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Residents press New Port Richey for answers after city warns senior clinic to vacate
Summary
City staff told council a clinic at the Claude Pepper Senior Center lacks a valid lease and adequate liability insurance; staff sent a Feb. 16 letter and said eviction could follow if issues are not resolved, prompting residents to demand a clear cure path and continuity plan for more than 1,200 seniors who rely on the clinic.
City staff told the council the occupant at the Claude Pepper Senior Center is operating without a valid lease and submitted liability insurance that the city considers insufficient. The city manager and city attorney said staff have been attempting to resolve documentation and insurance issues since September 2025 and that a February 16 letter flagged the deficiencies.
City Attorney Tim Driscoll told the council the facility had evolved into a medical clinic without the required protections for the city and described the situation as a legal exposure that "needs to be addressed." He said he had no present intention of initiating eviction proceedings without council authorization and would prefer staff to work toward a negotiated solution to strengthen the city's legal standing.
Public comment at the meeting included multiple speakers who asked for immediate, specific information and a transparent process. Daisy Thomas told council more than 1,200 seniors have appointments at the clinic and urged the city to provide: a written staff update within one week describing what the clinic must provide and by when; a continuity plan to avoid gaps in care; and a public agenda item so the council's actions are on record.
City officials said they would follow up with the clinic's operating representatives, noted that the clinic indicated it was working on a solution, and suggested staff would provide additional information. Several council members expressed sympathy for the service's older patients and urged staff to consider short extensions or transitional measures where feasible while protecting legal and insurance requirements.
The council did not vote on eviction authority at the meeting; the city attorney emphasized he would not file an eviction without council direction and that staff would bring options back for the council's consideration.
