The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Strategies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year

By

Throughout the summer, students had the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge. But with the end of summer approaching, here are some strategies students can still use to set themselves up for success in the upcoming school year. 

1. Set clear goals
Before the new school year starts, it’s helpful for students to set clear academic and personal goals. This could include improving in a specific subject, developing a new skill or achieving a personal milestone. By outlining what they hope to accomplish, students can create a focused plan for their summer.

2. Review and refresh
The last few weeks of summer is an ideal time for students to review what they learned during the past school year. Picking up where they left off with subjects they found challenging can help them retain knowledge and build a stronger foundation. Many students find it useful to use online resources or educational apps to brush up on key concepts.

(Klaus Vedfelt/Getty)

3. Read for pleasure and knowledge
Reading isn’t just for enjoyment — it can also be a powerful tool for academic preparation. Students can explore books related to their upcoming coursework or delve into genres that spark their interest. This not only enhances their reading skills but also broadens their knowledge base.

4. Develop study habits
With free time, students can experiment with different study techniques, create a study schedule and set up a dedicated study space. These habits will be invaluable when the school year begins, helping students manage their time and stay organized.

5. Engage in enrichment activities
Participating in enrichment activities can be both fun and educational. Students might consider attending workshops or taking online courses related to their interests. Whether it’s coding, art, sports or another field, these activities can help students develop new skills and interests.

6. Work on time management
Learning to manage time effectively is a crucial skill for academic success. Students can practice this by developing a schedule that balances relaxation with productivity. Setting aside specific times for study, leisure and chores can help them establish a routine that will benefit them during the school year.

7. Practice self-care
Preparing for the school year also involves taking care of oneself. Students should focus on maintaining a healthy balance between work and play, ensuring they get adequate rest, eat well and stay active. Self-care practices, like mindfulness or exercise, can improve overall well-being and readiness for the upcoming challenges.

8. Explore future interests
Having free time is great for students to explore their future interests. Whether it’s through internships, volunteer work, or job shadowing, gaining experience in areas they are passionate about can provide valuable insights and help them make informed decisions about their academic and career paths.

9. Connect with peers
Reconnecting with classmates or making new friends in the last weeks of summer can ease the transition back to school. Students can participate in community events, join study groups or engage in online forums related to their interests. Building these connections can foster a supportive network that enhances their school experience.

10. Organize and plan
Getting organized before the school year starts can make a big difference. Students can prepare by organizing their study materials, setting up their backpack and ensuring they have all the necessary supplies. Planning ahead for school projects or extracurricular activities can also reduce stress when the new year begins.

The end of summer offers a valuable opportunity for students to prepare for the upcoming school year in a way that balances productivity with relaxation. By setting goals, reviewing academic material, developing study habits and engaging in enriching activities, students can enter the new school year with confidence and enthusiasm. A well-prepared student is not only ready for academic challenges but also equipped to enjoy a successful and fulfilling year ahead.

Published July 31, 2024

One million Floridians have been disenrolled from Medicaid since 2023

By

(The Center Square) — Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) shows over 1 million Floridians were disenrolled from Medicaid since 2023, primarily for administrative reasons.

As of July 12, over 24 million U.S residents have been disenrolled from Medicaid.

The federal government asked states to provide continuous Medicaid coverage to those enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic, even if their circumstances changed, making them ineligible for coverage.

(Spotmatik/Getty)

Since the pandemic came to an end, Medicaid allowed a year for states to transition back to normal operations. Florida began unwinding Medicaid enrollments in 2023.

According to KFF’s Medicaid Enrollment and Unwinding Tracker, Florida had 1.9 million residents disenrolled from coverage, while 3.1 million have had coverage renewed. Data shows around 64% were terminated for procedural reasons, while 36% of Floridians were found to be ineligible.

Before sending a renewal form or requiring documentation from an enrollee, federal rules specify that states are required to complete administrative renewals, also known as ex parte, to verify ongoing eligibility using available data.

