Gulfport City Council Meeting - July 7, 2022

The Gulfport City Council met on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 6:00 PM at Gulfport City Hall. The meeting included a presentation on the state of Tampa Bay, public comments on various topics, approval of resolutions related to ARPA funds, a beach playground replacement, and a special event, as well as discussions on the proposed FY 2022-2023 budget and the Community Rating System (CRS) for flood insurance. Council also addressed issues of employee safety and harassment.

Presentation: Tampa Bay Estuary Program

• Ed Sherwood, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, presented on the state of the bay and stormwater management. He highlighted that stormwater runoff now accounts for 64% of nutrient loads entering Tampa Bay, and that seagrass coverage has declined in Old Tampa Bay by over 4,000 acres since 2016. He noted the City of Gulfport's successful projects (Tangerine Greenway, Wood Ibis Park, 49th Street drainage) and the city's $372,000 investment in a private sewer lateral incentive program. Sherwood also mentioned the availability of federal infrastructure funds for such programs and encouraged the city to apply for Bay Mini Grants.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously:
  • Approval of City Council meeting minutes of May 3, 2022 and May 17, 2022.
  • Resolution No. 2022-43 appointing Christine Crosby to the Senior Citizens' Advisory Committee on Aging.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Susan Gore (board president, LGBTQ Resource Center) introduced Natalie Marcelin, recipient of the 2022-2023 Branch Out scholarship ($2,500), and thanked the council for supporting LGBTQ inclusion.
• JW Madigan (resident of 2520 York Street) proposed reducing the water, sewer, and recycling bill for seniors by changing garbage collection from twice a week to once a week (e.g., only Thursdays), noting that fixed-income seniors pay about $886 per year.
• Kim Glenn (resident, Beachwalk Condo Association) requested beautification of a dirt area at the corner of 56th and Shore Boulevard (around a light post), possibly with concrete or art, due to flooding issues. City staff will follow up.
• Steve Udovich (president, Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial Foundation) presented a proposal to place a 50x50-foot granite memorial in Gulfport's Veterans Park, honoring Floridians who served or died in Iraq and Afghanistan. The foundation would raise funds; the city would provide site preparation and perpetual maintenance. The council expressed interest in exploring feasibility.

City Manager & Attorney Reports

• City Manager O'Reilly reported:
  • A follow-up on the rate structure (reducing the minimum tier to 1,000 gallons) will be presented on August 2.
  • Property values increased 15.21% (second highest in Pinellas County); cumulative two-year increase ~24%.
  • The city has spent $242,287 on the sewer lateral program (91 laterals completed).
  • A sample of vitriolic emails and harassment of employees was shared; the manager and attorney are exploring legal options to protect staff, including designating certain areas as non-public forums (citing a Punta Gorda case).
  • An ordinance on smoking bans in parks/beaches has been drafted (per new state law), but council expressed concerns about enforceability.
  • The city successfully moved $1.5 million in federal funding through the House Appropriations Committee for a project (via Congressman Crist).
• City Attorney Salzman noted that any zoning changes for short-term rentals could risk losing current restrictions, and recommended caution. Councilmember Thanos suggested hiring a dedicated code enforcement officer or using software (Granicus) to monitor short-term rentals on a complaint basis.

Resolutions

• Resolution No. 2022-44 (ARPA funds): Authorized the city manager to fund and appropriate Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to address negative economic impacts from lost revenue and CPI changes. Passed unanimously.
• Resolution No. 2022-45 (Beach playground replacement): Authorized a contract with Project Innovations, Inc. (via piggyback on Manatee County School Board contract) for $1.5 million to replace the beach playground and surface with artificial turf (12-year warranty). The old equipment has rotted; some pieces will be salvaged and sold. Passed unanimously.
• Resolution No. 2022-46 (Oktoberfest Market): Approved a special event application from the Gulfport Merchants Chamber for October 22, 2022, from 10 AM to 6 PM on Shore Boulevard and Veterans Park, with temporary waivers of city codes to allow open containers and street extensions for food/beverage sales. Music will end by 5:30 PM to accommodate a wedding at the casino. Passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

• FY 2022-2023 Budget Discussion:

  • City manager presented a conservative budget proposal, emphasizing rebuilding reserves to 25% (currently 16%). Inflation in Tampa Bay is 11.3%, fuel costs up 58%, and public sector salaries cannot keep pace. The millage rate will remain the same for the 11th year. The budget will be formally submitted by July 15. Council supported maintaining service levels and not expanding government.
  • A proposed 6% cost-of-living adjustment for all employees (including council and charter officers) was endorsed.
  • Discussion included potential incentives for permeable surfaces and smaller building footprints to reduce runoff, but no action was taken.

• Community Rating System (CRS):

  • Staff presented options to move from CRS Class 6 to Class 5 (additional 5% flood insurance discount). Achieving 500 points would require adopting stricter regulations (e.g., higher freeboard, cumulative substantial improvement tracking), which would increase costs for homeowners and potentially force taller structures in flood zones. The city currently does 13 of 19 eligible activities. Council decided not to pursue changes at this time due to economic uncertainty and potential negative impacts on existing homes.

Council Comments & Informational Reports

• Councilmember Thanos requested:
  • A future discussion (workshop or meeting) on short-term rental enforcement.
  • Permission to submit a monthly report for inclusion in the city's weekly email blast (non-political, factual). Council agreed, subject to legal review.
  • A desire to update the city's strategic plan (last done in 2011) given rapid changes.
• Councilmember Ray reminded residents of a town hall meeting on July 13 at 7 PM at the library.
• Councilmember Ferdovich asked about the Gulfport pier project (awaiting Duke Energy and Pinellas County cost estimates).
• Mayor Henderson requested consensus to allow staff to explore the war memorial at Veterans Park (approved) and to add shade structures at the dog park (approved, under $20,000).

Key Outcomes

• Approved unanimously: Consent agenda items, Resolutions 2022-44, 2022-45, 2022-46.
• Directed staff: To explore war memorial placement in Veterans Park and dog park shade improvements.
• No action taken: On CRS class change, smoking ban ordinance, short-term rental enforcement (deferred to future meeting).
• Next steps: City manager to present rate structure changes and budget on August 2; state representatives to attend August 16 meeting.