OKALOOSA-WALTON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION (CAC) MEETING MINUTES WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL (Designated staff) Walton County Courthouse, 571 U.S. Hwy 90 E, DeFuniak Springs, FL June 21, 2018 MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Steven Czonstka, Chairman James T. (Jim) Wood, Jr., Vice Chair Douglass Bacon Dean Covey Matthew Cox L. A. Woodall Rodney Salisbury OTHERS ATTENDING: Christy Johnson David Haight John Fielding Randy Showers Rodney Salisbury John McGee Don Cleveland Becky Brice-Nash Alex Barthé Cory Wilkinson Mary Beth Washnock Tiffany Bates Jill Krug Jill Lavender Annie Walthall Gary Kramer Kristen Barre Jo Anne Donatella MEMBERS NOT IN ATTENDANCE: Yvonne Earle Joe Faulk Bill Ready FDOT Atkins Atkins Okaloosa County First City Bank HDR A. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE Chairman Czonstka called the meeting to order and led the pledge of allegiance. B. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairman Czonstka announced that Item G Presentations, Enclosure D needed to be eliminated from the agenda as the speaker was unable to attend. Mr. Salisbury moved to approve the agenda with the removal of Enclosure D. Mr. Cox seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. C. PUBLIC FORUM
June 21, 2018 Page 2 of 6 D. FDOT UPDATE - Mr. Bryant Paulk, AICP, or Ms. Christy Johnson, AICP, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Urban Liaisons Ms. Christy Johnson, FDOT presented. The Brooks Bridge PD&E public hearing will be held in mid-september. The ROW for the bridge replacement project is in the FDOT Work Program for FY 2020 and construction for FY 2022. John Sims Parkway over Tom s Bayou Bridge Replacement Project is a 750-day project and is scheduled to begin September 2018. US Hwy 98 widening project in Okaloosa and Walton counties remains on schedule with no major delays. Okaloosa County portion of Hwy 98 from Airport Road to Walton County line is scheduled to be finished in spring 2021; and Walton County line from Emerald Bay Drive to Tang- O-Mar Drive will begin summer of 2020. Vice Chairman Wood inquired about median widths in the Hwy 98 widening project. He stated he saw in the plans that the medians are to be 26-30 feet wide and does not see how there will be that much room. Ms. Johnson recalled him asking about this at a previous meeting and will share the plans with him at the end of this meeting. E. CONSENT: 1. ALL COMMITTEES Approval of April 19, 2018 Meeting Minutes 2. ALL COMMITTEES Consideration of Resolution O-W 18-09 Adopting the Beal Parkway Corridor Management Plan (CMP) from U.S. 98 to Mary Esther Boulevard and Endorsing Implementation of Transportation Strategies and Projects Identified in the Plan 3. TPO ONLY Consideration of the Membership Certification for the Okaloosa County and Walton County Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Boards 4. TPO AND CAC ONLY Consideration of Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Applications from Mr. Alex Barthé, Mr. Alvin Blocker, Ms. Becky Brice-Nash, Mr. Don Cleveland, and Mr. John McGee Mr. Czonstka reminded the CAC applicants that final application approval will be at the TPO meeting and asked them to introduce themselves. Mr. Barthe, Ms. Becky Brice-Nice, Mr. Don Cleveland, and Mr. John McGee introduced themselves; Mr. Blocker was not present. Ms. Washnock offered her thanks to the prospective members and encouraged them to bring their new perspectives to the CAC. Mr. Ron Salisbury echoed this appreciation for new input, especially from Crestview representatives. Mr. Salisbury moved to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Mr. Cox. (Vice Chair Wood asked if the committee could move to confirm someone that did not show up today. Ms. Washnock explained that the list still had to go before the TPO to be approved.) The motion was passed.
