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Zephyrhills looks inward, plots future
By BRADY DENNIS, Times Staff Writer ZEPHYRHILLS -- They came to praise. They came to gripe. City leaders were just glad they came. About 30 residents showed up Tuesday to voice their opinions at the first of three city visioning meetings, moderated by consultants from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Residents spent two hours discussing the pluses and minuses of life in Zephyrhills. Certain topics, such as the effects of snowbirds, made both lists. Planning council officials listened to the suggestions and jotted them down on one of several posters mounted on easels at the front of the City Council chambers. When they finished, five pages of positives (written in green) and six pages of negatives (written in red) hung from a nearby wall. Some of the most popular positives were excellent city services and public safety, good medical facilities and a small-town atmosphere. Negatives included the lack of city annexation, the threat of environmental damage and no venue in town large enough for large groups or cultural events. Nancy Nyren, who moved to town five years ago from San Francisco and now lives in the Betmar Acres subdivision, said she thought duty called her to Tuesday's meeting. "We thought it was important for us to hear what folks are saying," Nyren said. "Whatever happens in Zephyrhills is going to affect us. I think it went pretty well." Avera Wynne of the planning council agreed. But he said plenty of work remains. Officials tonight will ask residents to devise strategies that will make the city better. "We're going to be rolling up our sleeves and talking about how to tackle these issues we identified," Wynne said. After tonight's meeting and a final one Tuesday, planning council officials will present a report to the City Council on May 13. The idea for the visioning session started brewing in the fall, when council members spent several sessions with consultant Michael Roberto trying to work out communication problems. They paid $130 an hour for Roberto's services. The current visioning sessions will cost the city about $7,500, City Manager Steve Spina said. He said the money is budgeted and comes out of the city's general fund. Like other officials who showed up Tuesday, Spina said he was pleased with the people who willingly showed up. But most of them were retirees, and Spina said he hopes for greater diversity at the last two meetings. "I was happy with the crowd -- there was a good mix of positive (comments) and criticism -- but they are all pretty much alike," said Spina, who planned to hand out fliers about the meetings at Zephyrhills High School. "I'd like to have more of a mix. But we'll work on it." -- Brady Dennis covers the city of Zephyrhills and crime in east Pasco. To reach him, call (352) 521-5757, ext. 23, or toll free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 23. His e-mail address is dennis@sptimes.com.
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From today's Pasco Times |
