Gulfport City Council Meeting - April 18, 2023
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Gulfport City Council Meeting - April 18, 2023
The Gulfport City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 6:00 PM at Gulfport City Hall. The meeting lasted approximately three hours and covered a wide range of topics, including committee appointments, code amendments, budget discussions, and public concerns. The meeting began with the presentation of the Spirit of Gulfport Award to Brian Liggins and Phillip Bailey, followed by public comments, consent agenda approvals, and discussions on recreational vehicle regulations, council meeting rules, and the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget.
Spirit of Gulfport Award
- Mayor Henderson presented the Spirit of Gulfport Award to Brian Liggins and Phillip Bailey, recognizing their exceptional community involvement. Both expressed gratitude and love for Gulfport.
Consent Calendar
- The Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:
- Approval of the February 21, 2023 Council Meeting Minutes.
- Resolution No. 2023-17: Authorizing interlocal agreement for debris collection services with multiple vendors.
- Resolution No. 2023-18: Authorizing a janitorial services contract with High Sources, Inc.
- Resolution No. 2023-19: Authorizing purchase and installation of City Hall Complex EOC Generators (CJ's Sales and Service of Ocala, Inc.), including a budget amendment.
- Resolution No. 2023-20: Renewing contract for Special Master Services with James D. Thaler, Jr.
- Resolution No. 2023-21: Appointing members to the Board of Adjustment.
- Resolution No. 2023-22: Appointing members to the Planning and Zoning Board/Local Planning Agency.
- Resolution No. 2023-23: Appointing a member to the Senior Citizens' Advisory Committee on Aging.
- Resolution No. 2023-24: Appointing resident members to the General Employees' Pension Board and Police Officers' Pension Board.
- Resolution No. 2023-25: Appointing Councilmember Ian O'Hara to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
- Resolution No. 2023-26: Authorizing a Participant Agreement with Rostan Solutions, LLC for Disaster Debris Monitoring.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Short-term rentals (STRs): A group of residents, property owners, and business owners expressed concerns about the city's use of Granicus software for STR enforcement. Several speakers urged the Council to reopen discussion and consider a moratorium, arguing STRs are vital to the local economy and that many stakeholders are afraid to come forward. Others defended the current ordinance, emphasizing the need for enforcement to protect residential neighborhoods. City Manager Jim O'Reilly clarified the existing ordinance: STRs are only allowed in specific zoning districts (waterfront redevelopment); elsewhere, residential properties may rent for less than 30 days no more than three times per year. The software is intended solely for complaint-driven enforcement, not for proactive data mining.
- Recreational vehicle ordinance: A resident spoke in opposition to the proposed RV ordinance changes, urging the Council to vote no, citing potential nuisances.
- Signage and community engagement: A resident praised new signs and the “Gulfport on the Edge” visioning meeting that attracted about 120 people, and encouraged the Council to consider the ideas generated.
- LGBTQ Resource Center announcements: Susan Gore and Lynn Whitehead announced upcoming events: a juried art show, a pride celebration on June 3, and a fundraiser run/walk to raise $6,000 for scholarships.
- Clean water amendment: A resident urged the Council to adopt a resolution supporting a Florida ballot amendment to protect clean water rights.
- Parking concerns: A restaurant owner (Byron Shawfont) requested time-limited parking on Beach Boulevard and Short Drive to improve customer access.
- Beach playground safety: A parent expressed concerns about a “death bridge” between play areas, but thanked the city for the new turf.
- Trolley and bike parking: A resident thanked the city for restoring trolley service but requested better promotion and more bike parking downtown.
- Other comments included opposition to credit card fees for online payments and recognition of code enforcement work.
Discussion Items
- Recreational Vehicle Ordinance (First Reading) – Ordinance No. 2023-01: City Manager O'Reilly presented the amendment to Chapter 21, which simplifies rules: RVs are prohibited in front yards, allowed in side/rear yards with a 3-foot setback from habitable units. Grandfathered RVs retain their status for that specific vehicle. After brief discussion, the ordinance passed unanimously (5–0).
- Council Meeting Rules – Resolution No. 2023-27: The Council debated whether public comment should occur before or after Council member comments. A motion to amend the order to have public comment first passed 3–2 (Brown, O'Hara, Mayor Henderson in favor; Vice Mayor Ray, Councilmember Thanos against). The resolution as amended was approved.
