Hey, hey, hey. Hey. Hey. Cheers. doing all right. >> I'm good. >> New year. >> Oh, yeah. Thank you for
you build out. >> We're getting there. >> Hi. >> How are you? >> Grandma. No, I don't want >> So we did that 30th. >> Who do you think before that?
>> Who's sitting here? >> Who's right here? >> Oh, I don't know. >> Oh, is that maybe >> who's right here? >> Catherine should be here anytime. >> Yeah, >> he's behind. >> Yeah, >> kind of behind the stuff,
>> you know, squirting place or >> Yeah, I think I like the grand >> cuz if she doesn't come, I'm very >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'll kick it off. >> We'll get to the We'll get to that point and then I'll be ready to run.
about you had a run. >> We got a short meeting coming >> for me. >> Record time coming up for the matt. >> Good morning everyone. Going to call this meeting of the Metropolitan
Planning Organization to um order. January 8th, 2026. Please be aware that this meeting is being broadcast. Cler, can we please call the role? >> Mayor Scott >> here. >> Smith >> here.
>> Mayor John Eric Hoover >> here virtually. >> Commissioner Ron Oakley >> here. >> Commissioner Seth Wait, >> Commissioner Katherine Starky, Mr. Lisa Jagger >> here, >> Mr. Jack Mariano >> here, >> Matt Burby
>> here. Thank you. Um, I kind of skipped ahead a little bit, but at this time we're going to uh rise for the pledge of allegiance and invocation. Gracious God, we invite you to our discussions today. Unite our hearts and guide our conversations with wisdom and patience. Help us to seek solutions that
honor you and benefit everyone involved. In your name, amen. >> Amen. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh time for call for public comment. Do we have anybody um that has signed up to speak or would like to speak from the audience?
Nope. Anybody online? Nope. All right. We're going to move ahead then. Can I uh get approval of the minutes from >> No minutes yet? >> Oh, no minutes.
>> All right. All right. NO advisory committee reports, citizen advisory committee. Angela, how are you? >> Good morning. Hello. Um, Angela, Pasco County MO. While preparing for our January committee meetings, MO staff
determined that the agenda contained limited items, none of which required immediate uh discussion or action. In consideration and respect for everyone's time, the MO executive director and the committee chairpersons mutually agreed to cancel the January 2026 committee meetings. For this reason, there is no
committee report today. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, no nothing for technical advisor committee or the bicycle. Okay. All right. All right, we're going to roll right into the action items. Um, election of MO board of officers for calendar year 2026.
>> Good morning board and happy new year. Glad to be back in the swing of things. Uh, we are going to discuss today dominate and approve our chair and vice chair for 2026. Uh, at our regularly scheduled meeting, our bylaw states that we have to elect a chairperson and vice
chairperson for the current calendar year. Uh currently the chairperson is Newport Richie or Councilman Matt Murphy and vice chair is uh Mayor Black from Dade City. Unfortunately, you guys have served two wonderful consecutive terms
and thank you for your service on the no board in that capacity, but now we must pass the baton. So now I'm asking for nominations for the chair and vice chair uh of the no board for 2026. >> I nominate Scott Black for chair.
Second. >> Thank you, >> Vice Chair. Vice Chair nominate Eric Hoover. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor to both. >> I >> I >> I >> You didn't You didn't go too far.
>> All right. >> All right. Well, for the TMA, just so we can uh review um because it does say here that it may potentially change some of the subcommittee members. Currently, for the transportation management area, uh our subcommittee to the SCTPA, we
have Commissioner Mariano, Commissioner Starky, and Commissioner Weightman, and Councilman Murphy as the alternate. Are we still okay with this um current arrangement? >> Everyone's good to serve. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yes.
>> Just even if you're not on there, you can still come and participate. >> Correct. >> And and and learn. >> Yes. >> Because we have some big votes coming up. >> And then for the SCTPA, Councilman Murphy did serve in the capacity as the primary. Um right now
then that would be uh Mayor uh it would be Mayor Black would be the current uh primary. It would switch to there. So, I think we might have to take a vote on uh Mayor Mayor Black being the primary for SCTPA because previously we voted in
November to have to continue on with the current arrangement. >> So, move second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> All right. >> Thank you. And then Commissioner Waitman is the alternate. I think he would still like to be the alternate for SHTPA
unless there's any other objection. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Watch this move quick. >> Nice sitting where you >> like it. >> You could have left your Starbucks form. >> Yeah, there you go.
>> Is this your cell phone? >> Oh, yeah. Should give you that. Here you go. >> Give you that. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Well, thank you very much, Commissioner Mariano, Commissioner Oakley, and um
board. I appreciate the honor of serving as your chair. This is uh a nice honor, and I've served as chair. It was back in the the early about 2010 or so, so it's been a few years, but it's it's nice to always enjoy participating. And I think
the transportation issues that we face, particularly in Pasco County, they're just so um important to each one of us, to our communities, to our uh county as a whole, to the region as a whole, and um we uh I think we're all in a good seat, and it's good to be at this table
and appreciate the opportunity. Thank you again. >> Congrats. >> Thank you. As we move ahead, let's see. Our next item is the uh item three approval of new regular member of the technical advisory committee.
>> Thank you very much. Angela, Pasco County. The Pasco MO is recommending Mr. Chris Hanning PE to serve as a regular member of the technical advisory committee. Mr. Hanning is an engineering division manager with the Pasco County Department of Public Works. We're
requesting a vote to approve. We have a nomination of Chris Hanning. Do we have a motion to that effect? Move to >> approve. Second. >> We have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I.
>> Those opposed, nay. Thank you. Uh, next item is request for action from the citizens advisory committee. And Miss Alva, this is you as well. >> Yes, sir. In November of 2025, the Pasco MO Citizens Advisory Committee received an update on crash rates along the
segment of US19 from north of New York Avenue to Countyline Road. This update was prompted by concerns regarding the high number of non-conforming driveways in the area. Following the discussion, the CAC passed a motion requesting that the MO board formally recommend the
Florida DOT conduct a safety evaluation of US19 from North C Ranch Drive to County Line Road. The committee cited a significant number of crash crashes resulting in serious injuries and fatalities as justification for extending those limits. So the the Pasco
MO requests that the NO board consider and vote on one of the following two options to either recommend FDOT conduct a safety evaluation of US19 from north of C Ranch Drive to County Line Road or recommend FDOT conduct a safety evaluation of US19 from North New York
Avenue to County Line Road. Um, I do have the data here if you guys would like to take a look if this wants to work. There we go. So, um, here you can see the crash rates um, from 2022 to 2025.
