Public comment on current and future agenda items
What the county recorded
This item is not from the published agenda
It is a stretch of the recording that this archive identified as a separate matter — a call to order, a recess, or something taken up that the agenda does not list. There is no official title, no staff recommendation and no disposition, because the county never recorded one. Everything below is inferred.
The source document
The county’s agenda for Board of County Commissioners, Dec 6, 2022
The published PDF, as served by the county. This item is one entry in it.
The county’s minutes for Board of County Commissioners, Dec 6, 2022
The published PDF, as served by the county. This item is one entry in it.
What was said
Machine transcription of 21m of recording, with speaker names inferred from voice matching. 76% of 90 lines carry a name. It shows what was said, not what was decided, and both the words and the names can be wrong.
Now is the time for public comment. Citizens are given the opportunity to comment on any current or future agenda item coming before the board. and on other bus 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 the queue.
We request w 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 an address for the clerk, a three-minute timer will be activated. After two minutes, a single beep will indicate you have one minute left. When your time is up, two beeps will sound and you should close your comments. WebEx participants will be disconnected automatically when their time is up. Madam Clerk,
do we have anyone signed up for public comment?
We do, Mr. Chairman Mariano. We have Dixon Phillips followed by Walter McBride followed by Glenn S uh Stambro.
Yeah.
Dixon Phillips. Address is protected.
There you go. Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Dixon Phillips. I am the District Representative for IFF Local 4420, Pasco Kines Professional Firefighters. First, I'd like to take this moment to welcome New County Commissioner Gary Bradford, New County Commissioner Seth Weightman, New County Administrator Mike Carbala, and Assistant County Administrator JJ Murphy. Welcome and we look forward to working with you all. I also want to acknowledge the members of our Special Operations program that are here today, that left their homes and their families to help the areas affected by Hurricane Ian. Thank you. According to the State
Fire Marshal's Office, in 2021, out of all the fire departments in the State of Florida, Pasco County Fire Rescue ran the third most DMS calls in the state. This is no surprise because Pasco County Fire Rescue saw a 16 percent increase in total call volume that year, and those numbers continue to rise in 2022. With that in mind, our local anxiously awaits the opening of Fire Rescue Station 9, which is scheduled for later this month. However, Station 17, which broke ground on June 10, 2021, is not projected to be completed until the earliest August 2023. We
need stations to be built faster, trucks like Rescue 223 and 226 to be put on the road faster, and for our firefighters to stop leaving for other fire departments. In the year 2022 alone, we have had 49 resignations, and that number one doubtedly grow before the end of the year. Driving today we received another resignation from a new heart. You must ask yourselves, why are your firefighters leaving? The answer to that is simple, quality of life. Pasco's firefighters work two hundred and eight hours more per year than almost all of our neighboring fire departments. If you march that number out over a
thirty year career, that means a firefighter that works in Hillsborough County will work on a truck two point three years less than a firefighter that works in Pasco. Starting in April 2023, that same firefighter in Hillsborough will be paid, on average, 20 percent more than firefighters in Pasco. Pasco County firefighters have not had a health screening or physical since early 2018, even though the collective bargaining agreement states physicals were to begin in 2021. Pasco County firefighters have not had a physical agility test since 2016. This county denies job-related cancer
claims, but yet has done nothing to ensure that our firefighters are healthy and in good physical condition. We scratch our heads and wonder why we lose twenty percent of our new higher class before they even step foot in the door. How are we supposed to retain or recruit when the number one international publication in our field, Firehouse Magazine, writes a story about Pasco County's Board of County Commissioners approving up to $85,000 to fight a state-mandated $25,000 firefighter job-related cancer claim? Would you work for a business that did that to their employees? I don't bring these issues up to attack anybody on
this board or anybody in this room. I bring these issues up because they matter, they're facts, and we as a union wanna work together to fix these issues and truly make this department premier. We are willing and excited to work with not only our new but also our old leadership that is in this room. We look forward to the day where we no longer have to pack the boardroom with yellow shirts. But until then, we will be present, we will be active in the community, and most importantly, we will keep the citizens of Pasco County safe. Thank you for your time and I look forward to working with you all in the near future.
Mm. Walter McBride?
Yeah.
Good morning. Um I would like to Mr.
McBride, you have to state your name and address for the record first and then you can proceed.
Walter McBride, my address is [address removed].
Thank you, sir.
Um I would like to know what can be done. Um from you all. To emphasize bringing in a higher quality of new businesses to Pasco County. We're s we're drowning in car washes, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's. We need some higher end Restaurants Some higher end businesses, places to go, things
to do around here. Pasco being a second rate podunk country county to me is a thing of the past. We have people, if you follow the news, and I don't want to get into a political discussion, but we have people from all over the country. moving to several states. One of the states that is at the top of the list is Florida. People from all over the United States are moving to Florida. These are not
uneducated, unskilled workers. These are high end people. with jobs, with education, and with money to spend that they just sold their house from somewhere else and have the funds to move here. I live in the reserves of golden acres. There are people moving there. from all over the country that just pay cash for whatever the price of the house is and don't even miss a beat. People
getting are getting discouraged. in Pasco County because of the lack of amenities, the lack of quality, Businesses, places to go. Restaurants And and I don't understand why we keep approving car washes, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's when we don't have a balance of better quality businesses. And I implore anybody who has the
wherewithal to do something about it, to do something about it, and upgrade our community to what the mo most of the citizens are actually all about. That's my request.
