City Council Meeting

[captioner present] >> Good evening. What a full house we have today and there are so many faces I don't know which is very unusual. So welcome. I'm going to call our August 4th meeting to order at this point. I'm going to ask that our vice mayor Shaw gives our invocation. That'll be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. If you can stand please do so. >> Nearly two and a half centuries ago as framers worked to build something that had never quite existed before, George Washington is said to have offered this charge. Let us raise the standard to which the wise and honest can repair. Them meaning a place to return to. It's a simple idea. Build something worth gathering around, something honest enough and steady enough that good people want to show up for it. That is the work in front of us here in Gulfport. A small city built by people who show up for each other and who keep choosing to build something worth showing up for. >> 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. >> Roll call please. >> Vice Mayor Shaw >> Here. [roll call] >> All right. Let me just say this. If you haven't already checked your phone, please check your phone. Make sure it is on silent. And then the second thing is we have an echo chamber in here. So when we are -- if there are people talking out there, we can hear you clear then we can hear up here sometimes. If you need to have conversations, I understand. But take it into the hallway so we only have one people talking at a time please. Thank you. With that in mind, we're going to move to presentations. I know that we have a proclamation. It looks like a really good turnout of folks here from the juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County. And I'm going to turn this over to Vice Mayor Shaw. Or right here, and then you can walk down so you have the mic. >> That makes sense. Thank you. First time I've done this. Thank you. Rather than read the entire thing, I'm going to start just a short ways down. On November 5th, 1946, Pinellas County citizens ratified the Juvenile Welfare Board Act, creating the nation's first independent board dedicated to improving the lives and futures of children. In 1947, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County chaired by Linda Holland Barton -- forgive me if I didn't pronounce that correctly created its first fund that served about 1500 children. Today juvenile Welfare boards strengthens our community by funding 87 quality programs across 49 agencies, providing cradle to career prevention and early intervention services that reached over 83,000 children last year. And the Juvenile Welfare Board also serves as a convener, forging partnerships and leading initiatives to prevent needless childhood deaths, nurture early childhood development, champion children's mental health, promote grade level reading, fight childhood hunger, and support fathers and grandparents in their caregiving roles, reaching tens of thousands more annually. Therefore be it resolved that I Karen love mayor of the city of Gulfport do hereby acknowledge and express congratulations to the Juvenile Welfare Board for 80 years of pulling children first and for its commendable service to the citizens of Pinellas County. I think that says it all. [applause] [ambient conversation] >> Oh, you have an audience. No wonder our house was so full. >> So good evening, Mayor Love, Vice Mayor Shaw, Council members Daunch, Earley, and Webb, city manager O'reilly, community leaders and residents. Thank you for allowing us to join you this evening as we celebrate a remarkable milestone in the history of Pinellas County. The juvenile Welfare Board's 80th anniversary. My name is Karen Boggess, and I'm the interim CEO for J.W.B. It's my honor to be here before you this evening with members of our board, Judge Patrice Moore and Alicia McShea. >> Welcome. >> Our South County Community Council members, and JWB staff. For 80 years, JWB has been guided by a simple belief. When we invest in children, we invest in the future of our community. Every investment we make is informed by community needs guided by data and focused on creating lasting impact for children and families. From a child's first days of life through adolescence and into adulthood. Our goal remains the same, helping every child reach their fullest potential. And that is one reason why being here in Gulfport is especially meaningful. Your city leaders embrace our mission and partner with us to strengthen opportunities for children and families. And just a few weeks ago, Vice Mayor Shaw climbed aboard our JWB summer breakfast, helping dozens of smiling children pick out two free books to take home at the Gulfport Public Library. Today, nearly 1 in 4 households with children in Gulfport benefit directly from JWB-funded programs. Across the city, and if you look over here and see this map, three sites and five programs help children learn, grow, and thrive. For example Big Brothers and Big Sisters offers life changing mentoring services at Boca Ciega High School. In addition to that the Florida Department of Health operates a school based health clinic. At Gulfport Elementary our club child Care provides promise time and after school program, offering academics and tutoring to extend the child's learning beyond the school day and allowing parents to work. In addition seniors in Service operates a foster grandparent program at Gulfport Elementary, providing academic and literacy supports to students. And the YMCA of Greater Saint Pete offers life saving swim lessons in partnership with Stetson University. So in your packets, I believe the orange folders, you'll find information about our investments in this community, the outcomes we are achieving together, and resources available to support children through every stage of life. As we look ahead to the next 80 years, we see tremendous opportunity to deepen our partnership with the City of Gulfport. Together we can continue identifying needs, expanding opportunities, and ensuring that more children and families have access to the support they need to succeed. Because the greatest legacy in any community can leave is not just buildings it constructs or roads it paves. It is the future it creates for its children. So thank you for your partnership, and unwavering commitment to the children and families of Gulfport. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] I have one question for you, Karen, and I'm also Karen. How are you funded? >> We are funded solely by ad valorem property tax dollars. >> Thank you. I hope everybody heard that. Thank you. And then we're going to do our best. Now we've got a photographer back there. I think you do. We would like to get a photo with you, Marlene presenting your proclamation. [ambient conversation] >> Thank you all so much for coming out in force tonight. Appreciate it, educating us as well. Thank you so much. Go into town and enjoy our wonderful city. With that in mind, we will be moving to public comment. As most of you know, public comment, you can come up. You need to give your name and the city that you reside in. You can say whatever you would like to say. You have got three minutes to say it. So don't be shy. Show of hands and I will call you up. Metria. >> Hi. My name is Metria Jones. I've been in Gulfport for more than 30 years. Good evening mayor and council members. Benjamin Franklin warned those who give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. But Gulfport residents were never meaningfully asked to make that trade. For nearly three years our vehicles have been recorded as we enter and left the city. These records were placed in a searchable law enforcement network while most residents and apparently some elected city officials did not even know this was happening. That is surveillance imposed without meaningful public debate. We are told these are just license plate readers. But they do much more than that. Cameras use AI powered software to turn vehicle images into searchable information, including plate number, make, model, color, location, and time. That creates a searchable record. The chief confirmed that the Gulfport cameras were placed along the main roads used to enter and leave the city. Every time we leave home, or return, another entry can be created. Over time these records may reveal our teens, medical visits, social activities, political or religious associations, friendships, and when our homes are empty. Some people ask, if you're not doing anything wrong, why do you care? Because privacy is not evidence of guilt. I close my curtains. I lock my door because my private life belongs to me. The fourth amendment does not say innocent people must surrender their privacy until they prove they deserve it. The chief also revealed that Gulfport originally had three cameras and access to cameras around Pinellas County. When access was removed Gulfport added three more cameras to regain it. That expansion appears to have been driven by the private surveillance company, not by a public prevented Gulfport crime, privacy review, or finding of local need. A private company should not determine how much surveillance Gulfport must accept as they pray for admission to a larger network. My fellow resident Christian related to come up now and address who can access this information and what oversight existed and what council action is needed. >> Thank you. Kristen? >> Hi. I'm Kristen. I have lived in Gulfport for six years now. When asked whether outside agencies could access Gulfport's camera data, the chief first said no. She then corrected herself and acknowledged that other police departments can access it. We were told those agencies are accredited and have technology of policies. But having a policy is not the same as knowing what agencies did with Gulfport residents data. The chief said Gulfport does not use facial recognition, but she could not say whether the Sheriff or other agencies use facial recognition or other identification technology. Once Gulfport's data enters the larger network, who is actually in control? Then there's elected oversight. Mayor Love said, I know that until nine days ago I have never heard of law cameras. The cameras had already operated for nearly three years and another camera was scheduled for installation. If the mayor had never heard of the program, who outside the police department is overseeing? Metria asked for the city records showing approval, privacy, and legal review. Privacy provisions, error reports and evaluations of effectiveness. The city repeatedly answered no record found or directed her to the police department. The chief says the department has a very thorough directive, then publish it. Let the council and public examine it. When asked how many crimes flock cameras help solve in these three years, the answer was more than one. That is not an effectiveness report. How many searches were performed? How many alerts were wronged? How many crimes were materially solved? How many outside agencies searched Gulfport data? What has this program cost? Mistakes and misuse have real consequences. In Arkansas a flock camera misread one plate camera and directed police toward an innocent vehicle. Its occupants were detained including a woman beside her one month old baby. In Texas an officer admitted an improperly using flock searches in personal disputes. We're not claiming every past user was improper. Were asking council to stop assuming every use was proper. When the safeguards access accuracy and results have not been demonstrated. Pause the cameras and the flock interface. Publish the directive and contract. Audits previous searches and data sharing requiring independent cybersecurity and effectiveness review. Establish enforceable restrictions and meaningful civilian oversight. Require a public council vote before reactivating or expansion. This is not anti-police. It is pro accountability. Trust is not oversight. Before Gulfport watches the public, the public deserves to know who is watching the watchers. Thank you. >> Thank you. Who is next? April. >> I was going to talk on exactly the same thing. They have clearly done more research than I have. One thing I know is that we paid monthly for somebody to monitor this for us. We don't do this ourselves. That means this monitoring company which is not a police department also has access to this information. Who knows who they can give it to? It is another example of when a policy decision has been made by the staff just because it is under $20,000 doesn't mean it shouldn't be a council decision and not a staff decision. And especially when it is something that people are going to take so personally and we really don't have much information about how it all gets accessed. And because we signed a 287G, if immigration wants those records? Are we obligated to give that to them? And what does that mean? That is another one we signed without policy issues and a vote of council. And I think we need to make sure that any time there's a policy decision, Council makes it, not staff. >> Thank you. Who is next? Yes, John. >> Good evening, mayor, Council members. Thank you for letting me speak tonight. I've been a Gulfport resident for about 16 years now. The reason I'm here tonight is not to talk about cameras. I'm here to ask you to consider Daniel Hodge for the Spirt of Gulfport Award. Daniel has been a valuable member of Gulfport for about 25 years. During that time he has truly helped shape this city into what it is. Some of you have been old enough to remember that on a weeknight in the summer, Gulfport was a virtual ghost town. Many of the activities and projects that Daniel has worked on have really made Gulfport the vibrant destination it is today. I wrote some down because there's a lot of them. 18 years ago Daniel became the manager of a fresh market. He went from about six vendors to 75 vendors. Along with David Mather, he helped create the very first LGBTQ resource center in the state of Florida and our local library. He has managed a community social email for 20 years. And he organized and has run the Thursday night Social since about 2011. The Thursday night social brought a lot of us together. I know I met friends there. I'm sure many of you have met friends there as well. Daniel also brought the dining out for life to Gulfport in 2005, achieving 100% participation in all the restaurants. And he used one of the earliest board members on the Gulfport Management Association, which is now the Gulfport Merchant Chamber, and served for six years as vice president. He came up with the idea for the Gecko Ball, working with the city to make it happen, and spent many years on the Gecko Ball Planning Committee. He has also coordinated the Gulfport Dinner Club for years, again an event I'm sure many of you have met good friends. Daniel also helped develop the Chef's Table concept with the Gulfport Merchants Association. And