The Laker/Lutz News

Mike Moore

Pasco County gives a sweet send-off to long-time attorney

By

During her 19 years in the Pasco County Attorney’s office, attorney Jane Fagan was involved in legal work on thousands of county actions and shared her wealth of knowledge on complex issues.

She had a hand in issues, great and small.

Her contributions were described in a resolution adopted by the county board on Aug. 24.

Fagan joined the county on July 29, 2002, as an assistant county attorney, specializing in the area of procurement, according the resolution, which was unanimously adopted in her honor.

She later was promoted to senior assistant county attorney, and while continuing her work in procurement issues, also served as an academic resource for other attorneys in the office on issues ranging from ethics to emergency management, and more.

Senior Assistant County Attorney Jane Fagan was lauded by the Pasco County Commission and the county attorney’s office, as she ended her 19-year tenure in the County Attorney’s Office. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

Certified by the Florida Bar, in city, county and local government law, Fagan is a highly experienced, well-regarded attorney, the resolution says.

And, regardless of how busy Fagan was, “she would set aside her own work to listen and assist co-workers” who were seeking direction and information, the resolution notes.

She shared her knowledge on government law, edited documents and listened to her co-workers’ professional questions to help steer them on a productive path and to identify resources to help them with the issue at hand, according to the resolution.

It goes on: “She is also a talented editor, with a knack for finding mistakes and clarifying ambiguities others have overlooked.”

And, it notes: that “despite Jane juggling a heavy workload for years — working nights, weekends and on vacation, and assisting and supporting co-workers — Jane could be relied upon to get the job done.”

Indeed, the attorney assisted with legal work on a myriad of assignments, including multimillion projects and complicated county initiatives.

She was involved in work on the Ridge Road extension, the Wesley Chapel District Park, the Wiregrass Sports Campus, the software used for public access to county documents, the construction of fire stations throughout the county, and a multitude of other issues and projects.

In addition to highlighting some of her professional contributions, the resolution compliments Fagan’s personal qualities. It notes: “In addition to Jane’s intellect and legal skills, Jane’s thoughtfulness and kindness is abundant. She is always among the first to sympathize with frustrations, help to organize celebrations, and give others credit rather than engaging in self-promotion, even when it is well-deserved.”

After approving the resolution of appreciation, commissioners were quick to heap on additional praise.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley told Fagan: “We’ll let you go, but we don’t want you to go.”

Commissioner Mike Moore put it like this: “What a true professional you are.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano expressed his respect: “You were a solid, tremendous worker for the county, always protecting the county, every step of the way.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey observed: “We’re losing a leader up on the third floor. What a void we’re going to have.”

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder also expressed his gratitude for Fagan’s professionalism and her personal warmth.

“I inherited a marvelous team when I got here. Jane was one of those people that was there, and was there to help me grow into the role of county attorney.

“I can’t tell you how many emails I have gotten at 2 and 3 o’clock in the morning, with her finishing up projects that just had to be done. She’s always been there, always ready to help.

“She’s always there to help her teammates and has always thought of the good of the county for the entire time I’ve been county attorney and she will be very missed,” Steinsnyder said.

Fagan was obviously touched by the tribute.

“I’m just totally floored. This is totally unexpected,” she said, her voice choking with emotion.

“It’s been an honor to represent Pasco County and to work with all of you all, and all the staff.

“It’s been a really positive experience.

“It has always been my goal, to give the best advice,” said Fagan, who received a standing ovation from the commissioners, county staff and those attending the meeting.

Published September 08, 2021

Pasco’s opioid task force will help shape funding priorities

By

The Pasco County Commission has determined what the makeup will be for the county’s opioid task force.

The appointed board will serve to advise commissioners, regarding expenditures of funds the county will receive from a settlement involving national prescription opiate litigation.

Forming the advisory body is a necessary component for the county to qualify for a portion of the settlement proceeds.

The group will develop an abatement plan that identifies strategies currently being utilized to respond to the opioid epidemic, and will present the plan to the county board by Dec. 1.

