Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at
URS Corporation - Board Room
7650 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway
Tampa, Florida
January 13, 2006
10:00 a.m.
Attending:
Jessica White, Senior Planner, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
The Honorable Bill Jonson, Vice Mayor, City of Clearwater
Christine Commerce, Executive Director, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful
Ken Hoyt, Member, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
Susan Dutill, Planner, Pinellas County MPO
Ned Baier, Transportation Division Manager, Hillsborough County
Karen Harris, Director of Transportation, Westshore Alliance
Courtney Orr, Vice President/Government Affairs, Clearwater Chamber
Michelle Greene, Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, Florida Department of Transportation
The Honorable Linda Saul-Sena, Tampa City Council
Tim Kurtz, Senior Landscape Architect, City of Clearwater
Mike Palozzi, FDOT/GEC (PBS&J)
Mary Helen Duke, Greenways & Trails Coordinator, City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
The recommendation was made to include Josie Rivera in the “thank you’s” for the success of the Dedication
Ceremony, since she was the one who organized the whole event. With that correction, the minutes of the
December 9, 2005 meeting were approved.
Old Business:
1.
Member Sponsor Status and Solicitations
Vice Mayor Jonson stated that they have received a check for $2,500 from PBS&J. He added that
he and Karen Harris met with Ron Rotella at the Westshore Alliance. Mr. Rotella was very generous
in sharing the information regarding their members, but he pointed out that they are a non-profit and
their board would not appreciate raising money for other non-profits at the same time. Ms. Harris
stated that she and Vice Mayor Jonson discussed doing kiosks or suggesting to the WSA Leadership
Group to build the kiosks as their project for the year. Christine Commerce, KHCB, announced they
will be installing three new kiosks paid for through a grant from FDOT, one of which will be at the
Courtney Campbell Causeway. She offered to display the CCSH brochure at that location.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena asked whether any of the hotels, etc., rented bicycles since she is
promoting eco-tourism as a member of the Tourism Development Council, and she felt any of these
rental venues would be a logical place to have the Courtney Campbell literature. Mr. Hoyt stated all
the attention so far appears to be focused on the east end, and he inquired as to what was being
done on the west end. Vice Mayor Jonson indicated that the Tourist Information Center was there
and that the group hoped to place brochures, as well as the plaque recognizing CCSH sponsors at
that location. Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated she would take brochures to the hotels along the
Causeway, including Rocky Point, and pitch membership. The suggestion was made to update the
sponsorship list to include PBS&J as a platinum sponsor. Regarding the plaques recognizing
founding sponsors, Vice Mayor Jonson mentioned that they will cost approximately $50 to $80 for an
8-1/2 x 11 size, and he asked the group if this is something they felt should be done. The group voted
to proceed with designing and ordering the plaques. Councilwoman Saul-Sena suggested giving
plaques to Don Skelton and Bob Clifford of FDOT as recognition for their participation. Mr. Hoyt
suggested presenting these plaques at the MPO Chairmen’s Coordinating Committee meeting.
2.
Trail Issues:
a.
Tampa & Clearwater typical trail cross sections
Vice Mayor Jonson reported that he had spoken to Felicia Leonard, but she had a conflict
today and could not attend the meeting. Ms. Leonard told him that the city prefers an asphalt
trail with flat concrete curbs, but he feels that since it is FDOT right-of-way that their
standards ought to apply. Ms. Duke stated that the Trail will have to cross city property, as
well. She added that the cross section discussion also included things like light standards,
benches, trash receptacle replacement and amenity replacement. Mr. Palozzi agreed that
it will be necessary, as grant/enhancement applications are prepared, that the CAG be able
to show exactly what is being proposed. Councilwoman Saul-Sena suggested putting this
responsibility in the hands of a landscape architect and having them come up with a
proposal. It was pointed out that the cross section of the Trail is different from the
landscaping or amenities and that for the Pinellas Trail the amenities have mostly been a
donation opportunity. Mr. Tim Kurtz pointed out that site furniture and amenities are a
collective effort between their bicycle coordinator, landscape architect, planning, etc.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena asked that a subcommittee be formed to look into this process.
Ms. Duke stated that other committees on the Clearwater or Pinellas side probably need to
be brought into landscaping/amenities process. On the Tampa side, the Westshore Alliance
has strong interests in terms of what things look like. It was agreed that a technical group
should be formed. Vice Mayor Jonson asked if one of the technical people could take action
to organize that group. Mr. Kurtz stated he would speak with their bicycle coordinator. Mr.
Hoyt asked if the premise is to get the basic trail in and then work with others. He felt a
baseline should be established that says what the Trail cross section and approach is going
to look like, then from a funding standpoint, it will have to be broken up into sections or,
alternatively, get the Trail itself in and then work with smaller organizations to get individual
pieces of the amenity suite. Mr. Palozzi suggested that Ms. Duke facilitate organizing the first
discussion to determine how different everyone’s specifications are at this point, and come
up with a proposal that is reasonable.
b.
Development of task list for approval of approach
The grant application is pending and FDOT is requesting support letters be submitted to
Michelle Greene, FDOT, within the next week. Councilwoman Saul-Sena had copies of one
from Westshore Alliance as an excellent example of what is needed. Vice Mayor Jonson
agreed to draft one to be submitted by the CAG. Ms. Lee Royal, FDOT, has directed that the
application was to address a feasibility study for the bridges only. The study is more than just
bridges, but application must be specific as to what else is being put in, and then the scope
of work must be written after that.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena reported that a very important event will be taking place on
February 10, the day of the CAG’s next meeting. It is a Green Cities Conference, and she
felt the CAG meeting should be changed so she and others on the committee would be free
to attend. Mr. Hoyt suggested moving the meeting back a week, which would be Friday,
February 17. The meeting date change was agreed upon by all.
New Business:
3.
Review FDOT list of Florida State Scenic Highways
There are more than thirteen scenic highways in the state of Florida that have not been updated on
the state website, and some of these scenic highways have received major funding. Since the
funding matrix was difficult to read, Vice Mayor Jonson asked Ms. White to email a copy to the group.
Ms. White obtained information on the Tampa Bay Estuary grant which is funded by the Estuary
license plate revenue. Mr. Palozzi stated that the group needs to assess its short-term goals and
choose a very measurable effort that can be put together into a grant. Interpretive signage was
suggested. Ms White stated that last year the Estuary Program had few applicants for the funds, and
she felt the CAG would probably stand a good chance for receiving funding.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena informed the group that she will be attending the MPO Chairmen’s
Coordinating Committee meeting to update them on what is going on with Courtney Campbell in order
to keep it fresh in their minds because the CAG needs them as advocates.
Vice Mayor Jonson asked if there was anything else to discuss at this time. Councilwoman Saul-Sena
stated she would e-mail everyone the Green Cities information. The meeting was adjourned.
Next Meeting: Friday, February 17, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.