Gulfport City Council Meeting - June 16, 2026

The meeting opened with an invocation and pledge, followed by two presentations: the first Centurion Award to Lum Atkinson for 50 years of Little League service, and a legislative update from Council Member Webb on high-impact state bills affecting Gulfport’s utilities, finances, land use, and DEI policies. The council also addressed pension clarifications, approved a water main engineering contract, and discussed workshop scheduling for August.

Consent Calendar

• Approved meeting minutes from June 2, 2026 (Item 6A).
• Adopted Resolution 2026-38 (Item 6B) formally supporting Pinellas County Schools’ planning for progress rezoning to assign all Gulfport addresses to Gulfport Elementary School zone. Both items passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Captain Mark Hubbard (Hubbard’s Marina) advocated for a cross‑Bay ferry terminal on Gulfport’s waterfront, citing regional momentum and the city’s maritime history. Provided QR codes for more information.
• Richard Freed (Tangerine Ave.) expressed concerns that property tax savings would be offset by rising insurance costs; asked about piggybacking on St. Petersburg’s utility feasibility study; called for ranked‑choice voting and open primaries; questioned funding risks for senior center and library if the city maintains DEI programs despite new state law; and requested deputization of citizens.
• April Thanos (53rd St.) requested an update on Hurricane Ian recovery funding, criticized the installation of artificial turf around trees (environmental concerns), and asked why the city’s trolley would not participate in the St. Pete Pride Parade.
• Jonathan Oldsburg (46th St.) reported unusually severe street flooding near the marina area, stating water levels are twice as deep and last twice as long as previous years. Urged the city to look beyond King Tides and investigate possible system deterioration.
• Mary Atkinson DeAngelis (former resident) thanked the council for honoring her father, Lum Atkinson, and praised the city for preserving Gulfport’s spirit.
• E‑comment from Margaret Tober questioned why late charges on utility accounts are 5% of balance while marina accounts are a flat $15, and noted many active marina accounts are past due (some over a year) without updates.

Discussion Items

• Legislative Update (Council Member Webb): Webb detailed eight high‑impact state bills. Key changes include: (1) Utility surcharge – eliminates automatic 25% out‑of‑city surcharge; future rates must be set by public hearing, capped at 25%. (2) Local government budget transparency – cities must publish budget calendars, quarterly employee compensation, and conduct a “belt‑tightening” exercise. (3) Suits against government – raises claim limits from $200k/$300k to $350k/$500k and shortens pre‑suit notice from 6 to 4 months. (4) Land use – requires “compatibility” factors in denials; must specify areas of incompatibility. (5) Local land planning – cities over 10,000 must offer pre‑application consultation and maintain a contractor registry; imposes deemed‑approved consequences. (6) Affordable housing – expands Live Local to include school board and house‑of‑worship land; limits setbacks; amends Fair Housing Act. (7) Anti‑DEI (effective Jan. 1, 2027) – prohibits DEI offices/officers and use of local funds for DEI training; prohibits preferential treatment based on race, gender, etc., but allows compliance with state/federal anti‑discrimination laws, holiday observances, and content‑neutral event permits. Webb warned of revenue challenges, litigation exposure, and staff workload increases.
• Resiliency Summit Report (Vice Mayor Shaw): Shaw summarized the two‑day Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Summit. Highlights: Project Phoenix (cat. 5 hurricane simulation), innovative resiliency financing (St. Pete uses AI for stormwater fees; Fort Lauderdale earned AAA rating), real‑time flood sensor networks (Lee County), food system resilience (Feeding Tampa Bay distributed 100M meals; 1 in 4 children food insecure), and seagrass restoration (Crystal River – 120 acres restored, 90% storm surge reduction). Shaw noted 33 government entities are now in the Resiliency Compact.
• Regional Planning Council & School Redistricting (Council Member Webb): Webb attended her first TRPC meeting; highlighted Project Phoenix webinar (June 26), Blueprint 2030 halftime report, and 2020 census undercount losses (billions lost regionally). She also reported on the Gulfport Elementary Enthusiasts group, which is rallying support to keep the school open and potentially create a K‑8 campus amid Pinellas County Schools redistricting. Next listening session: July 9 at 6 p.m. at Boca Ciega High School.
• Pension Ordinances (Items 7B, 7C, 7D): Three ordinances clarified credited service for general employees, police, and firefighters. The new pension attorney interprets credited service based on contributions rather than date of hire; employees on workers’ compensation are not contributing and therefore would not accrue service time. Discussion included concerns about penalizing injured workers and the financial impact on the pension plan. A public commenter (Rebecca Dean) shared personal experience with workers’ comp and noted that missing months may not affect the highest‑five‑year pension calculation. An e‑comment from Tony Smith (wife of Officer Corey Smith) urged the council to count time recovering from a line‑of‑duty injury.
• Town Shores Water Main Resolution (Item 8A): Advanced Engineering & Design will design upgrades to potable water mains in Town Shores and surrounding buildings (Lancaster, Manchester, Nottingham, Diplomat Embassy, Buckingham, Windsor). The $59,000 design cost comes from the previously approved $200,000 match (state‑funded). Construction expected by end of 2027.
• Workshop Scheduling (New Business): Council agreed to cancel a July 2 workshop and schedule a budget workshop for August 6. Mayor Love will consider a less formal town hall on boat‑life hurricane readiness if interest arises.
• Call for Artists (New Business): Mayor Love proposed that council members independently rank the top five submissions (artist names blinded) for the new “Welcome to Gulfport” sign; the top three will be brought to a future meeting for final vote. The Trolley Market Square sign will remain unchanged.

Key Outcomes

• ADU Ordinance (Item 7A – Second Reading): Passed unanimously (5‑0). The ordinance allows accessory dwelling units, but not in the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHAJ) pending FEMA feedback on CRS points.
• General Employees Pension (Item 7B – First Reading): Passed 3‑2 (Early, Donch (no), Shaw (no), Webb, Love). The ordinance changes credited service from date‑of‑hire to contributions‑based, meaning time on workers’ comp without contributions does not count.
• Police Pension (Item 7C – First Reading): Passed 4‑1 (Early, Donch (no), Shaw, Webb, Love). Same contribution‑based change.
• Fire Pension (Item 7D – First Reading): Passed 4‑1 (Early, Donch (no), Shaw, Webb, Love). Same contribution‑based change.
• Town Shores Water Main Engineering (Resolution 8A): Passed unanimously (5‑0).
• Censure Policy (City Attorney Report): Council agreed to place the policy on the next meeting agenda for a vote after adding a written warning for first‑time violators.
• Pride Parade Trolley (City Manager Report): Council gave consensus to allow the looper (small trolley) to participate in the St. Pete Pride Parade on June 27, as the larger trolley’s driver is on leave.
• Yacht Club Lease Renewals (City Manager Report): Both the Boca Ciega and Gulfport yacht clubs have been asked to obtain appraisals to determine fair market rent, per the charter change. Leases expire end of this month and in August.
• Workshop Dates: July 2 workshop canceled; budget workshop set for August 6.