Gulfport City Council Meeting (January 16, 2024): Presentations, Resolutions, and Public Safety Issues

The Gulfport City Council met on January 16, 2024 at City Hall. The meeting featured four presentations, addressed public concerns regarding stray gunfire in the Beachway Park mobile home community, and unanimously approved two resolutions.

Presentations

• Holiday Decoration Contest Winners: The city recognized Kim Schnicker (63rd Street South) for the general theme and the Shell Station (5150 Gulfport Boulevard South) for the commercial theme.
• Teen Council Update: The council heard from Chair Norman Weibel and Jack Helms. They reported on past community activities and announced a “Keep Gulfport” warm-weather drive for the Florida League of Cities contest. The drive will collect coats, blankets, and warm accessories at the Rec Center, City Hall, and Fire Department, with a distribution day planned for February 27th at Pavilion 5 in partnership with the Pinellas County Health Department.
• Affordable Housing Presentation: Former State Senator Jeff Brandes presented on behalf of the Florida Policy Project. He stated that Florida faces a housing supply crisis with 800–1,000 new residents moving to the state daily, requiring roughly 500 new housing units per day to keep pace. For built-out communities like Gulfport, he recommended expanding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) without parking requirements, upzoning to allow duplexes/triplexes/quads, reducing minimum lot sizes, and standardizing ADU building plans to speed permitting. Councilmember Thanos noted the existing mix of housing types in the city’s Arts District.
• Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Update: Director Tom Nicholls presented on a $125,000 FHWA grant (with a $12,000 city match) to study the 49th Street corridor from 1st Avenue North to 25th Avenue South. Between 2018 and 2022, the corridor saw 16 bike crashes and 9 pedestrian incidents, largely attributed to speed. A community walking audit was scheduled, and a final list of safety projects is expected by the end of April.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Beachway Park Gunfire Concerns: Residents Shirley Baldwin and Donna Ferlano, representing Gulfport’s only mobile home community (Beachway Park, approximately 154 homes), detailed the risk of stray gunfire on New Year’s Eve and the 4th of July. Baldwin stated that three homes were hit by stray bullets this year. Ferlano reported that 27 homes in the park have been struck by bullets over time, with some hit multiple times. She described bullets piercing her ceiling in both 2021 and January 2024. She requested the council explore acoustic gunfire detection sensors, noting similar programs exist in cities across the country. “This has got to be stopped before somebody gets killed,” she said.
• Bicycle Safety: A resident requested highly visible signs reading “Use Lights to Cross” at bicycle crossings to remind cyclists to push the pedestrian signal buttons.
• Community Events: Kelly Garcia (Gulfport Merchant Chamber) announced the upcoming Fine Arts Festival, Pink Flamingo Home Tour, a new co-working space, and the “Gulfport Welcome” initiative. Tom Bixler and Eric Garcia (Gulfport Lions Club) promoted their fundraising dance for college scholarships, aiming to raise $5,000.
• Other Comments: Richard Freed donated books to the library and expressed opposition to the Moms of Liberty organization, calling it a “terrorist organization.” He also proposed that sidewalk fees collected from new developments be spent within the ward where they are generated.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the meeting minutes from December 19, 2023, and Resolution 2024-01, appointing members to the Senior Citizens' Advisory Committee on Aging. (The council took a brief recess after the consent agenda.)

Resolutions

• Resolution 2024-02: Unanimously approved (5–0) a conditional use application (C23-02) for a mixed-use development (residential and physician’s office) at 5405 Gulfport Boulevard South. Staff had no objection to the application.
• Resolution 2024-03: Unanimously approved (5–0) a special event application from O’Maddy’s to conduct a prostate cancer fundraiser, temporarily waiving certain city code provisions.

Discussion Items & Council Reports

• Trolley to Rays Games: A discussion was held on potentially reviving a trolley service to Tampa Bay Rays baseball games. The city manager noted that participation had historically declined and that existing public transit options (Sunrunner, Bus 23) now serve the route.
• Dog Beach and EV Procurement: Councilmember Thanos requested future agenda items to discuss allowing dogs on a portion of the beach or during limited hours, and to pre-order electric vehicles to avoid lengthy manufacturing waits. City Manager O’Reilly agreed to provide vehicle replacement plan details for a future meeting.
• Councilmember Reports: Councilmember Brown announced the opening of a new exhibit, “What’s in a Name,” at the Gulfport Museum on Friday. Councilmember Hare reported on the activities of the newly branded “Fusion 49” business district. Mayor Henderson reminded the community about the cold weather expected in the coming days.

Key Outcomes

• Resolutions 2024-02 and 2024-03 passed unanimously (5–0).
• Future agenda items were requested regarding dog beach access and electric vehicle procurement scheduling.
• The council approved providing the City Hall venue for a candidates’ forum hosted by the Gabber newspaper on January 30, 2024.
• The council approved supporting Stetson University’s graduation by providing trolley transportation and temporarily closing a section of 62nd Street.