Gulfport City Council Meeting – May 7, 2024: Presentations, Ordinances, and Budget Discussions
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Gulfport City Council Meeting – May 7, 2024
The Gulfport City Council met on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included presentations, public comment, second readings of two ordinances, first readings of two pension ordinances, three resolutions, and the first of two discussions on the proposed FY2024–2025 Capital Improvement Program and Operating Budget. The meeting lasted approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including a 10‑minute recess.
Presentations
- Fire Department Promotions and Helmet Presentation: Fire Chief Renee Fernandez announced that four probationary firefighters (Jonathan Saxman, Richard Atwater, Scott Miller, and Courtney Spann) successfully completed their one‑year probationary period and received their yellow helmets. Firefighter/Paramedic John Trickarico was promoted to Lieutenant, and Lieutenant Gerard Grady was promoted to Fire Captain. Both were pinned in a ceremony with family members.
- Senior Center Update (Harvard Jolly/PBK): Representatives presented revised plans for a new senior center to be built adjacent to the existing building, allowing the old facility to remain open during construction. The project is funded by federal grants already allocated for planning and design. Public feedback included requests for a second elevator, an indoor walking track, larger fitness center, and flexible multi‑purpose rooms. The architects will return in approximately three months with revised designs, a budget, and a schedule.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the April 16, 2024, City Council meeting. (Motion carried unanimously)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rick Gilbert (Concordia Court) requested that the second marina meeting require sign‑in and proof of residency, and asked for a financial analysis of marina operations, noting that many sailboats seldom move and do not purchase fuel.
- Jesse Lee (address not given) accused the Mayor and police of false arrest and slander regarding a prior incident, and demanded an apology. He also criticized the city’s handling of racial discrimination complaints.
- Nathaniel Kidder (5320 Havana Court) complained about weekend parking congestion on 53rd Street, including a fire truck unable to pass, and asked for one‑side parking restrictions. He also cited excessive noise from bars on Shore Drive, asking for enforcement of the noise ordinance.
- Priscilla Kidder (5320 Havana Court) advocated for stronger tree preservation, urging the city to protect healthy trees (including Laurel Oaks) and to enforce existing tree regulations.
- Pete Renty (Gulfport resident, treasurer of Out Arts & Culture) announced two upcoming Pride Month events: the inaugural Audi Awards gala on May 31 and the seventh annual Art Out exhibit at the Gulfport Library in June.
- Bonnie Bray (56th Street) thanked the city for starting work on the dog park, but raised concerns about downtown parking, traffic, and large delivery trucks. She suggested forming a parking and signage committee.
- Karen Schwartz (5213 Dillett Avenue South) agreed with parking and noise issues, and later asked for clarification on the legal basis for Ordinance 2024‑02.
- Sarah Napier (Clinton & 28th Avenue South) announced the installation of Gulfport’s second rain garden at the beach park on Saturday, May 11, from 9 AM to noon, through the Suncoast Sierra Club.
- Metria Jones (1107 56th Street South) suggested a trolley tracking system for events, and later criticized the use of trespass laws for enforcement of recording restrictions, stating that the same person who bans someone should not decide its fairness.
- Other speakers (including a representative of a news agency and a litigant from Easley, South Carolina) spoke against Ordinance 2024‑02, claiming it is unconstitutional and threatening to sue the city. They cited First Amendment rights and argued that the public and press have equal access to public lobbies.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance 2024‑02 – Control of Access to City Property (Second Reading, Public Hearing): The ordinance allows the City Manager to designate areas as public, semi‑public, or non‑public. City Attorney Salzman explained that it is based on behavior and disruption, and that the front lobby of City Hall and police department lobby would generally remain public for filming unless a disruption occurs. Councilmember Thanos expressed concerns about the potential for lawsuits and the lack of clarity. The ordinance passed 4‑1, with Councilmember Thanos voting no.
- Ordinance 2024‑03 – Sleeping on Public Property at Night Prohibited (Second Reading, Public Hearing): The ordinance prohibits sleeping on public property from 9 PM to 6 AM, effective October 1, 2024. Councilmember Thanos noted that the state mandates such ordinances but that the city must address where homeless individuals can be taken, as existing shelters are insufficient. The ordinance passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 2024‑04 – Police Pension Amendment (First Reading): Amends Section 15‑56 to adjust benefit amounts and eligibility. The financial impact is approximately $24,573 (1% of payroll). Passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 2024‑05 – Firefighters Pension Amendment (First Reading): Provides a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment to benefits. The cost is $2,775 (0.2% of payroll). Councilmember Brown stated she receives a fire pension and signed an 8B form, indicating a potential conflict of interest, but the transcript shows she later voted yes; this discrepancy is noted. Passed unanimously (with the noted recusal issue).
- Resolution 2024‑22 – Additional Funding for Private Waterline/Lateral Replacement Program: Increases ARPA funding by $372,000 to continue the program, which has served 142 applicants. Passed unanimously.
- Resolution 2024‑23 – Additional Funding for Building Service Assistance: Authorizes additional funding for SAFEbuilt/M.T. Causley and reallocates funds from Pinellas County Building Purchase Order. Passed unanimously.
