Ward IV Representative – Ian O’Hara – Report

Ian O'Hara
Ward IV
iohara@mygulfport.us
(727) 826-7355
Hello Neighbors,
Gulfport Ward 4, August Report:
- I attended two (2) City Council Meetings and four (4) meetings with the City Manager.
- I put in four (4) office hours.
- I received 119 emails total, 61 from one individual.
- I responded to 27 emails.
- I received nine (9) phone calls via the city voicemail and 138 via my designated city phone.
- I attended one (1) Tiger Bay meeting.
- I met with six (6) constituents during office hours.
- I met with eight (8) constituents out of office hours.
- I voted on the first reading of the budget and voted on the first reading of Millage rate decrease.
- I attended Julie Armstrong’s opening at the Catherine Hickman Theatre, an amazing art exhibit!
- I attended the Gecko Ball.
We had to cancel our South 49th Street Business and Neighborhood District meeting due to Hurricane Idalia. Next meeting will be Monday, October 2nd at the 49th St Neighborhood Center.
I would like to thank all the City Employees for working so diligently on the preparation for the storm as well as the post storm cleanup. I also want to thank our constituents for taking the storm seriously and being mindful of the effects of Hurricane Idalia.
I would like to thank all the candidates for Gecko Queen. I would like to congratulate our new gecko Queen, Robert “Bob” Daunch. I would like to thank the Gulfport Merchant Chamber and the Gala leaders, Amiee Kosta, Jennifer Gallo-Lee, Mellissa Helmbold, Heather DiFisio, Nancy Early, Erin East, John Haugan- amazingly wonderful Ball and great theme!
I would also like to thank the former Gecko Queens & I would like to thank Justin Shea and Kristen Ossola for their hard work.
Free smoke detectors are available for elderly and low-income households, contact: (727)-893-1059
Take a look at Gulfport Community Update weekly, Fridays after 4:00: www.mygulfport.us.
-This is where you can find out all the information about what is going on in each city department. For example: police encounters and community events.
City-wide yard sale registration starts September 18th.
I have office hours every Friday from 2:00 PM-4:00 PM at City Hall.
If you have any questions or quandaries, you can also reach me at:
Cell: (727)-631-7522
Office: (727)-866-7355
Email: iohara@mygulfport.us
Sincerely you neighbor and councilman,
Ian O’Hara
“Becoming fearless isn’t the point, that’s impossible! It’s learning how to control your fear and how to be free from it.” -Victor Hugo.
Hello Neighbors,
Gulfport Ward IV July report:
- I have attended one (1) City Council Meeting, four (4) office hours, and four (4) meetings with the City Manager.
- I had eight (8) meetings with constituents in office, and three (3) out of office.
- I attended the meeting to establish organizing the South 49th Business and Neighborhood District with my St. Petersburg Colleague, St. Petersburg Councilman John Muhammad.
- I attended three (3) ribbon cuttings for new businesses.
These items have been completed:
- A new fishing table with a visor at the pier, a new sidewalk at Clymer Park and a pothole list.
- I received 133 emails, 54 from one (1) individual, responded to 87.
- I received 28 phone calls and responded to all.
- I pushed for the 49th Street Beautification and Traffic Calming Program-Safe Streets Initiative, I pushed for the South 49th Street Business and Neighborhoods District and I pushed for sight plans for our Public Safety and Emergency Operation Center.
I’d like to thank Councilman Brother John Muhammad, all the business owners that attended the past meetings. I’d like to thank the Merchant Chamber for a great job on Beach Blvd. I also want to thank our City Administration for attending said meetings as well as St. Petersburg’s City Administrators.
Don’t forget- Saturday, August 26th Gecko Ball at the Casino- Get your tickets!
If you have any questions or quandaries, you can reach me at:
Cell: 727 631 7522
Office: 727 866 7355
Email: iohara@mygulfport.us
Sincerely Your Neighbor and Councilman,
Ian O’Hara
“Evil communications corrupt good manners.” -unknown
Hello Neighbors,
Gulfport Ward IV June report:
- I marched in the St. Pete Pride Parade,
- Four (4) meetings with the City Manager,
- Two (2) meetings with Tom Nichols,
- Two (2) City Council Meetings,
- Five (5) office hours.
- Stop sign on Tangerine Avenue has been implemented.
- Storm drain debris list has been implemented.
