CAPTIONING
MARCH 4, 2008
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 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY METROPOLITAN PLANNING 
ORGANIZATION MEETING OF MARCH 4th.
WE WELCOME YOU.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND BRIEF 
INVOCATION.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY 
TO LIVE IN SUCH A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.
WE ASK YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR -- AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR 
BLESSINGS.
WE ASK YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE PROTECT OUR 
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE AROUND THE WORLD FIGHTING FOR 
OUR FREEDOMS.
IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.
AMEN.
>> AMEN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  BEFORE WE BEGIN, COMMISSIONER BRIAN BLAIR 
WILL NOT BE AT THE MEETING.
HE'S ATTENDING A MEETING TODAY.
HE'S -- I'M SORRY.
HE'S ATTENDING A FUNERAL FOR A FAMILY MEMBER, SO HE WILL 
NOT BE HERE TODAY.
AND COMMISSIONER SHARPE, I THINK, IS LEAVING A LITTLE 
EARLY, SO WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH THE AGENDA AROUND A LITTLE 
BIT IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH EVERYBODY.
THE FIRST ITEM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE APPROVAL FOR THE MINUTES 
OF JANUARY 15th, 2008.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO MOVE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE HAVE A MOTION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>>LOUIS MILLER:  THE ONLY DISCUSSION I HAVE IS THE MEETING 
STARTED AT 9:08 AND IT WAS OVER AT 9:39, 31 MINUTES.
MUST HAVE BEEN THE SHORTEST MEETING IN THE HISTORY OF THE 
MPO, SO HOPEFULLY YOU'RE STARTING A TREND.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WAS MR. MILLER IN ATTENDANCE?
>>LOUIS MILLER:  YES, I WAS EVEN HERE, AND I --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OH, I WAS GOING TO SAY PERHAPS THAT'S 
MAYBE WHY IT WAS SO SHORT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE THANK YOU.
WE'LL TRY.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST.
I BELIEVE WE TOOK A VOTE.
NO, WE DIDN'T?
OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHAT WE'LL DO IS SWITCH HERE AND GO TO THE ACTION ITEMS 
SINCE COMMISSIONER SHARPE IS GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE A 
LITTLE EARLY, SO THE FIRST ITEM WOULD BE THE TRANSPORTATION 
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, WALLY PLAIN.
>>WALLY BLAIN:  GOOD MORNING.
WALLY BLAIN, MPO STAFF.
THIS MORNING I'M BRINGING BEFORE YOU AN AMENDMENT FOR 
SIDEWALKS ON DALE MABRY HIGHWAY.
I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE TO THE 
WAY THE PROJECTS ARE BEING DONE, AND THAT INFORMATION IS IN 
YOUR FOLDER, AND I WILL SPELL OUT THROUGH THE PRESENTATION 
WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE AND HOW IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS 
ORIGINALLY SENT OUT IN THE PACKET TO WHAT YOU SEE TODAY.
THIS IS DESIGNED FOR SIDEWALKS ON DALE MABRY HIGHWAY.
IT STRETCHES ALL THE WAY FROM NEAR HILLSBOROUGH AVENUE 
NORTH UP THROUGH THE CARROLLWOOD/NORTHDALE AREA.
WHAT THIS IS DOING IS ADVANCING DESIGN THAT IS CURRENTLY 
PROGRAMMED IN 2009-2010 TO CURRENT YEAR, AND THERE IS A 
COMBINATION -- ORIGINALLY WHAT WAS SENT OUT WAS SIX 
SEGMENTS, AND NOW IT'S DOWN TO FOUR SEGMENTS.
THE SAME LENGTH AND SAME PROJECT LIMITS WILL BE COVERED, 
BUT IT HAS BEEN COMBINED DOWN TO FOUR PROJECTS.
THE FIRST PROJECT IS FROM CREST AVENUE JUST SOUTH OF THE 
OVERPASS AT HILLSBOROUGH NORTH TO BUSCH BOULEVARD.
IT'S ABOUT THREE MILES IN LENGTH, AND THIS IS FILLING IN 
GAPS ALONG THE WAY, PUTTING SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF DALE 
MABRY HIGHWAY.
THE DESIGN IS ABOUT $211,000.
THE NEXT SEGMENT IS FROM CARROLLWOOD SPRINGS TO NORTHDALE 
BOULEVARD, JUST NORTH OF BEARSS.
IT'S ABOUT A THIRD OF A MILE IN LENGTH, AND THE DESIGN ON 
THAT IS $113,000.
THIS NEXT SEGMENT IS ONE OF THE FIRST CHANGES, AND WHAT 
HAPPENED IS THE ORIGINAL SEGMENT LENGTH WAS FROM NORTHDALE 
BOULEVARD TO MAPLE DALE AND THEN FROM MAPLE DALE TO 
NORTHGREEN AVENUE.
THAT WAS COMBINED INTO ONE SEGMENT FOR DESIGN ABOUT TWO 
THIRDS OF A MILE.
AGAIN, SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES, AND THE DESIGN FOR THAT 
ENTIRE LENGTH IS $325,000.
THE FOURTH SEGMENT, WHICH AGAIN IS A COMBINATION, 
ORIGINALLY THIS WAS NORTHGREEN AVENUE TO CARROLLWOOD 
SPRINGS, CARROLLWOOD SPRINGS TO NORTH LAKEVIEW.
THAT AGAIN WAS COMBINED INTO ONE SEGMENT, AGAIN ABOUT TWO-
THIRDS OF A MILE IN LENGTH.
THIS IS PUTTING SIDEWALKS ON THE WEST SIDE OF DALE MABRY 
HIGHWAY, AND THE DESIGN IS $306,000.
THE REASON FOR COMBINING THOSE WAS FOR REDUCING THE COST.
THE COST OF THOSE WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY SENT OUT IN SIX 
SEGMENTS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT'S PRESENTED NOW IN FOUR 
SEGMENTS IS ABOUT $280,000 LESS, SO THIS COMBINING HAS 
SAVED -- IN ESSENCE -- NOTHING'S BEEN PROGRAMMED YET, BUT 
IT IS A COST SAVINGS ABOUT $280,000.
WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING THE MPO TO DO TODAY IS AUTHORIZE AND 
APPROVE THIS AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT YEAR OF DESIGN.
WHAT THIS WILL MEAN IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN AMENDMENTS 
IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF PROCEDURES.
WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY SENT TO YOU WAS ALSO SENT TO THE 
GOVERNOR FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE D.O.T. WORK PROGRAM.
A CHANGE WILL HAVE TO BE MADE TO THAT, SO STAFF WILL HAVE 
TO WORK WITH D.O.T. STAFF IN JUST COORDINATING THAT EFFORT.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU IS TO AMEND THE T.I.P DOCUMENT AND 
ALSO ALLOW US TO COORDINATE WITH D.O.T. AT A STAFF LEVEL TO 
MAKE SURE IT GETS PROGRAMMED ACCORDING TO YOUR WISHES.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, WALLY.
>>WALLY BLAIN:  AND AS A T.I.P. AMENDMENT, IT DOES REQUIRE 
A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ALL RIGHT.
MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION?
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  WALLY, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS IN THE CITY 
LIMITS?
>>WALLY BLAIN:  THE CITY LIMITS IN THAT AREA IS RIGHT AT 
HILLSBOROUGH AVENUE, SO IT'S A VERY SMALL AMOUNT THAT'S IN 
THE CITY.
THE PREDOMINANCE OF THIS IS IN THE COUNTY.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY.
IF NOT, I GUESS WE'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> AFFRONTI.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>> CAETANO.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  YES.
>> DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  YES.
>> FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  YES.
>> MILLER.
>>LOUIS MILLER:  YES.
>> SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  YES.
>> WAGGONER.
>>JOSEPH WAGGONER:  YES.
>> WAINIO.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  YES.
>> MOTION CARRIED 8-0.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS, WALLY.
APPRECIATE THAT.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM, ALLISON 
YEH.
>>ALLISON YEH:  GOOD MORNING.
ALLISON YEH, MPO STAFF.
I AM BRINGING FORWARD TO YOU TODAY AN AMENDMENT TO OUR 
CURRENT UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 
'07-'08, WHICH STARTED JUNE 30th, '07 AND -- SORRY, 
JULY 1st, '07, ENDS JUNE 30th, '08, THIS YEAR.
AS YOU KNOW, THE WORK PROGRAM IS OUR BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE 
YEAR.
IT TELLS YOU OUR STAFF ACTIVITIES THAT WE ANTICIPATE AND 
THE PLANS AND PROJECTS AND DOCUMENTS WE PLAN ON COMPLETING 
DURING THE YEAR.
I HAVE THREE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TODAY.
ONE -- I WILL DETAIL THEM FURTHER LATER, BUT IT'S TO 
TRANSFER $10,000 TBARTA TO ROLL FORWARD $150,000 OF OUR 
PLANNING FUNDS AND TO UPDATE OUR BUDGET AND FUNDING TABLES.
REGARDING THE TBARTA FUNDING, WE'VE ADDED LANGUAGE TO OUR 
PLAN THAT -- TO OUR COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL AND STATE 
ENTITIES SECTION WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO TRANSFER THIS 
$10,000.
THE MPO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THIS TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO 
TBARTA, BUT WE'RE FORMULIZING IT IN OUR BUSINESS PLAN NOW.
WE'RE ALSO ROLLING FORWARD 150,000 OF OUR PLANNING FUNDS.
WE DON'T ALWAYS START PROJECTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 
FISCAL YEAR, AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS END RIGHT AT THE END OF 
THE FISCAL YEAR, SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO KEEP PAYING OUR 
INVOICES AS WE PASS JUNE 30th.
FINALLY, AS A RESULT OF THE TWO AMENDMENTS I MENTIONED AND 
AS A RESULT OF MINOR COST ADJUSTMENTS WE MAKE DURING THE 
YEAR, THESE ARE ALL WITHIN FEDERAL HIGHWAY GUIDELINES, WE -
- WE'RE UPDATING OUR FUNDING CHARTS.
IN YOUR FOLDER I'VE INCLUDED THE UPDATED FUNDING CHARTS 
WHICH SHOWS THE TBARTA MONEY BEING MOVED AND THE FUNDS 
BEING ROLLED FORWARD, SO TODAY WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO 
IS JUST TO APPROVE THESE AMENDMENTS AND KIND OF CLOSE OUT 
OUR UPWP FOR THIS YEAR.
NEXT MONTH I'LL BE BRINGING YOU THE NEW UPWP FOR THE NEXT 
TWO FISCAL YEARS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, ALLISON.
ANY QUESTIONS OF ALLISON?
OKAY.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION --
>> SO MOVE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THIS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE MPO -- THE 
POLICY COMMITTEE, THE CAC, THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, 
AND THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO MOVE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY --
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  QUESTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT YOU SECONDED IT.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  I'LL BE GLAD TO SECOND IT TOO.
THIS IS FINE.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT TBARTA IN REGARD TO FUTURE 
FUNDING.
IS THERE -- IS THERE ANYTHING COMING INTO THE LEGISLATURE 
TO TRY AND PROVIDE THEM A LITTLE MORE STABLE SOURCE OF 
FUNDING?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  LUCIE COULD PROBABLY --
>>LUCIE AYER:  LET ME GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THAT.
CURRENTLY THERE ISN'T ANY YET.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THERE'S NO BILLS OR ANYTHING OR --
>>LOUIS MILLER:  [INAUDIBLE]
THAT WOULD COME FORWARD AND DO SOMETHING -- DOING IT --
>>LUCIE AYER:  BUT NOT YET.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MR. SKELTON, I THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO 
ADD SOMETHING TO THIS.
>>DON SKELTON:  YES, I BELIEVE ACTUALLY THERE HAVE BEEN TWO 
DIFFERENT BILLS FILED, ONE THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE TBARTA 
ISSUE AND ANOTHER ONE THAT ADDRESSES THE SOUTH FLORIDA RTA 
THAT WOULD BE LOOKING AT A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT.
NOW, THAT FUNDING SOURCE THAT THEY'VE INCLUDED WILL IMPACT 
THE FIVE-YEAR WORK PROGRAM FOR THE D.O.T., SO -- BUT THERE 
HAVE BEEN TWO BILLS FILED, ONE BY REPRESENTATIVE GALVANO 
AND THE OTHER ONE BY I BELIEVE GELLER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  AND IS IT APPROPRIATE OR PROTOCOL FOR 
THIS COUNCIL TO TAKE ANY STAND ON THOSE TO SUPPORT THOSE?
I MEAN, I JUST -- YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR I THOUGHT IT WAS A 
LITTLE UNFORTUNATE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY SORT OF GOT 
UNFUNDED RIGHT AS THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, GETTING READY TO GO, 
AND I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT TBARTA 
AND ITS ROLE IN THE REGION, I THINK THAT ALL THE MPOs 
SHOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  ANY ADVICE ON THAT, LUCIE?
I DON'T KNOW.
>>LUCIE AYER:  I HAVE NOT SEEN THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE, BUT 
OVERALL I THINK THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM BECAUSE THAT'S 
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MOVE TRANSIT FORWARD, SO WITH THAT, I 
THINK THAT A MOTION TO SUPPORT THIS IN CONCEPT WOULD BE 
APPROPRIATE.
>>LOUIS MILLER:  I THINK THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO 
PROBABLY WAS -- BECAUSE I THINK AT YOUR NEXT MEETING -- OUR 
NEXT MEETING WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE 
PACKAGE THE MPO IS SUPPORTING BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY A DAY INTO 
THE LEGISLATURE.
WE ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THAT, BRING IT BACK TO US TO TAKE AN 
OFFICIAL POSITION BECAUSE -- WITH THE INTENTION THAT WE ALL 
DO SUPPORT FUNDING THE TBARTA, YOU CAN'T GO ALONG THIS WAY 
ANY LONGER.
IT'S GOT TO HAVE SOME MONEY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  AS LONG AS WE HAVE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND 
THE LEGISLATURE.
>>LUCIE AYER:  OH, YEAH, WE WILL HAVE TIME.
USUALLY -- THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, SO THIS YEAR WE 
JUST ARE IN THE PERFECT POSITION TO REACT TO THOSE THINGS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE TAKE THAT AS A MOTION TO --
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  TO STUDY AND BRING BACK NEXT MONTH?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>LOUIS MILLER:  I WOULD ADD TO THAT, THOUGH, IN THE EVENT 
IT COMES UP STAFF MOVE FORWARD IN SUPPORT OF IT IF IT WERE 
TO COME UP EARLY.
