Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at
Clearwater Christian College
Cathcart Hall
3400 Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard
Clearwater, Florida
July 20, 2007
11:00 a.m.
Attending:
Jessica White, Senior Planner, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
Bill Jonson, Chair, Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway CAC
Terry Wild, Vice President, Clearwater Christian College
Laurie Potier-Brown, Landscape Architect III, City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
Susan J. Miller, Bicycle/Pedestrian Planner, Pinellas County MPO
Felicia Leonard, Administrative Support Manager, City of Clearwater Parks & Recreation
Mary Helen Duke, Greenways & Trails Coordinator, City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
Ron Gregory, Vice President, URS Corporation
Michael Palozzi, FDOT GEC Support, PBS&J
Michelle Greene, Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, Florida Department of Transportation
Linda Saul-Sena, Councilwoman, City of Tampa
Chris Weber, Westshore Alliance
The minutes of the May 25, 2007 meeting were approved with no corrections.
Old Business:
1.
Rocky Point Sidewalk Project Meeting – Report by Chris Weber, Westshore Alliance
For background purposes, Mr. Weber reiterated that they are looking at a pedestrian connection
between Bay Harbor Drive and Rocky Point Drive in order to improve safety for those who wish to
cross the Courtney Campbell Causeway. A meeting was held on June 22, with good representation.
Linda Saul-Sena and Mary Helen Duke were there from the CCSH CAC and Bob Clifford from FDOT.
Mr. Weber thought Ms. Duke could address some of the available options.
Ms. Duke reported that the meeting was held with representatives of the Shriners who stated they are
open to exploring the available options, however, most appeared to feel the best option would be a
side path-type trail facility along the roadway. She also reported that she has done some rough cost
estimates for the various scenarios that might take place and that one of the good things resulting from
the meeting is that FDOT will do the design and more specific cost estimates. The first option is the
side path trail with the kneewall, without any crosswalk enhancements, the cost would be roughly
$87,000. The next option would be to boardwalk the drainage swale, which would be about the same
price range, but there would be maintenance issues to consider with boardwalking. This option is not
one recommended for this particular location. Another option would be a box culvert, which would be
very expensive and, therefore, not practical considering funding restraints. Ms. Duke felt some very
positive things came out of that meeting, although the Shriners felt they would not be able to contribute
any funds to the project, but, if needed, they would be willing help with an easement. They felt it would
be best to provide them with a presentation containing as much information as possible before it is
taken to the Shriners board.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena offered an idea for funding, based on the Tampa City Council meeting of
last night. The Council voted to change the Westshore Areawide DRI (Development of Regional
Impact) to allow money to be spent on pedestrian or transit improvements. She thought it would be
prudent for the CAC to write a letter to the City of Tampa thanking them for amending the Westshore
DRI so that money can be spent on pedestrian and transit improvements within the scenic corridor
because the funds are desperately needed to make these improvements. Mr. Weber stated they have
a special assessment that currently funds traffic cameras, etc., but they are hoping to use some of
those funds for pedestrian improvements. The problem is the Westshore pedestrian plan is focused
on the central business district where some of the City attorneys feel it has to stay. They are looking at
the central business district as a pedestrian plan, and they are also doing a study, to be funded through
the special assessment, to do the pedestrian plan for the entire Westshore area which will include
Rocky Point. Once the funding is received, the next step will be to have FDOT come up with a design
that Councilwoman Saul-Sena can present to the Shriners at their board meeting. Councilwoman
Saul-Sena suggested a follow-up letter from the CAC thanking everyone for attending the meeting and
asking Bob Clifford if work could be started on the drawings. Mr. Jonson asked if it should be cosigned by the Westshore Alliance, but it was decided the Westshore Alliance would also write a letter.
Some discussion ensued after which it was determined that Councilwoman Saul-Sena will speak with
Bob Clifford and the Shriners and the Westshore Alliance will send the letter to FDOT. The letter will
urge FDOT to proceed to completion of the set of plans for the project.
2.
Presentation on the Courtney Campbell Causeway Colorification Project by Laurie PotierBrown, City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
Ms. Potier-Brown began by giving some background on this project, the design of which began in
January 2007 with completed installation planned for November 2007. The project limits are the
western edge of the City from the first bridge up to Rocky Point Drive. The design process started with
a site analysis during which time it was decided to remove the oleanders and wax myrtles, but to keep
every palm possible. She has created a “Florida friendly” plant material list for FDOT which she
submitted to John Simpson and requested his comments. All of the plants are salt and wind tolerant,
sun-loving and xeric since they are not planning to put any irrigation out there. A tropical appearance is
achieved by using colorful plant material. Installation began on the western edge of the City limit which
is at the foot of the bridge and then moved eastward. There is a continuous design on both sides of
the roadway from the bridge up to the boat ramp. Because of the many existing tall palms, they have
added a lot of lower-story canopy trees that are very colorful and light, and also a shrub massing on the
ground for the purpose of low maintenance. In addition to landscape materials they are also adding or
repairing benches, providing new trash containers, and they are providing defined parking areas in the
high use areas. In keeping with the “Florida friendly” theme the parking spaces will be outlined with
timbers that will be rebarred deep into the ground so they will not float away during high storm events.
