CAPTIONING
MAY 4, 2010
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:  THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME TO OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY METROPOLITAN PLANNING 
ORGANIZATION MEETING FOR MAY 4th, 2010.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND 
INVOCATION.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
HEAVENLY FATHER, AGAIN WE THANK YOU FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS 
THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE HERE 
IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
WE ASK THAT YOU GUIDE US TODAY AS WE DO THE WORK FOR THE 
CITIZENS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
PLEASE PROTECT OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE IN HARM'S 
WAY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.
AMEN.
>> AMEN.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
FIRST I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE MPO BOARD FOR THIS AWARD 
THAT WE RECEIVED THIS PAST WEEK FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT 
PROGRAM, AND THIS IS GIVEN BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, 
ALTHOUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ISN'T THE ONE THAT DECIDES 
WHO GETS THE VARIOUS AWARDS, SO WE WERE -- WE WERE VERY 
FORTUNATE IN RECEIVING AND VERY HONORED TO HAVE THIS AWARD 
GIVEN TO US FOR OUR MPO BOARD, AND I WANT TO THANK THE 
BOARD FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO -- TO MAKE THIS 
POSSIBLE, SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO SAY HOW -- HOW PROUD WE 
WERE AND HONORED WE WERE TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TWO NEW MEMBERS OF OUR MPO BOARD.
WE HAVE LINDA SAUL-SENA BACK WITH US FROM THE CITY OF TAMPA 
CITY COUNCIL, TAMPA, AND SHE'S REPLACING MARY MULHERN, AND 
WE HAVE JOHN WHEAT WITH US, WHO IS REPLACING LOUIS MILLER 
FROM THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY.
WELCOME -- WELCOME TO THE MPO BOARD.
OKAY.
OKAY.
DO WE -- IS THERE ANY PUBLIC INPUT ON ANY ITEMS THAT ARE ON 
THE AGENDA?
>> YES, WE HAVE TWO.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
NANCY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
NANCY CASTELLANO, 5900 CENTRAL AVENUE, ST. PETERSBURG, 
FLORIDA.
I AM A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMUNITY 
SERVICES AND HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS MORNING ABOUT YOUR 
ACTION ITEM NUMBER "C," THE NEW FREEDOM PROGRAM.
QUALITY OF LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION 
FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE NEW FREEDOM PROGRAM.
QUALITY OF LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES RANKED SIX OUT OF EIGHT.
FIVE PROJECTS WERE FUNDED -- RECOMMENDED FUNDING FOR 100% 
WITH THE REMAINING FUNDING GOING TO THE PINELLAS MPO FOR 
PROJECT ADMINISTRATION.
TWO WERE TOTALLY THROWN OUT OF THE RUNNING.
SO WE CAME IN AGAIN SIXTH.
QUALITY OF LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES IS ASKING YOU PLEASE 
LOOK AT THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED BOARD 
RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE TO FOLLOW THAT RECOMMENDATION AND 
SEND THE APPLICATION BACK TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR 
REEVALUATION.
FUNDS JUST NEED TO SLIGHTLY BE REDISTRIBUTED, AND THEN ALL 
THE PROGRAMS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS WORTHWHILE FUNDING 
SOURCE.
I WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AND POINT OUT HOW QUALITY OF 
LIFE SERVICES MEET AND SURPASS ALL OF THE NEW FREEDOM 
CRITERIA AND ALSO HOW IT BENEFITS THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE 
NEW FREEDOM PROGRAM.
THROUGHOUT OUR APPLICATION PROCESS WE INCLUDED INDIVIDUALS 
AND AGENCIES THAT WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY UNMET NEEDS AND WHO 
WOULD BE WILLING TO PARTNER TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL 
PROGRAM.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE INCLUDED CITIZENS ADVOCATES, WE INCLUDED 
THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, WE INCLUDED THE HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY CTC, WE INCLUDED LOCAL TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES, AND 
WE INCLUDED COUNTY-BASED NONPROFIT WITH PRIVATE FUNDING 
SOURCES.
THE UNMET AND UNFUNDED NEEDS WERE THE FOCAL POINT OF THIS 
NEW FREEDOM RIDERS PROGRAM.
TWO, WE INCLUDED CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND PARTNERS OF 
NONGOVERNMENTAL FUNDING TO MATCH THE NEEDS OF THE NEW 
FREEDOM RIDERS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
WE WERE REQUIRED TO ACTUALLY MATCH QUITE A BIT OF THE 
DOLLARS THAT WERE BEING FUNDED.
QUALITY OF LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES IS AWARE THAT EDUCATION 
AND TRAINING AND OUTREACH ARE ALL IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF 
ANY PROGRAM; HOWEVER, WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE RUBBER NEEDS 
TO MEET THE ROAD AND THAT TRIPS NEED TO BE PROVIDED, NOT 
JUST EDUCATION, PUBLIC OUTREACH.
PLEASE LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION, AND IF 
TRAINING AND CONSTRUCTION ARE THE ONLY THINGS NEW FREEDOM 
IS ABOUT, THEN THE RANKING SHOULD STAND; HOWEVER, QUALITY 
OF LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES FIRMLY BELIEVES THE GUIDELINES 
INTENDED FOR THE NEW FREEDOM FUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE 
SERVICES AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES FOR 
DISABLED INDIVIDUALS BEYOND THOSE REQUIRED BY AMERICANS 
WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990.
QUALITY OF LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICE -- AND I'LL CLOSE -- 
NANCY CASTELLANO AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS -- I, NANCY 
CASTELLANO, AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS OF QUALITY OF LIFE 
COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO MATCHING 
DECADES OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, PRIVATE RESOURCES WITH 
THE NEW FREEDOM FUNDING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE THAT 
NEED THE MOST AND TO CLOSE THE GAP OF HEALTH CARE AND 
TRANSPORTATION DISPARITIES FOR THOSE WITH UNMET 
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, NANCY.
OKAY.
NEXT WE HAVE MICHAEL JACOB MOSES.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> MICHAEL JACOB MOSES, 5900 CENTRAL AVENUE, ST. PETE, 
FLORIDA.
I'D LIKE TO --
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  WE'LL ADDRESS THAT LATER?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  EXCUSE ME.
YEAH.
THAT'S COMING UP ON THE AGENDA.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  GO AHEAD.
I'M SORRY.
>> OKAY.
MICHAEL JACOB MOSES.
I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF QUALITY OF LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES, A 
501(C)(3) NONPROFIT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THE NEW FREEDOM AGENDA ITEM, 
AND FOR A MOMENT I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO SOME OF MY PAST.
FOR OVER 20 YEARS I'VE OWNED AND OPERATED HEALTH CARE 
BUSINESSES HERE IN THE TAMPA BAY MARKET, CARING FOR FRAIL 
ELDERLY AND ADULT DISABLED PEOPLE.
THE PRIMARY INTENT OF NEW FREEDOM PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE 
FUNDING FOR NEW PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND 
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND TO SPECIFICALLY 
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PROJECTS PLANNED, DESIGNED, AND CARRIED 
OUT TO MEET SPECIAL NEEDS OF ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS.
AS QUOTED IN THE AGENDA IN YOUR OWN PACKETS, THE NEW 
FREEDOM PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS BEYOND 
THOSE REQUIRED BY THE AMERICANS CAN DISABILITIES ACT OF 
1990.
PURSUANT TO THOSE GUIDELINES, OUR NEW FREEDOM RIDERS 
PROGRAM IS PLANNED TO OFFER TRIPS TO THE TRANSPORTATION 
UNDERSERVED, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS TO ENSURE THEY CAN HAVE 
FULL PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY.
AFTER REVIEWING THE OTHER APPLICANTS, WE NOTICED THAT 70% 
OF THE DOLLARS AWARDED ARE GOING TO TRAINING AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE 30% ARE GOING TO OTHER TRIPS, MOST OF 
WHICH ARE IN PASCO COUNTY.
NOT TO MINIMIZE THE NEED FOR RIDER EDUCATION AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, THE NEW FREEDOM RIDERS PROJECT 
ADDRESSES THE MOST URGENT NEED OF THE PEOPLE BEING SERVED, 
TRIPS.
OUR GRANT ALSO ADDRESSES MANY OF THE PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN 
THE PUBLIC OUTREACH SUMMARY FROM THE 2007 TRICOUNTY ACCESS 
PLAN.
AT THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED BOARD MEETING THERE WAS 
STRONG COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS 
SUPPOSED TO BE HANDLED ANOTHER WAY.
I REALIZE THESE ARE TRYING TIMES FOR EVERYBODY 
ECONOMICALLY, ESPECIALLY GOVERNMENTAL AND QUASI-
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.
CONSIDERING THESE TRYING TIMES, WE NOW HAVE A NONPROFIT AND 
PRIVATE FUNDING WILLING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO 
SOMETHING FOR THE RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS OF THE TAMPA BAY 
MARKET, YET WE'RE BEING SENT BACK TO THE DUGOUT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, NEEDY TRAVELERS CANNOT BENEFIT 
ANYMORE FROM FIXED ROUTES AND MORE ADA PADS.
WE HAVE INCORPORATED THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CTC TO HELP US 
WITH THIS.
WE'RE WORKING TO PROVIDE TRIPS FOR EVENING, WEEKENDS, 
NONFIXED ROUTES, CHAIN TRIPS.
TAKING SOMEONE TO AND FROM THE DOCTOR IS NOT ENOUGH FOR AN 
ELDERLY PERSON.
THEY MUST GET TO THE GROCERY STORE, THEY MUST GET THEIR 
NUTRITIONAL NEEDS MET, THEY MUST GO TO THE PHARMACY, TAKING 
THEM TO QUALITY-OF-LIFE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS 
CULTURAL EVENTS, BEAUTY PARLORS, GROCERY STORES, AND MOST 
IMPORTANTLY THEIR PLACES OF WORSHIP.
SOME HAVE SAID THAT OUR QUEST MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO 
AGGRESSIVE TO BEGIN WITH.
WE'RE WILLING TO SCALE IT BACK INTO A PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP 
THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED THESE TRIPS SO BADLY.
OUR REQUEST IS A TRUE NEW FREEDOM REQUEST.
IT'S NEW, IT'S INNOVATIVE, AND ITS INTENT IS CLEAR AS A 
BELL.
IT'S TO GIVE TRIPS TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.
NOW THE DECISION RESTS WITH YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO SEE 
IF JUST SOME OF THESE NEW FREEDOM DOLLARS CAN GO TO TRIPS 
FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RESIDENTS.
WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED 
BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION TO SEND THIS BACK TO PLANNING.
TOGETHER, PLEASE LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE WHO NEED 
IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE COMING UP UNDER 4-C ON OUR AGENDA, SO 
WE'LL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS ANY COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE AT THAT 
POINT.
OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY.
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL -- I'M SORRY.
JOE AMON WITH THE CAC.
JOE, YOU HAVE A REPORT?
>> JOE AMON.
SORRY ABOUT MY VOICE.
I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S THE POLLEN OR SOMETHING.
JOE AMON, CHAIR OF THE CAC.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE MPO, WE MET -- THE CAC MET ON 
MAY 4th -- I'M SORRY, WE DIDN'T MEET ON MAY -- WHEN DID WE 
MEET?
WE MET ON APRIL THE 4th.
NO, I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN WE MET.
SORRY.
[LAUGHTER]
IT SAYS HERE MEETING ON MAY 4th.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> SORRY.
LET ME START OVER AGAIN.
LET'S START WITH TALKING ABOUT MR. AL STEENSON, MEMBER OF 
THE CAC FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
AL LEFT US, ASKED TO STEP DOWN FROM THE CAC.
WE REGRETTABLY ALLOWED HIM TO DO THAT.
WE WISH WE COULD STILL HAVE HIM, BUT HE DECIDED TO DO OTHER 
THINGS.
HE REPRESENTED THE EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY'S POSITION AS WELL 
AS THE GANDY AREA VERY WELL FOR HIS TIME ON THE CAC.
HE WAS VERY ACTIVE ON THE CAC, SO WE GAVE HIM A PLAQUE AND 
WISHED HIM WELL AND INVITED HIM TO COME BACK AT ANY TIME HE 
WANTED TO, AT LEAST FROM A MEMBER'S INTEREST STANDPOINT OR 
A CITIZEN'S INTEREST STANDPOINT COME IN AND TALK TO US, AND 
I BELIEVE AL WILL.
HE'S A VERY ACTIVE INDIVIDUAL.
MOVE ON TO PUBLIC INTEREST.
MR. STEENSON ALSO, AFTER HE GOT HIS AWARD, DECIDED TO TELL 
US ABOUT A SIGN NOT FUNCTIONING.
DOWN AT GANDY BOULEVARD THERE'S A NEW MESSAGE SIGN DOWN 
THERE AND IT'S APPARENTLY NOT BEING UTILIZED, AND HE 
RECOMMENDED THAT THEY PUT IT ON-LINE AND AT LEAST PUT 
SOMETHING ON IT TO -- SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS NO TRUCKS ON 
BAYSHORE, BUT AT LEAST IT'S BEEN -- IT'S DOWN THERE, IT'S 
BEEN PAID FOR, AND LET'S PUT IT TO USE.
MR. LEDUC INFORMED THE MEMBERS THAT FDOT HAS STARTED TO 
WORK ON THE CROSSTOWN CORRECTOR.
WE'RE GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT TAMPA BAY RAYS STADIUM IS MOST 
INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHERE THE STADIUM MIGHT -- IF IT'S 
BEING CONSIDERED, WHAT IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE ROADS IN 
THE AREA.
THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE TO GET INVOLVED IN 
THAT.
A REQUEST WAS MADE FOR BRIEFING ON A FUTURE CAC MEETING FOR 
THE HISTORY OF THE EAST-WEST CONNECTOR.
THIS IS -- IN YOUR REPORT IT'S WRITTEN AS VETERANS I-75 
NEAR LUTZ.
THAT'S NOT ALL INCLUSIVE.
WHAT MR. LEDUC WAS INTERESTED IN IS LOOKING AT THE ROAD 
FROM BRUCE B. DOWNS ALL THE WAY BACK OVER TO THE VETERANS.
THAT ROADWAY WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO ACT AS AN EAST-WEST 
CONNECTOR, AND FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS IT HASN'T MADE IT.
WE -- MR. LEDUC WANTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AGAIN, AND HE'S 
ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON IT.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW 
MONTHS.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION BY CAC AND THE MPO STAFF ON THE RAIL 
ALIGNMENT PROPOSED FOR BRUCE B. DOWNS AND THE BENEFIT OF 
THE RAIL DOWN THE CENTER.
ALSO CONSIDERATION OF SIX LANES VERSUS EIGHT LANES, AND I 
HAPPENED TO GO TO THE LAST MEETING OF THE BRUCE B. DOWNS 
AREA CONCERNING THE WIDENING, AND I -- I'M PERSONALLY A 
PROPONENT OF THE EIGHT LANES.
I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT -- RIGHT NOW IT'S A 
MIXED BAG.
SOME PEOPLE WANT THE EIGHT LANES, SOME PEOPLE WANT THE SIX 
LANES.
I THINK THE EIGHT LANES IS APPROPRIATE.
ACTION ITEMS.
2010 HILLSBOROUGH MPO JOINT CERTIFICATION.
STAFF EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A INTERIM-YEAR CERTIFICATION 
THAT WAS CONDUCTED JOINTLY WITH THE FDOT.
THE CAC PASSED A MOTION RECOMMENDING THE MPO BOARD 
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO SIGN THE 2010 JOINT CERTIFICATION 
STATEMENT.
ITEM "B" WAS A DRAFT UPWP FISCAL YEAR '11 AND '12.
AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM WAS 
DISTRIBUTED AND REFLECTED CHANGES FROM THE PRIOR MONTHS.
CAC APPROVED THE DRAFT UPWP AND FORWARDED IT TO THE MPO FOR 
YOUR APPROVAL.
JOBS ACCESS AND NEW FREEDOM PROGRAM PROJECT PRIORITIZATION.
THE STAFF PRESENTED AN OVERVIEW OF THE JOBS ACCESS AND 
REVERSE COMMUTE PROGRAM, AND THE TRANSPORT -- THAT PROGRAM 
TRANSPORTS ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS TO AND FROM JOBS 
AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT; AND THE NEW FREEDOM 
PROGRAM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATES FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS.
THE OUTCOME WAS FOUR APPLICANTS WERE DEEMED ELIGIBLE FOR 
THE JARC FUNDS AND SIX FOR THE NEW FREEDOM FUNDS.
AN ESTIMATED 1.5 MILLION IS AVAILABLE IN EACH FUND FOR ALL 
THREE COUNTIES, AND FOLLOWING THE DISCUSSION AND 
CLARIFICATION OF THE ELIGIBILITY OF FUNDING, THE PRIORITY 
RANKING OF PROJECTS WAS APPROVED FOR FORWARDING TO THE MPO.
BUT I MUST TELL YOU THAT WHAT I HEARD JUST A FEW MINUTES 
AGO WE WERE NOT PRIVY TO.
MR. PLOTKIN WAS NOT AT OUR MEETING, THE CAC MEETING.
I THINK IF HE WOULD HAVE, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HEARD WHAT 
MS. CASTELLANO HAD SAID UP HERE, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A 
CHANCE TO HEAR THAT.
