Gulfport City Council Meeting Summary – August 4, 2026
Gulfport City Council Meeting Summary – August 4, 2026
The Gulfport City Council met on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting featured a proclamation, public comments on surveillance cameras and community awards, unanimous approval of ten resolutions, a discussion on a proposed e-bike ordinance, and new business including workshop scheduling and a Spirit of Gulfport Award nomination.
Presentations
- Proclamation – Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (80th Anniversary): Vice Mayor Marlene Shaw read the proclamation, recognizing the board's founding in 1946 and its current support of 87 programs across 49 agencies, reaching over 83,000 children last year. Interim CEO Karen Boggess accepted, noting that nearly one in four households with children in Gulfport benefit from JWB-funded programs. Mayor Love clarified that JWB is funded solely by ad valorem property tax dollars.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Flock License Plate Readers (Surveillance): Metria Jones (Gulfport resident 20+ years) raised concerns about automated license plate readers (ALPRs) operated by Flock Safety, stating that for nearly three years residents' vehicles have been recorded without meaningful public debate or council oversight. She noted that the cameras use AI to create searchable records of movement, and that after losing access to a county-wide network, the city added three more cameras to regain access. She requested pausing the program, publishing the directive and contract, auditing searches, and requiring council approval before expansion. Kristen (Gulfport resident 6 years) added that the chief initially denied outside agency access but later acknowledged other departments can access data. She questioned oversight and asked for effectiveness reports. April (last name not given) argued that monthly monitoring costs are incurred, that such policy decisions should require council action even if under $20,000, and raised concerns about potential data sharing under a 287(g) agreement with immigration authorities.
- Spirit of Gulfport Award Nomination: John Hogan (16-year resident) nominated Daniel Hodge for the Spirit of Gulfport Award, citing his decades of community contributions including managing the Tuesday Fresh Market, helping create the LGBTQ resource center at the library, organizing the Thursday Night Social, and co-founding the Gecko Ball. He asked council to consider Hodge.
- E-Comment (St. Pete resident David Shiner): Criticized perceived inequities in public restroom maintenance and park access, contrasting beach-area care with locked facilities at Tomlinson Park and sanitation issues at Trolley Square.
Discussion Items
- City Manager Report:
- Casino Rebuild: Public Works Director Kendrick Xanderson reported that 60% plans were delivered a week ago; comments resubmitted to engineers. 18 structural beams under the casino were shifted, and 24 new piers are required under updated building codes – a potential timeline impact. Bid package expected late winter/early January 2027.
- Seaside Villas: Demolition permit is open; code enforcement will follow up.
- Former Lions Club Property: Fencing installed to keep vehicles out; neighbors are still welcome to walk in.
- City Clerk Report: Clerk confirmed that PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority) requested consensus to reappoint current Vice Chair Tom Reed for a second term. Council members voiced support, and consensus was reached.
- Council Comments:
- Vice Mayor Shaw updated on a court ruling that found the property tax amendment ballot language defective; the amendment remains on the ballot pending corrected language. She reminded of the August 6 budget workshop.
- Councilmember Webb reported community support for expanding the elementary school to K-8 and magnet medical programs at the high school; a developer has expressed interest in teacher housing on the former middle school property. She also expressed concern about Forward Pinellas proposals to streamline land-use amendments for parcels under two acres, which could reduce public input.
- Councilmember Early deferred to staff.
- Councilmember Daunch encouraged welcoming visitors during Gecko Fest events.
- Mayor Love announced a rain barrel rainwater harvesting town hall on August 27, reminded of the August 18 meeting cancellation due to primary elections (alternate dates: September 3 and 15), and reported that FWC is addressing a vessel intentionally sunk in the bay. She also encouraged participation in the monthly beach cleanup.
Key Outcomes
-
All Ten Resolutions Passed Unanimously (8a through 8j):
- 8a – Resolution 2026-54: Payment to C.A.P. Government, Inc. for plan review and inspections for June 2026 ($??, budget amendment).
- 8b – Resolution 2026-55: Renewal of law enforcement support services agreement with Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for FY2026-2027 (cost-saving alternative to in-house services; $~200,000 vs $400,000).
- 8c – Resolution 2026-56: One-year wage agreement with Pinellas County Professional Firefighters Local 4966 (0.5% to 9% increases based on step plan; one-year due to potential tax amendment impacts).
- 8d – Resolution 2026-57: One-year agreement with Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association for police officers (includes uniform 2,184-hour work year for all sworn officers).
- 8e – Resolution 2026-58: One-year companion agreement for police sergeants.
- 8f – Resolution 2026-59: Renewal of city insurance coverage through Public Risk Management of Florida, with a 23.89% reduction attributed to market conditions and safety efforts.
- 8g – Resolution 2026-60: Approval of recurring special events for FY2026-2027. Discussion revealed that the city's net subsidy for such events was $52,600 in FY2025 (20% cost recovery). Councilmember Early questioned cost recovery and future budget impacts; Councilmember Daunch emphasized the value of events. Council consensus to not waive the $50 application fee in the future.
