City Council Meeting

>> ALL RIGHT, WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE DECEMBER 5th, 23 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR GULFPORT, FLORIDA. OUR INVOCATION THIS MEETING IS GIVEN BY COUNCILMEMBER CHRISTINE BROWN FOLLOWED BY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE JOIN US IN WRITING. >> THAT EVENING. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO READ SOMETHING FROM A BOOK BY ROBERT FULCRUM, WHO WAS AN AMERICAN AUTHOR. HE HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL BOOKS. HE IS 86 YEARS OLD. AND I THINK IT IS A GOOD TIME TO CLEAR YOUR SOUL AND BACK TO A SIMPLER TIME AND REMEMBER THE HOLIDAYS ARE FULL OF LOVE AND NOT STRESS. SO, HE WRITES, " MOST OF WHAT I REALLY NEED TO KNOW, I LEARNED ABOUT HOW TO LIVE AND WHAT YOU DO AND HOW TO BE, I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN. WISDOM WAS NOT AT THE TOP OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL MOUNTAIN, BUT THERE IN THE SAND PILE AT SUNDAY SCHOOL. THESE ARE THE THINGS I LEARNED. SHARE EVERYTHING. PLAY FAIR. DON'T HIT PEOPLE. PUT THINGS BACK WHERE YOU FOUND THEM. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS. DON'T TAKE THINGS THAT AREN'T YOURS. SAY YOU'RE SORRY WHEN YOU HURT SOMEONE. WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU EAT. FLUSH. WARM COOKIES AND COLD MILK ARE GOOD FOR YOU. LIVE A BALANCED LIFE. LEARNED SOME AND THINK SOME AND DRAW AND PAINT AND SING AND DANCE AND PLAY AND WORK SOME EVERYDAY. TAKE A NAP EVERY DAY. WHEN YOU GO OUT IN THE WORLD, WATCH OUT FOR TRAFFIC. OLD HANDS AND STICK TOGETHER AND BE AWARE OF WONDER." >> 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. >> ALL RIGHT. ROLL CALL PLEASE, CITY CLERK. >> HERE. >> VICE MAYOR RAY. >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER O'HARA. >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER THANOS. >> HERE. >> IN FOR CITY ATTORNEY SALZMAN, ATTORNEY MERCHIE. >> HERE. >> CITY MANAGER O'REILLY. >> HERE. >> CITY CLERK CARRICO, PRESENT. >> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS ABUSE EVENING. WE HAVE THOMAS REID WHO WAS A VICE MAYOR OF CITY OF SOUTH PASADENA NEXT YEAR HERE TO TALK LESS FOR RECOMMENDATION ON THE PSTA BOARD. >> [ INAUDIBLE - OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ] >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, VERY NICE TO SEE YOU. IT IS A REAL PLEASURE. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL CITY AND I DROVE AROUND ADMIRING THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS BEFORE I CAME IN AND GULFPORT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TOWN. AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF BELLEAIR, BELLEAIR BLUFFS, 70, AND SOUTH PASADENA SHARE A SEAT CURRENTLY ON PSTA. TRIGGERED ONE OF THE CITY OF SEMINAL CHOSEN TO RIP DESIGN AND MOVE OUT OF THE AREA SO THE BOARD SEAT IS UP AND RUNNING SO MYSELF AND JOE BARKLEY, EXCUSE ME, ARE BOTH SEEKING THE SEAT AND IT JOE HAS SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN THE PAST I THINK WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO RIGHT NOW IS YOUR VOICE. YOU ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF THE BILL THAT REPRESENTATIVE CHENEY HAS APPOSED TO REVAMP THE STRUCTURE OF THE PSTA BOARD, I AM SURE. AND IT APPEARS THAT THAT IS GOING TO PASS . IN FACT, I SPOKE WITH HER LEGISLATIVE AIDE ABOUT HALF HOUR BEFORE HEADING OVER HERE AND WE ALL KNOW IT'S CLEARED THE LOCAL DELEGATION, SO IT IS PRETTY MUCH A FORMALITY THAT THE BILL WILL PASS. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF HOW IT IS GOING TO PASS. ONE THING IS TRUE. UNDER HER PROPOSED BILL, SOUTH PASADENA AND GOLF WILL STILL BE THE SAME SEAT WHEREAS UNDER THE BILL, BELLEAIR BLUFFS WILL NO LONGER BE PART OF THE SAME SEAT, WHICH TO BE MAKES SENSE BECAUSE MUCH CLOSER GEOGRAPHICALLY THEN BELLEAIR AND BELLEAIR BLUFFS. MOVING FORWARD, AND THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE SHORTEST APPOINTMENT IN HISTORY, WHEN THE BILL TAKES PLACE AND BECOMES LAW, WHATEVER WEATHER DOES MYSELF OR JOE, WILL BE A MESSAGE FOR SIX MONTHS AND THEN IT WILL GO TO THE MOST POPULOUS CITY. IN OUR CASE, OUR MUTUAL CASE WILL BE THE CITY OF LARGO. SO, WHAT I HAVE TO SUGGEST THAT I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE WITH MY ASSESSMENT OF IT IS DURING THOSE SIX MONTHS, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US, SOUTH PASADENA, GULFPORT, AND OTHER CITIES WILL REMAIN CONNECTED, TO HAVE A VOICE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK ON THEIR BEHALF DURING THE TRANSITION. AND TRY TO HELP CRAFT ANY AMENDMENTS FOR THE BUILDER IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR GROUP THAT WILL BE THE ULTIMATE GROUP THAT WILL BE REPRESENTED BY THE FUTURE BOARD. AND AS I AM SURE YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GO TO LARGO BASED ON POPULATION AND WORK ITS WAY DOWN TO OTHER CITIES ON A THREE-YEAR BASIS BASED ON THE ASCENDING POPULATION. SO, I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOUR YEARS AGO AND WAS RE-ELECTED THIS PAST MARCH. I AM HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE SUNCOAST LEAGUE OF CITIES. I AM THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT. I'M VERY ACTIVE IN THE FLOOR LEAGUE OF CITIES. I HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE HOME HERO AWARD EVERY YEAR I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR ADEQUACY IN BEHALF OF ROLE IN ALL CITIES. SO I TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON BEHALF OF NOT JUST MY CITY BUT OTHER CITIES VERY SERIOUSLY. I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF BUILDING CONSENSUS, NOT SEEKING CONSENSUS BUT ACTUALLY HELPING MOLD CONSENSUS. SO I AM HUMBLY ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE TOGETHER AT THIS POINT AND WHAT IS MOSTLY GOING TO BE EIGHT NEWLY CONFIGURED PSTA BOARD AND PRESERVE YOUR VOICE FOR THE SIX MONTHS THAT I WILL PROBABLY HAVE A SPOT AND WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS FROM THERE BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU WITH THE BILL THE WAY IT IS GOING TO BE, WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER. OUR CITY AND YOUR CITIES HAVE VERY SIMILAR OTHER ACTIVITIES WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. WHAT AFFECTS US AFFECTS YOU AND VICE VERSA. AND YOUR CITIZENS SHOP IN OUR