The Laker/Lutz News

Seventh Street

Dade City seeks feedback on design plans for Seventh Street

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Dade City leaders are inviting the public to an open house to discuss conceptual design plans for the Seventh Street streetscaping improvement project.

The meeting is scheduled for Dec. 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Dade City Hall Commission Chambers, 38030 Meridian Ave., in Dade City.

The city hopes to make improvements to help create a downtown area that’s attractive, walkable and bikeable — essentially appealing to everyone who visits the area.

And, the city wants to hear the community’s reaction to possible improvements.

The city is considering the reconfiguration of street sections for traffic calming, and to accommodate sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping and lighting.

The city has hired Johnson Engineering to develop a streetscape improvement conceptual plan along Seventh Street, from Pond Avenue to Florida Avenue.

Johnson Engineering has prepared first-draft renderings of the possible configurations of each typical section of the corridor.

The sections are:

  • Florida Avenue to Church Avenue
  • Church Avenue to Meridian Avenue
  • Meridian Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard
  • Martin Luther King Boulevard to Pond Avenue

The open house is intended to be an opportunity for members of the public to express what’s important to them.

“There’ll be information for people to see, people can come in and ask questions, (and) make comments,” Dade City Manager Leslie Porter said, during a Nov. 9 city commission meeting.

The feedback is important, she added, noting the engineering firm already is making some changes based on initial feedback received from residents and citizens. The city held a similar exercise for the Morningside Drive extension route study.

For information, visit tinyurl.com/j6ekbntz, or call 352-523-5050, ext. 420.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

Pioneer Florida Museum will guide Dade City Christmas Parade

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Dade City kicks off its holiday season each year with the Magical Night Christmas Parade, an event that dates back to at least 1982.

It typically draws thousands of spectators, to see floats, entertainment acts, bands, vendors, seasonal displays and Santa Claus.

The annual Christmas shindig will press on, but under new guidance and leadership.

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village now will host the downtown holiday event, instead of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

The parade is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., in downtown Dade City.

The Dade City chamber indicated it wanted to focus efforts on larger events, such as the signature Kumquat Festival, traditionally held the last Saturday in January, according to Pioneer Florida Museum executive director Stephanie Bracknell Black.

The decision to hand the Christmas parade off to the local museum came after Black recently met with Dade City Chamber executive director John Moors and city administration.

“It was just mentioned to us that the chamber was no longer looking to do the Christmas parade,” Black said.

“They were looking for someone else to take it over…and it just seemed like a good fit for the museum to go ahead and take it over,” she said.

The Christmas parade was canceled last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Attendees shouldn’t expect too much change from the typical holiday format, at least for this year, as the museum takes the reins so close to the date.

The announcement of the parade organization change came in an Oct. 20 press release from the museum.

Many volunteers who have previously worked on the parade with the chamber are expected to continue to assist the museum.

“We’re doing mostly everything pretty much the same,” Black said. “We’ve had the similar requirements and stuff that they had done in the past. It’s going to be the same. We’re going to try to keep it the same as it always has been. It’s worked in years past, so we’re going to go ahead and give it a try and keep everything pretty much the same.”

The official parade route will begin at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Fifth Street, head west on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Seventh Street, south to Church Avenue, and then east to Fifth Street, in front of the local post office.

Simpson Lakes jumped aboard as the parade’s first sponsor and Grand Marshal.

Black, who lives in Zephyrhills, has brought her children and grandchildren to the event many times over, during the parade’s three-decade run.

She’s also been actively involved in the festivities, when she worked for Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County, which has had floats in the parade previously.

“I think everybody looks forward to the night parade,” she said. “It’s part of everyone’s Christmas tradition in this area.”

It’s customary for people to eat, shop and stroll the city’s downtown area hours before the event kicks off. Attendees also are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for the night’s showing.

Black acknowledged it’s tough to speculate about how many attendees are expected this year, with lingering pandemic issues, but she noted, “usually every year, it’s one of the bigger parades.”

The museum is currently accepting parade entry applications and other sponsors.

Parade entry applications are due by 5 p.m., Nov. 12.

Registration may close early if the parade entries reach the limited capacity of about 80 floats.

Black noted entries “seem to be coming in pretty quickly.”

The Pioneer Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the historic preservation and education of Florida’s pioneer heritage.

The museum is located a mile north of downtown Dade City, just off U.S. 301, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

For more information, visit PioneerFloridaMusuem.org, or call 352-567-0262.

Dade City Christmas Parade
When: Dec. 10, at 7 p.m.
Where: Downtown Dade City

Published November 03, 2021

Dade City seeks public feedback on Seventh Street improvements

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The City of Dade City is accepting public comments and ideas for conceptual traffic and beautification improvement plans for Seventh Street.

