Good evening.

I love it.

I love seeing a lot of people here.

And I'm hoping that a lot of you are gonna want to share your ideas with us.

We're gonna appreciate that.

I'll get really upset if anybody has their phone on and it rings during this discussion.

So if there's any chance, you might want to fix it now.

And while we're having the discussion, if there's any need to talk to your neighbor, I'd appreciate if you walk out there and do it in the hallway.

So we only have one discussion going on at a time.

So a workshop is a little bit different than uh a city council with a real strict agenda.

So here's what tonight's gonna look like.

Um first I'm just gonna give a real quick little overview, you know, maybe two minutes, and then the uh council will have an opportunity in speaking order to share what their thoughts are about the marina property or properties, and then we're gonna open it up for council comments.

And so if I'm not staring at you when you're talking, it's because I'm writing notes, okay, trying to see what the most common response is, so that we would know how to start to proceed.

So um, and when that's done, and everybody that wants to talk is gonna have an opportunity to talk.

When that's done, then we'll probably go in speaking order one more time, and that'll probably be the end of it.

There's no vote tonight, there's no decisions being made.

This is all about what are we gonna do with the property.

So for my real quick overview, um the Lions Club did not renew their lease, okay.

Um, and so I think as of December 5th, that is back in the possession of the um city of Gulfport and the city of Gulfport, for those of you that don't know this, most of you do because you're from that the marina area.

We've always owned that land, and the Lions Club owned the building.

And there was a contract signed many years ago, probably before I was even in town, that talked about the buyout and how that would happen.

So the actual buyout, the exchange of money has not happened yet because there's a little discrepancy and we're working through an appraisal issue, but it will help it will happen and it will be settled.

So the question is, and the property will come down.

It was damaged in the floods.

It's an old building, it also has asbestos in it.

So it is gonna come down no matter what, okay.

And so now we have a big piece of property, and of course that was the point of having the maps up there kind of outlined in that hot pink, okay.

I also will say, because I could see where um knowing this other little component might affect what you have to say.

For those of you that did not hear, the Coast Guard station is also coming down.

Okay, that was underwater, that's also full of asbestos.

The city has done a very good job of accommodating the Coast Guard and the Lions Club, I believe both at the neighborhood center.

So in terms of meeting space, they're getting it from us, okay.

Um so that that's probably the most that I I want to say is that you know we're here primarily to talk about the one property, but there's nothing wrong about talking about the other property if you choose.

And the other thing, just to be clear on the front end.

I'm gonna say before the storms ever hit, so I'm gonna uh suggest it was early in 2024.

The city council decided to move forward with a living shoreline on the area that we all talk about, kind of the point, the mangroves.

Okay.

When the storms hit, that got put on hold.

It was not forgotten.

So don't quote me exact, but I'm gonna say either June or July, I talked to the city manager and asked him what the next step was on that to move forward, and he said that we had to get a submerged permit submergable.

Submerged land lease.

S submerged land lease, okay.

And so we did that paperwork at that time.

I also asked him, is that gonna be two weeks, two months, or two years?

Who knows?

Okay.

So I mean, I'm not trying to be a smart alley, but we don't know.

It's not like you know, we've done it before during these times when um the federal government's been uh cut substantially.

So I just wanted to be clear is that that is moving forward when it can.

It's not a matter that we can do it right now because we have to have that land lease, but we are going to move forward with that.

So anybody that really wanted to focus in on that, we have that under control.

So that's really all I had to say uh for opening comments, so then we will go in speaking order and give um our council an opportunity to share if there's any thoughts they have on it, what they're thinking, if they heard from any of their constituents and want to share, uh now would be the time.

I'll start.

All righty, thank you.

Um there are a plethora of options for us, but I am active listener tonight.

I really I haven't heard from any of my constituents on this, and I've asked, but you know, a water park would be great, is what I heard, you know, things that may or may not be feasible.

Um, but I have a lot of kids in my ward, and I'm hearing that over and over.

I'm not even sure that we would want to entertain that, but that's what I'm hearing.

So I'm an active listener tonight.

And can't wait to hear what you guys have come up with.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor.

So I have heard from various people in my ward, and I see them here, so I assume they will speak up for themselves and um say what their uh thoughts are.

But I'm the same way.

I just want to see what people say.

I was not entirely absolutely aware that we were having to absolutely take down the building and not repair it.

But I can understand if it has a lot of asbestos, that would be a good idea.

Um I know it was theoretically the plan, but some of the things I've heard could use that building.

So again, I I don't know if that's at all feasible, but we'll see.

Anyway, but there was some suggestions about that.

So I'm just listening.

I am hearing a great deal from people, and everything that I'm hearing is relative to boats, marina, and park.

Um, there's a few other things too, but uh as has been previously stated by my other fellow members here, that we are in lessening mode and we want to hear what the community wants.

You know that's my passion and heart, so I'm all ears along with them.

Okay.

I don't have a whole lot to add.

You know, I've I sat out there for 12 years and I heard several discussions about um the marina and the things that should be done, and I heard about Ferris wheels and restaurants and um the whole bit over the years, okay.

So that's the point that I want to make right now.

This is a different kind of meeting.

We've never talked about it.

We have there's no plan or plot.

We've not talked about it, so we really are here to listen.

That doesn't mean that we're gonna do everything you say by any means, okay, or that we might think some of them are kind of out there ideas, but we are here to listen.

So, with that in mind, then let's uh go ahead and open it for public comment.

Raise a hand and I'll call you up by name if I know your name, and I don't know yours.

Come on up, Beth.

My name is Beth Birkabine.

Do I need to be closer to this?

Do I need to rock star the microphone here?

Yeah, that sounds good because it's been videotaped, so we appreciate it.

Well, uh, my name's Beth Birkabine.

I've been a Gulfport resident for 24 years now.

I learned a sail 17 years ago at BCYC, where I remain a member and volunteer.

And first, I have to say a huge thank you to all of you and everybody out there listening.

Thank you for everybody who turned out to watch the the holiday lighted boat parade.

We had a blast.

