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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

County board wants to know more about constitutional officers’ needs

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As the Pasco County Commission considers its budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, it wants to hear more about the needs of its constitutional officers, who are Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Pasco Property Appraiser Mike Wells.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey asked county staff to invite the constitutional officers to share their needs during the county’s budget talks.

“I just want to be sure our constitutional partners are involved,” Starkey told County Administrator Mike Carballa and Amielee Farrell, the county’s new budget director, during a board workshop on Jan. 16.

Carballa said county staff typically brings the constitutional officers’ budget to board members.

Starkey: “Can we not engage with them before they bring us their budgets?”

Farrell responded: “Can you, yes. My office will encourage it and recommend it, but we will need support from you all.

“Do you want that to be at a workshop? Do you want that to be a regular item?” she asked.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley said the county board needs more information. ”Last year, we didn’t hear anything,” he said.

Starkey added: “I want to hear their vision for what they need, so we have a short-term goal. We have a long-term goal.”

Starkey said she regularly meets with the sheriff and he told her that no one has sat down with them to find out what they need, in terms of buildings.

She said she’s aware that the tax collector is planning a building.

She wants to know the big picture.

“I’d like to hear what their capital needs are, long-term, so we can plan them into ours. It’s our responsibility to fulfill their capital needs,” she said.

Board members left it up to Carballa and his team to arrange for an opportunity for the board to have a discussion with constitutional officers during the budget process.

Published January 31, 2024

Be prepared to savor some Southern Charm, and kumquats, too

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Downtown Dade City soon will be transformed into a marketplace and center of activity for the 27th annual Kumquat Festival.

The event celebrates all things kumquat.

Thousands of visitors head to Dade City each year to enjoy some old-fashioned Southern Charm at the annual Kumquat Festival. (File)

The festival draws its name from a tiny, sweet and tangy citrus fruit.

The annual gathering began nearly three decades ago, when Phyllis Smith, Roxanne Barthle and Carlene Ellberg were trying to find a way to inject new life into downtown Dade City.

They decided to have an event to celebrate the kumquat because the Kumquat Growers, based in Dade City, are the nation’s largest producers of the fruit, sometimes described as “the little gold gems of the citrus family.”

The festival began small, on the lawn of the historic Pasco County Courthouse.

All sorts of products featuring kumquats will be available at the 27th annual Kumquat Festival in downtown Dade City on Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Over the years, the event spread through the city’s historic downtown core, and it routinely attracts thousands of visitors from the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

Besides giving people a chance to sample the distinctive flavor of kumquats, the festival also offers them a chance to experience Dade City’s hospitality, at a family friendly event.

This year’s event is being presented by AdventHealth Dade City, the City of Dade City, and dozens of other valued sponsors, according to Vicki Wiggins, CEO of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

About 20,000 are expected to attend, including residents from the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties, winter residents, tourists and “day-trippers,” according to Wiggins.

The event presents opportunities for fun, shopping, eating and entertainment.

Admission is free; parking is available in the downtown area.

The event will feature art displays, a “Health and Wellness” section, a children’s activity area, a classic car show, a quilt show, vendors selling food and unique craft items, kumquat items in myriad varieties and, of course, kumquat beer and wine.

Kumquat facts
Kumquats have been called the ‘little gold gems’ of the citrus family. They are believed to be native to China and have a very distinctive taste. Kumquats, like grapes, can be eaten whole.
The peel is the sweetest part and can be eaten separately. The pulp, which contains seeds and juice, is sour. Together, the peel and pulp taste sweet and sour. The seeds contain pectin, which can be removed by boiling for use in jams and jellies.

Source: The Kumquat Growers Association

27th annual Kumquat Festival
When: Jan. 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Downtown Dade City
Cost: Free admission and free parking
Info: Visit DadeCityChamber.org.

Published January 24, 20234

Appellate court issues split decision in clerk’s office lawsuit

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An appellate court has issued a split decision in a legal action filed by Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles against Pasco County, involving a funding dispute. (File)

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles has prevailed in one portion of her legal challenge against Pasco County, while Pasco County has prevailed in another part of her lawsuit.

Alvarez-Sowles’ office filed the lawsuit in late 2021 seeking clarity regarding statutory funding obligations after the county resisted fully funding the services and expenses of the multiagency criminal justice information system and the operating expenses for the West Pasco Judicial Center, the county’s second full-service courthouse, which is in New Port Richey.  

A trial judge ruled against the clerk’s office on both issues in February 2023, and Alvarez-Sowles appealed that decision.

In a ruling issued Jan. 17, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal ruled the county is responsible for fully and immediately funding the multiagency criminal justice information system.

