The Laker/Lutz News

Nancy Stuparich

Dade City selects new city manager

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Dade City has selected someone with a familiar face to be its next city manager.

City Commissioners on April 3 voted to extend an offer and enter contract negotiations with Leslie Porter to become Dade City’s next city manager.

Porter, the city’s finance director, has been acting as the interim city manager since February. She’s also been handling her responsibilities as finance director.

Dade City has decided to enter negotiations with Leslie Porter to become the city’s next city manager. She’s been acting as interim city manager, while continuing to handle her responsibilities as the city’s finance director. (File)

If negotiations are fruitful, Porter will assume the vacancy created by Billy Poe, who left the post after nearly 12 years. Poe is now the deputy city manager in the City of Zephyrhills and is expected to move up to city manager when that post is vacated.

The decision to offer Porter the city manager job came during a special meeting, when commissioners had been expected to review and rank top candidates for the city manager position. Porter was one of the nine applicants who applied by the March 15 deadline.

It marked the second call for applications after the city was unable to come to a contract agreement with Christopher Edwards, its top candidate for the position back in February.

Edwards is a real estate associate in Tallahassee and former deputy director of the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economy Vitality.

Instead of selecting a list of new candidates to interview, the commission opted to proceed with Porter for the position, citing her performance as acting city manager over the last two months while also juggling her duties as finance director.

Porter has served as the city’s finance director since 2014. Before that, she spent nearly a decade working as town treasurer for the Town of Chesapeake Beach in Maryland.

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

Commissioner Nicole Deese Newlon said she’s been impressed with Porter during her stint as acting city manager role.

Like others, she previously expressed concern about Porter’s lack of city management experience to take on the post full time.

Said Newlon, “I think that Ms. Porter has done an excellent job and continues to do a great job, quite frankly doing two very large jobs, and I continue to be impressed by the work she’s doing.”

Others on the commission offered similar assessments.

Commissioner Jim Shive offered a strong endorsement for Porter, saying she’s exhibited “true leadership” and “a great propensity for achieving and personal growth.

“She continues to step up a notch,” said Shive. “I think we have a great opportunity to promote an individual from within, who’s shown a commitment and dedication to Dade City, and is up to the challenge.”

Mayor Camille Hernandez described Porter as “a no-nonsense gal” who “knows the job and the task at hand.”

“We have someone that knows our system, knows our city, is definitely committed and dedicated to the job,” Hernandez said.

She added, “It’s been interesting to watch her evolve over the last two months or so. She understands that she doesn’t know everything and there’s a lot to learn, but I love that about her, that she’s up for the challenge.”

Mayor Pro Tem Eunice Penix added of Porter: “I think she has done a great job, too. To me, we need her. She is well capable.”

Even City Attorney Nancy Stuparich weighed in on Porter: “I’ve enjoyed working with Leslie the last few months. She’s a very quick learner, and she’s had a lot of issues put on her very quickly and has been very responsive.”

Commissioner Scott Black was the lone voice to suggest the commission conduct interviews with some other applicants for the position, in addition to Porter.

Said Black, “I would feel more comfortable having a little more time to observe (Porter) for a longer period of time as different things come up that could be challenges to her, but I do think she’s done a good job.

“I do have a lot of confidence in Ms. Porter, especially given her finance background, but I’d like to talk to some of these others (that applied).”

The mayor and city attorney will now undergo contract negotiations with Porter, with an update expected at an April 23 city commission meeting.

As finance director, Porter makes nearly $86,000. However, her earnings have bumped to nearly $99,000 since taking on the additional role of acting city manager.

Provided an agreement with Porter is reached, commissioners mentioned City Hall will likely undergo some restructuring, as they look to hire a new finance director, and possibly add an assistant city manager and economic development specialist to the city’s organizational leadership chart.

Published April 10, 2019

Dade City outlines priority projects

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Municipal business in Dade City is proceeding as usual, even as it continues its search for its next city manager.

Dade City finance director Leslie Porter, who’s serving the role of interim city manager, outlined several priority projects for the near term, ranging from personnel issues to facility upgrades to transportation updates, during a Feb. 26 regular commission meeting.

Dade City finance director Leslie Porter is also serving as the city’s interim city manager. (Courtesy of Dade City)

Porter said the city’s human resources department has begun reviewing personnel rules with city staff — looking to update any policies that may need to be tweaked and introduce any new ones that don’t currently exist.

Porter added the department is working to standardize employee evaluations to ensure each city employee has an annual review “so they know where they stand, what they’re doing right and what they can strive to do better.”

Developing a retail strategy is another ongoing priority during the city manager vacancy, Porter said.

The city is currently seeking professional firms for the creation of a retail market analysis and development plan, to help understand the retail landscape in the city’s market and broker potential business prospects.

Request for proposals for that project are due March 7.

From there, Porter said city administration will organize a special workshop or presentation, depending on the number of responses.

“We’ll see how many we have and come up with a game plan,” Porter said.

Porter said amending the city’s water rate ordinance is another objective — with plans to schedule a workshop in early April.

