Gulfport City Council Meeting February 4, 2025: Permitting Crisis, Senior Center, and Ward III Seat

The Gulfport City Council met on February 4, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The agenda included a design update for the new Senior Center, resolutions for dock replacements and a special event, and the appointment of a new Ward III Council Member. The majority of the meeting was dominated by public testimony from residents displaced by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, who expressed severe frustration with the city's permitting process, inaccuracies in Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE) letters from contractor Tidal Basin, and a lack of timely communication. City staff presented a map of post-storm permits and proposed operational changes to address the backlog.

Presentations

• Senior Center Design Update: Ward Friszolowski and Amy Bradlow of Harvard Jolly/PBK presented a revised design for the new Senior Center and theater expansion. Changes include an additional elevator, an indoor walking track, a roof terrace, a larger fitness center (expanded from 835 to 1,450 sq ft), and flexible multi-purpose rooms connected by operable partitions. The total project cost is estimated at $15.35 million (down from $15.5 million), with a construction cost of $12.45 million for the 24,300 sq ft center and 2,600 sq ft theater lobby expansion. Council members praised the design, particularly the terrace and flexibility.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Community Event: Wolfgang Dininger (Gulfport Grassroots) announced a beach cleanup on February 8th, reporting the January cleanup collected 220 pounds of trash. He also promoted the Gulfport Special Delivery mailbox art fundraiser for the Senior Center Foundation.
• Stormwater Drainage: Peter Ford and Barbara Baker (59th Street South) detailed persistent stormwater drainage issues, stating ditches are full and stagnant since the hurricanes. They argued the city's Stormwater Plan is failing due to lack of maintenance and requested the city ensure water can flow freely to Boca Ciega Bay.
• Permitting Crisis (Dominant Theme): Multiple residents affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton voiced extreme frustration:
  • Glenda Hato, Sue Book, Lisa Shoey, Gaia Banovich (Townshores Residents): Reported catastrophic delays in permit processing. A master permit for 13 buildings was submitted January 3rd and remained in review for weeks. Residents contrasted this with a 5-day permit approval in Dunedin.
  • Phyllis Markham (58th Street S): Claimed a roof permit applied for in July was not processed before Helene, and disputed a 73% substantial damage letter, stating no water entered her home.
  • Deb Atkins: Requested weekly public updates on permits and substantial damage letters. Questioned who is holding Tidal Basin accountable for delays and inaccuracies, and asked why the city refuses to discuss "Option 2" (using actual repair cost vs FEMA ratio).
  • Courtney Perkoffis (Gulfport Landia): Proposed a volunteer program to assist the Community Development Department with clerical tasks, citing the Florida Volunteer Protection Act. A show of hands indicated strong interest in volunteering to clear the backlog.
  • Unnamed Resident: Successfully appealed their SDE letter from 76.2% to 38% damage after Justin of the city reviewed and found three data entry errors, urging others to verify the accuracy of their letters.
  • Charles Gale (Townshores): Begged the council to prioritize getting residents home.
• Tidal Basin Criticism: Candidate for Mayor John Liccioni called the situation "Tidal Gate," alleging 50 documented false claims of substantial damage in Gulfport by Tidal Basin, with several appeals adjudicated as false. He warned of potential lawsuits against the city.

Staff Reports and Discussion

• Permitting Process & Backlog: City Manager O'Reilly, Building Official Clark Streiker, and staff member Justin outlined the severe operational strain. 97 permits are in the queue for data entry. The Townshores blanket permit application is 162 pages per building. 150 reviews are in the substantial damage pipeline. Staff is working 7 days a week, but permit clerks are facing a hostile work environment.
• Proposed Operational Changes: Building Official Clark Streiker proposed closing the Building Department to the public from 9 AM to 1 PM Monday through Friday, following the model of Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach, to allow permit staff uninterrupted time to process permits. The Council indicated informal support for this measure.
• Substantial Damage Letters: Justin reported that out of 55 problematic SDE cases identified, 15 have been closed, 40 are being re-evaluated, 2 corrected letters were filed, and 5 reversals are in progress. The goal is to send out the final batch of SDE letters by Friday, February 7th.
• City Clerk: City Clerk Carico reminded residents of the February 10th voter registration deadline for the March 11th municipal election. She also requested permission to bring a resolution supporting state legislation for public records exemptions for municipal clerks.

Resolutions

• Resolution 2025-17 (Special Event): Approved a special event application for O'Maddy's St. Petersburg Grand Prix kickoff street party to benefit the PSA Check foundation and Carding for Kids. Passed 3-1 (Councilmember Thanos dissenting over the 11 PM music curfew).
• Resolution 2025-18 (South Basin Dock): Authorized the City Manager to contract with Reuben & Clarson Consulting for design and construction oversight of the South Basin Dock Facilities Replacement. Passed unanimously.
• Resolution 2025-19 (Casino Dock): Authorized the City Manager to contract with Reuben & Clarson Consulting for design and construction oversight of the Casino Dock Facilities Replacement. Passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Ward III City Council Appointment: The Council discussed three applications for the vacant Ward III seat. A debate occurred on extending the deadline, but the 30-day charter requirement necessitated an immediate vote. Councilmembers Fridovich and Thanos nominated Kosi "Cozy" Jackson, while Councilmember Brown nominated Joel Fetterman. The motion to appoint Kosi "Cozy" Jackson passed 4-0. Councilmember Brown encouraged Mr. Fetterman to consider serving on a city board.

Council Comments & Reports

• Vice Mayor Fridovich: Recognized Black History Month.
• Councilmember Thanos: Announced a Town Hall meeting on February 6th at 6 PM regarding post-storm rebuilding. Requested a mid-year budget review.
• Councilmember Brown: Requested an update on the Comprehensive Plan. Reminded residents of the city's Q&A session on permits (February 5th, 6 PM) and the Tour of Homes (March 1st).
• Mayor Henderson: Reflected on the hostile political climate discouraging participation in public service.

Key Outcomes

• Ward III Seat Filled: Kosi "Cozy" Jackson was appointed to the Ward III City Council seat (Vote: 4-0). The seat was vacated by former Council Member Paul Race.
• Building Dept. Closure: The Council informally agreed to close the Building Department to the public from 9 AM to 1 PM to process permits, effective immediately.
• SDE Corrections: Staff will complete the final bundle of Substantial Damage Estimator letters by February 7th. Residents were strongly encouraged to verify their letters and contact the city if they suspect data errors.
• Dock Replacements: Contracts were authorized for the design of the South Basin and Casino dock replacements.
• Budget Review: A mid-year budget workshop was requested for March 2025.
• City Clerk Support: A resolution supporting state-level public records exemptions for municipal clerks will be drafted for the next agenda.
• Voter Registration: Deadline for the March 11th municipal election is February 10, 2025.