Hernando-Citrus

Metropolitan Planning Organization

Regular Meeting

Minutes - Final

August 7, 2025

CALL TO ORDER

MPO Board Chair, Rebecca Bays, called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m on Thursday,

August 7, 2025, at the Lecanto Government Building, 3600 W. Sovereign Path, Room 166,

Lecanto, Florida. The meeting was publicly noticed on the Hernando County, Citrus County,

and Hernando-Citrus MPO websites.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Rebecca Bays, MPO Chair, Citrus County Commissioner

Jerry Campbell, Hernando County Commissioner

Steve Champion, Hernando County Commissioner

Ryan Amsler, MPO Board Alternate Member, Hernando County Commissioner

Jeff Kinnard, Citrus County Commissioner

Tom Craig, MPO Board Alternate Member, City of Inverness

Joe Meek, Mayor, City of Crystal River

Elisa Joyner, Non-Voting Advisor, Florida Department of Transportation, District 7

MEMBERS ABSENT

John Allocco, Hernando County Commissioner

Brian Hawkins, MPO Vice Chair, Hernando County Commissioner

Christa Tanner, Mayor, City of Brooksville

Gene Davis, Councilman, City of Inverness

OTHERS PRESENT

Bob Esposito, MPO Executive Director

Mary Elwin, MPO Coordinator

Joy Turner, MPO Executive Assistant

Mike Cowan, Assistant County Attorney, Hernando County

JW McKethan, City of Brooksville Councilman

Katina Kavouklis, Florida Turnpike Enterprise

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

MPO Board & Staff Introductions

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

SPACE

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.

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

Motion

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

Commissioner Champion and the motion passed 6-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Joe Meek

Steve Champion

Rebecca Bays, Jerry Campbell, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion,

Joe Meek, and Ryan Amsler

Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, and John Allocco

ABSENT:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Review and Approval of the June 5, 2025, Meeting Minutes of the

Hernando-Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board

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Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Amsler to approve the June 5, 2025, meeting Minutes.

The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kinnard and the motion passed 6-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Jeff Kinnard

Rebecca Bays, Jerry Campbell, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion,

Joe Meek, and Ryan Amsler

Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, and John Allocco

ABSENT:

PRESENTATION

Presentation by the MPO Board’s General Planning Consultant, Benesch &

Associates, on the Draft Citrus County FY 2026-FY 2035 Transit Development

Plan (TDP)

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[It is noted for the record that MPO Board alternate member for the City of Inverness, Tom

Craig, arrived at the meeting.]

Mr. Esposito introduced Kayla Huetten, AICP, Senior Planner, MPO General Planning

Consultant with Benesch & Associates. Ms. Huetten delivered a presentation on the draft

Citrus County FY 2026-FY 2035 Transit Development Plan (TDP), a required document for

receiving State Block Grant funding. She explained that the revenue sources outlined on

page 17 of the presentation include a combination of Federal, State, and local funds.

Additionally, 1%-2% of the total revenue is generated from farebox collections

(ridership-based funds).

The Board discussed the need for a cost-benefit analysis comparing the operation of a

countywide transit system to alternative transportation solutions. One proposed alternative

was offering travel vouchers for services such as Uber or Lyft. MPO staff acknowledged the

request. Chair Bays opened the floor for Board and public comments; no comments were

received.

CITIZENS COMMENTS

There were no citizen comments.

MPO DIRECTOR COMMENTS

Mr. Esposito shared the following updates:

· Mr. Esposito attended the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council (MPOAC)

meeting on Thursday, July 24, in Orlando. A draft copy of the MPOAC/MPO Overview

sheet highlighting the roles of the MPOAC and MPOs was provided to the MPO Board.

This material was provided by Amanda Carpenter, the new Executive Director of MPOAC.

· The MPO staff participated in the Florida Metropolitan Planning Partnership (FMPP)

meeting on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Orlando.

· In order to prevent having no voting representation at future meetings, Mr. Esposito

reiterated the need for member jurisdictions to consider adding all their board/council

members as additional or 2nd alternates for the SCTPA and the MPO Board.

· The fully executed transportation disadvantaged planning grant agreements were received

from the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD) on July 25,

2025, and entered into the record (Citrus Agreement #G3C96 for $26,447 and Hernando

Agreement #G3D11 for $27,440).

· At the request on Commissioner Kinnard, the MPO will be issuing a purchase order to

conduct Traffic Counts for Citrus County (71 locations) and providing a level-of-service

analysis.

· The Notices to Proceed have been issued for updates to the Complete Streets and

Congestion Management studies.

· Commissioner Allocco asked if the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) could add

reflectors at Cortez Boulevard and Sheriff Mylander Way, as turning there at night is

difficult. FDOT explained that recent equipment issues kept the new street lighting off

which made the area darker. Once the lights are restored this week, FDOT will reassess

the intersection. Commissioner Champion expressed concern about the visibility of

pavement markings, particularly on concrete pads. He noted that the markings are difficult

to see in rainy conditions and that vehicle recognition systems struggle to detect them. He

requested that FDOT consider darker-colored striping for improved visibility.

· FDOT is obtaining the equipment to add a west bound left-turn signal at north US 41 and

CR 491. The southbound and westbound left-turn movements do not meet the required

thresholds and will not be modified at this time.

· SR50 (Cortez Boulevard) widening from Cobb Road to west of Buck Hope Road is

completed.

· US 41 widening from S of Withlacoochee Trail Bridge to N or Sportsman Point

construction is scheduled to begin in 2027

(https://www.fdottampabay.com/project/473/257165-4-52-01).

· To use the County Attorney’s time more efficiently and reduce MPO expenses, Mr.

Esposito asked the MPO Board members if the Attorney needed to attend every meeting.

The Board agreed by consensus that regular attendance was unnecessary. Legal

questions can be addressed by phone or after meetings as needed.

· Mr. Esposito shared that on July 29, 2025, the Citrus County Board of County

Commissioners (BOCC) approved the installation of “No Thru Trucks-Local Delivery Only”

signage along CR 48 at the Withlacoochee River Bridge (Citrus County side) and at the

intersection of CR 48 and US 41 (downtown area of Floral City). Sumter County has also

implemented similar roadway signage. These efforts should limit the truck traffic that

comes from and goes to I-75, specifically as it travels through the downtown area of Floral

City on CR 48 (Orange Avenue).

· A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being planned for the next phase of the Suncoast Parkway.

MPO staff will provide the Board with event details as they become available.

BOARD COMMENTS

There were no further comments from the Board.

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Bays adjourned the meeting at 2:11 p.m.

Motion

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

seconded by Commissioner Kinnard and the motion passed 7-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Jeff Kinnard

Rebecca Bays, Jerry Campbell, Tom Craig, Jeff Kinnard, Steve

Champion, Joe Meek, and Ryan Amsler

Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, and John Allocco

ABSENT:

UPCOMING MEETING:

The next regular meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Board is scheduled for

Thursday, September 4, 2025, beginning at 1:30 pm, in the Lecanto Government Building,

3600 W. Sovereign Path, Room 166, Lecanto, Florida. A quorum will be necessary to

approve federally required documents.

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ITEMS PRESENTED DURING THE MEETING

1. PowerPoint Presentation for the Citrus County Transit Development Plan

2. Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council (MPOAC) and MPO

Overview Handout (Draft)