Gulfport City Council Meeting Summary - September 3, 2025

The Gulfport City Council met on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Gulfport City Hall. The lengthy meeting included first readings on the FY 2025-2026 millage rate and operating budget, second readings and public hearings on four utility rate increases (water, sewer, garbage, stormwater), approval of several resolutions for capital projects and donations, and a detailed discussion on recommendations from the Charter Review Committee. The meeting concluded with a disclosure from the Mayor regarding a preliminary discussion about the potential de-annexation of Lincoln Cemetery.

Public Hearings: FY 2025-2026 Millage Rate and Budget Ordinances

• 1.a. Ordinance No. 2025-09 (Millage Rate): The Council held the first reading and public hearing. The proposed levy of 4.0258 operating mills represents a 4.71% increase over the rolled-back rate of 3.8446 mills. The ordinance was approved by a unanimous vote (5-0).
• 1.b. Ordinance No. 2025-10 (Operating Budget): The Council held the first reading. City Manager O'Reilly noted the budget grew by 0.039% and was reduced by $218,613 from the initial proposal. Changes included reallocating $300,000 from a solar project to stormwater initiatives (following a consensus vote), adding funds for roadway projects, and planning for Mooring Field expansion. The ordinance was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On the Budget: Resident Karen Schwartz questioned why detailed budget questions were not resolved in a workshop. Resident Coley proposed volunteer beach restoration and a film investment to boost city revenue.
• On Utility Ordinances: Tim Walters opposed the 8% water and garbage increases, citing the lower CPI and inefficient collection systems. He and Karen Schwartz suggested moving to once-weekly, automated garbage collection and clearer recycling guidelines. Ralph Jordan inquired about the accuracy of electronic water meters.
• General Comments: Residents addressed Creative Pinellas defunding concerns, BCYC's post-hurricane recovery, and Gulfport Grassroots cleanup events. Several speakers raised concerns about long-term camping and car dwelling in public parks, with Police Chief Fernandez stating current ordinances lack enforcement authority. Lenny requested better remote parking and shuttles for Gecko Fest.

Discussion Items

• City Manager & Police Reports on Beach Encampments: A draft ordinance regarding beach camping is scheduled for the September 16th meeting. The City Attorney is drafting legally defensible language to address long-term occupancy without running afoul of Supreme Court precedent on homelessness.
• Vice Mayor Thanos Remarks: Proposed increasing permeable surface requirements, creating a rain garden rather than replacing sand at the casino pad, and establishing a town hall on hurricane fatigue. Requested a presentation on tree canopy and an update on permeable paving ordinances.
• Mayor Love: Announced the "Gulfport 2050" vision town hall and rain barrel distribution. Addressed state-wide constraints on zoning/development under State Bill 180 and reminded residents that on-street parking is public property.
• Charter Review Committee Recommendations: The Council debated several proposed charter changes.
  • Section 103 (Extraterritorial Powers): Proposed reducing lease terms from 30 to 5 years and requiring fair market appraisals. Some members felt elements could be handled as policy rather than ballot measures.
  • Section 302 (Terms): Broad support for term limits emerged, but the Council was split on term lengths (2 vs. 3-4 years). The committee's proposal of Mayor 2 terms (6 years) and Council 3 terms (6 years) remains under discussion.
  • Sections 305 & 306 (Prohibitions & Vacancies): Replacing criminal conviction requirements with a 3/4 council vote and due process for removal received conceptual support. An ethics advisory committee with a magistrate will be established to review forfeiture cases. Council members requested explicit addenda for residency requirements and a broader dissemination of vacancy notices.

Key Outcomes

• Votes & Approvals:
  • Unanimous approval of the Millage Rate Ordinance and the Operating Budget (both first readings).
  • Unanimous passage of second readings for Water (8A), Sewer (8B), Garbage (8C), and Stormwater (8D) utility rate increases.
  • Unanimous approval of Resolutions 9A through 9F, including donations (refrigerator, $126,000 for veterans park upgrades) and capital improvement contracts (seawall repair, sidewalks, stormwater system televising, intersection restoration).
• Directives & Next Steps:
  • The City Attorney and Clerk were directed to refine Charter Review ballot language based on council feedback.
  • A draft ordinance restricting camping on the beach is scheduled for the September 16th meeting.
  • The procurement guide will be provided to the council for review.
  • The Mayor provided council members with documents from St. Petersburg regarding the historical ownership of Lincoln Cemetery following a preliminary de-annexation discussion.