Gulfport City Council Meeting – January 7, 2025

The Gulfport City Council held its regular meeting on January 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting focused heavily on the ongoing hurricane recovery process, with extensive public testimony from displaced residents demanding faster action on building permits and substantial damage determinations. The council also approved a series of resolutions for hurricane‑related contracts and infrastructure projects, and voted to refer a charter violation complaint against Councilmember Thanos to the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved the meeting minutes from December 17, 2024.
• Resolution 2025-01: Authorized the City Manager to expend funds for annual consulting services of Milestone Professional Services, Inc. in support of the city’s audit.
• Resolution 2025-02: Authorized funds for annual audit services with Forvis Mazars, LLP (formerly MSL, P.A.).
• Resolution 2025-03: Authorized a one‑year agreement with Sweeping Corporation of America (SCA) to sweep curbed streets.
• All consent items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Francine (no address given) thanked the council and community for supporting “Operation Santa,” which served 90 families and 300 children.
• Kelly (56th Street) announced the upcoming “A Gulfport Welcome” event on January 17, 2025, at 6:30 PM at the 49th Street Community Center, hosted three times a year to connect new residents with city services and volunteer organizations.
• Mr. Freedom (no address given) made sarcastic remarks about the council and asked for advice on polyamory, a saltwater pool, and the nomination process for board members. No substantive policy position.
• Ed Benson (3026 57th Street South) thanked the city manager and building official for a productive meeting but demanded action on building permits: “I’m demanding you all take action… Get these damn building permits issued.” He expressed frustration that the agenda lacked any item about helping affected residents.
• Karen Goldberg (2642 45th Street, Marina District) reported being displaced for 103 days. She described the permit process as “abominable and unacceptable.” She noted her permit was submitted on November 2, 2024, and still pending. She asked why evaluations of substantial damage were not started sooner and when non‑substantial damage letters would be issued. She requested a more efficient and sensitive process.
• Deb Atkins (4526 27th Avenue South) acknowledged that staff (Mr. O’Reilly, Mr. Stryker, and Katie in permits) had been generous with their time. She called for changing the substantial damage determination process to “option 2,” allowing applicant‑supplied cost of repairs and market value appraisals, and left copies of supporting documentation for council.
• Peggy Bach (Coronado Way South) described being out of her home for four months, paying rent on an uninhabitable house. She applied for a standalone hot water heater permit on December 16, 2024, and was still waiting after three weeks. She noted that on December 19 the city announced 27 new pages of permit requirements, causing residents to “start all over again.” She asked, “When will we get back in our houses?”
• Paul Raker (board president of OUT Arts & Culture) provided an organizational update: the second “Speakout Dialogue” on November 15, 2024, had over 100 participants; the next dialogue is January 28, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Stetson College; the $2,000 “Branch Out” scholarship was awarded to Mindy Schumacher; the eighth annual LGBTQ+ Literary Festival is scheduled for February 14–16, 2025.
• Wolfgang Dininger (6th Place South, Beachway Park) reported that his volunteer group, Gulfport Grassroots, collected 700 pounds of debris in five beach cleanups after the hurricanes, with additional cleanup along 56th and 57th Streets adding another estimated 700 pounds. He praised Tom Nichols’ crew for prompt pickup but criticized the permit department.
• Marlene Shaw (58th Avenue/58th Street/23rd Avenue South) asked for progress numbers on substantial damage letters (637 homes and 40 businesses affected), the status of repairs at the casino, rec center, and marina, and a timeline for the planned 49th Street fusion district.
• Charles Gale (5840 30th Avenue) expressed shock that the permit delay was not on the agenda. He described the hardship of living out of a suitcase for three months and the financial strain of paying for temporary housing, noting that FEMA assistance may not be renewed under the new administration.
• Kathy Fabritus (4800 Coronado Way) asked whether the permit fee (listed as $2,174 on the city page) was holding up permits. The mayor clarified that no permit fees are being charged through March.
• Karen Love (23rd Avenue South) asked several pointed questions: Who is the floodplain manager? When was the decision made to follow FEMA Option 1 instead of Option 2? How long will the city wait before switching to Option 2? Have any emergency permits (for water heaters, HVAC, electrical) been issued? She warned that neighborhoods are starting to look blighted and that the city must not operate “status quo.”
• Bob County (no address given) praised the council’s past work but asked why their hands seemed tied—whether due to federal, county, or other constraints.

Discussion Items

• City Manager’s Report: City Manager O’Reilly addressed public frustration. He stated that the city is “tied to federal rules” and that failing to follow FEMA guidelines could jeopardize national flood insurance program participation and raise rates for everyone. He reported that 233 substantial damage letters had been issued to date (110 substantial, 123 not substantial), with an additional 100+ letters to go out the next day. He noted that the city has issued 427 permits since September 27, with 234 under review out of 637 submitted. He emphasized that the process is slow everywhere and that the city is working as fast as resources allow.

