Have a Say on Code Enforcement

The Gulfport City Council is hosting a Town Hall Meeting tonight at 7 at the Gulfport Senior Center. Officials want to hear your ideas, suggestions and concerns regarding code enforcement and nuisance issues in the city.

The following suggestions were brought up during an Oct. 18 City Council Workshop. They will be discussed tonight.

• Prohibit non-operable/unregistered vehicles in front yards;
• Mandate trimming of landscaping (edging of curbs/street edge);
• Define and limit boats, trailers, RVs in front yards;
• Change debris special pickup order from 7 days to 3 days;
• Change residential trash location, i.e., place on side of house and out of view of street;
• Change where RVs can be stored;
• Define lawn furniture and prohibit all other furniture for outdoor use.

During the October meeting, residents came forward and disagreed with some of the proposals (listed above). Some dismissed them as ridiculous.

"Defining lawn furniture . . . I'm reading this and I'm like, 'Who in God's name even thought of this stuff?' " Pat Dunham said to the council in October.

Others said the changes won't work.

"I really think it's important that we consider the people that we're talking about, who are they. Are they people that have been living here a long time and are used to parking their vehicle where they have been parking them? Are they people that have just come into town? Are they people that are absentee landlords? Who are we going after anyway?" Elizabeth Neily said to the council.

The discussion of code enforcement began long before October. During an Aug. 9 City Council Workshop, citizens came forward to complain about the city's "soft" enforcement. They also stated that the community suffers when people leave clutter outside, cars parked in front yards and lawns overgrown.

New Code Enforcer Approved

The City Council has already approved creating a Special Magistrate position to address enforcement issues that may include order people to mow tall grass, move abandoned vehicles and get rid of excessive debris.

The new position will be an alternative to costly legal action by bypassing the county courts.

Council voted 4 -1 during first reading and 4-1 during second reading with Council member Jennifer Salmon casting the only "no" vote.

To learn more about the Special Magistrate and how much that position is  estimated to cost the city, check out this story:

• "Council Moves to Create Special Magistrate for Code Enforcement."

What do you think?

Does Gulfport need to clean up its act? Is there too much clutter around town?

Although city leaders have heard from outspoken residents, they still want more direction. And tonight, you can help with that.

See you at the Town Hall Meeting. (We've attached the agenda on this story.)

Leave your comments below about what you think of tonight's meeting and the plan for hiring a Special Magistrate.