PRN-22-0202

Published agenda

Heard once, at the Board of County Commissioners on Aug 24, 2022.

OutcomeApproved by the Board of County Commissioners on Aug 24, 2022

Approved as a part of the Public Hearing Consent Agenda.

Official title

A Resolution By The Board Of County Commissioners Of Pasco County, Florida, Establishing The Final Annual Non-Ad Valorem Special Assessment And Adopting The Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Roll For The Oaks Park Municipal Service Benefit Unit For The Repayment To The County’s General Fund For The Land Acquisition Costs And Ongoing Maintenance Costs; Providing For An Effective Date

Every appearance1 of 1 are in a recording

TranscriptWhat was said at each appearance is below it. Machine transcription, with speaker names inferred from voice matching. 89% of 265 lines carry a name. It shows what was said, not what was decided, and both the words and the names can be wrong.

1Aug 24, 2022
Board of County CommissionersP2Public hearingApproved
Approved minutes
Approved as a part of the Public Hearing Consent Agenda.
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56m
Kathryn StarkeyChair
All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Thank you. All right, P2.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
We have proved publication of the hearing of this matter for the Oak Park Municipal Service Benefit Unit in the Uh July twenty-seventh edition twenty twenty-two of the Tampa Bay Times.
Keith
Good morning. Keith Wiley, Director of Parks Recreation, Natural Resources Department. I am here to present a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, establishing the final annual non-ad valorum special assessment and adopting the non-ad valorum assessment role for Oaks Park Municipal Service Benefit Unit for the repayment to the County's general fund for the land acquisition costs and ongoing maintenance costs, providing for an effective date.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Thank you. Well we have a lot of people here. So I'm thinking maybe you need to go through your presentation.
Keith
Absolutely.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Just as a reminder to everyone. Thank you.
Keith
So just a little history.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
We need to be uh quiet back there, please. Thank you.
Keith
Just a little history. This um this actual MSBU was established back in 2014. The ordinance number is 14-10. Um around September of last year. Uh PRNR made an opportunity to meet with as many of the HOA presidents as possible to educate, uh educate the community on what the direction was gonna be for the MSBU. Uh last fall we also executed the tax collectors agreement, which really kind of got us to this point. Um, the just again as a reminder, the MSBU will reimburse the county's
general fund uh for the land acquisition costs at an interest rate of 0.05 percent over a 15-year term. The first year of the assessment, the cost to each individual unit will be approximately $164.80. Which includes a one-time cleanup cost of $50,000. There's been some dumping and things like that that's occurred since the establish establishment of the MSB back in 14. After two years, the assessment through two years will drop down to $135.56. That obviously
is removing the additional $50,000. Then in year sixteen and ye each year after that, the assessment will be eighteen dollars and thirteen cents per unit based on the annual maintenance and overhead costs of approximately thirty-one thousand dollars per year. This is a map showing the actual boundaries of the MSBU. It was established back in 14th underneath the premise of the benefit reaching about a half mile. Um which includes everything outlined in black.
Staff recommends the approval of the resolution presented in front of you today. I'm here for with for any questions and obviously we have a full room of public comment.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Board members, any questions before we take public comment?
Keith
I'd
Jack MarianoVice Chair
rather listen to the public first.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Okay, so if you're here to speak on this item, please um well we have a sign up list, don't we?
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Yes.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
All right, so we'll go through our list.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Uh John Russell.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
So please state your name and address uh for the record and you'll have three minutes. Yes, ma'am. Thank you.
Second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Thank you.
John Russell
My name is John Russell. I live in [address removed], which is in the Heritage Lakes community. On the and we l uh our personal property is right on the border with the Oakes Park, the north side. My purpose here today is to strongly disagree with the fifty thousand dollar charge for clearing the Oakes Park property. The accumulated trash and debris on subject property, was not placed there by any thing anyone
from Heritage Lake Village. And I doubt that it's possible to determine the real people. Who have caused that. The fifty thousand dollars is excessive, especially since the Parks and Recreation and Natural Resources Department. estimated, and I quote the initial cost to be approximately twenty thousand dollars to clean up the park. The remainder of the balance will be used for ongoing cleanup efforts throughout the life Of the
MSBU. Additionally, we do not understand the methodology used to determine the correct number of ERUs. Since the number has changed several times. Over the course of the MSBU.
May help understand where I'm coming from. Um the Oak first the Oakes Park MSBU was approved on September twenty-eighth, twenty twenty one. With an implementation date of January 1, 2023. We seem to be right on course for that. At that meeting, the county commission also voted to change the zoning from five MF to the M. to a code something like parks open space or parks preserve. The code has not yet been changed. Can you tell us when the new
zoning code will be an effect and what it will be. Perhaps and hopefully may fall under maybe Chapter eight hundred, Natural and Cultural Resources Protection. An additional bit of background about me. I retired from the city of Clearwater after twenty-eight plus years. Over twenty of those years were with parks and recreation. I was the maintenance coordinator. For a hundred and seventy six parks. During the time I served the department we had many instances of illegal dumping
on park property. Some folks were kind enough to include their personal information. So we could turn that over to uh Clearwater Peace Police Department, could track them down.
