FLORIDA PLANNING
[APA FLORIDA] KEY CONTACTS - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Name
APA Florida Executive Committee
President Whit Blanton, FAICP
Immediate Past President Wiatt Bowers, AICP
President-Elect Allara Mills Gutcher, AICP
Professional Development Henry Bittaker, FAICP
VP Continuing Education Lara Bouck, AICP, PE
VP Membership/Outreach Ennis Davis, AICP
San Felasco Section Gerry Dedenbach, AICP
Gold Coast Section Fabian De La Espriella, AICP
First Coast Section Casey Dendor, AICP
Capital Area Section Kwentin Eastberg, AICP
Phone E-mail
727-464-8712 president@floridaplanning.org
904-363-8488 pastpresident@floridaplanning.org fx
850-319-9180 presidentelect@floridaplanning.org
561-523-0687 profdevelopment@floridaplanning.org
407-481-5672 certmaintenance@floridaplanning.org
904-396-5727 membership@floridaplanning.org f
386-518-5120 sanfelasco@floridaplanning.org
786-245-5202 goldcoast@floridaplanning.org
352-408-6881 firstcoast@floridaplanning.org
561-436-4843 capitalarea@floridaplanning.org
VP Communications Amy Elmore, AICP 813-273-3774 communications@floridaplanning.org
Treasure Coast Section Scott Evans, AICP
University Liaison Van Linkous, Ph.D., AICP
VP Conference Services Eddie Ng, AICP
727-462-2518 treasurecoast@floridaplanning.org
863-271-6154 university@floridaplanning.org
401-524-3263 conferencesvcs@floridaplanning.org
VP Section Affairs Ali Palmer 850-553-3528 sectionaffairs@floridaplanning.org
Atlantic Coast Section Brad Parrish, AICP
321-567-3776 atlanticcoast@floridaplanning.org
Secretary Jill Quigley, AICP 954-641-5680 secretary@floridaplanning.org
Sun Coast Section Nousheen Rahman, AICP 703-981-7215 suncoast@floridaplanning.org
Orlando Metro Section Roxann Read, AICP, CMA, FRA RA
Treasurer John Roach, AICP
EPG Representative Jarrell Smith
Promised Lands Section Laura Tefft, AICP
Emerald Coast Section Melissa Ward, AICP
Heart of Florida Section Julie Womble
Broward Section Hing Wong, FAICP
407-245-0300 orlandometro@floridaplanning.org
561-822-1448 treasurer@floridaplanning.org
407-839-4006 epg@floridaplanning.org af
239-462-3452 promisedlands@floridaplanning.org
850-499-3735 emeraldcoast@floridaplanning.org
863-860-5105 heartoffl@floridaplanning.org
925-549-2000 broward@floridaplanning.org
Student Representative Jared Hoehing Milllie Rivera (non-voting) students@floridaplanning.org
Executive Director Stefanie Svisco
Ad. Assistant/Bookkeeper Suzie Gray
Communications Manager Patti Shea
Legislative Representative Lester Abberger
Communications Intern Julia Sveen
Graphic Design (Consultant) Summer Taylor
850-201-3272 ssvisco@floridaplanning.org
850-201-3272 sgray@floridaplanning.org
850-201-3272 pshea@floridaplanning.org
850-524-2779 lesterabberger@gmail.com
850-201-3272 intern@floridaplanning.org
727-452-2416 summer@exaktmarketing.com
All other inquiries, contact APA Florida at 850-201-3272 or e-mail contact@floridaplanning.org
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
INVESTING IN INCLUSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PARTNERSHIP
Peak hurricane season is our annual reminder that Floridians are extremely vulnerable to tropical storms, no matter their category. Whether from storm surge, high winds, or inland flooding, people living in much of the state face risks from even a tropical storm that grazes along our coastline. In addition to the named storms, long-time Floridians can recall at least one “no-name storm” that caused extensive damage and even loss of life. Often, the difference in who survives in relatively good shape and who suffers is determined by wealth, race, ethnicity, education, and housing status.
Well thought-out infrastructure plays a major role in keeping people safe and in harnessing nature’s energy while managing its potential adverse effects. This is critical as climate change results in more volatile conditions and rising hazards that encroach into areas once thought to be relatively safe. Beyond those basics, good infrastructure builds a robust, sustainable economy with opportunity for all. It affords access to everyone, meeting the needs of people of all incomes, abilities, and geographic locations, and helping to lower household and user costs in the long term, even if there’s an upfront cost impact. That’s a critical responsibility and balancing act for planners. We can develop plans, establish priorities, and obtain funding commitments for projects that will deliver expected outcomes, but doing so effectively requires the support and commitment of a broad spectrum of the users, professionals across different fields, and elected officials beyond the election cycle.
I’ve been thinking a lot about infrastructure as Florida continues its rapid growth. U.S. News recently ranked each of the 50 states across a spectrum of issues like the economy, crime and corrections, education, infrastructure, and opportunity. Florida notably ranked 1st in the country for its low tax, high growth, diverse economy and for education, but ranked a middling 20th for infrastructure, and a disappointing 45th for opportunity. U.S. News considers transportation, internet access, and energy as its infrastructure measures. Opportunity consists of economic opportunity, equality, and affordability. Of course, these measures are all interrelated; crime and corrections tie directly to economic opportunity, affordability, equality, and the economy.
