Polk County Administration

Building

Polk County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)

330 West Church Street

Bartow, FL 33830

Technical Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes - Final

October 03, 2024 TPO TAC

Rescheduled TAC Meeting

Polk County Administration Building

330 W. Church Street, Room 413

Bartow, FL 33830

Introduction

Call to Order - 9:30 a.m. (Bob Weigers, Chairman)

Confirmation of Quorum

Minutes: Also in attendance were:

Ryan Kordek, Polk TPO Executive Director

Lorenzo Thomas, Polk TPO Staff

Julia Davis, Polk TPO Staff

Angela Kaufman, Polk TPO Staff

Isai Chavez, Polk TPO Staff

Brittany Silva, Polk Communications

Edith Perez, FDOT District One

Marcellus Evans, FDOT District One

Marc Ispass, Kimley-Horn

Siasosi Fine, FDOT - Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise

Lucas Crus, Consultant from Patel, Greene & Associates, LLC

Chuck Barmby, Bob Wiegers, Bill Skelton, Sean Byers,

Present

Ted Adkins, James Phillips, Ben Ziskal, Richard Ranck,

Marisa Barmby, Carlie Flagler, and Brittany Hart

Approval of Draft Meeting Minutes - July 25, 2024

Motion: Motioned by Ben Ziskal, seconded by Carlie Flagler. Motion carried without

dissent.

Agenda Review - Ryan Kordek, Polk TPO Executive Director

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, TPO Executive Director, reviewed the agenda which consisted

of changes to the TPO Bylaws, the TIP Amendments FY 2024/25 - 2028/29 (TIP),

Envision 2050 draft Goals, Objectives, Performance Measures and Indicators, TMA-SU

Funds for SID Loan Reimbursement for SR 33 Widening, Mobility Week/Greenways

and Trails Month, Fort Fraser Trail Update, Lake Hancock Trails Master Plan Update,

Amendments to the UPWP FY 2024/25-2025/26, New Polk TPO Website, Preview of

the Polk TPO Meeting on October 19, 2024, and Priority Projects Update.

Action Items

Review/Approve Amendments to the TPO’s Bylaws

Minutes: Julia Davis, TPO Staff, presented the Draft Amendments to the TPO Bylaws

which includes adding four new seats which to the TPO Board, which was approved by

Governor DeSantis on August 8th, 2024, and expands the TPO Board to 23 voting

members. Davenport and Lake Alfred have full voting members and additional seats

were granted to Haines City and Winter Haven. The amended inter local agreements

were completed on September 16th, 2024. The East Bloc name was changed to

Central County and Ridge Bloc which will include Dundee, Eagle Lake, Polk City, and

Lake Hamilton. The South Bloc includes Fort Meade, Mulberry, and Frostproof.

Motion: Recommendation of approval to the TPO Board made by Ben Ziskal,

seconded by Chuck Barmby. Motion carried without dissent.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL

Barmby, Wiegers, Skelton, Byers, Adkins, Phillips, Ziskal,

Ranck, Barmby, Flagler, and Hart

Review/Approve Amendments to FY 2024/25 - 2028/29 Transportation

Improvement Program (TIP)

Minutes: Angela Kaufman, TPO Staff, presented the Draft Amendments to FY 2024/25

- 2028/29 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). FDOT requests Polk TPO to

approve amendments to the TIP which included the following projects: Maine Avenue

sidewalks from Combee Road to Park Street and to Iowa Road to Wanda Way, North

Lake Fitness Trail, SR 25 (US 27) project limit decrease at various locations, and Small

Urban Capital Assistance for Citrus Connection at Poinciana and Four Corners. The

amendments are necessary to ensure authorization of federal funds in the current

fiscal year.

Motion: Recommendation of approval to the TPO Board made by Ben Ziskal,

seconded by James Phillips. Motion carried without dissent.

