Call to Order

Date: August 20, 2001

• Ms. Sally Thompson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:18 p.m

Attendees:

• F. Burns, Edith Hooten, Nina Mabilleau (Transportation), Laurie Potier-Brown, Sally Thompson, Alan Wright, Karla Price, Karen Cashon

Old Business:

• Parks Update: Ms. Nina Mabilleau asked if the Blake Trail would permit the use of bicycles and Ms. Price said yes. Ms. Thompson opined that the use of the trail would change as it progressed south and north of Blake High School. Ms. Price added that it was the intention to be multi-use. Ms. Mabilleau referenced the proposed Riverwalk under Brorein Street as a crossing opportunity and Ms. Thompson pointed out the desire for full-access on both sides of the River in downtown.

• Public Workshop: The last public workshop will be August 22, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. at the New Tampa Regional Library on Cross Creek Boulevard. Ms. Thompson asked about the success of the previous two workshops. Ms. Price said that 12 people showed at the Seminole Garden Center workshop on 6/27 and two people at the Forest Hills Community Center workshop on 7/25 (a meeting that same night likely lowered attendance). Ms. Hooten reiterated the necessity to get the word out ahead of time to generate public interest and attendance. Ms. Price intends to call several of the local civic/neighborhood associations to remind them of Wednesday’s workshop. Ms. Thompson agreed that if these workshops are going to be an annual summer event, then we need organization to attract more attendance. She also suggested that at the next CAC meeting, we review the citizen comment sheets, and added that it would be beneficial in assisting the CAC in its outreach attempts. She also stressed that the CAC needs to talk with all the civic/neighborhood associations and assure that they are getting the word out to all the people in their area. Mr. Frank Burns suggested that the CAC approach the Tampa Tribune about a listing of civic and neighborhood associations each week to further inspire citizen input.

• Projects: Ms. Thompson next mentioned the Old Seminole Heights signage route currently being derived and pursued by Mr. Alan Wright and Ms. Laurie Potier-Brown through their neighborhood as a low-cost prototype of on-road trails. Blake Trail will serve as a prototype for off-road trails. Ms. Mabilleau pointed out that the City is currently backlogged in maintenance in putting up speed limit signs.

• Art in Public Places: Ms. Price and Ms. Thompson attended an Art in Public Places meeting on Friday August 17. There has been discussion about an artistically styled sign for the over-all Tampa Greenways and Trails with variations to reflect neighborhood character. $100,000.00 is available for art on the Blake Trail and MacDill Trail. Ms. Potier-Brown added that this would be an excellent opportunity considering the current pursuit of on-road trail signage that she and Mr. Wright are pursuing in their neighborhood. Ms. Mabilleau mentioned that she had recently attended a BPAC meeting that covered this subject and that she had recommended they (as well as we) start with the approved types in the Standard Traffic Manual as a base and modify that artistically if desired. Ms. Potier-Brown wondered why we don’t work directly with BPAC if our goals are similar. Ms. Thompson added that the earlier administration at DPW was highly concerned with liability issues to the point of removing all the City trail signage and current administrators were more open to our concerns. Ms. Hooten queried where would the signs actually go. Mr. Wright reiterated his and Ms. Potier-Brown’s current efforts to have a test case in Old Seminole Heights/Sulphur Springs. Ms. Thompson would like to see three or four prototype areas. Ms. Price added that the City needs to notify affected property owners. Ms. Mabilleau informed the attendees that the City provides two free signs to each neighborhood and that this is a start for the quantity of signs needed for each neighborhood. Ms. Potier-Brown likes the idea of artistically designed signage.

• 2002 CIP Update: Ms. Price next discussed the recently approved CIP budget for the City and no funds were set aside for greenways and trails. There are still funds available from previous years’. Budget did approve a Parks staff position for next year for a greenways and trails coordinator and Transportation also received funds for trails. Parks expects to solicit some of this money.

• Ms. Price stressed that Mayor Greco really wants to see the Blake Trail prototype completed. A concrete surface has been chosen for ease of long term maintenance, suitability in the mainly urban setting and the comparable price with asphalt. Trail material is expected to match the surroundings of any particular area it is in. Ms. Price clarified the monies currently available for trail construction as follows:

  $300,000.00 CIT funds

  $ 80,000.00 RTP Grant- Gadsden Park Loop

  $ 90,000.00 Varying accounts

  $100,000.00 Art in Public Places (art signage)

• Another FRDAP Grant submittal is in the works. Construction of part of the South Tampa Greenway has been delayed by MacDill AFB’s request for an Environmental Assessment, which is expected to be finished this fall. Parsons Engineering Sciences is working on the EA. Ms. Mabilleau pointed out that 60% approval is needed in a community to implement changes in that neighborhood and Ms. Price concurred that would be necessary to proceed as well with trail projects.