In Florida, 32% of enrollees had coverage renewed through ex parte, while the remaining 68% had Medicaid coverage renewed through a renewal form. Net Medicaid enrollment declines for Florida from 2023 to July 12 was about 24%.

In the neighboring state of Georgia, approximately 792,000 people were disenrolled, while the state renewed coverage for almost 1 million people.

Alabama disenrolled roughly 369,000 people and renewed coverage for approximately 745,000, while Mississippi disenrolled 148,000 people and renewed coverage for 434,000 others.

The Foundation for Government Accountability released a report on the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act — also known as ObamaCare — to include able-bodied individuals, which will push up spending even further.

“Surging enrollment has led to skyrocketing spending. In 2013, taxpayers spent $406 billion on the Medicaid program,” the report states. “A decade later, total Medicaid spending has more than doubled, reaching nearly $874 billion.

“Medicaid now consumes nearly one-third of states’ non-capital budgets and is growing nearly twice as fast as state tax revenues. Expanding Medicaid in non-expansion states would burst already tight budgets and kick millions off of private insurance.”

Florida is currently a non-expansion state and provides over two million low-income people with health plans with no out-of-pocket premiums or deductibles.

Published July 31, 2024

DeSantis: Florida’s tough-on-crime policies are necessary

By

(The Center Square) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at the Florida Sheriffs’ Association Summer Conference on Wednesday and said the Sunshine State does not allow criminals to run amok.

DeSantis pointed out that in other states, leadership is cutting police resources and are allowing illegal migrants to form criminal gangs that loot businesses with no consequences.

“CNN of all places was investigating illegal aliens that would create criminal rings, and they were stealing and looting a lot of places in New York City,” DeSantis said. “It turned out that when they would get the proceeds of this, they would try to wanna come down to Florida to spend the money. Someone asked them from CNN, why don’t you steal in Florida? They said because in Florida, they put you in jail.”

(ATU Images/Getty)

DeSantis noted that if you want a lower crime rate, you have to have good policies, and if Florida enacted some of the laws seen in states like Illinois, California or New York, law enforcement would be “kneecapped.”

An example is Illinois’ abolishment of cash bail, which he says makes it easier for criminals to get back out on the street. DeSantis said this policy has already been tried and failed in New York.

“Los Angeles defunded police by $175 million, San Francisco has reduced by $120 million for police budget. NYPD has gone a billion due to budget cuts, basically since 2020 that’s happened. Washington D.C., our nation’s capital…homicides up 30%, motor vehicle theft up 103%, robberies up 70% and violent crime up 40%,” DeSantis said.

According to DeSantis, the increasing crime rate in D.C. is reportedly costing over $3 billion annually, and this debt then falls on the taxpayers.

“We’ve seen examples of what’s happened, and we’ve done the opposite in Florida, and we’re better off for doing the opposite in Florida,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis noted that because the state budget is fiscally sound, it allows room to include huge support for law enforcement.

“A lot of these states that are doing poorly, you know they’re not even fiscally solvent as is, and so if anything more happens, they’re gonna be in big big trouble,” DeSantis said.

Meanwhile, Florida is offering recruitment bonuses of up to $5,000 to law enforcement officers who relocate from other states while encouraging veterans and the younger generation to choose law enforcement as a career.

Published July 31, 2024

UnBinged: Summer of Adaptations — Reviews for ‘Lady in the Lake,’ ‘Sunny’ and ‘Those About to Die’

By

Lounging by the pool or hiding from the heat is the perfect time to indulge in a little summer reading. But for those who prefer the small screen to the written word, here are a few literary adaptations that found their way to streaming this month. From engaging mysteries to unhinged sci-fi, this month’s UnBinged reviews big-budget book adaptations looking to nab your interest. Parents, please note that these television series are rated TV-MA and are intended for mature audiences.

