Gulfport City Council Meeting – November 7, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Gulfport City Council Meeting – November 7, 2023
The Gulfport City Council met on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 6:00 PM at Gulfport City Hall. Mayor Sam Henderson was excused; Vice Mayor Ray presided. The meeting included presentations from the Senior Center Advisory Committee and the National Wildlife Federation, public comments on community events and concerns, and unanimous approval of several resolutions for vehicle purchases, TASER replacement, and budget amendments. All resolutions passed with votes tallied.
Presentations
- Regina Buscemi, board member of the Senior Center Advisory Committee, reported that the committee has a full nine-member board for the first time in a while. She highlighted recent accomplishments including a "Welcome to Gulfport" packet for new residents. Senior Center statistics: 3,660 registered participants; 2,251 Gulfport residents (65%) and 1,213 non-residents (35%); average daily attendance is 648. She requested feedback from residents.
- The city recognized winners of the annual Halloween Decoration Contest: residential winner Robert Ware and Alex Garcia (unable to attend), and business winner Gulfport Beach Bazaar (unable to attend).
- Amanda Moore, Director of the Gulf Program at National Wildlife Federation, presented a resilience project funded by Deepwater Horizon settlement. The project used storytelling films and boat tours to engage communities in climate resilience. Key findings: 149% increase in willingness to attend city resilience meetings, 35% increase in attendance at hurricane prep meetings, and 240% increase in willingness to work on nature-based solutions. The film is available for public use. The city is conducting its own resiliency and stormwater studies due by end of 2024.
Consent Calendar
- Item 5.a: Approval of the meeting minutes from October 17, 2023, was approved by voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jerry Reid (49th Street South Business Association) announced a toy drive with the Lions Club on November 18 during a pancake breakfast and citywide yard sale.
- Tom Bixler (59th Street South) thanked the city for promoting the Veterans Day breakfast and highlighted the gecko queen's cash mob that increased sales.
- Karen (last name not given) thanked the city for sponsoring Art in the Yard, noted that sidewalks along 58th and 49th Streets were trimmed (possibly by the city), praised the playground swings, and requested that the pier lights be dimmed due to excessive brightness.
- Melissa Humboldt (Vice President, Gulfport Merchants Chamber) announced the return of the New Year's Eve gala at the casino, monthly referral meetings at the Lions Club, and a "Shop Local" holiday campaign running from Small Business Saturday (November 25) to the holiday market (December 16).
- Sarah Lara Clante (President/CEO, Gulfport Merchants Chamber) announced the chamber's welcome center will move to 5317 Gulfport Boulevard with a grand opening in December.
- Lenny Gukenheimer (5213 Dillet Avenue South) thanked Councilman O'Hara for collaborating with St. Petersburg on making 49th Street safer and suggested shuttle service to reduce event congestion.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 2023-101 (Marina Work Truck): Authorized purchase of one 2024 marina work truck and sale of old truck #1400 at auction. Discussion on hybrid/electric options; the city manager noted electric not available and hybrid not efficient for short distances. Motion for option 1 (gas regular cab) passed 3-1 with Councilmember Thanos voting no.
- Resolution 2023-102 (Building Maintenance Van): Authorized purchase of one 2024 work van and sale of vehicle #1484. Discussion on electric vs. gas; the city manager cited battery replacement costs and lack of infrastructure. Motion for option 1 (2023 gas van available now) passed 3-1 with Councilmember Thanos voting no.
- Resolution 2023-103 (TASER Replacement): Authorized purchase of 18 replacement TASERs from Axon Enterprise for $48,008.02. Police Chief explained that older TASers lose manufacturer liability support after five years. Replacement covers only patrol officers; command staff will swap with off-duty officers. Unanimous vote.
- Resolution 2023-104 (Fire Department EMS Vehicle): Authorized purchase of a 2023 Ford F-150 EcoBoost for the EMS coordinator, 75% funded by Pinellas County Emergency Medical Services. Discussion on need for a truck to transport contaminated equipment. Unanimous vote.