- Site Plan Amendment – Resolution No. 2023-28: Public hearing for outdoor seating at a restaurant (5802 28th Avenue South). No public opposition. Unanimously approved.
- Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Discussions (Items 8.a, 8.b, 8.c): The Council reviewed the proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Operating Budget. City Manager O'Reilly emphasized a conservative approach focused on infrastructure (sewer, roads, public safety equipment) and maintaining the millage rate at 4.039 for the 12th consecutive year. He noted rising employee costs, pension plan improvements, and the need to attract and retain staff. Council members expressed support for the conservative philosophy but discussed potential additions:
- Splash pad at the beach park: supported by several members but estimated at $600,000; concerns about staffing and maintenance.
- Tree canopy increase: Councilmember Thanos moved to increase budget to $30,000 for diverse canopy tree species; consensus.
- New Year's Eve fireworks: defeated 3–2 (Brown, Ray, Thanos no; O'Hara, Mayor yes).
- Comprehensive plan review: budget placeholder kept but subject to later council decision; consensus to include.
- Website replacement: consensus to improve content in-house rather than spending $50,000 on a redesign.
- Comprehensive employee pay classification study: approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Ordinance No. 2023-01 (RV amendments) on first reading (5–0).
- Adopted Resolution No. 2023-27 (Council meeting rules) with amendment for public comment first (3–2).
- Approved Resolution No. 2023-28 (outdoor seating site plan) (5–0).
- Directed staff to further develop the FY 2023-2024 budget incorporating council guidance: maintain millage rate, invest in infrastructure, explore splash pad feasibility, increase tree canopy funding, reject New Year's Eve fireworks, proceed with pay classification study, and improve website content internally.
- Councilmember Thanos will present a detailed report from the "Gulfport on the Edge" community visioning sessions.
- Mayor Henderson scheduled a workshop in May 2023 to discuss potential revisions to short-term rental enforcement and communication.
- The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 2, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
Our invocation this evening is given by Councilmember Christine Brown, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join us in rising. Thank you all for being here. Um, this is a prayer for springtime for flowers that bloom about our feet for tender grass, so fresh, so sweet, for song of bird, for hum of bee, for all the things fair we hear we hear and see, for blue of stream and blue of sky, for pleasant shade of branches high, for fragrant air and cooling breeze for beauty of the blooming trees, for the new morning with its light and the rest and shelter of the night for health and food, for love and friends, for everything your goodness sends. Father in heaven, we thank thee. Ralph Waldo Emerson. I pledge allegiance to the flight of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands under God, indivisible liberties and justice for all. All right, thanks everyone for being here. Roll call, please, City Clerk. Councilmember Brown. Here. Vice Mayor Ray. Here. Councilmember O'Hara. Here. Councilmember Thanos. Here. Mayor Henderson. Here. Attorney Galastegie. Here. City Manager O'Reilly. Here. Deputy City Clerk Carico, present. All right. We have uh two two presentations in one this evening. So I'm glad to see both of my awesome neighbors here tonight. Uh, we're presenting the Spirit of Gulfport Award to Brian Liggins and Philip Bailey this evening. So the spirit of yes. You give the Spirit of Gulfport award to those Gulf Portians who who would go above and beyond out of their way uh to be a kind positive part of part of the city that we live in. And these two gentlemen exemplify that um beyond all doubt. I've been lucky enough to have them as my neighbors to the throne known through my time in the restaurant industry. Thank you for vice mayor for bringing that up as a suggestion. Um so the Spirit of Gulfport Award has a representative symbol of star, your value to Gulfport. The sailboat, Gulfport's ties to the sea, the rising sun, ever looking toward the future, and winging birds, the soaring concept of spirit. And we here by present these awards to Philip Bailey and Brian Liggins. I got I have a lot of enough ways. Um this is all started with Fawn Weaver. Bless her heart in heaven. We love you, Fawn. We miss you, but it's because of Fawn that Brian and I decided to make golf port home. We were coming to Peppers and bothering her all the time, and she said, You guys should just move here already. So we did, but she had a plan. She got us here, and then she said, okay, now you're gonna come help me. And I want you involved in anything you can get involved with. Dining out for life, the gecko ball planning committees, getting involved, getting active with golf port. I'm so glad she did, and I'm so glad we did, because all of you have changed our lives for the better. You have made our lives so rich and so full. We have found happiness and content and peace here in this great town. We love golf port so much, and it's because all of you live here, because all of you make golf port what it is.
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