“The Lady in the Lake” (Apple TV+)

‘Lady in the Lake’ (Apple TV+)
Being underestimated, undervalued and underappreciated is discouraging when it comes from strangers, disheartening when it comes from friends, and depressing when it comes from family. And for many women, it is an everyday occurrence. But there is a gift in this thoughtless cruelty that undermines others: it motivates people to transform, as they have nothing to lose. 

The story of “Lady in the Lake” follows two vastly different women in 1966 — one a Jewish housewife and another a struggling single Black mother — whose lives are forever entangled due to the tragic murder of the latter. For Maddie Schwartz (Natalie Portman), the disappearance of a young girl sparks something within her to flee her middle-class existence, as well as her nebbish husband and surly teen son, in an effort to reinvent herself. Meanwhile, bartender and model Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram) falls deeper into the seedy underbelly of Baltimore’s corrupt political scene, placing her life in danger as she attempts to provide for her family. Ultimately, Cleo’s world collides with Maddie’s as the fate of the two women become intertwined.

Both Portman and Ingram are given a chance to embody their characters before the crux of the story takes hold. Portman brings her acting aptitude to the role of Maddie as the Oscar winner epitomizes an Orthodox Jewish housewife who experiences a midlife crisis due to past trauma triggered by a horrific event in her community. And Ingram is equally pivotal, both as the struggling Cleo and as the omnipresent narrator, keeping the twisted tales in tandem even when the story seems uneven.

But “Lady in the Lake” isn’t just about how the case of a little girl galvanized a housewife or why a Black woman was murdered, but about women finding their identity through devastation. The performances and ethereal direction of the series bring the novel to life, captivating the viewer and holding their interest until the final climactic moments.  

“Sunny” (Apple TV+)

‘Sunny’ (Apple TV+)
Meet Suzie Sakamoto. Suzie (played by Rashida Jones) is not doing well. She just lost her son Zen and her husband Masa in a horrific plane crash, but their bodies cannot be found. Slightly abrasive even before the incident and all alone in Kyoto where she can barely speak the language, Suzie is isolated in her pain. Taking pity on her situation, her husband’s employer Imatech supplies the grieving woman with Sunny (voiced by Joanna Sotomura), a top-of-the-line robot created by her husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima) specifically for Suzie. 

But something is amiss with Sunny. Beneath “her” constant chipper demeanor is a sinister secret, something that eventually leads Suzie to seek out “The Dark Manual,” a hacker’s guide that can allow bot owners to unlock the dark side of their automatons. Along with her new edgy friend Mixxy (Annie the Clumsy), Suzie explores more of this world in hopes of unraveling her roboticist husband’s secrets, but only discovering a dangerous faction who wishes to stay concealed.  

Based on the book “The Dark Manual” by Colin O’Sullivan, A24’s daring new comedic thriller for the small screen embodies new fears about AI and gives it a cheery disposition with vaguely threatening undertones, just enough to make audiences side-eye their Alexas and not fully trust their Roombas. The performances from Jones and Ms. Clumsy, particularly their chemistry together and their ability to interact with Sunny, work quite well as a source of comedy, though the antagonists are a little over the top. But the real stars here are the special effects, which are so seamless it is easy to overlook the outstanding work that went into the character creation of Sunny, whose expressions from elation to dismay are a wonder unto themselves.  

“Sunny” should garner interest from those who enjoy their dark future tales with a dash of black humor and mystery but grounded in reality. Fans of “Black Mirror” or other malevolent yet mundane sci-fi tales in which shades of the fantastic take a backseat to the horrors of humanity will find “Sunny” a uniquely creative series that will keep viewers enthralled. 

“Those About To Die” (NBCU)

‘Those About To Die’ (Peacock)
As extortionate series about dragon-based families and bodice-rippers set during the Regency era continue to draw large audiences, streaming services search for the next hit series among epic productions and costume dramas. Over at Peacock, Roland Emmerich enters the field with “Those About To Die,” a historical drama spotlighting gladiators and gambling halls of an ancient era.

