OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Biloxi City Council Regular Meeting – October 8, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, October 8, 2025
BodyBiloxi, Mississippi
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, October 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:25:17

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Dear creator and creator of all in whom we find our strength, grant us wisdom to take the right measure of time to listen intently, learn the issues that affect our coastal community, and wisely steward our national natural resources that we call home.

0:29

May we balance progress with preservation, and may our decisions honor the people who live here, the visitors who come to share in our bounty and the lands and waters that sustain us.

0:43

Bless our council as stewards of Biloxi's future, guide our conversations with humility, patience, and integrity, protect our shorelines and ecosystems, and nurture hospitality that welcomes countless visitors with safety and respect and gratitude.

1:01

In unity, we strive to serve the common good.

1:04

Amen.

1:05

Amen.

1:12

And to the republic.

1:24

All right.

1:40

So it will require a verbal vote for every measure that we vote on tonight.

1:50

All right.

1:52

Do we need a motion to suspend the rules?

1:54

I'll make that motion.

1:56

Second.

1:56

All right.

1:57

Made by Mr.

1:58

Tisdale, seconded by Mr.

2:00

Creel.

2:00

Any discussion?

2:02

No.

2:03

All in favor?

2:05

We got a vote by the voice.

2:07

Yeah, boy.

2:07

That's right.

2:08

All in favor.

2:10

No, all in favor?

2:11

Wayne, start us off.

2:14

Well, voice vote.

2:15

Voice vote.

2:16

Oh.

2:17

Yep.

2:17

Yes.

2:20

State your name and then your Gray, yes.

2:23

Okay, thank you.

2:25

Marshal, yes.

2:27

Mike, yes.

2:28

Glad and yes.

2:29

Creer, yes.

2:30

Tisdale, yes.

2:32

Shoemaker, yes.

2:34

All right.

2:34

The clerk would read the revisions.

2:45

To the consent agenda, we are substituting item 5e resolution confirming and approving the oath oath of office for Dylan Davis.

2:56

Deputy Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Biloxi, Mississippi, and correlated purposes.

3:03

Need a motion to approve the agenda as amended.

3:06

So moved.

3:08

Got a motion by Mr.

3:09

Tisdale.

3:10

We have a second by Mr.

3:10

Creel.

3:11

Any discussion.

3:13

None on my gotta take the votes.

3:17

Mr.

3:17

Gray, you start us off.

3:19

Gray, yes.

3:21

Marshall, yes.

3:22

Nail, yes.

3:23

Gladvin, yes.

3:24

Career, yes.

3:25

Tisdale, yes.

3:27

Shoemaker, yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Public Works███████████████████19%
Environmental Protection██████████10%
Community Engagement██████6%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Code Enforcement█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Homelessness█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Biloxi City Council Regular Meeting – October 8, 2025

The Biloxi City Council met on October 8, 2025, to discuss a range of topics including FEMA funding for the lighthouse pier, council reports on parks and infrastructure, public comments, and multiple resolutions. Key votes included a 6-1 approval for a short-term rental conditional use, a 6-1 vote to terminate the post office lease, and unanimous approvals for a pavilion dedication, a beautification commission appointment, and an auto repair facility. An executive session was held regarding potential litigation with the Biloxi Shuckers. The meeting adjourned in memory of Bobby Irby, Mozai Abear, and Roland Weeks.

