The Clearwater Floodplain/Building Board unanimously approved a variance allowing the City of Clearwater to place temporary, movable ticket-sales kiosks below the design flood elevation at Clearwater Beach Marina. The board granted the variance (case BAA2025-09004) after presentations from city engineering and marina staff and questions from board members.

City engineer Tanner Hamzawi summarized the installation plan as a temporary measure tied to the marina reconstruction and said the units are designed for rapid removal: "This installation is for the variance of the below the design flood elevation, and the flood protection will be done, by the removal under the city of Clearwater's emergency plan." He said the kiosks will be quick-connect for electric and communications and demonstrated an illustrative site plan that initially showed 10 locations on the west side and 2 on the east side; staff later clarified there will be two kiosks per slab for 24 total.

Mike McDonald, director of Marina and Aviation, described the city's emergency removal policy (Policy 2001) that triggers relocation when the Emergency Operations Center declares storm conditions and when directed by the marina director or division manager. "Once triggered, staff and contractors follow [a] detailed preestablished process to disconnect power and communication lines, secure and document each kiosk for FEMA or insurance purposes, and relocate the kiosk to designated safe locations," McDonald said, adding planned storage will include the downtown parking garage, a future Beach Marina parking garage and hangars at Clearwater Executive Airport.

Jean Henry, planning and development floodplain administrator, told the board the proposal meets the intent of the National Flood Insurance Program and the city's floodplain rules because the kiosks are not permanent. "It's not gonna affect the CRS," Henry said, referring to the Community Rating System; she said the variance sought is limited to chapter 47 (design flood elevation) and that the city will report the variance and supporting materials to the state for review.

Board members pressed staff on materials, transport logistics and storm performance. Staff said the kiosks are prefabricated, built with aluminum siding, have no plumbing (only electrical and communications), and are designed with tie-downs and wind loading consistent with wind-borne debris-area standards; staff referenced design review against applicable wind standards. Delivery timing was described as expected in December or January and staff said life-expectancy estimates run around 20 years, with some manufacture or model details to be confirmed.

During discussion, one board member raised staffing and contractor availability during major storm response and warned emergency contractors may prioritize higher-paying work elsewhere; staff said the city plans to secure on-call contractors to ensure timely relocation and that marina/public-works staff would manage removals as part of the emergency plan.

A motion by a board member (Speaker 3) to grant the variance under code section 47.0352, citing the application, staff report and testimony, was seconded by the chair (Speaker 4). The board voted 'aye' with no opposition and the variance was approved. Staff said the approval will be documented and submitted to state reviewers and will be part of the upcoming CRS cycle review.

The board also heard brief administrative items, including introduction of a new city contact (Alba) and two new board members, then adjourned.