Tampa City Council
Community Redevelopment Agency
Thursday, June 9, 2016
9:00 a.m.
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09:07:24 [Sounding gavel]
09:07:25 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I call this meeting to order.
09:07:29 We'll start with the invocation and pledge of
09:07:34 allegiance.
09:07:36 Harry Cohen, please.
09:07:38 >>HARRY COHEN: Good morning.
09:07:40 Thank you, Madam Chair.
09:07:41 We are very happy to have father Lenisky, a
09:07:48 graduate of Jesuit high school right here in
09:07:50 Tampa.
09:07:50 He was ordained priest of the Diocese in
09:07:53 St. Petersburg in 1991, and since January 2011 has
09:07:57 been assigned to Christ the King vicar, effective
09:08:03 June 2012.
09:08:04 Councilman Suarez mentioned to me that many years
09:08:07 ago he once dressed as Mr. Spock, and I think it
09:08:16 was a very popular and memorable occasion.
09:08:18 Please stand for the invocation and remain
09:08:21 standing for the pledge of allegiance.
09:08:23 >> Let us bow our heads in prayer.
09:08:28 Almighty God, send down your blessings upon our
09:08:31 beloved City of Tampa, for the members of the City
09:08:34 Council, for our community development.
09:08:39 Fill them with wisdom and justice as they seek to
09:08:41 serve our community.
09:08:43 May they never be motivated by personal gain but
09:08:49 for the common good.
09:08:50 Lord, we thank you for the generous public
09:08:52 service.
09:08:53 May they and their families always be blessed with
09:08:56 goodness and peace.
09:08:58 We all these things in your holy name.
09:09:01 Amen.
09:09:01 [ Pledge of Allegiance ]
09:09:19 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Roll call.
09:09:20 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Here.
09:09:25 >>FRANK REDDICK: Here.
09:09:27 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Here.
09:09:28 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Here.
09:09:30 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Here.
09:09:31 >>HARRY COHEN: Here.
09:09:34 >> Let's get this show on the road.
09:09:36 First I have a memo from Councilman Miranda who
09:09:39 will be out this morning due to personal
09:09:41 situation.
09:09:43 So he will not be here today.
09:09:45 Or this morning.
09:09:48 We start with the monthly report from Ann Kulig.
09:09:58 Ann, hi.
09:09:59 Welcome.
09:10:00 >> You are in a different realm today.
09:10:02 Thanks for having me here today.
09:10:03 We are here to talk about the park.
09:10:10 Michael Martinez is actually the chair.
09:10:12 He is out of town today.
09:10:15 I just want to say it's been great to see what's
09:10:18 happened at Drew Park.
09:10:19 I was involved with the Drew Park CRA before there
09:10:22 was a Drew Park CRA and sat through the community
09:10:25 meetings.
09:10:25 So it's great to see how the CRA really helped
09:10:31 with Drew Park.
09:10:32 Just a few of the things that are happening.
09:10:38 Gateway markers, you will be seeing next month.
09:10:41 There's an agreement with the City of Tampa for
09:10:46 gateway markers on many of those streets.
09:10:50 They are also putting in historical markers that's
09:10:53 been arranged and ready to go probably within the
09:10:55 next couple of months.
09:10:57 You will be invited out there for the dedication.
09:11:01 You will hear a little bit more, so I won't really
09:11:03 cover it today, about the number of facade grant
09:11:07 improvements that going on at Drew Park.
09:11:09 That's been a very successful program, enhancing
09:11:12 properties and a way to leverage private dollars.
09:11:15 We thank TPD and the neighborhood enhancement
09:11:19 division to fix a problem with auto transport
09:11:22 vehicles, big tractor trailers driving along,
09:11:26 parking on crest illegally.
09:11:29 Took them a long time to get them removed but TPD
09:11:32 and neighborhood enhancement has taken care of
09:11:34 that which has been a great thing for businesses
09:11:37 and people and real estate in Drew Park.
09:11:40 Probably the biggest benefit obviously as a CRA is
09:11:43 the private investment.
09:11:47 The gallery shopping center Hillsborough has been
09:11:49 acquired, and they have done a number of
09:11:52 enhancements.
09:11:53 Their new landscaping.
09:11:54 They are remarketing that property.
09:12:02 Planning to open a recycling facility, their
09:12:06 recycling facility.
09:12:08 A restaurant opened in Drew Park.
09:12:10 A J. crest near Steinbrenner field.
09:12:14 And skyline cafe opened where the coffee cup used
09:12:18 to be with Walls.
09:12:27 And a vacant parcel for a number of years.
09:12:31 Please note that the deed includes a restriction
09:12:35 about uses in Drew Park which is a good thing.
09:12:38 And probably finally, and importantly, we just
09:12:42 reviewed the preliminary budget for Drew Park for
09:12:44 2017, and we have seen about a 30% increase over
09:12:48 last year and the revenue for the CRA.
09:12:52 So that's a great thing for Drew Park.
09:12:54 I'll be happy to answer any questions.
09:12:56 Happy to serve.
09:12:58 Thanks so much.
09:12:58 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you very much.
09:13:12 >>BOB McDONAUGH: Just an update on some activity
09:13:15 going on.
09:13:16 There are many outlined in the report.
09:13:17 There are a couple of things that I wanted to
09:13:19 bring to your attention, people outside.
09:13:22 This Saturday on the 11th we have a couple of
09:13:25 grand openings in downtown.
09:13:27 The Cass Street bicycle path will be opened, and
09:13:31 we are going to have a special function that will
09:13:33 start at Perry Harvey park at 10:00 in the
09:13:36 morning.
09:13:37 And people will then go along the Cass Street
09:13:40 bicycle to be opening the final segment of
09:13:43 Riverwalk, and should be a lot of fun.
09:13:45 I think you will be very impressed with did public
09:13:48 art and streetscape that went along with the
09:13:50 Riverwalk.
09:13:52 And we have a scavenger Hunt, and the winner
09:13:57 actually wins a staycation in downtown with hotel
09:14:00 and restaurant.
09:14:01 So it should be a lot of fun.
09:14:02 Also downtown coming up shortly on the 19th is
09:14:05 the third annual Richards Father's Day walk-run.
09:14:09 And that's been very well received in the past.
09:14:12 That will start and end at Ulele Waterworks Park.
09:14:17 There's a number of things going on this weekend
09:14:19 for Father's Day.
09:14:20 There's free admission for dad at the aquarium,
09:14:22 the art museum, the Glazers children but cement
09:14:26 and history museum.
09:14:28 Raiders of the lost arc is playing at the Tampa
09:14:30 Theatre as part of the summer series.
09:14:32 And at the Straz you have the KIT-KAT club.
09:14:38 On a sad note at least for me the last of
09:14:41 utilities was turned off this week at the Tribune
09:14:44 building which allows their folks to get a
09:14:46 demolition permit.
09:14:48 Progress, I guess, but for someone that grew up
09:14:50 reading the newspaper every day, it's a sign of
09:14:53 the changing times.
09:14:54 So we should see -- they will be going into
09:14:58 building permits this month but we will see the
09:15:00 beginning of a demolition of that property.
09:15:03 The first step is removing which will take several
09:15:08 weeks and demolition of the building.
09:15:10 Next time I will have some renderings.
09:15:13 The final ones are not ready yet.
09:15:15 But it's an exciting project.
09:15:17 They brought in architect Tonico which is an
09:15:18 internationally famous architect.
09:15:24 If you remember at the beginning of Miami Vice
09:15:26 where they had a building with a hole in the
09:15:27 middle of it.
09:15:28 It's a husband and wife architect team from Brazil
09:15:31 and they are the ones that designed that building.
09:15:34 So it will be a change to streetscaping and
09:15:36 riverscape.
09:15:37 >> Would you name the group again for the public?
09:15:42 The developer?
09:15:43 >> It's a related company out of Miami.
09:15:47 And they own a building right now on Harbor
09:15:49 Island.
09:15:52 If anybody has been through that park there's a
09:15:54 lot of public art that they personally donated.
09:15:58 They have been a good developer in our community.
09:16:03 Questions?
09:16:07 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Thank you.
09:16:10 Bob, the grant being pursued by the port, what
09:16:14 does one Don with the tiger grant?
09:16:15 What specific project are they looking at?
09:16:17 >> Linear has the opportunity to see the project
09:16:22 that it's proposing in the Channel District along
09:16:26 Channelside Drive.
09:16:27 And a lot of that would be for public
09:16:29 infrastructure.
09:16:30 And a portion of it would be the rebuilding of
09:16:33 Channelside Drive, straightening out of the street
09:16:38 in addition to some public streets, an intermodal
09:16:41 center which would be adjacent to the Florida
09:16:43 Aquarium.
09:16:45 They are going after $32 million.
09:16:48 And won't know till later this summer exactly how
09:16:50 much.
09:16:50 And the scope and scale will be determined.
09:16:54 And we will be coming back to the CRA board to
09:16:56 talk about exactly what it is that we would be
09:16:59 contributing to and what we would be experiencing
09:17:03 and gaining by it.
09:17:04 But probably -- many of these things were on our
09:17:07 strategic action plan.
09:17:08 Probably the most visible is the rebuilding and
09:17:11 improvements to Channelside Drive.
09:17:13 Again, that entire community has changed in its
09:17:19 experiencer appearance, and Channelside Drive
09:17:21 still works a lot like did it in the industrial
09:17:23 area.
09:17:24 So this is an opportunity to add wider sidewalks,
09:17:26 to do a bike Lane, add landscaping, again because
09:17:30 it is one of the entrance does our city.
09:17:32 >> And the tiger grant is not predicated on any
09:17:35 decisions concerning some of the ideas that they
09:17:37 have at their vision plan, correct?
09:17:40 >>BOB McDONAUGH: Well, in their application to
09:17:44 the Department of Transportation, they do have
09:17:47 part of their plan, which is -- again, they have
09:17:50 to be transportation oriented.
09:17:52 So yes, the intermodal center are all part and
09:17:56 parcel of that.
09:17:57 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Obviously their plan includes some
09:18:04 trading of land, other things, part of what they
09:18:06 had proposed in the past.
09:18:07 So it's a separate issue as opposed to some of the
09:18:14 other things.
09:18:15 But it's a lot of money and first of all it don't
09:18:19 think you can get a tiger grant for $13 million.
09:18:22 It's going to be a really hard climb for them.
09:18:24 But I was just curious as to how this came to the
09:18:28 rest of the vision plan because obviously we still
09:18:30 need some, you know, some role in it not only as
09:18:35 CRA but as City Council and the city itself.
09:18:37 >>BOB McDONAUGH: Absolutely.
09:18:39 And again, if you recall, part of that land swap
09:18:43 would be a large public park, and doing something
09:18:47 with the Florida Aquarium, with the parking lot.
09:18:50 So, yes, City Council and the CRA board will be
09:18:55 intimately involved in any plan to move forward
09:18:57 with that.
09:18:58 And actually I was surprised.
09:19:00 I thought the question you were going to ask
09:19:02 Americas you would --
09:19:06 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I was going to make a comment.
09:19:08 Did you cry as much when the Tampa Times went out
09:19:11 of business in the mid 80s?
09:19:16 Thank you, Bob.
09:19:17 I appreciate it.
09:19:18 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
09:19:20 Anyone else?
09:19:21 Bob, I like your pun, it's a sign of the time.
09:19:32 It's a sign of the times.
09:19:35 I want to comment on the Channelside real quick.
09:19:37 I remember with the presentation that came here,
09:19:39 we were presented with their master plan, what was
09:19:44 it, last year, about a year ago or so?
09:19:47 And one of the things that I mentioned which you
09:19:55 said, Channelside Drive is where I think the City
09:19:57 of Tampa or the CRA dollars would be very well
09:20:02 spent, because that drive, as you said, has been
09:20:05 pretty much the same since the aquarium pretty
09:20:08 much.
09:20:10 Other than the wonderful sculpture and the
09:20:12 roundabout, which is nice. Anyway, thank you for
09:20:15 that.
09:20:17 And we'll move on.
09:20:19 Before we move on to number 3, I want to mention
09:20:22 that we have -- I requested to remove item -- to
09:20:30 continue item 11 to August 11 CRA meeting, and
09:20:33 with that I would like to say that the memorandum
09:20:38 that Mr. Territo sent out, I don't remember us
09:20:44 here taking a vote or even a discussion for anyone
09:20:47 to move forward on any part of this with Ybor.
09:20:52 And that's something we should discuss, and that's
09:20:57 why I brought it up, because it needed to be --
09:20:59 the only time we can really talk about it is in
09:21:02 public.
09:21:02 And this is a public forum.
09:21:03 So we'll talk about it in August.
09:21:05 >>FRANK REDDICK: Let me correct you about that.
09:21:11 >>YVONNE CAPIN: All right.
09:21:12 >>FRANK REDDICK: We took a vote, for Mr. Territo
09:21:18 to send a letter to the attorney general for an
09:21:20 opinion.
09:21:22 >>YVONNE CAPIN: That hasn't been done.
09:21:27 What I was referring to be we took that vote but
09:21:29 we never took a vote for Mr. Territo to move
09:21:32 forward and present anything to Ybor that we
09:21:34 talked about.
09:21:35 So that step being taken that we have not
09:21:38 approved.
09:21:39 >>FRANK REDDICK: The reason why is because we
09:21:41 were waiting on a response from the attorney
09:21:43 general.
09:21:46 The letter was sent.
09:21:47 And there have been all kinds of reasons why it
09:21:51 was sent.
09:21:52 But I agree with you, about -- or hope he is --
09:22:06 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Well, July.
09:22:07 >> [Off microphone.] July.
09:22:17 >>YVONNE CAPIN: June I am not going to be here.
09:22:20 July 21st I will be here.
09:22:22 If you prefer we can move it to July 21st if
09:22:25 you prefer.
09:22:26 >>FRANK REDDICK: I make that motion that we
09:22:28 request item number 11, I guess.
09:22:32 >>YVONNE CAPIN: To the July 21st CRA meeting.
09:22:35 We have a motion by Councilman Reddick.
09:22:37 Second by Councilman Cohen.
09:22:38 All in favor?
09:22:41 Okay.
09:22:41 Opposed?
09:22:43 Moved to July 21.
09:22:46 21.
09:22:46 Okay.
09:22:47 So now just in reference with your query about the
09:22:54 letter -- to the attorney general, yes, that is
09:22:58 what we voted on.
09:22:59 We did not vote on presenting anything else to
09:23:03 anyone anywhere. And that's my point.
09:23:05 So we go on.
09:23:06 Okay.
09:23:06 Thank you.
09:23:07 We go to item number 37.
09:23:10 Have been we have a presentation.
09:23:20 Are you Debby?
09:23:21 What's the last name?
09:23:25 >> Hunt.
09:23:27 All right.
09:23:27 >>YVONNE CAPIN: You have a Power Point
09:23:42 presentation.
09:23:43 Excuse me, it was your motion.
09:23:45 If you would like.
09:23:48 I apologize.
09:23:49 All right, very good.
09:23:50 >> I see it there but I don't see it here.
09:24:05 Good morning.
09:24:11 Chairman, thank you very much for having us here
09:24:12 today.
09:24:13 Happy to address the questions that your CRA has
09:24:17 about the Tampa Bay Express.
09:24:25 I can go over it briefly or cover it in detail.
09:24:28 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
09:24:30 >> Would you please give your name?
09:24:32 >> Yes, sir.
09:24:33 Debby Hunt with the Florida Department of
09:24:34 Transportation I organized our content to directly
09:24:39 reflect the CRA's request for more information.
09:24:41 I will cover the virtual and physical changes, the
09:24:47 anticipated employment, and the land use and
09:24:51 comprehensive plan, as well as community
09:24:54 enhancements that we as an agency are committed to
09:24:58 building as part of the Tampa Bay Express.
09:25:01 Social and physical changes in the neighborhood
09:25:09 You have the neighborhood -- just a minute.
09:25:13 Let me go back one.
09:25:16 There are more than 20 neighborhoods that are
09:25:18 adjacent to I-275 and I-4 throughout not only the
09:25:22 downtown area but also through the Westshore
09:25:24 business district.
09:25:25 In many sections, no right-of-way is necessary for
09:25:28 the project.
09:25:29 However, both the interchange in Westshore and
09:25:32 downtown requires additional right-of-way.
09:25:35 The next few slides focus on the social and
09:25:38 physical changes in each of the different
09:25:39 neighborhoods that are in this area.
09:25:44 Seminole Heights, there's a number of different
09:25:45 areas for Seminole Heights.
09:25:47 You have Tampa Heights.
09:25:49 You have West River.
09:25:51 You have Ybor.
09:25:53 And you have downtown.
09:25:59 The largest area for the Seminole Heights is Old
09:26:02 Seminole Heights.
09:26:03 And Old Seminole Heights --
09:26:06 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Wait one second.
09:26:09 Why do you call it West River, when the Heights is
09:26:12 the Heights, Ybor is Ybor?
09:26:13 That's West Tampa.
09:26:15 And it's just something that has started, and if
09:26:20 we don't correct it it will turn into West River,
09:26:23 and it is West Tampa.
09:26:25 The Heights, Ybor, everything else was liked
09:26:28 correctly.
09:26:29 And I apologize for interrupting.
09:26:31 But we got quite a few of us up here.
09:26:37 Okay.
09:26:38 Thank you.
09:26:38 >> Debby Hunt: I am very sorry.
09:26:44 Specifically in this case the Old Seminole Heights
09:26:46 area, for some of the information.
09:26:49 The first chart shows the changes in population
09:26:52 since 1990.
09:26:54 This would be total population.
09:26:56 The next graph shows the overall household, number
09:27:02 of household in the area and the changes there.
