Technology Center.

We started it at the Visitor Center at about 10 o'clock and broke ground, shovel uh uh uh some sand uh ready to go on White Avenue uh uh Judge Secrew area and uh that we went over well we had the governor and uh Dr.

Kenning from Mississippi State and a lot of folks from there, and it was a tremendous uh tremendous gathering of the the general uh Wolf Davidson and uh uh first wing commander Chris uh Robinson was there, and I think it was you know Bluxy and Kickster uh really uh starting something that uh is gonna position us for a lot of growth and a lot of uh you know expansion of this this keeper.

So we it's really exciting.

Both events today are this week were were very positive.

So uh I almost concludes my report.

I'll ask Bianca Booth to come up here and give us a little uh tobacco free uh Harrison County report, okay.

Welcome, Bianca.

You uh my name is Bianca Booth, and this is junior.

We are employees of New Beginnings Ministries of Stone County, and I am also a resident of Harrison County.

I will be working as the project director for Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition of Harrison County.

Um Jerry is the IT specialist um uh for New Beginnings Ministry, and he will be developing our data charts uh for our presentations.

Um now, as we face a crucial moment in Harrison County's public health history, tobacco-related illness continues to claim lives and strain our hospitals.

Um and yet the solution is clear, it's effective and already working across Mississippi.

Today I want to share with you um just a little bit of a backstory and some real data that shows that smoke-free policies are more than just good ideas, they are life-saving, uh cost-cutting, and community strengthening solutions.

Um, a landmark study conducted by Dr.

Robert McMillan uh and colleagues at Mississippi State University published in the journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association, uh analyzed hospital admission rates from 2013 to 2016 across 82 Mississippi counties.

Now, this is what they found.

Counties with smoke-free ordinances had significantly lower hospital admission rates uh for tobacco-related illnesses.

That includes heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia, asthma, and chronic ox obstructive pulmonary disease, which is CPOD.

Um hospital hospitalizations were 12% lower in smoke-free counties, and admissions for pneumonia and stroke were especially impacted.

It was lower also.

But here's the kicker.

So this just shows that the reductions are directly uh tied to smoke exposure in um uh and then and that's not just a coincidence.

So now let's talk about Harrison County, my county, our county.

Despite uh being the second largest county in Mississippi, only one of its cities, which is Govport, has an ordinance since 2008.

And none of the other cities, Biloxi, Long Beach, Diaborville, or past Christian, had um a smoke-free ordinance in place during the study period or even today.

This places our community on the wrong side of the health divide.

I ask that you allow me to come in periodically to give you health updates on how we can address these problems together.

Um, not to pressure you about an ordinance, but to uh allow you to review the facts and we work together to solve uh and come up with a solution.

New Beginning Ministries have been a vital partner and a grant recipient of Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Tobacco Control for over 17 years, working in Stone George and uh Green Counties.

We ask that you appoint someone to be a part of our local Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition Board and help to help bring fresh ideas and changes that will result in a healthier community in Harrison County.

I truly appreciate the opportunity and hoping to form a partnership with the great leaders of this um of this city council.

Thank you.

Thank you, Bianca.

Appreciate it.

Any questions?

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

And that concludes my report, I think, Rick, right?

Thank you, Mayor.

My report.

There's no departmental reports.

We'll get into council reports, Mr.

Gray.

Uh yeah.

Mr.

Jamie Lee.

A couple questions.

Get an update on uh the Claire Hornsby Park on the uh the walkway on the playground equipment.

It's still not repaired.

We've we've looked at it.

We're assessing the damage right now and hopefully have something very soon on what it's gonna take to repair that.

Okay, and the latches.

Have you had a chance to look at the haven't chance what the latches yet, but we'll get on that immediately.

Some of some of the parents are complaining that they gotta bring a chain or a rope to tie it so our kids don't run out.

That's at Hornsby, yes, sir.

That's at the hornsby.

Yeah, and the um point cadet.

I've been getting a lot of calls.

People want to know an update on that one.

Right.

Um that's something we're still working with administration on as far as you know the funding and everything on what needs to be done down there with the playground and splash pad.

Right, right.

I I told him I'd asked for an update on there.

But thank you.

Um the homeless situation.

It's uh Peter, is there any way we can work with Chief Miller and try to get some kind of resolution going or ordinance?

Um the kids can't even play at the playground.

I mean, every everyone you go to, if you go to the lighthouse park, there's 10, 15 of them laid out on the benches.

I had to call Chief Miller yesterday.

Um right there by Nativity Park, Hornsby Park had guys sleeping fast out on the picnic table.

Chief Miller sent somebody over there by dark, they had four in there.

This morning one went by there at five o'clock.

There was three sleeping in there.

And I mean, they're just the the boardwalk going around the loop.

I mean, they it's starting to just get overwhelming.

We we got to do something.

So I I don't know if we can get anything figured out.

Let me respond.

I'm on the same page.

Uh I think we're all on.

Um, we got a boy's got a little bad press when we started talking about removing a shade structure.

That particular thing was sort of related to the homeless because that's what they were part of it, but it was not, it was actually somebody got assaulted the night before.

Hitting the head with a beer key and somebody punched the lady there.

And and that's when we got inserted in this thing.

So it's about uh you know, public safety.

And that's you know, we we just got a bum wrap about that particular incident.

Chief, you know, we at least three nights in a row.

We were trying to solve that.

But it's the same thing you're talking about.

People not being able to enjoy a regular uh you know, uh enjoy your community by somebody or some you know uh group taking uh you know some liberties that they shouldn't and not uh uh uh considerate.

Not uh uh you're doing what not the only best behavior.

And then uh it happens along Division Street too.

Things that they do, you know.

Uh I can't say the homeless or non-homeless, but it's not the right thing to do.

They're not behaving right, and that's that's our problem.

If people wouldn't, you know, be respectful and be considerate.

That's all we're asking.

We we don't harange anybody, but you're you're talking about what we what we were all caring about, being able to be safe and enjoy our community.

Right, yeah, and um underneath Division Street is starting to trash everywhere, and it's starting to get out of control there again.

That's that's all I have.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Quay and Mr.

Marshall.

Okay, we're gonna call that the Jamie C.

Okay, on uh Henry Bay Park.

Uh the guys came out, they did a good job cleaning up, getting things going.

Um they're not giving me that that um deep deep clean that I'm gonna need uh in order that the uh those that are complaining to me are complaining about.

Uh one of the things that we have is the uh the uh the gates, the fencing the gates and the outside perimeter.

They say they pay a lot of good money to have those uh put there.

Uh I like to see them get operational.

Okay.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

We are we're in contact with a um fence company right now, and they are hopefully sooner than later gonna go out there and give us an estimate of what it takes to repair all of those, all of the fencing that may be damaged or or broken.

So we are um in contact with a company at this time to fix it.

That's a big company called can't be beat fenced.

That's uh you know, they bid it part those repairs.

So that's yeah, work those kinds of things in their schedule.

So we are talking about the perimeter gate, right?

Yes, sir.

Any any any of the gates or fencing that is around the park, we're looking at getting estimates on what it would take to fix that.

Any damage or you got a time frame on the bathroom door lock?

Sorry.

The bathroom doors.

Um we spoke with Mr.

Bellius actually this morning, and he was fabricating the um steel that's gonna go on the outside of the door to secure those.

And as soon as we can get those up and secure them, then we're gonna start looking at what it's gonna take to repair the insides of them so we can keep them locked up and hopefully secure from being damaged again.

Okay.

When you say uh fabricating something, I believe like jailhouse bars or something.

We don't want to make the partner like a prison.

It's right now it's just a door and with a with an exposed handle.

And in order to get in there, all you would have to do is go in there and break the handle.

So what these are gonna be is something that we can lock up from the outside to where when we have functions down there, we can just unlock for the renter or whatever, then secure them and keep them open for whenever the function needs a restroom facility at the park.

Okay.

Uh in the park, we see things that shouldn't be there.

I don't know who's doing it.

Maybe guys playing basketball, you know, come out of there, gym shoes and things, but we're we'll find just too much clothing just left in the park.