It’s OK to quibble with these kinds of rankings. No matter how strong the methodology, there are often generalizations and omissions that make them imperfect. But they can tell a story about a state’s priorities. Here in Florida, for instance, the state received a lot of attention for rejecting federal Carbon Reduction Program funding and the planning requirements that go with it because of “federal overreach.” The state also recently passed laws and adopted new policies making it more difficult to carry out certain public transportation projects, creating more barriers to identifying and advancing locally-defined solutions to mobility, access, and economic opportunity. Limits on electric vehicle charging requirements at the local level, restrictions on transit spending, changing FDOT’s mission from providing travel choices to improving efficient mobility, etc. all speak to the policy priorities of those in office.
Ultimately, infrastructure is a regional and local decision, with the private sector, state, and federal governments as partners. In the era of growth management, the State of Florida had a lot more authority over capital improvement plans associated with growing communities and exactions from private development interests were more consistently applied to the cost of needed infrastructure. This isn’t that era anymore. Limits on regional and local authority potentially undermine inclusive (meaning strong federal/state/regional/local partnerships), efficient, data-driven investment decisions. There remains a critical role of planners and the planning profession to link housing affordability, economic opportunity, travel choices, sustainability, and economic growth to infrastructure plans that address current needs, gaps, disparities, and within an inclusive vision for the future of each community, region, and our state.
Whit Blanton FAICP
APA Florida President
We asked APA Florida members, What should planners/cities/the state be talking about in infrastructure but are not? Here are some of the responses we received.
TRANSIT OPTIONS & AFFORDABILITY
With all the attention on affordable housing, there is not a good complement of affordable and workforce mobility. According to AAA, the annual cost of car ownership is now over $12,000, though Florida is likely higher due to the nation’s highest auto insurance costs. While it’s true that alternatives to auto travel in Florida suffer from lack of premium transit service, planners should be on the forefront of solutions. APA Florida could provide a powerful platform for exploring strategies that include: (1) the role of electric bikes for commuting and school trips, (2) similarly, a focus on expanding Complete Streets 1+ miles around rail and high frequency bus to take advantage of e-scooters, (3) strategies that allow a 2-car households to become a single vehicle household, (4) incentives for amenity car-share (such as Envoy in Miami), (5) land use interventions for adding daycare, grocery stores, health clinics, community centers, and other daily needs (aka 15 minute cities or solving for short trips). These solutions would not only be beneficial for low-income communities, but would extend to schools, urbanizing suburbs, and active seniors. – Lisa Nisenson
SCHOOLS
Just take a peek at the residential growth in Palm Bay. How does the school district keep up with this? How do they pay for it? Impact fees and surtaxes don’t cover the costs. And, what about operations? More students. More staff needed. There’s a teacher shortage, but the need is here! – Althea Jefferson, AICP
ENFORCE URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARIES TO PROTECT RURAL AREAS
Bring back the urban service boundary “enforcement” - we are losing our rural lands at a depressing rate. – June Farrell, AICP
Our rural area is on a farm to market road that is significantly narrower than Florida Greenbook standards. It has lanes as narrow as 7.5 feet. Developers are swarming our area and only required to improve the road in front of their property. This is adding thousands of trips to a road that was never designed to handle it and creating a public safety hazard for miles. Traffic studies and planners need to take into consideration that all roads are not designed or built to accommodate the trips added to them by mega-developments and do everything they can to protect rural communities by not over burdening the infrastructure if they cannot afford to make it safe for the community. – Brittany Lerch
WALKABLE CITIES
Walkable cities. Creating ethical and sustainable transportation or making cities walkable enough where transportation isn’t necessarily a need. – Samantha Dodge, APM
REINVENT GROWTH MANAGEMENT
It’s relatively well established that in the current iteration of growth management in Florida, we defer questions of quasijudicial process to matters of legislative concern and vice versa. The issue with any given preliminary order approval is the same as it has always been: a legislative endorsement for a policy level decision (anything from a minor FLUM amendment to an EAR based text amendment which would lay the groundwork for any changes to your zoning/subdivision/TSM ordinance) varies on the type of development, within the greater context of local capital improvement plans, and implementation (timing) of said project. This creates the problem of “first come, first serve” that is well documented throughout Florida’s land use/transport problem. – Sergio Garcia, MPA
BRIDGES & CROSSINGS
The most important transportation issue in South Florida is draw bridges over rivers and the ICW. Increasing densities in downtown and beach areas, coupled with larger and more numerous yachts, and marine right-of-way regulations, have created intolerable traffic jams, often blocking emergency vehicles to enable recreational boaters to pass unimpeded. The only long-term solution is tunnels. The sister issue is grade crossings, which will create increasingly worse traffic jams as Brightline and Tri Rail expand the number of trains. The solution is grade separation. – Kirk Wickersham, AICP, JD
BICYCLING
Floridians are very car-centric, in part due to the summer weather. This means they do not consider bicycle infrastructure and traffic, notably at crosswalks. In contrast, Floridians need to use crosswalks (not jaywalk) for their safety as well as legal liability. – Noel Comeux
MORE RAIL
We need to connect our main cities (Tampa, JAX, Tally, Orlando, Miami, etc.) with rail. – Camelo Romero
Create corridors of high-speed rail connecting the major cities in Florida. The Bright line system from Miami to Orlando is good but is not a High Speed (Bullet) mitigate congestion on our highways.
