8.5.25 Pasco Board of County Commissioners Meeting

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25. At this time, please silence all your electronics. I'm digging for mine to silence it. And uh mute your microphones if you're home. Um please rise for the invocation and pledge of allegiance. Good morning, honorable commission chaplain Anthony Shite, Pasco County Fire Rescue. It's my privilege to give the invocation today. Let us pray. Almighty God, thank you for this our civic duty today. Grant us wisdom in all we do. We ask that you'll watch over our policemen, firemen, first responders, teachers, and youth of our community. Grant us blessing today. Amen.

Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, I smell my purse.

Okay. Could we please call the role?

District one, Commissioner Oakley,

here.

District two, Commissioner Wakeman,

present.

District four, Commissioner Joerger,

here. District 5, Commissioner Mariano,

here.

District three, Chairman Starky,

here.

Okay, now is the time for public comment. Citizens are given an opportunity to comment on any current or future agenda item coming before the board and on other business under the board's purview. Today's public comment will be handled as follows. First, we will take public comment from those who are here in person. Then we will take public comment from those who have pre-registered for a WebEx link and are currently on quue. We request that when you address the board, comments are not directed personally against the commissioner or team member, but rather directed at the issues. This provides mutual respect between the board members and the public. After stating your name and address for the clerk, a threeminut timer will be activated and a green light will be shown on the podium. After two minutes, a yellow light will indicate you have one minute left. When your time is up, a red light will be displayed. Three beeps will sound and you should close your comments. WebEx participants will be disconnected automatically when their time is up. And madame clerk, do we have anyone? Mr. Clerk, do we have any?

Yes, ma'am, we do. Uh Diane Redmond.

Good morning. And I'm uh Diane Redmond, former well maiden named Prader. I live at 38944 Spartan Road Dade City. I am a lifetime resident. I was born in Dr. Stanfield's clinic. I also have family members uh founding fathers on the medallions out here for the Mckendry's and the Tuckers. My dad is also on the memorial. So I've got skin in the game. Uh I'm here to ask you to please consider this. I know a lot of people are talking about tearing tearing down the the tree and I've got another concern. Uh I live on river river off river road and uh I found out that trees large trees that are cut down that the roots literally will destroy the structure of if sorry I'm nervous I've never done this before. uh the tree the roots that you tell how far the roots go out by the canopy. And uh so this the tree out here that everybody's talking about wanting to remove, I don't agree with it because my dad, like I said, my dad's my dad's name there and uh also Mr. Oakley's uh close to there. Anyway, so I live on River Road and if anybody knows anything about River Road, there was a large tree taken down there by the church and it was probably 60 plus years ago. And to this day, you go over the road, you know exactly where it is. No matter how many times they repair it, the area just you just dip. You just dip. And they've been out there multiple multiple times. And I say this is at least 60 years ago. And what my concern is that you take down the tree, those roots are all up underneath there. And all I can see is it's going to the structure is going to it's going to fail as far as the underground structure of this of this uh you know of our memorial. And that's I guess you could say that's my really big concern because I've seen it happen. Uh like I said, drive out river road and see if I'm not telling any truth. go right on there. But anyway, so I'm here. I'm a long time. Like I said, I was I was born here and my mother was born out at Derby. We're we are natives. Can't get I mean Dr. Stealth's clinic by the post office. I just I just ask please please consider the other part of it that it could literally do exactly what you don't want to do is damage the structure instead of saving it. I would appreciate that if you would consider that. Thank you.

Uh we don't allow clapping. We don't allow clapping in here. So, thank you very much.

Uh Kevin Teard.

Good morning. Hi, Pasco. Uh I've got a

name and uh name and address for the record.

My name is Kevin Tagerty. I'm right here in Dade City, 1383 Fifth Street. Um, I've got about 20 members and if I can kind of consolidate and wrap things up a little quicker, uh, if I could have a little extension on time.

Well, are you speaking for all of them?

Uh, could everyone stand up representing our trees today?

Okay. So, if um if those folks aren't going to speak, then um we'll give you more time.

I I talked to them before.

Okay.

So, they they wouldn't sign up to do that. So, I'd appreciate that. We have uh three more signed.

Okay, then we'll

Okay. I was unaware of that. I just was able to

uh five minutes.

Okay.

Put my readers on. Good morning, commissioners. As I said, my name is Kevin Tagerty. Um I voted for you guys on this board. I don't have any personal problems. I have seen some attacks against some of you members. Um and that I did not organize a protest. I did or organize a peaceful gathering and most of those people are here today. So, I just want to let you guys know that and I I appreciate you guys for taking the emails and calls and anybody that's personally uh reached back out to me. Uh today we're going to reg we're requesting that the county board register live oak number seven right here in the courthouse lawn as a historic live oak tree to be registered. Sits on the north lawn for over two 200 to 250 years is what our arborist report are saying. This tree has been through numerous historical events including simino Indian wars, civil war, world wars, and even generations of families. As we heard, uh Francis Dade in 1835 marched his men just uh about a mile from here on their way to Fort K on the road to Fort King up to uh uh the fort before the the Dade City massacre happened. a 250 year old tree. This means this tree has lived under Great Britain. It's lived under Spain and now the United States. This tree never moved its roots. It's been in the same exact location when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The tree maybe from 1773 predates 1776 when our Declaration of Independence was signed. With proper care, this tree can last centuries more. It's been through centuries of hurricanes, major storms, droughts, floods, human threats. Thankfully, Commissioner Sylvia Young, uh, Pasco Commissioner, whose name's on this this building. She was instrumental in saving that tree and was able to convince the county to turn their vote around to save the tree. However, the tree was never registered historically and we hope that that can be done. The arborist reports from 2015 and 2025 do not recommend tree removal. They do they do not it does issue uh that there was the 2015 does list issues with the tree but maintains ISA certified arborous follow-up. So we got two reports supporting uh that the tree does not need to come down. There's no visible uh the green the tree is lush and green. There's no visible uh failing of the tree as mentioned in previous reports and I'm afraid that maybe a lot on the county there might have been some information passed around but we want to definitely share some facts and we invite you to look at the tree after uh today's meeting and just walk around it. Uh as for sable palms there's no public support for the sable palms on this landscape. Dade city, Pasco County is trees tree city and sable palms do not match this inland landscape. Sable palms technically are aren't even trees even though they're our state tree. It's an actual grass.

Old number seven is claimed to be a threat to our memorial band stand. Uh we have lots of veterans, but we have family members. We had three out there last meeting that stood up for that tree and they sit in the shade when they honor their family members at the band stand. It is near and dear and I know uh Commissioner Oakley does have family on there and we don't we don't want to see any of these memorials destroyed. That tree should be a memorial. Um again the arborist report you can see that the tree is trimmed around the band stand and the major limbs uh would not fall directly if they did snap as mentioned previously. But we currently there is a low threat. This tree uh we should have funds already to save our memorials especially this tree. Uh if funds aren't already set aside to help preserve the band stand we need to. If you notice, the police memorial already had one of the plaques fall off and the the blue uh grass tiles, the the little blue strip for the thin blue line is starting to come undone. And all those little blue chips are uh spreaded. So, we should have money to fix these memorials. Uh hopefully, uh and we need that bandstand also protected. Someone could drive their car into it, you know, where or a sable palm if planted there could also fall on it. We we just need to be ready. This tree cleans our air, produces oxygen, provides shade, shelter for wildlife. This mature tree can produce about 275 L of oxygen. It will make 25 million L of oxygen and it's 250 years and she's not even halfway done with her life. Please register oak number seven on a historic as a historic tree as soon as possible. Let's stop and protect this tree. Halt the plan to cut it down and let's stop the current Sable Palm plan, please. Let's just leave everything as is for right now. Dade city should have a seat at this table on the landscape designs. Let us save the tree, preserve our history future. Can I get a motion?

We don't do that.

Good try.

Had to ask.

I do appreciate you guys. And I am not personally against I know it's a very heated thing and when it comes to a tree I know Mr. Oakley's taking a lot of heat. Uh it's we we have to find some kind of desire but I have yet to run to anybody that wants this tree.

All right. Thank you. Next

Barbara Barl.

Morning.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for letting me speak.

You can move that mic down. Thank you for letting me speak. My name is Barbara Barthol. I'm a fourth generation Pasco County born and raised here. Um, a lot of you may know me or have seen me before because I've spoke before the um, commissioners before in different um, capacities. The reason I am speaking today is to let you know that I have obtained the uh forms to actually request that the tree be um considered or um maintained as a historic landmark and I will be filling them out. I um actually uh obtained those forms late yesterday afternoon and I will be talking to the city of Dade City and also asking them to um make it a historic landmark through the city of Dade City. So, I'll ask for them to do that with them first since it is in the city of Dave City and then um actually put that through um the planning um commission with the Pasco County Board second uh because that's what they had requested for me to do. So, I have all of those forms to do that and request that the tree be um made a historic landmark as of the tree. So, I just wanted to make you aware that I will be filling out those forms to make the tree because the tree has been there forever and nothing has ever happened there. You know, I've raised my children here and then I was raised here. there's been, you know, uh, cupcakes sold and, um, I remember when I took my children before the memorial was, you know, um, closed off and Santa Claus used to sit inside of it and you would take pictures of your children, you know, going and seeing Santa Claus. And now, of course, you can't do that because the memorial needs to have a lot of work done to it. And I know that the people that are here to support the tree would support helping to get monies to fix that memorial. So, you know, we'll start one thing at a time to save one thing at a time. And we'd be glad to help, you know, save the memorial and get funds to, you know, do that memorial. But we need to save that tree because that means a lot to Dade City and it's it's a representation of who we are in Pasco County. Dade city and I thank you for letting me speak.

Barbara, could you add your address?

Oh, I'm sorry. Uh, it's 31252 St. Joe Road.

Thank you, Barbara.

Thank you,

Connie Lamar.

Could you give us your address for the record?

Sure. It's 37330 Hickory Hill Lane, Date City.

