![\"two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/02Joe-White_TI-Fire-Rescue_12112025.jpg\")
Along with celebrating Lt. Joe White\u2019s (left) retirement, the Dec. 2 Treasure Island Commission meeting discussed the Master Plan and residents\u2019 views. Photo courtesy of the Treasure Island Fire Rescue<\/p>\n
\t\tAlong with celebrating Lt. Joe White\u2019s (left) retirement, the Dec. 2 Treasure Island Commission meeting discussed the Master Plan and residents\u2019 views.
Photo courtesy of the Treasure Island Fire Rescue<\/p>\n
The Dec. 2 Treasure Island Commission meeting was contentious, with a recall effort announced, a vote to secure a master planner failing, and a Commissioner missing in action.<\/p>\n
In lighter news, the City also celebrated Lt. Joe White\u2019s retirement from the Treasure Island Fire Department after 26 years.<\/p>\n
Missing in Action<\/p>\n
District 2 Commissioner Chris Clark was not in attendance, which caught some criticism during public comment. Clark\u2019s absence had a direct impact on an issue important to numerous Treasure Island residents present for the meeting. This meeting was supposed to secure a Master Plan for the redevelopment of Treasure Island.<\/p>\n
The issue of a Master Plan has been a focal point of residents showing up to Commission meetings to speak for weeks. Residents celebrated last session when the Commission passed a resolution to begin the process toward obtaining a Master Plan.<\/a><\/p>\n The request for qualifications presented at the Dec. 2 meeting however, failed to impress both residents and District 4 Commissioner Arden Dickey, who took issue with a specific section, which requires a \u201cplanner with experience in Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was a consultant for many years in my job in the newspaper business,\u201d Dickey said. \u201cI could work as easily in Miami as I could Detroit or Philadelphia or Kansas City.\u201d<\/p>\n He was alone in this specific objection with Vice Mayor Tammy Vasquez (District 1) and Mayor John Doctor advocating for experience in Florida as essential to the master planner.<\/p>\n [Read more below]<\/p>\n Want More Treasure Island News?<\/p>\n For more Treasure Island news, subscribe to our newsletters<\/a>. Make thegabber.com<\/a> your homepage to stay up-to-date on all the news happening in Gulfport, South Pinellas, and the Beaches.<\/p>\n The vote was split at 2-2 causing the Master Plan to fail, with Clark\u2019s tie-breaking vote missing in action. Commissioners Dickey and Arthur Czyszczon (District 3) voted against the resolution to send out the request for qualifications saying it was not specific enough. <\/p>\n \u201cWe need a better scope of services,\u201d Dickey said. \u201cIt looked like it was downloaded from AI.\u201d <\/p>\n Resident Mark Hoey shared this same sentiment.<\/p>\n \u201cThe criteria that were circulated as part of the handout are extremely weak and inadequate,\u201d Hoey said. <\/p>\n Hoey came with receipts. He shared a response to the request for qualifications from a City staff member saying, \u201cfrom what I read, we don\u2019t know where we want to go, and are relying on a vague scope from a consultant to tell us\u2026 I have never seen such an unclear scope of services.\u201d <\/p>\n Despite a last minute attempt to resurrect the issue, no request for qualifications has been approved for a master planner. The issue is not dead, however, and the Commission instructed City staff to create a more detailed request for qualifications to be discussed on Jan. 5, 2026.<\/p>\n Commissioner Czyszczon Facing Heat<\/p>\n This meeting focused heavily on Commissioner Czyszczon who butted heads with both Mayor Doctor and residents opposed to his policies. Residents confronted Czyszczon with a newly unveiled recall effort.<\/p>\n Commissioner Czyszczon wanted to dig into items he felt were relevant to his district that had been previously added to the consent agenda. He said there is a \u201cpotential savings of $167,000\u2033 that \u201cneeds to be discussed to save money.\u201d<\/p>\n Typically,\u00a0 the City discusses items on the consent agenda prior to these meetings and are believed to have unanimous consent so they can pass quicker. Mayor Doctor criticized what he called a \u201cwaste of time\u201d with changing the consent agenda each week in a comment pointed at Commissioners Dickey and Czyszczon.