Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at
Clearwater Christian College
Cathcart Hall
3400 Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard
Clearwater, FL
May 25, 2007
11:00 a.m.
Attending:
Jessica White, Senior Planner, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
Susan Miller, Bicycle/Pedestrian Planner, Pinellas County MPO
Bill Jonson, Chair, Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway CAC
Mary Helen Duke, Greenways & Trails Coordinator, City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
Ken Hoyt, Citizen, Hillsborough County
John Doran, Council Member, City of Clearwater
Ron Gregory, Vice President, URS Corporation
Felicia Leonard, Administrative Support Manager, City of Clearwater Parks & Recreation
Christine Commerce, Executive Director, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful
Linda Saul-Sena, Councilwoman, City of Tampa
Chris Weber, Westshore Alliance
Nina Mabilleau, Project Management Engineer, City of Tampa
Mike Palozzi, FDOT/GEC (PBS&J)
Kelli Hammer Levy, Program Coordinator, Pinellas County Environmental Management
Mr. Jonson called the meeting to order and introduced Council Member John Doran, Clearwater City Council,
as a new member of the CCSH CAC. Council Member Doran stated he has been a City Council member
since January 2005, and indicated that he was very pleased to be serving on this committee. Introductions
followed of the CCSH CAC members in attendance.
The minutes of the March 16, 2007 meeting were approved with no corrections.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena reported that an award presentation was made at the Tampa City Council meeting
yesterday to the City of Tampa and all of the eleven utilities that participated in the construction of the Utility
Service Road. The award, she believes it was given by the Florida Department of Transportation, was
presented because it is the first time, cooperatively, all the utilities and the City got together and did this project
in advance of the LINKS project. She spoke before the Council to say that the Courtney Campbell Scenic
Highway Committee is especially proud of this project because they are the group who initiated the
conversation that made the project a reality. People who wish to get from the Cypress Point Park to Ben T.
Davis Beach can use this access as part of their safe, off-road route and it will be accessible for pedestrians
and bicyclists. Because the service road was made possible through permission by the Hillsborough County
Aviation Authority, the suggestion was made to write a letter thanking them and informing them about the
award. Councilwoman Saul-Sena made a motion that the CCSH CAC recognize the Aviation Authority, and
especially Nadine Jones, for creating this award-winning utility corridor. This was adopted without objection.
Special Presentation: Mr. Jonson announced another special presentation by Kelli Levy, Pinellas County
Environmental Management, who will discuss the Safety Harbor Muck Assessment Project and associated
Penny for Pinellas funding. He explained that one of the issues discussed when originally applying for the
grant was the water quality on both sides of the Causeway and how these concerns would be addressed.
Ms. Levy reported that the Muck Study is sponsored by the Southwest Florida Water Management District,
the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Pinellas County and the Cities of Oldsmar, Safety Harbor and Clearwater.
The Study is focused on why the water quality, sediment quality and habitat quality in this area are degrading
at a much higher rate than they have in the past.
Pinellas County does most of the water quality monitoring, although the Environmental Protection Commission
of Hillsborough County has two monitoring locations within the area. Pinellas County Environmental
Management monitors water quality nine times a year, or approximately every six weeks, the parameters
measured being dissolved oxygen in the water, nutrients, chlorophyll, etc. Pinellas County reports annually
on the status and trends of surface waters in the county, also the monitoring meets the national pollutant
loading and stormwater permit requirements.
Using a map, Ms. Levy pointed out an area where the chlorophyll levels are way above normal, while dissolved
oxygen levels are good. Water clarity is also a problem.
The TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) Program is a federal program, part of the Clean Water Act, which has
been handed down to the state level. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) evaluates
every water body in to the State to determine whether or not they meet state water quality standards. If, over
a percentage of time, a water body does not meet state standards, it is termed “impaired.” When the water
body is impaired FDEP develops a TMDL, which basically says how much pollutant can be put into the water
body before it is affected. The local government must then reduce pollutant levels in that water body by “x”
percent in a given time frame. A basin management action plan, or BMAP, must then be developed showing
how pollutant levels will be reduced and the time frame in which these reductions will be accomplished. There
is a federal TMDL for Old Tampa Bay stating how much nitrogen may be introduced into that water body
annually.
