Gulfport City Council Workshop on Downtown Traffic and Parking - March 26, 2026

This was a workshop meeting of the Gulfport City Council, held on March 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Gulfport City Hall. The sole topic of the workshop was a presentation by Mayor Karen Love proposing changes to traffic flow, speed limits, and parking within the downtown district. The meeting included presentations, council discussion, and public comment. The workshop was intended to gather input before any formal proposals or expenditures.

Presentations

• Mayor Karen Love presented a three-part plan focusing on reducing speed limits, increasing parking spots without building a garage, and preparing for future growth. She noted that the last parking improvements were in 2015-2016 (beach parking lot and angled parking on one block of Shore Boulevard, which added 18 spots). She cited new and expanding businesses (e.g., second story of O'Maddi's, Moon Under Water, Sober Bar, Surf Shack) and population growth from nearby developments as reasons to be proactive. She also mentioned a potential resource: the Florida Community Planning and Assist Team, which could provide pro-bono professional planning services if the city applies by April 30, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Doug Porter (resident, 3011 54th St S): Expressed concerns about the impact on residential streets, including mail delivery, garbage pickup, driveway access, potential tree loss, loss of neighborhood ambiance, and enforcement of parking regulations. Asked who has final approval and whether residents would vote.
• April Father (resident, 27th Ave): Supported reducing speed limits and eliminating resident-only parking on north-south streets. Suggested that angled parking may require new sidewalks and careful placement.
• Amy Costa (resident, 28th Ave S): Expressed general support for the plan as a rough draft for engineers, noting that one-way streets can improve safety for bikers. Supported lowering speed limits and removing resident-only parking. Suggested surveying homeowners directly affected.
• Ingrid Bredenberg (resident, 56th St S / 27th Ave): Praised the process and clarity of the presentation. Supported the designated parking concept and the focus on future needs. Suggested that the city should become more agile in responding to demographic changes.
• Mickey Holzel (resident, 54th St): Concerned about difficulty crossing Beach Boulevard to go east if 54th becomes one-way southbound. Noted that limited access points could make it inconvenient for residents to leave their neighborhood, especially during busy events.
• Barbara Banno (business owner, Beach Boulevard): Supported speed reduction and 15-minute parking but recommended time limits on parking spots to prevent all-day occupancy. Asked that economic impact on small businesses be considered in any study. Expressed fear that changes could discourage customers.
• Byron (business owner): Opposed converting parking in front of his business to designated golf cart/handicap parking, stating it would put him out of business. Advocated for time limits on Beach Boulevard parking and for a parking garage between the library and senior center. Supported some one-way streets but not angled parking on narrow streets. Emphasized that employee parking is a major issue.
• Gail Gilchrist (resident, 31st Ave S): Opposed angled parking on 56th Street due to narrowness and safety. Questioned why Veterans Park parking was not expanded and why parking variances were granted to businesses. Called for removal of bumper islands on Shore Boulevard. Supported removing resident-only parking signs.
• Angie Felice (resident, 54th Ave and 30th Ave): Opposed angled parking on 54th Street, citing light intrusion into homes, potential accidents, and residential character. Argued that opening up resident-only parking would provide 200+ spots, sufficient for 80% of needs. Supported speed reduction but opposed extensive one-way street changes. Quoted a plaque in Veterans Park: "I pray that sometime soon someone will determine where progress ends and destruction begins."
• Kelly (resident, 56th St): Supported one-way on 56th Street for safety but opposed angled parking there due to narrowness. Favored angled parking elsewhere for more spaces but opposed designated golf cart parking.
• Linda Porter (resident, 311 54th St): Called for more input from residents and businesses via surveys and committees. Opposed a parking garage. Suggested shuttles for workers. Noted that even on St. Patrick's Day, parking was not a problem on her block. Raised concerns about trees and gardens being removed.
• Dean Pike (resident, 54th St): Raised concerns about diagonal parking affecting driveway access and boat trailer maneuvering. Questioned whether emergency vehicles can drive against one-way streets. Asked about mail delivery logistics and how unmarked angled parking would be enforced.
• Lenny Gukenheimer (resident, Del Ave S): Suggested conducting an in-depth survey of business parking needs, exploring remote parking with shuttles, adding more bicycle parking, and possibly offering valet parking during events. Supported the workshop approach.
• Linda Craig (resident and business owner, Beach Boulevard): Supported speed reduction. Noted that some cars park for months without enforcement, calling for time limits. Emphasized that many of her clients are over 50 and need accessible parking.
• Wayne Mariner (resident, 2831 56th St): Supported one-way on 56th Street but opposed angled parking due to narrowness. Supported speed reduction to reduce truck damage to trees. Raised mail delivery questions.
• Unnamed resident (2800 block of 56th St): Strongly supported one-way on 56th Street due to dangerous two-way traffic and driver conflicts. Skeptical that speed limit reduction would be enforced without police presence. Criticized lack of enforcement of current parking and traffic violations.

Discussion Items

• The council discussed the three main elements of the mayor's proposal: reducing speed limits, changing street configurations to one-way with possible angled parking, and creating designated parking for handicap, golf carts, and motorcycles.
• Councilmember Donch expressed support for lowering speed limits (even lower than proposed) and eliminating resident-only parking. She raised concerns about angled parking on residential streets, noting that it may detract from neighborhood character and that visibility triangles and stop sign setbacks could reduce expected parking gains. She questioned the proposed designated parking areas, suggesting they might not be as accessible as existing scattered handicap spots. She also opposed a 15-minute spot on 29th Avenue due to delivery and alley congestion.
• Councilmember Shaw supported reducing speed limits with expert input. He noted that he drove the proposed one-way routes and expressed concern about homes without alley access and whether alleys could handle increased traffic. He reiterated that tree removal is not being considered. He supported the idea of a pilot program. He had heartburn about angled parking on 54th Street where homes are close to the street and on 56th Street where it is narrow, but acknowledged that professionals could find solutions. He supported surveying residents and businesses further.
• Councilmember Early expressed support for the overall goals: reducing speed, increasing parking, and preparing for the future. He supported lowering speed limits. He noted that adding parking spots could mitigate concerns about removing resident-only parking. He suggested adding a fourth goal: considering the impact on small businesses, and suggested that time limits on parking could alleviate problems with long-term occupancy.
• Mayor Love clarified that designated parking was not intended to take away existing parking but to use every inch efficiently, and that she is open to reworking that aspect. She noted the senior center expansion will occupy space near the library, making a parking garage there unfeasible. She emphasized that the plan is a layman's draft and professional input is needed. She observed consensus on reducing speed limits and making 54th and 56th one-way, but not on angled parking. She noted that the city must plan proactively for future growth.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or decisions were taken; this was a workshop for discussion and input.
• The mayor stated she will bring a proposal to a future regular council meeting to seek consensus on whether to move forward with the plan. This could include applying to the Florida Community Planning and Assist Team by April 30, 2026, or hiring consultants.
• Council and public input revealed areas of consensus (support for speed reduction, support for making 54th and 56th one-way, support for eliminating resident-only parking) and areas of contention (angled parking on residential streets, designated parking areas, potential impact on businesses, and need for more resident and business surveys).
• Some council members suggested creating surveys for residents and businesses to gather more direct feedback.
• The council acknowledged the need to consider the economic impact on small businesses as a fourth goal and to address enforcement of existing parking regulations (e.g., time limits, long-term parking).
• Two e-comments from residents were read into the record: one opposed the changes as dangerous and confusing, and another strongly opposed the plan, citing negative impacts on navigation, businesses, and parking availability.