City Council Meeting

ASK THAT EVERYBODY STAND. >> ON WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY, WE ARE REMINDED EVERY ACT OF KINDNESS STRENGTHENS THE HEART OF GULFPORT. WHEN WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP, WE CREATE MORE THAN A TOWN BUT A HOME WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS. 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. >>> THANK YOU. CITY CLERK, WILL YOU DO ROLL CALL PLEASE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SHAW? >> PREPB ET . [ ROLL CALL ] >>> TONIGHT WE HAVE NO PRESENTATIONS, WHICH IS PROBABLY GOOD BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION TONIGHT, SO I'M KIND OF GLAD WE DON'T HAVE PRESENTATIONS BUT WE WILL GO AHEAD AND KICK OFF WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS, SO JUST IF YOU RAISE YOUR HAND I WILL JUST CALL YOU UP HERE AND WE'LL KICK OFF WITH KELLY. KELLY AND MOM. >> YES. >> HI, EVERYBODY. MY MOM IS HERE AS ONE OF MY BIGGEST FANS AND HELPERS. I HAVE TWO SEPARATE THINGS I WANT TO ANNOUNCE AND TALK ABOUT TONIGHT, AND SHE'S UP HERE TO HELP ME WITH OUR TIME IF WE NEED MORE TIME.NEED THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS HI AND IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU ALL SITTING ON THE DAIS AGAIN. MY HEART GETS WARM EVERY TIME I WALK IN AND IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL POWERHOUSE. I LOVE WHERE THINGS ARE GOING, SO THANK YOU. THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, AND YOU PROBABLY HOPEFULLY KNOW ABOUT OUR FOOD FOREST, AND IT'S NOT JUST TREES, ARTS AND PLANTS, BUT IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GATHER ALONG THE PATH AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN AND GROW, LITERALLY AND PHYSICALLY, AND IT'S PLACE WHERE KIDS PLAY AND IT'S BEEN AA DREAM MAKE IT A BEAUTIFUL WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT COMMUNITY HUB, SO WE'VE DONE THAT OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS WITH EFFORTS OF PLANNING THE, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND ET CETERA. WE WANT TO LAUNCH SOMETHING NEW AND BRING SOMETHING THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE A NEW AND TREASURED EVENT IN THE FALL FESTIVAL. THE FALL FESTIVAL WILL BE AN ANNUAL FUNDRAISER FOR THE FOOD FOREST, FILLED WITH MUSIC, FOOD, GUIDED WALKS, CLASSES, VENDORS, KIDS ACTIVITY, AND YES, A PUMPKIN PATCH. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING HARD TO GROW OUR OWN SEMINAL PUMPKINS. WE STARTED WITH ABOUT 54. WE MAY HAVE TEN THAT ARE HOLDING STRONG, BUT WE WILL SOURCE OUR PUMPKINS. WE JUST WANT TO HARVEST SOMETHING AND GIVE IT TO THE COMMUNITY IN A FUN WAY. THE PURPOSE WILL GO DEEPER AND RAISE FUNDS FOR THE FOOD FOREST, WILL GO TOWARDS TOOLS, HOSES, WHEEL BORROWS. WE HAVE BEEN ORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AND THANK JUSTIN FOR HIS EFFORTS SO THIS WOULD BE THE START OF A ANNUAL TRADITION. JOIN US ON OCTOBER 4th IN CLIMBER PARK. WE WILL HAVE OUR FALL FEST THE FIRST SATURDAY OF OCTOBER EVERY YEAR. WE ARE WELCOMING SPONSORS AND PARTNERS, SO IF YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS WANT TO HELP REACH THE VISION TO LIFE, AND I DON'T THINK I SAID THIS, I'M KELLY GARCIA, I LIVE ON 56th STREET. PLEASE REACH OUT TO MYSELF OR TRIA. >> WHAT TIME? >> IT'S GOING TO BE FROM 11:00 TO 7:00. GREAT QUESTION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT. >> NOW KELLY GARCIA THE SECOND -- >> HI, I'M KELLY GARCIA. AND I'LL WAIT FOR MY -- >> THANK YOU. >> TONIGHT I'M ALSO REPRESENTING A GREAT GROUP THAT HAS MY HEART, AND IT'S A GULFPORT WELCOME EVENT. WE ARE HOSTING OUR SEVENTH GULFPORT WELCOME EVENT. AND THE CITY OF GULFPORT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE. YOU ALL HAVE ATTEMPTED AT LEAST ONE, AND FOR THAT I'M VERY GRATEFUL. WHAT IS IT? IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD, IT'S A CHANCE FOR NEW OR NEW ISSUE GULFPORTS TO MEET THEIR POLICE AND POLICE CHIEF AND THE GORGEOUS POLICE DOG WILL BE THERE, AND MOST IMPORTANT YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT SERVICES AND WHERE TO SOURCE YOUR INFORMATION, BECAUSE THE CITY HAS SO MUCH OF THIS DONE FOR US. THERE'S WEBSITES AND EVENT CALENDERS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE WANT TO POINT PEOPLE IN THE DIRECTION TO, AND PROBABLY THE PART THAT'S CLOSEST MY HEART IS WE GIVE PEOPLE WAYS TO GET CONNECTED, SO WE ALSO INVITE LOCAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS AND NON-PROFITS, AND THEY ARE DOING GOOD AND WANT RESIDENTS TO JOIN AND GIVES YOU A CHANCE WHEN YOU ARE NEW OR NEW-YISH HOW TO CONNECT, AND WE HOPE YOU WILL ALL JOIN US. IF YOU ARE A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION OR SOMEBODY THAT HAS SOMETHING GREAT GOING ON AND YOU THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT, WE WOULD LOVE TO OFFER YOU A SPACE AT THE EVENT. WE HAVE POST CARDS AND FLYERS TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD AND WILL HAVE DETAILS COMING SOON. FOR NOW MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 11th AT THE LIBRARY -- >> YOU SAID THE 10th THE FIRST TIME. >> I DID. IT'S OCTOBER 10th , AT 6:30 AT THE LIBRARY, AND THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE SPREAD THE WORD WITH MARKETING AS WELL. >> VERY GOOD, AND NOW YOU KNOW WE ARE LISTENING. >> THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >> WHO IS NEXT? LAURA. LAURA OLDANEY. MAYOR LOVE, I SAW YOUR POST ABOUT TODAY'S MEETING AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED WAS THE WAKE ISSUE, AND I HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS PERSONALLY. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE --I MEAN, GULFPORT IS GREAT, AND WHERE WE ARE PRONE TO HAVE FLOODING IN THE STREETS TO AVOID THOSE PLACES. I THINK THERE ARE MULTIPLE --THERE'S A SPECTRUM OF OPTIONS FROM A VERY EXPENSIVE APP TO JUST EVEN A LIST OF THE INTERSECTIONS OR STREETS THAT ARE PRONE TO FLOODING AND ARE NOT PRONE TO FLOODING. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ROUTING IN GULFPORT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ARE FOCUSED ON GULFPORT AND IDEALLY FOR ME IT WOULD BE A MAP OF THE WHOLE COUNTY SO WHEN I'M UP IN SEMINAL WITH MY PARENTS AND WE ARE HAVING RAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW REALTIME WHERE IT'S FLOODING. IF PEOPLE HAD INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THE WAKE AREAS ARE LIKELY TO BE, FOR THE SAKE OF THE HOMEOWNERS, AND FOR ME WITH A LOW CAR, I WANT TO KNOW THAT SO I DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE MY CAR OR SOMEBODY'S HOME. JUST A THOUGHT. THANK YOU. LOOKING. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY, SO I AM WITH GULFPORT GRASSROOTS, AND I LIVE AT BEACH WAY PARK HERE IN GULFPORT. I'M WITH GULFPORT GRASSROOTS AND WE HAD A BEYOND THE BEACH CLEANUP ON AUGUST 9th. I WAS OUT OF TOWN, BUT DEB SOUSA, MY PARTNER IN GRASSROOTS CLEANUPS, SHE CARRIED ON WITH IT. OUR BEACH CLEANUPS OUT OF THE 11 YEARS HAVE ONLY BEEN CANCELEDCANCELED ONCE, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF COVID BECAUSE THEY CLOSED THE BEACH, AND WE ALSO HAVE CALLED IT OFF DURING LIGHTNING STORMS, AND OTHER THAN THAT IT HAS BEEN GOING 11 YEARS EVERY SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH, BUT THE ONE ON AUGUST 9th, DEB CARRIES THAT OUT, AND 22 PEOPLE SHOWED UP, VOLUNTEERS, AGAIN, MANY FROM OUT OF GULFPORT. I WISH MORE GULFPORTERS WERE THERE, AND THEY COLLECTED A TOTAL OF 152 POUNDS OF TRASH AND DEGREE FROM OUR WATER FRONT AREA. THAT'S A HUGE AMOUNT. THEN THE BEACH CLEANUPS ARE HELD EVERY SECOND SATURDAY, EVERY MONTH, AND WE MEET AT SHELTER NUMBER 4. RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON A SUMMER SCHEDULE AT 8:00 A.M. THE NEXT CLEANUP IS GOING TO BE SEPTEMBER 13th, AND THAT'S THE SECOND SATURDAY, AND, GOOD EVEN, SHELTER NUMBER 4. WE SUPPLY EVERYTHING, THE BAGS, PICKERS, PALES, EVEN WATER TO DRINK, YOU KNOW, GLOVES, ANYTHING ANYBODY MIGHT NEED. OUR CO-HOST IS KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL. MARK YOUR CALENDARS, OCTOBER 4th, AND NO, IT WON'T INTERFERE WITH YOUR EVENT. >> OKAY. >> IT WILL BE FROM 9:00 TO 11:00. IT'S OUR GREAT CLAM BAYOU CLEANUP, AND THE CO- HOST IS THE CITY OF GULFPORT AND ALSO KEEP US BEAUTIFUL. EVERYBODY CAN RUN OVER AND --TO TAKE PART IN THE FALL LOVE FESTIVAL AND EAT SOME PUMPKIN. