Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at
URS Corporation
th
7 Floor Board Room
7650 West Courtney Campbell Causeway
Tampa, Florida
February 8, 2008
11:00 a.m.
Attending:
Christine Commerce, Executive Director, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful
Chris Weber, Director of Transportation, Westshore Alliance
Gabor Farkasfalvy, Project Manager, Florida Department of Transportation
Michael Palozzi, FDOT GEC Support, PBS&J
Bill Jonson, Chair, Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway CAC
Ken Hoyt, Citizen
John Doran, Councilman, City of Clearwater
Shannon Niles, Transportation Planner, PBS&J/FDOT
Bonnie Pfuntner, Public Involvement Manager, The LPA Group
Jessica White, Senior Planner, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
Susan J. Miller, Bicycle/Pedestrian Planner, Pinellas County MPO
The minutes of the December 3, 2007 meeting were approved with no corrections.
Old Business:
1.
Update report on the FDOT Cross Causeway Trail Feasibility Project
Gabor Farkasfalvy reported that the schedule has been revised slightly which will cause them to be a
bit later than originally planned. This delay is due to a number of reviews that have been programmed
into the schedule, including Federal Highway review and the bridge project questionnaire in addition to
agency reviews. The review period is a mandatory thirty work days, or six weeks of review time.
FDOT will get to the reviews after the public meetings are held. The documents have been submitted
to the department and have been reviewed and FDOT has determined the documents are of sufficient
quality to be presented to the public. The public involvement process has begun and will entail two
public meetings. Michelle Greene will coordinate with Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena since it was
agreed that there will be one meeting on the Pinellas side and one on the Hillsborough side.
Clearwater Christian College has been tentatively selected as the Pinellas County location, but it will be
contingent upon official approval by FDOT. Once the meeting date and time are set the
announcement is sent out twenty-one days prior to that date. Ms. Pfuntner stated they will run three
advertisements, one in the Florida Administrative Weekly thirty-five days prior and then again twentyone days prior. An ad will be run in the St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune twenty-one days and
then seven days prior. The newsletter mailout will also be sent so it is received twenty-one days prior
to the meeting. Mr. Farkasfalvy stated they have a Public Involvement Plan (PIP) which has been
signed by Bob Clifford, and will be available shortly. Also, he spoke with Jerry Oshesky, Project
Manager with The LPA Group, and together they are proposing that LPA will post it on their FTP site.
An e-mail will be sent with a link to the site. Mr. Jonson asked how the PIP would get out to the people
with a higher interest, e.g., those involved with the Trail, as opposed to simply interested citizens. Mr.
Farkasfalvy explained that this is accomplished through giving those people the FTP access, therefore
allowing them to review the PIP before the public meeting.
Mr. Farkasfalvy began giving the CAC members an advance look at what is in the report by referring to
the previous meeting and the term “fatal flaw,” which would be something that would bump this to a
higher level of report. If Federal Highway agrees that this project is a Type 1, then FDOT can proceed,
however, if they disagree then a full PD&E study will have to be done. He stated they have only one
issue standing between a Type 1 and a higher level project and that is the issue of the Coast Guard.
The consultant is preparing a bridge project questionnaire that will be sent to Federal Highway,
because even though the bridge and the navigable waterway under the bridge are Coast Guard
jurisdiction, this is a federal project and the Federal Highway Administration has the authority to declare
whether or not a Coast Guard permit is required. The requirement for a Coast Guard permit is not
desirable because it will push the project up to a Type 2 and therefore necessitate a PD&E study. He
feels confident in convincing Federal Highway that the project is good as it stands.
Mr. Jonson asked about the completion date for the public involvement period and the review. Mr.
Hoyt added the final report availability. Mr. Farkasfalvy indicated the final report will be available in
September, worst case. Mr. Jonson confirmed that after the final report is issued, Federal Highway
has an opportunity to declare the project a Type 1, at which time the project would proceed to the
design phase. He also inquired about the $400,000 which was to be used for the fatal flaw, or
feasibility analysis, with any funds left over going toward the design phase. Mr. Farkasfalvy stated
there would probably be some money remaining but not enough to fund the entire design phase. He
also reported that the final report will contain a phasing strategy.