As to the rest of the trash, we never ever dumped these costs on the neighboring communities. All of the trash removal expenses were included in our general fund budget. In closing, I have included some photographs. on page two of what I've passed out to show the current conditions. Oh the Oak's Park. Thank you very much.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
That's quite a tree house. Yeah. Okay, who do you have next?
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Uh Mr. Fred Callucci.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
And who who's after um because we have to
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Cindy Fargo.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Cindy if you could line up behind Fred, that would be great.
Mike Moore
I have
Kathryn StarkeyChair
a
Fred Callucci
resolution.
Mike Moore
Most receive a five.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Okay. All in favor? Aye.
Fred Callucci
Thank you.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Fred Callucci and I live at [address removed] in Heritage Lake. I have lived there for twenty six years. And I lived in Pasco County for forty-three years. I'm very unhappy about the Oakes Park MSPU project. And how we are now hit with a bill for clearing the trash for $50,000, since the county should have never let this happen in the first place. However,
let's clear up another issue. Pasco County purchased Gulf Harbor's Golf Course, also an MSBU project. for one point two million dollars and backcharge eighteen hundred residents for only six hundred thousand dollars, which is only half of the purchase price. We note here that No upfront requests for the funds to clean up the property. And no interest is being charged on that MSBU. Now the Oakes Park MSBU was
purchased for three million dollars. and the county is backcharging 1,710 of those residents for the full price. That's nine hundred and thirty two residents from Heritage Lake. And the 778 balance are the other four neighborhoods. In addition, the County wants to add a cleanup assessment for the entire 15 years plus pay a.5 percent interest on the three million dollars. the total would probably pay
about th three point six million dollars. I think there is an injustice here. I feel that Pasco County is in good s shape financially and should forgive this payment of the entire $3 million. Please put a hold on this project and reconsider this matter at another meeting after reaching out to all the parties that are involved. Thank you for listening.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Thank you. Sandy?
Fred Callucci
Next
Kathryn StarkeyChair
up will be Jean. Seth Weightman.
Cindy Fargo
Uh Cindy Fargo, [address removed], New Port Richey, Florida. Before I start my comments, I'd like to enter into the record our two objections that were timely filed with the board.
Mike Moore
Second.
Cindy Fargo
All
Kathryn StarkeyChair
in favor? Aye.
Cindy Fargo
We object to our property being included in the final assessment role. We provided the board with two independent mileage determinations, indicating our property is actually 0.75 miles walking distance from the only potential access point to this MSBU property for property owners within our Southern Oak subdivision. Given this distance is 50% over the stipulated 0.5 miles walking distance, designated for including. In this MSBU, we respectfully ask the Board to remove our property from the final assessment rule. Further,
there has been no information provided by the County as to if and when this access would be open to either pedestrian and or vehicle traffic. We object to our property being included in the final special assessment as we continue to question the legality, ethics, and financial integrity of proceeding with this MSBU and related annual special assessment. It is not necessary to proceed with this clearly flawed MSBU as the county has ownership of the property and can now ensure reasonable and compatible
development. No individual property owner should be forced into this fiasco. There was a total disregard by the Board for the rights of affected property owners to fully vet the terms and conditions of this MSBU and indicate their approval or rejection of this MSBU and related special assessments. Neither the establishment nor the activation of the MSBU after seven years of dormancy included a vote by affected property owners prior to approval by the board. We contend
the board has abused their authority to establish an MSBU for the primary purpose of raising funds from a targeted group of property owners as a vehicle for reimbursement to the county general fund for the 2014 purchase of the property in settlement of a land use zoning conflict with the county, developer, and surrounding property owners. Further, we contend this purpose does not constitute the statutory requirements of providing an essential service in the establishment of an MSBU. This special assessment places an undue
financial burden on 280 of the 372 property owners within Southern Oaks who currently pay $300 per year HOA assessment fees to cover the maintenance cost of over 86 acres of common areas and open areas we own in common within our Southern Oaks subdivision. The annual special assessment under the MSBU represents a 45% increase over our existing HOA assessment fees. For the board to contend, providing additional open space outside of our subdivision
is providing an essential service is absurd. Thank you for allowing the comments. Thank you.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Jean Safeli. And
Cindy Fargo
who's that first?
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Followed by William Day.
Unidentified speakerVoice A
Gene Safeli, [address removed], New Port Richey, Florida. I'm going to give you a little history on why we object to the MSBU special assessments. Attempts by Mike Fassano and Richard Corcran to obtain state funds to be applied toward the purchase of the property were vetoed by then Governor Rick Scott. It should be noted the stated purchase. Purpose for the funds requested in
their bill was to purchase 41.47 acres of property for the construction of it of a stormwater retention pond to mitigate flooding within the Heritage Lakes community. Nothing in there would benefit Southern Oaks property owners. The board informed and consulted with only representatives of homeowners, associés, and boards versus proper notification to effective individual property owners
relating to options available prior to the activation of this MSBU. Members of any HO or board do not have the authority to approve a non-ad valorium special assessment on individual property owners. Affected property owners within Southern Oaks were never informed by the county or HOA board of the details of such options available prior to board
vote to act.
