The Dunedin City Commission convened its Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on August 7, 2025, at Dunedin City Hall, 737 Louden Avenue, with approximately forty members of the public in attendance. Mayor Maureen "Moe" Freaney presided, joined by Vice Mayor Jeff Gow and Commissioners Tom Dugard, Steven Sandbergen, and Robert Walker. Staff present included City Manager Jennifer Bramley, City Attorney Jennifer Cowan, Deputy City Clerk Michelle Wells, Deputy City Manager Jorge Quintas, and multiple department directors. The meeting adjourned at 10:54 p.m. Mayor Freaney opened the meeting by noting a Purple Heart Day ceremony held earlier that day at Purple Heart Park.
Citizen Input (non-agenda topics):
Ordinance 25-02 (Historic Preservation) public comment:
The Flats on Main Street public comment:
The consent agenda was approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Sandbergen, second by Commissioner Walker), with Item 2.e pulled for separate discussion:
3.a First Reading of Ordinance 25-02 — Historic Preservation (Chapter 111)
Planner II Francis Leong Sharp and Kimley-Horn consultant Blair Knighting presented the ordinance update. Key changes include adding "Landmark Site" designation, clarifying that only property owners can approve a Landmark designation, adding the ability to create Historic Districts, and updating the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) Matrix so that only demolition of more than 20% of a contributing structure requires City Commission approval. The Local Planning Agency (LPA) voted 5-1 on July 9, 2025, to recommend approval with the condition that the City Manager's authority to initiate a historic district application based on "irreparable harm to the character of the city" be removed. Staff recommended retaining that language as a failsafe. City Manager Bramley stated the provision would be used only as a last resort and that the "irreparable harm" standard is an intentionally high legal bar.
Discussion addressed resident concerns about property rights, the definition of irreparable harm, notice requirements (written notice to the Tax Collector address, posted signs, and public notice), the permit pause during an application, and the City Commission's ability to adopt a resolution removing that pause. Vice Mayor Gow proposed an amendment requiring the City Manager to notify the City Commission at a public meeting before filing a city-initiated historic district application. The amended motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Sandbergen voting nay and Commissioners Gow, Walker, Dugard, and Mayor Freaney voting aye. Second reading is scheduled for September 4, 2025.
3.b First Reading of Ordinance 25-06 — City Commission Salary Adjustment
HR Director Theresa Smalling explained the ordinance memorializes salary increases approved during the FY2025 budget process: commissioner salaries set at the City's $15.00/hour minimum wage ($15,600 per year) and the Mayor's salary set at $18.3654/hour ($19,100 per year), based on a 20-hour work week, effective October 1, 2024. Florida's statewide minimum wage reaches $15.00 in 2026. Passed unanimously; second reading set for September 4, 2025.
3.c First Reading of Application DR-2025-0001 — The Flats on Main Street
Applicant Archway Partners (Dave Heaslip and Brett Green) sought Design Review approval for a 78-unit affordable multifamily development on 3.34 acres at 1419, 1421, 1422, 1440, 1445 Carnation Drive and 1150 Friendly Lane. The project comprises two 3-story garden-style buildings (42 one-bedroom and 36 two-bedroom units), a clubhouse, surface parking, and common green space; three single-family homes and one two-family home on the site would be removed. The property is zoned MF-12.5 and the Land Use Plan designation is Residential Medium.
Key details presented: 119 off-street parking spaces provided versus 117 required; 14,300 square feet of common open space versus 7,800 required; an estimated 375 new daily trips and 75 new peak-hour trips (39 AM, 36 PM); a third-party Traffic Impact Analysis review by ICE concurred with the applicant's findings; Main Street operates at Level of Service D, which is not considered deficient; and the project includes a graywater system earning a state density bonus that helps achieve the 78-unit total. Financing includes a $30 million State commitment and $10 million in project-based housing vouchers from the Pinellas County Housing Authority; Executive Director Neal Brickfield clarified the vouchers are for 20 years, stay with the units, and have a 98% lease-up rate. A 50% Affordable Housing Density Bonus and 50% Public Art reduction were previously approved under Ordinance 25-01 and the Development Agreement. Approximately 128 residents are expected. Parkland Impact Fees are estimated at $195,963 ($2,512.34 per unit).
Applicant stormwater engineers Jesse Pacheco, P.E. (Stantec) and John Eveland described a conceptual design directing about two-thirds of the site to the FDOT drainage system, with 100-year storm modeling and one foot of freeboard for the proposed pond, exceeding City and SWFWMD criteria, and no proposed discharge to the west. Residents' concerns about stormwater and legal recourse were addressed by staff, the City Attorney, and the engineers, who noted permits are public record and can be investigated by the City, SWFWMD, and FDOT.
The Commission unanimously approved DR-2025-0001 with staff conditions, including the LPA's recommended third-party stormwater review. The Commission then unanimously waived the third public hearing at the applicant's request, citing State funding deadlines and the project's prior public hearings; the item was removed from the September 4, 2025, agenda.
