Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at
URS Corporation - Board Room
7650 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway
Tampa, Florida
September 8, 2006
10:00 a.m.
Attending:
Jessica White, Senior Planner, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
Mary Helen Duke, Greenways & Trails Coordinator, City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
The Honorable Bill Jonson, Council Member, City of Clearwater
The Honorable Linda Saul-Sena, Councilwoman, City of Tampa
Christine Commerce, Executive Director, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful
Mike Palozzi, FDOT/GEC (PBS&J)
Ron Gregory, Vice President, URS
Council Member Jonson asked that his title be corrected from Vice Mayor to Council Member. With that
change, the minutes of the August 4, 2006 meeting were approved.
Old Business:
1.
Tampa Bay Estuary Grant Application
Mary Helen Duke stated she would place a call to Jane Washington to find out the cost of a project
in east Tampa which placed poems into the sidewalk. Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated that project
was a public art project which cost approximately $15,000, but she felt there are less expensive ways
to go since those poetry panels were done in granite. Ms. Duke also reported that she had spoken
to Jim Valentine regarding putting tiles on the restroom walls at Ben T. Davis Beach, and he felt that
could not be done because the building is a pre-fab and the process would be complicated. He did
say they could explore placing something in the concrete as long as it was a skid-resistant type of tile.
Mr. Palozzi asked whether the city would allow a stand-alone mosaic structure, something that would
be framed to hold the tiles in it and then have a structure to hold it up. Councilwoman Saul-Sena
mentioned benches at a park in Tampa where the backs are mosaics set in concrete and are really
quite lovely. She offered to make a call to inquire what the cost of the benches was. Ms. White
reminded the group that the grant was for $7,500. Council Member Jonson added that this is the
amount of the grant, but it also requires a match. Mr. Palozzi inquired what the schedule was for the
completion of the Ben T. Davis Beach project, since the grant application is due October 1, 2006. Ms.
Duke stated she had not brought her notes, but the buildings should be demolished within this fiscal
year and the playground will done last. She added that she has found an artist who does beautiful
line art drawings of animals, etc., and who would be able to do renderings of fish and birds on tiles.
Mr. Palozzi thought that could be a possible back-up plan to that of proceeding with the contest idea
since the timing is going to be critical. Ms. Duke suggested asking the artist to do a proposal for six
fish line art drawings and six avian line art drawings. Ms. White added that if this was to be part of
the grant, the fish and birds would have to be native to the area. Christine Commerce stated that,
with regard to the contest, what Keep Hillsborough Beautiful had done in the past is contact a
particular school rather than an entire school district. Mr. Palozzi stated he has a phone call in to the
Pinellas County school system, namely the magnate school, Perkins. Ms. White felt they ought to be
looking at older children to participate in the contest if the grant application will be under education
so that the pictures will accurately illustrate the fish and birds they represent. Councilwoman SaulSena felt the CAC could be somewhat vague on this grant application by saying they plan to do
inserts into the sidewalk which reflect the local flora and fauna, the design of which will be developed
in conjunction with the International Academy of Art and Design. The inserts will have to be of a
material that is non-skid since they will be wet much of the time. She also added that $7,500 is not
very much money. Ms. Duke stated that $7,500 would buy the Trail gateway sign, with the
interpretive map and tile work at the bottom. The CAC unanimously decided to do the sign rather
than the sidewalk art. Since there will be match funds, Ms. Duke expected the entire sign, including
all the graphics and the concrete base, would cost approximately $10,000. Council Member Jonson
read from the grant application instructions, which state, “Matching funds are not required, but
proposals showing matching fund commitment through in-kind services, such as volunteer hours, will
receive special consideration.” Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated that the City of Tampa will donate
the installation of this sign. Ms. Duke appears to be the logical person to complete the application.
