POLISCOPE

The public record

DUNEDIN (PINELLAS COUNTY) · LOCALDecisions and attributed speech publishedPartial coverage

CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING

Thursday, July 23, 2026 · Government meeting record

The 30-second read

Recorded outcome

Commission to consider wastewater treatment plant breakroom renovation bid award

The Dunedin City Commission voted 4-0 on first reading to approve Ordinance 26-08, prohibiting the launching of motorized watercraft from the Dunedin Causeway to protect seagrass and improve public safety. The Commission also approved multiple wastewater treatment plant infrastructure contracts totaling over $3.7 million, advanced a historic preservation code amendment, and set the maximum millage rate for fiscal year 2027 at 4.1345.

Why it matters

Residents face new restrictions on recreational watercraft launching along the Dunedin Causeway, continued local tax rates at 4.1345 mills for FY 2027, and millions in municipal investments directed toward critical wastewater infrastructure repairs and upgrades.

What happens next

No later meeting or follow-up date is stated in the reviewed record.

An official outcome record and a transcript or captions are published for this meeting.

Captured actions

5

Recorded outcomes

0

Source artifacts

3

People and votes

Commissioner Reverend Swick

1 statement

  1. Statement

    Commented on the pride in Dunedin being the first Purple Heart City. This.

    Official record

What people said

Attributed speechA separate authority lane. Speech is evidence of what a person said, never of what the board decided.
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Transcript and record text

Closed captionsWhat was said at the meeting, transcribed Aug 3, 2026. Speech is not a decision.
  • The published text is longer than the displayed excerpt.
  • No speaker turns were supplied with this transcript.
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  • No speaker identities were supplied with this transcript.

