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U.S. 301

Is Dade City poised for a marketing rebrand?

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The City of Dade City is in midst of an evolution that undoubtedly will alter the community’s aesthetic  — perhaps for decades to come.

The charming town in East Pasco is poised to see some 14,000 new homes on the books within the next five years, plus a slew of exciting downtown amenities and other unique, adventurous hotspots on the outskirts of town, just outside the city limits.

Drawing attention to Dade City’s past, while embracing it’s future is likely a challenge as the community looks to define its marketing identify. It’s an exercise that’s similar to how Pasco County in 2019 rebranded itself as ‘Florida’s Sports Coast,’ which is intended to capitalize on the county’s wave of youth and amateur recreation facilities. Shown here is The Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum, housed within the Dade City Atlantic Coast Line Depot. This was the first site in Pasco County that was be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (File)

It’s longtime moniker, “Proud Heritage and Promising Future,” may no longer be quite apt — because, as it turns out, the future is happening now.

So, city leaders face this looming question: How does Dade City go about rebranding itself as a tourist destination, and what specifically does it want to promote, to best encourage visitors and foster economic growth amid an unprecedented period?

Melanie Romagnoli, the city’s community and economic development director talked about those issues during two city commission workshops, held in October and November.

“We need to decide who we are and what we want to be,” Romagnoli said, addressing the Dade City Commission. “I think the whole thing about the brand is actually having our vision of what we want our future to be and sticking to it. How can we market the city as a destination, like Clearly Zephyrhills, like Florida’s Sports Coast?”

Following the monthly workshops and three-plus hours of discussion, at least one conclusion is apparent —  much more brainstorming is needed, before the city become serious and throws thousands of dollars to a branding consultant to develop an image profile (photos, videos, graphics, logos) to best promote the town’s features.

Built into the city’s budget for this year is $40,000 toward a marketing and advertising plan, promotional activities and other contractual services.

Before that money (and possibly much more) gets allocated, however, commissioners believe additional input is needed from the community and the public, including local businesses, residents and other stakeholders.

The input could take form in charrettes, surveys, monthly forums, and even door-to-door visits.

Commissioners also agreed that it may be prudent to wait until some new amenities throughout the city are established.

In other words, don’t put the cart before the horse.

“I do think branding right now is a little premature,” Mayor Camille Hernandez said. “There’s a lot of things happening, but I think what we need to do is go back to this community (for input).”

She also added: “I think we’re just a few steps away. It’s right under our noses.”

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Shive likewise was vocal about fostering grassroots community feedback on branding the city for the future.

“I don’t think we have actually talked about a real vision of what we want, or expect from the future, when it comes to development, when it comes to growing the city,” he said. “I think we need to have the public on board with this, especially when you’re talking about branding.”

Commissioner Normita Woodard, too, pointed out that some of the best ideas or designs may first come from a talented local volunteer, which may yield some cost savings instead of hiring an outside branding firm. Woodard also added she’s in “a reserved state” about spending thousands of dollars just yet, as the city is in a transitional period and still navigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

First things first
In the meantime, sprucing up the city’s downtown is necessary before doubling down on a full-scale rebranding effort, commissioners agreed.

Commissioners expressed concerns on proceeding with a full-on rebrand until noticeable improvements are made along the city’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) district in the form of wayfinding signage, speed limit and lighting fixtures, façade improvements and filling commercial property vacancies.

Some solutions could come via a commercial minimum maintenance standards ordinance, which staff is drafting — based on a consensus reached by commissioners to proceed in that direction.

If a maintenance standard is approved, it would require upkeep from property owners and business tenants on building paint, signs, window coverings, dumpster enclosures and fencing or security upgrades. Besides the CRA, standards would likely apply to the city’s main thoroughfares along U.S 301, U.S. 98 Bypass, State Road 52/21st Street intersection, and Meridian Avenue.

Emphasizing the importance of cleaning up the city, the mayor said: “Nobody wants to go to an icky, dirty place.”

Also before spending thousands on branding and marketing, another pressing issue is solving the city’s sizeable commercial building vacancy rate.

It presently exceeds 40% just in the downtown area, Romagnoli said.

“What are the vacancies telling our visitors: That there’s not anything going on. You walk down a street and you see a long wall of nothing but empty,” she said. “What makes them want to go to the next store?”

Commissioner Knute Nathe said it’s a “chicken-and-egg” dilemma that can’t quite yet be fully quantified: “You know, it’s kind of hard to market a place as a destination, without a ton of stuff already there; but it’s hard to bring businesses into town when people aren’t going there,” he said.

One way to create more consistent foot traffic is to have the city retain an event coordinator, Romagnoli suggested. The coordinator could host artisan and craft vendors somewhere downtown each weekend.

Commissioners expressed optimism with that idea.

Branding options abound
Aside from blighted areas, Dade City is beaming with opportunity on the horizon.

The city is in the midst of developing a 2-plus acre downtown park on Church Avenue, slated to include a multi-use water splash pad, bike-share shelter, amphitheater, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible playground, open space, concession area and other amenities.

Just a stone’s throw away is a forthcoming event and entertainment center on Seventh Street, known as The Block.

The site of a former car dealership, and spearheaded by development partners Larry Guilford and Melanie Armstrong, The Block will include a wedding and event venue, outside patio, brewer, catering business, space for food trucks and a CrossFit gym.

Also on Seventh Street is the Dade City Center for the Arts, which has begun making inroads to facilitate community art events, as well as indoor and outdoor arts and cultural exhibits.

Other imaginative and creative marketing and branding possibilities seemingly abound.

Possibilities include leveraging the fun, family friendly experiences at Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park and Snowcat Ridge, the state’s only snowtubing park, off St. Joe Road. Those attractions are just outside of city limits, but have a Dade City address.

The city also may be able to capitalize on another niche: Its budding reputation for rural, rustic destination weddings.

