Clearwater council approves multiple consent items including land-sale extension for Habitat, housing loan term change and equipment purchases

At its April 14 work session the Clearwater City Council approved a series of consent and action items covering housing projects, equipment purchases and operating contracts.

Key decisions included:

- Extending the third amendment to the contract for sale of city-owned vacant land at 1454 MLK to allow the co-developers (Habitat for Humanity and Tampa Bay Neighborhood Housing Services) more time to finalize funding and permits. Staff recommended extending the closing date to on or before July 31, 2025; council approved the extension by consent.

- Amending the city's deferred loan to Sunrise Affordable Housing (SAH Holdings LP) for the Indigo apartment acquisition: staff explained HUD requires a 40-year term that begins at construction-to-permanent conversion, so the city approved a 43-year loan term to align with the HUD timing and account for the construction period. No other loan terms were changed; council approved the amendment by consent.

- Approving an annual general permit for Clearwater Gas to install and maintain service lines and small main extensions in Pinellas County ($4,000); staff said the permit streamlines 48-hour notices and does not require separate permitting for each minor action.

- Authorizing purchase orders and equipment for public safety and public works: the council approved a purchase order to Orlando Freightliner for a Freightliner 114SD roll-off truck to replace a vehicle lost during Hurricane Helene; members asked staff to check insurance and FEMA reimbursement options. The council also approved increase to purchase orders and maintenance contracts, including an expanded generator maintenance program (citywide stationary and portable units) and a contract increase for EnviroWaste Services Group (wastewater pumping and tankering) that was raised to a remainder-of-term total of $210,000.

- Selecting outside bond counsel: the council approved a recommendation to consolidate bond-counsel and disclosure-counsel services with the firm that previously served as bond counsel (Brian, Miller & Olive as presented), citing minor cost and time savings and advice from financial advisors.

- Confirming the mayor's appointment of Kathleen Agnew to the Clearwater Housing Authority Board (term to Sept. 30, 2028).

Staff noted the city is coordinating communications with downtown stakeholders about several impending construction projects (City Hall area, Gateway affordable-housing project on Cleveland Street, and private redevelopment) and reiterated that marketing and merchant outreach will be part of project management plans.

Votes at a glance (consent-style approvals)

- Habitat/TBNHS land sale third amendment: extend closing to on or before July 31, 2025 — approved by consent. - SAH Holdings LP loan-term amendment (Indigo Apartments): extend city loan to 43 years to align with HUD timing — approved by consent. - Annual general permit (Pinellas County) for gas work: $4,000 — approved by consent. - Freightliner 114SD purchase order: approved by consent; staff to follow up on insurance/FEMA reimbursement details. - Generator maintenance and purchase-order increases (citywide): approved by consent. - EnviroWaste Services Group contract increase: approved (increase to $210,000 for remainder of term) — approved by consent. - Appointment of Kathleen Agnew to Clearwater Housing Authority: confirmed by council consent. - Bond counsel selection (Brian Miller Olive): approved; consolidated bond/disclosure counsel arrangement adopted by consent.

Ending

Council members asked staff to press developers for clear timelines and to keep merchants informed as construction and activation projects proceed. Most consent items passed without roll-call debate; council requested follow-up on FEMA/insurance eligibility for storm-damaged equipment and on permit activity for downtown vacant storefronts.