09:27:05 And this is according to the U.S. census bureau.
09:27:07 This is information that we use for evaluating
09:27:12 different areas.
09:27:16 This also shows what the racial composition is of
09:27:20 the area.
09:27:21 And I am going to point out the numbers are not
09:27:23 going to --
09:27:25 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Let me stop you again.
09:27:27 Hispanic is not a race.
09:27:28 >> I know.
09:27:29 I am going to explain that it.
09:27:31 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay.
09:27:32 You know, you are a government entity.
09:27:34 And if anybody should know, you should know.
09:27:37 So, okay, go.
09:27:39 I'm sorry.
09:27:39 >> That's okay.
09:27:43 We are working with the information that we
09:27:45 usually use.
09:27:46 And the numbers are not going to add up to 100
09:27:51 because there are five races that are officially
09:27:54 identified by the office -- U.S. office of budget
09:27:58 and management.
09:27:59 White, black or African-American, American Indian
09:28:01 or Alaskan native, Asian, native Hawaiian or other
09:28:07 Pacific Islander.
09:28:08 Those who identify that they are Hispanic, because
09:28:12 that is an option for them to use when they fill
09:28:14 out the information for the U.S. census.
09:28:21 It's one of the five races --
09:28:25 >>YVONNE CAPIN: An option for ethnicity because I
09:28:27 filled it out.
09:28:28 It's not an option for race.
09:28:30 >> Okay.
09:28:34 The ethnic data does not add up because one of the
09:28:38 things that has been so important in this
09:28:40 discussion -- and my terminology, I apologize for,
09:28:46 but we hear it regularly when we are out in
09:28:48 conversations, that that does come up.
09:28:52 We also have some of the key economic information:
09:28:57 Median income, percentages of property, the median
09:29:03 income is up here as well as the number of high
09:29:05 school graduates.
09:29:09 Old Seminole Heights has become a hot spot for
09:29:11 urban living.
09:29:12 Younger professionals and families are moving into
09:29:15 the area to enjoy the historic homes, community
09:29:17 amenities and a variety of restaurants and
09:29:19 breweries.
09:29:23 Tampa Heights, the same information is provided,
09:29:30 with the families, the race and economic
09:29:32 information, the doubling of the median impact as
09:29:37 well as the high percentage of the high school
09:29:40 graduates which is up significant from prior
09:29:43 years.
09:29:44 Tampa Heights also enjoys redevelopment investment
09:29:49 in the community.
09:29:49 As one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city
09:29:51 limits, than the restaurants, small businesses,
09:29:55 community amenities such takes Waterworks Park,
09:29:57 the extension of the river works, is making the
09:29:59 community a popular place to live, work and play.
09:30:04 It should also be noted that there's a high
09:30:06 percentage of investors in this area.
09:30:09 As we move into the West Tampa area -- I chant
09:30:18 change the slide but I can change my words -- as
09:30:21 we move into the West Tampa area, I have also
09:30:23 provided that same information so that you can
09:30:27 review it.
09:30:29 It also reflects the West Riverfront neighborhood.
09:30:33 It includes these changes -- did I say that wrong?
09:30:38 -- changes in population since the 1990s.
09:30:43 There's significant diversity for those who live
09:30:46 in and around the area.
09:30:48 And in this area of look and median income has
09:30:52 doubled.
09:30:53 In the West Tampa, capitalize on the community's
09:30:58 location, history, the redevelopment potential, to
09:31:02 revitalize these neighborhoods and to accommodate
09:31:05 the broadness of incomes and commercial uses.
09:31:08 With the schools and proximity to University of
09:31:12 Tampa West River has also become an education
09:31:16 district.
09:31:16 Redevelopment plans for the three parks and public
09:31:20 housing projects also help transform these
09:31:22 neighborhoods.
09:31:24 As we selected VM Ybor, or the multiple Ybor
09:31:30 areas.
09:31:32 Ybor just east and north of downtown on the north
09:31:35 and south sides of I 47, including Ybor Heights,
09:31:39 VM Ybor, historic Ybor, and east historic Ybor.
09:31:44 The socioeconomic data reflects VM Ybor
09:31:48 neighborhood, increases in the population, the
09:31:51 household, as well as the diversity.
09:31:56 There hasn't been a lot of change in diversity in
09:31:59 this particular area.
09:32:00 Again there's been a doubling of the median income
09:32:02 and a significant increase in the high school
09:32:04 graduates.
09:32:05 The Ybor community provides a commercial land
09:32:11 uses.
09:32:11 Many of the historic homes that were purchased
09:32:13 relocated and then sold to create the revolving
09:32:17 loan program are now thriving businesses.
09:32:22 In the downtown area, downtown is comprised of the
09:32:25 two neighborhoods, the downtown river arts
09:32:27 district, also called the uptown council and the
09:32:31 Tampa Downtown Partnership.
09:32:33 This reflects the river arts district with the
09:32:35 changes in population, households, as well as the
09:32:38 diversity.
09:32:40 Significant efforts, diversity changes, as well as
09:32:44 significant median income changes.
09:32:49 Downtown has made significant strides to enhance
09:32:52 the livability and the vibrancy of downtown with
09:32:55 the addition of the new mixed use high-rises, the
09:33:00 Riverwalk, great parks, and the department
09:33:06 continues to focus with the City of Tampa on
09:33:09 complete street projects like Nebraska Avenue as
09:33:12 well as 21st and 22nd.
09:33:16 Let's talk about the growth that's anticipated in
09:33:20 the future.
09:33:21 And the long-range transportation plan with
09:33:29 matching 2040, the Metropolitan Planning
09:33:32 Organization.
09:33:35 According to the City of Tampa's comprehensive
09:33:37 plan, Hillsborough will have 600 residents by
09:33:41 2040.
09:33:42 70,000 of those residents will be -- will reside
09:33:47 in the urban core.
09:33:48 The remaining 500,000 will be somewhere else
09:33:53 through Hillsborough County and other
09:33:54 municipalities.
09:33:56 When we talk about the unemployment growth that is
09:33:59 expected out to 2040, 400,000 new jobs are
09:34:04 expected.
09:34:05 80,000 of those are expected in the downtown Tampa
09:34:08 area or the urban core.
09:34:11 30,000 will be in Westshore.
09:34:12 30,000 will be in the USF area.
09:34:15 And the remaining the 250,000 will be in
09:34:20 Hillsborough County.
09:34:24 The Imagine 2040 plan which was a vision for
09:34:27 growth had three growth scenarios.
09:34:30 The first scenario was the suburban dream.
09:34:35 The second was the bustling metro.
09:34:41 The third was the new corporate centers.
09:34:44 When people were polled they really wanted a
09:34:46 combination of all three because in-fill in
09:34:50 Hillsborough County, you do have to address each
09:34:53 in this area. The hybrid growth scenario that
09:34:56 came about the preferred option reflects all three
09:34:59 of these, and the long-range transportation plan
09:35:03 suggests that you need a variety of solutions.
09:35:06 It did show that the Tampa Bay Express, the
09:35:10 interstate system, was necessary for improvements
09:35:12 to support the growth of the population and
09:35:16 employment growth in Hillsborough County.
09:35:17 It also showed that premium transit and the
09:35:21 corridor that supports that was equally important.
09:35:26 The third topic which you asked us to address is
09:35:29 land use and comprehensive plan.
09:35:34 In a recent memo, the Planning Commission
09:35:36 acknowledged the transportation improvement plan's
09:35:40 consistency with the comprehensive plan as well as
09:35:42 the long-range transportation plan.
09:35:44 We have a workshop with your staff earlier -- we
09:35:47 had a workshop with your staff earlier this week
09:35:50 and will continue to coordinate with the MPO and
09:35:52 Planning Commission to ensure that the Tampa Bay
09:35:55 Express stays consistent with these plans.
09:36:07 The Imagine 2040 comprehensive plan.
09:36:09 There are numerous elements of this plan that the
09:36:12 Tampa Bay Express directly supports.
09:36:14 We highlight add few goals, objectives and
09:36:17 policies on the next few slides.
09:36:21 First the land use and governance.
09:36:28 From a land use perspective the Tampa Bay Express
09:36:30 will reestablish connections between neighborhoods
09:36:32 and activity centers.
09:36:34 It improves connections to the river through the
09:36:36 Tampa Heights greenway.
09:36:39 It preserves the multimodal centers both in
09:36:41 downtown as well as in Westshore.
09:36:44 And it preserve it is transit corridor on the
09:36:47 interstate that will go from Pinellas County to
09:36:49 Orlando.
09:36:51 In terms of governance, will continue to
09:36:54 coordinate with the local agencies to improve the
09:36:56 multimodal connection that maximize the benefits
09:36:59 of the express lanes and increase the trip
09:37:02 reliability for people to get wherever they are
09:37:04 going in Hillsborough County as well as in the
09:37:08 region.
09:37:08 And especially Tampa Bay and Tampa International.
09:37:17 With respect to the neighborhood community plan
09:37:18 and the recreational open spaces, the Tampa Bay
09:37:21 Express supports the neighborhoods by improving
09:37:23 the streetscape, the landscape, safety under the
09:37:28 interchanges, bike lanes and sidewalks at
09:37:30 interstate overpasses as well as along the
09:37:33 greenway.
09:37:34 Tampa Bay Express will connect parks and
09:37:36 recreation facilities, and extend the greenway
09:37:39 network through the Tampa Heights community to the
09:37:42 Riverwalk and from downtown to Westshore,
09:37:47 ultimately connecting to the Courtney Campbell
09:37:50 cause way which connects to the Pinellas trail.
09:37:53 The department is focused on ensuring that these
09:37:55 connections continue to be built and connect the
09:38:00 whole region for the trail system.
09:38:04 We also focused on infrastructure, mobility and
09:38:08 coastal management.
09:38:09 Tampa Bay Express supports multimodal
09:38:13 opportunities in a number of ways.
09:38:17 We purchased the downtown intermodal terminal back
09:38:20 in the early 20,000s, and as of November this
09:38:27 past year.
09:38:27 We continuously to put bicycle-pedestrian features
09:38:31 in and around the community, and will increase
09:38:34 them as part of TBX underneath all of the
09:38:37 overpasses that are affected.
09:38:40 Express buses will continue -- will be able to
09:38:42 travel in the express lanes at no charge.
09:38:45 And the premium transit envelope that I mentioned
09:38:48 from Pinellas to Orlando.
09:38:50 TBX will also help during times of evacuation or
09:38:54 other types of natural disasters.
09:38:59 We know how important InVision Tampa is to the
09:39:04 city.
09:39:05 This is a diagram that comes straight from the
09:39:08 plan.
09:39:09 And what we did was we overlaid the interstate
09:39:12 proposal, and it shows that part of the plan and
09:39:16 the focus of InVision was to disperse the traffic
09:39:22 over a number of streets instead of just focusing
09:39:25 on one or two for the ingress and egress into the
09:39:28 city.
09:39:29 One of our current concepts shows that we are
09:39:32 disbursing the traffic over a number of streets
09:39:35 instead of just --
09:39:39 Does it remove the traffic from Ashley?
09:39:41 No, it does not.
09:39:42 Ashley is and will always, we believe, be a major
09:39:48 connector in the downtown area. We also use a
09:39:50 system of roundabouts that we are still evaluating
09:39:52 to ensure that they are viable to help with that
09:39:56 distribution.
09:40:00 Avoid the recently built Waterworks Park, Ulele,
09:40:04 as well as the Harvey Perry park.
09:40:11 Tampa Bay Express is situated among numerous
09:40:13 CRAs.
09:40:14 We have been reaching out to the CRA managers to
09:40:16 ensure that our plans are consistent with each of
09:40:19 their vision plans.
09:40:21 I am going to speak specifically to the Tampa
09:40:23 Heights community plan, for example.
09:40:25 They have numerous objectives, including
09:40:29 connections, east-west and north-south which will
09:40:34 be incorporated into the final TBX plan, as well
09:40:38 as enhancing the greenway that we committed to for
09:40:42 many years.
09:40:44 The Seminole Heights vision plan, we have also
09:40:48 reviewed, and many of the guiding principles such
09:40:53 as community circulation, connectivity, historic
09:40:56 preservation we are addressing with lighting,
09:41:00 improvements under overpasses, in and around the
09:41:03 interstate.
09:41:06 Other community enhancements that are also part of
09:41:08 your request is that we have been working, as you
09:41:10 know, through a charrette process. This first
09:41:17 slide shows the study and the numerous commitments
09:41:20 we made as a result of the public outreach and
09:41:23 agency coordination back when that study wags
09:41:26 originally done.
09:41:27 Our project commitment are promises that we keep
09:41:31 to the local community as we go through the
09:41:34 process it we made major process over the years.
09:41:40 I am going to backtrack to this slide for a
09:41:42 second.
09:41:42 One of the major commitments we made, and part of
09:41:45 the original Tampa interstate study, was the
09:41:49 Selmon connector.
09:41:50 And when we built the Selmon connector, it was in
09:41:54 working directly with the City of Tampa so that
09:41:57 when the Selmon connector was built to tab the
09:41:59 truck traffic out of Ybor, the department would go
09:42:03 back and we would redo 21st and 22nd street
09:42:07 through Ybor so that once that construction is
09:42:09 completed we can then turn the streets over to the
09:42:12 City of Tampa and truck traffic will be restricted
09:42:17 from those facilities unless it's for local
09:42:21 vendors.
09:42:22 That has been very well received by Ybor and a
09:42:24 number of improvements have been made as a result
09:42:26 of those projects.
09:42:30 Our partnership with USF in the design charrette
09:42:35 process in working with the communities around the
09:42:37 downtown interchange to be in the existing
09:42:41 community visions today
09:42:42 Information that has occurred was just rolled out
09:42:48 Tuesday evening.
09:42:49 We will be providing you all with a copy of that
09:42:51 presentation so that you know what was rolled out
09:42:54 publicly as a result of those charrettes.
09:42:57 We are working with your staff as well as with the
09:43:00 Hart staff over the next few months to define what
09:43:03 we are able to build as a part of that and what we
09:43:08 can mutually commit to where opportunities for
09:43:12 partnership.
09:43:14 What came out of those charrettes was a focus on
09:43:18 connectivity, corridor design, public realm
09:43:21 enhancement, transit option, as well as mitigation
09:43:25 first.
09:43:26 We are evaluating the options.
09:43:29 And this is an example of an overpassing that we
09:43:33 would be taking a look at so that we can -- the
09:43:36 first quarterback was made that you see the sloped
09:43:38 wall on the top picture and then you see the
09:43:42 vertical walls in the picture below.
09:43:44 By changing the walls, it creates a more open
09:43:48 space, allows for additional bicycle-pedestrian
09:43:51 amenities, it allows for the potential of there
09:43:54 being a bus stop underneath the overpass so that
09:43:57 there's shelter from the elements.
09:44:00 There also would be lighting.
09:44:03 It didn't show up in the daytime picture but there
09:44:05 would also be lighting so there he would be
09:44:07 additional sense of security and safety when folks
09:44:12 are walking or biking underneath in the evening
09:44:15 time.
09:44:23 another discussion we have been having is a
09:44:24 connection with Robles park.
09:44:28 You have done tremendous improvements around the
09:44:31 Robles park area.
09:44:32 In this area, we have agreed that we will elevate
09:44:36 the interstate, so instead of it being -- it will
09:44:41 be open so that there will be a connection under
09:44:43 the interstate, and connecting over to the
09:44:48 department's retention pond that was proposed on
09:44:49 the other side, on the east side of the
09:44:53 interstate.
09:44:53 It also connects directly to Borrell park which is
09:44:56 on the east side of the Internet so it gives more
09:45:00 connection to the neighborhood through a park
09:45:02 system with trails.
09:45:05 We are working with the communities to determine
09:45:08 what that ultimately looks like.
09:45:19 The department is also giving space to the
09:45:24 community gardens in the Tampa Heights area.
09:45:26 We are looking for at least one space where there
09:45:28 could be potential two or throw other spaces
09:45:30 depending on right-of-way availability along the
09:45:34 greenway.
09:45:36 So that it's easily accessible by those using it.
09:45:43 One of the major discussions through the charrette
09:45:45 process is about transit and about what we can do
09:45:48 for transit.
09:45:49 As you all know, we have committed to doing this
09:45:52 at the regional transit feasibility study.
09:45:56 As a part of the maintenance of traffic efforts
09:45:58 during construction with the Tampa Bay Express, we
09:46:01 are working with Hart to improve service on five
09:46:06 of the corridors.
09:46:07 And you see the five corridors listed on the right
09:46:09 side of your screen.
09:46:10 We also would be committed to purchasing the buses
09:46:14 so that Hart would be even with providing service
09:46:22 while we have the project under construction.
09:46:25 The community did provide input which of these
09:46:29 routes would be preferred for improvements.
09:46:33 This is preliminarily the estimate I am seeing is
09:46:35 about a $10 million investment in transit.
09:46:42 Another issue that came up --
09:46:45 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Excuse me.
09:46:46 >>LISA MONTELIONE: The buses that you said you
09:46:53 would be purchasing, you would be purchasing them
09:46:55 and leasing them back to Hart?
09:46:57 So is it a capital outlay for the buses?
09:47:02 Or is it purchase of the existing buses that Hart
09:47:06 has?
09:47:07 >> This is to expand the service if they need
09:47:12 additional buses.
09:47:13 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So they would be brand knew
09:47:15 buses.
09:47:15 >> These would be new buses to be used throughout
09:47:21 the system.
09:47:21 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And how many did you say?
09:47:24 >> 30.
