The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

A closer look at Pasco County’s economic growth

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Not many people understand the inner workings of Pasco County’s economy quite like David Engel, director of the county’s Office of Economic Growth.

Engel shared some of those insights as the featured guest speaker during The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce July business breakfast at Golden Corral in Zephyrhills.

Engel’s office serves as the fiduciary and administrator of Penny for Pasco. It is tasked with executing the goals and strategies outlined in the county’s adopted Economic Development Plan and the Pasco County Commission’s adopted Strategic Plan.

In his role, Engel promotes economic development, job creation, and targeted industry recruitment and expansion for the Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund (Penny for Pasco) program.

David Engel (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Engel also provides oversight to the county’s Jobs and Economic Opportunities Committee.

He brings wide-ranging experience to the role, including more than 16 years of experience as a municipal planning director and transit-oriented development manager.

He also spent 10 years on Wall Street, as a senior research analyst, specializing in public finance, transportation and energy technology systems.

Workforce demographics
Engel’s 30-minute talk — during the July 1 gathering — was replete with details about Pasco’s evolving labor demographics.

In 1990, about 23% of the Pasco’s workforce commuted outside the county, which at that time was essentially a rural and agricultural county, Engel said.

By 2000, the out-of-county workforce commuter figure ballooned to 42%, and now, it’s roughly 46%.

Engel put those facts into perspective: “What that means is there’s 200,000 people that are working in this county, 46% of them get in the car and drive elsewhere, and that’s why, driving over today at 5:50 this morning, I hit traffic on (State Road) 54, if you can believe it, because the Suncoast Parkway’s the main commuter for the Tampa Bay area.”

Despite frustrating traffic pileups, Engel emphasized that the Pasco County Commission is “committed to a balanced lifestyle” incorporating a place for residents to live, work, play, learn and celebrate culture.

Engel is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and holds a master’s in city and regional planning from Rutgers University.

He said through smarter development initiatives, the county is “providing a more inclusive environment so that people that live here can work here, they can send their kids to good schools, (and) there’s options.”

The county, he said, is refocusing its intention to create development that’s aesthetically pleasing and provide more than houses.

“We’re creating communities, not subdivisions,” Engel said.

His office also focuses on job skills training.

He said that the No. 1 question prospective businesses have is: “Where are my people going to live, and how am I going to get to work?”

Pasco’s unemployment rate is below both the state and region’s jobless rate.

He attributes that to the county’s “very sustainable, good economy.”

Engel also touted the benefits offered through programs such as CareerSource and AmSkills. The programs help people to attain skills, which improves their opportunities to land good jobs. And, it helps companies that have a need for trained workers.

Only 4.6% of the jobs in the county are in the manufacturing sector, Engel said.

But, he said, they are high-paying jobs and give young people good opportunities.

Engel also highlighted the increasing need for private employers to find buildings that are ready to house their operations.

When he joined the county three years ago, Engel said, inquiries would come in from companies looking to relocate to the area that would require 10,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet of workable space, within two months.

Satisfying the surging demand was a problem at the time.

“We had no inventory,” he said. “We really didn’t have the infrastructure to deal with the demand in the county.”

To resolve this matter, the county has what’s called Pasco Accelerated Development Sites (PADS) and Pasco Occupant-Ready Structure programs (PORS), funded through Penny for Pasco.

The programs provide “loans to support office and industrial-type development to provide the inventory here to absorb the demand that is coming in the door,” Engel said.

The county now has several hundred thousands of square feet of Class A office space up along the Suncoast Parkway and Northpointe Parkway (called NorthPointe Village), as well as State Road 54, near Ballantrae (called 54 Crossings). Asturia Corporate Center — a flex-industrial space along Lakepointe Parkway, in Odessa, has gone up, too.

There’s also demand for more light-industrial buildings — think spaces with 30-foot ceilings and loading docks — especially throughout East Pasco, the economic development expert said.

“We have so much demand for that. The east side needs it bad,” Engel said.

‘Trophy projects’ abound
The speaker went on to discuss a trio of what he referred to as “trophy projects,” in the county’s pipeline.

He first outlined Overpass Business Park, set on a 100-acre property at Old Pasco Road, that was formerly a county spray field.

The targeted industrial and office development master plan will support about 860,000 square feet, projected to create at least 1,500 new full-time jobs.

Commissioners approved a proposed incentive package to encourage the Rooker Company, based in Atlanta, to create an industrial park on the land.