he got the ball rolling with PA golf. These are some of the many events that Daniel has contributed to. He's spent decades bringing people together, helping our community, and really building our community into what it is today. I can't think of anyone who deserves this award more than Daniel. Please consider him. Thank you. >> Thank you, John. Who is next? Okay, I'm going to close public comment unless anybody else -- seeing none, do we have any e-comments tonight? >> I have one comment for public comment and one for the discussion item. The open public comment item is from a Saint Pete resident, David Shiner. At the July 7th Council meeting, after web proposed a Clean City proclamation, the mayor recounted a beach cleanup where they petitioned her about restroom cleanliness. Instead of municipal kindness, her reaction was indignation. She questioned if they were needy or get a regular check, treating their humble politician as an affront to call for a workshop to discuss more edicts. Meanwhile restroom inequality divides the different realms of the city while the beachfront receives administrative care, inland areas face a harsher fate. At trolley square, talk of kindness and compassion contrast with less public sanitation, plastic containers used as chamber pots are the only restroom. The city took action this year to lock the water spigots at the square at Tomlinson Park restrooms sit locked. Opened only for scheduled festivities, chasing high minded proclamations while locking park infrastructure and treating sanitation as a gated luxury item is a hollow decree. >> Thank you.. And that's it? >> That's the only one. >> Public comment is closed then. We will move to the City Manager report. >> No report to make. >> Okay. I had three things I would like to ask you. One was I was wondering, it has been several months. I'm going to say about six months since I have asked about an update on the Casino. That was one. Two, I was going to ask about where we are in seaside villas because I know that the last update I had said that they would be starting demo in July. And then the third was I wanted to clarify with you if I'm understanding correct, we put some fencing around the property formerly known as Alliance Club to keep cars out. But I don't think we are trying to establish a no trespassing. Like if the neighbors want to walk in there and put down their chair and sit out on the water, are we at this point saying no trespassing? >> No, ma'am. >> So they are welcome to go in there. That was an attempt to not have vehicle traffic in there until we have it somewhat more settled. >> Yes, it stabilized the surface there. We'll be working on that. It just was recently completed. But I don't want people parking trailers on there or driving through it in that aspect. In regard to the Casino, Kendrick Sanderson our public works director will give you a brief update on that. In regard to seaside villas, they have an open demolition permit. Follow up with code enforcement to see where they are at. Give you a more detailed answer. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. So our 60% plans for the Casino rebuild have been delivered a week ago. Our comments have been resubmitted to the engineer's. We have a meeting tomorrow morning with them. We're on schedule as projected. Hopefully we will have the bid package ready by the end of the fall. We should be going with the bid late winter or early January 2027. There was some structural items that we did discover. 18 Piers or structural beams underneath the Casino were shifted. And we need to acquire two have 24 of them based off the new building code for the facility. So we are talking with the structural engineers tomorrow to see if all 18 need to be replaced or if they are just going to be repaired. So that may interfere with the timeline. But we will know more tomorrow. >> So we have to increase the Piers from 18 to 24 because of new building codes. >> Correct. >> Thank you. Any question for Kendrick while he's up here? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Have a good one. >> Anyone else for any questions of our city manager? City attorney's report. >> No, mayor. >> City clerk report? >> I do just have one follow up item. This is requiring the PSTA seat discussed a couple meetings back. I was able to talk to Mr. Brad Miller who is the Chief Executive Officer. He clarified for us that this is asking the commissions and the councils if they would agree to a third term by Mr. Tom Reed, who is currently the vice chair of. What they said is that councilor perhaps was not knowing prior to this that we weren't asking for nominations. They were asking the councils if they were okay with a consensus to move forward with another term for Mr. Reed because he has shown a great interest in it. He is very involved in it. I don't need a resolution or anything like that. I just need to have a consensus from all of you that you are okay and would like to have him serve another term. And if so, I will go ahead and reach out to the PSTA tomorrow. >> Because he sits on the forward Pinellas board with me, I would say he give a very good, detailed reports on Psta. I would agree he's very much into it. >> Yes, he is very interested in. He wanted it to be known to everybody that he's very excited about it. I will let them know in the morning. >> Thank you. Alrighty. I see tonight we don't have any consent items, nor ordinances. So we will start with resolutions. Council comments. Yeah, I scrolled while I was listening. I apologize. Thank you. Teamwork, I love it. Vice Mayor Shaw, your first. >> Thank you for those great questions on the update. Those were some excellent questions and answers. I want to share an update from the Florida League of Cities on the property tax amendment we've been tracking. On August 3rd, a county Circuit Court judge ruled on the three consolidated lawsuits challenging the ballot title and summary language for property tax amendment three. As I understand the update and Council Member Webb and our attorney will certainly clarify anything further, the court found the language legally defective and cannot be placed on the ballot in its current form, concluding it fails to fairly and accurately inform voters and instead contains political advocacy, misleading descriptions, and omissions of important information. And I'm quoting that. The amendment itself remains on the ballot. The Attorney General now has ten days to submit corrected language and the state does have the option to appeal the ruling. Given the fiscal impact conversation we have had here, I wanted to make sure everyone had this information and to stay tuned. As I mentioned, our attorney and council member Webb may very well have more detail. >> Vice Mayor, you nailed it. >> So I just wanted to make sure everybody is reminded that our budget workshop is scheduled for Thursday at 6Pm. All we don't know the result of the vote yet, as previously stated we're already considering the initial steps. We hope residents will share their thoughts and stay engaged in the budget process. If the property tax referendum passes, we will surely be looking to you as we will be faced with very difficult decisions and your input is essential. Because City Hall serves as a polling place, our second meeting in August is scheduled for August 18th, I believe I have that correct, will not be held due to the primary election taking place here. The September meetings will be held