Yeah. Proceeding with this MSBU is fiscally irresponsible. By activating this MSBU, the board is placing an undue tax burden on a selected target of property owners while depriving the citizens of Pasco County a significant source of property tax revenues that would be generated from reasonable. and compatible development of the property. Prior to establishment of
the MSBU, County official Matthew Armstrong indicated under the terms of this MSBU the county would own the land and further the county would maintain the property as it is county owned. Why do the terms of the special assessment include ongoing maintenance charges? Affected property owners do not have a full grasp of the terms and conditions of the MSBU. Scant
documentation has been provided by the county from its establishment in two thousand and fourteen To its activation in 2021, to the upcoming scheduled collection of special assessments starting in 2022. We have outlined numerous unresolved questions to be answered. When did it become so easy to reach into the pockets of others? This is wrong. Thank you.
And come on up. And who's the next speaker?
Kathryn StarkeyChair
William Day, followed by Bill Murphy.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Come, tell me, tell me, stand up. B.
And two one.
William Day
My name is William Day. I live in Riverside Village, the affected property. I'm not represented by a homeowners association. Um I'm a uh resident that lives on Nile Drive, which is uh directly uh west of the property. I don't want an apartment complex in the middle of my neighborhood or our neighborhood, should I say. Um I love what's happened in the fact that the county has purchased the property. I fully understand what
had happened with the state. I was involved years ago with what was going on. Personally, I don't mind paying a hundred thirty five dollars a year. То киплан пристне. Um I know there's dumping issues back there. I'm very familiar with the property. I think there's some simple, affordable resolutions to keep the property people dumping. I'm open to anybody that wants to hear my suggestions. Now is not the time nor the place. Um fencing and stuff like that, I I just think keeping vehicles
out of there and the ability to dump in there is should be the priority. But uh the bottom line is is that originally this all started. because a very large apartment complex was gonna be placed on that property, involving considerable amounts of traffic, Um now a lot of this may be hearsay, but um I believe uh bus routes were gonna go in there. Um you know, uh a lot of people and a lot of traffic were gonna be coming in and out
of that property, which was gonna essentially affect a Non real main road uh area, uh uh, a residential community, not with a busy, busy thoroughfare, but now you're gonna have thousands of people. Uh maybe I'm overestimating, uh, and traffic coming in and out of this quiet neighborhood. My neighborhood is right in the middle, right in there. Okay? As far as who you're gonna charge or what that, I am not opposed in any way. I
think a Hundred thirty five dollars a year, um, I'm more than willing to pay that. The one hundred sixty five, I'm more than willing to pay that as someone who's opposed to this this this atrocity proposed atrocity. If some if the county's gonna keep the property or the state it's gonna be made into a park, I'm all for that. As far as light development, more houses, okay. I don't want an apartment. The old expression nimby, not in my backyard. Okay. Thank
you for your time. Thank you for your attention.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Thank you
Kathryn StarkeyChair
very much.
William Day
Bill
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Murphy, followed by Chuck Elron.
Mike Moore
Wasn't the receiving file? Second.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
All in favor? Aye.
Bill Murphy
Good morning. My name is Bill Murphy. Uh I live in Heritage Lake. Um, I'm here number one to protest along with the others the Fisher di $50,000 charge for cleaning up property that should have been done for all these years. Uh also With the amount of things, the information we have, we have gotten different letters from the county, from P Pasco County, and s one thing changes and another thing changes. I think really at this point we would like to have some more time to look at what options and have things
down in writing. And one person had mentioned, of course, about um the property being rezoned right now from what we understand it is not. So um I think that charge is additional. I think that should certainly be included if this happens in the purchase price. The second thing I would like to ask about is um a concern about liability and its associated maintenance with that. Do we the five committees participating in the MSBU if it goes through have any exposure or liability for accidents or injuries?
Due to the county's failure to properly maintain this park, whether or not it involves trespasses, kids falling off tree off tree houses, or off-road vehicles, are MSBU participants covered by the County's liability insurance.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Thank you very much. We're gonna respond to all these when everyone's done.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Mr. Elrond, Chuck Elrond, followed by Bob Rock.
Charles Eldred
Yes, good morning ladies and gentlemen. My last name is El Drid, not Elrod.
Mike Moore
Motion to receive please. Motion to receive and file. Second.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
All in favor? Aye.
Mike Moore
Aye.
Chuck EldredDisputed
My name is Chuck Eldred. I live at [address removed] in New Port Richey. Uh a little background on myself. I've been involved in this since Day one back in two thousand and twelve when we started that fifty five
Kathryn StarkeyChair
We are fifty five. What was the
Charles Eldred
straws?
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Yes.
