[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6083880,"mediaKeyId","2926210-ed73575a6127394b3a840c4b8b03aa1b","parentId",2926210,"title","Commission declines to ratify county administrator’s attestation on State appropriations request after contested outreach to lobbyists","audioSeconds",5861,"startMs",7114000,"endMs",12975000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2926210-ed73575a6127394b3a840c4b8b03aa1b&start=7114&end=12975","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2926210-ed73575a6127394b3a840c4b8b03aa1b/thumbnail_7114000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083880/Citrus-County/Florida/Commission-declines-to-ratify-county-administrators-attestation-on-State-appropriations-request-after-contested-outreach-to-lobbyists","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083880-aa8fe04c87ddcb8f012285ac346dfe97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152213&Signature=a~SXqMDQ20BWzIpCaP7XK-8EJFI~Jj5cza9CCq9dBvIFTG4SAkIKH~C5GeS0aprO95ejjiVgmv9r083nOciteQc-wZpCSvgOoZc1vN-9CSIC2eGwIEA5wYXm~DxfzEUTMoMP9TPnx25lE3ee1dxgPENBrgTPH1-q3p4GbJE7SARr1frZ28YZPdhUBkrNzbF~eC3nys52buKalEDN1-6ljAy6VZjsogvGctUh3RMe0Fkt2WMOGVSs0VaCq-7lVp0K0f7uDCrFhdWYiVEupOYnxeLDl0BNmiaOdagvdoc3-5HuKWJt-Q2amU7gtTm5J0pSm7gvAgEejLrnTtJv-WkKWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Citrus County, FL","date","2025-04-08T22:15:10Z","article","The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners voted 5‑0 on April 8 to deny ratification of an attestation form that had been filed in Tallahassee naming the board on a state appropriations request tied to County Road 491.

What happened: Chair Rebecca Bays and county administrator Steve Howard had been approached by an outside lobbying firm (identified in public records as the Southern Group) and a developer interest about an appropriations request related to the 491 corridor. The filing — an attestation submitted in March — listed the county as the recipient of an appropriation. Multiple commissioners said they first learned about the filing from public reports and a blog, not from staff or the chair.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the process bypassed normal board discussion and public notice for a large transportation project. Several commissioners described the filing as a breakdown in established processes and said county staff and a commissioner had engaged privately with a lobbyist and a developer while a formal board action had not been taken. Concerns included the content of the submitted forms (inconsistent budget figures and schedule) and the optics of county staff providing information to an outside lobbying firm without full board authorization.

Board debate and outcome
- Commissioner Diana Finnegan moved to deny ratification of the signature/attestation; Commissioner Janet Barrick seconded. The motion to deny passed unanimously, 5‑0.
- Commissioners described a months‑long exchange of emails and calls in which staff filled out forms supplied by the Southern Group; publicly available copies of the forms showed different dollar figures and mismatches between the stated project components and the funding lines.
- Commissioner Finnegan said she would bring a proposed ordinance for the board’s consideration aimed at prohibiting commissioners or county staff from assisting developers or their lobbyists with lobbying when— and where — the developer has a pending application with Citrus County or when the BOCC has previously acted against a project. She said she would present draft language at a future meeting for board consideration.

Staff response and next steps
County Administrator Steve Howard said he accepted responsibility for the confusion and called it a mistake, apologizing to the public and the board. Howard said he would institute additional sign‑offs in the internal process and sought to assure commissioners that he would not repeat the steps that led to the public controversy. Some commissioners called for personnel discipline; others urged a measured internal corrective process and changes to policy to prevent reoccurrence.

Public reaction: residents and advocacy groups raised questions about transparency and asked for a public audit of communications (emails, texts and meeting records) related to the filings. Commissioner Finnegan said she had already filed public records requests and would bring a motion in two weeks to author an ordinance that restricts staff and commissioners from helping external lobbyists when a developer has a pending application.

