Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at
URS Corporation - Board Room
7650 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway
Tampa, Florida
March 21, 2003
8:30 a.m.
Attending:
Ned Baier, Hillsborough County
Katie Cole, Clearwater Regional Chamber
Chris Cook, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful
Susan Dutill, Pinellas County MPO (for Brian Smith)
Jim Gilman, URS Corporation
Jeannie Keene, Westshore Alliance
The Honorable Bill Jonson, City of Clearwater Commissioner
Mike Palozzi, PBS&J
The Honorable Jan Platt, Hillsborough County Commissioner
Laurie Potier-Brown, PBS&J
Jim Valentine, City of Tampa Parks Department
Jessica White, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
Bill Jonson, CCSH CAG chair, called the meeting to order at 8:45 a.m.
The minutes of the January 24, 2003 meeting were reviewed and approved with no corrections.
Old Business:
Eligibility Document - Status Update
Mr. Palozzi, PBS&J reported that the Scenic Highways Advisory Committee (SHAC)
recommended approval of the CCSH Eligibility Document. The SHAC is comprised of several
government agencies, including Visit Florida, Federal Highway Administration, Department of
Environmental Protection, Department of Community Affairs, Department of State, Department
of Transportation, and others. The Committee is advisory to the DOT Secretary, and their
recommendation will go to him within the next week or so. Assuming the Secretary signs-off on
their recommendation the CCSH CAG should receive a letter within the next several weeks
acknowledging acceptance of the application.
During the conference call with the SHAC, Mr. Palozzi noted several comments and questions
the SHAC had regarding the application. There were two questions/comments he told the
SHAC the CAG would move forward on and address in more detail. The first, centered on
Chapter 3 and the original letter sent by the SHAC to the CAG which listed 8 or 9
questions/issues. The SHAC is asking the CAG to consider issues from the original letter as the
group develops the Corridor Management Plan. Suggestions included addressing the Least
Tern population that nests along the Courtney Campbell in a few areas along the west end. The
SHAC felt some focus on this would be an interesting topic to address for educational outreach
and would fit in as a component of one of the goals that deals with environmental sensitivity or
public education. Regarding Chapter 6, Goals and Vision Statement, the SHAC encouraged the
CAG to build measurable tasks or sub-goals into each of the goals.
Mr. Palozzi stated the SHAC was pleased with the document the CCSH CAG pulled together
and are happy to have the group move on to the next level.
Mr. Jonson stated that in the initial comments provided by the SHAC they suggested the CAG
not include the commercial section on the east end of the Causeway. He asked if the subject
was brought up during the conference call. Mr. Palozzi stated it did come up, but it came up as
a question regarding how the limits of the corridor were determined. Mr. Palozzi stated he
brought up the discussions the CAG has had regarding the two end points, and by the end of the
discussion, which focused on the need for connectivity (i.e. trails, corridors, access, LINKS
project), the subject did not come up again.
Mr. Palozzi suggested that as the group moves forward it needs to be sensitive to the original
comments letter and to make sure that as the CAG submits future documents that it is able to
show in the document how the original comments were addressed.
Mr. Jonson recommended that once the group receives the formal letter that the CAG issue a
press release.
LINKS Update
Mr. Palozzi stated he had spoken with Elaine Illes to get an update on the landscaping issue.
Her reply was that there is still no contract for the landscape architect. That means the
presentations for discussions on landscaping in this area have been postponed. She also stated
there is a tentative date, June 19, for the LINKS I Public Information meeting and that DOT
hopes to present landscape plans at that meeting. Elaine also stated it is the intention of the
landscape architect to meet with the CCSH CAG prior to that meeting.
Jim Gilman, URS, stated his group presented their plan for their segment of the LINKS project,
which is located south of the interchange to the end of the Courtney Campbell, this week to the
Design Review Committee. In attendance was Post Buckley and their landscape architect, John
Toner with Akistics. Mr. Gilman stated it is true Mr. Toner does not have a contract and that his
firm is not large enough to absorb the costs of providing a design until DOT can set up an
authorization and release some money. DOT would like him to proceed, but because of their
internal procedures they are having trouble releasing money for Mr. Toner to start his work. Mr.
Gilman stated he suspects either Post Buckley will have to bring in their own landscape
architects for the design or they will have to release some of their money to Mr. Toner because
he is not in a position to proceed on his own.
Mr. Gilman then stated URS presented their 60% landscape plan including a candidate plant list
and a candidate layout. Wilson Stare, City of Tampa and John Simpson, DOT were present,
and quite receptive of the plan with only a few minor comments. Mr. Gilman stated, with Jane
Burmer’s concurrence, URS will need to get copies of the plan to the group doing this segment
of the Causeway so there will be some consistency with the plans.
At the same meeting Mr. Gilman stated a discussion took place he felt would be of interest to the
CAG. One of the items in the Tampa Interstate Study, Urban Design Guidelines, identified as a
unifying element throughout the entire interstate system in Tampa, is roadway lighting. The style
of lighting that is being used in our segment, and also in Post Buckley’s segment, is a mongoose
fixture–a vertical poll with a fairly short horizontal mast arm and a fixture attached to that. In the
downtown interchange area they are using standard DOT roadway lighting. He stated he asked
why they were doing that, and the answer was because the downtown interchange is considered
an interim improvement and it was decided that it wasn’t necessary for them to comply with the
Guideline’s improvements aesthetic requirements for roadway lighting. Mr. Gilman stated he
didn’t think this was a good idea, and felt it was a red flag for anyone involved in that project. He
encourages those involved in the project to pay close attention and be vigilant, because other
similar decisions could be easily made with aesthetics being laid aside because of a short
schedule or because of budget shortfalls.
