OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Gulfport City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026: Living Shorelines Grant, Lions Club Lease, and Summer Program Fees

City Council — Tuesday, February 17, 2026
BodyGulfport, Mississippi
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, February 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:27:47

Transcript — Verbatim
4:59

Good evening.

5:00

Good evening.

5:01

And welcome to the February 17th Gulfport City Council meeting.

5:06

Glad to see y'all here on this beautiful evening.

5:10

So tonight we will, if you have your phone on, please turn it off.

5:15

And you know, I always say if you need to have a side conversation, I understand, but just step into the lobby, please.

5:21

I appreciate that.

5:22

And we will start off tonight with the call to order.

5:26

That's me, and then we're gonna go to invocation.

5:29

But what we're gonna do tonight is we're gonna do the invocation, and then we're gonna do a moment of silence, and then we'll do a pledge of allegiance.

5:37

Okay, so remain standing if you will.

5:40

We're gonna do a moment of silence for both uh Reverend Jesse Jackson as well as the victims of the mass shooting in Rhode Island yesterday.

5:49

Okay.

5:53

A quote by excuse me, a quote by Reverend Jesse Jackson, may he rest in peace.

5:58

The great responsibility that we have today is to put the poor and the near poor back into the front of the American agenda.

6:35

Undergone thank you.

6:46

And then with that, we'll do a roll call.

6:48

Councilmember Early.

6:50

Present.

6:50

Vice Mayor Thanos?

6:52

Here.

6:52

Councilmember Shaw.

6:53

Present.

6:54

Councilmember Jackson here.

6:56

Mayor Love.

6:56

Here.

6:57

City Attorney Salzman?

6:58

Here.

6:59

City Manager O'Reilly.

7:00

Here.

7:00

City Clerk Carico is present.

7:03

Thank you.

7:04

So we have one presentation tonight.

7:06

We're very lucky we're gonna kick off with a presentation from one of Gulfport's own.

7:11

Priscilla Kitter is going to do a presentation for us.

7:14

She's working on trying to obtain a grant for the city of Gulfport, and her presentation will be on passive shorelines.

7:22

If you will please, Miss Kidder.

7:27

And because it's recorded, try to talk into the mic.

7:30

I will.

7:31

And you can.

7:32

Thank you so much for having me here tonight and allowing me to speak.

7:37

Tonight, as Mayor Love said, I would like to speak about living shorelines.

7:41

We have a picture up there.

7:42

My name's Priscilla Kidder.

7:44

I've been a Gulfport resident for over 40 years.

7:48

And we've all been affected by the hurricanes here in Gulfport and storms and various other storm surge events.

7:55

Tonight I'd like to talk about a hybrid living shorelines for Gulfport.

8:01

What are they?

8:03

How does it work?

8:05

And what can it do for the city of Gulfport?

8:09

So thinking ahead 50 years, what can we do to make our bay healthier?

8:15

What can we do to protect the city infrastructure?

8:18

Pictured here is the new constructed seawall down in front of Veterans Park.

8:24

And I'm asking tonight that the city support applying for a Tampa Bay grant for restoring that area with a living shoreline or a hybrid living shoreline.

8:38

Why?

8:41

A hybrid living shoreline will take care of erosion.

8:46

It will protect the seawall.

9:53

But I've I visited many of them.

9:57

We have Maximo Park, Felipe Park and Safety Harbor, Lassing Park.

10:02

I participated in putting oyster bags in there.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection████████████████16%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Property Appraisal█████████████13%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████10%
Procedural█████████9%
Community Engagement████████8%
Public Safety██████6%
Legislative Update█████5%
Contract Management█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Gulfport City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026

