The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Business Digest 03/01/2023

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Pour-your-own candle shop
A new pour-you-own candle experience, offered by 3 Eleven Aroma, has opened at the KRATE at the Grove. The shop offers guests the opportunity to create candles from start to finish, using a combination of scents and choosing from a variety of candle sizes.

3 Eleven Aroma is open, but also plans to have a grand opening celebration on March 11.

KRATE at the Grove is an entertainment destination made from 94 repurposed shipping containers. It is located with the Grove at Wesley Chapel, at 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd.

Aroma Joe’s
Aroma Joe’s will celebrate its location at 3939 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, with a week of special events, Feb. 27 through March 3. The celebration will culminate with a community activation: 10% of all proceeds will be donated to Land O’ Lakes Christian School on March 3, according to a news release.

The 1,600-square-foot coffeehouse has drive-thru and walk-up options, and serves a variety of coffee and espresso drinks.

The location opened in August of 2022 and is owned and operated by one of the original founders of Aroma Joe’s, Marty McKenna and his wife, Marlene.

Business celebrations
These businesses recently held celebrations:

  • The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve, 18600 Highway Preserve Parkway, in Tampa,, held a grand reopening with a ribbon-cutting, live music and food on Feb. 21.
  • B&B Theatres, Wesley Chapel The Grove 16, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, had a ribbon cutting on Feb. 15 to celebrate its newly remodeled location. The theater now offers a variety of movie-going experiences. It also boasts two Premium Large Format Grand Screens, which are massive, wall-to-wall, curved screens — making the theater home to two of the largest movie screens in the nation.

NTBC Coffee Connection
The North Tampa Bay Chamber has its Coffee Connections networking session every third Friday of the month, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Coffee Speaks n Tea Talks, 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Tampa. Coffee Connection provides a chance to mingle with other chamber members and community leaders, and to make friends and exchange ideas.

East Pasco Networking Group
Featured speakers at the 7:30 a.m. March 14 breakfast meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group will be Al Hernandez, a member of the Pasco School Board; Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.; and Melonie Monson, former CEO of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber and a candidate for mayor of Zephyrhills. The meeting will be IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301, in Dade City.

For more information, call Nils Lenz at 813-782-9491.

Business planning help
If you need help with handling business issues, you may be able to find the support you need through SCORE.org, an organization that provides workshops, a library of resources and business mentors. Visit the organization’s website to find out more about the free help that is available.

SWFMD governing board appointments
Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed three members to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) Governing Board, according to a SWFMD news release.

The governor appointed James Holton, Dustin Rowland and Robert Stern to the board.

Holton, of St. Petersburg, is the president and owner of JWH Properties Inc., MHH Enterprises Inc. and James W. Holton, P.A. He earned his bachelor degree from Stanford University and his master degree and juris doctor from Boston University. Holton represents Pinellas County.

Rowland, of Dade City, is the president and owner of Rowland Truck Lines. He graduated from Zephyrhills High School in 1994. Rowland represents Pasco County.

Stern, of Tampa, is a partner and attorney for Trenam Law. Stern earned his bachelor degree in business administration and his juris doctor from the University of Florida. Stern represents Hillsborough County.

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Members on the governing board are volunteers. The board sets policy for SWFMD, which has the responsibility of managing water and related resources in West Central Florida to meet the needs of current and future water users while protecting the environment.

Ramped-up activity expected soon on Moffitt’s Pasco campus 

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The official groundbreaking for Speros FL — Moffitt Cancer Center’s Pasco campus — happened a few weeks ago and construction activities are expected to ramp up soon.

“We’re starting to put some shovels in the ground,” said John Allgeier, senior director of the Pasco real estate development for the Moffitt Cancer Center expansion project.

“It’s exciting to see it start going,” added Allgeier, during remarks at the Feb. 7 North Tampa Bay Chamber breakfast meeting.

The first phase of the 775-acre campus will begin in the northwest corner of its property, near the Suncoast Parkway and Ridge Road.

“That’s where we’ll start our buildings,” Allgeier said. “We’re only going to build on probably 480 (acres) to 500 acres of the land.”

This rendering provides a visual of what Moffitt Cancer’s Speros FL campus is expected to look like, as the development takes shape. (Courtesy of Moffitt Cancer Center)

“The wetlands, they’re amenities, really,” he added, noting the idea is to provide views of nature for patients who are getting infusions, for instance, rather than have them stare at blank walls.

The Moffitt site is entitled for up to 24 million square feet of development, but Moffitt’s current master plan calls for about 13.5 million square feet of mixed uses, Allgeier said.

At full build out, the campus is expected to have about 140 buildings, which will be constructed according to design guidelines. At this point, no buildings over six stories are planned.

The campus will be divided into what Allgeier describes as “six neighborhoods,” with different types of uses in each one.

The vision is to create a community that will become a hub for international research, education and cutting-edge treatment.

