George N. Cretekos Mayor
David Allbritton Councilmember
Doreen Caudell Councilmember
Dr. Bob Cundiff Councilmember
Hoyt Hamilton Councilmember
William B. Horne, II City Manager
Pam Akin City Attorney
Jill Silverboard Deputy City Manager
Micah Maxwell Assistant City Manager
EDITORIAL STAFF
Executive Editor Joelle Castelli
Editors Heather Parsons
Jason Beisel
Assistant Editors Sandy Clayton
Krystie Epperson
Mike Lockwood
José Patiño
Rob Shaw
Graphic Designer Laura Del Valle
CONTRIBUTORS
Library Jennifer Obermaier
Linda Rothstein
Library Managers
Parks & Recreation Shaun Beasley
Rosemary Davis
Kris Koch
Kerry Marsalek
MyClearwater is published three times a year
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CmyLEARWATER
MyClearwater.com
Fall | Sept. – Dec. 2018
ON THE COVER
Clearwater's fleet team keeps the city rolling. Read
about this award-winning team on page 4.
City Manager Bill Horne is greeted by Sophia, an 18-month-old Labrador and
bloodhound mix, at a recent City Council meeting. Sophia is Clearwater Fire
& Rescue's new accelerant detection dog who helps in fire investigations.
There’s a lot happening in Clearwater these days. You’ve probably heard
conversations or discussions about moving toward a strong mayor form of
government. Currently the city of Clearwater has a council-manager form
of government. In April, a group of local residents asked the City Council
to consider putting a question on the Nov. 6, 2018 ballot to change the
form to that of a Strong mayor or executive mayor form. A task force
of local residents and the City Council met weekly for eight weeks. The
committee held meetings to work out the details on how to replace the
council-manager form of government with an executive-mayor form of
government and make the appropriate amendments to the charter.
The Clearwater City Council approved a proposed ordinance that could
amend the charter to change the form of government to that of a strong
mayor. Clearwater voters will have the final say when they vote on the
issue Nov. 6, 2018. If the referendum passes (which requires a vote of
more than 50 percent), then the change would take effect in 2020. As
written, the change would allow for an executive mayor and five Council
members who will all serve in an at-large capacity, representing the entire
city. The elected officials would serve 4-year terms, and there would be
a limit of serving for two terms. Information can be found in the Strong
Mayor Task Force section of myclearwater.com and on page 19 of this
issue of MyClearwater magazine.
On the Imagine Clearwater front, the waterfront redevelopment master
plan is moving forward. Stantec, the city’s project consultant, has
presented the city with 15-percent drawings for Imagine Clearwater
and the Coachman Park enhancements. The next step is to get feedback
from the community, which the city will do through multiple platforms
and engagement tools. To provide feedback electronically or to see the
15-percent drawings, visit imagineclearwater.com to learn more.
Other things are happening as well. The much-awaited Morningside
Recreation Complex will open its doors for the first time, and the city
welcomes Sophia the accelerant-detection dog, who has joined staff
at Clearwater Fire & Rescue and helps in fire investigations. And the
Clearwater sister cities program is accepting applications for the 2019
Young Ambassadors middle school student exchange trip to Nagano,
Japan. To apply, visit clearwatersistercities.org.
Sincerely,
Bill Horne
City Manager
/MyClearwater.com
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