Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners Regular Session - March 24, 2026

The Regular Session of the Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners convened at 6:30 PM on March 24, 2026, at City Hall Auditorium. The meeting included employee recognition, four proclamations, public comments, approval of a consent agenda, ratification of two key city officials, a contentious change order for a municipal building, and a quasi-judicial resolution for a golf course clubhouse. Following the regular session, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) held a brief meeting to present its annual report and Main Street update.

Employee Recognition

• Kelvin Halsey and Daniel Davis, Wastewater Collections, were honored for their heroic and compassionate response to resident Nancy Turner who suffered a medical emergency on August 27, 2025. Mayor Koulianos read a letter from Ms. Turner praising their swift first aid and calm demeanor. Each received a Certificate of Recognition from the Board.

Proclamations

• Greek Independence Day (March 25, 2026 – 205th anniversary). Proclaimed by Mayor John Koulianos, with remarks on Greek heritage in Tarpon Springs and the historic friendship between the United States and Greece. The parade is scheduled for March 29, 2026.
• Volunteer Appreciation Month (April 2026). Recognized volunteers serving on city boards and community organizations. A volunteer appreciation banquet is planned for late April.
• Earth Day (April 22, 2026). Highlighted Tarpon Springs' 740 acres of parks and the Sustainability Advisory Committee's work. The city's sustainability plan won a Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council award in 2025.
• Water Conservation Month (April 2026). Emphasized the city's partnership with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and urged residents to reduce outdoor irrigation. The city offers free water use analysis.

Public Comments (Regular Session)

• Anita Protest (901 Bay Shore Drive) raised four items: congratulating the new fire chief on becoming a deacon, expressing sympathy for the city attorney's loss (Florida Gators championship), complaining about "exotic dancing" on the sidewalk in the Sponge Docks area (asked the city to stop it), and proposed hiring local graduating students for summer jobs to help them earn college money—citing a past program that employed youth for grass cutting, park work, and vehicle washing.
• Olga South Chuck (232 West Lemon Street) criticized the Craig Park art show (poor quality, no music/food, traffic congestion), asked for no parking on Lemon Street during future events, described the Craig Park Memorial Gardens as "creepy" and inappropriate for a public park, and objected to a large fence around a tree, urging branch maintenance instead.
• Peter Lackis (514 Ashland Avenue) read a passage from Isaiah 59 and mentioned fallen service members from a refueling crash, calling for justice.

Consent Agenda (Items 6–11)

• All items passed unanimously (Mayor and Commissioners Banther, Di Donato, Kouyas, Vice Mayor Eisner in favor).
• Items included: release of liens; special events (Rotary Triathlon, Cops & Kids Easter Egg Hunt); attorney fee invoices (Unice Salzman PA, Johnson Jackson PLLC); award for library renovation furnishings ($260,132-C-AS); award for internet services ($260,139-N-PH); and an interlocal agreement with Pinellas County for fire department plan review fee collection.

Business Items

• Item 12: Ratification and Oath of Office – Assistant City Manager W. Scott Young – Approved unanimously (5-0). Mr. Young, former Fire Chief of 37 years, was sworn in as full-time Assistant City Manager effective March 26, 2026. Commissioners praised his leadership and service.
• Item 13: Ratification and Oath of Office – Fire Chief Craig Misener – Approved unanimously (5-0). Mr. Misener, promoted from Deputy Fire Chief, was sworn in effective March 26. He thanked his family and the fire department team.
• Item 14: Code Enforcement Supervisor Status Change (Part-Time to Full-Time) – Approved unanimously. Tony Boone, currently filling the role part-time (29 hours/week), will become a salaried full-time exempt employee. The change adds ~$20,000 plus benefits. Commissioners commended Boone's effective and compassionate enforcement style.
• Item 15: Support for Grant Application – Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program – Approved unanimously (5-0). The city will apply for a $245,000 grant (no match required) for flood barriers at the wastewater treatment facility. Grant Specialist P.J. Harbert noted regular monitoring of state and federal grant opportunities.
• Item 16: Approve Project Administration Department Audit #12_2025 – Approved unanimously (5-0). Internal Auditor Billy Poulos reported no findings and five observations; the department had strong controls over change orders, task orders, invoices, and project transparency.
• Item 17: Award ITB No. 260120-B-JL – Craig Park Seawall Phase 1 (REBID) – Approved unanimously (5-0). Awarded to Florida Solid Solutions LLC for $2,785,727 to replace and raise the seawall and sidewalk by approximately two feet. Funded by a $2 million federal grant and $785,000 from the city's borrowing package. Contractor must ensure site accessibility for Epiphany (January). Construction duration: 9 months to substantial completion, 10 months final.
• Item 18: Change Order No. 2 – New Clerk's Office Building (Contract No. 220060-B-JL) – Approved 4-1 (Vice Mayor Eisner dissenting). DMAR General Contracting requested $398,000 as the minimum to complete the project. Staff noted disputes over causes but recommended approval, citing the contractor's commitment and risk of bond proceedings (~$700,000 estimated cost to finish by another contractor). Funds will be disbursed incrementally based on completed work. Commissioner Banther and others relied on staff's recommendation; some commissioners expressed concerns about advance payments.
• Item 19: Organizational Changes for Career Progression in Water/Wastewater Utilities – Approved unanimously (5-0). Allows flexible staffing (any combination of mechanic levels based on skills) to enable career advancement without waiting for retirements. Implemented for wastewater collections, utilities maintenance, and environmental science groups.

