Hernando/Citrus  
Metropolitan Planning Organization  
Regular Meeting  
Minutes - Final  
February 6, 2025  
CALL TO ORDER  
MPO Board Chair for 2024, Jerry Campbell, called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m., on  
Thursday, February 6, 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  
Jerry Campbell, Hernando County Commissioner  
John Allocco, Hernando County Commissioner  
Steve Champion, Hernando County Commissioner  
Brian Hawkins, Hernando County Commissioner  
Jeff Kinnard, Citrus County Commissioner  
Rebecca Bays, Citrus County Commissioner  
Christa Tanner, Mayor, City of Brooksville  
Joe Meek, Mayor, City of Crystal River  
Gene Davis, Councilman, City of Inverness  
Suzanne Ziegler, Non-Voting Advisor, Florida Department of Transportation, District 7  
OTHERS PRESENT  
Bob Esposito, MPO Executive Director  
Mary Elwin, MPO Coordinator  
Joy Turner, MPO Executive Assistant  
Melissa Tartaglia, Assistant County Attorney, Hernando County  
Siaosi Fine, Florida Turnpike Enterprise  
Elisa Joyner, Non-Voting Advisor, Florida Department of Transportation, District 7  
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.  
APPROVAL/MODIFICATION OF AGENDA (Limited to Board and Staff)  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to approve the agenda. The motion was  
seconded by Mayor Meek and the motion passed 9-0.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Jeff Kinnard  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
ANNUAL ELECTION OF MPO OFFICERS AND APPOINTMENTS  
Annual Election of the Hernando/County Metropolitan Planning Organization  
(MPO) Board Officers and Appointments for 2025  
Hernando/Citrus MPO Board Chair for 2025  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Allocco to elect Commissioner Bays as  
Hernando/Citrus MPO Board Chair for 2025. The motion was seconded by Commissioner  
Hawkins and the motion passed 9-0.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
John Allocco  
Brian Hawkins  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
Hernando/Citrus MPO Board Vice Chair for 2025  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to elect Commissioner Hawkins as  
Hernando/Citrus MPO Board Vice Chair for 2025. The motion was seconded by  
Commissioner Kinnard and the motion passed 9-0  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
Sun Coast Transportation Planning Alliance (SCTPA) Chairs Coordinating Committee (CCC)  
Representative and Alternate for 2025  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Allocco to maintain the same SCTPA CCC  
representatives the MPO Board named during the October 3, 2024, meeting which were  
Commissioner Kinnard as the SCTPA CCC Representative and Commissioner Champion as  
the alternate representative. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Champion and the  
motion passed 9-0.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
John Allocco  
Steve Champion  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
Transportation Management Area (TMA) Leadership Group Representative for 2025  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to elect Bob Esposito as representative for  
the TMA Leadership Group for 2025. The motion was seconded by Mayor Meek and the  
motion passed 9-0.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Joe Meek  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
Florida MPO Advisory Council (MPOAC) Representative and Alternate for 2025  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Allocco to elect Commissioner Kinnard as  
representative and Commissioner Champion as alternate representative for MPOAC for 2025.  
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hawkins and the motion passed 9-0.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
John Allocco  
Brian Hawkins  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
Hernando County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board (TDLCB) Chair for 2025  
The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners proffered John Allocco as Chair of the  
Hernando County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board for 2025.  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to ratify Commissioner Allocco as TDLCB  
Chair for 2025. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hawkins and the motion passed  
9-0.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
Citrus County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board (LCB) Chair for 2025  
The Citrus County Commission proffered Janet Barek as the Chair for the Citrus County  
Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board for 2025.  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to ratify Commissioner Barek as LCB Chair  
for 2025. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hawkins and the motion passed 9-0.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
CONSENT ITEMS  
Mr. Esposito provided an overview from the agenda packet of the four items on the Consent  
Agenda which were:  
1. Review and Approval of the December 5, 2024, Meeting Minutes of the  
Hernando/Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board  
2. Transportation Alternative Projects Interlocal Agreement Between Hernando County,  
the City of Brooksville, and Hernando/Citrus MPO for Coordination of Engineering  
Services  
3. Adopt the Annual Safety Performance Measures Targets (Highway Safety, PM-1)  
4. Adopt the Florida Department of Transportation’s updated Performance Targets for  
System Preservation Pavement and Bridge Conditions (PM2) and System Preservation  
Travel Time Reliability (PM3)  
Commissioner Allocco shared that he recently met with the Hernando County Sheriffs  
Department and Hernando County Fire Rescue to discuss opportunities to reduce accidents  
that would not only minimize human risk, but to reduce the cost of auto insurance. He noted  
ways to reduce the risks when driving vehicles. He encouraged the Hernando/Citrus MPO,  
Hernando County Department of Public Works, Hernando County Sheriff’s, Fire, and EMS  
collaborate on methods to educate the public on high-risk factors such as time of day, days of  
the week, and to further study high-risk intersections such as:  
· Mariner Boulevard @ SR 50  
· Mariner Boulevard @ Spring Hill Drive  
· Ayers Road and Culbreath Road  
· Barclay Avenue @ Powell Road  
· Barclay @ Spring Hill Drive  
Mr. Esposito noted that MPO staff is reviewing data to provide to the MPO Board as related to  
safety concerns involving vehicles as Commissioner Allocco requested this past week.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to approve Consent Agenda Items 1 through  
4. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kinnard and the motion passed 9-0.  
