>> good evening and welcome.
this is a big crowd, wow.
for those of
you who have not attended a city council meeting,
recently or ever before, just a couple
of basic housekeeping roles. I
ask you to check your phone right now
. Make sure that it's not going to
ring, okay? And
then the second thing is there's
only one conversation going on at
a time. It's either going to be up
here amongst
councilmembers or it's going to be
whoever has the floor up here
with that microphone so if you feel
the need to have a side
conversation, that's fine. Just get
up and exit
into the lobby, please. That is the two
basic rules. With that,
this meeting is now called to order.
there are plenty of seats that I
still see vacant if anyone wants them.
this meeting is called to order.
we will be starting with the invocation
given by councilmember jackson.
and that will be followed by the pledge
of allegiance, so please rise.
>> hi, everyone.
my invocation this evening is a quote from
bob where who recently
passed away.
I think if
people value democracy they had done well
get out
and exercise their right to vote while
their
vote still means something. [ applause ]
>>
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america
and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under god,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for
all.
>> I just
need to make mention,
I
appreciate that the invocation went
over well but also in this dais we
do not who or clap. We zip it.
I know a lot of people don't know
that so I'm not trying
to be--that's the way the rules are.
with that in mind, rollcall
please?
>> on some of jackson? Here.
council member earley?
councilmember shaw? Vice mayor thanos?
mayor love? City
manager? City clerk?
present.
>> with that, tonight we
have a special presentation. If any
of you have ever donated to
operation santa we have had one person in charge of
this
running the show for a very
long time. I imagine she will tell me exactly how
many years. I only know 22
for sure but I think you might insist
that it
be more so I'm going to ask francine
whitten to come up
and she will receive an award.
[ applause ]
>> how many years?
>> 34. [ applause ]
>>
34 years of making sure that kids
in gulfport
had christmas and that a special gift from your
staff that said you would
understand. From the clerk.
>> may I talk?
>> yes. >> it's been 34 years and it's not
just me. I
cannot do it without the police department,
the fire department, and all the people
that donated.
gulfport, we are a good, hard group
. A loving group, and
next year will be 35 years. So, we've
got to do it.
>> thank
you. [ applause ]
>> all right. That's great to
start out that way. Even though I
said no applause I'm trying to make
the point no applause and no booing
, that was an exception.
moving on then, we are proud to have
cheryl
from the homeless leadership alliance
and she is going to
give us a presentation on
where we are at, what she's doing and how
we can make a difference. Thank
you for being here.
>> thank you mayor love and
councilmembers for allowing me to
speak on the state of homelessness
in pinellas county tonight. I have
got to say that
the energy and enthusiasm in this room is pretty amazing
and I
don't know that I can match it I'm going to
try.
I came in tonight to talk
about the 2025 point in time count
held annually and is
required every two years by the housing and urban development
, us department of
housing and urban development.
kathleen beckman who is our chair
could not be with us tonight,
so you have me, but who are we?
>> left click.
>> who we are, the pinellas continual care
and homeless leadership alliance ,
for the
coc, is a
countywide network throughout pinellas. It
can be in all kinds of
configurations, not all
our county
but there is one everywhere throughout
the nation and we bring together funding,
providers,
community members who care, anyone
who has a
desire to reduce and
end homelessness. We establish local policies
and priorities
that go across systems
and that is where we focus,
on that systems level with all that input
. We also
have elected officials on
our board as well so the homeless leadership
alliance, we serve as
the lead agency and apply
for funding on behalf of the coc and pinellas county which
is typically an annual process.
this year we've had three different notices
of funding opportunities
since thanksgiving so it has been
a very interesting holiday period.
I am due for a vacation.
but three of them so far, the first was withdrawn,
major priority differences from
the past. Major changes,
I really have no comment about that
other
than just the timing. Pretty disruptive and quick
. That was
withdrawn, the second was under court
review and could not
really be fully put out there and
it still hanging over us and then
we
have a third one recently that came through the
first week of
january that will revert back to
what we were expecting to begin with
and that is basically
to not have to do an application so
we can
get on to the business of planning.
we also as a lead agency house
all the information across all providers
who serve
people who are experiencing homelessness
and again,
it's a coordinated effort. We coordinate the
point in time count every year which is january
29 all day.
many shifts available and we also support
providers
. We support funders
too, we get them together but we support providers
through federal and state funding
and some local funding processes.
so, the 2025
point in time count,
I want to say pinellas is
special. We have an extensive
and in-depth report that we create every year.
we work
with a consultant, a researcher and author
who
is part of our continue one. Very active
in our data performance committee
and he helps put that together in
conjunction with our team.
hud
in our reports so it is something
that others talk about, they look at,
and incredible information.
it is pretty lengthy right now and we are going to work on
that some more but it is available
on
the website if you want to look at that in
more depth. But other
ways we go above and beyond in this
annual snapshot, it's like a census
of
homelessness in the community. Includes
not only what is required,
who
is in an emergency shelter, who is
living on the streets on
sheltered, but it also includes jail
data and school data as well
so
it is a very big effort and we are
proud of it. But we
take that information understanding
it is a census, it's not going to be
exact,
like any census would not be and in fact it's actually
an excellent way for community building, to
get in front of somebody that
you may not have a conversation with.
you have a structured conversation so
you don't have to think
about what to say, and meet a neighbor
and learn more about, getting past
some stereotypes and myths
that may be out there and connect
with an
individual or a few. That is something
that
we are proud of. So overall findings,
for sheltered homelessness, those
are people who are
in transitional housing or emergency shelter.
they are not in a permanent housing situation.
they are still in the crisis homelessness
system.
we had 1325 people back in 2025 and
for on sheltered homeless that literally
means living in a place not suitable for human habitation.
538 people were surveyed
so that is a total of 1863 people
that the hud and
the state of florida considered
to be literally homeless.
in pinellas county there were 125
people and they follow the
same criteria that we use for hud.
and ellis county schools which
is a little different
because this is cumulative, it's also
very telling because it is a cumulative count.
and it
is reported by teachers and counselors,
people who have relationships with
students and
families, where people may not be hiding.
the
important thing is I want to note
that it's not the same type and doesn't cover
the same type of criteria as hud requires. Not
only is it
cumulative but includes any student
who is
doubled up, couch surfing
. No, it's number of
students, sorry. So we would not consider
them literally homeless but for these purposes, definitely
unstable
housing. There were 3623 students and
that's 4% of the student
body in pinellas county. And 113 were on sheltered
--on
sheltered and that was between august
10 and january 27 which was the day
of the last count. So,
some interesting news. When we hear
these days about what homelessness
is, who is unhoused
, what the reasons are, and
the on affordability of housing across the nation,
it's really interesting to see that
there has been a decrease
from last year, and again, census,
not perfect.
there's a 12% overall
decrease from 2024. There was a 25% decrease of
the number of on sheltered
and a 5% decrease of sheltered
but there are some caveats
and that is that we had 122 viewer
--fewer volunteers. We
had two hurricanes, a lot of volunteers
work in emergency management, for
providers and
for the county so they are on task during that time.
as
we are, as well. That was one thing.
we also had the anti-camping bill
that was passed so you had people
who may not
have been as visible
and may not have been able to answer
questions. We've done
a lot of education and listening this
last year
for people with lived experience trying
to get out into the community and
people
that are connected, to make sure people understand that
their data
are not being shared, they can refuse to answer any question
and still move on,
and to participate because it really
does help bring
funding into the county and into this area.
on the positive side, those
are the what could be, what have resulted
in lower numbers but on the
positive side we have been consistently
trending down since 2016. We will
see if that keeps up
but we have been
consistently trending down and a lot
of that has to do with programs,
better street outreach now,
and we had significant increases in
funding from the state
for prevention and
diversion which, that makes all the
difference. Once someone is
evicted or they've been living
on the street for a while it takes
a lot more
work to get someone re-housed
. We also had more
rapid rehousing projects out there
which was very
helpful. And then finally hurricane displacement.
ever
since covid we've noticed there has
been
a drop of people like who may have left
and we haven't
seen them come back. So
for various reasons that may exist. On sheltered
by municipality.
I'm not going to go through all of
that
because we only care about gulfport tonight
but nearby
areas you can see everyplace has gone
down except for clearwater
has ticked up a bit.
2018
four individuals, did not have account
in 2021 and the last two years
0 have been counted.
some of that has to do with where we
have
deployments and volunteers and all
of that but also note that there
are some good street
outreach efforts and good work with
providers that
have resulted in good change.
but that just shows you from 2018 - 2025.
so who is affected?
we've definitely
seen an increase in older adults. At 62+,
and in
fact we have targeted
62 - 65 to really track that because
it is at
that age right before social security
may or may not hit
, when people are beginning to show
up more in these
shelters or on the streets.
we had an increase
in sheltered and on sheltered veterans. However we are
almost at functional
0 when it comes to people coming in
versus going out. This year
there is a surge event with
the veterans administration and other
providers and partners
on the same day
so if someone is being surveyed at
that
time and they are a veteran immediately they
are going over, they are going to be
given like rapid housing, very quickly.
there were 189 survivors of domestic violence
, black and african
american individuals make up 38%
of the homeless population in pinellas
county but only 11%
of the population. 76%
were sheltered families. Some of that could
be because of where our targeted outreach is.
it
happens to match up with where we
see other disparities ,
and that correlate with race. 41%
of homeless students reported by
pinellas county schools are
black or african american, that large number I
gave earlier.
and then 494 people experiencing chronic
homelessness, that means
being literally homeless for at least
a
year or having multiple episodes that
equal out to be 12 months.
but also most of the homeless
, unhoused neighbors that we encounter
are males and all of this checks
out with data that we collect throughout
the year and not just in the census.
76% were on sheltered and 62% were sheltered.
we think about
primary classes.
it's drugs, it's alcohol,
it's mental illness.
chicken and egg in some ways
, but there are people with
substance use issues who are housed,
many, actually.
the primary causes, and it's not that
those don't play
a part but the primary causes are
financial and job loss, number one
at
40%. Number two, medical issues and that
does not include mental health, it
has to do with you can't work because of a medical
issue or because of
debt. Family issues, 14%
and 10% because
of eviction or foreclosure. Those
with the primaries 1 1/5 one would have been
natural
disasters from the hurricanes. It's
just interesting that what we think
or what we hear doesn't always play
out in the data.
so some housing market pressures
, there are fewer than 26 affordable
housing units per 100 extremely low income renters.
that
in our area
is incredible. We just don't have
enough housing
stock and especially not for the group
of lower income folks that we
have. 46% of households in pinellas county live below,
if you've heard of alice, the
asset limited income constrained and employed.
the alice report. Suncoast of united way put it out
along with another group and what's interesting is
suncoast and all the
counties that it covers, pinellas county
is the most income constrained
and the highest cost for a family of
4 to live to make it
with their budget, no savings, no
vacation, just to make it. A family
of four with a baby
and a toddler is $108,000 a year so
when
we are looking at an actual survival budget, we
are not looking at people who--
these are nurses, these are teachers,
retail workers. Think
about where our jobs are
and where the economy is at. Where
the
workers are, and there's not housing
for the workers.
that's one reason why
as a continuum we've been very
intentional reaching out to chambers
of commerce, to business leaders and
we finally have made some movement there
very recently because it
really is going to take more than just
the crisis
homeless system to solve this. It's
a full community effort.
and then we also know
that rising rent place working
households at increased risk of housing instability.
what is working?
strong street outreach
. We have street outreach workers
who have behavioral health backgrounds
with behavioral health providers ,
who also
partner with law enforcement. We have
a very
good relationship with law enforcement
is especially with the county
and we have
more case managers at safe harbor which
is a jail diversion shelter
and we are just still
trying to figure out,
are you jail diversion or
emergency shelter? But it serves as the
lowest barrier shelter that is available right now
and there
are more case managers and supports
being provided there are.
through a contract with the county
we were supplying one diversion specialist
and then the strong coordination across providers and funders
and something we've
experienced lately, local governments getting
together as well as funders
and people with lived experience.
when I talked about those
opportunities that came out we had
to have many emergency meetings over the holidays
to
really iron out some details and backfill
some funds that may go missing and
put some people with disabilities
unhoused, really. Chronic disabilities.
those are areas that are working and
that will continue to work
or at least reduce harm if there are major changes
that come along the way.
I talked about this a little bit earlier but I'm going to recap
it, hud
is the priorities and funding policies,
they may drastically change and we
did get wind of it and started to
do
some planning around that but we didn't
know exactly what we were looking
at until
the funding opportunity dropped november 13.
it was a
lot more restrictive than what we
thought. So
70% of our portfolio
goes into programs for survivors of domestic
violence or it goes into permanent supportive housing
or rapid rehousing.
those were considered permanent housing
options and limited to 30%.
they cover 76% of our portfolio
. So we've
had to quickly switch and figure out ways to backfill
and now there is stronger emphasis
on public safety, coordination with
law
enforcement, transitional housing or shorter-term crisis
support, required supports and services
and rejection of harm
reduction strategies
and housing first principles
which we have found, work. So some
things to take note of.
we will see. Things change. All the
time now we are living in a period
of rapid change and
disruption so opportunities
, my last slide.
opportunities for partnership and
representation. We have two board
seats
reserved for those who don't have funding
coming correct
-- directive from hud. We have two seats
and would love
for gulfport, if they are appointed,
and we
just have a vote of confidence. If
anyone would like to represent gulfport
from
this body that would be amazing and
we would love to welcome you and we
need your voice. And it's a way to
have a voice along with
the other players making those policies.
>> are you only looking for elected
officials
to be on your board? Because we've
got a whole room full
of peers.
>> everyone can become a member.
>> so be sure to be clear when you say
your phone number, how they reach
out to you?
>>
so
pinellascoc.org\join.
we have sliding scales for individual
memberships but if someone has lived
experience it goes down to 0. For
this particular board seat it is for
elected officials so it's a little
bit different but it does
cover the entire municipality, as well.
that's odd that there are no questions
and if
there's any questions we welcome them.
>> we appreciate you coming out
and explaining it to us and I am serious when
I
say we do have a room full of potential volunteers even if they
can't
sit on the board, want to
make sure that they can reach out to you.
>> how do you count people
living in their cars?
>> they are on sheltered.
literally homeless.
>>
I volunteer for the food
reach program for kids, I don't
know if you've heard for it but I deliver
to a lot of the same people. A lot
of people tell me they recently quit
their job because the level
of help that they can receive based
on what they make just cancels
it right out so they could be home
with
their kids instead of sending them
to daycare. Is the threshold of your paycheck
too high to account
for any help such as
vouchers?
>>
so,
there are various programs because
it's government, they all come
out with different levels, but typically 80%
of the area median income is where it tops out.
if you look at the alice report
it looks like it needs to be a little bit
higher.
>> thank you. >> thank
you so much, cheryl. My email address is up
there as well.
>> thank you. >> if
you have an
open seat next to you these raise
your hand because we still have people
standing in the back. Very good. All
right, our
next presentation will be chief mary
farrand
on bicycle safety.
>> good evening.
>> so, we actually put together a
video for bike safety.
justin
did most of the heavy lifting. Forgive
me, I'm just recovering from
a cold. And donovan, I think he is here,
he did a lot of the heavy lifting for
this video. So without further
ado .
>>
hello, my name is mary farrand. I
am the police chief with
the city of gulfport police department.
whether you ride for
fun, fitness or transportation your
safety is our top
priority. E bike riders have the same
rights and responsibilities as bicycle
riders. So ride smart and
stay alert. Make yourself visible. Wear
a helmet use front and
rear lights.
where light-colored and reflective
clothing especially at dawn, dusk, or
night.
never assume that drivers see
you. Wait until all lanes have stopped before crossing.
look
twice, then look again. Drivers are required to stop
but not everyone is paying attention. Follow
the rules of the road. Stop
at stop signs, ride with traffic,
obey speed limits, and remember. Motorized
vehicles including e bikes
are not allowed inside city parks.
bike smart, ride safe.
safety starts with you.
>>
very nice.
>> any questions? >> we will go in speaking order.
>> I have no questions, thank you.
>> I don't,
either.
>> so what's the illegal thing
about riding on the sidewalk?
>> on the
sidewalk you have to
act as though you are a pedestrian
.
>>
okay.
>> what do you
mean act as if you are a pedestrian?
you mean follow the same rules?
>> yes.
>> so like
, pedestrians don't have to stop at
a stop sign. But they have to look both ways.
>>
there aren't very many stop signs
on sidewalks.
>> well
I can see them from the sidewalk.
got to be in
the car, okay.
>> I think the general
rule of thumb in my mind as a bicyclist
is that ultimately your safety is your responsibility.
you can have an expectation that cars are
going to stop but unless they see you
,
and just because you can see them, doesn't mean
they can see you
, I think ultimately your responsibility
is to keep yourself safe.
>> anything else?
>> I'd like to say thank you
to all who participated in that and what you
just said was good, too.
>> the fire
chief also took a role.
I said donovan.
>>
thank you to all of you
. Personal experience that I had
, I was turning
onto gulf boulevard from 49th street
and it was nighttime
and there is a bite coming and I didn't
see
it. Everything was stark
-- was dark
and I thought I was going
to have a heart attack.
>>
if I heard you write you said that e bikes
are not allowed in parks. In our parks?
>> that's where we are at tonight.
>> we are getting there.
I may have put the cart before the horse.
>>
when you said they are not allowed
on sidewalks, are
there any speed limit limitations
when
they are on sidewalks?
>> I didn't actually say they are allowed on sidewalks.
>> okay, sorry. >> they are allowed on sidewalks
but I believe the
language is safe and prudent.
you
have a duty to be mindful of pedestrians on the sidewalk.
you don't own
the
sidewalk, I guess because you are
faster than the pedestrians.
wheels yield to heels .
>> that's a good one. That was not
created by me. That name wolfgang,
he taught me that.
>>
they are allowed on the sidewalk .
>> and
they are totally allowed in the street.
>> totally allowed in the street?
>> I'm saying that
in terms of as a bike rider
when I am on the sidewalk people tell
me to
get off the sidewalk and if I'm in the street people
tell me to get out
of the street. My understanding and
I am asking you , is
that a bicycle, and I am not talking
and e bike but
a bicycles a lot on the sidewalk and
in the street both.
they must follow the rules of a pedestrian on
the sidewalk and a vehicle in
the street.