The City of Dade City is seeking public feedback on traffic and beautification improvements along Seventh Street. Shown here is a rendering of alternatives for a section on Seventh Street from Church Avenue to Meridian Avenue. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

City officials seek to create a downtown area that’s attractive, walkable and bikeable, and will appeal to everyone visiting it.

To that end, the municipality has obtained the professional services of Johnson Engineering to develop a streetscape improvement conceptual plan along Seventh Street, from Pond Avenue to Florida Avenue. The type of improvements being considered along the corridor involve a complete street concept — including reconfiguring the sections for traffic calming, and to accommodate sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping and lighting.

Johnson Engineering has prepared first-draft renderings of the possible configurations of each typical section of the corridor.

They have been broken down into four sections:

  • Florida Avenue to Church Avenue
  • Church Avenue to Meridian Avenue
  • Meridian Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard
  • Martin Luther King Boulevard to Pond Avenue

To provide feedback on the streetscape strategy and view renderings, visit DadeCityFl.com/news_detail_T1_R37.php.

For more information, call project manager Tina Mauriello at 352-523-5050, ext. 420.

Published October 13, 2021

Restaurant tabbed for historic buildings in Zephyrhills

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A local restaurant and café is being tabbed for two renovated historic buildings in Zephyrhills.

Before long, the Captain Jeffries House and Carriage House in Zephyrhills are expected to have new tenants — Tina and Joe Novak, of Tina and Joe’s Café in Dade City.

The Novaks have operated the cafe for about seven years, at 14232 Seventh St., in Dade City.

The lunch spot served a variety of fare, including soups, wraps, salads, handcrafted sandwiches, lobster rolls and homemade desserts, including cookies and pie.

A Dade City-based restaurant called Tina and Joe’s Café is expected to relocate to the Captain Jeffries House and Carriage House in Zephyrhills. Lease agreement negotiations are ongoing between the City of Zephyrhills and restaurateurs Tina and Joe Novak. (File)

Over the summer, the City of Zephyrhills opened a request for proposals (RFP) from potential tenants for the adjacent Jeffries House and Carriage House.

The city received three responses — Tina and Joe’s Café, Flowers by Annie and Shell’s Killer Bakery.

An evaluation team ranked the proposals, with Tina and Joe’s Café coming out as the top-ranked firm by a strong margin.

The evaluation team consisted of Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency director Gail Hamilton, Zephyrhills building official Bill Burgess, Zephyrhills senior planner Rodney Corriveau, and Pasco County Economic Development Council director of stakeholder engagement Mike Bishop.

The collaborative exercise was designed with the idea of making those historic spaces a catalyst to inject new life into the city’s downtown and attract more foot traffic to the area.

The Jeffries House and Carriage House are in the downtown shopping district, which includes City Hall, the City Library, as well as multiple retail shops and a microbrewery.

The buildings are a short walk to Zephyrhills Brewing Company, Your Turn Board Game Café, Gentleman’s Quarters Barber Shop, and other destinations.

Extra weight was given to would-be tenants willing to use both the Jeffries House and Carriage House, Hamilton said, in addition to letters of recommendation from customers, bank information, business model and overall track record.

Written evaluation comments shared in a city memo pinpointed Tina and Joe’s Café as being well-established and credit-worthy, with an ability to create jobs as a full-service restaurant.

Besides locating the restaurant and café within the Jeffries House, the Novaks plan to use a portion of the Carriage House for a produce and plant makerspace, Hamilton said.

The committee unanimously ranked them No. 1, Hamilton told city council members at a Sept. 13 regular meeting.

“We wanted to make it something that was a draw for downtown, and we don’t have a restaurant downtown, so that was part of the ranking as well,” she said.

The Zephyrhills City Council voted 5-0 to select Tina and Joe’s Café. The action allows city staff the notice to proceed on a negotiations and lease agreement with the Novaks.

Councilman Lance Smith voiced disappointment that more restaurants didn’t submit bids.

But Smith added: “I’m glad we had one, I’m glad that they (Tina and Joe’s Café) have a track record and they’re not a person that has a dream of starting a restaurant.”

Lease arrangements — including terms and length — will be brought back to the council for final approval.

The lease could start as early as Oct. 1.

Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson suggested modeling a lease after those used in other municipal historic districts, perhaps encompassing improvement allowances or allowances amortized over time.

“You know, there’s lots of creative ways to make that work, too, so I look forward to seeing what you folks come up with,” Wilkeson said.

Smith added: “We all understand that to create a commercial kitchen in that (Jeffries House) building is going to be very expensive, so we need to get very creative on giving allowances for improvements to the building.”