Review and Approval of the December 5, 2024, Meeting Minutes of the  
Hernando/Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board  
Transportation Alternative Projects Interlocal Agreement Between Hernando  
County, the City of Brooksville, and the Hernando/Citrus MPO for Coordination of  
Engineering Services  
Adopt the Annual Safety Performance Measures Targets (Highway Safety,  
PM-1)  
Adopt the Florida Department of Transportation’s Updated Targets for System  
Performance Pavement and Bridge Conditions (PM2) and System Performance  
Travel Time Reliability (PM3)  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Jeff Kinnard  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
ACTION ITEMS  
Reappointment of Member to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Kinnard to reappoint Scarlett Sharpe to serve on the  
Citizens Advisory Committee as a representative in the Hernando County-Unincorporated  
position for a period of two (2) years (February 20, 2025, through February 19, 2027). The  
motion was seconded by Commissioner Champion and the motion passed 9-0.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Jeff Kinnard  
Steve Champion  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek  
CITIZENS COMMENTS  
There were no citizens comments.  
MPO DIRECTOR COMMENTS  
Mr. Esposito shared the following updates:  
· Mr. Esposito hosted a telephone call with State Senator Nick DiCeglie and  
Commissioner Bays on February 3, 2025, to advocate for rural arterial funds for  
Hernando and Citrus Counties. He encouraged the Board members to support  
similar efforts when meeting with State officials. At Commissioner Allocco’s  
request, Mr. Esposito confirmed rural arterial funds are allocated from general  
revenue monies and not the Transportation Trust Fund.  
· Bob hosted a Teams meeting with FDOT, Pasco County, and Hernando County  
staff members on January 27, 2025, to discuss County Line Road. The Florida  
Department of Transportation (FDOT) has agreed to include funding for the design  
portion between Mariner Boulevard/Shady Hills Road to the Suncoast Parkway in  
the FY2025 Work Program. The construction phase will be programmed in FY2033  
at one-half with the counties sharing the other half. The next follow-up Teams  
meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2025.  
Commissioner Hawkins expressed his appreciation to FDOT and is thankful to see  
movement [on improvements] on County Line Road between Mariner Boulevard  
and Anderson Snow Road, but he stated that the bigger problem on County Line  
Road is west of Mariner Boulevard to the waterfall area on US 19. He noted that  
the improvements were started at the intersection, widened County Line Road at the  
commercial area, and then County Line Road narrows in either direction. Mr.  
Esposito noted that it would be preferred to begin next segment planning during  
construction of the current segment to keep progress moving. Commissioner  
Hawkins asked if utilities are planned to continue to move from Mariner Boulevard to  
the waterfall at US 19. Mr. Esposito will investigate and provide an update to the  
MPO Board.  
Commissioner Allocco noted that the projects are too large to fund by the local jurisdictions  
particularly at the $100 million dollar level. He asked Mr. Esposito who was involved in the  
County Line Road discussions. Mr. Esposito responded that discussions involved Jeff  
Rogers, Hernando County’s Administrator; the Assistant County Administrator for Pasco  
County [Brandon Adumuah], Scott Herring and Todd Crosby from Hernando County Public  
Works, the Hernando County Planning Department, Nick Uhren (Pasco’s Public Works  
Department), and Tania Gorman, MPO Executive Director for Pasco County.  
Commissioner Bays asked if a letter of intent was in process to ensure that both counties are  
vested in the project. Mr. Esposito responded in the affirmative that it [interlocal agreement]  
was in process. Commissioner Bays asked if it is appropriate to have a worksheet summary  
of the funding priorities or needs for the County for the MPO Board members to have when  
communicating with lawmakers. Mr. Esposito indicated that he would provide the MPO Board  
with a summary of Hernando/Citrus MPO transportation funding priorities. [Subsequent to the  
meeting, this information was emailed to the MPO Board members on Thursday, February 6,  
2025.]  