>> yes ma'am, that's correct.
I'm
sorry that that happened.
>> what about the motorized
skateboard things and all the
things that kids are on.
or bold adults.
>> I think they call those hover boards
and those are still legal. I
would not say those are legal on the street
but
people have definitely used them on the
street
but they are not illegal on the sidewalk, either.
>> and two police right
tickets to bicycle. For not adhering
to traffic rules when they
are on the street?
>> yes, we do.
>>
thank you so much.
with that we are going to move
along to public comment. Let me be
really clear. Because I
see a lot of faces that have
not been here before.
when you come up to speak it's
about, you can speak about absolutely anything
that is not on the agenda. Okay? You have
three minutes to speak.
you must
use to coram and
besides that you can pretty much say what you want.
if you have not done this before you
may not know it is not
a conversation. You come up and you
are speaking to the
board as if we are one but we don't respond to it
at that point.
when we get to do our council comments,
if we choose to
respond at that time, we will, but
we don't do it while you
are standing up here.
and because council comments take a
long time which is okay, I want
everyone who wants to be heard to be heard,
but please if you
are in the back of the room and you
know that I'm going to call on you
next,
start getting toward the front so
that we don't lose a lot of minutes.
people say council meetings go long
but have you ever noticed that sometimes
public comment can go over an hour?
so don't be shy. Raise your hand. Yes, right here.
and
when you come up you need to give your name
or address.
>>
6060 shore boulevard south
. Good evening,
mayor, city council members and fellow residents. I
am here tonight because
I care deeply about the city, transparency in
local government and about
the kind of community that gulfport
chooses to be. I want to begin by
saying this clearly. Gulfport
has a stellar police department. Officers are
professional, responsive,
and deeply connected to this community
and the work they do each
day is appreciate it. Nothing I say
tonight is
a criticism of our officers. Recently
I became aware of
gulfport's relationship with ice and
wanted to better understand what that
meant. In doing so I
learned about this statute
and under that statute
local law enforcement agencies must cooperate
with certain federal immigration
requests. Gulfport pd
is required to comply.
however the statute is not the same as a
280 7g agreement.
that is a voluntary agreement between
a local government
and the federal government that allows
local officers to take on certain emigration
enforcement roles on behalf of ice.
cities are not required to sign these.
it's a choice. Yet on february 27
of last year, an agreement was signed
on behalf of the city of gulfport
without being brought before
city council, without a public vote
and without notifying residents .
there was no opportunity for public comment.
I believe this is
the kind of
and that should have come before
city council. It's controversial, ethics taxes
and affects
how safe people feel interacted with local police.
our taxes paid for the time for those
officers. I
understand some cities signed--
chose
not to sign 287g agreements at all
and others are withdrawing.
our questions are straightforward.
why was this agreement sign without
a city council vote or public input? Who authorized
that decision and what options if
any
exist for council to
review or consider the agreement
now. I believe this issue must be brought
before city council for
open discussion. If the agreement
is not legally valid without a
formal vote, that should be addressed immediately.
if
it is valid residents deserve to hear
council openly weighing pros and cons
including whether withdrawal
is advisable or even possible. Gulfport
has always been a
peaceful and welcoming city. It's a city
where
people should feel safe calling the
police and confident in local government.
transparency matters, public input matters
and on an inch shoot
--an issue like this democracy matters.
we are the people-- thank you.
>> absolutely no applause.
that's the way it is,
it's been run this way since the day
this council came in which of
course was not in session february of last year.
>> my name is karen, 6020 shore boulevard
in gulfport. I'm a
proud resident and a voter in the state of florida.
I
do not support the disruption of innocent
lives of
our families, our cherished immunity
members and citizens of the us
or those who have come to this
country seeking safety and freedom.
I do not support the violence perpetrated
by ice
agents who have repeatedly shown disregard
for civil rights and the laws of this
country.
they have shown themselves to be untrained, highly
discriminatory and have undermined
the principles that make us a functional democracy where equitable
human rights and justice are the tenets of our constitution.
what is to be considered is a memorandum of
agreement between the gulfport
police department and ice, one that suggests
compliance with the actions of ice
as described above. The question,
is this a reasonable thing to ask
of our local police department and is
this what we as a peace loving
community that embraces diversity and equity,
what we
want to stand for?
my experience with the police department has always
been positive. Respectful, helpful,
their work is acknowledged and appreciated
but to set them up as the
first line in the performance of specified immigration officer functions
by filtering individuals with whom they
have
contact into a system that is unjust,
highly unregulated, it is unfair and
unreasonable to do that. At this point
we can discuss the challenging path
to citizenship
that faces immigrants in this country and we can
cite specific examples
of
those legally on that path being interrupted
by detainment and deportation.
we could speak of residents providing
valuable services to communities, people
who enrich our lives daily and
deserve the respect that we expect
others
to offer us. I can offer examples of
lives rudely interrupted by ice and
violently interrupted under the guise
of community safety. What this amounts
to is a miscarriage of
justice. Actually a lack of the justice we
pride ourselves on engine
during as a country
but rather than distract from the issue
at
hand let's go back to the consideration
of local police departments cooperation
with ice.
I think more highly of our community
and what we represent. Why people
move here, why they find peace
and enriched lives and the mutually
respectful relationships that we
support. Let us not
ally ourselves with a group that dehumanizes
the lives of others.
we are better than that.
thank you, mayor love, city council for
this opportunity to
speak.
>> perfect. Who's next?
I am sorry I don't
know every persons name tonight.
>>
my name is kate and I live at
2613 beach boulevard.
first I just would like to thank
council for being here and doing such
a wonderful job.
>> just one minute,
I'm sorry. One conversation only, right here.
>> I
am moved to gulfport
10 years ago and have been so happy
I did. Gulfport
is a dream community. Gulfport
is an amazing town. We voted in and
--and all women
city council and mayor. I think there
are only five others in america. I came to
speak tonight because when I heard ice
was in our
town, I was shocked. Equally so when
I heard that our police force will be backing ice
supporting their actions, following orders from trump
. Maybe that's not true. That's what I heard
. I have been too many
anti-trump demonstrations this year in gulfport
and saint pete. Just
today there was one
in clymer park. I am so grateful to
have grown up
in a country that has supported free speech.
I have been able to speak my mind without fear
or retaliation. But after the
shooting of
renee good I am very
concerned for all of us who oppose
what trump is doing
not just by sending his brown shirt troops to
my town but by his international takeovers.
I don't know
the answer, but hopefully we as a
small town can come together and
find solutions as we act locally
for our own good. Thank you very much.
>> thank you, kate
. Who is next? Donovan?
>> good evening, everyone. I live at
2806 49th street south and I will
go over some bicycle information real
quick.
the first thing is, e by analysis
. In pinellas
county they will be partnering with hospitals
to develop recommendations to improve
education, safety and
policy considerations. This project
is anticipated to be completed june 30 of
this year. And also,
they will be collaborating with pinellas
county
working with the center for urban
transportation research at the university
of south florida on a safety study.
last but not least the legislation
they are going to be proposing
is going to introduce
new requirements to include the electronic
motorcycle category which basically means
any bike over 750 w
or 28 miles an hour is
going to be considered
an electronic motorcycle and therefore
would need an endorsement.
with that being said they would also
require bikes to
yield to pedestrians referring to
electric scooters and also
electric e bikes . They
would mandate law enforcement--
mandate crash reporting which would
help file police reports in the
event of a fatality or serious injury
and require the drivers license to operate
a class iii bike which is anything
that goes beyond 28.
they would require
bicycle and pedestrian safety as well
as establishing penalties for tampering with
motors and speed limiters. That is
all the
information I have regarding that and
I will give you more as the year regresses
regarding
house bill 243 and the action committee is scheduled for
next monday which is
january 26 in clearwater.
if you have any other information
let me know and I will talk to you
after the meeting. Thank you for
your time.
>> for those of you that
do not know, donovan is our representative
for fort pinellas when it comes to
bicycle safety so if you have questions
he is
the expert.
>> good evening, scott lindy.
representing gulfport chamber
of commerce this evening. These are serious issues
that we are here to
discuss that I am hearing being discussed
but I am here to hopefully make it
a
little bit fun. I want to first of all
tell everybody who was not
there that we had an amazing first of many art
openings at the welcome center on
gulfport
boulevard this past saturday and it
was
very exciting to see people coming
. This particular
artist had a large following from tampa,
they came and were going back and
we talked them into touring the rest
of the town and going
downtown. I saw some of them there
a bit later so strategy is working.
that effort is due in great part
not to me but we have a new arts committee
had
on the board meeting
, backed up by julie armstrong
who really made that happen so
think you to them .
coming up we have
very shortly our gulfport fine arts festival,
the 11th annual in clymer park again.
we moved a little bit south to be more centralized.
we are going to become a
grown-up art show and have cash awards
which makes us the real deal
and we will attract artists of a higher
quality from farther away and will continue that butterfly
effort which was well received
last year which will
help.
any excess proceeds
will benefit gulfport food for us
so we are excited about that also
and there will also be music and food like
there was last year. Coming up
right around the corner after that, the pink
flamingo home tour which
councilmember earley brought to our attention
at the last meeting.
march 7 we finalized, we have 14 stops
and many
of us know us
as ward 4 but also the garden district
or the northeast section of our city.
it is a unique area
and was challenging
to find something that was going to be
of interest. We've combined a number of gardens like
the blueberry patch and community gardens
along with some old cottages which
is what
the neighborhood mostly looked like
but we have a new bill to see how the evolution
of the neighborhood will look
. I encourage you to come out and
tickets remain at the low
price. We will have both the trolley
and
the looper and
a map that is worked out
so we will have doubled the transportation
along with walker's and bikers, golf cart
and drivers.
all of these details and buying tickets
visit gulfport florida.com. Thank
you very much for your time.
>> next overhear a show of hands? No public comment?
right here , please.
>> hi everybody. I am emily smith
, I
have been john to
gulfport, I have many friends here,
I've
recited poetry here but I
am a law-abiding citizen and a member of indivisible.org
and I am an advocate
for social justice. I wrote this about program
287g. I'm
not sure how this bogus
287g agreement ever arrived in a sleepy
little town like gulfport.
where in gulfport
are thugs,
, drug running gangsters for which the
administration was recruited to round
up and incarcerate or murder? Here's where they are.
one can simply
view and ice agent on live tv who brutally attacks women
, elderly gentlemen, harmless
gardeners
and sprays pepper spray into a car
full of
toddlers. One can view
the crushing of a young student on
the
ground kneeling on his neck. Zip tying
innocent, terrified
children and throwing them into
vans and garbage trucks. One can view on live tv
the point-blank shots to the face
of an innocent protester who leaves behind
two children.
listen, dear friend, to the words
spoken in our generation that we cannot ever forget.
I can't breathe. I'm not mad at you.
the word partner implies
to me, shared goals. A blending of resources
for the common good. This is not a meeting
of the minds or
anything else
resembling positive social change.
to me it is
a band of power-hungry, angry, disillusioned
social misfits
daring to disturb the equilibrium
of a warm
and vital bohemian village that
has done just fine by itself. By the way
I love policeman.
I am a law-abiding citizen, I have
a good driving record, I love policeman
and to me
they are doing a fine job.
just fine. Anyway I ask you to look
at the
crime rates in gulfport .
I ask you to look at the plethora of
community services offered by
gulfport. Way over the norm for most
small town america.
gulfport recruits volunteers for daily welfare calls
to lonely elders
in this little beach town. Ice
, you have no business here or any other
peaceful and law-abiding community.
>> thank you very
much. Who is next? Sorry, I don't know your name.
>> hello, everyone.
my name is mary winstead and I live at
1809 60th street, gulfport.
I've lived there for almost 36 years.
I normally don't come to meetings because
there doesn't
feel like a need for me. I used to
when I first moved here
but then I let it slide. Then I was
looking at the minutes from last
week and I saw some things that disturbed me.
being a black person living in gulfport
and on
the other side of 58th street,
I was
the first recognizable black person living
there. I had a neighbor who is black
but no one knew it because he was
very fair complexion. So
yes it was a
sundowner. I don't expect you want
to apologize for anything
because it doesn't mean anything .
when I first moved here the first thing I had to do
was go down to the police department
and
let the chief know that I lived in
this town because that happened
right after a black professor
from stetson college had his arm broken
because it's a boy,
what are you doing on the street? That was
our police department.
now the police
department has radically changed but
not to acknowledge--
thank you, april,
thank you nancy, thank the other people who did
and are willing to acknowledge that
this is what happened. It wasn't on the books.
races
and very rarely is on the books. It is just
something
that gets done. It becomes
status quo.
not any more. So I
am here to say that which was said last week
, well we never codified it. It doesn't
matter. It gets codified by
people doing what they do and unless we acknowledge
it and
move forward, it will happen again
so I encourage you all
who are elected officials to acknowledge.
I don't need your
apology but to acknowledge that
this did happen and it's not
going to happen again. And when
I say I came down to meet the police
department the chief
at that time was a very, very good
man. I don't remember his name.
this is
how long ago it was. But
I'm proud to live in this town but
I am not going to
be a person here who has sat here
and watched things that have happened
in gulfport. I used to be afraid to
drive down 22nd avenue south
for fear that I was going to get stop.--
stopped. I did one time, and I was speeding
to get
to the golf course. The police, he was
not so nice. But, I acknowledged
that I was wrong.
but I want you
to be aware that yes we have had a racist town
and it was known as that and we
don't have to be that any more.
>>
who is next? Charlotte and
then you will be next after that.
>>
I have a blinding headache.
>> me, too. I live
on 13th avenue south and if
I can get this -- there we go.
first of all, I want to appreciate, I
haven't been able to attend the meetings
but I want to appreciate this council of
wonderful women and I've noticed the
work you've done together. You don't always
agree
but you disagree respectfully and
you support each other.
and
the
mayor does not bully other council
members. I'm not afraid to say that.
I particularly appreciate your efforts
of environmental issues
and taking better care of our city
finances so thank you all for that.
I'm sure you've all seen the video
of the murder of
renee good and you know the last words
she
heard before her killer shot her four times was
--.
that is well known to women
and I've-- I've nearly
-- I am 80
years old almost. Sometimes the people
who said it were very sorry. Thugs
and violating the constitutional rights
of free speech
, to
protest, to assemble, they are carrying out
illegal orders of a white nationalist maniac president
. The cowards
aren't going after drug cartels. Do
we have drug cartels
--if we have drug cartels in this
town, get them. For sure.
in america it was the gang members and
that the president wanted to eliminate. None of that
. They
are taking people away from their
jobs and off the streets and it's wrong.
I want you to protect
our police department. I don't know about
this thing that whoever signed it signed it agreeing to
work with ice but I want
it
rescinded. I want our police department,
our chief and her crew protected from having
to participate in
unconstitutional and
illegal activities against people
in this town. That's your job.
you are our city council. Protect
our police chief who I think is doing a
great job,
and protect our police officers. Please.
I'm
not mad at you , was the last
words that mother of three spoke. And
the man could not stand
that he had been
-- by her , that
she drove away from him. And
he couldn't stand it.
>> thank you, charlotte.
>>
my name is julia, I am a homeowner. I spoke several
weeks ago
asking city council to renew their contract with
the--. The contract as existed was
not renewed and instead the budget was cut
dirty percent and advertising dollars were
routed to
a contract with gulfport living. For those
unaware, gulfport living is an
unsolicited glossy photo laden monthly
advertising direct mail or otherwise known as
junk
mail. Gulfport living is distributed
by best version media, a conglomerate based in wisconsin.
last year best version media was required
--acquired by
a global investment firm managing
$72 billion
of capital and I ask why is this council
using taxpayer dollars to support an out-of-state
billion-dollar empire at the expense
of a
local, family-owned business? Of why
are members of
this historic all-female council legitimizing a
junk mail circular with a column
of councilmember submissions and advertising
dollars
at the expense of a historic woman led publication?
gulfport living
bills itself as an exclusive magazine serving the
gulfport community but let's be clear, it is
not exclusive
to gulfport. It is exclusive by algorithm
to single-family homes valued
at $400,000 or more.
this
circular is not distributed to multi family
dwellings.
one third of
households in this city will never
receive it as defined by company policy.
based on print
distribution it costs
60% more to advertise with gulfport living
than it does the gabbert.
it supports
a global enterprise,
excludes constituents and costs
taxpayers more money.
this does not look like a marketing plan.
this looks like a plan of
retaliation for unfavorable coverage from the newspaper
and
favoritism for favorable coverage
in a junk mail circular.
it looks like a plan to defund and
replace our local news
all at taxpayer expense. City advertising
dollars are not to make councilmembers look good or fund
vendettas.
they are to provide information to residents
in a way that is
cost effective, efficient, inclusive, and
accessible to all. I again
call for leadership to build
and strengthen our local stakeholders, businesses, and most importantly
democratic institutions whether we like them or
not. That is your role. This
is exactly the reason we need independent journalism and
not a message curated by
council.
I have a
handout for council, if I may,
a cost analysis on where I get my
figures from.
>> thank you very
much. Who is next?
suzanne,
I am sorry.
I've done that more than once in
the last 15 years. I apologize.
>> suzanne -- I just started. Very quickly, I just
wanted to say that
scott
forgot one event and I thought I would come up and remind you that get rescued is
also
coming up and that will be saturday, february
28. Thank you.
>> thank
you. Who is next?
>> thank you. My name is
christine and I live at 2617
, 52nd street south.
I want to urge city council to
support our local news source
by maintaining the annual expenditure
for
the city information to be publicized in the
newspaper. I believe that
the gabber is important to
both residents and
tourists and as we know local papers are at risk and our
democracy is at risk.
in a new york times article this
past weekend about local newspapers, I found this quote
.
when communities lose their local news outlets
,
civic engagement drops, corruption rises, government waste increases,
and political polarization rises. We
need the gabber and the
gabber is probably facing
really hard financial times. Having
gulfport, the city of gulfport pull funding and not maintain
it at full funding
could mean that it goes away and we
don't want that to happen. Thank you.
>> thank
you. Who is next?
>> my name is joe, 1419 59th street
south. I would like
everyone to think of
, when the current president went into
the white house and started attacking the free press. When he started
attacking broadcasters whether it be on tv, radio
, or print.
and calling it fake news.
it was a horrific moment for us.
so
for me to not be able
to read our mayor's column in our local
newspaper
really makes me sad
we
are supposed to go after this authoritarian government starting at
the local level and that's what we need to do.
