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Pasco County is seeking a new top executive

May 24, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles is stepping away from his leadership role in county government so he and his wife, Mandy, can pursue church development work overseas.

His last day official day will be Sept. 30, but his last working day will be July 31, because of accrued personal time off.

Biles asked the county board to accept his resignation during its May 17 meeting and to begin the process for naming his replacement.

The board will be addressing that process soon, including the possibility of hiring the same search company as it used to find Biles, or considering the option of hiring a local candidate for the county government’s top job.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles is leaving the top job in the county, after five years of serving at the helm. He and his wife, Mandy, are moving overseas to be involved in church development work. (File)

Biles is leaving at a time when Pasco has been experiencing rampant growth.

In his resignation letter, Biles noted, “While change is inevitable, I don’t think many of us expected what we would go through when I was hired by the county five years ago.

“On the positive side, we have seen some incredible growth with projects such as the much-anticipated Ridge Road extension and the subsequent Moffitt Campus initiative. On the negative side, we could never have anticipated the impacts that a worldwide pandemic and natural disasters would bring to our county. And yet, probably the work I am most grateful for is the radical cultural changes that have occurred within our organization that have resulted in not only significant performance gains across the enterprise but also the granting of three different Best Places to Work awards.”

He credits his accomplishments to the board’s willingness to give him “the flexibility and authority to focus first and foremost on building and maintaining our people-focused culture.”

Biles’ exit comes at a time when the county is preparing to expand its jail and to take over jail operations.

He’s also leaving at a time when the county is seeking to extend its Penny for Pasco surtax, a 1-cent sales tax that helps to pay for county projects.

His departure also comes when the county is in its early stages of updating its comprehensive plan, known as Pasco 2050.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey told Biles: “Well, we’re sorry to see you go, but I understand when these callings come, you need to answer them.

“You’ve taken us to new heights, in a challenging time. And, I think we had the right person, for the right time,” she added.

Commissioner Mike Moore noted that the board needs to choose an interim to serve until Biles’ replacement is named. The interim is expected to be named at the board’s next meeting in June.

Moore also observed: “You don’t always have to do a national search. Maybe we want to talk about people that are here.”

The job must be posted, but whether the board uses its own human resources department or a national search firm is the board’s decision, Biles said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano told Biles: “Dan, you’ve done a phenomenal job here.”

The commissioner said Biles’ background as an engineer was crucial in working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the extension of Ridge Road.

The Ridge Road extension is “such a critical piece for us,” Mariano said, adding that it played a role in attracting Moffitt Cancer Center to locate a campus in Pasco, which is leading to greater things for the future of Pasco.

Mariano said the county should consider both internal candidates and candidates from elsewhere.

Mariano raised concerns about the timing of the jail takeover, which had been discussed in previous board meetings, as being scheduled for Oct. 1.

Biles said he has always viewed Oct. 1 as an aggressive schedule for the takeover.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder told the board: “We had concerns about Oct. 1, so we didn’t want to bind you to Oct. 1. But that’s still going to have to be a negotiation between you and the sheriff.”

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein told the board there will be a resolution at its next meeting relating to the takeover.

The resolution doesn’t refer to Oct. 1, but rather refers to the 2023 fiscal year, Goldstein said.

Published May 25, 2022

Pasco Schools begin ramping up ‘engagement’ efforts

May 17, 2022 By B.C. Manion

When it comes to engaging with families and the community, there are some bright spots in Pasco County Schools — but there’s no consistency.

The issue exists throughout the district, and at every level, those are some of the key findings in a report shared with the Pasco County School Board at a workshop in April.

The district has identified community engagement as one of its top priorities and, as it attempts to make improvements, it has been working with TNTP, a national consulting company.

A Landscape Analysis has been done to get to know Pasco and its needs.

“Every community is unique,” said Janet King, of TNTP.

“So, we really need to start by understanding the place’s unique history, needs and priorities.

“Even within a district, communities are not monolithic, so it’s really important to look across a county and to understand that different parts of a county have different ways of accessing information, and different challenges and different resources that we need to understand before we build any kind of plan or solution.

“Finally, without this understanding, any improvement efforts are not likely to last because it’s not responsive to what families and community members most want and need, and works for them,” she said.

The Landscape Analysis included:

Market research: Taking a deep look into Pasco’s unique history, demographics, landscape and growth patterns
Asset mapping: Peeling back the layers of who’s doing great work in Pasco and who could be great potential partners
Insights Survey: Surveyed 38 representative schools, using TNTP’s survey, to enable the results to be benchmarked nationally
Listening Tour: Conducted focus groups, one-on-one sessions and superintendent-led sessions. In short, the sessions asked: “What are your experiences? What’s working? What can be improved?”

The efforts included:

5,397 caregiver/stakeholder surveys
Eight parent/caregiver focus groups, including two conducted in Spanish
42 community stakeholder interviews
Five student focus groups
Four teacher focus groups
Five superintendent-led listening tour sessions

In total, the efforts have included more than 70 hours of listening, said TNTP’s King, who shared findings from TNTP’s work during an April workshop with Pasco County School Board.

Vanessa Hilton, the district’s chief academic officer, said TNTP was brought in to help the district to develop its capacity to improve its efforts regarding community engagement.

The district also formed its own Community Engagement Task Force, made up of district personnel representing different departments, roles and responsibilities. The task force includes school board member Alison Crumbley and assistant superintendent Dr. Kim Moore.

Hilton said the district realizes “we have lots of bright spots around the district in regards to our school efforts, but not yet, an intentional, meaningful strategy from the district level.”