Thank you. Um, thank you very much for this opportunity to speak and obviously I am here in support of saving the tree and making it historic landmark. I will not reiterate the things that you've already heard, but I will tell you that when I moved here 40 years ago, I was in awe of the beauty of this city. I was in awe of all of the land around this city. It was inspiring and I just want to say that I think people have spoken to the environmental and historical significance of the tree. I want to speak to the spirit of the tree and the way in which it truly reflects the identity of Dade City and indeed I think all of Pasco County. uh it is native to us and what I'm really hoping for is that you will move forward on the historic plan and I really want to see the county and the city work together to preserve this tree and and bring unity to the community and thank you very much Kevin Manard Karen I'm sorry Karen Manar Your address for the record, please.

My address is 17147 Sweetwater Road. Uh, I'm Karen Manard and I come before you today and I appreciate your time as a member of the Jade City Garden Club. Um, and with regards to the tree, I understand the roles that the the the state, the county, and the city have with regards to the trees, uh, trees in the state of Florida are protected and live oaks, especially grand live oaks are, uh, part of that protection. With regards to the county, the county would be responsible for designate getting the designation for that tree as a historical tree. With regards to removing the tree, it's the city's uh responsibility to approve that permit. Any trees that are within the city limits need to get the permit from the city. Within the the city's municipal code, it specifically states that any tree that exceeds 40 in in diameter at breast height cannot be removed, especially if the tree has been deemed healthy and well cared for. Why don't we have that?

Uh Dade City does have the designation as a Tree City USA. It's maintained that designation for 18 years. Part of that designation requires that uh the city have a tree board, they have a tree care ordinance, they have the money to take care of the trees, and that they have an Arbor Day observation observation and a proclamation. And we do all those things. And I'd like to uh encourage the county to uphold that program's um goals and save that tree. Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

That's the last person we have signed up and we have no one online. All

right. Um so we've heard from the tree folks. Is there anyone else who wants to speak on a different topic here today? Okay. And there's no one.

Someone raise their hand.

Okay.

No, she's leaving. All right. Um then that will uh end public comment and um so we don't address public comment at this time. We'll talk about the tree during our commissioner items which will happen probably in a little bit. Um, but we have some other business to get through and you're welcome to stay while we go through our regular business. Uh, I think at this time I have a special um, special thing happening. Can we call up Paula, please? Who's handling this award? Oh, you're going to speak about the award. Okay. Okay. Paula Baraldo is going to talk about our our HSA award. So, good morning, commissioners. Uh it is my pleasure to share with you that Pasco County through the funds uh provided by the opioid settlement fund has been recognized at both the state and national level for its efforts to address behavioral health needs for our community. First through the state level at the Florida Association of Counties Health Services Administrators under their innovation award category and second through the National Association of Counties through their health services. uh this is a highlight for the groundbreaking partnership that we have established with Bayare and the efforts that have been made to fill this gap in the continuum of services that are being provided to our community. So this morning I would like to also highlight two professionals that have been the heartbeat of this effort. Uh we have with us Tracy Kaye. She is the director of clinical operations at Bayare together with Erica Fritz uh who is the manager for the urgent uh care center. And so with that, I'd like to bring them up here so they can share with you about the importance of this project and the positive impact that it has had in our community. Thank you guys. Hello. Nice to see everyone. So, most of you know we opened the first behavioral health urgent care center in the state of Florida here in Pasco County. And that was no easy task. And I think it happened because of the forward thinking and the generosity of this commission along with our community, our community of professionals, our hospitals, our providers, our business community. Everyone saw a need for um easy immediate access for mental health and addiction treatment. And that's what we created. same day, walk-in extended hours. So, striking while the iron's hot, so to speak. We've been open for almost six months. We have this incredible um most some of you have seen it, some of you have not. If you'd like to come visit, please do. The environment is beautiful. It's um welcoming. It's peaceful. It's serene. We don't rush people through. We have a comfort room where people can kind of take a minute, take a break. Um, we really, um, want our professionals to meet with anyone who walks in to really figure out what do they need, what do they need today, and then what do they need for the next week, the next month, the next six months, and how do we check

in and keep them connected to services. So, in the almost six months that we've been operational, we have served almost 800 individuals.

Wow.

800 people have walked in, no appointments. You walk in for services, you're asking for mental health and addiction care today, and you're getting it. Of those 800, 96% of them have been diverted from hospital care. Meaning we're not having to baker them. We're not having to send them to detox. We're getting them and those services are needed. There are there is an appropriate time and place for involuntary services. Um but if we can get them the treatment, the right treatment at the right time and avoid that more costly service, um not necessarily treatment oriented service, that is essential. So um I I'm really proud of our work. I feel very grateful to have partnered with you guys. I will say we are getting questions from all over the state of Florida saying, "Can we come visit? Can we come replicate this? How do we do it?" You know, and we're opening the playbook, right? We want to see more of this. It doesn't have to be us doing it. We would love to see others do it in our nearby counties and also throughout the state. So, thank you very much.

I want to I want to write down those numbers. Let's see.

What item

What item is this, Mer?

This is This is a a walk-on.

Oh, walk on.

Um Okay. So, in six months.

Yep. So, we opened beginning of February, so it's been almost six months. Um, we've served just about 800 individuals to date. Um, these are adults walking in from mental health and addiction care. And of those 800, 96% of them have been diverted from any, um, hospitalization, um, detox, you know, urgent care, um, you know, more intensive level of care. We're able to

and maybe the jail as well.

For sure. Yeah. Yep.

That's wonderful. And we've worked very closely with the jail. You know, when when um um inmates are being released, they can come, right? They can come that next day or the day of. They can, you know, they can walk in for services. So, it's it's um I think the community um sees it as a as a great resource in our county and um you know, we're all working together really well and have been for a while. So, yeah.

Excellent. Um does anyone else want to address this great project? I'll start here and then move that way.

Question. Do does this program have any transportation barriers? if you have 800 and I figure folks who are in these situations, transportation is probably an issue. So I was curious if there's any any transportation barriers or any as this program evolved. I mean 6 months 800 people that's pretty significant. So as we move forward to the next phase of of uh the project there's anything that

is there a bus stop there? We we are on a bus stop route and we haven't really seen a lot of transportation issues. We have law enforcement that are willing to bring individuals and you know it what often is happening what we're seeing happening is it's it's today's the day and they find a friend to take them in or spouse is bringing them in. And I and I will say we're seeing all walks of life, right? So this is this is those that are uninsured, homeless, needing like all kinds of services wrapped around them. And this is, you know, um our working community that says, you know what, I've I I used to struggle with some addiction and I feel like I need to get back in or I'm struggling with a grief related issue and I need I really just need to talk to someone. I think let me just go in there and see what they they have to offer. So we have seen kind of the whole gamut. Um and I think it you know when we just this we came up with this concept you know we strategically picked the location because it is on a bus stop route. It is um Medicaid will will transport with their their cabs there. You know Uber Health brings people there. So we you know picked a location that we felt like um would be most advantageous for those that need it.

All right. Great job. Yeah, Commissioner.

So, first of all, great job. And second of all, I I absolutely love um your program. You know, you think of those 800 people, how many of those 800 people, you know, people I've talked to that they're afraid to go get help because they don't want that Baker Act on on their um

on their record. And

you can't even put a number of how many people you guys really have rescued and probably prevented from being homeless and losing their jobs. And I just think it's it's so much bigger than that. And thank you guys for for everything and it's very important what you guys do. So and hopefully other counties will take our lead and open up one as well.

Absolutely.

Because it's truly life-changing.

Yeah. Thank you. Uh, I want to say what a phenomenal accomplishment is to be the first, number one, but number two, how great you guys renovated that building to make it work. It was just outstanding to walk in there. So, top top rated, premier, um, great job with that. You know, with our homeless populations out there that these guys have to pick up, the deputies have to do it. Firefighters have the same type of issue, EMS, etc. So, all those calls matter, and having now an outlet to go to take them right away is important. Um, you know, I hear I see a lot of, you know, pan handling going on with the signs, etc. Yesterday, I saw a guy walking on Little Road, walking up and down in the middle of the median with just a sandal,

and he was just like going up and down and up and down. That's I don't know if he got picked up or not. I know I I let staff know, so I think they did they probably did something with that. But having an opportunity to take someone keeps them out of the jails, keeps them out of the hospitals, which we all pay for at the end, and and gives them a chance to get back into life. Uh so thank you for the great work you're doing.

Thank you.

Um so I we have to give a lot of credit to your former um CEO, Tommy. I never remember his last name.

And Zena.

Yes. And um because we generated this idea at the convening that he did of of leaders in from the three or four counties. So I want to make sure that since he's not there anymore that he knows the seed he planted. So please be sure and um tell him thanks for me and I'm sure to share because he we were at our our table where the seed started. um that if not for him bringing that together,

who knows, you know, if this would have germinated like it did. So,

absolutely

very grateful to him. That was brilliant. He had all the hospitals there, not just daycare.

And um and great job for our staff, your staff, the community, and um this is a really good use of the opioid settlement money. And I'm very happy that our citizens have this opportunity. I wonder m maybe one day we need to think do we need one on this side

maybe there's a proposal that's in right now

there is okay

maybe

county is so big and you know we want all of our citizens to have right

have this opportunity

we agree and and we hear the same thing about the services you know it is it is in West Pasco currently and so um you know it it is a Baker did put in a proposal to expand access to East Pasco um and it was recommended at last week's task force meeting to push forward to It'll come before you guys next month. So, yeah, we would love to see

that. Is that on our CDBG list today?

Um, my meeting yesterday.

We're actually starting briefings with you individually next week and then that will come to you in September for formal recommendations.

September. Okay. All right. Well, thank you so much. Would it be possible to take a picture if that's board members? Let's go down.

We should send this to the NAO um newsletter. A little story.

You know, I was there. I could have Thank you so much. [Applause] Okay. So, we are on to the a um agenda and I have some polls here. I know I brought

Oh, I always get the question.

