MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE EASTERN SHORE – September 26, 2013 – The Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Board, Technical Advisory Committee, Citizens Advisory Committee, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee held a year-end joint meeting on September, 25, 2013, in the Daphne City Hall Council Chambers in Daphne, Alabama. The Policy Board is the governing body of the MPO. The Advisory Committees make recommendations to the Policy regarding transportation issues within the planning area.
The year-end joint meeting provided the Policy Board and Committee members with an opportunity to review the MPO’s first year of formal operation. MPO staff delivered a year-end presentation outlining the MPO’s accomplishments for fiscal year 2013. In 2010 the Federal Highway Administration designated twenty-three urban areas where new MPO’s would be formed. Of those twenty-three areas, the Eastern Shore is one of only four that has made considerable progress in establishing its MPO. MPO staff reported that the MPO’s success is the product of the strong participation, teamwork, and interest from elected officials and citizens throughout the planning area.
The MPO Policy Board and Committees held elections for the fiscal year 2014 officers. The Policy Board re-elected Baldwin County Commissioner Bob James as Chairperson and Fairhope Mayor Timothy Kant as Vice Chairperson. The Technical Advisory Committee re-elected Daphne Public Works Director Richard Johnson as Chairperson and City of Fairhope Public Works Director Jennifer Fidler as Vice Chairperson. The Citizens Advisory Committee re-elected Mr. Andrew James as Chairperson and Mr. Tedson Meyers as Vice Chairperson. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee re-elected Mr. Jeff Hudson as Chairperson and Mr. Phil Hooper as Vice Chairperson.
The only action item before the Policy Board was the adoption of Resolution 2013-17 approving the Final FY14 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The UPWP is the planning and administrative budget of the MPO. MPO staff explained that no substantive changes had been made to the document since the Draft version was unanimously approved by the Policy Board and all Committees in July. The Policy Board unanimously approved the Final FY14 UPWP.
The next meeting of the Eastern Shore MPO Policy Board is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at 10:00 AM in the meeting room of the Bass Pro Shops at 20000 Bass Pro Drive in Spanish Fort. The Policy Board will consider adding the first projects to the MPO’s project lists. For more information regarding the Eastern Shore MPO please visit www.easternshorempo.org or email coordinator@easternshorempo.org.