long term investment. So the big question there, why not include Downtown Clearwater? Existing Downtown Clearwater was evaluated under the new criteria, new guidelines for the federal economic development eligibility criteria of opportunity zones, and it no longer qualified based on those data sets. So we had to based on increased private investment, redevelopment activity, other positive things for downtown, we had to eliminate it.

It would no longer fit the criteria as an economically distressed area according to census and other data sets from the federal government. And here is just a really quick table to summarize the true key differences between one point zero and two point zero. You can kind of see the applicability between one point zero and two point zero as it stands now because of the act in 2025 of the one big beautiful bill that you have a permanence to this program, which has attracted a lot more interest this time around as well compared to the previous years. And the major eligible investments, as you can see, has changed from just strictly real estate to now being more about real estate and commercial business investment as well. And so why does it matter to Clearwater?

We want to be competitive. We want to compete not only within our own county, among our own municipal partners, but we also want to compete regionally, nationally, statewide. We want to be very competitive. So this is another tool to do just that. And it creates an opportunity for us to have a qualified opportunity fund into the future and not just have it fade out under 1.1.

Oh, excuse me, one point zero. And so the nominated two point zero census tracks that we selected is on the screen depicted. It is two fifty eight, two sixty two, 264.01 and 264.02. So here's our here's our process and here's a time line. So we have, as staff, we work closely with Pinellas County Economic Development, as well as you also get some props, if you will, to Hale Innovation, who was helpful with us getting some information as well on public projects.

But basically, we put together a summary that focused on these census tracks. And we went in and we looked at the different economic distress indicators and all of the other strategic investment opportunities that we have. And we summarize that information and for each census track per the state's requirement, we submitted information about those areas based on current projects, private and or public in those census tracts. And so just to give you a snapshot of where those census tracts generally speaking are the includes the Ross Norton Park area for 258. For 262, it includes the majority of North Greenwood area.

264.01 is bordered on the North by Court Street to the East by South Highland and to the South by Lakeview Avenue and to the West by South Missouri Avenue. Census track 264.02 really is just includes downtown gateway area. So a portion of downtown did stay in, but not the majority of it. And so what were some of the selection factors that we had to base it on based on federal government guidelines? Poverty and income thresholds, median household income disparities, as you see other other areas as well, redevelopment investment potential.

And we had to use data sources I alluded to earlier, Census Bureau, American Community Survey, and Pinellas County Economic Development was a good help to that effort and helping us get that technical assistance needed. Some of the example projects we submitted. We submitted the Grove Business Container Village project, very exciting project. The Yo Mama's Foods as well. We looked at workforce affordable housing projects across the four census tracks, city, public infrastructure, capital improvements, whether they were in public utilities, public works, just to provide some context, for the reviewers, for the governor, when they're looking at the projects overall, that they're able to see that the city has invested, has plans to invest in those areas as well on the infrastructure side, which is also good to the overall narrative that we're trying to present to the federal government.

So we come down to the next steps pending state review and determination. Right now, we're in that area of review by the by Florida Commerce staff, their executives, as well as the governor reviews those statewide nominations. And he will start making those recommendations based on the current timeline in July of this year. Assuming if we were able to get the designation for two point zero for those census tracts I mentioned, it would become effective 01/01/2027. The transition period allows overlap between the existing and new opportunity zone up until I believe 2028.

And then at that point, obviously, if we will get the designation, we would engage the community on a more detailed structure scheduled basis and to plan out projects that the opportunity zone fund, which hopefully will be created with this new designation to encourage more reinvestment in those communities through this particular program. I do want to take the time to acknowledge support we received from Pinellas County was very helpful in getting us the data that we needed from Pinellas County Economic Development staff, as well as we received letters of support from Amplify Clearwater, from BayCare, Morton Plant Hospital, Ramon, Zulai Kitchen excuse me, Yo Mama's. And generally speaking, we want to show some private support for this since it is really rooted in private funds business investment and real estate investment. So we want to show that support generally speaking. And so that we were able to do.

And I also have with me Anita Berry, who is with Johnson Steward and Government Strategies. She's our local government practice director who is here to answer the lobbying part of our due diligence for this particular visit.

Good afternoon, mayor, council members. It's wonderful to see you all not in Tallahassee. And thank you for the opportunity to be here and for the the opportunity to work with with Chris and the team on the Opportunity Zone two point o designation. As soon as we received a call from this city, we began immediately engaging with the with the Department of Commerce. We have had multiple conversations with them now about the merits of the city's proposed census tracks.

