Outdoor Displays- - Sent to Clearwater City Manager's officeSince the work session on 10/19/09 when Mr. Delk and Ms. Clayton recommended staying with the status quo regarding outdoor displays, I have been told: "we are working on it." Keep in mind I have been asking for permission from both the city staff and the City Council permission to put rental bikes outdoors on private land, not on a sidewalk or in a parking lot for over two years. This effort which has been off and on has done nothing but further my disdain for how the city of Clearwater treats small business owners. Mr. Delk and his staff have had many months to address my request and make a reasonable recommendation. But they choose to bail out easy and stick with a 4 week out of 52 week outdoor display program. Meanwhile every grocery store home improvement center and other big boxes operations can put whatever they want outside utilizing various city approved optional permits. Or they ignore codes and the city code department ignores them. Why does the City Council condone ludicrous codes and ignore small business owners trying to improve the city you represent? When is this Council going to dictate then demand the city staff re-write city ordinances that are fair and reasonable enforce them equally. Why does the City of Clearwater, knowing it has the worst reputation when it comes to doing business, do nothing about it? It is time for the tail "city staff" to stop wagging the dog "council and citizens." - Mike Riordon
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