The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Dade City Commission

Ceremony celebrates new Dade City leaders

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The Dade City Commission swore in a new mayor, a new mayor pro-tem, a new commissioner and an incumbent, during the commission’s April 26 meeting.

Jim Shive is the city’s new mayor, replacing Camille Hernandez, who retired from elected office. Knute Nathe is the new mayor pro tem. Ann Cosentino will fill the seat vacated by Hernandez, and Scott Black was reelected to another term.

Hernandez was elected in 2006 to a commission seat and served as mayor from 2012 until retiring in 2022.

Commissioners unanimously elected Shive as the city’s mayor and Nathe as the mayor pro tem.

Published May 04, 2022

The Dade City Commission, from left are Knute Nathe, Jim Shive, Scott Black, Ann Cosentino and Normita ‘Angel’ Woodard. Commissioners selected Shive as the city’s mayor and Nathe as mayor pro tem. (Courtesy of Jennifer Tussing)
Dade City Mayor Jim Shive, right, shakes hands with Mayor Pro Tem Knute Nathe during a City Commission Meeting on April 26.

Honoring this public servant’s service

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From left: Commissioner Curtis Dwyer; Commissioner Donna DeWitt, O.S.B.; Mayor Richard Christmas; Mayor Pro Tem James Hallett, O.S.B.; and Commissioner Mike D’Ambrosio. (Courtesy of Andrea Calvert)

Mayor Richard Christmas was honored during the April 12 St. Leo Town Commission meeting. He received a proclamation and a plaque, commemorating his 27 years of service on the Town Commission, including 13 as mayor. He did not seek reelection this year.

During his tenure, St. Leo underwent many projects and improvements, including the expansion of Saint Leo University, relocation of Holy Name Monastery, revision of the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan, development and contraction of the portion of Lake Jovita subdivision that was in the Town, and improvement of streets throughout St. Leo, according to information provided by the town.

The countywide Penny for Pasco initiative also was implemented, as was the Municipal Association of Pasco.

(Courtesy of the City of Dade City)

Going out on a high note
Before the Dade City Commission meeting began on April 12, Mayor Camille Hernandez was honored for 16 years of service to the community. Hernandez is retiring from her position as mayor, effective April 26. She was a commissioner for six years and then served as mayor for 10. From left: Commissioner Normita ‘Angel’ Woodard, Hernandez, Commissioner Knute Nathe, Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem James Shive and Commissioner Scott Black.

Published April 20, 2022

Dade City Police Department unveils strategic plan

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The Dade City Police Department has finalized its four-year strategic plan — running through 2025 — designed to guide the agency through a wave of growth and development within the East Pasco municipality.

The 21-page report — condensed into a PowerPoint — was presented in detail by Dr. James Sewell, a former assistant commissioner for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), during a Dec. 14 Dade City Commission meeting.

The Dade City Police Department has updated its four-year strategic vision plan, which runs through 2025. (File)

Sewell, of St. Petersburg, is known for helping law enforcement agencies in charting a road map for their future through the creation and implementation of their strategic plans.

He contracted with the Dade City Police Department to articulate the department’s vision, mission and values.

The strategic plan process, led by Sewell, included collaborative working groups, involving Dade City Police staff as well as residents, educators, business professionals, nonprofits, retirees and other stakeholders.

Sewell explained the broad strokes of the department’s vision to commissioners.

He said it seeks to foster “a community and a police department that work together.”

The department also wants to ensure that Dade City is “a safe place to live, work and visit,” Sewell said.

“The vision of the police department is to protect you — real simple,” the law enforcement expert said.

His experience includes serving as chief of the Gulfport Police Department from 1986-1990 and then later leading the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute.

He said the Dade City department must base its actions on these fundamental values:

  • Respect for the community and the people it serves
  • Integrity of the organization and the individuals within it
  • Professionalism among employees and their conduct
  • Service to the community

The department’s plan over the next four years encompasses four primary goals, tied together by 17 “action-focused” strategies and 91 objectives.

These four general goals are:

  • To maintain a safe community through effective enforcement, education, and citizen involvement
  • To provide a professional work environment that attracts and retains diverse, qualified personnel, recognizes employee excellence, and promotes leadership through education and training
  • To ensure agency and individual accountability by effective and efficient use of equipment, facilities and technology
  • To ensure the department keeps pace with the needs of the city brought on by increases in residential population, households served and commercial growth

A key finding that emerged during the planning exercise involves the need to maintain and enhance positive relationships and outreach programs for local youth, Sewell said.