Mr. Chairman Mariano.
I I try so hard to get some of the the uh family-owned restaurants in Tampa to come take a look at us. I will say we have a couple New restaurants about to open. Um but but put your name uh with my staff and maybe we can start a petition for some of these folks to say come look at us.
That could serve as Expansion here, just like what you are talking about with the
good. Yeah, but we don't we don't do this dialogue.
And I'd be happy to talk with you, Mr. McGride, about some of the things we have done and how zonings affect properties that can come in, but we can't control what the private market does. But I'd be happy to talk with you about it as well.
Yeah.
We'll we'll get in touch with you. Just leave your contact info.
Yeah, my assistant's right there, Colleen right beside you.
That we don't want to have a dialogue going back and forth. Exactly.
All right. Uh Mr. Glenn Stambo. Jenny, I think it's Smithson and Ken Muckinfuss is followed.
Yeah, my name is Glenn Stambo, [address removed]. And I guess I'm here because I have a complaint. I've lived at the same place for thirty seven years. Thirty seven years I've had to drive through water to get out of my own driveway. Every time it rains. And it's getting a little disgusting actually. When I moved into the place that I live, I walked through the fields because there was no
not many houses there at the time. But Back in the field. I found all these big pipes that were supposed to be put in our neighborhood for drainage when they built the neighborhood. N the county never followed through on any of that. I guess they never ins done any inspections. Because those pipes laid there until they just disintegrated. And I think there's two drain places in our whole neighborhood. So
it it's just disgusting. that uh our tax structure is the same as everybody else's But we sure don't get much of a uh help out there at all. And I'm I'm asking that you do something about our streets and our drainage. And I thank you very much for your time.
Okay. And before you go, Brantford, would you talk with the gentleman?
Mm-hmm.
Brentford's done more for stormwater than anyone else we've had in this county other than Mike Carbella maybe. Yeah.
Jenny Smithson.
Jerry. Sorry, looks like Ans.
Good morning. Congratulations to the new commissioners. And to the new chairman. Uh I represent uh one of the founding fathers of Central Pasco and Belfort.
You have to state your name and address for the record and then you can proceed to the M.
I'm sorry. That's okay. Uh [address removed].
Ed your name for the record.
Jerry Smitson.
Thank you.
I repr I'm one of the founding fathers of Central Pasco and Gulf Railroad at Cruise Lake Park. And
We have grown tremendously over the past
And uh recently um Unfortunately things have happened with uh parks department And uh I need to talk to somebody so we can get some of this stuff straightened out. Because I hate to see uh Central Pasco and Gulf Ray Road go away. It's such a benefit for The parks department for the community here. Uh for underprivileged kids. And families. So I just need to talk to somebody to get some stuff straightened out.
Okay. And it's I'd say I was there for the opening day that many years ago. It was a phenomenal amenity that we love to see keep keep going on. If you would, Kathy.
The Keith's in the back right there.
Oh okay. Kathy and Keith first. Kathy and Keith Wiley in the back. Thank you very much. And yes,
we have a picture of your daughter in our Pete was in the
granddad or rode that train.
Matter of fact that picture's still in my office.
Ken
Muckinfuss?
My name is uh Ken Mackinfoos. Um [address removed]. This is in reference to the um Zoning amendment For dear springs. Um it's a subdivision. That is planned or supposedly gonna be planned. For the Crystal Springs colony area. Uh they have left out of their Uh
pro Proposal
concern about where state road fifty six is gonna go. through this property. It's already on here. that this is a route And um It's not mentioned in the proposal at all. And it's gonna happen, sir.
Sir, that's a public hearing this afternoon after one thirty. The the if you're talking about the Deer Springs M P U D
Yeah.
Board is going to take that up this afternoon. Okay, at one thirty here. Okay.
Well then thank you very much.
All right, thank you. Um last uh person that I have signed up in person, I have Ashley. Last uh initial is A.
It's back on. It was it's going on and on.
