SECTION I 2008 UPDATE INTRODUCTION/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE FAIR HOUSING PLAN The Fair Housing Plan (FHP) was developed by conducting an Analysis of Impediments (AI) to fair housing choice pursuant to the requirements of 24 Code of Federal Regulations 570.601. Within the context of these requirements, the FHP responds to the obligation of certifying that Pasco County affirmatively furthers fair housing by developing strategies and implementing actions to overcome identified barriers to fair housing choice. The analysis was designed to allow households, including those that are minority, contain children, or have members with a disability, to make individual choices about where to live and discusses actions to be taken for the renewal of distressed minority neighborhoods. This update to the Fair Housing Plan addresses three major areas. 1)

It serves as a comprehensive review of the analysis of impediments that were outlined in the original Plan and the actions that have been implemented by the County to overcome the effects of the impediments.

2)

It acts as an evaluation tool to identify any additional areas that require study or impediments that surfaced as a result of implementing actions.

3)

It provides the opportunity to replace data listed in the original Plan with updated data from the 2000 Census and other current sources.

Impediments to fair housing choice are defined as: *

Any actions, omissions, or decisions taken because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin that restrict housing choices or the availability of housing choice

*

Any actions, omissions, or decisions that have this effect.

With the assistance of various local agencies, agencies representing special interest and very

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low-, low-, and moderate-income groups, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, and the citizens of Pasco County, the 1997 Fair Housing Plan was prepared by the Community Development Division. Reports and studies were provided by the Department of Community Affairs-Division of Housing and Community Development, HUD-Fair Housing Equal Opportunity Program Operations, the Florida Commission on Human Relations, and the Pasco County Growth Management/Zoning Department. Additional information as provided by relevant local professional institutions including, but not limited to, real estate practices, banking/financing firms, and the construction industry, was also utilized in identifying and analyzing impediments to fair housing choice. A comprehensive review of all policies, procedures, and practices that affect the locations, availability, and accessibility of housing and conditions related to fair housing choice was conducted.

Citizens Participation Plan The following policies and procedures shall be implemented in order to provide Pasco County citizens with a reasonable opportunity to comment on the FHP Update, on substantial amendments, and on the required Summary Reports. 1.

The principal means for obtaining public input on a continuing basis shall be through

advertised public meetings for parties interested in affordable housing. Said meetings shall be noticed to the public in accordance with County policy. 2. Prior to Board adoption of the FHP Update, substantial amendments, or Summary Reports, citizens and other interested parties shall be provided a 30-day comment period.

Any

comments or views received, either in writing or given orally at the scheduled public hearing for comments, shall be taken into consideration in preparing the FHP Update. A summary of comments received shall be made a part of the required documentation. 3. A public hearing shall be held at least 30 days prior to the Board of County Commissioners'

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public hearing for adoption of the final documents. The public hearing/comment period shall be noticed at least 30 calendar days prior to said meeting in both newspapers of general circulation (Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times), stating the date, time, and location of the public hearing. The notice shall be printed in large print, not in the legal section, and shall describe the purpose and scope of the FHP Update and list locations where copies may be obtained. Copies of the FHP Update, substantial amendments, or the Summary Reports shall be made available at the County Libraries, the Community Development Division, and the Public Information Department.

Policy and Procedures Duration The FHP shall be effective for five years and shall be submitted to HUD for review, if requested, at the end of Year One of the five-year cycle or any time thereafter (24 CFR Parts 92 and 570). Summary Report As indicated in 24 CFR 570, an update to the Analysis of Impediments (AI) shall be conducted every five years, with an annual Summary Report to be submitted to HUD, with the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, for review during the five-year time span. The report shall include a summary of the actions taken the previous year as identified in the AI and an analysis of the actions' impact to fair housing choice. The five-year update to the AI shall identify any additional areas that require study and analysis or impediments that surface as a result of implementing the required action. Amendments The FHP may be amended whenever one of the following decisions has been made: *To make substantial change in the analysis of impediments to fair housing choice; *To make substantial change in the actions to address the impediments identified as a

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result of the analysis; *Not to carry out an activity previously described; or, *To substantially change the purpose, scope, location, or beneficiary of an activity. In accordance with 24 CFR 91, the public participation policies shall be followed when amendments are proposed to the Plan. Documentation Documentation shall include transcripts of public meetings and citizen comments/input and studies/ reference material used in the Plan. Supporting documentation shall include the AI and actions taken to eliminate the identified impediments. All documentation shall be available for public review.