Based on Daniel P. Mannix’s nonfiction novel, “Those About To Die” lifts up ancient rocks overlooked by most Hollywood productions and explores the Flavian Dynasty — the chaotic period that followed right after Nero’s fiddle fell silent — in which Emperor Vespasian (played by Anthony Hopkins) took to the throne. 

The story follows several social classes, from patricians such as Vespasian’s two sons, Titus and Domitian (Tom Hughes and Jojo Macari), who both eye the throne, to plebeians like Cala (Sara Martins), a mother who pursues her daughters after they are forcibly taken into slavery. But much of the series’ focus falls on Iwan Rheon who plays Tenax, owner of the largest betting tavern in Rome. The heart and soul of the series, the character is a stark (ahem) contrast to his iconic role as Ramsay Bolton from “Game of Thrones” (or “Misfits’” Simon for longtime fans). 

Elaborate sets and costumes paired with a top-tier cast and crew makes “Those About To Die” one of Peacock’s most ambitious projects to date, hoping to pique curiosity with its lavish production, but the drama has to clear more than just the high hurdle of notice among the many streaming offerings. Without the familiarity of Queen Cleopatra, Mark Antony, or other titans of history, a majority of viewers will depend on the storytelling to keep them absorbed, and while most of the tale is captivating, the multiple narratives are stretched a bit thin. So while characters can be compelling, particularly Rheon’s Tenax, there are too many of them in the onset, so some characters feel tacked on and shallow.

“Those About To Die” is an exorbitant historical melodrama hoping to nab the attention of picky at-home audiences. And while the series has done well by focusing on Rheon, the disjointed storytelling, particularly in the beginning, muddles the narrative enough to get the series off to a shaky start. But it is footing that has the ability to find more stable ground if or when it gets a second season. 

Published July 31, 2024

Report finds decrease in number of victims of commercial sexual exploitation

By

(The Center Square) — A new report from the Florida Legislature’s research arm found a significant decrease in the number of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation in the Sunshine State, but some services still sorely need improvement.

The Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability published its annual report on the sexual exploitation of minors in Florida and the data shows there has been an 11% decrease overall since 2020 in child victims of exploitation.

In 2023, there were a total of 339 minors who were identified as victims of exploitation, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. However, while there has been an overall decrease in cases, reporting has increased by 6% since 2020.

The report identified a pattern of higher incidences of maltreatment and abuse in dependent youth under the care of the department than youth in the community. It was also found that the department lacks access to specialized settings for child victims of exploitation.

This includes facilities for youth needing rehabilitation for substance abuse and treatment for mental health. Other reported gaps in service included a lack of beds, which has not increased since 2023.

State officials say in the report that the department’s funding amounts fluctuate from year to year and note that agencies have consistently expended more funds than allocated. Between $3 million and $5.1 million per year has been allocated to department agencies since fiscal year 2018-2019.

For fiscal 2022-2023, the department allocated $3.5 million to lead agencies. It was found that in that same year, $11.5 million was spent. The report notes the huge upswing in spending was due to providing services and placements to 482 youth. This equates to around $23,000 per child.

The report points out the department is actively involved in recruitment and anticipates it will increase its capacity in placements by 2025. The majority of exploited youth spent most of their time in traditional foster homes and at-risk group homes once they had been verified.

Revictimized youth were the exception to this and spent more time in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice facilities than foster homes and relative/non-relative placements.

Approximately 56% of youth with an exploitation finding were white, of which 92% were female and 95% of them were between 13 and 17 years old. Five counties — including Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough and Escambia — accounted for over 40% of all verified exploitation cases.

Published July 31, 2024

Scott leads polls, fundraising in Florida U.S. Senate race

By

(The Center Square) — If recent polls and fundraising totals are to be believed, Florida incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Scott will likely keep his seat in the GOP column.