Efforts to establish authentic engagement are important because it has a real impact on student achievement, King said.

“Research shows that when families and communities are engaged, it makes a real difference for students. Increased family engagement has been linked to higher test scores, increased school readiness, better attendance and decreased suspension rates for students,” she said.

Assistant Superintendent Moore noted that some of the school system’s challenges stem from its rampant growth. In the 1999-2000 school year, the school district’s enrollment was 46,458; now, its 82,377.

“That growth puts a strain on our resources. It puts a strain on how we operate as a school district,” Moore said.

“We have to look at putting in systems so our community feels that they can come in and interact with us, and be an authentic partner with us,” Moore said.

“Many of our community leaders, they want to partner with us. They don’t know how. They don’t where to go, to connect with us,” she said.

They call the district and they get passed from one person to the next.

“That increases their level of frustration and then they give up. They want to work with us. They want to support our students,” Moore said.

Steve Hegarty, public information officer for Pasco County Schools, said, in general, the district pushes out information. And, when it seeks feedback, it doesn’t routinely reach back and let people know what it did with the feedback it received.

The lack of systemwide expectation for school-based family engagement has resulted in inconsistent experiences for families, Hegarty said.

One of the issues is the variety of tools that is used to communicate with parents.

The variety of communication methods and styles can be confusing.

“If you’re a parent with three kids in the system, you might have three different ways that you’re being communicated with,” Hegarty said, adding that can be frustrating for parents.

School board member Crumbley said improving community engagement is crucial.

“This is really such important work because it touches everything we do in the school district. Everything. It really does. It has so much to do with the success of our students and our families,” Crumbley said.

She’s particularly alarmed by the survey results that reveal the connection in secondary is far below the national average.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin said she wasn’t surprised by the findings, noting these issues have persisted for years.

She suggested the district build on what’s working.

Beaudoin also pointed out the need to devise training that is focused and avoids wasting staff time.

School board member Megan Harding asked: “If we’re trying to engage the community, shouldn’t we have some parents on that task force as well? We need to be sure that we are listening to those groups.”

Harding likes the idea of holding town hall meetings, to add a forum for engagement.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong said when people want to know more about a school, they’ll visit its website.

She’s visited nearly all of them and she’s not impressed by the inconsistency she found.

“There’s nobody in charge of the websites at the schools. It’s whoever has an interest in it.

“That just doesn’t work, from what I saw,” she said.

While one school may offer a plethora of information; another might just say when lunch money is due.

Both Armstrong and member Allen Altman also said greater efforts are needed to inform the general public — who do not have children in school — about accomplishments within the district.

When he talks to people who don’t have students in the district, Altman said that many have no clue about the positive things that are happening. Instead, they only know the negative news they’ve read or heard.

Shifting mindset
Superintendent Kurt Browning agrees that much work lies ahead, and added that establishing authentic community engagement will require a broad-scale commitment.

“It cannot be just a small group of people in this district running, managing the community engagement work. It has got to be a districtwide effort. Not only that, but I’ll also say, community-wide.

“Beyond setting clear expectations, the district needs to develop tools and provide training, to shift the mindset,” the superintendent said.

The effort needs to involve “all district staff, whether you’re a bus driver, an entry operator, a school teacher, a principal, a superintendent,” Browning said.

Efforts to develop a plan of action are under way and more details are expected in June.

Community Engagement in Pasco Schools

Some key findings

Many community leaders want to partner with the district, but don’t know where to go or what the district needs.
District communication practices with community leaders tend to be one-way; stakeholders want more transparency and opportunities to provide feedback.
Where there are bright spots, there are not system-wide expectations for school-based family engagement, resulting in inconsistent experiences for families.
A lot of information is provided to caregivers at the school level, but it is not streamlined, consistent or focused on how they can support their student.
Parents want to know what their children are learning and how they can help.

Issues identified
Comments contained in TNTP’s report reveal the school district has myriad issues, when it comes to communication and engagement.

Here are some comments from the report:

“It is great to know that it is blue T-shirt day, but I want to know what my children (are) learning and how they are doing.” (Elementary and middle school caregiver)
“I left voicemails and never got a response. As a community partner, that is disappointing. I hope that they are not missing other opportunities.” (Community organization staff member)
“Sometimes community input and engagement is more of a ‘checking a box’ exercise, rather than meaningful participation.” (Community Engagement Task Force member)
“Each teacher communicates differently. There are many portals, that we, as parents, have to access.” (Elementary school caregiver)
“The communications from teachers are inconsistent.” (Elementary school parent)
“I wish the teachers all shared a cohesive communication standard.” (Caregiver)
“We should have town halls and be asked: ‘What do you think?’” (Community leader)

Source: TNTP Community Engagement report

Published May 18, 2022

Seven of 10 Pasco residents commute to other counties for work

May 10, 2022 By B.C. Manion

When it comes right down to it, the sites that are designated for industrial uses and employment centers in Pasco are simply too small and too scattered for the county to attract the kinds of companies that can make a significant difference in the county’s jobs picture.

That was essentially the message delivered to the Pasco County Commission, at its May3 meeting, by Randy Deshazo, chief of staff for the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

Pasco County has had a significant amount of residential growth in recent years — but it needs to attract more high-paying jobs to keep its workforce at home. To make that happen, the county needs large tracts of land available for the development of employment centers and industrial parks, a recent study shows. (B.C. Manion)

In introducing Deshazo to the board, David Engel, director of the Office of Economic Growth, said, “As a result of unprecedented residential demand for land in our region, the Office of Economic Growth and Planning and Development Department engaged the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBPRC) to conduct a strategy analysis for the preservation and optimization of light industrial and employment center properties and zoning in the county.

