[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5978662,"mediaKeyId","5810096-b70c1e7df27c28536c4ffc5e54ff2690","parentId",5810096,"title","Public works reports progress on stormwater projects; North Beach pump design reaches 60% and new seawall technique tested","audioSeconds",242,"startMs",1930000,"endMs",2172000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810096-b70c1e7df27c28536c4ffc5e54ff2690&start=1930&end=2172","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810096-b70c1e7df27c28536c4ffc5e54ff2690/thumbnail_1930000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5978662/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Public-works-reports-progress-on-stormwater-projects-North-Beach-pump-design-reaches-60-and-new-seawall-technique-tested","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978662-d33d23696df1c5c210959c4e830058b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775866000&Signature=osanHoAeC2kh80boUWFVB0ecS-KWP6JGdMaJ-GMagsn1Rw2SaoymJ0as8Erh~CVlaZkwIaFqjfT2EDs3jUXmUonnNuj5019A7LJ0Fa~WEEG9ZB3~ZEzTEvNfXqr6v-HHjLFy1K43LL8HkP9M5QztGTaa9w5kd3cfgzGejJDMZKTpCkfSt1PbOH5wZ94BJ8EMxrXpNgpe8j~MFWTl8tSf9bDZLk~0UIxM9ZG1FtdgixOSN4EolTHvDM-iOLFt1lEYvW33fS6bdL60Xrg~FbIS4t2vtGl1A2hL9CXkeTEJp-1Ay8ro~dpQgwmDSzmm8PlAsGO7bMCabuL-xzR6hrLg5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Clearwater","date","2025-09-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Clearwater City Council heard an update on stormwater resiliency on Sept. 18 from Marcus Williamson, the city’s Public Works Director, who described progress on crews, equipment and design work for flood-prone areas.
Williamson told the council the department is addressing a backlog of stormwater repairs and has added equipment and contracting capacity to accelerate work. “Stormwater Crew is only about 30 folks,” Williamson said, describing the city’s internal staffing level and the need to supplement with contractors. “We did get the other contract in, so we've got a contractor out there helping us in a couple of ditches too.”
The director said crews are prioritizing Bayshore Drive to reduce steady brackish inflow and localized flooding by restoring retention ponds, clearing ditches and installing tide valves where practicable. He said the North Beach pump phase 1 design is progressing quickly and the council should see 60% design documents in about two weeks.
Williamson also described a new seawall-extension product the city is evaluating that can be attached to existing walls and act as formwork into which concrete is placed, reducing the need to demolish the existing cap. He described its structural attributes — noting the formwork is designed with substantial reinforcement — and council members asked technical installation questions at the meeting about whether the product would go over existing caps or require removal.
The director said the city is also looking at equipment that can mechanically remove nutrient-rich material as a complement to Tampa Bay Estuary Program efforts on water quality. He credited fleet and procurement staff with speeding equipment acquisition and said the new tools may also aid recruitment.
Council asked follow-up questions about seawall installation methods; Williamson explained site-by-site variation and that in some North Beach locations the system could be installed over the existing seawall and then infilled.
No formal council action or ordinance resulted from the update; council received the report and directed staff to continue design and contracting work as described.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Clearwater - City Council Meeting - 9/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public Works Director Marcus Williamson told council crews are clearing ditches, restoring retention ponds, adding equipment and contractors, and the North Beach pump phase 1 design will reach 60% in about two weeks; crew size and a new seawall formwork product were discussed.","taxTitle","Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida","taxId",4656,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978666,"Council renames Clearwater Airpark to ‘Clearwater Executive Airport’ and sunsets advisory board",223,2393000,2616000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810096-b70c1e7df27c28536c4ffc5e54ff2690&start=2393&end=2616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810096-b70c1e7df27c28536c4ffc5e54ff2690/thumbnail_2393000.jpg","/articles/5978666/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Council-renames-Clearwater-Airpark-to-Clearwater-Executive-Airport-and-sunsets-advisory-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978666-01d962cd97058b3317c01d092c6fdf35/orig.mp4?Expires=1775866001&Signature=Yu8gATeUKaKW08kX182FRFprcipg6rfxvN08FziUCWRIei5ckvyrn-bq1UQfmIRRPV0XNTmLaQF~~QPkXrOGDI~dXYxNVp5luSdO4TspxxRdYO7w7ZbUzBAcm-cpU~e2Ci7qA7ByjCiaRkd8l53PFbYrFGQU0PykxvFM2d11K0kZAowm0JeWKtKvxGXlBRX36Ri5kHbv1Vj1bWWmXMR7H31GSR3GTenDUx1~NEkSZtBjahNeqnSdeQwtXF4iB-luaqpKbEAzQcFQdHxNNQoonpWBCZ-c45AHgxJ7OcAg~bkhpldYDa8HuXZ66Pf1W7zaxitlbIEsKhFQf3TckVGOCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clearwater City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 18 to approve an ordinance renaming Clearwater Airpark to Clearwater Executive Airport and to dissolve the Airpark Advisory Board.
