CAPTIONING
OCTOBER 2, 2007
METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION


***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the 
***following meeting.  It should be used for informational 
***purposes only.  This document has not been edited; 
***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words 
***that did not translate.


>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME TO OUR METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION MEETING 
FOR OCTOBER 2nd, 2007.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A 
BRIEF INVOCATION.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
HEAVENLY FATHER, AS ALWAYS, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL 
THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US.
PLEASE GUIDE US TODAY AS WE MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING OUR -- 
THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND PROTECT OUR YOUNG 
MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD PROTECTING OUR 
FREEDOMS.
IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.
AMEN.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR 
SEPTEMBER 4th MEETING?
>> SO MOVE.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT CARES TO ADDRESS ANY 
ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA -- OR ON AGENDA ITEMS, I'M 
SORRY, ANY ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU.
WE HAVE TWO REPORTS.
PARDON?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OH.
WE HAVE THE CAC REPORT, JOE AMON.
>> JOE AMON, CHAIR OF THE CAC.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE MPO.
LUCKILY IT'S A SHORT REPORT THIS MORNING.
FIRST, IN THE -- IN OUR SEPTEMBER 12th MEETING.
CAC MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION TO THE 
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID OUT 
ON KENNEDY AND PUTTING THE DESIGNATED SIDEWALKS IN.
ALL THE MEMBERS WERE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT BECAUSE IT 
MEETS THE -- SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO 
GET DESIGNATED, NOT JUST PAINTED BUT THE TEXTURAL CHANGES 
IN THAT.
IT WORKED REALLY WELL, AND THEY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID.
TRANSIT EMPHASIS CORRIDOR STUDY.
WE WERE GIVEN A STATUS REPORT BY HART.
WE NOTED A COUPLE THINGS.
AS LONG AS WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE WITH THE CAC, SOME OF US 
HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, IT'S AMAZING TO 
US WHEN WE HEAR THE RECORD ON HARTLINE.
FOR INSTANCE, ON OUR REPORT WE FOUND OUT THAT THE NORTH-
SOUTH CORRIDOR RUN, NEBRASKA AVENUE -- WE KNOW IT AS 
NEBRASKA AVENUE, IT HAS A NUMBER ASSIGNED TO IT, BUT THE 
NEBRASKA AVENUE RUN HAPPENS TO BE FULL, AND IT'S A 
STANDING-ROOM ONLY IN THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON.
I HAD NO CONCEPT THAT WE HAD BUSES CARRYING THAT KIND OF 
PEOPLE, BUT QUITE INTERESTING TO US.
ALSO WE WERE TOLD MacDILL HAS SOMEWHAT OF THE SAME 
CONDITIONS, SO OUR BUS LINES ARE INDEED CARRYING PEOPLE, 
SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS.
OF COURSE, MAKING MORE SERVICE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONEY TO 
DO THAT, AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET 
THE KIND OF FUNDING THEY NEED TO ADD MORE SERVICES.
TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING THING BECAUSE WE -- THIS HAS BEEN ON 
OUR AGENDA FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND HART EXPECTS TO ADD 
45 SHELTERS AND MANY OTHER BUS STOP IMPROVEMENTS THIS YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN -- IF YOU GO BACK IN OUR RECORDS, YOU'LL SEE US 
REPEATEDLY TALKING ABOUT, THIS AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, 
THEY'RE WILLING -- THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADDING SOME 
INFRASTRUCTURE TO THOSE BUS STOPS, WHICH IS SIDEWALKS, 
CROSSWALKS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
WE'VE HAD MORE THAN -- MORE THAN ONE DISCUSSION, MANY, MANY 
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET OFF OF A BUS AND STAND UP 
ON GRASS AND THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET FROM GRASS TO 
SOMEPLACE, AND IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO USE THE 
TRANSIT SYSTEM IF THERE'S NOT AN INFRASTRUCTURE ONCE YOU 
GET OFF THE BUS TO GET TO A DESIGNATED LOCATION.
AND HART'S ADDRESSING THAT FINALLY, AND WE'RE REAL 
APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
ALSO, WITH THE NEW SHELTERS THAT WERE INSTALLED ON THE 
RENOVATION OF MANHATTAN, MANHATTAN WAS REDONE HERE 
RECENTLY, DID A GREAT JOB DOWN THERE IMPROVING THE ROADWAY.
THEY PUT SOME NEW SIDEWALKS, CROSSWALKS, ET CETERA.
THERE'S ALSO A BUS STOP THERE, BUT WE FOUND -- WE'RE 
FINDING THAT THE BUS -- THE BUS -- LOCATION WHERE PEOPLE 
GET OFF THE BUS IS NOT THAT CLOSE TO WHERE THE SIDEWALK IS, 
AND WE FIND THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING -- IN THE SENIOR ELDER 
ZONE DOWN THERE -- THERE'S SOME SENIOR LIVING CENTERS IN 
THAT AREA -- THE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GO ACROSS MANHATTAN 
WITHOUT USING THOSE CROSSWALKS THAT THEY HAVE TO WALK TO.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, SOMEONE CONSIDER -- WE'D LIKE TO 
HAVE IT INVESTIGATED -- THE TAMPA STAFF INVESTIGATE PUTTING 
IN AN ADDITIONAL CROSSWALK AROUND THOSE CENTERS, NOT TO 
DISSIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE UP IN JOHN KNOX VILLAGE AREA, TO 
PUT A REDUCED SPEED ZONE, SPECIAL MARKING ON THE STREET TO 
ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION FROM THE BUS STOP OVER 
TO THE SENIOR LIVING CENTERS.
WE GOT A BRIEFING ABOUT THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL 
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
FDOT PRESENTED A VIDEO ON REGIONAL TRANSIT IN THE TAMPA BAY 
AND ENCOURAGED THE CAC MEMBERS TO MONITOR, AND WE WILL.
YOU CAN -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF OUR JOB, SO WE'RE VERY 
INTERESTED IN HOW IT CAME FORWARD, AND AT THE TIME OF OUR 
MEET, WE DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAD -- THE GOVERNOR HAD 
APPOINTED SOME MORE PEOPLE.
THE LAST TIME I HEARD, HE HAD APPOINTED THREE MORE PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAD ALL FOUR, BUT THREE MORE PEOPLE HAD 
BEEN -- I GOT A CALL FROM THEIR OFFICE, I GUESS FRIDAY A 
WEEK AGO, AND THREE OF THE PEOPLE HAD BEEN APPOINTED, WHICH 
IS GREAT.
CHANGES FOR US THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON THIS, WE LOST OUR 
LIAISON WITH THE MPO STAFF, BETH ALDEN.
SHE LEFT US.
SHE DID A GREAT JOB SUPPORTING US FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, 
AND I JUST FOUND OUT THIS MORNING THAT GENA TORRES IS GOING 
TO BE PUT IN HER PLACE, AND I PROMISE YOU, SHE'LL HELP YOU 
EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS BETH DID.
GENA'S ALREADY BEEN HELPING US A LOT ON THE JOINT CAC 
MEETINGS, AND WE APPRECIATE HAVING HER WITH US.
AND THE NEXT NEW ITEM OF BUSINESS IS THE -- CHAIR AFFRONTI 
IS GOING TO VISIT US TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH US ON THE 
17th, WEDNESDAY THE 17th, AND WITH THAT, THAT'S MY REPORT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. AMON?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOE.
THANKS FOR THE GREAT JOB YOU DO.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE MET AT 9:00 ON SEPTEMBER 18th IN THE 
PLANNING COMMISSION BOARDROOM.
THE COMMITTEE THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED THE MPO PLANNING 
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL APPEAR ON 
THE AGENDA LATER ON.
THE COMMITTEE MOVED TO FORWARD THE AGREEMENT FOR APPROVAL 
BY THE FULL MPO BOARD.
THE BOARD THEN RECEIVED PRESENTATIONS ON THE TRANSPORTATION 
REGIONAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND THE TAMPA BAY AREA REGIONAL 
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, TBARTA, WHICH YOU WILL ALSO HEAR 
LATER ON.
IN ADDITION, WE WERE KEPT UP-TO-DATE ON HARTLINE'S 
INITIATIVES ON THE TRANSIT EMPHASIS CORRIDOR STUDY AND 
TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND GAVE US AN INSIGHT AS TO THE 
SHORT-TERM EFFORTS BY HARTLINE TO IMPROVE ITS SERVICES.
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 23rd, AND AS 
ALWAYS, EVERYONE IS WELCOME.
SO THAT'S OUR POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER 
THEM.
IF NOT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
WE HAVE THREE ACTION ITEMS.
ONE IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, APPROVING MR. -- LET ME SEE -- 
I'M SORRY.
I GOT THAT OUT OF THE -- HERE IT IS.
YEAH.
MS. LUANNE PANACEK, CEO  OF THE CHILDREN'S BOARD OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS NOMINATED MR. GLENN BROWN TO SERVE 
AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED 
COORDINATING BOARD, SO IF EVERYBODY READ THE LETTER, IF WE 
HAVE A MOTION, I WOULD --
>> SO MOVE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE DOWNTOWN CIRCULATOR STUDY, ALLISON 
YEH.
>>ALLISON YEH:  GOOD MORNING.
ALLISON YEH, MPO STAFF.
I HOPE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN FOR EVERYBODY.
LAST MONTH WE PRESENTED THE DOWNTOWN CIRCULATOR STUDY TO 
YOU, WHICH WAS A STUDY OF THE HARTLINE RUBBER TIRE TROLLEY 
SYSTEM.
THE BOARD INSTRUCTED US TO BRING THE STUDY BACK TO YOU THIS 
MONTH, AND SO HERE WE ARE.
JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THE STUDY.
THE STUDY ENCOMPASSED A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TAMPA 
DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP, HARTLINE, AND MPO.
WE LOOKED AT THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS 
FOR THIS RUBBER TROLLEY TIRE SYSTEM, WHICH WE WOULD LOOK AT 
THE YEARS 2008 AND 2012 AS OUR LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM 
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THIS MAP SHOWS YOU BRIEFLY THE SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS 
FOR THE ROUTE, WHICH IS BASICALLY A SIMPLIFIED NORTH-SOUTH 
ROUTE THAT WOULD RUN BETWEEN I-275 TO THE NORTH AND HARBOUR 
ISLAND IN THE SOUTH, AND THEN THE RED LINE IS AN EAST-WEST 
EVENT AND WEEKEND CIRCULATOR SYSTEM THAT WOULD RUN BETWEEN 
THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND CHANNELSIDE AND WOULD TIE 
INTO THE TECO STREETCAR LINE.
THE LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WENT ALONG WITH THE 
STUDY WAS TO EVENTUALLY MAKE A CONNECTION TO YBOR CITY AND 
TO MAKE SURE THE ROUTE WAS SIMPLIFIED SO THAT -- ONE OF THE 
COMMENTS WE GOT FROM THE PEER GROUPS AND FOCUS GROUPS WE 
CONDUCTED WAS THAT THE ROUTE WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO 
UNDERSTAND AND NEEDED TO BE SIMPLIFIED AND ALSO TO -- AS WE 
DESIGN THE ROUTES, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE URBAN DESIGN 
ENHANCEMENTS TO MAKE IT A PEDESTRIAN- AND TRANSIT-FRIENDLY 
ENVIRONMENT AND TO CONNECT THE CIRCULATOR TO POTENTIAL 
PARKING LOTS THAT WOULD BE COMING UP AROUND THE DOWNTOWN 
AREA.
THERE WERE ALSO A NUMBER OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT 
WENT ALONG WITH THAT.
ONE OF THEM WAS TO MAKE THE CIRCULATOR FREE-FARE ZONES TO 
ENCOURAGE RIDERSHIP AND AGAIN TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEDESTRIAN-
FRIENDLY AREA WITH FRIENDLY LAND USE POLICIES AND PARKING 
POLICIES.
AND FINALLY TO FORM A DOWNTOWN CIRCULATOR ADVISORY BOARD, 
WHICH HART HAS ALREADY INITIATED, TO LOOK AT WHAT EVENTS 
NEEDED -- HOW THE EVENTS NEEDED TO BE RUN AND HOW THE 
EVENTS CIRCULATOR COULD MOST EFFICIENTLY BE USED.
LAST MONTH THE PORT AUTHORITY MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD 
LIKE TO COMMENT FURTHER ON THE STUDY, AND SINCE THEN, WE 
HAVE MET WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY TO REVIEW AND ADDRESS 
COMMENTS THEY HAVE.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE ALSO UPDATED THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
FROM COMMENTS WE RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION.
SO TODAY WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU CAN APPROVE THE STUDY IN THE 
FINAL REPORT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING?
IF NOT, WE NEED A MOTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
>>MARY MULHERN:  I'LL MOVE TO ADOPT THE STUDY.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS, ALLISON.
OKAY.
THE -- YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW WE'RE INTO THE LAST ITEM ON THE ACTION ITEM, WHICH 
WOULD BE THE MPO/TPC MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.
ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED I WAS HANDED 
A LETTER THAT I WAS ASKED TO READ INTO THE RECORD REGARDING 
THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, SO I'LL READ IT TO YOU.
IT'S FROM CHAIRMAN JIM NORMAN.
DEAR MR. AFFRONTI -- DEAR MAYOR AFFRONTI, IT HAS COME TO MY 
ATTENTION THAT THE MPO BOARD WILL BE ASKED ON OCTOBER 2nd, 
2007, TO APPROVE AN UPDATED MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN 
THE MPO AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO AND 
CONTAINS OUTDATED LANGUAGE AND PROVISIONS THAT SHOULD BE 
UPDATED.
