CAPTIONING
NOVEMBER 6, 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 MPO MEETING FOR NOVEMBER 6th, 2007.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND AN 
INVOCATION.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR BLESSINGS THAT 
YOU GIVE US EVERY DAY.
WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US THE GUIDANCE, NOT ONLY FOR OUR MPO 
MEMBERS BUT ALSO THE WORLD LEADERS DURING THESE TIMES IN 
OUR WORLD.
PLEASE GUIDE US TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
PLEASE PROTECT OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE OVERSEAS AND 
IN THE UNITED STATES FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOMS.
IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.
AMEN.
>> AMEN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
FIRST ITEM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM 
OUR OCTOBER 2nd MEETING.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO MOVE.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MOVED AND SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT CARES TO ADDRESS ANY 
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA?
OKAY.
IF NOT, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE GENA TORRES, WHO IS GOING TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN JOE AMON'S ABSENCE.
>>GENA TORRES:  GOOD MORNING.
GENA TORRES, MPO STAFF, AND JOE AMON SENDS HIS REGRETS IN 
NOT BEING ABLE TO BE HERE.
THE CAC HAD A MEETING ON OCTOBER 17th, AND THEY RECEIVED A 
PRESENTATION OR A VISIT BY MAYOR AFFRONTI, AND AS CHAIR OF 
THE MPO, MAYOR AFFRONTI EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 
CAC'S INPUT ON DECISION-MAKING BY THIS BOARD.
HE EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE 
PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL ISSUES THAT THE CAC -- AS MEMBERS 
OF THE CHAIRS COORDINATING COMMITTEE'S THE JOINT COMMITTEE 
-- OUR CAC DEFINITELY GETS TO INFLUENCE SOME REGIONAL 
DECISIONS, AND EMPHASIZING ALL THE INPUT THAT OUR CITIZENS 
GIVE TO OUR DIFFERENT PLANS AND PROGRAMS AT THE MPO, SO IT 
WAS NICE THAT THE MAYOR WAS ABLE TO COME BY AND VISIT THE 
CAC.
FOR MEMBERS INTEREST, MR. MATHURIN DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION 
ON BUS RIDERSHIP, AND I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE THERE IS THAT 
THE GOOD NEWS IS HART'S BUS RIDERSHIP HAS INCREASED FROM 
LAST YEAR.
THERE WAS SOME MEMBERS' INTEREST ON POSITIONING OF BUS 
SHELTERS ON MANHATTAN AVENUE AND THEIR DISTANCE FROM SOME 
CROSSWALKS, AND ALREADY I'VE HEARD THERE'S BEEN FOLLOW-UP 
WITH THE CITY AND HARTLINE.
THE ACTION ITEMS THAT WERE PRESENTED, THE T.I.P. AMENDMENTS 
-- AND IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
THAT THE PROJECTS LISTED IN THE AMENDMENT WERE PREVIOUSLY 
PROGRAMMED, AND THEY JUST NEEDED TO BE ROLLED FORWARD, SO 
THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT CONSTRUCTION COSTS, 
SPECIFICALLY FOR SOME SIDEWALKS, BUT THE CAC DID 
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT THE MPO APPROVE THE T.I.P. 
AMENDMENTS TODAY.
THERE WAS ALSO A PRESENTATION ON THE MPO TRANSIT STUDY, AND 
THE MEMBERS WERE INTERESTED IN A LOT OF THE TECHNOLOGIES 
AND ALIGNMENTS OF THE ROUTES, BUT THE MPO STAFF DID 
EMPHASIZE THAT THE STUDY IS A CONCEPT AND THAT IT WAS BEING 
DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR THE LONG-RANGE PLAN 
UPDATE AND SOME OF THE REGIONAL -- THE TAMPA BAY AREA -- 
TBARTA MASTER PLAN THAT'S BEING PUT TOGETHER, SO THE 
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE MPO 
APPROVE THAT TRANSIT STUDY.
AS FAR AS STATUS REPORTS, I WON'T STEAL D.O.T.'S THUNDER.
THE CAC DID RECEIVE THE VIDEO THAT YOU'LL BE SEEING TODAY, 
A PRESENTATION ON THE I-75 CORRIDOR VIDEO, SO THAT WAS 
ENJOYABLE TO WATCH.
THAT WAS INTERESTING.
AND LASTLY AS FAR AS STATUS REPORTS, THE D.O.T.'S TRAVEL 
SURVEY WAS PRESENTED WHERE FAMILIES ARE ASKED TO DOCUMENT 
THEIR ITINERARY FOR A 24-HOUR PERIOD, AND A LOT OF THE 
CAC MEMBERS STAYED AROUND AFTER THE END OF THE COMMITTEE 
MEETING WAS OVER TO FILL OUT AND GOT THE INFORMATION ON 
THEIR SURVEYS.
THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE NEXT CHAIRS COORDINATING 
COMMITTEE'S JOINT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL 
BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27th, AND THIS TIME IT'LL BE 
HELD IN POLK COUNTY AT THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING.
THE NEXT CAC MEETING IS DIFFERENT THAN USUAL.
IT'S ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19th, AND IT'S BEING HELD JOINTLY 
WITH THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, AND THOSE 
COMMITTEES WILL BE RECEIVING A PRESENTATION ON THE WORK 
PROGRAM FOR D.O.T. AND FOR THE TURNPIKE AND WILL ALSO HAVE 
AN APPEARANCE BY MR. WAGGONER FROM THE EXPRESSWAY 
AUTHORITY, SO THAT'S WHAT'S KIND OF PLANNED FOR THE NEXT 
MEETING ON NOVEMBER 19th.
AND THAT'S THE REPORT FOR THE CAC.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. TORRES?
IF NOT, THANKS, GENA.
OUR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE DOES A WONDERFUL JOB, AND 
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
NEXT ITEM IS THE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING MET ON -- 9:00 ON OCTOBER 23rd 
IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARDROOM.
THE COMMITTEE APPROVED THE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 22nd 
MEETING.
STAFF THEN PRESENTED A TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENT 
TO ROLL FORWARD FOUR PROJECTS FROM PRIOR YEARS TO THE 
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE VOTED TO FORWARD THE AMENDMENT TO THE 
FULL MPO BOARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL, WHICH 
WILL BE DONE TODAY.
NEXT, STAFF PRESENTED THE TRANSIT CONCEPT FOR 2050.
THIS CONCEPT INCLUDES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BUS, COMMUTER 
RAIL, AND LIGHT RAIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SERVING THE FUTURE 
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
THE CONCEPTS WILL BE EVALUATED AS PART OF THE MPO'S LONG-
RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE.
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHOWED A VIDEO 
HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THE 
WIDENING OF INTERSTATE 75 FROM FOWLER AVENUE NORTH THROUGH 
PASCO COUNTY.
THE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTED THE LANE AND INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENTS 
BEING PLANNED.
FDOT ALSO PRESENTED A SURVEY THAT IS BEING CONDUCTED TO 
IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF TRIPS MADE BY TYPICAL HOUSEHOLDS.
THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USED TO UPDATE THE TRANSPORTATION 
MODEL FOR USE IN DEVELOPING THE MPO'S LONG-RANGE 
TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR 
NOVEMBER 20th AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION 
BOARDROOM.
AND AS ALWAYS, EVERYONE IS WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE ACTION -- TRANSPORTATION 
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENT.
WALLY BLAIN.
>>WALLY BLAIN:  GOOD MORNING.
WALLY BLAIN, MPO STAFF.
AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE CAC AND POLICY COMMITTEE REPORTS, 
WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD FOUR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT 
PROGRAM AMENDMENTS THIS MONTH.
THESE PROJECTS WERE PREVIOUSLY PROGRAMMED IN THE T.I.P. IN 
PAST YEARS.
BECAUSE THOSE PROJECTS WERE NOT BEGUN OR EXECUTED, THE 
MONEY NEEDS TO BE ROLLED FORWARD INTO THE CURRENT T.I.P. 
DOCUMENT.
THESE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT ARE HERE ARE THE SAME AS WHAT WAS 
PREVIOUSLY PROGRAMMED.
IN ORDER FOR THE FEDS TO APPROVE THE PROJECTS AND RELEASE 
THE MONEY FOR THE EXPENDITURE, THEY NEED TO BE SHOWN IN THE 
CURRENT YEAR OF THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THE SIDEWALKS ON CHARLIE 
GRIFFIN ROAD, THE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS TO KENNEDY 
BOULEVARD THAT WERE A FEDERAL EARMARK, THE SIDEWALK ON 
LITTLE ROAD, AND ALSO THE SIDEWALK ON THONOTOSASSA ROAD BE 
ROLLED FORWARD INTO THE CURRENT TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT 
PROGRAM AS AMENDMENTS, AND I'LL ALSO REMIND YOU THAT 
BECAUSE THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE T.I.P., IT DOES REQUIRE 
A ROLL CALL VOTE.
AVAILABLE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  MOVE APPROVAL.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MS. FERLITA.
OKAY.
ANY DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, WE TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> HAGAN.
>>KEN HAGAN:  YES.
>> DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  YES.
>> BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  YES.
>> LOTT.
>>RICK LOTT:  YES.
>> AFFRONTI.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>> SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  YES.
>> MULHERN.
>>MARY MULHERN:  YES.
>> SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YES.
>> CAETANO.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  YES.
>> FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  YES.
>> WAGGONER.
>>JOSEPH WAGGONER:  YES.
>> MOTION CARRIED 11-0.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, WALLY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE MPO TRANSIT STUDY.
ALAN STEINBECK.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS.
ALAN STEINBECK, MPO STAFF.
PROJECT MANAGER OF THE MPO TRANSIT STUDY.
WE'RE HERE THIS MORNING TO BRING THIS ITEM TO YOU FOR 
ACTION, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR TRANSIT CONCEPT 
FOR 2050 IN JUST A MINUTE.
FIRST I WANTED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU PATRICK LEDUC FOR -- 
AGAIN, WHO IS A FORMER CAC MEMBER WHO WAS VERY PIVOTAL IN 
US REINVIGORATING THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT TRANSIT AND OUR 
TRANSIT NEEDS FOR THIS COUNTY.
HIS DYNAMISM AND ENTHUSIASM WAS REALLY CHANNELED INTO SOME 
WORK DONE BY THE CAC THAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THIS MPO BOARD 
SOMETIME AGO NOW AND REALLY SET US OFF ON THE RIGHT COURSE, 
SO I WANTED TO LET HIM HAVE SOME WORDS, AND THEN I WILL 
TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR STUDY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'LL TRY AND BE BRIEF.
IT'S KIND OF A SURREAL EXPERIENCE BEING HERE BECAUSE THE 
LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I THINK IT WAS MAY 9th OF 2006, THE 
VERY NEXT DAY I WAS MOBILIZING, AND SO MY TRIP BACK TO THIS 
SPOT HAS BEEN 13 MONTHS OVER IN KUWAIT AND BAGHDAD AND 
PLACES IN BETWEEN, AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE IN 
THE SENSE THAT WHILE I WAS OVER THERE, I WAS -- YOU KNOW, 
YOU GO ON THE INTERNET AND YOU KIND OF KEEP TABS OF WHAT'S 
GOING ON BACK HOME AND TO SEE HOW THIS WAS DEVELOPING, AND 
WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR IS THE CULMINATION OF A LOT OF 
WORK THAT BEGAN IN THE SPRING OF 2005 WHEN THE CAC LOOKED 
AT THINGS AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF DEAD IN THE 
WATER WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSIT, AND SO WE TOOK IT UPON 
OURSELVES TO TAKE A LOOK AT AN OLD PLAN TO SEE HOW WE CAN 
IMPROVE IT, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED -- THAT I 
TALKED TO YOU ABOUT OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WAS THAT 
WHAT WE WANTED TO BE WAS BOLD.
WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE AN IDEA THAT WOULD TAKE PEOPLE 
FROM WHERE THEY ARE TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO IN A MANNER 
THAT WAS EFFICIENT TO THEM AND WAS COST-EFFECTIVE BUT 
SOMETHING, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN LOOK AT 
AND SAY THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE PROUD OF AND THIS IS 
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SUPPORT, AND IF WE HAD COURAGE AS 
POLITICAL LEADERS TO GET BEHIND A PLAN THAT'S BOLD, WE WILL 
BE SUCCESSFUL.
ONE OF THE NICE THINGS -- WELL, ONE OF THE INTERESTING 
THINGS ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE GONE FOR SO LONG IS THAT WHEN YOU 
GET BACK ON THE ROADS, EVERYTHING SEEMS NEW TO YOU.
I'M HERE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT THINGS HAVE NOT GOTTEN 
BETTER OUT THERE IN TERMS OF DRIVING.
IF ANYTHING, THE ROADS ARE EVEN MORE CLOGGED.
WE HAVE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T BUILD 
OUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM BY JUST ADDING MORE LANES.
THE PROBLEM'S NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED IN THE SENSE THAT WE 
KEEP BUILDING MORE AND MORE HIGHWAYS.
WE HAVE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO START TO 
PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES FOR PEOPLE.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES FOR PEOPLE, IT'S 
AN IDEA THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WE'RE GOING TO COMPETE WITH 
OUR OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE ALSO 
BUILDING ALTERNATIVES FOR TRANSPORTATION.
THE PLAN THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE TODAY IS A CULMINATION OF 
A LOT OF WORK THAT IS BOLD, AND IT MEETS ALL OF THE IDEAS 
AND CONCEPTS THAT THE CAC WHEN IT FIRST ADDRESSED THIS 
ISSUE WAS LOOKING AT.
IT IS A PROUD -- IT IS A PLAN THAT THIS COMMUNITY CAN BE 
VERY, VERY PROUD OF, AND I THINK WHEN YOU HEAR THE 
PRESENTATION, YOU'RE GOING TO COME AWAY LIKE I COME AWAY 
AND SAY THAT, HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY 
CAN GET BEHIND, AS LEADERS WE CAN GET BEHIND, AND THIS IS 
SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO SUPPORT, BUT MOST 
IMPORTANTLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESPERATELY 
NEEDS.
SUBJECT TO YOUR QUESTIONS, I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO 
SPEAK A FEW WORDS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ANY QUESTIONS?
MR. SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION, BUT I DO WANT TO 
SAY WE TALKED RIGHT BEFORE YOU DEPLOYED, AND ALL OF US HERE 
GREATLY APPRECIATE THE SERVICE YOU PERSONALLY HAVE GIVEN TO 
OUR COUNTRY.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE ON THE CAC, YOU 
AND ALL THE OTHER CAC MEMBERS.
IT'S A THANKLESS JOB AT TIMES, BUT WE DO DEEPLY APPRECIATE 
YOUR INVOLVEMENT, AND I'M ATTRACTED TO THE WORD "BOLD."
I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH 
SOMETHING THAT IS VISIONARY.
AS YOU RECOGNIZE, ANYTHING WITH VISION YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE 
SOME HEAT, BUT WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANKS.
>> THANKS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
YES, MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU.
PAT, WELCOME BACK.
PAT AND I GO BACK A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND WE'RE REAL PROUD 
OF HIM IN NUMEROUS WAIST.
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO RAILVOLUTION THIS PAST WEEKEND.
THIS MULHERN WAS DOWN THERE.
MS. AYERS WAS DOWN THERE AS WELL IN MIAMI, AND IT WAS JUST 
FANTASTIC AND SO EYE-OPENING TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE DOING IN TERMS OF RAIL.
SOME CITIES HAVE HAD RAIL, LIKE NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON, 
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
OTHERS, LIKE PORTLAND AND OTHER NEWER CITIES --
>> CHARLOTTE.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  EXACTLY.
-- CHARLOTTE, ARE JUST COMING INTO IT.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE LAGGED BEHIND, BUT I'M 
OPTIMISTIC.
I THINK THE TIME IS RIGHT, I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS BEHIND 
IT.
THE COMMUNITY HAS GREAT LEADERS LIKE YOURSELF IN THE 
PRIVATE SIDE AND PUSHING US TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, SO 
KEEP ON PUSHING.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
YES, MARY.
>>MARY MULHERN:  YES.
I WANT TO THANK YOU TOO, PATRICK, AND ESPECIALLY -- I DON'T 
KNOW WHAT'S WORSE, BEING ON A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
OR BEING OVER THERE, HILLSBOROUGH OR --
>> CAC IS A CLOSE SECOND.
>>MARY MULHERN:  BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR 
SERVICE, AND I WANTED TO JUST SAY -- SECOND WHAT MR. 
DINGFELDER SAID.
IT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE'S DOING, AND I 
WANT US TO GET COMPETITIVE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY 
LAGGING BEHIND, AND WHEN WE SEE, YOU KNOW, SMALL CITIES 
AROUND THE COUNTRY, MUCH SMALLER THAN US, WITHOUT THE 
DENSITY, WHO ARE GOING FORWARD WITH RAIL PLANS, WE'RE 
REALLY GETTING LEFT IN THE DUST, SO I WANT US TO JUST GET 
THAT FIGHTING ATTITUDE THAT WE'VE GOT TO -- AS TAMPA AND 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, WE NEED TO CATCH UP AND GET AHEAD OF 
THE CURVE.
>> YOU ARE OUR LEADERS, AND I WOULD SAY TO YOU ALL TRUST 
YOUR INSTINCTS.
THE COMMUNITY WILL FOLLOW YOU.
IF WE ARE BOLD, THE COMMUNITY WILL GET BEHIND YOU.
DO NOT HAVE FEAR HERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO, THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO 
DO, AND AS A COMMUNITY, TAMPA HAS ALWAYS LOOKED FOR 
EXCELLENCE.
WE'VE GOT THE GREATEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD, AND IF WE 
PRESENT A TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CONCEPT OF TRANSIT, 
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.
BE BOLD, BE BRAVE.
WE CAN DO THIS.
AND DON'T BE FEARFUL.
YOU ARE OUR LEADERS, AND PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW YOU AS LONG AS 
YOU GET BEHIND THIS AND GET UNIFIED, BUT IT'S SOMETHING OUR 
COMMUNITY HAS TO HAVE.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSED BY WHAT YOU'RE 
ABOUT TO SEE.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY, ALAN.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  THANK YOU, PATRICK.
YOUR BACK REALLY DOES STRAIGHTEN UP WHEN YOU HEAR PATRICK 
TALK, AND YOUR RESOLVE IS STRENGTHENED FOR SURE, AND I DO 
WANT TO THANK HIM AND OUR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR 
DOING THE WORK THAT THEY DID.
I'M GOING TO GET THIS PRESENTATION OPEN AND GET STARTED IN 
JUST A SECOND HERE.
I'M GOING TO REMIND YOU OF SOME THINGS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN 
LAST MONTH.
WE DID SHOW YOU THE PRELIMINARY CONCEPT FOR 2050.
SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT AND TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE 
TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE'VE CONSIDERED IN THE STUDY, AND THEN 
I'M GOING TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY IN 
TERMS OF LAND USE COSTS AND RIDERSHIP.
WE DID LOOK AT BUS, LIGHT RAIL, AND COMMUTER RAIL IN THE 
STUDY.
AND BUSES, THERE ARE CHOICES WHETHER TO USE STANDARD OR 
ARTICULATED HIGH-CAPACITY VEHICLES, USUALLY USED IN BRT 
APPLICATIONS.
BRT AGAIN IS USING SPECIAL LANES OR SIGNAL PRIORITY, WHICH 
ARE CONSIDERATIONS WITHIN THIS CONCEPT AND WITHIN THE 
CURRENT DIALOGUE ABOUT TRANSIT.
THEY DO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF FLEXIBLE SERVICE, BUT THEY DO 
SUFFER FROM THE CONGESTION PROBLEM OF -- WHEN RUNNING IN 
MIXED TRAFFIC, THEY DO SUFFER FROM THAT CONGESTION.
THE CAPACITY THAT YOU HAVE ADDED, WHEN YOU PUT BUS 
SERVICE -- PREMIUM BUS SERVICE OUT ON THE ROAD IS 
APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO ONE ARTERIAL LANE OF TRAFFIC.
FOR COMMUTER RAIL, IT IS THE LOCOMOTIVES PULLING PASSENGER 
CARS.
THEY ARE HEAVIER TRAINS THAT SHARE FREIGHT TRACKS.
THEY DO HAVE A FLEXIBLE CAPACITY.
THEY'RE TYPICALLY RUN IN PEAK-HOUR TIMES, LOOKING FOR 
COMMUTERS GOING INTO TOWN FROM THE SUBURBS.
THEY CAN ALSO SERVE FOR LONGER-HAUL TRIPS, FOR REGIONAL 
TRAVEL, BUT THEY DO NEED TO RUN FLAT AND STRAIGHT 
TYPICALLY.
THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THEM UP AND OVER ROADWAYS, FOR 
EXAMPLE, BECAUSE OF THEIR WEIGHT AND THEIR ABILITY TO 
CLIMB.
PUTTING THIS TYPE OF SERVICE IN, THOUGH, DOES EQUATE TO 
ABOUT ONE LANE OF INTERSTATE TRAVEL -- OF TRAVEL, SO MAKING 
THESE INVESTMENTS IS LIKE ADDING A LANE TO THE INTERSTATE 
IN THE DIRECTION -- THE PEAK DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.
ALSO LIGHT RAIL.
THESE VEHICLES ARE POWERED FROM ABOVE.
THEY TYPICALLY HAVE THEIR OWN TRACKS.
THEY HAVE VERY FREQUENT SERVICE, ALWAYS ARE PUT INTO ALL-
DAY SERVICE, SO THEY DEAL WITH BOTH PEAK-HOUR SERVICE BUT 
ALSO ALL-DAY TRAVEL.
THEY CAN BE USED FOR SUBURB-TO-CITY TRAVEL, BUT ALSO URBAN-
AREA TRAVEL.
THEY'RE FAST ENOUGH TO GO FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE 
REGION BUT ALSO FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO NAVIGATE URBAN AREAS AND 
SERVE MAJOR ACTIVITY CENTERS.
THEY CAN ACCELERATE QUICKLY, THEY CAN CLIMB AND TURN, WHICH 
GIVES THEM THAT ATTRIBUTE.
THE CAPACITY THAT YOU CAN -- THAT COMES WITH LIGHT RAIL 
TRANSIT IS APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO FOUR NEW ARTERIAL LANES, 
SO IN AREAS WHERE THIS DOES GO INTO CENTRAL CITY, FOR 
EXAMPLE, WHERE THERE IS NO OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE 
ADDITIONAL ROADWAY CAPACITY, THESE THINGS PROVIDE MUCH-
NEEDED CAPACITY TO THOSE PARTS OF THE TRANSPORTATION 
SYSTEM.
FOR THE FEATURED COMMUTE, IT'S BEEN PROJECTED THAT 
CONGESTED TRAVEL WILL INCREASE BY 1,000% BY 2050.
