Gulfport City Council Meeting – December 19, 2023

The Gulfport City Council met on December 19, 2023, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included public comments, approvals of resolutions for audit services, sewer rehabilitation, elevator modernization, and a roadway grant, as well as a lottery for ballot placement for the March 2024 municipal election.

Consent Calendar

• Item 5.a. Approved the meeting minutes of December 5, 2023, by unanimous consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Francine Witton highlighted the 33rd year of Operation Santa and thanked the community for its support.
• Evelyn Turney (Marina District resident) urged the council to reconsider the ban on dogs on the beach, suggesting limited hours (sunrise to 8 a.m. or an evening hour) or a designated area. She expressed that Gulfport is a dog-friendly community and that responsible owners should be allowed to enjoy the beach with their dogs.
• Deb Laramie (Vice Mayor Ray's district) commended the city's Arbor Day celebration and offered suggestions: better explanation of fertilizer/pitcher packs during tree giveaways, providing planting demonstrations, and collecting addresses/emails for follow-up. She volunteered to help answer tree-related questions.
• Kelly Wright (Gulfport Merchants Chamber chairperson) reminded attendees of the New Year's Eve event ($50 tickets, buffet, music, champagne toast), the December 26 Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market, and the chamber's relocation to 5317 Gulfport Boulevard. She reported increased membership, successful events in 2023, and new committees (arts, tourism, advocacy) looking ahead to 2024.
• Marlene (name not fully given) reported that a campaign sign supporting her candidate was taken from her yard, calling it un-American and illegal. She requested that the city educate residents about campaign sign ordinances.
• Karen (attendee for 11 years) thanked the council and staff for their work, praising the budget process and the annual department head presentations as the best meeting of the year.
• Tommy Bixler (59th Street South) announced a Lions Club pancake breakfast on January 7, 2024, and a 70s-themed dance on January 20, 2024, at $25/ticket ($30 for VIP) to raise funds for Boca Ciega High School scholarships. He also noted that he and his wife donated bicycles for Operation Santa.

Discussion Items

• City Manager Report: Reported on a tie in the PSDA board member selection, to be resolved by city managers meeting with the director; and on vessels that washed ashore after a storm. Four boats were identified—three insured (owners will remove them), one uninsured (city will remove), and one behind the rec center with owner being traced (FWC involved). Councilmember Brown expressed frustration that boats broke loose despite storm warnings, damaging the pier and casino dock. Vice Mayor Ray noted that state law limits local regulation of anchored vessels, though efforts to change that are ongoing.
• Resolution 2023-111 (Item 7.a.): Authorized a contract with MSL, P.A. for independent audit services. Approved unanimously.
• Resolution 2023-112 (Item 7.b.): Authorized retaining Milestone Professional Services, Inc. for additional financial support services. Approved unanimously.
• Resolution 2023-113 (Item 7.c.): Authorized a $850,000 contract with Atlantic Pipe Services, LLC for rehabilitation of an estimated 24,000 linear feet of Priority Two sanitary sewer mains (part of a $1 million appropriation; engineering already approved). City Manager noted the city has spent nearly $13 million on sewer work over many years, with positive results (no discharges after recent storms). Approved unanimously.
• Resolution 2023-114 (Item 7.d.): Authorized a contract with Otis Elevator Services for modernization of the elevator at Michael J. Yakes Recreation Center, plus a budget amendment. The elevator is 25 years old; a complete modernization was needed. Approved unanimously.
• Resolution 2023-115 (Item 7.e.): Authorized signing a grant agreement with FDOT for the 58th Street South Roadway Improvements Project (total $1.2 million grant plus $400,000 city match). The project includes full-depth reclamation, drainage, sidewalks, and curbing from 15th Avenue to Gulfport Boulevard. Approved unanimously.
• Discussion Item 8.a.: Ballot Lottery. The City Clerk conducted a paper lottery for Ward 1 candidates Tom Bixler and April Thanos. Paul Ray (Ward 3) was the only qualified candidate and is declared elected. For Ward 1, the lottery placed April Thanos second on the March 19, 2024 election ballot (Tom Bixler first).
• New Business – Tree Inventory Town Hall. Councilmember Brown proposed a town hall in February to present tree inventory software ($5,000 or less) and recruit volunteers for a city tree inventory, which could help with FEMA reimbursement after storms. Vice Mayor Ray and other members noted the tradition of avoiding town halls during election season and suggested waiting until after the April election. Brown agreed to delay until April, pending her re-election.

Key Outcomes

• All five resolutions (2023-111 through 2023-115) were approved unanimously (4–0).
• The consent agenda (minutes of December 5) was approved.
• Paul Ray was declared elected to Ward 3 unopposed.
• The ballot lottery determined candidate order for Ward 1: Tom Bixler first, April Thanos second.
• Council gave consensus to hold a tree inventory town hall in April 2024 (after the municipal election).
• No action was taken on beach dog access, but council noted it could be discussed again in the future.
• Campaign sign enforcement: Council reminded the public not to remove signs and to contact Code Enforcement (Mark) if signs are in the right-of-way.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned (time not recorded).