Dunedin City Commission Workshop - September 1, 2026

The Dunedin City Commission held a workshop on September 1, 2026, at 9:00 AM in City Hall. The meeting covered a library card sign-up month proclamation, a detailed update on the proposed tri-county Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) merger, a review of the 2026 state legislative session, and a presentation on the city's new Strategic Plan dashboard. Commissioners Gow and Sandbergen were present, while Vice Mayor Walker and Commissioner Dugard were absent. No citizen input was offered on any agenda item.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the citizen input periods, which were opened for each agenda item without any takers.

1. Library Card Sign-Up Month Proclamation

• Commissioner Sandbergen read a proclamation declaring September 2026 as Library Card Sign-Up Month, encouraging residents to obtain or renew library cards. Library Director Phyllis Gorshe accepted the proclamation and noted that the library is celebrating its 30th anniversary in its current building, with a special event planned for Friday, October 2, 2026.

2. Workshop Items

2.a. Forward Pinellas Update on Tri-County MPO Merger

• Whit Blanton, Executive Director of Forward Pinellas, presented a comprehensive overview of the proposed merger of the three MPOs serving the Tampa Bay region (Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties). He explained the legislative mandate, the need for a unified regional voice to compete for transportation funding, and the proposed organizational structure.
• Key details included a draft apportionment plan with 25 members (8 for Pinellas, 10 for Hillsborough, 5 for Pasco, plus Port Tampa Bay and Tampa International Airport as voting members). Pinellas's 8 seats would include two for the County Commission, two for St. Petersburg, one each for Clearwater and Largo, and one rotating seat for smaller cities (under 50,000 population). Dunedin currently holds a voting seat on Forward Pinellas but would only have a potential rotating seat under the regional MPO.
• Mr. Blanton noted that the four principals (Governor, three County Commissions, City of Tampa) must approve the merger. The timeline targets a vote in 2027 and full operation by July 1, 2028. Bylaws include provisions to protect Pinellas's fair share of funding (e.g., requiring majority vote from each county delegation). A subcommittee of the Pinellas Planning Council recommended that if the MPO merges, the PPC would revert to a 13-member board where Dunedin would have a permanent voting seat.
• Commissioner Gow expressed concern about Dunedin losing its guaranteed seat and advocated for a permanent position, suggesting the Florida Bicycle Association might be a more appropriate alternate voting member than the Port of Tampa Bay. Mayor Freaney stated her belief in a well-organized merged MPO but criticized the current Pinellas apportionment that lumps 20 small cities into one rotating seat, calling it insufficient representation for North County. She noted she has raised this issue with Mr. Blanton and found some support on the board.

2.b. Legislative Discussion - Reviewing the 2026 Session

• Strategy & Sustainability Manager Nicole Delfino and lobbyist Laura Beohmer (The Southern Group) presented a post-legislative recap. The 2026 regular session saw nearly 1,900 bills filed, with only 237 passing (13%). Special sessions addressed the budget, congressional redistricting, and property tax reform.
• The state budget signed June 29, 2026 was $117.63 billion with $18 billion in reserves, up from $15.7 billion. Future deficits are expected, prompting a focus on right-sizing.
• Dunedin successfully secured three appropriations: $200,000 for a high-water rescue vehicle, $1,500,000 for Bayshore Water Main replacement, and $3,000,000 for marina hurricane repairs (total $4.7 million).
• Key bills discussed:
  • Sovereign Immunity (HB 145): Passed but vetoed by the Governor. Commissioner Gow expressed disappointment, noting the increase was reasonable and that the issue will likely return with higher demands.
  • DEI Prohibitions (SB 1134): City Attorney Jennifer Cowan explained that from January 1, 2027, the city cannot fund, promote, or take official action on diversity, equity, and inclusion matters. This affects events (including Scottish cultural heritage), contractor certifications, and even commisioners' official capacity, with potential malfeasance penalties. A detailed memo on impacts, especially for Scottish festivals, will be provided before the law takes effect.
  • Local Government Spending (HB 1329): Requires searchable online budgets with 10% reduction comparisons and additional ADA-compliant disclosures, potentially increasing costs.
• Mayor Freaney and Commissioners praised staff and lobbyist efforts, but expressed frustration with state preemption and disrespect for local government. Commissioner Gow and Mayor Freaney stressed the need for state-local collaboration. Future priority discussions will be scheduled after the November elections.

2.c. Strategic Plan: Dashboard Review

• Nicole Delfino presented the new public-facing Strategic Plan dashboard, built on the ClearPoint software. Approximately 120 action items are tracked internally by staff quarterly. The external dashboard (accessible at dunedin.clearpointstrategy.com) features measures under seven themes, such as fire response times, street sweeping miles, and solar energy production.
• Initial measures were selected to avoid overwhelming users. The system also links Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Business Plan Initiatives (BPI) to strategic goals.
• Commissioners encouraged outreach to residents through newsletters and social media, and suggested adding more detailed financial information and accident statistics (e.g., for e-bikes). Commissioner Gow supported reaching out to citizens for dashboard improvement ideas. Mayor Freaney recommended resident focus groups to identify the most meaningful data. Staff indicated the plan will be revisited in 2027 with community forums for feedback.

Key Outcomes

• MPO Merger: No formal decision was made, but the Commission's input will be relayed to Forward Pinellas. The merger timeline aims for a 2027 vote; Dunedin will continue to advocate for a permanent seat.
• Legislative Session: Staff will provide a memo on DEI impacts by December. Future legislative priorities will be set after the November election.
• Strategic Plan Dashboard: The dashboard is now live; staff will promote it and plan to gather community input in 2027 for refinements.
• The meeting adjourned at 11:14 AM.