Ms. White stated she would be glad to lend assistance. Ms. Duke also added that she will need
approval from her administration to go with the gateway sign concept, but she felt confident that this
would not be a problem. However, if the administration does not give approval, the back-up plan
would be to use interpretive signage which will have similar information, but will not be on such a
grand scale.
2.
Scenic Highway Annual Report
Mr. Palozzi refreshed everyone’s memory by reiterating that the Scenic Highway program requires
that each corridor prepare a summary report for the year which is due on October 2, 2006. There are
about thirty questions on the form, the answers to which will reflect the progress each Scenic Highway
has experienced over the past year. He has begun to develop responses to these questions which
are indicated on the handouts. Mr. Palozzi asked that everyone look over the questions and add
information or make other suggestions. Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated it is important to include the
fact that the Courtney Campbell has been included in the huge list of Greenways and Trails for the
region that was developed by the Chairs’ Coordinating Committee (CCC). Ms. Duke supplied the
wording by stating “The West Tampa Greenway Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail is the number
three priority for Hillsborough County projects in the Regional MPO Chairs’ Coordinating Committee
Multi-Use Trails Map.” Ms. Duke added that the CAC should be certain the Courtney Campbell is on
the state Office of Greenways and Trails opportunities map. She also indicated Item #4 and stated
that the City of Tampa owns part of the corridor in the Ben T. Davis Beach area, and FDOT is going
to be handing over some more land as well. Councilwoman Saul-Sena asked whether anyone knew
if HARTline has been successful in securing a bus stop because there has been an increased
emphasis on express buses from Hillsborough to Pinellas County. She felt a bus stop here would be
significant because it would allow people to get off the bus and potentially enjoy the sights along the
Causeway. Council member Jonson stated that there is a bus stop, but no way to get from the bus
stop to any place significant. Mr. Gregory reported that the stop is located where there is no sidewalk
and there is also an open ditch which presents a hazard. Ms. Duke questioned Mr. Gregory as to
whether he had spoken with Bob Clifford at FDOT regarding pedestrian improvements at that
intersection. Mr. Gregory stated he planned to address this under New Business, and believes the
CAC should ask Lee Royal to attend an upcoming meeting regarding pedestrian safety issues. He
also mentioned the CAC at one time had talked about Harvey Hunt putting some of the trail pieces
on his list for rehabilitation and maintenance. It was decided to invite both Lee Royal and Harvey
Hunt to the October 20 meeting, and Councilwoman Saul-Sena asked Ron Gregory if he would attend
that meeting also. Responses to other questions were briefly discussed, including the improvements
at Ben T. Davis Beach, and Ms. Duke indicated they should definitely mention that close to 100
people attended the dedication ceremony. Councilwoman Saul-Sena suggested that under Item #34,
the CAC again brag about the inclusion of the scenic corridor as part of the Chairs’ Coordinating
Committee Regional Greenways Map. Ms. Duke added they could also say they are exploring the
feasibility of adding a blue-way trail connection as part of the State of Florida Saltwater Paddling Trail
to the Rocky Point area. Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated the CAC should invite as part of this group
a representative of the bird watching community. She has just become aware of how high their
numbers are in terms of tourism.
New Business:
3.
Sponsor Recognition Plaque for the Tourist Information Center
Council Member Jonson stated the CAC had decided to give the sponsors space on a plaque at the
Tourist Information Center at the Clearwater side of the Causeway. He has visited a few of the
award/trophy shops in the area and has discovered a wide variety of options, and he told the group
he would take care of acquiring the plaque.
4.
Volunteers for the 9/16 Causeway Clean-Up
Council Member Jonson reported that he is scheduled to attend a Suncoast League of Cities meeting
in Dade City on that day. Christine Commerce reported they have 166 people already signed up as
volunteers. Councilwoman Saul-Sena offered to cover the Clean-Up for the group. Check-in will be
at the boat ramp at 8:00 a.m. Ms. White volunteered to be there also.
Next Scheduled Meeting: Friday, October 20, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.