SINCE THERE IS NO DEADLINE FOR THE UPDATE OF THIS 
AGREEMENT, I WOULD LIKE THE FULL BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE AGREEMENT AND 
IMPACT ON HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
WE ARE OFFICIALLY REQUESTING AT THIS TIME THAT THE MPO 
BOARD POSTPONE THE DECISION ON THIS AGREEMENT UNTIL AFTER A 
FULL DISCUSSION IS HELD BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS.
THE COUNTY'S CONCERNS ARE AS FOLLOWS:  NUMBER ONE, 
PROVISION OF LEGAL COUNSEL.
NUMBER TWO, PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
NUMBER THREE, HIRING OF THE MPO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I HAVE ASKED BUT HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A DETAILED RESPONSE 
TO MY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE COST IMPACTS TO HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY ON ITEMS ONE AND TWO ABOVE.
I UNDERSTAND ALL COSTS RELATED TO FUNDING THE MPO ARE GRANT 
DOLLARS, BUT WHAT FUNDED ITEMS WILL BE REDUCED TO FUND 
ITEMS ONE AND TWO ABOVE?
WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE MPO BOARD CURRENTLY HAVING 
NO SAY IN THE HIRING, EVALUATION OF THE MPO EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR.
IN LIGHT OF ANTICIPATED BUDGET AND STAFF CUTS, THE COUNTY 
MUST BE PROVIDED ADEQUATE INFORMATION IN ORDER TO MAKE AN 
INFORMED DECISION.
WE ARE POTENTIALLY ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR LEGAL COSTS THAT 
COULD OTHERWISE BE USED FOR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
WE OFFICIALLY REQUEST THAT THIS CORRESPONDENCE BE READ INTO 
THE RECORD AT THE NEXT MPO BOARD MEETING, WHICH WILL BE 
HELD OCTOBER 2nd, 2007.
AND I HAVE DONE THAT.
SO THIS WAS DATED -- THE LETTER WAS DATED OCTOBER 1st, 
2007, AND I GUESS IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER THAT WAS 
RECEIVED BY RENEE FRANCIS LEE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THAT 
WAS DATED SEPTEMBER 12th.
SHE APPARENTLY WROTE A LETTER TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS, AND THIS IS MR. NORMAN'S RESPONSE, LIKE I 
SAY, WHICH WE JUST GOT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AGO.
THE -- WE'LL DISCUSS THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT 
WE DO HOLD OFF ON DISCUSSING THE HIRING OF THE MPO 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNTIL NEXT MEETING BECAUSE MR. HUNTER IS 
OUT OF TOWN, AND HE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT -- MR. HUNTER AND 
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MPO AT THAT TIME WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR 
HIRING LUCIE AYERS, AND SO WE'LL -- I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST 
THAT WE HOLD THAT OFF, BUT WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHETHER OR 
NOT WE WANT TO HOLD THIS OFF OR WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND 
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
LUCIE, DO YOU WANT TO -- DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT FIRST?
YES, MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
JUST AS A LITTLE BACKGROUND, IT APPEARS THAT THIS -- THESE 
CHANGES TO THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN BOUNCING 
AROUND MOST OF THE SUMMER, AS I -- AS I RECALL.
AFTER A WHILE, IT SORT OF BECOMES A BLUR, BUT IT SEEMS THAT 
THEY'VE BEEN BOUNCING AROUND FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND I'LL 
NOTE THAT -- AS MR. CHAIRMAN DID THAT -- THAT THE 
MEMORANDUM FROM ATTORNEY LEE TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS WAS DATED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, SO THERE'S BEEN 
A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME FOR INPUT.
I THINK WE DELAYED IT -- WE ALREADY DELAYED IT ONE MONTH, 
DIDN'T WE, FOR ONE OF THE JURISDICTIONS OR FOR -- FOR A 
PARTICULAR REASON.
WHAT WAS THAT REASON.
>>LUCIE AYER:  THIS WAS MEANT TO BE DISCUSSED EARLY ON IN 
THE SUMMER, BUT -- BECAUSE WE HAD COMMUNICATIONS BACK AND 
FORTH, SO IT WAS DECIDED TO PUT THIS AT THE POLICY 
COMMITTEE MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  OKAY.
WITH -- WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY GOOD FRIEND CHAIRMAN 
NORMAN -- AND HE IS A GOOD FRIEND.
WE GO BACK MORE THAN 15 YEARS -- I THINK THAT THERE'S 
PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY.
IF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WANTS TO OFFER 
SUGGESTIONS DOWN THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, WE COULD AMEND THIS 
THING PRETTY MUCH ANY TIME WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE 
PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO JUST TO GET THIS THING OFF THE DIME AND TO TRY AND MOVE 
IT FORWARD, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION THAT WE 
MOVE THE CHANGES AS -- AS THEY'VE BEEN PRESENTED IN THIS 
STRIKE THREE VERSION AND MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TODAY, AND 
THEN, LIKE I SAY, IF THE COUNTY COMMISSION, SEVERAL OF 
WHICH ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, HAVE ANY -- HAVE ANY 
CHANGES AFTER THEY'VE MET FORMALLY TO DISCUSS THIS, WE'RE 
ALWAYS WELCOME, THOSE CHANGES, AND -- FOR DISCUSSION, AND 
WE CAN DEAL WITH IT NEXT MONTH OR THE MONTH AFTER, BUT I 
THINK THAT INSTEAD OF JUST LETTING THIS HANG AROUND, WE 
SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND DEAL WITH IT AND MOVE FORWARD.
I'VE READ THROUGH THE CHANGES.
WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT LEGAL COUNSEL, I DON'T THINK IT 
NECESSARILY STATES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CHANGING LEGAL 
COUNSEL.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY I READ IT.
I THINK IT JUST SAYS -- IT GIVES THE MPO THE LATITUDE TO -- 
AND A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN LEGAL COUNSEL, SO I DON'T 
THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD GET ALL UPTIGHT ABOUT THE FACT THAT, 
YOU KNOW, THIS AUTOMATICALLY SAYS WE'RE GOING TO BE 
ELIMINATING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AS OUR LEGAL COUNSEL.
I'VE KNOWN ADAM FOR A SHORT WHILE, AND HE SEEMS TO DO A 
GREAT JOB FOR US, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY 
PARTICULAR MOTION OR MOVEMENT TO ELIMINATE THEM, BUT I 
THINK WHAT IT DOES IS IT JUST GIVES THIS BODY INDEPENDENCE, 
AND I THINK INDEPENDENCE IS REALLY KEY TO THIS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS AN INDEPENDENT BODY, AND WE WORK 
CLOSELY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS THE MPO.
THE MPO NEEDS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT BODY SO ALL THE 
JURISDICTIONS FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A NICE INDEPENDENT PLACE 
TO GO TO TO WORK ON THESE ISSUES FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
SO WITH ALL OF THAT, I'LL MOVE THE CHANGES.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>MARY MULHERN:  I'LL SECOND THAT WITH --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
NOW DISCUSSION.
>>MARY MULHERN:  -- FOR DISCUSSION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
MR. SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONER 
DINGFELDER, AND LET ME START BY SAYING WHERE I AGREE WITH 
YOU.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT THIS AGENCY NEEDS TO BE AS 
INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE, NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK FREELY 
WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF ANY BODY, WHETHER IT'S THE BOARD OF 
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR ANYBODY WHO IS TRYING TO EXERT 
INFLUENCE OR DIRECT IT, BUT THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE -- AND 
I'VE JUST READ THIS LETTER FOR THE FIRST TIME MYSELF, 
HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY DIGEST IT, IS IN LIGHT OF 
ALL THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING AT US -- AND I MEAN THIS 
SINCERELY -- WITH THE -- THE CONCERN THAT THE VOTERS HAVE 
EXPRESSED WITH REGARD TO JUST THE WAY GOVERNMENT DOES 
BUSINESS, THEIR FRUSTRATION AT WHAT THEY SEE AS REDUNDANCY 
AND SOMETIMES WASTE AND DUPLICATION -- AND ALTHOUGH THERE 
ARE TIMES -- I'VE EXPRESSED THIS ON THE BOARD MANY, MANY 
TIMES, THE BOCC, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN REDUNDANCY IS NEEDED 
AND I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT IT IF IT PROVIDES A VALUE, BUT 
I WOULD THINK, JOHN, WHY NOT -- BECAUSE A PORTION OF THIS 
AGREEMENT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OFF ON ANYWAY, WHICH IS WITH 
REGARD TO HIRING OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHY NOT ALLOW 
THE -- IF THE BOCC'S GOT QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO ASK AND IF 
THERE ARE POINTS THAT WE CAN BE -- THAT WE -- INFORMATION 
THAT WE COULD BRING BACK TO THIS DISCUSSION THAT MIGHT HELP 
US AS WE MAKE OUR DECISION, WHY NOT GIVE THE BOCC TIME.
IF ANY OTHER BODY WANTS TIME, LET THEM DISCUSS IT AS WELL.
I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE BOCC TO TRY TO DICTATE TO THE 
MPO WHAT IT DOES, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK THAT WHEN 
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT -- FOR INSTANCE, THE PURCHASING 
QUESTION.
I'M STILL NOT QUITE CLEAR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT -- I READ THE 
MEMO -- NOW, THIS IS THE MEMO THAT CAME FROM OUR ATTORNEY, 
BUT IT SAID, YOU KNOW, UNDER THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, 
PROVIDES PURCHASING OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES SHALL BE 
THROUGH THE PURCHASING AGENT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND 
SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PROCEDURES 
AND PRACTICES.
THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT WOULD PROVIDE THAT PURCHASING OF 
MATERIALS AND SERVICES SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 
PLANNING COMMISSION PURCHASING PROCEDURES.
NOW, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH LUCIE, I'VE TALKED WITH 
HER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS.
IT SEEMS THAT THERE'S NO REAL ISSUE, BUT I'M NOT A 
PURCHASING SPECIALIST, AND THIS IS ABOUT PURCHASING.
PERHAPS THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN SAVE SOME MONEY AND NOT 
IN ANY WAY RISK THE AUTONOMY OF THIS AUGUST BODY BY 
ALLOWING IT TO CONTINUE AS IT DOES UNDER THE BOCC.
AND WITH REGARD TO THE LEGAL COUNSEL, I'VE BEEN BRIEFED ON 
THIS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING MAKES SENSE.
YOU CAN GO TO AN OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL, AND AS I UNDERSTAND 
IT, IT'S PAID FOR BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO THERE'S NO 
COST TO THE MPO, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU KNOW, I -- MR. 
NORMAN STATES IN HIS LETTER -- AND I'M NOT SURE -- HE SAYS 
I UNDERSTAND ALL COSTS RELATED TO FUNDING ARE GRANT 
DOLLARS, BUT WHAT FUNDED ITEMS WILL BE REDUCED TO FUND 
ITEMS ONE AND TWO?
I'M NOT SURE.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR AN ANSWER.
>>LUCIE AYER:  SURE.
LET'S JUST START WITH THE PURCHASING.
I THINK THE REASON WHY WE UPDATE THE LANGUAGE IS BECAUSE IN 
THIS AGREEMENT THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ABOUT WHAT 
THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN DO AND CANNOT DO BASED ON 
FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS.
MOST OF THE PURCHASING FROM THE MPO DEALS WITH CONTRACTS 
WITH CONSULTANTS.
WE DON'T BUY PENCILS, WE DON'T DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
ACTUALLY -- WELL, THE PLANNING COMMISSION ACTUALLY WILL 
HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, BUT THE WHOLE POINT 
IS THAT THIS AGREEMENT SIMPLY ADDRESSES WHAT THE MPO DOES, 
AND MOST OF OUR CONTRACTS WITH CONSULTANTS HAVE TO DEAL 
WITH D.O.T.'S PROCEDURES, SO WE CANNOT JUST SIMPLY SAY THAT 
WE FOLLOW THE COUNTY'S PROCEDURE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  RIGHT.
WELL --
>>LUCIE AYER:  AND THAT'S THE REASON IT WAS CHANGED THAT 
WAY.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING HAVING REVIEWED THE 
MATERIAL AND LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD, I'M 
INCLINED IN THE END TO SUPPORT THE CHANGES, BUT BEFORE WE 
VOTE ON IT AND I HAVE TO LATER GO BACK AND SAY, WELL, YOU 
KNOW, I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT, OR GOSH, WELL, YEAH, 
THAT'S TRUE, WHAT ABOUT THAT, I DON'T SEE ANY HARM, 
ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OFF AS THE CHAIRMAN HAS 
SAID AND WAIT UNTIL MR. HUNTER COMES BACK TO ADDRESS THE 
ISSUE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
IF WE HAVE ONE MORE WEEK, WE TALK ABOUT IT FOR ANOTHER 
WEEK, WE ALLOW THE INFORMATION TO GO BACK AND FORTH, THE 
ANSWERS -- WE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AS A COURTESY, WE 
CAN CONTINUE TO VOTE.
LIKE I SAID, MR. DINGFELDER, AT THAT TIME I PROBABLY WILL 
BE VOTING -- I'LL SECOND YOUR MOTION, BUT I GUESS AS A 
COURTESY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS CAME -- LIKE I SAID, I 
SAW IT FIVE MINUTES AGO.
IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA JUST FOR US TO ANSWER EVERY 
QUESTION.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  MR. CHAIR, IF I COULD, JUST REAL QUICK.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  AS -- IF MR. SHARPE IS -- COMMISSIONER 
SHARPE IS SUGGESTING A COURTESY, I WILL PAY HIM THE 
COURTESY AND YOU, ROSE, AND I'LL WITHDRAW THE MOTION.
I TRUST YOU COMPLETELY, MARK.
YOU WANT TO SHEPHERD THIS OVER THERE AND HAVE A REASONABLE 
DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND HOPEFULLY BRING IT BACK RELATIVELY 
INTACT, I'LL WITHDRAW THE MOTION.