There’s already a partnership between Moffitt and Pasco County Schools, involving the new 6-12 Angeline Academy of Innovation magnet school, 1 mile east of the Suncoast Parkway. The school is set to open in August, beginning with students in grades six through 10.

Ultimately, the mission of Speros FL, which when translated means ‘hope,’ is to find a cure for cancer, Allgeier said.

“It’s really beyond research and clinical. It’s really about collaboration. It’s about what partners can we bring in? What entrepreneurs? What innovators can we bring in to partner with us, to hopefully cure cancer and do other things in health care,” he said.

John Allgeier, a senior director of real estate development for Moffitt Cancer Center, spoke recently at the North Tampa Bay Chamber breakfast meeting about the new Moffitt campus planned in Pasco County.

“We obviously have a lot of pharma partners. We do cell therapy, cell manufacturing,” he said. Data centers, manufacturing and warehousing are other expected uses.

“All of these things support us, and then can collaborate with us,” he said.

Construction has begun on the road into Speros FL, and construction is expected to begin on the buildings in the middle of this year. Crews will be building roads, between 600,000 square feet to 700,000 square feet of buildings and parking garages — all at the same time, he said.

Initial plans call for a research building of about 300,000 square feet, with a wet lab.

There’s also an outpatient center of about 80,000 square feet and a proton therapy center of about 20,000 square feet.

Proton therapy, he said, “is kind of like radiation on steroids. It’s the newest thing,” Allgeier said.

Moffitt plans to bring in an office developer at the north end of its property to create a “dry lab” for researchers. “Dry lab” refers to where researchers work using computers and crunching data.

Plans also call for bringing many of Moffitt’s administrative employees, who are now working at scattered leased spaces in Tampa, to the Pasco campus.

Allgeier estimated that about 35% of Moffitt’s current employees already live in Pasco.

For many others, the commute won’t be much different than the one they already make to Moffitt’s location at the University of South Florida, he said.

Of course, that won’t be true for everyone, he said. “Some live in Ruskin, they’re going to be a little bit upset.”

Planning for what happens on the Speros campus has been in the works for about two years, Allgeier said.

Finding the property took about a decade, he said.

Selecting this particular site began around 2016, when Moffitt was working with the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., he said.

In addition to working with Pasco EDC, Moffitt worked with Pasco County, the state of Florida and Metro Development, the developers of Angeline, a new city that’s rising around the Moffitt site.

Moffitt closed on its property in 2019.

“Now, here we are. We’re getting a lot of interest,” Allgeier said.

Besides playing a pivotal role in cancer research, Moffitt is expected to create a sizable economic impact, from its workforce and from the other companies that are attracted to the Pasco campus.

Allgeier said he expects there will be a couple of thousand people working on the Speros FL campus, when it opens, which is expected in late 2025 or early 2026.

He also expects Moffitt — which has several locations — to continue to grow.

Moffitt currently has 8,500 employees, Allgeier said. Its workforce is likely to double by 2030, based on its current growth estimates, he said.

Pasco approves conduit loan
The Pasco County Commission has approved a request by Moffitt Cancer Center for a conduit bond, which allows Moffitt to borrow funds at a tax-exempt rate.
Moffitt plans to use the conduit bond to borrow up to $400 million to develop its Pasco Campus.
The county is not responsible for the debt. Moffitt’s allocation of state cigarette tax will be used to pay the debt, according to Robert Goehig, the county’s budget director.
The IRS requires a public hearing to be conducted on the request and requires that the county board finds that the project is in the public’s best interests.
No one spoke during the public comment portion of the public hearing on Feb. 7 and the county board unanimously approved Moffitt’s request.

Published February 22, 2023

More code enforcement officers needed, official says

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He hasn’t been on the Pasco County Commission long, but there’s one thing that Commissioner Gary Bradford has already noticed.

Pasco County Commissioner Gary Bradford says the need for more code enforcement officers is high, as codes are being enforced. (Mike Camunas)

The county needs more code enforcement officers, at least in Bradford’s opinion.

“We have rules in place and we’re not enforcing them,” Bradford said.

When rules aren’t enforced, Bradford said, “they’re just words on a piece of paper, (words) on a computer screen.”

Bradford, who is in his early days in office, acknowledged that he isn’t an expert yet on the county’s budget process.

Still, he added: “I don’t know if there’s a way that we could start looking at adding additional code enforcement officers now, but I think if any area of the county government needs help, it’s code enforcement.”

“You just can’t go to somebody who comes to work and say, ‘Here’s 10 things to do today. And by the way, tomorrow here’s 15 and then 20.’ There’s a point where the balls will get dropped, not by our code enforcement officers — but just by the volume of more responsibilities.

“We need to do something about that, sooner rather than later,” Bradford said, during the county board’s Feb. 7 meeting.