Thursday September 3rd and September 15th, at which time first and second readings for the millage and budget will take place. I want to make sure everybody had those changes and that information on their calendar. That is my report for this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you. Council member Webb? >> Good evening everyone. I want to first thank all of the community groups. There were letters of support to expand our elementary school to K through eight zone. Our families for Gulfport, and also expand magnet medical voc programs at our high school. Either expanding magnet vocational programs or expanding the magnet medical vocational programs. I think we have left that open. But specifically the Gulfport Chamber and Letter of support and the Senior center wrote a letter of support and the Columbus club meets tomorrow to vote on their letter. So we have robust community engagement around this issue that will fare very well for us. I also wanted to share that for the destined middle school property, there is a developer that has reached out to the school board to develop retired teaching and teacher housing there. So that would be a great opportunity to add additional affordable housing to our neighborhoods in a place that makes a lot of sense. I'm looking forward to seeing what that proposal looks like when it gets back to us. Finally, last week, last meeting, with Kate Blanton from Pinellas came in and presented. He mentioned that they would be tweaking some language to make more land use amendments, move through administrative process instead of through the full vetting process. The full vetting process goes to the forward Pinellas staff. And then it goes to the BOCC before coming back to us. It's an additional scrutiny of projects. The requirements that he articulated for us last time were parcels to be better less than 2 acres large or parcels that are not in 5 designated zones. For those of you who have lived in Gulfport for a while, you know that most of our rezoning involves parcels of land that are under two acres. So that would mean that our residents have fewer opportunities to weigh in. And so I have met with some of the members of Ford Pinellas who are going to be working on tweaking that language on the special actsr Committee of Forward Pinellas who understand they'll be taking that under advisement in the next committee. I'll also be in attendance to that to make sure our city's perspective is heard. I was looking for the date for that meeting, but I don't have it right now. So I will give it to the city clerk so that she can include it in the meeting minutes once I find it in my calendar. And that is all I have. The Tampa Bay Planning Council meets next Monday. Reconvene so we'll have more updates for that. I'm a representative of that council. I will have more to say on that after we meet. Thanks, mayor. >> Thank you. >> Yes, it's me. Justin is covering both my events I was going to talk about. The fusion 49th event and the five K. Justin was talking about that. So I'm all set. >> Later today. Very good. >> I just wanted to remind everybody that in August it is gecko world. So there's lots of events happening. Friday is the art show and Friday is also an art walk, or first Friday market. You might see a lot of people around town that look like lost puppies or can't find parking or anything. Please be full into them. Guide them to where they can park instead of being mad they are parking in the wrong places. Whatever you can do to make people feel more welcome here, celebrating all of our gecko season, all of our events. Tell them where they can park and get on the blooper. Just be welcoming and show everybody around and make it a good time for everybody. Thank you. >> Thank you. So that I'm not redundant, a couple of things that I would say, I'd like to make everyone aware of is August 27th is a Thursday. We are going to have a town hall on Rainwater harvesting thanks to the lead that I got. Diana is going to come and lead that class. It'll be from 6:00 to 730. It is not an all nighter. She is the expert on this topic so she will educate us and you can imagine in the rainstorms we have had right now, if all of us had figured out how to keep some of this water off the streets, it would be good for everyone. That will be Rainwater harvesting August 27th at the Neighborhood Center. I'd like to say that I did have an opportunity to walk out onto the end of the pier, which I don't get very often. And I was very pleased to find that most of the benches were pretty clean and the cleaning stations were relatively good looking. There were lots of people fishing. So that was all good to see. But I found one hook, 8 or 9 lines, and those metal weights all on the pier as well. So whether you're fishing or you are just walking, if you see a line out there, please pick it up and get it into the trash. And certainly if you see hooks along the pier at any point, please pick them up and put them in the trash as well. I would like to say, because it was kind of a hot topic about a week ago that FWC has been in contact with the owner of the vessel who intentionally sunk his vessel in our bay. I don't have any exact dates or anything like that. But they have made it clear that he must get that out of their. And I can't really tell you anything else more on it. Just let you know that FWC is on top of this at this point. And then because Wolfgang is not here, I wanted you to know that there is a beach cleanup this Saturday. It is at 8AM. It doesn't matter if you have 2 minutes or 2 hours. Every little bit helps. And we get a lot of trash off of the beach in the downtown area in the course of these monthly cleanups, which are the second Saturday of every month. If you haven't been out all year, that's what I ask is if everybody would come one time, it would be appreciated. That is all I have under council comments. Now we will have an echo chamber. Since we have no consent or ordinances tonight, we can move to resolutions. >> Item 8a, resolution 2020 654, a resolution authorizing the City Manager to issue payment to cap government incorporated, a Bureau Veritas company for managed services modal for plan review and inspections for the month of June 2026 and the accompanying budget amendment. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> I second. >> City manager. >> This is your monthly payment to cap Government Incorporated. For your building services. We spoke about at the last meeting at present we were paying these monthly. This will be included in next year's budget due to the fact that you contracted with them after the 1st of October. So would be required to pay in this manner. >> In speaking order, do we have any questions of the City manager on this? >> I know that part of the reason why we chose to go with them is to expedite processing . And so I was wondering if we have done any user experience surveys of people who have used their services that we can inform. >> We have a survey card. Mr. Mather has looked at the details and the turnaround time. We have done that. >> In preparation for the budget comment it would be helpful to make sure that they are meeting the need that was expressed by the previous Council in contracting with them. Thank you. >> No questions. >> No questions? >> No questions, thank you. >> Alrighty. Do we have any public comment on this matter? Seeing none, I call the vote. [members voting] >> Carries to passage. Moving on to eight