- 8h – Resolution 2026-61 (as amended): Approval of new special events, including the Gulfport Community 5K (fundraiser for Operation Santa) and the Fusion 49 Blues, Art & Seafood Festival. The blues festival was approved subject to collaboration with Fusion 49 on artist selection and programming, after council members raised concerns about inclusivity and input from the nonprofit. The amendment passed unanimously.
- 8i – Resolution 2026-62: Approval of multi-day Fine Arts Festival at Clymer Park (Gulfport Merchants Chamber). Passed unanimously.
- 8j – Resolution 2026-63: Approval of five beach volleyball tournaments by VETSports, Inc. (with beach use fee and application fee waived). Passed unanimously. Councilmember Webb expressed concern about future requests and suggested maintaining a limit.
-
E-Bike Ordinance Discussion (No Vote): City Attorney presented a draft ordinance covering definitions, age limits, helmet requirements, and restrictions in high-pedestrian zones. Council members expressed mixed views: some wanted data on incidents before regulating, others heard complaints from residents. Mayor Love suggested focusing on festivals and road closures via special event restrictions rather than citywide rules. Chief of Police will provide incident data. No action taken; staff will bring back a revised draft.
-
New Business:
- Workshops Scheduled: December 3 (budget cuts if tax referendum passes) and January 7 (special events cost analysis).
- Spirit of Gulfport Award: Council reached consensus to award the Spirit of Gulfport Award to Eileen Navarro for her 26 years as president of the Gulfport Community Players and former business owner.
- Naming Former Lions Club Property: Mayor Love initiated discussion on the process; will be revisited.
- Street Outreach Workshop: Councilmember Early confirmed Directions for Living CEO April Lott and social worker Elijah will present in November (rescheduled from October).
Additional Items
- Consensus to Reappoint Tom Reed to PSTA: Council unanimously agreed to support a second term for Reed on the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority board.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. What a full house we have today, and there's so many faces I don't know, which is very unusual. So welcome. Um, I'm going to call our August fourth meeting to order at this point. And I'm going to ask that our Vice Mayor Marlene Shaw gives us our invocation that we'll be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. So if you can stand, please do so. That's the work in front of us here in Gulfport, a small city built by people who show up for each other and who keep choosing to build something worth showing up for the reason. Council Member Webb. Council Member Early. Council Member Donch. Here. Let me just say this. So if you haven't already checked your phone, please check your phone. Make sure it's on silent. And then the second thing is we have like an echo chamber in here. So when we're, if there's people talking out there, we can hear you clearer than we can hear up here sometimes. So if you need to have conversations out there, I understand, but just take it into the hallway so that we only have one person talking at a time, please. Thank you. So with that in mind, then we're going to move to presentations. And I know that we have a proclamation, and it looks like a really good turnout of folks here from the juvenile welfare board of Pinellas County. And I'm going to turn this over to Vice Mayor Shaw. Just to take this up reading. Or right here, and then you can go up. So you have the mic. It's okay, that makes sense. Thank you. First time I've done this, thank you. Rather than read the entire thing, I'm going to start just a short ways down. On November 5th, 1946, Pinellas County Citizens ratified the Juvenile Welfare Board Act, creating the nation's first independent board dedicated to improving the lives and futures of children. In 1947, the juvenile welfare board of Pinellas County, chaired by Melinda Helen Barton, forgive me if I didn't pronounce that correctly, adopted its first budget, distributing funds to three agencies that served about 1,500 children. And today, Juvenile Welfare Board strengthens our community by funding 87 quality programs across 49 agencies, providing cradle to career prevention and early intervention services that reached over 80,000 83,000 children last year. And the juvenile welfare board also serves as a convener, forging partnerships and leading initiatives to prevent needless childhood deaths, nurture early childhood development, champion children's mental health, promote grade level reading, fight childhood hunger, and support fathers and grandparents in their caregiving roles, reaching tens of thousands more annually. Therefore, be it resolved that I, Karen Love, Mayor of the City of Gulfport, do hereby acknowledge and express its congratulations to the juvenile welfare board for 80 years of pulling children first and for its commendable service to the citizens of Pinellas County. I think that says it all. I know. Oh, you're half our audience. Come on up, come on up. No wonder our house was so full. So good evening, um, Mayor Love, Vice Mayor Shaw, Council members, um, Early and Webb, uh, City Manager O'Reilly, and community leaders and residents. Thank you for allowing us to join you this evening as we celebrate a remarkable milestone in the history of Pinellas County, the juvenile welfare board's 80th anniversary. My name is Karen Bogis, and I am the interim CEO for JWB. It is my honor to be before you this evening with members of our board. Judge Patrice Moore and Alicia McShay. Welcome. Our South County Community Council members. And JWB staff. For 80 years, JWB has been guided by a simple belief. When we invest in children, we invest in the future of our community. Every investment we make is informed by community needs, guided by data, and focused on creating lasting impact for children and families. From a child's first days of life through adolescence and into adulthood.
openpublica.com