BRADENTON -- The MPO had a special guest at this month's meeting: FDOT Secretary, Ananth Prasad, who said highways are safer for motorcycles and cars but not so for pedestrians and bicycles. The CAC got approval for new members and the MPO put its TBARTA request on hold until next meeting in order to see how other county contributions add up.
I. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
II. CAC/TAC CHAIR'S REPORT
1. The Chairs of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), Dale Stephenson, and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Kathleen Weeden, will update the MPO on those committees’ activities and provide the MPO Board an opportunity to direct questions. -- There was once talk about the joining of Charlotte/Punta Gorda MPO with Sarasota/Manatee MPO, for a trial period of three years. That was in 2003, the answer was no then, and last year when the question resurfaced, the answer was no again. So there will be little to no interest now unless the Governor weighs in on the subject and chooses to go foward. The original 2003 proposal (here) There will be a new North Port seat in the CAC, Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash made a motion to allow CAC to vote in another member. -- Approved, Unanimous. Commissioner Hayes and Younger absent.
III. FDOT REPORT
1. FDOT will provide the MPO with an update on activities and issues and provide the MPO Board members an opportunity to direct questions. -- Prior to Monday morning's meeting, many of the MPO members had breakfast with the Florida Department of Transportation Secretary, Ananth Prasad. Secretary Prasad later joined the meeting and spoke addressed members. He was introduced by Billy Hattaway, FDOT District One Secretary, and spoke on a variety of subjects. First said, "Florida has the most MPO's in the nation." He said he had driven from St Pete earlier that morning, adding, "Traffic doesn't stop at the county line, and that's why we need these regional organizations." The Secretary told the members that "Highways are the safest they have ever been, car accidents are down, motorcycle down, but bicycles and pedestrians accidents are up, and we need to focus on improving that."
Manatee Commissioner Joe McClash mentioned, "We have to open a east west connector." Secretary Prasad seemed to agree, but didn't appear eager to discuss the subject. He did mention how we have to take a long-term approach to these issues and took the conversation to a highway project around Orlando, and the environmental issues it seems to be facing even though, he said, "all the environmental groups involved are in support of it." McClash took the conversation back to the subject of an east/west corridor, suggesting the possibility of using private land to open up a route.
IV. MPO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
1. The MPO Executive Director, Michael Howe, will update the Board Members on activities and issues. -- Howe said, "The 2004 Federal Transportation Bill expired in 2009, but has been kept alive and continued until July of this year." Howe added " Expectations that a bill gets out is dubious. It hurts investment. I do hope we have we can move on." Howe said he attended the "Founders Celebration" in Homes Beach and reminded members there is going to be a big MPO meeting on June 25. " We will be looking at the 5 year plan and making several amendments to the Long Term Transportation Plan."
V. CHAIR’S REPORT
1. The MPO Chair, Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant, will update the Board Members on activities and issues.
VI. CONSENT SECTION All matters listed under the Consent Section are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired by an MPO Board member, that item will be removed from the Consent Section and will be considered at the end of the section. -- #1 pulled for modification. Consent #2 and #3, Approved, Unanimous. Commissioners Hayes and Younger absent
1. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Staff will seek a motion to approve the March 26, 2012 Meeting Minutes. Commissioner Nora Patterson made a motion to modify the March 25th so that the record reflects a motion she made before a vote is stated properly in the record. A typo suggested her motion was made after the vote. -- Approved, Unanimous. Commissioner Hayes and Younger absent.
2. Annual Evaluation of Sarasota County Transportation Disadvantaged Community Transportation Coordinator (Sarasota County Area Transit) Staff will seek a motion to endorse and authorize the MPO Chair to sign the 2010/2011 Evaluation of Sarasota County Area Transit.
3. Federal Transit Grant for 2012/2013. Staff will seek a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2012-01 authorizing staff to file a Grant Application and any related agreements with the FDOT who is the Administrator of these funds.
VII. BOARD ACTION
1. DRAFT Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Fiscal Years (FY) 2012/13-2013/14 (July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2014)
Review and Annual Adoption of MPO’s required two year work program. -- Approved, Unanimous. Commissioners Hayes and Younger absent.
2. Annual Joint Certification and Review of the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process for the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
Review and annual approval of the MPO’s regional Joint Certification Statement and Review. -- Approved, Unanimous. Commissioners Hayes and Younger absent.
VIII. DISCUSSION
1. Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) Contribution Request
Discussion of the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) request for funding assistance. -- Motion to table any decision until the June 25, meeting. -- Approved, Unanimous, Commissioner Hayes and Younger absent. (STORY)
IX. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS (May Require Board Action)
There are no reports or presentations scheduled.
X. COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) -- None
XI. NEXT MEETING DATE
No meeting in May the next meeting will be held June 25, 2012, at USF’s Selby Auditorium.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
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