City Council Meeting

Gulfport City Council Agenda Template

City of Gulfport Florida

City Council Meeting Notice

Tuesday, May 03, 2022

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

6:00 PM

AGENDA

Call to Order.

Invocation given by Councilmember Paul Ray.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call.

Presentations:

Rachel Cataldo, Senior Center Supervisor - Older Americans Month Proclamation.

Sean Oldenburg, Firefighter/Paramedic - Yellow Helmet.

Rene Fernandez, Fire Captain - CPR Instruction Update.

1.

Public Comment.

2.

City Manager Report.

3.

City Attorney Report.

4.

City Clerk Report.

5.

Consent: None.

6.

Ordinances:

6.a.

Ordinance No. 2022-02: Second Reading and Public Hearing: An Ordinance of the City of Gulfport, Florida, amending Chapter 15, Pensions, Article VI, Retirement System for City Employees, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Gulfport pertaining to the City of Gulfport General Employees' Pension Plan; amending Section 15-96, Benefit Amounts and Eligibility; providing for codification; providing for severability of provisions; repealing all ordinances in conflict herewith; and providing for an effective date.

EXHIBIT: Item 6.a - Memorandum.pdf

EXHIBIT: Item 6.a - Ordinance No. 2022-02.pdf

EXHIBIT: Item 6.a - Contact the Clerk's Office - Request Letter & Actuarial Impact Statement.pdf

7.

Resolutions: None.

8.

Council Comments/Informational Reports.

9.

Adjournment.

