Gulfport City Council Meeting - February 21, 2023

The Gulfport City Council convened on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at Gulfport City Hall for its regular meeting. (The agenda listed the invocation as being given by Councilmember Michael Fridovich, while the raw transcription attributed it to Councilmember Michael Ferdovich.) The meeting featured presentations from Keiser University on an accessibility study for the Gulfport Senior Center and from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council on hurricane flooding and regional resiliency. The council heard public comment on various topics, passed several consent and regular agenda items, and held a lengthy public hearing and discussion on amending the city's recreational vehicle (RV) parking ordinance.

Presentations

• Keiser University Senior Center Accessibility Study: Dr. Megen Myers, Dr. Diana Guest, and occupational therapy doctoral students presented a detailed assessment of the Gulfport Senior Center. They described the center's 3,000 members (serving 400 to 600 daily) and identified barriers for those with mobility, vision, and other challenges. Recommendations for the new building included automatic sensor doors, improved lighting and contrast on stairs, wider hallways, universal chairs, accessible bathroom grab bars and hands-free fixtures, raised garden beds, and adaptive exercise technologies like the "Mobby Magic Surface" to ensure full participation for all members.
• Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) - Hurricane Flooding and Resiliency: Deputy Executive Director Ren Krawl and GIS Manager Ashley Mott presented on the importance of understanding the distinction between FEMA flood zones and storm surge evacuation zones. They showed the "Hurricane Phoenix 2.0" simulation video, depicting a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane scenario for Tampa Bay, and discussed the Regional Resiliency Action Plan (RAP), which provides a scalable framework of 11 priority actions for local governments to improve community resilience. Council members asked about the adequacy of evacuation zones in light of recent storms like Hurricane Ian.

Consent Calendar

The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:

• The minutes of the February 7, 2023, meeting.
• Resolution No. 2023-09 authorizing a contract with Smith Fence, Inc., for marina basin fencing replacement.
• Resolution No. 2023-10 amending fees for the Department of Leisure Services and adopting the fee schedule for the 2023 Children’s Summer Recreation Program.

Public Comments and Testimony

• General Public Comment:
  • Melissa Humboldt, President of the Gulfport Merchants Chamber (GMC), provided updates on membership renewals, a new member morning meeting series, and the upcoming Pink Flamingo Home Tour scheduled for March 4th.
  • A resident expressed frustration with the lack of enforcement of short-term rental and loose dog ordinances, noting a perceived conflict between the police department’s helpfulness in returning lost pets and the city’s inability to cite repeat offenders.
  • Mr. Frieden expressed strong opposition to recent state-level book bans and legislation restricting LGBTQ+ discussion in schools, arguing it constitutes “taxation without representation” and criticizing Governor Ron DeSantis’s policies.
  • Tommy Bixler, representing the Lions Club, reported that their pancake breakfast raised $1,500 for the Southeastern Guide Dog Association and announced an upcoming 70s-themed dance on March 25th to raise scholarship funds for Boca Ciega High School seniors.
• Public Comments on RV Ordinance (Item 8a):
  • Speakers opposed to relaxing the ordinance argued it would diminish property values, create safety hazards, and set a precedent for further deregulation. Vonnie Holder stated the change would negatively impact home values and the city’s tax base. David McCormick characterized the proposal as a “smokescreen” benefiting a few at the expense of many. Dave Falwell raised safety concerns regarding RV height obstructing driver views and the weight of RVs cracking standard residential sidewalks.
  • Speakers in favor of changing the ordinance cited property rights, financial hardship from storage costs, and a desire for fairness relative to boat owners. Madison Bess, a new homeowner in her 20s, noted she purchased an RV unaware of the restrictions and cited the financial burden of $250 to $300 in monthly storage fees. Sue Orcola and Patrick Macley argued for property rights and equal treatment of RVs under the code compared to boats. Bob Slazek proposed a compromise allowing RVs in backyards with reduced setbacks and suggested utilizing marina dry storage for RVs. Deborah Matro argued the current ordinance unfairly discriminates against RVs while allowing boats and utility trailers.

Discussion Items

• Recreational Vehicle (RV) Ordinance (Ordinance 2023-01 — Discussion): Following public comment, the council discussed potential amendments to Chapter 21. City Manager O’Reilly presented four conceptual options: (1) remove side and rear setbacks, (2) allow perpendicular front yard parking, (3) a combination of options, or (4) no change. He emphasized that any allowance would require registration and that existing lot sizes and front yard structure setbacks would naturally limit RV sizes.
  • Mayor Henderson’s Compromise Framework: Mayor Sam Henderson proposed a specific direction for a revised ordinance:
    1. Allow RVs in side and rear yards only, eliminating all existing setbacks except for a three-foot fire safety separation from the primary living structure.
    2. Prohibit RVs in front yards, with the exception of Class B vans (e.g., Sprinter vans), which are comparable in size to work trucks and currently permissible.
    3. Maintain the 2014 grandfather clause for existing RVs.
    4. Require registration with the city.
  • Vice Mayor Brown expressed immediate support for the framework. Councilmember Ray asked clarifying questions about registration and potential pad requirements but indicated general agreement. Councilmember Ferdovich stated he was still listening to all perspectives before deciding. No formal vote was taken.
  • The council directed the city manager to prepare a draft ordinance based on this framework for first reading at the second meeting in March.

Key Outcomes

• Approvals:
  • The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance No. 2023-02 (Lease Agreement with Gulfport Little League Club) was approved on first reading unanimously.
  • Resolution No. 2023-11 (Authorizing ARPA funds for a Tennis and Pickleball Court change order from Caladesi Construction Company) was approved unanimously.
• Directives and Next Steps:
  • The City Manager will draft a revised RV parking ordinance based on Mayor Henderson’s framework for a vote at the second meeting in March.
  • A presentation from the Director of Pinellas County Animal Control is scheduled for the March 7th council meeting.
  • Staff is finalizing a short-term rental enforcement report using newly acquired software, expected to be presented in March.
  • The city received an $80,000 Resilient Florida grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a citywide vulnerability and resiliency study.
  • State and federal appropriation requests were submitted for infrastructure projects including sanitary sewer repairs, 58th Street improvements, and the new Senior Center.
  • Councilmember Thanos suggested allocating ARPA funds to update the city’s website, previously estimated at approximately $25,000.
  • The council authorized a $1,000 donation to PARC (Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens) for its 70th-anniversary celebration, as requested by Councilmember Ray.