AND WE'LL CARRY IT OVER UNTIL NEXT MONTH.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT RECOGNIZE THE 
DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE AT THE BOARD SHOULDN'T IN ANY -- I 
MEAN, WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, YOU'LL 
BE ABLE TO FREELY DECIDE AND MAKE YOUR DECISION BASED UPON 
THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.
I DON'T WANT THIS BODY HERE TO THINK THAT THE BOCC IS IN 
ANY WAY TRYING TO DIRECT OR PUSH OR PROD OR CAJOLE THE MPO, 
BUT I DO THINK THAT WHEN A QUESTION IS RAISED -- AND WE 
DEAL WITH THIS ALL THE TIME ON THE BOCC.
QUESTIONS ARE RAISED, AND I SAY LOOK, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE 
AN OPPORTUNITY TO STOP AND ANSWER THE QUESTION RATHER THAN 
RAM IT THROUGH, THERE'S PROBABLY NO -- THERE WOULD PROBABLY 
BE NO PROBLEMS, BUT WHAT IF WE DETERMINE THAT THERE IS 
SOMETHING HERE THAT WE JUST DIDN'T CONSIDER.
I'D HATE TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND THEN MODIFY THE AGREEMENT.
LET'S JUST -- IF WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR PORTION, WHY NOT WAIT AND JUST DO IT ALL TOGETHER 
AT THE SAME TIME.
I SEE ROSE IS GETTING READY TO SPEAK.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MARY.
I'VE GOT YOU, ROSE.
>>MARY MULHERN:  WELL, JOHN'S AGREED, SO I'LL REMOVE MY 
SECOND AND ASK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS THAT WE 
CONTINUE IT TO OUR NEXT MEETING SO IT DOESN'T GET DRAGGED 
OUT, BUT I DID JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE WHOLE REASON 
FOR CHANGING THIS LANGUAGE IS BECAUSE THE STATE WANTED TO 
MAKE SURE THAT OUR MPOs AND OUR PLANNING COMMISSIONS WERE 
INDEPENDENT OF THE POLITICAL DECISIONS, SO THAT IS THE 
ARGUMENT FOR HAVING THE ATTORNEY BE NEUTRAL, AND I THINK 
THIS MEMO TODAY SHOWS US AN INDICATION OF WHY WE WANT TO DO 
THAT.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT TO COMMISSIONER NORMAN THAT 
THE CITY HAS A LEGAL STAFF TOO, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO 
PROVIDE --
>>MARK SHARPE:  THERE YOU GO.
[LAUGHTER]
>>MARY MULHERN:  IF WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY, YOU CAN USE 
OUR LAWYER TOO IF THEY'D LIKE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ROSE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, JOHN, THANK YOU FOR BEING GENTLEMANLY ABOUT 
THIS.
I THINK THAT SOLVES SOME OF THE DILEMMAS THAT WE HAVE.
I MUST TELL YOU THAT WHEN I CAME IN AND I SAT DOWN AND SAW 
THIS FIVE MINUTES BEFORE, I WAS NOT IMPRESSED AT THE STYLE 
WITH WHICH BOCC DELIVERED THIS TO OUR -- TO OUR CHAIRMAN.
THE ISSUE OF AUTONOMY CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE, AND 
ALTHOUGH, MARK, YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE EVERY RESPECT IN THE 
WORLD FOR YOU AND YOUR SENSE MIGHT BE THAT THE BOCC IS NOT 
TRYING TO INVADE THE AUTONOMY THAT THIS BOARD NEEDS AND 
SHOULD HAVE, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SPEAK FOR THE REST OF 
OUR COLLEAGUES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE TIMING, THAT -- I GUESS YOU 
COULD LOOK AT IT LIKE NO HARM, NO FOUL, BUT THE SUBSTANTIVE 
CHANGES THAT WERE POINTED OUT TO BOCC, IF YOU NOTICE, WERE 
SEPTEMBER 12th, AND I THINK, MARK, THAT WAS IN RESPONSE TO 
SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAD.
AND THAT'S FINE, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 
SEPTEMBER 12th AND OCTOBER 1st THIS COULD HAVE BEEN 
DIRECTED TO YOU IN A MORE PROFESSIONAL MANNER SO THAT WHEN 
YOU GOT HERE TODAY YOU WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE 
DIALOGUE TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE NEED 
TO DO, AND IT'S NOT A TIME CERTAIN ISSUE, AND CERTAINLY, AS 
COURTESY BACK AND FORTH -- BUT ONE WOULD HOPE AS WE GO 
FORWARD SITTING ON THE MPO AND SITTING ON THE BOCC THAT 
THOSE TYPES OF COURTESIES WOULD BE RECIPROCAL.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT.
THEY ARE HERE.
AND IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT MR. NORMAN VOICES 
ABOUT THE COSTS RELATED TO THE FUNDINGS, ET CETERA, EVEN 
THEN I HAVE TO HAVE SOME OBJECTION TO THE WAY THAT WAS 
BROUGHT UP, AND NOT TO REHASH THIS, BUT YES TO REHASH THIS, 
THOSE CONCERNS WERE BROUGHT UP ON THE 20th, I GUESS, WHEN 
WE HAD OUR BUDGET MEETINGS IN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A VERY 
UNFAIR APPROACH TO MR. CHIARAMONTE TO ASK HIM TO RESPOND TO 
THIS WHEN ACTUALLY HE WAS UP THERE AS THE PLANNING 
COMMISSION, NOT AS MPO, AND WHATEVER CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS 
DISTURBED OUR CHAIRMAN, SO I THINK BY YOU REMOVING YOUR 
FIRST AND MARY REMOVING YOUR SECOND, I THINK WE'RE 
RESPONDING BACK TO THE BOCC IN A MORE COURTEOUS WAY THAN WE 
HAVE BEEN APPROACHED THIS MORNING, SO THAT GOING FORWARD, I 
AM SURE THAT WE WILL COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT'S FAIR AND 
NEEDED IN TERMS OF INDEPENDENCY ON HOW THIS BOARD REACTS, 
BUT I CERTAINLY WILL RESPOND AND RESPECT WHAT MR. 
SHARPE WANTS AND MR. DINGFELDER IS AGREEING TO DO, SO 
THAT'S MY COMMENTS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  COUNCILMAN SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'M SO GLAD TO HERE THERE'S A LOT OF COLLEGIAL COURTESY 
THIS MORNING.
[LAUGHTER]
THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
I GUESS MY QUESTION -- THE QUESTION I'LL RAISE AT THIS 
POINT, ONE IS, AS I UNDERSTAND THE NEW LANGUAGE OF THE 
MEMORANDUM, BASICALLY WE'RE DOING WHAT'S BEEN ASKED BY US 
BY THE STATE AND BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IS THAT RIGHT, 
SO PRETTY MUCH THIS IS WHY WE'RE DOING IT?
I MEAN, IT'S NOT SOMEBODY DECIDED TO PULL THIS OUT OF THE 
SKY AND DECIDED TO DO THIS.
OKAY?
SO WE'RE DOING IT BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL REGULATION 
GUIDELINES AND THE STATE, SO LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
SECONDLY, I'M NOT SURE -- AND I'M FINE WITH THE BOCC 
DISCUSSING IT, THAT'S FINE, BUT I STILL DON'T SEE THE 
RELEVANCE FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT -- ALL OF THE FUNDING IS 
FEDERAL FUNDING, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THIRDLY, IN TERMS OF COUNSEL, IN TERMS OF THE -- EVEN THE 
HIRING PIECE THERE, I DON'T THINK -- I THINK EVERYBODY -- 
EVERY INDEPENDENT AGENCY HAS THE RIGHT TO HIRE ITS OWN 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SO FORTH AS WELL; IS THAT RIGHT?
DO I STAND TO BE CORRECTED?
I THINK THE PORT HIRES ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I THINK THE 
AVIATION AUTHORITY HIRES THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I THINK 
THE PLANNING COMMISSION HIRES THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR?
IS THAT RIGHT?
I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS ISSUE, THE HIRING, 
BUT I THINK EVERYBODY HAS THAT RIGHT TO DO THAT.
OKAY.
FOURTHLY, I ALSO THINK EACH AGENCY HAS THE RIGHT TO HIRE 
ITS OWN ATTORNEY.
I THINK THAT'S BEEN THE PRACTICE AROUND HERE SINCE I'VE 
BEEN HERE, AND I THINK THE LANGUAGE HERE IS JUST UPDATING 
THAT SO THAT WE CAN COME CURRENT WITH THE LANGUAGE.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS NO INTENT TO HIRE 
OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN INFORMED, THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE 
WITH THE CURRENT COUNTY ATTORNEY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK 
ANYONE CAN BEAT THE PRICE THAT WE'RE GETTING NOW, I CAN 
TELL YOU THAT NOW, IN TERMS OF SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
I DON'T FORESEE THAT.
I THINK IT'S MORE OR LESS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT 
YOUR LANGUAGE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE STATE AND 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED US TO BRING FORWARD.
I WILL SAY I THINK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS DONE AN 
OUTSTANDING JOB FOR THIS AGENCY, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS 
THE INTENT OF THIS BOARD TO CONTINUE TO EMPLOY OR AT LEAST 
TO HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THIS AGENCY, AT 
LEAST THAT'S MY INTENT.
I DON'T HAVE INTENT OF VOTING ANYWISE DIFFERENTLY, SO I 
DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REAL ISSUES ARE OTHER THAN 
THE FACT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BECOME CURRENT, IN LINE WITH 
WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT 
ASKS US TO DO, AND SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO QUESTION THE 
FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO 
THAT, BUT WE ARE SIMPLY JUST MOVING TO COMPLY, AS I 
UNDERSTAND IT, WITH WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE 
STATE GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED US TO COME IN COMPLIANCE WITH IN 
TERMS OF REGULATIONS.
THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
I STAND TO BE CORRECTED.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THE -- YOU HAVE -- OH, YES.
MR. SKELTON.
>>DON SKELTON:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
JUST TO CLARIFY AND ADD ON TO WHAT COUNCILMAN SCOTT IS 
SAYING, THE REGULATIONS AND LAWS THAT THE STATE HAS IS THAT 
THERE BE AN INDEPENDENCE AND THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE MPO BOARD AND THAT THE MPO BOARD HAS 
A MYRIAD OF WAYS TO PROCURE THAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
THEY CAN HIRE THEMSELVES OR THEY CAN ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS, 
SO A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE IN HERE ISN'T NECESSARILY MANDATED 
BY STATE.
THE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS SAY YOU MUST HAVE AN EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR, AND YOU HAVE SEVERAL WAYS TO DO IT.
THIS AGREEMENT IS ONE OF THOSE SUCH WAYS.
I JUST WANT THAT TO BE CLEAR.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
YES, SIR.
>> CONSIDERING EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD, ME BEING THE NEW GUY, 
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, PERHAPS THE BOARD COULD INDICATE A 
TIME CERTAIN BY WHICH THIS DISCUSSION COULD HAPPEN SO THAT 
WE, YOU KNOW, ASSURE THAT THE CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN, WE GET 
IT BACK IN A TIMELY MANNER FOR OUR REVIEW FOR CONSIDERATION 
AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.
PERHAPS THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO ADDRESS ALL THE 
CONCERNS IF IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND WE WANT TO 
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, SET A TIME BY WHICH --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE NEED TO DO THAT.
MR. SCOTT, YOU HAVE ANOTHER --
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, MY UNDERSTANDING 
IS WE'RE BRINGING THIS BACK AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, IS 
THAT WHAT I HEARD, AND THE BOCC, I QUESTIONS, WILL DISCUSS 
THIS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW.
IT MIGHT BE KIND OF LATE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AT THIS 
POINT.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I THINK TOMORROW'S AGENDA IS GOING TO BE 
PRETTY TIGHT.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME OTHER DISCUSSIONS 
TOMORROW.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  THE BOARD MEETS, WELL, AGAIN, THOUGH, 
BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING, SO THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF 
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO 
DISCUSS THIS ISSUE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE NEED TO COORDINATE IT SO THAT ALL OF US 
ARE GOING TO BE IN TOWN FOR THAT MEETING.
YES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, I THINK THAT WILL BE 
INCUMBENT UPON CHAIRMAN NORMAN TO TRY TO ARRANGE THE 
DETAILS, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, THAT WE 
NEED TO GET THIS DONE BY NEXT TIME, AND ON THE POINTS THAT 
YOU BROUGHT UP, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON TARGET.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT A MANDATE THAT BOCC CAN GIVE US, IT'S 
ABOUT A COURTESY THAT OUR CHAIRMAN IS GIVING THEM OR US, 
AND THAT'S WHAT PUTS ME IN A PREDICAMENT.
QUITE FRANKLY, I'M A LITTLE BIT EMBARRASSED BECAUSE THE 
JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES ARE BEING IMPOSED A LITTLE BIT, 
AND MR. SKELTON'S RIGHT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S MANDATED.
WE CHOOSE HOW WE WANT TO DO IT, BUT JUST THE LATENESS OF 
THE REQUEST IS WHAT CAUSES SOME DILEMMA FOR US TODAY, BUT 
NO LATER THAN NEXT MEETING, AND IF BOCC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY 
TO TAKE IT UP BETWEEN THEN AND -- NOW AND THEN, THAT'S 
FINE.
IF WE DON'T, THAT'S WELL, BUT I AM PREPARED, I WILL TELL 
YOU ON THE RECORD NOW, TO SUPPORT IT AS WE GO FORWARD 
REGARDLESS OF WHAT KIND OF DIALOGUE THE BOCC CAN TRY TO 
IMPLEMENT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, JOE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  IF NOTHING LESS --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  I'M SORRY.
