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Record of Proceedings

Gulfport City Council Meeting - November 15, 2022

City Council — Tuesday, November 15, 2022
BodyGulfport, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 15, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

5:00

Our invitation tonight is given by Councilmember April Thinness, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

5:06

Please join us in Rise.

Speaker 2

5:10

The vote is precious.

5:11

It's the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.

5:16

John Lewis.

5:18

Oh, and just so you know, I worked the polls, and this time over the primary, there was 200 more people

Unassigned speaker

5:23

at

Speaker 2

5:24

the rec center, but I haven't got the figures of how many what percentage of Gulfport people voted.

5:28

Yeah.

Unassigned speaker

5:29

I

Speaker 1

5:29

pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands one nation undergo indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Unassigned speaker

5:42

Roll

Speaker 1

5:42

call, please, city clerk.

Speaker 3

5:44

Councilmember Thanos.

5:45

Here, Vice Mayor Brown.

5:46

Here.

5:46

Councilmember Ray.

5:47

Here.

5:48

Councilmember Ferdovich.

5:49

Mayor Hederson.

Speaker 1

5:50

Here.

Speaker 3

5:50

City Attorney Salzman.

5:51

Here.

5:51

City Manager O'Reilly.

5:52

City Clerk Meet President.

Speaker 1

5:54

All right.

5:54

Start off this evening.

5:55

We've got a presentation by John Janus.

5:58

Am I saying that correctly?

5:59

Uh, with Freebie Shuttle.

6:00

Uh, he's the director of economic development.

6:03

Thanks for being

Unassigned speaker

6:04

here.

Unassigned speaker

6:11

Good

Speaker 4

6:11

evening, Mr.

6:12

Mayor, members of the council.

6:14

Not exactly John, but Claudia Miro for Freebie with offices at 2312 North Miami Avenue in Miami, Florida.

6:20

And my colleague John.

Unassigned speaker

6:22

All right.

Speaker 4

6:23

If we could get the presentation up.

Speaker 5

6:25

Okay,

Speaker 6

6:26

right

Speaker 3

6:26

there.

Speaker 4

6:29

Okay,

Unassigned speaker

6:29

great.

Speaker 4

6:30

Thank you.

Unassigned speaker

6:32

So

Speaker 4

6:32

Freebie is an innovative and proven first mile and last mile transportation solution.

6:37

As you can see here on the screen, we have three different vehicles that we use to operate our services with.

6:42

The one that you see in the very center, that's our gem vehicle or low speed vehicle that goes a maximum of 25 miles an hour.

6:48

Now all these vehicles are electric.

6:51

On the left, you see the Tesla Model X with those Falcon doors that open up.

6:55

And then we also have an electric van option.

7:00

Let me see.

7:00

Slowly.

7:01

Oh, there we go.

7:02

Okay, so just to give you an introduction to, and I hope you can still hear me, I'll try and project.

7:06

Introduction to Freebie.

7:08

We are the future of mobility.

7:11

So we are physically moving people through free on-demand door-to-door electric transportation, fully electric transportation.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transportation██████████████14%
Public Engagement██████████████14%
Public Safety██████████████14%
Procedural█████████████13%
Zoning Regulations████████8%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Senior Center Funding███████7%
Community Engagement█████5%
Permitting and Inspections████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Gulfport City Council Meeting - November 15, 2022

The Gulfport City Council met on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at Gulfport City Hall. The meeting included a presentation from Freebee Shuttle, second readings and public hearings on three ordinances to vacate portions of Beach Drive, and resolutions regarding a new senior center and legislative consulting contracts.

