planhillsborough.org                                                                            issue 9 | april 18
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Planning Commission  
Hillsborough MPO
Hillsborough River Board 
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working together with you
 
APA National Conference to feature Plan Hillsborough speakers

The American Planning Association's 2018 National Planning Conference is the premier planning event of the year. NPC18 will bring together the hottest topics, the latest tools, and the leading voices with something new to say. Thousands of planners, planning commissioners, appointed and elected officials, and students will come together in New Orleans April 21-24 to discuss fresh ideas and innovative planning. We are proud that Plan Hillsborough staff has been invited to make four presentations.

Read more
Thank you to our 2017/18 USF Fellows

Plan Hillsborough continues to support the University of South Florida's Masters in Urban & Regional Planning program through two fellowships each year. By familiarizing emerging planners with community priorities, these talented students contribute their knowledge and skills and are encouraged to remain in Hillsborough County after graduation. This year we've enjoyed working with Dayna Lazarus and Christopher Moorman. Each has contributed so much to our agency working on a wide variety of projects for the Hillsborough MPO and Planning Commission.

Dayna's interests lie in transportation and public engagement. (Yes, she really did dress up as a very approachable traffic signal on Halloween.) She said, "Over the course of eight months, I interacted with hundreds of Hillsborough County residents, passing along information about Vision Zero principles and learning about their transportation needs. I am incredibly grateful for my time here surrounded by so many experienced, thoughtful, and passionate planners!"

Chris expanded on his multidisciplinary skill set, working on many studies and reports. He said, " From this experience, I have  gained knowledge in drafting Land Development Code language, GIS applications, rezoning, corridor redevelopment, urban growth management, and much more. I hope to take this new knowledge and apply it to my professional planning career. I would like to thank everyone on  the Plan Hillsborough staff for  not only challenging me, but also making my time here one of the most rewarding experiences  of my life." 

Thank you, Dayna and Chris, for your many contributions. We are certain you both will have bright futures as planners!
 
land use &
comprehensive planning 
tpc
 
Parklet Guidelines: creating big impacts with small open spaces

Planning Commission staff has been assisting  the Tampa Downtown Partnership, the Channel District Community Alliance, and the Ybor City Development Corporation  to develop guidelines for a  parklet and parklet café  program. The  Parklet Guidelines for the City of Tampa  are intended to guide applicants through the process   and procedures for applying for a parklet  or parklet  café along approved rights of way . These unique public spaces allow pedestrians to break from the flow of foot traffic to enjoy neighborhood street life. In addition to more open space, parklets and parklet cafés provide additional outdoor seating for the patrons of adjacent businesses; provide a unique environment for relaxation and social interaction; promote and increase economic activity; and encourage additional pedestrian traffic.

View draft parklet guidelines
Check out our Library

For over 50 years, the Planning Commission has maintained an extensive Library and archives on the history and development of Hillsborough County. As a partner with the public library system, the Planning Commission allows much of its material to circulate to citizens with a valid library card. Beginning in 2016, the Planning Commission library added a pocket, or mini library, to its collection. The pocket library consists of over 100 popular fiction and non-fiction titles available for all county employees. Employees and visitors at County Center can visit the library from 9 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday and check out a diverse selection of best-sellers and hot, new releases. For those of you who just want to get away, the Planning Commission library also maintains subscriptions to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal along with a host of other magazines. Come visit your Planning Commission library to read, to relax, or simply for some quiet time.

Visit our Library
FLiP 2018 logo
Application deadline for FLiP 2018 is April 18!

Designed as an opportunity for high school students to explore urban planning as a potential career, Future Leaders in Planning (FLiP) offers a broad exposure to planning from public and private sector perspectives across many fields. In its second year, the annual FLiP  program expanded from nine to eighteen students and from a two-day to a three-day intensive program. In our third year, we're excited to announce FLiP will accept up to 21 students for a four-day program! This FREE program will run May 29, May 30, May 31, and June 1, 2018 from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm and includes meals, snacks, a FLiP T-shirt, and more! Applications must be accompanied by a recommendation and are due by April 18, 2018.  

More information and applications


 
transportation connections 
& planning
mpo
 
Join us for the Grow Tampa Bay Conference!
Join us April 23 for a Vision Zero Campaign on 56th Street!

Did you know 56th Street has one of the highest rates of severe crashes in Hillsborough County? You can make a difference by joining us on April 23 from 3pm - 5pm to place yard signs along 56th Street with messages to:
Pay Attention | Slow Down | Put Phones Away

This important event will highlight lives lost or permanently changed due to severe traffic crashes. Volunteers will choose from three base locations and walk up to one mile. Water bottles, signs and other materials to be placed along the corridor will be provided. Please dress comfortably and wear sunscreen.
The first 100 volunteers will receive a Vision Zero T-shirt. (BYO red capes optional.)

Sign up to volunteer today!
Transportation public engagement is alive and well!

At the April board meeting, the MPO reviewed its public engagement activities for the two years of 2016 and 2017.  During this time, the MPO staff:
  • Held or participated in 225 meetings and events, nearly a quarter of which were in Environmental Justice areas. Cumulative attendance at the meetings was greater than 24,000!
  • Also held 172 public meetings of MPO committees and board, at which 440 comments were received.
  • Received 450 emails and letters, had around 3,000 Facebook interactions, and increased Twitter followers to more than 6,000.
  • Made changes based on public feedback and published 36 plans, studies, and reports.
  • Created a Spanish-language page on the website, where major documents are posted in Spanish.
  • Upgraded the online mapping tool that shows the location of transportation projects to be funded in the next five years, making it easier to get information.
Recommendations for further improvement include: making more use of technology to receive feedback, creating more live-stream opportunities at public meetings, and many other ideas. You can also check out a recent update for communities protected under the Executive Order for Environmental Justice.   

Read the full Measures of Effectiveness Report


 
hillsborough river planning
hrb
 
April is water conservation month

April is historically one of the driest months in Florida.  With little rainfall, surface water supplies are not as readily replenished and demand is high as people are watering their lawns more. The Hillsborough River is a source of water supply. Tampa withdraws and treats water from the river and then distributes this water to city residents for potable use. If we all do our part, small savings by many people can mean big water conservation for Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River itself.

Read more 
Have a voice in your future drinking water choice

The Hillsborough River is one of the many sources for water supply in our region. Robust and diversified water supply sources help to reduce dependence on any one source, including t he  river.  Tampa Bay's population growth by 2030  is expected to increase  demand for drinking water beyond the current supply.  Tampa Bay Water needs your thoughts and feedback to plan for our region's water supply.   Public input and involvement are essential to the planning process. You  can  take  a   survey,  register to  participate in a telephone town hall, and learn more at   futurewater.org .


 
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what is plan hillsborough?

Plan Hillsborough provides value-added planning services through a diverse team of professionals working towards a thriving future for Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and Hillsborough County, and provides staff to the:

Promotes, coordinates, collaborates with, and facilitates the involvement of all people in comprehensive planning and visioning to improve economic development opportunities and quality of life in our community
A long-range transportation policy-making board made up of local government and transportation agency representatives planning for more than $1.5 billion
in state and federally funded multi-modal transportation investments in the first 5 years of each 20+ year plan
Responsible for promoting collaborative planning, regulation, and development along the river corridor while ensuring the environmental health of the river running through Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace



In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other
nondiscrimination laws, public participation is solicited without regard
to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. 
Read more about our commitment to non-discrimination and other requirements.

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