IN THIS WORST-CASE SCENARIO THIS AVERAGE COMMUTE TIME FOR 
VEHICLES WOULD APPROXIMATELY TRIPLE FROM WHAT WE HAVE 
TODAY.
THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE OF RAIL TRANSIT AND TRANSIT IN 
GENERAL IS PROVIDING RELIABLE TRIP TIMES THAT DON'T CHANGE 
OVER TIME.
THEY DO NOT SUFFER FROM THIS MORE AND MORE CONGESTION.
ONCE YOU PUT THAT TRANSIT SERVICE INTO PLACE, THAT TRIP 
TIME REMAINS GOOD YEAR AFTER YEAR.
BUSES CAN ALSO DO THAT IF THEY'RE PUT IN EXCLUSIVE OR 
SPECIAL-USE LANES IN A BRT APPLICATION.
THIS COSTS MONEY, THOUGH, MUCH LIKE IT COSTS MONEY TO PUT 
IN RAIL TRANSIT.
TO REMIND YOU OF THE PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH, WE DID 
IDENTIFY NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
WE TOOK THAT AND BROKE IT DOWN INTO SOME TRANSIT CONCEPTS, 
WHICH WE ANALYZED OVER THE SUMMER AND LATE SUMMER, AND YOU 
SAW THAT INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY.
AND NOW WE'RE RECOMMENDING THIS TRANSIT CONCEPT FOR 2050 
WHICH WERE RELEASED AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, AND WE'VE BEEN 
THROUGH ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES, AND NOW WE'RE COMING TO YOU 
FOR ACTION TODAY.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS IN YOUR PACKET FOR CONSIDERATION.
WE CREATED THIS CONCEPT BROCHURE TO GIVE THE GENERAL 
READING AUDIENCE AN IDEA OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, AND 
THEN WE PUT TOGETHER THIS TRANSIT CONCEPT SUMMARY REPORT 
THAT SUMMARIZES THE ANALYSIS AND ALSO IS INTENDED FOR THE 
GENERAL AUDIENCE -- INTENDED FOR YOU TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE 
FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY.
MOVING ON TO THE 2050 CONCEPT, THE BASIS FOR THE CONCEPT IS 
NOT JUST ABOUT PURELY TECHNICAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.
WE WANTED TO LOOK AT IMPROVING MOBILITY, SUPPORTING 
ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND LOOKING AT THE ISSUE OF QUALITY OF 
LIFE AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GROW IN THE 
FUTURE, HOW WILL MAKING THESE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS HELP US 
GROW IN A SUSTAINABLE AND ORGANIZED WAY, AND HOW WILL THAT 
DEVELOPMENT IN TURN AFFECT OUR MOBILITY AND OUR QUALITY OF 
LIFE.
OUR TRANSIT SERVICE CHARACTERISTICS, WE DID ALSO GET DOWN 
INTO THE DETAILS OF TRANSIT TECHNOLOGY, LOOKING AT -- AND 
SERVICE CHARACTERISTICS, LOOKING AT MAJOR DESTINATIONS, 
QUALITY OF SERVICE, THE SERVICE AREA.
WE WERE COMMITTED TO FINDING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF 
INVESTMENT FOR ALL AREAS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
WHERE TRANSIT WAS WARRANTED, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD 
THE HIGHEST AND BEST INVESTMENT THAT MATCHED UP WITH THOSE 
DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTY.
SO WE DID IDENTIFY BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRANSIT 
CORRIDORS.
THIS WAS THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
WE BUILT ON PAST STUDIES AND CURRENT CONCEPTS PER YOUR 
DIRECTION.
WE DID NOT START OVER, WE DID NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL, WE -- 
WE BROUGHT OUT SOME OF THE STUDIES ON COMMUTER RAIL, ON 
LIGHT RAIL, AND PUT THOSE TOGETHER INTO THE CONCEPT.
WE DETERMINED PROJECTED GROWTH LOOKING AT 2050 FOR OUR 
HORIZON YEAR.
WE COMPARED THE CONCEPTS WITH THE TREND FOR 2050 TO SEE HOW 
TRANSIT INVESTMENTS WOULD AFFECT THE WAY WE COULD DEVELOP 
AND THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE LAND.
WE CREATED A TRANSIT-ORIENTED FUTURE CONCEPT SHOWING HOW 
THE -- THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN COULD BE OPTIMIZED RELATIVE 
TO TRANSIT INVESTMENTS.
WE TESTED TECHNOLOGY CHOICES, EVALUATING CAPACITY OF 
TRANSIT CORRIDORS TO ACCOMMODATE NEW DEVELOPMENT, AND 
OVERALL RIDERSHIP POTENTIAL IN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE COSTS.
THIS IS THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES MAP THAT WE DEVELOPED 
IN JUNE.
THIS WAS THAT COMPILATION OF PAST IDEAS AND PAST STUDIES 
THAT WE THREW TOGETHER TO SAY HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO 
LOOK AT, AND IT HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS ON IT.
IT INCLUDED COMMUTER RAIL, LIGHT RAIL, BUS, AND WE TOOK 
THIS AND WE DID TWO THINGS WITH IT.
WE WENT THROUGH A PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS EARLIER IN 
THIS YEAR WHERE WE TOOK THIS OUT TO COMMUNITIES, WE TOOK IT 
OUT TO CITIZENS, BUSINESS GROUPS, ALSO OUR GOVERNMENT AND 
AGENCY PARTNERS TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE 
THINGS.
WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THIS, AND WHAT WE FOUND THROUGH 
THAT WAS THAT THESE THINGS WERE RATIFIED THROUGH THAT 
PROCESS.
THIS -- PEOPLE DID DESIRE THIS LEVEL OF INVESTMENT, THIS 
KIND OF SYSTEM.
THEY DID SEE THEMSELVES USING IT.
ANOTHER THING TO NOTE ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE 
SURE WE LOOKED AT THE ISSUES OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S 
MOBILITY.
IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS THE COUNTYWIDE PLANNING 
BODY FOR TRANSPORTATION CONSIDERED ALL THESE ISSUES, LOOKED 
AT THE NEEDS OF ALL THE JURISDICTIONS AND ALL THE PEOPLE 
LIVING HERE TO SEE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET AROUND IN THE 
FUTURE.
SO ADMITTEDLY, THIS PLAN LOOKS AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
MOBILITY, FOCUSES ON THAT, BUT REMAINS SENSITIVE TO THE 
NEEDS OF REGIONAL MOBILITY.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT COME OUT IN THE FINAL CONCEPT.
THIS IS IT.
WE HAVE LIGHT RAIL, COMMUTER RAIL, AND BUS DESCRIBED HERE, 
AND YOU'VE SEEN THIS PREVIOUSLY, BUT I'LL GO THROUGH 
QUICKLY AGAIN TO DESCRIBE FOR THE AUDIENCE.
WE HAVE THREE LIGHT RAIL LINES PROPOSED, THE RED LINE 
COMING FROM PINELLAS COUNTY THROUGH WESTSHORE THROUGH 
DOWNTOWN TAMPA UP THROUGH USF AND NEW TAMPA WITH POTENTIAL 
EXTENSION INTO PASCO COUNTY; THE BLUE LINE CONNECTING 
BRANDON TO DOWNTOWN AND WESTSHORE, GOING TO AND THROUGH THE 
AIRPORT, AND UP INTO NORTHWEST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AGAIN 
WITH A POSSIBLE CONNECTION INTO ADJACENT COUNTY, INTO 
PINELLAS; AND THE GREEN LINE, THE LAST OF THE LIGHT RAIL 
LINES, GOING UP FROM SOUTH TAMPA INTO DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
TO THE COMMUTER LINES, THE MAGENTA LINE, GOING UP STRAIGHT 
NORTH ALONG THE AREA OF 41, NEBRASKA AVENUE, ALONG THE 
EXISTING CSX RIGHT-OF-WAY; THIS PURPLE LINE GOING THROUGH 
BRANDON, OUT TO PLANT CITY, WITH THE POTENTIAL EXTENSION TO 
LAKELAND; AND THE ORANGE LINE GOING THROUGH SOUTH COUNTY, 
THROUGH THE EXISTING ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH 
COUNTY, WITH ALSO A POSSIBLE EXTENSION OUT INTO BRADENTON 
AND SARASOTA.
AND LASTLY, WE LOOKED AT THE I-4 RIGHT-OF-WAY WITH THE 
POTENTIAL OF RAIL GOING THERE, AND THE -- SPECIFICALLY HOW 
THAT TYPE OF RAIL SERVICE WOULD AFFECT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
TRAVEL, GETTING PEOPLE TO AND FROM PLANT CITY TO DOWNTOWN.
FINALLY, WE WANTED -- IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE 
THINGS WOULD WORK TOGETHER, WE HAD TO MAKE IT LIKE A 
SYSTEM, A TRANSIT SYSTEM WITH STOPS, WITH CONNECTIONS, WITH 
TRANSFERS SO THAT WE COULD SEE HOW THIS CONCEPT WAS SERVING 
DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS AND HOW THE USER WOULD GO FROM PLACE 
TO PLACE, SO WE -- THAT WAS THE FIRST THING.
THE SECOND THING WAS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE DEVELOPMENT 
POTENTIAL OF THESE STATIONS WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THESE 
INVESTMENTS, SO WE DID GET DOWN TO THIS LEVEL OF DETAIL FOR 
THOSE TWO REASONS.
TO SUMMARIZE THIS INFORMATION, THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM IN 
THIS CONCEPT HAS AN AVERAGE OF ONE-MILE STATION SPACING, IT 
HAS 65 MILES OF RAIL, AND OVER 60 STATIONS.
THE COMMUTER RAIL HAS AN AVERAGE OF THREE-MILE STATION 
SPACING.
THIS IS COMPARABLE TO WHAT THEY HAVE IN TRI-RAIL IN MIAMI 
IN TERMS OF STATION SPACING AND SERVICE.
WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS TO ALSO TEST THIS AGAINST SOME 
OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE DONE THIS RECENTLY.
AS YOU'VE HEARD PREVIOUSLY, DENVER AND THE DENVER REGION 
WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF PUTTING A TRANSIT CONCEPT THROUGH 
A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL.
THEY'RE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THEIR PLAN THAT 
YOU SEE HERE, WHICH INCLUDES LIGHT RAIL, COMMUTER RAIL, AND 
BRT.
AND WHAT WE FOUND THROUGH COMPARING THIS CONCEPT FOR 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND FOR DENVER IS THAT THE AREA IS 
COMPARABLE, THE AREA SERVED IS COMPARABLE, AND REALLY, THE 
AMOUNT -- THE LENGTH OF TRANSIT SERVICE PROVIDED IS ALSO 
COMPARABLE, LOOKING AT 65 MILES OF LIGHT RAIL FOR 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMPARED TO 72 MILES OF LIGHT RAIL IN 
THE DENVER PLAN, 95 MILES OF COMMUTER RAIL FOR HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY VERSUS 80 MILES IN THE DENVER PLAN, SO WE'RE RIGHT 
IN LINE LOOKING AT JUST WHAT WOULD SERVE HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY WITH WHAT'S IN THE DENVER CONCEPT.
WE TOOK THIS CONCEPT AND WENT INTO A VERY THOROUGH ANALYSIS 
OF LAND USE ISSUES, LAND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, COMMUNITY 
ISSUES.
WE DEVELOPED STATION TYPOLOGIES THAT HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS 
OF INTENSITY.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RESPECTED EXISTING 
COMMUNITIES, TO NOT RETHINK AREAS BUT TO LOOK AT THE 
MAXIMUM POTENTIAL FOR INFILL DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS -- THAT 
WAS POSSIBLE GIVEN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE -- WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS HOUSEHOLD DENSITY, AND YOU 
DID SEE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION LIKE THIS, SO I WILL GO 
THROUGH THIS A LITTLE BIT QUICKLY HERE, BUT WE DID LOOK AT 
THE INCREMENT OF GROWTH BETWEEN TODAY AND 2050.
THESE ARE HOUSEHOLDS THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO OUR COMMUNITY 
FROM NOW TO 2050, AND WE LOOKED AT THE STATIONS' ABILITY TO 
ACCOMMODATE THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.
WE LOOKED AT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS.
THIS IS, AGAIN, HOUSEHOLD DENSITY, TRANSIT-SUPPORTIVE AREAS 
BEING THE DARKER AREAS, AND THEN WHEN YOU PUT THAT SYSTEM 
DOWN AND THOSE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE DOWN ALIGNED WITH THAT 
SYSTEM, YOU COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.
WE DID THE SAME FOR EMPLOYMENT, LOOKING AT THE INCREMENT OF 
GROWTH AND JOBS, THE CURRENT DENSITY OF JOBS, AND THE 
ABILITY FOR THAT SYSTEM TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE 
TRAVELING TO THOSE JOBS.
WE THEN TABULATED THAT INFORMATION.
WHAT WE FIND HERE IS THAT WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, WHICH IS 
A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THIS, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF 
JOBS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE 
OF THIS SYSTEM AS CONCEIVED, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT 
BECAUSE THE TRIP END WALKING TO YOUR JOB IS A VITAL 
COMPONENT OF GARNERING RIDERSHIP ON THE SYSTEM.
THIS IS THE TOTAL HOUSEHOLD AND JOBS WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE 
STATION AREAS, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT 
LEAD -- THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF 
JOBS WITHIN THOSE AREAS, PARTICULARLY ON THE LIGHT RAIL 
LINES, THE BLUE LINE AND THE RED LINE THAT SERVE WESTSHORE, 
BRANDON, DOWNTOWN, NEW TAMPA, ET CETERA.
SO IT POINTS TO THE NEED TO GET PEOPLE FROM THAT MAJOR 
TRANSIT SERVICE TO THEIR JOB ONCE THEY GET OFF THE RAIL.
FOR 2050 THIS IS THE PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS AND 
JOBS WITHIN STATION AREAS, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT 34% OF 
HOUSEHOLDS AND 49% OF JOBS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THOSE 
ONE-MILE AREAS.
THAT'S THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN 2050.
LOOKING FOR THE INCREMENT, LOOKING FAR TO THE RIGHT, THE 
SYSTEM TOTAL, 93% OF JOBS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN ONE 
MILE OF THE STATIONS GIVEN A TRANSIT-ORIENTED FUTURE FOR 
LAND USE, AND 65% OF HOUSEHOLDS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN 
CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THAT SYSTEM.
AGAIN, GETTING BACK TO THE SENSITIVITY OF AREAS AND HOW 
MUCH DEVELOPMENT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED, WE DID LOOK CLOSELY 
AT THIS AND MADE SOME DIFFERENT ASSUMPTIONS GIVEN THE AREAS 
WHERE THE STATIONS WERE FOR BOTH HOUSEHOLDS AND JOBS, AND 
WE CAME UP WITH -- WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE LAND USE 
CAPACITY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T PROPOSING THINGS 
THAT WERE WAY OUT OF LINE WITH OUR -- WITH OUR ADOPTED 
COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE VALUE VERY MUCH, AND THEY 
EXPRESS COMMUNITY VALUES ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GROW, SO 
WE DID THIS ANALYSIS LOOKING AT EXISTING DENSITIES.
IF YOU GO DOWN THE FIRST COLUMN THERE, YOU'LL SEE EXISTING 
DENSITY WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF STATIONS IS TWO DWELLING 
UNITS PER ACRE.
THE PROJECTED DENSITY OF 2050 GOES UP TO THREE IN THE TREND 
SCENARIO, BUT A TRANSIT-ORIENTED FUTURE WOULD LOOK TOWARDS 
11 UNITS PER ACRE TO REALLY SUPPORT THAT KIND OF SYSTEM, 
WHICH, IN THAT CASE, IS ALIGNED WITH THE CAPACITY PROVIDED 
IN THE LAND USE PLAN.
WE FIND IN GENERAL THAT BOTH WITH RESPECT TO HOUSEHOLDS AND 
JOBS THAT THE LAND USE PLAN WAS ACCOMMODATIVE OF THESE 
KINDS OF DENSITIES.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT POTENTIAL TRANSIT RIDERSHIP.
THESE NUMBERS ARE DERIVED FROM THE LAND USE DATA YOU'VE 
JUST SEEN, THE PEOPLE ADJACENT TO THE STATIONS.
THESE ARE YOUR TRANSIT RIDERS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO 
BE THERE WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE STATIONS, AND WE 
LOOKED AT OTHER AREAS AND OTHER ESTABLISHED SYSTEMS THAT 
HAVE ESTABLISHED RIDERSHIP, AND WE TRANSLATED THAT INTO 
THESE NUMBERS.
LOOKING AT THE BLUE LINE THERE, THE RED LINE AT TOP, NEW 
TAMPA TO PINELLAS COUNTY, HAS 21,000, NOTING THAT WE DID 
NOT INCLUDE THE RIDERS ON THE PINELLAS SIDE OF THE BAY FOR 
THIS.
THIS IS JUST HILLSBOROUGH RIDERS.
BRANDON AND WESTCHASE -- TO WESTCHASE 24,000, SOUTH TAMPA 
8,000.
LOOKING OVER TO THE RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE THE RIDERS PER MILE, 
WHICH REALLY GIVES YOU A METRIC THAT UNDERSTANDS THE 
EFFICACY OF MAKING THESE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS.
WITH COMMUTER RAIL, THERE'S SIMILAR RIDERSHIP FOR SEVERAL 
OF THESE AREAS, BUT AGAIN THE POTENTIAL RIDERSHIP PER MILE 
IS HIGHEST FOR THAT ROUTE THAT GOES DUE NORTH UP TOWARDS 
PASCO COUNTY.
IN TERMS OF CAPITAL COSTS, WE DID WHAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS 
AN EXHAUSTIVE ANALYSIS OF CAPITAL COSTS AND OPERATING AND 
MAINTENANCE COSTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE WERE PROPOSING 
WAS NOT OUTLANDISH AND OUTSIDE THE BOUNDS OF SOMETHING THAT 
WE COULD POTENTIALLY AFFORD TO CONSTRUCT OVER TIME, AND WE 
FOUND THAT THIS TOTAL SYSTEM HERE IS -- WOULD BE $6.1 
BILLION IN CAPITAL COSTS, AND THAT IS GETTING YOU 
EVERYTHING, THE RAIL LINES, THAT'S PURCHASING THE TRAINS, 
THAT'S EVERYTHING EXCEPT UP TO HANDING THE KEYS TO THE 
DRIVER, SO THAT IS THE THOROUGH AND COMPLETE CAPITAL 
COSTING.
THIS IS GOING TO HELP US WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE LRTP, 
LOOKING AT PRIORITIES AND HOW TO FUND THESE THINGS, SO 
WE'RE DOING SOME PRELIMINARY WORK NOW THAT'S GOING TO HELP 
US MAKE SOME DECISIONS LATER.
IN TERMS OF OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE, WE ALSO HAVE 
ESTIMATES FOR THAT.
FOR THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM $64 MILLION PER YEAR, COMMUTER 
RAIL 28 MILLION, AND A SYSTEM TOTAL OF $91 MILLION PER 
YEAR.
SO OUR NEXT STEPS ARE TO HAVE MPO ACTION TO BRING THIS 
STUDY TO A CLOSE, TO INCORPORATE THIS ANALYSIS FOR THE LRTP 
INTO THE LRTP UPDATE AND TO INFORM THE TBARTA PLANNING 
PROCESS AND REALLY ELEVATE IN INTO THE REGIONAL DISCUSSION 
AND HAVE A REAL DISCUSSION ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND 
HOW THAT FITS INTO THIS BIGGER PICTURE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
>> GREAT JOB.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GREAT JOB, ALAN.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. STEINBECK?
MR. SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THERE YOU GO.
EXCELLENT REPORT.
ONE OF THE -- ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE HAD -- AND I 
THINK YOU ADDRESSED IT, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE 
GOING TO HAVE TO THINK MUCH MORE ABOUT.
THE CORRIDORS WHICH YOU'VE ESTABLISHED SEEM TO BE THE 
TRANSIT CORRIDORS WHICH WE'VE ALL KIND OF -- WE ALL 
ACKNOWLEDGE.
HEAVY TRAFFIC -- I READ YESTERDAY -- I THINK IT WAS 
YESTERDAY ABOUT THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY ALONG THE HOWARD 
FRANKLAND AND -- BETWEEN ST. PETE AND TAMPA AND THAT IF -- 
IF WE SEE THE PROJECTIONS BEAR OUT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE 
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CONGESTION.
RIGHT NOW AFTER 4:00 P.M. IT'S PRETTY MUCH LOCKED.
MY QUESTION, THOUGH, IS IF YOU HAVE A TRANSIT SYSTEM, AN 
ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT SYSTEM, THAT BRINGS YOU FROM DOWNTOWN 
ST. PETE, LET'S SAY, TO DOWNTOWN TAMPA, OR THESE LIGHT RAIL 
SYSTEMS YOU'VE DISCUSSED WHICH MIGHT CONNECT THE BRANDON 
AREA TO -- WHETHER IT'S DOWNTOWN TAMPA OR WESTSHORE -- AND 
WESTSHORE IS A MAJOR WORKING DISTRICT -- ONCE YOU GET 
THERE -- AND YOU ADDRESSED THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE 
SURE THAT THE HUB IS WITHIN A MILE OF THE -- WHERE PEOPLE 
WORK, BUT ONCE YOU GET THERE, PEOPLE HAVE TO BE CONFIDENT 
THAT THEY CAN RAPIDLY MOVE FROM WHEREVER THEY'RE DROPPED 
OFF TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT CENTER.
THERE'S GOT TO BE -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE IN SOME OF THE 
MAJOR CAPITALS OR CITIES, WITHIN SHORT WALKING DISTANCE, 
YOU HAVE EVERYTHING FROM THE DRY CLEANERS, THE GROCERY.
IT'S EASY, IT'S ACCESSIBLE, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
WE HAVE WEATHER ISSUES AS WELL.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER WHEN IT'S 
STORMING, PEOPLE HAVE TO BE CONFIDENT THEY CAN GET OFF AND 
NOT GET DRENCHED, AND SO I GUESS, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M GOING 
TO ASK, AS WE CONTINUE TO FLESH OUT HOW WE DESIGN A 
COMMUNITY WHICH WILL SUPPORT IT -- IT'S NOT JUST THE LIGHT 
RAIL SYSTEM, THAT'S WONDERFUL, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M STILL 
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MULTIPLE MOBILITY OPTIONS WHICH 
WILL TAKE YOU FROM YOUR LIGHT RAIL TO YOUR WORK OR WHEREVER 
YOU'RE GOING TO GO, AND SO THAT'S ONE CONCERN.
CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT OR ELABORATE ANY FURTHER?
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  WELL, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.
WE TALK ABOUT MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES WALKABLE, WHICH IS OF 
VITAL IMPORTANCE.
THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO STARTING TODAY 
IS -- FOR THE SAKE OF OUR LIVABILITY BUT ALSO FOR THE SAKE 
OF SUPPORTING THESE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS IS BEING ONCE YOU 
GET OFF THAT SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S BUS OR TRAIN, THAT YOU'D 
BE ABLE TO WALK COMFORTABLY.
WHAT WE FIND WHEN WE LOOK AT URBAN AREAS IS IF THAT AREA IS 
SAFE AND COMFORTABLE, PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO WALK MUCH 
FURTHER, SO MAKING THOSE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS AND BEING 
COMMITTED TO THAT WILL IMPROVE THE VIABILITY OF THE SYSTEM.
PEOPLE WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE USING IT, THEY'LL CHANGE THEIR 
THINKING, AND BE WILLING TO GET OUT AND WALK A LITTLE 
LONGER.
>>MARK SHARPE:  BOSTON IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, I THINK, OF A 
WALKABLE CITY.
IT'S -- YOU FEEL -- YOU CAN WALK LONG DISTANCES.
PEOPLE DO -- YOU SEE THEM WITH SNEAKERS -- BRIEFCASES AND 
SNEAKERS WALKING ALONG, BUT IT'S STILL DESIGNED IN A WAY 
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING RUN OVER, AND 
WE'RE NOT DESIGNED THAT WAY.
ANOTHER ISSUE, YOU BRING IT OUT EARLY, AND I THINK IT'S 
VERY IMPORTANT, THE TRENDS.
WE'RE EXPECTING 400,000 PEOPLE, YOU SAY, AND NOT 
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO LIVE ON TOP OF A STARBUCKS.
I MEAN, I KNOW WE ALL TALK ABOUT THIS HIGH DENSITY AND 
CREATING THE DENSITY WHICH WILL SUPPORT THE TRANSIT, BUT WE 
ARE A SUBURBAN COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW YOU'VE ANALYZED OTHER 
SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
I'M WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN ALLOW PEOPLE THE FREEDOM TO 
CHOOSE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE WHILE STILL BEING ABLE TO 
ENJOY THESE MULTIMODAL OPTIONS, SO SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO 
WANT TO LIVE IN THE SUBURBS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE 
SUBURBS AND SPRAWL, AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO 
ENCOURAGE THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I THINK THAT, YOU 
KNOW -- AND IN A FREE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, PEOPLE SHOULD 
HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE, AND SO 
ARE WE CONSIDERING HOW WE'RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS 
WHO LIVE IN THE SUBURBS AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE 
IN USING SOURCES OUTSIDE -- OR USING MEANS OUTSIDE OF THE 
AUTOMOBILE?
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  YES, AND AGAIN, GETTING BACK TO THE 
ISSUE OF BEING COMMITTED TO SERVING THE WHOLE OF THE 
URBANIZED AREA OF THE COUNTY WITH SOME LEVEL OF TRANSIT 
SERVICE THAT IS APPROPRIATE TO THAT COMMUNITY, AND BUS IS A 
VITAL COMPONENT OF THAT.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT RAIL.
WE HAVE EXPRESS BUS SERVICE AND OTHER SERVICES THAT WILL 
HELP WITH THAT AND PROVIDE THOSE KIND OF CHOICES.
WITH RESPECT TO LIFESTYLE CHOICES, I ALSO AGREE WITH YOU 
ABOUT PEOPLE NEEDING TO HAVE CHOICES ABOUT WHAT -- WHERE 
THEY LIVE AND HOW THEY LIVE.
LOOKING OUT INTO THE FUTURE, THOUGH, LOOKING AT TRAVEL 
COMMUTE TIMES, LOOKING AT THEN DOUBLING OR TRIPLING, I KNOW 
FOR ME, IF THAT OCCURS TO ME, THEN I'M ALL OF A SUDDEN 
TRAVELING AN HOUR AND A HALF OR OVER TWO HOURS TO WORK.
THAT IS -- THEN I'M GOING TO WANT THE CHOICE TO COME LIVE 
CLOSER TO MY JOB, CLOSER TO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND I WILL 
MAKE THAT CHOICE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL MAKE THAT CHOICE, SO BY DOING THIS, WE 
ARE BUILDING IN MORE CHOICES.
WE'VE OUTLINED HERE A TRANSIT-ORIENTED FUTURE.
IT'S A CONCEPT TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL OF THE 
SYSTEM.
THE TRUTH IS THAT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN EVERYONE MOVING NEXT TO 
A TRANSIT STATION AND BEING OFF ON THE TREND THAT WE ARE 
NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.
SO ALL OF THE LIFESTYLES THAT WE HAVE NOW ARE GOING TO BE 
OUT INTO THE FUTURE, BUT WE'LL JUST HAVE MORE CHOICES IF WE 
MAKE THESE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND -- BECAUSE YOU DO RECOGNIZE THE 
IMPORTANCE OF ENHANCING OUR -- I MEAN, WE'RE STILL GOING TO 
NEED ROADS.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  ABSOLUTELY.
>>MARK SHARPE:  PATRICK, YOUR POINT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
WE CAN'T BUILD ENOUGH ROADS TO SOLVE OUR CONGESTION 
PROBLEM.
BUT ONE OF THE POINTS THAT -- I DIDN'T GO WITH THE 
INDIVIDUAL WHO TRAVELED TO CHARLOTTE, BUT I WENT ON MY OWN 
AND I MET WITH THE MAYOR, AND THE MAYOR SAID, FIRST OFF, 
DON'T GET LOCKED INTO CALLING THIS A RAIL SYSTEM.
IT NEEDS TO BE A MOBILITY SYSTEM, AND IF RAIL DOESN'T MAKE 
SENSE FOR ONE LINE, DON'T GO TO RAIL, AND STILL -- AND WHAT 
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM FOLKS FROM CUTR AND OTHER, YOU 
KNOW, GROUPS THAT STUDY IN AS WELL IS THAT YOU'RE SPENDING 
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME DEALING WITH A TRANSIT OPTION 
WHICH ABOUT 2% OF THE WORKING POPULATIONS IN THOSE AREAS 
OUTSIDE OF YOUR MAJOR URBAN POPULATIONS, LIKE CHICAGO AND 
NEW YORK CITY -- BUT -- AND ST. LOUIS OR CHARLOTTE, THOSE 
COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE -- HAVE RAIL OR ARE BUILDING IT, 
IT'S STILL A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF YOUR WORKING POPULATION 
USING IT.
I'M NOT DIMINISHING ITS VALUE.
I THINK IT'S VERY VALUABLE.
I AGREE WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT, BUT MY CONCERN IS JUST 
MAKING SURE WE HAVE A TRUE -- TRUE MULTIMODAL OPTIONS WHICH 
WILL INCLUDE TOLL ROADS AND OTHER MOBILITY OPTIONS.
DO YOU AGREE?
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  YES, I DO, AND WE'RE -- IN FACT, OUR 
FEDERAL AND STATE MANDATE TO DO OUR UPDATE TO OUR LONG-
RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS GOING TO OCCUR NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY THIS TIME AROUND TO BE DOING 
THIS AT THE TIME THAT TBARTA IS DOING SOME SERIOUS 
PLANNING, MAKING SOME DECISIONS, AT THE TIME WHERE HARTLINE 
IS TALKING ABOUT CURRENT PLANNING, CURRENT SYSTEMS, AND HOW 
TO FUND THOSE SYSTEMS, SO COME NEXT YEAR AND MID-YEAR YOU-
ALL ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE SOME VERY INTERESTING AND 
DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAKE WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THAT.
WHAT'S BUILT INTO THAT LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING 
PROCESS IS LOOKING AT THE HIGHWAY NETWORK AND THE TRANSIT 
NETWORK TOGETHER, DOING A ROBUST ANALYSIS OF RIDERSHIP AND 
NUMBER OF VEHICLES OUT ON THE ROADS, HOW THESE THINGS 
INTERACT, SO THERE WILL BE OUTPUT THAT YOU WILL SEE COME 
NEXT YEAR WHERE THOSE THINGS WILL BECOME CLEAR, AND WE WILL 
GET DOWN TO PRIORITIES, WHEN THINGS GET DONE, WHAT GETS 
DONE FIRST, AND THOSE SORTS OF DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO 
BE THE CHALLENGING ONES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I'M GOING TO CLOSE.
I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THESE 
QUESTIONS.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, I BELIEVE 
AND I THINK OFTENTIMES WHEN I SPEAK, PEOPLE FEEL LIKE I'M 
AN OPPONENT BECAUSE I ASK QUESTIONS WHICH SOUND AS IF I'M 
BEING CRITICAL, BUT MY CONCERN IS -- AND I'VE GOT A BOOK 
THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND FOLKS LOOKING AT.
IT'S CALLED "MEGA PROJECTS AND RISK."
THE GENTLEMAN WHO WROTE IT, HE'S DANISH, BUT HE TALKS 
ABOUT -- IT'S CALLED THE "ANATOMY OF AMBITION."
WHAT HE BASICALLY SAYS IN HIS BOOK IS THAT HE STUDIES MEGA 
PROJECTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND WHY MOST OF THEM FAIL, 
AND THE REASON THEY FAIL IS THEY ALWAYS TEND TO 
OVERESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO WILL USE IT AND 
UNDERESTIMATE ITS COST, AND THEN THE PUBLIC LOSES FAITH IN 
OUR ABILITY TO GET IT RIGHT, AND MAYOR LOTT BASICALLY, YOU 
KNOW, NUDGED ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU SUCCEED WHEN YOU 
GET IT RIGHT.
WE GOTTA GET IT RIGHT.
YOU USED TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
THEY'VE GOT IT RIGHT.
GO TO TAMPA INTERNATIONAL, MAN, YOU MOVE ALONG.
YOU GO TO DALLAS -- AND I DON'T WANT TO CRITICIZE ANY OTHER 
CITIES' AIRPORTS, BUT YOU CAN GO TO OTHER CITIES, AND 
YOU'RE WALKING AND WALKING AND WALKING.
FIRST IS GETTING IT RIGHT, BUT ALSO THERE'S ANOTHER POINT 
HE MAKES WHICH IS PROJECT PROMOTERS OFTEN AVOID AND VIOLATE 
ESTABLISHED PRACTICES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, AND 
PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION-
MAKING EITHER OUT OF IGNORANCE OR THEY SEE SUCH PRACTICES 
AS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO GETTING PROJECTS STARTED, AND I 
GUESS I WOULD CLOSE BY SAYING WE'VE GOT TO BE TRANSPARENT, 
WE'VE GOT TO BE INCLUSIVE, AND NOT FEAR THAT BY INVOLVING 
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE ON THE OTHER SIDE SOMEHOW THAT'S GOING 
TO KILL OUR PROJECT.
WHAT'S GOING TO KILL OUR PROJECT IS IF WE PUSH THEM AWAY 
AND STEAM THROUGH WITHOUT HEARING EVERYONE OUT.
AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO 
LISTEN, BUT I WOULD ONLY SAY LET'S MAKE SURE WE BRING 
EVERYBODY IN, AND THEN YOU'LL -- I'M SURE SOME OF US -- 
WE'LL HAVE A MAJORITY OF BOLD PEOPLE TO SUPPORT YOUR 
PROJECT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  COMMISSIONER HAGAN, YOU HAD A --
>>KEN HAGAN:  YES, JUST REAL QUICK.
I JUST WANT TO SAY EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
I LIKED THE LAST SLIDE WHEN IT -- YOU SAID THAT WE NEED TO 
ELEVATE INTO OUR REGIONAL DISCUSSION, AND THAT IS SOMETHING 
THAT DURING OUR THREE TBARTA MEETINGS I'VE STRESSED ALONG 
WITH MAYOR IORIO AND OTHERS, THAT WE NEED TO CERTAINLY 
INCLUDE THE LOCAL PLANS INTO THE DISCUSSION.
I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT BECAUSE 
IF WE DO NOT, I THINK THE REGIONAL PLAN WILL ULTIMATELY BE 
DEAD ON ARRIVAL WHENEVER IT IS PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS 
BECAUSE I THINK THE REALITY IS MOST RESIDENTS WILL NEVER 
USE, YOU KNOW, A RAIL LINE FROM DOWNTOWN TAMPA OR THE 
AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN ST. PETE, SO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET -
- TO BUY INTO IT AND TO -- YOU KNOW, TO BE EXCITED AND TO 
ULTIMATELY VOTE TO APPROVE THE PLAN, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE 
SHOW THEM HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT NOT JUST PEOPLE USING 
THE REGIONAL PLAN BUT ALSO LOCALLY HOW THEY CAN -- HOW THEY 
CAN BENEFIT, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT, AND I'M GLAD TO 
SEE THAT.
THANK YOU.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
MS. MULHERN.
>>MARY MULHERN:  YES.
I WANTED TO -- MR. SHARPE MENTIONED THAT THE CHARLOTTE -- 
WE WERE IN CHARLOTTE A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND THEIR SYSTEM 
HASN'T GONE ON-LINE UNTIL I THINK LAST WEEK OR THIS WEEK, 
SO WE REALLY CAN'T LOOK AT THEM YET, AND THEY ONLY HAVE 
BUILT THE VERY FIRST PART OF THEIR LINE, BUT ONE THING 
THAT -- LESSON THAT THEY LEARNED THAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM 
IN BUILDING THIS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO MANAGE THE 
EXPECTATIONS AND YOU HAVE TO SELL THE PROJECT AS YOU GO 
ALONG BECAUSE WHAT -- WHAT HAPPENED WITH THEM IS THEY 
JUST -- THEY HAD THE BUY-IN AT THE BEGINNING AND THEY 
PASSED THE REFERENDUM TO SUPPORT IT, BUT THEN WITH THE 
LENGTH OF TIME IT TOOK TO ACTUALLY BUILD THAT FIRST LEG, 
PEOPLE WERE -- YOU KNOW, HAD FORGOTTEN WHAT WAS HAPPENING 
AND WERE EXPECTING, OH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYTHING, ALL 
THOSE LINES ARE GOING TO BE IN PLACE AND WE'RE GOING TO HOP 
ON AND EVERYONE CAN USE IT.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG LESSONS THEY LEARNED, AND I 
THINK WE'LL SEE THEY'RE VOTING AGAIN ON WHETHER TO CONTINUE 
TO FUND IT.
THAT WAS JUST ONE THING, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU LOOK 
AT THE CITIES THAT HAVE HAD LIGHT RAIL THAT ARE SIMILAR TO 
US IN SIZE, LIKE DALLAS AND DENVER, THEIR RIDERSHIP HAS 
INCREASED, AND THEY ACTUALLY WERE ABOVE THE PROJECTIONS 
RIGHT AWAY FROM WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE WHEN THEY 
FIRST GOT IT, AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY TO MR. 
HAGAN WAS THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO RIDE TRANSIT DON'T 
RIGHT TRANSIT, BUT THOSE THAT DO ARE GETTING OFF THE ROAD, 
SO YOU HELP THE -- YOU KNOW, YOU HELP WITH THE GRIDLOCK ON 
THE ROADS BY PUTTING THE PEOPLE WHO DO WANT TO RIDE ONTO 
THE -- ONTO THE TRAIN CARS.
AND ONE OTHER THING.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I'VE BECOME OBSESSED WITH TRANSIT, BUT 
ANOTHER THING THAT JOHN AND I HEARD -- AND LUCIE HEARD A 
LOT ABOUT AT RAILVOLUTION WAS THE FACT THAT THE 
DEVELOPMENT -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE MORE SUBURBAN GROWTH 
THAT'S -- PATTERN THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, BUT AS YOU BUILD 
RAIL LINES, THAT'S WHERE THE DEVELOPERS WANT TO GO, AND 
IT'S NOT JUST THAT PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING A -- ALL PEOPLE -- 
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE DO WANT TO LIVE IN A SUBURBAN 
LIFESTYLE, SOME PEOPLE WILL LIVE WHERE IT'S CONVENIENT FOR 
THEM, AND THE -- WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS IS WHERE 
THEY CAN CHOOSE -- WHAT THEY CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN, SO WE'RE 
SEEING THAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE BUYING UP ALL THE LAND 
AROUND WHERE RAIL LINES ARE PLANNED.
SO ONCE WE COMMIT TO THIS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT PATTERN 
CHANGE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHERE YOU CAN LIVE AND 
ALSO WHERE YOU CAN BUILD FOR THE DEVELOPERS, AND THE 
BUILDERS ARE GOING TO OPEN UP.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER -- YES, MR. SKELTON.
>>DON SKELTON:  YEAH, JUST A COUPLE POINTS.
FIRST, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND MR. LEDUC, YOU'RE 
RIGHT, IT'S TIME FOR BOLD PLANS.
ADDRESSING A LOT OF THE GOOD POINTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN 
MADE, MANAGEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND 
FROM THAT ASPECT, I'D LIKE TO JUST REEMPHASIZE A COUPLE 
THINGS THAT I MENTIONED LAST MONTH IN THAT THIS TRULY IS A 
SKETCH CONCEPT PLAN, AND WHILE IT CAN HAVE THE APPEARANCE 
OF SOMETHING MUCH MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE IT IDENTIFIES 
SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGIES AND SPECIFIC STATION LOCATIONS, THAT 
MAY VERY WELL CHANGE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE 
DATA SO THAT THE INFORMATION CAN BE USED IN THE TBARTA 
EXERCISE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN EVERYTHING TO DATE, SO WE 
JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT SO THAT WE CAN 
INCORPORATE.
WE DON'T WANT TO DUPLICATE THE EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING ON, 
BUT IT BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT THAT, AGAIN, DON'T TAKE THIS 
PLAN AND SAY THIS IS THE PLAN FROM THE ASPECT OF THIS IS A 
TECHNOLOGY, IT'S GOING TO BE COMMUTER RAIL, LIGHT RAIL IN 
THESE CORRIDORS AND THESE ARE THE EXACT STATION LOCATIONS 
BECAUSE IT IS LIKELY TO CHANGE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
YES, MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I AGREE WITH YOU, MR. SECRETARY, AND BOLD PLANS AND BOLD 
STEPS I THINK ARE ALSO IMPORTANT.
THERE IS SOME COMPELLING REASONS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE 
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE BOLD PLANS, AND ONE IS THE FACT 
THAT ON PAGE 1 OF THIS -- OF THIS EXCELLENT BOOKLET THAT 
WAS PREPARED, IT SPEAKS TO THE FACT THIS IS A 2050 PLAN, 
AND BY 2050 IS SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT THIS COUNTY WILL 
DOUBLE IN POPULATION FROM APPROXIMATELY A MILLION TO TWO 
MILLION PEOPLE.
SO FOR EVERY CAR THAT YOU'RE SITTING OUT THERE IN TRAFFIC 
WITH TODAY, PICTURE ANOTHER -- ANOTHER CAR, YOU KNOW, 
DOUBLING UP AS WELL.
WE CAN'T -- AS -- MARK, AS YOU INDICATED, WE CAN'T KEEP UP 
WITH THE ROADS.
WE CAN'T DOUBLE THE SIZE OF OUR ROADS FROM WHAT WE HAVE 
TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S NO SPACE AND THERE'S NO MONEY TO DO 
THAT.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK THAT THIS COUNTY HAS NOT 
BEEN TALKING ABOUT ENOUGH, THIS CITY HAS NOT BEEN TALKING 
ABOUT ENOUGH, AND ALL OF OUR CITIES AND COUNTIES IN THIS 
AREA IS THE GLOBAL WARMING ISSUE.
WE JUST HAVEN'T HAD THAT DISCUSSION IN THIS REGION.
I THINK WE SHOULD.
I THINK WE NEED TO DECIDE AS A COMMUNITY IF THIS IS A REAL 
ISSUE.
I BELIEVE IT'S A REAL ISSUE, AND I BELIEVE THAT AS LEADERS, 
ONCE WE DECIDE IT'S A REAL ISSUE, WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT 
STEPS WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TO ADDRESS IT, INCLUDING REDUCING 
OUR CARBON EMISSIONS.
THERE'S NO DOUBT -- AND WE CAN PROVIDE ALL THE STATISTICS 
WE WANT, BUT IT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE TO PUT 30 PEOPLE ON 
A BUS AS COMPARED TO HAVING 30 CARS AND THE AMOUNT OF 
CARBON EMISSIONS THAT ONE COMPARES TO THE OTHER OR PUT, YOU 
KNOW, 500 PEOPLE IN A TRAIN COMPARED TO 500 CARS AND 
COMPARE THOSE CARBON EMISSIONS.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF DATA AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF ANALYSIS WE 
ALSO NEED TO BE DOING BECAUSE THAT'S RESPONSIBLE.
BECAUSE IN 2050 THERE'S A FAIR CHANCE THAT MOST OF US IN 
THIS ROOM MIGHT NOT BE HERE, BUT OUR CHILDREN WILL BE HERE 
AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE HERE, AND WE HAVE A 
RESPONSIBILITY TO THEM TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
AND THE LAST THING I WANTED TO ADDRESS IS THE LAND USE -- 
THE LAND USE ISSUES BECAUSE EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL UP HERE 
DEALS WITH LAND USE ON A WEEK-IN AND WEEK-OUT BASIS, AND 
LAND USE IS ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES IN DOING THIS.
WE HAVE TO START PLANNING AND DOING A BETTER JOB OF -- OF 
DOING OUR LAND USE ALONG THESE MAJOR CORRIDORS, AND WE 
CAN -- AND -- AND I AGREE WITH THE D.O.T.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE RAIL'S GOING TO GO, WE 
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE STATIONS ARE GOING TO GO, BUT 
INTUITIVELY WE ALL KNOW WHERE THESE NODES ARE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE USF, YOU KNOW, NODE IS THERE AND THAT 
THE I-275 CORRIDOR IS GOING TO BE AND NEEDS TO BE A MAJOR 
NODAL AREA, YOU KNOW, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
THESE LINES AND THESE PATHS ARE NOT JUST COINCIDENTAL, THEY 
REPRESENT THE MAJOR NODES.
AS A RESULT, IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS 
TO MAKE LAND USE DECISIONS APPROPRIATE WITH THESE NODES, 
APPROPRIATE WITH THESE PATHS, AND TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED IN MIAMI THIS PAST 
WEEK IS WE NEED TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES, AND BRIAN, YOU'LL 
LOVE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
IT'S NOT TELLING THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, BUT THIS IS 
ACTING RESPONSIBLY AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND GIVING THEM 
INCENTIVES AND SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, IF YOU GO UP THERE 
ALONG THE USF CORRIDOR, IF YOU GO ALONG THE 275 CORRIDOR, 
IF YOU GO OUT THERE ON THAT BRANDON CORRIDOR, WE'LL GIVE 
YOU INCENTIVES TO HELP YOU BUILD THOSE PROJECTS WHERE THEY 
SHOULD BE, AND THEN IF WE DON'T HAVE THE LINE THERE YET, WE 
WILL BRING THE LINE TO THEM, SO THEY'LL BUILD UP THAT NODE, 
THEY'LL BUILD UP THAT AREA, AND THEN WE CAN BETTER AFFORD 
TO BRING THE LINE TO WHERE THEY'RE BUILT UP.