Hamilton assured council that staffers will work closely with Zephyrhills City Attorney Matt Maggard “to make sure we create a lease that is both creative for the city and for the prospective lessee.”

The Captain Jeffries House, at 38537 Fifth Ave., is named after the city’s founder, Captain H.B. Jeffries, who established Zephyrhills as a retirement area for old Union soldiers.

The 2,365-square-foot structure, built in 1912, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 29, 1995.

In addition to the interior space, it has a 600-square-foot wraparound porch. It has original hardwood floors, windows, light fixtures, a fireplace and stained glass windows.

Work completed in 2016 included plumbing, electrical and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC).

The Carriage House at 5323 Ninth St., was built in 1940. It is a two-story structure of 1,320 square feet, including a balcony on the second floor. It has restored original windows and folding garage doors.

The building has a one-bedroom apartment, with a kitchen and bathroom on the second floor, which has its own entrance.

New plumbing, electrical and HVAC work was completed in the structure during 2020.

Published September 22, 2021

Mural aims to refresh downtown Zephyrhills

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A downtown public art wall project is aiming to refresh the City of Pure Water.

The City of Zephyrhills last month unveiled a vibrant, large-size mural on the south-facing wall of 5210 Seventh St., also home to Painted Pixie hair salon.

The mural, roughly 90 feet wide by 9 feet tall, is titled ‘Ocea,’ which means water goddess in Greek mythology.

The City of Zephyrhills on May 26 unveiled a vibrant large-size mural on the south-facing wall of 5210 Seventh St. The mural, roughly 90 feet wide by 9 feet tall, is titled ‘Ocea,’ which means water goddess in Greek mythology. The vibrant work was completed by Lakeland-based artist Jonathan Sierra, along with assistant artist Fonz Eljaiek. (Courtesy of Kelli Carmack)

The colorful work was completed by Lakeland-based artist Jonathan Sierra, along with assistant artist Fonz Eljaiek. The duo worked throughout May on the project, sometimes laboring 18-hour days, from early morning to midnight, weathering heat, wind and other conditions.

Highlighted by various shades of blue, the mural features a woman’s full face — Ocea — creating ripples in water as she lifts her head right above sea level. Other elements and imagery in the piece incorporate aquatic life, such as a manatee and bass, as well as the sun, a lake, forests and hills, spread across waves of blue.

It’s estimated a couple gallons of paint were used for the $5,000 piece, made possible through partnerships with the City of Zephyrhills, Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Main Street Zephyrhills Inc.

Sierra’s proposal was selected from among 26 submissions to the mural design committee for the public art project.

Main Street Zephyrhills Inc.’s call for art simply asked for designs that represented Zephyrhills as “The City of Pure Water,” forcing respondents like Sierra to use their imagination and creativity in their drafts.

“When Zephyrhills pitched this project…it was a longshot, a shot in the dark,” Sierra said. “I put out a concept of what I thought resonated with what the theme was.”

In preparing his scope of work, Sierra researched what scientists have discovered about the water’s properties to gain a “deeper” grasp of where he wanted to go with the piece.

“We wanted to establish a wave, we wanted to make an impact that evoked a connection that humanity has with water,” Sierra explained of Ocea.

He added the mural otherwise serves to convey intentions of love, peace, unity, creatives and growth.

Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., representatives pose with muralists Jonathan Sierra and Fonz Eljaiek. The nonprofit organization, which fosters business and community events, is spearheading public art projects in the city.

Besides discussing the meaning of the piece in detail, Sierra was complimentary of the Zephyrhills community, during the May 26 unveiling ceremony that drew dozens of residents and stakeholders.

“It has been so overwhelming with the love and support that I’ve experienced with the community here in Zephyrhills,” said Sierra, noting countless locals engaged with the artists during the mural journey.

“The people that came by and honked their horns, gave us a fist bump, gave us two thumbs up, have given us so much great feedback and love, and all of that gives us energy and momentum to keep moving on the job and continues to thrill us. It was really fulfilling, the entire process.”

Sierra acknowledged beforehand, that really all he knew about the city was the bottled-water brand, Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water.

“That’s what everyone usually knows, is the brand,” said Sierra, who runs a firm specializing in advertising, branding and creative designs. “When I started to unpack and find out, (I learned the city) had nothing to do with the water bottle, and the brand at all.”

The mural is a first in what Main Street Zephyrhills — which fosters business and family friendly events in the city’s historic downtown — hopes becomes a full series of public art displays throughout city limits.

Based on fundraising efforts, other murals could be coming to one of the fire rescue stations, as well as the Fraternal Order of Eagles building on Fifth Avenue, for instance.