Scott is leading in both the polls and fundraising efforts against his Democrat challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell ahead of the general election on Nov. 5.

Sen. Rick Scott speaks during preparations for the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

According to the Federal Election Commission website, Scott has raised almost $30 million between 2019 and 2024 and ranks 13th out of all U.S. Senate candidates running for office in 2024.

In total, Scott has spent over $26 million, most of it being on operating expenditures. Around $6.7 million was contributed to Scott’s campaign by individuals, while $7.8 million came from authorized committees. Around $5 million of the total was raised between 2023 and 2024.

Mucarsel-Powell raised $11.8 million between 2023 and 2024 alone, most of it from individual contributions. In 2018, She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives but lost her reelection bid in 2020.

According to the Cook Political Report, Scott’s seat was listed in the likely Republican category, along with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. 

Republicans could take back the Senate in this election cycle, as the GOP is defending 11 seats and Democrats will have 23 seats. Cook rates four of those seats in the tossup category and predicts a Republican flip for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia. 

According to several different polls listed on ABC News’ Five ThirtyEight, Scott was leading in the polls in some instances up to 15 percentage points over Mucarsel-Powell in May.

However, a June poll released by Florida Atlantic University shows Scott’s lead shrinking from an eight-point advantage to a two-point lead. Florida Atlantic University’s Mainstreet poll had Scott in the lead by 17 percentage points in April.

Published July 31, 2024

UPDATE: Pasco Zone for 2024 Regional Bay Scallop Season temporarily closes

By

(Courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced a temporary closure of the recreational bay scallop harvest in the Pasco Zone. This area includes all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, encompassing the Anclote River, according to a news release.

The FWC is tasked with proactively testing and acting to keep Floridians safe. This precautionary measure is due to the detection of saxitoxin and Pyrodinium bahamanse at levels exceeding the safety thresholds established by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. The Pasco Zone will reopen for scallop harvesting once tests show levels have decreased to safe limits.

In the Pasco Zone, scallop harvesting is currently suspended. However, the area is still open for other recreational activities including fishing, boating and swimming. All other scallop harvest zones continue to operate as usual.

For more information and updates, visit MyFWC.com/Scallops.

More police officers relocating to Florida from other states

By

(The Center Square) – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody welcomed new police officers to the state after they relocated from Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico and New York.

“Florida is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation because we back our blue,” Moody said. “We’ve been spreading the word about all the great incentives to join our ranks, and individuals like the new Sarasota recruits have answered the call – leaving behind places where their service was not as appreciated as it is here.”

Moody again recognized new recruits who moved to serve in Sarasota through her “Thin Line Tribute: Sunshine Salute” initiative after highlighting new recruits from California and New York who joined the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Attorney General Moody speaks to new recruits at Sarasota Police Department. (Florida Attorney General’s Office/YouTube)

“This is a law-and-order state. Officers want to be able to do their job,” Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche said. “There is no better feeling than when you know that you can go out there and be supported in enforcing the law. I’ve talked with officers all around the country and when state attorneys are not assisting them, it makes those officers not want to do their jobs. Thanks to the work of Attorney General Moody and Gov. (Ron) DeSantis, officers know that when you come to the state of Florida, you are going to be able to do, and be supported in, doing your job.”

New recruit Sarasota Police Officer Andrew Capozzi said he left New York for Florida because “protecting and serving in New York became increasingly difficult over the past several years, as some leaders turned their backs on law enforcement and flawed criminal justice policies allowed many defendants back out on the street within hours of being arrested,” according to a statement from Moody’s office.

New recruit Sarasota Police Officer Les Kismartoni, who worked for more than 20 years as a programmer in Chicago, decided to make a change to become a police officer in Florida. Kismartoni said it was the leadership at the local and state level of law enforcement that prompted the change.

