Local News

Dade City moves ahead on priority projects

June 16, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

Dade City is moving ahead on some city priority projects.

The city’s commissioners have authorized staff to enter into a design-build contract with Borregard Construction Inc., for a design-build of a visitor’s information welcome center, to be located on the south side of Church Avenue near the Hardy Trail multi-use trailhead.

Preliminary plans call for a building of 1,100 square feet to 1,500 square feet, with two family bathrooms that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The center will feature an open floor plan — allowing for vendor operations, area attractions, museums and art exhibits to host mobile displays.

Officials said the visitor’s center will not exceed $250,000, which is funded through a grant from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

The facility will be part of a larger exterior space concept that will feature a bike-share hub with stations for parking, minor repairs, and public resting areas for cyclists and exercising pedestrians.

The public will be invited to provide input on the design of the building, in the coming months. The general idea is for the visitor’s center to help promote some of the city’s attraction to locals and out-of-town visitors, said Melanie Romagnoli, the city’s community and economic development director.

For example, Pioneer Florida Museum would be able to display items to help promote that attraction.

“We want to make sure that the building will fit into the context of the neighborhood, with a contemporary interior that will allow for modern amenities, such as digital display ads and a place for our nonprofit partners and our community partners to have mobile exhibits,” Romagnoli said.

The project passed by a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Nicole Deese Newlon dissenting.

Also, commissioners approved a motion allowing City Manager Leslie Porter to negotiate a contract with Wesley Chapel-based Magic Bubbles, to pressure wash sidewalks in the downtown area.

The company’s quote came in at $3,050 to pressure wash sidewalks from Church Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and Meridian Avenue from Eighth Street to Third Street. However, the commission also agreed to have the company clean other surrounding areas heavily trafficked downtown, including the sidewalks by Nancy’s Natural Foods, Lori Anne’s, Green Door on 8th, Magnolia Title Agency, and The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, among other businesses.

The request for additional cleaning services came from Commissioner Jim Shive. Given the added work will be at relatively minimal cost, commissioners directed the city manager to proceed without having to return for funding approval. The motion passed 4-1, with Newlon dissenting.

Published June 17, 2020

Mickens Field concessions building tabled, for now

June 16, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

Long-anticipated facilities improvements to Mickens Field, 14318 Canal St., will be delayed just a little bit longer.

The Dade City Commission tabled the Mickens Field concession and public restroom building project, after some disagreement on contractor selection. The decision came during a June 9 virtual commission meeting.

Here’s the issue: City staff in a memo recommended entering contract negotiations with Ryman Construction of Florida Inc., who had the highest evaluation score among six proposals (75.51), and a bid of $113,727. Should a deal fail with Ryman, staff recommended to then enter into the second-highest ranked bidder, Leonard Contractors, who’s bid came in at $100,834.

However, Commissioner Jim Shive disagreed with the recommendation.

He suggested the city instead go with the lowest bidder overall. That’s Borregard Construction Inc., whose proposal came in at $89,750 and evaluation score (64.22) ranked fifth among six proposals.

Shive reasoned the city should be more conservative with construction projects near-term, citing possible budgetary impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and cost overruns on previous projects.

The Mickens Field building project shouldn’t be a complicated undertaking for any construction company, he said. He also noted that Borregard has a 20-year running relationship with the city.

The city has $150,000 budgeted for the project, funded through the local government infrastructure surtax, or Penny for Pasco.

“We have a potential to save $60,000, which we could utilize in other areas. Why would we not take that opportunity to save that kind of money?” Shive questioned. “We’re talking about a 672-square-foot building. It’s basically a block with a roof. It’s not rocket science, it’s cut-and-dry.”

City Engineer Abu Nazmurreza was not one of the four city staffers involved in the evaluation process, but pointed out that Borregard did not submit all of the requested information — which is why the company didn’t warrant a higher evaluation score, or primary or secondary recommendation. The city engineer also noted Ryman has completed similar projects in neighboring cities and scored high in all areas of the original request for proposals, except in the final dollar amount.

With looming indecision, commissioners agreed to have City Manager Leslie Porter review the matter and come back with a final determination at the next meeting on June 23.

Mayor Camille Hernandez said Shive “brought up some very valid points” regarding the project’s selection process.

“Hopefully, we can try to straighten this out,” the mayor said. “I know we have talked about (Mickens Field) for many, many years, so we’re excited to see that coming to fruition, and hopefully, a reality by October or before year’s end.”