During the same meeting, commissioners:

  • Approved a mixed-use master-planned project on a 17-acre site, south of Shettle Road and east of U.S. 41, in Land O’ Lakes. Development plans call for 40,000 square feet of office, 25,000 square feet of commercial/retail and 341 apartments.
  • Approved the second one-year renewal of the agreement for general state lobbying services with Shawn Foster, LLC d/b/a Sunrise Consulting Group (Sunrise Group), effective Dec. 30, 2022  through Dec. 29, 2023, and additional purchasing authority in the Not to Exceed (NTE) amount of $60,000 for the extension comprised of $45,000 for fiscal year 2023; and $15,000 for fiscal year 2024, resulting in a cumulative NTE amount of $180,000 for the term of the contract. The additional amount requested includes $15,000 for unauthorized expenditures from Oct.1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022.
  • Appointed Dr. Lori Romano to the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board, as recommended by the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board Executive Committee.
  • Approved a contract to allow the Senior Services Division to receive funds in the amount of $121,238 to provide meals to eligible elderly individuals. The state of Florida provides funding to expand long-term care alternatives, enabling elders to maintain an acceptable quality of life in their own homes and avoid or delay nursing home placement. Senior Services receives the funds, channeled  through the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas, Inc., to provide elders with congregate and home-delivered meals.

Published February 22, 2023

Saddlebrook Resort redevelopment request delayed

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The Pasco County Commission is set to take up a request involving the redevelopment of Saddlebrook Resort at its April 4 meeting.

After several hours of testimony on Feb. 7, the board decided to delay the request until then, to provide more time to get questions answered and to give opposing parties a chance to seek resolution.

The issue involves a request by Miami-based Mast Capital to redevelop Saddlebrook, which opened in Wesley Chapel in 1981.

At its prime, Saddlebrook was known internationally for excellence in its golf facilities, with its two Arnold Palmer-designed courses and for its tennis facilities and programs.

Future plans for Saddlebrook Resort remain a topic of debate. (File)

Elite athletes flocked there to use the resort’s facilities, and its golf and tennis academies helped to prepare future champions.

But there’s consensus now that improvements are needed at the 40-year-plus facility to restore its former glory.

Contentious debate continues, however, over whether Mast Capital’s vision is the best way to move forward.

“I get the sense that we’re all at an impasse — the board members, Mast and their project, and the residents,” Commissioner Seth Weightman said.

He called for a continuance.

“I’d like to spend some more time, meet with the applicant — get some assurances and an understanding on what we’re looking like going forward, what the final plan is,” Weightman said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley said he hopes the delay will give opponents a chance to come closer to resolution.

“Somewhere in the middle is the right fix, for the residents and for Mast,” Oakley said, adding if they can find common ground in the middle, both sides can win.

During the Feb. 7 public hearing, the county board considered Mast Capital’s request to transmit its proposed land use change to the state Department of Economic Opportunity and other state agencies for review.

That’s just one step in the process, which also requires Mast Capital to obtain county board approvals of a proposed land use change and a revised Saddlebrook master plan.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite represents Mast Capital, which purchased Saddlebrook about 10 months ago, from Tom Dempsey, the original owner.

Wilhite explained Mast Capital’s proposed changes.

In broad strokes, the redevelopment plan has four parts: two areas are within Saddlebrook’s gated community and two outside, next to State Road 54.

The redevelopment calls for 105,000 square feet of commercial and retail entitlements — a 5,000-square-foot increase over its current entitlement. It also calls for an additional 55 beds for the existing golf and tennis academy; a 12,000-square-foot clubhouse; 155 townhomes; and 465 apartments.

Development along State Road 54 would include a mixture of commercial and residential uses in a walkable area featuring neighborhood parks, patio seating, a wide boulevard and other amenities, according to the proposal.

Plans also call for dual left-hand turning lanes leading out of the resort’s main entrance. Plus, an additional right-in/right-out access would serve the new development along State Road 54.

Jordan Kornberg, managing director and head of acquisitions for Mast Capital, explained the company’s vision for Saddlebrook, which is located off State Road 54, east of Interstate 75.

“We want it to be a world-class resort again. We want to prop up the golf academy, the tennis academy and really all of the existing components of that business are our focus.

“This will create jobs, significant economic benefit to the county and enhance the existing residents and the community,” he said.

Since acquiring Saddlebrook, Mast Capital has invested $5 million in capital improvements and expects to spend $5 million more this year, Kornberg said.

Bryce Swanson, a golf course architect for Rees Jones Inc., described plans for replacing the resort’s two 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf courses with three nine-hole courses.

Commission Chairman Jack Mariano, noting he’s recently played golf at Saddlebrook, spoke against the idea of reconfiguring the courses.

“Why can’t we just work to improve what’s there?” Mariano asked.

“The greens are in fantastic shape. The best I’ve seen them, maybe ever. That course is well-designed. It drains well, if it’s maintained,” Mariano said.

Swanson disagreed: “The golf course is in dire need of repair.

“The drainage system doesn’t work. The irrigation system is on Band-aids. Things need to be repaired,” he said.

One course can’t be used during the rainy season because the drainage is so poor, he said.

Swanson said his company told Mast Capital that putting things back to the way they were would be “more of a short-term fix.”

