Issue 33 | July 2016

FLiP 2016 introduces students to planning careers
On June 21st, the Planning Commission welcomed the inaugural class to our Future Leaders in Planning (FLiP) student leadership development program. Designed as an opportunity to introduce high school students to urban planning as a potential career, FLiP 2016 gave these students the chance to network with planning professionals and other students with a passion for planning for a thriving future for our community.

The two-day intensive program was a big hit with the students. They made the most of the opportunities to learn from public and private sector professionals in the planning and related government services fields, giving them broad exposure to planning from multiple perspectives, including: comprehensive planning, economic development, environmental, historic preservation, community redevelopment, transportation, geographic information systems, education and research, and more.

FLiP is a partnership between the Planning Commission and Hillsborough County Public Schools in cooperation with ULI Tampa Bay and the Sun Coast Section of APA Florida. Thank you to The Beck Group and Jacobs for hosting the lunch programs and sharing your private consulting perspectives, and to all of our contributors for sharing your hospitality and valuable insights: Tampa Downtown Partnership; Walk Wise Tampa Bay;  City of Tampa Parks and Recreation; Tampa International Airport; HART; TECOline Streetcar; University of South Florida; the Center for Urban Transportation Research; USF's Masters in Urban & Regional Planning program; FDOT District 7; Ybor City Development Corporation; and Port Tampa Bay. We are looking forward to FLiP 2017!

View the #FLiP2016 photos �
Quality of Life 2015 Survey results are in!
The Quality of Life Survey began in 2002 to measure public perception of the quality of life in Hillsborough County. The Survey was designed by a statistical consultant and is now in its twelfth year. For consistency, the Survey has not been modified over time and uses eighteen factors chosen and ranked by a focus group of County residents. It was their consensus that these eighteen factors represent the quality of life in Hillsborough County. Staff also included an Overall Quality of Life factor to capture any other factors of importance to residents.

The universe from which the sample for the Survey was drawn is the list of registered voters in Hillsborough County as of October 2015 -- 772,443 registered voters. Given the size of the universe, 1,000 completed surveys were needed to reach the desired confidence level of 95 percent. A random sample of 20,000 registered voters was mailed surveys during the first week of January 2016. More than 1,800 completed surveys were returned. This year we also chose to analyze how public perception has changed from the peak of the economic boom to the post recession and recovery period. To measure the change in perception, this year's factor scores were compared with factor scores from the 2005 Survey.

View the Quality of Life Survey 2015 results �
TPC InfoBBQ

Next Info BBQ features Sam Schwartz
We are excited to announce that our next Info BBQ will be held on Friday, July 29th from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Plan Hillsborough Room in the Planning Commission office. Sam Schwartz, P.E. - former Traffic Commissioner of New York City a.k.a. "Gridlock Sam" - returns to Tampa to continue the conversation in collaboration with the Tampa Innovation Alliance on how his ideas can be applied, particularly in the areas around USF with focus on possible landscape and traffic design applications for major streets such as Fowler Avenue and others. His creative problem-solving for seemingly intractable situations have created many win-win-win situations, whereby traffic moves better, pedestrians are safer, and the community gains more sidewalk and green space.

Please bring your own brown bag lunch. Space is limited, so please RSVP to Sandy Mortellaro, 813.273.3774 x314.


View Info BBQ on calendar calendar �
New online format for Tampa Comprehensive Plan
The Imagine 2040: Tampa Comprehensive Plan is designed to shape the City's future for generations to come. And the plan is now available in an easier to view and search format online. Double-click to zoom, mousewheel to turn pages. Use controls to search, navigate, download, print or view full screen. The table of contents and index are linked, use them to easily browse specific topics.
Plan Your Parks in Hillsborough County now
Hillsborough County is updating the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and wants to learn about what you think makes for an outstanding park system.
There are more than 180 neighborhood parks, 118 playgrounds, 270 athletic fields, 53 community centers, 5 dog parks, and 3 skate parks in unincorporated Hillsborough County. Which park facilities and programs are most important to you? Your input will help improve our quality of life.

Innovation Alliance area wins $3.8M TechHire grant
The Federal Government has awarded Tampa one of 39 TechHire Partnership Grants across the nation. The $3.8 million grant is a major boost to the innovation district in the University area allowing for programming and training specifically for technology jobs. The grant was a result of a partnership between CareerSource Tampa Bay, University Area Community Development Corporation, Hillsborough County, Tampa Bay Technology Forum and the Tampa Innovation Alliance. U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor championed the effort. "Our hard-fought federal investment in jobs aims to recruit more than 1,000 young adults and low-wage workers in Tampa and the surrounding area, with a goal of preparing them for well-paying jobs in information technology and health care," said Congresswoman Castor. 

Read more about the TechHire initiative � 

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 �

Call for Entries
Entries due by August 26, 2016!
The Planning Commission is currently accepting 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 �

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 �



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.