Hernando/Citrus

Metropolitan Planning Organization

Regular Meeting

Minutes - Final

May 2, 2024

CALL TO ORDER

MPO Chair, Jerry Campbell, called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2,

2024, in the Brooksville City Council Chambers, 201 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, Florida. The

meeting was publicly noticed on the Hernando County, Citrus County, and Hernando/Citrus

MPO websites.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Jerry Campbell, MPO Board Chair, Hernando County Commission

Jeff Kinnard, MPO Board Vice Chair, Citrus County Commission

Rebecca Bays, MPO Board Alternate Member, Citrus County Commission

John Allocco, Hernando County Commission

Steve Champion, Hernando County Commission

Brian Hawkins, MPO Board Alternate Member, Hernando County Commission

Blake Bell, Mayor, City of Brooksville

Robert Holmes, MPO Board Alternate Member, Crystal River City Councilman

Cabot McBride, City of Inverness Councilman

Brian Hunter, Non-Voting Advisor, Florida Department of Transportation, District 7

MEMBERS ABSENT (ALTERNATES WERE AVAILABLE TO SERVE)

Ruthie Schlabach, Citrus County Commission

Beth Narverud, Hernando County Commission

OTHERS PRESENT

Bob Esposito, MPO Executive Director

Mary Elwin, MPO Coordinator

Joy Turner, MPO Administrative Assistant Ill

Siaosi Fine, Florida Turnpike Enterprise

Melissa Tartaglia, Assistant Attorney, Hernando County

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

MPO Board & Staff Introductions

The Pledge of Allegiance and the introductions of Board and staff followed the Invocation.

Enter Proof of Publication into the Record

A quorum was declared, and Ms. Turner noted for the record that the public notice for the

meeting was posted in accordance with the adopted policies.

[It is noted for the record, Robert Holmes, MPO Board Alternate Member, Crystal River City

Councilman, arrived at the meeting.]

APPROVAL/MODIFICATION OF AGENDA (Limited to Board and Staff)

Motion

A motion was made by Mayor Bell to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by

Commissioner Bays and the motion passed 9-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Blake Bell

Rebecca Bays

John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride, Steve Champion,

Blake Bell, Rebecca Bays, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell, and

Robert Holmes

Elizabeth Narverud, Ruthie Schlabach, and Joe Meek

ABSENT:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Review and Approve the April 4, 2024, Meeting Minutes of the

Hernando/Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board

13980

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to approve the April 4, 2024, meeting

Minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kinnard and the motion passed 9-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Jeff Kinnard

John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride, Steve Champion,

Blake Bell, Rebecca Bays, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell, and

Robert Holmes

Elizabeth Narverud, Ruthie Schlabach, and Joe Meek

ABSENT:

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of Alternate Member from the City of Inverness to the Metropolitan

Planning Organization (MPO) Board

13940

Motion

A motion was made by Councilman McBride to approve the appointment of Councilman Gene

Davis as an alternate representative on the MPO Board representing the City of Inverness.

The motion was seconded by Councilman Holmes and the motion passed 9-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Cabot McBride

Robert Holmes

John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride, Steve Champion,

Blake Bell, Rebecca Bays, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell, and

Robert Holmes

Elizabeth Narverud, Ruthie Schlabach, and Joe Meek

ABSENT:

Review and Approval of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)

Intergovernmental Coordination and Review and Public Transportation

Collaborative Planning Agreement (ICAR)

13984

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to approve the FDOT Intergovernmental

Coordination and Review and Public Transportation Collaborative Planning Agreement (ICAR)

and authorize the MPO Chair to execute the agreement. The motion was seconded by

Commissioner Kinnard and the motion passed 9-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Jeff Kinnard

John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride, Steve Champion,

Blake Bell, Rebecca Bays, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell, and

Robert Holmes

Elizabeth Narverud, Ruthie Schlabach, and Joe Meek

ABSENT:

Resolution to Adopt the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for Fiscal Year

2025 - Fiscal Year 2026 and Approve Planning Organization Agreement #G2V07

13981

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Kinnard to adopt the Unified Planning Work Program

(UPWP) for FY2025-FY2026, authorize the MPO Chair to execute the required documents,

and staff to transmit them to FDOT by May 15, 2024. The motion was seconded by

Commissioner Bays and the motion passed 9-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Jeff Kinnard

Rebecca Bays

John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride, Steve Champion,

Blake Bell, Rebecca Bays, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell, and

Robert Holmes

Elizabeth Narverud, Ruthie Schlabach, and Joe Meek

ABSENT:

Reclassification of Administrative Assistant III (MPO) to MPO Executive Assistant

beginning October 1, 2024 (County Fiscal Year 2025)

13991

Commissioner Allocco asked if the reclassification included moving from non-exempt to

exempt and Councilman McBride asked if the position would be posted. Mr. Esposito

affirmed both inquiries.