– Frank Consoli, Ph.D,PE,AICP, PTOE, LEED
INNOVATIVE LANDSCAPING & GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Most people think of trees, landscape and even the use of rain gardens as something to beautify and fluff. I believe landscape is vital to the health in wellness of our communities. Green infrastructure should be the go-to and not if we have budget. Trees and landscape can assist with air pollution, water pollution, urban cooling, etc. – Ginger Corless, AICP
I don’t mean replacement of pipes and concrete with rain gardens and pervious concrete; I mean preserving the important environmental services that the environment provides us before we impact it. Every community needs to be doing an assessment of sensitive and valuable environments, including small, isolated wetlands, sensitive soils, waterbody buffers, areas of high ecological diversity, etc. These are all things that can’t be fixed or replaced in another location once they are damaged or destroyed. – Sarah Propst, AICP, PMP
ALIGN PRIORITIES AND SPENDING
We know what to do, and what not to do, but our policy decisions and spending priorities are not aligned. Florida spends far more on road expansion projects than complete streets projects. Many consulting firms have both mobility/complete streets divisions just down the hall from roadway design divisions, which are primarily focused on expansion projects and drive company priorities.
Transportation Planning is an oxymoron. Effective planning requires a holistic approach that integrates and balances transportation systems, development form, environmental issues, economic development and community character/quality of life. First, our cities and counties should have up-to-date and documented community visions. Next, we need to develop thorough and bold plans that include tough initiatives and recognize known
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trade offs. Thriving urban communities cannot be created by maintaining transportation systems in which the automobile is the primary mode of transportation.
Lastly, we need courage. Paradigm shifts require tough decisions and determination. The public conversation over the last 25 years has progressed, elected officials are more frequently talking about complete streets, but policies and priorities have not fundamentally changed. Now is the time for action. – George Kramer, AICP
PROPERLY MAINTAINING CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE
When it comes to transportation and mobility, the main issue faced by large metropolitan areas such as Tampa Bay and Orlando is how to pay for the necessary improvements without a recurrent source of funding. I was recently involved with the Orange County sales tax referendum proposal. My biggest lesson from this experience is that we need to educate the public about opportunity costs. While a good portion of the population is tax averse, it is mainly because they don’t understand the high costs of keeping/
upkeeping the ‘status quo’. For example, Orange County households currently spend 24 percent of their income on transportation. This is eight percent higher than the rest of the nation. The challenge for Florida planners is showing how a more robust transit/bus system could help defray some of these costs. – Luiz Nieves-Ruiz, FAICP
Maintenance of existing public and private infrastructure that is aged, outdated or deteriorating. – Martin Hodgkins, AICP (Ret.)
Planners should invest more time in looking at infrastructure as a vitally important public asset to our respective communities, regions and the state. Planners need to ensure the improvements identified today are sustainable over time. For every new road, bridge, transit route or crosswalk, can these investments be maintained over time? When you plan, design and build it, it’s your baby for the long-haul. Factoring in asset management, on-going maintenance and life cycle costs should be part of a planner’s mindset when planning our future infrastructure. – Rob Balmes, AICP
TRAILS & GREENWAYS
ON A ROLL
Ned Baier, AICP
We are on a threshold of a major change in transportation policy in the Sunshine State. Off-road paved trails and greenways are being taken seriously. These long narrow “skinny roads” usually follow an abandoned railway, canal bank, a river, scenic highway, utility transmission line, or wildlife corridor. Local governments and citizen groups have created these paved trails from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle. Statewide efforts are underway by local, state and federal governments, private foundations, and advocacy groups in order to create a system of greenways and trails throughout the state.
Greenways and trails are remarkable components of sustainable communities. They contribute to longevity and healthy lifestyles. They bring people closer to nature allowing us to experience beauty and wildlife. Trails provide transportation benefits, connecting people from home to work, school, shopping, and recreation. In addition, greenways and trails provide economic benefits directly to the communities where they are located. They generate increased construction investments, visitor expenditures, and property values that benefit all Floridians.
Of the more of than 1,900 Rails to Trails around the country, 48 are located in Florida encompassing over 2,000 miles including the St. Marks Trail, Withlacoochee Trail, Pinellas Trail, West Orange Trail, Florida Keys Heritage Trail, Legacy Trail, and many more. In addition, Florida’s urban metros have built nationally recognized projects such as the Tampa Riverwalk, Jacksonville Groundworks, the Miami River Greenway, and others. Cities and counties in Florida are making a huge investment in greenways and trails.
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Regionally connected trails and greenways are becoming the expectation for Florida’s future. A SUN Trail System
(Shared-Use, Non-motorized Trails) is becoming a reality. The SUN Trail program was established in 2015 (Section 339.81, Florida Statutes) and receives an annual allocation of state revenue managed and directed by the Florida Department of Transportation. The SUN Trail network when fully built will exceed 4,000 miles. With the passing of Senate Bill 106 in 2023 Florida’s legislature wisely connected multiple conservation and recreational programs to extend the SUN Trail network on “disturbed lands” and facilitate trail towns and economic growth throughout the Wildlife Corridor. Now SUN Trail can be built within the 18 million acres of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. These lands are contiguous wilderness and working lands crucial to the survival of Florida’s wildlife. Planning and developing these trails will only be realized through persistent support, coordination and education about their benefits at the local, regional and state levels.
