Gulfport City Council Meeting – February 20, 2024

The Gulfport City Council met on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 6:00 PM in Gulfport City Hall. The meeting featured three presentations (Senior Center Foundation update, Stantec marina concept study, and Harvard Jolly public safety building concept), public comments on a variety of topics, approval of a consent agenda, first reading of a subdivision replat ordinance, and new business discussions including a potential smoke-free parks policy, dog park ground cover options, cemetery lien forgiveness, a swimming lesson program donation, and appointment to a regional planning board.

Presentations

• Senior Center Foundation Update – Larry Kennedy, President, reported that the foundation raised $117,000 in 2023 (a record), committed $500,000 over five years to the senior center building fund, and spent only $32,000 on administrative expenses. He thanked the city for support and outlined 2024 plans including more performing arts events and sponsorship efforts.
• Stantec – Marina Master Plan Concept Study – Lori Viola and Brian Zarlenga presented a community engagement timeline for developing a unified vision for the Gulfport Marina. Goals include improving public access, parking, park space, and a potential multi-use building. A community charrette is planned for March 2024, with a final concept plan expected by June 2024.
• Harvard Jolly/PBK – Gulfport Public Safety Building Concept Design – Ward Friszolowski and Amy Bradlow presented an early concept for a combined police and fire station on the site of the current community center (49th Street to 51st Street). The concept includes a two-story fire station with five drive-through bays, a police station with a sally port, and shared spaces (training, EOC, conference rooms). Cost estimates and further design work will continue through summer 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bonnie Bray and Joselyn Kearns – Representing the big dog park, they requested a change from sod to a more durable, clean ground covering (e.g., wood chips), citing high maintenance costs ($6,000 per sodding) and unsanitary conditions. They provided comparative photos.
• Brian Durr (Marina District resident) – Expressed support for the marina master plan but asked that community input be clearly used in decision-making and that Stantec be allowed to go beyond the initial scope.
• Richard Freed – Raised concerns about voter registration errors in Pinellas County that prevent listing Gulfport as a mailing address, and announced his intent to challenge council members’ voting rights.
• Bob Feckner – Past Commodore of Gulfport Yacht Club – Supported the marina plan but questioned how public input will be processed. Also expressed concern about moving fire and police services to the eastern part of the city, potentially increasing response times for western residents.
• Chuck Kitchler (Marina district resident) – Emphasized that Gulfport is primarily residential (92% of revenue from residents) and urged careful consideration of traffic, sewage, and environmental impacts from marina development. He also noted that 60% of members of the three clubs using public land may not live in Gulfport.
• Lenny Guckenheimer – Urged the council to adopt a vicious dog ordinance after a recent dog attack incident where police said they could not act because no one was bitten.
• Susan Gore – Announced the 7th annual Readout LGBTQ Literary Festival, held nearby, with about 300 attendees.
• Jonathan McCoachy (Marina district resident and marina tenant) – Questioned the necessity of a major marina redevelopment, asking what problem it is intended to solve. He requested that the charrette begin with clear justification from the council.
• Sarah Lara Quente (President, Gulfport Merchants Chamber) – Expressed gratitude for city support, noted the Tuesday Market is at capacity, and invited the council to the chamber's 40th anniversary grand opening on March 21 at 5 PM.
• Karen Schwartz – Praised the Senior Center Foundation’s work but criticized the fundraising consultant’s inability to contact potential donors like Humana. She also expressed concern about relying on bake-sale-style fundraisers for a major capital project.
• Raven Kramer – Thanked the council and advocated for a workshop on affordable housing, citing statistics: average home price $398,000, average rent $2,000, average salary in Gulfport $38,000. She suggested allowing ADUs to help Gen Z.
• Kelly Garcia (Gulfport Merchants Chamber board) – Promoted upcoming events: Gulfport Gets Rescued Festival (Feb 24), Senior Center Foundation mixer (Feb 28), and Pink Flamingo Home Tour (March 2), which will now include Stetson University College of Law.
• Karen Hugar (marina district resident and charter boat captain) – Reminded the council that the marina was originally built for residents, urged environmental consideration, and noted flooding issues from inadequate seawalls that need addressing before any new development.
• Rick Gilbert (marina boater) – Argued that the three private clubs (sailing, yacht, lions) are using public land for private benefit and that such land should be reclaimed for public use. He supported the marina redevelopment.
• Charlotte Downey – Questioned the need for marina redevelopment and urged an environmental impact study. She also raised the issue of lethal browning of palm trees and asked the city horticulturist to investigate.
• Kieran Love – Asked for clarity on the marina community meeting date and location, and questioned what will happen to the services currently housed behind the fence on the 49th–51st Street public safety site.
• Deb Atkins – Noted that the marina master plan effort has been attempted before with no follow-through, and requested background on why it is being restarted.