I'M NOT SURE IT WOULD HAVE CHANGED OUR OPINION, BUT STILL, 
THAT'S A GOOD PIECE OF INFORMATION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.
ITEM "D" WAS A T.I.P. AMENDMENT.
FDOT STAFF REQUESTED AN AMENDMENT FOR A SIDEWALK PROJECT ON 
DALE MABRY, AND OF COURSE, THE CAC IS ALWAYS BIG ON THE 
SIDEWALKS, SO WE PASSED -- THE CAC APPROVED THE T.I.P. 
AMENDMENT AND FORWARDED IT TO YOU.
A LIST OF STATUS REPORTS.
THE T.I.P. KICKOFF FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 AND '12, DISCUSSION 
ON GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANTS, AND THE PROCESSES THAT THE 
MPO WILL GO THROUGH FOR A GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS, I 
BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I THINK 
THE MPO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF GETTING PUBLIC 
PARTICIPATION.
A PRESENTATION WAS MADE ON HOW EFFECTIVE THE MPO HAS BEEN 
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AT REACHING OUT TO THE PUBLIC FOR 
INPUT ON MPO PLANS AND STUDIES.
AN EXAMPLE OF A VERY SUCCESSFUL APPROACH WERE THE TWO TOWN 
CALL MEETINGS HELD DURING THE LRTP UPDATE.
7,000 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THAT.
UNBELIEVABLE.
GREAT NUMBER.
THE MPO ALSO HELD OVER 200 MEETINGS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT 
THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD.
THAT'S SOME -- WHAT WE BELIEVE IS SOME GREAT ACTIVITY, AND 
WE APPLAUD THE MPO FOR THEIR WORK.
RAIL PURPOSE AND NEEDS, THE MPO STAFF PRESENTED THE NINE 
RAIL CORRIDORS INCLUDED IN THE 2035 LRTP NEEDED TO MEET THE 
LONG-RANGE TRAVEL DEMANDS.
THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE DISCUSSION ON RAIL TO COME.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
MPO STAFF BROUGHT TO THE CAC'S ATTENTION THAT IN MARCH THE 
MPO BOARD APPROVED A T.I.P. AMENDMENT FROM HART TO USE 
800,000 OF PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED TRIP FUNDS TO SUPPORT 
PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING FOR RAIL.
[INCOMPREHENSIBLE] AND TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL 900,000 IN 
TRIP FUNDS.
OTHER BUSINESS.
A REQUEST WAS MADE TO HAVE MAPS ON HAND WHEN MEMBERS 
DISCUSSED -- WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE BRING STUFF TO THE CAC 
AND WE'RE NOT AS KNOWLEDGEABLE AS OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, 
OTHER MPO MEMBERS TRULY, AND THESE -- THESE ARE SOMETIMES 
TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS, AND WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS A MAP 
SHOWING US WHAT THE DATA ACTUALLY IS.
MAYBE WE ALL KNOW DALE MABRY, BUT WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS FOR A 
ROAD OR A SIDEWALK ON DALE MABRY, WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE 
IT IS AND SEE IT ON A MAP SO WE CAN PUT OUR FINGER ON IT.
THAT HASN'T BEEN HAPPENING, BUT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT IF 
AT ALL POSSIBLE.
AND LASTLY, LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
WE'RE ASKING FOR A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
VERY IMPORTANT WITH ALL THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST COUPLE 
MONTHS.
SO WITH THAT, THAT'S BASICALLY THE END OF MY REPORT.
THE NEXT MEETING IS MAY 12th AT 1:15 P.M. IN THE PLANNING 
COMMISSION BOARDROOM.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ANY QUESTIONS OF JOE?
YES, KEVIN.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
MR. AMON, COULD YOU CLARIFY FOR US WHEN WE WERE GOING -- 
TALKING ABOUT THAT -- THE JOBS ACCESS AND NEW FREEDOM 
PROGRAM PRIORITIES, YOUR STATEMENT THAT YOU WERE TALKING 
ABOUT THAT YOU DID NOT HEAR THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE GIVEN 
TODAY, WAS THAT BECAUSE, I MEAN, THERE WAS NOT A 
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THAT GROUP THAT WAS THERE OR WHAT'S --
>> CORRECT.
NORMALLY LEONARD PLOTKIN -- LEONARD IS A VERY ACTIVE OF OUR 
COMMITTEE, AND I'M SURE AS IMPORTANT AS THIS WAS, WE MAY 
HAVE HEARD SOME MORE INFORMATION THAN WHAT WE HEARD, BUT WE 
DID NOT HEAR -- I DIDN'T HEAR AND I'M SITTING IN THE 
MEETING -- THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT MS. CASTELLANO 
PRESENTED, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WILL AFFECT US, BUT IT 
MAY HAVE -- IT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT TO OUR DECISION.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE DATA.
WE DIDN'T HEAR IT THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED THIS MORNING.
THE BOARD -- THE CAC DID VOTE TO PUSH IT -- PUSH THE 
PROGRAM FORWARD EXACTLY THE WAY IT'S PRESENTED, WHICH 
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE UP IN A LITTLE BIT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  WAS THERE SOMEBODY PRESENT THERE TO 
PRESENT IT, OR WAS THE -- I GUESS MY QUESTION --
>> STAFF.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  -- WAS THE OPPORTUNITY THERE, OR WE 
DIDN'T HEAR FROM THE GROUP UP UNTIL THIS POINT?
IS THAT --
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF MR. AMON?
IF NOT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANKS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.
OKAY.
NEXT, NED BAIER FOR THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>>NED BAIER:  GOOD MORNING.
NED BAIER, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PLANNING AND GROWTH 
MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE REPORT FROM THE MPO'S TECHNICAL 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON APRIL 19th WITH THE AGENCY STAFF.
WE REVIEWED YOUR THREE ACTION ITEMS BEFORE YOU TODAY, THE 
FIRST BEING THE MPO ANNUAL CERTIFICATION.
THE MPO STAFF PRESENTED THE RESULTS OF THIS YEAR'S 
CERTIFICATION REVIEW AND SUMMARY OF BEST PRACTICES AND 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS, AND THIS PLANNING PROCESS REVIEW 
IS DONE ANNUALLY TO CERTIFY THAT THE MPO IS IN COMPLIANCE 
WITH FEDERAL AND STATE RULES THROUGH A COOPERATIVE PROCESS 
WITH FDOT DISTRICT 7 AND MPO STAFF.
THE TAC PASSED A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THE MPO BOARD 
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE JOINT CERTIFICATION 
STATEMENT.
THE SECOND ACTION ITEM WAS THE DRAFT UPWP, THE MPO'S WORK 
PROGRAM FOR 2011 AND 2012, AND THE COMMITTEE DID SPEND A 
LOT OF TIME ON -- ON THIS ITEM.
THIS UPWP DOCUMENTS THE FEDERAL- AND STATE-FUNDED PLANNING 
FOR THE MPO, HART, FDOT, AND ALSO DEFINES MAJOR PLANNING 
WORK TASKS THAT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS 3.4 MILLION IN THE 2011 BUDGET 
INCLUDES SOME CARRYOVER MONEY FROM THE PRECEDING YEAR.
THERE WAS A DETAILED DESCRIPTION MADE BY MPO STAFF, 
VIRTUALLY WENT PAGE BY PAGE THROUGH THE WORK PROGRAM, THE 
DIFFERENT PLANNING ITEMS.
A COUPLE OF THE AGENCY COMMENTS INCLUDED THE CITY OF TAMPA 
REQUESTED TRAFFIC COUNTS BE INCLUDED IN SOME TRAFFIC DATA 
INFORMATION THAT WILL BE COLLECTED BY THE MPO.
THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMENTS ALSO REQUESTED FUNDS BE 
CONSIDERED FOR TRAFFIC COUNTING THIS YEAR ON THE COUNTY 
ROADS FOR TRANSPORTATION CONCURRENCY PURPOSES.
THE COUNTY ALSO REQUESTED THAT FUNDS BE CONSIDERED FOR 
WATERBORNE TRANSPORTATION EFFORTS UNDERWAY BY THE CITY AND 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
ALSO THE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT MORE PLANNING FUNDS BE 
INCLUDED FOR COMPLETE STREETS AND OTHER WORKS -- WORK ON 
SIDEWALKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, OTHER INITIATIVES MADE BY 
THE CITY.
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REQUESTED THAT 
ADDITIONAL FUNDS BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS AIR QUALITY AND 
CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENTS THAT THE MPO WILL BE REACTING TO OVER THIS NEXT 
YEAR.
AND THERE WILL BE A COMPLETE REPORT OF THE AGENCY COMMENTS 
DURING YOUR -- DURING YOUR AGENDA ITEM, BUT WE DID PASS A 
MOTION TO CONCUR WITH THE DRAFT UPWP AND JUST FOR YOUR 
CONSIDERATION THE AGENCY COMMENTS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE 
DURING THE REPORT.
THE -- THE FINAL ACTION ITEM WAS THE NEW FREEDOM PROGRAM, 
THE JOBS ACCESS PROGRAM, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT 
ALTHOUGH WE CONCURRED WITH THE -- THE REPORT MADE BY MPO 
STAFF AND ON THE RANKINGS, THE -- THE TECHNICAL STAFF WAS 
NOT REALLY PART OF THE EVALUATION.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE WAS MADE UP 
OF AN MPO STAFF MEMBER OF PINELLAS COUNTY, PASCO COUNTY, 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL PLANNING 
COUNCIL, AND I BELIEVE FDOT, AND THOSE -- THEY REALLY HAD 
THE FULL INFORMATION MADE BY THE AGENCIES AND SO FORTH OF -
- OF THEIR APPLICATIONS AT THE TIME, SO WHILE WE CONCURRED 
WITH THE MPO STAFF PRESENTATION, THEY REVIEWED IN SUMMARY 
THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND WHAT THE PROGRAMS AND WHAT THE 
FUNDS WOULD PAY FOR.
WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THE -- MAYBE THE COMPLETE PICTURE 
THAT THAT EVALUATION COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE HAD AND THE 
COMMENTS, SAY, THAT WERE PRESENTED TODAY FOR YOU.
JUST REAL BRIEFLY, THERE WAS AN OFF-THE-AGENDA ITEM ON AN 
AMENDMENT FOR THE T.I.P., ADVANCING FUNDING FOR SIDEWALK 
IMPROVEMENTS ON DALE MABRY, THAT THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 
THOUGHT WAS A GOOD IDEA, AND WE PASSED A MOTION TO CONCUR 
WITH THAT.
UNDER STATUS REPORTS, PROBABLY THE MOST INTERESTING STATUS 
REPORT WAS THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF RAIL CORRIDORS THAT THE 
MPO STAFF AND THEIR CONSULTANT TEAM HAS PREPARED FOR THE 
NINE TRANSIT CORRIDORS, AND THIS IS ALMOST LIKE A PRE PD&E 
TYPE OF ANALYSIS THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT SOME OF THE 
INITIATIVES RIGHT NOW UNDERWAY BY HART AND TBARTA AND SO 
FORTH ON THE CORRIDORS.
THEY'RE SCREENING OUT SOME OF THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL 
IMPACTS AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF EACH OF THE CORRIDORS 
USING THAT EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION DECISION-MAKING TOOL OR 
ETDM PROCESS.
THE NEXT TECHNICAL COMMITTEE WILL BE ON MAY 17th BEGINNING 
AT 1:30 ON THE 18th FLOOR IN THIS BUILDING, SO THANK YOU 
VERY MUCH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, NED.
ANY -- ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR NED?
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  JUST CURIOUS, MR. CHAIR.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  NED, WHO SITS ON THE TECHNICAL 
COMMITTEE WITH YOU OR ANY --
>>NED BAIER:  WE TYPICALLY HAVE EITHER MANAGERS OR 
DIRECTORS FROM THE AGENCIES, WHICH WOULD BE THE CITIES, 
EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY, FDOT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 
COMMISSION, EPC, AND OTHERS.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  SO AT WHAT LEVEL WOULD THEY COME FROM 
THE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES?
>>NED BAIER:  TYPICALLY I'D SAY MID-MANAGEMENT, AND WE DO 
ON OCCASION HAVE DIRECTORS THAT ATTEND FROM THE AGENCIES.
THE AVIATION AUTHORITY DIRECTOR USUALLY ATTENDS, THE 
EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY PARTICIPATES, AND OTHER AGENCIES.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
IF NOT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NED.
APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND IF YOU WOULD 
LIKE, WE COULD -- WE COULD TAKE BOTH OF THEM AT ONE TIME.
WE'LL NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE IF WE TAKE BOTH, OR WE COULD 
TAKE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AND THE TRANSPORTATION 
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM -- TAKE THEM SEPARATELY, SO IF ANYBODY 
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  MAKE A MOTION TO ACT ON BOTH OF THEM AT 
THE SAME TIME.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MOVED AND SECONDED TO -- OKAY.
WE'LL HAVE TO -- ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
ANY DISCUSSION?
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO DO WE HAVE -- WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  YES.
>> BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  YES.
>> WHEAT.
>>JOHN WHEAT:  YES.
>> AFFRONTI.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>> COUNCILWOMAN SAUL-SENA.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  YES.
>> SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YES.
>> CAETANO.
>>JOSEPH CAETANO:  YES.
>> FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  YES.
>> WAINIO.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  YES.
>> AND WAGGONER.
>>JOE WAGGONER:  YES.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
AND THE MOTION CARRIES 10-0.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR ACTION ITEMS.
WE HAVE ONE THAT WAS PRESENTED BY MR. JOE WAGGONER FROM THE 
EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY, AND WE NEED TO TAKE THAT FIRST 
BECAUSE JOE WILL BE HAVING TO LEAVE EARLIER, SO THERE'S A 
LETTER THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE US APPROVE TO SEND TO 
GOVERNOR CRIST TO VETO A RECENTLY PASSED BILL, SO I'LL ASK 
MR. WAGGONER TO GO AHEAD AND TELL US WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
>>JOE WAGGONER:  THANK YOU, SIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THIS BOARD TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE 
GOVERNOR REQUESTING HIS LINE ITEM VETO OF RECENTLY PASSED 
LEGISLATION THAT TAKES $19 MILLION FROM THEA INTENDED FOR 
THE USE IN OUR REGION.
WE ARE CONCERNED AS MUCH ABOUT THE $19 MILLION AND IT -- 
AND GOING AWAY FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND TAMPA NEEDS AS 
MUCH AS WE ARE ABOUT THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL.
THE LANGUAGE ITSELF SETS SOME WE BELIEVE UNINTENDED 
CONSEQUENCES IN MOTION.
IT REQUIRES THE ADVANCED PAYMENT OF A SUBORDINATED DEBT 
THAT THE AGENCY HAS INCURRED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION, AND THAT DEBT HAS BEEN ACCRUED UNDER THE 
TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THEA AND D.O.T. AND THE TERMS 
OF REPAYMENT OF THAT DEBT ARE LAID OUT IN THAT AGREEMENT AS 
WELL, AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS BASICALLY TAKEN A 
SUBORDINATED DEBT, REALLY A SUPER SUBORDINATED DEBT AND 
MADE IT A CURRENT DEBT.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT ARE THAT IT WILL INCREASE OUR -- 
OUR RISK, OUR CREDIT RISK, WHICH WILL REDUCE OUR CREDIT 
RATINGS, CAUSING US A HIGHER COST OF MONEY, AND IT SETS A 
PRECEDENT STATEWIDE FOR ANY OTHER AGENCY WHO'S IN A SIMILAR 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OR WITH 
OTHER STATE AGENCIES.
IT'S NOT JUST NECESSARILY A TRANSPORTATION RISK.
WHEN CREDIT RATING AGENCIES LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF AN 
AGENCY AND THEIR FLOW OF FUNDS AND WHAT COSTS THEY HAVE TO 
PAY, THESE ARE THINGS THEY CONSIDER, AND THE STATE 
LEGISLATURE TOOK A LONG-TERM DEBT -- AND I WON'T GET INTO 
THE TECHNICALITIES OF EXPLAINING WHAT THAT IS, BUT IT IS A 
VERY SUBORDINATED DEBT, AND THEY SAID INSTEAD OF YOU -- 
THEY PUT IT BASICALLY EVEN IN FRONT OF OUR DEBT SERVICE 
COST BY MAKING THIS DEMAND THAT WE MAKE THE $19-MILLION 
PAYMENT.
THERE ARE BETTER WAYS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND COULD 
BE DONE IF -- IF THE LEGISLATURE OR THE GOVERNOR SO 
DESIRES, BUT THIS PARTICULAR LANGUAGE AND THE $19 MILLION 
IS, WE BELIEVE, THE WRONG -- THE WRONG THING TO DO AND DONE 
IN A WRONG WAY, SO I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO WRITE A LETTER 
TO THE GOVERNOR UNDER THE CHAIRMAN'S SIGNATURE ASKING FOR 
HIS VETO OF THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOE.
COMMENTS.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  YEAH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, MR. SCOTT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  I SECOND THAT MOTION, AND JOE HAS OUTLINED 
THE CRITICAL ISSUES FOR US.