I KNOW THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO DEAL WITH BUDGET ISSUES 
RIGHT OUT OF THE SHOOT, IF I UNDERSTAND.
IF THIS HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THEM, THEN WE WOULD WANT OUR 
STAFF MEMBERS UP THERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF A FUNDING 
SOURCE FOR TBARTA.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, ISN'T IT, COUNCILMAN?
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  YOU'RE MUCH MORE ON TOP OF IT THAN I 
AM, BUT I'LL GO TO THAT AS A MOTION, TWO-PRONG MOTION.
>> SECOND.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  YOU WANT TO COMBINE IT, THEN, IS THAT WHAT 
YOU WANT TO DO?
IT WAS MY MOTION ORIGINALLY, IF YOU WANT TO COMBINE IT, 
THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
FINE.
WE DON'T NEED TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS AND AS 
WELL AS SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING 
PROPOSED IN -- TO FUND TBARTA.
>>LOUIS MILLER:  UH-HUH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  SO DO WE HAVE -- WE HAD A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>LOUIS MILLER:  GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE COMMUNITY 
TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR.
AGAIN, ALLISON YEH.
>>ALLISON YEH:  OKAY.
THE SECOND PRESENTATION I WANT TO BRING TO YOU IS THE 2007 
COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR EVALUATION.
THEY'RE ALSO KNOWN AS THE CTC, AND IT'S THE VAN SERVICE FOR 
THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
THAT IS -- THE ENTITY IS THE BOCC, BUT IT RUNS THROUGH THE 
SUNSHINE LINE SERVICE.
THE EVALUATION COVERS JULY 1st, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 30th, 
2007.
THE PURPOSE OF THE EVALUATION -- WE DO THIS ANNUALLY.
IT IS A STATE REQUIREMENT FOR OUR GRANT.
WE REVIEW THE PREVIOUS GOALS AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THE 
SAFETY STANDARDS AND SERVICE STANDARDS ARE HIGH WHILE 
TRYING TO DEVELOP A MORE EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE 
SYSTEM.
THE EVALUATION PROCESS THIS YEAR HAD TEN STANDARDS, NINE OF 
WHICH WERE MET DURING THIS PERIOD.
WE ALSO SURVEYED 2700 CLIENTS, WHICH ARE DOOR-TO-DOOR, 
WHICH MEANS THEY TAKE THE VAN SERVICE OR THEY GET A 
SUBSIDIZED BUS PASS FROM HARTLINE -- FOR HARTLINE.
THE EVALUATION CATEGORIES ARE DIVIDED INTO FIVE BROAD 
CATEGORIES, SERVICE RELIABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY, 
AVAILABILITY, AND SAFETY.
THESE ARE DETAILED IN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN YOUR PACKET 
IF YOU WANT TO READ THEM IN DETAIL.
THE GUESS OF IT IS WE MET ALL THE STANDARDS EXCEPT FOR ONE, 
ON-TIME PERFORMANCE, AND WHAT ON-TIME PERFORMANCE MEANS IS 
THAT A CLIENT IS DROPPED OFF EITHER ON TIME TO THEIR 
APPOINTMENT OR NO MORE THAN ONE HOUR EARLY.
HE STANDARD WE HAD SET LAST YEAR WAS 90%, AND WHAT WE CAME 
BACK WITH OUR RESULTS WAS 83.9.
THE SUNSHINE LINE HAS BEEN SHOWING A STEADY TREND TOWARDS 
IMPROVING THIS STANDARD, SO WE WERE NOT THAT WORRIED IN THE 
EVALUATION AT THE 83.9 RETURN DATA, BUT WHAT IT WAS 
IMPORTANT TO NOTE WAS DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T MEET 
THE STANDARD, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE TRIPS, 89% OF ALL 
THE TRIPS WERE EITHER ON TIME, OR IF THEY WERE LATE, THEY 
WERE 15 MINUTES LATE, SO IT'S STILL VERY GOOD SERVICE.
OF THE 2700 CLIENTS WE SURVEYED, APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THEM 
WERE DOOR-TO-DOOR USERS, WHICH WERE THE VAN USERS, AND 
OVERALL THEY SHOWED THAT THEY WERE HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE 
AND THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE, ABOUT 90% OF 
THEM.
THE CLIENTS WE SURVEYED THAT GET A HART BUS PASS FROM THE 
CTC WERE ALSO WELL ABOVE 85% IN THEIR SATISFACTION LEVEL.
SO AS A RESULT OF THE EVALUATION, WE CAME UP WITH A SET OF 
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR THAT -- WE RESEARCH 
THIS ON-TIME PERFORMANCE STANDARD, WHICH RIGHT NOW WE'RE 
ONLY LOOKING AT TRIPS THAT GO TO APPOINTMENTS, WE'RE NOT 
LOOKING AT TRIPS THAT LEAVE THE APPOINTMENT, AND ACTUALLY 
THE STATE CALCULATES THEIR ON-TIME PERFORMANCE THAT WAY, SO 
IT MIGHT RESULT IN A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE OF THE RESULTS, 
WHICH WOULD MEAN -- RIGHT NOW THE SUNSHINE LINE IS RUNNING 
WELL ABOVE 95% IN GETTING PEOPLE TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS ON 
TIME.
ALSO, TRAVEL TIME.
WITHIN THE URBAN BOUNDARIES, THE TRAVEL TIME IS SLIGHTLY 
BELOW -- WHEN WE -- PEOPLE ARE SPENDING A LITTLE LONGER IN 
THEIR VANS THAN WE WANT THEM TO, A LITTLE LONGER THAN OURS, 
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT REFINING THAT SYSTEM USING THE 
AUTOMATED DATA COUNTERS WE HAVE IN THE VANS.
TELEPHONE ACCESS, FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS SELL PHONES HAVE 
BEEN ANSWERED UNDER TWO MINUTES, ACTUALLY UNDER ONE MINUTE, 
SO THAT STANDARD'S BEING REMOVED, AND THE DATA IS BEING 
KEPT FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES.
FINALLY, WE COLLECT A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE 
HART BUS CLIENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS PROCESS, AND WE ARE 
JUST -- THE BOARD RECOMMENDED THAT WE SHARE THESE RESULTS 
WITH HART, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL FIND THAT USEFUL TO THEM.
THE LAST RECOMMENDATION WAS THE COMPLAINT RESPONSE TIME.
THIS CRITERION HAS BEEN MET FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
WE HAVE A SERVICE PLAN THAT ADDRESSES TRANSPORTATION 
DISADVANTAGED SERVICE THAT WE UPDATE EVERY FIVE YEARS, AND 
IT ADDRESSES THIS PARTICULAR ELEMENT AS AN OPERATIONAL 
ISSUE, SO WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THAT FROM THE EVALUATION 
NEXT YEAR, AND WE MAY LOOK AT A NEW STANDARD OF LOOKING AT 
COMPLAINTS.
WE'LL LOOK AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WE RECEIVE PER EVERY 
THOUSAND TRIPS THAT THE VANS MAKE.
THE STATE STANDARD IS NO MORE THAN TWO COMPLAINTS PER 
THOUSAND TRIPS, AND THE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION 
COORDINATOR IS AVERAGING .07 COMPLAINTS PER EVERY THOUSAND 
TRIPS, SO THEY'RE DOING VERY GOOD ON THAT.
THE ACTION WE'RE ASKING FOR TODAY IS TO APPROVE THIS 
REPORT, AND WE'LL SEND IT ON TO THE STATE TD COMMISSION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, ALLISON.
ANY QUESTIONS OF ALLISON?
YES, MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU.
NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE REPORT, AND I'M FINE WITH ALL -
- MOVING THE REPORT, BUT I GOT AN E-MAIL EARLIER, I THINK 
LAST WEEK, SPEAKING ABOUT THE -- I THINK IT WAS MEDICAID -- 
A MEDICAID RULE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED THAT WOULD SORT OF 
DEFUND OR POSSIBLY MAKE IT OPTIONAL ON A STATE-BY-STATE 
BASIS WHETHER OR NOT STATES WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN 
TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED.
ARE YOU UP ON THAT PROPOSED RULE, AND HOW HARMFUL COULD IT 
BE TO OUR LOCAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL TO 
THE FOLKS WHO NEED IT?
>>ALLISON YEH:  WE ACTUALLY DON'T LOOK -- OVERLOOK THE 
MEDICAID PROGRAM HERE.
THAT'S DIRECTLY WITH THE STATE, BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND WAS 
THAT THEY WERE TRYING A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE 
THE HMOs PAY FOR THE MEDICAID TRANSPORTATION.
THERE WAS SOME PILOT PROGRAMS GOING AROUND THE STATE AND 
THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT, SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW IS TAKING 
THAT MONEY THEY WOULD HAVE USED FOR MEDICAID TRANSPORTATION 
AND GIVING IT BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL CTCs TO TRANSPORT 
PEOPLE ON MEDICAID.
AS FAR AS THE OPTING OUT STATE FOR STATE, I COULD DO MORE 
RESEARCH FOR YOU ON THAT, BUT I DON'T --
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  SO NONE OF THAT AFFECTS US DIRECTLY ON 
OUR TD AND OUR PROGRAMS?
>>ALLISON YEH:  IT -- OUR TD PROGRAM HERE IS INDEPENDENT OF 
THE MEDICAID TRANSPORTATION, BUT SURELY IT WOULD AFFECT 
THE -- HOW THE CLIENTS USE THE SYSTEM BECAUSE A LOT OF THE 
CLIENTS USE THE SUNSHINE LINE FOR CERTAIN THINGS, USE 
MEDICAID.
IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT'S A PRIVATE PROVIDER, MMG, AND 
SO IT WOULD AFFECT THEM.
I JUST -- I GUESS I NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE MORE IF 
YOU WANT ME TO BRING THAT BACK TO YOU.
YEAH.
CONTINUING DING OKAY.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ALLISON WILL BRING THAT BACK TO US AFTER SHE CHECKS IT OUT.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALLISON.
>>ALLISON YEH:  I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY BOCC WAS NAMED URBAN CTC OF THE YEAR BY THE STATE 
LAST YEAR, AND THEY BEAT OUT ABOUT 13 LARGE URBAN AREAS TO 
DO THAT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  CONGRATULATIONS.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  WILL OUR CHAIRMAN GO UP AND GET THE 
AWARD?
>>ALLISON YEH:  WE GOT THAT AWARD.
SO THANKS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS, AND THANKS, 
MR. SHARPE, FOR HANGING IN THERE FOR THE ACTION ITEMS.
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  IS THERE ANY PUBLIC INPUT?
ANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT CARE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU.
JOE AMON, WOULD YOU -- REPRESENTS THE -- HE'S THE CHAIR OF 
THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>> WE MET ON FEBRUARY 13th, OUR NORMAL MEETING, AND I HAVE 
TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE.
I GOT CALLED OUT OF TOWN ON AN EMERGENCY PROJECT FOR A 
CLIENT, AND LO AND BEHOLD, WHEN I GOT BACK, I FOUND OUT I 
WAS REELECTED CHAIR.
[LAUGHTER]
SO --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THAT WILL TEACH YOU.
>> THAT WILL TEACH ME FOR BEING OUT OF TOWN.
ED AUSTIN IS OUR VICE CHAIR, AND THE CURRENT JOINT CITIZENS 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE STAYING THE SAME, SO THERE'S 
NO CHANGE.
WE HAD OUR PUBLIC INPUT.
AS ALWAYS, PIERRE KEEPS US ABREAST OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH 
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND HE GAVE 
US ANOTHER REPORT.
I WON'T GO THROUGH THE ACTION ITEMS BECAUSE YOU HAVE 
ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF THEM, AND WE VOTED FOR ALL THE ACTION 
ITEMS THE SAME WAY YOU VOTED FOR THEM, SO THERE'S NO REASON 
TO HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT.
STATUS REPORTS.
THERE'S AN AREA THAT YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT AGAIN 
REPEATEDLY UP HERE, AND THAT IS THE BUS STOP AND FACILITY 
ACCESSIBILITY FOR OUR BUS STOPS.
MARY SHAVALIER GAVE US A REPORT CONCERNING ALMOST 4,000 BUS 
STOPS HERE IN THE COUNTY, 11 TRANSFER CENTERS, AND 20 PARK-
AND-RIDE LOTS, AND IDENTIFIED AREAS THAT NEED TO BE 
ADJUSTED OR TAKEN CARE OF IN SOME WAY OR OTHER TO MAKE IT 
MORE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, CURBS, DO AWAY WITH 
CURB, PUT SIDEWALKS IN WHERE YOU NEED IT, SOME OF THE BUS 
ISSUES WHERE YOU GET OFF ON DIRT AND YOU'VE GOT TO WALK 
THROUGH A DITCH TO GET TO THE SIDEWALK.
THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, AND THEY'VE 
ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED ALMOST $8-MILLION WORTH OF 
IMPROVEMENTS, AND -- TO BE COMPLETED BY HART AND OTHER 
JURISDICTIONS AND THE PRIVATE ENTITIES OVER THE NEXT FIVE 
YEARS, SO WE APPLAUD THEM FOR FINALLY FINISHING THAT STUDY 
AND GETTING A PLAN TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
WE WERE BROUGHT UP-TO-DATE ON WHAT WAS REQUIRED FOR THE 
FISCAL YEAR '09-'10, '13-'14, TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT 
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND NOTIFIED THAT THE KICKOFF 
IS FEBRUARY 28th, WHICH OCCURRED ALREADY, AND THE APRIL 
11th IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE APPLICATION OF SUBMITTALS.
OLD BUSINESS.
WE HAVE A MEMBER, MARGARET VIZZI, WHO HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN 
CONFUSED ABOUT DRIVING DOWN I-75 AND LOOKING AT THE ROAD 
SIGNS, THE I-75 ROAD SIGNS, ABOUT TELLING HER THAT ST. 
PETE'S CLOSER THAN TAMPA, AND I THINK IT'S A 
MISINTERPRETATION OF THE SIGN THE WAY IS PREPARED, BUT THE 
D.O.T. DID RESPOND TO US, AND WE'VE GOT A NICE LETTER FROM 
THEM THAT BASICALLY SAYS THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM 
IS AND THEY'RE GOING TO ADD SOME NEW VERBIAGE TO THOSE 
SIGNS, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
ACTUALLY, WHAT THE SIGN DID WAS WHEN YOU CAME TO -- YOU 
WERE ABOVE -- YOU WERE IN PASCO COUNTY AND YOU WERE COMING 
SOUTH AND YOU SAW THE TWO SIGNS TALKING ABOUT THE JUNCTION, 
IT MADE IT LOOK AS IF THE JUNCTION, WHICH WAS ONLY A FEW 
MILES AWAY, WAS ST. PETERSBURG, SO IT WAS KIND OF CONFUSING 
TO THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW THE AREA.
THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GETTING TO ST. PETERSBURG BEFORE 
THEY WERE GETTING TO TAMPA.
SO THIS HAS BEEN IN MARGARET'S CRAW AT LEAST FOR A YEAR, 
MAYBE LONGER, BUT THE D.O.T. RESPONDED TO US, SO WE 
APPRECIATE THAT.
IT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND THE CAC WILL MEET -- THE NEXT MEETING IS MARCH 12th, 
BUT THE JOINT CAC MEETS TODAY AT 3:00 OUT AT THE FDOT'S 
OFFICE.
AND THAT'S OUR NEXT MEETING.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. AMON?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR REPORT.
>> THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR 
THE POLICY COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN COMMISSIONER ROSE FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
POLICY COMMITTEE MET AT 9:00 A.M. ON FEBRUARY 19th IN THE 
PLANNING COMMISSION BOARDROOM.
FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 18th 
POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING, STAFF PRESENTED SEVERAL 
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENTS RELATED TO 
SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS ALONG DALE MABRY HIGHWAY.
IN RESPONSE TO AN EARLIER MPO FUNDING ALLOCATION, THE 
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS MOVING THE DESIGN 
OF THESE SIDEWALK PROJECTS INTO THE CURRENT YEAR OF THE 
T.I.P.
THE GOAL IS TO FILL IN GAPS IN THE EXISTING SIDEWALKS AS 
RESURFACING AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE.
POLICY COMMITTEE VOTED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE FULL MPO BOARD 
APPROVE THE T.I.P. AMENDMENT.
THESE AMENDMENTS WILL BE PRESENTED LATER IN TODAY'S AGENDA, 
AND I GUESS THEY HAVE ALREADY.
NEXT, STAFF PRESENTED THREE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE MPO 
UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM.
THE AMENDMENTS INVOLVE REALLOCATING FUNDS BETWEEN VARIOUS 
TASKS AND UPDATING THE FUNDING TABLES.
IN ADDITION, SOME FUNDS ARE BEING MOVED INTO THE NEXT 
FISCAL YEAR SO THAT PAYMENT CAN BE MADE FOR ONGOING WORK 
THAT WILL NOT BE COMPLETED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, 
WHICH ENDS JUNE 30th.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE VOTED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE 
AMENDMENTS TO THE UPWP.
THIS ITEM IS ALSO SCHEDULED FOR THE MPO ACTION IN TODAY'S 
AGENDA.
THE NEXT POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 
19th AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARDROOM, AND 
OF COURSE, ALL MPO MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND, MR. 
CHAIRMAN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERLITA.
>>LUCIE AYER:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WHAT?
>>LUCIE AYER:  NEVER MIND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ARE THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.
MPO ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THAT'S MINE.
I ATTENDED AN MPOAC MEETING ON JANUARY 31st IN ORLANDO.
THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE LEGISLATIVE POSITION FOR THIS 
YEAR, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKETS AS AN 
INFORMATION ITEM.
WE THEN HAD A VERY DETAILED DISCUSSION ON FDOT'S INVESTMENT 
POLICY FOR THE STRATEGIC INTERMODAL SYSTEM.
THE POLICY BASICALLY STATES -- SAYS THAT THE DEPARTMENT 
WILL INVEST 75% OF NEW FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS ON THE 
STRATEGIC INTERMODAL SYSTEM AND 25% ON OTHER STATE 
ARTERIALS.
CURRENTLY THE STATEWIDE PERCENTAGE ON SIS IS 70%, AND THIS 
HAS BEEN A PRETTY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 
AND MPOs.
THE MPOAC DIRECTED THE COUNCIL ATTORNEY TO RESEARCH THE 
ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS POLICY.
HE NOTED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FORMALIZED POLICIES 
THROUGH WRITTEN RULE AND THAT THE STATE NOW HAS A NEW 
GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY, MPOAC SHOULD APPEAL TO THE GOVERNOR 
AND, IF APPROPRIATE, THE FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION 
FOR REALLOCATION OF FUTURE RESOURCES RATHER THAN PURSUING 
THE LITIGATION MEANS.
I THEN MADE A MOTION, WHICH WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, TO 
DIRECT THE CHAIR OF THE MPOAC TO OFFICIALLY TRANSMIT THE 
FINDINGS OF THE SECRETARY OF FDOT AND TO BEGIN A DIALOGUE 
TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
LASTLY, THERE WAS AN ELECTION OF OFFICERS, AND BOTH THE 
CURRENT CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR WERE REELECTED.
THE NEXT MEETING IS APRIL 3rd IN TALLAHASSEE, AND THAT'S MY 
REPORT.
THE NEXT REPORT IS -- ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
NO.
OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE, 
COUNCILMAN -- COUNCILWOMAN MARY MULHERN.
>>MARY MULHERN:  THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN AFFRONTI.
THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE MET ON JANUARY 23rd AND 
AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 27th, SO WE HAVE KIND OF A LONG REPORT 
HERE.
THE COMMITTEE HAD THE PLEASURE OF A VISIT BY MR. DAVID 
ARMIJO WITH HART, WHO SHARED THE CHALLENGES OF MAINTAINING 
BUS SERVICE IN OUR LARGE COUNTY AND FINANCING THE EXPANSION 
OF THE STREETCAR AND FUTURE RAIL.
CITY OF TAMPA STAFF PRESENTED THE EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO 
EXTEND THE STREETCAR TO WHITING.
THE FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS PLANS ARE UNDER DRAFT AND WILL 
BE PRESENTED AT THE APRIL LIVABLE ROADWAYS MEETING.
THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION THAT UP TO 20% OF TRANSPORTATION 
IMPACT FEES BE APPLIED IN DOWNTOWN.
THE COMMITTEE FELT THIS AMOUNT WAS FAR BELOW WHAT IS NEEDED 
TO TRANSFORM DOWNTOWN INTO A WALKABLE CITY WITH A STREETCAR 
NETWORK USEFUL TO COMMUTERS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE CHANGED.
ISN'T IT 50% THAT WE'RE GOING TO -- IT IS GOING TO BE UP TO 
50%.
>> WELL, UP TO 50, YEAH.
>>MARY MULHERN:  YEAH.
SO I THINK -- WE HAD MADE A MOTION AT THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS 
COMMITTEE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO EVEN PURSUE THAT.
A PRESENTATION WAS RECEIVED ON THE HEIDT'S DEVELOPMENT, AN 
EXCITING URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT THAT EVEN EXCEEDED THE 
COMMITTEE'S EXPECTATIONS.
PLANNING AND DESIGN WAS ORIENTED TO THE PEDESTRIAN, THE 
HOUSING STYLES AND COSTS DIVERSE.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS VARIED, INCLUDING STREETCAR AND 
WATER TAXIS AND PLENTY OF ATTENTION TO QUALITY OF LIFE, 
SUCH AS WATER FEATURES, VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN, AND PUBLIC ART.
WE ALSO RECEIVED A PRESENTATION FROM A CITIZEN.
THIS WAS MR. RYAN SCHUMANN, WHO'S A YOUNG MAN WHO JUST 
HAPPENS TO LIVE IN TAMPA HEIGHTS AND TOLD US HE HAS A 
FUTURE PURSUING -- BECOMING AN URBAN PLANNER, BUT HE 
PRESENTED TO US HIS PROGRAM.
HE'S INTERESTED IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF LANES ON THREE 
ROAD SEGMENTS IN TAMPA HEIGHTS.
THE IDEA SEEMED VERY REASONABLE TO THE COMMITTEE, AND A 
MOTION PASSED ASKING THE COUNTY AND CITY OF TAMPA THAT WHEN 
IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE ON PALM, FLORIBRASKA, AND NORTH 
BOULEVARD THAT A ROAD DIET BE CONSIDERED TO IMPROVE THE 
LIVABILITY AND MOBILITY OF ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO WALK, 
CYCLE, AND USE TRANSIT IN THESE AREAS.
AT THE URGING OF SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, THE LIVABLE 
ROADWAYS COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO FOLLOW UP ON TRANSFORMING 
THE ONE DI WAY PAIRS OF HOWARD/ARMENIA AND TAMPA/FLORIDA.
SEPARATE PRESENTATIONS ARE PLANNED FOR UPCOMING COMMITTEE 
MEETINGS.
I SHOULD PROBABLY AMEND THIS HERE THAT HOWARD AND ARMENIA, 
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT TRANSFORMING THOSE TO TWO-WAY STREETS 
BUT OTHER MEANS OF MAKING THEM MORE WALKABLE AND LIVABLE, 
THOSE ROADS.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE COMMITTEE'S ATTENTION THAT WITH 
BUDGET CUTBACKS, THE LANDSCAPING ALONG THE LINCKS PROJECTS 
HAS BEEN REDUCED TO PLANTING GRASS ONLY.
THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE THE MPO AND OTHER 
APPROPRIATE AGENCIES TO CONSIDER PRIORITIZING FUNDS TO 
LANDSCAPE THIS HIGHWAY THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS THE 
IMPRESSION RESIDENTS AND VISITORS HAVE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD MARCH 26th IN THE PLANNING 
COMMISSION BOARDROOM AT 8:30 A.M. -- ACTUALLY, 9:00 A.M.
WE CHANGE IT HAD TO 9:00 A.M.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, MARY.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT ONE IS THE COUNSEL MEMBER SCOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE 
TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED COORDINATING BOARD.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE TDC BOARD MET ON FEBRUARY THE 26th.
THE BOARD HELD ITS ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
MR. LEONARD PLOTKIN WAS REELECTED VICE CHAIRMAN, MS. GLORIA 
MILLS WAS REELECTED MEMBER AT LARGE.
THE TDC BOARD BYLAWS WERE ALSO REAFFIRMED.
THE TDC BOARD HEARD PRESENTATION FROM MRS. AYERS ON THE MPO 
TRANSIT STUDY FINAL REPORT -- DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB, LUCIE 
-- THE HART BUS STOP AND FACILITY ACCESSIBILITY STUDY AND 
MEDICARE RIGHTS.
THE BOARD WILL BE SENDING A LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO 
TALLAHASSEE ON TOMORROW, WHICH IS MARCH THE 5th, TO JOIN 
THE STATE TD COMMISSION FOR TRANSPORTATION -- 
TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED DAY.
THIS EVENT, ADMINISTRATORS, PROVIDERS, AND USERS OF THE TD 
SYSTEM FROM AROUND THE STATE ALL GATHER AND MEET WITH THE 
LEGISLATORS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THEIR IDEAS.
FINALLY, THE SUNSHINE LINE AND MG -- MMG TRANSPORTATION, 
MEDICARE PROVIDERS, REPORTED THAT THEY RECEIVED FAVORABLE 
EVALUATION FROM THE STATE TD COMMISSION ON THEIR ANNUAL 
REVIEWS, AND THE TDC BOARD WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON 
APRIL THE 22nd AT 6:00 P.M. ON THE 18th FLOOR OF THE COUNTY 
CENTER, THIS BUILDING.
THE APRIL TDC BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD IMMEDIATELY AFTER 
THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN SCOTT.
ANY QUESTIONS OF CHAIRMAN SCOTT?
I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I WAS -- I WAS FORTUNATE 
ENOUGH TO BE CHAIRMAN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ON THE TDCB, 
AND I NEVER MET SUCH A DEDICATED GROUP OF PEOPLE --
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YEAH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  -- ON THAT BOARD AS YOU HAVE, AND I WANT 
TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU DO AND YOUR 
BOARD.
THEY'RE WONDERFUL.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  NOT ONLY THEM, BUT I THINK ALLISON 
DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT AS WELL.
SHE'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB SINCE I'VE BEEN CHAIRMAN, SO 
SHE DESERVES A LOT OF THAT RECOGNITION AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, ALLISON.
I SKIPPED ONE HERE.
THE BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, GENA TORRES.
GENA.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN MY PACKET HERE.
>>GENA TORRES:  WELL, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME.
GENA TORRES WITH THE MPO STAFF.
THE BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE DIDN'T HOLD OUR 
TYPICAL MONTHLY MEETING, BUT WE MET ON A SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 
23rd, AND WE JUST BRAINSTORMED ON IDEAS THAT WE WANTED TO 
FOCUS ON FOR 2008.
THERE WAS A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND 
THE MAYOR MADE A SURPRISE VISIT, SURPRISE TO HER TOO.
I DON'T THINK SHE EXPECTED TO SEE A BUNCH OF US WORKING ON 
A SATURDAY, BUT IT WAS A GOOD MEETING.
SOME OF THE IDEAS WE CAME UP WITH TO FOCUS ON, WE WANT TO 
OFFER FREE BICYCLE INSPECTIONS ON SELECT DAYS ON PLACES 
WHERE WE FIND A LOT OF CYCLISTS, MAYBE ON BAYSHORE 
BOULEVARD.
WE'LL SIT OUT THERE AND OFFER BIKE INSPECTIONS.
WE WERE GOING TO PURCHASE HEADLIGHTS AND GIVE THOSE AWAY TO 
PEOPLE USING BIKES ON BUSES PROGRAM.
THE BPAC HAS HAD A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS IN THEIR TREASURY 
AND WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THAT DOWN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE 
ANY INCOME ANYMORE, SO WE USED TO GET DONATIONS FROM USAA, 
AND THEY STOPPED THAT PROGRAM, SO WE'RE GOING TO BUY 
HEADLIGHTS AND GIVE THEM AWAY TO ADULT CYCLISTS.
THOSE ARE THE ONES REALLY GETTING HIT ON OUR ROADWAYS AND 
GETTING HURT.
WE WANT TO SPONSOR SOME WORKSHOPS WHERE NATIONAL 
PROFESSIONALS WILL COME AND SPEAK TO LOCAL ENGINEERS BUT 
WHERE THEY CAN GET CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS.
WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE MORE INCENTIVE TO GET SOME OF OUR 
LOCAL ENGINEERS TO HEAR ABOUT DESIGNING ROADS FOR 
PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.
THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER IDEAS GENERATED, BUT AT OUR NEXT 
BPAC MEETING, WHICH IS ON MARCH 12th, WE'LL PRIORITIZE ALL 
THESE PROJECT IDEAS AND FORM SUBCOMMITTEES TO START 
TACKLING THOSE PROJECTS.