The project had an initial target completion date of mid-October. The old concession/restroom structure was demolished in late May by city public works.

Published June 17, 2020

Pasco Schools to launch District Equity Team

June 16, 2020 By B.C. Manion

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has issued a statement in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, and announced the creation of a new District Equity Team.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, according to a video that went viral and national news reports.

“In the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd, it is clear that our nation is in turmoil and our communities are hurting. And yet, I find reason to be hopeful. We are in an important moment in our nation’s history when people of all races and ethnicities are standing together hand-in-hand demanding change. I am hopeful that we have at last embraced the concept that we are all responsible for each other,” Browning’s statement says.

“In this environment of pain, anger and confusion, I want to send a clear message to our employees, students and their families, and our entire community. I am proud to call Pasco County my home, and I will continue to stand up for our community every chance I get. I am proud to lead our school district. Yet, I know that our community and our school district can and must do better. My words – our words – must be backed up by action.

“As the superintendent of schools and the largest employer in Pasco County, I feel I have a responsibility to address the issues that have left our nation in chaos and to propose solutions. “As Nelson Mandela said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’

“Making a difference is never an easy task and the path ahead is fraught with complexity. I believe that educators have a moral imperative to lead by example. We must make it clear that we will not tolerate any child or employee being ridiculed or mistreated because of the color of their skin, ethnicity, the sound of their name, or their unique qualities and differences.

“That’s why I am creating a District Equity Team to examine the factors that contribute to inequitable outcomes, and to propose solutions. I will direct this Team to take the following actions:

Identify biases and behaviors that prevent consistent equitable, fair and respectful practices;
Leverage relationships with national external partners to engage in improvement methods for equity;
Set goals for achieving improved outcomes within our District Success Plan to address our equity challenges and measure the impact of our work;
Provide equity-focused professional learning to all stakeholders focused on deepening trust, developing diverse leaders, and building capacity for change.

“Fulfilling these commitments and finding solutions will be a challenge. I cannot accomplish this task alone. I ask all of you to work with me to make a difference in our community – Pasco County,” Browning said.

Published June 17, 2020

Deadliest days ahead for teen drivers

June 16, 2020 By Mary Rathman

The combination of closed schools, canceled activities and COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, could prove deadly as teens take to the road this summer.

Nationwide, more than 30% of deaths involving teen drivers occur during the “100 Deadliest Days,” a period that runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, according to AAA – The Auto Group, in a news release.

Due to their inexperience, teen drivers are at a higher risk of crashes. According to the new AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index, about 72% of teen drivers, ages 16 to 18, admitted to engaging in at least one of these risky behaviors in the past 30 days:

Driving 10 mph over the speed limit on a resident street (47%)
Driving 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway (40%)
Texting (35%)
Red light running (32%)
Aggressive driving (31%)
Drowsy driving (25%)
Driving without a seatbelt (17%)

To keep roads safer this summer, AAA encourages parents to:

Talk with teens early and often about abstaining from dangerous behavior while behind the wheel.
Teach by example to help minimize risky behavior.
Set up a parent-teen driving agreement with family rules.
Supervise at least 50 hours of practice driving with the teen.

To support parents to conduct practice driving sessions, AAA is providing a free four-page guide to help parents coach their teens. The guide, “Coaching Your New Driver – An In-Car Guide for Parents,” can be found online at TeenDriving.AAA.com/FL/.

The auto group website also offers other resources, including how to set driving parameters with the AAA Mobile app.

Published June 17, 2020

Zephyrhills can handle COVID-19 budget impacts

June 16, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

Cities and towns across the country are gearing up for budget cuts because of prolonged COVID-19 shutdowns, but that isn’t true in Zephyrhills.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe said the city is in good enough shape financially to handle any lingering effects of the shutdown for the rest of this fiscal year, and for next fiscal year, too.

He provided that reassuring news to city council members at their regular meeting on June 8.

Councilman Charles Proctor was elevated to the role of council president at a June 8 regular meeting. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

Although state revenues shared with local governments could be reduced by 50% for the months of April, May and June, Poe said that’s “not a super larger part” of the city’s roughly $66 million budget.

The city had larger-than-anticipated revenues at the beginning of the year, which helps to offset lower state revenues, Poe said.

He also noted that some big-ticket purchase items came in under budget.

Plus, the city has flexibility to slow down some city projects that are less critical, he said.