“The study does an economic analysis of the fiscal and economic impact to the community, when we take industrial land and we modify it to allow residential,” Engel said.

Deshazo said the focus of the study was on land that has been designated for employment center and light industrial uses.

“You want to increase the share of target industry jobs in your economy and this is your main land use tool to do that,” he explained.

“Target industry jobs are those higher-paying jobs that span a range from blue collar manufacturing to high-tech kinds of jobs, that help raise the average wage in the county and provide, what we’ll call, an employment multiplier.

“They create more jobs through their own spending, down through their own supply chains and household spending,” Deshazo said.

Deshazo briefed theboard on the county’s current employment conditions.

“One out of 10 jobs in Pasco is what we would call a target industry job,” Deshazo said.

By comparison, in both Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, one of every four jobs is a targeted industry job, he said.

He also noted that Pasco has the longest commute in the Tampa Bay region, as well as one of the longest commutes in the state.

It also has the highest imbalance, when it comes to number of housing units compared to the number of jobs.

“About 70% of your employed residents work somewhere else besides Pasco County,” he said. “That is not just a case that there’s not enough jobs in the county. There’s not enough well-paying jobs,” he said.

The key questions, Deshazo said, are: “How many jobs does the county need?

“How many acres do those jobs need?”

Decision-makers must focus on how they allocate the county’s land, he said.

Converting an acre of industrial land to a non-employment use has the impact of about $2 million in lost personal income, direct and indirect, he said.

That number was calculated by taking the average of what those wages might be in a target industry, stretch it over the forecast period of 2050, and doing some financial discounting, he said.

The county wants to increase its share of target industry jobs in its economy, and land use designations are the main tool to achieve that, he said.

Large tracts needed to help generate jobs
Pasco has a significant amount of acreage designated for employment centers and light industrial uses, however, those designations are generally on small parcels, he said.

Employment centers and industrial uses need large tracts.

“The average for industrial parks throughout the country is about 550 acres in size,” Deshazo said.

He told board members: “the really big issue here is that you’ve got a very fragmented pattern of industrial land. The overall distribution is that half of your parcels are less than 4 acres; 40% of all those parcels are actually less than 2 acres in size.

“They’re scattered across the county. They’re not easily assembled. So, that is really your land use supply issue. It’s not so much the total acreage, but where those acres are and how they’re divvied up,” Deshazo said.

His report also identifies current concentrations of industrial land. It adds buffer areas around those, as potential places for expansion of industrial land in the future.

It also identifies areas along railway corridors and truck routes for consideration of adding future employment centers and industrial land.

“The point here is not just to add acres, but to look at larger sites that might better fit the needs of future industrial land use,” Deshazo said.

In Jacksonville, there are areas that have been protected for industrial uses. It has coined the term “industrial sanctuary” to identify that concept.

“These are areas that you want to protect from redesignation to residential or other uses, to consolidate industrial land, so that you can get to those scales that industry needs to operate, and to work with each other and to attract labor,” he said.

“To do that you need to identify some basic criteria, such as perhaps establish a new land use in zoning that has a significantly larger minimum lot size than what you currently allow for light industrial or heavy industrial, which is about 30,000 or 40,000 square feet and talk about a minimum lot size of 50 acres or perhaps higher than that.”

Deshazo said the key takeaways in the TBPRC’s report are:

Employment centers and industrial land are the key tools for attracting and developing target industries.
It is important to set job goals; there doesn’t need to be a perfect 1:1 ratio, but every job closer to that is good for the county.
The county needs to think about where future industrial land should go.
It’s important to pay attention to the size of potential employment centers and industrial parks, to make sure they’re large enough.
The county may want to consider creating districts that allow both heavy industrial and light industrial uses.

Engel said the county’s Planning and Development Department, the Metropolitan Planning Organization and his Office of Economic Growth are working together to identify freight corridors, road systems, to look at the marketplace and at available land, to provide information to help inform future land use decisions.

Pasco County jobs picture

One out of 10 jobs in Pasco County is a target industry job; in Hillsborough and Pinellas, one in four jobs are target industry jobs.
Pasco County has the longest commute in the Tampa Bay Region and one of the longest in the state.
Pasco County has the highest jobs imbalance, that is the number of jobs compared to the number of housing units.
About 70% of employed Pasco residents work elsewhere.

Published May 11, 2022

Pasco expected to add 250,000 people

May 3, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County has been growing rapidly in recent years, and that trend is expected to continue.

“You have over 250,000 people in the pipeline that are expected to move to the county by the Year 2045,” Steve Schukraft, a planner with HDR Engineering Inc., told the Pasco County Planning Commission, during its April 21 meeting.

So, over the next 25 years or so, Pasco is “going to add the number of people, that’s similar in a scale, to all of the people who are living in the city of Tampa,” said the planner, whose company has been hired to help Pasco County update its comprehensive plan.

“When you look at the curve, that’s a similar rate of growth as you’ve experienced, since around 1980,” Schukraft said.

Knowing how many vehicles are traveling down a road is essential information for future planning of roads, developments and various services. Here is a look at a backup of traffic heading east on State Road 54, waiting at a traffic signal at S.R. 54 and U.S. 41. (File)

“There is a lot of development in the pipeline. Shaping that development is really fundamental. Preparing for it, serving it, shaping it — is really critical,” the planning consultant added.

Local governments, under state law, must develop comprehensive plans.

“Comprehensive plans provide your authority to zone. So, it’s a fundamental basis for your land development code. But it also provides guidance for capital investment programs, conservation investments, transportation programs,” Schukraft said.

In the 2050 update, he added, “we’re folding in some of the work the county is doing, related to sustainability and resilience.”

Completing the update is expected to take five years. The first two years have focused on primarily research and beginning to think about the broad structure of the plan. Next, the plan elements will be drafted, and finally, the Pasco County Commission will adopt a new plan.

“The most minor approach would be a strike-through and add-in to the existing document, but there’s a possibility to restructure segments of it, in a more significant way. So, that’s what we’re trying to find out, what’s appropriate,” Schukraft said.

“We’ve been doing a series of work sessions with groups around the county, to supplement our research in the more technical aspects of growth and development, across Pasco County,” he added.

The consultants are diving into past planning processes, in the documentation and feedback that the county has received through various activities and is supplementing that with listening sessions.

The listening sessions focus on perceptions of the county’s assets and challenges and ideas about what should be done to build a better future, the consultant said.

The county also has gathered feedback from the community in recent years, and that data, along with information gleaned through the listening sessions will be used to create an Issues and Ideas Report, he said.

Listening sessions aim to gain greater insights
Schukraft explained how the listening sessions work.

“As we talk to people, we ask them: ‘Do you know about the plan?’ ‘Are you aware of development that’s going to happen around you?’

He told the planning board: “I can tell you our observation is that, it’s kind of hard, when you look at the plan, to know that. To know what’s coming.

“If you were uninitiated and you pulled up the county’s comprehensive plan, or went to the web site, it’s really tough to tell what’s going to happen around the corner, up the road, down the road, and the timing of that.

A new apartment community, Avidity Living, is one of the latest new residential options on State Road 54 and Oak Grove Boulevard, in Land O’ Lakes. Pasco County is expected to attract about 250,000 new residents by 2045.

“So, one of the things we need to do in this process is make the future more transparent, so people understand, what’s in the pipeline, what’s committed, what’s next and where the sort of edges between different kinds of development occur.”

He also shared observations regarding the county’s long-range planning and zoning processes.

“We have early notions that it appears you spend an awful lot of time doing comprehensive plan amendments, which are kind of like land development code approval actions. And, they’re almost stacked right on top of one another.

“The comp plan is supposed to be a larger policy document that guides broader decisions, and the land development code is where things get executed and detailed.

“So, there may be a way to separate those two documents a little bit, so you’ve got higher level guidance in the comp plan and then you use your land development code to detail how projects get delivered, location by location.

“So, if it’s minor uptick in density on a project, maybe the comp plan can absorb that level of change, if it doesn’t change the character of a broad area.

“The land development code, if you want to change your zoning, that becomes a separate discussion, about appropriateness, about compatibility, about impacts on roadways, schools, public facilities,” Schukraft said.

David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney addressed the consultant: “Can I ask you a question about that, though, because most of what we process are amendments to the future land use map. Are you suggesting that we not have a future land use map?”

Schukraft responded: “You need to have a future land use map. You don’t have to have the lan -use map you have now. It could be a more generalized map. That’s a possibility that we could look into. Because right now, your future land use map and your land development code are practically the same thing.

“You wouldn’t be doing amendments at every meeting. You’d be doing amendments on a three-month, six-month, cycle, that would be broader-scale amendments.”

Schukraft went on: “The thought of that is that long-range planning could focus more on the long-range questions. Your short-range, your zoning and land development code staff, could focus on the land development code questions.

“They wouldn’t be stacked up and doing similar things,” he said.

Goldstein also told Schukraft that the county’s current comprehensive plan contains a number of policies that says the county will adopt amendments to the land development code by certain deadlines, but that hasn’t happened.

Schukraft responded: “Where there’s time frames and commitments indicated in the comp plan that staff hasn’t been able to deliver for various reasons, it’s really fundamental to get that cleaned up.”

Planning board members told Schukraft that they would like a longer session to delve deeper into issues and the consultant said that will be arranged.

Published May 04, 2022

Pay raises needed to remain competitive

April 26, 2022 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County School Board is asking voters to step up to provide more funding to enable the school district to improve pay for teachers and other district personnel, except for administrators.

The board voted unanimously to pursue having the referendum question added to the November 2022 ballot.

The board is asking voters to approve up to a maximum of 1 mil in funding to be designated for improving employee pay.

In an April 5 school board workshop on the topic, it was estimated that a 1 mil increase would yield an average instructional boost of $4,000; for non-instructional, $1,700.

‘I personally believe we are nearing a crisis. The teachers are leaving. Ultimately, it is about the children of Pasco County and the families.’ — Pasco School Board member Alison Crumbley

District calculations also show that Pasco’s median home cost of $325,000, and assuming a $25,000 homestead exemption, a property owner would pay $300 more per year, if the increase is 1 mil.

The board’s vote to pursue up to a full mil, followed persistent requests by Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco (USEP), urging the board to seek the ballot initiative.

Peace repeatedly has cited the number of district employees who are resigning or retiring, and has said the district must improve pay and fill vacancies, to stem the tide.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin made the motion to support the ballot initiative, which was seconded by board member Alison Crumbley.

Specifically, the ballot question asks for a yes or no vote on whether to levy an additional tax, not to exceed 1 mil, beginning July 1, 2023 and ending no later than June 30, 2027.

The proceeds, according to the ballot question, will be used “for essential operating expenses to maintain salaries competitive with the market, attract and retain high-quality teachers, bus drivers and other non-administrative school support employees.”

There also is a requirement for “annual reporting to Pasco County taxpayers for transparency of the use of these funds.”

“We are losing good teachers because they can’t make ends meet here,” Beaudoin said, offering many specific examples.

“We are not talking about numbers. We are talking about people you know and I know,” she added. “Pasco County Schools is the largest employer in our county. Everyone has someone in their family, their neighborhood or a friend, who works for us.”

Besides losing teachers to nearby districts that pay better, the district also is losing teachers who are leaving the field to work in industry, Beaudoin said.

‘For too long, we have struggled to remain competitive with other school districts in the area.’ — Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning

“We want our teachers using their talents for our kids. We don’t want them leaving the profession,” Beaudoin said.

“How many ways can we ask our community to compromise, or settle for having substitute teachers or people with provisional certifications? Our community members want people with professional certifications who are highly qualified,” she said.

“Our community is tired of the revolving door of teachers and the lack of bus drivers that has led to inconvenient bell times and fewer child care options.

“We want the best teachers for our kids.

“We want to attract and retain the best teachers for our students, because they deserve it,” Beaudoin said.

Action needed to reduce staff departures
Board members unanimously agreed with the need to have the flexibility to go up to a full mil of additional funding.

“We’ve known for decades our salaries aren’t keeping up. The evidence and data are all there,” Crumbley said.

“I personally believe we are nearing a crisis. The teachers are leaving. Ultimately, it is about the children of Pasco County and the families.”

Board member Megan Harding agreed: “I don’t disagree. We’re short-staffed everywhere, and I’ve talked to many teachers who have left the profession, due to pay.”

In the board’s backup materials for the April 19 meeting, there were 23 instructional, five bus driver and 47 non-instructional resignations, Harding said.

“We owe it to our students, teachers, staff and the community to try for this referendum,” Harding said. “We tried for many years to put a Band-aid on the problem, and I think it’s time that we asked the community if they’re willing to help us fix it once and for all.

“We cannot be a world-class education system with one of the lowest pay scales in the region.”

After the meeting, the district released a YouTube video of Superintendent Kurt Browning, advocating passage of the referendum.

‘How many ways can we ask our community to compromise, or settle for having substitute teachers or people with provisional certifications? Our community members want people with professional certifications who are highly qualified.’ — Pasco School Board member Colleen Beaudoin.

The next step is to ask the Pasco County Commission to place the referendum on the November ballot, Browning said.

The superintendent noted: “For too long, we have struggled to remain competitive with other school districts in the area. In most cases, those other school districts have already taken the step that we are taking now.

“They recognized that they couldn’t simply rely on funding from the state. They made their cases to the voters and got a referendum approved.”

As a result, other districts can offer better pay, which puts Pasco at a disadvantage, Browning said.

“Long ago, the Legislature provided a mechanism for school districts to supplement staff funding for salaries, and several school districts have already taken this step.

“It’s time for us to act,” Browning said.

“We are losing good people.

“Who could blame a teacher or a bus driver for seeking better pay in a neighboring county?

“We need to turn that around; by taking this step, we are showing our commitment to keeping our great employees working in Pasco County, and attracting more of them,” the superintendent said.

More details will be shared in coming months, Browning said.

Union president Peace has pledged USEP’s full support in working toward passage of the ballot initiative.

Published April 27, 2022

Commercial growth popping up in Pasco

April 19, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Brick-and-mortar projects are rising rapidly, expanding Pasco County’s booming growth.

Construction crews are building shops, restaurants, Class A offices, gas and convenience stores, and car washes — on sites with “Coming Soon” signs.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill is under construction at the Cypress Creek Town Center, off Sierra Center Boulevard, next to Bonefish Grill. (Kathy Steele)

The county’s major commercial corridors – State Road 54 and State Road 56 – remain the epicenters of a construction juggernaut.

But Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41, is an emerging source of expanded commercial and retail development.

Workers in hard hats and construction equipment engaged in projects are common sights on primary corridors in Pasco County.

Beginning on State Road 56, east of Interstate 75, options at The Shops at Wiregrass are expanding, or have expanded, to include Body Details; Crazy Sushi; Leonidas; and The Living Room.

New arrivals nearby include the Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Morningstar Storage.

On the west side of I-75, on State Road 56, new businesses are opening at Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center.

Zaxby’s opened in September on an outparcel on the south side of State Road 56, as part of the Cypress Creek Town Center. A Chicken Salad Chick restaurant is expected to open in a shell building under construction next door.

Tampa Premium Outlets, on the south side of the state highway, is adding Zumiez, according to the outlet’s website. The store features “cutting-edge” clothing, shoes, accessories and brand names for skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing.

Zaxby’s fast-food chicken restaurant opened in September on an outparcel of the Cypress Creek Town Center expansion, also on the south side of State Road 56, between Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Sun Vista Drive. Chicken Salad Chick is expected to occupy space in a new building under construction next to Zaxby’s, according to county permits.

On the north side of State Road 56, a Carrabba’s Italian Grill is under construction, next to Bonefish Grill in the Cypress Creek Town Center.

El Dorado is a 70,000-square-foot furniture store that will showcase as many as 20 storefronts offering furniture choices from contemporary to traditional. It is being built in front of Brighthouse Crossings apartments, near the Cypress Creek Town Center and Tampa Premium Outlets. A June opening is anticipated.

Also, a January 2023 opening is expected for the 300-unit, four-story Silversaw apartment homes, on Garden Village Way, off the town center’s Sierra Center Boulevard. Work also continues for the 260-unit Garrett Apartments at Cypress Creek Town Center..