It was initially made possible through a state grant in the waning days of former Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, Engel said. The grant was to rip out old infrastructure and create a development-ready site.

Work began in February. A ribbon-cutting for the first industrial building is expected next summer.

This is a rendering of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, an urbanized mixed-use development off State Road 54, including a mixture of residential, commercial and general office use.

The project is both ahead of schedule and under budget, Engel happily added.

A second notable project is the build out of the Lacoochee Industrial Area, which spans 90 acres near Bower and Coit roads.

The project area eventually will accommodate approximately 700,000 square feet of industrial/light industrial development to generate up to 1,000 new full-time jobs.

Community Development Block Grant and state appropriations are being combined toward rebuilding and repaving Coit Road, Bower Road and Cummer Road, he said.

Plans are in motion, as well, to construct a rail spur in the industrial area.

A targeted industry is already in place — The Reinforced Earth Company, which is a concrete product supplier that’s been hiring.

“Those are probably the first (new) jobs in Lacoochee in probably three or four decades that have been created,” Engel said.

The revitalization seeks to stimulate a community, in northeast Pasco, that’s been struggling since the sawmill company closed in 1959.

“It’s one of the most impoverished areas in the state of Florida. It’s sad, actually,” Engel said.

“When I first came here, I took a tour of the county. I saw a sign at a church that said, ‘No meals today,’ that’s how poor it is. The churches, because of the demand, had to turn people away for nourishment.

“They’re isolated and stranded, don’t have broadband service, the roads are in bad shape, people are living in actual shacks with metal roofs and vegetation (is) growing on them.”

Meanwhile, the picture is quite different in the Avalon Park Wesley Chapel development, which is located along State Road 54.

The urbanized mixed-use development situated on 215 acres will feature multi-story buildings with residential, commercial and general office uses.

The project calls for 2,695 residential units, 165,000 square feet of Class A office space and 190,400 square feet of commercial development. It is expected to generate 1,065 new full-time jobs, situated in a walkable neighborhood.

The owner-operator of the project is integrating public infrastructure, such as parking decks and roads, to meet the needs of the concentrated area.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will offer places to shop and work in its downtown hub that will be connected to its residential neighborhoods by tree-lined streets, walkways and bike paths.

Imagine restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, bars and entertainment, hair and nail salons, as well as activities such as dance, gymnastic and karate studios.

The county offered up $32 million in ad valorem tax rebates to see the project through — with an expectation it will generate about $90 million in tax dollars on the backend.

Engel described Avalon Park as “a great project” creating “a downtown urban development for Wesley Chapel.”

Having a downtown area will help create a sense of place, where the community can gather, Engel observed.

He also noted its close proximity to Zephyrhills, making it convenient for the city’s residents to take advantage of Avalon Park’s offerings, if they choose to do so.

Challenges ahead
Elsewhere, Engel touched on multiple big-picture challenges the county faces in present and future.

One major task, he said, is identifying redevelopment opportunities, chiefly along older commercial corridors such as U.S. 19 and U.S. 301.

The corridors have the necessary infrastructure, but have long been synonymous for blight, graffiti and homelessness, issues that otherwise “really detracts from the hard-working community,” he said.

“That is stigmatizing this county,” said Engel. “You go out to other parts of this (Tampa Bay) area, (people) haven’t been up to Pasco in 20 years, and they’re just talking about U.S. 301 and U.S. 19 and how bad it looks, and they don’t have a clue, and we have to reeducate people using smart redevelopment.”

Another challenge for Engel’s office is finding additional ways to support Pasco’s small businesses — noting 80% of county businesses have fewer than 25 employees.

Penny for Pasco, in its current iteration, is only allowed to address target industries.

So, Engel and one of his staffers are using a small business engagement survey to better understand those business needs and desires.

A data-driven report will be presented to the county board, as Penny for Pasco funds are being authorized, Engel said.

Published July 21, 2021

Participating in public discussions just got easier

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The Pasco County Commission imposed a number of restrictions on its public meetings, to reduce potential spread of COVID-19.

No one was allowed in the board’s meeting room except for board members and county staff.

Meeting participants had to speak from a kiosk, from outside of the board’s chambers, or take part remotely, via WebEx.

Masks were required, too.

Those who wished to participate could send emails to be read aloud into the record.

Over time, the rules were relaxed, allowing a specific number of people to be in the meeting room — while others had to stay in a waiting area.

Now, the board has resumed its normal operations.