We have also helped to facilitate a conversation directly between department leadership that included the deputy secretary of the department who's overseeing these efforts with the city and Pinellas County Economic Development also participated in that conversation. Not only allowed us the opportunity to discuss some of the merits of our proposed census tracts, but also ask a lot of questions to inform the information that we all that the city ultimately submitted in the applications. We're also engaging with the governor's office. Certainly they're going to have a significant role in the selection of these zones. We do anticipate that this process is gonna be significantly more competitive than the first time around.

The state has fewer zones to choose from. They are also being a lot pickier in the zones that they that they select. They want projects that are ready to go, that are properly zoned. They had a lot of zones last go around that were selected and then they saw no, you know, development within those zones. So they want to make sure that if the zones are selected that the opportunity is going to be utilized.

I think certainly the zones that you all have and the work that this council and the city are doing create a really exciting opportunity for the state. So we're having those conversations with the governor's office to certainly advocate for selection of your zones. Chris mentioned several letters of support from the private sector. We are also gonna be working on having our state delegation members weigh in, hopefully, through letters of support, but also we'll be asking them to make direct calls to the department and to the governor's office to advocate. So we're here to help however we can, and, you know, certainly we want the the city's proposals to be successful. So I'm happy to take any questions, but it is wonderful to see you all. You.

Councilwoman Niedo.

Question. Appreciate you. Thank you for all the work, Ms. Anita. Thank you for your work and the team as well. And it is a pleasure to not see you in Tallahassee. In Clearwater, I know the whole dais feels the same. Help me better understand, can the governor is the governor approving this on an individual census track basis or an application in its entirety?

I think both. It just depends on, you know, which census tracks have the greater impact, but I believe it's a combination of both.

So he does have the ability to rule out some and select some?

If he so chooses.

Got it.

Thank you. Appreciate that.

Chris, Thank Anita, thank you guys for being here. I do have a few little questions because, you know, I think opportunity zones when dealing with government, there can be a little bit of overreach at times. You know, it can open a backdoor of whether something becomes a mechanism for government directed redevelopment rather than removing barriers that the government puts for private investment to come in and take care of things. So in that, is the city's role here just simply nominating the census tracks to, implicitly endorse those specific private developments?

Well, yes, sir. So basically, we're facilitating the designation. We're advocating for us to be designated, number one. And with that designation, we're kind of we are facilitating an environment for that fund to be set up within those census tract areas. And, you know, whether it's our alongside of our CRA or public infrastructure projects we have as inducements for the private capital to flow into those areas. We're just facilitating basically at this point.

Okay, perfect. All right. Thank you very

much. Anything else?

I just want to say, it's ironic. On the one hand, it's really nice to see that Tom having so much progress, but that very progress is what disqualified us from getting that great tax rate opportunity, right? Yeah. Good with the bad.

Anybody else? I'd just like to say this the Enterprise Zones Opportunity Zones two point zero administration really, you know, they purposely made them more robust and hope that it will really have an impact on communities. So it's something that we want to participate in because it can really be a driver. And then so glad to see us doing that. Doctor.

Johnson, I was with her last week and she said that you and your team are doing a great job in putting these applications together, that they are much more detailed than they used to be. The governor is requiring quite a bit more information, so appreciate you fighting through that to do it, and appreciate your help, Meta, and your team in helping us get it through. I do want to say, too, that I am struck by these three, three of these census tracts being South Of Gulf Of Bay because, you know, I've been in some other folks who have studied economic opportunity in Clearwater, and it's that portion of South Greenwood, South Of Gulf Of Bay that doesn't get as much attention or hasn't historically in Clearwater as much as North Of Gulf Of Bay, that there's a great need and a great opportunity South Of Gulf Of Bay, and so it's good to see these three tracks identified because we've got some folks in particularly South Greenwood that, you know, need a hand up, too. And it's good to see them included in this proposal. Thank you.

Any other questions? Thank you for your report. Thank you for being here

today. Thank you.

Okay. Move to item 4.1.

Approved cosponsorship and waiver of requested city fees for six high impact cosponsor special events and funding for the community event cosponsorship program.

