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

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.