The kiosks are gone and emails no longer will be read into the record.

But, the board has decided to keep the WebEx option for people who want to participate in meetings remotely.

Chief Assistant David Goldstein explained the changes to the Pasco County Planning Commission at its July 8 meeting.

The new rules apply to both the county board and to the county planning board, Goldstein said.

“I think the board has gotten used to allowing WebEx as a participation option, unrelated to COVID,” the attorney said.

“For example, if someone has something on the consent agenda, they don’t want to sit here for four hours, if they can just monitor WebEx. Or, you may have a member of the public that has to work that day. Or, somebody’s sick and they don’t want to be contagious in the board room.

“There are multiple reasons why the board felt it was a more convenient option for some citizens to be able to participate by WebEx,” Goldstein said.

“The board has had some criticism by some members of the public that all of our meetings occur during the day.

“They can’t attend our planning commission or our board meetings at 1:30 (p.m.).

“So, it is an option for somebody who works all day, that they can do it from their office,” Goldstein said.

While they decided to make WebEx a permanent participation option for board meetings and for planning commission meetings, applicants with an item on the regular agenda must have a representative who is physically present at the meeting, Goldstein said.

That requirement stems from some occasions when technical glitches caused communication problems between the board and WebEx participants, the attorney explained.

Planning Commission Chairman Charles Grey expressed concerns that the WebEx system could be logjammed, but Goldstein said he hasn’t seen any abuse of the system.

Planning Commissioner Peter Hanzel said he initially resisted remote models because he prefers to have people physically present, where he can see them.

But, Hanzel said he now realizes that such technology serves a useful purpose because it enables people to participate who otherwise might be unable to do so.

Published July 21, 2021

Code complaints can no longer be anonymous

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Pasco County Code Enforcement can no longer investigate anonymous code violation complaints, including anonymous non-emergency animal complaints, because of a new Florida law that took effect on July 1.

Those wishing to make complaints can do so, but must now provide their name and address, under the new law, according to a Pasco County news release.

To report a complaint, go to the MyPasco app. There, you can upload photos and indicate problem areas on a locator map, the news release says.

Or, you can contact Pasco County Customer Service at 727-847-2411 or online at bit.ly/PC-CustomerService to report issues such as:

  • Yards being used as a storage area for junk or debris
  • Inoperative/unlicensed vehicles
  • Illegal dumping
  • Noise violation

Code Enforcement handles most complaints within 7 to 10 business days and often is able to resolve issues, without issuing a citation, the release says.

Answers to the most frequently asked code compliance questions can be found at bit.ly/Code-FAQs.

For more information about Pasco County Code Enforcement, visit bit.ly/PascoCode.

Published July 21, 2021

Tapping into the power of positive psychology

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If you want to make big changes, start small.

And then, keep building on your successes.

That’s the advice of Patricia Sullivan, a training and leadership coach, who shared her expertise with members of the North Tampa Chamber of Commerce during a Lunch and Learn Zoom session.

“If we take on big chunks, or time-consuming issues —  then a lot of times they fall down to lower priority,” Sullivan said. “Whereas, if we can just really start with small habits for us, I believe they lead to different changes. They lead to positive psychology.

“When we’re talking about micro-habits, we’re talking about most of our habits being subconscious and really happening without much consideration at all.

Patricia Sullivan is a training and leadership coach who recently spoke on the topics of self-care and micro-habits during a Lunch and Learn Zoom session with some members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy of Patricia Sullivan)

“For many of us, we created new habits during COVID.

“Our world changed and we needed to change with it.

Even beyond the global pandemic, “we create habits any time there’s a change,” she said.

Those new habits occur when we move, when we get a new job, when the kids go off to school and when we bring someone new into our world, whether it’s a new friend or significant other or grandbaby, she said.

“New habits form all of the time because of change. And, oftentimes, change is what requires us to undo habits that then have become poor habits.

“I don’t know about you, but studies are showing that we’re either exercising a lot more with the pandemic, or we’re staying home and we’re doing less.

“Studies are showing there’s a lot more alcohol being sold,” she said.

“So, you might be somebody who used to enjoy a glass of wine every couple of days. You might be drinking a half-a-bottle now, because of the COVID thing,” she said.

And, now that things are opening up, it might be a time to go back to a healthier habit.

“So, we create habits when there’s change and often in response to change,” Sullivan said.