My name is Ashley and I live off of [address removed] outside the incorporated city limits. I don't understand why we have a Newport Ritchie City Hall meeting separate from Pasco County Board meeting when Newport Ritchie has nearly 200,000 people. There are a handful of city members that represent the face of New Port Richey, but only 16,000 of us are supported by those city hall members. Newport Ritchie makes up nearly a third of Pasco County, yet the bulk of us are disregarded at these city meetings. Newport Ritchie should have a
city meeting that represents all of Newport Ritchie and not just the downtown golf cart limits. This is a lack of real citizen representation for the BIPOC community, LBGDQ, and marginalized communities. The majority of New Port Richey is being represented represented on a bi-monthly county board meeting in Dade City over 40 miles away. At ten AM on a Tuesday, this isn't representative of the city and its people. Newport Ritchie has grown significantly as well as surrounding towns, and I think we the way we represent New Port Richey's people
needs to be reevaluated. There are many major issues with New Porroci and Pasco County police corruption where a systems review board would be beneficial. There have been several national news stories about police corruption here. There were concerns about predictive policing. Lying to the courts, disclosing intel to hate groups, tampering with evidence, profiling, police brutality, anti-Semitism, racism, directing hate groups to activism, harassment, aggressive policing of code enforcement issues, romantic relationships between board members and police, and inappropriate exchange of text messages
about citizens. Violent crime has accelerated each year. Knockle posted a picture in the past of Criminal of the Day, which included a crew member grabbing a black man by his dreadlocks while he was crying so that that he could blog about it to intentionally humiliate him. They made inappropriate remarks about a pending investigation. These are not police officers who care about the well-being of the people of our uh communities. How are we going to rely on a corrupt police officer to tell the truth? At least eleven citizens review boards have been established
in major Florida cities, as well as over 200,000 boards nationwide. They have proven to be very beneficial to both the police and citizens. I'm requesting that you establish one for Pasco County and Newport Ritchie, or one of the other. There have been enough significant complaints presented to warrant this to be evaluated. I also request that you implement better records request management systems so that people who request records can get the info quickly and at a reasonable price. On another note, please stop forcing people to disclose their address and then post it on county
and city websites. This is modern day doxing. The Florida State Constitution indicates that every person be let alone from government intrusion. You're opening your citizens up for ra harassment. I know Proud Boys and News crews have showed up at colleagues of mine house. and have harassed them. And um we don't owe you anything. You don't need my address. There's no need for you to post my name or or address on a live streaming feed. You ask for this info on a sign-up sheet and it can be easily kept private unless requested for an appropriate reason. I think you should announce
your address before you speak. from now on. Or we can just post your information on public forums like you're doing. I request that you change this for the sake of the people. Thank you.
And that's all that I have signed up. I don't know if there's anybody else. Okay.
Anyone from the public that's in the audience today would like to speak and address the board?
Okay, we have one person on WebEx.
Yes. Deborah uh Newman, we are going to elevate you. Just hold on one moment. You should be good to go if you want to unmute yourself and state your name and address and then you may proceed.
Hi, good morning county commissioners and uh the present. My name is Deborah Newman. As far as my address, that's why I am Asking your t um for your attention today. Currently I'm residing at [address removed]. In an RV resort, I would really like to be living in the property that I purchased that is located at 17913 Greensboro Street in Spring
Hill. Um I luckily uh well the last three years in a nutshell Um Became an inviteer, sold my home, thinking I could buy a piece of property and live in my R V while I'm building my house. Uh because I see that all around the county while I was searching for said property, which after many failed attempts by being able to buy it from everybody coming from out of the state with all this money, um, I could not procure a piece of property
in this county. I finally uh by the grace of God. uh about a lovely acre in Spring Hill. Um and I see RVs on properties all over Home County, um, thinking I could do the same while I built my house, but when I went to permeeting found out nope, I cannot do that. So, um, I'm a teacher. I don't have a lot of money. Um, I I'm comfortable. I'm planning for my retirement and all that stuff. But I'm paying seven hundred
and fifty dollars a month for an R V
Yeah. What I would love to have a what actually conditioning you for is to consider a special permit allowing temporary habitat housing in an RV um on a non-HOA property. I have over an acre and um I hear a lot of Sorry if I'm boring um and I'm not there in person, but I hear a lot of noise. I hope you can still hear me. Um it is zoned um residential agriculture.
And my request is to allow temporary permitting to place my RB once the permitted well, septic and electric is placed, um I can live on my property and put my money toward my my own property rather than paying lot rent to somebody else. I have a builder, I have a housing plans, um we're prepping to go for pre
I've lived in Pasco County for 25 years. I've raised my children here in the Lutz area of Land O' Lakes Lakes, part of Pasco. I love Pasco County. Um with my job as a Florida virtual sch Florida virtual school teacher, I could live anywhere in the state of Florida, but I chose Pasco because it's my home. And I am hoping Commissioner Oak Mariano, I am in district. I um the rest if I'm to a Pasco County
residents like myself who are now in a housing crisis because of the rise in rent and the rise in home rental fees caused by this influx of out of state people with all this money flow. We don't all have that blessing upon it. I'm just trying to survive. I'm trying to give to a house. Being able to place my RV on my own property while I build my home would be very helpful to me and probably. Other folks? Situation
Okay. And we do an automatic cutoff on WebEx at three minutes?
Yes.
Okay. Are there any other WebEx calls?
No one else is on WebEx.