IT'S SORT OF A CHICKEN AND EGG THING, BUT EVENTUALLY WE CAN 
GET THERE.
THE FINAL THING IS -- IN ADDITION TO INCENTIVES IS THE 
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH ALL OF OUR AGENCIES OF 
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP THEM -- TO HELP THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR BUILD IN THESE APPROPRIATE AREAS, AND THEN 
THAT WAY WE CAN ALL GET AWAY FROM THE SPRAWL THAT IS -- YOU 
KNOW, REALLY HAS NO END.
I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO BUY INTO SPRAWL, WE MIGHT AS WELL 
JUST SAY IT AND GO OUT TO THE EDGE OF THE CORRIDOR, BUT I 
DON'T THINK ANYBODY UP HERE WANTS THAT FOR OUR COUNTY.
WE DON'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE PINELLAS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, 
OR PALM BEACH OR BROWARD OR DADE WHERE THEY'VE BUILT OUT TO 
THE EDGE OF WHERE THEY CAN BUILD OUT, YOU KNOW.
WE WANT TO -- AND THE COUNTY'S DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF 
BEING RESPONSIBLE IN CREATING THIS URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY.
NOW WE HAVE THIS BOUNDARY, LET'S RESPECT IT, AND LET'S 
ENCOURAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO BUILD WITHIN THAT BOUNDARY 
AND ALSO ALONG THESE CORRIDORS.
AND -- I SAID THAT WAS THE LAST THING, BUT THERE'S ONE 
OTHER THING.
PARK-AND-RIDE.
MARK, I THINK THAT THE REALITY IS, YOU'RE RIGHT, FOLKS ARE 
GOING TO WANT TO BE IN A SUBURBAN CONDITION, BUT THEY CAN 
STILL DRIVE TO THE LOCAL STATION, AS THEY DO IN ATLANTA, AS 
THEY DO IN MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THEY CAN GET IN THEIR CAR, DRIVE TO THE STATION.
MY STEPFATHER DID THAT UP IN NEW JERSEY FOR 50 -- YOU KNOW, 
60, 70 YEARS AGO.
HE GOT IN HIS CAR IN SUBURBAN NEW JERSEY, AND HE DROVE FOUR 
MILES TO THE LOCAL STATION, AND HE GOT ON THE TRAIN AND HE 
TOOK THE TRAIN TO NEW YORK CITY.
PARK-AND-RIDE'S BEEN GOING ON, YOU KNOW, FOR DECADES, AND 
THAT'S PART OF THE SUBURBAN CONDITION.
WE'RE NOT IGNORING IT AND SAYING THE SUBURBAN CONDITION IS 
GOING AWAY.
WE CAN BUILD THE PARK-AND-RIDE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TOD.
ANYWAY, THANKS FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, MR. SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  WELL, I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT.
I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD REPORT.
I'VE BEEN AROUND TEN YEARS, AND I'VE SEEN REPORTS COME, 
I'VE SEEN THEM DUSTED OFF AND ALL THAT.
THE BIG ISSUE FOR ME, THOUGH, IS I WENT TO SAN DIEGO, WENT 
TO DENVER, ST. LOUIS, WENT TO PORTLAND, WHERE ELSE?
BEEN TO MIAMI.
YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE BECOMES ONCE YOU FRAME ALL THAT, YOU 
GOT TO HAVE POLITICAL WILL TO PUT THE QUESTION OUT THERE.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO.
I MEAN, WE NEED NOT FOOL OURSELVES.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE POLITICAL WILL TO PUT THE QUESTION OUT 
THERE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FUND THIS OR WHATEVER THE END 
PRODUCT WILL BE, AND IF TBARTA IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO 
ADDRESS THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSED, 
BUT THAT BECOMES THE ISSUE.
THAT WAS THE ISSUE IN 2001 -- WELL, '99, 2001, 2002, AND 
IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THE ISSUE WHENEVER, YOU KNOW, YOU 
MOVE FORWARD WITH THE END PRODUCT, SO THAT'S THE ISSUE.
GREAT PLAN, GREAT PRESENTATION.
I SUPPORT IT, I ENDORSE IT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, 
TALKING ABOUT THAT BOLDNESS AND TAKING THAT BOLD STEP, THE 
POLITICAL WILL TO PUT THE QUESTION, OKAY, HOW TO FUND IT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  I AGREE.
MARY.
>>MARY MULHERN:  I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION TO FOLLOW 
UP ON WHAT MR. SCOTT SAID, AND I DON'T KNOW -- MR. HAGAN'S 
NOT HERE.
WHO'S ON -- MR. SKELTON'S HERE.
SOMEONE WHO'S ON THE TBARTA BOARD, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR 
YOU.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING YOUR PLAN FOR JULY 2009, IS THE 
IDEA THAT ALL EIGHT OF THESE PARTICIPATING COUNTIES ARE 
SUPPOSED TO GET ONBOARD AND, YOU KNOW, ASK FOR THE FUNDING 
SOURCE AT THE SAME TIME?
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT TBARTA'S TALKING ABOUT?
>>DON SKELTON:  THAT STRATEGY IS BEING DEVELOPED BY THE 
TBARTA BOARD AND OBVIOUSLY WILL HAVE TO BE A COMPONENT OF 
IT.
COUNCILMAN SCOTT IS EXACTLY RIGHT, IT'S GOING TO BE THE 
POLITICAL WILL OF ASKING THE QUESTIONS, BUT THAT BOARD IS 
THE APPROPRIATE ONE.
WHETHER IT'S ALL EIGHT AT THE SAME TIME OR WHETHER IT'S 
INDIVIDUAL ONES, DON'T KNOW JUST YET.
>>MARY MULHERN:  YOU'RE NOT THERE YET.
>>DON SKELTON:  THAT BECOMES VERY CAREFUL STRATEGIZING.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  I'M SORRY.
YES.
>>RICK LOTT:  IT SOUNDS LIKE -- I WAS POLLING THE BOARD 
TODAY -- THERE'S CONSENSUS THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE 
CAN DO TODAY BECAUSE TRANSIT'S INEVITABLE, WHETHER IT'S 
2050, 2075, 2100, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE IT'S INEVITABLE, 
YOU KNOW.
SOONER OR LATER, THE TIMES WILL BE RIGHT THAT THE VOTERS 
WILL APPROVE US HAVING A MULTITRANSIT SYSTEM USING TRANSIT 
AND LIGHT RAIL, BUT ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO TODAY, I THINK 
WE'RE ALL AGREEING UPON IT -- AND I GUESS THE QUESTION IS 
HOW DO WE COME TOGETHER NOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN -- IS OUR 
LAND USES, YOU KNOW, THE PARK-AND-RIDES.
WHEN WE CAN DETERMINE TODAY WHERE THOSE PARK-AND-RIDES 
SHOULD BE AT, AND WE CAN MAKE THOSE ACQUISITION TODAY IN 
ANTICIPATION OF RAIL AND THE BUS SYSTEM.
WHEN WE'RE APPROVING LARGE DEVELOPMENTS, YOU KNOW, ARE WE 
REQUESTING TOWN CENTERS TO BE IN THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT 
BRINGS, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THEIR 
HOMES TO A TOWN CENTER WHERE THE DRY CLEANERS AND THE 
STARBUCKS AND EVERYTHING IS AT TO WHERE THE RAIL AND BUS 
SYSTEM WILL BE THERE AS A DROPPING-OFF POINT.
TODAY WE HAVE THE ABILITY ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER AND 
CREATING LAND USES TO SUPPORT LIGHT RAIL BECAUSE IT'S GOING 
TO HAPPEN, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHEN.
THOSE DECISIONS WE CAN MAKE EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN WE 
APPROVE THE LAND USE AMENDMENT.
ONE THING I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS, WHEN I LOOK 
AT THE RIDERSHIP -- I THINK I'M PRETTY ACCURATE IN THIS,
AND MAYBE YOU MIGHT WANT TO CORRECT ME, BUT I BELIEVE IF 
YOU TAKE THE I-4 AND THE SIX LANES OF I-4, IT'S APPROVED 
FOR 136,000 CARS A DAY.
IS THAT A PRETTY GOOD -- ACCURATE NUMBER THERE?
I KNOW GOING THROUGH MY HOMETOWN IT'S 136,000.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>>DON SKELTON:  IT'S NOT OUT OF THE BALLPARK.
>>RICK LOTT:  SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEM HERE, AND 
THAT'S JUST ONE ROAD.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEM HERE THAT REACHES THROUGHOUT 
ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTY AND WOULD REACH 80,000 PASSENGERS A 
DAY, SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE BUILDING A BRAND-NEW INTERSTATE IN 
OUR COMMUNITY THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COUNTY VERSUS JUST 
THE SWATH THAT THE INTERSTATE WOULD BE BUILT DOWN, AND I'M 
SURE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL 
RIDERSHIP OF 80,000 PEOPLE, ONCE THE ROAD IS BUILT AS 
CAPACITY IS THERE AND SET, I THINK WITH THE RAIL SET, YOU 
CAN ALWAYS ADD ADDITIONAL TRAINS, ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION 
[INCOMPREHENSIBLE] TAKE THAT 80,000 TO 100,000, 125,000.
AT LEAST I WOULD MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION, SO I'M VERY ENTHUSED 
ABOUT US MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
MY ONLY FEAR IS -- THERE'S TWO FIERCE.
I HOPE WE DON'T THINK SMALL.
I HOPE WE THINK BIG.
AND THE FEAR FROM THAT IS THE VOTERS WILL APPROVE THIS AS 
LONG AS THEY KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO WORK.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE HAVE A HABIT OF DOING JUST ENOUGH TO 
MAKE IT HAPPEN BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORK PROPERLY.
SO I HOPE WHEN WE PLAN THIS WE DO IT THE CORRECT WAY AND 
GIVE THE VOTERS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR AND 
WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM US AND WE DON'T COME UP SHORT.
SO I HOPE WE THINK BIG IN OUR PROCESS OF THINKING ABOUT THE 
TRANSIT SYSTEM.
AND THEN THE -- AND THEN THE SECOND POINT HOPEFULLY WE ALL 
TAKE FROM THIS IS TODAY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAVE THE 
ABILITY TO PLAN FOR TOMORROW JUST SIMPLY THROUGH OUR LAND 
USES, AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A CONSENSUS HERE TODAY, BUT 
PLEASE THINK BIG WHEN WE PUT THIS PLAN TOGETHER.
THAT'S ALL.
THANKS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
WELL, I KNOW I'M VERY ENCOURAGED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FOR SO 
MANY YEARS WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT HAVING THIS PROBLEM, 
BUT VERY LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT.
BUT AT LEAST NOW WE HAVE AN INITIAL STEP THAT WILL GET A 
LOT OF CONVERSATION, A LOT OF CONSIDERATION, CONTRIBUTION 
TO THE TBARTA BOARD, AND WE'LL MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, SO I 
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE DOING, 
ALAN.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
SO WE -- WITH THAT, WE NEED A MOTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD 
OR APPROVE THE PLAN.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO MOVE.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ALL RIGHT.
MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALAN.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE MPO/TPC MEMORANDUM OF 
AGREEMENT.
LUCIE.
>>LUCIE AYER:  YES, MAYOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M JUST GOING TO JUST GO AHEAD AND GIVE A VERY BRIEF 
PRESENTATION ON WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, AND THEN -- AND I 
KNOW THAT THE CHAIRMAN WILL LEAD THE DISCUSSION, AND I AM 
GOING TO HAVE THE HELP OF JOE ZAMBITO.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
>>JOE ZAMBITO:  IT'S UP.
WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO SHOW IT.
>>LUCIE AYER:  OKAY.
AS I HAD MENTIONED, THIS ITEM IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE 
MPO AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THE REASON WHY WE'RE 
UPDATING THIS IS THAT LAST YEAR, BASED ON HOUSE BILL 985 
THAT WAS PASSED -- ACTUALLY, JUST THE LAST LEGISLATIVE 
SESSION -- THERE WERE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT WE NEED TO 
MEET.
AND -- BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT THE CURRENT 
AGREEMENT IS PRETTY OLD, AS YOU CAN TELL.
IT WAS SIGNED BACK IN, I THINK, 1978, AND IT CONTAINS 
OUTDATED LANGUAGE, AND THE CITATIONS, THEY WERE ALL VERY, 
VERY OLD.
AND AS I HAVE MENTIONED, BESIDES THE STATE MANDATES, THERE 
ARE ALSO FEDERAL MANDATES THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED DURING 
THOSE LAST 30 YEARS.
AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO -- THE FIRST THING IS 
THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CORRECT OUR NAME.
OUR AGREEMENT JUST SAYS THE TAMPA URBAN AREA MPO, AND AS 
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT WE HAVE BECOME THE HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY MPO FOR OVER TEN YEARS NOW, AND THE LIST OF 
AGENCIES, THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED, AND OF COURSE, IN 
THE DEFINITION OF TERMS.
THESE ARE SORT OF THE MECHANICAL STUFF OF AN AGREEMENT.
AS I MENTIONED, WE UPDATED THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, AND IN IT 
WE ALSO CLARIFIED THE PROVISION OF LEGAL COUNSEL THAT YOU 
HAVE DISCUSSED BEFORE.
AND ALSO, AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE GOVERNED BY OUR BUDGET 
DOCUMENT CALLED A "UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM," AND 
THROUGHOUT ALL THESE YEARS, ONCE AGAIN, REQUIREMENTS HAVE 
BEEN CHANGED, AND WE'RE UPDATING THE AGREEMENT TO REFLECT 
THOSE REQUIREMENTS TO BE COMPLIANT WITH FEDERAL AND STATE 
LAWS.
AND WE HAVE ALSO UPDATED ALL THE NONDISCRIMINATION 
REQUIREMENTS, THE DURATION OF THE AGREEMENT, AND WE HAVE 
MUCH BETTER LANGUAGE ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES FROM 
BOTH SIDES.
AND WITH THAT, THE STAFF IS ASKING THAT THE MPO WOULD 
APPROVE THIS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND 
THE MPO SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE YOU.
AND THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  MOVE APPROVAL, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  PARDON?
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  MOVE APPROVAL.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
MOVED AND SECONDED.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I HAVE A QUESTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, MR. SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH REGARD TO THE 
HIRING PROCESS FOR THE HEAD OF THE MPO, THE MPO DIRECTOR.
WAS THAT PART OF THIS, OR ARE WE GOING TO DISCUSS THAT 
SEPARATELY WITH --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
I THOUGHT WE -- FIRST WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS --
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO MOVING APPROVAL DOES NOT -- THERE WAS 
LANGUAGE THAT SAID THE DIRECTOR WOULD BE HIRED BY THE 
CHAIRMAN -- OR THE HEAD OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND WE 
AGREED THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, SO --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO BASICALLY THAT PART HAS BEEN PULLED OUT 
OF THIS MOTION HERE; IS THAT CORRECT?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MR. HUNTER.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, MR. SHARPE, IS APPROVE THE 
AGREEMENT AS IT EXISTS.
WE ANSWERED -- WE CAME BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU KNOW, ON TWO OF THE THREE ITEMS THAT 
WERE ADDRESSED IN THE LETTER FROM MR. NORMAN.
>>MARK SHARPE:  RIGHT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  AND ONE WAS THE PURCHASING AGREEMENT, HOW 
GOODS ARE PURCHASED, AND THE SECOND THING IS THE FUNDING 
FOR SEPARATE ATTORNEY, MAKING IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE -- 
ASKING FOR THE FLEXIBILITY TO HIRE AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL 
WAS STRICTLY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE FULL MPO BOARD AND 
THAT IT WOULD BE FUNDED FROM A GRANT THAT WE GET THROUGH 
STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY, SO THERE WOULD BE NO CUTTING ONE 
TO FUND ANOTHER.
>>MARK SHARPE:  RIGHT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  SO WE ANSWERED THOSE TWO QUESTIONS.
THE OTHER QUESTION WAS REGARDING THE HIRING OF THE 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND WE SAID THAT MR. HUNTER WOULD BE 
HERE TO ADDRESS THE MPO BOARD REGARDING THE POLICY AS IT 
EXISTED, AND WE COULD ALL -- WE COULD DISCUSS HOW WE MIGHT 
WANT THIS TO HAPPEN FROM THIS POINT ON IN TERMS OF HIRING 
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>>MARK SHARPE:  CORRECT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  SO I WOULD LIKE TO, IF WE CAN, APPROVE THE 
AGREEMENT AS IT IS, AND THEN WITH WHATEVER OTHER 
RESTRICTIONS OR --
>>MARK SHARPE:  MY -- LET ME JUST DIRECT -- ADDRESS MY 
CONCERNS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  SURE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THE FUTURE 
THIS POLICY-MAKING BOARD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON WHO 
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL BE, IN PARTICULAR AS WE GET 
READY TO MOVE FORWARD ON WHAT WILL LIKELY BE THE MOST 
CHALLENGING ISSUE THIS BOARD HAS FACED, WHICH IS THIS 2050 
PLAN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO I DID NOT WANT THIS -- I DID NOT WANT 
THE LANGUAGE TO -- WHILE -- I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN MR. 
HUNTER AND I WANTED TO HEAR FROM HIM, BUT I THINK THAT THE 
BOARD HERE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT -- AND THE 
LANGUAGE THAT WE HAD HERE MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT WAS NOT 
GOING TO BE DECIDED BY THIS BOARD BUT IT WAS GOING TO BE 
DECIDED BY ONE INDIVIDUAL, AND I JUST -- I FEEL THAT THIS 
BOARD SHOULD HAVE A ROLE IN MAKING THAT DECISION.
AND IF I'M NOT CORRECT --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  I AGREE WITH THAT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  -- THEN LET ME KNOW, BUT BEFORE I VOTE TO 
APPROVE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BOARD HAS THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ALL RIGHT.
MR. HUNTER, WOULD YOU MIND.
THANKS, JOSEPH.
>>BOB HUNTER:  GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS.
BOB HUNTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
BEFORE I SIT DOWN, I DO WANT TO GET INTO MULTIMODAL AND 
LAND USE.
IT IS OCCURRING, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN 
THAT TO EVERYONE.
WHEN THE MAYOR CALLED ME CONCERNING THIS, I GUESS, A 
MONTH -- A LITTLE BIT OVER A MONTH AGO, I'M SORRY I WASN'T 
HERE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT.
COMMISSIONER SHARPE, THE WORDING SAYS IN THE AGREEMENT IN 
FRONT OF YOU AT THIS TIME, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL 
REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE MPO GOVERNING BOARD FOR ALL MATTERS 
REGARDING ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF THE MPO.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE MPO FOR 
THE CONDUCT OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS, ET CETERA.
SO THAT ESSENTIALLY --
>> WHICH PAGE?
>>BOB HUNTER:  PAGE 4.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  PAGE 4, 3.01.
>> OKAY.
>>BOB HUNTER:  I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW THE PROCESS 
HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST BECAUSE IT WAS INTENDED TO BE 
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME WAY, AND IF YOU WANTED TO CHANGE IT AT 
SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, I'D BE GLAD TO COME BACK AND 
ADDRESS THAT WITH YOU.
BUT I HAVE, WORKING WITH THE MPO AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE 
MPO, BROUGHT ON TWO EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE MPO OVER THE 
PAST 20 YEARS.
I MEAN, COUNCILMAN SCOTT, I THINK YOU WERE HERE EARLY ON 
WHEN MAYOR WOODARD WAS HERE, AND HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE 
MPO.
HE WAS MAYOR OF TEMPLE TERRACE.
AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN THE VACANCY BECAME AVAILABLE, 
UNDER THE OLD AGREEMENT WHAT I DID WAS ADVERTISE NATIONALLY 
IN TRANSPORTATION JOURNALS, AND THEN WE -- I NARROWED IT 
DOWN TO ABOUT FIVE APPLICANTS.
AT THAT TIME I REVIEWED ALL OF THE APPLICANTS WITH THE 
CHAIRMAN OF THE MPO AT THAT TIME, AND WE MUTUALLY AGREED 
UPON SOMEONE THAT I SHOULD MAKE AN OFFER TO, WHICH I 
PROCEEDED TO MAKE AN OFFER TO, AND THEN LUCIE AYERS WAS 
HIRED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MPO.
ANNUALLY I HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MPO 
CONCERNING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEFORE 
I COMPLETE MY EVALUATION.
THAT'S THE WAY IT PRESENTLY IS, AND THAT'S THE WAY IT'S 
INTENDED IN THIS AGREEMENT.
IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT, I'D BE GLAD TO COME BACK AND 
DISCUSS IT WITH YOU, BUT I JUST NEED TO GIVE YOU A WORD OF 
CAUTION BECAUSE IF -- THE MPO STAFF PRESENTLY IS THE 
TRANSPORTATION STAFF TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I DON'T WANT TO GET THIS REAL COMPLICATED, BUT THE BOCC CUT 
THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S BUDGET BY 10% THIS PAST YEAR.
THAT DIDN'T JUST DEAL WITH LAND USE PEOPLE, THAT DEALT WITH 
TRANSPORTATION PEOPLE, AND RIGHT NOW I USE THE MPO STAFF AS 
THE TRANSPORTATION STAFF TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE HAD THE LEGISLATIVE MANDATE BY STATE LAW TO DO 
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.
THAT'S THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT, AND PRIMARILY THE 
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ELEMENT OF EACH OF THE COMP PLANS OF 
THE FOUR GOVERNMENTS DRIVES THE CIE, SO IT'S THAT 
TRANSPORTATION STAFF THAT I RELY HEAVILY UPON AS IT DEALS 
WITH TRANSPORTATION PLANNING TO THE FOUR GOVERNMENTS.
IF I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE TRANSPORTATION PEOPLE, I 
HAVE TO GO HIRE OTHER PEOPLE, SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE 
SERVING -- THEY'RE WEARING TWO HATS.
I JUST -- I DIDN'T WANT TO COMPLICATE IT, BUT THE POINT IS 
RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS TO BE A GOOD PARTNERSHIP THAT I HAVEN'T 
SEEN ANY PROBLEMS WITH, AND IF YOU'RE RAISING A CONCERN AND 
WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO ADDRESS IT PERHAPS AT SOME OTHER TIME 
BY GOING INTO DETAILS, I'D BE GLAD TO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO 
PROVIDE THAT CLARIFICATION.