“Talking to the finance director I think we’re going to be OK,” the city manager told the council. “There’s some money that we can move around, so there will be a decrease, but I think we’re going to be OK,” Poe said.

Meanwhile, as the city prepares its 2020-21 fiscal year budget, Poe has directed city department heads “to really hold the line” when prioritizing needs and projects.

Besides the negative revenue impacts caused by COVID-19, the city also is facing higher health care and retirement costs for next fiscal year.

The millage rate will be set during the first week in July. The city will hold two public hearings on its budget, which must be adopted by Oct. 1.

On the upside, the city manager noted a preliminary estimate from the Pasco County Property Appraiser’s Office shows the taxable value of the city up about $42 million, with $35.7 million in new construction value.

“What it’ll do is offset some of those reductions from the state, those lost revenues as a result of COVID-19,” said Poe.

Council swearing-in, reorganization
Like other government organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Zephyrhills City Council to hold virtual call-in meetings over the past two months or so.

That all changed June 8, when council members gathered inside the Zephyrhills City Hall chambers, for the first time since March 23.

The move came at an appropriate time, as City Clerk Lori Hillman administered the oath of office to Mayor Gene Whitfield and Councilman Alan Knight, who retained their seats since being declared elected unopposed.

Whitfield has held the mayor chair since 2014, when Danny Burgess resigned to run as the area’s state representative in Tallahassee. Whitfield has owned Whitfield Funeral Home in Zephyrhills the past 25 years. He also is former director of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

Knight, first elected to Council Seat 2 in 2014, is a retired educator who’s worked mainly in Pasco County Schools as a teacher, coach and administrator.

The swearing-in ceremony also coincided with some council reorganization, which happens each year.

Council Vice President Charlie Proctor was elevated to the role of council president, taking over for Councilman Ken Burgess. Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson was appointed council vice president.

As council president, Proctor will be responsible for signing official city documents and chairing council meetings, otherwise serving as the leading voice in business agenda items. He last served as council president in 2014.

Proctor commended Burgess.

Said Proctor, “First of all, I would like to thank former Council President Ken Burgess for doing an amazing job this past year. We really had a rough year, a lot of tough decisions we had to make as a council. Not only that, we had to go through this virus that had us meet online, and it was very difficult, and I think Council President Burgess did an amazing job, along with our staff.”

Liaison appointments were decided, too. Burgess was chosen to sit on the Pasco County Tourist Development Council (TDC), in addition to serving as an officer with The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce. Other roles remained in place — Proctor serving on the Ridge League of Cities; Wilkeson on Main Street Zephyrhills; and Councilman Lance Smith on the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), with the mayor serving as an alternate.

The council also:

• Approved the last plat for Silverado Ranch subdivision, otherwise known as Phases 10B and 11C, situated on the northern boundary of the development

• Accepted an $85,000 facilities grant United States Tennis Center (USTA), for costs related to the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellbeing Center, 6585 Simons Road, Zephyrhills. The nearly $5 million project is slated to open in July and will include 11 tennis courts, eight pickleball courts and four padel courts, among other features.

• Passed a second reading ordinance and public hearing consenting to the inclusion of the city’s boundaries into the Pasco County Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) for fire rescue services.

Published June 17, 2020

CEO discusses resilience, giving back

June 16, 2020 By B.C. Manion

When Brian Butler moved to Lutz roughly 14 years ago, he figured he would have plenty of time to assume a meaningful role at a Tampa Bay company, play golf and go fishing.

It didn’t quite work out that way.

The opportunities the decorated retired U.S. Army officer had envisioned didn’t materialize.

“I thought I had a lot to offer this community. And, I was humbled in a way that I just couldn’t believe,” Butler said.

So, when he couldn’t find the right fit, he created his own company.

Brian Butler started his business as the sole employee, working out of his Lutz home. Now, he has 100 members on his team. He recently was the featured speaker on a Zoom virtual meeting hosted by the North Tampa Bay Chamber. (Courtesy of Vistra Communications, LLC)

Vistra Communications, LLC started small, with Butler as its sole employee, working out of his Lutz home. Over time, the president and CEO has led a company that has grown to include 100 team members.

The company provides marketing, communications and consulting services to corporations, small businesses, nonprofits, and federal, state and local governments.

Butler recently shared some of his expertise and experiences through a virtual Zoom meeting with members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

“You know, starting and running a small business is a challenge. You all know that,” Butler said.

It’s particularly challenging now, he said.