Heading toward Land O’ Lakes, the Avila Living apartment complex is rising at State Road 54 and Oak Grove Boulevard. Brick-and-mortar also is visible now at EOS Fitness.

U.S. 41, heading west from State Road 54, has had activity in recent months, too.

Circle K and 7-Eleven opened new gas stations and convenience stores on the federal highway, which locally is known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

The Circle K replaced a demolished older strip mall at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Hale Road. The 7-Eleven and a Radiant car wash filled out a vacant corner at the Bell Lake Road intersection.

Land O’ Lake residents are eagerly awaiting the opening of Stonewater Grill, which fronts Bell Lake.

Stonewater Grill is a waterfront restaurant that is expected to open on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard in early May. The restaurant will offer a range of menu options, craft beers and cocktails, a wine room, and an outdoor bar with patio dining.

In its previous renditions, the restaurant operated as Rapscallions, was rumored to be a future Hooter’s location that never came to fruition, and then served customers as Mosquito Grill and Bar, before closing and falling into disrepair.

Years ago, county officials moved to demolish the vacant and dilapidated structure.

But co-owners Dominic Difante and Scott Harris saw potential and now plan to open Stonewater Grill in early May.

They tore down most of the old structure and replaced it with a modern, stone-infused restaurant that will offer what Difante describes as an “elevated casual” dining experience.

The menu will include burgers, wings, tuna, steaks, chicken, and other options to please all tastes, Difante said.

There also will be patio dining with a bar, a wine room, a large event room with a bar, and an outdoor lounge area. He hopes to see customers dining, watching sports on large screen television, and returning two to three times a week, he added.

He hopes in the future to build a 75-foot dock, also suitable for outdoor dining.

“It’s a good area, a visible area,” Difante said. “I’m glad to be here.”

Projects galore on State Road 54
On State Road 54, moving west of the U.S. 41 intersection, an array of shops, restaurants, Class A offices and new apartments are transforming former pastureland.

The Shops at Ballantrae and the Cypress Ranch residential and commercial development especially are busy.

The Hub at Bexley is a new shopping and activity center at Bexley by Newland master-planned community, off State Road 54. Several shops and restaurants are scheduled to open by the end of 2022.

At Ballantrae, on Aprile Drive, the 54 Crossings Professional Center is under construction. The Class A office project includes two 60,000-square-foot office buildings. It will offer luxury flexible office space, lush landscaping, bicycle racks, a pavilion and walking trails, according to its website.

A shell building is under construction, also on Aprile, that will include a Five Guys restaurant and Trulieve, a medical marijuana store, according to county permits.

Opposite Ballantrae, Cypress Ranch is adding apartments and retail. Aldi’s grocery store, on Skybrooke Road, and Panda Express, on Harpers Run, are under construction. County permits also show work underway for EOS Fitness, Pacific Dental Services, The Learning Experience, and Chick-fil-A.

Next to a new Circle K gas and convenience store, Burger King is serving burgers and Woodie’s Car Wash is cleaning cars.

4 & Co. is a luxury business center and co-working space under construction on Bexley Village Drive in Bexley by Newland master-planned community.

Further west toward the Suncoast Parkway, The Hub at Bexley, off Bexley Village Drive, plans to open by the end of 2022. Its website lists future tenants for what is promised as a community gathering center, where residents can “come, stay and play.”

Among future tenants are Amazing Lashes; Bubbakoo’s Burritos; Checkmate Escape Rooms; Downright Deli & Donuts; Dr. Bawany dental office; Duckweed Liquors; Headlines Barbers; Haute Nails and Spa; P-Fit Fitness; Revolution Ice Cream; and The Poke Company.

Off Bexley Village Drive and Early Riser Drive, 4 & Co. Is planned for a summer 2022 opening. The company will offer about 35,000 square feet of Class A offices and co-workspaces. Amenities include a gym, yoga studio, sauna, a treatment room for acupuncture, and conference rooms.

The Springhill Suites by Marriott, also on Bexley Village Drive, is checking in guests.

In Odessa, commercial development at Starkey Ranch is expanding.

A new retail center – Shoppes at Starkey Crossings – is scheduled for an early 2023 opening on the north side of State Road 54 and Gunn Highway, opposite the Starkey Ranch Town Square, anchored by Publix. Details on tenants are not announced, but the shopping center will have 20,000 square feet of leasable space, including a drive-thru window at one end.

Stay tuned. There’s more to come in Pasco, soon.

By Kathy Steele

Published April 20, 2022

Pasco sheriff calls for more deputies

April 12, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County’s top law enforcement official appeared before the Pasco County Commission last week, making a case for the county to fund more deputies on the street.

Citing a statistic from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco told the county board: “We are 64th out of 67 counties, in terms of law enforcement officers, per thousand (residents) that we serve.”

Based on figures from Florida Tax Watch, Pasco ranks 55th out of the state’s 67 counties in terms of funding for public safety, Nocco added.

Pasco County significantly lags behinds Pinellas County, when it comes to sworn law enforcement officers, Nocco said, noting Pasco’s ratio is 1.06 officers per 1,000 residents, while Pinellas County’s ratio is 1.86.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco is making a case for hiring more deputies to put on the street, in response to the county’s growing needs. (File)

Other ratios of nearby counties are: 1.23 for Hillsborough County; 1.26 for Polk County; and, 1.32 for Hernando County.

Nocco also emphasized that these are numbers from the FDLE.

To match Pinellas County’s level of service, Pasco would need 399 more deputies. It would need 130 more to match Hernando; 100 more to match Polk; and, 85 more to match Hillsborough.

The staffing at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office is not keeping pace with the county’s growth, Nocco said.

“We’re trying to maintain the level where we’re at. We seem to keep falling behind.

“I am not anti-growth. I am not anti-development. That’s not my role and responsibility.

“My role and responsibility, as the sheriff, is to make sure we do everything we can to keep our community safe,” Nocco said.

He added: “It’s also my role to come here and explain this and tell you, this, to tell you, ‘Hey, this is where we’re at.’”

He told the county board that for every 1,000 additional residents, Pasco should be adding two additional deputies.

And, that, he said, would just slightly improve the current level of service.

He also told commissioners that it’s not just a matter of hiring new deputies. They must go through an onboarding process.

“It takes us over a year to hire somebody, train that person, put through orientation and put them on the street,” Nocco said.

Plus, since it’s an around-the-clock job, 365 days a year, it’s not just a matter of hiring one deputy to be out on patrol. It takes five deputies to equal having one on patrol at all times.

Pay is another significant issue, Nocco said.

Around 2015, Pasco lost more than 100 officers to the City of Tampa, because of pay.

“They actually called it ‘The Tampa 100 Club,’” Nocco said.

While the county board responded to that problem, Pasco again is at a disadvantage when it comes to pay, Nocco said.

“We’re now competing against higher-paying agencies. So, Tampa PD (Police Department) is starting at $60,000 a year. Pinellas is $51,000.

“Florida Highway Patrol is planning to have a starting salary of $56,000 a year, if Gov. Ron DeSantis approves it, which he has said that he will,” Nocco said.

At the same time, Pasco’s starting salary is $46,948, just slightly above Hernando County.

He also noted there’s an issue of hiring law enforcement officers across the country “because a lot of people lost interest, and say, ‘Hey, maybe I don’t want to get into that field,’’’ Nocco said.

Pasco’s 30-year retirement also puts it at a disadvantage to Tampa, which has a 20-year retirement for high-risk positions, Nocco said.

If the county doesn’t increase pay for its law enforcement officers, they will go elsewhere, Nocco said.

“And, if you lose them to Hillsborough, Pinellas, you’ve now trained them up, build them up, and they go somewhere else,” he said.

The sheriff also asked the county board for some assurances about his budget.

“I don’t think there’s anyone who will disagree with keeping the current budget for law enforcement and court security at $111 million.

“I just want to make sure that everybody is good with that, that the $111 million stays with the law enforcement budget and the $51 million (for jail operations) will transfer back to the county.

Reducing the $111 million would result in reduced law enforcement services in the county, Nocco said.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey told Nocco: “I’m not prepared to say anything about numbers.”

County Administrator Dan Biles said, “as part of the jail transfer, our budget office is working with (their budget office), to see what their expenses are in the jail, because we have to build a budget based on line-item expenses. So, we’re working on that.”

However, Biles added, “I don’t expect us to ask for any of that piece, as we move forward into ’23, with the jail transition.”

Commissioner Mike Moore wants the county to explore ways it could shift the burden of these costs to the new growth that is causing the expenses.

He raised the prospect of creating a new MSTU (municipal services taxing unit), so new growth could pay for new costs incurred for public safety services.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said it might be possible to structure something like that, but added that he’s not aware of it being done anywhere, and he’s not sure that would be defensible.

After the lengthy discussion, there was a consensus on the board that the conversation needs to continue.

The board has a budget workshop planned for May 24.

Ratio of law enforcement officers (per 1,000 residents)
Pasco: 1.06
Hillsborough: 1.23
Polk: 1.26
Hernando: 1.32
Pinellas: 1.86

Source: Pasco County Sheriff Nocco, citing state law enforcement figures

Published April 13, 2022

Dade City naval officer sets off for deployment

April 5, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Lt. Junior Grade Riley Roberts recently departed on her first deployment, which will involve seven months driving the USS Gunston Hall, performing repairs and in command of some of the 600 other sailors on board.

Lt. Junior Grade (LTJG) Riley Roberts is shown here, center, with other members of the Roberts family, from left, her sister, Alison; her brother, Jonathan; her mother, Tracey; and her father, Dave. (Courtesy of Tracey Roberts)

Her vessel’s whereabouts and duties are classified — even to her family — but the 25-year-old naval officer, from Dade City, is embracing all the emotions that come with her first military orders.

“I’m mostly excited, but there are some nerves and stress,” Roberts said, in a recent telephone interview. “The weight on your shoulders that you’re navigating a ship with 600 of us on it, so their lives are in my hands. It’s a little scary driving it, but I also do enjoy it.”

At Pasco High School, Roberts was a member of the JROTC, but didn’t sign up for service after graduation. Instead, she attended Florida State University and then enlisted in Officer Candidate School, where she graduated in July 2019.

She was stationed at the naval base in Norfolk, before her deployment.

While Roberts is away at sea, those back home in Dade City will be keeping her in their prayers, especially those at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Lt. Junior Grade (LTJG) Riley Roberts, who graduated from Officer Candidate School in July 2019, just began her first deployment. She will be at sea for seven months, steering the USS Gunston Hall.

She has belonged to the church since was born and has been active in myriad ways. She has served as altar server, been involved in youth group, has done ministry work and has performed in the choir.

“People at our church watched her grow up, care about her, have seen her sing in the choir,” said her mother, Tracey. “Even if they don’t know her name, they know Riley’s voice. So they’re asking about her all the time. Neighboring Catholic churches have added her to the prayer list and, of course, our parish gathered to offer a Mass for her protection.

“That means a lot to us and, of course, her,” Tracey said.

