“The People’s Home,” a property of historical significance tied to notable local figures Frederick Thomas Peebles and Ken de garanda Stevens, was unanimously voted to receive the Historic Landmark designation. Described as colonial revival in style, the property’s historical and cultural contributions to the community were emphasized. Francis Leong Sharp presented a staff report detailing the architecture and significance of the Peebles family’s legacy, which was met with appreciation from the property owner and commissioners.

Shifting focus to the city’s sustainability efforts, a major topic of discussion centered on the clean energy connection program agreement with Duke Energy. The commissioners discussed a $2.96 million subscription to power from Duke Energy’s solar farm sites, anticipating that approximately 40% of the city’s power will be sourced through this agreement. This initiative is a step towards meeting the city’s climate goals and reflects a broader trend of municipalities pursuing renewable energy sources.

The commission also addressed the renewal of the electric utility franchise agreement with Duke Energy, a process that had been in negotiation for over two years. The 10-year term agreement, with the option for two additional 5-year renewals, prescribes the terms for Duke Energy’s use of the city right-of-way for electric service provision. It was noted that the franchise fee is 6% of the company’s base revenue, contributing approximately $22.872 million annually to the city’s revenue.

Duke Energy representatives were present to provide an update on the energy agreement, emphasizing their commitment to reliability, sustainability, and storm resiliency. They highlighted improvements to the electrical system infrastructure, such as the implementation of self-healing technology and system hardening that have resulted in reduced outages and quicker power restoration during major storms. The performance of the electrical system during recent storms, as well as the completion of feeder and substation upgrades, was also discussed.

The commissioners engaged in a discussion on the franchise agreement, touching upon the visual impact of construction projects and the need for stronger language in the agreement to mitigate this concern. There was also debate over the terms of the agreement in the event of a sale or merger of Duke Energy, with suggestions to include a clause allowing for the termination of the agreement under such circumstances.

Additionally, the cost and feasibility of undergrounding utility infrastructure as opposed to overhead systems were examined. Duke Energy representatives explained their storm protection plan and the factors considered when deciding whether to underground lines. The discussion extended to the city’s electric vehicle charging program, with the sunset of the pilot program and plans for installing two DC fast chargers to support the growing use of electric vehicles.

In other business, the commission voted unanimously on the proposed agenda items and decided to postpone the historically unmarked designation of 501 New York Avenue. A debate arose regarding scheduling conflicts for an upcoming trip to Toronto, which highlighted the challenges of accommodating the management team’s availability. The meeting concluded with plans to inform the commission once a suitable date for the trip was finalized.

The meeting also featured recognition of the winners of the Dunedin Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest, as well as a proclamation of February as “love your library month” to celebrate the services provided by the Dunedin Public Library. The introduction of new personnel at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s North District station, including Captain Melvin Jackson and Corporal Dustin WRA, was acknowledged as an important addition to the city’s law enforcement efforts.