>> Mayor Freaney: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE JULY 23rd, 2026 CITY COMMISSION MEETING. I WANT TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. WE'RE GOING TO START REQUEST AN INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY JEN. >> THANK YOU. LET'S BEGIN THIS MEETING BY TAKING A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE AND REFLECTION. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY, WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATION TONIGHT, AND IT WILL BE THE PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY, 2026 PROCL PROCLAMATION, AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT ONE MYSELF MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART, ALL OF YOU COME ON UP IF YOU WOULD. AND I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS AUGUST 7, 2026, MARKS THE 244th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PURPLE HEART, AUGUST 7th 4HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO HAVE EARNED THE PURPLE HEART FOR THEIR BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE. THE PURPLE HEART IS HONORED TO ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN WOUNDED OR KILLED IN THE CALL OF DUTY. THEY HAVE BEEN NOBODIABLY ENGAGED TO -- NOBLY ENGAGED TO FIGHT TYRANNY AND OUR FREEDOM. THE CITY OF DUNEDIN BEING RECOGNIZED AS A PURPLE HEART CITY, WE CELEBRATE PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY IN IN HONOR OF OUR SOLDIERS WHO SACRIFICED. I PROUDLY PROCLAIM FRIDAY AUGUST 7, 2026 AS PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY IN DUNEDIN, AND ASK EVERYONE TO PAUSE AND REMEMBER THOSE EXTRAORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM. AND THOSE WHO WERE WILLING TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND PRAY FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL THOSE DEFENDING OUR NATION TODAY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> BEFORE I MAKE A REMARK OR TWO, I'D LIKE TO HAVE OUR STATE COMMANDER INTRODUCED. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, COUNCILMAN. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I CAN BE HERE AGAIN. I AM THE NEWLY ELECTED STATE COMMANDER FOR PURPLE HEART. I WANTED TO REMIND YOU GUYS. EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT YOU GUYS, NUMBER ONE DUNEDIN, THE FIRST PURPLE HEART CITY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I ALWAYS PUMP THAT OUT TO THEM. AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE ARE BETWEEN THE 2nd AND 3rd MOST POPULAR STATE FOR PURPLE HEART. WE WERE ABLE TO GET UP THERE AND GET A LOT OF VOTES IN, AND GEAR OUR NATIONAL CHARTER TO WHERE WE WANTED TO, AND FLORIDA'S LEADING THE WAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I INVITE EVERYONE HERE, AUGUST 7th PURPLE HEART DAY, I WILL BE YOUR GUEST SPEAKER. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. >> Mayor Freaney: AWESOME. ANYONE ELSE? >> MY NAME IS SCOTT DANIELS, I'M ON THE COMMITTEE FOR 18 YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU FOR 18 YEARS, CITY OF DUNEDIN HAS BEEN A LEADER AS IT IS WITH MANY OTHER THINGS, A RECOGNITION OF WHAT'S GOOD AND WELL AND IMPORTANT IN OUR CITY, STATE AND COUNTRY. I'M ON THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE I ASKED TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP SOMEHOW, BECAUSE MY FATHER RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART WHEN HE WAS IN WORLD WAR II, AND I'M THE OLDEST OF FOUR CHILDREN, I GET TO KEEP MY FATHER'S PURPLE HEART. I GET TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER EACH YEAR. I'LL BE INTRODUCING RICHARD AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING DOWNTOWN BY THE PURPLE HEART MEMORIAL AREA. I WANT TO THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL STAFF OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN, PARKS & REC, WHO HAVE MADE IT NICE FOR OUR PURPLE HEART VETERANS, ALL OF OUR VETERANS, CITIZENS IN DUNEDIN TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, FREEDOM, AND RECOGNIZING WHEN GOOD DEEDS ARE DONE. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FATHER BOCH? >> AND LET US PRAY. I'M SORRY. WE ARE THE FIRST PURPLE HEART CITY HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. THIS COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE MOST PATRIOTIC COMMUNITIES I'VE EVER RUN ACROSS IN MY MANY YEARS. I CAME FROM ONE UP NORTH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROUDEST, THE MOST PATRIOTIC PLACE I HAD EVER BEEN UNTIL I CAME TO DUNEDIN. WE HAVE A SPIRIT HERE OF PATRIOTISM THAT WE SHOULD EMULATE ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. I THANK YOU MAYOR, MOE AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN YOUR LEADERSHIP TO PROMOTE THAT PATRIOTISM. WE NEED IT IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY. AND THE CITY OF CLEARWATER -- CITY OF CLEARWATER. LISTEN TO ME. THE CITY OF DUNEDIN PRINTS OUT PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION CEREMONY FLYERS AND I'D LIKE TO -- WAS THAT GOD CALLING. I GET VERY NERVOUS EVERY NOW AND THEN. I LIKE TO SHARE THESE WITH YOU FIRST. THEY'LL BE PRINTED OUT AND PASSED OUT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY SHORTLY. >> Mayor Freaney: I DO WANT TO SAY, VICE MAYOR WALKER IS NOT HERE TONIGHT, HE'S ON BUSINESS OUT OF TOWN, OUT OF STATE, ACTUALLY. HE'S THE ONLY VET THAT'S UP HERE, HE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY READ THE PURPLE HEART PROCLAMATION, BUT ALL OF US ARE JUST PROUD OF ALL OF YOU. AND WHAT YOU DO. AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE, SO THAT'S GREAT. WE'LL GET A PICTURE TOO, AFTER. >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET A PICTURE. BEFORE WE GET A PICTURE, DO WE HAVE ROB ON ZOOM? >> WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS, EVERY TIME WE CONNECT IT DROPS. >> Mayor Freaney: IN THE MEANTIME LET'S HAVE A PICTURE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CITIZEN INPUT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET VICE MAYOR ON THE ZOOM CALL HERE SO HE CAN BE PART OF THE MEETING. CITIZEN INPUT IS A TIME FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE HAVE FILLED OUT CARDS. I DON'T NEED CARDS IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ON AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA. I THINK MOST OF YOU ARE HERE FOR THOR EYE ON THE CAUSEWAY. IF YOU'RE NOT HERE FOR THAT, YOU CAN COME DOWN YOU NOW AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. DAVID? >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, DAVID BALLARD GEDDES JR., I LIVE ON GEORGIA AVENUE IN PALM HARBOR. PINELLAS COUNTY RESOLUTION 95286 SECTION 4C-2, ABSOLUTE BILL OF SALE, FULL WARRANTIES OF TITLE AND RELEASE OF LIEN. THE COUNTY HAS BEEN SOLD TO THE WATER DISTRICT AS RECOGNIZED IN VARIOUS STATUTES. THE AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX LIEN PORTION ON OUR AD VALOREM HERE IS NO LONGER VALID. THIS PORTION OF THE BILL AS SOLD HAS BEEN RELEASED. THE COUNTY USING A QUID PRO QUO AGREEMENT RACKETEERED WITH THE WATER DISTRICT IS INTENDING TO SHAPE SHIFT THE COUNTY AND ITS CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT FROM THEIR FORT KNIGHTED STATES MANSHIP, INTO A POLITICAL LAUNDERED WATERSHED OPERATION, LAUNDERING WATER JURISDICTIONS UNDER THE 14th AMENDMENT IN THE FORM OF A NONAD VALOREM LEVY, GIVING RISE TO THIS PORTION OF THE BILLING PRACTICE, GIVING RISE TO WATER JURISDICTIONS WHEREAS THE CITY WAS ONCE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. THE WATER JURISDICTIONS ARE RECOGNIZED AS FOR THE IF I INDICATIONS, APPROXIMATE -- F FORTIFICATIONS, BIRTHING A SHIP OF WAR, IN ARTICLE 1 SECTION 10, INTENT OF LEVYING UPON THE CIVILIAN POPULATION, TAXING US DIRECTLY OUR CURRENT CONSTITUTION IS IN THE STATE OF THE DISSOLUTION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, STATES TO DISSOLVE OUR CURRENT GOVERNMENT, AND ASSUME SEPARATE AND EQUAL STATIONS AMONG THE POWERS OF THE EARTH. LEGISLATION IS USING WATER AS THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT WEAPON OF CHOICE. OUR CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS SEEN AS BEING DISSOLVED IN RECLAIMED WATER STATUTE, 153.03, SECTIONS 7 AND 11, RECOGNIZED AS AN INTERAGENCY, SELF-LIQUIDATION PROCESS, IN AND OF ITSELF IN STATUTE 163.01, TRANSFERRING COUNTY FUNCTION AND POWER IN PINELLAS COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER IN AN INTERNAL SELLING THE COUNTY TO AN INTERNAL FOREIGN OCCUPIER, REFLECTIVE OF STATUTE 218.415 SECTION 16F, HOPING TO RECONSTITUTE ITSELF IN STATUTE 3715, THERE BY, NOT ONLY IS OUR COUNTY AND CITY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS ENGAGE IN RACKETEERING AND PERJURY, THEY'RE GUILTY OF HIGH SEAS CRIMES OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONTEMPT, USING OUR CURRENT CONSTITUTION AS A LETTER OF MARQUIS, CREATING EX-POST FACTO LAW AND REPRISALS TO INCLUDE TREASON IN THE FORM OF A NONAD VALOREM LEVY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, DAVID. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA? THIS IS YOUR TIME. SEEING NO MORE. WE WILL MOVE FORWARD, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. OUR CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE 6/18/2026 REGULAR MEETING. BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. I THINK WE HAVE CAUSEWAY AND COASTAL WATERWAYS APPOINTMENTS. WE HAVE 2C, ADDENDUM NO. 1 FOR CONSTRUCTION PHASE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH TETRA TECH INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EMERGENCY GENERATOR BUILDING, REHABILITATION PROJECT NOT TO EXCEED $54,964. DUKE ENERGY UTILITY EASEMENT FOR TWO 2500 KILOWATT TRANSFORMERS AT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, 2E. AWARD BID FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $169,850. 2F, DUKE ENERGY UTILITY EASEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL SERVICE AT GRAND OAK PARK. 2G, ADDENDUM NO. 2 FOR LIMITED CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE CONTRACT WITH ADURA GROUP INC. FOR THE MARINA BULKHEAD REPAIR PROJECT NOT TO EXCEED $83,726. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO BE PULLED? I'M SORRY BUT I'M GOING TO PULL 2E. AND SO EVERYTHING ELSE CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE EVERYTHING BUT 2E? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Freaney: AND IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THOSE CONSENT ITEMS? YOU CAN COME FORWARD NOW. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC INPUT. ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> Mayor Freaney: OPPOSED? THOSE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. I JUST WILL A QUESTION ABOUT THE BREAKROOM. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE RENOVATION, I WANT TOIC MA SURE I UNDERSTAND IT. >> GOOD EVENING, CLAYTON WATKINS, UTILITIES AND ENGINEERING. A LOT OF THAT COST CAME INTO EFFECT ONCE WE HAD TO UPGRADE THE ELECTRICAL IN THE SYSTEM, WE HAD TO ADD A PANEL TO THE BUILDING. AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT A RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN, WE HAD TO ADD A RANGEHOOD FOR FIRE PROTECTION. THAT DROVE THE COSTS UP. >> Mayor Freaney: WHEN IS THE LAST TIME THAT WAS DONE? >> THIS IS THE FIRST RENOVATION SINCE THE BUILDING WAS BUILT. I THINK IT WAS 1991. >> Mayor Freaney: THAT'S ALL I NEEDED. ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT? CAN I HAVE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> DOES ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC INPUT, ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 4-0. WE'LL GO TO OUR ACTION ITEMS. I THINK THE MAIN EVENT HERE, FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 26-08, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF DUNEDIN CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROHIBIT LAUNCHING VEHICLES FROM THE CAUSEWAY BEACH TO PROTECT THE SHORE LINE. >> ORDINANCE 26-08, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN, FLORDS, AMENDING THE CITY OF DUNEDIN CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROHIBIT LAUNCHING MOTOR CRAFT FROM THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY BEACH TO PROTECT THE SHORE LINE. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THAT WAS ORDINANCE 26-08 READ BY TITLE ONLY. >> Mayor Freaney: IS IT APPROPRIATE TO TAKE A MOTION AFTER WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC INPUT AND GET THE PRESENTATION. >> YOU'RE LOOKING TO TAKE PUBLIC INPUT, HAVE THE PRESENTATION AND THEN TAKE A MOTION? >> Mayor Freaney: I THINK FOR SOMETHING THIS BID, IT'S A GOOD WAY TO DO IT. ON THAT NOTE, WE'LL PASS OVER THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT TO STAFF PRESENTATION. WE HAVE JORGE, TONY AND NICOLE ALL ON THIS ONE. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. WE'RE HERE TO KIND OF REPRESENT THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDED DURING THE JUNE WORKSHOP DISCUSSING THE LAUNCHING OF MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT FROM THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY. WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BRIEF HISTORY AND BACKGROUND. THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT ON THE CAUSEWAY, BENEFITS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PUBLIC, PINELLAS COUNTY SUPPORT. THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COMMISSION, THIS IS NICOLE DELFINO. TOO CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONE. STRATEGY AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER, TO GO OVER THE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF THE CAUSEWAY. MANY OF US KNOW THESE POINTS HERE, BUT IT WAS BUILT IN 1963, OPENED FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, CURRENTLY BETWEEN 5:00 A.M. AND 11:00 P.M. IN 1990 THE CITY COMMISSION TENTATIVELY BANNED LAUNCHING MOTORIZED VEHICLES OR MOTOR CRAFT FROM THE CAUSEWAY, AND FOLLOWING IN 2025, 2012 AND 2014 THERE WERE A NUMBER OF STUDIES AND TASK FORCE REPORTS THERE THAT ARE INDICATED. THEN IN 2019, THE COUNTY ORDINANCE, WHICH WE WILL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN THE PRESENTATION, RESTRICTED USAGE ON THE NORTH SIDE. AND THEN IN 2024 AS WE ALL KNOW, THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CAUSEWAY WAS CLOSED FOR STORM DAMAGE AND EROSION. AND THEN THE COUNTY CAME IN 2025 AND UPDATED THE CIRCULATION FOR THE CAUSEWAY TO ONE WAY TRAFFIC DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. HERE WE ARE NOW IN 2026, PINELLAS COUNTY HAS COMPLETED THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT EROSION CONTROL REPAIR, AND HERE WE ARE NOW. >> THE CURRENT ORDINANCE DELINEATES SEPARATE AREAS FROM THE BEACH FOR DIFFERENT ACCESS FOR WATER CRAFT. ON THE NORTH SIDE THERE HAS BEEN NO LAUNCHING OF WATER CRAFT -- OR MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT SINCE THE '90s, ON THE SOUTH SIDE THERE'S BEEN THREE DISTINCT SECTIONS, A SECTION THAT HAS ALLOWED MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT. A SECTION THAT PROHIBITS ANY WATER CRAFT LAUNCHING AT ALL, AND THERE'S A NONMOTORIZED WATER CRAFT AREA TO THE FAR WEST. THIS IS JUST A DIFFERENT MAP OF THAT, LITTLE CLEARER ON HOW THAT LOOKS. THIS IS THE LANGUAGE FROM THE COUNTY CODE. IT'S UNLAWFUL TO CAUSE SEA GRASS DAMAGE. IN DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY, THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF A CHANGE OF ELIMINATING MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT, PURSUANT TO THIS CODE AND THEIR GENERAL STANCE OF PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CAUSEWAY ITSELF IS AN ACTIVE RECREATION SPACE FOR MANY FORMS OF RECREATION, PROVIDING WATERFRONT ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC FOR PADDLE SPORTS, FISHING, SWIMMING, AND MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT CURRENTLY. ALSO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO TO RUN, WALK AND CONNECT TO THE OUTDOORS. IT'S CONNECTED TO THE PINELLAS TRAILS SYSTEM. IN LATE 2025, THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY AND COASTAL WATERWAYS COMMITTEE MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO PROHIBIT MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT ALONG THE ENTIRE CAUSEWAY. THE CAUSEWAY DOES NOT HAVE A DEVELOPED BOAT LAUNCH ON IT. THIS IS SHORE WAY LAUNCHING THAT IS KIND OF AD-HOC WHERE PEOPLE BACK THEIR TRAILERS UP TO THE WATER'S EDGE AND LAUNCH THEIR VESSELS THIS LAUNCHING HAS MANY IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. IMPACTS ARE ALSO CAUSED FROM KAYAKS AS WELL AS FOOT TRAFFIC AS WELL. BUT THE MOTORIZED LAUNCH HAS SHOWN A LARGER IMPACT. MOTORIZED CRAFT PRODUCES MORE WAKE AND STRIPS AWAY AQUATIC VEGETATION AND ERODES THE BANKS, DISTURBS THE BOTTOM. LAUNCHES IN SHALLOW WATER CAUSE PROP SCARRING AND JET WASH AS WELL. WITH THAT, THERE'S MORE SEDIMENT TAKING THAT OCCURS IN THE WATER, RESUSPENSE OF THAT SEDIMENT INCREASES WAVE THRUSTS AGAINST THE SHORE LINE. SUSPENDED PARTICULATE WITHIN THE COLUMN, BLOCKS SUNLIGHT AND BLOCKS THE NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE AREA. THE CHURNING OF THE BOTTOM SEDIMENT INCREASES NEW TREE AN THES WITHIN THIS SPACE. AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, CHEMICAL POLLUTION FROM INTERNAL COMBUSTION WATER CRAFT IS PRESENT WITH THE VEGETATIVE DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS WILDLIFE DISTURBANCE FROM THE NOISE. TURBULENCE DISPLACEMENT. NESTING BIRDS ARE DISTURBED, AS WELL AS STRANDING AND INJURE D FISH. A PROHIBITION OF MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT WOULD REMOVE SOME OF THE CONFLICTS CURRENTLY PRESENT ON THE CAUSEWAY. THIS EFFORT HAS RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS, INCLUDING THE AFOREMENTIONED CAUSEWAY AND COASTAL WATERWAY COMMITTEE. THE PINELLAS COUNTY HAS SUPPORTED THIS EFFORT AS WELL AS SIERRA CLUB, TAMPA BAY ESTUARY AND THE WIND LASS. >> I DO BELIEVE THE CHIEF IS HERE WITH US TODAY, THIS IS SOME INFORMATION HE SHARED WITH US AT THE WORKSHOP. AGAIN, AS HE HAD STATED AT THE WORKSHOP, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CALLS THAT ARE BEING RECEIVED, BECAUSE THEY'RE CODED FOR THE CAUSEWAY IN GENERAL. THEY DID AN ANALYSIS FROM PRECLOSURE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1, 2021 UNTIL THAT TIME, THE CURRENT DATE OF MAY 16, 2026, AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF CALLS AND RESCUES, AND I KNOW WHEN HE PRESENTED HERE DURING THE WORKSHOP, HE HAD ALSO MENTIONED THE TWO RELATED DEATHS THAT HAD OCCURRED ADJACENT TO THE CAUSEWAY. AND ALSO, THERESA SMALLING, WHO PRESENTED ON THE PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DATA, WE REQUESTED THEY PUT THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER, EXTENDING PRECLOSURE PERIOD, JANUARY 1, 2022 TO APRIL 30, 2026, CAN YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WERE THERE, OF THOSE CALLS FOR THE CAUSEWAY, 80 WERE JET SKI RELATED. THIS IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM. THE TYPE OF CALLS AND THE INCIDENCES ARE ALL LISTED IN THAT ITEM. YOU CAN SEE PRECLOSURE, MANY OF THE OFFENSES, SO TO SPEAK WERE IN REGARD TO JET SKIS THAT WERE ON PLANE OR NOT GOING THROUGH THE PROPER WAKE ZONE, AND THEN FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE, MOST OF THE CALLS WERE RELATED TO UNAUTHORIZED LAUNCHING. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH PINELLAS COUNTY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THEY SUPPORT THE RESTRICTION ON THE SOUTH SIDE, SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY'VE DONE ON THE NORTH SIDE. THEY ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE EXPENDITURE THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON A PERIODIC BASIS. REGRADING, AND RE-ESTABLISHING MATERIAL ALONG THE BANKS THAT'S CAUSED BY MUCH OF THE VESSEL TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. SO IN ADDITION TO ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT TONY AND NICOLE HAVE MENTIONED, THE COUNTY IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF US MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION. AND THE ORDINANCE I'LL SPARE EVERYBODY FROM READING IT, BUT IT DOES RECOGNIZE THE IMPACTS TO THE SEA GRASSES AND DAMAGE TO THE AQUATIC PRESERVE IS IMPACTED BY THE VESSEL OPERATIONS IN THIS AREA. >> AND JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND, WHEN PINELLAS COUNTY PASSED THAT ORDINANCE, WAS TO EFFECT THE ENTIRE PINELLAS COUNTY AQUATIC PRESERVE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS MAP. AND THEN JUST FOR REFERENCE, WE DID PULL TOGETHER BASED ON MAPPING, THOSE LAUNCHING POINTS THAT WERE CLOSEST TO BOTH THE CAUSEWAY AND TO THE DUNEDIN MARINA, AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE LISTED HERE AS THROWS AVAILABLE SPACES. MOST OF THEM ARE PUBLIC AND DO COME WITH A COST TO LAUNCH. THERE IS, I BELIEVE, A FEW THAT ARE LISTED THAT ARE PRIVATE AS WELL. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE -- WHEN WE PRESENTED AT THE WORKSHOP, WE WERE GOING THROUGH WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS THE ORDINANCE REVIEW PROCESS GOES. WHEN WE PRESENTED IT, WE LEFT WITH THE CONSENSUS DIRECTION TO DEVELOP THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE, WHICH WE'VE DONE. WE DID THE PROPER ADVERTISING, AS YOU CAN SEE. AND THIS IS -- MAKES UP THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE, TODAY JULY 23rd, 2026, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ADVERTISING PERIOD AND A SECOND READING. >> SO WITH THAT, STAFF DOES RECOMMEND THE CITY COMMISSION ADOPT ORDINANCE 26-08. AND AMENDING ORDINANCE 14-21 SECTION 54-32, TO PROHIBIT LAUNCHING OF MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT ALONG THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY. >> MAY I JUST ADD A FEW THINGS AND CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE STAFF REPORT? >> Mayor Freaney: YES. >> AS DEPICTED IN OUR AGENDA, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES THAT HAVE WRITTEN TO US IN SUPPORT OF THE BAN ON MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT ON THE CAUSEWAY. OUR CAUSEWAY COASTAL WATERWAY COMMITTEE SENT A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO BAN LAUNCHING MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT. PINELLAS COUNTY OWNS THE CAUSEWAY. WHEN I LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA, I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MISTAKING THE CITY OWNERSHIP FOR PINELLAS COUNTY. THAT'S WHY THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN OUR DECISION. THEY'RE ALLOWING THE CITY OF DUNEDIN TO MAKE THIS DETERMINATION. WE HEARD FROM THE SIERRA CLUB SUPPORTING THE COUNTY'S POSITION. WIND LASS WHICH IS OUR OWN SAILING FOLKS IS SUPPORTING IT AS WELL, AS THE CONDOMINIUMS RIGHT NEXT DOOR. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AGENCIES THAT ARE SUPPORTING STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION. >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER GOW. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ACTUALLY, KNOW QUESTIONS. >> Mayor Freaney: COMMISSIONER DUGARD? QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? >> NO QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. >> Mayor Freaney: COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN, QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? >> I WAS GOING TO ASK WHO OWNS THE CAUSEWAY. THE COUNTY OWNS IT, BUT THEY'VE FLIPPED IT OVER TO DUNEDIN TO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHAT WE WANT TO DO GOING-FORWARD, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> IS THERE ANY CONNECTION TO THIS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OR THE FUTURE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF THE DRAW BRIDGE? DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT? >> NO. >> OKAY, I KEEP HEARING -- FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE, I HAVE 125 EMAILS, I'M SURE TO MY LEFT THERE'S EVEN MORE. ONE OF THEM WENT OVER AND OVER ABOUT TRASH. ARE THOSE CITY OF DUNEDIN TRASH CANS? WERE WE RESPONSIBLE TO GO OUT THERE AND PICK THAT UP? >> YES. >> OKAY, GOOD. AT THIS TIME, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY BUSINESS OPERATIONS OTHER THAN THE HIGH AND DRY, NO BUSINESS OPERATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE OUT THERE, WHETHER YOU'RE SELLING SUNTAN LOTION OR T-SHIRTS OR ANYTHING ELSE? AM I CORRECT? >> FOR THE RECORD, THAT IS CORRECT. >> IT'S DUSK TO DAWN, OR DAWN TO DUSK, IS THAT THE HOURS? >> 5:00 A.M. TO 11:00 P.M. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEAREST LAUNCH SITE, I WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE COMMITTEES, WE HEARD FROM ALL THE COMMITTEES, SO THAT'S ALL I HAD, MAYOR, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: TWO RANDOM QUESTIONS, A LITTLE BIT. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN OPEN, THAT LITTLE SECTION FOR JET SKI LAUNCHING OR MOTORIZED VEHICLE LAUNCH? >> I THINK 2015 THAT ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT, I BELIEVE. >> Mayor Freaney: NO. >> APPARENTLY THAT'S WRONG, MAYOR. >> Mayor Freaney: HOLD ON, WE'LL WORK IT OUT. I WAS THERE WHEN IT GOT APPROVED, WHICH WAS 30 YEARS AGO. >> I WAS WRONG, I GUESS. >> Mayor Freaney: YEAH, AND I THINK WE COULDN'T FIND THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION OF IT. I'M SURE IT'S BEEN LIKE '820s OR '90s. PROBABLY '90s. I'M SORRY, WE DO HAVE VICE MAYOR WALKER WHO HAS JUST JOINED US. SO WHATEVER, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. GO AHEAD. >> MAY I? >> Mayor Freaney: YES. >> IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS, EVEN BEFORE THE COUNTY CLOSED THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CAUSEWAY. IT'S BEEN CLOSED SINCE 2024. >> Mayor Freaney: YEAH, I'M THINKING IT WAS EARLY '90s, I COULD BE WRONG, WE COULDN'T FIND THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION. ANY SENSE OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES, I GUESS SPECIFICALLY JET SKI OWNERSHIPS OVER THE LAST 20, 30 YEARS? PROBABLY AN EASY GOOGLE AT SOME POINT. >> AS FAR AS THE OWNERSHIP OR USE? >> OWNERSHIP AND USE, REALLY. >> Mayor Freaney: YEAH, I THINK IT'S -- WE'LL GOOGLE THAT. I'M NOT ASKING THE AUDIENCE, BUT THANK YOU. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN GOOGLE ON OUR BREAK. OR YOU COME UP AND COMMENT AND YOU KNOW THE ANSWER, THAT'S GREAT. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CITIZEN INPUT, OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. I WANT TO SET THE TONE HERE. IF YOU HAVEN'T AND YOU DO WANT TO SPEAK, AND YOU HAVEN'T FILLED OUT A CARD. YOU SHOULD FILL OUT A CARD, AND THEY'RE IN THE BACK? >> YES. >> Mayor Freaney: THEY'RE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE ROOM? >> HEATHER IS HAPPY TO HELP, TAMMY CAN HELP. THERE ARE CARDS READILY AVAILABLE. >> Mayor Freaney: JUST PUT YOUR NAME AND WHETHER YOU'RE FOR OR AGAINST. I WILL STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE 3:00 MINUTES TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO SPEAK. THIS IS A CLASSIC NIGHT AS TO WHY WE HAVE THESE RULES IN PLACE. WHICH IS, TONIGHT IS ABOUT RESPECT. I'VE GOT CARDS THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH NOT THAT DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF EACH SIDE OF A VERY HOT ISSUE, IN TERMS OF FOR AND AGAINST. RESPECT. RESPECT IS THE WORD TONIGHT, AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, AND I WILL READ MOST IMPORTANTLY THE -- >> EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, I DON'T THINK YOU GAVE THE VICE MAYOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. >> Mayor Freaney: I'M SORRY, VICE MAYOR, DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. I'M SORRY, VICE MAYOR, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. WE CAN FIX THAT AT SOME POINT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT END IT'S ON. THE QUESTIONS CAN BE ASKED LATER, THOUGH. >> YES. >> Mayor Freaney: AGAIN, BACK TO RESPECT AND PER OUR RULES, YOU KNOW, DURING THESE TIMES, ESPECIALLY TRUE, NO APPLAUSE, NO CHEERING, NO BOOING, NO JEERING, NONE OF THAT. IT'S ABOUT RESPECT. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD NOT TO CLAP WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING YOU ADEGREE WITH. THE REALITY IS, IT INTIMIDATES EACH SIDE. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HARD TIME TO SPEAK THEIR OPINION. THEY'RE AFRAID THEN. WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT HERE. PLEASE HONOR THAT TONIGHT. ON THAT NOTE, I'M GOING TO START CALLING NAMES. MICHELLE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? ARE WE GOING TO CALL THREE NAMES? >> YES, I THINK THAT WOULD BE BEST. EVERYONE -- WE'LL CALL THE FIRST PERSON TO COME UP, AND THEN CALL TWO OTHERS SO YOU CAN BE ON DECK, ON STAND BY TO KEEP THE FLOW GOING. I WILL NOT START THE CLOCK UNTIL YOU STATED YOUR COMPLETE ADDRESS INCLUDING THE CITY. >> Mayor Freaney: FIRST NAME I HAVE IS SUE O'BRIEN. SECOND, JASON HERNANDEZ. THIRD, LISA WILSON. >> HI, SORRY, DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE FIRST. SUSAN O'BRIEN, 1030 SAN SALVADOR DUNEDIN, FLORIDA. SUSAN O'BRIEN, 1030 SAN SALVADOR, DINE, FLORIDA. LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE IN A GENERATIONAL HOME WITH MY PARENTS. >> Mayor Freaney: CAN PEOPLE HEAR HER NOW THAT SHE'S TALKING INTO THE MIC? DOES IT NEED TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT OR ARE WE GOOD? >> MY THING IS, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS, DOING JET SKIS OFF THE CAUSEWAY, AND TO PUNISH A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE OVER WHAT YOU THINK IS BAD BEHAVIOR FOR SOME I THINK IS WRONG. THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS SAID ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT IMPACT TODAY, BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD BOATS, THAT CAN ONLY AFFORD JET SKIS. WE MOVED HERE SO WE CAN BE ON THE WATER. FOR YOU TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US IS NOT COOL. WE'VE HAD A BOAT, WE'VE BEEN IN THE DUNEDIN MARINA, THE ONLY WAY TO GET ON THE WATER IS A JET SKI. WE'VE BEEN PLAYING $25 AT THE CLEARWATER MARINA JUST TO LAUNCH, AND THAT'S JUST TO LAUNCH. WHY DID WE REBUILD THE CAUSEWAY IF WE CAN'T USE IT. NOT ONLY THAT, WE'RE PROTECTING A MAN MADE STRUCTURE. WHAT ARE WE DOING TRYING TO KEEP SEA GRASS AROUND IT, WE BUILT IT, WE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE SEA GRASS WHEN WE BUILT IT, WHY DO WE CARE NOW. I THINK THE PEOPLE OF DUNEDIN HAVE A BIGGER RIGHT TO THAT WATER THAN THE SEA GRASS. THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL. >> Mayor Freaney: JASON HERNANDEZ? ON DECK NEXT WILL BE ERIC GRAVES. >> JASON HERNANDEZ, I RESIDE AT 1638 FRANKLIN WAY, THAT'S IN DUNEDIN. ZIP CODE 34698. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS IN SUPPORT OF ALLOWING JET SKIS AT THE CAUSEWAY. I WANTED TO START BY SAYING, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYONE SAD ON A JET SKI? ME EITHER. >> THAT'S BECAUSE FOR MOST OF US, IT'S A SOURCE OF JOY, HAPPINESS ENAND AN OUTLET FOR STRESS RELIEF. I GREW UP ON THE WATER LEARNING TO SURF BOARD AND WAKE BOARD. WHEN I WAS TOO OLD TO ATTEND THE CAMP AS A CAMPER, I STARTE WORKING THERE TEACHING THESE RECREATIONAL WATER SPORTS AND LEARNING HOW TO OPERATE THE BOATS AND JET SKIS SAFELY WHILE BRINGING THE SAME JOY TO CAMPERS. I HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL WATER CRAFT, AND MOVED TO DUNEDIN TO ENJOY IT. THIS FREEDOM IS BEING THREATENED AND IT DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. I BELIEVE THERE'S A WAY FOR EVERYONE TO PEACEFULLY SHARE THE CAUSEWAY, AND MAYBE THAT CALLS FOR MORE SAFETY REGULATIONS, THE FEW BOAT RAMPS WE HAVE IN THE AREA ARE BUSY, AND CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND OF JET SKIS AND BOATS TOGETHER. PLEASE CONSIDER US TO LAUNCH OUR WATER CRAFTS AND ENJOY OUR WATER CRAFT PEACEFULLY AS CITIZENS. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: LISA WILSON I HAVE NEXT, AND ERIC GRAVES IS AFTER THAT. >> MY NAME IS LISA WILSON, I LIVE AT 2366 RUTLIN LANE, CLEARWATER, FLORIDA. I'M IN -- AGAINS THE BAN FOR THE JET SKIS. I LIVED IN PINELLAS COUNTY MY ENTIRE LIFE, SINCE 1977, I'VE LIVED IN FOUR DIFFERENT DUNEDIN ADDRESSES AND OWNED A BUSINESS IN DUNEDIN. I CHERISH MY HOMETOWN AS A SMALL TOWN, WITH THE SIMPLE LIFE AND EPITOME OF AMERICAN FREEDOMS. HOWEVER, LATELY THOSE FREEDOMS HAVE BEEN CHIPPED AT. I DO NOTICE, AND IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE MY HOME TURNED INTO SUCH A STRANGE AND UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE. GROWING UP, THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY IS WHERE WE WOULD GO -- ALL GO TO MEET WITH FRIENDS OR JUST CHILL BY OURSELVES. I ENJOYED RUNNING INTO FRIENDS WITH JET SKIS AND GO FOR A LITTLE RIDE. AS I BECAME OLDER IT BECAME MY ESCAPE, I FREQUENTED GOING AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE MADE MY WAY OUT TO THE SANDBAR AND ISLANDS WITH FRIENDS ON SKIS OR BOATS AFTER MANY YEARS. AFTER THE STORMS, OUR FRIENDS WHO LIVED ON THE WATER SUSTAINED INTENSE DAMAGE. MY HUSBAND AND I DECIDED TO GET A PADDLE BOARD WITH AN ON BOARD MOTOR. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE 4 CANCER AND IT MAKES IT HARD FOR ME TO PADDLE. I UNDERSTAND WHY WE COULDN'T LOSS DURING THE REBEAUTIFICATION PROCESS, WHICH WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY. NOW THAT WE'RE BEING THREATENED WITH THIS RIGHT BEING STRIPPED FROM US. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE MY ONE ESCAPE THAT I'VE HELD DEAR MY ENTIRE LIFE AWAY FROM ME. ACCESS TO THESE AREAS SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO ONLY RICH PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD BOATS AND HOUSES ON THE WATER. THE CAUSEWAY IS MAN MADE, IT'S NOT A NATURAL BEACH. THE SMALL AREA FOR LAUNCHING SMALL WATER CRAFT IS FAR FROM A NUISANCE. IT IS THE ONLY PLACE WE CAN LAUNCH TO GET TO THE SANDBAR. AS FAR AS SAFETY GOES, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT WITH OR WITHOUT JET SKIS. A PLANE JUST CRASHED IN THE WATER LAST WEEK. WE AREN'T GOING TO BAN PLAINS, ARE WE? MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE MORE ENFORCEMENT FOR WATER SAFETY. THAT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE. THE PEOPLE BLAMING ON THE TRASH ON THE JET SKIERS, ARE ABSOLUTELY MISTAKEN. THE TRASH INTENSIFIED WITH THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE THAT MOVED HERE. WE NEED MORE GARBAGE CANS DOWN THERE. IT IS EVERYONE WHO LEAVES TRASH, NOT JUST JET SKIERS. I KNOW THIS, BECAUSE I PICK UP OTHER PEOPLE'S TRASH EVERY TIME I'M THERE. PLEASE KEEP DUNEDIN FREE, THANK YU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, LISA. NEXT IS ERIC GRAVES, AFTER ERIC, I WILL HAVE NATHANIEL COMB I THINK IT IS. >> MY NAME IS ERIC GRAVES, 1413 BAYSHORE IN DUNEDIN. I'M HERE AS A DUNEDIN RESIDENT AND ALSO REPRESENTING THE DUNEDIN BOAT CLUB PADDLING GROUP, I'M HERE FOR MYSELF AND OUR PADDLING GROUP IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTORIZED BAN AT THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY. WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE WHEN USING THE CAUSEWAY AREA FROM LAND AND ON WATER. I AM AT THE CAUSEWAY A LOT, BOTH FROM WATER AND LAND, AND REMEMBER THE CHALLENGES CREATED BY THE MANY JET SKIS THAT LAUNCHED THERE, BEFORE THE 2024 STORMS, WHEN LAUNCHING WAS ALLOWED. I ALSO KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THIS BAN, AND I RESPECT THOSE DIFFERENT OPINIONS. I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE USED THE LOCATION IN THE PAST. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT SOME HAVE CREATED THE DIFFICULTIES THAT HAVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE IMPACT OF THE SEA GRASS AND ALSO SEDIMENT CREATION. HUMAN SAFETY, INCLUDING FA FATALITIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE, INCLUDING NOISE, TRASH, PARKING CHALLENGES, EXTRA TRAFFIC ON THE CAUSEWAY AND JUST OVER ENJOYMENT OF THE AREA. HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT EVEN WITH THE ESTABLISHED RULES, MANY VIOLATE THOSE RULES. ALSO DURING THE LAST ALMOST TWO YEARS WHEN THERE WAS NO LAUNCHING, IT'S CLEAR THAT THE STRENGTH OF THE SEA GRASS AND WATER CLARITY DUE TO LESS CHURNING OF THE SEDIMENT HAS CONTINUED TO IMPROVE. ALSO, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS PAYING FOR HIGHER LEVELS OF ENFORCEMENT, IF OTHERS SUGGEST THAT AS A SOLUTION. NOR MYSELF AND THE DUNEDIN BOAT CLUB PADDLING GROUP, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR VOTING FOR THE MOTORIZED LAUNCH BAN AT THE CAUSEWAY. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU. NEXT IS NATHANIEL COMB, I THINK. AND AFTER THAT WILL BE STEVE MENKE. >> WILDWOOD LANE, PALM HARBOR. I HAVE TWO PROPERTIES HERE IN DUNEDIN, TOO. GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL COMMISSION MEMBERS THOSE WHO CAME HERE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE. I STAND HERE TO VOICE MY CONCERN ABOUT THE MAN MADE SHUTDOWN OF LAUNCHING FROM THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY. WE'RE A FAMILY. AS A FAMILY WE'VE BEEN LAUNCHING FROM THE CAUSEWAY FOR CLOSE TO 30 YEARS, I'VE RAISED MY SON AND HAD SO MANY GREAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY COME TO VISIT TO SPEND TIME ON THE CAUSEWAY WITH THE JET SKIS. AMAZING IT IS HOW THEY KEEP GOING ON AND ON TO THIS DAY. IT'S A LUXURY WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. I STAND WITH YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE, AS I FEEL THERE'S A MASSIVE LACK OF EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE WATER REGULATION AND COURTESIES. MY BELIEF IS THAT BANNING ONE ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF A FEW BAD APPLES IS NOT THE CORRECT RESOLUTION. I PROPOSE THAT A LAUNCH FEE AND A HIRING OF A LOT ATTENDANT JUST LIKE SUNSET BEACH, WHICH IS BEING RUN VERY WELL, AND A OLLABORATION WITH THE PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF AND FWC FOR ENFORCEMENT, PUT RULES DOWN AND ANYONE WHO CAN'T OBEY THE RULES, CHARGE A LAUNCH FEE. THE FLORIDA RIDERS HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS VOLUNTARILY CLEANING THE BEACHES DOWN THERE AND DO IT TO THIS DAY. WHEN WE'RE DOWN THERE, WE ACTUALLY CLEAN UP -- WE CLEAN UP CIGARETTE BUTTS, OTHER PEOPLE'S TRASH. THE COUNTY -- THIS IS WHERE I HAVE THE ISSUE WITH THE SEA GRASS. THE COUNTY IS -- EVERYBODY'S SAYING IT'S THE JET SKIS DOING THIS, THE PROBLEM IS, WE TOOK A PICTURE OF THE COUNTY DOWN THERE TWO OR THREE DAYS AGO, THEY WERE SPRAYING HERBICIDES AROUND THE GUARDRAILS AND TREES, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO WEED WHACK THE GRASS AND STUFF, WHEN THE RAIN COMES IT GOES RIGHT DOWN INTO THE SEA GRASS AND IT'S DILLING THE SEA GRASS. IF WE COULD HAVE THE MSDS SHEETS FOR THOSE, THAT WOULD HELP SHOW WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING THERE, BESIDES THAT. IF YOU BAN THE JET SKIS AND ALLOW THE PADDLE BOARDERS AND KAYAKERS TO DO -- YOU CANNOT GET OFF YOUR BOAT AT WEEK CAN I WATCH WHICH I BECAUSE THEY SAY YOU'RE KILLING THE SEA GRASS THERE. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS DESTRUCTION. I LOST MY SON A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THIS WAS HIS FAVORITE PLACE TO COME WITH US, AND HE SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME WITH HIS FRIENDS THERE, WHICH KEPT HIM OUT OF TROUBLE. I'M GOING TO GO OUT WITH THE SKIS FOR THE DAY. THE PROBLEM IS, THE BOAT RAMPS ARE SO PACKED IT TAKES THREE TO FOUR HOURS TO GET OUT. THAT'S IF YOU DON'T GET INTO A FIST FIGHT IN THE MEANTIME. I WAS AT ANTICLOTE A FEW WEEKS AGO, THERE WERE FOUR FIST FIGHTS IN AN HOUR. HOPEFULLY YOU CANNOT PASS THIS BAN WE'D APPRECIATE IT. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT YOUR SON. STEVE MENKE, AND ADELE CARPENTER WILL BE AFTER THAT. >> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR A COUPLE MINUTES UP HERE. I AM -- >> NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. >> 2390 HARRISON DRIVE, DUNEDIN. GREW UP IN TAMPA IN THE '70s, COMING HERE SINCE THEN, LIVED IN DUNEDIN FOR SIX YEARS. I'M AT THE CAUSEWAY ALL THE TIME, WALKING, BIKING, HAVING A GOOD TIME. I DO SOME KAYAKING, BUT I'M CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I DO. AFTER HAVING READ THE ORDINANCE IT, WE'RE CALLING IT, ALONG WITH THE ATTACHMENTS WITH THE AGENDA, AS LONG AS WE'RE WITHIN THE PER VIEW OF DOING THIS NO OTHER APPROVALS ARE NEEDED FROM THE DEP OR ANY OTHER STATE AGENCY. I'M A PREVIOUS JET SKI OWNER, I KNOW HOW TO OPERATE IT RESPECTFULLY, WHAT I SEE OUT THERE, MANY AREN'T. AND I'M OKAY WITH LEAVING THE KAYAK LAUNCH AREA WHERE IT IS NOW. WE DON'T HAVE TO EXPAND IT. I SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE INFLUX OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS INTO THIS AREA THAT'S WEARING THE CAUSEWAY OUT. ALL FOR IT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, STEVE. ADELE CARPENTER. AND AFTER THAT, WE'LL HAVE HOLLY ADEMANI. I HOPE THAT'S CLOSE. >> HELLO. ADELE CARPENTER, 2144 DDRUID RO. THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR OPINION. NO ONE EVER WANTS TO DEAL WITH THESE. AS A FLORIDA NATIVE, I GREW UP HERE, I SPENT EVERY SUMMER OF MY LIFE ENJOYING THE WATERWAYS IN FLORIDA, GOING OUT JET SKIING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AS I GOT OLDER AND HAD CHILDREN, I RETURNED TO FLORIDA TO SHARE THOSE JOYS WITH MY CHILDREN. WE GOT ONE SUMMER OF ENJOYING THE CAUSEWAY AND THEN YOU GUYS CLOSED IT DOWN. I UNDERSTAND A BEAUTIFICATION NEEDED TO OCCUR, IT HAPPENS WITH ALL THE BEACHES AFTER A STORM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO BBQING WITH MY CHILDREN, EJOYING THE SUN AND FUN THAT FLORIDA IS ALL ABOUT. IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SAFETY CONCERN, THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE CLOSING THIS DOWN. LAUNCHING INTO A MOTORIZED VEHICLE CAUSEWAY THAT'S THERE FOR PADDLE BOARDERS IS UNSAFE. THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE LAUNCHING INTO A MOTORIZED INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY, IS MOTORIZED VEHICLES. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IN REGARDS TO WATER LIFE AND GRASSES, JET SKIS AREN'T CONSTRUCTED TO CAUSE DAMAGE. THEY'RE NOT CONSTRUCTED TO HARMON MALS, THEY HAVE AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION SYSTEM THAT SUCKS IN WATER AND PUSHES IT OUT. WE DON'T WANT TO CAUSE HARM TO THE SEA GRASS. BEING ON THE SURFACE, FISHNETS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS DRAGGING IN THE CAUSEWAY, THAT'S WHAT CAUSES IT TO HAPPEN. SPRAYING, YOU SPRAY ANYTHING THAT CAUSES WEED KILLER IT RUNS INTO THE CAUSEWAY, IT'S GOING TO KILL ALL THE GRASS THAT'S THERE ALSO. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO OPEN IT, SO EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO ENJOY THE WATTER IN FLORIDA. THAT'S WHAT FLORIDA IS ALL ABOUT, ENJOYING FUN, AND SUN AND THE WATER. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, ADELE. THE NEXT PERSON IS HOLLY DEMANI. IS THAT RIGHT? HOLLY? HOLLY ADEMANI. NOBODY? OKAY. I GUESS SHE WAVED SPEAKING AND SAID SHE WAS FOR THE BAN. MAYBE THAT'S WHY SHE SIGNED IT AND LEFT. I'LL HAVE TO MAKE SURE I LOOK AT THAT. >> DOES IT SAY WHAT CITY SHE WAS FROM? >> HOLLY ON PAULA DRIVE IN DUNEDIN. >> THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THIS ONE AS WELL MAY BE A WAIVED SPEAKING, REBECCA CABRERA? REBECCA CABRERA? YOU WANT TO WAVE SPEAKING, BUT YOU'RE AGAINST? NEW PORT RICHEY. THAT WILL TAKE US TO KAREN LOCAS. ACTUALLY WAVING SPEAKING, AND THEY ARE FOR THE BAN, AND THEY LIVE AS WELL ON PAULA DRIVE, DUNEDIN. THEN WE GO TO WILLIAM CALAVEEN, WHO IS WAIVING SPEAKING BUT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE AGAINST. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL HERE AND DO WANT TO SPEAK. WILLIAM? THEY WERE UNDECIDED ABOUT SPEAKING, THEY'RE WAIVING IT AND AGAINST. THEY'RE GONE, SO I GUESS THEY MADE THEIR DECISION. TERRY TOZ? TERRY TOZ, LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE OING TO SPEAK. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE JAMES O'BRIEN ON DECK. TERRY TOZ. TAZ. NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> TERRY TAZ, I LIVE AT 1598 NANTUCKET COURT IN PALM HARBOR. FIRST OFF, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I'VE BEEN USING THE CAUSEWAY A LOT, SINCE 1969. WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD, I USED TO FISH OFF THE CAUSEWAY, THE TROUTS WERE WAY BIGGER IN THOSE DAYS. THEY WERE SO BIG, WE DIDN'T HAVE MONO FILAMENT. I HAD 20 POUND, I HAD TO WALK IT TO THE END. AND I FED FIVE SISTERS AND THERE WAS ME. THAT WAS MY JOB, GET FISH. ANYWAY, I'VE USED IT FOR WALKING, FISHING, SWIMMING, A LOT OF WINDSURFING BACK IN THOSE DAYS, WHEN WE HAD A WINDSURFING SHOP AT THE VERY END, AND SUNSET VIEWING. I'VE HAD A LOT OF BOATS THROUGH THESE YEARS AND DECADES, I USED ALL THE BOAT RAMPS CLOSE BY HAPPILY. I GRADUATED DUNEDIN HIGH, I GREW UP HERE, AND I'VE BEEN HERE 57 YEARS, USING THAT CAUSEWAY. IT IS MY PARADISE AS WELL. THE EXTRA TRAFFIC ON THE WEEKEND FROM THE JET SKIS AND TRAILERS COMING IN AND OUT MAKE ARY LAXED WALK OR BIKE -- MAKE A RELAXED WALK OR BIKE RIDE IMPOSSIBLE. IF NOT DANGEROUS. I'VE TAKEN MY GRANDKIDS ON SCOOTERS, AND DURING -- IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS. I AM NOT -- I AM THE LAST GUY AGAINST JET SKIS, I LOVE THEM. I'M A WATER GUY, I'M AN OUTDOOR GUY, BUT I'M AGAINST TURNING THE CAUSEWAY INTO A PUBLIC BOAT RAMP, IT'S NEVER BEEN THAT. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN PEACEFUL, QUIET. AND MAYBE -- THAT OTHER GUY'S SUGGESTION WAS GOOD, MAYBE A PAY -- MAYBE WE TURN ONE PORTION OF IT TO A DEDICATED BOAT RAMP, WHICH IS GOING TO COST MONEY, AND HAVE A GUY SITTING THERE GUIDING EVERYBODY IN AND OUT. OKAY, BUT THE WAY IT IS NOW, IT'S CHAOS. AND THE JET SKIS ARE OUT THERE, CHAOS. ALONG WITH THE KAYAKERS. THE OCCASIONAL WINDSURFER, YOU KNOW THAT'S TRUE, THEY DO 60, 70 MILE AN HOUR TODAY, THEY'RE NOT DOING 20 AND 30 LIKE THEY DID BEFORE. IT'S UNCONTROLLED. AND IT'S DANGEROUS. AS FAR AS THE -- BESIDES ALL THE SEA GRASS AND THE -- SOMEBODY SAID THAT THE FOOT TRAFFIC WOULD BE WORSE THAN TRAILERS. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. THE WEIGHT OF A JET SKI, AND IT'S TRAILER SINKING INTO THE SAND AS YOU'RE -- ISN'T LIKE WALKING OVER THE TOP OF IT, WITH 150 POUND PERSON. THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. I WOULD JUST SAY FOR NOW THERE'S GOT TO BE ANOTHER SOLUTION FOR THIS, FOR ALL OF US. BUT AS FAR AS THE CAUSEWAY, I WOULD LEAVE IT FOR THE KAYAKS AND THE PADDLE BOARDS, SWIMMERS AND SUN BATHERS, AND WE WON THE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ALL THAT GOING ON. MY TIME'S UP. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, SIR, APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE JAMES O'BRIEN AND NEXT WILL BE ALEX STEPHIE AND MEGAN COLBY. >> HELLO, I'M JAMES O'BRIEN, 1030 SAN SALVADOR DRIVE, DUNEDIN, FLORIDA. I LOVE IT HERE, THIS IS A GREAT TOWN, WHY ARE WE MAKING CHANGES. THE CAUSEWAY IS GREAT, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN GREAT. THE IDEA THAT JET SKIS ARE DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING ELSE OUT THERE, IT'S NOT TRUE. THEY DON'T HAVE AN EXTERNAL PROP PROPELLER, THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE TEARING UP THE GRASS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE PUT THEIR JET SKI IN AND LEAVE FOR THE DAY, THEY GO UP TO THE SANDBAR, THEY'RE NOT STAYING IN THE CAUSEWAY ALL DAY. MOST ARE LEAVING. IF YOU WANT TO CHARGE MONEY AND HAVE -- FOR PEOPLE TO PARK, IT'S FINE. TO BAN THIS WHOLE THING, THAT'S NOT RIGHT. THIS ISN'T WHAT DUNEDIN WANTS, THIS ISN'T WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR THIS BOARD WANTS. THIS IS DUNEDIN. WE'RE DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER TOWNS BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT CAUSEWAY, THAT MAKES US DIFFERENT. THAT MAKES US BETTER, THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO BE HERE, LET'S NOT KILL IT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, JAMES. NEXT IS ALEX STEPHIE. AND AGAIN, MEGAN COLBY IS ON DECK. >> 2144 DRUID ROAD, CLEAR WALTER. THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY IS A MAN MADE CAUSEWAY THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY CREATED FOR RECREATION USE. THE AREA BEING DISCUSSED IS THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD, LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO A BOAT CHANNEL. THIS IS NOT A LARGE OR PRISTINE UN TOUCHED HABITAT. AT THE END OF THE CAUSEWAY, THERE'S A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS THAT RENTS KAYAKS, CANOES, PADDLE BOARDS. EVERY DAY, PEOPLE WALK-THROUGH THE SEA GRASS, DISTURBING WILDLIFE. IF THE CONCERN WAS TRULY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, THESE DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON RECREATION. FLORIDA IS HOME TO MORE THAN 2 MILLION ACRES OF SEA GRASS, WITH THE VAST SEA GRASS BEDS NORTH AND SOUTH OF DUNEDIN. PROTECTING THESE HABITATS IS IMPORTANT, CLOSING THIS SMALL RECREATIONAL LAUNCH AREA IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE OVERALL HEALTH OF FLORIDA'S SEA GRASS SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, FISHING INCLUDING CASTEN ET FISHING IS STILL PERMITTED THROUGHOUT THE AREA, THOSE ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY REMOVE MARINE LIFE. YET THOSE CONTINUE WHILE RECREATIONAL BOAT AND PERSONAL WATER CRAFT LAUNCHING IS BEING SINGLED OUT. THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER WE SHOULD PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD. THE QUESTION IS WHY ONE SPECIFIC RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY IS BEING PROHIBITED WHILE OTHER ACTIVITIES AND COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS WITH SIMILAR OR GREATER IMPACTS CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED. IF THE GOAL IS FAIRNESS AND GENUINE CONSERVATION. ALL RECREATIONAL USES SHOULD BE EVALUATED USING THE SAME STANDARDS. I FEEL LIKE DUNEDIN, AT LEAST TO ME, IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE. I HAVE FRIEND COME IN FROM OUT OF TOWN, I WANT TO BRING THEM OUT, I WANT TO SHOW THEM, I WANT TO SHARE IT, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO MAYBE FIGURE OUT WAYS TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF IT, BUT NOT CUT IT OFF COMPLETELY. IT'S EASY FOR A BOATER TO HATE A JET SKIER OR PADDLE BORDER, THEY GET IN OUR WAY, THEY'RE LAUNCHING INTO A BOAT CHANNEL. ON THE SAME NOTE, I KNOW EVERYONE HAS THE SAME EQUAL RIGHTS TO THE WATER, AND I FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO STRIP US FROM THAT, AND IT'S NOT OKAY. HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS HEAR US, AND DON'T VOTE THIS ORDINANCE IN. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, ALEX. MGAN COLBY, AND ON DECK WILL BE HOWARD GRAY. >> HI, MEGAN COLBY, 1269 ROYAL OAK DRIVE IN DUNEDIN. I AM HERE REPRESNTING MYSELF AS A DUNEDIN RESIDENT, ALSO, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SUNCOAST SIERRA CLUB. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITIES COMMITTEES, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHARED THEIR FEEDBACK. IN LATE MAY, WE SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSEDS ORDINANCE, IN CASE ANYONE HASN'T READ IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH, IT'S A LONG ONE. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THREE KEY REASONS FOR OUR LETTER, TO DESCRIBE WHY THIS ORDINANCE IS VITAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. HABITAT RECOVERY AND PROTECTION. SINCE MOTORIZED LAUNCHES WERE TEMPORARILY RESTRICTION, WE'VE SEEN A REMARKABLE RECOVERY OF CRITICAL SEA GRASS AND MARINE LIFE. BRINGING MOTORIZED LAUNCHES BACK INTO THIS AREA, POSES A HIGH RISK TO THAT AREA. PROPELLERS, AND TURNED UP SILT BLOCKS THE SUNLIGHT SEA GRASS NEEDS TO SURVIVE. THE SHALLOW WATERS ARE PRIMARY FEEDING GROUNDS FOR THE THREATENED FLORIDA MANATEE NOBODY'S MENTIONED YET. LOW FREQUENCY ENGINE NOISE DROWNS OUT THE SOUND OF APPROACHING VESSELS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MANATEES TO SWIM AWAY IN TIME. SECOND, WE ARE CONSIDERING PUBLIC SAFETY. ON BUSY DAYS, MIXING FAST MOTORIZED CRAFTS WITH SWIMMERS, AND PADDLE BOARDERS CREATES ISSUES. FINALLY, THE ORDINANCE SAFEGUARDS OUR PUBLIC INVESTMENT. WE ALL MENTIONED IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME FOR THE CAUSEWAY TO REOPEN. AND IT STILL ALMOST HASN'T YET, IT ALSO COSTS A LOT OF TAXPAYER MONEY. THAT FRESHLY RENOURISHED SAND NEEDS YEARS OF COMPACT NATURALLY. PROPELLERS ACT LIKE UNDERWATER E EXCAVATORS. USING AN UNCOMPACTED SANDY BEACH AS A MOTORIZED LAUNCH, DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS BEST PRACTICES FOR COASTAL ENGINEERING, ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, GIVEN OUR PROXIMITY TO HONEYMOON ISLAND AND CALADESI STATE PARKS. WE THANK THE COMMISSION FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE A SAFER, MORE RESILIENT AND BIOLOGICALLY MORE VIBRANT CAUSEWAY. WE URGE THE COMMISSION TO VOTE YES ON THIS ORDINANCE, ADDITIONALLY, WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY OF DUNEDIN TO WORK WITH PINELLAS COUNTY, TO ESTABLISH A LONG TERM PLAN FOR A LIVING SHORE LINE AT THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, MEGAN. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HOWARD GRAY, ON DECK WILL BE LOUIS RIVERA. [ INAUDIBLE ] >> PARKING GARAGE. >> Mayor Freaney: GOT YOU. THAT'S ONE LESS SPEAKER FOR THIS ONE, HOWARD, THANK YOU. LOUIS REVERA, AND LET'S PUT SHAWN SPENCER ON DECK. YOU'RE WAIVING SPEAK SOMETHING >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY, WAIVING SPEAKING, BUT YOU ARE AGAINST. AND SAFETY HARBOR, FLORIDA, CORRECT? >> IS THAT LEWIS OR SHAWN? >> Mayor Freaney: LEWIS RIVERA, THAT WAS. YOU'RE SHAWN. >> LEWIS WAS FOR OR AGAINST? >> AGAIN. >> Mayor Freaney: SHAWN SPENCER AND ON DECK, LET'S PUT HANK HODDE. >> SHAWN SPENCER, I LIVE IN HOLIDAY FLORIDA. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE EVERYONE BACK TWO YEARS AGO, AFTER WE WERE HIT BACK TO BACK STORMS. THE CITY CLOSED THE LAUNCH AREA, YET DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, FISHERMEN WERE ALLOWED TO ACCESS THE BRIDGE. THE BRIDGE WAS TOO UNSAFE FOR TRUCKS PULLING JET SKI TRAILERS. YET SERVICE TRUCKS PULLING TRAILERS, DUMP TRUNKS WERE ABLE TO USE THE BRIDGE. LET'S TALK ABOUT SEA GRASS. BEHIND CALADESI ISLAND AND HONEYMOON ISLAND, THERE'S OVER 2,000 ACRES OF PROTECTED SEA GRASS. IT'S CALLED A NONMOTORIZED ZONE MUCH THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, NO MOTORS ARE ALLOWED TO BE THERE. AT ONE POINT WE WERE TOLD THE SEA GRASS HAS MADE A REMARKABLE RECOVERY IN TWO YEARS, THEN WE WERE TOLD IT TAKES FIVE YEARS TO RECOVER. WHICH IS IT? IF THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS TRULY THE GOAL, THEN WHY NOT CLOSE HONEYMOON ISLAND TO THE PUBLIC ACCESS FOR TWO YEAR WHERES AND SEE HOW MUCH WILDLIFE AND VEGETATION RETURNS. WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT A REALISTIC SITUATION, BECAUSE PUBLIC ACCESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MUST CO EXIST. I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT EVERYONE TO A THIRD PARTY STUDY CONDUCTED BY HERNANDO COUNTY AT THE WEEKI WATCHIE RIVER. PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH SHALLOW WATERS, GRASS BEDS, DRAGGING KAYAKS ACROSS THEM, AND REPEATEDLY STANDING AND SWIMMING ACROSS THOSE AREAS. IF PROTECTING THE SEA GRASS IS THE OBJECTIVE, THE SAME STANDARD SHOULD APPLY TO EVERY ACTIVITY THAT IMPACTS IT. OTHERWISE IT BEGINS TO LOOK A LOT LESS LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND SIGNALLING OUT A SPECIFIC USER GROUP. SAFETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN RAISED REGARDING KAYAKS AND CROSSING. THIS IS AN ACTIVE NAVIGATION CHANNEL. BOATS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LAUNCHED THERE, AND THEY ALWAYS WILL. THIS SOLUTION ISN'T ELIMINATING RESPONSIBLE USERS, IT'S EDUCATION AWARENESS AND ENFORCEMENT, WE HAVE HEARD THE CLAIMS THAT THE LAUNCH AREA IS CONSTANTLY COVERED WITH TRASH, BUT THERE'S TWO SMALL TRASH CANS, WHEN THEY GET OVERFILLED, PEOPLE PUT THE TRASH NEXT TO THE CANS. WILDLIFE OPENS THE BAGS AND SPREADS IT FROM THERE. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CLAIM THAT JET SKIS ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN TRADITIONAL BOATS. PERSONAL WATER CRAFT USE ENCLOSED JET PROPULSION SYSTEMS. THEY DO NOT HAVE SPINNING PROPELLERS. THAT CAN DISTURB THE >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, SHAWN, SORRY. AND HANK HODDE. YOU'RE NEXT. IT'S A CONFUSING RELATIONSHIP ON THE CAUSEWAY, BUT WHEN THE CAUSEWAY CLOSED, THE COUNTY HAD THE RIGHT TO DO THAT, THE AUTHORITY. WE DIDN'T TAKE THAT AUTHORITY, WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. BUT WE DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THIS AREA. JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. [ INAUDIBLE ] >> HANK HODDE, 1618 ST. HELEN DRIVE, DUNEDIN, FLORIDA. GOOD EVENING, I AM THE SERVICE CHAIR OF THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY AND COASTAL WATERWAY COMMITTEE, CO AUTHOR OF THE MEMORANDUM THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED TO YOU, I'M A BOATER AND USER OF THE CAUSEWAY, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE, OF ADOPTING THE ORDINANCE 26-08 PROHIBITING LAUNCH OF MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT FROM THE CAUSEWAY. THE CAUSEWAY IS NOT A BOAT RAMP, IT'S A GREENWAY. IT'S A VALUABLE PUBLIC SPACE, ONE OF THE BUSIEST STATE PARKS, HONEYMOON ISLAND, THIS IS A DIRECT CONNECTION. FOR YEARS OUR COMMUNITY HAS HEARD ABOUT THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE LAUNCH OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES. WE'VE SEEN SAFETY CONFLICTS, HIGH SPEED MOTORIZED TRAFFIC MOVING THROUGH WATER, SHARED BY SWIMMERS AND PADDLING. WE'VE SEEN HARM AND SEDIMENT DISRUPTION AND THE SHORE LINE THAT SETS INSIDE THE PINELLAS COUNTY AWE QUATIC PRESERVE. SOMETHING NOTABLE HAPPENED. MARINE LIFE RETURNED, SHORE LINE DISTURBANCE DROPPED, THE MARINE POLICE NO LONGER NEEDED -- THE COUNTY TOLD US THE CAUSEWAY IS THE COSTLIEST AREA TO MAINTAIN, SAW THE COST COME DOWN, AKA TAXPAYER FUNDING. THAT WAS NOT HYPOTHETICAL, IT WAS A REAL WORLD PILOT AND IT WORKED. THIS MAKES THAT PERMANENT. IT DOES NOT CLOSE THE CAUSEWAY, IT DOES NOT BAN BOATING IN DUNEDIN. MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT MAY NOT BE LAUNCHED FROM THE CAUSEWAY BEACH ITSELF. PADDLING, SWIMMING, FISHING AND EVERY NONMOTORIZED USE CAN CONTINUE AS THEY ARE TODAY. THIS IS GROUNDED IN EED IN THE HOME RULE AUTHORITY. DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE TO YEARS OF COMMITTEE FINDINGS AND TWO PRIOR ADVISORY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CITY'S OWN VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE. THE CAUSEWAY BELONGS TO EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND TO THOUSANDS OF VISITORS THAT CROSS IT EVERY YEAR TO REACH HONEYMOON ISLAND. PROTECTING SWIMMERS AND PADDLING IS WORTH ONE NARROW RESTRICTION. I DO WANT TO ADD THAT WE ARE ALL FOR ALTERNATIVES AND ARE UP FOR HEARING ALTERNATIVES, VERSUS JUST AN OUTRIGHT BAN. BUT AS FAR AS WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR, PROHIBITING LAUNCHING FROM THE CAUSEWAY WILL HAVE ALL OF THE IMPACTS AND BENEFITS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, SO THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, HANK. SORRY I HAD MY COUGHING ATTACK YOU WERE COMING UP. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO. THOMAS BLACK IS THE NEXT ONE. AND THREE MINUTES, NAME AND ADDRESS. I HAVE KIM BEGAY AFTER THAT ON DECK. THOMAS BLACK? OKAY. >> Mayor Freaney: HI. >> GOOD EVENING, THOMAS BLACK, 203 LEAF WOOD ROAD, TARPON SPRINGS, FLORIDA. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING THIS OPEN MIC FOR SOME FEEDBACK. AND APPRECIATE THAT. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME, I'M A RETIRED COMBAT VETERAN, AND MY CURRENT JOB, I'M A BUSINESS OWNER AND I TRAIN VETERANS TODAY IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY. I'VE HAD MY COAST GUARD BOAT LICENSE SINCE 1984ISH. DUNEDIN HAS DONE A BEAUTIFUL JOB WITH THE CAUSEWAY, THE CITY, EVERYTHING YOU DO. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE AND LEADERSHIP UP HERE. I'D HAVE TO TAKE YOU BACK TO 1992, RODNEY KING, CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG? I WAS AT AN ADVISORY BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK, THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT IT WAS ON CHANNEL 8, THE REASON I DIDN'T STAY ON TOP OF THE LOCAL ACTIVITIES IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS COMING. OUR UNDERSTANDING, WAS THE CAUSEWAY WAS CLOSED FOR REPAIRS. SO WHEN I SAW THIS ON THE NEWS, I REDID MY WHOLE SCHEDULE JUST TO BE HERE, THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. I HAVE A WAVE RUNNER, FRIENDS, VETERANS, THE LAST GENTLEMAN THAT -- I THINK HE'S THE HEAD OF THE -- THE CHAIR, THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR AGAINST MOTORIZED, ?HE SAYS IT'S EVERYBODY. IT'S RIGHT, IT IS EVERYBODY. WE ALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE IT. THERE'S ANOTHER GENTLEMAN AT THE ADVISORY BOARD THAT'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, AND IT USED TO BE A BIGGER LAUNCH ZONE THAT YOU COULD LAUNCH JET SKIS FROM. I'VE BEEN OUT OF TOWN FOR -- EVER SINCE THE LAST MEETING, AND I JUST GOT BACK, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE STATISTICAL FACTS, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT FACTS I DO HAVE. THE WATERWAY IS PARALLEL TO A HIGHWAY, IT'S ALSO A CHANNEL THAT RUNS OFF THE INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY. FROM THE INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY TO THE OCEAN. IT'S 50 FEET -- MINIMUM -- NO MORE THAN 50 FEET IN THE SHORE LINE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE SEA GRASS THAT THE PEOPLE LAUNCH THEIR VESSELS OFF OF. IT'S ALSO .3 MILES FROM WHERE WE USED TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH FROM. .3 MILES, IT'S A VERY SHORT SPACE. I CAN TELL YOU THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE WAIVE RUNNERS AND ALL, AND EVEN THE BOATS, WE ALL CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. I HEAR THIS, THE ENVIRONMENT'S COMING BACK. WELL, OF COURSE IT HAS, THERE'S BEEN NO ONE THERE. I CAN GO OUT TO SUNSET BEACH RIGHT NOW, NO ONE'S THERE, IT'S FULL OF BIRDS, I SEE FISH JUMPING. WE COME OUT, THE BIRDS FLY AWAY, THE FISH GO AWAY. AND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, THEY ALL COME BACK. TO SIT THERE AND SAY WE'RE HURTING THE ENVIRONMENT, IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I'VE HEARD FOR THAT LITTLE BIT OF PROPERTY. FISH COME BACK AT NIGHT, THE SEA GRASS IS THERE, THE JET SKIS DON'T HURT IT, THESE ARE JUST THE FACTS. SO EVERYONE'S HARPING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, WHAT ABOUT US AND OUR RIGHTS AND THE SANITY WE HAVE, AND THE PEACE OF MIND WE HAVE. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >> Mayor Freaney: APPRECIATE IT, THOMAS. KIM BEGAY IS NEXT, ON DECK WILL BE JOHN LOBIER. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KIM BEGAY, I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT WITH CLEARWATER AUDOBON SOCIETY. I LIVE IN PALM HARBOR. AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF FIGHTING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES ON THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY. I'M REPRESENTING MY CHAPTER OF THE CLEARWATER AUDOBON SOCIETY, WE STRONGLY URGE THE CITY OF DUNEDIN COMMITTEE TO PASS THE ORDINANCE BANNING THE LAUNCHING OF JET SKIS AT DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY. I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF YOU HAVE PULLED UP THE LATEST SEA GRASS STUDY CONDUCTED BY SWFWMD, THERE'S A STARK DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SOUTH SIDE WHERE THE JET SKIS HAVE HISTORICALLY LAUNCHED AND THE NORTH SIDE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET. THE NORTH SIDE SHOWS DENSE CONTINUOUS SEA GRASS MEADOWS AND THAT IS SECTION 18060, IMMEDIATELY OFF THE SHORE. AND DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET ON THE SOUTH SIDE, SECTION 19805, SHOWS VERY PATCHY SEA GRASS FROM YEARS OF LAUNCHING. THE GRASSES HAVE HAD TWO YEARS TO HEAL, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW IT TO DO SO. AS YOU KNOW, SEA GRASS IS WHERE FISH SON, SEA HORSES AND OCTOPY REPRODUCE. HEALTHY SEA GRASS EQUALS HEALTHY MARINE LIFE AND BETTER QUALITY OF WATER. IT IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ANY PLANT IN THE AMAZON RAINFOREST AS EQUESTRIAN CARBON DIOXIDE. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PLANT. THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT AREA, WITH CALADESI ISLAND, HONEYMOON ISLAND AND THREE ROCKER. WHY SPOIL IT WITH THE EXTRA TRAFFIC, NOISE POLLUTION THAT COME WITH LAUNCHING OF JET SKIS. YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN A CAUSEWAY THAT SHOULD BE NICE TO LOOK AT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY PROTECTED TO GO TO THESE BEAUTIFUL PARKS. AND WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS SECTION OVER ON THE SOUTH SIDE WITH ALL KINDS OF NOISE AND OBNOXIOUS ACTIVITY. I HAVE WATCHED THE FWC OFFICERS HAND OUT CITATION AFTER CITATION TO JET SKIERS WHO HAVE ENTERED INTO THE MOTOR EXCLUSION ZONES AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED. WHICH IS A VERY REAL DANGER TO SWIMMERS AND SNORKELERS. THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE TO FOLLOW THE RULES. WHEN THE LAUNCHING AREA WAS CLOSED, THEY SIMPLY MOVED WEST DOWN THE CAUSEWAY AND STARTED LAUNCHING IN THE MOTOR EXCLUSION ZONE NEAR THE HONEYMOON OR TIDAL RELIEF BRIDGE. I GUESS THE RULES APPLY TO EVERYONE BUT THEM. HEALTHY SEA GRASS BENEFIT SHORE BIRDS AND SEA BIRDS. MORE FISH EQUALS MORE BIRD POPULATION, AND THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY HAS THE STABLE POPULATION OF THE RARE ST WADI BIRD, WHICH ONLY FORAGES IN A COASTAL TIDAL FLAT, WHICH IS WHAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY BACK IN 1963 PROVIDED FOR THEM. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, KIM. APPRECIATE THAT. JOHN LOBIER IS NEXT, AND ON DECK WOULD BE MARK CLARK. >> HELLO, I HOPE EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME, MY NAME IS JOHN LOBIE, I LIVE ON HELEN STREET, DUNEDIN. I RISE TO SUPPORT JET SKIING ON THE CAUSEWAY. I HEAR EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT JET SKIS. THE ORDINANCES FOR MOTORIZED LAUNCHING. ANY MOTOR, RIGHT? OR ARE WE JUST TALKING ABOUT JET SKIS. THEY'RE LAUNCHING MOTORIZED CRAFT ON THE CAUSEWAY AS WE SPEAK >> Mayor Freaney: MOTORIZED. >> EVERY DAY. SOMEBODY COMES WITH A LITTLE CANOE WITH A MOTOR, FISH, WHATEVER, SO WE NEED TO DECIDE WHAT THAT IS. SECONDLY. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SEA GRASS. IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION. I CAN STILL DRIVE THE JET SKI UP AND DOWN THE SHORE FIVE FEET FROM THE SHORE, THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT STOP THAT. SO IF I WAS RUINING SEA GRASS LAUNCHING, I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO RUIN SEA GRASS RI RIDING UP DOWN THE CAUSEWAY. AS OTHER PEOPLE EXPLAINED, IT IS A CHANNEL, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY SMALL AREA OF THE CAUSEWAY. LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE CAUSEWAY. AND, OF COURSE, IT HAS REBOUNDED QUITE A BIT, BECAUSE NOBODY'S OVER THERE. THE NORTH SIDE LOOKS SO GREAT, BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY OVER THERE. PEOPLE ON THAT WEST SIDE, WEST/SOUTH SIDE ARE USING THAT. IT LOOKS EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT DID YEARS AGO, NO DIFFERENT. THE FISH -- I DON'T SEE ANY HARD FACTS, I SEE OPINIONS. THAT'S WHAT I SEE. AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD SUGGEST, WE WANT ALL TO GROUP TOGETHER TO SAVE THE CAUSEWAY, HOW DO WE JUSTIFY SPENDING $20 MILLION OF PINELLAS COUNTY'S MONEY TO BUILD A NEW BRIDGE FOR WHAT, THE STATE PARK DOWN AT THE END OF THE STREET? WHAT 10, 20 CONDOS? 100 CONDOS? PROBABLY AIN'T EVEN WORTH $20 MILLION WORTH OF CONDOS. SO I SAY WE NEED TO JOIN TOGETHER, BUILD THE CAUSEWAY BRIDGE, ENJOY JET SKIING, ENJOY THE CAUSEWAY AND THE SEA GRASS WILL GROW SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, JOHN. >> THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: NEXT PERSON IS MARK CLARK, AND ON DECK WILL BE RITA FOLEY. >> MARK CLARK, 2013 WOODWARD AVENUE, DUNEDIN, FORMERLY 22 33 SYDNEY AVENUE, DUNEDIN. I HAVE LIVED THE DUNEDIN DREAM. MY PARENTS MOVED HERE IN 1960, WHEN I WAS 1 YEAR OLD, FROM CLEARWATER, I HAVE BEEN LITERALLY ON ST. JOSEPH'S SOUND AND THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY THOUSANDS OF TIMES. I'M CONSTANTLY IN ST. JOSEPH'S SOUND, KAYAKS, PADDLE BOARDS, JET SKIS, BOATS, WIND SURFERS, YOU NAME IT, I'M ON THE WATER. I FISH, I DIVE, I DO EVERYTHING ON THE WATER. FOR SOMEONE TO SAY THE SEA GRASS IS BEING DAMAGED IS TOTALLY INCORRECT. THE SEA GRASS HAS REBOUNDED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, PROBABLY DUE TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS BY STORM WATER RUNOFF BEING CAPTURED, FERTILIZER BANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT YOU GO OUT THERE NOW, BEFORE THE RAIN STARTED, THE WATER QUALITY WAS UNBELIEVABLE. IT WAS ALMOST KEYS LIKE IN ST. JOSEPH'S SOUND. THE NOTION THAT SEA GRASS IS BEING DAMAGED AND THERE'S NO WISH OR WILDLIFE, THERE'S SO MUCH BAIT OUT THERE, ALL KINDS OF SCALED SARDINES, THE BIRDS WERE EATING THEM, THE ENVIRONMENT IS FINE. I WAS HERE IN 1990 WHEN ALL THIS STARTED YEARS AGO, NOBODY WANTED THE AREA WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, OR WE WERE. YOU KNOW, NOBODY WANTED TO GO THERE BECAUSE OF THE ROCKS, AND BECAUSE OF ALL THE SPOILS FROM THE PERSON THAT THE CONDO DEVELOPER THAT WANTED TO DEVELOP DUNEDIN BEACH AS IF WAS CALLED BACK THEN WHICH MADE CLEARWATER BEACH LOOK TERRIBLE. DUNEDIN BEACH WAS GORGEOUS. I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THE ENVIRONMENT REALLY ISN'T BEING IMPACTED BY MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO GO OUT THERE ON THE WEEK G DAYS AFTER WORK, GO OUT AND ENJOY WHAT DUNEDIN IS ALL BACK. WE'RE A WATERFRONT COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE, WE'RE NOT GOING A BEER GARDEN FOR DOWNTOWN CRAFT BREWERIES, THAT'S A FAD. WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE WATER, THAT IS WHAT DUNEDIN IS ALL ABOUT, I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO DOWN THERE AND ENJOY IT. THERE'S MAYBE SOME SOLUTIONS WE CAN COME UP WITH LIKE WE DID BACK IN 1990. WE WERE TOLD BACK THEN IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, SO WE TOOK THE AREA WE'RE AT NOW, AND -- BECAUSE NOBODY WANTED IT BACK THEN, BECAUSE IT WAS SO ROCKY AND HARD TO LAUNCH. MAYBE EVEN CONSIDER MAKING A LAUNCH AREA, AN EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH AREA, RIGHT BY THE BIG DRAW BRIDGE, MAYBE 50 YARDS PAST THE BIG DRAW BRIDGE, THAT'S THE DEEPEST WATER THER