He explained, “Where we see problems oftentimes in communities is with young people, who don’t perhaps respect the values and activities of the police, as adults do, so we want to make sure we’re doing some stuff with those youth.”

Accreditation through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) is another notable priority for the department and concerned citizenry: “That becomes your standard by which agencies are measured, and we believe that it’s time. If you look at an effective hospital or school system, they are accredited by some professional body,” Sewell said.

He commended Dade City decisionmakers for investing in the department, including equipment, facilities and technology upgrades, as well as a take-home car program.

“You’ve got a great department and great leadership, and as I’ve found, from the work during the summer — a great group of citizens who want to be involved,” Sewell said.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez expressed appreciation to Sewell for his work and for the involvement of concerned citizens who took part in the process.

She lauded the law enforcement agency’s “excellent leadership and wonderful men and women.

“We are very, very proud of them, and are forever grateful, especially during these kinds of unprecedented times all over,” the mayor said.

She also underscored the importance of the department completing the forward-looking plan, given “so many things happening” within the city limits concerning growth and development.

She said she hopes that moving forward the city will continue to provide support and resources needed to help the Dade City Police Department to do a good job — and to keep both law enforcement and the citizens they serve, safe.

Much discussion in recent months has surrounded how the law enforcement agency will manage the municipality’s impending residential and commercial growth and development.

At full strength, the city has budgeted for 27 full-time sworn officers for fiscal year 2021-2022. That number of officers — as well as accompanying police budgetary resources — will have to grow in coming years, to keep pace with the increased population, officials have said.

About 6,500 new rooftop and several commercial properties have been approved to be built over the next two decades within the city limits.

Published January 12, 2022

Dade City awards general engineering services

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The City of Dade City has chosen a host of firms to serve as general planning and engineering consultants, for the next five years.

Elected officials selected firms that include Lakeland-based Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions Inc.; Lutz-based Johnson Engineering Inc.; Tampa-based Halff Associates Inc.; and Tampa-based CPH Inc.

(File)

Tampa-based Tierra Inc., also was selected to provide geotechnical services to the city.

The Dade City Commission made the selections on a 5-0 vote on Dec. 14, giving city staff the authorization to prepare a general consulting agreement for each firm to be considered at the next available city commission meeting.

Dade City Public Works Director Bryan Holmes detailed the city’s selection process.

A request for qualifications (RFQ) was solicited in September, for interested firms to submit their qualifications for providing planning and engineering services and geotechnical services to the city on a continuing consulting agreement.

Fourteen firms responded to the city’s solicitation.

The submitted RFQs included:

  • Firm qualifications: That includes the number of years the firm has been in business; references and past performances; willingness to meet time and budget requirements; recent, current and projected workloads; volume of work previously awarded to each firm by agency
  • Experience and qualification of assigned staff: That includes the staff’s experiences, qualifications and technical abilities
  • Approach and delivery of services: That includes an understanding of the scope of work, ability to comply with the full scope of work, technical soundness of the proposal

A panel of city staffers reviewed the RFQs. The panel was made up staff that is knowledgeable about the planning and engineering projects the city will be doing in the next few years.

To further narrow down the list of would-be consultants, staff focused on evaluating the specialty services and focus areas offered by the firms that submitted.

Some of these specialties and focus areas tracked upcoming planning and engineering projects anticipated and programmed in the city’s five-year capital improvement plan. These specialties include the development and implementation of traffic calming programs, neighborhood planning, round-about design and engineering, stormwater management engineering and design, local government planning services, and GIS and mapping training services.

Wood generated the best score in the engineering evaluation criteria matrix with a 93 average, followed by Johnson Engineering (92.3), Halff Associates (91), and CPH (87.3). Tierra generated a score of 98 in the geotech evaluation.

Published December 22, 2021

Dade City’s city manager receives 3.98 rating out of 5.0

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Dade City Manager Leslie Porter has made marked improvement in some areas and has room to grow in others — based on a recent performance review and evaluation from the Dade City Commission.

Porter scored a combined 3.98 out of a possible 5.0 points on the evaluation, which was delivered at the commission’s Nov. 9 meeting.

