The evening’s agenda commenced with a special recognition of the Dunedin City Pipe Bands for their accomplishments at the European and World Championships. The mayor invited attendees who traveled to Scotland to support the bands to stand and be acknowledged. The commissioner recounted the history of the pipe bands in Dunedin, tracing back to 1957 and emphasizing the community schools’ role in fostering this musical tradition. He highlighted the significant support from local businesses and community members who traveled to Scotland at their own expense to witness the bands’ performances.

The commissioner invited representatives from the local school board, including County School Superintendent Kevin Hendrick, who was named an honorary member of the Dunedin Pipe Band, and other notable attendees, such as School Board member Eileen Long, Performing Arts specialist Jory Spencer, and Jim Kiblinger, principal of Dunedin High School. The commissioner praised the pipe band members for their dedication, noting their impressive achievements: the Grade One band placed fifth in the World Pipe Band Championships and fourth in the European Championships, while the Grade Four band won first place at the Perth Highland Games and claimed the title of European Champions.

Certificates of recognition were presented to the pipe bands, and members expressed gratitude for the community’s support, acknowledging the significant effort required to compete at such a high level. The commissioner emphasized the impact of the Dunedin Highland Games, a locally celebrated event, and invited everyone to attend upcoming events like the Celtic Festival and Highland Games.

Following the recognition ceremony, the meeting addressed the first reading of Ordinance 24-24, which aims to create Section 50-12 concerning control access to city-owned, controlled, and leased properties. The ordinance was read by title only, outlining its purpose to establish restrictions on public access to certain areas within city facilities, thereby safeguarding city employees and sensitive areas of government property. Teresa Smalling, the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management, elaborated on the ordinance’s implications, clarifying that it would empower the city manager to designate specific off-limits areas. The ordinance’s security implications were discussed, with the city attorney highlighting its necessity for delineating limited public forums from traditional open public forums and establishing clear guidelines about permissible conduct in these spaces.

Irene Christophorus, a public policy student, expressed support for the ordinance, emphasizing its importance for enhancing security and operational efficiency. The commission members shared their perspectives, with one indicating a lack of questions and another acknowledging the ordinance’s relevance given past experiences with disruptive individuals in city buildings.

The discussion then moved to the acceptance and naming of the Jernigan property. Bob Smith, the Economic Development Director, reported on the Gateway development agreement, which had become unfeasible due to economic pressures. A request was made to terminate the existing agreement, which included an obligation to deed the Jernigan tract to the city for recreational use. The developer expressed commitment to ensuring the property remains a park, reflecting previous assurances to the community about its future use. A motion was put forward to accept the property transfer and authorize relevant city officials to execute necessary documents, which passed unanimously. Another motion was made to rename the Jernigan tract as the John Kokakis Memorial Park, honoring the developer’s late father, which also passed unanimously.

Later, the commission discussed extending the Freebie pilot program for an additional three months at a cost of around $48,000. The extension aimed to test a flex program that would increase the service area’s coverage, allowing more residents to utilize the service. Concerns were raised regarding the operational differences between Freebie and other local transportation services, such as Local Tiki Rides, and the financial implications of the service. The commission was informed that Freebie was providing free advertising for local businesses on the app, with efforts underway to secure funding through potential grants.

The meeting concluded with a review of a consulting services contract with Doug Hutchins for project management assistance. Hutchins was recognized for his “tremendous institutional knowledge” and project management skills. The necessity for external consulting was emphasized due to the city’s current lack of internal capacity to manage certain projects effectively.