Pasco commissioners approve $887,000 transfer and 10-year MSBU term to develop Gulf Harbors Neighborhood Park

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners on May 19 approved a request to keep the Gulf Harbors MSBU assessment at $100, extend its term from five to ten years and request up to $887,000 from the general fund to accelerate capital work on the Gulf Harbors Neighborhood Park.

Christina Cordon, assistant director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, told the board the MSBU covers 845 assessment units and that the advisory committee voted to keep the $100 assessment while extending the ELAMP term so the community could begin park improvements sooner. "The advisory committee . . . voted to move forward with keeping the assessment rate at $100, and then requesting a general fund transfer for the Harbors Park," Cordon said, adding that the transfer request would be for $887,000.

The request followed sustained public outreach from Gulf Harbors residents. Deb Johnson, who said 1,845 homeowners have been paying the MSBU each year, urged the board to approve the 10-year loan so residents could use the park they are funding: "Please vote yes to our . . . extending the loan to develop our park and make it accessible to all of our residents," Johnson said. Other speakers described missing sidewalks, limited parking, and the community’s desire for a paved trail and dog area.

Commissioner Starkey said the park is especially important for West Pasco, where residents lack nearby parks and sidewalks. Board discussion focused on financing details: commissioners expressed a preference to keep the interest rate at 3.25 percent, and Commissioner Mariano asked staff to pursue reimbursement options for storm damage to the park parking lot through federal or disaster-related grant streams rather than the general fund. County staff and the county attorney noted prior FEMA reimbursements were denied in similar circumstances but said CDBG-DR or other grant sources might be an option.

The board moved to approve the R32 request with the conditions discussed — retaining a 3.25 percent financing rate where possible and that staff pursue reimbursement for parking-lot storm damage — and the motion passed by voice vote.

What the board approved and next steps - Approved: request to keep the MSBU assessment at $100 per unit, modify the existing five-year ELAMP term to a new 10-year term and request up to $887,000 from the general fund to fund Gulf Harbors Neighborhood Park capital improvements. - Conditions: commissioners asked staff to pursue reimbursement avenues (CDBG-DR or similar) for storm-related parking-lot damage and to attempt to secure the advisory committee’s preferred interest rate (3.25%). - Implementation: staff will coordinate final loan terms, report back on reimbursement possibilities and proceed with project planning once funds and terms are finalized.

The approval follows months of neighborhood organizing and multiple public comments at commission meetings. The board recorded the vote by voice and declared the motion approved; numerical roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.