B, resolution number 2026-55, a resolution of the City of Gulfport Florida authorizing the City Manager to enter into a service and user agreement with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office for Law Enforcement Support Services during fiscal Year 26, 27. >> Motion to approve. >> Seconded. >> Thank you. City manager. >> As you're aware, city of Gulfport contracts with the Sheriff's Office for Crime Scene Investigations for fingerprint identification, evidence storage, communications, records management, and major accident investigations. This allows us to not have to have these types of projects and programs on staff or in the city. It is cost savings to us. And chief brand is here to answer any specific questions you may have. >> We will go in speaking order and see if we have any questions for our chief, starting with Council member Shaw. >> I have no questions. >> Councilmember Webb. >> Just one, did we go over the number of cases last year or was this number based on the number of cases that they processed last year? >> We did not go over the number of cases. I believe that is just the contract that we have had. If we don't use them, we get a refund. I don't know if anyone has explained that. >> It was in here. Did we get a refund or will we get a refund this year? Because I think it's through the end of the year. >> Yes. Every month I get a report from them, indicating how many of the call outs we have used. >> Thanks, Chief. >> That was my question because the five full time professionals that we would need is about $400,000, which is double what we were paying now. Plus we would get a refund for that. Thank you for clarifying. >> I have no questions. Thank you. >> Public comment on this matter? Seeing none, do we have any comment on this matter? >> Not on this item, mayor. >> The vote. [members voting] >> Carries to passage. 8c, a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into fiscal year 2026, 2027 wage agreement with the Pinellas County professional firefighters local 4966 IAFF. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Thank you, mayor. I and the city attorney negotiated a salary for the fire department Union members. This is pertinent to the next few items. We've only agreed to one year contract agreements at this time until we see what actions are taken in November with the amendment. So that's why it was favorably approved by the Union and also, but that's why these are only one year. Most times they are three year contracts. >> Okay. That was going to be my question. I was thinking it was three years in the past. Any additional questions for our city manager on this? >> I have a question. In the summary, it says that the increases go from 0.5% to 9%, which is a pretty broad range. I looked on the chart on page 58. It was indecipherable to me. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the audience like that. I was just wondering why the vast range of increases. And you can just-- >> Basically it's where the adjustment to where you fall in the step plan. This is a step pay plan that you see before you. It has been adjusted. You may be further along in it to do your ten year. >> Okay. And the further along you are, the more increase or the less increase? >> Well, what we do is when we do these type of adjustments to the salary pay plan is we create a minimum, maximum. So if you are earlier to mid range, you're more than you'd receive further out. >> I appreciate that. I couldn't really decipher the chart. Thank you for that. >> One thing you'll see about these, yes, they are substantial here. If I may, the substantial adjustments, salary adjustments to our respective pay plans, these are industry standards. Both fire, as you see by their acceptance of the contract numbers, and also with law enforcement. That puts us in a mid range, not the highest paid. And we are not the lowest. When we get to the next agenda items, law enforcement is comparable to Sheriff's pay structure. >> Thank you. >> So does this number reflect what it would have been if it had been stretched out for three years? Is it between 0.5 and 9% just for one year? >> Just for this year. >> Just because we're only doing it for a year or in allowing for maybe next year there won't be one? Or is it like maybe it would have been three, three, and three, but you did nine this year maybe. >> Exactly. As we spoke of, we do salary survey regarding the members of the bargaining unit that this union local represents. And yes, if it could be a different structure if this was a three year contract, this is a one year to bring us into an equity level with the other agencies. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Great questions, council members. I was going to ask the same thing you did because I read that, but I wasn't clear. To the people at the top get the biggest raise or the people lower down get the biggest raise? So that was really valuable. Thank you. With that in mind, any public comment on this matter? Yes, Lenny? Mayor Love: Lenny Gufkenheimer. I've been living in Gulfport for four years or so, five. Since we've already mentioned about the possible loss of revenue because of the horrendous property tax amendment passes, could there be a projection of how much loss that would affect this issue of salaries for the police? If the revenue was lost? Would we be able to afford to pay for the police? If we lost the tax revenue. >> We don't do question and answer here, but we will be dealing with some more of this at the budget hearing or you can send me an email and I'll respond that way. >> Okay. The point I was going to try to make then is that it would be a substantial loss of income. Would be losing service if we lose the tax revenue. I was trying to make that point. Never mind. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> At the June 18th meeting we identified there would be a $1.1 million and clip $1.8 million the second year. >> With that in mind then, was there any comment on this matter? >> Not on this matter. [members voting] >> Carries to passage. Moving on to item eight D, Resolution No. 2026-57, a resolution authorizing city Manager to enter into a one year agreement with the Suncoast Association incorporated. >> Motion to approve. >> My second. >> We have a motion and a second. City manager? >> This is for the police department with the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association. This addresses -- there's two of these. This is one for the officers and one for the sergeants. They are two separate contracts. I was just going to cover them both. This calls for the wage increase that we discussed earlier and also recommends the adoption of some terms. This again would have been a three year contract. With some of these things for lack of a better term feathered in. But due to the fact there are only a one year contract we try to address as many as we could. One substantial aspect is all employees will go to a -- police officers will go to a 2184 work year. Previously you had a group of officers who only worked 2080. They were on 40 hour workweeks. Now all officers will be on the same schedule. >> Would you say that again please? >> Sure. >> Will you use your microphone more please? >> Part of this contract, all sworn officers would go to a 2184 annual schedule, which is an 84 hour pay period work system. In the past we had 40 hour officers who received a 5% additional stipend due to the fact they took special