The interim city manager told commissioners she’s had preliminary discussions on water rates with City Attorney Nancy Stuparich and found “there are multiple areas that we feel need to be addressed.”

In 2017, commissioners approved a 2 percent water rate increase and 6.5 percent sewer rate increase each year over the next five years. It marked the first time those rates were raised in eight years.

Porter also noted city staff members are consulting with the Florida Department of Transportation to gain approval to install entrance signs at the city’s north and south apex. They also are working with the state transportation department on various other road projects within city limits.

Meanwhile, the interim city manager received direction from commissioners on a handful of other projects.

Commissioners appeared to be particularly interested in improving the restrooms and concession stand at Mickens Fields.

Multiple citywide projects are set to be addressed by interim city manager Leslie Porter, who’s also the city’s finance director. (File)

They directed Porter to obtain cost estimates on renovating or rebuilding those facilities and to bring that issue up as an agenda item within the next few meetings.

That particular fix-up project has come to the forefront of late with the Dade City Youth League’s Mickens Wildcats planning to use the football field this year.

The fields are located at 14318 Canal St.

“We owe it to that community to have (upgrades) out there, whether it’s for that group or for somebody else,” Mayor Camille Hernandez said.

“(Even) if the Wildcats aren’t coming, those bathrooms and that concession stand are in need of desperate repair and rehab, so either way we need to do it.”

Commissioner Scott Black concurred: “If we want that to be a viable ball field well into the future, we need to have those facilities there.”

The city previously obtained quotes on the Mickens Field repairs about a year-and-a-half ago, but no action was taken at the time, Porter said.

Elsewhere, commissioners advised Porter to gather real estate appraisals on the former police department building on Pasco Avenue, which has sat vacant since 2015.

Some possible options include selling the property, or demolishing the building and selling the lot.

The mayor called the vacant building an “eyesore” to the community.

“We want to put our best foot forward and that’s not our best foot forward over there,” Hernandez said. “Keeping status quo over there just like that and doing nothing is not an option.”

Also during the meeting, Hernandez thanked Porter for “keeping the ship sailing” by stepping into the interim city manager role.

Longtime Dade City manager Billy Poe left his post on Feb. 7, taking a similar position with the City of Zephyrhills. He announced his exit from Dade City in November.

The commission named Poe’s replacement in January, but were unable to come to a contract agreement last month.

“I know there’s lots to do on the project side as well as the personnel side, so I appreciate (Porter’s) willingness to do that, to keep us moving forward at this time,” the mayor said.

Applications for the new city manager will be accepted through March 15 at 5 p.m.

Published March 06, 2019

Dade City to draw up ordinance allowing cannabis dispensaries

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Medical marijuana treatment centers soon could be allowed within some areas of Dade City.

At a Jan. 8 workshop, the Dade City Commission expressed consensus to have city staffers draft an ordinance that would permit cannabis dispensaries — but restrict their location to areas outside the boundaries of the city’s CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) districts, generally encompassing the downtown corridor.

The ordinance will come before the city’s planning board and will have two public hearings before a formal vote.

Dade City Commissioners expressed consensus to draft an ordinance that would permit medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits, with certain restrictions. The ordinance will come before the city’s planning board and will have two public hearings before the matter is formally voted upon. (Kevin Weiss)

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said an ordinance permitting medical marijuana dispensaries is “what’s in the best interest of the city.”

Hernandez noted Florida voters’ clear support of Amendment 2 in 2016.

“I do believe that the voters on medical marijuana were decisive in their vote. Over 71 percent (of Florida voters) voted in favor of medical marijuana dispensaries — and that is a big deal,” Hernandez said.

She continued: “I do believe it should be allowed within the municipal limits. I do believe it should be available for those that need it and are using it for the right reasons. I am concerned about having them right in our downtown corridor…but I do think we have a charge to make it accessible to those residents that have problems.”

Dade City has had a temporary ban on medical marijuana facilities since 2016, to study the potential impacts such facilities on the municipality.

That temporary moratorium followed the November 2016 amendment of Florida’s constitution to allow “the dispensing and use of marijuana for medical purposes by persons with debilitating diseases.”

The moratorium has been extended multiple times and is set to expire in March.

At the workshop, city attorney Nancy Stuparich advised the commission to take action instead of extending the moratorium again, which she said may create legal issues, as it creates a “de facto ban” on medical marijuana treatment centers.

The attorney also noted that letting the moratorium just expire would allow dispensaries throughout city limits, without certain zoning regulations set forth by the commission.

The mayor said it’s unfair to keep extending the moratorium.

“We’ve got to take a stand and say, ‘We’re going to go this way or that way.’ I think we owe it to the people in our community,” Hernandez said.

Other cities in Pasco County, including Zephyrhills and San Antonio, have passed ordinances establishing regulations to allow dispensaries. The county’s first medical marijuana dispensary opened last June in New Port Richey.

Commissioner Scott Black was the lone dissenter.

He favored banning the dispensaries altogether for the time being because of the shifting legal implications of marijuana laws. (Several states, including Florida have already legalized marijuana; federal law still prohibits the cultivation, distribution, possession of the substance.)