Okay. We will go on to our resolutions and then we will do the resol.

Go ahead, Mr. Clerk.

Resolution number 25299. Gentlemen, if you would please stand for the Premier League. If you would come and join up at the podium and let me before I go any further apologize for any misprononunciation of names in the next few minutes. Okay. A resolution by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, congratulating the 2009 Florida Premier FC boys team on winning a national championship. Whereas the West Pasco Soccer Association was formed in 1979 as a neighborhood soccer program and since then has grown into Florida Premiere, a national powerhouse recognized as one of the top youth clubs in the country. And whereas in 2020, Florida Premiere was accepted into the Elite Clubs National League, ECNL, the top youth soccer league in the United States with over 165 clubs that compete throughout the season for one of 64 playoff spots. And whereas after qualifying for playoffs held in Seattle, Washington, Florida Premier was able to win and advance to the Sweet 16 where they faced uh past national champion San Diego Serb eventually advancing to the Elite 8. And whereas after a 10-month grueling season, the 2009 Florida Premier boys traveled to Richmond, Virginia, and started out with a tough match against Solar, winning 4-2. In the final four, the Florida Premiere faced North Carolina FC and came out with a 200 win to secure their spot in the first ever national championship game for the club. And whereas in the final, Florida Premier FC boys faced Predators from Southern California and dominated the game with a 3-0 win, making them the 2025 U16 ECNL national champions. And whereas the 2009 Florida Premier boys roster is comprised of players Ibrahim Abdul Salam, Sebastian Aguilera, David Ba, Daniel Baros, Kaylor Bennett, Arturo Kran, Nabol, Bob Day, Drew Delaney, Tomas Garcia, Gabriel Gotaier, Alton Moratti, William Shipy, uh, Solomon Nakitia, Evan Serrano, Zachary Singer, Dylan Starky, Fios Vasakas, uh, Khalil Simon, Seani Alardo, Hawquen Bell, Carcel, Brian Cruz, Hernandez, and Enzio Martino. And whereas the 2009 Florida Premiere FC ECNL boys team is staffed by Eddie as the uh head coach, Andre and Arango as the assistant coach, Novi Marik Maric, I'm sorry, as chief executive officer, Nathan Bender as the director of soccer, Denise Staer as director of operations, and Billy Bennett as the team admin. And whereas this marks the first time in Florida history that any boys or girls elite club's national league team has won the national championship as well as the first national championship in Florida Premier history. Now therefore be resolved by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida. The said board hereby congratulates the 2009 Florida Premier FC boys team on winning the U16 ECNL National Championship and resolved in regular session with a quorum present voting this fifth day of August 2025. Move

approval second.

All in favor? I [Applause] Hi.

You want to say a few words?

What?

You want to say a few words to the team?

Go in order.

Yeah. I'm going to start there and go that way.

Great job, guys. I mean, how'd you do it?

Lots of hard work. I'm sure you did a lot of work, a lot of exercise, and a lot of joy in winning games. U What was your record? Did you win every game you had the entire year?

I know you've won a lot of them.

Come on up to the podium. You can come up to the podium.

Who's the speaker?

Who's the speaker here?

No.

There you go. He's coming forward. All right. Good morning, guys. Uh first of all guys, I would like to thank our amazing county commissioners who've been supporting youth sports in Pasco County all these years. Uh also our parks and recck department, Keith Wy, Brian Taylor. Without them guys, we do not have facilities to play on. So they played a huge part in this national championship. Florida Sports Coast, Adam Thomas, Confellow Sanchez, amazing partners. I always say you need a great team to win and great teamwork and without all of you guys's support, none of this is possible. Looking back 5 years ago, I mean, we never dreamt of being here. But like we tell the boys, and this is a message to you guys, with a lot of hard work and persistence, everything in life is possible. And don't let anyone tell you it's not possible. To me, what I'm most proud of that the first ever championship in Florida is coming back to Pasco County, not Miami, not Orlando. So, we're super proud. I always say we're Pasco proud and it's going to continue. This is just the beginning and super proud of the boys. And again, thanks to all you guys and go Pasco.

Thank you. I don't know.

Thank you for everything.

Hang on though because we're all going to see.

Thank you for all your hard work. I thank Commissioner Stark. He said it the best. One day on a on a chat I saw. We need more fields. And we do. And we've been working to have more and Keith and his team are doing a great job. But this board supporting more and more fields coming into Pasco to to make it where everybody can play a sport here in Pasco.

All right.

Listen.

Thank you. You know, it was phone started ringing, getting texts, pictures started coming in real time, at least to my phone, as y'all were winning. Watching watching you guys, however you did those slides, it didn't blow an ACL or an MCL when you guys you guys clinch victory was was pretty awesome. Pretty awesome to watch. and you know the history of your program of Florida Premiere with Novo now second generation taking the helm and and growing the program in the league to what it is today and the dedication of not just you all but your parents. Thank your parents without your parents. You all wouldn't be able to have these opportunities to play and feel what it's like to have such a victory and to to to know what it's like to bring such a trophy back to your home county and what you represent. You're our future. You represent not just your sport, but all the youth in youth sport and here in Pasco County and you represent this board and the legacy that we have here on this Florida Sports Coast. So, it was pretty awesome to see Sports Coast name Florida Sports Coast on your jerseys and just couldn't be more proud and happy for you all and your families and I tell you what a great way to kick off a new school year. So, congrats guys.

Commissioner Joerger. Well, congratulations and hard work pays off, boys. Um, you guys all are a special group of boys. You you are truly you're athletic. Um, you have probably bonded over this experience, right? Like you guys can't get any closer as a team and and friendships and um just your athleticism and this is going to stay with you forever, right? And I just want to share with you a quick story. My son's team at 8U, they won the International World Series right at AU. Well, that group of boys, almost every single one of them is playing sports in college. So, you guys keep working hard and keep pushing, keep practicing, keep challenging yourself to do better, set goals, and I bet you almost all of you will play sports in college. So, congratulations. And I think it's Pasco proud is perfectly said. So congratulations guys. Great job. [Applause]

Mr. Mariana.

Yeah, congratulations guys. What a what a phenomenal accomplishment. Um and I I think Commissioner Jger says it just right. You guys are going to be friends forever now. You're going to have something common. That was a just a great achievement. Um and it's going to lead to great things in the future. the more you succeed, whether it's school, uh, sports, it all ties in to to make a better life for yourself. And as one of them, one of our representatives, Representative Steel, he likes to say, and I heard him say this publicly once, it was really good. The harder you work now, the easier life gets as you go on in life. And I think what you're going to do is you're going to be able to reap these benefits to know what it's like to win, how important it is, what a great feeling. I tell you, the last game must have been something else. Going up one nothing, then two, then three, and knowing you're pretty well locked in. got to be just an awesome feeling you could treasure as you go through that thing instead of a a last second victory just like being able to cherish the moment the traveled the dream all the way through. So congratulations with it and Novi, thank you for what you're doing these young men. You are leading leaders in the future. Um I'm a big believer in sports. The less the more sports you play, less trouble you get otherwise, right? And just the the life lessons you are teaching these young men and all your all your teams. Thank you so much for what you do. You make Pasco a great place, a premier place. So congratulations. So, uh, we're going to have to have a discussion because I didn't get any live update texts. I'm probably the only licensed U8 soccer coach sitting up here. Um, but, um, to to my federal commissioner's point, um, you know, hard work pays off. My daughter uh Lindsay went to River Ridge and was fifth ranked in the state and ended up playing soccer at the Air Force Academy. She could have played either at the Naval Academy or the Air Force Academy. She went and played soccer at the Air Force Academy and her now husband was also uh playing soccer at the Air Force Academy and he was on the U8 national team. So, um, soccer is very much ingrained in our family as many other sports, but certainly we have a love for soccer and I'm I'm just so proud of you guys and and the organization and just first class and um, we're just I don't know. I can't even say it. We're just so proud of you. And I put a little note here. You need to have a float in the upcoming parade. So that's something your that that your your league needs to think about is decorating a float and making sure you have a banner and all these boys are on it down Newport Richie. Right. Right. The uh Chasco. Okay. So um board members, you want to stay up here or you want to go down?

Yeah. Come on down.

We're going to take a photo.

And I have something for all the guys. and parents cherry

throw the end of the world.

I saw this Cory going down, but I didn't know. Hey, you want to call up here? Yeah.

Where's that going to go?

That's going to go into

Yeah. No, no, no. All right, we're gonna take a picture with the players and then the parents can come up after

trying. Yes, I think I can.

All right, everyone look at me a few times. Okay,

now our parents.

One more. One more for me. Thank you. [Music]

One more. One more picture.

One more picture.

Sorry. [Music] One second. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry.

Okay. Okay. [Applause] We're going to go first. Thank you. [Applause]

Hey, good job.

Oh, thank you. Good.

Okay, we have an add-on uh recognition. All right, tell them what you did. I got top 10 in my age group.

What?

He got top 10 in his age group. For what?

Nationals.

Nationals for what sport?

Triathlon.

In a triathlon.

Wow. [Applause]

My kids use Okay. Um what? We have another resolution. It is two. Mr. Mariano,

Joanne, I won't pull that one.

I could I could I could use my best Herald sample voice and start reading.

Yeah, go ahead. Start reading. Um, Madame Chair, before we proceed, just for clarification, for the benefit of those in the audience, because as I was preparing to read that resolution, I'm going 2009.

Well,

just to help you all understand, they were all born in 2009.

I know.

So, you 16 is the age group.

Yeah.

And boy, do I feel old.

How about me? Resolution number 25303, a resolution by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County proclaiming August 8th, 2025, excuse me, as Lifelink Infinity Day in Pasco County.

Madam Chair, is someone from Lifelink here?

Can't you tell?