There are about nine such spots in East Pasco, including several with a Dade City address, Romagnoli said.

The city could consider a branding campaign that hypes local wedding spots, while encouraging other activities nearby, whether it’s biking the local trails and roads, shooting at West Armory’s indoor range, strolling the downtown shopping and dining scene, touring Pioneer Florida Museum, and so on.

The city’s economic director said another opportunity to piggyback on the destination wedding angle, includes attracting photographers, caterers and wedding planners to lease one or multiple empty building spaces downtown.

Yet another branding concept? Promoting the city as a wholesome place to raise a family.

In any case, a challenge going forward will be fighting through some established perceptions and misconceptions, Romagnoli said.

A case in point: Forbes magazine once listed Dade City among “The Best Places to Retire.”

That label no longer fits, or is appropriate, Romagnoli said.

The city’s median age is around 36.

“We’re no longer the best place to retire, but we’re a great place to raise a family,” she said.

Published December 02, 2020

Zephyrhills to update stormwater master plan

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The City of Zephyrhills is updating its stormwater master plan for the first time in more than 20 years — an undertaking that will pinpoint the city’s most prone flooding areas and provide recommendations for addressing drainage issues.

The Zephyrhills City Council on Nov. 9 unanimously approved a project work order with planning/engineering firm Kimley-Horn Associates, for the master plan.

This is a graphic from the city’s last stormwater master plan in 2000, which shows reported flooding and initial inundation assessment. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

The contract calls for the work to be done in 11 months, and provides a lump sum fee of $249,820. The project is being paid for with city revenues and with Penny for Pasco dollars.

The finished master plan will create a tool to determine flood risk, evaluate the level of service, and develop best management practices to reduce flooding and improve water quality.

The update also will include a GIS-based schema that will facilitate a plug and play approach for future updates.

More specifically, the plan includes these components:

  • Conducting an inventory of the primary drainage infrastructure throughout the watershed with detailed analysis of infrastructure in the vicinity of identified flood-prone areas
  • Developing a detailed hydrologic and hydraulic model to characterize runoff responses throughout the watershed and flood conditions in the vicinity of identified flood-prone areas
  • Developing updated floodplain maps
  • Conducting a surface water quality assessment
  • Identifying and evaluating alternatives for improving flooding and water quality in the watershed

Kimley-Horn representatives discussed the scope of work during the council’s session.

Of note, they mentioned the industry standard is to complete a stormwater master plan update every five years, particularly for municipalities like Zephyrhills, which has undergone numerable land annexations over time.

The master plan won’t do much in the way of full-blown construction plans or permitting through SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District). But, it will identify which particular basins are in greatest need of being fixed, how to do so, and an educated estimated cost for remedies.

From there, city staffers can go to the drawing board and begin to set aside design and construction funding for those particular fixes in future budgets.

The City of Zephyrhills is updating its stormwater master plan for the first time in over 20 years. The $249,820 project is being facilitated by planning/engineering firm Kimley-Horn Associates.
The plan seeks to identify the city’s most prone flooding areas and recommendations to best remedy those issues. (File)

“It’ll give us a map of how to move forward,” Zephyrhills Public Works Director Shane LeBlanc said. “Right now we’re just kind of spinning our wheels, because we don’t have the funding and we don’t have a plan.”

LeBlanc said the updated stormwater is “long overdue.”

Technology has improved significantly since the last update was done between 1999-2000, he said.

“A lot of the technology in modeling that we have now — GIS (geographic information system), LiDAR, all that type of technology — wasn’t around in 1999 when we did out last stormwater study,” LeBlanc said.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe said the plan update could prove useful should the city ever impose a stormwater assessment fee in the future because it will give the city a clearer understanding of what it would cost to resolve potential flooding problem areas.

However, Poe noted, a stormwater assessment is not on the city’s radar yet.

The city manager also said an updated stormwater plan is useful when pursuing grant dollars or state or federal appropriations for various infrastructure projects.

Having an up-to-date, detailed, organized plan with clear objectives gives the city “extra points” in the eyes of those funding sources, Poe explained.

“You can show them the plan, ‘This is what we’re trying to do,’ so that helps being a step closer to grant dollars,” he said.

Although council members initially questioned what they perceived as a hefty price tag for the master plan, they ultimately came around to moving forward with the project.

Councilman Lance Smith, for one, called the plan’s cost “a difficult bite to swallow,” but said he understands the need for updated recommendations for each basin within the city limits.

“It’s a lot of money, but we need to know where to start,” added Council President Charles Proctor. “I do like the fact that it’s going to possibly help us, when we go to Tallahassee (Florida Legislature) to possibly bring back some funding for the city.”

Meanwhile, Councilman Ken Burgess went on to label the plan “a real useful tool” to help the city prioritize its most pressing stormwater projects “instead of just throwing darts at it and getting kind of willy nilly.”

Time to start thinking about legislative requests
In other business, the city manager advised council members to begin considering some state appropriation project requests, in advance of the 2021 legislative session.

A deadline hasn’t been set yet for submittals, but it’s not too early to start identifying priorities, Poe said.

Discussions at the staff level, Poe said, have centered around securing state funding for the following municipal projects:

  • Funding for a 30,000-square-foot multipurpose indoor sports complex at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center (that would be large enough for four tennis courts, among other sports and recreation activities, such as lacrosse and soccer)
  • Additional funding for runway extension 1-19 at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport
  • Seventh Street improvements to make it a “complete street”

In other news, Poe reported that dirt is moving on the U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road intersection — signaling construction has begun on the much-anticipated project.

“Barricades are there. Signs are there. Station markers are there. The message board is up,” the city manager said.

The $2.3 million project, being completed by BRW Contracting Inc., of Land O’ Lakes, calls for the relocation of an existing signalized intersection from the shopping plaza entrance to Pretty Pond Road, a signalized intersection at Medical Arts Court, and all other required roadway improvements.