The crowds were huge, bigger than ever, and you guys made all the effort worthwhile.

So thanks for that.

Um BCYC is about camaraderie and fun through safe boating activities.

We love to sail, we love to have fun, and we love to teach other people about how much fun sailing is.

Throughout our 60 plus years here in Gulfport, we've taught hundreds of adults and children how to sail and how to be safe on the water, and we intend to continue.

BCYC helped create and steward the South Basin of the municipal marina.

In the 60s, our members invested what would be several hundred thousand dollars in today's money, plus countless volunteer hours to build the basin and improve the surrounding shoreline.

The areas next to the basin, including the jetty, the dry storage lot, and the sandy launch area behind the Lions Club, were developed as part of that original effort.

For decades, BCYC lawfully accessed this launch area through our own lease and provisions in the Lions Club's lease with the city.

That access was not incidental.

It was and is essential to youth sailing and small boat programs.

The area, sometimes called the beach, is really a small boat boat, small boat launch area.

It supports prams, sunfish, small catamarans, kayaks, paddle boards, and windsurfers.

This kind of beach-style launch area is rare even in Pinellas County and difficult to replace.

It's easy to assume that all boats can be launched from a fixed dock, but that's not the case.

On sunfish boats, for example, the sail is raised before launching, which means the boat must be pointed into the wind.

A beach allows that orientation no matter the wind direction.

Hoist ramps or narrow docks are not suitable, especially in east winds.

Having said that, it's also important to clarify that launch access cannot replace access to our hoystock or south basin slips.

Our adult sale school boats require deeper water and hoist launching.

These facilities serve different programs and both are necessary.

After the hurricanes, when the small boat launch area was being used for boat salvage operations, the sun feet the sunfish fleet sailed from the municipal marina docks once or twice.

But upon their return to the marina, power boaters wouldn't let them land again, and several were nearly hit.

Small boats need to be away from power boat traffic.

Without the small boat launch area, it's hard to imagine how the sunfish and other small boat programs could continue.

And these programs that bring younger sailors to the sport and to our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And who's next?

Yes.

Right?

Yeah.

Well, good evening, Mayor and Council.

Um, my name is Christine Crosby, and I have been a resident of Gulfport for 28 years.

We live right on Baywood Point, which is right on the bay.

It has been my pleasure for many, many years watching the little youth sailing club come out and learn how to sail right off my backyard practically.

One of the things I always wanted was to be able to launch a little sailboat myself, but I can't because it's a seawall.

So this past year, our grandchildren from California arrived, and they were not here in time for the specific sailing class, but we arranged private lessons for them right at that spot, right on that little beach, that little niche of land, which was perfect.

So I just wanted to share that personal story.

It was the most amazing thing, and just as Beth said, this is so unique.

Other places do not have this, and little kids need to learn how to sail young.

It's perfect for that.

So thank you for listening.

Thank you.

Chuck.

Thank you.

Um like Beth, I'm a resident of Golfport since uh 2019.

Um my house is just on the edge of that picture there, as many of you may know.

Um this area is ideal for the small boats.

Um, and we really prize having them go in and out.

I can't tell you how much joy it brings me to watch the racing fleets go out of there.

The the and the kids go out of there in their parameters.

It's just delightful.

I encourage everybody to come down and watch.

Um, it also is really nice to have limited boat motors in that area because we're that's backed up to the Baywood Cove.

Big motors tend to make big noises.

Um, and there's launch facilities for them and the other basin.

And we really would like to see this remain part of the marina and used for marine use only.

Um, I'm not really thrilled about introducing something that brings a lot of vehicular traffic in.

Um two reasons.

One, I don't know how you're gonna get the cars in and out.

You know, if you put anything down there that drives 500 cars a day into that area, it's gonna be a quite a mess.

We're not set up for that in that area.

Don't start rumors, please.

Okay, so we're in agreement.

Um the other part is if you start bringing in huge amounts of traffic, we now have water and waste and all that.

We already have problems with that.

Um, this is a delightful little beach.

It's great to launch the small boats as indicated already.

Um, and we'd really like to preserve that.

It's unique.

Uh, we've got 17 members that now have sunfish, and they all use that to launch.

And if you don't know, they use a little beach cart.

And by the way, the golf boat yacht club adjacent to us uses that same beach.

We we share that.

Um, I guess there's a little bit on their edge, but it's hard to get enough boats in at once with just that little tiny sliver.

So we kind of all share that.

Um, and I'd really look forward to keeping that open to open marine use, uh, more open life.

There is a lot of uh wildlife that lives in that point coming around in some of those mangroves and stuff, and as you know, those are also challenged and endangered today by all the building and all the marine activity and stuff.

So really like to see it stay quiet, see it stay part of the marina and see it really open to more sailing activities than power boats.

Thank you.

All righty, yes.

Good evening.

Paula Duby, Baywood Point.

Uh, also full disclosure, a member of BCYC.

Um, but my conversation is not about BCYC today.

As someone who lives uh on Baywood Point, I actually look right at that beach.

I love seeing the sunfish.

I love seeing the small boats.

Um, I don't know if people are aware of this, but that cove is a birthing area for manatees.

We get a number of manatees giving birth right in that cove.

I own a power boat.

I go out of the cove in my power boat.

A lot of boats in that area go in and out, but it is very dangerous for the manatee.

So those of us who live there and know it are very careful and cautious.

We put a lot of paddle boats in.

So I just want to bring to the attention of the council if you aren't aware of it.

It's also a what I'll call we we took the term hurricane hole for boats.

It's a hurricane hole for manatee.

The manatee come in when the storm is bad because the water is calm enough for them to come up to breathe.

So another reason to be looking at that cove from a protective perspective.

The small boats, the kids that are out there learning, the adults that are learning.

The thing that I'm going to say different than BCYC is I'd like to open it up to the general public so everyone can launch their small boats.

Again, not motor boats, but sailboats, paddle boards, kayaks.

So again, parking's gonna have to be a consideration for that to bring the boats in.

But there's a massive parking lot right nearby.

So those are the points I just wanted to bring up.