Saddlebrook resident Patrick Hogan said he and his wife purchased their home — with its views of holes 12, 13 and 14 — with the expectation it would stay that way.

“In our mind, we didn’t just buy a home with a golf course view. We bought a home with a Palmer golf course view. Rees Jones is very reputable, but they are not Arnold Palmer and we will no longer have Arnold Palmer courses.”

Hogan questioned how the resort could attract tournaments without an 18-hole course.

Kornberg said the new design has flexibility: two nine-hole courses could be combined for an 18-hole course.

Numerous residents urged the county board to reject the request.

Joann Barbetta, who lives on Fox Hunt Drive, and her husband, Larry, organized the Save Our Saddlebrook Coalition.

Joann Barbetta told the county board: “Ten years ago, we came to Saddlebrook, when our daughter had dreams of training at a tennis academy.

“The tennis drew us in, but the wonderful people, the natural beauty and the abundant wildlife made us stay.

“You can see that Saddlebrook is simply spectacular,” she said, referring to video shots of the resort’s natural areas. “The expansive and dense collection of trees, the winding roads, the spacious driving range were all carefully laid out.

“The homes are spaced far apart, with a lot of privacy and large open spaces. The peacefulness and serenity of that, cannot be overstated,” she said.

Larry Barbetta added: “We love our community. We are here to make sure that anything that’s done in the development and redevelopment of our community is consistent with the values, heritage and builds on the legacy of Saddlebrook.”

A number of other speakers raised concerns about traffic; insufficient fire, police and emergency services; a threat to their quality of life; and, a potential drop in property values.

But Barry Shein, treasurer on Saddlebrook’s condo association’s board, said the coalition of opponents do not represent everyone with property at the resort.

He said his group has been working with Mast Capital and is confident its representatives “are people of integrity.

“I believe they will do what they say they are going to do,” he said.

Shein also noted the Mast Capital proposed development will help generate money needed to make improvements to upgrade the property.

The condo board’s attorney, according to Shein, has been involved in drafting the deed restriction “to make sure, in perpetuity, the golf course would remain a golf course.”

Published February 22, 2023

Pasco Pepin school expected to be built by 2024

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Pasco County Schools has moved a step closer in its partnership with Pepin Academies, to establish Pepin Academy at Kirkland Ranch, a new charter school for third- through 12th-graders.

The school will be on the campus of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, at 9100 Curley Road in Wesley Chapel.

It will be built to accommodate 400 student stations, and beyond standard classrooms, it will have an administrative suite, media center, student dining/multipurpose room, music room, art room, and other elective classrooms/labs, according to information in the Pasco County School Board’s Feb. 7 agenda packet.

The project also may include infrastructure for a future gym if the gym cannot be accommodated within the current construction budget.

Other parts of the plan include exterior covered play areas, playgrounds and a playfield. 

Also, there will be an on‐site parent pickup and drop‐off driveways, the agenda materials say.

The school board and Pepin Academies are listed as owners in the agreement approved with Hepner Architects, as part of the school board’s consent agenda.

Pepin Academies selected Hepner for the project, which has a construction budget of $14 million. Construction is expected to be completed by summer of 2024.

The agreement includes providing basic services: architectural design, civil engineering, landscape/irrigation design, structural engineering, other engineering, and a criteria‐based fire sprinkler design.

The architect proposed a fixed fee in the amount of $908,000, for basic services, which includes  $75,800 for civil engineering basic services.

The school board’s action follows the approval of a contract in November — between Pepin and the school board — which sealed the deal on the unique partnership.

The school construction must meet all state requirements, and Pepin and the school board have agreed to fund the construction of the school using impact fees.

When it approved the partnership, the school board also approved a memorandum of understanding, as well as a step-in agreement for the district to take over the school, should the charter school cease operations.

Pepin Academies are full-time exceptional student education day schools that offer a standard diploma option for students with learning and learning-related disabilities in grades three through 12, according to Pepin’s website.

Pepin Academies operates a Pasco campus in New Port Richey, one in Tampa and one in Riverview. It provides individualized instruction, focused on providing academic and social achievement, its website says.

The new charter school will be the third school on the Kirkland Ranch campus. Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, a magnet school for grades nine through 12, is already operating, and Kirkland Ranch K-8 is set to open in August 2024.

Published February 22, 2023

Elected leaders say park needs are being felt across Pasco

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The need for additional recreational opportunities rang out loud and clear during a joint session of elected Pasco County leaders and those from municipalities on the east side of the county.

Zephyrhills Mayor Billy Poe noted: “We’ve seen such large growth on the east side of Pasco and the development of Pasadena Hills. The question has come up several times about the possibility of a regional park on the east side of Pasco, possibly along (U.S.) 301, so both Dade City and Zephyrhills benefit from it, (as well as) San Antonio and St. Leo.”

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman said he’s interested in increasing aquatic opportunities — for competitive swimmers and for other swimmers, too.

