HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 09 23 Regular Item N
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COMMISSION AGENDA
ITEM N
REGULAR X
CONSENT
INFORMATIONAL
September 23 r 1996
Meeting
MGR. J?lJ IV[ IDEPT
Authorization
REQUEST: City Manager updating the Commission on the Rails to Trails Program.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Agenda item is to update the Commission on the Seminole
County Rails to Trails Program and a recent site visit to the West Orange County
Trail that is nearing completion in Orange County.
CONSIDERATIONS:
A. The Seminole County Rails to Trails Program has made a major step forward
toward implementation with the recent announcement of the Governors Office of
the states purchase of railroad right of way in Seminole County for the Trail
System.
B. On September 13, 1996 Seminole County sponsored a tour of the West Orange Trail
in Orange County.
Commissioner Gennell and I were the only ones from the City to attend.
The purpose of the tour was to give Seminole County official's an opportunity to
become more knowledgeable about the benefits and challenges of Trails.
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Observations
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Based upon the experience of other communities the proposed Cross Seminole Trail
that will pass through Winter Springs and Oviedo may be the single most beneficial
and popular project that the City will undertake for years into the future.
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There is an extraordinary level of interest in communities throughout the Country,
and in Seminole County in Trails.
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The economic spin off of trails is considerable.
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The contribution that trails make to the quality of life and sense of community
can be extraordinary.
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Opposition to trails has generally focused upon fears of public safety and intrusion
into neighborhoods. Experience has demonstrated that these concerns have not
materialized and that persons having these fears are becoming active supporters of
the trails after construction. Substantial information exists to address their concerns.
Key Issues for Winter Springs
1) How can the trail system be interfaced with develop potential in the City?
a) A Trail Head must be incorporated into the proposed town center and Central
Winds Park.
b) A Trail Head could attract a heavy weight developer and investor's into the
town center.
2) How do we get local elected officials, staff and the community focused upon the trail
concept? This focus does not exist today except with a few people.
3) How do we develop a citizen support for the trail system?
a) Public education if properly practiced will limit enthusiasm and reduce concern.
b) Sufficient informational and resources exist to accomplish this goal.
c) It was clear that full funding from the County was a fundamental case of the West
Orange Trails.
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4) How do we get the County and the Cities to develop a simple understandable financial
frame work for construction and mounting the trail system?
a) To date this has not been defined.
b) If financing is left to local initiatives a component of the system could be financed
in one City and not be financed in another destroying the system.
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5) How do we get an .aBSiEtiRt desigflcr?
a) Is the County going to set design standards for the trail or leave it up to the various
entities?
b) Experience seems to implicate that the design standards need to be controlled from
a central source.
c) This has not been declared yet.
6) How do we maintain sustained political support to see the project through?
a) If the support at the County level exists only with certain elected official's the
project could lose support if these officials are replaced in office for reasons that
have nothing to do with the trail.
b) Additionally, pockets of resistance could cause elected officials to distance
themselves from the project or even withdraw support.
c) It was clear from the Orange County experience the unwavering support from
elected officials of the trail system was a fundamental cause of the success of the
West Orange Trail System.
FUNDING: Not applicable
RECOMMENDATION:
For discussion purposes only.
ATTACHMENTS:
COMMISSION ACTION:
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