09:47:25 >>YVONNE CAPIN: To follow up with that, is that
09:47:32 part of reaching our full potential for public
09:47:39 transportation in order to move forward with the
09:47:41 federal grant?
09:47:43 >> No, ma'am that is -- that would be something
09:47:47 that we are able to do as a part of our
09:47:49 maintenance of traffic efforts.
09:47:52 It would be an additional plus for Hart because
09:47:55 they would receive additional buses.
09:47:58 They would receive funds to do additional
09:48:00 operating and maintenance during the construction
09:48:02 period, and the regional feasibility study is a
09:48:08 separate study that Hart is moving forward with.
09:48:11 The department is providing technical resources
09:48:14 for that, as well as for MPO directors from each
09:48:17 of the three MPOs in the area, Hillsborough,
09:48:21 Pasco, Pinellas.
09:48:22 That process is a two-year process, that at the
09:48:27 end of that process, the study results will have
09:48:31 done all of the analysis necessary so that Hart
09:48:35 can submit a letter to FTA requesting to go into
09:48:42 their process for some sort of transit system.
09:48:46 The process, that process previously was called
09:48:49 the alternative analysis process.
09:48:52 It has been shortened significantly in the length
09:48:55 of time it takes to get into the process.
09:48:59 The other part that's key to the new process is
09:49:03 when Hart submits that letter they do not have to
09:49:06 have the local government commitment for operating
09:49:10 and maintenance.
09:49:11 There's about a two-year window as they start
09:49:14 preliminary design, and doing the environmental
09:49:19 studies that necessary, and they only have two
09:49:21 years to do it.
09:49:22 And in that two years, they have to then achieve
09:49:25 the local commitments that are operating in
09:49:29 maintenance of the system.
09:49:30 It's a 30-year commitment and it's necessary to
09:49:32 continue in the process after that first two
09:49:34 years.
09:49:35 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay.
09:49:39 And it goes for everyone else.
09:49:41 So thank you very much.
09:49:41 >> You're welcome.
09:49:49 One of the issues that came up early in our public
09:49:53 involvement was an issue along Central Avenue
09:49:57 about the homes that were going to be removed
09:50:01 facing Central Avenue.
09:50:02 And what we did was the slides you see, or the
09:50:06 picture you see to the left of the off-site, that
09:50:11 affect add number of homes on Central Avenue.
09:50:14 What we have done in the picture to the right is
09:50:19 we are redesigning that pond, and we will be
09:50:23 storing some of that water under the interstate so
09:50:26 that the homes facing Central Avenue will remain
09:50:29 intact.
09:50:34 There's been a lot of discussion in the charrettes
09:50:36 about the connection between downtown and Tampa
09:50:38 Heights underneath the interstate.
09:50:41 And we see a lot of opportunity there with this
09:50:46 via duct, to provide for commerce, recreation, and
09:50:51 public art.
09:50:53 The next slide gives you some examples of what we
09:50:56 are working with Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami
09:50:59 on.
09:51:00 We have not reached the point of a conclusion on
09:51:02 what is or can be incorporated underneath.
09:51:06 But there's been a lot of discussion, and
09:51:12 providing that it's a community station and a
09:51:16 place that people want to be.
09:51:18 We just recently did a tour of the Jacksonville
09:51:23 project.
09:51:24 Any of you that have been in Jacksonville recently
09:51:27 in the downtown area, at the Henry fuller bridge
09:51:30 along the river, they also have a river arts
09:51:33 council that has taken on the charge of the space
09:51:39 of underneath the bridge that connects directly to
09:51:41 the waterfront, and built areas where people can
09:51:47 do picnics and sit out.
09:51:49 It's not grass.
09:51:50 It's clearly underneath the overpass.
09:51:52 Grass is not going to grow.
09:51:53 But it's done in a way that it complements the
09:51:57 area and it's easy for the river and district to
09:52:02 maintain as well as a place where they can have
09:52:05 weekend festivals during the week, space for
09:52:10 parking on the weekends.
09:52:11 The parking is not in existence, and they bring in
09:52:15 arts festivals and just about every weekend they
09:52:20 have something going on.
09:52:21 It's a great use of space that's available.
09:52:24 It's also sealed in such a way that it's protected
09:52:28 from the elements so that whether it's rain or
09:52:31 shine the community can still have their festival.
09:52:35 We also worked with you all to submit an
09:52:39 application for the U.S. Department of
09:52:42 Transportation, every place counts, design
09:52:45 challenge.
09:52:45 So it will help with this area as well as the
09:52:48 river park area.
09:52:53 I provided this slide just because right-of-way
09:52:57 acquisitions, after discussions during your last
09:53:00 meeting, and we can answer questions as you need
09:53:05 to.
09:53:05 There are many opportunities -- sorry.
09:53:09 These are the different ways with our right-of-way
09:53:13 acquisition process that we work with the
09:53:15 community, when you have a major project, whether
09:53:18 it's on an interstate, or it's on Fowler Avenue,
09:53:23 or it's on 40th Street, or whatever area where
09:53:26 there's a major project, you are going to have
09:53:28 impact to homes and to businesses.
09:53:31 And one of the things that the Department of
09:53:34 Transportation as well as the state Department of
09:53:36 Transportation is committed to is making
09:53:40 relocations as easy and as the best possible that
09:53:46 we can.
09:53:47 We have many examples where people have been
09:53:50 moved, and we had 17 new homeowners, first-time
09:53:57 homeowners come out of the relocation folks in
09:54:02 that area.
09:54:03 They also received rental spaces and received fund
09:54:11 for their actual move.
09:54:13 There's many opportunities in this process to stay
09:54:15 involved.
09:54:16 We have opened an office, thanks to working with
09:54:19 the city, and with the old German-American
09:54:23 building.
09:54:24 So we had a person there, we also have been doing
09:54:30 library tours through the community.
09:54:32 We did have a pick-up with Seminole Heights where
09:54:35 the information got out in the paper and got out
09:54:37 on websites, but the mailers didn't get to Ybor
09:54:42 until a couple of days until after the actual
09:54:45 event.
09:54:45 But we did, as soon as we were aware of that what
09:54:47 we did is we came back, and we are doing two
09:54:50 additional, one was last night, and next week, so
09:54:54 that we can make sure that we get plenty of input
09:54:57 from each of the areas.
09:54:58 What's been great about adding the library tours
09:55:01 to the charrettes that we were doing is it
09:55:04 expanded how many people that we have been able to
09:55:06 reach and get input from as a part of the process.
09:55:11 We will be adding our tours back to the schedule
09:55:16 sometime beginning in September.
09:55:18 And look forward to more people coming out and
09:55:21 providing input.
09:55:22 By the end of the summer, we expect that we will
09:55:24 be able to come back and have another public
09:55:27 meeting related to the charrette process that says
09:55:30 here are the committee commitments the department
09:55:33 will be moving forward with and including in their
09:55:35 study society that it remains a commitment to the
09:55:38 public as we move forward.
09:55:41 So I would always encourage folks to stay alert
09:55:44 today, alive tomorrow, because safety does not
09:55:48 happen by accident.
09:55:51 Thank you.
09:55:51 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Any questions?
09:55:57 Councilman Reddick.
09:56:04 It is a lot.
09:56:05 >>FRANK REDDICK: Each time I hear it, it's more
09:56:13 discouraging about this, primarily because just
09:56:17 sitting here, and this is a major transition.
09:56:24 It's a major overhaul of so many people, so many
09:56:29 neighborhoods, and let me ask you two questions.
09:56:36 One, when do you anticipate this whole project
09:56:39 starting forward?
09:56:43 When you start.
09:56:44 I know you are going to the prep part where you
09:56:46 are moving people, you are buying a lot of land
09:56:48 and all this other stuff.
09:56:49 But when does progress actually start?
09:56:51 >> Currently the downtown interchange is not fully
09:56:54 funded.
09:56:55 So I can't give you a date on that.
09:56:57 The reevaluation that we are working on currently,
09:57:01 we expect to complete sometime next spring and
09:57:05 hold the public hearings.
09:57:07 We have got a lot of information that we are still
09:57:10 gathering, that we are still doing and working on
09:57:15 and will be over the next 6 to 12 months as we put
09:57:18 together the information for the public hearing,
09:57:22 where we go out and say this is what the proposal
09:57:24 is and get the final input on that.
09:57:28 So we are a year from right-of-way acquisition
09:57:33 from an eminent domain perspective.
09:57:37 One of the things that we have been doing over the
09:57:38 past 20 years is when a property owner wants to
09:57:43 put their property up for sale, we have had a
09:57:45 number of them come to us and say we are willing
09:57:48 to sell our property, can you buy it?
09:57:50 We know we are in that footprint, and we will do
09:57:53 what we call the opportunity purchases, so it is
09:57:59 not putting people in a place where we later comb
09:58:02 back and somebody may or may not be aware of the
09:58:06 project.
09:58:06 >>FRANK REDDICK: Well, you know, when I looked at
09:58:08 the information that you are putting on when you
09:58:11 first started your presentation, and when you talk
09:58:15 about Heights, West Tampa, Ybor City, and I looked
09:58:20 at the population demographic there.
09:58:23 Are you aware that West Tampa 60% of people there
09:58:28 are black?
09:58:30 >> Absolutely.
09:58:31 >> Ybor, YM Ybor, 40% of blacks.
09:58:38 The people are going to black and Hispanic.
09:58:43 When you look at downtown, 82% white.
09:58:46 And you are talking about -- I mean, you copy --
09:58:56 going through Tampa, going through Seminole
09:58:58 Heights, YM Ybor, and West Tampa, and I'm looking
09:59:03 at the percentage of people, and they are mostly
09:59:09 black or Hispanic.
09:59:11 Based on the demographic that you put up.
09:59:14 And, two, let me throw this out.
09:59:17 You have a tendency to praise what you all have
09:59:20 done by moving people out, and you have given
09:59:24 them -- you have given them a home or 90,000 or
09:59:30 $30,000.
09:59:31 But you can never ask the question when I had a
09:59:34 discussion with you last time, give them the
09:59:40 beginning funds to move, to purchase, but when you
09:59:45 are talking about an 80-year-old lady, and so
09:59:48 happy that she moved, what is that 80-year-old
09:59:52 lady going to do in five years when her air
09:59:54 conditioning break down, when she need a new roof
09:59:57 on her home?
10:00:00 She's on fixed income.
10:00:01 But you are not going to be that -- to pay for
10:00:05 that placement, you are not going to there be
10:00:08 there to pay for that new roof, but you don't have
10:00:17 no sustainability, nothing in place.
10:00:21 I don't know what agency -- the responsibility of
10:00:32 a government agency to approve and go forward on.
10:00:38 The guys on MPO and all this stuff, who is
10:00:41 responsible for approving this project to go
10:00:43 forward?
10:00:43 >> Debby Hunt: This is a project that has been
10:00:49 approved over the last 20 years.
10:00:51 It's been in the long-range transportation plan,
10:00:55 and different parts have been in the
10:00:56 transportation improvement program for many years.
10:01:01 >>FRANK REDDICK: But you haven't put one concrete
10:01:07 building on.
10:01:09 >> We have gone through and continue to go through
10:01:12 the process with the Tampa interstate study,
10:01:15 because when Ybor -- when I-4 was a standard --
10:01:23 expanded from four Lane to six Lane, that was part
10:01:27 of the study and evaluation, and we have done a
10:01:28 lot of enhancements to the community as well as
10:01:32 setting up a fund for renovation for historic
10:01:35 homes.
10:01:36 In setting up that fund, $5 million, it's a
10:01:39 revolving loan program for the homeowners to
10:01:42 specifically restore historic homes.
10:01:44 $5 million to date has been used in that program
10:01:47 to restore homes in historic districts.
10:01:50 >>FRANK REDDICK: I'm fine with all of that.
10:01:54 And I heard all of this before.
10:01:55 What I am trying to get to the bottom is this.
10:02:00 If it's the federal transportation department who
10:02:04 can stop this project or if it's the MPO locally
10:02:07 has anything to do with stopping this project.
10:02:10 I'm trying to find out who can stop this project.
10:02:14 That's what I am trying to find out.
10:02:22 The Councilman who sits on MPO, you know, I have
10:02:26 read where the chairman came out and stated that
10:02:31 they are not moving forward with this.
10:02:33 I understand one of the members stated he would
10:02:35 not support this.
10:02:35 I just want to know whether it's going to be
10:02:39 stopped at the local level, MPO, or this is
10:02:44 something that has to be done by going through the
10:02:48 federal transportation secretary, and sending a
10:02:52 strong letter from the government authority saying
10:02:53 we don't want this in our city.
10:02:56 This is what I want to find out.
10:02:58 Who do we go to, to stop this?
10:03:01 >> The first would be the local Metropolitan
10:03:07 Planning Organization, June 22nd, looking and
10:03:09 adopting their transportation improvement program.
10:03:11 Also, we are happy to provide any comments that
10:03:15 are received it within our evaluation of the
10:03:21 project as it's moving forward.
10:03:24 Everything is taken into consideration.
10:03:28 You can also go directly to the FDOT secretary if
10:03:31 that is your choice.
10:03:32 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:03:34 And that's what I need to know.
10:03:36 Because I think it's just a disservice to the
10:03:39 people who live in these communities.
10:03:41 And when you put that demographic up there that
10:03:44 the people are going to be affected by this are
10:03:47 Hispanic and African-Americans, we have gone
10:03:49 through this before.
10:03:50 And I was a part of that process when it came to
10:03:54 West Tampa, and I'm just tired.
10:03:58 Every time I see you want to develop something,
10:04:01 you want to do urban design and all of this
10:04:06 planning, always Hispanic or African-Americans are
10:04:10 affected.
10:04:11 And when I looked at the study the other day I'm
10:04:13 sitting up there, and reading in the paper,
10:04:17 talking about baseball stadium.
10:04:21 So three out of the five is directly in the
10:04:24 African-American Hispanic community.
10:04:28 Why?
10:04:32 We are the ones that are affected by this all the
10:04:34 time.
10:04:35 And it time for this foolishness to stop.
10:04:37 And I am going to do everything in my power, and
10:04:42 everyone I can contact, to put a stop to this
10:04:44 foolishness that you are presenting to us this
10:04:46 morning.
10:04:47 And that's why I have got to go to the MPO, and
10:04:54 it's going to be done.
10:04:55 And if I have to go to the United States
10:04:57 department secretary, and I know people in
10:05:00 Washington who I need to reach out to.
10:05:02 This has got to stop.
10:05:03 And the worst thing you could have done this
10:05:06 morning is shown me the demographics, 48% white
10:05:12 and Hispanic are going to be affected by this.
10:05:14 >> May I respond?
10:05:16 >>FRANK REDDICK: I'm through it with.
10:05:17 Thank you, Madam Chair for putting up with me.
10:05:20 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
10:05:23 Before we go on, I have a question.
10:05:26 It's a 20-year plan.
10:05:29 And what I need to know if that plan was in place
10:05:33 for 20 years, when people purchased property along
10:05:38 this corridor that are now going to be -- taken
10:05:44 for the interstate, was there notice to these
10:05:48 people that this was part of the 20-year plan, and
10:05:52 that their home could be in jeopardy?
10:05:56 >> I don't know the direct yes-no answer to your
10:06:00 question on that.
10:06:01 But I do nobody that 70 to 80% of the property in
10:06:06 the footprint of the Tampa interstate study that
10:06:10 has been in place for the last 20 years are tenant
10:06:18 occupied.
10:06:21 They have been purchased, most likely investments
10:06:24 from what we are hearing.
10:06:25 We have not done the full analysis to be able to
10:06:27 tell you that.
10:06:27 But the information is and has been available,
10:06:31 yes, ma'am.
10:06:31 >>YVONNE CAPIN: When they purchased that home,
10:06:36 investment or otherwise, in the closing statement,
10:06:40 or anytime at all, did it notify them that this
10:06:44 was part of a 20-year plan and could be purchased,
10:06:48 and would be purchased?
10:06:49 >> I'm not aware that we have the authority to do
10:06:56 that.
10:07:03 To answer your question I would have to research
10:07:04 that and find out, and exactly what goes on in
10:07:08 that part of the process.
10:07:09 >>YVONNE CAPIN: My husband was a real estate
10:07:12 broker.
10:07:13 And I understand the responsibility of the real
10:07:14 estate brokers.
10:07:16 And real estate sales people, they need to notify
10:07:21 people of.
10:07:21 I don't know that a 20-year plan, you purchase a
10:07:27 home 20 years ago or 19 years ago, and that is
10:07:32 part of -- I would like to know that because I
10:07:35 think it's very important as to the decision
10:07:38 people made when they purchased these properties.
10:07:41 Anyway, I'm sorry.
10:07:42 Thank you.
10:07:43 >> I'm happy to follow up.
10:07:45 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I keep apologizing here.
10:07:49 Anyone else has a question?
10:07:51 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you for the very
10:07:58 thorough presentation.
10:07:59 It did answer a lot of questions and covered quite
10:08:02 a bit of ground, and I learned some new things dab
10:08:05 that I hadn't known before.
10:08:08 I'm interested in a couple of things.
10:08:12 When you said that the interchange, the I-4/275
10:08:18 downtown interchange is not fully funded, I have
10:08:23 got the spreadsheet that shows the funding broken
10:08:29 down by years, broken down by categories segments
10:08:34 of the TBX.
10:08:36 And the downtown interchange segment, and it shows
10:08:46 just a small expanse of $5,000 in fiscal '17.
10:08:53 It shows 7 million 825 fifty in fiscal '18.
10:09:03 Then nothing for the next two years.
10:09:04 And 58 million 7 and change in fiscal '21. So a
10:09:16 total of 65 million 837 when all of that is added
10:09:19 up together.
