Pasco Commission To Resume In-Person Meeting With Restrictions

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — After being one of the first counties in Tampa Bay to lift coronavirus restrictions on April 5, the Pasco County Commission is ready to resume face-to-face public meetings with some modifications.

Starting Tuesday, May 18, at 10 a.m., the commission will hold its first in-person public meeting in the West Pasco Government Boardroom, 8731 Citizens Drive, New Port However, it will be conducted in a "hybrid virtual format."

That means a quorum of commissioners will be on hand in the boardroom with others participating virtually. Residents will be able to address the board from the podium inside the boardroom. However, the county will limit the capacity of those permitted inside the boardroom. Social distancing rules will apply and masks are recommended but not required.

The capacity limit will be 30 in the New Port Richey boardroom and 18 in the smaller boardroom at the Historic Dade City Courthouse.

The commission switches the location of every other meeting to provide access to residents of both east and west Pasco County.

If the capacity allowed inside the boardroom is reached, residents will be able to speak to the commission from a public comment kiosk outside the boardroom.

The county will continue to stream the meeting live online at Pasco TV Online.

Residents will still be able to participate in the public comment portion of the meeting via WebEx as well.

The county's decision to resume in-person comments at meeting came after residents complained about their inability to address concerns directly to Pasco County commissioners. This will be the first time residents will be able to speak to commissioners in person at a public meeting since the pandemic was declared in March 2020.

To participate in the public comment section by WebEx, residents must preregister by completing a BCC Public Comment Form or by calling customer service at 727-847-2411 by 5 p.m. May 17.

Residents can also email public comments and materials to the commission at pcadmin@mypasco.net by 5 p.m. May 17.