AND ALSO ON THE AGENDA, WHICH AGAIN IS MARCH 12th IS OUR 
NEXT MEETING, IS THE KICKOFF OF THE COMPREHENSIVE BICYCLE 
PLAN UPDATE, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ON THAT OVER 
THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, AND I'LL REPORT BACK TO THIS BOARD ON 
THE PROGRESS OF THAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENA.
ANY QUESTIONS OF GENA, ANY COMMENTS?
OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE NEXT ITEM IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
LUCIE.
>>LUCIE AYER:  I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THE -- OF -- 
THE MPO PROCESS HERE IS VERY INVOLVED, AND WE ALWAYS GIVE 
MANY, MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE.
SO WITHIN THIS MONTH WE HAVE QUITE A FEW MEETINGS, AND I 
JUST WANT TO GO OVER THAT VERY QUICKLY WITH YOU.
THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, WILL BE 
MEETING ON MARCH THE 12th, AND FOLLOWED BY THE TECHNICAL 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MARCH THE 17th, AND THEN THE POLICY 
COMMITTEE FOR MARCH IS ON THE 18th, MARCH THE 18th.
NOW, WE ALSO FOLLOW THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY VERY CLOSELY, SO 
THE TBARTA, WHICH IS THE TAMPA BAY AREA REGIONAL 
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, WILL BE MEETING ON MARCH THE 
28th, AND I WILL BE ATTENDING THAT MEETING AS WELL.
SO THAT'S MY REPORT.
THANKS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY QUESTIONS OF LUCIE?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
STATUS REPORTS.
STATE OF THE PORT ADDRESS.
MR. WAINIO.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  GOOD MORNING.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GOOD MORNING.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A SUMMARY 
VERSION OF A PRESENTATION I GAVE IN DECEMBER AT THE PORT OF 
TAMPA'S ANNUAL STATE OF THE PORT LUNCHEON.
IT WAS A FAIRLY LONG PRESENTATION.
THIS ONE TODAY IS NOT PARTICULARLY SHORT, BUT I HAVE 
SCRIBBLED AND, YOU KNOW, X'D OUT QUITE A BIT OF IT, SO I'LL 
TRY TO MOVE IT ALONG VERY QUICKLY AND WON'T LOSE TOO MANY 
OF THE KEY POINTS, BUT IT DOES INCLUDE ABOUT 40 SLIDES, AND 
I'LL GO QUICKLY THROUGH THEM.
THE PORT OF TAMPA, LIKE ALL PORTS, IS BUT ONE LINK, ALBEIT 
AN ESSENTIAL LINK, IN A VERY COMPLEX TRANSPORTATION NETWORK 
THAT SPANS THE GLOBE, MOVING GOODS FROM THEIR ORIGIN 
SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD TO THE END USERS OR CONSUMERS, MANY, 
MANY THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.
ALL OF NEW THIS ROOM AND ANYONE WHO MAY VIEW THIS 
PRESENTATION ON TELEVISION TODAY OR DURING THE WEEKS THAT 
COME PLAY A ROLE IN THAT GLOBAL NETWORK, AND YOU ALL 
CONTRIBUTE VERY MUCH TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PORT OF TAMPA, 
AND YOU ALL BENEFIT EACH AND EVERY DAY FROM THE WORK THAT 
IS CONDUCTED THERE.
THE PORT OF TAMPA REMAINS THE LARGEST, MOST DIVERSIFIED AND 
FINANCIALLY SOUND OF FLORIDA'S 12 ACTIVE SEAPORTS AND 
COMPARES FAVORABLY WITH THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST PORTS IN THE 
COUNTRY.
ANY LIST OF SUPERLATIVES ABOUT OUR PORT IS LENGTHY, AND 
HERE I'LL JUST QUICKLY RUN THROUGH A FEW OF THEM.
WE ARE BY FAR THE LARGEST PORT IN FLORIDA IN TONNAGE TERMS, 
CONSISTENTLY AVERAGING NEARLY 50 MILLION TONS OF CARGO OVER 
THE LAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
WE ARE THE 14th LARGEST OF THE NATION'S PORTS, AND THERE 
ARE SOME 400 PORTS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE PORT IN FLORIDA AND ONE OF THE MOST 
DIVERSIFIED IN THE NATION, WE ARE THE LARGEST PORT IN 
FLORIDA IN AREA WITH OVER 5,000 ACRES OF LAND.
FEW PORTS IN THE NATION HAVE THIS AREA.
WE ARE FISCALLY SOUND, WE ARE COMMITTED TO REINVESTING IN 
MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE TO GROW THE PORT.
WE ARE THE GATEWAY FOR VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE PETROLEUM USED 
IN CENTRAL AND WEST FLORIDA.
WE ARE THE LARGEST FERTILIZER PORT IN THE NATION.
WE ARE THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AND STEEL PORT IN 
FLORIDA.
WE ARE THE 7th LARGEST CRUISE PORT IN THE NATION.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST SHIP REPAIR FACILITIES IN THE ENTIRE 
SOUTHEAST.
WE HAVE A NEW AND EXPANDING CONTAINER PORT WITH GLOBAL 
CONTAINER CONNECTIONS.
WE ARE POSITIONED FOR MAJOR GROWTH.
AND WE ARE THE LARGEST ECONOMIC ENGINE IN CENTRAL AND WEST 
FLORIDA.
A RECENT STUDY SHOWED THAT WE GENERATE OVER $8 BILLION IN 
ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CREATION OF NEARLY 
100,000 JOBS IN THE REGION, INCLUDING 16,000 IN AND AROUND 
THE PORT ITSELF.
IN A YEAR, WHEN THE U.S. AND FLORIDA ECONOMY SLOWED, THE 
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SUFFERED THROUGH A MAJOR DOWNTURN, 
THE DOLLAR WEAKENED CONSIDERABLY, AND TOTAL TRADE THROUGH 
THE NATION'S PORTS DECLINED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, OUR 
PORT STRENGTHS WERE MORE EVIDENT AND OUR BUSINESS MODEL WAS 
VALIDATED.
THE BENEFITS OF DIVERSITY AND OUR BUSINESS-LIKE APPROACH TO 
ADMINISTERING THE PORT ARE CLEARLY REFLECTED IN THE 
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
COMING OFF A RECORD YEAR FOR NET INCOME IN 2006 -- AND THIS 
SLIDE ACTUALLY SHOWS 2002 BEING A LITTLE HIGHER THAN 2006.
IT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED.
THERE WAS A FINANCIAL CHANGE THAT WOULD HAVE PUT 2006 AS 
THE LARGEST -- I'M SORRY, AS THE RECORD YEAR UP TO THEN FOR 
NET INCOME.
WE ACHIEVED A 35% GAIN IN BOTTOM-LINE REVENUE DESPITE 
WEAKNESSES IN SOME SEGMENTS OF OUR BUSINESS IN 2007.
OUR OPERATING MARGINS HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN AMONG THE 
HIGHEST IN THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY.
DIVERSITY IN OUR REVENUE SOURCES AND FISCAL PRUDENCE, WHICH 
HELD EXPENSES BELOW BUDGET FOR THE YEAR, AND GREAT SUCCESS 
SECURING EXTERNAL FUNDING FROM THE STATE ALL CONTRIBUTED TO 
THAT RECORD BOTTOM LINE.
WE EXPECT ANOTHER HEALTHY FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2008, 
ALTHOUGH THIS YEAR, AS WE ALL KNOW, WILL CERTAINLY NOT BE 
AN EASY ONE FOR ANY OF US DUE TO THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, 
WHICH I EXPECT MAY WORSEN BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.
THE PORT AND OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO 
GROWING THE MARITIME BUSINESS.
CONTINUED DIVERSIFICATION IS A MAJOR STRENGTH AND A KEY 
PART OF OUR LONG-TERM STRATEGY.
PORT BUSINESS IS CYCLICAL, AND EVEN IN GOOD TIMES, SPECIFIC 
CARGOS AND TRADES CAN BE AFFECTED BY ANY NUMBER OF 
EXOGENOUS EVENTS OVER WHICH WE HAVE NO INFLUENCE.
YOU CAN SEE THE EFFECTS OF THESE CYCLICAL EVENTS IN THIS 
SLIDE THAT SHOWS OUR BUSINESS FROM BACK ABOUT 1980 RIGHT 
THROUGH THE PRESENT TIME.
EVERY FIVE OR TEN YEARS THERE'S A CYCLICAL DOWNTURN, SO 
WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S 
HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST AS FAR AS THE PORT IS 
CONCERNED.
AS IN THE PAST, WE EXPECT THESE DECLINES WILL REVERSE 
THEMSELVES AS THE ECONOMY TURNS UPWARD, AND A RETURN TO 
GROWTH IN PORT TONNAGE IS EXPECTED IN 2009 AND BEYOND.
GROWTH IN THE PORT'S CARGO BUSINESS HAS AND WILL COME 
PRIMARILY FROM INCREASES IN TONNAGE MOVING ACROSS TAMPA 
PORT AUTHORITY DOCKS AS OPPOSED TO THE PRIVATE-SECTOR DOCKS 
OVER WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL.
TPA'S SUCCESS IN ATTRACTING NEW CLIENTS AND GROWING ITS 
CONTAINER BUSINESS HAS EFFECTIVELY OFFSET MUCH THE DECLINES 
IN PHOSPHATE AND COAL THAT MOVES ACROSS SOME OF THOSE 
PRIVATE FACILITIES.
AS A RESULT, TPA BUSINESS HAS REACHED RECORD LEVELS IN 
RECENT YEARS AND HAS RISEN FROM ABOUT 10% OF THE PORT'S 
TOTAL TRADE IN THE 1980s TO OVER 35% TODAY AND WILL 
INCREASE FURTHER IN THE FUTURE.
A HEALTHY FINANCIAL POSITION IS ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVING THE 
GROWTH IN THE PORT'S BUSINESS BY ENSURING THAT FUNDS ARE 
AVAILABLE TO INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED TO SERVE 
OUR CHANGING AND EXPANDING CARGO MARKETS.
GIVEN THE LONG LEAD TIME TO PUT NEW PROJECTS ON-LINE, 
INVESTMENTS MUST CONTINUE EVEN IN DOWN YEARS.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT, AND THE PORT'S CAPITAL INVESTMENT 
PROGRAM HAS BEEN INCREASING.
THIS YEAR WE'VE PROGRAMMED $87 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS.
OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE WILL INVEST AT LEAST $332 
MILLION.
THESE INVESTMENTS ARE FOR THE MOST PART DONE IN CONJUNCTION 
WITH NEW OR EXPANDED LEASE AGREEMENTS WITH PORT TENANTS WHO 
ARE THEMSELVES INVESTING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO 
THE PORT.
THE PORT HAS NEGOTIATED AND SIGNED NUMEROUS AGREEMENTS 
WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BRING MILLIONS OF TONS OF ADDITIONAL 
CARGO INTO THE PORT AND VERY SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BENEFITS 
FOR OUR REGION.
ONE OF OUR MAJOR GROWTH CARGOS IN RECENT YEARS -- ALTHOUGH 
THIS YEAR OBVIOUSLY WITH THE DOWNTURN IN CONSTRUCTION IT IS 
SUFFERING, ONE OF OUR MAJOR GROWTH CARGOS HAS BEEN CEMENT 
AND AGGREGATE, AND HERE YOU SEE AN ASSORTMENT OF PORT 
CUSTOMERS THAT ARE DEVELOPING NEW BERTHS AND FACILITIES TO 
MOVE CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES THROUGHOUT WEST AND CENTRAL 
FLORIDA.
THE NEXT FEW SLIDES SHOW A FEW EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE 
PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
THIS IS AN AREA AROUND HOOKERS POINT WHERE WE RECENTLY 
INVESTED 10 MILLION IN DREDGING AND REMOVED 550,000 CUBIC 
YARDS IN THE SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST CORNERS TO PREPARE FOR 
THE EXTENSION OF BERTH 213 AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEVERAL 
NEW BERTHS IN THIS AREA.
THIS IMAGE SHOWS A MAJOR ONGOING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP 
IN THE PORT.
WE HAVE A COMPANY FROM BRAZIL CALLED VOTORANTIM.
THEY BUILT THE MARINE INFRASTRUCTURE SHOWN HERE, THE DOCKS 
AND BERTHS, AND WE WORKED WITH THEM ON THE DREDGING AND 
SOME OF THE UPLAND WORK.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE AN INVESTMENT OF APPROXIMATELY $15  
MILLION.
WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS SLIDE --
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  WHAT IS THE PRODUCT?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  THE PRODUCT WILL BE PRIMARILY AGGREGATE.
SEVERAL MILLION TONS OF AGGREGATE MINIMUM WILL MOVE THROUGH 
THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY RIGHT HERE.
HERE YOU SEE THREE OTHER AGGREGATE -- PRIMARILY AGGREGATE 
AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL FACILITIES.
THE ONE SITE SHOWS RINKER NOW CEMEX IN THE LEFT SIDE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT REFLECTS THERE.
IT'S THE LEFT SIDE WHEN I'M LOOKING AT IT.
RINKER'S CONTRACT THAT WE RECENTLY SIGNED IS ONE OF THE 
LARGEST CONTRACTS WE EVER SIGNED AT THE PORT IN ITS ENTIRE 
HISTORY.
IT WILL INCLUDE NEW BERTH AND UPLAND DEVELOPMENTS IN EAST 
BAY, WITH INVESTMENTS EXPECTED TO REACH $45 MILLION OVER 
THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THE LEASE AGREEMENT JUST SIGNED WITH CEMENTO ANDINO IS FOR 
28 ACRES DOWN IN PORT REDWING.
THAT'S THE ONE ON THE UPPER RIGHT.
AND THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE IS A TITAN AMERICAN FACILITY 
WHICH INCLUDES NEW BERTHS AND MAJOR FACILITIES EXPANSIONS.
ALTOGETHER, THESE NEW LEASES FOR AGGREGATE WILL INVEST -- 
WILL RESULT IN AN INVESTMENT OF ABOUT $75 MILLION.
AND WE'LL GET ABOUT EIGHT MILLION -- A MINIMUM OF EIGHT 
MILLION TONS OF INCREMENTAL THROUGH-PUT.
I'M NOT SURE WHY IN IS GOING BACKWARDS NOW, ANDY.
I'M HITTING THE BUTTON HERE.