Charles Eldred
But anyway, I've been involved in it a long time, and I'm here to discuss uh And I have concerns about the fifty thousand dollars being charged for the cleanup of the Oaks Park. Specifically my concern related to the counties county varying Uh explanation as to how the ERUs are calculated and how they were made. Uh all this information has come from the Pasco County. Ста парк стаф,
а болив. There's some confusion as to how the half mile is either from the center to property or the perimeter of property. Uh finally we were told that this starts at the perimeter perimeter of the property. And the last number we got uh That we were aware of is there's seventeen hundred and ten ERUs in the final calculation. If you look at the math on this We purchased a property for three million
dollars. The maintenance fee for the first year is gonna be I believe Uh And the fee is gonna be one hundred and sixty four eighty. And then they're gonna add that that takes care of the fifty thousand. We pay back the three milyen dollars. It was a hundred and thirty five fifty six per year. Times 1710 units. Over 15 years, that's three million four hundred and seventy-seven thousand. One hundred and fourteen dollars.
Where does the four hundred and seventy seven thousand one hundred and fourteen dollars come from? Might this indicate a fifteen point nine percent Interest charge.
As you take the three thousand dollars
uh over fifteen years and we believe the The count sh is uh W well we have no idea what the count is, what the ERU is. But over fifteen years At 13556, that would be fourteen hundred and seventy-five units. Not seventeen ten.
And at the end of this th there's a picture uh of this I handed out and uh On the northwest corner there's a hundred one hundred condo units. At Heritage Lake, that is definitely outside the half mile limit, and this should not be included in the in the ERU. The CRU number is raised and up and down. I think when we first talked about it was fifteen eighty eight, then it was fifteen forty four, then it was fifteen
sixty six, and now we come up with seventeen ten.
And that's it on that part of it.
Talk a minute on this letter that we all got from the Parks and Recreation Department. There's nothing in this letter says anything about the MS um B U being fifteen years.
But one of the figures that they come up with it says the annual revenue collected from the M S B U will be two hundred eighty one thousand eight hundred Dollars ninety three cents. Now if you take that number and multiply it times fifteen We come up with four million two hundred and twenty seven thousand. Thirteen dollars and ninety-five cents.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
I'm sorry your time is up, but I'd really like to see a copy of that letter. I've not seen that letter. So um would you mind if I had my someone come out and copy that? And then um we'll give it back to you. That's what it says in this letter. Thank you very much. Motion to receive and file. No, no, we can't we're not gonna receive that and file yet, because that's his we're gonna get copies for everybody.
Charles Eldred
Thank you.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Okay, thank you very much.
Charles Eldred
Very much. Yeah. I appreciate your taking the time to listen to me. Sure.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Go Air Force. Thank you.
I
got a son-in-law deployed right now.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Mr. Bob Rock, followed by Donna.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
All in favor? Aye. Aye.
Bom Rog
Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Bom Rog. [address removed] here in beautiful Newport Ritchie. My involvement goes back to the days of fifty-five thirty-three, way back in two thousand fourteen. In the meetings that that we had with Mr Chrisure, the then owner of the property. That now is owned by the county today. And now wants to charge us an additional fifty thousand dollar one time charge on top of a The previous MS B U. Eight years ago. Trying
to figure out why. That has happened. It's looks seems to me like the county has dropped the ball Going back to back then Uh at that time I was the board president for Heritage Lake. Uh from two thousand seven and was the board president for ten years. I'm currently the first vice president on the board today. And I uh what I did back then was every year Because that money was uh Uh uh supposed to be uh allocated
by the uh Folks up in uh that make the budget up in Tallahassee. They were gonna pay back herit uh the the county one point five million in two different installments. At that time I got a call from uh Then uh uh
What the heck uh lost lost my track here. Anyway, uh I got a call on my cell phone that the money had been appropriated the first amount for one point five million dollars and and And then I heard that the money uh was never was allocated but never reached the county. So I'm trying to figure out What happened there? Every year I call Mike Fasano. Um Our tax assessor, our tax collector. and ask him if the uh county had submitted the paperwork necessary for
this to go on a and be uh applied to the homeowners on their tax bill. And year after year after year after year, no, no, we never got the paperwork from the county to Get it included on the tax bills. What had happened to the MSBU that was approved way back when and never got insta inst instituted Uh going back to uh
Mm. And now the county wants to charge us an additional fifty thousand dollars. On top of that they changed the uh radius uh on the property from a half mile from the center of the property. to the perimeter of property to include more More coverage and uh And get more homes.
So what happened to the first MSBU? Um Yeah, the gentleman I got a call from was Richard Corkin and that the county has uh has done nothing over the last eight years that we've been involved in this property except cutting the grass. I l I gave the lady here some pictures of of that on On December twenty eighth, uh Heritage Lake paid for a new drainage gate. Uh the uh the property over there was uh Uh back in in two thousand thirteen was uh
uh was uh dredged by then owner. Uh Um Mike uh or uh Chris Sherer. And that so i as far as the county spending money over the last eight years on that particular property, I don't see 'em doing anything or have done anything except Uh doing the uh uh cutting the grass.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Thank you very
Unidentified speakerVoice B
much. We'd hope you drop your fifty thousand dollar.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Yeah, we're gonna talk about that, I'm sure. Thank you very much.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Donna Mertz, followed by Paul Mertz.