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought saving $167,000 was not a waste of time,\u201d Czyszczon said.<\/p>\n Czyszczon was referencing a vote on new windows and doors for the Treasure Bay Clubhouse that had been on the consent agenda. However, when the Commission discussed the repairs further, they found savings available and instead voted for a cheaper option.<\/p>\n [Read more below]<\/p>\n The Gabber Newspaper? We Go There<\/p>\n In 1968, our founder, George Brann, started The Gabber Newspaper, then called the Gulfport Gabber, to hold Gulfport City Council<\/a> accountable. Read more of our city council coverage<\/a>, and learn about our policies on reporting, fact-checking, and funding<\/a>.<\/p>\n Additionally, Czyszczon faced criticism from residents of his district. Hoey, a regular Commission meeting attendee, gave three comments throughout the night that all began with the same preamble: \u201cGood evening; Mark Hoey; and Arthur Czyszczon still does not reflect my values.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoey was not alone this week in his specific criticisms of Czyszczon, with resident Brandy Long unveiling a recall effort against him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has become evident that he is not appropriate to continue serving and since he has refused to step down, this is the course of action,\u201d Long said. \u201cYou\u2019ll see volunteers canvassing neighborhoods and visiting local businesses. We\u2019ll be sharing updates on social media so you can easily connect with a volunteer and add your name.\u201d<\/p>\n During a tense moment at the end of the session, Czyszczon responded to the recall effort at large, \u201cI definitely don\u2019t share the same values as [Mark Hoey], and I am not going to be resigning\u2026 I welcome the recall, let\u2019s do it.\u201d<\/p>\n 26 Years of Service<\/p>\n The City, family, and fellow firefighters celebrated firefighter and EMT Lt. Joe White on his retirement after 26 years with the Treasure Island Fire Department.<\/p>\n Fire Chief Trip Barrs gave a glowing review of White\u2019s tenure as a driver for nearly 20 years, and also his tireless efforts as their union representative.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe also served as union representative,\u201d Barrs said. \u201cEnsuring that the men and women of the fire department were represented and advocated for fairly and professionally, always keeping the best interests of the public and the organization at the forefront.\u201d<\/p>\n There will be a reception at City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 9 from 1-3 p.m. honoring Lt. White. All are welcome to attend.<\/p>\n The Dec. 2 Treasure Island Commission Meeting Bookmark The Gabber Newspaper\u2018s storm coverage<\/a> page for quick access to relevant tropical storm updates. No hype, no guessing, just updates on shelters, sandbags, and closures. Sign up for text alerts<\/a> to get real-time guidance and prep advice when there\u2019s a named storm heading our way. Also, check out our downtown Gulfport and beach web cams<\/a>.<\/p>\n Love reading? The Gabber Newspaper has a monthly book club!<\/p>\n The book club focuses on Florida voices and stories, with special attention paid to historically marginalized voices. The club is free. It meets the second Wednesday of the month at Habana Caf\u00e9. Book discussion starts at 7 p.m. but members often arrive at 6:30 p.m. to order food and drinks. The book club meets every month except December. Find the schedule here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Love To Eat? So Do We!<\/p>\n![\"three](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01TI-Meeting_Hailey-Rank_04102025-e1743968275134.jpg\"){kind=icon}
District 3 Commissioner Arthur Czyszczon (middle) butted heads with both Mayor John Doctor (left) and residents who opposed his policies.
Photo by Hailey Rank<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/01Joe-White_TI-Fire-Rescue_12112025-e1764888733612.jpg\")
The City, family, and fellow firefighters celebrated firefighter and EMT Lt. Joe White on his retirement after 26 years with the Treasure Island Fire Department.
Photo courtesy of the Treasure Island Fire Rescue<\/p>\n
\nWe\u2019re the calm during the storm. No hype, only help!<\/p>\n