This data does go through, I believe, August. Um, this is for, uh, northern New York A to County Line Road. And you can see I think it's good important to know that there's 11 fatal crashes. And when you a little bit later
we'll look at the other one. And here's just a map for you all. This is kind of showing the hot spots >> on that segment. And then just kind of a breakdown of those crashes. Uh I did previously mention those non-conforming driveways. You can kind of see the the significant
number of rear end crashes. And then north of Sea Ranch, um you can see that those fatal crashes um go up to 21. So the original segment is is 5.3 miles. Um so just that added 1.6 miles
um adds another 10 fatalities. So um definitely an important consideration. And then here's a map of that location as well. >> Thank you, Angel. Any questions? Any comments for Miss V? >> Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir. Mr. So, as I look at, I see
190 from rear end crashes from New York to County Line Road. And I'm going to tell you there's probably not too many uh entrances there anyway. But even down below at C Ranch to Conline Road is 299. >> I I I think I should focus on the rear
end crashes, frankly. >> Yes. >> Um and I can't think because everyone's got a right turn lane on both sides of the road. So, if someone's pulling out, there's a right turn lane that's there that they can go into and get out. So, I can't see how that they think it's too many cuts in the driveways to get out
there. And frankly, if you do that, how are you going to get these businesses that are out there to get out there anyway? So, I don't want to see them wasting money on this. I would love to hear DOT's talk about how they think that's going to help because again, the rear end crash is your biggest thing. Next to sideswipes, neither one of those
are from entrances from the driveway. So, I don't see what what the sense of this is. >> So, as as far as the rear ends go, when it comes to the non-conforming driveways, um there is a trend when the driveways are too close together for people to be rear ending. >> You've got a right turn lane. If people
are going to take a turn into a driveway, they're going to go into a turn lane. If they're going to come out, they're into a turn lane already. >> That driveway cut does not matter as far as, in my opinion, these rare end crashes. If you want to study them and give us a report on those, fine. but to go spend all this money to go study all
these other things. They're not the biggest issues. Let's go look at what that is and they go look at the sideswipes, too. Probably cell phone use and something else. So, I I don't think you're going to the root of the cause. >> Understood. >> Um, >> yes, Commissioner St. I'm not going to agree with Commissioner Mariano and I
be, you know, if we if FD do wants to come up here and talk about why they are on a mission to reduce the number of driveway cuts on the road and the and the and the reason why it is makes it much safer, I think we should hear from the experts. >> Let's >> just for clarity of the discussion
really quick, this was brought up in our CAC meeting as a part of a discussion about the accidents on the segments above. So, we were we were coming to the board to say, "Okay, we wanted to do work with FDOT to see what would be the
best possible um uh um I'm sorry, excuse me, the best possible way to deal with these kind of um non-conforming driveway issues." >> Right? >> So, that that we're not we're not saying we're going to do one particular segment. We're not saying right now. We're just highlighting what the CAC
brought to us. We're providing an overview and then we're asking the board to report on it and then we were going to go back to FDOT and then have the discussion further just so we'd have the discussion point. >> Thank you, Miss Gorman. Mr. Hunter, were you prepared to speak on this item?
>> I certainly can. >> Thank you. >> Brian Hunter with the Florida Department of Transportation. Good morning, everybody. So, we take the safety concerns out there very seriously. Um, we're willing to look at the road, but I would like to caution the board that a
majority of the issues out there are going to be related to those non-conforming driveways. And under FDOT rules and policies, we can't make anybody redo their infrastructure until that property is redeveloped. So, if we were to look at this and do a study on that, it would basically just be
documenting the issue and setting up long-term goals for the corridor. there would not be very many implementable short-term solutions that we could find out there. As those properties are redeveloped, we do have access management policies in place that will
require them to bring the driveways up to current standard depending on the access management class. We may also require some cross connectivity between the major parcels. And so that's kind of we're already in the process of doing that. We do that on all of our state roads. We continually evaluate them,
make sure we have the correct access management goals in place for those roads. And so, you know, I just don't want anybody to come into this thinking that if we if you did ask us to look at it and we got it in the queue and looked at it that there'd be some sort of short-term
implementable solution that we could make to address those driveways. There's just not. We can't. Same thing like if you have old jealousy windows, the county, city, state can't come to you and say, "Hey, you need to replace your windows." But if you are going through the process of replacing them, we can
ask you to bring them up to current building standards. And so that's the same situation we have with those driveways out there. >> Mr. Chairman, >> um, Commissioner Mar. >> So, so back to I think we're all focused on safety. We want to see something. >> Absolutely. But I I need to hear if you if you have an opinion um or from the
CAC, tell me why we think these rear end crashes are caused by the driveway cuts. Let me hear some evidence or some something to show me that >> um the non-conforming driveway because of the ordinance and the
>> I want you to focus on the rear-end collisions. You tell me why that's attributed to these driveway cuts. the I think I would have to go back and look at the data and then come back to you with a better answer. I don't want to stand here and give you an answer
that is not of what you were looking for. But I will say when we discussed this in the CAC, this was something that they had been discussing for quite some time as far as the ordinances of what Pasco County has on US19 for the
non-conforming driveways. So they wanted it to be reviewed. They did they were they were not saying that it was the only type that the non-conforming driveways was the only issue that was causing these accidents, but they were asking to see if this was if this played
a huge part in that issue. So that's why I think what we're looking at now. I don't think we're saying that it's one or the other. I think we're trying to cover our bases and have the discussion and look and see if we can have the study and work with DOT to get a better answer. >> Okay. So you don't have an answer. I
would like to see continued and I would like to work with whoever you want with yourself, yourself, your team. Let's go out there because I tell you if you want to look at improvements or options that you could do from C Ranch right around the post office area from above, there's a chance to go put a reverse frontage road out there and a frontage road
