B.C. Manion

Here’s a New Year’s resolution for you: Go out and have some fun!

January 9, 2024 By B.C. Manion

Of course, life does have its share of work – so shouldn’t it also have its share of fun?

We think so, so we compiled a few ideas to help you get 2024 off to a good start.

We hope you’ll find something here that will add a new bounce to your step, a little laughter with others, and just generally add joy to your life.

Note: This listing only covers the first few months of 2024. Check back again for ways to have fun later in the year.

Steam rises from the huge vat containing sugar cane juice, as volunteers Marcus Copeland, of Dade City, left, and Jasper Starnes, of Zephyrhills, work on skimming any impurities that bubble to the top during the sugar cane syrup-making process. The demonstration occurred in the Cane Mill at a previous Raising Cane and Moonshine Festival. (File)

January
Raising Cane & Moonshine Festival
When: Jan. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, in Dade City
Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for children under age 5. Parking is free.
Details: The event will feature live sugar cane syrup making, a syrup tasting contest, live music, vendors, blacksmith demonstrations, model trains, ax throwing, and more. All museum buildings will be open to tour. No pets or coolers will be permitted.
Info: PioneerFloridaMuseum.org

The Kumquat Festival celebrates the kumquat — a fruit grown in nearby St. Joe, which is known as the Kumquat Capital of the World. The annual event also allows Dade City to show off its southern charm, the Historic Pasco County Courthouse and the downtown shops and restaurants, along with the festival’s vendors and activities. This year’s festival is on Jan. 27.

26th annual Kumquat Festival
When: Jan 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Downtown Dade City
Cost: Free admission; parking available in public and private lots in downtown
Details: Visitors can enjoy a slice of kumquat pie, drink a glass of kumquat beer and take home some kumquats or a variety of goodies celebrating the tiny orange-colored fruit.
Info: DadeCityChamber.org, or contact The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce at 352-567-3769 or

February
35th annual Farm Fest & Quilt Show
When: Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
Cost: Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for children under 5.
Details: The event features a demonstration of strength during the Southern Draft Horse Association’s Draft Horse Pull, which begins at the stroke of noon. It also showcases the intricate work completed by quilters. In addition to the quilt exhibition, there will be a quilt appraiser, live entertainment and vendors.
Info: PioneerFloridaMuseum.org

Pigz in Z’Hills Barbecue & Blues Festival
When: Feb. 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Downtown Fifth Avenue, in Zephyrhills
Cost: Many free and paid parking options will be available
Details: Live blues music, barbecue vendors, a cornhole tournament, grilling competition, wing eating contest, hog calling contest, business expo and more.
Info: ZephyrhillsChamber.org

The Orbiter is seen in motion at a previous Pasco County Fair. This thrill ride lifts and spins riders, as they sit in cars, attached to the Orbiter’s arms. This year, the fair is set for Feb. 19 through Feb. 25.

Pasco County Fair
When: Feb. 19 through Feb. 25
Where: Pasco County Fairground, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City
Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 6 to 12; free for those age 5 and under (Feb. 20 is carload night. The charge is $70 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., for a carload of up to six belted passengers, which includes admission and a ride wristband.)
Details: The fair will feature rides, food, entertainment and all sorts of competitions.
Info: PascoCountyFair.com

Steve Melton, a Dade City rancher and cowboy poet, recites a poem he calls, ‘The Rain at Billy Goat Sink.’ Melton shared about a dozen poems and stories with the audience inside the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village’s Mabel Jordan Barn, during the inaugural Cracker Cowboy Day event. This year’s event is set for March 2.

March
Cracker Cowboy Day
When: March 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Florida Pioneer Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for children, free for children under age 5
Details: Get ready to be transported back to the time when Florida’s cracker cowboys rounded up cattle through the sound of their trusty whips. There also will be demonstrations galore, as well as chances for children to practice their roping skills and visit a petting zoo. Other features include Cowboy Poetry, samples from a local distillery, vendors and more.
Info: PioneerFloridaMuseum.org

Pasco Blues Fest
When: March 9, noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
Cost: $15 for early birds; $25 general admission
Details: Patrons are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets as they listen to three bands at the event. There will be food and drink available for purchase. This is a kid and pet-friendly event.
Info: FloridaPenguinProductions.com

Cody, an 8-year-old Yorkie, was dressed as a tarantula for the dog costume contest by Orkin Man Scott Smith, of Clermont. This year’s event is set for March 16.

Dogs’ Day in Dade City
When: March 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Agnes Lamb Park, 37603 Meridian Ave., in Dade City (on Meridian across from the Edwinola)
Cost: Free
Details: Patrons and their furry friends can team up for activities including a dog wagon parade, dog costume contest, K-9 challenge, a Canine Got Talent contest, and an ice cream/yogurt eating competition. Vendors will be on hand (and are still being accepted for the event).
Info: Contact Lucy Avila at 352-424-4972 or

Jelly Bean Fling
When: March 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
Details: There will be live entertainment and craft demonstrations, and of course, kids will be able to have their picture taken with the Easter bunny, go on an egg hunt and take advantage of other activities.
Info: PioneerFloridaMuseum.org

Check back around April to find another slate of activities for future months.