assignments. So resource officers positions such as this, assigned special assignments, detectives, what this does is put everyone on an even keel, all officers. >> Thank you. Do we have any questions on this matter? >> I just want to make a point that it might seem time times we are blazing through these, but I think I can speak on behalf of council that we had over 700 pages to read through this weekend. And then the city manager and I went through six pages of my questions yesterday. I know sometimes people say commas bring it up in the meetings anyway so we can hear it all. You don't want me to go through those two hours of questions. So if you do have questions, please get with any one of us you feel comfortable speaking to because we are happy to share what we are learning or what we know. I don't have questions about this because boy did I get a lot of answers yesterday. >> And I was out of town. I was taking care of an elderly parent. I had a question about how to interpret. So on the background summary, it says 19 -- vote was 19 to 2. How are we to -- did the two that voted against -- was it two who voted against this? And what were their reasons? >> It's a private -- they report to us what the vote is. They do a private -- they do it as their own vote. >> Thank you. And then I understand the COLA and 2184 and all of this. So I appreciate all of the work and the summary. We also got 200 pages of the contract to read through. So in addition to our ability to ask questions, we got to dive as deep as we needed to. Thanks. That's all I have, mayor. >> And I've read many of them over my years of being involved in those contracts. I'm familiar with them already. So I don't have any questions. >> Additional questions? Do we have any public comment on this matter? Do we have any comment on this matter? >> Not on this item. >> You can call the vote. [members voting] >> Carries two passage. Moving to 80, resolution number 2020 658, a resolution authorizing the city Manager to enter into a one year agreement with the Suncoast Benevolent Association incorporated. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Mayor, this is the companion contract for the police sergeants. >> I understand. Do we have any additional questions on this? No. All righty. Any public comment? Seeing none, any comment? >> Mayor. >> Sorry. You have to come up here and you have to just state your name if you would, and your city. >> Clerk Saint Pete Florida. What is the companion contract? I just thought it was really great if you go into a little bit more detail for the companion contracts for the Sheriff. >> We have separate unions. So both unions have their own contract. >> To provide companionship for sheriffs? >> No, this is our own police department. So this is the unions that represent our police officers and our sergeants. They are separate unions for that. I think the city manager -- I don't want to speak for him, but he was saying that it is companion to what the Sheriff is offering. >> Got you. I thought you meant a mental wellness companion support for the Sheriff, which I thought was a really great idea. [laughter] >> Very good to adopt. >> All righty. Thank you. Any comment on this matter? >> No, Mayor. >> Thank you. [members voting] >> Carries two passage. Moving on to eight F, a resolution authorizing the city manager to renew the city's insurance coverage with public risk management of Florida for 2627. >> Motion to approve? >> Second. >> Would you like to share the good news? >> Mayor, I would like to come up and have Sharon come up and recognize her efforts, our Director of Risk Management and Human Resources. Just initially this is your homeowner's insurance for lack of a better term. Property and casualty. Your protections, all those type things. I will let Shannon share the news. >> It was a reduction of 23.89% for our PNC. And I have our insurance company here in the back. They're wonderful human beings back there. Yes. So if there's any questions for me or them, we are here. >> So were you surprised to find such a great reduction being that we did have -- >> Huge claims, yes. >> Huge claims in 24 and 25? >> Yes, it was good news though. >> And hopefully it'll be 100 years before we have anything again. >> If I could expand a little bit on the fact they have been very prompt with their payments to us and we still have the three major projects we are working through. But other than that, they have been very-- >> They've been wonderful. >> And what is their name? >> Public risk management. If you want them to come up, they are happy to. >> We just want to say thank you to public risk management. Thank you. >> Thank you, Shannon. >> You are very welcome. >> I read when you credited the reduction to -- >> There's a whole bunch. >> That drug free designation credit. >> There's a lot more. Those are just the same credits that we use every single year. But I could have, if you want to, Josh to come up. There a little more versed in the exact demographics of why there is a reduction. And I want them to come up and talk because they are great. >> And they came up. Thank you. [overlapping speech] >> This is impressive especially what's going on in everybody else's insurance. >> Yeah, it's a good time to buy insurance in the commercial market. So this year, I actually started last year, but the property market has softened quite a bit despite some of the claims activity. As a result there's a lot more insurance available, a lot more capacity available. And there's more competition entering the insurance marketplace as well. And that competition has put a lot of pressure on rates for everybody. Even though you had some claims and a lot of claim activity, obviously that's what insurance is for. That's why you buy at. But considering that we went out for the reinsurance renewal that supports the entire program, in June we were able to secure a very favorable renewal. Our thought process is we want to pass those savings along to our members. That's exactly what we did. >> Thank you. >> You're very welcome. [ambient conversation] >> We thank you all very much. >> Mayor, if I might speak up, if I may take the liberty to speak on behalf of all of us, I would like to say thank you to the staff because they have continued their efforts to reduce the number of future claims and improve overall employee safety. And the safety manual, the Safety Review Committee, the drug Free workplace program, and recurring safety trainings specific to individual departments. Thank you for all those efforts. In addition to working with public risk management for the savings. >> Very good. Was there anybody else that had anything on this? No? Okay. Public comment? Seeing none, e comment? >> Not on this one. >> Call the vote. [members voting] >> Passes unanimously. Moving on to 8G, Resolution No. 2026-60, our resolution approving recurring special events for fiscal year 26, 27, providing for the temporary waiver of certain provisions of the Code of Ordinances and city policies during special events, authorizing a municipal support services and establishing related responsibilities. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Mayor, if I may, this next series of resolutions that you'll be seeing are special event calendar. Also individual events that take more than one day. We were still waiting on a few events that I would ask once we reach January or so you hear these again. We should have an expanded calendar. But at this time, this is not Sonia. This is Justin present. You're not getting as excited as Sonia did last week about soccer. If I may, Justin has a short presentation. He'll cover various ones. >> This is the most Exciting time of the year for the special event program. These three agendas this first one is the recurrent event. These three have taken place in the city. The exhibit on the agenda is the list of events. You'll see the Tuesday markets the first Friday night walks, night markets, third Saturday, so on and so forth that exhibit use that to get through the whole fiscal year of special events October 1st through December 30th. And I am here to answer any questions if there are specifics. I brought the event files. It's been a wonderful experience working with our city based nonprofits. And before you tonight is the programing for next fiscal year of recurring events. >> Thank you. Was there anything else that you wanted to share with us? I just wasn't sure if. I know that we have been provided a lot of information and it truly is crazy the number of recurring events that we have. It's a lot. >> You'll see on the Tuesday markets. Those are 52 Tuesdays a year. The monthly art walks take place 12 times a year. The second Saturday fusion events are projected to be once a month. If there's any specific questions, I'll be happy to help. Also we've asked the applicants to be here tonight as well. Thank you for the opportunity. >> Do we have any questions of Justin while he's up here? >> Well, I've had the benefit of being able to have a conversation with Justin about this. I would first like to say that this question is nothing relative to the fact that these events are wonderful for our community connection and beloved. But it's always important to ask the financial questions and since it wasn't included in the package, I asked about the financial impact. And I am hoping that you will share that now please. >> Sure. Fiscal year 25 was a full year of special events. We drilled down on the actual numbers. So total cost of special events is $64,500 for fiscal year 25. Now, there is a revenue offset if you will. The public safety agreements, that revenue in fiscal year 25 was $12,075. So total in-kind or subsidy that the city provides the special event program fiscal year 25, $52,600, that's essentially approximately a 20% cost recovery. >> About this, does that include overtime of staff to work events? >> Yes. We also went further into it and broke it down to your general employees who work the events and also public safety. So we went further in all personal costs to capture the cost if you will at each event. >> And Justin does -- how did you calculate the 20% cost recovery? >> The total cost minus the revenue, the net cost. >> Revenue? >> Public safety. Certain events require contracts for public safety due to the fact that they have alcohol sales or it's a private event. We require them to bear the cost. There is also a revenue of an application fee if the event collects a gate, a ticket, charges to sponsors, promoter fees. There is a $50 application fee involved at the front end. >> Before we move on, Council member Shaw, were you finished? >> You had shared a number with me. So everybody doesn't have to figure out the math real quick. What was the net number that you provided? >> Net was $52,600. >> Thank you. Now we will go to council member Earley. >> For special events, talking about just one item here, November 14th, the fusion Blues, under special events. Is that because it's the second Saturday the normal fusion Saturday, but we ramped up a bit? >> We included that in the new events because fusion is on the recurring events for the second Saturdays. It is on the new events because there is a sponsorship involved with the city covering sound and stage and the bands. And with the goal of providing the sponsorship to get people in the park and trolley Market Square is the perfect venue location for that. >> Thank you. >> So on what you sent to us, it had P for police, F for fire, T for trolley. Is that something they have to pay extra for when they apply for the permit to be there? >> Those services are at those events. Obviously if it's a T, there's transportation involved trolley service. If P is there, it is police services and fire as well. >> And the applicant pays the cost of those things? >> Yes, Ma'am. City events we don't invoice ourselves for that. The revenue numbers essentially capture what is paid into, for example if there is a police contract involved, the police department bills after the event. And that revenue is collected and captured onto our document. >> So it looks like most of the events don't require any extra step than what is already available during the event, like any extra city staff doesn't have to be around just because there's an event happening. >> That is reviewed. If there's a street closure we would need barricades. >> Like those big ones. >> The goal of special events for a long time has been to make it look like it wasn't there the next day. The level of staffing involved is the impact or the level that the event requires to essentially offset the inconvenience if you will for special events to be in town. >> And along those lines, when you see those, if as we spoke of earlier, if there's a sale of alcohol, police, depending on the size of the event we may have to have special rescue, special detail. You've seen them with their little cart. >> I just think it's cool that Tuesday market happens every single Tuesday, every week of the year. It doesn't seem like there's anything necessarily that we have to provide them. They show up. They do their thing in their leaf. >> Correct, the tracking on that is zeros across the board for general staff public safety. >> I think it's great that we have great events and they don't require anything extra of us and all these people come and enjoy everything. And we don't have to do anything extra for them. >> So I would say that that is true Tuesday market, but I would not say that's true of the majority. That in itself is a big chunk of events. And that one is pretty lean in terms of additional staff. But what you just saw there, the amount of paperwork that you pulled up here, these are just what we are talking about right now are ones that are reoccurring. In a little bit we're going to talk about adding even more. I wanted clarification again. The first thing you said was that the expense of these recurring, which is many. Many require a lot of staff, including increased sanitation. That you use the number 64,500, and then the next thing I heard you say was 52,600. I didn't hear the definition. >> The total city cost, personnel, any items rented, purchased, that was the $64,600 total cost number. The net cost is the total cost minus the revenue special events collected. That number is $52,600. This is fiscal year 25, mayor. I am not done with 26, but you will see an increase in 26 because of the fireworks from 4th of July, the 38,000 on that event, so on and so forth. But we will drill down and get the actual numbers to show what that impact is in special events. >> And then another question that I have is I think that there could be a little inconsistency about this $50 application fee. And I'm asking you to confirm if I'm right or not. But I think that some people are paying a $50 application and some are not. I know the amount of time it spends on the application. What many people don't know is once you get that application, then you have to go take time with the fire chief and with the fire Marshal and with the police chief and with the sanitation crew. All of that is very time consuming. And I don't think we get any kind of reimbursement for all that staff time. So at the very least I would ask that we never waive the $50 application fee. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes, please. >> The applicant can ask for it to be waived. In the past, the council has directed that an individual could ask for it. You have different groups would ask. If that is council's, we would be happy to charge everyone the $50, no exceptions. We will take the language out that asks for waiver. It is as simple as that. >> That is definitely something and I don't know if I would have a consensus. But what I'm looking at the fact that whether the tax referendum passes or not, I know where we are going with this budget. We are trying to cut a lot of funds out of this budget. So to me to think that we have all these recurring events, which I'm thrilled with. Don't get me wrong. But when I know how much staff time goes into preparing this, even to come and talk to us and none of this, I don't see any reason to be waiving those fees. As we go further along you're going to hear I'm going to say I'm not even opposed to new events. But I personally feel like before we start adding new events, every time we add something new I think we have to consider giving up something else. There's only 52 weeks in the year. All of these events cost us money. And if the referendum does pass in November, we have to figure out how to cut an additional $1.1 million. And so one of the things that I want to see now, just so everyone else hears me is that these are my thoughts and they don't have to agree. But we have got to get to a position where these events, if they cannot support themselves, if they can't be revenue neutral, then we can't afford to have them into the future. We are not there today. I get that. But if the referendum passes in November, I think we are going to be there the next day. So I would like for us to be thinking about that. And I know in my conversations with you that you in fact have started to really do a deeper dive on each one of these to see what it's actually costing us. But I think when we want to add new events and I can see why, but we might need to give up some of our lesser successful events at the same time, or maybe we look at considering the ones that are the most staff intensive are the ones that cost the city the most money to run. That's what I'm saying. And with each one of these applications, the other thing that I'm not clear on, whether it is recurring events or new events that we're going to talk about in a few minutes is do all events get a similar services from us in terms of advertising and staff time? Or is there a difference? Does one group get an ad for an event they are running and the next one doesn't? It's okay if you can't answer all those questions right now. But that's kind of where my brain is thinking. I feel like it's important that we be consistent. >> Sure. The city's electronic newsletter, the website, our social media channels, ideally if the event takes place on city property or is co-sponsored by the city, we are able to advertise and place those events on the calendar, on the website, on the electronic newsletter. Kristen does a great job in our marketing department to promote the events. These events here will be positioned if approved onto the city's mediums. And that is fair and consistent to everybody. As far as advertising, it's the responsibility of each event organizer to go out and advertise and promote the event that way. But the city's mediums are always there for events approved by the city or that take place on the city property.1 >> Mayo if I may, in regards to purchasing advertising, yes, we did and part of the contractual advertising, on your workshop on Thursday, will have part of that discussion about our reduction for lack of a better term at this point of contractual advertising, so we will still advertise as we discussed. Put your garbage out on Monday -- Thursday for Friday pickup because City Hall is closed, those types of things. Sanitation or utility related things, advertising. >> So informational. >> Exactly, that we want to get out to residents. In regards to buying ads or events or things like that, I think you're going to see a steep decline in that budget line item at your workshop on Thursday. >> You both have answered my questions. Now are there more because of the things I have said? >> I think those are concerns of mine as well because while we do have information in the applications for that $50 processing, it does talk about the trolley, the trolley driver, the tech setup for sound equipment, that type of thing. But when it comes to your time and all of the other staff time and just putting these together, I don't think that is in that net figure. So that is obviously a concern of mine as well. >> Vice Mayor, you did say that staff time was considered. >> So your staff time -- >> The trolley driver is included in this events as well, and I included the $35 an hour for the usage fee of the Special events trolley. >> I understood that. But is your time and even as the mayor was saying when you go to talk to the police department or the fire department, is your time included in that figure as well? >> To track that 100% -- >> Let me address that. That was the fundamental basis of the $50 fee. Is it all inclusive? No. But that was the intent of the $50 fee to recoup some of that process cost. I think what you were looking at as you go forward as we touched on briefly with the budget workshop, one of the things that we will be doing as the mayor spoke about revenue neutral is we are looking at methodologies. We can come back to you if this all changes and say, okay, there's cities in the area that all the events that they co-sponsor are revenue neutral. There's cities in the state who have a very large scale matrix that we are trying to adopt and apply to this city. It's a different type model because of our size. But we will give you those details once we have a baseline to say, okay, do we need to reduce our funding to support a special event? Because what it would show up as in our budget would be a revenue. It may still cost $52,000 net. But at the same time you show a revenue that offset those 52,000. Now, are all those cost inclusive? I'm involved in things. Justin may have questions. It doesn't include my -- it's part of when our initial purpose, why we have so many events to put people on the street when we went through redevelopment-- and I know there's partners here. Mr. Hodge the gentleman spoke of earlier is wonderful to work with. 18 years ago when we were doing things. That is where this premise -- just didn't wake up yesterday and say we're going to give all this away. This has been a compounding issue. I speak for myself -- the past 20 years. So I think that's what you need to look at. I would ask council, once we see where we are going, to entertain the matrix and to entertain the philosophy. Do you want to make some or all revenue neutral? And it would be up to the promoter or the sponsor to be able to pay for public works. I'll use the example. The best example I can use, you'll see on your list for permissions for Saint Patrick's Day. That is a private event. Open to the public and free, but it