Gulfport City Council Meeting - March 5, 2024
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Gulfport City Council Meeting - March 5, 2024
The Gulfport City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included a Spirit of Gulfport Award to Vanessa Gray for her work on Lincoln Cemetery, a Poet Laureate appointment, several public comments regarding the Sazerac Lounge and other community matters, approval of a subdivision replat ordinance, and three resolutions concerning a special event, fire department restructuring, and additional building services funding. Council also discussed cemetery jurisdiction and received updates on local events and grants.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the meeting minutes from February 20, 2024 (unanimous).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jimmy (St. Pete resident) expressed ongoing concerns about the Sazerac Lounge, citing noise, illegal parking, potential fire code violations, and an attempted sexual battery arrest linked to a patron. He called for accountability and action.
- Vegina Bushemmy praised the city and the police department's quick response in the beach incident, defending canine unit spending.
- Susan Gore (Mayor, Town Shores) reported on Out Arts & Culture's successful Readout event (300+ attendees, 70 authors) and introduced new board president Paul Raker, who announced two grants: $9,000 from Florida Humanities for the Speak Out dialogue series and $15,000 (2024-2025) from Pinellas Community Foundation for operations.
- Kieran Love thanked the city for Gulfport Art in the Yard (March 23, 10 AM–4 PM, 60-75 participating artists) and questioned why a food truck at the liquor store parking lot appears to operate without a permit.
- Tom Bixler announced the citywide yard sale and Lions Club fundraiser with hot dogs and table rentals.
- Vanessa Gray (award recipient) thanked the community for supporting Lincoln Cemetery restoration, emphasizing it was a collective effort.
- Charlotte Downey criticized the council for not denouncing a prior candidate's comment about sanitation workers (implied racist dog whistle) and expressed appreciation for their work.
Discussion Items
- City Manager Report: Jim O'Reilly reported that $2.5 million from Congresswoman Luna remains in the federal budget. The city attorney drafted an agreement with the church/Anvil group to forgive Lincoln Cemetery code violations in exchange for maintenance. Councilmembers discussed possible St. Pete annexation of the cemetery; Mayor Henderson and city manager stated they had no official knowledge and provided historical context.
- Sazerac Lounge Update: City manager noted consistent police presence, decibel readings within legal limits, fire department inspection planned, and that food truck on private property is allowed. Councilmember Thanos asked about parking enforcement at the car wash—requires owner complaint.
- Ordinance 2024-01 (Subdivision Replat): Second reading and public hearing. Approved unanimously. Planning & Zoning Board had recommended approval.
- Resolution 2024-12 (New Horizons Band Special Event): Approved unanimously. Concert at Clymer Park on March 24 at 3 PM.
- Resolution 2024-13 (Fire Department Restructuring): Approved unanimously. Conforms pay plan and personnel manual to existing budget.
- Resolution 2024-14 (Additional Building Services Funding via SAFEbuilt/M.T. Causley): Approved unanimously. Councilmember Thanos requested full names and proper dates on inspection documents.
- New Business: Councilmember Thanos announced she will bring forward planning for electric vehicle purchases for public works, citing available federal grants.
- Council Comments: Councilmember Brown congratulated Firefighter Paramedic Trickarico (2023 county firefighter of the year) and reminded about bee swarming season. Councilmember O'Hara reported on First Friday art walk, his election as Arts and Heritage Museum president, the Poet Laureate appointment, and the mayor's 49th Street cleanup (330 lbs of trash in 1.5 hours). Mayor Henderson read a prepared statement explaining his switch to NPA (No Party Affiliation), advocating for open primaries, campaign finance caps, and higher candidate standards.
Key Outcomes
- Approved February 20, 2024 meeting minutes (unanimous).
- Approved Ordinance 2024-01 (subdivision replat) on second reading (unanimous).
- Approved Resolution 2024-12 (New Horizons Band special event) (unanimous).
- Approved Resolution 2024-13 (fire department restructuring) (unanimous).
- Approved Resolution 2024-14 (additional building services funding) (unanimous).
- Council directed city manager to provide Sazerac Lounge update; fire code inspection to be conducted.
- Councilmember Thanos to bring electric vehicle planning item at a future meeting.
- Proclamation for National Safe Boating Week in May to be issued.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everyone to the regular city council meeting for the city of Gulfport, Florida for March 5th, 2024. Our invocation tonight's given by a councilwoman Thanos, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join us in rising. Well, it is women's um month. Women's history month, so I couldn't choose, so there's several. Jane Goodall. They'll tell you you're too loud that you need to wait your turn and ask the right people for permission. Do it anyway. Alexandria O'Kay Ocasia Cortez. If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. Shirley Chisholm. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right, roll call, please, City Clerk. Councilmember Thanos. Here. Vice Mayor Ray. Here. Councilmember Brown. Here. Councilmember O'Hara. Here. Mayor Henderson. Here. City Manager O'Reilly. Here. City Attorney Salzman? Here. City Clerk Carico present. All right. We have a couple of presentations this evening. Our first one is for our most recent appointee to the position of Gulfport Poet Laureate. It's going to Krista Fairbrothers, so we're gonna actually I'm gonna send Councilman O'Hara from Ward Four down to deliver this. Oh, it's a three. Congratulations. Our next one we have uh a spirit of golf board award that's that's uh near and dear to my heart. We're awarding this to Vanessa Gray uh for all the time that she spent and the resources that she spent, um, including the resources of her friends and family uh taking care of a local historical site um that's important to lots of families in this area, Lincoln Cemetery that she's been doing for years now. Um hot summers, keeping the grass mode, um helping people locate graves of family members, uh clearing those graves off and generally taking care of this property out of the goodness of her heart at no spall expense of her of her money and time, uh which I think is an absolutely wonderful thing to do, and we'll always be grateful for that. So with the symbol the representative symbols of star, your value to golf port, sailboat, golf port's ties to the sea, the rising sun ever looking toward the future, and winging birds, the soaring concept of spirit is here by presentative Vanessa Gray, who has demonstrated the true spirit of golf port. This is for any item that is not on the agenda tonight. You'll have three minutes. Please come up when uh when I call you and use the microphone so folks at home can hear you and please give your name and your address if you're comfortable with it, and we'll start with a show of hands. Yes, sir. Hi, my name is Jimmy. I live in St. Pete, just a block outside of Gulfport. I'm here to voice my ongoing concerns with the Sazerac Lounge, which is in Golfport and affecting my neighborhood. I'm not interested in shutting anyone down, like the owner said at the last council meeting. I just want accountability for the negative effects this business is having on our neighborhoods. I'm all about successful business and our neighborhood, but it should be done responsibly and respectfully.
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