Mr. Gilman also reported that Mr. Simpson, DOT, is interested in seeing some low walls for
aesthetic purposes, not necessarily tiered retaining walls at the base of structural retaining walls,
but some topographic relief for visual interest. He suspects what may be recommended is a
keystone segmental retaining wall system similar to what is on the entrance parkway to Tampa
International Airport. This was brought up because it could be considered a unifying element
and may be brought up to PBS&J when they have their meeting.
Mr. Jonson stated the next action on the part of the CAG will be to have a meeting with the
landscape architect after the contract is in place and to attend the June 19th LINKS I Public
Information meeting.
Technical Subcommittee Update
Ned Baier, Hillsborough County, stated that since the Eligibility Document has now been
approved he and Brian Smith, Pinellas County MPO, will need to focus on updating the Intrinsic
Resources and the Background Assessment sections for inclusion in the final document. These
sections include traffic counts and accident statistics which need to be brought up-to-date.
Unrelated to the Technical Subcommittee Update, Katie Cole of the Clearwater Regional
Chamber of Commerce, asked at what point may the group begin to publicize Courtney
Campbell as a scenic highway. She stated the Clearwater Regional Chamber is putting out a
map and wondered if the Causeway could be listed that way. Mr. Palozzi responded they need
to wait until it is officially designated a scenic highway, and that should occur sometime after
submission of the final document, the Corridor Management Plan.
Web Site Update
Jessica White, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, reported that suggestions from that last
meeting regarding links have been included on the Links Page. In addition, an events page was
added and the first posting was the Great American Clean Up. She asked the group to e-mail
her at jessica@tbrpc.org with other dates and information for important events or meetings that
relate to the Courtney Campbell. She stated she and the TBRPC Information Systems Manager
would start working on the interactive page discussed at the last meeting which would allow
visitors to send e-mail requests or questions regarding the CCSH, or to fill out a questionnaire
regarding their desire to participate or support the program in some way. This particular task will
be completed by the next meeting.
CCSH Video Presentation Update
Katie Cole, Clearwater Regional Chamber, reported since Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena has
been re-elected they will now be able to spend some more time finishing the video. URS has
been shooting some B-roll, but they haven’t had time to work on the script. Ms. Cole will be
leaving for a month starting April 18th, so if the scripted portion is not finished by the time she
leaves that will need to be picked up by someone else so it is ready for the next meeting. In
addition, Ms. Cole volunteered to pull together an action list for the public communications
campaign by the next meeting.
A question was raised asking, now that the Eligibility Document has been approved will that
change some of the wording in the script? Ms. Cole stated the text’s intent was written to
encourage support for final designation. The video script was written to serve two purposes,
1) to educate; 2) to gain support.
Commissioner Jonson asked, since the group is spending so much time and effort on the video
perhaps the language should be revised so the video can continue to be used after designation,
not just to get us to designation. Mr. Palozzi agreed, and stated the script should encourage
people to support the scenic highway, as opposed to just supporting its designation.
Review and Refine Corridor Goals, Objectives and Strategies
Commissioner Jonson stated he did not have any update to the Corridor Goals, Objectives and
Strategies. He suggested waiting until the Eligibility letter is received from Tallahassee to see
what it has to say. If there is anything it can be addressed then.
Corridor Management Entity - Operating Procedures Review
Commissioner Jonson had one editorial comment on page 2, item 8; change “and in his
absence...” to “and if absent...” Also, item 22 on page 3, should text be added about the
Council retaining the minutes? It was decided that item 1 on page 1, which states, “The CAC
records for the program will be maintained by the Council,” covers that concern.
Chris Cook, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful, stated she had two comments, the first being
her organization’s name should be changed to “Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful.” In
addition, she thought it would be important to have the Chair and Vice Chair’s responsibilities
outlined and submitted in conjunction with these Operating Procedures. Ms. Cole, Clearwater
Regional Chamber, stated items 10 through 15 covered many of the Chair’s responsibilities at
this point. Mr. Palozzi suggested adding the text “the Chair and Vice Chair’s responsibilities will
be reviewed on an annual basis” to allow for changes to be made as program responsibilities
change. Ms. Cook, KHCB, recommended adding the following text to item 4, page 1, second
sentence, “Both may serve indefinitely, but must be re-elected annually, and duties reviewed.”
Mr. Palozzi asked, once designation is received, who will be allowed to speak for the CCSH?
Commissioner Platt stated it should be the Chairman.
Mr. Baier, Hillsborough County, asked if there was a time limit on the agreement with the CME,
presently the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Commissioner Jonson stated the CAG
petitioned the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to be the CAG’s Corridor Management
Entity and they accepted that role subject to the development of the Operating Procedures. Mr.
Baier asked if some text needed to be added to the Operating Procedures allowing for
termination of the agreement, if necessary. Mr. Gilman stated since it is not currently addressed
in the Operating Procedures, doesn’t mean it cannot be addressed later, if something comes up.
It was agreed nothing would be added. The group accepted the Operating Procedures as
amended.
Review CAC Draft Membership List
Commissioner Jonson asked if the listed organizations should make up the voting membership.
The group agreed to the list. He then asked the group for alternates, in the event the named
member is unable to attend a meeting, the listed alternate will represent the organization and
have voting rights. It was asked if there can be two alternates. The answer was yes, however
there is only one vote per organization, so if the designated member and both alternates are
present for a meeting only the designated member may vote. The first alternate votes if the
designated member is not present, and the second alternate may vote only if both the
designated member and first alternate are absent. It was agreed the members would be
contacted via e-mail to confirm their alternate(s) as listed, or to provide the names of alternates.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
Next Meeting:
The Friday, May 16, 2003 meeting has been cancelled, as a majority of members will not be
able to attend. An e-mail will be sent out asking for votes on suggested alternate dates.