that's been partially done that if you want to get some trips out there and make some better access out there, build that frontage road like it's supposed to be, like it was designed originally that hasn't been activated on. I got paper roads out there and I got dead ends to go on. you want to look at an improvement possibility, let's go look at that. But as far as for these
rear-end crashes, I don't see the correlation. And I want to go I I would like to sit with the CAC to go talk with that more with your team or whatever it may be to to look at what's really causing these accidents. >> And I think it may also I'm sorry, >> you say the majority of these things is what's what's causing these uh
non-conforming driveways causing these accidents. I'm going to say that 299 number dwarfs all the other numbers together or at least is equal to them. Is the purpose of the study is it more broad than just non-conforming
driveways? You you you began this discussion with the number of fatalities and that is a rather high number of fatalities. You know, we're deaths. Uh you know, is the purpose of the study going in to look to see what can be done to avoid fatalities? Uh are we just
going to be looking at non-conforming driveways? You know, I I think probably what I'm hearing is maybe a broader um view of with this study, something broader is what's needed. >> Exactly. We we saw the issue >> not just non-conforming driveways, but
causing the problems. >> So, when we were at the CAC meeting, the CAC had asked staff to look at the segments that we provided above with how many fatalities, what was the cause of the collisions, and we did. We gathered the data um and then we wanted to
present it to the MO board so that there was awareness so we could have the discussion and figure out what next steps should be brought forth. um we just don't want to gather data and then do a study um you know willy-nilly and not have any kind of you know teeth to
it before we go to do and say hey this is what we're looking at we have fatalities we have crashes we have injuries we would like to further look into this and so we would like to look at why there are fatalities is the non-conforming driveways a part of the fatalities or is it something else that
we're not seeing that we need to put our eyes on >> a big picture study correct >> is what I you know I think we would all could all be in favor of that. if it's looking at just one particular area that may not be the reason for the the serious nature of the things happening
along fatalities um then you know perhap that I think that's where we want to find a solution something that's broader based than just looking at one area >> and I think to commissioner I'm sorry to commissioner Mariano's point he we just don't want to say is it just non-conforming driveways is there something else and I think that's where
his direction is going with it >> so Mr. chairman. >> So, if we're going to take that away from the non-conforming driveways because I tell you what, DOT working with us >> as far as like from New York Avenue to the north, if you look at the fatalities almost in half. So, that section is
strong up there. That's why I say to look at cuts up there makes no sense at all to me. If you want to look at opportunities and incorporate into your study, go look at that frontage road that should have been built that's on paper that we still can go build. And if that would be something you'd cut down the number of entryways and going in and
out, it would make it a lot safer. You'd probably take a lot of people that are going to go anywhere to the uh to the west, they could get off that frontage road, have many opportunities even through Hudson Avenue, get back out, even to the some of the developments in there to get back out the the mall that's in there with where Windixie was,
Aldi's coming in, be accessed directly through there without even touching 19. If you want to incorporate that into your study, great and I'll support it. >> Okay, >> thank you. Thank you, chair. Um, >> I'm sorry. Commissioner um Starky has been wanting to go apolog >> Well, I I just was going to say I think
that you should add the u comments that Commissioner Mariano is making about I don't I don't know this road that he's speaking of, but certainly as you're as we're looking first, we have to know what's causing it and how we can fix it. And if this is one of the fixes, you know, I'm all for it, but certainly we
must go ahead with the study. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Council. >> Yeah. Thank you, Chair. Um, when you look at the fatal and serious crashes, I think we have to look at what what's common to them. Is there a commonality to to these? I mean, like we said, there's going to be fender benders on
all roads, but we're we're I think the fatalities and serious crashes are the ones that we should focus on, but also like uh Jack had said, a frontage road could be a huge part of some of the solution. So, um, and I'm assuming that when we're talking non-conforming
driveways, we're talking too many in a certain correct in a second. Correct. >> Okay. So, but, um, I I think I think the holistic look, but I would like us to focus on fatal and serious really because that is pretty high.
>> Any further discussion on this item? What's the pleasure of the board? >> Move approval with comments noted. >> Okay. Second. >> Have a motion and a second. Yes. >> Did we expand it? Was there a >> Yes. I apologize. Um if if you can
please just clarify um if you would like the study to take place uh include C Ranch or to exclude C Ranch and start at New York Avenue. >> No, I I want to make the motion to include C Ranch, especially C Ranch because most important part with the comments noted to what we just discussed instead of looking that
frontage road as far as part of your study. >> Yes, sir. A motion from Commissioner Mariano, seconded by Commissioner Starky, approving the study with both segments with the comments noted. Any further discussion? Hearing none, what's the pleasure of the group? All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I.
Those opposed, nay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Very much. Certainly. Uh proposed Tampa Bay Regional NO merger. Miss Gorman. >> Good morning again. >> Good morning. I just wanted to provide a update for the last 90 days of working
on the regional merger. Um some of you actually participated uh in some of our um actual uh workshops that we had. So the first workshop was on October 27th with the pair exchange uh with Metro Plan Orlando. I think uh Commissioner
Starky, Councilman Murphy, U Mayor Hoover and Mayor Black was there. that was very informative to talk to an NPO uh that is merged in our area. Uh they have been around since 1977. So they kind of been doing this for a while. So they had a lot of great information to
provide to us as far as formulating you know the board. Um, we had uh Commissioner Urie from the uh Orlando uh um Orlando uh commission uh able to speak with us to say from an elected official standpoint what it's like to
work with the city and the county. Um, we also had uh the metrop plan director, Gary Hutman, and his staff there so we could talk peer-to-peer and I think we've got a lot out of that exchange and being able to take some of that information and then move forward into
the next round of meetings. So, the next round of meetings was on November 14th. That was a principal workshop. I thought that was also very informative. I think Commissioner Starky had a great conversation with Council Member Herac. I'll let you talk if you want to share some of that conversation.
>> Yeah. So, um they had um the Panelis County Commissioners, the city of Tampa council members, and me. Who else? Was I the only commissioner there? >> Yes. And then it was Mayor Hoover and >> they weren't in our group.
