Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners Regular Session - January 27, 2026

The City of Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 6:30 PM in City Hall Auditorium. Commissioner Banther was excused; Mayor, Vice Mayor Eisner, Commissioner Di Donato, and Commissioner Kulyas were present. The board accepted a solar feasibility study, presented a community recognition, approved a downtown density text amendment on second reading, approved a department reorganization, and handled the consent agenda.

Special Presentations

• Sustainability Feasibility Study: Paul Benvie (DRMP) and Dell Jones (Solar Utility Partners), introduced by Sustainability Program Manager Holly Langston, presented a solar feasibility study required by the city's 2023 Sustainability Plan. The study evaluated eight facilities: recreation center, public safety building, library, public works building, golf course, city hall, landfill, and dredge spoils parcel. It found favorable rooftop conditions at the recreation center, library, and public works building; the landfill and dredge spoils parcel have strong ground-mounted potential but need geotechnical and interconnection studies. Energy-efficiency measures such as LED lighting, occupancy sensors, HVAC optimization, and programmable thermostats could reduce energy use by 20 to 40 percent with payback periods of one to five years; replacing 100 fluorescent fixtures with LEDs could save about 5,000 kWh per year and roughly two tons of CO2. The recommended phasing puts the community center, golf-course maintenance building, and library first; public safety building and vehicle maintenance second; and city hall and cultural center third. Presenters noted federal tax incentives expire in 2027 and emphasized early action, including safe-harbor procurement.

• Commissioner questions and comments: Commissioner Kulyas pressed for detailed analysis of the landfill and dredge spoils sites because of their large production potential; Commissioner Di Donato asked for location-specific financial numbers; Vice Mayor Eisner raised questions about LED mercury content, panel payback, recycling, and sand damage. Presenters responded that silicon panels are the dominant type, panels have 30-year warranties, recycling facilities are opening, and Florida rain reduces the need for cleaning. Mayor noted the reverse osmosis plant's energy bill is about $150,000 per month and asked about tax-credit benefits; presenters explained third-party ownership and fixed-price power arrangements. Payback periods were estimated at roughly 8 to 12 years depending on site and project size.

• Certificate of Recognition: Vice Mayor Eisner presented a certificate to Jonathan Metcalfe, owner of Tarpon Springs Discount Grocery, for donating to St. Timothy's Lutheran Church, Citizens Alliance for Progress, Shepherd Center, local churches, and other groups. Metcalfe's wife described the store's help with a GFWC Women's Club Thanksgiving food drive, and Vice Mayor Eisner noted Metcalfe stayed in Tarpon Springs after Hurricane Helene destroyed his store.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously the consent agenda, including attorney fee invoices from Unice Salzman, P.A. and Johnson Jackson PLLC.

• Approved special events: Sunset Beach Concert Series 2026, 51st Annual Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival on the Bayou 2026, and Greek Independence Day Parade 2026.

• Approved Corrective Update City Rules #11.

• Approved the Land Use Restriction Agreement with Citizens Alliance for Progress.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mike Elliott of North Riverside Drive reported broken electric-vehicle chargers near Tula's restaurant, said the phone number listed on the charger was disconnected, and suggested the city could replace them with functional units for about $600 each and a day of city electrician time.

• David Ballard Jettis of Georgia Avenue, Palm Harbor, argued that solar technology has been around long enough that buildings and cars should be integrated with solar materials, and criticized what he called slow, half-measure progress.

• Peter Black apologized for his conduct at a prior meeting, urged the board to act quickly because solar projects need to begin by July 4, 2026, and be completed by 2027, referenced cost-benefit data on page 12 of the study, suggested a dedicated phone line for public comment rather than Zoom, and called on the board to lobby against state property-tax and home-rule changes.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 2025-20 (2nd Reading): Ordinance 2025-20 amends the Special Area Plan, Sponge Docks and Community Redevelopment Area Downtown Character District Table 3-5, revising intensity/density standards. It was read by title; publication dates were November 26, 2025, and January 21, 2026. Commissioner Kulyas said he supported approval but wanted future code updates to require ground-floor retail and to consider maximizing units per acre through the 2.5 FAR by right and 3.0 conditional use provisions. Planning and Zoning Director Renea Vincent said ground-floor retail is already in the smart code update process and the FAR change could be considered in future code updates, not in this amendment. No public comments were offered. The board approved it unanimously.

• Resolution 2026-05: Project Administration Director Bob Robertson requested approval to split a shared executive assistant position into two full-time positions: a new Project Administration Specialist and an executive assistant for public services. The position would be funded from water/sewer, stormwater, and general funds, and would be included in the upcoming budget resolution. Robertson said the reorganization would provide needed project-management capacity and reduce the need for outside consultants. The board approved the resolution unanimously.

Board & Staff Comments

• Several commissioners discussed concerns about proposed state property-tax and home-rule changes. Commissioner Di Donato said the city would fight to maintain services. Mayor said a rough calculation by the former finance director estimated that losing homesteaded property tax revenue could cost the city about $7 million, and predicted impacts on public safety and other services. Vice Mayor Eisner said the uncertainty was affecting planning countywide, and commissioners warned about legislation such as SB 180 affecting local development approval. Commissioners also offered condolences to the mayor on the death of his brother, and the meeting closed with community announcements.

Key Outcomes

• Accepted the Solar Feasibility Study unanimously (4-0) and directed the sustainability coordinator to gather additional data, including further work on landfill and dredge spoils options.

• Approved Ordinance 2025-20 unanimously (4-0).

• Approved Resolution 2026-05 unanimously (4-0).

• Approved the consent agenda unanimously (4-0).

• Recognized Jonathan Metcalfe and Tarpon Springs Discount Grocery with a Certificate of Recognition.

• Adjourned at 7:43 PM.