04/28/2014 - Topic Transportation WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOPIC TRANSPORTATION
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 28, 2014
Present: Councilmember Bill Jonson, Councilmember Doreen DiPolito
Also present: William B. Horne II - City Manager, Jill Silverboard -Assistant City Manager, Rod
Irwin -Assistant City Manager, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
The Work Session was called to order at 12:30 p.m. at City Hall.
1 —Construction Window re Trail Connection between Courtney Campbell and Ream
Wilson Trails
Assistant City Manager Jill Silverboard said design work for the trail connection will be finished
in June. Construction will take longer than anticipated. The Courtney Campbell Trail will be
completed before the connection. The City has not received a maintenance MOA
(Memorandum of Agreement) from FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) for the
Courtney Campbell Trail. City Council discussions re Penny for Pinellas fund changes for the
Airpark t-hangar project and trail connection may need to be separated.
Concern was expressed that portions of the Bayshore Boulevard sidewalk will be impassable
during the connection's construction.
2 — US 19 Accessibility and Transit Access Project Schedule
It was reported the US 19 circulator study would not start until January 2014.
3 — Legislative Proposal: Allow State to Display Advertising on State Road Traffic Control
Signal Cabinets — Local Preemption Possible
It was stated the proposal would raise money for FDOT, however, federal regulations may
prohibit it on roads receiving federal funds. Ms. Silverboard said City land development
regulations prohibit City advertising on its signal cabinets. It was noted that signal cabinets in
parts of the country are decorated with mural art.
4—Other Business
Discussion ensued re consolidation of the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) and PPC
(Pinellas Planning Council) with concerns expressed that plans to retain both agencies' staff will
not improve efficiency, minimize conflict, improve collaboration, or serve policy, and may impair
the new agency's ability to plan future growth from an integrated transportation and land
development perspective. It had been hoped a visionary leader would take charge of the
consolidated agency. If possible, the retention of 2 staffs will be questioned at a MPO or PPC
meeting.
It was stated the merger has been delayed; the City of St. Petersburg requested modification of
the interlocal agreement for the newly constituted MPO to assign that city two seats on the new
consolidated board.
5—Adjourn - 12:57 p.m.
Council —Topic Transportation 2014-04-28 1