YOU WANT TO CHECK THIS MACHINE?
YOU GOT THE BUTTON, BUT THE MOUSE IS NO LONGER WORKING I 
GUESS, RIGHT?
OKAY.
ANYWAY, EIGHT MILLION TONS OF INCREMENTAL THROUGH-PUT FROM 
THOSE FACILITIES WILL DRIVE OUR TOTAL BUSINESS UP TO ABOUT 
12 MILLION TONS OR MORE BY 2013.
WEST AND CENTRAL FLORIDA DEPENDS UPON THE PORT OF TAMPA FOR 
ITS FUEL SUPPLY.
NEARLY 20 MILLION TONS OF ENERGY PRODUCTS FLOW THROUGH THE 
PORT, PROVIDING GAS AND JET FUEL FOR THE ENTIRE REGION, 
INCLUDING ALL THE WAY OUT TO ORLANDO.
THERE'S PIPELINES RUNNING ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE ORLANDO 
AIRPORT.
THE JETS DON'T FLY FROM ORLANDO, TAMPA, MacDILL, OR ANY OF 
THE SURROUNDING AIRPORTS -- UNLESS THEY COME IN WITH JET 
FUEL, THEY DON'T FLY OUT BECAUSE WE PROVIDE THE JET FUEL.
THE CARS DON'T RUN IF WE DON'T PROVIDE THE GAS FOR THE 
ENTIRE AREA FROM, OH, MORE OR LESS 60 MILES NORTH OF US 
DOWN TO ABOUT 60 OR 80 MILES SOUTH AND ACROSS TO TAMPA.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF NEW LEASE AGREEMENTS WITH BIG OIL 
COMPANIES THAT ARE INCREASING THIS -- THE SUPPLY OF FUEL, 
NEW AGREEMENTS WITH MURPHY OIL, TRANSMONTANE AND KINDER 
MORGAN WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES AND GUARANTEED 
THROUGH-PUT OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, AND WE'RE PLANNING A 
NUMBER OF NEW -- STAY AWAY FROM THAT MOUSE JUST IN CASE IT 
GOES BACKWARDS -- WE ARE PLANNING A NUMBER OF NEW TERMINALS 
TO AN ACREAGE EXPANSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THOSE PRIVATE-
SECTOR PARTNERS.
MOST OF THE PORT'S DREDGED MATERIAL IS DEPOSITED ON SPOIL 
ISLAND 2-D, WHICH WAS RECENTLY APPROACHING ITS FILL 
CAPACITY.
DURING THE YEAR WE CONTINUED A MAJOR PROJECT TO RAISE THE 
CONTAINMENT LEVIES ON THIS ISLAND.
THIS WAS ABOUT A $10-MILLION PROJECT.
IT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE PORT COMMUNITY BY ADDING 9.7 MILLION 
CUBIC YARDS OF DREDGE MATERIAL CAPACITY TO THIS ISLAND, 
ENOUGH TO SUPPORT 20 YEARS OF AVERAGE DREDGE VOLUME.
IN ADDITION TO LIQUID AND DRY CARGO VOLUMES, WE ALSO HANDLE 
A LOT OF BREAK BULK AND GENERAL CARGO.
MUCH OF IT REQUIRES WAREHOUSE SPACE.
WE HAVE ACTIVELY BEEN BUILDING WAREHOUSES.
HERE YOU SEE THE NEWEST WAREHOUSE, A $6-MILLION, 90,000-
SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY, WHICH BRINGS OUR TOTAL SHED AND 
WAREHOUSE CAPACITY UP TO OVER A MILLION SQUARE FEET.
ANOTHER MAJOR ADDITION JUST OPENED LAST WEEK OFFICIALLY.
THE TITAN METALS SERVICE FACILITY ON HOOKERS POINT.
IT OFFICIALLY OPENED, AS I SAID, JUST LAST WEEK.
IT CAN PROCESS 50- TO 60,000 TONS OF STEEL COIL ANNUALLY.
SIGNIFICANTLY, THIS PAST OCTOBER MARKED THE ONE-YEAR 
ANNIVERSARY OF OUR NEW CONTAINER TERMINAL AND THE GLOBAL 
SHIPPING SERVICES PROVIDED BY ZIM INTEGRATED SHIPPING, 
CONNECTING TAMPA DIRECTLY TO AND FROM ASIA.
FROM A RELATIVELY -- THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE ADVERTISING 
THAT WE DO FOR THIS FACILITY.
A COUPLE OF SHOTS HERE OF CONTAINER SHIPS UNLOADING.
FROM A RELATIVELY LOW BASE, WE ENJOYED A 96% INCREASE IN 
CONTAINER TONNAGE LAST YEAR AND A 63% INCREASE IN TEUs OVER 
THE PAST YEAR.
SIMILARLY, WE EXPECT LARGE INCREASES THIS YEAR AND LOOKING 
INTO THE FUTURE.
THIS SHOWS THE SERVICE DIRECT FROM ASIA, FROM CHINA, KOREA, 
JAPAN, THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL WHERE THE VESSELS STOP IN 
PANAMA, THEN THEY COME UP TO KINGSTON TO A LOAD CENTER AND 
THEN INTO THE GULF TO TAMPA, MOBILE, AND HOUSTON.
ZIM IS EXPANDING THIS SERVICE.
THEY ADDED A TENTH VESSEL LAST YEAR, AND THEY ALSO JUST 
ADDED, ACTUALLY, JAPAN TO THE STOPS THAT I MENTIONED IN 
CHINA, KOREA, PANAMA, AND JAMAICA.
PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO ENHANCE THE SERVICE FURTHER.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER GLOBAL CARRIERS 
WHO ARE NOW SHOWING REAL INTEREST IN SERVING TAMPA.
THEY, LIKE US, RECOGNIZE THE GREAT POTENTIAL FROM THE LARGE 
AND GROWING WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA MARKET.
THERE ARE NEARLY EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE, EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE 
WITHIN A HUNDRED MILES OF THE PORT WHO COLLECTIVELY ARE THE 
LARGEST CONSUMER MARKET IN THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED 
STATES, AND ANOTHER HUGE PART OF OUR FUTURE, WHICH WILL 
DRIVE OUR BUSINESS TO HIGHER LEVELS IS THE PLANNED 
EXPANSION OF THE PANAMA CANAL.
THAT EXPANSION, THEY SAY IT'S GOING TO BE A $5.25-BILLION 
EXPANSION.
IT PROBABLY WILL COST MORE LIKE SEVEN OR EIGHT BILLION 
BEFORE IT'S DONE.
IT IS UNDERWAY, AND IT WILL BE COMPLETED I BELIEVE MORE OR 
LESS ON TIME IN 2014, AND WHEN THAT PROJECT IS COMPLETED, 
IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT TRANSPORTATION AND TRADE 
PATTERNS, BRINGING MUCH MORE BUSINESS DIRECT INTO THE GULF 
AND INTO U.S. EAST COAST PORTS, SO WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR 
IT.
WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE GROWTH.
WE HAVE EXPANSION OF OUR CONTAINER TERMINAL UNDERWAY.
YOU JUST SEE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING HERE IN THESE 
BULLET POINTS.
THIS SHOWS THE EXPANSION AREA THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY MOVING TO 
DEVELOP AT THIS VERY MOMENT, AND EVENTUALLY, THE NEW 
FACILITY WILL LOOK LIKE THIS.
YOU CAN MOVE THROUGH THIS COMPLEX HERE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO 
GET THE CONTAINERS OUT AND DOWN THE HIGHWAYS.
AS LONG AS OUR FRIENDS FROM FDOT CONTINUE TO HELP US TO 
IMPROVE THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, WE SHOULD HAVE A CAPACITY HERE 
OF CLOSE TO 700,000 TEUs A YEAR.
AS I JUST NOTED, WE CAN DO EVERYTHING RIGHT AT THE PORT, 
NOT THAT WE DO, BUT EVEN IF WE DID, JUST GETTING THE CARGO 
INTO THE PORT IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET IT OUT TO ITS FINAL DESTINATION 
SOMEWHERE IN FLORIDA.
WE DEPEND ON THE MPOs, WE DEPEND ON FDOT AND ALL OF OUR 
PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE HIGHWAY PROJECTS MOVE 
FORWARD.
I DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE I-4.
IT'S A KEY ONE.
WHEN IT'S DONE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE CONTAINERS STRAIGHT 
OUT OF HOOKERS POINT ONTO THE INTERSTATES, AND I LIKE TO 
SAY THAT IF WE -- IF YOU HAD ENERGY-EFFICIENT TRUCKS, THEY 
COULD RUN FROM HOOKERS POINT ALL THE WAY TO THE CANADIAN 
BORDER WITHOUT HITTING A RED LIGHT BECAUSE THEY'LL BE ON 
INTERSTATE ALL THE WAY ONCE THIS LITTLE PIECE IS DONE.
IT'S KEY.
IT GETS ALL THE TRUCKS, OF COURSE, THE THOUSANDS OF TRUCKS 
THAT ARE NOW MOVING THROUGH CITY STREETS, LIKE MAINLY 
THROUGH YBOR, OFF THOSE HIGHWAYS AND OUT OF OUR AREA VERY 
QUICKLY.
A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT IMPACT WHAT WE DO AT THE PORT, 
AND I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL ON ALL OF THIS, BUT OBVIOUSLY 
PORT SECURITY'S A HUGE PART OF OUR BUSINESS.
WE DO MEET ALL FEDERAL AND STATE REQUIREMENTS.
WE'RE PROACTIVELY SEEKING IMPROVED EFFICIENCY IN OUR 
OPERATIONS.
I HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE OVER THE LAST YEAR IN WASHINGTON 
AND TALLAHASSEE TRYING TO BRING REASON TO A LOT OF PEOPLE 
THAT JUST WANT TO KEEP THROWING MORE AND MORE AND MORE ON 
TOP OF US.
WE HAVE AT THE PORT OF TAMPA A DIFFICULT SECURITY OPERATION 
BY PORT STANDARDS, BUT WE DO IT VERY WELL.
WE ARE, WE BELIEVE, THE LOWEST COST AND MOST EFFICIENT 
SECURITY OPERATION IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA.
STILL SECURITY COSTS ARE VERY HIGH.
OVER 20% OF OUR BUDGET IS RELATED TO SECURITY, AND WE KNOW 
THE COSTS ARE VERY STEEP FOR OUR TENANTS AND PORT USERS AS 
WELL.
THE TPA AND OTHER PORT -- AND OTHER FLORIDA PORTS AND 
INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SUPPORTED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES 
THAT WOULD BRING FLORIDA SECURITY LAW 311.12 MORE IN LINE 
WITH THE FEDERAL MTSA REQUIREMENTS AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT 
THE MANY ADVANCES PORTS HAVE MADE IN SECURITY SINCE 9/11.
WE SINCERELY HOPE NECESSARY CHANGES WILL BE PROPOSED AND 
APPROVED IN THE CURRENT SESSION IN TALLAHASSEE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE TAKEN A STRONG POSITION ON 
SOMETHING REFERRED TO AS THE TWIC CARD AND THE FUPAC CARD, 
AND YOU ALL MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT'S ALL ABOUT, AND I WON'T 
GET INTO DETAIL ON IT, BUT WHAT IT BASICALLY DOES AND WHAT 
WE'RE SAYING HERE IS THAT THERE ARE TWO SECURITY CARDS THAT 
ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO ENTER FLORIDA PORTS, 
AND WE ARE THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION THAT WILL REQUIRE 
TWO BACKGROUND CHECKS, TWO SECURITY CHECKS, TWO 
FINGERPRINTS, THE EXTRA COSTS INVOLVED IN THIS, THE 
INEFFICIENCIES ASSOCIATED WITH TWO CARDS.
WE ONLY NEED ONE CARD, AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY REASONS WHY 
ONE CARD IS ALL YOU NEED AND TWO CARDS IS UNNECESSARY AND 
UNFORTUNATE, AND I WON'T GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL THERE 
BECAUSE I'VE TALKED MYSELF BLUE IN THE FACE UP IN 
TALLAHASSEE ON THIS ISSUE, AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T RESOLVED 
THE DILEMMA.
THE TWO CARDS ARE COMING DOWN THE PIPE WITHIN THE NEXT 
COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND IT DOES PRESENT A PROBLEM FOR THE 
COMPETITIVENESS OF FLORIDA'S PORTS.
I CANNOT LEAVE THE SECURITY AREA WITHOUT COMMENTING ON THE 
GREAT RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE U.S. COAST GUARD.
HERE YOU SEE WE'RE CUTTING A RIBBON ON SOMETHING CALLED THE 
COOPERATIVE VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE.
THIS IS A UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT.
OTHER PORTS ARE NOW MODELING THEMSELVES AFTER US.
TOGETHER WITH THE COAST GUARD WE OPERATE A TRAFFIC SERVICE 
OUT OF OUR SECURITY CENTER WHICH MONITORS ALL THE VESSELS 
COMING AND GOING THROUGHOUT THE TAMPA BAY AREA, AND IT'S A 
MULTIAGENCY APPROACH THAT MAKES THE PORT MUCH SAFER AND 
OPERATES MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND IT'S THE ONLY SYSTEM OF 
ITS TYPE IN THE NATION.
OTHER PORTS OBVIOUSLY HAVE GPS AND NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEMS, 
BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A COOPERATIVE SYSTEM WHERE THE COAST 
GUARD AND PORT WORK HAND IN GLOVE TO OPERATE IT, AND AGAIN, 
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MODELING THEMSELVES AFTER US.
WE ALSO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT, AND AGAIN, I 
WON'T GO INTO DETAILS ON ALL OF THIS.
I WILL ONLY SAY WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS WE HAVE 
ACCOMPLISHED A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN AND AROUND TAMPA BAY.
ANYONE THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME KNOWS THE BAY IS 
FAR CLEANER AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND THAN IT WAS IN THE 
PAST.
WE'RE ALSO PLEASED THAT WE CAN WORK CLOSELY WITH PEOPLE 
LIKE AUDUBON TO PROTECT THE PRECIOUS BIRD HABITATS AND WITH 
OTHERS TO PROTECT THE SEA ANIMALS AND AT THE SAME TIME 
ALLOWING US TO ACCOMPLISH THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE DO, 
THE DREDGING AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE 
CONDUCTED.
IT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE, AND I THINK IT'S WORKING 
VERY WELL.
