Dunedin City Commission Work Session Summary – April 15, 2025
Dunedin City Commission Work Session Summary – April 15, 2025
The City Commission of Dunedin, Florida, held a work session on April 15, 2025, at City Hall. The meeting included a proclamation for Public Service Recognition Week, approval of consent agenda items (including a pulled item on the Cinco de Mayo celebration), continuances of two advisory committees, award of a watermain replacement contract, and approval of design services for the Gladys E. Douglas Preserve. Commissioners also gave consensus direction on reallocating a portion of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds to the Elevate Florida program.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: Approved minutes from 3/4/2025 Work Session, 3/6/2025 Regular Meeting, and 3/18/2025 Work Session.
- Board and Committee Appointments: Reappointed Cindy Gorshe Collman to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee; moved Chase Fleeman from alternate to regular term on Board of Finance; appointed Alexandra Davison and Alex Christopoulos as alternates; appointed Hank Hodde and Christian Oshea as alternates to the Dunedin Causeway and Coastal Waterway Committee; reappointed Jeff Turcsanyi to the Firefighters' Pension Trust Fund; moved Sally Caron from alternate to regular term on Local Planning Agency.
- Cinco De Mayo Celebration Revocable License Agreement: Pulled from consent, discussed below, then approved unanimously.
- Cisco-Meraki Network Equipment Support Contract: Approved renewal for three-year period at two-year cost, $132,424.86, saving $65,917.38.
- Fishing Pier Design Services: Approved service authorization with Kimley-Horn for $259,822 for design, permitting, and post-design services.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Citizen Input: No members of the public spoke on non-agenda items.
- Consent Item 2.c (Cinco de Mayo Celebration): Tina Marie Avila (representing Casa Tina's Mexican Grill) explained the event is being held on Friday, May 2, instead of Monday, May 5, because past Sunday and Monday events resulted in early crowds and financial loss. She noted the 2024 event cost $89,000, including $8,000 in city fees and over $5,000 for sheriff services. She expressed that a Friday evening ensures financial success. The event will still be celebrated indoors on May 5. The Commission approved the item unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Public Service Recognition Week Proclamation: Commissioner Dugard read the proclamation designating May 4–10, 2025. Dr. Theresa Smalling, HR Director, accepted and noted that 20.6 million public servants (14.5% of U.S. workforce) serve nationwide, with 75% at local level; Dunedin has 414 employees, 40 vacancies, and 15 new hires with start dates. The Commission expressed appreciation.
- Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee (ACAC) Continuance: Chair Cindy Gorshe Collman presented the committee's accomplishments over the past three years, including 13 art installations, ongoing projects, and proposed revisions to the Public Art Master Plan. She requested continuance for another three years. Motion carried unanimously.
- Committee on Aging (COA) Continuance: Chair Cindy Cole described committee activities: intergenerational essay contest, Senior Hall of Fame, community fair participation, and plans for a senior needs survey. She requested continuance for another three years. Motion carried unanimously.
- Virginia Street Watermain Replacement Project Award (Bid #25-2511): Assistant Director of Utilities Clay Watkins presented the project to replace a deteriorating 12-inch cast-iron watermain on Virginia Street from Lake Haven Road to Keene Road. The main had three breaks in two years (most recent March 2025). Thirteen bids were received; Cacique Utilities, LLC was the lowest responsive bidder at $920,810. Motion carried unanimously.
- Gladys E. Douglas Preserve Phase 2 Design Services Award: Interim Parks Director Jocelyn Brodhead and consultant Chase Meyer (Wannemacher Jensen Architects) presented the scope: design for parking, utilities, ADA kayak/canoe launch, pier, picnic pavilion, observation platform, and restrooms. The FCT grant requires development by April 2027. The project is funded by Penny for Pinellas ($2.4M set aside) with design costs of $416,377 separate from estimated $2.65M construction. Commissioners discussed the need for the project, budget constraints, and the requirement to honor deed restrictions. Commissioner Sandbergen expressed concern about costs and voted no. Motion passed 4-1 (Sandbergen nay).
Key Outcomes
- ACAC Continuance: Approved unanimously.
- Committee on Aging Continuance: Approved unanimously.
- Virginia Street Watermain Contract Award: Approved unanimously.
- Gladys Douglas Preserve Design Services Award: Approved 4-1 (Commissioner Sandbergen dissenting).
- Consensus Direction on HMGP Reallocation: The Commission gave direction to support a 5% reallocation ($20M) of the $416M Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds to the Elevate Florida residential program, as recommended by City Manager Bramley. Commissioners expressed support for helping residents while preserving city infrastructure projects.
Meeting Transcript
Hold on. Good morning and welcome to the April 15, 2025 City Commission work session. I'd like to call the meeting to the order. I did realize it's uh tax day, right? Only not in Florida. We got an extension. Okay, we'll go to Jen for a Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of allegiance. One is under the individual liberty and justice draw. So, Jen, just out of curiosity, is the tax uh extension just for storm-related people that got hit by the storm or no? Everybody can extend it. Huh? It's an extension for everybody or just storm people. Um I know you can file for an extension. Everybody can. I don't know about this. No, no, no. There's something there is something specific because of the storms, but don't count on that for me. I'm just saying. We like your taxes. Mine's in, so okay. Um okay, we're going to go to presentations, which is public service recognition week, May 4th through the 10th, 2025. And I will turn to Commissioner Dicard to read to read that. Thank you, Mayor. This is an exciting time for a number of reasons, and it's a challenging time. And I particularly like this proclamation today, because of what it says about the people that are standing watch that are standing the tower in light of turmoil and difficulty. So it's particularly important today that we make this proclamation. Whereas since 1985, the President and Congress have designated the first full week of May as public service recognition week to honor all public employees who serve our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees. And whereas public service is a noble calling that requires dedication, integrity, high ethical standards sacrifice, and whereas public servants at all levels of government work tirelessly to improve the lives of their fellow citizens and the well-being of their communities. And whereas public service has failed servants have faced unprecedented challenges and risks and economic challenges, social unrest, and environmental threats. And whereas public servants demonstrate resilience, innovation, and courage in overcoming these obstacles and delivering essential services to the public, providing quality of life services, and maintaining excellent public facilities. And whereas day in and day out, public servants provide the diverse services expected by the American people of their government with pride, efficiency, and integrity. Now, I therefore Tom Dugard, by the virtue of the authority vested in me from the mayor of the City of Dunedin, Florida, and on behalf of the entire City Commission, do hereby declare May 4th through May 10th, 2025 as public service service recognition week, and call upon all citizens to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of government employees at all levels, especially our very own City of Dunedin employees, and to show appreciation through the demonstrations of gratitude. Thank you very much for this proclamation on behalf of all our city employees, especially City of Dunedin employees. That was just a microcosm of the work and sipping off smoothies that our city of Daneda employees do on a daily basis. Just a few uh statistics about public employees. Uh as of March 2025, state and local government employed 20.6 million public servants. Uh four that represents 14.5% of the total U.S. workforce. Uh seventy-five percent of public servants are represented by local government. At the city of Dunedin, we currently have 414 employees. Uh as of today, we have 40 vacancies but 15 candidates with start dates. And last week we saw our largest orientation class of 14 employees. So I'm always humbled to accept this on behalf of our employees, and I know that our employees are the best in not just the city, but also probably in the U.S., maybe the world. I'll give it that. So thank you very much. Thank you, Teresa. One of the best things about Dunedin has always been its workforce. Oh, picture, yeah, we got to get a picture. Any employees just want to come up?
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