The appellate court also ruled that the county did not have a responsibility to provide Clerk’s Office funding for the operating expenses of the West Pasco Judicial Center.

The clerk’s office announced the ruling in a news release and shared a copy of the court’s decision.

“Filing a lawsuit against Pasco County was never our first choice,” Alvarez-Sowles said, in the release.” This case of first impression involved evaluating complex legislative history and significant funding issues. I thank the appellate court, as well as the trial court judge, and all involved for considering and clarifying these complex and important issues.”

In the same news release, Alvarez-Sowles said she looks forward to working with the Pasco County Commission to resolve the remaining issues involving this litigation.

Published January 24, 2024

County officials talk up new approaches to increase public engagement

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A recent workshop session to discuss Pasco County’s five-year strategic plan update made it clear that the county must address wide-ranging needs and desires.

It also became obvious that as it is updating its plan, the county is undergoing significant growth, and is providing services for a population that is much younger than it was in the past.

At the same time, the work of the Pasco County Commission and the county’s planning board is facing greater scrutiny than it did before, Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman told consultant Patrick Ibarra, who is helping the county to update the strategic plan.

Weightman told the consultant, “People are excited to be in Pasco County. They’re excited about what the future is. But they’re also paying attention to what type of development we’re having, the quality of development, whether it’s rental, residential home product.

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman said the county is experiencing an exciting time, when decisions about growth will be consequential for years to come. (File)

“They’re longing for something fun to do. They don’t necessarily want to travel south. They’re looking for more family friendly opportunities within closer proximity to where they live.

“So, I think there’s a higher level of demand on the decision-makers and the staff planning process to really increase the quality control measures of what we bring here. Be very strategic,” Weightman said.

At the same time, the board is facing a substantial volume of requests.

“We went from an older, sleepy, more rural county to … where there’s a lot of action going on here,” Weightman said, noting hundreds of people are moving to Pasco each month.

“We have tremendous opportunity to make some very smart decisions and our staff has tremendous opportunities to really plan — think bigger in their planning duties,” Weightman said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano told Ibarra that it’s important to make a distinction between the board’s decisions relating to comprehensive plan requests and applications for rezonings.

The comprehensive plan is based on the input of a wide range of people, Mariano explained.

“When we’re changing the comp plan, that’s a bigger deal than zoning,” Mariano said.

When the board changes the comp plan, it can be for things that residents don’t want and that’s frustrating for the residents, Mariano said.

“I think that’s where people are saying, ‘Why are you guys doing this? Why are you bringing apartments in here when I don’t need any? Why do I want to bring that in? I’ve got enough traffic on the road already. Where’s the benefit?’” Mariano said.

The county currently is working on the Pasco 2050 comprehensive plan update.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley said it’s imperative to get that comprehensive plan update right, to ensure it reflects the county’s vision for its future.

County board members also discussed the need for new businesses to boost the county’s tax base and new jobs for residents, while at the same time expressing a desire to help small businesses thrive.

They also acknowledged the need for a supply of workforce housing, so employees can live and work in Pasco and not need to move to find affordable housing.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano suggested one way to get people more involved in local government would be to hold public hearings at night.

Ibarra reminded the board that the strategic plan must consider the services the county intends to deliver.

“Service delivery is changing,” Ibarra said. For example, he noted: “Most governments today, they’re not building tennis courts, they’re building pickleball courts.”

It’s also important to know what not to include in the strategic plan, Ibarra said. “Government does a lot of things well. One of the things it doesn’t do well is stop doing things.”

When writing the strategic plan, it’s important to ask: “What is no longer value-added because there’s not an appetite for it?,” he said.

It’s also essential to understand how to connect with residents.

“The young people, the way they want to work with government is online, virtually, when it’s convenient for them,” Ibarra said.

He asked commissioners: “Politics and citizen activism, is that increasing or decreasing in Pasco County?”

They responded: “Increasing.”

That’s happening around the country, he said.

“What we’re seeing is that social media is driving social change because on social media, there’s social capital. A lot of people, that’s how they’re trying to drive social change.

“You may not like it. You may be frustrated by it. But the fact is, it’s not a hiccup,” he said.

At the same time, there’s a large part of the populace who is not engaged at all with local government, Ibarra said.

“How do you make this (local government) compelling to people who are busy?” Ibarra asked.

Weightman had a couple ideas.

One way to reach young parents with families is to head out to the soccer fields, he suggested. Or, to hand out fliers in the car lines at schools.

Mariano had another thought: Why not have public hearings in the evenings, like they were in the past.

Weightman said that’s an idea he would not oppose.