“This is a tough environment. This hasn’t been seen in our country in a long, long time,” Butler said. “Not just the COVID, but you look at the civil unrest. You look at the political unrest. You add all of those things in, it just adds to a very, very tough business environment.”

Companies were caught off-guard by the economic meltdown caused by COVID-19.

“It came fast. I think it caught us by surprise that we’d be put in a situation that three months later, we’d still be in a position where a lot of businesses haven’t reopened yet.

“But, I think our team will tell you as soon as we made the decision that we were going to work from home, we became very aggressive with growing our presence,” he said. They did that online and through telephone calls — speaking with current clients and with potential clients, who had told them ‘no’ before.

“We just started calling them, emailing them that we’re here, we haven’t closed down. We have services that may be helpful for them at this time,” he said.

“We lost some clients in this period. We knew we would. But, we won some clients, too,” he said. “I’m convinced it’s just because we’ve been present. We’ve been vocal.”

As COVID-19 flattened the economy, some companies shut down completely, while others experienced precipitous drops in business.

It has been a time when companies have been forced to take a close look at their operations and to try to find ways to pivot.

This is a good time to not only work in your business, but to work on it, Butler said.

“I’m a person who believes everything starts out with a plan. We can’t just wake up and haphazardly do it, and expect the success that we want to achieve,” he said.

“Pause. Really focus on and develop your plan. Find some mentors that will be good sounding boards, as you work toward that plan,” he said.

Follow the golden rule
There are some fundamentals, too.

“We have to treat people the way we want to be treated. By treating people the way you want to be treated, I think you’ll often find that business will come back. People will tell others about your business. And, they’ll share your successes and things you’re trying to accomplish, and business will come through the door in that manner.

“You have to develop great relationships, and those relationships won’t often come if you’re sitting in your office,” he said.

“You have to find the time to get out of your office and go build great relationships with people that become a great part of your business success because they often refer business to you.

Seek out ways to learn from others, he added.

“If you’re a business owner, and you’re not hanging out and having intimate conversations with other business leaders, other business owners, you’re probably missing something.

“And, you need to have those conversations with those who don’t necessarily look like you, because they may bring some things to the table that you’re not necessarily thinking about, to help you grow your business,” he said.

Find ways to give back
Ever since Vistra started, it was committed to giving back to the community, Butler said.

“I will tell you that from Day 1, every nickel, every dime, every hour that we spent giving back — it’s almost like tithing, it just comes back to us, over and over again.”

One of his company’s give-back initiatives is called CEOs in Schools.

It stemmed from an experience Butler had six year ago, when he was asked to mentor the principal at Mort Elementary School.

He said that experience opened his eyes to the many ways small businesses could give back to schools and become part of the education fabric of the community.

He figured CEOs had a lot to offer schools, so he set off to involve more.

Last year, a CEO spent the day at each of Hillsborough County’s 170 elementary schools.

There are plans to do that again this October.

“They need you in there,” he told the business leaders at the chamber’s Zoom meeting.

“You bring a perspective that teachers — who grew up to be principals — often don’t have,” Butler said. “You think about resources in a different way. You think about logistics in a different way. You think about management and hiring and firing, in a different way.”

At this particular time, there are so many people in need.

More than 40 million people are unemployed and cars line up in long lines for food — and that’s just the people who have cars, Butler said.

With so much need, there are many, many ways to give back, he noted. He encouraged those listening to do what they can.

“I think we have to make a difference in the lives of others,” Butler said.

Published June 17, 2020

Meat: It’s what’s on the menu for Father’s Day

June 16, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Father’s Day and grilling go hand-in-hand.

Dad may even get some grilling-related gifts that he’ll put to use right away to prepare the Father’s Day meal.

But, like so many other aspects of society, the pandemic has been hard on the beef industry, and meat, in general.

Traditional kabobs can make a nice Father’s Day dinner. The kids can help prepare the meal by chopping up the veggies, and the steak, depending on their ages. (Tip: Eight 12-inch bamboo skewers may be substituted for metal skewers. Soak bamboo skewers in water 10 minutes before using; drain.) (Courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com)

So, I turned to my coworker, Laura Bennett, to ask her for some specifics.

Laura is the livestock agent for the University of Florida/Pasco County Extension, as well as the livestock agent for Sumter and Hernando counties.

I asked her what is going on with the beef shortages and prices, and this is what she told me: “Over the past weeks, many people have been concerned about our beef supply chain, and about all meats, including pork and chicken, for that matter,” Laura said.

