City Council Meeting

>> GOOD EVENING. ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE TO GOING TO WANT SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT, IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR YOU TO GET AS CLOSE UP TO THE FRONT DOOR OFF TO THE SIDES AS YOU CAN. THAT WILL SAVE US A LITTLE TIME LATER AND WHEN IT GETS TO BE AROUND 10:00, EVERYONE WILL BE GLAD THAT WE SAVED 10 MINUTES. WITH THAT, I WILL CALL THE MEETING OF MAY 20th 2025 TO ORDER. AND WE WILL START WITH AN INVOCATION. TONIGHT GIVEN BY COUNCILMEMBER JACKSON, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO PLEASE STAND. >> SO THIS PAST WEEK I WAS IN MY HOMETOWN OF PITTSBURGH FOR MOTHER'S DAY AND I THOUGHT OF MR. ROGERS FOR MY INVOCATION THIS WEEK. AND MR. ROGERS HAS A QUOTE. HE SAYS, "ALL OF US, AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER, NEED HELP. WHETHER WE ARE GIVING OR RECEIVING HELP, EACH ONE OF US HAS SOMETHING VALUABLE TO BRING TO THIS WORLD. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONNECTS US AS NEIGHBORS. IN OUR OWN WAY, EACH ONE OF US IS A GIVER AND A RECEIVER." EVERYBODY LOVED IT. 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. >> AND WITH THAT, I SAY ROLL CALL, PLEASE? >> COUNCILMEMBER JACKSON? >> &C%1 >> PRESENT. >> 21 &C%1 >> PRESENT. MAYOR LOVE? HERE. >> CITY MANAGER O'REILLY? &C%1 >> PRESENT. >> THE CITY CLERK IS PRESENT. >> IN HIS USUAL, IF THERE IS A NEED FOR SIDE CONVERSATION, I UNDERSTAND IT. YOU JUST NEED TO GO OUT INTO THE LOBBY SO THAT WE ARE NOT DISTRACTED UP HERE. I'M SURE Y'ALL UNDERSTAND. WITH THAT IN MIND, PRESENTATIONS? SO I KNOW THAT THE AGENDA SAYS NO PRESENTATIONS, BUT I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE BOTH, AND SHE IS HERE RIGHT NOW. OKAY. SO THIS EVENING WE WILL HEAR FROM PRESENTER, MEGAN BLANCHARD OF THE COASTAL ECOLOGIST FOR THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL COUNSEL. EXCUSE ME. AND YOU ARE GOING TO PRESENT ON THE REGIONAL RESILIENCY ACTION PLAN AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY RESOURCES. >> THANK YOU, AND WELCOME TO GULFPORT. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS MEGAN BLANCHARD AND I AM THE COASTAL ECOLOGIST FOR THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL. I'M HAPPY TO JOIN YOU TODAY. AS YOUR GOVERNMENT LIAISON, IT IS A BENEFIT INCLUDED IN YOUR MEMBERSHIP WITH TPRPC. VICE MAYOR THANOS HAS REQUESTED AN INTRODUCTION TO THE RESILIENCY COALITION IN YOUR ACTION PLAN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND TO DESCRIBE SOME EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY RESOURCES. OKAY, SO HERE IS --WE ARE GOING PAST IT. SO HERE WE GO. THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL RESILIENCY COALITION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2018 IN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING INCLUDING 33 MEMBERS AND OVER 100 PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL. THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL IS A MEMBER OF THIS COALITION, AND SO IS THE CITY OF GULFPORT. I'M JUST GOING TO --OKAY. SO HERE YOU CAN SEE TBRRC INCLUDES COUNCILS AS FAR NORTH AS CITRUS AND AS FAR SOUTH AS SARASOTA AND PINELLAS COUNTY. THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH COLLABORATIVE IN THE STATE AND IT HAS TAKEN ON A NOTEWORTHY CHALLENGE, TO BRING TOGETHER AS MANY COMMUNITIES TOGETHER THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE TO TACKLE A PROBLEM WITH NO SINGLE SOLUTION. THE COALITION DIVES INTO ISSUES OF SEALEVEL RISE, STORMS, FLOODING, EXTREME HEAT , ALL HAZARDS EMERGING AS THE DEFINING ISSUES OF LIFE IN THIS REGION. THE COALITION TAKES ON TRENDING ISSUES HEAD-ON FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ANGLES IN COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION AND VIEWS THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE ADMIRABLE STEWARDSHIP AND LEADERSHIP. TO CATALYZE THIS WORK IN 2022 THE RRAP WAS DEVELOPED AS A FOUNDATION UPON WHICH ALL MEMBERS CAN BUILD THEIR RESILIENCY STRATEGY. IT WAS BUILT BY CONSENSUS AND BREAKOUT GROUPS CONSISTING OF PUBLIC AGENCY STAFF, PRIVATE PARTNERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AS VOLUNTARY PLAN WAS DESIGNED AS A GUIDE, SO PARTNERS AND MEMBERS WOULD UNDERSTAND WHERE NEIGHBORS WERE TAKEN ACTION, WHAT DIRECTION THE ACTIONS FOR THE AREAS OF ACTION APPROPRIATE FOR THEM. ORIGINALITY DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERY CITY OR COUNTY DOES THE SAME THING IN THE SAME WAY ABOUT WORKING WITHIN YOUR CAPACITY TO BRING THE SHARED VISION TO LIFE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE PAGE FROM OUR PLAN. WE CALL IT A MENU. REMEMBER, GOVERNMENTS CAN SELECT FROM THESE LOCAL ACTIONS, WHICH ARE REALLY SMALL, ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE , OR GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AS NEEDED OR BACK TO PRACTICABLE. ORIGINALITY IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL. THE RRAP ALIGNS LIKE-MINDED GOVERNMENTS AND WILL LOOK DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE RESOURCES, POLITICAL WILL, SIZE, PUBLIC DESIRE AND NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY. MAYBE I CAN SHOW YOU --RBC ACTIONS, THE REGIONAL ACTIONS ARE WHERE YOU WILL SEE THE RPC WORKING IN THE AREA OF RESILIENCY. AND IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE PLAN DESCRIBE CO-BENEFITS AND POSITIVE IMPACTS TO OTHER SECTORS THAT THIS WOULD PROVIDE AS WELL. LET ME JUST --I APOLOGIZE. THESE ARE THE 10 RRAP GOALS. SOME WOULD BE VERY RELEVANT TO THE CITY OF ALLPORT INCLUDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCY, SUSTAINABLE AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING, RESILIENT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY. SO HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE REGIONAL RESILIENCY COALITION WRITES VERY SMALL HE. YOU WILL SEE THE OBJECTIVE 6.1, PLAN , BUILD AND MANAGE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAXIMIZE LONGEVITY UNDER FUTURE CLIMATE CONDITIONS. AT THE COALITION WE ARE FACILITATING THIS WORK WE IMPLEMENTED A STORM WATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE WORKING GROUP, WHICH I CONVENE , JOINED THIS YEAR BY TWO COCHAIRS FROM PINELLAS COUNTY AND THIS GROUP FUNCTIONS MEETING QUARTERLY TO HEAR PRESENTATIONS ABOUT SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE AREA AND HOPEFULLY THIS ENGAGEMENT SPARKS MEANINGFUL COLLABORATIONS IN THE FUTURE. WE ALSO SEE IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENTS IN THE CITY OF TAMPA'S HEAT PLAYBOOK AND THE REGIONAL POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN CONDUCTED BY HERNANDO, PINELLAS AND THE CITY OF TAMPA. THESE ADVANCEMENTS ARE NOT ALL DUE TO THE INVOLVEMENT IN THE RRAP, BUT THE COALITION ADVANCES HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS THE REGION AS MODELS THAT DESERVE ATTENTION. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A REGIONAL ACTION, THIS DASHBOARD WAS CREATED BY OUR STAFF TO SUPPORT GOAL FIVE, ADAPTATION PROJECTS AND OUR PARTNERS WERE CURIOUS WHERE THEY COULD GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC PROJECTS. HERE WE HAVE GULFPORT AND TWO PROJECTS EMERGE, THE FTP FUNDED VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT AND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MODERN RESTORATION PROJECT, IMPROVING WATER TO THE BY REDUCING RUNOFF INTO CLAM BY YOU. OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION FOUND ON THIS DASHBOARD INCLUDE STATUS OF THE PROJECT, PARTNERS, FUNDING SOURCES AND RELATED WEBSITES THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND RRAP ADOPTION NOT REQUIRED. I HOPE YOU WILL VISIT TO THE DASHBOARD. QR CODE, AND IF ANY OF YOUR STAFF WOULD LIKE TO INPUT ADDITIONAL PROJECTS, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO ME AND I CAN GET ON THAT INFORMATION TO DO SO. WE HOPE THAT THIS INTRODUCTION TO THE RRAP PROMPTS DISCUSSION AMONG NUMBERS AND RESIDENCE AND WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER ADOPTING THE RRAP AS PART OF YOUR WORK CREATING A RESILIENT COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF GULFPORT. AND I'M GOING TO PIVOT , KIND OF WILDLY BACK TO MY TBRRC ROLL INTO EMERGENCY RECOVERY RESOURCES AVAILABLE AS PART OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP WITH THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL. AFTER THE STORMS , WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING TOGETHER EMERGENCY MANAGERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION TO GET A PICTURE OF HOW THESE IMPACTS THAT WERE FELT LOCALLY WERE REALIZED AND WHERE THEMES COULD EMERGE AND WHERE RPC COULD TAKE A ROLE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE. THIS MANIFESTED AS THE DAYLONG WORKSHOP WHICH INCLUDED A MORNING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS PANEL AND IN THE