The Dade City Commission voted 5–0 Sept. 8 to adopt an interim resolution (Resolution 2025-24) designating administrative approval authority for final plats in response to changes in state law (Senate Bill 784) that amended Section 177.071, Florida Statutes.

What the resolution does
The resolution designates the Community and Economic Development Department to receive and process final plat and replat submissions and names the city manager together with the community and economic development director as the officials authorized to approve (with conditions) or deny final plat submissions consistent with the statutory process. The commission approved the resolution with a staff-recommended wording change: the phrase “or their designees” was removed from section 2, subsection 2.

Why it matters
An amendment to Section 177.071 requires municipalities to designate an administrative official to receive, review and process final plats and replats that meet statutory requirements; the state limits certain local controls over plat approval. Dade City’s land development code has not yet been updated to reflect the statutory change, so the resolution provides interim administrative designations until the code can be revised.

Discussion highlights
- Commissioner Cosentino asked why the commission needed to approve a resolution that adopts a state requirement. City Attorney Brackens replied, “The city has no authority or ability not to comply with Florida law,” and explained the resolution ensures the city’s administrative practices align with the statute while code amendments are prepared.
- Commissioner Amber Church expressed concern about the phrase “or their designees,” asking who would be given this power. She urged removing that phrase so the authority would rest with the named officials rather than an unspecified appointee. The commission accepted this change and adopted the resolution accordingly.
- Commissioners and staff discussed the lack of a public hearing requirement for final plats under the statute and asked staff to consider adding a final site-plan review step or other public input mechanism to address constituent concerns.

Next steps
Staff will proceed with administrative processing of final plats under the statute and continue work to amend the land development code. The commission directed staff to draft a standard operating procedure that defines timelines, standards of review and the approval process, and to explore adding a final site-plan approval step to give more public input before final administrative sign-off.

Ending: The resolution provides a temporary, compliant administrative path for final plats under newly amended state law; staff will return with code amendments and recommended procedures.