Published January 10, 2024

Planning board advocates giving public a chance to weigh in on Lacoochee plan

January 9, 2024 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Planning Commission is asking the Pasco County Commission to direct county staff to provide a second presentation on the Greater Lacoochee Plan, but this time to allow public comment to provide feedback on the plan.

The planning board received a Lacoochee Plan presentation before, but at that session, the public’s only opportunity to comment was at the beginning of the meeting — before the planning board was briefed on the plan.

During the planning board’s Dec. 7 meeting, Nancy Hazelwood, a resident who has been active for years in the efforts to preserve Pasco’s rural areas, asked the planning board to request another presentation on the Lacoochee plan.

She told the planning board: “The plan is over 30 pages long and it was only given 10 or 15 minutes to cover the material.

“Because of the lateness of the evening, the planning board had no time to ask questions or give relevant information on it.

“I don’t know how many others came to hear it or watch the meeting, but I stayed a very long time. I got there at the beginning and I stayed until 8 o’clock or 8:30, when it was over.

“The project could be a game-changer. It will be a game-changer for the Northeast Rural protected area. Presenting this plan without enough time for discussion is disenfranchising the Pasco citizens by not letting us hear the plan and make written comments to the BCC (Pasco County Commission) before it goes to that board.

“So, what’s the hurry? It’s part of the 2050 Plan (update). Let’s bring it back,” she said.

Hazelwood also noted that she was representing several members involved in developing the original Northeast Pasco Rural Pasco Overlay District. They were not able to attend because of illness or medical appointments, she said.

Nectarios Pittos, director of planning and development, told the planning board: “The plan is a non-binding concept plan. It was scheduled for presentation, I believe in October, here at the Planning Commission. It was not as a public hearing, however, just as a presentation to the planning commission that this was the plan.

“It was originally scheduled for the Nov. 14 board of county commissioners meeting, again for presentation, as it is a non-binding concept plan,” Pittos said.

That presentation was rescheduled into January because the board didn’t have time to take it up at the November meeting, Pittos said.

“The ball, right now, is with the board of county commissioners. To have it reheard at the planning commission, that would have to be a request made to the board,” Pittos said.

Planning board member Derek Pontlitz noted: “It’s a concept plan, then after that, there are workshops that are going to be held.”

Pittos added: “The non-binding concept plan definitely has ideas that can then be downloaded into the Pasco 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update. That’s going to be a work in progress over the next year or so, for the Pasco 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update.

But Hazelwood’s request resonated with planning board member Jon Moody, who made a motion to ask planning staff to request another presentation for the planning board and to accept public comment.

Moody noted that would “at least allow us to hear some public comment on it, so that it can get incorporated into any message or recommendation that needs to get delivered to the board.”

Moody said it would be helpful for the public to “be able to hear the entirety of the plan — all of the high points, the low points and the in-betweens, and to make their comments after they’ve got all of the information.”

The planning board approved Moody’s motion unanimously, with Chairman Charles Grey absent.

Two other residents attending the Dec. 7 meeting thanked the planning board for its action.

Lisa Moretti, who has been active in efforts to protect Pasco’s rural areas, told the planning board: “I know that we get called squawking chickens. I’m tired of being a squawking chicken. But I would also say, if you haven’t watched the movie ‘Chicken Run’ lately, I suggest you do, because we’re just going to keep squawking.

“I’m really grateful that you chose to bring the Lacoochee plan back. It’s very important. Some of the things that are in that plan literally gut the rural area, the Northeast Rural Area, and dramatically change some of the things.

“I know there are maps that some of you have not seen before that have been presented by the developer that move the transition area boundaries inside the rural area, rather than having them be transitions outside. I think that is a travesty. So, I’m really grateful that you are willing to hear that again and allow us to come back and bring comment.”

Moretti said it’s important to determine whether the plan is truly a non-binding concept plan, or something more.

“We have a commissioner walking around saying, ‘This is an implementation plan. It’s a done deal. You might as well just sit down and be quiet.’

“That’s not in my DNA because what’s happening is so important.

“And, if it is an implementation plan, we need to be clear on that. If it’s an implementation plan, we need to have even more public comment.

“If it’s just, ‘Here’s our plan, we’re presenting it to you,‘ we need to have comment there, too, but we still have some leeway and negotiation time.

“If it’s an implementation plan, as we’ve been told by our commissioner, I’ve got serious issues with that.

“I encourage you to really take a hard look at that plan, and clearly define exactly what it is,” Moretti said.

Published January 10, 2024

Business Digest 01/10/2024

January 9, 2024 By B.C. Manion

Florida SBDC adds satellite office
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of South Florida (USF) has announced the addition of a new satellite office location. Beginning on Jan. 18, every third Thursday of the month, aspiring, emerging, and established business owners in Pasco County can find their local Florida SBDC at USF consultant in Wesley Chapel, located at the SMARTstart @ The Grove Entrepreneur Center building, according to a news release.

