City of Clearwater – City Council Meeting - 6/4/2026

The City of Clearwater City Council held a meeting on June 4, 2026, with a significant focus on a right-of-way vacation request from the Church of Scientology for a portion of South Garden Avenue. The council discussed transferring $750,000 in funding from a police equipment facility project to a new police department parking expansion project. They also approved midyear amendments to the fiscal year 2025-26 operating and capital improvement budgets, including a $3.57 million increase. A 30-year gas franchise agreement with the city of Newport Richie was approved to continue natural gas service. The primary procurement-related discussion centered on the Garden Avenue vacation, which involved extensive public comment both in support and opposition. The council debated traffic, safety, urban planning, and property rights issues, with some members supporting the vacation due to low traffic impact and security concerns, while others opposed it citing downtown connectivity and planning policies. The ordinance to vacate the right-of-way was amended to extend the timeline for project completion from five to six years and was approved by a 3-2 vote. Other agenda items included zoning amendments and utility easement vacations. The meeting concluded with public safety concerns discussed regarding a recent incident on Clearwater Beach and commendations for the police department's response.