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DUNEDIN, FLORIDA MINUTES OF THE CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JULY 23, 2026 CITY HALL, 737 LOUDEN AVENUE 6:00 P.M. PRESENT City Commission: Mayor Maureen "Moe" Freaney , Commissioners Jeff Gow, Tom Dugard and Steven Sandbergen Absent: Vice Mayor Robert Walker Also Present: City Manager Jennifer Bramley, Deputy City Manager Jorge Quintas , City Attorney Jennifer Cowan, City Clerk Michelle Wells, Parks and Recreation Director Tony Mulkey, Finance Director Les Tyler, Utilities & Engineering Director Clayton Watkins, Community Development Director George Kinney , Communications Director Sue Burness , CRA/Economic Development Director Robert lronsmith, Utilities Operation Manager Brian Antonian, Strategy & Sustainability Manager Nicole Delfino, Engineer II Alejandro Gonzalez , Planner II Frances Leong Sharp, Recreation Superintendent Jocelyn Brodhead, Special Events Coordinator Jorie Peterson, Special Events Programmer Danielle Edwards, and approximately sixty-five people in the audience. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Freaney called the July 23, 2026 , Regular Commission Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE City Attorney Cowan gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. PRESENTATIONS 1.a. Purple Heart Recognition Day 2026 Proclamation Mayor Freaney read the Purple Heart Recognition Day proclamation designating August 7, 2026 , as Purple Heart Recognition Day in Dunedin and asking everyone to pause and remember those extraordinary men and women and their families who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom, and those who were willing to make that ultimate sacrifice and to pray for the safety of all those defending our nation today. Military Order of the Purple Heart Rev. Robert "Bob" Swick, Captain USMC (Ret.) introduced State Commander, Richard Weltz, who made the following comments : Whenever he talks about the City , number one is Dunedin is the first Purple Heart City in Florida. At the national level , Florida is between the second and third most popular state of Purple Heart Veterans. He invited everyone on Purple Heart Day, and he will be the guest speaker. Scott Daniels, a member of the committee for 18 years, noted that for those years the City of Dunedin has been a leader , as it is with many other things, in terms of recognition of what is good and well and important in our city, state , and country. He asked to volunteer because his father received a Purple Heart in WWII. He is the oldest of four children, so he gets to keep his father's Purple Heart. He also gets to introduce the guest speaker each year and will be doing so on August 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. downtown by the Purple Heart Memorial Area . He thanked the City Commission and City staff that have made it very nice for all Veterans and 26-1