The evaluation covered a period from May 2020 through October 2021.

Each Dade City commissioner completed a summary evaluation scoring sheet and added comments.

Porter was graded on five broad categories:

Management/administration: 3.5

Governance: 4.3

Relationship building: 3.9

Leadership: 3.9

Financial acumen: 4.3

    File

Mayor Camille Hernandez led the evaluation, initially highlighting Porter’s strengths and accomplishments of late. For instance, she noted that Porter has enhanced her communication skills during the evaluation period.

Hernandez said the city manager’s weekly administrative updates to commissioners have been “very well-received and encouraged, so I ask you to continue to do that.”

She also praised Porter’s updates and judicious response to sensitive issues; increased visibility and community outreach; and, improved grasp of municipal governance, among other positives.

“It certainly has not gone unnoticed that you have stepped up,” Hernandez said.

During her tenure, Porter has managed through a pair of cybersecurity incidents; negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement between the city and the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association; and resolved crucial land actions to prevent possible de-annexations.

She also led the city’s COVID-19 response — developing policies for staffing, virtual meetings and access to public facilities.

While describing Porter as “moving in the right direction,” Hernandez identified areas in which Porter can focus more energy.

For instance, Hernandez there’s a need to foster more team-building and respect, throughout the workplace.

The commission also wants Porter to use best practices in setting city policies and procedures. For instance, the city manager should take advantage of guidance and resources available through the Florida City and County Management Association.

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter (File)

The commission would like Porter to document and coordinate performance reviews and evaluations of other city staffers “in a more-timely fashion.”

Holding fellow city staffers accountable is another issue “that’s come up repeatedly,” Hernandez noted.

“All in all, I think it was kudos for the strengths that are witnessed, but I do think there’s some areas that we need to hold people accountable,” the mayor said of Porter.

“There’s just so much activity, we need to have systems in place to make sure that we are not dropping the ball and things are happening,” Hernandez said.

When the city drops the ball on an issue, it embarrasses the commission and reflects on city staff, Hernandez said.

“I do think these are resolvable issues, so I encourage you to look at these, resolve these, and keep moving forward,” Hernandez added.

She also emphasized that Porter should cross-train new staff and use them in various departments, at the city manager’s discretion.

Porter’s response to the evaluation was brief.

“Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it, and I appreciate the opportunity,” said Porter, who was hired as the city’s finance director in 2014.

She became interim city manager in February 2019, assuming the post held for many years by Billy Poe, who took a similar position with the City of Zephyrhills.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez (File)

Porter was selected after the city was unable to reach a contract agreement with Christopher Edwards, its initial top candidate for the position, who was then a real estate associate in Tallahassee and previously had served as deputy director of the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economy Vitality.

Instead of choosing to interview a list of new candidates, the commission opted to proceed with Porter for the post. She started with a base salary of about $99,000.

Before coming to Dade City, Porter spent nearly a decade working as town treasurer for the Town of Chesapeake Beach, in Maryland.

She has a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and a master’s degree from George Washington University.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

More police needed, as city grows

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Dade City Police Lt. Robert Tungate was a guest speaker at The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce business breakfast meeting, held last month at Golden Corral in Zephyrhills.

Among his talking points during the Sept. 21 gathering was how the local law enforcement agency is managing the municipality’s impending residential and commercial growth and development.

About 6,500 new rooftops and several commercial properties have been approved to be built over the next two decades within city limits.

Dade City Police Lieutenant Robert Tungate was a guest speaker during a Sept. 21 business breakfast meeting hosted by The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, at Golden Corral in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

Homes soon will be popping up across all parts of the city, Tungate said, pointing to scheduled land clearings along Clinton Avenue and U.S. 301, St. Joe Road, and Roberts Road, among other areas.

With that, the local police official predicted the city’s population of some 7,000 residents will “probably” triple within the next five to eight years, and added, “that’s not counting all the amount of traffic that comes in every day to work, especially if we get all these new developments going on.”

“We’re going to swell during the daytime, and then when everybody goes home, we’re, of course, going to have all these rooftops,” Tungate said. “The houses mean more calls for police services.”

As the city balloons, so will its local police department.

The Dade City Police Department presently has five open positions, Tungate said.

One vacancy is due to a retirement, while the other four are newly funded positions in advance of the ensuing growth.

