Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at
URS Corporation - Board Room
7650 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway
Tampa, Florida
April 8, 2005
9:30 a.m.
Attending:
Courtney Orr, Vice President/Government Affairs, Clearwater Chamber
Ron Gregory, Vice President, URS
Jessica White, Senior Planner, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
Bill Sanders, Executive Director, Keep Pinellas Beautiful
Lee Royal, Community Liaison, Florida Department of Transportation
Ebe Bower, Vice President/Tourism, Clearwater Regional Chamber
Tim Kurtz, Senior Landscape Architect, City of Clearwater
Mike Palozzi, FDOT/GEC (PBS&J)
The Honorable Linda Saul-Sena, Councilmember, City of Tampa
Jim Valentine, Superintendent, City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m. Introduction of attendees
followed.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena announced that CCSH CAG has gained two founding sponsorships at the
$2,500 level, subsequent to the cocktail party held in February. They are TBE Group (Tampa Bay
Engineering) on the Clearwater side of the Causeway and Impact Group who is developing a
Weston Hotel at Ballast Point. The funding has enabled the CCSH CAG to compensate the Tampa
Bay Regional Planning Council for its work and support. Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated she plans
to approach the City of Tampa for support because she feels it is appropriate for the governmental
entities to also contribute as members, in addition to the private sector.
At this point, Councilwoman Saul-Sena asked everyone to take a moment to look at the minutes
from the March 11, 2005 meeting. The minutes of the March 11, 2005 meeting were approved with
no corrections.
Old Business:
1.
Final Designation Document Approval Status Update
Mike Palozzi reported that April 22 is the date the SHAC (Scenic Highway Advisory
Committee) will review the document and make comments. The CCSH CAG will respond to
those comments and the document will go back to Tallahassee as a final and be submitted
to the Secretary of Transportation for approval. He thought there would be approximately a
month between submitting the final document and the Secretary sending back a letter of
designation. Councilwoman Saul-Sena asked Mr. Palozzi to report back to Jessica White on
April 23 as to the outcome of the review in order to determine whether the CCSH CAG
needed to meet again to do some work. Mr. Palozzi stated he did not believe there would
be any significant changes, but he did feel there would be discussion with the SHAC on the
issue of Comprehensive Plan modifications and making sure that coordination effort is under
way with local government to ensure that there is a Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
discussion within the local governments. Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated that it is in the
Hillsborough County Comp Plan, and she asked if it was too late to provide additional
information. Mr. Palozzi felt they will probably get approval contingent upon that language
being in the Comp Plan. Hillsborough has been working very hard on this effort, and he
suggested the group encourage Pinellas County to be certain they are as diligent.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena requested Jessica White get in touch with Brian Smith to convey
this information, and she also suggested that it might be helpful to Pinellas County to have
the language used by Hillsborough County.
2.
Status Discussion of Trail Maintenance Issues (continuation of the discussion from the March
11 meeting)
Ms. Lee Royal stated she has contacted Harvey Hunt regarding the Trail maintenance issues
and he has indicated that the maintenance crews will maintain the existing facility,
however, the capability, funding, etc., for new pavement is not available at this time. At the
last meeting the option was presented to do some type of study to segment out different trail
components along with the bridge with regard to drainage issues and a variety of other
concerns. FDOT has done a study of this nature on U.S. 19 in Pasco County, and is currently
conducting a similar study on Dale Mabry in Hillsborough County. The purpose of the study is
to determine the best places to install sidewalks to accommodate future enhancement
projects. She suggested that it would be helpful for the CCSH CAG to have a similar study so
it can move forward and begin seeking various types of funding. At the last meeting the
group discussed transportation enhancement funding, statewide, and Ms. Royal indicated
this was the best option for the CCSH CAG. She stated that the first step to accomplishing
this is to get the project into the long range transportation plan as a need, move it forward
through the Chairmen s Coordinating Committee (the regional transportation planning body
for this area) and have it prioritized as the number one regional project. FDOT would then
work with the CCSH CAG on submitting it to the state enhancement office for funding. There
is not a lot of money available--only $5 million per year for the entire state. The fact that the
project is regional is a big plus. Councilwoman Saul-Sena added that they would, hopefully,
have designation by that time which will be another plus. Ms. Royal mentioned the National
Scenic Byways Program, which is a federal discretionary program. It is not a regular
allocation given to the state, but a grant program which she printed off the Internet to give
to the group for consideration. Councilwoman Saul-Sena thought perhaps the CCSH CAG
could use planning money from the MPOs. Ms. Royal agreed that was a possibility and
stated that Hillsborough MPO set aside money to do the study for Dale Mabry using
enhancement funds. She told the CAG that her group handles the Bicycle and Pedestrian
Programs for the District. They are in the process of identifying gaps in sidewalks and have
done a full inventory of the District to determine where their bike lanes are designated and
they are doing this identification for the five-county area. Also, they are looking at shareduse pathways within the District making regional connections. The Courtney Campbell
project would fall into this category. There are many corridors in the District and FDOT will
work with the CAG in moving this project forward. She does not have a special funding
source, but what they are focusing on right now is sidewalk gaps. Ms. Royal stated that
currently each MPO is in the process of developing their priority list for the next work program
cycle, so now is the time to approach them with this project, even if it can be funded only in
segments. Mr. Palozzi added that Hillsborough and Pinellas did not have to be on the same
schedule and he suggested that the CCSH CAG come up with a plan on how to market it to
the appropriate MPO. Ms. Royal indicated that as soon as the MPO determines its priority
and commits a certain amount of money toward it, then she can program it.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated that she would be responsible for the Hillsborough County
MPO to ensure the Courtney Campbell project gets into their planning schedule.
3.
Brochure Subcommittee Report
Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated that Kelly Jordan (PBS&J) pulled the brochure together with
better pictures and better copy. Mr. Palozzi agreed, but feels it can be better yet. He stated
that more photos have been obtained and he has revised text. Once it is decided that the
brochure is completed, the group will need a printer for the document. Mr. Palozzi indicated
that the next step for the subcommittee is to begin discussing distribution and use of the
document.
New Business:
5.
LINKS Update
Mr. Palozzi stated that the bid protest is still underway, but the hearing has been delayed, as
was expected. He felt there was nothing new to report. Councilwoman Saul-Sena felt that
when things get dragged out in this manner, it gives the CCSH group time to potentially
$catch up# in terms of having plans that can be integrated into the construction when it
occurs.
The City of Clearwater was complimented on cleaning up the public beach area on the Pinellas
side, making it much more hospitable for family-oriented activities, and eventually, for Trail users. Mr.
Bill Sanders expressed disappointment during their spring clean-up because a toll was being
charged and he had forty-five volunteers turn around and leave. Two weeks prior to the clean-up
date he had visited the area and no toll was being charged at that time. Mr. Kurtz suggested that
perhaps next year Mr. Sanders could be given the name of the parking director who would most
likely be able to issue vouchers.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena thanked everyone for coming, and stated if there was no other business,
the meeting was officially adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
Next Scheduled Meeting: Friday, May 13, 2005, 9:30 a.m.