I SERVE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY AS WELL, AND HOPEFULLY 
THAT WE CAN RESOLVE IT THROUGH SOME OTHER MEANS, BUT THIS 
HERE DOES NOT HELP OUR CREDIT RATING FOR FUTURE BONDING 
ISSUES AS WELL AS IT ALSO PUT AT RISK ANY OTHER AGENCY IN 
THE FUTURE TO BE HIJACKED BY THE LEGISLATURE JUST BECAUSE 
YOU GOT MONEY SITTING IN A RESERVE ACCOUNT, SO THAT DOES 
NOT SEND A GOOD MESSAGE, SO I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MORE DISCUSSION?
MR. DINGFELDER.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THANKS, JOE AND TOM, FOR THE UPDATE.
I HAD READ ABOUT THIS, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT ACTUALLY 
HAD PASSED.
BUT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
WHAT -- WHAT IS THE REFERENCE -- THE BILL NUMBER IN CASE WE 
WANT TO SEND OUR OWN E-MAILS?
>>JOE WAGGONER:  I'LL HAVE TO LOOK THAT UP AND GET IT FOR 
YOU.
I JUST BASICALLY HAVE THE LANGUAGE.
THE PORTION THAT CONCERNED ME WAS ALL I PULLED OUT.
I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  OKAY.
WELL, OUR LETTER SHOULD DEFINITELY REFERENCE IT --
>>JOE WAGGONER:  YES, SIR.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  -- AND THEN IF YOU CAN SEND THAT TO US 
INDIVIDUALLY, MAYBE WE CAN SEND OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL LETTERS 
AND E-MAILS.
>>JOE WAGGONER:  THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  WHAT IS THE -- POLITICALLY WHAT IS THE 
LIKELIHOOD OF THE -- OF A VETO?
HAVE YOU GOT THE SCHOOLTEACHERS ONBOARD WITH YOU OR -- 
[LAUGHTER]
>>JOE WAGGONER:  RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT RECRUITING SUPPORT IN 
THIS EFFORT, SIR, AND TIME WILL TELL.
WE HAVE A SHORT WINDOW.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  OKAY.
YEAH, AND THAT WAS ANOTHER POINT THAT -- YOU KNOW, SENDING 
A LETTER, WELL, WE BETTER GET THEIR ATTENTION ANOTHER WAY.
>>JOE WAGGONER:  YES, SIR.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  WHAT'S THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO ON THIS 
FOR THE AGENCY?
DO YOU HAVE THE MONEY IN CASE HE DOESN'T VETO IT AND --
>>JOE WAGGONER:  WE DO HAVE THE MONEY.
THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
THEY SAW THAT WE STILL HAD $69 MILLION IN CASH IN OUR 
ACCOUNTS RIGHT NOW.
IT WAS NOT A RESERVE.
WE HAD A VERY SPECIFIC PLAN OF FINANCE THAT INCORPORATED 
THAT $69 MILLION.
60 OF IT WAS GOING TO GO TO REPAY SOME -- SOME BONDS THAT 
WE INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE R.E.L. REMEDIATION EFFORTS, 
AND IF WE DO THAT, WE CAN BASICALLY RESTRUCTURE FINANCING, 
AND OUR -- OUR DESIRE WAS TO GO AHEAD AND ISSUE NEW BONDS 
AND POTENTIALLY ADD WIDENING TO A 1.4-MILE SECTION OF OUR 
ROADWAY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO UNDERGO TOTAL 
RECONSTRUCTION IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, SO WE HAD A VERY 
SPECIFIC PLAN.
IT'S NOT LIKE THE MONEY WAS JUST LAYING THERE AND WE DIDN'T 
KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
NOBODY FROM THE LEGISLATURE OTHER THAN OUR MEMBERS AFTER 
THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE LANGUAGE ASKED US ABOUT WHAT ARE 
YOU DOING WITH THAT MONEY, WHAT ARE YOUR INTENDED USES WITH 
IT.
THEY ACTED -- IT WAS INTRODUCED AS FAR AS WE KNOW IN A 
VACUUM.
THEY HAD NO CONVERSATION WITH US ABOUT OUR PLANS TO USE 
THOSE FUNDS AND WHAT OUR INTENDED USE WAS.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  AND HOW ABOUT -- I DON'T WANT TO PUT 
THEM ON THE SPOT OVER THERE, BUT HOW ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT, 
HAVE THEY BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU ON THIS?
>>JOE WAGGONER:  THE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARY SKELTON, 
DISTRICT 7, HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH US ON THIS 
PLAN OF FINANCE AND WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.
SECRETARY SKELTON IS ANOTHER MEMBER OF MY BOARD, SO HE'S 
BEEN VERY AWARE OF OUR INTENTIONS.
>>JOHN DINGFELDER:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY OTHER -- YES, MS. SAUL-SENA.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  ON THIS BOARD WE REPRESENT A NUMBER OF 
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY, AND EACH OF US IN OUR BOARD 
MEETINGS LATER THIS WEEK CAN TAKE SIMILAR ACTION TO SUPPORT 
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I THINK YOU'RE CORRECT THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS IMMEDIATELY 
AND IT NEEDS TO COME FROM AS MANY VOICES AS POSSIBLE, AND -
- AND I -- I HOPE THAT THIS IS SUCCESSFUL.
I THINK WE WERE ALL SHOCKED WHEN WE OPENED THE NEWSPAPER 
AND READ ABOUT THIS PROPOSED RAID ON THE EXPRESSWAY 
AUTHORITY WHICH UNDERMINES NOT ONLY THE EXPRESSWAY 
AUTHORITY BUT ANY PUBLICLY FINANCED ENTITY.
IT WAS -- THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS REALLY NOT VERY 
PROFESSIONAL.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY OTHER -- ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>>JOE WAGGONER:  I WILL ADD ONE OTHER THING TO IT --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
>>JOE WAGGONER:  -- TALKING ABOUT THE SESSION IN GENERAL.
I -- EITHER IN THE LETTER OR AS A SEPARATE LETTER, THE 
BOARD MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER ADDRESSING THE $160-MILLION 
SWEEP FROM THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND.
I DON'T KNOW, AND I DOUBT THAT SECRETARY SKELTON KNOWS 
EXACTLY WHAT THE AFFECT OF THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE 
CAPITAL PROGRAM, BUT IT WILL NOT BE INSIGNIFICANT.
OUR PIECE OF LANGUAGE WE ANY IS NOT AS ENCUMBERED IN TERMS 
OF HOW IT'S WOVEN INTO THE BUDGET, SO OURS MIGHT BE EASIER 
FOR THE GOVERNOR TO LINE ITEM VETO.
THE SWEEP MIGHT BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.
NEVERTHELESS, A STATEMENT OF CONCERN OR CONTRARY TO THE 
ACTIONS THEY TOOK COULD BE APPROPRIATE, BUT I'D JUST PUT 
THAT ON THE TABLE FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER AS WELL.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  I THOUGHT WE SENT A LETTER REGARDING THAT 
ISSUE.
>>JOE WAGGONER:  WE DID, AND WHILE THE SWEEP WAS REDUCED -- 
SECRETARY SKELTON IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE TO SPEAK TO 
THIS -- THEY STILL SWEPT $160 MILLION, I BELIEVE, FROM THE 
TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND.
>>DON SKELTON:  YES.
THE CURRENT BUDGET HAS THE CURRENT LANGUAGE MR. WAGGONER IS 
TALKING ABOUT, SWEEPING $160 MILLION FROM THE 
TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND PENDING FEDERAL ACTION ON THE 
MEDICAID BILLS.
IF CONGRESS PASSES PART OF THE MEDICAID AND THAT MONEY 
COMES TO FLORIDA, THEN $40 MILLION WILL BE RETURNED TO THE 
STATE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND, SO IT COULD BE ANYWHERE 
FROM $120- TO $160 MILLION, AND THEN DEPENDING ON, YOU 
KNOW, WHETHER THE $19 MILLION STAYS IN THE IMPLEMENTING -- 
BECAUSE I THINK THAT LANGUAGE IS IN THE IMPLEMENTING BILL -
-
>>JOE WAGGONER:  CORRECT.
>>DON SKELTON:  -- WHICH WILL AFFECT A LOT OF OTHER 
AGENCIES, SO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO 
VETO THAT OR NOT, WE'LL WAIT AND SEE, BUT IF THAT 19 
MILLION COMES OFF OF THAT, THEN THERE WOULD BE $100 
MILLION, BUT EVEN AT $100 MILLION, THAT WOULD IMPACT OUR 
FIVE-YEAR WORK PROGRAM TO ABOUT THE TUNE -- $100 MILLION 
WOULD PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT A $375-MILLION IMPACT ON PROJECTS 
THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
SHOULD WE CONSIDER THAT SENDING ONE LETTER OR TWO SEPARATE 
LETTERS?
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  TWO.
>> I'D SEND TWO SEPARATE LETTERS.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  TWO.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  ONE QUESTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY DID WITH THE SWEEP 
WHERE THEY STARTED WITH A BIG NUMBER AND REDUCED IT, THEY 
DID THE SAME THING FOR YOU, I BELIEVE, THEY STARTED WITH A 
MUCH LARGER NUMBER AND DROPPED IT TO THE 19 MILLION.
I KNOW WHEN IT FIRST POPPED OUT OF THAT BACK ROOM, 
REPRESENTATIVE GLORIOSO AND OTHER LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES 
WERE APPALLED, APPARENTLY, AND WERE PRETTY FORCEFUL ON IT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE THEY COMPROMISED OR 
ARRANGED A LOWER NUMBER THAT WE STILL HAVE OUR LOCAL 
REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTATIVE GLORIOSO AND OTHERS, STILL 
OPPOSING THAT AND -- OR DID THEY GET ONBOARD WITH IT?
>>JOE WAGGONER:  I BELIEVE -- WHILE IT'S HARD TO BE HAPPY 
ABOUT SOMEONE TAKING $19 MILLION FROM YOUR AGENCY THAT YOU 
HAD A SPECIFIC PLAN OF USE FOR, I WAS VERY HAPPY, AND I OWE 
THAT -- WE OWE AS AN AGENCY A GREAT DEAL OF THANKS TO OUR 
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
THEY REALLY -- WHEN THEY SAW THIS, THEY REACTED 
IMMEDIATELY, THEY REACTED STRONGLY.
REPRESENTATIVE GLORIOSO DESERVES A GREAT DEAL OF THANKS FOR 
A LOT OF HARD WORK TO REACH WHAT WAS A COMPROMISE THAT 
GREATLY REDUCED THE POTENTIAL IMPACT.
REPRESENTATIVE WEATHERFORD WAS VERY HELPFUL AS WELL, SO 
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL, AND I THANK RICHARD FOR REMINDING ME 
AND GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO STATE.
THIS I WAS ALL ABOUT JUST GETTING THIS LETTER DONE TODAY, 
BUT THIS AGENCY AND I THINK THIS COUNTY SHOULD RECOGNIZE 
THAT OUR DELEGATION HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS LANGUAGE BEING 
INTRODUCED, AND WHEN THEY FOUND OUT, THEY REACTED SWIFTLY 
AND THEY WERE, AS FAR AS I COULD TELL, IN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT 
OF TRYING TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, AND THEY WERE 
SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT, AND THIS AGENCY IS VERY GRATEFUL 
FOR THAT ACTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ADAM, DO WE NEED -- WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION FOR THE LETTER 
FROM THE EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY -- FOR THE EXPRESSWAY 
AUTHORITY.
>>ADAM GORMLY:  CORRECT.
THAT'S CORRECT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  SO WE NEED ANOTHER MOTION FOR THE OTHER --
>>ADAM GORMLY:  I WOULD SUGGEST YOU VOTE ON THIS MOTION 
THAT'S ON THE FLOOR AND MAKE A SEPARATE MOTION TO ADDRESS 
THE TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENT.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  WHY DON'T YOU JUST AMEND THE MOTION THAT 
WE SEND TWO LETTERS, CAN YOU DO THAT IN JUST ONE VOTE?
>>ADAM GORMLY:  YEAH, THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF THERE'S 
SUFFICIENT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST 
FUND LETTER SHOULD --
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  I'LL SECOND HIS MOTION.
[INAUDIBLE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YOU WANT TO AMEND THAT?
>>JOE WAGGONER:  I CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
I'D REQUEST THE BOARD TO SEND A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR FOR 
A LINE ITEM VETO OF THE LANGUAGE TAKING $19 MILLION AWAY 
FROM THE TAMPA-HILLSBOROUGH EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY.
ALSO REQUEST THE BOARD TO SEND A SEPARATE LETTER TO THE 
GOVERNOR REQUESTING HIS CONSIDERATION OF VETO OF THE 
TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND SWEEP.
>>THOMAS SCOTT:  SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
SO WE'LL ASK MR. CHIARAMONTE TO DRAFT A LETTER AND SEND IT 
TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR 
PROBLEMS WITH IT, PLEASE GET BACK TO HIM.
OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS AN ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF HILLSBOROUGH 
MPO, BETH ALDEN.
>>BETH ALDEN:  GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS.
BETH ALDEN, MPO STAFF, AND I HAVE A BRIEF REPORT FOR YOU ON 
THE ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF THE MPO.
AS YOU KNOW, THE MPO RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDS FOR 
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND MUST CONDUCT THAT 
PLANNING IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
OUR PLANNING ACTIVITIES ARE CERTIFIED EVERY FOUR YEARS IN A 
MAJOR REVIEW BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND 
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION.
IN BETWEEN THOSE MAJOR REVIEWS THERE IS AN ANNUAL 
CERTIFICATION CONDUCTED JOINTLY WITH THE MPO AND THE 
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
OUR REVIEW HAS BEEN DRAFTED THIS YEAR, AND THE D.O.T., 
AFTER REVIEWING OUR RESPONSES TO THREE TO FIVE DIFFERENT 
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS, HAS 
IDENTIFIED SOME BEST PRACTICES AND SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
SUCCESS.
BEST PRACTICES NOTED HAVE TO DO WITH OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH 
EFFORTS, THE MPO'S PROACTIVE EFFORTS TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE 
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, ALSO IN REPORTING IN OUR MONTHLY 
PROGRESS REPORTS OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS DELIVERABLES THAT ARE 
FUNDED BY THE GRANTS, AND FINALLY IN SUPPORTING CORRIDOR 
STUDIES, INCLUDING HART'S LIGHT RAIL CORRIDOR STUDY.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS INCLUDE TAKING A NEW LOOK AT OUR 
CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF 
MONTHS, AND YOU'LL BEGIN TO SEE SOME MAJOR ACTIVITIES 
HAVING TO DO WITH THE CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS UPDATE.
ALSO REPORTING ON OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION MEASURABLES, AND 
I WILL BRING A STATUS REPORT TO YOU ON THAT NEXT MONTH.
SO AT THIS TIME THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO AUTHORIZE THE 
CHAIR TO SIGN THE JOINT CERTIFICATION STATEMENT SO THAT 
THAT CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  THANK YOU, BETH.
MAYOR AFFRONTI IS COMING BACK RIGHT NOW, SO WE CAN ...
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  SHOULD WE ANNOUNCE THAT?
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  YEAH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
I APOLOGIZE.
WE HAVE TWO MORE ACTION ITEMS OR ACTUALLY THREE MORE, AND 
WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A QUORUM IF JOE LEFT, SO THANK YOU, 
JOE, FOR COMING BACK.
OKAY.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  JUST TO MAKE THE BOARD AWARE OF WHAT 
THE ISSUE IS, I GUESS THE MAYOR IS ANNOUNCING A NEW FIRE 
CHIEF, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS -- SOME OF THEM HAD TO LEAVE 
FOR THAT.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  SOME.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY OTHER -- ANY COMMENTS OR --
>>MARK SHARPE:  MOVE APPROVAL.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
OH, WAIT.
WE NEED JOE TO COME BACK AND -- AND MS. FERLITA.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  SHE'S RIGHT HERE.
ROSE, WE NEED YOU TO COME BECAUSE WE NEED TO VOTE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
DISCUSSION?
ANY DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BETH.
>>BETH ALDEN:  THANKS SO MUCH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  SORRY FOR THE MIX-UP.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  SORRY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE DRAFT UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM, 
RANDY KRANJEC.
>>RANDY KRANJEC:  GOOD MORNING.
RANDY KRANJEC, MPO STAFF.
I'M GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU THE DRAFT UNIFIED PLANNING WORK 
PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS, '10-'11 AND '11-'12.
AS YOU KNOW, THESE ARE -- THESE PLANNING FUNCTIONS ARE 
SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL GRANTS PRIMARILY, AND THE UNIFIED 
PLANNING WORK PROGRAM IS BASICALLY THE BLUEPRINT OR THE 
OUTLINE OF WORK FOR THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS FOR THE MPO, 
HART, THE D.O.T. DISTRICT 7, ALONG WITH THE FLORIDA 
COMMISSION FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED.
THE CURRENT DOCUMENT WILL EXPIRE ON JUNE 30th, AND WITH 
YOUR APPROVAL, THIS ONE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON JULY 
31st -- JULY 1st.
HERE'S OUR ANTICIPATED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 AND THEN 
FISCAL YEAR 2012 WITH THE BREAKDOWN IN FEDERAL FUNDING.
