Dunedin City Commission Regular Meeting - November 6, 2025

The Dunedin City Commission held its regular meeting on November 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Dunedin City Hall, 737 Louden Ave. Mayor Maureen 'Moe' Freaney presided, with Commissioners Tom Dugard, Steven Sandbergen, and Robert Walker present. Vice Mayor Jeff Gow was absent due to a family emergency and was excused by a 4-0 vote. The agenda included veterans and firefighter recognition, consent items, a floodplain ordinance, a historic certificate of appropriateness, the annual EMS funding agreement, and approval of the November 20 meeting agenda. Around 60 members of the public attended. The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.

Presentations

• Veterans Day Proclamation: Commissioner Walker read the proclamation declaring November 11, 2025, as Veterans Day in Dunedin and encouraging attendance at the ceremony. Rob Cozen, Chair of the U.S. Military Veterans Advisory Committee, expressed appreciation for the city's overwhelming support of veterans, thanked Parks and Recreation and Achieva Credit Union, and noted the 250th anniversary of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The minutes identify the ceremony location as Edgewater Park, while the transcript says Pioneer Park.
• VFW 'Buddy' Poppy Proclamation: Mayor Freaney read the proclamation recognizing the VFW Buddy Poppy program. Stoney Lawrentz-Edwards, President of the VFW Auxiliary District 21, expressed appreciation for the recognition and encouraged the public to pick up Buddy Poppies on Veterans Day.
• Swearing-In Ceremony for New Firefighters: Fire Chief Michael Handoga introduced the five newest Dunedin Fire Rescue members: Rustam Agakhanov, Taylor Byrd, Troy Fowler, Ryan Smith, and Julian Zeqiri. Mayor Freaney administered the oath of office, and family members pinned their badges.
• Swearing-In Ceremony for Promotions: Chief Handoga introduced the newly promoted Fire Marshal Jorge 'Danny' Castillo, Deputy Chief Mark Zipeto, Deputy Chief Steve Santana, and Fire Chief Michael Handoga. Mayor Freaney administered the oath. Chief Handoga thanked his first fire chief, Fred Golliner, and his last fire chief, Jeff Parks, for 18 years of mentorship; his mother pinned him.
• Medal of Valor Presentation: Chief Handoga presented the Medal of Valor to Firefighter/Paramedic AJ Gonzales and Firefighter/EMT Makayla Bowers for their rescue of a trapped occupant from a residential structure fire on San Mateo Drive on October 14, 2025. Armed only with hand tools and a three-gallon water can, they entered the burning home, removed the victim, and began advanced life-saving care before other units arrived. The actual dispatch audio was played. Both recipients credited their training, trust in each other, and said any member of their team would have done the same.

Consent Calendar

The Commission approved the consent agenda 4-0. It included:

• Approval of the September 4, 2025 Regular Meeting minutes and September 11, 2025 Special Meeting minutes.
• Board and committee appointments: Katie Green moved to a regular term on the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee ending 4/1/2027; the agenda also listed appointing Jill Ebner as an alternate for that committee; Christian Oshea and Hank Hodde moved to regular terms on the Dunedin Causeway and Coastal Waterways Committee; Katherine Mcaniff appointed as an alternate to the Library Advisory Committee. The minutes do not repeat the Jill Ebner appointment.
• Purchase of a wireless microphone system for the Chambers from Peerson Audio, Inc. of Jupiter, FL for $46,869.60.
• Purchase of an MVB3X anti-vehicle barrier system for $137,956, designated as a sole source for the city's continued use, to increase public safety during special events.
• Purchase of 2025 holiday decoration services from Rileighs Outdoor, LLC dba Christmas Designers Florida for $60,240.00 under RFQ#238.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Tornga, former Dunedin Commissioner/Vice Mayor, recognized the 250th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, read the Marine Corps Commandant's birthday message, and noted Dunedin's historical role with the first LVT vehicles and battalion.
• Sharon Herman and Stuart Meyer expressed gratitude for the city-organized Toronto Blue Jays watch parties, praised the Blue Jays as strong community partners, and noted their Dunedin fan group has grown to 621 members.
• David Ballard Geddis Jr. made statements about water districts, alleged attorney fraud, and questioned what he called government overreach; he also raised concerns about regulation during the later historic property hearing.
• Eric Curtis, a Marina Advisory Committee member, said he supports open questioning in government and complained that City Manager Jennifer Bramley interrupted him at a MAC meeting and overstepped her role.
• David Ferguson, a longtime Dunedin resident, expressed concern that the Dunedin Causeway and Coastal Waterways Committee may recommend ending motorized watercraft launching on the Causeway, saying it has been a traditional use since the 1960s. He asked the Commission to table or postpone any such recommendation to allow a compromise. Mayor Freaney noted the committee's November 11, 2025 meeting is canceled because of Veterans Day and said the next meeting date should be checked.
• Jim Cowger expressed agreement with David Ferguson's comments about the Causeway.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 25-07, Floodplain Management Regulations (Second Reading): Community Development Assistant Director DiPasqua said there were no changes since first reading. The Local Planning Agency unanimously recommended approval on September 10, 2025, and the Commission approved first reading on October 9, 2025. The ordinance deletes the five-year cumulative substantial improvement/damage provision to comply with new state law, removes technical amendments because the 1-foot freeboard is now required by the Florida Building Code, and updates FBC references. Commissioner Dugard asked whether market value is measured before or after a storm; staff responded it is the value of the building excluding land before the improvement or before the damage, consistent with the national standard. Commissioner Walker noted the ordinance brings the city in line with state law; Commissioner Sandbergen said it is what citizens wanted. The ordinance was adopted 4-0.
• HP-2025-0002, 917 Louden Ave Certificate of Appropriateness: This was a quasi-judicial public hearing. Planner Frances Leong Sharp corrected the agenda, stating the proposed shed replacement is 10' x 10', not 8' x 10'. The Scottish American Society of Dunedin requested approval to replace the front and back doors, replace a shed, and replace the wall sign on a historic designated property. The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee approved the doors and shed on October 9, 2025, but the sign required Commission approval. Applicant Joan McHale requested approval, saying the building is old and the doors and sign need replacement. A public speaker questioned the heavy-handedness of government regulation; Mayor Freaney responded that the property owner voluntarily sought historic designation and that the city is working to streamline minor items. Commissioner Walker supported the application and discussed his own experience with a voluntarily designated historic home. Commissioner Dugard said the city must balance preserving Dunedin's quaintness with individual property rights. The certificate was approved 4-0.
• EMS ALS First Responder Agreement: Fire Chief Handoga presented the annual agreement with Pinellas County for Advanced Life Support First Responder services, with a FY26 payment of $3,051,015. Pinellas County funds paramedics on Rescue 60, Engine 61, and Engine 62; the city funds the paramedic on Engine 60. The payment increased due to the staffing multiplier and Kelly Days/NS Days. Chief Handoga said the department's goal is to be an all-paramedic department. Approximately 80% of front-line personnel are paramedics, about five are in or finishing paramedic school, and four new hires will enter paramedic school as early as January. Pinellas County pays 100% of salaries for 12 shift personnel plus the EMS chief, and provides operational funds. The funding comes from the EMS millage in property taxes. Discussion followed about the possible elimination of property taxes; City Manager Bramley said staff are actively addressing the issue with the county, other cities, and Tallahassee advocacy. The agreement was approved 4-0.
• Proposed November 20, 2025 Commission Meeting Agenda: The Commission approved the proposed agenda 4-0. Commissioner Dugard commented that a presentation and an accompanying item on the upcoming agenda needed to be comprehensive.

Informational Items

• Commissioner Walker reported that the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) advocated for Dunedin with the legislative delegation in Tallahassee, and there is reason to be optimistic about additional storm damage relief for the Marina. He also noted strong ridership on the Clearwater Ferry and that Tampa and St. Petersburg approved the Cross Bay Ferry.
• Commissioner Dugard recognized and thanked Don Bergeron, who retired from Honeymoon Island State Park.
• Commissioner Sandbergen said the city is busy and requested an update on the Marina's status.
• Mayor Freaney announced Wines the Blues on Saturday from noon to 8:00 p.m., noted the Blue Jays spring schedule with Opening Day on February 1, 2026, and said the Mayor's Challenge game would likely be February 28, 2026. She also mentioned forwarding a Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council paper on PFAS from the Commission workshop.
• City Manager Bramley reported that the agenda included a Grant Procurement Tracking Form for a Forward Pinellas grant for the Pinellas Trail Safety Study in the amount of $150,000 for planning and $3 million for construction.
• There were no City Clerk or City Attorney updates.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to excuse Vice Mayor Jeff Gow's absence carried 4-0.
• Consent agenda approved 4-0.
• Ordinance 25-07 adopted on second reading 4-0.
• Certificate of Appropriateness HP-2025-0002 approved 4-0.
• Amendment to the Pinellas County EMS ALS First Responder Agreement approved 4-0, authorizing an FY26 payment of $3,051,015.
• Proposed agenda for the November 20, 2025 Commission meeting approved 4-0.
• Next steps include checking the rescheduled Dunedin Causeway and Coastal Waterways Committee meeting, providing a Marina update, and continuing city advocacy on the proposed elimination of property taxes.