February 13, Attending:

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1 OKALOOSA-WALTON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION (TPO) U.S. Highway 98 Widening and Utility Coordination Public Forum WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL (Designated staff) DESTIN CITY HALL ANNEX, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail; Destin, FL February 13, 2014 Attending: Councilman Jim Wood Commissioner Kelly Windes Commissioner David Parisot Commissioner Sara Comander Jason Autrey Steven Menchel Sean Newman Chad Swails Tom Dorsey Dan Laird Monica Autrey Tom Weidenhamer Michael Flynt Alicia Keeter Pete DeBogory Essa Rhebi Laureen Guffey Jeff Scaife Hank Woollard Ken Gallander John MacDonald Bill Howell Noelle Warren Sandra Lamb Jonathan Harris Ian Satter Jim DeVries Jason Peters Tim Smith Buddy Wright Quintin Smith Roger Dixon Mary Anne Windes Howard Dykes, Jr. Jonathan Ochs Prebble Ramswell Craig Norwood Austin Norwood Jo Anne Todd Michael Schwier Chuck Carswell Jim Shepherd Rick Branton Susan Paladini Okaloosa-Walton TPO/ Destin City Council Okaloosa County Commission Okaloosa County Commission Walton County Commission Okaloosa County Destin PW/PS Committee Okaloosa Sheriff s Office Gulf Power Gulf Power FDEP Destin Water Users Destin Water Users Okaloosa Gas Century Link Century Link City of Destin City of Destin Walton County Walton County Cox Communication Destin Area Chamber Destin Area Chamber Trustmark Bank/Destin Chamber Destin City Council Candidate The Track The Track Hatch Mott MacDonald Hatch Mott MacDonald Coffeen Land Trust

2 February 13, 2014 Page 2 Randy Showers Leigh Moore Paul McIlree Chuck Carswell Ed Schroeder Mary Robinson Mary Beth Washnock Brian Youpatoff Christy Johnson Okaloosa County Public Works Howard Group Michael Michael TDD CALL TO ORDER Councilman Jim Wood called the meeting to order. He said that there are many parties in our community interested in these projects. He asked that everyone introduce themselves and tell what organization they represent. Councilman Wood explained that this meeting was set to discuss the Highway 98 six-lane widening project from Airport Road in Destin to Tang-O-Mar Drive in Walton County (just east of the Silver Sands Mall). Councilman Wood said that as the Okaloosa-Walton TPO Chair he had called this public forum and will serve as the moderator for the discussion. REASONS FOR THE DISCUSSION Councilman Wood said the project is divided into several portions and part of it is identified in the Florida Department of Transportation () 2040 Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for funding in approximately 2024 (almost 10 years from now). He said there are some elements of the community that would like to accelerate the project and see it begin much sooner. The portions of the project to be discussed are Airport Road to the Walton County Line ( Okaloosa County side, currently at 90% plans) and Walton County Line to Tang-O-Mar Drive (Walton County side, currently at 60% plans). This project is currently the Okaloosa-Walton TPO s #1 ranked SIS project. Other phases, Tang-O-Mar Drive to Mack Bayou Road and Mack Bayou Road to Highway 30A, were not intended to be part of the discussion. Chairman Wood said the following questions need to be addressed: Is the community willing to come together and support acceleration of the two portions up for discussion and can find funding? If so, what would be a reasonable expectation for construction to begin? Can outstanding issues be identified and resolved, especially utility-related ones, on both sides of the project? Does this effort enable organizations in the area (County Commissions, City Councils, Chambers of Commerce, Tourist Development Councils, etc.) to provide resolutions from their governing bodies in support of the accelerated project? Can this be done in a timely manner in order to allow them to reach the legislature in the current session early this spring? ADDITIONAL UPCOMING MEETINGS: Councilman Wood announced that the Okaloosa-Walton TPO meeting will be held on February 20 th in the Destin City Hall Annex. The TPO will entertain a resolution in support of this project acceleration. In addition, there will be a public forum hosted by the design consultants at Seascape that evening that will address the Walton County side of the project. There will be ample opportunities for comment/discussion. Councilman Wood introduced Mr. Jason Peters,, and asked if having additional resolutions would assist in providing with the level of support needed. Mr. Peters indicated that the TPO's resolution would be sufficient