Got the logos, guys. Whereas organ, eye, and tissue donations provide an extra extraordinary opportunity to save and improve lives while offering the chance for donors to leave a lasting impact. And whereas in the state of Florida, more than 11 million individuals have already decided to leave a legacy of life by registering their decision to become organ donors through Florida's organ and tissue organ registry. And whereas currently there are more than 105,000 individuals nationwide, including more than 5600 in Florida who desperately await lifesaving organ transplants. And whereas just one organ, tissue, and eye donor can save the lives of up to eight individuals and improve the lives of dozens more, symbolizing an invaluable altruistic act of service that will profoundly impact each recipient, bringing a renewed quality of life and joy to them and their loved ones. And whereas the number eight symbolizes the countless lives a single donor can save while also reflecting the infinity symbol, highlighting the enduring impact and the stories that live on through organ donation. And whereas everyone has the potential to leave a lasting legacy through organ tissue and eye donation, regardless of age, race, or medical history, and should be applauded for their decision. And whereas Lifelink Infinity Day honors the infinite impact of organ donation and the enduring legacies of selfless donors who continue to save and enrich lives. Now therefore, it be resolved by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby proclaims August 8th, 2025 as LifeLink Infinity Day in Pasco County and encourages all residents to learn more about organ donation and considering registering as donors through Florida's organ and tissue donor registry. Done and result in regular session with the quorum president voting this fifth day of August 2025. Move to approve.

I'll take a second.

Second.

All in favor? I

Commissioner Mariana.

All right. Well, thank you very much for bringing this forward. Uh I think the awareness is very important. Um it highlights some some really good points about how valuable it is and how much it can actually affect some other families down the road. So we greatly appreciate you bringing this forward for us.

Thank you. And if I may say a few words, is that okay? Um, I want to thank you, um, for recognizing August 8th as Lifelink Infinity Day in Pasco County. Um, this year marks the first anniversary of Lifelink um, Infinity campaign, and your support helps shine a light on the power of donation in community action. Um, in my role, I'm going a little off script. I'm the volunteer and community relations coordinator. So, I work with both donor families and those who have received organ, eye, and tissue um, transplantations as well. So, I've seen both sides and I I understand the impact. Um, and then just to re reiterate, one organ donor can save up to eight lives. One tissue donor can save up to more than 75 lives. Actually, I think one of our highest donors is over 800 impacted. Um, and then a cornea or eye donor can help restore sight to two people. Um, so thank you so much for your recognition.

Oh, okay. We didn't call for the vote on the I thought we did.

Did they say we did? Okay.

Oh, yeah.

Um, you know, I have that on my card as an organ donor and um I think,

you know, it's personal preference, but I wish everybody did. So,

I actually didn't put that on my card cuz I'm planning on using all my organs. So, I don't think they're going to be when you're gone.

I keep Well, I turned 80, so I'm wearing them out. So, I'm not sure they'll be any good for anybody else. But I think it's a great program and I know it

u one human being doing that saves many lives, not just another life, but of different organs they can use that will help many many people. So, very very proud of doing that.

Thank you, Mr. We

Yes. you know, the the speed in which you guys have to move whenever there's an opportunity to to collect organs and the technology and the and the teams that move into place so quickly to save to save someone. Um, is just always impressive to watch when you see the documentaries on TV or news shows and all the all the different logistics that go into place whenever that situation arises. So, you know, thank you guys for for honing in on your science and giving folks a second chance. And to those who who, you know, who've um, you know, who've made the decision to donate their organs and uh it's a special time for them and their families and uh so thank you to all those who make that decision. So, I don't know if any of you have ever watched an honor walk, but basically that's when someone's an organ donor and they're on life support and they take them around the lap in in the hospital and I can't even watch one of those just just without crying. You know, the sacrifice of of that family and just also all the people that person is going to help. um me and my husband and all my children were organ donors and um I actually took my my grandpa's lead because he was an organ donor and somebody has his eyes. So um see

yeah so it's actually it's a beautiful thing. So thank you very much for what you guys do and I'm so happy that um Jack you guys brought this resolution to take a picture.

Yeah. And I I did not cast a correlation of 88. Yeah.

So that's that that's had to be explained to me.

Okay. You have the uh Oh yeah. One, two, three. Okay.

Uh, is it 11:00 or

11:15?

11:15.

Um, we can do our consent agenda or we can

pull up our 11:15. What's What's your plan?

I'm good with getting the 11:15 done.

Okay, Bill, we'll we'll go ahead and pull you up.

Good morning and uh happy Tuesday, everyone. It's great day in Pasco County. I'm Bill Cronin. I'm the president CEO of the Pasco EDC. I also like trees. I'm a former UA soccer coach and an organ donor. So, you um you you had me uh following some really great representation of our community today. And I and I wish the soccer folks were still here because I bet you that there's going to be a business that actually moves here because of the fact that we've got such great recreational youth sports and somebody's some decision maker of some factory or some business is going to move here because of how we treat our people and our families. So, talk about putting the premier in a premier county. I don't know if you all caught that with the name, but uh I'm here today to uh present our third quarter uh report from the Pasco EDC both for theou and for our penny for Pasco agreement with the county. And uh just starting out on our our starting slide um for our board retreat this year. Usually we go scalloping, but it's always up to our chair of what they want to do. And this year they decided uh they want to pay back the community. So, we all spent time at Metropolitan Ministries, had a really successful day, and I would encourage any of our audience or businesses, consider doing these days of service. It's uh not just a team building event, but also means a lot to the people that we serve, and especially when they see you guys out doing it. Um, good news, we've got uh out of the uh 16 goal for 16 wins, we've got 15 so far. One of the things that we're noticing though is that a lower job count for almost every type of company coming in right now. And we're seeing this not just in Pasco County, but nationwide. Uh companies company's goal is not to hire more people. Company's goals are to make more money. And we see more and more investment in things like machinery and AI and things like that and less jobs. So, uh, we're going to be taking a hard look at those target industries to make sure that we're still getting the right types of jobs for the right people. But even even so, we're still at 437 jobs already this year into our third quarter and 101 million of new capital investment into the county.

Sure.

Yeah.

So, Bill, on your on your jobs, we count the physical hard bodies here.

We don't count remote,

right? employment opportunity

and we don't count the multiplier. So these are direct jobs that the company has agreed to full-time jobs that they've agreed to hire. So anything that's remote, anything that's part-time, uh none of those count. And then also the multiplier effect, we don't count those either. So these are just direct jobs. Would there be a way to in to to when we look at the job count to incentivize or if we maybe we already do have the conversation of if you have a remote worker use Pasco based remote work workforce. Is that part of the conversation or

it's it it's not but it's something we watch really carefully because if there's enough of those remote workers here uh eventually somebody's going to move a facility here and take advantage of having those remote workers here. Um it is a big deal for us though because if you remember after CO we were the second most popular um place in the in the state for work from home because of our quality of life. So the more of that talent that moves here the more attractive it is for another business to come here and build a bricks and mortar facility. And that's what we really want because if they're working from home it's great but they can they can go anywhere. Good question. and it's something we watch really closely and the types of industry. So, this again still reflects a real heavy uh focus on advanced manufacturing. Those are the ones that have a lot more multiplier jobs. Uh I think Commissioner Starky really likes this as well too because that's uh ties in with our trades and our programs like the apprenticeship program and AM skills and training. Uh I mentioned before a focus on talent um getting out working with our existing companies. We still spend about 80% of our time with our existing business and that's still the best advertisement we have for other businesses to come in is how you treat your existing business. So training that workforce for existing business, we get to keep them. Um company visits and working with them that is the local business that's already here. Uh 54 visits to those companies and then working with our workforce development partners like AMSkills, Career Source, Workforce Connect, our program. This still seems to be the most important thing for existing business is the workforce. Um, year-to- date earned media value 4.93 me uh million dollars. That's where other people talk about us, not us talking about ourselves. So, that's good. It's always good when somebody else tells our story. Speaking of which, today we're going to have an announcement for another company coming in um that is a high techch company. As a matter of fact, it's really cool science that uh uh it's a British company from the UK that we met at Softweek and they actually have invented a machine that can lift fingerprints uh remotely using a camera through windows on glass. We're working closely with the sheriff's department about that publicly.

Uh it'll be in the news today. So, I'm giving you guys a little glimpse of it.

That technology, that's crazy.

It's it's amazing. They can pick it up off mirrors, off phones. Um, and and what's really important about that is nobody has to disturb the crime scene. You they can actually just pick it up without touching anything at all. Uh, and get the fingerprints and several fingerprints. So, um, they're going to be at our incubator in Wesley Chapel and working closely with first the forensics uh, unit at the sheriff's office. So, um, good foreign direct investment, good tech stuff, uh, and good for the work that we've been doing in defense and special operations forces. They'll have an open house at our incubator next week. So,

so that's our second UK business because we have the one that bought um,

our third third. Yeah, we had a we had another IT company last year. Okay. Okay.

And then we had the uh purchase of u uh Miopa from G&H uh which is another company working in defense using optics too. So um we're well on our way. We're not just the life sciences Yeah.

uh hub anymore. You're going to start to see a lot more defense and you'll see a lot more of that in the headlines as well too. Um still looking at the same things are are sites. So in Florida there's not a lot of places with sites especially ready sites that are ready to go. um that really gets people's attention when they're looking to move down here. And where are they moving from still? New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan. Um as I like to say, only the smart ones are moving down here that we're we're leaving the rest of them up there. still good social engagement on our um social media, 14,000 followers, but over half of them are actually engaging with us, meaning that they're having conversations and um sharing with us and vice versa in social media. And then as far as getting out, uh working with our other communities, working with the industry, we've attended 21 trade events, uh five conferences and seminars, and presentation uh to eight different industry groups and organization. And that's everything from Rotary to uh ULI to um uh some of the real estate organizations. The photo there is uh ourselves with our partners in Hillsboro and Penllis County. As you know, we worked together with Global Tampa Bay and this is at the uh FEDC annual conference, which last time I was with y'all, I reported that we had won a couple awards at the FEDC.

That rug is the wrong rug for a picture.

It's like Yeah,

the what? The rug.