Donna Mertz
Good morning. Thank you for listening to me today. I'm Donna Mertz. I'm I live at [address removed], New Port Richey in Southern Oaks. Um I'm here today because I've been recently um involved in this process. Unfortunately uh well through the years I was not um part of it and I now see um how much I am affected by
it in Southern Oaks. Um I feel that the board neglected to address this issue directly with the homeowners prior to this meeting um as and prior to your voting. Um it was my understanding uh that there was some type of notice that was recently sent out, not that letter but prior to that which we never got. So When we got that letter we were very shocked that we uh Southern Oaks we're more than a half a mile from
the property which is in another development, um how we are now monetarily responsible for it. We've owned the property for 31 years without any incident, and find that this whole process was not in the interest of the affected homeowners. And uh it seems that it is um unfair governmental business practice that violates our rights. As a Pasco County
homeowner. And I request that you remove Southern Oaks from this debt and from the involvement in this because it is has nothing to do with our development. And then another thing I found out was you singled out homeowners in Southern Oak, so it's not even the whole uh community which I find uh very unfair and um and also I don't know if this
is correct but um it's my understanding that well I I did see that after a certain amount of years we're gonna be responsible based on thirty one thousand dollars in expenses which of course in 15 years those expenses would exceed that. Thank you for listening to me and I I vote against it and I hope you will too. Thank you.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
So Tom Summers, followed by Bill Gillies.
Tom Summers
And is there are there any more after that? Commit to online. Good
Tom Summers
morning from my hearers.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Bill, come on up and get in line. Thank you.
Tom Summers
My name is Tom Summers. I live at [address removed], uh New Port Richey. It's in the Heritage Lake Development. I'm here today to uh protest the fifty thousand dollar charge for clearing the Oak's Park. Uh my m my m specific concern is the law enforcement of this area. Well does any of this fifty thousand if it is approved going to go to increased patrols or to the um In installation
of cameras, trail cameras to help uh mitigate the problems with the illegal dumping and the Uh knowing guys riding the dirt bikes and the target shooting that's been going on. Recently a resident in um Heritage Heritage Lakes had a window shot out by a uh pellet, uh shot from about fifty yards away. in the Oak Park area. Uh that was a concern. Now just again recently there was a um Incident
where they uh There was shooting going on in this Forty one acres and surrounded by houses and uh the concern is is that Even though Pasco County Sheriff did respond. There's still these issues and what we're hoping for is maybe to have a little more um surveillance or whatever going on in this area. Thank you for your time.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Mr. Gailey's uh followed by and I apologize, but uh Bob Mikey, Mike.
William Gillis
Hi. Again, my name is William Gillis. I live at [address removed]. in Riverside Village Estates. Most of you already know me, so I won't uh uh give you any more particulars than that but
There's several things I wanna say, but I'm only gonna say a couple. First of all, if this passes, I would like to Put my uh bill in for the twenty thousand dollars since I went over there the other day and spent about a half hour and picked up all the trash that was laying around. So that's what's involved in maintenance. Cut cut it a couple of times a year. You're probably gonna use county Workers. paying 'em, I don't know, sixty five, seventy five dollars an hour. Well
if that's the case I'd like to help us high, but So basically I'm signing up for that job. You and me both. Basically I just think the numbers a little out of line with the cost. So I guess we just need to see some, you know. Some figures that The parks and recreation came up with that. Determine this number. And I think we need to revisit it. So thanks.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Thanks, Bill. A Bob starts with an M?
Is
Kathryn StarkeyChair
there anyone else in the room that wishes to speak after Bob? Because then we have two people online and then we're gonna stop public comment. So if you wanted to speak, you just need to line up there behind Bob. Morning.
Morning
Bob Muha, I live in Southern Oaks.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Uh we need your address.
Morning
Pardon?
Kathryn StarkeyChair
We need your address.
Morning
Oh [address removed] in Port Richey.
I I'm uh I'm okay with that becoming uh zone park property as long as it's never developed and just stays as it is. I don't know if that's the case the way the wording is, but I wouldn't be opposed to that. But the fifty thousand cleanup does sound a little excess of all uh It's it's been the county's property for a while now, so Cleanup should have been done on a regular basis to begin with, so why is it all hit now?
Yeah, there is people dumping their yard waste and stuff there, but uh that's nothing new. So So the I just wanted to bring that up and Hopefully if it does go through and it becomes zone park, hopefully it will never get developed. It'll stay as is. And if it does, hopefully there's sufficient notice. Ahead of time before anything's approved. So great.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Thank you.
Jim Conlan
My name is Jim Conlan, Heritage Lake. I'd just like to know why they don't rezone it. And sell it for just private homes.
And this way we wouldn't have any problems at all.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Thank you.
Well that's I can bring up the history here in a second.
Miriam Butler
Hello, I'm Miriam Butler. I am um I live at [address removed] in Riverside Village Estates. I'm president of the Homeowners Association. And I just wanna s say that most of that all of the homeowners that I have spoken to, and that is almost all, are very happy. To have the MSBU established. Many of us had put in a lot of time over the years hoping to see that accomplished. There are concerns about the $50,000,
and some of us were hoping that maybe today we would find out a little bit more about what specifically would be done for $50,000, but now I see that perhaps that isn't what The purpose is today. So there are concerns about that, but the citizens that I represent are willing to make the payments and are happy to have that land preserved. So thank you.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Thank you so much. All right, this is the last speaker here, and then we're going to go to the speakers online.
