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Record of Proceedings

Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners Regular Session – October 28, 2025

Board of Commissioners & CRA — Tuesday, October 28, 2025
BodyTarpon Springs, Florida
SessionBoard of Commissioners & CRA
DateTuesday, October 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

3:57

On the button.

3:58

I better do it on the button.

4:01

There's no second time hand on the number up there.

4:43

Here.

Speaker 2

4:44

Vice Mayor Eisner.

4:45

Here.

4:45

Commissioner Kulyas.

4:47

Here.

4:47

Commissioner D.

4:48

Here.

4:49

Commissioner Banther is absence and would need to be excused.

Unassigned speaker

4:59

Second.

Speaker 1

5:00

Roll call, please.

Speaker 2

5:04

Commissioner Di Donato.

Speaker 3

5:05

Here, uh, yes.

Speaker 2

5:06

Commissioner Kulas.

Speaker 3

5:08

Yes.

Speaker 2

5:08

Vice Mayor Eisner.

5:10

Yes.

Speaker 1

5:11

Yes.

5:13

So let's uh have our reflection tonight by the Reverend Janet Tunnell of All Saints Episcopal.

5:21

And followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Speaker 4

5:24

Let us pray.

5:27

Almighty God, send down upon those who hold office in the city of Tarpon Springs, the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice, that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their office to promote the well-being of all people.

5:44

Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices.

5:50

Direct in our time, we pray those who speak where many listen that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound and its will righteous to the honor and glory of your name.

6:05

Amen.

Speaker 1

6:25

So our first item tonight is a proclamation for Oki Day.

Unassigned speaker

7:01

So

Speaker 1

7:01

we had a beautiful ceremony this morning out at um uh first we had a beautiful service at St.

7:08

Nicholas.

Unassigned speaker

7:09

Uh

Speaker 1

7:09

Father Theophanis, would you like to come join us, please?

7:13

Father Theophanis and Father Athanasios had a beautiful, we had a beautiful service, and then we went to Craig Park, had the raising of both the American flag and the Greek flag with the anthems, and we had some uh I actually read this proclamation.

7:30

I'm gonna read it again.

7:32

But we talked about um the bravery of the Greeks, and that it's historic.

7:38

The Greeks have uh a long legacy of bravery going back to 480 BC with the 300 Spartans that held off the uh the Persians um in 490 BC, the Athenians uh at the um battle of Marathon, the Athenians held off again um the Persians, and then the Greek War of Independence, um, which we're freed after 400 years of uh occupation by the uh the Turks, and that led us to um Ochi

Unassigned speaker

8:20

Day,

Speaker 1

8:21

and Ochi Day uh we we discussed the the significance of that of that day, and

Unassigned speaker

8:28

and

Speaker 1

8:28

the consulate general is gonna go a little deeper into the the importance and significance of that day and what and what happened uh at the aftermath of

Unassigned speaker

8:38

that.

Speaker 1

8:39

But um, you know, you need to understand it in context when the prime minister said no to the Axis forces that wanted to come in and occupy Greece.

8:50

Uh that was in October of 1940.

8:54

The Axis forces and the Nazis had moved all through Europe and most of Europe, most of the countries were surrendering to the Nazis uh without resistance because of the power of their force of their military forces, and they had gone into uh France in May of that year.

9:16

So by October, when they were at the uh border at the footsteps of of Greece, for the Prime Minister to say no, we're not allowing you here, and we're not gonna you're not coming in without a fight.

9:31

Uh that was a significant uh act of bravery.

9:36

And the Greeks and all these, and and they and there's many, many, many more than what I've uh gone over.

9:44

Uh the Greeks have always been outnumbered, always, and yet they've always prevailed because of their bravery and their determination to be free.

Unassigned speaker

9:54

Um that bravery we you know is is kind of baked into the DNA of of Greeks.

Speaker 1

10:02

Um, we're never afraid of a fight.

10:05

Um, no matter what, we're never afraid of a fight, and uh, you know, we uh and you think of the sponge divers that came here that came from Greece that made Tarpon Springs what it is today, and the bravery they had to come across the globe to a country uh that was foreign to them, and then take on a uh uh a task of diving for sponges, which was extremely dangerous going down with those helmets and those hard and those uh those suits to go down, and many of them died, many of them got the bans, um, but they they persevered.

10:53

So that's um Ochi Day was not an exception, it was who the Greeks

Unassigned speaker

10:58

were.