“This is a special time for the City of Zephyrhills and Main Street association,” said Main Street Zephyrhills president Linda Kerns, during the ceremony.

“Art unites a community and this is our start. We’ll have small (art displays), we’ll have large, but it’s the opportunity for us all to coordinate, to collaborate and become a more solid community.”

The mural likewise helps “increase the visibility of Zephyrhills” to visitors and passers-by, Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton said.

The city official pointed out public artwork — murals, statues, sculptures —  helps make a city memorable and stand out, referencing St. Petersburg, Winter Park, or Savannah, Georgia.

“It’s what makes a town a town, a city a city, and we’re missing that,” Hamilton said. “We want Zephyrhills to be out there. It’s our hometown and we want other people to enjoy our hometown, whether it’s a day, an afternoon, a lunchtime…”

The mural also should make Seventh Street and the surrounding downtown area more inviting for residents, Hamilton said, where they may be more inclined to discover local businesses and the walkability of the surrounding area. “It amazes me that people don’t know that we have a walkable downtown,” she said.

Sierra took similar views on the significance that public art brings to communities, small and large.

“It brings life to the current residents,” he said.

“It turns what used to be something that’d you’d ignore, walk past and not really pay attention to, but now, it creates a moment that people are inspired by.

“On top of that, it creates a destination spot for Zephyrhills. We can start to build a collection of these going forward with other artists, so that we can bring more people here and continue to grow.”

Meantime, Sierra wishes Ocea is a springboard for other amateur and professional artists to have their work on display throughout the small-town East Pasco municipality.

“I’m hopeful that it opens up opportunities for other artists,” he said. “I’m hopeful that it opens up the city to new eyes and the city continues to grow. There’s a lot more growth coming into the city, thousands of homes are being built, so I’m hoping this starts a wave of new art, a wave of new culture, a wave of community that lasts for ages.”

Main Street Zephyrhills is in the process of raising funds for an ongoing art series, with plans to launch a GoFundMe page for donations.

Visit MainStreetZephyrhills.org for more information.

Published June 16, 2021

Efforts set to begin to address flooding problems at intersection

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Stormwater drainage improvements are coming to the intersection of 15th Street and Main Avenue in Dade City — an area officials say has been long plagued by flooding problems.

Long-awaited stormwater issues will soon be resolved at the 15th Street and Main Avenue intersection in Dade City. (Courtesy of Dade City Public Works Director Bryan Holmes)

The intersection runs between Cox Elementary School and Watson Park. It also is near the future site of The Cove, a 10-unit Habitat for Humanity residential development.

Dade City Commissioners on March 9 voted unanimously to award the construction project to Tampa-based Kamminga & Roodvoets Inc. The company’s bid of $94,753 was the lowest of four submitted. Others came in at $122,460.25, $125,750 and $147,130.

The project scope calls for installing curb inlets and storm pipe at the intersection; constructing concrete curb; installing pavement and an asphalt wing; installing a ditch bottom inlet and constructing ditch pavement to match the street’s existing ditch grade, among other improvements. The contractor has 100 calendar days to achieve substantial completion.

The project was originally budgeted for $95,000, from the Penny for Pasco local government infrastructure surtax fund.

The city, in 2019, obtained engineering design services of Wood Environmental and Infrastructure Inc., to prepare bid-ready construction drawings for the drainage improvements. The engineer’s cost estimate at the time was $89,120.

Mayor Camille Hernandez described the project as “long-needed” and “overdue.”

“I’m very pleased to see this and happy that we awarded that (bid),” Hernandez said. “The folks (in the neighborhood) we have met at different times and stages are looking forward to that, and there’s a lot of development happening with The Cove and other things.”

Kamminga & Roodvoets also was the contractor on the city’s recent multimillion downtown stormwater piping system spanning Seventh Street, Pasco Avenue, Third Street, Meridian Avenue and other areas.

Published March 24, 2021

Dade City to permit alcohol sales on Sunday mornings

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The phrase, “Bottoms Up!” may begin a bit sooner on Sundays in Dade City.

Consumers in Dade City will soon be able to purchase alcoholic beverages on early Sunday mornings  — if an amended citywide ordinance is approved on a second and final reading.

Under the proposed change, Dade City businesses with liquor licenses would be permitted to start selling alcohol at 7 a.m., on Sundays — four hours earlier than currently allowed.

The City of Dade City is set to permit alcohol sales at 7 a.m., on Sundays, earlier than the 11 a.m., blue law restriction that remains in place.

If adopted, the measure would create uniform alcohol sales hours all seven days of the week in Dade City — from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., the following morning.

The proposal to change the alcohol sales hours passed on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Scott Black dissenting.

