Gulfport City Council Meeting: June 16, 2026

The Gulfport City Council met on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The agenda included presentations, public comment, a consent agenda, several ordinances, a resolution for a water main project, and discussion on workshop scheduling and a public art selection process.

Presentations

• Centurion Club Recognition Program: The first inductee, Mr. George "Lum" Atkinson, was honored for 50 years of volunteer service with the Gulfport Little League, including his role in lighting the ballfields. The ballfields are named after him.
• Legislative Update: Councilmember Jennifer Webb presented an overview of high-impact bills from the 2026 Florida legislative session, covering changes to utility surcharges, local government budget transparency (including a 10% "belt-tightening" exercise), increased liability caps for lawsuits against governments, new compatibility requirements for land use denials, expansions to the Live Local affordable housing program, and restrictions on DEI initiatives effective January 1, 2027. She noted that these bills will require additional staff time, potential revenue reductions, and heightened exposure to litigation.

Consent Calendar

• Approved meeting minutes from June 2, 2026.
• Adopted Resolution No. 2026-38, formally supporting Pinellas County Schools' rezoning to assign every grid within Gulfport to the Gulfport Elementary School zone. (Unanimous)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Captain Mark Hubbard (Hubbard’s Marina, Gulf Beaches) advocated for a cross-bay ferry commuter service and urged the city to develop a ferry terminal on its waterfront to connect with regional waterborne transportation efforts.
• Richard Freed (Tangerine Ave.) argued that proposed property tax cuts would be offset by higher insurance costs. He questioned whether the city is piggybacking on St. Petersburg's feasibility study to lower utility costs, expressed concern over potential loss of funding due to DEI restrictions, and called for ranked-choice voting and open primaries.
• April Thanis (53rd St.) requested an update on Hurricane Ian recovery funds, criticized the installation of artificial turf around trees as environmentally harmful and inappropriate for flood-prone areas, and asked why the city trolley was not participating in the St. Pete Pride Parade.
• Jonathan Oldsberg (46th St. S) reported unusually severe street flooding near the marina and 29th Avenue, with water twice as deep and lasting twice as long as in prior years. He urged the city to investigate beyond attributing it solely to king tides.
• Mary Atkinson DeAngelis expressed gratitude to the council for honoring her father, Mr. George "Lum" Atkinson, and thanked the city for its continued community spirit.
• E‑comment from Margaret Tober questioned why utility late fees are 5% of the monthly balance while marina accounts incur a flat $15 fee, and noted many marina accounts are past due with some having received no collections updates.
• E‑comment from Tony Smith (Pinellas Park), husband of a Gulfport police officer, argued that time spent recovering from a line‑of‑duty injury should count toward pension vesting, as the injury occurred while serving the city.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 2026‑04 – Accessory Dwelling Units (Second Reading): Passed unanimously. The ordinance codifies standards for ADUs but prohibits them in the Coastal High Hazard Area until FEMA clarifies whether allowing them would affect the city’s flood insurance rating.
• Pension Clarification Ordinances (First Readings): Three ordinances (7B, 7C, 7D) for General Employees, Police, and Firefighters were introduced to clarify that "credited service" is based on actual pension contributions rather than continuous employment. Under this interpretation, time on workers’ compensation without contributions does not count toward vesting. After debate about fairness to employees injured on duty, the votes were:
  • General employees: passed 3‑2 (Early, Webb, Love yes; Donch, Shaw no).
  • Police: passed 4‑1 (Early, Shaw, Webb, Love yes; Donch no).
  • Firefighters: passed 4‑1 (same split). Staff noted that the new interpretation aligns with the guidance from the pension plan’s attorneys and that the change has no fiscal impact.
• Resolution 2026‑39 – Water Main Design Contract: Unanimously approved. The $59,000 state‑funded appropriation will allow Advanced Engineering and Design to prepare plans for upgrading water mains in the Town Shores area (serving Lancaster, Manchester, Nottingham, Diplomat Embassy, Buckingham, and Windsor buildings). Work is expected to go to bid by end of 2026 with construction completion by end of 2027. The project uses directional drilling to minimize road disruption.
• Workshop Schedule: Council agreed to cancel the July 2 workshop (due to the July 4 holiday) and instead schedule a budget workshop for August 6. A potential hurricane‑preparedness workshop for the boat‑life community may be held later if there is sufficient interest.
• Public Art Selection Process: The mayor proposed that council members rank the anonymous submissions for the new welcome sign (replacing the current black‑and‑white "Welcome to Gulfport" sign at Trolley Market Square) independently. The city clerk would compile the top choices for a final vote at a future meeting. The existing glass sign facing Trolley Market Square will not be changed.

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda items were approved unanimously.
• The ADU ordinance was adopted on second reading.
• Pension clarifications were advanced to second reading with differing vote tallies; final adoption will occur at a subsequent meeting.
• The City Manager was authorized to execute the water main design contract.
• The city’s smaller "Looper" trolley will participate in the St. Pete Pride Parade on June 27; the larger trolley is unavailable due to driver leave.
• City Attorney Salzman will present a final censure policy for a vote at the next regular meeting.
• Councilmember Webb urged residents to attend the Pinellas County Schools community listening session on July 9 at 6 PM at Boca Ciega High School to support keeping Gulfport Elementary open and keeping all Gulfport children in one school zone.
• Mayor Love announced the July 4 celebration starting at 9 AM with the opening of a 1976 time capsule, followed by a parade, hot dogs, family games, and evening fireworks. She also stressed hurricane preparedness: have a plan for at least five days without power, know evacuation zones, and check generators and permits now.