Unassigned speaker

10:59

So

Speaker 1

10:59

I'd like to read this proclamation, and then I'm gonna have uh the all the gentlemen up here that would like to speak, uh, have a time uh chance to speak.

11:10

Whereas Ochi Day, October 28, 2025, commemorates the events of Greece in 1940, in which the brave Hellenic nation and its citizens boldly stood together for liberty and freedom at all costs against the Axis forces.

11:28

And whereas the historic cry of Ochi, a reference to the defiant answer of no in the Greek language given in response to the demands for surrender, and whereas Ochi Day is an inspiration to those who cherish democracy and freedom, a celebration of those who served and defended freedom in war, and whereas the Greek people faithfully met their obligation with courage, sacrifice, determination, and dedication, and whereas the city of Tarpon Springs celebrates Ochi Day in honor of the noble heroes, men and women who fought for a free Greek nation.

12:10

Now, therefore, I, John Kulianis, by virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor of the city of Tarpon Springs to hear by proclaim October 28th, 2025 as Ochi

Unassigned speaker

12:23

Day.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Religious Freedom████████████████████████████████32%
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Land Development Code████████8%
Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicles████████8%
Workforce Development████████8%
Public Safety██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners Regular Session – October 28, 2025

The Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall Auditorium. Commissioner Banther was absent and excused. The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, three land-use ordinances for 630 July Drive, a mobile food truck ordinance amendment, and a Live Local Act property-tax opt-out resolution. No public commenters appeared.

Proclamation

  • Mayor John Koulianos proclaimed October 28, 2025 as OXI Day, commemorating Greece's 1940 refusal to surrender to Axis forces. He connected the day to Greek-American heritage and Tarpon Springs' sponge-diving history.
  • The Consul General delivered remarks on the historical significance of October 28, 1940 and the Greek resistance.
  • Additional speakers, including clergy associated with St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Parish Council and the Florida Independence Day Parade Committee, expressed pride and thanks, with one quoting Winston Churchill: Greeks don't fight like heroes; heroes fight like Greeks.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke in person or remotely.

Consent Calendar

  • Attorney fees: Johnson Jackson PLLC Invoice 15671.
  • Special event: The Longest Table.
  • Satisfaction/release of liens.
  • Award: Mach Alert FSA System purchase.
  • Award: YSI instrumentation, parts, and service.
  • Increase: temporary office trailer lease. One commissioner commented that the cost should be reimbursed through FEMA and would not initially come out of the city's budget.
  • Award: custodial supplies and equipment.
  • Increase: OVIVO OEM parts and service.
  • Award: Public Safety Building diesel tank.
  • Award: palm tree planting.
  • The consent agenda passed unanimously (4-0).

Discussion Items

Annexation and Rezoning – 630 July Drive (Ordinances 2025-12, 2025-13, and 2025-14)

  • The board heard three second-reading ordinances for Application 25-55, covering 0.30 acres more or less at 630 July Drive, approximately 170 feet east of Dixie Highway, including Lot 7 and portions of Lots 6 and 8 of High Point Park Subdivision.
  • Ordinance 2025-12 (quasi-judicial) annexed the property into the city.
  • Ordinance 2025-13 (legislative) changed the Future Land Use Map from Pinellas County Residential Urban (RU) to City of Tarpon Springs Residential Urban (RU).
  • Ordinance 2025-14 (quasi-judicial) changed the zoning from Pinellas County R-4 (One, Two and Three Family Residential) to City of Tarpon Springs R-70 (One and Two Family Residential). The agenda lists R-70; the transcript reads R71.
  • Planning and Zoning Director Renea Vincent said there was no new information since first reading and staff recommended approval. No ex parte communications were disclosed, and no public comments were made. Each ordinance passed unanimously (4-0).

Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle Ordinance (Ordinance 2025-15)

  • The board considered a Land Development Code amendment removing the sunset provision for the mobile food dispensing vehicle ordinance. The agenda listed this as a second reading; the transcript contains a brief 'No sorry the first reading' after the attorney's reading, and a commissioner's questions referred to the first-reading discussion.
  • A commissioner asked about activity under the current food-truck rules. Renea Vincent reported that one brew pub is still working through the process for its own permanent food truck, but activity has otherwise been quiet.
  • The ordinance passed unanimously (4-0).