She also pointed to an article in Feedstuffs Magazine, by Darrell Peel, a livestock marketing specialist for Oklahoma State University.

That article says the beef markets appear to be moving beyond the worst of the disruptions.

This is great news for consumers and producers of beef alike.

So, what was the problem in the first place?

When restaurants were forced to close their dining rooms in March, they experienced a swift and sharp reduction in business. At the same time, demand increased drastically at the grocery store because people were staying home to eat.

The shift created a bottleneck in the supply chain and disrupted the flow of product to retail markets.

Then, in early April, several beef processing plants had to close because of workers coming down with COVID-19 infections.

For four consecutive weeks, cattle processing was down nearly 35% compared to the same period last year.

Since then, beef processing has rebounded quite well, and for the week ending May 30, beef production coming out of the processing plants is down just 7.6% compared to the same week last year.

So, why were prices affected?

Let’s take a look at “boxed beef” to understand the impacts.

“Boxed beef” describes how 90% of beef is shipped to retail outlets.

Boxed beef refers to wholesale cuts of beef — such as beef rib, beef loin — packaged into vacuum pouches and then placed into a box for shipping.

Vacuum packaging is typically accomplished using a bag that has very low moisture and oxygen transmission rates.

The air is removed from the package via a vacuum chamber and the package is heat sealed.

With the elimination of oxygen, the growth of typical spoilage organisms is significantly reduced, thereby extending product shelf-life.

The shelf-life of vacuum-packaged, fresh beef is approximately 35 days to 45 days.

Early in 2020, boxed beef quality graded as “choice” was bringing $2.10 a pound.

In mid-May, the price more than doubled to $4.60 a pound.

Individual cuts of beef have had a wild ride of their own.

As you would imagine, the middle cuts — cuts from the loin that include our steaks — have been in lower demand because most go to food service/restaurants.

Let’s take a look at Choice wholesale beef tenderloin, which is filet mignon.

It was selling at $9.70 a pound early 2020, but dropped to a weekly low $5.33 a pound, in early April, when restaurant demand essentially stopped.

Once supply was shortened by processing plant closures, it hit a mid-May peak of $12.38 a pound.

You also may have noticed how hard it is to find hamburger in the grocery store.

That’s because many of us find hamburger easier to use and cook at home, thus raising demand for it once people significantly reduced eating out at restaurants.

The “chuck roll” is a wholesale cut that a good deal of hamburger comes from.

The price of chuck rolls had a pre-COVID-19 average near $2.66 a pound.

As you might expect, its price peaked in early May at $6.28 a pound, before dropping back to $4.66 a pound at the end of May.

Derrell Peel concluded his article this way: “hopefully beef product markets are settling back into a much more stable situation and with typical product price relationships re-established.”

That’s great news, as we enter grilling season.

For more information about the USDA Quality and Yield Grading system, contact Laura Bennett, UF/IFAS Multi-County Livestock Extension Agent at .

By Shari Bresin

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

The website, BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com, has loads of recipes, including this one for kabobs.

Classic Beef Kabobs

Ingredients

1 pound beef Top Sirloin Boneless Steak cut 1-inch thick
8 ounces mushrooms
1 medium red, yellow, or green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Cut beef Top Sirloin Boneless steak into 1-inch pieces. Combine seasoning ingredients in large bowl. Add beef, mushrooms, bell pepper pieces and onion pieces; toss to coat.
Alternately thread beef and vegetable pieces evenly onto eight 12-inch metal skewers, leaving small spaces between pieces.
Place kabobs on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill kabobs, covered, 8 minutes to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 9 minutes to 11 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning once. Season kabobs with salt, as desired.

Published June 17, 2020

Campgrounds reopen to reduced capacity

June 16, 2020 By Mary Rathman

As part of a phased approach, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has reopened all campgrounds throughout its 16-county region, as of June 3. The reopening of SFWMD campgrounds is consistent with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s reopening of camping at many Florida State Parks.

To help protect staff and visitors from the spread of COVID-19, the following guidelines will be in place at all SFWMD campgrounds:

Campgrounds will be limited to 50% capacity.
Groups of more than 10 campers will not be allowed.
There will be a required minimum of 25 feet between campsites.
Campers should continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on social distancing and the use of face coverings.

District staff will coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other local officials to ensure campers are enjoying the lands safely and responsibly.

For questions and information, call (800) 423-1476, or visit WaterMatters.org/Recreation.