Uh, when you guys are cleaning up, can you ask them do you see clothing?

Take it with them.

100%, yes, sir.

Okay.

Also, there's a couple of chairs, uh, house chairs, uh, there's an office chair that's not a part of the park.

Can you ask you guys to take that with them also?

Sir.

Okay, on the ground is the bottle caps, just probably 2,000, 3,000 bottle caps.

Do you have a plan that we can get all of them picked up?

Where are the bottle caps at once?

Everywhere.

Everywhere, just get them everywhere.

We'll look at seeing what we can do to get those up as well.

Okay.

All right.

Uh Chief Miller.

Uh, on the park, the people sleeping in the park and things like that.

I want to thank you.

Uh uh I was able to go out and saw your officer, they're coming around, they are patrolling more.

And uh also I've also stepped up my patrol going in there.

If I know them, ask them key moving myself.

Uh I met a couple of your officers out there and they handled themselves very well.

They made that person who said that he was homeless.

They made them feel part of the community.

And uh in talking at first, he asked me, did I know that young man?

And I said no, because I just walked up and it's like one thirty in the morning.

And uh as I began to talk to him, I realized who he was, who his family was.

I was able to contact his sister on the on the phone, uh, and we communicated, and she said she's gonna be working with him also.

But that's what we call community policing, and and that's that's what we're looking for.

I wanted to say thank you for that.

As far as the rules, I know I keep promising it to you, but we are gonna work on those rules.

We're gonna work on getting everything straight.

But I want to get my gates up first so we can see lock when the park closed, gates are closed, gates will be locked, and we're gonna be able to do that.

Okay.

I appreciate you.

And I thank you.

Also, I noticed that uh and I don't I don't want to open up another fire storm, but I requested very simply there.

If you see if your officers are passing on the division, speak right there on the one team where they get off of uh I want team, ask the whoever it is there, you know, lay it out on the sidewalk to keep moving, just tap them on the show.

Just ask them to keep moving.

Um I've noticed it has been better.

Um I've also stopped a couple of times and I've talked to a few people and just to, you know, I understand their situation, but I explained to them no, you just can't sleep on the sidewalk.

So uh if you just ask your officers to to continue that, I sure appreciate it.

We will thank you.

I'll pass on your positive comments to them.

They'll appreciate that.

Thank you, thank you.

All right.

Uh far as the uh events for the over the weekend.

We had a celebration uh historical marker's place for Ty Rollins Barbershop.

Um I was pleased and happy to have my fellow council members show up and and and support the events of uh of East Belexi.

Tyler's been a very uh important person in our community.

He's been our highs our years.

Uh he's been there for over 60 years.

He's worldwide known.

You go anywhere.

They know who Tyrone is.

And that's been that's something very important to our community.

I appreciate it.

I also explained to Mr.

Tyler that mayor that you told me specifically, you are gonna get by there and talk to him and speak to him, but you had to do that train, and he understood, and he he said he knows you, he knows you get by there.

Um I have a letter of uh um complaint from about a skate park.

Um that'd be you again, uh Jamie.

Go ahead, I'll answer that one there.

Okay.

Uh the complaint was about the uh riding this late night thing going on at that at a skate park.

Um the IT and bridge is set up.

Part of it is in mine is in my ward, and the other part is in Mr.

Gray's ward.

So I guess we're split on this.

Um if there's complaints going on, you are you guys aware that they're the neighbors are complaining that the routing is maybe getting a little bit too loud.

Got an email the other day on that one, Mr.

Marshall.

We're working through Main Street on there to be able to put some signs and all up from that.

Once I get the signs and uh the time limits are identified from there, then we'll get with Chief Miller, and then we'll enforce point blank on those.

But those are what we're looking at right now, and I think Mr.

Gray was the one who sent me the email on it the other day.

I responded to him.

I did not respond to you, but I didn't know that was in your district because he sent me the email.

But we have addressed that already.

And so those are things that we're looking at to be able to put the signs up, put the time limits of when the park is available and not available, and then we'll enforce that through either uh Chief Miller or through other means.

Okay.

You just kind of remember that uh for some crazy reason they got they take the I 110 and they split it.

The uh I'll get you calling me West Coast and he him east coast.

Right.

If it's a problem in that area upon the bridge and thing like that, it'd be better addressed to both of us.

That way we I can stay in the loop also.

Uh Sammy again, uh I can you get me a list of on the parks.

Um the guys in charge of cleaning up the parks, the guys in charge of uh cutting the grass.

That's two different crews.

Yes.

Okay.

The guys in charge of cutting the grass.

Can you give me a list of all the grasses in war in East Beluxie?

Let's go from Warren War to all the parks in any areas that they're responsible for cutting.

Okay, that way I can have an idea.

I it's kind of confusing because I'm reading the shirts and I'm seeing them cutting something that's not a park.

And he says on there, shirts, parks, and recreation.

So if I can get an understanding of how that's happening, so I because I'm gonna be putting a lot of pressure on you as far as parks, parks, parks, parks.

And I don't want to be saying that well, they're they can't get there, they did they're doing things that has nothing to do with what's on their shirt.

Okay, that's all.

I'm good.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Marshall.

Mr.

Neil.

Uh Jamie.

I want to ask you about uh Hill Park.

It's starting to look pretty good out there.

And uh I got a couple ideas.

Um you remember what a tennis court was?

Yes, sir.

Um I like to see a dog park put right there.

See, we got one now, but it's just a little bit too little.

That would be a good place for a dog park.

Uh and the bleachers by the um basketball courts.

They could be gone.

So you can cut the grass each year.

Yes, sir.

But but other than that, the park's starting to look pretty good.

And I know Marshall about the um bathroom doors.

Well, we ain't got worried about it.

We don't have one.

It's got pull to potty, so you're doing good.

We need new bathrooms at Hill A Park bad.

Right.

And um, I've been working with Director Weaver, the mayor on that.

We're looking at some different options of what it's gonna take to make that happen.

Because Hillar Park could be a showpiece.

Absolutely.

I mean, that's the biggest park we have in Biloxi, and it don't look as good as the other ones.

Working on it, yes, sir.

Okay, all right.

Thank you.

And um in Camellia Street, did they forget about it?

Sir Camellia Street.

Did they like forget about it?

It's like nothing's there.

No people, they started a curb and it's they never came back.

Yes, sir.

The contractor, Nickes Brothers Construction Company, they have the uh revised elevations for that street, as you just uh pointed out.

Landmark came in, they did their part of it.

Um drain is in, there's no reason that uh Nikes cannot start grading and prepping that road for asphalt, other than that their major subcontractor warrant paving is on another project, and they said they are about four weeks out before they can come back to this area, which also affects our Beauvoir Road uh and the aggregate.

Uh so it looks like we're gonna be suffering with that issue for at least another four weeks until Warren Paving can come.

Okay.

So they no way they would be able to put no temporary paving down.

Well, we've got the temporary that's there on Camellia.

Yeah.

Uh we don't have it on Southern.

Um, but it's contractor, General Contract, his scheduling with his sub.

He just I know the people that live in that neighborhood is terrible for Dillon.

Yes, sir.

I agree.

And it uh we drive it every day and try to get on to them about make sure it's rated and it's water valves and potential damages and uh and one more to Broadwater Golf Course.

We ever gonna write these people up like we do other people.

Or we just gonna let them just keep on doing what they're doing.

Yeah, we're doing we're doing what we can do with regard to I guess rest that are taking place.

Uh and I think Jerry and has been in communications with uh you know uh uh Roy and some of these other ones on uh what their schedule is on on following up.

Uh you know, it's transient.

It gets uh gets banned and good, and we have to continually keep things down, and you know, I think some of that has fallen through the cracks and and uh we what I was thinking is like when y'all were talking about uh morning on the beat.

If you removed it, they would leave.

That's kind of the same thing out out there.

More will come too.

That's that's that's the problem.

I mean, literally, I mean, uh the ones they do arrest on uh a new beach in the block, right?

And uh give us a little story on that.

Yeah, you know, my guys are out there every day.

Oh, yeah, every day they're making a rest.

