Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at
URS Corporation
7th Floor Board Room
7650 West Courtney Campbell Causeway
Tampa, Florida
October 12, 2007
10:00 a.m.
Attending:
Ken Hoyt, Citizen Rep for TBRPC
Andrea Barber, Program Coordinator, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful
Chris Weber, Director of Transportation, Westshore Alliance
Michael Palozzi, FDOT GEC Support, PBS&J
Felicia Leonard, Administrative Support Manager, City of Clearwater Parks & Recreation
Susan J. Miller, Bicycle/Pedestrian Planner, Pinellas County MPO
Ron Gregory, Vice President, URS Corporation
Bill Jonson, CCSH CAC Chairman
The minutes of the July 20, 2007 meeting were approved with no corrections.
Old Business:
1.
Interim report on the FDOT Cross Causeway Trail Feasibility Project
Mr. Palozzi provided some background information stating the department and the Courtney Campbell
Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC) were awarded close to a half million dollars to do a feasibility
study. The scope is to, at least, investigate the feasibility of getting pedestrian access across the main
span bridge on the causeway. The FDOT has recently selected a consultant, LPA Group out of
Orlando, to do the feasibility study. This study is just getting underway. The project manager at FDOT
is Gabor Farkasfalvy, the assistant project manager is Michelle Greene. The study is projected to take
approximately one year or less and is currently in the data collection phase. Mr. Palozzi handed out the
first project newsletter which provides the current status of the project. There will be a public workshop
which is projected to take place in January or February 2008, but no exact date has been set.
Mr. Palozzi stressed that is important for the CAG to take an active role in providing input to the study.
The CAC’s Goals, Objectives and Strategies indicated that a major issue of importance is gaining a
pedestrian facility the length of the corridor. He suggested that it was important that all CAC members
are added to the study mailing list so that they receive future project notifications. The group discussed
how to best ensure this happens. Mr. Palozzi distributed copies of the first project newsletter to all in
attendance. Mr. Gregory pointed out that they could do another mailing since there is nothing really
time-sensitive in this newsletter. Also, he added that having looked at the consultant’s schedule he
assumes they will use the second newsletter to announce the public meeting. Mr. Jonson asked if the
CAC could request a copy of their mailing list. Mr. Palozzi advised that the CAC contact Mr.
Farkasfalvy to inform him that none of the members of this group have received the newsletter and
because they feel it is important, the CAC is willing to share its distribution list. Mr. Gregory agreed
and recommended the notice be sent via e-mail with copies to Michelle Greene, Bob Clifford and Linda
Saul-Sena. Mr. Palozzi felt that the first e-mail should state that the newsletter says to contact the
project manager and/or Marian to be placed on the mailing list. If the first request receives no
response, then another e-mail could be sent copying those formerly mentioned folks.
Mr. Jonson re-stated the two actions he had taken: 1) To respond back to the consultant that the CAC
has a mailing list and suggests it be included for the mailing of the newsletters; and 2) that the CAC
would like to see the Public Involvement Plan and provide comments on it.
Mr. Hoyt expressed concern that seventy-five days after the go ahead was given there is no substance,
which means all of the remaining work on the project is going to have to be done in the time remaining.
Mr. Gregory referred to a letter from Bob Clifford as a response to the meeting held at URS regarding
the study team examining the trail in front of the Shriners’ facility. The letter states FDOT shares the
CAC’s vision and will continue to work closely with all of the CCSH partners as the study moves
forward. Now it appears that the very people who attended that meeting were not on any list to receive
the newsletter. Mr. Gregory felt the letter from Mr. Clifford is completely out of touch with what is going
on by his team. Mr. Palozzi mentioned that the consultant has now been provided a link to the Scenic
Highway Designation document. He gave the consultant the website and suggested they download it
and read it, so they would know the Goals and Objectives and Strategies. Mr. Jonson stated he would
like to request a special meeting with the project manager and the consultant within the next thirty
days. The other members of the group agreed that this would be highly desirable. Mr. Gregory added
that a discussion needs to be held with them regarding what they are and are not going to examine.
Also, he felt Linda Saul-Sena should be present since the information gleaned from such a discussion
would be valuable to her in her role as councilwoman. Mr. Gregory stated the timing of this is very
important, and he proceeded to report that Chris Weber with the Westshore Alliance is working with the
MPO in Hillsborough County to do a complete update expansion of the Westshore Pedestrian Plan to
include bike and pedestrian for the whole district, including the Rocky Point area. The issue of the
connectivity of this area to Westshore and to Clearwater is very pertinent because they are now going
to take their original pedestrian plan, expand it through the entire Westshore district and include the
bicycle issues. In January, the Hillsborough MPO will kick off that effort under the auspices of the
Westshore Alliance. Mr. Palozzi questioned whether the consultant is aware that this effort is taking
place. Mr. Hoyt expressed the belief that the consultant should be coming to the CAC for information
and background data.