>>MARK SHARPE:  IF NOTHING LESS, I WOULD THINK THAT A -- 
BECAUSE THE BOCC DIDN'T SEND THIS LETTER.
I MEAN, THIS CAME FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOCC.
SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST IF NOTHING ELSE THAN TO 
RESPOND TO THE CHAIRMAN BY SENDING A RESPONSE, AND THEN THE 
BOCC -- AND THEN YOU'RE RIGHT.
IF THE -- THE BOCC, IF WE HAVE TIME, WE CAN TAKE IT UP.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM.
JUST BEING ABLE TO AS A COURTESY -- AND I AGREE WITH THE 
COMMENTS OF MS. FERLITA AND COMMISSIONER SCOTT -- OR 
COUNCILMAN SCOTT, BUT AS A COURTESY, LET'S -- AND BECAUSE 
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
PORTION UNTIL MR. HUNTER COMES BACK, LET'S SET IT AS A TIME 
CERTAIN FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, AND THEN WE'LL GO.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ROSE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  JUST -- AND MR. SHARPE BRINGS UP A GOOD 
POINT.
THEN, SINCE THIS WAS SENT TO YOU BY THE CHAIRMAN, I DON'T 
KNOW, MR. AFFRONTI, BUT MIGHT IT BE MAYBE A SUGGESTION YOU 
WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER, TO HAVE OUR STAFF RESPOND TO HIM IN 
TERMS OF THE QUESTIONS HE'S STATED?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE'LL DO THAT.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THAT MIGHT GET SOME OF THIS OUT OF THE 
WAY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, WE'LL DO THAT.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION, JOE?
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN WE PUT THIS ON THE 
TABLE UNTIL OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING IN IT SEEMS EVERYONE 
IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT WAS SAID HERE.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT ALL DAY, BUT WE'LL PUT IT ON OUR NEXT 
AGENDA.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  GOOD MORNING, JOE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS 
ABOUT THE AGREEMENT.
I THINK THAT ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS DON'T FORGET THAT 
WHATEVER'S DONE HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THIS BOARD.
>> RIGHT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO OUT TO LEGAL 
COUNSEL, THIS BOARD HAS TO APPROVE IT, SO WE'RE NOT 
ABDICATING OUR RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL.
WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT WE WANT TO GIVE THE MPO BOARD THE 
AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION, AND WE COULD DO THAT.
THE SECOND THING I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IS -- IN TERMS OF 
THE LEGAL AGREEMENT IS -- WHICH BOTHERS ME, WITH ALL DUE 
RESPECT -- AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB FOR 
US LEGALLY.
YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, BUT THE WAY THE LANGUAGE READS 
NOW, THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY IT 
WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND 
THAT'S THE WAY THE LANGUAGE READS NOW, AND I DON'T THINK 
THAT'S RIGHT AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.
I THINK THAT THE MPO BOARD SHOULD HAVE THAT RIGHT TO 
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
YES, MR. SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND -- BUT IN THE RESPONSE -- AND THIS -- 
ON THIS ISSUE, I THINK MS. FERLITA AND I WERE ON THE LOSING 
SIDE OF A VOTE WITH REGARD TO PROVIDING ADDITIONAL 
FUNDING -- ACTUALLY MAINTAINING FUNDING AT THE 5% LEVEL.
THERE WAS A 10% CUT.
WE WERE LOOKING AT A 5 -- THIS IS FOR THE PLANNING 
COMMISSION, NOT THE MPO, BUT IT SEEMED THAT ONE OF THE 
ARGUMENTS THAT WAS BEING USED WAS WE'RE LOOKING AT 
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING, APPROXIMATELY $200,000, TO 
THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT YET THE MPO MIGHT AT SOME 
POINT IN THE FUTURE HIRE AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WHICH WOULD 
COST ALL THESE DOLLARS WHEN THEY'RE GETTING IT FOR FREE 
FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSION, SO WHY WOULD THE COUNTY WANT TO 
PROVIDE MORE DOLLARS TO THE MPO IF -- OR TO THE PLANNING 
COMMISSION IF THE MPO, WHICH IS UNDER THE PLANNING 
COMMISSION, MIGHT THEN GO OUT AND HIRE EXPENSIVE OUTSIDE 
COUNSEL, KIND OF USING UP THE MONEY.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE ARGUMENT WAS GOING.
NOW, WE -- I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT ARGUMENT, MS. FERLITA 
DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE ARGUMENT, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE 
ARGUMENT WAS GOING, AND I THINK THAT DOES NEED TO BE 
ADDRESSED.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT HE DOES POINT OUT IN THE 
LETTER IS IF YOU DECIDE TO USE OUTSIDE COUNSEL, FROM 
READING HIS LETTER, IT LOOKS LIKE, THEN, WE MIGHT USE THAT 
MUCH LESS OF OUR COUNSEL, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT MUCH 
MORE MONEY TO SPEND ON TRANSPORTATION, SO WE'LL SEE WHERE 
THAT ARGUMENT GOES, BUT I -- BUT IT -- SO JUST LET'S -- THE 
QUESTIONS WERE ASKED.
LET'S ANSWER EVERY QUESTION AND PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION 
YOU CAN, AND WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE'LL HOLD OFF UNTIL 
THE NEXT MEETING.
DO WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THAT?
>>LUCIE AYER:  YES.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE NEED A MOTION TO HOLD OFF UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
>> SO MOVE.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, I DIDN'T -- IT WAS JUST 
SIMPLY TO --
>> CARRY IT OVER.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  CARRY IT OVER TO -- OKAY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  CARRY IT OVER TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  AND DO YOU NEED AN EXTRA MOTION TO DIRECT 
STAFF TO RESPOND TO MR. NORMAN?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE CAN DO THAT.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  SO MOVE THAT WE COMMUNICATE WITH MR. 
NORMAN, CHAIRMAN.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  DIRECT STAFF TO RESPOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT.
NEXT ITEM IS THE -- ARE THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.
LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE.
MARY MULHERN.
>>MARY MULHERN:  THIS WILL BE VERY SHORT.
THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE DID NOT MEET IN SEPTEMBER.
THE NEXT LIVABLE ROADWAYS MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR 
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24th, AT 8:30 A.M.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY QUESTIONS?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU.
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, GENA.
GENA TORRES.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW APPOINTMENT.
>>GENA TORRES:  THANK YOU.
IT'S MY PLEASURE.
GENA TORRES, MPO STAFF.
THE BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MET ON SEPTEMBER 
12th.
YOU KNOW, I THINK I FORGOT TO ANNOUNCE LAST TIME TOO THAT 
WE RECEIVED THE BPAC OF THE YEAR AWARD IN FLORIDA, SO I 
NEGLECTED TO TELL EVERYBODY THAT.
WE RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ALSO ON THE TRANSIT EMPHASIS 
CORRIDOR STUDY, AND THE COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE 
TRANSIT INITIATIVES IN OUR COUNTY.
WE SEE THE ROLE OF BIKES ON BUSES TO REALLY EXTENDING THE 
OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE 
DRIVING.
AND WE ARE REQUESTING FROM HARTLINE A PRESENTATION ON THE 
TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT.
THE COMMUTER CHOICES WEEK, WHICH IS THIS WEEK, BPAC MEMBERS 
FELT WE CAN MAKE A GREATER IMPRESSION ON COMMUTERS IF WE 
HAD A GROUP RIDE DURING RUSH HOUR THROUGH DOWNTOWN, SO 
WE'RE MEETING ON FRIDAY, THIS FRIDAY, ON DAVIS ISLANDS IN 
FRONT OF THE SHOPS THERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DRESSED IN 
REGULAR COMMUTER OUTFITS, AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THAT 
THAT IS NORMAL PEOPLE -- I DON'T KNOW -- SOME PEOPLE WOULD 
ARGUE WITH ME ON THAT ONE, BUT ANYWAY, REGULAR PEOPLE LIKE 
US WHO ARE -- YOU KNOW, WORK DOWNTOWN AND LIVE NEARBY 
ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO RIDE BIKES WILL RIDE THROUGH DOWNTOWN 
IN OUR REGULAR WORK CLOTHING, AND LOOK FOR US ON FRIDAY.
ANOTHER UPCOMING OUTREACH EVENT WAS ANNOUNCED.
THE SECOND BICYCLE BASH BY THE BAY, AND IT WILL BE HELD ON 
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, FROM 11:00 TO 4:00 P.M. IN ST. PETE 
AT VINOY PARK.
THEY'LL BE GIVING BICYCLES AWAY AND DOING BICYCLE 
DEMONSTRATIONS, AND PEOPLE CAN WIN FREE GEAR.
THAT WAS THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST 
MEETING.
THE NEXT BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING IS 
OCTOBER 10th AT 5:30, IN THIS BUILDING ON THE 18th FLOOR.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THANK YOU, GENA.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
LUCIE.
>>LUCIE AYER:  I WILL ALSO GIVE A VERY SHORT REPORT.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YESTERDAY THERE WAS A 
KICK-OFF EVENT FOR THE COMMUTER CHOICES WEEK, AND I WAS 
ABLE TO DELIVER THE PROCLAMATION FROM THE MPO TO THE 
ORGANIZERS.
I'M HOPING TO WIN THAT COLLAPSIBLE BIKE, BY THE WAY.
I ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS, SO WISH ME LUCK ON THAT ONE.
ALSO, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEN ON OCTOBER THE 15th 
THERE IS ANOTHER THING THAT IS -- THAT WE ARE HELPING TO 
ORGANIZE.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE MOBILITY FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WE ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT FOR BUSCH 
BOULEVARD, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY INFLUENCE A LOT OF 
THE AMENITIES THAT THEY -- THEY WERE GOING TO CONSIDER FOR 
PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILITY PROBLEMS, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO 
THIS ON OCTOBER 15th AT 11:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M. AT THE -- 
WE'RE GOING TO START AT THE JOE CHILLURA COURTHOUSE SQUARE 
PARK, AND THERE'LL BE PEOPLE WHO WOULD ACTUALLY BE TRYING 
TO NAVIGATE AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA, SO YOU ALL ARE 
WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE.
SUPPOSEDLY THERE'S A FREE LUNCH.
SO ANYWAY, THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN 
SUPPORT OF THEM, SO PLEASE, IF YOU CAN FIND TIME, PLEASE 
ATTEND, AND JUST -- YOU CAN RSVP DIRECTLY TO THEM.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET TOO MUCH INTO IT, BUT JUST CALL THE 
MPO OFFICE, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ALL THE 
DETAILS.
THE OTHER THING IS KIND OF LIKE A PREVIEW.
AS YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE TRANSIT STUDY, 
AND ALAN STEINBECK'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A FULL REPORT, BUT 
WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU IS THAT IT WAS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL 
EVENT, JUST LAST MONDAY AT THE -- THE CHANNELSIDE THEATER, 
WE ARE GOING TO REPEAT THIS AGAIN ON OCTOBER 23rd IN THE 
EVENING SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE PARTICIPATION, AND WE WILL 
ALSO BE SENDING YOU FLIERS, AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU-ALL 
TO BE THERE AND SPEAK ON THE TOPIC.
SO PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR, OCTOBER 23rd AT 7:00 P.M. IN 
ONE OF THE CHANNELSIDE THEATER, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY 
REPORT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, LUCIE.
ANY QUESTIONS OF LUCIE?
IF NOT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT ITEM IS THE STATUS REPORT ON THE MPO TRANSIT STUDY.
MR. STEINBECK.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  GOOD MORNING.
ALAN STEINBECK, MPO STAFF.
I'M THE PROJECT MANAGER OF THE MPO TRANSIT STUDY.
WE'VE SPENT ABOUT THE LAST YEAR WORKING ON THIS, AND WE'RE 
NEARING THE END OF THIS STUDY, AND I'M PRESENTING THIS FOR 
INFORMATION THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE A TRANSIT CONCEPT FOR 2050 THAT I'M GOING TO 
OUTLINE FOR YOU.
FIRST I'M GOING TO TELL YOU AND REMIND YOU ABOUT THE 
TRANSIT TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN THE 
STUDY.
WE DID LOOK AT BUS, LIGHT RAIL, AND COMMUTER RAIL.
BUS TECHNOLOGY IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT FOR OUR SYSTEM 
TODAY BUT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL.
WE'RE -- WE'VE CONSIDERED BOTH STANDARD BUSES BUT ALSO 
ARTICULATED HIGH-CAPACITY VEHICLES.
THERE WILL BE A CONSIDERATION FOR SPECIAL LANES OR SIGNAL 
PRIORITY WHERE BUS RAPID TRANSIT IS DEEMED FEASIBLE AND 
APPROPRIATE.
BUSES DO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF FLEXIBLE SERVICE IN THAT YOU 
CAN TAKE IT IN AND OUT OF SERVICE AND SERVE A LARGE PART OF 
THE COUNTY, BUT IT DOES SUFFER FROM THE CONGESTION PROBLEM 
WHERE YOU HAVE BUSES RUNNING IN TRAFFIC.
WE LOOKED AT A CAPACITY OF BUS, AND BUS CAPACITY IS 
APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO ONE LANE OF ARTERIAL, NEW ARTERIAL 
CAPACITY, SO A HALF LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, IF YOU PUT A 
GOOD BUS SERVICE OUT ON THE ROAD, THAT'S WHAT YOU'D BE 
GETTING FROM A BUS.
COMMUTER RAIL IS GOOD -- IS A LOCOMOTIVE PULLING PASSENGER 
CARS.
IT IS A HIGH-CAPACITY VEHICLE.
IT USUALLY SHARES FREIGHT TRACKS AND HAS FLEXIBLE CAPACITY.
YOU CAN PUT SERVICE OUT, AND AS NEW CAPACITY IS NEEDED, YOU 
CAN ADD CARS TO THE END OF THE TRAIN.