RESULT:

RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Barmby, Wiegers, Skelton, Byers, Adkins, Phillips, Ziskal,

Ranck, Barmby, Flagler, and Hart

AYE:

Review/Approve Draft Goal, Objectives, Performance Measures and Indicators

for the Long-Range Transportation Plan Update - Envision 2050

Minutes: Marc Ispass, Consultant from Kimley-Horn, provided a draft of the 2050

Long-Range Transportation Plan (Envision 2050). During the presentation, it was

stated that they would be identifying extra funding, multi-modal transportation, safety,

mobility, quality of life, efficiency of transportation, maintenance of current

infrastructure while minimizing environmental impacts, and bringing these plans

together to become impactful actions. Chuck Barmby stated he did not find anything

within the plan that was relative to rail and transit, express bus service, or SunRail and

felt these are critical and needs to be included at this level. Marc Ispass stated this

was included in the “multi-modal” statement but could be better defined in the project.

Ryan Kordek stated that these will be incorporated and strengthened at this stage.

James Phillips stated that there is a lot of conversation about traffic and congestion,

and we need to allow for other services to shift towards to help relieve traffic.

Motion: Recommendation approval to the TPO Board and incorporate Chuck’s

statements was made by Chuck Barmby, seconded by Carlie Flagler. Motion carried

without dissent.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL

Barmby, Wiegers, Skelton, Byers, Adkins, Phillips, Ziskal,

Ranck, Barmby, Flagler, and Hart

Review/Approve the Use of TMA-SU Funds for State Infrastructure Bank (SIB)

Loan Reimbursement for State Road 33 Widening (FPN: 430185-4) from Old

Combee Road to Firstpark Boulevard

Minutes: Mr. Kordek provided an overview of FDOT’s request stating the TPO Priority

Project was included as part of FDOT’s Moving Florida Forward Initiative, and this

project was advanced to FY 2024 funded at $197M for and interchange reconstruction,

two wildlife crossings, and the widening of SR 33 to include a multi-use trail. FDOT will

be $19M over budget for this project but has obtained a State Infrastructure Bank (SIB)

loan to complete the widening of SR 33 and is requesting the TPO’s support to pay the

back by using State Funds and Federal TMA-SU Funding in the amount of $1M

(TMA-SU) per year for five years beginning in FY 2031. Chair Wieger asked if the

TMA-SU fund is used for specific or designated areas. Ryan Kordek stated that these

can be used in Urbanize Areas of Polk County. Chuck Barmby stated that this a

strategic planning area for the city of Lakeland. This would include 10 feet trails on

each side of the road and is part of the statewide trail system. A request will be

brought before the Lakeland City Commission for approval on October 21st and he

requested the motion include to include $1M a year payback for three years and also

include other sources of funding be explored including the Trail and Florida Wildlife

Corridor. Chair Wiegner restated the proposed motion include the original

recommendation of staff but to include the exploration of other source funding as

stated by Chuck Barmby and a decrease in terms of repayment.

Motion: Recommendation of approval to the TPO Board by Chuck Barmby and a

separate request that we have more information to provide to the TPO Board on the

impacts of the city of Lakeland amount and schedule for payment and additional to

explore other sources of funding by FDOT including SunTrail, seconded by Carlie

Flager. Motion carried without dissent.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL

Barmby, Wiegers, Skelton, Byers, Adkins, Phillips, Ziskal,

Ranck, Barmby, Flagler, and Hart

Recognition of Mobility Week and Greenways and Trails Month

Minutes: Isai Chavez, Polk TPO Staff, introduced a Proclamation providing an

overview of the Proclamation and the purpose of the Proclamation. A summary of the

upcoming events that will occur in support of Mobility Week including Fare Free Day at

Citrus Connection and the Bartow Friday Market booth event.

Motion: Recommendation of approval to the TPO Board by Ben Ziskal, seconded by

Sean Byers. Motion carried without dissent.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL

Barmby, Wiegers, Skelton, Byers, Adkins, Phillips, Ziskal,

Ranck, Barmby, Flagler, and Hart

9a.

Lake Hancock Trails Master Plan

Minutes: Bill Skelton, Polk County Roads and Drainage, provided an update on the

extension project including a brief summary of the background of this project and the

benefits. Segment one is Winter Lake Road (US 98 to Sanlan Property). Segment two

is Sanlan Property (Winter Lake Road to Lakeland Highlands Road). Segment three is

Lakeland Highlands Road (Sanlan Property to Glendale Street). Arial photos of the

progress of the project were provided and the current expenditures for the project.