The spaces will also be filled with crushed shells, and, additionally, an edge along the planting beds
that bump up to the service roads is also going to be crushed shells. The City received five bids for the
project, all of which were good, with the low bid coming in at $193,665. FDOT has provided $150,000,
so the City of Tampa will pay the difference. Demolition begins on August 6, 2007.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena suggested that the cooperative effort between City of Tampa and FDOT on
this project should be publicly acknowledged with a press conference or outdoor event in November
upon the completion of the landscape project. Discussion at the September meeting could begin the
planning process.
Discussion of possible new signage ensued and Ms. Duke reiterated that the new signs did not get
funded. Felicia Leonard reported that the City of Clearwater has just finished a set of interpretive signs
at Bay View Park which is located on the Clearwater side by McMullen Booth Road. She stated they
are beautiful and show beach wildlife, mangroves, etc.
3.
Presentation on the Westshore Mobility Strategy by Ron Gregory, URS Corporation
Mr. Gregory provided handout copies of the slide show and also a copy of the written draft strategies
that have come out of the study. He has a recommended strategy implementation plan, the first item
of which was to revise the City’s impact fee ordinance, which is already in process. He requested that
if any of the CAC committee members have comments regarding the strategies or the implementation
plans to please supply them to URS by next Friday since they must provide the draft to the MPO’s
standing committees. Mr. Gregory stated this is a cooperative study between the MPO and the
Westshore Alliance specific praise to Chris Weber and Ron Rotella. The study, which began in
February, is a take-off from the pedestrian plan which was completed a couple of years ago. The idea
is to get away from strictly vehicular improvements and strategies for non-vehicular and move to
identify those areas that need attention in the future and then prioritize them. One of the goals of the
study is to form the framework for the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Notice of Proposed
Change process that Westshore is in at the present time. They inventoried all of the previous studies
and incorporated all of those concepts and ideas into their work. The key findings from reviewing that
work was that there is a tremendous emphasis on accessibility and circulation, also the issue regarding
access to destinations within the Westshore area. There appears to be a number of un-funded
pedestrian improvements, as well as bicycle/pedestrian. There is a need to orient development toward
transit, particularly the issue about removing orientation along the thoroughfares and placing them on
the back side where transit corridors could be established. An example would be the area between
Westshore Boulevard and Trask Street from the Interstate north to Boy Scout Boulevard. A survey
was mailed out by URS and also sent electronically by the Westshore Alliance to all of its members
and the business management people of the various buildings. There was a dedicated website for the
survey which received good response. The survey was conducted from the end of April to mid-June at
which time the results were analyzed. The survey was fairly complicated and involved three different
ways to approach completing it: 1) If you only work in Westshore; 2) If you live in Westshore but work
somewhere else; and 3) If you live and work in Westshore. URS received a total of 268 responses.
The average commute time of those surveyed was 30 to 45 minutes, indicating that Westshore is a
regional hub. Residents of the area indicated a 10 to 20 minute commute to their jobs, and most of
those who drive, drive alone. The majority of respondents reported they never walk or bike within the
Westshore area, indicating speeding cars, personal security issues, lack of bike lanes and crossing
signals among the conditions inhibiting these activities. Eighty-eight percent (88%) believe traffic
congestion is an issue in Westshore. Survey respondents indicated enhancements that would
encourage them to take other modes of transportation would be pedestrian overpasses, sidewalks,
crosswalks and signalization. URS developed some draft strategies in conjunction with the MPO and
the Westshore Alliance, and initially there were two phases, 20/20 and 20/30, then they added 20/50
and then 2009, the reason for 2009 being that there were strategies that are easily able to be
implemented short-term. The strategies have been categorized into types: policies which need to be
amended or revised, services, program changes, infrastructure and tangible product. They hope to
have a formal report by November.
4.
Update on FDOT trail feasibility study for the Courtney Campbell
Michelle Greene reported the consultant has been selected (LPA Group) with the Notice to Proceed
issued at the end of June. Councilwoman Saul-Sena asked if the consultant could be present for the
September meeting of CCSH CAC. Ms. Greene indicated that would be possible, and even though
they may not have a great deal to report, at least they could provide some direction regarding the data
collection process.
There being no further business, Mr. Jonson adjourned the meeting.
Next Scheduled Meeting: Friday, September 21, 2007, location to be determined.