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

>> REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY OF GULFPORT. INVOCATION GIVEN BY PAUL RAY FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> WE LIVE IN AN AGE IN WHICH OUR TIME AS INDIVIDUALS CEASE TO EXIST OR PERHAPS IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS CEASING TO HAVE THE ILLUSION OF BEING AUTONOMOUS. GEORGE ORWELL. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> ROLL CALL. (ROLL CALLED). >> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING. ONE IS GOING TO RACHEL OUR SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR OLDER AMERICANS PROCLAMATION. WHERE AS THE CITY OF GULFPORT INCLUDES A GROWING NUMBER OF OLDER AMERICANS TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR STRENGTH, WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WEARS COMMUNITIES BENEFIT WHEN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ABILITIES AND BACKGROUNDS ARE WELCOMED INCLUDED AND SUPPORTED WHEREAS THE CITY OF GULFPORT RECOGNIZES OUR NEED TO CREATE A COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT OLDER AMERICANS NEEDS TO THRIVE AND LIVE AND DEPENDENTLY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE WHERE'S THE CITY OF COLE PARK AND WORKABILITY OF A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR OUR OLDER RESIDENTS BY PLANNING PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE. CHECK ENSURING ACTIVITIES OR RESPONSIVE TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND PREFERENCES. CHECK. AN INCREASING ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT SUPPORT AGING IN PLACE. CHECK. SO NOW THEREFORE, I SAM HENDERSON THE MAYOR OF GULFPORT TO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2022 AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH AND I LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PROCLAMATION. [APPLAUSE]. >> CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT PRESENTATION ONE OF OUR OWN SHAWN OLDENBURG FIREFIGHTER AND PARAMEDIC AND WE HAVE THE YELLOW HELMET PRESENTATION. EVERYBODY LOOKS SHARP TONIGHT. NICE TO SEE YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS CAPTAIN RAY FERNANDEZ AND THIS IS CAPTAIN JIM HUNT. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. THE FIRST PART OF THAT PROGRAM IS RECOGNIZING OUR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NEW HIRES WERE SUCCESSFULLY GETTING TO THEIR PROBATIONARY FIRST YEAR OF SERVICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. DURING THE FIRST YEAR THEY ARE PUT THROUGH MANY PHYSICALLY DEMANDING CHALLENGES AS WELL AS THEY MUST COMPLETE TRAINING SCENARIOS, EVOLUTIONS AND WRITTEN EXAMS ON THE FIRE AND MEDICAL SIDE OF THINGS. IN THE FIRE SERVICE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT COLOR HELMETS AND EACH SIGNIFIES A DIFFERENT RANKING AMONG THE ORGANIZATION FOR PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS WEAR A BLACK HELMET THEIR FIRST YEAR SERVICE AND ARE THEN GIVEN A YELLOW HELMET ONCE THEY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THEIR PROBATIONARY PERIOD. THE DIFFERENT COLOR HELMETS ASSIST WITH IDENTIFICATION ON THE FIRE SCENE FOR THE VISIBILITY IS USUALLY NOT THE BEST. IT COULD ALSO PROVIDE SAFETY FROM PREVENTING DIFFERENT TASKS THAT ARE TOO ADVANCED TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE WRONG INDIVIDUAL. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC JOHN OLDENBURG. FIREFIGHTER SHAWN OLDENBURG WAS HARD WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON APRIL 20, 2021. PRIOR TO WORKING FOR THE CITY OF GULFPORT HE SERVED OUR COUNTRY AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. HE ALSO HAS PRIOR EXPERIENCE AS AN EMT WORKING FOR SUNSTAR PARAMEDICS. BOTH HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF GULFPORT FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS AS WELL. SEAN, YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AS A PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER AND AT THIS TIME LIEUTENANT WILL PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR YELLOW HELMET