Ms. Miller stated there is a Pinellas County MPO meeting in March and she suggested she talk to Brian
Smith regarding giving a short presentation to the MPO to bring them up to date on this project. She
also suggested the same thing be done for the Hillsborough County MPO, and then members of both
MPOs could be invited to the respective public meetings. Mr. Palozzi added that the CAC members
should be certain that the other interest groups hear about the meetings as well.
Discussion ensued regarding a date for the next CCSH CAC meeting. It was decided to meet again on
Friday, March 14, with the time and place to be determined.
2.
Update on Sponsors
Mr. Jonson reported they have received a very generous renewal contribution from PBS&J of $2,500
for a platinum sponsorship. He stated the CAC should be contacting its other sponsors as well, and
also recognizing the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council for its continued support even though they
receive no money.
3.
Distribution of Courtney Campbell Brochure
Mr. Palozzi reported the brochure is complete and he brought a box of 500 with him for distribution as
the CAC deems appropriate. Mr. Weber stated he would take some for display at the Westshore
Alliance offices. Mr. Jonson reported that the major distribution is at the Tourist Welcome Center. Mr.
Palozzi suggested they determine a way to use the back cover as a marketing tool in order to fund the
next printing of the brochure.
New Business:
4.
Review of Goals and Objectives
Mr. Palozzi emphasized the need for the CAC to review its Goals and Objectives at least once a year
to determine what has been accomplished, what items remain ongoing and what needs to be added or
deleted. Mr. Jonson suggested the group should update the Goals and Objectives on the website to
indicate “completed,” etc. The annual reports, operating policies and the signage have all been
accomplished.
5.
Corridor Master Plan Concept
In relation to the Goals and Objectives, Mr. Palozzi indicated that he has had an opportunity to work
with several other scenic highway groups around the state, and he has noticed that as these groups
become designated and develop goals and objectives and strategies, there is a need for something
more which he refers to as a Master Plan. For example, he heard from some people living in
Clearwater who had noticed that the planting materials being installed on the west side were slightly
different from those being installed at the other end. This is a good example of something that would
be built into a master plan. Even though there are multiple local governments involved, they have all
bought into the same planting palate, the same color palate, etc., which provides for more continuity
throughout the entire corridor. Mr. Jonson pointed out that state funds are available for beautification
plantings because there is a requirement for 1.5 percent of all construction dollars to be spent on
beautification, but it is assumed that there is local government willing to maintain the plantings.
Christine Commerce announced that Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful is doing a sea oat planting on
Saturday, March 1, at the Courtney Campbell boat ramp. They did one in the fall at which time they also
planted trumpet vine and beach sunflower. Check in time is 9:00 a.m. with the project starting at 9:30 a.m.
The Great American Clean-Up is coming up on April 19. She reported they also placed two monofilament
tubes at the Courtney Campbell Causeway which they plan to monitor to determine impact on the area. Ms.
Commerce related that they filled a garbage bag with monofilament from the surrounding area at the time they
installed the tubes.
Mr. Farkasfalvy inquired how many citizens were expected to attend the public meeting. Ms. Pfuntner replied
they are planning for at least two hundred. He thought perhaps some of the photos could be displayed so
people can get an idea of what it will look like once the trail is built. Mr. Palozzi added that they should have
pictures of the meetings themselves for the files.
Mr. Jonson reiterated that the group had decided to meet again on March 14, and he inquired whether they felt
an April meeting was also needed, or could they wait until May. Mr. Palozzi offered that the important issue is
what Mr. Farkasfalvy and Ms. Pfuntner brought to the meeting today and whether they felt they would have
something to bring to the CAC for an April meeting. Mr. Hoyt suggested no meeting until May unless it is
determined at the March meeting that an April meeting is necessary. Mr. Johnson suggested that meetings be
set for May, July, September and November. It was decided to set the meetings for the second Friday of the
designated months.
Next Scheduled Meeting: 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 14, 2008 at URS Corporation