City of Clearwater – Community Resiliency & Leisure Services Advisory Board - 10/29/2026

The City of Clearwater Community Resiliency & Leisure Services Advisory Board met on October 29, 2026. The board approved the August minutes. City Manager Jennifer Pyor presented the adopted, balanced FY 2026–27 budget, which includes nine new full-time positions and a 3% overall budget increase. She explained that Amendment 3 could reduce general-fund revenue and that staff had prepared an illustrative, unapproved reduction plan; parks and recreation and the library were asked to consider larger cuts than other departments. The examples included about $9.4 million in parks and recreation reductions, approximately 56.1 FTEs, and a possible recreation-center closure, along with reduced park maintenance. Staff said currently filled police and firefighter positions were not cut in the illustrative plan, though police vacancies and some support positions were included. The city expects a special budget work session on December 14 to discuss next steps. No contracts, vendor selections, or procurement awards were identified.

Staff also presented potential tree-code amendments intended to reorganize and clarify permitting requirements, codify current practices, adjust tree-rating and replacement provisions, and update artificial-turf language to meet a new state rule. The changes remain under consideration; board members and residents discussed tree-canopy preservation, replacement-tree standards, and invasive species. The board expressed interest in a future presentation on a model tree code. Members also discussed the Landings proposal, which city staff said remains in negotiations and has no pending approval vote. A resident raised concerns about Coachman Park maintenance and budget support; no spending decision was made on that issue.