Ending: The board’s vote to deny ratification rescinded a formal acknowledgement of the March attestation; staff were directed to report process improvements and the county attorney indicated counsel would advise on whether additional personnel or policy actions were required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners - April 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners voted 5‑0 to deny ratification of an attestation filed in Tallahassee that named the county on a state appropriations request for County Road 491 after commissioners said staff and an outside lobbyist advanced the filing without prior board approval.","taxTitle","Citrus County, Florida","taxId",12756,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083885,"Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council presents flood and sea‑level vulnerability assessment for Citrus County",458,1452000,1910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2926210-ed73575a6127394b3a840c4b8b03aa1b&start=1452&end=1910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2926210-ed73575a6127394b3a840c4b8b03aa1b/thumbnail_1452000.jpg","/articles/6083885/Citrus-County/Florida/Tampa-Bay-Regional-Planning-Council-presents-flood-and-sealevel-vulnerability-assessment-for-Citrus-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083885-9c8d8590576a5d75f3a26d3af4205cf7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152213&Signature=nlctF1~iOSfXiEODh7vUp1GUDebume81wk9oi2tqo3baaY2i1KrzSHHI-UXi7Rlpt4WCak9OmbLiLkBSKWxez2p-rFT1uNCVJmcWbCEJos8tJrR4UQYR7jhTVWG0K2gIxI7StF2rF91YE2sTfi~UMXSW9veUN6oJW4oK63UKq2kvEs0BnUN-04mWAD-ui9qqRtXCjkvexItr7Lhhmdf~-Pp7JqbXD91trTlykN4QBZK48~nvr4WCSVhuRf3Z9WMMqZziacDodv6PzLJhYUWvTaCMVP4CqWTdVDkcpRd5UbaYCAH8MfZaI0sI5YX4DeR1LOv0K0CwZcpNGy~u~MT~UQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council on April 8 presented the final vulnerability assessment for Citrus County and the City of Inverness, identifying critical assets exposed to inland and coastal flooding under present and future scenarios and recommending priority focus areas for adaptation planning.

The report and why it matters: Amy Bidwell, principal hazard mitigation planner, said the assessment maps current and projected flood depths from extreme rainfall, tidal flooding, storm surge (hurricane categories 1–5) and sea‑level rise for 2040 and 2070 scenarios. The analysis covers 105,500 assets countywide and is intended to guide an adaptation plan and mitigation projects that could be eligible for state funding under recent Florida legislation.

Key findings and technical points
- Asset inventory: the assessment reviewed roughly 105,500 assets; Bidwell reported 87,438 critical‑infrastructure assets, 1,364 transportation assets, 144 community/emergency facilities and 16,562 natural/cultural/historical assets. The inventory also flagged regionally significant assets such as the power plant and barge canal near northern Crystal River.
- Exposure and depth modeling: the analysis modeled storm surge for hurricane categories 1–5, current and future high‑tide flooding (intermediate low/high for 2040 and 2070) and attempted to address extreme rainfall; the team noted that a 500‑year 24‑hour rainfall analysis could not be completed because regionally accepted change factors were not yet available.
- Example: Ozello Trail segment. Bidwell showed a section of Ozello Trail with an elevation of 3.97 feet that models to be exposed to storm surge in multiple hurricane categories and to see high‑tide flooding increase from about 18 days a year now to roughly 55 days (intermediate 2040) or as many as 183 days a year under higher future scenarios.
- Focus areas: the assessment identified three county focus areas for adaptation planning — southern Homosassa and adjacent coastal islands; Crystal River and its conservation/shoreline features; and Inverness with adjacent unincorporated areas north/northwest along North Lecanto Highway and Gulf‑to‑Lake Highway, where development and rainfall risk coincide.

Next steps and funding
Bidwell said the assessment has been delivered to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and is under FDEP review; once FDEP comment is received the county can move into adaptation planning and project prioritization, stakeholder engagement and engineering studies. She noted the next state funding cycle opens May 1 and that Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council can assist with adaptation planning (but not engineering or construction).

What commissioners asked and staff response
Commissioner Jeff Kennard asked for a summary and for the county to wait for FDEP comments before detailed local decisions; Bidwell agreed and recommended stakeholder and board input once FDEP returns the report. Commissioners asked whether loss of islands and shoreline acreage were considered; Bidwell said those impacts would be evaluated during adaptation planning and recommended including shoreline conservation options on project lists. She also suggested evaluating culvert versus bridge upgrades (for example on Ozello Trail) as candidate mitigation projects.