Micro-habits are done in short bursts
“When you recognize there are some things you want to change — instead of saying ‘I’m going to change my diet.’ You could be saying, ‘I’m going to eat a vegetable three times a day.’

“Eating a vegetable at breakfast or lunch or dinner is very different than saying, ‘My whole diet needs to be different for my physical, mental, long-term health.’

“And, micro-habits are empowering because of positive psychology.

“When you do something in micro, you have a little success. And, when you have a little success, you’re more confident taking on a bigger success,” she said.

Micro-habits can move you toward where you want to be.

“It breaks the cycle of inertia,” Sullivan said.

She offered an example of one micro-habit she’s established.

She began with the idea of doing five pushups — the kind that are done while kneeling — a couple of times day, on the days when she works at home.

Over time, she’s built up the habit. She now does 10 pushups, while kneeling, seven times a day.

“I’m going to Hawaii in December,” Sullivan said.

“Defined arms by December is the longer-term goal, but five pushups to start, a couple of times a day, didn’t seem so bad.

“Micro-habits really are a catalyst for big change,” Sullivan said.

She noted the same concepts apply in organizational change.

Organizations that have a change initiative are successful just 20% of the time, she said.

That’s because of resistance to change.

Reactions to change can include flight — employees decide to get a new job; freeze — employees decide to sabotage the effort; or, fight — employees stay and stir up conflict.

“With all of that being said, fight is probably the best in organizational change, because they’re (employees) so passionate. They’re still telling you, ‘I’m going to have conflict with this. You need to get me through it,’” she said.

In such cases, “there’s an opportunity to bring them on board.”

Sullivan offered Zoom session listeners some ideas for micro-habits that might work for them.

“How about, in leadership, one positive feedback a week for somebody that works for you?”

In other words, make an effort to catch somebody performing well and give a positive shout-out. The acknowledgment can be done in an email, or handshake, or thank you note, or website posting — or some other way to let the person know you noticed.

“If you can find four positives every week, or every month, with your group of people, you’re doing some good things for organizational behavior,” she said.

Micro-habits can help change mindsets, too.

You can make a habit of being grateful, Sullivan said.

At the beginning or end of each day, list three specific things you appreciate. Change that list daily.

Other possible micro-habits include:

  • Sitting in nature 5 minutes a day
  • Creating a grocery list before shopping — to help you load your cart with things you really want to buy, instead of impulse buying
  • Making your bed every day
  • Listening to a podcast once a week
  • Parking at a spot furthest from where you are shopping, to help boost your exercise
  • Keeping a gratitude journal

Daily intentions can help you change habits
A daily intention could be to drink more water, in the pursuit of better health. Or reaching out to your loved ones through a text, email or phone call. Or making a commitment to do an act of service to help someone else.

Developing a micro-habit to find calm can help create physical, mental and emotional balance, she said.

She recommends using breathing exercises to change chaos to calm.

“Here is something we know is true: You can’t think your way out of stress,” Sullivan said. “You can contemplate. You can reflect on what you learned, based on stress. And, you can think and then take action, but the thinking is not going to allow stress to go away. You acting, will.

“And, when I say, taking action — I’m talking about taking planned action — not reacting in a way that you upset everybody else in the room,” she said.

Sullivan also reminded Zoom listeners to pay attention to the words they use.

“If you’re using all-or-nothing language, it does not really support reality. So, one, you’re probably not even viewed as being objective at that point of time, because rarely is it all or nothing, always or never,” Sullivan said.

So, instead of making stuff up or being emotional, seek to be objective, she said.

It’s also important to listen to learn and understand, rather than listening to prove yourself right or the other person wrong.

“If we can take control of our own habits, our own thoughts — recognizing that our thoughts actually become words, and our words become actions — then, when we’re taking care of ourselves, we’re much better to take care of the people who are counting on us, at home and in the workplace,” Sullivan said.

If you would like to reach out to Patricia Sullivan, her email is .

Revised July 21, 2021

Rule change affects redacting of court records

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A new state law says that Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers are “not required to identify and designate information as confidential” in small claims, county civil and most circuit court documents, according to a news release shared with The Laker/Lutz News by the office of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles.

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers (FCCC) sent out the release to alert the public about a recent amendment made by the Florida Supreme Court, regarding the review and redaction of confidential information contained in certain court documents.

Beginning July 1, filers became solely responsible for ensuring that any confidential information contained in court records filed with the clerk is appropriately identified for redaction in these cases, the FCCC news release says.