Other changes on tap include the launch of a Chaplain Corps program, to offer advice, counseling and assistance to police employees, particularly in times of crisis and otherwise.

At full strength, the city has budgeted for 27 full-time sworn officers for fiscal year 2021-2022.

This is a number the department hasn’t seen in some time, Tungate said.

To fill these positions, the agency is recruiting local colleges and universities wanting to land “top of the tier” applicants and hires, Tungate said.

To that end, Tungate shared the ongoing battle of being competitive and on par with other Tampa Bay area law enforcement agencies in not only recruiting qualified officers, but preventing those from bolting for larger, more prestigious agencies once they gain some field experience.

“This new generation of cops coming in, they’re all saying, ‘What’s in it for me?’ It’s not like the old days where people get a job and they stay there,” explained Tungate.

“These guys are coming in, saying, ‘Hmm, this (agency’s) better, that (agency’s) better,’ for whatever the reason. Sometimes, it’s pay. Not always. Sometimes, it’s working next to a best friend, it doesn’t matter…”

Meanwhile, Tungate thanked the Dade City Commission and Dade City Manager Leslie Porter (who was among dozens in attendance during the meeting) for proactively directing more resources to the police department of late.

“The city manager has done a great job to recognize the need for our police department,” said Tungate. “If we keep growing like we’re growing, the city commission and city manager recognizes that we’re going to grow again.”

This has included increased wages and benefits for patrol officers, detectives and sergeants through new collective bargaining agreements between the city and the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, on behalf of the local law enforcement agency.

Moreover, city leaders recently approved increased public safety impact fees on new single family homes (now $449, up 375% from the prior $94) and retail units (now $462 per 1,000 square feet, up 52% from $304).

The measure was recommended by consulting firm Stantec, given the municipality hadn’t increased since 2004.

Additional revenues from the public safety fees will be used to address the police department’s increased costs of service delivery, operations, capital outlay, training and new equipment, including police vehicles.

The public safety fee hikes, Tungate said, “takes the burden off the city to have to come up with Penny (for Pasco) money or your other tax revenues” to fund local police operations.

Tungate is third in command of the Dade City Police Department and is responsible for the supervision of criminal investigations, forensics, property evidence and records and communications divisions, according to the city’s website.

The lieutenant of police administration also serves as the public information officer and is responsible for agency recruitment and professional standards. He also writes, tracks and manages grants; and supports the annual budget preparation process.

Pasco County District 1 Commissioner Ron Oakley also spoke during the breakfast meeting, offering general updates on some of the county’s roadway and development projects.

He took a mostly positive angle on the impending growth coming East Pasco’s way.

Said Oakley, “You’ve got all these homes coming into Dade City, guess what it’s going to do for the businesses in Dade City? It’s going to increase. The economic value of those homes, that’s going to pour into Dade City and make it better, so it’s a good thing for everybody.”

Oakley acknowledged more traffic buildup occurring in these parts, but pointed out supporting infrastructure like roadway improvements and schools can’t be furnished until residential developments and communities are built out and related impact fees collected.

Addressing the crowd, Oakley said, “I know you all know how much growth is happening in Pasco County, and a lot of it has moved to the eastern part of Pasco County, which for us, that’s a lot of new things happening. We want to be a premier county, and we’re going to do things the right way.”

Published October 20, 2021

Tourist tax dollars allocated for Dade City visitor center

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The Pasco County Commission approved an amount not to exceed $250,000 in tourist development tax dollars to be used for a visitor’s information center, in Dade City.

The county board approved the action during its Oct. 12 meeting.

This rendering shows the expected appearance of new visitor information center being built near Hardy Trail, in downtown Dade City. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

The vote follows a previous agreement between the Dade City Commission and Pasco board to partner with the Destination Management Organization, known as Florida’s Sports Coast, to develop a visitor information center.

The idea, according to the county board’s agenda backup materials, is to take advantage of the strategic location of Dade City and its trail system.

The Tourist Development Council recommended funding of up to $250,000 for the project, which was approved by the county board.

COVID-19 issues delayed the full execution of the agreement, as well as the project itself.

When the project is completed, Dade City will send the county a written “Notice of Work Completion,” and the county will pay Dade City up to the approved amount.

If the project costs less than $250,000, the county has the discretion to transfer the remaining funds to Dade City for uses that are consistent with a specific section in state statutes, according to the backup materials.