>>MARK SHARPE:  MY CONCERN JUST IS THAT -- THAT -- I 
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WITH REGARD TO YOUR PLANNING 
STAFF, AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY -- THAT'S YOUR 
DECISION, BUT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MPO, WHO IS THE 
PUBLIC FACE AND THE VOICE FOR OUR VISION AND OUR PLANNING, 
WHO WE WORK WITH AND WHO WORK -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU 
KNOW, THE BOLD ACTION IT'S GOING TO TAKE, WE'RE GOING TO 
HAVE TO HAVE, AGAIN, THE ABILITY TO GET OUT THERE AND MAKE 
THE SELL TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT IN THE 
FUTURE THIS -- THIS IS JUST MY OPINION -- THAT THIS 
POLICY -- THIS BOARD HERE, AS MEMBERS OF THE MPO, SHOULD BE 
ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION AS TO WHOM THE 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WOULD BE.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW THE DISCUSSION IS 
BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE CHAIRMAN AND THAT YOU HAVE THIS ON 
AN ANNUAL BASIS?
>>BOB HUNTER:  YES, SIR, BUT I'D LIKE TO REFER BACK TO WHAT 
I JUST READ AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MPO SHALL REPORT DIRECTLY TO 
THE MPO GOVERNING BOARD FOR ALL MATTERS REGARDING THE 
ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF THE MPO.
WE TRIED TO CLEAR THAT UP AND ESSENTIALLY STRENGTHEN IT 
BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY IT HAD I BELIEVE IT WAS EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND SO WE SHARPENED IT 
BY SAYING THAT SHE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO YOU, AND WHEN THE 
OPPORTUNITY COMES, I WOULD SAY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HIRING OF THE MPO 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S CLEAR IN WHAT IT'S SAYING HERE.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  WELL --
>> I HAVE A QUESTION HERE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WAIT.
MR. DINGFELDER IS FIRST.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  I'LL DEFER TO MR. LOTT.
>>RICK LOTT:  SO THAT I'M CLEAR, WHEN I LOOK AT A POLICY 
LIKE THIS, I DON'T LOOK AT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TODAY MAKING 
THOSE DECISIONS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I HAVE ALL THE 
CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF, MR. HUNTER, AND WHAT YOU DO, AND DO 
YOU A PHENOMENAL JOB, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RETIRE OR 
ARE ELSEWHERE?
I MEAN, THAT NEXT PERSON IN LINE THERE, YOU KNOW -- AND I'M 
JUST LOOKING AT A POLICY, NOT AN INDIVIDUAL.
MY QUESTION IS THIS:  MY ASSUMPTION HERE IS -- THE WAY I'M 
READING THIS IS THAT IF WE NEEDED A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
OF THE MPO, YOU'D GO OUT AND DO THE SEARCH, OKAY, AND YOU'D 
BRING --
>>BOB HUNTER:  COULD I CORRECT YOU THERE?
>>RICK LOTT:  THAT'S NOT -- THAT'S INCORRECT?
>>BOB HUNTER:  I'D LIKE TO JUST -- BEFORE YOU GO ON WITH 
YOUR ASSUMPTION, I'D LIKE TO CORRECT WHAT YOU'RE ASSUMING.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
>>BOB HUNTER:  OKAY.
BECAUSE WITH THIS NEW LANGUAGE, IT SAYS THE EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR SHALL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE MPO GOVERNING BOARD 
FOR ALL MATTERS.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
>>BOB HUNTER:  WHAT I'M SAYING IS SHOULD LUCIE VACATE THE 
POSITION, I'D BE COMING BACK HERE TO SAY HOW DO YOU WANT TO 
HANDLE THIS MATTER?
>>RICK LOTT:  SO THAT'S HOW IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?
>>BOB HUNTER:  YES, SIR.
THAT'S MY INTENTION.
>>RICK LOTT:  YOU'D BE TAKING THE DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD, 
THEN?
>>ROBERT HUNTER:  YES.
WE'VE STRENGTHENED THE LANGUAGE, I THINK, TO MAKE IT 
STRONGER FOR THE MPO TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SELECTION OF THE 
MPO DIRECTOR.
I MEAN, IT SAYS IT PRETTY CLEARLY HERE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD SAY -- MY ONLY CONCERN IS IF YOU 
TAKE AWAY MY TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PEOPLE FROM THE 
PLANNING COMMISSION, WE'VE -- THERE ARE MAJOR BUDGET 
PROBLEMS FOR THE MPO AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT I 
TRIED TO MAKE IT CLEARER HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, SHOULD THERE 
BE A VACANCY AND YOU NEED TO FILL IT, I'D BE COMING BACK 
HERE SAYING, OKAY, HOW DO YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS NOW?
YOU HAVE A VACANCY, WHAT'S THE PROCESS YOU'D LIKE TO GO 
THROUGH.
I, OF COURSE, WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT'S GOING TO BE MY DECISION 
EXCLUSIVELY.
IT SHOULD NOT BE.
DOES THAT ADDRESS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>>RICK LOTT:  MY ANTICIPATION WAS THAT A SEARCH WOULD BE 
DONE AND THAT QUALIFIED PERSON WOULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD 
AND THE BOARD WOULD APPROVE THAT SEARCH.
THAT'S MY ASSUMPTION.
FROM READING THIS, I HAVE A HARD TIME READING THAT INTO 
THERE.
>> MR. CHAIR.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  I DEFERRED TO MR. LOTT.
I THINK THE ISSUE, BOB -- MR. HUNTER, IS THAT PARAGRAPH 
3.01 IS SILENT IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS, AND WHAT I'M 
HEARING FROM MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS IS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO 
SEE SOMETHING CODIFIED.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY HAD A PROBLEM WITH WHAT YOU JUST 
DESCRIBED AS THE -- AS THE PROCESS THAT YOU USE.
I WOULD ADD TO THAT PROCESS, JUST AS A FRIENDLY SUGGESTION, 
TWO THINGS.
ONE, THAT YOU CODIFY IT AND THAT WE PUT IT INTO 3.01 OR 
SOME OTHER APPROPRIATE PLACE SO THAT WAY, ANY FUTURE BOARD, 
THE POLICY DOESN'T CHANGE AROUND DEPENDING UPON WHO'S IN 
FRONT OF THAT PODIUM AND WHO'S HERE, THERE'S ALREADY A 
POLICY IN PLACE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD BE MORE 
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
NUMBER TWO IS THAT I THINK THAT WHEN YOU -- I THINK THAT 
WHEN YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'VE DONE -- YOU AND THE 
CHAIRMAN HAVE DONE THE -- YOU KNOW, THE WEEDING OUT AND YOU 
GET DOWN TO THAT ONE PERSON THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HIRE, I 
THINK THAT THAT'S PROBABLY WHEN THE BOARD WOULD FEEL 
COMFORTABLE WITH ADVISE-AND-CONSENT TYPE OF PROCEDURE, THAT 
YOU WOULD BRING THAT PERSON, HAVE THEM COME FROM FRONT OF 
US, THIS THE PERSON THAT I RECOMMEND, MPO BOARD, AND WE 
GIVE THEM THAT VOTE.
AND THEN -- AND THEN EVERYBODY -- YOU KNOW, IT'S A FORMAL 
BLESSING BY THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD, AND THEN WE MOVE ON.
THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EXISTING DIRECTOR AND THAT 
SORT OF THING, IT JUST SPEAKS TO DOWN THE ROAD.
AND I -- THAT WOULD BE A FRIENDLY SUGGESTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
MR. SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  BOY, I TELL YOU, THESE BIG BOARDS TAKE 
FOREVER TO SAY SOMETHING.
[LAUGHTER]
I THINK WE ALL KIND OF CONCUR.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU WHAT MY EXPERIENCE IS.
IF IT'S NOT IN WRITING, IT DON'T EXIST.
>> RIGHT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  I'M JUST TELLING YOU.
DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH IT.
IF IT'S NOT IN WRITING AND IT'S NOT CLEAR, IT DON'T EXIST.
NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT -- ON PAGE 3 IN SCOPE OF SERVICES, 
WHAT HE JUST OUTLINED IS NOT WHAT'S IN WRITING HERE.
>> RIGHT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  I'M JUST TELLING YOU, OKAY.
AND SO, THEREFORE, YOU NEED TO OUTLINE WHAT YOU WANT AND 
PUT IT IN WRITING.
NOW, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MR. HUNTER DOING THE 
SEARCH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HIM DOING THE 
INTERVIEWING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY SUGGESTION 
WOULD BE HE BRINGS THREE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE RANK THEM 
AND HE GOES BACK AND NEGOTIATES IT.
YOU CAN DO IT THAT WAY IF YOU WANT TO.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  THAT'S HOW WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  BUT AT SOME POINT, YOU NEED TO HAVE INPUT 
IN WHO THAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS GOING TO BE.
AND SEE, MY BELIEF IS THAT YOU DON'T SET POLICIES FOR AN 
EXISTING ADMINISTRATION OR EXISTING AGENCIES.
YOU SET POLICIES FUTURISTIC FOR WHOEVER'S GOING TO BE 
THERE, AND THAT'S PART OF THE THING WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW 
IN COUNCIL.
YOU DON'T SET POLICIES FOR NOW FOR WHO'S IN THERE, YOU SET 
POLICIES, PUBLIC POLICIES FOR THE FUTURE, FOR WHOEVER'S 
GOING TO BE THERE.
NO MATTER WHO'S THERE, IT'S THE SAME.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANYONE ELSE?
>>MARK SHARPE:  I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE DISCUSSING, THEN -- AND I AGREE, AND THANK YOU FOR 
CLARIFYING, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE I AGREE.
IF IT'S NOT IN WRITING, IT'S NOT THERE, SO WE NEED TO PUT 
IT IN WRITING.
ON MANY OF THE OTHER BOARDS I SERVE ON, WE HAVE AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, GIVE OUR INPUT AS TO 
THE EFFECTIVENESS -- EVALUATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 
AND I THINK THAT -- HOW IS THAT -- HOW -- HOW ON AN ANNUAL 
BASIS -- I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD ONCE BEFORE, LEFT, COME 
BACK, AND I'M FINISHING UP MY NOW SECOND YEAR ON THE MPO.
DO BOARD MEMBERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN A FORMAL PROCESS TO 
MAKE THEIR CONCERNS OR, IF NOT CONCERNS, WHAT THEY LIKE 
KNOWN TO BOTH YOU AND TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN A WAY 
THAT CAN BE USED TO EVALUATE THEIR CURRENT -- AND WE'RE 
NOT -- I AGREE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANY CURRENT MEMBER 
NOW BUT JUST FOR THE FUTURE -- BUT TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE 
THE EFFICACY OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GOOD OR BAD?
HOW DO WE NOW ALL HAVE INPUT INTO THE EXISTING EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR?
LET'S SAY THAT WE HIRE A DIRECTOR FOR ONE MISSION AND THEN 
THE MISSION CHANGES, NOW WE HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW MISSION.
PERHAPS THIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHO IS A PHENOMENAL 
DIRECTOR, IS NOT WELL SUITED FOR THE MISSION.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THAT BECAUSE WE MIGHT NOT BE 
JUST WAITING UNTIL THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RETIRES, THERE 
MIGHT BE A TIME WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY HIRE AN EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR.
>>BOB HUNTER:  IS THAT THE END OF YOUR QUESTION?
>>MARK SHARPE:  YES, SIR.
IT'S A LONG QUESTION, BUT YES.
>>BOB HUNTER:  TO TRY TO RESPOND TO COUNCILMAN SCOTT'S 
SUGGESTION TOO, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST WE DEVELOP A MEMORANDUM 
OF AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL CLARIFY THIS, BUT THIS WILL GET US 
ON WITH THIS.
TWO POINTS.
NUMBER ONE, A HYPOTHETICAL WAY THAT SHOULD THE POSITION 
BECOME AVAILABLE, THIS IS HOW WE INTEND TO DO IT.
AND WHEN THE POSITION BECOMES AVAILABLE, WE'LL COME BACK TO 
YOU FOR AN OPEN DISCUSSION JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S HOW YOU 
WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE IF YOU PUT IT IN HERE NOW, YOU MIGHT 
CHANGE AGAIN, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THE POSITION 
BECOMES AVAILABLE -- I'LL BE GLAD TO WRITE DOWN HOWEVER -- 
YOU KNOW, THAT WE BRING IT TO THE BOARD, WE ADVERTISE 
NATIONALLY, ADVERTISE -- WELL, COME TO YOU FIRST, SEE HOW 
YOU WANT TO DO IT, NARROW IT DOWN.
HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT, I'LL BE GLAD TO DO IT THAT WAY, 
BUT IT COULD -- WHEN THE VACANCY COMES UP, THEN EVERYBODY 
HAS THEIR OWN IDEA, AND I'D LIKE TO BE FORCED TO PUT IN THE 
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT THAT WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR 
DISCUSSION TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROCESS 
WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW.
I MEAN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THIS THE WAY 
YOU AGREE, AND I'LL GET TO YOUR POINT.
IF WE CAN HANDLE THAT BY A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT OF THIS 
IS HOW WE INTEND TO DO IT SHOULD IT OCCUR AND WE'LL BRING 
IT BACK TO YOU FOR CONFIRMATION WHEN THE VACANCY OCCURS IS 
ONE THING.
I'M SORRY.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  NO, I'M JUST -- [INAUDIBLE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GO AHEAD, BOB.
>>BOB HUNTER:  OKAY.
RESPONDING TO YOUR OTHER QUESTION, BY YOUR VERY QUESTION, 
IT REFLECTS YOU HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE EVALUATION OF 
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND I WOULD SAY -- I SERVE ON 
ANOTHER BOARD WHERE WE HAVE -- THE AMERICAN PLANNING 
ASSOCIATION IS ONE BOARD -- I'LL FINISH IT UP -- BUT WE 
HAVE UNDER IT ONE OF OUR COMPONENTS IS THE AMERICAN 
INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNERS.
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WORKS FOR BOTH.
WHAT WE HAVE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN 
INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNERS DOES AN EVALUATION, AND 
THEY, THROUGH THEIR MEMBER ON THAT BOARD, BRINGS THE 
EVALUATION FROM THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED 
PLANNERS TO THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION BOARD FOR HIS 
EVALUATION.
HE'S ONE OF TEN MEMBERS ON THAT BOARD.
IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE ME OR THE MAYOR OR MRS. AYERS 
COMMENTS AT ANY TIME OR -- I BELIEVE IT'S IN AUGUST OR 
SEPTEMBER WHEN I DO THE ANNUAL EVALUATION -- PLEASE DO SO.
I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY WAY YOU WANT TO PROCEED WITH 
DOING THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT A FORMAL PROCESS OR A FORMAL PROCESS 
WHEN SHE'S REPLACED, THAT'S NO PROBLEM EITHER.
IT'S -- I'VE JUST BEEN FOLLOWING THE PROCESS OVER THE PAST 
FEW YEARS -- 20 YEARS THAT WE'VE FOLLOWED WITH EACH 
CHAIRMAN, AND IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE THAT PROCESS, I'D BE 
GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU ON IT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MR. SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  AND AGAIN, HEAR ME WELL.
MR. HUNTER, I YOU THIS YOU DONE A GOOD JOB.
PLANNING COMMISSION, I THINK MS. AYERS HAS DONE A WONDERFUL 
JOB.
I LOVE LUCIE TO DEATH.
SHE'S A GREAT PERSON.
YOU HAVE A GREAT STAFF.
I'VE COME TO THE PLACE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA, IN POLITICS, 
AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD, 
UPSTANDING -- A GOOD UNDERSTANDING UP FRONT AND YOU TRY TO 
COME ON THE REAR END OF IT, IT CREATES A WHOLE LOT OF 
PROBLEMS, OKAY.
NOW, ON PAGE 3, SECTION 3 OR 3.00, IT TELLS YOU THE SCOPE 
OF SERVICE AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SELECT THE EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR.
NOW, FOR SOME REASON, APPARENTLY THREE MONTHS FROM NOW, SAY 
WE PASS THIS THE WAY IT IS, MR. HUNTER RETIRES OR MOVES ON 
WHATEVER, HYPOTHETICAL, NEW DIRECTOR, HE COMES IN, LUCIE 
DECIDES TO RETIRE OR WHATEVER.
THE NEW DIRECTOR COMES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND SAYS, 
WELL, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT HERE, THE MEMORANDUM OF 
AGREEMENT ALREADY, AND IT SAYS HERE UNDER 3 THIS IS HOW 
WE'RE GOING TO CONDUCT THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE NOTHING ELSE IN WRITING, YOU HAVE THIS HERE, 
AND ACCORDING TO THIS DOCUMENTATION HERE, IT SAYS THIS IS 
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU.
NOW, MR. HUNTER SAID TO US CLEARLY THIS IS THE WAY THEY'VE 
BEEN DOING IT FOR THE LAST 20, 30 YEARS.
WELL, THAT'S WHY THIS IS BEING DEVELOPED TODAY BECAUSE YOU 
WANT TO CHANGE SOME OF THAT TO BRING IT CURRENT, AS I 
UNDERSTAND IT, ACCORDING TO THE STATE GUIDELINES AND THE 
FEDERAL GUIDELINES AND MAKE IT MORE CLEAR AND MAKE IT MORE 
RELEVANT AND UP-TO-DATE, SO I'M JUST SAYING TO THIS BODY, 
YOU KNOW -- I'M JUST TRYING TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT, PEOPLE, 
WITHOUT SAYING A WHOLE LOT, REALLY; THAT IS, THAT IF IT'S 
NOT IN WRITING, IT DON'T EXIST.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, MR. HUNTER.
I HEAR EXACTLY.
WHAT'S IN WRITING IS THIS HERE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  AND I AGREE.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING WHERE I THINK YOU'RE GOING, MY FEELING 
IS THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING STILL NEEDS WORK.
THERE'S TWO AREAS WHERE I'D LIKE TO SEE IT CLEAR.
ONE IS THE SELECTION OF A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE 
PROCESS, AND THE PROCESS WILL INCLUDE PARTICIPATION BY FULL 
MEMBERSHIP -- THIS IS JUST MY RECOMMENDATION -- FULL 
MEMBERSHIP OF THE MPO BOARD.
THEN TWO, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE FULL MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE 
AN ANNUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN, PROBABLY THROUGH 
WRITING, A WRITTEN ASSESSMENT OF THE -- HOW -- OF THE JOB 
THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS DOING, SOME EVALUATION, A 
PROCESS -- A FORMALIZED PROCESS WHERE WE CAN COMMUNICATE.
I MEAN, WE'RE GETTING READY TO TALK ABOUT SPENDING BILLIONS 
OF DOLLARS, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR TODAY 
AND INTO THE FUTURE.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT -- AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE 
THOSE TWO THINGS IN WRITING IN THIS MOU.
THAT WOULD HELP ME, AND SO I'LL MAKE THAT IN THE FORM OF A 
MOTION.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  I'LL SECOND THAT, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO 
EMPHASIZE ON MY SECOND -- THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 
CURRENT DIRECTOR, BUT I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH MY FELLOW 
COUNCILMAN SCOTT THAT WHEN THESE THINGS ARE SILENT, AND 
THEN, BOB, AS YOU SAID, YOU'D COME TO US DOWN THE ROAD WHEN 
AND IF THE ISSUE CAME UP, THAT'S KIND OF LOOSEY-GOOSEY, AND 
I DON'T THINK ANYONE FEELS REAL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
>>RICK LOTT:  NO PUN INTENDED.
[LAUGHTER]
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  ANYWAY, I'LL SECOND THAT.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WHAT -- DISCUSSION.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND IS THAT WE CONSIDER -- I KNOW ON 
THE PTC, WHEN I WAS CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 
COMMISSION, WE HAD A -- WE HAD TO MAKE -- WE HAD TO HIRE A 
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME.
WE HAD A COMMITTEE, A SELECTION COMMITTEE SET UP FOR THE 
PTC WHO WOULD INTERVIEW THE APPLICANTS, AND THEN WE WOULD 
GO BACK TO THE FULL MPO BOARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR WHO 
THE COMMITTEE FEELS SHOULD GET THAT POSITION, AND IF -- 
YES, MR. SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  WELL, I'M ASSUMING THE MOTION -- AND 
COMMISSIONER SHARPE MAY WANT TO CLARIFY, BUT I'M ASSUMING 
THE MOTION IS ASKING MR. HUNTER TO SET UP A PROCESS TO 
BRING THIS BACK BEFORE US FOR OUR APPROVAL IN THIS 
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
>> YES.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION TO BE.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IF THE CHAIRMAN 
AND MR. HUNTER, WHOEVER THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS FOR THE 
PLANNING COMMISSION, WANT TO DO THE INTERVIEW, WANT TO DO 
THE ADVERTISEMENT, THAT SORT OF THING.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT NEEDS TO COME BACK HERE FOR A 
FINAL VOTE.
I AGREE WITH THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
IF WE HAVE TO AGREE TO THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES, RANK THEM, 
TELL HIM GO NEGOTIATE AND GO DOWN THE LINE, SOMETHING LIKE 
THAT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  IT COULD BE DONE IN TWO OR THREE SENTENCES.
WE COULD CLEARLY EXPLAIN IT IN VERY SIMPLE LANGUAGE.
BUT IT NEEDS -- I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SCOTT FOR --
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YEAH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  LET ME GET MR. BLAIR FIRST.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT'S GENERALLY 
STANDARD PROCEDURE ON ALL THE BOARDS WE'RE ON IN HIRING 
SITUATIONS, SO WE CAN JUST -- WE DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE 
WHEEL.
WE CAN GO TO THE LANGUAGE THAT'S ALREADY PREPARED --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  -- THAT WE USE NOW.
>>BOB HUNTER:  EXCUSE ME.
WHICH ONES ARE YOU REFERRING TO, AND I'LL USE THEM AS 
MODELS.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WELL, WE HAVE ALL THE WAY FROM THE COUNTY 
ADMINISTRATOR ON DOWN.
THE BOARD ALWAYS MAKES THE FINAL SELECTION.
>>BOB HUNTER:  OKAY.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  WE BROUGHT -- WE'VE BROUGHT THREE STAFF, 
WOULD RECOMMEND THREE FINALISTS, AND -- OR THE BOARD WOULD 
HEAR INTERVIEWS.
FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE IPA, INTERNAL PERFORMANCE AUDITOR, 
THEY ALL DID THEIR INTERVIEWS IN FRONT OF US, THE BOARD 
MEMBERS HEARD THEM, WE -- WE SELECTED -- ALL TURNED IN OUR 
VOTES ON WHO WE THOUGHT -- WE RANKED EACH ONE.
THE TOP THREE CAME BACK, AND WE VOTED ON -- ON THE TOP --
>>ROBERT HUNTER:  I CAN DO THAT VERSUS THE COMMITTEE.
I MEAN, JUST WHATEVER YOU PREFER IS FINE WITH ME.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WELL, LET ME ASK THAT QUESTION.
IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE -- HOW MANY APPLICANTS SHOULD WE 
BRING BEFORE THE FULL MPO BOARD?
>>MARK SHARPE:  I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS 
TO BE IN THIS LANGUAGE HERE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  NO, I KNOW, BUT I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT --
>>MARK SHARPE:  I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE GO BACK, WE WORK 
OUT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, WE HAVE CLEAR LANGUAGE 
WHICH MAKES IT ABSOLUTELY LETTER CLEAR THAT THIS BOARD WILL 
BE VOTING ON THE FINAL SELECTION FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE 
CHAIRMAN.
NOW, IF THE RULES WORK OUT THAT YOU GO OUT AND GET FIVE, 
TEN, 15, THAT'S UP TO YOU.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT, AND THE OTHER THING IS THE 
EVALUATION, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ANNUAL EVALUATION, 
AND THAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED AS WELL.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  I AGREE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ALL RIGHT.
WE HAD A MOTION -- OH, ROSE.
I'M SORRY.
MS. FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
WE'RE STILL DISCUSSING THAT MOTION, BUT I WANT TO ADD A 
LITTLE INPUT HERE.
EVIDENTLY EVERYBODY IS EXPRESSING A CONCERN OR A DESIRE TO 
HAVE THIS REDEFINED OR IMPROVED OR CHANGED A LITTLE BIT IN 
TERMS OF LANGUAGE.
WHAT I MIGHT SUGGEST -- AND I DON'T MEAN TO MAKE THIS TOO 
BURDENSOME FOR YOU, BUT EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT VERSION 
ABOUT HOW WE GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
MIGHT IT BE POSSIBLE, MR. HUNTER, FOR YOU TO TAKE A FEW 
MOMENTS AND MEET WITH EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND KIND OF 
GET OUR VERY SUMMARIZED VERSION OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN 
TERMS OF A TARGET FOCUS WHEN WE CHANGE THIS MEMORANDUM OF 
UNDERSTANDING?
YOU COME BACK TO US NEXT MONTH, TELL US THIS IS WHAT THE 
CONSENSUS HAS TOLD ME, WE'LL LOOK AT THIS AS A VERY -- A 
WAY TO CHANGE IT AND MAKE IT SATISFACTORY TO THE BOARD, AND 
THEN WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT SPECIFICS THEN.
BECAUSE WHAT I SEE NOW IS A LOT OF BODY LANGUAGE SAYING, 
WELL, WE SHOULD DO THIS, WE SHOULD DO THAT, IF IT'S NOT 
THERE, IT DOESN'T EXIST, AND THAT'S FINE, BUT LET'S GIVE 
YOU AN OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU WOULD, TO HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE 
DISCUSSION WITH US, AND EACH OF US CAN KIND OF SUMMARIZE 
OUR IDEAS.
YOU BLEND THOSE AND COME BACK WITH SOMETHING THAT MERGES 
ALL THOSE IDEAS COLLECTIVELY.
>>BOB HUNTER:  I'LL TRY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.
YES, MR. BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING OUT HERE IN 
THE SUNSHINE RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, TO ME THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE PUTTING OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ON THE TABLE RIGHT 
NOW, AND I THINK THAT JUST ADDS ANOTHER STEP.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WELL, I THINK, MR. BLAIR -- IF I CAN 
RESPOND TO THAT.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
THIS IS A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, 
THERE'LL BE MAYBE SOME FINE-TUNING THAT HE MIGHT WANT TO 
GET INPUT FROM.
YOU SAID THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS WE GO THROUGH IN TERMS OF 
DETERMINING THE ADMINISTRATOR, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
I THINK MR. HUNTER CAME UP WITH AN IDEA ONE TIME -- IT 
WASN'T SUPPORTED ON THE BOARD, I DID SUPPORT IT -- THAT THE 
FINAL CANDIDATES FOR PLANNING COMMISSION SHOULD COME BEFORE 
US FOR AN INTERVIEW.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO DO, SO 
IT'S CERTAINLY THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD.
I'M JUST SAYING NOT IN LIEU OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, WE 
NEED TO START SOMEPLACE, BUT AS AN ADJUNCT TO THIS, TO 
FINE-TUNE IT MORE, IT WOULDN'T HURT FOR HIM TO TAKE FIVE OR 
TEN MINUTES WITH EACH OF US, AND WHOEVER DOESN'T WANT TO 
TALK TO HIM, THAT'S FINE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING INAPPROPRIATE 
WITH THAT EITHER.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MARY.
>>MARY MULHERN:  I AGREE WITH ROSE, BUT MY QUESTION, 
THOUGH, IS THE IDEA OF THE EVALUATION.
I'M INEXPERIENCED IN THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF 
THAT'S A TYPICAL WAY TO OPERATE WITH THIS KIND OF BOARD, IF 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACTUALLY SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN AN 
EVALUATION.
IF THAT'S THE NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR OTHER BOARDS -- I DON'T 
THINK THIS IS THE SAME AS COUNTY COMMISSION AND YOUR 
ADMINISTRATOR BECAUSE THAT'S ONE -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S YOUR 
ADMINISTRATOR FOR THAT BODY.
THIS IS A BODY THAT HAS DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES, SO I'M 
NOT SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EXACT SAME THING, SO 
THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
I AGREE WITH THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE 
HIRING PROCESS AND VOTE ON THAT, BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE 
EVALUATION THING.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, SIR, JOE.
>>JOSEPH WAGGONER:  LOOKING AT THIS, I'M GOING OFFER A 
COUPLE OF TECHNICAL SUGGESTIONS.
IT APPEARS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COULD BE ADDRESSED WITH 
A FEW SENTENCE CHANGES IN HERE.
ONE THAT INCLUDES THE DESIGNATION SHALL BE RATIFIED BY THE 
MPO BOARD, ANOTHER THAT STATES THAT THE BOARD WILL BE 
PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE 
PERFORMANCE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THAT'S IT.
>>JOSEPH WAGGONER:  AND THEN THE PROCESS BY WHICH THOSE TWO 
THINGS HAPPEN WILL BE DELEGATED TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MPO 
TO DEVELOP IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF -- 
THE -- I'M SORRY, THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THAT KIND OF APPROACH WOULD TAKE A LOT OF THE DETAIL ABOUT 
HOW YOU GO ABOUT THESE PROCESSES OUT OF THIS AND JUST 
SIMPLY, I THINK, COVER THE ISSUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WOULD THAT SATISFY YOU, ROSE?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WELL, IT'S UP TO THE MAJORITY OF THE 
BOARD.
I MEAN, WE CAN PUT THAT IN THERE, BUT -- I GUESS AND DEFINE 
THE MECHANISM LATER.
I GUESS THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ALL RIGHT.
NOW, TECHNICALLY, WE HAD A MOTION FROM MR. SCOTT AND A 
SECOND BY --
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YEAH.
BUT BASED ON THE DISCUSSION, I THINK WE NEED TO WITHDRAW 
THAT MOTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  I'LL WITHDRAW MY MOTION UNTIL THIS 
LANGUAGE COMES BACK AND IS CLARIFIED.
THEN WE CAN INCLUDE THAT AND MOVE FORWARD.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY IN.
MEANTIME WE HAVE ANOTHER MOTION AND SECOND --
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  THIS WILL COME BACK AT OUR NEXT MEETING, 
RIGHT?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
MR. HUNTER, YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT?
>>BOB HUNTER:  NO, THAT'S FINE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANKS.
>>BOB HUNTER:  MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>BOB HUNTER:  JUST ONE ADDITIONAL THOUGHT SINCE EVERYONE 
TALKED ABOUT LAND USE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COORDINATING 
LAND USE.
WHILE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, I WANT TO REFLECT TO EVERYONE 
HERE, SINCE ALL OF YOU REPRESENT DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTS AND 
DIFFERENT AUTHORITIES AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, THAT THE 
PLANNING COMMISSION HAS UNDERTAKEN BY AUTHORIZATION IN 
SEPTEMBER -- WE STARTED A FEW WEEKS AGO -- A VISION 
HILLSBOROUGH 2050.
WE ARE COORDINATING LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION.
I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK WE'RE NOT.
I WANT TO GET THAT OUT REAL CLEAR, AND WE ARE WORKING 
REGIONALLY, NOT JUST WITH THE FOUR GOVERNMENTS, TO MAKE 
SURE THAT WHAT'S DEVELOPED OVER ABOUT THE NEXT SIX TO NINE 
TO 12 MONTHS, DEPENDING UPON THE -- HOW LONG THE PROCESS 
TAKES.
MY CONCERN IS THAT ROADS NOT GET OUT AHEAD OF THOSE LAND 
USE DECISIONS.
ONE WOULD WORRY ABOUT THE ASSUMPTIONS.
I WANT TO HOPE THAT ROADS, MULTIMODAL, AND TRANSPORTATION 
GO ALONG WITH THE LAND USE DECISIONS, AND THAT WILL BE 
COMING FROM STAFF TO ALL OF YOU SO YOU CAN MAKE AN 
INTELLIGENT DECISION, MOST INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THE 
VISION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION IS BEING COORDINATED IN THE 
VISIONING EFFORT THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS JUST 
RECENTLY STARTED, BUT I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU WITHOUT ME 
EVEN RAISING A HAND SUGGESTED LAND USE NEEDS TO BE IN 
THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
MR. BLAIR.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  BOB, YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO HOW DURING 
LAND USE AND PEOPLE COME HERE AND YOU TELL THEM THAT WE'RE 
GOING TO RAISE THE DENSITIES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND -- 
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY STRONGLY, STRONGLY 
OBJECT TO THAT.
I MEAN, CERTAINLY IT WORKS IN SOME PLACES, BUT IN SOME 
PLACES IT DOESN'T.
THERE'S STRONG HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS THAT THEY DON'T WANT 
ANYMORE DENSITIES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND I KNOW THAT'S 
SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH, BUT --
>>BOB HUNTER:  MIGHT I RESPOND?
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  SURE.
>>BOB HUNTER:  DALLAS IS NOT THAT DENSE, BUT TO TELL YOU 
THE TRUTH, I GUESS WE NEED -- AND IN PRESENTATIONS I MAKE, 
I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE -- THE 
PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF -- I USE THE EXAMPLE OF WE OFFER 
CHOICES TO THE CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, A VARIETY 
OF LIFESTYLES, AND WE DO IT AT BEST COST.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  OKAY.
>>BOB HUNTER:  AS YOUR STAFF, WE'LL BE RECOMMENDING THAT TO 
YOU.
YOU, AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THAT'S YOUR TOUGH DECISION, 
SIR, BUT I RESPECT WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND WILL TRY AND WORK 
WITH YOU ON THAT DILEMMA.
>>BRIAN BLAIR:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.
FIRST WE START WITH THE MPO ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
LUCIE.
>>LUCIE AYER:  YES.
I WILL BE DOING THIS BECAUSE MAYOR AFFRONTI WAS NOT 
AVAILABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
ANYWAY, THIS IS THE STATEWIDE MPO ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND 
THEY MET ON OCTOBER 25th, AND AS THE NAME IMPLIED, WE 
USUALLY DEAL WITH STATEWIDE ISSUES.
THE GOVERNING BOARD WAS FIRST BRIEFED ON THE FINANCIAL 
GUIDELINES FOR ALL THE MPOs ACROSS THE STATE TO DEVELOP THE 
LONG-RANGE PLANS.
FLORIDA IS PRETTY MUCH AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
A LOT OF THE STATES WILL STILL HAVE TO FIGHT OVER HOW WE'RE 
GOING TO DO CERTAIN THINGS BETWEEN THE D.O.T. AND THE MPO, 
BUT THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATION, WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE VERY 
CLEAR GUIDANCE THESE DAYS.
AND THEN NEXT WE RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ON THE DEPARTMENT 
OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ON THE RECENT CHANGES TO THE FLORIDA 
GROWTH MANAGEMENT LAWS AS CONTAINED IN HOUSE BILL 7203, 
WHICH WAS PASSED JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND THEN FOR THE YEAR 2008, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO 
PURSUE ISSUES CONCERNING URBAN AND RURAL GROWTH POLICIES, 
REGIONAL VISIONING, AND THE STREAMLINING OF COMPREHENSIVE 
PLAN DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO THE AMENDMENT PROCESS.
AS YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY 
DISCUSSION, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE SAYING THAT THE COMP 
PLANS HAVE BEEN AMENDED WAY TOO MANY TIMES, AND SO THE 
DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND IN ADDITION, THEN THE STAFF DIRECTORS PARTICIPATED IN 
THE FEDERAL REAUTHORIZATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP, 
AND THIS WAS ORGANIZED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF 
REGIONAL COUNCIL, AND THIS COUNCIL IS ONE OF THE SEVERAL 
KEY ENTITIES WHO WOULD BE ENGAGING IN NATIONAL DIALOGUE TO 
TALK ABOUT THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE NEXT TRANSPORTATION 
BILL, WHICH IS DUE SEPTEMBER 2009.
AND JUST TO LET YOU-ALL KNOW, THE NEXT MEETING IS IN 
JANUARY 31st, 2008, AND IT'S GOING TO BE IN ORLANDO.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THANK YOU, LUCIE.
LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE.
COUNCILWOMAN MARY MULHERN.
>>MARY MULHERN:  THANK YOU.
THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE MET ON OCTOBER 24th.
THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION ON U.S. 
301 AND RIVERVIEW, WHICH IS LOSING ITS MAINTENANCE FUNDING 
AS A RESULT OF RECENT BUDGET CUTS.
THE COMMITTEE WILL INVESTIGATE THE CURRENT CHALLENGES TO 
SUSTAINING FUNDING FOR ROADWAY LANDSCAPE BY INVITING PEOPLE 
WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE U.S. 301 ISSUE TO THE NEXT 
MEETING.
THE COMMITTEE ENCOURAGES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND FDOT TO 
CONTINUE COMMITMENTS TO ADEQUATELY FUND THE MAINTENANCE OF 
EXISTING AND FUTURE ROADWAY LANDSCAPE INSTALLATIONS.
I GAVE A REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE RECENT COMMUNITY 
MEETINGS CONCERNING THE ISSUE OF CONVERTING THE ONE-WAY 
PAIRS OF FLORIDA AND TAMPA AND HOWARD/ARMENIA TO TWO-WAY 
STREETS.
THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FROM BUSINESS OWNERS AND 
RESIDENTS FROM SEMINOLE HEIGHTS AND TAMPA HEIGHTS FOR THE 
IDEA REGARDING FLORIDA AND TAMPA STREETS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS COMPLETED ITS STUDY OF 
HOW TRAFFIC OPERATIONS WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE, 
RECOMMENDING THAT IT NOT BE DONE ON THAT BASIS.
MANY MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS DESIRE TO HAVE A MORE 
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION TO INCLUDE OTHER 
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, THE LOCAL ECONOMY, FUTURE 
DEVELOPMENT, AND OVERALL LIVABILITY.
THE CITY OF TAMPA WILL BE LOOKING INTO HOW THIS SHOULD BE 
ACCOMPLISHED.
THE NEXT LIVABLE ROADWAYS MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR 
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21st, AT 8:30 A.M.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED 
COORDINATING BOARD, AND UNFORTUNATELY, MR. SCOTT HAD TO 
LEAVE EARLY, SO LUCIE, WOULD YOU MIND READING THAT REPORT.
>>LUCIE AYER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED COORDINATING BOARD MET ON 
OCTOBER 23rd, AND THEY APPROVED THE 2008 MEETING SCHEDULE.
AS YOU KNOW, THEY MEET ON A BIMONTHLY BASIS.
AND THEY ALSO APPROVED THE ANNUAL OPERATING REPORT OF THE 
COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR.
A PRESENTATION WAS MADE REGARDING THE ACCESSIBILITY 
EVALUATION OF THE FREEDOM PLAYGROUND.
THIS IS TAMPA'S FIRST UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND 
LOCATED IN McFARLAND PARK.
THE TDCB VOTED TO DRAFT A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THAT 
PROJECT.
THE STAFF UPDATED THE BOARD ON THE MPO COSPONSORED TAMPA 
MOBILITY AWARENESS TOUR HELD ON OCTOBER 15th WHERE OVER 50 
PEOPLE NAVIGATED DOWNTOWN STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND BUSES AS 
A SITE-IMPAIRED PEDESTRIAN OR A WHEELCHAIR USER.
AFTER THE DEBRIEFING SESSION FOLLOWING THE TOUR, ATTENDEES, 
WHICH INCLUDED PLANNERS AND ENGINEERS, REPORTED THAT THE 
EVENT GREATLY INCREASED THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE 
IMPORTANCE OF DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS FOR 
PEDESTRIAN AREAS.
PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THAT ADDRESSING ISSUES 
RELATED TO RAMPS, SIDEWALKS, SLOPES, CROSSWALKS, TIMING, 
AND TRIP HAZARDS ARE CRUCIAL TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY FOR 
ALL USERS.
THE TD BOARD IS ALSO CURRENTLY PURSUING A COORDINATION 
PROJECT TO INVESTIGATE SOLUTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION 
DISADVANTAGED CITIZENS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY OBTAINING 
TRANSPORTATION TO WEEKEND ACTIVITIES.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TD BOARD WILL BE ON DECEMBER 11th, 
AND THIS WILL BE ON THE 19th FLOOR OF THE COUNTY CENTER AT 
1:15 P.M.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, LUCIE.
OKAY.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
YOU'RE ON AGAIN.
>>LUCIE AYER:  WOW, THIS IS MY SHOW TODAY.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT A COUPLE OF 
THINGS.
THE FIRST THING IS THAT IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK THAT TBARTA 
MET, AND INCLUDED IN YOUR FOLDER THERE IS A MEMO FROM THE 
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CHAIRS COORDINATING COMMITTEE 
SUMMARIZING THE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO -- THERE ARE ONLY THREE THINGS I 
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
THE FIRST THING IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE GALVANO HAS BEEN 
THE -- THE MOST INSTRUMENTAL PERSON IN GETTING THIS BOARD 
ESTABLISHED, AND HE IS TALKING ABOUT MOVING UP THE 
SCHEDULE.
INSTEAD OF HAVING THIS PLAN DONE BY JULY 2009, HE IS 
SUGGESTING TO HAVE THIS DONE BY JANUARY 2009, SO THAT WILL 
PUT SOME PRESSURE ON ALL OF US TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT TBARTA IS ALSO GRAPPLING WITH THE 
IDEA OF GETTING THEIR OWN ATTORNEY, SO THERE WAS A MOTION 
MADE TO ASK INDIVIDUAL MPOs TO PROVIDE 10,000 EACH, AND 
THAT -- I THINK THAT WILL TOTAL CLOSE TO 50,000, FOR THEM 
TO HIRE THEIR OWN ATTORNEY AFTER THE REGIONAL PLANNING 
COUNCIL'S ATTORNEY EXCEEDED ALL HIS PRO BONO HOURS.
AND THE OTHER THING IS THE NEXT MEETING IS NOVEMBER 30th, 
AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S 
OFFICE ON 40th STREET.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU IS THAT THE 
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ANNUALLY WILL HAVE THEIR 
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE WORK PROGRAM, AND SO THE DATES THAT 
WERE SET ARE DECEMBER 4th, AND THIS TIME IT'S GOING TO BE 
IN PASCO COUNTY, AND THEN ON DECEMBER 6th, AND IT WOULD BE 
AT THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL IN PINELLAS COUNTY, AND 
EACH ONE WILL START AT 5:00 P.M. AND WILL CONCLUDE AT 7:00 
P.M., AND THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LUCIE.
OKAY.
A STATUS REPORT, I-75 CORRIDOR UPDATE.
>> GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE I-75 
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LOTS OF IMPROVEMENTS GOING ON, 
AND THIS IS THE SEGMENT OF I-75 SOUTH OF FOWLER AND 
HILLSBOROUGH TO NORTH OF -- ACTUALLY CONTINUES ON TO PASCO 
COUNTY TO STATE ROAD 52.
I'M GOING TO RUN A SHORT VIDEO THAT'S GOING TO ILLUSTRATE 
SOME OF THE -- IF YOU COULD -- THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS 
THAT WE HAVE.
THE -- THE I-75 CONSTRUCTION WAS DEFERRED.
SOME OF IT WAS DEFERRED IN LAST YEAR'S WORK PROGRAM, AND WE 
ARE WORKING WITH THE MPO AND THEIR PRIORITIES AND ARE 
HOPEFUL THAT FUNDING WILL ALLOW THE PROJECTS TO CONTINUE TO 
MOVE FORWARD.
ALTHOUGH TRANSPORTATION AS A WHOLE CAME THROUGH THE 
GOVERNOR'S SUPER SESSION UNSCATHED, WE DO HAVE AN UPCOMING 
ESTIMATING REVENUE CONFERENCE WHERE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN 
ADVISED BUDGETS WILL BE TIGHT.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE VIDEO -- I COULDN'T SEE IT HERE -- 
THE FIRST SEGMENTS OF I-75 WIDENING FROM SOUTH OF FOWLER TO 
NORTH OF BRUCE B. DOWNS IS 1.9 MILES.
THE PROJECT PROPOSES TO ADD ONE ADDITIONAL LANE IN EACH 
DIRECTION.
FROM THE SEGMENT FROM FOWLER TO FLETCHER, THE EXISTING SIX 
LANES WILL BE WIDENED TO EIGHT, AND FROM FLETCHER TO BRUCE 
B. DOWNS, THE EXISTING FOUR WILL BE WIDENED TO SIX.
RESURFACING WILL BE DONE WHERE APPLICABLE, AND SOME MINOR 
IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON FLETCHER, WHICH WILL 
INCLUDE ADDING TURNING LANES AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
YOU'LL SEE -- THAT'S THE FLETCHER INTERSECTION.
NORTH OF THAT YOU'LL SEE AN ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT A NOISE 
WALL IS FEASIBLE AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE CORRIDOR IN THE 
VICINITY OF THE ENCLAVE AT TAMPA PALMS.
PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING FOR THIS SEGMENT IS UNDERWAY AT 8.1 
MILLION, RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION IS UNDERWAY AT 24.5 
MILLION, AND CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTION OF 74.2 MILLION IS 
UNFUNDED.
YOU'LL SEE THE VIDEO IS GOING TO COME UP ON THE BRUCE B. 
DOWNS FLYOVER.
YOU'RE ALL PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND IS A $39-
MILLION PROJECT.
IF IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE IN MARCH OF 2009.
IT IS A PROJECT THAT HAS A LENGTH OF 3.03 MILES.
THIS IS THE NOISE WALL IN THE TAMPA PALMS AREA THAT I 
MENTIONED.
YOU CAN SEE THE ADDITIONAL LANES.
