Gulfport City Council Meeting - September 5, 2023

Meeting held at 6:00 PM at Gulfport City Hall. The agenda included public hearings on the FY2023-2024 millage rate and budget, public comments, consent agenda, a tree replacement ordinance, and several resolutions. Key discussions focused on the budget, the future of Briar Hall (Art Center), and proposed changes to the tree ordinance. Numerous votes were taken, and several items were approved or tabled.

Consent Calendar

• Approved meeting minutes from August 15, 2023.
• Passed Resolution No. 2023-70 appointing a member to the Senior Citizens' Advisory Committee on Aging.
• Both items passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Richard Freed expressed disappointment with the water rate restructuring, jokingly giving each council member a dollar.
• Julie Armstrong (5722 17th Avenue South) suggested Briar Hall should become a rentable venue for small parties and receptions, similar to the Casino, and placed under the direction of existing event staff.
• Shirley Baldwin (Beachway Park) supported creating a vibrant art center hub but criticized its current underutilization.
• Kathy Celestry Loper (President, Gulfport Historical Society) clarified that the Historical Society has paid leases on both the history museum and Briar Hall through 2027. She emphasized that the budget vote is about operational support, not control of the buildings, and that if the funding fails, the society retains the lease.
• Margot Dalgady (57th Street South) endorsed city staff running the art center but urged that the new employee have authority over programming; she expressed confusion about conflicting messages regarding the art center's management.
• Scott Lindy (926 60th Street South) argued the art center should be artist-run, not under the Historical Society, recalling a more dynamic past.
• Susan Gore (LGBTQ Resource Center) offered to collaborate if the Historical Society relinquished the lease.
• Jan Lyon Bennett (artist) urged that Briar Hall be opened for community art classes and exhibitions.
• Walter Barker (Trade Winds Drive) encouraged blending art and history, and suggested using university interns to staff the center.
• Kevin Chapman (17th Avenue South) complained that a police officer mishandled a situation where his wife was threatened by a business owner after an online review; he said the police chief reviewed body cam footage and found no fault, which he disputed.
• Karen (last name not given) criticized a lack of decorum at previous meetings, alleging that Vice Mayor Paul Ray used his position to shout down others and later played victim in the local newspaper.
• Several speakers thanked the city for hurricane preparation and the Geckofest cleanup, and praised city staff.

Discussion Items

• FY2023-2024 Budget Presentation: City Manager O'Reilly presented a $19 million operating budget with 22% reserves, reducing the millage rate from 4.039 to 4.0258. Funding was included for senior center replacement, Wood Ibis Pond silt removal, tree canopy increase, Osgood Point evaluation, 49th Street Public Safety Complex planning, IT infrastructure, and department reorganization to separate utility customer service from finance. A $1 million FDEP grant for sewer repairs and a $1.2 million FDOT appropriation for 58th Street were also noted. Councilmember Thanos objected to the reorganization, preferring to keep utility billing under finance with CPA oversight. After debate, the budget passed 4-1 (Thanos opposed).
• Ordinance 2023-12 (Tree Replacement): Proposed to require one 4-inch tree replacement (or $125 per inch fee) instead of the current 2-inch tree. During discussion, City Horticulturist Topher Ross argued that 2-inch container-grown trees often survive better than 4-inch field-dug trees. Councilmember Thanos moved to amend to three 2-inch trees, then to two 2-inch trees, but no second was received. The item was tabled to allow further discussion at a future meeting.
• Briar Hall / Art Center Future: Multiple public comments and council discussion centered on whether the city should take over operations from the Historical Society. The mayor and city manager clarified that the budget item only authorizes funding for potential city staffing and digitization, but the Historical Society retains its lease through 2027. No vote was taken on the building's future.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 2023-10 (Millage Rate Levy) – Passed 5-0. Establishes a 4.0258 mill levy for FY2023-2024, a 13.13% increase over the rolled-back rate.
• Ordinance 2023-11 (Operating Budget) – Passed 4-1 (Councilmember Thanos dissenting). Adopts a $19 million budget with 22% reserves, funding numerous capital and operational projects.
• Ordinance 2023-12 (Tree Replacement) – Tabled. Will return as a discussion item at a later meeting; council seeks simpler, enforceable language.
• Resolution 2023-71 (FDEP Sanitary Sewer Repair Grant) – Passed 5-0. Authorizes the city manager to accept a $1 million state grant for priority 2 and 3 sewer repairs.
• Resolution 2023-72 (Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment Grant) – Passed 5-0. Accepts an $80,000 FDEP grant and authorizes agreement with Advanced Engineering & Design.
• Resolution 2023-73 (EMS Agreement with Pinellas County) – Passed 5-0. Authorizes the city manager to renew the ALS First Responder agreement, compensating the city $1,011,450 for paramedic services.
• Consent Agenda (minutes and appointment) – Passed unanimously.
• Next Meeting: Set for Monday, September 18, 2023 (instead of usual Tuesday) due to scheduling conflicts.