June 21, 2018 Page 3 of 6 F. WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S BRIEF TPO ONLY Mr. Austin Mount, WFRPC Executive Director G. ACTION: 1. ENCLOSURE A ALL COMMITTEES (PUBLIC HEARING AND ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) Consideration of Resolution O-W 18-08 Adopting the Okaloosa-Walton TPO FY 2019-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Authorizing the TPO to Administratively Amend the FY 2019-2023 TIP to Include the Projects in FDOT's Variance Report Presentation by Mr. Gary Kramer, Enclosure A is draft FY 2019-2023 TIP Resolution and was an information item at the last meeting. Staff requests action this month. It was posted online April 13 with comments requested by May 4. Comments and responses are listed in the enclosure. It was updated online on May 24 and emailed to this committee on May 25. There were no questions Ms. Krug told the committee that a roll call vote was not necessary for this committee. Vice-Chair Wood moved to recommend that the TPO authorize the TPO Chairman to sign Resolution O-W 18-08 adopting the Okaloosa-Walton TPO FY 2019-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and authorizing the TPO to administratively amend the FY 2019-2023 TIP to include the projects in FDOT's Variance Report; Mr. Cox seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. Ms. Washnock mentioned that Ms. Bates will be giving a CAC orientation/overview today that will help explain all these documents, especially to the new committee members. 2. ENCLOSURE B TCC and TPO ONLY Election of Chairs and Vice Chairs for Fiscal Year 2019 (July 1, 2018 June 30, 2019) G. PRESENTATIONS (no action): 1. ENCLOSURE C ALL COMMITTEES Okaloosa-Walton TPO FY 2020-2024 Project Priorities Presentation by Mr. Gary Kramer, The FY 2020-2024 Project Priorities is the project schedule and will be a review item in August and up for approval in September. It was posted online June 8 as a draft document. Ms. Bates sent out an email to the CAC on June 12 with a link to the documents. A flyer included in the Enclosure provides a list of public outreach events and workshops. TPO members are encouraged to attend as many of these outreach events as possible. The Long-Range Transportation Plan was amended this year and some new projects have been added to the list. Strategic Intermodal Systems (SIS) projects Round the mound SR10 at the Crestview Bypass East Interchange US 98/331 Flyover
June 21, 2018 Page 4 of 6 Non-SIS priority projects US 98/30A Underpass Crestview Bypass West 2 segments Any new projects are added to the bottom of the priority list as an initial starting point. Mr. Bacon asked about the hours of the outreach events. He noticed that they are outdoor venues. Ms. Washnock explained that there are requirements to reach out to the public and inform them what is happening. Staff may tag on to other events (like a farmers market) in hopes of engaging with and directing people to come to other meetings and workshops. It is an opportunity for the public to meet WFRPC staff and learn more about the TPO in their communities. Mr. Bacon liked the idea. Mr. Cox asked about the underpass project and if additional funding from the developer had been tied in with the TIP. This was part of discussion at a previous meeting. Mr. Kramer replied that right now, the design for that project is funded under the TIP. There was appropriation in the legislature but that is all that is funded. Other phases aren t funded yet for right-of-way acquisition, etc. Mr. Salisbury asked if there is a process for getting additional funding, such as fundraising if the community decides that a specific project is a priority and they can make it come to fruition. He said Crestview area projects that many people thought were on the list are not even on the agenda. Mr. Kramer suggested the TPO staff would need to be informed and he directed Mr. Salisbury to speak with Jill Lavender (Long Range Planning manager) after the meeting. Mr. Czonstka was not sure that funding outside of traditional government taxing was something in which the CAC could participate. He wondered if some private community organization, such as a chamber of commerce, could take on fundraising. He asked if the O-W TPO had any ability to organize a fund-raising project. Mr. Salisbury spoke specifically to interests in his community of Crestview. He said the issue is, since projects fall into so many jurisdictional barriers and across city, county, state, and government entities, it has been difficult to see Crestview as a priority. He stressed that Crestview is where the community lives. However, many citizens feel that if a certain project is not in a city, state, or county plan they are told it cannot be done and that barrier stops more progress in Crestview. He wanted a path to crush that barrier and get everyone working together on projects for sidewalks, bike paths, and bypasses that are not being built. He said it is time to start making Crestview a priority. Mr. Czonstka agreed and asked if the WRPC can take the topic of fundraising for specific projects outside of the entire project plan. He asked if this committee can put forward to the TPO a motion to emphasize the Crestview point of view. Ms. Washnock said the CAC can certainly do that today. And, she informed the committee the incoming chair of the TPO is in fact a Crestview resident.