Published January 24, 2024

Pasco’s collaboration with AmSkills receives national recognition

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Pasco County has been awarded the 2024 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award for its work relating to the AmSkills Workforce Innovation Center project.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the county’s Community Development Department has secured the national honor.

“Another year, another award for our team,” Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said, in a news release from the county.  “Our work with AmSkills is amazing and makes a huge difference in our community.  I’m certainly not surprised we’re receiving such a prestigious award — yet again!”

AmSkills Workforce Innovation Center helps individuals explore new careers and workforce training.

It serves youth, adults, veterans, persons with disabilities, and those affected by COVID-19 job reduction and loss, according to the release.

Focus areas include careers in the manufacturing, public works, utilities and construction trades.  Introduction into this program can begin with the mobile Career Discovery Boot Camp, designed with direct input from local manufacturers looking for more vetted entry-level candidates.

The county’s community development team helped AmSkills to acquire its new center and plan future renovations through the assistance of Community Development Block Grant funds.

The county’s team will attend a conference on Feb. 2, in Washington D.C, to receive the honor.

The department also received the national distinction in  2021, 2022 and 2023 for its collaboration on the Vincent House, Rosalie Rendu Residences Project and Family Services Center, respectively.

 The Audrey Nelson Award recognizes exemplary local projects and programs funded through the HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and other HUD Office of Community Planning and Development funding.

For more information, visit NCDAonline.org.

Published January 24, 2024

County planners will take another look at Lacoochee planning area

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The Pasco County Commission — at the urging of board chairman Ron Oakley — has directed the county’s planners to take another look at long-range plans for the Greater Lacoochee area.

The county board had been scheduled to adopt a “nonbinding” plan for the area – but speakers during the public comment portion of the meeting asked the county board to send it back to the Pasco County Planning Commission for a second presentation.

Pasco County Commission Ron Oakley urged his colleagues to send a nonbinding planning document regarding the Greater Lacoochee area back to planning staff, rather than sending it back to the Pasco County Planning Commission as the planning board had requested. (File)

The planning board, at the urging of residents, had asked the county board to consider sending it back to them to allow a second presentation of the plan, followed by public comment.

Initially, during the county board’s Jan. 9 meeting, county board member Jack Mariano made a motion to send it back to the planning board, seconded by Kathryn Starkey.

But Oakley objected.

He said it didn’t make sense to send a “nonbinding plan” back to the planning board, since the plan is nonbinding.

Doing that, according to Oakley, would be a waste of time.

Instead, Oakley suggested sending the plan back to the county’s planning staff.

Oakley recommended designating some areas for a minimum lot size of 1 acre per home. He said that lot size is considered to be a rural development category.

He also said there’s a demand for homes on lots of 1 acre or more, especially among executives who want to live on lots that are much larger than those with a 40-foot frontage.

Oakley also pointed out there is land already designated for greater density and those areas need to remain that way to support workforce housing.

Oakley’s colleagues deferred to his wishes.

County planning staff is expected to bring back the results of their work to individual board members before the issue would come back to the board.

A public hearing is required before the board can make any changes to the county’s long-range land use plan.

Published January 24, 2024

Share your thoughts in Pasco’s annual survey

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Pasco County is conducting its annual community survey and it’s asking the public to share their thoughts on all sorts of topics, including utilities, parks and libraries, safety and emergency services, transportation, growth, and the importance and quality of services.

You can take the survey on Pasco County’s homepage at MyPasco.net by clicking on the survey link, or on the MyPasco App by clicking on the Community Survey button.

You also can take it on Pasco County’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Nextdoor pages.

The deadline for taking the survey is Jan. 31.

Published  January 24, 2024

 

Garden club celebrates Joy-Lan Drive In

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Vicki Johnson and Sally Redden of the Hollyhock Circle of the Dade City Garden Club are shown here with Chip Sawyer. Sawyer received two ornaments from the garden club depicting the Joy-Lan Drive In. The Hollyhock Circle nominated Joy-Lan for the honor of being the garden club’s 2023 historic ornament. (Courtesy of Dade City Garden Club)

Members of the Dade City Garden Club recently presented Chip Sawyer with a gift of two ornaments to celebrate the selection of the Joy-Lan Drive In as the subject of the garden club’s 2023 historic ornament.

Sawyer is president of Sun South Theatres, which operates the Joy-Lan in Dade City and Silver Moon in Lakeland.

He recently visited the Dade City Garden Club to receive his gift of two of the club’s 2023 historic ornaments, according to a news release.

Since 1994, the Dade City Garden Club has designed and sold an annual ornament depicting landmarks, institutions, and activities of Dade City, to preserve its rich history and strengthen community pride, the release says.

The Joy-Lan Drive In was featured in the 2023 ornament and proved to be a community favorite, selling out within two months of its issue.