A lot of these people are brand new.

We've never seen them before.

They come into town, and for whatever reason that seems gravitate to.

Uh all talked to uh cotton.

I can't give you an answer on that.

Yeah.

I can't, I can't force it.

Yeah.

Okay.

I go out and talk to them a lot too, and they they tell me they don't have nowhere to go.

They just trying to make it.

Yeah, that's a difficult situation.

Right, everybody there's no solution for home on the well, uh, you know, uh again, coming back to uh some of the the the flack we took the other day.

Okay, those people that would uh down on the beach, for instance, okay, they're less than a mile and away, a mile and a half away from uh the Mercy Cross Center.

At the Mercy Cross Center, they've relocated 136 people that used to be homeless and are doing the day.

They can't sleep there, but most of the most of the people that attend day uh sleeping in the beach or sleeping somewhere else.

So there's some solutions.

Every Wednesday is a psychiatrist and a and a medical doctor there.

And so what we're working on is a long-term solution to uh uh in that part of the hey, this is where you sleep, not on the beach, not bothering folks underneath the uh, you know, in in open spaces.

That's the and hooking them up with if they want to, you know, uh have a permanent non-homeless situation, want to give them the help.

But now a lot of them are in the uh, you know, they understand where they can get help.

But there is help.

There is again 136 in the last year and a half, I believe.

Uh is some of the good things that we don't get credit or or you know, uh people don't understand.

There are solutions.

We gotta get them to take care and to uh get to a place where they can get help.

If they want help, okay.

So uh we're trying the best we can, but we are trying to line up with a permanent overnight place to put them.

Uh Peter will tell you in the state legislature, put some some rough some some language on them on folks about loitering and sleeping, you know, when you shouldn't be sleeping.

And uh uh it's uh it's pushing people to the limit.

I mean you and I, you people want to be compassionate, wanting help, but you know, enough is enough in a lot of a lot of cases.

It's important to remember that uh yeah, I keep saying this.

We don't have a homeless problem.

We have a mental health problem.

That's what we have, and the rest of the country has the same thing.

I don't know why it's that way, but it is.

But if we keep referring to it as just a homeless problem, we're not gonna get anywhere because that's that's not what it is.

All right, so Mr.

Queer.

Jamie, no, I'm just kidding.

I'm just kidding.

Just kidding.

Uh hey, look, first of all, Christy, thank you to uh the engineering department and all your staff and everyone who's instrumental in getting the bridge back up in a timely manner, back open to marine traffic.

So thank you.

I know that was uh done over the weekend.

There's only so much we can do, but thank you for that.

Um thanks to uh Stacey Packer, the rest of the administration and everyone that assisted with this Amtrak celebration.

It was first class.

Uh it was it was nice to be out there with uh all those people and just to see the enthusiasm with the uh chairleaders, the walking club, the margin club, and and all the Mardi Gros enthusiasts.

Um it was good.

So thanks to everyone who put that together.

Um last thing, uh I met with uh one of the board members from Memorial Hospital, and the thing that bothers me is when I mentioned to him that no one will be able to say that they were born in the city of Biloxi again if you take labor and delivery away from Memorial Biloxi, other than Keysler.

Right.

So with that being said, um we have a follow-up call, and he he did say that without giving his name and direct language that it wasn't a permanent thing that they looking to revisit that.

So uh I explained to him I'd rather hear the term suspending labor and delivery than then ceasing labor and delivery.

So just to keep uh everyone aware that we are on top of that, and uh we feel the need of being uh prideful about being born in the city of Biloxi.

Let me follow up with that.

I had to keep ahead of you know, a conversation specifically.

Uh one the uh what's about with Kent Nico last night, and you know, there's some some uh uh uh collaboration with Keysler Medical Center as far as trial level three trauma center as well as OBGYN was has been suspended at Keysler for almost uh two years, I think.

It's coming back.

So there's some opportunity to figure out uh you know uh the solution.

Uh I think if it it will take months, you know, maybe uh a year, but uh he like I said he's on he understands the uh the significance of that and I think uh we'll work through that.

It's an issue right now, but we don't want it we don't want to be a permanent thing.

That's right.

Profit's not a dirty word, but at the same time, you know, we we need heaven forbid emergencies right here in downtown Biloxi, and we don't have time to get to seeing River Memorial.

Well, I I think Kent would be uh uh uh uh he he's he can explain the situation that from uh from the operational and the safety uh thing and and uh uh it's it's not uh you know it's not what we all would want to hear, but it is what it is, and I think he's willing and uh and uh uh uh putt his efforts to uh uh you know to help us solve that.

Right, yeah, and not to mention the staff that uh once they stop that the staff um I got several nurses that live in Ward 4 that you know were told that they don't have a job.

So, you know that it it's a trickle effect when you don't have the staffing, I get it, but at the same time, um I know the legislature have put stuff in place where if you in dire need for medical staff, they have uh stipulations where they'll they'll pay your your college or things of that nature.

But i I understand the staffing issue, I understand how it is here in Biloxi with the on-call situation and all the things, but at the same time it is main concern for for us here in Biloxi.

Thanks, Mr.

Cruz.

Is that it?

Mr.

Tuesday.

Yeah, thank you.

Um Mayor, I can't remember the name of that new facility out of Keysler.

It's got a mile-long title with the cybersecurity cybersecurity and technology center.

That's a big deal, folks.

That is a huge deal for the coast.

Mayor, I know you and local legislators and and other folks here on the coast.

Keysler, uh the engineers out there, Mississippi.

Yeah, yeah.

Did uh put in a lot of time and effort.

This is probably four or five years.

Yes, it's it's been a good thing.

It's something.

So I want to compliment you on that.

Well, yeah, as I mentioned in in my remarks today, it kind of all started freeing that little corner of the campus up, so to speak, you know, cutting out uh uh uh uh eventually uh very shortly we'll open up White Avenue to Judge Seaco, which kind of you know puts blood through the veins again.

Uh but that was all possible because of the uh new main gate off a division street.

That would not have been possible had that not been done.

So that little area, uh it's a sequence of events had made that stuff, you know, yeah.

But that's a $60 million deal and it's a commitment, another uh um, I guess thing to keep Keysler viable, another mission that will would be there.

And and uh they right now I think uh train 7,000 people uh a year in in cyber right now.

So it's gonna even kick it up.

Uh uh and every flavor except I think Coast Guard at Keysler at this point.

And doing what the Mississippi Gulf Coast uh community college is a pretty significant effort that will move to the center, move to our our White Avenue, uh Judge Seacel.

We've been having conversations about an overlay district for uh, you know, the the expansion in the uh you know it'll grow.

I don't know how many 200,000 square feet would be in place.

So it is a big deal.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just wanted to compliment you as well.

Well, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, let me say that about Mr.

Don't make me call Jamie up here again.

I want to compliment Mr.

Weaver as our new CAO.

He's on the ball and on the job.

That's just my observation.

I appreciate your hard work.

When do we begin work on tideling grants?

I know I know we usually submit them what, like in the middle of winter, January or whatever.

The main ones right now in the in the portal.

And for Cool Street, the additional 500,000 for cute for crew street expansion of the boat walk.

And then also the the Oak Street extension to the that pier.

So that's about a million is what we asked for, and they just stopped it last year.

So we re-invite that.

So there's no deadline for submission per se.

It's just you could submit to the portal at any time.

Yeah, and what we said last year that we hadn't, you know, none was given to anyone.

So there are two thoughts uh I have one is uh where the Churchill Avenue Ditch is, all right, which is right beside uh the park, Penzoral Park, and Little Creek and it drains into the bay, and that might be eligible for a Tidelands grant.

And if so, you could kind of clean that up and improve it and also make that a nice little scenic part of the park there.

Uh that's the first recommendation I have for you along those lines.

The second is there are two sections of the boardwalk, the concrete boardwalk in West Biloxi between the mall, actually between De Bees Road and the Broadwater Marina, and each of those two sections might be a quarter of a mile.

I mean, if if we put in another request for those two spots right there, I mean that would give you a walk from De B's all the way to Broadwater, probably.

Yeah, all the way to Miramwell Park.