The membership of that board will include:

  • The Pasco County Fire Rescue fire chief or designee
  • The Pasco County superintendent of schools or designee
  • The Pasco County sheriff, or his/her designee
  • The Pasco assistant county administrator for public services, or designee
  • A representative from New Port Richey and Zephyrhills, who will alternate
  • The director of the Florida Department of Health Pasco County, or designee
  • A person with subject matter expertise in public health or addiction, who is employed by a provider of opioid-related services in Pasco County, who is nominated to the task force by the county administrator and approved by the county board
  • The chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit or designee
  • A representative from Pasco Alliance for Substance Addiction Prevention (Pasco ASAP), or its designee
  • A person with subject matter expertise in public health or addiction, who is retired, who is nominated to the task force by the county administrator and appointed by the county board

The biggest point of contention was whether or not a member of the county board should serve on the task force.

Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick advocated for having a commissioner on the task force and that she would like to serve in that capacity.

Commissioner Mike Moore was adamantly opposed, saying the task force should be made up of professionals in the field.

“I don’t think any commissioner should be on it. We need to leave it to the doctors, the nurses, the licensed mental health counselors, the psychiatrists, the psychologists, somebody from the sheriff’s office because they have somebody that’s dedicated to this issue, probably somebody from fire rescue, as well, that treats this on a regular basis, that deals with this on a regular basis. Let them bring this back to us, then we’ll make the decisions from there,” Moore said.

But Fitzpatrick said: “I would like to be on that board. I have been involved with ASAP and substance-exposed newborns since 2012.”

Moore, however, prevailed when he made a successful motion to ensure no board members were named to a seat on the advisory board.

Initially, the county’s assistant county administrator for public services, or designee, will chair the task force. After that, the task force will select its own chair. Seven members of the task force must be in attendance, for the group to have a quorum.

Published September 01, 2021

Flooding complaints increasing, commissioner says

By

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore has asked county staff to take a closer look at how new developments are handling the discharge of water from their sites.

He broached the topic during the Pasco County Commission’s Aug 10 meeting.

He told county staff that he’s heard “quite a few complaints lately” relating to “some projects out there that are dumping a lot of water on their neighbors.

“I’ve heard that more and more, over the last several weeks, than I’ve heard in the past. I just want to make sure that we’re keeping a close eye on this,” Moore said.

The commissioner said he appreciates the work done by county staff and by staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

However, he said, there have been occasions “where you can see where the runoff is coming from these projects “

In one case, a local farmer couldn’t keep his cattle in his field because the cows are being flooded out, Moore said.

“We need to be more conscious, I think, of what’s going on, when we’re going through the process. Because we say, there can’t be one drop of water that impacts a neighboring property. We need to be very, very considerate of that.”

If the water wasn’t there a week ago and it’s there, now, “it’s obvious what’s going on,” Moore said.

His concerns echo frequent complaints raised by opponents of rezoning requests, who cite concerns that additional development in their area will create potential for additional area flooding problems.

By law, a site cannot discharge more water post-development than it discharged prior to development, but residents often are skeptical that adequate measures will be taken to ensure no flooding occurs.

Published August 25, 2021

From a fortune teller to a fire station roof, this agenda has it all

By

Often, it’s the items that aren’t discussed at all that can yield some of the most interesting details, at Pasco County Commission meetings.

On the Aug. 10 agenda, for instance, the county board voted on issues ranging from approval of a fortune teller’s application to do that type of business in the county, to awarding a contract to replace a flat roof at a fire station in Dade City.

They didn’t utter a word about those issues because the items were on the board’s “consent agenda.”

The way it works is this: During each board meeting, the board chairman reads out a “pull list” from the consent portion of the agenda. If anyone wants an item to be pulled for discussion, that item is moved to the regular portion of the agenda.

Items remaining on consent are approved in a single action.

Here’s a look of some items approved on the Aug. 10 consent agenda:

  • An application by Suanne Lynn Gould to engage in the occupation of a fortune teller, and similar occupations. To qualify, an applicant must gain approval from the board,

which requires the applicant to live in Florida and to be of good moral character. If the applicant wishes to conduct fortunetelling at home, she must acquire a Home Occupation special exception from the county.

  • A contract for $96,950 to JD Contractors LLC, to install a flat roof at Fire Station No. 24, in Dade City. Information contained in the agenda packet says the flat roof section at the fire station is more than 20 years old and has reached the end of its life span. There have been several leaks in that section of the roof during the past several years.
  • Additional purchasing authority for technology upgrades, in a not-to-exceed (NTE) total amount of $195,343.68, over a three-year period. The new cumulative total NTE will be $468,534.97 for the five-year contract term.
  • Nearly $1.2 million for future purchase of marketing, advertising and funding programs to support the county’s tourism efforts.
  • Spending $70,125 for the purchase of four-channel multimode phase selector traffic signal preemption devices for emergency vehicles, through a Florida Department of Transportation bid. Emergency vehicles that are equipped with the phase selectors can change traffic signals to a green phase, as they approach the signal. That makes it possible for them to reach their destination more quickly. Like any electrical device, the phase selectors will go bad and need periodic replacement.

