02/21/2013 - Topic Transportation
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOPIC TRANSPORTATION
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 21, 2013
Present: Bill Jonson Councilmember
Doreen Hock-DiPolito Councilmember
Also present: Jill Silverboard Assistant City Manager
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The work session was called to order at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall.
Discussion ensued regarding future work sessions and anticipated accomplishments.
Assistant City Manager Jill Silverboard said staff will provide necessary resources; meetings
should not last longer than an hour. Staff members will provide briefings: Professional Engineer
Himanshu Patni will confer with Councilmember Jonson prior to PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast
Transit Authority) meetings and Planning Manager Lauren Matzke will confer with
Commissioner Hock-DiPolito prior to PPC (Pinellas Planning Council) and ACPT (Advisory
Committee for Pinellas Transportation) meetings.
Discussion ensued regarding the November 2014 referendum and need for countywide
leadership and a critical plan task list that addresses the rail project, TOD (Transit Oriented
Development), and public outreach. The difficulty of encouraging board chairs to initiate action
was noted. Discussion ensued regarding PSTA efforts to streamline routes in its community
bus plan, the crucial need to integrate SR 60 corridor bus rapid transit in future planning
documents after its omission from the Alternative Analysis, and the importance of HART’s
(Hillsborough Area Regional Transit) participation at ACPT meetings. It was recommended that
the group of young professionals, TRANSITion Tampa Bay, be engaged in the transportation
planning process. It was stated that the Board or County Commissioners had directed ACPT to
start work on critical path items. Councilmember Jonson said he attends TBARTA (Tampa Bay
Area Regional Transportation Authority) board meetings.
Ms. Silverboard said a charrette is scheduled at TBRPC (Tampa Bay Regional Planning
Council) on May 3 at 8:00 a.m. to discuss station design preferences for Clearwater. The
TBRPC recognition awards luncheon is on March 25. She will verify if Councilmember Hock-
DiPolito should attend the April 25, MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) Advisory
Committee quarterly meeting in Tallahassee and if regional rail authorities will be in attendance.
It was recommended that PSTA, the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization), should
it become regional, St. Pete-Clearwater International re its new branding, and iDatix re its
business be invited to City Council meetings to provide information to the Council and
community
A decision regarding the frequency of meetings will be made at the next meeting on
March 21, 2013.
The work session adjourned at 3:44 p.m.
Council - Topic Transportation 2013-02-21 1