Entrepreneurs seeking business guidance will have the opportunity to consult with consultant Pablo Arroyo at no cost at 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 202, Wesley Chapel.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with SMARTstart @ The Grove Entrepreneur Center in Pasco County,” Carl Hadden, regional director of the Florida SBDC at USF, said in the release.

“The Florida SBDC at USF is excited about the opportunity to extend our services to the vibrant community of Pasco County. We look forward to fostering entrepreneurship, growth, and success through SMARTstart @ The Grove Entrepreneur Center,” Hadden said.

For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC at USF has provided no-cost assistance to aspiring, emerging, and established businesses in Pasco County through consulting, training, and market research.

“As long-term partners with our Pasco Enterprise Network, we are very excited to welcome the SBDC into our SMARTstart at The Grove entrepreneur center,” Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart program director, said in the release.

“Our members, and mutual clients, will be served very well with counseling, advice, and the resources that the SBDC provides,” Mitchell said.

SMARTstart is a program of the Pasco Economic Development Council and receives funding for economic development from Penny for Pasco.

The addition of the SBDC office in Pasco creates additional access to consultant expertise on areas vital to accelerating business growth, including strategic market research, market expansion, and other business topics, the release says.

Pasco Corrections is hiring
Pasco County Corrections is hiring corrections officers and corrections officer trainees, and will have an in-person career fair on Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Jan. 17, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be at the Pasco County Corrections facility, at 20101 Central Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Corrections leadership will be conducting on-the-spot interviews. Those interested are advised to RSVP in advance, to secure an interview slot. RSVP to .

Economic drivers in Pasco and beyond
Learn about key economic drivers in Pasco County, Florida and across the United States during a luncheon presented by the Pasco Economic Development Council on Jan. 18, at the Hilton Garden Inn Suncoast Parkway, 2155 Northpointe Parkway in Lutz.

Check-in and networking are from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and the luncheon and presentation are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Ben Friedman, economic development specialist at Duke Energy, will provide an overview on the economy in Pasco and across Florida, while Brian Barker, chief investment officer at SouthState Bank, will focus on a look back at the nation’s economy from 2023 and an outlook into 2024.

The cost is $35 and RSVPs are needed by Jan. 11. For more information, visit the Pasco EDC website at PascoEDC.com.

Pasco/Hernando SCORE Mentoring
Pasco Hernando SCORE offers free confidential small business mentoring. Our volunteer business experts will provide free assistance to small business owners to help solve their problems and grow their business. To request a mentor, visit SCORE.org/pascohernando .

SCORE webinars for business owners
SCORE offers a slate of free webinars on a variety of topics, aimed at helping business owners to succeed. Here are some of the upcoming webinars. Check with SCORE.org for more information on upcoming sessions and how to register. These upcoming webinars are at 1 p.m.:

Jan. 11: How To Start A Business Using A Free Score Mentor
Jan. 16: The Basics of Money Management
Jan. 18: 7 Simple Ways to Protect Yourself Legally When Starting a Business
Jan. 25: How to Create a Financial Plan – Financial Planning Basics
Jan. 30: How to Use Artificial Intelligence in Your Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Overcoming financial challenges
The North Tampa Bay Chamber will present a lunch and learn on Jan. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the NTBC Wiregrass Office – Signature Works, 28210 Paseo Drive, No. 190 to 105, in Wesley Chapel.

The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Registration is required.

The session focuses on overcoming financial challenges in business by learning how entrepreneurs can obtain credit. It is being presented by Jay Brach, executive vice president, and Trevor Gunn, regional managing partner, of J. Galt. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Business celebrations
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has announced a number of business celebrations. They include:

Jan. 10, 4:30 p.m.: O2B Kids Lutz ribbon-cutting, 2400 Ashley Creek Trail, in Land O’ Lakes
Jan. 19, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., private tour and tastings; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., ribbon-cutting celebration: Belmar Pharma Solutions, 2500 Lake Pointe Parkway, Odessa.
Jan. 23, day begins with 8 a.m. kick-off breakfast: The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Professional Development Day brings valued information and training to the community. Registration is open. The event features a kick-off breakfast with a keynote speaker, speed networking, a panel of experts, an after-hours mixer and more. For more information, check the chamber’s website at GreaterPasco.com.

Hooters helps others
Pasco County Foster Adoptive Parent Association – The HMC Hospitality Group Corporate Office and the Spring Hill Hooters, Port Richey Hooters, Clearwater Hooters, John’s Pass Hooters, 4th Street Hooters, Odessa Hooters, Port Richey Hooters and Spring Hill Hooters locations received tags for the Pasco County Foster Adoptive Parent Association Angel Program to collect gifts for local foster children and adoptive kids. As a company they donated gifts to over 160 children.

Pasco’s economy continues to grow, to diversify

January 2, 2024 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco Economic Development (Pasco EDC) Council’s Pasco 2023 annual report indicates the county’s economy is continuing to grow and diversify.