We've talked about that, you know, with every everyone.

Uh Meso may be the uh the way we would uh uh pursue that, but the county and I think it was uh uh they'll be working on a section from Porter Avenue to White Avenue, and then some of it there are bits and pieces there.

That may be the next play, but that's through the county.

Uh uh, you know, hopefully they'll do that, you know, the complete 26 miles of of that.

But yeah, definitely it's easy to fill in bits and pieces and then and and then actually retrofit that knee wall, which would uh you know uh uh keep sand uh off the beach even further.

Twenty six that's on the radar.

Twenty-six miles would be wonderful.

I'm just interested in two quarters section.

We have 17,000 linear feet, okay, in blocks of seawall.

Okay.

Five thousand of them is what uh the between Oak Street and the small craft opera is what we need all the way.

And and that would be our goal.

You don't see any sand on that beach there for a couple of reasons.

That is our goal.

The easiest uh low-hanging fruit would be to fill in between the bees road and the mall and then and take you all the way to the call scene to the to the uh to the broadwater.

Okay, thank you.

Um flashing that sign up there.

This is uh the sign at O'Reilly Park, or what used to be the sign at O'Reilly Park.

Yeah.

And anyway, we've been working on this for I've been mentioning it for a year.

If we could just do that.

Get a real sign there.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

And the uh the last thing, and I would just urge the administration to do this concerning the facilities, particularly in respect to the carnival cruise, Peter.

Is we have a first reading today, we'll have a second reading uh next next Tuesday.

It would be I think great.

I would urge you again to have it just another meeting with the crew representatives and answer all their questions.

Uh I know that a number of questions were answered.

I still get an I've gotten an email or two asking about it.

I I know zippity dude uh about the crew life.

I'm not a crew dude, but some of these folks up here are, and I don't know if they've got an emails, but there's your application.

There's still some there's still some concerns.

I'll consider it after we get those titling grants.

Um you're gonna need one.

But that's that's all I have right now.

I just know there's still some questions out there that would probably serve everybody if if you know you got in touch with folks and just probably went over it line by line, it'd be a little time consuming, but uh I think without it, you're still gonna have some confusion.

That ends my report.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Tisdale.

Mr.

Shoemaker.

Yes, uh several things I was gonna discuss have already been brought up.

So I'll just have, I guess, just one thing.

Grass cutting.

I know public works has been out more seven done grass.

But I'm getting complained daily, multiple a day, some days, and I know it's been raining.

Doesn't help, but we could just keep on grass cutting, and we'll definitely not appreciate it.

That's all I have.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Shoemaker.

I I got a few things.

Um just like to reiterate what a fantastic day it was on Amtrak.

Um everybody was so excited.

Even Ocean Springs, when we were by Ocean Springs, that wasn't even a stop, and it had confetti going off and bands playing and all that kind of stuff.

So uh kudos to all the cities and uh certainly Bilexi, I know Bilexi Tourism stands ready uh to welcome the new visitors and uh do our part to make sure it's uh very successful.

Um also uh we lost two uh really good Biloxians.

Uh you know, I just want to kind of recognize that Brenda Johnson, she was uh 30 years uh employee of the city of Bilexi.

And uh little known fact if you if you read a little bit about her, uh she's the sister of Fred Hayes, uh famous astronaut in Bilexi.

But I'm telling you, uh she's just as popular with her work ethic and uh her contributions and her tireless hours that she served uh the city of Biloxi.

Um Peter Bill Elder, uh we lost him as well.

If y'all don't know who Peter Borielder is, um kind of get to know in the next few days who he was.

He he has five uh six World Series rings, six World Series rings.

I I don't know too many people who have one, uh let alone six.

So um we certainly want to close our meeting today uh in memory of them.

Um let's see.

Uh so I'm gonna uh all right.

So one of the things with Amtrak, I got to sit by some of our other city uh officials and everything, and and one interesting point uh ocean springs brought up is that uh and I know I'm I'm assuming our agreement is the same way.

In order for any lights to be repaired on the Bloxy Ocean Springs Bridge, 10% or more of the lights have to be out.

Do y'all know that?

Is that is that anybody know of that?

All right, so I'm not gonna belabel the point, but uh interesting thing that one of the city officials said, why don't we get together?

So I d I'd like to maybe charge the administration looking in of uh the city getting with Ocean Springs, reviewing those contracts, and perhaps we can look at renting a truck from the state.

Uh and then when we have lights that are out, they can come down here, we can call them up, schedule it, then come down here instead of paying an exorbitant amount of money uh to contractors who say they can't fix anything until it's 10% or more of the lights out.

Let me refresh the situation with those bridges.

It was like a hundred and something of them out.

We uh agreed to take on the maintenance once they replaced all of them with LED.

And uh we were expecting 10 years of life out of it.

And uh so and there's a couple of things that got knocked down right in Myrtle Street, and uh so there's a matter of uh I never heard that 10% uh uh situation.

We feel like we've got some warranty work due to us.

Okay.

Yes, sir.

And we uh a lot of a lot of my friends count those lights every time they come over to the bridge.

And and uh so we do have a little uh uh conversation uh you know with the people who put it up in in the agreement we signed, and we press that to make sure we're treated fairly.

Well, that sounds good.

The other thing I've heard is those lights that they are replacing or with the Cadillac version last just as long as the Chevy version, and uh so perhaps that needs to become under uh Yeah, that was the one that said they were gonna replace it.

Sure, we would take you know the the maintenance on it, and you know, 10 years was expected to not have problems with it.

All right, but it might a little communication relations rings wouldn't hurt.

I think they're willing, they want to leverage uh the power of Bilexi along the way.

I think they have more out than we do.

They may have.

All right.

And as many of you know, in 2019, uh when the spillways devastated our oyster reefs and uh shrimp crabs, you name it, uh that was terrible.

Uh Mr.

Nale, if I told you there was 600,000 gallons of uh river water that was released, would would that be a lot of water?

Yeah.

It wasn't 600,000.

What if I told you it was 600 million?

That'd be a lot of water.

It wasn't 600 million.

You think it was 600 billion?

No.

600 trillion with a T.

600 trillion gallons of polluted river water uh rushed down into our sound and and damage the reefs, uh, put a stress on, I can't tell you countless families who depend on that Gulf.

Well, guess what?

You know, we formed the Sound Coalition and others, and along with Billy Nungesser and others.

Uh we there hasn't been but one opening, I think in 2020.

It was short, uh short opening, but ever since then they have they have uh washed themselves.

In fact, this past year, uh they were within a foot or less of opening it, where in the past they probably would have opened it and trillions or more gallons of polluted river water would have came down there.

Well, guess what we're facing now?

We're facing and listen, my friends in DMR, uh I respect uh the leadership in DMR, I respect our congressmen, uh our our representatives, our senators, but I think they got this one wrong, dead wrong.

Um wanting to lease these oyster reefs out here uh to private companies and leave a little bit uh for the little guys out there.

And I I just think that is fundamentally wrong.

I think more needs to be done.

We talk about uh Martigras and bringing everybody to a workshop uh to get a couple of these things right uh that we're trying to trying to make sure we're not burdening our Mardi Gras uh people.

But I think more needs to be done to sitting across looking people in the eye, and let's get this thing right, not wrong.

It's fundamentally wrong what they're doing.

And I, you know, I've had sleepless night since uh we crafted this resolution and I prepared a statement today.

I'm gonna read it and then I'm gonna ask uh Ryan Bradley to come up here.

And this is for all our neighbors, Anglers, Oysterman Shrubbers, and all who call the Gulf Coast uh home.

Uh today we stand at the crossroads where the heart of Biloxi, the spirit of the Gulf, and the backbone of our economy, our watermen and and women face a decision that will echo for generations.

The Mississippi Sound is not a privilege.

It is a public treasure earned by every Mississippian who has ever cast a line, checked the trap, or tasted the bounty of the sea.

It is a sustained families, built communities, and forged a reputation.

That reputation was the seafood capital of the world.

That no longer exists today, but it at one time we were at the pinnacle of where seafood sat.