The Gulfport City Council met on February 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM (evening session) to discuss a range of topics including a presentation on a living shorelines grant, public comments on the Lions Club lease and ICE workshop, and votes on ordinances and resolutions. Key outcomes included support for a grant application for a hybrid living shoreline at Veterans Park, passage of ordinances on certified recovery residences and residential lighting, approval of the summer recreation program fee schedule, and a decision to table the Lions Club lease payout pending clarification from the appraiser.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved meeting minutes from February 3 and February 5, 2026 (unanimous).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Priscilla Kidder (Gulfport resident, 40+ years) presented on hybrid living shorelines for Veterans Park. She requested council support to apply for a Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund (TBERF) grant. She noted the grant requires a 1:1 match (in-kind goods/services acceptable) and that Tampa Bay Watch can provide volunteer labor (oyster domes, grasses). The project would be ~180 linear feet, with a 12-month design/permitting phase, 4-month implementation, and 12-month monitoring. Estimated grant range: $25,000–$250,000. Council expressed strong support.
  • Lauren Stern (55th St) supported the living shoreline and later commented on the Lions Club lease, questioning the payout amount and contract terms.
  • Amy Costa (28th Ave S) reminded about the “For the Love of Gulfport” event on March 1, 2026, from 11 AM to 4 PM at Trolley Market Square.
  • Courtney Prokopis (15th Ave S) requested data ahead of the upcoming workshop on the 287G mandate (ICE agreement), including number of sworn officers, top call types, and capacity to participate. She argued the agreement exceeds city manager authority and urged council to evaluate whether it serves constituents.
  • Wolfgang Dininger (Beachway Park, Gulfport Grassroots) reported on February 14 cleanup: 26 volunteers, 101 lbs of trash. Next cleanup March 14 (Clam Bayou). Noted increase in cigarette butts on beach despite smoking ban; requested more enforcement.
  • Richard Freed (e-comment) submitted a musical advert used to recruit DHS/ICE employees; criticized Lions Club lease payout as “extortion.”
  • Deborah Schubs (e-comment) demanded legal opinion on missing date on Lincoln Cemetery annex petition.
  • Sean Simpson (e-comment, business owner) opposed proposed one-way streets on 29th Ave S, citing impact on nine businesses.
  • Jennifer Donch (Premier Drive) urged removing examples of permissible lighting (e.g., uplighting for flags) from the nuisance ordinance before final passage.
  • Bixler (Lions Club President) defended the building’s condition and remediation; argued appraisal assumptions were correct.
  • Lauren Stern (second comment) noted errors in appraisal (building age, flood depth, comps) and questioned city manager’s failure to correct.
  • Town Shores resident urged council to spend taxpayer money carefully and correct flawed assumptions before paying $227,500.
  • Amy Costa (second comment) questioned paying for a building the Lions Club no longer wants; supported redoing appraisal with correct info.
  • Kathy (Lions Club) explained funds go to community; building was sanitized, passed health inspections; membership decline led to lease non-renewal.

Discussion Items

  • Presentation on Living Shorelines: Priscilla Kidder detailed benefits: erosion control, water filtration (one oyster filters 50 gallons/day), stormwater runoff mitigation. Project would use oyster domes, bags, and shore grasses (Spartina). Grant deadline March 25, 2026. Council consensus to support application.
  • City Manager Report – Permitting Update: 59 homeowner permit applications received; 20 issued; 5 awaiting payment; 34 pending review/other status. Commercial permits in review: Gulf Shores condominium, 2832 Beach Blvd restaurant, 2901 Beach Blvd storage, PYCC fitness center. Councilmember Early noted lack of turnaround time data and asked for faster concierge service.
  • Council Reports:
    • Councilmember Early: Pink Flamingo Tour March 7; Lincoln Cemetery cleanup April 25.
    • Vice Mayor Thanos: Tree City USA award; attended Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (needs replacement); Sierra Club webinar on solar/rebates; Pinellas County $813M hurricane recovery funds (up to $50,000/homeowner); Wood Ibis fish deaths due to cold water; requested subject matter experts for upcoming 287G workshop.
    • Councilmember Shaw: Legislative update from Tallahassee – discussed local business tax, sovereign immunity (liability cap increase), post-disaster land use regulations (SB 840), property tax proposals (HB 213/203/209) that could reduce city revenue by up to one-third; reminded of “Adopt a Drain” program.
    • Mayor Love: Updated on Ford Pinellas meetings – merger of three planning councils likely; bicycle safety/trail continuity; urged residents to apply for People First recovery funds (caseworkers at library Feb 17, 19, 20). Criticized entrance sign at Tangerine and 49th as unwelcoming; promised improvements.
  • Ordinances:
    • 7a – Certified Recovery Residences (second reading): Establishes procedures compliant with state law. Passed unanimously (5-0).
    • 7b – Residential Lighting Nuisance (second reading): Declares excessive lighting a nuisance; further specifics (lumens, height) to be developed within 60 days. Passed unanimously after debate.
  • Resolutions:
    • 8a – Summer Recreation Program Fees: No increase; fee based on number of weeks (10 weeks this year). Passed unanimously.
    • 8b – Potable Water Insert Valves (58th Street Project): Authorizes contract with Colt Services LLC. Passed unanimously.
    • 8c – Gulfport Lions Club Lease Payout: Resolution to approve $455,000 payout (50% of appraised value) for building on city-owned land. Extensive debate over appraisal accuracy: building age (1950 vs 1971), flood depth (1 ft vs 28 inches), remediation evidence, and choice of comps. Council voted to table the resolution to allow the appraiser to clarify assumptions, particularly construction date and depreciation. To be revisited at March 3, 2026 meeting.
  • New Business:
    • Councilmember Early proposed a dog run at Tom Linson Park in Ward 4; feasibility study ongoing.
    • Councilmember Shaw requested invitation for Gulfport Young Families Council to present on childcare at meetings; consensus obtained.