ANOTHER THING THAT PLEASES ME VERY MUCH IS THAT WE PUT 
FORTH A LOT OF EFFORTS TO GET THE STATE AND THE GOVERNOR IN 
PARTICULAR TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PORTS, AND HE HAS 
CLEARLY RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF PORTS IN HIS ECONOMIC 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
THIS PAST YEAR, A YEAR OF VERY TIGHT BUDGETS, THE GOVERNOR 
SPECIFICALLY SINGLED OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PORTS FOR 
FLORIDA'S FUTURE AND SUPPORTED SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR 
SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT WOULD ENHANCE FLORIDA'S ECONOMY.
TAMPA, IN FACT, RECEIVED 20% OF THE FUNDS THAT WERE 
ALLOCATED.
THIS YEAR AGAIN IN HIS PROPOSED 2009 BUDGET, THE GOVERNOR 
EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PORTS AND THE NEED FOR 
ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING SUPPORT, AND I HOPE THAT 
ALL OF OUR FRIENDS IN TALLAHASSEE SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR ON 
THIS EFFORT.
LOOKING AHEAD, THIS PORT IS POSITIONED TO GROW.
WE HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES BUT ALSO FACE A NUMBER OF 
CHALLENGES THAT COULD IMPEDE THAT MARKET GROWTH AND 
DEVELOPMENT.
A FEW OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES ARE SHOWN IN 
THIS SLIDE.
TO HELP US PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE 
OPPORTUNITIES, AND MEET THE CHALLENGES, WE'VE BEEN WORKING 
WITH OUR CONSULTANT TEAM FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS ON NEW 
STRATEGIC AND MASTER PLANS FOR THE PORT.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE PLANS WILL INCLUDE -- THE PLANS 
WILL INCLUDE A PORTWIDE LAND VISION AND WILL IDENTIFY THE 
CAPITAL PROJECTS AND ASSOCIATED COSTS THAT MAY BE NEEDED 
OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS TO SERVE THE PROJECTED GROWTH IN 
CARGO.
THE DRAFT PLANS ARE NOW COMPLETE AND AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW 
AND COMMENT BY STAKEHOLDERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ON 
OUR PORT'S WEB SITE.
I WARN YOU, IF YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD IT THOUGH, JUST THE 
BASIC DOCUMENTS ARE 511 PAGES LONG.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE BACKUP, SO GET A LOT OF PAPER IF 
YOU'RE GOING TO DOWNLOAD IT.
I SUGGEST YOU PUT IT ON A DISK AND READ IT ON YOUR COMPUTER 
AND SAVE SOME MONEY.
IT IS A VERY LARGE PLAN, I THINK IT'S WELL DONE, AND I HOPE 
EVERYONE WILL BE IMPRESSED IF THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT 
IT.
IT IS BEING SENT FORWARD TO THE VARIOUS PLANNING AGENCIES 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, THE LOCAL AGENCIES, AS WELL AS TO 
THE STATE AT THIS VERY MOMENT, SO EVENTUALLY IT WILL COME 
FORWARD TO THE MPO FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT.
THE -- I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL ON WHAT THE PLAN SAYS, 
OBVIOUSLY.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE 511 PAGES, BUT LET ME JUST SHOW 
YOU A COUPLE OF QUICK SHOTS, JUST A FEW OF THINGS THAT 
WE'RE CONTEMPLATING WHEN WE LOOK VERY LONG-TERM.
SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE ACTUALLY UNDERWAY AND SOME ARE 
JUST CONCEPTS AT THIS POINT THAT MAY NEVER GET DONE, BUT 
THEY'RE OUT THERE JUST IN CASE.
PORT REDWING, 120-ACRE AREA.
WE'RE ALREADY DEVELOPING PART OF IT.
WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP THE REST OF IT.
THREE BERTHS, RAIL AND ROAD ACCESS, A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING 
ON DOWN THERE IN THAT PART OF THE PORT.
VERY IMPORTANT FUTURE PART OF THE PORT.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ARE MOVING TO PUT IN NEW 
PETROLEUM BERTHS, AND WE'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK TO ENHANCE 
AND IMPROVE THE WAY THAT ENERGY PRODUCTS ARE MOVED THROUGH 
THIS PORT TO DO OUR SMALL PART IN TRYING TO KEEP THAT PRICE 
OF GASOLINE DOWN.
NOT A WHOLE LOT WE CAN DO, BUT TRANSPORTATION COSTS ARE 
PART OF THAT COST, SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND 
HOPEFULLY SAVE A FEW PENNIES PER GALLON IN THE PROCESS.
A LOT OF DREDGING IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE.
THIS PROJECT'S ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD BY 2010, I EXPECT.
EVERYTHING YOU DO IN WASHINGTON TAKES A LONG TIME.
IF YOU WANT TO DO MAJOR DREDGING, IT CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 
TEN TO 20 YEARS.
ONE HORROR STORY THAT HOUSTON JUST TOLD, THEY JUST 
COMPLETED SOME OF THEIR DREDGING A FEW YEARS AGO.
IT TOOK 40 YEARS FROM THE TIME THEY PLANNED THE PROJECT TO 
THE TIME THEY GOT IT THROUGH WASHINGTON AND GOT THE CORPS 
OF ENGINEERS TO DO THE WORK.
THEY NEED TO FAST-TRACK THINGS.
THIS COUNTRY'S FALLING FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND IN ITS 
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, AND WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE 
PROCESSES.
BUT THIS IS JUST ONE DREDGING PROJECT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOT MORE.
WE MIGHT -- AND I SAY MIGHT DOOR EXTEND OUR GARAGE AT SOME 
POINT, AND WE DO HAVE SOME PLANS TO DO THAT.
PARKING'S ALWAYS A PROBLEM DOWN IN CHANNELSIDE.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO DO SOME WORK IN EAST PORT -- EAST 
BAY AT SOME POINT, AND WE MAY PUT IN A LOT OF FILL AND ADD 
A LOT OF BERTHS, BUT THAT'S ABOUT, I'D SAY, SIX, EIGHT 
YEARS DOWN THE PIPE.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOME EVEN LONGER-TERM PLANS AS THE 
CONTAINER BUSINESS GROWS TO BUILD AN ENTIRELY NEW WORLD-
CLASS CONTAINER PORT DOWN OFF OF CONDOLA POINT.
IT WOULD INVOLVE FILLING THE AREA WITH ALL THE DREDGE 
MATERIAL THAT WE PULL OUT OF THE CHANNEL BECAUSE WE WOULD 
HAVE TO DEEPEN THE CHANNEL TO LET THE BIGGER SHIPS IN, AND 
THEN WE'D DUMP THAT DIRT INTO THIS AREA AND BUILD THIS NEW 
CONTAINER PORT.
THAT WAS JUST A QUICK GLIMPSE AT A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE 
GOING ON AT THE PORT, A LOT OF MONEY BEING SPENT, A LOT OF 
ECONOMIC BENEFITS BEING GENERATED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US.
HOPE I DIDN'T TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU FOR THAT EXCELLENT REPORT.
THAT WAS WONDERFUL.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, RICHARD.
THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.
I WENT ON A TOUR A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND I SEE THINGS HAVE 
CHANGED JUST IN A FEW YEARS.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  IT HAS.
I INVITE YOU-ALL BACK.
WE LOVE TO GIVE TOURS, SO ANYTIME ANYBODY WANTS TO COME 
BACK AND SEE IT FIRSTHAND, PLEASE JUST CALL US.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  OBVIOUSLY, TRADITIONALLY, WE'VE ALWAYS 
DONE WELL IN BULK, WE'VE DONE WELL IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IN 
CRUISE SHIPS, CONTAINERS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HEADING IN THE 
RIGHT DIRECTION.
MAYBE THIS IS OUT OF YOUR VISION, BUT AT A LOCAL LEVEL WE 
GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM RECREATIONAL BOATERS ABOUT THE 
FACT THAT THEY HAVE LESS PLACES TO GO, YOU KNOW, THEIR 
DOCKAGES AND THOSE BOAT WAREHOUSES ARE, YOU KNOW, GOING BY 
THE WAYSIDE AND THAT SORT OF THING.
HAS THAT EVER BEEN DISCUSSED THAT THE PORT -- YOU KNOW, 
OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME LESS SECURE PART OF THE 
PORT -- MIGHT GET INTO THAT BUSINESS?
IS THAT A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS AT ALL?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  WELL, LUCRATIVE, NO.
[LAUGHTER]
IT WOULDN'T REALLY BE A BUSINESS VENTURE FOR US.
HAS IT EVER BEEN DISCUSSED?
YES, I THINK OFF AND ON IN VARIOUS WAYS OVER THE YEARS 
WE'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY PEOPLE TO ASK IF THERE ARE AREAS 
THAT COULD BE USED NOT ONLY FOR RECREATIONAL BOATING NEEDS 
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE HAD 
PEOPLE APPROACH US TO TALK ABOUT REPAIR FACILITIES AND -- 
YOU KNOW, FOR SMALL BOATS, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND --
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  I MEAN, I GUESS -- I NOTICED OUT IN MY 
DISTRICT IN SOUTH WESTSHORE, THEY'RE A BUILDING THAT HUGE 
DOCKOMINIUM THERE, SO IT MUST BE LUCRATIVE FOR SOMEBODY.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  IT IS FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, I THINK, 
OR FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BUYING AND SELLING THE LAND AND 
DEVELOPING IT.
OBVIOUSLY YOU PUT A SLIP BEHIND THE CONDO, AND THE VALUE OF 
THAT CONDO GOES WAY UP, SO I THINK FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR 
IT'S A GOOD THING.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING PORTS NORMALLY ARE INVOLVED IN.
SECURITY, AS YOU MENTIONED, IS A BIG IMPEDIMENT.
THE OTHER THING IS JUST MIXING HEAVY INDUSTRIAL AND CARGO 
OPERATIONS AND BIG SHIPS WITH LITTLE BOATS THAT ARE 
SPEEDING AROUND.
WE, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, GET CONCERNED WHEN WE SEE A 
LOT OF BOATS COMING INTO OUR CHANNELS.
I GET VERY NERVOUS ON GASPARILLA DAY, AND I GET VERY 
NERVOUS ON 4th OF JULY, AND -- BECAUSE IT IS A REAL SAFETY 
ISSUE FOR US.
THAT SAID, WE ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN, YOU KNOW, THE 
PERMITTING OF THESE FACILITIES THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, AND 
WE, IN FACT, WANT TO GET OUT OF THAT BUSINESS AND ARE 
GETTING OUT OF THAT BUSINESS, SO WE'RE TURNING THAT OVER TO 
THE COUNTY SO THERE WILL BE ONE-STOP SHOPPING.
AGAIN, THE EFFORT IS TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT FOR OUR 
COMMUNITY SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO THE PORT AND THEN 
GO TO THE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ENTITIES, THEY CAN -- THEY 
DON'T HAVE TO COME TO US AFTER NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE PASSING THAT BATON FOR RESIDENTIAL PERMITTING.
WE'LL STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PERMITTING, YOU KNOW, THE 
BIG PROJECTS, INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES, BUT NOT --
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD -- THANK YOU -
- IS IN REGARD TO THE I-4 EXPRESSWAY CONNECTOR THERE -- AND 
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THAT, BUT I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS 
STRUGGLED FOR MONEY, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PRIORITY AND 
ALL, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT'S -- IF WE'RE STILL 
STRUGGLING FOR MONEY AND IF WE COULD SPEED THAT UP A LITTLE 
BIT, HAS THE PORT EVER LOOKED AT ASSISTING WITH ANY KIND OF 
FUNDING ON THAT IN TERMS OF -- BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A 
HUGE BENEFIT TO THE PORT AND -- AS WELL AS TO THE CITY TO 
GET THE TRUCKS OFF OF 21st AND 22nd, AND I'M JUST 
WONDERING, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU-ALL EVER LOOKED AT THAT, 
MAYBE A DOLLAR SURCHARGE TO ALL OF YOUR TRUCKS THAT GO IN 
AND OUT AND YOU COULD BOND THAT FOR A LONG TIME AND HELP 
SPEED THAT PROCESS UP?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  ACTUALLY, WE DON'T HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, A 
LOT OF MONEY TO BUILD CONNECTORS AND THAT KIND OF 
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE STATE HAS ALWAYS HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.
WE FOCUS ON THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ON PORT PROPERTIES AND IN 
THE CHANNELS THEMSELVES.
IN FACT, THE CHANNEL DREDGING WE DON'T EVEN DO.
THAT'S A FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY.
SO ON ONE SIDE YOU HAVE FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES, ON THE 
OTHER SIDE YOU HAVE MOSTLY STATE AND LOCAL 
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THEN IN BETWEEN YOU HAVE THE PORT 
THAT DOES ITS PART AND FOCUSES ON -- WE'RE ONE LINK IN THAT 
CHAIN, AND WE ACTUALLY GO TO THE STATE FOR FUNDING FOR EVEN 
OUR PROJECTS, SO TO TURN AROUND AND THEN JUST HAND BACK 
MONEY TO THEM WOULD BE JUST TAKING OUT OF ONE POCKET AND 
GIVING TO THE OTHER AS FAR AS I SEE IT.
AS FAR AS A SURCHARGE FOR USERS, I MEAN, THAT'S A CALL THAT 
YOU-ALL AND THE STATE AND OTHERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THESE 
PROJECTS NEED TO MAKE, NOT JUST WITH THE I-4 BUT ALL 
AROUND.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT TOLL BOOTHS, WHAT KIND OF FEES 
ARE YOU GOING TO ASSESS IN THE FUTURE TO GET THESE ROADS 
DEVELOPED?
I MEAN, THAT -- IT'S CERTAINLY A FEASIBLE THING TO DO.
I DON'T THINK IT'S UP TO THE PORT TO PUT UP A TOLL GATE AND 
COLLECT MONEY.
I THINK IT'S UP TO THE STATE OR WHOEVER -- OR IF YOU GO 
INTO A PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A 
PRIVATE COMPANY BUILD THE ROAD AND RUN THE TOLL BOOTHS LIKE 
THEY DO ALL OVER THE WORLD AND IN A FEW STATES IN THIS 
COUNTRY, THAT'S AN OPTION AS WELL, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF 
OPTIONS HERE.
WE'D LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO DO 
THIS, BUT AS FAR AS RESPONSIBILITY FOR COLLECTING FEES 
OUTSIDE PORT GATES TO GO UP ONTO A ROAD AND RUN DOWN THE 
HIGHWAY, THAT WOULD NOT BE, I THINK, OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT, MR. SKELTON PROBABLY CAN 
COMMENT ON THAT.