A filer is defined as anyone who submits official court documents with the clerk to start or support a legal action, the news release says.

If a filer drafting a document believes it contains confidential information, he or she should: Exclude the information if it is not necessary; or complete a Notice of Confidential Information Within Court Filing form before filing.

Filers are required to identify the precise location of all instances of confidential information within the document – including page numbers and attachments, appendices and exhibits.

The amended rule affects small claims, county civil, and most circuit civil court cases, except for Jimmy Ryce civil commitments, cases stemming from sexual assault, medical malpractice filings and family law cases, the release adds.

Clerks around the state are exploring options across county offices to address the amendment’s broad implementation. Clerks strongly suggest attorneys, legal professionals and self-represented litigants review the amendment and become fully familiar with the rule change.

To help filers prepare and reduce the risk of confidential information becoming public record, FCCC is developing a communications campaign to help educate attorneys, self-represented litigants, and legal professionals on the rule change.

Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420 outlines 23 categories of information automatically confidential in court records, such as Social Security numbers, health records, bank account numbers, addresses of domestic violence victims, and juvenile delinquency records.

Previously, clerks would independently review all filed records to further identify and redact confidential information protected by the rule, the release says.

In accordance with the amendment, clerks no longer are required to perform this review and are obligated to protect information in civil and small claims cases only when notified by filers, by court order, or when the case itself is confidential under law, the release adds.

See Supreme Court Opinion No. SC20-175 for the full text of the Florida Supreme Court’s amendment.

For more information on the rule change, visit FLClerks.com/ConfidentialRuleChange.

Published July 21, 2021

Worth the Trip

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Explore the ways of the West
The West isn’t nearly as far away as you think. Spend a few hours at The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art and you’ll feel you’ve landed in the heart of western life.

You’ll see paintings, life-size sculptures, sketches, jewelry, photos and etchings depicting Native Americans, cowboys and cowgirls. You’ll see sultry landscapes, stampeding horses, and life as it was, and still is, in the West.

The Introductory gallery showcases majestic landscapes of the American West and some of the diverse peoples who have called these places home. Figurative bronze sculptures seemingly bring to life 19th century Native leaders. (Courtesy of The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art)

The museum building is artistic itself, with mesa-like sandstone walls inside and out, evoking western landscapes. Featuring 350 artworks and 100 pieces of jewelry, the permanent collection is one of the largest of its kind on exhibit in the country.

Art on display is just a sampling of 3,000 pieces owned by collectors and museum founders Thomas A. James and Mary James. For years, some of their art was exhibited at Raymond James Financial headquarters in St. Petersburg, where Thomas James served as CEO for 40 years and is chairman emeritus.

Now, the art is available for all to see in the museum that opened in 2018, thanks to the James’ $75-million initial investment.

On the first floor are larger-than-life sculptures. Visitors are lured upstairs by a bronze sculpture called “The Wild” of frontiersmen Kit Carson and John Fremont riding a canoe through roiling waves. Vast galleries feature paintings by Charles Russell, Frederic Remington, Ernest Blumenschein and others. There’s also Native American pottery, paintings and sculptures; contemporary Western paintings and more.

A glass room called The Jewel Box features Mary James’ Native American concho belts, rings, necklaces and bracelets. Another gallery is filled with wildlife paintings and sculptures of animals from around the world.

The museum gift shop sells books, jewelry and other items. The Canyon Cafe is temporarily closed.

Museum membership offers rewards. The biggest reward, though, is being able to see some of the best of the West, slightly more than an arrow shot away from Tampa Bay.

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art
Where: 150 Central Ave., downtown St. Petersburg. Parking is on Levels 3 and 4 of the South Core Parking Garage at 101 First Ave., S. The first hour is free; $1 an hour after that.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, except Tuesdays, when hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost: adults, $20; seniors, active military and students, $15; ages 7 to 18, $10. Discounts given on Tuesdays. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at TheJamesMuseum.org.
Covid-19 restrictions: As of mid-July, masks are not required for vaccinated visitors but are required for unvaccinated visitors. The museum is temporarily not accepting cash. Canyon Café is closed, but free tea and coffee are available. Please check to see if there are any changes to these restrictions.
Info: 727-892-4200;

By Karen Haymon Long

Note: This is an edited and updated version of a story that originally appeared in The Laker/Lutz News on Jan. 15, 2020.

 

Visit a ‘palm paradise’ in St. Petersburg
Tom St. Peter, a volunteer at Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum in downtown St. Petersburg, has always been attracted to plants and trees.