CITY AND WE COME TO YOUR TOWN. I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD, COHESIVE RELATIONSHIP AND I WOULD STRIVE TO BUILD ON THAT AND IF YOU SELECT ME, AND I DO GET THE BOARD ADDITION FOR HOWEVER LONG IT LASTS, I WILL MEET WITH YOU AND CONSULT WITH YOU IN YOUR INPUT TO CRAFT THE FINAL VERSION OF THIS BILL TO GET TO TALLAHASSEE WITH SOMETHING WE CAN ALL LIVE WITH AND SAY WE HAD A HAND IN CRAFTING FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITIZENS. SO AGAIN, I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR REED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR BEING HERE. >> IS ST. PETE BEACH -- >> THAT IS GOING TO BE IN A DIFFERENT SEAT ALTOGETHER. EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER, I DON'T RECALL. >> IS A PRESENT NUMBER OF BARRIER ISLAND, THE BARRIER ISLAND HAS RETREATED. >> I THOUGHT THEY WOULD DIFFERENT >> THERE WILL BE ONE COMBINED MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF BELLEAIR SURE, MADEIRA BEACH, TREASURE ISLAND, AND ST. PETE BEACH. THAT WOULD ALL BE IN ONE GROUP. WE WOULD BE PART OF THE COMBINED GROUP OF LARGO, SEMINOLE, SOUTH PASADENA, GULFPORT CITY, AND PINELLAS PARK. >> I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY THAT LARGO, THE MOST POPULOUS WOULD GET THE SECRET? >> WELL, THAT IS HOW THE BILL IS STRUCTURED. ASSUMING IT PASSES AND THE SEATS ARE RECONFIGURED, IT IS RECONSTITUTED BOARD, IT GOES IN ASCENDING ORDER OF POPULATION. SO LARGO IS THE MOST POPULOUS CITY OF THE GROUP THAT WE WOULD ALL BE IN. SO THEY WOULD SAY, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN INDEPENDENT SEAT RIGHT NOW, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO HAVE A SEAT ON THE BOARD. I CAN SEE SOME HORSE TRADING ON GOING ON BUT LARGO IS GOING TO WANT TO KEEP A SOUL SEAT. I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT. WHAT HAPPENS BUT ASSUMING IT'S PASSES THE WAY IT IS, LARGO WOULD HAVE FIRST BITE AT THE APPLE NEVER GO OUT IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO. THAT IS WHAT REPRESENTATIVE CHENEY EXPLAINED IT TO ME. I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION BEFORE THINGS GIVING IS HYPOTHETICALLY, SAY GULFPORT DID NOT WANT IT THEN, IT WOULD -- I GUESS WOULD BE THE NEXT SIZE CITY AFTER GULFPORT AND WE WOULD FILL IT IF WE WANT TO. SO IT WILL ALWAYS BE ON A THREE-YEAR ROTATING BASIS ENSURING THAT EVERY CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON IT WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY DOING WHAT JOE AND I ARE DOING RIGHT NOW AND TELLING YOU ALL ABOUT COUNCILS AND COMMISSIONS AND SAYING WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU. >> OUR CHAIR WOULD BE LIKE 12 YEARS FROM NOW OR SOMETHING? >> INTENTIONALLY. >> YEAH. I DID THE MATH. I THINK WE'RE 16. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TRYING TO GET ACROSS. I THINK IF WE WORK TOGETHER TO PRESERVE THE INTEREST OF WHAT IS IN OUR CITIES, IT IS GOING TO BE INDUSTRY NEW REALLY RECONSTITUTED BOARD. I AM FRANKLY THE GUY YOU WANT TO HAVE IN FOR THE SIX MONTHS. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION THIS EVENING FROM DIRECTIONS FROM LIVING. WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND CEO AND ELIJAH MITCHELL FROM GULFPORT/TREASURE ISLAND STREET OUTREACH CASE MANAGER. WELCOME. THANK YOU BE HERE TODAY. >> GOOD EVENING. WE HAVE OFFICIALLY STARTED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH DIRECTIONS FOR LIVING AND THE CITY OF TREASURE ISLAND . WE OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF AND WE HAVE HAD BOOTS ON THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, WORKING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE TO TREAT YOU GUYS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY BOASTS APRIL LOTT, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DIRECTIONS FOR LIVING AS WELL AS ELIJAH MITCHELL WHO IS OUR CASE MANAGER OUT IN THE STREET. HE IS WORKING 20 HOURS FOR THE CITY OF GULFPORT AND 20 HOURS FOR THE CITY OF TREASURE ISLAND AND HE IS OUT ON THE GROUND MAKING CONTACT WITH EVERYBODY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. HE HAS BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB. WE HAVE SEEN HIM OUT THERE MULTIPLE TIMES. I'VE HAD COMMITTEE MEMBERS REACH OUT TO ME SAYING THAT THEY MET HIM OUT AND ABOUT AT THE BEACH AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO THIS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH OUR OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION. THAT WAY, IF YOU SEE HIM OUT IN ABOUT ON THE STREET, YOU KNOW WHO HE IS. >> ALL RIGHT. FANTASTIC. PLEASURE TO MEET YOU ALL. >> SHORT. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE TWO YEARS AND WE HAVE HAD GREAT COLLABORATION WITH YOUR CITY AND WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND WITH YOUR CHIEF, YOUR FIRE CHIEF. EVERYBODY. AND WITH THE CITY OF TREASURE ISLAND AS WELL BECAUSE WE PUT THIS PROJECT TOGETHER. I THINK IT IS A UNIQUE PROJECT BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN CHRONICALLY UNHOUSED AND LIVING WITHOUT HOUSING AND LIVING HOMELESS IN YOUR CITY AND WHO SOMETIMES MOVE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN GULFPORT AND TREASURE ISLAND. AND REALLY TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WE CAN BE OF SERVICE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND ELIJAH MITCHELL STARTED WITH US YEARS AGO. WAS A PART OF OUR INITIAL STREET OUTREACH PRODUCT WITH THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG AND HUMAN SERVICES AND IS THE IDEAL PERSON FOR THIS PROJECT AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT HE VOLUNTEERED TO DO IT . HE WANTED TO DO IT AND I THINK HE WILL BE AMAZING WITH THE CITIZENS OF GULFPORT. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASURE TO MEET BOTH OF YOU. >> CAN WE ASK QUESTIONS? >> OF COURSE. >> ARE THE DIFFERENCES YOU SEE BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES NOW THAT YOUR BOOTS ARE ON THE GROUND? >> ONE OF THE BIG DIFFERENCES IS OBVIOUSLY THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. I HAVE A LOT MORE CLOSE-KNIT OVER IN TREASURE ISLAND. IT IS THE WAY THE CITY IS. OVER HERE, THINGS ARE LITTLE BIT MORE EXPANDED SO IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFORT. I HAVE BEEN COORDINATING WITH SOME OF THE OFFICERS TO FIND OUT WHERE ARE THE HOTSPOTS YOU ARE SEEING WITH PEOPLE SO I CAN GET A BETTER IDEA WHERE TO LOOK. >> OKAY. >> TREASURE ISLAND, THEY ARE LITTLE BIT MORE VISIBLE FOR THE HIGH-PROFILE ONES. >> OUT OF CURIOSITY, CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BRIEF RUNDOWN OF WHAT A DAY LOOKS LIKE OR HALF A DAY OR WHATEVER? >> SURE. SO, ONE OF MY OBJECTIVES IS TO ASSIST THOSE THAT ARE ESPECIALLY USING A LOT OF THE RESOURCES. SO, I WILL DRIVE OVER TO, SAY, GULFPORT BEACH , WALK AROUND, START LOOKING TO SEE IF SOMEONE LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT NEED HELP. INTRODUCE MYSELF. TALK WITH THEM. THEIR STORY, ESPECIALLY. AND FIND OUT, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU TODAY? IT MIGHT TAKE SIX MONTHS BEFORE SOMEONE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT ME, SO, HEY. INTRODUCE . SAY HI TO THEM BY NAME. MAKE THAT CONNECTION. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL GO FROM THERE WITH HIM. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I AM SO EXCITED. >> IF I MAY. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, MISSES LOTT, SHE MADE A GREAT POINT . YOU HAVE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH SOME OF THESE FOLKS 50 TIMES. I COULD TELL THEM WHEN HE FIRST MET. IT TAKES THAT LONG TO BUILD ABLE TO SHIP WITH THESE FOLKS. >> AND I JUST ASK ONE THING. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE AS A CITY COULD DO TO HELP OTHER THAN HAVE YOU OUT THERE? I KNOW OUR OFFICERS AND STAFF ALWAYS OFFER ASSISTANCE, BUT IS THERE ANY OTHER PROGRAM? SOMEBODY HAS MENTIONED HAVING SHOWERS FOR PEOPLE. ANY STUFF LIKE THAT? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? >> YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION FIRST TO SAY THAT , YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS AN UNDERSTANDING. HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING AROUND PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING HOMELESS. THE IDEA OF SIMPLY MOVING THEM TO SAFE HARBOR , I AM ASSUMING YOU ARE FAMILIAR THIS IDEA OF A WE HAVE TO GET EVERYBODY INTO SAFE HARBOR, IT IS JUST NOT THE ANSWER. IT IS NOT EVER GOING TO WORK -- OR EVEN PENNILESS HOPE FOR THAT MATTER. HAVE TO GET EVERYBODY TO PENNILESS HOPE OR SELF SAFE HARBOR. EMERGENCY SHELTER IS NOT THE ANSWER. AND SO WHAT ELIJAH SAID, RIGHT, MEETING EVERYBODY 50 TIMES TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST TO LISTEN TO THEIR STORY, TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY NEED. SO, I THINK IT STARTS WITH HAVING AN AGREED-UPON UNDERSTANDING OF THE INDIVIDUALS. THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME. THEY MAY ALL LOOK ALL THE SAME. THEY MAY PRESENT THE SAME. THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME AND THEIR STORIES ARE DIFFERENT AND IF WE CAN GET TO UNDERSTAND THEIR STORIES, AS ELIJAH SAID, FOCUSING ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE HIGHEST UTILIZER'S OF THE RESOURCES AND REALLY WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT IS EMS, FIRE, LAW ENFORCEMENT -- PEOPLE ARE CALLING 911 CONSTANTLY ON A HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS AND SO WE WANT TO FOCUS THERE. CERTAINLY, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE MIGHT BE RECOMMENDING THAT WE MIGHT BE COMING BACK TO DISCUSS WITH THE VARIOUS BODIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO. THINGS LIKE SOURS. ANYTHING THAT CAN OFFER DIGNITY TO AN INDIVIDUAL WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING SOLVE THE PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT POLITE TO TALK ABOUT NECESSARILY IN PUBLIC BUT PEOPLE NEED, RIGHT, THEN HE SHOWERS AND THE NEED BATHROOM FACILITIES AND THEY OFTEN GET THEMSELVES IN TROUBLE AND VIOLATE LAWS BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING THOSE THINGS IN PUBLIC WAYS IS NOT MEANT FOR THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN. AND SO, FINDING WAYS TO BRING DIGNITY AND WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC FACILITIES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS CAN BE VERY HELP. AND SO IT IS THOSE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT INITIALLY BUT WE NEED ELIJAH TO RELATE TO GET TO KNOW THESE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING FALSE ASSUMPTIONS AND CREATING FALSE NARRATIVES ABOUT THEIR STORIES AND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY NEED. >> IF YOU HAD A MESSAGE FOR THE PUBLIC WITH REGARDS TO THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH THE HOMELESS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL -- I THINK WE RUN INTO THE PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE FEEL NOT BAD IN GIVING SOMEONE SOMETHING IF THEY SEE THEM. SAY IT -- SOMEONE WAS A REGULAR TO A CERTAIN PLACE, OTHER PEOPLE FEEL THE NEED TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING EVERY TIME. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND IS THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW LIKE YOU SAID, EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SITUATION. SO? >> I THINK IT IS TWO QUESTIONS IN ONE. THE FIRST QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THE MESSAGE WOULD BE IS KIND OF A CLICHE BUT THERE FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND SO, I THINK GRACE AND KINDNESS AND COMPASSION GO A LONG WAY IN THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING THESE VERY MAJORITY OF TYPE JUDGMENTS ABOUT PEOPLE AND ASSUMING THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK IN OUR LAZY BUMS. BUSINESS IS JUST NOT TRUE. AND WHEN YOU LEARN THEIR STORIES, THEIR TRAUMA HISTORIES. MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, MEN PREDOMINANTLY, BUT MEN AND WOMEN, RIGHT? THEY STARTED BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED AT THE AGE OF FOUR. HAVE BEEN ON THEIR OWN SINCE 9. THEY HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE HUNDRED TIMES. THEIR STORIES ARE SAD AND COMPELLING I THINK THAT THAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE US. IF WE ARE A COMMUNITY, THEY ARE US. SO, MY MESSAGE WOULD BE, DON'T FORGET THAT IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST OF US, SOMETIMES. IN TERMS OF HOW WE -- IN TERMS OF PANHANDLING AND GIVING AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THERE IS A LOT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT YOU DON'T DO ANY OF THAT AND YOU SIMPLY MOVE PEOPLE TO WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE SO THAT WE -- AND THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE PANHANDLING OR LOOK LIKE THEY ARE IN NEED. I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE THE ANSWER ABOUT WHICH WAY IS THE BEST WAY. I WOULD JUST SIMPLY SAY THAT IT MIGHT SOLVE A PROBLEM FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL LONG TERM SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SO, I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY I WOULD RECOMMEND SOMEBODY GO. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A TOUGH QUESTION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON ONE THING. SO, AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY OUTLOOK, I THINK NOW IN THE POST-COVID WORLD, I THINK A LOT OF EYES HAVE OPENED UP TO, LIKE SHE SAID, THEREBY THE GRACE OF GOD, I THINK THAT REALLY OPENED UP JUST HOW VULNERABLE EVERYBODY IS. SO I THINK A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A LOT MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE THAT ARE ON THE STREET. >> OKAY. GOOD. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE AND LETTING US MEET YOU IN PERSON. >> NICE TO MEET YOU. THANKS VERY MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT. THAT BRINGS US TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT SO ANYONE THAT HAS ANYTHING THAT WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP IT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IF YOUR COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES HERE AT THE PODIUM. WE WILL START WITH MISS LOVE. >> HOW LUCKY AM I TO SAY -- TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR A FANTASTIC PROGRAM RIGHT NOT LAST NIGHT. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE UPGRADED OUR BUDGET OR IF WE HAVE BOUGHT NEW LIGHTS BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN OUR CHRISTMAS TREES LOOK AS PRETTY AS IT DID LAST NIGHT. REALLY, REALLY NICE. MY SECOND COMMENT, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NEGATIVE. I AM GOING TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON REGARDING OUR PERMITTING OFFICE. I HAVE LIVED HERE SINCE 2010. I HAVE A LOT OF GOOD REPARABLE , OUTSTANDING FRIENDS WHO HAVE TOLD ME OUTRAGEOUS STORIES ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENED TO BECAUSE IT IS HEARSAY. BUT MY GUY AND I HAD OUR OWN EXPERIENCE JUST IN SEPTEMBER AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU HEAR THESE STORIES OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL YOU REALIZE THAT WE REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT IS GOING ON THERE. SO, WE WALKED OUT OF A CLOSING HAVING PURCHASED SOMETHING HERE IN GULFPORT JUST TWO MONTHS AGO AND WE KNEW THAT THE POWER WAS SCHEDULED TO BE TURNED OFF SO, WE WENT AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED DUKE ENERGY AND ASK THAT WE PUT INTO HIS NAME AND WE WERE TOLD IT COULDN'T BE BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OPEN PERMIT. SO, WE DROVE AROUND THE CORNER AND WALKED INTO PERMITTING AND SAID, HEY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE PERMIT CLOSED BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE SECOND SECTION HAS HAPPENED? THEY SAID, NO, IT HAS NOT HAPPENED. NOBODY IS DIFFICULT TO GIVE AN EXTENSION EXPECTION. SO I CALLED THE COMPANY BACK TO FIND OUT WHO THE SUBCONTRACTOR EXACT DATE THAT THIS EXPECTION HAD BEEN DONE BY THE CITY OF GULFPORT SO WE HAD GONE BACK TO THE CITY OF GULFPORT. THIS WAS 45 MINUTES APART. WHEN WE WALKED IN, THE TWO LADIES DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAD BEEN OUT THERE SO WE HAD TO RE-TELL HER A STORY, EXPLAINED THAT WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT THE PERMIT WAS CLOSED SO THAT THE POWER COULD STAY ON. IT WAS ALREADY ON BUT WE HAD TO GET IT IN THE NAME BECAUSE IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED. AT THAT POINT, THEY WENT TO THE BACK ROOM AND AFTER NOT TOO TERRIBLY LONG, THEY CANNOT WITH A PIECE OF PAPER WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS WHAT WE NEEDED THAT WE WERE MORE DETAIL ORIENTED AND LOOKED, IT WAS THE WRONG ADDRESS. OKAY? SO, IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE THE SUBCONTRACTOR DUKE TRYING TO WORK FOR US AND REALLY HELP US AND PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO US. WE GO BACK TO THE CITY AGAIN AND SAY, LOOK, WE REALLY NEED HELP WITH THIS. THE SUBCONTRACTOR POWER COMPANY WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE DUKE TO DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO. THE CITY OF GULFPORT DID NOTHING TO HELP US. THE NEXT DAY, THEY CALLED IN FOR MY GUY THAT THEY HAVE THE DOCUMENT, THAT THEY REALLY, REALLY HAD TO SEARCH THROUGH BACK RECORDS TO FIND IT. AND I REALIZE, THE INSPECTION WAS DONE IN JUNE. THIS WAS SEPTEMBER. THAT DOESN'T SEEM AT THE HAD TO SEARCH THROUGH REALLY, REALLY REALLY OLD RECORDS WITH THE WHAT WE WERE TOLD. I JUST WANTED TO RELAY THIS. THIS WAS NOT SECONDHAND. I WAS THERE MYSELF. THANK YOU. >> THANKS, GARY. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? MR. BIXLER ? >> TOM BIXLER. 59th STREET SOUTH. WE HAVE EIGHT PANCAKE BREAKFAST. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? THAT IS COMING UP THIS SATURDAY AGAIN BUT THE GREAT PART IS, YOU KNOW, THE LIONS CLUB IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST SERVICE ORGANIZATION. SO, THROUGH TAMPA BAY'S LIENS WORLD VISION INSTITUTE, THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THIS WEEKEND ON SATURDAY TO EXAMINE EYES FOR CHILDREN. THEY DO THAT FREE OF CHARGE. THEY MAKE GLASSES OF FREE OF CHARGE. ACTUALLY HAVE A MOBILE VAN THAT WILL COME OUT TO THE SIDE AND MAKE GLASSES RIGHT THERE. THEY WEREN'T SURE IF IT IS GOING TO BE SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY OR NOT. THEY WERE CHECKING AND IF IT IS NOT AVAILABLE, THEY WILL MAKE GLASSES AND GET THEM TO THE CHILDREN. SO THAT IS A JUST PRESCHOOL 217. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TAMPA'S INSTITUTION DOWN THERE, -- I JUST LOOK AT MYSELF BECAUSE THAT IS NOT ON THE FLYER BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT -- IT IS ONE OF THE TOP INSTITUTES FOR I TRANSPLANTS AND RESEARCH IN THE WORLD. WRITE IT DOWN HERE IN TAMPA. IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO IT, IT IS PRETTY AMAZING. I GOT TWO CORNEA TRANSPLANTS. NOT THERE, BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY DO. THAT IS SOME THE THINGS THAT THEY DO. SO THAT WILL START AT 8:00. WE HAVE A DARK ROOM SET UP FOR THEM TO DO THEIR EYE EXAMS. SO IF YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY OR ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE KNOW OF ANYBODY WHO HAS KIDS PRESCHOOL TEST 17 -- I GUESS 18 IS THE CUTOFF AGE, THEY SAY ROUGHLY ONE IN FOUR KIDS SUFFER WITH THEIR VISION PROBLEM AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR LEARNING IN SCHOOL UNTIL THEY GET THAT CORRECTED, I'M SURE MISS BROWN PROBABLY KNOW THAT TOO OR HER EXPERIENCE. SO, ANYWAY, I WANTED TO GET THAT OUT THERE AND NINE DOLLARS FOR BREAKFAST. IT IS ALL PANCAKES YOU CAN EAT. SAUSAGE, SCRAMBLED EGGS, DRINKS, TIPS 10 AND UNDER IS HALF-PRICE AND ANY CHILD THAT COMES THAT IS 6 OR UNDER IT'S FREE. NOW, THAT IS MY LIONS CLUB INFORMATION. I'M KIND OF TWO SHIRTS TO HATS WHATEVER. I WILL CHANGE HATS BY NOT TAKING THIS AT ALL. OKAY? THAT IS MY VETERANS HAPPIER ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CLARIFICATION. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A VETERAN WEARS HIS HAT AND SALUTES THE FLAG DURING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. WELL, THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW THAT ANY VETERAN THAT SERVED BY PRESIDENT BUSH, THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. SO IF THERE IS SOMEBODY OUT THERE AT HOME OR IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HAS MADE THAT COMMENT THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, I SERVED HONORABLY FOR 22 YEARS IN THE NAVY SEABEES AND I CAN'T THINK OF A AND BETTER WAY TO HONOR THE CONCRETE THEN TO SALUTE THAT FLAG. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. >> HI. CARON SCHWARTZ. DELIGHT AVENUE SOUTH HERE IN GULFPORT. I WASN'T GOING TO GET UP AND SAY ANYTHING BUT I WAS TALKING TO CHRISTIAN AND ADMIRING HIS BIKE. ELECTRIC WITH THE BIG THING ON THE BACK. HE CAN TOLD PEOPLE AROUND AND PULL HIS CHILDREN AND I MENTIONED TO HIM THAT I TAKE A PEDICAB IN DENVER AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN BUT I REMEMBER I WAS TOO TIRED TO WALK TO MY CAR SO I HOPPED IN A PEDICAB AND SOMEBODY PEDALED ME THERE. NOW, I HAVE GOTTEN UP HERE BEFORE AND SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED FOR TRANSIT AROUND HERE. HERE IS THE OTHER PART OF THE STORY. SO, I MET SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY. NEVER MET HER BEFORE AND SHE SAID, OH, I LOVE GULFPORT SO MUCH. AS A MATTER OF FACT ON FRIDAY, HE WANTED TO HAVE DINNER AT PEERS BUT WE CAN FIND A PLACE TO PARK AND WE LEFT. AND I SAID, DOESN'T THE TROLLEY RUN ON FIRST FRIDAY? IF I AM WRONG, I MIGHT BE WRONG BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT I HEARD THE TROLLEY GOES ON FIRST FRIDAYS. IT IS NOT ADVERTISED. IF YOU LIKE IN GULFPORT, YOU MIGHT KNOW, BUT AGAIN, REALLY? DOES IT? I AM NOT SURE. IF WE DO HAVE A TROLLEY WORKING ON FIRST FRIDAYS AND OTHER EVENTS, IT NEEDS TO BE PUBLICIZED. REALLY, SERIOUSLY PUBLICIZED. THERE ARE PLACES TO PARK AND THAT THERE IS TRANSIT TO GET FROM WHERE YOUR CAR IS PARKED WHERE YOU REALLY WANT TO GO AND BACK AGAIN. AND THAT MEANS BRINGS ME BACK TO PEDICABS. WHY NOT HAVE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE -- THAT WAS ALSO CHRISTIAN BOTH THE IDEA, MAYBE GO INTO BUSINESS WITH PEDICABS? THE TRANSPORT PEOPLE FROM PARKING TO DOWNTOWN? AS I RECALL, THE RIGHT IN DENVER DIDN'T COST ANYTHING AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A UNION OF PEDICABS -- I DON'T REALLY KNOW. I WAS JUST TIRED AND I WANTED TO RIDE, BUT IT COULD BE FREE. MAYBE WITH TIPS. IT COULD COST A FEW BUCKS. I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT IS A THOUGHT FOR HOW TO GET PEOPLE AROUND, YOU KNOW? I HOPE YOU'RE STILL THINKING ABOUT FREEBIE BECAUSE I AM IN LOVE WITH THAT CONCEPT. ANYWAY, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR OPEN COMMENT? YES, MA'AM. >> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> HI. >> HI, SAM. NICE TO SEE YOU APPEAR. CHARLOTTE DOWNEY. 13 DOWN SOUTH. A COUPLE REASONS I AM HERE. I HAVE AN ELDERLY LABOR NEIGHBOR. I THINK SHE IS A 90 SOMETHING. I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. SHE HAS BEEN IN GULFPORT FOR DECADES AND SHE HAS ARTHRITIS SO BAD SHE GOES AROUND THE BLOCK WITH A WALKER. WITH ASSISTANCE. AND SHE GOES DOWN 14th FROM 55th TO 14th -- HALFWAY DOWN 14th AND THE SIDEWALK ENDS BECAUSE IT IS GROWING OVER OR THERE IS TREES PLANTED WHERE THE SIDEWALK SHOULD BE AND THEN SHE TURNS NORTH TO GO DOWN 54th AND THERE IS NO SIDEWALK ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STREET. AND THEN, SHE COMES BACK UP 13th AND WE HAVE A SIDEWALK BETWEEN 54th AND 55th, WE HAD A A SIDEWALK THERE. AND WE HAVE A SIDEWALK ON 55th. SO, MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE GOING TO GET SOME PRESIDENT BIDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY AND IF WE ARE, CAN YOU GET US SOME SIDEWALKS UNCOVERED OR BUILT SO THAT THERE PEOPLE IN OUR LITTLE WARD. OUR LITTLE POOR PART OF TOWN . SIDEWALKS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE. WE REALLY NEED THEM. SO, THAT IS ONE THING. THE OTHER THING IS, THERE IS A LOT OF PLACES AT INTERSECTIONS THAT HAVE VISITATION GROWING UP 15th AND 54th ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER. THERE HAS BEEN PALM TREES THERE THAT GET WHACKED BACK, BUT THAT IS A BAD PLACE. CAN'T THE CITY PEOPLE JUST SEE THAT AND DIG THOSE TREES UP ONCE AND FOR ALL AND GET RID OF THEM? AND, CAN THE CITY INSPECTOR -- WHEN HE IS JUST DRIVING ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, IF HE SEES THINGS THAT ARE IN VIOLATION, CAN HE NOT JUST STOP AND MAKE A FRIENDLY LITTLE CITATION WERE WARNING? I MEAN, DOES EVERYBODY HAVE TO REPORT EVERYTHING OR CAN THE CITY INSTRUCTOR NOT TAKE CARE OF THINGS HIMSELF OR HERSELF OR WHOEVER IT IS? >> YES. THEY CAN. >> OKAY. LET'S GET ON IT. >> WE DO HAVE THAT LAID OUT. I THINK YOU ARE JUST THAT VERY RECENTLY. PRECISELY WHICH ONES WERE -- >> YES. >> -- THAT WERE BEING FIXED. I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT PRECISELY. >> WE WON'T TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. >> HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYBODY. >> SAME THING TO