Public comment on current and future agenda items

1:15Uh now it's time for public comment. Citizens are given An opportunity to comment on current and future agenda items 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 persons present here at the DAS. Then we will take comment from those that are pre-registered for WebEx and

1:46are currently on queue.

1:56We request when you we request when you address the board, comments are not directed personally against a commissioner or a team member, but rather Directed at the issues. This provides mutual re support respect between the board members and the public. First um

2:17After stating after you're stating your name and address for the clerk, a three-minute timer will be activated. After two minutes, you'll hear a single beep. And we'll indicate you have one minute left. When your time is up, two beaks will sound, and you at that time you should close your comments. Those members come uh speaking on WebEx, when their time is up, will be automatically shut down. Uh Madam Clerk, do we have people pre-registered

2:48or registered here at public comments?

2:51Yes, um I do have a few signed up. We'll start with Kostas Kistakis. And the next person who signed up didn't put their name, but it's for the Fox Ridge MSTU, followed by Nancy Hazelwood, followed by Christina Fitzpatrick. Thank you.

3:04Good morning. My name is Karsus Ktasakis. I came here to speak to you about the uh light on uh Ross Lane and Little Road. And thanks to Mr. Um Oakley, Commissioner Oakley, I spoke for the right person. I got an update. But please keep it in in your minds that it was voted a couple of years ago and we need it there. It's a safety issue as soon as possible. Possible. Also I need to speak to you in regards to the to the assessment on the paving. Uh

3:35we were told in a couple of meetings that uh the the uh the assessment was gonna be only for people who don't live in gated communities and they don't already pay uh you know uh paving or bathroom assessment in those uh communities. I received my uh tax uh assessment for this year and I see it. Um it needs to be discussed because we don't want to be paying double taxes on something we should be paying

4:05only one. And please keep in keep it in your mind I knew I've known you know most of you for a long time. We have a lot a lot of retirees in this community. We can't keep on going up every year on taxes again and again. We have uh plenty of growth and the impact fee will be paid by the people coming in. Thank you. All right. Thank you for your comments.

4:30Um I just have the name is um written down was public comic uh comment and Fox Ridge MSTU. I don't know who signed up. If you could state your name and address for the record and then begin.

4:43Good morning. My name is Kevin Wright. My address is [address removed]. And uh I'm here to express uh gratitude on the part of my community for selecting me as part of the oversight for our Uh MTSU Uh we're very concerned about the drainage issues in our community. And uh I want to uh express gratitude for the uh board continuing to have a relationship with

5:13our MTSU and our oversight committee so that we can work out the problems going forward. Uh the basic problem is this New River goes right through our community. We're a legacy subdivision that's been there for many years. As we have new subdivisions that are built up around us, of course, this is going to put additional pressure on the New River drainage area, and we want to make sure that those things are maintained properly over the years and perhaps improved so that any additional drainage problems that crop

5:44up can be handled with the funds that are allocated appropriately. The basic issue in our race was, if you want to call it that, was is that some of the folks who are running For the MTSU, believe that our MTSU should be dissolved and the money returned to the taxpayers. And normally I would be in favor of that, except that just didn't handle our issues. So I'm looking forward to working with all of you going forward and making sure that the new development are

6:15good neighbors and we're good neighbors as well. Well if you have any questions of me right now.

6:19No, we can't. It's public comment.

6:21No, but the gentleman who would talk to you is outside talk to someone else who's going to be able to do that.

6:26I'm on direct him. Brantford is outside that door talking to another gentleman, and he can listen to your issues there for your neighborhood. Okay. All right. Thanks again

6:35for

6:35the

6:36opportunity to make public comment. And uh as far as the last issue on the the the roads. I want to second what the last gentleman said. Uh Pasco County has a lot of retirees. My wife is retired and disabled and uh tax increases are a real problem for us. So try to keep taxes low as possible.

6:56We realize that, yes sir. He's right outside the door.

7:00All right, we have Nancy Hazelwood followed by Christina Fitzpatrick.

7:06Nancy Hayswood, [address removed]. A couple of weeks ago some people in the Northeast area got a nice temp from Tampa Bay Water that they were going to do testing if well filled could be put in the Northeast Role Protected Area Plan. They sent out a survey with the notice asking what the residents' concern with the project would be, such as economic, environmental, or similar concerns, not asking whether we wanted it there or not. Uh the survey was

7:36also online for two weeks. On further investigation, I found the plan had been in the works for over a year. And they were going to determine where in the northeast rural area it would be before the end of this year. The well filled is supposed to take fresh water from the aquifer and mix it with brackish water and possibly in inject what's left over from the brackish water, which is salt, back into a very deep level of the aquifer. Tampa