I THINK THERE IS FUNDING AND IT IS MOVING FORWARD.
>>DON SKELTON:  WITH RESPECT TO THE FUNDING AND THE 
SCHEDULE OF THE PROJECT, WE DO HAVE -- IT'S A MULTIPLE-
ENTITY FUNDED PROJECT.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS THE BULK OF THE FUNDING IN PLACE.
WE'RE PRODUCING THE PLANS.
WE'RE SCHEDULED TO LET THAT PROJECT FOR BID IN THE FALL OF 
2009, SO NEXT CALENDAR YEAR IN THE FALL.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT $380 MILLION IN OUR PROGRAM IN '9-'10, AND 
THEN ANOTHER 120 UNTIL OUT IN '12-'13, SO WE'LL BE 
ADVERTISING THAT AS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR 
FINANCING, CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY 
ON ONE SMALL MISSING PIECE OF THE FINANCING, BUT WE FEEL WE 
HAVE A GOOD PLAN IN PLACE AND PRODUCING ARE.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  SO WE HAVE MONEY TO DESIGN IT, BUT 
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK TO THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE SIDE TO ACTUALLY 
BUILD IT?
>>DON SKELTON:  NO.
WE HAVE MONEY -- WE HAVE $380 MILLION IN '9-'10 AND THEN 
ANOTHER $120 MILLION OUT IN '12-'13.
YOU NEED ALL THE MONEY UP FRONT, SO WHEN YOU ADVERTISE THE 
PROJECT, YOU'RE ASKING A CONTRACTOR/FINANCE TEAM TO FRONT 
THAT 120 MILLION WITH AVAILABILITY PAYMENTS OUT IN THE 
OUTER YEARS.
SO WE HAVE THE FUNDING IN PLACE AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, 
AND WE PLAN TO LET THIS PROJECT IN THE FALL OF 2009 FOR 
CONSTRUCTION.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  GREAT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
MS. FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
AND I THINK MR. WAINIO'S PRESENTATION WAS COMPREHENSIVE TO 
COVER EVERYTHING, BUT JUST TO TAG ON TO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS INDEED MY PLEASURE TO BE A PORT 
COMMISSIONER UNDER MR. WAINIO'S WATCH, AND A LOT OF THINGS 
THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED ABOUT THE PORT AND WHAT IT DOES 
FOR OUR ECONOMY -- PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT UNLESS THEY HAVE 
A CLOSER CONTACT LIKE I DID.
I THINK OUR VERY FIRST CONVERSATION WAS THE FACT THAT 
HAVING GROWN UP IN YBOR CITY AND TAKEN WHAT WAS THEN CALLED 
THE ESTUARY AND NOW OF COURSE THE CHANNEL DISTRICT, IT WAS 
JUST A PLACE NOBODY WENT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC, SO 
IF YOU WANTED TO GO SOMEPLACE FAST, THAT'S WHERE YOU SHOULD 
GO, AND SO THAT MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PORT DOES FOR 
THIS ECONOMY HAS ALWAYS KIND OF BEEN THERE FOR A LOT OF 
PEOPLE UNLESS THEY HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DID AND 
WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SERVE ON YOUR BOARD.
WHEN YOU SAID THE LARGEST ECONOMIC ENGINE IN WEST AND 
CENTRAL FLORIDA, I MEAN, THAT IN ITSELF MAKES THAT 
STATEMENT, AND THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO RECOMMENT ABOUT 
WAS VERY SURPRISING.
I KNEW THERE WAS A HUGE INCREASE IN THE CONTAINER TONNAGE 
BUSINESS, BUT -- 96% I THINK IS WHAT YOU SAID.
BEFORE I WENT THERE, SOME OF THE SUMMARY THEY GAVE ABOUT 
THE DIRECTOR THERE, IS THIS GUY IS REAL, REAL BIG ON THE 
CONTAINER BUSINESS, AND THAT WOULD BE YOU.
THAT WAS A STAGNATED MARKET THAT WE NEVER INVADED, AND MY 
GOD, THIS IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE BUSINESS FOR THE PORT TO BE 
IN.
AND THIRDLY, I KNOW THAT THE SECURITY IS AN ISSUE, BUT THE 
PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE CREATED AND HAVE CONTINUED TO 
BOND WITH IN TERMS OF THE COAST GUARD, ET CETERA, WAS VERY, 
VERY IMPRESSIVE WHEN I WAS THERE.
I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT CERTAINLY PORT 
BUSINESS IS NOT PRETTY OR SOPHISTICATED OR WHATEVER ELSE 
ANYBODY SAYS, BUT IT CERTAINLY IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR 
OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE CERTAINLY SHOULD NEVER TAKE IT FOR 
GRANTED.
I'M EXCITED THAT GOVERNOR CRIST REALIZED THAT TO THE EXTENT 
HE DID WITH THE 20% FUNDING THAT WE GOT OVERALL.
AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO SERVE, AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY PERHAPS 
I'LL BE HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, BUT THANK YOU FOR 
WHAT YOU DO.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNDERESTIMATED AND IS VERY VALUABLE 
TO OUR COMMUNITY.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE KIND 
WORDS, AND WE CERTAINLY LOVED HAVING YOU ON THE BOARD, 
COMMISSIONER FERLITA, AND --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  THANK YOU, SIR.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN 
YOU WILL COME BACK AND JOIN US AGAIN.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  PERHAPS THAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT THANK YOU 
FOR WHAT YOU DO, SIR.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  I WOULD JUST ADD ONE THING.
I DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD ANYBODY.
OBVIOUSLY NUMBER STATISTICS CAN BE USED IN MANY DIFFERENT 
WAYS.
THE CONTAINER BUSINESS IS GROWING VERY ROBUSTLY, IT'S 
DOUBLING EVERY YEAR, BUT IT'S DOUBLING FROM A VERY LOW 
BASE, SO IT'S EASY TO SHOW A PRETTY HIGH PERCENTAGE GROWTH 
WITHOUT A LOT OF ACTUAL CONTAINERS MOVING, BUT WE HAVE 
DOUBLED IT THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE EXPECT THAT IT WILL DOUBLE AGAIN IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND 
WE FULLY EXPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET ANOTHER MAJOR 
CARRIER COMING IN HERE WITHIN A YEAR, AND THE WAY THE 
BUSINESS MOVES, IT DOESN'T MOVE ON A NICE, SMOOTH CURVE.
IT OFTEN JUST KIND OF STAYS FLAT WHEN YOU HAVE ONE CARRIER 
SERVING ONE AREA, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET ANOTHER 
CARRIER AND IT JUMPS UP STEPWISE, AND SO WHAT WE WOULD 
EXPECT IN THE NEXT YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF, IS TO SEE THE 
VOLUMES WE'RE MOVING JUMP UP TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL 
WHEN WE GET A SECOND CARRIER IN HERE, AND THAT'S COMING, SO 
EVENTUALLY YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF 
CONTAINERS MOVING THROUGH HERE.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MS. MULHERN.
>>MARY MULHERN:  YEAH.
I WANTED TO ECHO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING MS. FERLITA SAID.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO GET SOME GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS RIGHT NOW, 
AND IT'S JUST WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE THE PORT HERE AS THIS 
GREAT ECONOMIC DRIVER, AND THAT IS -- THINGS ARE ONLY 
GETTING BETTER FOR US, SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT, AND I WAS 
GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT THE CONTAINER BUSINESS 
AND ALMOST DOUBLING IT IN ONE YEAR, AND IT'S VERY GOOD OF 
YOU TO BE SO MODEST TO ADMIT THAT YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, 
STARTING FROM -- COMPARED TO WHAT, IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO, 
AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT ALSO JUST KNOWING THAT OUR BULK CARGO 
IS SUCH A HUGE INDUSTRY HERE.
WE HAVE THAT AND WE HAVE THAT ADVANTAGE, I THINK, SO I JUST 
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ALSO, BEING ON THE TAMPA HISTORIC STREETCAR BOARD, I WANTED 
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE STREETCAR, WHICH WE 
NEED SO MUCH AND WHICH IS A GREAT CONTRIBUTOR, OF COURSE, 
TO THE CRUISE INDUSTRY.
AND THEN I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THAT, AND YOU MAY HAVE SAID 
THIS IN YOUR REPORT, BUT WHAT -- HOW DO WE COMPARE IN 
CRUISE BUSINESS TO, SAY, THE OTHER PORTS IN FLORIDA, FOR 
INSTANCE?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  CLEARLY THREE FLORIDA PORTS, MIAMI, 
EVERGLADES, AND CANAVERAL ARE IN A CLASS BY THEMSELVES.
THE TWO IN THE SOUTH, MIAMI AND THE EVERGLADES, ARE THE 
LARGEST IN THE WORLD, AND SO WE IN A SENSE ARE MUCH SMALLER 
THAN THEM, BUT AT OUR PEAK YEAR BEFORE LAST WE MOVED OVER 
900,000 PASSENGERS ON AND OFF THE SHIPS, WHICH MADE US THE 
SEVENTH LARGEST CRUISE PORT IN THE NATION AND ONE OF THE 
LARGEST, OBVIOUSLY PROBABLY TOP TEN OR 15 IN THE WORLD IF 
YOU'RE THE SEVENTH LARGEST IN THIS COUNTRY.
OUR BUSINESS, OF COURSE -- OUR MARKET IS LIMITED, 
UNFORTUNATELY, BY THE SUNSHINE SKYWAY BRIDGE.
THE BIG NEW PASSENGER SHIPS THAT ARE BEING BUILT NOW, MOST 
OF THEM CANNOT GET UNDER THAT BRIDGE.
THAT SAID, THERE IS A MARKET FOR THE MEDIUM-SIZE -- WHAT 
ARE NOW MEDIUM-SIZE, USED TO BE LARGE SHIPS, THOSE THAT 
CARRY 2,000 PASSENGERS.
I CALL THEM MEDIUM-SIZE NOW.
THERE IS A MARKET FOR THAT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE THAT MARKET, AND I REALLY BELIEVE 
THAT A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD -- AND I'M CAUTIOUS WHEN I 
SAY THAT, BUT A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN CUBA OPENS UP, 
THAT THAT WILL HAVE A HUGE BENEFIT FOR OUR CRUISE BUSINESS 
SPECIFICALLY.
IT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT SOUTH FLORIDA FOR VARIOUS 
REASONS, WHICH I COULD TALK TO LATER, BUT FOR US, IT 
GREATLY EXPANDS THE VARIETY OF THE ITINERARIES THAT WE CAN 
PROVIDE OUT OF TAMPA, AND WE ARE THE CLOSEST FULL-SERVICE 
PORT TO CUBA, SPECIFICALLY TO HAVANA.
I MEAN, MIAMI CAN CLAIM TO BE CLOSER TO PART OF CUBA, BUT 
IF YOU DROP THAT PENDULUM FROM TAMPA, YOU LAND IN THE 
MIDDLE OF HAVANA WHERE THE PEOPLE LIVE, AND SO WE ARE 
POSITIONED TO SEE OUR CRUISE BUSINESS GROW, I THINK, IN THE 
FUTURE AS WE FIND MORE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR THE 
SHIPS TO VISIT.
>>MARY MULHERN:  I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY 
BRINGING CUBA UP BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR 
50 YEARS WE'VE JUST BEEN NOT PURSUING IT, AND NOW -- AND WE 
DO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I WAS WONDERING TOO ABOUT THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY.
I KNOW THAT WE -- WE CAN EXPORT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO 
CUBA.
IS PHOSPHATE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALLOWED IN THAT?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  I BELIEVE FERTILIZER IS ON THE LIST.
>>MARY MULHERN:  IT IS?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  THE LIST IS ACTUALLY -- OF THINGS THAT 
CAN BE EXPORTED IS ACTUALLY QUITE LENGTHY.
IT'S PAGES AND PAGES OF ITEMS.
THEY CALL IT HUMANITARIAN.
IT'S MOSTLY RELATED TO FOOD STUFFS AND PHARMACEUTICALS AND 
THINGS LIKE THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT FERTILIZER IS ONE OF THE ITEMS, BUT I 
ACTUALLY USED TO FOR A FEW YEARS RUN A SHIPPING BUSINESS 
THAT CHARTERED VESSELS THAT RAN INTO CUBA WHEN I LIVED BACK 
IN PANAMA, AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE RAN INTO CUBA WAS 
FERTILIZER, BUT WE BROUGHT IT OUT OF RUSSIA AND MOROCCO AND 
OTHER PLACES INTO CUBA, SO THEY DO NEED A LOT OF 
FERTILIZER.
THERE ARE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES DOWN THE ROAD FOR US, BUT 
RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT BECAUSE MOST OF WHAT 
MOVES TO CUBA NOW UNDER THE LEGAL -- THE LEGAL SHIPMENTS 
FROM THE STATES ARE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, AND IT'S MAINLY 
GRAINS MOVING OUT OF THE MIDWEST AND NOT THROUGH OUR AREA.
>>MARY MULHERN:  AND IT'S NOT A FERTILIZER AT THIS POINT?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  NOT A LOT OF FERTILIZER AS I UNDERSTAND 
IT, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE IF IT'S 
ALLOWED, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS.
MOSAIC WOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.
I KNOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT CUBA VERY CLOSELY AND THEY'RE 
ENGAGED THERE IN VARIOUS WAYS.
WE OBVIOUSLY ARE WATCHING CUBA VERY CLOSELY.
WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO PREPARE FOR CUBA, AND WE'RE 
POSITIONING -- OUR MASTER PLAN ADDRESSES IT, AND ONE DAY 
CUBA WILL BE A BIG MARKET FOR US.
>>MARY MULHERN:  I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOON.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER --
>>MARY MULHERN:  OH, YEAH.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE SECURITY HAVING THOSE TWO CARDS, 
NEEDING TWO ID CARDS.
IS ONE FEDERAL AND ONE STATE?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  EXACTLY.
EXACTLY.
>>MARY MULHERN:  OKAY.
SO WE WANT TO HAVE THE -- IS YOUR PUSH TO GET RID OF THE 
STATE REQUIREMENT OR JUST TO COMBINE THEM?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  WELL, WHAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN IF WE 
ARE SUCCESSFUL IS THAT THERE'LL BE A COMBINATION.
THE TWIC CARD, WHICH IS THE TRANSPORTATION WORKERS IDENTIFY 
CARD, THE NATIONAL ID CARD, WILL PROBABLY BECOME A VIRTUAL 
FLORIDA CARD AS WELL.