Published January 24, 2024

Tania Gorman appointed MPO’s executive director

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Tania Gorman has been named the new executive director of the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Gorman replaces Carl Mikyska, who resigned from the post in October.

The Pasco MPO board confirmed Gorman’s appointment at its meeting on Jan. 11.

Roy Mazur, the county’s assistant county administrator for development services, presented the recommendation to the MPO board.

The recruitment process had been completed when Mazur assumed his position, but he said he had met with the top two applicants and also observed Gorman in her day-to-day activities.

“I came to the conclusion that she would be absolutely the top pick to represent the MPO as their executive director. I absolutely, with zero hesitation and total confidence, submit her name for your confirmation,” Mazur told MPO board members.

The board unanimously approved Gorman’s confirmation.

The Pasco MPO board is made up of elected officials from Pasco County, Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

The Pasco County MPO is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County, which serves the following municipalities in Pasco: Zephyrhills, San Antonio, St. Leo, New Port Richey, Port Richey and Dade City.

Under federal and state laws, the Pasco County MPO is responsible for establishing a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process for Pasco County.

Its key responsibilities are the creation of the 20-year Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the five-year Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and the five-year Transportation Improvement program.

Published January 24, 2024

Steps continue toward creating regional MPO

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Efforts are continuing to determine whether the transportation planning agencies for Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties should merge, and if so, how the new regional board would work.

Although they go by different names, each county has a board that’s responsible for identifying and prioritizing transportation needs within its border.

In Pasco, the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is made up of elected leaders from Pasco County and elected representatives of the cities of Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

The makeup of the boards varies in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, but the roles are essentially the same.

The Florida Legislature has mandated a study outlining what would be the benefits and drawbacks of shifting to a single regional MPO.

The MPO merger report has been sent to Tallahassee, Tania Gorman, the new executive director for the Pasco MPO reported during that board’s Jan. 11 meeting.

A request also has been sent to David Gwynn, who is secretary for District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation, for a $500,000 startup for the merger, Gorman said.

Work is underway with the merger, Gorman said, noting, “we’re moving forward, putting the building blocks together.”

At the same time, “in our unified planning work program, we are trying to get another task in there to quantify the MPO’s time working on the merger.”

At the end, it wants to be able to report how much time has been devoted to the effort, and at what cost.

Gorman also addressed the issue of the makeup of the new regional board.

“What does that look like?” she asked.

For instance, the maximum number of board members is 25 and apportionment is based on population, she said.

But a question arises regarding how the seat for Tampa International Airport and the Tampa Port Authority should be counted.

Since they are regional, some may think their seats should come from a share of each of the counties. On the other hand, based on population, Hillsborough County would have 12 seats, Pinellas would have nine and Pasco County would have four.

And, it’s not clear how a partial seat would be assigned, Gorman said.

That’s just one of the issues that would need to be worked out.

There’s also the issue of how cities will be represented on the regional board.

“How does each MPO want to approach the cities being on the board?”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who is one of five county board members sitting on the Pasco MPO board, said it’s important not to lose sight of the big picture.

“The thing to remember is, Secretary Gwynn told us, ‘The money that comes to our county, stays in our county,’” Starkey said. “City of Tampa can’t take our money.

“I wanted everyone to remember — to have that comfort,” she said.

She also noted that while 92% of Pasco’s population lives in the county’s unincorporated areas, the county will not overlook the needs of the county’s cities.

“We will find a way to make sure all of the cities have input, whether it’s sitting on the main board or in a committee of cities, or whatever,” Starkey said.

Dade City Commissioner Scott Black expressed concerns about how the regional board will address Pasco’s issues.

“We’re only going to get four votes at the table. That’s less than half of what Pinellas is getting and a third of what Hillsborough is getting,” he said.

“I need more education. We’re only going to get four votes out of 25. Tell me how this is to our benefit.”

Starkey reminded him that other counties will not be able to control how Pasco spends its funding.

But she added, the regional approach puts all three counties in a more competitive posture.

“It’s the only way we’re going to get more federal money,” Starkey said. “It’s a no-brainer for me.”

She’s also confident that the three counties will find a way to work together.

“Every one of those regions (with a regional MPO) had these same issues and they figured out a way to come together to speak together, in one voice, to go after the big money. So, we can work it out.”

Pasco Commission Chairman Ron Oakley agreed: “As a regional MPO, we will all benefit because we are going to be reaching out at a higher ranking in the country. We could be able to get monies that we’ve never gotten before, so that’s what you have to keep in mind.

“You have to look at the whole picture. We’re all part of the whole, so we’ll all benefit,” Oakley said.

Published January 24, 2024