WE WELCOME YOU TO DUNEDIN AND WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR NEW RESIDENCE. WE HAVE TRIED TO PROVIDE SOME BASIC RESOURCE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOKLET TO HELP YOU GET SETTLED MORE SMOOTHLY. CITY HALL 542 MAIN STREET DUNEDIN, FL 34698 (727) 298-3001 CITY COMMISSION MEMBERS DAVE EGGERS, MAYOR RON BARNETTE, COMMISSIONER JULIE SCALES, COMMISSIONER JULIE WARD BUJALSKI, VICE MAYOR HEATHER GRACY, COMMISSIONER CHARTER OFFICIALS ROB DISPIRITO, CITY MANAGER THOMAS J. TRASK, CITY ATTORNEY DENISE SCHLEGEL, CITY CLERK MORE INFORMATION AND MAPS ARE AVAILABLE AT: DUNEDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 301 MAIN STREET (727) 733-3197 http://www.dunedin-fl.com/ CITY OF DUNEDIN http://www.dunedingov.com/ WELCOME TO DUNEDIN! With gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Joseph's Sound, a hip little downtown and perfect winter weather, we are often referred to as "Delightful" Dunedin. Pronounced DONE-EE-DIN, the city has taken pride in developing a people friendly community full of parks and recreation, offering an abundance of outdoor fun and excitement for everyone! Dunedin is also the home of Caladesi Island, the #1 Beach in North America! Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, announced Caladesi Island State Park as having the best beach in America. The beautiful, sandy beach has been an eternal gem in the gulf and we are proud to be recognized nationwide for the scenic and natural beauty of this tranquil island! As you visit downtown Main Street to shop and grab a bite to eat or as you drive up scenic Alt-19 towards the beaches, it's hard to miss all the action going on. From beaches to bike trails and golf courses to marinas, people are out and about exercising, exploring, and just plain old relaxing and taking in the City's natural surrounding beauty. It may be the world's healthiest climate and the year-round outdoor fun that brings visitors to Dunedin, but it is Dunedin's village quaintness coupled with its progressive vision and masterful planning that keeps them here. It is not surprising that many seasonal visitors elect to stay once they discover Dunedin is without the trappings and congestion of most Florida resort towns. Dunedin reflects the rich American and Scottish heritage of its founding fathers. This charming village-like town has the distinction of being the oldest town south of Cedar Key. Early in its history, thanks to a dock built to accommodate schooners and sloops and the ingenuity of pioneers from as near as Georgia and as far as Scotland, Dunedin became one of Florida's chief seaport and trading centers. At one time Dunedin had the largest fleet of sailing vessels in Florida. Early settlers were primarily cotton and citrus growers, and it is hard to envision that most of what is now downtown was once a big cotton field! The first land deed was recorded in 1852 by Richard L. Garrison, only seven years after Florida became a state. Although it was George L. Jones who put up a sign over his General Store in 1870 that read "Jonesboro," a petition in 1882 by two Scottish merchants, J.0. Douglas and James Somerville, officially named the Post Office then the town itself, Dunedin. The town became incorporated in 1899. 2 Dunedin is proud of its "firsts" which are chronicled in Dunedin Through the Years by William L. Davidson. The amphibious tractor, the Alligator, assembled in Dunedin and used in World War II, played a decisive role in the Pacific phase of the war. Frozen orange juice concentrate, and the "Pram" sailboat racer both originated here. Dunedin was the first home of the prestigious PGA (Professional Golfers Association). The first radio signals from Pinellas County were sent from Dunedin. The oldest continuous garden club on Florida's west coast is the Dunedin Garden Club. Dunedin's quality of life is linked to its appreciation of its diverse and colorful past, and to the country that helped shape its future, Scotland. In commemoration of its ancestral ties Dunedin has chosen Stirling, Scotland, and Summerside, Prince Edward Island as its sister cities. ATTIRE Known for its ideal winter weather and warm summer months, you are sure to find most Dunedin residents and visitors dressed light and comfortable with the norm being shorts and sandals. Although in the winter, long sleeve shirts and slacks are appropriate for those occasional cooler days. With the Marina, Honeymoon Island and the Dunedin Causeway Beaches only minutes away from downtown shopping and dining, casual is the dominant theme. CLIMATE Boasting one of the most pleasant winter climates in the country, Dunedin's weather drastically changes to a subtropical marine climate in the summer and fall months. Temperatures range from the low-50's to mid-70's Fahrenheit throughout the winter and spring (October - May) and range from the low-70's to high-90's in the summer and fall months (June-September) bringing abundant rain, lots of lightning and high levels of humidity. The area receives about 52 inches (132 cm) of rainfall a year. Hurricane season beginning June 1 and ending November 30 is not something Florida residents take lightly, as it can be a very dangerous time of year. During this time, visitors and residents are advised to take all Hurricane, Tornado, Storm, Lightning, Flood and all other weather Advisories, Watches, Warnings and Evacuations seriously. CURRENCY & BANKING Bank-card, bank cash and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are located throughout the city. Members of participating banking networks and credit card companies can obtain U.S. currency by using any ATM card or credit card and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). 