IT DOES TYPICALLY RUN IN PEAK HOUR TO SERVE MOSTLY WORK 
TRIPS FROM SUBURBS TO CITY, AND IT'S GOOD FOR LONG-HAUL 
SERVICE GOING AT HIGH SPEEDS OR SUBURB-TO-CITY SERVICE 
WHERE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STOPS SERVING SUBURBAN AREAS.
IT NEEDS TO RUN FLAT AND STRAIGHT IN THAT IT DOES -- IT IS 
A HEAVY VEHICLE.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THAT VEHICLE UP AND OVER 
ROADWAYS AND MAKE SHARP TURNS, SO IT'S LIMITED IN ITS 
ABILITY TO NAVIGATE URBAN AREAS.
THE CAPACITY THAT YOU GET FROM ADDING THIS TYPE OF SERVICE 
IS APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO ONE LANE OF INTERSTATE, SO IN 
EACH DIRECTION IN THE MORNING AND THE EVENING, IF YOU PUT 
THIS IN SERVICE, YOU'D HAVE ABOUT THAT ONE LANE OF 
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY OUT THERE IN THE SYSTEM.
FOR LIGHT RAIL, THESE ARE LIGHTER VEHICLES POWERED FROM 
ABOVE BY ELECTRIC WIRES.
THEY DO HAVE THEIR OWN TRACKS.
THEY CAN SHARE FREIGHT TRACKS, BUT IT IS NOT A COMMON 
PRACTICE AT ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THEY ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY HAVE THEIR OWN TRACKS THAT THEY RUN 
ON.
THE SERVICE IS TYPICALLY FREQUENT AND RUNS ALL DAY.
AND THEY ARE GOOD FOR SERVING SUBURB-TO-CITY TRAVEL AND 
URBAN-AREA TRAVEL.
THEY CAN ACCELERATE VERY QUICKLY, SO YOU CAN HAVE NUMEROUS 
STOPS WITHOUT DEGRADING THE TRAVEL TIME SIGNIFICANTLY.
THEY CAN ALSO CLIMB AND TURN A LOT MORE EASILY THAN THE 
HEAVIER TRAINS, SO YOU CAN BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS 
YOU TO GET OVER ROADWAYS, GET DOWN ONTO STREETS.
IT CAN SHARE RIGHT-OF-WAY WITH CARS AND SERVE URBAN AREAS.
A SUMMARY OF OUR STUDY, WE IDENTIFIED A NEEDS AND 
OPPORTUNITIES SYSTEM IN JUNE, AND WE PRESENTED THAT TO YOU-
ALL AT THAT TIME.
WE DID SEND THAT OUT FOR CONSIDERATION AND COMMENT AMONG A 
LARGE NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS, AND WE BROKE THAT DOWN INTO 
TRANSIT CONCEPTS THAT WE ANALYZED.
MOSTLY THE BULK OF THE WORK WAS DONE IN THE MONTH OF 
AUGUST, AND SO NOW WE'RE RECOMMENDING A TRANSIT CONCEPT FOR 
2050 THAT YOU WILL SEE.
AT THE NEXT MEETING WE'LL ASK YOU TO ADOPT THE STUDY.
TO REWIND A LITTLE BIT, WE DID PUT OUT THIS TRANSIT NEEDS 
AND OPPORTUNITIES MAP LOOKING AT COMMUTER RAIL, LIGHT RAIL, 
AND BUS TECHNOLOGY.
WE BROKE IT DOWN INTO THREE CONCEPTS THAT WE ANALYZED.
CONCEPT "A" WAS THE TAMPA RAIL PROJECT WITH SOME SMALL 
EXTENSIONS UP TO THE AIRPORT.
CONCEPT "B" WAS A LARGER LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM THAT EXTENDED 
OUT FROM THE ORIGINAL TAMPA RAIL CONCEPT OUT INTO NORTHWEST 
UP THROUGH NEW TAMPA, OUT INTO BRANDON, SOUTH TAMPA, AND 
SOUTHSHORE, AND ALSO RUNNING ACROSS THE BAY.
AND THEN WE LOOKED AT A CONCEPT "C," WHICH INCLUDED 
COMMUTER RAIL AND REGIONAL RAIL CONSIDERATIONS, BOTH ON CSX 
TRACKS AND ON INTERSTATE RIGHTS-OF-WAY.
IN ORDER TO GET TO WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU, WHICH IS THE 
2050 CONCEPT, WE HAD SEVERAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT WE 
USED TO ANALYZE THE INFORMATION.
ONE WAS SERVING EXISTING AND EMERGING ACTIVITY CENTERS.
THERE IS CERTAINLY -- THERE ARE PARTS OF THE COUNTY TODAY 
THAT HAVE ENOUGH ACTIVITY GOING ON TO WARRANT THESE TYPES 
OF INVESTMENTS BUT ALSO EMERGING CENTERS OUT INTO THE 
FUTURE WHERE A LOT MORE PEOPLE AND JOBS ARE COMING TO THE 
COUNTY, AND A LARGE PORTION OF THE COUNTY DOES WARRANT A 
MAJOR INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT.
SERVING GROWING AND REDEVELOPING AREAS.
THEY ARE DIFFERENT.
SOUTH COUNTY IS CHANGING VERY RAPIDLY, THE CITY OF TAMPA IS 
CHANGING VERY RAPIDLY, AND THEY'RE CHANGING IN DIFFERENT 
WAYS, SO WE LOOKED AT HOW THESE TECHNOLOGIES WOULD APPROACH 
THOSE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
AND ONE VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS WAS MEASURING THE 
POTENTIAL FOR STATION AREA DEVELOPMENT.
WE DID NOT WANT TO BRING TO YOU A CONCEPT FOR A TRANSIT 
SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH OUR FUTURE GROWTH AND 
WHERE IT WAS -- WHERE FUTURE GROWTH WOULD NOT REALLY 
WARRANT THE TYPE OF SYSTEM THAT WE HAD -- WE WERE 
PROPOSING, SO THERE'S AN INTERPLAY BETWEEN LAND 
DEVELOPMENT, FUTURE GROWTH, AND THE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS WE 
SHOULD BE MAKING.
WHILE WE DID THAT, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO RESPECT 
COMMUNITY CHARACTER AND LAND USE POLICIES.
WE DID DISCOVER THAT OUR LAND USE PLANS ARE ACCOMMODATIVE 
OF TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, THAT OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT 
PRACTICES CAN BE SHIFTED INTO TOD UNDER THE AUSPICES OF 
THOSE PLANS AND CAN WORK QUITE WELL, THAT WE DON'T NEED TO 
THROW OUT THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT US SUGGESTING BUILDING 
SKYSCRAPERS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY WHERE IT'S NOT 
APPROPRIATE.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALIGNED WITH OUR OBVIOUS FUTURE 
HERE IN THE COUNTY.
AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE GROUNDED IN REALITY.
WE HIRED ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS, PEOPLE WHO REALLY KNEW 
WHAT THEY WERE DOING, TO ASSIST US IN ISSUES OF RIDERSHIP 
COSTS, AVAILABLE RIGHTS-OF-WAY, LAND USE ISSUES AS WELL, SO 
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE APPROPRIATE TRANSIT 
TECHNOLOGY FOR THE AREA THAT IT'S SERVING, MAKE SURE THE 
RIGHTS-OF-WAY WERE AVAILABLE, AND UNDERSTAND THE COSTS AND 
LOCATIONS OF THIS.
SO I'M GOING TO RUN YOU THROUGH THE TRANSIT CONCEPT FOR 
2050.
2050 IS A LONG WAY OUT INTO THE FUTURE.
IT'S 40-PLUS YEARS FROM NOW.
OUR PLANNING HORIZONS HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN 2025.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO AN UPDATE OF OUR LRTP THAT'S 
2035, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK OUT INTO THE FUTURE TO SEE 
WHAT KIND OF SYSTEM IS APPROPRIATE, AND AS WE MAKE PLANS IN 
THE INTERIM IN MOVING THAT DIRECTION THAT WE HAVE A VISION 
FOR THE FUTURE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS.
I'M GOING TO TALK YOU THROUGH SEVERAL OF THE LINES.
THIS WAS THE CONCEPT MAP THAT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, 
AND WE ARE DEMONSTRATING HERE CONCEPTS FOR LIGHT RAIL, 
COMMUTER RAIL, AND A BUS NETWORK TO COMPLEMENT THAT RAIL 
SYSTEM.
ONE OF THE LINES WOULD BE A LINE ACROSS THE BAY.
THIS IS LIGHT RAIL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE THAT WOULD 
CONNECT WESTSHORE, DOWNTOWN, CENTRAL TAMPA, AND UP THROUGH 
USF AND NEW TAMPA, WITH A POSSIBLE EXTENSION INTO PASCO 
COUNTY.
ANOTHER LIGHT RAIL LINE WOULD EXTEND FROM WESTCHASE, ACROSS 
AND DOWN THROUGH THE AIRPORT INTO WESTSHORE, AGAIN 
CONNECTING DOWNTOWN, TAMPA, AND EXTENDING OUT INTO BRANDON.
AND A THIRD LIGHT RAIL CONCEPT THAT WOULD EXTEND THROUGH 
SOUTH TAMPA TO END AT PORT TAMPA.
FOR COMMUTER RAIL WE LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING 
COMMUTER RAIL ALONG CSX RIGHTS-OF-WAY IN VARIOUS PARTS OF 
THE COUNTY, ONE BEING SOUTH COUNTY, WHERE THIS ORANGE LINE 
WOULD EXTEND DOWN THROUGH AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GO INTO 
SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE REGION.
THE BLUE LINE WOULD ALIGN WITH THE LIGHT RAIL LINE OUT TO 
BRANDON AND CONTINUE OUT TO PLANT CITY AND POTENTIALLY 
BEYOND.
AND THE BROWN LINE HERE COMMUTER RAIL FROM DOWNTOWN GOING 
UP NORTH ALONG THE TRACKS THAT GO ON NEBRASKA AND 41 INTO 
PASCO COUNTY.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE POTENTIAL FOR COMMUTER RAIL AND 
REGIONAL RAIL ON I-4.
REGIONAL RAIL -- THAT IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE REGIONAL 
RAIL HAS BEEN CONSIDERED, CITY-TO-CITY SERVICE HAS BEEN 
CONSIDERED THERE, AND IT COULD SERVE AS A COMMUTER RAIL 
SERVICE FOR THIS COUNTY AS WELL.
THEN WE MADE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE WORKING 
TOGETHER, WHERE WOULD YOU MAKE MAJOR CONNECTIONS BETWEEN 
THESE LINES TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SYSTEM WHERE 
YOU WOULD NEED TO TRANSFER FROM LINE TO LINE.
AND A COMPLEMENTARY BUS NETWORK THAT WOULD BOTH FEED THE 
RAIL SERVICE BUT ALSO SERVE AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT 
WEREN'T SERVED BY RAIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A 
COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM COVERING THE URBANIZED AREA OF THE 
COUNTY.
AND LASTLY, WHERE THAT BUS WOULD INTERACT WITH THE RAIL 
LINE AND WHERE SERVICE WOULD NEED TO BE PLUGGED INTO THAT 
RAIL SYSTEM.
I'LL SHOW YOU THE MAP AGAIN IN A SECOND.
THE NEXT STEPS FOR US, WE'RE COMING TO YOU TODAY FOR 
INFORMATION.
WE WILL BE PRESENTING THE STUDY FINDINGS IN NOVEMBER FOR 
ACTION.
WE'LL BE ASKING YOU TO ADOPT THE STUDY AND ENDORSE THE 
CONCEPT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO THIS NOW BECAUSE WE ARE 
MOVING INTO THE UPDATE OF OUR LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION 
PLAN.
THIS STUFF IS GOING TO HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY.
WE HAVE TWO YEARS -- LESS THAN TWO YEARS NOW TO COMPLETE 
THE LRTP, AND WE NEED TO BE DEVELOPING BOTH THE TRANSIT 
NETWORK AND THE HIGHWAY NETWORK THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THAT 
PLAN.
ALSO IMPORTANT IS THE TBARTA PROCESS THAT'S OCCURRING NOW.
THIS IS GOING TO HAVE HAPPEN EVEN MORE QUICKLY THAN OUR 
LRTP PROCESS.
THEY ARE MOVING TOWARDS PRELIMINARY SYSTEM NETWORK AT THE 
END OF THIS YEAR.
THEY'LL START CONSIDERING WHAT MAJOR INVESTMENTS NEED TO BE 
PUT INTO THAT CONCEPT PLAN FOR THE REGION.
SO IT'S TIMELY THAT WE'RE DOING THIS NOW, AND ONCE THEY 
START DOING THAT AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL, WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE 
A PARALLEL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THE REGIONAL NETWORK AND 
THE LOCAL NETWORK WILL ALIGN WITH EACH OTHER AND COMPLEMENT 
EACH OTHER.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GOOD JOB, ALAN.
ANY QUESTIONS?
YES.
>>JOSEPH WAGGONER:  ALAN, I REALLY LIKE THE CAPACITY GAINS 
YOU LISTED OUT FOR THE VARIOUS MODES.
THERE'S A VARIATION WHICH I WONDER IF YOU-ALL LOOKED AT, 
WHICH IS HAD YOU LOOKED AT THE PRICE-MANAGED RANGE WITH THE 
BUS RAPID TRANSIT ON IT TO SEE WHAT KIND OF SERVICE WE CAN 
GET OUT OF THAT?
IS THAT ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WE MAY HAVE LOOKED AT IN THESE 
CONNECTIONS HERE?
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  THERE'S A REASON WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT 
THAT, FIRST OF ALL, AND THAT IS FOR 2050 WE DON'T HAVE A 
HIGHWAY NETWORK.
