Port Richey to pursue $450,000 state highway landscaping reimbursement for US‑19; council gives consensus to send acceptance letter

City Manager Matthew Cobler told the Port Richey City Council that the state awarded the city $450,000 through a highway and landscape reimbursement program to enhance the state right‑of‑way along U.S. 19 from the river to west of Leo Kidd Avenue.

Cobler said the funds may be used for approved landscaping projects within the Florida Department of Transportation right‑of‑way; the city must send a letter of acceptance within 15 business days to express intent to participate and then execute a formal agreement with the state that will come back to the council for a formal vote. Cobler said the agreement typically identifies permissible municipal activities and that the city may use up to 10 percent of the award for design and engineering work.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the exact stretch of U.S. 19 covered by the award and previous landscaping work funded in 2018. The manager confirmed the award covers the US‑19 corridor within the stated limits and that earlier median work was done in 2018; the new award would allow the city to expand landscaping activities beyond previous work. Council gave consensus to send the required letter of intent; staff will return with a formal agreement for council action.

The council did not take a recorded roll‑call vote on the letter of intent; the meeting transcript records the manager asking for any objection and none being raised.