Weightman said he’s talked to county staff about the issue, noting there’s no community pool east of U.S. 41, aside from the YMCA and St. Leo.

He said an aquatics center, which could accommodate competitive swimming, could benefit the county’s tourism efforts. But he also noted that it is important to provide an opportunity for people to learn how to swim.

One of the two swimming pools that Pasco County operates is at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, off Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. (File)

“Folks moving into our county — they need to know how to swim. It’s a quality of life and safety factor,” Weightman said.

The county board member said he fully supports “some kind of a recreational center with an aquatics component — a significant aquatics component.”

He also noted it might behoove the county and its cities to work together on creating an aquatics center, instead of developing competing facilities.

Keith Wiley, who oversees the Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources department, said his team greatly desires addressing the aquatic needs on the east side of the county.

He noted there are plans to move forward with a super park in the Village of Pasadena Hills, which is in the Wesley Chapel area. 

Wiley said he plans to recommend that the super park become home to a community pool.

“I think it’s an outstanding opportunity to talk to the school board for the possibility of a partnership because (at) the two pools the county does operate, we see a lot of activity from the high school swim teams. And, I think, quite honestly, they have some skin in the game,” Wiley said.

He also told the elected leaders that Pasco’s parks department is working on a master plan to define a recreational trail system. 

“The idea is to really be high-level, to ultimately figure out what our trail system looks like,” he said. The planning will cover such things as prioritizing connections through greenways, near existing state and county-owned properties, and recognizing hubs of concern, he said.

This planning is separate from work being done to establish an alignment for the Orange Belt Trail.

On another note, the county parks department is teaming up with the City of Dade City on a feasibility study related to park facilities located in the areas of Lacoochee, Trilby, Villages of Pasadena, Naomi S. Jones Park, Burks Park, and the James Irvin Civic Center.

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter told the elected leaders: “The James Irvin Civic Center is located in Naomi Jones Park. It was built in the 1960s and has served its useful life. The city is currently partnering with the county. We’re conducting a feasibility study for park facilities in East Pasco County.

“One of the deliverables from the study will be a schematic design, with preliminary engineering and landscape planning for a new community center,” she said.

Porter also noted: “We would hope to continue our partnership with the county, providing the recreational services. Currently, the county offers the programming there, as well as with the Armory. We don’t have the staffing at the city level to do that.”

Dade City Commissioner Angel Woodard told those gathered: “I would just like to stress the importance of why we are trying to construct a new facility.

“When you have a building that’s been built in 1960 and one addition to that building took place in 1992 — and, it is not sufficient for the community.

“We don’t have anywhere on the east side of the county, on a cold night, to even up to bring our homeless in.

“We don’t have anywhere, on this side of the county, during the COVID crisis, to hold funerals.

“This is vitally important that we stand together to move forward to create a community center.

“One of the biggest things that I hear, over and over again, is ‘We have nowhere for our children to go.’

“And, that needs to change,” Woodard said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey mentioned that the community center project might be a good candidate for federal funding. She recommended that city officials look into that.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mariano suggested this could be something that the county and city worked on together.

Published February 15, 2023

Pasco MPO adopts new goal to reduce impacts from traffic perils

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Pasco County’s traffic fatalities and serious injuries caused by crashes are heading in the wrong direction, Tina Russo, a planner for the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) said at a meeting last week.

She’s urging everyone to get involved in reducing the number of people who die, or who are seriously injured because of crashes.

She uses the term “crash” rather than “accident” because that keeps the emphasis on prevention, she said during the Pasco MPO’s Feb. 9 meeting.

Her comments came as she explained the organization’s recommended system performance measures for safety, which are required by federal law.

Russo and Johnny Coors, a transportation planner for the Pasco MPO staff, shared statistics, representing a five-year rolling average of fatalities and injuries resulting from crashes.

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s staff recommended striving to reduce fatalities and serious injuries from crashes in Pasco by 10%. The organization’s board adopted the staff’s target to submit to federal authorities. (Mike Camunas)

The Pasco County MPO is the lead transportation planning agency for the county and is made up of elected leaders from Pasco County, Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port  Richey.

Russo and Coors recommended targets for calendar year 2023 based on local data provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Performance measures are used to establish targets and objectives for management of Pasco’s transportation system and to evaluate progress made toward meeting those targets.

The performance measures include total fatalities and fatality rate; total serious injuries and serious injury rate; and total bicycle and pedestrian fatalities, as well as serious injuries.

“Zero is our goal,” Russo said.

But, she added, the goals submitted to federal authorities must be achievable.

The targets are set based on a five-year rolling average, said Russo, who is deeply involved in safety efforts.

Last year, the target was set to maintain the status quo. This year, it calls for a 10% reduction.

Russo said it takes coordinated efforts to bring about positive change.

“This crash data is not just a number on a piece of paper. These are stories of people’s lives that are affected forever by these numbers,” she said.

In 2021, Pasco had 105 fatalities.

“These numbers are calculated based on long-form crash reports that are done on all of our roadways done by law enforcement,” Russo said.