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> LISA? >> I WANTED TO PIGGYBACKPIGGYBACK OF WHAT LAURA SHARED. I HAPPEN TO LIVE ON TANGERINE AVENUE SOUTH IN BETWEEN 59th AND 60th AND THERE'S A GROUP OF HOMES --ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR --MAYBE SIX OR EIGHT HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN FLOODED BECAUSE OF THE OVERFLOWING OF OUR DRAINS. I KNOW THAT ONE HOUSE WAS COMPLETELY -- COMPLETELY RUINED AND IT'S BEEN REDONE. OUR HOUSE, OUR GARAGE HAD TWO FEET OF WATER IN IT. WE LOST EVERYTHING IN IT. IT'S NOT HURRICANES, IT'S REALLY RAINS. SO OUR GARAGE FLOODED AGAIN THIS PAST RAIN JUST A FEW DAYS BACK AND WE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS PERSONALLY TO JUST KEEP EVERYTHING RAISED, BUT WE REALLY DON'T WANT WATER COMING IN, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO ACCESS TO THE HOUSE FROM THE GARAGE DOOR, AND I KNOW THAT OTHERS --SO MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED AROUND THE CORNER, SO I KNOW THAT THAT'S A HUGE PROJECT AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A COUPLE COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT IT AND I KNOW IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT I'M JUST --WE DIDN'T BUY IN A FLOOD ZONE AND THE CONCERN IS THAT OUR -- LIKE, WE DON'T SEE GRASS ANYMORE, YOU KNOW, THE FRONT AND THE BACK ARE JUST FEET OF WATER. IF YOU LOOK OUT THE FRONT DOOR, IT'S RIVER, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF EVERYBODY SO THAT IT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE HURRICANE SEASON COMING, AND -- OH, AND I GUESS THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF IT AND IT'S WHAT LAURA SHARED, AND I KNOW THAT OTHERS, BECAUSE PEOPLE DO DRIVE THROUGH AND NOT REALIZE, SO OF COURSE, THAT SPLASHES ON TO OUR HOUSES, AND EVEN MORE SO THERE'S CARS AND TRUCKS GETTING STUCK IN IT, SO THEIR CARS ARE GETTING RUINED BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALIZE HOW DEEP IT IS, BUT IT'S LIKE THIS. IN FACT, I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WE HAVE A PRETTY HIGH DRIVEWAY, AND MY CAR --IF MY HUSBAND DIDN'T PULL MY CAR OUT WHEN HE DID, IT ALREADY WENT UP TO THE FLOORBOARDS IN THE LAST RAIN, AND I HAVE A LOW CAR BUT IT'S IN A DRIVEWAY THAT'S ELEVATED. I WAS HOPING WE COULD MAYBE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. I THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. >> THANK YOU. >> ALBERT? >> ALBERT RISENBURG, 19th AVENUE SOUTH. IN LIGHT OF THE LAST BIG SEVEN-INCH RAIN WE JUST HAD, RIGHT AFTER THE HURRICANES I HAD COME UP HERE AND I HAD MENTIONED THAT MAYBE WE PUT OUR BEACHES BACK TOGETHER IN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WAY, AND I WAS TOLD WE HAD TO DO IT THE EXACT SAME WAY IT WAS, AND GUESS WHAT, WE ERODED IT AGAIN. WE JUST ADDED SAND AND IT ERODED AGAIN. WE WERE JUST UP AT THE SPRINGS, AND THEY HAD AN INTERESTING PARKING LOT, WHICH HAD WEBBING AND HELD ROCKS, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR SAND. I KNOW THERE HAS TOTO STEPS WE COULD TAKE, AND NOW THAT FEMA'S NOT GIVING US ALL THE MONEY, AND EVEN IF THEY ARE, HOW MUCH EFFORT ARE WE GOING TO PUT INTO PUTTING THINGS BACK THE WAY THEY WERE INSTEAD OF MAYBE TAKING INEXPENSIVE STEPS. THAT WEBBING COULD NOT HAVE COSTS VERY MUCH AND I GUARANTEE IT WOULD HOLD BACK SOME OF THIS EROSION, AND I KNOW THERE'S OTHER TECHNIQUES. THERE HAS TO BE. IF WE ARE GOING TO SPEND MONEY ON GETTING COMPANIES TO FIGURE STUFF OUT, THAT MIGHT BE A WAY TO DO IT. I'M TOTALLY FOR THAT. I LOVE OUR CITY AND I LOVE OUR BEACHES, AND, FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THESE -- I MEAN, TOMMILSON POND, WE HAVE RIVERS COMING DOWN 54 AND 51st. THE LAST TWO YEARS IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES NOW, AND BEFORE THAT IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE IN THE 13 YEARS I HAVE LIVED HERE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> DEB. >> FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND WHAT LISA SAID. I'M HER NEIGHBOR. I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET AND THE SAME THING -- >> YOU ARE BEING RECORDED SOSO AND TALK -- >> THREE FEET OF WATER IN THE GARAGE, AND WE LOSE THE WASHER, DRYER, AND IN THE SHED WE HAVE A POTTERY STUDIO AND THERE GOES THE WHEEL. IT'S AN ISSUE THERE, AND IT IS WHEN TONS OF RAIN COMES DOWN. ONE OTHER POINT IS THAT WHEN THIS WAKE ZONE BUSINESS, I REALLY FIND THE ONLY THING THAT HOPEFULLY YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND, AND I MENTIONED THIS TO COSI, THOSE THAT LIVE ON TANGERINE BETWEEN GRAY AND 59th, THAT PART OF THE STREET COULD BE CLOSED OFF WITH THE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR AND THAT COULD BE LIFTED 30 MINUTES LATER BECAUSE ALL THE WATER DISAPPEARS. ON A SECOND NOTE, AND I DON'T THINK I NEED TWO TIMES THREE, I SENT AN EMAIL TO KAREN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND SHE SUGGESTED THAT YOU ALL HEAR THIS, SO I WILL READ THE EMAIL THAT I SENT TO KAREN. OKAY. I'VE BEEN PLAYING SHUFFLE BOARD AT THE ST. PETE CLUB AND RECENTLY AT PAW TPHALIOUS PARK SENIOR CENTER NOW FOR FOUR YEARS. THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE IN THEIR 90s PLAYING AS WELL AS A GUY WHO IS 103. THIS IS A SPORT FOR ALL AGES AND I WISH THAT WE COULD FIND A SPACE AND MONEY TO BUILD JUST A FEW COURTS. I WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. I WOULD EVEN COMMIT TO TEACHING, RUNNING A LEAGUE AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. I WOULD EVEN TAKE ALL OF YOU TO ST. PETE, TO THE CLUB, AND TEACH YOU HOW TO PLAY. THERE'S A LOT OF STRATEGIES INVOLVED AND MIND GAMES, SO MAYBE WE COULD FIND A WAY TO HAVE A FIELD TRIP AND WE COULD GO DOWN TO ST. PETERSBURG SHUFFLE BOARD CLUB WHICH HAS BEEN THERE FOR 100 YEARS. >> COOL. KAREN. >> KAREN SCHWARTZ. I HAVE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT A CASINO. I REALLY MISS THE CASINO. BUT I WORRY THAT IF WE BUILD ITIT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THAT IT WAS, THAT WON'T BE GOOD ENOUGH. IT NEEDS -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO RAISE IT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO MOVE IT, AND THIS IS JUST -- IT TROUBLES ME. IT TROUBLES ME. AND IT TROUBLES ME THAT THE BUSINESSES DOWN SUFFER, AND IT HURTS. IT JUST PLAIN HURTS. NEPTUNE IS TRYING TO REBUILD AND THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GET WASHED AWAY AGAIN, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS. I JUST --I CAN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS. I REALLY WANT THE CASINO BACK IN A SAFE WAY. THAT'S ALL. >> THANK YOU. INGRID. >> INGRID BREADENBURG, 56th STREET SOUTH. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT GULFPORT HAS A VERY LONG HISTORY WITH LEVERANCE, AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN PARK FOR WORLD LAB REPBS DAY, AND WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING THAT AGAIN IN 2026. IN FACT I'M APPLYING FOR A GRANT AND THIS YEAR THE THEME IS MAKING WAVES AND IT'S AN INTERFERENCE OF ART, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROPER KIND OF ART INSTALLATION. THIS WOULD BE A TEMPORARY LABYRINTH THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, THE WHOLE POINT OF THE LABYRINTH IN THE COMING YEARS, AS THE PAST HAS BEEN ALSO, TO REALLY GENERATE THE INTEREST AND EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT LABYRINTHS AND THEIR BENEFITS, AND THIS VISION IS SHARED BY MANY PEOPLE. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE, BUT THIS IS WHERE THE EFFORTS WILL BE GOING. FOR THE APPLICATION, I NEED A LETTER FROM THE CITY THAT JUST SAYS IT'S OKAY TO DO THIS, AND BECAUSE THE APPLICATION IS DUE AUGUST 31st, I HAVE ASKED COUNCIL SHAW TO MAKE THAT REQUEST AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OBJECTIONS, AND REQUEST THAT LETTER FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE A TEMPLATE OR WHATEVER, AND THOSE ARE MY PLANS, AND BE PREPARED FOR THE FIRST DAY SO WE HAVE TIME. YOU WILL BE HEARING MORE PLANS ABOUT PREPARING A PERMANENT LABYRINTH, BECAUSE WE HAVE A POTENTIAL DONOR AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES. THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. WHO'S NEXT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? AMY. HELLO, COUNCIL. AMY COSTA, AN IN-TOWN BUSINESS COLLECTIVE. I WAS INSPIRED HEARING PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING, AND KAREN, YOU POINTED IT OUT, OUR TOWN HAS KNOWLEDGE AND YOU ARE OPEN TO HEARING IDEAS, AND WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, DON'T JUST COME WITH THE PROBLEM, BRING THE SOLUTION. I THINK THERE ARE REALLY TALENTED AND CREATIVE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT PROBABLY COULD COME UP WITH EXCELLENT SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THESE NOT LITTLE PROBLEMS BUT PROBLEMS ONGOING AND THINGS WE HAVE IN OUR TOWN THAT WOULD BE FREE IF WE COULD MAYBE PUT TOGETHER FOCUS GROUPS LIKE TOPIC- BASED FOCUS GROUPS THAT PEOPLE DIFFERENT COULD SIGN UP TO MEET, TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND WE COULD ACTUALLY BRING THOSE ANSWERS TO COUNCIL COUNCIL ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL THE STUFF HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO POST AT WONDER WORKS WITH THE COLLECTIVE AS WELL AND, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILIES, LIKE EVERYBODY THAT'S IMPACTED AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ANSWERS, MAYBE WE CAN KIND OF PLAN SOME THINGS BY THE NEXT FEW MEETINGS BRING SOME IDEAS. JUST A THOUGHT. >> THANK YOU. >> I SEE -- YES, LAUREN. >> OKAY. LAUREN STERN WARD 4. SPEAKING