City of Clearwater
Clearwater is a contemporary city by any measure. Yet, it retains much of small town Florida charm that has made Clearwater so popular with its residents and visitors.
From the 2007-2008 Clearwater Citizens Guide:
"Clearwater is a progressive city that is committed to enhancing residents’ lives while reserving a heritage that is rich in culture and exquisite in landscape."
City of Clearwater Mission Statement:
" The Mission of the City of Clearwater is to provide cost effective municipal services and infrastructure necessary for a high quality of life for all our citizens."
City of Clearwater Vision Statement:
" Sparkling Clearwater is a uniquely beautiful and vibrant waterfront community that is socially and economically diverse, that reinvests in itself, and is a wonderful place to live, learn, work and play."
Clearwater City Overview
Between the Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the exciting city of Clearwater adds grandeur to the Pinellas peninsula. The city of Clearwater is situated in the central Pinellas County, Florida, USA, on the west side of Tampa Bay and is the smaller of the three largest cities that make the Tampa Bay area. Among the total area of 97 km², the land measures 65 km² while the water surface measures about 32 km². According to the 2005 census, the city houses 108,687 people with a population density of 1,659/km².
The first settlements in the city can be traced back to 1841, when the Fort Harrison was established. Following its first incorporation in the year 1891, the city became an important landmark in tourism by 1896. For the second time, Clearwater was incorporated in the year 1915. The city of Clearwater gains its reputation from three fronts as a wonderful residential community, exciting tourist destination, and as the host of the popular scientology movement. Apart from being the acclaimed seat of Clearwater Christian College, the city has also been a popular center for the Church of Scientology from 1970.
Brief History of Clearwater
Historically, the area had been the home of an Indian tribe called Tocobagan. In 1835 during the Seminole wars, the U.S. army constructed Fort Harrison in the city as an outpost on a bluff in the Clearwater harbor. Quite surprisingly, later when the site was excavated in 1977, an underground ammunition bunker was unearthed. After the first incorporation of the city in 1881, the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 sanctioned 160 acres of land to anyone willing to cultivate. As a consequence, the population started growing.
Until 1906, the area was called as Clearwater Harbor. As a matter of interest, the name of the city seems to have come from a freshwater spring that flows, adjacent to which the present City Hall building is located today.
The first road linking Clearwater and Tampa was laid in 1849 and the first Pinellas County Post office was established in the Turner Street Dock Park, in 1859. With the building of Belleview Biltmore in 1897, the city turned a landmark in tourism. Breaking from Hillsborough County in 1912, Pinellas became an independent county and Clearwater became the county seat for Pinellas on May 27, 1915. In the same year, a bridge was constructed across Clearwater harbor linking the city and the beach. Clearwater hosted a military base for the U.S. army during the II World War.
Clearwater Governance
A Council-Manager form of governance administers the Clearwater city. The administrative set up of the city includes the City Council, City Manager and the various departments.
The city council consists of the Mayor, Vice-Mayor and three Council members. All these positions hold the post for a three-year term. The principal duty of the City Council is to carryout the responsibilities imposed by the State Law, and Ordinance and Charter of the Clearwater City. The City Council is the authority in policy and decision making with respect to various local government issues like tax rates, property code variances, annexations and sanctioning large contracts, besides setting budget for the city and evaluating the performance of the City Manager and City Attorney.
The City Manager functions as Administrative Officer and the Chief Executive. The administration and coordination of the City of Clearwater vest with the City Manager. He/she is a professional administrator duly appointed by the City Council to discharge the day-to-day operations of the city. The City Manager’s primary task is to effectively implement the policies designed by the City Council. A seven-member body including two Assistant City Managers and an administrative staff supports the City Manager.
The various city departments that assist the City Council and the City Manager are City Attorney, City Auditor, Clearwater Customer Service, Clearwater Gas System, Development and Neighborhood Services, Economic Development and Housing Department, Engineering Department, Equity Services, Finance, Fire and Rescue, Human Resources, Information Technology, Library, Marine and Aviation, Office Management and Budget, Official Records and Legislative Services, Parks and Recreation, Planning, Police, Public Communications, Public Services Department, Public Utilities Department, and Solid waste and General Services. In all the city departments put together, the city administration has employed over 780 people at work in various responsibilities.
City Highlights, Challenges and Achievements
As a popular tourist destination, Clearwater is abundant in exciting attractions. Clear skies, pleasant climate, and the soothing warmth of the sun on most days of the year – are highly unique features that attract millions of travelers to the city. The city also has an assortment of zoos, museums, sports activities, events and celebrations, historical sites, entertainment and theme parks, library, a renowned center of Scientology, clubs, restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers, and one of the best beaches in the country. These features contribute to make a Clearwater come alive throughout the year.
Clearwater shares three prominent interests as a residential community, tourist destination and the center of a popular spiritualist movement. The challenge before the city administration is to effectively balance these diverse areas of importance and resolve the overlaps that ensue in developing and catering to the needs and interests in these areas, which has been ably achieved to a great extent.
During the recent past, the City Administration has commissioned a downtown renovation, Memorial Causeway Bridge, Main Public Library, and continued to support activities at the very popular Coachman Park. The city council has also taken steps to enhance the Cleveland Street streetscape. Additionally, the city is considering construction of a multi-million dollar marina at the base of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway.
Clearwater has a conference and exhibition facility at Harborview Center. The facility can accommodate up to 1,400 people with space upwards of 30,000 square feet. The center overlooks the beautiful Clearwater Harbor.