• City Attorney’s Report:

  • Former Councilmember O’Hara payback: The attorney reported that he sent a letter and agreement to O’Hara but has not received a signed agreement. Council directed the attorney to pursue formal charges if the matter is not resolved within seven days.
  • Investigation of Councilmember Thanos: The attorney presented findings on whether Thanos violated Charter Section 305 (prohibition on council members directing city employees). He reviewed “voluminous” emails and interviewed staff. He concluded that some emails contained direction to employees without copying the city manager, which is prohibited. He noted that Thanos acknowledged she should go through the city manager in the future. The attorney outlined options: a policy change, referral to the state attorney (unlikely to act), the governor’s office, or the Florida Commission on Ethics. He recommended the ethics commission as an independent body. After debate, Councilmember Thanos argued the charter language is vague and that many emails were merely informational. Councilmember Ray said it was a “huge distraction” and seconded a motion to send the matter to the ethics committee. The motion passed with a majority (apparently 4-0 or 4-1; the transcript shows Councilmember Brown voted no, but the chair called it carried; the exact tally is unclear from the transcript but the motion passed). The council decided not to include the governor’s office in the referral.

• Resolutions (all passed unanimously unless noted) :

  • 2025-04 (Special Event – OUT Arts & Culture’s LGBTQ+ Literary Festival, Feb 14-16): Approved. Over 400 participants and 35+ authors expected.
  • 2025-05 (Williams Pier hurricane damage inspection with Stantec, Inc., $14,000): Approved. Provides diver inspections and engineering evaluation.
  • 2025-06 (Brick roadway repairs with Leal Florida Tile and Brick Pavers, Inc., $56,640): Approved. Repairs needed on 52nd/53rd Street and 56th Street/27th Avenue after Hurricane Milton. Tom Nichols noted other bids were much higher and that work would start within a week.
  • 2025-07 (Gulfport Beach Restoration Project – engineering, design, permitting, construction monitoring with George F. Young, Inc.): Approved. First step in restoring the municipal beach; work must be put back exactly as it was for FEMA reimbursement. Discussion included whether to add a kayak launch (council agreed to rebuild first, then consider upgrades separately).
  • 2025-08 (Preliminary engineering report for Wood Ibis and surrounding area drainage study with Advanced Engineering and Design, Inc., $28,000): Approved 4-1 (Councilmember Brown voted no). The study will be done ahead of the city’s larger watershed management plan timeline. Councilmember Thanos noted she initially thought the larger study would cover this detail but it would not.
  • 2025-09 (Payment to Phoenix Pollution Control & Environmental Services for emergency debris removal after Hurricane Helene): Approved.
  • 2025-10 (Payment to Servpro Industries for portable toilets and hand washing stations at two city buildings, $21,596): Approved. The total Servpro bill was over $800,000; this was a separate unpaid invoice.
  • 2025-11 (Emergency sewer line repairs with Atlantic Pipe Services, LLC): Approved. Required open‑cut repair on 59th Street near 23rd Avenue for a deep sewer lateral.

• New Business:

  • Councilmember Thanos requested a town hall to be held at the 49th Street Community Center on February 6, 2025, to discuss permitting and recovery. Council agreed.
  • Council discussed and approved the idea of inviting a FEMA or federal consultant to explain the lengthy permitting process to residents in a larger venue (possibly Hickman Hall) as a separate meeting.
  • The mayor noted that the Lincoln Cemetery cleanup debris could be picked up by the city, as it was storm‑generated; no objection from council.
  • Councilmember Brown promoted the Pink Flamingo Home Tour on March 1, 2025, and noted that the city’s 1925 LaFrance fire truck will be on display.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda and resolution items passed (most unanimously, one vote on Wood Ibis 4-1).
• Ethics complaint against Councilmember Thanos: The council voted to refer the matter to the Florida Commission on Ethics for independent review. The option to also notify the governor’s office was withdrawn.
• Former Councilmember O’Hara payback: Council directed the city attorney to take formal action if a signed agreement is not returned within seven days.
• Town hall: A town hall on hurricane recovery and permitting will be held on February 6, 2025, at the 49th Street Community Center.
• FEMA presentation: Council agreed to invite a FEMA consultant or similar expert to a larger meeting to explain the federal constraints on the permitting process; details to be arranged by the next meeting.
• Permit and damage letter statistics (as reported by City Manager O’Reilly): 637 homes and 40 businesses affected; 233 substantial damage letters issued (110 substantial, 123 not); 427 permits issued since September 27; 234 permits under review.
• Lincoln Cemetery debris: The city will collect storm‑generated debris from Lincoln Cemetery placed curbside.
• Kayak launch at beach: Not included in the current restoration; council will consider after the beach is rebuilt.
• Public comment period concluded with a warning from the mayor about decorum, but all speakers were heard.