IT WILL NOT -- WHAT THAT WILL MEAN IS THAT YOU'LL ONLY 
CARRY ONE CARD.
THE PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY, THE COSTS INVOLVED WILL BE A 
LITTLE BIT LESS, BUT WE'LL STILL HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN IN 
ANY OTHER STATE BECAUSE WHAT THEY WON'T APPARENTLY GIVE UP 
HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN 
BACKGROUND CHECK.
FLORIDA WANTS TO HAVE ITS OWN BACKGROUND CHECK BECAUSE IT 
HAS A CONCERN THAT IT FEELS IS GREATER IN THE CRIMINAL AREA 
AS OPPOSED TO TERRORISM.
THE FEDERAL CARD FOCUSES ON TERRORISM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS 
ACCORDING TO THOSE THAT BELIEVE WE NEED A FLORIDA CARD AND 
A FLORIDA BACKGROUND CHECK.
THEY ARGUE THAT THE CRIMINALITY SIDE OF IT IS NOT 
ADEQUATELY COVERED BY TWIC, SO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS WE 
WANT TO MOVE TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE THE ONE CARD BUT TWO 
BACKGROUND CHECKS, THE FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECK AS WELL AS 
THE FLORIDA CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK, AND SO I'M HOPING 
THAT AT A MINIMUM WE GET THAT BECAUSE THAT WILL GIVE US 
SOME EFFICIENCIES, BUT IDEALLY, IT SHOULD BE ONE CARD JUST 
LIKE SAVANNAH, JUST LIKE CHARLESTON.
I'M NOT AS WORRIED AS JACKSONVILLE.
JACKSONVILLE SITS THERE TRYING TO COMPETE WITH SAVANNAH 
RIGHT NEXT DOOR FOR THE CONTAINER BUSINESS, AND IF A 
TRUCKER HAS TO PAY MORE MONEY TO GO IN AND OUT OF 
JACKSONVILLE AND CARRY TWO CARDS AND DO TWO BACKGROUND 
CHECKS, HE'S NOT GOING TO GO THERE, HE'S GOING TO GO TO 
SAVANNAH, AND FLORIDA'S GOING TO LOSE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY OTHER --
>>MARY MULHERN:  THANKS A LOT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. WAINIO.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THE -- MR. ARMIJO FROM THE HARTLINE WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY.
HE'S NOT FEELING WELL, SO HE WILL -- HE WILL BE HERE IN 
APRIL TO MAKE A PRESENTATION FOR HARTLINE.
THE NEXT ITEM IS A T.I.P. DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
WALLY BLAIN.
>>WALLY BLAIN:  GOOD MORNING ONCE AGAIN.
MR. MILLER, I GUESS IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A 30-MINUTE 
MEETING, BUT WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS AS QUICK AS WE CAN.
THE T.I.P. DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THIS IS OUR ANNUAL KICKOFF, 
WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 28th TO START THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
THE T.I.P. PROCESS.
THIS IS THE DOCUMENT THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT NEXT OCTOBER 
1st.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE NOW IS WE'VE OPENED UP THE APPLICATION 
PROCESS, LET EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE AGENCIES 
THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS KNOW THAT WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING 
APPLICATIONS FOR THE SERVICE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FUNDS, 
WHICH ARE A FEDERAL FUND THAT COME TO THE URBAN AREA FOR 
THE YEAR, 2013-2014.
WE ANTICIPATE ABOUT $20 MILLION COMING IN EACH YEAR, SO 
WE'VE OPENED THE APPLICATION PROCESS UP FOR THAT.
THE DEADLINE THEN IS APRIL THE 11th, SO THAT GIVES SIX 
WEEKS FROM TIME OF KICKOFF MEETING TO A DEADLINE.
WE'LL TAKE THOSE APPLICATIONS.
WE'LL BRING THEM BACK TO YOU AROUND JUNE.
MOST LIKELY IN JUNE WE'LL BRING THOSE APPLICATIONS TO THE 
BOARD JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THESE ARE THE APPLICATIONS WE 
RECEIVED.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED 
APPLICATIONS THAT TOTALED ABOUT $85 MILLION.
SO FROM THAT THEN WE WILL TAKE AND GO THROUGH PRIORITIES 
THAT THIS BOARD HAS ALREADY APPROVED, DO AN EVALUATION AT 
THE STAFF LEVEL, TAKE THOSE ALSO THROUGH COMMITTEES JULY 
AND AUGUST, AND BRING THEM TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER AS A STAFF-
RECOMMENDED, COMMITTEE-RECOMMENDED PRIORITY LIST.
IN SEPTEMBER, THE MEETING ON THE 2nd THERE BE HELD.
THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE THE MPO WILL THEN APPROVE 
PRIORITIES FOR SPENDING OF SERVICE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM 
FUNDS.
THOSE PRIORITIES THEN WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT 
OF TRANSPORTATION WHERE THEY WILL WORK TO PROGRAM THOSE 
THROUGH THEIR WORK PROGRAM THAT WILL THEN COME TO YOU IN 
DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
SO JUST TO KIND OF GO THROUGH IT REAL QUICK AGAIN, WE HAVE 
AN APPLICATION PROCESS.
OVER THE SUMMER WE'LL DO PRIORITIES.
IN SEPTEMBER WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU FOR ADOPTION OF THOSE 
PRIORITIES.
YOU WILL SEE THE RESULT OF WHAT'S BEEN PROGRAMMED IN 
DECEMBER THROUGH THE D.O.T.'S WORK PROGRAM.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, WALLY.
ANY QUESTIONS OF WALLY BLAIN?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU, WALLY.
OH, YES, I'M SORRY, MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  MORE OF A COMMENT AND COMPLIMENT TO 
WALLY AND ESPECIALLY TO THE D.O.T.
ON THE EARLIER AGENDA ITEM, AS I WAS COMING IN, THE -- I 
JUST WANTED TO COMPLIMENT D.O.T. AND EVERYBODY WHO'S 
INVOLVED ON THE SIDEWALK PROJECT FOR NORTH DALE MABRY.
IT LOOKS LIKE ALMOST THREE AND A HALF MILES OF ADDITIONAL 
SIDEWALK IN THE CARROLLWOOD/NORTHDALE AREA, AND THAT GOES 
TO MS. MULHERN'S LIVABLE ROADWAYS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S REAL POSITIVE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
>>WALLY BLAIN:  I'LL ADD TO THAT JUST REAL QUICK, THERE'S 
ONE ITEM THAT DIDN'T COME BEFORE YOU BECAUSE THE D.O.T. IS 
INCLUDING THAT IN SOME OF THE RESURFACING WORK THAT'S BEING 
DONE AS WELL.
SO THERE'S MORE BEING DONE THAN JUST WHAT YOU SAW TODAY.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  GREAT.
THANKS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, WALLY.
OKAY.
ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT CARES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD?
YES, MA'AM.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND YOU HAVE THREE 
MINUTES.
>> YES, SIR.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JAN SMITH.
I'M WITH THE TAMPA HISTORIC STREETCAR BOARD, AND I JUST -- 
THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD COMING OUT IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS 
THAT I REALLY FELT I NEEDED TO COME DOWN AND SHARE IT WITH 
YOU.
I WANT TO TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STREETCAR.
THE TECO LINE SYSTEM, WE BELIEVE THAT TRULY IS THE INFANCY 
OF LIGHT RAIL, COMMUTER RAIL IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN TAMPA 
AND IN THIS METROPOLITAN REGION.
WE ACTUALLY HOPE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR TO BRING IN A 
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT THAT WILL SHOW LIGHT RAIL, NOT OUR 
SLOW HISTORIC ROMANTIC STREETCAR BUT REAL LIGHT RAIL, 
SOPHISTICATED, FASCINATING CARS, AND THEY WILL RUN ON OUR 
SYSTEM.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING DILIGENTLY ON OUR BUSINESS PLAN, 
AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE DONATION FROM THE PORT FOR 
OUR BUSINESS PLAN.
IT CERTAINLY IS -- WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR EFFORTS 
ON OUR BEHALF.
WE -- THE PLAN IS COMING TOGETHER.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE MIGHT EVEN FINISH IT BY THIS FRIDAY.
WE HAVE A TWO-HOUR MEETING SCHEDULED AND HOPE THAT WE'LL 
ALL COME TOGETHER AT THAT POINT, AT WHICH TIME WE WILL THEN 
HIRE A CONSULTANT TO REVIEW IT AND AN INDEPENDENT 
CONSULTANT AND HOPE THAT IT WILL MEET THE NEEDS AND 
EXPECTATIONS NOT ONLY OF THE THS BOARD BUT THE CITY OF 
TAMPA, THE HART BOARD, AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD 
WITH THE EXTENSION.
THIS MORNING, JUST AS I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE, I HEARD MY 
FAX MACHINE GO OFF, AND I RAN OVER, AND MY HUSBAND DIDN'T 
SEND THE WHOLE THING, BUT IT'S AN EDITORIAL FROM THE ST. 
PETERSBURG TIMES.
THAT'S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
LET ME READ YOU JUST A PARAGRAPH.
THE STREETCAR IS FULFILLING ITS MISSION, BRINGING VISITORS 
TO AND FROM YBOR, THE CRUISE SHIP, SHOPPING AT CHANNELSIDE, 
TIMES FORUM EVENTS, AND THE CONVENTION CENTER AND NEARBY 
HOTELS.
EXTENDING IT THREE BLOCKS NORTH TO CITY HALL WOULD BROADEN 
ITS REACH TO THE SHERATON, HYATT, THE NEW ARTS AND 
CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS, THE HIXON RIVERFRONT PARKS.
THE STREETCAR LINE SHOULD RUN 13 BLOCKS, IF I READ THIS 
CORRECTLY BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BLURRY, NOT JUST THREE 
BLOCKS NORTH.
THE -- IT -- THEY ALSO SAY BY EXTENDING IT, IT WOULD SERVE 
MORE HOTELS AND MAJOR TAX-SUPPORTED ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.
I ALSO HAVE -- JUST A MOMENT -- AN ARTICLE FROM THE TAMPA 
BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL THAT CAME OUT YESTERDAY.
TAMPA DOWNTOWN ANALYZED BY THE BROOKINGS FELLOW, AND JUST 
ONE PARAGRAPH.
THE FIRST STEP TO CREATING A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN THAT APPEALS 
TO THE GROWING URBANITE MARKET IS BRINGING THE STREETCAR 
FROM CHANNELSIDE DISTRICT INTO DOWNTOWN, CHRISTOPHER 
LEINBERGER, A VISITING FELLOW AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE, 
TOLD DEVELOPERS AND OTHERS IN TAMPA.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
>> I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO 
YOU, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PASS OUT THE BROOKINGS ARTICLE, IF 
I MAY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  QUESTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  JAN, THE -- I SERVE ON HARTLINE, AND 
UNFORTUNATELY, AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING I WAS NOT IN 
ATTENDANCE WHEN HART VOTED TO SORT OF MOVE THIS $900,000 
CMAQ FUNDING TO A DIFFERENT LITTLE POT.
AND APPARENTLY THAT DECISION, I GUESS, IS RATHER UNILATERAL 
ON THE PART OF HART AND DOESN'T NECESSARILY COME TO THE 
MPO.
IS THAT CORRECT, LUCIE?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  IT SHOULD.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  DOES IT COME TO THE MPO?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  IT SHOULD, YES.
>>LUCIE AYER:  AT THIS POINT -- I'LL JUST GIVE YOU THE 
SHORT ANSWER, YES.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  IT WILL COME EVENTUALLY?
>>LUCIE AYER:  YES.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  OKAY.
WELL, I'VE GOT A HART MEETING TOMORROW MORNING, BUT WHAT I 
WOULD LIKE TO DO WITHOUT GOING TOO FAR INTO THIS AND 
WITHOUT TOO MUCH COMMITMENT FROM THIS BOARD, BUT WHAT I 
WOULD LIKE TO DO IS JUST ASK THIS BOARD TO ASK HARTLINE TO 
AT LEAST REVIEW AND RECONSIDER THAT VOTE.
I THINK IT WASN'T REALLY SUBJECT TO A WHOLE LOT OF PUBLIC 
DISCUSSION.
YOU KNOW, IT POPPED UP ON THE AGENDA, AND IT WAS VOTED ON 
RATHER QUICKLY, AND I'M GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO URGE HART 
TOMORROW TO THE EXTENT THAT I CAN FROM A PARLIAMENTARY 
PERSPECTIVE TO RECONSIDER IT, BUT I WOULD ASK -- I WOULD 
JUST MAKE A MOTION RIGHT HERE TODAY TO ASK THIS BOARD TO 
ASK THE HART BOARD TO AT LEAST REVISIT IT, REVISIT THE 
DECISION THAT I THINK WAS MADE IN A BIT OF HASTE.
>> I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY DISCUSSION -- ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT?
YES, MARY.
>>MARY MULHERN:  I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT HART IS WORKING 
WITH US ON THE STREETCAR BOARD, AND I DON'T HAVE THE 
SENSE -- I'M GOING TO, OF COURSE, SUPPORT THE MOTION, BUT I 
THINK THAT HART HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING THE STREETCAR BOARD TO 
REALLY GO FORWARD WITH THIS BUSINESS PLAN, AND IT KIND OF 
PUT US ON THE HOT SEAT, SO WE'RE DOING THAT, AND I THINK -- 
I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK 
WITH HART TO PRESERVE THAT FUNDING, BUT I SUPPORT THE 
MOTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GOING TO CERTAINLY 
SUPPORT IT AS WELL.
BECAUSE OF CONFLICTS, I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND EITHER, AND I 
UNDERSTAND THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT AT THAT 
MEETING, SO I THINK THIS BOARD ASKING THEM SIMPLY TO LOOK 
AT IT AGAIN, AS JOHN SAID, FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY 
STANDPOINT I THINK IS A GOOD IDEA JUST TO REVISIT IT 
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE NOT THERE AND NOT ABLE TO 
WEIGH IN ON WHAT THE BENEFITS WERE, THE DISADVANTAGE OR 
ADVANTAGE, OR WHAT THAT REALLY DOES, SO I THINK THAT'S A 
GOOD IDEA, JOHN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TOMORROW'S MEETING 
AS WELL.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GOOD IDEA.
OKAY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
ANY OLD BUSINESS WE NEED TO DISCUSS?
ANY NEW BUSINESS?
OKAY.
WITH THAT, WE ADJOURN.
WE DIDN'T DO THE HALF HOUR, BUT WE DID PRETTY WELL.
THANK YOU.


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