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission citizens in Dunedin to be able to celebrate people who care about our country , freedom , and recognizing when good deeds are done . Reverend Swick commented on the pride in Dunedin being the first Purple Heart City. This community is one of the most patriotic he has ever come across in his many years . There is a spirit of patriotism that should be emulated across the country . He thanked Mayor Freaney and all the Commissioners for all they do in their leadership to promote that patriotism that is needed in the country today. The City of Dunedin prints the Purple Recognition Ceremony flyers , which he shared with the Commission , noting they would be passed out throughout the community soon. Mayor Freaney acknowledged Vice Mayor Walker , who was out of town on business tonight and the only Veteran on the dais who would have normally read the proclamation . CITIZEN INPUT Mayor Freaney advised now was the time for anyone in the audience who wished to speak on a topic not on the agenda. David Ballard Geddis, Jr. of 802 Georgia Ave., Palm Harbor commented : Pinellas County Resolution 95-286 Section 4.c-2. Stating absolute bill of sale , full warranties of title and release of lien ; the County has been sold to the Water District as recognized in various statutes . The ad valorem property tax lien portion on our ad valorem here is no longer valid . This portion of the bill as sold has been released. The County using a quid pro quo agreement racketeered with the Water District is intending to shape shift the county and its city and municipal governments from their fortnight statesmanship into a politically laundered watershed operation laundering water jurisdictions under the 14 th Amendment in the form of a non-ad valorem levy giving rise to this portion of the billing practice , giving rise to water jurisdictions whereas the City was once the seat of government. The water jurisdictions are recognized as fortifications approximately 10 miles square in Article 1 Section 8. (7) in its captures of the water supply seen in Article 1 Section 8 (11) birthing a ship of war in Article 1 Section 10 intent on levying upon the civilian population taxing us directly . Our current Constitution is a state of the dissolution , the Declaration of Independence states to dissolve our current government and assume separate but equal stations among the powers of the earth . Legislation is using water as their Second Amendment weapon of choice. Our current government is being seen as dissolved in Reclaimed Water Statute 153-03 Sections 7 and 11 recognized as an interagency self-liquidation process in and of itself in Statute 163 .01 transferring County function and power in Pinellas County Home Rule Charter Section 2.04(q) in an internal selling the county to an internal foreign occupier reflective of Statute 218.415 Section 16.f. hoping to reconstitute itself in Statute 373.715 thereby not only is our county , city and municipal governments along with the water district engaging in racketeering and perjury , they are guilty of high seas crimes of Constitutional contempt using our current Constitution as a bill of attainder a letter of marquee creating expo post facto laws and reprisals to include treason in the form of a non-ad valorem levy . Seeing and hearing no one else wishing to speak Mayor Freaney moved to the next agenda item . 2. CONSENT AGENDA 2.a. Approve the Minutes for the: A. 6/18/2026 Regular Meeting 2.b. Board and Committee Appointments A. Dunedin Causeway and Coastal Waterways Committee 26-2

