At the forefront of the meeting, the agency tackled the issue of short-term vacation rentals, a matter of significant interest given the rising number of such properties in Dunedin. The city representative, Joseph Deasa, presented ordinance 24-9, proposing critical changes to the existing regulations. The highlighted amendment included an increase in the registration fee to $200 per unit annually, coupled with the introduction of a unique registration number for each rental property. This move aims to streamline the process and ensure that all rental properties are adequately monitored.

During the discussion, board members delved into the particulars of the ‘responsible person’ requirement, a stipulation that mandates each rental to have a designated individual capable of responding to issues within a two-hour window and who must be located within a 25-mile radius of the property. This clause sparked debate and required clarification, as the board members examined the feasibility and enforcement of this requirement. Questions were raised about how local residents could access the registration information, especially those who wished to support local bed and breakfast establishments. The city representative clarified that the information would be publicly available via the city’s online portal, thus promoting transparency and ease of access.

The agency disclosed that Dunedin currently has 82 properties offering short-term vacation rentals, with the total number of rental units ranging between 125 and 150. The agency’s goal is to update the registration of all rental properties by the time renewals are sent out in August. In terms of compliance, the agency was firm on the consequences for failing to register properties, which would include citations under the Land Development code and civil citations. To enforce these regulations, a software program is used to monitor and identify unregistered rentals.

The meeting then turned to the subject of voluntary annexation of a residential property into the city of Dunedin. The city planner presented the application, which arose following a property owner’s request for sanitary sewer services from the city, necessitating annexation from Pinellas County. The property, zoned for one, two, and three-family residential district R4, initiated the annexation process due to complications with the existing septic tank system.

Following a straightforward presentation by the property owner’s representative about the need for annexation and the anticipated smooth progression of the process, the board voted on the related ordinances. The annexation was unanimously approved without further comments or questions from the board members.