Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway
Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG)
Minutes
Regular Meeting at the
FDOT Clearwater Construction Office
3204 Gulf to Bay Boulevard
Clearwater, Florida 33759
November 14, 2001
8:30 to 9:50 a.m.
I.
Attending:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
Mr. Ned Baier, Hillsborough County Transportation Planning
Mr. Jon C. (B. J.) Bjers, Chair Save Our Courtney Campbell Causeway
Ms. Katie Cole, Clearwater Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Joe Feaster, FDOT former District Scenic Highways Coordinator
Mr. Jim Gilman, URS Corporation
Ms. Brenda Geoghagan, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
Mr. Ken Hess, Clearwater Christian College
The Honorable Bill Jonson, Clearwater City Commissioner and President Citizens for a Scenic Florida
Mr. Tim Kurtz, City of Clearwater
Ms. Sue Lyon, Bayshore Beautiful
Michael Palozzi, FDOT - Post Buckley, and current District 7 Scenic
Highways Coordinator
The Honorable Linda Saul-Sena, Tampa City Council
The Honorable Jan Platt, Board of County Commissioners, Hillsborough
County
II.
Bill Jonson, CAG Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. Michael
Palozzi was introduced as the replacement for Joe Feaster as FDOT’s District
7 Scenic Byways coordinator.
III.
The minutes of the meeting of October 10, 2001 were reviewed. The
following corrections were noted: Mr. Chris Gasinski was representing
FDOT in his role as a consultant from Post Buckley. B.J. Bjers reported that
the one-way traffic route at the beach at the west end of the Causeway is no
longer under consideration. The minutes were approved as corrected.
IV.
Old Business – Corridor Impressions Survey
a. Katie Cole reported that the recent surveys received represented mainly
the users of the beach at the west end of the causeway. The needs most
identified by this group included rest rooms, improved trash containers
and the addition of a traffic signal light at the entrance of the beach.
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b. The CAG decided to end the solicitation of corridor impressions surveys.
The results collected represent a wide range of users. A total of 165
surveys have been returned and tabulated.
V.
New Business
a. Ms. Platt suggested that the Tampa Bay Estuary Management Committee
be asked to endorse designation of the Courtney Campbell as a Scenic
Highway [Action]. She further suggested a similar request be made to the
Bay Area Management Committee (Susan Cooper is the executive
director) [Action].
b. Background Assessment Draft Review
i. The group reviewed the comprehensive draft prepared by Ms. Sue
Dutill. The Chair expressed his personal appreciation for her fine
work. The following suggestions and comments were made on the
draft.
ii. The three billboards are in Segment 1 not segment 2. Mr. Palozzi
will determine the status of the removal of these structures as a
result of the LINKS project [Action]. A statement should be added
referencing the potential removal as part of Roadway
improvements. [Completed]
iii. The Signage section should include a reference to Clearwater’s
sign code. [Completed]
iv. Mr. Ned Baier will obtain safety information for the Hillsborough
side of the causeway[Action].
v. Ms. Saul-Sena suggested adding to the safety section a reference to
the FDOT initiative on pedestrian and bicycle safety. [Completed]
vi. Mr. Gillman suggested adding FDOT requirements for clear sight
visibility and recovery zones that would affect future landscaping
opportunities. He will draft a paragraph addressing this
issue[Action]. Tim Kurtz reported that FDOT completed a project
to trim the sea grapes along the causeway as part of normal
maintenance.
vii. Ms. Platt asked for confirmation that the Pinellas side of the
causeway is a LOS of “C”. She suggested adding a source for the
LOS levels to the background document[Action].
viii. The Roadway Improvements section includes a reference the
upcoming LINKS project. A concern was expressed that the
reference to “expressway” sounded like it would make the
highway “concrete and big and unattractive.” [Completed]
ix. Under Government and Community Support the “Clearwater
Regional Chamber of Commerce” should be added. [Completed]
c. Draft Goals
i. Goal 5 is about “burying” overhead power lines.
ii. Goal 1 should include enhancing the eastern and western ends of
the causeway to “showcase” entrance to the communities at each
end.
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iii. Goal 8 should include pedestrian and bicycle links.
iv. Goal 2 should include “ create additional opportunities for families
to enjoy the bay in the form of picnic benches, pull outs” . These
are opportunities that used to be more available along the
causeway. These would be spots to be “ away from the world” .
v. The group discussed the reported designation of some of these
beaches as “ Negro beaches” . This report was believed to be
incorrect.
vi. Ms. Saul-Sena volunteered to ask the Tampa Bay Historical center
for information about the causeway [Action].
d. Courtney Campbell story
i. The story should include the names of people involved with the
causeway’s history.
ii. The completion of the causeway opened up communication
between both sides of the bay.
e. City Boundaries
i. Ms. Saul-Sena volunteered to check if the Tampa City limits
include all segments of the causeway in Hillsborough County
[Action].
f. Letters of support opportunities from last meeting:
i. Tampa Chamber of Commerce – Saul-Sena [Action]
ii. Hillsborough Convention and Visitors – Saul-Sena [Action]
iii. Tampa Bay Partnership – Cole [Action]
iv. Three Pinellas County Chambers of Commerce – Cole [Action]
v. Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council – Jonson [Action]
vi. Pinellas County Convention and Visitors Bureau – Cole [Action]
VI.
Next Meeting
a. Meet on December 12 at 8:30 a.m. in The Florida Department of
Transportation’s Clearwater Construction Office, at 3204 Gulf to Bay
Boulevard Clearwater, Florida 33759.
If corrections to these minutes are noted, please notify:
Bill Jonson, CAG Chair
2694 Redford Court West
Clearwater, Florida 33761
727-786-3075
bill.jonson@usa.net
Minutes 011114 Campbell CAG Meeting.doc
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