Gulfport Candidates Q & A: Part Two

By Gabber Staff

For the last round of candidate questions before the citywide election March 9, the Gabber asked each candidate six ward-specific questions compiled from readers and editorial staff. Answers have been edited for style and length. See each candidate’s answers to all six questions with this article at thegabber.com.

Mike Bauer

Mike Bauer, Ward 2 Challenger

You’ve made it clear that sea level rise and climate change are a priority for you. Please name three other issues in your ward that you will make a priority if elected.

Parking on Beach and Shore. We need to receive input from businesses,

residents and shoppers/diners on what they think. If there is more than a perceived problem, then we need to enter into a consensus procedure where solutions are discussed and solutions reached that all can agree on, even if it’s not everyone’s ideal solution.

Increasing participation in government, particularly by younger people and people of color. We need to reach out and involve more people by continuing Zoom city council meetings, keeping more office hours, and going out into the community.

Increase green space. Use lots and undeveloped areas as pocket parks that can be used to store flood waters, like on Tangerine, serve as parks when there is no flooding, and perhaps be available for placement of solar panels as part of a city microgrid system.

You were a natural resources manager when you worked for the City of Naples. How do you translate those skills into Gulfport City Council’s other functions, like infrastructure and reviewing the annual budget. What can you bring to the discussion over an experienced councilmember?

As the manager of a city division, I had to create an annual budget for operations, maintenance and capital assets. I believe it is much harder to develop a budget than it is to review it. I know what goes into creating a budget that is a part of an overall city budget. I can see the point of view of both staff and council.

What do you identify as the most important issue in Ward 2, and how do you think the city should solve it?

Definitely sea level rise. It is inevitable and must be addressed now. We need to develop a vulnerability assessment that identifies the problems to infrastructure, management, housing and public protection SLR will bring about, and develop an action plan to address whether to protect interests, accommodate the water, or eventually carry out an orderly retreat.

Christine Brown, Ward 2 Incumbent

You have suggested that manmade dunes are contributing to sedimentation in Clam Bayou. What can the city council do to improve flushing in Clam Bayou and Boca Ciega Bay?

Originally Osgood Point, the land adjacent to Clam Bayou was flat, open greenspace. Through grant money, the mounds that you see there today were created. For the past 20 years or so, listening to neighbors and Gulfport old-timers, I believe that rain runoff from the man-made mounds may be a contributing factor to the amount of silt in Clam Bayou. Solving the silting issue could also lead to the increase of the natural flushing of the bayou. At a minimum, the city should retain an environmental engineer to explore the theory that runoff is playing a role in the loss of the original sandy bottom of Clam Bayou and measure the validity of the suggestion that we return the public site to the original flat open greenspace.

While much attention has been paid to the land underneath the Boca Ciega Yacht Club, council has not recently discussed other private interests along the waterfront: The Gulfport Lions Club leases land, but owns the building; the Gulfport Yacht Club pays close to market rent for its land on the water, and the marina uses waterfront land for dry storage. Do you support other uses for this city waterfront space?

Gulfport is a melting pot of community-minded folks from different experiences, lifestyles, careers and education. I am open to any ideas that my neighbors will bring forward. Working together, I know we can create an inclusive vision for the marina. When decisions are made, I will definitely be on board with any idea that supports open access to our public land and public waters.

Christine Brown

What do you identify as the most important issue in Ward 2, and how do you think the city should solve it?

Due to the location of our city on Boca Ciega Bay, maintaining the integrity of our underground infrastructure is paramount. We are fiscally dedicated to necessary infrastructure improvements and I am committed to ensuring that program funding continues. The city has already taken numerous steps to combat the infiltration and inflow issues in our sanitary sewer system. We are currently under contract to begin the lift station sanitary sewer bypass project, which is a major step in eliminating future discharges by creating more capacity in our city. A priority of mine is to ensure that the sanitary sewer bypass project is completed.

Michael Fridovich, Ward 4 Incumbent

For 30 years, Ward 4 has had not only a ward representative, but a mayor who has lived in Ward 4. However, the ward seems, to some residents, to be a redheaded stepchild in the city: The city performed the bulk of sewer and road improvements there last, improved the ward’s playground last, removed the tennis courts/skate park and has yet to develop that space. Please name three concrete ways you will put Ward 4 first.