The aim of the visitor’s center is to be a cyclist-friendly visitor center — within a trail system and a downtown area — in order to welcome trail users and visitors, and to promote downtown commerce and tourist amenities, both on and off the trail.

The money is being provided through the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, which receives its funding from taxes that visitors pay on accommodations.

Plans include a 1,380-square-foot open floor plan and two family bathrooms that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The center will be situated on the south side of Church Avenue, near the Hardy Trail multi-use trailhead.

Published October 20, 2021

Dade City Commission renews administrative contracts, other business items

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The Dade City Commission tackled a number of business items during a Sept. 27 regular meeting at City Hall.

This included finalizing administration-level employment contracts for its city attorney and finance officer, among other actions, respectively.

Commissioners approved a one-year agreement with Thomas Thanas, through the Bradenton-based firm of Dye, Harrison, Kirkland, Petruff, Pratt & St. Paul, PLLC to provide legal services for Dade City.

Dade City Attorney Thomas Thanas (Courtesy of Dye, Harrison, Kirkland, Petruff, Pratt & St. Paul, PLLC)

The action extends an agreement with Thanas, who has served as interim city attorney May 2019.

The annual contract for Thanas’ services will increase from $84,000 to $92,400, with the designated interim tag also removed.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez described Thanas as “a beacon of light” and “always helpful and always there,” while discussing the action item with commissioners.

Thanas has been an attorney since the 1980s.

He spent much of his career serving as a city attorney and a private practitioner representing municipalities primarily in the Chicago, Illinois area.

He also once served as city manager of Joliet — the third-largest city in Illinois — from 2008 to 2013.

The veteran lawyer shared positive words about working for the East Pasco County small town, addressing the commission.

“I really enjoy working with the (commission) and with the city staff,” Thanas said. “You have a lot of good things going on with this community, it’s a great community, and I enjoy being part of the time,” he said.

“…I’ve learned a lot by being around all of you, so I do enjoy it. We’ll continue on. I really do enjoy working here, and I’d like to continue it.”

Commissioners also approved an agreement with Tampa-based Aclarian LLC to provide accounting and financial services.

Dade City Finance Officer Andrew Laflin (File)

The move makes the Aclarian’s president, Andrew Laflin, the city’s contracted finance officer and removes the designated interim tag.

Laflin has served as the city’s interim finance officer since July 2020. His annual contracted rate with the city will now increase from $78,000 to 84,000.

Laflin’s duties have entailed assisting with the budgeting process, preparing for year-end audits, reviewing and approving payroll and non-payroll transactions, leading various projects such as fee studies, and providing leadership and guidance of the city’s finance and utility billing divisions.

Laflin’s firm provides similar consulting services to the City of Madeira Beach and City of Starke.

He expressed gratitude to city leadership for showing confidence in him to continue to provide financial consulting services, mostly in an off-site or virtual capacity.

“I think we’ve done some good, positive things in the finance group,” he said. “Faced some adversities and challenges, not only with COVID, but the cybersecurity incident and having limited access to our network and files and system, but we’ve persevered and look forward to seeing improvements in the future. And hopefully, being able to use technology and innovation in order to streamline business processes further and just make this a more efficient operation.”

In other action, commissioners:

  • Approved a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the police sergeants of the Dade City Police Department through the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association. Among the notable changes include new starting salaries for a sergeant being $50,000; and a pay step plan that creates a 2% increase for every year of service between years one and 14, along with a 5% increase at year 15 and another 5% increase at year 20.
  • Approved changes to the city’s personnel leave policy, including the addition of Juneteenth to holiday observances; increased notice for reporting out sick from 30 minutes to an hour before the shift; and incorporated some updates to the Family and Medical Leave Act provisions, showing inclusion of qualified exigency leave and military caregiver leave.

Dade City Human Resources Director Patty Coram summarized the various personnel leave policy alterations to the commission.

“It’s kind of streamlining what everyone else is doing out there,” Coram said. “It seemed like a lot of entities were moving forward to celebrate Juneteenth; they jumped on that federal holiday, so we’d kind of like to move forward to enact that for our employees, also.”

Published October 06, 2021

Dade City’s budget approaches $25 million

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The City of Dade City has finalized and adopted its fiscal year 2021-2022 budget — with the price tag coming in at nearly $25 million.