The rug. It It's like Is it going up the wall? No, the Yeah, they got to fix that rug.

You're right. Sorry.

It's optical illusions.

It looks like waves.

I think it was and it the hotel was on the water. So, I think they were going with the the nautical theme. But, uh, as far as how we do our private investors, up to 93. Um, got 180,000 raised so far this year. We've got our big annual awards coming up and we're back at Saddlebrook. So September 4th, the Thursday after Labor Day, back to Saddlebrook. You remember the days that we had the trade show? Well, the trade show is back. So you'll have an opportunity to meet with those companies. And if you've never exhibited before, uh we still have some extra spots open for firsttime exhibitors at $500. So

Madam Chair,

yeah.

So I just was at a lunch and learn there and tell they they've redone it over. Looks beautiful inside. They did a nice job in there. Oh, nice.

The new owners and all the rena that's been done. Yeah, I think we're the first big event after um the complete rena. So, Florida Sports Coast had their event earlier this year. Extremely well done. Um this is going to be something that once again we brag about when it comes to people coming into our community. It's definitely an asset. So, uh, on the penny for Pasco side, some of the awards that I mentioned that we had at FEDC, we do have IEDC coming up, the International Economic Development Council, and I'm hoping anticipating that we may see some similar awards for that. Bless you. And of those uh of those awards though, I'll mention that uh one was for our 3D uh sites video of our ready sites which uh is getting awards but getting lots of looks, pun intended. Also though the um uh co co-starters for causes which co-starters for causes you remember last year we announced we were going to offer co-starters courses to our nonprofits because our nonprofits here uh weren't able to scale as fast as our growth in the community. So we actually got a recognition award for helping to get our nonprofits up and scaling. And yesterday we just had our second cohort start uh with another group of nonprofits and uh we sponsored them but also the u uh Greater Pasco Chamber sponsored a couple of their new members to go through that um uh process and we've got another group of co-starters graduating this week as well too. So lots of new innovation. Ready sites continue uh construction at the Amazon site and at Boduko. Both of those are vertical. You can see uh double branch the whole park is get is in the process of certification and that's at 52 and 75. And then um we've getting a lot of inquiries still from aviation defense um our our thousand acre site out in East Pasco. We've got some very quiet defense companies that are looking at that because they like the nature of having a quiet place and I think our residents like that as well too. So uh 26 inquiries so far. Uh had a site visit this last week to that larger site. Presentations to the consultants and developers. 22 uh international and I mentioned softweek. So that's a special operations forces uh uh show formerly known as soft safik down in Tampa. And that's where the defense firms are selling uh to the US government. So, if you've got a new invention and you want uh Delta Force or the Navy Seals to get it, this is where you go to get them to purchase it, we found that a lot of those companies want to be within arms r length to SOCOM and Sentcom. Uh, and that's why we got companies like the one that is announcing today.

So, um I I meant to go and I just got too busy. Um I know every other year it's the big year.

Every other year is a demo. Yeah.

Yeah. So, next year is the demo year, right?

Yes. Yes. So, they'll be trying out their toys. Uh you'll see them repelling from buildings, submarines. Uh well, I guess you don't see the submarines if you're underwater, but um that is a good time to go because it's how they they let the general public enjoy some of that. So, so um I and I know in our international economic development um task force that that Turner is involved with, we have a gentleman who's very involved with this

and um he says that you know it's it's a great opportunity for us because they want they want to be here with McDill and but there's running out of places in Hillsboro County.

They're they're running out of places nationwide to be able to do things like testing some of these new inventions, too.

So, um if you're If you're building something at Softworks or or JTE where the u the Iron Man suit was developed, do you remember?

Yeah, my friends have done that.

You have to go test it somewhere.

And uh we're within range that somebody can get in the car and come up and test

and we're also really good about taking care of our business up here. So, we see this as as a a real great opportunity for Pasco County going forward.

Yep. uh also international select USA which is the US Department of Commerce's annual event where they bring in foreign direct investment uh from all over the United States. We we attended with our partners in Panalis and Hillsboro under the global Tampa Bay. uh met with probably 130 different companies while we were there and then um foreign direct investment mission to the UK and uh you'll see a a picture of of our uh chair uh Commissioner Starky there. Uh this was a foreign direct investment mission. Uh our second one to the UK with the group and we've we are now so full with appointments that uh we had to break into several tracks to be able to meet with the companies that wanted to come here. So as mentioned before we've got three so far that have come from the UK. Export counseling sessions still helping the companies find new markets abroad. So uh that's to make our pie bigger, help our companies sell their stuff somewhere else, not just here. uh the one trade mission we mentioned and that was uh Mexico City and UK and then um trade related events are some of those educational events that we do throughout the year. I mentioned the awards that we got uh through our enhanced marketing. Uh we're going to continue to do testimonials from our smart start program. Uh nothing better than seeing our locals be able to talk about the success that they're having with their businesses. And then Workforce Connect, we had a Pasco 50 that was a packed house. Uh over 50 employers were there to be able to share their best practices and challenges that they were having with everything from hiring practices to transportation. I heard Commissioner Weightman talking earlier. Um those are the types of things that we get an inside glimpse of the companies and how they're doing. And then um our annual report employer report was released also during this last quarter. We do that in conjunction with career source. And then uh smart start was uh all over the place. We saw that they were at several different expos um again smarts are our our incubator program and our entrepreneur program. Uh we had our microloan uh uh lunchon where we're actually look or breakfast. We're looking to attract more investment into that microloan program. And then we had seven companies uh in the most recent cohort for co-starters which are graduating Thursday at uh at the Grove and Wesley Chapel. I'm sorry, Thursday will be at Holiday at the AMS Skills location.

Um so far this year with Smart Start, we've had over 200 counseling sessions to 368 participants in 51 events. We have 51 incubator members. Uh that's amongst the three different locations and we've given out three microloans totaling 86,000. And then uh that's the team. I think um um I talked about co-starters. I talked about the u um awards that we received. Um, I think probably the most important thing though is to to get the word out that they know these programs exist and that they're there not just for companies moving in, but for existing companies so that we can continue to be the premier county that we heard about earlier. So, with that, I'll stop and see if you all have any questions.

Um, I I heard through the grapevine about an award at IEDC, but you didn't mention it. So, I was kind of digging here to because we're about to put it in a letter. going to hopefully have this board sign on to and send to Tallahassee. So, are you not allowed to say that?

There might be one coming soon in September.

Yes.

Yeah. Yeah.

Because I think it's on their website. So, can you

Oh, that might be last year's award.

No, no, no. It's this year in September.

Yeah. Yeah. September

for AMSKills

for our award. So Derek and uh someone from Ampskills applied for an award at IEDC and we won the silver award.

Oh, okay. Yeah.

So maybe you didn't know.

Yeah, it'll be it'll be officially announced. We'll pretend we didn't hear uh in September.

Okay. Pretend you didn't hear that. But it is in this letter

which is pretty cool. This is a national award if not international award. Yeah, it's our it's our accreditation agency is the IEDC that uh for all the economic development agencies in the the world. So uh we've got a couple coming for us, one for AM skills. So I think uh Pasco is going to shine really well u nationally.

Pretty cool. Um any other questions?

I just comment. Uh I want to say um Dan Mitchell's been out at the uh Pasco Music Scollet Music Fest. Uh, and Chef Dre again is out there this year. And what what a job he's done. He shows up every time, great smile on his face, sets up his whole program, lets it all up, puts a nice spread out. And he started working with the Point Distures doing their samples.

Uh, so they're taking his Jama Jamaican jerk sauce with the spiced rum uh, as one of the dishes and it's phenomenal. And he's cooking out of a grill right in front of everybody on so he's kind of like face to face with him, which is awesome. He's got his business cards out there. cooks face to face out of the the grill and the walk. Lays out a great spread, but he's done a phenomenal job every step of the way. And I will tell you, he makes the best shrimp cocktail I've ever had.

So, if you incredible job he's doing,

he went through the incubation um program at um in Day City and he runs the restaurant at St. Leo in the student hall or whatever that's called.

Oh, no, different one. That's Dave. That's uh that's uh John's gourmet. This is Doc. This is Chef Dre. Chef Dre. Yes,

who also went through the program, too. So,

I've had his food and it's I don't know where I had it.

Was he at your awards dinner last year?

Uh, Chef Dre's at a number of different events. He uh if you recall, we had the open house each year at the Stalling Center where they they have their all their different samples out there. So, that might have been it.

Trying to think where I had the food. Does So, does he cater?

Yes. And he caters. Um, but I I love the the collaboration story of taking one of our existing businesses and working together. And there's one more weekend of of Scallopfest this this weekend. So, you still have a chance to get out there. And

yeah, we we actually made available. We had uh we got a few few food trucks there, but we made a a really nice dish for people to get for like six bucks that they get a taste of everything on there and it's phenomenal and people have been raving about it, just coming back thanking us, etc. So, he's getting to getting a lot of great exposure, getting to see the people, and uh he's he's just such a great man to work with.

Yeah.

Well, I'm going to talk to you later about having him at a name skills.

Awesome.

You know, we should help help our new local businesses grow.

Um any other questions for Mr. K?

Getting hungry.

Okay. All right.

Um so, I have C25 pulled by Commissioner Oakley, um Commissioner Weightman, C-26, pull and discuss, Oakley, C29. Did anyone get the number that I wanted on uh the Pasco Housing Authority? All right. Whatever number that is, we'll we'll pull that one last. Sorry, I haven't had time to look it up here. Um, so we'll go to C25. Commissioner Oakley.

Yeah.

Oh, well, I guess we vote on the rest of the consent.

Yeah, let's let's find out which one we're going to pull your other one, though. The housing authority.

What?

You want to make sure want to make sure you pull that housing. I think that's under the CDBG item, which is what Commissioner.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay. So, that's pulled. That's been pulled.

Okay.

So, move approval of the remainder of the consent agenda.

Second.

All in favor? I

I.