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 - Reappoint Christian Oshea to a regular term ending 6/1/2029 . Dunedin City Commission 2.c. Addendum No. 1 for Construction Phase Professional Services to the GEC Agreement/ Service Authorization No. WW-3-25 with Tetra Tech, Inc., (Tetra Tech}, a Delaware Corporation, for the Wastewater Treatment Plan (WWTP} Emergency Generator Building Rehabilitation Project, in the Not to Exceed (NTE} amount of $54,964 2.d. Duke Energy Utility Easement for Two (2) 2,500 kVa Transformers at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP} 2.e. Award Bid #26-2615 for the renovation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP} Breakroom Renovation Project to Pannonia Development, LLC, in the amount of $169,850 2.f. Duke Energy Utility Easement for Electrical Service at Grand Oak Park 2.g. Addendum #2 for Limited Construction Management Professional Services (Additional Inspection Services} to the contract with Ardurra Group, Inc., for the Marina Bulkhead Repair Project, in an amount of Not to Exceed (NTE} $34,448, for a total contract amount of $83,726 MOTION: Motion was made by Commissioner Sandbergen and seconded by Commissioner Dugard to approve the Consent Agenda, except item 2.e. Public Input Mayor Freaney opened public input on any Consent item. Hearing and seeing no one wishing to speak , Mayor Freaney closed the public input. VOTE: Motion carried 4 - 0. ITEMS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA - 2.e. Award Bid #26-2615 for the renovation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP} Breakroom Renovation Project to Pannonia Development, LLC, in the amount of $169,850 Mayor Freaney commented it seemed like a lot of money for the renovation, and she wanted to make sure of understanding it. Utilities/Engineering Director Watkins explained a significant amount of the cost came into effect once the electrical aspect of the system had to be upgraded with new appliances. Because of not being a residential kitchen , a range hood had to be added for fire protection. This will be the first renovation since the building was built about 30-some years. MOTION: Motion was made by Commissioner Dugard and seconded by Commissioner Sandbergen to approve Consent Agenda item 2.e. Public Input Mayor Freaney opened public input on this Consent item. Hearing and seeing no one wishing to speak , Mayor Freaney closed the public input. An eComment was submitted by Duane Wright: Duane Wright 6021 25th Ave N, Saint Petersburg I Italy & Romania This item should be table or rescinded , based on the information provided in the /TB [Intent To Bid] documents This project is not in compliance with the City 's Title II obligations . Namely the proposed design does not meet the requirements under Chapters: 2.3.4 .6, and 8 as prescribed under the ADA Architectural guidelines. Because the Florida Building Code - Accessibility incorporated those guideline , this renovation as designed would violate those codes . There 26-3

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission may be "loopholes " relying on the FBC-Existing Buildings and levels of alterations. Utilizing these "workarounds " to save face is disingenuous . Basically a total "gut-job ." It is in the best interest of the present and future employees , the tax-payers , and the City 's reputation be renovated in compliance from the start. Once there is a compliant /TB , it should be re-bid by all or the original bidders. VOTE: Motion carried 4- 0. 3. ACTION ITEMS 3.a. First Reading of Ordinance 26-08, an ordinance amending the City of Dunedin Code of Ordinances to prohibit launching motorized watercraft from the Dunedin Causeway Beach to protect the shoreline, reduce negative environmental impacts and reduce overall user safety. City Attorney Cowan read Ordinance 26-08 by title only. Staff Presentation Parks and Recreation Director Mulkey advised : This presentation is to sort of represent the information provided during the June Commission Workshop , discussing the launch of motorized watercraft from the Dunedin Causeway. Strategy & Sustainabil ity Manager Delfino referred to the PowerPoint presentation, Dunedin Causeway Usage , Attachment A, and provided the following highlights and comments : History and Background - Page 3 - Details 1963 - 2026 • 1990 - City Commission tentatively banned launching/retrieving motorized watercraft from the Causeway (Tampa Bay Times) • 2005 - Causeway Master Plan (City of Dunedin) • 2012 - Causeway Corridor Study (City of Dunedin) • 2014 - Waterfront Task Force Report (City of Dunedin) • 2019 - County Ordinance 19-29 restricting usage (seagrass damage) on the north side of the Causeway • 2024 - south side of Causeway closed due to storm damage/erosion • 2025 - circulation and access updated for safety (one-way traffic) by the County • 2026 - post-storm beach renourishment, erosion control, and repair approved by County Commission (work began April 2026 , expected completion July-December 2026) Parks and Recreation Director Mulkey continued : Current Ordinance : 14-21, Section 54-32 - Page 4 - Details/Map The current ordinance delineates separate areas from the beach for different access for watercraft . On the north side there has been no launching of motorized watercraft since the 1990 's. On the south side there have been three distinct sections ; a sect ion that has allowed motorized watercraft ; a section that prohibits any watercraft launching and a non-motorized watercraft area to the far west. Benefits to the Environment - Page 7 - Sign "The aquatic preserve system is critical to the environmental , recreational , and econom ic well-being of the county and is committed to preserving the aquatic preserve system in an 26-4

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission essentially natural condition so that its aesthetic , biological, and scientific values may endure for the enjoyment of future generations ." (Pinellas County Ordinance - Section 58-401) • Seagrass Protection , Preservation & Resurgence • Sea Life Protection , Preservation & Resurgence • Shore Bird and Wildlife Nesting Discussions with the County indicate they are supportive of the change to eliminating launching of motorized watercraft pursuant to this Code and their general stance of preserving the environment. Mr. Mulkey noted : The Dunedin Causeway is the gateway to Honeymoon Island and Caladesi State Park. The Causeway itself is an active recreation space for many forms of recreation, providing waterfront access to the public for paddle sports , fishing , swimming, and motorized watercraft currently . It is also a place where people go to run , walk, enjoy the environment , and just connect with the outdoors. The Causeway is connected to the Pinellas Trail system which allows for running, walking, biking , and access to the State parks and other recreational opportunities to enjoy this natural space. In late 2025 , the Dunedin Causeway & Coastal Waterways Committee made a recommendation to prohibit motorized watercraft along the entire Causeway . The Causeway does not have a developed boat launch. This is shoreline launching that is where people back their trailers to the water 's edge and launch their vessels. This shoreline launch has many impacts on the natural environment. It has been brought up that impacts are caused by kayaking as well as foot traffic. The motorized watercraft has been shown to have a greater impact in many ways other than seagrass. Motorized watercrafts produce higher wake energy and propeller thrust that crashes into the shorelines , strips away protective aquatic vegetation, and erodes the banks. It disturbs the bottom, launches and shallow water maneuvering , such as power off or on to a trailer cause prop scaring and jet wash as well. With that, there is more sedimentation that occurs within the water, resuspension of that sediment changes the shoreline profile and increases wave thrust against the shoreline. Turbidity , suspended particulate within the water column, blocks sunlight and affects the native flora and fauna of the area. The churning of the bottom sediment increases nutrients within this space. Add itionally, chemical pollution from internal combustion watercraft is present with the vegetative damage that has been discussed , as well as wildlife disturbance from the noise, wave action, turbulence , and displacement. Nesting birds are disturbed , as well as stranded and injured fish. A prohibition of motorized watercraft through this section would reduce congestion and remove some of the recreation conflicts currently present on the Causeway . Marine Ecosystem Revitalization: Support - Page 8 Public or Written Support: • Causeway & Coastal Waterway Committee • Pinellas County • Sierra Club 26-5

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 • Tampa Bay Estuary Verbal Support : • Dunedin Youth Sailing • Windlasses • Marina Advisory Committee Dunedin City Commission Benefits to the Public : Fire Rescue - Page 9 - Multiple Informational Graphics Ms. Delfino advised that Chief Handoga could not attend tonight ; however , provided information at the June Workshop . There was an analysis from the pre-closure period of January 1, 2021, until the current date of May 16 , 2026. There were 2 fatal accidents, May 2021 and March 2024, involving personal watercraft adjacent to the Causeway. Benefits to the Public: PCSO - Page 10 - Calls for Service 1/1 /22 - 4/30/26 Case Number: Date/Time: Problem Type Ms. Delfino noted that at the workshop HR/Risk Management Director Dr. Smalling presented this data. The PCSO was asked to provide information extending the pre-closure period starting January 1, 2022 -April 30, 2026 . There was a total of 13,917 total calls for service, both dispatched and self-initiated . Of those calls, 80 were jet ski related . Following the closure, most calls were related to unauthorized launching. Deputy City Manager Quintas advised: City staff have been coordinating with Pinellas County for quite some time . The County supports the restrictions on the south side similar to what they have done on the north side. They also acknowledge there is a significant maintenance expenditure they have to deal with on a periodic basis, regrading and reestablishing material along the banks caused much by the vessel traffic in the area . In addition to the environmental concerns, the County is supportive of moving forward with staff recommendations. The ordinance does recognize the impacts to the seagrass and damage to the aquatic preserve by the vessel operations in this area. Ms. Delfino added : When Pinellas County passed their ordinance , it was to affect the entire Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve, which is highlighted in the map provided. Available Launch Locations - Map & Table - Page 15 The map and table provide information on launching points closest to both the Causeway and the Dunedin Marina. Most are public and do come with a cost to launch. A few listed are private . Ordinance Review Process - Chart - Page 16 Ms. Delfino advised : When City staff presented at the workshop, they reviewed the Ordinance review process and left with the consensus direction to develop the ordinance language , which was done. The proper 26-6

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23 , 2026 Dunedin City Commission advertising was done , and this is the first reading of the ordinance . If approved , there will be another advertising period and a second reading. Prepare Draft Ordinance Language (4 weeks) Advertise Ordinance/Meeting (min 7 days) First Reading of Ordinance July 23 , 2026 Advertise Ordinance /Meeting (min 5 days) Second Reading of Ordinance September 3, 2026 Recommendation - Page 17 Parks & Recreation Director Mulkey advised : Staff recommend the City Commission adopt Ordinance 26-08 , amending Ordinance 14-21 , Section 54-32 , to prohibit the launching of motorized watercraft along the Dunedin Causeway . City Manager Remarks City Manager Bramley advised : There are a number of committees and agencies that have written to the City in support of the ban on motorized watercraft on the Causeway. The Dunedin Causeway and Coastal Waterways Committee sent a recommendation to the City Commission to ban launching motorized watercraft last December. Pinellas County owns the Causeway . In looking at social media , many people are mistaking the City 's ownership ; that is why Pinellas County has been so involved in the recommendation. The City has, in writing , that the County is allowing the Dunedin City Commission to make this determination. The City has also heard from the Sierra Club supporting the staff recommendation , as well as the Tampa Bay Estuary and Windlasses. The Royal Stewart Arms condominiums next door is also in support. Most organizations are resident based ; some are national agencies Questions for Staff Commissioner Sandbergen asked if there is any connection to this happening because of the condition , future replacement , or repair of the draw bridge. City Manager Bramley advised there was not. Commissioner Sand bergen related that of the 125 emails he received , one went over and over about trash and clarified with City Manager Bramley the City is responsible for picking up the trash . Commissioner Sandbergen commented that , at this time, he does not believe there are any business operations of any kind , other than the High and Dry , that are eligible at the location and City Manager Bramley acknowledged that was correct. Commissioner Sandbergen verified with City Manager Bramley the hours for the Causeway are 5:00 a.m . - 11 :00 p.m . Mayor Freaney asked how long that little section has been open for jet ski launching or motorized watercraft launching. City Manager Bramley recalled it was 2015 when that ordinance went into effect; however , was corrected about the date , which Mayor Freaney recalled it was more than 30 years ago . Vice Mayor Walker attempted to join the meeting via Zoom. Mr. Mulkey advised it has been many years since iterations even before the County closed the north side of the Causeway . It has been closed since 2024. 26-7

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission Mayor Freaney inquired if there was any sense of motorized watercraft , maybe specifically je t ski ownership , over the last 20 - 30 years. Public Input Mayor Freaney opened the item to public . She reviewed the process explaining if someone wants to speak who had not filled out a card, those are available . Speakers for , against , or undecided can come forward . She would be very strictly adhering to the 3 minutes , as many people wanted to speak . Most importantly , and this meeting is an example of why the rules are in place , tonight is about respect. She has cards that are not that different on each side of a very hot issue in terms of for and against , respect , and per the rules during this time , no applause , no cheering , no boo ing, no jeering . The reality is it is intimidating for each side and makes it difficult for those who have a hard time speaking their opinion , an environment no one wants to create here. All are asked to honor those rules. City Clerk Wells explained the process of speaking and noted she would not start the clock until the speaker had completed their name and address, including the city . Summary of po ints made by speakers : (Complete comments on video on the City website) Sue O'Brien of 1030 San Salvador Dr., Dunedin To punish many people for what is thought to be bad behavior for some is wrong . Environmental impacts have been discussed , but not the impact on the people who live here, people who cannot afford boats that have jet skis. The Marina is expensive. People moved here to be on the water. It is $25.00 at the Clearwater marina , but it is under construction. Why rebuild the Causeway if people can 't use it? This would be protecting a manmade structure , why try to keep seagrass around it ; no one cared about the seagrass when the Causeway was built. People of Dunedin have a bigger right to the water than the seagrass . Jason Hernandez of 1638 Franklin Way, Dunedin For most , the jet ski is a source of joy , happiness , and an outlet for stress relief. He moved to Dunedin to be close to the water and enjoy it ; that is now being threatened and does not seem right. There should be a way for everyone to peacefully share the Causeway , including more safety regulations . The few boat ramps in the area are very busy and cannot keep up with the demand for boats and j et skis together , creating a lot of conflict. Lisa Wilson of 2366 Rutland Ln., Clearwater A lifelong resident of Pinellas County and of Dunedin with 4 different addresses and owns a business in Dunedin . Lately the American freedoms have been chipped at. She has enjoyed the Causeway , meeting fr iends and tak ing a ride with friends who had jet skis for many years . They have a paddle board with a small outboard motor after the storms ; it does not require the use of a trailer. The re-beautification process was supposed to be temporary, but now people are being threatened with this right being taken away. 26-8