Ms. Levy stated the issues surrounding the OTB TBDL came to light when several of the wastewater
treatment plants in the area began re-applying for their discharge permits. The U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency stepped in and told the state it could not issue any more permits because Old Tampa Bay had been
over-permitted for point source discharges. Following this determination, an emergency meeting was held
which included all of the environmental monitoring groups and the utilities for the purpose of discussing
alternatives since the wastewater treatment plants obviously needed to keep operating. FDEP issued a
memorandum outlining various mechanisms by which the requirements could be met, such as watershedbased individual permits. One alternative included reallocating discharge permit levels among the various
plants.
A Reasonable Assurance Plan, developed by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, basically states that all local
municipalities and all the counties have gotten together and formulated a plan to meet TMDL reduction goals.
The U.S. EPA has stated this Reasonable Assurance Plan is not acceptable, which means the Tampa Bay
Estuary Program and its partners must update to include “enforceable measures,” or EPA will invoke a TMDL.
A committee has been formed to determine the best plan of action, i.e., update the Reasonable Assurance
Plan with enforceable measures which means these requirements could be included in the NPDES permit
making it mandatory to build the treatment facilities and stormwater facilities; or do they go with the TMDL
approach where U.S. EPA will issue a document stating that Pinellas, Hillsborough, City of Tampa, etc., must
reduce nitrogen discharges accordingly and must submit a plan as to how it will be accomplished.
Ms. Levy reported that the committee is researching which way to go, but she also added that a partnershipbased approach will most likely be the way. There are both private and public sector people working on this
dealing with both point sources from dischargers (wastewater treatment plants) as well as industrial
dischargers, and nonpoint source stormwater runoff.
As part of the annual benthic monitoring program, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties collect samples in the
Bay each fall. The samples are analyzed for various chemical contaminants, such as DDT and other
pesticides, heavy metals and macroinvertebrates. As part of the OTB special muck study, USF and their
partners will be doing sediment dating and volumetric analysis trying to determine how much of the silty muck
is out there and where is it coming from.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena asked if there are peers on the Hillsborough County side who are involved in the
same thing. Ms. Levy replied there are not, at present, although representatives have been attending the
meetings to keep abreast of what is transpiring. The Army Corps of Engineers and SWFWMD are also
involved.
Ms. Levy reported that the muck is building at a very rapid rate and that sites she visits regularly every three
to four months have noticeably changed each time. The recent hurricanes have done much to stir up the bay.
She had staff out on the bay last week attempting to do water quality monitoring and they got stuck and had
to request help to get towed back in.
Next, Ms. Levy indicated the Tampa Bay benthic index which looks at the chemical constituents in the
sediments, also the metals and the benthic organisms that live there. At this time, the Bay is right on the edge
of the degraded condition which is calculated based on the relationship between the sediment quality and the
organisms that are capable of surviving in it. She cautioned that this is something we need to be very
concerned with because these organisms are at the base of the food chain and are very important to the sport
fishing entities.
With regard to hydrology, Ms. Levy referred to a residence time map which indicates how long water stays
in an area, or how long it takes to flush. Water quality is definitely related to residence time. Many solutions
have been suggested to increase flushing, including modifications to the Courtney Campbell. She noted,
however, that additional openings would not increase total “tidal momentum.”
Ms. Levy stated they also closely monitor seagrasses because they indicate how healthy the bay is. A report
from the Estuary Program indicates that in 1950 there were approximately 11,000 acres of seagrass and
currently the acreage is hovering around 5,000 acres.
In summary, Ms. Levy stated that chlorophyll and water clarity are parameters of concern, and that there is
a TMDL for nitrogen in Old Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the committee they have
assembled will have to come up with a plan to address the federal and state requirements. The existing
sediment accumulation and quality issues will also be addressed in the Estuary Program study. A great deal
more data is needed with regard to hydrology, and an update to the 1972 report is needed to even know
whether changes to any of the causeways or structures would provide a benefit. Pinellas County has
committed ten million dollars of Penny for Pinellas funds to this restoration project which will be done in
partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, SWFWMD, and the municipalities involved.