FIRST AS THE GULF LINE PORT COALITION. WE THE COALITION ARE GOING TO CREATE SIGNS TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SUPPORT COMMUNITY ACTIONS, SAFEGUARD OUR PROPERTIES. PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO JOIN THE WAIT LIST FOR ONE @GULFLINECOALITION.ORG. SECONDLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT REMOTE COMMENT. >> ALL RIGHT. BEFORE I CLOSE, YES, DONNA --GAYLE, EXCUSE ME. >> WHAT DID YOU CALL ME? >> I SAID MISS -- >> I AM KIDDING. I AM GAYLE AND LIVE UP ON 8th AVENUE SOUTH. I'M ALSO ON THE SENIOR CENTER FOUNDATION LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW SENIOR CENTER. I KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING -- >> THERE WILL BE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE DISCUSSION OF THAT TONIGHT. >> OKAY. >> THAT WOULD BE THE BETTER PLACE TO DO IT. >> GEEZ, MAYBE I BETTER SIT DOWN AND WAIT? >> MOVE ALONG, MISSY. >> ANYBODY ELSE? >> OH, I GUESS WE CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE MANY EVENTS COMING. THE NEXT ONE IS NAN COLTON ON THE 14th, AND SHE'S DOING MARY SHELLY, WHICH IS -- SHE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH FRANKENSTEIN, SO IT WILL BE A REALLY GOOD ONE. THEN WE ALSO HAVE NIGHT IN ITALY COMING UP AT THE MARIA CENTER ON THE 25th OF OCTOBER, AND --OH, WE ALSO HAVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMING UP ON THE 11th OF OCTOBER. I'M LOUSY WITH --THAT'S WHY I KEEP EVERYTHING ON MY PHONE. >> OKAY. >> BUT I WILL WAIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE SENIOR FOUNDATION. >> ALL RIGHTY. I THINK LISA WAS NEXT? HI, OUR COMMUNITY SPACES, UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING AND PERSISTING FLOODING. THESE AREAS WERE NEVER DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PERMANENT HABITATION, AND WE LACK FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE SUCH USE. LAST NIGHT THERE WERE TEN OVERNIGHT CAMPERS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. THIS GROWING PRESENCE IS DISCOURAGING FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE, AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED CONFRONTATIONS THAT LEFT ME FEELING UNSAFE. SINCE WE ALREADY ENFORCE OVERNIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON THE BEACH LOT -- FLOODING IS A SECOND MAJOR CONCERN. RECENT RAIN EVENTS, NOT STORM SURGE BUT RAIN REPEATEDLYREPEATEDLY OVER TOOK STRUCTURE. RAIN FLOWS DOWNHILL BY THE BAY. THE ONLY OUTLETS NEAR VETERANS PARK, THE VOLLEYBALL COURT AND THE FAILED BEACH RAIN GUARD ARE INSUFFICIENT. WATER FLOODS INTO LOW- LYING STREETS MAKING ROADS IMPASSABLE AND IMPACTING ROADS AND BUSINESSES. DEGREE QUICKLY CLOGS THE FEW DRAINS WE HAVE. I WORRY OUR SHOPS WILL GO WEARY AND RELOCATE TO HIGHER GROUND. WE MUST ACT NOW PROACTIVELY WITH AN OPEN MIND TO IMPLEMENT PROVEN SOLUTIONS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES, AND BEGIN SUMMIT INVESTIGATION EFFORTS IMMEDIATELY. MY HUSBAND, SCOTT, IS THE WATERFRONT ENGINEER AND HAS VOLUNTEERED TO ASSIST AS IDEAS COME FORWARD. SO I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ENACT AN ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS THE ENCAMPMENTS AND MAKE SURE WE PRIORITIZE THE SOLUTIONS FOR RAIN AND OTHERWISE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. HI, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, EVERYBODY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ROUNDUP RIGHT NOW. SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WATERSHEDS, I GOT A LITTLE TRIGGERED A COUPLE WEEKS BACK BECAUSE I HAD BEEN TAKING CARE OF AN EASEMENT ON 49th STREET IN FRONT OF THE STORAGE HOUSE. IT'S A WHOLE BLOCK, AND I HAD BEEN WORKING A COUPLE YEARS ON IT, SO ROUNDUP GOT SPRAYED OUT THERE AND ALL THE BLUE SUPER AND COSMOS DIED AND SOME OF THE REALLY LOW-GROWING THINGS, AND IT'S ALL OKAY, BUT I WANTED TO SAY, HEY, HERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE TO ROUNDUP. A FEW YEARS BACK THE GULFPORT FOOD FOREST BOUGHT THE CITY OF GULFPORT, A PRODUCT CALLED AVENGER, AND MAYOR SAM FROM THE PAST TOOK A MAJOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE AND DECIDED THAT HE WOULD NOT SPRAY ROUNDUP ANYMORE IN THE FOOD FOREST PART, SO I WANT TO PUT THAT BACK OUT TO YOU AS THE MAYOR NOW. MAYBE WE NEED TO REVISIT THE MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE AND REALLY KIND OF SHORE IN OUR ROUNDUP USE. I TOTALLY GET IT. THERE'S SO MUCH GRASS TO CUT AND WEEDS TO PULL, AND I, LIKE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CITY KNOW ABOUTABOUT HOW HARD WE WORK TO JUST MANAGE. I WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO THE PARK AND REC WORKERS. BUT IF THERE ARE SOLUTIONS OUT THERE THAT WE CAN AT LEAST DO LITTLE BITS, THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT. AS FAR AS THE EASEMENT IN FRONT OF THE STORAGE HOUSE, I'M PAID TO TAKE CARE OF THAT EASEMENT AS A CONTRACTED LABOR PERSON, AND WHEN ROSS WAS ON THE HORTICULTURE LIST, WE HAD AN UNDERSTANDING I WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT AND NOW THAT SHE'S GONE, I WANT TO PUT IT BACK OUT THERE, I WILL TAKE CARE OF IT AND WEED THAT THING AND CUT IT AND DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT ROUNDUP ON IT. I WILL USE THIS PRODUCT. IT'S CALLED BLEND 111 MAGIC. IT'S PRETTY MUCH 40% ACIDIC ACID WHICH IS VINEGAR AND SEA SALT, SO YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL WHERE YOU SPRAY IT AND IT'S SOMETHING I JUST GOT AND I AM TRYING TO WORK OUT THE KINKS WITH IT, AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY I CAN HELP TO MAKE OUR WATERSHED A SAFE PLACE, AND YES, BE MINDFUL OF THOSE THINGS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>> THERE ARE CARS WITH DOGS ATTACHED TO THE CAR. THERE ARE HAMMOCKS AT NIGHT. AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST FEEL A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE WALKING THROUGH THERE BECAUSE IT IS DARK ALSO. I WOULD LOVE IT IF -- AGAIN, THERE ARE NO BIKES. I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE IS A SIGN SAYING, NO BIKES ALLOWED OVERNIGHT. BUTTHERE IS. IF WE COULD HAVE BETTER LIGHTING, I THINK WOULD BE A LITTLE LESS COMFORTABLE FOR PEOPLE TO STAY THERE OVERNIGHT OR A SIGN THAT SAYS , NO OVERNIGHT PARKING. AND MAY BE MORE NIGHT POLICE CARS THAT GO THROUGH THERE OR SOMETHING. IT IS DEFINITELY UNCOMFORTABLE. AND I'M NOT A LATE PERSON BUT 10:00 AT NIGHT WALKING BACK WITH MY DOGS, THERE IS A GATHERING AND IT IS DARK AND IT IS A LITTLE NERVE-RACKING. THANK YOU . >> THANK YOU . >> DO I SEE ANYMORE HANDS? >> YES, SIR. >> ERNIE [ INAUDIBLE ] SOM E PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ME. SOME PEOPLE KNOW ME. I DO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CITY. I DONATED ABOUT 16 YEARS OF MY LIFE TO THE CITY BACK WHEN WE HAD A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT , BEFORE WE GOT MONEY PUT TOGETHER . IT TOOK US A LITTLE BIT TO GET A PITCHING PROGRAM PUT TOGETHER BECAUSE BASED ON FLORIDA STATUTE 175 , YOU CANNOT HAVE A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT UNTIL YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THE RETIREMENT THE FIRST DAY. WE MANAGED TO DO THAT, DIDN'T WE? WE MANAGED TO GET THAT DONE. I WAS PROUD OF THOSE 16 YEARS. WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NOW IS FLOODING. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FLOODING FOR A LONG TIME TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE HAVE GOT NEIGHBORS AND A THINK A COUPLE OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE SPOKEN. WE HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT SOLD THEIR HOUSE AND ONE IS UP FOR SALE NOW BECAUSE OF FLOODING. THERE IS NOBODY ON THE PANEL . NO COMMISSIONER HERE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FLOODING YOUR YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RAIN BUT NEITHER IS ANYONE ELSE OUT HERE. OUR PROBLEM IS, THE WATER BUILDS UP ON TANGERINE AND 59TH. IN THE STORM SYSTEMS CANNOT HANDLE IT. THEY JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT. I THINK WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND FIND A SOLUTION FOR IT. I'M NOT A WATER ENGINEER. MY BACKGROUND IS FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING. I DO UNDERSTAND WE DO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT WATER. I THINK WE MAY HAVE TO START LOOKING AT MAYBE WHAT NEW ORLEANS DOES DOES. LET'S JUST TAKE A STRONG LOOK AT NEW ORLEANS AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES . EVEN PARTS OF SEATTLE MAY DO THAT NOW. I'M NOT FOR SURE . BACKWHEN I WAS LIVING ON THE WEST COAST, I KNOW A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PACIFIC OCEAN UP AND DOWN , WERE LOOKING AT THOSE POSSIBILITIES. WE NEED TO TAKE A STRONG LOOK AT THAT . IF IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF WIDENING OF WOOD IVIS PARK, DRAINAGE FROM THERE, SO BE IT. IF WE HAVE TO INVEST IN SOME PUMPING DEVICES, SO BE IT. I HEAR A LOT, EPA SAYS. YOU KNOW SOMETHING, EPA MIGHT GO AWAY. IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT GO AWAY ALONG WITH WHAT WE ALWAYS COUNTED ON IN THE FIRE SERVICE, AND THE DEPUTY CHIEF CAN TELL YOU THAT. WE HAVE TO ADJUST OURSELVES FOR FEMA AND WHEN FEMA GOES AWAY. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP TAKING YOUR FLOOD INSURANCE MONEY. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT. THEY WILL . WHAT AND ASKING YOU TO DO IS , DO A STUDY ON WHAT CAN BE DONE AND LET US KNOW ON TANGERINE AND 59TH TO MAKE THREE MINUTES ARE UP AND WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THIS OVER AND OVER TONIGHT. >> I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE CUT OFF PUBLIC COMMENT ? >> SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON. WE WILL ADDRESS MANY OF THESE THINGS. MY LITTLE COMPUTER FRIEND KEEPS GOING OUT ON ME. WE WILL MOVE FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT PLEASE. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS , MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, SINCE [ INAUDIBLE ] DOES NOT USE -- >> CAN YOU USE YOUR MICROPHONE? >> I'M SORRY. THE CITY STAFF IS NOT USING ROUNDUP. IT IS USING THE ORANGE BASED CITRUS PRODUCT. I WANTTO ADDRESS THAT. THE NEXT ITEM HERE IS -- INREGARDS TO --I KNOW THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, THE ENCAMPMENT ISSUE ON [ INAUDIBLE ] BOULEVARD THAT COUNCILMEMBER SHAW BROUGHT UP. AND IN REGARDS TO VETERANS PARK. WHAT I WILL SUGGEST TO YOU , WE HAVE DISCUSSED INTERNALLY AND I WILL SHARE WITH YOU. WE WILL POST THAT NO OVERNIGHT PARKING IN THE PARKING AREA. ADDITIONALLY, WHAT I'M PROPOSING IS TO PUT SOME KIND OF BARRIER OR FENCING ALONG THE SEA WALL TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM CLIMBING OUT OVER THE SEA WALL UNTIL WE COMPLETE THE CASINO DUCKS. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE GETTING THE ISSUE. AS WE SAID TO YOU BEFORE, PEOPLE ARE CONGREGATING IN THAT AREA. WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS PUTTING SOME KIND OF BARRIER WITH HEDGES OR FENCING OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT ON THE SOUTH END OF VETERANS PARK . TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. PRIMARILY, THE NO OVERNIGHT PARKING SEEMS TO BE --AND THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF -- IT WAS A LOT OF HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEES PARKING THERE. ITWAS RUNNING LATE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE. WE HAD TO DO WITH THE OVERNIGHT PARKING AT THE BEACH PARKING LOT AND THE LIBRARY AND THE SENIOR CENTER. WE WILL BE ADDRESSING IT AT VETERANS PARK . >> DO WE USE THE WORDS, NO OVERNIGHT PARKING? OR DO WE DEFINE BETWEEN SUCH AND SUCH? NO OVERNIGHT PARKING. AND SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE ALLOWED TO REGULATE IT FOR STATE LAW. IT IS A PUBLIC PARKING AREA. CITY PARKING LOT. >> I'M TRYING TO GET CLARIFIED. IF I COME IN THERE AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING, CAN I STAND TILL 5:00? >> NO . >> THAT IS NOT OVERNIGHT. >> CHIEF ? >> I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT. I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> THE HOURS OF THE PARK -- VETERANS PARK IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THE HOURS ARE ACTUALLY, ONE HOUR AFTER SUNSET. ONE HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE. THAT IS HOW WE WOULD ENFORCE THE PARKING . WHATEVER THE HOURS OF THE PARK ARE. >> YOUR PARKS ALL CLOSE AT WHEN? >> MIDNIGHT AND REOPEN AT 4:00 A.M. VETERANS PARK IS ONE THAT IS DIFFERENT. >> DOES THAT MEAN AT 8:00 IT IS DARK ? ARE WE SAYING YOU CANNOT PARK THERE AFTER 8:00 P.M.? CORRECT. >> THAT IS WHY THIS ISSUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN -- YOU ARE SAYING IT YOURSELF. I AM REACTING FOR SURE BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY IS HAVING DINNER AT O MADDIE'S AND THEY WANT TO PARK FOR TWO HOURS AT VETERANS PARK AND THERE IS A SPOT AVAILABLE, I WOULD HATE THAT THEY WOULD BE DRAWN INTO THE OVERNIGHT PARKING . THAT IS THE ISSUE. THE PARKS HAVE REGULATORY TIMING AND THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN COINCIDE. THEORETICALLY , YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TO GO TO THE PARK. >> YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TO GO TO THE PARK. NOT TO PARK THERE TO GO HAVE DINNER. THAT WAS THE ISSUE. >> THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN TO ENFORCE . >> IT DOESN'T SAY YOU HAVE TO PARK THERE ONLY FOR THE PARK. WE ARE SO SURE --WE ARE NOT ENFORCING ONE HOUR AFTER SUNSET . I WALK THROUGH WOOD IBIS PARK ALL THE TIME WALKING MY DOG. ONE HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE IS NOT 4:00 IN THE MORNING. IT IS LATER THAN THAT. I THINK IT IS BETTER -- RATHER THAN HAVE THOSE KINDS OF SPECIFIC --IF WE SHOULD PUT TIMES. >> IF I MIGHT INTERJECT, I BELIEVE THE SIGN ALREADY DOES SAY THAT. I WAS THERE TAKING PICTURES. I HAVE BEEN GETTING SO MANY CALLS ABOUT THESE THINGS. AND WITH --THE CHIEF SAID. ESSENTIALLY THAT. I DON'T MEMBER THE SPECIFICS. >> WE SHOULD ALSO REMIND PEOPLE, BECAUSE I THINK PART OF WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IS PEOPLE PARKING ON REGULAR STREETS AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO PARK ON REGULAR STREETS . >> WE DID INTERRUPT HIM WITHOUT LETTING HIM FINISH HIS REPORT. >> IT WAS PART OF THE PARKING THING WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT. I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT VETERANS. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AGREEING ABOUT PEOPLE SLEEPING ON CITY STREETS. THAT IS ALLOWED . >> PLEASE CONTINUE. >> THANK YOU . >> IF THERE IS ANY OBJECTION, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THESE THINGS. THE ISSUE IN REGARDS TO LIGHTING WAS, IT IS ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL HOMES. THAT WAS A CONCERN. THE PARK WAS BUILT TO BE PASSIVE WHEN IT WAS BUILT. THAT WAS PART OF THE ISSUE. IF THAT IS SOMETHING COUNCIL WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT, PUTTING LIGHTING IN THE PARK, WE COULD DO THAT ALSO. >> I THOUGHT WE PUT LIGHTING IN THE PARK. LOW LIGHTING. >> NOT IN VETERANS PARK. >> I THOUGHT WE HAD . >> WE HAD LOW LIGHTING IN VETERANS PARK . >> I THINK WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IS MORE LIGHTING . I WAS SITTING OUT THERE WHEN PEOPLE WERE ASKING FOR IT TO BE LOW LIGHTING. >> RIGHT. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO TO ADDRESS. WE WILL MOVE AHEAD WITH SOME OF THOSE ACTIVITIES AT VETERANS PARK TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE. AND I KNOW THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL SPEAK ABOUT THE ORDINANCE HE WILL BRING FORWARD TO YOU. I WILL DEFER TO HIM ON THAT. JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. I KNOW MAYOR, WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT THIS EVENING OR A LOT ABOUT STORMWATER AND THE FACT THAT WE IDENTIFIED THE FACT THAT IT IS, BASED ON VOLUME INTENSITY AND CAPACITY, THE CHIEF HAND SPOKE OF, AND TIME. VOLUME, INTENSITY, A LOT OF RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME . THE SYSTEM CAN ONLY HOLD SO MUCH. I KNOW WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT. THAT WOULD TAKE --IF THAT IS THE FOCUS FOR THE COUNCIL, THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT AS WE TRANSITION AND APPLY THE PHILOSOPHY TOWARD THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM. WE COULD POSSIBLY DO TOWARD THE STORMWATER SYSTEM . WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN OUT AND ACTIVELY SOLICITED A CONTRACT TO GET CODE ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE. WE HAD TWO PROPOSALS. WE SELECTED ONE THAT UTILIZED -- THEY PERFORM THE TASK FOR THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS. WE WILL BE RETAINING THEM . THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF STAFFING UP TO PROVIDE A SET ASSISTANCE. ALSO , THE RFP FOR PERMITTING AN INSPECTION AND PLAN REVIEW , TO CONTRACT THE SYSTEM, WILL BE -- THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO CLOSE NEXT TUESDAY THE 26TH. WE WILL HAVE THOSE BIDS. WE HOPE TO IMPLEMENT THAT AND REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FIRM. BY THE FIRST -- TRANSITION THE 1st OF OCTOBER. WHERE THE FOCUS WOULD BE TO TRANSITION , TO KEEP THE OWNER, BUILDER. TO GET ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY COME IN AND WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS . ANDPUSH ALL THE LICENSED CONTRACTORS AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS TO THE PORTAL. A PORTAL WE ARE UTILIZING. AND ADVISED THAT THAT IS THE SOFTWARE WE DO UTILIZED. PINELLAS COUNTY HAS SUCCESSFULLY [ INAUDIBLE ] THE REQUIREMENTS OF SENATE BILL 180, REQUIRED TO HAVE FIRMS ON RETAINER TO --IF WE GET HIT WITH THE STORM TO PERFORM SOME OF THE TASKS THAT THE FIRM TITLE BASIN --THEY ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF RANKING THE FIRMS. WHEN WE GET THE RANKINGS, WE WILL ENGAGE ONE OF THOSE FIRMS TO