Dunedin Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting - March 20, 2025
Dunedin Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting – March 20, 2025
The Dunedin Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) met on March 20, 2025, at 4:38 p.m. (adjourned at 5:18 p.m.) to discuss and vote on several items including the FY 2024 annual report, advisory committee appointments, major project updates, and a downtown merchants association decision. The meeting began with a call to order and citizen input, during which no members of the public spoke. All votes were unanimous.
Discussion Items
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1.a. Approval of Novemer 21, 2024 Meeting Minutes: Approved unanimously without discussion.
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1.b. CRA Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report: Staff presented the report, noting statutory requirement to submit to Pinellas County by March 31, 2025. Highlights included Skinner Boulevard, parking garage, old City Hall, faade grants, arts, and special events. Members asked about the faade grant ($7,500 available, no current applications), report organization (template from county), and financial adjustments on page 16 ($12 million in capital assets, debt for parking lot and Monroe Parking Garage lease). Chair Moe Freaney noted an error listing her as Vice Mayor (instead of John Tornga) and the year 2025 should be 2024. City Attorney Cowan also noted her role should be listed as legal counsel. The report was approved as amended, with corrections to membership, date, and page numbers. Members commended staff.
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1.c. CRA Advisory Committee Membership Recommendation: Staff recommended reappointing Peter Kreuziger and Kathrynn Carlson, moving Eric Peterson and Jillian Bandes from alternate to regular, and appointing Andy Polce, Joseph F. Schmidt, James Johns, and Douglas Moat (alternate). All appointments were approved unanimously. Staff indicated long-term members would be recognized in May.
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1.d. CRA Advisory Committee Chair Report: Chair Alan McHale reported on the March 5 committee meeting. New officers were elected: McHale as Chair, Kim Platt as Vice-Chair, Eric Peterson as Secretary (subject to CRA approval). He thanked outgoing long-term members and noted staff Carolyn Homer and Trevor Davis capably handled reports during Bob Ironsmith's absence. The only citizen input concerned e-bike speed and volume on the Pinellas Trail through downtown; Sheriff's patrols have increased. No other concerns were raised.
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1.e. CRA Director’s Report:
- Skinner Boulevard: Contractor on schedule and budget; road change to westbound expected mid-April, closing noarthbound Douglas. Staff working with businesses on delivery access (U-turn). Project may finish earlier than expected by end of 2025.
- Parking Garage: Design criteria package nearing completion; will go to RFQ for design-build.
- Old City Hall: Design continuing; full presentation including restrooms to CRAAC in May. Timeline for construction start in late fall. Restroom inclusion sparked discussion: Chair Freaney expressed concern about impact on other capital projects (parking garage, pool) and unintended consequences. Commissioner Sandbergen supported early restroom installation. Commissioner Walker raised concerns about ongoing management and cleaning. City Manager Jenifer Bramley clarified if restrooms are moved forward this fiscal year, impact on other capital projects and future maintenance must be considered. Finance Director Les Tylor noted restrooms are placeholders in FY26 General Fund, not CRA, because CRA has high debt ($1.1 million annual debt service plus $550,000 opening costs). Vice-Chair Jeff Gow argued that since CRA success creates restroom need, CRA should fund them. Discussion concluded with agreement to further evaluate.
- CRA Mid-Term Review with Pinellas County: Consultant hired; report will come to CRA first, then to county for vote.
- State Legislation Threat: House and Senate bills proposed eliminating CRAs or prohibiting new projects after October 1, 2025, and banning new debt after that date. Staff expressed high impact concern; lobbyist via Florida Redevelopment Association monitoring.
- Downtown Merchants Association (DDMA) / Chamber of Commerce: City Manager Bramley reported DDMA president stepping down with no replacement; Chamber proposed absorbing DDMA. At a DDMA membership meeting, Bramley voted as the city’s gold standard member to support Chamber takeover (vote 22-4). The CRA voted unanimousl y to ratify her vote. Staff will work more closely with Chamber.
- Affordable Housing (“The Flats”): Outside CRA, but progressing. Pinellas County Housing Authority contributed $10 million over 20 years through housing vouchers. Groundbreaking expected in fall; federal funding freeze not expected to affect (most from state).
- Dunedin Commons (Behind Bowling Alley): Developer considering affordable housing but needs to terminate existing development agreement (expires end of year). City staff working with them on options.
- Connectivity from Mease Life to Downtown: Chair Freaney suggested exploring a walkway partnership among Mease Life, Mease Dunedin Hospital, and city. Members agreed to include in next budget.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to approve November 21, 2024 minutes: Approved unanimously.
- Motion to approve FY 2024 Annual Report as amended: Approved unanimously (with corrections to membership list, date, and page numbers).
- Motion to approve Advisory Committee membership appointments/reappointments: Approved unanimously.
- Motion to ratify City Manager's vote on DDMA/Chamber affiliation: Approved unanimously.
All votes carried 5-0 without dissent.
Meeting Transcript
20th, 2525 community redevelopment agency meeting. I would like to call the CRA meeting to order. And we'll start with citizens' input. Is there anyone out in the audience that wishes to come forward and speak about an item that is not on the agenda? Seeing none, I will close that and we'll go to our business. 1A is the draft minutes from the November 21st, 2024 Community Redevelopment Agency. And are there any changes to be done? Okay. Hearing none, can I have a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. Second. Okay. Okay, a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. And that motion passes unanimously. Okay. And we go to community redevelopment agency fiscal year 2024 annual report. Staff presentation, Mr. Ironsmith. Bob. Yes, Mayor. Bob Ironsmith, Economic Development Director. Here today to present the annual report. This is something that Carolyn did a great job putting together. This is the prior year. This basically puts together the performance measures, how the CRA did. We send this to the county. We have a statutory requirement to get it to the county by March 31st. So we're in good shape there. I just want to highlight some of the items that are going on there. Obviously, Skinner Boulevard, some major capital projects, uh the garage, uh the old city hall, all that took place along with uh facade assistance, uh arts and crafts, some special events downtown. So this is basically a reflection of how we did during the year. It's always a little bit confusing. This is last year. We're in the year that we're in, and of course, upcoming is the budget for the next fiscal year. So you kind of have these three years that kind of you know we kind of cross over a little bit. But again, this is the annual report for the CRA for the prior year. Uh Carol put this together, great cover page there. That's the uh the artist in there that shows the uh retail and the apartments there with the uh the umbrellas at the nice little sidewalk scene. So be happy to answer any questions that you would have relative to the annual report. It shows the organization, it shows the boundary for the CRA, it shows uh staff that was in place at that point in time. We certainly appreciate all the support they got from the city attorney, uh Jen Cowan, City Manager, Jen Bramley, and George Kinney. We work quite closely with George Kenney as community development director. So be happy to answer any questions that you might have on the annual report. Okay, questions? I'll start with Vice Mayor. Uh no questions, Mayor.
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