ALSO, THE ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WE HAVE ONGOING ON THE 
CORRIDOR IS SOME I.T.S. FREEWAY MANAGEMENT WORK THAT'S 
EXTENDING FROM 301 TO FOWLER, AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL 
PROJECTS -- I.T.S. PROJECTS THAT ARE PROGRAMMED FOR DESIGN 
IN 2011 AND 2012.
THERE'S SOME PAVEMENT REHAB PROJECTS.
YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THE ONE ON PROGRESS TO STATE 
ROAD 60.
THAT'S GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN '09.
HERE'S THE BRUCE B. DOWNS INTERCHANGE.
IT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT'S GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS 
IN THE CONGESTION THAT WE CURRENTLY SEE THERE, AND FOLKS 
WILL BE MAKING A DECISION AS TO WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO ENTER 
ON TO THE RAMP A LOT EARLIER ON THE ROADWAY, CREATING SOME 
OF THE CROSS-OVER -- ELIMINATING SOME OF THE CROSS-OVER 
TRAFFIC THAT WE SEE NOW.
THE NEXT SEGMENT THAT'S GOING TO COME UP AFTER THIS IS THE 
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF ONE 
ADDITIONAL LANE FROM NORTH OF BRUCE B. DOWNS TO STATE ROAD 
56 IN PASCO, ONE ADDITIONAL LANE IN EACH DIRECTION AND 
RESURFACING OF THE EXISTING LANES.
THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION ALSO INCLUDES BRIDGES, DRAINAGE, 
STORMWATER PONDS, SIGNING, PAVEMENT MARKINGS, AND LIGHTING.
THIS SEGMENT IS -- ENGINEERING IS UNDERWAY FOR 4.9, RIGHT-
OF-WAY AT 19.3 UNDERWAY, AND CONSTRUCTION OF 81 MILLION IS 
CURRENTLY UNFUNDED.
AS YOU COME UP NORTH OF THIS SEGMENT, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'RE 
COMING UP ON THE INTERCHANGE AND THE APEX.
THE THIRD SEGMENT IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU'LL BE COMING UP ON 
INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NORTHBOUND EXIT RAMPS TO 
STATE ROAD 56 FROM BOTH 75 AND 275 AND REALIGNMENT OF THE 
275 NORTHBOUND LANES AT THE INTERCHANGE OF I-75 AND 275.
THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION THERE WILL ALSO INCLUDE BRIDGES, 
DRAINAGE, STORMWATER PONDS, PAVEMENT MARKING, AND LIGHTING.
THIS PROJECT'S ENGINEERING IS UNDERWAY, RIGHT-OF-WAY IS NOT 
APPLICABLE, AND CONSTRUCTION OF 48.4 MILLION IS FUNDED IN 
2010.
THE BALANCE OF THE VIDEO JUST GOES AHEAD ON TO TAKE US 
THROUGH PASCO, WHERE WE HAVE FOUR PROJECTS, 56 TO NORTH OF 
54, THE INTERCHANGE AT 54, AND THEN FROM 54 UP TO 52, AND 
THEN NORTH TO THE HERNANDO COUNTY LINE.
WE CAN END THE VIDEO.
AND THAT'S MY PRESENTATION ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN 
HILLSBOROUGH.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, JOE.
>> EXCUSE ME, CHAIRMAN AFFRONTI, COULD SHE PLEASE SAY HER 
NAME ON THE RECORD.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OH, I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU.
PLEASE SAY YOUR NAME.
>> LINDA STACHEWICZ.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  MA'AM, YOU ADDRESSED THE ENCLAVE YOU'RE 
GOING TO PUT A NOISE WALL THERE.
>> IN THAT AREA.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  OKAY.
IS THAT GOING TO INCLUDE BUCKINGHAM.
AFTER THE FLYOVER, I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO GO DOWN ABOUT A 
MILE AND A HALF, THE NEW ADDITION.
NOW, YOU HAVE HOMES RIGHT NEAR THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE 
YOU'RE ADDING ANOTHER LANE THERE, AND THEY'VE ASKED ABOUT A 
SOUND BARRIER WALL THERE.
>>DON SKELTON:  THAT PARTICULAR -- THAT PARTICULAR WALL 
DOES NOT INCLUDE THE BUCKINGHAM AREA.
THE NOISE ANALYSIS DID NOT SHOW A NOISE WALL WAS FEASIBLE 
OR COST-REASONABLE IN THAT AREA.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  FOR WHAT REASON?
>>DON SKELTON:  ONE, IT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH BENEFITED 
RECEIVERS AT THE TIME THE PD&E STUDY WAS APPROVED, AND IN 
ADDITION TO THAT, THE COST PER BENEFITED RECEIVER WAS TOO 
HIGH.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  WHEN WAS THAT STUDY DONE?
WAS THAT PRIOR TO ANY HOMES BEING ESTABLISHED THERE?
>>DON SKELTON:  THAT STUDY WAS COMPLETED PRIOR TO SEVERAL 
HOMES.
I THINK THERE WAS MAYBE TWO APPROVED HOMESITES AT THE TIME.
I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY THE NUMBERS, BUT THE ACTUAL STUDY 
WAS DONE IN THE LATE -- YEAH, IT'S BEEN PROBABLY EIGHT 
YEARS SINCE THE STUDY WAS DONE, EIGHT, NINE YEARS.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  OF COURSE, THIS AREA HAS GROWN 
IMMENSELY, AND THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ARE VERY 
CONCERNED.
I KNOW SOME OF THE HOMES ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THE 
INTERSTATE, AND MAYBE THAT HAS TO BE REVISITED.
>>DON SKELTON:  WELL, WHAT THE LAWS PROVIDE FOR AND OUR 
RULES PROVIDE FOR IS ONCE THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT STUDY IS 
COMPLETED AND PUBLIC RECORD IS THERE, THEN THAT BECOMES THE 
OFFICIAL DATE OF PUBLIC NOTICE, SO ANYBODY WHO BUILDS THEIR 
HOME AFTER THAT IS SAID TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE WIDENING OF 
THE PROJECT.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, JOE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING GENERAL CONCERNS, AND 
WE HAVE EIGHT THAT WANT TO SPEAK TO THE BYPASS.
FIRST IS MR. GEORGE NIEMANN.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU 
WOULD ADHERE TO THAT, AND ALSO, IF ANYONE HAS ANY COMMENTS 
THAT ARE SIMILAR OR EXACTLY THE SAME AS ONE OTHER 
PRESENTER, FOR THE SAKE OF SAVING TIME, I WOULD APPRECIATE 
IT IF YOU WOULD DEFER.
SO YES, MR. NIEMANN.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY I DEFER TO MY OTHER COLLEAGUES AND GO 
AT THE END?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ABSOLUTELY.
YES.
>> THANKS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
KELLY CORNELIUS.
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND, TERRY FLOTT, SEFFNER COMMUNITY 
ALLIANCE, AND ALSO UNITED CITIZENS ACTION NETWORK, YOU-CAN.
ONE THING I WANTED TO STAY STATE, WE'RE ACTUALLY HERE TO 
TALK ABOUT THE BYPASS TODAY OR BELTWAY, BYPASS, WAYPASS, 
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT I DID WANT TO ECHO MR. 
HUNTER'S STATEMENTS.
I ACTUALLY HAD IT WRITTEN DOWN TO MENTION AS I'VE STOOD 
HERE OR SAT HERE LISTENING TO EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT THE 
ROADWAYS AND WHATNOT, AND THE ONE THING THAT I REALLY -- AS 
MUCH AS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH 
PLANNING AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT -- REALLY HAVE TO SAY THAT 
WE SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT PLANNING OUR LAND USE 
AROUND ROADS.
IT SHOULD BE THE OPPOSITE, AND I HOPE YOU-ALL WILL TAKE 
THIS BACK TO YOUR MUNICIPALITIES AND SERIOUSLY MAKE SURE 
THAT OUR COMP PLANS AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CODES HAVE WORDING 
THAT WILL PROTECT AREAS FROM PREMATURE GROWTH AS WELL AS 
YOU PLANNED THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODES AND ALL, SO I JUST 
WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.
THAT'S NOT REALLY WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, BUT I FOUND IT VERY 
INTERESTING.
TODAY I'M HERE TO ASK, AND SO ARE SOME OTHER PEOPLE, THAT 
YOU REMOVE THE BYPASS FROM THE MPO'S MAP.
THE BYPASS IS THE BRANDON BYPASS.
THERE'S ONE MAP, I BELIEVE, BUT WE NEED IT REMOVED FROM ALL 
THE MAPS.
IT'S CREATING GREAT CONFUSION FOR THE SOUTH COUNTY 
TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
IT'S CREATING GREAT CONFUSION TO ALL CITIZENS.
IT'S BEEN CALLED A MULTITUDE OF NAMES.
IT'S BEEN -- I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN MORPHED INTO SOMETHING ON 
SOME FUTURE MAPS.
IT IS NOT ON YOUR MAP.
IT'S OUTDATED.
I BELIEVE THE GREEN SWATH SHOW -- WAS INITIALLY SHOWING AND 
PUT ON THE MAP FROM -- IN THE YEAR 2000, AND AS WE GO 
FORWARD WITH OUR 2050 PLANS, I THINK IT'S MOST IMPORTANT 
THAT WE GET THAT GREEN SWATH OFF ANY OF YOUR MAPS SO THAT 
WE CAN HAVE A CLEAR SLATE.
IT'S JUST BEEN A REAL HARDSHIP FOR EVERYBODY, AND I HOPE 
YOU WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
KELLY CORNELIUS.
OKAY.
WE'RE BACK TO MR. NIEMANN.
>> GEORGE NIEMANN.
SORRY FOR CONFUSING THE ORDER.
MY NAME IS GEORGE NIEMANN.
I'M HERE AS A CITIZEN AND ALSO A MEMBER OF U-CAN, AND I'D 
LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND ASK YOU TO PLEASE REMOVE THE 
BELTWAY FROM YOUR MAPS.
WE ATTENDED A MEETING LAST NIGHT IN LITHIA, ONE OF THREE 
MEETINGS, AND IF YOU -- YOU HAD TO BE THERE TO BELIEVE IT.
IT WAS QUITE A FIERY MEETING.
I WILL TELL YOU THE CITIZENRY DOES NOT WANT ANY BELTWAY 
GOING THROUGH THE RURAL AREA.
NOW, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT YOUR CHARGE, AND EVERYONE WILL SAY, 
WELL, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING, WE'VE GOT TO PLAN FOR THE 
FUTURE, BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN HAPPEN -- AND I DON'T THINK 
ANYONE CAN DISAGREE WITH ME.
WHEN YOU SHOW SOMETHING ON THE MAP -- AND IN THIS CASE, IT 
LOOKS TO US LIKE THE CART IS LEADING THE HORSE.
WHEN WE START SHOWING LARGE ROADWAYS ON A MAP, IT THEN 
DRIVES DEVELOPMENT, AND WE DON'T THINK THAT IT'S 
APPROPRIATE.
AS MR. DINGFELDER SAID EARLIER IN ONE OF HIS COMMENTS, 
LET'S RESPECT THOSE RURAL AREAS, AND I THINK IT CREATES A 
LOT OF CONFUSION, AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE EVERYONE VERY 
ANGRY.
IF YOU HAD SEEN THOSE MEETINGS, PGM WAS LITERALLY ON FIRE, 
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THESE THINGS APPEARED ON A MAP.
THE CITIZENRY WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS ONLY JUST A CONCEPT 
AND IT WAS BEING STUDIED BY VARIOUS GROUPS, AND THEN 
SUDDENLY IT APPEARED ON OUR E.A.R. AMENDMENT TRANSPORTATION 
ELEMENT MAP, SO IT'S CAUSING A LOT OF DISTRESS, AND THE 
RURAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT A BELTWAY.
SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK -- YOU NEED TO STUDY THE 
MATTER.
I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH OTHER ALTERNATIVES LIKE 
ENHANCING 75 AND IMPLEMENTING RAIL SOLUTIONS, BUT TO PUT A 
BELTWAY OR A SPRAWLWAY, AS SOME CALL IT, INTO A RURAL AREA, 
YOU WILL DESTROY THAT AREA, AND IT WILL NO LONGER BE RURAL.
SO AGAIN, I ASK YOU TO REMOVE THAT MAP UNTIL THE MATTER IS 
FURTHER -- IS FULLY STUDIED, AND AT SOME POINT AT A LATER 
DATE, IF THAT'S THE ONLY POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE, THEN WE CAN 
APPROACH IT AT THAT TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST IS THAT AT 
OUR NEXT POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING, MR. NIEMANN -- WHAT I'D 
LIKE TO SUGGEST IS THAT AT OUR NEXT POLICY COMMITTEE 
MEETING --
>>LUCIE AYER:  NOVEMBER 20th.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ON NOVEMBER 20th, IF YOU COULD BE THERE AS 
A REPRESENTATIVE AND STATE YOUR CASE TO THE POLICY 
COMMITTEE, WHO THEN WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL 
MPO BOARD, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND DOING THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
MS. CORNELIUS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KELLY CORNELIUS.
MY ADDRESS IS 18732 DORMAN ROAD IN LITHIA.
I'M HERE TODAY AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR RLAND, WHICH STANDS 
FOR RURAL LITHIA AREA NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENSE.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY, WE'RE -- WE WERE 
FORMED FOR SEVERAL REASONS, TO PROTECT OUR RURAL 
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE WERE FORMED 
WAS IN FEAR -- OR OUT OF FEAR OF THIS BYPASS, BELTWAY, 
GREEN SWATH OF DEATH, SPRAWLWAY.
I THINK THAT COVERS ALL OF ITS NAMES.
WE STARTED OUT WITH OUR FIRST KICKOFF MEETING IN SEPTEMBER 
WITH 20 MEMBERS, SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
AS OF LAST NIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING IN LITHIA, WE WERE UP 
TO 256 MEMBERS.
THE MEETING IN LITHIA HAD EASILY 400 PEOPLE IN IT.
THIS IS RURAL LITHIA, 400 PEOPLE.
THERE WERE PEOPLE LINED OUT THE DOOR AND INTO THE PARKING 
LOT THAT NEVER MADE THEIR WAY INTO THE WORKSHOP.
SO THAT JUST KIND OF GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A HEADS-UP 
OF WHAT'S BEEN BREWING OUT THERE AND WHAT'S COMING, AND I'M 
IN SUPPORT OF TAKING THIS OFF OF THE MPO MAP, MAINLY TO GET 
IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF PLANNING AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT 
BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORPHED IT FROM THE MPO MAP TO SEVERAL 
OTHER MAPS AND LAST NIGHT TRIED TO TELL US IT WAS ALREADY 
ON THE COMP PLAN.
NOW, MOST OF THOSE 400 CITIZENS PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW 
WHAT OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS.
LUCKILY, THERE ARE A FEW OF US THAT DO, AND WE KNOW THROUGH 
OUR EXTENSIVE RESEARCH -- AND I'VE ONLY BEEN LOOKING AT IT 
THE LAST YEAR.
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 1980, AND 
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THAT OLD.
I DON'T WANT TO BE FIGHTING THIS THING WITH YOU GUYS FOR 30 
YEARS, I WANT TO ENJOY MY TIME IN HILLSBOROUGH.
I DON'T WANT TO WORRY THAT EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND, IT'S 
GOING TO SAY IT'S ON AN MPO NEEDS ASSESSMENT MAP, SO WE'VE 
GIVEN IT TO THE EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY OR WE'VE GIVEN IT TO 
TBARTA.
I MEAN, THEY HAVE TAKEN THE GREEN SWATH, AND THEY USE IT AS 
THE ONLY LEGITIMATE MAP THAT THEY HAVE, SO PLEASE TAKE IT 
OFF.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>MARK SHARPE:  CAN I JUST BRIEFLY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, MR. SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THERE'S NOT MANY OF US LEFT, BUT THE BOCC 
IS REVIEWING THIS AS WELL, LOOKING AT ALL THE MAPS WHERE 
THE --
WHERE IT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
THERE'S A REPORT, WHICH I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ YET, 
THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD TOMORROW, WHICH WILL 
ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, I BELIEVE, BUT AGAIN, I 
HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT, AS TO THE PROCESS.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS REGARDING PROCESS, AND I 
LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING IT AT THE POLICY COMMITTEE 
MEETING BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO BEGIN TO FIRST FOCUS ON 
WHAT IS THE ESTABLISHED PROPER PROCESS FOR MOVING ANY ROAD 
LIKE THIS FORWARD, AND IF WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK 
BEFORE WE TAKE -- WHETHER IT'S A STEP FORWARD WITH THIS OR 
AS MR. -- GEORGE SAID, WHETHER IT'S THIS OR SOMETHING ELSE, 
I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC'S GOING TO REALLY NEED TO BE 
CONFIDENT IN THE PROCESS.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, I'VE YET TO SEE A MAJOR ROAD PROJECT 
WHICH -- IN THE HISTORY OF ROAD PROJECTS THAT HAS NOT HAD 
PUBLIC OPPOSITION, AND AS WE SAID, THE 2050 PLAN IS ABOUT 
2050, IT'S NOT ABOUT 20-TODAY, SO WE'RE THINKING ABOUT 
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE HERE, AND I KNOW A LOT OF 
FOLKS -- I'VE GONE BACK AND REVIEWED THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 
PLAN.
THERE WAS SO MUCH OPPOSITION ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION THAT THE 
INTERSTATE WAS GOING TO BRING TO THIS COUNTRY, AND I DON'T 
THINK THERE'S ANYBODY TODAY WHO WOULD ARGUE AGAINST THE 
INTERSTATE, BUT HAVING SAID THAT AND LISTENING -- I'VE MET 
WITH -- THESE CITIZENS ARE VERY COMMITTED, THEY'RE VERY 
PASSIONATE, AND I THINK THEY BELIEVE WE HAVE JUMPED THE 
PROCESS, SO WE NEED TO GO BACK, AND I WOULD ASK THAT THIS 
BOARD REVIEW, AND IF WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK, LET'S 
TAKE A STEP OR TWO.
LET'S DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THAT MAKES SENSE.
OKAY.
MARCELLA OSTEEN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I APPRECIATE MR. DINGFELDER'S --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
>> MARCELLA OSTEEN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
>> 15133 CARLTON LAKE ROAD, BALM, FLORIDA.
I APPRECIATE MR. DINGFELDER'S COMMENTS ABOUT RESPECTING THE 
BOUNDARY OF THE URBAN SERVICE AREA AND THAT TRANSPORTATION 
BE TIED TO GOOD LAND USE, NOT JUST ANY LAND USE BUT GOOD 
LAND USE AND SMART GROWTH, BE FOCUSED ON THAT; THAT ANY 
ROAD PLANNING BE DELIBERATE, CAREFUL, FAR-SEEING DECISIONS 
THAT FURTHER THE CONCEPT OF REFLECTING THAT -- A COUNTY'S 
VALUES, WHAT THEY REALLY WANT THEIR COUNTY TO BE, NOT JUST 
MOVING CARS -- A LOT OF CARS FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER, 
NOT JUST CAN WE PAY FOR THIS ROAD, BUT WILL THIS ROAD BE A 
BLESSING OR A CURSE, WILL THESE ROAD PLANS BE A BLESSING OR 
A CURSE, AND I REALIZE THAT IT'S A KNIFE EDGE THAT 
TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS AND THESE PEOPLE ARE ON BECAUSE IF 
THEY GET TOO FAR BEHIND THE CURVE, WE WIND UP WITH NORTH 
TAMPA -- NEW TAMPA, RATHER, AND IF THEY GET TOO FAR AHEAD 
OF THE CURVE, PLANS ON A MAP THAT SHOW ROADS CAN SERVE AS A 
SPRAWL INDUCER.
IT GIVES LEGITIMACY TO THE INDUSTRY -- THE BUILDING 
INDUSTRY IF -- ONCE THESE LINES GET ON A MAP, IT'S LIKE AN 
ENTITLEMENT.
IT'S -- IT'S PERMISSION.
IT LEGITIMIZES GROWTH TO GO TO WHERE THOSE LINES ARE, AND 
THERE'S NO CONCEPT, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR WHEN THESE 
THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
IT COULD BE WHENEVER THE MONEY'S AVAILABLE OR WHENEVER 
SUPPOSEDLY THE MARKET DEMANDS IT.
MOST PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY WHEN THEY'RE SURVEYED HAVE 
SHOWED -- HAVE SAID THAT THEY VALUE HIGHLY RURAL AND 
AGRICULTURAL LAND, AND WE DON'T WANT IT JUST TO WIND UP IN 
20 YEARS AS LIKE MUSEUM LAND, LIKE ELAPP LAND OR PUBLIC 
LAND WHERE IT'S ONLY IN A MUSEUM SETTING.
WE VALUE -- THEY SAY THEY VALUE THE BIG -- BIG PARCELS OF 
LAND IN THIS COUNTY, SO NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO 
REALLY DECIDE ARE WE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, AND WORDS LIKE THE 
BELTWAY AND ROADS LIKE THAT ARE ON THE SOUTH COUNTY 
TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT HAVE -- THEY TALK ABOUT -- THAT 
REPORT THAT YOU HAVEN'T READ YET, YOU'LL SEE ON PAGE 2 OR 3 
THEY TALK ABOUT BUILD-OUT.
NOW, WHEN THEY START TALKING ABOUT BUILD-OUT OF THIS COUNTY 
ALL THE WAY TO THE POLK COUNTY LINE, THAT REALLY DISTURBS 
ME.
SO HEADS-UP ON THAT WHEN YOU READ.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT THE COUNTY TO BE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
>> AND I ASK YOU ALSO TO TAKE THE BELTWAY, WHICH HAS A LONG 
HISTORY, NOT JUST IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS BUT BACK TO THE 
'80s.
I WANT IT OFF THE MPO MAP.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
VIVIAN BACCA.
>> VIVIAN BACCA, 413 EL GRECO DRIVE IN BRANDON, AND I JUST 
WANTED TO POINT OUT SOMETHING ABOUT PREVIOUS STUDIES.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING VERY CLOSELY AT THAT REPORT HE WAS 
TALKING ABOUT, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN 
THAT REPORT WAS THE FACT THAT WE START WITH PREVIOUS 
STUDIES AND WE USE THESE OLD STUDIES AND WE RECYCLE THEM 
AND WE BUILD ON THEM FOR NEW STUDIES INSTEAD OF STARTING 
OUT FRESH.
THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE REALLY LOOK AT DO WE 
WANT THE BELTWAY ON THIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR 2025.
ONCE IT'S THERE AND IT STAYS THERE, EVERYBODY KEEPS LOOKING 
AT IT AS A PREVIOUS STUDY.
LAST NIGHT DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S PUBLIC HEARING 
FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ELEMENT I ASKED THE PLANNING 
COMMISSION TO TALK TO THE MPO ABOUT REMOVING THIS BYPASS.