I want to be able to read our
mayor's column and
to know what's going on through our newspaper, not
something I don't have access
to. I do have access to gulfport
living but I've never read it. Junk
mail goes in the trash for me. I don't
to social media
because we all know what the sewer
is so I'm just asking you to put our mayor's
column
in the gabber so we don't
look like we are following the playbook of what's happening in
dc. And on top of that
it is being funded by the people who
own it,
the people who saved it. The gabber was about to go
under with our hurricanes but a couple stepped forward
and put an enormous amount of money into saving
an independent newspaper that has
been
in this town for 57 years. When
I would walk around gulfport years
ago when we bought our house, people were carrying
the gabber because
it was everywhere.
tourists would pick it up and that's how they
would find out what's going on in
this town and that's how they could read the
mayor's column. You could do spectacular
things for this town
but what's going to happen is people
will look at the worst
thing and say her column is not in our
local newspaper and they are going to
condemn
you for it. You shouldn't be condemned for that one thing.
so addressing the council
as one.
we need to fix this
and I'm going to quote the
best present we've had in my lifetime. Take the high
road.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, council
members. Vice mayor
thanos, distinguished guests, my name is benjamin
and I live at town shores and I've
lived there for two years. I'm embarrassed
to say this is
my first council meeting. Won't be my last,
this is been absolutely fascinating. I'm
not here to speak about the gabber but
I will.
I support the gabber and I agree with those
who
have spoken up for that and I really appreciated the woman's remarks about
if not apologize at least acknowledging
our history as a son downtown
and
our determination to do better.
this is in response to the police
violence taking place there,
a similar call went out this week
from the clergy and the people of
minneapolis
. I and other clergy are answering that
call and going there tomorrow.
and the violence responding to
this time is the violence perpetrated by ice which
my neighbors have already spoken about.
the murder of renee good is just the latest and most dramatic impact
of ice's
violence.
they don't behave like law enforcement do, they behave like lawbreakers.
if we leave the 287g
agreement in place I didn't
--
I don't feel right as a citizen and I feel
my
hands are stained by the blood of
renee good and others . However, we
do have an opportunity right now to take leadership,
moral leadership
thank you for your work and I will
be
back another time. Courtney?
>>
15th avenue south in ward
4
I moved to florida five
years ago to care for my grandmother. She was
strong, smart, artsy,
independent. Dementia took that away from her.
when
I could no longer keep her safe, home
health aides and later a memory care facility
held her through her night terrors
so I could sleep.
they
did the hard work when I could not. The majority
of them came from haiti
under temporary protective
status following the instability of the 2010 earthquake.
that protective status
ends on february 3
not because conditions have improved, but
because of a decision by the department
of homeland
security. Watchdog groups like amnesty international call haiti
a humanitarian and human rights
crisis. Sending people back now is a near death
sentence. I cannot catch her
--capture the full callousness of
ending protective status. There simply
is not enough time. But know this.
it ends february 3 and many other neighbors
here in the us under tps
with
equally unstable conditions in their home
countries are next in
line. Ice is escalating enforcement in
florida.
this is not abstract. Ice is staging operation
tidal wave right here, right
now. Hundreds of hotel rooms are booked across
tampa bay. Ice has
quotas. 3000 per day. Tampa has
a field office. There are 1.3 million haitians
under tps in the united states. Nearly
10,000 are our neighbors. They are caregivers,
nurses, there are
neighbors.
on february 2 they're going to go to bed. On february
3
they're going to wake up and nothing
about their lives has changed,
but if one of those people is
driving through gulfport and
they have a broken taillight or a
minor fender bender on their way to
work and gpd runs
their id, on february 3 that's going to
flag ice. Police officers did
not create this policy and I cannot believe I am saying this
,
I love our cops.
they should not have to enforce
this agreement. I adore them. I want to see
the chief make goofy
videos. We loved it. We applauded,
we laughed and cheered so it crushes
me when I
hear people I genuinely love and respect in
this room, on this
dais say ice won't affect us.
I am so tired of hearing that
because it rips apart systems we all depend on.
you all said elevate florida was worth funding if it
helped save one resident. If ending 287g
protects one
caregiver or home health worker
or family you know what
to do. We the people are giving you
permission to end this.
>> thank you very much.
laura?
>> laura,
ninth avenue south just adding
thoughts to the things
I've heard discussed here tonight.
excellent information about
the gabber and this other magazine if that is
true.
from my perspective,
I want to see my money go to the locally
owned, more democratically oriented
the
gabber which feels more in line with
the quirky, inclusive spirit
of gulfport
than an exclusive
billionaires supporting magazine like whatever lifestyle gulfport
that is. For someone who spends a
lot of her time talking about boycotting billionaires
I am definitely down with doing more of that.
similarly or
relatedly, the comments tonight about acknowledging
our history, I
think that is so important. I really appreciated
that first comment that raised
the issue tonight and I want us to
look around in this room because
the demographics of gulfport
are 10% - 20%
people of color
and we rarely ever see that in this room.
I think that acknowledgment
, it's not the whole reason but plays a part.
if we look at this room right now
the
one person of color here doesn't even live here and
is representing our
newspaper.
so again, just the importance of that
acknowledgment. I live in north
gulfport where I see more
faces of color but I never see them down
here for these meetings are
at community-oriented events and I
would
like that to change. I think and it
knowledge meant like that play a role
in that. And then of course with ice,
I did not realize
that agreement had been signed. All
of that agreement was new
to me tonight so if there is a way to
get gulfport out of that agreement, I agree with that.
>> who else?
lauren.
>> hello. Lauren stern 55th street south. First
I want to add my support of the
gabber and for gulfport spending full local
advertising money with their publication.
I am here to speak on
a few pieces of
context. First of all we cannot hang our hats on
hurricane money no
matter our compliance with this or any other proclamation.
for an article by the guardian, in july 2025
ron
desantis was under fire for spending
$20 million that he diverted from
disaster funding awarding contracts to
his friends and donors. We
are clear who the bad guys are. Next, the state mandate
. A senior staff attorney with community justice
project,
a miami human rights organization is clear that these agreements
are not mandatory in this
state. What we see is
the governor and attorney general
using intimidation to force
cities to engage in conduct that far
exceeds
florida law requirements. The same
bad guys.
what can actually be done? One report found
that prison policy.org presents evidence
that arrest data show the power
of state and local governments to curtail mass deportations. Despite
overwhelming displays of power
the federal government relies
heavily on state and local collaboration to
enact mass deportation
agenda. This administration
goes beyond merely limiting sheriffs
and police from deputizing officers
to work for immigration.
this is
evident in the data which shows jumps
in states where advocates have aggressively worked
to reject collaboration
. Why am I wearing a jewish start
tonight?
I spent a few hours
visiting the holocaust museum. I read every plaque
, looked at every photo.
historical context matters and you know what? How did
that begin? Government mandates implemented
town by
town and we know how that ended. We
know
it's wrong then and we know it's wrong now.
are we too afraid to hold the line
against the bad guys? We are not being
asked to hold that .
they are not the in my
metaphor tonight. They show up every day
to do their jobs.
I know they want
to serve and protect. Let's change the
job description back to what it
was
so they can focus
on that priority. Let's revoke our agreement
of
--finding our friends and neighbors.
>> who else?
is there anybody else?
you will be next, back row.
hi.
>> eliza sydney, jersey avenue gulfport.
I had something prepared with data
and
stats and figures around the 287g
agreement but I decided to speak from my
heart tonight .
at the christmas tree lighting care and you mentioned that
many
young families are now moving to gulfport.
I am one of
those families mentioned earlier with a baby and a toddler
and hearing of our resources going to
a 287g agreement
doesn't
make us feel safer.
we've seen enough
verifiable evidence, we've seen data
and
statistics about abuses of power going on
and I'm sure many of us in this room
have
may be dealt with someone who has abused
power before.
like one presenter earlier
mentioned, what you are told , there's
what you told is the reasoning and there's the
actual date.
there's also what you can see as evidence with your own
eyes.
I've seen gulfport come together
as a community in the face of challenge before
and gulfport will
stand up for our neighbors and make
sure they are safe.
we are proud of our leadership and we
encouraged you
to act with courage and clarity over fear.
thank you.
>> thank you.
>> hello. Matthew galvin 15th avenue south.
I've heard a lot that I agree with,
I am specific coming to
talk about the 287g issue.
I've heard very well
presented
arguments about it and I'm not going to try
to say anything more than that, I am
a citizen who would agree with I think
,
the necessity of rescinding this agreement,
stepping back. My general sense of this town is that
I think of it as
small and insular apart from the rest of the country and there is a
sense of
dark clouds looming
when we listen to the news and we are worried
about
this. One thing I would just observe is that
this agreement
as I understand it is a direct
link between our small town we are trying to
keep safe and protected,
and some
of these larger looming dart clouds.
that is a link
that I would like to see
severed. Thank you.
>> I think
I saw one more hand. We've got quite
a few more. Amy?
we will do amy, wolf and susan.
I cannot see you at all back there.
>> hello everyone.
gulfport resident 20th avenue south
midtown business collective.
a couple things. Yes,
please consider
rescinding the agreement with ice.
I know you were not the ones who put it in
place. Our officers should not
be subject to making those
decisions and harming people the way that we've seen.
we've heard all the things,
we know what the right thing to do is
so I urge you
to change that agreement and get rid of
it. Number two, as
far as the the gabber goes, I
write for gulfport living
as the voice of the town business
collective to share what's going on
in the midtown area. I have no dog
in the
fight whether that gets funding or
not. I do agree it is a smaller publication
that does not go out to everyone and
have had many conversations about
expanding
that-- the word is escaping me. Circulation.
that's out of our
control. However I do believe in fairness so
if you're
going to support any publication you should support
all the publications
and I also think
the gabber should be fair
in their reporting and articles and
who they allowed to write and
the vibe
that is shared. I moved here five years ago
and I used
to save every issue
like a weirdo and I loved reading
it.
I would get it every weekend it was
the highlight and now, you know, not
so
much. Things have changed. I think
we all need to look
at what is in the gabber and maybe
come together on some agreements there.
enough about all that. Onto some good
stuff . As a reminder
on february 1 gulfport pride is putting on
for the love of gulfport . It is a community day
of charlie market square so we encourage
everyone to come. It's from 11 -4:00.
the senior center foundation is hosting
a jazz, blues and folk festival concert series
on the 24th which is a fundraiser
for
the foundation as well as january
31, our
casino night and another
fundraiser
for the foundation which we know supports
our senior center so we encourage everyone
to
come out and get tickets for that. It's a fun night of
casino gaming,
poker tables, slot machines, all for
charity, all for a great cause and
keep doing the good
work. Thank you.
>> wolfgang?
susan you will be next.
>> thank you, mayor and council.
gulfport grassroots
. We do the
monthly beyond the beach cleanups
and
I told you at the last meeting that
I was at
, last year we collected over a ton
of trash and debris
from our waterfront and
downtown areas. I thought that was a great accomplishment.
our first
cleanup of this year was on january 10
. 32 people , volunteers
showed
up and they gathered a total of 242 pounds of trash
from the beach area and
downtown area.
we had volunteers going out in the water
beyond the casino
area, dragging in large pieces of steel
that attributed
to those 200+ pounds. A great accomplishment.
we have two events scheduled
for february. We have our regular
beyond the beach cleanup
on february 14, valentine's day,
and also on the seventh
we are going to join in cleanup
of the lincoln cemetery.
we will be cleaning up and manicuring that area with
a councilperson
and the group
he has put together. So I am excited about
that. Looking ahead into march
of course we have our regular beyond
the
beach cleanup and will also have a bayou cleanup.
I'm not
sure of the dates yet, I don't think
it has been set from the city of
gulfport. And then looking further
ahead into april,
april is going to be a fun month because
we are going to be doing the
swap and drop april 11
. That is essentially the same thing
we used to do
and call junk in the trunk
where people can just bring trash
and the city
will gather it up
. Also anything good, and it's good timing because
a
couple of weeks before then we have
a citywide yard sale so folks will be going
through their homes for the yard sale
and I
remember anything left over they can
bring and drop off ,
we will have tables
and be placing those things out on
tables so other residents can go through it
and gather up things they might
need around their homes. That's
as far as I'm going. Thank you.
>> thank you. Susan?
>> thank you.
good to see you at the mlk parade, mayor.
>>
it was great and a very good
parade. I was with the interfaith group.
being engaged is
critical to democracy and democracy is messy.
I am going
to take a position people will be
surprised by. In my opinion the 287g
of course
--the horse is out
of the barn. Having a signed agreement
puts
the city, like others, in a position of attempting
to sue the federal government and
that is not going to work. My point
is more, how did this happen?
how did city council not get
advised or informed or educated
and have an opportunity to
represent the people who elected you?
because you do care, and
we care, and you work hard at this. So how did
this happen? And
what can be changed
to change the way small town business
as usual has happened
here for years and years?
and a number of the topics we've heard. Trust
requires accountability.
third point, knowledge is power.
preparedness. This
council has done one heck of a good job
working toward preparedness for future
hurricanes,
but knowledge is only power
if you believe something is possible. Hundreds
of cars were flooded
in
the town shores parking lots and elsewhere
not because people didn't know the
hurricane was coming but
because they did not believe it could happen here.
and
I would make the analogy, if you do not believe ice
can come here,
you are thinking you control hurricanes.
so
what can council do? If you are
not going to attempt to rescind and attempt
to sue the federal government,
I believe knowledge is power and workshops that are
information based
,
that provide information and insight
into what is in the memorandum of
agreement,
which I have read and it is scary,
and
to inform citizens of our rights of expression, of
free speech, of
free assembly and what we can
legally do, is critical. Because to
say
it can't happen here
is to not believe in hurricanes.
>> I think everybody who wanted
to speak up, I'm sorry, mary. I don't
know why everybody is so timid. It's
7:30. We in
here an hour and a half. If you want
to
speak, come on up.
>> we all want to be the
last. Mary henry seventh avenue south
and I also want to speak
about it so I will
summarize my points.
I am concerned about how this agreement was signed back
in february of last year without
council being involved in the policy
decision.
I'd like the police
or
council to explain what the current status and
process
and procedure is in
gulfport if someone is stopped.
how does that work?
they
explained something to us but I'm not sure
that stands from last year. I'm concerned about the city
paying
for police time to go to training for ice
which, and
I would like to compliment amy for
her excellent first
speech
because she summarized so beautifully
all the points of
why we don't want a 287g and why we
don't want ice,
and how we would
like the city to be. So I would request
that
a workshop is a
good idea, be the police can educate us
. We have copies of that,
it's 14 pages of legalese
which is hard reading.
and also what that means in practice.
if I am stop
, what are my rights and responsibilities?
and I think
council should also understand all of 287g
before they decide whether or not to rescind.
personally I would like to rescind it
but I understand the risks
for doing that. So appreciate it and a workshop
where all of us can learn
would be a good idea.
>>
we are going to go to e comments. City clerk?
>> I did have a total of 77 comments.
12 were residents, one
was here this evening and three of those
are identical in nature so it
looks like a form
letter to me so that would take it
down to
about nine. 65 nonresidents , 76 of
the
comments were about ice and
did not want us
to sign.
one comment was about lincoln cemeteries
so it's
up
to you if you would like me
to read any or all of these.
>> I think you should read,
I'm going to respond, I think that
you should
read the comments from
our residents that are not here. I
thought there might be two people here
that you had
comments from but if you think just one?
it's okay, it's okay. Not worth arguing about.
on the other, you are
telling us there are
60 something from people that do not
live in gulfport and who do
not want us to sign the 287g? I think
we've
heard that enough. I don't want to spend another minute.
I feel
differently about residence than folks from out of town
and I believe
that the lincoln
cemetery is from someone from both port
and
that should be read, as well.
>> are we going to
do that? Comment whether we
want the public comments read.
>>
okay I will
agree with the mayor to read gulfport
citizen comments.
>> that's fine, that's good.
>>
I understand that
we have a lot of time but I think
it's a bad accident to
set that when we set this procedure to have people
be able to email
their comments and then
not read them.
>> number one we have
a consensus on it .
>>
checking papers.
I know I'm out of line.
>> I know
I'm out of order
. I am not
a citizen in this state
.
>> what I was trying to say before
I was rudely interrupted,
we've heard a very clear consensus at this point.
we've heard what the people had to say and
what
residents have to say. We've heard it
loud and clear
and we are going to have a response
to that but we do
not need to hear it for another and a half
worth
of time so that's why I feel that way
and we have a consensus
already, thank you.
>> that system
then, isn't working.
>> that's exactly
what we voted on.
if it
was redundant over and over and over
that
we would not read 70 something comments.
>> I support
the council decision to end its agreement
with ice. I believe the
separation of ice and local
police of that residents remain safe
regardless of
citizenship status. Thank you.
this was the same one
submitted by patrick doyle vicki doyle and sarah
fleming. I urge the city of
gulfport to end its 287g
agreement with ice. Local plea should not be
entangled. When police
take on the role of ice it blurs the
purpose
of local law enforcement and undermines
the trust that keeps communities safe.
residents who fear interaction with police
are less likely to report crimes,
seek help and cooperate with investigations.
that makes everyone less
safe. Debra commented tuesday,
january 20, 2026 from gulfport citizen
, gulfport mayor
karen, please be honest and transparent with constituents
that april 24, 2025 you met for a
scheduled meeting with
the senior resident and
resident at city hall and were
provided the gulfport city records
you
obtained documenting lincoln cemetery
annex petition is
not dated which is not legally compliant
with state law.
melissa, ice has no place
in our city working with gulfport pd.
they are
unconstitutional and go against everything gulfport stands for.
we need to end any agreement with
this abuse
of power.
>> I do not want gulfport to sign an agreement with ice.
I do
not want my taxes to support training for police
or any type of
agreement that facilitates their presence. I
urge council to vote no
on any proposal to cooperate with ice.
>> mj hodges.
please
keep ice out of gulfport. I do not support police
having any involvement whatsoever
and I hope we can encourage local businesses to support
or
be the cause of keeping ice out because ice is
acting unconstitutionally and
taking people who are indeed us citizens just
because of how they look.