WE HAVE A HIGHWAY NETWORK AND A TRANSIT NETWORK CURRENTLY 
FOR 2025.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR AT THE 
REGIONAL LEVEL AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MPOs AND D.O.T. 
NEED TO COORDINATE OVER THE NEXT YEAR IS THAT LONG-TERM 
HIGHWAY NETWORK AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUT INTO THE 
FUTURE.
THOSE KIND OF IDEAS ARE GOING TO BE CONSIDERED IN THAT 
DISCUSSION, SO WHEN WE GET DONE WITH THIS, WE'LL BE 
STARTING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HIGHWAY NETWORK AND HOW 
THESE THINGS WORK TOGETHER.
IN TERMS OF CAPACITY OF A BUS ON THAT SORT OF SYSTEM, YOU 
WOULD BE GETTING SOMETHING COMPARABLE TO COMMUTER RAIL, THE 
ONE LANE OF INTERSTATE, BUT PROBABLY NOT QUITE THAT MUCH 
CAPACITY.
YOU'D HAVE TO RUN A LOT OF BUSES TO GET THAT LEVEL OF 
CAPACITY.
>>JOSEPH WAGGONER:  WELL, THE INTERESTING PART TO ME WOULD 
BE THAT DURING PEAK-HOUR PERIODS YOU WOULD GET THE BUS 
MOVING -- AS YOU -- ONE ISSUE WITH BUSES IS IT DOES MOVE IN 
TRAFFIC, AND THE PRICE-MANAGED LANES WOULD TAKE THAT OUT, 
AND DURING PEAK HOURS YOU'D ACTUALLY HAVE A MUCH HIGHER 
THROUGHPUT ON THAT FACILITY THAN YOU WOULD ON AN INTERSTATE 
OR ALL THE EXISTING INTERSTATES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, SO I 
THINK IN THAT REGARD IT MIGHT BE AS VIABLE AS LIGHT RAIL, 
BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS TO SEE IF SOME NUMBERS CAN BE 
GENERATED ON THAT.
IF IT'S FOR FUTURE INFORMATION WE'LL GET, THAT'S FINE.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  YES.
I WOULD SAY THE CONCEPT OF MANAGED LANES HAS DEFINITELY 
ARRIVED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND YOU WILL SEE A 
CONVERSATION ENSUE ABOUT ALL OF THOSE ISSUES HERE IN THIS 
REGION AND HOW THIS REGION WILL PUT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS 
IN PLACE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> MAYOR.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
I'M SORRY.
>>DON SKELTON: JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS.
ALAN, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
JUST WANT TO RELATE THIS TO WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING 
WITH OUR REGIONAL INTERSTATE OF TRANSIT PROJECT AND RELATE 
THAT TO TBARTA AND WHAT -- THE WAY WE WOULD VIEW THIS IS 
THIS IS TRULY A CONCEPT LEVEL.
I MEAN, IT'S WAY UP HERE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE TECHNICAL DATA THAT WENT 
BEHIND THIS SO THAT WE CAN WRAP THAT INTO OUR STUDY AND 
UTILIZE IT AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE ONE THING WE NEED TO MAKE 
SURE IN OUR INTERSTATE OF TRANSIT IS THAT WHEN WE COME UP 
WITH THAT PLAN AND WHAT WILL BECOME THE MASTER PLAN FOR 
TBARTA THAT ITS FOUNDATION IS SOUND TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, 
IT'S -- YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT DETAIL IN IT, SO WE LOOK 
FORWARD TO GETTING THE SUPPORT AND BACKUP THAT THIS PLAN 
HAS.
AND THEN ALSO, JUST ALONG THE CONCEPTS, KEEP IN MIND THERE 
PROBABLY WASN'T A LOT BECAUSE OF THE TIME FRAME AND THE 
RESOURCES YOU HAD TO REALLY DO DETAILED LOOKS AT THE 
CORRIDORS, SO THERE ARE SOME ASSUMPTIONS IN THIS PLAN THAT 
ASSUME CORRIDORS AND ASSUME SHARED LINES AND THINGS LIKE 
THAT WHICH MAY NOT BE THE CASE WHEN WE -- WHEN DISCUSSIONS 
START BEING HAD WITH CSX, YOU MAY NOT END UP ON THEIR LINES 
BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY FREIGHT MOVEMENT THAT'S ON THERE, SO 
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO 
DEVELOP THE REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM AND THE SUPPORTING 
TRANSIT SYSTEM, SO AGAIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT 
DATA SO WE CAN WRAP THAT INTO OUR INTERSTATE OF TRANSIT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GOOD JOB.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  GREAT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
NO OTHER QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE 
TRANSPORTATION REGIONAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
WALLY BLAIN.
>>WALLY BLAIN:  GOOD MORNING.
WALLY BLAIN, MPO STAFF.
THE PRESENTATION I'M GIVING YOU THIS MORNING IS AN UPDATE, 
STATUS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE TRANSPORTATION REGIONAL 
INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS CAME OUT OF THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT 
LEGISLATION THAT THE STATE PASSED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
IT IS A REGIONAL INCENTIVE POT OF MONEY THAT THE STATE CAME 
UP WITH, AND IT IS, OF COURSE, STATE MONEY.
THIS DISTRICT THAT WE'RE IN IS DISTRICT 7 FOR THE FLORIDA 
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THAT ENCOMPASSES PINELLAS, HILLSBOROUGH, PASCO, HERNANDO, 
AND CITRUS COUNTIES.
THOSE FIVE COUNTIES MAKE UP DISTRICT 7, AND THEY GET ON AN 
ANNUAL BASIS ABOUT $20 MILLION EVERY YEAR FOR THESE 
PROJECTS.
THE -- TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PROJECT, THE PROJECT HAS TO BE 
LISTED IN A REGIONAL BODY'S LONG-RANGE PLAN, AND THAT, IN 
THIS CASE, FALLS UNDER THE CHAIRS COORDINATING COMMITTEE.
IT ALSO HAS TO BE PART OF OR CONNECT TO THE STRATEGIC 
INTERMODAL SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE STATE'S MAJOR 
INFRASTRUCTURE ARTERIALS.
THEY ALSO -- A REQUIREMENT OF -- ONCE THE PROJECT IS 
COMPLETED AND THE MONIES HAVE BEEN SPENT OUT OF THE 
TRANSPORTATION REGIONAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM OR TRIP, STATE 
LEVEL-OF-SERVICE STANDARDS HAVE TO BE ADOPTED ON THOSE 
FACILITIES FOR MAINTENANCE AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS.
AND BECAUSE IT'S INCENTIVE, THERE ALSO MUST BE A LOCAL 
MATCH, SO THERE'S A 50% LOCAL MATCH, AND THAT MONEY HAS TO 
BE SHOWN IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OR CAPITAL 
IMPROVEMENT ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AGENCIES AROUND THIS AREA, INCLUDING MPOs AS WELL AS 
TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES, GOT TOGETHER AND FORMED A TRIP 
WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA TO 
EVALUATE ALL THE APPLICATIONS THAT CAME IN TO RANK AND 
PRIORITIZE THE PROJECT.
AND THE THREE MAIN CRITERIA THAT WERE USED WERE THE GROWTH 
MANAGEMENT, HOW IT ADDRESSES THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT 
REQUIREMENTS IN THE LEGISLATION, IS THE PROJECT TRULY 
REGIONAL IN NATURE, AND THE AMOUNT OF LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS.
BECAUSE IT'S AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM, PROJECTS THAT HAVE MORE 
THAN A 50% MATCH GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE BOOST IN THEIR 
SCORING AND THEIR CRITERIA.
THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF THE PROGRAM IN THE PAST HAVE 
ALREADY BEEN PRIORITIZED.
THAT COVERS THE YEARS OF 2007 THROUGH 2011 OF THE NEW WORK 
PROGRAM WE'RE DEALING WITH.
THEY ADDED A NEW FIFTH YEAR IN 2012, AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE 
PACKET ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED.
I BELIEVE THERE'S 28 IN TOTAL.
THOSE MAKE UP THREE TRANSIT PROJECTS THAT ARE THERE.
THOSE REMAIN THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE TRIP WORKING GROUP FOR 
FUNDING THOSE THREE PROJECTS AND GETTING THEM CONDUCTED.
AND THEN THERE ARE 25 PROJECTS IN THE FIVE-COUNTY AREA.
WHAT I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU ARE JUST THE PROJECTS 
THAT WERE SUBMITTED THAT ARE OF IMPACT TO HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY SPECIFICALLY.
BAY AREA COMMUTER SERVICES HAS SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR 
A REGIONAL VANPOOL PROGRAM.
THIS WOULD SERVE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS WELL AS THE OTHER 
COUNTIES IN THE DISTRICT.
HARTLINE HAS SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR BUS PURCHASES 679 OF.
THIS WOULD BE FOR REGIONAL CORRIDORS AND EXPRESS ROUTES.
AND THE THREE HIGHWAY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THIS AREA IS FOR 
BRUCE B. DOWNS, THE PALM SPRINGS TO PEBBLE CREEK, WIDENING 
OF THAT ROAD, AND THEN ALSO 301 DOWN IN SOUTH COUNTY FROM 
GIBSONTON TO 674, THE COUNTY'S REQUESTED MONEY, AND PLANT 
CITY HAS REQUESTED MONEY ON SAM ALLEN ROAD FOR RIGHT-OF-WAY 
ACQUISITION OF THAT ROAD.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM 
D.O.T. LATE LAST -- LATE LAST WEEK, EARLY THIS WEEK, 
REQUESTING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF THOSE THREE 
HIGHWAY PROJECTS.
WE'RE COORDINATING WITH STAFF OF THE LOCAL AGENCIES TO MAKE 
SURE THAT WE RESPOND TO THAT REQUEST AND CAN PROVIDE THE 
INFORMATION THAT'S NEEDED FOR D.O.T. TO CONTINUE THEIR 
EVALUATION AND PROGRAM PROJECTS BASED ON PRIORITY RANKINGS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY QUESTIONS OF WALLY?
YES, MR. SKELTON.
>>DON SKELTON:  AGAIN, JUST TO CLARIFY, WE HAVE SENT OUT TO 
ALL THE APPLICANTS, NOT ONLY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BUT 
THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION THAT'S 
VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR SELECTION OF THE PROJECTS.
AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, THE PROCESS IS THAT THE CHAIRMAN'S 
COORDINATING COMMITTEE PRIORITIZES THE PROJECTS, BUT THE 
DEPARTMENT SELECTS THEM, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND ONE OF 
THOSE KEY ELEMENTS IN THAT INFORMATION IS NOT ONLY SEEING 
IT IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ELEMENTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE 
PLAN BUT SEEING IT IN THE BUDGETS OF THE LOCAL JURISDICTION 
THAT'S REQUESTING THAT PROJECT FOR THE MATCH BECAUSE THAT'S 
VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE MATCH BE REAL AND BE IN THERE.
WE'LL LIKELY BE SELECTING OUR PROJECTS LATE THIS MONTHS, 
PROBABLY COMING BACK AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING OR POSSIBLY 
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT WHEN WE BUILD -- WHEN WE HAVE OUR WORK 
PROGRAM PRESENTATION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SKELTON.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
IF NOT, THANK YOU, WALLY.
GOOD JOB.
OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL 
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, TBARTA, AND WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS.
LINDA STACHEWICZ, WITH D.O.T.
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU A SHORT TEN-MINUTE VIDEO TODAY THAT 
WILL TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRANSPORTATION 
PLANNING PROJECT AND THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS AND THE ROLE 
WITH TBARTA.
SOMETIME AGO WE PRESENTED A TWO-YEAR STUDY CALLED THE 
"STRATEGIC REGIONAL TRANSIT NEEDS ASSESSMENT."
THAT PLAN OUTLINED FIVE PATHWAYS OVER EIGHT COUNTIES 
CRITICAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION 
SYSTEM.
ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR PASSED LEGISLATION TO 
CREATE TBARTA.
THE BOARD MET IN -- FIRST IN AUGUST AND AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 
21st.
THIS LEGISLATION CALLS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER 
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN BY JULY 1, '09.
MATERIALS FOR THE SEPTEMBER MEETING IS IN YOUR PACKET 
OUTLINING THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS AND THE TBARTA.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE TBARTA 
BOARD.
THE STRATEGIC REGIONAL TRANSIT ASSESSMENT WILL EVOLVE INTO 
THE INTERSTATE OF TRANSIT THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY 
SECRETARY SKELTON.
THAT WILL BE THE TOOL USED TO DEVELOP THE REGIONAL 
TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN AND THE SUPPORTING PLANS.
THERE WILL BE HEAVY PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, AND THE MOST USEFUL 
TOOL THAT WE CAN PROVIDE IS THE WEB SITE THAT YOU CAN SEE 
THIS ON.
IT'S LISTED IN THE MATERIAL THAT YOU HAVE, AND THAT WILL BE 
KEPT UP-TO-DATE WITH THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVE.
SO THE TBARTA BOARD WILL MEET AGAIN OCTOBER 26th, AND THE 
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN, AGAIN, IS DUE TO BE PRESENTED 
NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2009.
NOW WE'LL PLAY THE VIDEO FOR YOU.
[VIDEO PLAYED]
>> THE INTERSTATE HEADING INTO TAMPA IS STACKED UP.
THE BACKUP EXTENDS ALL THE WAY TO THE BRIDGE.
>> MY DRIVE TO WORK IS A NIGHTMARE.
I SPEND OVER AN HOUR EACH WAY ON THE ROAD, AND THE WORST 
THING IS I HAVE NO OTHER COMMUTING CHOICE.
>> I-4 IS A MESS HEADING INTO POLK COUNTY.
[HORN]
>> THIS TRAFFIC IS HORRIBLE.
IF I'M LATE FOR WORK AGAIN, THEY'RE GOING TO FIRE ME.