Commissioner Oakley.

Okay. I pull this item uh deals with all children's hospital. Is there someone here to speak

from the department?

Maybe Paula. Yeah. Uh the fact of this the new all children's hospital in my district out here at overpass road uh they want the and this is about the services that they provide for children and those that do not qualify for Medicare and Medicaid and those issues they're able to treat them at this facility just as they do in the facility over in St. Pete. So that's what this is about. If uh full disclosure, I am a board member now of John Hopkins All Children's. Uh I but that doesn't preclude me from voting on anything, right?

So long as you're a non-compensated

Yes. It's all free

board member of a not for I got a $25 gift certificate to the uh to the gift shop.

So I move second.

All in favor? Oh, wait. This is this is the CDBG one. No, no, no. This is

Okay. I

25.

All right. So, that one passed.

Did we vote?

Uh, we did C26.

Well, ma'am,

you want to do that one again?

We need to clarify that one.

Okay. Call. I'll accept a motion for C25.

So, I've made a motion. Seth did the second.

All in favor? I. Okay, that was a little clear. C26. There's the one. Yeah. Who's speaking on this one?

I just have general. Okay.

So, so C I pulled C26

just with with with with for for a number of reasons. I think with with with the new Doge program that's coming down and its vigor. Um it's it's important that we know for each each one of the applicants that we that we understand all the public funding streams from every level of government that the agencies who apply for funding get. Um and that way we understand you know if they're if they're coming whether they diff the different grant streams that the county provides or the fed or the state. It's important that we know how much how many potential dollars each organization gets in public public funding streams. I also think it's important that we to know that and we have a checklist that every one of the the applicants that apply for funding have all their appropriate state licenses and credentials that they need that they have um in order to take these funds. So, it's just just an added step of of fiscal clarity. I'd like to I'd like to see as we go and we approve different funds and the same thing goes to opioid funding and any any funding that we we approve with these type of type of programs and similarities. Um and so I think it'd be important that the board see kind of how everybody's funded and that way we know what we're approving and why. So with that I don't have any any other issues. Can I add something to commissioner's remarks on I brought Mary up here to kind of talk a she can talk a little bit very briefly about sort of the accountability processes that we use with with these particular types of public funds. I think she can give us a two-in deal on how that on how that works. Before she does that though, I hear exactly what the commission commissioner is saying. I think in in light of a lot of things too that additional transparency and accountability is important. So, I would like to sit down and kind of talk with the team going through a couple of the items here that that you've brought up, Commissioner, and we can kind of look at um ensuring that um we've we've got these elements in our policy process.

So, to be clear, before these funds are dispersed, this is just to approve the list. This isn't to disperse funds.

So, we go through and we do a do a credit check on all all the organizations. We don't necessarily have to disperse funds or we can modify the dollar amount depending on funding streams, couldn't we?

We So, I guess I could ask the board this question. Would would the board be more comfortable if I brought these contracts back? This this current board agenda item authorizes me to execute those contracts. We we've ebed and flowed on this very issue. In the past, we've brought all of them before the board to to approve the contracts when they're when they're done. We can certainly go through that step and and do some vetting if if you if the board would would like and we could bring those items back to the board at a future board date when those contracts are ready to come through. I'm I'm perfectly fine doing that if if the billboard wants to wants to do that.

I'd like to see it. I've heard other commissioners talking about concerns with CB.

Yeah, remember you're supposed to have that turned off

um

um with funds. So I that's perfectly fine. And and then in the meantime, you know, looking at our our processes that we can shore up. I've I've spoken with our community development folks and making sure that, hey, we can we can check on a few additional items and Mary will talk about some of the audits that we already do on that, but listen, we can we can always add belts and suspenders to the programs. I'm perfectly perfectly fine and a champion of making sure that we're transparent and accountable to the use of public funds. Well, um for me looking at the list, I know most of these organizations the you know there's I guess who this mobile home repair program I have no idea who administr administrates

our department does. Mary theory young interimm director of community development that is a program that we run in our department because we saw a need that we could not use our ship funds for older mobile homes. So, these are mobile homes that need a roof or an AC

and I'm fine with that. Those are

And so, we administer that program.

We need to help those. And then, um, CHIPS with a Z. I I don't know who that is.

They are a relatively new agency out in East Pasco. We made a concerted effort to get more agencies out on the east side to provide more services out there. That's why they did get a lower grant than what they applied for. And that's where we're trying to expand capacity out on the east side.

Okay. And the reason I wanted to bring up something here, I don't remember um what the money is going to for the the the Pasco County Housing Authority. What is that 240 240,000 for? Do you remember? We don't have anything for the Pasco County Housing Authority this year. That was that was a last year's award through home and that was a development of a um single family home on Jason Drive. This says fiscal year 2026 list of projects to be funded 240,000. Wait, where'd it go? Uh 240,000 to the Pasco County Housing Authority. And the the only reason I bring this up is and I know that there are legally some things we have to do with them. And um but I have brought this up before and I brought this up nationally at my CWD meeting. Um I I we keep having this issue where we're we're other people are coming and taking our citizens vouchers. So, I was really shocked to see an ad on TV a couple weeks ago that said, "Come to Pasco County and get on our list for our housing vouchers." That went out to the world, I guess. So I I was shocked when we have our own citizens who have needs. Why would we be advertising for other counties to send their people who need public assistance to get on our list? So I talked to Kathy and I did have a brief conversation with David Lambert and uh they are required. I went and looked it up by statute or whatever their word is to advertise, but I sure don't want to see them advertising like that. Have you ever seen a commercial from another county in some state to say come move to pat to your to our county and get on our housing list? So, and here and here's why I have some objection to this. Um, if someone comes here, my understanding is the way this works. someone comes here, well, they don't even have to be living here when they get on the list. They have to come for an interview. This is how it used to be. Uh, if they they pass the interview and they get one of our vouchers, they have to live in that house for a year and then they can take that voucher and they can transport it anywhere in the country that will accept it. But let's say they want to go to Connecticut, California, New York. We have to pay the difference in the rent. Um, our our housing authority, not the county, the housing authority has to pay that. So, I mean, it's not an organization that we run. I just I did ask them to make sure that it's local. You can say local residents first, but why would we I just don't understand how that's being run just and I see someone's here to speak.

Jeff Sclet, the executive director of the Pasco County Housing Authority will speak on their voucher program.

Uh good morning, commissioners. Uh first of all, we don't run any TV ads. We have you probably saw a news report, but there are no TV ads.

Yes. Yes, it was a news report.

All right. So, just to be clear, there are no TV ads run from the agency. Okay. uh we do by regulation have to put something in the paper a notice that we're opening the uh the wait list. Um and so we can't violate the fair housing laws. We have to open it up to everybody. So anybody can apply

but you can have a local res.

We have a local preference. We do have

but you have to be on the list first and then you get the local preference and you would go to the top of the list. So all Pasco County residents will be on the top of the list and then whoever else out of our jurisdiction would be down at the bottom.

So you just had the misfortune of a TV station picking up your little ad and

again it's not an ad. It was a TV spot the the

on your ad because how else would

No, the actually in the I think it was WTBS came up and we did like a quick short interview to help spread the word that the wait list was open

um

to anyone in the whole United States.

Uh yes, ma'am.

Legal legal US citizen.

I got a problem with that.

Commissioner Mariana.

Yeah. Why would you want to do a radio spot or a TV spot like that?

Well, I thought it would be helpful to get the word out. Um but now I've learned a lesson that uh we will not do that in the future. Um but uh yeah, so it was just basically to get the word out throughout the county.

So let me do a follow-up. In the years past, how many people from outside the county have gotten on this list and get qualified and get a voucher? Um there it usually runs about 6040 split 60 Pasco 40 otherwise

but

no

I don't but I don't think we don't control their

you can't it's a fally funded program and if I if I discriminate people

the agency's going to get sued

and that won't work commission Mariano then commissioner wait yeah so

if it's 6040 split You got 240,000. If the amount's cut down at half, would that pretty much take out all the other people from outside the

I don't know what they're doing with that 24.

What 240,000 we talking?

The 240,000 allocation is to make accessible showers to two of their properties.

That is what that is to convert showers to ADA accessible showers.

It reminded me that I wanted to speak about this.

So, let's let's talk about that. So tell me about these showers because I know we allocated some other monies or in years past, but tell me what those showers are exactly doing.

Yeah, so right now in our this is only for our elderly communities and right now they have a step-in tub and we're having a lot of the uh elder the tenants complain that it's harder to get in out of the tub without falling and getting hurt. So uh with the money that you guys are hopefully Gracie that you are going to give us is um going to convert those um to walk-ins. So they don't have to step over anything.

I don't know. But

do you not do we not have enough need of our own that we have to invite other people who need public assistance to move here?

I I'm I'm not allowed to discriminate from location.

Yeah. I'm not asking you to discriminate, but I have never seen another county do advertisements to move to their county and get on their list. And this is like the third time I brought this up with you guys because I recall reading an article in the newspaper that there was a woman in Hillsboro County. He was living in a motel waiting for a Pasco County voucher to open up for her. Um, so in doing a little more research, I learned that there's companies who look for counties like ours to place their clients because other counties don't do it, I guess, like we do. And so they literally place them and then sometimes those people sublet those houses. So I think there's work to be done federally on this issue.

Agreed.

Sure.

Yeah.

What? So it's open enrollment all year long. There's not a deadline.

No sir. It's only open uh we have open for three days in May.

So I I think it would be appropriate. We want to put Pasco folks first that we utilize our own PIO message. How we want to attention Pasco residents. Hey, here's an opportunity for you. Maybe partner with the different constitutionals who do their messaging. um and kind of embark on a more localized PR campaign that we can do. That's aside from the rules that they have to follow to try to get it out the word out there for our our folks who are here to to receive services. Maybe that's the the loophole.