In addition to the consent agenda, another part of the meeting that can be illuminating involves the reports made by individual commissioners.

During that portion of the meeting, commissioners essentially bring up whatever they want to talk about with their colleagues.

Sometimes, it involves commissioners wanting the county to deal with problems with illegal dumping, or the lack of landscaping in new developments, or the possibility of a new approach for vacation rental homes in the county.

At the Aug. 10 meeting, Commissioner Mike Moore used the platform to give his colleagues an update on how the county is faring this year on the tourism front.

Moore, who is chairman of the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, reported that the figures for May 2021 were actually up 96% from May 2020.

While indicating that’s not terribly surprising, given the impact from COVID-19 in 2020, Moore noted: “If you look at May (2021) TDT (Tourist Development Tax) collections they’re actually up from May 2019, so we’re on track to have our best year ever.”

Moore also applauded the Pasco County Public Transit department for securing three paratransit vehicles for free from the Florida Department of Transportation.

“Now, we have more paratransit vehicles out in the community for our residents and it didn’t cost our local taxpayers any additional dollars,” Moore said.

During his report, Commission Chairman Ron Oakley asked his colleagues to support the initiation of a special planning effort focusing on Lacoochee.

Decades ago, the community thrived when it was home to Cummer Sons Cypress Company, a company that employed hundreds and created a “town within a town,” according to historical accounts.

After the plant closed, about 60 years ago, the jobs disappeared and the area languished.

But efforts have been made to attract manufacturing to the area, and the interest is growing.

Oakley said the county needs to look ahead, so it can prepare to have workforce housing the area will need, as well as planning for the services, such as doctors and a grocery store, the residents will need.

His colleagues agreed to give direction to the county’s planning department to prepare a scope of services for a consultant to develop a “non-binding” concept plan for the area.

During that portion of the meeting, County Administrator Dan Biles typically announces achievements of county staff and updates the board on various issues.

Published August 25, 2021

Rezoning would allow 400 apartments

By

The Pasco County Planning Commission and the county’s planners have recommended approval of a rezoning that would allow 400 apartments on approximately 43.42 acres at the southeast corner of Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Hay Road.

Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator, detailed the request at the planning board’s July 22 meeting.

The proposed multifamily project would be located between the recently approved Hay Road Townhomes project to the west and Compark 75, to the east.

“Multifamily apartment uses create a transition from the industrial uses to the townhomes,” Hernandez said.

The request is consistent with the county’s land development code and its comprehensive plan, Hernandez added.

The site is currently zoned for agricultural and light industrial uses.

In addition to the rezoning, the applicants also are requesting a variance from the county land development code requirements relating to parking and park space, Hernandez said.

The planning board and county staff recommend approval of those variance requests.

The planning board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the rezoning, with the exception of Planning Commission Roberto Saez, who was absent.

No one raised objections about the request during the public hearing.

The Pasco County Commission is expected to take final action on the land use plan amendment, which is required for the rezoning, and on the rezoning itself, during its Aug. 24 meeting, according to Joel Tew, the attorney representing the applicants.

Although the request has the support of the planning board and county staff, it has faced opposition in the past.

Commissioners were divided on the land use plan amendment, voting 3-2 to transmit the request to state officials for review.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, and Commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Christina Fitzpatrick voted in favor of the transmittal, while Commissioners Mike Moore and Jack Mariano were opposed.

Moore who ultimately persuaded his colleagues to allow a six-month moratorium, which affects only his district, has urged commissioners to ease up on rezonings for multifamily developments.

If it doesn’t, Moore predicts there will be a heavy price to pay in the future, when a glut of apartment buildings leads to high vacancy rates and buildings that fall into disrepair.

Published July 28, 2021

Will planning board appointments become more political?

By

Pasco County commissioners want a greater say, individually, regarding appointments to the Pasco County Planning Commission.

The issue arose at the county board’s July 6 meeting, when commissioners were set to approve two-year reappointments of planning commissioners Charles Grey, Christopher Poole, Roberto Saez and Don Anderson.