More than just prayers, Sacred Heart also added Riley to its Wall of Honor, a place where parishioners dating back to World War II are recognized for their service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Also on the wall: her father, David, and grandfather, Scott.

“My mom showed me pictures of it and I got goosebumps seeing myself up there with all the names,” Riley said. “I’m humbled to be on there when I think about all the others up there who lost their lives during bigger conflicts.”

At home in Dade City, Tracey, who works for Sacred Heart’s Early Childhood Center on the church grounds, is dealing with her own nerves, as any mother of a military officer would.

“It’s kind of terrifying, quite frankly,” Tracey said. “I am very proud of her, more proud than I thought I would be. I toured her ship, (have) seen what she does, driving a 600-foot warship. She’s super inspiring and has become a very tough, independent, brave person. In my mind, she’s going to be fine, but I’m still her mom — still going to worry.”

Certainly everyone at Sacred Heart will worry for Riley, especially those who she lovingly calls her “Old People Fan Club.” But she is ready to take on this seven-month challenge, even when faced with uncertainty regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine, and a potential for U.S. military involvement.

Riley says she will think of her family, and her church, in Dade City.

“I love going to that church because everyone knows who I am,” she added. “I get recognized around town, and, to be honest, I’ve struggled to find a church here in Virginia because none can compare to mine.

“I know it sounds cheesy, but I joined (the Navy) because I felt obligated to do so. I feel every able-bodied person should serve your country, so I joined and didn’t care what my job would be. If I had to scrub toilets, so be it. But, right now, there are no plans to engage (with Russia) and I hope it stays that way.”

Published April 06, 2022

State Road 56 closure delayed due to weather

March 29, 2022 By B.C. Manion

By B.C. Manion

The plan to close State Road 56, near Interstate 75, beginning at 11 p.m. on April 1 and ending on April 3 — has been postponed, according to the District 7 office of the Florida Department of Transportation.
The closure is being postponed due to weather. No additional information is available at this time.
Revised March 31, 2022

Making bath time less ‘ruff’

March 22, 2022 By Mike Camunas

This place is for the dogs.

Sit. Stay. Splash.

No, it’s not a dog groomer. It’s actually a self-serve dog wash.

It’s a start-up business that Alison Sebesta opened in February.

She admits she may have had ulterior motives when creating her storefront, at 1930 Collier Parkway in Lutz.

“I just want to pet dogs all day,” Sebesta, an owner of two Corgis, said with a laugh.

“All of us have dreams that make our hearts happy and the last three weeks have definitely done that for me.”

Sebesta opened Sit. Stay. Splash., on Feb. 22, as a way for dog owners to groom their dogs, in between groomer appointments.

Rei is bathed by her owner, Sofia Lopez, at Sit. Stay. Splash., in Lutz.

The setup makes it easier to bathe dogs, whether they are larger, elderly, or skittish.

“It’s about replacing what (the owner) would do at home,” Sebesta, a Land O’ Lakes resident, said. “You’re not on your hands and knees for hours soaking wet.”

At Sit. Stay. Splash., Sebesta installed five raised tubs so owners can remain standing while bathing a dog that can be tethered, to remain close. Each tub has an easy-to-use spray nozzle and soap, making washing and rinsing a breeze.

There also is a walk-in station for very large or older, or physically challenged dogs that can’t make it up the steps to the raised tubs.

Bath services start at $10. Sebesta handles clean-up duties.

“Any dog can come here,” Sebesta said. “I wanted to make sure we could bathe any type of dog.”

Cadbury gives Sit. Stay. Splash. owner Alison Sebesta kisses during bath time at the self-serve dog wash in Lutz.

There also are blow-drying stations at Sit. Stay. Splash., which allow for additional grooming needs from nail trimming, light hairstyling, and even scented sprays. Sebesta provides aprons, soaps/conditioners and towels, however, owners are more than welcome to bring their own supplies, such as treats or specialty shampoos.

That is why Kristin Reynolds and her husband, Ryan, bring their 10-month-old chocolate lab, Cadbury, to Sit. Stay. Splash.

“Right now he needs some medicated shampoo, but also, it’s just so much easier to bathe him here,” Kristin Reynolds said. “He’s 10 months old and 80 pounds already, and we just can’t do it in the bathtub.”

“He doesn’t really like the dryer, but he tolerates (a bath) a lot more,” her husband added. “This place is great because I just can’t get down on my hands and knees. This is just way easier on both of us.”

Amy Bailey has been taking full advantage of Sit. Stay. Splash.’s opening, as her dog, Sadie, a Doodle mix, is always in need of grooming. Bailey can’t get to the groomer on a weekly basis, so the self-service wash has been perfect for Sadie, whose fur needs to be blown dry or else it will mat.

“It’s been a lifesaver for me, because I just can’t sit on the floor for an hour and blow dry her,” Bailey said. “Both (the wash and dry station) have been great, but the blow dryer is the big reason we’re here.”

Sebesta will be there to help, sometimes assisted by her Corgis, Odin and Dashel. All she wants is to make bath time as easy as possible.

And to have a little fun with dogs, too.

“At the end of the day, this isn’t the groomer. It is supposed to be as stress-free as possible for every dog,” Sebesta said. “I want the community to enjoy it, I want the owners to enjoy it and — I just want to pet dogs, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Sit. Stay. Splash.
Where: 1930 Collier Parkway, Lutz
Services: Dog bathing, drying, self-service grooming
Owner: Alison Sebesta
Info: 813-406-4293 or SitStaySplash.com

Published March 23, 2022