8:06Bay War says the objective is to supply water for the growth coming to the east side of the area. We hope they are talking about Dade City and Zephyrhills. I and my neighbors have a couple of objections to this. Why were we not informed of this untimely manner? Some of us asked for a community meeting from Tampa Bay Water and have heard nothing back. Everyone in the rural areas on a well and septic. It is part of what helps us stay rural. Of

8:36course we are concerned. With large amount of water that could be pulled out, we have already watched ponds and lakes dry out in other parts of the county. Tampa B Water is estimating nine million gallons a day from the Northeast Rural Protected Area. Northeast rural areas in the Brooksville Ridge High Recharge Area and the Green Swamp that supplies water for three counties. With already a lot of dependence for water in Northeast Rural, this makes it a strange place to pin. to

9:06withdraw more water. Northeast rural supposed to stay rural. The community wonders if this well field is a way to attract high density development into Northeast Rural. We could be assured this is not the case if you add something to the Northeast Rural area plan that says it will not be used for running water in any development in the rural area. Tampa Bay Water has two board members. sitting on Tampa Bay Water is two of y'all sitting

9:37on their board. We'd like to know why that project wasn't brought back to us in a timely manner. So

9:50I would like more information coming from this board, especially when it involves Northeast Rule. And

9:59I am hoping that y'all please do something to protect us out there instead of letting intrusion. come about without a say so from your public. Thank y'all. I appreciate your attention.

10:12Is David Allen here? is on account called Oh okay. Uh if you would I think Bramford's still outside there. Go out and speak to Bramford. He should know something about that.

10:24Okay, I want to hear the next

10:25one. Or Nick, do you work on some of that? Nick's in engineering, but he can he can get your questions.

10:33To be real short, it's future use, nothing nothing anytime current. Okay.

10:43Name and address for the record.

10:45Christina Fitzpatrick, pursuant to Florida statute. Um I'll keep it sealed. Thank you. And if you can put the full quote ordinance up there, please. Today I'm here to discuss the Sign Ordinance 406.1.6. This Sign Ordinance was updated in January 2024 and is objective to any new candidates. Due to the changes of code enforcement, due to all of these changes, code enforcement was unaware of which parts of the sign ordinance needed to be implemented. I have been to Code multiple times during this past election season and

11:15code did not know which ordinances to follow and not enforce. If It also stated up as you can see On number two Six temporary signs shall not be double faced. Three, number, one temporary sign of any type or banner not prohibited by this code on each residential lot, non-residential establishment, having a CO or a vacant lot. And then the second one. They should have a setback of five

11:45feet from the right away.

11:49This also okay so It states one sign per location or business. This states we're also only allowed to direct one sign, therefore, the ordinance is violating our First Amendment rights in Pasco County. If citizens were able to were to abide by this ordinance, that means Pasco County residents would be unable to support any local candidate and the presidential candidate due to be limiting due to being limited to one sign and again single-sided. This ordinance also takes Takes

12:20away the citizens' abilities to place our presidential campaign signs on our front yards due to the fact every side is double-stated, is double-sided. As Pasco County citizens in Pasco County, the sign ordinance needs to be updated sooner than later and prior to our next election in November. It needs to be consistent and fair across the board for all candidates. In addition, in previous elections, we obtained lists of where we were allowed signs to be located. Season we did not receive a list but continue to use the same locations. In the past, as long as the signs were behind the power

12:50lines, we were safe to go. Now I did put signs out which were behind the power lines and they were removed. I spoke with court enforcement. Now they're being told they have to be five feet behind the right-of-way and in on private property and behind their fence. But one must take out the property appraiser's map Or the Pasco Mapper map. measure online the distance from where the right away is and back. As code enforcement

13:21was taking Out. Take measures to measure all of this. After discussion with code enforcement officer, I personally pulled up the property appraiser's website and made sure my signs were five feet behind the right-of-way. Now my signs were removed a second time. on Moon Lake Road. Code Enforcement a week later was then told to stand down as more people and other candidates obtained their signs. A week later, and as of now, those signs are all up and down Moon Lake Road, but for one

13:51candidate, They are to follow one rule and one ordinance and for others or they are not. With all this being said, it violates Pasco County's First Amendment Rights. And to finish up the

14:02town's up.

14:03And lastly what I would like to say is if we have code enforcement going out and pulling on people's personal property and pulling signs down and destructing and defacing. P people's personal property. That is a huge concern. Code enforcement should not have the right to destroy

14:19anybody's private case.

14:22Thank you.

14:22Thank you.

14:25Next.

14:26Mr. Chair, I don't have anyone else signed up.

14:28Is anyone in the audience wish to speak that has not spoken here today? On any issue. Public comment. Okay. WebEx?

14:39So one person previously had registered but they're not signed in.

14:43Okay.

14:43So we have no one on WebEx, right?