10:09:31 So when you say it's not fully funded, these
10:09:34 numbers are purely projections of what will be
10:09:34 needed in fiscal '18 and '21 would have to be
10:09:37 approved by the state in order to complete the
10:09:39 project?
10:09:40 >> Yes, ma'am. The numbers that are there, as I
10:09:47 have said in other presentations -- and if I
10:09:50 didn't say it today, I apologize.
10:09:51 The downtown interchange investments, the 1.2 to
10:09:54 1.5 billion dollars for construction.
10:09:58 So, no, that is not funded at this point in time
10:10:01 We have right-of-way dollars.
10:10:03 We have some design dollars the moneys in the '17
10:10:15 transportation program is less than 500,000 for
10:10:17 right-of-way acquisition which would be for the
10:10:19 opportunity that I suggested earlier.
10:10:23 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Well, in this right-of-way
10:10:31 acquisition, a second category, falls between 5
10:10:40 and 6 but it did not have a segment number on that
10:10:44 for the right-of-way acquisition.
10:10:46 And that was the 24.5, almost 24.6 million that
10:10:52 most of that was moved, the acquisition to State
10:10:56 Road 60 interchange.
10:10:58 >> Correct.
10:10:59 For the purchase of the intermodal terminal in
10:11:02 Westshore.
10:11:03 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So the 1.2 to 1.5 billion for
10:11:14 reconstruction of the downtown interchange is
10:11:16 including the 65 million that's on the
10:11:22 spreadsheet?
10:11:23 And if there's only 65, 857 thirty three dollars
10:11:30 total for the downtown interchange through 2021,
10:11:36 when is the 1.2 to 1.5 billion going to be needed?
10:11:40 >> Debby Hunt: That will have to be programmed
10:11:47 prior to us moving forward with construction.
10:11:52 So what you see before you as you know, every year
10:11:54 we go through an update process of our work
10:11:56 program, and we take an look at revenues, and we
10:11:59 look at changes in revenues, and when the funding
10:12:02 is identified for the project, and it will show up
10:12:06 in the presentation that we do in the
10:12:08 November-December time frame to the Hillsborough,
10:12:14 and at that point we know that it's fully funded.
10:12:17 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So this spreadsheet covers a
10:12:20 period -- a period of five years.
10:12:22 >> It does.
10:12:23 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And if they are 1.2 to
10:12:25 1.5 billion is not allocated, approved, or
10:12:29 otherwise programmed, we are looking at that in
10:12:35 maybe year 6, year 7?
10:12:37 I guess what I am getting at, it seems that a lot
10:12:40 of the other segments have been accelerated.
10:12:45 The planning, the design, I repeatedly hear that
10:12:51 we have got the funding, that if we don't -- if we
10:12:54 don't move forward with it now, we are going toe
10:12:56 lose all this funding to another area.
10:13:00 To Orlando or Miami or Jacksonville or various
10:13:03 other parts of the state.
10:13:05 So to me, how are we going to lose funding if it's
10:13:10 not been allocated or programmed past the next
10:13:15 five years?
10:13:16 And honestly, we both know that the legislature in
10:13:22 '17 and '18 and '19 and '20 and '21 will have to
10:13:27 approve FDOT transportation budget to include all
10:13:31 the projections that we currently have before any
10:13:37 of this becomes reality.
10:13:40 You know, for right now, there's numbers on a
10:13:43 page.
10:13:45 So explain to me why I keep hearing that we are
10:13:48 going to lose this money to other areas when there
10:13:53 isn't actual real dollars committed now.
10:13:58 The only real dollars now are, you know, the
10:14:01 '15-16 fiscal.
10:14:04 We don't have '16-17 fiscal yet approved.
10:14:11 I'm sorry, 16.
10:14:14 >> 16 begins July 1st.
10:14:16 >> But 17-18 now.
10:14:17 Sorry.
10:14:17 I was a year behind.
10:14:18 >> Correct.
10:14:19 When we submit our program of projects to the
10:14:22 legislature -- I am kind of go around the mulberry
10:14:26 bush -- pull the different parts and pieces
10:14:30 together to help you understand our funding.
10:14:35 The legislature prior to the session beginning
10:14:38 each year is the department's five year work
10:14:40 program.
10:14:41 They are approving for budget the first year.
10:14:44 But they know what's in that program for five
10:14:49 years.
10:14:50 And they know.
10:14:52 We get asked questions on all different types of
10:14:54 projects throughout the session, for what's funded
10:14:57 in the program.
10:14:58 >> It's similar to what we do with our community
10:15:01 investments.
10:15:02 >> Capital improvement program, yes, ma'am.
10:15:05 We also during the last legislative session were
10:15:10 given the authority to bond funds.
10:15:14 Of the 3.3 billion that is necessary for the
10:15:16 overall project, more than half of that is already
10:15:20 programmed on projects, parts of the system over
10:15:26 the five to ten-year period.
10:15:28 When I say ten-year period, the department has a
10:15:31 ten-year program for the strategic intermodal
10:15:34 system.
10:15:35 Those are our largest projects.
10:15:36 And so we need to be able to project that when we
10:15:39 are going to do those projects.
10:15:41 So what has been anticipated, and the goal has
10:15:47 been is to bring all of the projects together so
10:15:50 that they are constructed somewhat at the same
10:15:54 time, so the system opens up as a system when
10:15:58 construction is completed.
10:16:01 So as we continue the discussion, and we work
10:16:04 through the process, the funding will be looked at
10:16:08 as part of the overall bonding ability.
10:16:12 There's been some discussion on what does it mean
10:16:14 if you bond a project.
10:16:16 What it means is we get the funds as a loan, or
10:16:20 through the bond program, and we pay them back
10:16:22 through the state transportation trust fund, which
10:16:25 is made up of state and federal gas tax dollars.
10:16:28 So the likelihood of us being able to pull all the
10:16:33 funding together to move forward at this point in
10:16:36 time is very strong.
10:16:37 The reason -- and you raised the question about
10:16:43 why it goes somewhere else?
10:16:44 Because 86 percent of the funding identified for
10:16:47 the TBX program, which is $3.3 billion project
10:16:53 that we have been talking about over the last
10:16:56 probably 12 months is funded through the state
10:17:01 strategic intermodal program, which means the
10:17:05 highest priority projects around the state in the
10:17:09 different regions are what competes for those
10:17:12 funds.
10:17:13 So if it does not support a major project in that
10:17:21 area then the chance for that funding to be moved
10:17:25 elsewhere is there and is very likely and we have
10:17:27 seen it in the past.
10:17:28 >>LISA MONTELIONE: That clarifies the statement,
10:17:31 but we are talking about bonded funds.
10:17:34 And you said which would be -- and did I hear you
10:17:38 correctly, partly paid by state and federal gas
10:17:43 tax dollars?
10:17:43 >> It would be repaid, not in part, it would be
10:17:46 repaid by state and federal gas tax dollars it.
10:17:49 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So we have a project that's
10:17:52 going to charge a toll in order for people to use
10:17:56 it, and then we have the same people who are
10:18:02 paying the toll paying gas tax and state and
10:18:08 federal -- state and federal gas tax, the same
10:18:11 people are going to be charged twice for adding
10:18:17 capacity, because there's no doubt that we need,
10:18:21 you know, some kind of transportation package,
10:18:25 which is, you know, a variety of different
10:18:29 approaches for the 600,000 people that going to be
10:18:34 moving here.
10:18:36 But to ask people to pay not once but twice for
10:18:43 something that is responsible, the way I see it,
10:18:46 of government is not reference for funding
10:18:55 infrastructure.
10:19:05 It's in this case something that we have talked
10:19:07 about different methods of funding for
10:19:11 transportation, but the idea that the state has
10:19:18 taken when former secretary Prasad was still the
10:19:24 secretary of FDOT, was that no capacity would be
10:19:28 built unless it's toll.
10:19:30 But he didn't say that the state and federal gas
10:19:37 tax funds would still be used on top of the toll
10:19:41 to fund that capacity.
10:19:43 >> The beauty of it is the state and federal gas
10:19:48 tax --
10:19:52 >> I'm sorry, I'm not sure -- sorry.
10:19:54 >> The toll revenues are used for the operating
10:19:58 and maintenance, and service to pay the bond.
10:20:04 So I understand what you are saying.
10:20:05 And the revenues are used for operating and
10:20:10 maintenance.
10:20:10 The revenues are used to repay the bond.
10:20:13 The bond is guaranteed by state transportation
10:20:18 trust fund.
10:20:18 So if need be, that's what would be used.
10:20:21 Otherwise, those funds are used to build other
10:20:24 projects.
10:20:25 So it's a very complex --
10:20:32 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I'm sure it is --
10:20:33 >> Scenario.
10:20:35 I'm happy to go over that with you.
10:20:37 Since there are many parts and pieces to it so
10:20:40 that if for some reason the revenue was not there
10:20:45 that the trust fund would be used.
10:20:46 With the revenue coming in from it, that can be
10:20:49 used to repay the bond.
10:20:50 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Councilman Suarez and I
10:20:57 attended the training several years ago when we
10:21:00 joined -- 2012, shortly after we were elected.
10:21:06 We learned how complex transportation funding was,
10:21:11 and it was a tremendous education, and I have
10:21:13 always recommended that anybody who sits on the
10:21:16 MPO go to be that training because you learn a lot
10:21:20 about transportation funding, and also, you know,
10:21:26 that PEA soup of acronyms that is so well liked in
10:21:31 transportation.
10:21:32 So that's one piece of my concern.
10:21:36 And the other is -- there's actually two others,
10:21:42 quickly.
10:21:43 The PB and E study has not been -- the update has
10:21:47 not been completed yet.
10:21:49 >> No.
10:21:50 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Dough we have an idea of when
10:21:52 that's going to be, projected? We can project
10:21:55 funds out for ten years K.we project when TB&E is
10:21:59 going to come back, the updates?
10:22:02 >> We will go to public hearing with a draft in
10:22:04 the spring.
10:22:04 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And I think Councilman Reddick
10:22:12 asked about, you know, dates of when this project
10:22:15 is going to be moving forward within a concrete
10:22:22 motion, a figurative term.
10:22:25 So if that public hearing is in the spring, how
10:22:29 does that align with the project timeline?
10:22:32 >> Once it goes to a public hearing and we get
10:22:35 public comments back, we then finalize the
10:22:38 reevaluation document and submit it for approval.
10:22:42 Once it's approved, then in the process for
10:22:46 that --
10:22:47 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I guess what I am asking is
10:22:49 that you are acquiring property, you are doing
10:22:52 plans, you are having the community meetings, and
10:22:57 all this while we don't have the update PD and E
10:23:02 done.
10:23:03 It won't -- and will go to public hearing like you
10:23:06 said in the spring of 2017.
10:23:08 So how much of this work that you have already
10:23:11 done -- how much can be done between now and 2017,
10:23:17 spring of 2017, nearly a year from now?
10:23:21 We just started summer.
10:23:26 -- is going to be done before we actually get that
10:23:29 update?
10:23:29 >> Debby Hunt: We are still reviewing concepts of
10:23:41 what the final configuration will be.
10:23:43 We have two concepts out therein right now that we
10:23:45 have been use in the charrette process in the
10:23:48 public meetings, and all of our library tours that
10:23:53 people Look at and comment on.
10:23:55 We are still are running traffic to see if those
10:23:58 concepts work because what you do is you develop a
10:24:00 concept, and then you have to run your traffic,
10:24:03 model it to make sure that it works.
10:24:05 And then we make adjustments based on the
10:24:07 information that we find out.
10:24:10 We will be doing that between now and the spring
10:24:12 to come out with -- the concepts that we can take
10:24:17 to the public hearing next year.
10:24:20 >> So we will be continuing public could
10:24:25 involvement.
10:24:26 We will be continuing working with the community.
10:24:28 We will be continuing to evaluate all of the
10:24:30 information that we have to evaluate as a part of
10:24:33 the project development and environmental study
10:24:37 for TB&E.
10:24:42 So that we can pull all that information together
10:24:44 and say this is what the recommendation is moving
10:24:47 forward.
10:24:47 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And what about the federal
10:24:51 highway title?
10:24:55 I always get it wrong.
10:24:56 Title 6.
10:24:58 I always want to say title 5.
10:25:00 >> We haven't heard anything from the Federal
10:25:03 Highway Administration.
10:25:06 Our past experience with them on a title 6
10:25:08 complaint would be that we have to submit
10:25:11 something to them so they have something to
10:25:13 respond to.
10:25:14 >> The last word that we had was a letter saying
10:25:21 that they had accepted the request for the review
10:25:25 by the community.
10:25:25 >> Generally, nothing is reviewed until we submit
10:25:34 something that gives them something to review so
10:25:37 they can determine whether we followed the process
10:25:39 or we didn't.
10:25:40 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So there's an action item to
10:25:42 follow up with federal highway to find out what it
10:25:44 is they need from you, and what the timeline is
10:25:48 for them to review that.
10:25:51 And I think other than getting assurances that all
10:25:56 the community input that you have received so far,
10:25:59 you know, there's not a way for us to get that in
10:26:03 writing, but that concludes my questions for now.
10:26:08 Thank you, Ms. Hunt.
10:26:10 >> Councilman Cohen.
10:26:17 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I'll go next that's okay.
10:26:21 Thank you so much.
10:26:24 Thank you for being here and thanks for the
10:26:26 presentation.
10:26:26 I have a couple of questions.
10:26:28 And I apologize.
10:26:31 Are you an engineer?
10:26:33 >> No, sir.
10:26:33 >> You are not an engineer.
10:26:35 There are a few at FDOT that not engineers.
10:26:38 >> That's correct.
10:26:38 >> So you are not trained in what those guys do,
10:26:41 or ladies.
10:26:42 Those people.
10:26:43 Excuse me.
10:26:45 We are from Tampa.
10:26:45 We say guys all the time.
10:26:50 It's not a big deal.
10:26:51 I have a few questions.
10:26:52 First of all, what's the shelf life of a typical
10:26:58 highway, when you put down the concrete, how long
10:27:01 is it supposed to last?
10:27:02 Because I know you are continuing maintenance and
10:27:04 so on.
10:27:05 But typically it's a 20-year period, is it --
10:27:09 because obviously you are repaying bonds.
10:27:11 And that's usually based on lots of factors
10:27:14 including what the cost is going to be of putting
10:27:16 down those roads.
10:27:18 So major repairs, minor repairs and so on.
10:27:21 But there's a cost associated with, and they
10:27:25 always look at, this is what we think is going to
10:27:27 last.
10:27:27 We think it's going to last 20 years, 25 years.
10:27:30 What's the sense of FDOT?
10:27:34 How long do some of these things last?
10:27:36 >> Depending on the type of project.
10:27:37 If you looked at for example the Howard Frankland
10:27:40 bridging.
10:27:40 Let's talk about are this project.
10:27:42 What are we thinking about in terms of that?
10:27:44 >> The downtown interchange would have a shelf --
10:27:49 if it's built to full configuration, not interim
10:27:52 that was built a few years ago, if you build to
10:27:54 the full configuration, that should have a shelf
10:27:56 life of somewhere close to 50 years.
10:28:01 >>MIKE SUAREZ: 50 years.
10:28:02 And that includes all the major-minor
10:28:04 modifications to be done during the course of it?
10:28:06 >> correct.
10:28:07 >>MIKE SUAREZ: If you go to be Chicago and Dan
10:28:10 Ryan, it looks like they are always fixing it.
10:28:13 They have a locality more environmental conditions
10:28:14 that we don't have. I was curious.
10:28:16 50 years is kind of like the top end shelf life.
10:28:31 And the reason I am asking is because obviously
10:28:33 this decision both in terms of the time frame how
10:28:37 long is it supposed to last, and the cost.
10:28:41 It's a huge cost because you are not only getting
10:28:43 money from the trust fund and from other sources,
10:28:48 but you are also leveraging it and going to the
10:28:50 bond markets in order to get more money, which
10:28:52 makes it even more expensive.
10:28:54 That's just the way we do bid projects.
10:28:58 I understand that.
10:28:59 I was just curious about that because when you are
10:29:02 looking at that much money, there's a lot of
10:29:04 questions about how we are supposed to spend it.
10:29:08 Now, one of the things I was curious about, I saw
10:29:11 the current TBX concept plan, this one, and it
10:29:16 looks like and some of the discussion was about
10:29:20 making sure that we get a better traffic flow as
10:29:22 opposed to it being mostly an ancillary Tampa
10:29:25 Street which is kind of the main exit when you
10:29:28 come off the interstate when you are going into
10:29:30 downtown Tampa.
10:29:33 With the TBX, does it look at more than one
10:29:36 interchange?
10:29:37 Because I'm looking at this H.it doesn't look like
10:29:39 there's other places to get off of the express
10:29:45 other than what we currently have.
10:29:46 And I just want to confirm that because I am
10:29:48 looking at the map.
10:29:49 And that's what it looks like to me.
10:29:51 I'm not sure. I just want to get your answer on
10:29:53 that.
10:29:54 >> Debby Hunt: In the downtown area you are going
10:29:57 to have access from the general purpose lanes, and
10:29:59 from your express lanes.
10:30:01 Because the downtown is a major activity center.
10:30:04 The express lanes throughout the rest of the
10:30:06 system have a limited number of access points,
10:30:09 because the intention is for your through
10:30:13 movements where you are going to or from one of
10:30:15 the major activity centers.
10:30:17 So in downtown --
10:30:20 >>MIKE SUAREZ: My question is, you know, on the
10:30:23 general purpose lanes, are we going to keep the
10:30:25 same exits that we currently have, or is that
10:30:28 going to exchange and then I have a follow-up
10:30:30 question after that.