Wasn't by accident, but by a legacy of public access, stewardship and shared responsibility.

We must ask who owns who owns the Gulf.

The answer is simple and powerful.

The people, the public waters, the right to fish, shrimp, and harvest oysters.

These are rights handed down by those who came before us and entrusted to us to preserve for those who will follow.

Any plan that inches that inches toward privatizing or restricting the public riches is a wound to our shoreline economy.

Our cultural heritage and our democratic ideals.

We're not asking for shortcuts or unregulated access.

We are demanding transparent governments, robust science, and management that keeps the public trust intact.

We want policies that protect reef health, ensure fair access and support sustainable harvest so that a family today can put supper on the table tomorrow in years from now.

We want to see clear, transparent processes for management decisions that involve community input, independent science and accountability and oversight.

Public access rules that remain fair and open.

Public access rules that remain fair and open, fair and open, ensuring small-scale fishers, recreational users, and commercial crews can work the waters side by side without arbitrary barriers.

Habitat restoration and protection that sustains oyster reefs, improves water quality, safeguards fisheries, and maintains the resilience of the Gulf Coast against storms and climate change.

So and I I've wrote some more here, but I'm I'm not going to read any more of it.

I think y'all get the point of it.

Many of us uh have legacies and families, whether they're netmakers, whether they're shrimpers, whether they were fishermen, uh or you know, just just friends down there with friends, uh, have grew up in this great city we call Biloxi, and they're depending on us, and so are the families in Pascal, Gulfport, Pascagoula, and and you want to tell the truth all up and down the Gulf Coast, all the way to North Carolina to Texas.

If you want to really look at it, if you if you read up on what's happening along these watershores and everything, it's it's just debilitating.

And I hope that in addition to a resolution that we say we support something, that we'll attend some meetings and get in front of those legislators and say, hey, I'll sit down at the table with you and I'll sit down with some of these people that are begging.

They're proud, they don't like to beg, but they're they're on the verge of begging for some help.

So with that, I'll yield the rest of my time to Mr.

Ryan Bradley.

Uh he's the executive director of commercial fisheries united.

Wow.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I appreciate you uh inviting me today.

I appreciate you for bringing this resolution forward.

I I really couldn't have said it better myself.

You hit all the points that are important to us.

Uh my name's Ryan Bradley, as councilman introduced.

I'm a fifth generation commercial fisherman.

Uh grew up in Long Beach fishing out of Pas Christian.

I fished these waters all over this coast in the Gulf.

Uh for the last 10 years, I've been leading the organization uh called Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United.

Uh, we're a membership organization that represents our hardworking commercial fishing families uh here in Mississippi.

And um I I just want to give a little background on how we've got to this point and and uh what's going on, kind of the update, the status of our reef uh with the oysters.

Um as councilman had mentioned, there's a tremendous amount of uh fresh water from the 2019 bonnet carry that devastated our fisheries.

Um DMR estimates uh our oyster reefs were decimated or or experienced uh about 96 percent mortality uh from this event.

And so we've been while working hard to recover the state have spent a lot of resources uh and and federal dollars and state dollars uh recovering our resources, and and I'm happy to report that Mother Nature is finally starting to cooperate with us, and we're seeing uh just really great growth on our oyster reefs uh all over the Mississippi Sound.

Uh the Western Sound has been opened last year for the first time in six years in 2024, it opened, and our fishermen were able to harvest uh bountiful harvest uh oysters uh on that side.

And we heard from DMR they had their meeting in this building this morning, and uh Director Spraggens mentioned he's gonna be working on getting uh oyster seasoned oyster reefs opened in the eastern town.

So that means right here in Biloxi Bay.

So that's gonna be great for the city of Biloxi.

And so, what does this mean?

Uh, you know, as we're facing all these challenges, and our fishermen are trying to recover.

Uh, you've got a beautiful harbor uh right here in Biloxi.

We've got a lot of commercial workboats, shrimp boats, fishing boats.

Uh a lot of these same guys that shrimp, they oyster too.

And so to be able to harvest oysters in the unfettered uh public access model that we've been having for decades, actually centuries, is uh essential to our way of life and our culture and our heritage uh all throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast, especially here in Biloxi, which was once renowned as the seafood capital world.

So what happened over the the period of the last several years, uh the legislature has moved to privatize uh our oyster reefs here in the Mississippi Sound, and of uh the last couple of years, they've moved to lease up to 80 percent of the permitted oyster reefs in the Mississippi Sound, and that's uh all areas of the sound, east and west.

And so uh that is a huge uh seismic shift in the policy and management of our oyster resource that we believe is certainly gonna harm not only fishermen, but cities and municipalities as well.

Uh the City of Pas Christian recently passed a similar resolution expressing concern uh because essentially uh these private of up to 80 percent would allow just a handful of companies to monopolize potentially uh the entire fishery.

And so that would lead to less boats in their harbor, less stall rent being collected, uh less revenue uh being uh generated by the city uh from their harbors.

And so um we're in a really great uh opportunity and time right now, uh, where all we have to do is maintain the status quo, and uh, we're gonna see great public benefits and continued public access where any of our children and grandchildren uh will have the right to go and hunt and fish and pursue oysters or other species on these reefs, the same way our forefathers have done uh for generations.

And so that's what this is about.

This is about protecting our proud seafood heritage and uh protecting the right to fish for all Mississippi.

And um uh I think that's an easy thing to do, and uh, we ask for the council support.

And if you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer.

What's next?

What's next?

We want a uh preliminary injunction.

But what's next?

Yeah, so yeah, great point.

I forgot to leave out.

We we did challenge the state law, the constitutionality, and and several other uh different uh complaints about the laws that have been changed regarding the privatization.

Uh just yesterday, the courts uh ruled in our favor.

They issued a preliminary injunction.

Um they are going to halt the leases.

Uh, they're gonna enjoy the Department of Marine Resources from issuing these leases until we've had a chance to further uh debate the merits of the entire case.

We have many more uh complaints that are under consideration by the court, and uh, we're gonna continue uh where that takes us.

But um Mr.

Bradler, I thank you for coming today and sharing a little bit of your insight.

I know you had some friends uh join you as well.

Uh but I thank you all for taking the time to to come and attend this meeting and give us just a little glimpse of what's happening.

Uh I sure hope we do more to help you.

Thank you.

That concludes my report.

We'll move on to the public uh agenda, which is citizens' comments.

We have a total time of 45 minutes.

Uh I'll recognize you by asking you to raise your hand, come up to the front, sign in, uh, and state your name and address so the clerk can record it.

Uh you can talk on any topic.

This is not a question and answer session.

So if you ask a question, don't expect an answer.

We can direct you to the proper uh person or persons afterwards.

So we'll go ahead and get started.

Uh on my left, your right, yes, sir.

You raised your hand first.

Come on up.

Hello, thank you for having me.

Uh, my name is Freddie Frick, F R I C K.

I live at uh 369 Rayner Street, right around the corner.

Uh my question is, and I have spoke to Mr.

Gines when he was here and Mr.

Creel, the other Mr.

Creel, uh, about this in the past, and now it looks like something is getting done, but you said you don't have a yes or no answer.

What's going on at the IP with the blacktop with the dirt that runs down the street every time it rains and ends up in front of my house.

Uh I see they're working on it.

I've talked to the workers up there.

They said that they are blacktopping enough of it for 300 uh cars.

My question is there are sidewalk and gutter on Calvet and Crotius, but there's no sidewalk or gutter on Rayner Street.

And I just wonder who's responsible for that.

Why does it stop about, I would say about 50 or 60 yards from Rayner Street north to Back Bay.

This is not a question and answer.

You can direct that to the administration.

They should be able to get get you in touch with someone to answer your question.

That would be Mr.

Creel, who's who told me in the past that the uh IP had a five-year dispensation to fix that lot, and that was 20 years ago.

So I would imagine he would tell me the same thing.

So he he would be the one to tell me if if that's going forward.

And the last thing is uh I have a real simple solution for you.

The traffic up and down Rayner Street speeds by my house daily.

They should be on Calvet, where the speed limit is more, it's higher.