Ending: The board accepted the presentation and staff will track FDEP feedback, then bring an adaptation‑planning timeline and funding strategy back to the commission for local prioritization and possible grant applications.","The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council delivered a multi‑hazard vulnerability assessment covering inland and coastal flooding, storm surge, high‑tide and sea‑level rise scenarios; FDEP review is pending and staff recommended proceeding to adaptation planning and project prioritization.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083890,"County hears pitch from Catholic Charities and Daystar; commissioners agree to broader workshop on homelessness",705,2810000,3515000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2926210-ed73575a6127394b3a840c4b8b03aa1b&start=2810&end=3515","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2926210-ed73575a6127394b3a840c4b8b03aa1b/thumbnail_2810000.jpg","/articles/6083890/Citrus-County/Florida/County-hears-pitch-from-Catholic-Charities-and-Daystar-commissioners-agree-to-broader-workshop-on-homelessness","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083890-a4f980f2bfb9d0d8a850bfaf1813714f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152213&Signature=Fv5GWu3n0XzCPyvqFn7d0b2ABfLxA8hzZXspQXkNiNzrkQ5HwNw0KsC7KI0KyrpH5oLz-lTQ0zb60PWUpxRn-rACsx0GtHcEA-aPUGT4ABcAmmz36P3NPEBkYuu2dHU7q4zzYcKnGHQQHEV565s9yfrEneISFXddIZ8MLiyvCIQzRy3nbctinD6Z44PRU3IgqOQNk0rJqNJuLMEggMZXmVlfq6ku7yjYeKbp3Z~Qg--yC2OBjvltpanLIEfjmqK~8477cXWmkFZ0oJuFI9AI4k2-hU~0-p2On8BAt8MI4Ke6s8ILsR0x6hU~91fXtiJMVa3~ywHaWZu-DhIzZpFrrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg and Daystar Life Center described tent‑camp, cottage and supportive‑housing models used in Pinellas, Tampa and Pasco counties and urged Citrus County commissioners to begin coordinated planning to address homelessness in the county.

The presentation, requested by Commissioner Holly Davis, outlined Tampa General and Pinellas/Tampa Hope programs that combine shelter, daily case management and a pathway into permanent housing. Catholic Charities’ executive director Maggie Rogers described games‑changed elements used in their operations — daily case management, on‑site medical respite, employment services and a model of temporary living (tents, containers, “Hope Cottages”) tied to permanent supportive housing. Daystar’s executive director Anne Marie Brierchak and other local providers gave examples of Citrus residents who benefited from wraparound services and urged a locally tailored plan.

Why it matters: commissioners, providers and residents said Citrus County has gaps between existing services and current need. Presenters cited the county’s existing sheltered and unsheltered population counts and described how a centralized, coordinated approach could reduce hospital and jail costs tied to repeated emergency use. Commissioners and nonprofit leaders emphasized the need to coordinate providers, the school district, and potential landowners before deciding on county funding or a county‑owned site.

Details from the presentation and public comments
- Maggie Rogers told the board Catholic Charities operates multiple shelters and permanent supportive‑housing projects and now provides services in Citrus County; she said Catholic Charities has 18 permanent units in Citrus County and is seeking to expand. Rogers said the Tampa and Pinellas models combine on‑site medical care, daily case management, meals and transportation and that Catholic Charities operates outreach teams to verify county residency before offering services.
- Daystar’s Anne Marie Brierchak described an individual who used Daystar wraparound services and became stably housed and employed, and said homeless people often need different solutions — rapid rehousing for some, low‑barrier emergency shelter and long‑term supportive housing for others.
- United Way of Citrus County CEO George Schmalsig and representatives of local faith groups, the sanctuary mission, Basics United (cold‑weather shelter) and Mid Florida Homeless Coalition urged a communitywide conversation. Mid Florida Homeless Coalition said local homelessness is driven primarily by life circumstances rather than substance abuse, which affects which interventions will work.
- Concerns raised: some commissioners and commenters warned against the county picking winners by providing recurring operating stipends to a single nonprofit; Commissioner Janet Barrick and others noted many local nonprofits already run programs and said private donors or the diocese could develop property. Several members of the public urged faster action and affordable housing mandates for new developments.

Board reaction and next steps
The board did not vote to fund a specific project at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to schedule a community workshop to bring providers, Citrus County School District representatives, Catholic Charities, Daystar, Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, law enforcement, the United Way and other partners together. Commissioners said the workshop should clarify: who would run any facility; what land is available (county, school district, diocese or private); whether models would be low‑barrier emergency shelter, family shelter, or housing‑first/rental assistance; what public‑private funding could look like; and what constraints (zoning, codes, residency verification) would apply.

What they said
- Commissioner Holly Davis, who requested the presentation, said the meeting was intended to start a conversation and explore locations and partnerships rather than to seek immediate county dollars. \"This is just to start a conversation,\" she told the board.
- Commissioner Diana Finnegan and Commissioner Janet Barrick both said the county should avoid ad hoc operating stipends to individual nonprofits but could participate in coordinated planning and fundraising. Barrick noted Catholic Charities and others already own or control land and programs in the county.