10:30:31 That's my first question, in terms of, you know,
10:30:33 general access, because based on what you put in
10:30:38 the concept and what you mentioned which is trying
10:30:40 to get more areas for people to not congregate off
10:30:44 of one or two streets because it causes traffic
10:30:47 jams, and because it becomes a problem with people
10:30:49 coming into work or leaving work and so on.
10:30:51 So I am just curious as to what the concept is
10:30:54 actually saying in terms of the be interchanges in
10:30:57 downtown Tampa.
10:30:57 >> Your ramps will not change significantly.
10:31:00 But your ability to use different roads will
10:31:03 change.
10:31:04 And that's what we are trying to accomplish.
10:31:09 I think the main one I would use -- and I'm
10:31:11 looking --
10:31:16 >>MIKE SUAREZ: That's why I asked if you were an
10:31:18 engineer.
10:31:18 You may not be able to answer.
10:31:20 >> The access, the ramp will come in, but it won't
10:31:25 just feed into Ashley.
10:31:27 It will feed so that it feathers the traffic to
10:31:31 the different north-south roadways.
10:31:33 >>MIKE SUAREZ: And that's kind of what I was
10:31:34 asking.
10:31:35 It looks like based on what you have here in the
10:31:37 design, or the graphic that you gave us, that it's
10:31:42 going to peel off onto whether it's Franklin or
10:31:45 Florida or New Tampa going north or south, Marion
10:31:50 street is one of them, and that's what you are
10:31:52 saying, on general purpose Lane you are going to
10:31:53 be able to get off on each one of them?
10:31:56 >> Correct.
10:31:57 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I wanted to confirm that.
10:31:58 I was looking at it but I wasn't sure about it.
10:32:01 In terms of the number of access points onto the
10:32:07 interstate, onto the TBX, the express and off the
10:32:11 express, how many do you have along the way from,
10:32:14 let's say, downtown Tampa all the way up to Bearss
10:32:18 Avenue?
10:32:19 How many do you have on the concept?
10:32:24 >> There are two.
10:32:26 In between Busch and Fowler.
10:32:30 And --
10:32:32 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Excuse me.
10:32:33 So it would be a new entranceway onto that?
10:32:36 >> No.
10:32:36 The lanes will drop and people will have enough
10:32:39 room to get over to the Fowler access.
10:32:44 >>MIKE SUAREZ: So coming along the interstate and
10:32:46 then popping up somewhere between those two
10:32:49 streets?
10:32:49 >> No.
10:32:50 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Explain to the me because I am a
10:32:53 little bit confused.
10:32:54 When you say between, you said between Busch and
10:32:57 Fowler, right?
10:32:59 >> Yes, sir.
10:33:00 >>MIKE SUAREZ: You said between.
10:33:01 What does that mean? I'm not sure.
10:33:03 >> If you are in the northbound Lane, you will be
10:33:08 traveling north.
10:33:08 When you pass Busch, the Lane will end, and you
10:33:12 will merge into the I-275 traffic to get off at
10:33:17 the Fowler Avenue exit.
10:33:20 Continuing north.
10:33:20 >>MIKE SUAREZ: That would be your entrance point
10:33:24 whether you are taking TBX north or south, right?
10:33:27 >> Yes, sir.
10:33:28 >>MIKE SUAREZ: That's the furthest north there
10:33:31 would be along 275.
10:33:32 >> Yes, on this project.
10:33:34 So the master plan shows a whole interchange but
10:33:37 that's not included at this point in time.
10:33:39 >>MIKE SUAREZ: And then where would be the
10:33:41 next -- where would be the second one?
10:33:44 >> The second one would be in the Martin Luther
10:33:46 King area.
10:33:49 And we are still determining exactly how that's
10:33:51 going to work.
10:33:53 The general concept for where it would be located.
10:33:56 Not 100% sure on the details.
10:33:58 >>MIKE SUAREZ: And then after MLK, where else
10:34:00 would there be before you get to, let's say, the
10:34:04 bridge?
10:34:04 >> The Howard Frankland bridge?
10:34:06 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Yes.
10:34:07 >> In the downtown area.
10:34:08 >>MIKE SUAREZ: One downtown.
10:34:09 >> And then one in the Westshore area.
10:34:11 And then once you gong through the Westshore area,
10:34:14 the two lanes, there's two lanes in each direction
10:34:17 between downtown and Westshore.
10:34:18 When you are heading westbound, as you get into
10:34:23 the Westshore area, you will have a Lane that goes
10:34:25 straight, that continues over the bridge.
10:34:27 And you will have a Lane that goes north that will
10:34:31 give you direct access to Tampa International, or
10:34:35 give you direct access to the veterans expressway.
10:34:38 >>MIKE SUAREZ: So essentially there is four entry
10:34:41 points onto TBX within the City of Tampa, it
10:34:45 sounds like.
10:34:45 >> I'm just making sure there's not one that I
10:34:51 missed.
10:34:52 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Don't worry about those.
10:34:58 Within the city limits it sound like.
10:34:59 >> Yes, sir.
10:35:00 Because Bearss Avenue is not in our jurisdiction.
10:35:03 And that's why when you say there might be another
10:35:06 interchange.
10:35:07 And we are going to have an intermodal center and
10:35:12 purchase the land in the Westshore area.
10:35:13 You mention add second intermodal.
10:35:16 Is that the one purchased in downtown Tampa for
10:35:18 the high-speed rail?
10:35:19 >> It was purchased for high-speed rail but it's
10:35:22 always been intended to be an intermodal center.
10:35:25 Both sites.
10:35:27 >>MIKE SUAREZ: It's the old orient jail site.
10:35:31 Thank you.
10:35:37 What do you know about being in jail?
10:35:39 (Laughter)
10:35:39 And that's why I wanted to make sure.
10:35:41 You have two intermodal centers.
10:35:43 One will be in the Westshore area.
10:35:45 One Morgan street.
10:35:46 So one that we purchased and one that we already
10:35:49 own.
10:35:49 We, FDOT.
10:35:51 So I'm trying to get to some of my questions in my
10:35:55 head based on some of your answers already, which
10:35:57 is I received your letter that you wrote me
10:36:01 concerning some of the uses for transit when it
10:36:05 comes to TBX.
10:36:06 And I have a couple of questions about the letter.
10:36:08 It's a letter that was dated May 26th.
10:36:11 And you mentioned the public buses could use the
10:36:16 express Lanes for free.
10:36:17 Butt what you put on there is that's a policy
10:36:20 that's already in place.
10:36:21 Correct?
10:36:21 >> Yes, sir.
10:36:22 >>MIKE SUAREZ: So if, for example, this project
10:36:26 does go forward, regardless of something that's
10:36:31 going to happen at MPO, something may happen at
10:36:33 USDOT, something may happen in legislature in
10:36:37 terms of money, whatever the process is, you would
10:36:40 have to enter into a memorandum of understanding
10:36:44 with Hart in order to make that access free of
10:36:48 charge to everyone?
10:36:50 And then I have a follow-up question to that if
10:36:52 you can answer that first.
10:36:53 >> Debby Hunt: I am not sure what the process is,
10:37:00 how that would work.
10:37:01 >>MIKE SUAREZ: It looks like there's a policy in
10:37:03 place that allows it.
10:37:06 Allowing it and actually getting it done are two
10:37:08 separate things.
10:37:09 And that's why I appreciate the information, but
10:37:12 it doesn't really give me any comfort that it's
10:37:14 actually being done because there's so many other
10:37:16 details that need to be worked out.
10:37:18 The second thing -- and this is part of your
10:37:22 letter to me, and it said the requirement for the
10:37:26 toll-free use is to have a sun pass sticker tag on
10:37:29 each of the buses.
10:37:31 Now, typically -- and I don't nobody if you do
10:37:33 this in any other part of Florida in terms of
10:37:35 allowing free access to transit system.
10:37:40 Would that mean that FDOT would just, you know,
10:37:44 not charge for that bus if you have access to the
10:37:47 tollway?
10:37:48 >> It would be a sticker tag and nonrevenue.
10:37:53 >>MIKE SUAREZ: It's like we are clicking it when
10:37:55 they go through but there is not going to be any
10:37:57 exchange from Hart to FDOT at all?
10:37:59 >> No, sir.
10:38:00 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I want to clarify that because I
10:38:02 saw in the there.
10:38:03 And, you know, when we are dealing with, as you
10:38:05 know, we are trying to put things in a
10:38:08 straightforward way in government.
10:38:09 Sometimes it doesn't seem very straightforward.
10:38:11 And when you are reading it.
10:38:13 I want to make sure I got the answer ton that.
10:38:15 It wasn't anything that is correct you said there.
10:38:17 It's just that I didn't understand it based on
10:38:19 what you had put forward.
10:38:21 So let's say, for example, this project did not go
10:38:26 forward for whatever reason, some of the reasons
10:38:29 that were mentioned already, and we still need to
10:38:31 work on the malfunction junction.
10:38:34 That part needs to be fixed.
10:38:36 And there's been always a lot of discussion.
10:38:38 And having been on a lot of the transit boards and
10:38:41 transportation boards, we have all heard it, which
10:38:44 who the hell designs the entranceway onto I-4
10:38:49 going north -- excuse me, going south on 275.
10:38:56 I know that you are not an engineer.
10:38:58 At least we know what you do.
10:39:00 That's the good news.
10:39:00 The bad news is that it's something that needs to
10:39:02 be changed and a significant change.
10:39:05 And originally when I used to be on the MPO, some
10:39:08 of the discussion that my colleagues on the MPO
10:39:10 will agree with this, the main issue about this
10:39:15 change was not about TBX itself, it was primarily
10:39:18 about fixing malfunction junction.
10:39:20 And that was really -- sold to us one way or the
10:39:26 other, but we knew that was going to be a big
10:39:28 project that we were going to look at and that we
10:39:30 were going to have to approve through the MPO plop
10:39:33 sees.
10:39:33 The TBX stuff I rolled off of the MPO last year,
10:39:39 and my colleague Mr. Maniscalco is on there now,
10:39:42 and then the TBX discussion, not that it wasn't
10:39:46 already a plan proposed, but it started to heat up
10:39:50 probably last summer, last fall, right around that
10:39:54 time frame.
10:39:55 So, you know, our thoughts on the MPO side were
10:39:59 the malfunction junction, yes.
10:40:00 But we didn't know that it was going to change to
10:40:04 have some of the other aspects of TBX.
10:40:07 And again, I just wanted to kind of point that
10:40:11 out.
10:40:11 We know that malfunction junction needs to be
10:40:13 fixed.
10:40:14 I think everyone in the audience, everyone that
10:40:17 watches it on TV knows that needs to be done.
10:40:20 And they can't be mutually exclusive which means
10:40:23 that TBX doesn't necessarily have to go through to
10:40:26 fix malfunction junction, and vice versa.
10:40:29 We have to do both on the other side.
10:40:31 Now that things --
10:40:32 >> May I comment on that?
10:40:34 Sure.
10:40:35 Go ahead.
10:40:35 >> Thank you.
10:40:37 Going back to the original Tampa interstate study,
10:40:40 that study included a completely build of the
10:40:46 downtown interchange.
10:40:47 It included the transit envelope.
10:40:51 >>MIKE SUAREZ: When was that published?
10:40:54 >> In the late 90s.
10:40:57 97.
10:40:57 >>MIKE SUAREZ: And again the reason I was
10:41:00 mentioning it -- and again, I'm a big fan of
10:41:03 government -- I guarantee you, I only got elected
10:41:10 in 2011.
10:41:11 So that ten-year period I had other things to do
10:41:14 besides reading the interchange plan and
10:41:17 everything else that was going to happen.
10:41:19 I think all of us would be in agreement on that,
10:41:21 that we were probably doing other things besides
10:41:23 reading up on what FDOT's plans were in the 1998
10:41:27 or 1997.
10:41:28 So I get your point.
10:41:30 But, you know, to be fair, I don't think any of us
10:41:33 up in that this was coming down the pike until it
10:41:36 started to come down the pike.
10:41:37 So we'll agree on that.
10:41:40 In terms of -- and the reason I am asking about
10:41:43 the transit stuff, and you know that a couple of
10:41:46 weeks ago, our panel, talking about autonomous
10:41:51 vehicles, and one of the things I mentioned at the
10:41:53 end of that meeting, which is that the technology
10:41:55 is going so fast that we still need to balance out
10:42:00 what the needs are of the community, meaning that
10:42:05 what's going to be equitable?
10:42:08 In addition to what's doable.
10:42:10 I think we are at that point now here, which is
10:42:12 what is equitable for both the way we want to get
10:42:16 people around, and then secondly how it affects
10:42:19 the city as we try to grow and we try it and make
10:42:24 sure that the things that we do here are going to
10:42:26 make the quality of life better for everyone else.
10:42:30 So that's where we keep getting this, day okay.
10:42:34 And I know that -- and I expect this publicly so I
10:42:38 am not saying anything out of school and I am
10:42:39 think you probably heard this before -- your job
10:42:41 is not about building the city.
10:42:43 Your job is about getting people from point A to
10:42:46 point B.
10:42:47 Sometimes C, too.
10:42:48 Okay.
10:42:49 So it's hard for us to kind of come to agreement
10:42:55 as to what we want to see in the Tampa Heights,
10:42:58 Seminole Heights, you know, the downtown area in
10:43:02 terms of development, without, you know,
10:43:05 destroying what is already organically happening.
10:43:08 And that's really the difficulty that we have.
10:43:10 And I think -- and you probably have seen this --
10:43:13 I know you have -- secretary fox had made, you
10:43:18 know, some statement about how we have designed
10:43:22 interstates in urban area in the past, and how he
10:43:26 has both seen that as a detriment to the way that
10:43:31 affected the neighborhood, and also that there may
10:43:33 be other ways that we can do what FDOT and USDOT
10:43:40 want to do and what cities want to do and I think
10:43:43 we need to figure out what that agreement is.
10:43:45 Now, I think the more conversations we have, the
10:43:47 better off we are going to be, because let's face
10:43:49 it, unanimity is not something that comes from
10:43:53 government.
10:43:53 We are not going to be all unanimous but we also
10:43:56 know that we want to try to cooperate as much as
10:43:58 possible.
10:43:59 And so what I would like to see come forward --
10:44:04 and my colleagues that sit on the MPO are going to
10:44:07 have this discussion in less than a couple of
10:44:12 weeks -- in two weeks exactly, yes -- so in two
10:44:16 weeks to really talk about this because the MPO is
10:44:18 the first stop.
10:44:19 You know, there are several members of the MPO
10:44:21 that are in favor of TBX plan.
10:44:25 There are some that are against it and others that
10:44:27 are probably going to make a decision coming up on
10:44:30 the 22nd.
10:44:32 For me, I look at it as we need to revisit what
10:44:35 this plan is and the design of it to make it more
10:44:39 accommodating to what the neighborhoods and the
10:44:41 city itself have been doing to make our city a
10:44:46 much more livable place.
10:44:47 And I think there's some agreement that we can
10:44:49 come to.
10:44:50 And as you said, we have not amassed all the
10:44:54 dollars yet.
10:44:54 So there's plenty much time for us to look at
10:44:57 this.
10:44:57 There's plenty of time for us to kind of come up
10:44:59 with a design that is actually going to help the
10:45:02 city in our way of looking at making our streets
10:45:05 more livable, walkable, you know, enjoyable for
10:45:08 most people, and at the same time trying to
10:45:10 accommodate some of the goals that FDOT has.
10:45:14 I don't think there's any disagreement there.
10:45:16 I think we all nobody we need the interstate.
10:45:18 Nobody wants to shut down the interstate.
10:45:20 But we also need to figure out exactly how to live
10:45:23 in harmony with what we have already been doing
10:45:25 and what is going to happen in the future.
10:45:28 So, chair, thank you very much, Mrs. Hunt, for
10:45:32 coming here and talking to us.
10:45:34 Thank you, chair.
10:45:37 >>YVONNE CAPIN: You're welcome.
10:45:38 Councilman Cohen.
10:45:39 >>HARRY COHEN: Thank you.
10:45:40 I have a couple of questions.
10:45:42 But before I start, I think that what Councilman
10:45:44 Suarez had, I can't put it any better than he just
10:45:52 did.
10:45:52 But the fact of the matter is that in life you
10:45:56 oftentimes have conflicting goals, and you have
10:46:00 just simply very much to find a way of making
10:46:03 things work.
10:46:05 And I think that one of the reasons we decided to
10:46:07 have this discussion in our CRA meeting is because
10:46:10 here is where we really concentrate on the needs
10:46:15 of the city.
10:46:16 And the MPO is a much more regional -- much more
10:46:21 regional perspective but it's very, very
10:46:23 appropriate to really highlight some of the issues
10:46:26 that I'm sure are going to continue to come up in
10:46:29 public comment today.
10:46:30 We have heard over and over again over the past
10:46:32 year as we have been discussing. This it's very
10:46:35 appropriate, I think, to have it here.
10:46:37 I want to ask you three questions.
10:46:39 And be the first, these are some of the most
10:46:45 common questions that get asked about this
10:46:47 project.
10:46:47 And the first one is this.
10:46:49 Why are we not using the money for this project
10:46:53 for what I would call transit as opposed to roads?
10:47:04 People say in public comment, they will say, we
10:47:06 want transit options, we don't want more roads.
10:47:10 Why don't you use this money for transit?
10:47:12 >> Debby Hunt.
10:47:15 The short answer is because this community does
10:47:19 not have an adopted transit plan.
10:47:26 The last plan that was done was the alternative
10:47:31 analysis in 2010 that went to the referendum, and
10:47:34 it did not get completed.
