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May 15, 2026
Water Maintenance Program Begins May 18, Goes to June 6
 Each year, Pinellas County temporarily switches its drinking water treatment method from chloramines to chlorine. The switch begins May 18 and goes to June 6. Clearwater customers may be affected because the city purchases a portion of its water from Pinellas County.
During this period, some residents, particularly those sensitive to chlorine, may notice a stronger taste or odor in their water. Individuals who use kidney dialysis machines and those with aquatic life, such as fish tanks, should contact their service providers for guidance.
The following steps may help reduce chlorine taste or odor:
- Run the tap for several moments before use.
- Fill a pitcher with water and let it sit for several hours to allow residual chlorine to dissipate.
- Consider installing a carbon filter on faucets or showerheads, or replace existing filters.
Your water remains safe to drink and continues to meet all federal and state drinking water standards. For more information, call Clearwater Public Utilities at (727) 562-4960.
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Upcoming Events
Sharkapalooza
May 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Coachman Park
 Dive into Sharkapalooza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 16 at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater. This art-driven celebration of ocean life brings together local artists, marine-themed works and community fun to highlight the beauty and importance of sharks and marine ecosystems.
In partnership with OCEARCH, Sharkapalooza supports global shark research, tracking and education efforts while inspiring conservation through creativity. The event takes place at Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St., with free parking available in downtown garages, surface lots and on-street spaces. Make plans to join this fin-tastic day of art, ocean awareness and family-friendly fun.
Downtown Clearwater Art Walk
May 16, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Meet at Main Library
 The Clearwater Arts Alliance invites you to experience the Downtown Clearwater Art Walk, May 16, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., beginning at the Clearwater Main Library located at 100 N. Osceola Ave. This guided walk covers the Cleveland Street corridor and surrounding areas, highlighting the city’s growing public art scene. Participants can enjoy lunch at one of downtown’s local restaurants following the walk.
Tickets are $10 and should be purchased in advance to reserve a spot. The group will meet in the courtyard in front of the Centennial Oak sculpture at the library.
2026 Hurricane Preparedness Day
May 30, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
 Don't miss the free hurricane preparedness event May 30, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the North Greenwood Recreation Center, 900 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., to help you and your family get ready for hurricane season.
Event highlights will include:
- Free hurricane kit supplies
- Evacuation zone lookup
- Special needs evacuation program registration
- Emergency shelter demonstration
- Sandbag demonstration
- Recovery resources and services
- Free disaster legal aid
- Business resource center
- Free pet services (with purchase of a county license): exams, rabies shots and microchips
- Blood drive with OneBlood (donors receive a $20 gift card)
- Opportunity to see emergency response vehicles up close
- Children's hurricane education zone
- Free hot dogs and chips provided by the Salvation Army
HOPE Expo 2026
June 27, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Raymond James Financial Center
 The 2026 HOPE Expo will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 27, at the Raymond James Financial Center, 800 Carillon Parkway, Tower 2, in St. Petersburg. The event is free and open to anyone interested in buying a home. Free lunch will be provided for all attendees.
Participants can attend workshops and explore an exhibit hall featuring more than 30 exhibitors representing every stage of the homebuying process. Workshops will be offered in both English and Spanish and will cover key topics to help answer common questions about purchasing a home.
Other Upcoming Events
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Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels, May 16, 2 p.m., Countryside Library
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Willie Nelson with Lily Meola, May 17, 7 p.m., The BayCare Sound
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Jewelry Making, May 19, 3 p.m., East Community Library
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Game Time at the Library, May 21, 3:30 p.m., North Greenwood Library
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Sam Barber, May 21, 6:30 p.m., The BayCare Sound
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Clearwater and Countryside High School Graduations, May 22, various times, The BayCare Sound. (Give yourself more time to park if you are in the area.)
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Funtastic Fridays, May 22, 6 p.m., Countryside Recreation Center
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Summer Kick-off Cookout, May 23, 1 to 4 p.m., Morningside Recreation Center
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City Offices to Close for Memorial Day, May 25
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Clearwater Honor Fest, May 25, 6:30 p.m., Crest Lake Park
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Pre-Camp Day Off of School, May 29, various recreation centers
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Salsa and Bachata, May 30, 6 p.m., Downtown Cleveland Street
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The Market Marie, June 13, 10 a.m., Coachman Park
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Upcoming Public Meetings
 City meetings are typically held in city council chambers at the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave., unless otherwise noted. Stream on the city's Facebook page or the city's YouTube channel, or watch live on C-View TV Spectrum Channel 638, Frontier Channel 30 and WOW! Channel 15.
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Downtown Development Board Special Meeting, May 18, 1 p.m.
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Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting, May 18, 1 p.m.
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City Council Work Session, May 18, 1:30 p.m.
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Community Development Board Meeting, May 19, 1 p.m.
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Red Light Camera Appeals Hearings, May 20, 2 p.m.
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City Council Meeting, May 21, 6 p.m.
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CRA Community Outreach Meeting, May 26, 3 to 4 p.m., Clearwater Main Library
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Municipal Code Enforcement Board Meeting, May 27, 1:30 p.m.
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Special City Council Work Session, May 28, 5 p.m.
Reminder: Public comment is not taken at any Clearwater City Council Work Session.
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PSTA On-Demand Snapper Service
 Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s Snapper On-Demand Service assists riders in getting anywhere within the Clearwater and Safety Harbor Snapper on-demand zones. Snapper rides booked for pickup and drop-off within each zone are $4.50, or the reduced fare of $2.20 with proper ID. UPASS members can ride for free when they present their appropriate ID or fare card.