The county landed 13 new projects, attracted more than $188 million in investment and added 3,000 new jobs, according to the Pasco EDC’s report.

Advanced manufacturing projects led the pack in terms of new business coming to Pasco, followed by life science ventures.

Speros FL Moffitt Cancer Center is the largest project in the mix, with work underway on the 775-acre campus in the emerging community of Angeline, in the heart of Land O’ Lakes.

The project, near the Ridge Road exit of the Suncoast Expressway, is attracting interest from companies around the globe, the Pasco EDC report says.

Pasco landed the project through collaborative efforts of the Pasco EDC, Pasco County and the Florida Legislature, which put together an economic incentive package to entice the hospital to expand from its current Tampa location to add another site in Land O’ Lakes.

Pasco economic leaders and elected officials expect Moffitt’s development to have a generational impact on Pasco because of both the cancer center and development expected to spring up around it.

An excerpt from the agreement between Pasco County and Moffitt notes: “The county has concluded that providing economic incentives to Moffitt will serve as one of the most significant catalysts in the county’s history for future economic growth, by creating the potential for new employment opportunities in Pasco County, reducing reliance on regional commuting to work by citizens, significantly diversifying the tax base, and introducing smart growth and service technologies to the area.”

Another collaboration between Pasco EDC, the county, the city of Zephyrhills and the state of Florida led to Bauducco Foods’ decision to locate near the Zephyrhills Airport.

Bauducco has purchased 72.5 acres of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport’s Ready Site and expects to hire more than 600 employees within the coming decade.

The effort to attract the Brazilian-based company to North Tampa Bay was one that took several months and resulted in the company’s decision to invest about $200 million in the new facility. The plant will produce and distribute Bauducco’s baked items across the United States.

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Hospital Inc., is proceeding on a plan to expand its work on a campus in Pasco County. The project is expected to generate 14,000 jobs over time, including positions for people who have not even been born yet. The campus also is expected to become a global magnet for life science and research companies. Pasco already is working on ways it can be ready to meet the workforce demand. (File)

Bauducco’s decision is just one example of the kind of success that can come when a site is ready for development.

Ready Sites Program attracts companies
The Pasco EDC’s Ready Sites’ program works with private landowners to assess, evaluate and certify large tracts of industrial lands. Currently, the county has six Ready Sites, totaling more than 2,300 acres, according to the 2023 annual report.

The program gives Pasco a competitive edge when vying with other locations for future projects because the company knows that the site is ready for them to proceed with their project.

After sites are certified, the Pasco EDC markets them nationally at trade shows and conferences, as well as on the economic development organization’s website.

The county also supports speculative buildings to attract new business, through its Penny for Pasco tax revenues. There are currently six Penny for Pasco speculative buildings with 322,000 square feet of available space, according to the annual report. The spaces in these speculative buildings can be used for anything from Class A office space to Class A industrial flex space.

Overall, Pasco EDC aims to attract companies to the county, help entrepreneurs to thrive and help existing businesses to expand.

The Pasco’s EDC budget is supported through $526,750 in private contributions from 82 investors and by $954,000 in Penny for Pasco tax revenues.

The county’s identified target industries are advanced manufacturing, aerospace aviation and defense; business and professional services; high technology; life sciences and medical technology; and logistics and distribution.

Pasco EDC programs are designed to help businesses in whatever phase they’re in — whether just starting out, fine-turning operations, or in expansion mode.

Mary Katherine Mason, also known as Lanky Lassie, is in her downtown Dade City storefront. She began Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread as a cottage food business and developed it into a full-fledged business with guidance from the Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC). Mason, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, launched her business after being furloughed from her design career in the hotel industry during the pandemic. (File)

SMARTstart turns 10
Pasco EDC’s SMARTstart program, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023, focuses on the needs of entrepreneurs.

It offers help with workspace, funding, guidance, collaboration and education. Over the past decade, it has conducted 600 classes and workshops that have attracted more than 3,500 attendees.

SMARTstart provides business incubators in Dade City, Wesley Chapel and Holiday. They offer workspace, conference and meeting rooms, classes and workshops, and other amenities.

The business incubator in Dade City includes a commercial kitchen, which has helped to launch a number of small businesses, including Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, which has a storefront in Dade City.

The commercial kitchen in Dade City came about through a collaboration between Pasco EDC, Pasco County, the University of Florida/IFAS Pasco County Extension and private businesses that provided the commercial kitchen equipment to bring it to life.

The new West Pasco Entrepreneur Center in Holiday includes desks, a quiet pod for virtual meetings, a collaboration area and co-working spaces. It also is located on the same campus as a 14,000-square-foot AmSkills workforce training center.

AmSkills’ training program plays a valuable role in helping manufacturers recruit, plan and sustain a skilled workforce. It provides workforce training and apprenticeships for youth, adults, veterans, the uniquely abled, and economically disadvantaged.”

It provides training in areas such as machinery, mechatronics, robotics, supply chain logistics, and industry 4.0.