Michael McDonald, the city’s Marine and Aviation Director, presented the ordinance and noted the change aligns the airport’s name with industry practice. The council passed Ordinance No. 9825-25 on first reading with unanimous support.
Sarah Branyon, a public policy student at Saint Petersburg College who said she researched the ordinance and interviewed McDonald, told the council the change is not intended to alter the airport’s character and that “the curfew, restricting takeoffs and landings between 11PM and 7AM will remain in place.” Branyon said the airport operates under a 30-year lease with FlyUSA, which currently manages tenants and daily operations.
Branyon recommended the city require continued community engagement if the advisory board is dissolved. “My recommendation is really simple. It would be that the city would move forward with this ordinance,” she told the council, while urging continued documentation of neighborhood concerns and public events by FlyUSA and city staff.
The ordinance also repeals sections of the Clearwater Code of Ordinances that establish the appointed Airpark Advisory Board. Staff did not propose changes to the airport curfew at the Sept. 18 meeting. Council discussion did not include an amendment to the FlyUSA lease; council members indicated they expect FlyUSA to continue community outreach via its own advisory processes.
Ordinance No. 9825-25 will be brought back for the second reading and final adoption per the council’s ordinance schedule.","Council approved an ordinance to change the airport’s name and dissolve the Airpark Advisory Board; city staff and a student commenter said the curfew and tenant protections remain and FlyUSA operates under a 30-year lease.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978671,"Clearwater council approves third-quarter budget and fee changes after state rep. outlines grant awards",584,785000,1369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810096-b70c1e7df27c28536c4ffc5e54ff2690&start=785&end=1369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810096-b70c1e7df27c28536c4ffc5e54ff2690/thumbnail_785000.jpg","/articles/5978671/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Clearwater-council-approves-third-quarter-budget-and-fee-changes-after-state-rep-outlines-grant-awards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978671-515d19eb82fd342f2e345d43e105e91c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775866001&Signature=dzU3jzZlyqBRuNb0nq6PdvirTNixgkWdZfstSpageAqzSWm7ysj3CMQOmGFyyC9Bols5jaGjIWAu~v395i1lvM2ooomSJBA073gZ~aZZG5I516Q6Cm6LV83O8ukWjwtLy9lqtyPqjQ0GqBB0APwmPiAE1HsjqB4K~8hlbBLcJhC9cVOgHjRGFQ9WY-YzNe1hCmLaKl1VlS84dSki7tqanTCuCVXcpMvZRm8R7Rne69zLlEENWSpVIGL7nno93DwT6FiQvUAhncwe~qe5NBLXkMfs9r6HKtfIsm8TFxhwYNRgyLCcHxMTcMG7txzXa3l~Sr2KlLQ~DKHfALdxvKc0fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clearwater City Council unanimously approved first-reading ordinances on Sept. 18 amending the city’s fiscal 2024–25 operating and capital budgets and later approved a second-reading ordinance updating utility fee schedules.
Budget Director Kaelin Castle presented the third-quarter budget review and the council voted to pass Ordinance No. 9851-25 (operating budget amendments) and Ordinance No. 9852-25 (capital improvement budget increase of $6,048,461) on first reading. The council later approved Ordinance No. 9841-25 on second reading to amend Appendix A, Article 24, public works fees and charges, including domestic water, wastewater and reclaimed water rates.
State Representative Kimberly Miller, who addressed the council earlier in the meeting, summarized policy actions from Tallahassee and said she helped secure “over $17,000,000 for our city,” listing several line items she said were included in the state budget: $3,000,000 for the Clearwater Living Seawall, $1,000,000 for Elevate Bayshore Drive, $3,000,000 for North Beach storm improvements, $300,000 for the Voice Pediatric Cancer Foundation and $200,000 for a Drug Free America Foundation grant. Representative Miller described other session priorities, including condominium safety reforms and protections for vulnerable adults.
The council did not amend the ordinances on the floor; motions to approve the budget and fee ordinances passed unanimously. The ordinances’ effective dates will be set in the adopted texts.
The budget director offered to answer questions; none were raised during the public hearing for item 7.1. Council members proceeded through a consent motion approving items 6.1–6.18 earlier in the meeting.
City staff and council did not offer additional line-item detail at the meeting about how the $6,048,461 capital increase will be allocated beyond the project categories already in the capital plan. Representative Miller’s listing of state awards was presented as a summary during her legislative session report and was not introduced as an implementing ordinance at the Sept. 18 meeting.
The council agenda materials list the ordinances by number: Ordinance Nos. 9851-25 and 9852-25 for the budget amendments and Ordinance No. 9841-25 for the fee schedule change. The council scheduled no additional public hearings or votes specific to the state grants during the Sept. 18 meeting.","Council approved two ordinances adjusting the fiscal 2024–25 operating and capital budgets and updated utility fees; State Rep. Kimberly Miller reported more than $17 million in state funding for local projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public works reports progress on stormwater projects; North Beach pump design reaches 60% and new seawall technique tested

Council renames Clearwater Airpark to ‘Clearwater Executive Airport’ and sunsets advisory board

Clearwater council approves third-quarter budget and fee changes after state rep. outlines grant awards