- Resolution 2024‑24 – Additional Funding for Records Management: Authorizes funding for SML, Inc. to digitize and index building permits from 2020 through 2023. Passed unanimously.
- Proposed FY2024–2025 Budget Discussions (Discussion #1 – Capital Improvement Program; Discussion #2 – Operating Budget Overview): City Manager O’Reilly presented a draft Capital Improvement Program funded primarily by Penny for Pinellas, with federal grants for the senior center and a joint project with St. Petersburg on 49th Street. Key items include a new fire truck (expected October 2024), a dump truck, bollards for downtown parking, playground replacement at Tonkin Park, and a traffic speed trailer. The operating budget discussion included a recommended 7.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees, succession planning, and potential creation of an assistant city manager position. Councilmembers expressed support for maintaining current service delivery models (police, fire, sanitation, etc.) and emphasized the importance of reserves (target 16‑25% of operating budget). The splash pad and a grant writer position were suggested for further study. The budget process will continue through September.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance 2024‑02 (Control of Access to City Property) passed on second reading (4‑1).
- Ordinance 2024‑03 (Sleeping on Public Property Prohibition) passed on second reading (unanimous).
- Ordinance 2024‑04 (Police Pension) passed first reading (unanimous).
- Ordinance 2024‑05 (Firefighters Pension) passed first reading (unanimous; Councilmember Brown’s recusal noted but vote recorded as yes).
- Resolutions 2024‑22, 2024‑23, 2024‑24 each passed unanimously.
- Direction to Staff: Revise the tree ordinance to comply with state statutes and address contradictions regarding right‑of‑way tree removal (new business item).
- Next Steps: The Senior Center design will be revised and presented in about three months. Budget discussions will continue, with a final vote expected in September 2024. The city will also explore a fundraising licensing program (“License to Keep Gulfport Weird”) for the Senior Center.
Council Comments/Reports
- Councilmember Ray announced the Pride Festival on June 1, including a flag raising at 10 AM and a parade at 2 PM (no motorized vehicles).
- Vice Mayor O’Hara reported on the Fusion 49th meeting and praised the First Friday gallery walk.
- Councilmember Thanos announced a town hall on May 22 at the Neighborhood Center to discuss community projects.
- Councilmember Brown highlighted the CERT program, a fraud prevention forum on May 15, and the upcoming hurricane season preparedness.
- Mayor Henderson thanked staff for successful grant applications and noted the pond improvements.
Meeting Transcript
Everyone to the May seventh, twenty twenty-four regular city council meeting for Gulfport, Florida. Our invocation tonight will be given by Councilmember Paul Ray, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. But I know that when we die, and it comes time for God to judge us. Rather, he will ask, how much love did you put into what you did? Mother Teresa. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and individuals with liberty of justice for all. All right, roll call, please, city clerk. Councilmember Ray. Here. Vice Mayor O'Hara. Here. Councilmember Thanos. Here. Councilmember Brown. Here. Mayor Henderson. Here. City Attorney Salzman. Here. City Manager O'Reilly. Here. City Clerk Carico present. All right. We got a few presentations for you this evening. And also, if uh anyone were to accidentally start a fire, you are in the safest place you could possibly be right now in these chambers. So our Gulf Port Fire Department, uh probationary firefighter helmet presentation, uh Lieutenant Penning and Fire Captain Penning tonight. So welcome our fire chief Renee Fernandez. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I want to start off by thanking all of you as well as the great citizens of this community for making us such an enjoyable place to be a part of, as well as to be able to provide service to. I also would like to thank all our department members for their hard work throughout the year and the stuff that they do in the community. Tonight, our department is here to recognize a four four newer hires that passed their probationary period with our department with it, which is one year long. We are also here to do the pinning ceremony for two well-deserving department members who have been promoted and uh will be doing their pinning today. That's gonna be uh firefighter paramedic John Trickarico's getting promoted to the lieutenant position and Gerard Grady's getting promoted from lieutenant to the fire captain position. All right. At this time, I would like to call up Jonathan Saxman, Richard Atwater, and Scott Miller. I am extremely proud of these department members. I am also extremely proud of Courtney Spann, which unfortunately she couldn't be here tonight. So it's four of them that were in probation altogether. Um throughout their probationary period, they are put all our new hires are put through some extremely difficult mentally and physical um things that they have to go through. Um being dual certified, they also required to pass many scenarios, evolutions, as well as exams to make sure that they meet the standards set forth by the department. Also, throughout that time, on top of working full-time, Spann, Miller, and Atwater are also full-time paramedic students at SPC. Um, in the beginning of his career with us, Saxman was also a full-time uh member attending the fire academy while working for us on the weekends. So they've done a lot over this past year. Um they have all met their goals of probationary period uh in the fire service. Normally during their probationary period, they wear a black helmet, and that is to signify that on scene they are newer and not to be able to assign tasks that could be too dangerous for them, and that way everybody knows, uh, especially when the visibility is low, what it means. So, in honor of them successfully passing their probationary year, uh, Deputy Chief Lunn is gonna present them their yellow helmets, and I want to congratulate them. Uh, we look forward to having you within our department and seeing you guys continue to grow. So, congratulations. Congratulations, yeah. Yeah, take your time, get some good ones.
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