City Council Meeting

Gulfport City Council Agenda Template

City of Gulfport Florida

City Council Meeting Notice

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

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

6:00 PM

AGENDA

Call to Order.

Invocation given by Councilmember Christine Brown.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call.

1.

Public Comment.

2.

City Manager Report.

3.

City Attorney Report.

4.

City Clerk Report.

4.a.

City Clerk Report Item.

EXHIBIT: Municipal Election 2022.pdf

5.

Consent:

5.a.

Consider approval of the Council Meeting Minutes of November 2, 2021.

EXHIBIT: Item 5.a - Minutes 11-02-2021.pdf

6.

Ordinances:

6.a.

Ordinance No. 2021-17: Second Reading and Public Hearing: An Ordinance of the City of Gulfport, Florida, providing for an amendment of Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Gulfport pertaining to Offenses; providing for amendment of Section 4-25 Fireworks, Sale and Discharge Prohibited; 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. 2021-17.pdf

7.

Resolutions: None.

8.

Council Comments/Informational Reports.

9.

Adjournment.

Any person who decides to appeal any decision of the City Council with respect to any matter considered at this meeting will need a record of the proceedings and for such purposes may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. The law does not require the City Clerk to transcribe verbatim minutes; therefore, the applicant must make the necessary arrangements with a private reporter or private reporting firm and bear the resulting expense. Any person with a disability requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this meeting should call (727) 893-1012 or fax a written request to (727) 893-1008.