Thank you. Mayor, council, city's leadership, Chris Cook, Parks and Recreation senior manager. The item before you today is in accordance with the city's special event cosponsorship ordinance that requires us to do an annual review and approval of cosponsored special events as part of our budget process. Per the ordinance, applications for city cosponsorships are submitted annually for events that occur in the following fiscal year. This item is requesting approval for cosponsorships and waiver of city fees for six high impact special events, along with the funding for the community event co sponsorship program for the twenty six-twenty seven budget process.

The total estimates of value in kind services for the high impact events is approximately 353,000. This reflects about a 31% decrease from last year's request. This significant reduction is due to the removal of Clearwater Sea Blues Festival and the Clearwater Turkey Trot from the high impact list, as well as reducing overall across the board to all of those high impacted events, aligning with citywide budget goals and encouraging greater self sufficiency amongst event organizers. We've met with each of these groups, as I referenced earlier today, to help prepare them for these, and to provide them recommendations for how they can reduce costs and increase efficiencies. The item also includes $110,000 in funding for the community event programs, which will continue to support community events.

I should mention that these are based outside of the DDB area, while maintaining the program's specific objective to reduce long term dependency on city funding. One note to make with this is even with these reductions that we're we're seeing and recommending, we're seeing an overall increase in the volume of activity that is coming in and and taking place within the city of Clearwater through events with Ruth Eckerd Hall, which was mentioned earlier, DDB funded events that they see and approve, and just overall more and more activity coming into the city. So with that, our staff recommends approval of this item, and I'm here to answer any questions you might have.

Okay. Any questions on this agenda item? Okay. I should see what we've here. This is a consent, I think. Yes. So do we have consent?

Yes.

Okay, we have consent on this agenda item. Thank you. That's my agenda here. Here we go. Okay. Agenda item 4.2.

Approve an increase to the existing purchase order with Central Florida Contractors Inc. For the 2025 sidewalk project.

Good afternoon, mayor council. Matthew Anderson, assistant director of parks and Recreation. The item before you is to increase our current purchase order with Central Florida contracting for sidewalks throughout the city. Currently, public works, has $1,800,000 for the sidewalk contract and Parks Rec has 200. We're recommending increasing it to 2.5 total giving public works 2,000,000 and Parks Rec 500,000 for this year and then the subsequent renewables of that contract. We need this money to be increased so that we can continue to make our sidewalks not just in the right of way but in our parks safe and ADA compliant. I'll be glad to answer any questions at this

time. Okay. Any questions? Councilor Alburton.

How many, I guess you measure our sidewalks in miles,

but how many feet do you replace or do per year? It depends. So we have different categories. You've got tree preservation sidewalks, that that is a cost a little bit more than standard sidewalk when you're putting it under a tree canopy. I don't have an exact number and we do it by square footage, but, it's a lot. I know parks and rec alone. I think we did about 26,000 square feet last year between contract and in house, and Public Is Works I can't speak

that new sidewalk or is that grinding of buckle sidewalks?

It's replacement panels of sidewalk. Sometimes it's one panel, sometimes it's as many. It's 10. It just depends on where it's at. These aren't new additions to sidewalk that Parks and Rec does typically, but it's repairs. Thank you.

Vice President. I think Council Member Alburton already hit my question, or you answered his question by answering mine. This would include that tree canopy, like where they put the rebar through it, so it kind of floats over the roots, all contiguous, not creating more cracks?

Correct.

All right. Thank you.

I just had one question. Several years ago, we were like somehow, you know, we had fallen well behind in fixing our sidewalks and we were catching up. Where are we at now? Do we feel like this appropriation, this year's plan has got us even with where we need to be? Are we still catching up from where we may have fallen behind? I

can't speak to the right of way sidewalks. Can speak to the Parks and Rec piece. Marcus is going to come speak to that.

Was going say that would be a question more for Marcus. Yeah.

Parks and Rec, we're doing well as far as getting our sidewalk out.

This is just Parks and Rec.

Right, Marcus, you're up.

Did your chance

to defend yourself? Marcus Williams, public works.

So, yes, actually our five year sidewalk plan is working well. So when they came looking for more money, we had dramatically picked up our pace, which is why they're adding some money in for us. So we got our feet under us right now and we're running.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Anything else? Do we have consent? Do we have consent on this agenda item? Thank you. Agenda Item 4.3.

Authorize purchase orders to ChuChu, lawn equipment and Ruckus Investments for as needed purchase diagnostics and repair services.