Police officers are relocating to Florida through a new Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program created by DeSantis and the state legislature that first launched in April 2022. DeSantis signed the first bill of its kind into law allocating $125 million for bonuses to benefit local police officers, sheriff’s deputies, paramedics, EMTs and firefighters statewide. The legislature has since renewed funding for these programs and expanded protections for law enforcement officers.

In February, DeSantis presented the 4,000th bonus check to Bay County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Belthrop, who relocated from Virginia to take advantage of the program. New recruits receive a $5,000 bonus after taxes, receiving bonuses of $6,693, including the federal taxes owed on the $5,000 bonus.

The number of new recruits has since jumped to nearly 5,000 since July 2022. They include more than 1,200 from out of state and a combined 400 from California, Illinois and New York.

New recruits have moved to Florida from all 50 states and two U.S. territories, according to the governor’s office.

The Sarasota Police Department also recently announced that Sarasota had no homicides in 2023 and a more than 16% drop in homicides, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larcenies and vehicle thefts in 2022.

Overall, Florida is currently experiencing a 50-year crime low.

DeSantis has argued that communities are struggling nationwide in jurisdictions where politicians embraced defunding law enforcement and “soft on crime policies” like implementing no cash bail. In 2020, the Florida legislature passed protections against defunding law enforcement and began allocating funding to give law enforcement officers $1,000 bonuses for three consecutive years. In 2022, the recruitment program was created.

Moody launched the Thin Line Tribute in 2021 to recognize the daily efforts of front-line officers. In 2023, she launched the Sunshine Salute Series welcoming 30 new recruits at St. Petersburg College’s Southeastern Public Safety Institute, also highlighting new recruits from Philadelphia, Chicago and New York City, The Center Square reported.

In addition to the new recruit bonus program, law enforcement officers may also be eligible for the Hometown Heroes Housing Program, which provides frontline workers in more than 100 eligible professions with down payment and closing cost assistance to help purchase a primary residence in the communities where they work.

Published July 24, 2024

Review finds reporting issues with Florida prisons over use of force incidents

By

(The Center Square) — An audit of the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) has uncovered several issues related to the use of force, untimely reporting times and information technology access controls.

The Florida Auditor General (AG) reviewed incident reporting, maintenance requests, Correctional Officer timekeeping records and the state-operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund with the DOC.

(Florida Department of Corrections/Facebook)

Department records between July 2021 and February 2023 showed 354,184 incidents, including 14,265 incidents involving the use of force against an inmate, spread across 50 state-operated correctional facilities.

According to department procedures, all incident report forms must be reviewed and include an initial deposition by a shift supervisor or department head. The security chief must then review all incident reports and pass them to the warden for final review.

One hundred and one incident reports were reviewed by auditors, filed between 2021 and 2023 at 13 different state correctional institutions. Three incident forms were completed by correction officers between two and six days after the incident. While the shift supervisor reviewed reports in a timely manner, the chief of security did not review the incidents until between five and 14 days after it happened.

Another incident’s report review by the shift supervisor was delayed due to a staff mix-up, which caused at least a three-day delay in moving the incident through the review process.

All incidents involving the use of force must be reported by all officers who were involved or witnessed the event, detailing the incident and the circumstances that led to the use of force. Two incident reports were filed up to 18 days after the incident happened and another six reports were not filed for an average of 20 days after.

It was further found three incidents were not given to the warden until up to 33 days after the incident had first been reported.

Sometimes, work orders and maintenance requests did not include cost or labor hours to complete needed repairs. Over 40 maintenance requests were disproved between July 2021 and February 2023, nine of which had no reason included for their denial.

The AG recommended strengthening policies and procedures, ensuring any incidents are reported in a timely manner, ensuring disapproved work requests include a reason for the disapproval and improving the department’s information technology control access, which had delays in removing ex-employees from the system.

Published July 24, 2024

Decision delayed on invasive species ordinance

By

Pasco County Planning Commission members recently agreed to continue until Aug. 8 a decision on a proposed ordinance addressing invasive species vegetation.

