CFRPC February 2018 Meeting Highlights

Highlights from the February 14, 2018 CFRPC Council Meeting

FPL opened the final phase of DeSoto County’s solar plant north of Arcadia, expanding the solar farm to a total of 750,000 solar panels.
The newly constructed Mosaic Rodeo Arena will be open for the Arcadia Rodeo beginning March 8 and will seat up to 8,000.

Norman White, Council Attorney, provided information on Florida’s Government in the Sunshine laws, rules and regulations which govern Council Members and their communications.
View: A “Sunshine” Reminder for Members of the Regional Planning Councils

Staff recommends that the six-county Transportation Disadvantaged Designated Offical Planning Agency responsibilities be transferred to the Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) per Chapter 427, F.S. and Rule 41-2.009 F.A.C.
MOTION: To accept Resolution 2018-2A supporting the transfer of the Transporation Disadvantage planning services for DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee to the Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) as of July 1, 2018, carried unanimously.

The HRTPO has prepared a draft Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) which outlines the tasks and work responsibilities to be carried out over the next two years, along with a budget for each work product.
The mandatory certification evaluation was completed by FDOT last month which will be presented to the HRTPO Board at their meeting on February 21, 2018. No new recommendations or corrective actions were identified.
Proposed transportation projects were submitted by the HRTPO local governments in January. Staff reviews each application and then transmits them to FDOT.

The Emergency Management Contract is reoccurring funding from the US Department of Transportation administered through the Florida Division of Emergency Management for Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness. This is an annual contract supporting hazardous materials emergency preparedness.
MOTION: To authorized the Chair to execute the Emergency Management Contract as presented and to authorize the Executive Director to administer the contract carried unanimously.

Integrating tiny homes into communities is a fast-growing planning issue. An overview of the emerging trend of “tiny homes” was provided, including how at least one jurisdiction in the region and several in the country are addressing the trend. View the presentation.

The Council was awarded a grant from the Economic Development Administration to fund a position for a Post Disaster Recovery Coordinator for two years to identify and address key regional issues related to disruptions in its economy related to storms that create a loss of infrastructure and housing, prevents business from operating and destroys agriculture.
Two post-disaster workshops were held on February 15, 2018. At these workshops, representatives from US Economic Development Administration, US Department of Agriculture, along with other Federal agencies; the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the SBDA, and other Florida agencies, joined the CFRPC staff and several other local economic development agencies, counties and cities in discussing recovery funding and strategies after Hurricane Irma and best practices for being more resilient to future disruptions to the Central Florida economy. View the presentation.

The next meeting of the CFRPC will be at 9:30 am on April 11, 2018, in Wauchula in the Hardee County Health Department.

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