Gulfport City Council Meeting: July 7, 2022 - Budget, Estuary, and Resolutions
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Gulfport City Council Meeting: July 7, 2022 - Budget, Estuary, and Resolutions
The Gulfport City Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting featured a presentation on the state of Tampa Bay by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, public comments on various topics, approval of consent items and resolutions, and discussion of the proposed FY2022-2023 operating budget and the Community Rating System (CRS) for flood insurance. Council members also addressed workplace safety for employees and short-term rental regulation.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Council approved the City Council meeting minutes of May 3, 2022, and May 17, 2022, as presented.
- Resolution No. 2022-43: Approved the appointment of Christine Crosby to the Senior Citizens' Advisory Committee on Aging.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Susan Gore (Board President, LGBTQ Resource Center of the Gulfport Library) announced the 2022-2023 Branch Out Scholarship of $2,500 to Natalie Marcelin, an MSW student at USF, noting the increase from $1,000. She expressed appreciation for the council's commitment to LGBTQ inclusion.
- JW Maddigan (2520 York Street, representing neighbors) proposed reducing the water, sewer, and recycling bill for seniors by changing garbage/recycling collection from twice to once per week on Thursdays, arguing that those on fixed incomes struggle with the current cost.
- Kim Glenn (5601 Shore Boulevard South) requested a beautification upgrade at the corner of 56th and Shore Boulevard around a light post, suggesting mosaic art or planting, but acknowledged flooding issues.
- Steve Utavich (President, Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial Foundation) presented a proposal to place a memorial honoring Floridians who served and died in Iraq and Afghanistan in Veterans Park. The memorial would list 355 names and require a 50x50-foot space, with the foundation raising funds and the city providing maintenance and dedication support.
Discussion Items
- Presentation: Tampa Bay Estuary Program – Ed Sherwood, Executive Director, presented the state of Tampa Bay. He noted that seagrass coverage peaked in 2016 but has lost about 4,000+ acres in Old Tampa Bay due to nutrient pollution. Non-point sources (stormwater) now contribute 64% of nutrients. He highlighted the City of Gulfport's past investments, including the sewer lateral incentive program ($372,000 over three years), living shoreline grants, and the Tangerine Avenue project. He encouraged continued efforts to reduce impervious surfaces and invest in Florida-friendly landscaping. Sherwood also mentioned upcoming federal funds (about $1 million/year for five years) for private lateral improvements, pending EPA guidance.
- City Manager Report – The City Manager reported that the proposed rate structure (reducing the minimum tier to 1,000 gallons) will be presented on August 2. He noted property values increased 15.2% (second highest in Pinellas County) and 24% over two years. He also discussed employee safety concerns, citing increased harassment, threats, and vitriolic emails, and requested council support for measures to protect staff, including potential legal action.
- Budget Discussion #3 – The City Manager presented the FY2022-2023 proposed operating budget overview and fund analysis. Key points: a conservative approach to rebuild reserves to 25% (currently at 16%); a 6% COLA for all employees including council; inflation at 11.3% in Tampa Bay; fuel costs up 58%; and ongoing capital projects (sewer, drainage, resurfacing). Councilmembers expressed support for maintaining the same millage rate for the 11th year and keeping the budget service-focused.
- Community Rating System (CRS) Discussion – Staff analyzed options to move from CRS Class 6 to Class 5, which would require 500 more points. Proposed activities include higher freeboard, cumulative substantial improvement tracking, and hiring a floodplain manager (est. $100,000/year). Councilmember Thanos suggested evaluating lower-cost options like flood data maintenance. Vice Mayor Brown raised concerns about increased costs for homeowners and potential impacts on neighborhood character. Council consensus was not to pursue changes at this time.
- Short-Term Rentals – The City Manager provided updated information and a legal opinion from the City Attorney cautioning against zoning changes that could jeopardize existing restrictions. Councilmember Thanos proposed hiring a contract code enforcement officer (complaint-driven) and using software like Granicus to monitor listings. Discussion deferred to a future meeting, likely in October after budget adoption.
- Smoking Ban – The City Manager noted that a draft ordinance has been prepared following the new state law allowing municipalities to ban smoking on beaches and parks (with exceptions for unfiltered cigars). Councilmembers expressed skepticism about enforceability; no action taken.
