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Tracking County Moves

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 15, 2008

LEISURE BEACH - Steve Byle never has been afraid to tell the Pasco County Commission - or anyone else - what he thinks of them or what they're doing.

The 47-year-old Leisure Beach resident, who has a law degree but is not licensed to practice in Florida, has become a regular at Pasco County public meetings since he made the county his residence in 2006, giving his two cents when the opportunity arises.

Byle, who is a small-business consultant specializing in corporate tax issues, now wants others to know more about how the county commissioners vote. He has set up a Web site, Pasconians for Change, to record what he considers key decisions.

The county Web site, www.pascocountyfl .net, publishes annotated minutes for each meeting, showing who initiates decisions and how members cast their votes.

Byle, a registered Democrat who has not ruled out a run for office in Pasco County, said he intends to highlight the policy changes, approvals and denials he thinks deserve more attention.

"I believe this is going to be a critical year," he said, noting three of five commissioners are up for re-election this year, and it is a presidential election year. "Somebody should be documenting the key votes."
Byle has not voted in a general or primary election since 2004, when he was registered in Pinellas County, his voting records show. He conceded he is being somewhat hypocritical by criticizing leaders he did not elect.

He also said he has used his legal background to file lawsuits, such as a pending challenge of town houses in his community, against the county commission.
Byle argues the "average Joe" doesn't have time to attend meetings, and newspapers don't do enough reporting on what county commissioners do. He says he is going to track the commissioners' votes, if, for nothing else, "to let them know somebody's watching."
Byle supports most of what his resident county commissioner, Jack Mariano, does, he said, but he has a problem with other commissioners, who he says do not question their staff attorneys enough.

"I think the board has gotten a little out of control," he said. "I feel the county attorney's office has taken over. I think the board has checked its common sense at the door."
Byle cited the commission's recent refusal to discuss its own decision to affirm vested rights for the Gulf Landings development in west Pasco County. The decision allows the landowner, Daniel Borda, to build a nine-story structure and other developments in the works for decades without a formal Development of Regional Impact review.

At a recent county commission meeting, Byle held up a map he said Chief Assistant County Attorney Barbara Wilhite should have presented to the board when recommending Gulf Landings have its vested rights affirmed.

The map spells out the number of units and other key information about the development.

Commissioners refused to discuss the issue because another resident has filed a legal challenge of the Gulf Landings decision.

"You can't talk about vested rights when the issue is whether your own lawyer led you down the primrose path?" Byle said.
Byle also questions why the county commission has not adopted a wildlife ordinance and why an environmentally sensitive lands ordinance now addresses wetlands.
Byle said he hopes his Web site, www.PascoPFC.com, will provide a platform for other residents to weigh in on issues.

"I'm gonna help bring these issues to the forefront," he said. "Maybe I'm naïve, but I hope it raises awareness. Who knows, it may work. It couldn't hurt."

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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