The addition of signalized intersections at these locations is designed to improve the mobility, and serve as an economic driver for the northeast and northwest corners of Pretty Pond, officials say. The area is expected to be home to a Chick-fil-A, Aldi, and a national hotel chain, among other businesses.

Published December 02, 2020

Input sought on 301/98/Clinton Avenue realignment

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Efforts are underway to enhance a busy and sometimes dangerous roadway intersection that passes through Dade City and unincorporated Pasco County.

The Florida Department of Transportation has developed five possible alternative corridor alignments, to alleviate the traffic issues where U.S. 301 and U.S. 98 merge and intersect with Clinton Avenue. A so-called Corridor B is viewed as the best option. Public comment on the alternative corridor project is being accepted through Nov. 25. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7 office has developed and unveiled recommended corridor realignment improvements for the U.S. 301/U.S. 98/Clinton Avenue intersection — via the agency’s Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) process.

A virtual public information presentation was released on Nov. 4 online. This meeting provided an opportunity to review the corridor alternatives and provide input.

Proposed improvements seek to:

  • Eliminate the current closely spaced intersections of U.S. 301 at U.S. 98 and U.S. 301 at Clinton Avenue
  • Facilitate east/west travel
  • Maximize the benefits of the improvements to Clinton Avenue and designation as State Road 52 west of U.S. 301
  • Enhance safety along the corridor

With those objectives in mind, five proposed corridor options were developed in FDOT’s ACE study, which were shared in detail in the prerecorded online presentation.

Each of the proposed corridor routes are 250 feet wide to allow for flexibility in developing proposed alignments that avoid potential constraints. It also is anticipated that a four-lane, expandable to six-lane — in divided sections — will be developed for corridor consistency.

The closely spaced major intersections of U.S. 301 at U.S. 98 and U.S. 301 at Clinton Avenue are only 1,500 feet apart and have roadways with high traffic volume. Traveling through the area requires turning and weaving movements that result in crash rates that exceed the statewide average, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

From the five alignment alternatives, the state transportation department is recommending the Corridor B option, to proceed to the project development and environmental (PD&E) study.

The 1.91-mile Corridor B route begins approximately 485 feet north of Townsend Road, and diverts U.S. 98 to the north along the east side of mobile home parks along Wilds Roads, until it ties into Clinton Avenue, east of U.S. 301.

The corridor, according to FDOT, “will impact primarily rural and farmland properties as well as a few residential properties, concentrated at the northern end of the proposed realignment.” The total cost of the recommended corridor alignment is estimated between $27.8 million and $38.3 million, according to the presentation.

Here are the other proposed corridor alternatives studied:

  • Corridor A — 0.88-mile route begins approximately 3,300 feet southeast of the intersection of U.S. 98 and U.S. 301, and diverts U.S. 98 to the north, and ties into Clinton Avenue, east of U.S. 301
  • Corridor C — 3.48-mile route begins approximately 725 feet northeast of the overpass of U.S. 98 and Old Lakeland Highway, and diverts U.S. 98 to the north, mirroring the existing geometry of Old Lakeland Highway until it ties into Clinton Avenue
  • Corridor D — 0.80-mile route begins approximately 350 north of the entrance to the Grove Ridge RV resort and diverts U.S. 98 to the west, and continues until it intersect U.S. 301 at an existing median opening
  • Corridor E — 1.47-mile route begins approximately at the intersection of U.S. 98 and Jim Jordan Road, and diverts U.S. 98 to the west, and continues until it intersects U.S. 301

How the corridors compare
The state’s presentation summarized the drawbacks of those corridors, as compared to Corridor B.

This is the Florida Department of Transportation’s recommended alternative for the U.S. 301/U.S. 98/Clinton Avenue intersection, referred to as Corridor B. The 1.91-mile route begins approximately 485 feet north of Townsend Road, and diverts U.S. 98 to the north along the east side of mobile home parks along Wilds Roads, until it ties into Clinton Avenue, east of U.S. 301. Cost is estimated between $27.8 million and $38.3 million. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

Corridors D and E “do not meet the purpose and need criterion of eliminating the closely spaced major intersections and are proposed for elimination from consideration.”

Corridor C “has the greatest involvement with the natural, social, cultural and physical environment, engineering issues,” the presentation said. Corridor A “has greater social impacts (than Corridor B), including the potential relocations and potential effects to the Harmony Heights and South Clinton Heights communities,” it added.

Corridor A has an estimated project cost from just under $13 million to $17.5 million, while Corridor C comes in at a projected cost between just below $51 million to $69.4 million.

Public comments on Corridor B and other alternatives will be received through Nov. 25, and can be made by visiting FDOTd7Studies.com/US301US98INT/ or emailing FDOT District 7 project manager Brian Shroyer at .

The next steps in the project development process include the PD&E phase, design phase, right of way acquisition and then construction.

There’s no set time frame on the project, but it’s anticipated construction wouldn’t begin for at least several more years.

PascThe PD&E study should be ready sometime in early 2022, Shroyer wrote in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

The PD&E phase would look at the road width, number of lanes, sidewalks and trails that may be necessary.

Then, depending on if funding is secured for right of way and construction during that time, it could take a couple years after that before shovel hits dirt, Shroyer said.

Reasons for intersection improvements
District 7 of FDOT initiated the planning phase of the U.S. 301/U.S. 98/Clinton Avenue intersection project in early 2019.

The U.S. 98 intersection realignment is listed among the needs detailed in the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Mobility 2045 long-range transportation plan.

Efforts are underway to seek an alternative corridor where U.S. 301 and U.S. 98 merge and intersect with Clinton Avenue in Dade City and unincorporated Pasco County. The new roadway is aimed at easing traffic and reducing accidents. (File)

The virtual presentation — which remains available online on FDOT’s website — outlined the necessity for alterations to the busy intersection.

