City Council Meeting

Gulfport City Council Agenda Template

City of Gulfport Florida

City Council Meeting Notice

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Gulfport City Hall, 2401 53rd Street South Gulfport, FL

6:00 PM

AGENDA

Call to Order.

Invocation given by Councilmember Michael Fridovich.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call.

Presentation:

Whit Blanton, Executive Director, Forward Pinellas

1.

Public Comment.

2.

City Manager Report.

3.

City Attorney Report.

4.

City Clerk Report.

5.

Consent:

5.a.

Consider approval of the Council Meeting Minutes of January 18, 2022.

EXHIBIT: Item 5.a - Minutes 1-18-2022.pdf

5.b.

Resolution No. 2022-08: A Resolution appointing a member to serve on the Senior Citizens' Advisory Committee on Aging and providing for term of appointment.

EXHIBIT: Item 5.b - Memorandum.pdf

EXHIBIT: Item 5.b - Resolution No. 2022-08.pdf

5.c.

Resolution No. 2022-09: A Resolution authorizing the expenditure of funds for the Granicus platforms.

EXHIBIT: Item 5.c - Memorandum.pdf

EXHIBIT: Item 5.c - Resolution No. 2022-09.pdf

6.

Ordinances:

6.a.

Ordinance No. 2022-01: An Ordinance of the City of Gulfport, Florida, providing for an increase in compensation for the Mayor and City Council Members; providing for the repeal of ordinances, or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith, to the extent of such conflict; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.