3.d Resolution 25-19 — Reclaimed Water User Rates
Engineer II Alison Gonzalez presented the final component of the Raftelis Water/Wastewater Utility Revenue Study. The resolution increases reclaimed water user rates, establishes a surcharge for use during February through June each year, establishes a Capital Cost Recovery (CCR) fee, permits service disconnection for nonpayment, and repeals Resolution 04-06 in its entirety. Commissioner Dugard confirmed this resolution is the mechanism to adopt the previously discussed $1.50 per 1,000 gallons reclaimed water rate. Adopted unanimously.
3.e Resolution 25-21 — Vacation of Right-of-Way at 968 Douglas Ave
Deputy City Manager Jorge Quintas explained the Property Appraiser's Office shows the approximately 3,912 square foot platted right-of-way (Plat Book 5, Page 66) as vacated, but no record of the vacation exists. Approval clears the cloud on the property's title. Economic Development Director Robert Ironsmith noted the applicant, Bill Mazas (owner of Ocean Optics), is considering mixed-use opportunities including a parking garage and retail shops. Adopted unanimously.
3.f Resolution 25-28 — Purchasing Policy Change
At staff's request, the item was tabled unanimously.
3.g Award — FY25 Wastewater Lift Stations Rehabilitation Project
Utilities Operations Manager Janice Bennett presented the award to TLC Diversified, Inc. (Palmetto, FL) in the total amount of $888,309.08, via "piggybacking" Pinellas County Contract #24-0073-ITB-C. Four lift stations will receive extensive improvements and four will receive minor improvements plus easier emergency bypass pump hookups. Commissioner Dugard asked about storm-season readiness; Bennett affirmed the stations function 24/7 and emergency repairs are brought to the Commission after the fact. Awarded unanimously.
3.h Addendum No. 2 — EDT Construction Phase Professional Services
Engineer II Gonzalez requested approval of Addendum No. 2 to the Engineering Design Technologies, Corp. (EDT) agreement for construction-phase services: $396,159 (NTE) for the WWTP Electrical Systems Upgrade Project and $146,332 (NTE) for the City-Wide Lift Station Control Panel Replacement & SCADA System Upgrades, totaling $542,491. EDT serves as Engineer of Record because the City lacks in-house electrical engineering expertise. Approved unanimously.
3.i Proposed September 4, 2025, Agenda
The proposed agenda was approved unanimously with the deletion of the second reading of DR-2025-0001.
The August 7, 2025 City Commission meeting. I'd like to call the meeting to order. I would like to say today we had a wonderful ceremony in at Purple Heart Park for our Purple Heart veterans. And actually, the keynote speaker was a gentleman who in Iraq lost his best friend and both his legs. And uh it was very inspirational, reminds us what it's all about. And so I thought it set the tone because it's Purple Heart Day. So be sure and be gratify have gratitude in your heart. Okay, so we're gonna start with invocation and pledge of allegiance. Jen, can you do that? Yes. Let us begin this meeting by taking a moment of silence and reflection for the family of Grad Gracie. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flight of the United States of America and to the Republic for which one undergo individuals with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we have no presentations tonight. That's rare. But uh so we'll keep on moving. Uh so uh the next item is citizen input. So if there's anyone in the audience who wants wishes to speak on an item that is not on the agenda tonight, this would be your time to come forward in three minutes, name and address for the record. How are you doing? Hi, Mayor, good to see you. Good to see you too. My name is David Ballard Geddes Jr. I live at 802 Georgia Avenue in Palm Harbor. Again, based on Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution, reflective of the 14th amendment. Does the city within its 10 mile square parameter allow businesses to conduct themselves in an ill-willed and fraudulent manner, allowing businesses being as imposts in the city to betray their customer base and ultimately deny their contractual obligation after being paid to conduct themselves legitimately in that contractual obligations are being respected and performed honorably not to disrespect the customer or depart from their paid contractual obligations, ultimately, in the end, not to deceive the customer who paid for such trusted performance. My father hired and paid attorney Freeborn in Dunedin, entrusting Freeborn with his last will and testament in that it be honored. Six months had passed before disgustedly I went to Freeborn's office to retrieve my father's will. The last will and testament that Freeborn's office handed to me is not my father's will. It's a fake. Ultimately betraying my father. Furthermore, just because my father was elderly doesn't necessarily mean that my father died of natural causes. This is an inexcusable crime that will ultimately include the Achilles heel of the city itself as constituted in its fortnight therein as based on the 14th Amendment. And Freeborn never even bothered to give me a copy of my father's death certificate after he was paid for that as well. I have a big problem here, and we need to get to the bottom of it. Thank you. Thank you, David. And um, if you feel that strong, you might want to go to the Panelas County Sheriff's Office. Okay, anyone else in the audience wish to speak to an item that is not on the agenda. Oh name and address in three minutes. I'm Jenny Funderburg, 1373 Curley Road, um, part of Curloo Trails. Just coming again to speak about repairing the Way Bridge. So that we can get that pre repaired. As well as we have seven children in our neighborhood. Curly Road is still extremely dangerous just to even cross as a pedestrian, but with schools starting next week. I know we have two high schoolers that used to ride their bike and take their bike across the bridge to get over to school. And now they're having to go out on Curloo. So I'm just concerned about them. And just you know, our neighborhood being able to have access to go to the city to get on the trail, which is part of why we live where we live, so we could ride the trail and um get to the downtown shopping, commerce, whatnot.