Hernando/Citrus

Metropolitan Planning Organization

Regular Meeting

Minutes - Final

October 3, 2024

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Campbell called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 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 Commissioner

John Allocco, Hernando County Commissioner

Steve Champion, Hernando County Commissioner

Jeff Kinnard, Citrus County Commissioner

Ruthie Schlabach, Citrus County Commissioner

Christa Tanner, MPO Board Alternate Member, City of Brooksville

Cabot McBride, City of Inverness Councilman

Joe Meek, Mayor, City of Crystal River

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

MEMBERS ABSENT

Beth Narverud, Hernando County Commissioner

Blake Bell, Mayor, City of Brooksville, alternate was available to attend in Mayor Bell's seat

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 County Attorney, Hernando County

William Roll, Project Manager, MPO General Planning Consultant, Kimley-Horn & Associates

Marc Ispass, Deputy Project Manager, MPO General Planning Consultant, Kimley-Horn &

Associates

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 Commissioner Kinnard and the motion passed 8-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Jeff Kinnard

Ruthie Schlabach, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride,

Steve Champion, Christa Tanner, Joe Meek, and Jerry

Campbell

Elizabeth Narverud

ABSENT:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Review and Approval of the September 5, 2024, Meeting Minutes of the

Hernando/Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board

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Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Schlabach to approve the September 5, 2024, meeting

Minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kinnard and the motion passed 8-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ruthie Schlabach

Jeff Kinnard

Ruthie Schlabach, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride,

Steve Champion, Christa Tanner, Joe Meek, and Jerry

Campbell

Elizabeth Narverud

ABSENT:

ACTION ITEMS

Appointment of MPO Board Members as Liaison and Alternate Liaison to the

Sun Coast Transportation Planning Alliance (SCTPA)

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Mr. Esposito explained that the MPO Board’s current Liaison and Alternate Liaison to the Sun

Coast Transportation Planning Alliance (SCTPA) are Commissioner Narverud and

Councilman McBride, respectively. These members will no longer be serving on the MPO

Board at the end of their terms.

The next meeting is December 6, 2024, and the Hernando/Citrus MPO is the designated host

agency for this meeting. The Liaison or Alternate Liaison appointed today will serve as Chair

of the December SCTPA meeting. Noted: Commissioner Kinnard will be the chair of the

December 6, 2024, SCTPA meeting.

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Allocco to approve Commissioner Kinnard as the

Liaison and Commissioner Champion as the Alternate Liaison to the SCTPA. The motion was

seconded by Mayor Meek and passed 8-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

John Allocco

Joe Meek

Ruthie Schlabach, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride,

Steve Champion, Christa Tanner, Joe Meek, and Jerry

Campbell

Elizabeth Narverud

ABSENT:

Appointment of Member to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)

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Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Schlabach to appoint Terri Moore to serve on the

Citizens Advisory Committee as the City of Crystal River citizen representative for a period of

two (2) years (October 3, 2024, through October 2, 2026). The motion was seconded by

Mayor Meek and the motion passed 8-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ruthie Schlabach

Joe Meek

Ruthie Schlabach, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride,

Steve Champion, Christa Tanner, Joe Meek, and Jerry

Campbell

Elizabeth Narverud

ABSENT:

PUBLIC HEARING

Public Hearing on the Adoption of the 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan

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Mr. Esposito introduced William Roll, MPO General Planning Consultant with Kimley-Horn &

Associates. Mr. Roll made a presentation on the draft adoption package for the 2050

Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

Mr. Roll noted two changes relative to the material contained in the emailed agenda packet.

Approximately two years ago, the Federal Highway Administration provided guidance to

proactively include two federal planning factors (#11-Carbon Reduction and #12-Equity) to

minimize the likelihood of amending the LRTP should these planning factors come to fruition.

Based on recent changes at the State level and the fact that these two planning factors are

not in the Code of Federal Regulations, nor a federal requirement, the Carbon Reduction and

Equity federal planning factors were removed from two pages in the LRTP adoption package

that was distributed at the meeting.

In the emailed agenda packet, the Roadway Capacity Improvement-Forecasted Revenues,

Total in Year of Expenditure table (Appendix B1), totals were incorrect (summed revenues

were double counted). This error did not impact any previous versions of the draft LRTP and

a corrected copy of the 2050 LRTP adoption package was distributed at the meeting.