• Bike Action Tampa: Saturday August 25, 2001 is slated for the Bike Action Tampa.

• Florida Greenways and Trails Month: October is officially designated as Florida’s Greenways and Trails Month. Per Ms. Thompson, Ms. Marsha Rickman with the State Office of Greenways and Trails was very impressed with our Gadsden Park and she thought Bayshore Boulevard could be designated as an official State Greenway. The Committee was asked for ideas to celebrate October. Ms. Price was asked to investigate what Hillsborough County is doing for October. It was mentioned that BPAC is thinking of piggybacking an event onto the February Gasparilla event and Ms. Price also offered to see if BPAC has anything planned for October’s event.

• 2002 National Parks and Recreation Conference: This annual event is slated for Tampa on October 16, 2002 and will be headed by Mr. Ross Ferlita, Director, Tampa Parks and Recreation Department and Mr. Joe Abrahms, Director, Tampa Recreation Department. Ms. Price is working on an agenda for a day-long seminar on greenways and trails. This NRPA event is expected to draw 9,000 to 10,000 people. Ms. Price suggested that Ms. Thompson and Ms. Charlotte Gillis would be an excellent speakers at this seminar. Ms. Price was considering an on-site institute entitled "Development of Trails in Urban Areas."

• Blake Trail Update: Ms. Price went over the conceptual plans from Phil Graham and Company. The proposed design runs from Riverfront Park past Blake High School to end at the ML King Recreation Center. These plans are currently under review by Officer Art Hushen with TPD for CEPTD compliance. Ms. Price added, based on a recent meeting with Hillsborough County School Board , that they would like to curtail use of one-half mile portion of the trail on Blake High School property to daytime use only and additionally, they did not wish to have any seating in that portion. They have no problem relocating the shed at Stewart Middle School. The trail in this area is 10’ wide and will ideally be 12’ wide beyond it. Phasing (based on cost estimates) would break construction down into three parts: the Riverfront Park to Blake High School portion is estimated at $210,000.00

• The Riverfront Park alone is $135,000.00 (approx $30.000.00 for Landscaping). Ms. Price believes the first phase should be the connection from Riverfront Park to Blake High School. The City can soon apply for another Recreational Trail Program grant for $80,000.00 as part of the cost (only for trails within parks). For the north section, Ms. Price thinks we can get assistance from Transportation.

• Land Acquisition: The City currently has a $1.6 million land acquisition grant in progress with the Office of Greenways and Trails. Real Estate is handling this. Ms. Price also mentioned the three projects currently approved for funding by CMAQ: (1) off-road trail on Manhattan south to Interbay (or bike lanes); (2) underpass for new Gandy Bridge span and (3) pedestrian bridge at McKay Bay over tidal creek. Construction is slated for 2006/2007.

• New Flatwoods Park: Ms. Price apprised the CAC about the intended construction planned for this new acquisition by the City of Tampa. Passive development with a proposed nature center and a trail connection to Hillsborough County’s Flatwoods Park are planned with construction slated for this fall or winter.

• TrailLink 2001: This conference is slated for September 26-29, 2001.

New Business:

• Participation: Ms. Price asked ideas to encourage more participation on the CAC. It was mentioned that Ms. Jane Futrell Burmer, RLA of URS would like to attend as a Tampa resident. Ms. Price added that Mr. Erle

• Boynton had stated that he was encouraged to attend a previous meeting by a line in the notice regarding the review of conceptual drawings and that productive meetings with goals were attractive to flagging members. Ms. Price suggested we might ask the neighborhood associations to appointed designees to attend meetings. Ms. Thompson wondered if the CAC ought to first approach THAN. Ms. Hooten reminded the attendees to use the Neighborhood Liaison newsletter to get the word out of upcoming meetings. Ms. Price did not feel that THAN had been particularly effective in the past at increasing CAC meeting attendance. Ms. Potier-Brown mentioned the New Tampa Community Council as a body in north Tampa with similar purposes to THAN. Ms. Thompson suggested that a presentation be created for other meetings as well as for THAN.

• Website: Ms. Price told the CAC that the website was 80% complete.

• Follow-up: Ms. Thompson suggested that, by the next meeting in October, the CAC have a decision on how to acknowledge Greenways and Trail Month, have a news article in the Tribune, finish the website, pursue a State Greenway designation for Bayshore Blvd, and work on a presentation for meetings with other organizations. Ms. Thompson also suggested that the CAC follow up the publicity through out the winter with additional articles.

• Next Meetings: A planning meeting to discuss goals for the next year is set for Monday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m. at the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department Offices at 7525 North Boulevard. The next CAC meeting is scheduled for October 17, 2001 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Seminole Garden Center. 
  
  Meeting was adjourned at 8:01 pm.