>> No, no, no. Um, so we got into a very interesting discussion on the MO and um really learned a lot about the challenges between the city of Tampa and Hillsboro
County, though no one from Hillsboro County was there, right? No. Yeah. Um but um they were more positive about going forward depending on the balance of seats allocated between Hillsboro and
Tampa. Um and um and so uh I do think it's doable. We just have to all get in the room and talk together. Um Tanya and I had a meeting yesterday in advance of this and she mentioned that um Senator
Collins back then uh had offered to hold a workshop to help move this along and I actually reached out to the Lieutenant Governor's office yesterday to see if he would consider coming down and helping convene this this workshop um to really
bring Hillsboro County Commissioners and Tampa City Council together. Um, and you know, there there's always a solution to a problem. We just have to find what that solution is because without it,
we're just leaving so much money uh in other people's hands and not ours. So, um I thought it was one of the best discussions that we had had really. Oh, and and the St. Pete uh city um Randy Gabbard was >> Randy Gabbert. Yes.
>> She was there at our meeting. I think it was just the three. I think it was you. Oh, and Mayor Ross from Temple Terren >> was right. Yeah, Recctor or Oh, no. Mayor >> Mayor Ross from Temple Terren. >> Mayor Ross was in there. Um >> and Commissioner Edgars from Penllis. >> Yeah, there was and and Commissioner um
Scott >> Scott was in there. Brian Scott. So, great great discussion and um and um I feel I feel better about everything, but we have to have that workshop with Hillsboro and and the city of Tampa. So, >> absolutely. Absolutely. So, um, after
that, uh, I'm sorry, go ahead, Commissioner Oakley. >> I'm just wondering what's the big issue between Hillsboro and the city. >> So, um, they they should align together anyway. I know it's covers everything. >> I really think, you know, if you don't come and listen to DOT
>> and keep your ears open to understand what we're trying to do, you have your own conceptions of what's happening. And so I think some of their their worries are are not reality. But if you don't come
and talk about it, you're just in your own, you know, right >> your own thoughts and there may not be correct or there may be a way to deal with that. And so until they come to the table and talk with us. >> Yeah. Is there a bigger number of Hillsboro County over >> Well, the difference so we're talking
about being populationbased. >> Yeah. And so Hillsboro County, I don't I don't >> they have they're the large they're the large they have the largest city within the urbanized area. So they have the hope bigger population. >> Well, they so I don't know what the population of of Hillsboro County is
versus the city of Tampa, but the city of Tampa folks were saying, you know, in the daytime, they may not live there, but the amount of people in the city that we have to move around on the roads >> Yeah. >> swells up to maybe bigger than Hillsboro County. So, I think they they kind of
made a little point to me. Their fear is that um Hillsboro County doesn't want to talk about any transit and only wants to build roads. And you know, really what we're talking about here is in my opinion with the merged NO is finding some type of transit solution because we
cannot double deck. I don't think we could double deck our way out of this. You know, do you want the whole county to be like Hillsboro with >> roads on top of roads? So, um, uh, so their their fear is Hillsboro,
uh, only wants to build roads and, um, and I think Hillsboro's fear is Tampa only wants to figure out how to do that train, >> but there's a lot of stuff in between. chair >> by Councilman Murphy just piggybacking on that and and I think you know and you
know it's something we're we're trying to you know avoid and it shouldn't be a concern at all but I think there's a little trust issue between the two because of political ideology >> and so it really shouldn't be an issue everybody is out for the same thing and you know so I think that's a little bit
of it too >> I I think so too >> so we can get past that though >> but if we remember that we are mandated by the legislature to come up with something >> correct. >> Um that they're going to come up with it for us if we don't help ourselves come to come to a solution.
>> Um >> you know that we're going to rather decide decide our own fate. But that's why I thought it might be good to have the lieutenant governor who had offered before to help work on this to come back, you know, come help us. >> Yeah. >> Um we'll see if I get hold of him today.
>> Sounds like a good idea. >> I was with him a couple weeks ago. Yeah. >> Commissioner Mariani. So, one I think one of the discussion points I think you were going to get to it as I see it down here is to have to have them joint BOCC's together, >> but I think it's also important that as we have that meeting like we've had, you
know, all three counties together to get those big cities in play so they're in the room as well. And I think it's a great idea to bring Lieutenant Governor in. Whatever we can for the higherups to help facilitate it, to make sure they know how important this is should help the attendance and the participation for
everything. >> Correct. So that was my next point coming out of the TMA meeting. Go ahead. >> Can I I want to say one more thing that um there were a lot of interesting things from the the meeting in Orlando. But um Seol County
uh so they have they have a their bus system is regional. It's not one a one county bus system. Correct. But what was interesting is Semino County opted not to stay in the regional bus system because they went to 100% microtransit.
