Tampa Trails & Greenways Minutes

Call to Order

January 19, 2000

• Mr. David Foster, Chair, called the meeting to order at approximately 6:45 P.M

Attendees:

• David Foster, Karen Cashon, Karla Price, Richard Johnson, Richard Carlson, Edith Hooten, Mahdi Mansour, Alan Wright, Charlotte Gillis, Sharon Keene, Jim Fleming, Phyllis Pacyna, Sally Thompson, Tom Bryan, Kevin Dwyer, Jill Buford, Laure Potier-Brown, Leigh Chamblis, Art Hushen

Old Business:

• Mr. David Foster asked for a report on the Public Workshops. Ms. Karla Price mentioned that Ms. Charlotte Gillis had sorted and compiled the comments from the workshops. Then a subcommittee consisting of Ms. Price, Ms. Karen Cashon, Ms. Sally Thompson, Ms. Laurie Potier-Brown, Ms. Edith Hooten, Mr. Alan Wright and Mr. Randy Stribling met at Ms. Hooten's on 4/12/2000 to review the comments and discuss suggesting additions/changes. Those additions/changes were shown on the plans as well as a few more brought up by Advisory Committee Members. Mr. David Foster asked for any additional comments and thanked the Committee for all the efforts on the workshops.
• Ms. Karla Price provided an update on the target project from Blake High School to MLK Recreation Center and handed out at conceptual design booklet provided by consultant Rachel Rodgers. Mr. Phil Graham has been retained to complete the construction documents and surveyors are retained for areas that will require agreements with the FDOT, Presbyterian Village and Hillsborough County School Board. Ms. Price also mentioned another field meeting with Phil Graham to clarify the actual route.

New Business:

• Ms. Laurie Potier Brown suggested the need to begin thinking of the next construction phase, perhaps into the Seminole Heights area as these would only require roadway re-striping and signage. Mr. Richard Johnson suggested that the current work on the South Tampa Greenway would be also appropriate. Mr. Alan Wright suggested that a second phase that was less construction oriented would be a good choice. Ms. Price pointed out that from the COT's perspective, the priority was for S. Tampa Greenway due to its linkage with the Friendship Trail and the AFB's commitment to moving its fence line, but also suggested that the current budgeting for 2001 show a request for road re-striping as well. Capt. Tom Brown pointed out the loss of open lots of any size in S. Tampa and the need to acquire the land down there was also a priority and Mr. Richard Johnson pointed out that the COT was in the process of acquiring several parcels via grant applications. Mr. Foster reminded the Committee of the need to stay balanced and look at all four quadrants. Mr. Kevin Dwyer suggested that after adoption by COT Council, we choose a project in each quadrant and look at funding sources such as ELAPP. It was suggested that a sub-committee headed by Mr. Kevin Dwyer and assisted by Ms. Sally Thompson and Ms. Phyllis Pacyna look at funding sources for the next meeting. Ms. Charlotte Gillis suggested since she knows of the federal funding sources, that the subcommittee deal with state and local funding sources only. Mr. Jim Fleming reminded us to stay balance but not to spread our trails to thin and to rely on linkage and to try and stay flexible to respond to potentially short notice and small windows of opportunity in some cases. Mr. Mahdi Mansour reminded us that we need to work with FDOT on certain state route where FDOT Standards for safety are of paramount concern to them. Mr. Richard Carlson mentioned the use of a matrix and criteria to award points as a system to prioritize the proposed routes. Ms. Price reiterated that Post Buckley Schuh & Jernigan's master plan was slated for completion in July for presentation to Council and then they would start on the Design Guidelines. Mr David Foster suggested using the County basis already in place and Ms. Sally Thompson responded that the County has a different setup with less homeowner's association and suggested that we use the commonalities but add the specific urban criteria that our trails need. Ms. Edith Hooten wondered if it wasn't more logical to proceed with the South Tampa Greenway up to Blake High School and then on north. Ms. Thompson replied that money was a factor and certain work would need to be part of the 5 year plan and that overall city balance was very important. Jim Fleming also re-stressed the importance of balance and keeping "multiple fires in the iron." Mr. Richard Johnson added that we need to focus on getting the proposal adopted by Council and then worry about prioritizing the routes. Ms. Potier-Brown added that Lowry Park would be an excellent already in place trailhead and Mr. Foster thought we should tie into a continuous trail as much as possible and that the downtown core has no income basis. It was suggested that a subcommittee consider the prioritizing criteria. Mr. Johnson doesn't think we need to present Council with priorities prior to adoption and Ms. Jill Buford suggested starting with small easy projects to get momentum rolling that will include community participation. Mr. Dwyer concurred with presenting the general nature of our proposal to Council. Mr. Mansour suggested waiting for the PBSJ recommendations in the Design Guidelines phase and Ms. Price reminded us that PBSJ would finish the master plan in July before starting on the Design Guidelines (expected to be finished by year's end).
  