Consent Calendar

  • Consent Agenda Amendment: Substituted item 5e (resolution confirming oath of office for Dylan Davis). Approved unanimously.
  • Consent Agenda Approval: Approved with exceptions noted (items A, CC, D). Unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jared Martin (287 Iroquois): Withdrew zoning application to resubmit later. Council agreed.
  • Mr. Sebastian: Commented on overgrowth along Pass Road near Chipotle and hanging tree limbs damaging vehicles.
  • Ben Reder (business consultant): Praised Biloxi’s potential and offered to be a resource for community improvement.
  • Mariana Barbier (Sheriff’s Department): Publicly thanked Chief Miller for his service and retirement.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor’s Report: FEMA reduced lighthouse pier mitigation costs from $1.2M to $519,000; second appeal won $358,000; total FEMA funding (without mitigation) ~$873,000. Next step: submit revised pier design for additional mitigation. Also updating Katrina infrastructure projects.
  • Council Reports:
    • Ward 1 (Gray): Parks cleanups, signs for parks, no-alcohol/dog signs, homeless at parks asked to be addressed.
    • Ward 2 (Nail): Hiller Park bathroom updates (roof replacement needed), Wheeler Park frames missing, homeless person under shipping container.
    • Ward 3 (Creel): Proposed workshop on Save Our Sound Coalition MOU for Oct 21. Championed beautification commission.
    • Ward 4 (Tisdale): Cost estimate for Pine Grove Ave infrastructure; reported FEMA email scam.
    • Ward 7 (Shoemaker): Trunk-or-treat Oct 28 at Eagle Point Park; Ward 7 meeting Nov 13.
    • Ward 6 (Marshall): Henry Bank Park fencing progress, request for park rule enforcement starting January.
    • Ward 5 (President): Reported successful 70-team baseball tournament generating ~$4-5 million. Requested commercial water rate info. Addressed media misinformation about Save Our Sound Coalition funding (clarified $250K restricted fund, actual expenses ~$100K/year). Emphasized coalition wins: lawsuit against Corps of Engineers, blocked Mid-Breton diversion, obtained $1M+ GO Mesa grant, drafted Northern Gulf Estuary Protection Act.
  • Save Our Sound Coalition Debate: Councilman Marshall expressed concern over Biloxi’s financial burden and requested other cities contribute. Councilman Creel argued for maintaining funding due to past successes. Agreement to reassess at the Oct 21 workshop.
  • Item A – Zoning Amendment (287 Iroquois): Withdrawn per applicant request (6-0 vote).
  • Item B – Pavilion Dedication: George W. Lawrence Pavilion at Point Cadet Plaza. Unanimous.
  • Item C – Beautification Commission Appointment: Lara Alley appointed (term Oct 7, 2025 – Oct 6, 2028). Unanimous.
  • Item D – Short-Term Rental (130 Ducate): Approved 6-1 (Tisdale opposed).
  • Item E – Auto Repair Facility (1899 Pass Road): Approved unanimously.
  • Item F – Risk Management Insurance: Approved unanimously.
  • Item G – Post Office Lease Termination: Approved 6-1 (Gladvin opposed).
  • Item H – Facility Rental Waiver (US Air Force Band): Approved unanimously.
  • Item I – Facility Rental Waiver (MDES): Approved 6-1 (Tisdale opposed).
  • Consent Agenda Exceptions: Items A, CC, D, DD pulled for separate votes. All passed. Amended item O (power costs responsibility). Amended item CC (monthly summaries to council, consultant available for questions).
  • Executive Session: Held to discuss potential litigation with Biloxi Shuckers regarding facility rentals. No action taken.
  • Code Enforcement Hearings: Multiple cases resolved; 14-day extension granted (item O); 90-day extension granted (item U, 6-1 with Marshall abstaining); cases for items D, F, Q, V closed for no appearance.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes:
    • Zoning withdrawal: 6-0.
    • Pavilion dedication: unanimous.
    • Beautification appointment: unanimous.
    • Short-term rental (130 Ducate): 6-1 (Tisdale no).
    • Auto repair facility: unanimous.
    • Risk management insurance: unanimous.
    • Post office lease termination: 6-1 (Gladvin no).
    • US Air Force Band waiver: unanimous.
    • MDES waiver: 6-1 (Tisdale no).
    • Consent agenda with amendments: passed.
    • Code enforcement extensions: 14-day (unanimous), 90-day (6-1, Marshall abstained).
  • Next Steps: Submit revised lighthouse pier design to FEMA; schedule workshop on Save Our Sound Coalition MOU on Oct 21; provide cost estimates for Keller Avenue, Pine Grove Ave paving; install park signage; enforce park rules starting January.
  • Adjournment: In memory of Bobby Irby, Mozai Abear, and Roland Weeks.

Meeting Transcript

Dear creator and creator of all in whom we find our strength, grant us wisdom to take the right measure of time to listen intently, learn the issues that affect our coastal community, and wisely steward our national natural resources that we call home. May we balance progress with preservation, and may our decisions honor the people who live here, the visitors who come to share in our bounty and the lands and waters that sustain us. Bless our council as stewards of Biloxi's future, guide our conversations with humility, patience, and integrity, protect our shorelines and ecosystems, and nurture hospitality that welcomes countless visitors with safety and respect and gratitude. In unity, we strive to serve the common good. Amen. Amen. And to the republic. All right. So it will require a verbal vote for every measure that we vote on tonight. All right. Do we need a motion to suspend the rules? I'll make that motion. Second. All right. Made by Mr. Tisdale, seconded by Mr. Creel. Any discussion? No. All in favor? We got a vote by the voice. Yeah, boy. That's right. All in favor. No, all in favor? Wayne, start us off. Well, voice vote. Voice vote. Oh. Yep. Yes. State your name and then your Gray, yes. Okay, thank you. Marshal, yes. Mike, yes. Glad and yes. Creer, yes. Tisdale, yes. Shoemaker, yes. All right. The clerk would read the revisions. To the consent agenda, we are substituting item 5e resolution confirming and approving the oath oath of office for Dylan Davis. Deputy Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Biloxi, Mississippi, and correlated purposes. Need a motion to approve the agenda as amended. So moved. Got a motion by Mr. Tisdale. We have a second by Mr. Creel. Any discussion.

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