- Resolution 2023-105 (Marina Fuel Budget Amendment): Authorized budget amendment to recognize increased fuel revenue and offsetting costs for fiscal year 2023. Unanimous vote.
- Resolution 2023-106 (Hurricane Idalia Costs): Authorized a budget amendment up to $150,000 to cover response, recovery, and mitigation costs from Hurricane Idalia; most costs to be reimbursed by FEMA. Unanimous vote.
Council Comments & Reports
- Councilmember Thanos announced a town hall on trees and urban forestry on November 15 at Scout Hall, and Arbor Day on December 1 at the Recreation Center with free trees for residents. She encouraged tree planting and noted grants for shade trees.
- Councilmember Brown promoted the Veterans Day Parade on November 11, the citywide yard sale on November 18, and the Safe Streets for All project on 49th Street. He thanked the Recreation Department for the successful Halloween event.
- Councilmember O'Hara reported on neighborhood Halloween block parties, the need to repair the "Welcome to Gulfport" sign at Caldwell Park, and ongoing sidewalk construction on 49th Street near the strip mall. He discussed temporary parking options for businesses during construction.
- The council discussed moving future presentations to the second meeting of the month to avoid running late and losing audience attendance. Staff will inform council of scheduling conflicts.
Key Outcomes
- All six resolutions were approved: 101 and 102 each passed 3-1 (Councilmember Thanos dissenting); 103, 104, 105, and 106 passed unanimously.
- The consent agenda was approved.
- Council will consider adjusting presentation scheduling and limiting presentations to one per meeting or to the second meeting of the month.
- No formal action was taken on the request to dim pier lights, but it was noted for future consideration.
Meeting Transcript
Call this meeting to order. I don't need to do anything else. Okay. Um so that we start with the invocation, which is going to be given by April Thanos, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Would you all rise so in honor of um Veterans Day? Um, a true soldier fights not because he hates what's in front of him, but because he loves what's behind him. And that was from G.K. Chesterson, who was an English writer and philosopher from that died in 1936, but still true today. City Clerk roll call, please. Councilmember Thanos? Here. Councilmember Brown? Here. Vice Mayor Ray? Here. Councilmember O'Hara? Here. City Attorney Salzman. Here. City Manager O'Reilly. Here. City Clerk Carico present. Mayor Henderson has asked to be excused. We're gonna be starting off. We have a couple of presentations. The first of which is Regina Buscemi, uh board member for the Senior Center Advisory Committee. Thank you. Good evening. Hey. This is a different hat for me tonight. I'm usually asking for something. Um the senior you just recently put me on this board, so I don't know a lot about it, but it's been very interesting. We get together on the first on the second Tuesday of every month from September through June, beginning at 8 a.m. And anyone who has feedback or would like to speak with us is welcome to come. We presently have a full uh a full committee, nine members for the first time in a while, I believe. Um since the adoption of resolution 92-12 in February of 1992, this committee has been tasked to determine the long and short-term needs of the Gulfport's aging residents and recommends priorities to city council. I'm sorry, I'm laughing, but you only have to be 50 years old to be a senior, and I don't consider that aged, but okay, whatever. Prepare recommended we're also tasked to prepare recommendations on program priorities to meet the needs of Gulfport's aging residents, and to serve as an advocate on behalf of the aged in matters of local or regional resource distribution. Recent accomplishments, this uh they recently put together the welcome to Gulfport packet. Christian and Rachel did these welcome to Gulfport packet, which is awesome. We used it at the welcome to golf board events we had. Um and this packet is found online or also provided to new residents when they establish a water connection. The senior center stats, the registered participants are 3,660 or 464, Gulfport residents 2,251, which is 65 percent, and non-Gulfport residences 1,213, which is 50 uh 35 percent. The average per day people who come to the senior center is 648. And if you've ever been to the senior center, those rooms are so small. It's we really need it. Um we do request feedback, and I from all of you or from all of the Gulfport residents. Um you want to have something to say, please do. Do you have any questions? Because Rachel is here to answer them.
openpublica.com