Published June 17, 2020

Pasco mobility fee rates expected to change in September

June 9, 2020 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission is poised to remove an incentive that benefits market-rate apartments throughout the county.

Stripping the incentive will, in essence, create a higher fee for those apartments.

At the same time, commissioners are expected to encourage more affordable housing across the county and to spur redevelopment in the West Market Area — by eliminating mobility fees in those categories.

Commissioners held a virtual public hearing on the changes on June 2 and are scheduled to hold a second, and final, virtual public hearing on June 16 at 1:30 p.m.

This apartment development, near Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56, is among many complexes built in Pasco County during recent years. The Pasco County Commission wants to take away its mobility fee incentive for new market-rate apartment developments. (File)

The money generated by removing the incentive for market-rate apartments in theory would offset the elimination of mobility fees in the affordable housing and West Market Area categories.

No fee changes are planned for low-rise condominiums/townhomes; high-rise condominiums; age-restricted multifamily, and congregate care facilities.

Also, no increase is proposed for apartments in projects that have mixed-used trip reduction measures, are traditional neighborhood developments or are transit-oriented developments.

Two speakers from the Bay Area Apartment Association called in, to address the board.

Eric Garduno, government affairs director for the association, told the board: “We’re happy to see this proposal reduces mobility fees for affordable multifamily housing, but we are concerned that it increases fees for multifamily housing in the standard urban, suburban and rural categories.

“It wasn’t long ago that commission set mobility rates for the county, which adjusted fees for dozens of land use categories,” Garduno said. “For this proposal to single out multifamily seems arbitrary in light of those recent actions.”

Garduno also made a case for increased construction of apartments in Pasco County.

“Market data demonstrates, actually, there’s strong demand for apartments in Pasco County, with occupancy rates over 92% for the last 10 years, even as new apartments are added each year.

“The other thing to keep in mind is the economic contributions that apartments make to the county. Each apartment community represents millions of dollars of investment. And, each represents jobs. Construction jobs to build them. Onsite management to run them, and professionals like plumbers, electricians, to fix them,” Garduno said.

Wendy Milenkevich, vice president of Bay Area Apartment Association, applauded the county board’s efforts to encourage more affordable housing.

“According to the 2019 rental market survey conducted by the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida, 29% of Pasco County’s population is considered below income and pay more than 30% of their income towards housing. This is a clear indication that additional affordable housing is needed in our county,” she said.

“Despite this need, it is often a challenge to build affordable multifamily housing. Between increasing costs of land, labor and materials that go into building and maintaining apartment communities, it is difficult to keep at a level that low-income households can afford, without specific incentives provided by government.

“According to the National Apartment Association, on average, 14 cents of every dollar charged in rent goes toward government taxes and fees. Reduction in fees could create the margins that make the difference between a project being built, or not,” she said.

Milenkevich congratulated Pasco County for taking a step toward more affordable housing.

“Providing incentives like these is an important proactive measure by local government.

“We applaud you for taking steps to better encourage affordable housing,” she said.

Commissioners also indicated that they support a Sept. 1 effective date, despite a recommendation by the Pasco County Planning Commission to delay implementation until Jan. 1, 2021.

Planning commissioners reasoned that now isn’t a good time to raise fees, given the crushing impact that COVID-19 has had on the economy.

The apartment association’s Garduna asked commissioners to follow the planning commission’s recommended Jan. 1 implementation.

The county board, however, was not swayed by the planning commission’s recommendation and indicated support for moving ahead with the fee changes at the earliest practical date.

Published June 10, 2020

Finding new ways to celebrate, amid COVID-19

June 9, 2020 By B.C. Manion

It may not have been the graduation ceremony he envisioned, but 17-year-old Carl Scavino seems to be enjoying himself, as he took advantage of the sunroof to wave to the crowd. His mother, Judy Scavino, appeared to be having a good time, too. (Randy Underhill)

COVID-19 may have delayed graduations for the Class 2020, but it couldn’t curb the enthusiasm of graduates, and their loved ones, to celebrate their achievements.

Drive-by celebrations were held at The Grove in Wesley Chapel for members of the Class of 2020 from Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel and Cypress Creek high schools. Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore read the list of graduates’ names. Family and friends applauded and cheered, as vehicles drove by with the graduates.

There also was a celebration at Idlewild Baptist Church, in Lutz, for graduates from the church, as well as for graduates of various Pasco and Hillsborough County schools.