Since my first day of being elected I have always had a priority attitude towards Ward 4. I will continue to advocate for more road repairs, sidewalks and alleyways, a continuation of maintaining our parks (i.e greenspaces), Trolley [Market] Square and improvements when needed for 49th Street, and working with neighbors to make our neighborhoods safer.

What do you identify as the most important issue in Ward 4, and how do you think the city should solve it?

Michael Fridovich

Just doing what the city has been doing – repairing our streets, etc.

How are the needs of Ward 4 residents different from other wards?

I don’t believe they are. We are all one city with many of the same issues. We have to work as one, not as individual areas, for the greater need of the city and residents as [a] whole.

Richard Fried, Ward 4 Challenger

Your campaign has been focused on solar energy on city buildings. As Mr. Fridovich noted during the debate, some of Gulfport’s municipal buildings are aging and in need of either renovation or complete rebuilds. What is your plan for solar with regard to aging infrastructure?

There are 15 city buildings. I am sure at least a few of these buildings can be solarized. When the marina addition was completed/renovated, no solar component was part of that upgrade. Michael was on the council then, and not a mention of solar from him, the other councilmembers or the mayor. When I am on council, “we,” [the council, the mayor], will direct our city manager to investigate which buildings are appropriate for solar either now or during renovations. No question about it. Like anything else, when council designates a need, finding funding will follow. Solar pays for itself over time.

Richard Fried

How would you help the businesses along 49th Street prosper in a city that seems geared towards its downtown?

Seems? In the Save-A-Lot shopping center parking lot, let’s plant trees! 49th Street needs a median strip with trees. In collaboration with St. Petersburg, we can have the businesses paint their buildings with a color palette reminiscent of the Art Deco era, or the 1960s. And when the next coffee shop opens up on 49th in

the Tangerine Avenue area, I am so there.

What do you identify as the most important issue in Ward 4, and how do you think the city should solve it?

I believe asphalt streets have to go. I live on a brick-lined street which adds to the percolation of rain water, thus reducing the strain on the sewer system [drainage]. I also believe it improves my property value, reduces speeding and lastly is cost-effective in the long term. I would guess my brick-lined street has not had any maintenance since it was laid. I would also hazard a guess our paved streets have been repaved many multiple times. At a minimum, we must repair those brick-lined streets in need of maintenance, not pave them with asphalt. Lastly, our alleys need to be graded and graveled.

Ian O’Hara, Ward 4 Challenger

At the debate, you talked about surveys as one way to get citizen feedback. How would you propose reaching citizens who don’t go online or may not respond to a mail survey?

Ian O'Hara

Surveys are driven by responders. Town halls are a great addition, too. Town halls usually focus on one issue: people feel their voices are heard and not overlooked, and city council gets clear ideas regarding community interests. We must give power back to constituents. Re-engaging town halls will be an effective measure for obtaining citizen feedback.

For 30 years, Ward 4 has had not only a ward representative, but a mayor who has lived in Ward 4. However, the ward seems, to some residents, to be a redheaded stepchild in the city: The city performed the bulk of sewer and road improvements there last, improved the ward’s playground last, removed the tennis courts/ skate park and has yet to develop that space. Please name three concrete ways you will put Ward 4 first.

Construct a new police station, located on 49th Street. Gulfport has outgrown its current facility. A new police station can be tailored to the current size, space and makeup needs of our community and, as a modern building, allow up-to-date possibilities such as solar panels.

I don’t believe Ward 4 faces big issues. It’s mainly smaller ones – such as potholes, trees, stop signs and storm drain cleaning – that nonetheless deserve prompt attention and resolution. These matters, while perhaps not important to everyone, are important to someone.

Our constituents have expressed strong interest in a nearby dog park. We have the space and should examine options to create the right fit.

How would you help the businesses along 49th Street prosper in a city that seems geared towards its downtown?

If elected, I would support any business wishing to open along 49th Street. To be sure, 49th Street poses specific issues that make it difficult for the city to intervene. It is a county road; the eastern rightof-way belongs to St. Petersburg, and it has a speed limit a little higher than desired for retail. But I believe 49th Street can be developed as a productive district within the city and provide good-paying, preferably green jobs if more emphasis is placed on attracting light industrial and manufacturing operations.