Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners Regular Session - September 22, 2026

The Board of Commissioners of the City of Tarpon Springs, Florida, held its regular session on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Auditorium. Mayor John Koulianos presided, and the meeting opened with a reflection by Reverend Milton Smith and the Pledge of Allegiance. The board unanimously approved consent items, one-year police and fire bargaining agreements, a procurement director hiring, and two ordinances/resolutions, and it ended with a discussion about transparency and text messages.

Proclamation

• Mayor Koulianos proclaimed the week of October 4-10, 2026, as Fire Prevention Week. Fire Marshal Kevin Woodrich provided lithium-ion battery safety tips, including using manufacturer-approved chargers, charging on hard flat surfaces, watching for heat or swelling, and unplugging when fully charged.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public comments centered on opposition to 287G agreements and local law enforcement cooperation with ICE/DHS.
• Phyllis Baker, speaking with Talk to Your Sheriff and the Pinellas Coalition for Human Rights, read a proclamation calling on Pinellas County law enforcement to end 287G agreements and ICE participation, citing due process, family unity, detention oversight, and protection of children.
• A second speaker, identifying as part of the Pinellas Coalition for Human Rights, urged Tarpon Springs to lead the county in ending its 287G agreement. She said immigrants have been mischaracterized as criminals and described herself as a retired nurse who worked with immigrants.
• Donald Hudson of Largo said ICE detention harms families and children and damages public safety because children learn to fear police. He opposed continued county cooperation with ICE.
• Antoinette Burnham of Palm Harbor opposed 287G agreements, saying on average 70% of undocumented immigrants are law abiding and that Florida is second only to Texas in arrests of undocumented immigrants. She cited a ProPublica report about the Pinellas County jail and called for immigration reform and cancellation of 287G agreements.
• Dr. Alan Boylan of Clearwater, also part of the Pinellas Coalition for Human Rights, read excerpts from the ICE Memorandum of Agreement stating that local agencies bear costs and liabilities and that federal reimbursements are nonexistent, making the agreements costly to Florida taxpayers.
• All public speakers expressed support for ending 287G agreements.

Consent Agenda

• Items 2-8 were approved unanimously on a single roll-call vote: attorney fee invoices from Johnson Jackson PLLC; satisfaction/release of liens; renewal of pumps and equipment repair services; the City-AdventHealth North Pinellas Memorandum of Understanding; renewal of landscaping materials; renewal of sodium hydroxide; and single-source purchase of Aquatech and Bucher OEM parts and service.

Business Items

• PBA one-year agreement: Human Resources Director Tabatha Adkins presented the one-year collective bargaining agreement with the Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association. Key changes included a 3% adjustment to minimum and maximum salaries, a step increase worth about 2.5% for officers with more than six months of service, a $1,000 one-time payment for six officers at the top of the pay plan, a new midnight shift differential for regularly scheduled 5 p.m.-5 a.m. hours, an increase in the annual boot allowance from $100 to $200, and formal incorporation of Juneteenth. Membership approved the agreement at an 80% acceptance rate. Commissioners noted the one-year term was unusual and reflected anticipated budget pressures. The board approved it unanimously.
• IAFF one-year agreement: Adkins presented the one-year agreement with the International Association of Firefighters. It added a Kelly Day giving firefighters roughly one additional day off every six weeks, moving from a 56-hour to a 52-hour workweek; used overtime savings to raise annual salaries by about 10%; reduced regular scheduled hours by about 200 per year; increased the educational-assistance cap (the transcript states from 105 to 21,000); eliminated holiday pay for holidays not worked by unscheduled firefighters; added Juneteenth; and changed annual sick accrual from 288 to 192 hours. Membership approved it at a 76% acceptance rate, with 26 yes and 8 no votes out of 34. The board approved it unanimously.
• Procurement director ratification: The board ratified the hiring of Christina Whitmeyer as procurement director. She comes from Lee County, has served as contracts manager for six years, has over 23 years of total experience, a bachelor's degree, and an MBA. Pre-employment requirements were completed, and she is to start October 19. The board approved it unanimously.

Ordinances and Resolutions

• Ordinance 2026-16, second reading: Approved unanimously. It amends Section 2-13 of the city code to change qualifying dates for city commission candidates, responding to the supervisor of elections ballot deadline. Publication was September 6, 2026, and no changes were made since first reading.
• Resolution 2026-25: Approved unanimously. The city opted out of the Live Local Act property tax exemption for multifamily developments serving households at 80-120% of area median income. Planning and Zoning Director Allie Keen said the city qualified for the past two years and remains eligible based on 2025 housing data, and that rents at that income range match market-rate rents in Tarpon Springs. She clarified the opt-out is biennial and would apply to the 2027 and 2028 tax rolls. Commissioner Weaver said she supports affordable housing but the state program is one-size-fits-all and does not fit Tarpon Springs.

Board and Staff Comments

• The acting city manager reminded residents that the Rotary triathlon will take place Saturday at Fred Howard Park with road closures.
• Mayor Koulianos highlighted community events, city projects, private investments, and the city's opposition to proposed school closings.
• Commissioner Eisner responded to public comments by saying police enforce laws rather than make them, and that immigration law changes should be pursued through Congress.
• Vice Mayor Kulyas raised concerns about the previous week's meeting being abruptly shut down and called for an agenda item involving censure or discipline related to text messages and communications. Commissioner Weaver said she saw no sunshine violation, and Commissioner Eisner did not support the item. Mayor Koulianos proposed instead that the city attorney review the text messages and provide an opinion on whether any sunshine, ethics, or bullying/intimidation violation occurred. Commissioner Weaver and Commissioner Eisner agreed.
• Commissioner Eisner then raised a public records request about the Vice Mayor's itinerary for a Greece trip. City Attorney Salzman said the Vice Mayor had responded to the request and that the issue was not an action for the board.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 5-0.
• PBA one-year bargaining agreement approved 5-0.
• IAFF one-year bargaining agreement approved 5-0.
• Hiring/ratification of procurement director approved 5-0.
• Ordinance 2026-16 adopted 5-0.
• Resolution 2026-25 adopted 5-0.
• The board agreed by consensus to have the city attorney review the text messages and report back with an opinion.
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:11 p.m.