Overview Jurisdictional Background Data

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Section II

This section of the FHP Update includes discussion of population, housing characteristics, housing affordability, housing development, housing growth patterns, and adequate housing for very low-, low- and moderate- income families based upon existing and available data. Information relating to economics, the labor force, employment, income levels, place of work, and travel is included as it relates to fair housing issues. Evaluation of Current Fair Housing Legal Status

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Section III

This section of the FHP Update includes discussion relative to housing discrimination cases filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office and the Fair Housing Commission. Identification of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

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Section IV

This section of the FHP Update includes discussion of the impediments to fair housing choice identified through the analysis process. This section also shows the actions proposed in the

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original FHP to maintain an affirmative fair housing environment. Following each impediment are updates to show what actions have been taken by Pasco County to address each impediment. The proposed actions are categorized as: [Short-range] - Pasco County will take steps to initiate or accomplish the action within two years of Plan adoption; typically these will be actions that the County already has the resources and authority needed to undertake the proposed action. [Long-range] - Pasco County does not have sufficient resources and/or authority to commence the proposed action but commits to undertake the necessary steps leading towards acquiring the resources and authority needed to undertake the proposed action. In some cases, these are actions that may involve revisions to existing codes or policies, or implementing new codes or policies. The time frames for long-range actions are from one to five years. [Ongoing] - Pasco County through, existing programs and resources, has already undertaken action(s) to address the impediment. Assessment of Public and Private Fair Housing Programs and Activities

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Section V

This section of the FHP Update provides an assessment of current public and private fair housing programs and activities within the jurisdiction. Conclusions and Recommendations

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Section VI

This section of the FHP Update summarizes the conclusions reached based on the original AI, and the effects of actions taken to overcome impediments. as well as It also outlines potential areas of study that may be needed in the future. Certification and Commitment Page

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Section VII

This section of the FHP Update provides a description of the nature and extent of the Board of County Commissioners' commitment to the FHP Update.

The Board is committed to ensuring

that persons are not denied housing opportunities in our community because of race, color, sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability, or familial status. The Board certifies that all programs under

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their authority are administered in a manner to affirmatively further fair housing and demands that all County departments maintain a nondiscriminatory environment.

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SECTION II JURISDICTIONAL BACKGROUND DATA

General Description and History Pasco County is located on the west coast of Florida, along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. It forms the northern boundary of the Tampa Bay area, separating the populous communities of Tampa and St. Petersburg from the sparsely populated farmlands and ranches to the north.

Pasco County is rectangularly shaped, roughly 57 miles wide and 27 miles long. Physiographically, Pasco has flatlands to the west and rolling hills to the east. Underlying the central section of the County is several thousand feet of limestone, which is the principal water wellfields for the millions who live south of the County.

Pasco County was formed in 1887, after the State Legislature divided Hernando County into thirds. Pasco was named after Samuel W. Pasco, a two-term United States Senator from Florida. That year was also significant because it was also the year that railroads came to the County. The establishment of rail lines through the area made the production and shipment of oranges, tobacco, and lumber, and the development of naval stores very profitable, and many small towns developed through the County. Many of these towns disappeared because of the clearing of the virgin pine forests and the Great Freeze of 1895, which decimated the citrus industry.

After the turn of the century, tobacco and cypress lumbering became important.

Citrus

processing was also very important, and the procedure for producing orange juice concentrate was developed in Pasco County. Pasco Packing Plant in Dade City had the largest citrus

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packing plant in the world. The company started out picking and packing whole oranges and grapefruits during the Depression, shipping crates of tissue-wrapped fruit to buyers up north. But soon it shifted focus, finding its niche at the start of the war in sectionized fruit and canned juice, selling millions of khaki-colored containers of orange juice to the military, including the Air Force, which believed the Vitamin C, helped its fliers' vision during night missions.

In the second half of the century, growth was been spurred by the development of retirement communities along the coast.

More recently, these communities are being populated by

younger working families, with many persons commuting to jobs in Pinellas County.

In

addition, tremendous development has occurred in the south central part of the County. This area is convenient to the transportation corridors into the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County. The eastern part of the County still remains fairly rural in nature, although many of the large citrus farms are no longer dominating the landscape.

Demographic Data A majority of the statistical data included in this section was taken from the 1997-2004 Final Pasco County Evaluation and Appraisal Report and Technical Support Document of the Comprehensive Plan, U. S. Census Bureau data for 2000, and the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) Florida Population Studies, 2002.