FOR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING HER PROBATIONARY PERIOD WITH THE GULFPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT. [APPLAUSE] >> I WANT TO LEAVE OFF BY SAYING YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SEE YOU GROW AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR YOU WITHIN OUR GREAT DEPARTMENT AND THIS IS HIS OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY OF GULFPORT. >> WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. CAN WE GET A PICTURE? >> YEP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NICE JOB. >> YOU CAN STAY. YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT A CPR PROGRAM. >> SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THIS TOGETHER. ANYTIME WE CAN PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH EDUCATION WHICH COULD PROVIDE HELP TO A LOVED ONE OR A BYSTANDER ALWAYS BRINGS JOY TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR DEPARTMENT. THE PROGRAM WE PUT TOGETHER IS CALLED GULFPORT CARES. WE CAME UP WITH THE PROGRAM THROUGH DIFFERENT INCIDENCES WE HAVE RESPONDED TO THINKING AND LOOKING BACK SAYING WE TAUGHT THE PEOPLE THIS BABY WOULD HAVE HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIFE OF THIS PERSON WE HAVE EXPANDED THIS PROGRAM AFTER COMPLETING THIS PROGRAM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO ASSIST EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARRIVED ON THE SCENE WE WILL PROVIDE THIS COURSE HANDS ONLY CPR THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE HANDS-ON ON ADULTS, PEDIATRICS AND NEONATES. THE NEXT PART OF THE PROGRAM DUTY EVERYONE IS GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO TOUCH IT AND WORK ON IT AND PUT ON A PRACTICE MANIKIN FOR THE NEXT PART IS GOING TO BE HOW TO STOP BLEEDING. DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST AND HOW THEY COULD HELP STOP THE BLEEDING AND A BIT WHEN WE ADDED TO IT IS OPIATE OVERDOSE AWARENESS AND AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW WE'VE HAD A BIG ISSUE WITH ALL THIS COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE HANDS-ON EDUCATION ABOUT ANARCHY AND TRAINERS WHO WILL SHOW PEOPLE HOW TO ADMINISTER NARCAN IF THE PERSON HAS THE MORE THEY FIND ANOTHER LOCATION. THE COURSE IS GOING TO BE PROVIDED AT THE GULFPORT COMMUNITY CENTER AND WE DECIDED TO DO IT ON THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH QUARTER STARTING IN JULY AND THEN WE WILL HAVE IT IN JULY, OCTOBER, JANUARY AND SO ON. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM. WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT COULD ATTEND THIS SMALL AND WE ARE CAPPING AT A MAXIMUM OF 12 PEOPLE BECAUSE WE FEEL THE SMALLER THE CLASS A BETTER EDUCATION YOU PROVIDE FOR THE COMPANY. SO WE ARE GOING TO START POSTING THE FLYER IT'S GOING TO HAVE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SIGN UP AND TO REGISTER YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR ARE YOU CAN EMAIL ME AND WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I WANT TO GET SOME RECOGNITION TO KRISTIN, THE -- WHO WORKS AT THE CASINO. SHE HELPED PUT THIS FLYER TOGETHER AND WE WILL POST IT AND THEN ALSO TO JIM WRIGHT WHO WORKS WITH THIS PROGRAM AND IS GOING TO BE REALLY INVOLVED WITH IT. >> IS IT JUST ONE EVENING? >> IS GOING TO BE ONE EVENING AT 5:00 P.M.. WE WILL KNOW THE EXACT TIME OF HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO BE AFTER THE FIRST ONE BUT WE THINK IT'S GOING TO GO ANYWHERE FROM PROBABLY 5:00 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M. IT'S A LOT TO LEARN BUT IT'S -- WE ARE KEEPING -- THERE'S DIFFERENT CPR'S YOU CAN TEACH AND ARE KEEPING AT THE HANDS ONLY CPR. THAT'S THE BIG PUSH IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY ARE FINDING OUT THAT BY DOING HANDS ONLY CPR AND NOT INTERRUPTING THE OXYGEN, IT'S HELPING OUT THE SURVIVOR MADE OF PEOPLE AND IT GETS MORE PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE SOMEONE IS DOWN AND THE PERSON WILL JUMP IN TO DO CPR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT. TEACHING THE HANDS ONLY CPR ELIMINATES THAT AND THEY HAVE SEEN MORE PEOPLE JUMP IN TO HELP. >> I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION WHICH YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW. IT IS NARCAN READILY AVAILABLE? CAN YOU GO TO THE STORE TO BUY SOME? >> IF YOU LEVEL ONE'S THAT HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM OPIATE OVERDOSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT YOU CAN HAVE IT AVAILABLE. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE FOUR PEOPLE YOU EXPECT TO OVERDOSE ANYTIME SOMEONE IS PRESCRIBED PAIN MEDICINE THEY COULD ON ACCIDENT TAKE A COUPLE OF PILLS ON ACCIDENT AND OVERDOES IT. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THE TEAM CAN BE THERE TO HELP DO ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND THINGS IF YOU NEED THEM. >> THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. HAYES AND GRAY AND HE WANTS TO TRAIN A COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS MEMBERS TO HELP OUT. IT'S AWESOME. >> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER. >> I WILL SEE YOU GUYS. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. >> THIS BRINGS US TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. I WENT TO ADDRESS ONE THING BEFORE WE GO TO THIS BECAUSE BASED ON AN ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT THIS PAST WEEK THEY ARE ALREADY ISSUING SAY A CORRECTION BUT A BETTER PHRASE THE WAY THEY TRANSFER THAT INFORMATION REGARDING SHORT-TERM RENTALS. SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WE HAD AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE STATE USURPING CITY'S ABILITY TO PASS ON. BECAUSE WE HAD AN EXISTING ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS, WE WERE ALLOWED TO KEEP OURS. OUR SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THE CITY OF GULFPORT START AT 30 DAYS PARTICULAR NOT LEGALLY UNLESS YOU ARE IN AN AREA ZONED FOR YOU ARE NOT LEGALLY ABLE TO RENT A PLACE OUT FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS. SO WHEN SOMEONE IS DOING THAT UNLESS THEY ARE IN THE ZONED AREAS, OR ARE YOU CAN DO THAT KIND OF BUSINESS, THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW. SO IF SOMEONE IS DOING THIS THERE ARE STEPS TO GO THROUGH JUST LIKE IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY SHOOTING OFF FIREWORKS OR IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY TRYING TO BREAK INTO A HOUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE PHONE CALLS AND YOUR DOCUMENTATIONS. THE REASON WE CAN'T CHANGE WHAT WE HAVE IS BECAUSE IF WE CHANGE OUR ORDINANCE THE ONLY WAY WE'RE ALLOWED TO KEEP IT AT ALL AND BELIEVING THERE ARE PLENTY OF CITIES IN PINELLAS COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT FLORIDA WHO NOW ARE NOT ABLE TO REGULATED ALL MEANING THE CANAL SHORT-TERM RENTALS ANYWHERE, ANYTIME IN THE CITY IS THE PALLET HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE IN PLACE EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE THE ONE EVERYBODY LOVES, IT DOES GIVE US THE ABILITY TO REGULATE. WE WERE TO CHANGE SO MUCH OF A COMMA OR A SEMICOLON OR PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE AND THERE REALLY IS THE ABILITY TO GOVERN AND IT WOULD PASS AS A NEW ORDINANCE. WE CAN CHANGE WHAT WE HAVE WITHOUT COMPLETELY LOSING THE ABILITY TO REGULATE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR HERE. IF I MISS SPOKE AT THE LAST MEETING THAT'S ON ME. I DON'T THINK I DID BUT IF I DID, I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT ABOUT WHAT OUR ABILITY IS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANYTHING? >> YES. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RENT LESS THAN 30 DAYS MORE THAN THREE TIMES A YEAR. I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> WITH THAT BEING SAID THIS IS OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR ANYTHING NOT ON THE AGENDA GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND WE WILL START WITH A SHOW OF HANDS. YES SIR. >> MY NAME IS ROBERT SALT-N-PEPA 1407 AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A BIT OF THE AIRBNB STUFF SO IT'S A FOLLOW-UP. SO THE MAIN POINT THAT I HAD AS LAST WEEK WE SPOKE ABOUT YOU CAN CHANGE LAWS AND UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PREEMPTION ON IT. BUT WE TALKED ABOUT I HEARD SOMEONE BRING ABOUT HIRING SOMEONE LIKE DUNEDIN DID A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR TO ENFORCE THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS AND I KIND OF WANTED TO SEE IF THAT WAS MOVING FORWARD OR WHERE THAT WAS GOING AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE PERSONAL HAS AN EFFECT ON YOUR PERSONAL LIFE. BUT WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED ON THE ECONOMIC EFFECT THIS HAS. THERE WAS AN ECONOMIC DATA THAT HAD AIRBNB'S AND THE CITY HAS LED TO AN EQUAL INCREASE IN RENT IN BOSTON HAD AN INCREASE TEMPORARY SEVEN PERCENT SAW 14 PERCENT INCREASE IN RENT FOR AVERAGE AIRBNB SPIRIT PERSONAL AND SAW SEVEN PERCENT INCREASE FOR EVERYONE PRESENT. SO THESE ARE ALL MASSIVE INCREASES IN RENT WE ARE HAVING ALREADY IN THE MIDST OF A RENTAL CRISIS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD INEVITABLY SAVE THE CITY MONEY WE DID MOVE TOWARDS THIS FIXING IT. THAT WAS MY ISSUE TO EXPRESS THE ACCESS OF IT AND FOLLOW UP ON WE TALKED ABOUT HIRING BEYOND THE BOOK REGISTRATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? (INDISCERNIBLE). SINCE I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS (INDISCERNIBLE) THAT'S THE WAY I FIGHT THE DISEASE OR WHATEVER. NO SELF-RESPECTING PERMIT MIGHT INVADE MY BODY FOR VERY LONG, SO WHAT THE HELL. ONE THING I HAD NOTICED WAS THE SAME. AS ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE THIS TOWN BETTER. LEAVE US ALONE, PLEASE. DON'T DOWN FROM MICHIGAN AND DECIDE YOU WANT SIDEWALKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S THE SAME OLD STUFF. IT'S ALL THE SAME. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS NOTHING HAS CHANGED. EXCEPT EVERYBODY HAS AN IDEA HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER. IT TOOK GULFPORT OVER 100 YEARS TO GET WHERE IT'S AT. NOW GRANITE AS THEY GOT OLDER BECAME LESS AND LESS OF A FUN PLACE TO GO. THIS IS AN EXACTLY MY CHOICE FOR A GOOD VACATION SPOT BUT THAT'S WHY. IT'S A SPOT. WE HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE A HELL OF A LOT LONGER THAN I HAVE. LET'S LISTEN TO THEM. AND ANYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO IMPROVE ON YOUR GOING TO WIND UP DISRUPTING THE LIVES OF EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT. SO WATCH WHAT YOU WISH FOR. AND WHY NEAR ROADS AND PUTTING SIDEWALKS AND AND ALL OF THIS IS CONVENIENT FOR THE PEOPLE. WE WERE WALKING PLACES BEFORE THEY EVER THOUGHT ABOUT COMING DOWN HERE. BUY YOURSELF A NEW WAGON AND A GOOD PAIR OF SHOES AND SAY HELLO TO EVERYBODY YOU ARE WALKING PAST BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT DOING THE SAME THING YOU ARE. WALKING. LEAVE YOUR CAR AT HOME AND WALK. WE ARE NOT EXACTLY 10 MILES FROM EACH OTHER. THAT'S IT. LEAVE IT ALONE. AND I TELL YOU PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO (INDISCERNIBLE) IT'S DISGUSTING. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BECAUSE I NEVER ANSWERED THE PHONE. THAT'S KIND OF THE SAME WAY. TRYING TO ROPE HUMAN. TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING IN GREENER PASTURES ON THE OTHER SIDE. IT'S STILL GOING TO HAPPEN. LEAVE IT ALONE. >> THANKS. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NOREEN. HOW ARE YOU DOING? I FIGURED YOU WOULD BE OUT ON A BOAT RIGHT NOW. >> I SHOULD BE. I HAVE TO BE HERE. >> I UNDERSTAND. >> I LIVE AT 3030 154TH ST. S. I MOVED TO GULFPORT ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO AND AFTER VISITING HERE FROM JACKSONVILLE I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL THE LOCALS AND CHARACTERS IN OUR TOWN AND THE GATE CUTE CHARACTERS IN THE MUSIC AND THE WATERVIEW WITH THE SAILBOATS, THE COOL STORMS WHICH I WATCHED SIPPING IN THE OLD SALTYS WHICH I MISSED. I DECIDED THIS WAS MY RETIREMENT HOME. THINGS HAVE CHANGED HERE. I MAY NOW HAVE TO MOVE AWAY, FORTUNATELY. IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE. BUT IN THE PAST FEW MINUTES MY FRIEND HAS GONE UP 50 