Dunedin City Commission Workshop – October 7, 2025
Dunedin City Commission Workshop – October 7, 2025
The Dunedin City Commission held a workshop on October 7, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:33 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting included presentations, workshop discussions on a social connection survey, sustainability matrix update, multimodal transportation plan, and an informational item. Proclamations were read, a firefighter was honored, and the commission provided direction on several initiatives.
Presentations
- Firefighter of the Year Award: The Commission recognized FF/EMT Michael Boles as the 2025/2026 Firefighter of the Year. Boles joined Dunedin Fire Rescue in April 2023 under the lateral hire policy and brought diverse skills including experience with urban search and rescue and hazardous materials.
- Fire Prevention Week (Oct 5–11, 2025): Commissioner Sandbergen read a proclamation designating the week with the theme "Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home." Acting Fire Chief Handoga highlighted risks of lithium-ion batteries, citing a local fire at a store on Main Street attributed to e-bike batteries.
- Florida City Week (Oct 20–26, 2025): Vice Mayor Gow read the proclamation. Human Resources Director Smalling thanked city employees and noted the week celebrates city government's role in community quality of life.
- Dunedin Causeway Update: Thomas Washburn, P.E., Pinellas County Transportation Division Director, presented on storm damage repairs and proposed one-way circulation. Storm damage costs rose from an estimated $440,000 to $1.3 million. Emergency repairs to the bridge sidewalk and railings cost $60,000; FEMA reimbursement is pending. A pilot one-way circulation on the north side is planned for installation by the end of October 2025. South side circulation is postponed due to storm damage. Additional bollards and relocation of a crosswalk are planned to prevent vehicles from entering the trail.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dunedin Causeway: John Tornga (1901 Saddle Hill Road N) suggested closing two western entrances to right turns instead of one-way traffic, advocating for freedom of movement. Lenny Carr (2169 Cedar Drive) expressed support for jet ski access but suggested possible weekend restrictions; he noted he picks up trash. Cindy Cole (433 Orangewood) praised increased marine life since the hurricane and jet ski closure, and urged protection of the environment. Kevin Sinett (606 Sea Court) noted that trash is bagged on Monday mornings and encouraged inclusive discussions with county residents. Rebecca Stein (2240 Watrous Drive) called for balance between jet skiers and eco-tourism, noting economic benefits of tourism.
- Sustainability Matrix Update: Lynda Mifsud, representing FAST (Faith in Action and Strength Together) and First United Methodist Church, expressed strong support for the updated matrix and green stormwater infrastructure measures. She criticized Senate Bill 180 as an attack on home rule and noted a lawsuit by 25 counties and cities. She urged eventual return to a single matrix.
- Multimodal Transportation Plan: Steve Marco (460 Highland Avenue) recommended artistic signs, speed zones for events, and addressing confusion at trail-street intersections. Lisa Hunt (252 New York Avenue) reported near-hits during special events and advocated for permanently closing a section of downtown to vehicles between Strahan’s and Pioneer Park down to Pisces. She noted e-scooter safety concerns.
- Informational Item – Dunedin Commons MOU: Attorney Angela Halburt (representing the developer) thanked the Commission for its attention.
Discussion Items
- Social Connection Survey: The Committee on Aging, led by Chair Cindy Cole and supported by Commissioner Dugard, presented a survey to identify isolated seniors. The survey aims to inform programs like Senior-to-Senior phone calls, monthly cards, and a phone pal service at the Hale Center. The committee has no budget and relies on volunteers and donations. The Commission expressed strong support and provided consensus direction to move forward.
- Sustainability Matrix Update: Sustainability Program Manager Natalie Gass presented the updated matrix, which adds 20 new strategies and a new Green Stormwater Infrastructure category. The proposed scorecard expands the point range from 136–314 to 860–2410, with a minimum required of 500 points (20.75% of maximum, down from 31.85%). Due to Senate Bill 180 (expires October 1, 2027), which prohibits more restrictive land development regulations, staff proposed a dual-path approach: developers can choose either the current matrix or the new scorecard. City Attorney Cowan noted that if challenged and successful, a developer could get attorney fees and an injunction. The Commission supported the dual-path approach with the intent to move to a single matrix when SB 180 is clarified or expires. Staff will also seek developer feedback, and the item will go to the Local Planning Agency on November 12, 2025, followed by two Commission hearings in December 2025 and January 2026.
- Multimodal Transportation Plan: Community Development Project Manager Kathy Gademer and consultants from Kimley-Horn presented the update. Crash data from 2019–2023 showed 2,541 total crashes (down from previous period), 193 bike/pedestrian crashes, 63 fatal/serious injury crashes (20 involving bike/ped). Pedestrian crashes increased. Community engagement (700+ responses) identified e-bike safety as the top concern. The plan includes a new Streetscape Design Standards chapter with six street types. The Commission discussed e-bike safety, pedestrian-bike conflicts, and the need for enforcement and education. Commissioner Walker suggested classifying e-bikes allowed on trails. The plan will be revised based on feedback and presented for approval in December 2025.
- Informational Item – Dunedin Commons MOU: City Manager Bramley announced intent to provide a Memorandum of Understanding to the Dunedin Commons LLC development team. Community Development Director Kinney explained the original development agreement for the property includes a 4-acre residual parcel behind the bowling alley that was to be marketed for a specific use. Since that use could not be secured, the MOU assures the developer the city will continue to work with them after the development agreement expires in December 2025. The MOU contains mostly perfunctory language already available under the Land Development Code.