Next year will mark 10 years since the approval of legislation creating the SUN Trail network. Much has been accomplished -- so this calls for a celebration. Mark your calendars for Feb. 5-6, 2025 in Venice Fla. for the Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation 2025 Summit. The Summit will include inspiring speakers, technical presentations of best practices, and the opportunity to meet people statewide. Sponsors include the Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Conservation Florida, and the Trust for Public Lands. Registration information will be available in October.
Happy Trails!
Ned Baier, AICP, is the Director of Planning for Volkert, Inc. and the President of the Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation. He can be reached at ned.baier@volkert.com.
BETTING ON RAIL
By: Bob O’Malley
Railroads throughout the United States are benefiting from historic levels of federal funding due to the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. Freight and passenger rail projects in Florida are among the recipients, prompting a wave of investment throughout the state.
The most newsworthy rail development in Florida has been the commencement of Brightline’s intercity rail service from south Florida to Orlando. This new, privately operated rail service has enjoyed early positive reviews and is serving as a model for the development of intercity rail service in other states. Brightline’s Orlando station is located at Orlando International Airport, where it will connect in the future to the proposed Sunshine Corridor. This shared corridor, which has received strong political and public support, will accommodate both SunRail and Brightline trains and will extend passenger rail service from the airport to the existing north-south SunRail line and the Orange County Convention Center.
Because the Sunshine Corridor will connect residents to jobs and affordable housing, the project is in a competitive position to apply for grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). And
since Central Florida is the most popular vacation destination in the United States, the corridor will help showcase the benefits of passenger rail to tourists from across the country.
Another recent and exciting passenger rail development has been the start of express Tri-Rail service to downtown Miami. The express trains serve five stops — West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, and Miami — compared to the usual 19 stops for regular service. The express trains are the latest success story from Tri-Rail, which has seen increased growth and improved service in recent years.
Transportation leaders in the Tampa region are also seeking to expand passenger rail options. The extension of the Tampa Streetcar, which has enjoyed record ridership this past year, continues to be a priority for transportation planners, as has a study of the potential to use CSX freight lines for regional passenger rail service. These local and regional rail systems may one day connect to intercity rail service. Members of the Suncoast Transportation Planning Alliance and the Central Florida MPO Alliance recently passed a joint resolution in support of expanded passenger rail service between Tampa
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and Orlando, including increased Amtrak service from Tampa Union Station to Orlando and beyond, and a potential future extension of Brightline to Tampa.
In addition to passenger rail projects, federal funding has also benefited freight rail projects in Florida. The Federal Railroad Administration awarded Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grants to Seminole Gulf Railway and the Florida Gulf and Atlantic Railroad for track upgrades to improve freight rail service in southwest Florida and the Panhandle, respectively.
As these passenger and freight rail projects demonstrate, the availability of federal and state funding helps encourage infrastructure investment, as well as collaboration between local governments and the private sector. Therefore, transportation planners who can work collaboratively with both public and private partners will be successful in advancing rail projects in their communities.
Bob O’Malley is the President of Right Track Public Affairs, LLC. He can be reached at bob.omalley@gorighttrack.com
The Rapid Growth of Electric Vehicles and How Florida’s Cities Can Prepare
As the global shift towards sustainable transportation accelerates, cities worldwide are increasingly faced with the challenge of integrating electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure into their urban landscapes. Effective preparation is crucial to ensure that cities can accommodate the growing number of EVs on their roads and support a cleaner, greener future.
By Cody Fletcher
Here’s a comprehensive guide on how cities can strategically prepare for electric vehicle charging:
INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND INVESTMENT
The foundation of EV readiness lies in meticulous infrastructure planning and substantial investment. Cities should conduct comprehensive assessments to identify high-demand areas such as commercial districts, residential neighborhoods, and public facilities. Strategic placement of charging stations at these locations ensures accessibility and convenience for EV owners. Financial incentives, grants, and partnerships with private stakeholders can significantly alleviate the financial burden of infrastructure development. Collaborations with utility companies are also essential to optimize grid capacity and ensure the seamless integration of charging stations with existing electrical networks.
ADAPTIVE POLICY FRAMEWORKS
Cities must establish adaptive policy frameworks that foster EV adoption and facilitate infrastructure deployment. This includes streamlining permitting processes for charging station installations, offering incentives for property developers to include charging
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[ELECTRIC] VEHICLES
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infrastructure in new constructions, and implementing mandates for public and private parking facilities to allocate a percentage of spaces for EV charging. Moreover, supportive policies such as preferential parking for EVs, reduced registration fees, and exemptions from congestion charges can incentivize residents to switch to electric vehicles, thereby driving demand for charging infrastructure.
SCALABLE AND FUTURE-PROOF SOLUTIONS
Investing in scalable and future-proof charging solutions is crucial to accommodate the projected increase in EV adoption. Cities should prioritize the installation of Level 2 stations capable of delivering a significant charge in an average work day, particularly in high-traffic areas, i.e. - shopping centers, office buildings, etc.
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
Promoting public awareness and education plays a pivotal role in encouraging the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and fostering a supportive charging infrastructure ecosystem. Cities can collaborate with local stakeholders, EV manufacturers, and community organizations to conduct outreach campaigns, workshops, and educational programs that highlight the benefits of EVs and address common misconceptions. Providing reliable information regarding charging options, compatibility, and cost-efficiency empowers consumers to make informed decisions about transitioning to electric vehicles. Additionally, establishing user-friendly online platforms and mobile applications that offer real-time information on charging station locations, availability, and pricing enhances accessibility and convenience for EV owners.
