The month moved so quickly I hardly noticed the heat.

I participated in the Pride Flag Raising, Flag Day Ceremony, a Q&A session at Gulfport Montessori, the opening of the Welcome Center, three community cleanups, and the St. Pete Pride Parade.

In addition to approximately 28 hours of meetings in Gulfport, I attended a two-day seminar hosted by the Florida League of Cities. It was a professional and productive experience, offering an opportunity to meet mayors and councilmembers from across the state.

My main takeaway is that our beautiful little piece of paradise is recovering. The boardwalk is open, and we have installed a floating dock at the marina for boaters who prefer not to get wet. Work has begun on the Williams Pier, and I expect it to reopen by mid-July. The debris on the beach west of the Casino has been removed, and trucks carrying sand are scheduled to begin arriving this week. We’ll be hosting a small volleyball tournament on July 12.

Our Permitting Department appears to be current on processing applications, and Council has provided new direction to the City Manager. We have asked for a customer service position to be added to assist homeowners—particularly those who need help navigating the permitting process. We want to ensure permits are issued regularly within 5 to 10 days. An AI feature will also be added to the City’s website to help residents navigate the permitting process. Additionally, one of our employees is completing certification to become our Floodplain Manager. I fully expect City operations to return to normal hours, five days a week, by the end of the month.

I hope you’re seeing the daily progress as well. I’m very responsive to email at klove@mygulfport.us, and I also hold office hours every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. I want to hear from you—respectful conversation is always welcome.

Mayor Love