Good afternoon again, mayor. Matthew Anderson, city of Florida Parks and Recs system director. The item before you is for, citywide purchase and repair of two cycle equipment along with battery powered equipment. This contract was, put out through invitation to bid. We had two respondents.

We want to reward both, award both respondents with a piece of the contract. Due to the sheer number of departments that utilize this contract, not just parks, but public works, public utilities and other city departments, having just one vendor is not a good choice for us because we can tend to overwhelm them. So having two options, if one gets behind on repairs, you have that other option. It works really well. This total contract is for 310,000, and it's distributed out through the various departments. I'd be glad to answer any questions at this time.

Vice Mayor?

Yeah, thanks Matt. I don't have any, so I'd be curious, the battery equipment, I mean, I do have them in the fire department for big type of tasks, cutting cars and stuff. How does it do with lawn equipment for longevity and those types of things versus conventional two cycle engine?

It's come a long way, particularly in the last five years. When we first started demoing some of the battery stuff five, six, seven years ago, was fairly deficient. But it is starting to get to point where you can replace some of the things. Not on every crew, but on some of the crews. They've made the battery life a lot better and the equipment stronger. So it vastly improving and becoming competitive with two cycle gas equipment.

Awesome. That's what I was kind of going at is the battery life. Is that sustainable for crews that are out there almost all day or they have half the truck with batteries on recharge, you know, like changing them out every 30 because they can't get through one cycle. So if they're getting better, that's awesome to hear. Thank you.

They are.

Yes, sir. Okay. Anything else? If not, do we have consent? Yes. We have consent on 4.3 5.1.

Approved to vacate a lake drainage and utility easement for portion of the East 20 foot portion of Lot 12 A Clearview Lake Estate subdivision.

Thank you, miss Sprague. Good afternoon, mayor, council members, manager, mister Kohler. Okay. The item before you today is a very simple easement excuse me, vacation request to remove 20 foot portion from the rear lake drainage and utility easement. The rear easement is 271 feet in length, so we're taking 20 foot away from it. There are no public or private utilities within this easement. Legal and public works request and has approved this. Any questions, please?

Any questions in the misjudgment? If not, thank you.

Thank you. Good afternoon.

Move to Agenda Item 6.1.

Authorize an increase of $400,000 with Stowell's Door Company and extend the contract term through 03/11/2028.

Good afternoon, Mayor City Council, City Leadership, Brandy Colundrea, General Services Director. Before you is a request to increase contract 901,221 to Stolt Door Company by 400,000 and to extend the contract term through 03/11/2028. This is a Pinellas County contract that we have piggybacked and we use this contract for preventative maintenance, emergency repairs, replacement doors, installation and services, and parts for overhead and security doors at city facilities. Excuse me. I have allergies today.

This includes fire stations, wastewater treatment facilities, parks and recreation sites, police and other operational buildings. The increase aligns our contract with Pinellas County's extended term and ensures continued coverage for these critical systems. Funding is available in the current budget and in future years addressed through the annual budget process. And I am happy and available to address any questions or concerns you may have.

Questions on this agenda? Not that we have consent. Yes. Yes. We have consent on 6.1. Thank you. You. Agenda item 7.1.

Appoint Dan Carpenter for a four year term as a trustee of the Clearwater fire fire excuse me, Firefighters Supplemental Trust Fund.

It's the lowest it will be today. Anyways, I'm here today as the I'm the administrator for the Firefighters Supplemental Trust Fund, and one of our current trustees' terms expires the end of June. He is a resident. We do have two residents that are on the Board, and they're appointed through you guys. So that's why I'm here today. He's expressed interest in doing another four year term. So I'm hoping for your consent.

All right. Thank you. Any questions? Not do we have consent? No. We have consent on Mr. Carpenter. Thank you. 2907.2

Approve an agreement and purchase order with Locality Media LLC for the implementation of fire prevention software and support services.

Mister mayor, council members, good afternoon. Clor Fire Rescue seeks approval to replace Fire Prevention Mobile with the first new platform to support occupancy management, pre incident planning and inspections. The features include GSI mapping, hazardous materials tracking, inspection checklist, violation management, scheduling and integration with first due response modules. The agreement includes implementation, configuration, data migration, training and customer support. Clearwater Fire and Rescue will utilize the Source Wealth Cooperative contract with First Due Holdings Incorporated receiving a 5% discount.

