Issue 32 | May 2016

Announcing our 34th Annual Planning & Design Awards

presented by Tampa Electric & Peoples Gas

The Planning Commission is proud to announce our 34th annual celebration of excellence in planning in Hillsborough County. This awards program is a well-respected tradition honoring projects contributing to a better quality of life in our community and serving as models to learn from and emulate. With the emphasis on the importance of great planning in our own region, our awards program is held in October to align with Tampa Bay Design Week and the many national festivities during the American Planning Association's (APA) National Community Planning Month and celebration of Great Places in America!

Visit our event site for details ť

Save the date and plan to join us!

Thursday, October 20, 2016 | Winners Announced

T Pepin's Hospitality Centre | 4121 N 50th Street | Tampa

Tampa Bay Times Reception | 6:15 p.m. Brendan McLaughlin

Dinner & Presentation of Awards | 7:15 p.m.

hosted by

Brendan McLaughlin

Become a Sponsor ť

Call for Entries

Entries due by August 26, 2016!

The Planning Commission is currently soliciting entries for our 34th annual awards program. Complete submission package with entry fee must be delivered no later than August 26, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.to:

The Planning Commission, 18th floor

601 E Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida 33602

The $160 entry fee must be made payable to:

Board of County Commissioners

The entry fee may be waived for student designed projects or for projects designed and executed entirely with volunteer resources. All entries become property of the Planning Commission. Photos and drawings submitted may be used by the Planning Commission in materials, including websites, social media, publications, presentations, and educational programs, etc. No entry materials will be returned.

Submission Criteria & Information ť

Parking Study for City of Tampa's Downtown

The Tampa Downtown Partnership and the City of Tampa asked the Planning Commission to complete a review of best practices in parking management for ideas to stimulate program development in the City of Tampa. Essentially, this study provides an overview from other cities and their strategies to improve the ease and efficiency of parking. With this report, City officials and stakeholder organizations have an easy-to-follow overview of the great variety of innovative parking solutions and technologies to help them manage and plan for parking to best serve Tampa as it continues to grow and redevelop.

Check out Best Practices in Parking Management ť

Commissioner Joseph & Pedro Parra earn CRED

Congratulations to Planning Commissioner Nigel Joseph and Principal Planner Pedro Parra on receiving their Certificate in Community Real Estate Development from the Florida Institute of Government at the University of South Florida. This local, grassroots program helps strengthen community partnerships and reinvigorate communities by developing versed practitioners in:

Developing connections to local resources
Learning the requirements of financing neighborhood development projects
Utilizing practical application of local land and building inventory

Melissa Zornitta honored to be keynote at FSU DURP

Our Executive Director and President of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association, Melissa Zornitta, AICP, was keynote speaker at Florida State University's Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) 2016 Convocation on April 29th. "It's been 18 years since I was part of the DURP convocation," she said. "I was honored to be asked to be their keynote speaker and share some of my planning insights. Plus it's always fantastic to be back at FSU! Go Noles!"

Planning Commission and MPO join USGBC

The Hillsborough MPO and Planning Commission are now proud members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC is committed to transforming the way our buildings are designed, constructed and operated through LEED - the top third-party verification system for sustainable structures around the world. Every day, the USGBC is helping advance spaces that are better for the environment and healthier for us to live, work, and play in.

More about the USGBC ť

Resources for grant related activities

Hillsborough County has set up a web page for grant opportunities from federal agencies and other national or state and regional agencies. These grant announcements are published on a monthly basis, so check back on the first of the month to see what else is new. If you see an opportunity that you believe fits your project, contact county grants administrator Wayne Finley at 8137276-2720. If you have a project in mind that needs funding, email your completed Grant Search Request Form.

Visit resources for grant related activities ť

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 the our commitment to non-discrimination and other requirements.