- I have received 128 emails, 35 from one (1) individual, 10 from another, seven (7) from the third.
- I responded to 87 emails.
- I met with 17 constituents, three (3) during office hours, 14 out of office hours.
- I spoke with 42 constituents via telephone.
- I am currently happy with the direction our City budget is going.
I want to thank all the Gulfport residents who have attended the past council meetings. They have been well attended meetings.
If you have any questions or quandaries, you can reach me at:
Cell: 727 851 8310
Office: 727 826 7355
Email: iohara@mygulfport.us
Sincerely your Neighbor and Councilman,
Ian O’Hara
“Becoming fearless isn’t the point, that’s impossible! It’s learning how to control your fear and how to be free from it.” -Victor Hugo.
Hello Neighbors,
Gulfport Ward IV May Report:
- I have attended six (6) City Council meetings, five (5) office hours, and five (5) meetings with the City Manager.
- I have had four (4) constituents meet with me during office hours.
- I attended the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, the last/final Lions Club breakfast of the season, and a fantastic hurricane seminar.
- I attended two (2) Tiger Bay meetings.
- I met with 16 constituents in person.
- Finalized the traffic study report on Tangerine with the conclusion that there will be a four-way stop at 52nd and Tangerine (north side).
- I was unable to attend the Pride flag rising on June 1st but was there in spirit.
- I put in place a 15-minute parking sign on Beach Blvd.
- I received 183 emails, 97 of which come from one (1) individual.
- I have responded to 87 emails.
- I have forwarded 34 emails from my private account to my city account.
- I pushed for the adoption of the paving list.
- I am working on a pothole list and storm drain debris list.
- I read through the regional resiliency action plan put out by Tampa Bay regional planning council, I found some of the pieces in it very relevant to the city.
- I also read through the 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the City of Gulfport, I think everyone should look at it.
I would like to correct the dais about this incident at the volunteer luncheon. It has been brought to my attention through a video sent to me that a constituent was not belligerent or aggressive, just persistent.
I want to thank all the Gulfport residents who have attended the past council meetings. They have been well-attended meetings. I would also like to apologize for not attending the fire ops 101 but I do plan on doing it next year.
I have called eight (8) of the nine (9) applicants for the alternate position on the Planning and Zoning Board, spoke to seven (7) and asked them three (3) questions:
- Why?
- As an alternate, would you attend all meetings even if you’re not needed?
- Was this decision to apply by your own volition?
I did support Thomas “Tommy” Bixler. I pushed for pay and benefit increases for Police and Fire. I pushed for the authorization of the City Manager to purchase City owned cell phones for City Councilmembers if they chose to opt in.
I know this is not City business, but I would like to thank all of the residents of the City of Gulfport for attending Rachel McQuillan cancer benefit at O’Maddy’s and Michael Richardson’s Brain Cancer Bash at Tiki’s on the Shore.
If you have any questions or quandaries, you can reach me at:
Cell: 727 851 8310
Office: 727 826 7355
Email: iohara@mygulfport.us
Sincerely your Neighbor and Councilman,
Ian O’Hara
“Becoming fearless isn’t the point, that’s impossible! It’s learning how to control your fear and how to be free from it.” -Victor Hugo.
Hello, Neighbors…
I want to thank everyone who voted in this past election; I want to thank the 1,293 people who voted for me, as well as the 1,049 who did not.
I have now attended 3 council meetings, 1 Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council Meeting, I have met twice with the city attorney, I have met multiple times with Lesley and Theresa, I have met just one time with Justin Shea & I have had 7 meetings with Jim O’Reilly, our city manager. I have attended the Police Employee Appreciation Day, the Volunteer Appreciation Day, 2 ribbon cuttings, 1 Lions Club Breakfast, 1 office hour (which is Fridays 2-4) & met with 23 constituents in person. I have put in place a no-parking sign and implemented a traffic study going on Tangerine. I attended a meet and greet for the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council in Clearwater.
I have responded to 34 personal emails (which will be soon forwarded to my city email account), I have responded to 223 emails (69 of which are from one individual).
So, I know this is not city business, but I would like to thank all of the city officials and all of our neighbors for being so wonderfully, kind to my wife and I during this trying time.
If you have any questions or quandaries, or just want to have a conversation, you can reach me at:
Cell: (727) 851-8310
City: (727) 826-7355
Email: iohara@mygulfport.us
Sincerely your neighbor and councilman,
Ian O’Hara