Besides training residents from Pasco County, the new workforce center is expected to attract people from all over the country for Amatrol Technical Training and Universal Robotics equipment training.

WorkFORCE Connect is another Pasco EDC program that has helped to attract companies to Pasco and has helped existing companies be successful.

It aims to bring together employers, training providers and assistance programs to help local firms create a pipeline to provide employees to meet future needs.

Another program of note involves Pasco EDC’s international efforts to attract new business opportunities.

During 2023, Pasco EDC participated in trade missions to the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic and Panama, and Pasco companies reported they expected to do more than $40 million in expected export sales, the annual report says.

Published January 03, 2024

Efforts ramping up on creation of the Pasco 2050 Plan update

January 2, 2024 By B.C. Manion

This coming year is expected to be busy for the county’s planners and its consultants, as efforts rev up to finalize the data set and proposed policies to guide Pasco’s growth through the year 2050.

The comprehensive plan is the long-range vision of the county.

The planning document is required by Florida statute, and state law also requires it to be updated.

The State Road 52 and Interstate 75 interchange is expected to become far busier, as large industrial projects that are planned near the interchange are developed. Pasco County has approved recent incentive packages that are expected to yield more than 8,000 jobs in the area. The Pasco County Commission has identified planning for industrial development as one of the county’s key needs. (File)

The comprehensive plan provides a vision and policies that influence future planning decisions and affects economic development, transportation, parks, natural resources and other aspects of life within the county.

Pasco is in Year Four of a five-year planning effort, which has involved soliciting feedback from the public and getting input from technical advisory groups, interested stakeholders and elected officials, too.

Those groups have helped to formulate a vision for the county’s future, have identified issues and suggested strategies.

“Year Four is going to be all about writing the plan, or the plan update, I should say,” said Nectarios Pittos, the county’s director of planning and development.

Within the next 12 months, consultants will finalize data sets to help set the course for the plan. The information that will be used to work out the details will include population projects, current levels of public services and discussions over whether levels of services should change, based on the plan’s vision.

Chris Dougherty, project manager with the county’s consultants, Inspire Placemaking Collective, outlined activities that are scheduled for 2024, as the planning work continues.

The consulting company, based in Orlando, along with county planners, will continue to engage with groups interested in taking part in the process. They also will work internally with Pasco County departments.

“So, whether it’s the MPO (Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization), or the (Pasco County) strategic planning process, or the utility master planning process — we’re continuing to coordinate with those teams on a continuing basis,” Dougherty said.

2050 plan will have revised maps
“We’ll be updating your map series,” he added.

Preserving rural areas in Pasco County has been identified as a key priority during community meetings and stakeholder meetings, as efforts continue to develop the 2050 Plan update. Striving to balance the desire for rural places along with the need to accommodate growth likely will be a source of considerable debate as efforts continue to develop the long-range plan.

“That’s another part of that comprehensive plan that gets adopted as part of those goals, objectives and policies to your future land use map,” he explained.

“You have a wetlands map, floodplain — those are all maps that need to be adopted, as well, so, we’ll be updating those as part of this process.

“When we get about three-quarters through the year, we’ll have recommendations for specific changes to the plan. We’re going to present those to you all, when we have them ready,” he told the county board, during a discussion on Oct. 24.

At the end of 2024, the consultants will be done with its recommendations and the final stages of the plan update will begin.

In Year Five, work will involve updating maps and policies.

“We address multiple topics in the comprehensive plan, whether it’s housing, transportation, conservation and recreation and open space. So, it’s a broad document. It touches on a lot of different items,” Dougherty said.

The plan’s vision, derived from community engagement efforts, will be the beacon guiding the process for writing the plan, he said.

“We really had a lot of amazing conversations,” Dougherty said, describing the community engagement efforts.

Conversations that occurred at community meetings, in stakeholder sessions and with members of elected and advisory boards have generated lists of priorities and strategies.

Distinct vision themes emerged for a vision of Pasco in 2050.

The Pasco 2050 Plan update offers an opportunity to set the stage for how Pasco County wants to grow and develop during the next 25 years. Pasco’s elected leaders have made it clear that they want the county to generate more jobs so that its residents do not need to commute to nearby counties for work. The county board and residents also have expressed a desire for communities where it is easy to get from place to place, without having to use vehicles.

Those themes describe Pasco as a county that:

— Has walkable and vibrant neighborhoods that are well-connected, well-designed and aesthetically pleasing
— Values its beautiful landscape and fiercely protects the natural environment
— Provides an adequate supply of housing for all income levels and life stages
— Preserves its natural resources
— Has increased its transportation efficiency
— Protects its rural lands and character
— Expands its parks systems
— Strengthens its resiliency
Some strategies that have been suggested include:

— Require stronger tree preservation regulations for new development
— Cultivate and preserve wildlife corridors through the county’s Environmental Lands and Acquisition Management Program (ELAMP)
— Ensure the protection of aquifer recharge from new and existing development
— Expand efforts to monitor, protect and increase the county’s water supply

Planning for growth, not just reacting to it
Dougherty told commissioners: “The nice thing about this is that we can be proactive about growth, rather than reactive. So we can develop those goals, objectives and policies to help us provide you guidance down the road.”