The item had been placed on the board’s consent agenda — meaning no discussion was expected and it would be approved as part of a bundle of agenda items.

But Commissioner Mike Moore pulled the item to express his desire to consider such appointments individually in the future —  instead of voting on them collectively.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, however, pushed for a bigger change.

She wants to discard the process that’s been used recently to choose the planning board.

Instead of soliciting applications and then voting on appointments as a collective county board, she called for individual commissioners to choose a planning board member to represent their district.

“I prefer to appoint someone to that (planning board),” Starkey said.

Jack Mariano supported the move.

“Commissioner Starkey, I agree 100%. I don’t have a single person from District 5 and there’s not a single person from District 1, either.”

Moore said he had no problems with what Starkey and Mariano were suggesting.

It’s similar to the process that commissioners used in the past to select members of the planning commission.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder told the board that changing the selection process would require an amendment to the land development code.

Steinsnyder added: “I’ll also remind you that the reason you moved to board appointments versus commission appointments was to move forward the way most other jurisdictions do it.”

Having the entire county board select planning commissioners reduces potential for “political appointments,” Steinsnyder said.

“It is probably your most important board,” Steinsnyder said.

“That’s why I feel that the west side should be represented,” Starkey said. “They don’t have to live in a commission district. I may not find anyone who qualifies in my district,” she said. “But at least I want someone on the (planning) board who understands my district.”

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley said he doesn’t have a problem with the current planning commission.

“I think the planning commission has been operating very well. I don’t have any feeling of not being represented on that planning commission board. They’re all our citizens,” Oakley said.

However, Oakley joined in with the rest of the commission when they approved a motion by Starkey to extend the terms of Grey, Poole, Saez and Anderson for six months.

That will allow time for new commission district lines to be drawn through redistricting.

After that, commissioners agreed they would appoint one planning commissioner each, with the full board choosing an at-large member. The school board seat on the planning board would not be affected by the change.

Planning board members who already have been reappointed to longer terms would need to be addressed separately, Moore noted.

The issue was bought up at the Pasco County Planning Commission’s meeting on July 8, by Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator.

She informed the planning board about the county board’s action.

David Goldstein, the chief assistant county attorney, said the possibility remains that the planning board’s composition could remain the same — since commissioners have the option of appointing someone who lives outside of their district.

Future vacancies, he said, will be filled by individual board members, except for the at-large seat, which will be selected by the entire board. The school board seat will not be affected.

Because the change requires an amendment to the county’s land development code and because it would not take effect until redistricting is done, it might not occur within six months, Goldstein said.

“My understanding is that there’s an issue with the census data. It’s not out yet. The redistricting has to be based on the census data.

“It may not occur in six months. It may roll into the next year. I suspect what will happen is that we may need to be going back to the board saying, ‘We need to extend another six months, or something to that effect,” Goldstein said.

Currently, there are no representatives on the planning commission from Oakley, Starkey or Mariano’s districts.

“There are three planning commission members from Christina Fitzpatrick’s district and three members from Commissioner Moore’s district,” Hernandez said.

The planning commission is a volunteer board, which provides recommendations on comprehensive land use, zoning, and land development code changes, as well as conditional use requests and operational permits. It is the final decision-making body for special exception applications.

Planning Commission Chairman Grey quipped that zoning administrator Hernandez was behind the planned change.

To which Goldstein responded: “It was not the recommendation by staff or the county attorney’s office.”

Planning board member Anderson asked: “Does that (the new process) make it more of a political appointment?”

Goldstein responded: “Yes, that was one of the reasons the county attorney’s office originally recommended that it be the decision of the entire board, so the entire board could pick the best fit from an expertise perspective, more so, versus, say, they happen to live in the district, perspective.”

Serving on the planning commission requires a certain amount of expertise in real estate, planning, development and so on, Goldstein said.

“I think the county attorney’s office, and probably the planning staff as well, thought the appointment should be based on knowledge and expertise, rather than where you live,” Goldstein said.

Published July 14, 2021

Diverging Diamond is delayed

By

Work on the diverging diamond project at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel has been halted, and the project is not expected to be completed until after the holidays.

That news was announced by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore during the Pasco County Commission’s July 6 meeting.

Moore told his colleagues that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had found the company doing the work — D.A.B. Constructors — in default.

Kris Carson, department spokeswoman for FDOT’s District 7 office, explained the series of events in an email.