PERCENT ONLY HAVE MAYBE 600 SQUARE-FOOT APARTMENT ON 54TH ACROSS FROM THE AIRBNB RENTALS. I KNOW RENT INCREASES ARE HAPPENING NATIONALLY BUT I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN HERE AT HOME. I'M A SANER CITIZEN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT AND I KNOW MANY OTHERS HERE THAT HAVE OR MAY HAVE TO MOVE OUT. MY FRIEND KAREN. SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE. HER RENT WENT UP DRASTICALLY AND ANOTHER FRIEND EVIL HAD TO MOVE OUT THIS PAST WEEKEND AND TO HER FRIEND'S HOME AND AUTO LEFT US. HE IS AN LARGO. MY FRIEND TREY HAS A BUDDY ON HIS COUCH AND ST. PETE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE CAN'T AFFORD LIVING HERE ANYMORE. IT'S PRETTY SAD AND IS VERY SCARY. IT'S TRULY A CRISIS HAPPENING HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THESE EXTREME RENT INCREASES AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE BASICALLY PUSHING US ALL OUT OF TOWN. US BEING THE ELDERLY WITH FIXED INCOMES AND CHILDREN, THE RESIDENTS OF GULFPORT WERE STRUGGLING THE MOST VULNERABLE. IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE. WE'RE LOSING THE PEOPLE THAT MADE GULFPORT AND THAT CONCERNS ME. KEEP GULFPORT WEIRD AND AFFORDABLE BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING IT TO THESE GREEDY PRICE GOUCHER'S DURING A PUBLIC CRISIS. AND A POSSIBLE SOLUTION FROM THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WHICH I PRINTED SOME COPIES AND WE WILL GIVE TO THE CITY CLERK. IN SHORT WHAT IT SAYS IS FLORIDA LEGISLATOR DICKIE LEGISLATION ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO INSTITUTE RENT CONTROL MEASURES WHEN THERE IS A HOUSING CRISIS SUFFICIENT TO CREATE A MENACE TO THE PUBLIC. AND WHEN THEY SAY PUBLIC, THEY MEAN THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU GUYS SO I HOPE YOU ARE READ THIS AND CONSIDER IT AND I WILL TALK TO YOU LATER ABOUT IT. >> ANYONE ELSE OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> I LIVE AT 50 MARCH 2, 2026 AVENUE SOUTH. MY WIFE NORA AND I HAVE LIVED IN GULFPORT FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS THIS OCTOBER I'M GOING TO READ FOR THIS. I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO GIVE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND MAKE A FEW SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY OF AIRBNB'S IN GULFPORT. FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR NOT MAKING CHANGES TO THE AIRBNB STATUTE THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED TALLAHASSEE INVOLVEMENT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE OVER OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THANKS TO THE CALL TO COUNSEL WE HAVE A ZONING ORDINANCE IN PLACE WITH A CLEAR ZONING MAP FOR AIRBNB SPIRIT WE SHOULD HONOR THE ZONING ORDINANCES WE HAVE IN PLACE WITH LEGALLY REGISTERED AIRBNB. NICK READER FALSE MARKING OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR RENTALS AND HOME PRICES THAT CAUSED A SERIOUS HOUSING CRISIS FOR HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF WE ARE ABLE TO BETTER MANAGE OR EVEN AND ILLEGAL USE OF AIRBNB'S AND GULFPORT RENTS AND HOME VALUES WILL LIKELY LEVEL OF TO MORE REALISTIC PRICES WE MAY EVEN GET SOME PEOPLE BACK TO GULFPORT. ILLEGAL AIRBNB'S HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO OFFER REASONABLE RENTS TO TENANTS WHEN THEY ARE ILLEGALLY RAKING IN 3 TO $6000 MONTHLY AND ARE NOT PAYING A DIME IN TAXES AND THEY ARE DESTROYING OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. ILLEGAL AIRBNB'S HAVE BEEN DE FACTO IN GULFPORT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I WANT TO THANK HOMEOWNERS IN GULFPORT WHO HAVE NOT RAISED RENTS TO UNAFFORDABLE LEVELS TO PRICE TENANTS OUT TO PURPOSELY USE THEIR HOME AS AN ILLEGAL AIRBNB. FOR THOSE HOMEOWNERS WHO LIVE IN GULFPORT OR JUST OWN HERE AND WHO HAVE KICKED TENANTS OUT INTENTIONALLY PRICED TENANTS OUT TO ILLEGALLY USE AN APARTMENT OR HOUSE YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF HARM TO OUR PEOPLE AND TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY. I ASK YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING NOW AND STOP IT. MANY TOWNS IN FLORIDA -- INDIAN ROCKS BEACH ANNA MARIA ISLAND SEMINOLE AND GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI. THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO STOP ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. HER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED AN ENTITY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. INCLUDING SENDING AN AWARENESS WARNING LETTER AND PRINTERS THAT INCLUDES THE AIRBNB STATUTE ZONING MAP AND PENALTIES THAT RESULT WHEN FILING THE ZONING ORDINANCE. THEY WILL RAISE $200,000. IS THAT ENOUGH FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE? SECOND OFFENSE, $10,000. THIRD OFFENSE 10 PERCENT OF THE VALUE OR THE VIOLATORS HOME. NEXT FOURTH OFFENSE OR HIGHER. FINANCIALLY TO VIOLATE THE PROPERTY. >> DO YOU MIND LEAVING THE LETTER WITH US? MUCH APPRECIATED. >> I AM RICK GILBERT AND I LIVE AT DIXIE LANE. I HAVE A BOAT AT THE MARINA AND I'M HERE ON A BOATING ISSUE. I MOVED HERE 20 YEARS AGO AND THE BOATS AS FAR AS I COULD TELL WHEN YOU GO IN -- WHEN YOU WENT AND SOMEBODY CAME AND CHECKED YOU OUT. IT'S NO LONGER LIKE THAT. WE HAVE A GREAT HARBOR AND A GREAT TOWN AND YOU WILL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH IT REALLY. THERE ARE MENTAL PROBLEMS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CITIES GROW. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU DO IS FINISH THE JOB FOR THE MARINA. THE MARINA IS ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT MAKES MONEY FOR THIS CITY AND IT CAN MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY THAN IT DOES. YOU'VE GOT A GREAT GUY DOWN THERE IN DENNIS. HE HAS THE ADMIRATION OF EVERY BOGERTS THAT I KNOW WHAT THAT COMES INTO THIS HARBOR BUT YOU NEED TO CLOSE IT OUT. YOU NEED TO PUT A BUILDING UP AND A RESTAURANT IN IT AND YOU NEED TO GET THE LINES CAUGHT -- LIONS CLUB TORN DOWN AND OUT OF THERE. YOU NEED TO OPEN UP THAT AREA TO THE CITIZENS OF GULFPORT. IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT OPENED UP TO THE CITIZENS, AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT. IT'S GREAT BOATING TIME RIGHT NOW AND BOATS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND. IT WOULD BE SO NICE FOR PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BOAT. HAVE DINNER OVER LOOKED THE PART -- SO PLEASE FINISH THE JOBS FOR GULFPORT. >> I AM EDDIE FORD I LIVE ON 300 253RD ST. S. A TWO YEAR RESIDENT OF GULFPORT AND I'M JUST NOW CONVERTING TO AN OWNER OF A PROPERTY THAT I'M RENTING. LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO AFFORD IT BEFORE MY RACE BECAME UNTENABLE BECAUSE SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE I WAS -- I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT PAY THE RATES THEY WANT. BASED ON WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE THE CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RENTAL PHENOMENON AND THE CONSEQUENCES IT BRINGS. GREAT POINT ABOUT THE PERCENTAGES AND YOU MADE SOME GREAT POINTS AS WELL. I OWN A SOFTWARE COMPANY AND I PROPOSE IN WRITING A SOFTWARE-BASED APP TO STREAMLINE THE REPORTING OF THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS COLLECTING DAMAGES AND BASICALLY MAPPING WHERE THEY ARE AND TRACING THEM AND TRACKING THEM AND PROVIDING INFORMATION WITH THE CITY. BASICALLY, EDWARD AND PAUL TAKING AN ADDRESS AND TIMESTAMP PHOTOS AND A SERIES OF PHOTOS OF DIFFERENT LICENSE PLATES AND CARS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NEEDED SO I WANT TO FLESH THAT OUT. A UNIQUE CASE NUMBER WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO IT AND THE INSPECTION SIDE. WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS GET A MEETING WITH YOU TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE DEFINITIONS ARE. SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE COLLECTED AND SEE WITH THE AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES AND THE G.I. SURVEY OF THE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF HOUSES IN THOSE AREAS. WE TALKED ABOUT IT. I DON'T WANT TO MAP WINDOWS ARE. I KNOW I HAVE THREE AROUND