Mr. Gregory recommended that Councilman John Doran, the new
representative from the City of Clearwater attend that special meeting as well. Mr. Jonson stated a
Hillsborough County representative should also be present, as well as one from the City of Tampa.
Susan Miller reported that the Pinellas County MPO approved adding into their trailways plan the
section from McMullen Booth over to the Progress Energy Trail, which will complete the connection to
their tail system.
Mr. Jonson stated he would draft a letter and give Mr. Hoyt a copy. He will also contact Manny
Pumariega of the Regional Planning Council to give him an update.
2.
Update on the Scenic Highway Brochure
Mr. Palozzi reported that over the last few months, PBS&J graphics staff and Felicia Leonard’s (City of
Clearwater) staff have gone back and forth communicating in an attempt to finalize the brochure. Mr.
Palozzi stated the most significant changes are indicating available restroom facilities on the map and
the inclusion of a small map of Florida so that out-of-state visitors will be able to locate the Courtney
Campbell Scenic Highway more easily. The Grand Hyatt is a CCSH sponsor and their affiliated
restaurant, Oyster Catchers, is listed as well. Mr. Palozzi indicated that Bahama Breeze was removed
since they are not currently a sponsor, and it is felt one of the functions of the brochure is that of a
marketing tool for the sponsoring businesses. Once these minor edits are made, he will have about
500 copies printed to be distributed to area businesses, information booths, etc.
New Business:
3.
Annual Report to the Florida Scenic Highway Program
Mr. Palozzi distributed copies of this year’s Annual Report for the members to read through and keep
for their files. He informed the group that the format and the numbers and types of pictures that are
inserted are set by the Program. The two questions the Program requires be responded to are 1) What
has been done during the reporting year and 2) Are the goals, objectives and strategies still what the
CAC wants them to be.
Mr. Hoyt asked whether a copy of this annual report could be supplied to Gabor Farkasfalvy, the
project manager for the grant feasibility study, since the goals, objectives and strategies are clearly laid
out in this document.
Mr. Jonson mentioned there is a State Scenic Highways coordinators meeting being held on
Clearwater Beach in November, and he has been invited to represent the CCSH CAC to give a brief
update. He thought it would be a good idea to have the annual report available for handouts and also
give an update regarding the status with the FDOT Trail Project. Also, he asked permission of the
group to discuss at the coordinators meeting the differentiation between Scenic Highways and Heritage
Roads, which are not necessarily scenic but significantly historic. He feels that because Heritage
Roads fall under Scenic Highways the issue can become confused, and he feels the solution would be
for the State to modify the legislation to have either Scenic Highways or Heritage Roads. Mr. Gregory
voiced a difference of opinion. He related that there is a white paper developed for central office
support of FDOT concerning what is termed linear resources, and the state has been grappling with the
issue of linear resources within the cultural resource field, e.g. historic sites, archeological sites, etc.
The whole issue of linear resources is extremely complex from a policy and administrative standpoint,
but FDOT has taken the lead. The historic designation “Heritage” is one of four processes of
identifying linear resources in the historic sense. Having read the white paper, Mr. Gregory feels the
Courtney Campbell qualifies under at least two of the categories. Several of these designations would
embrace trail enhancements within it as supportive. He stated there is very little money in Scenic
Highway designations, but there is an almost unlimited amount of money for Section 106 and 4F, which
would make available a much more well-funded source of opportunity. Mr. Gregory suggested asking
the FDOT, both the District and Central Office, to study the corridor for designation. This would make
the corridor eligible for money to enhance the corridor, plus it would afford both state and federal
protection which are not the same as Scenic Highway. Mr. Jonson’s concern was that the Courtney
Campbell would lose its “Scenic” designation, but Mr. Gregory assured him that the designations are
two separate things with separate statutes. He explained that CCSH could promote the scenic
highway function while tapping into the protection and funds of the federal state program that is
unavailable to scenic highways.
Mr. Jonson referred to a “Letter to the Editor” item he brought with him in which a citizen complains
about the lack of maintenance on the service road on the Courtney Campbell which is part of the trail.
It was written by a man named Bob Paul, and Mr. Jonson mentioned he knows a Bob Paul who is the
code enforcement officer for the City of Clearwater. He has put in a call to Mr. Paul to ask if they are
one and the same. Mr. Gregory stated this topic could be passed along to FDOT’s maintenance crew
since it is their responsibility.
Mr. Jonson asked for any other topics for discussion. Andrea Barber mentioned they have a new
Adopt-a-Shore group on the Causeway, the University of Tampa Environmental Protection Coalition,
making a total of three groups. During the Coastal Clean Up there were 539 volunteers that worked on
the Courtney Campbell Causeway alone and they picked up an estimated 6,954 pounds of trash.
There was a planting project held on September 29 at the boat ramp at which time 100 beach
sunflowers and 400 sea oats were planted. This project was supported by the Parks and Recreation
department and the Kimley-Horn Foundation.
There being no other business, Mr. Jonson adjourned the meeting.
Next Meeting: Friday, November 16, 2007 at URS Corporation