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Save the Date!
Third Emerald Coast Transportation Symposium to be held November 12 & 13 at the beautiful Sandestin Resort!
Mark your calendars now for our next exciting Transportation Symposium at the beautiful Grand Sandestin, brought to you by the Northwest Florida Regional TPO, the Bay,Gulf, Holmes, Washington RTP and WFRPC. We have a variety of sponsorship opportunities available for any budget – and some are limited in quantity so now is the time to secure your spot! Secure your sponsorship opportunity online now!
Many thanks to our first sponsor - PCL Construction!
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Brownfield Redevelopment Forum
Registration is now open for the Third Annual Northwest Florida Brownfield Redevelopment Forum. The event will be held June 11, 2015 at the Callaway Arts and Conference Center in Callaway. Hosted in part by WFRPC, the event will include an overview of brownfields assessment and cleanup, local success stories, updates to Florida laws governing brownfield sites, economic incentives, and a grant writing workshop.
 A new feature at this year's event are breakout sessions for local government projects, technical site cleanup, and private sector redevelopment. Participants will engage in guided discussion on these topics with subject matter experts. There will be ample opportunity for questions and answers. Back by popular demand, our grant writing session will include expert advice on writing EPA grants. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity for comprehensive brownfields redevelopment information. Register today!
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28th Annual BARC Environmental Symposium
The Bay Area Resource Council (BARC), the University of West Florida's Environmental Studies Department and the West Florida Regional Planning Council recently hosted the 28th Annual BARC Environmental Symposium.
The purpose of this symposium was to highlight the one-year anniversary of the floods that impacted the Pensacola area and the implications of stormwater. The symposium included outside demonstrations, exhibitors and presentations from experts on topics including:
- Smart growth by keynote speaker, Dr. Anne Keller, senior sustainability advisor with the US EPA Region 4
- The Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) Program – Bayou Chico FDEP
- Low Impact Development (LID) – US EPA
- Nutrient loading, water quality criteria and Total Maximum Daily Loading (TMDL)
- Groundwater issues
(Photo: Santa Rosa County Commissioner and BARC Chairman Bob Cole along with UWF President Dr. Judith Bense give the opening remarks at the Environmental Symposium.)
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SRIA Public Forum
The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) contracted with WFRPC to analyze the existing organizational structure and funding sources to recommend how the SRIA could balance funding from lease fees and property taxes to maintain existing levels of service. A public forum was held on April 23 to a packed house at the Pensacola Beach Community Church. Residents, business owners and visitors to the beach attended to give input. The resounding message was that the people wanted SRIA kept in place, providing the same level of services that have made Pensacola Beach such a beautiful place to live, work and play. The approximately 100 attendees also voiced they would like to have Escambia County pay for those services with the taxes collected from beach leaseholders and to have lease fees reduced. Lease fees paid by residents and businesses currently fund the SRIA's $9 million budget.
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Career Opportunities!
 WFRPC is accepting candidates for the position of executive director and information systems specialist.
The qualified candidate for executive director will:
- Perform strategic executive level work in support of the mission of the West Florida Regional Planning Council (WFRPC).
- Direct and implement professional planning, coordination and advisory services to local governments, state and federal agencies and the public to preserve and enhance the quality of life in northwest Florida.
- Direct the implementation of WFRPC programs, policies and budgets.
- Direct a team of professionals through subordinate directors and managers.
The qualified candidate for information systems specialist will support the staff and projects of the West Florida Regional Planning Council. Proficiency in web posting, web page support, and network oversight and maintenance is required. The qualified candidate must maintain and troubleshoot numerous hardware and software related issues.
Visit our web site for full position descriptions and application instructions.
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Corridor Management Plan Workshops
The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization invites you to participate in a public workshop to provide input on conceptual improvements along North Palafox Street. The study begins at Pensacola Boulevard (US 29) and runs north to Nine Mile Road. Various preliminary concepts will be shared at this workshop. This will be the first of two public workshops. The TPO is seeking public comments to ensure broad community support.
Date: Thurs., May 14, 2015
Place: Marie K. Young Wedgewood Community Center
6405 Wagner Rd., Pensacola, FL 32505
Time: 5 - 6 p.m.
Formal presentation at 5:15 p.m.
To provide comments, ask questions, and make suggestions, contact:
Brian Youpatoff, WFRPC, 850-332-7976 Ext. 224
Philip Shad, AICP, Atkins, 850-478-9844
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Resource Rangers Sustainability
Summer Day Camp
The Environmental Education Coordination Team will host a week-long summer day camp for children entering 1st through 5th grades, July 20 through 24, at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center, 1300 Tobias Road in Cantonment. Your child will learn the importance of sustainable practices used to protect and preserve our valuable natural resources through hands-on lessons and activities.
Registration is $150 (just $75 for each additional child) and includes materials for activities, plus mid-morning and afternoon snacks. Camp hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. RSVP online. To make payment or for more information contact: Traci Goodhart, 850-332-7976 Ext. 222 or traci.goodhart@wfrpc.org.
(Photo: The eastern diamondback terrapin at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is just one of many exciting species your children will learn about at this day camp!)
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May is National Bike Month!
National Bike Month is celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a great opportunity to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and encourage more people to giving biking a try. Now, get on your bikes and ride! (And be sure to wear your helmet!)
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Florida-Alabama TPO Enters the Needs Phase of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
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Above: TPO staff met Gulf Coast ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) to gain their insight on transportation needs for motorcyclists.
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Above: TPO Staff met with the Santa Rosa Creek Indian Tribe on the LRTP to hear their transportation suggestions and concerns.
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Above left: Gary Kramer, senior planner with the TPO shows the adopted 2035 LRTP needs to the Santa Rosa County Chamber.
Above right: TPO staff met with ECAT riders to gain transit input on the LRTP.
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Project Priorities Meetings
Mark your calendar! TPO staff is seeking your input to help determine future transportation priorities.The following public workshops are scheduled at a TPO near you!
Florida-Alabama TPO
- May 4, 9:30A at Santa Rosa County Administrative Center
6495 Caroline St. in Milton
- May 4, 5:30P at West Florida Regional Planning Council
4081 E. Olive Rd. in Pensacola
- May 5, 11:30A at the Orange Beach Public Library
26267 Canal Rd. in Orange Beach
- May 5, 5:30P at the Lillian Community Center
34148 Widell Ave. in Lillian
Okaloosa-Walton TPO
- May 14, 11:30A at South Walton County Library
437 Greenway Trail in Santa Rosa Beach
- May 14, 5:30P at Valparaiso City Council Chambers
364 Adams Ave. in Valparaiso
Bay County TPO
- May 19, 5:30P at Panama City Beach City Hall
110 S. Arnold Rd. in Panama City Beach
- May 20, 1:00P at Bay County Library Conference Room
898 W. 11th St. in Panama City
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TPO Interlocal Agreements
 TPO staff have been traveling the region collecting signatures from every local government member in the Okaloosa-Walton and Bay County TPOs. The TPOs approved the interlocal agreements at the February TPO meetings. By signing the agreement, each local government is agreeing to take part in the 3C transportation planning process (continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative). The new agreements reflect the TPO membership changes that have occurred over the last couple of years. Stay tuned for the updated Florida-Alabama TPO Interlocal Agreement.
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 The 2014 WFRPC Annual Report
is Finally Here!
The report is being printed in limited quantities, but you can see the full report online on our web site!
Download your copy of the WFRPC 2014 Annual Report today and read what we worked on in 2014!
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