My Clearwater
Summer 03
Building a Bright & Beautiful City
Clearwater is what it is today because of the hard work and
dedication that Bill Horne brought to work every day.
“Bill’s left a tremendous legacy,” said Clearwater Mayor
Frank Hibbard, as he recently told the Tampa Bay Times.
“His fingerprints are all over the progress that we’ve made
over the last 20 years, and he will be difficult to replace.”
Horne has helped modernize Clearwater Beach. He and
several city teams under his watch implemented the city’s
Beach by Design plan, which laid the foundation for the
city’s $31 million beach revitalization project, Beach Walk.
Within just a few years, Clearwater Beach was transformed
from a sleepy, mom-and-pop motel destination into that of a
luxurious, beachfront getaway.
Like others, Horne has noticed over the years the beach has
become more culturally rich, drawing visitors from all walks
of life and from all over the world.
“I’m pleased the city continues to embrace diversity. I see it
a lot more on the beach than I did 20 years ago. Now, our
patronage is very diverse across all groups.”
Horne’s successes are not just on the beach. He has worked
incredibly hard throughout his career to give downtown
Clearwater the roots it needs to blossom.
One of his first projects to help drive change in downtown
was to design and build the first segment of the Cleveland
Street Streetscaping project, complete in Fall 2008.
Since that time, Cleveland Street has seen three phases
of streetscaping projects take hold, with the third phase
beginning this summer. Meanwhile, Imagine Clearwater,
the city’s waterfront redevelopment strategy, will revitalize
Coachman Park with a 4,000-seat covered amphitheater.
The project is now approaching a groundbreaking following
years of planning.
“I’m proud to have gotten this project started and set it
moving in the right direction,” Horne said.
In addition to Horne’s beach and downtown
accomplishments, his interactions with staff and elected
officials will always remain a source of pride, especially most
recently facing a pandemic that changed the world.
Horne said it has been an honor to lead the city’s
professional staff, and he is proud of how the city team
has managed through the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a
leadership staff that Horne has built over the years. He has
hired nearly all directors and assistant directors of the city’s
more than 20 departments, and all assistant city managers
throughout his tenure. He also is pleased with the working
relationships with all the mayors and councilmembers for
whom he has served over the years.
“I wouldn’t have had the tenure that I did if I didn’t have
their support,” he said of current and former mayors and
city councils.
What Lies Ahead
“One thing I’m going to do after I retire is rest,” he said.
After that, he will continue serving his faith community.
Currently serving as a vice president
of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, he is the
highest ranking civilian
parishioner. He hasn’t
decided yet if he will
run again in that
capacity in 2022.
He and his wife,
Loretta, plan to travel,
too. An Alaskan cruise
or a riverboat cruise
along the Mediterranean
is on the couple’s bucket
list.
And when all the dust settles and
retirement routines set in, Horne would like
to pursue teaching as an adjunct professor, if available, at a
local university’s public administration or policy programs.
During his tenure as city manager, Bill Horne has laid the
foundation for a safe, strong, and vibrant community.
“I see great things along the horizon for Clearwater,” he says.
“Clearwater will continue to become more diverse,” he said.
“It will strengthen its position as a tourist destination, and
quality of life will continue to improve for its residents. That
next generation of Clearwater youth will continue to have a
very safe and enjoyable community to live in.”