Make sure you're aware of that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Who's next?

Yes, Priscilla.

Kay, you'll be next.

I mean, Judy, you know, Judy, I always call you Kay.

I've been doing that since the day I met you.

Um, I enjoyed hearing about all the little boats and the launches and stuff, and that's lovely.

And I think that should be preserved.

And I like the idea of opening that perhaps out to a second at secondary launching area in addition to the clam bayou area.

I want to speak to the area where the building is in the parking lot, and I gather they're taking that all down rather than develop it or do anything with it.

I think it should be held as like a city green space, expand uh the coastal plants, native plants, maybe even an interpretive garden there to show what you can grow along here.

This is a green space, it's not really big enough to do anything else.

And I think that it would be a nice tiny city park where people can walk to, very simple, and then retain the launchings, retain the boats, uh Boca Caget Yacht Club.

I don't think you have to give ownership to them if it's owned by the city, but you could I think you guys could make an agreement with them where, like, of course, you can use this for your blah blah blah, your lessons, and then public can use it, and you can even close it off if you have lesson days and it's not for public use kind of thing, but to keep it simple and keep that whole area green, no paving, no anything once the building's gone, try to reclaim that for nature because the more concrete we keep putting down and stuff like that, the worse our flooding is gonna be in the city.

And we're all learning that.

Also, I would recommend caring for that little area a little more with some of the plants that got washed out, some of the shoreline plants, maybe add some more seagrasses while retaining the entrance point, and you would have to work with Boca Siege Yacht Club, obviously, for that and say, what do you need?

What can we take and put some plants in?

But that's where I where my head is.

But I like hearing everybody.

Thank you.

Judy Judy Kuhn, 281048th Street South.

I live in the A zone, flooding, marina district.

And one of the things I feel for Gulf Port, any time anything we do in this A zone, the flooding zone needs to mitigate flooding.

This is a perfect opportunity.

I agree with the sailboats being right where they are and having full access there.

But behind that, for instance, when I was in Costa Rica, the buildings were behind the forest.

If we could make that whole area salt tolerant natives, plants for flood mitigation, sea grape mangroves, palmetta, buttonwood, all of those things would really help the water not go up the streets behind.

I feel the same way about the parking lots and all the asphalt in our city when we could have brick or permeable surfaces.

And that's a perfect spot because when the water comes from that area, it goes right up the streets and into people's yards and houses.

If we could redo that so that there was permeable pavement and plants, every place we could put them, but still leave a place for a park and for the boats.

I think that would be ideal.

Same thing for the Coast Guard station.

Let's have more salt tolerant plants to stop the water, or at least slow it down.

Thank you.

Yes.

Hi, I'm Guy O'Connor, Gulfport resident.

I'm continuing Beth's statement.

In 2020, when the city proposed a public park on the narrow strip forming the southern wall of the southern basin, BCYC was required to remove its sunfish racks, pramps, and equipment shed from the launch area.

Those boats are now stored nearly a tenth of a mile away.

The separation creates safety issues, inefficiency, and discourages participation.

So our request is straightforward.

We asked the city to formally recognize the small boat launch area, guarantee shared access for BCYC and Gulfport Yacht Club, allow limited on-site storage, and let BCYC serve as the steward of that space.

We're willing to help maintain it and reduce the city's burden.

Pardon me.

We would encourage the expansion of the dry storage lot since it represents an income stream for the city of Gulfport, of course.

We would welcome the addition of marina amenities such as restrooms for marina tenants or boat washing areas, but any significant construction or even paving is discouraged.

This is a rental neighborhood marina.

That shoreline and launch area is narrow and not designed for heavy traffic.

Motorized vessels or infrastructure.

Water focused uses fit this area far better than intensive park of than intensive park or any other kind of development.

You have the opportunity to preserve a unique low impact waterfront asset supported by volunteers and BCYC looks forward to helping with that vision.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

I think that finishes Beth's statement.

I met her dog.

We started discussing some of the various uh problems with definitions of the appraisal process.

If there's a thing I can do to help you with that, it'd be much appreciated.

Also, just me per personally.

The basin's been empty of vessels for a very long time, and it's a major income stream for the city.

I've spoken with some members of the yacht club.

I'm not uh a representative when I say this, but I think we'd be interested in helping the city any way we can in re-establishing that marina.

So if there's something, you know, someone we can talk to, cooperate with, uh, try to assist, uh, we'd also be very interested in that, and opening up that discussion, that dialogue.

And I thank you very much for your time and have a pleasant evening.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Who's next?

Yes, Jonathan.

Next.

Made too many notes.

I'm Jonathan McCoachy.

I live about 300 feet, 400 feet from there for 28 years, and for 28 years, I've wished that entire area east of TIFT and South of 29th was totally marine focused, and now it can be.

And I think that's very exciting.

We are Gulfport, Gateway to the Gulf, right on the label.

And this is really the only part of Gulfport that is marine focused, and uh, I think we need to preserve and protect it.

Um I agree with everybody, they're all right.

Uh greenwee also would be salt tolerant, all that is wonderful.

I agree about the community use.

The clubs would love to be more public-facing, they're limited by their 501 C7 status, but to have something that they could help operate, whatever, that makes uh more availability for the general public to launch small boats, paddle boards, other types of things.

Uh so it could be great, which brings me to a separate point.

We've got a great and effective advisory committee for the seniors in Gulfport.

We've got uh newly formed a Gulfport environmental team, very excited about that.

Could we have an advisory team of knowledgeable people, volunteers for the marine area to help?

Because there's a lot of moving parts here with the marina, two clubs, uh city property, who's doing what where, and uh could we could there this be formed and advise the council knowledgeably, reliably, consistently with uh more than one opinion.

You know, right now you have a harbor master, that's great, but it's one guy.

So, food for thought on that.

Um, lastly, Osgood Point, I think it's been a de facto organic park right along, and uh I don't think we'll miss the building terribly, and that my vote would be that it be something very natural, very organic, a lot of people enjoy the sunset and that kind of thing there.

