Fresh Starts and Best Intentions

January is about fresh starts, New Year’s resolutions, and best intentions. January 2023 for Clearwater is about new beginnings. 

For a variety of reasons, the Council voted not to renew our city manager’s contract. We have started down the path of hiring a new city manager. The city is currently being managed by the capable hands of Jennifer Poirrier, who we confirmed as Interim City Manager on Jan. 5. 

We also have a new Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Director, Dr. Jaye Matthews, who began her work on Dec. 5. Dr. Matthews will oversee our downtown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), as well as the soon to be implemented North Greenwood CRA, which is awaiting final approval from the county and then state. 

This also will be the year we open the renovated Coachman Park, christen our new amphitheater, and cut the ribbon on a new Fire Station 46. 

Fresh starts and best intentions also play a part in updating the city’s strategic plan. While the process has been slower than desired, the Council is confident we can finalize the plan, with the help of city leaders, in the first quarter of 2023.  

Bumps in the road are part of the trip. Knowing how to navigate challenges, learn from mistakes, and change policy to provide appropriate oversight is an essential part of the job. I’m up for the challenges and looking forward to an exciting and productive 2023. 

Ryan Alexander (right), the Plant Chief at Marshall St., walked us through beginning to end of the wastewater (kitchen, bathroom, manufacturing plants, etc.) filtering process. First, larger particles are removed, then water proceeds to holding tanks where oxygen-fed organisms go to work. The water gets progressively cleaner as it moves through the facility and is finally finished by treatment with chlorine. This facility and others like it are critical infrastructure for our city.

In the June 22 Commentary, “Three Ways Governments Can Regain Citizens’ Trust” from Route Fifty, a publication focused on issues in state and local government, the opening begins, “Trust between government and the public is essential to ensure the effective operation of services.” The piece continues and emphasizes the need for “TEA” transparency, efficiency, and accountability. It is a timely article and apropos for Clearwater at this moment. 

On Jan. 12, the city issued a press release stating that as of July 22, Clearwater recycles were not taken to Waste Management’s recycling facility in Ybor City, but instead were sent to the Pinellas County Waste-to-Energy plant. You can read the press release here: Recycling. 

Charging customers for recycling and then not recycling material is clearly a breach of the public’s trust. Along with the entire Council and city leaders, I am committed to learning and reporting how this happened and how we can make it right with our customers. Most importantly, we will take every measure to ensure this sort of breach of trust will not happen in the future. I ask that you give city leaders time to gather all information, investigate options for rectifying, and report all findings to Council and the public. For more information on recycling in Florida you can check out the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation. 

Over 300 people gathered on Jan. 16 at the North Greenwood Rec. Center for Clearwater’s first in-person Dr. MLK, Jr. Breakfast since January 2020.

The 40^th annual celebration, emcee’d by Marilyn Turman, included an explanation of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” from Diane Stephens, NAACP Education Chair; a percussion performance highlighting passages from Dr. King’s speeches from Paul Gavin and Giving Tree Music; beautiful a cappella performances from the Mt. Zion UMC Praise to Sing Team; poetry from Ni’ Year; and special guest speaker, Dr. Risk Stevenson, Assistant Instructional Professor of African American Studies at the University of Florida.

After the breakfast, attendees walked to the North Greenwood African American Memorial Cemetery for a reflection on the community’s history and recent discovery of unmarked graves.  Mr. Bilal Habeebbullah, Mr. Zebbie Atkinson, Pastor Childs, and Ms. Barbara Sorey-Love spoke at the site of the Pinellas County North Greenwood African American Memorial Cemetery Historical Marker. 

Louise Dickinson Rich said, "I feel a great regard for trees; they represent age and beauty and the miracles of life and growth." I couldn’t agree more. I grew up and raised my family in yards with oaks that were well over 100 years old, pine and maple trees, and flowering fruit trees.

I’m also well aware of the challenges that trees can pose. We had one oak puncture the roof of our home when a small tornado whipped through our yard and uprooted it. We also had to pay a roto-rooter to cut through tree roots that invaded our sewer lines. And of course, there is ongoing maintenance and care. But even with those experiences, I truly value and appreciate the beauty of trees and believe we should do all we can to protect them. 

With that in mind, I’m keenly aware of the recent complaints from many residents about the current stage of the city’s tree removal project. When I learned of the removal of mature healthy-looking trees, and inadequate communication with residents, I asked Interim City Manager, Jennifer Poirrier to pause the removal of any more trees until residents and Council were better informed. She agreed. 

I have been informed that the Council will receive a presentation about the city’s tree inventory, removal and replacement program at our Jan. 30 Work Session, which begins at 9 a.m. The work session is not open for public comment, but anyone can attend. It is also recorded, so people can view it at their convenience. Click here to learn about Clearwater’s Tree Removal and Replacement. And you can click here to see Clearwater’s Urban Forestry Inventory & Collection Application. Our next Council meeting is 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Main Library, 100 N. Osceola.  

I attended my first Topping Out ceremony on Jan. 6. This celebration with city staff, construction crew members, and dignitaries, celebrated the topping out of the amphitheater for Coachman Park’s Imagine Clearwater renovations. You can view of video of the topping out here: Topping Out Ceremony.

“Topping Out” can be traced to a Scandinavian religious practice celebrating the highest point of a construction project and of placing a tree atop a new building as a sign of respect to the tree-dwelling spirits who were disrupted due to construction. Attendees signed the canopy piece that was placed at the highest point of the amphitheater. A tree and the American flag were also placed at the highest point. Stantec and Skanska form the construction team for the 4,000-seat covered amphitheater. The grand opening is scheduled for July.  You can check out the progress on our 24/7 Imagine Clearwater Webcam.

On Jan. 11, the city held in-person training for anyone interested in applying for $3.15 million in grants from the city’s federal Covid-19 funding through Feb. 15. The training was held in North Greenwood Library’s Community Room. With a capacity of 70, it was standing room only. Clearwater’s

Economic Development and Housing Director, Denise Sanderson, led the training. After attendees were walked through the application process, many began completing the application in the library as soon as the meeting ended.  

Another training session is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 9 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the North Greenwood Library.

There are three grant programs that qualified groups and individuals can apply for. You can learn more and apply here: ARPA Grants in Clearwater. 

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