Biloxi City Council Meeting – August 26, 2025

The Biloxi City Council held its regular meeting on August 26, 2025, at approximately 5:30 pm (inferred from council reports). The meeting covered a wide range of topics including a proposed gas station rezoning, employee health insurance, municipal facility rental policies, and departmental reports. A special meeting to discuss the budget was scheduled to follow the regular meeting.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously voted to suspend the rules and add a resolution (5GG) accepting better DCI emergency services and authorizing a contract for debris clearing and preparation for hurricane disaster. The agenda as amended was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sean Cross (11469 Road 537, Biloxi) spoke in opposition to the zoning amendment from residential estate restricted to community business for the WC4 property (applicant Mr. Verma). He cited drainage concerns: his property receives 100% of the drainage from the southwest sector of I-10 and Shriners Boulevard via a man-made watercourse with no recorded easements. He also noted that the engineer stated up to six feet of fill would be brought in, which he calculated would require 1,500 dump trucks of fill (29,000 cubic yards) for the three-acre parcel. He warned against directing storm surge and creating a 24-hour service station.
• William Graves (11671 River Estate Circle) opposed the same gas station proposal. He cited potential hazardous waste runoff (transmission fluid, brake fluid), storm surge risk (Katrina surge went over the interstate), and lack of proper notification (he received no mail and only learned of the proposal by following the city council docket). He also noted that the existing subdivision is restricted and that a precedent was set by a prior residential estate parcel on the street.
• Lori Massey (Director, Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers) requested $5,000 from the city to support Crime Stoppers. She cited recent arrests in Biloxi made possible by anonymous tips, including a felony suspect from Jackson County and a vehicle theft suspect from Texas. She emphasized the cost savings and crime prevention benefits of the program.
• Kimberly Woodward (Manager, Belmont Gardens, 871 Motzi Road) described flooding at her senior living facility. She reported that 13 units flooded in July 2025 due to a drainage ditch (creek) that collects runoff from surrounding public companies and new construction. She stated they have been asking for help for over eight years.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Report: The Mayor announced upcoming events: a Katrina 20th anniversary commemoration on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 10 am at the Biloxi Visitor Center, and a Sports Hall of Fame event on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 3 pm at the Civic Center. A proclamation was read for National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (September 2025). The proclamation noted that more than 15,000 children under 19 will be diagnosed with cancer in the US in 2025, including more than 120 in Mississippi. A childhood cancer survivor, Rebecca, spoke about a successful fundraising event on August 17, 2025, which raised triple the amount of previous years, and urged the city to “go gold” for September.
• Council Reports:
  • Ward 1 & 2 (Mr. Gray): Announced the 4th Annual Gov Coast Shrimp and Cook Off and Festival (September 5-7, 2025) and a town hall meeting for Wards 1 and 2 on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 6 pm.
  • Ward 3 (Mr. Neil): Thanked staff for improvements at Hill Park and invited residents to call him with any issues.
  • Ward 4 (Mr. Creel): Followed up on Memorial Hospital suspending labor and delivery services. He spoke with Mr. Kim League Ghostman, who agreed to use the term “suspending” rather than “terminating” and hoped to restore services within three years, citing staffing issues.
  • Ward 5 (Mr. Tisner): Suggested recognizing retiring city employees at council meetings. Announced a ward meeting on September 8, 2025, at 5:30 pm at the Snyder Recreation Center. Raised concerns about an easement behind Carter Road, noise from Coliseum west gate openings after concerts, sinkholes on Pine Grove Avenue, and water line breaks in Edgewater Estates (a boil water notice occurred on the weekend of August 23-24, 2025). He also requested allocation of about 15% of opioid settlement funds (estimated $70,000 total) for youth court Judge Dickinson.
  • Ward 7 (Mr. Shoemaker): Requested improved grass cutting by public works in Ward 7.
  • Ward 6 (Mr. Marshall): Requested “no dogs allowed” signs at Bush Park, discussed complaints about people hanging around at a park (likely Day Park), and sought resolution of overgrowth, trash piles, and parking issues on Sherry Lane and Puff Alley. He requested that the city add council members to the distribution list for the Development Review Committee (DRC) agenda and be notified of any permits or business licenses in East Biloxi. He also announced his first ward meeting for Ward 2 on September 18, 2025, at 5:30 pm at the Grid Center. He gave a personal shout-out to his wife for their anniversary.
  • Councilman Creel (Ward 4): Acknowledged the tragic death of young athlete Marcus Dickey and requested a moment of closure in his memory. He asked for an update on the dredging project (barge switch caused a two-week delay). He thanked the colonel for budget discussions, noting that approximately $4 million was trimmed from the budget.
• Policy Agenda:
  • Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, Article 14 (Municipal Facilities): Presented by Peter. The ordinance makes rental rules more friendly to groups, allows a 30-day cancellation and 10% right-of-first refusal, and removes outdated equipment rental items. The old brick house and Sanger were removed from the list. Equipment rental for 2026 is waived. Rentals can be made three years minus a day. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution Denying Zoning Amendment (8275 West Oaklawn Road): The council voted unanimously to deny the request to change zoning from residential estate restricted to community business for a proposed gas station. Councilman Shoemaker noted the room was filled with neighbors in opposition, citing drainage issues and strong community concerns. Councilman Tisdale added that there is no commercial zoning south of West Oaklawn, two other gas stations exist within a mile, and no substantive change in the neighborhood had occurred. The Planning Commission had previously denied the request 11-0.
• Health Insurance Resolutions:
  • Resolution authorizing self-funded employee group health insurance (with Healthgram, Rx Mississippi Physician Care Network, and Unity Ring) passed unanimously. There is no increase in employee premiums; a spousal surcharge of $60/month remains if the spouse declines coverage from their own employer. The city will fund approximately $9.9 million with a risk corridor of $1.5 million. Three of four “laser” liabilities were removed, saving approximately $900,000 in liability.
  • Resolution authorizing Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company to provide a cafeteria plan (voluntary life and long-term disability) passed unanimously.
  • Resolution authorizing a service agreement with Medical Analysis for acute health care benefits (no copay for employees) passed unanimously.
• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously, with the following exceptions: Mr. Tisdale voted no on items T, U, V, W, X, Y (fee waivers and deposits, citing budget constraints). Mr. Marshall abstained from item P (unknown, but he requested the abstention be recorded).
• Code Enforcement Hearings: All 26 cases were resolved or closed, with three properties still in violation (no one appeared): 367 Forest Avenue (Sophia L. Pham), 371 Belvedere Circle (David M. and Abigail Shaper), and 590 Beach Boulevard (Extended Stay LLC). All were closed.
• Routine Agenda: Approved. Included a report that $751,000 from MEMA is in step 305 of the approval process, expected to arrive by the first or second September meeting. Also, flag football was approved for ages 10 and under, tackle for 11-12.
• Moment of Closure: The council unanimously approved a motion to close the meeting in memory of Marcus Dickey, a young athlete who died in a tragic accident.