It was explained how the closely spaced major intersections of U.S. 301 at U.S. 98 and U.S. 301 at Clinton Avenue are only 1,500 feet apart and have roadways with high traffic volume (feeder and receiver roadway segments have an annual average daily traffic of 5,000 vehicles or greater).

Because of this, traveling through the area requires turning and weaving movements that result in crash rates that exceed the statewide average, the presentation explained.

The data shows that the  closely spaced intersections have crash rates that exceed the statewide average.

Between 2013 to 2017, the U.S. 301/U.S. 98 intersection saw 68 crashes, while the U.S. 301/Clinton Avenue intersection saw 72 crashes during that period, according to FDOT studies.

Furthermore, the realignment of State Road 52 from east of McKendree Road to east of U.S. 301 will serve as an additional east/west route in the regional transportation network. Because of this, traffic at the U.S.301/U.S 98 and U.S 301/Clinton Avenue intersections is anticipated to increase, exacerbating the current intersection safety concerns, according to the presentation.

Maps, drawings, and other information are available for review under the documents tab on the project website, fdotd7studies.com/US301US98INT/.

Plans also can be viewed in person at:

  • The FDOT District 7 Headquarters, 11201 N. Malcolm McKinley Drive in Tampa
  • Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City

Published November 18, 2020

Improvements slated for County Road 54 in Zephyrhills

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A congested roadway in Zephyrhills is set to receive some long-awaited and seemingly much-needed improvements to ease traffic patterns and enhance safety overall.

The City of Zephyrhills and Pasco County have come to a cost-sharing agreement for upgrades to a portion of County Road 54 which crosses both city limits and unincorporated county areas.

Zephyrhills City Councilman Ken Burgess (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

The scope of the project calls for the following enhancements along a 1.31-mile stretch, east of U.S. 301 east to 23rd Street:

  • Additional signage and pavement markings
  • Left-hand turn lane at the Dairy Road intersection
  • Right-hand turn lane and new mast arms at Wire Road, turning onto 12th Street
  • Signalized intersection at 23rd Street
  • Pedestrian signals and ADA sidewalk ramps at the intersections of Wire Road/12th Street, 20th Street and 23rd Street
  • A 10-foot concrete multi-use path on the south side of County Road 54 adjacent to Zephyrhills High School, and a 5-foot to 6-foot path on the north side of the road, plus associated drainage

The Zephyrhills City Council on Oct. 12 unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the county that calls for a 50/50-split on costs for the multi-million project.

An engineer’s estimate for the project’s entirety came in at $6,855,255.44, meaning the city and county each will have an estimated cost of $3,427,627.72.

The entire project will be constructed in one phase. How it’s actually funded will be handled a bit differently, however.

The county has agreed to fund all improvements east of 20th Street to east of 23rd Street, including a new signalized intersection. Any dollars leftover from their cost-sharing portion will be used to help Zephyrhills fund improvements from east of U.S. 301 to 20th Street, which is inside the city’s jurisdiction.

Also, under the agreement’s terms, the county will conduct construction engineering and inspections either by utilizing its workforce or contracting with a third party. The county has also agreed to be responsible for facilities maintenance after construction.

Initial plans outlined many years ago called for the stretch to be widened to four lanes. But, various infrastructure and logistical hurdles necessitated the project to instead feature turn lanes, traffic signals and adjacent multi-use trails.

Zephyrhills City Councilman Lance Smith (File)

Either way, any improvements to the roadway section are greatly needed, city leaders say.

Councilman Ken Burgess labeled the stretch “a nightmare to navigate for many, many years.”

Councilman Lance Smith similarly called it “probably one of the most congested areas, at times, in the city.”

“I think there’s some necessary segments that we need to do,” Smith said. “I’m a little disappointed that we couldn’t get the four lanes in there, but hopefully, this will help with the traffic.”

The project’s sizable price tag — and how to split funding — had been a snag over the last several months between the city and county.

That in mind, the city does have the option to terminate the agreement should receive bids exceed cost estimates for its funding portion.

Council members acknowledged it’s quite possible that project bids will come in higher than anticipated, but they said they likely still will move forward with project — unless bids come in excessively greater than the engineer’s initial projections.

Smith put it like this: “Nothing is getting cheaper to build. I mean, as much as it’s a bitter pill to swallow, I think it’s something we should go ahead and do.”

Bid opening for the project is anticipated for some time in December, with Pasco County commissioners expected to award the bid/contract in February or March.

Once that happens, Zephyrhills will make an initial payment of $1.1 million to the county within a month of the bid award. From there, the city will pay installments (estimated at $581,906.93, plus change orders) to the county each of the next four years, through fiscal year 2024-2025.

Purchase thresholds upped for small projects
In other business, the council unanimously approved a first reading ordinance amendment increasing purchasing thresholds for when quotes and sealed bids are required.

It’s part of a move to streamline smaller purchases and projects, officials say

In a staff memo, Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe and Zephyrhills Finance Director Ted Beason outlined how small projects have been stalled as they’re required to comply with lower, outdated thresholds ($2,500 for quotes; $20,000 for bids) instituted back in 2014.

To alleviate those issues, the altered ordinance raises proposed thresholds for quotes and bids to $5,000 and $50,000, respectively.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

As an example of the ongoing threshold issue, Poe explained how a somewhat routine purchase of a new city-operated pickup truck requires council consideration if it’s greater than $20,000 — which most new trucks are — even though it received prior approval in the regular budget.

The city manager outlined other examples, too.

A damaged handrail on Green Slope Drive cost about $3,600 to repair, but the project “took a while” to complete because the city was having trouble finding three separate quotes, Poe said.

Meanwhile, a pedestrian crossing on Simons Road estimated to cost slightly more than $20,000 is being delayed because it must go out to formal bid “as opposed to taking the plans and getting three prices, and getting the project done,” the city manager said.

“It’s just slowing things down a little bit,” Poe said of the current lower purchasing thresholds. “You know, staff does a great job of finding the most cost-efficient piece of equipment or tool as they can. This just helps…of reducing some of the search time.”