[HORN]
>>NARRATOR:  AVOID THE DOWNTOWN INTERCHANGE AT ALL COST.
>> WITH THESE GAS PRICES, I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO 
WORK.
IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING.
I WISH I HAD AN ALTERNATIVE.
>>NARRATOR:  THIS BACKUP IS AFFECTING BOTH SARASOTA AND 
MANATEE COUNTIES.
>> WITH SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, I DON'T FEEL SAFE 
DRIVING ANYMORE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I'LL BE ABLE TO GET TO WHERE I 
WANT TO GO WITHOUT CHOICES.
>> FOLKS IN PASCO AND POINTS NORTH PREPARE FOR A LONG 
COMMUTE.
>> BUSINESS IS GREAT, BUT THE TRAFFIC SITUATION COULD BE 
BETTER.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES AND SERVICE TRUCKS THAT SPEND 
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF TIME SITTING ON CONGESTED ROADS 
THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
TRAFFIC IMPACTS THE ABILITY OF BUSINESSES TO GET THEIR 
EMPLOYEES TO THE OFFICE AND AFFECTS THE ABILITY OF 
BUSINESSES TO DELIVER THEIR SERVICES AND GOODS.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY TO MANAGE THE TRANSPORTATION 
NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>>NARRATOR:  FRUSTRATED BY ALL THIS TRAFFIC CONGESTION?
GET USED TO IT, IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.
IN 1956, PRESIDENT EISENHOWER SIGNED THE FEDERAL AID 
HIGHWAY ACT, WHICH CALLED FOR 41,000 MILES OF INTERSTATES.
NOW, OVER 50 YEARS LATER, OUR INTERSTATES ACCOUNT FOR BOTH 
LONG DISTANCE TRIPS AND SHORT LOCAL TRIPS.
WE USE THESE ROADS MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY WERE 
ORIGINALLY INTENDED.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE OF OUR GROWING REGION, WHAT WILL BE 
OUR INTERSTATE FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS?
WE NEED A BALANCED REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT 
MAKES INTERCOUNTY CONNECTIONS THAT INCLUDES BOTH ROADWAYS 
AND TRANSIT.
REGIONAL ROADWAYS ALREADY EXIST.
WHAT'S NEEDED IS A REGIONAL SPINE FOR TRANSIT TO ENSURE 
THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO QUICKLY, 
SAFELY, AND AFFORDABLY.
WE NEED TO EXPLORE OUR OPTIONS FOR THE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA 
INTERSTATE OF TRANSPORTATION.
>>DON SKELTON:  THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN 
CORPORATION WITH ITS PARTNERS IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING 
LONG-TERM TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS.
REGIONALLY, THE FDOT HAS ALREADY MADE A COMMITMENT TO 
IMPROVING HIGHWAYS, WITH PLANS FOR SIX TO EIGHT LANES ON 
THE INTERSTATES AND SIX LANES ON OTHER STATE HIGHWAYS.
ONCE THAT IS DONE, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ADD MORE LANES 
ON THE EXISTING ROADS.
WITH THAT IN MIND, THE NEED FOR A BALANCED TRANSPORTATION 
SYSTEM BECOMES INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT.
IN 2005 THE DEPARTMENT BEGAN THE STRATEGIC REGIONAL TRANSIT 
NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING REGIONAL 
MOBILITY.
THIS STUDY COVERS THE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION, WHICH 
EXTENDS FROM CITRUS COUNTY TO THE NORTH, SARASOTA/MANATEE 
COUNTIES IN THE SOUTH, PINELLAS TO THE WEST, AND POLK 
COUNTY TO THE EAST.
>> WE NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN 
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA.
BY THE YEAR 2050 THAT NUMBER IS PROJECTED TO SWELL TO 7.7 
MILLION.
AS MORE PEOPLE MOVE HERE, IT MEANS MORE PEOPLE ON THE 
ROADS, RESULTING IN MORE CONGESTION AND LONGER COMMUTE 
TIMES, ALONG WITH THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY AND 
THE ENVIRONMENT.
PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO LIVE FURTHER OUT, HAVE TO TRAVEL MORE 
MILES TO THEIR JOBS.
THAT MEANS BY 2030 ROADWAY DELAYS WILL INCREASE BY 300% AND 
BY 2050 OVER 1,000%.
THAT MEANS FOR EVERY MINUTE YOU WAIT IN TRAFFIC TODAY, IT 
WILL BE TEN MINUTES BY 2050.
THAT'S WHY PLANNING FOR TRANSPORTATION CHOICES NOW IS SO 
IMPORTANT.
>>NARRATOR:  IN ADDITION TO THE IMPACT ON COMMUTE TIMES, A 
BALANCED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON 
THE REGION'S ECONOMY.
>> THE TAMPA BAY PARTNERSHIP IS A NONPROFIT ECONOMIC 
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY BUSINESS LEADERS AND 
PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA.
PART OF OUR MISSION IS TO HELP IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY BY 
ATTRACTING BUSINESSES TO TAMPA BAY.
A RECENT SURVEY OF OUR MEMBERS DETERMINED THAT 
TRANSPORTATION IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE AFFECTING OUR 
ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
INVESTING OUR MONEY WISELY IN A FULLY BALANCED AND 
INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM INCREASES OUR ECONOMIC 
VITALITY BY SUPPLYING A GROWING LABOR FORCE WITH BETTER 
ACCESS TO MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SAVES 1.4 BILLION GALLONS OF 
GASOLINE EVERY YEAR.
FOR EVERY $1 BILLION INVESTED IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, 
47,500 JOBS ARE CREATED.
WELL-PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AROUND TRANSIT INCREASES OUR 
HOUSING CHOICES AND MARKET VALUES.
AAA ESTIMATES THAT A MID-SIZE CAR COSTS A FAMILY 
APPROXIMATELY $7800 A YEAR.
FOR A FAMILY WITH THREE CARS, THAT'S $23,400 A YEAR.
>>NARRATOR:  A BALANCED REGIONAL TRANSITS SYSTEM NEEDS TO 
CONNECT TO PLACES YOU WANT TO GO TO, WORK, SCHOOL, HOME, 
AND TO PLAY.
>> THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA IS AN IMPORTANT ACTIVITY 
CENTER OF THE TAMPA BAY REGION.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, OUR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION WILL 
NEED TO PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO SIMILAR DESTINATIONS FOR 
EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, SHOPPING, AND OTHER SERVICES.
THE INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT, IN COMBINATION WITH CHANGES IN 
LAND USE POLICIES, WILL CREATE VIBRANT ACTIVITY CENTERS 
THAT PROVIDE ALL OF US WITH MORE LIFESTYLE OPTIONS.
>> A BALANCED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT 
FOR THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE, GOODS, AND SERVICES, IT'S ALSO 
A VITAL PART OF THE THINGS WE ENJOY DOING IN OUR SPARE 
TIME.
IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
LESS TIME COMMUTING MEANS MORE TIME TO ENJOY OURSELVES.
THINK OF WHAT YOU COULD BE DOING WITH YOUR FAMILY OR 
FRIENDS RATHER THAN SITTING IN TRAFFIC.
HOW NICE WOULD IT BE TO READ THE PAPER OR JUST RELAX ON 
TRANSIT INSTEAD OF THAT STRESSFUL DRIVING COMMUTE.
YOU'D SAVE TIME, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU'D ARRIVE AT YOUR 
DESTINATION REFRESHED AND READY TO GO.
>> WELL, IT'S FAST AND IT'S WONDERFUL AND IT'S INEXPENSIVE, 
CONVENIENT, COMFORTABLE.
>> HAVING A REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM IN PLACE MEANS 
INCREASED ACCESS TO HOUSING OPTIONS AND EMPLOYMENT 
OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS BENEFITS REGIONAL EMPLOYEES AND ENCOURAGES NEW 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WITH GREATER AVAILABILITY TO A LARGER 
LABOR FORCE.
IT IS TRULY A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST 
CENTRAL FLORIDA.
>>NARRATOR:  NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN THE BENEFITS OF A REGIONAL 
SYSTEM, LET'S EXPLORE THE PROPOSED WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA 
INTERSTATE OF TRANSIT.
>> AFTER TWO YEARS OF TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, FDOT HAS 
IDENTIFIED KEY REGIONAL CONNECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE 
INTERSTATE OF TRANSIT.
SIGNIFICANT WORK WENT INTO DETERMINING THESE KEY REGIONAL 
CONNECTIONS, INCLUDING A DETAILED LOOK AT EXISTING TRENDS, 
TELEPHONE SURVEYS, FUTURE GROWTH SCENARIOS, AND MEETINGS 
WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL AGENCIES.
THE FIRST CONNECTION STARTS IN THE SOUTH LINKING SARASOTA 
TO ST. PETERSBURG.
THE SECOND CONNECTION STARTS IN ST. PETERSBURG HEADING 
NORTH, LINKING TO NEW PORT RICHEY.
THE THIRD CONNECTION STARTS IN ST. PETERSBURG, HEADING 
THROUGH WESTSHORE AND TAMPA, LINKING TO THE EAST IN 
LAKELAND.
THE FOURTH STARTS?
WESTSHORE, HEADING TO CENTRAL PASCO, LINKING IN THE NORTH 
TO BROOKSVILLE, AND THE FIFTH CONNECTION STARTS IN TAMPA, 
HEADING THROUGH EAST PASCO.
THESE FIVE REGIONAL CONNECTIONS DON'T REPRESENT SPECIFIC 
ALIGNMENTS OR TRANSIT TECHNOLOGIES BUT REPRESENT THE 
REGIONAL CONNECTIONS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR 
COMMUNITY.
THE DOTTED CONNECTIONS SHOWN ON THE MAP REPRESENT LOGICAL 
EXPANSION OF THE SYSTEM IN THE FUTURE.
JUST LIKE THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA 
INTERSTATE OF TRANSIT WILL NEED ARTERIALS AND COLLECTORS OF 
TRANSIT, SUCH AS IMPROVED LOCAL BUS SYSTEMS AND PARK-AND-
RIDE NETWORKS TO COLLECT TO THE LARGER REGIONAL SYSTEM.
>>NARRATOR:  IN ORDER TO MAKE BALANCED REGIONAL 
TRANSPORTATION A REALITY, THE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA 
INTERSTATE OF TRANSIT WILL NEED THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL 
GOVERNMENTS, LOCAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES, LAND USE 
PLANNING EFFORTS, AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE REGION.
A RECENT SURVEY SHOWED THAT 62% OF THOSE SURVEYED FELT THAT 
TRANSIT WAS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PART OF THE REGION'S 
FUTURE.
>> THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW.
LOOK AROUND THE STATE.
JACKSONVILLE, ORLANDO, AND SOUTH FLORIDA ARE ALL MOVING 
AHEAD WITH REGIONAL TRANSIT PROJECTS.
IF WE DON'T GET MOVING RIGHT NOW, WE'LL BE FURTHER AND 
FURTHER BEHIND OTHER METROPOLITAN AREAS.
OUR ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE WILL SUFFER, AND OUR 
COMMUTE WILL BECOME EVEN MORE UNBEARABLE.
>> GIVEN THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IN OUR REGION AND THE 
MANY BENEFITS THAT CAN BE DERIVED FROM A BALANCED 
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, IT'S TIME FOR US TO MOVE 
BEYOND PLANNING TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION.
THAT IS WHY WE CREATED THE TAMPA BAY AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT 
AUTHORITY.
THIS IS THE ENTITY THAT WILL MOVE US INTO THE FUTURE.
>>NARRATOR:  OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, WE WILL REFINE OUR 
OPTIONS AND DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN FOR THE REGION.
YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN DECIDING WHERE AND WHEN IT HAPPENS.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE INTERSTATE OF TRANSIT 
CONCEPT AND HOW WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.
GO ON-LINE AND SEND US A COMMENT OR ASK FOR A COMMENT CARD 
TODAY.
>> THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS COMMITTED TO 
PROVIDING MULTIMODAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION 
CHALLENGES WE FACE, BUT EACH REGION MUST HAVE A PLAN FOR 
HOW IT GROWS AND HOW DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS MEET 
SPECIFIC NEEDS.
>> STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND A COMMON REGIONAL VISION HAS 
CREATED A PATH THAT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY TODAY AND 
CREATES A LIVABLE WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR FUTURE 
GENERATIONS.
WE, TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY, MUST DECIDE WHAT THIS NEW 
TRANSIT SYSTEM WILL LOOK LIKE AND HOW TO MAKE THESE 
CONNECTIONS A REALITY.
>>DON SKELTON:  OUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS OPEN NOW.
LET'S MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE BEFORE US AND MAKE 
DECISIONS ABOUT OUR TRANSPORTATION CHOICES THAT BENEFIT US 
ALL.
[END OF VIDEO]
>> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER FOR YOU?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ANY QUESTIONS?
ANY QUESTIONS?
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  DID DON PICK THE MUSIC?
IT WAS VERY NICE.
[LAUGHTER]
>>DON SKELTON:  I DON'T HAVE THAT CD, BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT 
MORE INFORMATION ON THE TBARTA UPDATE.
LAST MONTH WE GAVE A PRESENTATION THAT OUTLINED THE 21 
DIFFERENT PLANS THAT EXIST IN THIS REGION FOR TRANSIT 
SYSTEMS, AND WHEN YOU OVERLAID THOSE PLANS, YOU SAW SOME 
SIGNIFICANT COMMONALITIES, AND WHAT THE BOARD ADOPTED AT 
THEIR LAST MEETING WAS A STARTING POINT THAT THE REGIONAL 
WORKING GROUP HAD DEVELOPED FOR A REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM, 
AND THAT WILL BE OUR STARTING POINT FOR -- AND HOW THE PLAN 
EVOLVES AND THE TECHNICAL DATA THAT GOES INTO THAT.