A second and final reading is expected on Feb. 23.

The ordinance mirrors a recent ruling enacted by the Pasco County Commission, which voted unanimously in November 2020 to change the county’s “blue law,” which had outlawed alcohol sales before 11 a.m., on Sundays.

A blue law generally refers to a state or local law that restricts certain commercial activities on Sunday for religious reasons, in order to observe a day of worship, or rest.

Other nearby municipalities also have repealed their respective blue laws in recent years, including the cities of Tampa, Lakeland and St. Petersburg. The City of Zephyrhills repealed the restriction on early Sunday morning alcohol sales more than a decade ago.

The call for the change in Dade City came at the behest of multiple Dade City establishments as a way to remain competitive, and as a way to avoid confusion for patrons.

In addition to retail packaged alcohol sales at local grocery or liquor stores as early as 7 a.m. Sunday, the ruling also would allow restauranteurs’ wish to sell alcoholic beverages on Sunday mornings, such as mimosas, Bloody Mary’s and so on.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez spoke in favor of relaxing the ordinance, reasoning that it is a “business friendly” measure intended to create “a level playing field” with the rest of the county.

Hernandez said the issue seemingly came to a head during Super Bowl Sunday, when many local shoppers — who were preparing for Game Day festivities — were informed it was too early to purchase alcohol at various grocery stores and other establishments within city limits.

“It’s not so much about drinking a mimosa at certain hours of the day, but having the opportunity to come into a grocery store or other establishment and being a convenience item to be able to do that one-stop shop,” the mayor said.

She also noted that if those shoppers ventured to Wesley Chapel or slightly outside limits, they’d have been able to make those one-stop shop alcohol purchases, which therefore discourages commerce in Dade City.

“People don’t want to go elsewhere,” Hernandez said, but, “if they’re not going to get it here, they’re going to go support other businesses that are outside of the Dade City limits.”

Hernandez also pointed to the city’s reputation as a fun place to shop and dine.

And, that’s likely to get a boost once a new downtown events and entertainment venue called The Block opens up on Seventh Street later on this year.

“We are trying to support businesses in our community and trying to help them with what they need to continue to survive and flourish in our area,” Hernandez said.

The mayor also noted that the Dade City Police Department has not expressed opposition or raised any “red flags” regarding passage of the proposed change.

Published February 17, 2021

Zephyrhills plans to seek state funds for three projects

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The City of Zephyrhills has decided to seek state funding for three improvement projects during the 2021 state legislative session.

Those projects involve improving Seventh Street; expanding the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center; and, improving a runway at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. The total costs for all three projects is estimated at $11.6 million.

This is a rendering of what a complete roadway would include, traversing Seventh Street from C Avenue north to U.S. 301. The 1.5-mile section would be converted from a single two-lane, one-way northbound road to a two-lane, two-way road with the addition of a multi-use trail, a sidewalk, on-street parking (where practical), and drainage improvements. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

The Zephyrhills City Council unanimously approved staff’s recommendation to submit funding requests for these projects at a Jan. 11 regular meeting.

When the Florida Legislature meets, it considers requests from local governments for assistance with projects of local importance.

Zephyrhills must ask state Rep. Randy Maggard, R-Dade City, and state Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, to sponsor these projects on the city’s behalf.

Staff will work to complete the applications and then submit to both the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, said Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe.

Monies would theoretically be made available to Zephyrhills in July, should one or more of those projects be approved by the Florida Legislature and signed off on by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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

  • Seventh Street complete street

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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has proposed to convert U.S. 301 and Sixth Street to a one-way pair street network. Because of these improvements, the city correspondingly wants to construct roadway improvements along Seventh Street from C Avenue north to U.S. 301. The roadway would be converted from a single two-lane, one-way northbound road to a two-lane, two-way road with the addition of a multi-use trail, sidewalk, on street parking where practical, and drainage improvements. The length of the street project is approximately 1.5 miles. Estimated cost is $6.3 million.

  • Indoor tennis complex, plus outdoor hard courts

Shown as Phase II on the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center plans, this includes the construction of a 30,000-square-foot indoor tennis facility with the capability for other sports and activities (soccer, ping pong, banquets, ceremonies), along with associated parking. Additionally, staff would like to construct six outdoor hard courts, allowing for sanctioned hard-court tournaments. Estimated cost is $2.5 million.

  • As part of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport’s runway 01-19 extension, additional funding is needed for paved runway shoulders, taxiway B extension, stormwater piping and an access road. These projects have a total estimated cost of $2.8 million. (File)

    Zephyrhills Municipal Airport runway extension

The city previously received a state appropriation of $5.9 million for the extension of runway 01-19, which is currently out to bid. However, an engineer’s cost estimate indicates the original appropriation will cover only the design and construction of the runway, and will not cover the paved runway shoulders, taxiway B extension, stormwater piping or the access road. These additional items have a total estimated cost of $2.8 million.

