Gulfport City Council Meeting – November 18, 2025

The Gulfport City Council met on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting centered on a comprehensive presentation of the city's Watershed Management Plan by Advanced Engineering & Design, Inc., followed by public comments, council reports, and approvals of consent items and resolutions. A charter amendment ordinance was tabled for additional public review, and several workshops were scheduled.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the meeting minutes from November 4, 2025.
• Approved Resolution No. 2025-97 appointing Kimberley Hamilton to the Board of Adjustments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Robert Lewis (Beach Boulevard resident, environmental engineer) requested that computer modeling calculations be included in the public report and noted a culvert near the Senior Center that needs attention.
• Peter Ford (59th Street South, near Wood Ibis) thanked staff for drainage improvements on 59th Street but expressed frustration that work stopped at the boundary of Pasadena Yacht and Country Club (PYCC) private property; he urged cooperation across public/private lines.
• Jennifer Webb (resident) recommended the city learn from Safety Harbor's financing models, pursue joint projects with neighboring municipalities (St. Petersburg, South Pasadena), and look forward to council discussion after reviewing the presentation.
• Donovan Nickel (Bicycle Pedestrian Action Committee, Gulfport representative) reported that Pinellas County ranks first in the state for e-bike injuries and advocated for safety measures (minimum age 16, helmet requirement, no sidewalk riding). He also thanked the city for installing pedestrian signs on Beach Boulevard.
• Kathy Ford (59th Street South) requested that the presentation slides be made available on the city website or in printed form.
• Bob Kang (Shore Boulevard) criticized the proposed nine-inch over-center-line flood tolerance, saying it effectively means 12 inches, and argued that leasing pumps from Godwin would be more cost‑effective than building permanent pump stations. He also noted the absence of check valves causing tidal backup and asked that engineers attend the upcoming workshop.
• Carrie Schwartz (Delaware Avenue South) questioned whether drainage easements on private property allow the city to maintain ditches; she urged enforcement of existing easements.
• Amy Costa (28th Avenue South) questioned whether flooding originates outside Gulfport and urged regional coordination with other municipalities.
• Eileen Corning and Bill Griffin (Gulfport Senior Center Foundation) reported fundraising success, including a $87,000 bequest, and announced plans for a newsletter and expanded board.

Presentation

Stormwater Drainage Study – Watershed Management Plan

Justin Keller and Raf Kadai of Advanced Engineering & Design, Inc. presented the city's Watershed Management Plan (WMP). Key findings and proposals included:

• The study used NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data (100‑year 24‑hour storm: 13.7 inches; 25‑year: 9.61 inches) and incorporated sea‑level rise via a tailwater elevation of 1.78 feet NAVD88, consistent with the city's Comprehensive Plan.
• The model covered 454 drainage catchments; a large portion of the city drains through PYCC.
• Floodplain maps for the 25‑year and 100‑year storms highlighted hotspots: City Hall, Tomlinson Park, 59th & 20th Avenue, Wood Ibis/Shore Boulevard, Stetson area, and the Marina.
• Level‑of‑service evaluation (using 6 inches for passenger vehicles, 9 inches for emergency vehicles over the crown) showed that 192 of 454 basins (43%) failed the 25‑year storm.
• Six capital projects were proposed: (1) Police/Fire rapid response improvements ($18.1M); (2) PYCC bypass box culverts ($11.8M); (3) PYCC pond expansion with box culvert ($10.2M); (4) 58th & 30th overland flow reduction (benefits in concert with projects 1–3); (5) 15th Avenue conveyance improvements ($10.2M); (6) Marina tidal flooding pilot with smart outfalls and sensors ($1.5M).
• Program recommendations included refining level‑of‑service definitions, updating sea‑level rise projections to 2050/2070, reducing allowable imperviousness in residential code (20% green space), reevaluating the stormwater utility fee, and considering non‑structural fill in low‑lying areas.
• Council members asked about conservatism in rainfall data, the potential impact of ADUs on imperviousness, and the relationship with the pending Vulnerability Assessment (presentation scheduled for January 6, 2026). A workshop was scheduled for November 25 at 4:00 PM for deeper discussion.

Discussion Items

Ordinance 2025‑12: Charter Amendments (Second Reading)

The ordinance proposing multiple charter amendments was tabled to the next meeting to allow the public time to review the revised language. Council requested that the updated ordinance be posted on the city website.

Key Outcomes

• Consent items approved unanimously (Resolution 2025‑97).
• Ordinance 2025‑12 tabled to next meeting.
• Resolution 2025‑98 (58th Street Roadway Improvements) approved. Authorized a contract with Keystone Excavators, Inc. for full‑depth reconstruction of 58th Street from 17th Avenue to Gulfport Boulevard at a cost of approximately $2.2 million (alternative B). An additional segment (15th to 17th Avenue) was omitted due to budget constraints. Project includes new sidewalk and limited drainage improvements.
• Resolution 2025‑99 (Hurricane Helene/Milton budget amendment) approved. Accounts for $1.2 million in non‑reimbursable costs and a pending $2.9 million FEMA claim. Finance Director Chris Cadell and staff were commended.
• E‑bike ordinance direction: Council directed the City Manager to draft an ordinance prohibiting e‑bikes in parks and on the beach (sand area) as permitted by statute.
• Code enforcement updates: Of 192 flood‑related violation notices sent, 140 residents have responded. Council emphasized public outreach before initiating new enforcement campaigns (line‑of‑sight, RV storage).
• State attorney meeting: An investigation (Invest) regarding potential charges related to code violations is scheduled for November 24, with City Clerk Keriko and a police detective attending.
• Upcoming workshops: November 25 (stormwater study), January 8, 2026 (Lions Club property visioning, marina area), and February 5, 2026 (referendum question explanation).
• Election qualifying: Opens December 1 for Ward 1 and Ward 3 seats in the March 10, 2026 election.
• PYCC drainage: City Manager clarified that PYCC owns its stormwater system; any capital projects requiring work on PYCC property will need easements. The city will continue to explore coordination.