June 21, 2018 Page 5 of 6 Ms. Washnock said TPO staff needed to know more about which specific projects are being talked about. She mentioned there have been public meetings in Crestview, regarding the bypass and other projects, and the organization is always open to ideas for funding transportation projects. Private/public partnerships are welcome, but they do need to be packaged in certain ways. Ms. Washnock suggested Mr. Salisbury speak with her after the meeting. Mr. Salisbury found that agreeable. 2. ENCLOSURE D ALL COMMITTEES Florida Greenways and Trails (FGT) Foundation Close the Gaps Campaign - Presentation by Mr. Dale Allen, Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation, Inc. Agenda item eliminated 3. ENCLOSURE E CAC ONLY Citizens Advisory Committee Orientation Overview Presentation by Ms. Tiffany Bates, Ms. Bates presented an overview as an orientation or refresher. New members received a binder with useful information. Ms. Bates emphasized communicating with other board members through the TPO coordinator, Ms. Jill Krug. Sunshine Laws apply to this committee. She cautioned members to not use email or phone to communicate with other members privately about TPO business. One-way communication as a public record is admissible. To communicate with each other, please reach out to Ms. Krug. Vice Chair Wood commented about sending emails and reminded members to be sure to work through staff. Mr. Bacon asked if members are covered by legal representation in case of Sunshine violation. Ms. Washnock advised that as members of the CAC, they are not covered by legal representation. Vice Chair Wood asked if CAC members may speak to TPO board members. Ms. Bates said this is allowed. For further clarification Mr. Salisbury reiterated that CAC members can coordinate through different levels of the TPO chain but not amongst other members of the same committee. Ms. Washnock shared that one document was inadvertently left off the overview presentation. It was the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and is the budget for what the TPO does for the planning process and the tasks that are to be performed. That information is on the WFRPC website and it begins July 1 and gives a sneak peek of what is to come in the next 2 years. This document will be added to the slide presentation. As information, Mr. Czonstka commented that the requirement for a TPO to exist at all is a product of the federal government based on funding of transportation. Ms. Bates agreed and explained that it is based on census data and receives a combination of state and federal funding from that census data. There are TPO s and MPO s across each state throughout the country. Eglin AFB representatives serve as advisory members on both the TCC and TPO.
June 21, 2018 Page 6 of 6 H. INFORMATION ITEMS (no presentation necessary) 1. ENCLOSURE F- ALL COMMITTEES TCC and CAC April Meeting Minutes O-W TPO April Actions Report Planning Grant Agreement General Planning Consultant (GPC) Selection Process Memo Quarterly Air Quality Report (January March 2018) 2018 O-W TPO Schedule I. OTHER BUSINESS - The next Okaloosa-Walton TPO meeting will be August 16, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at The Okaloosa County Administration Building, Training Room, 1250 Eglin Parkway, Shalimar. The CAC will meet at 9:30 a.m. and the TCC will meet at 1:30 p.m. Ms. Jill Krug drew attention to the 5 th Annual Transportation Symposium to be held in Navarre in November. For more information, please see Ms. Krug. Mr. Bacon inquired about the status of the by-laws that was brought up at the previous meeting of this committee. Ms. Krug shared that staff was waiting to learn the outcome of discussions from the Florida-Alabama CAC and their recently formed subcommittee. Their subcommittee met last week for the first time, to address any changes to their by-laws and recruitment process of new members. They will bring those results to their TPO meeting in August. New information will come forth in August or September. Mr. Woodall requested an electronic version of materials presented today. Ms. Krug advised that he should have received it via email from Ms. Washnock and if not, he may verify his information with her now. Mr. Woodall would like to request changes to current by-laws and to view budget information. Ms. Washnock informed him that should be on the WFRPC website, but if it was not readily available, either she or Ms. Krug could get him the material he needed. J. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Bacon moved to adjourn the meeting; Vice Chair Wood seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 10:35 a.m. Stay up to date with TPO events and activities on Facebook: www.facebook.com/wfrpc Questions? Email Ms. Jill Krug, Transportation Program Coordinator, at jill.krug@wfrpc.org