>> Interesting. >> It was interesting. So you you you know when you're with Constantine and others commissioners from Seinal, I just wonder how that's working. I I'm interested to finding out how that's working for them. we can definitely
reach out and have a discussion and see how it's working out. So that is a good point to make. They are a regional transit system. That's how it's always been um when from the inception um of their transit system. So I found that very interesting that they came up with a plan from the very beginning. Good
good planning, right? So yes, there was a lot of key takeaways from that meeting >> and they have high wrership. Right. I I myself uh when I was a little younger, I actually went to Orlando and took the bus around and did Disneyland and the Lynx actually works and I'm sure it's even more robust. I won't give my age
away, but I'm sure it's more robust than ever now, you know, but it is it is usable and you can get around Orlando on links very well. So, um kudos to them for their for their work and their effort in transit. And that is also something that Commissioner Herertac
brought up at that meeting as well that she wanted to focus on transit and how did they do it and were they successful as a merged NO and their answer was yes. >> Oh yeah. And they told us the different times they work went up to Washington as a group as a region and got the money to
expand and every time they went and asked they got it. And um and right now they're working on uh they've got the some more of those uh lanes. What? Express lanes. >> Express lanes. Yes. >> That DOT is building um
>> on I4 and um they worked on that getting money for that all together. >> Um I wrote it until it ended and it was wonderful >> uh trying to get home. So it was a very very interesting meeting. I'm really grateful you all put that together. >> Awesome. Thank you. And to your point
about, you know, it's our time now to make the decision to make sure that we're following through on the study that we provided the governor to the legislation two years ago. We did meet and have a pair workshop with Hampton Roads uh MO in Virginia and then the Rio
Grande Valley MO uh from Texas and they were very informative and um from start to finish they were told to merge it took them one year and we were on year 30. So I just I just want to say this can be done and it can be done uh rather
quickly when you're you know you're being told to do uh something and that uh you know to merge an NPO of course it wasn't without they had their challenges they expressed that during our conversation they had to merge LRTP list of priority projects of course they're
working through that prioritization now but I will say from our end as a TMA we work very well together and we are working. We have a regional LRTP. We are working on a project pri prioritization process that will help us prioritize
prioritize our projects so we can move forward as a region. So we have a lot of um plans and programs in place already prior to a merger that I think will help us move this along very in a better in a better manner. So learning and hearing
from other challenges um it makes it better for us to move forward. And then as Commissioner Mariano broached at our 1212 TMA meeting um we had great conversation about the regional merger and then we also talked about having a tri county BOCC solely focused on the MO
merger and I met with many of you this week to discuss is this something that the MO board would like to move forward with. Absolutely. So, I wanted to make sure before I went back to county administration um with my director report, David Allen, that this was a consensus from the MO board and then
start nailing down some dates over the next couple weeks. >> And would that be the place we would want to see if the lieutenant governor will come either just listen this time or help be part of the conversation because he expressed a willingness to
help. Well, we could definitely um solicit his we would love to hear what he has to say if he could make it. But I I won't um jump into the agenda too quickly, but I can make some notes and take it back to the TMA and have that conversation. I do have a staff director's meeting with the TMA on
Friday, and I could bring that uh note back to them and let them know. I I'll I'll say that I came away from the Orlando meeting encouraged as a mayor commissioner of a small municipality. Uh and I think you know we
have to keep in mind the dynamics in the you know you have one metropolitan area pretty Orlando here we have Tampa St. Petersburg. We've always had some we're always going to have some issues that we're going have to work through. They've always been there. Absolutely. And u you know I want to make sure that you know it's it's not wrong. It's
there's nothing bad to try to drive a hard bargain and it seems like they want us in this. It's very important that Pasco be part of this NPO, but yet we I want to make sure we're having the representation that we need as well. But I was going back to the small cities part of it. I I liked the way that the
metrop plan works with the small cities and but we do have some challenges there. Just interesting because in um Hillsboro you only have two. you'll have Plant City and Temple Terrace. And in Pasco, we have four that are members of the MO. There are six total municipalities, but in Panelis, you've
got 20some. And so, it's, you know, mostly, you know, beachfront communities, small, but uh so it, you know, it's not it's a great plan that they have in Orange County, but it's not a one-sizefits-all. There's going to be some kicking and screaming and working things. There always have been in our
area, rivalry between counties, but they worked it out great. I I was just very pleased to hear how collegial their counties and cities were in working together in the metro plan Orlando and if we could replicate that here that it
would be an ideal perfect situation. I came away feeling very encouraged but I do I do want to make sure that we keep some kind of a input from those um smaller municipalities. I think that's very important because in Pasco County that's we're all we all all the
municipalities qualify as small municipalities. >> Agreed. Go ahead and >> one of the um discussions I recall when they were talking about the small city input was that when they were expanding one of the the the commuter light rail light rail
>> um some of there were the cities wanted to there was a city that was being excluded from stop right and then they they wanted to be sure they were added and had access to that. So um we're we're light years away from something like that.
>> Yeah. But um and remember I think the projects that a regional NO is going to focus on are big big projects and frankly most likely they're going to start in Tampa. You start in my you know I'm no transportation expert but it seems like you start in the center and
you've >> spoke out. >> There's going to be give and take. >> That's what Tampa doesn't for me that's the thing that just is like are you crazy? we're all going to work to get you money. >> And and I and I think, you know, conversely from the point that they were making that everybody converges on
Tampa, they've got to remember the the counties that are converging on Tampa that we need to have some say in how their transportation system is going to be for us to have access into Tampa. >> And you know, so it can be it can work. Conversely, the point that that was made
about that everybody's coming into Tampa. Yes, they are. And we need to have a good way to get into Tampa or else you're going to have a strangle, you know, hold them transportation. It's just Yeah, you got to loosen up there. >> And also too, just to um bring light to the cities and the representation, they
have a committee, a subcommittee for the cities, right? So they are very strong >> and and that the chair of that board was on the on the correct Yeah. on the plant on the NPO. So I I would like to see us mirror that too. I think that would
provide some inclusivity for the municipalities. >> Absolutely. And that's how they have that strong representation from the cities, getting that information back, and then the cities are now saying, "Hey, this is what we need." And they're listening. They have representation. So that's how they're driving a lot of
these projects forward with the city's input clearly defined. >> And I was very encouraged when I heard that. Um, yeah, Commissioner. >> Sorry. So, if you could touch base with Kansas City, my husband and I went there and their transit was amazing. So, one,
one, it was free. It was electric, but it had everybody off the roads. Like, there was no traffic. It could be five o'clock and you could just scan the little little thing and it would tell you what time it was coming, if it was running late. And you had moms with kids
taking it to the library. you had people going to work and and people were taking their bikes right on there. There wasn't a bike rack or anything like I mean it was amazing and my husband and I both said we said you know what this is how downtown Tampa needs to run
>> because it would keep so many people off the off the roads. So we >> were so impressed even by the homelessness how they they did everything. We had a meeting with them because you didn't even have people riding the transportation to keep warm.
Like the way they have it set up is amazing. So, um I would recommend reaching out to them so when we do get together again, I would love to hear what Kansas City is doing. >> Okay. Noted. >> Yeah. >> And um >> we're actually working with them and
we'll hear from that on our homelessness uh on Tuesday. But >> I was going to say we we have the street car so far and the street car, >> you know, this is totally different. I mean, at least we have a little something, but >> but like we could already use that same system and just add more locations.