When he was in the corporate world, he often spent his lunch hour buying plants in local nurseries. The palm park is a special place, he said.

Foxtail palms, natives of northern Australia, are rare and protected. (Karen Haymon Long)

“It’s like my cathedral. There’s an aura about it.”

The 2-acre park once was a city-owned miniature golf course that closed due to increased costs.

In 1976, resident Elva Rouse suggested a palm arboretum for the spot overlooking the bay. The St. Petersburg City Council agreed and Gizella Kopsick, a longtime palm admirer, contributed stock to establish the park.

It began with 60 palms, representing 10 species. Now it has 500 palms and cycads, totaling 150 species apiece, and every palm species is native to Florida.

Volunteers and city workers maintain the park.

Volunteer Phil Stager, who leads free tours, said he’s not aware of another place like it in the Western Hemisphere, even though palms are nearly universal.

“Palms are native to every continent, except the Antarctic,” he said. “Cycads are native to every continent except Europe and the Antarctic.”

Cycads, he said, are the oldest seed-bearing plants on the planet. They go back about 300 million years, while palms are about 60 million to 65 million years old. Sago palms and other cycads are labeled by green signs in the park; palms are designated by gray ones.

Tours are just one way to enjoy the park. Some visitors exercise there, push baby carriages along the winding paths, take pictures, or merely sit on benches to enjoy the tropical views.

When Sager moved to Florida, he recognized two types of palms – coconut palms and all others. Then he planted a few palms at his home and joined a local chapter of the International Palm Society.

“That’s the best way,” he said, “to learn about palms.”

Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum
Where: 901 North Shore Drive, N.E., St. Petersburg
When: Open daily 30 minutes before sunrise to 11 p.m. for self-guided tours
Cost: Free admission, parking and volunteer-led tours
Info: For volunteer-led tours, make reservations at 727-893-7441; more details at StPeteParksRec.org.

By B.C. Manion

Note: This is an edited and updated version of a story that originally was published in The Laker/Lutz News on April 19, 2017.

 

Stop by for beauty and tranquility at Sunken Gardens 

Birds chirp, as breezes stir through trees. Beauty abounds around every bend in this tranquil place, so different from outside its walls just off busy Fourth Street. There’s plenty to take in at Sunken Gardens, which dates back more than a century.

Described as St. Petersburg’s “oldest living museum,” the botanical gardens boast waterfalls, meandering paths, demonstration gardens and more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers, some of the oldest in the region.

Live pink flamingos, not the plastic ones found in many Florida yards, make their home at Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg. (Courtesy of Dwayne Biggs/Sunken Gardens)

Where else within walking distance of a busy downtown can you see flamingos, koi, tortoises, orchids and palms all in one place?

Here, moms push strollers, or walk along, clinging to small children’s hands. Friends chat as they make their way through. Couples, families, photographers and nature lovers share the experience, too.

Sunken Gardens dates to 1903, when George Turner Sr., a plumber and gardener, bought the site that included a shallow lake 10 feet below sea level. He drained the lake to form his private sunken garden and grew papayas, citrus and exotics in the rich soil.

By the 1920s, he had opened a nursery and sold fruit, vegetables, roses and other plants. He charged a nickel to stroll through his gardens. In the fall of 1935, he fenced his gardens off and upped admission to a quarter.

Over time, Sunken Gardens became one of Florida’s most popular attractions. Turner’s sons, Ralph and George Jr., carried on after he died in 1961. Ralph’s sons sold the attraction to the City of St. Petersburg in 1999.

Today, near a bench made of fossilized limestone rock, known as the Sunken Gardens Growing Stone, a sign proclaims: “Legend has it that, ‘He who sits upon the ancient stone shall be granted tranquility, inner harmony and the talent to make things grow.’”

Sunken Gardens
Where: 1825 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg
When: Open Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 4:30 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Cost: adults, $12; seniors 62 and older, $10; children 2 to 17, $6. Parking is free.
Info: 727-551-3102
Covid-19 update: As of mid-July, no events or programs were scheduled. Call the gardens to find out the latest news.

By B.C. Manion

Note: This is an updated and revised version of a story that originally was published in The Laker/Lutz News on Aug. 8, 2018.

Published July 21, 2021

AmbuBus helps streamline emergency response

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(Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

With a fresh coat of paint, a new logo and an interior revamp, an old Hillsborough County school bus has been converted into a new AmbuBus, according to a Hillsborough County newsletter.

