Dunedin commissioners hear resident traffic complaints; postpone two agenda items and add affordable-housing negotiation to Feb. 6 agenda

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Residents urged action on local traffic problems and the Dunedin City Commission handled several procedural agenda moves during its Jan. 23 meeting.

During the citizen-input portion, Pete Magnani, a Bay Street resident, described heavy traffic and speeding on Bay Street (the segment near Bass Avenue and Martin Luther King Avenue) that he said has worsened since nearby Skinner Boulevard construction began. Magnani said the narrow two-lane street measures about 16 feet at its narrowest point and that he observed vehicles and 48-foot semi-trailers routinely traveling 35–40 mph on the posted 25 mph route. He asked the commission for traffic calming such as speed bumps and improved signage. The city manager responded that staff would follow up with state partners and consider signage on local streets.

Chris Alexander, a local business owner, asked the commission to study signal timing on Main Street between U.S. 19 and the commission chamber, saying frequent and poorly timed stops cause frustration for drivers and employees; staff noted that the road is a state facility and city staff can coordinate with the state for a timing study.

On agenda items, the commission took three formal actions. Commissioners voted unanimously to table the vacation of a drainage easement at 726 Main Street; the motion was moved and seconded on the floor and carried with ayes from all commissioners. The commission also unanimously postponed approval to utilize an existing contract with Tetra Tech Inc. for disaster recovery consulting services related to Tropical Storm Debbie and Hurricane Celine, with staff explaining that federal language incorporated in a recently approved contract must be added to the Tetra Tech agreement before the commission considers it.

Separately, the commission approved adding an item to the Feb. 6 preliminary agenda: authorization for the city manager to negotiate a development agreement with Archway Partners for “The Flats on Main Street” (project location listed at 1422 Carnation Drive). Staff said Archway Partners has received a 9% low-income housing tax credit allocation and the Feb. 6 item requests only permission to enter negotiations, not final approval of a development agreement.

The meeting also included routine proclamations and community presentations; no formal policy changes were adopted in those segments.

Ending: Staff committed to follow up with state and county traffic engineers about signage and signal timing; the commission will consider the Tetra Tech contract after the requested language is added and will hear the Archway negotiation authorization on Feb. 6.