I'm worried about my
stepdaughter who is asian american and hope
she can stay safe
as she rides her bike to and from work. Thank you.
and
mcmanus, I would like to go on record opposing 287g
and ending cooperation between gulfport
and ice. I believe our police department
is more than capable of handing the
needs of our city. The politicization of
the issue is creating unnecessary
damage
and I would hate to see this occurring.
please stand up for true democracy.
lori estes, local law enforcement should focus
on protecting us,
not enforcing federal immigration
law. I want 287g ended for the sake
of
our immigrant neighbors and to support
local
authorities addressing and maintaining peace
in our community. Local police must
be
trusted, not feared by gulfport residents.
neighbors and friends, this undermines
trust and depreciates
our sense of community. In person comments.
marian, I am opposed to the use of our
city of gulfport
police to work in any capacity as
agents of ice and they are our public defenders. That is all
the residence. -- that is all
residents.
>>
it has been a very long public
comment and we are not going to break
it this time so if anyone needs to make a run I
understand. We are going to proceed
into staff reports because
I think the
city manager has a lot of things he
might be able to answer and clear up.
being
that this council was not
on the dais ,
all six of us, I think two people may have been.
you were on
council by february correct?
there were
a lot of things said to me tonight
and I wrote down notes especially
on the things that
I'm like wait, what?
that doesn't mean that they are true
. I
understand there's people that believe
they are true and I don't know if they
are true or not yet . So I'm going to
call on city manager on the
things I heard tonight that are now the questions I would
have as well
. Number one, I am not aware
of our officers training for ice
, and it will be up to you with you
want to have the chief address that
or not. Number two, I
was disturbed to hear people say that ice
lives in our town and we have troops
in our city.
I am on the streets every single day talking
to people every single day,
I drive
through town a minimum of twice a
day. I have not seen ice. I have seen people, residence post
fake photos
with an
ice vehicle in it
and brag about the fact well it
could be a reality but it has not been
to the best
of my knowledge. But I want to hear
what you have to say.
the third one I wanted to hear was
when people said we are giving our resources
to 287
I am unaware of that
and would like to be educated if that's the case.
and
I would like you to answer the question how
did it
happen that we signed the agreement?
because
all these people say they don't want
us to sign, I know this happened nearly a year
ago so I would like that addressed.
and
last but not least,
if it has changed,
to
address what the status and process is that the city
of gulfport agreed to.
does that sound good?
>> I have a copy for each of you
.
there is also a copy
of the letter
that the city of key west received
from
the attorney general and it's very similar.
>> if need be because we have a lot of concerned
residents in our city that don't have
a copy of this.
even if you are going to
reference the letter which I have
seen, I would appreciate it
if you did read it so that they know because they would
like to hear
what was said from the state attorney general office.
>>
whether we agree or not is one issue.
whether we
are transparent or not is another
issue.
>>
mayor for clarification purposes as a requirement
, we
did have seven officers attend
training.
chief
farrand was one of them and I
will let her
respond when she returns from the
training.
>> was that specific to
working with ice?
>>
it's outlined in the agreement and was
a requirement that your officers
would entertain that training. We
did not pay
for that, yes it was on our time,
but we did not have to pay for any
costs associated with it
other than to attend and that
issue when it's
resolved I will have her speak to that.
>> thank you. >>
and you are correct, mayor. We
are unaware of any ice activity within the
city.
there
was that photo shopped picture at the library
where someone showed a vehicle
in the
library parking lot with the gentleman
standing behind it .
that was a superimposed superhero.
the vehicle was never
in the parking lot and that's
been verified by library staff and the police department.
how did we get here?
last february as you are aware,
the state of florida, the governor
governor of the state of florida issued a directive
that all law enforcement
agencies
state city
municipal, sheriff's departments,
were required.
was required
to sign the agreement.
the
governor said such order. This is
an agreement
that was basically a task force model.
if
you look at the title of it we do
task force all the time
with different agencies. Chief when
we get to this point could you speak to training please?
subsequently the chief
and I discussed it. It
was an administrative task,
I accept responsibility. It was
not a policy decision it was a directive from the governor
and
I am unaware of any agency within pinellas county who has
not entered into
it or who has
sought direction from their elective body.
it
was an administrative task. With that said I
hope I addressed it.
it is my responsibility, I did authorize the chief
to sign it because we looked at it
as an administrative task. At
that time it was in the media
and such that this
was happening but I go back to the idea
and if you look into it, the governor directed
all agencies to sign.
>> and
so I am clear that was signed by only the chief?
that was not
signed by the city manager or council?
>> that's correct. Subsequently to that,
and
let me touch on it, there were some
other questions. I got distracted,
I apologize.
>> I asked about the training. I asked if
I was shocked when they said ice
lives in our town, troops
are in our city. Not aware of that?
I don't know if our police chief is aware
.
>>
she would advise me.
>> asked if there were any resources
, any of
our city resources. I asked if , how
did we get here? That one you have answered,
and what is our current status and process?
>> city resources
are strictly for
our officers and chief farrand to attend
training.
>> so we are told we had to
go to the training
and we had to pay for it?
>> there is
no paying for it,
the resource would be the hours spent as
part
of their daily employment.
in regards to any other resources
by the city there has not been any exhausted
other
than myself and chief discussing it
and preparing this information for today. Subsequently,
and the reason I gave you
the key west, a copy of the key west
letter that they received from the
attorney general
in the state of florida is that the
scenario is very similar.
it's in the
media, widely talked about in the media. The
chief of
police of key west
signed the agreement
and
subsequently city council, the city commission excuse me,
of key west
wanted to talk about it in regards
to
the public. They subsequently then
directed staff
to leave the agreement.
so they voted and took
that off the table. The
attorney general then appeared in a letter of correspondence and
said you need to reconsider.
I
will let the city attorney speak to
what the penalties are to that
and I'll be happy to answer questions
that I do have the knowledge of. Chief
farrand can you speak to training and what
type of training you received?
>> it
was actually online training
through the federal law enforcement
training.
we did 40 hours of
online training.
>> so we did not go anywhere.
>> there was no travel cost
or anything like that.
I did the training in my office. Some
of that I did from
home. The training involved the procedures and
how someone is able to get citizenship should they choose.
among other various topics.
I was not prepared to speak to this today
otherwise I would have repaired
a better curriculum explanation.
>> I understand it
wasn't on the agenda.
>> chief?
>> do you want to go
to speaking order?
>> I don't think she's done.
>> if we could touch on that,
this direction to reiterate if you
look at the key west
scenario as I was discussing,
they subsequently
had taken that action
but this has been utilized throughout
pinellas county.
I am unaware of any agency
that does not participate and
I think it lays out
that the scenario is very similar
to what we
are here discussing tonight.
>> I have
a question for mary. Are we going
to
go in speaking order?
>> yes but
this was the city manager's reports I
was going to go
to the city manager.
>> you asked me a
question and I was answering it. Just let me
finish my answer.
>> so, protocol.
I understand you have
answered the things that I asked you with
the exception of I know you are
going to defer to the attorney to address the repercussions
of let's say, reneging on this
signing of the mandate.
we can go there, but mary before you sit
down-- nice try but
the
vice mayor had a question. Let's see if anyone else
does,
in speaking order.
>> I had one
of your statement I would like the chief
to address. Once again if she
would reiterate the process that if an individual
were not out
seeking anyone but the process
,
we may interact with an individual
if they are breaking the
law or if there is a reason to. Do
you want to talk to that?
>>
that's correct. We don't have any
lists, we are not accepting any lists,
we are not going to go looking for
people. If we encounter someone who
has some
kind of detainer or a hold then we
call a phone number and
an agent will respond.
>>
I will ask my question.
>> I have no questions.
>> so I understand all of that. I know that
it talks about how you work with a
supervisor at ice so what did
the training say about that?
>> I'm not sure I understand. >> into
87 it talks about
how people who are trained will have
a supervisor that directs
--
it may not have been
in the training but that's what is in the agreement.
did they talk about how you dealt with a supervisor
or what a supervisor could ask you
to do?
>> I'm not sure
I understand the question.
>> could an ice supervisor,
because you're supposed to be
--
>> we are not reporting
to anyone at ice.
we are not reporting to anyone at ice.
>>
that's
different than what this agreement says.
if a person
told us
to do something, instead of them coming here
what did the training say about
what our response would be?
>> I don't
believe they would
do that. That's part of the agreement.
>>
but it is
in here.
>> I hear what you are saying
but those agreements were almost
a year before the training even came
out. So
a lot has changed. Were not following that
to the letter. No one is
calling us to ask us to go do anything
for them. If they
want something done the either take
care of it themselves
or they get someone who is actually
on the task force to take care of it.
the gulfport police department
is not going to do that.
>>
I'm very glad about that but I'm worried
that it says in here that we could have to
do that and
if we sign that even though the training is changed
--
because this is what we signed,
and did they ever cosign?
>> I think they have since we did the
training
I think they have--
>> but what the document says
and what you are
saying the training says is different.
and that worries me.
but
I know if they didn't say anything in
the training that's all you have to--
>>
and we are not trying to ask you to speculate.
we are asking you what
our process is today. And
--I don't
have a question at the moment for
the chief but
I will have comments
in my report.
>> my only question is have we called
ice for any
stop we made for whatever reason?
but if we did,
because it was my understanding and
please if I
am wrong correct me, it was my understanding
that if we pulled
someone over for speeding or drunken-driving,
shoplifting
and ran their report as you do for everybody
and we found that ice had a warrant for their arrest,
it was my understanding
we would then call ice and are required
to hold them for 30 minutes in case
ice decided to show up
. That was some time ago
that I heard that so
if that is no longer correct information I would appreciate
any way you can correct it and the
second part of that
would be have you had to call ice at any point
and have they come in to our
town to get someone pulled over for
some totally other reason?
>> so the first part of that question is
if we had contact with someone and there was
a criminal charge that we have put on them,
we handle that and they go to jail.
if
there is a detainer, ice would have
contact with them at the pinellas county jail. Does that answer the question?
>> I think so.
so we don't call ice
from the potential traffic stop?
>> no,
we do not.
we
would resolve that traffic stop in
the example you are
providing,
transport them to jail
and contact ice to let them know that
they are there.
>> okay. And
do you know,
have we called ice, and you've already said
no.
>> we have not, no. >> okay, thank you.
that
was the questions for you so now we
will switch over
to the city manager.
I would like an opportunity on this
subject only of course, any
clarifying questions of anything you
said in speaking order.
did you have anything else to add?
>>
I think the chief was clear that we
have not had an interaction that was
anticipated or anything like that
but I cannot stress enough that
there are three aspects.
the city of st. Petersburg, we will use, has not.
you saw the issue the other day that
they have not opted out.
there is no level in this county that
has reached that.
now the sheriff may be doing something
but we have been not
--we have not been made aware
of it. The arrests the
other day during the protest were tied to individuals
trespassing inside of private property.
those were not immigration arrests
so there are different
things happening here getting all lumped together.
but I will be the 1st to acknowledge that
based
on the governor's direction, that
I did authorize the chief to sign it because
it was determined
that the
government was requiring each agency to participate
.
as far as the penalties
outlined in the
key west correspondence I will defer
to the city attorney unless council
has
any further questions.
>>
let's see if there's anything specific
to the city manager before
we move on to the city attorney.
>> no questions.
>> I understand the governor may have
said it was required
that in fact in 287
it is not mandatory. It's mandatory
for counties that have a jail
but not for cities and apparently what
I was reading today
it may not be totally up to
date but there's at least 100 cities
in florida that have not signed one.
I understand it could be more complicated
to rescind one then to not
sign it in the first place.
I'm
probably the sheriff was putting pressure on things but it
was never mandatory to sign this. Personally
>> is this a question?
>> are you doing your public comment
now?
>> do
you know if ice has cosigned our agreement?
>> I have no idea.
we will go on and locate it.
>> let me see if I have anything else here.
the only other thing that was different
is that the chief
was saying that we send people directly to
jail. You had said earlier
that we hold people, we let ice know them
--know we have them and hold them
for an
hour and if they don't come we release them.
>>
we are talking about are we
arresting someone for an immigration violation?
>> as opposed to a
traffic stop?
>> chief was speaking if they have
a criminal
violation they will be arrested based on that and
then taken to jail and we would then
tell the federal government hey, this
person is in jail. That's where the difference
is coming about,
--
>> I am confident
that when I say we are not
out soliciting or arresting based
on someone's immigration status ,
we
are making contact with them as the mayor spoke of,
law enforcement activity.
>>
so one other question. This is the
first time I saw this letter.
they said by rescinding that,
, they were automatically making key west a
sanctuary
city which is illegal. But as I understand,
we have to comply with
908 - 104 which
says you can't impede any procedures
going on but by rescinding
287
you are actually not impeding anything
that ice is doing, you are just not doing something
additional. So it seems to me that key west
would have had a good case for not
being a sanctuary city . And again,
I
know that the governor and the attorney
general are trying to strong-arm people
into doing this stuff so whether it's fair
or constitutional or legal may not be the point.
and
I realize if we resend it, we could
risk
that same thing but technically
we are not a sanctuary city and we would
still be following 908.104.
so
that would be I guess for the city attorney, too.
marlene has to--
>>
councilmember shaw, any questions for city manager?
>> no,
I am still
holding my comments for later.
>>
okay, that's fine. I don't have any additional
questions.
I appreciate you clarifying why both
of us
who were paying attention a year ago and heard this
will hold them for whether it was 30 minutes
or
an hour and now I understood from
the chief that that is not
the process we are doing. So that's where there was
some confusion.
>> I was
told recently that we are holding them.
>> I misunderstood. Go ahead, andy. >> originally
that came about because it
was a direction that the sheriff was saying.
after 30 minutes the recommendation was to let
anybody
go because they said technically the office was in tampa
and no one was coming over in 30 minutes
to pick anybody up . So if they didn't have a
criminal
charge they weren't holding them.
>>
so I do have a question now because
it
was a week ago on monday I was told
we do hold them for an hour and if ice does not come,
that is that. So
what is the fact?
>>
do you want to clarify the difference what we
are talking about?
>> we actually do hold them for an hour
in the
case where and ice agent says they
are coming. If
they say no one is available then we
release them.
>> and I was telling you
what the sheriff-- when this first came out
and
suggested to everyone at that time.
>>
thank you.
>> so would that be, you
are holding somebody that
you learn is on a list
that did not commit any
crime like speeding or drunk driving
because those people
you were sending to jail.
>> right, speeding is not a
crime to be clear but yes that
would be someone who has a detainer.
>> so if someone
was speeding or went through a
stop sign which is
not a jay leblanc offense, we would
check and if they were on the list we
would hold them for an hour?
>> you are saying list but
that is not at all how it works. We
don't have a list.
>> right but you
check the system.
>>
we check their records to
make sure their drivers license is valid
and ultimately that's
what we are trying to do.
>> if they
do something that is not
a jay leblanc offense and we checked
the records and they have a hold
from ice, we would hold them for an
hour and if nobody came we would release them?
>> that's
not actually
accurate. We call the
ice office.
we are not going to stand on the
side of the road and wait for an hour.
>> if someone
is coming how long do we wait?
>>
we
wait for an hour.
>> that's
were the biggest issue is.
to clarify
they
have to do something to interact with law enforcement
and that's were the issue becomes. If it's a jay leblanc
fence they are notified. If
they say they are coming
--we would do that for any law enforcement
agency of someone had a hold
but not to say --I guess the
number one thing is
we are not doing what
people are seeing in the media. We are not going out to a construction site
and rounding people up or anything like
that. We
are doing it based on
if we have a reason for law enforcement to
interact with them.
>> and to clarify we
are talking about gulfport
so when we get 75 comments from people
outside of gulfport
we are not addressing what they are
doing
and that is not the focus of the gulfport city council, it's to
address
gulfport issues.
should we
move to the city attorney?
>> mayor, this is a relatively short letter but
I think
it's important for the people to hear because it
does affect council.
this is from the attorney general
dated july 2, 2025 which I think is
also important because
the action taken by key west
was on june 30
so I don't know how the attorney general
new two
days after this happened.
but it says dear city commission. On
june 30,
2025 the key west city commission voted to avoid
the 287g agreement with
immigration and ice. In doing so you
directly violated florida law.
for the statute prohibits law enforcement and local government
entities from adopting or having
in effect any sanctuary policy
as the vice mayor referred
to. Sanctuary policy means law,
policy, practice, procedure or custom
adopted or allowed by state or local governmental entity which
prohibits
or impedes a law enforcement agency from complying
, which is a federal law or
which prohibits or impedes a law enforcement agency from
communicating or cooperating with federal immigration agency
so as to limit such law enforcement agency
in or prohibit them from participating
in federal
immigration operation with a federal immigration
agency as permitted by
federal and state law
referring to section 908.1026 and additionally section
908.1041 requires
state and local jurisdictions to use best efforts
to support the enforcement of federal
immigration law. By declaring the existing
287g agreement
void, key west
has made itself a sanctuary city
prohibiting police officers from receiving
the necessary federal training to
adequately
enforce us immigration laws and not
only prevent city police
from enforcing current
laws but effectively prevents the
police department from participating
in federal immigration operations.
in
this instance however it's even worse.
the commission
did not merely prevent the police
department from entering the agreement,
it voided
the existing agreement under which the
police
department was actively operating.
bad policy, and illegal. It goes on
to talk about key west
specifically and
illegal aliens representing a significant danger
giving examples of arresting offenders
but I think the last paragraph is
what is disconcerting.
florida law unequivocally forbids
sanctuary
policies and requires local governments
to use quotation,
best efforts,
to assist with federal immigration enforcement.
your recent action violated both laws.
the city commission must
immediately reverse the june 30 kind
, 23
five action and allow resumption of
cooperative engagement with ice . Failure to take
corrective action
will result in the enforcement of all
applicable penalties including removal from
office
by the government -- by the governor
and the florida constitution.
>> thank you.
do we have any questions of city
attorney in speaking order?
>> my
only question is did key west
reverse?
>>
that is my understanding.
>>
I have no questions except to say
I once lived in a sanctuary city and
we don't want that.
>> I understand what happened in key west
but I haven't heard whether any of the
cities
who did not sign the agreement in the
first place--
>> whether they have
received anything?
>> I would have
to research the answer to that
because they went on to say well what
you did was
worse than that but we don't know
if they did anything
other than, it sounds like they can
declare them by not doing something. Now again,
--
>>
because you aren't saying you aren't going
to comply with 908.104
--?
