CFRPC April 2018 Meeting Highlights

Highlights from the April 11, 2018 CFRPC Council Meeting

Lex Albritton, Hardee County Administrator, highlighted a number of improvements to the county including new housing options, a new fire station, an economic development project that provides fresh vegetables to the community, roadway and water improvements, and the opening of the newly constructed hospital in Wauchula.

The CFRPC has received a supplemental allocation of $400,000 from the Federal Transit Administration for the Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) coordinated system which will provide services to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
MOTION: To accept Resolution 2018-3A granting authority for the Executive Director to receive and administer the supplemental 5310 funds, carried unanimously.

- An update on the Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) program Designated Official Planning Agency (DOPA) responsibilities was provided. The Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization will become the designated planning agency for the TD program for DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties on July 1, 2018. A request to form a 4-County Service Area and Local Coordinating Board for DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee will be considered by Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged in May.

Staff continues its work on the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), which is a document that outlines all HRTPO activities and budget for the next two years. It is scheduled for adoption by the HRTPO Board on April 18, 2018.
The 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) which was adopted in 2016 is currently in the process of being amended to include all the work completed since its original adoption.
The Mobility Advisory Committee is being reconvened to work with FDOT and the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) on the Heartland Rural Mobility Plan (HRMP) update. The committee is scheduled to meet on April 18, 2018.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) Competitive Florida Partnership Grants and Community Planning Technical Assistance Grants were discussed. For information or assistance with grant preparation for DEO Technical Assistance Grants or Competitive Florida Grants, Ms. Codo-Salisbury can be reached at jcodosalisbury@cfrpc.org. View the presentation.

CliftonLarsenAllen has prepared terms of engagement for audit services for the FY 2017-18 CFRPC audit of financial statements of governmental activities.
MOTION: To approve the Audit Engagement Letter as presented carried unanimously.

Housing is an increasing concern in the region in both urban and rural areas. Demographics including median ages, median home values, and median household incomes for each of the five counties as well as for the State were presented. View the presentation.
Council members discussed and shared their local experiences and concerns regarding housing availability and affordability and how it affects the region’s employers and workforce.

The next meeting of the CFRPC will be at 9:30 am on June 13, 2018, in Lake Wales at Warner University.

View the Council Meeting Documents page for Agendas, Minutes, Presentations and upcoming meeting information.