Yeah. And also in in to go further in that, we are have to put the ad in and unfortunately the only paper that's still local uh is Tampa Bay Times. So when it gets I can see but it's also in you know it's a small

Sun Coast News count or the

um I'd have to check the regs on that. Um but we do go out first we let all of our local community partners know um St. Vinc Paul web community now all the folks that are part of the continum of care so that they can focus the the their people that they work with to go on and register on the website. But again, we also have to advertise on our website which is can be seen from wherever.

And I want to be clear, I'm not I don't I'm not discriminating against people who have needs. I have a sister who's living in public with public assistance kind of in Miami, but do I want to advertise in Miami? Come up and get on our list. No, I want to serve our residents and our needs, you know, and let that county serve their needs. So, first for sure. Commissioner, did you want

I'm just going to say I just find it staggering that it's 6040 split and we've got to go really look at that. I think we should have a presentation come back before the board to go find out

how I know, but I just want to see how it happens. I want I want to I want this whole thing explained to us just that way because you you've opened up a very big problem to me that we there's probably a way to fix it cuz I got to tell you I got to think we could fill every one of them bulges with people right now.

Go to Rubio. We we've had enough enough people driven from all over even I've seen them advertise up on Carolina, New York where they're busting people down here to go maybe get these vouchers and they stay here and they become

companies that do that

and that's and there's only three days that the wait list is open that you can apply for it. That's the only time it was open for and that usually gives us a list of people to run for about 18 months and then once it gets down we'll open it up again. So it it only happens very infrequently. It's only open for three days and

but you have a 6040 split. That's shocking. Lily,

can I say something? I've been waiting patiently. Okay. One, you answered my questions about the nonprofits just making sure they know. Two, I agree with my other commissioners that we need to tap into our our our officials and see if they can, you know, get this tweaked because the the 6040 split is I can't I can't even fathom that. Like two nights ago, we had a 70-year-old man. His head was so sunburned and welled over and he had nowhere to go. And we're on the phone at 10:30 at night trying to see if a shelter would take him. Like this is crazy to me. We just had a dad and a little girl living in their in their truck. Like I understand this is for seniors, but like there is so much need for it's for anybody. There's so much need in Pasco County. for 7 months they lived in a truck. Let that sink in.

Oh, I get I get emails daily with people just like that. So, I I'm sympathetic to you guys getting calls and emails as well. So, I because I get

I also agree with Commissioner Starky. If the Sun Coast News counts, I say the Sun Coast News. I I don't think we I think you do, you know, to check the boxes what you you need to do. Um but definitely we don't want people, you know, we want our Pasco citizens to have have the first chance.

Commissioners, if we may, um and if you're agreeable with this, we would like to present this uh policy to you during the next upcoming homelessness workshop. Uh that way we can have an opportunity to discuss this.

Madam Chair,

yeah,

I think it should be at the next meeting.

Period. This is this is I mean we've got we've got people from hurricanes. How many how many times in trailers did you see like live in terrible

guys? You have to understand this is a federal thing.

It's not it's not we don't control them.

But I think we need to talk to our

we need to talk to our delegation

I think before we we

well it needs to be done ASAP in my opinion.

I it's our state delegation can't even do anything about this. I'm telling you this is a federal thing. I've looked into this

federal delegation.

Yeah. Madam Chair, to answer your question, October is when that would is currently tended to discuss.

Um, why don't we put this on a a commissioner item for discussion? I mean, an R item. Uh,

well, you know, there's really nothing he can

I mean, I

we have we can we can cut funds from us to them.

Um, but

is that really helping the citizens that need, you know, a shower? I

I think we need to see it next meeting. Next meeting. They should have enough time to put it together what they've done, what we can look at, and then we can go look at, okay, do we need to get our what federal delegation people need to do? What strategies can we do? How do we promote it better? Because there's just no way 60% is the only number we should be getting for our people. I I just we could fill that up in a minute. I mean, you go to the rope center, probably fill it up with 40 people right there.

Can you email us everything about the organization, all the the commissioners, so we can start reaching out to our delegation? Certainly. because I definitely need

I just I just want to provide the board with some

Carbala and Steiner. Let Steiner go first and then

so just so that I'm clear the funding request that's before the board today is to improve buildings in Pasco County that the housing authority runs. It is not

it doesn't really it's your existing tenants. It is not

which 40% are not Pasco reserve Pasco residents. Well, they're Pasco residents now because they're in their build at

this. Yeah.

Okay. Um

I agree. There's a I I understand the commission's concern with the bigger issue. I just that

Yeah. Clarify what's on the funding request that is going to vote to approve that. But Commissioner

Carval,

thank you. So, um

I mean, county administrator,

so the um uh just two options. We can either bring that back as a regular item at your August 19th meeting. I I haven't seen the agenda yet, so I don't know how packed it's going to be or how much debate you want to give this the August 12th workshop. Uh I was actually going to cancel it because it was on mobility fees, but staff have need to go back and do a little more work with the consultants. So I was going to cancel that workshop. I can put this in its place since it's already on your calendars, but I'll the pleasure of the board either the 19th or the 12th in a workshop format which would afford you more time to have discussions.

When's August 12th? Next week. That's next week.

I I won't be here.

Okay.

I'll be looking for lobster.

So if if not, we can bring it back as an R item on August 19th as Commissioner Mariano suggested to present

uh the current state of play on vouchers and housing.

Well, let's go.

How many how many grants do we give out of the 6040? What is the total?

So the the 6040 is the split of people who are Pasco residents versus non-Pasco residents that'll be on the waiting list.

Okay. Okay.

Has nothing to do with funds. And currently we that uh our check run for paying landlords is around 1.8 $1.9 million a month.

A month. So why do we have any Pasco residents on that list?

Yes.

So why do we have 40% of non-PESCO residents housed?

Because they were allowed to apply.

But I thought we had a local options first rule.

You do. So let's say of the of the

I guess this is stuff for the workshop.

1,124 people on the list like about 500 are from Pasco.

We have lots of questions um that we would love to

be continued.

Yeah.

So I I I have no idea what's our thing. What's an R?

It's a regular.

Oh they'll explain it to you. Okay.

But thank you very much. I know we put you on a hot seat. Um

okay. So um we need to vote on C 26. Does the board want to hear anything as far as the audit process? That's why I brought Mary up if

Okay. Okay. When an agency is awarded, we don't just give them the funds. They everything that they get is reimbursement. So, they put in for a reimbursement request. We have to review all the documents that they submit to make sure that they are adhering to the contract and that everything that they are doing is an eligible expense. On top of that, every 3 months through our system, they have to do a quarterly report. They have to tell us how many people they've served. Um, a lot of demographic information and everything like that. At the end of the program, we need to get all beneficiary data for everyone that was served through that program. That's the only way that we close it out in IDIS, which is our federal reporting. That's where we get the funds for. So, we don't just arbitrarily give them the funds and hope that they are doing. We have a lot of checks and balances once they are complete. If they are development projects, we monitor them every 3 years. if they get their own single audit or every year if they do not, we go out there to make sure that they are still compliant with what they were awarded for and they are still serving the citizens that they were awarded to serve. So, um I I think you know they have a committee that goes over this. They have I I feel pretty confident that we have a very well-run uh organization over here.

Are we are we discussing uh giving them the funding like this is

for the showers? Yeah. to to fix the showers in their buildings.

To be clear, this is just approving the list that we send to HUD. Uh HUD will then approve it. That sends the money to us and then the actual contracts for dispersement. What I heard the board say here is that you'd be more comfortable with me bringing those contracts back to you uh as we get them and approve them versus me signing them, which is perfectly fine.

I'm not comfortable awarding any money until I hear more about everything. That's just my opinion.

So,

okay. We'll uh we'll we'll we'll drop back and and do a little bit do a little bit more. And as I mentioned before with Commissioner Weightman's comments, um there are some elements that we can add to our policies and processes before we award uh that um you know I've talked with Chuck and Mary and Kathy Pearson about that I think are some good ideas uh and making some adoptions in our policies to kind of uh ensure additional transparency and accountability.

Commissioner Mariana,

is there any harm in continuing those two weeks? Yes. I needed I need the list approved so we can submit it to HUD by August 16th.

All right. Move approval.

Second.

All in favor?

I.

Thank you.

Okay. C29.

You want to call for opposed?

You may want to.

No, I I watched everybody else said I.

Okay.

Um

Okay. This next item is about the uh Tampa Bay Water and uh Florida friendly landscaping. It's no uh cost to us, but we work together with with them same as we do with Southwest Florida Water Management to uh do broader friendly landscaping. There's no cost to us whatsoever. I just wanted to bring it forward and make mention of it. We've been doing that program a long time. There is a great savings of water throughout the district for

Yeah. Wonderful program.

Yeah. So, I'll move approval.

Second.

All in favor? I oppose.

Okay. Um, we are on to our

Okay. Um, I have Okay. I guess we're on the commissioner items. Um, but I had someone I had is David Angel sitting here somewhere. I had a uh David was going to do a presentation real quick. Do you guys mind if I pull him up now?

Yeah, we only have 10 minutes.

Yeah, David, let's let's get that done now. Okay.

