Highlights from the August 14, 2019 CFRPC Council Meeting
Highlands County Activities Reports
Randy Vosburg, Highlands County Administrator shared an update of County activities and projects including efforts to ensure their website is ADA compliant, a new Homeless Coalition, and the transition from total volunteer firefighter program to a combination of volunteer and paid firefighters. Upcoming economic development projects include an incoming international plastics recycling company, a grant has been awarded to the City of Avon Park to extend water and wastewater lines to the north, and the new $240 million Nucor Steel Florida facility in Frostproof is expected to create 250 new jobs for the area at an average annual wage of $66,000.
Finance Committee Recommendations
- MOTION: To approve the June 2019 Financial Report as presented carried unanimously.
Post Disaster Recovery Update
Curtis Knowles, CFRPC staff, provided an update on Post Disaster Recovery efforts following Hurricane Irma in 2017, including current damage assessments and identification of ongoing issues. He reported on the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 and its provisions, as well as the long-term recovery groups created for Highlands and Polk Counties which were identified as Tier II Impacted counties. View the Presentation
Heartland 2060 Summits and Community Engagement
An update of the population and economic forecasts for the regional vision known as Heartland 2060, Building a Resilient Region is underway and plans for two Heartland 2060 Summits are scheduled for this Fall. The first summit will be held on September 20, 2019, in Polk County at the Polk State College Center for Public Safety Campus in Winter Haven. The second is planned for November 13 in Highlands County at the Lake Placid Town Hall.
FY 19/20 Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant and Competitive Florida Partnership Awards
The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has awarded 19 grants statewide totaling approximately $750,000, which is less than half the funds awarded in previous years. Seven of the 19 local governments receiving these grants are located in the Florida Panhandle due to impacts from Hurricane Michael. Pat Steed, CFRPC Executive Director, reviewed the grants that were awarded within the region, including two Technical Assistance Grants. One grant was awarded to the CFRPC to conduct a second phase of the Heartland 2060 Update. The other was to the City of Frostproof to study how best to expand the City’s sewage treatment plant and effluent disposal capacity. The cities of Ft. Meade and Okeechobee were granted Competitive Florida Partnership grants.
Resolution 2019-8A
- MOTION: To adopt Resolution 2019-8A authorizing the Executive Director to sign and administer the Community Planning Technical Assistance grant as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
Resolution 2019-8B
FDOT has proposed a new Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) for Federal 5311 funds awarded to the CFRPC for DeSoto Arcadia Regional Transit (DART) operations associated with the provision of public transportation services in DeSoto County. The funds will be used by the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) to operate the DART Circulator bus in DeSoto County.
- MOTION: To adopt Resolution 2019-8B authorizing the Council to enter into a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and to authorize the Executive Director to sign and administer the Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA). The motion carried unanimously.
Update on the Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO)
Marybeth Soderstrom, CFRPC staff, briefed the Council on current activities of the HRTPO. The HRTPO Board is scheduled to meet on September 18, 2019, in Sebring where staff will be presenting the biannual Transportation Trends Report for 2019 and discussing the Heartland 2060 Initiative integrating into the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Update for 2045.
Update on Multi-Use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (M-CORES)
The Southwest-Central Florida Connector is proposed through the Heartland, impacting all CFRPC counties except Okeechobee. The task force has been appointed with 45 members from State Agencies and Commissions, environmental groups, and local government officials across the Heartland. Ms. Steed presented a list of representatives from the region serving on the Southwest-Central Florida Connector Task Force. View the Presentation
Executive Director’s Report
- Pat Steed, CFRPC Executive Director, presented FRCA Activity Report for July.
- Ms. Steed noted that CFRPC staff participates in the United Way Campaign each year. This year’s total contributions exceeded last year’s figures, and she is pleased to once again report 100% of staff participated in the campaign with a contribution to United Way.
CFRPC Recognized with 2 National Awards
The CFRPC has been selected as a 2019 NADO Impact Awards recipient. NADO promotes regional strategies, partnerships and solutions to strengthen the economic competitiveness and quality of life across America’s local communities.
CFRPC Recognized as Employer of Distinction
The CFRPC has been recognized by CareerSource Polk as an Employer of Distinction. The award highlights employers who exemplify best practices in their workplace and who are committed to improving the quality of life for their employees and have won the Best Places to Work Award for three consecutive years.
The next meeting of the CFRPC will be at 9:30 am on October 9, 2019 at the Okeechobee County Courthouse in the City of Okeechobee.