WE HAVE, AS YOU'LL SEE THERE, SOME MORE MONEY IN '11, A 
LITTLE IMBALANCE, BECAUSE OF THE DEOBLIGATION MONEY THAT 
YOU ADDRESSED LAST MONTH AND ROLLED FORWARD $500,000 INTO 
NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
SOME OF OUR MAIN TASKS.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE, I'LL BE CERTAINLY 
HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
THESE ARE THINGS YOU SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
HERE IS OUR '10-'11 FUNDING BY TASK, A BREAKDOWN ON HOW THE 
MONEY WILL BE -- HOW IT'LL BE SPENT AND WHAT TYPES OF 
PROJECTS, THE FDOT MONEY, THE HART MONEY, ET CETERA, ET 
CETERA.
SAME THING FOR '11 AND '12.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THIS UPWP IS AN ADOPTING 
RESOLUTION IN THE DOCUMENT AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR TO PURSUE AND APPLY FOR NEW GRANTS WHICH CAN 
HASTEN AND ALLOW US A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN REACTING 
TO SOME GRANT APPLICATIONS AND PURSUING THEM.
AGAIN, THERE IS A LARGE ONE THAT WE WILL MOST LIKELY APPLY 
FOR, I BELIEVE, RAY, THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE 
GRANT UPCOMING, A VERY LARGE GRANT THAT THE MPO WILL 
PARTNER WITH SOME OTHER AGENCIES LOCALLY.
SOME OF THE AGENCY COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED AS WE WENT 
THROUGH THE PRESENTATIONS.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, MR. BAIER MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE 
GOING TO ASSIST THE COUNTY THIS YEAR WITH TRAFFIC COUNT 
DATA COLLECTION.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO WORK WITH THE CITY AS WELL AND -- AND 
INCORPORATE SOME CITY LOCATIONS INTO THAT WORK AS WELL TO 
MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE MOST IMPORTANT LOCATIONS AND 
SPOTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND COUNTY.
WE WILL BE KICKING OFF A WATER TRANSIT FEASIBILITY STUDY 
HERE VERY QUICKLY WITH THE COUNTY STAFF.
WE HAVE -- WE'RE ANTICIPATING APPROVAL OF THAT BY FHWA AND 
FDOT WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.
SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT YOU SEE THERE WERE THE 
WESTSHORE ALLIANCE HAS ASKED FOR SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THE 
MOBILITY PLAN, THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PEDESTRIAN 
PLAN, AND AS YOU'LL SEE SHORTLY, WE ARE GOING TO DO A BIKE 
AND PED PLAN IN THE CITY OF TAMPA THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE, 
THEN, THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP'S REQUEST INTO THAT WORK.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO ASSIST HART WITH THEIR WORK ON NEW STARTS 
AND STATION AREA PLANNING.
THERE YOU SEE ON THE TOP RIGHT A COMPLETE STREETS 
INITIATIVE THAT WE'LL WORK WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA ON, THE 
TAMPA PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING PLAN.
AIR QUALITY AGAIN WILL BECOME AN ISSUE, AND I THINK YOU'LL 
HEAR A BRIEF REPORT ON THAT FURTHER ON DOWN THE AGENDA.
SOME OF OUR OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS.
AND SO WE TOOK THIS BEFORE ALL THE COMMITTEES, THE 
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE TECHNICAL 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE 
LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE, AND AS YOU HEARD PREVIOUSLY, 
BOTH THE TAC ON APRIL 19th AND THE CAC ON APRIL 14th 
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AND FORWARDING IT ON TO THE MPO BOARD 
FOR YOUR APPROVAL AS WELL.
THERE ARE AGENCY COMMENTS IN THE BACK OF THE DOCUMENT FROM 
FHWA AND FDOT, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, AND WE'VE 
ALREADY GOTTEN A RESPONSE BACK FROM FHWA THAT OUR COMMENTS 
WERE -- WERE GOOD AND THEY APPRECIATED THEM, AND WE 
APPRECIATED THEIR COMMENTS, SO WITH THAT, WE ASK THAT YOU 
WOULD APPROVE THE UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM FOR FISCAL 
YEARS '10-'11 AND 2011-2012.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MR. KRANJEC?
YES, MS. SAUL-SENA.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  THANK YOU.
NOT A COMMENT, JUST IT'S VERY COMPLETE.
I'M SPECIFICALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN 
SAFETY WAS SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED IN THIS.
WE'LL REFER TO IT LATER IN OUR -- IN OUR COMMITTEE REPORT, 
BUT IT'S REALLY KEY.
WE'RE MAKING ALL THESE WONDERFUL INVESTMENTS IN SYSTEMS, 
BUT IF WE DON'T EDUCATE THE PUBLIC SO THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE 
WALKING OR BICYCLING, OUR INVESTMENTS ARE IN VAIN, SO IT 
NEEDS TO ALL WORK TOGETHER, BUT YOU-ALL SPECIFICALLY 
IDENTIFIED THIS IN THE UPWP, WHICH IS GREAT.
THANKS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
WE NEED A MOTION.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO MOVE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MOVED -- MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OKAY.
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, SIR.
OKAY.
WE HAVE JOBS ACCESS AND NEW FREEDOM PROGRAM PRIORITIES, 
MICHELE OGILVIE.
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  THANK YOU.
MICHELE OGILVIE, MPO STAFF.
BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING IS THE -- ARE THE RECOMMENDED 
RANKINGS FOR FUNDING OF PROGRAMS FOR THE JOB ACCESS REVERSE 
COMMUTE FUNDING CYCLE AS WELL AS NEW FREEDOM.
THIS COMES OUT OF YOUR ACTIONS IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR WITH 
THE TRICOUNTY ACCESS PLAN, WHICH IS PART OF THE SAFETEA-LU 
LEGISLATION.
THE TRICOUNTY ACCESS PLAN IS ALSO KNOWN IN THAT LEGISLATION 
AS THE LOCALLY COORDINATED HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION 
PLAN, AND WITH IT COMES FUNDING FOR THESE TWO PROGRAMS.
THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH A PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 
PROCESS, A TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ANALYSIS, AND A 
PRIORITIZATION THAT IS THEN USED.
THE PLAN GOALS ARE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION 
SERVICES TO EMPLOYMENT FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, TO 
IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO INCREASE INTEGRATION OF 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE WORKFORCE AND TO FULLY 
PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY, TO REMOVE DUPLICATIONS OF SERVICES 
AND TO MAXIMIZE FUNDING.
ALSO IN THIS PLAN OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE SAFETY THROUGH 
PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES, TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR 
ELDERLY AND DISABLED PERSONS, AND ALSO TO INCREASE HOUSING 
AND EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS BY ENSURING THAT THERE IS 
TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIVITY.
FIVE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THAT PLAN, FIRST ONE 
BEING LIMITED EVENING AND WEEKEND SERVICE FOR BUSES, A LACK 
OF EDUCATION ON AVAILABLE SERVICES, VERY LITTLE INTERCOUNTY 
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES.
THERE WAS A NEED FOR MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN 
GENERAL, INCLUDING THE LONGER SPAN OF SERVICES, MORE ROUTES 
-- IN HERE IT'S LOOPING BACK TO THE FIRST NEED OR ISSUE -- 
AND NOT ENOUGH PARATRANSIT SERVICE FOR SHOPPING, 
RECREATION, AND EMPLOYMENT TRIPS.
IN IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN, IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR A 
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WAS ISSUED BY PINELLAS COUNTY, 
HILLSBOROUGH, AND PASCO CALLING FOR SERVICES AND PROPOSALS 
THAT WOULD FULFILL THIS PLAN.
IN MARCH, VERY EARLY, I THINK IT WAS MARCH 4th OF 2010, 
STAFF REVIEWED THE APPLICATIONS THAT CAME IN.
THERE WERE FOUR FOR JOB ACCESS AND EIGHT FOR NEW FREEDOM.
STAFF REVIEWERS INCLUDED THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION STAFF, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MPO STAFF, PASCO 
COUNTY, PINELLAS COUNTY MPOs, AND THE TAMPA BAY REGIONAL 
PLANNING COUNCIL STAFF MEMBER.
THE CRITERIA ON WHICH THE REVIEW FOR THESE 12 APPLICATIONS 
WAS DONE IS, FIRST OF ALL, DID IT COINCIDE WITH A PLAN 
STRATEGY, DID IT FULFILL A STRATEGY, DID IT DEFINE AN 
OPERATIONAL PLAN THAT WAS TRULY SUPPORTED THROUGH ITS 
FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES, WAS IT COST-EFFECTIVE, DID IT PLAN 
FOR MEASURABLE EFFECTIVENESS, DID IT HAVE A BACKUP PLAN 
THAT COULD HELP IT IF, SAY, WE WERE COMPLETE IN THIS WAY 
BUT WE MESSED UP IN THIS WAY, ARE WE TRULY READY TO RECEIVE 
THE FUNDING REQUESTED?
IN DOING THIS ANALYSIS, THE JOB HOUSING ACCESS PROJECTS 
THAT WERE AWARDED OR RECOMMENDED, EXCUSE ME, FOR 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ARE HART TO DEAL WITH THE LATE NIGHT 
AND WEEKEND SERVICES ON ROUTES THAT ARE OUTLINED IN YOUR 
REPORT AND FOR THE SUNSHINE LINE TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND ITS 
SERVICES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORK-RELATED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS 
JOB TRAINING AND INTERVIEWS.
AND NOW FOR THE BIG ONE.
THE NEW FREEDOM PROJECTS FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THERE 
WERE THREE THAT WERE AWARDED.
THE TWO WERE IMMEDIATELY DISMISSED FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO 
MEET THE STANDARDS, AND STAFF DID PUT THOSE OUT, SO THERE 
WERE EIGHT, BUT NOW THERE ARE SIX THAT WERE RANKED.
THE TRAVEL TRAINER FOR HART IN BILINGUAL LANGUAGES WAS THE 
HART PROPOSAL, AND THAT WAS RANKED FOURTH, AND THE FIFTH 
RANKING WAS TO CONSTRUCT APPROXIMATELY 25 ADA-COMPLIANT 
LANDING PADS AND SHELTERS AT BUS STOPS WHICH WOULD FULFILL 
EXISTING SIDEWALKS AND ALLOW FOR MUCH MORE TRANSPORTATION 
CONNECTIONS FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE DISABILITIES OR WHO MAY 
HAVE OTHER ISSUES.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ONE DID RANK FIFTH.
AND THEN THE QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD OF, WAS 
RANKED SIXTH.
THE FUNDING LEVELS ARE 1.5 MILLION FOR EACH, AND THE 
RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF WAS THAT THE -- ALL PROJECTS IN 
JARC SHOULD BE AWARDED.
IT IS AN ESTIMATE, WE ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY 
IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT 
THIS TIME, AND I BELIEVE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO THE PROGRAM 
MANAGER, WHO IS PINELLAS COUNTY, WILL HAVE THAT ANSWER FROM 
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
NEW FREEDOM ALSO ABOUT $1.5 MILLION, AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED 
THAT THE FIVE -- THAT THE PROJECT MANAGER MOVE FORWARD IN 
NEGOTIATING WITH THE TOP FIVE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS FOR 
FUNDING.
THE MPO COMMITTEES HEARD THIS RECOMMENDATION.
AS YOU'VE HEARD ALREADY FROM THE CAC AND TAC, THEY DID 
ENDORSE THIS.
THEY DID NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF QUALITY OF LIFE 
REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION TO THE -- TO 
THESE COMMITTEES, BUT THE TD BOARD DID, AND THEY WERE 
ACTUALLY THE LAST BOARD TO HEAR THE -- THIS RECOMMENDATION 
AND PROJECTS.
THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO ENDORSE ALL THE JARC RANKINGS, 
AND THEY DID ASK -- AND I WILL READ, IF MR. CHAIRMAN WILL 
ALLOW ME TO STEAL HIS THUNDER FOR THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT, 
EXACTLY WHAT THE TD BOARD DID ASK THE MPOs TO CONSIDER THIS 
MORNING.
THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THEY REQUEST THE EVALUATION 
COMMITTEE REEXAMINE THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS AWARDED AND CONSIDER 
A SMALLER OR PILOT PROJECT FOR THE SIXTH-RANKED PROJECT, 
WHICH WILL INCLUDE PROVIDING ACTUALLY INCREASED OR NEW 
TRIPS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT YOU DO 
SUPPORT THE RANKINGS.
OUT OF SIX THREE ARE COMING TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
IT IS CERTAINLY UP TO THE BOARD TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
THEY DO HAVE -- YOU DO HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE TD 
BOARD IN WHICH TO MAKE THAT -- YOU CAN EMBRACE THAT.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO PINELLAS COUNTY'S ADMINISTRATOR.
THEY ARE AWARE OF WHAT THE TD BOARD IS RECOMMENDING AND IS 
WILLING TO HEAR AND TO CERTAINLY FIND WAYS TO HELP THE 
QUALITY OF LIFE APPLICATION GET SOME FUNDING.
THE FIRST FUND -- I'M TOLD THAT THE FIRST FUNDING -- THE 
NUMBER ONE IN THE NEW FREEDOM OUT OF PASCO COUNTY BEGAN AS 
A PILOT PROJECT, SO THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE 
CONSIDERATION OF THE HILLSBOROUGH MPO'S MOTION, WHICHEVER 
YOU -- WHICHEVER WAY YOU WISH TO GO ON THIS PROJECT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, MICHELE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MICHELE?
YES.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  THANK YOU.
IN REVIEWING THIS, IT'S NOT TREMENDOUSLY CLEAR TO ME WHICH 
OF THESE PROGRAMS IS IN HILLSBOROUGH AND WHICH ONES ARE IN 
OTHER COMMUNITIES.
THE NUMBER ONE, BAY CARE BEHAVIORAL --
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  BAY CARE IS IN PASCO COUNTY.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  OKAY.
WHEN WE GET THESE IN THE FUTURE, COULD THERE BE AN 
INDICATION OF WHERE THE REQUESTS ARE FROM, BECAUSE 
HONESTLY, IT SOUNDS TREMENDOUSLY REDUNDANT, BUT IF YOU 
REALIZE THAT THEY'RE SERVING DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, THEN IT 
MAKES SENSE, WHY THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT -- THREE 
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  YES, MA'AM.
CERTAINLY.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
IF NOT, WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE --
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  OR COULD WE MODIFY IT?
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YEAH, WELL, IF YOU WANT TO MODIFY IT, MAKE 
A MOTION TO MODIFY IT.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  THE ISSUES BROUGHT UP EARLIER INDICATE 
THAT IN ADDITION TO SPENDING MONEY ON HARDWARE AND TRAINING 
THAT WE SHOULD ALSO SPEND MONEY ON ADDITIONAL TRIPS, AND SO 
THAT'S THE CONSIDERATION.
I'D REALLY LIKE -- SINCE I'M NEWLY BACK ON THE MPO, I'D 
RATHER HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES AS TO YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YES, ROSE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  JUST SIMPLY BACK AND REFERRING TO MS. 
CASTELLANO'S COMMENTS AND MR. AMON'S COMMENTS AS WELL, I'M 
NOT SURE AT THE TIME THAT HER GROUP REPRESENTED OR DID NOT 
REPRESENT FULLY, WAS THAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- TO BID 
FOR -- FOR CONSIDERATION OR -- OR -- I MEAN -- WHAT SHE 
SAID AND I THINK WHERE MR. BECKNER WAS GOING IS SIMILAR TO 
A BID PROTEST.
I MEAN --
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  YES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  -- WAS THAT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS 
AFFORDED TO THEM WHERE THEY COULD HAVE EXPANDED ON WHAT 
THEIR SERVICES WOULD BE AND WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE 
FOR CONSIDERATION?
IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THAT IS MISSING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF 
MS. CASTELLANO REPRESENTED THAT GROUP OR SOMEONE ELSE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS WAS FAIR AND THAT 
THEY WERE AFFORDED, IN FACT, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT 
THEY COULD DO SO -- SO THAT THAT COMMITTEE COULD HAVE ALL 
THE FACTS BEFORE THEM BEFORE THEY AWARDED THE RANKING.
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  THE -- THE COMMITTEE BEING THE CAC OR 
THE -- THE STAFF?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WELL, HE BROUGHT IT UP FOR CAC, BUT I 
GUESS WE COULD EXPAND THAT QUESTION TO BOTH.
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE WERE NEUTRAL, 
THE STAFF.
WE HAVE MADE A RECOMMENDATION.
CERTAINLY THE -- ALL THE -- THE APPLICANTS SHOULD HAVE THE 
SAME OPPORTUNITY.
MS. CASTELLANO, AS A MEMBER OF THE TD BOARD, HAS -- 
CERTAINLY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE TD BOARD AND 
DID SO.
MR. PLOTKIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE CAC.
HE WAS ALSO PART OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE APPLICATION AND 
COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO THE CAC AT THAT TIME BUT WAS NOT ABLE 
TO.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  WHY NOT?
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  HE WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE MEETING.
HE WAS NOT --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  LINDA, CAN I WEIGH IN ONE MORE QUESTION, 
AND THEN YOU CAN TAKE OVER IF YOU'D LIKE.
ALL I THINK -- AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A DEBATE BACK 
AND FORTH, BUT I DO WANT TO ASK MS. CASTELLANO A QUESTION 
IF YOU'LL COME FORWARD.
WAS THE ISSUE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF 
OPINION ON THE DESCRIPTION OF HOW THESE DOLLARS SHOULD BE 
SPENT?
>> CAN I JUST CLARIFY ONE THING ABOUT --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WOULD YOU PULL THAT MICROPHONE CLOSER?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I DIDN'T MEAN FOR YOU TO SIT DOWN.