10:47:36 So there was never a preferred alternative adopted
10:47:41 by Hart and by vote of the community, whether it
10:47:46 the City of Tampa or the county.
10:47:50 Without that the federal government nor the state
10:47:53 government can provide funds for capital to build
10:47:58 the system.
10:47:59 There has to be an adopted preferred alternative
10:48:05 and there has to be a 30 year commitment built
10:48:07 local government to fund the operating and
10:48:09 maintenance of that system.
10:48:11 And then the federal government and the state
10:48:13 government can provide the majority of the capital
10:48:17 funds to build that system.
10:48:19 >>HARRY COHEN: I don't think anyone would argue
10:48:23 with the premise that the community has not come
10:48:29 up with a comprehensive transit plan moving
10:48:32 forward.
10:48:32 We clearly, as a community, have come to no
10:48:36 consensus on that issue.
10:48:38 Maybe they will tonight but who knows?
10:48:44 The second question.
10:48:45 And if anyone wants to follow up on that one, I'm
10:48:49 sure Ms. Hunt may want to get more into the
10:48:54 details of it.
10:48:55 The second question is, what goes away if the TBX
10:49:03 is removed?
10:49:06 What goes away?
10:49:07 It's not just the improvements to the interstate
10:49:13 from Bearss Avenue to downtown Tampa or
10:49:17 malfunction junction.
10:49:18 What else is a part of the plan?
10:49:20 >> Debby Hunt: There's two major components to
10:49:25 the plan.
10:49:27 The Westshore interchange, did $250 million and
10:49:33 the downtown interchange,
10:49:40 Those are the two major components that are part
10:49:42 of the plan that would gone away.
10:49:43 There's also 50-mile of express lanes that are a
10:49:49 system that works within the interstate system,
10:49:52 that are new lanes in addition to the general
10:49:54 purpose lanes that are there today.
10:49:56 >>HARRY COHEN: To get into a little more detail,
10:50:03 what does it mean to the airport master plan?
10:50:06 What does it mean to the port?
10:50:07 What does it mean to the reconstruction of the
10:50:09 Howard Frankland bridge?
10:50:11 What does it mean to I-4?
10:50:13 Are those things affected by this?
10:50:14 USF.
10:50:15 Are these things affected by it?
10:50:17 Or if it were to go away would they just, you
10:50:19 know, be able to find another way to fulfill their
10:50:23 needs?
10:50:25 >> The Howard Frankland bridge is a bridge
10:50:29 replacement because the bridge is nearing its life
10:50:33 expectancy.
10:50:33 So the bridge will be rebuilt regardless.
10:50:36 The interchanges will not.
10:50:39 Tampa International, which all of us have been
10:50:42 putting significant resources into their
10:50:46 expansion, the department itself put about 200
10:50:49 million into their people mover, as a part of
10:50:53 expanding the airport.
10:50:54 None of that is going to be necessary if they
10:50:57 don't have a network to distribute the people that
10:51:01 come in and out of the airport.
10:51:06 The plans go directly to the airport.
10:51:08 GOP directly to the veterans expressway, which
10:51:10 means that new lanes that are being currently
10:51:13 built on the veterans expressway will all come to
10:51:18 that one section right therein north of Westshore
10:51:21 and create increased congestion from what's there
10:51:25 today.
10:51:27 What's important for the port is the ability for
10:51:30 freight and the trucks to move in and around the
10:51:33 area which is why we built the connector, which is
10:51:35 early stages of overall plan.
10:51:39 Trucks do not travel in the express Lanes because
10:51:42 the express Lanes are for passenger vehicles only.
10:51:46 So what the express Lanes do for the core is moves
10:51:51 people out of the general purpose lanes which
10:51:52 frees up space and capacity for the trucks to move
10:51:55 more freely in and around the region.
10:51:58 USF, you hear comments from them all the time
10:52:03 about how difficult it is to get to USF if you are
10:52:07 coming from Pinellas County, fur combing from West
10:52:09 Tampa, if you are coming from South Tampa, because
10:52:11 you have to go through the downtown interchange to
10:52:14 get there.
10:52:16 This provides express lanes directly in the USF,
10:52:21 Busch gardens, medical center corridor, so that
10:52:24 traffic can be get there with more reliably.
10:52:28 >>HARRY COHEN: So when I hear people what you
10:52:30 just said, these are real problems, the real
10:52:33 issues that need to be addressed.
10:52:34 Is this the best plan for addressing these needs?
10:52:40 And ton what degree moving forward is FDOT willing
10:52:47 to work and be flexible in terms of how these
10:52:52 different needs are going to be addressed?
10:52:57 With the population numbers that you showed, 600
10:52:59 that you people in the area, you know, I know
10:53:02 they've seen from the airport 13,000 people a day
10:53:05 need to get in and out.
10:53:07 You know, we know, particularly in the absence of
10:53:11 a comprehensive transit proposal or plan, that we
10:53:15 need additional capacity.
10:53:18 The question people ask me, is this the right way
10:53:21 to go about doing it?
10:53:23 Is there a way that we should be allocating these
10:53:27 resources?
10:53:27 >> Your first part of that question has to do, is
10:53:31 this the only plan?
10:53:35 It's a two-part plan.
10:53:38 It has always been the discussion.
10:53:40 And I go back to the slide of the 2040 imagine
10:53:43 plan that shows the interstate system being a
10:53:46 standard so that it can take traffic currently on
10:53:49 the local facilities and put the through traffic
10:53:51 where it should be which is on the interstate, and
10:53:55 it also is necessary to build a premium transit
10:53:58 system.
10:54:02 You have got for this community and this area to
10:54:03 grow at the level we are expected to grow, we have
10:54:06 to have both systems.
10:54:11 Transit and roads.
10:54:13 And you asked about the department's commitment to
10:54:17 that.
10:54:17 I would say that if you look at commitments in
10:54:21 transit across the board, D.O.T. has more money in
10:54:26 transit than any other agency, because we put
10:54:29 money into the study, we put money into building
10:54:33 the system, we put money into replacing the buses,
10:54:37 we put -- we put -- the people mover system alone,
10:54:43 200 million at the airport, transit, it may be
10:54:47 TampaTampa International but it's transit.
10:54:49 Having that corridor that goes from Pinellas
10:54:51 County all the way to Orlando for premium transit
10:54:56 in the future.
10:54:56 It doesn't matter to us whether that is All Aboard
10:55:01 Florida coming into Tampa or whether it's the
10:55:03 light rail system that's been approved in Pinellas
10:55:05 County, but proposed to come across the howard
10:55:09 Frankland bridge, Westshore intermodal center
10:55:12 which we also bought for $45 million, or to come
10:55:16 all the way to downtown.
10:55:18 We don't care what goes in the corridor.
10:55:20 We made the commitment, and we have been building
10:55:23 that from day one.
10:55:25 With the Tampa interstate.
10:55:29 There's in a corridor.
10:55:30 >>HARRY COHEN: Let me ask you one question.
10:55:33 You asked about different things that have been
10:55:35 done in the neighborhood.
10:55:36 I want to be very clear. Who pays for that?
10:55:40 Is that paid for by D.O.T. or is that something
10:55:43 that the city would bear a cost for?
10:55:47 >> What we commit to as part of this project,
10:55:49 D.O.T. will be paying for.
10:56:03 I heard Councilman Thomas.
10:56:05 We paid for the construction of it and somebody
10:56:09 has to maintain it.
10:56:10 And your staff has been at all of our charrette
10:56:13 meetings.
10:56:13 We have had individual coordination meetings with
10:56:16 your staff, because the requests that are coming.
10:56:19 What we are trying to do is accommodate as many of
10:56:22 them as we can.
10:56:24 The D.O.T. is not -- we are in the transportation
10:56:28 business.
10:56:30 All modes of transportation.
10:56:33 We aren't in parks and recs and other types of
10:56:36 business.
10:56:38 And that's where we are going to have to work with
10:56:40 you all.
10:56:40 You all have to be willing when we provide for the
10:56:43 reconnection of the streets, you all -- and we can
10:56:47 build that piece.
10:56:50 You guys, that's going to be your road and your
10:56:52 responsibility at the end of the day.
10:56:54 The D.O.T. is paying for it, for the capital
10:56:59 portion of it.
10:56:59 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
10:57:05 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Thank you very much.
10:57:07 I had a thought.
10:57:08 You and I had a conversation a few months ago
10:57:10 where I asked, what would it take for the city to
10:57:12 get, you know, two, three, $400 million from FDOT
10:57:18 in order to build some kind of rail infrastructure
10:57:20 and a streetcar, have it downtown to the airport,
10:57:24 Westshore connector, and you said you have to have
10:57:26 something on the table.
10:57:28 And we talked about grow Hillsborough.
10:57:30 You mention add few minutes ago about a referendum
10:57:33 that didn't go up there in 2010.
10:57:34 We create -- or this board can do, for example,
10:57:38 what's been talked about, a stormwater assessment,
10:57:41 you know, for residents in the City of Tampa.
10:57:43 If we created a transportation assessment, and we
10:57:48 showed FDOT, you know, we are generating money
10:57:51 from this new thing that is strictly dedicated to
10:57:53 transited, would FDOT be able to come back and
10:57:57 say, okay, you put something on the table, or a
10:58:00 down payment essentially where you could help us
10:58:02 with grant money in order to build some kind of
10:58:04 infrastructure?
10:58:05 And the reason I ask is, you know, in the
10:58:09 conversation that we had, I told you, in 2010 --
10:58:14 and these were just numbers that I heard of --
10:58:16 it's failed in the county, the referendum but it
10:58:19 passes in city limits.
10:58:20 The problem that we have is via Tallahassee, or
10:58:24 the state, the power is delegated that we have to
10:58:27 put a county-wide referendum on the ballot.
10:58:30 We think can't put a city-wide municipal election
10:58:33 referendum.
10:58:34 But if we were to come to the table, let's say --
10:58:37 and I just thought about this now -- with some
10:58:39 kind of a assessment saying we are generating this
10:58:41 kind of money every year, could we approach FDOT
10:58:45 and say, you know, would you help us extend the
10:58:48 streetcar?
10:58:49 Would you help us build some kind of direct rail
10:58:53 connection from downtown to the airport?
10:58:56 Is that even reasonable or feasible or doable?
10:59:02 >> Those have been comments before, and we are
10:59:06 paying the majority of the streetcar study to look
10:59:10 at whether it can be expanded.
10:59:12 We will be paying in the capital portion if it's
10:59:17 feasible and if the city has a 30-year operating
10:59:19 and maintenance to expand it.
10:59:21 We will be providing money for the capital, the
10:59:24 building of it and the buying of the vehicles,
10:59:28 whatever type are selected.
10:59:30 We are already diagnose that feasibility study
10:59:32 which you are talking about, gave money to Hart to
10:59:38 do the feasibility study so, that can be
10:59:40 determined.
10:59:41 We cannot put money into it until there is a local
10:59:44 commitment for the 30-year operating and
10:59:47 maintenance.
10:59:48 And we, D.O.T., have no control over what's in
10:59:54 Florida statute with respect to whether it's a
10:59:56 county referendum or a city referendum.
10:59:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: No, my thought was if we were
11:00:03 to create a 30 year assessment specifically
11:00:06 dedicated to transportation which would go on our
11:00:08 property taxes bill for a citizen in the City of
11:00:11 Tampa, just a thought.
11:00:14 However the money would generate.
11:00:15 Would that be something that would be enough to
11:00:17 say, you know, City of Tampa is doing something,
11:00:23 not going to the ballot, coming to City Council,
11:00:25 it's avoiding the whole campaign.
11:00:28 Because to sell to the county voters and strictly
11:00:31 containing it within city limits is my thought.
11:00:34 If we were to put something on the table in a 30
11:00:37 year agreement to operating and maintenance.
11:00:39 >> To answer your question, yes, to give you a yes
11:00:44 or no, the detail that goes with that is that
11:00:46 would be very similar to what the city of Orlando
11:00:48 did when SunRail moved forward.
11:00:51 They committed to provide the 30-year operating
11:00:54 and maintenance and show that's how they were
11:00:58 going to do that.
11:00:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Yes.
11:01:00 Because I think TBX regardless of my position on
11:01:03 it, we build these roads.
11:01:04 Let's say it moves forward.
11:01:06 And then what is after TBX?
11:01:08 Do we continue widening it?
11:01:11 We have a TBX part 2 coming in 30 years, or I have
11:01:15 to think about the future generation.
11:01:16 And the millennials and folks my age, we talk
11:01:21 about transit options.
11:01:22 And I visit so many other cities and I never rent
11:01:26 a car.
11:01:27 I have never rent add car in my life.
11:01:29 I use public transportation.
11:01:30 Because it works.
11:01:32 In the City of Tampa, you know, the bus works for
11:01:34 some people.
11:01:36 Our options are limited to streetcar when it's
11:01:39 operating for some people.
11:01:40 Our options are limited.
11:01:41 But thinking in the future, you know, what comes
11:01:44 after TBX?
11:01:46 What will the next generation of FDOT tell us, and
11:01:50 say we need this.
11:01:54 We need real solutions.
11:01:55 We need to take cars off the road, we need to give
11:01:59 people other options a way to get around in a way
11:02:03 that works for them and move forward to being a
11:02:06 successful city.
11:02:07 We have so much going on for us minus
11:02:11 transportation.
11:02:11 We have corporations that look at us and leave
11:02:13 because of transportation, lack thereof,
11:02:16 transportation.
11:02:17 So I can't think of the next election.
11:02:20 I think of the next generation.
11:02:22 These my duty as a public servant.
11:02:24 And we need to be forward thinking, what do I tell
11:02:28 my children?
11:02:29 What do I tell people in 20: 30 years?
11:02:32 I am just trying to find the best option possible.
11:02:34 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
11:02:40 Here we go.
11:02:42 You stated that the reason that this is going
11:02:45 forward is because the area does not have a
11:02:47 premium transit plan.
11:02:48 We are not in the middle of that?
11:02:53 Am I missing something?
11:02:56 Tell me.
11:02:56 >> Starting the study this fall.
11:03:00 We are currently in the procurement process to do
11:03:02 a feasibility study for Hillsborough County as
11:03:06 well as within the region.
11:03:07 >>YVONNE CAPIN: It starts in the fall.
11:03:10 >> We are under procurement now for a consultant,
11:03:12 yes.
11:03:13 >>YVONNE CAPIN: How much time is allowed to get
11:03:14 this done?
11:03:15 >> It will take them about 18 months to complete
11:03:17 that.
11:03:19 They would be the best ones to speak about that.
11:03:21 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay.
11:03:23 18 months.
11:03:24 Then we have -- so now we are getting to where we
11:03:29 are looking to put together premium transit plan
11:03:32 in 18 months.
11:03:33 Therefore, this can maybe hold for 18 months.
11:03:39 One of the things here that -- I am going to bring
11:03:44 up this because be last year in 2015, almost a
11:03:48 year to the day, it was June 11, 2015, two very
11:03:52 important things happened here at the CRA.
11:03:56 We passed a resolution for the community
11:03:59 development agency of the City of Tampa accepting
11:04:02 the west community Tampa plan for redevelopment of
11:04:05 West Tampa community.
11:04:10 Okay.
11:04:10 And much recommending it for approval for the City
11:04:14 Council.
11:04:15 That was the one thing.
11:04:17 The other thing -- and I am going to go back.
11:04:19 A year ago, Mitsubishi is the contractor that was
11:04:24 awarded the people mover at the airport expansion.
11:04:31 I met with the Mitsubishi director at that time,
11:04:37 and I brought it to the MPO director and -- okay,
11:04:49 with the Mitsubishi director and I, and I said one
11:04:52 of you explain what you have just proposed.
11:04:56 And they were proposing that we could do a light
11:05:01 rail prototype, if you will, from the airport to
11:05:07 downtown Tampa without a public referendum.
11:05:13 They would finance.
11:05:16 This was brought forth, and I believe from the
11:05:27 Planning Commission, so was our former economic
11:05:36 director present, they were about to change hand,
11:05:39 never heard anything else about it.
11:05:41 So we keep talking about the public funds, and of
11:05:44 course, you know, borrowing money.
11:05:47 It's all public funds.
11:05:48 But putting it forth for a vote is a different
11:05:50 issue.
11:05:52 El Paso passed a $470 million dollar, El Paso,
11:06:01 referendum.
11:06:02 It was the largest in the country at the time for
11:06:04 quality of life improvements.
11:06:08 We nickel and dime them and 200,000 for this, for
11:06:15 the stormwater, you know, 200 million, 30 million
11:06:20 for transit, it's all quality of life, and it is
11:06:25 all public safety and health.
11:06:31 The public is exhausted.
11:06:33 Exhausted from just being bombarded with these
11:06:39 plans and these different -- give us a penny, give
11:06:42 us half a penny, you know.
11:06:44 It really is something that the communication to
11:06:47 the public is so poor.
11:06:51 And we are piecemealing all of it and it really
11:06:54 needs to be a very big picture.
11:07:01 The other thing that we did June 11th of 2016
11:07:06 was I made a motion that the CRA request the MPO
11:07:12 remove the proposed interstate expansion from
11:07:15 their approved TIF plan.
11:07:17 The motion carried unanimously.
11:07:20 I don't know where my coal leagues stand on it
11:07:23 this year, what changed between last year and this
11:07:26 year.
11:07:31 But if anyone would like to make that motion to
11:07:34 reconfirm that position, that would be -- I am
11:07:40 going to move the gavel and I will move it.
11:07:43 >> I will make that motion.
11:07:46 I will make the motion.
11:07:47 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Reconfirm the position?