Council members expressed they are on board with the threshold changes. They added there’s still transparency in such purchases and projects, as they’ll still get listed as noted items in regular council meeting packets.

“I’m OK with what we’re doing here, because you don’t want to slow things down,” Councilman Ken Burgess said. “It’s just a formality of making sure that we’re aware of it.”

A second and final reading of the amended ordinance will be considered at an Oct. 26 regular council meeting.

Published October 21, 2020

Zephyrhills adopts $60 million budget

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The Zephyrhills City Council has approved a budget of nearly $60.5 million for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

The annual spending plan is based on a millage rate of 6.35 million, which is the same rate as the city has had for the last several years.

The tax rate will generate $5,054,921 in ad valorem taxes, based on a citywide property valuation of $837,847,970. The city’s valuation was $774,173,659 last year and generated $4,695,056 in ad valorem revenues.

No one offered public comment during the budget’s second and final public hearing.

Councilman Charles Proctor commended city staffers for organizing a balanced budget — without raising taxes — amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He characterized that accomplishment as “a big deal.”

The councilman went on: “That’s why I’m so proud to live in Florida. We live in a state where it’s in our constitution that we have to have a balanced budget. I believe that should be nationwide, personally, but it’s not.

“We live within our means, and that’s the whole idea of having this balanced budget,” Proctor said.

In another city matter, staffers are reviewing an amended financial agreement from Pasco County on the multimillion County Road 54 enhancement project, which calls for a signalized intersection, turn lanes and a multi-use path along a 1.31 mile stretch, from east of U.S. 301 to 23rd Street. The proposed agreement will be brought in front of city council “very soon,” City Manager Billy Poe said.

Construction on the $2.3 million U.S 301/Pretty Pond Road signalized intersection project is slated to begin Oct. 12 and has an eight month completion timeline. The project calls for the relocation of an existing signalized intersection from the shopping plaza entrance to Pretty Pond Road, a signalized intersection at Medical Arts Court, and all other required roadway improvements. “We’ll see some dirt being churned very soon,” Poe said.

Published October 07, 2020

Zephyrhills budget decreasing in 2020-2021

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The City of Zephyrhills has adopted its tentative budget for the upcoming fiscal year  — and it comes in slimmer than the current year, at $60,412,293.

The roughly $60.4 million budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 represents nearly an 8.8% decrease from this current fiscal year’s budget of $66,293,613. However, it’s slightly greater than the city’s budget two years ago of $59,433,368.

The Zephyrhills City Council had its first reading of the ordinance and first hearing on the proposed budget in a Sept. 14 regular meeting.

The council gave first-round approval, and will have a second reading and final reading before the new budget takes effect on Oct. 1.

The Zephyrhills City Council on Sept. 14 approved a $60,412,293 for fiscal year 2020-2021, based on a 6.35 millage rate. It represents a decrease of about $5.88 million, or 8.8% from the current budget. (File)

The proposed budget is based on an approved 6.35 millage rate, assessed on taxable value of property within the city.

At least one area where the city will begin to see marked savings is the merger of its fire department with Pasco County Fire Rescue. Savings in the first year of the interlocal agreement are tallied at $551,890 compared to the 2019-2020 budget of a fully funded municipal fire department.

The agreement (as well as extended employee benefits) will cost the city roughly $5.5 million total, generally spread out over a period of seven years. After fiscal year 2026-2027, the city won’t have to pay the county for fire rescue services — as it’d be solely propped up by an MSTU assessed to city residents and commercial entities, similar to how Dade City receives such services.

Here’s a rundown of some other proposed budget highlights by the city’s various departments:

Administrative/human resources:

  • 3.5% increase to total health care costs
  • 3% pay increase for employees won’t take effect until April 1, to give the city time to review revenues sources that may decrease as a result of COVID-19
  • City council and city attorney added to city’s 80/20 group health benefits plan
  • Administration expenses for personnel services increased by reclassifying the assistant city clerk position to a public information officer position
  • Human resources worker’s compensation decreased by $9,500 (3%), and property and casualty expenses increased by $51,914 (7%)

Airport:

  • $5.7 million state appropriation for the runway 1-19 extension
  • $800,000 fuel farm
  • $265,000 taxiway alpha design
  • $185,000 airfield beacons

Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA):

  • Revenues expected to increase to $426,470
  • $100,000 building façade grants ($50,000 to rentals; $50,000 to non-rentals/commercial properties)
  • $50,000 sidewalk improvements

 Parks:

  • $60,000 tractor/finish mower
  • $150,000 playground equipment
  • $18,000 re-roof park restrooms
  • $13,500 security camera upgrades
  • $2,500 carpet cleaner

Police:

  • $255,000 for five new vehicles
  • $54,969 for administrative solutions and digital surveillance software, solar speed signs, bulletproof vests, and rifles
  • $29,500 for police laptops and server (funded under IT)

Public Works:

  • $500,000 street resurfacings
  • $275,000 Stormwater Master Plan update
  • $80,000 tree chipper
  • $50,000 sign maintenance truck
  • $35,000 retention pond fencing
  • $30,000 pickup truck for building maintenance
  • $21,000 diagnostic scanner software for heavy vehicles, maintenance building awning/rain splash guards and overhead shop fans

Sanitation:

  • $300,000 new front load commercial garbage truck
  • $40,000 curotto-can cart lift
  • $10,000 city yard security cameras
  • $2,500 diagnostic scanner software for heavy vehicles

Water major projects:

  • $1.5 million water line from Phelps Road to Simons Road along Fort King Road
  • $1 million design of utilities building and land clearing
  • $800,000 water line from Alston Avenue to Tucker Road along U.S. 301
  • $150,000 line replacement
  • $80,000 generator for well No. 12
  • $75,000 for two new utility trucks
  • $75,000 GIS mapping
  • $70,000 well rehabilitation
  • $30,000 supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system

Wastewater major projects:

  • $1.5 million reclaimed water line from Zephyrhills High School to Zephyr Lakes along Dairy Road
  • $1 million surge tank
  • $425,000 new vac truck
  • $350,000 sewer line replacement
  • $350,000 rehabilitation of three lift stations
  • $200,000 rehabilitation of approximately 100 manholes
  • $75,000 lift station generator
  • $70,000 digester cleaning
  • $60,000 new truck
  • $30,000 sludge holding tank coating

Aside from big-ticket departmental expenses, the city budgeted $2.3 million for U.S. 301/Pretty Pond intersection improvements, which is coming from a state appropriation; and $1.1 million towards County Road 54 improvements east of Hercules Park, funded via Penny for Pasco revenues. Elsewhere, the city allocated $40,000 in funding for the East Pasco Family YMCA, and $14,000 for youth sports program grants.

Published September 23, 2020

New residences popping up all over Dade City

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Residential construction is on a roll in the City of Dade City, and officials are predicting that it will yield marked increases to the town’s ad valorem revenue across the next several years.

Information shared during a budget workshop revealed some of the city’s timelines and projections for when new single-family housing and apartment complexes are expected to hit the city’s tax rolls, in the foreseeable future.

Melanie Romagnoli, the city’s community and economic development director provided the latest housing and apartment updates to the Dade City Commission.

The most recent large-scale projects — that are all but complete — include two affordable workforce apartments — Osprey Pointe (110 multi-family units) and Arbours at Hester Lake (80 multi-family units).

Melanie Romagnoli, Dade City’s community and economic development director (File)

Osprey Pointe, at 12870 Courtyard Estates, is already 100% occupied. Arbours at Hester Lake, 13300 Hester Lake Way, has been receiving application requests since it broke ground and is expected to be fully occupied shortly, Romagnoli said.

Both apartment complexes, plus the addition of 13 single-family homes (11 infill development, two Suwanee Lakeside models) are expected to increase the city’s tax rolls by another $205,000 in fiscal year 2021-2022, she said.

That represents about a 10% bump from this upcoming fiscal year’s tax rolls — where ad valorem taxes are tallied at $2,044,490.

Long-term, at least 3,000 new units are expected to come online within the next decade, with a substantial number expected to be built out over the next few years.

With that, the city has a bullish outlook for ensuing years, with further projected increases in ad valorem revenue in fiscal years. In fiscal year 2022-2023, it expects an increase of $91,000. In,  2023-2024, a bump of $199,400; in 2024-2025, an increase of $206,400;, and 2025-2026, an additional $182,000.

In other words, by 2025-2026, ad valorem tax revenues are expected to total more than $2.9 million.

And, that’s a conservative estimate, Romagnoli said. She noted that single-family homes are calculated with an assessed value of $98,000, at a 7.14 millage rate by the Pasco County Property Appraiser.

But, she said, many new properties being built come in with much higher property values.

Romagnoli explained: “A majority of the homes being built start at $220,000 to $240,000 and goes up from there based on customization, so hopefully we’ll see a lot more than that.”

Meantime, the economic development director offered a rundown on several of the more pressing projects.

Suwanee Lakeside is a 302 single-family, three-phased development along Adair Road west of State Road 52.

Earthwork on the 10-year build-out is under way since it experienced various slowdowns due to issues related to seasonal weather and environmental reviews. “They expect to see some homes built this year, we just don’t know how many. We know it’s two (model homes), for sure,” Romagnoli said.

Phase II of the Abbey Glenn development off Prosser Road and State Road 52 likewise has been held up by seasonal weather issues since its design review process was approved by city planners last fall. The 170-single family expansion is expected to have a five-year build-out, with about 35 homes coming online each year.

Earthwork and pad installations have begun at Countryside, a 25-lot subdivision at the intersection of U.S. 301 and State Road 52. “They expect to have one or two homes before the end of the year, and then 25 homes completed at the end of next year,” Romagnoli said.

Underground and roadway work is complete at The Cove, a 10-unit Habitat for Humanity development situated at 15th Street and Main Avenue. The project is still awaiting some funding and other assistance though, Romagnoli said.

Meantime, the 812-unit Summit View project is on hold as its developer is “reassessing their situation right now,” Romagnoli said.  The development is expected to eventually consist of single-family homes and townhomes east of Happy Hill and south of St. Joe Road. “We hope to see something with them coming up the first quarter of next year,” she said

Following the report, Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez expressed her pleasure that dirt is being moved and housing developments getting under way within city limits.

“It’s very exciting, and it’s very good news that we will have these rooftops and we will be moving forward over these years,” Hernandez said.

Planned residential development in Dade City

  • Vista Walk (450 units): Construction expected 2021; eight-year build-out
    • Summit View (812 units): Project on hold; 10-year build-out
  • Abbey Glenn II (170 units): Construction in progress; five-year build-out
  • Suwanee Lakeside (301 units): Construction under way; six-year build-out
  • Osprey Point (110 units): Completed
  • Arbours at Hester Lake (80 units): Completed
  • Countryside (25 units): Construction under way; two-year build-out
  • Hilltop Point (250 units): Construction expected 2021; six-year build-out
  • Highland Trail (600 units): Construction expected 2021; 10-year build-out
  • Perfection Partners (300 units): Development plans to be determined
  • Crossroads (total units unknown): Pending comprehensive plan amendment; 10-year build-out
  • Various infill development: Roughly 10 to 15 units per year for 11 years

Dade City’s expected increases in ad valorem, year by year
Fiscal year 2021-2022: $205,500
Fiscal year 2022-2023: $91,000
Fiscal year 2023-2024: $199,400
Fiscal year 2024-2025: $206,400
Fiscal year 2025-2026: $182,000
Note: Single-family homes calculated with assessed value $98,000 at 7.14 mills

Published September 16, 2020

Carriage House set to get $155,000 facelift

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A notable piece of Zephyrhills history is set to be restored — in hopes of boosting Zephyrhills’  main street corridor, while preserving a landmark of the city’s storied past.