>>
if you become a
sanctuary city, you are.
>> but I mean,-- >> trust me I'm not defending
.
>> but it seems to me
that what he is saying is not right and now
whether
it went to court
and what
would happen, who knows but it would
be a hassle and I totally get
that.
>> I'm more concerned about, my
job is to give legal advice for council
and I
don't want to see council
removed by the governor coming in. I
don't know
how they knew about this vote within
two days. That's very disconcerting.
>> and again
it's not saying you are not complying with
the law, because you are.
the other
part was not mandatory. So I don't
know how they can--
>> I don't know why
they did this but I think it was
to send a message to cities--
>>
to intimidate.
>> and it's like you said,
all the counties had to do
it, all the sheriff's in the entire state
have all agreed to do it
.
>> because they
have jails and they were required.
>> you're right. State-mandated
so there was no decisions
and when this first came out as I said, I was
telling the councilmember we were
told how
the sheriff was going to deal with
this and a
lot of municipalities were like okay well
of no one's coming in a half an hour
--I'm not saying it wasn't
in effect, I'm saying it wasn't effective. That's the
only distinction. But
you are right this has been pushed
from the governor's office,
from the attorney general,
from federal. That's what
every municipality has hanging over
their heads.
>> other states are not
doing this but--
>> I looked at that
and
it said at least 40+ states
, it looked
like a little over 40 states have signed
and some states already had state
law
that said they couldn't. California,
oregon,
but our state is apparently going
the other direction.
>> thank you. >>
councilmember?
>>
you answered the question which was
one of
mine as well as the vice mayor's question,
I just heard something about jail.
did you say
key west has jails?
>> it's just mandatory,
any county or city
that has a jail, they have
to sign it by state law.
>> I was aware of that but I'm also aware that
we
do have some holding cells
that are not in use right now. Does
that come into it at all?
>> no, I
think it has to be a jail where someone
is being held for a
more permanent time as opposed to
temporary.
>> we no longer use our holding cells.
>> mandatory
with a county jail facility.
>>
I just wanted to make sure those didn't come into play.
>> can answer question? There are jails managed
by the monroe county sheriff's office.
>> are you done? >> yes, thank you.
city
attorney did you have any other reports?
>>
no ma'am.
>>
I did have one question for you and
I said again
, there has been so much controversy out there
and I would like
to calm things down.
could you give a very brief
clarifying, the meaning of a nonpartisan race?
>> thank you.
>>
I wrote it down so I should have
it
>> in layman terms, please.
>> [ laughter ] okay, here it is.
so gulfport ordinance
adopts the state of florida election
law and florida statute 100
which is the state election law
, 100.3605 regulates conduct of municipal
elections and florida statute 97
provides
elections are nonpartisan
which is defined as an office for which a candidate
is prohibited from campaigning
or qualifying for election or retention in office
based on party affiliation.
that is the definition of nonpartisan
so you cannot use your party affiliation
or run under party affiliation in a nonpartisan election.
it is something that is supposed to
be completely excluded.
>> thank you. Social
media has not been good to us in the
last
week and that was another brouhaha
about residence being angry that our candidates
are not going
out there and promoting their party affiliation and
I am saying you can't do that.
it's illegal. So if you hear anybody saying
that, it's illegal. Don't you
hate when laws get in the way?
but that's the law and that's what we
are going to follow.
all right, thank you.
>>
mayor before we move on can I have one other topic
to cover? Council had asked
us
to look into the feasibility of
waiving fees, permit fees to properties
that have been demolished and
individuals
are waiting on. We set some basic criteria
, that they needed to be homesteaded
and they were in process, things to
that
effect. We identified 25
final demolition permits.
of those, seven were homestead properties.
of that, four
have already started the process.
two have conveyed to us that they
are either holding up on their own
benefit or
they are in the process of doing it themselves.
there's not a delay. One property
we identified
we had no knowledge of it.
a lot of the properties have been sold in the last
year
and we
came down to as I've said, there were
seven homesteaded properties on the
final demolition list and
four of them have new construction
permits which brought us
to three. Two we are
knowledgeable of that aren't
looking for anything
and another met the criteria. Homesteaded, no permit,
and we just
hadn't heard anything yet. Another property you identified
was for sale. We know it's for sale. We narrowed it
down to that point but there have been
25 demolition permits that were fine old
--'s
that were final
.
>> thank you.
any questions clarifying
on that, in speaking order?
>> just one.
>> would we need
to have a consensus whether we wanted
to
waive the fees?
>> the seven
, of the seven
there were seven homesteaded. Four
already started the process and
are not looking for anything. We've got
it narrowed down to one property
that have not made
up their decision. The others
have advised us
you have one
property you would be waiving fees for.
>> so we would have to decide whether we
want to waive it for just one.
>>
and you are picking out a person
and they are realizing a
benefit that is not available to others.
>> thank
you for clarifying and bringing that back to us.
city clerk report?
>> no report this evening.
>>
it is 8:19 and we will be starting our
council meeting very soon,
that I think that I would
like to maybe take a five-minute bathroom break
and then we will
get back and get
council comments and if we are going past
10:30
we will take another break at how
about
five minutes right now? I think
most of you may want to hear the council
comments. Party me? I'm just saying
it. We will resume at 10:25.
>>
the meeting has resumed. Thank you very
much, have your seats.
we will now do council comments and reports
and
we will go in order
starting with councilmember jackson.
>>
okay.
I
attended the cmp see. I think that's
the right acronym.
while we were there they had
some speakers who were speaking about first contact
formerly
known as 211, tampa bay cares which goes in
line with what we
saw earlier forgetting housing access,
disaster response and skilled assistance and
resources
for what is needed if you are needing
financial assistance, experiencing homelessness
or food insecurity.
so I'm looking for consensus on council to make
february 11
211 day.
211 for first contact day
within the city of gulfport so that
first contact provides financial assistance
such as overdue rent,
and you have to
have eligibility to get the benefits
. They spend about $100,000 a month on
financial assistance
and they have specialty help lines
for multiple needs within the city for anyone
who needs something.
>> what does that mean?
to publicize the concept?
>> and we
will
have things on the website
to have resources.
>>
a proclamation for resolution.
thanks.
>> absolutely.
they provide help with
utilities because
if your water is shut off, they
can take your children.
>> we do refer individuals
and teresa if you
want to speak to that--
>> it is something
that utilities does hand out quite
often but councilmember jackson got
that info and I have passed it on
to utilities to make sure they update
information
because they are doing a lot more
now than what they used to do whereas
if you cannot pay your utility bill
we would give you this information.
they have so many more services now
and
council
manager jackson has put them in touch.
>>
so people know you can dial 211 to get
the information you need and the help
you need depending on what
your needs are. Great resource.
>> that's my report, thanks.
>> I
don't have any report. My favorite
thing is the boomerangs .
for those of you who
have a saturday morning you should
really check out the boomerangs.
not only is it fun and a great group of guys, but
they are always collecting food. They had so much
food that they collected the other
day and it
was wonderful. That's it, thank you.
>> so
the gulfport environmental team
have their
first larger meeting and did a training
on how to use
our software so
we are going to be setting up a date
to actually measuring trees
and probably by neighborhood. The
goal is to have
people who live in various neighborhoods going around
and if somebody
knows someone or someone is doing their
lawn and they want us to
measure their trees we will gladly go and
measure trees. We are not going to
be invading people's property.
just want to make sure that is clear. We are primarily
doing
public trees and also palm or bamboo
planted someplace public.
that means they don't really
call for canopy cover but you can't plant
a
tree because there's already something there.
we will just kind of be measuring all of
that
and the more help we can get the better.
later we
want to look at planting trees, doing
some coastal things,
but
we are starting slowly.
I wanted to ask ,
now that we are doing permitting different,
could we get a report similar to what we are
getting that tells us how many permits
a contractor is doing, what the time
frame is,
and how much money we
are collecting compared to the total so
we can see what the revenue difference
is and how many
we are doing in house and how long those are taking?
and especially if they could do a differentiation
between simple
things like a fence as opposed
to someone who's doing a homeowner permit for
something bigger, that would be great.
>>
>> we
are only doing homeowner permits in
house, right?
and then I listened
to the florida league of cities this morning
. Some really distressing things
besides the property tax which people
are probably
aware of, but they have a couple of bills that would make it so
that you don't have to get a permit as
long as
a residential person is getting, for $7500
or less.
you can do a lot of plumbing or electrical
work for $7500 and to not have to get a permit
or have an inspection, not
necessarily a great idea. And
another is instead of having our own
community developer who deals with
zoning and board of adjustment
in the planning and zoning board,
cities have to have
contracts
with private contractors and did not
specify what kind of contractors those are,
who would do your zoning
and board of adjustments
so do your quasijudicial board of adjustments
and could also change
zoning and other requirements and the city
under 10,000 people would be required
to
have three on retainer. More than
10,000
people. You have to have six.
so that is a big not
paid for mandate that we
would have to do and
it would mean you get to choose those contractors
but they can change
our zoning if they wanted to.
they are also talking a what-- talking
about taking away business
--and
there's also talk of zoning fees
and how you can increase or
not increase them. And there's one about firefighters
and the health insurance which
I did not totally get but it's especially
important if they have a
cancer diagnosis.
>> we provide that.
we do have a cancer policy.
>> I didn't totally understand that. >>
we
do purchase the extra additional insurance.
>> the other
thing for firefighters was
about foam which has p fas in it
and they are talking about
banning it and
the union apparently wants to ban that immediately because it's horrible
and can be a cause of cancer.
so there's one thing about not using it
any more but then
departments have a stockpile and how
do you dispose of it? Do we have and
are we using it?
>>
more of that foam has been disposed of.
>>
I'm glad to hear that because
apparently it is expensive and a
problem to dispose of it so that is good to know.
and
then sovereign immunity. There's a couple of bills. That is the amount that
people can sue the city for. Right now
it's
--
$200 per person or $300 per incident.
>> they want to potentially change
it. More
moderate one is 300
and 450 which kind of matches
what cost-of-living changes would be appropriate.
the other one is $600,000 and $1.2 million and
you can sue above that if you want to.
that would be devastating for small cities.
so those were
some scary things that I learned.
and another thing is,
our tree committee team
needs tree kits
and I think we need them for the
city
because as our horticulturist plants trees he
will be plotting them
so
he needs a caliper, those are fairly cheap.
and
there's a measuring tape so instead of measuring by their
circumference which
you can use any old tape measure they do
it by diameter meaning you have to
take the circumference and divide
it by pie.
maybe your
calculator on your phone doesn't have that any more
so they have tape measures
that have inches on one side and then inches divided by pi on
the other side. Those are around $40.
what I'd like
to do is make sure we have a kit like
that for the city
to use and if we could purchase several kits
and he to
keep them at the library so people can check them out when they
are going to do
some measuring, or have a few with
the
team so when we go out we could have them
it would probably cost
less than $500 to do that
so I'm asking for a consensus
to do that.
>> I'm sorry how much money? >>
it's about
$45 for these measuring tapes
so if we got 10 of
those
, that would be $400 approximately
and if we got a few of these
it would be a maximum of $500.
>> this is for the
all volunteer group?
>> some could be kept at the library
and some kept with
the team so
that when people are going out they have them.
>>
I'm okay with them.
>> same.
>> I
don't see why not.
>> can you send me the details
of what
exactly do you want?
>> yes I will send that to you.
>> so we have a consensus that we can
use money set aside
in the tree budget to help this all
volunteer
group perform the activities to create
the survey
so that we know what our tree canopy is and
what the starting point is.
>> okay.
well first
I would like to cover
something that I did not comment on before because
there was a consensus already and that
is the e communications.
first and foremost with me it is always
important
to me to hear from residents , of course,
but I want to make sure
we are not setting precedent as to handle
future communications.
I understand this one
so I am
not refuting that but I am expressing
concern about a precedence
and while on that topic I wanted to
say thank you to everyone who provided
input at the workshop
. It was really informative and pretrade
--portrayed the past consensus remains
strong so thank you again
to everybody who participated in that.
it was uplifting to see employees
recognize that the employee appreciation
luncheon and
more so to see so many staff in one place
talking laughing and
enjoying time together. The mutual respect shown
amongst many staff members was also palpable. It
was really quite wonderful. Attending the arbor day celebration
and seeing children participate
including planting a tree was a beautiful
scene
and indicative of our future. Council
member
earley already mentioned the boomerangs
, the food bank
collection for the senior center
and it was such
an event. They are always
so full of camaraderie and warmth
and they also reported that as far as the
cancer fund, they raised
$3000
that council member earley
and I attended a couple months ago
maybe?
I've continued
to attend weekly webinars in preparation for
going to the legislative
session in tallahassee and
the vice mayor reported on a number of those things.
it was approaching 2000 bills
and
it really shocked me to hear that
one day alone 700 came in.
it
is going to be a riproaring time there.
I'm enjoying
the community art openings. There
were three on
friday night and if you missed
the play
beyond therapy, you missed a lot of laughs.
the gabber
debate was a great opportunity to meet
and speak with
candidates. Next we look forward to
the league of women voters candidate forum
on january 29, 6:00 p.m. And I
hope everybody can get to that. There was a
good showing last night and I hope
the hickman venue with even more seating
that everyone
could not make it last night can make
it to this one.
and by the way they are all recorded.
one is on youtube and I believe
they are going to record at the hickman as
well.
I will follow up on that.
while on the
topic of candidates I am not code enforcement
but
I am just asking everyone to help their
candidate
by adhering to the sign codes regarding three--
3' from
sidewalks and 10' from the streets and not
on right of ways. I drove down 57
street
and turn left on 15th avenue and there
were numerous signs that could be
removed
by code enforcement so I am hoping that
the
friends of those candidates get those
addressed. For those that asked about lighting
particularly near the tiki , staff
is working on this. As a revenue source,
a resident suggested we
move the boat lifts
now rather than waiting for the new
ones that
the city manager's advice
that it's cost prohibitive but great
to
know that our residents are trying
to think of ways
to raise
revenue. For those inquiring about
the orange fenced area work had begun.
I did not make it there
to see the progress yet but I am anxious to
do so as I know
that others are. Considering the numerous property tax bills introduced
this
year every one of us needs to understand
the effects that these could have on
our city and be able to vote accordingly.
an excellent user-friendly source
is on the homepage under top news.
very easy to find.
I found it just like that
even though I am still familiarizing with
our new
website which, thank you by the way. There's a breakdown
of where taxes are budgeted down to
the scent, for example the
police department $.25 and there's
a breakdown of how
they receive money, how to read your tax bill
and see what part
comes to the city.
how taxes are calculated,
and even a
city tax allocation calculator.
it is all simple to
read and it doesn't take you an hour,
is what I am trying to convey.
everyone please take a look at it.
even without the legislature
submitting bills it is informative and interesting.
in
regards to the website I also want
to say that the adopt
a dream program
, there is already a
map connected but soon the map
will be active so people can go on and look for the area they want
to adopt and
select that
and go on from there.
in conversations with residents
on a wide range of topics
, excuse me, getting tongue-tied trying
to
get it all in. Two issues have been predominant. Acknowledgment
of
our sundown history and even an mlk
memorial and then concerns regarding
ice
as we heard earlier. The first of
these
is included under discussions
. On the topic of ice I don't think I
need to go
into a lot of the details that I put
into it and what I was going
to recommend is that we have a workshop or a
forum and we did have some residents
speak to that and make some suggestions as well but
there's a
lot of questions about it and a lot of
misinformation and I think
that
could be a really positive thing
for us. There is so much fear and
so much
information out there being discussed
and the only way we can fully
understand these things is to communicate
and talk about it.
I won't go through the
examples of questions because I think
we had plenty of those earlier. With
that, that is the
end of my report and thank you.
>> very thorough.
>> I hope I get to reports but first
I wanted to address
some of the public comments. I would like to say
I get many emails from deborah
about a number of things but one of the
things, and it was red tonight by our city clerk,
says I never know because she doesn't
talk in sentences but yes I did meet
with her in
april 2025. Absolutely.
yes
she talked about the lincoln cemetery. She talked about many things.
probably about 15 minutes
into the conversation I'm not sure what
we were talking about
but it did happen. She says in her statement
that
I do not acknowledge
that when we got the deed
for the cemetery-- that's not right. When
the lincoln cemetery was
d annexed
, that document is signed
and she is absolutely correct it
is not dated.
I don't know what the
policies were in 1967. I wasn't here. That's
when this happened. How did I
know that?
when the mayor's office sent me those
documents at my request
and I shared it with everybody up here at
council,
debra never gave me those documents.
she likes to say
she gave it to me. I've also asked
my staff if
it's a problem that was not signed
and
dave said no but I don't know
because I wasn't here so
I just want to clarify yes I did meet with
her and she did talk about the lincoln
cemetery, and she did not give me
documents
and it's true that that transfer
there, when the deed,
I keep saying deed
because I come from real estate and
it's a different thing but when we annexed that
property and everybody signed it
in fresh, blue ink , there's no date on it.
that is true. The second thing I
wanted to address was
,
the budget for advertising with the gabber .
that was never handled by
city council nor was it discussed in years past.
that has always been handled by the city manager and has
been in years past and it did happen again this year.
in terms of joe's statement
somehow
that I should be writing for the gabber doing
--I've only lived here 15 years but
in my 15 years,
I have not seen a single mayor in any
of our cities routinely right
for the gabber. That
was never given to me as a job description
so I never saw that.
I am doing a lot
of communicating, I think , compared
to what I ever
saw in the past,
and I'm sorry you choose not to go
on social media and that's okay.
because on the website there is a
weekly--
let me back up.
on the website all of us can write
our monthly reports. I do that. You
can read them
any time. On a weekly basis
there is a newsletter
emailed to anyone who signs up and
it takes about 10 seconds.
in that I will
tell what happened. I am not required
to write but I routinely do.
it's rare that I miss a monday like I
did
this monday but rare that I miss that so there's ways
for you to know what's going on even
if you
don't use social media. When people
say I don't write
for the
gabber again I don't see another mayor
writing for the gabber and interesting
enough when I look at the gabber
, I don't see a single city that is advertising
and
spending advertising dollars besides gulfport so
I don't understand why there is anger
about
how much we do or do not spend
and
is that directed at the other cities
as well? I don't really understand.
that is an
administrative decision that was made.
susan?