Henry Nocha
Good morning. My name is Henry Nocha. I'm at uh [address removed] in Riverside Estates. And uh a little background, I'm a Vietnam vet. vet. Thank you for your service.
what I heard from most of the people There's a problem with the mat. It's not a problem with the park. So
Kathryn StarkeyChair
We're gonna get we're gonna ask some questions
Henry Nocha
here in a second.
Because if you increase all of those people It's gonna ruin our neighborhood or our properties are all gonna go down. So I think And I I I believe everybody would agree if user readjust the prices, they won't have a problem with the park. park. That's all I have to say.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Okay, we we have two speakers online. We're gonna go to one now.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
And that would be uh Vincent Anderson.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
It says Lynn. Can you hear me? Good morning.
Unidentified speakerVoice C
Good morning. We're
Kathryn StarkeyChair
at ninety forty. Uh one second. Is that as good as it's gonna get there?
Um Lynn, do would you ma'am, could you please inc increase your volume because we really can't hear you very well. There it goes.
Unidentified speakerVoice C
It is all
Kathryn StarkeyChair
day up. There
Unidentified speakerVoice C
you go.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
There you go. That's much better. We need your name and address for the record.
Unidentified speakerVoice C
Okay, there you go. All right, we're at [address removed]. That's in Cambridge Commons One in the Heritage Lake community. And uh we did serve written objection to this to you last week in accordance with your procedures. We uh our primary objection is how the area is calculated. Uh we were advised that was within a half a mile. We're going to be from the closest point as the crow flies, according to Christina. that uh we were going to be what's going to be included in the assessment.
But we have calculated and from our home to the northwest corner is Clearly point five two miles away, that is outside of the half mile requirement. And then we noticed that other communities such as Villa del Rio, that's directly south of Heritage Lakes. They're not on the boundary map at all, yet they're only 0.25 miles away. So we object to how this map was calculated, that the entire Heritage Lakes complex
was included, even though there are clearly a whole segment of us that are outside of that half a mile radius. Um at the very least, if you do go ahead with this, the Villa Del Rio should be included in that assessment. as uh that would have the overall effect of lowering the annual amount for all. And Mr. Wiley, as should be noted, did agree with my assessment when uh Ms. Starkey forwarded my email to him and uh August 10th, he did agree that that was calculated
nine years ago, and it probably is not accurate. So, in summation, we request that our address of [address removed] be removed from the assessment. and perhaps uh do a better job of recalculating the entire map.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Yeah. Thank you for letting me speak today. Sure. You came in loud and clear. Next one.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Uh well Vincent was on the list, uh I believe that was Lynn Anderson and there are no others on the list at this time unless he is wanting to speak.
Unidentified speakerVoice C
No, that's fine. He is sitting here next to me. Okay.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
All right. So Keith, I'm sure we have some questions. Um And I I'm just I think maybe uh come on up, Keith, but maybe I'm just gonna remind everyone kinda how we got here, but It's been a while and I don't have a timeline in front of me. Um but I think some of the gentlemen um here who spoke remember that There was a A request for um approval of a site plan for apartments that were gonna come up on this park. It was not
something that the county could deny. Um There was a a vote and uh to deny the site plan and We had board members who were personally sued. because they violated Florida law. And so that vote was overturned and um the gentleman was allow his site plan was approved for two hundred and sixty I don't know. Something like two hundred sixty apartments. There, um in that
land in the center of your developments. And oh um After it In the time in that time of all the neighborhoods around The park. Fi fifty five thousand. What was the number? Fifty five thirty five?
And it was Southern Oaks, Heritage Lake Heritage Lakes. All the communities around there banded together, all the HOAs. This room has never been as full. As during that time When all the citizens came out against apartments. in that area. And so after that deal was done. We spoke to the developer and h and their agents and said If this If you would you agree
to sell that land to the community that is around it? And The count and they said yes. We had meetings with all the uh groups involved. And we said you can buy this land. And make it a a park for your community because your community was developed as what's called a sub-DRI. And uh it should have had a park but it didn't because it was sold off differently. And the community said yes, we would rather
buy it than have it be apartments. This is not a county park, this is a community. owned park within your community, similar to what's happening in Gulf Harbors, though we're only buying half of that piece of land. So that is that is how we got where we are today. Um I know that um The Senator and Richard Corcoran tried very hard to get some state money to purchase it, but it was vetoed every year. Because It there is no opportunity for that to be a
stormwater pond. There's no storage there. Over the years we tried to see if there was a a use for the county as a park. Um and could we use that money that we loaned the community to pay to buy it from the developer with? And um the and we tried and the answer was no. And and has no E-Lamp pro uh value. So we either had to go ahead and pay back the citizens of Pasco County. Or sell it, down zone it, and sell it for development
and return the money to the citizens of Pasco County. So we went again and we reached out to the community Would you rather have Um
Uh town homes or something that would get us to the value of getting our money back, our three million dollars back, or would you rather it be stay in its natural state as a park? We went through all those hearings. And the community said, no, we want our park. So that's that's where we are today. But we have questions, I think, Keith, about how the boundaries were set. And uh and some of the numbers. So and board members, you may have some questions for Keith. Before we get to the numbers, can
Jack MarianoVice Chair
I go over just a couple of things? Sure. All right. So I think the board would probably agree. We've done cleanups in different neighborhoods. Yeah, I'm fine for waving that fifty thousand. So I think I think everybody's gonna agree that we've got to waive the fifty rates.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
We'll waive that fifty
Jack MarianoVice Chair
thousand.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
But come on up, Keith, because we
Jack MarianoVice Chair
But but I'm not done. I don't want to I'll go a little further. Um and you know we're bound by Sunshine Law. can't talk to each other about anything we're gonna vote on. So what I'm gonna come up with is just a thought I had the other day. I've had a long relationship in Heritage Lakes, uh Bob Rock and I have talked many, many times about different things such as the al the Aloha purchase, the FGA, et cetera. So I reached out to Bob and I gave him a call and uh I would say probably like about an hour or two later he got about ten people in the room and I and I pitched my idea. Um The market
value and I'm going to say I think The commission has done everything right with this property all the way to this point. I mean The way we did the E-Lamp over in Gulf Harbors was different. There was a a different concept there for what that property was going to be. Uh so I don't think we're treating differently. It is just a different property. Uh I think the way we set up everything is is is in a good form. But there's an opportunity that's out there that we haven't had before and it's been brought up twice now. And I think if we look at nobody wanted to see the multifamily complex coming
in. Uh we all knew the right was there, so we bought the property. But in relation to what's happened with property values have gone through the roof. So let's say the land's worth twice as much as it was now.