I'M SORRY.
>> CAN I CLARIFY SOMETHING ABOUT THE TWO MISSED ADVISORY 
COMMITTEES?
WE HAD GONE TO THE PINELLAS MPO, AND THERE WAS NO ROAD MAP 
SAYING EXACTLY WHAT DIRECTION ALL THESE -- THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS WERE GOING TO GO IN, SO WHEN WE WENT TO THE 
PINELLAS MPO, SHE WASN'T REALLY SURE EITHER, I DON'T -- I'M 
NOT REAL SURE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT IN HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY.
SO REALLY WE WERE NEW OUT OF THE BOX AND STRUGGLED WITH 
REALLY TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT DIRECTION WE SHOULD GO IN, AND 
WE LITERALLY MISSED THOSE MEETINGS.
THERE WAS NOTHING -- AGAIN, THERE WAS NO ROAD MAP THAT SAID 
THIS IS WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO, THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO 
GO, OR AT LEAST WE DIDN'T FIND ONE, SO WE WERE NOT PRESENT 
AT THOSE MEETINGS FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN WE JUST DIDN'T 
KNOW ABOUT THEM TO BE THERE, AND ONCE -- WHEN WE FINALLY 
FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON OR -- AGAIN, NO APOLOGIES I 
SHOULDN'T BE MAKING, BUT THEN WE STARTED FOLLOWING THE 
ROUTE, AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT TO THE TD BOARD MEETING AND 
NOW THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY OTHER --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  LET'S JUST SEE WHAT HER ANSWER IS, JOE.
GO AHEAD.
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  MS. FERLITA, THIS IS THE BOARD THAT 
MAKES THE FORMAL RECOMMENDATION TO THE MPO IN PINELLAS 
COUNTY.
CERTAINLY THE OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN AVAILED TO THE 
APPLICANT, AND SHE'S TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT 
OPPORTUNITY, AND SO YOU DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO MAKE 
THE DECISION HAVING HAD --
>>ROSE FERLITA:  WELL, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT CERTAINLY 
WE DON'T -- WHEN WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TO OVERRIDE 
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, WE DON'T DO IT LIGHTLY, SO JUST 
BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS COME IN HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE 
OPPORTUNITY OR WHETHER THEY WERE AWARE OR NOT AWARE, I HAVE 
TO SAY THAT OTHER APPLICANTS WERE THERE, AND --
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  NO.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  NO ONE WAS THERE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS OR 
PRESENTATIONS?
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  NO, MA'AM.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  SO YOU-ALL JUST USED WHATEVER INFORMATION 
YOU HAD TO DETERMINE YOUR --
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  -- YOUR PROCESS.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION?
>>ROSE FERLITA:  YEAH, GO AHEAD.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MR. CHIARAMONTE.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  MICHELE, THE TD BOARD'S AND THE STAFF'S 
RECOMMENDATION ARE THE SAME OR IS THERE A DIFFERENCE 
BETWEEN WHAT THE TD BOARD RECOMMENDED?
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  THE TD BOARD WOULD LIKE THE MPO BOARD 
TO CONSIDER ACCEPTING A RECOMMENDATION TO PINELLAS COUNTY 
THAT THEY FIND A WAY TO FUND THE QUALITY OF LIFE 
APPLICATION.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  OKAY.
SO IT WOULD SIMPLY BE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS BOARD TO 
PINELLAS COUNTY TO CONSIDER --
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  YES.
THEY WANT TO HEAR THAT.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  NO.
WELL, THEN, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING --
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  YES, MA'AM.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  -- I DON'T HAVE ANY -- I THINK ANYTHING 
PINELLAS CAN KICK IN IN TERMS OF PRICE IS OKAY WITH ME.
YEAH, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I'LL MAKE THAT -- OR I'LL SECOND IT.
FINE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MICHELE.
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  THANK YOU, SIR.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE HAVE STATUS REPORTS THAT WE HAVE --
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  [INAUDIBLE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  YOU WANT TO MOVE THIS BACK UP?
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  YEAH.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY REFERENDUM, LUCIA GARSYS -- GARSYS.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M LUCIA GARSYS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR 
PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE YOU WHERE 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ARE ON THE 
REFERENDUM, AND AS PART OF YOUR PACKAGE, YOU HAVE THREE KEY 
INGREDIENTS THAT WILL BE THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ON MAY THE 
13th.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS SCHEDULED A PUBLIC 
HEARING MAY 13th IN THE EVENING AT 6:00 P.M. AT ALL PEOPLES 
LIFE CENTER.
THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR THE ORDINANCE WHICH 
WILL ACTUALLY BE THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS THE 
BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE REFERENDUM, SO 
THE BOARD WILL BE HEARING THAT ON MAY 13th.
AS WELL, ON MAY 13th THE BOARD WILL HEAR AND RECEIVE 
INTERLOCAL -- AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT IS BEING 
CIRCULATED BY -- CIRCULATED TO ALL OF THE JURISDICTIONS, SO 
THAT INCLUDES PLANT CITY, TEMPLE TERRACE, AND THE CITY OF 
TAMPA FOR SIGNATURE AND EXECUTION AS WELL AS HART.
ALL OF THOSE FOUR ENTITIES ARE SIGNING IT NOW.
IT WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE BOARD FOR EXECUTION ON MAY -- 
ON MAY 13th AS WELL.
THAT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS THE INSTRUMENT WHEREBY THE 
RELATIONSHIPS ARE DISCUSSED AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE 
FUNDS, THE 25% AND THE 75% IN THE PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN 
IDENTIFIED IN MOVING THE PROJECTS ALONG.
IN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THERE'S REFERENCE TO TWO ITEMS.
ONE IS CALLED THE TRANSIT PLAN -- IT HAS A LONGER NAME -- 
AND ANOTHER ONE IS THE ROAD PLAN.
AS PART OF YOUR PACKAGE, ALSO YOU HAVE THE ROAD PLAN THAT 
ALSO IDENTIFIES THE TEN-YEAR PROJECTS, WHICH PROJECTS WOULD 
BE UNDERTAKEN IN THE FIRST TEN-YEAR PERIOD BASED ON THE 
CASH FLOW AND THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS, THE REVENUE 
DISTRIBUTION THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE INTERLOCAL 
AGREEMENT.
THAT ROAD PLAN, LET ME JUST SAY, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED -- HAS 
BEEN HEARD IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO EIGHT OR NINE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WE'VE WORKED WITH MPO STAFF AND LOOKED AT THE PRIORITIES OF 
MPO, AND IN ADDITION, A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS HAVE BEEN 
IDENTIFIED ON THAT -- ON THAT ROAD PLAN, AND NUMBER ONE IS 
THAT ALL PROJECTS THAT WERE DEVELOPER FUNDED HAVE BEEN 
REMOVED FROM THAT ROAD PLAN.
AS WELL THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT HAS LANGUAGE IN IT THAT 
SPECIFICALLY INDICATES THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE 
STEPS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER IF THERE WERE EXTENUATING 
CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS ROAD PLAN TO INCLUDE 
ANY PROJECTS THAT MIGHT HAVE DEVELOPER FUNDING.
IT IS -- THERE ARE MULTIPLE STEPS, FIVE HURDLES THAT WOULD 
HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED AND PASSED BEFORE THERE WOULD BE ANY 
ACTION TO LOOK AT ANY DEVELOPER-FUNDED PROJECTS, SO WE 
BELIEVE THE SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
THERE -- AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, 
TRAILS HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY REMOVED FROM THE PLAN AND 
REPLACED WITH SOME ENHANCED -- SOME ENHANCED PAVED 
SHOULDERS, AND THAT IS REALLY A -- A RESTRICTION THAT WE 
HAVE WITH THIS LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE USING, THE SURTAX 
LEGISLATION.
I THINK I'VE HIT ON THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE KEY THINGS, 
THREE -- THREE KEY INGREDIENTS, AN ORDINANCE, AN INTERLOCAL 
AGREEMENT, AND THEN A ROAD AND TRANSIT PROJECT LIST.
MAY 13th, 6:00, ALL PEOPLES CENTER IS THE KEY TIME, AND 
WE'RE MOVING AHEAD AND WE'RE MAKING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A 
SIGNIFICANT CROWD AT THAT MEETING.
I WILL STOP AND JUST ASK IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS 
BECAUSE I THINK THAT MAY BE A BETTER WAY TO NOW PROCEED AND 
SEE IF IT THERE'S ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT YOUR BOARD MIGHT 
HAVE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, LUCIA.
OKAY.
MS. SAUL-SENA.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  I HAVE A QUESTION.
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE MPO TO -- AND I'VE BEEN 
AWAY -- BUT TO OFFICIALLY ENDORSE THIS AND ENCOURAGE THE 
COUNTY COMMISSION'S SWIFT ACTION ON THIS?
I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
I'LL MAKE THAT AS A MOTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO ENDORSE -- WRITE A LETTER AND ENDORSE 
THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE.
>>LUCIA GARSYS:  YES.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  I'LL SECOND THAT IF I DON'T HAVE A 
CONFLICT OF INTEREST [INAUDIBLE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ADAM.
>>ADAM GORMLY:  I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT WOULD POSE A -- A 
CONFLICT FOR YOU TO VOTE ON THAT MOTION.
IT DOESN'T INURE TO YOUR PRIVATE GAIN OR LOSS.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  ONLY THE QUALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I DON'T WANT TO THROW A WRENCH INTO THIS, 
BUT THAT MEANS WE COULD ENDORSE THE LETTER AND NOT SUPPORT 
THE REFERENDUM?
>>ADAM GORMLY:  THAT'S CORRECT.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  SURE.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  OKAY.
THAT SENDS A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S HAPPENING, BUT I'M JUST --
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  I'M NOT SURE, WHAT IS THIS LETTER GOING 
TO SAY?
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  IT'S GOING TO SAY WE ENDORSE THE 
PROPOSED REFERENDUM.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  JUST TO GIVE THE BOARD SOME COMFORT, 
OUR MPO PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED THAT WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY 
DID HAVE THE PENNY SALES TAX IN IT AS A FUNDING SOURCE, SO 
YOU WOULDN'T BE TAKING AN ACTION INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT 
YOU'VE DONE BEFORE.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING JUST SIMPLY THAT 
THAT REFERENDUM FOR THE PENNY SALES TAX GET PUT ON A 
BALLOT?
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  CORRECT.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  THAT'S -- YEAH.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  CORRECT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, LUCIA.
OKAY.
AIR QUALITY UPDATE AND REVISION OF THE CRITERIA, REGINALD 
SANFORD.
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  GOOD MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  GOOD MORNING.
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
REGGIE SANFORD, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION STAFF.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL REALLY BE AN UPDATE OF 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL AIR 
QUALITY STANDARDS.
IF I MAY TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN, PLEASE.
LET'S BEGIN WITH WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
IT'S BEEN LONG ESTABLISHED THAT EVEN SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE TO 
AIR POLLUTION CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS RESPIRATORY AND 
CARDIOVASCULAR ILLNESSES.
POLLUTION BLOCKS AIR AND VASCULAR PASSAGEWAYS AND IRRITATES 
SENSITIVE TISSUE.
THAT BEING SAID, EPA HAS ESTABLISHED STANDARDS FOR THE 
EMISSIONS OF AIR POLLUTANTS WITH THE GOAL TO BETTER PROTECT 
PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH IS WHY EPA REQUIRES ENVIRONMENTAL 
PROTECTION COMMISSION TO MONITOR FOR CERTAIN POLLUTANTS 
THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON 
OUR HEALTH.
IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY EPC DOES THE MONITORING THROUGH A 
NETWORK OF AIR MONITORS THAT ARE STRATEGICALLY PLACED IN 
VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE CONSTANTLY EVALUATE OUR PLACEMENT OF THESE MONITORS.
WE MONITOR FOR THE SIX POLLUTANTS ON YOUR LEFT.
LATER I'LL SPEAK ABOUT PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE FEDERAL 
STANDARDS OF SEVERAL OF THESE POLLUTANTS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY AN AIR QUALITY MONITORING STATION HERE.
EPA CONSIDERS WHETHER AN AREA IS MEETING THE FEDERAL 
STANDARDS AND DESIGNATES ITS COMPLIANCE AS EITHER ATTAINING 
THE STANDARDS, MAINTAINING THEM, OR VARYING DEGREES OF NOT 
ATTAINING THEM.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE TABLE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS 
ATTAINING FOUR OF THE STANDARDS, BUT WE ARE FAILING TO MEET 
THE STANDARDS SET FOR OZONE AND LEAD.
EPA IS IN THE PROCESS OF REVISING THE OZONE STANDARD TO 
MAKE IT EVEN MORE STRINGENT.
GROUND-LEVEL OZONE IS NOT EMITTED DIRECTLY INTO THE AIR.
ACTUALLY IT'S -- IT'S A CHEMICAL TRANSFORMATION THAT OCCURS 
WHEN NITROGEN AND VOLATILE ORGANICS ARE COMBINED AND REACT 
IN THE PRESENCE OF SUNLIGHT.
THE SOURCES OF THESE CHEMICALS ARE GENERALLY INDUSTRIAL 
FACILITIES, THE VEHICLES THAT WE DRIVE, AND SOME CHEMICAL 
SOLVENTS.
THE GREATEST TIME OF CONCERN FOR HIGH OZONE LEVELS ARE IN 
THE SPRINGTIME AND ALSO IN THE SUMMER.
NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO EPA REALIZED THE HEALTH RAMIFICATIONS 
OF HIGH OZONE LEVELS AND SET A STANDARD BASED ON THE HEALTH 
STUDIES AT THAT TIME.
AS -- AS THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF OZONE BECAME BETTER 
UNDERSTOOD, EPA REFINED THOSE STANDARDS AND THE STANDARDS 
ACTUALLY BECAME MORE RESTRICTIVE.
THE CURRENT STANDARD FOR OZONE IS 75 PARTS PER BILLION OVER 
AN EIGHT-HOUR PERIOD.
EPA WILL BE LOWERING THAT STANDARD TO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 60 
AND 70 PARTS PER BILLION.
I MIGHT JUST SAY LOCALLY WE'VE SEEN MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN THE 
OZONE-FORMING CHEMICALS.
THIS IS IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE REFUELING OF THE OLD TECO 
GANNON PLANT, SO WHEN THEY WENT FROM BURNING COAL TO 
NATURAL GAS, THAT MADE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN THE OZONE -- 
IN OUR OZONE LEVELS HERE LOCALLY, BUT EVEN WITH THAT, WE'RE 
STILL FALLING SHORT OF THE 75 PART PER BILLION STANDARD.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S NOT ATTAINING THE STANDARD, BUT 
NEITHER ARE SEVERAL OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
PRESENTLY THERE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN COUNTIES 
THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS.
IF EPA WERE TO REDUCE THE STANDARD OR LOWER THE STANDARD TO 
70 PARTS PER BILLION, YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS MAP HERE 
THERE'LL PROBABLY BE ABOUT 15 COUNTIES THAT WILL BE 
NONATTAINING.
IF THEY WERE TO FURTHER REDUCE IT TO 65 PARTS PER BILLION, 
YOU'LL VIRTUALLY HAVE THREE-QUARTERS OF THE STATE THAT 
WOULD FALL INTO OZONE NONATTAINMENT.
SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A NONATTAINMENT DESIGNATION?
FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THAT THE STATE -- THAT WOULD BE THE 
STATE DEP -- SUBMIT A CLEANUP PLAN.
THIS PLAN WOULD BE A BLUEPRINT FOR DEMONSTRATING HOW THE 
COUNTY WILL MEET THE NEW STANDARD.
THE PLAN IS USUALLY A COMBINATION OF CONTROLS AND 
REGULATIONS.
THIS MPO BOARD WILL BE REQUIRED TO CAREFULLY EXAMINE ALL 
AIR QUALITY -- I'M SORRY, ALL TRANSPORTATION PLANS FOR AIR 
QUALITY BENEFIT.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS CALLED A CONFORMITY 
PROCESS.
THIS IS BASICALLY A COMPUTER MODELING EXERCISE THAT WOULD 
HAVE TO BE CONDUCTED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT NEW OR EXPANDED 
ROADS WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE STATE PLAN.
STATION AREA AIR POLLUTION SOURCES SUCH AS INDUSTRIES COULD 
BE REQUIRED TO HAVE -- INSTALL MORE COSTLY CONTROLS, AND 
ONCE AGAIN, THIS AREA WOULD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CMAQ 
FUNDS.
THAT STANDS FOR CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY.
THOSE FUNDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR TRANSPORTATION-RELATED 
PROJECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO OUR AIR QUALITY.
HERE'S THE IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE FOR THE NEW STANDARD.
THE OZONE STANDARD WOULD GO FINAL IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
STATE DEP WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHICH COUNTIES 
SHOULD BE NONATTAINING BY NEXT JANUARY, AND THE 
DESIGNATIONS WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE NEXT AUGUST.
TWO YEARS LATER AFTER THAT, IN 2013, THE STATE WOULD HAVE 
TO SUBMIT THEIR CLEANUP PLAN.
APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO EPA LOWERED THE STANDARD FOR 
LEAD.
THEY'RE ALSO BRINGING ABOUT CHANGES TO THE WAY THAT WE 
MONITOR FOR LEAD.