AFTERNOON FOCUSED BREAKOUTS WHERE SEVERAL SHARED THEMES EMERGED. WE SEE THESE THEMES, COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION, THERE WAS --LET ME -- A TENDENCY OF RESIDENTS TO UNDERESTIMATE THEIR RISK, A SENSE OF COMPLACENCY, AND AREAS EXPERIENCED FLOODING THAT HAD NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. OTHER CHALLENGES INCLUDED LIMITED CAPACITY OF EMERGENCY STAFF, PINELLAS COUNTY HAPPENS TO BE ON THE LOW END OF THAT SPECTRUM WITH 16 STAFF, CITRUS COUNTY HAS FOUR AND HILLSBORO 20. THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THOSE STAFF ALSO EMERGED AS AN AREA FOR IMPROVEMENT. THOUSANDS OF WATER RESCUES CONNECTED ACROSS PINELLAS COUNTY WHERE FOLKS DID NOT EVACUATE AND MOVING INTO LONG-TERM RECOVERY, THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE MEDIUM-TERM HOUSING OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS UNABLE TO RETURN FROM SHELTERS TO THEIR DAMAGED HOMES WAS A REGIONWIDE COMPLAINT. THREE, ACTION AREAS FOR THE RPC EMERGED , BUILDING BRIDGES, ENHANCING COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES FIRST. MY COWORKER HAS CONVENED THE REGIONAL ALL HAZARDS MITIGATION PLANNING COLLABORATIVE CALLED RAMP. THIS IS A NETWORK SERVING AS A FORUM BRING TOGETHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NONPROFITS AND PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES TO LEVERAGE EXPERTISE AND PROMOTE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND BLUE SKIES. THIS LOOKS AT ALL HAZARDS ACROSS PREPAREDNESS, MITIGATION, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY SECTORS AND THIS GROUP KICKED OFF IN APRIL. IF YOU OR YOUR STAFF ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, PLEASE SEND THEM MY WAY AND I WILL GET THEM THE INFORMATION THEY NEED. MOVING INTO ENHANCING COMMUNICATION. WHAT STARTED OUT AS AN INTERNAL THREAD OF DOCUMENTS PASSED BETWEEN STAFF MEMBERS WAS STOOD UP AND SHARED WIDELY THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. THE MANAGEMENT HUB WAS CREATED BETWEEN HURRICANES HELENE AND MILTON TO HOUSE AUTHORITATIVE RESOURCES INCLUDING SITUATION REPORTS IN A FORMAT THAT COULD BE QUICKLY EDITED AS THE SITUATION CHANGED. THIS SITE WILL BE UPDATED AND REACTIVATED AS NEW HAZARDS OCCUR, WHILE RECOVERY RESOURCES HAVE BEEN REHOMED IN THIS ONGOING DISASTER RECOVERY HUB, HOUSING THE PROJECT PHOENIX WRECKING SIMULATION, REGIONAL UPDATES, ELEVATE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN EXAMPLES . EXCUSE ME, RESOURCES FOR ELEVATE FLORIDA POST-DISASTER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN EXAMPLES . AND CASE STUDIES FOR RECOVERY. THIS WORK IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED BY ALLISON PRATER, THE DISASTER RECOVERY GRANTS COORDINATOR. FINALLY UNDER EDUCATION AND TRAINING, HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS TO BEGIN QUANTIFYING THIS NEWLY REALIZED RISK IN FLOOD VULNERABLE AREAS. TBRPC IS HOSTING A PANEL TO EXIST UP NEEDED MAPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS BRINGING TOGETHER LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT KATHY PERKINS, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER , FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND THIS EVENT CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE, OR YOUR STAFF CAN REACH OUT TO ME. FINALLY, AS A RESIDENT FOCUS, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE COUNSEL KNOWS WHAT YOU BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT JUNE FIRST IS 11 DAYS AWAY. LUCKILY, THE CITY ALREADY HAS EYES ON THE SKIES. THE CITY OF GULFPORT IS HOSTING AN EVENT TO HELP RESIDENTS GET PREPARED FOR POTENTIAL STORMS AND HURRICANES AND INFORMATIONAL SEMINAR HOSTING VENDORS FROM 6:00 THROUGH 10:00 AND CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TO SPEAK AFTER. NO NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE DATE TO GET YOUR PREPARATIONS FOR STORM SEASON DONE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET LAST-MINUTE IDEAS AND CHECK IN WITH YOUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS MOVING FORWARD AND PREPARED FOR THE WORST AND HOPING FOR THE BEST. YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION, THAT IS A LINK TO THE CITY EVENT RIGHT THERE. AND THAT IS WRAPPING IT UP FOR ME. I WANTED TO INVITE YOU ALL TO OUR NEXT TBRPC MEETING IF YOU WANT TO MEET COWORKERS IN PERSON. RECORD AFTER THERE WILL BE THE REGIONAL RESILIENCY COALITION AND I AM POSITIVE THAT VICE MAYOR THANOS WILL BE THERE, PROMPT AS USUAL. YES. AND THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> SO, I KNOW THERE ARE VARIOUS WORKING GROUPS. I KNOW THERE ARE FIVE OR SIX OF THEM, AND THAT THEY TAKE THEIR SESSIONS AND THEY ARE DONE BY ZUMA. AND I WAS TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD STAFF GOING TO THESE, EVEN THOUGH I MENTIONED THEM BEFORE. CAN YOU LIST WHAT THOSE GROUPS ARE? DO YOU KNOW THEM ALL? >> SURE. I DID SEE SEVERAL STAFF FROM GULF LISTED FOR THE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE WORKING GROUP. WE ALSO HAVE RESILIENT LAND USE WORKING GROUP THAT HAS THE FOOD SYSTEMS SUB WORKING GROUP. RESILIENT SHORELINES. AND A COUPLE ARE KIND OF ASLEEP FOR NOW. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN UP AND RUNNING, BUT THOSE ARE THE MAIN THREE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEGAN. AND THAT WILL LEAD US TO PUBLIC COMMENT, SO I DO SEE SOME NEW FACES OUT THERE. SO LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND . I WILL CALL ON YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND YOU CAN COME ON UP. YOU HAVE UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. PUBLIC COMMENT IS FOR ANYTHING THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. ANYTHING THAT SITS ON THE AGENDA, THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THAT TIME. SO I REQUEST AND ASK THAT YOU NOT BE SHY AND GET YOUR HANDS UP . COME ON UP, GIVE US YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND LET'S GO AHEAD. CHARLOTTE? >> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING. >> CHARLOTTE DOWNEY -- GULFPORT. THREE THINGS, ONE, WHEN WE ARE REDOING THE VOLLEYBALL COURT , SOME OF YOU HAVE MAYBE BEEN AROUND HERE LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE A KNEE WALL BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE COURT. AND USUALLY WOMEN HAD THAT COURT ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS. I HOPE THAT WHEN WE FIX OUR VOLLEYBALL COURTS, THAT WE WILL PUT THAT KNEE WALL BACK . IT IS A REALLY NICE PLACE TO SIT AND ENJOY THE GAME. THAT IS NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, FORMER COUNSEL PEOPLE HAD A PETTY AND VINDICTIVE AGENDA WHEN THEY FOULED ETHICS COMPLAINTS AGAINST COUNCILWOMAN SANTOS AND THIS COUNSEL HAS A OPPORTUNITY TO WITHDRAW THAT COMPLAINT. THE FORMER COUNCILMAN O'HARA FRAUDULENTLY USED THE CREDIT CARD OF THE CITY TO THE TUNE OF OVER $6000 , AND HE WAS GIVEN A LITTLE TAP ON THE WRIST AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESIGN. COUNCILWOMAN THANOS BENEFITED NOTHING BY THE CALLS THAT SHE MADE. YES, SHE DID NOT FOLLOW PROTOCOL AND SHE WENT AROUND THE CITY MANAGER SHE DID NOT NOTIFY HIM, BUT ALL HER EFFORTS WERE TO HELP CITIZENS OR TO BRING ATTENTION OR TO GET INFORMATION THAT WOULD RECTIFY PROBLEMS WITHIN THE CITY. NONE OF WHICH BENEFITED HER PERSONALLY, NOR ANY OTHER PERSON. SO FOR THAT REASON , I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD , IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, CONSIDER A WITHDRAWAL OF THAT ETHICS COMPLAINT. NUMBER THREE, BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE NO SMOKING ON THE BEACH. I THINK YOU ALL FOR THAT. >> ALRIGHTY, THANK YOU. BONNIE? >> THIS IS SILLY, BUT OH, THERE WERE GO. 5950 PELICAN BAY PLAZA. I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD MAKE THIS MICROPHONE A LITTLE LOUDER, BUT CAN PEOPLE HEAR ME? I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING, AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE A HEARING DEFICIT, ACCORDING TO BELL TONE. OKAY. SO, BUT IF THIS IS BETTER. MAYBE IT WAS THE POSITION OF THE MICROPHONE. THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY, THANKS. >> MISS NANCY? >> HELLO, ALL. MY NAME IS, LET ME SEE. OKAY, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? OKAY, SO GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. I AM INTENTIONALLY READING FROM A SCRIPT RIGHT NOW DUE TO THE TIME THAT I'M LIMITED TO. SO I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, MY NAME IS NANCY DUNHAM AND I'M KNOWN AS FANCY NANCY ALSO. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF FUSION 49th AS WE CELEBRATE THE SECOND YEAR OF BEING IN ASSISTANCE. THAT IS A BIG THING WE HAVE GOING ON. WE BEGAN THIS SHARED VISION BETWEEN NEIGHBORS, BUSINESSES AND ALONG THE 49th STREET CORRIDOR AND IT HAS TURNED INTO A COLLABORATIVE DISTRICT INITIATIVE. WE ARE BRIDGING THE BEST OF GULFPORT AND SAINT PETE. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE BUILT COMMUNITY, AND CREATIVITY IN AND OF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ONGOING SUPPORT FROM BOTH CITIES. THANKS FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP. WE HAVE SEEN PROGRESS THAT GOES BEYOND WORDS AND TOGETHER WE INITIATE THE SAFE STREETS PROGRAM, PRIORITIZING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND WALK ABILITY. WE HAVE GROWN OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS TO ENGAGE MORE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS. AND WE ALSO LAUNCHED DISTRICTWIDE COLLABORATIONS THAT CELEBRATE CULTURE, COMMERCE AND COMMUNITY. AS WE MOVE INTO OUR THIRD YEAR, WE ARE REFINING OUR COMMITTEES TO BETTER SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT AND LAUNCHING SOME EXCITING NEW EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD MOMENTUM AND VISIBILITY FOR THIS COURT ORDER. THE ENERGY AROUND FUSION 49th IS GROWING AND WITH THAT WE WILL BE REQUESTING A MORE FORMAL PRESENTATION SLOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO SHARE EXPANDED PLANS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT, EQUITY, BEAUTIFICATION AND PUBLIC ART. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT WE WILL HAVE AN UPCOMING CLEANUP MAY 31st LOCATED AT THE CHARLIE MARTIN LOCATION STARTING FROM 9:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 11:00 A.M. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KEEP PINELLAS BEAUTIFUL. WE ALSO HAVE THE MONTHLY MEETING WHICH WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR JUNE THE SECOND AT THE SORRY, AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER WHICH IS GOING TO BE 1617 49th STREET SOUTH. AND THAT EVENT WILL BE PUTTING OUT A LOT OF INFORMATION AND ALSO CELEBRATING THE TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY. SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT FOR THAT. AND THEN LASTLY, WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND BELIEVE IN THE POWER AND CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES AND STAY TUNED BECAUSE THERE WILL BE WAY MORE TO COME. >> THANK YOU. LET'S SEE, SCOTT? MY NAME IS SCOTT LINDY AND I LIVE ON THE 900 BLOCK OF 60th STREET SOUTH AND I'M REPRESENTING THE GULFPORT MERCHANTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT 5317 GULFPORT BOULEVARD SOUTH. I JUST REALLY WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THAT WE LEFT LAST NIGHT AT THE SECOND DAY OF THE RETREAT WITH PRETTY MUCH A BRAND-NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND REALLY SOLIDIFYING OUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING CATCH-UP SINCE THE STORMS TRYING TO GET A TUESDAY MARKET BACK ONLINE AND HIGH MARKET BACK ONLINE. WE HAD A FINE ARTS FESTIVAL IN FEBRUARY. ANYWAYS, I WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE UP HERE ON THE DAIS AS WELL AS EVERYONE IN CHAMBERS AND EVERYONE OUT THERE TO JOIN US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET AND GREET OUR NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING AND REVISIT THE WELCOME CENTER. ON JUNE 14th FROM 3:00 THROUGH 5:00 P.M. AT THE WELCOME CENTER, WHICH AGAIN IS 5317 GULFPORT BOULEVARD SOUTH. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL THERE. THANK YOU. IT IS FROM 3:00 THROUGH 5:00 ON THE 14th, THAT IS A SATURDAY. >> LISA? GOOD EVENING. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. MY NAME IS LISA CHESTNUT. I AM A MEMBER OF THE --IN THIS CASE, THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY. I DO EVERYTHING IN GULFPORT AND WE HAVE QUITE A GROUP. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS THAT WE ARE ASKING THE CITY OF GULFPORT TO COME INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKVIEW AND PARKVIEW IS A LIVE CAMERA FEED THAT --IT HAS ALL THE PARKS ON ONE SITE. THEY ALSO HAVE AN APT, AND IT IS FREE . YOU CAN GO AND FIND OUT IF YOUR FRIENDS ARE THERE OR NOT BEFORE YOU HAVE TO MAKE A TRIP. I AM NOT SURE, I'M NOT SURE HOW FAR OUT IT GOES, HOW --WHAT -- DOES IT GO TO TAMPA AND BEYOND GULFPORT TO TAMPA AND OTHER CITIES? >> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR THREE MINUTES. I NEWS TO ONE PERSON AT A TIME. >> WELL, WE HAVE -- LAST YEAR WE GOT A PETITION. WE HAVE OVER 130 MEMBERS OF THE PICKLEBALL GROUP FOR THE MORNING PICKLEBALL GROUP AT CHASE PARK, AND IT IS SUCH A HUB OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITY RIGHT THERE. WE EXCHANGE IDEAS OR GET INFORMATION . IT WAS CERTAINLY A GODSEND DURING THE CLEANUP AFTER THE HURRICANE. WE ALL YOU KNOW, WE FOUND CONTRACTORS AND WE FOUND PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS, DO TO TALKING TO EACH OTHER OUT THERE. SO IT IS A REALLY GOOD THING. LIKE I AM SAYING, THE PARKVIEW COMPANY WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF GULFPORT FOR THIS CAMERA. RIGHT NOW THE CAMERA IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND IT NEEDS TO BE MOVED OVER TO THE CITY OF GULFPORT'S PROPERTY. SO, AND IT IS, IT IS ALSO, IT IS AIMED AT THE , THE PARK WHERE THE KIDS PLAY UNDER THE CANOPY THERE AT CHASE PARK AND THIS PARK. SO I ALSO HAVE THE PETITION THAT WE DID LAST YEAR. IT HAS OVER 100 NAMES. >> OKAY, IF YOU LEAVE THAT WITH OUR CITY CLERK, THAT WOULD BE PERFECT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> LET'S SEE, KAREN? HI, LADIES. KAREN SCHWARTZ, SO I AM MORE USED TO SPEAKING OFF THE CUFF, BUT I ACTUALLY HAVE PREPARED REMARKS TONIGHT. AND I'M REPRESENTING THE GULFPORT COASTLINE COALITION, A GROUP OF CITIZENS FOCUSED ON SECURING AND STEWARDING COASTAL LAND FOR OUR FUTURE. I AM ASKING YOU TONIGHT , COUNSEL PEOPLE, TO SECURE THE PARCEL AT 4990 31st AVENUE SOUTH FOR PUBLIC USE, AND TO BE BOLD DOING SO. THE LAND IS IN A FEMA DESIGNATED FLOOD ZONE. ALTHOUGH IT IS IS OWNED ARE THREE, THAT IS AN OUTDATED DESIGNATION THAT DOES NOT REFLECT THE RISKS WE FACE TODAY, PURSUING HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT HERE MEANS INCREASING FLOOD EXPOSURE FOR NEARBY HOMES , STRAINING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND POTENTIALLY RAISING LONG-TERM COSTS FOR THE CITY. IT IS NOT JUST A BAD IDEA, IT IS A RISKY ONE FOR EVERYONE. SENATE BILL 180 MAY COMPLICATE THE PICTURE, BUT IT HAS NOT PASSED YET. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO ACT IN THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST. THE WINDOW MAY NOT STAY OPEN. THIS LAND DESERVES MORE THAN A QUIET SALE THAT RESULTS IN A 45 FOOT TALL , 5.76 ACRE BLOCK OF CONCRETE. WITH YOUR SUPPORT , WE CAN SUPPORT INNOVATIVE FUNDING, BUILD STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, AND IMPLEMENT PRESERVATION STRATEGIES. ACTING NOW INSURES GULFPORT STAYS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. PRESERVING THE SPACE . TEXT OUR COAST, OUR NEIGHBORS, AND THE RIGHTS OF EVERYONE WHO CALLS GULFPORT HOME. WOULD YOU BE WILLING -- OH, NEVERMIND. SO NEXT CITY ATTORNEY SALZMAN. IS IT POSSIBLE TO CONSIDER REZONING THIS AREA FROM R3 TO SOMETHING MORE APPROPRIATE FOR PRESERVATION? THANK YOU. >> LAURA? NINTH AVENUE SOUTH. AND I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW ON THE MacON'S PRESENTATION. I DID NOT HEAR ALL OF IT. I HEARD SOME OF WHAT KAREN WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT. SO I, AS A GULFPORT RESIDENT, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE OUR CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE AND CITY STAFF AND I THINK EVEN SOME OF US RESIDENTS NEED TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS OURSELVES. BUT MEGAN MENTIONED SOME OF THE GULFPORT STAFF HAD REGISTERED FOR THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SESSION. SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE IS RESILIENT LAND USE DISCUSSIONS. I THINK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. I JUST SUBMITTED SOME SUGGESTIONS TO RECOVER PINELLAS TODAY AND THEY'RE WORKING ON A RESILIENCE PLAN AND I WAS TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW DO WE USE LAND MORE REGENERATIVE LEE AND IN A MORE RESILIENT WAY ? AND I SEE SO MANY OF THESE BIG FOOTPRINT HOUSES COMING UP ON OUR LITTLE LIMITED LAND IN GULFPORT AND I DON'T THINK THAT QUALIFIES AS RESILIENT LAND USE. THIS EDUCATE THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY, BE IT THE RESIDENTS ARE --THE PEOPLE WHO SIT ON THE DAIS HERE IN THE CITY RESIDENTS. I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. AND YOU KNOW, MEGAN MENTIONED HOW PEOPLE AREN'T GRASPING THE CLIMATE RISKS THAT WE FACE. AND WE NEED TO START EDUCATING OURSELVES. SO AND I'M NOT PUTTING THIS ONLY ON OUR CITY STAFF AND OFFICIALS. I'M CALLING ALL OF US RESIDENTS TO EDUCATE OURSELVES AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE. >> THANK YOU. IN THE BACK? I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW YOUR NAME. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JEANETTE AND I LIVE AT 26th AVENUE SOUTH. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER. OKAY. I AM A PROUD OWNER OF A NEW BUILT HOME RIGHT HERE IN GULFPORT WHERE I HAVE LIVED FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS WITH MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTERS. WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY AND IT IS MY DEEPEST HOPE THAT WE CAN CALL GULFPORT OUR HOME FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. AS SOMEONE WHO RECENTLY INVESTED IN GULFPORT I BELIEVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES POTENTIAL AND I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF QUALITY DEVELOPMENT THAT HELPS GULFPORT THRIVE. SO I DON'T COME TO THIS ISSUE WITH AN ANTIDEVELOPMENT MINDSET, HOWEVER, THE SPECIFIC COASTAL PARCEL CALLS FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF VISION. AS A NEW PROPERTY OWNER I WANT TO SEE THE CITY MAKE SMART STRATEGIC DECISIONS THAT PROTECT ALL OF OUR INVESTMENTS INCLUDING RECENT ONES LIKE MINE AND I SUPPORT THE GULFPORT COASTLINE COALITION'S EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE IT FOR USE AS A PUBLIC PARK. TURNING THIS LAND INTO A NATURAL COASTAL PARK IS NOT ABOUT REJECTING DEVELOPMENT, IT IS ABOUT CHOOSING THE RIGHT AND MOST RESILIENT USE FOR THE UNIQUELY CHALLENGED PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT WILL FEATURE FLOOD MITIGATION WHICH BENEFITS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY INCLUDING NEARBY HOMES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. IT ENHANCES GULFPORT'S APPEAL AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE MAKING IT A MORE SECURE AND DESIRABLE PLACE FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS CHOSEN TO INVEST AND LIVE HERE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING GROWTH BUT GROWING SMARTER AND PROTECTING THE VALUE AND SAFETY OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR THE LONG-TERM. >> OVER HERE? AMY? IT EVENING, COUNSEL, MAYOR LOVE. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT NOT JUST AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE BUT AS A GULFPORT PROPERTY OWNER FOCUSED ON SMART INVESTMENTS. THE COASTLINE COALITION'S PLAN TO ACQUIRE THE COASTAL PARCEL FOR PUBLIC USE IS PRECISELY THAT, A SMART INVESTMENT. PRESERVING THIS LAND AS A NATIONAL SPACE BENEFITS PROPERTY OWNERS. DATA FROM THE PLANNING COUNCIL SHOWS THAT HOMES NEAR OUR DAY AND WATERWAYS SEE AVERAGE ASSESSED VALUE INCREASE OVER $52,000. THIS IS ABOUT LIFTING THE VALUE OF DOZENS OF NEARBY PROPERTIES BY ENHANCING OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VALUABLE ASSET, IT'S NATURAL COASTLINE. SUPPORTING THIS PARK IS SUPPORTING THE LONG-TERM VALUE AND DESIRABILITY OF ALL GULFPORT PROPERTIES. LET'S MAKE THE SMART FINANCIAL CHOICE. THAT IS MY SPIEL FOR THE COASTLINE. I'M ALSO COMING TO YOU AS THE MIDTOWN BUSINESS COLLECTIVE TONIGHT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO OUR REVAMPED MONTHLY MEETING THAT WE JUST GOT BACK UP AND RUNNING. IT IS GOING TO BE ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 11th AT WONDERWORKS AT 5:00 P.M. FROM 5:00 THROUGH 6:00. WE DO INVITE EVERYONE ON THE DAIS AND WE INVITE FUSION 49, THE CHAMBER, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME AND GET TO KNOW WHAT THE COLLECTIVE IS UP TO, WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO IN THE MEETING WILL START AT 6:00 AND SOME OF THE TOPICS OUR SUMMER IN GULFPORT, NEW EVENTS, BEAUTIFICATION AND SAFETY, AND MUCH MORE. SO THERE ARE LITTLE FLYERS BY THE DOOR AND WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> WOLFGANG? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I LIVE IN THE BEACH WAY PARK AND I AM WITH THE GULFPORT GRASSROOTS. WE DO THE MONTHLY BE ON THE BEACH CLEANUPS IN TOWN. WE HAD ONE EARLIER THIS MONTH, AS USUAL. WE HAD 15 VOLUNTEERS SHOW UP AND WE GATHERED 61 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM OUR BEACH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. ACTUALLY, THAT IS THE LOW COUNT FOR THIS YEAR. WE HAVE HAD HIGHER COUNTS BUT IT ALSO SHOWS THAT A LOT OF THE HURRICANE DEBRIS IS BEGINNING TO GET CLEANED UP, AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. OUR NEXT CLEANUP IS JUNE SEVENTH, AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF GULFPORT , THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO WE WANT TO THANK KEEP CANALIS BEAUTIFUL, WHO ARE THE COHOSTS FOR ALL OF OUR EVENTS. THANK YOU. >> WAY IN THE BACK? >> I'M GOING TO SPEAK A LITTLE MORE DURING THE FUTURE FOR OUR RED BAND. >> YOU DON'T NEED TO ANNOUNCE THAT. >> HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> SIT DOWN, NO CONVERSATIONS, PLEASE. >> HI, EVERYONE. I AM ANGELINA, A HOMEOWNER. I AM A HOMEOWNER AT 2401 52nd STREET SOUTH. FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH, TIM O'REILLY FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PLAYGROUND. THE KIDS ARE LOVING IT AND IT IS WONDERFUL. I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE 4940 31st AVENUE SOUTH AS WELL. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE GULF PORT COASTLINE COALITION. A LOT OF NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TRYING TO GET INFORMATION TO YOU ALL. I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT AS A MOTHER IN GULFPORT AND I'M VERY CONCERNED AND ALSO VERY HELPFUL FOR THE LEGACY THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY SHAPING FOR OUR CHILDREN IN THIS AWESOME COASTAL CITY THAT WE GET TO CALL HOME. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT A SINGLE PARCEL OF LAND TODAY, IT IS ABOUT A COURAGEOUS AND VISIONARY APPROACH TO ALL OF OUR VULNERABLE SHORES, AND FOR ALL OF TOMORROW'S. OUR BEAUTIFUL LIFE-GIVING COASTLINE IS INCREASINGLY FRAGILE AS WE HAVE SEEN . WE ARE STORM BATTERED, FLOOD PRONE, AND THE COASTLINE IS CRYING OUT FOR STEWARDSHIP AND WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT. AND WHEN THE LAND SUCH AT 4940, AS A POTENTIAL FOR REQUIREMENT , ESPECIALLY WHEN DEVELOPMENT IS KIND OF A GAMBLE AGAINST NATURE, WE KIND OF FACE A PROFOUND, ALMOST SEEK . CHOICE OF WHAT DECISIONS DO WE WANT TO MAKE FOR THE VISION OF GULFPORT FOR TOMORROW? DO WE WANT TO LEAVE RESILIENCE AND NATURE AND COMMUNITY INTO GULFPORT AND THE VERY FABRIC OF THE CITY THAT WE LIVE IN. SO I IMPLORE YOU, WITH ALL THE PASSION OF A MOTHER , LET US MAKE A STEADFAST PROACTIVE COMMITMENT. LET US COMMIT TO IDENTIFYING THESE VULNERABLE COASTAL AREAS TO BOLDLY REZONE THEM WHERE IT WAS DONE DICTATES INTO STRATEGICALLY ACQUIRING THEM FOR PUBLIC USE. IMAGINE TRANSFORMING THESE PRECIOUS EDGES NOT INTO MORE CONCRETE BUT A VIBRANT NATURAL SANCTUARY THAT CAN BE LIVING LABORATORIES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GENERATIONS TO COME, AND THAT ALSO SERVE AS GREEN PROTECTIVE ARMS THAT CAN BUFFER OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. >> ANYBODY ELSE OVER HERE? YES? COURTNEY? >> HELLO, MAYOR, HELLO, COUNSEL. FIRSTLY, FULL SUPPORT OF THE GULFPORT COASTLINE COALITION BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT BRINGS ME TO THE PODIUM TODAY. TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK NOT ONLY TO THOSE IN THE ROOM, BUT ALSO TO THOSE WHO AREN'T. MORE SPECIFICALLY, TO THE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS WHO MAY BE WATCHING REMOTELY. TO GIVE A SENSE OF SCALE, THERE IS DATA FURNISHED FROM THE CITY THAT SHOULD BETWEEN APRIL FIRST AND MAY SEVENTH OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WERE STREAMED 2425 TIMES. THIS INCLUDES BOTH LIVE AND ARCHIVED VIEWS. LIVE VIEWERSHIP ALONE WAS SUBSTANTIAL. ON APRIL FIRST THERE WERE 484 LIVE VIEWERS. ON THE 15th, 405 LIVE VIEWERS IN MAY SIX, 330 LIVE VIEWERS. THESE NUMBERS DO NOT INCLUDE THOSE WATCHING VIA SPECTRUM, SO THE TRUE AUDIENCE IS EVEN LARGER. OUR COMMUNITY IS TUNED IN. THEY CARE. THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE DECISIONS BEING MADE HERE. BUT, AND THERE IS ALWAYS A BUT , THEY HAVE NO WAY TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENT IF THEY ARE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY. I WOULD LIKE TO URGE COUNSEL TO CONSIDER IMPLEMENT IN A PROCESS THAT ALLOWS REMOTE VIEWERS TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, JUST AS THEY WOULD IF PHYSICALLY PRESENT. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT CONVENIENCE, IT IS REALLY A MATTER OF THE WOODY. IT MATTERS TO THOSE WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES, CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES, OR WORK SCHEDULES THAT MAKE IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE DIFFICULT. TO HELP GUIDE THIS EFFORT AND BECAUSE I'M A FIRM BELIEVER YOU ALWAYS COME WITH A POSSIBLE SOLUTION, NOT JUST A PROBLEM, I WOULD LIKE TO URGE --YES, I WOULD LIKE TO FIND MY PLACE IN MY WRITING. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE. TO HELP GUIDE THIS EFFORT I RESPECTFULLY PROPOSE A FORMATION OF A COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ESSENTIALLY A WORKING GROUP DEDICATED TO REMOVING BARRIERS TO CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, IMPROVING OUTREACH AND ENSURING INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION. AND WHILE I'M ADVOCATING FOR GREATER ACCESS, I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO ALSO EXPRESS GRATITUDE . THESE NUMBERS AND THE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS THEY SPARK WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. SO THANK YOU TO THE FORESIGHT OF THE CITY STAFF, CURRENT AND PAST COUNCILS THAT OUR MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST ON SPECTRUM, LIVE STREAMED ONLINE AND . ORDERED FOR ONLINE VIEWING WHENEVER THE WHIM SHOULD STRIKE . THESE TOOLS ARE CRITICAL AND THEY ARE WORKING. BUT LET'S TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND MEET OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY ARE, WHERE THEY ARE WATCHING, LISTENING, AND READY TO BE HEARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND CONSIDERATION. >> WHO ELSE DO WE HAVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, SIR? >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALEX LOMBARD, I LIVE IN WARD 2. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTY ON 49th AND 31st. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE IN GULFPORT 10 YEARS AGO WAS PUT MY CANOE DOWN AND PADDLE AROUND THE BAY. WHEN I WAS PADDLING AROUND I NOTICED THAT PROPERTY, WHAT AN AMAZING SHORELINE IT HAD AND WHAT AMAZING POTENTIAL IT HAS FOR THE CITY OF GULFPORT NOW THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE IT. SO WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MAKING GULFPORT A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, WORK AND INVEST, AND TURNING HURRICANE DAMAGED COASTLINE INTO A PUBLIC PARK IS KEY TO THAT VISION AND DIRECTLY BENEFITS PROPERTY OWNERS. BEAUTIFUL ACCESSIBLE NATURAL COASTLINE ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND MAKES GULFPORT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS AND TWO TALENTED INDIVIDUALS AND VISITORS WHO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. THIS IS NOT ABOUT TAKING LAND OUT OF USE BUT TRANSFORMING A FLOOD PRONE PARCEL INTO A VIBRANT COMMUNITY ASSET THAT BOOSTS OUR TOWNS APPEAL AND CONSEQUENTLY, THE PROPERTY VALUES. IT IS A FISCALLY SOUND WAY TO MAKE GULFPORT AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO OWN PROPERTY. THAT IS ALL THAT I GOT. THANK YOU. >> YES, LAURA? LAUREN. I WOULD SAY LAURA. >> HEY, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MJ HODGES AND I JUST WANT TO COME UP HERE AND SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE GULFPORT COASTLINE COALITION. SHOWING MY SUPPORT FOR THE GULFPORT COASTLINE COALITION AS A MOTHER AND A FORMER BUSINESS OWNER WITH MY MOTHER , WHO SAW EXTREME DAMAGE FROM THE HURRICANES. IT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEART THAT WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR COASTLINES AND TO CREATE MORE PUBLIC SPACE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT EVERYONE HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB AT EXPLAINING ALL THE REASONS WHY. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHOW MY SUPPORT AND BE ANOTHER VOICE HERE. THANK YOU. >> TO HAVE ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YEP . I SEE ONE MORE HAND. >> HI, I AM IN THE WATERFRONT DISTRICT. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SINCERELY THANK THE NEW LEADERSHIP FOR THE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS MADE IN RESTORING OUR TOWN IN RECENT WEEKS. THE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE, AND IT IS REFRESHING TO SEE ACTION FINALLY BEING TAKEN. CONSIDERING THAT 235 DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE HURRICANE HELENE, THE PREVIOUS LACK OF EFFORT IN REVITALIZING THE BUSINESSES AND BEACHES WAS DEEPLY CONCERNING. SEEING GULFPORT COME BACK TO LIFE IS ENCOURAGING, SO I THANK YOU ALL. AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING I BROUGHT FORWARD AN ISSUE REGARDING MY HUSBAND'S EMAILS BEING BLOCKED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE WITH A COUNCILMEMBER THROUGH THE OFFICIAL GOLF PORT EMAIL SYSTEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS HAD BEEN RESOLVED, HOWEVER, I NOW HAVE FURTHER PROOF OF ANOTHER EMAIL BEING REJECTED AND MARKED AS UNDELIVERABLE. THIS RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT CONSTITUENTS ABILITY TO ENGAGE OPENLY WITH REPRESENTATIVES WITHOUT INTERFERENCE, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE ELEMENTAL TO EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS CAN COMMUNICATE FREELY WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION. I HAVE EMAILED THE NILE HERE. I SUPPORT THE NO SMOKING BAN ON THE BEACH. I ALSO THINK THAT IF WE WANT TO MAINTAIN GULFPORT AS A CLEAN TOURIST FRIENDLY DESTINATION, WE MUST ALSO ADDRESS TRAFFIC SAFETY. THE EXCESSIVE SPEED OF BUSES AND CARS ON BEACHES AND SHORE BOULEVARDS AND 58th STREET CREATES A HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT FOR PEDESTRIANS. WE HAVE SHOPPERS, BEACHGOERS, DOG WALKERS AND THE ELDERLY WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THESE AREAS SAFELY. I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER INSTALLING SPEED BUMPS OR SOME TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES SIMILAR TO THOSE ON 49th STREET TO HELP SLOW AND IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. ANOTHER PRESSING CONCERN IS THE ISSUE OF HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN PARKING LOTS. THESE ENCAMPMENTS WITH TARPS, GRILLS AND OTHER SEMIPERMANENT SETUPS ARE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT. THIS IS NOT ONLY AFFECTING THE OVERALL CLEANLINESS AND IMAGE OF THE CITY, BUT IT ALSO RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AND PUBLIC SPACE USAGE. ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT THERE ARE FIVE OR 10 VEHICLES, SOME NIGHTS MANY MORE. LET'S CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE GULFPORT A THRIVING, CLEAN AND IN WRITING DESTINATION FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, LISA. I'M GLAD YOU'RE GOING TO DROP THAT OFF BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ON THE EMAILS AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT. PERFECT, THINK YOU. OKAY, LAST CALL? YES? MARGO? >> WE WERE DISCUSSING THE REVOLUTION FOR 49th STREET GULFPORT SIDE, CORRECT? AS FAR AS MAKING IT A MORE INTERESTING PLACE AND NEW BUSINESSES ARE OPENING THERE. >> I THINK YOU ARE REFERRING TO FUSION 49. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT. I DIDN'T KNOW. I READ THAT BUT I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. HOW FAR WILL THAT BE EXTENDED SOUTH , TO THE TROLLEY CENTER? >> WE CAN GIVE YOU AN UPDATE LATER, THIS IS JUST FOR YOU TO TELL US WHAT YOU ARE THINKING AND WE WILL RESPOND LATER. >> SHOULD THAT BE THE CASE, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN WHO IS LIVING AT THE TROLLEY PARK. THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY. 'S NAME IS CHARLES, AND WE WILL HAVE TO TRY TO HELP HIM. >> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE I'M GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. AT THIS POINT, THANK YOU. I JUST LOST MY SCREEN. IT IS BACK . ALRIGHTY. THE CITY MANAGER REPORT? >> YES, MAYOR. THIS EVENING JUST A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION AMONGST COUNSEL AND VARIOUS COUNCILS WITH THE TRANSITIONING GOVERNMENT STAFF AND I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THERE IS LACK OF SUPPORT TO CONTINUE WITH KINETIC FUNDRAISING, THE FIRM. AND OF THAT YOU HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH HIM TOMORROW, BUT AT THIS POINT , UNLESS THERE IS AN OBJECTION TO PUT THEM ON THE REQUIRED CONTRACT TO PUT THEM ON 30 DAYS NOTICE, BUT LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD TOMORROW WITH PUTTING THEM ON NOTICE. >> OKAY. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? >> SO I WAS GOING TO ASK, CAN WE GET A CONSENSUS ON THAT NOW , IF JIM McCANN, IF THE CITY MANAGER CAN PUT THEM ON NOTICE TOMORROW, I WILL BE HAVING A MEETING WITH HIM TOMORROW. >> AND I ASK A QUESTION BEFORE WE VOTE ON THAT? BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO -- OKAY, NEVERMIND. >> I HAVE NO COMMENT, AND NO OPPOSITION. >> SAME. >> SO, I THOUGHT THAT WHEN THEY CAME AND SAW US, I THINK THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY, WE ALREADY GAVE THEM WATER A MONTH'S NOTICE, THAT THEY HAD TO -- >> NO, THE COUNCIL HAD SAID THAT THEY WOULD COME BACK IN FOUR MONTHS TO BRING FORTH WHERE THEY WERE AT. I MADE THE DETERMINATION. I MADE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO TOMORROW IS A LIPS >> ABSOLUTELY, YES. WE DON'T WANT TO PAY THEM MORE THAN A LIPS >> COUNSEL DID NOT AT THE TIME TO CANCEL IT IN FOUR MONTHS. IT SAID AFTER FOUR MONTHS WE REVISIT AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. >> YEAH, I AGREE. >> IT WAS ON MY LIST TO INQUIRE, SO THIS IS A POSITIVE MOVE. I'M IN FAVOR OF DOING SO. >> SO WE ARE UNANIMOUS AND WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT TOMORROW. >> HE SECOND IS, YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WE HAD 155 RATER THAN 50% PROPERTIES THAT WERE IMPACTED THROUGH THE OR IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE SDE PROCESS, I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT WE ARE DOWN TO 39 WHO HAVE NOT MADE CONTACT WITH THE CITY OR EXPRESSED A PERMIT APPLICATION OR EXPRESSED THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON MADE VERBAL CONTACT OR WRITTEN CONTACT THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON ELEVATE FLORIDA OR DIFFERENT OPTIONS THEY ARE EXPLORING. THAT WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT OF 39 PROPERTIES THAT HAVE NOT MADE CONTACT. WE WILL BE SENDING THEM JUNE THE FIRST EFFECTIVELY THAT A COURTESY LETTER THAT YOU NOW HAVE TO REACH OUT TO US WITH SOME METHOD OF DECISION OR MAKE A PERMIT APPLICATION OR CONVEY TO US THAT YOU ARE --YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A GREATER THAN 50% --THAT IT IS DOWN TO 39, GREAT JOB AND STAFF DID CONTACT THESE FOLKS AND HAVE OTHERS PAY ATTENTION TO OUR MESSAGING. SO THAT WE ARE EXCITED. WE WILL BE SENDING --THAT NUMBER MAY DROP BY FRIDAY, BUT WE ARE AT THAT POINT RIGHT NOW. WE ARE DRAFTING A LANGUAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COURTESY LETTER. >> THAT SOUNDS SO MUCH BETTER THAN 200 FROM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. >> MAY I SUGGEST YOU SEND THEM CERTIFIED, BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY NOT BE LIVING IN THE HOMES, THEREFORE, THEY MAY NOT GET THE LETTER? >> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY, THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT NOW THAT WE ARE DOWN TO A MANAGEABLE NUMBER, THAT IS VERY POSSIBLE. >> THEN THE NEXT ITEM THAT I HAVE IS LOOKING AT THE RECREATION CENTER , IS IT PLANNED TO BE OPEN BY JUNE SECOND FOR SUMMER CHILDREN'S RECREATION PROGRAM? THAT WAS OUR GOAL AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT AND IN A CONVERSATION TODAY THE CONTRACTORS ARE DOING THE FINAL PLEDGE LIST, SO WE WILL MOVE BACK INTO THE RECREATION CENTER FROM SCOUT HALL. LET'S SEE, THE OTHER ITEMS I HAD WAS --FOURTH OF JULY ACTIVITIES ARE WELL IN THEIR PLANNING STAGES. WE WILL BE ISSUING PUBLIC INFORMATION EFFECTIVELY JUNE SECOND TWO START REGISTRATION FOR THE PARADE AND ITEMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE. WE HAVE THE MORNING PARADE, AND THEN THE AFTERNOON PICNIC IN THE PARK TYPE ENVIRONMENT WITH ENTERTAINMENT, AND INVITING SUCH. THERE ARE NO FIREWORKS THIS YEAR BUT IT WILL ALL FOCUS ON BETWEEN TOMLINSON PARK AND THE GREENWAY TO THE EAST. >> I LOVE THE TENTATIVE PLANS I'M SEEING. >> GOOD, THANK YOU. >> IT IS NICE THAT IT IS IN TOMLINSON TOO. >> AND WE WILL BE DOING THAT. THE MARINA STORE IS ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WE HOPE TO BE DONE IN ABOUT 45 DAYS. AND THEY WILL BE PAST THEIR FIRST LEVEL OF INSPECTION, SO WE WILL MOVE IN FORCE OR THAT. AND I HAVE TWO OTHER ITEMS AND THAT I WANT TO ASK TOM NICHOLS TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE BEACH THAT WE HAVE STARTED THE RESTORATION PROJECT ON THAT. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE DETERMINED A NUMBER ONE CANDIDATE. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE COMMANDER FARON IS MY TOP CANDIDATE THAT I HOPE TO RESOLVE TO APPOINT FORMALLY ON JUNE -- INTRODUCE AS WERE POLICE CHIEF ON YOUR JUNE THIRD MEETING. [ APPLAUSE ] WE HAVE SOME ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH, BUT REGARDING COMPENSATION AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS BUT WE HAVE MADE A DECISION THAT SHE IS THE NUMBER ONE CANDIDATE. AND ALSO , TWO EXCITING THINGS. DENNIS, DO YOU WANT TO --DENNIS IS HERE TO INTRODUCE AND SHARE WITH YOU THE RESOLUTION OF THE DINGHY DOCK. AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IDEA THAT DENNIS FOUND A SALVAGEABLE PIECE OF FLOATING DOCK THAT WE COULD LASH UP TO THE SEAWALL AT THE MARINA. MAYOR, YOU HAD BROUGHT FORWARD THE ABILITY TO TRY TO HELP THESE FOLKS OUT AND HERE WE GO. >> SO WE DID LOOK AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND THE LAST LOCATION WAS VOTED DOWN. LIKE MR. O'REILLY SAID, WE DID REPURPOSE PART OF THE CASINO DOCK THAT WE FOUND AND THE LOCATION IS RIGHT HERE IN A WELL PROTECTED AREA. I WILL TURN THAT AROUND, WHERE THIS ICON IS RIGHT HERE. IT IS A FLOATING DOCK APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET LONG AND WE ALSO PUT A LADDER THAT WE BOLTED NEXT TO THE SEAWALL SO THAT THEY CAN EGRESS OFF AND ON. ALSO A LIPS >> CAN YOU MOVE THAT AROUND? I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR ICON IS. >> RIGHT HERE. SO IT WILL BE SOUTH OF THE BREAKWATER, WHICH IS PEER SIX, AND NORTH OF THE FISH CLEANING TABLE. THERE IS LIGHT THEREFORE AT NIGHT AND THERE IS 24 HOUR VIDEO SURVEILLANCE. LET'S SEE, NEXT ONE. FORWARD ON THIS. OKAY. THERE IT IS. OKAY. THAT IS THE LOCATION OF THE DOCK. WE HAVE ANCHORS IN THE SEAWALL. IT IS FLOATING DOCKS AND IT WILL GO UP AND DOWN WITH THE TIDE. IT CAN COME ON 24 HOURS A DAY. THEY WILL HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE HARBORMASTER'S OFFICE. THE POWERED VESSELS MUST BE REGISTERED WITH THE STATE AND SHOW A DECAL. THERE IS NO --I BELIEVE IT IS NOT 24-HOUR, EXCUSE ME, IT IS SUNRISE TO SUNSET, OKAY? THERE IS ANOTHER --THAT IS ANOTHER FIXTURE -- PICTURE FROM THE SOUTH. THERE IT IS. TRYING TO GET THAT ONE, THERE IT IS. SO THAT IS A PICTURE FROM ACROSS THE STATION. AND WE WILL REMOVE THAT WHEN THE CASINO DOCK IS BUILT. IS PRETTY MUCH IT. >> I THINK THIS IS SO WONDERFUL AND A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHEN I WALKED INTO THE LAST MEETING, I REALLY THOUGHT THAT WE HAD SOMETHING THAT WAS LESS THAN PERFECT BUT BETTER THAN NOTHING. AND AFTER LISTENING TO THE AUDIENCE, WHICH WE ARE LISTENING, WE DECIDED IT REALLY WAS NOT GOING TO WORK. SO ALREADY YOU KNOW, WITHIN 24 HOURS LATER I HEARD THAT YOU HAD COME UP WITH ANOTHER IDEA, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I ASSUME THAT ALL THE RULES, THE --BEHIND THE SCENES LEGAL SPEAK WILL BE IN HERE AS WELL. >> UNLESS COUNSEL HAS OBJECTION WE WILL START SIGNAGE AND SUCH WITH NO LEAVING YOUR DINGHY THERE OVERNIGHT. THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT. >> THE SIZE OF THE DINGHY. >> ALMOST THE SAME RULES THAT THE CASINO DOCK HAS RIGHT NOW. >> AND WE REPURPOSE ONE OF THE SIGNS? >> MAYBE. >> HOW MANY DINGHIES FIT THERE? >> IF THEY DOUBLE UP WE CAN GET 10 DINGHIES ON THE DOCK. WE WISH THAT WE COULD MAKE IT BIGGER, BUT DUE TO THE ENTRANCE, THAT IS THE SIZE. >> ALRIGHTY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? NO? OKAY, GO AHEAD. >> IT WAS JUST GOING TO SAY YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW CROWDED IT GETS AT THE DINGHY DOCK BY THE CASINO ESPECIALLY DURING THE SEASON BUT IT MIGHT BE THAT WE CAN USE IT STILL. OR NOT. >> AND THEN WE GET INTO PERMITTING. AT THIS POINT THAT IS A DIFFERENT PROJECT BECAUSE THERE IS PERMITTING. THIS IS A TEMPORARY DOCK THAT THERE IS NO --WE ARE JUST FLOATING IT THERE. >> IT IS NOT A FIXED --VERY TEMPORARY. >> THANK YOU. >> AND ONE OTHER ITEM, MAYOR. THERE IS, AND NOT JUST SO THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF IT AND AND THAT THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL RESPECTIVELY, WE ARE ENTERTAINING A PROJECT FOR SHORE BOULEVARD BETWEEN 54th AND BEACH BOULEVARD. JUST THEY'RE MOVING TOWARDS THE SIDELINE LEVEL SO THERE IS ACTIVITY HAPPENING ON THE VACANT LOT. AT 54 AND BETWEEN 54th AND 50th BEACH BOULEVARD THERE IS ACTIVITY. THEY ARE NOW MOVING TOWARDS HAVING THE PROJECT PUT IN FRONT OF THE STAFF SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE. >> HE IS TALKING ABOUT BETWEEN STORM RUNNERS AND AMENITIES FOR THOSE OF US WHO ATTEND THE BARS. >> WELL I HATE JUST TO --YES. >> THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROJECT COMING FORTH AND I KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING THAT IS OBJECTIONABLE. OF COURSE WILL NEED A PARKING VARIANCE AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE DEALT WITH BY THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. >> WONDERFUL. >> THAT IS ALL THAT I HAD. THANK YOU. THAT IS ALL THAT I HAD. COUNSEL, TO ANSWER MR. SCHWARTZ QUESTION, YES. ANYONE WHO OWNS PROPERTY AND IF THE CITY ACQUIRES THE PROPERTY YOU CAN COME UP FOR REZONING. THAT IS NOT -- I MEAN, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE AND WHAT IT IS BEING REZONED TO MAY REQUIRE A CERTAIN