This is an aerial of a diverging diamond project. Work has stopped on a diverging diamond project that is being done in Wesley Chapel, which is expected to ease traffic at State Road 56 and Interstate 75, once the work is finished. An estimated completion date on the project has not been determined. (File)

She said that in November 2020, FDOT “issued a Notice of Intent to Default (NOI) to the contractor due to concerns they were not proceeding at the pace required to meet the contractual completion date.”

In its response, D.A.B. Constructors “included a recovery schedule showing a project completion date of October 2021,” Carson wrote.

Based on that schedule, FDOT “established interim milestone dates that the contractor would need to meet in order to avoid being defaulted,” Carson’s email continues.

“One of the milestones was set for June 28, 2021, and the contractor did not meet this milestone.

“On June 25, 2021, D.A.B. notified the Department (FDOT) they were demobilizing from the project. As a result of missing the milestone, the Department (FDOT) defaulted D.A.B. on July 1, 2021,” Carson’s email says.

She also noted that “at the time of the default, D.A.B.’s schedule submitted to the Department (FDOT) showed a final completion date of Jan. 6, 2022, and the interchange would be in its final configuration in early November 2021. However, interim milestones on the projects critical path were not met to achieve that schedule. D.A.B. demobilized on June 25, 2021, which would further delay the project.”

Carson goes on to say that FDOT “will work with the surety company who is required to provide a replacement contractor to complete the project. At this time, FDOT is unsure how long it will take the surety to procure the replacement contractor but will work diligently to move the process as quickly as possible.”

During the July 6 county board meeting, Moore told his colleagues that motorists driving through the area likely would have noticed the work stoppage at that location.

“The company swore up and down they would get this done. They would meet the milestones. The timelines. They were moving along nicely, in the beginning, unfortunately, they slowed down again,” Moore said.

Despite the delay, Moore reiterated his support for the diverging diamond.

“It’s such a great project. It’s going to have huge benefits,” Moore said.

Still, the county commissioner expressed frustration.

“It’s unfortunate. It really is. Because who pays the price? It’s our citizens — that’s their taxes and they expect these projects to be done in a timely manner,” Moore said.

In her email, Carson said FDOT is “empathetic to impacts any project delays may cause to motorists, residents, and businesses and will make adjustments to traffic signals and any traffic control devices to help accommodate extra traffic volume” that’s typical during the holiday season.

She said D.A.B. is the prime contractor on two other projects in Pasco County: State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road; and State Road 52, from the Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41.

“The default does not apply to these state road projects,” Carson wrote.

Published July 14, 2021

Clash continues over Pasco clerk’s budget

By

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles is continuing to push for a big budget increase, despite resistance by county administration.

During the Pasco County Commission’s consideration of next fiscal year’s property tax rate, the clerk sought permission to address the budget.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley allowed her to speak, but shortly after she began, Commissioner Mike Moore interjected: “We cannot have these conversations. This is the board, actually debating the budget.

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Sowles is continuing her bid to get increased funding for her office in fiscal year 2021-2022. (File)

“If we’re going to allow all constitutionals to debate their budget request, we have to bring all of them in here and have that,” Moore said.

The clerk said that anyone from the public is free to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting, but Moore said it wasn’t appropriate for remarks to be part of the board’s deliberations.

So, the clerk said she would wait until the miscellaneous business portion of the meeting during which she’s allowed to bring issues to the board.

At that point in the meeting, Alvarez-Sowles told board members she had met with County Administrator Dan Biles.

During that meeting, she said Biles acknowledged “that the commission has a legal obligation to fund IT and that they are funding it at 40%” of her IT request.

“I just wanted to state that funding it at 40% of the request is inadequate to meet the needs of my office and the requirements of the law,” Alvarez-Sowles said. “I would like to have the full funding of IT for fiscal year 2022.”

Alvarez had spelled out her request in an April 30 letter to Commission Chairman Ron Oakley and the Pasco County Commission.

In that letter, she told commissioners that her budget request was for $13,284,195, resulting in $8,992,936 in additional funding.

At the July 6 county board meeting, Alvarez-Sowles said: “I recognize that my request is more than the county administration would like, however, it is based specifically on the commission’s legal funding obligations and the reasonable needs of my office.

Her April 30 letter also noted: “Since 2010, Pasco’s population increased by 19% and the county increased staffing by 39% to provide additional services. In that same time frame, the clerk’s office cut 11 % of its positions due to funding shortages.”

