Learn more about the council and get their contact information on their biography pages.
Clearwater's Mayor is elected for a four-year term. The duties of the Mayor's position include presiding at all public meetings and acting as the official head of the city for service of process, by the governor for purposes of military law and for all ceremonial purposes. The Mayor has an equal vote with the other four Councilmembers and does not have any veto power.
The City Council sets policy and makes decisions concerning many different aspects of local government -- such as tax rates, annexations, property code variances and large contract awards. Clearwater's municipal administration is patterned after the Council-Manager form of government. This system of joint government combines the strong political leadership of elected officials (the City Council) with the strong management skills of a professional City Manager who prepares an annual budget for the Council's action, serves as the Council's chief advisor, recruits and hires the government's staff and sees to it that the Council's programs and policies are carried out. The Council also hires the City Attorney who is the full-time legal advisor for the city.
The City Council also has the following responsibilities:
Members of the City Council are elected at large and elections are nonpartisan. There are no districts in Clearwater and each councilmember represents the entire city as a whole. Special elections may be called by the City Council at any time.
The City Council is comprised of five members -- one Mayor and four Councilmembers -- who each serve four-year terms. A person can serve two consecutive terms as a City Council member, after which he/she cannot hold any City Council seat other than Mayor for a minimum of two years. The Mayor position also has a two-term limit after which he/she cannot serve as a City Council member or Mayor for a minimum of two years.
Commencing on March 19, 2024, the mayor shall receive an annual salary of $49,000.00 to be paid in prorated bi-weekly amounts. Each city councilmember shall receive an annual salary of $45,000.00 to be paid in prorated bi-weekly amounts.
Commencing on March 15, 2001, and every January thereafter, the annual salary of the mayor and councilmembers shall be adjusted by the same percentage as the annual social security cost-of-living adjustment or by two percent, whichever is greater.
To become a candidate you must be:
For more information, contact the City's Clerk's office.
The Council holds public meetings on the first and third Thursday of each month in the Clearwater Main Library's Council Chambers at 6 p.m.
To prepare for these meetings, the City Council also holds a work session on the Monday prior to each Thursday night meeting, usually at 9 a.m. While the work sessions are open to the public, there is no format for public comment.
Stream the meetings online and view the agendas.
The public is permitted--and encouraged--to speak at the Thursday Council meetings. Remember that while the public can attend the Monday work sessions, there is no provision for public comment.
Depending on your topic, there are two ways to address the Council. For topics that are on the agenda, the Council will invite citizens to speak at the appropriate time during the meeting. For topics that are not on the agenda, the Council provides time prior to beginning the agenda topics for citizens to speak on any subject relevant to the city of Clearwater. Speakers are allotted a maximum of three minutes for non-agenda topics.
Read the city of Clearwater's governing rules and ordinances.
PDF of council rules as approved.
Election Day for City Council Seats 4 and 5 is Aug. 18, 2026.