The Zephyrhills City Council has approved a $155,000 project to renovate the Carriage House — a two-story wooden structure connected to the Historic Jeffries House, at 38537 Fifth Ave.

The Jeffries House was built in 1910 for Capt. Harold Jeffries, the founder of Zephyrhills. Jeffries was responsible for bringing many Union Civil War veterans into the area. The house where he lived is a part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The Carriage House is a two-story wooden structure connected to the Historic Jeffries House, at 38537 Fifth Ave. Renovation of the dilapidated building is part of an effort to beautify the downtown area and contribute to the preservation of other buildings within the Community Redevelopment Area district. (Courtesy of Gail Hamilton)

The council awarded the $155,000 construction contract to Zephyrhills-based Kerns Family Construction Company Inc.

The motion passed 4-1 during an Aug. 24 regular meeting, with Councilman Alan Knight dissenting.

The scope of the project includes myriad interior and exterior improvements to the dilapidated structure. The renovation includes new roof trusses, windows, lap siding, doors and second floor balcony. It also calls for replacing electrical wiring, plumbing, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, among several other enhancements. The project is expected to be completed in four months.

In voting against the project, Knight reasoned the Carriage House attachment should be bulldozed, with the money spent on other projects, such as sidewalk repairs, new playground equipment and sprucing up the Hercules Park property.

“I just can’t see putting $155,000 into that building,” Knight said.

Once the project is finished, the city plans to lease it out to a business tenant for around $1,500 to $2,000 per month.

But, Knight also noted, there’s plenty of other empty storefronts along “the main drag” of Fifth Avenue.

He said the city has failed to rent out the Jeffries House, which the city purchased for $110,000  in 2014 and renovated for $50,000 in 2016.

The building is currently utilized by the Zephyrhills CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and nonprofit Main Street Zephyrhills Inc.

“We did the same thing with the Jeffries House, ‘Oh we’re going to lease it out,’ and we never leased anything out,” Knight said.

“I think we made a mistake,” he said.

While Council President Charles Proctor ultimately voted for the renovation contract with Kerns Construction, he sided with Knight’s sentiments about the project, in general.

“Personally, I would’ve liked to have just leveled it over, took the money and spend it on something else, but here nor there, we’re going to redo it and I do hope that it stays in budget, that’s my biggest thing,” said Proctor.

Other supporting council members reasoned that the undertaking is a long-term investment in the city’s historic downtown that will pay dividends in time.

“I totally understand where Councilman Knight is coming from, but I look at it more as like an investment in the downtown area, an investment and maintaining a historical building,”  Councilman Lance Smith said.

“I look at it as this was the property that the founder of Zephyrhills owned, and it should be worth saving, I would think,” he added.

Council Vice President Jodi Wilkeson, expressed support for saving the Carriage House, noting it’s worth the investment.

“This is a learning opportunity,” Wilkeson said. “It’s an opportunity to promote our downtown. It’s an opportunity to promote the Jeffries House, because right now it’s an eyesore (with the Carriage House). When it’s finished it’s going to be beautiful…”

As a bonus, Kerns Construction will organize a series of public workshops at the Carriage House during ongoing construction — inviting residents to see how to complete restoration tasks, such as stripping floors and repairing windows. These “How To” activities also will be  live-streamed on various social media platforms.

“People are interested in that, and it’s attracting young people to our city, and it’s changing the demographic to our community,” Wilkeson said.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe also provided updates on several development projects:

  • City staff has submitted required documents to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road signalized intersection project.

Issues recently arose over the city’s selection of BRW Contracting Inc., a Land O’ Lakes company that isn’t on FDOT’s pre-qualified vendor list. Poe said “fingers are crossed, prayers are being said,” FDOT will approve the proposal and a forthcoming agreement will be on the city’s Sept. 14 meeting agenda. The intersection project is being funded via a $2.3 million appropriation included in this year’s state budget; the project has a seven-month construction timeline.

  • The bid letting process for the multimillion Country Road 54 enhancement project remains “on hold” until the city and Pasco County can reach an agreement on splitting costs for it. The scope of the project calls for various turn lanes, a signalized intersection and a multi-use path along a 1.31 mile stretch, generally from east of U.S. 301 to 23rd Street.
  • The city’s planning department is working on designs for the Kossick Road extension to Otis Allen Road, to help make way for the Zephyr Lakes single-family residential development. The city manager explained the idea is to tie in a four-lane road, but a large transmission pole may prevent that, “so we’re working on getting meetings scheduled with Pasco County and Duke Energy to see what can be done.”
  • The $4.9 million Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center final completion date is targeted for Sept. 29; the scheduling of a grand opening date is still to be determined.

Published September 02, 2020

Dispute pauses improvements to County Road 54

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Improvements to a portion of County Road 54 through Zephyrhills are on hold, as the municipality and Pasco County struggle to come to financial terms on the project.

The scope of the project calls for the following enhancements along a 1.31 mile stretch, from east of U.S. 301 to 23rd Street:

  • Additional signage and pavement markings
  • Left-hand turn lane at the Dairy Road intersection
  • Right-hand turn lane and new mast arms at Wire Road, turning onto 12th Street
  • Signalized intersection at 23rd Street
  • A 10-foot concrete multi-use path on the south side of County Road 54, and a 5-to-6-foot path on the north side of the road, plus associated drainage

How to split the cost of the $6.78 million project is the crux of the issue.

County staffers have asked the city to fund 50% of the project through an inter-local agreement. The roughly $3.35 million would be paid in installments, over three years.

An initial draft of the contract also calls for the city to agree to pay any cost overruns, in full.

For instance, if the project ends up costing, say, $7 million, the city would be responsible for the $22,000 difference from the engineer’s estimate of $6.78 million.