So I think that was it until I sit down and go, Oh no, I forgot something.

Um, yes, I did forget something.

We've talked forever about restrooms for the marina uh tenants, and I seems ideal there to consider restrooms there.

Lastly, I reach, I go far, you'll hate this, the mayor particularly.

Um, what about asking Tampa Bay Watch, one of these other remote marine, uh USF, one of these ECR, what would you do with 4,000 square foot right on the bay that would benefit our community and be a value, maybe educationally, maybe for kids, maybe any of that marine sciences.

Are you ex would if they jump forward, great?

If not, no problem.

But before we tear it down, an idea.

Thank you.

Yes.

Excuse me, John Hogan, live in Upton Street in the Marina District.

And I have a little different take on this.

And at the risk of some of my neighbors hitting me in the back with an arrow.

I would like to.

Well, first of all, I've got a lot of boating, both uh sailboats and power boats in a lot of marinas around the area.

And a good many of them, and I think this would enhance our marina, would be to have a very small bar and grill there for the boaters, the transient boaters, and the neighborhood.

And I don't see how that we could I think we could accomplish that and still keep the small boat launch there.

I'll tell you how we, you know, we could work around that.

It would I understand that there would be some traffic in the area, but there's always traffic in the area.

We do have parking.

There's plenty of parking, like when the Lions Club would do their pancake breakfast, there's always parking.

When it used to be a voting station, there was always parking there.

And I think it would be a money-making venture for the city.

It would bring people we always look to try to bring people into the city.

And right now, if they come in by boat, there's not much for them to do at the marina.

Um one time we had to get go, and people could come in there and they could take the get go downtown, but those days are over.

Uh so that's my idea.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Who's next?

Yes.

Uh good evening, Mayor, City Council, and Mr.

O'Reilly.

Uh, I'm Joel Hine, the past commodore of Bogosia Yacht Club.

I'm here to ask that you consider when you consider the future of the Lions Club that you preserve the access to the waterfront for small boats while partnering with the organizations that already know how to manage that responsibility.

I'd like to offer some context by looking at other uh area programs that successfully operate on public land.

For example, St.

Petersburg Sailing Center is a private club, and it costs about 130 dollars a quarter to belong to St.

Pete's Sailing Center for a family membership that gives you access to boats and sailing.

Clearwater sailing center, uh, if you're not familiar, is up on uh the uh Sunset Beach.

I mean uh Sunset Beach area.

Um and it's about 175 dollars a year uh to belong, and for that 75, you get uh access for a family to boats uh and sailing.

So uh Boca City Yacht Clubs run 190 a quarter, and for that 190 a quarter, uh you get access to uh boats, prams, kayaks, uh canoes, um, and though at no extra cost.

Now these boats are used for sailing instruction, youth activities, and member sailing activities.

In each of the cases, the model is the same.

People gain structured access to the water rather than unmanaged access.

There are real costs involved with running these programs.

The city already recognizes this concept with the community centers, such as the rec center and the senior center.

In those cases, membership program freeze help offset the cost to ensure those facilities continue to run.

Sailing clubs and work and community centers work the same way.

The difference is that instead of costing the city money, these programs generate activity and engage on the waterfront, uh and um have a revenue stream for the city, assume responsibility for the safety and the operation of that area, carry their own assurance and liability.

Boca Sierra Yacht Club and Gulfport Yacht Club have long used the area behind the uh Alliance Club to launch small boats, the access supports regatta's the Sea Scouts, the youth sailing program, and other and other and other programs.

These programs depend on this having a safe practical place to launch these boats.

So my request is simple.

As you plan the future of the Alliance Club area, please retain that access for small boats and recognize that the structure membership-based sailing program, such as BCYC and Gulfport, Yacht Club, much like other community centers, are a proven responsible way to provide access to the waterfront.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

Who's next?

Yes, Bob.

Good evening, everyone.

Uh, my name is Bob Fechner, and I'm at 5626 uh 25th Avenue South.

I'm also a Commodore, the Gulfport Yacht Club, second time around.

Um so uh just wanted to say, you know, the Gulfport Yacht Club, we're proud in in 2028, we'll be 90 years in Gulfport.

90?

90 years in Gulfport and uh 2028.

And so we are primarily a catamaran racing club, um, but also pleasure sailing.

People don't not we're not only racing, but we we race um twice a month from March to November of every year.

And so we also bring in um sailors from obviously around the area, but we we're a destination.

We have regatta's, we have sailors coming around from all over the country.

Um we did host, we've hosted some international events in uh 2008.

We hold the hosted the National Multi-Hall Championship for U.S.

sailing on Gulfport Beach.

Uh that said, um, we do run regottas on a regular basis as well.

And um we uh and just from our club racing, using that shoreline to launch boats.

We we're like Boca Sega, all of our boats are small boats, you can't launch them from a dock, they've got to be launched from the water beach catamarans primarily, but also monohols, things like that.

And so that's our that's our concern.

We want to be able to have access to that water.

Um, as Boca Sega Yacht Club said, we have you know, we've both very effectively use that to promote sailing.

Uh, one of the other great things about Gulfport Yacht Club is we are probably the most affordable club anywhere that you can find.

Uh, the numbers the gentleman just mentioned, we are lower than that per year as a member, and then also for our our slips and all those types of things.

So we're just about making sure that people have an opportunity to sail and have that access to the water.

We actually have a um our next regatta coming up on, I think it's the second or second weekend of March.

And we're actually get we've already been working with Dennis, and we're gonna be using it using that area behind the Lions Club as our launching point.

So we've done it on the beach previously, but there's the great thing about that is is it gives room for staging.

People can use the lawn that give a little bit of room to set up their boats and things like that, and then just rotate around as far as using the area on the water to actually launch their boats.

So it's ideal.

Um, we are right there next to it.

Um, as someone else mentioned earlier, we've got a really little sliver of beach right there in our club, so we really need that whole beach to be able to launch.

Our club races can have five to fifteen boats, and then our regatta, we're expecting about 30 boats.

Um, and so we just want to keep making sure that we have that access.