The figure represents an increase of about $7.25 million — or nearly 41% — from this past year’s budget.

The Dade City Commission unanimously approved the second, and final, reading of the new budget, during its Sept. 27 meeting at City Hall.

No residents spoke about the budget during the public hearing.

The fiscal year commences Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2022.

Slightly more than $1.74 million of the budgetary increase is due to a change in budgeting special revenue and impact fee funds, according to the city’s final operating budget book and other documents.

In prior years, impact fee revenues were minor, due to limited growth in the city; beginning with fiscal year 2022, all impact fees funds will be included in the budget.

Also, in prior years, the local option gas tax was treated as a special revenue fund; now, this activity will be included in the general fund.

Capital outlay and debt service represent the largest chunk of the 2021-2022 budget, anticipated to total $13.74 million (55% of the total budget) and up about $5.92 million from this past fiscal year.

Major capital projects include construction of the Dade Oaks retention pond, Howard Avenue stormwater improvements, Tank Hill well and booster station, Morningside Drive extension, wastewater force main and lift station projects, and sidewalk/road improvements.

Personnel costs are expected to be roughly $6.43 million, or nearly 26% of the total budget, and an increase of $626,446 from the last budget.

The increase in personnel costs is a result of:

  • Funding new positions
  • Increased health care premiums
  • The adoption of a new pay scale and associated increases
  • A 3% salary adjustment for individuals not affected by the new pay scale
  • Increased wages and benefits through the negotiation of the police union contracts, and associated retirement costs.

Lastly, operating costs came in at $4.73 million — up about $706,000 from this past year’s budget. They represent about 19% of the latest budget.

Changes in operating costs include:

  • Funding for a comprehensive plan update
  • Development of a disaster recovery plan
  • Additional IT security costs
  • Election year costs
  • Increases in solid waste collections and utilities
  • Additional funding of the city’s utility renewal and replacement fund, as per recommendations from a rate study

The 2021-2022 fiscal year budget is based, in part, on a 7.14 millage rate, assessed on taxable value of property within the city.

The city’s certified taxable value is about $340 million.

At the rate of 7.14 mills, ad valorem tax revenues in the city’s general fund are anticipated to levy an estimated $2.3 million, an increase of slightly more than $262,000 from the prior year’s $2 million for general fund expenses.

The breakdown of ad valorem revenues comes from the assessed value of the city’s 1,857 single-family homes, of which 1,231 have at least one exemption, according to city records.

Commissioners held eight budget workshops between June, July, August and September to hammer out myriad details and considerations.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez thanked city administration and staff for “lots of hard work” during the budgetary planning process.

“A lot of things on the table,” Hernandez said of the latest budget. “Hopefully, we are bringing Dade City forward with some additions we’ve made, and certainly some adjustments we’ve made with salaries and staff, and all that…and hopefully only great things ahead.”

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter summarized the city’s financial picture in the finalized 87-page budget book.

Her statement in the budget book reads, “This budget will enable Dade City to begin the path to grow with the demands for services while protecting our thriving and safe community that cherishes its location, unites in its diversity and evolves to meet the continuous challenges that success brings.”

City of Dade City fiscal year 2021-2022 budget: Total: $24,961,790

Expenses by category

  • Capital outlay and debt service ($13,744, 893)
  • Personnel costs ($6,433,788)
  • Operating costs ($4,783,109)

Published October 06, 2021

Dade City Commission solidifies legislative priorities

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The City of Dade City has identified four legislative priorities to present to the Pasco County legislative delegation at its upcoming annual meeting.

The session is for Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St.

The public and representatives of various interest groups are invited to present their requests to the delegation before the 2022 Legislative Session begins.

Pasco’s delegation includes State Reps. Amber Mariano, Ardian Zika and Randy Maggard; and State Sens. Wilton Simpson, Ed Hooper and Danny Burgess, respectively.

The Dade City Commission is seeking state funding for these key priorities:

  • Morningside Drive Extension: $8 million
  • Meridian Avenue/21st Street/St. Joe Road-Suwanee Way Intersection: $4.2 million
  • Wastewater Transmission Forcemain: $4.7 million
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant Relocation — design and permitting: $1.75 million

The four projects are described, in a staff memo, as elements that would foster “an overall favorable effect on our local and regional economic development efforts.”