3 If you need to exchange foreign currency into U.S. currency, most of our local banks will exchange it at no cost for account holders or will charge a Ten Dollar Flat Fee for non-account holders. EMERGENCY NUMBERS For all life-threatening medical, fire and police emergencies call 911. For non-emergency calls in Pinellas County: 727-582-6200 Florida Poison Control (voice/TDD/TTY): 1+800-222-1222 Florida Road Conditions: I-75 From GA/FL Line to Turnpike: 1+800-475-0044 I-75 From Turnpike South: 941-647-5671 I-4 & Miami Dade Area: 511 Polk Pkwy: 941-647-5671 LOCATION, POPULATION & GEOGRAPHY Located in Pinellas County, Dunedin lies on the Central West Coast of Florida, 25 miles west of Tampa and 3 miles North of Clearwater and enjoys almost four miles of picturesque waterfront overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, St. Joseph's Sound and the barrier islands including Clearwater Beach, Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island. With a quaint, small town look and feel, Dunedin possesses a surprising population of 37,000 residents. Distances from Dunedin to other destinations include: Clearwater Beach 5.9 miles Disneyworld and Orlando 108 miles Jacksonville 220 miles Miami 286 miles St. Petersburg 20 miles Palm Harbor (downtown) 4.67 miles Safety Harbor 6.41 miles Tallahassee 293 miles Tarpon Springs 12 miles 4 RULES TO REMEMBER It is illegal in Florida for anyone under the age of 21 to consume alcohol in any quantity. To purchase alcohol in a bar, restaurant or store, you must be able to produce photo identification that proves your age. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) is a serious offense in Florida. A person is considered legally drunk when the concentration of alcohol in his or her blood is at or above .08%. TIME ZONE Dunedin is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone of North America. 5 IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS AARP 785-1309 ADA CONTACT (GREG RICE) 298-3199 ABUSE HOTLINE 1-800-500-1119 ADOPT A STREET ( PARKS & RECREATION ADMIN.) 812-4531 ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION 1-800-272-3900 AMBULANCE SERVICE/EMS (SUNSTAR) 530-1234 AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY 1-800-227-2345 AMERIAN HEART ASSOCIATION 563-8000 AMERICAN RED CROSS 446-2358 ANDREWS MEMORIAL CHAPEL 529-9233 1901 SAN MATEO (LAURA SANDERS) website: andrewsmemorialchapel.com ALLIGATORS/STATE OF FLORIDA 582-2600 PINELLAS COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL 582-2600 ANIMAL LICENSES (ANIMAL SERVICES/PINELLAS CTY) 582-2600 ANIMAL RESCUE (WILDLIFE RESCUE) 399-1525 AUTO LICENSES, REGISTRATION, TAGS & TITLE INFO. 464-7777 29399 U.S.19N (BEHIND OLIVE GARDEN) (ALSO TRAILERS, MOBILE HOMES, DISABILITY TAGS) 464-7777 1663 Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Clearwater (THREE NEARBYLOCATIONS, same phone number for all) 464-7777 13025 Starkey Road, Largo BAY BOUQUET GARDEN CLUB 734-2058 "BEFORE YOU DIG" Will identify underground lines. 1-800-432-4770 BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU . 535-5522 BIRTH CERTIFICATES (BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS) 507-4330 4175 E. BAY DRIVE, LARGO BRIGHT HOUSE (TV) 329-5020 BUILDING (PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT) 298-3198 737 LOUDEN AVENUE BUILDING PERMITS 298-3202/03 737 LOUDEN AVENUE GARAGE SALE PERMITS 298-3210 737 LOUDEN AVENUE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES 298-3188,3202,3203 737 LOUDEN AVENUE BUS INFORMATION (PSTA) 540-1900 BUILDING INSPECTION CALL-INS 298-3209 CALADESI ISLAND STATE PARK 469-5918 (FERRY SERVICE) 734-1501 CEMETERY 298-3031 2400 KEENE ROAD CEMETERY LOT INFORMATION 298-3035 750 MILWAUKEE AVE. CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY 298-3188,3202,3203 737 LOUDEN AVENUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 733-3197 301 MAIN STREET CITY CLERK 298-3039 750 MILWAUKEE AVENUE CITY HALL 298-3001 542 MAIN STREET CITY TRAFFIC SIGNS 298-3232 CLEARWATER UTILITIES 562-4600 100 S. MYRTLE AVENUE CLEARWATER FREE CLINIC 447-3041 CODE ENFORCEMENT (COMPLAINTS RE PROPERTY) 298-3190/3212 737 LOUDEN AVENUE COMMUNITY CALENDAR 298-3332 COMMUNITY CENTER 812-4533 1920 PINEHURST ROAD COMMUNITY SERVICE (VOLUNTEERING INFORMATION) 812-4545 1920 PINEHURST ROAD COMPLAINTS RE NEIGHBORS PROPERTY 298-3190/3212 737 LOUDEN AVENUE CONSUMER HELPLINE SERVICES 464-6200 COUNTY INFORMATION 464-3000 COURTHOUSE (PINELLAS COUNTY) 464-3000 OR 464-3341 DEATH CERTIFICATES (BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS) 507-4330 4175 E.