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Champion to adopt the 2050 Long-Range

Transportation Plan (LRTP). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Schlabach and a

Roll-Call vote carried the motion 8-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Ruthie Schlabach

Ruthie Schlabach, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride,

Steve Champion, Christa Tanner, Joe Meek, and Jerry

Campbell

Elizabeth Narverud

ABSENT:

CITIZENS COMMENTS

There were no citizen comments.

MPO DIRECTOR COMMENTS

Mr. Esposito shared the following updates:

· Mr. Esposito and Commissioner Bays met with Ananth Prasad (former Department of

Transportation Secretary) on Monday, September 30, 2024, to discuss strategies to

secure rural arterial money for Hernando and Citrus Counties should funds become

available.

· Urban Areas and Functional Classification Roadways maps have been completed and

provided by FDOT. They are under review by the engineering and planning agencies of

member jurisdictions.

· MPO staff attended a quarterly meeting with Lake-Sumter MPO and Ocala Marion TPO

on September 19, 2024.

· The MPO Board is scheduled to meet on December 5, 2024, and the Hernando/Citrus

MPO is hosting the Sun Coast Transportation Planning Alliance (SCTPA) meeting on

December 6, 2024. However, the Florida Association of Counties will be having the

Legislative Meeting in Tampa December 4 through 6.

BOARD COMMENTS

· Commissioner Allocco asked Commissioner Champion to update the MPO Board on the

Hernando County Commission’s decision to decline approving a Resolution adopting a

Vision Zero Policy as a strategy to achieve the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and

severe injury crashes while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all in

Hernando County. Commissioner Champion shared that Hernando County citizens

expressed concern on the requirement to implement the use of road cameras and

tracking equipment in order to receive grant funds supporting FDOT’s Vision Zero

Policy.

· Mayor Meek introduced the new Crystal River City Manager, Audra Curts.

· Mayor Meek thanked Hernando County and David DeCarlo, Hernando County

Department of Emergency Management Director, for the help, assistance, and

counseling efforts that Crystal River received during Hurricane Helene.

· Commissioner Allocco asked for an update on work being performed on SR50/Cortez

Boulevard in front of the Sand Hill Scout Reservation and SR50/Cortez Boulevard and

Cobb Road to west of Buck Hope Road. Brian Hunter, Florida Department of

Transportation District 7 non-voting advisor, confirmed he would follow-up on SR50 in

front of the Sand Hill Scout Reservation. Additionally he stated there is a supply chain

issue on signalization and lighting; however, SR50/Cortez Boulevard and Cobb Road to

west of Buck Hope Road, is still on schedule for completion early 2025. Commissioner

Champion shared that the lines and road reflectors are difficult to identify when covered

with rainwater on the newer cement intersections at I-75 and SR50/Cortez Boulevard.

Mr. Hunter affirmed he would follow-up and encouraged the Board to send him an email

on any other intersection concerns. Mayor Meek extended a thank you to FDOT for

quickly fixing multiple signalization issues on US19 in Crystal River after Hurricane

Helene.

· The Board extended their thanks and gratitude to departing MPO Board members

Commissioners Schlabach and Narverud, and Councilman McBride.

· Chair Campbell thanked the MPO staff and consultants, 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.

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INFORMATION ITEMS DISTRIBUTED DURING THE MEETING

1. Hernando/Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization Financial Report for

the Quarter Ending June 30, 2024, of the Unified Planning Work Program

(State Fiscal Years 2023 & 2024)

UPCOMING MEETING:

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

Thursday, November 7, 2024, beginning at 1:30 pm, in the Brooksville City Council Chambers,

201 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, Florida. [Subsequent to this meeting, the November 7, 2024,

meeting was cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for December 5, 2024]

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Campbell adjourned the meeting at 3:01 p.m.

Motion

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

seconded by Commissioner Champion and carried unanimously.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

John Allocco

Steve Champion

Ruthie Schlabach, John Allocco, Jeff Kinnard, Cabot McBride,

Steve Champion, Christa Tanner, Joe Meek, and Jerry

Campbell

Elizabeth Narverud

ABSENT: