Community Investment Tax FY 11 Report CIT Projects Cover the County Over the past fourteen years, the Community Investment Tax has generated $1.3 billion to fund a wide range of improvements that will greatly benefit our community. The tax funds are being used for capital improvement projects throughout Hillsborough County, including the City of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace in the following areas: education, public safety, transportation, water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater, community stadiums, parks, libraries, museums, and government facilities. The Community Investment Tax is a half-penny sales tax approved by voters in September 1996. Twenty five percent of the revenue collected from this tax is designated for the construction of new public school facilities. NOTE: The projects and their costs and status in this report are as of September 30, 2011. Hillsborough County Since its inception in 1997 through September 30, 2011, Hillsborough County has appropriated $1.1 billion for Community Investment Tax-funded projects. Unincorporated Hillsborough County projects funded and planned through 2015 include approximately $31.5 million in water/wastewater and reclaimed water projects to meet the needs of our growing community and $46.7 million in stormwater projects to alleviate flooding in the county. In addition, your Board of County Commissioners has committed $33.5 million to build, improve and equip fire stations; $230.1 million in public safety including court improvements and jails; $7.7 million in new social and aging service centers; provided $92.5 million in parks improvements; $82.2 million in government facilities including animal services; and $18.1 million in children services and libraries. The County Commission also has made a commitment of approximately $575.9 million to improve the County transportation program including bridges, intersections, sidewalks, and road improvements projects. City of Tampa The City of Tampa has appropriated $214.4 million of Community Investment Tax dollars since its beginning in 1997 of which $7.7 million was appropriated in fiscal year 2011. Additionally, the City has identified $14.0 million in projects in FY12. Community Investment Tax funds are dedicated to public safety, parks and recreation, stormwater, public works, vehicle and equipment replacement/upgrades, and capital improvement projects. This funding allows for the continuation of programs initiated in previous years including fire station roof and flooring replacement and painting; installation of rubberized play surfaces; playground units; renovations to aquatic facilities and community centers; athletic court and field repair/installation; fencing, bollards and gates; and the city-wide vehicle replacement program. In fiscal year 2011, the Investing in Neighborhoods program totaled $10.0 million, of which $3.1 million was comprised of Community Investment Tax funded projects including: Street Resurfacing, $1,200,000 Sidewalk Repair and Installation, $1,920,000 In December 2006, Community Investment Tax revenue bonds were issued for $17 million for the acquisition of land, construction, and equipping of parks and recreation projects. Some of the projects that have been completed include: Construction of the New Tampa Community Park and Recreation Center and Skate Park Installation of lighting at the Wellswood Ballfield Upgrade and Improvements of the Seminole Garden Center Construction of MacFarlane Park’s Freedom Playground Development of Cotanchobee/Ft. Brooke Park and Heroes Plaza Renovation of Cyrus Greene Pool Ballast Point Boat Ramp Improvements Construction of Springhill Park Community Center Restoration of the Bayshore Balustrade City of Plant City The City of Plant City has previously utilized Community Investment Tax (CIT) funds on the Nettie Berry Draughon Municipal Building (City Hall); Michael S. Sparkman Police Center, Motor Garage and General Services building; West Plant City Boys & Girls Club; Plant City Family YMCA; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center improvements; John R. Trinkle Multi-Purpose Facility interior enhancements at the Hillsborough Community College Plant City Campus; Samuel W. Cooper Park and drainage project; Plant City Tennis Center; and Alexander Street, Woodrow Wilson Street, and Wheeler Street railroad crossing replacements. The funds have also been used for Mike E. Sansone Community Park improvements including new basketball courts, maintenance building, nature trail resurfacing, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades at the Walden Field youth baseball and softball fields; Roseland Park neighborhood drainage project; Azalea Street, Concord Way, Creek Way Court, Kipling Court, Mobley Street and Silvermoon Drive sinkhole repairs; Facilities Maintenance building expansion; Fuel Filling System replacement; Stormwater and Traffic Division warehouse; Plant City Fire Rescue Quint Fire Engine; Courier Field enhancements; Ellis-Methvin Park construction; Parks Division maintenance building; and various other recreation and playground facilities. Among current CIT projects are ADA and neighborhood park improvements; street resurfacing; and railroad crossing replacements. Future CIT improvements include: Ellis-Methvin Park landscaping; Mike E. Sansone Community Park restroom facilities; Tennis courts resurfacing; Cherry Street traffic calming; Mendonsa Road reconstruction and Pinedale Subdivision drainage improvements; and additional street resurfacing projects. City of Temple Terrace The Community Investment Tax (CIT) has funded over $14.2 million in projects that have directly benefited the citizens of Temple Terrace. Public safety vehicles have been purchased for the City's police and fire departments that provide equipment for response to citizen requests. The Police Department has purchased 63 fully-equipped patrol vehicles utilizing CIT funds, including several vehicles upgraded with AED (automated external defibrillator) devices and video cameras. In order to provide a timely response to emergency calls, the Fire Department has added to its fleet and equipped several vehicles, including three fully-equipped ambulances; a brush truck used to contain trash and off-road fires; a 75- foot aerial ladder truck with paramedic equipment; two fire engines; and five administrative vehicles. CIT monies have funded several building improvements in the City of Temple Terrace, including a 20,000-square-foot library expansion and renovation, substantial improvements to both Fire Stations, improvements to the Emergency Operations Center at Fire Station #1, security cameras for the Police Department, and improvements to City Hall, including customer service, housing, and code compliance relocation. The City purchased an open architecture digital City-wide radio system to improve equipment reliability, communications, and adequate dispatch capabilities for Public Safety and other departments during emergencies. Parks and Recreation facilities in Temple Terrace have also benefited from CIT funds. Approximately 7 acres of land has been purchased for park development in Riverhills area, coupled with a State grant. Improvements to park facilities are on-going, including renovation of concession facilities. Renovations to the Omar K. Lightfoot Recreation Center, coupled with a CDBG grant of $476,644, enhanced the home of the City's popular senior program. Riverside Park improvements, which include the Angel of Hope Memorial, significantly improved the area with the assistance of a State grant of $199,440. Recognizing the need to protect a precious natural resource that flows through the City -- the Hillsborough River, the Parks and Recreation Department has also completed improvements related to the environmental land acquisition and protection program (ELAPP). Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) The Community Investment Tax is fully or partially funding several important HART projects that will improve transit service throughout Hillsborough County: MetroRapid North-South is in the final design phase and HART is scheduled to break ground for construction in late FY 2012. The project is scheduled to be completed in mid FY 2013. MetroRapid North-South extends 17.5 miles to connect the Fletcher/I-75 Business Parks, USF area, and downtown Tampa, mainly along Fletcher and Nebraska Avenues, a corridor with increasing ridership trends. Stations along this route will include enhanced passenger amenities and ticket vending machines at large stops. Higher frequency of service and transit signal prioritization (TSP) that holds green lights longer as a MetroRapid bus approaches will provide travel-time savings for riders and improve the reliability of the system. The cost for MetroRapid, including design, construction, and implementation of TSP, is $31 million. Project Development and Environmental studies are underway for the MetroRapid East-West, which will connect Tampa International Airport, the Westshore Business District, the HART Netpark bus transfer center at Hillsborough Avenue, 56th Street, and the Temple Terrace City Hall facilities, with connections to MetroRapid North-South at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Hillsborough Avenue. The design for this project is $3 million and HART will need to secure additional funding for construction, operations, and maintenance of the system. A committee of government and partner agencies has formed for the development of Transit Signal Priority and determined the use of Opticom GPS technology. The agency