- Councilmember Comments – Councilmember Thanos requested a monthly report to be included in the city's weekly email newsletter. Councilmember Ray announced a town hall meeting on July 13 at the library. Mayor Henderson asked staff to explore feasibility of placing the Iraq/Afghanistan war memorial in Veterans Park and adding shade structures to dog parks.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously by roll call (5-0).
- Resolution No. 2022-44 (ARPA funds for inflation relief): Approved unanimously.
- Resolution No. 2022-45 (Beach playground replacement with Project Innovations, Inc., using ARPA funds): Approved unanimously.
- Resolution No. 2022-46 (Oktoberfest Market special event on October 22, 2022): Approved unanimously.
- Budget Direction: Council endorsed a conservative budget approach, maintaining reserves rebuild to 25% and the same millage rate.
- Employee Safety: Council expressed support for exploring legal and policy measures to protect staff from harassment and threats; City Attorney will research options including declaring certain areas non-public forums.
- Short-Term Rentals: Deferred to a discussion at a future council meeting (likely October 2022).
- War Memorial: Staff authorized to evaluate the proposal from the Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial Foundation for placement in Veterans Park.
- Dog Park Amenities: Staff authorized to proceed with adding shade structures at the big dog park, cost under $20,000.
- Town Hall Meeting: Councilmember Ray's town hall scheduled for July 13, 2022, at the library (hybrid format).
- Future Meetings: County Commissioner Justice to attend August 2 meeting; State Representative Cheney to attend August 16 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
To the July 7th regular council meeting for the city of Gulfport, Florida. Our invocation tonight is given by Councilmember April Thanos, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join us in rising. Uh-oh. Okay. I have to apologize because we weren't supposed to be having this meeting, and I didn't know that. Um I guess because it was 4th of July, and I think we're know we're all lucky to live here in a country that is as free as we are. That I think it's just imperative on all of us to vote and to make sure that we stay the free democracy with voting rights for everybody that we aim to be. Thank you. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, individual liberty and justice for all. All right, roll call, please, city clerk. Councilmember Thanos. Here, Vice Mayor Brown. Here. Councilmember Ray. Council Member Ferdovich. Mayor Henderson. Here. See Manager O'Reilly. City Attorney Salzman. Here. City Clerk means present. All right. Starting off with tonight, we have a presentation. We're lucky enough to have Ed Sherwood, the executive director of excellent agency, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Uh, gonna talk to us about the state of the Bay and stormwater management. So welcome, Mr. Sherwood. Thank you for being here with us. Thank you, Mayor. Well, Council members, appreciate the opportunity to speak to you tonight. Uh believe, do I need to cue it up? Do you have a short PowerPoint to go through? Um, as I mentioned, uh I'm Ed Shroud, the executive director of the Tampa Bay Estray program. I've been in that position since uh uh 2018, and prior to that I was the senior scientist with the Estray program. So I've been working uh in the region for the past 20 years, and a lot of what I'll be talking about um comes on the the good work and heels of a lot of partnerships and collaborations that we've been able to develop as an estray program uh in the region. So I'll be giving a little bit of background about who we are as a program, uh kind of our core objectives on trying to restore certain habitats in Tampa Bay, and then speak to you about some of the stormwater issues that I know um are a prime discussion of the council and uh as of late. So I'll jump right into it and let me get into presentation mood. And I don't mind if you all want to stop me and ask questions as I go through this presentation. Uh I can go through as quickly as you want me to. Uh I have about 10-15 slides, so it shouldn't take me too long. Um so we are one of 28 national estuary programs. Our program was designated uh by Congress as an estuary of national significance that allows us to tap into federal resources that come to our region locally that we match with uh resources from local municipal municipalities as well as uh uh entities represented on our policy board, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Department of Environmental Protection in Florida, as well as uh the US EPA region for. So I report to elected officials from the four county governments surrounding Tampa Bay, Pasco, Hillsborough Pinellas, and Mantee Counties, as well as uh city council members from uh Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. And collectively, as an estuary program, we have to develop a comprehensive plan to get um our special place, our estuary of national significance back on track. Uh we're actually under our third iteration of that plan since our inception back in the early 1990s. So our latest plan is based in 2017, and it outlined about 169 different strategies, 30 39 uh main actions, so it's fairly comprehensive in nature. Uh but one of our core objectives has been to restore Tampa Bay's water quality health for the benefit of seagrass resources in Tampa Bay. Um from about the 1950s to the ner early 1980s, we lost about half of our seagrass resources in Tampa Bay.
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