Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at
URS Corporation - Board Room
7650 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway
Tampa, Florida
July 29, 2005
9:30 a.m.
Attending:
The Honorable Bill Jonson, Vice Mayor, City of Clearwater
Courtney Orr, Vice President/Government Affairs, Clearwater Chamber
Mike Palozzi, FDOT/GEC (PBS&J)
Ron Gregory, Vice President, URS
Michelle Greene, Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, Florida Department of Transportation
Mary Helen Duke, Greenways & Trails Coordinator, City of Tampa Parks & Recreation
Susan Dutill, Bicycle/Pedestrian Planner, Pinellas County MPO
Tim Kurtz, Senior Landscape Architect, City of Clearwater
Christine Commerce, Interim Executive Director, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful
The Honorable Linda Saul-Sena, Councilmember, City of Tampa
Gena Torres, Senior Planner, Hillsborough County MPO
Vice Mayor Jonson called the meeting to order. Introduction of attendees followed.
The minutes of the May 13, 2005 meeting were approved with no corrections.
Old Business:
The designation letter was mentioned and the suggestion was made to scan the letter and send it to all
the CCSH CAG. Since Jessica White maintains the original files, Mr. Palozzi indicated that he would
speak to her regarding scanning and distribution.
1.
Dedication Ceremony Schedule
Mike Palozzi reported that he had been in contact with Central Office and their consultant and was
told there really is no set protocol for the ceremony. It can be planned any way the group chooses
to go. They did, however, encourage caution with regard to the elected officials list to be certain
no one is left out. Central Office asked that they be kept in the loop during the planning and
offered help in inviting people, i.e., the new Secretary of Transportation. Mr. Palozzi felt there is a
list of issues to discuss, one of the most important being setting a date. He felt a subcommittee
would be a good idea since after the date is chosen, an invitation list needs to be made along with
a mail out list, a location needs to be chosen, refreshments, etc. The CCSH CAG had previously
discussed holding the dedication ceremony outside in the fall, perhaps October or November so
the weather will be more comfortable. Mr. Palozzi also added that the group should form a list of
target sponsors to help fund the event. Councilwoman Saul-Sena felt that an outside event in
October, probably at the boat ramp, would be ideal. She also recommended inviting some folks
from Tallahassee and asked who would be appropriate. The dates of October 10 or 14 were
suggested, at the boat ramp from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Councilwoman Saul-Sena reiterated
the need for a subcommittee to work out details, and indicated she would be willing to serve on it
and work with the Westshore Alliance. Vice Mayor Jonson agreed that he would extend an
invitation to Attorney General Charlie Crist and Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated she would invite
Congressman Jim Davis. The question was asked whether there will be an actual ribbon cutting
or the unveiling of a sign. Mr. Palozzi remarked on the process involved to get a sign and
recommended a ribbon cutting, and hope for a sign. On the subject of invitees, Councilwoman
Saul-Sena stated that all of the CCSH CAG members would be invited, plus everyone else they
can think of, i.e., the Aviation Board members and all of the appropriate political people. Mr.
Gregory stated the group needs to contact Ron Rotella of the Westshore Alliance, since he would
be able to send out an announcement to that membership. It was agreed this is a good idea,
since most of the sponsors the group will seek are most likely members of the Alliance.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena expressed the need to have some boards with very large print
identifying key things the CCSH CAG would like to see happen in the future, such as the
improvement of Ben T. Davis Beach, bicycle connections, etc. Mr. Palozzi indicated the need to
put together a press packet complete with goals and vision. Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated she
would take this on, but she will need a spectacular picture for the front cover. Mr. Palozzi asked
whether Westshore Alliance or the Clearwater Chamber have members who are photographers
and would be willing to take pictures for them in exchange for having one of the pictures appear
on the cover of the brochure.
2.
Additional Sponsor Solicitations
Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated that she will meet with Ron Rotella of the Westshore Alliance,
since she feels he is the key to sponsor solicitations on the Tampa side. Vice Mayor Jonson
indicated he will contact the chair of the Hillsborough County Commission because the CCSH
CAG does not have a commissioner in the group. Councilwoman Saul-Sena stated that
Commissioner Kathy Castor believes she is the BOCC representative on the CCSH CAG and she
will speak to her about it and also request some financial support. Mr. Palozzi stated he believes
the people who attended the cocktail party are the basis of the list of sponsors and he feels that
notification should be sent out to them that designation as a scenic highway has been received,
since they will most likely want to make a contribution and participate at the dedication ceremony.
3.
Brochure Finalization
Mr. Palozzi reported that the brochure looks very good, but he feels the businesses, restaurants,
etc., indicated on the map by numbers should be approached for contributions since they will
receiving a great deal of publicity once the brochure is printed and distributed. Another issue he
raised is that Coopers Point Environmental Resource Center and the Suncoast Welcome Center
are highlighted on the map, but there is no address, no operating hours and he felt more
information would make it more user-friendly. The suggestion was made to change Rocky Point
to say $restaurants, office complex, hotels, apartments,# and then list the sponsors on the back.