EXHIBIT: Item 6.a - Memorandum.pdf

EXHIBIT: Item 6.a - Ordinance No. 2022-01.pdf

>> WELCOME EVERYBODY TO LIVE EVERY SECOND REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY OF GULFPORT FLORIDA. OUR INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE JOIN US AND RISING. >> OF ALL OF THE ATTORNEYS ON MANKIND THE WORST IS THE ONE THAT PERSECUTES THE MIND. AN ENGLISH POET 1631, 1700. >> THANK YOU. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]. >> ROLL CALL POLICE CITY CLERK. [ROLL CALL]. -- ROLL CALL PLEASE CITY CLERK. WE ARE GOING TO START THIS EVENING WITH THE PRESENTATION FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM PINELLAS. HE ALSO CAME WITH MAYOR OF INDIAN ROCKS BEACH TONIGHT. THANK YOU MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> GOOD EVENING, I AM GLAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT. AND THE NEW CHAIR FOR FORD PINELLAS. WHEN I BECAME CHAIR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SAID TO ME, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE DONE DIFFERENTLY? I SAID, I DO NOT THINK A LOT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS OR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT WE ARE ABOUT. WE DECIDED TO START OUR ROADSHOW AND YOU ARE FIRST. WE ARE GOING TO TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT WHAT WE DO AT FORD PINELLAS. AND HOW WE HELP OUR COMMUNITIES. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT. WE HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. I NEED TO USE THE MOUSE, APPARENTLY. OKAY, IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE VISUAL THESE DAYS. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. WE ARE A LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AGENCY THAT LOOKS COUNTYWIDE. WE SERVE ALL 25 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PINELLAS COUNTY. THE IDEA IS MAKING SURE TRANSPORTATION AND LAND-USE GO HAND-IN-HAND MAKING WISE DECISIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF PINELLAS COUNTY. OUR VISION IS REALLY FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT. AND TRANSPORTATION IS A MEANS TO AN END. IMPROVING TRAFFIC FLOW, ADDRESSING SOME CONGESTION AND PINELLAS COUNTY THAT I JUST EXPERIENCED. ENHANCING TRANSIT CONNECTIONS AND CREATING SAFER STREETS. THOSE ARE THE THREE LEGGED STOOL OF HOW WE SUPPORT THAT COMMUNITY. WE ARE EXPECTING ABOUT 100,000 MORE PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE COUNTY BY THE YEAR 2045. IT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN A FASTER PACE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAN WHEN WE DEVELOPED THAT PROJECTION THAN WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE. THE WHOLE REGION IS GROWING RAPIDLY, TAMPA, HILLSBOROUGH AND PASCOE. WE ARE NOT CREATING ANY MORE BEACHES SO THEY ARE COMING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. WE REALLY TRY TO WORK ON SHARED SOLUTIONS TO MEET THAT GROWTH AND GUIDE REDEVELOPMENT AND NEW GROWTH TO THE RIGHT LOCATIONS WHERE IT CAN BE SUPPORTED BY GOOD INVESTMENTS. WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES IN PLACE. A VISION FOR THE US 19/4, AGAIN, ENSURING THAT AS WE BUILD THOSE OVERPASSES GOING NORTH THAT DOES NOT DESTROY BUSINESSES. THAT ENHANCES THE COMMUNITY. ENHANCING BEACH COMMUNITY ACCESS MAYOR KENNEDY IS FOCUSED ON THIS. THAT ENTAILS DEVELOPING A WATERBORNE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK THAT WILL OPERATE UNDER PSTA. DOING OTHER THINGS TO IMPROVE SAFETY UNCLE BOULEVARD AND IMPROVING ACCESS NOT JUST FOR TOURISTS BUT THE WORKERS AND RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO GO OUT THERE AS WELL. IN 2021 WE COMPLETED OUR GATEWAY MASTER PLAN. WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT SIGNED BY ALL FOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THAT IS KIND OF DEEMPHASIZED. WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO INNOVATIONS AND TARGET EMPLOYMENT. AND JOBS ACCESS. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AND PINELLAS COUNTY IS THAT WE NEED MORE INDUSTRIAL LAND TO SUSTAIN THE MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL WE HAVE FOUR HIGH-PAYING JOBS. WE ARE NOT CREATING ANY MORE LAND. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD? HOW DO WE BALANCE THE NEEDS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MAINTAINING OUR INDUSTRIAL UNEMPLOYMENT PLANS? TO THAT END, JUST THIS MONTH WE HAVE KICKED OFF WHAT WE CALL THE TARGET EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRIAL LAND STUDY. AN UPDATE OF A 2008 STUDY. THAT SET THE POLICY FOR NO NET LOSS OF INDUSTRIAL AND EMPLOYMENT LANDS AND PINELLAS COUNTY. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PRESSURES ON THAT FROM DEVELOPERS. WHO SEE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR JUST MARKET RATE HOUSING. OR OUTDOOR SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX ALL GENERATE A LOT MORE RETURN. THEY MAKE MORE PROFITS THAN INDUSTRIAL UNEMPLOYMENT. SO, WE HAVE TO HOLD THE LINE ON THAT. BUT, WE WANT TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THIS. SOME OF OUR THINKING IS GUIDED BY 2006 THINKING. WE NEED TO COME INTO THE MODERN ERA. WHEN YOU THINK OF INDUSTRIAL LANDS THEY ARE NOT NOISY. THEY LOOK LIKE OFFICES. THAT MAY BE MORE COMPATIBLE WITH RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT IN THE RIGHT LOCATIONS. SO, THAT STUDY IS UNDERWAY. WE WILL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. WE ARE DOING A COMPLETE INVENTORY OF ALL OF THE DESIGNATED LANDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AS WE GET THE KEY MILESTONES I AM HAPPY TO COME BACK AND PRESENT. I AM SURE STAFF WILL BE INVOLVED AND WE WELCOME INPUT ON WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE CHANGE, WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER CHANGING AND WHY. THEN, WE WILL CONSIDER THAT IN THE EVALUATION. RELATED TO THAT WE ARE NOW BEGINNING REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE OLD 19/4 FROM DOWNTOWN CLEARWATER DOWN TO ST. PETERSBURG. THIS WOULD BE A POTENTIAL TRANSFORMATION WHERE WE CAN LINK HOUSING JOBS AND TRANSIT ACCESS. THE COUNTY IS REALLY INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT REGIONAL STORMWATER AND LARGO IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT SOME REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. WITH THE NEW SUN RUNNER BUS RAPID TRANSIT STARTING WE WANT TO BUILD CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THAT EAST-WEST AND THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY. I MENTIONED THE WATERBORNE TRANSPORTATION WORK THAT WE ARE DOING. MAYOR KENNEDY SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. THAT GROUP HAS BEEN MEETING FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR. PUTTING A POLICY FRAMEWORK AROUND COUNTYWIDE WATER-BASED TRANSPORTATION. NOT JUST TREAT ALL OF THESE AS ONE-OFF PROJECTS. WE HAVE HAD THE CLEARWATER FERRY AND OPERATION AND HYBRIDS MARINA WAS OPERATING A WATER TAXI AND SAINT BEACH OUT TO AN EXCURSION TRIP OUT TO THE BARRIER ISLANDS. THEN WE HAVE THE CRAWLSPACE AREA. THAT WILL HELP. THE COUNTY WANTS TO PUT THIS INTO A COUNTYWIDE POLICY AND NOT JUST KEEP GETTING A REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION. WE THINK WE CAN DEVELOP A NETWORK HERE. PSTA WOULD LIKE TO MANAGE AND ADMINISTER AND PRIVATE OPERATORS RUN THE SERVICE. WE ARE WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE COST IMPLICATIONS OF THAT RIGHT NOW. IT WILL NOT BE OUR LAST MEETING BUT WE WILL HAVE A MEETING NEXT WEEK. HOPEFULLY THAT COMMITTEE WILL DEVELOP SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. WE SEE THAT AS A PHASED APPROACH STARTING SMALL. BASIC OPERATIONS. RESTART WHAT WE HAD IN 2019. WE WILL SEE HOW THAT SUCCESS GOES THEN BUILD ON THAT. I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN INCREMENTAL INVESTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 2021 WAS OUR MOST DEADLY ARE FOR PEDESTRIANS AROUND THE COUNTY. A LOT OF THAT HAPPENED ON GULF BOULEVARD. SAINT PETE BEACH AND TREASURE ISLAND WANTED US TO DO A SAFETY STUDY ON GULF BOULEVARD. WE JUST GOT SIDEWALKS CHOSEN IN INDIAN SHORES. THAT WAY THEY ARE NOT SHARING THAT LITTLE PATH WITH THE BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS AND CARS. NOW WE ARE BUILDING AN ACTUAL SIDEWALK IN INDIAN SHORES. THIS REALLY COMES UP WITH A WAY TO LOOK AT THE SOUTHERN PART OF GULF BOULEVARD MAKING IT SAFER FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES. WE HAD 165 PEOPLE KILLED ON OUR ROADWAYS IN 2021. >> EXCUSE ME. CHIEF, CAN YOU PULL THE DOOR SHUT? THANK YOU. PLEASE CONTINUE. >> 165 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES. ON AVERAGE TWO PEOPLE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED ON THE ROADWAYS EVERY DAY AND PINELLAS COUNTY. LAST WEEK OUR BOARD ADOPTED SAFETY TARGETS THAT WOULD SEEK OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME A 20 PERCENT REDUCTION IN THOSE FATAL CRASHES. A GOAL OF ZERO DEATHS BY 2025. IT IS A GOAL WE ARE GOING TO WORK HARD BUT IT TAKES PARTNERSHIPS. WE HAVE HAD SIX OF OUR 25 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ADOPT THE SAFE STREETS PINELLAS ACTION PLAN RESOLUTION. IT DOES NOT COMMIT YOU TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN WORKING WITH US ON DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS AND BEING PARTNERS AND ADVOCATE FOR SAFETY. I DO NOT SEE THE CITY OF GULFPORT ON THERE. >> I WILL BE BACK FOR THAT. [LAUGHING] >> I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT FOR US. WHEN WE PURSUE FEDERAL GRANTS IT IS HELPFUL TO SHOW WE HAVE THE WHOLE COUNTY BEHIND US WITH A COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AS WE PURSUE THESE GRANTS. MAJOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS YOU HAVE SEEN THE CONSTRUCTION AROUND THE COUNTY TO GATEWAY EXPRESSWAY PROBABLY THE MOST VISIBLE. CONNECTING US 19 TO I 275. I AM BEING TOLD SPRING 2023 IT WILL BE A NEW TOLL FACILITY OPEN AND OPERATED. IT WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE SUGGESTION I 275 AND ULMERTON ROAD. HOWARD FRANKLIN HAS A COUPLE OF MORE YEARS BUT THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY 25. THERE WILL BE MANAGED TOLL LANES RUNNING DOWN THE MIDDLE AND THE DESIGN IS UNDERWAY FOR THE TOLL LANES. LANE CONTINUITY IMPROVEMENTS ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN TO DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG ON I 275. US 19 WE ARE GOING UNDER CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR FOR THE NEW OVERPASS AT CURLY ROAD. W ROAD. WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON THE SOUTH. DO THE LARGO WHITNEY ROAD AREA. THAT WILL CREATE A 75 MILE LOOP AROUND PINELLAS COUNTY ON THE TRAIL. THEN, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO THAT 75 MILE LOOP EAST AND WEST? THE SUN RUNNER IS OPENING SPRING 2022 ON FIRST AVENUE NORTH AND FIRST AVENUE SOUTH. I JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THAT ARE UNDERWAY AND ABOUT TO BE COMPLETED. THOSE PROJECTS ALL COME FROM OUR ANNUAL ADOPTION OF TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES. OUR JOB IS TOLD THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO BUILD AND FUND. WE DO THAT EVERY MAY WE HAVE A CALL FOR PROJECTS THAT BEGINS IN THE SUMMER. WE GET YOUR APPLICATIONS IN. WE THEN RANK THE EVALUATIONS. PUT THEM IN OUR PRIORITIES. THEN DOT PUTS THEM INTO THE NEW FIVE YEAR WORK PROGRAM. SO, COMING JUNE YOU WILL SEE A CALL FOR PROJECTS. FOR THE LONGEST WHICH IS A MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY. THAT IS THE EXPENSIVE LIST. TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES THAT IS THE LOWER-COST LIST OF SIDEWALKS AND BIKE FACILITIES. COMPLETE STREETS PROJECTS WHICH ARE CREATING SAFER ROADS FOR ALL USERS. WE HAVE FUNDED ABOUT $6 MILLION IN THE COMPLETE STREET PROJECTS OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. FDOT PROGRAMS THAT REWARD RECIPIENTS INTO THE FIVE-YEAR WORK PROBLEM. IT IS A CYCLE THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR GENERALLY THAT IS HOW WE OPERATE. A CONTINUITY OF FLOW GOING. I WAS IN TALLAHASSEE LAST WEEK AND I HOPE NOT TO GO BACK. WE DO NEED TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF PINELLAS COUNTY. THERE ARE SOME BILLS THAT ARE FLOWING THROUGH THEIR SENATE BILL 398 WOULD PUT A CAP ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DEPOSITED