I will always
hold onto believing it
couldn't happen to us is the same as
believing that hurricanes can't come our way.
I think that was a really potent analogy and with
that in mind,
you don't know how much I
appreciate that we do have people
speaking up and who are watching and being proactive lives.
I do appreciate that
. That is not the same as
making decisions based on that.
and the last response
that I heard was
the workshop on
ice I think would be an excellent
idea to do that. It
would have been so much better to
have done that tonight
but we were kind of hijacked and we didn't know
this was going to happen and took a long time.
I
definitely, all of us would have been
better prepared if it had been a workshop.
the things that I wrote that I wanted
to say is this. My job is to take
care of local issues. That's what
I was voted in to do and what I intend
to do. I am
on this--when I am on this dais
my opinion should be
what I feel is in the best interest
of the city
after listening to my staff and residents.
it is not to move
forward any personal opinion. I
have to bite my tongue, or any political party.
the agenda of any political party. I
wanted to say that. And then
I want to drop down and say
while I encourage free speech, I do not appreciate
people stirring the pot by creating fake posts
with photos of ice
in it , ice vehicles
in it who want us to believe that
we are being invaded.
people do that, we are
not going to believe them when it
really happens. So let's stick
with the truth and figure out
what we are going to do if that should
come
our way. Is kind of what I want to say.
in terms of reports
I did attend
the ford pinellas meeting.
we
have a ford pinellas meeting
what they are working on right now,
they are trying to do this because
they want to as opposed
to, there's a suggestion the state is
going to require
that the three counties merge
and that their only be one planning committee
for the whole metropolitan and tampa bay area.
it
would combine the counties that I just
said. So there's a lot of talk about
that. I
expressed to the director of that group
that
I had real concerns because even when
I attend the meetings there is
so little information
about south pinellas. So much more
is
about the north side
and if we go to a larger planning
commission that I
have real concerns we are going to
get lost unknown is
going to knowledge the issues that
we have going on.
so I
appreciated I was able to say that
to him and he said yes
he has heard that from other cities
and small cities as well. He
did invite me to, there's going to
be another
meeting where the people are going to
meet with one other
larger planning councils outside of orlando
but don't quote me were they've
done exactly what they're talking about doing
here and
he would like for me to attend that
because I have
an opportunity to speak
to some of the mayors and the people from smaller
cities and
see what their reaction is going to
be. That to me would be an important thing for me to attend
and then to come back and tell
you what I think. Though there will only be one
vote whether a merge happens or not,
I
don't know if donovan has heard anything
like this but definitely what I
am getting the read on is that
if
the three counties do not decide to
do this amongst themselves and how
they
want to do it, the state may tell them
they have to do it and how they are
going to do it. So just another
case where state might be
trying to tell us what we need to
do and I will keep you as informed
as
I can, thank you.
>> can I add one quick thing?
>> no. You
can under new business if you'd like.
>>
let's move to consent.
>> consent item 68. Consider approval of
meeting minutes from meeting held
january 6, 2026. 6b, resolution 2026
- 02, a resolution authorizing
the city manager to approve the purchase
of advanced metering infrastructure
gateway equipment and support
services from neptune technology group.
>>
resolution 2026 -03 a resolution authorizing
the city
manager to enter into a contract with
kirms communications llc for the installation
of four advanced metering infrastructure polls
and mounted hardware.
>> motion to approve?
>> I second.
>> all those in favor? I.
any opposed? Passes unanimously.
>> that will take us to ordinance
seven a.
>>
ordinance number 2026 - 01 first reading.
and ordinance of the city of gulfport florida
amending the city of code of ordinances
amending chapter 22 zoning, article 6
supplementary regulations
for all districts by creating section
22 -6.14, certified recovery residences
providing for
definitions, providing for procedures for the review and
approval of certified recovery residences
and requests for reasonable accommodations, providing for
revocation of reasonable accommodations,
providing for codification, severability
and for an effective
date.
>> motion to approve? Second.
>> third. >> [ laughter ] thank you.
city manager you want to make sense
of that for us?
>>
this is
also mandated by the state legislature
that you
will facilitate or attempt to facilitate the
placement
of these group home types of settings.
we did have
abilities for folks to make
an application for variances and things like that
but what
this does, this allows
a certified operation for lack of a better term.
which, they have to meet certain
licensing and state standards and there's categories.
so this is not just you as in a government body
saying
you can operate here. They have to meet
certain requirements
and criteria before the
approach your staff. What this does
is give staff the
opportunity to work with them but
at the same time,
there are regulations and minimum requirements.
this is mandated by the state of florida.
>> okay.
no questions?
>> I do have a couple questions.
like many people here and
if you've been up solved of that I
am very happy for you
but addiction has come
to my family, right,
and I know a lot about the group homes.
the certification is a great thing
if it
is kept up with. A lot of people come to florida
to come to a
group home because there is a home
shuffle. You get kicked out of this one
you go to this one. That being said
many
people are helped by them and I can attest to that.
the florida league of cities one
of the bills they wanted to put up
for their support, and it was voted
on, was to limit the volume in a
city. So it was
, I think hollywood
florida that a gentleman's and he
is a councilmember there
and
has three daughters and they can no
longer go out of the
house or anything because he is surrounded
by group homes with very little oversight to them.
so the way they are run and how
many per block, are we able to--
>>
>>>
it
also gives you the ability to revoke
the permit
if it is a nuisance to the neighborhood
and that is
outlined entitling talking about
revoking. So that is there.
any type of nuisance behavior
, we would start right away.
we have had situations like
this but it was not regulated. And
I think
the one we had individuals
under
the guise of some type of organization
helping people. It became
I will buy your
beer cheaper and they gathered in
residential neighborhoods
and you are talking about
zoning and intensity, how many people
are living in the house
that are not family members, those
are things
you have to make application and then maintain.
>> what constitutes
a family. Four people
with different last names, the whole thing.
>> out of the way
and a lot of times legislature will say we
will give you the
ability to do this and staff will have more
oversight by implying we are supposed to
help them have it
happen but it also makes them put
on paper
what the plan is for lack of a better term
.
>>
okay thank you.
>> my question
reading this and I understand there was
a
lot of discussion in planning and
zoning about
this, but you brought up a really
good point
and
I was thinking how big can these be?
I know they have to follow the height
and
setbacks if they were building something new.
>> you would still have the zoning
regulations
in place. Lot size, coverage,
those things are in place, this is
operational because
very candidly this becomes a commercial
endeavor in a residential neighborhood.
the
zoning aspect of slot size
that does not change.
you're talking about the operation of
the activity
>> most of our houses we have a
lot of 2-1
and a few that are bigger so
again
you get into how many people can you
put in a house?
>> exactly
and that is what you have to tell
me your
business plan so little question that
if you tell me 10 people in
a 800 ft.? House that
business plan we will pay attention.
we are not making that type of accommodation.
this was the state said you have to try
to work with these people because
there is a need and
we can do that but
it is not going to allow you to come build
with
a clinic in a residential neighborhood this
is to say
you live in the house down the street and
we have
these people, but the one thing we did
is when they add numbers
, we will call them clients you have to
add staff.
so it's not just here are the keys
get well.
>> residential or
daytime staff?
>> combination of both, they
lay out in
the ordinance, it lays out what you
have to do to
meet the minimum requirements.
certify is the whole key it
is licensed.
>> my guess is
that it would be expensive to build a
new house
so they probably wouldn't to do that but on the
other hand
most houses are too little to be cost-effective
so probably won't be a
big issue. Also compared with family members
if you have staff with four or
five people living there in the parking
becomes an issue and
personally I don't want people to
pave their whole yard so they can
put in parking spaces.
>> those are the questions
we would ask.
>> they don't necessarily
say the person in charge.
they don't always stay, they don't
live there
in many cases.
>> I am used to one
with
residential and we live there.
>> they do have monitors and that but what
you are doing
anything
your points are
selling it in the fact that size generates
revenue. You are
not really .
>>
we don't have eight bedroom house is
in town.
>> exactly you don't
have multifamily , someone buys the
apartment complex
I have seen that done in
affluent neighborhoods , in my other life
that was
a big product.
>> they could do that
here. Theoretically they could do that.
>>
yes, but have to be licensed and certified.
that's the key that's for the cost
is, people cost money. And
what you are doing here is
two things. One, becoming compliant with
the state of florida, two approaching
from
a regulatory precision.
that's the benefit you get.
>> okay thank you. >>
what you outlined so
what I appreciate about it, thank you.
I have no question.
>> public comment on the matter? Yes.
>> I have personal family
proximity to this. I'm really happy
to hear we are creating this,
we will have parameters. There are
some
organizations that have multiple houses
, that have like three or four or
five
bedroom houses so it's not gigantic.
they usually have a captain person who is a
resident but also has some
privileges of leadership at night
and this population
tends to not have cars they are paying
200 per week they don't have cars they
are
using the bus or bikes so parking is
less of an issue for these populations
using a house
more than any other use
possible in my opinion. I am excited
about this,
I think it is great. I think the housing stock
we have with the value of the bigger
it
is unlikely we will get run over,
st. Pete
has more neighborhoods where this could
happen more. Sounds good.
>> anybody else
for public comment on this?
seeing none, councilmember jackson yes
[ roll call vote
]
>> that will bring us
to resolutions.
>> resolution 2026-0 four,
resolution authorizing city manager
where applicable the
mayor to enter loan agreement
with the fema community disaster loan
cdl program and support
city operations of
hurricane recovery efforts.
>> motion to approve. >>
second.
>> mayor, thank
you. We talked about this last summer as
we were looking at revenues and
things to that effect and where we
were with
revenues coming from the federal government
and offset insurance claims and things
to
that effect, what
I'm putting is something in place so
we have a backstop
because of delays at the federal level
and
things like that monies are not coming
down safely
, they did close the government
, we have talked about that. And possibly
could close the
government again.
we have and chris our financial director
is here.
we have about $2.6 million in reserves
today,
if we have another catastrophic
event this summer we want to be prepared and
we have
to look at the revenue when we start
planning for the next budget years
so this
is a backstop to what we have so we
are not in
a dilemma where we have to use reserves
to make up a revenues that have not
appeared yet
or something like this I intend this
is the last level of expense and you
would have to approve any use
of it. This gives us the ability
to buy the mortgage, not buy if there
is no cost
until you use it and then you
pay whatever the interest rate is set by
the fed
and now the interest rate has gone down
some
percentage, but it gives you
a sense of
security for lack of a better term
but if you were to use any of
these monies and take it out you would
have to
approve that.
>> you just
said we would have to approve use of
it, I would like to clarify when you
say we have to approve use meaning
that there would
be actual council vote at the time
you say hey guys we need to
take money or we are approving how
the money is used?
>> well, to me
it is symbiotic and the fact
you would have to approve actually
accessing the home equity loan.
for the lack of a
better term.
>> we are finalizing
the application we made
many months ago and I think we have
been approved many
months ago but we have never signed
it.
>> exactly
this is authorization to sign.
>>
that was $5 million
so I want to clarify if we need
money that does not mean we would have
to change the whole 5 million at one time we
could say
we need 1 million, today.
>> that's correct.
>> we can
draw down. Specific questions you
can draw down any amount of issues.
>>
it will act like a line of credit, 5 million
with access to
the next three years you can draw
down as needed as
the city manager stated we would come
request approval if we were going
to access the loan.
>> good, questions
in speaking order?
>> no questions, we have talked about
this similar to
the heat lock all good for
me.
>>
I was making sure we do not pay interest
or anything until we accessed
the money.
>> you do not pay interest
until
the term is up, if you use it.
>> if we don't use any
we won't pay anything.
>> having the
backup plan
is a excellent approach. Certainly
in favor.
>> we will sleep better
at night.
>> hopefully we don't need
it.
>> thank you. Okay.
public comment.
thank you. Public comment
on this? Seeing none
we will call the roll.
>> [ roll call
vote
]
>> carries to passage,
resolution number 2026-0
five resolution approving application c
25-0 2 conditional use for
church including related education
and training
facilities providing conditions.
>> all right. >> motion
to approve.
>> I second.
>> city manager. >>
conditional approval of reestablishing
a church
in the property right here
in the methodist church.
what this is, previously there
was a church there and they failed
to renew the activity by the business
tax receipt
. Subsequently it reverted back r
2 which is
conditional use as a church
as we talked about in the past with
a lot of zoning
in gulfport which was there, they put
it
on top of it , but
this basically reestablishes use.
mark do you want to?
>> originally the church
and 58 became the directory
for the church as a whole then school for
short
period of time now they're going back
to the church usage.
>> mark, is the applicant here? >>
applicant is here.
>>
so when we say
they want
to take it back to being
used as a church is it the same church
that was there?
>> it is and the have outlined the vision discipline
ministry
was part of the application process.
>> so
this church would be a new group
of people?
>> that's
my understanding.
>> that was
my question.
anything else? I was trying to clarify that.
>>
do you
want to ask if other people have questions?
>>
thank you , vice mayor.
yes. I was trying to
finish up to see if he was done speaking
but
thank you. Okay, so.
>>
the applicant
is here if you have questions.
>> we will
have
public comment, you don't need to
raise your hand
it will call on you during public
comment for sure.
>> in case you want to ask mark, one of the
issues that
came up at planning and zoning meeting
which was discussed which was the parking
issue
and the applicant was
not there so there were questions raised as to whether
or not there would be use
parking agreement, whether or not
there would be any potential
conflict between the school
and the church using parking and that
was an issue planning and zoning wanted
to have clarified which they
did not have in anticipation of
the meeting.
>> thank you for
saying that and we will go in order and
ask questions to see who can best
answer.
I did watch the meeting and found
the meeting to be very
very confusing when we talk about the owner,
the tenant,
the school and church I found it to
be quite
confusing and even though I watched
and listened a second time there were
questions I
have but I will wait my turn. Councilmember jackson.
>> I have no questions at this time.
>> I don't have any questions
either.
>>
it is my understanding
it's not the church on the corner we
are talking about. It is the building
to the
north on 50 fourth?
and it was not
really a church as I understand. I
thought it used to be the old --it
was also a shop a
resale shop to make money for the
church for many years. Wasn't it?
>> that's on the other
corner on 50 third.
>> okay so it was
the directory not
a church.
>> it was
the church before the school that
is sunflower originally the church then they moved
to the larger church and made that
the directory.
>> so it was a directory. >>
a church originally in 1958.
>> that little building correct.
>> I had never seen
it at a church that's why I did not
know. As I understand, do we
know who owns the church, the big church?
>> the sunflower school currently.
>> to know the plan to keep it? Are they
using it?
>> currently using as
a school.
>> the church part not the
buildings
along the side?
>> they are using
the
larger building
, that is a school currently.
>> okay
I know
from what I understand about the meeting
there was confusion about
whether it would stay part of the school
or if it would become a church
and you have the sunflower school
in the other little
buildings and then again with parking
if you have things going on at the
same time it would be a problem for
the neighborhood
with parking. So I think
we should hear from the person because I
don't know if he's
got agreements about making sure they don't have
you know
events at the same time.
>> that is one of the conditions we
are requesting
that they make accommodation with
neighboring property
regarding parking.
>> would we approve
without knowing
whether they have got that?
>> it
is condition of approval they will
show city
staff with the permit building and
business tax receipt with verification
have figured out
the parking situation between the property.
>> so it does not get approved until
they
have that?
>> that's correct. >> assuming
that you
pass with the condition.
and the memo outlines conditions staff
has
put on? Would
you like to hear from the applicant?
>> understood
the conditions,
the parking they kept talking about street
parking
and I get that but we
also have a park near there
anything that outlines , I know
it's a lot of families that use the park
on sundays
and so
I am just wanting to have reassurance
that they would
not be parking in the park area
.
>> the area facing 50 fourth
on the public side
does have a total of 19 spots available,
the church with 45 seats there would be 15
spots so the amount of people
would not extend onto
20 eighth or 20 seventh.
>> okay,
thank you.
>> the questions that
I had it might be
calling the applicant of next and
with public comment we may have
to powwow here again.
so I
was a little confused on, if you approved now
, but you give them a year to
have agreement amongst themselves
in terms
of parking , does that mean
they could open up now
and heavily they will figure it out
within a year?
>> until the
business tax receipt
which would not be approved until
the parking situation was figured
out between the owners and if they
want to increase
parking on the property.
>> that's
the part
that I missed. They have to
have the parking agreement worked
out before any activity
will start.
>> that's correct.
okay. And then
I was asking if it was a new church
coming in and if they are, in
any way form or
fashion related to the sunflower school.
>> not from my understanding. >> we
will
ask them that
and my next question and we can ask
the applicant,
I guess . Why would the sunflower agree
to parking being used the
new church? Because
are we talking about the parking
in the back of the proposed
new church ?
I think that is pretty well designated
to
just sunflower.
>> that is used
for playground which was last year
in the
subdivision 2024 they
were given variance for parking because
they were using the area as the play
area for the
sunflower school.
>> okay.
>> if you will help me before we
call up the applicant. I think there
has been confusion.
so the long building that runs along 27,
that
is all used by the sunflower school?
>>
that's correct.
>> when people say the big church they
are
talking about the sunflower school.
so when we see from
50 fourth is what looks like a small
little church
but if you go drive behind
there actually when you get past
the initial area than there is a
bigger building and they
are attached and it is painted like
the sunflower school so
I'm a little confused when you say there's
only 45 seats
, is the church just the
front part? Because I think it
is connected.
>> it is a separate
building entirely with separation
from the sunflower school for
the property lines and parcels not attached
to
the sunflower school.
>> so the sunflower
school
is l shaped.
>> that's correct.
>> when I went driving I thought it
was connected. With that in mind the
applicant would
you please come up ?
>> hi. I just wanted to address the
parking situation.
we have spoke
with the sunflower school.
>> you
have to give us your
name and address.
>>
we
have spoken with the sunflower school
to confirm there's no conflict
in schedules with regards to the parking.
they generally use the parking between
eight on monday to friday dropping off
and picking
up they have a aftercare program which is
really minimal which goes
until 5:30. The church
is looking to use the parking on sunday
they have two
bible studies
wednesday evening and thursday evening
from 7:00 p.m.
so there is no conflict in
the usage of the parking.
>> okay. So,
we are talking about just the building on
the front
, that appears to be kind
of white.
>> it's a
separate building. What used to be
the preschool.
with the garden
, upfront.