THE BYPASS HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED AS PART OF THE 
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND IT SEEMS TO CONFLICT WITH THE WHOLE 
GOAL OF THE MPO'S 2050 MASS TRANSIT PLAN.
IF WE'RE WORKING -- IF WE'VE GOT THIS VISION, THIS BOLD 
VISION FOR A MASS TRANSIT PLAN FOR MOVING PEOPLE, GETTING 
PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS, WHY DO WE NEED THE BELTWAY?
THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING -- OF 
A LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR 2050 THAT PLANS FOR 
LAND USE.
ROADWAYS DRIVE LAND USE DECISIONS, AND BEFORE A MAJOR 
ROADWAY IS CONSIDERED NEEDED BY THE MPO, THE PLANNING 
COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS LAND USE 
PATTERNS AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, BUT I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER 
CONCERN, AND IT RELATES TO WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM 
TBARTA, TOLL ROADS.
I'M HEARING MORE AND MORE ABOUT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS 
WHICH INCLUDE TOLL ROADS.
TOLL ROADS CREATE ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION BY FORCING LOWER-
INCOME PEOPLE INTO ALREADY CONGESTED PUBLIC ROADS WHILE 
HIGHER-INCOME PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO TAKE THE LESS CROWDED, 
BETTER MAINTAINED TOLL ROAD.
OFTEN IT TAKES MANY YEARS BEFORE THESE TOLL ROADS BECOME 
PROFITABLE ENOUGH TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
IN THE MEANTIME, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE OFTEN FORCED TO 
SUBSIDIZE THOSE TOLL ROADS.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SUBSIDIZING TRANSPORTATION, I THINK WE 
SHOULD SUBSIDIZE MASS TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>MARK SHARPE:  CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, MR. SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  ALAN, THE 2050 PLAN -- BECAUSE IT -- IT 
SEEMS TO ME THAT AS LONG AS WE'VE GOT SEPARATE PLANS -- 
MASS -- I MEAN, NOW I'M HEARING WE HAVE THE MASS TRANSIT 
PLAN, WHICH IS A GOOD QUESTION, WHY DO WE NEED THIS ROAD, 
AND I THINK IF IT'S NOT ALL PART OF ONE LARGE PLAN, A 
MOBILITY PLAN -- AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM 
MOVING PEOPLE TO MOVING COMMERCE TO MOVING PEOPLE 
REGIONALLY OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO FINANCE IT BECAUSE IT'S 
ALL INTERRELATED.
A MASS TRANSIT PLAN IS ONLY AS GOOD AS -- AND MASS TRANSIT 
INCLUDES ROADS, DOES IT NOT?
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  TYPICALLY THE UNDERSTANDING IS NO, IT'S 
REFERRING TO PUBLIC --
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
MOBILITY PLAN.
LET ME SAY MOBILITY PLAN.
WOULD A MOBILITY PLAN INCLUDE ROADS?
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  YES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I MEAN, IS IT -- WOULD IT BE IMPROPER TO 
HAVE, AS WE LOOK OUT TO 2050, THIS DISCUSSION OF HOW OUR 
LARGER ARTERIAL ROADS MIGHT COMPLEMENT OR BE PART OF THE 
TRANSIT PLAN?
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  IT'S NOT IMPROPER AT ALL.
IN FACT, THERE ARE TWO VENUES FOR THAT DISCUSSION THAT -- 
AT LEAST TWO VENUES FOR THAT DISCUSSION TO OCCUR THAT 
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS MORNING.
ONE IS THE VISION HILLSBOROUGH 2050, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT 
THESE ISSUES IN CONCEPT AND LOOKING HOW LAND USE AND 
TRANSPORTATION INTERACT.
THE OTHER IS OUR LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WHICH IS -
- THE PURPOSE OF THAT PLAN IS TO PUT TOGETHER A 
COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM LOOKING AT ISSUES OF 
MASS TRANSIT AND ROADWAYS, WHAT'S NEEDED, WHAT BALANCE IS 
NEEDED, HOW MUCH IS COSTS, HOW MUCH WE CAN AFFORD TO PAY 
FOR, SO ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF DISCUSSIONS WILL BE RESOLVED 
THROUGH THAT PLANNING PROCESS THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED FOR 
NEXT YEAR.
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO WILL THAT PLANNING PROCESS, THEN, 
INCLUDE THIS DISCUSSION OF -- I DON'T WANT TO GIVE IT ANY 
PEJORATIVE NAME, BUT WILL IT INCLUDE A DISCUSSION OF 
WHETHER IT'S A TOLL ROAD, A BYPASS OF SOME SORT, WHATEVER 
IT MIGHT BE?
I MEAN, I'M JUST THINKING MOBILITY, HOW YOU ENHANCE 
MOBILITY.
I MEAN -- BECAUSE I AGREE.
I DON'T LIKE HAVING SEPARATE PLANS, AND IF -- AND IF ONE 
PART OF IT DOESN'T COMPLEMENT THE OTHER, THEN WE'RE MAKING 
A HUGE MISTAKE, SO IT NEEDS TO BE ALL PART OF A 
COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION, BECAUSE AGAIN, WHAT GEORGE SAID 
IS ACCURATE.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE DON'T NEED IT.
IF YOU DON'T -- AND LISTEN, I'M NOT MARRIED TO ANY ONE 
PROJECT.
I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE LEAVE HERE, WE 
DIDN'T SET OUR KIDS UP FOR A MASSIVE HEADACHE AND AN 
EXPENSIVE COST THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO FIX BECAUSE WE 
SAT BACK AND DID NOTHING, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, WE DON'T DO IT NOW, IT'S GOING TO COST US TEN TIMES 
THAT MUCH, YOU KNOW, IF WE WAIT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO RUSH, 
AND I DON'T WANT THIS DRIVING -- AS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS 
TALKED ABOUT, DRIVING THIS ISSUE OF SPRAWL.
THAT IS A CONCERN.
IF WE DO OUR JOB AND WE SHOW HOW THE TRANSIT'S GOING TO 
WORK, HOPEFULLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS FOLKS WILL START TO 
COME IN RATHER THAN GO OUT, BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S GOT TO BE A 
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND WE'VE GOT TO EXPLAIN AND THEN MAYBE 
DRAW OUT A PLAN THAT MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT IF THIS IS 
TRULY INDEED A BYPASS, WE SET UP VERY STRICT FUTURE LAND 
USE RESTRICTIONS WHICH PROHIBIT SUBURBS FROM SPROUTING UP 
ALONG, IF THAT'S INDEED THE INTENT AND PURPOSE, BUT I THINK 
IT ALL NEEDS TO BE PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE MOBILITY 
DISCUSSION, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IT INCLUDED IN OUR 
DISCUSSIONS OF THE 2050 PLAN, NOT THE BYPASS PER SE, BUT 
JUST MOBILITY AND HOW ARTERIAL ROADS MIGHT BE USED.
WHETHER -- IT MIGHT BE THAT WE JUST -- WE JUNK THE WHOLE 
THING AND GO TO AN EXPANSION OF I-75.
I DON'T CARE, JUST MOVE PEOPLE AND COMMERCE.
>>ALAN STEINBECK:  YES.
AND AGAIN, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO 
THROUGH THAT CONVERSATION AND MAKE THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS 
TO ESTABLISH A 2050 VISION THROUGH VISION HILLSBOROUGH THAT 
WILL INFORM FUTURE UPDATES TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS BUT 
ALSO INFORM HOW WE PLAN FOR TRANSPORTATION.
>>MARK SHARPE:  MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN -- AND EXECUTIVE, CAN WE 
MAKE SURE IF THERE IS ANY MAPS THAT WE'RE USING CURRENTLY 
THAT HAVE THE GREEN SWATH OF DEATH ON IT THAT WE INCLUDE IT 
IN OUR DISCUSSION ON THE 20th SO THAT WE --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THERE DOESN'T NEED TO BE ANYMORE SURPRISES.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW WHERE IT IS, HOW IT GOT THERE, AND 
THEN WE CAN BEGIN TO DISCUSS HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE 
FORWARD.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THAT WILL BE BROUGHT UP ON THE 20th.
>>LUCIE AYER:  DEFINITELY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
IF NOT, PAM CLOUSTON.
PROBABLY DIDN'T PRONOUNCE THAT RIGHT.
>> IT'S CLOUSTON, BUT I GUESS IF I LIVED IN TEXAS, IT WOULD 
BE CLOUSTON.
GOOD MORNING.
I LIVE AT 1621 THOMPSON ROAD.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE WONDERFUL STATE OF FLORIDA FOR 25 
YEARS, AND I HAVE LIVED IN THE ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC 
COMMUNITY OF LITHIA FOR 22 YEARS.
WE MOVED THERE RIGHT BEFORE WE HAD OUR FIRST CHILD BECAUSE 
WE WANTED TO RAISE OUR KIDS IN A RURAL SETTING, AND I THINK 
THAT THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF FOLKS THAT SOME OF 
OUR AGENCIES IN THIS COUNTY AREN'T REALIZING ARE ACTUALLY 
MOVING OUT IN THE RURAL -- MORE RURAL AREAS, ALTHOUGH IT'S 
DEFINITELY NOT AS RURAL AS IT WAS WHEN I FIRST MOVED THERE, 
BUT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE MOVING OUT TO THOSE AREAS.
BUT I'M SO CONFUSED.
I'VE JUST BEEN A HOUSEWIFE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, AND I'M 
LEARNING ABOUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE MPO, FDOT, THE 
CROSSWAY -- OR NOT -- THE -- WHATEVER THEY ARE, AND NOW WE 
HAVE TBARTA, WHICH I'M SAYING IT THAT WAY BECAUSE I THINK 
THAT'S WHAT MAYBE -- I DO WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER SHARPE 
FOR ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND INCLUSIVENESS BECAUSE I 
THINK THAT THERE IS A PERCEPTION OUT THERE ABOUT THE 
GENERAL POPULATION AND PUBLIC NOT BEING INCLUDED, AND IT'S 
SCARY WHEN YOU SEE THE MAKEUP OF SOME OF THESE 
ORGANIZATIONS.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK MR. DINGFELDER, BUT HE LEFT, FOR 
ASKING THAT THE URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY BE RESPECTED.
IT'S -- IF I -- TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, IF I COULD HAVE 
DRIVEN MY CAR A COUPLE OF MILES FROM RURAL LITHIA, WHICH IS 
WAY -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHICH DIRECTION I'M FACING -- THAT 
WAY -- OKAY.
IF I COULD HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR TO A COUPLE OF MILES, PARKED 
IN A PARKING LOT, AND GOTTEN ON A RAPID TRANSIT BUS OR A 
LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM OR SOMETHING TO GET DOWN HERE, I WOULD BE 
THRILLED.
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I REALLY DON'T LIKE COMING DOWN HERE 
THAT MUCH, AND I WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO EVER DO IT AGAIN 
EXCEPT FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES, BUT WE DON'T FIND -- 
THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
IT'S THE BELTWAY, IT'S THE BYPASS, IT'S THE SPRAWLWAY.
WAIT UNTIL I TELL MY HUSBAND THAT ONE OF THE COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS USED MY PHRASE, WHICH WAS GREEN SWATH OF 
DEATH.
I DO KNOW -- WHAT I DO KNOW ABOUT IT IS THE PEOPLE IN 
LITHIA WON'T BE SERVED BY IT, THEY WILL BE HURT BY IT.
IT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT OUT THERE.
IT'S EVIDENT THAT -- BY THE TURNOUT THAT WAS THERE LAST 
NIGHT, FOLKS THAT DIDN'T TURN OUT -- I MEAN, WEREN'T EVEN 
ABLE TO GET IN THE ROOM.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WOULD YOU PLEASE WRAP IT UP.
IT'S OVER THREE MINUTES.
>> OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAME, WE GOT A DING AND A --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  NO, THREE MINUTES.
>> OH, OKAY.
I THOUGHT WE GOT A WARNING DING.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.
MARIELLA SMITH.
>> HI.
MARIELLA SMITH, 108 JANIE STREET IN RUSKIN.
I'VE GONE TO A FEW OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT THE 
SOUTH COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN, AND I'M IMPRESSED BY THE 
LUNCHROOMS OF PEOPLE PACKED INTO STANDING ROOM ONLY, AND 
ALL OF THOSE FOLKS ARE MIGHTILY OPPOSED TO THE BELTWAY.
AT LAST NIGHT'S MEETING IN LITHIA, A WHOLE TROOP OF BOY 
SCOUTS IN UNIFORM STOOD UP TO OPPOSE THE BELTWAY BECAUSE IT 
WOULD RUIN THE PARKS THAT THEY LOVE.
YOU CAN SEE THIS MAP ON THE ELMO.
THIS IS PREPARED BY THE COUNTY -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
PARKS, RECREATION, AND CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT SHOWING THE 
IMPACT THIS BYPASS ALIGNMENT WOULD HAVE ON OUR ELAPP LANDS.
THE COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT SENT A STRONGLY WORDED LETTER 
TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION OPPOSING THE BYPASS BECAUSE OF 
THE DEVASTATION IT WOULD BRING TO OUR COUNTY-OWNED NATURE 
PRESERVES.
THANK YOU, VANNA.
CITIZENS IN RURAL AREAS DON'T WANT TO SEE THEIR RURAL 
COMMUNITIES RUINED.
CITIZENS IN URBAN AREAS DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE 
SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE THE SPRAWL MAGNET WOULD FORCE US 
TO BUILD WAY OUT TO THE RURAL AREAS.
THIS COUNTY'S CITIZENS DO NOT WANT THIS BYPASS.
THE MAYOR OF TAMPA DOESN'T WANT IT.
THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T WANT IT.
THE COUNTY CAN'T BUILD IT.
THE STATE WON'T BUILD IT.
SO WHO WANTS THIS BELTWAY?
ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD MAKE MONEY OFF THE 
SPRAWL IT WOULD CREATE.
OH, AND THE MPO.
THIS SWATH ON YOUR MAP IS BEING USED BY THOSE WHO WOULD 
PROFIT FROM EXPANDING THE URBAN SERVICE AREA.
YOUR SWATH HAS BECOME A POWERFUL ARGUMENT TO PLAN MORE 
ROADS AND DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE URBAN SERVICE AREA.
YOU'VE HAD YEARS TO STUDY THIS BELTWAY, AND IT'S STILL JUST 
A BAD PLAN WITH -- WITH NO REAL PLAN.
A TWO-MILE-WIDE SWATH IS NOT A PLAN.
IT'S USELESS FOR CORRIDOR PRESERVATION OR REAL PLANNING.
TAKE IT OFF YOUR MAP, CONTINUE STUDYING IT, IF YOU WANT, 
BUT DON'T PUT IT BACK ON THE MAP UNTIL YOU HAVE A VIABLE 
ALIGNMENT THAT HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH THE PARKS 
DEPARTMENT, WITH THE GREENWAYS COMMITTEE.
THEY'RE OPPOSED AS WELL, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE 
STATE AGENCIES INVOLVED.
THE -- OUR NATURE PRESERVES THAT THIS WOULD IMPACT, SOME OF 
THEM ARE OWNED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE, WHICH HAS 
MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT WOULD FORBID THIS ALIGNMENT.
LET'S GET SOMETHING CLEARER AND GET SOME CONSENSUS IN THE 
COMMUNITY, INVOLVE THE CITIZENS WHO WOULD BE PAYING FOR 
THIS, INVOLVE THE CITIZENS WHOSE COMMUNITIES, PARKS, AND 
NATURAL RESOURCES WOULD BE IMPACTED, BUT UNTIL THEN, PLEASE 
TAKE IT OFF YOUR MAP.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
>>RICK LOTT:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>RICK LOTT:  [INAUDIBLE]
>> MARIELLA SMITH.
>>RICK LOTT:  [INAUDIBLE]
[MICROPHONE NOT ON]
>> EXCUSE ME.
YOUR MIKE ISN'T ON.
>>RICK LOTT:  OH, I'M SORRY.
IS THAT BETTER?
OKAY.
HAVE WE -- IN THE THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, I NEVER 
RECALL US APPROVING A MAP WITH THE EXPRESSWAY ON THERE.
HAVE WE APPROVED THAT MAP FROM THE MPO PERSPECTIVE?
>>LUCIE AYER:  THIS MAP WAS -- THIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT MAP 
WAS APPROVED BACK IN NOVEMBER 2004.
>>RICK LOTT:  2004?
>>LUCIE AYER:  YES.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
>>LUCIE AYER:  AND I TOO AGREE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS.
THIS WAS MEANT TO BE LIKE A PLACEHOLDER, BUT PEOPLE DO USE 
IT FOR VARIOUS REASONS, SO IT IS WHAT IT IS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>RICK LOTT:  OKAY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE THANK YOU.
>>RICK LOTT:  SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS GROUP COME BACK 
TO THE POLICY MEETING, WHICH IS NOVEMBER 20th --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  20th.
>>RICK LOTT:  -- TO DISCUSS THIS; CORRECT?
>>LUCIE AYER:  CORRECT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  AND PAM, I APOLOGIZE.
I WAS WRONG.
THE FIRST DING THAT YOU HEAR, YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS, SO I 
GOOFED.
I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  BEV GRIFFITHS.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS BEV GRIFFITHS.
I AM CHAIR OF SIERRA CLUB'S TAMPA BAY GROUP.
I LIVE AT 7201 ALAFIA RIDGE ROAD IN RIVERVIEW.
I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE TAMPA BAY SIERRA CLUB IS 
STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE SOUTH COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN 
AND PARTICULARLY THE PROPOSED BYPASS/BELTWAY, WHICH IS PART 
OF THIS PLAN.
IN FACT, THE BYPASS/BELTWAY PROPOSAL WAS THE FORMATIVE 
ISSUE IN THE FORMATION OF A LOCAL SIERRA CLUB SOUTH 
HILLSBOROUGH COMMITTEE.
THE BYPASS/BELTWAY IS A THREAT TO COUNTY PRESERVES, AS WAS 
SHOWN BY MARIELLA, AND IT'S A THREAT TO CITIZENS WHOSE 
PROPERTY AND QUALITY OF LIFE WILL BE IMPACTED AND PROMOTES 
SUBURBAN-STYLE SPRAWL IN THE RURAL SERVICE AREA.
ACCORDING TO THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY FUTURE LAND USE, QUOTE, THERE ARE DISTINCT 
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RURAL, SUBURBAN, AND URBAN AREAS OF 
THE COUNTY WHICH OFFER A VARIETY OF CHOICES FOR BUSINESSES 
AND RESIDENTS.
THESE DISTINCTIONS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND ENHANCED 
THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS.
THE SOUTH COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN WAS POORLY PLANNED AND 
IS BEING RUSHED THROUGH WITHOUT PROPER ANALYSIS AND 
CONSIDERATION FOR PUBLIC OPINION.
WE HAVE OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PORTIONS OF THE PLAN, BUT OUR 
PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE BYPASS.
IT'S BEEN ON THE DRAWING BOARD FOR YEARS, IT'S BEEN STUDIED 
LONG ENOUGH, AND THE PLANNERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO NAIL IT 
DOWN BY THIS TIME, SO WE FEEL IT SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE 
MAP FOR NOW.
WE KNOW THAT SPRAWL POLLUTES OUR AIR AND WATER, AND AS 
RELIANCE ON CARS AND PAVEMENT INCREASES SO DOES SMOG AND 
STORMWATER RUNOFF.
IT INCREASES TRAFFIC ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND HIGH 
WASTE.
SPRAWL CONSUMES FARMS, RURAL LAND, AND OPEN SPACE.
IT WASTES OUR TAX DOLLARS BY PULLING ECONOMIC RESOURCES 
AWAY FROM EXISTING COMMUNITIES AND SPREADS THEM OUT OVER 
SPARSE DEVELOPMENTS FAR FROM THE CORE.
WE REALLY FEEL THAT THIS BYPASS NEEDS TO COME OFF BECAUSE 
IT WOULD BE A SPRAWL INDUCER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
THAT CONCLUDES THE COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY OLD BUSINESS WE NEED TO DISCUSS?
ANY NEW BUSINESS?
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  MR. CHAIR.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  I'D LIKE TO DIRECT MY COMMENTS TO MR. 
SHARPE.
MARK, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH KINNAN ROAD OUT OFF OF CROSS 
CREEK BOULEVARD?
>>MARK SHARPE:  YES.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  OKAY.
KINNAN ROAD WAS EVIDENTLY BUILT, HAD PERMITS, THERE'S 
SIDEWALKS, THERE'S TREES, AND THERE'S EVERYTHING ELSE 
THERE.
IT ABUTS PASCO COUNTY, AND EVIDENTLY PASCO COUNTY DOES NOT 
WANT TO JOIN THE ROAD.
NOW, I AGREE WITH MR. HAGAN, MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT A TOLL 
ROAD UP.
IF THEY DON'T WANT TO COOPERATE WITH THIS COUNTY, I DON'T 
KNOW HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE'VE SPENT TO PUT THIS 
ROADWAY IN OR WHEN IT WAS BUILT, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE 
DONE WITH IT.
I MEAN, IT'S FINISHED.
THEY PLANTED ALL THESE TREES.
EVERYTHING IS DEAD, NO ONE'S TAKING CARE OF IT.
THERE'S SIDEWALKS, THE ROADS ARE IN, AND THERE'S A LOT OF 
BUILDABLE LAND THERE, AND IT'S JUST SITTING THERE.
WHAT -- WHAT'S HAPPENING, MR. SHARPE?
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING?
>>MARK SHARPE:  I KNOW THAT OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND COUNTY 
ADMINISTRATOR HAD FORWARDED TO PASCO COUNTY A -- CONCERNS 
REGARDING -- I'M NOT SURE IF KINNAN WAS SPECIFICALLY CITED, 
BUT A SERIES OF ROADS CONNECTING THE TWO WERE, AND JUST THE 
PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT IN PASCO AND 
THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT -- THAT NONE OF THE DOLLARS ARE 
COMING -- BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPACTING OUR ROADS COMING INTO 
OUR AREA, SO WE'VE COMMUNICATED WITH THEM, BUT THEY'VE 
COMMUNICATED BACK WITH US BASICALLY, IN ESSENCE, SAYING 
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  WELL, I THINK THERE'S SOME LEGAL 
ENTANGLEMENTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE -- AND I DON'T 
THINK KINNAN ROAD IS PART OF IT, BUT I WILL CHECK WITH THE 
COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  I WILL ASK OUR -- I HAVE A MEETING WITH 
COUNTY ATTORNEY THIS AFTERNOON, SO I WILL FORMALLY ASK HER 
AND ASK THAT SHE REPORT BACK.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  THANK YOU, SIR.
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
ANY OTHER -- ANY OTHER BUSINESS?
IF NOT, WE ADJOURN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
 


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