The Clearwater City Council is the elected legislative body that governs the City of Clearwater, Florida. It has five members — a Mayor and four Councilmembers — who pass local ordinances, approve the city budget, set the property tax rate, and appoint the City Manager and City Attorney who run day-to-day operations.1City of Clearwater. Mayor and City Council
As of 2026, the seats are held by Mayor Bruce Rector (Seat 1), Ryan Cotton (Seat 2), Mike Mannino (Seat 3), David Allbritton (Seat 4), and Lina Teixeira (Seat 5). The council office sits on the sixth floor of One Clearwater Tower at 600 Cleveland Street and can be reached at (727) 562-4050.1City of Clearwater. Mayor and City Council
How the Council Is Elected
All five seats are elected at-large, meaning every registered voter in Clearwater votes on every seat rather than choosing a representative for a geographic district. Elections are nonpartisan, so no party label appears next to a candidate’s name on the ballot. Terms are four years and staggered, so the full council is never up for election at once.1City of Clearwater. Mayor and City Council
Both the Mayor and Councilmembers face a two-consecutive-term limit. After hitting the cap, a Councilmember cannot sit in any council seat other than Mayor for at least two years, and a term-limited Mayor cannot serve in any council role for the same two-year period. Members must remain qualified voters and city residents throughout their term.2City of Clearwater. City Council Frequently Asked Questions and History3Municode Library. Clearwater Charter – Vacancies, Forfeiture of Office, Filling Vacancies, Advisory Boards
What the Council Does
The city charter puts all legislative power in the council. In practice that covers passing ordinances and resolutions, adopting the annual operating budget, and setting the ad valorem property tax rate on real and personal property inside the city. The millage rate is finalized at special budget hearings each September under Florida’s Truth in Millage (TRIM) process.4Municode Library. Clearwater Charter – Council, Composition, Powers5City of Clearwater. Adopt Tentative Millage Rate for FY2018/19 and Set Public Hearing Dates for September
Clearwater uses a council-manager form of government, so the council sets policy while a hired professional runs the city. The City Manager is appointed by at least four council votes and serves at the council’s pleasure. The City Attorney is appointed the same way but can be removed by a simple majority, with the right to request a public hearing before any removal vote.4Municode Library. Clearwater Charter – Council, Composition, Powers
Ordinances have to clear a public process. A proposed ordinance must be read on at least two separate days at regular or special meetings, and the city must publish notice in a local newspaper at least ten days before adoption with the meeting details, the ordinance title, and where to read the full text. Emergency ordinances can bypass that timeline but require four votes and a stated reason for the emergency.4Municode Library. Clearwater Charter – Council, Composition, Powers
When and Where Meetings Happen
Regular council meetings are held in the Clearwater City Council Chambers at 100 South Osceola Avenue. Evening sessions usually start at 6 p.m., with occasional morning meetings on the calendar. Work sessions, used for staff presentations and discussion of complex items, start at 1:30 p.m.6City of Clearwater. Watch Meetings, View Meeting Calendar and Meeting Rules
The difference matters if you are following a specific issue. Work sessions are for discussion only; no binding votes are taken there. The actual vote happens later at a regular meeting. The 2026 schedule includes roughly two regular meetings a month, plus the two special budget hearings in September. Agendas and backup documents are posted on the city’s website ahead of each meeting.6City of Clearwater. Watch Meetings, View Meeting Calendar and Meeting Rules
How to Speak at a Meeting
Public comment is taken at regular meetings but not at work sessions. To speak, fill out a comment card and give it to the City Clerk before your agenda item is called. The cards are on the right-hand side of the dais near the Clerk’s station in the chambers.6City of Clearwater. Watch Meetings, View Meeting Calendar and Meeting Rules
Each speaker gets up to three minutes at the podium, after which the microphone may be cut off. Direct your remarks to the Mayor and Council as a body, not to individual members or the audience. The council typically does not debate comments on the spot; members may instead ask staff to follow up or revisit the issue at a later meeting.6City of Clearwater. Watch Meetings, View Meeting Calendar and Meeting Rules
Council Pay
Councilmembers earn $45,000 a year and the Mayor earns $49,000, with annual cost-of-living adjustments. Those figures took effect after the March 2024 election, following a 2023 vote to raise pay from roughly $27,600 for Councilmembers and $33,000 for the Mayor. The increase applied to members seated after that election rather than retroactively to those already in office.