 The southbound exit of the Acacia roundabout on north Clearwater Beach will be closed May 18 to 20, for ongoing utility and roadway improvements. Southbound traffic on Mandalay and Eldorado avenues will be detoured via Acacia Street, Bay Esplanade and Somerset Street. Access to 28 Acacia St. may be temporarily affected. Drivers should follow posted signage and allow extra travel time.
“Unearth a Story”: Clearwater Library’s Summer Reading Program Begins June 1
 The Clearwater Public Library System invites readers of all ages to take part in the 2026 Summer Reading Program, “Unearth a Story,” running June 1 through July 31.
Open to children, teens and adults, the program encourages the community to explore new books, discover hidden histories and engage in a variety of library events and activities.
Participants can track their reading, earn prizes and attend special programs throughout the summer. Registration opens June 1 at all Clearwater library locations and online.
 Clearwater utility customers are being targeted by a scam claiming overdue bills and requesting wire payments. These messages are fraudulent. The city and its utility partners do not request payments via 800 or 888 numbers.
Do not share your personal or payment information. For account questions, call (727) 562-4600.
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Clearwater Solid Waste and Recycling Winners Return Home
 Clearwater’s Solid Waste and Recycling team competed in the Solid Waste Association of North America’s Florida Road-E-O Competition in Fort Myers April 24 and 25. The competition challenges solid waste professionals as they compete in specialized obstacle courses, inspections, safety exams and maneuvering challenges.
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Tim Jones (Solid Waste Equipment Operator) returns as a three-time, first-place winner in Automated Side Loading.
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Donald Holcomb (Solid Waste Equipment Operator) earned first place in Rear End Loading.
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Josh Burdo (Solid Waste Equipment Operator) earned second place in the Roll-off event.
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Bradford Hardbarger (Solid Waste Equipment Operator) competed in Automated Side Loading, receiving fifth place in his first competition.
- Solid Waste Supervisor Mike Campagna acted as a coach, helping the team practice and prepare for the competition
The first-place winners will advance to the SWANA International Road-E-O later this year.
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Reuse to Reduce Waste
 Residents are encouraged to reuse common household items as a way to reduce waste and support recycling efforts.
Before placing items in the recycling bin, residents can extend their use through simple steps. Glass jars and plastic containers can be reused for storage, while paper bags can serve multiple purposes. Clothing and household goods in good condition can be donated, and worn textiles can be repurposed as cleaning rags.
Reducing waste through reuse helps conserve resources and limits contamination in the recycling system. It also helps save space in the Pinellas County landfill. Residents are reminded to follow local recycling guidelines and avoid placing non-recyclable items in their bins.
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Baby Tortoise Rescued at Moccasin Lake Nature Park
 Last week, a guest visited Moccasin Lake Nature Park with a tiny Gopher Tortoise hatching and quite a story to tell.
She shared that while standing near the dumpster at her workplace, something suddenly dropped onto her head. At first, she assumed it was a pinecone — but when she looked down, she discovered a baby gopher tortoise. She believes a bird may have accidentally dropped it while flying overhead.
Wanting to do the right thing, she came to our team for advice. She explained that the tortoise was found in an area surrounded by about 28 acres of natural habitat. We let her know that, whenever possible, gopher tortoises should be returned to the exact area where they were found. Relocating them elsewhere can cause them to try to return home, often forcing them to cross busy roads where many are sadly injured or killed by vehicles. She was relieved to learn that returning the little tortoise to its original location was the best and safest option.
Moments like this are a wonderful reminder that there are caring people out there willing to go the extra mile to help protect wildlife.
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Safely Dispose of Old Chemicals
 It’s spring cleaning time! Safely clear out old gas, household chemicals, paint and certain batteries at Pinellas County's free household hazardous waste drop‑off locations before the June 1 start of hurricane season. These materials can ignite fires and pollute homes and neighborhoods during storms, so don’t wait. Dropping them off now will help you save time and avoid long lines right before a storm.
Drop‑off locations:
- HHW Center: 2855 109th Ave. N., St. Petersburg (select days, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- HHW North: 29582 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater (select Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Barrier island event: Sat., May 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Treasure Island Community Center Park (150 106th Ave.)
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A Quick and Easy Way to Pay Your Utility Bill
 Clearwater residents now have a new, convenient way to pay their utility bills with the installation of a self-service payment kiosk.
The kiosk offers 24/7 access, allowing customers to make payments at any time without waiting in line or visiting during regular business hours. Payments can be made using credit card, cash or check, and are applied to accounts instantly.
The kiosk is designed to provide added flexibility and improve customer service by offering a fast, secure payment option outside of traditional office hours. The kiosk is located at 100 S. Myrtle Ave. in Clearwater.
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We're Hiring - Work With Us!
 The city of Clearwater is hiring for many important positions that keep the city bright and beautiful. Check them out, and click the button below for the full list.
The city of Clearwater offers competitive compensation, medical benefits, wellness programs, an employee health center, paid time off, pension benefits, training, development, rewards and recognition.
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Library & Recreation Center Information
Libraries
Parks & Recreation
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Save The Date: Clearwater Celebrates America
July 3 and 4
 Clearwater Celebrates America is a two-day festival that will feature a variety of events for all ages. Both nights will have a dedicated children's zone, a mix of international and local musical performances, street performers, local food vendors and more.
July 3 will feature a laser light show, and July 4 will have a traditional fireworks show, concluding the Clearwater Celebrates 250-week-long festivities. Activities start at 5 p.m.each night.
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