INTO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A WE ARE NOT SURE WHY THERE NEEDS TO BE ONE NOW. THAT IS NOT JUST INCLUDES BUSES THAT IS INTERPOSED AND ALL INTERMODAL FACILITIES. THAT COULD BE A CONSTRAINT WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE. UNFORTUNATELY, BILLS TO RAISE THE PENALTIES AND A VIOLATION FOR PEOPLE TO KILL AND INJURE MOTORCYCLISTS, WALKERS AND BICYCLISTS ON THE ROADS NEVER SEEM TO MOVE INTO THE COMMITTEE. THEY ARE FILED AND NEVER SEEM TO GO ANYWHERE EVERY YEAR. ALSO, TRAFFIC OFFENSES PROVIDING CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR LEAVE THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOT SURE WHY THOSE NEVER MOVE BUT THEY DO NOT. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE HAD BILLS THAT REMOVE OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT INDUSTRIAL LAND BY SAYING AS LONG AS THERE'S 10 PERCENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN PERMIT MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT ON INDUSTRIAL LANDS. WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. THAT BLANKET PREEMPTION IS REALLY TROUBLING. IT SORT OF OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT HIGH WAGE JOBS IN THE COUNTY. BUSINESS DAMAGES CAUSED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS I AM SURE YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THAT. THAT IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I KNOW MAYOR KENNEDY AT INDIAN ROCKS BEACH YOU SENT A LETTER ON THAT. THAT SEEMS TO BE FLOWING THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS TO THAT AND HAVE MADE IT A LITTLE BIT SOFTER AND NOT AS DAMAGING. IT IS STILL NOT A GOOD BILL. THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION AS YOU HAVE HEARD BY NOW WE HAVE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS. I WISH I COULD SAY THEY WERE JUST FLOWING LIKE WATER INTO PINELLAS COUNTY. BUT, WE ARE STILL UNDER A CONTINUING RESOLUTION IN WASHINGTON. THAT HAS NOT KICKED IN AND I AM NOT SURE IT WILL UNTIL NEXT YEAR. WE ARE READY FOR THIS FIVE YEAR INFLUX OF INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS. I WANTED TO SPELL A MYTH THAT IS OUT THERE IN THE INTERNET WORLD THAT THIS IS NOT INFRASTRUCTURE. PEOPLE GET THIS CONFUSED WITH THE BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, BRIDGES, SIDEWALKS, BUS FACILITIES. IT IS OUR JOB AND YOUR JOB AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PRIORITIZE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE THESE DOLLARS SPENT ON. A LOT OF THIS MONEY IS COMPETITIVE. IT IS NOT JUST FORMULA FUNDING. SOME OF IT IS AND THAT WILL HELP. A LOT OF IT WE WILL COMPETE FOR. WE ARE STARTING A PROCESS ASKING ALL OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO LET US KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE SAFETY PROGRAM YOU REALLY WANT TO DO. WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT PRIORITIES. IF THERE SOMETHING IN THE PUBLIC TRANSIT ARENA. IN THE RESILIENCE ARENA. I SAW YOU WON AN AWARD FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA RECENTLY, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. THIS CAN HELP. WE NEED TO BE READY AND KNOW OUR PRIORITIES. THE LAST THING I AM REALLY EXCITED WE HAVE SELECTED THE CITY OF GULFPORT TO BE THIS YEAR'S BIKE YOUR CITY CITY. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A ROUTE HERE ABOUT NINE OR 10 MILES. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL HELP TO LEAD THAT. WE WILL STOP TRAFFIC AS WE CROSSED THE MAJOR ROADS. IT WILL ONLY BE FOR A LITTLE WHILE IN THE MORNING. IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE BICYCLING DURING FLORIDA BIKE MONTH. ONE OF YOUR CITIZENS CALLED ME WITH SOME CONCERNS ABOUT 31ST AVENUE SOUTH. THAT IS NOT REALLY ON OUR ROUTE BUT WE WILL TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE AND WORK WITH YOUR CITIZENS WHO EVER HAVE ANY SAFETY OR OTHER ISSUES. ANYTHING WE CAN HELP ADDRESS. THIS IS JUST A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET PEOPLE OUT ON BIKES AND TOUR THE CITY. SPEND SOME MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR HOST FOR