At the board meeting, she reiterated those issues and told commissioners, “the funding situation in my office is just unsustainable.”

Alvarez-Sowles also noted that the emphasis during the board’s June 8 meeting was on property tax revenue, but said there also are other unrestricted revenues that go into the general revenue account, such as sales tax and state revenue sharing.

She said the county board “is responsible for determining and setting its funding priorities” and she told the board that the clerk’s office should be among its highest priorities, along the same lines as public safety — the sheriff’s office and firefighters.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder weighed in on the issue.

“Mr. Chairman, there appears to be a fundamental dispute between the administrator and the clerk with regard to whether or not what the clerk is asking for, is in fact, a local requirement.

“It boils down to — for large scale — whether or not the West Pasco Judicial Center is a local requirement.

“The clerk’s position is that it is. The county’s position is that it’s not,” Steinsnyder said.

Published July 14, 2021

Pasco gains state funding for wide assortment of projects

By

Initially, things were looking pretty bleak on the state fiscal front — before the last session of the Florida Legislature.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey recalled some previous remarks from the county’s state lobbyist, Shawn Foster, of Sunrise Consulting.

“Before session started, you were like: ‘This is going to be a really bad session. We’re going to be billions of dollars in the hole,’” Starkey said, during the Pasco County Commission’s June 22 meeting.

Foster said that was before the dollars that came in from the America Rescue Act.

Nearly 10% of the state’s $101.5 billion came from the federal government, Foster said.

“If it had not been for that $10 billion that we got from the federal government, there would be no good here. There would be no good,” Foster said.

Without the federal money, he added: “There would be none of these projects on here, none of these other big grants.”

Instead, “the state took $7 billion of the American Rescue Act and implemented it into this year and held off another $3 billion for the next budget,” Foster said.

Instead of being decimated, the statewide budget includes:

  • $1 billion for community substance abuse and mental health
  • $3.2 million for homeless program challenge grants
  • $500 million for the Resilient Florida Trust Fund and programs
  • $626 million for septic to sewer and stormwater improvements
  • $146.7 million for the State Housing Initiative Partnership program
  • $74 million for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, including $24 million from last year
  • $1.5 billion in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The county can apply directly for funding through the Septic to Sewer/Stormwater Improvement program, Foster said.

“That was our Sen. (Wilton) Simpson’s priority and has been for years. I think it started with an idea a few years ago; it was $50 million. So, to see it up to $626 (million) is amazing.”

The lobbyist also noted that the Emergency Rental Assistance Program is one in which constituents can make direct applications, through OurFlorida.com.

Three Pasco County projects also went through to the governor.

Those were:

  • $6.5 million for the Handcart Road water and wastewater improvements
  • $200,000 for the Ackerman Street drainage improvements
  • $3,818,208 for the Lindrick sewer and water quality

“The county as a whole, really did well,” said Ralph Lair, the county’s intergovernmental affairs officer.

Other county projects receiving funding were:

  • $3 million to extend the runway at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport
  • $4,665,000 for the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills
  • $25 million for a Florida National Guard Armory in Zephyrhills
  • $1.25 million for a CARES One-Stop Senior Center in Dade City
  • $450,000 for AmSkills Workforce Training
  • $25 million for a Pasco-Hernando State College student success and community engagement center in Dade City
  • $34,738 for a Pasco Association of Challenged Kids Summer Camp
  • $5 million for Metropolitan Ministries to expand its campus in Pasco County
  • $700,000 for Bridging Freedom Program in Pasco County

While Commissioner Mike Moore expressed gratitude for this year’s appropriations, he said the county needs to focus on securing funding to address flooding issues in areas such as Quail Hollow and around Eiland Boulevard.

“That needs to be a big focus, going forward,” Moore said. “Those are very important. Those affect our citizens on a day-to-day basis,” he said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said she’d like to follow the Pinellas County Commission’s example of meeting with their county legislative delegation and with their federal legislative delegation.

She wants Pasco to be more proactive in seeking state and federal funding to help address county needs.

Foster expressed optimism about the state’s revenue prospects for next year.

Committee meetings will begin in the fall, and the next session of the legislature is set to start Jan. 11 and end on March 11.

Published July 07, 2021

Pasco MPO board turns up heat on Port Richey

By

The Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization’s board delivered the City of Port Richey a clear message earlier this month: Start showing up consistently or get booted from the board.