IN THE PAST, PROBABLY IN THE LATE '70s, OUR GASOLINE 
CONTAINED, YOU KNOW, HIGH QUANTITIES, HIGH AMOUNTS OF LEAD, 
AND THAT WAS PHASED OUT.
NOW THE MAJOR SOURCES OF LEAD ARE INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES.
LEAD IS A CONTAMINANT, IT'S A HAZARDOUS POLLUTANT, AND 
THERE ARE NO SAFE LEVELS OF LEAD IN THE BODY, AND CHILDREN 
SUFFER THE MOST FROM IT.
THE PICTURE AT THE RIGHT IS ACTUALLY A -- AN X-RAY OF A 
PATIENT THAT HAS HIGH LEAD LEVELS.
THE DARK OUTLINE IS LEAD BUILDUP IN THE BONES.
EPA IS NOT PROPOSING TO FURTHER CHANGE THE LEAD STANDARD, 
BUT THEY ARE RECOMMENDING THAT MONITORS BE PLACED AT 
SOURCES THAT EMIT AT LEAST A HALF A TON OF LEAD PER YEAR.
THE IMPACT ON US WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO 
PLACE MONITORS AROUND THE SINGLE BATTERY MANUFACTURER IN 
THE COUNTY.
THAT WOULD BE JOHNSON CONTROLS.
WITH THESE NEW LEAD REQUIREMENTS, EPA IS ALSO PROPOSING TO 
TREAT SMALL AIRPORTS THE SAME AS OTHER LEAD SOURCES BECAUSE 
A SMALL AIRPORT, THE FUEL THAT POWERS THESE PISTON-DRIVEN 
ENGINES STILL CONTAINS LEAD, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE 
DON'T EXPECT IT TO AFFECT ANY OF THE AIRPORTS IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
IN FACT, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CLOSEST AIRPORT THAT MIGHT 
BE IMPACTED BY THIS NEW STANDARD WOULD BE IN THE DAYTONA 
BEACH AREA.
THIS IS OUR CURRENT LEAD MONITORING NETWORK.
IT'S -- KIND OF SURROUNDS A COMPANY CALLED ENVIROFOCUS.
THEY ARE A SECONDARY LEAD SMELTER.
THEY ARE -- THEY TAKE LEAD AND -- LIKE LEAD BATTERIES AND 
RECYCLE IT.
WE ARE EXPECTING TO ADD SIX ADDITIONAL MONITORS BECAUSE OF 
THE CHANGES IN THE STANDARDS.
IT'S GOING TO COST MONEY TO DO THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO 
SEEK FEDERAL FUNDING TO PAY FOR IT.
AND THE FINAL STANDARD THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY IS 
FOR PARTICULATE MATTER.
MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY REFER TO IT AS DUST.
I'D LIKE TO SHOW THIS SLIDE TO PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THE 
SIZE OF PARTICLES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS A MAGNIFICATION OF A SINGLE HUMAN HAIR.
THE SIZE PARTICLE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS PM 2.5 
MICRONS HERE IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN 5% OF THE DIAMETER OF A 
SINGLE PARTICLE OF HAIR.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  WOW.
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  THIS IS HOW SMALL A PARTICLE WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT.
THE PROBLEM WITH SMALL PARTICULATES IS THEY BECOME DEEPLY 
EMBEDDED IN OUR LUNGS AND THEY CAN HAVE TOXICS AND 
DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ALSO.
IF WE WERE TO TAKE THE PROPOSED STANDARD AND KIND OF 
OVERLAY IT ON SOME RECENT DATA, WE'LL SEE THAT IN GENERAL 
WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW PARTICULATE MATTER 
STANDARD.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION WOULD PROBABLY BE HERE IN 2007.
YOU CAN SEE THAT JUST ABOUT ALL THE MONITORS THAT WE HAD 
WOULD HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXCEEDING THE PROPOSED STANDARD.
THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAD A LA NINA WEATHER YEAR.
THE CONDITIONS WERE VERY DRY, AND WE ALSO HAD THE FLORIDA 
FIRES THAT WERE GOING ON THAT YEAR.
EPA HAS DEVISED A WAY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO GET DAILY 
AIR POLLUTION INFORMATION.
IT'S CALLED THE AIR QUALITY INDEX.
IT'S GENERATED FROM COLLECTED MONITORING DATA THAT WE 
RECEIVE ON THE -- AT OUR MONITORS.
THERE WAS IN AN EARLIER SLIDE.
AND WHAT THEY DO, THEY TAKE THE DATA AND THEY TRY TO 
SYNTHESIZE IT INTO A SINGLE NUMBER, SO IF THE DATA WERE TO 
FALL WITHIN ONE AND 50, WE WOULD KNOW THAT THE QUALITY 
WOULD BE GOOD.
IF WE LOOK BACK AT 2009, WE CAN SEE THAT MOST DAYS OUR AIR 
QUALITY IS GOOD.
IT'S ONLY MAYBE A SMALL PERCENTAGE -- WELL, A FRACTION THAT 
IT'S CONSIDERED MODERATE, AND FROM TIME TO TIME IT'S 
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ALSO MENTION THAT YOU CAN CALL THE AIR 
QUALITY INDEX NUMBER HERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE, AND 
WE ALSO REPORT IT TO THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES.
IF YOU LOOK ON THE BACK -- THE BACK SECTION OF THE SPORTS, 
YOU'LL SEE THE AIR QUALITY INDEX REPORTED THERE, AND IT'S 
ALSO REPORTED NATIONALLY IN "USA TODAY."
ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY OUR EPC MONITORING 
STAFF.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION SOME OF THE LOCAL 
EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING ON.
I KNOW WE DIDN'T INCLUDE GREENHOUSE GASES AS PART OF 
TODAY'S DISCUSSION, BUT I WANTED TO MENTION SOME OF THE 
THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IN COORDINATION WITH 
COMMISSIONER FERLITA'S OFFICE.
THE COMMISSIONER HAS ESTABLISHED A WORK GROUP TO LOOK AT 
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE OUR COMMUNITY'S ENERGY USE AND FURTHER 
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
THE GROUP ENCOURAGES THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS.
THEY SPONSORED AN ENERGY FORUM THIS PAST JANUARY, AND THEY 
HAD A NICE TURNOUT, APPROXIMATELY 175 PEOPLE, AND THROUGH 
OUR COORDINATION WITH THAT GROUP, WE'VE ESTABLISHED AN 
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, AND THAT OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED 
USING FEDERAL FUNDS.
AND LASTLY, EPC IS HOSTING THE CLEAN AIR FAIR.
IT'S AN ANNUAL EVENT.
IT WILL BE LOCATED AT POLK -- I'M SORRY, POE PLAZA, 
DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
IT'LL BE THIS THURSDAY FROM 11:30 TO 1:30, AND WE HOPE AND 
ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO COME DOWN AND VISIT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF VISITORS.
WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM WORKING ON IT.
AND THAT PRETTY MUCH CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION FOR TODAY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, MR. SANFORD.
ANY QUESTIONS?
YES, MR. BECKNER.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  THANK YOU, MR. SANFORD.
A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  SURE.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  IS THERE ANY -- HAVE WE IDENTIFIED ANY 
MAIN REASONS WHY OUR REGION OR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS NOT 
MEETING THE STANDARDS FOR OZONE AND LEAD?
I MEAN, IS THERE ANYTHING YOUR AGENCY CAN POINT DIRECTLY TO 
SAY THIS IS WHY WE'RE NOT MEETING THOSE STANDARDS?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  WELL, I GUESS TO LOOK BACK 
HISTORICALLY, THE CLEANUP THAT OCCURRED AT TAMPA ELECTRIC 
COMPANY WAS MAJOR FOR THIS AREA, AND THAT HELPED REDUCE OUR 
LEVELS GREATLY.
THE PROBLEM NOT JUST IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, BUT THERE ARE 
PROBABLY 300 COUNTIES NATIONWIDE THAT WILL FAIL TO MEET THE 
NEW OZONE STANDARD, AND THAT'S BECAUSE EPA IS LOWERING THE 
BAR, SO ALTHOUGH WE'RE DOING THINGS LOCALLY TO IMPROVE OUR 
AIR QUALITY, THE STANDARD BECOMES MORE RESTRICTIVE BECAUSE 
THEY'RE LOWERING THE BAR.
AS FAR AS LEAD GOES, THE ONLY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE ARE 
AROUND THE SECONDARY SMELTER THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT, AND 
THEY'VE GOT SOME MAJOR WORK GOING ON THERE WHERE THEY'RE 
BASICALLY ENCAPSULATING THE WHOLE FACILITY, AND THAT WORK 
SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS, SO ONCE 
THAT IS DONE, WE EXPECT TO HAVE -- TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH 
THE LEAD STANDARD.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  OKAY.
NOW LET ME ASK A QUESTION AS I REPRESENT THREE DIFFERENT 
AGENCIES HERE.
FROM THE MPO'S STANDPOINT, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO 
OR SHOULD CONSIDER IN OUR LONG-TERM PLANNING THAT COULD 
REDUCE OR HELP US COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE OZONE AND 
THE -- OR THE LEAD STANDARDS?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  I WOULD SAY FOR -- FOR THIS MPO AND 
ALSO ALL THE MPOs ACROSS THE NATION, THE GOVERNMENT IS 
PUTTING AIR QUALITY AT A PREMIUM, SO AS PLANS COME THROUGH, 
I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, TAKE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE 
AIR QUALITY, YOU KNOW, BENEFIT OF THOSE PLANS.
THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT STAFF WILL GIVE TO YOU, AND 
THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT THE CONFORMITY PROCESS 
REQUIRES.
IT HAS TO BE DONE BECAUSE NO -- NEITHER THE LONG-RANGE 
PLAN, THE -- THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN, OR ANY OF 
THOSE PLANS CAN BE APPROVED UNLESS THEY PASS, YOU KNOW, THE 
AIR QUALITY TEST.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  AND WHAT ABOUT FROM THE EPC'S STANDPOINT, 
IS THERE ANYTHING AS THE EPC BOARD WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING 
OR LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING POLICYWISE OR DOING SOMETHING 
THAT WOULD HELP THAT?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  WELL, I GUESS I REALLY COULDN'T SPEAK 
FROM THE STANDPOINT OF RECOMMENDING POLICY, I'LL LEAVE THAT 
TO MY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BUT WE WILL BE COMING TO OUR 
BOARD MEMBERS IN THE COMING MONTHS AS THINGS BECOME MORE 
FINITE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN THE MONTHS 
COMING IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THE FEDERAL -
- THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND 
THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES TO DECIDE WHICH TYPES OF 
PROJECTS OR IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES ARE BEST FOR -- FOR 
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, INCLUDING HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
SO WE JUST LOOK TO GIVE YOU-ALL UPDATES ALONG THE WAY AND 
LOOK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THOSE 
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES ARE.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  ALL RIGHT.
AND THE LAST HAT, AS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I 
GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER FERLITA, 
WHO I THINK HAS DONE SOME TREMENDOUS THINGS IN MOVING 
FORWARD AND LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND SUCH.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE AS A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 
THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT STANDS OUT TO YOU TO 
ADDRESS MEETING THOSE STANDARDS?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  I WOULD SAY PROMOTING CLEAN FUELS, 
PROMOTING ENERGY CONSERVATION TYPE THINGS FROM THE 
STANDPOINT OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AND ALSO PROMOTING IT TO 
THE GENERAL PUBLIC BECAUSE A LOT OF THE, YOU KNOW, 
POLLUTION THAT WE HAVE IS KIND OF DRIVEN BY OUR PERSONAL 
PRACTICES, AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE COULD DO TO, 
YOU KNOW, HELP OURSELVES OUT INDIVIDUALLY, SAVE OURSELVES 
MONEY, AND ALSO SAVE FROM POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT.
>>KEVIN BECKNER:  GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  YOU'RE WELCOME.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
YES.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  GO AHEAD.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  I JUST WANTED TO SAY I THINK THIS MPO 
IN ADOPTING A PLAN THAT'S VERY MULTIMODAL IN DIRECTION LAST 
DECEMBER MADE A HUGE STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF DEALING WITH 
THE ISSUES THAT REGGIE'S BROUGHT UP SINCE IT HAS SUCH A 
MUCH BIGGER TRANSIT COMPONENT THAN WE'VE HAD BEFORE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MS. FERLITA.
>>ROSE FERLITA:  I JUST WANT TO FIRST THANK YOU, KEVIN, FOR 
THOSE COMMENTS, AND I REALLY WOULD BE REMISS IF I JUST SAT 
HERE AND TOOK THAT COMPLIMENT WITHOUT EXTENDING IT TO THE 
PEOPLE THAT REALLY HAVE DONE THE WORK.
THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE ON THAT ENERGY GROUP IS 
CONTINUING TO EXPAND AND EXPAND AND EXPAND.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK NEXT BOCC MEETING, NOT 
TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING 
AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO AND 
EXPAND THOSE EFFORTS REGIONALLY.
I KNOW MR. BECKNER SITS ON THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, AND HE 
KNOWS WE HAVE SPOKEN TO MR. PUMARIEGA AND ARE COMING 
FORWARD WITH AN ISSUE THAT IS EXPANDING IN TERMS OF 
REGIONAL PARTICIPATION, SO IT CONTINUES TO GROW, AND THERE 
ARE MANY, MANY PLAYERS IN LOOKING AT OTHER THINGS IN TERMS 
OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, SO THANKS TO EPC.
THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS, AND THAT WHOLE GROUP IS JUST 
PHENOMENAL.
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MR. WAINIO.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  SEVERAL THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE ALL OBVIOUSLY WANT A 
COUNTY THAT MEETS ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND IN FACT 
EXCEEDS AND IS BETTER THAN -- THAN -- THAN THE STANDARDS.
THERE'S NOTHING PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT TO US THAN -- THAN 
HAVING A CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
THAT -- THAT SAID, WE ALSO WANT TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE 
BUSINESS INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND WE WANT TO CREATE AN 
ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CERTAIN TYPES OF INDUSTRIES CAN -- CAN 
FLOURISH.
WE HAVE SOME PRETTY STRICT STANDARDS HERE IN THIS COUNTY 
NOW.
IN FACT, SOME OF OUR STANDARDS SEEM TO BE -- AT A COUNTY 
LEVEL ARE MORE STRICT THAN NEARBY COUNTIES, AND THAT MAKES 
IT DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO COMPETE IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES.
I HAVE A PARTICULAR QUESTION, THOUGH.
YOU SAID THAT WE APPARENTLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM NOW WITH 
PARTICULATES, WITH SMALL PARTICLES WITH -- THAT ISSUE?
THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM?
WE ARE OKAY?
AND IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENS THOSE STANDARDS 
THAT WE STILL WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM AS A COUNTY, IF I 
UNDERSTOOD THAT CORRECT, BUT TAKING THAT TO A DIFFERENT 
LEVEL, ARE THERE PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES AND PARTICULAR TYPES 
OF ACTIVITIES THAT -- THAT MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE 
STRICTER STANDARDS?
AND I'M OBVIOUSLY TALKING DIRECTLY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF 
MANY OF THOSE INDUSTRIES THAT -- THAT WE SUPPORT AT THE 
PORT, CEMENT, AGGREGATE LIMESTONE, ALL OF THESE INDUSTRIES 
THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE 
REGION, THE STATE, THE COUNTY.
WE AT TIMES HAVE A GOOD DEAL OF TROUBLE TRYING TO -- TO GET 
PERMITS AND MEET -- MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.
IS ANYTHING HAPPENING HERE THAT THAT'S GOING -- THAT'S 
GOING TO MAKE THAT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR THESE -- FOR 
THESE COMPANIES?
AND -- AND LASTLY, IF -- IF THESE NEW RULES GO INTO EFFECT, 
WILL THE REQUIREMENTS BE THE SAME FOR A COMPANY THAT'S IN 
EXISTENCE NOW VERSUS A NEW COMPANY THAT'S COMING IN, OR 
WILL THERE BE SOME GRANDFATHERING?
WILL THERE BE ANY DIFFERENT TIMETABLE FOR A -- YOU KNOW, A 
COMPANY THAT'S ALREADY HERE TO MODIFY ITS ACTIVITIES IF IT 
HAS TO, OR WILL IT APPLY TO NEW COMPANIES PRIMARILY?
HOW DO YOU SEE THIS PLAYING OUT?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  WELL, IT'S OUR ESTIMATION THAT WE 
SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PARTICULATE -- THE 
PARTICULATE STANDARD.
I GUESS ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION IN THE PRESENTATION 
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GET REALLY WORDY, BUT THERE IS AN 
AREA IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY -- IF WERE YOU TO LOOK AT THE 
MAP, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE CENTER PORTION OF HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY, THAT IS DESIGNATED AS MAINTENANCE BY THE STATE 
ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL 
PROTECTION, SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THAT MAINTENANCE DESIGNATION.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT -- YOU KNOW, THAT 
REALLY CAN'T BE CHANGED BECAUSE IT'S IN OUR MAINTENANCE 
PLAN FOR PARTICULATE MATTER.
AS FAR AS ANY NEW REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY COME DOWN THE PIKE, 
THOSE WOULD BE DEVELOPED BY THE FDEP IN CONSULTATION AND 
COORDINATION WITH LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES SUCH AS 
OURS.
