Kathleen Beckman
YOUR Clearwater Vice-Mayor
Monthly Newsletter
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Happy March!
March, maybe more than any other month, signals a change in seasons. Not only do we have the annual discussion of the necessity of time change – (spring forward – eye-roll), but we have spring break, the peak of baseball’s spring training, and the start of our state’s legislative session. All three involve anticipation and hope for positive outcomes. Springtime for Clearwater City Council this year involves a finalizing of our Strategic Plan and giving direction to city leadership and staff about priorities. At the top of the list for me is prioritizing neighborhood safety and services, sustainability and resilience, and driving down costs for our city operations, businesses, and residents in our community. Finally, the city is bustling and engaged in planning for a number of fun events and continued resident engagement. Read on for more details.
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Celebrating Continued Improvements
at Clearwater Parks
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Clearwater has the most beautiful parks! When you count our 27 recreation facilities, Clearwater has over 1,874 acres of green space. That's more than any other Florida city of similar population.
Some parks are small “pocket parks” located in neighborhoods that residents can easily walk to, and others, like Moccasin Lake, or Crest Lake, are beautiful destination parks, that offer acres and acres of walking paths, nature viewing, and family recreation options.
Recently, a few Clearwater residents gave me a tour of “their” park. I explored newly renovated Del Oro Park with Kristen Langley. The tennis courts and basketball courts are brand new. So too, is the children’s playground, designed with input from neighborhood kids. It has a zip line, a two-story kid’s climbing house, a climbing structure, a pavilion, and a new tilted twin spin. Wow! I gave it a try and it made quite an impression. If I were seven years old, I’d love it!
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Joanna Siskin and Marni Atherton, who live in the Skycrest neighborhood walked with me around Crest Lake Park as we admired the newly installed public art pieces.
Live Steel Studio artist Don Gialanella with assistance from Alisha Prather used stainless-steel to create five different species that are native to our area. On display is a spider, a fish, a moorhen, a dragonfly, and a frog. You can learn more about Live Steel Studio here: DonSculpture.com.
You can also read more about our parks and view mini-park tour videos (type "parks" in the search bar) at colorfulclearwater.com.
Finally, check out our city webpage on our extensive parks and recreation amenities.
Clearwater Parks
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Working to Advance Legislation
in Clearwater's Best Interest
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I currently serve as the Second Vice-President of The Suncoast League of Cities (SLC), which consists of 27 member municipalities in 3 counties spanning from St. Leo in the North to Gulfport in the South. We work closely with and are supported by the Florida League of Cities (FLC) in representing member interests to the Florida Legislature, Governor’s office, and state agencies.
This year’s legislative session began on March 7. The SLC’s priorities this year include supporting legislation that provides behavioral health resources, promotes resiliency and sustainability, and provides attainable housing and rental assistance to essential workers in our community. We are also closely watching legislation related to short term rentals, waste management, and transportation funding.
I’ll be traveling to Tallahassee in April to advocate for legislation that allows Clearwater to develop policy that works best for our community, and allows our residents to decide what is best. You can learn more at the Suncoast League of Cities and at the Florida League of Cities.
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Congratulations Jennifer Poirrier! | |
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On March 2, Clearwater City Council voted to appoint Jennifer Poirrier as City Manager, promoting her from the interim city manager position she’d been holding since Jan. 5. Ms. Poirrier served as Director of Human Resources in Clearwater from 2018-2022, when she was promoted to Assistant City Manager, in Oct. of 22. I know Ms. Poirrier to be a capable, honest, transparent, and incredibly hard working individual. I trust her and her ability to lead us through some challenging times. I’m proud of the work she has done so far, and I am equally proud to be part of the council that voted unanimously to appoint the city’s second female city manager. And how apropos that it fell at the beginning of National Women’s Month.
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Shop Local - Check out Mega Burrito | |
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Mega Burrito is an authentic Mexican restaurant tucked in the East Gateway of Clearwater at 1478 Gulf to Bay Blvd. This hidden gem, owned by Margarito Perez has been part of the East Gateway for over 25 years. Margarito and members of his family cook up chimichangas, taco salads, enchiladas, and, of course, burritos for locals as well as visitors from afar.
With the recent construction in the East Gateway, they have seen a drop in business. Although the road construction workers keep him busy at lunch time, he’s anxious to get back to normal as construction nears completion. If you’re looking for tasty, authentic Mexican fare, with generous portions and reasonable prices, stop by. You can check out the menu and hours of operation here: Mega Burrito
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Combatting Red Tide - Every Action Counts | |
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Red tide has made an unusually early appearance here in Pinellas County. Early March was particular worrisome. There were days Clearwater had to put out health alert signs along our beaches. However, mid to late March, conditions greatly improved.
Red tide is a type of harmful algae bloom caused by an increase or “bloom” in the concentration of certain microscopic algae in the water. Unfortunately, human behavior can exacerbate the conditions by increasing nitrogen and other chemicals in our waters. Advice from local scientists is to reduce the chemicals that feed the blooms. These include:
- Pick up after your pet – don’t allow pet waste to enter our natural waters.
- Reduce your water consumption at home.
