Council awards $100,000 vessel-removal contract; public commenter says Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has primary jurisdiction

The Clearwater City Council on May 15 authorized a purchase order with Zivcom Services LLC to provide vessel removal, towing, storage and disposal services for the Clearwater Police Department and the Marine and Aviation Department, approving an initial amount of $100,000 with two one-year renewal options.

Mike McDonald, director of Marine and Aviation, presented the item as a city procurement to ensure timely removal and disposition of derelict or hazardous vessels within the city’s jurisdiction. The contract is intended to give police and marine staff an on-call vendor to address vessels that present navigational hazards or other public-safety risks.

During public comment, a resident who identified himself as Mr. Haluba argued the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is the state agency responsible for removing derelict vessels in Florida and criticized the city for using general-fund resources for work he said falls under FWC jurisdiction. The speaker called the item “another thinly veiled money grab by Clearwater Police” and urged the council not to approve the transfer of general-fund dollars for vessel removals.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the contract. The motion authorizes staff to execute a purchase order with Zivcom Services LLC and to use the vendor for vessel removal and related services as needed; future renewals will require administrative action under the contract terms.

Notes: The council’s vote did not resolve jurisdictional questions raised by the public commenter. Any overlapping responsibilities with state agencies such as FWC would be subject to state law and interagency practice; the council did not cite a statute when approving the contract.