Um, and and Boca Siega has that access.

I don't really think I think uh having other people have the access is great as well.

And just final one last comment.

Um, whoever mentioned the military or the marine advisory council, I think that's a great idea, and I think that that's uh something that we would be interested in as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Who else?

Don't be sorry later that you didn't speak up.

Nope, can't go twice, yes.

Good evening.

My name is Fred Fortis, and I'm 3049 DuPont Street South.

I'm also a member of Gulfport Yacht Club.

Um I've heard a lot of talk about the marina being a destination.

It already is.

It's a destination for mariners.

That could be broken down into basically three groups.

Power boats, you have docks, large sailboats also require docks.

This is the only part in Gulfport that you can hand launch catamarans and small dinghies.

That's it.

The only other place would be on the big beach, and then you're putting the public into the mix as well.

So it is an incredibly unique space that we have played very nicely with the Lions Club and with Boca Siega Yacht Club.

We race against each other quite often, and we have a blast doing it.

But those three different entities played very nicely together.

And there was a lot of communication between them.

My only concerns might be if it is completely open to the public and developed, then that means the city is going to have a cost.

Whether the development is small, just like restrooms or something larger, either way, that's going to be a cost that has to be taken into account by the city.

We have provided buffer zones from the housings from all the houses onto the side between us and the marina.

Makes it much nicer place to live and a lot quieter.

And I can tell you from my personal experience and scars that that is not a good beach for swimming.

I can tell you that.

And lastly, I would keep it a quasi public space, but not necessarily wide open because of security issues with we do pay money for boats.

And if people can come walking right in, that might become an issue.

Thank you for your time and thank you for your consideration.

Thank you.

Let's see.

Yes, in the back.

Hello.

Hello.

Kimberly McAllenis.

I also live on Upton with John and such.

Great ideas today.

And I know it's been kind of a question for a while now.

Yay for boating, yay for small boats, yay for the environment, yay for the manatees.

We also have to remember we were devastated a year ago, guys.

We can't be doing anything that's going to put us at further risk.

Whomever mentioned the houses around there.

So I think the environmental impact of whatever we do has to be Paramount, both for our neighbors as well as the sea life and the other birds and such that call that area home.

We need to be good stewards of our community.

The other thing that we haven't really brought up that we do have to be very cognizant of during that hurricane devastation, that has cost the city a lot of money.

However, I will disagree with you.

If it's public, it's public.

Same thing with Osgood Park.

It's a beautiful spot, as someone mentioned, that is a perfect place for sunset.

I know I've enjoyed a lot of sunsets there.

Putting a nice park there.

But help me out.

I'll even run it for you.

But I think whatever we do has to be really thought out from an environmental community and financial standpoint.

And I think that those three keys have to be huge pillars in whatever we do.

Thank you.

Who else?

Albert Risenberg, 19th Avenue South.

Can I can I come around to point to something that I'm a little confused about?

Sure can.

So this is what I don't understand.

Here is this part of the property, or is it go like this?

What is this?

Dry storage.

That's dry.

That's the dry storage area.

So the city does own that property, if that's your question.

So all of this.

Yes.

So we would have access.

This is part of the access.

It's not just here.

It's well at present that's developed for dry storage for boats on trailers.

Oh, so we wouldn't have access to it.

That's not part of this.

Exactly.

It's city-owned property, but it's not considered in the property.

Yes.

So uh I'm a sailor as well, and I have a sunfish.

And when I first moved to Gulfport in 2013, I used to launch it at Gulfport Beach until the police said I wasn't allowed to.

It's a wonderful place to launch, but you can't.

This is definitely an incredible place.

And I was a member of Gulfport Yacht Club for a while.

And it worked out well.

And uh, but you know it was it was a little bit of money, you know, and not everybody has the money.

And I feel like these private organizations have got a lot of our shoreline locked up here.

And I think it's time to let this be a public space.

If the if if Boca Siega Yacht Club and Gulfport Yacht Club want to use it, that's fine too.

It should be open to everyone.

I think it should be a park, and I think it should be like the uh previous person said, we got to be careful, I mean you can't build anything there.

If we have to build it, it's gonna be 16 feet high.

And do we want that eye sore there?

And we don't have the money for that anyway.

Um so keeping it simple, accessible.

It's not gonna be a mob scene down there.

People are just gonna use it.

They'll back their trucks up or whatever they got their boats on, launch, and then we can park in the parking lot.

That's what it's gonna be.

It's not gonna be a huge problem.

I think the city could definitely build it to where it does not need a lot of maintenance, and it can be permeable, but hard enough to be able to, you know, roll your your your equipment down there.

I mean, we've got enough of our shoreline locked up.

We shouldn't have to charge people three, four hundred, five hundred, eight hundred dollars to be able to launch your boat.

You should be able to launch your boat every once in a while if you want to without being a member of a yacht club, um, especially if it's Gulfport property.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Paula, hello folks.

Thanks for having this hearing tonight.

Um I was hoping to come here tonight to just gather a lot of information, but I do want to speak up about um supporting the idea of a marine council for really looking at the impact of so much of what's going on there.

I live um, you know, a stone's throw diagonally across from that property, and I had joined the Gulfport Yacht Club for the sole purpose of being able to paddle board and have access to um waterfront from my neighborhood.

And to lock that up with any of the yacht club facilities is really I think unfair to the residents in that neighborhood who really don't have um that um shallow water access.

I totally support the idea of using that for the public for small craft um for the the sunfish uh launching.

Um the other thing I do want to mention is the impact of of not wanting to see any more traffic being brought into that neighborhood.

It's pretty horrendous even now.

Um I'm I remain the only occupied home on Del Rio, and constantly I am having to wait for traffic to be able to come in and out of my driveway.

I don't know where it's all coming from or going to.

Um, you know, I know the yacht club uses it.

Uh Del Rio is a shortcut, but but the idea of having a restaurant or grill in that neighborhood would be devastating to us because it's already, you know, it's it's it's really tough when there are regattas, you know, it's constant traffic on our road.

So to have any more traffic would be a huge impact for those of us on Del Rio Way.