Ordinances and Resolutions

• Resolution 2026-16 (Quasi-Judicial) – Site Plan Approval for Golf Course Clubhouse – Approved unanimously (5-0). The resolution approves a new 8,536-square-foot clubhouse at 1310 S Pinellas Ave (Tarpon Springs Golf Course). Staff and the Planning & Zoning Board (unanimous recommendation) found compliance with code, with conditions including final utility/stormwater details, landscape compromise with hospital helicopter landing, and formalized hospital agreement. The project will use a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method. Construction is expected to begin in June 2026 and last 10–12 months. The existing clubhouse will be demolished and the area repurposed for parking/circulation.

Board and Staff Comments

• Several commissioners thanked retiring Planning & Zoning Director Renee Vincent for her decades of service. Commissioner Di Donato noted this was his last full meeting; he will be honored at a future swearing-in/out ceremony.
• Vice Mayor Eisner requested future discussions on meeting frequency and workshop scheduling.
• Mayor Koulianos acknowledged concerns about the recent art show (run by the chamber, not the city) and committed to conversations. He also suggested exploring alternative bid processes and noted the departure of Performing Arts Director Brandon.

Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Meeting (Following Regular Session)

• Main Street Update – Casey presented the first-quarter report. A new Executive Director, Don Hyatt, was hired. Five board members attended Main Street training. The board is seeking additional stakeholder representatives (Greek church, property owners, residents, merchants).
• CRA Annual Report (FY 2025) – Economic Development Manager Karen Lemons presented an extensive report covering downtown business activity, incentive grants (façade, restaurant, building code, mural), economic impact (141 projects, $850K grants leveraged $5.2M private investment), ongoing projects (Tarpon Springs Apartments, Livery Guest House, Noble Hearts Distillery, Tarpon Register), downtown parking improvements (four leased lots adding 113 spaces, new signage), lighting projects, master plan refresh, and branding initiatives. The CRA has a 30-year life ending in 2031; an extension request is planned. No votes were taken during the CRA portion.

Key Outcomes

• Ratified Scott Young as Assistant City Manager (unanimous) and Craig Misener as Fire Chief (unanimous).
• Changed code enforcement supervisor to full-time (unanimous).
• Supported grant application for hurricane loss mitigation (unanimous).
• Approved Project Administration Department audit (unanimous).
• Awarded Craig Park Seawall Phase 1 contract to Florida Solid Solutions LLC (unanimous).
• Approved Change Order No. 2 for Clerk's Office Building, $398,000 (4-1).
• Approved organizational changes for utility career ladders (unanimous).
• Adopted Resolution 2026-16 for golf course clubhouse site plan (unanimous).
• CRA Main Street update and annual report presented; no action taken.

Next Steps

• The golf course clubhouse project will return for guaranteed maximum price approval in late May/early June.
• The CRA master plan refresh will be presented at a workshop in late April.
• The city will explore ordinance options regarding e-bike regulation on trails and sidewalks.