Old Business:
1.
Rocky Point Sidewalk Project - Report by Chris Weber, Westshore Alliance
Councilwoman Saul-Sena reported that the Tampa City Council approved a Ritz Carlton, which will
replace the Radisson with residential as well as hotel development, and with the prospect of more
people and more traffic, she is concerned about pedestrian safety. Chris Weber, Westshore
Alliance, indicated that the section being discussed is from the Radisson, east to Rocky Point. At
present the area is very dangerous and fatalities have occurred, therefore, the goal is to make a safe
passage from where the Radisson is now (which will be the new development) down to the
intersection. Mary Helen Duke reported there are plans for trail on this section of roadway, and it will
be studied, in part, as part of the feasibility study for the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge and
connections. She has worked very closely through the development review process to get the tenfoot wide sidewalk in front of the Ritz Carlton and also in front of the Landry’s redevelopment project.
There is a missing gap at Ben T. Davis Beach to the north and a missing gap in front of the URS
building . Mr. Weber had approached her indicating the Westshore Alliance was going to provide
some funding toward the construction of a sidewalk at a cost estimate of $26,000 from FDOT for a
510 foot linear section. Ms. Duke stated that a ten-foot wide sidewalk is preferred over the five foot,
so she has done some cost estimates, although she feels her numbers may be a little low since
safety railings are also needed. Today before the meeting, she looked at the area again and now
reports the project will probably be $60 to $70,000, just for that 510 linear foot area. This would
provide for a twelve-foot wide pathway, six inches deep, and for at least one high-visibility crosswalk
from the north side of the Radisson. She intends to recheck the plans because she believes the
Radisson had already been requested to provide for that crosswalk, therefore, responsibility would
now fall to the Ritz Carlton. When the trail connection is made in front of URS, a pedestrian-activated
signal may be needed at that location.
Mr. Hoyt recalled a conversation with Bob Clifford of FDOT at which time he termed the Causeway
a “rural road.” Mr. Hoyt stated if considerable pedestrian traffic is contemplated, FDOT would deal
with the situation by placing an overpass, never a crosswalk. There are crosswalks, but it is an
unsafe situation to have pedestrians walking across six lanes of traffic on which vehicles are traveling
in excess of 55 miles per hour. It was pointed out that it is safe if there is signalization and the traffic
is stopped. Mr. Hoyt pointed out that pedestrians do not wait for the signal to change in their favor
and many times do not even cross in the crosswalk. Mr. Weber indicated that the recent fatality
occurred because the pedestrian did not have the safety of a sidewalk between the Radisson and
Rocky Point Drive. Councilwoman Saul-Sena felt that the beginnings of a plan exist and she asked
if there was a time frame or funding. Mr. Weber reported that the Westshore Alliance planned to take
some of its special assessments to put in some pedestrian improvements. Ms. Duke reported this
is a part of the adopted Greenways and Trails Master Plan, but that there is no funding in the Parks
and Recreation budget for this purpose. As part of the $400,000 feasibility study, more detailed cost
estimates for these types of links are to be identified, as well as identifying potential funding sources
to implement those different links. At the last meeting Ms. Duke suggested making an application
for STP funds as a follow up to the feasibility study. The MPOs are currently not accepting any TE
applications, but they are entertaining projects that would have been considered to be TE.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena asked if it would be strategic to ask FDOT to come to the City of Tampa
and explain what they plan to do. Ms. Duke indicated that Michelle Greene should definitely be a
participant in that conversation. She also stated that she has had discussions about this with both
Chris Weber and with her supervisor, and she has been advised FDOT should be the construction
people because state roads are involved. Another suggestion she made was to possibly have the
CAC write a letter to the Shriners explaining the situation and ask for a meeting with key people.