People were using it for work and going all over. And when I tell you there was there was no traffic at 5:00, it was amazing. >> And it was free. >> And it was free. Yeah. It was probably about 2010 that all of the NPOS's in this region, we took a a day trip to
Charlotte to see their new rapid transit system and learned about transit oriented development. And it was a really and and it was a several of the counties were involved. So yeah, it may be something we want to think about again too as we begin to talk regionalism with NPOS's and
>> um and I I thought it was very effective with our conversation at that time. And the one thing that uh the staff directors we are talking about is since Tibarta has dissolved and there is no focus on a regional transit agency the MPOS's would probably have some focus
there too on how to work with not you know we have go Pasco here PSTA and HART and looking at how we circulate that regional transit. I'm not saying we're merging transit. Please don't get that. It's not what I'm saying. But we will probably have that, you know, review
like we are working right now on US19 for the regional rapid transit. We have that study going. Uh we hope to launch, uh, you know, the same time possibly with the merger, but we are looking at those because some I hate to say it, somebody has to do it, right? We can't
not go without a focus on transit regionally. And so the body that's here as a merged NO for now um we can look at that and we do look at that on the TMA level as well. >> All right. Any further conversation on this item? >> One last thing before we conclude the
regional discussion. I just want to bring up that the 21326 uh next TMA meeting that was scheduled will be moved because of uh scheduling conflicts I believe with League of Cities. Am I saying that right? >> Uh National >> National Association of Counties. So, we
are looking for that date and we're hoping to have that out really soon. So, keep an eye on your calendars. All right, that's it. >> Thank you, Tania. Okay, go Pasco. Do we have a report today? Very good. Welcome.
>> Good morning, Jim Flity. Go Pasco. >> So, what I'm presenting today is an annual requirement based on state statute. Pretty much what we're doing is we're certifying that as a transportation agency, we are below agencies of similar size for our
administrative cost for the year. We are also presenting our 2023 and 2024 national transit database data for ridership and miles. And then we present our uh budget and execution. Uh this is an annual requirement. We have already
published it uh in the newspaper and then we publish it on our website. If there are any questions I can feel >> any questions, comments regarding the performance measures administrative cost of go Pasco. >> Thank you very much. >> No, but I do have a question for
certainly and I did get my email from uh Janina. Um >> I had asked for an update on our microtit study decades in the making. Um and I understand that you're working with our attorneys which
David's here, Elizabeth's not, but I I know sometimes things can stay up there for months. Um, is that part of the problem? Is it not getting through all that? >> A little bit of that. Nina Elimin, go
director. So, yes, we have been working, but also there was some additional information that was the the county um attorneys needed from the vendor. So this is again the micro is a pilot program uh that we will are planning to implement uh maybe in a couple months. Right now it's just drafting the the
agreement once it's completed. Um >> who is drafting the agreement? The attorney's office. >> How long has the attorney's office had the agreement? >> James handling that part. >> James, how long have they had the >> Six months? >> It's been a few months, ma'am. >> Two months. >> A few months.
>> Well, tell me the number. >> I can't give you an exact date, but it's been more than four. >> Yes. more than near 12. Maybe >> not 12. No, maybe six. >> Maybe six months. >> Maybe five. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um after it goes to the attorney, does it have to go to purchasing or
>> purchasing has already been working in the process with us? Uh it'll have to go to the vendor for their review and then their rebuttal and and then we'll go back and forth until we can come with an agreement and then it'll be presented to the board. >> Once it's approved, that's just turn key. So, it will take us >> I thought we had worked with our attorney's office that we were um
getting these things turned around in two months. I mean, two months to review it and make a contract seems more than sufficient. >> Mr. Goldstein, you have some comments there. >> Priority item. >> Sorry. >> Administrator, is there a list of >> Yes. >> priority items? Is it on that list?
>> Yes, it was. >> Okay. We'll look into it. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Just trying to push it along. Thank you. >> Anything further regarding this item? >> Okay. This is a just a information only item. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Yes.
Any status reports or presentations, Miss Gman? Okay. >> I just wanted to make the board aware that we are currently in our uh CTC, our community transportation coordinator um designation from the state of Florida.
Uh we work uh every 5 years to do the designation. The Pasco County Board of Commissioners has served as the community transportation coordinator since 1990. Uh during this time the BOCC has assigned responsibility of administrating and managing
transportation disadvantages for go Pasco. In this period they have um they have already provided to the Pasco citizens an effective and costefficient manner for the transportation disadvantaged uh uh righties. And so
currently we're working on with go Pasco the memorandum of agreement that will go back to the state uh commission for transportation disadvantage uh probably around March or April. Um I'll be back here with a letter and a actual resolution that will come along with a
resolution from the BOCC uh letting everyone know that we have confirmed and designated uh go Pasco for another 5 years of service for transportation disadvantage. But I just wanted to put that on the record as that is coming along. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Yes. >> I actually have
>> Commissioner Stury. >> Um I actually am I'm looking at the Go Pasco um budget outlined here and I'm very curious about the overtime. That's up 115%. Are we are we short of bus drivers or
again Nel Gasco director? Uh yes. So we do have a CDL program in which we are training individuals but unfortunately as they come in they also go out. Um we did increase our uh the salary as well last year. So we're trying to to capture
those individuals that really do want to um come and work for us. Unfortunately, um some of um their actions especially in regards of safety um have to be applied and if the driver either they don't have a clean background or uh once
they are hired and they are not they don't complete the training properly we cannot keep them. So that's one of the issues why we have a lot of OT. >> Okay. And what is an indirect cost BCC? Indirect cost are the charges that we um
pay to the other departments in the county. So the attorney's office or internal um departments >> and um the $17,000 for travel. What that seems a lot. >> Yes, we're cutting that this this year.
Yes, >> we're reducing that cost >> to what? >> Um and right now we are currently during the our budget season. So we will be uh reducing that. Um >> okay >> about >> how many people are in your administration?
>> We have how many people we have? Maybe how many James you need to help me with that. He does have he does this report. We have about 15 people in our administration >> that travel >> some for some of us. Yes we do we do
conference or we do have a type of training. So sometime we have to you know travel out of state. Okay. All right. Well, those those are my questions. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Commissioner Mariano, >> why don't we get the screen up? >> I'm looking at gas oil lubricants 1.8 to
1.2 6% increase. What why is such a big jump >> increase on? Let me see. >> Gas oil lubricants >> actually went >> that's the cost that we received from the fleet department and it's based on the use. >> Okay. Actually, yeah, it did drop down.