“We actually look at every one of those crash reports and delve into: How can we prevent these, or what can we do differently? The bad part is that we’re going in the wrong direction. We are going up, in fatalities,” she said.

On a positive note, serious injuries are declining, she said. 

That’s a national trend, which appears to be a result of increased safety features in vehicles, she added.

She also told the MPO board that there’s no easy solution because Pasco’s traffic fatalities occur across the county, not in a few concentrated areas.

“There is no exact intersection, where we can really focus on, where most of our numbers are,” Russo said. She did note, however, that U.S. 19 continues to be a big part of the problem.

She told board members that there are behaviors that are causing people to be killed.

“Lane departures is one of our biggest ones. Most of those are people driving off the road and hitting a fixed object, with no seatbelt on,” she said.

“Speed is always a big one,” she said.

Aging drivers face a greater risk of mortality when involved in high-speed crashes, she said.

Road design is another factor.

“If it’s wide, people are going to drive faster,” Russo said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey agreed that roadway design plays a critical role.

“We have to be careful when we’re building roads that we’re not building speedways,” she said.

For instance, Lake Blanche Drive offers motorists a straight shot, with no cross roads.

“People will drive the speed they feel safe. You can feel very safe going 75 mph down that road,” Starkey said.

She noted that complaints have been coming in about speeding on the road.

“We have drag racing going on, and kids zipping up and down on little motorcycles. We should have put a traffic circle in there, to calm it down,” Starkey said.

On the other hand, Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said narrow roads can be dangerous — especially when they don’t have shoulders — because there’s no way to avoid a crash.

Russo noted:  “An 11-foot lane with safety edges is different than an 11-foot lane with no shoulder at all.” 

Resolving traffic safety issues takes a collaborative effort — involving traffic operations, project management, planning and public education, among other things, Russo said.

“We all have a role in this,” she said.

She also noted there may be one silver lining to getting stuck in traffic.

“Congestion, sometimes, is the best thing for safety,” Russo said. “The reason why you drive fast is because you can.”

Adopted targets for 2023

  • Number of fatalities: 93.8
  • Rate of fatalities per 100 million miles traveled: 1.9
  • Number of serious injuries: 889.6
  • Rate of serious injuries per 100 million miles traveled: 17.6
  • Number of combined pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities and serious injuries: 105.5

Adopted targets for 2022

  • Number of fatalities: 99.8
  • Rate of fatalities per 100 million miles traveled: 2
  • Number of serious injuries: 1,058.6
  • Rate of serious injuries per 100 million miles traveled: 21.3 
  • Number of combined pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities and serious injuries: 125.2

Published February 15, 2023

City and county elected leaders officials discuss future Orange Belt Trail

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Elected officials from Pasco County and from municipalities on the county’s east side met in a joint session earlier this month to discuss projects within their individual jurisdictions and to talk about topics of mutual interest.

The future path of the Orange Belt Trail was a topic of considerable conversation.

Pasco officials have been talking about creating a recreational trail from Trinity to Trilby, linking communities such as Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel,  Dade City along the way.

This map shows a generalized look at the planned Orange Belt Trail. The exact path of the trail has not yet been determined. Existing conditions will be considered before a final path is set. The idea is to generally follow along the former Orange Belt Railroad corridor. Officials want the public to know there are no plans to go through existing structures. (File)

The recreational trail will mostly follow the former Orange Belt Railroad corridor, but not precisely.

The trail is expected to be a 12- to 14-foot-wide paved multi-use trail, but also could incorporate sections intended for equestrian use.

Sam Beneck is leading the planning efforts for Pasco County.

He told those gathered at the joint session: “On the Orange Belt Trail, we are underway with our public outreach portion. We’ve been getting really strong response from folks, moving that PD&E (project development and environment) study forward.

“We expect that we’ll have another public meeting here, late spring, early summer. We’ll show alternatives that have been developed, based on that public involvement, and then by about this time next year, we would bring a completed study to the board, with the conclusions and that alignment.

“We do have a couple of segments that are progressing independent of the study, such as along Trinity Boulevard, where there’s no controversy, no acquisition necessary and where the county really needs to have a pedestrian facility.

“We’re also underway with the Withlacoochee State Connector Trail. There’s a segment that aligns with Morningside. We’re also using Coastal Design to connect the pieces there, so that can be ready to go when that roadway project is built and the north segment is under design with Florida Design Consultants, not quite ready to turn that over to right-of-way acquisition. “We’re still trying to minimize our impacts. We only have, maybe, three landowners we would impact, and as little impact as possible would help expedite that project. We know that’s another one that’s been a long time in process.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also noted that the alignment of the Orange Belt Trail, on the east side of Interstate 75, is more complicated than it is on the west side of I-75.

“I know there was some angst at one of our kickoff meetings of what that alignment might look like,” Starkey said.