PROCESS BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN ENTERTAIN THAT. SO THAT IS AN ISSUE, NORMALLY THOUGH WE DON'T REZONE UNLESS THE PROPERTY OWNER REQUESTS IT. REZONING SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY IS NOT USUALLY SOMETHING WE DO BECAUSE WE RUN INTO POTENTIAL BERT HARRIS TAKING SITUATIONS. BUT ANY PROPERTY OWNER CAN COME IN AND THE CITY OBVIOUSLY CAN REZONE ITS PROPERTY TOO. I DID NOT KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS ON -- ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME? >> YOU ARE GOING TO CHECK INTO LIKE IF WE WANTED TO MAKE IT SO THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE IMPERVIOUS -- >> I'M STILL WORKING ON THAT. >> EVERYTHING ABOUT CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF GREEN IN THE ORDINANCE, THAT SHOULD BE EASY. >> THAT WILL BE EASY, BUT I WAS GOING TO TRY TO BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER SO THAT WE ONLY DO ONE, SINCE IT IS THE SAME AREA THAT WE WOULD ONLY DO ONE ORDINANCE CHANGE. BECAUSE ONE IS ABOUT DRIVEWAYS AND STUFF -- >> I KNOW, BUT WE COULD STILL PUT THEM ON THE SAME ORDINANCE. WE COULD DO IT DIFFERENTLY IF YOU WANT, THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM. >> 80 MY CHECK WHETHER WE EVEN NEED TO REDO THE GREEN ONE IF WE JUST MAKE A DEFINITION FOR GREEN. >> BUT WE COULD DO, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. DEFINITIONS WOULD CHANGE UNDER THE ORDINANCE. THERE WILL BE AN ORDINANCE CHANGE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> YEAH, I DID WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER CLARIFICATION. YOU SAID NORMALLY WE DON'T TRY TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF A PARCEL IF THE LIPS >> I SHOULD HAVE SAID USUALLY. >> USUALLY, OKAY, AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT WOULD BE IF IT WAS PURSUED, BECAUSE THERE ARE FOLKS THAT WORK WEST MAIN THAT. >> FOR EXAMPLE, COUNCILMEMBER, LET'S ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PUT FIVE UNITS PER ACRE, AND YOU REZONE IT IN A WAY THAT IT CAN NOW ONLY HAVE THREE UNITS PER ACRE. WELL, YOU KNOW AFFECTED THE PERSON'S USE OF THEIR PROPERTY, AND THAT IS WHAT WE CALL, THAT IS A TAKING. AND SO THE PERSON CAN STILL KEEP THEIR PROPERTY AND STILL SUE US , MEANING THE CITY, AND RECOVER DAMAGES BECAUSE WE HAVE REDUCED THEIR ABILITY TO BUILD ON THEIR PROPERTY. ASSUMING THAT WAS WHAT WAS LEGALLY ALLOWED, RIGHT? SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE ALWAYS TRY TO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO REZONE A PIECE OF PROPERTY. YOU DON'T WANT TO RESULT IN A TAKING. >> THANK YOU. AS I SAID, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT WERE INTERESTED . WITHOUT TELLING COUNSEL EXACTLY WHATEVER COUNSEL WANTS TO DO WITH THIS. WHAT WE WOULD SEE IS EITHER A PURCHASE OF THE PIECE OF PROPERTY OR AN INTENDED PURCHASE OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND START THE REZONING PROCESS IF THAT WAS THE INTENT. IF THERE IS A PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN PLACE. IF YOU HAVE A PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN PLACE, YOU HAVE NOT NECESSARILY CLOSE, YOU COULD PROBABLY START THE REZONING PROCESS. THE PROCESS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST OCCURS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. >> BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE NO TAKING IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A CONTRACT BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO THE PRICE. >> THERE IS NO TAKING IN THAT SITUATION. ABSOLUTELY, VICE MAYOR. THAT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. >> AND DID YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE FOR US WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY? >> I HAVE, I HAVE CALLS INTO THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I WILL ALSO TALK TO OUR COMMANDER, SOON TO BE CHIEF ABOUT FOULING INTERNALLY. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CITY ATTORNEY? ALL RIGHT. THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CITY CLERK. >>> EVERY TIME I NEED TO TALK MY SCREEN GOES BLACK. THAT WILL TAKE US TO COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS. EACH COUNCILPERSON WILL HAVE A MAXIMUM 10 MINUTES TO ADDRESS ANYTHING THAT Y'ALL WROTE, ANY ISSUES YOU RAISED TONIGHT OR REPORTS BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID TWO WEEKS AGO OR MEETINGS THEY HAVE ATTENDED. WE WILL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER JACKSON. I WILL TRY TO GO QUICK SINCE I KNOW CITY STAFF HAS BEEN HERE ALMOST 12 HOURS. I WENT TO FIRE OPS TRAINING. I LEARNED A LOT AND HAVE A LOT OF GRATITUDE FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS. HAD A LOT OF FUN. BUT I WANT TO NOTE FROM SOMETHING THAT I LEARNED. FIREMAN ARE AT HIGH RISK OF CANCER FOR EXPOSURE FOR ALL OF THE CONTAMINANTS. WE OWE THEM A SENSE OF DEBT. KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO AND THE RISK THEY TAKE ON IN THEIR DAY TO DAY AND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, CARRYING THAT WITH THEM ESPECIALLY AFTER WE DID THAT TRAINING AND THERE WAS A HUGE FIRE IN ST. PETE BEACH. JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM AN APPRECIATION SHOUT OUT. AND THEN ALSO ATTENDED THE CONTINUUM OF CARE. HOSTED WITH ST. VINCENT DePAUL. I LEARNED ABOUT ALL THAT OFFER. MANY THINGS, THEY OFFER A LOT. THE OFFERINGS THAT THE COUNTY HAS, AND, SO I AM GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH OUR FIRE CHIEF AND A --WE HAD COMMENTED ABOUT THE HOMELESS IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH AS WELL. THAT IS ALL FOR ME. THANKS. >> THANK YOU. >> I ATTENDED THE FIRE TRAINING. I WAS NOT DOWNGRADED AT OBSERVER. THEY KEPT ME AS PARTICIPATOR. THE WAY THEY RISK THEIR LIVES THE WAY THEY DO. VERY NICE, THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT UP. IF YOU WERE AT THE BASEBALL GAME I WANTED TO THANK TOM AND HIS CREW, I THINK HE IS GONE. I HEARD SUCH GREAT THINGS ABOUT HOW IT WAS MAINTAINED AND IT LOOKED BEAUTIFUL FOR THE TOURNAMENT AND I KNOW THAT THEY DO THAT ALL OF THE TIME. THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA. I HEARD FROM THE COACHES BEFORE AND AFTER SO, THANK YOU, TOM AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THAT YOU DID, WE REALLY SHOWED UP VERY WELL FOR THAT LITTLE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT. IT WAS NICE. THAT IS ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. >> ALL RIGHTY. >> COUNCILMEMBER THANOS? >> OKAY. I WENT TO THE TOP TIME GRADUATION. I RECOMMENDED IT WAS ADORABLE. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. IT WAS CUTE. I ALSO WENT TO THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE THEY HAD ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AND LEARNED A LOT OF STUFF WHICH I WILL NOT GO THROUGH ALL OF IT TODAY BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE THE OTHER CONFERENCE, WORKSHOP ON THURSDAY. BUT, A COUPLE OF THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FOR ME WERE THAT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE SAFE AND STRONG THAN TO MAKE IT GREEN. GREEN COMES AFTERWARDS. AND, THEN, THERE WAS, APRIL LOT, WHO RUNS DIRECTIONS FOR LIVING. ANY WAY, SHE MADE A SPEECH THERE ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT GO ALONG WITH STORMS. AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS CRYING. AND I WENT OUT AND TALKED TO HER IN THE HALL AND THERE WAS A BUNCH OF US ALL FLOODED AND FELT THAT SHE EXPRESSED BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE HAD HOW I FELT. AND EVEN THOUGH THE WOMEN WHO WERE THERE ARE PRETTY STRONG, WE DID NOT BREAK DOWN AND FALL APART, YOU KNOW, WE WERE DOING THE NEXT INDICATED STEP ALL OF THE TIME, WERE NOT FREAKING OUT BUT IT STILL TAKES A TOLL. AND, IT, IT IS CLEAR NO MATTER HOW EMPATHETIC YOU ARE, AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE WERE EMPATHETIC AND HELPFUL, IT IS A KIND OF THING THAT YOU CAN'T KNOW UNTIL YOU DO IT. UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO YOU. AND, SO, IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. SHE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW IT AFFECTS FIRST RESPONDERS AND PEOPLE DRIVING THE TRUCKS WHEN THEY SEE PEOPLE 40 YEAR'S OF THEIR LIFE ON THE CURB AND A LITTLE KID WHO SAW LITTLE KIDS TOYS WERE OUT THERE AND HOW HE FELT ABOUT SEEING THE TOYS. IT WAS A VERY MOVING THING. ANOTHER THING THAT CAME UP WAS THAT . >> INTERRUPT YOU JUST ONE SECOND. BECAUSE YOU DID, YOU WERE SO TAKEN WITH HER AND WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY YOU DID MENTION THAT TO ME AND DID YOU NOT SAY THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD GET HER IN HERE FOR WHEN WE DO OUR LOOK BACK? >> IF YOU THINK WE HAVE TIME. OR WE CAN HAVE HER . >> I THINK, I THINK IT IS WHETHER WE ARE LOOKING OUT IN