Dunedin City Commission Regular Meeting - August 6, 2026
Dunedin City Commission Regular Meeting - August 6, 2026
The Dunedin City Commission met on August 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included presentations, citizen input, consent agenda items, and several action items. Notable topics included a land use and rezoning proposal for a city-owned property, updates to historic preservation regulations, acceptance of the FY 2025 audited financial statements, and a letter of agreement for construction of the Main Street Exchange and Douglas Avenue Parking Garage. Commissioners also discussed the potential impact of Amendment 3 on PSTA services and other city functions. Commissioner Samberg was excused for a family wedding.
Consent Calendar
- 2.a Approved minutes for the July 7, 2026, Workshop.
- 2.b Approved board and committee appointments for Code Enforcement Board, Committee on Aging, Dunedin Causeway & Coastal Waterways Committee, and Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee.
- 2.c Authorized Task Order #2026-04 for Sanitary Sewer CIPP Lining to Vortex Services, LLC, in the amount of $41,090.
- 2.d Approved Restated Coastal Route Funding Agreement with PSTA for the Jolley Trolley (pulled for discussion, see below).
- 2.e Approved Addendum #1 for additional services to Kimley-Horn for the Marina Bulkhead Repair Project, $43,230, bringing total to $341,313 (pulled for discussion, see below).
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Ballard Geddes Jr. (Georgia Ave, Palm Harbor) spoke about a personal legal matter involving an alleged fraudulent will and death notification, calling for a criminal investigation. The Mayor advised against using personal names.
- Karen Mullins (Oakwood Drive) spoke during the PSTA discussion, expressing concern about the potential loss of services for people with disabilities if Amendment 3 passes.
- Deborah Kines (265 Edgewater Drive) thanked the Commission for approving the historic preservation ordinance updates.
- Nan Mennett (1990 Saddle Hill Road) asked about hurricane preparedness plans for the construction crane during the Douglas Avenue Parking Garage project.
Discussion Items
Artist Recognition: Leland Chase Outdoor Gallery Phase II & III
- Staff recognized artists for the public art project at the wastewater treatment plant. Artists Erica Eve Solomon and Cherie Wolf were present and answered questions about their inspiration and process. The art is installed on permanent vinyl on the plant wall.
2.d Restated Coastal Route Funding Agreement with PSTA (Jolly Trolley)
- Commissioner Dugard pulled the item to discuss implications of Amendment 3. Darden Rice and Nicole Dufam (PSTA) explained that if Amendment 3 passes, PSTA would lose about 68% of its operating budget ($22 million of $180 million), potentially ending trolley, ferry, and some bus services. The agreement includes a fiscal non-funding clause. Public comment raised concerns about disabled services. The motion passed 4-0.
2.e Addendum #1 for Marina Bulkhead Repair
- Vice Mayor Walker pulled for clarification. Clayton Watkins (Utilities and Engineering) explained the $43,230 covers additional design, grading changes, electrical conduit adjustments, and structural revisions for the north wall. Motion passed 4-0.
3.a Land Use and Rezoning for 1241 San Christopher Drive (First Readings)
- Staff presented city-initiated amendments to change land use from Public/Semi-Public to Retail & Services (Ordinance 26-06) and zoning from Municipal Public Lands to Form-Based Medium FX-M (Ordinance 26-07), along with a Declaration of Restrictive Covenants limiting uses to service industry, residential, religious, and educational, and requiring wall/fence repairs. The property (1.17 acres) is a flag lot formerly used as parks offices, declared surplus. The intended buyer, Bozard (local business), plans to use it for offices and storage. The LPA recommended approval with conditions. No public input. Both ordinances passed 4-0. Second reading is to be determined after county transmittal.
3.b Second Reading of Ordinance 25-02: Historic Preservation
- Francis Leong Sharp (Planner) presented the final reading. Changes include allowing landmark site designations, clarifying notice procedures, and creating the Historic Preservation Committee (formerly advisory). The companion Resolution 25-13 updates the Certificate of Appropriateness Matrix, streamlining approvals with most reviews at the committee level, except demolition/relocation which remain with the Commission. Public comment from Deborah Kines supported the changes. Ordinance passed 4-0.
3.c Resolution 25-13: Certificate of Appropriateness Matrix
- Companion to Ordinance 25-02. Approved 4-0.
3.d FY 2025 ACFR and Audited Financial Statements
- Jeff Wolfe (Forvis Mazars) presented the audit results. The city received an unmodified opinion (clean audit) for the second year under new methodology. No internal control findings, no single audit findings. Financial highlights: net position positive in all categories; general fund assigned/unassigned fund balance at 28.7% (down from 45.1% due to hurricane-related expenses, but still strong); revenues came in under budget due to a transfer reclassification but effectively $2M over; expenditures $10M under budget; change in fund balance of $6.1M. The city submitted the ACFR for GFOA certificate. Motion to accept passed 4-0.
3.e Letter of Agreement for Main Street Exchange and Douglas Avenue Parking Garage
- Bob Ironsmith (Economic Development) presented the agreement to facilitate construction deliveries. Bill Mazas (owner) joined via Zoom from Greece. Todd Mullins and David Skinner (Hawkins Construction) detailed the plan: precast panels delivered on 100-ft trucks from Bartow via US 19, Sunset Point, Keene Road, Union Street, and Douglas Avenue. Construction timeline: crane delivery starting Aug 24, precast erection Aug 31-Oct 9 (with single lane closure for last third, 10-15 working days), full road closure for crane dismantling Oct 12-13 (Monday-Tuesday, after Octoberfest). Traffic lanes restored after 5 PM daily. Communication plan includes website (DouglasParkingCenter.com), open houses, and door-to-door outreach. Public input raised hurricane plans; staff confirmed written plans exist and crane type differs from the one that collapsed in St. Pete. Motion to approve the LOA and designate City Manager as authorized signatory passed 4-0.