ACTUALLY, THE LAST TIME WHEN WE WERE IN NONATTAINMENT IN 
THE EARLY '90s, THEY CONSULTED WITH TRANSIT, THEY CONSULTED 
WITH MPO BOARDS ACROSS THE STATE, SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT -- 
WE'RE NOT ENOUGH INTO THE PROCESS TO KNOW WHAT THOSE FINAL 
REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO BE.
WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS GOING TO BE ANY GRANDFATHERING, I 
REALLY COULDN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A QUESTION -- IT WOULD HAVE TO BE 
ADDRESSED BY SOMEONE FROM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
BUT THERE COULD BE NEW CONTROLS PLACED ON INDUSTRY AS FAR 
AS OZONE GOES BECAUSE OZONE IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE NOT 
ATTAINING RIGHT NOW.
I WOULDN'T ANTICIPATE WE WOULD HAVE ANY NEW CONTROLS ON 
PARTICULATE MATTER SOURCES UNLESS WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS 
WITH PARTICULATE MATTER AND MAINTAINING THE PARTICULATE 
STANDARD.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THOSE WERE EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  MARK HAS A QUESTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WHAT?
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  I THINK MARK.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
YES, MR. --
>>MARK SHARPE:  SO FOR 2011, NONATTAINMENT, WHAT ARE WE AT 
RISK OF FINDING OURSELVES IN NONATTAINMENT FOR?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  IN 2011 WE WILL BE IN NONATTAINMENT 
FOR OZONE AND ALSO WE'LL HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO OUR 
LEAD MONITORING, AND WE EXPECT TO BE NONATTAINMENT FOR LEAD 
ALSO.
THE LEAD HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED YET.
THE OZONE WE'RE SURE ABOUT.
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
AND THE IMPACT ON OUR COUNTY WITH REGARD TO NONATTAINMENT 
FOR OZONE, ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT WE GET THIS 
NONATTAINMENT STATUS, WHAT -- IS THERE -- IS THERE A -- IS 
THERE AN IMPACT?
I MEAN, FOR INSTANCE, LET'S JUST SAY THAT WE -- WE -- WE'RE 
IN NONATTAINMENT AND WE DECIDE THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO 
TO -- WELL, FIRST OFF, WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE OZONE -- OUR 
NONATTAINMENT?
WHAT'S THE SINGULAR LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR 
NONATTAINMENT FOR OZONE?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  LOCALLY -- AND IT DEPENDS ON THE 
REGION, BUT LOCALLY THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OR 
CONTRIBUTING SECTORS TO OUR NONATTAINMENT ARE THREE 
CATEGORIES, INDUSTRIAL SOURCES, MOBILE SOURCES, AND THEN 
SOMETHING CALLED AREA SOURCES, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW -- AREA 
SOURCES ARE LIKE OUR LAWN MOWERS, YOU KNOW, SPRAY PAINT 
FACILITIES THAT GENERATE A LOT OF CHEMICALS JUST BASED ON 
THE SHEER VOLUME, SO IF YOU WERE TO TAKE THE ENTIRE GROUP 
OF CHEMICALS, YOU COULD SPLIT IT UP INTO THOSE THREE 
SECTORS.
NOW, COMMISSIONER SHARPE, I THINK YOU WERE MAYBE GETTING AT 
SOME OF THE REPERCUSSIONS OF HAVING THAT NONATTAINMENT 
DESIGNATION.
I GUESS IN THEORY IT COULD DISSUADE, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN 
BUSINESSES FROM MOVING TO OR RELOCATING TO HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IF THEY'RE AN AIR POLLUTION 
SOURCE, THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO INSTALL MORE COSTLY 
CONTROLS, SO, YOU KNOW, IN THEORY, A BUSINESS COULD GO TO A 
COUNTY THAT WASN'T HAVING AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS AND THEY 
COULD OPERATE AT A LOWER EXPENSE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WOULD IT IN ANY WAY EFFECT THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT'S FUNDING OF ANY OF OUR FUTURE ROAD PROJECTS IF 
WE WERE TO HAVE -- IF WE WERE TO BE IN NONATTAINMENT AND WE 
DID NOT HAVE A SUITABLE OR ADEQUATE TRANSIT PLAN FOR 
MITIGATION OF CONGESTION?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  IF WE WERE TO BE NONATTAINMENT AND NOT 
PROPERLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM ON A -- ON AN IDENTIFIED 
SCHEDULE, IT COULD AFFECT FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WOULD BE 
RECEIVED FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
NOW, IT'S NOT THE TYPE OF THING THAT EPA DOES, YOU KNOW, 
JUST FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
IT'S A SITUATION WHERE THEY WORK WITH COMMUNITIES IF THEY 
CAN'T DEMONSTRATE, YOU KNOW, AN ADEQUATE PLAN TO COME BACK 
INTO ATTAINMENT.
IT HAPPENED -- ACTUALLY HAPPENED UP IN ATLANTA AFTER THE 
'96 OLYMPICS.
THEY HAD PLANS THAT DIDN'T CONFORM TO THE AIR QUALITY 
GOALS, SO THERE WAS A PERIOD THERE WHERE THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT WENT TO THE 
GREATER METROPOLITAN ATLANTA AREA.
>>MARK SHARPE:  YOU KNOW, THIS -- THIS MPO TOOK AS ONE OF 
ITS TOP PRIORITIES THE -- THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE 
CROSSTOWN AND I-4 TO TRY TO GET THE TRUCKS, 10,000 TRUCKS A 
DAY, OFF THE LOCAL STREETS AND KIND OF FACILITATE THE 
MOVEMENT OF TRUCKS FROM THE PORT OUT TO THE REGION.
IF YOU HAVE A BOTTLENECK OF TRUCKS PUMPING CO2 INTO THE 
ATMOSPHERE, DOES THAT WORSEN OR -- OUR ABILITY TO MEET 
THE -- OUR -- TO MEET THE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  IDLING TRAFFIC IS A CONTRIBUTOR TO AIR 
POLLUTION.
THE IDEA IS TO, NUMBER ONE, REDUCE THE TRAFFIC FROM THE 
ROAD, YOU KNOW, REDUCE TOTAL --
>>MARK SHARPE:  WE HAVE AN IDLING PROBLEM HERE IN 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
I KNOW THAT WE DON'T SEEM TO RANK VERY WELL WHEN YOU LOOK 
AT FORBES AND OTHER -- OTHER -- EVEN THE TEXAS 
TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE RANKED US 11th WORST OUT OF 90 
METROPOLITAN AREAS FOR CONGESTION, BUT I'M WONDERING, DO 
YOU THINK IN ANY WAY OUR LOW -- LOW STANDARD FOR TRANSIT 
CONTRIBUTES TO -- TO CONGESTION AND THAT IN ANY WAY 
CONTRIBUTES TO THIS NONATTAINMENT?
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  WELL, I CAN'T SAY WHETHER OR NOT WE 
HAVE AN IDLING PROBLEM BASED ON STUDIES, THOSE STUDIES 
BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, BUT I CAN SAY IN GENERAL IF 
YOU HAVE SINGLE-OCCUPANT VEHICLES, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE 
DRIVING THEIR OWN CAR AS OPPOSED OF TRIP CHAINING OR 
COMBINING MORE PEOPLE INTO A SINGLE VEHICLE, THAT WOULD BE 
THE OPTIMAL THING.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  JUST VERY QUICKLY.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE BOARD HOW IT IMPACTED THE MPO 
DIRECTLY IS THAT OUR PLAN WOULD HAVE TO BE UPDATED EVERY 
FOUR YEARS INSTEAD OF EVERY FIVE YEARS WHEN WE FALL OUT OF 
NONATTAINMENT, SO THAT'S AN EFFECT THAT'S IMMEDIATE ON US.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>>MARK SHARPE:  THANK YOU.
THAT'S A VERY GOOD REPORT.
THANK YOU, SIR.
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  THANK YOU, MR. SHARPE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL KEEP US POSTED IN 
THE FUTURE AS TO ANY CHANGES OR ANY ADDITIONS OR WHATEVER 
TO THE REGULATIONS SO WE'LL BE KEPT ABREAST OF --
>>REGINALD SANFORD:  WE WILL, AND WE THANK YOU FOR HAVING 
US HERE TODAY.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
NEXT IS THE GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT SELECTION PROCESS, 
SUZI DIERINGER.
>>SUZI DIERINGER:  YES, GOOD MORNING.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT 
PROCESS WE'RE UNDERGOING AS WE SPEAK, BUT FIRST LET ME TELL 
YOU WHAT GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANTS ARE.
THEY ASSIST MPO STAFF.
THOSE ARE WHEN -- WHEN WE HIRE CONSULTANTS TO DO PROJECTS 
FOR US, THEY'RE ASSISTING US ON THE TASKS IDENTIFIED IN THE 
UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM.
THEY ALSO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT -- WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE 
THE EXPERTISE IN CERTAIN AREAS -- AND THEN THEY PROVIDE 
GENERAL PLANNING SUPPORT.
WE ARE SHORT-STAFFED AT TIMES, AND SO THEY'RE JUST HELPFUL 
TO AID STAFF.
THE LAST SELECTION PROCESS WAS DONE IN 2005.
WE PICKED THREE CONSULTANTS FOR TWO-YEAR CONTRACTS, WHICH 
WERE EXTENDABLE IN ONE-YEAR INCREMENTS FOR UP TO FIVE 
YEARS.
ALL THREE OF THOSE CONSULTANTS WERE EXTENDED, AND THEY'RE 
ALL DUE TO EXPIRE THIS FALL.
SO WE'VE BEGUN THE SELECTION PROCESS BY PUTTING AN AD IN 
THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
IT APPEARED IN THE APRIL 16th WEEK.
WE'VE ASKED FOR A LETTER OF RESPONSE FROM THOSE FIRMS 
INTERESTED IN BEING ONE OF THE POTENTIALS TO BE SELECTED.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET A LOT OF RESPONSES, AND FROM THAT WE 
WILL NARROW IT DOWN TO TEN OR LESS FIRMS.
THAT'S THE SHORTLIST.
ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, WE MAY ASK THOSE FIRMS TO COME BACK 
AND DO A WRITTEN PROPOSAL AND GIVE AN ORAL -- OR MAYBE DO 
BOTH -- GIVE AN ORAL PRESENTATION, AND THAT'S HOW WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO NARROW DOWN UNTIL WE MAKE THE FINAL SELECTION.
SINCE WE USE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS, WE DO FOLLOW A 
STATE AND FEDERAL PROCESS, MAKING SURE TO FOLLOW ALL THE 
RULES SO THAT ALL FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR USE FOR THE 
CONSULTANTS.
WHO ULTIMATELY SELECTS WILL BE YOU.
THE MPO BOARD MAKES THE FINAL DECISION ON WHICH CONSULTANTS 
ARE SELECTED; HOWEVER, WE DO FORM A COMMITTEE, A SELECTION 
COMMITTEE, THAT WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU.
THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WILL BE MADE UP OF STAFF FROM 
THE MPO, AND THEY HAVE NOT -- THIS COMMITTEE HAS NOT BEEN 
FORMED YET, BUT I SUSPECT IT'LL HAVE MEMBERS OF THE MPO 
STAFF, SOME OF THE AGENCIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED ON THIS 
BOARD AS WELL.
THERE IS A SPECIFIC EVALUATION CRITERIA THAT'S USED TO RANK 
EACH STEP OF THE PROCESS, AND THE COMMITTEE MAKES THAT 
FINAL RECOMMENDATION, WHICH I WILL BRING BACK TO YOU AT 
YOUR AUGUST MEETING.
AT THAT POINT WE MAKE TECHNICAL AND FEE NEGOTIATIONS WITH 
THE SELECTED CONSULTANTS, AND THAT TAKES ABOUT A MONTH, 
MAYBE TWO MONTHS, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE ALL OUR NEW 
CONSULTANTS ONBOARD BY THE SEPTEMBER TIME FRAME WHEN THE 
OTHERS EXPIRE.
JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  ANY QUESTIONS?
ANY COMMENTS?
IF NOT, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM KICKOFF, WALLY BLAIN.
>>WALLY BLAIN:  GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WALLY BLAIN, MPO STAFF.
BECAUSE OF THE TIME, I'M GOING TO CUT MY PRESENTATION SHORT 
AND IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT.
THIS IS A PROCESS THAT WE BEGAN SOMETIME AGO LAST YEAR WHEN 
WE LOOKED AT THE T.I.P. PRIORITY PROCESS AND HOW WE RANKED 
PROJECTS AND HOW WE TOOK APPLICATIONS AND SET PRIORITIES 
FOR FUNDING AND SPENDING.
WORKING WITH D.O.T. AND OUR COMMITTEE STAFFS, LAST YEAR WE 
CAME UP WITH A NEW PROCESS WHERE ONCE THE LONG-RANGE 
PROCESS WAS ADOPTED, WE WOULD USE THE PRIORITIES COMING OUT 
OF THE LONG-RANGE PLAN TO DEVELOP PRIORITIES FOR THE 
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET IS THREE DIFFERENT TABLES 
SUMMARIZING THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE LONG-RANGE 
TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
THOSE THREE PROJECTS HIGHLIGHT PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE 
STATE'S STRATEGIC INTERMODAL SYSTEM.
THAT SYSTEM IS A SYSTEM THAT WE COORDINATE AS THE MPO WITH 
D.O.T. THAT HAS STATEWIDE PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING.
THE NEXT LIST IS SURFACE ARTERIALS THAT ARE NON -- SURFACE 
ARTERIALS, BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS, AND TRANSIT 
PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT ON THE STATE'S STRATEGIC INTERMODAL 
SYSTEM.
THIS WOULD BE THE REMAINDER OF THE OTHER STATE ARTERIALS 
WHERE WE COORDINATE WITH D.O.T. AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL 
MONEY THAT COMES IN THAT THE MPO ULTIMATELY SETS PRIORITY 
FOR.
THE THIRD TABLE IS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT 
PROGRAM.
THESE ARE -- IT'S A SPECIFIC CALL-DOWN IN THE FEDERAL 
LEGISLATION ABOUT WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT 
PROJECT IS, SO THESE ARE THOSE PROJECTS THAT IN THE PLAN 
WE'VE IDENTIFIED WOULD BE FUNDED OUT OF THE TRANSPORTATION 
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
JUST TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU WHAT YOU DON'T SEE ON THESE 
PRIORITY LISTS BUT ARE INCLUDED IN THE LONG-RANGE PLAN, AND 
THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED FROM LOCAL SOURCES.
AS THE MPO, WE COORDINATE THAT AS WELL, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE 
A REQUIREMENT TO SET PRIORITIES FOR THOSE, SO WE WORK WITH 
THE LOCAL AGENCIES ON PUTTING THOSE PROJECTS IN THE LONG-
RANGE PLAN AND SHOWING THOSE IN THE TRANSPORTATION 
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BASED ON THE LOCAL AGENCY CAPITAL 
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROCESS.
SO YOU WON'T SEE A LOT OF THOSE LOCALLY FUNDED PROJECTS IN 
HERE JUST IN CASE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THEM.
THE WAY THIS WORKS NOW, WE WILL TAKE THESE LISTS AND 
COORDINATE IT WITH OUR PARTNERING AGENCIES THROUGH THE 
SUMMER AND DEVELOP PRIORITIES FOR SPENDING FOR THE 
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
SO IT WILL BE BASED ON THE LONG-RANGE PLAN PROGRAM, LONG-
RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN PRIORITIES, BUT IF THERE'S 
PROJECTS THAT THE LOCAL AGENCIES ARE WORKING ON AND CAN 
ADVANCE AND GET DONE SOONER, THEN CERTAINLY THAT WOULD TAKE 
A HIGHER PRIORITY AND GET DONE SOONER THAN OTHERS.
SO WE WILL BRING THIS LIST OF PRIORITIES BACK TO YOU IN 
SEPTEMBER FOR YOUR ADOPTION AT A PUBLIC HEARING AND 
APPROVAL.
THEN IT WILL BE SENT TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION FOR PROGRAMMING OF THOSE PRIORITIES.
SO IF -- WITH THAT, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN ADDRESS 
THOSE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, WALLY.
ANY QUESTIONS OF WALLY?
IF NOT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>WALLY BLAIN:  THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANKS, WALLY.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT, LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE, MS. SAUL-
SENA.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE MET ON APRIL 28th.
WE HEARD THE T.I.P. REPORT THAT WALLY JUST REFERRED TO, AND 
WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENHANCEMENT FUNDING AS THE 
TERM USED TO DISCUSS BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS 
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO SEEM AS IF IT WAS SOMETHING 
THAT WAS PERIPHERAL AND NOT CENTRAL, AND PART OF OUR 
DISCUSSION -- AND I'D LIKE PERHAPS FOR OUR NEXT MEETING TO 
SHARE THIS WITH ALL OF YOU.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, RAY LAHOOD, CAME OUT 
WITH A NEW STATEMENT IN MARCH THAT WAS SIGNED AND PASSED 
ALONG TO EVERYONE.