She continued: “When I put on the state map about 15 years ago, when I was on the State Greenways and Trails Council, we just pinged the abandoned railroad corridor line. And I know that some of that property has since been sold. So, we just want to make sure that people on the east side know that it’s not a literal line, but the goal is, once we get across (I-) 75, to make sure it finds its way to the Withlacoochee State Trail.”

Starkey continued: “But we’re not going to be coming over anyone’s house or driveway or anything like that. It’ll be more of a challenge, once we get to the east side, to figure that route out, but it’s not the intent to be condemning anyone’s property. But the goal is to get it to the Withlacoochee State Trail, in the best way possible.”

Beyond the sheer recreational value, the trail also could open the door to some economic opportunities, Starkey added.

“It will greatly benefit your restaurants and shops and communities, similar to what the (Pinellas) trail did for Dunedin,” she said.

So, if the trail doesn’t come directly to a downtown area, the county and city could work together to develop a spur, she suggested.

This is a portion of the former Orange Belt Railroad corridor. (File)

Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano noted that he visited the Boulder, Colorado area, where he saw a remarkable trail system.

“It’s driven their whole economy,” he said.

He also noted the success of the Pinellas Trail.

He said his mother used to live in Dunedin and he took her to lunch at a restaurant near the trail.

“I can’t tell you how many bikers would stop, sit have lunch,” Mariano said.

To help facilitate small business opportunities and encourage amenities for trail users, Starkey said Pasco is looking to develop an overlay zoning district along the trail. It would allow certain kind of businesses to easily locate within its confines.

“Coffee shops. Ice cream shops. Small mom-and-pop entrepreneurial opportunities that trail users would enjoy. It’s a great opportunity for small business.

“I know our family opened up a little market and coffee shop in a barn, along the Starkey Trail — Starkey Gap Trail. We get trail-riders in from all around the country, into our place.

“The other day we had folks from the Rails to Trails Conservancy, a whole group of them, come in on their bikes. They were all in from Tallahassee,” Starkey said.

“We suggest that you guys think of that, when it comes through your town,” Starkey added.

Vincent D’ Ambrosio, the mayor of St. Leo, said “We appreciate the county and the county commissioners for your efforts to bring trails and pathways to St. Leo community.

“Regarding the Orange Belt Trail, we are aware that the old railroad bed now routes through established private property. We’d be happy to assist with educational efforts and offer feedback about any alternative routes.

“If the trail ends up being routed along the existing State Road 52, we feel that would be a great tie-in with that, and with the Town of St. Leo.

“In other words, we support the trail coming through St. Leo and we’re happy to work with you on that trail,” he said.

Starkey said that even if the Orange Belt Trail didn’t go directly into St. Leo, efforts can be made to establish a spur to make a connection.

Timing for the Orange Belt Trail project will depend upon available funding, through grants and other sources. Those interested in learning more can visit OrangeBeltTrail.com.

Published February 15, 2023

Pasco clerk loses first round in legal dispute with Pasco County

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Thirteenth Judicial Court Circuit Judge Emily Peacock has ruled in favor of Pasco County in a lawsuit filed by Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles over a budget dispute.

The clerk filed the lawsuit in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court but it was assigned to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit by Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order.

According to the judge’s ruling, the clerk “asserts that the funding for the multiagency criminal justice information system (CJIS) is a mandatory expenditure of the county and that the county has no discretion in its decision to fund the system nor may it phase the funding in over a period of time.”

A court has ruled against a lawsuit filed by Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles over a budget dispute with Pasco County. The clerk has said she will appeal the ruling. (File)

The judge noted that “the county argues that the requirement of the funding for the multiagency CJIS system is limited to the existing system that was in place at the time that constitutional amendment and statutory amendment were adopted.”

The judge added that the county argues it has budgetary authority to phase the funding for such expenditures over time.

The judge also noted that the clerk asked for declaration that the county is obligated to fund judicial operations of the clerk’s office at the courthouse annex.

The clerk also asked for supplemental relief, dependent on the court’s determination on the preceding counts, according to the judge’s ruling.

The judge ruled in favor of the county’s assertion that the mandatory obligation to fund the CJIS system applied only to the system that was operating at the time of the adoption of the various provisions.

The judge also found “the county has the authority to review, analyze and make modifications to the budget submissions of the various constitutional offices, including the clerk.”

Because of the first two findings, the judge did not grant any supplemental relief, according to her 13-page ruling issued on Feb. 9.

After the ruling was issued, Alvarez-Sowles shared the ruling, through a media release and also issued this statement: “While we are disappointed by the Court’s ruling, we appreciate its professionalism. Filing a lawsuit against Pasco County was never our first choice. This case involves complex legislative history and significant funding issues affecting Clerks of Court, their criminal justice partner agencies, and citizens statewide. We are confident in our interpretation of the applicable law. Therefore, we will seek appellate review. 

“Although we are going to appeal, we remain optimistic and committed to transparent and collaborative dialogue to arrive at the best outcome for our respective offices and the citizens of Pasco County.”