11:07:49 >> Okay. Do we have a second?
11:07:53 >> Second.
11:07:54 >>YVONNE CAPIN: We have a motion by Councilman
11:07:56 Suarez, a second by Councilwoman Montelione.
11:07:59 All in favor?
11:08:01 >>THE CLERK: May I ask that the motion be
11:08:05 formally stated for the record?
11:08:09 >>MIKE SUAREZ: To reaffirm that our position,
11:08:12 CRAs' position on the proposed expansion of TBX,
11:08:17 be removed are from the TIF plan, the
11:08:21 transportation improvement plan.
11:08:22 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Councilwoman Montelione?
11:08:30 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And I just want to clarify.
11:08:33 I think we are going to pass this motion here
11:08:35 again.
11:08:37 But three of us sit on the MPO.
11:08:38 So between now and the 22nd, we are not all of us
11:08:43 saying that we are going to vote no at MPO.
11:08:46 We are saying as a CRA, collectively, as a body,
11:08:49 this is what we believe is the right thing for our
11:08:53 neighborhoods.
11:08:53 So just keep that in mind.
11:08:56 Because things may change between now and the
11:09:00 22nd.
11:09:01 You never know.
11:09:03 I just want to make that clear.
11:09:05 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you for that.
11:09:06 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Because we have people who
11:09:07 voted for it the first time and voted in the TIF
11:09:12 when it came up.
11:09:13 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Yes that is a fact.
11:09:15 But here we go.
11:09:17 This body.
11:09:17 >>HARRY COHEN: I am not going to support the
11:09:21 motion this time.
11:09:23 I have spent more hours than I care to go over
11:09:27 studying this.
11:09:31 This is a very, very difficult question, because
11:09:34 there are a lot of elements involved in it.
11:09:37 And I just at this point am going to wait to
11:09:44 express myself at the MPO.
11:09:45 >>YVONNE CAPIN: All right.
11:09:50 That being said, we have a motion by Councilman
11:09:52 Suarez, second by Councilwoman Montelione.
11:09:55 All in favor? Opposed?
11:09:57 >>THE CLERK: Motion carried with Miranda being
11:10:01 absent and Cohen voting no.
11:10:02 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
11:10:06 I think we are going to conclude this portion of
11:10:08 the meeting.
11:10:11 Thank you for your time, Ms. Hunt.
11:10:16 >>BOB McDONAUGH: I have the quarterly updates.
11:10:30 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Wait.
11:10:30 That comes after.
11:10:32 Okay.
11:10:41 >>BOB McDONAUGH: Quarterly updates.
11:10:42 >>MIKE SUAREZ:
11:10:44 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I want to give everyone ample
11:10:47 time to say of what they want to say.
11:10:49 Please continue.
11:10:50 >>BOB McDONAUGH: Quarterly update on the
11:10:52 financials for the various CRSs, if anybody has
11:10:55 any questions.
11:10:56 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay.
11:10:59 Any questions on that?
11:11:01 No?
11:11:02 All right.
11:11:02 >>BOB McDONAUGH: I would like to give a brief
11:11:06 presentation on where we are with the facade
11:11:12 grants.
11:11:14 Where we are going so far, starting in 2010 with
11:11:17 the dollars.
11:11:18 And you can see how much the investment by TIF
11:11:23 dollars and how much by investment has taken
11:11:27 place.
11:11:28 1 to 4 in Ybor.
11:11:29 1 to 2.5 in Drew Park.
11:11:31 And 1.4 in East Tampa.
11:11:36 Some of the newer ones in Drew Park.
11:11:40 I think some of you went to a grand opening for
11:11:42 the expansion of western supply, which is a large
11:11:46 employer.
11:11:54 They are fans of bright colors.
11:11:58 Again, Drew Park has lots of light heavy industry
11:12:06 and it's reflected in these pictures.
11:12:08 Again, getting rid of the chain link fence with a
11:12:21 more decorative wrought iron and stucco and paint
11:12:25 job as well.
11:12:31 Improvements on the outside of the building at
11:12:35 Demmis market.
11:12:39 That's just from a different angle, isn't it?
11:12:42 >> [Off microphone.]
11:13:00 Again, just a quick update on some of the things.
11:13:04 I wanted to give you an opportunity to see that.
11:13:09 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you for the update.
11:13:18 We do really good work here.
11:13:20 So now we are going to open public comment.
11:13:23 Anyone wishing to speak at this time, please
11:13:30 stand.
11:13:30 I need a head count.
11:13:31 Or raise your hand so we can get a head count.
11:13:34 Okay.
11:13:38 We have 5, 6, 7. And you, sir, standing also?
11:13:44 8.
11:13:44 So it's three minutes each.
11:13:46 Thank you.
11:13:49 We will startle.
11:13:49 Please come to the podium first.
11:14:06 >> Ed Tillou, Sulphur Springs.
11:14:11 I have been roughing out the numbers but tonight
11:14:14 because the county is having a community meeting,
11:14:17 it's better advertised than the last one.
11:14:19 The reason you don't have any transit outline is
11:14:23 because you don't listen.
11:14:24 You go through motions of listening but you don't
11:14:27 hear.
11:14:29 And the point is, I have outlined for five years
11:14:33 now multiple diesel units on the CSX tracks.
11:14:39 Now, recently, Colorado rail car has become U.S.
11:14:45 rail car and they added something which is to use
11:14:48 natural gas.
11:14:49 So I guess they wouldn't be -- I guess it would be
11:14:56 MGUs, which I guess you could call it M -- MGU
11:15:04 instead of mango. The units are $4 million
11:15:07 apiece.
11:15:07 You need about 24 of them for 15 minute service.
11:15:11 So that comes out -- that amortizes over ten year
11:15:15 amortization 14 million, which actually 30 buses
11:15:20 is equivalent of 20 of these cars.
11:15:22 So Florida D.O.T. wants to buy something, buy
11:15:28 these multiple diesel units because you could
11:15:32 remove 14 million from the 40 million that would
11:15:35 be needed.
11:15:36 Now, I made a mistake when I presented to the
11:15:39 county commission, and I said what comes across in
11:15:42 these community meetings go Hillsborough earning
11:15:46 its pay is gas tax, gas tax, gas tax.
11:15:52 How many times does it have to be said?
11:15:54 Now, I said 20 cents a gallon.
11:15:56 But the thing is I made a mistake.
11:15:58 I meant 20 cents a day, because the average person
11:16:02 uses two gallons of gas a day.
11:16:04 And it's a ten cent a gallon tax.
11:16:09 That would raise $73 million a year that would
11:16:11 contribute to $40 million to run multiple natural
11:16:16 gas units on the CSX tracks.
11:16:21 How much more do you noticed it spelled out?
11:16:23 Go to American railway engineers association,
11:16:26 which I would have joined if I had listened to my
11:16:29 dad.
11:16:30 My dad, I'm second generation on this.
11:16:32 My dad was an advocate of public transportation,
11:16:37 rail transportation.
11:16:40 40 years ago when it was being phased out around
11:16:42 the country.
11:16:43 So I'm second generation.
11:16:45 The mistake I made, I didn't listen to him.
11:16:47 I listened to my uncle who was a railway worker
11:16:51 and demeaned the New York City transit system.
11:16:54 But the New York City transit system moves
11:16:56 millions of people a year.
11:16:58 And the thing is, billions actually, in the days.
11:17:03 So I listened to the wrong person.
11:17:06 So I got on a bad track.
11:17:08 (Bell sounds)
11:17:09 But, you know, you sit there and you don't listen.
11:17:13 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Time is up.
11:17:15 Thank you, sir.
11:17:17 Next.
11:17:20 Thank you.
11:17:20 >> Good morning.
11:17:24 Thank you again for the opportunity for us to come
11:17:27 before you.
11:17:27 Thank you for the vote that you just took.
11:17:31 That is deeply appreciated by us, very much so.
11:17:36 I would like to say that oh, Lena Young-Green.
11:17:49 30 years ago, 35 years ago, I moved into Tampa
11:17:52 Heights.
11:17:53 Got involved immediately.
11:17:55 Listened to all the presentations, attended as
11:17:59 many, and many tables with D.O.T., and the lines
11:18:12 that you are hearing today are the lines that I
11:18:14 have heard through all those years.
11:18:16 They keep telling us that more roads are going to
11:18:20 solve problems.
11:18:22 They tell us more roads are going to solve these
11:18:25 problems, but then they turn around five, ten,
11:18:31 fifteen years later and come back and same more
11:18:34 roads are going to solve these problems.
11:18:35 And wait a minute, we didn't fix the problem last
11:18:37 time, but more roads are going to fix the problem.
11:18:44 You are right, we have to plan for the future.
11:18:46 We should plan, seven generations.
11:18:52 We have got to be visionary.
11:18:53 The D.O.T. is telling you about a 20 to 30-year
11:18:56 plan.
11:19:00 It's a new generation now.
11:19:01 We have millennials who are saying we want
11:19:04 something.
11:19:06 We can't keep doing things the same way and expect
11:19:09 a different outcome.
11:19:11 That's the definition of insanity or a fool.
11:19:16 We are not that.
11:19:16 We are better than.
11:19:18 That we are smarter than that.
11:19:19 If you take this plan that was presented to you
11:19:24 beautifully this morning by D.O.T. and remove TBX,
11:19:29 and remove TBX, it would be a place where we need
11:19:33 to be.
11:19:35 But we can't keep on insisting that we do things
11:19:38 the same way and expect a different outcome by
11:19:42 insisting that TBX is the answer.
11:19:47 Now, when we talk about what happens within our
11:19:51 cities and within our county, they are different
11:19:54 perspectives.
11:19:57 We have got to figure out where how we bring these
11:20:00 two things together, if it is that we go to the
11:20:03 legislature and we again ask about allowing us to
11:20:07 do our own tasks, because we are different.
11:20:11 We are different.
11:20:12 So let's work on that.
11:20:15 We have to understand if we don't put the people
11:20:19 who we want to see the way we see it in office, we
11:20:22 cannot expect a different outcome.
11:20:27 Thank you.
11:20:27 (Bell sounds).
11:20:29 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
11:20:30 I am just going to say real quickly to Councilman
11:20:33 Maniscalco's talk on the future, we heard today
11:20:40 this plan that's been in place for 20 years.
11:20:42 We did not hear anything about the plan that's in
11:20:46 place for the next 20 or 30 years.
11:20:48 That was not spoken of.
11:20:49 We did not hear any of that.
11:20:53 So it just came up now and I wanted to mention it
11:20:58 that we did not hear that, nor did we ask.
11:21:01 So thank you.
11:21:02 >> Overman, 4610 north Central Avenue.
11:21:09 You know, the Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights area
11:21:12 is in between telephone West Tampa CRA and East
11:21:16 Tampa CRA doesn't exist.
11:21:19 We don't have afternoon CRA in that area.
11:21:22 In spite of that, in addition to the growth that B
11:21:26 earlier in 2010, that part of the community, since
11:21:30 2010, there has been a investments of homeowners
11:21:37 and business owners that area with absolutely no
11:21:39 help from FDOT on Florida Avenue.
11:21:44 So that area is going to apply for a CRA in that
11:21:48 area.
11:21:49 And that's what we need to do in order to be able
11:21:51 to provide a walkable, safe community for this
11:21:55 area.
11:21:56 So what you heard today was in the mitigation
11:21:59 plan, or in the plan, or mitigation first plan for
11:22:04 the TBX plan, great ideas, Seminole Heights, Tampa
11:22:10 Heights community, Ybor Heights, VM Ybor, all we
11:22:14 have been talking about and working in the
11:22:16 InVision plan for over ten years.
11:22:21 We have a plan.
11:22:22 But we need the county commission to actually
11:22:24 approve funding, because CAC representing budget
11:22:29 and finance for this board, I have been constantly
11:22:33 told there's no money for it because Tampa,
11:22:37 Hillsborough County commission will not fund a
11:22:40 program like what we have been trying to do with
11:22:44 go-mills bore.
11:22:45 Go-Hillsborough needs to be succeed, but what F
11:22:49 got has done is put TBX in order to make it
11:22:56 difficult to determine how our taxpayers actually
11:22:58 fund a robust transportation system that includes
11:23:02 transit.
11:23:04 I think it's critically important to recognize
11:23:06 this, and the Tampa Bay Expressway is a PAC plan
11:23:11 to fund express roads that will take money out of
11:23:15 our city and our county budget to deal with the
11:23:18 fall-out of what will occur in our communities
11:23:22 that directly impacted by this kind of road plan.
11:23:28 It was mentioned this fall, it does talk about the
11:23:31 components of the imagine plan.
11:23:33 But I would strongly suggest that you look at the
11:23:36 mitigation agreements that will be put into place
11:23:39 and find out that if you are being asked to put
11:23:42 any moneys out of the CRA, to improve the
11:23:45 community, and it's not going to go for the actual
11:23:49 transit plan and transportation plan that we need,
11:23:55 that mitigate first may not occur.
11:23:57 As we have seen, FDOT indicates that it's
11:24:00 important to take care of our roads.
11:24:02 Just take a look at what they have done ton
11:24:03 Florida Avenue and what that funds in our
11:24:08 community.
11:24:09 Thank you.
11:24:09 (Bell sounds)
11:24:14 >> My name is Nick Patel, one of the community
11:24:19 transportation activists.
11:24:21 I want to get on a couple of points that was made
11:24:23 by this council or agency, one by Councilman
11:24:29 Reddick.
11:24:30 And I absolutely reiterate, reconfirm his
11:24:35 statement, this silliness or foolishness has to
11:24:42 stop.
11:24:53 And not just because of the impacts to the
11:24:55 community, which we all agree that there will be
11:24:58 environmental effect to a lot of communities.
11:25:00 Disproportionate to minorities as we have seen in
11:25:04 the past but most importantly because it doesn't
11:25:05 solve the transportation problem.
11:25:07 It makes it worse.
11:25:08 In fact, it's not smart to take people within a
11:25:17 highly dense area on elevated highway and call
11:25:21 that a solution for congestion for transportation
11:25:25 problem, for connection interstate not connecting
11:25:33 North Tampa to South Tampa.
11:25:34 That's number one.
11:25:35 How many people will actually use this expressway?
11:25:37 If you read the plan of FDOT, less than 3% of
11:25:41 drivers will use the expressway.
11:25:45 Less than 3%.
11:25:48 How do you fix the congestion problem with less
11:25:50 than 3% use the road?
11:25:52 You can't.
11:25:53 You have to address all the other roads.
11:25:55 And I think 10,000 miles of highway in this county
11:25:57 that we need to address.
11:26:00 Number 2, finance.
11:26:02 I think somebody mention dad about the double
11:26:04 taxation issue which is true.
11:26:07 In fact it's even worse.
11:26:09 It's triple.
11:26:11 We hired a group of USF students the whole
11:26:15 semester analyzing what FDOT provided on this
11:26:18 project.
11:26:18 And this project as stated, with their own data,
11:26:22 will lose close to 100 to 300 million a year based
11:26:26 on their own numbers that they put out there.
11:26:28 The total revenue will not cover.
11:26:30 They will lose 100 to 300 million a year.
11:26:34 And that's 100 conservative in the debt financing
11:26:39 which they are still not clear how they are going
11:26:42 to finance it.
11:26:43 They keep saying we are going to lose it -- use it
11:26:46 or lose it.
11:26:47 How can you lose that?
11:26:50 If someone wants to take a mortgage and pay my
11:26:52 mortgage, fine.
11:26:53 You can't lose.
11:26:54 That you can't have a pocket of cash that we are
11:26:56 going to lose.
11:26:56 How many times I heard that it's sickening.
11:26:58 They know better.
11:27:00 FDOT knows better.
11:27:01 Be honest.
11:27:02 Tell us that you don't have the money, than the
11:27:07 engineering -- I am an engineer, and I can direct
11:27:11 all your concerns about engineering. This design
11:27:13 will kill people.
11:27:15 Please look into that.
11:27:18 I will address anybody personally.
11:27:20 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
11:27:21 >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
11:27:23 Thank you to be this body for having the courage
11:27:25 and the decency for protecting our Tampa
11:27:29 neighborhoods that you have seen here today.
11:27:32 By reaffirm the resolution to remove the TBX from
11:27:37 the what the MPO is going to do next week.
11:27:41 So I urge you as chair to show up on the 22nd of
11:27:45 June, 6:00 p.m., and convey your body's resolution
11:27:50 to the MPO.
11:27:52 I know three of you will be there any way.
11:27:55 But I would also like to take a moment to thank
11:27:58 Councilman Maniscalco for his courage in leading
11:28:01 the opposition on this.
11:28:02 And I appreciate your stance from the beginning
11:28:05 from the first vote last year.
11:28:07 And Councilman Reddick, thank you so much for your
11:28:11 points today on how this is going to defend state
11:28:13 minorities and people in these areas.
11:28:16 Thank you for bringing up that.
11:28:19 I forgot that.
11:28:20 Jeff Van Patella, 777 north Ashley drive.
11:28:24 Again, thank you.
11:28:25 Thank you for your vote today as a body. We hope
11:28:30 to see you on the 22nd.
11:28:34 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you for mentioning that. I
11:28:36 will be in Washington, D.C. on June 22nd.
11:28:38 But if any one of my colleagues that's not on the
11:28:41 MPO one like to represent, the vice chair is on
11:28:43 the MPO.
11:28:48 >>LISA MONTELIONE: [Off microphone.]
11:28:53 >>YVONNE CAPIN: And present the letter, we will
11:28:55 send it and also have it there.
11:28:59 You know, I will ask and see if we can't get that
11:29:03 done.
11:29:03 >> Thank you for your time.