The proposed ordinance was presented to the Planning Commission during its July 11 meeting with a recommendation that they approve sending it to the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The BCC has final authority on adopting the proposed ordinance, as the Planning Commission only acts in an advisory capacity regarding such matters.

Cogon grass is one of the invasive plants Pasco County is seeking to limit. (Marek Piwnicki/Pexels)

The intent of the proposed ordinance is to amend different parts of Pasco County’s Land Development Code (LDC) to establish an Invasive Species Management Program. Information regarding the proposed amendments is based upon input from the County’s Public Works, Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, Development Review Division, Building Construction Services and the Zoning Department.

A few members of the Planning Commission expressed concerns about different portions of the proposed ordinance. 

“We already have a law on the books to prohibit the establishment of invasive species,” longtime Planning Commission member Jon Moody said. He was referring to a part of Section 905 of the county’s LDC that already addresses mitigating invasive species of vegetation. 

“How do we enforce it?” Moody asked regarding the existing regulation. He also asked who was going to enforce regulations in the proposed ordinance if it is adopted.

“There’s no guidelines on how to actually pursue enforcement of what the LDC says about prohibiting the establishment of invasive plant species,” responded Keith L. Wiley, director of the County’s Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources department.

Wiley also said it hadn’t yet been determined how enforcement would occur if the proposed ordinance is adopted.

Planning Commission member Jamie Girardi said he was concerned that the management plan with all of its reporting requirements would place a tremendous burden on the development community, Homeowners Associations, Community Development Districts and county staff.

Planning Commission Chairman Charles Grey agreed, saying “To me, this is just overkill.”

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein made some suggestions on changes that could be made to existing portions of the LDC regarding invasive species.

Moody moved that the decision on the proposed ordinance be continued for 30 days. When he made the motion, Moody said he would like for there to be adequate time for the LDC to be revised per the Planning Commission’s discussion and brought back so members would have something they could all find consensus on.

Grey seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

In other business on July 11, Planning Commission members:

  • Recommended the BCC approve a zoning amendment requested by S A Development Partners LLC for a change in zoning from a C-2 General Commercial District and C-3 Commercial/Light Manufacturing District to a C-3 Commercial/Light Manufacturing District for approximately 5.557 acres of property located in central Pasco County. The property is adjacent to the Funded County Road 52 Trail (AKA State Road 52 Trail), approximately one-half mile west of Mirada Boulevard. 

There is currently a warehouse on the property, and the applicant proposes to develop the property with a hotel and a sit-down restaurant. 

  • Recommended the BCC approve a zoning amendment requested by Dave Mitchells Holding Company/Mitchell Clinton Rezoning for a change in zoning from an R-1MH Single-Family/Mobile Home District and C-2 General Commercial District to a C-2 General Commercial District for approximately 2.18 acres of property located in east central Pasco County. The property is on the northeast corner of Circle B Road and Clinton Avenue. 

Plans have been approved for a 15,200-square–foot commercial warehouse to be built on the property. It also has an approved Commercial Building Permit for a 15,200-square–foot commercial building shell for future tenants.

The applicant wants the whole parcel to be in the same zoning district.

  • Recommended the BCC approve a Development Agreement with Depue East MPUD (Master Planned Unit Development) – Pulte Home Company, LLC. to design, permit and construct improvements to Watergrass Parkway and Wells Road in exchange for Transportation Development Fee (TDF) credits. The site is located south of Wells Road on approximately 931 acres within Villages L and M in the Villages of Pasadena Hills (VOPH). 

On May 9, 2023, the Pasco County BCC approved the Depue East MPUD in the VOPH to allow 2,300 residential dwelling units and 20,000 square feet of commercial uses on approximately 931 acres.

Numerous specific requirements to qualify for the VOPH TDC credits are outlined in the lengthy agreement that the BCC will consider approving at a future meeting.