Gulfport City Council

Council Faces Tough Decisions to Balance the Budget: 'We can't continue to go on like this'

Vice Mayor David Hastings expressed strong concern over the $2.2 million dollar shortfall and current proposal to use more than half a million dollars of reserve money to help balance the 2011/2012 Operating Budget.

The Gulfport City Council examined and discussed concerns, ideas and questions surrounding City Manager James O'Reilly's proposed 2011/2012 operating budget. The current proposal includes: increasing the millage rate from 3.4742 to 3.8176, increasing sanitation and recycling fee's by 12.5%, increasing general governmental fees by 10% and using $622,359 from the general reserve fund. But at Thursday's City Council Workshop Vice Mayor David Hastings proposed more drastic measures to balance the budget. "We have to eliminate and outsource the dispatch, we have to do it. We have to eliminate and outsource the lawn care." Hastings estimated that those items would save the city about $400,000 every year starting in the next fiscal year. Hastings…

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John Mills

5:49 pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Key words: New Resident to Gulfport   more ›

Gulfport City Council

Gulfport Council Gives Go Ahead for Mooring Field Permit Application

The Gulfport City Council gave the go ahead to City Manager James O'Reilly to move forward with the permitting process for a mooring field in Boca Ciega Bay.

With the go ahead from the Gulfport City Council, City Manager James O'Reilly will move forward with the permitting process for a mooring field in Boca Ciega Bay. Following a long discussion, Mr. O'Reilly agreed to proceed with the process at a cost of approximately $25,000 to the city. The mooring field proposal has been discussed and debated at several meetings the past two months with much public input at the meetings, most speaking in favor of it. The city first began the permitting process with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) several years ago and as part of the process the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers would grant approval or denial as well. Five residents spoke in favor of the…

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Frank Verdino

1:58 pm on Tuesday, May 31, 2011

I don't believe funding for the sign was discussed only the design. The $11,000 in the WRAB redevelopement fund must be spent in that area and maybe whe Chamber of Commerce will contribute the rest. I agree with Margaret also that the city needs a comprehensive marketing plan. Hopefully the Chamber will be getting to work on that soon too.   more ›

Town Officials Aware of Residents' Curb Appeal Concerns

The mayor, public works director and city manager weigh in on concerns with trash left at curb sides.

Good neighbors make good communities and recently, according to resident complaints, some neighbors haven't been keeping up their end of the bargain, leaving trash and furniture out on the curb for days on end, causing a blight on the visual appeal and health of Gulfport neighborhoods. At this week's city council meeting two residents complained about the issue and expressed their frustration with the city for a perceived lack of concern. Council members and City Manager James O'Reilly responded that they would address the situation more aggressively and possibly schedule a one-time right-of-way cleanup throughout the city. “We need to lead by example when we use the words 'curb appeal' and 'right-of-ways' and we can do better,” Mayor …

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Gulfport City Council

Gulfport City Council Notes: 5/3 Meeting

The Gulfport City Council Talks Program Funding, Police Benefits and a Stage on the Beach.

The Gulfport City Council covered a number of topics Tuesday night in what was an unusually light agenda compared with recent months. Gulfport City Manager James O'Reilly reported that he received a notice from Coordinated Child Care of Pinellas (CCC) in regards to a reduction in funding for less fortunate children in the area that participate in Gulfport Recreation after school and summer programs. As of August 21, 2011, funding will be discontinued for children over the age of nine years old. Mr. O'Reilly and his staff have been trying to create a mechanism to accommodate these children and he noted that the council would need to create a new policy to provide financial assistance for those programs. The cuts will not affect children …

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Gulfport City Council

Gulfport City Council Addresses First Budget Draft for Next Fiscal Year at Workshop

The Gulfport City Council heard the first draft - and first public comment - at its workshop on Thursday.

The Gulfport City Council held the first of its workshops featuring public comment on Thursday, drawing roughly 20 residents for the initial discussion of City Manager James O'Reilly's first draft of the 2011-2012 General Fund/Capital Improvement Program and Budget proposal. “In my opinion I think fees are an aggressive approach to raising revenue,” said Gulfport resident Bob Newcomb, the first speaker in the public session of the meeting. “I think it has a much harder impact on lower, middle class people than the tax increase. The other danger of course is when revenues and valuations begin to increase the fee stays the same, the tax fluctuates, and I'd like to see it in taxes as much as possible rather than fees because it's simply a …

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Gulfport City Council

Gulfport City Council Wraps Up 2010

Gulfport City Council members finished up 2010 with their last meeting Tuesday night. Here's a recap, if you missed it:

Gulfport City Council wished citizens a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year during 2010's last council meeting Tuesday night. The group of attendee's included the winners of the city's Holiday Decorations contest. Mayor Mike Yakes presented the neighbors from the 5600 block of Newton Avenue with the best theme for home and/or residential neighborhood. Yummy's on Beach Boulevard received the award for best theme for a commercial location. Gulfport City Council agreed to donate $1,000 to Pinellas Safe Harbor, a new jail diversion facility in St. Petersburg. Council members discussed the possibility of increasing the donation to $5,000, but agreed to stick with a $1,000 donation coming from this year's budget. City Clerk …

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