Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners Regular Session – November 4, 2025

The Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners held its regular session on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium. The meeting included a Veterans Day proclamation, approval of the consent agenda, an internal audit report and FY2026 audit plan, a parks and recreation master plan work order, a final change order for the Pent St./Grosse Ave. project, and a discussion on downtown/Sponge Docks shuttle service. Most actions were unanimous; the parks master plan work order passed 4–1.

Call to Order, Reflection, and Pledge

Mayor John Koulianos called the meeting to order, and roll call was taken. Reverend Curt Snare of St. Timothy Lutheran Church offered the reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Proclamation: Veterans Day

Mayor Koulianos read a proclamation designating November 11, 2025, as Veterans Day in Tarpon Springs. Veterans in the audience were recognized and introduced by name, branch, and rank. Procurement Director Janina Lewis received the plaque on behalf of the city’s veterans. Commissioner Di Donato also acknowledged his own Navy service.

Consent Calendar

Commissioners voted 5–0 to approve all consent items:

• Renewal of File No. 250100-C-AS for laboratory services.
• Award of File No. 260019-N-AS for Hach equipment.
• Award of File No. 260020-N-AS for digital airport advertising.
• Increase of File No. 210077-C-JL for copier lease.
• Award of File No. 260050-C-PH for Motorola body and in-car cameras and redaction software.
• Award of File No. 260051-C-PH for data center modernization of City Hall and Police Department.
• Award of File No. 260045-N-PH for single-source purchase of beverages for resale at the Golf Course Snack Bar.

Public Comments & Testimony

No speakers came forward during the initial public comment period. During Item 9, Katie Taylor, a resident, asked whether surplus fixed assets could be made available to nonprofits instead of destroyed; she was referred to Procurement Director Janina Lewis. No public comments were offered on Items 11, 12, or 13.

Discussion Items

Internal Audit of Procurement Services Department (Item 9)

Internal Auditor Billy Poulos presented Report #11_2025, covering August 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025. The audit had six objectives and resulted in one finding and five observations. Poulos found that procurement policies and procedures aligned with state statutes and the city charter; supporting documentation for medium and large procurements was strong, with records accessible on an internal share drive for about 10 years; there were no formal bid protests during the audit period; fixed-asset controls were thorough, including an annual 100% inventory check; and only two ratifications occurred, both properly documented. The one finding related to a few single/sole-source procurements with debatable criteria, which he said needed more stringent application of policy. He noted he did not review P-card spending because P-cards are usually covered in standalone audits. Commissioners praised the Procurement Department for operating effectively with three staff members. The board approved the report 5–0.

Fiscal Year 2026 Internal Audit Plan (Item 10)

Billy Poulos presented the FY2026 Internal Audit Plan as the final year of the five-year cycle established by his FY2022 citywide risk assessment. The plan includes two audits and a revised citywide risk assessment at year-end. Commissioners approved the plan unanimously 5–0.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan Task Work Order (Item 11)

Jamie Taylor, Public Services Assistant Director, requested approval of a task work order for a Parks and Recreation Master Plan at a cost of $248,500, funded through the penny sales tax fund. He said the plan is required by the Comprehensive Plan, supports the Sustainability Plan, and would provide a comprehensive roadmap, implementation strategy, and funding mechanisms. An outside consultant would provide an unbiased professional opinion and extensive community outreach.

Commissioner Kulyas opposed the item, citing an earlier 2012 Mirs Landfill study that he said was never carried forward, and arguing that penny fund dollars are critical for other city needs. He proposed amendments to add specific scope items, including a third boat ramp, Spring Bayou stadium seating, purchase of Fred Howard for recreation and events, and detailed analyses of the Stofford Chemical site and Mirs Landfill. The Mayor declined to amend the motion, saying personal wish lists should be considered when the study returns and the board develops an action plan. Commissioner Eisner supported the outside view but later stressed the importance of obtaining a broad cross-section of public input rather than hearing only the most vocal residents. Commissioner Di Donato noted that about 22% of Tarpon Springs’ square footage is park space, higher than surrounding communities. Commissioner Banther supported the plan, hoping it would address youth recreation including an expanded weight room. The vote was 4–1, with Commissioner Kulyas voting no.

Pent St. & Grosse Ave. Drainage & Roadway Improvements – Change Order No. 3 (Item 12)

Bob Robertson, Project Administration Department Director, requested approval of a final change order with a net increase of $771,633.70, or 14.6% over the current contract value. The project, nearly five and a half years long, is expected to finish by the end of the next month, with final paving scheduled before Thanksgiving. The original contractor abandoned the project less than halfway through, and the city received a $1 million settlement. Keystone Excavators served as the replacement contractor. Over 86% of the change order covers enhancements such as paving, sidewalk, curb, driveways, and ADA ramps. Nearly one-third of the funding comes from previously unallocated ARPA interest earnings, with costs divided among five funding accounts. Commissioners expressed support; Vice Mayor Eisner noted the project grew from roughly $1 million to $6 million but said it was a blessing that defective work was corrected. Commissioner Kulyas voted yes but noted the change order consumes a large portion of available annual stormwater funds and that $240,000 comes from the penny fund. The board approved the change order unanimously 5–0.

Downtown/Sponge Docks Shuttle Service Discussion and Direction (Item 13)

Vice Mayor Mike Eisner presented a proposal to purchase two electric shuttle vehicles, citing costs of about $35,000 to $41,000 each, for a total under $100,000. The proposed service would connect Tarpon Avenue, the Sponge Docks, and nearby areas, with volunteer drivers and possibly a paid safe-ride option. He showed a video of New Port Richey’s free Dart trolley, an 11-passenger ADA-accessible electric ride with eight stops, operating 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. All commissioners expressed support for the concept. Commissioner Kulyas asked for an aggressive return date, suggesting December 1, to get the service ready before the season. The board reached consensus to direct the city manager to bring cost and operational details back to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), since the expenditure is in the CRA plan. No formal vote was taken.

Board and Staff Comments

Police Chief Jeff Young invited the community to the city’s Veterans Day ceremony on November 11 at 11 a.m. at Craig Park. The city manager announced a workshop on the Forbes property agreement scheduled for November 13, plans for commissioner input on the recreation and CRA master plans, rescheduling of a poorly attended public input meeting, and future workshops on catalyst sites and branding logos. Commissioners praised staff, promoted upcoming events including the Discovery Playground ribbon cutting, the seafood festival, First Friday, and the Sunset Beach concert, and congratulated the Mayor on completing a marathon. The Mayor shared his personal health journey and said he intends to bring health-related initiatives to the board. The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved 5–0.
• Internal Audit of Procurement Services Department Report #11_2025 accepted 5–0.
• FY2026 Internal Audit Plan approved 5–0.
• Parks and Recreation Master Plan task work order approved 4–1, with Commissioner Kulyas dissenting.
• Change Order No. 3 for Pent St. & Grosse Ave. approved 5–0.
• Downtown/Sponge Docks shuttle proposal: consensus to direct the city manager to return to the CRA with cost, route, and operations details, ideally by December 1.
• Staff announced future workshops and rescheduled community engagement sessions for master planning and branding work.