Before deciding to approve the project submissions, there was much discussion during the meeting — mainly concerning the additions to the tennis center and the airport runway extension.

Zephyrhills Council President Charles Proctor, for one, expressed disappointment because the city again must request for additional state funds regarding improvements to the airport runway. He was dismayed, as well, that no state funding requests were presented for improving various city parks facilities, including Hercules Park.

The city manager addressed both matters.

Poe detailed how original airport runway costs were likely underestimated because there was no design at the time of the requests for fiscal year 2018-2019, plus he said there was a short time frame for an engineer to put a package together. Moreover, construction costs have changed somewhat since then, Poe said.

“I agree, it’s crazy to me that $5.9 million doesn’t cover everything we needed out there; unfortunately, that’s where we are on that,” the city manager said.

As for not requesting anything in the way of local parks improvements from the state, Poe suggested next year might be more apt given expected state budget reductions due to the COVID-19 pandemic — where officials have said could hit the $5 billion shortfall range.

He mentioned conversations with various state representatives made it appear they’re likely to sponsor fewer projects on the whole because of the pandemic’s lingering effects. For example, Poe said Burgess previously told him he’d be comfortable sponsoring just two Zephyrhills projects this year.

Poe observed: “Let’s be honest, I think this state budget coming up here is going to be very tight. That doesn’t lend itself to a lot of appropriations, but we could be surprised. I think people are spending more than what we thought they would be throughout this past year, so hopefully projections were off.”

The City of Zephyrhills is seeking state funding for a trio of infrastructure projects. (File)

Meantime, there always had been plans to construct an indoor multi-purpose sports complex holding four tennis courts, at some point.

City council members were taken aback that the proposal also includes the construction of six additional outdoor hard-surface tennis courts to the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, situated on 10 acres at 6585 Simons Road.

The facility already features nine Har-Tru clay tennis courts, two hard-surface tennis courts, eight pickleball courts and four padel courts.

If the multimillion dollar expansion project is passed in its entirety, that would give the facility 21 tennis courts in one form or another, plus the pickleball and padel offerings.

Aside from a quartet of indoor/covered courts, Poe explained the reasoning for funding an additional six outdoor hard surface courts is to open the facility to a wider range of tournaments, and to accommodate increasing recreational uses and demands.

In order to host certain tournaments — such as high school district or regional meets — the facility must have a minimum of eight hard-surface courts, he said. (Any indoor courts would not count toward that requirement because they technically have a different playing surface.)

As a further added use — the outdoor hard-surface courts could be converted and taped into pickleball courts as needed, Poe said.

Council Vice President Jodi Wilkeson and Councilman Alan Knight questioned why an extra half-dozen outdoor hard courts weren’t part of original construction plans several years ago.

“It’s unfortunate that we didn’t plan ahead,” Wilkeson said, adding she’d also like to at some point see some concrete economic data generated from tennis tournaments and other events.

“It would be nice for me to look at it from more of a business plan perspective,” she said. “We talk about these amorphous numbers that impact the community tax revenue, but what other source of revenue is there for the city as it relates to these tournaments, or the tennis center.”

Poe wasn’t quite sure why more hard courts weren’t included from the onset, as he wasn’t the city manager at that time.

He suggested this possibility: “I don’t know that it was anticipated that the center would be as successful as it has been this early.”

He also pointed out there was perhaps more emphasis on constructing clay courts at the time: “I think the thought was the future of tennis facilities is to have the Har-Tru courts. With the clay courts, it’s easier on the joints and offers a little more flexibility to its users,” Poe said.

Despite council’s critiques, they ultimately agreed to seek funding to advance the tennis center’s build out.

Councilman Lance Smith underscored the facility’s importance, to put the matter into perspective: “I was over there for some of the (recent) tournaments and there were people from all over Florida that were in Zephyrhills, spending money in our restaurants, and then some of them lived at homes across the street, too, so there’s an ancillary benefit you get from it.”

Smith continued: “To host a high school tournament…that’s not a significant amount of revenue, but it brings people to the area. All of it generates traffic that wouldn’t otherwise be here in Zephyrhills. That being said, we do need to be careful spending our money.”

Elsewhere, regarding Seventh Street enhancements, Poe explained this project still needs to be designed.

Poe also noted: “There are some elements that could be removed or phased in to make that very large number more palatable for funding.”