There was discussion about sidewalks and crossings associated with the trail. Ryan

Kordek recognized that Commissioner Lindsey’s support of this project.

9b.

Fort Fraser Trail Extension Update

Minutes: Lucas Crus, Consultant from Patel, Greene & Associates, LLC, provided an

update of Lake Hancock Trails Master Plan. The Fort Fraser Trail will make

connections to other trails including the Fort Fraser Trail to connect communities and

recreation corridors. A display of the most feasible paths to connect existing trails was

provided. Images of potential designs of the trails was shown to the committee

members. There will be a public meeting and there will be online live public comment

forum. Then there will be a finalization of the plan and a request of local resolutions in

support of the plan. There was a conversation about the potential 540A route

connecting to the Lake Hancock Trail and the steepness of the berms and the use of

pedestrian versus bikes.

10.

Review/Approve Draft Amendments to the Fiscal Years 2024/25 - 2025/26

Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, TPO Staff, provided a presentation explaining that there is

additional fund in the amount of $20,809 in FHWA PL Funding and this will be applied

to the 2050 LRTP Update FY 2024/25. Then there has been funding removed for the

UPWP in the amount of $200,000 that was originally applied to the SunRail Extension

and these monies will be allocated to FPN 453731-1 in FY 2025/26 and FDOT will lead

this project.

Motion: Recommendation of approval to the TPO Board was made by Ben Ziskal,

seconded by Richard Ranck. Motion was approved without dissent.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL

Barmby, Wiegers, Skelton, Byers, Adkins, Phillips, Ziskal,

Ranck, Barmby, Flagler, and Hart

Presentations and Status Reports

11. Polk TPO’s New Website

Minutes: Brittany Silva, Polk Communications, provided an update on the new TPO

Website stating the new website will provide more information to the residents. She

briefly displayed how the website works and some of its contents and how it is

accessed.

Communications and Reports

12.

Board Member Comments

Minutes: Chair Weiger apologized for missing the last scheduled meeting.

13.

Preview of October 10, 2024 TPO Meeting

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, Polk TPO Staff, there will be a presentation by Sheriff Grady Judd

and Superintendent Heid related to transportation safety from both the enforcement side and

the education side of the County.

14.

Priority Projects Update

Minutes: Ryan Kordek, Polk TPO Staff, explained that most of last year’s Priority

Projects that were submitted will not be approved by FDOT due to lack of funding. A

proposition to discuss not soliciting for any new projects for this year and retaining or

reapplying for the same projects that were not funded this year. There was discussion

of how the smaller cities should have opportunity to apply and it was explained the

smaller cities needs to be LAP certified in order to apply which led the discussion of

how the County has been picking up the projects of the smaller cities and this causes

the County to become overwhelmed with projects. FDOT explained that the projects

would need to be reapplied for with an updated application in the GAP system. Ryan

Kordek proposed coordinated workshops between FDOT and the local governments on

the status of their projects.

15.

Opportunity for Comment

Minutes: Julia Davis, Polk TPO, acknowledged the efforts of Angela Kaufman and the

Legistar agenda program that will be used. Then the TDP Survey and why it is

important along with a stakeholder virtual meeting related to Transit Planning in Polk

County. Carlie Flagler, Citrus Connection, requested the members to provide input for

their needs related to public transportation.

16.

Adjournment - Next Meeting will be Thursday, December 5, 2024

Minutes: Respectfully transcribed by Angela Kaufman, TPO Planner II.

Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, states that if a person decides to appeal any

decision made by a board, agency, or commission with respect to any matter

considered at a meeting or hearing, he will need a record of the proceedings, and that,

for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is

made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to

be based.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities

needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding should contact the

Board of County Commissioners, Communications Office, at 330 W. Church Street,

Bartow. Telephone (863) 534-6090, not later than four days prior to the proceeding. If

hearing impaired call: (TDD) (863) 534-7777 or 1-800-955-8771, or Voice impaired call:

1-800-955-8770, via Florida Relay Service.

The TPO planning process is conducted in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964 and Related Statutes. Any person or beneficiary who believes they have

been discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin,

disability, or family status may file a complaint with the TPO’s Title VI Specialist at (863)

534-6486, or by writing Ms. Julia Davis at Post Office Box 9005, Bartow, Florida

33831-9005.