Mr. Jonson recalled the meeting with Bob Clifford at which time he indicated that FDOT has no plans
and no money. Mr. Gregory stated there is enough money in the feasibility study to evaluate the
sidewalk situation. My Hoyt replied that Mr. Clifford did not appear to agree. Ms. Duke added that
this has been the contention with Michelle Greene all along, and that she (Ms. Duke) reiterated the
point many times that FDOT cannot look only at the bridge structures that are needed, they must look
at the connections as well. Mr. Hoyt suggested letting the City of Tampa and the Westshore Alliance
organize the meeting and sort through the political relationships.
2.
Update on FDOT trail feasibility study for the Courtney Campbell
Mr. Jonson remarked that this subject has already been discussed briefly and he asked if anything
needed to be added. Mr. Palozzi reported that the scope of man hours is presently being negotiated
and that the Notice to Proceed is about a month away. Mr. Hoyt asked if the CAC could inquire as
to what FDOT plans for the remaining money. Mr. Palozzi thought the response would be that it is
a feasibility study and based upon what they find, they will move on from that point. It is like a taskbased contract. The first step will be the feasibility of getting some type of pedestrian walkway or
crossing over the two bridge structures. The LPA Group was selected to do the study. They have
a small office locally, but most of the work will be done out of the Orlando office.
Felicia Leonard stated she had requested some additions to the scope because from the Pinellas side
the scope ended at McMullen Booth Road, whereas she felt it should have ended at U.S. 19 at the
Progress Energy Trail. Mr. Hoyt mentioned that Bob Clifford made it clear they were not open to that
idea. Ms. Leonard replied that they are going to have major connectivity problems on the Pinellas
side. She inquired whether it would be advantageous for the CAC to write a letter to FDOT asking
them to consider the extra connectivity piece. Susan Miller stated she had spoken to them regarding
this and was told there is no trail on the MPO plan, therefore, there is no basis for them to extend the
scope. The connection should be proposed at the MPO level first. Mr. Palozzi recommended letting
Michelle Greene get these people together.
3.
Guardrail Design Issue - Direction of the Committee
Mr. Jonson reported that after the last meeting, he went back and found historical documents
regarding the box beam guardrail design and found that the box beam was selected because it was
less visually intrusive than the chainlink fence. He suggested to the group that whatever crash barrier
FDOT believes is appropriate is probably acceptable even if it is not box beam. Mr. Palozzi had a
conversation with the gentleman who runs the resurfacing program at FDOT, and he stated that he
has recommended for the new fifth year of the Department’s work program to put in a resurfacing
project on the Hillsborough side for approximately a mile and a half. Assuming that project stays in
the Work Program, an opportunity would be presented for the CAC to coordinate the Department
regarding the guardrail, at least for that section of roadway. Mr. Jonson asked Mr. Palozzi to keep
the group appraised of the options being considered.
New Business:
4.
Brochure copies request
Mr. Jonson reported that the visitor’s center on the Courtney Campbell has requested additional
copies of the brochure. Originally, the brochure was printed on a color copier, and he feels this
should be upgraded, and in connection with that, it is time to re-contact the sponsors to confirm that
they wish to continue to be a sponsor. The founding sponsors will be listed as such because they
were founders, but the others should be contacted.
Christine Commerce asked to give an update on what was collected along the Courtney Campbell during the
Great American Cleanup. Between the volunteers they had at the boat ramp and the Tampa Bay Parrotheads
there were 178 volunteers who collected 4,342 pounds of trash. She had been planning to do a cleanup in
July because of a request from last year regarding trash left from Fourth of July activities. After speaking with
the City of Tampa she was told they were already working with the Mayor’s Beautification Program to do a
cleanup program. Regarding the Adopt-A-Shore program, the Tampa Bay Parrotheads have adopted a threemile section of the Causeway, and one mile east of the boat ramp has also been adopted.
Mr. Jonson stated if there is no further business the meeting will stand adjourned. The next full meeting will
be held Friday, July 20, 2007.
Next Scheduled Meeting: Friday, July 20, 2007, location to be determined