The total contract amount will not exceed $15,910.6 including a onetime implementation fee of $3,400 and a seventeen month subscription fee of $12,510.6 Future annual renewals will cost $9,400 Both systems will operate concurrently from June 1 through 10/01/2026. This is to allow data migration and staff training. Pinellas County will reimburse approximately 11.48% of the total cost as the software will also support operations in the unincorporated areas of the Clearwater Fire District. With me tonight is assistant fire marshal Bill Fisher. We're happy to answer any questions if you have them.

Any questions on this agenda item? Not that we have consent. We have consent. Thank you, chief. You. Move to agenda item 8.1.

Provide direction on the proposed development agreement between MHG Palm Pavilion Hotel LP Six Flag Planted LLC in the City Of Clearwater for property located at 10 Bay Esplanade and 18 Bay Esplanade, providing for the allocation of 91 units from the hotel density reserve under Beach by Design.

Thank you, and good afternoon, Mayor Council. As you heard, this is to provide direction on a requested HTA in front of us at 10 And 18 Bay Espana. A little bit of summary on the property. The total of the west and east sides of the property is 1.06 acres. So the western portion will be retaining an existing Palm Pavilion restaurant.

The east portion would be demolished and replaced with the development that I'll briefly touch on here in a moment. The property is in the tourist district. The future land use is resort facility is high, and it's and the old Florida district of Beach by design. The development proposal includes an additional 91 units from the hotel density reserve. Permitted density on the property currently is 50 units per acre or 53 units.

So, for a total of 144 units, that's 136 units per acre. The proposed height from base flood elevation is 75 feet. Parking would be on the first four levels, and 173 parking spaces There are will be proposed access from a north and south entry from the north from Kendall and from the South from Bay Esplanade. Amenities will include that existing Palm Pavilion restaurant to be preserved. That's 9,389 square feet.

And some small amenity area and miscellaneous back of house uses for a total of fourteen eighty square feet. The property would propose nine floors on the building, and the as proposed is consistent with the community development code and consistent with beach by design and standards for development agreements. The proposal is in compliance with the standards for development agreements is consistent with the comprehensive plan and it furthers the vision of the beach redevelopment and so forth and beach by design. And I'll take any questions.

Okay. Pass it over to Albert.

Okay. So I just want to get this clear. The Pompevian restaurant itself is going to be saved, but the parking in the Pompeian Hotel or is that

Will be completely demolished on the

That will be demolished, and then that's going up nine floors, 144 units in that area?

Correct. So the restaurant will be considered as an amenity to that hotel. So the entire site will be the component of the project.

Got you. Okay.

Question.

During demolition and building, will any of the regular flow of traffic be disrupted?

I can't answer that now, but I'm during site review process and MOT and any pertinent requirements would be as little impact as possible.

From that nice haircut.

Yes, sir. Thank you. Just wondering what does that do with the allotted hotel rooms that are left in that bank? Does that eliminate them all now or

It's a living, breathing document, but out of the thirteen eighty five units that were early in the 2000s, put into that bucket after this per se, if approved, there would be about 19 units So, in that

19 that are left unallocated? Correct. There are others that

have You

know, as construction has got started.

There are potential units that like these units came from just recently Right.

Yeah. Okay. If Okay. It is. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Move to agenda item 9.1.

Authorize a purchase order to Material Handling Systems Inc. For overhead crane inspections, certifications, purchase, and repairs.

Good afternoon, mayor, council. I'm Wayne LaFleur, Public Utilities' infrastructure maintenance manager. I am requesting your approval to authorize a purchase order to Material Handling Systems Incorporated for overhead crane inspections, certifications, maintenance, and repair. This would piggyback off of Hillsborough County contract ITV25Dash00130, and a total not to exceed amount of $286,550 through August 30 excuse me. 08/31/2029.

These services are needed to keep overhead cranes and hoisting equipment at our water and wastewater facility safe, compliant, and reliable. The contract includes annual inspections, safety certifications, routine maintenance, and as needed repairs, which helps reduce equipment failures, downtimes, and safety risks. This action supports our strategic priorities of high performing government by helping maintain critical infrastructure, improving operational reliability, and supporting safe working conditions for our staff. I'm happy to respond to any questions.

Okay. Any questions on this agenda item? Now do we have consent? Yes. We have consent on 09/2001. Thank you. 9.2.