The work to be done will result in two volumes, one relating to data and analysis and the other resulting in goals, objectives and policies, he said.

The goals, objectives and policies are “where the rubber meets the road,” he added.

In Year Five, “we’re going to share what we came up with and have folks give us their ideas and thoughts about the changes that we propose.”

No doubt the county board will be discussing big-picture issues such as future development plans for Lacoochee; taking a closer look at the special planning districts of the Villages of Pasadena Hills and Connected City; and how the county will preserve industrial lands to generate jobs.

They also are likely to tackle challenges such as improving transportation, protecting the environment and expanding recreational opportunities.

Plus, they are likely to consider using planning tools to promote the development of communities that feature easy ways to get from place to place, without driving.

To keep abreast of the planning efforts, visit Pasco2050.com.

Published January 03, 2024

School boards want to have a say in reducing public school regulations

January 2, 2024 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools has joined other school boards around the state in seeking changes to state regulations relating to schools.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin put it this way during the board’s Dec. 5 meeting: “This is an opportunity to help shape the future.

“Florida has expanded vouchers and scholarships, and now it is time to further the deregulation to help traditional public schools, as well.

“We are not asking on compromising on accountability — I am sure that we all agree that accountability is important,” Beaudoin said.

“It’s just that we don’t want students penalized, or kept from graduating, because of one score on one assessment, and these are decisions best made by educators, working with their parents.

“This is important advocacy that we can do right now.

“We can even ask our parents for help,” she said.

She told her colleagues: “I’m sure you probably got some of the same emails as I’ve received from parents.

“There was one just last week about a child who has met all of the graduation requirements, except for a test score. So, I hope we can do something to help these students,” Beaudoin said.

School board chairwoman Megan Harding agreed.

She said a letter that will be sent to state lawmakers notes the number of students within the district that have been affected by that.

School board member Cynthia Armstrong said the board’s approach must be positive, to avoid risking deregulation all together.

Harding agreed: “So, I do want to make it positive, 100%, but I do think it’s important that we do put how it’s affecting our kiddos,” she said.

Armstrong responded: “That’s a positive thing. The deregulation would help our kids.”

School board member Alison Crumbley noted: “The district wants to make sure its advocacy is student-focused.”

Assistant superintendent Betsy Kuhn said statistics were compiled by district staff to help the district’s lobbyist, but the letter itself will have a more general tone.

Harding expressed appreciation for the research that was done to gather the statistics.

“Thank you for that. I know that was an undertaking, so I appreciate that,” Harding said.

Published January 03, 2024

Business Digest 01/03/2024

January 2, 2024 By B.C. Manion

Florida ranked No. 1 for skilled workforce strengths
Lightcast has ranked Florida No. 1 for the second year in a row for attracting and developing a skilled workforce, according to a state news release.

Lightcast’s Talent Attraction Scorecard evaluates states based on job growth, education attainment, regional competitiveness and migration data.

“It is no surprise that Lightcast has named Florida the No. 1 state for talent attraction for two consecutive years,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said, in the release. “Florida’s record investments in workforce education, including expanding apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs in high demand professions, have elevated business and industry through strong workforce development.”

Florida also earned high rankings on the scorecard in other categories, including:

No. 2 for migration
No. 2 for competitive effect
No. 4 for skilled job growth
No. 5 for overall job growth

“Florida continues to be a model for the nation under Gov. DeSantis’ leadership with workforce development strategies that meet job seekers and job creators where they are,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly, in the release. “Florida’s proactive approach to economic development and key investments in workforce training move our nation-leading economy forward.”

Economic drivers in Pasco, Florida and across the U.S.
Learn about key economic drivers in Pasco County, Florida and across the United States during a luncheon presented by the Pasco Economic Development Council on Jan. 18, at the Hilton Garden Inn Suncoast Parkway, 2155 Northpointe Parkway in Lutz.

Check-in and networking are from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and the luncheon and presentation are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The cost is $35 and RSVPs are needed by Jan. 11. For more information, visit the Pasco EDC website at PascoEDC.com.

States with largest and smallest credit decrease in 2023
The personal-finance website WalletHub has released a report on the States Where Credit Limits Decreased the Most in 2023.

According to that report, Mississippi ranked No. 1 in the largest credit limit decrease and Florida was among the states with the lowest decrease, coming in at No. 42.

Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst, notes that a credit limit decrease can significantly influence one’s financial landscape, from planning major purchases to simple day-to-day spending.

Carrying a higher balance in relation to your credit limit will have a big impact on your credit utilization ratio, Happe says. This ratio measures the amount of credit in use compared to the overall credit limit, and it plays a crucial role in determining one’s credit score. A higher ratio can negatively affect credit scores, making it essential for individuals to reassess their spending habits and exercise financial discipline, she adds.

