Gulfport City Council Meeting - March 21, 2023

The Gulfport City Council met on March 21, 2023, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting began with the invocation by Councilmember April Thanos, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the swearing-in of newly elected Councilmembers Christine Anne Brown (Ward II) and Ian O'Hara (Ward IV). Roll call indicated all members present: Councilmembers Thanos, Brown, Ray, O'Hara, and Mayor Henderson. The meeting featured a presentation on departmental statistics, a detailed report on citizen engagement tools, and a discussion on council rules. A key action was the tabling of the lease agreement with the Boca Ciega Yacht Club.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution No. 2023-15: Unanimously approved the appointment of Gregory Carter Bess to the Board of Adjustment for a term set by resolution.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tommy Bixler (59th Street South) promoted the Gulfport Rocks second annual dance party (April 22, benefiting Boca Ciega High School scholarships) – ticket sales and a silent auction including dinner with the mayor.
• Karen Love congratulated Councilmember O'Hara, praised the Channel 10 casino bay camera, and thanked the city for sponsoring Gulfport Art in the Yard (March 25, exclusive to resident artists, 75+ participants).
• Ingrid Bredenberg (56th Street South) announced the third and final town hall "Gulfport on the Edge" on April 10 at the casino (6–9 PM), noting prior events drew over 100 attendees.
• Melissa Helmbolt (President, Gulfport Merchants Chamber) reported on successful events (Pink Flamingo Home Tour, first morning member meeting), reminded of April's First Friday "In Plain Sight" artist event, and provided details on future bi-monthly morning meetings.
• Tom Rogers (53rd Avenue South) expressed concerns about RV parking on side yards, citing fire access and fuel/propane hazards, and noted that vehicles over 25 feet may encroach on public property.
• Berthy Pratt (24th Avenue) suggested requiring fitted covers on RVs to prevent habitation and utility use.
• Margo raised concerns about short-term rentals (Airbnbs) reducing long-term rental availability, questioned oversight, and requested a clear definition of regulations.

Discussion Items

Ordinance No. 2023-03 – Boca Ciega Yacht Club Lease

Councilmember Thanos moved to table the lease ordinance to allow new Councilmember Brown time to review and to clarify prior confusing directions. She noted non‑negotiable issues: adherence to the HRO, exclusive use of T‑docks, dry storage, rent changes, and non‑exclusive boat ramp. Councilmember O’Hara agreed with tabling, adding that the lease’s 90‑day no‑cause cancellation and one‑day notice provisions were impractical. City Manager O’Reilly confirmed staff would meet with BCYC representatives to negotiate changes. The motion to table passed 4–1 (Mayor Henderson opposed). The item will return for an up‑or‑down vote on May 2 (first meeting in May due to City Attorney’s scheduling conflict).

Resolution No. 2023-16 – Appointment of City Clerk

Theresa Carrico was appointed City Clerk by unanimous vote. Public comment from David Cantor thanked outgoing Clerk Leslie Demeath for her service.

Departmental Reports – Fiscal Year 2022–2023

Each department head presented statistics:

• Marina (Dennis Frain): 389,000 gallons fuel sold, 400+ transient reservations, 3,000 boat launches, 12,000 gallons sewage pumped, dry storage renovation underway, living shoreline grant received.
• Police (Chief Rob Vincent): 25 sworn officers filled (out of 33), 6,700 dispatched calls, 419 total crimes (1/3 of 1998 level), auto theft up; Citizens Police Academy, Operation Santa (360 children), 924 training hours; department accredited since 1999, chief elected chair of accrediting commission.
• Fire Rescue (Chief Renee Fernandez): 3,534 responses (44 cardiac arrests, 185 MVCs, 116 structure fires, 81 overdoses), Marine 17 in service (5 calls in 3 months), 61 smoke detectors installed, CPR program (Gulfport Cares), COSAP overdose program, leave‑behind Narcan kits, new fire truck ordered (expected early 2024).
• Human Resources (Shannon Farrell): 223 employees, 1% health insurance renewal, revised volunteer handbook and personnel manual, implemented collective‑bargaining agreements, state first‑responder recognition and law‑enforcement bonus programs.
• Community Development (Fred Metcalf): 72,000 public contacts, permit valuations up over $10M in 5 years; 1,159 citizen complaints; online permit portal under development.
• Library (Dave Mather): 134,000 items circulated, 79,000 visits, 654 passports processed, 16,000 wireless users, 10,000 registered users, 398 programs (4,000 attendees), partnerships with Circle of Friends and LGBTQ Resource Center.
• Recreation (Marivelle): Preschool/VPK, after‑school, summer, teen programs; Zumba, pickleball, basketball, table tennis; 5 major events; facilities rentals; phase 6 grant built outdoor classroom.
• Senior Center (Rachel Cataldo): 3,100 active members (up from 2,900), 91 volunteers, 870 daily visitors, food pantry, medical equipment loan, gyms transportation (119 users, $70/year + $2/ride), day trips.
• Cultural Facilities (Justin Shea): Casino: 327 events, $370,000 revenue; $308,000 shuttered venue grant used for restroom renovation; weekly dances and bar operations reported.
• Finance (Cheryl Hannifin): 7‑person department; $375,000 private waterline/lateral program; grants totaling $8.3M (received/pending) not including ARPA; $4.9M ARPA spent/encumbered (including $50/household rebate program); interest earnings up.
• Public Works (Tom O’Reilly): Sewer bypass project complete (4,000 ft force main); priority two sewer repairs underway; water meter replacement ($800,000 ARPA); annual road paving ($400,000); pickleball/tennis courts; beach playground (soft opening next week); watershed management plan; sidewalk assessment; $80,000 FDEP vulnerability assessment grant.
• Special Events (Justin Shea): 43 events processed; city loop trolley (WRD Looper) returned to service for First Friday and Third Saturday; large‑scale events also served.
• Information Technology (Dave Mather): 163 mobile devices, 110 workstations, 19 servers; website sessions (300,000 in 75 weeks); community update page views tripled.
• Public Information (Justin Shea): Hurricane Ian response – EOC activated; 17,000 sandbags; 1,800 calls in community information center; mayor’s PSAs; social media reached 36,000 people; top Facebook post (Gecko Fest sculpture unveiling) reached 7.5 people.

City Manager closed with grant requests: $1.2 million for 58th Street rebuild, funding for priority two repairs, thanks to 37 letters of support from the community.

Citizen Engagement

A comprehensive presentation by David Mather and Justin Shea detailed communication tools:

• Constant Contact: 8,084 contacts, weekly newsletter (217 campaigns in 75 weeks), open rate 44% (industry 35.3%), click rate 8.2% (industry 1.42%).
• Social Media: 9 Facebook pages, 1,600+ posts, 1+ million impressions, 313 new followers.
• Website: Top 10 pages (home, public cameras, marina, library, casino); 27,000 views during Hurricane Ian; city manager report page views growing.
• Granicus/Meeting Archive: 11,682 page views, 5,052 visits, 79% desktop; live stream peak 729 viewers.
• Other Tools: Alert Pinellas (polygons for event notifications), media alerts (10‑county reach), mobile app, GTV channel 640, closed‑captioning compliance.

Rules and Policies for City Council Meetings

Council discussed amendments:

• Councilmember Thanos proposed adding reports from council members’ external meetings and from advisory boards (Senior Advisory, Team Council) under informational reports.
• Councilmember Ray emphasized returning to the rule of public comment following council debate (not after vote), and adding a new‑business item.
• Councilmember O’Hara supported these changes and requested that City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk reports be given without interruption; questions after reports.
• Consensus achieved: staff will formalize updates for the April 18 meeting.

Appointments to City Boards

• Board of Adjustment and Planning & Zoning Board appointments: each council member to submit names by April 11.
• Pension boards (Fire, General Employees, Police): incumbents willing to serve; council consensus to reappoint without advertising.
• Tampa Regional Planning Council vacancy: Councilmember O’Hara appointed.

Key Outcomes

• Vice Mayor appointed: Councilmember Ray (by rotation).
• Consent agenda passed: Gregory Carter Bess to Board of Adjustment.
• Lease tabled: Ordinance 2023‑03 (Boca Ciega Yacht Club) will return May 2 for up/down vote.
• City Clerk appointed: Theresa Carrico, effective May 9.
• Rules revised: Agreed to add meeting reports, new‑business agenda item, and maintain speaking order; reports and public comment timing clarified.
• Board appointments: Submitted by April 11; pension board incumbents reappointed.
• Spirit of Gulfport Award: Council agreed to award Brian Liggins and Philip Bailey (mid‑May departure).
• Budget items for study: Council requested cost estimates for website redesign, comprehensive pay/classification study, marina master plan, and Clam Bayou reconfiguration feasibility study. These will be discussed during budget season.
• Short‑term rental information: Staff will present detailed enforcement and regulation details once software is operational.