Authorize an increase to the purchase order with Roland Inc. For the twenty twenty three sewer point repair and improvements group c and approve an agreement with CSX for railroad protective liability and license fees.

Good afternoon, mayor council. Mike Fleming, public utilities director. Today, I'm requesting authorization to increase the PO with Roland Incorporated by $11,457,021.66. Dollars for the sewer point repair and improvements group C contract and for approval of infrastructure agreement with CFX excuse me, CSX with a fee not to exceed $2,005 This request is necessary to immediately relocate and replace conflicting potable water, reclaimed water, and sanitary sewer infrastructure along the Drew Street corridor to meet FTOT's 09/17/2026 construction deadline. The company agreement with CSX addresses a critical aging water main within their easement that sits at a shallow depth and must be constructed to safely withstand the impending roadway improvements.

This action directly furthers our strategic priority of high performing government by systematically managing and maintaining vital public infrastructure. I'm happy to respond to any questions that you may have.

Any questions on this agenda? If not, do we have consent? We have consent on 9.2. Thank you. Thank you. Agenda item 10.1

Approved certificate of city clerk regarding a citizen initiative petition requiring federal approval for the vacation of public right of way in the downtown. Council, staff today is seeking any information and additional information that you may want or any questions you may have for the discussion on Thursday.

So there will be discussion on Thursday?

Yes. We're pushing it on Thursday.

Yes. Okay.

It's it's a new item for Thursday. Okay. Anybody got anything else to okay.

Thank you.

Looks like we're good. Move to agenda item 11.1.

Approved supplemental retainer agreement with Bulls Law Group in regard to Bay Esplanade litigation.

Counsel, this is a city attorney item. Back in 2024, the city hired the Boldest Law Group to represent the city in a quiet title action involving the Beach Rec Center. Due to ongoing litigation, it's necessary to increase the budget. So I'm requesting an additional $75,000 to get us through the end of the case. The city's hired, Brian Bulbas. He's been hired by the city in the past. He also frequently, represents the city of Tampa and also have DOT. So I'm open for questions.

Any questions? If not, do we have consent? Yes. Do we have consent on eleven point one? Eleven point two.

Amend council rule six to temporarily restore public comment regarding matters not on the agenda for an additional three month period.

Yeah, council. This is another city attorney item. Just by way of background, back in 2025, citizens to be heard on items not on the agenda was temporarily suspended for about a year. In February, the former city attorney, mister Margolis, brought forth a resolution to temporarily restore citizens to be heard on items not on the agenda. It was approved by counsel, and there was a a sunset provision to where it would end in May.

It ended, I believe, May 8 or May 9. What this resolution does is it just extends the sunset provision. The rule itself is gonna be the same. So as it relates to the resolution, really, what to look for is on the fourth page, section five. So for instance, there's still gonna be a limitation of thirty minutes or 10 speakers, whichever is greater. There's gonna be no sharing of time, and this resolution would then extend the sunset provision to 08/07/2026. With that, I'm open for

questions. Okay. Any questions, comments? Okay. Sounds good. Move to agenda item

move too far ahead. Eleven point three. So eleven point three through eleven point nine are

all second readings. Okay. Very good. Any questions on those agenda items? If not, we'll move to agenda item 12, City Manager, Board.

Nothing, sir.

Item 13, City Attorney. Nothing, nothing, sir. Item 14, new business. Any request by council members to add discussion items to the next book session? Okay. If not, we've got item 15, council comments. Councilor Mounito.

Thank you, Mayor. Just wanted to make a quick comment regarding our interim city attorney. Greatly appreciate what you've dove into, the work you continue to do as part of the team. You've had a lot on your plate, including walking into a short office in multiple places. I mean, you've maintained a great attitude and been great to work with going through. So I just wanted to let you know we appreciate you and all the work you're doing.

Okay. Else? Move to item 16, closing comments by mayor. Just one note, a lot going on. We're talking about a lot of things, and I think that's good for us.

It shows that things are happening and making things happen. And I appreciate not just the council's participation in that, but the staff and everyone. You know, we're really bringing, you know, sometimes controversial, but we're bringing topics to the top and addressing things that are good for the community as a whole. So good to hear Clearwater being talked about in so many positive ways. So appreciate everyone working together to work through these issues. With that, we will adjourn the May 18 work session of Clearwater City Council.