There's two lanes each direction.

My street has one lane, three-way stop at Strawberry and Rayner.

Stop them.

They go slow from the railroad tracks up to the red light on division and Mr.

Marshall, you know about this, you're my new guy.

And from division to the back bay, the IP, they just haul butt.

And if you put a three-way stop at Strawberry and Rayner, that'll cause them blow up.

The only thing that slows them up is when they get to Back Bay and they hit all that junk at the IP parking lot, it then it then they slow up.

So thank you.

Thank you.

I feel bad for Walt.

He likes takes the bullet, whatever it is on there.

Obviously, we have people.

The simple answer on Southern Avenue is there's a piece of equipment sitting right there that does not move.

They're not going to tar.

If you start the motor up and grade that avenue right there, you'll fix the problem in 50.

So I think a lot of stuff happens that gets to a point where people are frustrated.

Just one other thing I've noticed.

I noticed it with the clinic.

I noticed it everybody else, and I get it.

There's social media.

Jerry wants to fight with people.

I when I was gone, the Elliott property thing went sideways.

I was the one who was fighting for that.

And then property, the communication just went horrible.

Anyway.

So I'm just recommending to Mike and to Elliott properties that that property is empty.

You don't have to do anything for me.

Maybe we should have a little town meeting and let them come, and they're going to get hell from people who don't understand.

But speak to the neighbors, make them feel like they have a voice.

And together we can work to build something there.

Maybe there's different disinformation.

When I moved here, Ellie was a guy building St.

Jude homes and doing that.

Now all of a sudden, I don't know.

I think that he should they should be nice enough to have a little meeting.

Let people know what's going on.

We don't need anyone from the city except Mike to represent.

And just if people have hard questions, he's a businessman, he can answer them.

That's all.

And together we go, okay, what is your plan?

And is it sitting empty?

The police chief all day.

What do you want him to do with the homeless people?

I don't know.

Half these people ain't homeless.

They're a pain in the ass.

But let me tell you something.

And I don't want to get off track.

But we've done a good job with the homeless.

We're doing a bad job of letting new ones in.

You know what I mean?

And it just I think we had to go back to a town hall meetings and bring people together and not get to a point where it's so confrontational.

You guys have to vote and build Pelux together.

That's all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else on my left, your right?

This side of the room.

Raise your hand to be recognized.

This side, my right, your left.

Raise your hand to be recognized.

Yes, ma'am.

Mr.

Mall.

What's that?

To give y'all some pictures.

Yeah, sure.

Second six.

I am here to address a problem that's been going on for two and a half years or longer.

For the last two years, a restaurant has successfully operated at 1075 division, right outside the new Keysler Gate.

Before that, my husband and I worked seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day, flipping that building with our own two hands and our social security checks.

All the while, me personally maintaining the weed eating, mowing, etc.

of all the neutral grounds, and the strip of land along the back ditch.

Actually, it was four years.

The city has been done with the new roads and intersections for a while, and they made it known to us that they were now responsible for the job of maintaining all of these areas.

After I got a citation from the code enforcement from the city of Biloxi for not mowing the back strip, because I had not gotten to it for three weeks because I was exhausted at the time.

Across division, all down division, all the neutral grounds and corners of Porter are cut except for those boarding 1075 division.

We have had the workers out there doing the work, and they have told us personally, they have been told to skip over this area and not to do any of the maintenance on this on our area, time after time by CLEO.

And we have called Craig Ross numerous times, called over and over and over, only to be told we're coming back, they're coming, but they never do.

It makes no sense to me or anyone else for that matter to mow all around on both sides of Keisler, all down division and skip over this land repeatedly.

The people answering the phones down there, because we call all the time, are tired themselves of getting the same message over and over.

They themselves are at their wits' end and have said so to us.

Is there a reason for this?

I don't know the answer.

We are asking for relief from the city that this is no longer a problem for us.

Thank you.

This has gone on for so long and increasingly and persistently ignored.

When it was being done, I will tell you this.

Already asked them, just put cement down.

If you just put cement down, you won't have to maintain it.

It'll be wonderful.

They said nope, you don't have to worry about it.

We're going to maintain all this.

You don't have to do anything.

And guys, I'm 70 years old.

I can't do this anymore.

I appreciate all the hard work you do do on this.

But we need some relief.

Thank you so much for all that you do do.

Thank you.

Anyone else, my right?

Your left, this side of the room.

Anyone in the back?

Did I miss anybody?

Last chance.

Citizen comments are now closed.

We'll move on to the policy agenda.

First reading.

Ordinance to amend chapter 2, Article 14, municipal facilities.

Have a motion.

I'll move it.

All right.

Second.

So moved.

Moved by Mr.

Tuesday, second by Mr.

Crew.

This is the first reading.

Move on to the next item B.

Resolution of notice of intent to amend Section 9122A of the code of ordinances pertaining to garbage collection and disposal fees.

I have a motion.

Moved.

Seconded by Mr.

Tuesdale.

Mr.

Crewe.

Technical difficulty here.

I'll defer to uh Mr.

Tisdale.

All right.

Deferred to Mr.

Tuesdale.

Mr.

Tizdale?

Sure.

This is a procedural resolution to coin a phrase, I believe.

Whenever the garbage uh collection and disposal fees go up, we have to notify the public first.

Um and this gives the public a heads up that the rates will increase.

So if they want to comment at the next uh next time this comes up for a reading, most likely at a next council meeting, you have the opportunity to be aware and comment.

Uh in a nutshell, the residential and commercial rates are both the same, right?

And they will increase a dollar and twenty-five cents a month from twenty-four dollars and twenty-five cents a month to twenty-five dollars and fifty cents per month.

So that's that's what all this is about.

So you're right, we're not voting on the rates now, most likely at our next council meeting.

That's it.

All right, thank you.

Anyone else have anything to add?

There being no one call for the question.

All in favor?

Say it.

Mr.

Gray.

Yeah, grey.

You vote yay?

Yes.

Okay.

Mr.

Marshall.

Marshall, yes.

Mr.

Neil.

Mr.

Crew.

Crew, yes.

Mr.

Tuesday.

Yes.

Mr.

Shoemaker.

Shoemaker, yes.

Glad and votes yes.

Motion passes unanimous.

Item C.

Resolution of the Mayor and City Council expressing strong opposition to the proposed leasing of public oyster race in Mississippi waters and in support of commercial fishermen.

Have a motion.

So move to move by Mr.

Tuesday.

Do I have a second?

Oh second.

Second by Mr.

Gray.

Any discussion?

Mr.

Tuesday?

Not really.

You put it very eloquently, Mr.

President.

And uh it it uh, you know, we're a historic city.

A lot of people is as was noted by the the gentleman from Long Beach who spoke earlier.

Thanks for coming over again.

Uh but this is this is part of our heritage, and uh this is more than just heritage, it's livelihood, a livelihood for some of the folks who live here along the coast, not just in Biloxi, but up and down the coast.

Um that having been said, I can fully support this resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Tisdale.

Mr.

Gray.

I grew up in a fishing industry.

My family on both sides for generations have fished in shrimp in these waters.

I've lost three uncles on a sh on a shrimp boat.

So these reefs were designed for our gener for our kids and their kids and their kids.

So if we let someone lease them out and they destroy them, then we have no no fishing, no oyster and so I support this.

Thank you, Mr.

Gray.

Anyone else have any comments?

Any comments?

Call for the question, starting with Mr.

Gray.

Yes, Gray.

Mr.

Marshall?

Yes, Marshall.

Yep, Mr.

Neil?

Yes, Neil.

Mr.

Creer?

Creer, yes.

Mr.

Tuesday.

Mr.

Shoemaker?

Shoemaker, yes.

Gladden votes yes.

Motion passes unanimous.

Thank you, gentlemen.

You do a motion for the consent agenda?

So moved.

Moved by Mr.

Crew.

I'll make that say.

Thank you, Mr.

Tuesday, for your second.

We'll uh start with Mr.

Crewe.

All right, just real quick.

Um just to clear up some confusion on five eye.

Um the parking spaces that seem to be topic of information today on uh social media via email.

