Gulfport City Council Regular Meeting - April 2, 2024

The Gulfport City Council held its regular meeting on April 2, 2024, at 6:00 PM at Gulfport City Hall. The meeting included the swearing-in of councilmembers for Wards I and III, public comments on multiple issues, discussion of four agenda items, and several council decisions. Key topics included the Resiliency and Master Plan, dog park surface options, board appointments, and rules for council meetings. The council also addressed public concerns about noise, development, and election integrity.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The council unanimously approved the meeting minutes from March 5, 2024, as part of the consent agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Resident (name not given): Opposed proposed changes to the marina district, citing impacts on retirement-age residents and criticizing the public meeting as a disorganized "sales pitch."
• Melody Yesri: Reported ongoing noise and vibration issues from a nearby bar (Sazerac Lounge) affecting sleep; requested council assistance.
• Chris Keefe: Expressed anger over alleged election interference via a newspaper article; called for police investigation into bribery.
• Lenny Guckenheimer: Encouraged continued citizen participation in council meetings as a democratic exercise.
• Laura Oldaney: Noted that all elected officials endorsed a candidate who ran an unethical campaign, while the winning candidate received over 60% of the vote; hoped for future cooperation.
• Jerry O'Regan: Criticized past 4-1 voting patterns and urged more diverse opinions on council.
• Tracy Jameson: Criticized the marina charrette as poorly organized (maps not to scale, no feasibility studies); raised concerns about sewage backup on Merriam Street and lack of traffic/noise/environmental studies.
• Christine Crosby: Requested that the nature area near the marina be left undisturbed to avoid increased noise.
• Albert Reisenberg: Supported a progressive agenda and congratulated councilmember April Thanos on re-election.
• Walter Barker: Praised the Fusion 49th Street meeting but found the marina charrette depressing; urged cancellation of the $78,000-$80,000 contract with the consultant.
• Alexandra: Asked about preserving a large oak tree on private land; council member Thanos expressed disappointment and noted limited options.
• Julie Jacobia: Questioned the driving force behind the marina redevelopment plan, including funding, timing, traffic impact, and whether it was a contingency plan.
• Berkeley Grimble: Thanked the city for the police academy program.
• Cheryl Hannafin: Announced her new firm and submission of a "Future of the Region Award" application for the Gulfport Rebound program.
• Karen Love: Thanked staff for implementing a rain date for Art in the Yard; criticized the marina charrette for not allowing genuine public input; questioned whether a special event fundraiser for prostate cancer actually raised money.
• Charlotte Downey: Asked about the proposed rule change requiring two council members to approve bringing an item to the agenda.
• Lauren Stern: Requested switching public comment back to after discussion so the public can hear council deliberations first.
• Mary Hanrahan: Clarified that a single council member cannot place an item on the agenda without majority support; suggested a process for citizens to place items on the agenda.
• Albert (second time): Agreed that presentations should precede public comment.
• Unnamed speaker: Criticized the current system as limiting council members' ability to bring items forward.
• Karen Love (second time): Noted that the 2023 resolution removed "informational reports" and expressed confusion; preferred public comment after knowing council opinions.
• Lenny Guckenheimer (second time): Proposed regular workshops prior to council meetings for open discussion without public comment, to improve understanding and relationships.

Discussion Items

• Resiliency and Master Plan: Justin Keller of Advanced Engineering presented updates on the Watershed Management Plan and Vulnerability Assessment. The Watershed Management Plan focuses on stormwater collection and sea-level rise impacts; the Vulnerability Assessment examines critical assets under hurricane scenarios. Fieldwork is ongoing; next public presentation expected by end of 2024. Councilmember Ray asked about flooding in Wood Ibis Park and the marina area; Keller acknowledged low-lying areas and noted that solutions may involve fill, elevation, or pump stations. The study aims to provide actionable projects for federal funding.
• Large Side of Dog Park: Parks Director Tom Nichols reported that sod in the large dog park is wearing out, especially in high-use areas. Options include resodding ($6,000), engineered wood fiber ($35,000 for large park), or decomposed granite. Council discussed pros and cons: wood fiber may harbor bacteria in shade; granite may track into homes. Consensus to test a small high-use area with either wood fiber or granite before committing to a full replacement. Nichols will bring cost estimates for both options to the next meeting.
• Appointments to City Boards: Council discussed vacancies on boards. Councilmember Thanos noted her ward appointment is filled. The council agreed to advertise the at-large vacancy on the Pension Board (incumbent not continuing) and if the alternate also declines, that position will be advertised. Incumbents wishing to stay are generally given priority.
• Rules and Policies for City Council: Extensive discussion on several proposed changes:
  • Public Comment Timing: Council agreed to move public comment on agenda items (ordinances, resolutions, discussions) to after council discussion but before the vote. Open public comment at the start remains unchanged.
  • Parliamentarian: Council agreed (3-2) to have City Attorney Andy Salzman serve as parliamentarian to ensure adherence to rules, including decorum and speaking order.
  • Consent Agenda Removal: A motion to allow a single council member to remove an item from the consent agenda failed; current rule requiring majority support remains.
  • Board Reports: Council agreed to encourage, not require, reports from members serving on external boards.
  • Speaking Order: Chair will adhere to speaking order (vice mayor, then other members, mayor last).
  • Political Talk: Council disagreed on whether the mayor's invocation reading about community was political; the issue will be handled by the parliamentarian.
  • Agenda Items by Citizens: Current process (citizen asks council member to bring item) remains; no change to allow direct citizen placement. The council will formalize these changes in a revised resolution for a future vote.

Key Outcomes

• Vice Mayor Appointment: Councilmember O'Hara was unanimously appointed Vice Mayor (rotating position).
• Dog Park Trial: Staff will price out decomposed granite and engineered wood fiber for a trial section in the high-use area of the large dog park; report back at the next meeting.
• Board Vacancies: The at-large Pension Board vacancy will be advertised; incumbents may reapply.
• Rules Resolution: Staff will draft a revised resolution incorporating the agreed changes (public comment timing, parliamentarian, encouraged reports) for council adoption.
• Election Date Change: Councilmember Thanos' proposal to move the municipal election from March to August did not gain majority support; no action.
• Affordable Housing Workshop: Council agreed (3-2) to hold a workshop or discussion on affordable housing, possibly in June, but no specific date set. Mayor Henderson and Councilmember Brown expressed skepticism about effectiveness.
• Purchase Orders for Electric Vehicles: Councilmember Thanos' proposal to issue purchase orders early for electric trucks was not supported; no action.
• Other: Police chief to continue working on noise issues at Sazerac Lounge; city manager to address sewage line repair on Miriam Street; Fusion 49th Street maps to be displayed in city hall lobby.