The vehicle was funded solely through donations and grants from the Hillsborough County School District, and the Tampa Bay Health and Medical Preparedness Coalition.

The interior of the bus has been outfitted with supplies, cots and stretchers. It can carry 12 to 20 patients and paramedics at a time, and will be used for large-scale emergencies, such as hurricanes.

The bus will be equipped with all of the necessary medical equipment that is included in regular ambulances and will be used to free up other vehicles that are needed to respond to different locations.

Published July 21, 2021

Pasco health grant will help with return of students to school

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The health department in Pasco County recently received a $12 million grant from the Florida Department of Health, that is intended to help with the return of students to school, according to Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools.

“This is a very broad grant,” Gadd said, during a school board meeting last month. “It’s allowing us to purchase canopies, picnic tables and various supplies that will help us kind of separate kids during lunches and cafeteria time, to help mitigate the impact of COVID in the new school year.

The grant will support more health professionals, nurses and other personnel — allowing district nurses to focus on their nursing duties, which involve screenings and of other activities with students, Gadd said.

“Also, as part of this grant that we have with the department of health, we’ll be continuing to offer testing services to kids and staff, although the department of health will be running those testing programs.

“They’ll be doing it with a mobile bus on the east and the west side of the county. We’ll still have this location here, in the center of the county, but the department of health will be running it, as opposed to the school system.

“In addition, we are offering vaccinations through Health Heroes, and this is strictly voluntary,” Gadd said. That program provides free vaccinations for youths age 12 and older.

Published July 21, 2021

Will planning board appointments become more political?

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Pasco County commissioners want a greater say, individually, regarding appointments to the Pasco County Planning Commission.

The issue arose at the county board’s July 6 meeting, when commissioners were set to approve two-year reappointments of planning commissioners Charles Grey, Christopher Poole, Roberto Saez and Don Anderson.

The item had been placed on the board’s consent agenda — meaning no discussion was expected and it would be approved as part of a bundle of agenda items.

But Commissioner Mike Moore pulled the item to express his desire to consider such appointments individually in the future —  instead of voting on them collectively.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, however, pushed for a bigger change.

She wants to discard the process that’s been used recently to choose the planning board.

Instead of soliciting applications and then voting on appointments as a collective county board, she called for individual commissioners to choose a planning board member to represent their district.

“I prefer to appoint someone to that (planning board),” Starkey said.

Jack Mariano supported the move.

“Commissioner Starkey, I agree 100%. I don’t have a single person from District 5 and there’s not a single person from District 1, either.”

Moore said he had no problems with what Starkey and Mariano were suggesting.

It’s similar to the process that commissioners used in the past to select members of the planning commission.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder told the board that changing the selection process would require an amendment to the land development code.

Steinsnyder added: “I’ll also remind you that the reason you moved to board appointments versus commission appointments was to move forward the way most other jurisdictions do it.”

Having the entire county board select planning commissioners reduces potential for “political appointments,” Steinsnyder said.

“It is probably your most important board,” Steinsnyder said.

“That’s why I feel that the west side should be represented,” Starkey said. “They don’t have to live in a commission district. I may not find anyone who qualifies in my district,” she said. “But at least I want someone on the (planning) board who understands my district.”

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley said he doesn’t have a problem with the current planning commission.

“I think the planning commission has been operating very well. I don’t have any feeling of not being represented on that planning commission board. They’re all our citizens,” Oakley said.

However, Oakley joined in with the rest of the commission when they approved a motion by Starkey to extend the terms of Grey, Poole, Saez and Anderson for six months.

That will allow time for new commission district lines to be drawn through redistricting.

After that, commissioners agreed they would appoint one planning commissioner each, with the full board choosing an at-large member. The school board seat on the planning board would not be affected by the change.

Planning board members who already have been reappointed to longer terms would need to be addressed separately, Moore noted.

The issue was bought up at the Pasco County Planning Commission’s meeting on July 8, by Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator.

She informed the planning board about the county board’s action.

David Goldstein, the chief assistant county attorney, said the possibility remains that the planning board’s composition could remain the same — since commissioners have the option of appointing someone who lives outside of their district.

Future vacancies, he said, will be filled by individual board members, except for the at-large seat, which will be selected by the entire board. The school board seat will not be affected.

Because the change requires an amendment to the county’s land development code and because it would not take effect until redistricting is done, it might not occur within six months, Goldstein said.