Population The population projections for Pasco County begin with the medium range projections of the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR).

The BEBR

population projections are of permanent residents only; i.e., persons whose usual place of residence is Pasco County. It is important to estimate and make projections of the number of

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seasonal residents; i.e., visitors and persons who live in the County part of the year but have their usual residence elsewhere.

Resident Population The resident population corresponds to persons counted in the Census; i.e., persons whose "usual place of residence" is Pasco County.

The BEBR medium range projections are of

resident population. In the 2000 Census, Pasco County had 344,765 residents.

Table 1

shows the BEBR projections for the future.

Table 1 - BEBR Medium Range Resident Population Projections 2010

2020

2025

412,500

475,096

505,300

Source: BEBR-Florida Population Studies, 2002

Seasonal Population Seasonal population includes persons who are visiting, and persons who live in Pasco County part of the year but whose usual place of residence is elsewhere. Seasonal population includes tourists, migrant farmworker’s, and other short-term visitors. Obviously seasonal population will vary from one month to another. The adjusted average of the 2003 BEBR estimated population for unincorporated Pasco County was 79,288 persons.

Elderly Population Pasco County's population is generally older than the State as a whole. However, according to the U.S. Census, the median age for the County dropped from 47.9 years in 1990 to 44.9 years in 2000. Twenty-seven percent of the population is age 65 and over, which is 10 percentage points higher than the State. The large elderly population does cause increased pressures on local government. Facilities for health care, congregate living facilities and senior centers must

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be provided. Also, the elderly have different housing unit requirements than families. One-and two-bedroom units may be all that is needed. Additionally, many of the elderly live in mobile homes, which represent 19 percent of Pasco County's housing stock.

Age Distribution The following table summarizes the 1990 and 2000 age distribution: Table 2 - Age Distribution AGE 1990 0-5 14,514 5-19 41,262 20-44 77,062 45-64 57,470 65-74 53,270 75+ 37,553

% 5 15 27 20 19 13

2000 18,134 58,024 96,626 79,578 44,644 47,759

% 5 17 28 23 13 14

Source: 1997 -2004 Pasco County Evaluation and Appraisal Report, September 21, 2004

Racial and Ethnic Groups Pasco County's largest ethnic/racial group is Non-Hispanic White which represents over 94.9 percent of the population. Hispanics, all racial groups, make up 5.7 percent of the population, and Non-Hispanic Black persons are 2.3 percent of the population. ethnic/racial groups is not significant.

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The number of other

Areas of Minority Concentrations (AMC) The minority population is generally clustered in the northeastern sections of the County. The following Census Block Groups meet the definitions of AMC's. For location criteria refer to Map 1 in the Appendix. Table 3 - Areas of Minority Concentrations General Area Dade City CCD Dade City (city/part) Dade City North CPD (part) Lacoochee CCD Dade City North CPD (part) Lacoochee CPD

Total Population 14,624 6,188 3,009 5,526 310 1,345

% Non-Hispanic Black Population 15.2 24.2 10.4 10.1 14.5 24.2

%Hispanic All Racial Groups 24.7 15.8 59.0 18.7 31.9 37.5

Source: U. S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census

Land Area The following table summarizes the 2003 existing land use in acres and the 2025 additional acres required. Table 4-Land Area Land Use

2003 Existing Acreage

2025 Acreage Estimated

Difference Acreage

Single Family

56,216

242,4561

+ 186,240

Multifamily

13,324

2,9872

- 10,337

Mobile Homes

24,557

20,2533

Total

94,097

265,696

+ 171,599

Commercial/Office

21,510

17,9014

-

3,609

2,505

6,7295

+

4,224

Industrial

Source: Comprehensive Plan – 2025, Pasco County, Florida

1. Includes RES-1, RES-3, and RES-6 2. Includes RES-12, RES-24, and 25% of Mixed Use 3. Includes RES-9

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-

4,304

4. Includes Retail/Office/Residential and 75% of Mixed Use 5. Includes Industrial Light and Industrial Heavy

Economic Data A majority of the statistical data included in this section was taken from the 2005-07 Pasco County Profile, Revised 7/27/07.

The Labor Force The labor force consists of workers who live in Pasco County. The latest estimate is that the Pasco civilian labor force as of January 2008 was 196,145 people, of whom about 184,717 have jobs and 11,428 are unemployed. The current unemployment rate is 5.8 percent. In Pasco County in 2007 the largest major industry sectors were Retail Trade, Health Care and Social Assistance, Local Government, Construction, and Accommodation and Food.