“A credit limit decrease can pose a challenge, by making daily purchases less convenient, disrupting your cash flow, increasing your credit utilization, and hurting your credit score. But it may also be an opportunity to improve your financial habits,” Happe says. “Embracing this opportunity for greater fiscal responsibility involves careful budgeting and timely bill payments. By actively managing your finances within the revised limits, you can not only mitigate the short-term effects on your credit score but also cultivate healthier financial habits for long-term stability.”

Here are some tips for managing credit:

Use Multiple Cards: Consider using multiple credit cards for your purchases instead of maxing out one card. This can help you spread out your balances and keep your credit utilization low. Also, using different credit cards that each offer good rewards on a different type of purchase or at a particular retailer can be beneficial in the long run. Many major retailers have their own cards, which are easy to get and often offer good rewards.
Pay your bills multiple times a month: To keep more of your credit limit available, you can make multiple payments throughout the month so you maintain a lower balance. This won’t always be possible, but if you can pull it off, it will help prevent purchases from being declined because your limit is maxed out. It will also help your credit score by keeping your credit utilization as low as possible.
If one credit card company decreases your credit limit, contact your other credit card issuers and inquire about increasing your credit limits with them. If you have a good payment history and credit score, you may be successful, which can help improve your credit utilization. Be sure to keep in mind that asking for a higher credit limit can trigger a hard inquiry of your credit report, so if you need the best possible score in the next few months, you may want to avoid requesting an increase.
Consistently paying your bill on time and using only a portion of your existing limit can also lead to an automatic credit limit increase. There’s no hard inquiry with an automatic increase.
To read WalletHub’s full report on where credit limits decreased, visit WalletHub.com/edu/states-where-credit-limits-decreased-the-most/131198.

Pasco is eyeing changes for posting public notices

December 26, 2023 By B.C. Manion

When someone wants to make a zoning or land use change in Pasco County, the applicant must advertise the request in a newspaper, meet posting requirements and hold a neighborhood meeting.

Changes are expected in 2024 that will affect those procedures.

“Last year, on Jan. 1, the law changed where public notification requirements to the newspapers don’t have to be made. We can put them on our website. We have been working on that,” Nectarios Pittos, director of planning and development told the Pasco County Commission during its Dec. 5 meeting.

“We’re pretty close on that front,” Pittos said.

However, that raised the issue of how the county wants to proceed with property posting requirements and the signs used to do that, he said.

“We were actually looking at the entirety of our public advertisement process and system, at the moment,” Pittos said. “As soon as we get the public notifications situated — whether we want to put these on our website versus the newspapers, then we’re going to also address what kinds of signs we do want to have and how to let the applicants participate in that process.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano told Pittos: “When we talked, you told me that you really liked the Hillsborough County signs, I believe. They were larger.”

Pittos responded: “They had some good examples.”

Mariano added: “I don’t know why we didn’t just incorporate that. They were larger signs, very visible signs.”

He also told Pittos: “We shouldn’t allow cross-outs and write-overs. Sometimes you’ll see something crossed out and written in beside it.”

Mariano also wants the county to give clear direction on where signs are to be posted.

In the Saddlebrook rezoning case, one of the most controversial in 2023, Mariano said “when they first put the signs out, they were like in the driveway coming in.

“You’d have to stop, walk 200 yards, 300 yards to go read what that sign said.

“They changed it later, but you’ve got to make sure they’re in a good location.”

Pittos said ”the new signs that we’ve been working on would not include handwriting — handwritten signs. They would actually be printed signs. That’s the idea.

“They’d be large enough that you could see traveling the roadway (at) at least 35 mph,” Pittos added.

Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator, told the board that a proposed change to the land development code addresses when neighborhood meetings are conducted.

Under the proposed requirement, applicants must wait until their application has been cleared for content before holding its neighborhood meeting, she said.

In the past, an applicant has held a neighborhood after the application was filed but neighbors did not have a true picture of the proposed development.

Mariano and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley want the county to go even farther, to ensure that the neighborhood meetings are meaningful.

They want to create a mechanism for neighbors to submit their impressions of the neighborhood meeting, so that the county board isn’t simply relying on the applicant’s information from the meeting.

Brad Tippin, the county’s development review manager, told the board: “All of the meetings are noticed. We can include a line in that notice encouraging any attendees to provide the county with any written feedback that they would, regarding the meeting.”

Published December 27, 2023

Pasco schools begin looking ahead to new school start times

December 26, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools know a thing or two about changing up school start times.

After all, they did that in response to a shortage of school bus drivers.

But now they are beginning to talk about how they’re going to adjust starting times to comply with a new state law.

The legislation says that no high school can start earlier than 8:30 a.m., and no middle school before 8 a.m., said Cynthia Armstrong, a Pasco County School Board member.

School start times will be later for secondary public school students under a state law that takes effect July 1, 2026. (File)

“This is based on the perceived notion from research that teenagers do better if they have a chance to sleep later,” Armstrong said.