>> again I thought there was a building behind
that
which was connected.
>> there is the playground for the school
behind that.
there is no other building behind
the building, there
is the long building which is just
particular which is the
sunflower school and then there is
this building which is separated
not attached to the other building
>> do we have any questions
in speaking order of the applicant?
>> no questions thank you.
>> who owns the other building not
attached?
>> I do.
>> you on the
little church building
and the other?
>> just one building
is not attached, the one long building
owned by the sunflower school with
one smaller building which I own only
the two.
>> how many spaces
is there?
in all of the parking?
>> 19 spaces at the front and then
street parking which is
what sunflower generally uses for
the pickup and
drop off , I think it is on 27 they
tend to
use that pickup and drop off but in
front of
this building
there are 19 spaces.
>> in front
of the building?
>> in front of this
and there is
this building and then the edge
of the other building with 19 spaces in front of
them both.
>> I drove by and it did
not look
like that. Along the street? Along
the street?
>> it
is not parking on the street
, it is separate parking at the front of
the building
>> I did not see that
at all.
>> is the
city right-of-way.
>> 90 feet, for
the building and then 85
so it is
19 spots public right-of-way off the
street off the front of the building.
>> appreciate you both coming
up here.
>> 175.
>> how
wide is the parking?
>> 5 feet parking
spot 18 feet long, 9
feet wide.
>> that does not sound
like
19 spaces.
>>
I had done the math.
>> the reason I was
questioning that was I thought what
it was listening
to the hearing in front
of the session
I thought I heard them say nine spots
now
I am hearing 19.
>> take
up 107 by the nine it is like 12.
11 point eight eight.
>> 175. >> 175
I'm sorry. 175
feet between the lots?
>>
total space in front of both on 50 fourth.
>> understand but I drove by and
it did not look like that to me.
>> I have cleaned the sidewalk for
you, so I know
it is.
>>
we did speak with the city before putting
this on
the property to see if
it would be able to put more parking.
if needed, if that was going
to be a condition from the city
, they are willing to put more parking
on
the property if that is necessary.
>> how they put more
parking on the property?
>> on the
garden area. The garden area it
has a large garden area around the building.
>> remove the green space.
>> there is a provision you need
to keep at least 20% of your lot green.
>> okay.
it is not something I would like them to
do.
>> is 19 spaces enough? I understand
they are 45 seats.
>> at maximum
generally between 30 and 35 and members
of congregation.
up to maximum of 45.
>> you never have 30 cars?
>> I honestly
cannot speak to that.
>>
I am just saying.
with the people come as individuals
or families because
if you need 40 spaces
we don't have it.
>>
zoning requires 15 spaces.
>> every theory
-- three seats requires one
parking spot.
>> thank you,
all right. Any other questions before
we open to public comment?
>> good luck. >> I
have no questions.
>> I
am listening.
>> okay, thank you.
>> yes.
>> I am
calling you.
>> excuse me
one moment.
>> go put your side back over there.
our rule does not allow you to come here
with
a sign.
>> she has got
it. Okay. Now, you're here please
introduce yourself and tell us what
you have to say.
>>
first of all ,
>> your name? >>
bailey and first of all it was never
a church. I was never here
, in 1958 , anyone
of you all here in 1958?
>> 1959.
>> I will give you
the codes you know
gulfport zoning ordinance regulations
focus
on her lot basis
and require all uses
and adhere to setbacks, parking
and public access.
one principal use, per lot,
that means one building per lot
, one church so
the main church was
the big l shaped church
and that little building, the
quick shaft building was just a storage/whatever
it was from
1958,
two 2016 and in 2016
it became a daycare
and on that,
I actually had the fire permit
on my billboard there and I was
the contractor
that actually brought it
to
the fire code. So I know that it was
a storage because I brought up the
walls to the fire code and
cleared out a lot of the storage.
they used it
for garage sales, you know, and yard sales
a lot of times throughout the years
and basically
it was
it was never a church like the gentleman
was saying , they want to convert
back to a church so that is
a falsehood that he was making you
all
believe. And
on pinellas and all my billboard also,
pinellas county
we have the attorney right here
minimum lot size , for a church.
it is 100
it is 100 x 100 please help
me out.
>> just so you are clear,
bailey just so
you are clear, we are giving
you public comment right now
and we're being lenient because typically
it is three minutes so use your
time wisely.
>> the lot size is
90 x 100 so it does not meet the zoning requirements and
also I'm
going to put step back and say
if all of my fax doesn't
, real quick
if I request a professional
parking engineer survey
on 138
, 138
three 602
alpha you
know so if I run out of
time because it does
not meet zoning codes, parking codes
ada codes
and fire safety codes are broken daily
it has
18 parking spots not 19.
the
fire hydrant is within 15 foot
where they parked daily and I had that
on my thing.
I would like to talk, I have a lot,
but you know.
>>
okay, public comment you have
three minutes.
>> okay,
hopefully this will be so helpful.
this lot was subdivided in the last
three years, that was not in the city
so it was a church in the big building,
not a
church in the creative play building,
it was a storage room play
area et cetera so both are kinda right
the property was a church this building
never was
so hopefully that is helpful and has
a big yard trees and beautiful things
, that's the building where talking
about, the sunflower school
sold it to you a couple years ago
and it sounds like you want to sublease
now to church
it sounds like she wants to.
that is being discussed I did not
listen to planning and zoning but
from tonight if what was said tonight
was set at planning
and zoning I can understand the confusion so
tonight the owner of the little building
missing church comes to me and
wants to rent. I understand I go to
that a lot
, pickleball, tennis,
there is high demand on the
parking, but for all the use of a
church which
sounds like it is once
per week for two hours that's the
parking for the whole building that
might
be less stress on the neighborhood
than a school which will have parking
every day
or some other use that could come
I've taken a tour of the building
the creative
play school building where talking
about four times because
I wanted to see a preschool going
there so I know all about it and
I know the sunflower school
will lease the church part of the
big building,
they don't use it they leased to a
theater company and
they use it so the school part isn't
the part that's flowery
on 20 seventh.
anyway, I personally think a church
is
a good use for the space. It is residential,
the variance was educational
so I think that lapsed
now it has been over a year on the
market. Would be great as
a school. I don't think parking is a
huge issue and it makes sense to dig
up the garden
for parking you just pull in on the easement
that for the old food
pantry used to be in front of the church corner. I
don't think having cars
there, it does not block the street
it's not that serious one
or two hours per week, one bible study
we could have worse on
the neighborhood used for that space. That's
what I think that should have
been mentioned I feel about subdividing
because we
were arguing about something that happened
because of
the subdivision.
>> linda.
>> my name is linda bailey I live on
54th
st. And basically the church before
when it was a
school there would be the drop off
of the kids so
no one actually parked, they let the
kid get out of
the car and the cars would go through the
line. They
have tennis, pickleball, events that
go
to gulfport, all of those people are parking
in those parking spots. Now even
all the pickleball, tennis and people
from the
dog park, it
is getting so crowded. To add trying
to
get more parking spots to have a church
when you don't have any handicap parking
spots over there with
no paying for handicap accessible
and you have eight or nine parking spots
if you put any handicap
which you probably need in a church
I don't know if that's required in
church parking but you are
very limited on what, before it was
a vacant when we moved into
the property close by and it was not
being used and when
it was a preschool it was basically
transitioning with cars moving quickly
to
the line and nobody actually parked
so that is
the difference.
>> another hand
up here for
public comment.
>>
amy costa 20th ave., south. That
was very confusing but I cleaned it
all together.
I would like to say I don't know the
full story and who is the
argument what's going on here, but
I do know we have a plethora of empty
buildings sitting empty in gulfport
is very sad,
very difficult for small businesses
to lease
buildings, stay open we are struggling.
if there is an organization that wants
to take the building and do good things
in the community
I hope they are not a church of evil
but I
can see how it could be a bad thing
to have
more spaces for people together.
if you think about other things in
the city whether
it is a festival or a gecko ball or
whatever parking
we all survive it and we
all park everyone does okay and we'll
go home and go back
to normal. I
think it is okay I would like to share
that as a community member.
>> mary, did you have your hand up?
>> first of all a
question for the attorney can I speak
in public speaking?
>> because
you are in the board?
>> yes
.
>> it is advisory and
a public meeting so as long as you
are not speaking on behalf of the
board you can go ahead.
>> speaking
as a individual. Thank you.
I was or I am on
the planning and zoning board and
this did come in front of us and it
was very confusing.
I have a couple of suggestions both
for the planning department and
in general. Maps and diagrams are terrific.
if we had a map that
said this building is this,
this building is this, this building
is this
and where the parking would go everything
would
be much more clear and for you guys
as
well so I would
like to see that in the future, the
lady who came up
whose name escapes me. I'm not sure
if you are the owner,
or the person running the church.
>> speak
to us.
>> neither the owner
nor the church were present and it
would've
been nice to hear from them. I am, however,
concerned about allowing the
counting of right-of-way spaces toward
parking requirements because they
are not dedicated to the building.
if we allow people
to park there on the right-of-way
which
we do mostly for events than that
is
free for all parking.
so it is not dedicated they could
not mark it or put
disabled spots, they cannot do the
other things that are
required for parking for the building
and I do have
concerns about setting the precedent
by saying this building for this use
can
use public right-of-way to satisfy
parking
requirements. I realize downtown we
have variances because downtown
is a different area, but I am worried
about where we are going
with this. Thank you.
>> thank you. Okay. I
think we should , I have a question
maybe I cannot ask the fire marshal to
come up.
>> jim,
come on up.
>> okay. Just because during
public comment it was stated
there was the issue with fire safety
codes and I wanted to get
your take on that.
>> when the building
was taken over by the daycare talking
about separate building that
they own.
it was brought up to code the alarm
system was put in, it was made
safe for children. Now it has
been left abandoned ,
they took the alarm system out
which will have to be put back into it
and if you get occupant
load to see how many people they can put
into the church for usage. That's
where
we are now on the fireside. The building
next
to it is the sunflower school and
they have
passed recent inspection. I don't
know if that answers the
question.
>> initially are
you questioning that 45 people
could exceed the load?
>> it does have a
dividing wall and I live to get in
and
measure because the daycare is different
occupancy from a church so we had
to
see if they're using
pews or chairs, how they are using the
rooms that
are there.
>> mayor, that starts
with the business receipt application?
it will trigger fire inspection
and all of those type
things, they have to get the site
plan approved for
the parking and that is what you will see
in the packet, the pictures are in
the
packet. So that trigger when this
is initially are going to
grant conditional use?
>> allow them
to
do this use and everything else is triggered
that
has to be met.
>> so,
if I understand right this went
before planning and zoning,
planning and zoning advanced to us
with a couple of conditions. One
was that there would be agreement
between the church and the school
about parking and
one is that it
has to pass fire inspection. So these
are conditions that
we have to all be addressed before
it could be finalized.
>> before they get final certificate
of occupancy to operate the business.
>> correct. We did have a meeting
with the owner myself,
community development prior
just to make them aware.
>> okay, all right. Do
we have any more questions, any of
you for
the city?
>> I'm sorry, you go first. >>
when the business tax receipt
is generated that's when you go back right?
>> most likely we will meet before that
to make sure everything is clarified.
before they get to that
point because
at that point that is pretty much
the end of the story so I
would have to say yes, but if I am
aware and we are
speaking on what needs to be done
then it should be
a smooth process.
>> mandatory inspections okay.
>> that triggers everything.
>> final signature. >> any questions?
>> not for the fire department.
>> I don't have any for the
fire department.
>> always here
if you need me.
>> all right, so
I think this is the first one
they have advanced
from planning and zoning to us, so
they are the advisory board
and sorry bailey but you
get one public comment,
your hearing is when you could say
anything you wanted, not
now. Sorry. They have advanced to that
to us and I think
we are now clear on what they are
asking us
to do , so
my understanding is planning
and zoning has advanced it,
my understanding the city approved with
these conditions
on it, so now it is up to
us to take a vote, whether we want
to pass
or not. Am I clear?
>>
the city recommended it. Subject
to your approval. With
conditions they placed.
>> so do we want to have any more
comments made amongst ourselves prior
to the vote?
>>
you are good? You are good?
you are next.
>> just so
you know personally I don't like using
right-of-way for parking
and allowing that
to be the parking spaces.
>> what did you want?
>> it should be street parking like parallel
parking.
>>
we are voting on the resolution to allow
the
application to go forward.
>>
it has to meet parking requirements and
do all those things. If
they do not then they can't.
>> they
are counting
right-of-way parking.
>> I
understand. Sorry.
it is a philosophy versus, yes.
okay.
>> seems to me
this is a sequential process
so the next step would be for us to
prove
going forward and then they have to
meet
other criteria so with that in mind I
am
fine.
>> okay so just say.
>>, boat please.
>> [ roll call vote ]
>> carries to passage.
>>
all right, so that will then take us
,
that was a resolution eight
b correct? That will take us to
discussion items.
>>
just to be clear, to everybody
that is out there, still. These
are discussion items
for the city council, the decision
makers to either decide to advance
these or not, we're not going to be
taking public comment on that, if
we advance
there would be public comment prior to any
kind of vote
but that is not happening tonight, no
public comment
on these items,
this is the only opportunity we have to
talk about these
items. So, thank you.
>> nine eight
the discussion item on the draft ordinance
staff
has prepared ordinance for city council to
review with their actions given on with a
counselor
like to see changes made before bringing
items to future agenda for roll call
vote.
>> okay mayor.
I tried to gather
the concerns from council in drafting this.
remember
the issues this is under new since
area so we try to control
what kind of lighting can basically go from
somebody's
property, to another person's property or
toward the street that would cause
any kind of
nuisance. Also when I looked
at it I tried to look at the compatibility
issues, not that it would go over
somebody
else's yard , but generally where
you
can have lighting and the lighting
you can
have. Obviously it is just a draft
for council to do whatever you want
with.
>> I definitely have thoughts
but I would like to hear everybody
else's, as well. And
we will see if we
have any kind of consensus on this.
councilmember jackson
if you would start us off.
>> I
am okay with this right now.
>> okay . Councilmember
?
>> it looks a little
hoa.
>>
that is probably fair. Like the
hoa, the color of your house
can be this color and your light,
you can't have a golf cart that is red.
I don't know.
>> any time you put in specifics for
people's residences
, there are sections in
here you may want to just remove,
there's nothing wrong with that.
>> anything else?
>> no.
>> I am pretty okay with it. My
concern is the house as they are building
with the long tube
lighting in the front end of a light up
the whole neighborhood. I want to
make sure because they could argue
it is
for safety reasons.
>> you
cannot shine beyond your yard
it cannot shine into the
next-door neighbors or into the right-of-way.
so you can have
very nice whatever they are called.
,
they cannot have that kind of brightness
that will cause a problem.
it can look nice but that does not mean
it can be shining and lighting up
which is what the
concern was.
>> I would like to prohibit
the long lights period because you
know I
don't know if they could
make them I don't know low enough
wattage that it would kind
of go as opposed to lighting up the
whole thing.
>> honestly when I wrote this that's
what I tried to get to.
the problem is you end up being
hoa
so I tried to be more general. It
is hard.
>>
I mean it is
pretty good, I was worried people
could say I'm worried about
safety parking on the street walking
up my walkway.
>> you can worry about the way this
is written sliding
on your property
for example light fixtures shall not
be directly
or indirectly shining toward adjacent
properties
fences and public right-of-way. You
can have your nice
but not the big wattage bulbs.
>>
as long as that's okay because I mean
it's like
you have a quiet neighborhood where
people have little porch lights
and then you have a glow from
these things.
>> we try to make it
also again maybe hoa ,
compatible with , in the neighborhood.
so in the one you described
you would not expect
those to have it, that's not compatible
however in
a neighborhood that has the big ones
it's probably okay in that neighborhood.
>> that's the big part, this is
not taking lights off the houses ,
the
house on 18th ave. This is not
going to take the lights of the house
on 18th ave. They are
there, these people would be okay.
somebody down the street starts doing it
then you have
the conversation. At this point you
are looking and I guess the best way
to do it is compare,
there's language on spotlights.
if I keep it in my yard
you may not like it
but it is still a decorative lamp
just because it
does not fit the neighborhood does
not mean
it is
extending the glowing across the street.
then you are getting
subjective.
>>
that is what I am worried about, the
whole safety thing
and whatever being too subjective.
>> it's not subjective in
that aspect.
>> basically I
totally want to do this because I
don't want those
things, but people who have
those now, could neighbors
complained that the light
is, like the people who live next
door to the
house had to buy blackout curtains for
their
whole house so could they complain
that it is a nuisance that they should
turn
them off by 10:00 at night or something?
as code enforcement not nuisance.
>>
the city permitted
and approved.
>>
I know they did not have
any reason not to.
>> trying to do the most we can to protect
individual property owners
who did not have it in place, we have
to
have something
to prohibit shining from other people's backyards,
new fences and
right-of-way's. That is at least the
main
gist I got from council.
>> in other words
those were my concerns otherwise it
is
okay.
>>
in this conversation we brought up discussion
of wattage
and I'm wondering if illumination might be
a factor that we could address.
I know in projects I have
worked on , that was a factor.
>> I did look
at ordinances with wattage
and why I did not put it in is that
it's really specific in different
zoning areas. I can bring you back
something
with that, it will not be a nuisance
ordinance anymore,
it would be a lighting ordinance
and he will start talking about the
wattage
per area, it's very collocated.
I can draft it if you
want.
>>
it's not just the wattage, it is the
type of illumination that is even driving
can be a hazard.
I was
just wondering
if I could be integrated
into a just the feedback.
you know what?
thought about it and I
thought about what you give me direction
to do and what I heard
was that the biggest concern was
the nuisance aspect of it and that
is
how I draft it but I will do whatever
you want, I can draft a
comprehensive illumination ordinance
, I looked at some
and they were going on and on
and on. Not sure this is what council
wants, but I will do whatever you want.
>> I would defer to council, but I
think
it is two fold, what it is
doing to impact the neighbors, but also
the illumination and
the glare. It is a hazard.
>> the other thing I might say to council is if
you
pass this let us see how it works
and we can always amend.
>> then you
are
stuck with houses that have bright
lights.
>>
houses with bright lights that cannot
illuminate, this
you can't go beyond your yard which
is key for us to get in place.
even if we go the other way
this is the issue have to deal with the
issue quickly.
