Budget Talks Get Contentious in Gulfport

By Laura Mulrooney

Vice Mayor Michael Fridovich accused Ward One Councilwoman April Thanos of trying to run a shadow government, Gulfport city staff announced plans to reopen the police depar tment and city hall lobbies, and Thanos told council she wanted to take money from the police department to build pickleball courts.

This all happened at the Thursday, September 3 city council meeting.

While most city council meetings take place on Tuesdays, as with many things in 2020, COVID-19 played a part in the change, according to the city clerk’s office. In anticipation of the statutory permission to hold virtual meetings expiring, the city planned to hold the meeting at the Catherine A. Hickman Theater, which didn’t have Septmber 1 availability.

In the meeting, council discussed finalizing the fiscal year 2020-21 budget, millage rates (again) and shared their concerns over Thanos’ Gulfport Sustainability Committee.

$4.2 Million for Gulfport

Council held a first reading and public hearing discussing millage rates and the finalized operational budget for fiscal year 2020-2021.

The city’s property tax rate — 4.039 mils, or $4.04 per $1,000 of taxable value for property owners — has not changed in almost 10 years, according to City Manager Jim O’Reilly. This, staff reported, will generate approximately $4,250,765 in revenue for Gulfport. While the tax rate has stayed flat, Gulfport property values have increased by 8.39%. Given the tax rate and the higher property value, Gulfport’s total property value totals $85,731,674.

While the ordinance setting the tax rate passed without much discussion, the operational budget took a bit more of the spotlight.

Thanos voted “no” on the city’s 2020-2021 budget, telling council she wanted to take some of the $65,000 earmarked for the Gulfport Police Department’s K-9 unit and perhaps $20,000 from the $400,000 paving budget for tennis/

pickleball courts. Over the past few city council meetings Thanos has voiced disapproval of the Gulfport Police Department investing in K-9 units.

“I think, especially during a pandemic, when people want to be socializing and outdoors, that that would be a better use of that money, and for that reason I wouldn’t support this budget,” said Thanos.

In spite of Thanos’ objection, council passed the budget with a four-to-one vote. Council will vote once again on the city’s operational budget on its September 15 meeting.

City Manager Report

City Manager Jim O’Reilly announced the September 8 reopening of the Gulfport City Hall lobby, police department lobby and the Community Redevelopment and Building Department.

“We’re still encouraging online submission of plans and applications electronically,” said O’Reilly “We will phase in customers coming in.”

Recreation will expand from after-school programming to adult classes and Teen Night — provided participants agree to practice social distancing and wear masks.

GEMs operations will expand, but the Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center will remain closed; the Catherine Hickman Theater and the Gulfport Casino also remain closed for large gatherings.

The city will end its utility assistance program at the end of September. The program, called R3, supported 127 residences with more than $36,000 in grants, according to O’Reilly.

The city will also resume charging the $3.25 convenience fee for online credit card payments on October 1.

Unforeseen Williams Pier Repairs Add Almost $150k to cost

Although Williams Pier renovations remain on track, workers found more damage than they expected. Council

agreed to pay the extra $148,585.00 to Midcoast Construction. Gulfport Public Works Director Tom Nicholls told council the repairs, once completed, should last 15 to 20 years, although the city would have to pay for other maintenance and repairs over the next decade. While the cost has increased, Midcoast told city staff the work should still get completed by Halloween.

Town Shores May get $1.2 for Water Improvements

The city of Gulfport wants Town Shores residents to give them input on a Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Community Development Block Grant. The grant, which could total more than $1.2 million, will pay for water pipeline improvements in one section of Town Shores.

The city will not have to repay the grant.

The city will accept feedback until September 11. Email the Public Works Director Tom Nicholls at tnicholls@ mygulfport.us with comments. Learn more about the project at mygulfport.us/deo.

Gambling on the Casino Dock?

Council will revisit resolution No. 2020-48, concerning Casino Dock Renovation and Replacement, during the September 15 meeting. The top bidder, Docks by the Bay, LLC, rescinded their offer. The city manager will seek out another vendor.

Gulfport Sustainability Committee Draws Ire

Councilmember April Thanos spoke to council and residents on September 3 about Gulfport’s Sustainability Committee. Since she won her position as Ward 1 representative in March, Thanos founded the Gulfport Sustainability Committee.

Thanos designed Gulfport’s Sustainability Committee to help

businesses and residents who have questions, concerns or ideas about the betterment of Gulfport. According to Thanos, member residents would look into improvements and suggestions for the city and bring them to council.

“We work on anything and everything to make Gulfport an even better place to live while supporting our residents and businesses,” said Thanos. Though Thanos is a city official, she says the committee is not meant to be a city organization.

During the Wednesday, August 19 council meeting, Thanos requested agenda time to discuss the GSC. Thanos presented councilmembers with a list of concerns from the committee and asked each councilmember to join a cause for the committee. Fridovich was the first to speak. “April, one of the things that kind of surprised me was your list, to be honest with you – it almost looks like a shadow government of sorts,” said Fridovich on September 3. “I expected your committee to come back with some environmental issues, but not to the extent of almost taking over city council as far as every issue we deal with.”

Fridovich elaborated on his concern about Thanos’ committee.

“Are you going to try and limit the scope or keep it totally open to deal with everything [council is] dealing with, but with a separate government kind of attitude?” asked Fridovich.

“It’s not like we’re trying to take over things,” said Thanos. “Some of these people have a pet peeve. For instance, like Karen Love. Her pet peeve is trash. She goes around picking up trash and her request is for more trash cans.”

However, Fridovich was not alone in his concerns.

“I’ve seen some things that are on [the Gulfport Sustainability Committee’s topic list] that we’ve been addressing and have done a fabulous job,” said Councilmember Christine Brown. “For instance, stormwater. We’ve gotten awards for our stormwater runoff ponds and we have several of them.” Mayor Sam Henderson agreed. “We actually have plans for extension on what we’ve already done,” said Henderson. “I think we’ve done more

in the last 10 years to address water quality. The level, the amount of money and attention we’ve given to water quality issues here have not just been necessary, but phenomenal.”

Henderson suggested that Thanos reacquaint herself with city programs and suggested that she might find answers to some of her committee’s questions.

“One thing I would encourage, just so your organization isn’t spinning their wheels on things, is finding out things the city has already done,” said Henderson. “They are going into it already armed with what’s already happening, what exists out there, so you’re not focusing on something that may not be as much of an issue as someone may think.”

Overhead at the September 3 Gulfport City Council Meeting

“You talked about sidewalks that are ADA compliant. Are there some that aren’t? Hasn’t that ADA compliance been in since the ‘70s?” – Councilmember Chrsitine Brown to Thanos during the Gulfport Sustainability Committee discussion.

“There are 23 bike racks in six-tenths of a mile. I’ve only counted six bikes locked up at a time.” – Councilmember Brown addressing requests from the Gulfport Sustainability Committee, which were presented by Councilmember Thanos.

“This is Gulfport; you’ve gotta lock your bike.” – Thanos to Brown’s claim that the city has too many bike racks in one area.

“I know this may sound funny coming from someone who’s been in the environmental field for 20 years, but there are a lot of things that are great to do on the small-scale side, but don’t necessarily have a big impact when you’re talking about doing things at the municipal level. It’s been my career for 20 years. It’s clearly what I care about.” – Mayor Henderson in his comments during the Gulfport Sustainability Committee discussion.