That's it.

Thank you.

Who else?

Karen.

Hi, Karen Schwartz, uh Delayed Avenue South.

I am not a stone's throw from here, but it's still considered the marina district.

I would like to see, I mean, I've heard some wonderful ideas.

I don't want to see any development there.

I like the idea of, you know, have a an inflatable kayak, don't use it very much, and we always go over to um Clambayu.

I didn't even know that this was possible.

So it's very exciting to see it.

I don't want a building there, I don't want parking there.

I think it should be totally permeable.

You can walk through it, but you can see that most of that area is mangroves.

And couldn't we just let it go back to you know, to the right of it in the picture?

Yeah, we're not talking about that property though.

I know, but isn't that all mangroves?

Yeah, yeah, oh definitely.

But uh what I'm saying is why couldn't it be like that?

You know, more like that.

I don't want to see anything permanent there.

If you want restrooms, have something portable that we can wheel out of there, you know, when a storm is coming.

It makes no sense to build anything.

And if people are thinking it would be nice to have some food down there, why don't we change our rules about um food trucks?

Make it a make it so it's available.

There are food trucks available.

Again, they can leave.

They don't have to be there when there's a storm, and they don't have to be there all the time.

But I I think that would be greatly appreciated.

And I don't think that would bring additional traffic.

I think it would just be for the people who were already there who would like sandwich, a cup of coffee, you know, something like that.

Anyway, um, I'm really delighted to be here.

I can't wait till till that building is gone and and its parking lot is gone because we really do need more permeable areas.

I'd like the whole parking lot to be torn up, frankly.

Um turf block or something.

I know it's expensive, but I love that stuff because things just grow right through it.

Anyway, thank you for your time.

I really love that we're being, you know, that we're having some input into what's gonna happen there.

Thanks.

Super.

Who's next?

Yes, Lenny.

Lenny Gokenheimer 5213 Delette Avenue South.

And um I was really thrilled to hear the stories about the sunfish.

Um, actually, I did some sailing starting with the sunfish, and I can understand the issues of having access to water.

Um, there have been discussion before about having uh restrooms.

And uh I lived in uh Charlotte County and Punta Pentagorda had a has a park along uh a river, the Peace River, and it had a pavilion with restrooms, and that building was demolished, and restrooms were replaced with uh actually it was looked like a mobile trailer.

Um it was elevated and uh had really fancy restrooms, and that might be a way to provide restrooms for the area.

And it's since it's it's on wheels, it can be removed if it's necessary.

And uh I think the idea of having a council that maybe could manage that that area and control access and make sure that people are following the rules.

Uh there's rules for the marina.

You have somebody controlling that, maybe the same concept, or expand the marine.

Well, I guess what the harbor master would be doing, but incorporate that with a council.

Well, thank you.

Okay.

Do we see any more hands before I close?

Okay, uh Deb and then Lauren, you'll be next.

Deb Atkins, 452 27th Avenue.

As an 11-year resident of the marina district, and I'm speaking tonight for a couple of my neighbors as well who couldn't be here, and I told them to make sure they send in their remote comments.

I know that was publicized and how they could do that.

Um I love all of Gulfport, but we specifically sought out property in the marina district because of that environment.

We like the clan bayou, we like the marina, so I am definitely opposed to the Ferris wheel or any other uh development or commercialization.

I agree with the environmental impact.

We definitely don't need any more concrete or buildings.

I think the weight and launch is great, but I think it should be open to everyone, not based on uh membership.

Uh I agree with I think with Paula, the traffic, because even I think the boats and trailers are supposed to go a certain way, but they don't necessarily, and there's a lot of that going on.

So I don't want to see a restaurant or a bar.

Someone had put on Facebook a pool, a dock park, all kinds of things.

So I think the environmental impact, nature, keeping the launch, but having it open for open for the people to enjoy would be paramount.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Lauren.

Hello, Lauren Stern uh Ward 4.

I'm reading a short comment on behalf of the Gulf Park Coastline Coalition and some of its members.

Quote, especially on the heels of the vulnerability assessment study presentation.

I hope we prioritize keeping land free and publicly accessible.

And as much as it makes sense, depaved and rewilded along the bay, we urge being wildlife forward and using green infrastructure practices.

Would also encourage the city to work with wildlife rehabilitation organizations to explore designating this as a release area.

These sites are rare along Boca Siega Bay and incredibly vital.

And then for myself, um, recently in Jungle Prada next to the Sacred Lands, I saw one of those.

I had not locally seen one of those trailer bathrooms, and I think that's a great option for here.

And I just think there are so many smart um people in Gallport that know about all these things.

We've heard great ideas tonight.

So thank you for having this be an open meeting for us to share our thoughts.

Okay, I think I'm gonna close it.

Oh Jill.

Julie.

Oh, my first mistake.

You know I'm telling the truth.

I'm Julie Jacoby, I live on 49th Street.

I've been a um homeowner in the Gulfport Marina district for 24 years.

I've seen a lot of good things happen in growth, and I've seen a lot of eh happen with growth.

I would just like to reantize that I would really because of the use of the um small boats and stuff to maintain our tool, continue to allow Golfport Yacht Club and Buggers Yacht Club to utilize the beach.

I don't know if they're asked, really need the exclusive access or not, but keeping it part of the marina and allowing people in the marina to actually launch and um have their small boat access.

But if people have sunfish, people bring them in on a trailer, and you have to have put the trailer someplace, which would involve parking.

So you can't have one without the other.

You can't just say we want green space, but we want to be able to launch our boats.

Well, how are your boats going to get there?

So that needs to be factored into the equation, I believe.

I'm all for green space.

I I appreciate it.

I don't want any more traffic down there.

As you know, I live on 49th Street, I get enough traffic, especially on the weekends with the um boaters.

You know, they they don't even maintain a no-wake zone, they don't even maintain the speed limit.

So it's kind of a pain to have more boaters come down there.

I don't want to see a restaurant down there.

There's just no purpose or need for it.

I'm I just don't see it.