Complaints about the city’s absence at MPO meetings have been growing louder, and last month, the board asked the organization’s new executive director, Carl Mikyska, to find out if the board had the latitude to change its composition.

The Pasco MPO — which is the lead transportation planning agency for the Pasco region — is made up of the Pasco County Commission and representatives from the cities of Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said he’s been voicing his concerns for years about Port Richey’s lack of attendance at the meetings. If the city isn’t going to be there, Moore has said, the seat should be filled by someone who will.

Port Richey Mayor Scott Tremblay showed up at the MPO board’s June 10 meeting to address the issue.

Pasco MPO board chairman Lance Smith welcomed him, warmly.

“I’m happy that you’re here today. We want the input of Port Richey. I feel like it’s very much needed. I think we’re all in this together,” said Smith, who represents the City of Zephyrhills.

Tremblay said he’s not sure the MPO board’s absenteeism records are accurate regarding Port Richey’s attendance. He said there have been occasions during remote meetings when the city’s vice mayor was virtually present, but wasn’t able to be recognized because his microphone was muted.

Tremblay also said he would appreciate receiving the agenda materials at least 15 days in advance of an MPO meeting, so the entire Port Richey council could have the opportunity to weigh in on issues.

He said he feels uncomfortable voting on substantive issues as just one representative of Port Richey’s five-member council. He also noted that’s not an issue for the Pasco County Commission, because the entire county board sits on the MPO board.

Tremblay also mentioned concerns that voting solo on issues involving the entire city might constitute a violation of the Port Richey city charter.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano then said: “Let me ask the city of New Port Richey, Zephyrhills and Dade City: How is your charter set up where you can actually sit here and make a decision that you think is best for your city? Do they empower you to do that, is something in your charter different than Port Richey, do you know?”

Chairman Smith responded: “I don’t even know that our charter, our particular charter, considers that. At every reorganization, we delegate responsibilities, as a body, to certain individuals to sit on different boards.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told Mariano: “Jack, every board that we sit on, I sit on TBARTA (Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority), Tampa Bay Water — I am the authorized person from my board to make that decision for the board.”

Moore said that’s the way it works all over the county. “It’s nothing new. It’s nothing out of the ordinary.”

David Goldstein, Pasco’s chief assistant county attorney, agreed: “It’s done through delegated authority.”

Moore also told Tremblay that he doesn’t support the mayor’s request to get MPO agenda materials two weeks early.

“For us to make special exceptions because this is the way you want to do it, I’m sorry, that’s not how it’s going to work,” Moore said.

Goldstein also told Tremblay that he wouldn’t be at liberty to pick and choose which items he would vote on. “If you attend this meeting, you do have to vote,” Goldstein said, unless there’s a conflict of interest.

The attorney also noted that any item requiring a financial commitment from Port Richey would have to be taken back to that respective city council to authorize the expenditure.

Board chairman Smith and Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez voiced support for Port Richey’s participation.

Hernandez put it like this: “I do understand the importance and significance of the small cities being part of this board and understanding all of the transportation needs. It is important to have them on here.”

Smith told Tremblay that decisions have been made in Port Richey’s absence that have affected the city.

“So, you need to be here, to have input on it,” Smith said.

He told Tremblay: “I am looking forward to your continued attendance.”

Port Richey mayor offers assurances
The Port Richey mayor assured the MPO board: “We do want to make it clear that we do have an interest in this board. We have an interest in working not only with the county, but with the cities, especially our sister city, New Port Richey, which is right next to us. We do have some overlapping projects.”

Moore, however, expressed skepticism.

“My only fear, and I’m being honest here … is that we end up having this same discussion six months down the road, or a year down the road. People show up for a while and then they don’t show up for months.”

Pasco County Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick also weighed in: “I feel it’s important for all of our municipalities to have a voice on this board, but I do also think that attendance is extremely important.

“Attendance needs to be accounted for.”

Goldstein offered this suggestion: “The MPO board has to go through reapportionment next year, after the decennial census, anyway.

“What I recommend you do is direct staff to start keeping track of attendance between now and the time that you reapportion.

“If you find that it’s (Port Richey’s attendance) a continual problem, when you reapportion next year, you can then look at eliminating that seat, or multiple seats, if you want to,” Goldstein said.

The MPO board members reached a consensus to proceed with that approach.

Published June 23, 2021