Advertisement

Dunedin City Commission, Seat 3: Candidates draw battle lines over parking meters

 
Gracy
Gracy
Published Oct. 5, 2016

DUNEDIN — Commissioner Heather Gracy will defend her spot in Seat 3 of the City Commission against longtime Pinellas County School District employee Reuben C. Hepburn.

The candidates have some similar ideas about development and communication with residents. But when it comes to paid parking downtown, they just downright disagree.

Hepburn, 45, says he will never support paid parking, regardless of the results of the yearlong pilot program. He says residents have "made it quite clear" that they don't want it, so it was wrong of the commission to vote for the program.

"Our elected officials should vote the voice of the people, and the residents have spoken," he said. "I think there are other solutions that don't involve paid parking."

Hepburn, who has lived in the city for 10 years, says he fears the meters are a first step in a bad direction that will make Dunedin "start looking like Clearwater Beach."

In contrast, Gracy, 45, supported paid parking when the commission recently voted. She said it seemed like a good way to avoid increasing taxes for all residents — including those who never use the parking spaces downtown.

"Just because I voted for it doesn't mean I like it, but it was the most equitable plan in my mind," she said. "But I am not letting go of the idea of a resident discount. … We have got to make sure that if you live in Dunedin you are paying a smaller fee for those spots."

When it comes to development, Hepburn says he will push incentives to encourage developers to look in city spots other than downtown to prevent congested areas.

"Downtown is saturated," he said. "We have to be smart and extend our downtown to other areas. We have to develop without overburdening our city."

Gracy says information about upcoming development should be brought to residents as soon as possible so officials can address concerns before projects move too far along.

"(Development) has to be cautious and talked out," she said, adding that she plans to push for more mixed-use buildings, meaning structures combining office, retail and residential space, in appropriate areas.

Hepburn has long criticized current officials for what he calls a "lack of transparency" and a citywide "feeling of distrust."

"We need to make sure residents are involved in the decision-making process," he said. "We need to take time to educate them to help them understand the decisions that are made by the commission."

When it comes to transparency, Gracy, who was investigated and cleared by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office on accusations of Sunshine Law violation this year, says she has personally "taken that as far as I can." She does, however, have a laundry list of ideas about how to make the relationship between residents and City Hall more direct.

She proposes a citizens academy class, in which city staffers would tour residents through different departments, fully explaining the ins and outs of operations fueled by tax dollars. She hopes to see a staff position, whether new or internal, more focused on public information, and she would like to hold town hall meetings, where officials meet with residents of specific neighborhoods.

Gracy, who was elected to the commission in 2012 and has lived in the city for 22 years, says her experience sets her ahead in the race and that the "deep-rooted" relationships she has made in the area make her a "better investment for Dunedin."

Hepburn, who now serves as principal at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg after a four-year stint as principal at Dunedin High, says he's bringing something to the table, too.

"I will make sure residents are involved in the decision-making processes," he said. "I will take their ideas and see how we can use them to make things happen."

Contact Megan Reeves at mreeves@tampabay.com or (727) 445-4153. Follow @mreeves_tbt.