THIS. >> THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING GULFPORT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. >> THE DATE IS MARCH 18 AT 830 IN THE MORNING. THAT IS IT. THIS IS MY CONTACT INFORMATION. MAYOR KENNEDY IS HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY. >> I SEE ANDY HERE AND OF COURSE I KNOW JIM. THIS IS MY LAST YEAR ON FORD PALACE I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2011. WHEN WE BROUGHT PPC AND THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION TOGETHER. OUR MAYOR, THAT YOU BOTH WORKED WITH, AND SAM, YOU KNEW HIM AS WELL. HE WAS MY MENTOR. THE LAST TIME THE CHAIRPERSON FOR FORD PALACE WHICH WAS THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, WAS A BEACH MAYOR WAS MAYOR BOB. SO, I FEEL THAT I REALLY WANT TO DO THE VERY BEST THAT I CAN FOR HIM. THIS IS REALLY FOR HIM. SIDEWALKS, WE HAVE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE. WE WANT OUR CITIZENS ALL OVER THIS COUNTY TO KNOW ABOUT US. WE HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF ANY OF THE SOFTBALL GUYS WILL BE IN THE BIKE? IF YOU BIKE I WILL,. >> YOU HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED. [LAUGHING] >> PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME. I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MY PHONE NUMBER. JIM HAS MY NUMBER. IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED. YOU HAVE A SUPER UNIQUE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS THE MOBILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES TO GET AROUND. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE PEOPLE CAN GET AROUND IN YOUR COMMUNITIES TO ENJOY EVERYTHING LIKE WE DO. SO, ANYTHING LIKE THAT YOU ARE THINKING OF IT. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT VISION ZERO AND HAPPENING ON GULF BOULEVARD IT IS HAPPENING IN ALL COMMUNITIES. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO TRY TO COMBAT THE DEATHS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE WANT TO BE THERE FOR YOU. REACH OUT TO US. WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT ANYTHING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY OF GULFPORT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A BIKE RIDE. I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE SAME STRAIGHT INITIATIVE YOU ARE DOING SO WE CAN PUT OUR NAME ON THE LIST. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU WITH SOME QUESTIONS. BROWNFIELD REMEDIATION IS A PART OF THE RECLAMATION PROCESS. I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THAT. >> I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. I AM SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW AND TO CLARIFY FOR ME AS WELL, EXACTLY WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO YOU DO FOR STATES -- SAFE STREETS? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? AND, WHERE DOES THE SUN RUNNER ACTUALLY END? DO THEY HAVE CONNECTIONS PLANNED FOR IT NORTH AND SOUTH? ANY OF THEM NOW? THE TAMPA FAIRIES -- THE TIMES ARE NOT GREAT FOR THE COMMUTERS. JUST FOR TOURISTS. TO BE EFFECTIVE IT HAS TO BE COMMUTER FRIENDLY. ONE THING WE USED TO HAVE THAT THE CHAMBER WAS RUNNING, WAS A GECKO PROGRAM. WE HAD GOLF CARTS. PEOPLE COULD CALL UP AND COME GET YOU ANYWHERE IN GULFPORT. THAT DID NOT WORK OUT BECAUSE THERE WERE ELECTRIC CARTS AND OTHER ISSUES. WOULD A PROGRAM LIKE THAT POTENTIALLY, UNDER YOU? >> POTENTIALLY. WE COULD CERTAINLY OFFER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP YOU GET STARTED. SAINT PETE BEACH HAS ONE OF THOSE IN OPERATION AND THEY SEEM VERY HAPPY. >> THERE IS IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT PRICEY BUT WE WOULD PROBABLY DO FEWER HOURS. >> IT IS HOW BIG AND HOW LONG YOU WANT TO DO IT. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU. >> COULD THERE BE SUBSIDIES? FROM THESE GOVERNMENT THINGS? >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT DECISION. I AM NOT SURE I COULD BRING OPERATING A SUBSIDY. WE COULD DEFINITELY HELP SET UP CAPITAL COST. WE ARE MORE SUITED TO FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS THAN ONGOING OPERATIONS. WHICH IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE. SAFETY, I WILL GIVE SOME EXAMPLES. ONE OF THE THINGS WE STARTED DOING WAS PUTTING IN WHAT ARE CALLED LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS AND INTERSECTIONS. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS RED, THE WALK SIGNAL COMES UP BEFORE THE GREEN SIGNAL COMES. THAT WAY PEDESTRIANS CAN START WALKING IN THE CROSSWALK BEFORE CARS START MAKING THAT RIGHT TURN IN CONFLICT WITH THEM. THAT IS A REAL LOW COST SAFETY IMPROVEMENT. COMPLETE STREET PROGRAM IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SAFETY. WE ACTUALLY WORKED TO GET PEOPLE TO DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT. NOT SLOW DOWN BUT NOT SPEED. PROVIDE SAFE SPACE FOR ALL USERS. WHETHER IT IS A BIKE, SIDEWALK OR MID WALK CROSSINGS. WE PROGRAM THOSE PROJECTS INTO OUR WORK PROGRAM. SOME ARE BIG AND SOME ARE SMALL. A LOT OF IT IS EDUCATION AND AWARENESS. WE WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHERE APPROPRIATE TO DO HIGH VISIBILITY LAW ENFORCEMENT. SHERIFF AND DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE DONE THAT. WE HAVE GRANT FUNDS WE CAN HELP THEM GET FOR THAT. THE NEXT QUESTION, SUN RUNNER. THAT GOES TO SAINT PETE BEACH. WHERE THE COUNTY PARKING LOT IS LOCATED ON THE BEACH. RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE DOLPHIN SHOPPING CENTER. DOLPHIN VILLAGE WHERE THE PUBLIX IS. SAINT PETE BEACH REALLY DID NOT WANT IT TO GO FURTHER SOUTH EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS THE PLAN. IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN INTO THIRD AND FOURTH THEN TURNS AROUND THROUGH DOWNTOWN. IT WILL CUT THE TRAVEL TIME FROM ABOUT 50 MINUTES INTO ABOUT 35 MINUTES. THERE ARE FEWER STOPS AND THERE ARE PRIORITY SIGNALS. YOU CAN SEE THE CONSTRUCTION AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I THINK ONCE IT IS DONE IT WILL BE NICER AND CLEANED UP. NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIONS THAT IS WHAT ALT 19 STUDY WILL DO. FOURTH STREET HAS PRETTY GOOD NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTIONS SO WE CAN BUILD ON THAT. THERE IS A PLAN FOR A TRANSIT TO RUN FROM DOWNTOWN AT THE TROPICANA FIELD 16TH STREET AREA UP TO 75 INTO THE AIRPORT AND EVENTUALLY UP TO USF. THERE IS STILL SOME FUNDING TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY ON THEM. THAT IS A COMPLETED PLAN. THE LAST THING WAS THE CROSS BAY FERRY THE TIMES ARE NOT GOOD FOR COMMUTING. THEY DID IT AS A PILOT INITIALLY FOR THE COMMUNITY. THEY HAD IN THE MORNING AND FOUND ALMOST NOBODY WAS USING THAT FOR COMMUTING. BECAUSE, IT IS SLOW, ESPECIALLY ONCE YOU GET TO CHANNELSIDE. YOU HAVE TO REALLY SLOW DOWN IN THE NO WAKE ZONE THERE. IT IS NOT THAT COMPETITIVE WITH DRIVING BUT IT IS SUPER POPULAR FOR LIGHTNING GAMES. WE ARE WORKING TOWARD GETTING IT YEAR-ROUND AND NOT JUST A SEASONAL THING. HAVING ONE THIS GRANT YESTERDAY, AND HAVING IT NOW OPERATED BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY WE THINK WE ARE IN A BETTER POSITION. IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE OVER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BEFORE WE GET AROUND TO THAT. >> I LIVED IN SYDNEY. THEY HAD FAIRIES GOING ALL OVER THERE. -- FERRY'S GOING ALL OVER THERE. I COULD SEE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY. >> THE ONE IN CLEARWATER WORKS PRETTY WELL. THERE IS SO MUCH CONGESTION ON MEMORIAL CAUSEWAY AND THE LACK OF PARKING OVER THERE. DURING SPRING BREAK THOSE BOLDS ARE FULL. SO, WE THINK BUILDING ON THAT SUCCESS. >> THANK YOU. >> THE DEATHS THAT YOU REFERENCED. THOSE PEDESTRIANS? >> CAR ACCIDENTS. WE KEEP TRACK OF EVERYBODY ON FOOT AND WALKING. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES IS THEY HAVE DOUBLED OVER 2020. THEY ARE MUCH HIGHER OVER 2019. ALL OF THE OTHER ONES ARE HOLDING STEADY OR DECLINED. THAT ONE HAS SPIKED. I WISH I KNEW EXACTLY WHY. I CAN SPECULATE. >> I ALSO WONDER IS THERE LIGHT RAIL IN THE FUTURE? >> THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION. >> YOU ASK THAT EVERY TIME I AM HERE. >> I WAS THINKING THE SUN RUNNER, LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE LIGHT RAIL. >> IT IS LIGHT RAIL LIKE. IT IS A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE. IT WAS STILL $40 MILLION. LIGHT RAIL IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT THE CSX LINES. NOT JUST IN PINELLAS BUT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. UNFORTUNATELY CSX FIVE YEARS AGO WANTED TO SELL AND NOW THEY DON'T. SO, THE STATE IS STILL TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY LEASING THOSE LINES. WHEN YOU WORK WITH CSX YOU END UP BEING ON THE HOOK FOR UPGRADING THE LINES FOR THEM TO USE IF YOU WANT TO USE THEM AND THAT COULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE. THE PROBLEM WITH PINELLAS COUNTY OUR POPULATION AND OUR JOBS ARE SPREAD OUT ALL OVER. EVERYBODY GOES IN ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. IT IS A LITTLE HARDER TO PLAN FOR LIGHT RAIL. WE ARE HOPEFUL IF WE CAN START WITH DOWNTOWN TAMPA THROUGH THE AIRPORT AND MAYBE USF THAT WILL BE A STARTER LINE OF SORTS. THEN WE WILL SEE OURSELVES IN A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT. THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT ON THE TAMPA SIDE. I WOULD SAY NOT AS MUCH SUPPORT IN PINELLAS COUNTY WITH LIGHT RAIL TODAY. BASED ON THE REFERENDUM IN 2014, I WOULD HAVE TO SEE SOME MORE SUPPORT FOR THAT. BUT, WE ARE STARTING OUR LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN RIGHT NOW. THAT IS THE PLACE TO START THINKING BIG IDEAS AND THOUGHTS. WHO KNOWS. >> COUNCILMAN? >> LIGHT RAIL. SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT LIGHT RAIL. FROM THE SKYWAY BRIDGE GOING NORTH. THEY THOUGHT THE BEST WAY TO GO WOULD BE TAKING IT ALL THE WAY DOWN 34TH STREET ALL THE WAY UP. HAVE WE EVER LOOKED AT THE IS A POSSIBILITY? I UNDERSTAND THE COST. THE LONGER WE WAIT THE MORE THE COST WILL GO UP. IT IS A MATTER OF WHETHER WE DO IT NOW OR IT WILL COST US TWICE AS MUCH LATER. THAT IS THE FIRST THING I HAVE TO SAY. ALSO, ON THE PEDESTRIAN SIDE, I WAS SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT WATCHING SOMEBODY WALK ACROSS THE STREET LOOKING AT THEIR CELL PHONE. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING RUN OVER THEY JUST WALKED OFF OF THE CURB AND LOOKED AT THEIR PHONE. >> THAT IS ONE FACTOR. WITH LIGHT RAIL 34TH STREET IS GREAT QUARTER. OUR NEXT TRANSIT PROJECT IS IN THE 34TH QUARTER FROM SKYWAY NORTH TO ABOUT CENTRAL AVENUE. WE WANT TO EXTEND THAT ALL THE WAY TO THE GATEWAY. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD START. >> I DO AGREE ON THAT. WHEN I LIVED IN ATLANTA IT ORIGINALLY WENT FROM THE AIRPORT TO LENOX SQUARE. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY UNTIL I REALIZED THEY WERE PAYING FOR THE REST OF THE LINES. THE REAL GOES SHOPPING AND FROM THEN THEY COULD SPREAD ANOTHER LINE. IF WE GO FROM THE AIRPORT TO WHEREVER THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO START THE SITUATION FOR LIGHT RAIL. >> PART OF IT IS THAT LIGHT RAIL IS JUST SO EXPENSIVE AND REQUIRE SUCH A LOCAL COMMITMENT. THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR 10 PERCENT OF THAT COST. IF THEY ARE DESIGNED CORRECT AND DONE RIGHT THEY CAN PROVIDE THE LOOK AND FEEL OF LIGHT RAIL. NOT QUITE THERE WITH THE SUN RUNNER BECAUSE IT IS SEMI DEDICATED LANES NOT FULLY DEDICATED. THAT WAS A TRADE-OFF WE NEEDED TO MAKE WITH THE COMMUNITY. >> $79 MILLION ON ALL OF THOSE. WHAT WAS AT 60 BUSES? LOOKING TO GET ONLY BUSES THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS ANYWAY. I THINK THE DEAL WAS $79 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. EVERYTHING WAS ELECTRIC. >> COUNCILMAN? DIRECTOR? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. >> THAT BRINGS US TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS FOR ANYONE WHO HAS AN ITEM THEY WANT TO DISCUSS FOR THREE MINUTES. GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE. WE WILL GO WITH A SHOW OF HANDS. YOU GENTLEMEN CAME IN AS A GROUP. I WILL GIVE YOU GUYS THE FIRST SHOT UP HERE. WELCOME TO GULFPORT. HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> THANK YOU MY NAME IS ROB SUMNER MY ADDRESS IS 601 64TH STREET NORTH ST. PETERSBUR