TERMS OF I AM REFERRING TO A LOOKBACK MEETING WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING IN JULY. >> THAT ONE? >> YEAH. >> IN TERMS OF WHAT DID WE DO RIGHT AND WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. SHE WILL COME, FOR SURE. >> I THOUGHT THAT COULD FIT IN THERE REALLY WELL BECAUSE I DO FEEL LIKE MAYBE THE MENTAL HEALTH SEGMENT WAS MISSING IN OUR RECOVERY. RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> I AM SORRY. >> AND, WHERE WAS I? YOU WERE GOING TO SAY ANOTHER THING THAT SHE SAID. >> NOT HER. >> OH, A GUY SITTING AT MY TABLE ENDED UP SPEAKING AND HE WAS FROM A NONPROFIT THAT IS TRYING TO GET LOCAL COLLEGES TO DO TRAINING FOR RAISING HOUSES. HE WAS SAYING ON THE GULF COAST, EAST COAST, MILLIONS OF HOUSES NEED TO BE RAISED AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE AND COMPANIES TO DO IT. THEY ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY JUNIOR COLLEGES OR TRADE COLLEGES, YOU KNOW, ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO INCREASE THAT. IT COULD BE A LUCRATIVE, VERY LOCAL JOB. YOU CAN'T IMPORT IT. YOU KNOW, THAT WE REALLY NEED. AND, SO, THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE TAKEAWAYS THAT I GOT FROM THAT. THEN I WENT TO THE SUN COAST LEAGUE OF CITIES DINNER. THAT WAS TO HONOR A COUPLE OF OUR LEGISLATURES. LINDA CHENEY WAS ONE. I UNDERSTAND SHE WILL NOT COME AT THE NEXT PLEATING BECAUSE THE SESSION IS NOT FINISHED. SHE WILL COME PROBABLY IN JULY I GUESS OR WHATEVER. ANY WAY, SHE WAS ONE OF THE NOT A SPONSOR BUT STARTED OFF ON THE EMERGENCY BILL THEY PUT THROUGH WHICH IS ACTUALLY, I THINK, QUITE A GOOD BILL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE WERE THANKING HER FOR THAT. AND THEN DRISCAL, THE MINORITY CHAIR WAS THERE A GOOD SUPPORTER. NICE EVENING. I GOT TO INTRODUCE MARLENE TO LOTS OF PEOPLE BECAUSE SHE IS TAKING OVER FOR ME FOR THAT. AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT I BROUGHT UP, ARTIFICIAL TURF. THE CITY LAWYER WAS GOING TO LOOK AT THAT. AGAIN, THAT IS GETTING ADDRESSED IN THERE SB-180 THAT IS PART OF THIS EMERGENCY BILL. THEY WILL SET STATE STANDARDS WHICH WE MAY NOT LOVE BUT WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW ANY WAY. NO POINT IN DOING SOMETHING ELSE. SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY MENTIONED TO ME IS THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER THE DAYS OF BRUCE WHERE HE WOULD GO AROUND AND CITE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME OR TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES AND THEY WERE SAYING THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT TOLD THEM THEY ARE DOING IT ONLY ON, YOU KNOW, COMPLAINTS. THAT IS NOT TRUE? THAT IS NOT TRUE. >> OKAY. GLAD TO HEAR THAT. >> YOU HAVE COMPLAINTS AND YOU CAN HAVE OBSERVATION OF CODE. >> GOOD THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD BE. WE HAVE TWO, HEATHER SPOKE ON DISASTER RECOVERY AND JORDAN IS FOCUSED ON HIS NORMAL ROUTES WE GO SECTION BY SECTION. >> EXCELLENT. AND THE OTHER THING WAS, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN WALKING AROUND THE PARK, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I MENTIONED TO THE CITY MANAGER AND HE WAS CHECKING WITH TOM, THERE IS A TREE THAT IS DEAD AND HAS BEEN DEAD FOR A LONG TIME AND THE BARK IS COMING OFF AND UNDERNEATH THAT, THE WOOD IS BEAUTIFUL. SO, I ASKED IF THEY CAN CHECK TO SEE IF WE COULD, BEFORE THEY CUT ANYTHING OFF, IF WE CAN SEE ABOUT FINDING SOMEBODY WHO WOULD WANT TO CARVE THAT INTO SOMETHING UNIQUELY GULFPORT AND LEAVE IT UP TO THAT PERSON TO DECIDE HOW MUCH OF THE CANOPY TO TAKE OR LEAVE OR WHATEVER. IT COULD BE A REALLY FUN THING TO ADD TO STREET ART. THOSE ARE MY THINGS, THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. >> CONTINUING WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMENTS THAT COUNCILMEMBER THANOS DISCUSSED. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP AS WELL. THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT AND YOU ADDRESSED MOST OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY ANY WAYS. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTENDING THAT TO STAFF AS WELL. BECAUSE IT WAS, IT IS SUCH AN OVERWHELMING SITUATION FOR EVERYONE INCLUDING STAFF. I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. I WANTED TO THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR US PUTTING TOGETHER PLANS FOR JULY 4th. WHERE PEOPLE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OFFICER SHASTAIN FOR THE RIDE ALONG WITH HIM. WE WERE ALSO LOOKING AT DIFFERENT AREAS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DINGHY, HOOK UPS, TIE UPS, IT LOOKS LIKE WE RESOLVED THAT AND THAT IS A GOOD RESOLUTION . THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HE CLARIFIED A LOT OF THINGS. >> COUNCILMEMBER THANOS REPORTED I ALSO ATTENDED THE RESILIENCY PLANNING COUNCIL SUMMIT LAST WEEK. I AM GETTING TONGUE TIED HERE. AND, IT WAS AN EXCELLENT SUMMIT. I WILL BE TYPING UP ALL OF MY NOTES. I WROTE FAST. THAT WILL BE THE BEST WAY TO SUBMIT THAT. AND I ALSO LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE STAFF ATTEND THAT IN THE FUTURE. AS LONG AS IT IS, AS WELL AS OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS. IT WAS WELL WORTH IT. PANELS THAT ADDRESSED A MULTITUDE OF TOPICS. IT WAS SO INFORMATIVE, SO EDUCATIONAL. AND, GOT TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE, OTHER AREAS HAVE DONE AND SO FORTH. AND I ALSO, IT WAS GREAT TO GO TO THE SUN COAST CITY LEAGUE DINNER AND MEET ALL OF THOSE FOLKS AND MAYORS, VICE MAYORS, OTHER COUNCILORS. I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH SOME OF THEM AND HEAR HOW THEY ARE HANDLING THINGS. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I CONTINUED TO TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO SEE WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING ELSEWHERE. I JUST FOUND THAT VERY EXCITING TO HEAR. AND, WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER, TOO. SO, I NOTE THAT I ONLY HAVE 10 MINUTES HERE. I ALSO WENT TO THE TIME CELEBRATION AND THE GRADUATION. THE CAP AND GOWNS WERE ADORABLE. WE HAVE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES HERE. IT CHOKED ME UP. IT WAS WONDERFUL. THEY DO A GREAT JOB THERE AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB WITH ALL OF THAT. SOME RESIDENTS REQUESTED THAT WE HAVE LOOPER STOPS AT TANGERINE AND GULFPORT BOULEVARD. I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE DOING THAT BUT IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. SOME OF THESE THINGS MIGHT BE NEW BUSINESS AND SOME MIGHT BE COMMENTS. I AM WORKING THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND HAVEN'T. THEY ARE ALSO ASKING WHAT THE STATUS OF THE MOBY BAT ON THE BEACH IS AND WHAT THE TIME LINE OF REMOVAL OF THAT AND THE FILLING OF THE HOLE THERE. IF WE CAN DISCUSS THAT WOULD PLEASE A LOT OF FOLK THAT ARE LOOKING AT THAT EYESORE. IF IT IS ALREADY RESOLVED ALL THE BETTER. THEY ARE ALSO ASKING FOR ATTENTION TO THE RAIN GARDEN. THEY SAID IT WAS IMPACTED BUT IT SEEMS TO BE RECOVERING. AND SOME TLC WOULD BE HELPFUL THERE. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I AM QUITE INTERESTED IN US TAKING A LOOK AT IN REGARDS TO THINGS RESIDENTS BROUGHT UP. AND I THINK THE REST OF THESE ARE FOR NEW BUSINESS. >> MAYOR, IF I MAY. >> YES. >> TOM CAN GIVE A SHORT UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE BEACH RECOVERY AND ALSO IN REGARDS TO THE RAIN GARDEN THAT WAS ONE OF THE TOPICS ABOUT WHETHER WE DID HELP BUILD IT, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MAINTAINED BY VOLUNTEERS, WE WILL GO AND LOOK AT IT, TOO. >> WE WILL STEP IN AND WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO CLEAN IT UP. >> CONSIDERING WE MAY OF LOST SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS WE MAY NEED TO RE-ESTABLISH THAT. OKAY. LET TOM GIVE IT. >> WE RECEIVED A REPORT LAST WEEK. I WAS ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF THE CONTRACTOR ON FRIDAY AND HE MOBILIZED ON MONDAY TO TAKE ALL OF THE BROKEN CONCRETE. THE PERMIT WE RECEIVED WAS FROM THE GECKO TO SHORE BOULEVARD FOR RIGHT NOW. WE ARE WORKING ON THE PERMIT FOR THE REST OF THE BEACH RESTORATION. WE GOT THAT DONE. WE WILL BE, WE AS WELL HAVE FINAL PLANS FOR THE ENTIRE BEACH BY THE END OF THIS WEEK AND THEN WE WILL GET A CONTRACTOR IN TO BRING THE SAND BACK IN, FILL THE HOLES. WE HAVE THE MAT ALREADY BOUGHT, THE NEW ONE, WE ARE WAITING FOR THE BEACH TO GET DONE TO REINSTALL. DENNIS AND I MET WITH THE OTHER CONTRACTOR OR THE OTHER ENGINEERS AT 54th AND SHORE WHERE ALL OF THAT HOLE IS AND WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE PLANS THIS WEEK AS WELL. SO, THEY ARE ALL MOVING ALONG. JUST THE PERMITTING PROCESS HAS BEEN . SO, THE PERMIT . >> [ LAUGHTER ] >> GEE, YOU SOUND LIKE A RESIDENT. [ LAUGHTER ] >> SO, THE PERMIT THAT WE HAVE NOW IT GOES FR