Presentation

  • Freebee Shuttle: Claudia Miro and John presented an electric, free on-demand door-to-door shuttle service as a transit and economic development tool. They proposed a 12-month 2-3 vehicle pilot program at an average cost of $35 per hour per vehicle, funded by the city budget, FDOT grants, or advertising revenue share. Council agreed to pursue the idea.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the October 18, 2022 meeting minutes.
  • Resolution 2022-75: Authorized a purchasing agreement with SPATCO Energy Solutions for marina fuel dispensers.
  • Resolution 2022-76: Authorized a task order to Central Florida Contractors for the Miriam Street Sidewalk.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • General: Joel Hine (Sea Scouts) reported on the successful Cass Point Regatta. Kelly Wright (Gulfport Merchants Chamber) promoted Shop Local and Art Walks. Tom Pitson raised concerns about subjective Conservation Overlay District guidelines. Frank Panaccio urged action on a dangerous alley cut-through behind Walgreens. Ms. Love praised Officer Zach Mills, noted improved storm response, expressed concern over homeless encampments, and asked about code enforcement. Chris Smith echoed homeless concerns.
  • Beach Drive Vacation: Extensive testimony was heard. Proponents (adjacent landowners, attorney Meredith Delcamp) argued the land is a platted road, mostly submerged, maintained by owners, and poses liability. They supported restrictive covenants. Opponents (including Paul Harvin, Steve Antinson, Margaret Tober) argued the shoreline is a public asset, setting a dangerous precedent, and the city charter requires a public referendum.
  • Senior Center: Margaret Tober strongly supported the campaign contract renewal and encouraged public donations. Susan Gore questioned whether the new facility would be open to non-seniors.

Discussion Items

  • City Manager Report: Jerome O'Reilly announced the conclusion of litigation with Suncoast Waterkeepers. Forward Pinellas will present on a housing pact on December 6th. Council directed staff to meet further with Bogasse Yacht Club.
  • Beach Drive Vacation: Council debated the three ordinances (2022-13, 14, 15). Councilmembers Thanos and Ray favored a referendum or denial, citing the charter and public ownership. Vice Mayor Brown, Councilmember Ferdovich, and Mayor Henderson supported the vacation, arguing the land is unusable by the public and owners have been stewards.
  • Senior Center Campaign: Jason Woods (Kinetic Fundraising) reported the campaign is ~40% funded ($4M of $13.1M), with a $1.5M naming gift verbally pledged. He projected 70-75% by contract end. Councilmember Thanos questioned cost escalation and funding logistics.
  • Lobbyist Contracts: Renewals of Shumaker Advisors (state) and Thorn Run Partners (federal) were approved. Thorn Run secured $1.5M in federal funding for senior center design.
  • Budget Amendments: Resolutions 2022-80 (sanitation fuel costs) and 2022-81 (marina fuel budget overrun) were approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Beach Drive Vacation (Ordinances 2022-13, 14, 15): Passed (3-2) . (Thanos and Ray dissenting). Right-of-way vacated subject to restrictive covenants.
  • Senior Center Campaign (Resolution 2022-77): Approved.
  • State Lobbyist (Resolution 2022-78): Approved.
  • Federal Lobbyist (Resolution 2022-79): Approved.
  • Budget Amendments (Resolutions 2022-80 & 81): Approved.

Meeting Transcript

Our invitation tonight is given by Councilmember April Thinness, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join us in Rise. The vote is precious. It's the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it. John Lewis. Oh, and just so you know, I worked the polls, and this time over the primary, there was 200 more people at the rec center, but I haven't got the figures of how many what percentage of Gulfport people voted. Yeah. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands one nation undergo indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please, city clerk. Councilmember Thanos. Here, Vice Mayor Brown. Here. Councilmember Ray. Here. Councilmember Ferdovich. Mayor Hederson. Here. City Attorney Salzman. Here. City Manager O'Reilly. City Clerk Meet President. All right. Start off this evening. We've got a presentation by John Janus. Am I saying that correctly? Uh, with Freebie Shuttle. Uh, he's the director of economic development. Thanks for being here. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Not exactly John, but Claudia Miro for Freebie with offices at 2312 North Miami Avenue in Miami, Florida. And my colleague John. All right. If we could get the presentation up. Okay, right there. Okay, great. Thank you. So Freebie is an innovative and proven first mile and last mile transportation solution. As you can see here on the screen, we have three different vehicles that we use to operate our services with. The one that you see in the very center, that's our gem vehicle or low speed vehicle that goes a maximum of 25 miles an hour.

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