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Kinnard to approve the reclassification of the

Administrative Assistant III to the MPO Executive Assistant beginning October 1, 2024, based

up the job description, responsibilities, and experience. The motion was seconded by

Councilman McBride and the motion passed 9-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Jeff Kinnard

Cabot McBride

John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride, Steve Champion,

Blake Bell, Rebecca Bays, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell, and

Robert Holmes

Elizabeth Narverud, Ruthie Schlabach, and Joe Meek

ABSENT:

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Review of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Program Accountability

Results (PAR) Report

13983

Mr. Esposito reviewed the highlights on the PAR report and thanked Kimley-Horn, the General

Planning Consultant, that produced the 2045 LRTP.

CITIZENS COMMENTS

There were no citizen comments.

MPO DIRECTOR COMMENTS

· The June 6, 2024, meeting will be vital as adoption of the Transportation Improvement

Plan (TIP) for FY2025-FY2029 and List of Priority Projects (LOPP) will need to occur in

order to meet the July 15, 2024, submittal deadline.

· The July 11, 2024, meeting is canceled as the Hernando County Commission is

scheduling a workshop that day. Necessary agenda items will be presented at the June or

August meetings.

· A list of the public engagement meetings associated with the 2050 Long-Range

Transportation Plan (LRTP) adoption was provided to the Board.

· The MPO conducts quarterly staff meetings with Ocala Marion TPO and Lake-Sumter

MPO. The federal and state government agencies encourage the interaction between

contiguous MPOs/TPOs or that have similar demographics. The last meeting was March

21st, and the next meeting is scheduled for June 20th.

· Mr. Esposito attended the April 24, 2024, meeting of the Lake-Sumter MPO Board.

· The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has scheduled a ribbon cutting

ceremony for the Good Neighbor Trail (GNT) on May 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in Tom Varn

Park in Brooksville.

· Mr. Esposito will attend the Florida Transportation Planning Exchange (TransEx)

conference in St. Petersburg on May 7-8, 2024.

· Inverness City Councilman, Gene Davis, will attend the MPOAC Weekend Institute training

in St. Petersburg, May 17-18, 2024.

· Mr. Esposito thanked the Hernando County Sheriff's office for attending the meeting.

BOARD COMMENTS

· Commissioner Allocco conveyed the concern raised from a Hernando County resident

on the lack of sidewalk access to Moton Elementary School. Commissioner Allocco

asked if MPO staff, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), or Hernando

County Department of Public Works could provide an update. Mr. Scott Herring,

Hernando County Public Works Director/County Engineer, informed the MPO Board that

the average timeline to establish a sidewalk can take six to seven years before

construction begins. Mr. Herring will contact the Hernando County School Board for

further information. Mayor Bell relayed that the Hernando County School Board stated

that sidewalks are the city’s responsibility inferring that the School Board would look to

the County for sidewalk responsibility.

· Councilman Holmes asked for FDOT’s assistance in obtaining a copy of the build-out

plans for US19 in Crystal River. Brian Hunter, FDOT, acknowledged Councilman’s

Holmes request and will follow-up.

· Mayor Bell thanked Mr. Esposito for his help in coordinating with Senator Ingoglia’s office

to set up a ribbon cutting ceremony for Rush Limbaugh Way in Brooksville. Mayor Bell will

update the MPO Board on the details for the ribbon cutting ceremony once the details are

finalized.

· Mayor Bell also extended his thanks and appreciation to Justin Hall, Director of

Transportation Planning from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7

Office, for his work and assistance with the Brooksville City Council on the Good Neighbor

Trail.

· Chair Campbell thanked the City of Brooksville for hosting the 2024 MPO Board meetings

and for the support and presence of Hernando County officials and law enforcement.

14056

ITEMS DISTRIBUTED DURING THE MEETING

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Campbell adjourned the meeting at 1:53 p.m.

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Allocco to adjourn the meeting. The motion was

seconded by Commissioner Champion.

UPCOMING MEETING:

The next regular meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization is tentatively

scheduled for Thursday, June 6, 2024, beginning at 1:30 pm, in the Brooksville City

Council Chambers, 201 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, Florida.

The meeting agenda and back-up material are available online at