>> well I am
always in favor of incremental progress
so that is fine
with me.
>> good?
okay.
>> here is
my thoughts. Number one I really want
to see some kind of lighting ordinance
and I feel like sooner is better
than later because
as we have more and more residents
who are finalizing the plans on their
new homes,
I would like for
there to be rules about lighting and
my
thinking on that is particularly in the
cases
where you have a brand-new to her
three-story home coming up
next to a house that might restore
their house because they were less
than 50% is now we have
potentially some lights
that are way up there
and if you put them up 30 feet high,
chances of them going into
the neighbor bedrooms
were there backyards is
extremely good. So I would really like
for us to work on what I'm calling
light pollution.
marlene used the
word wattage.
before she is to the
word wattage which might be the right
word to use, I had written down intensity.
>> that's illumination.
>> I am thinking along the same lines,
there needs to be limits as
to how bright the lights can be
I would be disappointed if we
came out with something that sounded
too much like hoa, I
would not like that I think the timing
is so
important with a number of homes that
are being built and restored
and all
of us need to realize many homes
would be very tall, but they could
literally be
looking over the shorter home
when I looked at it
the first thing under permitted
lighting
the fray should be aesthetically pleasing
is very vague and subjective.
okay is that him?
I
think the phrase is not good that
will cause more arguments than anything
I think the
section compatibility could be
very subjective
acknowledging most things are
fixtures, I thought that was good where
it says they shall not be directly
or
indirectly shining onto the adjacent
properties, fences and public
right of ways. Okay so I thought that
was good. I was saying,
you know I did not want it to
have the intensity of some of the streetlights
that we have, but in
gulfport a lot of streetlights are
not that intense
I did
not see anything in here that addresses
height restrictions
and if
you like there should be height restriction
because you know, the difference of
if you put
a motion detector on house versus
one-story versus two stories versus
a three-story
that will affect your neighbors
quite differently.
so I think a height restriction in
terms
of where you could have a motion detector
or spotlight should be considered
just because
you have a three-story house
does not mean you need to put a spotlight
on the
top story you can still put it on the
first story
gulfport you can
see some are being done the other way.
and then under prohibited lighting
b with any light
or bulb not within a light fixture.
so are we trying to say you cannot hang
the bare bulbs, are we getting that
specific? You cannot , it has to be
within
a globe?
>>
so, that is a perfect example.
what if somebody does not have
a fixture and they
just put in a lightbulb?
>> the hoa
would require it.
>> I don't know,
aesthetically pleasing
I
don't know,
I put it in for you to consider.
my recommendation
would be to
remove a lot of these positions to
get the main part in
would be
the compatibility and part of the
permitted lighting
so we have the
nuisance thing in place and then draft a
lighting ordinance
which would be more comprehensive
and it would talk about the issues
you
are talking about, but this is under
nuisance, I would like to
get the nuisance part in so the city
can enforce those things
>>
you can use the fixture to soften
the light
>> even a bare bulb if it is 60 w
nobody's going
to care even if it looks ugly being
outside
the fixture and then if
it is 400 w.
>> that would be more complaints of.
>> that goes back to what we
were saying intensity or wattage it
is not
the fact that there is a bare bulb
you know
.
it is how bright it
is. Okay.
>> the elimination the wattage
and height.
>> okay, I
like what you said the fact we could do
two steps,
one is a nuisance and then come back
with a lighting and in the lighting
address may be intensity and height
and maybe
not talk about it being subjective
>>
I would recommend we
move for
I would move for part of one
>> we
can leave them vacant. I will do it
so it is the
nuisance. I believe things that are
potentially shining into people those
kinds of things and then I will remove the
other things and bring
it back to you in the meantime we
can work on the lighting.
>>
we have enough consensus for you on that
one? All right city clerk.
>>
>> staff is
prepared to draft ordinance for the council
to review
, should be given to staff with accounts would
like to
see changes made before bringing item
to future agenda for roll call vote.
>> I
would like to table this, not because
I don't want to see us do something
about this I think we need to do something
about this this is extremely hot
topic at the state level right now
and whatever the
state decides to do would
end up preempting anything we did
I think again we should I am not trying
to take away from the importance of this
it is potentially the
number two issue at the state level
right now in
terms of in terms of the legislative session
and what they want to pass
>> I agree with that and
we had about bicycle tricycle rollerskates
or other conveyance of
any kind
in an area in a park where the same
is designated as prohibited.
if it is designated as prohibited
you don't need to have
it in here and it is a whole separate
thing from electronic
bikes because they are not electric.
>> that is the point of
the mayor. It is how they are using
it because
--
>> this or not electric bicycles
tricycle skateboards rollerskates
or
any other conveyance and you talk
about electrical things in the
first sentence , but
these are not electric things.
>>
understand,
that's where you prohibit them.
>>
if it says
prohibited you don't need it in here
that would be my thought I would keep ebike's separate
myself.
tabling it is fine.
>> I am not saying no,
not saying not tonight, let's see
what
happens and
I am always in favor of safety first.
no doubt about that.
so we will move
on then
to nine c.
>>
inclusive or inclusivity
ordinance staff
is preparing resolution for city council to
review
directions on whether council would
like to see
changes made before bringing the item
to future agenda for roll
call vote.
>> okay.
so the issue on this
and I know this is a
divisive issue what I got from the
majority of council
at the meeting and
I know we went back and forth on it
was to address
that the city
is maintaining its status
on civil rights
on individual rights,
on nondiscrimination. And then reiterating that.
the issue you really need to
discuss is if you want to make any changes
to the areas brought up which is
specific
apology, I did not get a majority
on that. So
the way I wrote it is
reaffirming city position on all-inclusive
aspects, protecting and
promoting civil and human rights regarding
the city
if you want to do as I said
the vice mayor and I talked about this,
we
texted each other on this. A question
of if they want to
have specific policy included I need to have
direction on it.
>> okay so again this is discussion
where we try to give directive to the
attorney, so we
will speak in speaking order for you
to share your thoughts.
>> I think
the all-inclusive
city looks good and I'm also okay
with adding an apology.
>> I couldn't hear your.
>> I am okay with what has been written here and
I'm okay with adding
an apology. We have nothing to lose
to add the apology.
>> I think it is very well written
almost like
symbolic legislation. It is
a gesture
. I'm not sure that's enough, but
I hope that it is.
>> s have a problem hearing.
>> this feels like a symbolic gesture
which
is not a bad thing, I think we are just
coming out to say we want to
be clear.
we want to be clear, all-inclusive
city. That's what we are doing.
I am good with it.
>> you are good with the way it
is written?
>> I am good with the
way it is written.
>> to me this is
missing
the point, I think we need to acknowledge
we
were sun down city and say we regret
people
had to go through that, now we are
all-inclusive city , that happened
in the past and we are sorry
about that or just say we regret but
to acknowledge
we were sun down city now we
are not and we're going in a different
letter direction.
>>
all right. So, I really
appreciated what you
wrote and it really appreciated
the whereas four, five and six
and I put them in order that way. The
sections
that declare firm commitment
to uphold and enforce but
there is no mention of acknowledgment
of any history.
acknowledging injustices of the past
or something
like that, but the human
rights ordinance defined discrimination
,
addresses protections, freedom policy equal
opportunity
other definitions and remedies but the
resolution has a very different
tone and
and so the resolution reaffirms
that discrimination harassment exclusion
is contrary to the values of the community
enters all are welcome and respected
and
able to participate the commitment
to uphold as mentioned
serving as a statement of
city values and guiding principles
for decision-making, policy and public
service which I thought was excellent.
there is no specific acknowledgment
of history which may be
uncomfortable to some but important
to others.
so I drafted a
couple of different suggestions and
I
will read both if you wish the
first is recognizing the importance
of acknowledging history
including moments when discrimination
or
exclusion occurs as an essential step
strengthening trust, healing and building
a more
just and welcoming community.
and if everybody likes that I won't
even read
the second.
>> just so
I know is that whereas or
?
>> I believe that to the
legal expertise.
the second is a firm's importance
of understanding and learning from
community history as we recommend
and recommit ourselves
to the values of inclusion, dignity
and equal participation.
>> I like the first
one. It says more about history.
that we were just.
>> first
or second.
>> read
the second, again.
>> I don't want to water it down because
I want us
to be very clear that we are recognizing
our history and we are
acknowledging that. Affirms the importance
of understanding and learning from
community history
as we recommit ourselves
of the values of inclusion dignity and
equal participation for all. Recognizes
the importance of acknowledging
history, including moments when discrimination
or
exclusion occurred as an essential step
in strengthening,
trust, healing and building a more
just and welcoming community. That kind
of
fits with what I was saying in the
previous meeting
so I do favor that one,
but I mean I
don't want to fight anybody
on it.
>> they are both really
well written.
>> reading them both
twice again
I feel they are almost the
same.
>> I like one
better because it actually says
, for behavior
of the
past. Okay? Acknowledging the behavior
and there
was another word in there.
>> one was more direct you
know apologizing and reaffirming those
things occurred , but you have moved
forward that is what
one of them sounded like.
>> recognizing
importance
of acknowledging our history including
moments when discrimination occurred
as an essential step strengthening
trust, healing
and building a more just and welcoming community.
>> I really like that
one best and it goes alongside with what
councilmember earley said , that
I feel like we have done this
with the ordinance from 20 years ago, but that
was
a different council that did that
so if there
would be any doubt about the position
of the city and this council this
is helping to
wait for that. To me it
does not apologize for being a sun
down city
it does apologize for the discrimination
in the history of
some that were in the city.
so for me as I
said before I see that as separate
things, the behavior of the residents
versus the behavior of the city
are not necessarily one in the same.
>> people might
interpret differently, but
however it speaks to people
and creates healing
and states clearly we are moving forward
in language
the attorney already composed into it
is even in policy, and
decision-making
processes how important that is. That's
why I asked for a copy
of what you read about the human rights
ordinance in
the last meeting because I really cents
there was a different tone and a
missing component and especially after
rereading it
and what
we were trying to accomplish I was
thoroughly convinced we needed a different tone and
to be
more specific and that is what
I spoke with last time and started
with healing the
last time as well so that's
why I think it is important to include
that.
>> give that to
me or send it?
>> you don't want my
scribble notes because I wrote all
over it.
>> you came up
with some really good words we could
agree on.
>> I really hope this is
a point that people understand, we
are acknowledging
history,
however anyone chooses to interpret
I have my interpretation and you may
have another, but you know
I acknowledge
what I believe
to have happened here. I was not here,
but from what I
have heard,
I understand
so that's what I'm trying to convey personally.
I am also trying to
speak for everybody.
>>
I have my direction unless there's
something more.
>> turning to you to say do you have
direction?
>>
I do.
>> very good. That will then
take us
to my discussion. My goodness.
I just want to go
to sleep. Okay. So,
my discussion is
really not a discussion and it is
not fair it says considerations for
downtown area
and that cannot be blamed on
the city clerk. I did not define for
her what I wanted
to do and I kind of wanted to build
a
nice overview of the things I have been
hearing over the years
and the consistency and lack
of consistency
and how
we are sometimes all over the board
but there is general consensus so
that's because what I
want to do and I knew it was going
to be late,
I did not know this late but
I did write out some things so I am
going to read even though you know
I don't usually like to read, I like
to talk from my heart more so,
but when I get tired it gets more difficult.
these are the things that I wrote down.
a few years
ago, the residents of gulfport conducted
a
series of meetings to engage and brainstorm
regarding gulfport , this was
an initiative of
mayor love, led by resident
ingrid, the goal is for neighbors
to discuss concerns
and want in a nonthreatening way.
I did not attend all
the meetings I was present for one and
a half of them and I
read the summary of meetings. Others may
have heard
differently, but I saw the
biggest consensus
of these meetings,
let's see, others may have heard different way
but I saw the
biggest consensus of these meetings
around two issues. One,
the need for affordable housing
and that kind of included discussion
of rent
control and homelessness. Okay? Two,
environmental issues
and that conversation evolved around
rising sea level
, climate change, alternative modes
of transportation
and increased walk ability
so I am including that into
environmental issues.
there was not a lot of problem-solving at
these meetings, but
rather, a lot of identifying problems. Okay?
next section.
last year I led a meeting called gulfport 2050.
goal was for the residents to acknowledge
change was coming
and how could they
or how they would like gulfport to
look
and feel in 2050, the premise
was that in order to accomplish the
20/50
vision, we needed to
break it down where we would be
in 2030 and 2040
hard to believe you are only four
years away from 2030.
I found the thoughts to be all over
the board
and many of them were very shortsighted
and they did not get 20/50
let's talk about what 2050 looks like,
it was
very shortsighted
in most cases. The biggest
consensus I received was the need to
strengthen and harden the city against
rising waters. Create more parking
to
businesses, especially handicap while
being more bike and pedestrian
friendly. Interesting enough there
was more talk
of resiliency
at gulfport on the edge then there
was gulfport 2050, looking
at this for a couple of reasons.
number one, I believe
the residents should be heard and
voices matter
and if they took the time
to attend these meetings and speak
up we need to
revisit this periodically. It's not
like you
go to the meeting
and it does not go anywhere, I
want to keep using the information.
and I believe the council must
provide direction
for the long-term future, not just for
today's problems. I
do believe
the roll of the council
is to plan for future. Just as I said.
I believe if
we concentrate on the area where the
most consensus
we will be working a good roadmap.
I believe
this council has clearly communicated
long-term commitment to stormwater fixes
and strengthening of shorelines against
rising water.
I said it in that order intentionally
because
the watershed study clearly shows
the city has more flooding due to
over land stormwater than tied.
which I found surprising
I was very surprised by that. I believe you're
ready
to have serious conversations about
a.d. You
which could add some
affordable housing. I think we're close
on that.
it is 2026
it
is a new year and we have a lot before us
as we try
to complete recovery complain new
daily services advanced senior
center expansion and create the
grand plan for stormwater
all while under the threat of a huge
reduction to income
for the elimination of property taxes
on homestead properties.
as mayor of the city
my focus must be on the issues of gulfport,
that is what I was elected
to do. At the next meeting I will
get
presentation on plans to
change parking and traffic flow in
the downtown area. I
know I have sat through
12 years of council meetings and I
know change is scary.
I hope that each one of you will consider
my plan and provide
input to improve upon it.
of course there's plenty more information in
those presentations to break down
in the future, as well
. That is my whole discussion
>> the only thing I would add
is people were concerned about giving
the character
of gulfport.
others were quite accurate.
>>
I agree.
>> that's all I had to say we could
move to new business
please.
>> no new business.
I know I am next.
>> I will
go next time.
>> we have something brewing
but I don't want to be premature.
>> I forgot to mention the new gulfport
environmental team
is also on
connecting gulfport on the volunteer
portal so you can sign
up for that.
>> all of this can wait except are
we recording
?
>> it is a
private group , that was established
last year when we give
it to them but we give them
the building.
>> who recorded last
time?
>> gabbard did
>>
it would be up to the league of women
voters to do
the recording?
>>
who is coordinating so they can
be contacted about that?
>>
okay.
.
>>
I understand.
>>
I understand and I hear your. They
have
been recorded before and want to continue.
>> council last year.
did not want us to participate.
>> interesting okay. Moving on
that could be another conversation.
I want to
make sure we are moving forward with
287 workshop
.
>> I
think we need to.
>>
we have one on the eighth about the
referendum.
>> we have
one on the fifth.
>> the one on 287
is you want
to give time to gather some of the
documentation like
the vice mayor brought up.
I would like to make sure you
add specifics, when I looked quickly
they
said agency and I was trying to figure
out what
that meant, there have
been some that did not sign so maybe we can get
the
documentation so you can have that.
>>
the school board the pinellas school
board rescinded
the agreement I talked to caprice
edmonds because it had not been approved
by either
the superintendent or the
school board.
they are a little different because
they're not a city.
so they cannot call them
sanctuary city.
>> can they take away their funding?
>>
yes they could.
>>
all of that they can take
it away.
>> that has been part of the leverage.
>> I do think we need to
give time to gather information with
information out to
the community so
it is timely because
still there's a lot of concern and fear
and we need to talk about
it in the community.
>> what about
the 20 sixth? Too far away?
there is no council
for that week , that would give over
a month.
>>
if council gives us direction
if we run into the problem we can always bring
it back.
>> I think
it was really obvious tonight there
is a tremendous amount of fear and
I also think that a good bit of the
fear is
generated by rumors
that are not true .
on the other hand, I need
to hear more. I know
what I have been told, but have
I spent full-time on this, no. I have
been spending
full-time on the city of gulfport
issues we have to deal with every
single day in
and day out.
so I do not so we are necessarily
well-prepared and I appreciate the fact
we did get responses on several issues
without having been forewarned
on what was happening tonight.
so I think having it is good so if
we
want to pull out a date and
within the next two days, we can from yes
we can make it happen or no we can't.
that way also attorney,
when people start sending
us, the council things, yes but what
about this and what about that?
at least we can forward that
to you so you can either confirm yes
that is accurate information
or yeah, that was
one piece of it but that changed 10
months ago. You know,
so we are looking at it because
just like we
talked about, you can move the
car for the hurricane, what can
we potentially do and I'm not talking about
rescinding the agreement, but
how, what could we be looking at
to do our darndest to keep as
far away.
>>
mayor, I would like
to look at some of that because I
think, trying
to say this to the best way I can
think of. Which is while some communities
may have
adopted this or
were forced to adopt it does not mean
they are implementing it
and I think that's what the vice mayor was
pointing to. You, yes it says it in
the agreement,
but
it does not mean anybody is doing
it because there was leverage,
there's leverage placed on this, not
just criminal aspects,
it's the financial leverage and everybody
in smaller cities are the ones that
are feeling that
and I think that is a fair statement
that
needs to be brought out, too. I hope
I am not going to be arrested now.
>>
we will bail you out.
>> all right.
where
you've done with your
new business?
>> someone mentioned
the 20 sixth.
january 26
you will be in tallahassee. Or february.
>> could not be ready for january.
>> earlier if we
can buy just to be fair.
>> now it
comes
to me for the new business and I had
some
things here, but I cannot deal with
it right
now. I am just out of it.
I am going to adjourn our meeting.
thank
you to all of you who
hung the in here this long,
I hope the rest of you don't get
up at 4:00 every morning. Thank you for
being here,
appreciate it.