Uh one question with the administration.

If we could going forward when we get the dissertation, if we could get a breakdown of of what the the bid is, I I understand we accepted the bid in its totality, but if we could be more itemized, that'd be great.

Uh next thing is the eight, it's not 18 additional spots, it's enlarging the current 18 spots.

So the issue we're having right now is a truck with a boat trailer has to park in the median in order for the trailer not to extend past the parking space.

Currently on those trailer spaces, we're having individual cars park in those trailer spaces, and because the spaces aren't long enough to accommodate a boat and a trailer, uh a truck in a trailer, we cannot put trailer parking only by expedit by expanding these further towards highway 90.

That's where the tree will uh relocations are coming from, is from that area north of the parking spaces.

Well, we will be able to put trailer parking only on these spots, and we're expanding it, and then the paving is not just those spots from what I've been told we're paving the whole area.

So I understand everyone's in an uproar about moving a pond tree and how much it costs and and and all of that, but what that is is we're expanding those current spaces.

We're not adding 18 more spaces.

We're expanding the 18 spaces there to accommodate boat and trailer uh parking for the people that launch the boats there in the harbor, just to clarify that.

Who's everyone?

Everyone's in an uproar?

Everyone, everyone's in an uproar.

Check your email.

All right.

I checked it.

I checked it.

Check your email.

Um that that's the main concern I had.

Um the um uh item K, the 7300, that's in addition to cover HVAC costs for the stadium.

Lighting.

Lighting, lighting.

Process.

Okay, HVAC's in process.

All right.

And then on M is just our reoccurring payment from the county.

All right, that's all I have.

All right, Mr.

Tuesday.

Uh yes, on item B.

This is um we're moving 32,000 from salary and wages to postage in the water and sewer department.

Is this why we uh apparently we're short money there?

Is it just a bud budgeting issue, or is there I know there's been an increase or projected or proposed increase in postage?

Do we know?

Do we just budget inappropriately for that, which might happen since it's always our best guess?

Or you can get back to me if you don't if you don't know you can get back to me.

I'm curious.

Yes, I think that's just an increase in post us, and that's gonna be one of the things that we're gonna discuss later on.

Right.

Of how do we reduce that?

So and uh we've got some options on the table as well to be able to offer to y'all.

Okay, and and uh the increase in postage was mentioned earlier in some of these budget workshops, thank you.

Um item C'moving money from salaries and wages, basically uh from health insurance to salaries and wages.

That's for the how do it yeah, it's for the uh the Harrison County Utility Authority.

How did we arrange at this situation where we're transferring funds?

Did we not again did we not budget adequately for that, or is this an unexpected price increase or cost increase from the utility authority?

Do you uh think probably some special uh uh circumstances as far as uh emergency repair?

That's the only thing I know of uh is if something breaks, we're we're responsible for it.

I don't know whether that's a amendment that caused us to put that back into budget.

I would assume the other members of the authority also had some sort of increase.

We're all in this together.

You know, if you break something within your in your your uh Okay.

It's not across the board, it's probably specific Biloxi specific.

Okay.

Um item uh recognizing funds from Harrison County uh for the port, and that's 450,000.

So we're we're moving this from a restricted account debt service to port and peer repairs somewhat.

I'm curious.

Do we just we've paid off all our debt in uh in the port division or thank you, Rachel.

Hope you can enlighten us.

I don't know.

County deposits funds in a trust account at people's bank.

That is a literal trust account.

Trustee.

This is that service clear thousand to move into the capital project to fund additional project.

So does the port division still have debt to pay?

Right, but but it's right, and it's restricted, which means that's where it's supposed to go, but we are unrestricting this.

What's the purpose?

What do we have plans for with this money is to pay that service and support kept in sufficient funds to pay the debt service?

This is the money above and all it is for debt service.

Okay, so then use for so if so if we have enough in that account to satisfy the debt, this 450,000 that's coming in now is going into peers and maintenance.

Okay, and all right, uh I got that part now.

So why if we don't have any plans to use it, what are we using this 450,000 for?

Please don't say uh for for port and peer repairs, specifically what what repairs are we looking at?

Get on the mic.

That expensive requirement.

Things today is been the parking lot expansion.

Okay.

We've made emergency peer repairs.

Remember when a portion of the air collapse that was done with these the air conditioner that was in the bathroom during Billfish that it's outages that everyone heard about, that is being around this money.

Any time there's any repairs or any anything done.

Basically, you know, when we started the original port bond, there's a lot of debt service.

That was six years ago.

The debt service is getting smaller and smaller, but the county is putting the entire amount of funds in the debt service.

So this allows us to build up the repair funds when we get a project.

Okay.

Do you happen to know what the balance is in that account project for port and peer repairs?

That'd be project 1102.

I think we just parked money there for repairs as are needed.

Assuming everything on this agenda is one million one hundred and sixty-nine thousand sixteen dollars and seven cents.

Okay.

So there's money too.

So there's there's a million and a half dollars to repace to replace or repair peers at this point, right?

Port related okay, not necessarily all peers related.

Are there any excuse me?

Are there any peers that are not port-related in the city?

No.

Okay, so we can use these funds that we own.

That we own.

You can also use it for parking.

You know, and we can also use it to match other projects like the rebuilding of uh Sherman Cain uh uh five million dollar project, which is uh to replace the I think we had an eight hundred and thirty-eight thousand dollar request to replace the wooden pier.

We've actually submitted some things that could be used as a match to four or five million dollars that would come from Gomeza or uh uh one of those other projects to to replace that, but that would be for matching and and use of those kinds of projects, or that or that other pill we hear always hear about.

Nope.

No, it could be, it could be it could be, but okay, but in part of that, you know, the two million dollars uh that was going to be our part of the four point two million hour was gonna come from that that sort of fund in future years because we're gonna get this every year.

Right.

Yeah, we do, and it's it's about one, it's the equivalent of a mill.

That's about 1.9 million a year.

We get it for installments, right?

Yeah, care about okay.

That's all I had.

Thank you.

That's all I have, Mr.

President.

All right, thank you.

We'll start with Mr.

Gray.

Anything on the consent, Ms.

Rachel.

Don't run off yet.

Well, this on this um park a lot extension.

Yes.

Now the palm trees, that's included in the price, right to relocate them.

Having the palm trees relocated, I don't know where.

Right, but but all that's included.

Everything I just want to make sure because we have a lot of emails going around, it's gonna cost us a lot of money to move these.

I just want to get it on record.

And this is extending this uh these parking bays is a fine example is why we need to uh get Coon Street redone because this overcrowded parking areas, and multiple people complain about their trucks and trailers getting hit because they can't get in and out because they're they don't have enough room and they're way overcrowded.

So uh councilman.

Let me answer I mean why you're talking about that.

You know, we did some things to create more even more parking uh to the north uh by the OEI Club and some of that so we did not repair or replace that service drive.

We're creating that for even more parking, but we're gonna triple Kuhn Street, you know, as far as what you can put in the water at one time instead of one bay that usually holds two.

We'll have two more additional, so that would you put six in the water at one time.

You do have to have a place to park them.

You know what you use at small craft harm is the only one around in East Belox.

Yes, sir.

So it's important.

We we have eight eight hundred thousand tucked away.

We've bid it, Christy.

When it was one point three to five hundred thousand will make us one point eight, so we get no one point three, we'll make that uh happen as soon as you know we get the uh uh timings for that, you know, as well as oak street improvement.

Yes, uh course been needing that for many years, probably ten years or more.

That's all I have.

Thank you, Mr.

Marshall.

Anything on the consent uh probably right.

Come back to me.

All right, Mr.

Neil.

Uh I'm good.

All right, Mr.

Shoemaker.

No, I have nothing.

All right, I'm coming back to you, Mr.

Marshall.

Uh no, I have nothing.

All right.

I have none.

Uh I'll go ahead and get the um the verbal votes and then we'll come back for exceptions.

Uh we'll start at the end with Mr.

Gray.

Gray, yes.

All right, Mr.

Marshall.

Marshall, yes.

Mr.

Nell.

Nail, yes.

Mr.

Creer.