>> DECEMBER 21, 2021 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF GULFPORT FLORIDA. OUR LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR. OUR INVOCATION IS GIVEN BY COUNCILMEMBER KRISTINE BROWN FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE JOIN US AND RISE. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I HAVE A POEM THAT I WROTE. IT'S CALLED I HOPE YOU HEAL. I HAVE ADVICE FOR YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, HELPING YOU HEAL IS THE MAIN REASON. IF YOU'RE FEELING DREARY AND BITTER, SHOWER YOURSELF WITH SPARKLEY GLITTER. SENSATIONS OF UNPLEASANTNESS MAKE YOU FEEL LOW, FIND SOMEONE TO KISS UNDER THE MISSTLE TOE. DO YOUR DAYS MAKE YOU FEEL FELANCHOLY, HANG SOME WREATHS OF BERRY AND HOLLY. IF YOUR LIFE IS STINKY AND SMELLY, TRY LAUGHING LIKE YOU HAVE A BOWL FULL OF JELLY. ALL I'M SAYING IS ON LIFE GET A NEW LEASE, EMBRACE WONDER MAGIC JOY AND PEACE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] [ROLL CALL] >> WE'LL OPEN UP WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS FOR ANYTHING THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA. >> SORRY. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP IT. SO SORRY. >> YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT BRINGING THE CHRISTMAS CHEER. >> IT'S CALLED COCOA MELON, WHICH IS A SHOW FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. IT'S VERY CAPTIVATING FOR THEM, SO I WAS ENTERTAINING A BABY WITH IT. >> VERY NICE. THIS IS OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ANYTHING NOT ON THE AGENDA. WE'LL GO WITH A SHOW OF HANDS. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IT. WE'LL START WITH YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DON RODGERS. I LIVE AT 8141 25TH AVENUE NORTH ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. I'M A CURRENT MEMBER AND PAST MEMBER OF THE BOAT PARADE COMMITTEE AND YACHT CLUB. I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE RESULTS OF THE PARADE. DECEMBER 11 WE HELD OUR BOAT PARADE COMPLETE WITH 23 REGISTERED BOATS. VIEWING FROM THE NATURE PRESERVE, WILLIAMS PIER, CASINO DOCKS AND GULFPORT BEACHES WERE PACKED WITH PEOPLE WHO CHEERED AND SANG ALONG. ALL THE RESTAURANTS, BARS AND PUBLIC SPACES IN DOWNTOWN GULFPORT WERE PACKED AS EVERYONE CAME OUT TO HAVE DINNER, SEE THE PARADE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT OUT. THOSE WHO CAME OUT TO WATCH THE PARADE STAYED TO ENJOY THE COMMUNITY WE LOVE, FULFILLING OUR GOAL OF BRINGING HOLIDAY CHEER TO EVERY COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD WE VISITED. WE SELECTED 7 1/2 LARGE MOVING BOXES OF TOYS AND OVER $1,000 FOR THE GULFPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT OWES SANTA PROGRAM. AS FOR FRANCINE OUR BIGGEST PILE OF TOYS EVER. ASSISTING UZ WERE THE RESIDENTS OF PELICAN BAY, ALL OUR MEMBERS, ALL THE BOAT CAPTAINS AND THEIR CREWS. WE HAVE RECEIVED REPORTS OF OTHER TOY COLLECTIONS AT THE POST OFFICE AND OTHER RESTAURANTS. THE PARADE WAS A FANTASTIC DISPLAY OF LIGHT AND SOUND WHICH WAS ENJOYED BY EVERYONE IN GULFPORT. THE JUDGING WAS CHALLENGING SINCE IT WAS CLEAR THAT EVERYONE UPPED THEIR GAME. WHILE BCYC, EVERY BOAT WINS A PRIZE BUT HERE ARE THE TOP FOUR PLACES. FIRST PLACE LEE NELL. SECOND PLACE BILL ENETTI, THIRD PLACE, JOHN HOGUE. THEY HAD A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL SINGING. FOURTH PLACE BOB BETTINGHOUSE. OUR LOCAL GULFPORT BUSINESSES AND SUPPORTERS GENEROUSLY DONATED ALL THE PRIZES FOR THE BOAT CAPTAINS AND WE THANKED THEM FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT. DESPITE THE RAVAGES OF THE PREVIOUS TO YEARS THEY WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE BOAT CAPTAINS FOR PUTTING ON THE PARADE AND DONATING. IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA STOP BY TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SUPPORTERS. THEY ARE ALL LISTED ON WWW.SAILBCYC.ORG. WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE POLICE OFFICER TO LED THE PARADE. ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL RAY FOR FILLING IN SANTA'S BOOTS AND NOT FAINTING IN THE WARM WEATHER. FROM OUR BCYC FAMILY TO YOURS, WE WISH YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE FOR OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NO ONE, ANYONE ON THE LINE? >> YES, MISS TOBER. >> HI. GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY IN THE DIAS, ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY. AND ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERYBODY TORE DO WHAT THEY DO. I KNOW WE DON'T ALWAYS ATKPRAOE. AGREE BUT AS I SAID MANY TIMES I AGREE FAR MORE THAN I DISAGREE AND I TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE'S DOING. THANK YOU AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> THANK YOU. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU. ANYONE ELSE? >> NOPE. >> THERE'S ONE MORE. >> I'LL CHAT. MY NAME IS GREG SIMICK. LACK OF COMPETITION WITH EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE ELECTION. I THINK THAT'S EGREGIOUSLY BAD THAT NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON SUBMITTED ANYTHING TO RUN. COMPETITION, I THINK, IS A REALLY GOOD THING. COMPETITION SPREADS PROGRESS. THAT'S WHAT SPREADS PROGRESS IN ACADEMICS, IN SPORTS, IN BUSINESS. AND THAT'S WHAT SPURS PROGRESS IN BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT AS WELL. WITHOUT COMPETITION WE'RE MISSING I THINK A KEY INGREDIENT TO FORWARD MOMENTUM. IN MY OPINION, I THINK ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT NO ONE CHOSE TO RUN IS BECAUSE OF YOUR LOW PAY. YOU GUYS PAY YOURSELF $10,000 A YEAR. I GUESS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES ESTIMATES 22 HOURS A WEEK WHICH THAT WORKS OUT TO $9.50 AN HOUR. FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IS $10 I BELIEVE. YOU'RE PAYING YOURSELF LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE. NO ONE -- NOT NO ONE, BUT VERY FEW PEOPLE WANT TO SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO, I WOULD ARGUE THE THANKLESSNESS OF YOUR POSITION FOR LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE. IN MY OPINION, THAT'S WHY NO ONE RAN. I MEAN, THEY LOOK -- WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS? I CALL IT THE STAGE, YOU CALL IT THE DIAS. THEY LOOK OVER HERE, THEY SEE ATTORNEY SALZMAN ON AN AVERAGE DAY MAKES $600 IN A MEETING LIKE THIS, WHICH IS WHAT YOU MAKE IN A MONTH. AND YOU GUYS ARE RUNNING AN ENTIRE CITY. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION. IN MY OPINION, THE MAIN REASON PWHAOEU NO ONE RAN, YOU GUYS NEED TO PAY YOURSELF MORE, SOMETHING COMMENSURATE WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION. I THINK WHEN I POSTED MY THING ON FACEBOOK, WHICH I SENT YOU ALL THE LINK TO, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE WHO SAID NO ONE RAN BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT Y'ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. INTERESTINGLY THOSE SAME PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT ALSO SAID YOU GUY AREN'T BEING PAID ENOUGH, VERSUS THE PEOPLE WHO SAID, DO YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE. THEY ACTUALLY AGREE THAT A HIGHER PAY WOULD BE A LARGER INCENTIVE. SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY BAD THING THAT NO ONE RAN AGAINST THREE OPEN POSITIONS. AND COMPETITION IS IS THE THE HEART OF AMERICAN CULTURE. THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO SAY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? DID I MISS ANYONE ELSE? APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. THAT BRINGS US TO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. >> JUST TWO ITEMS THIS EVENING, MAYOR. ONE, THE CHARGING STATIONS HAVE BEEN TURNED ON BY DUKE ENERGY. THERE'S A METER IN THEM NOW. THEY ARE HOT. OUT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL. THE SECOND ITEM IS TO DATE, WE'VE RECEIVED REQUEST FOR $23,225 WORTH OF VOUCHERS. >> GOOD. >> BUSINESSES HAVE TURNED IN TO THIS POINT TODAY. >> OKAY. >> AND WE'RE PUSHING IT OUT THERE, CONSTANTLY SENDING THE MESSAGE OUT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> AND EVERYONE, A HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. CITY ATTORNEY. >> NO REPORT, MAYOR. >> ALL RIGHT. CITY CLERK? >> YES, MAYOR. ONLY THING I DID WANT TO BRING UP, THERE WAS AN ATTACHMENT TO THE AGENDA PACKET WITH OUR ELECTION INFORMATION ON THERE FOR THE MARCH 15, 2022 ELECTION CANCELLED FOR THE THREE POSITIONS MAYOR. THE ONLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE WAS SAM HENDERSON FOR COUNCIL MEMBER WARD 1. THE ONLY WAS APRIL THANOS AND FOR THE THIRD POSITION WAS PAIL >> DANA: RAY. -- PAUL RAY. >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER FIGURED OUT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD A THREE CANDIDATE RACE THAT DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPONENT? >> I THINK PRE2014. I DID SOME BRIEF RESEARCH. IT'S BEEN YEARS. WE MIGHT HAVE HAD ELECTIONS WHERE ONE INCUMBENT WASN'T OPPOSED, BUT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE HAD AT LEAST ONE OR TWO SEATS WITH OPPOSITION. >> BUT WE HAVE BEFORE HAD ELECTIONS CANCELLED. >> WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL APRIL. OUR TERMS AREN'T UP YET. >> WE HAVE TO DO IT AFTER THE NIGHT OF THE ELECTION, WHICH IS THE 15TH. >> TECHNICALLY, IT WOULD REMAIN IN OFFICE UNTIL YOU WERE REPLACED. SINCE YOU'RE REPLACING YOURSELF, IT'S JUST A FORMALITY. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IF I MAY COULD JUST CLARIFY ONE ISSUE. YOU CAN PARTICIPATE TUESDAY. MAYOR CAN DO HIS PRESS RELEASES FOR THE REBOUND PROGRAM. >> RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. CONSENT AGENDA. >> CONSENT 5A PUBLIC APPROVE THE MINUTES NOVEMBER 22, 2021. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> SECOND. >> EVERYONE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. BRINGING US TO OUR ONE AND ONLY ORDINANCE TONIGHT 2021-17. >> SECOND READING. ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A MEMBER OF CHAPTER 14 CODE OF ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO OFFENSES. SECTION 425 FIRE WORK SALES AND DISCHARGE PROHIBITED. PROVIDING ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT WITH SUCH CONFLICT PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CITY MANAGER, ANYTHING TO ADD? >> NO. I'LL DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE HE DID MAKE SOME CHANGES TO IT. >> I CLARIFIED IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? >> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FIREWORKS. >> PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? >> NONE AT THIS TIME, MAYOR. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER -- ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE CALL THE VOTE? ALL RIGHT. LET'S CALL THE VOTE. >> MOTION AND A SECOND, MAYOR. >> I'M SORRY. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON 2021-17. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. FIRST AND SECOND. NOW WE'LL CALL THE VOTE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN. >> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RAY. >> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER THANOS. >> YES. >> MAYOR? >> YES. >> GIVES US TIME FOR COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS. >> I DID GO TO THE BOAT PARADE. IT WAS WONDERFUL. IT WAS PACKED. THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE. I APPRECIATE THAT. NICE NIGHT TO BE ON THE WATER, BEAUTIFUL NIGHT WATCHING THE BOATS AND HEARING THE GREAT MUSIC. CERT HAD A POT LUCK DINNER LAST NIGHT TO END OUR YEAR. LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR OF HELPING THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE CAN. AND PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS AND SPREAD LOVE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER RAY? >> JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. EVERYBODY PROBABLY KNOWS TODAY IS WINTER SOLSTICE. SO IT'S THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR. WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO GET THEMES LONGER AND HEADING TOWARD -- HASN'T BEEN A COLD WINNER, BUT WHATEVER. BOAT PARADE WAS FUN. SANTA CLAUS OUTFIT THAT I HAD WAS VERY AUTHENTIC, BUT ALSO VERY WARM. IT WAS KIND OF NICE WHEN WE WERE MOVING. WE WERE ON DOING FIVE KNOTS. IT WAS FUN. THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. NOT JUST THE BEACHES BUT LINING THROUGH TOWN SHORE, ALL THE WAY THROUGH PYCC AND ALL THE WAY OVER TO PASADENA AND OVER TO, WHAT IS IT, TERRA VERDE? IT WAS AMAZING. THEY WERE FIRING OFF FIREWORKS AND EVERYTHING. QUITE A NIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. NEXT YEAR WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT SO WHEN I'M WAVING, I'M NOT WAVING IN THE DARKNESS. [INAUDIBLE] THE PROBLEM WAS, IT WOULD GET IN THE WAY OF THE DRIVING THE BOAT. SPOTLIGHT ON ME PROBABLY WASN'T WISE. I HAVE BEEN SPENDING QUITE A BIT OF TIME TALKING TO SOME OF THE BUSINESSES AROUND TOWN WITH THE VOUCHER PROGRAM AND IT'S REALLY GOING QUITE WELL. A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACE, A LOT OF HAVE HAVEN'T BROUGHT IN THEIR VOUCHERS. I SPOKE WITH QUITE A FEW AND THEY ARE PLEASED WITH IT. I GAVE MINE TO WES. WENT DOWN TO, WHAT IS IT, THE HOME GOOD PLACE IN THE BLUE BUILDING AND BOUGHT A LAMP. SO I'M SURE THE CAT WILL KNOCK THAT OVER. I JUST WANTED TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY KWANZAA AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? WE STILL DON'T HAVE ANY REPORT FROM THE -- >> I'M NOT DOING THAT UNTIL NEXT YEAR. >> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO TELL EVERYBODY MERRY CHRISTMAS, OR HAPPY HOLIDAYS. I HEARD FROM THE CITY MANAGER TODAY THAT TOM NICHOLS HAD GONE OUT AND TALKED TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SHED WITH THE MURAL ON IT AND THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT. I'M SURE THEY'LL COME BACK WITH AN APPROPRIATE PLACE TO PUT IT THAT WOULD MAKE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE SEE IT. THAT'S GREAT. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. I WAS TRYING TO PARK THE OTHER NIGHT ON A SIDE STREET AND THIS IS ABOUT THE RESIDENTS ONLY PARKING SIGN THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED THE POLICE AREN'T ENFORCING THE SIGNS ON A NORMAL BASIS. THE TIMES THEY NORMALLY WOULD ENFORCE IT WOULD BE WHEN WE HAVE A BIG EVENT. WE TALKED ABOUT COVERING THEM SO THEY DON'T ENFORCE THEM THAT DAY. WHEN YOU'RE JUST DRIVING ALONG LOOKING FOR PARKING ON A NORMAL NIGHT, YOU SEE THESE NO PARKING SIGNS. IT DOES SAY THAT YOU CAN PARK AFTER 5:30, BUT THAT'S IN SMALLER PRINT. WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING AT NIGHT, YOU DON'T NOTICE THAT. YOU JUST SEE THE NO PARKING. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE PUT IT ON AN AGENDA PERHAPS TO JUST TAKE DOWN THE SIGNS. IF WE'RE NOT GONNA ENFORCE THEM ON A DAILY BASIS AND WE'RE GONNA COVER THEM UP ON SPECIAL EVENT, I THINK WE SHOULD JUST TAKE THEM DOWN SO PEOPLE KNOW THEY CAN PARK THERE. >> I'M COMFORTABLE PUTTING IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. I'D RATHER TALK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. >> I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT AS AN AGENDA ITEM. >> MAKES SENSE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I JUST HAD A COUPLE THINGS. APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID. WE HAVE ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SUGGESTING RAISES A COUPLE TIMES. IT WAS NOT A BIG HIT, AS I RECALL. BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY MAYBE ONE OF THE POTENTIAL REASONS. I LIKE TO THINK ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE WOULD CHOOSE TO DO IT NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE COMPETITIVE WAGE AT IT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT, DOING YOUR PART, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, TAKING CARE OF YOUR CITY. ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS PERHAPS SOME PEOPLE HAVEN'T CHOSEN TO RUN, MAYBE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE HAPPY. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE UNHAPPY WITH US FROM TIME TO TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS A BIG REASON WHY FOR THE FIRST TIME, AT LEAST SINCE I REMEMBER BEING HERE IN 2006, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THERE WERE TWO COUNCIL SEATS AND A MAYOR'S SEAT UP AND NO ONE WAS OPPOSED. I THINK THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IS SO UNPLEASANT RIGHT NOW. I THINK PEOPLE MIGHT NOT WANT TO PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE FOR IT. MIGHT BE GOOD FOR GULFPORT TO HAVE A BREAK THIS TIME AROUND FROM THE ELECTION CYCLE AND LET PEOPLE RESENTER AND TRY TO GAIN THAT AIR OF CIVILITY BACK AND SPEND THE HOLIDAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT AN ELECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AWHILE. I HOPE EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, CATCH UP WITH YOUR LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS AND HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO ANTICIPATE MAYBE WHAT'S COMING FOR US IN THE NEW YEAR AND APPROACH IT WITH POSITIVITY AND THINK ABOUT THE BATTLES WE'VE WON THIS YEAR AN LAST YEAR AS WELL. I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A GOOD BREAK. SEE YOU ALL IN 2022. >> CAN I CAN ONE FOR THING? >> OKAY. >> ANOTHER THING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE ELECTIONS WAS TERM LIMITS OR LONGER TERMS. WHAT WOULD THE PROCESS BE IF WE WERE TO WANT TO CHANGE THAT? >> IT WOULD BE A CHARTER CHANGE. >> IT'S A REFERENDUM VOTE. >> SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PUT ON THE BALLOT? >> I BELIEVE SO, BECAUSE IF IT'S BEEN CHANGED BY REFERENDUM OR ESTABLISHED BY REFERENDUM, IT HAS TO BE CHANGED BY REFERENDUM. >> WE WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH THAT TO MAKE SURE. >> OKAY. BUT THE MAYOR'S TERM, WE DID CHANGE THE MAYOR'S TERM. >> MAYOR'S TERM WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED BY THE VOTERS. >> RIGHT. >> SALARY CAN BE CHANGED BY THE COUNCIL. >> IT CANNOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING OCTOBER. >> RIGHT. >> TO DO A REFERENDUM, WOULD WE JUST DECIDE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT OR DO WE HAVE TO DO SOME PROCESS TO PUT IT ON? >> NO, NO. WE WOULD HOLD HEARINGS AND YOU WOULD DECIDE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. TWO WAYS SOMETHING CAN OCCUR THAT WAY IS EITHER FROM PETITION OR FROM COUNCIL. >> WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION, WHAT WAS IT THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO. >> COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE SETTING FORTH THE QUESTION TO BE HELD AS THE REFERENDUM. YOU WOULD ESTABLISH THE QUESTION WHICH HAS TO MEET CERTAIN LEGALESE, SO MANY WORDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THEN YOU'D HAVE AN ORDINANCE PASSED THAT ESTABLISHES THE REFERENDUM. >> PROS AND CONS TO BOTH FOR SURE. >> THAT'S DONE THROUGH A CHARTER COMMITTEE, TOO. I DID NOTICE, I THINK I WAS READING. I DID RESEARCH. ONE INTERESTING COMMENT WAS MADE BY FRITZ SCHWARTZ JR., CHIEF COUNCIL AT THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE. SAID THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO RUN WITH LOW PAY. NOT EVERYBODY INDUCED TO RUN WITH A HIGH PAY IS GOING TO BE AN ALEXANDER HAMILTON OR JAMES MADISON. I THOUGHT THAT WAS TONGUE AND CHEEK. I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE HAVING A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT WOULD BE DOING THOSE KIND OF RECOMMENDATIONS. >> IT'S ONLY EVERY SEVEN YEARS. >> IT WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO. AREN'T THEY TEN YEARS? >> WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION. >> YOU CAN DO IT ANY TIME. >> SURE. WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION WHATEVER IT WAS FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO ABOUT CHANGING THE TERM LIMITS. >> I WAS ON COUNCIL AT THE TIME. IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL ANYWAY, ENOUGH OF US. ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY. >> CONGRATULATIONS ON EVERYONE WHO WON THEIR SEAT BACK. >> ALL RIGHT. YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAYS. WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. >> HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.