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Collaborative partnerships between government agencies, private sector entities, academia, and non-profit organizations are instrumental in overcoming the multifaceted challenges associated with electric vehicle charging infrastructure deployment. By leveraging diverse expertise, resources, and innovation, cities can accelerate progress towards sustainable mobility goals and maximize the socio-economic benefits of electrified transportation.
Public-private partnerships facilitate the implementation of innovative financing models, pilot projects, and research initiatives aimed at advancing charging infrastructure technology and enhancing user experience. Moreover, international collaborations enable cities to learn from global best practices and tailor strategies to their unique urban contexts.
CONCLUSION
Preparing for electric vehicle charging requires a proactive and holistic approach that encompasses infrastructure planning, policy innovation, scalable solutions, public engagement, and collaborative partnerships.
By prioritizing these strategic pillars, cities can effectively meet the growing demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and foster sustainable urban development. Embracing this transformational shift towards electrified transportation is not only essential for addressing the challenges of climate change but also for creating healthier, more livable cities for current and future generations.
Cody Fletcher is owner of Voltaic Energy Solutions in Tampa. He can be reached at codyfletcher2016@gmail.com.
The Human Impact of Infrastructure Failure:
Fort Lauderdale Task Force Reminds Officials Investing in Infrastructure Costs More Than Tax Dollars
By Marilyn Mammano, AICP
In 2017, the City of Fort Lauderdale experienced multiple catastrophic failures of its sanitary sewer system. More than 400,000 gallons of untreated waste were released into the streets and thus into the surface waters and/or groundwaters throughout the state.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection stepped in to assist and entered into a consent decree with the city, which required the city to complete a specific list of sewer system infrastructure improvements within a specific time, undertake assessments of the system, and prepare plans for system upgrades. The city also created the Infrastructure Task Force Advisory Committee (ITFAC) to:
• Review existing city infrastructure, including, but not limited to, roads, sidewalks, airports, seawalls, water and wastewater distribution and collection systems, treatment plants, well fields, parks, and all city facilities and structures.
• Examine their current condition.
• Review and identify their repair and replacement.
• Receive public input.
• Review and identify funding sources and financing alternatives for those infrastructure improvements. You would think this is really simple.
Everything gets old and needs to be repaired or replaced. All these public infrastructure facilities are owned and used by all of us. We all have to pay for them somehow. They cost a tremendous amount of money and we don’t have a choice.
Infrastructure belongs to all of us, we all need it, and when it fails the results can be catastrophic. Understanding what needs to be prioritized, how to do it, what will it cost, and how will we pay for it? These were the ITFAC challenges along with making this information available and understandable for the general public.
Compounding the problem was that for years we chose, at all levels of government, not to make the necessary investments in public infrastructure. In fact, some municipalities used the fees generated by providing utilities to supplement general operating budgets and artificially keep tax rates low. People took infrastructure for granted ... until the old pipes started bursting, poop was flowing in the streets, boil water notices became common, and the bridge fell down.
The first recommendation of the Task Force was to stop diverting money from the Enterprise Fund into the city’s General Fund, a practice commonly called Return on Investment (ROI). More than $100,000,000 had been diverted in the past few years. The most recent recommendation of the ITFAC was to proceed with a Public Private Partnership to build the new Prospect Lake Water Treatment Plant at a cost of $475,000,000 plus enabling works.
The city determined to fund the Consent Order requirements with a $200,000,000 revenue bond secured by increases in fees collected in the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund. Studies identified the need for recurring $200,000,000 bonds for water and sewers, an initial and then subsequent $200,000,000 bonds for stormwater improvements and a $450,000,000 bond for a new water treatment plant. Fort Lauderdale voters also approved two general obligation bonds, one for $200,000,000 for parks and one for $100,000,000 for a new police station.
What does this mean for a city like Fort Lauderdale? How far can we stretch our bond rating? How high can we raise water and sewer utility rates? What other funding sources can the city
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[FT LAUDERDALE] TASK FORCE
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pursue? What impact will greater infrastructure investments have on the overall budget?
Everyone could agree that two things were needed: multiple plans and a whole lot of money.
Firms were retained to prepare sewer and stormwater plans, prepare and implement an I & I study, and advise them on utility fees and taxes. The ITFAC worked with all of them. Understanding the magnitude of the projected costs, we were very concerned about the ability of city residents to afford these increases.
On the issue of fairness and equity, one of the firms, Stantec, recommended a major change to the methodology of determining stormwater fees. Traditionally, stormwater fees were determined based on the area of non-permeable surface on a property. So, a single home would pay significant more that an apartment building with many residents. Also, commercial property fees were based essentially on the area of their parking lot and not on their need to provide customer access.
A new methodology, based on auto trip generation was proposed.
The result on stormwater fees would be: a slowing of the increases for single-family homes, and equitable increase for condo units, and a significant part of the cost for keeping the streets flood free was shifted to commercial properties. ITFAC recommended the city adopt this methodology and eventually they did in a hybrid form.
While the ITFAC is always talking about plans, spreadsheets, bond covenants, taxes, and fees, we never forget there is a very human side to infrastructure failures.
This April marked a full year since the historic floods that devastated communities like Edgewood. We are working to prevent this from happening again.