AT THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH LINDA REFERENCED IS ON THE 26th 
OF THIS MONTH, IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE 26th FLOOR OF THIS 
BUILDING.
WE WILL BE HAVING -- A LARGE PART OF THAT MEETING WILL BE 
THE DISCUSSION OF DEFINING WHAT REGIONAL TRANSIT IS BECAUSE 
THAT BECOMES IMPORTANT, AND LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT MODES 
AND TECHNOLOGIES AND WHAT THEY TRY TO ACHIEVE, SO WE LOOK 
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THAT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  I JUST -- I THINK TBARTA IS GETTING OFF 
TO A GREAT START.
I WANTED TO COMPLIMENT THE GOVERNOR ON HIS SELECTIONS, 
ESPECIALLY OUR FORMER CHAIRMAN, SHAWN HARRISON, WHO'S GOING 
TO BE ON THE TBARTA BOARD, AND I THAT SPEAKS WELL TO MR. 
HARRISON AND PERHAPS TO THIS MPO THAT HE -- THAT HE'S GOING 
TO BE THERE AS ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES.
THAT'S GREAT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
MARY.
>>MARY MULHERN:  YEAH.
DON, I'M JUST WONDERING, ESPECIALLY AFTER HEARING ALAN'S 
PRESENTATION ABOUT OUR HILLSBOROUGH RAIL PLAN, HOW -- I 
KNOW YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW YET, BUT THE WHOLE TBARTA 
THING, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY -- AND MAYBE PINELLAS, BUT I 
THINK PROBABLY HILLSBOROUGH'S THE COUNTY THAT'S FURTHEST 
AHEAD WITH THAT KIND OF PLANNING, AND I'M WONDERING HOW YOU 
SEE THE TIMING DOVETAILING SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY MOVE 
FORWARD WITHOUT BEING HELD BACK BECAUSE THE TBARTA IS SO 
LARGE AND SO NEW.
>>DON SKELTON:  AGAIN -- AND I REFERENCED THIS A LITTLE BIT 
WHEN ALAN GAVE HIS PRESENTATION.
IT BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE BASIS OF THAT 
REGIONAL MASTER PLAN BE GROUND IN TECHNICAL DATA AND HAVING 
THAT SUPPORT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE THE JOB OF THE DEPARTMENT 
WORKING WITH THE TBARTA BOARD AND MAKING SURE THAT HAPPENS, 
WHICH MAY MEAN WE MAY BE COMING BACK TO THIS MPO AND 
SAYING, WELL, WE THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE CHANGING ABOUT THE 
PLAN THAT YOU'VE GOT.
IT'S GOT TO BE AN EVOLVING SYSTEM.
IT'S ALL GOT TO FIT TOGETHER, BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE THE 
TECHNICAL BACKING OF THAT.
>>MARY MULHERN:  AS FAR AS ALL OF THE COUNTIES INVOLVED, 
DOES IT LOOK LIKE ANYONE ELSE IS ANYWHERE NEAR WHERE WE ARE 
WITH THE ACTUAL PLANNING FOR RAIL?
>>DON SKELTON:  WELL, I THINK -- WELL, EACH COUNTY -- AND 
WE DON'T FOCUS SO MUCH ON RAIL BECAUSE, AGAIN, THAT'S 
NARROWING IN ON A SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY.
THERE ARE VARYING STATUS OF EACH COUNTY.
I KNOW THAT SARASOTA/MANATEE HAVE LOOKED AT SOME BRT AND 
SOME OTHER TRANSIT SYSTEMS.
CERTAINLY, PINELLAS HAS THEIR PINELLAS MOBILITY INITIATIVE 
THAT'S LOOKED AT MONORAIL AND OTHER RAIL SYSTEMS AND BRT AS 
WELL, SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT AREAS.
I THINK THE KEY COMPONENT'S GOING TO BE WHEN THE MASTER 
PLAN IS DEVELOPED, IS THEN THE BOARD'S GOING TO HAVE TO 
DECIDE HOW THE FUNDING AND FINANCE PACKAGE IS GOING TO BE 
PUT TOGETHER AND PRIORITIZING THE PROJECTS.
>>MARY MULHERN:  THANKS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
MR. SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YEAH.
I GUESS -- WHERE IS POLK COUNTY WITH ALL THIS?
I KNOW THEY OPTED OUT OF THIS WHOLE THING, SO WHERE ARE 
THEY IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS?
>>DON SKELTON:  WELL, POLK COUNTY, AS PART OF TBARTA, YES, 
THEY OPTED OUT OF THAT AND ARE NOT INCLUDED ON THE BOARD; 
HOWEVER, POLK COUNTY AS A CONNECTION IS STILL A VIABLE 
CONNECTION TO THE TAMPA AND DISTRICT 7 REGION, SO WE'VE NOT 
TAKEN THAT PART OF THE STATE OUT BECAUSE YOU STILL NEED TO 
CONNECT THE LAKELAND, WINTER HAVEN, AND ON TO ORLANDO 
EVENTUALLY AND CONNECT UP WITH THE COMMUTER RAIL THAT'S 
BEING PLANNED THERE.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  AND I AGREE WITH THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I 
THOUGHT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THEM ON THE BOARD 
BECAUSE I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN DO THAT WITHOUT SOME 
REPRESENTATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT HOW 
YOU'RE GOING TO FUND THIS, YOU KNOW, WHICH MEANS IF YOU'RE 
GOING TO CONNECT POLK COUNTY, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT 
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY BUYING INTO THE WHOLE PROJECT.
>>DON SKELTON:  CERTAINLY THERE WILL BE SOME EXTRA EFFORTS 
THAT HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN BRINGING AND HAVING THAT 
DISCUSSION WITH POLK COUNTY, NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE 
WAY WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS NOW WITHIN 
THE DISTRICT 7.
WHEN WE HAVE PROJECTS AND WE NEED TO TALK TO HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY, WE TALK TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
SO IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.
I THINK PROBABLY OVER TIME, I THINK, POLK COUNTY WILL SEE 
THE BENEFITS OF TBARTA AND MAY EVENTUALLY OPT TO BE PART OF 
THAT BOARD.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YEAH.
AND I GUESS I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT COUNCILWOMAN 
MULHERN HAS SAID TOO ABOUT BEING SOMEWHAT AT AN ADVANTAGE 
OR AHEAD.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE OTHER COUNTIES OR ANYONE ELSE ON 
THE REGIONAL HAVE DONE THE STUDY THAT WE'VE DONE IN TERMS 
OF LIGHT RAIL AND THAT SORT OF THING.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE WITH THAT, YOU KNOW.
>>DON SKELTON:  THE OTHERS DO NOT HAVE AN APPROVED PROJECT 
DEVELOPMENT NEPA DOCUMENT.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE THIS COUNTY CURRENTLY SITS.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YEAH.
SO IN TERMS OF THAT, WE ARE -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS WAY 
OUT FRONT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANYTHING ELSE?
YES, MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  JUST ONE MORE QUESTION, DON.
I KNOW IF AND WHEN YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE GOING 
FOR FEDERAL -- MAJOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THIS TO ACTUALLY 
CONSTRUCT IT, YOU HAVE TO DO THE -- UNDER NEPA, YOU HAVE TO 
DO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, THE EIS, AND ALL 
THAT.
THE TECHNICAL PART OF THIS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU 
KNOW, DOING -- AND I DON'T KNOW -- I'M NOT SURE I HEARD A 
TIME FRAME -- WILL THAT INCLUDE THE EIS, OR DO YOU DO THE 
TECHNICAL AND THEN PERHAPS TAKE IT TO THE CITIZENS AND THEN 
DO THE EIS AFTERWARDS, OR HOW DOES THAT FIT TOGETHER?
>>DON SKELTON:  THE WAY WE ENVISION IT IS DEVELOPING THE 
MASTER PLAN, THE OVERALL GENERAL CONCEPT, AND THEN AS THE 
TBARTA BOARD STARTS TO NARROW THE DISCUSSIONS ON 
PRIORITIZATION OF CORRIDORS, WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE 
NEPA ON THOSE TYPE THINGS.
YOU KNOW, TO DO NEPA ON AN ENTIRE SEVEN-COUNTY REGIONAL 
TRANSIT SYSTEM WOULD BE A HUGE ENDEAVOR.
I THINK YOU NEED TO FOCUS IT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO 
GET FUNDING FOR ALL OF THAT AT ONE TIME, SO YOU FOCUS IT ON 
A FEW MAIN CORRIDORS THAT'S BASED IN A MASTER PLAN 
BACKGROUND.
AS FAR AS TIMING GOES, AGAIN, THE MASTER PLAN IS REQUIRED 
BY JULY OF 2009, AND SO WE INTEND TO HAVE THAT COMPLETED BY 
THEN, AND CERTAINLY, EVEN BEFORE THAT THE BOARD CAN START 
NARROWING IN ON SOME THINGS, AND WE CAN START ROLLING OUT 
THE NEPA PROCESS ON THAT.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  OKAY.
AND THEN HAS -- HAS THE TBARTA BOARD DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, 
IF AND WHEN YOU WOULD GO TO THE VOTERS -- WE WOULD ALL GO 
TO THE VOTERS?
>>DON SKELTON:  THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
THE BOARD HAS HAD TWO MEETINGS.
THEY'RE STILL IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL PERIOD RIGHT NOW.
I THINK AS PART OF THIS, YOU NEED TO DO ENOUGH OF THE 
BACKGROUND AND DEVELOP A GOOD BASIS FOR THAT MASTER PLAN 
AND DEVELOP YOUR STRATEGY AS TO HOW TO INFORM THE PUBLIC, 
AND THAT'S TRULY THE NECESSITY HERE IS NOT JUST GO TO THE 
PUBLIC AND ASK THEM A QUESTION.
YOU GOTTA GIVE THE PUBLIC INFORMATION.
THEY'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PLAN, WHAT 
IT DOES FOR YOU, THE DOWNSIDES OF DOING SUCH A PLAN, YOU 
KNOW. WHETHER YOU DO ALL HIGHWAY OR ALL TRANSIT, THERE'S 
ALWAYS GOOD AND BAD, BUT WE NEED TO EDUCATE THEM, AND THEN 
AS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST, WHEN YOU HAVE SPECIFIC 
PROJECTS AND TIMELINES THAT YOU CAN IMPLEMENT SOMETHING, 
THAT'S THE TIME TO BE PREPARING A FINANCIAL PACKAGE AND 
SAY, THIS IS WHAT YOU'LL GET FOR THIS.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
YES, MR. SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH A QUESTION, THOUGH.
I GUESS MORE IMPORTANTLY, MY QUESTION WOULD BE WHEN YOU GO 
TO THE PUBLIC OR REFERENDUM, HOWEVER YOU'RE GOING TO FUND 
THIS, WE DON'T KNOW, HAS THE TBARTA BOARD BEEN IN POWER OR 
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PLACE A QUESTION ON THE BALLOT?
I HAVE NOT -- I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT YET, SO --
>>DON SKELTON:  THE TBARTA BOARD DOES NOT HAVE TAXING 
AUTHORITY, SO IT WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT WILL 
MAKE UP HOW TO GET ANYTHING ON A BALLOT.
IT DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BOND PROJECTS, BUT IT DOES 
NOT HAVE TAXING AUTHORITY.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  RIGHT.
BUT LET ME GO BACK AGAIN.
I'M AWARE OF THAT.
THE ISSUE, THOUGH, IS HOW WILL THEY GET A QUESTION ON THE 
BALLOT, THOUGH, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER EACH 
JURISDICTION WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PUT THAT ON THERE OR 
WHETHER THE TBARTA THEMSELVES CAN SAY, OKAY, WE WANT TO PUT 
THIS IN ALL OF THE COUNTIES AS A REFERENDUM.
>>DON SKELTON:  AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED IN THAT 
KIND OF DETAIL.
AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE TO DISCUSS THAT 
PARTICULAR ASPECT UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU'RE ASKING 
TO TRY TO FINANCE.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  RIGHT.
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FINANCING, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE 
AUTHORITY TO MOVE TO PUT A REFERENDUM ON THE BOARD, THOUGH, 
MR. SKELTON, BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS GOING TO BECOME AT SOME 
POINT -- AND I KNOW THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THIS POINT, I 
DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE AUTHORIZED IN THE LEGISLATURE -- 
IN OTHER WORDS, AUTHORIZED WHERE THEY CAN PUT ANYTHING ON 
THE BALLOT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING TO, NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT FUNDING.
WE'RE JUST TALKING HERE AT THE POINT, WHAT AUTHORITY -- 
WHAT POWER DO THEY HAVE EVEN IN THE PRELIMINARY STAGE -- 
EVEN IN THE PRELIMINARY STAGE YOU HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS AT 
SOME POINT, THAT'S GOING TO BECOME AN ISSUE.
NOW YOU SAY YOU'VE GOT HAVE YOUR MASTER PLAN READY BY 2009; 
RIGHT?
>>DON SKELTON:  UH-HUH.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  LET'S SAY IN 2009 YOU GOT YOUR MASTER PLAN 
IN PLACE.
OKAY.
THEN WHAT?
I MEAN, 2009 IS -- REALLY IS LIKE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
>>DON SKELTON:  ABSOLUTELY, AND THE BOARD WILL NEED TO 
WRESTLE WITH THAT QUESTION.
THEY'VE NOT GOTTEN INTO THAT KIND OF DETAIL.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GOOD QUESTION.
OKAY.
ANYTHING ELSE?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GOOD REPORT.
OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT CARES TO ADDRESS THE 
MPO?
OKAY.
ANY NEW BUSINESS?
ANY OLD BUSINESS THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS?
IF NOT, WE ADJOURN.
WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.



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