>> Yeah, they had then they actually spent less. >> Yes. And that is because we have been um replacing vehicles faster than before. >> Very good. Chair. >> Uh yes. Um just a question about the uh
you're looking for CDL drivers and you're providing the training. >> We do. Yes. >> And is there kind of like a starting pay or anything or >> uh the the the training typically uh lasts about four month four four weeks? Once they come in, they come at a rate.
We provide the training, the testing. Once they pass and they get their license, then they move up to a a permanent position as a bus operator at making the base salary. >> And they get paid during the training. >> During training. >> Yes. >> Thank you.
>> Any additional questions? >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Yes. >> We have Chris Hanning with us today. Yes. Mr. Hanning, engineering manager for public works administration. He's going to provide us an update on storm water projects. Thank you, Mr. Hank.
>> Good morning. Chris Hanning, uh engineering division manager with Pasco County Public Works. Um first, I'd like to uh personally say thank you for approving my nomination to the uh technical advisory commission >> for serving. >> Uh in a past life, I worked with NO in an old state. So, I'm excited to um join the crew. So,
>> which old state? >> Arkansas. >> Arkansas. Yes, sir. >> Heading to Bentonville and uh >> the Walmart world. >> Yeah. for new overness. >> I think if there's one spot in America that's growing a little bit faster than Pesco, it may be that part.
>> It is. It is. It's amazing. >> This is an impressive place. Yes. >> Amazing. >> Um I've been asked to give a little update on a few storm water um capital projects that we were working on. Um the first one is the uh Hudson Stormwater
Wildwood Trailer Park. um run into uh we had a concept study done um a number of years ago and um before we went to design, we started working with the property owners up there and ran into um some in cooperation, I guess you could
say. uh a lot of the stuff that we needed um some easements and some property um were either unresponsive or um totally did not want to uh give us the easements at all for
our project. Um so um uh we're kind of I guess you could say circling the wagons to try to come up with um uh new ideas and concepts to uh work in this area here. Um uh
the other one was the uh >> Could you say that again? >> Yeah. >> So on that one there and we spent a lot of time and and the Sun Coast communities, the Sun communities are very very uh unhelpful and they have a perfect piece of land right on 19 that they
can't build on anyway, but they wanted us to give them a half a million dollars to go help their flooding problem for all the residents. Absolutely absurd. Um, but we still had an opportunity to work with DOT with their storm water group to go put a pipe underneath to connect to a canal out there. So even in
the worst scenarios, at least you get a chance to get the water out into the Gulf. When the when the storm surge goes down and the waters can flow, it gets low tide, you get the water out there a lot quicker. How are we working with that? Can we just work with that on DOT? >> Uh, yes. Um actually um as one of the uh
things I'd like to um kind of state openly is that um we need to work a little bit tighter with FDOT on some of their um resurfr jobs um especially on 19 to try to uh like as you say move the water from the east side of 19 over to
the west side toward towards the Gulf. So that um it's very expensive to jack and bore um large pipes under that uh that highway. Um, so if they are coming in there with a uh resurfacing job, uh, maybe we can work cooperatively to, um,
get those pipes in there um, before they resurface uh, the road. Um, saving us uh, quite a bit of money. >> Um, I'd tell you to to repatch that section that's right there, I don't think is a big deal. Um I I think as
important as these people go underwater all the time these storm surges where you've got an uncooperative corporation that doesn't care about their people frankly in that area >> that DOT does have a plan. They do block the water from going up by building that road up so high and they did a great job
with the road. It doesn't flood go up and down. So, they did build it to the right height, but they've got to make up for the capacity they're blocking because all the water from there all the way up doesn't get out and that's a key spot to get out. So, I think we go back to the table. They were very receptive at the meeting we had. >> Okay.
>> So, I I like let's let's go convene and we'll just separate the project out to just focus on that and get that done. >> Absolutely. >> And if we get that done, that may even encourage sign communities to say, you know what, this would be better for all of us. >> Absolutely. >> Where are you speaking at? >> Right at Wildwood Condos.
It's um just north of uh Hudson on US 19. >> This canal is right across the way. >> And actually that'll help the flushing in that whole area. Anyway, >> if you can go ahead. Yeah. >> Okay. Um the uh the second project was
the uh northern uh outfall um that's currently under construction. Uh all the work on the east side of uh Highway 19 has been completed. Uh we're finishing up with a pedestrian bridge on the uh west side of 19. Um we expect
that to be done in uh this spring. So that that project will be uh completed. Um the southern outfall um is another one that we've run into a little issues with. Uh again we had uh it kind of came
out of um the northern uh it was a project that was combined the northern and the southern outfall as quote the alternative but then we broke it out because um the while the northern outfall had uh swift mud found that it was very regional beneficial to uh
accomplish after a third party review. Swift mud stated that the southern outfall did not provide any regional benefit. So they kind of uh pulled away pulled out their cooperative funding any potential excuse me any potential
cooperative funding for that project. Um so uh again with this one we need to circle the wagons and try to come up with uh some other plans and again we have the the issue of the pipes under uh US19 uh there as well. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Mariano. So that that project there
to help everyone else. If you go down to um Old Pulse Road, there's a pond right at one of the flowways that takes water from US 19 comes in. It's a giant pond. During um Hurricane Michael a few years
back, we saw that was coming in. Uh actually I got with the governor's office, got with swiftbud, got with our team and we arranged um two nights before the storm was coming in. No one would just be a strong storm surge to go clear out that plun because you could see the silt on both sides. We took out
I think it was eight truck lo dump truckloads of fill around both edges and for the first time the people at the matter of fact people in the same park Sun Coast Mold Park on Ridge Road, they didn't flood for the first time in like a big storm event. Um, it helped. And
that huge pond is all fed by US19 DOT water. That's part of that southern outfall. Why Swift Mud took it off the list, I have no idea other than value. But I think if we get with SwiftMUD, DOT and them together to go look at cleaning that pond out and putting that flowway
through there. When all the money we spent down in Magnolia Valley getting the water out and through all this northern outfall, and by the way, that northern outfall project come out fantastic. They treat the water really well. It goes through before it gets released to the Gulf. That was a phenomenal project that Thank you, sir. You guys really did a great job on that. I know the people at Springer a weren't
happy for a while, but what you did had to be done and it had to disrupt things for a little bit, but >> phenomenal project. But this project here is just as important for Magnolia Valley. All the water, they already bought the golf course. The water flows up that way. If we can get it out through there, it'll be a dramatic help
for Port Richie. Tremendous. So I would like to get with swift mud DOT especially now this other project's done and let's go take another look at that because that pond can take so much water out of there because everything go from up and down all the canals that run alongside old post go right to that can
go right to that one spot and get right out. >> So thank you for that. >> You're welcome. >> Any other questions? >> Any questions for Mr. Hanning? >> I think we can become best friends coming up. >> Thank you very much.