Published January 27, 2021

Zephyrhills seeking state funding for four projects

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The City of Zephyrhills is pursuing state funding for four projects, although ongoing financial impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic may hamper some, or all of the requests, from being included in the state’s budget.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe explained the requests during a regular Zephyrhills City Council meeting last month. They call for:

  • Transforming Seventh Street into a complete street, generally from U.S. 301 to South Avenue and C Avenue
  • Building sewer line and sewer capacity expansions and improvements on the north end of town to make way for additional development around the Zephyr Commons Publix Super Market on Gall Boulevard
  • Paving and taxiway improvements at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport
  • Phase II of the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, which calls for a 30,000-square-foot indoor multi-use complex on the northeast portion of the 10-acre property on Simons Road — large enough for four tennis courts, but could also be converted to accommodate soccer, weddings, concerts and other community events or sports

The deadline to submit requests to the state is Feb. 2. Final project submissions and prioritization will come before a formal council vote, likely at a Jan. 11 regular meeting.

Monies would be made available to Zephyrhills in July, should one or more of those projects be approved by the Florida Legislature and signed off on by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The city manager said each of those projects should be “shovel-ready” for construction by the summer time frame, except for the sewer line initiative, which first needs to be designed.

Published January 13, 2021

Busy 2021 anticipated for East Pasco communities

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The East Pasco municipalities of Dade City and Zephyrhills are poised for a busy 2021 in terms of infrastructure, development and other community programs.

Here’s a closer look at some of the highlights in the new year:

Dade City

A rendering of the type of large-sized heart-shaped sculptures that will be installed at city-owned properties in the downtown area. (File)

Let’s get artsy
“The Heart of Pasco County” moniker soon can be taken on quite literally in Dade City — in the form of an outdoor, permanent public artwork exhibit.
The Dade City Center for the Arts in February will celebrate the installation of a new outdoor public art exhibition — in the form of about a dozen 8-foot-tall metal heart sculptures painted by local artists and installed throughout historic, downtown Dade City.
Proposed locations for the 3D heart sculptures, which will have varied artwork patterns on each, include:

  • Hibiscus Park
  • City Hall/Police station alcove entrance or nearby
  • Green space entrance to Hardy Trail
  • Meridian Avenue/U.S. 301 intersection, near Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum
  • Naomi S. Jones Park
  • Whitehouse historical landmark on Old Lakeland Highway
  • Lock Street/Hardy Trail intersection
  • Agnes Lamb Park near Meridian Avenue
  • Price Park
  • Watson Park
  • Dade City Garden Club
The Dade City Center for the Arts is facilitating more community art programs.

The community initiative is designed not only to color up the downtown area, but also to use public artwork as a photo opportunity and marketing tool, to encourage residents and visitors alike to stroll throughout city limits. More frills include installing QR codes on each sculpture mapping out the location of other city landmarks and providing information about a particular artist or meaning of the artwork itself.
The entire concept is similar to outdoor art events in other cities that bring together artists’ creativity with a sculptural icon that relates to the city. In Dade City’s case, its official seal has a heart shape surrounded by kumquats in its center.
The city’s arts center also has been approved to create a wall mural at the site of the former CenturyLink building at Hardy Trail and Eighth Street.

 

 

Dade City’s visitor information center will be built adjacent to the Roy Hardy Trail on Church Avenue. (City of Dade City)

Visitor’s information center coming
Roy Hardy Trail cyclists and exercisers alike will have a spot to take a breath, relax and learn about the happenings in their community all at once.
It comes in the form of a visitor’s information center adjacent to the Hardy Trail on Church Avenue.
The 1,380-square-foot open floor space will feature informational kiosks and mobile displays for all county tourism amenity partners.
The building also will be accompanied by two porches and a bike rack — its location designed to offer easy access off the Hardy Trail for users to gather and rest. The facility will have two family bathrooms, as well.
A groundbreaking is slated sometime in early 2021, with completion expected in the summer.
The project is funded with the help of a $250,000 grant from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

Sprucing up downtown
Dade City leaders have made it a priority for 2021 and beyond to ensure that the city’s historic downtown area is safe, clean and generally more desirable to stroll through.
The city is moving forward with plans to install additional crosswalks along Seventh Street and Meridian Avenue, and is improving stormwater drainage near Seventh Street and Pasco Avenue.
It also is exploring traffic-calming initiatives to reduce vehicle speeds. And, it is making public parking space changes, boulevard additions, and encouraging landscaped parklets to create additional outdoor seating areas.
Additional resources also will be dedicated to downtown cleanup — including mowing, weeding and litter patrol of city-owned properties in the Community Redevelopment Area.
Meanwhile, the city’s public works team is in the midst of enhancing the lighting downtown parking lots, as well as Agnes Lamb Park on Ninth Street.