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission Access to these areas should not be limited to only rich people who can afford boats and houses on the water . The Causeway is manmade and not a natural beach , the small area for launching personal watercraft is far from a nuisance for the entire Causeway and Honeymoon Island . It is the only place they can launch to get to the sandbar. Maybe there should be more enforcement for water safety, that would make more sense than taking rights away altogether. Blaming the trash on people who jet ski is a mistaken idea; the trash came from the influx of people. More trash cans are needed. Eric Graves of 1413 Bayshore Blvd. 1 Dunedin He represents the Dunedin Boat Club Paddling Group as well as himself. The ban is an opportunity to continue to improve the environment, safety, and quality of life when using the Causeway area from land and on water. He recalled the challenges presented by the many jet skis launched there before the 2024 storms when launching was allowed . He respects different opinions knowing there are many responsible people who have used the location in the past ; however, some have created the difficulties that have negatively impacted the environment for seagrass and sediment creation. Human safety, including fatalities, and quality of life, including noise , trash, parking challenges, extra traffic on the Causeway , and overall enjoyment of the area; history has shown that, even with the established rules, many violate those rules. During the past two years when there was no launching , it is clear the strength of the seagrass and water clarity due to less churning of the sediment has continued to improve . He is not comfortable with tax dollars paying higher levels of enforcement if others suggest that as a solution. Nathanial Combs of 2664 Wildwood Ln. 1 Palm Harbor He has two properties in Dunedin. He and his family have used the Causeway for over 30 years with jet skis. There is a lack of education and enforcement of the water regulations and courtesies. Banning an activity because of a few bad apples is not the correct resolution. He proposed a launch fee and hiring a lot attendant just like Sunset Beach that is being run very well these days. Florida Riders have for years been voluntarily cleaning the beaches and continue; he is not affiliated but sees them doing it. Regarding the issue with the seagrass , he witnessed the County spraying herbicide around the trees and when the rain comes that goes right into the seagrass. Banning the jet skis but allowing the paddle boarders and the kayakers. Boat ramps now are so packed it takes 3 - 4 hours to get out, that is if there are no fights. Steve Menke of 2390 Harrison Dr., Dunedin He is on the Causeway all the time walking and biking. He does some kayaking and is very careful. He is a former jet ski owner who used it respectfully; what he sees, many are not. He supports leaving the kayak launch, it does not need to be expanded and see what is happening with the influx of residents and visitors to the area . 26-9

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Adelle Carpenter of 2144 Druid Rd. E., Clearwater Dunedin City Commission She understands the beautification that needed to occur that happens with all the beaches after a storm. In terms of safety , launching into a motorized vehicle Causeway that is there for paddle boarders is unsafe; the only ones who should be launching from the Causeway into a motorized intercoastal waterway are motorized vehicles. Regarding the water life and grass, jet skis are not constructed to cause damage or harm animals having an internal combustion system that sucks in water and pushes it out. The seagrass causes more damage to the jet skis. The spraying of weed killer runs down into the seagrass. Everyone has the right to enjoy the water in Florida. Holly Adimari of 464 Paula Dr. N., Dunedin WAIVE SPEAKING in favor Rebecca Cabrera of 11475 Weaver Hollow Rd., New Port Richey WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Karen Lukacs of 464 Paula Dr. N., Dunedin WAIVE SPEAKING in favor William Caval iere of 1176 Ford Ln., Dunedin WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Terry Taz of 1598 Nantucket Ct., Palm Harbor He has been using the Causeway since 1969 for walking , fishing, and swimming ; in the old days wind surfing and sunset viewing. Over the years he has had boats and used all the boat ramps close by. Extra traffic from the jet skis and trailers coming in and out make a relaxed walk or bike ride almost impossible, if not dangerous. He is not against jet skis but is against turning the Causeway into a public boat ramp that it has never been. The way it has been is chaos . There was a comment that the foot traffic is worse than the trailers for the seagrass , which is ridiculous. He would leave the Causeway for the kayaks , paddle boards, swimmers , and sunbathers. James O'Brien of 1030 San Salvador Dr., Dunedin Why make any changes ; it has always been great for everyone. The idea that the jet skis are any different than anything else out there is not true . They do not have an external propeller to tear up the grass. Most do not stay on the Causeway all day. This is not what Dunedin wants; the Causeway makes the city different and better. Alex Steffey of 2144 Druid Rd. E., Clearwater The Causeway is manmade , specifically created for public recreational use. This is not a large pristine untouched habitat. At the opposite end of the Causeway there is a commercial business that runs kayaks , canoes , and paddle boards. Every day the customers walk through the environment creating regular traffic through the seagrass disturbing wildlife. If the concern was truly environmental protection, those impacts should be evaluated consistently rather than focusing on jet skis and recreational boats. Protecting the vast seagrass beds and habitats is important; however , closing this small recreational launch area is unlikely to have a meaningful impact. Fishing, including cast net fishing, is still permitted throughout the area ; those activities directly remove marine life . 26-10

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission Why is one specific recreational activity being prohibited while other activities, and even commercial operations with similar or greater impacts , continue to be allowed. There should be equal rights to the water. Megan Colby of 1269 Royal Oak Dr ., Dunedin (Suncoast Sierra Club) Speaking also on behalf of the Suncoast Sierra Club , they thanked the city 's committees , organizations , and community members who shared their feedback on the proposed ordinance. In May , their club submitted a letter in support of the proposed ordinance. She highlighted three key reasons from the letter to describe why the ordinance is vital to the community: Habitat recovery and protection : Since motorized launches were temporarily restricted following the 2024 hurricanes, they have seen a remarkable rapid recovery of critical seagrass habitats and marine life along the shoreline. Bringing motorized launches back to the area poses a high risk to that progress. These shallow waters are primary feeding grounds for the threatened Manatee , which has not been mentioned. In water 3 feet deep, the likelihood of a manatee being in a vessel strike range jump to 96%. Low frequency engine noise also drowns out the sound of approaching vessels , making it nearly impossible for manatees to swim away in time . Consideration of Public Safety : On busy days , mixing fast motorized craft with families, swimmers , kayakers , and paddle boarders creates a dangerous multi-use conflict. Designating the shoreline exclusively for non- motorized launches keeps everyone safe. Public Investment: It took a lot of time for the Causeway to reopen , and it cost a lot of taxpayer money. That freshly renourished sand needs years to compact naturally. High thrust propellers and personal watercraft act like underwater excavators actively eroding the beach and undercutting the costly geo-tech repairs. Us ing an uncompacted sandy beach as a motorized launch directly contradicts best practices for resilient coastal engineering . Luis Rivera of 2358 Restmere Ln., Spring Hill WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Sean Spencer of 4250 Woodfield Ave. , Holiday After the storms and closing , directly across the street , fishermen were allowed to access the bridge , though the public was told the bridge was too unsafe for trucks pulling jet ski trailers, yet service trucks pulling trailers , dump trucks, and other service vehicles were able to use the bridge. Regarding seagrass behind Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island , there are over 2,000 acres of protected seagrass; it is called a non-motorized zone. He questioned the information on the recovery of seagrass, whether it made a remarkable recovery in 2 years or does it take 5 years? A third-party study was conducted by Hernando County at the Weeki Wachee River regarding which boats and personal watercraft cause less damage to seagrass than activities such as people walking through shallow waters, grass beds, dragging kayaks across and repeatedly standing and swimming across those areas. This solution is not eliminating responsible users; it is education , awareness, and enforcement. More trash cans are needed ; with the two small cans trash is left by them and wildlife spreads it from there . 26-11

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission In terms of personal watercraft being more dangerous than traditional boats , personal watercraft use enclosed jet propulsion systems , not propellers. Mayor Freaney at this time commented regarding the confusing relationship on the Causeway. When the Causeway closed , the County had the authority to do that and then they had to wait for FEMA money of about $1.3 million to do the repairs. That is what is in process now. The City did not have that authority; however , the City does have the authority to regulate this area . Hank Hodde of 1618 San Helen Dr., Dunedin (Chair , Dunedin Causeway & Coastal Waterways Committee) The Causeway is not a boat ramp; it is a greenway and one of the most valuable public spaces and the gateway to Honeymoon Island, one of the busiest State parks in Florida . For years their committee has heard and documented real conflicts between the mixes of uses and the launching of personal watercraft . They have seen unauthorized commercial activity , unlicensed rentals and sales operating in direct violation of City Code. They have seen safety conflicts, high speed motorized traffic moving through water shared by swimmers and paddlers , and environmental harm. When the County closed the southeast entrance and halted motorized watercraft , marine life returned, shoreline disturbance stopped , marine police needed a standing presence at the east end , pedestrians and cyclists reported feeling safer , and the County, who has repeatedly told them the Causeway is the costliest area to maintain , saw those costs come down , a/k/a taxpayer funding. The Ordinance simply makes those improvements permanent; it does not close the Causeway or ban boating in Dunedin. It is that motorized watercraft cannot be launched or landed from the Causeway beach itself. All other non-motorized uses continue as they are today. The Ordinance is grounded in the City's Home Rule authority, consistent with the County planning direction toward one-way traffic and reduced beach access on the south side and directly responds to years of committee findings and two prior advisory recommendations from the City 's own volunteer committee. Their committee offers alternatives and are up for hearing alternatives versus just an outright ban; however, what they have heard so far prohibiting launching from the Causeway will have all the impacts and benefits heard tonight. Thomas Black of 203 Leafwood Rd., Tarpon Springs The first time he heard about this was on the news on Channel 8; he did not stay on top of these local activities because his understanding was the Causeway was closed for repair. The waterway is parallel to a highway and is also a channel that runs off the intercoastal waterway to the ocean. It is no more than 50 feet from the shoreline with all the sea grass where people launch their vessels. It is 0.3 miles from where they used to be able to launch; that is a very short space. Those with motorized watercraft do care about the environment. Of course , the environment has come back , there has been no one there . When people go out there , the birds fly away and the fish go out ; but when everyone leaves , they come back. Along with the concern for the environment there should be concern for people , the ir rights, and peace of mind. Kim Begay of 523 Hammock Dr., Palm Harbor (Clearwater Audubon Society) The Clearwater Audubon Society strongly urges the City of Dunedin Commission to pass the ordinance banning the launching of jet skis at Dunedin Causeway. 26-12

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23 , 2026 Dunedin City Commission She provided information from the latest seagrass study conducted by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) on July 7, 2025 . There is a stark difference between the south side and the north side directly across the street. The grass needs to be allowed to continue to heal ; healthy seagrass equals healthy marine life and better water quality ; it is a very important plant. Why spoil the area with the extra traffic , trash , and noise pollution that comes with launching of jet skis. She has watched the FWC officers ' hand out citations to jet skiers who have dangerously and repeatedly entered the motor exclusion zones at high rates of speed ; a very real danger . Heathy seagrass and less intrusive noise levels benefit the many species of birds. Dunedin Causeway has a stable population ·of the rarest wading bird in all of North America , the Reddish Egret , which only forages in a coastal tidal flat , which is exactly what the construction of the Dunedin Causeway back in 1963 provided for them. John Loubier of 436 Helen St., Dunedin Motorized craft is being launched from the Causeway every day now ; needs to be decided what that is . It is not about seagrass , but perceptions by people and this ordinance does not stop jet skiers from going 5 feet from the shoreline, up and down the shoreline. It is a very small area of the Causeway which has rebounded because no one is there , the same on the north side . There are people on the west-south side using that and it looks the same as years ago. He sees no hard facts, just opinions. Mark Clark of 2013 Woodward Ave., Dunedin He is constantly on the water around St. Joseph Sound. That the seagrass is being damaged is totally incorrect ; it has rebounded in the last 10 years probably due to conservation efforts of stormwater runoff being captured , fertilizer bans , and so forth . The environment is fine. The environment is not being impacted by motorized watercraft. This is a waterfront community , and people go to the Causeway maybe after work with their jet skis. There will always be the water ; that is what Dunedin is about. There could be some solutions like they came up with in 1990 when they were told it was a safety issue, so they took the area being discussed because back then no one wanted it. Possibly considering an exclusive launch area by the big draw bridge, maybe 50 yards past where there is the deepest water and not damage anything. Rita Foley of 700 Mease Plaza, Dunedin Alternative launching spots already exist in the surrounding region . It is unnecessary to allow the watercraft to cause damage. In addition to the environmental issues , it is critical public safety for non-motorized recreational users . She referred to the PCSO report of 80 jet ski-related incidents. She commented on outside special interest groups that she learned from Facebook that have rallied their members to attend to voice their oppos ition . 26-13

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Randy Cabrera of 11475 Weaver Hollow Rd., New Port Richey Dunedin City Commission 50 yards from that shoreline is one of the heaviest traffic boating areas to and from the Gulf; every time a boat goes through , there are waves crashing and causing erosion . It has nothing to do with the jet skis launching. It is an educational problem . Will people still be allowed to pull their vehicles there and put up tents and barbeque? Donna Lescosky of 650 Kirkland Cir., Dunedin The issue is quality of life. The Dunedin Causeway is quiet, peaceful, and for families , kayaking , and paddle boarders . Over the past two months she has witnessed jet skis coming dangerously close to the shoreline along the ma in beach and the north beach. People are not paying attention to the rules. It is not a peaceful place any longer with the noise . They are launched from other places. Jet skis can be launched from the Dunedin Marina , currently under repair. Nick Waddell of 29661/29703 US Hwy. 19, Clearwater (Cycle Springs Power Sports /Dimmitt Automotive Group) Asked the Commission to consider: The community , a group of people connected by a shared love for the water . The value of shared experiences, positive experiences important to community. The actual impact of responsible access , recognizing concerns about safety, congestion, and the conduct of individual riders ; those concerns deserve consideration. Personal watercraft also provides meaningful economic benefits with sales that produce surtax and county fees that support programs. Supporting responsible access strengthens community , builds unity , and fosters a sense of shared pride . Christine Coriaggio-Carter of 19311 Autumn Woods Ave ., Tampa WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Lewis Carter of 19311 Autumn Woods Ave., Tampa WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Michelle Birnbaum of 330 Promenade Dr., Dunedin Related her experience in Dunedin assisting with preservation of areas like the Hammock and the Gladys Douglas property and her experiences on the Causeway in terms of nature and the environment and meeting others enjoying the refuge there . She noted though the Causeway is manmade , plantings can be done including those species that are good for mitigating damage from hurricanes and homes for wildlife . Stephen Guardino of 2030 N. Highland Ave., Clearwater Dunedin Causeway was one of the reasons for his family moving here and he related his experiences learning to jet ski , fish, and just hanging out. Not everyone can afford a boat. His experience is that people are respectful and clean up their trash and let people know when they are doing something like driving through wake zones. It is a manmade causeway made for recreation. The subject area is less than 10% of the Causeway. More trash cans are needed . 26-14

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission He would be in favor of a registration permit process and individuals could be tracked who are not following the rules . Michael Parlapiano of 2700 Bayshore Dr., Dunedin Their condominiums are on the east side of St. Joseph Sound , on the other side of the Causeway from this launch area. He did use the area once ; it is too soft and things get torn up . He has never waited four hours at a launch ramp. There are 1,000 feet of mangroves and beaches at Mediterranean Manors and they spend $89 ,000 a year to maintain that area and they enjoy it until the jet skis come ripping through at sundown. Kathleen Segrue of 1932 Barcelona Dr., Dunedin WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Jackie Nigro of 9 Haig Place, Dunedin, Vice President of Royal Stewart Arms at the west end of the Causeway They support the proposed amendment. Stopping the motorized watercraft from the Causeway would be an enhancement to the area resulting in less vehicle and trailer traffic and would allow for cleaner oil-free sea water at beach areas for both sea life and visitors. It would reduce negative and environmental noise impacts. It would also allow for additional beach space for an ever-increasing number of visitors and provide safety. Lack of noise would create a more natural environment protecting wild and water life. The shoreline would be protected from sand displacement caused by heavy water traffic being unloaded and reloaded to and from trailers. A beach is not designed to create safety and health hazards with the intermingling of vehicles , watercraft , and visitors. A community beach is a natural commodity to be enjoyed by all its visitors , not a parking lot for trailers and launch motorized watercraft. Priscilla Losardo of 7404 Donegal St., New Port Richey WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Dave Pauley of 2598 Gary Circle, Dunedin His reasons for support are similar to those already voiced. This issue has been researched and presented by staff and the Commission is not rubberstamping this issue , as evidenced by the statistics and facts brought forward in support. Brian Rodriguez of 7421 Donegal St., New Port Richey Spoke regarding the need for compromise , which he had not heard. It is not right to cut everyone off from access to a manmade bridge . Seagrass is not affected there anyway ; it is 200 feet. The traffic is not going to stop with new condominiums being built. The top ic has gone from motorized watercraft to a focus on jet skis. Jim Limpert of 2598 Gary Circle, Dunedin WAIVE SPEAKING in favor Rich Mastroberte of 2190 Marshall Dr., Dunedin His reasons for his support include : Seagrass and marine habitat and some kind of damage is being done by having the watercraft being pushed into the water , just as walking on the beach. This would be trying to mitigate any damage that might be done . 26-15

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission Improve public safety and reduce congestion ; reintroducing motorized watercraft from the shoreline could result in more congestion , potential conflicts , collisions , and so forth . Not everyone agrees with the ordinance. You are talking about decades of doing something, bringing up your families ; but things are done for the common good for the quality of life . Times and things change . Keith Segrue of 1932 Barcelona Dr., Dunedin The ordinance has language that says it will reduce negative environmental impact and about disturbance to sea life and seagrass and shoreline . The Causeway is a manmade structure and that has done more damage to St. Joseph Sound in that waterway than one jet ski can do. It is not natural. Jet ski groups are not the only ones using the Causeway that have an effect on sea life. All the various activities have an impact. There are stud ies of public record that show you can focus on reducing millions of gallons of pesticide and herbicide into lawns that go into the waterways , including the grass around the Causeway , that have a better impact on the Causeway. One of the slides , Benefits , said it is critical to the recreational wellbeing ; that should be for all people whatever their activity and not single out one group of people . Rich Santoro of 200 Woodette Dr., Dunedin A 35-year resident on the Causeway supports the ban . He questioned how it got to this point. There was an increase of jet skiers beginning with COVID and more people came to use the Causeway , but the City did not look at what was going on and now they are banning these people for different reasons , which is probably a good reason ; however, to a certain extent , this could have been avoided. There is a lack of law enforcement , a speed zone , and wake zone is part of the problem . It might be the repaving of the roadway with the materials ending up in the water due to the wind and the rain , and if there is a problem with seagrass , the jet skis are not the only thing causing it. Dev Shah of 9731 Sago Pt. Dr., Largo WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Tim Hughes of 17 S. Cirus Ave., Clearwater (Suncoast Sierra Club) The Club helped draft that position paper . The things we do to protect the channel and shoreline to make it more resilient is smart . The opportunity here is to create a living shoreline with mangroves and oyster beds that makes it more resilient , reduces erosion from wave action from boats. The kayakers, paddle boarders , and swimmers can still enjoy and coexist with a living shoreline. Richard Owens of 1609 San Roy Dr., Dunedin WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Richard Scott of 19825 Wyndham Lakes Dr ., Odessa He expressed his disappointment with the Causeway being closed. It is a very small area they are asking to be utilized. He related his experience when jet skiing by Honeymoon Island and rescuing two boys who were caught in some kind of current, one with no life jacket and he had an extra . He brought up also the need for more trash cans in the area. A compromise is better than just shutting it down. 26-16

