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Record of Proceedings

Gulfport CRA Meeting February 20, 2024: Market Permits Renewed

Community Redevelopment Agency — Tuesday, February 20, 2024
BodyGulfport, Florida
SessionCommunity Redevelopment Agency
DateTuesday, February 20, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Well, housing, it's the gateway to corruption.

0:02

Uh probably in the government.

0:04

I would tend to think, in my experience, corruption is the highest in the housing department with the deal.

Speaker 2

1:12

Open the community redevelopment agency meeting for Gulf Port Florida.

1:15

So we need to do another roll call, City Clerk.

Speaker 3

1:18

Councilmember O'Hara.

Speaker 2

1:20

Here.

Speaker 3

1:20

Councilmember Thanos?

1:21

Here.

1:22

Councilmember Brown.

1:23

Here.

1:23

Vice Mayor Ray?

1:24

Here.

1:24

Mayor Henderson.

1:25

Here.

1:25

City Attorney Salzman.

1:26

Here.

1:27

City Manager O'Reilly.

Speaker 2

1:28

Here.

Speaker 3

1:29

City Clerk Carico present.

Speaker 2

1:30

All right.

1:31

First thing on the agenda is our minutes approval.

Speaker 4

1:34

Public comment, Mayor.

Speaker 2

1:35

Oh, I'm sorry, public comment, public comment after roll call.

Speaker 5

1:40

Will you have comment and discuss the other?

Speaker 2

1:42

Uh there will be.

1:42

Yep.

1:43

So this is just open CRA public comment.

1:47

All right.

1:47

Seeing no one, minutes approval.

Speaker 3

1:49

Consider the approval of the February 21st, 2023 meeting minutes.

Speaker 2

1:54

All right.

1:54

Council understand a motion.

1:56

I'll make a question.

1:57

Oh, sorry.

Speaker 6

1:58

I'll make a motion on the minutes.

2:01

Second.

Speaker 2

2:01

All right.

2:02

All in favor signify by saying aye.

2:04

Aye.

2:04

Aye.

2:04

Carries the passage, bringing us to CRA resolution number 2024-01.

Speaker 3

2:09

CRA resolution number 2024-01, a resolution of the community redevelopment agency of the city of Gulfport, Florida, authorizing a permit for the Tuesday fresh market and the first Friday and third Saturdays authoring authorizing permits for outdoor sales or displays for businesses and vendors, including outdoor entertainment within the waterfront redevelopment district mixed use and mixed use limited land use areas for the first Friday and third Saturday of each month and Tuesday fresh market.

2:37

Providing criteria for the issuance of such permits, authorizing the use of city rights of way and private properties within the waterfront redevelopment district and providing for an effective date.

Speaker 4

2:48

Yes, Mayor, Mayor, this is so exciting.

2:50

You and I've done this a few times.

3:12

If I could ask council former Council Member Banno to come up.

Speaker 2

3:41

Seems like it's been pretty successful.

Speaker 5

3:43

It's uh very successful.

3:46

I think it's showing how old we're getting to, Sam.

3:50

Um Barbara Banno, Coronado Way South.

3:54

Um, not only from a chamber's perspective, but I also am very vested in the the the area as a small business owner.

4:03

It'll be 15 years in November for Stellas.

4:07

So but you know these events are just a staple to our community.

4:13

Uh no matter how many times maybe we try to like change the way we do things.

4:17

Um it's always going to be first Friday and third Saturday, and that stands as a brand.

4:22

And um, I've said it numerous times standing up in front of you guys.

4:26

Uh the partnership that not only the chamber has with the city, but also with the what the what council does in partnership with all the small businesses down there, um, you know, is is priceless and you don't see um publicly anywhere else uh throughout the state of Florida.

Unassigned speaker

4:43

So these events are vital to our community, they're vital to uh the small businesses down there and and to thrive, and so um I'm thankful that the chamber, um I'm not sure if a lot of people know after nine years I have uh stepped down, but it's always still very big part of my heart.