Consent Calendar

• Item 5.a: Approved the meeting minutes from February 6, 2024.
• Item 5.b: Resolution No. 2024-11 – Appointed a trustee to the Gulfport Firefighters’ Pension Board.
• Both items were approved unanimously.

Ordinance – First Reading

• Item 6.a: Ordinance No. 2024-01 – A subdivision replat to split one lot into two lots in the Veteran City subdivision. The applicant’s attorney noted previous council approval of the lot split and a utility easement. Councilmember Brown welcomed the project as a neighbor. The ordinance passed 5-0 on first reading.

New Business

• Smoke-Free Parks and Beaches – Councilmember Thanos reported that the Florida Department of Health requested reconsideration of a smoke-free policy, offering free signage. She provided a package for council review; no action taken.
• Dog Park Ground Cover – Councilmember Thanos proposed using engineered wood fiber (Wolf Fiber) as a cost-effective alternative to re-sodding the dog park (currently $18,000/year for three soddings). Estimated cost $2,800–$5,600 with 2–4 year lifespan. She asked the parks department to evaluate. Councilmember Brown requested MSDS data before approval.
• Lincoln Cemetery Lien Forgiveness – Vice Mayor Ray requested a resolution for the next meeting to forgive the $49,000+ lien on the cemetery property, now that the Cross and Anvil nonprofit has taken over caretakership. Mayor and City Manager noted that additional agreements are needed to ensure future maintenance. The item will be placed on the next agenda.
• Swimming Lesson Program Donation – Vice Mayor Ray requested a $1,000 donation to the YMCA’s “Safety Around Water” program at Stetson College, which taught 150 children free lessons last year. Council expressed support, and the contribution will proceed.
• Regional Planning Board Representation – Vice Mayor Ray asked to be appointed as Gulfport’s representative on the Forward Pinellas / new combined regional planning board. Council consented without objection.

Council Comments & Reports

• Councilmember O’Hara – Asked that the city’s goal for the marina redevelopment be clearly communicated to the public: preservation of mangroves, wildlife, and public access to the peninsula, not development for its own sake.
• Councilmember Thanos – Announced a 49th Street cleanup on March 2 at 9 AM; reported on Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council meetings, including a resiliency summit on May 9–10; directed staff to share information.
• Councilmember Brown – Promoted Get Rescued Festival; remembered community member Doris McEwen (longest continuously registered voter in Gulfport); praised Vanessa Gray’s work at Lincoln Cemetery.
• Vice Mayor Ray – Thanked Vanessa Gray; noted the pink flamingo tour now includes Stetson University College of Law; requested annual application of cool paint for the dog park concrete before summer.
• Mayor Henderson – Nominated Vanessa Gray for the Spirit of Gulfport award; council agreed.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 2024-01 passed on first reading (5-0).
• Swimming lesson donation of $1,000 authorized.
• Vice Mayor Ray appointed to represent Gulfport on the Forward Pinellas / new regional planning board.
• Lincoln Cemetery lien forgiveness will be formally considered at the next meeting.
• Dog park ground cover evaluation to be pursued by parks department.
• Smoke-free parks discussion to continue; no vote.
• Council expressed support for a clear public engagement process on the marina master plan and requested that the “why” be communicated before the charrette.