>> You got it. Thank you. >> A picture. >> Oh, I'm sorry. M Comm Commissioner Starky, do you Would you like a map? >> Um, no, that's okay. >> Okay. >> I I couldn't find it, but I found something else. >> Send it off to the
>> All right. Thank you again. Our next MO meeting will be February 12th, Thursday, uh, 10:00 a.m. in Dade City. Anything else for the good of the order while we're sitting as the NPO today? >> Yes. >> Uh, Commissioner Starky and then Commissioner Mariano.
>> Um, I wanted an update on the construction of the bike ped overpasses that were to start in January at State Road 52. Where are we on 54? >> Ryan Hunter with the Florida Department of Transportation again. So 52 that uh
project was lit like summer of last year. They're in the uh materials acquisition phase right now. If they are not out there turning dirt today and they didn't start this week, they should in the next couple weeks. And so you'll start seeing some activity on 52. 54 was
let in December about a month ago. And so when you're you're building the bridge, it does take a long time to get the the lead time for the box beams or the girders or whatever they're utilizing. And so there's probably about six months until we start seeing activity out there. And then
>> the same company on both or >> I don't know to be honest with you, but um we'll start seeing activity sometime, you know, late summer. Um, can we um can can you mail what the concept plan or what whatever the the the drawings the
design to t to so we can all see it because absolutely I don't remember what it looks like. Do any of you remember what it looks like? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we'll get you that. >> Looking forward to looking I know the cycling community is looking forward to it. >> Absolutely. >> Good. Mr. Mariano.
>> Yeah. I just want to thank uh Matt Murf for serving for these past four years going through. We were very great attendance all the way through. for a great involvement and uh I want to wish Mayor Black and M mayor Hoover a lot of luck coming up and we're going to need their involvement 100% with this merger as it comes up. So everyone's we need to
be all at the table coming up to make sure this happens and bring more money back to Pasco. >> Very good. That's the goal, >> Mr. Thank you. And just real quick, yeah, like I said, there's a lot lot of moving parts going on with this merger and um personalities and all that, but um I think it's going to be moving quick
here, you know, real soon. Um, and like some altered on the the TMA, so I'll stay I'm gonna stay involved because it's kind of like, you know, watching a two-hour movie and I'm like an hour 30 in it. I got I got to see the ending now, you know. So, I'll be there, too, to kind of back up when needed.
>> Very good. Thank you, Matt. Thank you for your service, >> Mayor Black. Yes. I would like to suggest that when we have the um Tri County meeting that you guys come and um you know it's I I think you've been very
involved in in what's going on and you you you should be at that meeting, right? >> That information will be passed along to us and Okay. >> Absolutely. There we're working on dates now. So, >> Very good. We're we're hoping that the city of Tampa uh council members would
come too. And I I mean anyone who's been on the TMA working on the merger should come to that in my opinion tri county meeting. >> Absolutely. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. Mayor Hoover. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um just again I want to
thank the board for uh the nomination and acceptance of vice chair. I appreciate that. I'm proud to serve alongside Chairman Black. Uh I'll do you all proud. Um, I did want to get a question answer while DOT was there. Has there been any update on the uh
rightaway study for the Cody River Pass? I know we were kind of getting to the point where that was getting close, I think, if I get an update on that. >> Did he say >> Ryan's going to be making his way up to the mic? >> Okay. Yeah, I'd like to hear that, too.
We're all looking forward to that thing. >> Ryan Hunter with the Florida Department of Transportation again. So, we've gotten all the survey data back to our uh design consultant who's doing our 15% line grade plans, which is what we base our rideway maps on. And so, that should be
I'd rather under promise and overd deliver. So, let me say three months and we'll have a uh rightway map that we can share with everybody. So, anything else, Mayor Hoover? >> No, I appreciate that. Yeah, as soon as you can get that, uh, I want to
obviously meet with the property owner so we can get that uh, get that started. So, appreciate your help. >> You're the first email that'll go out to. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Very good. Thanks, Brian. >> Before we end, I just want to introduce our new planner one, uh, Sean Hoffman.
He's here from Panellis. He hails from the tax collector's office and he is here to serve us, uh, as NO and our newest member. So, if Sean would like to come up, please. >> Absolutely. Welcome, Sean. >> Hello, everybody. Uh, good morning. Uh,
my name is Sean, like Tamia said, uh, I got hired in November. So, yeah, I mean, I was at the Penelis County Tax Collector's Office for about five years and, uh, got my degree uh, from St. Petersburg College. Uh, yeah. So, I'm excited to be here. If y'all need
anything, let me know. I'll do my best to not mess it all up for you. Do you live in Pasco or or >> I live in Clear Water, so I I do commute. So yes, I'm I'm I'm one of the one of the lucky few who get to >> go backwards. >> It's rough if you live
>> Oh, absolutely. >> From publican to planter. Welcome. >> Very good, Sean. We'll look forward to working with you. >> I appreciate it. I look forward to working with you all as well. >> Very good. >> Thank you. >> Anything else from the board at this
time? staff hearing none. Meeting is adjourned. Thanks a lot everyone. Happy New Year. >> Have a good one, sir. >> Have you gotten the information?