Key Outcomes

  • Living Shorelines Grant: Council directed staff to proceed with grant application for Veterans Park, with city support. Match will be in-kind through Tampa Bay Watch and volunteer hours.
  • Ordinances: Both 2026-01 (certified recovery residences) and 2026-02 (residential lighting nuisance) passed 5-0 on second reading.
  • Summer Program Fees: Approved without increase; $0 cost to participants due to sliding scale and scholarships.
  • Water Valve Contract: Approved for 58th Street project.
  • Lions Club Lease Payout: Tabled (5-0) to ask appraiser to verify construction date and depreciation; city manager to report back by March 3, 2026.
  • Dog Run: Councilmember Early to return with proposal details.
  • Young Families Council: Invited to present at a future meeting; date to be set.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Good evening. And welcome to the February 17th Gulfport City Council meeting. Glad to see y'all here on this beautiful evening. So tonight we will, if you have your phone on, please turn it off. And you know, I always say if you need to have a side conversation, I understand, but just step into the lobby, please. I appreciate that. And we will start off tonight with the call to order. That's me, and then we're gonna go to invocation. But what we're gonna do tonight is we're gonna do the invocation, and then we're gonna do a moment of silence, and then we'll do a pledge of allegiance. Okay, so remain standing if you will. We're gonna do a moment of silence for both uh Reverend Jesse Jackson as well as the victims of the mass shooting in Rhode Island yesterday. Okay. A quote by excuse me, a quote by Reverend Jesse Jackson, may he rest in peace. The great responsibility that we have today is to put the poor and the near poor back into the front of the American agenda. Undergone thank you. And then with that, we'll do a roll call. Councilmember Early. Present. Vice Mayor Thanos? Here. Councilmember Shaw. Present. Councilmember Jackson here. Mayor Love. Here. City Attorney Salzman? Here. City Manager O'Reilly. Here. City Clerk Carico is present. Thank you. So we have one presentation tonight. We're very lucky we're gonna kick off with a presentation from one of Gulfport's own. Priscilla Kitter is going to do a presentation for us. She's working on trying to obtain a grant for the city of Gulfport, and her presentation will be on passive shorelines. If you will please, Miss Kidder. And because it's recorded, try to talk into the mic. I will. And you can. Thank you so much for having me here tonight and allowing me to speak. Tonight, as Mayor Love said, I would like to speak about living shorelines. We have a picture up there. My name's Priscilla Kidder. I've been a Gulfport resident for over 40 years. And we've all been affected by the hurricanes here in Gulfport and storms and various other storm surge events. Tonight I'd like to talk about a hybrid living shorelines for Gulfport. What are they? How does it work? And what can it do for the city of Gulfport?

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