Speaker 5

5:00

Uh but um, you know, the chamber's success to it, and it just stands by their mission.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development█████████████████████████████████████████████91%
Procedural████9%
Summary of Proceedings

Gulfport Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting – February 20, 2024

The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) of Gulfport, Florida, held a regular meeting on February 20, 2024, immediately following the City Council meeting that convened at 6:00 PM. The board approved the minutes from the previous CRA meeting and unanimously adopted Resolution 2024-01 to renew permits for the Tuesday Fresh Market, First Friday, and Third Saturday outdoor sales and entertainment events in the Waterfront Redevelopment District.

Minutes Approval

  • The board unanimously approved the February 21, 2023, meeting minutes. A motion was made and seconded, and all members voted aye.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public offered comments during the public comment period.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 2024-01 (Permits for Outdoor Markets): City staff presented the resolution authorizing permits for the Tuesday Fresh Market and the monthly First Friday and Third Saturday events. The resolution sets criteria for outdoor sales, displays, and entertainment within the Mixed Use and Mixed Use Limited land use areas, and allows use of city rights-of-way and private properties.
  • Barbara Banno, a former councilmember, chamber leader, and owner of Stella’s restaurant (15 years in business), spoke in strong support of the resolution. She highlighted the success of the events, noting that vendor participation has grown to approximately 95 vendors—the highest ever. She emphasized the valuable partnership between the Chamber, the city, and small businesses, calling the events a “staple” and “priceless” to the community. Banno also mentioned she had recently stepped down from the chamber after nine years but remains deeply supportive.
  • Council members expressed appreciation, with Mayor Henderson and others noting the positive impact of the markets on local businesses. Vice Mayor Ray and Councilmember Brown made supportive remarks about the Gulfport Merchant Association’s (GMA) role. A lighthearted comment was made about the popularity of certain vendors (e.g., Lulu’s Kettle Corn and the lobster vendor), indicating that the markets are very well-attended.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 2024-01 passed unanimously (5-0). All five councilmembers (O’Hara, Thanos, Brown, Vice Mayor Ray, Mayor Henderson) voted yes. The resolution extends the permit program for a five-year term.
  • The board adjourned without further business.

Meeting Transcript

Well, housing, it's the gateway to corruption. Uh probably in the government. I would tend to think, in my experience, corruption is the highest in the housing department with the deal. Open the community redevelopment agency meeting for Gulf Port Florida. So we need to do another roll call, City Clerk. Councilmember O'Hara. Here. Councilmember Thanos? Here. Councilmember Brown. Here. Vice Mayor Ray? Here. Mayor Henderson. Here. City Attorney Salzman. Here. City Manager O'Reilly. Here. City Clerk Carico present. All right. First thing on the agenda is our minutes approval. Public comment, Mayor. Oh, I'm sorry, public comment, public comment after roll call. Will you have comment and discuss the other? Uh there will be. Yep. So this is just open CRA public comment. All right. Seeing no one, minutes approval. Consider the approval of the February 21st, 2023 meeting minutes. All right. Council understand a motion. I'll make a question. Oh, sorry. I'll make a motion on the minutes. Second. All right. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Carries the passage, bringing us to CRA resolution number 2024-01. CRA resolution number 2024-01, a resolution of the community redevelopment agency of the city of Gulfport, Florida, authorizing a permit for the Tuesday fresh market and the first Friday and third Saturdays authoring authorizing permits for outdoor sales or displays for businesses and vendors, including outdoor entertainment within the waterfront redevelopment district mixed use and mixed use limited land use areas for the first Friday and third Saturday of each month and Tuesday fresh market. Providing criteria for the issuance of such permits, authorizing the use of city rights of way and private properties within the waterfront redevelopment district and providing for an effective date. Yes, Mayor, Mayor, this is so exciting. You and I've done this a few times. If I could ask council former Council Member Banno to come up. Seems like it's been pretty successful. It's uh very successful. I think it's showing how old we're getting to, Sam.

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