ME THAT ARE ILLEGAL AND IT'S DISGUSTING AND I HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORKING IN THE BERLIN DRIVEWAY BEHIND ME FROM MICHIGAN. MY DOG IS CRAZY AT 8:00 AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE RUNNING A MOTOR BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO -- AND GIVING IT AWAY FOR FREE SO YOU CAN BE THE FIRST CITY THAT HAS SET IN BE THE MODEL FOR THIS AND I'M GOING TO -- LET'S JUST CURB THIS IN THE BUTT. SO BASICALLY I'M OFFERING FREE SOFTWARE. I HAVE THE ENTIRE DIAGRAM OF HOW IT WORKS AND I'M GIVING IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW AND I WILL APPLY THIS IN PDF FORMAT SO YOU CAN GET THIS PUBLICLY. ELIMINATES A PHONE CALL AND ALLOWS YOU TO DO THIS. AND LITERALLY, IT'S A MONTH AWAY. I LOVE THIS TOWN AND I HATE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF GREED. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID. I WOULD LIKE TO -- I HAVE QUESTIONS AS EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE. PARTICULARLY WHERE THE PARAMETERS ARE AND ALL OF THAT. ONE OF OUR COUNSEL PEOPLE SO MY NOTICE IN A CAMERA ARTICLE AND TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO SEND ME THE INFORMATION I REQUESTED A VERY CLEARLY OUTLINED MAP OF WHERE THE AIRBNB'S ARE OR ARE NOT PERMITTED. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. WE'LL NEED TO SEE THAT BECAUSE PRIOR TO THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO REALLY SEE WHERE WERE THE PERIMETERS. WHERE WAS THIS DID YOU HAPPEN AIRBNB NEXT TO ME. I HAVE A VR PO ACROSS FROM ME AND THEY ARE BEHAVING LIKE THEMSELVES. >> IT MUST BE BECAUSE WE'RE NEIGHBORS AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY ARE THERE. >> SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT SO FORTUNATE. SO THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE ACTION THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE TAKEN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON. >> I SAW ANOTHER HAND. MS. LOVE. HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> KAREN LOVE 23RD AVENUE S. FIRST THING I WANTED TO DO IS THINK COUNCILMAN RAY FOR HAVING THIS TOWN HALL MEETING AND THE COUNCILMAN FOR HAVING ANOTHER ONE. WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE TOWN HALL MEETING AND SITTING THERE THE ONE THING THAT WAS SO OBVIOUS WAS THAT EVERYBODY THAT WAS AT THAT MEETING REALLY CARES ABOUT GULFPORT AND BELIEVES THEY HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA WHAT GULFPORT NEEDS TO BE. OF COURSE THERE ARE 50 DIFFERENT OPINIONS. WITH THAT IN MIND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT HELPS ME REALIZE WHAT A TOUGH JOB YOU HAVE AND YOU ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO NAVIGATE SOME OF THE TOUGH DECISIONS AND NOBODY -- YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. THE OVERRIDING THEME I HEARD THAT NIGHT MORE THAN ANYTHING WAS TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY. TENDERNESS IN OUR TOWN THAT FEELS LIKE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT TRANSPARENT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU LIKE A BIG PART IF THAT IS YOU DO A POOR JOB OF COMMUNICATING TO THE CITY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. MY SET TO THE MEETING AND HEARD SOME COMMENTS I HAVE MADE AND HOW MANY MEETINGS I SAT THROUGH AND HEARD ALL OF THIS THINGS ADDRESSED IN GREAT DETAIL AND YET PEOPLE SAID INCORRECT INFORMATION. SO THE PROBLEM IS -- AND I REALLY THINK YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE DOING. I DON'T THINK THAT RELYING ON ONE PERSON FROM THE GABBERT TO REPORT IS GOOD ENOUGH SO I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. THE NEXT THING I WANTED TO SAY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SHORT-TERM RENTALS, I AM SO GLAD WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE AND I LIKE OUR ORDINANCE AND I AM TOTALLY OPPOSED TO RENT CONTROLS AND I'M A FIRM BELIEVER AND PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. I AM VERY UPSET THAT WE DON'T ENFORCE AND JUST NOW AS MARGO COMES APPEARING TALKS ABOUT WE HAVE ONE HERE THAT'S BE