Gulfport City Council Meeting (2026-01-20)

The meeting opened with a special presentation honoring Francine Winton for 34 years of volunteer leadership with Operation Santa. The council then heard from Cheryl Holzbacher of the Homeless Leadership Alliance on the state of homelessness in Pinellas County, followed by a bike safety video from Police Chief Mary Farron. The majority of the evening was devoted to public comments and discussion on the city’s 287G agreement with ICE, which had been signed administratively without council review. The council also addressed a variety of consent items, an ordinance on certified recovery residences, a conditional use application for a church, and discussion items on lighting, e-bikes, and an inclusivity resolution.

Consent Calendar

• Consent items (6A–6C): Approved (with one vote opposed after initial roll call, later described as unanimous). Items included approval of meeting minutes (January 6, 2026), resolution authorizing purchase of AMI gateway equipment from Neptune Technology Group, and resolution authorizing a contract with Kern’s Communications for AMI pole installation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• 287G Agreement with ICE: Numerous residents spoke in opposition to the agreement, urging the council to rescind it. Speakers expressed concern that the agreement undermines trust in local police, could lead to racial profiling, and diverts city resources. Several noted that the agreement was signed without public input or council vote. One speaker (Amy Trippy) requested a workshop to review the agreement. Others cited the murder of Renee Good as an example of ICE violence. A few speakers also raised concerns about the constitutionality of the agreement.
• GABBER Newspaper Funding: Several residents urged the council to maintain full advertising funding for the local independent newspaper, the GABBER, rather than directing funds to a glossy out‑of‑state publication (Gulfport Living). They argued that the GABBER is essential for local democracy and community information.
• Lincoln Cemetery & Sundown History: Mary Winstead and others spoke about Gulfport’s history as a “sundown town” and called on the council to acknowledge that history. A speaker also raised concerns about the annexation deed for Lincoln Cemetery not being dated.
• Other Comments: Donovan Nickel provided updates on e‑bike legislation and safety studies. Scott Lindy (Merchants Chamber) promoted upcoming events (Fine Arts Festival, Pink Flamingo Home Tour). Wolfgang Diringer reported on cleanup efforts (242 lbs of trash collected on January 10). Several speakers supported the church conditional use, while one (Linda Bailey) opposed it, citing parking and zoning issues.

Discussion Items

• Lighting Ordinance (Draft): Council discussed a draft nuisance lighting ordinance. Members expressed concerns about subjective language (e.g., “aesthetically pleasing”) and wanted to address light intensity and height. Consensus was to proceed with a narrower nuisance ordinance (prohibiting light shining onto adjacent properties and rights‑of‑way) and to develop a more comprehensive lighting ordinance later covering illumination, wattage, and height.
• E‑Bike Ordinance: The council voted to table the e‑bike ordinance pending state legislation (House Bill 4243) that may preempt local rules.
• Inclusivity Resolution: The council reviewed a resolution reaffirming the city’s commitment to non‑discrimination and inclusion. Members agreed to add language acknowledging the city’s history of discrimination (including as a sundown town). Councilmember Shaw proposed two specific clauses; the group favored: “Recognizes the importance of acknowledging our history, including moments when discrimination or exclusion occurred as an essential step in strengthening trust, healing, and building a more just and welcoming community.” Staff was directed to incorporate that language.
• Mayor’s Discussion – Downtown Planning: Mayor Love summarized past community meetings (Gulfport 2050, etc.) and previewed a future presentation on parking and traffic flow changes in the downtown area.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Resolution 2026‑04 (FEMA Community Disaster Loan authorization – $5 million line of credit) – unanimous.
• Approved: Ordinance 2026‑01 (first reading, certified recovery residences) – unanimous.
• Approved: Resolution 2026‑05 (conditional use for church at 54th St) – 4‑1 (Vice Mayor Thanos opposed).
• Direction to Staff:
  • Revise lighting ordinance to focus on nuisance provisions; later develop comprehensive ordinance.
  • Table e‑bike ordinance pending state action.
  • Add historical acknowledgement language to inclusivity resolution.
• Workshop Planned: Council agreed to schedule a workshop/forum on the 287G agreement and ICE cooperation, gathering additional documentation and community input. A date will be set within the next month.
• No Action: The 287G agreement remains in place; the council did not take a vote to rescind it.
• Note: City Manager and Police Chief clarified that the 287G agreement was signed administratively in February 2025 per governor’s directive. Seven officers completed 40 hours of online training at no cost to the city. The city has not had any ICE interactions or arrests under the agreement.