Call to Order

Date: June 11, 2003

• Ms. Sally Thompson called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm.

Attendees:

• Jill Buford, Kevin Dwyer, Richard Johnson, Jim Hartnett, Sally Thompson, Dan Thornbrugh, Alan Wright, Karen Cashon, Karla Price
• Mr. Dan Thornbrugh moved to accept the December 2002 meeting minutes with Mr. Richard Johnson seconding the motion. It passed unanimously.

Old Business:

• Parks Update: The Blake Trail Extension has enough funding to award all of the project . Work is still being done to finalize the agreements with Presbyterian Village, FDOT and the School Board.

  South Tampa Greenway has no agreement with Mac Dill AFB yet. The Environmental Assessment, underway for the past two years, is now complete as of December 2002, so now the agreement is being worked out. It was recently determined that per state statue, no liability against property owners for recreational use easement may be incurred so while the Tampa Electric Company easement is also not in place, it is closer. A generic bid for trail construction is 80% complete, which would allow the city to build various trail types based on linear foot distances anywhere within the city limits without undergoing a specific site bid process.

  Ms. Buford added that the trail route near Tappan north of the trailer park site is apparently to be re-routed to the south street (B Street) instead of Everett Street. Ms. Price added that the developer of the Liao property on Tyson Avenue at Westshore Boulevard has agreed to a trail easement on the southern part of that property. The City will not be acquiring the CSX parcel on the south side of Prescott Street across from the Tappan site due to ground contamination. Additionally, the Picnic Island ELAPP Site just east of Picnic Island Park and south of Port Tampa is closing within the month.

  Ms. Buford suggested that the City needs to develop citywide guidelines for developers to require trail easements on new construction projects. Ms. Price believes this might be another possible project for the new GW&T Coordinator: tying into the city system to red flag the Real Estate and Land Development divisions on new development that would be potential trail connections. Another GW&T Coordinator project would be going to neighborhood association meetings to educate inform and update the residents.

New Business:

• City of Tampa Council Briefing: Ms. Thompson opined that August might be an good time to meet with the Council before the budget discussions get underway and after their two week break in July. Mr. Alan Wright reiterated the previous concept of going to see the council members as individuals if a group meet becomes unlikely. Ms. Thompson wondered if the Council briefing should wait until the Greenways and Trails Coordinator is hired and Ms. Price discussed the recent interviews. If this position is filled prior to the Council briefing, he/she will attend with the group; otherwise, he/she will meet the Council later.

  Ms. Jill Buford inquired if the CAC still planned on update workshops and Ms. Price replied affirmative, with the new GW&T Coordinator to work on that. Mr. Jim Hartnett inquired as to the purpose of the Council briefing and Ms. Price responded to gain support from and inform the new members, and update the returning members, and to get the Council's assistance in dealing with other local municipalities and organizations.

  Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners: At a recent meeting/vote, Hillsborough County BOCC sided with a subdivision to withdraw the TECO easement from consideration for the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. Mr. Ed Crawford had notified Ms. Price by e-mail of the negative tone (including inaccurate information such as "increased crime") taken by the BOCC in regards to trails and neighborhoods. Mr. Richard Johnson added it was a nearly unanimous vote. Ms. Thompson cited the probability of increased costs of trail routing and potential loss of T21 funding due to this vote. Mr. Hartnett added that this vote was taken prior to recommendation by their own legal advisors. Ms. Price suggested attending a BOCC meeting on Thursday, June 12, 2003 at 6 p.m. to show support for trails.

  Blake Trail: Ms. Thompson referenced concerns by Blake High School officials that the trail along the river on the school property would bring non-students onto campus. Mr. Wright pointed out that the school was required to provide this access along the river as part of their original agreement, and that the TAC had recently won a concession to permit the trail to be open to the public except on football game nights.

  River Tour: On Wednesday, June 11, 2003, there will be a Hillsborough River tour from the Convention Center to Lowry Park on the Lowry Park Zoo boat with Mayor Iorio and other dignitaries. Ms. Price will attend as well as Tampa Parks and Recreation Director Ross Ferlita to discuss projects along the river. Ms. Thompson and Mr. Wright intend to be there as well.

  Mr. Wright mentioned the canoe launch at Rowlett Park is in disrepair and that the Greenways and Trails agreement requires it be maintained to keep the designation of State Canoe Trail. The Water Department has expressed concerns over Tampa's water supply and access to the dam and doesn't wish to have a viable canoe launch in this area. A scheduled meeting between the Water Department and the Parks and Recreation Department was cancelled prior to any discussion or resolution on the issue. Mr. Johnson stressed that "clear and present danger" to the water supply or to the dam should be proven by the Water Department. Ms. Thompson suggested the CAC should contact the Mike Bennett, Water Department Director and Ms. Price added that getting the CEPTD unit of the Tampa Police Department involved might be beneficial. Mr. Wright added that Councilman John Dingfelder has asked to speak to Mr. Bennett on this. Mr. Dwyer thought that the CAC and CPTED needs a better idea of the Water Department's concerns to address them adequately. A motion was made by Mr. Keven Dwyer to sent a letter to Mr. Bennett and Parks and Recreation Director Ross Ferlita on this issue to inform them of the situation, express the CAC's concern over the State Canoe Trail designation should the canoe launch remain in disrepair, and gain a clarification of the Water Department's concerns. The motion was seconded by Mr. Jim Hartnett.

  New Parks Trails: Water Works Park near the new Stetson Law School has a 12' trail through the park. This trail will serve the Tampa Heights area to the north and, in the long run, provide a link to downtown and the Riverwalk to the south.

  The Port Tampa Playground/Spanish American War Memorial Park Master Plan was presented by Ms. Price, who has worked with the Port Tampa Women's Club on the concept. Within the 60' CSX right-of-way, the design shows a 12' wide asphalt trail. Mr. Dwyer mentioned that there is one train daily about 6 days a week, approximately 7 pm. Mr. Thornbrugh thought a link to the Friendship Trail would be advisable. Mr. Dwyer suggested that a connection to the Tappan site and the MacDill Trail would also be useful. Ms. Thompson added that the proposed widening of Westshore Boulevard would include a wide sidewalk, which Mr. Dwyer corrected as being only 100% on the east side of Westshore Boulevard and 70% on the west side due to the narrow right-of-way. Mr. Thornbrugh wondered if the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy could assist in accessing the CSX right-of-way in Port Tampa. Ms. Price was optimistic that this might work, since trails sharing rights-of-way with railroads has precedence in other states. Mr. Thornbrugh also mentioned that the RTC advocates safe school routes and that Monroe Middle School and Lanier Elementary School just to the north on the other side of the tracks would also benefit from safe trails for students to walk and bike to school. Ms. Buford pointed out that the children already cross the tracks at several points and that a safe point of crossing could only help.

  The master plan of DeSoto Park along McKay Bay shows a 10' multi-purpose trail along the water around the proposed pool complex and by the proposed shoreline restoration.

  Cypress Point Park on Old Tampa Bay on west Tampa is ready to bid the entry turnaround and will next look at building the western parking lot. Nature and hiking trails are in place and will be expanded in future phases. Mr. Johnson hoped that the LINKS project would connect to the park and Ms. Price explained that this would initially be considered a utility corridor which will become a trail when the City takes over maintenance.