Morning, commissioners. David Engel, Pasco County's uh planning and economic development director. Today, um I'd like to give you just a brief overview. I had the privilege of attending the uh Congress of New Urbanism uh Providence, Rhode Island event that took place in June. But I just wanted to note how important this conference is to me. It was a real privilege to get extricated over the day-to-day activities we have here in Pasco County and to be in a environment where I'm totally absorbed through for urban design good planning and um you know when I got involved in new urbanism which was about 2018 I was kind of resistant at first I thought it was a bunch of you know kind of groupy type of folks but at the CNU there's a confluence of so many different people there you You have architects, you have planners, you have elected officials. In fact, the elected official participation is coveted at the CNU. They have their special group. They focus on on implementation issues for good community planning. And it's a very engaging process. And one of the biggest things about the CNU is we're not sequestered in seminar rooms for eight or nine hours a day. You have that, but you can physically go out across the country when they have these keynote annual conferences and visit actual developments, talk to the developers and understand how better design can be integrated into the community development process. So the the first slide real quick, it's a lot of jargon here, but um new what is new urbanism? It's restorative. It's it's focus and it's purely really Americana. What works in America? What were the things that bound communities together and made places special? And that's what new urbanism is all about. Of course, it's embraced overseas now, but it's primarily an American solution to land development and it focuses on redevelopment, but it also focuses on green field development. So, it covers all the things that we do here in Pasco. And as we go through the slideshow, you'll you'll see that we've already embraced many things that are in the new urbanism vocabulary and uh and handbook. So the next item here is is really uh MassP Commons. It's out in Massachusetts. Uh last year we visited Norton Commons out in Kentucky and this is a new urbanism development. And we talk about transict development and if you know about transexs it was developed by highway engineers starting in rural areas having cross-sections for rural roads suburban and then urban but the transcept is very critical to design and you see in this this land plan here which is an MPUD we approve and and the board reviews MPUDs all the time you it's not just boxes of of uses we have a town center we have transitional uses and We have edge development and that and you can draw transsects 360 degrees from the town center and that's really how how the transsect is relevant here in the county

and this started out as a strip mall by the way Mashby Commons was a strip mall

and the next slide and forgive it this is these are slides taken off my iPhone you can see how a brand new development embraces traditional design it has common areas for people gathering points points, but the the design is unique to Americana. And of course, a lot of this stuff is brick facaded because it's up in New England, but uh we have also designs that are similar uh in our in our county that we could duplicate. Uh the next slide is just another Mashipe Commons Street. You can see there's this is during the week. It's uh you know, but people are walking down the street. It's very walkable. um your your whole your whole experience is based on the human being, not and and you know when you go into housing, when we deal with housing, uh most of our housing developments are focused on the big kitchen, the family room, and those type of amenities. But right now, um, the housing market is driven by new urbanism principles because walkability and design and the 15minute access to activities and services is what's defining the the Gen Y, that's your millennial generation. And they're driving the housing market today. And it and also walkability and new good design enhances value not only for the homeowners, but also for the revenue of a community. Um and here here's just um you know the town center and different shots and variations of Mashupi and you can see it's all about uh gathering human contact and creating relationships within a community. Now new urbanism has a lot of features that we could employ here in the county. Uh, one of the things that New Urbanism has done and and Commissioner Starky and I visited two projects, two cottage projects where they have higher density, you know, it's like a res 6, res 9 type of development, but it's integrated into a common courtyard. And you notice this is attainable market housing. This is not high-end housing, but each home has a distinct uh private space, but it aligns with the community. Everyone has a porch. Everybody is enjoying their relationships, but we also endure some privacy here. This is an interesting project because I got an opportunity to test out pvious surf uh pavement. It's been around for years, but I went out into the parking lot and I took a bottle of water, poured it on regular pavement, then pvious. In one minute, the water disappeared. Great in New England. They don't have, you know, the the frost action and the freezing. It just basically percolates in the ground.

Can I say that this was an auto repair shop? Okay.

I mean, look at the taxable value that you sweat that you get when before you had a strip mall and now you have a downtown town homes, apartments. We didn't we didn't show those pictures, but this was a auto repair shop.

Well, so the the cottage style is is evident in a lot of different housing product. This one is a high-end product where you had five $600,000 homes. Very similar format. Uh, Commissioner Starky and I ate at their or we we had a meeting right in there in their kiosk there where they have outdoor food preparation area and it's a lovely development and it integrates well in any area of uh of development

and can I say the lots are they're very close to each other but look how lovely it is.

Yeah, I was going to get to that in a second. And this is the the cottage style in the rural context. So when you can imagine, you know, as we develop our more rural communities and we use hopefully we will probably get some um some some subdivisions that embrace clustering and also preserving open space uh you know the rural type of subdivision. This is a rural um um cottage style development. So it's integrable everywhere. We don't have to have barracks anymore here in the county. We have a lot of opportunities to create wonderful developments. And one thing I've really noted is the developers of new urbanism are quite different than what we experience typically here in the county. These are long haul developers. They realize that taking your time and doing things right and their value and they make more money on the long in the long game. And you know we also we have that right now with the porters over at Wiregrass uh beat Cali over at Avalon Park. These folks are in for the long haul and we're producing value here and good design in the county. Now, I have uh driven up and down our corridors. I know the board is and I know our our homeowners and residents are are pretty overwhelmed by multifamily development, but multif family development doesn't have to be rectangular boxes. And then this this this product was pretty novel. There was an architectural group up in Rhode Island that profers this. Rather than having uh you know stacked flats all over the place, this is a mixeduse residential building where we have um town houses in the middle and we have eight eight eight apartment units uh on the ends or nine and it it breaks up the um the roof lines and it makes it more attractive and I've seen this type of application now out in the you know in the development area and it's and people like to live here. So, this is a a little bit different and a little bit of a variation, but something we could be proud of and use here. Um, okay, I'm going the wrong way. Sorry. And this this slide reminds me of Commissioner Mariano

because he's got the eye for detail that, like I said, this this conference is for everybody. There's something for everybody. So, here's a unique uh product here. What they did is they took the roof runoff into the ground and piped it into tree wells here along the streetscape rather than just having, you know, a circle with a root with a root ball in it. It actually creates um good irrigation, decreases runoff, and you have better better solutions and better sustainability with your street landscaping. And again, um what does new urbanism mean for Pasco County? It means more revenue, less less less services by by actually having net densities at certain core areas. And it allows us to afford our open space but not have sprawl. And lastly, this is the most important slide I could ever show to you. This is new urbanism Pasco style. This is the first urban building in Avalon Park. In in the u I think it was 2019, the board of county commissioners approved an incentive deal for Avalon Park to vacate traditional suburban housing and employ urban design. And this this whole thing was an inspirational process for me. It got me interested in new urbanism. Terry PTOs and myself in different occasions. We went out to see Avalon's development and we've fine-tuned it to make it um implementable in the county using the county type of footprint and also design format. By the way, the best Indian butter chicken I've ever had. No national chains in here. They're all individually owned residents that have businesses here in the county. The restaurants are great. Great ice cream. A lot of people walking around. And we're going to have five urban blocks of this development once this project's complete.

Very exciting. So that's really my brief overview. I I urge the the board if you if you have time, it's worthwhile. At least take a shot at the CNU next year in Bentonville.

Bentonville.

Bentonville. Great town. And what they've done in Bentonville is amazing.

Amazing. Any questions?

I was No. So, thank you very much, David. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Yeah. Thank you.

I was going to say I think we still have a bunch of tree folks. Maybe just tell them where we stand.

Yeah. Commissioner Oakley, we're going to go to your commissioner items and then bring up a quick

we don't have any time but I'm not prepared today to speak to the tree item. So

I've got I've got emails and all I've been on vacation. I've got emails I'm still looking at.

There's a lot of information. There's new stuff they brought up today about historic tree. All right.

I'd like to look into that before I require the board to vote on something we really don't know much about.

Madam Chair. Yeah. And I was going to look for any vote. I was just going to say that just to let them know that we are having a a specific arborist come out here look at it independently from all of us and we'll have a report in a little bit of time. We just don't have it yet. That's all.

Yeah, we've asked facilities to bring back some information all for me. I haven't gotten that and said administrator or them about any of that information and I I don't want to make any kind of vote or

Oh, no. I didn't I didn't I just wanted just let them know we're doing that because we are and we are doing that. Yeah. And and let me also explain and I've been harping on the tree canopy for a long time. I think it's getting traction. Um that we are well as y'all know I'm hoping that I'd like to see oak trees planted around the whole thing like it used to be when I first started coming here. And I always say the commissioners I always look for the tree to to park under so I can be in the shade. Not really in the shade under a palm tree. Um, but we are working to value our our grand trees better. Um, because I know it's really frustrating to see uh when land gets cleared that everything goes and we don't think we don't think everything has to go. So, we're working to protect the trees um better and uh that's working through the progress process. I don't remember where we are. Um we just raised the cost per inch of a tree. Um but now we're working on the more protections of a tree. I was very interested to hear that date city has an ordinance that protects trees 40 in or greater that you can't take them down. That's kind of strange because a couple three years ago and what you've noticed out in front was next to seventh street is the city actually I guess they own those trees on seventh street and they blew down in a storm I don't know two or three years ago and all of a sudden they're open up cuz they cut them off and didn't plant anything back. So

well

and the stumps are still there. I wish that we, you know, some counties have the money to have an ar an arborist that goes around and does a tree survey of the whole county of their counties and and you you really know what you have. We we don't have that. I think we can do it by GP G. No, what is it when you're aerial

GPS?

Is this GPS? Um but

I think we've taken down a lot of our canopy and not put it back up. But we're we're um we're working on it to protect those beautiful trees that are I think very special to this part of of the country. So um

Okay.

All right. So with that um we are journed for lunch. [Music] and other aquatic animals. Storm drains are meant for clean rainwater. You suspect an elicit discharge, please contact Pasco County Department of Public Works at 72783.

Hey, I'm Kevin Jenkins, water quality supervisor for Pasco County. What you see behind me tends to create a lot of questions for our department. People ask all the time, "Why are you wasting all that water?" or "Why is that thing still running?" The answer is simple. We're not. What you see happening right here is a state regulated process called water quality flushing. It happens every day to keep your drinking water safe. Our team is responsible for checking more than 122,000 connections all over Pasco County. As you can imagine, it's a daunting task, but it's work we do proudly and take seriously. We service both residential and commercial connections and flush water manes periodically for preventative maintenance. It helps get rid of impurities, sediment, and biologic growth. This work can be done by a team member or by an automatic flushing device known as an AFD. AFDs can flush pipes remotely. So, there you have it. And now you know. That's our flushing process in a nutshell. Pasco County works hard to maintain the best water quality. This is just one way we get to that point. To learn more about this and other Pasco County utilities information, please visit our website at mypasco.net. [Music] You see all of that? You know what that is? That's opportunity.