Yes.

Mr.

Tisdale.

Yes.

Mr.

Shoemaker.

Shoemaker, yes.

Glad and vote votes yes.

Any exceptions, Mr.

Gray?

No.

No exceptions, Mr.

Marshall.

Marshall, no.

No exceptions, Mr.

Nale.

Nay, oh no.

Nail Mail, Mr.

Creel.

Creel, no.

Mr.

Tisdale.

President Tisdale, no.

All right.

Mr.

Shoemaker.

Do maker, no.

All right.

Glyvin has no exceptions as well.

That's a record show was unanimous without any exceptions.

All right.

Move on to code enforcements.

Go ahead and open it up.

We've got a long one today.

AOH Church of God at Zero Bellman Lane.

This property is still in violation.

All right.

Is there anyone here to speak on behalf of AOH Church of God?

Bellman Lane.

There being the one this case is closed.

Coastal Development Group Incorporated.

385 Short Street is resolved.

C U H A for item D, LLC at 220 Eisenhower Drive.

This is resolved.

Item E at zero Shady Place.

Christian and Cynthia Kowalski.

This is still in violation.

Anyone here to speak on behalf of Christian and Cynthia Cynthia Kowalski?

Shady Lane?

Shady Place.

Shady Place.

Item F 12459 Oaklawn Road.

Joseph DeSico.

This is still in violation.

Anyone here to speak on behalf of Joseph DeSico?

12459 Oakland, Oaklawn Road.

There being no one, this case is closed.

Item G 13274 Husley Road.

Randall Sutton, this is still in violation.

Anyone here to speak on behalf of Randall R.

Sutton?

13274 Husley Road.

What's the violation there?

A lot of debris.

Okay.

The growth is maintained.

There's a lot of junk vehicles defenses down in multiple areas.

Actually, another slide, I believe.

Okay.

You can see the debris in the bottom picture.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

Anyone here to speak on behalf?

I'll say it again.

Randall R.

Sutton, 13274 Husley Road.

There being no one, this case is closed.

Item H Trin Den and 2 win.

194 Lilly Lane, this is resolved.

Item I, Amos Hamilton, at 217 Baptist Alley.

This has been resolved.

Item J Hong Lee, 276 Third Street.

This is resolved.

Item K Shane Moran 13458 Green Hill Circle.

This has been resolved.

Anna Anastasio, item L 13451, Green Hill Circle.

This is also resolved.

Item N.

I apologize.

M.

Adam Brown.

6308 Shady Creek.

Ask for an extension to September 23rd.

There's an ask for extension to when?

September 23rd.

September 23rd.

Do I have a motion?

Got a question.

There's a question.

Go ahead, Mr.

Gray.

How long have they been in violation?

It's been quite some time, but we've been in communication with the property owner, and we do have a plan of action.

So it's been a while.

So you give them till the 23rd.

That's over a that's over 30 days.

The violations in place will take time.

A to gather funds and B to get the contractors out there to get it done.

It's not just mowing the grass or picking up trash.

It's gonna be making repairs to a roof, putting skirting around the trailer, and then picking up fixing a window, picking up a little bit of debris, but that should be done.

Okay.

All right, that's all that.

All right.

I'll make that motion.

I'll second.

Second by Mr.

Gray, all in favor.

Uh we got to start with Mr.

Gray.

All in favor.

Gray, yes.

All right, Mr.

Marshall.

Marshall, yes.

Mr.

Neil.

Neil, yes.

Mr.

Creel.

Creole, yes.

Mr.

Tisdale.

Tisdale, yes.

Mr.

Shoemaker.

Shoemaker, yes.

All right, and Gladvin votes yes.

It's unanimous to give them their extension.

Next item.

Item N Full Market Road.

Ernest and Deborah Thibodeau.

This is still in violation.

Is there anyone here to speak on behalf of Ernest and Deborah Tibodeau?

7050 will market road.

There being no one, this case is closed.

Item O, James Oliver, 13416, Larkin Drive.

This has been resolved.

Item P, William French and Sue Davis.

Zero Short Crest Road.

This is also resolved.

Q Francis Ryan Bold, 308 Hiller Drive.

This is resolved.

Item R T S W S Environmental Properties LLC 12163 Parker's Creek Road.

This is resolved.

Item S, Joseph Glenn Ellis Sr.

337 St.

Mary Boulevard.

This is resolved.

T L7D properties LLC 2038 North Drive.

This has been resolved.

Item U, Randolph and Jodina Fagan at 342 Magnolia Street.

This is resolved.

Burtis Germain Johnson at 2181 Pops Ferry Road.

This is resolved.

Item W, Sarah Sonji Estate.

2177 Pops Ferry Road.

This is resolved.

Item X, Jared Russo 366 Main Street.

This is still in violation.

Is there anyone here to speak on behalf of Jarrett Russo 366 Main Street?

There being no one, this case is closed.

Item Y, Quavia Lampley and Hunter Bergeran.

827 Carrolly Circled.

This is resolved.

Item Z, Old and Wall to LLC, 1728 State Street.

This is still in violation.

Is there anyone here to speak on behalf of Odinwald LLC 1728 State Street?

There being no one, this case is closed.

The extension item AA, Helen Gallot, Road Base Side Drive, this has been resolved.

All right.

Okay.

This is I think this is the second third meeting that y'all have been in the whole alphabet.

I mean, the people is obviously calling y'all.

They're ready for to get the city cleaned up.

So are we?

We appreciate y'all.

You and all your guys for doing the hard work.

And it's not easy getting all the stuff done, but we we definitely appreciate y'all.

Thank you.

All right.

Need a motion for the routine.

Move by Mr.

Tisdale.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Second by Mr.

Creole.

Mr.

Tisdale.

Um yes.

I would ask that vendor 6169 on the docket of claims be removed.

That that's a legal expense.

It should have gone to the insurance claim.

It's uh $815.

That should be paid through the uh city's insurance account.

So that's that's only error.

All right, there's a motion by Mr.

Tisdale.

So I have a second.

Second.

Second by Mr.

Creole.

Any discussion?

No discussion.

All right.

Is this sort of an amendment or do we we're just removing it from the docket?

It will not be paid.

We're gonna vote on removing it and then we'll vote on the docket as amended.

Yes.

Okay, all right.

That sounds good.

Just one second.

So page 24.

That's correct.

Yeah.

Vendor 6169.

We got it.

Okay.

All right.

I'll uh ask for the vote uh to remove this item.

Mr.

Gray.

Gray, yes.

Mr.

Marshall.

Marshall, yes.

All right.

Mr.

Nell.

Mr.

Creer.

Cleer, yes.

Mr.

Tisdale is down, yes.

Mr.

Shoemaker.

All right.

Glad and votes yes.

Now asked uh to vote on the routine agenda as amended.

Mr.

Gray.

Gray, yes.

Mr.

Marshall.

Marshall.

Yes.

Mr.

Nell.

Neil, yes.

Mr.

Creel.

I recuse myself from uh the Curry Johnson expenditures, but uh yes on the rest.

Okay.

Uh did you get that?

Did you record that?

Comment?

Did you record his comment?

You got it?

Okay.

Mr.

Tisdale?

Yeah, Tisdale votes yes.

All right, Mr.

Shoemaker.

All right, Gladvin votes yes.

Routine uh is passed.

All right.

Umtertain a motion to adjourn uh to adjourn.

So moved, and I would move that we adjourn in memory of Brenda Johnston and Peter Roy Elder.

Thank you, Mr.

Tisdale.

Do we have a second?

Are we all second it?

Second.

All right.

Seconded by Mr.

Creel and everyone else.

Uh Mr.

Gray.

Gray, yes.

Mr.

Marshall.

Marshall, yes.

Mr.

Neil.

Mr.

Creel.

Creel, yes.

Mr.

Tisdale.

Tisdale, yes.

Mr.

Shoemaker.

Waving yes, passes unanimous.

Take a brief five-minute uh break, and then we'll come back uh to our special call meeting to continue the budget proceedings.

Yeah, so this right here.

I am so yeah, I spent a lot of time traffic.

That's right.