During the meeting, the council considered several zoning amendments, with a focus on PC1, PC11, PC2, and PC13, all proposed for different types of district changes and recommended for approval. Among them, PC13 stood out as it ignited debate due to a member’s concern about proceeding without the special exception request, leading to a decision to continue the case to the next meeting.

The most discussions revolved around school impact fees. The council addressed the need for fee adjustments in response to the projected influx of 13,700 students over the next decade. The retiring Mr. Gad, in his final impact fee study, introduced members from the school board and oversight committee and shed light on the incremental increase in fees. He also pointed out changes in legislation that now capped the increase of impact fees to 50% of the recommended fees.

Consultant Carson Bice presented an analysis on the impact fees for the Pasco County School System, which included detailed components like construction costs and future capacity needs. The potential four-year incremental increase in fees for various housing types was outlined, with specific attention to the statutory limits imposed on such increases. The discussion raised questions about credits for existing debt payments and discrepancies in the statutory limit percentages, highlighting the challenges of aligning revenue needs with stakeholder concerns.

The topic of charter schools also took center stage as council members inquired about the eligibility of Day Spring Angelene for impact fees. The conversation underscored the cooperative relationship between the school district and charter schools and the legislative changes that now allow charter schools to qualify for these fees. Despite the debate over the fairness of allocating land and funds to charter schools in comparison to traditional public schools, representatives from the Tampa Bay Builders Association voiced their support for the proposed impact fee increase, recognizing the important role of educational facilities in the community.