The extension of Morningside Drive to connect U.S. 301 to Fort King Road is undergoing a route study, design and engineering of the project, following a $5 million state appropriation in 2019. Another $8 million is needed to complete the project, with rising construction and right of way acquisition costs. The preferred 1.19-mile route is shown in the rendering. (File)

The city document explains how the municipality’s economy has been “greatly enhanced” through redevelopment efforts during the past several years.

But it also underscores the town’s “many challenges” that are related to its aging infrastructure systems and its large percentage of nontaxable properties.

The memo also mentions “the need to attract more business, industry and residential rooftops to help improve its local economic situation.”

Dade City, incorporated in 1889, has a population of about 7,400. It is the county seat of Pasco County.

Here’s a more detailed look at the priority projects:

Morningside Drive Extension
The primary aim of extending Morningside Drive is to relieve Clinton and Meridian avenues by providing additional eastbound and westbound travel options for residents and visitors. But the extension also would provide direct east-west access for AdventHealth Dade City.

The proposed roadway also would accommodate new development, improve emergency response times and serve as a corridor for the extension of utility services.

City leaders, however, were surprised when they learned the project’s expected cost.

The city received $5 million in state appropriations in 2019 and is now asking for an additional $8 million. That money, if awarded, would go toward securing necessary right of way and constructing the road.

The initial $5 million is paying for a route study, design and engineering of the project.

Meridian Avenue/21st Street/St. Joe Road-Suwanee Way Intersection
Officials say a roundabout would greatly improve efficiency and safety at this five-point intersection on State Road 52.

The project is promoted as a gateway to assist the town’s central business district and surrounding neighborhoods. It also is expected to provide a better traffic pattern for city and county residential subdivisions that are approved to be built west of the intersection.

City Manager Leslie Porter told commissioners that state legislators in the district have encouraged the city to submit the project for funding.

This comes after the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) narrowed the original project’s scope and pushed it back on their priorities list, she said.

The intersection request will call for a full roundabout to best leverage safety factors, Porter said, and therefore would most likely require the acquisition of right of way, hence the $4.2 million price tag.

Mayor Camille Hernandez labeled this asking price as “much more realistic” compared to some lower estimated costs thrown around in prior meetings and discussions surrounding the project.

Wastewater Transmission Forcemain
In simple terms, construction of a new wastewater transmission forcemain will direct wastewater to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The $4.7 million project is designed to foster growth in a financially disadvantaged community, too, officials say, with a secondary benefit being the reduced need for septic systems to serve commercial and residential growth.

The city manager told commissioners that staff also is pursuing a separate grant opportunity for the force main initiative.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Relocation — design and permitting
Dade City currently owns and operates a 1.5 million-gallons per day (MGD) wastewater treatment facility situated in the heart of the environmental justice Mickens-Harper neighborhood.

But this current facility site is built out with no room for expansion or upgrades to accommodate a higher level of treatment, officials say.

Meanwhile, the city is experiencing an increase in development that will impact future capacity.

The project also is slated to benefit the environment and impaired water bodies — Withlacoochee River Basin, Big Gant Canal — into the Hillsborough River Basin through implementation of a three-stage biological nutrient removal process.

Aside from seeking $1.75 million in state appropriations for design and permitting, Porter told commissioners the city is pursuing alternative means to see the entire project through.

“This is, you all know, a large project, so we’re looking at every possible funding source we can,” Porter said.

After the commissioners reached consensus on their priority projects, at the commission’s July 27 meeting, the mayor encouraged city stakeholders to attend and take part in the upcoming delegation meeting.

Hernandez — who plans to attend — urged that whoever speaks on behalf of the city keep talking points on the projects “very brief and to the point,” as more in-depth presentation materials can be sent to legislators’ aides ahead of time.

“We learned that brevity is a good thing, especially at those events,” said Hernandez. “There’s lots going on. It’s one after another for (the legislators), so it’s a pretty busy day.”

Porter concurred “a very brief script” is the way to go when addressing the delegation.

Hernandez went on to point out there’s no indication any or all of the projects — some carryovers from prior years — will get sponsored for state funding. “They may all go by the wayside, (or) something may get picked up,” she stated.

Commissioner Scott Black offered optimism regarding the possibility of securing state funding for the designated projects.

Published August 25, 2021