  
• Ms. Karla Price introduced Officer Art Hushen of Tampa Police Department, a CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) expert and gave everyone a handout from Hillsborough County. Officer Hushen spoke generally on the nature of safety issues, statistics and analysis, liability, how our trails differ from Pinellas Trail and possible additions to areas including call boxes and short-circuit TVs. Trails must be functional and safe to be used. Mr. Foster asked Officer Hushen to assist in the CPTED issues of the target project. Ms. Thompson pointed out the benefits of daytime use only, but a recent local incident of a daytime mugging at Rivercrest Park was mentioned as insufficient safety in daylight hours. Mr. Fleming pointed out that the target project had kids, and possible safely and security issues that made it ideal as a good demonstration of CPTED. Ms. Price suggested that we recommend that all trails have a crime analysis and risk assessment conducted by TPD prior to final approval, as Council would listen to CPTED and TPD recommendations. Officer Hushen mentioned work on an ordinance for minimum CPTED standards and mentioned the National Park Service "Park Watch" where locals adjacent to parks are encouraged to report suspicious activity. In response to a query re: policemen on bicycles, Officer Hushen mentioned that the grant funding the bikecops had expired but that the Chief was committed to keeping bikecops. Mr. Wright mentioned the Nextel system as a means to report suspicious activity as well. Mr. Foster stressed trails need to be safe for all users at all hours. Ms. Price wondered if there is any minimum standards to warrant bikecops. Both Mr. Johnson and Mr. Fleming mentioned that safety is a design issue AND a strategy issue.
  
  
• Mr. Foster continued with the concept of the combination of the Greenways Committees with the Cities of Temple Terrace and Plant City as well. Ms. Price who had attended the Hillsborough Greenways meeting on Tuesday night discussed their adoption of a reorganization that would permit this joining. The new organization would meet 6 times a year, and consist of 20 voting members (9 interest groups, 3 at-large members, 4 govt. members and 4 utilities members) but would welcome all to attend and speak. It was suggested that after Council's adoption, that the Tampa Greenways and Trails Citizens Advisory Committee join into Hillsborough Greenways. Ms. Charlotte Gillis suggested instead that we morph into a non-profit 501c3 organization and raise funding. Ms. Sharon Keene pointed out her concern that the neighborhood voices would surely get lost in such a closed structure, even if one of the member-at-large positions were held for THAN (pointed out that in her opinion THAN represents South Tampa basically) and secondly, that the County doesn't seem to understand urban constraints and issues. These concerns were verbally echoed by the Committee and it was suggested that a subcommittee headed by Ms. Sharon Keene and assisted by Ms. Leigh Chamblis, Capt Tom Brown and Ms. Laurie Potier-Brown look at the pros and cons for 1) merging with Hillsborough Greenways, (2) retaining our stand alone status as is and (3) morphing into a non-profit organization. This subcommittee will start up in May. Mr. Fleming pointed out we need to focus on and solicit citizen input in liaison relationships with other organizations and the neighborhoods. Mr. Johnson urged discussion with those who run Hillsborough Greenways for advice.
  
  
• Ms. Price mentioned Art In Public Places and their financial commitment to the addition of art on trails. No action is necessary on our part at this point.
  
  
• Mr. Richard Carlson submitted a 4 page article on Trail Experiences that will be handed out at the next meeting.
  
  
• The next Advisory Committee Meeting is set for Wednesday, May 17, 2000 at 6:30 p.m., at the Seminole Garden Center.
  
  The meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M.