It's it's a municipal marina with people that have boats.

But as I said, I I would strongly encourage that the council allows and continues to allow both the clubs to utilize that area to launch their small boats.

And if the council, you know, increase revenue is to put another rack down there for um the kayaks.

They were down there until the flood came, and then they moved back down there.

They were started off at the marina on the dock over here, and then they moved them down to the beach.

Yeah, I remember correctly, right?

I mean, if you want to expand, you know, revenue is have places where people can store their boats in small boats, some or not sunfish, but kayaks and paddle boards.

But then you got to give them security to do that.

Then you got to give people parking to actually come there, bring their boats, access their boats.

The same with the dry storage, you can expand that, but then you have the issue of where they're gonna park when they move the boats out into the bay.

So that's it.

Thank you.

All right, last call.

All righty, I'm gonna close public comment then.

And um, with all the thoughts that have been sent to us, um, you can pretty much say anything that you want that you like that you heard, or you know that you whatever you want to say.

I haven't comment.

So grateful that everyone came.

There's so many great ideas.

I do love the public access.

I think that is a great idea.

My husband and I paddle board quite often we go out uh off the beach, and that's fine, but I've never even considered doing that from that side, and we like to go to the clan bios.

So that would be really nice, but not but period.

Um the Marine Everything you say before a butt doesn't count, right?

So I didn't mean that, period.

Um Marine Advisory Board, it's came up in different ways.

I think that's very important.

I never thought of that.

So thank you for bringing that up, everyone.

Okay, so I made a mistake in that uh we do have a uh e-commerce response that should have been read, and I shouldn't have jumped ahead.

So if you would, and then are we gonna have you?

Marlene, are you gonna read the one that was submitted to us?

Okay.

We did have just one um public comment from Margaret Tober.

She says, demolish the building and create a living shoreline or demolish the building and sell the property, which I understand has a very positive value.

Okay.

Okay, so um the mayor and I received a communication from a resident Brian Durr, but so I don't forget I also want to mention my neighbor immediately called me at the beginning of all of this and said she wants a dog park there.

I'm not saying we should do that.

I'm just sharing what she said.

Um so this is a little bit longer than Margaret's comment.

And first I'll mention what he thinks are good uses.

He also says a dog park and beach, and then there are a few so few places where dogs can get in the water.

Uh a public park, possibly with kayak storage for rent, so people can easily launch kayaks kept there.

A location for dinghies from boaters who live in the bay and commute to work.

I know this can be full of challenges, though, a dog beach would be better served.

A partial expansion of the dry dock, but not along the waterfront, just toward the street, if that would be feasible and provide income from dry dockage.

If a facility that could be used by the club would be an option, I would want to see something that could be shared by the Lions Club and possibly rented for advance example, for example.

Um and then in the short term, he said he'd very selfishly love to see the site made available to people whose homes were substantially damaged and who are currently or will be living in campers while their homes are elevated or rebuilt.

This would require having water, sewer, and 30 amp electric service, so it's probably not feasible.

My selfish reason is that I have no idea where our camper will go during the few months after we tear down our house until the site can host the camper again.

What I would not like, I would not like an amphitheater or music venue so close to the homes in the neighborhood.

I would not like a hotel or commercial property.

I would not like the city to sell the land.

I would not like to see the beach access restricted.

Uh and then he also followed up after perhaps both of our communications with him in regards to Clam Bayou.

Uh and he uh let me find it.

It's like three pages here, sorry.

Uh he said uh thanks to both of you for quick response, knowing that the Coast Guard building also will be torn down, definitely makes me want to see covered picnic pavilions at that site.

Many people walked there to see the sunsets and a dog beach on Lions Club site, so both sites would be more usable, and people who prefer not to be around the pups could go to the other park.

So just want you to know that we try to share everybody's information with everybody, and also we'll this will be made a public record with the city clerk.

Thank you.

Okay, Vice Mayor.

So it was good to see that there was actually quite a lot of consensus.

Um I know a few years ago I looked into um a portable toilet, and at that time it was also for homeless people to maybe put someplace where they could use it during the daytime.

And that one had showers and everything, so we wouldn't necessarily need that, but that was only 70,000 to buy that.

And so probably you could get something for less, although prices have gone up, so I don't know.

But anyway, so that that is a possibility, and I think that could be a good um good thing.

Um definitely like the public um boat launch idea and keeping that.

Um I had already heard that it was a very good swimming beach.

Um the problem with a bar and grill, unless we did somehow start to allow food trucks in that area because there aren't any restaurants necessarily to compete with, is making another building means you'd have to make it floodproof and everything else.

It would be expensive to buy.

The city would then become a landlord again, and complications that could come from that.

So I I think the residents might find it nice, but I don't know if we should build one.

Um but definitely keep it low maintenance, get as much nature back there as possible, make it permeable as possible.

I understand that of course you might have to have a driveway to be able to get the boats down there to launch, you know, along the side.

Fair enough.

Um and the marine advisory committee, I like that idea.

Um clearly nothing commercial was pretty except the cafe thing.

But I think the BYC could use it in and the um Gulfport Yacht Club could both use it, and but I do think it should be public and um so that anybody um can use it.

And I appreciate that there could be some security concerns, but you know, we can deal with those, I think, uh, one way or another.

I don't think we should sell it.

But I but I I was pleased to hear that there was actually quite a lot of consensus.

So um I think that's really good.

Okay, so I was reading that in, so now it's my turn to speak.

And I really uh want to emphasize how grateful we are for you coming tonight and sharing your thoughts.

And having participated in Gulfport on the Edge and at least two charrettes that we've had about the marina district over the years that I've lived here that we've had at the casino.

I'm still hearing consensus that we don't want commercialization there, and especially following the hurricanes.

So it was it was interesting to hear the suggestions, even about the portable restroom because I know that's come up by certain residents as well over the years.

So that certainly makes it more feasible.

If a storm's cutting, you move it.

I've heard a lot of uh requests for, and we even talked about it at a uh council meeting not that long ago, where um we would have a kiosk for panel board.

