In 2020, like the rest of the World, Downtown Dunedin businesses were faced with extraordinary challenges during this global pandemic. Challenged with meeting CDC Guidelines for social distancing and required limited interior customer capacity to ensure the safest experience and at the same time, trying to keep their lights on, rents paid and staff employed.

The City of Dunedin moved swiftly and safely offering to all businesses extended outdoor space into City owned parking spaces with limited to no outdoor options for their customers. Within weeks of the slow opening, 4 Downtown locations opted to extend into a few limited spaces in front of their businesses.

Since then, these local businesses embraced the much needed customer space by offering beautiful, temporary outdoor dining spaces. The feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. While understanding these extensions require the sacrifice of unarguably much needed parking downtown, a vast majority have expressed a willingness to make that small sacrifice in the spirit of safety and an effort to keep local businesses alive. In spite of the vaccines, we are hearing mask mandates could extend well into 2022 and social distancing guidelines remaining inside to small groups. These outdoor extensions allow these businesses to remain open.

This petition has been created to give the patrons and citizens of Dunedin a voice of approval to make these temporary extensions permanent once Dunedin City Leaders lift all requested mask mandates and social distancing limitations. Customers and citizens alike have grown to love experience with the added ability to space out safely, the new normal. A permanent structure approval from the City would set forth options for more attractive barriers via gates (such as what the Living Room has done) planters and more landscape. It has long been desired for Dunedin to have a more alfresco-European style vibe and this would allow us to take great strides to achieve that. More beautiful, more walk-able and even more Delightful. We are asking for your signature to present to Mayor Julie Bujalski, City Manager Jennifer Bramley and the entire City Commission for their serious consideration.

Thank you!