uh take a look at doing a down zoning of the property, matching the R4 that's in the area all around it anyway. And if we can bring it to the R4, bring it to the market, and maybe the market would say, we'll want to buy it. That would take care of all your trash accumulation, the parks maintenance fees that'll that'll go in there, your fees going in there. And if on the situation where it actually comes to extra money that's out there, it might even allow for money that we can use to go buy the Aloha utility and put money towards that as well, if
it goes that way. So we can directly take if there's a surplus, we can put it into This would be taken over the Aloha FG Way. Bring you into the County Water Service. Which we've talked about for years about how to go about it. And if there was extra money like we've got from others, uh from the state to help it could make it work. And if if that goes, that would actually bring your rates down a lot in your water.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Commissioner Mariano, um we did we did do um evaluations and had a lot of discussions about downzoning, which I'm I was To me I w it was fine to do that. It was up to the community whether they wanted um houses or a park. So um I don't think we're gonna be able to finish this today. Um we have a board meeting that starts at ten and I'm not gonna continue this till late this afternoon and it start all over again. So I think we're um we're gonna continue this, but um
Unidentified speakerVoice D
Chairman M yeah you've got to take this up before before your budget hearings. So I mean this this is tied to the Oh, because
Kathryn StarkeyChair
then the MSBU can't be enacted. Right. Okay, so
Unidentified speakerVoice D
Well the M S BU is enacted you can't it won't go on the tax bill on the tax next year. So
Kathryn StarkeyChair
that's up to
Unidentified speakerVoice D
the board.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Uh should we have Keith answer some of the questions that were brought up, or what's what's the board's pleasure? I mean, we did try and talk about the surplus. Um that's why we we c the board did a number of how many units it would take to get to the three million. We weren't worried about interest. Um and it was do you remember the number?
Keith
I was gonna say I mean quite honestly we could the team could use the time to maybe I I was doing my best to to write all the questions down, at least mostly from public comment. Um I would appreciate the time to to obviously at least get Specific answers to these questions so that way at the next hearing we'll we'll be prepared. But honestly, the fiscal the fiscal piece I think ultimately is the piece that that I think we'll need some time to make sure that we get right. I'm not saying that it's wrong. I just I would have to get with my fiscal team to to confirm all those numbers.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Yeah, I I feel like there's still so many questions about the boundaries and I don't I just don't think we're gonna get get the boundary calculation today. I d I don't think we're gonna get that answered answered in time and we may just have to wait again.
Mike Moore
Yeah. Madam Chair, just one thing. I agree. I mean we'll just have to wait a year. You're not gonna there's not gonna be anything on the tax bill. Um Um it was brought up a number of times about the cleanup. and about the possibility of waiving that fifty thousand dollars. Um Is there a possibility that we can use some of our resources to go and try to clean some of that up now?
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Yeah, I I texted the the administrator.
Mike Moore
Since it is getting pretty bad out there.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Um And so let's let the administrator answer that, Keith. Ha ha ha. Get you
Mike Carballa
off the hot seat. We can go out and clean it up.
Unidentified speakerVoice D
Okay.
Mike Carballa
Okay.
Unidentified speakerVoice D
Thank you.
Keith
No, y yes, sir. So the fifty thousand was for a one time cleanup and quite honestly could be used for fencing signage. It you know, you don't really know ultimately all the details that you're gonna experience when you inherit one of these projects. So But it was a one-time cost. And then there is a reoccurring obviously cost for maintenance based on what we would assume uh the community would want to see for maintenance um based on our county contract.