Could Dade City try to leverage its recreation amenities, such as motocross, as it embarks on a rebranding effort? (File)

Marketing rebrand in the works?
The City of Dade City is plotting a full-scale marketing rebrand to capitalize on residential and tourism growth in Pasco County and Tampa Bay area, at large.

The city has earmarked $40,000 in this fiscal year’s budget toward a marketing and advertising plan, promotional activities and other contractual services.
But, before that money, and possibly much more, is allocated specifically, Dade City commissioners want to hear what the public thinks — and that includes local business owners, residents and other stakeholders.

Efforts to gather input throughout the year could take form in charrettes, surveys, monthly forums, and even door-to-door visits.

How to best promote its current and forthcoming amenities remains the looming question.
Does the city try to emphasize its unique collection of downtown shops and restaurants? Focus more on recreation attractions inside and outside the city limits? Leverage its budding reputation as a location for rural destination weddings? Or, perhaps will it simply brand itself as an ideal location to raise a family?


City of Zephyrhills

The rebuilding Jerry’s Crystal Bar is set to open in early 2021 on Gall Boulevard. (Courtesy of Jerry’s Crystal Bar)

Iconic business to reopen
The longest-operating bar in Zephyrhills is set to reopen in early 2021 — almost two years since it was destroyed by a fire.
The original Jerry’s Crystal Bar had been in business since 1954, at 5707 Gall Blvd.
That all changed in May 2019 when a two-alarm fire electrical in nature suffocated the building’s attic and roof, yielding a total loss.
A complete rebuild of the iconic, family owned establishment is coming along swimmingly since a May 2020 groundbreaking. The bar’s owners expect a grand opening ceremony in January or February.
The new building takes on an elevated, modernized look and is nearly double the size of the old structure. It also falls under the requirements of the city’s form-based code for the U.S. 301/Gall Boulevard corridor area, whereby the facade is aligned right up to the street with a wide sidewalk and all parking is situated behind the bar.

A rendering of the U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road intersection project (File)

U.S. 301 intersection project to spur commercial activity
The completion of an intersection improvement at U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road, expected in mid-2021, is expected to open up opportunities for increased commercial development.

The $2.3 million state-funded project calls for new traffic signals on U.S. 301 at Pretty Pond and at Medical Arts Court/ Townview Avenue, along with other median and roadway improvements.
Once construction is complete, the area is poised to land Chick-fil-A and Chipotle chain restaurants, among several other businesses and attractions.

Residential developments popping up
Don’t be surprised if “The City of Pure Water” get a little more crowded in 2021 and beyond.

Significant progress or completion is expected on a number of large-scale residential developments throughout the municipality.

With myriad new homes on deck, small town Zephyrhills is going to get a little more crowded. (File)

A slew of new housing communities is actively underway — such as Abbott Square, 700-plus units surrounding the new Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center off Simons Road; and Abbott Park, 500-plus units tucked behind the Zephyr Commons Publix Shopping Center, off Gall Boulevard.

Other notable homesites include the Link at Calusa Springs, north of Silverado Golf & Country Club; the Oaks at Pasco, southeast of Silverado Golf & Country Club; and Skybird Properties, off Alston Road near the municipal airport.

Simply put, the city’s real estate market is “very hot right now,” Zephyrhills Planning Director Todd Vande Berg said earlier this year.

“I don’t know where all these people are coming from, but these housing subdivisions are selling homes for over $300,000 with HOAs and CDDs. I wasn’t sure how that’d work in Zephyrhills, but you drive up to Silverado and before the lot infrastructure is completed, you’re seeing a ‘Sold’ sign, so it is amazing.

“Even through this COVID-19 environment, the residential housing…has really stayed very strong, which helps the city from a budget and revenue standpoint,” said Vande Berg.

More bells and whistles for tennis center?
Could the newly opened Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center continue to add to its wide range of features this year?

The northeast corner of the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center on Simons Road is reserved for a an indoor multipurpose sports complex. (Courtesy of Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center)

Well, the City of Zephyrhills and the Zephyrhills City Council are giving strong consideration to a second request for state funding to expand the state-of-the-art facility on Simons Road.

The northeast corner of the 10-acre property has been reserved for a 30,000-square-foot indoor multi-purpose sports complex — enough room to handle four full-sized tennis courts, and can also be converted to accommodate soccer, weddings and even concerts.

This past year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a $1.5 million appropriation for the Phase II project from the state’s budget amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

But that might not stop city leaders from continuing to push for the project. Appropriation requests for this year must be submitted to the state by early February.

The $4.9 million tennis center, which opened in September, already includes numerous courts and other amenities.

Published January 06, 2021