“My understanding is that there’s an issue with the census data. It’s not out yet. The redistricting has to be based on the census data.

“It may not occur in six months. It may roll into the next year. I suspect what will happen is that we may need to be going back to the board saying, ‘We need to extend another six months, or something to that effect,” Goldstein said.

Currently, there are no representatives on the planning commission from Oakley, Starkey or Mariano’s districts.

“There are three planning commission members from Christina Fitzpatrick’s district and three members from Commissioner Moore’s district,” Hernandez said.

The planning commission is a volunteer board, which provides recommendations on comprehensive land use, zoning, and land development code changes, as well as conditional use requests and operational permits. It is the final decision-making body for special exception applications.

Planning Commission Chairman Grey quipped that zoning administrator Hernandez was behind the planned change.

To which Goldstein responded: “It was not the recommendation by staff or the county attorney’s office.”

Planning board member Anderson asked: “Does that (the new process) make it more of a political appointment?”

Goldstein responded: “Yes, that was one of the reasons the county attorney’s office originally recommended that it be the decision of the entire board, so the entire board could pick the best fit from an expertise perspective, more so, versus, say, they happen to live in the district, perspective.”

Serving on the planning commission requires a certain amount of expertise in real estate, planning, development and so on, Goldstein said.

“I think the county attorney’s office, and probably the planning staff as well, thought the appointment should be based on knowledge and expertise, rather than where you live,” Goldstein said.

Published July 14, 2021

Diverging Diamond is delayed

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Work on the diverging diamond project at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel has been halted, and the project is not expected to be completed until after the holidays.

That news was announced by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore during the Pasco County Commission’s July 6 meeting.

Moore told his colleagues that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had found the company doing the work — D.A.B. Constructors — in default.

Kris Carson, department spokeswoman for FDOT’s District 7 office, explained the series of events in an email.

This is an aerial of a diverging diamond project. Work has stopped on a diverging diamond project that is being done in Wesley Chapel, which is expected to ease traffic at State Road 56 and Interstate 75, once the work is finished. An estimated completion date on the project has not been determined. (File)

She said that in November 2020, FDOT “issued a Notice of Intent to Default (NOI) to the contractor due to concerns they were not proceeding at the pace required to meet the contractual completion date.”

In its response, D.A.B. Constructors “included a recovery schedule showing a project completion date of October 2021,” Carson wrote.

Based on that schedule, FDOT “established interim milestone dates that the contractor would need to meet in order to avoid being defaulted,” Carson’s email continues.

“One of the milestones was set for June 28, 2021, and the contractor did not meet this milestone.

“On June 25, 2021, D.A.B. notified the Department (FDOT) they were demobilizing from the project. As a result of missing the milestone, the Department (FDOT) defaulted D.A.B. on July 1, 2021,” Carson’s email says.

She also noted that “at the time of the default, D.A.B.’s schedule submitted to the Department (FDOT) showed a final completion date of Jan. 6, 2022, and the interchange would be in its final configuration in early November 2021. However, interim milestones on the projects critical path were not met to achieve that schedule. D.A.B. demobilized on June 25, 2021, which would further delay the project.”

Carson goes on to say that FDOT “will work with the surety company who is required to provide a replacement contractor to complete the project. At this time, FDOT is unsure how long it will take the surety to procure the replacement contractor but will work diligently to move the process as quickly as possible.”

During the July 6 county board meeting, Moore told his colleagues that motorists driving through the area likely would have noticed the work stoppage at that location.

“The company swore up and down they would get this done. They would meet the milestones. The timelines. They were moving along nicely, in the beginning, unfortunately, they slowed down again,” Moore said.

Despite the delay, Moore reiterated his support for the diverging diamond.

“It’s such a great project. It’s going to have huge benefits,” Moore said.

Still, the county commissioner expressed frustration.

“It’s unfortunate. It really is. Because who pays the price? It’s our citizens — that’s their taxes and they expect these projects to be done in a timely manner,” Moore said.

In her email, Carson said FDOT is “empathetic to impacts any project delays may cause to motorists, residents, and businesses and will make adjustments to traffic signals and any traffic control devices to help accommodate extra traffic volume” that’s typical during the holiday season.

She said D.A.B. is the prime contractor on two other projects in Pasco County: State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road; and State Road 52, from the Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41.

“The default does not apply to these state road projects,” Carson wrote.

Published July 14, 2021