Evolving Dunedin

City Retreat: Is 'Southside' a Dirty Word for Dunedin?

City leaders in a retreat focused on Dunedin's future talked about abandoning use of the word "southside" when talking about parts of the city in order to change some possible negative perceptions. What's your take?

The word "southside" leaves a bad taste in the mouths of some Dunedin city leaders. They honed in on the beleaguered nickname during a segment for identifying development opportunities in the southern half of town as part of a daylong commission retreat Feb. 28 focused on planning Dunedin's future.  Some commissioners believe banning "southside" from their vocabulary would help expel negative perceptions of the southern half of town. "We need to stop talking about that area like it's a problem," Commissioner Julie Scales said, suggesting that south Dunedin residents looking for a different identity are welcome to call themselves something else. Commissioner Ron Barnette suggested that officials start speaking more specifically when …

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Evolving Dunedin

City Retreat: Should Main Street Close Permanently?

City leaders brainstorming in a retreat focused on Dunedin's future discussed the possibility of closing off downtown Main Street between Highland and Douglas avenues. What's your take?

City of Dunedin staff may start exploring the possibility of permanently closing a part of downtown Main Street to traffic. It was an idea Commissioner Ron Barnette tossed out during a Feb. 28 commission retreat focused on planning Dunedin's future. Barnette asked if anyone had ever considered permanently blockading the area of Main Street between Douglas and Highland avenues, "in light of encouraging outdoor activity."  All the commissioners liked the idea of creating more open space and walkability in downtown Dunedin. "There's plenty of communities making a commercial area into a pedestrian area," Commissioner Julie Scales said. "I think it’s worth looking at (creating) a section of downtown where we replace cars with people."  But some…

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Leaders Lunch on Ozona Pig in Retreat on Dunedin's Future

City leaders were fed for their time — roughly seven hours — spent brainstorming Dunedin's future at Dunedin Community Center on Feb. 28.

After meaty discussion focused on Dunedin's future quality of life, city leaders lunched on pulled pork from Ozona Pig during Thursday's commission retreat. City leaders were fed for their time — roughly seven hours — spent brainstorming Dunedin's future at Dunedin Community Center Feb. 28. Commissioners dined on a catered barbecue lunch from Ozona Pig in Palm Harbor after talk of possibly creating neighborhood enhancement programs using code enforcement fines for distressed Dunedin homes.  City staff spent $127.50 on Hickory Smoked Barbecue Picnic Pacs from the restaurant, which includes barbecue pulled pork, barbecue chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, and potato rolls, as well as $13.63 for bagged salad, dressing and apple stack cake from …

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-Ed Harris-

2:56 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013

I think micro managing the choice of food people eat is crossing the line. I love the Ozona Pig! If that's what they wanted, Great! I don't find it news worthy. I am glad they are all getting along and I am hopeful for a bright future. While I do not agree with all the choices made by the commission all the time. I do not think our city is in shambles by a long shot. As for travel, Yes Scotland, …   more ›

Dunedin Officials List Top Concerns for Retreat Discussion

Discussion sessions for a daylong, catered retreat for elected officials Thursday, Feb. 28, is based in part, on each commissioner's feedback on their top five concerns for the future planning of Dunedin. What did each commissioner list?

Breakfast and lunch paired with dozens of major city issues. That's what Dunedin's elected officials are up to during a day-long retreat today, Feb. 28, at Dunedin Community Center. The day includes a catered continental breakfast, lunch from Ozona Pig, and a meaty agenda. The retreat, suggested by City Manager Rob DiSpirito and approved by commissioners, is broken out into the following five discussion sessions (the full, detailed agenda is provided in the photos of this article): Discussion session topics were based, in part, on each commissioner's feedback to a brief questionnaire from DiSpirito asking them to prioritize their top five to 10 concerns in planning Dunedin's future. The following is a list of elected officials' first five …

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-Ed Harris-

1:58 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013

You know, sometimes it's nice to just get out of town. Even if it's only to Palm Harbor. I'm just glad they are all working together so well.   more ›