3.f Proposed Agenda for September 3, 2026, Commission Meeting
- Approved with no changes.
4.a Proposed Agenda for September 1, 2026, Commission Workshop
- Agenda includes Forward Pinellas update on tri-county MPO merger, legislative discussion, and an addition: Gladys Douglas Preserve Phase 2 development (a required item). Not subject to approval.
4.b Commission Discussion and Comments
- Vice Mayor Walker promoted Purple Heart Recognition Day (Aug 7, 10 AM).
- Commissioner Gao reminded about the World Pipe Band Championships (Aug 14-15) with a watch party at 5 AM at SAS.
- Commissioner Dugard highlighted cybersecurity protections for the city's water system, noting it is a closed system. He also reported on the Mayor's Council meeting, discussing Amendment 3 impacts on county services including EMS, sheriff, Juvenile Welfare Board ($29M loss), school nursing, and SROs. The ballot language for Amendment 3 was recently enjoined by a court, with 10 days for the Attorney General to propose alternate language.
4.c City Clerk's Update
- The Citizens Academy will begin September 1st.
4.d City Manager's Update
- No formal update given.
4.e City Attorney's Update
- Summarized the court ruling on Amendment 3 ballot language.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (items 2.a-2.c, and 2.d/2.e after discussion): All approved unanimously (4-0).
- Artist Recognition: No vote needed; appreciation expressed.
- Land Use & Rezoning (3.a): Both ordinances passed 4-0 on first reading. Second reading to be scheduled after county review.
- Ordinance 25-02 (3.b) and Resolution 25-13 (3.c): Both passed 4-0, finalizing historic preservation updates.
- ACFR (3.d): Accepted 4-0; clean audit with unmodified opinion.
- Letter of Agreement (3.e): Approved 4-0, authorizing City Manager to execute.
- September 3 Agenda (3.f): Approved 4-0.
- Workshop Agenda: Discussed but not approved; noted for future meeting.
- Commission Comments: Noted concerns about Amendment 3 impacts across multiple sectors; city's water system cybersecurity confirmed secure.
Meeting Transcript
Hey, good evening. Welcome to the August 6th, 2026 City Commission meeting. Want to call this meeting to order. And we're going to start with invitation and pledge of allegiance from our city attorney, Jen. Please stand. Let us begin this meeting by taking a brief moment of silence and reflection. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the United States. And to the Republic. Individual. Liberty and Justice. Okay. We have an absence tonight, Commissioner Samberg, and I think he's at a wedding. Family wedding or something. Anyway, he's out of town. And we need to get an excused absence for him. So I have a motion. Second. Okay, all in favor? Aye. Okay, aye. And motion passes unanimously. Okay, presentations, artist recognition, Leland Chase Outdoor Gallery, Public Art Project, Phase Two and Three. So I have Nicole and Elizabeth Brinklow. Whoever wants to take the charge. Perfect. Good evening, Mayor and Commission. Nicole Delfino, Strategy and Sustainability Manager, here with you this evening with Elizabeth Brinklow, the city's art consultant, to recognize a project that has been ongoing for a few years now and completed with phase three to recognize the artist that contributed to both phase two and phase three. So I'm going to pass it to Elizabeth, and she'll go through our artists and have a recognition here. So good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioners, and Staff. Welcome and thank you. Thanks for having me. Leland Chase Outdoor Gallery is a project of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee and appointed a subcommittee whose members we thank, including Simeon Liebman. It was his idea originally for the Leland Chase Outdoor Gallery. David Shankweiler, Scott Salyards, Ada Lubunchik, Brian Antonian, Supervisor of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, where the gallery is located. Cindy Gorshi Coleman, Chair of Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, and Karen Clough, presiding as committee chair, with staff Nicole Delfino as our liaison. Thank you, Nicole. Dunedin Wastewater Treatment Plant is located at 1140 Martin Luther King Junior Avenue in Dunedin. It is championed in those two names, Leland and Chase, by Almira Chase and Lorraine Leland, who collaborated together on education in the early late 1950s and early 1960s. The product that we used on the Leland Chase Outdoor Gallery includes 3M control tack graphic film with a 3M gloss over laminate. I bring that to your attention because the artworks are licensed images by the artists. So on behalf of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, I'm pleased to welcome and introduce the artists who were selected for rounds and two and three of the project. As we go through the images, I'll read brief bios on each of the artists, and then I'll ask the artists who are here with us this evening to come up for your recognition. Addie Rodriguez, Melody of Unexpected Bonds. She's in round three. Addie Rodriguez is an emerging mixed media artist whose works combine 2D collage and 3D assemblage with a strong emphasis on texture and craftsmanship. Drawing on her background in fashion illustration and design, she creates tactile works by hand, thoughtfully layering materials into expressive compositions. Her work has been exhibited throughout Florida, including Florida Craft Art and the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts. Cherie Wolf, Raising the World of Tomorrow, also round three. She's a Tampa Bay multimedia artist whose bold, colorful works spans pixel pop art, abstract expressionism, graphic design, and mixed media.
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