Meeting the mandate will require putting more buses on the road, said Betsy Kuhn, the school district’s assistant superintendent for support services.

Supplying the buses isn’t a big issue because the district has cut so many routes in the past couple of years it has buses that aren’t currently operating, Kuhn said.

But providing the drivers? That’s another issue.

Armstrong said she recently attended a panel discussion about the issue at the Florida School Boards Association meeting.

Representatives of three school districts that have already shifted their starting times shared their experiences, she said. One was a large district; one of medium size; and, the third was small.

“The small county had actually started this back in the 1990s, when they first redid their bus schedule, to have some tiering,” Armstrong said.

“The middle-size county had been doing it for like 10 years,” she said.

Hillsborough County just began doing so in the last couple of years, Armstrong added, noting she is particularly interested in learning more from them.

“Across the board, they all had middle school starting last. Across the board, they all said communication early, early, early in the process was so important,” Armstrong added.

“They all had workshops with parents. They had surveys that went out to all of the stakeholders, including teachers, including families, including the community. They also really listened to the teachers.

“They got HR (human resources) involved because there were some concessions. Some teachers wanted to move from elementary to middle school, or vice versa depending on their family needs or their second-job needs.

“So, those had to be accommodated.

“But they all said you had to start the process at least a year in advance, as far as getting the communication out and getting the feedback. That was extremely important,” the school board member said.

Armstrong said Hillsborough used a tool — a random generator — that proved particularly helpful.

When someone recommended changing the start time at a particular school, a district staffer could show that person how all of the other schools would be affected by the change.

It helped to build understanding about the interconnectivity of the system, Armstrong said.

Armstrong said she’d like Pasco’s staff to find out more about that tool.

“It really made it easier for the parents to understand they couldn’t just randomly change that one school to suit them,” Armstrong said.

Of all the talking points covered by the speakers, one stood out, the school board member said.

“The big, big message was, ‘Start early. Make sure the message gets out to everybody, so they have plenty of time to adjust whatever they need to adjust to make it work.”

School board member Colleen Beaudoin wants to make sure that families are aware that changing the start times is a legislative mandate, not a local option.

“I don’t want anyone to start panicking that this is happening right away,” Beaudoin said.

The shift must be implemented by July 1, 2026.

School board member Al Hernandez wanted to know if the shift will have a financial impact on the district.

Kuhn responded: “There’s costs, for sure, but for me the biggest cost is adding drivers.

The district estimates it would need to add about 35 bus drivers. That is problematic, she said, because the district has 26 vacancies.

“To add to that would be very concerning,” Kuhn said.

Armstrong also noted that speakers at the conference did not provide evidence that the early start times have resulted in a substantive academic difference.

“I will say that none of those counties said that they’d seen any change in attendance or any change in academics,” she said. “It seemed that if a student was going to be late 10 minutes, they were late 10 minutes … if they were going to be late, they were going to be late.”

She also directed this comment at district parents who many want to weigh in on the issue: “If you are opposed to this, you need to reach out to your legislators because this is not something we’re going to have control of. We will have control in how we address it and how we comply, but we have to comply with it.”

Published December 27, 2023

Pasco expected to adopt changes to land development code

December 26, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission is expected to adopt a bundle of changes to the county’s land development code that address a wide range of issues.

The changes are scheduled for final adoption at the board’s Jan. 9 meeting.

Some changes would strip local economic incentives from project development under the Florida Legislatures Live Local Act.

The proposed code changes would prohibit impact fee exemptions and/or reductions for individuals who have “invoked the land use/zoning preemption or mandatory property tax exemption in the Live Local Act.”

The Florida Legislature adopted the Live Local Act last session, as a way of spurring more development of affordable housing. The act makes it impossible for local governments to block the conversion of existing commercial, industrial and mixed-use sites to be developed for multifamily use, if the project meets requirements regarding the provision of affordable housing units for a specified period. The law also provides a tax break for such projects.

Pasco board members object strenuously to Live Local because they say it undermines the county’s efforts to increase the availability of jobs in Pasco and decrease the need for residents to commute to other counties for jobs.

Pasco’s elected board also plans to use the court system to challenge the constitutionality of developments being built under the Live Local Act.

Another recommendation in this batch of code changes would establish enforcement powers for the county to cite private property owners who have not complied with deed restrictions they agreed to impose on their own properties.

Specifically, the county will be able to cite individuals who fail to comply with a recorded deed restriction that was used to secure a county development approval or a county mobility fee or impact fee exemption waiver or reduction.

The county has been using private deed restrictions as a tool to prevent property owners from seeking and securing zoning changes, and then turning around and invoking the Live Local Act to develop the site.

Another change relates to the timing of neighborhood meetings. Those meetings could not be held in the future until an application has been deemed complete, in terms of content.

That amendment is intended to ensure that the public has the pertinent information, which has not always happened in the past.

Another change would require a waiting period before the same request is made for a variance on a particular property, or for an alternative standard.

Published December 27, 2023