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Matt Norman of 2373 Mangrum Dr., Dunedin Dunedin City Commission He has read just about every document he could find related to this ordinance . He supports protecting seagrass, improving public safety, and responsible stewardship of the Causeway. He does not believe the City has demonstrated that permanently eliminating motorized watercraft launching is necessary to achieve those goals. He questioned why this proposal was not brought forward when launching was actively occurring , but after hurricane damage had already closed the launch area. This deserves a more thorough evidence-based review . He questioned documentation for damage from lawful launching and how measurable seagrass recovery has occurred and how much of the parking improvement resulted from eliminating launching versus the fact that much of Dunedin Causeway has remained closed since the hurricanes. How many PCSO incidents originated from lawful launching rather than unlawful operating on the water ; searching the public records , he could not find those answers. Good public policy does not begin with a preferred solution; it begins by clearly defining the problem, gathering objective data, evaluating reasonable alternatives , and then choosing the least restrictive solution that accomplishes the public 's goals. He believes there are a number of targeted management tools that deserve objective evaluation before permanently eliminating public access. Amanda Crescenzo of 1101 Jackmar Rd., Dunedin There have been multiple departmental meetings, many committee meetings, and discussions across the city with many different groups with the City for more than a year; more than 15 meetings. Those sort of focused on resiliency. There might not be a Causeway in the future without thinking about things like a living shoreline today. There might be giving up jet skis but having an environment where people of all abilities being able to go to a beach to drive up to and park and spend time with family . There does need to be data to back up what the City and committees have presented. She has not heard anyone provide a good reason for having motorized vessels on the Causeway. Sam Monarch of 3134 Fiesta Dr., Dunedin WAIVE SPEAKING undecided Andy Hodgen of 16404 Nikki Ln., Odessa There are two major internal combustion exclusion zones behind Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island , about 2,000 square acres. The Dunedin Causeway is about 28 - 30 acres of slow to no wake zone seagrass beds. The launch area is 5 - 7 acres. There is concern about kayaking crossing the channel; it is not a good idea, but it is allowed. Safety is a concern and an individual responsibility. This has been an area enjoyed launching for apparently 30 to 40 years; environmental impact is minimal. Tammy Fountas of 2196 Colonial Blvd., Palm Harbor She related her experience of living in the area for 50 years and being on the water with her family almost every weekend and owning a watercraft. She is asking for consideration for those who are unable to use a boat ramp because of safety concerns but still want to enjoy the activities they love. Taking away the Causeway will be taking away family time that is extremely important. 26-17

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 David Belt of 2377 Indigo Dr. 1 Clearwater He sold his jet ski because access had become increasingly difficult. Dunedin City Commission He believes this proposal solves the wrong problem. The groups that organize these takeovers need to accept responsibility. Organizing large scale events that overwhelm a confined waterway is irresponsible . Those events have made it difficult for anglers , families , boaters, and everyone to enjoy a public resource . For more than a year , residents were told the Causeway closure was driven by storm damage , maintenance , and County issues. The City repeatedly pointed to the County ; today it is clear this has really been about managing user conflicts and certain types of recreational activities . If that was the issue , residents deserved to hear that from the beginning. This is not simply a Dunedin issue; the waters are a State of Florida resource, and the Causeway is supported through State , County, and local funding. Restricting one of Pinellas County 's major access points does not make demand disappear, it shifts it. These decisions have regional consequences and should be approached with regional planning . He suggested targeting the people creating the prob lem , banning commercial activities associated with these takeover events , including organized promotions and rental operations. Limit launching to two vessels per vehicle to discourage commercial abuse and create county resident access permits so people who fund and rely on these facilities retain access while generating revenue for enforcement. If safety is truly the standard , then it needs to be applied consistently . He has assisted in rescues in that inlet and has respect for how dangerous it can be , having almost drowned there , himself, as a swimmer. The answer is to enforce existing environmental protections where damage actually occurs. David Ballard Geddis1 Jr. of 802 Georgia Ave. 1 Pa lm Harbor It appears that the bridge on Dunedin Causeway is going to be redone. With that, the length and height of the bridge will be extended, probably into the area being discussed. The Causeway will be shortened as a result of the extension of this building the new bridge ; therefore , with the population build up and more people wanting to access the water , that will have to be accommodated in some way. Something is going to have to be extended northward parallel with the lntercoasta l Waterway that provides beach access for people who want to access the waterways , reconfiguring the Causeway in effect turning it sideways and somehow through all that provide some capacity for boat launching in that area that is regulated to a degree . This conversation is important because it is expansive and will involve a lot of construction going on out there with the building of the new bridge . Bill Bragg of 1989 Sourwood Blvd. 1 Dunedin WAIVE SPEAKING opposed Hearing and seeing no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Freaney closed the public input. An eComment was submitted by Dana Lucas : I sent emails to all commissioners and the mayor stating that I desire the causeway to remain jet ski free . I have frequented the causeway for decades and the trash they leave behind, noise , reckless behavior of some raise significant issues for me as a taxpayer on two properties in Dunedin. I'm certain there has been one individual renting jet skis from a tent on the causeway, which should be regulated as to safety and income. There have been unfortunate accidents claiming lives out in the water off the causeway and we should do whatever we must to ensure the 26-18

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 Dunedin City Commission safety of those enjoying Florida's environment and that means we need to prohibit jet skis from launching there. More details were provided in my email to those mentioned above . An eComment was submitted by Dana Lucas: 100% support a ban on personal watercraft on the Dunedin causeway. The ecosystem is revitalized after it being shut down for two years , less noise and trash , no one making a profit by setting up a tent and doing jet ski rentals and most of all safety of those that utilize our causeway is improved . Ban watercraft from the areas d it should be a no wake zone with enforcement. An eComment was submitted by Gregory Kuebler : I want to express my unequivocal support for Ordinance 26-08 . I urge you to pass it. The benefits are obvious , and there are no downsides . Also , I want to remind the City Commission that their primary obligation is to the residents and taxpayers of the City of Dunedin . There will be people who express support for keeping the Causeway open to launching motorized watercraft. Many of them will be from outside the City of Dunedin , therefore not paying any City taxes or fees which are used to maintain the Causeway. The Commission should disregard the input of people who don 't live in Dunedin. An eComment was submitted by Jay Burkey: 1100% support this ban. Protecting the environment is more important than launching recreational water vehicles An eComment was submitted by Jon Darcy: Dunedin should not further restrict pwc launching from the causeway. I do not own or operate a pwc . However, the causeway provides a unique and valuable opportunity for water sports , including pwc 's. This action will also lead to further congestion at the Dunedin boat ramp and marina , if it ever reopens. The sounds should be freely available for all the public , including pwc 's. And those that don 't care for them should not use this process to restrict the otherwise lawful and peaceful use of our waterways and beaches - including by pwc owners and operators . An eComment was submitted by Nicole lzzolo : The proposal to ban motorized watercraft launches from the causeway offers many benefits: seagrass and wildlife recovery, and improved safety around jet skis and other motorized vehicles. But I believe this situation has more than one side , so instead of a full ban , I'd ask the Commission to consider allowing motorized watercraft during certain hours or days. That way, the environment still gets time to recover, and safety risks go down , but people don't lose recreational access to a spot that's meant a lot to this community for years. An eComment was submitted by Sally McKeage: I'm not able to attend the meeting this Thursday but hope that the ban on Jetski 's launch on the Causeway is confirmed. As a resident of Dunedin , I think that all of the outside noise from non- residents should be ignored . The causeway has been a much better place since the ban , making it safer for kayakers and paddlers as well as swimmers . The resurgence of the sea life is invaluable , and we should do all that we can to preserve and protect our beautiful beaches . Please do not be swayed by the jet ski groups. They are motor vessels and should launch at boat ramps , not along our beautiful causeway. 26-19

Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2026 An eComment was submitted by Sharon Herman : Dunedin City Commission We support keeping the causeway closed to motorized launches. The rebound of sea life, safety of swimmers and cleanliness of the causeway beaches have markedly improved since its initial closure after the October 2024 hurricanes . An eComment was submitted by Whitney Adderholdt: Please protect this unique and beautiful area from vehicles with trailers in and out all day. It has been so much more peaceful without. Not to mention the benefits being brought to the table about seagrass and marine life . The city just spent money redoing the shoreline . Why would you invite a bunch of trucks with heavier trailers back to ruin it? Not the place for it! BREAK 8:32 P.M. - 8:45 P.M. Questions for Staff Commissioner Sandbergen referred to the comments regarding a revenue stream and asked if there was any way for people to continue with the City collecting money. Parks & Recreation Director Mulkey commented it would take a lot more examination; it would bring up a lot of elements with an organized boat ramp. Those would include accessibility standards , potential Army Corps of Engineers review , and so forth . He acknowledged formalizing the boat ramp process it would have to go through a much larger planning process. Commissioner Sand bergen inquired if someone could rent a slip at the