Key Outcomes
- Firefighter of the Year: Awarded to FF/EMT Michael Boles.
- Proclamations: Fire Prevention Week (Oct 5–11) and Florida City Week (Oct 20–26) approved.
- Social Connection Survey: Commission gave unanimous consensus direction to proceed with the survey.
- Sustainability Matrix Update: Commission gave consensus direction to proceed with the dual-path approach (current matrix and new optional scorecard) and to work toward a single matrix when state law allows.
- Multimodal Transportation Plan: Commission provided feedback; staff will finalize the plan and bring it back for approval in December 2025. Directions included addressing e-bike safety, improving crosswalks, and embedding policies into the Land Development Code.
- Dunedin Causeway: The Commission acknowledged the update and expressed frustration with FEMA delays but supported the one-way pilot and requested further discussion on jet ski access and environmental impacts.
- Dunedin Commons MOU: Informational; no vote taken. Commission acknowledged the MOU.
Meeting Transcript
We will start with the Pledge of Allegiance by our City Attorney. Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice. Well, first of all, weak apologies to Yankees fans, but how about those Blue Jays? Come on. And uh we'll all be going blue here after we're done with the firefighter things. But uh, anyway, so okay, we are going to start with uh Florida City Week, and I'm gonna turn that over to Vice Mayor Gao to present Florida City Week proclamation. Thank you, Mayor, very very much. And while Teresa makes her way up, we need some sort of walk-up music or something for her for this. Uh you know, every day is Florida's Florida City Week, and it's great to see it on the agenda this this morning. Uh and it comes third after our our firefighters and fire prevention, which is as it should be, but it's certainly uh city government is in the top three as it should be. Uh Florida City Week, October twenty eighth to twenty twenty-sixth, twenty twenty-five. Whereas October twenty through twenty-sixth, twenty twenty-five has been declared as Florida City Week. City government is the government closest to most citizens, and is the one with the most direct daily impact upon its residents. Now, therefore, I, Jeff Gow, by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the mayor of the City of Dunedin, and on behalf of this entire city commission, do hereby recognize October twenty through twenty-sixth, twenty twenty-five as Florida City Week, and encourage all citizens, city government officials, and employees to participate in events that recognize and celebrate the week while promoting Dunedin through civic education and volunteerism. So thank you very much. Good morning, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commission, Teresa Smalling, Director of HR and Risk Management for the City. Thank you for this proclamation to recognize Florida City Week as it mentioned, a time set aside each year to celebrate the important role city government plays in shaping the quality of life in our communities. This week is an opportunity to highlight how city government connects directly to our daily lives. From award-winning water and wastewater programs to recreation centers in the library, city services directly and profoundly impact our quality of life. Every day, right here in our own community, city employees work together to deliver essential services, responding when our residents need emergency medical services, maintaining our roads, sidewalks, and parks, keeping our neighborhoods and business areas safe, and offering programs that make our city a great place to live, work, and raise a family. As we celebrate Florida City Week, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank all of our city employees, elected officials, and volunteers, as well as personnel from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office who happen to be here today for their dedication and service to the City of Dunedin. For many, their hard work often happens behind the scenes, but it takes it makes a lasting difference in the lives of our citizens every single day. So thank you. Thank you, Teresa. Yeah, let's get the picture, sorry. The odd one out. And uh yeah, I'm just gonna add, you know, the backbone of our city is our employees and um local government is closest to the people, and uh as we always look for ways to uh how we're gonna fund it. They're looking uh at that at Tallahassee. I just you know, what what makes our community special um is you know the things that we can do in our community that are you know different. Um we don't want to be the same old community as everybody else in Florida. We want to be different. So um open to all the discussion on how local government should best be funded, but I think it is very important that citizens pay attention to it because um who we are. Um, if every funding source is cut off, we will slowly not be who we are. So I think responsible financing of our government is really important, but uh pay attention to the discussions, please, because if you have to vote for it, you want to vote in a way that really you understand the give and take of it. Thank you. Okay, we are going to move to uh fire prevention week, and I will turn to Commissioner Samberg. Come on up, Mike. Good uh good afternoon, actually uh Chief, sorry. Um, uh good morning, uh, Vice Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager. Um, thank you for having us. This week, Dunedin Fire Rescue joins fire departments across the nation in celebrating Fire Prevention Week, a program that has been supported by the National Fire Protection Agency, NFPA, for more than 100 years. Each year we focus on a theme that brings us life-saving information to the residents, and this year's theme is charge into safety, lithium-ion batteries in your home. Lithium ion batteries power so many of the tools that we use in our day-to-day lives, power uh laptops, power tools, e-bikes, and uh even mobility scooters. They make our modern life convenient, but can be, when damaged, overcharged or improperly stored, can become extremely dangerous. According to the national uh data from the NFPA and the U.S. uh product consumer safety commission, lithium ion batteries have increased more than 40 percent over the past five years. Across the country, these fires are responsible for hundreds of injuries and dozens of fatalities each year, often starting suddenly and spreading rapidly. In many cases, they begin while devices are charging on couches, beds, or other combustible services, turning everyday conveniences into a life uh life-threatening event. And here in Dunedin, we take that risk seriously. Many of you know that uh the Pettygo store that was located uh just off of uh railroad um off of Main Street a couple of years ago had uh a significant fire attributed directly to a lithium ion batteries that were in the e-bikes.
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