Unidentified speakerVoice D
And one other thing I will suggest to the board and I don't know that it's adequate time or it's Something the board wants to do, but you do have these hearings for the east side in Dade City on your at nine a.m. on your nine six meeting. This could be continued to that if that would provide adequate time. But
Mike Moore
I don't think Madam Chairman Mariano. I don't want to make all
Unidentified speakerVoice D
these people drive to Dade City.
Mike Moore
Yeah, I don't think you're gonna get all the answers and I Commissioner Mariano be in the district commissioner is it's
Kathryn StarkeyChair
me.
Mike Moore
Oh I'm sorry, is it?
Kathryn StarkeyChair
It started out when it started out it was
Mike Moore
the borders these days.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
And that was part of the confusion because it started out as um Commissioner Fitzpatrick's and then it switched to me. So I wa and they didn't know, so I wasn't notified of the meetings. Uh so I wasn't
Mike Moore
well I
Kathryn StarkeyChair
didn't know they were going out.
Mike Moore
I like
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Adam
Mike Moore
sorry. I I like his ideas. Commissioner Mariano brought up. I think just working with the community and having those discussions and take that take the year and do that.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Take
Mike Moore
the year and do it.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
In addition.
Christina Fitzpatrick
In addition, I do agree with waiving the fifty thousand. Last year I did meet with all of the homeowner associations and they did come up with they did want to move forward to making it um open spaces. And I would like to ask Sally Still here or um I did discuss and recommend last year or put a motion in for the comprehensive plan for the future land use to be updated and changed to recreational and open spaces. So it would not be multifamily.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
Yeah, I kinda feel we went through the um idea of whether it would be homes or a park and settled that one. But for me I just I I f I feel very uncertain about how the numbers were calculated and the and the boundaries and I just want to make sure we go back and look at historical data. data of what we said back when we said we when we said said what we were gonna do in twenty fourteen and make sure we're correct.
Jack MarianoVice Chair
Madam Clerk. But good. I mean, judging with the hour of time, I wanna I'm gonna make a motion. I'm going to motion we continue this to the following year. I want parks to study the numbers, to come back with numbers, but I want staff to go pursue What the value of this property could be for our forest zoning to look at surplusing it. Yeah,
Kathryn StarkeyChair
we have to do that.
Jack MarianoVice Chair
Take some offers in to see what the numbers come out to be. And then we can lay both sets of figures in front of the people and say, Here's what we've got, what do you want to see? All right.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
We and I will under discussion. We did do that. If we want to do it again.
But Um okay Christine under discussion? At this time I So you understand what we're doing.
Christina Fitzpatrick
Okay, so last year, just so it doesn't continue on since t it's been going on since twenty fourteen. I was filled in with everything going on when I first came and I spet spent time and met with every homeowner with the homeowners associations. And if there If it is sold for a surplus and they and the citizens are responsible for it, then the citizen should be getting back a refund for the surplus that is purchased.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
That's no citizens have not put any money out. So okay.
Ron Oakley
All
Kathryn StarkeyChair
right,
Ron Oakley
I'm going to call the question. One question.
During this year, aren't we getting extra interest cost against us three million dollars we paid for this project?
Kathryn StarkeyChair
I don't know if we charged interest. I don't think we w have been charging interest on that three million.
Unidentified speakerVoice D
I think the interest rate for the MSBU was set on what the counties was getting at the time on their general investments. I think that's where the point oh five came from. Yep. Okay. Um And so you're going to be able to do that.
Christina Fitzpatrick
And I would like to see this move forward within the next few months as well, not waiting another year to right before it's needing an MSBU again. We could have last year we discussed this and it should have been ongoing this whole time, not waiting a month before.
Kathryn StarkeyChair
explain explain to everybody how it works where we have to We have to work on it so it gets on the tax rule. So do we have to wait a year or can we
Unidentified speakerVoice D
No you can you can i if the if the desire of the board and the community is to surplus this property and make it single family residential, you've got the next year to do that. the these hearings must be done at this time. Right. So the public hearing that's had today was going to have to be done today regardless of the decision because there's a there's a statutory window that you have
these public hearing for non ad valorem assessments and this is the earliest you can do it. But if if you're not gonna do the non ad well
Kathryn StarkeyChair
We either surplus
Unidentified speakerVoice D
it
Kathryn StarkeyChair
or we do
Unidentified speakerVoice D
then clarifying the math and all that kind of stuff can all be done ahead of the this public hearing. Or surplusing it could be done well in advance of this public hearing that you wouldn't have to have it. So
Kathryn StarkeyChair
you cannot address us from there and we're past the ten o'clock, so I'm gonna call the the question.
I I
Mike Moore
I
Kathryn StarkeyChair
agree with that.
Christina Fitzpatrick
It was gonna be open spaces. It should not be going back out. to move forward to for sale when for the past seven years they wanted to be open spaces and now it has been going on for so long it needs to be
Kathryn StarkeyChair
finalized. With correct number. Yes. All in favor. Aye. Opposed. Wait, what was the motion? The motion was to delay it for a year. I think it should be continued. Questions? No. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. We will uh have we'll we will have another meeting on this in the future. Thank you. Um we're gonna move on to our ten o'clock meeting now. So in the next year then it can be changed to multifamilies.