11:29:06 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I have the assurance from my
11:29:09 colleagues that we'll get it done.
11:29:10 Thank you.
11:29:11 >> My name is Gloria Jean Royster. I live at 400
11:29:18 east Harrison street in downtown Tampa. If
11:29:23 Downtown is 82% white, then and I represent the
11:29:27 18% that is nonwhite.
11:29:29 I live at the north end of downtown.
11:29:31 I live in the blighted section of downtown, and I
11:29:36 use that word broadly to talk about all the
11:29:39 problems we have in north downtown.
11:29:41 And I want to say I'm a senior citizen.
11:29:47 And I live in a community with two senior
11:29:49 buildings, with people -- the seniors with
11:29:54 disabilities, Hispanics and some whites.
11:29:56 There are also people with disabilities in the
11:30:00 building.
11:30:07 One of our concerns is we already have concerns,
11:30:14 and one of our concerns is the growth we had and
11:30:18 oceanic market in the Tampa Heights neighborhood
11:30:20 is the only option that we seniors have for
11:30:25 grocery shopping in the north end of downtown.
11:30:28 We are not talking about the Channel district.
11:30:31 We live in downtown proper.
11:30:34 And we understand that.
11:30:37 But TBX will be moving oceanic market from Tampa
11:30:41 Heights.
11:30:42 So we are very concerned about that.
11:30:44 And we won't have anywhere to go.
11:30:46 Also, we are concerned about the pedestrian access
11:30:48 along Florida Avenue.
11:30:51 And what's referred to today as the downtown and
11:30:55 Tampa Heights connector, that blighted underpass.
11:31:00 And we are concerned that when they do TBX, we as
11:31:06 pedestrians who don't drive will have going into
11:31:08 Tampa Heights.
11:31:12 We are concerned about the impact of TBX for the
11:31:17 lack of any retail investment in north downtown,
11:31:21 because we don't have any, and, you know, they
11:31:24 take away.
11:31:26 We are beginning to advocate for retail in the
11:31:28 area.
11:31:29 And if they take away the potential that we have
11:31:33 for building for resale, you know, we can't
11:31:37 develop, we won't have the quality of life that we
11:31:41 are seeking, that the 82% white people have in
11:31:44 downtown Tampa.
11:31:44 (Bell sounds)
11:31:48 I would say this one last thing, for the record,
11:31:52 for FDOT and for the council that doesn't know,
11:31:56 the uptown council was rebranded to the downtown
11:32:00 Tampa Heights neighborhood association.
11:32:03 So the uptown council no longer exists.
11:32:07 I have other things I wanted to say, but, you
11:32:09 know, just know that the people in north downtown
11:32:13 will greatly be affected.
11:32:15 Your seniors.
11:32:19 Thank you.
11:32:19 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
11:32:20 >> Good morning.
11:32:23 My name is Rick Fernandez, 2906 north he will more
11:32:27 Avenue, Tampa 33602.
11:32:29 That's in Tampa Heights.
11:32:30 I'm the president of the Civic Association as I
11:32:33 know you all know.
11:32:34 I have been here ad nauseam for the last year and
11:32:37 I appreciate your continuously support.
11:32:39 And I certainly appreciate the reiteration of the
11:32:41 motion today which you just made.
11:32:44 TBX will not solve congestion.
11:32:46 That is a given.
11:32:48 It's been admitted by secretary Snively, it's been
11:32:51 admitted as recently as two days ago in one of the
11:32:54 citizen advisory committee meetings.
11:32:55 It will simply not solve congestion.
11:32:57 Certainly not standing a loan.
11:33:00 In most universe that should be enough to kill it.
11:33:02 But that's not the universe in which you live.
11:33:05 The universe in which we live, the one we share
11:33:08 with FDOT, we have something called another
11:33:12 acronym coined by Anthony Fox.
11:33:15 What it means is or at least how he termed it is
11:33:17 the decide, advocate and defend.
11:33:20 You come up with a position.
11:33:21 You advocate for it and defend it.
11:33:24 Everything is backasswards as my mother used to
11:33:27 say.
11:33:27 Okay?
11:33:28 Let's talk about that.
11:33:29 In this universe, in the DOD universe, feasibility
11:33:33 is not determined for a project before you start
11:33:35 spending millions of dollars to advance it.
11:33:38 In the dad universe, you allow FDOT to purchase
11:33:42 homes from willing sellers who have a gun to their
11:33:46 head knowing that they are living in the footprint
11:33:48 of destruction.
11:33:49 When they purchase the home, the home is then
11:33:53 blighted.
11:33:55 It's cardboarded over.
11:33:56 You blight it.
11:33:57 You blight the neighborhood.
11:33:58 And you do all of that without feasibility being
11:34:01 determined.
11:34:02 In the dad universe, you have the downtown
11:34:06 interchange which has been studied for over 20
11:34:08 years, we were just told today, but by God, they
11:34:12 still don't know what that thing is going to look
11:34:14 like.
11:34:15 We know that there is going to be a bomb dropped
11:34:17 in the middle of Tampa Heights and Ybor City and
11:34:21 downtown.
11:34:21 But we don't nobody if it's dimensional bomb or
11:34:25 nuke.
11:34:25 We know there's going to be a state fair but we
11:34:28 think don't nobody what it's going to look like.
11:34:30 Yet we are being asked in the dad universe to
11:34:33 mitigate.
11:34:34 And we are being asked to come to the table and
11:34:36 talk about trees, and roller skating.
11:34:39 We are supposed to roller skate, for God's sake.
11:34:44 We don't know what we are talking about and they
11:34:46 certainly don't.
11:34:46 Excuse me if I am being a little passionate here
11:34:49 but this hits very close to home.
11:34:51 I walk out of my door and I see everyone my
11:34:55 mother's home.
11:34:56 I purchased that home in 2011.
11:34:58 Councilwoman Capin, to your question earlier, no
11:35:01 one ever mentioned TBX to me.
11:35:03 I never heard of TBX until last year, May of
11:35:06 20159.
11:35:08 I can assure you there are people purchasing homes
11:35:09 now that know nothing about it because frankly
11:35:11 people don't know a lot about a lot of things.
11:35:14 They don't read the paper.
11:35:15 But nobody is calling folks -- telling folks about
11:35:18 it.
11:35:18 So thank you again for your support.
11:35:20 If this can is being kicked down the road for 20
11:35:23 years it's because nobody has stood up to remove
11:35:26 the can.
11:35:27 It's time to remove the can.
11:35:28 Thank you.
11:35:29 (Bell sounds).
11:35:30 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
11:35:30 >> Where is the Mike?
11:35:39 Quickly before I start, I talked to the tech guys.
11:35:42 I didn't realize I got my government agencies
11:35:45 confused and you guys need sorted of a prior
11:35:47 notice.
11:35:49 Is it possible, Mr. Chairman, to get this loaded
11:35:52 up?
11:35:53 Or just move on?
11:35:55 >>YVONNE CAPIN: We don't have that time.
11:35:57 Thank you.
11:35:57 >> How I do get this ton show up?
11:36:11 My name is Jason barren.
11:36:24 I'm here today as Vice President of sunshine
11:36:27 citizens and co-founder of urban Tampa Bay,
11:36:30 representing about 4,000 City of Tampa residents
11:36:32 today.
11:36:34 I had a presentation I was going to talk about
11:36:38 relating to how TBX is not good friends with the
11:36:41 CRA.
11:36:43 Changing gears, I am going to bring up the stuff
11:36:45 that comes directly from the Hillsborough MPO.
11:36:48 They are doing a title 6 study of TBX right now,
11:36:53 just some quick information from that.
11:36:57 FDOT says that TBX is about 50 miles of toll
11:37:01 lanes.
11:37:01 That's interest corrected.
11:37:02 That's just TBX starter, phase 1.
11:37:05 Full buildout as you can see here depending on
11:37:07 final plans, the toll system could range from a
11:37:10 total of 83 miles one way to more than 330 miles.
11:37:18 FDOT, 23 neighborhood.
11:37:23 The actual count is 45 in Hillsborough County.
11:37:29 They talk about impact.
11:37:31 They have made statements in the newspaper that
11:37:34 the regional impact of TBX is 19,000 people a
11:37:39 year, 230,000 some people.
11:37:44 Just in Hillsborough County alone, the correct
11:37:46 number is 710,838.
11:37:51 Just on the I-275 area we are talking about ethnic
11:38:00 distribution within the county, and how some may
11:38:04 be unfairly impacted by that.
11:38:08 The numbers for the total county, it's 75% of the
11:38:13 population considers themselves to be Caucasian,
11:38:18 or Latino.
11:38:20 The folks that consider themselves white only, so
11:38:22 therefore all the rest ethnic minority is around
11:38:28 62%.
11:38:29 You can see here the impact area.
11:38:33 58% minority.
11:38:39 Real quick, we talked about how TBX affected only
11:38:42 a few people.
11:38:43 I did some digging around the Tampa Bay regional
11:38:46 planning model which all of this is based on, and
11:38:50 5 million trips a day.
11:38:54 15% of those occur on the expressways.
11:38:57 And we know TBX will only serve about 15% of the
11:39:01 expressway drivers.
11:39:03 Therefore that's only about 3% of total regional
11:39:05 traffic.
11:39:06 You can see these numbers here.
11:39:07 (Bell sounds)
11:39:14 Thank you.
11:39:14 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Jason, you can e-mail that
11:39:20 presentation that you were going to give.
11:39:22 You can e-mail it to all of us.
11:39:24 >> I'll do that as soon as I'm out of here.
11:39:27 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you.
11:39:29 And the same thing with the documents that you
11:39:31 have in your. And you can e-mail those to us as
11:39:34 well.
11:39:35 That will benefit from your presentation even
11:39:37 though it wouldn't be on TV.
11:39:39 >> I can give a full report.
11:39:41 There's a draft May 25th so it's updated as of
11:39:45 Tuesday.
11:39:46 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you for that update.
11:39:49 Councilwoman Montelione.
11:39:51 And we proceed now to--
11:40:02 >>BOB McDONAUGH: We are asking to move some oh
11:40:04 money around, please, in the East Tampa, and for
11:40:07 the purpose of the Ragan Park bathrooms.
11:40:11 >> So moved.
11:40:12 >> Second.
11:40:12 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Moved by Councilman Reddick.
11:40:15 Seconded by Councilman Cohen.
11:40:17 All in favor? Opposed?
11:40:19 >>BOB McDONAUGH: I have another similar request.
11:40:22 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Unanimous.
11:40:23 Thank you.
11:40:24 >> Another similar request to move money in the
11:40:26 East Tampa budget for land acquisition.
11:40:28 >> so moved.
11:40:30 >> Second.
11:40:30 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Motion by Councilman Reddick.
11:40:34 Seconded by Councilman Suarez.
11:40:35 All in favor?
11:40:36 Opposed?
11:40:37 Passes unanimously.
11:40:38 >>BOB McDONAUGH: And you have some information
11:40:41 about applicants for the Drew Park advisory.
11:40:46 And I believe we still have one of the folks here.
11:40:50 >>YVONNE CAPIN: We do?
11:40:52 Wow.
11:40:53 >>BOB McDONAUGH: You can step up and just say
11:40:56 hell or to them.
11:40:57 >>BOB McDONAUGH: Good morning.
11:41:01 How are you?
11:41:03 My name is Ben west.
11:41:05 I run a business out at 4414 north Lois Avenue in
11:41:09 Drew Park and I'm here as an applicant for the
11:41:13 community budget committee.
11:41:15 So I have been a citizen for about 10, 15 years.
11:41:21 We have seen a lot of changes in the stormwater
11:41:26 development.
11:41:28 Two years ago, I mentioned that the development
11:41:33 plans were pedestrian use and designs, and my
11:41:37 background is actually in architecture.
11:41:39 So seeing that, I have seen what it has done.
11:41:42 I think the next part is to get the community
11:41:46 invested, and everybody I see it as an opportunity
11:41:52 to be find ways to get involved, to see how
11:41:55 architecture in the city, and how the building,
11:42:02 how that's about -- I am interested in working on.
11:42:11 That thank you for your time.
11:42:12 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
11:42:14 Anyone else?
11:42:15 Mrs. Montelione has a question.
11:42:16 >>LISA MONTELIONE: No, were the other, you said,
11:42:21 wasn't here.
11:42:22 Were the others here earlier?
11:42:24 >>BOB McDONAUGH: Not for Drew Park but for other
11:42:26 CRAs.
11:42:27 >>LISA MONTELIONE: It so East Tampa.
11:42:29 We'll see them next time.
11:42:30 >>BOB McDONAUGH: That's correct.
11:42:31 >> you have three applicants and there is one
11:42:36 position available in Drew Park.
11:42:37 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I am going to pass it down and
11:42:39 pass it over.
11:42:40 Thank you.
11:42:46 It's being counted
11:42:56 Let's go to 9.
11:43:00 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I'll move all three
11:43:11 applicants.
11:43:12 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Moved for approval by
11:43:14 Councilwoman Montelione.
11:43:15 Seconded by Councilman Maniscalco.
11:43:17 All in favor? Opposed?
11:43:21 Congratulations.
11:43:22 You're welcome.
11:43:23 (Laughter).
11:43:24 >>BOB McDONAUGH: Ybor City, we have two
11:43:27 ex-officio positions.
11:43:29 If I could I would like to ask Michael Murphy to
11:43:35 say hello to the board.
11:43:36 >> Hello. I'm Michael Murphy.
11:43:45 I operate the gallery down in Ybor.
11:43:48 And the past 20 years, I have established a good
11:43:51 working relationship with the Ybor City
11:43:52 Development Corporation.
11:43:53 Mainly working with their retail subcommittee.
11:43:59 If you don't know I am also one of the co-founders
11:44:01 and currently serve as secretary of the merchants
11:44:05 association.
11:44:05 I would be happy -- of our organizations as we
11:44:10 continue development of Ybor into a true work,
11:44:13 live and play.
11:44:17 Do you have any questions?
11:44:23 (Laughter)
11:44:29 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Doesn't take advice from Mr.
11:44:30 McDonaugh anymore, okay?
11:44:33 (Laughter)
11:44:35 I move approval of Mr. Murphy.
11:44:37 >> Second.
11:44:39 >>YVONNE CAPIN: We have a motion to approve by
11:44:43 Councilman Suarez.
11:44:44 Second by Councilwoman Montelione.
11:44:46 All in favor?
11:44:46 >>BOB McDONAUGH: Two ex-officios.
11:44:53 One is Mr. Murphy and another is Anthony.
11:44:57 So if I could get a confirmation.
11:44:59 >>YVONNE CAPIN: So there are two openings, two
11:45:02 applicants.
11:45:02 >> That's correct.
11:45:05 >> I'll move the second applicant approval.
11:45:07 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Did we vote on the first motion?
11:45:11 No, not yet.
11:45:12 All in favor?
11:45:12 Opposed?
11:45:13 Passes unanimously.
11:45:15 Thank you.
11:45:17 You're welcome.
11:45:22 And we have a second.
11:45:24 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Motion to approve our second point
11:45:26 as ex-officio.
11:45:28 >>YVONNE CAPIN: We have a motion from Councilman
11:45:30 Suarez.
11:45:31 Second by Councilwoman Montelione.
11:45:33 All in favor?
11:45:34 Opposed?
11:45:35 Thank you.
11:45:36 Again, you're welcome.
11:45:37 Thank you for serving.
11:45:38 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Chair, if we could announce what
11:45:54 the votes were, because looks like we have a
11:45:57 revote.
11:45:57 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Is that what we are doing?
11:46:00 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I believe so.
11:46:03 >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: City clerk.
11:46:10 No one received four votes.
11:46:13 We have 3, 2, 1.
11:46:17 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Who were they?
11:46:19 >> Dan Wynn received two votes, John two votes,
11:46:23 and Maximo Sanchez received one.
11:46:28 >>MIKE SUAREZ: All right.
11:46:39 >>BOB McDONAUGH: May I also ask the CRA board to
11:46:50 receive and file the quarterly financials?
11:46:54 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Motion by Councilwoman
11:46:56 Montelione.
11:46:57 Seconded by Councilman Maniscalco.
11:47:00 All in favor?
11:47:01 Opposed? Thank you.
11:47:02 Now we wait for the vote count.
11:47:04 Okay, we could do -- thank you, Councilman Cohen.
11:47:12 We'll start with Mr. Maniscalco.
11:47:14 Any new business?
11:47:23 I had it in my hand the whole meeting.
11:47:25 >>LISA MONTELIONE: [Off microphone.]
11:47:27 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you, Councilwoman
11:47:30 Montelione.
11:47:32 Councilman Maniscalco.
11:47:33 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: No new business, thank you.
11:47:36 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Councilman Cohen?
11:47:43 >>HARRY COHEN: No.
11:47:44 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I have nothing at this time.
11:47:46 >>YVONNE CAPIN: And I have no new business.
11:47:48 It looks like we got that in time.
11:47:50 >>MIKE SUAREZ: It looks like the clerk has it
11:47:52 ready right on time.
11:47:53 >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: City clerk.
11:47:56 The individual selected for the Drew Park CRA
11:47:59 community advisory committee is Mr. Ben Wynn.
11:48:06 Thank you.
11:48:06 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Congratulations.
11:48:08 Thank you.
11:48:08 And you're welcome.
11:48:11 All right.
11:48:12 We have new business, and so now motion by
11:48:23 Councilman Cohen, seconded by Councilman
11:48:25 Maniscalco.
11:48:26 All in favor?
11:48:28 Opposed?
11:48:29 Okay.
11:48:29 Adjourned.
11:48:30 Thank you.
11:48:33 (CRA meeting adjourned)
11:49:47
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