Another suggestion was to have a picture of a person bicycling on the maintenance service road.
Mr. Gregory recommended getting a digital image of the brochure that can be loaded on people s
websites. Mr. Palozzi stated that once the group is happy with the brochure, they will need to find
a printer and Mr. Gregory suggested Pride, which is the printing business run by prison inmates.
Their quality is excellent and they are very inexpensive. The contact person at Pride would be
Susan Schaeffer. Time is running short, so changes, picture additions, etc., need to be made in
timely manner.
4.
Designation Signs
Mr. Palozzi has talked to Kevin Dunn, FDOT District Seven, who is in charge of signage, and he is
aware that there is a policy on what signs should look like. Mr. Dunn was planning to schedule a
visit to go out and determine where the signs could be placed according to FDOT policy. There
will be two to three signs placed on the Causeway, and Mr. Palozzi is tracking the ordering
process and schedule. Ms. Duke stated that the Mayor s Beautification Program is doing a great
job in terms of getting corporate sponsorship for interpretive signs, and possibly they could do one
on the scenic corridor designation and perhaps highlight the reasons why it was chosen as a
scenic corridor, in terms of the conservation areas, etc. This would not be simply signage, but an
information kiosk. The Tampa Bay Estuary Program s low power radio system was mentioned as
something that might be implemented. Vice Mayor Jonson said that he will follow up with them.
5.
Comp Plan Updates Status
Mr. Gregory confirmed that all of the comp plans had to be updated by July of 2006. He asked if
the plan is to have the Trail designation in the Comp Plan. Vice Mayor Jonson stated it would be
the visions, the map and the goals in each one, and he has spoken to Clearwater and they are still
in the process of putting this in their update.
New Business:
6.
Pathways Grant Award
Ms. Susan Dutill reported that MPO Chairmen s Coordinating Committee met in June and passed
a resolution to recognize the designation, support the strategies and approve the funding for a
feasibility study for the Trail. FDOT will definitely accept an application for a statewide
enhancement grant. Vice Mayor Jonson remarked that this is definitely an accomplishment to
highlight at the dedication ceremony.
7.
Goals and Objectives - Other Short-Term Initiatives
Mr. Palozzi handed out copies of the Goals & Objectives. He proceeded to highlight some of the
most important Goals:
Goal 1, Objective c, ii. - Monitor Tampa Bay Estuary Program research. One thing associated
with this is the radio broadcast, mentioned earlier, which he feels the group must continue to work
on.
Goal 3, Objective b - Maintain membership of the CME (Corridor Management Entity) and meet a
minimum of four times per year. Seek out long term funding strategies.
Goal 5, Objective b - Establish the Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway as a tourist point of
interest. Strategies include maintain a link between the Scenic Highway website and that of the
Chambers, Cities, and State sites; distribute Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway brochures at
tourist centers; and promote CCSH through regional Convention Visitor Bureau and local
Chambers.
The Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway does have a website and Jessica White has recently
updated it. She would appreciate comments. The web address is www.courtneycampbell.org
and should be listed on the brochure under $How to find us.#
Goal 7, Objective b - Participate in the Hillsborough County MPO Livable Roadways Committee to
develop a gateway concept for the Causeway.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena thought it would be a good idea to have a representative from both the
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority attend a
meeting to relate what they are doing in terms of transit across the bay. Mr. Gregory stated the
issue of bus stops and their locations had gotten bogged down with complications.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena indicated that she would take the bus stop issue to the Livable
Roadways Committee and to the MPO. Mr. Palozzi suggested that Goals & Objectives be a
standing item on the CCSH CAG agenda.
Ms. Duke addressed Goal 6, Objective a, iv. - Promote connectivity of the Courtney Campbell
system to the Hillsborough County and City of Tampa Greenways and Trails system (north and
south). This is a Turnpike Authority project and they have agreed to study trail connections to the
north. She feels it would be appropriate for the CCSH CAG to send a letter to the Turnpike
Enterprise. Councilwoman Saul-Sena thought it would be a good idea to have a representative
from HARTline and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority become members of the CCSH CAG.
Vice Mayor Jonson suggested approaching Ken Hoyt regarding becoming a member of the
group, since he is leading the Regional Planning Council s Regional Transit Roundtable project.
Vice Mayor Jonson asked if everyone was in agreement to hold the next meeting on Friday, September 9.
Everyone was in agreement. He then asked the group to choose a time for subcommittees to meet.
Councilwoman Saul-Sena suggested Friday, August 26, at 10:00 a.m. to noon for the Events
Subcommittee. Vice Mayor Jonson adjourned the meeting.
Next Scheduled Meeting: Friday, September 9, 2005, 9:30 a.m.