I suggest you review this presentation from the Tower Forum titled Infrastructure: The Bill Comes Due
Marilyn Mammano is a retired planner and serves as the Chair of the Fort Lauderdale Infrastructure Task Force Advisory Committee. She can be reached at mmammano@comcast.net
Seven Steps to Elevate Your Career: How to Tell Your Professional Story
By Kathie Ebaugh, FAICP, and Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq.
Editor’s note: This is the first article in a series.
If you aspire to become a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, seek a promotion, or change jobs, this article is for you. If you want to be successful at any of these, you need to turn the bullet points on your resume into the story of your career. We’ve got seven steps to do now that will help you build your story in the future.
Preparing a Fellows nomination packet, moving between public and private employment, or securing a promotion is a challenge. Being prepared for that challenge is key. You have to be able to tell your story. Even if you never use the following advice to tell your story to anyone else, building your story just for yourself is its own reward.
Here are seven steps to take your list of accomplishments and understand the impact you have made.
• DOCUMENT THE OBVIOUS STUFF | Keep a folder or spreadsheet where you document your major project work, conference presentations, publications, kudos from co-
workers, clients or community members, awards, volunteer activities, etc. Having all of this information in one place is really helpful in organizing it. Practical Tip: Regularly update your storage method to ensure accessibility. When you burned that CD it might have made perfect sense, but now, how do you even find a computer with a CD player?
• DOCUMENT THE LESS OBVIOUS STUFF | Every year (or at least every time you change positions), document the three biggest impacts you have had in your professional role. Looking back on these impacts will make it easier for you to identify themes from your career. For example, did you increase the efficiency of a process or drive the implementation of a new initiative?
• RESEARCH PROJECT IMPACTS | From time to time, look back on those old projects and see what is happening with them. In the planning world, it can take a long time to transition from plan to reality, so you have to keep up with those projects to document what impact they had on the community. If you prepared a transit plan for a city, research what recommendations the city has implemented from the plan and if they were able to leverage the plan to secure federal funding to support the recommendations.
• KEEP UP WITH YOUR SUPPORTERS | To prepare an FAICP application, you will need 10+ letters of support from co-workers, clients/consultants, community members,
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[ELEVATE] YOUR CAREER
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professors/students, mentors/mentees, etc. Keep a list of folks who have supported your career and been a champion of your work and make sure you know how to get ahold of them in the future.
• BE PROACTIVE IN PROMOTING YOURSELF | Always be on the lookout for ways to promote your work. There are hundreds of speaking opportunities at the annual Florida Planning Conference so find some friends and submit a session proposal (likely due February 2025 for FPC25). There are four editions of Florida Planning Magazine every year, so submit an article idea to the Editorial Committee. Look beyond APA Florida and write an article for a division.
• FIND YOUR UNIQUE ANGLE | You do things differently than anyone else so reflect on your efforts and how they might be different from other people. Maybe you always integrate art into your projects or find ways to give emerging professionals a chance to learn and grow. Not everyone does that so make sure you document those activities.
• FORGET MODESTY | As planners, we tend to work in groups and give credit to our teams, but for these exercises, be sure to set your modesty aside…just for a moment…and focus on your achievements. If it helps, pretend you are your best friend and think how he/she might describe your career.
By following these steps, you’ll not only be prepared for future career opportunities, but you’ll also gain a deeper understanding of your professional impact. Building your career story is a rewarding endeavor that can boost your confidence and clarify your path forward.
Kathie Ebaugh is Director of Planning for JBPro. She can be reached at kathie.ebaugh@jbpro.com. Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., is a Senior Project Manager at Benesch. She can be reached at leveritt@benesch.com.
2024 APA Florida Statewide Election Underway
All ballots must be cast by Aug. 28
We encourage all members to review the slate of candidates and participate in the election. To meet a candidate, click on a name to see their bio and personal statement.
Voting began on July 31, 2024 APA national sent ballots to members who are current with dues to your email listed at planning.org/myapa
Voting ends on Aug. 28 If you did not receive your election email, please contact support@directvote.net
Best of luck to all the candidates!
The Nominating Committee
• Wiatt Bowers, AICP, Immediate Past President (Chair)
• Justin Hannah, AICP, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee Representative
• Allara Mills Gutcher, AICP, President-Elect
• Fabian de la Espriella, AICP, Gold Coast Section Chair
• Roxann Read, AICP, CMA, FRA RA, Orlando Metro Section Chair
President-Elect: Edward Ng, AICP / John Roach, AICP
Treasurer: Brad Cornelius, AICP, CPM, CFM / Samuel Mutch, AICP, JD
Secretary: Jerry Bell, AICP / Catherine Koval, AICP
VP for Professional Development: Melissa Dickens, AICP / Doug Kelly, AICP
VP for Continuing Education: Laura Bouck, AICP, P.E. / Lynda Kompelien Westin, AICP
VP for Section Affairs: Devan Levins / Juan Mullerat
VP for Communications: Alessandria Palmer / Adriana Trujillo-Villa, AICP, CPM
VP for Conference Services: Corinne Arriaga, AICP, CPH / Kathie Ebaugh, FAICP
VP for Membership & Outreach Services: Amy Elmore, AICP / Tony Palermo, AICP
2024 APA Florida Election Slate
PLANNERS ON THE MOVE
VOLKERT’S BAIER NAMED FLORIDA GREENWAYS & TRAILS PRESIDENT
Ned Baier, AICP, is the President of the Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation, where he leads a 10-person Board of Directors with a vision and plan to implement a statewide network of greenways and trails through public education, facilitation, and through leadership championing the SUN Trails network and local spaces.
