Section 3-1411.B.5 of the Code of Ordinances, Clearwater, Florida, does, indeed prohibit “spiral” type bike racks.
Setting aside their erroneous accusation that someone else installed it, one must still wonder why the city is allowed to use a type of rack that they, themselves, prohibit.
The more interesting thing seems to be that the racks were not installed on the sidewalk but within a blue painted area of the street. Swinton should be fired.