· Mr. Esposito noted that the Sun Coast Transportation Planning Alliance (SCTPA) is  
working on the Regional 2050 LRTP. County Line Road was recently added to the  
Regional Priorities List and Mr. Esposito is going to ask to have SR200 (Citrus)  
added later this summer.  
· Mr. Esposito attended the Pasco MPO Board meeting December 11, 2024, and he  
participated in a second radio interview (WWJB) [on January 15, 2025] to  
encourage the public on the importance and ways to get funding sources for local  
roads, especially for local county roads.  
· The MPO Board has been provided with a copy of a few relevant slides from the  
Driving Florida’s Future: Economic Trends and Transportation Insights  
webinar[which was conducted on January 31, 2025]. Mr. Esposito highlighted  
Florida’s population growth and that 16 million of the 23 million people in Florida are  
located in the central part of the state.  
· Mr. Esposito announced that as an efficiency goal to reduce the number of MPO  
Board meetings, Board meetings will be scheduled when it is necessary to meet  
state and federal deadlines.  
· The October 9, 2024, Gulf Streets Safe Summit Dignitary Panel was rescheduled to  
February 13, 2025. Commissioner Bays (Citrus) and Todd Crosby, Assistant  
County Engineer for Hernando County, have agreed to attend as panelists. Meeting  
time and location: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Port Tampa Bay Cruise Terminal-2,  
651 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida.  
BOARD COMMENTS  
· Commissioner Champion recognized newly elected Hernando County  
Commissioner Ryan Amsler, who was in attendance to observe the MPO Board  
meeting and he also thanked the Citrus County sheriff’s department for providing a  
deputy to attend and offer protection during the meeting.  
· City of Crystal River, Mayor Meek, raised two items for the Board’s consideration.  
The next phases of the Suncoast Parkway are scheduled for completion in the next  
three to four years and will include an exit at CR495/N Citrus Avenue. He asked the  
MPO Board to contemplate turn lane improvements on W Emerald Oaks Drive and  
CR495/N Citrus Avenue and intersection improvements at CR495/N Citrus Avenue  
and N Turkey Oak Drive to route traffic around the CR495/N Citrus Avenue and the  
US 19 historic district. Mr. Esposito acknowledged the mayor’s request and  
affirmed the MPO will continue to monitor.  
· Commissioner Allocco inquired if were any legislative bills coming forward to  
address electric vehicles (EV) paying of any road taxes. Mr. Esposito affirmed the  
MPO staff would investigate and report back to the MPO Board.  
· City of Brooksville, Mayor Tanner, asked when the SR 50 Bypass project would be  
completed and if there were impacts to the schedule. Mr. Esposito acknowledged  
the mayor’s request and will provide an update to the MPO Board. [Subsequent to  
the meeting, Mr. Esposito provided the following update: The construction project  
on SR 50 is anticipated to be completed in summer 2025. Weather delays and  
added drainage improvements have impacted the schedule. The project identified a  
drainage issue following significant rainfall events last year that resulted in erosion  
of a newly constructed drainage ditch. The designer revised the plans, adding a  
drainage structure, roadway widening, and curb and gutter. Therefore, additional  
time was added to the project for the added work and fabrication time for the  
drainage structure.]  
· Chair Bays acknowledged and thanked the Florida Department of Transportation  
(FDOT), Florida Turnpike Enterprises (FTE), and MPO staff, the state and local  
partners that attended the meeting, the presence of law enforcement, and the City  
of Brooksville for hosting the 2024 MPO Board meetings.  
ITEM DISTRIBUTED DURING THE MEETING  
Driving Florida’s Future: Economic Trends & Transportation Insights (slides from  
the webinar which was conducted on January 31, 2025)  
UPCOMING MEETING:  
The next regular meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Board is tentatively  
scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2025, but may be cancelled. If not cancelled, it will begin at  
1:30 pm, in the Lecanto Government Building, 3600 W. Sovereign Path, Room 166, Lecanto,  
Florida. Brooksville, Florida.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Motion  
A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was  
seconded by Commissioner Hawkins and carried unanimously.  
Chairman Bays adjourned the meeting at 2:07 p.m.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
ADOPTED  
Steve Champion  
Brian Hawkins  
Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, Jerry Campbell,  
Gene Davis, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Steve Champion, and  
Joe Meek