3 February 13, 2014 Page 3 since the Department is very interested in what the representatives of the TPO desire. CONSULTANT PRESENTATIONS OKALOOSA SEGMENT The Okaloosa County segment is from Airport Road (Okaloosa County) to the Walton County line - Mr. Chuck Carswell, P.E., Senior Roadway Engineer and Project Manager presented. Mr. Carswell said that from Matthew Boulevard to Kel Wen Circle is already six-laned. The four-lane to six lanes typical section divided into three from Airport Road to Indian Bayou Trail is proposed. There are linear retention areas due to the COBRA act restricting the use of federal funds being used outside of the Right of Way. He said that the existing underground utilities are located in the COBRA zone. There will be no lane closures from 7a.m. - 11p.m. and there will be a Public Involvement meeting in September of This is joined with the Walton section of the project. The cost is $29 million, including construction costs and the earliest funding secured would be 2016 with construction to start 4-6 months later. Councilman Wood asked if there were any non-utility questions for Mr. Carswell. Ms. Monica Autrey of Destin Water Users asked Mr. Carswell to explain the COBRA zone. Mr. Carswell said that federal law restricts expansion in certain areas and the use of federal dollars outside of 's ROW to treat storm water runoff. COBRA forces to treat storm water runoff within limits of existing right-of-way with retention ponds running adjacent to the proposed roadway. Susan Paladini of Coffeen Land Trust asked if this applies to the remaining part and to the first part of the Walton project. Mr. Carswell said no and that the display map shows the COBRA boundary and ROW. He said that there was consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Commission and this is what triggered the awareness of the COBRA zone. Mr. Jason Peters said that 's environmental group is looking into a discrepancy in the COBRA boundary in Okaloosa County. The question arose "What is the allocation from the federal government"? Mr. Peters said that it is not identified up to now and there are federal funds on all phases. Prebble Ramswell asked if it was possible to go deeper. Mr. Carswell said that they have limited space, but they are working on drainage issues. WALTON SEGMENT Ricky Branton, P.E., and Principal Project Manager with Hatch Mott MacDonald presented the Emerald Bay Drive to Silver Sands or Tang-O-Mar Drive segment. This project is on the SIS and has a higher priority. The COBRA zone extends 2500 feet into Walton County. There are four pond sites. There is no other right of way. They have found numerous utility conflicts. The public meeting for this project is next Thursday, February 20th at Seascape. This project is tied to a seven lane section at Tang-O-Mar Drive. Mr. Branton also gave a PowerPoint presentation. Councilman Wood asked for questions not related to utilities on this presentation. The cost estimate is $29 Million. The project direction is not yet set. Mr. Branton was asked if they analyze potential traffic patterns and turn lanes. Mr. Branton said they analyze this extensively. Mr. Branton said there will be a left hand turn at Main Sail. There was a good deal of discussion about this area. Commissioner Comander asked about turn lanes at Geronimo. She also asked about an estimated start date.

4 February 13, 2014 Page 4 There was a question about a budget for landscaping. Mr. Peters said that there is not one at this time. This is done near the end of the project. Mr. Peters said that the right-of-way cost for the Okaloosa County segment is $1.8 million. This is achievable in FY15. Construction is estimated at $30 million. For the Walton segment the ROW is estimated at $5.6 million. The Walton County segment is further along in the right-of-way schedule with $4 million funded in current year. The $1.6 million balance is achievable in FY15. Construction is also $30 million. The construction schedule may be let in October/December /- four months. The two segments combined are a $60 million cost. The question was asked if the two projects would be put out for bid concurrently. Mr. Peters said that they would not want to put them out at the same time. He named several reasons for this approach. Utility Company Discussion Councilman Wood asked Mr. Peters who is responsible for moving the utilities. Mr. Peters said that the Department cannot pay to move the utilities when the utility has a vested interest in an easement. Councilman Wood asked what the process is for moving or relocating utilities. Tim Smith, with said that will work with the utility companies in the Design Phase (PE). This will require intense coordination between the utilities and. has had six meetings with the utility companies on this project. South Walton Utility (SWU) asked that they be given the opportunity to relay their concerns. They are not against the project. They have all been stuck in traffic on Hwy. 98. The issue is timing and cost. The cost to move all utilities is $10 million. The impact is passed on to the users. Monthly bills will increase. The longer this is planned it can minimize rate increases. SWU said they understand that they are required to move utilities, but in order to minimize the problems the request that the following issues be kept in mind: 1. SWU asks that the project not be changed to a Design/Build format 2. Several of the utility companies would like the project to be similar to Hwy. 331 project where there was time for advanced relocation. This will benefit the utilities and removes risk for those that can relocate in advance. Mr. Smith said appreciates South Walton Utilities working with on the 331 project. The question was asked if the project would begin in /- four months if the resolution is passed. Mr. Peters said that, yes, assuming the O-W TPO resolution is passed. Mr. Peters said that he will make a note of the "no design/build" request. Currently plans to have conventional project letting. If it is decided to go with design/build the department will work with the utility companies. Mr. Swails of Gulf Power said that most, if not all, of the utility relocation work required on the Okaloosa County project was tied to the COBRA restriction and 's construction storm water retention ponds between the back of the sidewalk and existing right-of- way along both sides of the roadway. These ditches or storm water retention ponds require on average a 5' to 7' cut to existing grade. Existing utilities will be exposed or undermined by the removal of earth to build the ponds. Gulf Power will have to relocate after the project starts because new poles will be within the clear zone required for the existing roadway. A barrier wall will have to be installed prior to Gulf Power beginning any relocation work. Mr. Swails said that the number of poles will double because Gulf Power will have to span the limits of the retention ponds aerially. Physical constructability restraints prevent being able to install buried electric lines below the retention ponds. Total utility relocation impacts to the project could be as much as 2 years. Some could be related prior to construction and some during construction of the new roadway. Gulf Power projects approximately a year's work o

5 February 13, 2014 Page 5 relocation work during construction of the project. Other utilities have stated as much as a year's worth of relocation in advance of construction, if this could be coordinated. Mr. Swails commented that Gulf Power is not allowed to pass the cost on to their customers when they are required to relocate their utilities, at least not across the board. Mr. Swails said that the majority of utilities have a unionized workforce that would prevent one contractor or one utility company from performing all utility relocations, not to mention the safety and liability aspect of working on utilities owned and operated by someone else. Mr. Flint of Destin Water Users said that there is no firm estimate for relocation yet, but for all water utilities they are guessing $6 million. There was some discussion about contacting state and federal lawmakers to see if there was a chance of receiving relief from the COBRA requirements on the Okaloosa County project. If did not have to comply with the COBRA requirements and could treat storm water runoff by purchasing off site utility ponds, like is being done on the Walton County project, utility relocations are reduced to virtually nothing. This could save the taxpayers $10 million or more and could shorten the impact to the traveling public by almost two years. Councilman Jim Wood concluded the meeting by stating that the only way to go forward would be to work together as a team. He asked for further questions. There being none, the meeting was adjourned.