YOU. >> MAYOR, I HAVE NO REPORT OTHER THAN WHEN ITEM. WE NEED A CONSENSUS FROM CITY COUNCIL. ANY GENTLEMEN YOU >> ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. DO WE WANT TO GO THAT BY A MOTION IN A SECOND? >> YEAH. A MOTION IN THE SECOND OR CONSENSUS? >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND COMMISSIONER JOSEPH BARKLEY AS RECOMMENDED ON THE PSTA BOARD. >> WILL HAVE A FIRST? >> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> SECONDED. I KNOW IT IS LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH YOU SITTING HERE IN THE ROOM. I HAVE A LONG HISTORY WITH MR. BARKLEY AS WELL. I THINK BOTH OF YOU DO A GOOD JOB. IS MY LONG HISTORY, I SUPPORT JOE. >> AND I JUST ASK? I DON'T KNOW -- IT IS ONE THING TO HAVE A MOTION AND WE VOTED UP OR DOWN, BUT COULD WE ALSO DO IT JUST THAT WE PLAINVILLE? >> SURE. CERTAINLY. >> THERE'S NOTHING LITTLE IN THE CONSENSUS PACIFICALLY. IF EACH COUNCILMAN ELECT NAME ONE TO DO IT LEGALLY. >> I UNDERSTAND. >> I WOULD SUPPORT JOE BARCLAY AND IF IT DOESN'T GO THAT WAY, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE VICE MAYOR REALLY THAT PERSON. MY HISTORY WITH JOE AT HIS TIME ON THE BOARD SO I WOULD SUPPORT. >> COUNCILMEMBER BROWN? >> BARKLEY. >> VICE MAYOR RAY? >> READ. >> COMES NUMBER CHANNELS? >> READ. >> WILL BE HAPPY TO GET YOU UP THERE AND HAVE YOU SERVE. WE ARE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU COME HERE AND I AM SURE YOU WOULD HAVE DONE A FABULOUS JOB AND HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN STILL GET ON THERE AT SOME POINT AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. ANYTHING ELSE, CITY MANAGER? >> NO, SIR. >> THAT BRINGS US TO THE CITY CLERK'S REPORT? >> NOTHING TO REPORT, MAYOR. >> ITEM 5.8. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 21st, 2023. >> I MAKE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. >> AYE.. >> THAT BRINGS US TO OUR ONLY ORDINANCE TONIGHT. >> -- AMENDING SECTION 22 DICE 21.3 ENFORCEMENT. AMENDING SECTION 22 20 .13 APPROVED TREES; 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. >> ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, ENTERTAIN A MOTION? >> I MAKE A MOTION ON ORDINANCE 2023 12. >> FIRST AND A SECOND. CITY MANAGER, ANYTHING YOU LIKE TO ADD? >> NO, SIR. THIS THE RECOMMENDED TREE WAS THAT WE WERE PROVIDED. >> FANTASTIC. AND, BY THE WAY, 5, FANTASTIC JOB FOR THE CITY ARBOR DAY. TWO EVENTS IN A WEEKEND. >> I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT. THE TREES ARE SO NICE AND BIG AND READY TO PLANT SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO JUMP IN AND HELP ON-THE-FLY WHEN THEY HAVE. THAT KIND OF SHOWS HER PASSION FOR ABIDING BY THE GENERAL. ALL RIGHT. ANY COUNCIL QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL CALL THE VOTE. >> COUNCILMEMBER BROWN. >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR RAY. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER O'HARA. >> COUNCILMEMBER THANOS. >> YES. >> MAYOR HENDERSON. YES. >> CITY ATTORNEY SALZMAN. >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES US -- >> [ LAUGHTER ] >> -- THAT BRINGS US RESOLUTIONS AND WE HAVE TWO OF THEM THIS EVENING. FIRST ONE IS RESOLUTION 23 3109. >> RESOLUTION NUMBER 23 DASH 109. THE CITY OF GULFPORT FLORIDA AUTHORIZES THE PURCHASE OF I.T. PRODUCTS FROM SERVICES SHI. >> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2023 DASH 109. >> SECOND. WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. OKAY. WE WANT TO GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTS? OH, ACTUALLY, I AM SORRY. CITY MANAGER? >> YOU WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW VIEW, DAVID? >> THIS IS JUST AN ORDINARY CONTRACT FOR SERVICES THROUGH S HI. S HI IS A COMPANY THAT WORKS ON STATE CONTRACTS A WE ARE ARE ALLOWED TO GO UNDER STATE CONTRACT IF THEY ARE ON STATE CONTRACT. THE ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO GO OVER. THIS ALSO HELPS US BY STANDARD PRICING, LIKE, SAY WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE AN OFFICE PACKAGE FOR A COMPUTER. IT IS A STANDARD PRICE BUT WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A FACILITATOR. WE CAN'T GO DIRECTLY THROUGH MICROSOFT. SO, THEY ARE A LICENSED PROVIDER FOR THAT. IT IS THINGS OF THAT NATURE BUT IT IS ALL STATE CONTRACT. THERE IS A FEW COMPANIES LIKE THIS BUT WE HAVE FOUND THAT THEY ARE THE QUICKEST AT SHIPPING AND ALSO OFFER PROMOS BELOW THE STATE CONTRACT. >> COUNCIL COMMENTS? >> WHAT KIND OF GOODS ARE THEY? WHAT KIND OF THINGS? >> EVERYTHING FROM -- LITERALLY, EVERYTHING FROM IPADS ACTUALLY JUST GOT MONITORS FOR THE FIRE STATION AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THESE BIG MONITORS THAT ARE KIND OF LIKE THESE TOUCHSCREEN SO THEY CAN DO PLANS. EVERYTHING FROM THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THEY CAN GET PHONES. IT IS REALLY ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE THAT IS I.T. RELATED. OR, SERVICES. SO, YOU WANTED A NEW SOUND SYSTEM AND YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT THE STATE CONTRACTED PRICING WAS FOR THAT SERVICE, YOU COULD ASK THEM. >> I HOPE WE ARE GOING TO GET A SCREEN FOR HERE. >> DO WE STILL WANT TO GET A SCREEN? IF YOU STILL WANT TO SCREAM, THEY PROVIDE THAT. >> A BIG ONE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. MADDEN? ALL RIGHT. MY ONLY QUESTION, YOU FEEL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT YOU NEED? >> OH, YEAH. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AND THERE IS ANOTHER COMPANY CALLED CBW. WHAT THEY WERE TWO GOOD THINGS ABOUT S HI. THEY'RE BOTH ON STATE CONTRACT WITH THE GOOD THING ABOUT S HI IS THEY DON'T CHARGE FOR SHIPPING, WHAT OTHER COMPANIES DO EVEN ON LARGE ITEMS, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT THEY ALSO HAVE PROMOS WHERE THEY WILL GO LOWER THAN STATE CONTRACT WHICH IS PHENOMENAL FOR US. >> ALL RIGHT. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE. WE WILL CALL VOTE. >> COUNCILMEMBER BROWN . >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER O'HARA . >> YES. THE >> RESOLUTION NO. 2023-110: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GULFPORT, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) FOR SECTION 5310 PROGRAM FUNDS FOR A G.E.M.S REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. >> ALL RIGHT. ENTERTAINING EMOTION, COUNCIL? >> MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION >> SECOND. >> IT IS REALLY SELF-EXPLANATORY. WE DO THIS ON A BIANNUAL BASIS. WE CONTINUE TO BACKFILL OUR FLEET -- OUR G.E.M.S FLEET AND THIS IS WORTH A 10% COST TO THE CITY. IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. RACHEL HAS BEEN WORKING ON SINCE SHE HAS BEEN IN THE POSITION AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE VEHICLES IN THIS MANNER. >> ALL RIGHT. FANTASTIC. COUNCIL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? >> I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE THAT WE CAN AT LEAST TRY TO ASK IF THEY HAVE AN ELECTRIC ONE. >> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. IS IT JUST BUSES AND SMALL VANS AND STUFF? >> YEAH. TRANSPORTATION. RACHEL AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT AND IN REGARDS TO COUNCILMEMBER, THERE IS A SPECIFIC FLEET OF VEHICLES THEY DO OFFER THAT THEY BASICALLY SELECT. WE CAN ASK THAT QUESTION AND YOU GET SPECIFICALLY FROM A MENU AND THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE BECAUSE, BASICALLY, VOD IS BUYING THIS. YOU MAKE YOUR 10% AND THEN THEY DELIVER TO THE YOU. >> BUT UNDERSTAND WITH MORE AND MORE CITIES GOING ELECTRIC, WE WILL START HAVING ELECTRIC ONE SO WE MIGHT AS WELL ASK IT WE CAN GET THEM IF WE HAVE CHARGING. >> ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. YES. >> I CAN SPEAK FROM HERE THAT IS ALL RIGHT? >> WE NEED TO COME UP UNFORTUNATELY SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE HOME FOR MUCH THE MEETING. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FOLKS. >> I JUST WENT TO SECOND WHAT APRIL SAID ABOUT LEG OF VEHICLES. I THINK THAT IS A GREAT IDEA. THIS THE FUTURE AND THE FUTURE IS HERE. MOST OF THE CITIES OUR WAY INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY NOW AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE TOO AS WELL AS SOLAR CELLS. THANK YOU. >> YEAH. AND I WILL SAY, YOUR BEST LOOKING AT IT IN THE REASON WHY SOME DON'T FIT THE BILL IS FOR APPELLEES, EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRIC VERSION THAT SUITS OUR NEEDS. THIS MAY BE DIFFERENT ONE AND HOPEFULLY THAT IS THE CASE. >> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> [ LAUGHTER ] >> SPEAKING OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES, I JUST HAPPENED TO BE ON YOUTUBE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO LOOKING AT VIDEOS AND THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC TESLA THAT JUST TAKE A MUSTANG'S BUS BUT AND THEY WERE SMOKING. THEY GO FROM 0 TO 60 IN ABOUT TWO SECONDS. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THAT WOULDN'T SATISFY OUR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. >> THAT IS THE CRITERIA THAT THE CHIEFS WILL LOOK AT. WE APPRECIATE IT. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL >> COUNCILMEMBER BROWN. CALL THE VOTE. >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR RAY. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER O'HARA. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER THANOS. >> YES. >> MAYOR HENDERSON. THE PASSAGE. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESSES EATING MEETING? >> THE ONLY THING I WOULD BRING UP IS I MENTIONED HOW LAST TIME WHETHER WE WOULD WANT TO CHARGE A REGISTRATION FEE FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE IN THE LEGAL AREA AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD WANT TO PUT THAT ON FOR NEW BUSINESS BECAUSE WE ARE PAYING $20,000 A YEAR FOR SOFTWARE PLUS WE ADDED EIGHT SECOND CODE ENFORCEMENT PERSON BECAUSE OF THEM. SO THAT IS ALMOST $100,000 THAT WE ARE PAYING AND WE ARE GETTING NO INCOME. SO, REGISTRATION FEES COULD BE A WAY TO RECOUP SOME OF THAT MONEY. >> OKAY. IS ANYONE INTERESTED IN PURSUING REGISTRATION FEES? >> ARE WE EVEN ALLOWED? >> YES. WE ARE ALLOWED. >> CITY MANAGER, ARE WE ALLOWED? >> I WOULD DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. >> BUT I HAVE CHECKED. I HAVE CHECKED WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE. >> AT THE STATES, I'M NOT INTERESTED >> OF COURSE, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT AND I HAVE CHECKED. I HAVE BEEN TO A LOT OF MEETINGS ABOUT THIS AND IT IS POSSIBLE. WE CAN CHOOSE TO DO IT OR NOT DO IT BUT IT IS POSSIBLE. >> AT THIS STAGE, I AM CHOOSING KNOW FOR MY PART. ANYONE ELSE WITH NEW BUSINESS? ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REPORTS STARTING WITH COUNCILMEMBER BARONE BROWN? >> YEA. I GOT TO GO FIRST. WE DID HAVE A GREAT ARBOR DAY IF YOU WERE THERE AND GOT TO GET A TREE. IF I UNDERSTAND ONCE A MONTH WE GET TO GET A TREE? >> YES. ONCE A MONTH. IN OUR HORTICULTURIST IS MAKING HERSELF AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE OF ALREADY GOT ONE OR PICKING THEM OUT TO GIVE THEM SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO MAINTAIN IT SO THE TREE GROWS TO A VIABLE SIZE AND SURVIVES FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. >> VERY GOOD DIRECTIONS IN HERE ON HOW TO PLANT IT SO IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO GET TO ARBOR DAY AT THE REC CENTER, THANKS TO MAYOR A VALVE FOR A GREAT PROGRAM WITH HER WONDERFUL CHILDREN AND WE HAD LAST NIGHT THE TREE LIGHTING, WHICH IS ALWAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON MY LIST OF THINGS TO DO BESIDES EASTER AND HALLOWEEN BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND IT WAS GREAT. PROGRAM WAS GREAT THANKS TO RACHEL -- I MEAN TO MARIBEL. AGAIN, THE KIDS SINGING THEIR LITTLE HEARTS OUT AND, OH MY GOSH, THEY WERE SO CUTE AND OF COURSE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES A GREAT JOB GETTING IT READY AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO WAS THERE AND ENJOYING IT LIKE I WAS. >> ALL RIGHT. VICE MAYOR? >> I DON'T HAVE A LOT. JUST MENTIONING, OF COURSE OF THE SATURDAY PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT THE LIONS CLUB AND SATURDAY ALSO IS THE BE CYC BOAT PARADE. I THINK YOU ASKED ME TO BE THE SANTA CLAUS AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. >> SANTA IN A BOOT? >> JUST STABILITY WITH HAVING A BOOT ON IS NOT GREAT. I CAN JUST SEE MYSELF IN THE BAG. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE -- I BELIEVE THAT IS THE 18th WE HAVE THE CHRISTMAS FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EMTS MAKING ALL KINDS OF NOISE RUNNING ALL OVER TOWN. >> YES. YES, SIR. >> BUT THE TREE LIGHTING LAST NIGHT WAS GREAT. I ENJOY WATCHING THE KIDS FACES WHEN SANTA CLAUS COMES AROUND THE CORNER ON THE FIRE TRUCK. OTHER THAN THAT, THAT IS IT. >> ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER O'HARA. >> I HAVE NOTHING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COUNCILMEMBER THANOS. >> YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THEY WERE SOMETHING ABOUT LEG PIPES. THE APA PASSING SOMETHING ABOUT LEG PIPES TO CHECK IF WE HAVING LEG PIPES IN THE CITY AND WE DON'T, WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD THING BECAUSE WE WOULD NEED TO FIX THEM. >> WE THE CITY? >> WE THE CITY FOR OUR PART. MISSILE HAVE LEG PIPES IN THEIR HOUSES BUT THAT IS A KIND OF DIFFERENT ISSUE. BUT ANYWAY, IT IS ONE THING WE DON'T AS A CITY NEED TO DEAL I WENT TO A FLORIDA LEAGUE CITY MEETING IN ORLANDO AGAIN WITH MY NATURAL RESOURCES AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE SO PEOPLE ARE GETTING READY FOR THE PROPOSALS FOR THE SESSION AND THERE IS LITTLE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON FOR THAT. AND I THINK THERE IS SOME UPCOMING MONDAY MORNING WEBINARS ON THAT AS WELL. SO, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS SIDEWALKS. I KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT SIDEWALKS, WE WERE MAINLY GOING TO DO WORK TWO AROUND DOWNTOWN FIRST. THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY AND WE SHOULD APPLY FOR THAT IS RATHER THAN TAKE IT OUT OF OUR BUDGET, THERE IS A LOT OF PLACES WE CAN DO GETTING THIS MONEY AND EVEN IF IT IS A MATCH, WE CAN GO WAY FURTHER WITH IT SO I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY INVESTIGATE THAT. AND PERMITS. AGAIN, I HAD A SIMPLER KIND OF -- NOT AS BAD AS WHAT CARON MENTIONED BUT I WENT OUT TO FILL A GARAGE PERMIT YOU CAN FILL OUT THE FORM YOU CANNOT SUBMIT IT BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE A SIGNATURE. EVEN THOUGH IT HAD A LITTLE CEMENT ON THE BOTTOM. SO HAD TO PRINT IT OUT AND BRING IT IN. THEY COPIED ONTO EIGHT PIECE PAPER AND THAT WAS MY PERMIT. IT WAS ALL VERY FAST BUT I HAD TO GO IN THERE WHEN IT HAD TO BE ONLINE AND SIMPLE. AND WE HAVE A NOTICE OF SAME WE ARE NOT TAKING ONLINE PERMIT APPLICATIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO MANY EMAILS AND IT IS LIKE, IF YOU FORCE PEOPLE TO COME IN, THAT TAKES EVEN MORE TIME THAN AN ANSWERING EMAILS. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. AND ANOTHER THING, I SENT EVERYBODY A COPY OF AN EMAIL FROM A CONSTITUENT WHO DOES SOLAR AND WE HAVE THE HIGHEST PERMIT PRICES ARE PUTTING SOLAR ON HOUSES NOT OF ANYBODY BUT OF MOST CITIES AND SOME PLACES ARE EVEN ALLOWING PEOPLE FREE PERMITS TO GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO PUT SOLAR ON. AND SO, I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE PRICE THAT WE ARE CHARGING FOR SOLO PERMITS. >> YOU WANT TO CUT THAT REVENUE? >> YES. >> OKAY. BUT ADD ANOTHER REVENUE? >> YES. EXACTLY RIGHT. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM CLEAR. >> BECAUSE THAT IS YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE DOING AND THE OTHER ONE, WE HAVE TO BUY SOFTWARE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM DOING IT ILLEGALLY AND TO TRY TO RECOUP SOME OF THAT MONEY. AND AGAIN, NOT THAT WE SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY MAKE IT FREE, THAT WE SHOULD MAKE IT IN LINE WITH OTHER PLACES AND, ALSO, YOU WILL SEE FROM HER EMAIL THAT IT'S ALSO TAKES QUITE A LONG TIME. BUT ANYWAY, IF IT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE ONE WAY, YOU COULD MENTIONED BEFORE LIKE IF WE WERE GOING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO PAVER DRIVEWAYS RATHER THAN CEMENT DRIVEWAYS, WE SHOULD OFFER AN INCENTIVE. THIS IS ANOTHER PLACE WE CAN OFFER AN INCENTIVE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THAT BUT CAN I ASK THAT? >> WELL, YOU CAN. BUT THAT WOULD BE A NEW BUSINESS THING. >> I WILL ASK IT LET NEXT TIME. >> I APPRECIATE THAT DRIVE FOR INFORMATION TO GET TO US BUT WHEN YOU BRING IT UP, WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DECIDE ON THE SPOT. >> NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> [ INAUDIBLE - OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ] >> SO, NOW YOU HAVE TILL NEXT TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT AND I WILL BRING IT UP AS NEW BUSINESS. >> ALL RIGHT. I WANT YOU ALL TO HAVE GREAT HOLIDAYS. I HOPE YOU HAVE SOME TIME AWAY FROM WORK. I HOPE YOU HAVE SOME TIME TO READ GROUP AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF JOY A LITTLE BIT OF PEACE AND A LITTLE TIME FOR YOURSELF AND TIME WITH PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT. A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO REFLECT AND HEAL FROM THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE PAST YEAR. SO THAT IS ALL I HAVE GOT TO REPORT RIGHT NOW AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR SOME GREAT EVENT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR OF DOING A GREAT JOB. YOU KNOW, GRANTED WE HAVE DEVELOPED A CULTURE CITYWIDE OF TRYING TO BE HELP SOME PLACES WHERE WE SHOULD DO A GOOD JOB OF THAT WE SHOULD ADDRESS. BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE FOLKS WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IN THE PAST YEAR, EVERYONE HAS GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE THINGS WORK AND TO PROVIDE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE SERVICE SO, ANYPLACE THAT IS NOT HAPPENING, WE WILL ADDRESS. BUT I WANT TO THANK OUR EMPLOYEES THIS YEAR FOR HELPING US FIVE MINUTES BEFORE AIMING TO FIX OUR TECH ISSUES, TO OUR FIRE AND POLICE MAKING SURE THAT EVERY EVENT GOES SMOOTHLY AND SAFELY WITH THE 70 FOSSIL THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR TO OUR LEISURE SERVICES TO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE FELT TO OUR SENIOR CENTER TO EVERYPLACE AROUND HERE. I WILL STAND BY THE FACT THAT I THINK OVERALL, I'VE SEEN US ACQUIRE AND HOLD ONTO SOME OF THE BEST EMPLOYEES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT I HAVE COME ACROSS, AT THIS POINT, IN MY LONG CAREER AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF Y'ALL. SO THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS. >> [ APPLAUSE ] YOU CELEBRATE. >> ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> ADJOURNED.