Local Government Sarasota/Manatee MPO Agenda Results: Sept. 24, 2012

SARASOTA -- The Sarasota/Manatee MPO met for their monthly meeting Monday at the Selby Auditorium on the Campus of USF/ Sarasota/Manatee. An amendment to the 2016/17 Transportation Improvement Program, an update on the 41/301 Charrette and adding another seat for the growing City of North Port were among the items discussed.

I. Open to the Public

II. CAC/TAC Chair's Report

III. FDOT Report

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. Approved Unanimous
 
1. Approval of July 23, 2012 Meeting Minutes
    
2. Update to the Pay and Classification Plan 
     

3. Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) Reappointment

4. Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Modifications

VII. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING

1. Amendment to the FY 2012/13 – 2016/17 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
  
Major project phases were scheduled in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)/ State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in the state fiscal year (ending June 30) in which work was to commence. Most projects scheduled in the first year (2011/2012, current year) of the TIP/STIP did commence work in the current year. However some projects needed to be deferred beyond the first year of the approved TIP/STIP for certain project phases. When this occurs, it becomes necessary to move (or ”roll-forward“) these project phases into the first year (2012/2013) of the new TIP/STIP, to obtain federal project authorization and funding. Also included with this TIP Amendment are the FDOT request to:
1) Include five (5) projects listed that have received awards through the Transportation for Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Program (FTA Section 5310)
2) Changes to a list of twelve (15) projects - Approved Unanimous

VIII. BOARD ACTION

1. Appointments to the 2013 MPO Legislative Policy and Issues Committee

Chair Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant will be appointing MPO Board Members to a Committee to develop the MPO’s 2013 Legislative Policy Positions and Issues for the 2013 Florida Legislative Session. The Committee has historically been comprised of at least two Board Members from each of the two county areas. Councilman Jim Benett (City of Venice), Commissioner Joe McClash (Manatee BOCC), Commissioner David Garofalo (City of North Port), Mayor Shirley Groover-Bryant (City of Palmetto) - Approved Unanimous
  
IX. DISCUSSION

1. Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) Contribution Request This was a follow up discussion item from the March, April and July MPO Board Meetings. The issue is TBARTA’s request for funding contributions from its member counties. Specifically the request is for $15,690 for Sarasota County and $13,250 from Manatee County. Board members decided that the issue would be moved to each county's BOCC, who would decide as a body. - Approved Unanimous

X. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS (May Require Board Action)
  
 1. Sarasota-Manatee Area Regional Transit Study (SMART) Connect

The Sarasota-Manatee Area Regional Transit Study (known as SMART Connect) is being conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in partnership with the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA), the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT), and Sarasota County Area Regional Transit (SCAT). The study is assessing the feasibility of providing north-south premium transit services in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

2. US 41/301 and Potential New Manatee River Bridge Charrette

Based upon approval and direction of the MPO Board, the MPO hosted a half day  community planning Charrette on May 14, 2012 at the Manatee Convention Center regarding future options to improve the US 301/41 corridor in Manatee County. Also included in the discussion was the possibility of a new bridge crossing of the Manatee River. This agenda presentation will involve a summary of the Charrette discussions and participants’ input. Finally, the presentation detailed some of the areas of agreement, recommended next steps and near term objectives. Whit Blanton of Renaissance Planning Group reported that while the charrette was well attended and productive, there was no real consensus going forward, with nearly everyone agreeing that more technical analysis was needed, perhaps with assistance for FDOT as much of the traffic data they were using was dated. They felt FDOT might be able to provide more detailed analysis of feasibility for various options, particularly as to whether flyover ramps would be a viable option. FDOT's Amy Perez suggested that the board reconsider its stated priorities, which listed a new bridge ahead of corridor feasibility. She explained that were they to move forward with a PD&E that included a new bridge, it would trigger an EIS and push the study out five years. Perez suggested they limit the scope to alternatives for the U.S. 301 corridor, at least at first. Then, if there is no viable option discovered, bring it back to include the alternative of a new bridge. The board agreed and asked that clarification be given on whether it could go forward (or what would need to be amended to do so) on a PD&E done in that manner.
 
3. MPO Board Membership Apportionment - City of North Port Request

The City of North Port Commission has requested consideration of two (2) items relating to the MPO Board membership and apportionment:
1) That the MPO send a letter to the Governor requesting apportionment reflecting the 2010 Census
2) That the City of North Port have a non-voting member as a second member until such time as the Governor’s apportionment goes through. The board decided to send the letter, pending legal clarification that a non-voting member could be appointed, given that North Port already had representation, as there was confusion over ambiguous language in the statute. Approved Unanimous