IT'S A POLICY STATEMENT, AND IT SAYS THAT IT'S FDOT 
POLICY -- NOT FDOT, THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION POLICY TO INCORPORATE SAFE AND CONVENIENT 
WALKING AND BICYCLING FACILITIES INTO TRANSPORTATION 
PROJECTS, AND EVERY TRANSPORTATION AGENCY HAS A 
RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
THIS, AND ONE OF THE QUOTES IN HERE, WHICH WAS INTERESTING, 
IS, CONSIDERING WALKING AND BICYCLING AS EQUALS WITH OTHER 
TRANSPORTATION MODES, WHICH IS A REAL SHIFT.
I MEAN, THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE 
FEDERAL REGULATIONS, AND I'M SURE IT WILL DRIFT DOWN 
BECAUSE OF FUNDING TO STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS.
SO IT -- IT REQUIRES US ALL TO THINK DIFFERENTLY IN HOW WE 
CONSIDER FUNDING AND RANKING PROJECTS.
THIS IS THE CONCEPT OF COMPLETE STREETS, WHICH OUR LIVABLE 
ROADWAYS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN PROMOTING FOR OVER A DECADE.
SO WE ARE CONCERNED THAT WE IN OUR LOCAL MPO THINK THROUGH 
EVERYTHING WITH THIS ENHANCED VISION OF COMPLETE STREETS 
RATHER THAN THINKING OF BICYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS 
AS -- AS PERIPHERAL.
AND THE OTHER COMPONENT THAT'S KEY AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED 
EARLIER IS THAT WE NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE SAFETY 
ISSUES, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IN OUR LIST OF THINGS 
TO DO, BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS 
COMMITTEE WILL BE MAKING SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY DO THIS 
BECAUSE WE CAN BUILD FACILITIES, BUT UNLESS PEOPLE FEEL 
COMFORTABLE AND SAFE USING THEM, THEN IT'S TO NO AVAIL.
ONE OF THE PREMISES OF ALL THE COMP PLANS THAT WE HAVE ALL 
ADOPTED IN OUR MUNICIPALITIES AND IN THE COUNTY IS THAT 
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DESIGN, BUT FOR PEOPLE 
TO HAVE LAND USE DECISIONS MADE THAT WAY AND TRANSPORTATION 
DECISIONS MADE THAT WAY, THERE HAS TO BE A SENSE OF SAFETY 
THAT'S -- THAT UNDERSCORES THE ENTIRE PACKAGE.
SECONDLY, WE REVIEWED EXISTING CONDITIONS ON BUSCH 
BOULEVARD BETWEEN ARMENIA AND NORTH BOULEVARD.
ARMENIA NORTH -- SOUTH BUSCH DO NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS, WHICH 
MAKES TRAVEL FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES DANGEROUS.
ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, ARIZONA JENKINS, WHO'S IN A WHEELCHAIR, 
UNDERSCORED THE DIFFICULTY, AND THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ARE 
GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE EXISTING 
CONDITIONS, WHICH ARE PRETTY APPALLING.
AND LASTLY, THE LIVABLE ROADWAYS COMMITTEE ASKED THAT THE 
MPO SUPPORT A MOTION TO THE CITIES OF TAMPA, TEMPLE 
TERRACE, PLANT CITY, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY REQUESTING 
THAT THEY DO NOT WAIVE SIDEWALKS IN THE REZONING OR 
BUILDING PROCESS.
IT SEEMS THAT OFTEN WHEN WE APPROVE ZONINGS, THE SIDEWALKS 
ARE PART OF THE PLAN THAT'S ADOPTED, BUT LATER IN THE 
IMPLEMENTATION, THE STAFFS WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT JUST KIND 
OF PEREMPTORILY, AND WE AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO CREATE 
THE POLICIES THAT SAY THAT THE SIDEWALKS NEED TO BE THERE 
DON'T KNOW UNTIL THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SOMEBODY 
COMPLAINS THAT THEY'RE STUCK, SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION 
THAT THE MPO REQUEST THAT THESE JURISDICTIONS NOT WAIVE 
SIDEWALKS IN THE REZONING OR BUILDING PROCESS.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>>MARK SHARPE:  SECOND.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[CHORUS OF AYES]
OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  THANK YOU.
AND LASTLY, OUR COMMITTEE WAS TOLD THAT FDOT, THE CITY OF 
TAMPA, AND CSX ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE RAIL CROSSINGS 
AT ARMENIA AND BUSCH ACCESSIBLE, AND WE WANT TO COMMEND THE 
CITY, FDOT, AND CSX FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR 
COMMUNITY A MORE LIVABLE PLACE.
AND OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 26th AT 9:00 
A.M., AND EVERYBODY'S INVITED.
THANK YOU.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. SAUL-SENA.
NEXT WE HAVE THE BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, 
MICHELE OGILVIE.
>>MICHELE OGILVIE:  THE BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE MET ON APRIL 14th.
THE COMMITTEE RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ON HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY'S CANDIDATE PROJECTS BEING INCLUDED IN THE 
REFERENDUM.
CHAIR TINA RUSSO STATED, AND I QUOTE, THAT ALTHOUGH 
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GETS A BAD REPUTATION FOR PEDESTRIAN 
AND BIKE FACILITY, SHE IS AWARE THAT IT COULD BE MUCH 
HIGHER IF NOT FOR THE GREAT THINGS THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
STAFFS ARE DOING AND HAVE DONE WITH SIDEWALKS, SHOULDER 
IMPROVEMENTS, AND BIKE LANES.
RAIL COULD BE THE TIPPING POINT FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 
TRANSPORTATION ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE.
THE COMMITTEE HAS A DRAFT VISION, MISSION, AND OPERATING 
VALUE TO PROCEED -- TO PROCEED WITH ITS COMPLETE STREETS 
FOCUS.
IT IS A WALKABLE-, TRANSIT-, AND BICYCLE-ORIENTED STREETS 
AND SIDEWALKS THAT SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY ACCOMMODATE USERS 
OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.
WE DO THIS WORK BY CONVENING, ENGAGING, MOBILIZING, AND 
SUPPORTING TO ENSURE WE ALL HAVE THE MEANS TO ADVANCE 
DESIGNS AND STANDARDS THAT IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE, SAFETY, 
AND ACCESSIBILITY OF STREETS, PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS FROM 
EXCESSIVE TRAFFIC, AND REMOVE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR 
BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.
WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR MISSION WITH RESPECT.
THE NEXT BPAC MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 5:30 ON MAY 12th AT 
THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARDROOM.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MICHELE?
IF NOT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MICHELE.
OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED 
COORDINATING BOARD.
THE TDCB HELD ITS ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 22nd, AND 
NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ADDRESSED OR WISHED TO ADDRESS THE 
BOARD.
THE BOARD PROCEEDED WITH ITS REGULAR MEETING IMMEDIATELY 
FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ADDRESSED THE BOARD ON THE NEW 
FREEDOM PROJECT PRIORITIZATION LIST.
EACH OF THE SPEAKERS REPRESENTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE 
SERVICES PROJECT URGED THE BOARD TO SEND A RECOMMENDATION 
THAT REQUESTS THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE REEXAMINE THE DOLLAR 
AMOUNTS AWARDED AND POSSIBLY CONSIDER A SMALLER OR PILOT 
PROJECT FOR THE SIXTH RANKED PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES 
PROVIDING ACTUAL INCREASED OR NEW TRIP SERVICE TO THE 
TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.
THE BOARD WITH THREE MEMBERS ABSTAINING ADOPTED A 
RECOMMENDATION FOR THE NEW FREEDOM PROJECTS.
THE BOARD FULLY SUPPORTED THE JRAC -- JARC PRIORITIZATION 
PROJECTS.
THE BOARD ALSO RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ON HART'S TWO NEW 
FLEX SERVICES IN BRANDON AND SOUTH COUNTY.
THE SERVICES PROVIDE ACCESS TO SHOPPING, RECREATION, WORK, 
AND LEARNING MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT 
HAVE EASY ACCESS TO AN AUTOMOBILE.
FINALLY, THE BOARD WAS BRIEFED ON THE POSITIVE PROGRESS OF 
TRICOUNTY ACCESS CARD, THAT ALL THREE TRANSIT OPERATORS IN 
PASCO, HILLSBOROUGH, AND PINELLAS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO 
PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TDC BOARD WILL BE ON JUNE 24th AT 
9:15 IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARDROOM, AND EVERYBODY'S 
WELCOME.
OKAY.
NOW WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  OKAY.
SORRY.
YOU HAVE A LIST OF THE MEETINGS I'VE ATTENDED.
I WANT TO MAKE A GENERAL STATEMENT ABOUT THEM.
THE REASON THAT I GO TO A LOT OF THESE MEETINGS IS TO MAKE 
SURE THAT ALL THESE DIFFERENT AGENCIES WE DEAL WITH 
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN THE MPO PLAN AND HOW THEY CAN CONFORM 
TO IT AND I CAN HAVE PARTICIPATION IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO 
MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL KIND OF ON TRACK IN IMPLEMENTING OUR 
LONG-RANGE PLAN, SO GENERALLY SPEAKING THE MEETINGS I 
ATTENDED TO WAS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
OTHER THINGS I'VE DONE, I WENT TO THE AMERICAN PLANNING 
ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE AND IMMERSED MYSELF IN LEARNING 
EVERYTHING I COULD ABOUT HIGH-SPEED RAIL, WHICH WAS VERY 
VALUABLE.
I THINK I HAVE A MUCH CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW IT ALL 
WORKS, AND WE CERTAINLY ARE WORKING WITH HART AND EVERYBODY 
TO MAKE SURE THIS IS ALL COORDINATED HERE IN TAMPA.
I WILL TELL YOU THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS VERY JEALOUS OF 
US AND CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE GOT AWARDED THAT GRANT, AND WE 
ARE SCHEDULED TO BE THE FIRST, BEATING CALIFORNIA, TO 
HAVING THE FIRST OPERATING SYSTEM, MUCH TO THEIR 
DISCOMFORT, BUT THAT -- THAT IS THE REALITY.
WE ARE AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ON THIS, SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT 
THING THAT WE -- WE DO THIS RIGHT.
I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO ARCHITECTURAL GROUPS, ENGINEERS AT 
FDOT.
THEY HAD ABOUT 200 OF THEIR CONSULTANTS AT A LARGE MEETING 
WHERE I PRESENTED THE MPO PLAN RECENTLY.
THE CCC, THE CHAIRMAN'S COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF THE 
REGIONAL MPOs, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK GETTING OUR 
PLAN TOGETHER AND A BROCHURE'S GOING TO BE COMING OUT WITH 
THAT.
WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR NEW NEWSLETTER'S OUT.
IT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
ALSO THE LIST OF THE AWARDS THAT YOU HAVE THERE.
WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A 
JULY MPO MEETING.
I KNOW THE BOARD AND I BELIEVE CITY COUNCIL ARE BOTH ON 
VACATION AT THAT TIME, AND IT WOULD BE JULY 6th, SO WE'VE 
CANCELED THAT MEETING.
WE TYPICALLY DO THAT.
LAST YEAR WE WENT AHEAD AND HAD THE MEETING BECAUSE WE WERE 
WORKING ON THE PLAN AND NEEDED TO, BUT WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN 
GO BACK TO NOT HAVING THE JULY MEETING, SO THAT'S JUST A 
REMINDER.
NEXT MPO MEETING WILL BE JUNE 1st AT 9:00 A.M. HERE AT THE 
BOCC CHAMBERS.
NEXT POLICY COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD MAY 18th AT THE -- ON 
THE 18th FLOOR AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'LL REMIND YOU AGAIN ABOUT THE MAY 13th MEETING AT 6:00 
P.M. ON THE REFERENDUM.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT MEETING.
AND WE HAD A REQUEST FOR SOME INFORMATION ON HILLSBOROUGH 
COUNTY'S INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AT THE NEXT MONTH'S MPO BOARD 
MEETING AND ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED BY 
MAYOR LOTT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THANK YOU, MR. CHIARAMONTE.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  MARK HAS A QUESTION.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  OKAY.
MR. SHARPE.
>>MARK SHARPE:  IS THERE ANY -- I KNOW THAT YOU LED A GROUP 
TO CHARLOTTE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REAL HELPFUL IN HAVING AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE SYSTEM, TALK TO THE OPERATORS, TALK 
TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM S THERE ANY -- IS THERE 
ANY CONSIDERATION -- I UNDERSTOOD THERE WAS A CONVERSATION 
ABOUT PERHAPS GOING TO PHOENIX.
IS THAT GOING TO TAKE PLACE, DO YOU KNOW?
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  I DON'T THINK THAT THE MPO HAD BEEN 
PLANNING THAT.
I BELIEVE THERE IS A TRIP TO PHOENIX, AND IT'S PROBABLY I 
WANT TO SAY BY THE CHAMBER, BUT I'M NOT SURE.
I CAN LOOK INTO EXACTLY WHO IS DOING THAT.
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  I JUST -- I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE 
CHAMBER.
I JUST ATTENDED THEIR MEETING A FEW DAYS AGO UP AT MOSI, 
AND THEY ARE PLANNING A TRIP, THE GREATER TAMPA CHAMBER'S 
PLANNING A TRIP TO PHOENIX.
>>MARK SHARPE:  OKAY.
SO IT'S THE CHAMBER?
>>RICHARD WAINIO:  YEAH, IT IS THE CHAMBER.
I BELIEVE IT'S LATE IN THE SUMMER OR SEPTEMBER, AUGUST-
SEPTEMBER, WHICH IF THAT'S TRUE AND YOU WANT TO GO 115-
DEGREE HEAT, BUT THEY ARE PLANNING IT.
I'D CHECK WITH -- WITH THE CHAMBER IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
>>MARK SHARPE:  WELL, I WAS CURIOUS.
YOU KNOW, PHOENIX -- ONE OF THE REASONS THAT FOLKS HAVE 
SAID IN THE PAST THAT OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM WOULDN'T WORK IS 
THE HEAT, AND THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF HEAT, AND THEIR SYSTEM 
SEEMS TO WORK.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR -- OUR -- RAY, IF YOU WOULD 
COMMUNICATE WITH THE -- IT'S THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE WHICH 
ACTUALLY HAS BEEN PUBLISHING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF 
DOCUMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO LIGHT RAIL.
I'VE READ ALMOST ALL OF THEM, BUT THE ONLY DOCUMENT I CAN 
FIND SINCE THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEMS BEGUN TO OPERATE IS A 
TWO-WORD STATEMENT WHICH SAYS TO THE EFFECT OF IT WORKS.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  WOW.
[LAUGHTER]
>>MARK SHARPE:  I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND -- AND IT WAS A 
BEGRUDGING -- IN FACT, THE STATEMENT WAS, WE REALLY DON'T 
WANT TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE PAST, BUT IT WORKS.
WELL, I'D LIKE MORE BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE ARGUMENT 
AGAINST IT IS THE SAME.
EVERYWHERE YOU GO, EVERY COMMUNITY THAT'S EVER HAD THIS 
CONVERSATION, IT'S THE EXACT SAME CASE, THE EXACT SAME 
ARGUMENTS, THE EXACT SAME POINTS, AND REALLY THE EXACT SAME 
PEOPLE, RANDALL O'TOOLE, WENDELL COX, SAME GROUP, AND SO 
THEY'RE USING THESE STATEMENTS HERE AS WELL, SO IT WOULD BE 
VERY HELPFUL FOR US, GOOD AND BAD, TO REALLY HAVE A, YOU 
KNOW, ASSESSMENT.
I DON'T NEED TO GO ACTUALLY RIDE THE PHOENIX SYSTEM, BUT IT 
WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THOSE WHO DO TO COME BACK AND GIVE US 
A REPORT AND GET A CLEAR-EYED ASSESSMENT OF, YOU KNOW, THE 
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND AS WELL THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF 
HEAT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE -- WHEN PEOPLE TALK 
ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO USE IT, THEY STRESS THE FACT THAT WE 
SEEM TO BE UNUSUAL AND NOT LIKE ANY OTHER COMMUNITY THAT --
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DID DO IN 
PHOENIX IS THE WAY THEY BUILT THEIR SHELTERS, THEY CAN 
ACTUALLY CHANGE.
IT'S LIKE KIND OF A VENTING KIND OF ROOF, AND THEY CAN 
CHANGE IT DURING THE YEAR TO CONFORM TO HOW IT WOULD GET 
THE MOST SHADE AS THE SUN MOVES TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, SO 
THEY'RE VERY CREATIVE.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  THERE WAS ALSO AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE IN 
EITHER SATURDAY OR SUNDAY'S PAPER ABOUT THE EFFECT OF LIGHT 
RAIL IN ST. LOUIS --
>>MARK SHARPE:  SAW THAT.
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  -- AND HOW POSITIVE THAT'S BEEN FOR THEM, 
SO THAT WAS WORTHWHILE READING.
OKAY.
ANYONE THAT WANTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ANY ITEMS?
IF NOT, IN CLOSING I JUST WANT TO THANK RAY CHIARAMONTE 
BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN SO INVOLVED AND HAS DONE 
SO MANY THINGS AND ATTENDED SO MANY MEETINGS THAT I FEEL 
WAS REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR US GETTING THE AWARD FOR THE 
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PLAN FROM THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL -
- OR FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, SO THANK YOU, RAY, FOR 
ALL THAT YOU DO.
>>RAY CHIARAMONTE:  THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  HEAR! HEAR!
[APPLAUSE]
>>JOE AFFRONTI:  WITH THAT WE ADJOURN.
>>LINDA SAUL-SENA:  WELL DESERVED.


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