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>> Mayor Freaney: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE JULY 23rd, 2026 CITY COMMISSION MEETING. I WANT TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. WE'RE GOING TO START REQUEST AN INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY JEN. >> THANK YOU. LET'S BEGIN THIS MEETING BY TAKING A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE AND REFLECTION. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY, WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATION TONIGHT, AND IT WILL BE THE PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY, 2026 PROCL PROCLAMATION, AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT ONE MYSELF MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART, ALL OF YOU COME ON UP IF YOU WOULD. AND I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS AUGUST 7, 2026, MARKS THE 244th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PURPLE HEART, AUGUST 7th 4HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO HAVE EARNED THE PURPLE HEART FOR THEIR BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE. THE PURPLE HEART IS HONORED TO ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN WOUNDED OR KILLED IN THE CALL OF DUTY. THEY HAVE BEEN NOBODIABLY ENGAGED TO -- NOBLY ENGAGED TO FIGHT TYRANNY AND OUR FREEDOM. THE CITY OF DUNEDIN BEING RECOGNIZED AS A PURPLE HEART CITY, WE CELEBRATE PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY IN IN HONOR OF OUR SOLDIERS WHO SACRIFICED. I PROUDLY PROCLAIM FRIDAY AUGUST 7, 2026 AS PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION DAY IN DUNEDIN, AND ASK EVERYONE TO PAUSE AND REMEMBER THOSE EXTRAORDINARY MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM. AND THOSE WHO WERE WILLING TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND PRAY FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL THOSE DEFENDING OUR NATION TODAY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> BEFORE I MAKE A REMARK OR TWO, I'D LIKE TO HAVE OUR STATE COMMANDER INTRODUCED. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, COUNCILMAN. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I CAN BE HERE AGAIN. I AM THE NEWLY ELECTED STATE COMMANDER FOR PURPLE HEART. I WANTED TO REMIND YOU GUYS. EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT YOU GUYS, NUMBER ONE DUNEDIN, THE FIRST PURPLE HEART CITY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I ALWAYS PUMP THAT OUT TO THEM. AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE ARE BETWEEN THE 2nd AND 3rd MOST POPULAR STATE FOR PURPLE HEART. WE WERE ABLE TO GET UP THERE AND GET A LOT OF VOTES IN, AND GEAR OUR NATIONAL CHARTER TO WHERE WE WANTED TO, AND FLORIDA'S LEADING THE WAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I INVITE EVERYONE HERE, AUGUST 7th PURPLE HEART DAY, I WILL BE YOUR GUEST SPEAKER. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. >> Mayor Freaney: AWESOME. ANYONE ELSE? >> MY NAME IS SCOTT DANIELS, I'M ON THE COMMITTEE FOR 18 YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU FOR 18 YEARS, CITY OF DUNEDIN HAS BEEN A LEADER AS IT IS WITH MANY OTHER THINGS, A RECOGNITION OF WHAT'S GOOD AND WELL AND IMPORTANT IN OUR CITY, STATE AND COUNTRY. I'M ON THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE I ASKED TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP SOMEHOW, BECAUSE MY FATHER RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART WHEN HE WAS IN WORLD WAR II, AND I'M THE OLDEST OF FOUR CHILDREN, I GET TO KEEP MY FATHER'S PURPLE HEART. I GET TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER EACH YEAR. I'LL BE INTRODUCING RICHARD AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING DOWNTOWN BY THE PURPLE HEART MEMORIAL AREA. I WANT TO THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL STAFF OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN, PARKS & REC, WHO HAVE MADE IT NICE FOR OUR PURPLE HEART VETERANS, ALL OF OUR VETERANS, CITIZENS IN DUNEDIN TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, FREEDOM, AND RECOGNIZING WHEN GOOD DEEDS ARE DONE. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FATHER BOCH? >> AND LET US PRAY. I'M SORRY. WE ARE THE FIRST PURPLE HEART CITY HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. THIS COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE MOST PATRIOTIC COMMUNITIES I'VE EVER RUN ACROSS IN MY MANY YEARS. I CAME FROM ONE UP NORTH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROUDEST, THE MOST PATRIOTIC PLACE I HAD EVER BEEN UNTIL I CAME TO DUNEDIN. WE HAVE A SPIRIT HERE OF PATRIOTISM THAT WE SHOULD EMULATE ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. I THANK YOU MAYOR, MOE AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN YOUR LEADERSHIP TO PROMOTE THAT PATRIOTISM. WE NEED IT IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY. AND THE CITY OF CLEARWATER -- CITY OF CLEARWATER. LISTEN TO ME. THE CITY OF DUNEDIN PRINTS OUT PURPLE HEART RECOGNITION CEREMONY FLYERS AND I'D LIKE TO -- WAS THAT GOD CALLING. I GET VERY NERVOUS EVERY NOW AND THEN. I LIKE TO SHARE THESE WITH YOU FIRST. THEY'LL BE PRINTED OUT AND PASSED OUT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY SHORTLY. >> Mayor Freaney: I DO WANT TO SAY, VICE MAYOR WALKER IS NOT HERE TONIGHT, HE'S ON BUSINESS OUT OF TOWN, OUT OF STATE, ACTUALLY. HE'S THE ONLY VET THAT'S UP HERE, HE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY READ THE PURPLE HEART PROCLAMATION, BUT ALL OF US ARE JUST PROUD OF ALL OF YOU. AND WHAT YOU DO. AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE, SO THAT'S GREAT. WE'LL GET A PICTURE TOO, AFTER. >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET A PICTURE. BEFORE WE GET A PICTURE, DO WE HAVE ROB ON ZOOM? >> WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS, EVERY TIME WE CONNECT IT DROPS. >> Mayor Freaney: IN THE MEANTIME LET'S HAVE A PICTURE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CITIZEN INPUT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET VICE MAYOR ON THE ZOOM CALL HERE SO HE CAN BE PART OF THE MEETING. CITIZEN INPUT IS A TIME FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE HAVE FILLED OUT CARDS. I DON'T NEED CARDS IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ON AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA. I THINK MOST OF YOU ARE HERE FOR THOR EYE ON THE CAUSEWAY. IF YOU'RE NOT HERE FOR THAT, YOU CAN COME DOWN YOU NOW AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. DAVID? >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, DAVID BALLARD GEDDES JR., I LIVE ON GEORGIA AVENUE IN PALM HARBOR. PINELLAS COUNTY RESOLUTION 95286 SECTION 4C-2, ABSOLUTE BILL OF SALE, FULL WARRANTIES OF TITLE AND RELEASE OF LIEN. THE COUNTY HAS BEEN SOLD TO THE WATER DISTRICT AS RECOGNIZED IN VARIOUS STATUTES. THE AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX LIEN PORTION ON OUR AD VALOREM HERE IS NO LONGER VALID. THIS PORTION OF THE BILL AS SOLD HAS BEEN RELEASED. THE COUNTY USING A QUID PRO QUO AGREEMENT RACKETEERED WITH THE WATER DISTRICT IS INTENDING TO SHAPE SHIFT THE COUNTY AND ITS CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT FROM THEIR FORT KNIGHTED STATES MANSHIP, INTO A POLITICAL LAUNDERED WATERSHED OPERATION, LAUNDERING WATER JURISDICTIONS UNDER THE 14th AMENDMENT IN THE FORM OF A NONAD VALOREM LEVY, GIVING RISE TO THIS PORTION OF THE BILLING PRACTICE, GIVING RISE TO WATER JURISDICTIONS WHEREAS THE CITY WAS ONCE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. THE WATER JURISDICTIONS ARE RECOGNIZED AS FOR THE IF I INDICATIONS, APPROXIMATE -- F FORTIFICATIONS, BIRTHING A SHIP OF WAR, IN ARTICLE 1 SECTION 10, INTENT OF LEVYING UPON THE CIVILIAN POPULATION, TAXING US DIRECTLY OUR CURRENT CONSTITUTION IS IN THE STATE OF THE DISSOLUTION OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, STATES TO DISSOLVE OUR CURRENT GOVERNMENT, AND ASSUME SEPARATE AND EQUAL STATIONS AMONG THE POWERS OF THE EARTH. LEGISLATION IS USING WATER AS THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT WEAPON OF CHOICE. OUR CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS SEEN AS BEING DISSOLVED IN RECLAIMED WATER STATUTE, 153.03, SECTIONS 7 AND 11, RECOGNIZED AS AN INTERAGENCY, SELF-LIQUIDATION PROCESS, IN AND OF ITSELF IN STATUTE 163.01, TRANSFERRING COUNTY FUNCTION AND POWER IN PINELLAS COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER IN AN INTERNAL SELLING THE COUNTY TO AN INTERNAL FOREIGN OCCUPIER, REFLECTIVE OF STATUTE 218.415 SECTION 16F, HOPING TO RECONSTITUTE ITSELF IN STATUTE 3715, THERE BY, NOT ONLY IS OUR COUNTY AND CITY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS ENGAGE IN RACKETEERING AND PERJURY, THEY'RE GUILTY OF HIGH SEAS CRIMES OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONTEMPT, USING OUR CURRENT CONSTITUTION AS A LETTER OF MARQUIS, CREATING EX-POST FACTO LAW AND REPRISALS TO INCLUDE TREASON IN THE FORM OF A NONAD VALOREM LEVY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, DAVID. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA? THIS IS YOUR TIME. SEEING NO MORE. WE WILL MOVE FORWARD, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. OUR CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE 6/18/2026 REGULAR MEETING. BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. I THINK WE HAVE CAUSEWAY AND COASTAL WATERWAYS APPOINTMENTS. WE HAVE 2C, ADDENDUM NO. 1 FOR CONSTRUCTION PHASE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH TETRA TECH INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EMERGENCY GENERATOR BUILDING, REHABILITATION PROJECT NOT TO EXCEED $54,964. DUKE ENERGY UTILITY EASEMENT FOR TWO 2500 KILOWATT TRANSFORMERS AT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, 2E. AWARD BID FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $169,850. 2F, DUKE ENERGY UTILITY EASEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL SERVICE AT GRAND OAK PARK. 2G, ADDENDUM NO. 2 FOR LIMITED CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE CONTRACT WITH ADURA GROUP INC. FOR THE MARINA BULKHEAD REPAIR PROJECT NOT TO EXCEED $83,726. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO BE PULLED? I'M SORRY BUT I'M GOING TO PULL 2E. AND SO EVERYTHING ELSE CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE EVERYTHING BUT 2E? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Freaney: AND IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THOSE CONSENT ITEMS? YOU CAN COME FORWARD NOW. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC INPUT. ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> Mayor Freaney: OPPOSED? THOSE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. I JUST WILL A QUESTION ABOUT THE BREAKROOM. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE RENOVATION, I WANT TOIC MA SURE I UNDERSTAND IT. >> GOOD EVENING, CLAYTON WATKINS, UTILITIES AND ENGINEERING. A LOT OF THAT COST CAME INTO EFFECT ONCE WE HAD TO UPGRADE THE ELECTRICAL IN THE SYSTEM, WE HAD TO ADD A PANEL TO THE BUILDING. AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT A RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN, WE HAD TO ADD A RANGEHOOD FOR FIRE PROTECTION. THAT DROVE THE COSTS UP. >> Mayor Freaney: WHEN IS THE LAST TIME THAT WAS DONE? >> THIS IS THE FIRST RENOVATION SINCE THE BUILDING WAS BUILT. I THINK IT WAS 1991. >> Mayor Freaney: THAT'S ALL I NEEDED. ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT? CAN I HAVE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> DOES ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC INPUT, ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 4-0. WE'LL GO TO OUR ACTION ITEMS. I THINK THE MAIN EVENT HERE, FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 26-08, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF DUNEDIN CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROHIBIT LAUNCHING VEHICLES FROM THE CAUSEWAY BEACH TO PROTECT THE SHORE LINE. >> ORDINANCE 26-08, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN, FLORDS, AMENDING THE CITY OF DUNEDIN CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROHIBIT LAUNCHING MOTOR CRAFT FROM THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY BEACH TO PROTECT THE SHORE LINE. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THAT WAS ORDINANCE 26-08 READ BY TITLE ONLY. >> Mayor Freaney: IS IT APPROPRIATE TO TAKE A MOTION AFTER WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC INPUT AND GET THE PRESENTATION. >> YOU'RE LOOKING TO TAKE PUBLIC INPUT, HAVE THE PRESENTATION AND THEN TAKE A MOTION? >> Mayor Freaney: I THINK FOR SOMETHING THIS BID, IT'S A GOOD WAY TO DO IT. ON THAT NOTE, WE'LL PASS OVER THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT TO STAFF PRESENTATION. WE HAVE JORGE, TONY AND NICOLE ALL ON THIS ONE. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. WE'RE HERE TO KIND OF REPRESENT THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDED DURING THE JUNE WORKSHOP DISCUSSING THE LAUNCHING OF MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT FROM THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY. WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BRIEF HISTORY AND BACKGROUND. THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT ON THE CAUSEWAY, BENEFITS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PUBLIC, PINELLAS COUNTY SUPPORT. THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COMMISSION, THIS IS NICOLE DELFINO. TOO CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONE. STRATEGY AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER, TO GO OVER THE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF THE CAUSEWAY. MANY OF US KNOW THESE POINTS HERE, BUT IT WAS BUILT IN 1963, OPENED FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, CURRENTLY BETWEEN 5:00 A.M. AND 11:00 P.M. IN 1990 THE CITY COMMISSION TENTATIVELY BANNED LAUNCHING MOTORIZED VEHICLES OR MOTOR CRAFT FROM THE CAUSEWAY, AND FOLLOWING IN 2025, 2012 AND 2014 THERE WERE A NUMBER OF STUDIES AND TASK FORCE REPORTS THERE THAT ARE INDICATED. THEN IN 2019, THE COUNTY ORDINANCE, WHICH WE WILL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN THE PRESENTATION, RESTRICTED USAGE ON THE NORTH SIDE. AND THEN IN 2024 AS WE ALL KNOW, THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CAUSEWAY WAS CLOSED FOR STORM DAMAGE AND EROSION. AND THEN THE COUNTY CAME IN 2025 AND UPDATED THE CIRCULATION FOR THE CAUSEWAY TO ONE WAY TRAFFIC DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. HERE WE ARE NOW IN 2026, PINELLAS COUNTY HAS COMPLETED THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT EROSION CONTROL REPAIR, AND HERE WE ARE NOW. >> THE CURRENT ORDINANCE DELINEATES SEPARATE AREAS FROM THE BEACH FOR DIFFERENT ACCESS FOR WATER CRAFT. ON THE NORTH SIDE THERE HAS BEEN NO LAUNCHING OF WATER CRAFT -- OR MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT SINCE THE '90s, ON THE SOUTH SIDE THERE'S BEEN THREE DISTINCT SECTIONS, A SECTION THAT HAS ALLOWED MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT. A SECTION THAT PROHIBITS ANY WATER CRAFT LAUNCHING AT ALL, AND THERE'S A NONMOTORIZED WATER CRAFT AREA TO THE FAR WEST. THIS IS JUST A DIFFERENT MAP OF THAT, LITTLE CLEARER ON HOW THAT LOOKS. THIS IS THE LANGUAGE FROM THE COUNTY CODE. IT'S UNLAWFUL TO CAUSE SEA GRASS DAMAGE. IN DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY, THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF A CHANGE OF ELIMINATING MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT, PURSUANT TO THIS CODE AND THEIR GENERAL STANCE OF PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CAUSEWAY ITSELF IS AN ACTIVE RECREATION SPACE FOR MANY FORMS OF RECREATION, PROVIDING WATERFRONT ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC FOR PADDLE SPORTS, FISHING, SWIMMING, AND MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT CURRENTLY. ALSO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO TO RUN, WALK AND CONNECT TO THE OUTDOORS. IT'S CONNECTED TO THE PINELLAS TRAILS SYSTEM. IN LATE 2025, THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY AND COASTAL WATERWAYS COMMITTEE MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO PROHIBIT MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT ALONG THE ENTIRE CAUSEWAY. THE CAUSEWAY DOES NOT HAVE A DEVELOPED BOAT LAUNCH ON IT. THIS IS SHORE WAY LAUNCHING THAT IS KIND OF AD-HOC WHERE PEOPLE BACK THEIR TRAILERS UP TO THE WATER'S EDGE AND LAUNCH THEIR VESSELS THIS LAUNCHING HAS MANY IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. IMPACTS ARE ALSO CAUSED FROM KAYAKS AS WELL AS FOOT TRAFFIC AS WELL. BUT THE MOTORIZED LAUNCH HAS SHOWN A LARGER IMPACT. MOTORIZED CRAFT PRODUCES MORE WAKE AND STRIPS AWAY AQUATIC VEGETATION AND ERODES THE BANKS, DISTURBS THE BOTTOM. LAUNCHES IN SHALLOW WATER CAUSE PROP SCARRING AND JET WASH AS WELL. WITH THAT, THERE'S MORE SEDIMENT TAKING THAT OCCURS IN THE WATER, RESUSPENSE OF THAT SEDIMENT INCREASES WAVE THRUSTS AGAINST THE SHORE LINE. SUSPENDED PARTICULATE WITHIN THE COLUMN, BLOCKS SUNLIGHT AND BLOCKS THE NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE AREA. THE CHURNING OF THE BOTTOM SEDIMENT INCREASES NEW TREE AN THES WITHIN THIS SPACE. AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, CHEMICAL POLLUTION FROM INTERNAL COMBUSTION WATER CRAFT IS PRESENT WITH THE VEGETATIVE DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS WILDLIFE DISTURBANCE FROM THE NOISE. TURBULENCE DISPLACEMENT. NESTING BIRDS ARE DISTURBED, AS WELL AS STRANDING AND INJURE D FISH. A PROHIBITION OF MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT WOULD REMOVE SOME OF THE CONFLICTS CURRENTLY PRESENT ON THE CAUSEWAY. THIS EFFORT HAS RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS, INCLUDING THE AFOREMENTIONED CAUSEWAY AND COASTAL WATERWAY COMMITTEE. THE PINELLAS COUNTY HAS SUPPORTED THIS EFFORT AS WELL AS SIERRA CLUB, TAMPA BAY ESTUARY AND THE WIND LASS. >> I DO BELIEVE THE CHIEF IS HERE WITH US TODAY, THIS IS SOME INFORMATION HE SHARED WITH US AT THE WORKSHOP. AGAIN, AS HE HAD STATED AT THE WORKSHOP, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CALLS THAT ARE BEING RECEIVED, BECAUSE THEY'RE CODED FOR THE CAUSEWAY IN GENERAL. THEY DID AN ANALYSIS FROM PRECLOSURE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1, 2021 UNTIL THAT TIME, THE CURRENT DATE OF MAY 16, 2026, AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF CALLS AND RESCUES, AND I KNOW WHEN HE PRESENTED HERE DURING THE WORKSHOP, HE HAD ALSO MENTIONED THE TWO RELATED DEATHS THAT HAD OCCURRED ADJACENT TO THE CAUSEWAY. AND ALSO, THERESA SMALLING, WHO PRESENTED ON THE PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DATA, WE REQUESTED THEY PUT THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER, EXTENDING PRECLOSURE PERIOD, JANUARY 1, 2022 TO APRIL 30, 2026, CAN YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WERE THERE, OF THOSE CALLS FOR THE CAUSEWAY, 80 WERE JET SKI RELATED. THIS IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM. THE TYPE OF CALLS AND THE INCIDENCES ARE ALL LISTED IN THAT ITEM. YOU CAN SEE PRECLOSURE, MANY OF THE OFFENSES, SO TO SPEAK WERE IN REGARD TO JET SKIS THAT WERE ON PLANE OR NOT GOING THROUGH THE PROPER WAKE ZONE, AND THEN FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE, MOST OF THE CALLS WERE RELATED TO UNAUTHORIZED LAUNCHING. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH PINELLAS COUNTY FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THEY SUPPORT THE RESTRICTION ON THE SOUTH SIDE, SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY'VE DONE ON THE NORTH SIDE. THEY ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE EXPENDITURE THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON A PERIODIC BASIS. REGRADING, AND RE-ESTABLISHING MATERIAL ALONG THE BANKS THAT'S CAUSED BY MUCH OF THE VESSEL TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. SO IN ADDITION TO ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT TONY AND NICOLE HAVE MENTIONED, THE COUNTY IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF US MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION. AND THE ORDINANCE I'LL SPARE EVERYBODY FROM READING IT, BUT IT DOES RECOGNIZE THE IMPACTS TO THE SEA GRASSES AND DAMAGE TO THE AQUATIC PRESERVE IS IMPACTED BY THE VESSEL OPERATIONS IN THIS AREA. >> AND JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND, WHEN PINELLAS COUNTY PASSED THAT ORDINANCE, WAS TO EFFECT THE ENTIRE PINELLAS COUNTY AQUATIC PRESERVE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS MAP. AND THEN JUST FOR REFERENCE, WE DID PULL TOGETHER BASED ON MAPPING, THOSE LAUNCHING POINTS THAT WERE CLOSEST TO BOTH THE CAUSEWAY AND TO THE DUNEDIN MARINA, AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE LISTED HERE AS THROWS AVAILABLE SPACES. MOST OF THEM ARE PUBLIC AND DO COME WITH A COST TO LAUNCH. THERE IS, I BELIEVE, A FEW THAT ARE LISTED THAT ARE PRIVATE AS WELL. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE -- WHEN WE PRESENTED AT THE WORKSHOP, WE WERE GOING THROUGH WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS THE ORDINANCE REVIEW PROCESS GOES. WHEN WE PRESENTED IT, WE LEFT WITH THE CONSENSUS DIRECTION TO DEVELOP THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE, WHICH WE'VE DONE. WE DID THE PROPER ADVERTISING, AS YOU CAN SEE. AND THIS IS -- MAKES UP THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE, TODAY JULY 23rd, 2026, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ADVERTISING PERIOD AND A SECOND READING. >> SO WITH THAT, STAFF DOES RECOMMEND THE CITY COMMISSION ADOPT ORDINANCE 26-08. AND AMENDING ORDINANCE 14-21 SECTION 54-32, TO PROHIBIT LAUNCHING OF MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT ALONG THE DUNEDIN CAUSEWAY. >> MAY I JUST ADD A FEW THINGS AND CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE STAFF REPORT? >> Mayor Freaney: YES. >> AS DEPICTED IN OUR AGENDA, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES THAT HAVE WRITTEN TO US IN SUPPORT OF THE BAN ON MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT ON THE CAUSEWAY. OUR CAUSEWAY COASTAL WATERWAY COMMITTEE SENT A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO BAN LAUNCHING MOTORIZED WATER CRAFT. PINELLAS COUNTY OWNS THE CAUSEWAY. WHEN I LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA, I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MISTAKING THE CITY OWNERSHIP FOR PINELLAS COUNTY. THAT'S WHY THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN OUR DECISION. THEY'RE ALLOWING THE CITY OF DUNEDIN TO MAKE THIS DETERMINATION. WE HEARD FROM THE SIERRA CLUB SUPPORTING THE COUNTY'S POSITION. WIND LASS WHICH IS OUR OWN SAILING FOLKS IS SUPPORTING IT AS WELL, AS THE CONDOMINIUMS RIGHT NEXT DOOR. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AGENCIES THAT ARE SUPPORTING STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION. >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? I'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER GOW. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ACTUALLY, KNOW QUESTIONS. >> Mayor Freaney: COMMISSIONER DUGARD? QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? >> NO QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. >> Mayor Freaney: COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN, QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? >> I WAS GOING TO ASK WHO OWNS THE CAUSEWAY. THE COUNTY OWNS IT, BUT THEY'VE FLIPPED IT OVER TO DUNEDIN TO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHAT WE WANT TO DO GOING-FORWARD, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> IS THERE ANY CONNECTION TO THIS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OR THE FUTURE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF THE DRAW BRIDGE? DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT? >> NO. >> OKAY, I KEEP HEARING -- FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE, I HAVE 125 EMAILS, I'M SURE TO MY LEFT THERE'S EVEN MORE. ONE OF THEM WENT OVER AND OVER ABOUT TRASH. ARE THOSE CITY OF DUNEDIN TRASH CANS? WERE WE RESPONSIBLE TO GO OUT THERE AND PICK THAT UP? >> YES. >> OKAY, GOOD. AT THIS TIME, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY BUSINESS OPERATIONS OTHER THAN THE HIGH AND DRY, NO BUSINESS OPERATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE OUT THERE, WHETHER YOU'RE SELLING SUNTAN LOTION OR T-SHIRTS OR ANYTHING ELSE? AM I CORRECT? >> FOR THE RECORD, THAT IS CORRECT. >> IT'S DUSK TO DAWN, OR DAWN TO DUSK, IS THAT THE HOURS? >> 5:00 A.M. TO 11:00 P.M. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEAREST LAUNCH SITE, I WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE COMMITTEES, WE HEARD FROM ALL THE COMMITTEES, SO THAT'S ALL I HAD, MAYOR, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: TWO RANDOM QUESTIONS, A LITTLE BIT. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN OPEN, THAT LITTLE SECTION FOR JET SKI LAUNCHING OR MOTORIZED VEHICLE LAUNCH? >> I THINK 2015 THAT ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT, I BELIEVE. >> Mayor Freaney: NO. >> APPARENTLY THAT'S WRONG, MAYOR. >> Mayor Freaney: HOLD ON, WE'LL WORK IT OUT. I WAS THERE WHEN IT GOT APPROVED, WHICH WAS 30 YEARS AGO. >> I WAS WRONG, I GUESS. >> Mayor Freaney: YEAH, AND I THINK WE COULDN'T FIND THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION OF IT. I'M SURE IT'S BEEN LIKE '820s OR '90s. PROBABLY '90s. I'M SORRY, WE DO HAVE VICE MAYOR WALKER WHO HAS JUST JOINED US. SO WHATEVER, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. GO AHEAD. >> MAY I? >> Mayor Freaney: YES. >> IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS, EVEN BEFORE THE COUNTY CLOSED THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CAUSEWAY. IT'S BEEN CLOSED SINCE 2024. >> Mayor Freaney: YEAH, I'M THINKING IT WAS EARLY '90s, I COULD BE WRONG, WE COULDN'T FIND THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION. ANY SENSE OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES, I GUESS SPECIFICALLY JET SKI OWNERSHIPS OVER THE LAST 20, 30 YEARS? PROBABLY AN EASY GOOGLE AT SOME POINT. >> AS FAR AS THE OWNERSHIP OR USE? >> OWNERSHIP AND USE, REALLY. >> Mayor Freaney: YEAH, I THINK IT'S -- WE'LL GOOGLE THAT. I'M NOT ASKING THE AUDIENCE, BUT THANK YOU. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN GOOGLE ON OUR BREAK. OR YOU COME UP AND COMMENT AND YOU KNOW THE ANSWER, THAT'S GREAT. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CITIZEN INPUT, OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. I WANT TO SET THE TONE HERE. IF YOU HAVEN'T AND YOU DO WANT TO SPEAK, AND YOU HAVEN'T FILLED OUT A CARD. YOU SHOULD FILL OUT A CARD, AND THEY'RE IN THE BACK? >> YES. >> Mayor Freaney: THEY'RE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE ROOM? >> HEATHER IS HAPPY TO HELP, TAMMY CAN HELP. THERE ARE CARDS READILY AVAILABLE. >> Mayor Freaney: JUST PUT YOUR NAME AND WHETHER YOU'RE FOR OR AGAINST. I WILL STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE 3:00 MINUTES TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO SPEAK. THIS IS A CLASSIC NIGHT AS TO WHY WE HAVE THESE RULES IN PLACE. WHICH IS, TONIGHT IS ABOUT RESPECT. I'VE GOT CARDS THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH NOT THAT DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF EACH SIDE OF A VERY HOT ISSUE, IN TERMS OF FOR AND AGAINST. RESPECT. RESPECT IS THE WORD TONIGHT, AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, AND I WILL READ MOST IMPORTANTLY THE -- >> EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, I DON'T THINK YOU GAVE THE VICE MAYOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. >> Mayor Freaney: I'M SORRY, VICE MAYOR, DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. I'M SORRY, VICE MAYOR, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. WE CAN FIX THAT AT SOME POINT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT END IT'S ON. THE QUESTIONS CAN BE ASKED LATER, THOUGH. >> YES. >> Mayor Freaney: AGAIN, BACK TO RESPECT AND PER OUR RULES, YOU KNOW, DURING THESE TIMES, ESPECIALLY TRUE, NO APPLAUSE, NO CHEERING, NO BOOING, NO JEERING, NONE OF THAT. IT'S ABOUT RESPECT. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD NOT TO CLAP WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING YOU ADEGREE WITH. THE REALITY IS, IT INTIMIDATES EACH SIDE. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HARD TIME TO SPEAK THEIR OPINION. THEY'RE AFRAID THEN. WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT HERE. PLEASE HONOR THAT TONIGHT. ON THAT NOTE, I'M GOING TO START CALLING NAMES. MICHELLE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? ARE WE GOING TO CALL THREE NAMES? >> YES, I THINK THAT WOULD BE BEST. EVERYONE -- WE'LL CALL THE F

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  • Agenda item 1ProclamationsNo recorded outcome

    PRESENTATIONS

    Department: PRESENTATIONS

  • Agenda item 2ConsentNo recorded outcome

    CONSENT AGENDA

    Department: CONSENT AGENDA

  • Agenda item AAppointmentNo recorded outcome

    The City Commission will consider awarding a $169,850 contract to Pannonia Development, LLC for renovating the wastewater treatment plant breakroom.

    Commission to consider wastewater treatment plant breakroom renovation bid award

    Topics: utilities, coastal resilience, land use, fees, local-government, procurement

  • Agenda item 3OrdinancesNo recorded outcome

    Staff Recommends to adopt Resolution 26-11 EXHIBIT: A.

    Topics: utilities, coastal resilience, conservation land, traffic safety, land use, budget, local-government, procurement

  • Agenda item 4Budget and financeNo recorded outcome

    The City Commission will review the proposed agenda for the upcoming August 4, 2026, budget workshop.

    Commission to review proposed agenda for August 4 budget workshop

    Topics: budget

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Coverage and corrections

Records considered

  • CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING — Minutes
  • CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING — Closed Captions

Not claimed by this page

  • Item-linked, attributed deliberation
  • A source-grounded next meeting date
  • Official outcomes have not been published.
  • The available transcript has no reliable timestamps.
  • Transcript coverage is partial.
  • Speakers have not been reliably matched to public profiles.
  • Named people and places have not been reliably resolved.
  • An individual roll-call roster is not available.
  • Low-grade, ungraded, procedural, or superseded items remain in the complete agenda inventory rather than the meeting digest.

No source correction or revision history is recorded for this meeting. A corrected artifact will appear here as a new version rather than replacing what is shown above.

Canonical record: 2aa2b3d59b91ec85bdb5840ae06ce0d9. This page changes as stronger artifacts are published; it never overwrites an agenda with minutes.

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