The Zephyrhills City Council balked at the proposal.

Council members called for a better deal, at the board’s regular meeting earlier this month.

Council members and city staff indicated the proposed agreement had come out of left field.

They said there wasn’t much or any input with them throughout the design/pre-engineering process.

The estimated cost was an eyeopener, too.

“I think we all had sticker shock,” Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe said.

While the city put forth some money into the project’s design several years ago, council members were under the impression it was for a four-lane road extension, as opposed to turn lanes, traffic signals and adjacent multi-use trails.

Any improvements east of 20th Street are not in the city’s jurisdiction, officials noted, so the city should not be responsible for those costs. They also raised a question about whether those improvements are even necessary.

Another snag: The county had already gone to bid on the project before getting the city’s approval on the final agreement. The county later canceled that bid opening, Poe said.

Poe said the ongoing dilemma is that the project won’t be completed, unless the city participates in helping to fund the project’s entire scope — even the portion outside its jurisdiction.

City could do improvements on its own
The city’s other option is to take on the project itself and determine which areas along the roadway are most pressing for improvements, Poe said.

Council Vice President Jodi Wilkeson said work certainly is needed along the busy stretch of road.

She observed the area north of Zephyrhills High School, and south of Wire Road and 20th Street  has “pretty dangerous conditions” with heavy traffic.

Zephyrhills City Council Vice President Jodi Wilkeson (City of Zephyrhills)

“People are riding golf carts and walking on the grass there. People tend to ride on the street there because there is no sidewalk, there’s no bike lanes,” Wilkeson said.

However, Wilkeson, like others, expressed reservation about the project’s cost — “a significant percentage of our annual budget” — while also noting city residents have already been taxed by the county through Penny for Pasco for such infrastructure improvements.

She put it like this: “A million dollars a year (for three years) sounds like a lot of money, but honestly, my bigger concern is what kind of precedent are we setting with the county, if we begin to fund 50% of the projects that they’ve already taxed our residents?”

Councilman Lance Smith said some type of project needs to get done along the roadway, one way or another.

“It’s going to get bad,” Smith said. “That road’s bad at certain times of the day.”

Smith suggested his fellow council members extend an olive branch to Pasco County Commissioners, to direct their staff-level employees to negotiate in better faith.

“They’re just pushing us, trying to get us to sign this thing,” Smith said. “I think we need to reach out to them and tell them, ‘We will participate, but we’re feeling strong-armed into this thing right now, and it’s not what we originally talked about.’”

The councilman added the city has partnered well with the county on countless transportation projects in the past, including State Road 56, the Eiland Boulevard/U.S 301 intersection, Copeland Drive, Kossick Road, Simons Road, plus various frontage and reverse frontage roads.

Said Smith: “We do need to remind them of all these things we’ve helped them with in the past. Maybe we suggest, ‘Look, we’ve been good partners with the county and we want to continue to be good partners with the county, so we need some help. We need you to help us out.’”

With that, Smith is optimistic a deal can be struck.

“It’s going to take a little bit of time, that’s all,” he said.

While concurring with other council members, Council President Charles Proctor expressed frustration with the county for trying to take advantage of the city.

“All of a sudden they’re in this big rush for us to put in our portion and nothing’s even broken ground.

“We do have a good relationship with the county and I don’t want to ruin that relationship by any means, but I think it has to be fair for all involved, and I just feel like this was kind of shot at us real quick and we didn’t have a signed agreement, so I think we need to protect our own and look out for the citizens of our great city,” Proctor said.

Meanwhile, Councilman Alan Knight advised the city to take a “wait and see” approach before jumping into the multimillion dollar project with the county. “I think we have to look at it again, I really do,” he said.

Knight also proposed the city look into possibly taking on the project itself and make desired traffic improvements at the most troubled areas along the mile-plus long roadway — such as the Wire Road intersection.

“We could almost do that intersection just with our own money and not have to jump into three or four million dollars with the county,” Knight said.

In a follow-up interview with The Laker/Lutz News, the city manager said it could take several more meetings before a solution with the county is reached.

“It’s a big price tag, and so the message was relayed to Pasco County, so there’s still more conversations to be had,” Poe said.

Published August 26, 2020

An overpass at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs?

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It’s a long way from reality, but Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore wants to begin taking steps toward the possibility of an overpass at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The commission chairman broached the idea during the commission’s Aug. 19 meeting.

“If you know the intersection of 581, that’s Bruce B. Downs, and (State Road) 56 — that’s one of the largest intersections in the nation. It’s huge,” Moore said.

“For bikers and walkers, that is impossible to cross,” he noted.

“It’d be great for our citizens to have access, especially bike access, all across there,” Moore said. “All four corners have numerous things to benefit the citizens.”

In addition to The Shops at Wiregrass, there also are a number of shops and restaurants along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, the county leader said.

There’s also a multi-use path, and State Road 56 has been extended over to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

“I would love to see if we can look at possibly getting — I’m going to call it a flyover —  for bikes and walkers. I mean, golf carts would be cool, too, but if that can’t happen, at least for bikes and walkers,” Moore said.

Creating this overpass would help the county move closer to its concept of creating walkable communities, Moore added.

“We have a number of neighborhoods, very close to that intersection,” he said, mentioning Seven Oaks and Northwood, as well as numerous townhouse and apartment communities.

“It’s just hard for them to get over,” Moore said. “If you want to make this bike-able, walkable — you need to have access.

“We have the new brewery coming, that’s going to be one of the largest in West Florida,” he added.

Moore said he raised the issue because he wanted to get a conversation going about the potential improvement.

Fellow Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told Moore:  “I think that would be great to have something like that over there, it’s just a process.”

To move forward with the idea, she advised him to get in touch with Tina Russo, who heads up the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Starkey also added that getting an improvement like that built would need to go through the Metropolitan Planning Organization process.

Published August 26, 2020