Ned has led Volkert’s Florida planning project since last fall as its Assistant Vice President. Ned brings 36-years of experience in the public and private sector specializing in MPO, greenspaces/ trail, and multimodal planning.
BENNETT OVERSEEING TIF PROJECTS FOR TAMPA’S CRA
After completing the Executive Masters in Urban Planning program with the University of Southern California in 2023, Nicholas Bennett was hired for a dream position with the City of Tampa’s Community Redevelopment Agency as a Project Coordinator for TIF-funded projects across Tampa’s 8 CRA districts.
Nicholas says his new role with Tampa’s CRA represents a successful and exciting transition into a professional environment that fuses his passion for maximizing a community’s overall quality of life with his newly minted urban planning knowledge.
BARRACO ADDS CAUTERO TO LEAD PLANNING PROJECTS
Vince Cautero, AICP joined Barraco and Associates, Inc. as its Vice President of Planning after a decade working as the Community Development Director for the City of Cape Coral.
Vince has a Master of Urban Planning Degree from the University of Illinois and 42 years of planning experience in the public and private sector. He was awarded the Roland Eastwood Planner of the Year Award by the Promised Lands Section in 2010.
COMEAUX MOVES TO ST. LUCIE
Noel Comeaux, AICP, PMP, moved south to become the transportation planner with the City of Port St. Lucie. Click to watch Noel in action!
DICKERSON NAMED USF PLANNERIN-RESIDENCE
Amber Dickerson, AICP, will be starting a new role as the Planner-in-Residence for the Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of South Florida beginning this semester.
Amber will lead the program’s community-engaged teaching initiatives centering around the studio-based course, which involves student project-based professional planning work for various clients, a rite of passage for all MURP students.
We are sure that students will learn a lot from Amber!
FERRAIOLO PROVES HARD WORK PAYS OFF
Kelly Ferraiolo, AICP, started working at the Village of Wellington when she was 17 years old as a high school intern. At 19, she attended Florida Atlantic University and graduated with a bachelor’s in criminal justice, and then rejoined the Village of Wellington. For 17 years, Kelly has worked in different departments throughout the village but is now its Senior Planner.
HANSEN JOINS THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMPANY
Rachel Hansen, AICP joined The Neighborhood Company in Fort Myers as a Land Use Planner. Prior to working for The Neighborhood Company, Rachel spent three years with Collier County’s Zoning Division as a Comprehensive Planner.
Rachel has more than eight years of planning experience in the Midwest and Florida and holds a Master’s degree in Community and Economic Development from Western Illinois University.
HENRY JOINS BENESCH IN TAMPA
Alex Henry, AICP recently joined Benesch’s Tampa office as a Project Manager. In his new role, Alex will be helping communities throughout the state with safety action planning, complete streets implementation, and multimodal transportation plans.
Alex comes to Benesch after several years in the public sector and holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of South Florida.
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[PLANNERS] ON THE MOVE
continued from page 21
KIRALY NOW ENTITLEMENTS MANAGER FOR STARLIGHT/ASHTON WOODS HOMES
Brian Kiraly, AICP is the new Entitlements Manager for Starlight Homes/Ashton Woods Homes. Brian will cover the builders’ Tampa Bay market, including Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough Polk, Manatee and Sarasota counties.
INSPIRE PLACEMAKING COLLECTIVE IS SCOOPING UP TALENT
Jared Beck is Inspire’s new Director of Redevelopment. Jared has more than 20 years helping communities shape their futures, with a passion for downtown and neighborhood revitalization and brings a wealth of knowledge from the private and public sector of economic development and historic preservation.
As a trained as a planner, lawyer, and engineer, David Henning brings his varied skillset to Inspire Placemaking. David strives to identify the latest trends and best practices when crafting guidelines and regulations to help communities improve the lives of their current and future residents.
Fresh from graduating from the University of Florida with his Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree, Haiden Lewis is Inspire’s newest Planner. The Fort Myers native aspires to help create communities that people are proud to call home.
Laura Martinez has joined Inspire as a Planner in their Tampa office, focusing on Redevelopment and Community Planning. As an avid traveler, Laura brings global perspective in land use, mobility, walkability, and placemaking to her work in Tampa Bay and across Florida.
KRAMER MAKES A GREAT MOVE
Cyndie Kramer started as the Planning & Zoning Manager for Highlands County this spring. A native of Milton, Ontario, Canada, Cyndie and her husband relocated to Florida in 2022. She brings more than 25 years of experience as a land use planner, having worked for Georgetown County, S.C., Allentown, Pa., and Palmer Township, Pa.
She is also a published author in the field of genealogy and ancestral healing. Welcome to Florida, Cyndie!
KULAK JUMPS TO RVI AS PROJECT MANAGER
Patty Kulak transitioned from the City of Naples to join RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture as a Project Manager. While Patty has valued her time in public service and the opportunities it provided to contribute to her community’s growth and development, she is eager to bring her skills and experience to the dynamic team at RVi.
TAKE A BOW, MAGOT MAURER
Margot Maurer, AICP Candidate, was recently promoted to the position of Professional Planner in the Planning + Design department at CHW, an NV5 Company and in May passed the AICP exam to become an AICP Candidate.