Live Local Property Tax Exemption Opt-Out (Resolution 2025-61)

  • Renea Vincent explained that the resolution elects to opt out of the Live Local Act property tax exemption under Section 196.1978(3)(d)1.a, Florida Statutes, which would otherwise allow exemptions for multifamily units priced at 80% to 120% of Area Median Income (AMI). She said those rents are effectively market-rate in Tarpon Springs and the opt-out prevents loss of ad valorem tax revenue for units that are not serving lower-income residents.
  • The city adopted the same resolution last year and must renew it annually; this approval applies for 2026.
  • Commissioner Kulyas asked whether the board had previously voted it down; staff clarified the city approved it last year. The resolution passed unanimously (4-0).

Board and Staff Comments

  • The Fire Chief wished everyone a safe Halloween and reminded motorists to watch for trick-or-treaters.
  • The City Manager attended the International City Manager Association conference in Tampa and noted that artificial intelligence was a major theme.
  • Commissioner Di Donato asked about SP 1180; the City Attorney reported that the Florida League of Cities has been handling the matter and seeking legislative clarification, so the city does not need to file a separate lawsuit.
  • Vice Mayor Eisner proposed looking into a golf-cart or similar shuttle between Tarpon Avenue and the sponge docks to help businesses, and asked the City Manager to place it on a future agenda for a full-board discussion.
  • Mayor Koulianos suggested researching a city-run employee daycare program, to be offered at cost, and asked the City Manager to study the need, effectiveness, and potential impacts on absenteeism and productivity. Board members agreed it was worth investigating.

Key Outcomes

  • The consent agenda was approved unanimously, subject to FEMA reimbursement for the temporary office trailer lease.
  • Ordinances 2025-12, 2025-13, and 2025-14 were each approved unanimously, completing the annexation, future land use map amendment, and rezoning for 630 July Drive.
  • Ordinance 2025-15 was approved unanimously, removing the sunset provision for mobile food dispensing vehicle regulations.
  • Resolution 2025-61 was approved unanimously, opting out of the Live Local Act multifamily property tax exemption for 2026.
  • Staff was directed to research a possible employee daycare program and, separately, a possible shuttle/golf-cart connection to the sponge docks.
  • The meeting was adjourned at 7:09 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

On the button. I better do it on the button. There's no second time hand on the number up there. Here. Vice Mayor Eisner. Here. Commissioner Kulyas. Here. Commissioner D. Here. Commissioner Banther is absence and would need to be excused. Second. Roll call, please. Commissioner Di Donato. Here, uh, yes. Commissioner Kulas. Yes. Vice Mayor Eisner. Yes. Yes. So let's uh have our reflection tonight by the Reverend Janet Tunnell of All Saints Episcopal. And followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Let us pray. Almighty God, send down upon those who hold office in the city of Tarpon Springs, the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice, that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their office to promote the well-being of all people. Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices. Direct in our time, we pray those who speak where many listen that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound and its will righteous to the honor and glory of your name. Amen. So our first item tonight is a proclamation for Oki Day. So we had a beautiful ceremony this morning out at um uh first we had a beautiful service at St. Nicholas. Uh Father Theophanis, would you like to come join us, please? Father Theophanis and Father Athanasios had a beautiful, we had a beautiful service, and then we went to Craig Park, had the raising of both the American flag and the Greek flag with the anthems, and we had some uh I actually read this proclamation. I'm gonna read it again. But we talked about um the bravery of the Greeks, and that it's historic. The Greeks have uh a long legacy of bravery going back to 480 BC with the 300 Spartans that held off the uh the Persians um in 490 BC, the Athenians uh at the um battle of Marathon, the Athenians held off again um the Persians, and then the Greek War of Independence, um, which we're freed after 400 years of uh occupation by the uh the Turks, and that led us to um Ochi Day, and Ochi Day uh we we discussed the the significance of that of that day, and and the consulate general is gonna go a little deeper into the the importance and significance of that day and what and what happened uh at the aftermath of that. But um, you know, you need to understand it in context when the prime minister said no to the Axis forces that wanted to come in and occupy Greece. Uh that was in October of 1940. The Axis forces and the Nazis had moved all through Europe and most of Europe, most of the countries were surrendering to the Nazis uh without resistance because of the power of their force of their military forces, and they had gone into uh France in May of that year. So by October, when they were at the uh border at the footsteps of of Greece, for the Prime Minister to say no, we're not allowing you here, and we're not gonna you're not coming in without a fight. Uh that was a significant uh act of bravery. And the Greeks and all these, and and they and there's many, many, many more than what I've uh gone over. Uh the Greeks have always been outnumbered, always, and yet they've always prevailed because of their bravery and their determination to be free. Um that bravery we you know is is kind of baked into the DNA of of Greeks.

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