- Plant native plants, limit watering, and create rain gardens.
- Use mulch and compost instead of fertilizers.
- If you choose to use fertilizers or pesticides, use organic.
- Reduce paved areas around your home.
- Avoid washing your car in paved areas - instead wash it on grass or gravel or go to a commercial car wash where they have drains and filters.
- Reduce transportation emissions, which account for 17-20% of the load of nutrients in our Bay.
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Congratulations to Clearwater's
Employee of the Year!
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Congratulations to the city of Clearwater’s Employee of the Year, Beach Lifeguard Manager Patrick Brafford. The award, named for former City Manager William B. Horne II, honors Brafford’s coordinating with Clearwater Police to identify and stop a group of beach-blanket thieves, who stole from beachgoers and used their credit cards while they hung out at Clearwater Beach.
The City hosted its annual Achievement Awards Employee Luncheon on March 10. Over 150 people were in attendance to honor those employees who go above and beyond their "normal" job description.
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This pretty lady, Clearwater Human Resources Analyst, Michelle Sheldon, deserves a special shout out for making the Clearwater Employee Recognition Luncheon so much fun. Channeling her inner Marilyn Monroe, she hammed it up with all the award winners and made the afternoon both memorable and special.
Thank you, too, to the entire Achievement Awards Committee who worked so hard to recognize some very special Clearwater employees who go above and beyond. I know for sure we were not able to recognize all those who deserve recognition, so thank you to those who were not in attendance, for your service to our beautiful city.
The Tampa Bay Times recently highlighted our early morning beach team. Read about it here: Beautifying the beach.
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On March 27 the City Council appointed Brian Aungst Sr. to fill a vacancy on the council, as mayor, finishing out the seat 1 term through March 2024. The council agreed to appoint someone with mayoral experience, and someone that would not seek election in 2024. Mr. Aungst served as mayor from 1999 to 2005. There is a great deal of work to do in the city, and I appreciate having Mr. Aungst join in on that work.
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March is National Women's History Month. With that in mind, I thought I'd share two events that honor women.
First is the 9th annual Walk for Willa 5K Run and Fun Walk. This event will raise money and awareness for the Willa Carson Health and Wellness Center and its mission in providing health care to the uninsured and underserved persons and communities of Pinellas County. Whether you are an avid runner or a casual walker, this event is for you.
Registration is $35 per participant (FREE for participants 12 & under). Register online for the event at: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Clearwater/WalkForWilla5k
This year's event will be hosted at beautiful Crest Lake Park on Saturday, April 15. The 5K race starts at 8 a.m. and the Fun Run starts at 9 a.m.
For those not able to attend this in person event, there is a virtual option. Registration includes a shirt, snacks, and participation medal with recognition for the top three 5K runners.
The second is the 4th Annual Women's History Month Exhibit "Trailblazing Women" at the Clearwater Historical Society. The 2023 Trailblazers, Maria Nieves Edmonds, Julie Scales, Nicole Stott, and Gertrude Josephine Warnick are honored, and the contributions they have made to our community are highlighted in this impressive exhibit. The exhibit runs through May 27. The museum is open Thurs - Sat. 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
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Drew St. Improvement Update | |
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On March 16, the City Council discussed the planned improvements for Drew St, as proposed by FDOT.
The Complete Street design aims to increase safety for driving, biking, and walking through multiple neighborhoods between Osceola and US 19, enabling multiple modes of travel to downtown and neighborhoods, while maintaining traffic flow.
Many residents spoke on March 16 in support of project, which is funded in FY 2024 by FDOT. A letter of support for the project to FDOT will be voted on by the council on April 4. Here are the agenda item documents: Agenda Item 4.3 Please write in or come to the April 4 meeting to share your thoughts. Click here to view comments on the project by Forward Pinellas.
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Come Enjoy the Clearwater
Sugar Sands Festival
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What a beautiful sand sculpture this is. It's from last year's Sugar Sand Festival. Clearwater's awesome Sugar Sand Festival opens on beautiful Clearwater beach on April 7 and runs thru April 23. It is the 9th year for this family friendly event complete with world class sand sculptures - this year's theme is "Decades: A Blast From the Past!" Concerts, performers, and daily entertainment are also part of the festival schedule.
General admission to the sculpture exhibit will be $14 per person and free for children 3 years old and younger.
Discounted tickets for military personnel, police officers, firefighters, teachers and healthcare workers can be purchased for $10 each on “Frontline Fridays,” which are April 7, 14 and 21. These discounted tickets will be available at the gate only with proper identification. All other tickets can be purchased online at Sugar Sand Festival.
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Want to Make a Difference? Advisory Boards are Looking for New Members | |
More than a few Clearwater advisory boards are looking for new members. This is a great way to learn more about our city, meet new people, and weigh in on important matters that affect residents and businesses in our community. You can learn more here: Clearwater Advisory Boards | |
Sign Up for One of the City's Many Newsletters | |
The city has multiple newsletters and ways to receive alerts. Subscribe via email or text to the neighborhoods newsletters, volunteer newsletter, the city's latest press releases, and more. Click here to learn more: City Newsletters. | |
Thank You for Your Interest and Support | | | | |