Table 5 - Pasco County Demographics - Employment Manufacturing Retail Financial Services White Collar Blue Collar Services Occupations Management & Administrative Marketing & Sales

4,736 20,306 6,683 60,654 68,544 29,321 27,413 11,508 14,986

Source: Demographics USA 2004, Pasco Economic Development Council

Employment Currently there are about 91,000 jobs in the County (including full-time and part-time jobs). Pasco County was ranked the 9th fastest growing county in the state and the 38th fastest growing county in the United States based on population change from July 2004 to July 2005 and was ranked #1 in the United States for job creation in the spring of 2005 with a 9.5 percent

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increase over the previous year. The U. S. Census Bureau ranks Pasco at #8 among counties with the largest number of people moving into a county. The downturn of the housing market in late 2006 and 2007 has slowed the economic growth of the County somewhat, but the long-term outlook for sustained economic growth appears good. Table 6 - Employment by Industry Workforce Region 16 – Hernando and Pasco Counties (2006) Agricultural, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting 1,153 Mining Construction Manufacturing Utilities Wholesale Trade Retail Trade Transportation & Warehousing Information Finance & Insurance Real Estate, Rental & Leasing Professional, Scientific & Technical Services Management of Companies & Enterprises Administration & Support Services Educational Services Health Care & Social Assistance Arts, Entertainment & Recreation Accommodation & Food Services Other Service (Except Government) Federal Government State Government Local Government

520 15,813 4,862 794 2,964 23,988 3,300 980 3,742 2,294 4,928 384 6,590 2,075 21,169 2,157 13,778 6,128 1,218 1,977 19,010

Source: 2005-07 Pasco County Profile, Revised 7/27/07

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Table 7 - Top Ten Major Employers Employer Location

Type of Business

School Board County Government State of Florida Pasco County Sheriff HCA-Bayonet Point

Various Various Various Various Bayonet Point

Education Government Government Government Health Care

HCA-New Port Richey Community Hospital Saddlebrook Florida Hospital Pasco Hernando Community College

New Port Richey New Port Richey Wesley Chapel Zephyrhills Various

Health Care Health Care Resort Health Care Higher Education

Number of Employees 9,002 2,245 1,281 1,149 1,000 1,000 1,000 720 708 609

Source: 2005-07 Pasco County Profile, Revised 7/27/07

Type of Employment Jobs in retail stores are more prevalent in Pasco County than in either the Tampa-St. Petersburg MSA or the State.

Those employed within the County are most likely to be

employed in retail or service jobs. The leading service industry is health care, which accounts for 16 percent of employment. Manufacturing, wholesale trade, and financial services are a smaller percentage in Pasco than the MSA or the State.

Place of Employment Forty-nine percent of the workers who live in Pasco County work outside the County. This is a much higher percentage than most counties. In Hillsborough and Pinellas, 10 percent and 13 percent, respectively, work outside the county of residence. In 1980, the percentage of Pasco workers who worked outside the County was 29 percent, so the percentage has grown.

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Table 8 - Percent of Workers Traveling to Jobs Outside the County Pasco 49% Hillsborough 10% Pinellas 12% Hernando 32% Florida 17% Source: U. S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey

Average Wages by Industry On average, the lowest paying industries in the County are retail trade and agricultural services. There is, however, considerable variation within these industries.

For instance, within the

"retail" industry, employees of new car stores earn more on average than employees of apparel stores. The "services" industry has a particularly wide range of categories within it. Services range from personal service workers ($16,390) and motels ($20,946) to health services ($41,517) and engineering/accounting/research/management services ($54,579).

Within all industries, the higher paying categories in the County (those with average annual wages above $38,000) include communications and public utilities, professional and industrial equipment wholesaling, new car dealers, securities brokers, insurance carriers, land development, computer programming services, physicians, legal services, management services, and Federal employees. Table 9 – 2007 Average Wages by Industry in Workforce Region 16 Annual pay per employee (in dollars) All industries 37,752 Agriculture 18,117 Construction 38,709 Manufacturing 37,586 Transportation/communications/public utilities 38,916 Wholesale trade 44,803 Retail trade 29,436

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Finance/insurance/real estate Services

46,758 29,827

Source: Florida Labor Market Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics & Wages Program

Table 10 - HUD Income Guidelines for Pasco County- February 2008 Income Very Low Low Median Moderate