February 15, 2023

Pasco’s GDP growth outpaced Florida’s, economics expert says

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Pasco County compares well when it comes to growth in its gross domestic product (GDP) and in the cost of its houses, but not as well when it comes to its household income and the educational level of its workforce.

Those were among highlights shared by Zachary A. Smith, an assistant professor of economics and finance at Saint Leo University, during an economics luncheon hosted by the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

Zachary A. Smith, assistant professor of economics and finance at Saint Leo University, provided insights about Pasco County’s economy, in a presentation that included local, regional, statewide and national data. (Courtesy of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

Smith’s analysis made comparisons between national, regional, statewide and local factors that affect the economy.

He presented some of his key findings at a luncheon gathering on Jan. 19 at Heritage Springs Country Club in Trinity. The event attracted a wide range of business executives, entrepreneurs, government leaders, elected officials and others.

Pasco’s GDP grew by 45% from 2010 to 2021, outpacing other Florida counties that, on average, grew by 33%, Smith said. The pace of GDP growth put Pasco among the top 10 in the state, he added.

Smith did a comparison of Pasco against this sample cluster of counties: Alachua, Leon, Manatee, Okaloosa and Volusia.

“Pasco County is the fastest-growing group in the comparison group,” he said. However, he added, the county could improve in both high school and bachelor’s degree completion rates.

Details in his report showed that slightly more than 90% of Pasco residents have a high school diploma, while slightly  more than 26% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Pasco’s per capita income of $50,479 is also less than the state average of $62,270, according to Smith’s report.

The report also notes that Pasco’s population includes about 5% more retirement-aged people than the national average.

Pasco County’s gross domestic product compares favorably with other counties around Florida, and Florida’s GDP compares favorably across the nation. Signs of construction activity remain abundant in Pasco, signaling new roads, new businesses, new schools and so on. (File)

Smith also observed that Pasco County depends less on government expenditures than other Florida counties.

“If we’re relying less on government expenditure and more on private industry, that’s a good thing, to me,” Smith said.

“Pasco County seems to be growing organically, based upon opportunities. It doesn’t look like the typical county,” Smith said.

At the statewide level, Florida has consistently ranked in the top 10 in migration, from 2010 to 2021, he said.

In 2021, it recorded a migration rate of 1.91%, which made it the fastest-growing state, in terms of migration.

“People are moving to Florida because it’s beautiful, has a low unemployment rate and is adding jobs,” Smith said.

It’s also growing at a faster rate as compared to other states, he said.

Florida’s GDP growth from 2010 to 2021 was 33%, ranking it among the nation’s top 10.

Its growth has been consistent, too, he said.

“Employers have added jobs over 30 consecutive months. Private sector yearly growth rate has exceeded the nation’s for 19 consecutive months,” he said, adding, it’s not just a one-off.

It costs about $50,000 less to own a house in Pasco County than it does on average across the United States, according to Zachary A. Smith, an assistant professor of economics and finance at Saint Leo University. (File)

“Consecutively, we’re growing faster than everybody else,” he said.

Most recently, hospitality and leisure have been growing, but there’s also been growth in education, health services, trade and transportation, he said.

Regional analysis
At the regional level, the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) including Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, grew at a rate of 3.8% between 2010 and 2021.

That placed the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA at 194th out of 384.

Compared to other MSAs in Florida, it ranked in the 40th percentile, meaning 60% of the MSAs in Florida are growing faster.

“That’s not that good of news, in terms of growth,” Smith said.

In terms of inflation, the region didn’t compare well, either.

With an inflation rate of 9.6% , the region is getting hit harder than the national rate of 7.1%, he said.

“It’s not good.”

He provided some specifics on items that were more expensive in November 2021 than they were in November 2020.

“Real estate prices skyrocketed, up about 16% from November 2021, from 2020,” he said.

The cost of energy was up by 13%, he said.

The cost of dairy, fruits, vegetables and home furnishings also are up between 9% and 10%.

Pasco County’s burgeoning population has created a demand for coffee shops, restaurants, entertainment and other retail options.

Takeaways about Florida and Pasco’s economies

  • Florida is in the top 10 states, in terms of migration and gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
  • Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater is growing about as fast as other urban areas across the United States, but is growing a little slower than the average urban area in Florida.
  • Inflation is hitting the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater region harder than other urban areas. The categories of food, housing, energy, and services all experienced inflation greater than 10% from November 2020 to November 2021.
  • From a Pasco County-level perspective, the two line items that had a statistically significant influence over growth were the percentage of the population under 18 years of age and the percentage of the population that fell below the poverty line.
  • After comparing Pasco County to Florida and the United States, the cost of homes was lower (about $50,000 less), but household income is lower, too, and the workforce is less-educated.
  • Changes in the Information Industry are pronounced over time, the proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) coming from government expenditures was relatively low.
  • Pasco County seems to be growing organically based on opportunities: It doesn’t really look like the typical county in Florida.

Source: Zachary Smith, an assistant professor of economics and finance at Saint Leo University.

Published February 08, 2023