MEGRATH OPENS CONSULTING, GRANTS WRITING FIRM
Allison Megrath, AICP, CNU-A, opened Megrath Consulting, a community planning and grant services firm based in Gainesville. Allison’s clients extended from South Florida through Alabama, and projects have specialized in updating Comprehensive Plans and Land Development Regulations, developing Economic Development Strategies, and in serving as on-call planners for small communities who lack resources.
APA FLORIDA IS EXCITED TO SPOTLIGHT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES TO SHOWCASE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR MEMBERS.
Kindly fill out the information below, and anticipate seeing your feature in an upcoming issue of Florida Planning Magazine! Fill out this form to share your awesomeness!
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Stefanie Svisco
We are almost there!
If you were to stop by the APA Florida Chapter Office today, you would see boxes stacked among the flurry of pre-conference preparation, white boards filled with to do lists, and three dedicated staff members (and a wonderful intern!) putting the finishing touches on what will be a recording-setting conference.
I am delighted that it is almost time for this conference, and I hope attendees will be too once they’re on the ground at the Tampa Convention Center. What’s the cause for excitement? How about:
• Puppies! Since we are going to have 1,100 people in one place, why not help our furry friends at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay? Dogs and puppies available for adoption will be around for a cuddle, kiss, or what we hope, a good home!
• Pirates. Watch out for swashbucklers invading the Opening Night Reception. There may not be treasure, but we think they may be after our spirits.
• Duckies. We are going to host a good old fashioned rubber duck hunt Attendees spotting one of our hidden fowl should return it to the registration desk to take home a prize. Join in on the fun!
• Fish. For an FPC first, we’ll close out the conference with a night among the sharks. No, not legislators. Literal sharks at The Florida Aquarium! You don’t want to miss this party under the sea
If you’re not impressed yet, there also will be:
• 80+ AICP CM credit sessions
• 55 sponsors and exhibitors
• 10 fabulous mobile tours
• 3 incredible featured speakers
• a student lounge
• morning mindfulness and evening workouts
• a brain breakroom
• free headshots, resume reviews, and interview practice
• and more!
As you can tell we are thrilled to bring this experience to you. We are continually grateful to the FPC24 Host Committee for all their dedication and hard work.
And I would be remiss not to recognize you, our members, for being a part of our amazing organization.
I hope to see some of you in Tampa.
Until then!
[CONSULTANTS] DIRECTORY
Advertise in the Consultants Directory
The Consultant Directory is a fitting place to showcase your firm. $250 buys space for a year in the newsletter (four issues) plus inclusion in our web-based consultant directory. Display ads to promote your business, conference, projects and more are available. Contact the Chapter office at 850-201-3272 for rates and details.
In a Livable Community, people of all ages can make their town or city a lifelong home. Learn about what’s happening in Florida. Contact Laura Cantwell at lcantwell@aarp.org.
Telephone: 407.347.5388
Telephone: 850.224.7332
sbs@theriaquelaw.com www.theriaquelaw.com
dat@theriaquelaw.com
[FLORIDA] PLANNING
Published by the Florida Chapter, American Planning Association, the Florida Planning digital magazine has a current circulation of 3,000 members, subscribers and other readers. Four issues are published a year.
CHANGES OF ADDRESS
For APA members, Send to: Member Records Department
American Planning Association 205 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1200 Chicago, IL 60601
Fax: 312-786-6700 or log onto www.planning.org/myapa
ARTICLES
Florida Planning welcomes articles, announcements, letters, pictures and advertising. Call 850-201-3272 regarding articles. The next issue will be published October 2024.
DEADLINES
Article deadlines are generally four weeks prior to publication. Ad deadlines are generally two weeks prior to publication. Consult the editor for any exception to this schedule.
ABOUT THE CHAPTER
APA Florida is a non-profit organization funded through membership dues and fees. Contributions are also welcomed for general purposes and earmarked programs. Please note that contributions are not tax deductible.
For news and information on chapter concerns, visit the APA Florida website at florida planning.org
APA Florida
2017 Delta Boulevard, Suite 101 Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-201-3272
Email: connect@floridaplanning.org
[THANK YOU] TO OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS
[UPCOMING] EVENTS
OCTOBER
4: THE PLANNER AS AN EXPERT WITNESS SEMINAR
Tampa. Hosted by the Sun Coast Section. Are you a planner who has ever been needed in a legal proceeding, or would like to know how to be prepared for one? Attend this in-person seminar to learn from an expert panel consisting of attorneys, planners and hearing officers from Hillsborough and Pinellas counites on how you can be prepared as a planner for a legal case. Light food and refreshments to be provided. Information here 3 CM or 1 Law CM.
NOVEMBER 7 – 8: FDOT TRANSPORTATION SYMPOSIUM
Orlando. Hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation. The second symposium in a series. Join FDOT’s Central Office, Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and Turnpike at the 2024 Transportation Symposium on Nov. 7 (1 – 5 pm) and Nov. 8 (8 am – noon) in Orlando. Information here.
ICYMI: CHAPTER CPAT WEBINAR
APA Florida was the host for the Aug. 9 Planning Webcast Series. Our webinar, Preserving East Palatka FL: Lessons on Listening and How Planning Can Help Spark Rural Communities, the chapter’s Community Planning Assistant Team (CPAT) shared their lessons learned, best practices, and the final report action items. This webinar is ideal for planners who work with underserved and rural communities. Event #9293228 1.5 CM. Click on image to begin webinar.
For more information on these and other APA Florida events, please visit florida.planning.org/calendar/
DIAMOND
SAPPHIRE
EMERALD RUBY