Ending: The board asked staff to coordinate a workshop and to compile a short list of possible participants and information (beds/units available, shelter types, current waiting lists, residency verification processes and potential landowners). Several providers offered to share program metrics and costs in advance of the workshop so the board and public can evaluate tradeoffs and next steps.
","Catholic Charities and Daystar Life Center presented shelter-and-services models used in Tampa Bay and urged a Citrus County pilot; commissioners and nonprofit leaders agreed to continue communitywide planning and schedule a workshop to evaluate options, with differing views about county funding and land.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083875,"Commission approves Tampa General’s Citrus Hills hospital plan; board adds buffer condition",9640,3644000,13284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2926210-ed73575a6127394b3a840c4b8b03aa1b&start=3644&end=13284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2926210-ed73575a6127394b3a840c4b8b03aa1b/thumbnail_3644000.jpg","/articles/6083875/Citrus-County/Florida/Commission-approves-Tampa-Generals-Citrus-Hills-hospital-plan-board-adds-buffer-condition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083875-429a330c15ef5ace1713fc01300d87f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152213&Signature=EQ7cKNJwCUad~o4ppNE4oXnIpclKMTQjxUjxtYf~gDUVOSm14QLYKoinr5lgp6zM0C2ig-7Na-WeXrzVGLJcbqasI6Q8G0EwHdU6TIBnCSI5MH69BZQun~zIaujgak03H0V57SQBKeNB8V6OgIUcqT0EMRYKUdVO59uWjr1yRY5EBXkiznm8vAS0K0TuZSAwKFH5UQNVSum0EVTvL5QevbjJAbR2v8OeLwO7DXf-KcHhybKeeuKGJ6sE6wYu53zCDl3FhU-xgp-rPQ~fXcbs4EONqx7wQOVdM78ReOLPecD0YyywcTbpdDc-X~ZXYP-dQReXmYqmGDOPjO2dS7vP9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners voted 5‑0 on April 8 to approve PUD 3064, a master‑plan amendment to the Citrus Hills Development of Regional Impact that clears the way for Tampa General Hospital to acquire 53 acres adjacent to its Crystal River emergency center and build a phased full‑service hospital and related medical office buildings.

What was approved: the ordinance amendment updates the Citrus Hills land‑use atlas and master plan to: (1) permit a hospital campus and medical office uses in Parcel A; (2) allow a medical helipad limited to hospital use and requiring FAA/FDOT approval; (3) increase nonresidential development intensity consistent with modern standards (a reduced net increase agreed with staff from an initial 2,000,000 square‑foot request to 1,300,000 sq ft and hospital capacity expressed by bed count); and (4) allow internal outparcels and internal access where intersection and traffic‑access management are approved by county engineering.

Why it matters: Tampa General proposed a two‑phase project that would begin with a roughly 120‑bed hospital and supporting medical office space and could be expanded ultimately to a 400‑bed facility with additional offices and parking. TGH officials said the site is centrally located to serve growth in Citrus Hills, Beverly Hills, Pine Ridge, Tuscany Ranch and other nearby developments and argued the county lacks adequate acute‑care capacity in its geographic center.

Public comment and conditions
- County planning staff and the Planning & Development Commission recommended conditional approval. PDC added a condition requiring a Type C landscape buffer where new nonresidential uses in Parcel A would abut existing residential zones; the commission and staff said the buffering standard addresses neighborhood transition concerns.
- Tampa General representatives described patient load at the existing Crystal River emergency center and said helipad access would be used sparingly for critical transfers but is important for time‑sensitive trauma and stroke care. Officials said many current patients in the freestanding ER require admission or higher‑level care that would be easier to provide at a full hospital campus closer to the county’s population center.
- Public commenters supported the hospital for improved access, while others asked how the county would manage traffic at peak hours near schools and residences; staff said internal access and traffic‑access management standards would be required prior to final site permitting and that the county would evaluate road improvements as part of the review and permitting process.

Vote and next steps
The commission voted unanimously to approve the ordinance amendment and instructed staff to incorporate the PDC‑recommended Type C buffer condition into the final approval language. Project proponents and county staff will return for required site permitting work, traffic‑access reviews and any required FAA approvals for the helipad before construction.

Ending: Tampa General said it intends to work with county staff on traffic and stormwater design, and commissioners said they welcomed the hospital’s interest while urging careful attention to buffer, traffic mitigation and permitting conditions.","The board unanimously approved an amendment to the Citrus Hills DRI (PUD 3064) to allow Tampa General Hospital to locate a phase‑one hospital and future expansion on 53 acres near County Road 486, conditionally allowing a helipad for medical transports and requiring Type C buffers where nonresidential uses abut residences.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission declines to ratify county administrator’s attestation on State appropriations request after contested outreach to lobbyists

Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council presents flood and sea‑level vulnerability assessment for Citrus County

County hears pitch from Catholic Charities and Daystar; commissioners agree to broader workshop on homelessness

Commission approves Tampa General’s Citrus Hills hospital plan; board adds buffer condition