Well, this seems to kind of fit into a lot of people's comments tonight about paddle boards and and kayaks.

We do have a kayak rack there right now, and I think that's handled through the marina.

And Councilmember you would ask me earlier today about the kayaks where those are.

Yes.

Those are the kayaks that are then in our picture.

Yes.

Well, I I figured that out now hearing the discussion tonight, so thank you.

Um I didn't send it very early, so glad to have an answer to that.

Um I've been spending a little time walking around there the past few weeks, uh walking around clam bayou and walking around the the property in discussion and around the different clubs, and uh got to talk to people there as well as people in the neighborhoods, and um uh and as far as the businesses uh they don't want competition, they need all the support they can for business in town and on the main drives.

So they're not looking for another area of competition for them.

They feel that we have enough business districts to support right now.

So I I wanted to share that on their behalf.

Um, and a lot of support for a sunset park at Clan Bayou, have to say, I go there for sunsets myself.

Um most of the support that I've heard has been for passive park and and small boat access.

Um on occasion, something slightly different, but that's what I've mostly heard.

And um, and as far I I also heard about splash pads, um, but again, because of the um the aquifer level, I understand we really can't put those along the shore, and so we always keep going back to perhaps Tomlinson Park for that if at such time that we're past our current financial commitments and stewardship.

Um and and I also wanted to mention that people said if we need transportation to the downtown area from the marina area, that perhaps we should look at renting bikes.

I don't think we do that currently, do we?

Okay, so that was a bicycles available.

We have bicycles available at the marina for the folks that come to the transient dock.

Okay, really.

So um perhaps expanding something like that if there's a need.

Um and um and I just mentioned at the Tuesday's council meeting that that an eagle and kingfisher bird has been spotted there, and one a resident said elsewhere in the city this week as well, so that's pretty exciting.

Um I did not know about the manatees, and I certainly think that that's something a lot of residents um feel is very important to protect.

So having said all of that, I again I want to say thank you so much for your input tonight.

Oh, and and don't stop providing input.

You that's it.

The disadvantage of speaking last is that most all my thoughts have been said.

I do think, and I was really impressed with the consensus, there was a lot more consensus than divisiveness, which was a good thing.

I heard to commercial, I heard um, you know, and I I agree with the idea that um both clubs should be able to use that spot, but so should the public.

I mean, I think that everybody in Gulfport, if they want to come down that and they figure out how to get their vote down there, they should have access because we're all we all pay the same taxes.

Um so I think that's the case in terms of the advisory board.

I think that the wise thing to do there would be to get a couple people together, kind of think it through, and then maybe meet with either the city manager or the city attorney because you have to figure out if you want to be a true advisory board, then you're under sunshine laws.

If you want to be a volunteer group that wants to share your ideas with us for buy-ins from us, then that's a different thing because you mentioned the senior senior advisory board.

They actually asked us on Tuesday if we could sunset them.

So you know, set it up the way that you think that you'd like to see it.

Um in terms of restrooms.

This old lady needs restrooms.

I don't care if they're permanent and realize we already have plumbing there.

I mean, there's there's outdoor um access to bathrooms, which means there's lines there, and there's indoors.

So there that is already there in place.

So I I could care less if there I would say whatever is the most cost effective because most of you know our money needs to be spent on stormwater.

Okay.

So I would be very much in in wanting to have restrooms there as well.

I also um not too many people here said it because we've got a very, very large boating population here tonight.

But I think that um that area of town is about the only place where we don't have like a little playground for children.

And it doesn't have to be over the top and it doesn't have to be major exercise, but I would like to see that's the only thing that I can think that I really would like to see added is some kind of a fenced-in area where children could play, you know.

I mean, a couple of swings, couple slides, not elaborate, but something that would be a neighborhood park because we do have parks in all of our other um areas except for that one.

And um I like the idea of uh I do think that we probably have to have a little bit of something to get help people get their boats down to the water if they don't belong to the clubs, but I I would agree that keeping it as um uh impervious as possible or pervious, excuse me, would be the best scenario.

So I don't have much to add.

You guys came with a really good collective of ideas.

You uh overall, I would say eighty seventy-five, eighty percent of you are pretty much on the same page.

And so now you've given us ideas, you know.

If you figured out anything yet, nothing happens fast in government.

Okay.

We have a lot on our plate right now, but we wanted to before before we like I don't know why somebody said I would be against something.

I mean, I've never spoken to this, so I don't I don't get that at all.

But before we are accused of making plans without your input, we wanted to get your uh input.

Even if we don't talk about this again for a little while, we have it, and it helps us when we're looking down the road.

I think unless there's been a change of plans, I think that both buildings will be torn down sometime in January.

Once I come back, the appraisers have been uh ordered.

Okay.

Appraisal has been ordered.

Okay.

Market value appraisal has been ordered.

Uh, we're waiting for the deliverable.

It has the building has been looked at, and we're waiting for that deliverable.

Okay.

At that point, we'll bring it back to council to clarify all the issues related to buying out the Lions Club use agreement.

And then we are planning on within the next two weeks to go out to bid for the South Basin.

I know there was some concern about that.

So we will start that project or next project probably to start that along with the casino dock.

They'll both go out for the for bid obviously next month, and then we'll start that process.

Oh, and thank you for saying that because I did hear when Guy said something about that.

Uh there's a lot of people that think that some of the work that hasn't been started yet is about money, and that's not really the case.

It's about getting permits, engineering design, and realize we're not the only coastal city that needs those people.

Every city up and down our coast needs those same people.

So everything, as I said, is slow.

I came from private business.

I could stamp my fingers and it would happen tomorrow.

That's not true in in city government.

So I I have one question.

Uh um I know that we had on the on the agenda 40,000 to demolish the Lions Club.

Do we have a quote yet for the Coast Guard?

I believe it's in that range.

It's a little less, but it's in that range out.

But we didn't have that on the agenda yet.

No, you haven't seen that.

Okay.

So thank you so much for attending.

I'm not rushing out of here.

If anyone needs to talk to me, I can hang for a few minutes.

Thank you.

Thank you.