HAVE THEM ON RETAINER. >> AND ALSO, I PROVIDED COUNCILMEMBER -- SHAW HAD BROUGHT FORWARD , FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE SURVEY FOR THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT . WE HAVE HAD THESE CARDS PRINTED. THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT COME IN TO SOLICIT THE DEPARTMENT. >> ARE WE ASKING THEM TO FILL THEM OUT? >> THEY ARE THERE ON THE COUNTER AND WE CAN ASK SOMEONE. THEY MIGHT NOT PAY ATTENTION AND NOTICE THEM. >> THE OTHER ITEM I HAVE THIS EVENING , AND I KNOW THERE IS A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON THIS AND YOU HAVE ALREADY ABOUT IT, WE RECEIVED CORRESPONDENCE TODAY FROM OUR INSURANCE CARRIER IN REFERENCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. OUR INSURANCE CARRIER HAS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION AND THE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON YOU. AND I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH EACH OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS, THAT IT CAN AFFECT YOUR STATE FUNDING AND ALSO UP TO , DUE TO THE STATUTORY THREAT OF BOTH CIVIL COOL -- CIVIC AND CRIMINAL REPERCUSSIONS, SHOULD YOU NOT OBJECT TO THOSE ACTIVITIES . >> THANK YOU . ANYTHING ELSE? TO BE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN BEAKING ORDER TO CLARIFY ANYTHING AT THIS TIME? [ INAUDIBLE ] >> THAT IS GOOD. MS. JACKSON? >> I HAD A QUICK QUESTION. COUNCILMEMBER SHAW, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THESE AFTER? WE WILL COLLECT THE INFORMATION ? OFFER FEEDBACK. >> WHEN WE HAVE A TIME PERIOD . >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER ? >> IT WAS JUST SOME OMISSIONS . >> I'M CURIOUS HOW WE WILL FIX . I HEAR NO OVERNIGHT PARKING. BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ATTORNEYS REPORT, I WAS HOPING THAT THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WOULD GIVE US JUST THE TWO MINUTE RECAP ON GULFPORT CONNECTED. >> I WILL BE BRIEF, MAYOR. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SETTING UP GULFPORT CONNECT. IT IS ME , RACHEL AND SHANNON. WE WERE GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING. WE HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM FRIDAY TO DISCUSS BACK END THINGS. THE NEXT PIECE OF THIS THAT I JUST WANTED TO GET OUT IN THE ETHER HERE IS THAT WE WILL BE SENDING OUT , BOTH IN THE NEWSLETTER AND ON FACEBOOK, INFORMATION . IF YOU ARE AN ORGANIZATION OR A VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT WANTS TO COME ON BOARD , YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY COME ON BOARD ANY TIME. IF WANT TO BE PART OF ONE OF THE FIRST GROUPS THAT COMES ON BOARD , PLEASE CONTACT ME. MY E-MAIL IT WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN WE SEND OUT THE NEWSLETTER ON THE FACEBOOK POST. IT IS ALL CAPSMATHUR @ MY GULFPORT.US. TO TALK ABOUT WHAT GET CONNECTED IS, THE MAYOR DISCUSSED A VOLUNTEER SERVICE THAT COULD NOT ONLY BE FOR BLUE SKIES DAYS BUT ALSO FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN WE REALLY NEED VOLUNTEERS . WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS, IF YOU ARE A GROUP, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. IT IS ALL PROVIDED FOR BY THE CITY . YOU CAN USE IT TO LOG YOUR VOLUNTEER HOURS . THERE ARE A LOT OF BELLS AND WHISTLES IN IT. ESSENTIALLY, YOU CAN LOG YOUR VOLUNTEER HOURS AND CAN POST THINGS ON YOUR BOARD THAT, THIS CITIZEN NEEDS THIS DURING A STORM OR SOMETHING OR JUST ON NORMAL DAYS, IF YOU HAVE A VOLUNTEER GROUP, YOU CAN SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOOD FOREST. IF YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERS THAT NEED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS COME YOU CAN POST THOSE THINGS ON YOUR PARTICULAR PAGE. THAT IS IT. IT IS A GREAT LITTLE SOFTWARE WE CAN USE. IT DOES THINGS LIKE SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH VOLUNTEER YOU HAVE HAD OVER THE YEARS OR HOW MUCH YOUR VOLUNTEERS WERE WORTH. THAT IS GOOD FOR GRANTS AND SITUATIONS LIKE THAT. IT IS A GOOD LITTLE PLATFORM OBVIOUSLY. THE PEOPLE ON BOARD , WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO THROW YOU IN BLINDLY. WE WILL DO TRAINING WITH YOU ARE THERE TRAINING AVAILABLE. AGAIN, IF YOU ARE PART OF THE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION , WHICH, LET'S FACE IT, THIS IS GULFPORT. PROBABLY EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS. YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THIS, REACH OUT TO ME ANYTIME. IF YOU FORGET WHEN YOU GO HOME, JUST REMEMBER TO LOOK IT UP ON FACEBOOK LATER. AND YOU CAN JUST PUT IN THE TITLE THAT YOU WANT TO BE PART OF GULFPORT CONNECTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU . >> CITY ATTORNEY REPORT . >> YES, MAYOR. COUNSEL, TWO THINGS. I'M APPROACHING THE PROBLEM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THEN OVERNIGHT SLEEPING. I'M APPROACHING IT FROM HABITATION. SO A BLANKET PROHIBITION THAT PEOPLE CANNOT LIVE IN THEIR CARS OR USE THE ADJACENT PROPERTY FOR THAT PURPOSE. ALSO, A SEPARATE SECTION INVOLVING JUST TO COVER OURSELVES AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE --WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COOK EXCEPT IN DESIGNATED AREAS EXCEPT FOR COOKING. THOSE OF THE TWO SECTIONS . WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM THINKING THEY CAN JUST LIVE IN THEIR CAR OR THE EMPTY LOT OR PARCEL NEXT TO WHEREVER THEY ARE. AND SO THAT HOPEFULLY, WE WILL DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE IN COMBINATION WITH THE OTHER ISSUE ABOUT PARKING, WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE. THIS WILL DEAL WITH -- WE WILL DEAL WITH, NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY. NOT WORRIED ABOUT NIGHT ONLY BUT DURING THE DAY . THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT SITUATION. OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS, IF THERE ARE ANY CAMPING AREAS OR THINGS FOR THAT . ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? MAYOR . MY CONCERN ABOUT LIVING IN YOUR CAR, BECAUSE IT IS ALLOWED TO SLEEP IN YOUR CAR IF YOU ARE LEGALLY PARKED ON THE STREET AND YOUR CAR IS REGISTERED. WECANNOT LET THAT. BUT WE CAN --I TOTALLY AGREE ABOUT SPREADING INTO ADJACENT THINGS AND DOING THINGS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. >> ACTUALLY, I REMOVED THE ABILITY FOR YOU TO SLEEP IN YOUR CAR . >> I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT. >> THAT IS UP TO COUNCIL. THIS IS VERY HARD . BECAUSE IF YOU BLANKET LEE DO SOMETHING, IT IS MUCH EASIER . IF YOU DON'T BLANKET LEE DO IT, IT IS HARDER FOR US. TALKING ABOUT PARK HOURS AND ENFORCEMENT. IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. WHATEVERCOUNSEL CHOOSES. IT IS VERY SIMPLE IF I REMOVED THE SECTION ALLOWING YOU TO SLEEP IN YOUR CAR . I THINK THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE AND THERE WILL BE MORE, THAT ARE HOMELESS. IF YOU ARE SLEEPING IN YOUR CAR AND DOING IT QUIETLY AND YOU ARE NOT LEAVING LITTER OR COOKING NEXT YEAR CAR WERE LEAVING YOUR DOG OUTSIDE OR WHATEVER -- I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. I THINK IT IS DIFFICULT WHEN SOMEBODY --LET'S USE YOUR SCENARIO WHICH IS, FINE. I SLEEP IN MY CAR TONIGHT. BUT IF I SLEEP IN MY CAR TOMORROW NIGHT AND I SLEEP IN MY CAR THE NEXT NIGHT , NOW I'M LIVING IN MY CAR. THIS WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIVING IN YOUR CAR . >> I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. PERSONALLY, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE . THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. IF YOU ARE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THEIR CAR, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OTHER THAN THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT , TO ENFORCE THAT. I'M HAPPY --WHATEVER COUNSEL WANTS ME TO DO. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS, THAT'S FINE. IF YOU DO WANT TO SEE IT -- >> I LIKE THE PARTS ABOUT DOING STUFF OUTSIDE YOUR CAR LIKE TAKING UP AN ADDITIONAL SPACE OR COOKING AND THAT STUFF. >> WE CAN LIMIT IT TO THAT IF THAT IS WHAT COUNCIL WANTS. >> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO THE SLEEPING PART BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO. THEY HAVE NO MONEY FOR ANYTHING ELSE. THEY HAVE NO OTHER PLACE. IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE. FEWER AND FEWER SERVICES. I JUST DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO THAT. >> WE WILL GO IN ORDER. >> YOU WERE FIRST. WE FEEL TREMENDOUS COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS . I'M THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, EVEN TO SLEEP IN MY CAR, IF I'M TRAVELING --I GET VERY DROWSY DRIVING. BEING ABLE TO SLEEP IN MY CAR IS CERTAINLY A GODSEND THERE AS WELL. HOWEVER, WHAT IS HAPPENING ON SHORE BOULEVARD AND IN OUR PARKS, IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION . THEY STAY THERE FOR MONTHS. THEY SET UP A WHOLE ENCAMPMENT. AND THEIR BEHAVIOR IS NOT NECESSARILY APPROPRIATE EITHER. WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS SPEAK TO IT, BOTH HERE AND WITH CALLS AND E-MAILS. IT IS A CONCERN. SO THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL SUPPORT. NOW IF WE CAN PERHAPS DIRECT THEM TO MOVE AROUND AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OR SOMETHING ELSEWHERE, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING. THESE ENCAMPMENTS ON BEACH BOULEVARD ARE NOT A PLUS FOR US. THEY ARE THERE FOR MONTHS ON END. >> IT IS ALREADY ILLEGAL TO BE THERE MORE THAN FIVE DAYS . >> I DON'T KNOW. THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M HEARING. IFTHAT IS TRUE, THEY ARE THERE, FOR MONTHS. COUNCILMEMBER JACKSON. >> I HEAR WHAT APRIL IS SAYING ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING NOWHERE ELSE TO GO AND THE COMPASSION FOR THAT AND I HEAR WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IT AFFECTING THEM. AND I THINK I MIGHT DEFER TO KIND OF WHAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS IN TERMS OF WORDING. IF WE SAY NO CAMPING IN THE CAR AND THEY ARE THERE FOR THAT MANY DAYS , THEY WOULD FALL UNDER THAT. IT IS SUBJECTIVE. BECAUSE YOU ARE SEEING SOMEBODY LIVING IN THEIR CAR OR NOT . SOME OF THAT --AND THE CHIEF MAY PUSH BACK AND SAY, YOU ARE MAKING THIS DIFFICULT FOR ENFORCEMENT. AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THE CHIEF ABOUT THAT YET. >> WE SHOULD TALK TO THE CHIEF ABOUT THAT . >> [ LAUGHTER ] >> GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER EARLY. >> WHERE'S THE SOCIAL WORKER IN THIS? I BELIEVE THERE ARE CHILDREN THERE AS WELL ? >> ELIJAH HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS DOWN THERE. WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO -- THEY ARE NOT RECEPTIVE TO HELP AT THIS POINT. IF THERE ARE CHILDREN INVOLVED AND WE THINK THEY ARE AT RISK, THAT IS A POLICE MATTER. THE HOMELESS ISSUE IS --ELIJAH DOES MAKE CONTACT WITH THEM. SHE FERNANDEZ COULD SPEAK TO THAT. HE PRETTY MUCH WORKS WITH ELIJAH WHENEVER HE IS IN TOWN. CHIEF . >> GOOD EVENING. YES. WE MADE CONTACT WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE CARS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT WANT HELP, UNFORTUNATELY. A LOT OF THEM ARE HAPPY LIVING IN THEIR CAR , UNFORTUNATELY. AND WE CANNOT FORCE THEM TO GET HELP. BUT ELISHA DOES TRY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THESE PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AND OVER. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS UP TO THEM TO ACCEPT THE HELP. I KNOW HE HAS GOTTEN SOME OF THE PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR HEALTHCARE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT THAT IS JUST A THING TO HELP THEM OUT AND TRY TO SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE THERE TO HELP THEM OUT. BUT DOES IT GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE? >> THANK YOU. >> CAN I ADD ONE MORE THING PLEASE? I LIKE TO SAY, IF WE CAN CAMP OUT AT THE BEACH FOR FREE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BECAUSE THAT IS A NICE PLACE TO BE. I NEED TO CLARIFY. WHEN YOU STARTED SPEAKING, ATTORNEY, DID YOU SAY YOU WANTED TO SAY, NO SLEEPING IN YOUR CAR? OR DID YOU SAY NO LIVING IN YOUR CAR? THE WAY I WROTE THIS, I REMOVED THE ABILITY FOR YOU TO SLEEP IN YOUR CAR AND I ADDED THAT YOU CANNOT LIVE IN YOUR CAR. THAT IS WHY I'M TALKING TO COUNCIL TO SEE WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO. IF YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE THE SECTION THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SLEEP IN YOUR CAR , THAT IS FINE. IT IS JUST THAT I HOPE TO TALK TO CHIEF TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ENFORCE IT BECAUSE THE CHIEF WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE AND THE OFFICERS WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS LIVING AND WHAT IS SLEEPING . >> AND THAT IS WHY I ASKED IT. I CAN REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO ABOUT NO SLEEPING IN THE CAR . AND ON THAT BOULEVARD IN PARTICULAR, I WOULD HATE TO SAY, NO SLEEPING IN THE CAR. I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE SOMEBODY PASS OUT IN THEIR CAR THAN TO DRIVE AND HIT ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS. BUT I THINK THAT POLICE OFFICERS COULD APPROACH A CAR AND IT WOULD NOT BE THAT DIFFICULT TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PERSON WHO IS LIVING THERE, BECAUSE IT IS FULL , VERSUS THE PERSON WHO IS TAKING A SNOOZE BECAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING . I'M NOT NECESSARILY IN FAVOR OF SAYING, NO SLEEPING IN YOUR CAR . I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW CLEARLY WE HAVE TO DEFINE WHAT LIVING IN YOUR CAR IS . CERTAINLY, WE KNOW WE HAVE SOME CARS THAT ARE JUST ACTING AS STORAGE UNITS, FREE STORAGE UNITS, WHERE THEY PULL UP EVERY MORNING AND CHANGE THEIR CLOTHES IN THE PARKING LOT AND GO OFF TO WHEREVER IT IS THEY ARE GOING TO GO . I MEAN, WE WOULD NOT ALLOW SOMEONE TO PARK THERE BOAT IN ONE OF THE CITY PARKING SPOTS FOR MONTHS ON END BUT YET, WE HAVE CARS THAT ARE DOING EXACTLY THAT. I GUESS I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER EITHER BUT I WOULD NOT LIKE IT TO SAY -- I DO NOT WANT IT TO SAY AND I WOULD PREFER IT NOT SAY, NO SLEEPING IN YOUR CAR . I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO SAY, NO LIVING IN YOUR CAR AND THEN THAT THROWS THE PROBLEM BACK TO, HOW DO YOU DEFINE IT? I, FOR ONE, AM NOT IN FAVOR OF ADDING MORE AND MORE ORDINANCES, UNLESS WE CAN ENFORCE THEM. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, LESS ORDINANCES AND MORE ENFORCEMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT GAVE YOU ANY GUIDANCE OR CONSENSUS. I'M HEARING WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING. AS YOU ARE TALKING, I'M GOING TO TRY TO CRAFT LANGUAGE THAT DISTINGUISHES SLEEPING, FROM LIVING . SO IT MAY SEEM SIMPLE >> I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF LIVING . >> YOU WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THEIR CAR? >> YES. I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THEIR CAR. AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THEIR CAR. THEY ARE STAYING IN THEIR CAR. THEY ARE NOT DUMPING TRASH OR USING THE SPACE NEXT TO THEM OR COOKING OUTSIDE. YES. BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO. WHAT ABOUT PUTTING --I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO PUT TIMED PARKING LIKE LIKE TWO HOURS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT WHAT ABOUT PUTTING SOMETHING LIKE 24 HOUR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT . NO PARKING ON THE STREET FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING FROM COUNCIL , I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CHIEF AND THE CITY MANAGER AND TRY TO CARVE OUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES. BECAUSE --IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO LIVE IN THEIR CAR BUT NOTHING OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, RIGHT? SO THE COOKING PROVISION IS HELPFUL ON THAT ONE . AND THEN ADJACENT USE OF SPACE OR THE LOT. WE COULD --THAT THEY CAN'T DO THAT. SO WE WOULD PROHIBIT THAT. AND THE TIME PERIODS, THAT IS WHAT I HAVE TO GET WITH THE CHIEF WITH. THAT IS JUST , HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THAT? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH EVERY STREET ALL THE TIME. SO HOW WILL THEY KNOW ? DO WE DO IT COMPLAINT DRIVEN? HOW DO WE SHOW SOMEONE HAS BEEN THERE FOR 24 HOURS ? >> I THINK WE HAVE TO BACK UP FOR JUST A MINUTE. I'M NOT 100% SURE THAT WE HAVE A CONSENSUS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER HERE RIGHT NOW. I THINK I HAVE GOT --YOU ARE OKAY WITH THEM LIVING IN THE CAR . I'M NOT OKAY WITH THEM LIVING IN THE CAR. YOU ARE NOT OKAY WITH THEM LIVING IN THE CAR. >> CAN I WAIT TO FIND OUT WHAT CHIEF HAS TO SAY? I NEED TO DRAFT SOMETHING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. IN ORDER TO GIVE OUR ATTORNEY GUIDANCE , WE NEED TO KIND OF KNOW , IS HE GOING TO BE DRAFTING WHERE IT SAYS NO LIVING AND GETTING INTO DEFINING LIVING IN THE CAR? OR ARE WE NOT ? I'M SORRY. I SHOULD HAVE WAITED AND LET YOU SAY WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY. I APOLOGIZE . OBVIOUSLY, I'M VERY TORN. AND IT'S TRICKY. I KIND OF DON'T MIND IF SOMEBODY IS NOT BEING DISRESPECTFUL AND LIVING IN THEIR CAR. BUT THEN, IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE ? >> REMEMBER, THE PROBLEM IS, WHEN YOU DO ANY OF THESE, AS THE MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT, IS ENFORCING. AND SO, IF WE DRAFT IT IN A WAY THAT THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT, I THINK THE WHOLE ISSUE IS, EVERY TIME RESIDENTS COME UP AND SAY THAT IT IS BECOMING A PROBLEM AND THERE IS FEAR OF SAFETY OR THINGS LIKE THAT -- I HAVE TO GIVE IT SOME TEETH TO DO THAT. I THINK WE ALREADY KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE THESE APPS OR THEY ARE COMMUNICATING AND SAYING, IN THIS PARTICULAR CITY, THEY ALLOW THIS. YOU CAN DO THIS. NOT SAYING THAT IS A BAD THING . BUT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO. JUST KNOCKING ON SOMEBODY'S DOOR, AS THE CHIEF SAID, AND MOVE ON. AND THOSE DAYS ARE OVER. AND THEN SAY, THESE ARE MY RIGHTS AND I KNOW MY RIGHTS. IT IS REALLY A QUESTION OF, WHAT YOU ALL WANT US TO DO FROM THAT STANDPOINT. I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THIS OR ANY OF YOU BUT MAYBE WE ALSO DETERMINE CERTAIN LOCATIONS TO ALLOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND CERTAIN LOCATIONS WHERE WE DON'T. WOULD IT APPLY TO CITY STREETS? >> I WROTE THAT IT DOES. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO . THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO YOU CAN SAY, YOU CAN'T DO THIS AT A PARK OR AT THE BEACH OR OVERHEAR. BUT I CAN LEAVE OUT CITY STREETS. >> I WILL WEIGH IN. I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT. YOU ARE JUST SQUEEZING A BALLOON. NEIGHBORS ON 28TH AVENUE WILL SHOW UP TWO WEEKS AFTER YOU ADOPT SOMETHING. AND THEN IT BECOMES, IT IS THEIR PROBLEM . THE GOVERNMENTS ARE GREAT FOR SQUEEZING BALLOONS. WE JUST MOVE THE PROBLEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. I THINK THE BIG ISSUE IS , SPEAKING TO THE CHIEF IN THE PAST, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO REMOVE SUBJECTIVITY. WHEN YOU ARE BEING SUBJECTIVE , AS THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL TELL YOU, THAT IS WHEN YOU GET INTO TROUBLE. MY OPINION, WHAT IS OKAY, --WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN OPINION. WEJUST SAW THIS WITH COUNCIL. YOU HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF TWO THINGS. ONE, IT HAS TO BE ENFORCEABLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND TWO, THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES AS POSSIBLE. THAT IS THE GUIDANCE I COULD GIVE YOU. >> I WROTE IT PRETTIED YOUR COUNTY IN. THE OWNER OF THE LOT, IF YOU HAVE A PARKING LOT, YOU CANNOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO SLEEP OVERNIGHT OR LIVE IN THEIR CAR IN A PRIVATE LOT. THAT IS THE WAY I WROTE IT. IT IS VERY DRACONIAN. I UNDERSTAND. >> ISN'T THAT PRIVATE PROPERTY? >> YOU CAN RESTRICT PEOPLE SLEEPING OR LIVING OUTSIDE IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING. EVEN IN THE VEHICLE . >> IF IT IS NOT ZONED FOR A CAMPGROUND? >> IT IS A PARKING LOT OR STORAGE UNIT . >> ANOTHER WAY TO DO THIS IS RESTRICTING AREAS. THIS AREA OVERHEAR, WHATEVER IT IS, WILL BE ALLOWED FOR CAMPING, WHICH INCLUDES SLEEPING IN YOUR VEHICLE AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO WE COULD DO THAT. IN FACT, MAYOR, HONESTLY, BASED ON THE WAY THE DISCUSSION IS GOING PERHAPS, WE NEED TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THIS. MAYBE BECAUSE, WHAT --AS YOU ARE SAYING THAT, MY BRAIN IS SAYING THOSE PEOPLE SAYING, THAT IS A GREAT IDEA BUT NOT IN MY BACKYARD. THAT IS WHAT I HEAR . >> WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT FROM EVERY PERSPECTIVE. LOOKING AT THE ZONING AREAS AND THOSE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON THIS. TO GET PEOPLE TO STOP DOING THIS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM STOP DOING IT. AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME TEETH. >> THE ONE THING WE KNOW IS THAT, WE HAVE HAD RESIDENTS SAY THAT THIS IS NOT NEW. THEY ARE SPEAKING UP AT EVERY COUNCIL MEETING AND I APPLAUD THEM FOR THAT. BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW, FOR PROBABLY EASILY -- WE HAVE SEEN IT FOR A YEAR. AS WE START TO GET INTO THE COOLER WEATHER, THE NUMBERS WILL GO WAY UP. WE CAN'T KEEP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE SOLUTION AND FIGURE OUT --I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT ALL KINDS OF CITIES THAT HAVE OTHER THINGS. OF COURSE THE DISADVANTAGE IS WE DON'T HAVE HAVE, JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE WHAT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD ORDINANCE ON THE BOOK, WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS BEING ENFORCED OR WORKING. WE KNOW THEY HAVE SOMETHING WELL-WRITTEN BUT HOW WELL IS IT WORKING? AND IF WE CAN'T HAVE ANY TEETH, THAT JUST, IN A WAY, CAN FRUSTRATE THE RESIDENTS MORE . IF WE HAVE WRITTEN A TOUGH ORDINANCE , BUT IF IT IS DIFFICULT TO --OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE POLICE TO ENFORCE IT, WE JUST HAVE EVERYBODY MATTED US. I DO FEEL LIKE WE NEED A SOLUTION . I'M ALWAYS IN FAVOR. I'M OKAY IF WE NEED TO WORKSHOP IT. WE NEED TO DO IT PRETTY DARN QUICK. IT IS COMING --IT IS ALREADY A HUGE PROBLEM NOW. I NOTICED ONE OF OUR VEHICLES MOVED DOWN A BLOCK. THEY ARE NOT IN FRONT OF YOU NOW BUT THEY ARE IN FRONT OF YOU NOW. AND PLUS, WE STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EVEN IN THEIR CAR AND SLEEPING. >> YES. AND THAT ABSOLUTELY -- IF YOU WANT ME TO DRAFT SOMETHING SEPARATE FOR THAT , I CAN. THEY ARE ALREADY SLEEPING --I DON'T KNOW. IS TANGERINE CONSIDERED A PARK THAT CLOSES ? >> IF THEY ARE SLEEPING IN A PARK, THEN WE WOULD ENFORCE THAT. BUT YES. JOLLY MARKET SQUARE. THAT IS WHY --THE INDIVIDUAL KNOWS ENOUGH TO GO TO THE SIDEWALK. HE IS NOT IN THE PARK. THAT -- MY OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE NUMEROUS TIMES. HE KNOWS ENOUGH TO GO TO THE SIDEWALK. >> THE HAMMOCK MAN -- I HAVE BEEN THERE. THE HAMMOCK MAN SOMETIMES DOES NOT COME DOWN TO GO TO SLEEP UNTIL 5:00 A.M. THAT IS OKAY FOR HIM TO GO TO SLEEP AT 5:00 A.M. THAT IS NOT BREAKING IT. IF HE WAS HERE AT 3:59, THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. >> THAT IS PART OF THE ISSUE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS HAVING TO DO WITH -- DEAL WITH. IT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO SLEEP AND PUBLIC. THE REGULATING WHERE, WHEN AND HOW, THEN YOU ARE GETTING INTO THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT NAUSEA HIM. WE TALKED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO SLEEP IN THE CAR. YES, THAT IS IN THE STATUTE. HERE WE ARE TRYING TO FIT SOMETHING IN BETWEEN THAT FINE LINE. AND OF THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS TRIED. WE CAN ALL PLAY DEVILS ADVOCATE . SAYINGTHIS AND THAT. HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB TRYING TO KEEP IT. I GUESS THE NUMBER ONE THING IS THE CITY ATTORNEY IS TRYING TO REMOVE SUBJECTIVITY AND GIVE YOU SOMETHING ENFORCEABLE . WE HAVE SOME CONFLICTING INFORMATION UP HERE. WE TALKED -- WE ASKED FOR CONSENSUS AND THE PRESSURE WAS ON THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO I THING WAS ON THE VERGE OF MAKING A DECISION. AND THEN WE SAID, LET'S DO A WORKSHOP ON IT. AND THEIR ARE NO MOTIONS INVOLVED . >> THE OTHER THING IS, MAYOR, IF YOU WANT, THE CHIEF AND THE CITY MANAGER AND I TO GET TOGETHER AND COME UP EXACTLY WITH THIS AND BRING IT TO YOU WITH OUR SUGGESTIONS AND THEN THE COUNCIL CAN DECIDE, CHECK THIS, YES. WE DON'T WANT COOKING. WE DON'T WHAT USE OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTY . BUT WE ARE OKAY WITH THIS. WE COULD DO THAT. BRING IT BACK TO YOU AND A 15 MINUTE PRESENTATION TO HAVE COUNSEL LOOK AT THAT . THAT WOULD BE FINE WITH ME . I THINK THAT IS THE AGREEMENT. IF YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO WORKSHOP THAT, THAT IS FINE. OTHERWISE, WE HAVE OUR MARCHING ORDERS TO MOVE FORWARD. SO CITY CLERK, I WOULD LIKE THAT ON THE NEXT MEETING. >> MAYOR, HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I WON'T BE AT THE NEXT MEETING. SORRY. I'M GOING TO ICELAND. I WILL BE AT THE MEETING AFTER THAT. >> OKAY . >> CAN WE ALSO ASKED ELIJAH TO BE HERE ? >> THAT IS A GOOD IDEA. >> ELIJAH WILL HAVE HIS DIRECTOR. WE HAVE TO START WITH HER. A LOT OF TIMES, SHE WOULD RATHER SPEAK THAN HIM. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH THEM. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE INVOLVED. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO. AND THE FRUSTRATION OF, MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING THEY WILL SUGGEST THAT WILL HELP MOVE ON THE PERSON . MAYBE WE CAN SUGGEST RESIDENTS E-MAIL US. IF YOU HAVE WAYS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BE AND WE CAN FORWARD THOSE . >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE ARE OPEN TO ANYTHING WE CAN TRY TO FIX THE SITUATION WITH THE RESIDENTS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH. YOU CAN SEE IT IS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS . >> YES. >> MAYOR, THE SECOND ISSUE --THE VICE MAYOR POINTED OUT AND I WAS TO BRING THIS BACK, WHICH I'M GOING TO IS WE TALKED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN THE GREEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND TAKING ISSUE UNDER [ INAUDIBLE ] I DON'T THINK IT IS A TAKING ISSUE. I'M MORE CONCERNED ACTUALLY ABOUT SENATE BILL 180. THAT IS WHETHER OR NOT --I THINK I MENTIONED THAT AT THE LAST MEETING. I KNOW SOME COUNCILMEMBERS WERE NOT THERE . THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO SENATE BILL 180 TO SEE WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO AND WHAT IS CONSIDERED PROHIBITED BY THE BILL. I HAVE YET TO STILL SEE THAT OPINION. I'M NOT SURE THAT IS OUT THERE YET. I'M GOING TO TRY TO FIND THAT. SO I CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, WHICH WOULD BASICALLY BE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF GREEN SPACE . >> RIGHT NOW, AND THE CODE, IT IS 20%. WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHETHER IT IS PERMEABLE OR -- AND WHETHER WE SHOULD GO FROM 20, TO 25, OR 30% OF THE LOT SHOULD BE GREEN. >> THERE ARE OTHER MOVING PARTS ON THAT TOO. WHEN IT CAN BE EFFECTIVE AND TO WHO IT CAN BE EFFECTIVE TO. AND CHALLENGES. IF THEY WILL CHALLENGE THE ORDINANCE PROVISION, THERE IS A TIME PERIOD AND ALL THESE THINGS WE LOOK AT. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. CITY CLERK . >> MINE IS VERY QUICK AND EASY. I PROMISE. I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF SEPTEMBER THIRD IS ON A WEDNESDAY AND NOT A TUESDAY . >> I HOPE YOU WILL HEARD THAT . IT IS NOT TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT. IT IS TWO WEEKS --IT IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd. PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDARS . WITHTHAT, LET'S MOVE TO COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS. AND IT WILL BE COUNCILMEMBER SHAW FIRST . PLEASESPEAK INTO YOUR MICROPHONE. THANK YOU. >> WE LISTENED, ROSEMARY. SO, AS FAR AS THE SHUFFLEBOARD , I WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOU UP ON THAT IN THE COOLER TEMPERATURES. I DO HAVE A STANDING INVITATION RIGHT NOW BUT I TOLD THEN THE SAME THING. NOT IN THIS HEAT. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THE GULFPORT WELCOME IS A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM. AS A RESIDENT, I HAVE ATTENDED THAT A NUMBER OF TIMES. IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO MEET FOLKS AND SHARE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK MIGHT BE AN EMBELLISHMENT TO WHAT IS ALREADY BEING SHARED. AND IT IS REALLY POSITIVE. THE OTHER THING, AS FAR AS NOTIFYING WHEN THERE ARE FLOODED STREETS, I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A WAY THAT WE COULD BE USING A TECH SYSTEM FOR THAT. AND I'M JUST TOSSING THAT OUT. NOT ASKING FOR AN ANSWER AT THE MOMENT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TRADITIONAL CEREMONIAL -- WONDERFUL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF THE NEW FIRE TRUCK . THAT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT AND IT WAS A PERFECT WAY TO BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER. I CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN OPEN TO MEDICATION WITH RESIDENTS, BOTH WITH REGULARLY SCHEDULED TIMES AND INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS. CALLING IT, WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND? IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WITH THOSE DATES ARE, PLEASE SEE ME. IT IS GOING REALLY WELL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME BY OTHER MEANS AS WELL . ANYTIME YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR INPUT. ALL CONCERNS ARE RAISED WITH THE CITY MANAGER FOR REVIEW OR FOLLOW-UP. AND WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THAT TONIGHT EVEN. THE MOST FREQUENT CONCERNS EXPRESSED ARE THE FLASH FLOODING , FOR SURE. THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING. AND STORM RELATED IMPACT. CAMPERS ON THE STREETS AND IN THE PARKS AT THE VEHICULAR WAKE IS ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE. OF COURSE, RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ISSUES WHEN YOU SEE THOSE, BY CALLING THE DISPATCH 582-6177 582-6177. I THINK I GOT THAT RIGHT. THAT IS MY ADVICE OF THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CHIEF AS WELL. THE OTHER THING I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CONCERNS OVER, ARE [ INAUDIBLE ] POOLS AND SOME OF THOSE POOLS ARE AT EMPTY PROPERTIES AND ARE NOT IN GOOD SHAPE ON TOP OF BEING A DANGER. AND THE DEBRIS COVERING STORM DRAINS WHERE RESIDENTS ARE ASKED TO HELP BY SAFELY CLEARING THE DEBRIS OR REPORTING THE BLOCKAGES AND OF COURSE WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO LOOK INTO THE PEN ELLIS COUNTY ADOPT A DRAIN PROGRAM RESIDENTS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT INDIVIDUALS CLEANING FISH ON BENCHES INTENDED FOR SEATING ON THE PIER. UNTIL DEDICATED FISH CLEANING TABLES ARE ADDED, WE ASKED PEOPLE TO BE CONSIDERATE ABOUT WHERE THEY CLEAN FISH THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CREATING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SURVEY FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. ITLOOKS GREAT. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY, CONNECTION, FUN AND CROWNING AT THE GECKO BALL SATURDAY. IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN YOUR TICKET, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT. I KEEP GETTING REQUESTS FOR A CONSISTENCY IN REPORTING ON DAMAGES AFTER WE HAVE STORMS. AND , FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE RAIN STOPS, I DID SEE -- LET MESTART OVER. AUGUST 6, IT STOPPED RAINING AT 5:00. I DROVE ALL OVER THE CITY AND THE LOW-LYING AREAS. IT HAD DRAINED OFF VERY QUICKLY . THE NEXT ONE WAS A VERY DIFFERENT STORM AND IT CONTINUED TO DRAIN DURING THE NIGHT PICK THIS RAISED STRESS LEVELS OF RESIDENTS. ANY INPUT WE CAN GIVE THEM ON THAT IS WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED. AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR STATUS OF 2024 STORM RECOVERY, BOTH FOR CITY PROPERTY AND WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS. STATUS OF THOSE THAT HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO PERMITTING LETTERS AND STATUS OF OUTSTANDING CODE ENFORCEMENT LETTERS, SPONSORS OR RESOLUTIONS. I RAISE THESE AS COMMUNICATION REDUCES RUMORS AND FRUSTRATION OF RESIDENTS AND BRIEF REPORT IS REQUESTED AT EACH MEETING OR AT LEAST EVERY OTHER MEETING. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT WORK THERE WERE TWO GENERAL SESSIONS. EACH WITH AN EXCELLENT KEYNOTE SPEAKER. THERE WERE WELL OVER 100 EXHIBITORS. CONSTANT WORKSHOPS, SESSIONS AND COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK WITH MAYORS, COUNCILMEMBERS, COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGERS FROM OTHER CITIES , WHICH ALLOWED ME TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR OPERATIONS AND PRACTICES AND IT IS ALWAYS HELPFUL TO HEAR WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING . NOT THAT THOSE WILL BE APPLICABLE HERE BUT , ALL THAT INFORMATION IS VALUABLE. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THE SESSIONS SHORTLY. NOT ALL OF THEM TONIGHT. IT IS TOO MUCH IN ONE NIGHT FOR YOU. BUT I WOULD BE REPORTING ON THOSE. THERE WAS AI IN ACTION . VETERANS OF THE BEST PRACTICES FROM EXPERIENCED LEADERS. MARKETING YOUR CITY STRATEGIES AND SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS . INSIDE THE PROCESS, NAVIGATING FORWARD THE LEGISLATIVE LANDSCAPE AND BY THE WAY, THE SPEAKERS STARTED OUT BY SAYING, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? THAT GAVE US A TASTE FOR WHAT WAS COMING ALREADY . EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE FOR EFFECTIVE PUBLIC LEADERSHIP AND AS I SAID, I WILL DO REPORTS ON ALL OF THOSE OVER TIME. AND WE WILL HAVE THOSE ONLINE AS WELL. THE FIRST SESSION THAT I ATTENDED WAS THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE MEETING, COMMUNICATING IMPORTANCE OF PROPERTY TAXES. THERE WERE LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS. THERE WAS THE CHIEF OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. THERE WAS A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKING . SHE WAS THE PRIMARY SPEAKER IF I RECALL CORRECTLY. SHE SAID , THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR US TO BECOME VERY AWARE OF. IF FLORIDA WERE TO LIMIT PROPERTY TAXES, IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHIPS OF THE STATE'S FINANCIAL STRUCTURE IN DECADES. PROPERTY TAXES ARE FOR --THEY ARE THE MAIN FUNDING SOURCE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS , FIRE DEPARTMENTS, POLICE, LIBRARIES, PARKS, INFRASTRUCTURE, MAINTENANCE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND I BELIEVE THOSE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT TO US. REMOVING THEM WOULD CREATE SERIOUS CHALLENGES AND RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THE GREATEST CONCERN IF IT COMES TO A VOTE, VOTERS MAY CHOOSE TO ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL OF THOSE . THESPEAKERS ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO START HAVING DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THIS POSSIBILITY NOW. THE FOLLOWING --ONE OF THE POINTS THEY BROUGHT UP IS, WHY ARE THEY WORKING ON THIS WHEN INSURANCE IS REALLY A TOP CONCERN OF --ON ALL OF OUR MINES HERE AND THEY WENT INTO ACTUAL STATISTICS ON THAT . THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT WHAT WOUL