Gulfport City Council Regular Meeting - June 4, 2024

The Gulfport City Council met on June 4, 2024 at 6:00 PM at Gulfport City Hall. Vice Mayor Ian O'Hara presided in the absence of Mayor Sam Henderson. The meeting included a presentation on the Fusion 49th District, a resolution for stormwater pipe repairs, and a detailed discussion on the 49th Street Safe Streets Study update. Public comments addressed local events, LGBTQ+ concerns, budgetary processes, and community engagement.

Presentations

• Fusion 49th District Update: Sierra M. Clark, Vice President of the 49th Fusion organization, presented the results of a community survey and the group's vision for revitalizing the 49th Street corridor between St. Petersburg and Gulfport. The initiative is modeled on the Main Street organization framework and aims to create a vibrant public space where commerce, culture, and pedestrian safety thrive. Immediate goals include supporting municipal partners in seeking funds for safe streets, achieving 501(c)(3) status, and developing community events. The group has conducted two cleanups and launched a website (Fusion49th.com) and social media. Council members expressed enthusiasm and offered no concerns.

Consent Calendar

• Item 5.a: Approved the meeting minutes from May 21, 2024 by unanimous consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Howard Bush (Commander, Coast Guard Auxiliary) presented a book honoring Douglas Monroe, the only Medal of Honor recipient from the U.S. Coast Guard, and thanked the city for supporting recreational boating safety events at the Gulfport Marina.
• Paul Raker (Board President, Out Arts and Culture) announced the successful Audie's Awards Gala and presented the City of Gulfport Ally Award to the Gulfport Library for its partnership.
• Susan Gore (Town Shores) promoted the Speak Out series on June 27 at the Gulfport Library, featuring discussions on LGBTQ+ arts.
• Christine (Baywood Point resident) expressed strong support for the Fusion 49th initiative, calling it exciting and a long-needed improvement.
• Journey Oster voiced concern about Gulfport Pride's June 1 event that included a Trump-themed booth selling MAGA merchandise alongside the official SIK SIC Promotions logo. She argued this contradicted Pride's mission of safety and inclusion and urged the city to bar such vendors from future events. A written statement from Tiffany Rosano was also submitted and accepted.
• Karen Love thanked staff for budget transparency, criticized the screen placement for being hard to see, and expressed displeasure with the council's recent vote not to require trip reports from members attending outside meetings.

Discussion Items

• Safe Streets Study Update (49th Street): City Manager Tom O'Reilly introduced the study, funded through a federal Safe Streets for All grant, focusing on 49th Street from 1st Avenue North to 24th Avenue South. Eric Hines of WSP presented the findings. Two alternatives were developed:
  • Alternative One: Lane repurposing (four lanes to three with a center turn lane) plus a 12-foot multi-use path on the east side, bus bays, and enhanced crossings. Estimated to reduce crashes by 20–50% and is suitable for roads with fewer than 25,000 vehicles per day (49th Street has ~15,000).
  • Alternative Two: Retains four lanes but uses raised crosswalks and vertical traffic calming to slow speeds. Lower cost but less effective and inconsistent with the comprehensive plan. Community engagement included walking audits, workshops, and online surveys. Of 650+ respondents, 53% preferred Alternative One. Top desired treatments were improved lighting, wide sidewalks, and enhanced mid-block crossings. The consultant recommended advancing Alternative One for further study through a demonstration project or computer simulation. Short-term low-cost actions (e.g., ADA ramps, LED lighting, retimed signals) could be implemented quickly. Long-term changes would require an interlocal agreement with St. Petersburg and additional funding. Council members expressed support for Alternative One, noting concerns about parking, speed reduction, and the need for a lighting study. Councilmember Brown asked about the impact on parking and the roundabout at 18th Avenue South; staff noted those would require separate studies. The council agreed to place the item on the next meeting agenda for formal action.
• Public Comment on Safe Streets:
  • Councilmember John Mohammed (St. Petersburg City Council) expressed strong support for Alternative One, calling it transformational and praising the collaboration between cities and the Fusion 49th group.
  • Jerry Reid (S-49) supported the project and called for action on the dangerous intersection at 18th and 49th.
  • Jonathan McCoachy supported Alternative One but asked about preserving mature oak trees on the St. Pete side and ensuring the street remains a through route. Staff confirmed no tree removal is planned.
  • Karen Schwartz suggested a roundabout around the park at 18th Avenue to create a transit hub.
  • Nancy Dunham (Fusion 49th) thanked all partners, encouraged council members to attend community events and cleanups, and emphasized the project's historic potential.
  • Lenny Gukenheimer recommended conducting a business parking survey to better design the corridor and suggested remote parking options.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 2024-30 (Stormwater Pipe Relining): Passed unanimously (4-0). Authorizes the city manager to contract with Atlantic Pipe Service to line 120 linear feet of 21-inch stormwater culvert pipe at Del Rio Circle, addressing joint leaks and ground depressions. Effective immediately.
• Safe Streets Study Next Steps: The council will consider a resolution of support for Alternative One at the next meeting. Staff will work with St. Petersburg and Forward Pinellas to finalize the study and pursue additional grant funding. A lighting study from Duke Energy may be obtained at no cost.
• City Attorney Report: Attorney Salzman drafted a tree ordinance amendment regarding removal or planting in the right-of-way, prepared at the request of Councilmember Thanos; the draft will be circulated for review.
• Approval of Public Meeting: Councilmember Brown's request to hold a "History with a Council Member" event at the Gulfport Museum was approved unanimously.
• Council Reports: Members shared updates on community events (Audie's Gala, Pride, Flag Day, CERT classes, First Friday) and emphasized hurricane preparedness. Councilmember Thanos raised a concern about the Pride vendor issue and suggested the council look into it.