“Just because all the other cities are rushing out to do this doesn’t mean we have to join in there, too,” Black said.

“If we say, ‘Not at this time,’ we’re not saying no forever. It just seems like a wise thing, in my opinion, that we wait until all of this gets settled. I think if we can be patient, it will all work itself out.”

Black also pointed out that Dade City residents are able go to other nearby cities to access medical marijuana treatment, or can choose to have it ordered through the mail.

“I think that those that are suffering — and I feel for them — there are opportunities for them to get medication,” he said.

Residents and business owners express mixed feelings
“I’m really concerned if we’re not patient and we’re not careful, we’re going to end up with something that we don’t want,” said Margaret Angell, who chairs the Dade City Merchant’s Association. “I know that we all understand that we don’t want a dispensary in the CRA, but it sounds like it’s going to be pretty complicated as far as trying to navigate that and how to do that.

“I don’t mind if it’s out there somewhere else and has low impact. My concern is about the downtown and conserving the economic space there and the atmosphere that we depend on. I just would urge us to be very, very cautious.”

Lynette DiNova, who owns Tropical Wine Shop in Dade City, also echoed a wait-and-see approach before approving any cannabis dispensaries within city limits.

“I think to rush into it just to do something is not fair to anyone,” DiNova said. “I think (commissioner) Black should be listened to as far as waiting, finding out what the right thing is, to protect the people that (commissioners) are here to take care of.”

“Don’t do something just to do it,” she said.

Vance Scheer, a retired educator and Dade City resident, spoke in favor of allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in Dade City.

“We’re talking pain management for our residents,” Scheer said. “We have a big opioid crisis and many of them are finding relief in (medical marijuana). It’s not going to be downtown, but we have to have something for these people that are in this condition. “We’re servicing a lot of people, whether it’s vets or seniors or people that are suffering from cancer.

“We need to be offering these services for our residents,” Scheer added.

Another speaker, Janet Blackburn, who works at Tampa Bay Salvage in Dade City, said she wouldn’t oppose a cannabis dispensary, as long as it isn’t downtown.

“I have no problem with it on the outskirts of (U.S.) 301 or whatever,” she said, “but not in downtown.”

Published January 16, 2019

Seeking ways to link local and state trails

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A study that will guide decisions on how to build and connect multipurpose trails in the Dade City area with the Withlacoochee State Trail is narrowing down the options.

But, at the mid-point in the Withlacoochee Trail Connector Study, consultants are still gathering public input before singling out a recommended trail path.

On Aug. 10, about 20 residents met with Pasco County officials and AECOM consultants to study maps and swap ideas on how to link Hardy Trail in Dade City with the Withlacoochee State Trail, off U.S. 301.

About 20 area residents attended an open house to learn of plans to link Hardy Trail in Dade City with the Withlacoochee State Trail. (Kathy Steele)

“We want to know what the community thinks,” said Paul Kurtz of AECOM. “This is going to be your trail.”

The public meeting at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City was the second in a series of proposed meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for October, with a date to be determined.

The study’s conclusion, and a trail recommendation to the Pasco County Commission, is expected in December.

The maps on display outlined three trail options, but Kurtz said, “Don’t get hung up on three (trails). You can make your own. They can be combined in any way.”

The final recommended trail route, he added, likely would be some combination of the three current options under review.

More than 5 miles of trail will be constructed. One segment will link the northern end of an existing trail on U.S. 301 to the southern end of the existing Hardy Trail in Dade City. An extension of Hardy Trail will connect with the southern end of the Withlacoochee State Trail at the Owensboro Junction Trailhead.

One proposed route would follow along U.S. 301 and utilize an extension of Morningside Drive, not yet built. Other suggestions pull in combinations of Lock Street, 14th Street, Frazee Road, Powerline Road, Beth Street, Long Avenue, Corbett Road, Old Trilby Road, Christian Road, and a swath of land at one time proposed for a wastewater treatment facility.

Area residents have proposed an equestrian park there instead of the treatment plant.

Some segments of the trail will be multipurpose, allowing for pedestrians and bicyclists. But, other segments, particularly those navigating through Dade City, might not have enough land to accommodate every trail use.

Sharrow symbols to mark roadways shared by bicyclists and motorists could be used instead of dedicated trail lanes.

However, traffic volume along busy corridors, such as U.S. 301, might require dedicated trail lanes. “Wouldn’t it be nice to stay off there (U.S. 301) because there are so many cars there?” Kurtz said.

Resident Judy Geiger asked that equestrians be included when considering trail designs and paths. She noted that the Withlacoochee State Trail is equestrian-friendly. It makes sense to consider horseback riding, if new trail segments would connect to the state park’s trail, Geiger said.

“We’re in a very rural area,” she said. “There are a lot of equestrians in east Pasco.”

Thought also should be given to trail markers that could highlight the area’s history, said Nancy Stuparich, who is an avid cyclist.

She said bikers are always looking for information or things to do in the areas where they ride.

“This could be an opportunity to discover some hidden historical jewels,” Stuparich said.

Published August 23, 2017