Downtown Tampa Transportation Vision Appendices August 1, 2006 Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization County Center, 18th Floor Tampa, Florida 33602 813-272-5940 www.hillsboroughmpo.org Appendix A Exhibit A.1 Public Involvement Plan Downtown Tampa Transportation Vision Public Involvement Plan January 24, 2005 The techniques and strategies outlined in this document describe the public participation activities designed to inform and exchange knowledge with the public during the Downtown Tampa Vision process. These activities will be coordinated with, and conducted with aid from, the key local agencies and organizations that comprise the Project Team: City of Tampa, Florida Department of Transportation, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization, Tampa Downtown Partnership, and Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority. “Communication GOALS of information regarding the The public outreach effort is designed to accomplish three goals: range of choices for the future, the role that Goal 1: Inform, educate and accurately reflect the wishes of the transportation public’s desire for improved mobility. improvements can play in Goal 2: Develop consent among the public and project sponsor securing that agencies and organizations for Downtown Tampa’s future to the Transportation Vision. public, agencies, constituencies Goal 3: Maintain accountability and credibility of the Transportation and affected communities and Vision sponsor agencies and organizations. allowing for multiple avenues of public PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT TECHNIQUES feedback are the foundation on The following public involvement/information exchange techniques will be which the goals employed to support and achieve the project public involvement goals. and objectives of the MPO are built.” Facilitated Public Workshop: -MPO Long Range The purpose of the public workshop will be to: Transportation Plan’s Public Involvement Plan 1) Present the elements of the vision statement and guiding principles for review – to reveal any key points that were previously overlooked; 2) Facilitate public response to a Transportation Vision in a structured environment that reveals attitudes and preferences with regard to travel within downtown; and 3) Develop concepts, projects and/or strategies favored by downtown employees, residents, and visitors (including ADA communities) that further the goals of the transportation vision. - 1 - Downtown Tampa Transportation Vision Public Involvement Plan January 24, 2005 Facilitated Public Workshop (continued): The public workshop will walk participants through a structured exercise that ultimately reveals their desires for improved mobility. This is accomplished by providing a framework and tools for which participants can, in great detail, provide input on issues, opportunities and priorities. To capture a greater number of attendees/ input, an open house will be available approximately one hour before and one hour after the scheduled workshop. Attendees during the open house period will have time to review project elements, ask questions and provide project feedback. The project and stakeholder teams will develop a vision statement and guiding principles and a draft concept vision and implementation strategies using the results from the public workshop/mini-charrette. Transportation Vision Open House (Presentation of Final Products) The open house will consist of presenting the final vision and project products that outline opportunities, challenges, recommendations, projects and actions steps. Preparing and delivering a formal presentation open to all members of the community will begin the implementation process. Communities of Interest-Targeted Activities Some neighborhoods, organizations, or demographic-specific communities, may require targeted public involvement activities. Such activities may include presentations, project information displays/ information centers, specially designed surveys, and/or interviews. An assessment of which communities may require additional outreach will be conducted after the facilitated public workshop/mini-charrette. Communication Network Creative communication channels will be used to inform and educate the public of events and progress of the Transportation Vision. Electronic outlets, such as web sites and e-mail subscriptions, will be used as well as non-electronic outlets, such as neighborhood newsletters. The communication resources of the project team agencies and organizations will be utilized to create public awareness of the visioning process. Surveys Surveys will be developed to gather the public’s perceptions, preferences, and priorities. They will be designed to solicit desired input in a creative, but quick, manner. Fact Sheets One-page fact sheets will be used to reference the vision tasks, sponsors, and contacts to obtain additional information, as well as feature answers to commonly asked questions. - 2 - Downtown Tampa Transportation Vision Public Involvement Plan January 24, 2005 Community Newspaper/Radio/Cable TV Interviews Local newspaper, radio and cable TV interviews will be conducted to inform and educate the public about the Transportation Vision’s purpose, objectives and opportunities in order to receive feedback. Press releases will also be developed and issued to advertise key events in the vision process. Speakers Bureau A speakers bureau will be formed consisting of project sponsor agency and organization staff members available to present information to civic groups, professional organizations, neighborhood associations, and other groups about the transportation visioning process. Members of the speakers bureau will educate and listen to participants, answer questions, and seek continued participation. The availability of speakers shall be marketed to interested groups, as well as advertised in outreach publications. Comment Database A comment database will be maintained during the visioning process. Key themes, issues and opportunities will be summarized. Comments will be available at the facilitated public workshop(s) for the public to review. MEASURING SUCCESS The success of the public involvement activities will be measured by the public’s perception of the project, process and opportunities for engagement. In addition, public workshop turnout, percent of surveys returned, media coverage and overall impressions from project sponsors will be documented. - 3 - Downtown Tampa Transportation Vision Public Involvement Plan January 24, 2005 IDENTIFICATION OF STAKEHOLDERS Communities: x Neighborhood Associations In and Adjacent to the Study Area x Places of Worship within the Study Area Project Team Organizations: x Florida Department of Transportation o Staff o Customer Interaction Areas x Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) o Board o Committees o Staff o Customer Interaction Areas x Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization o Board o Committees o Staff x Tampa Downtown Partnership o Members o Ambassador Program x Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority o Board o Staff o Commuters (Toll-booths) x City of Tampa o Departments o Customer Interaction Areas Stakeholders Organizations and Their Constituents: (organizations not represented on the Project Team) x Central City Development Corporation x Creative Tampa Bay x Cruise Operators x Emerge Tampa Bay x General Services Administration - Public Building Service x Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce x Hillsborough County Chamber of Commerce x Florida Aquarium x Florida High Speed Rail Authority x Merchants Association of Florida x Performing Arts Center x Seminole Tribe of Florida x Seven-One-Seven Parking Service/Other Parking Operators x Southwest Florida Water Management District - 4 - Downtown Tampa Transportation Vision Public Involvement Plan January 24, 2005 x Stetson University x Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau x Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center x Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council x Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. x Tampa Housing Authority x Tampa Museum of Art x Tampa Port Authority x University of Tampa x University of Southern Florida x Urban League x Other Learning Centers x Ybor City Chamber of Commerce x Ybor City Development Corporation x YMCA x (Organizations Providing Services To Persons With Disabilities) x (Hotel and Restaurant Groups) x (Utilities) x Hillsborough County o Public Works Department o Parks and Recreation Department o Planning and Growth Management o Facilities Management Division o Public Safety o Arts Council - 5 - Downtown Tampa Transportation Vision Public Involvement Plan January 24, 2005 The following elected and appointed officials and local public interest groups or organizations having a direct or expressed interest in the project study have been identified and will be contacted by the Consultant Team (Appendix B lists public officials names and addresses): Elected/Appointed Officials: City of Tampa The Honorable Pam Iorio Mayor Council Member Gwen Miller District 1 Council Member Rose V. Ferlita District 2 Council Member Linda Saul-Sena District 3 Council Member John Dingfelder District 4 Council Member Kevin White District 5 Council Member Mary C. Alvarez District 6 Council Member Shawn Harrison District 7 Hillsborough County Commissioner Kathy Castor District 1 Commissioner Ken Hagen District 2 Commissioner Thomas Scott District 3 Commissioner Ronda Storms District 4 Commissioner Jim Norman District 5 Commissioner Brian Blair District 6 Commissioner Mark Sharpe District 7