APPENDIX B.2 FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "APPENDIX B.2 FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS"

Merry Elliott
5 years ago
Views:

1 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT APPENDIX B.2 FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS B.2.1 INTRODUCTION The Focus Group process was intended to provide a forum for the FAA to present information on the study process, identify and respond to pertinent project issues, discuss the results of important analyses, and to obtain comments/input. The Focus Group meetings were an avenue for public outreach and involvement as well as a means for providing the FAA s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) consultant a means to efficiently and effectively obtain the participation of the public outside of a large group setting. Public involvement, in general, was an integral part of the planning process, as it provided opportunities to engage local residents who may be affected by decisions made as a result of this study. This participation ensured that the most important issues to the greater airport communities would be brought forth for consideration. Several different venues were offered throughout this EIS for the general public to meet with the FAA and the FAA s consultant to discuss issues important to them. Those venues included public information workshops and a public hearing; and Project Focus Group meetings. The Project Focus Groups were specifically designed as small gatherings of the public who represented their community or homeowner association s concerns from neighborhoods surrounding the airport. This kind of intimate setting was intended to allow for the greatest opportunity to have open and honest exchanges of information between the public and the Project Management Team. Although Focus Group participants were not extended policymaking authority, they were assured that their concerns were heard and evaluated as an integral part of the NEPA process. B.2.2 PROJECT FOCUS GROUPS MISSION STATEMENT A Mission Statement was developed for Project Focus Group participants to define their purpose and role in the EIS study process. This mission statement was provided to all community representatives invited to participate in this process. The purpose of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Project Focus Groups is to provide input and feedback to the FAA Project Management Team for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for the proposed runway extension and study results. The FAA Project Focus Groups will consist of a small number of key public stakeholders who represent communities that may be affected by the proposed project. These small groups are to create a forum where information is shared and meaningful dialogue takes place between community-based leaders and the FAA Project Management Team. FAA Project Focus Group participants will not have any policy-making authority on such issues as the project s proposed purpose and need, the range of alternatives carried forward for Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B Focus Group Meetings Page B.2-1

2 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT detailed environmental analysis or proposed mitigation measures. Information garnered from these FAA Project Focus Groups will be taken into consideration by the FAA in the conduct of the EIS. B.2.3 PROJECT FOCUS GROUP REPRESENTATIVES The process to identify and invite participation in the Project Focus Groups was threefold. The EIS study area boundaries were defined so that potentially impacted communities could be identified. These boundaries were developed using a composite of previous airport noise contours (out to the 60 DNL). A substantial buffer area was then added to allow for the potential increase in the size of the future noise contour. The Study Area boundary lines were then squared off to follow roadways where available. Once the Study Area was defined, the next step was to obtain a comprehensive list of known key stakeholders living within the Study Area boundary. That list was obtained from the Community Relations Departments of both the Broward County Aviation Department and Broward County. Toward the goal of creating small groups that would allow for maximum participation and interface between the public and the FAA Consultant Team, the Project Focus Group invitee list included those individuals who represented homeowner or community associations. As this study evolved and word of its progress spread throughout local communities, updating these contact lists of key individuals was a constant, on-going process throughout the length of the project. The goal was to continue to bring interested people into the process rather than exclude anyone who might be affected by the results of this study. Four Project Focus Groups were proposed for the five communities located in the Study Area: Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Hollywood, Davie, and Dania Beach. In advance of each series of Focus Group meetings, an invitation letter from the FAA was sent to the current contact lists inviting them to become on-going participants in this process. Meetings were convened with each group at key project milestones: (1) Scoping; and (2) Purpose and Need, and Alternatives. B.2.4 EIS TEAM PARTICIPATION To allow for maximum participation and interaction between invited representatives from the communities surrounding the airport and Project Management Team members during the Focus Group meetings, smaller intimate venues were selected to hold these events. Public facilities including libraries and the County Governmental Center, centrally located within Broward County, were utilized with the public s convenience in mind. Credible open dialogue, in a non-threatening environment, stimulated even greater public interest in the project as requests for additional interaction opportunities was suggested by participants. Each of the Focus Group meetings was conducted by a professional meeting facilitator whose purpose was to guarantee equal opportunity for participation to all attendees. The FAA project manager and the project manager for the FAA s Consultant Team also participated at each meeting. As needed, and as dictated by the material being Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B Focus Group Meetings Page B.2-2

3 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT presented, technical professionals from the Consultant Team also participated in these meetings to present and engage in dialogue with the Focus Group members about specific FLL technical or strategic issues. B.2.5 FLORIDA SUNSHINE LAW The purpose of the Focus Group meetings was to have on-going dialogue with small groups of community residential leaders that may potentially be affected by the Proposed Project, and for the FAA/Consultant Team to present the NEPA process, as well as additional issues that arose throughout the study. While the membership of the Focus Groups included a small number of elected officials, the purpose of convening these groups was not to make decisions, but rather to give comments and to exchange information. The Focus Groups were, in effect, fact finding meetings in small groups in order to allow for meaningful discussion. On advice from the Broward County Assistant Attorney, there was no need to post a Sunshine Notice. 1 If, and at such time, any information were to have been presented to the Broward County Board of County Commissioners for consideration and perhaps a vote, then a Sunshine Notice would have needed to be posted, brief minutes kept, and the meeting would have to be held in an accessible location. * * * * * This appendix includes meeting materials from Focus Group meetings held on: 1) Meeting #1 - February 16 and 17, ) Meeting #2 - January 18 and 19, Florida Sunshine Law: Florida began its tradition of openness back in 1909 with the passage of what has come to be known as the "Public Records Law," Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. This law provides that any records made or received by any public agency in the course of its official business are available for inspection, unless specifically exempted by the Legislature. Because the members of the Focus Groups are not publicly elected to membership in this group and because no decision-making actions/activities result, the meetings were not subject to the provisions of the Florida Sunshine Law. Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B Focus Group Meetings Page B.2-3

4 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B Focus Group Meetings Page B.2-4

22 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT Name Home Owners Association Location Map Point Bobbie H. Grace Northwest/Byrd Pointe Civic Assn Dania Beach C-5 Patty Hague Dania Beach Improvement Comm Dania Beach C-8 Janice Peterman College Gardens Neighbor Dania Beach C-7 Lisa Young Dania Heights Civic Association Dania Beach C-13 Anne Castro Melaleuca Gardens HOA Dania Beach C-14 John Erling SE Dania Coalition of Citizens Dania Beach C-6 John Etling Homes at Sheridan Ocean Club Dania Beach C-3 Patty Hart Royal Palm Vista's Assn Dania Beach C-1 George Jason Dania Beach Neighborhoods United Dania Beach C-10 George Jason Davis Isles HOA Dania Beach C-12 Sophie Steele Southeast Dania Civic Assn Dania Beach C-4 Anthony Stevens Dania Civic Assn Dania Beach C-2 William Walton SE Park Neighborhood Dania Beach C-11 Nova North Condo Assn. Davie D-7 Norman Blanco Villas of Arista Park Davie D-9 Sharon Gibson Hilcrest 4100 Condo Assn Davie D-5 T. J. Slocumb Silver Lakes H.O.A. Davie D-10 Leslie Umschweis Willow Lake Ranch H.O.A. Davie D-14 Matt Becker Exotic Acres Davie D-6 Frank M. Beisler Everglades Lakes HOA Davie D-21 Betty Bekowsky Rolling Hills Golf& Tennis Club Davie D-18 Denise Corral Tenant Services Coord. Davie D-12 Lloyd Cretisinger TownHomes at Orange Dr. H.O.A Davie D-20 Frank Dickinson University Village Condo 2 Assn Davie D-16 Chris Gianni Marlboro Estates Condo Assn Davie D-4 Robert Harris Davie Lakes H.O.A. Davie D-1 Eleanor Keeler Everglades H.O.A. Davie D-11 Don Looker Potter Park Advisory Board Davie D-17 Don Smith Arrowhead Country Club H.O.A. Davie D-8 Neil Starr Nova Village H.O.A. Davie D-2 Yvonne Siegrist Everglades Mobile Park Davie D-23 Brenda Wolk Arrowhead H.O.A. Davie D-3 Nova Hills Condo Assn Davie D-13 Palm Haven Mobile Home Park Davie D-15 Stirling West Condo Assn Davie D-19 Nova Townhomes #3 Davie D-22 Laurel Oaks East HOA Davie E Goldsmith Nova Townhouses Condo Assn Davie Arapahoe Farms HOA Fort Lauderdale A-4 James DeHart Melrose Manors H.O.A. Fort Lauderdale B-7 Elizabeth Hays River Run Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-4 Kevin J. Loy Oak River H.O.A. Fort Lauderdale B-1 Rusty McCormick Griffin Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale C-9 Diane Russo Lauderdale West Assn Fort Lauderdale B-8 Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B.2 Focus Group Meetings

23 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT Name Home Owners Association Location Map Point Kelly Manning River Oaks Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-5 Virgil Niederriter Riverland Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-3 Roger Suarez Sunset Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-2 Yvonne Burton Southwest Coalition of Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-6 Theresa Davenport Ness Trailer Park Fort Lauderdale Emily Maxim Carriage Hills Condo Assn Hollywood A-2 Lenora Chechla Emerald Hills H.O.A. Hollywood A-1 John Passalacqua Hollywood North Beach Assn. Hollywood A-3 Robert Dytkowski Beaumont Homeowners Association Plantation B-9 Dawn Raduano Country Club Estates Plantation B-10 Charley Wilson Country Club Apartment Plantation B-11 Mary Lynn Rumin Eldorado Estates Plantation B-12 Cory Lloyd Fairway View Apartment Plantation B-13 Lonnie Gatewood Hawthorne Village Plantation B-14 Barry Shaw Isla Del Sol Plantation B-15 Kay Marston Kings Court Apartments Plantation B-16 Kay Marston Kingston Square Apartments Plantation B-17 WM Wyant Plantation Club Plantation B-18 Ellen Gibbs Plantation Golf Estates Plantation B-19 Monti Larsen Plantation Harbor Townhomes Plantation B-20 Dave Runkle Plantation Isles Plantation B-21 Bill Cuthbertson Plantation Manor Condo Plantation B-22 Dick Ware Plantation Park Plantation B-23 Cheri Marshall S. Plantation HO & Yacht Club Plantation B-24 Harry Cohn Village Green Condo Plantation B-25 Note: Post Office Boxes were not mapped. Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B.2 Focus Group Meetings

42 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS #2 January 18 and 19, 2006 Meeting Summary Invitation Letter Invitation Letter Distribution List Homeowner/Neighborhood Associations Identified in the Study Area List/Map Meeting Registration Presentation Materials Post-Meeting Mailing Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B.2 Focus Group Meetings

43 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B.2 Focus Group Meetings

44 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS #2: PURPOSE & NEED / ALTERNATIVES The second of the four Focus Group Meetings was held on two consecutive days in January Representatives from neighborhood associations and community leaders in Fort Lauderdale and Plantation were invited to meet on January 18, 2006 while the Dania Beach, Davie, and Hollywood homeowner association representatives and community leaders were invited to meet on January 19, Due to the amount of information to be shared with the public at this point in the study, both meetings were 135 minutes in duration with approximately 60 minutes of formal presentation followed by 75 minutes of open discussion. A copy of the materials reviewed and distributed at this meeting, plus a copy of the sign-in sheets are provided at the end of this appendix. January 18, :30 p.m. 8:45 p.m. Fort Lauderdale, Plantation at Broward County Governmental Center 115 S. Andrews Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL January 19, :30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. Dania Beach, Davie, Hollywood at Broward County Library Stirling Road Branch 3151 Stirling Road Hollywood, FL Summary Meeting Notes The presentation and discussion at the following meetings centered on Purpose and Need of the Sponsor s Proposed Project and the range of alternatives to be evaluated. The following are comments and or questions raised by the Focus Group participants by each community. Fort Lauderdale/Plantation Meeting Comments Use of other airports; why can t large commercial operations go to Miami or West Palm? Why can t general aviation operations be moved to other airports? Limit gate expansion to curtail growth at FLL? What impact would slots have at FLL? Whose decision would it be to implement slots and how would that be accomplished? What effect would slots have on demand at FLL? How were the FAA Terminal Area Forecasts (TAF) developed? How current are they? How accurate are they? Why is the project team relying on forecasts that may not be true? Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B.2 Focus Group Meetings

45 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT Lengthy discussion regarding demand management at FLL. What effect would peak hour pricing affect operations? How would that be implemented? Who would be responsible for that management decision; the FAA or Commissioners? Can the implementation of such a system quantify the potential reduction of traffic? Dania Beach, Davie, Hollywood Comments Validity of TAF was questioned. Are you looking at other airports in south Florida for solutions? When will the EIS study include the County s Part 150 study information? Why is the terminal considered to be a fatal flaw in the alternatives screening analysis? Where would the north airfield facilities be relocated in Alternative C1? Would the FAA consider approaches along the I-595 corridor with a dogleg into Runway 9L? Alternative D2 will have a significant impact to the residents of Davie. If the north airfield facilities are relocated to the south airfield what will happen to the berm on the south airfield? If Alternative D2 is selected, would the informal use agreement be lifted? Who will determine the amount of Federal funding FLL will receive to construct this project? How will it be determined? There was a considerable amount of discussion regarding delays at FLL. Many feel delays are due to traffic and ground delays elsewhere such as in Atlanta. Residents report that the BCAD Aviation Director stated in October of 2005 that the airspace and delay at FLL is due to other system and airspace delays so there is confusion as to the data being utilized to support this study. Why was the crosswind runway eliminated? Other Factors: Hurricane Wilma October 24, 2005 The second series of Focus Group meetings came less than three months after Hurricane Wilma, which had a significant impact on the greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County area residents. At that time, people living within close proximity to FLL were still struggling with property loss and repair issues as well as diminished community services. Notably, one homeowner association president reported to the Project Management Team during the Focus Group meeting on January 19, 2006 that upwards of 131 residents within her community alone had suffered such significant damage as to necessitate relocation out of the area. The reality is that this was not an isolated set of circumstances. The reduction of participation in the second series of Focus Group meetings from the first series could be attributable to the public s emphasis clearly being on their own immediate living and quality of life conditions over their concerns regarding airport expansion. Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B.2 Focus Group Meetings

54 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT Map Name Home Owners Association Location Point Lisa Young Dania Heights Civic Association Dania Beach C-13 Robert Dytkowski Beaumont Homeowners Association Plantation B-9 Dawn Raduano Country Club Estates Plantation B-10 Charley Wilson Country Club Apartment Plantation B-11 Mary Lynn Rumin Eldorado Estates Plantation B-12 Cory Lloyd Fairway View Apartment Plantation B-13 Lonnie Gatewood Hawthorne Village Plantation B-14 Barry Shaw Isla Del Sol Plantation B-15 Kay Marston Kings Court Apartments Plantation B-16 Kay Marston Kingston Square Apartments Plantation B-17 WM Wyant Plantation Club Plantation B-18 Ellen Gibbs Plantation Golf Estates Plantation B-19 Monti Larsen Plantation Harbor Townhomes Plantation B-20 Dave Runkle Plantation Isles Plantation B-21 Bill Cuthbertson Plantation Manor Condo Plantation B-22 Dick Ware Plantation Park Plantation B-23 Cheri Marshall S. Plantation HO & Yacht Club Plantation B-24 Harry Cohn Village Green Condo Plantation B-25 Anne Castro Melaleuca Gardens HOA Dania Beach C-14 Patty Hart Royal Palm Vista's Assn Dania Beach C-1 George Jason Dania Beach Neighborhoods United Dania Beach C-10 William Walton SE Park Neighborhood Dania Beach C-11 George Jason Davis Isles HOA Dania Beach C-12 Anthony Stevens Dania Civic Assn Dania Beach C-2 John Etling Homes at Sheridan Ocean Club Dania Beach C-3 Sophie Steele Southeast Dania Civic Assn Dania Beach C-4 Bobbie H. Grace Northwest/Byrd Pointe Civic Assn Dania Beach C-5 John Erling SE Dania Coalition of Citizens Dania Beach C-6 Janice Peterman College Gardens Neighbor Dania Beach C-7 Patty Hague Dania Beach Improvement Comm Dania Beach C-8 Rusty McCormick Griffin Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale C-9 Donna Peplin Avon Isles HOA Dania Beach C-15 Cindy Gross Belle Aire Condo Fort Lauderdale C-16 Peter Quinn Treasure Cove HOA Fort Lauderdale C-17 Fred Griffin Harger Hills Fort Lauderdale C-18 Chantal Gagnon Key North HOA Dania Beach C-19 Lale Blostein Oak Hills Condo Fort Lauderdale C-20 Guillermo Garcia Oakbridge Condo Assoc. Fort Lauderdale C-21 Kimberly Tucker Playland Islands Assoc. Dania Beach C-22 Harry Wilson Ravenswood Mgmt. Assoc. Fort Lauderdale C-23 Ana Kennedy Sandpiper Woods HOA Dania Beach C-24 Bill Fullwood Shady Ridge States Fort Lauderdale A-10 Syd Rush The Oaks Condo Fort Lauderdale C-25 Joe Van Eron Triangle Village Assoc. Dania Beach C-26 Nancy Robertson Twin Oaks Fort Lauderdale C-27 Joann Brady Village Town Homes Fort Lauderdale C-28 Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B.2 Focus Group Meetings

55 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT Name Home Owners Association Location Pamela Wilson Woodland Lane Fort Lauderdale C-29 Robert Harris Davie Lakes H.O.A. Davie D-1 Eleanor Keeler Everglades H.O.A. Davie D-11 Denise Corral Tenant Services Coord. Davie D-12 Nova Hills Condo Assn Davie D-13 Leslie Umschweis Willow Lake Ranch H.O.A. Davie D-14 Palm Haven Mobile Home Park Davie D-15 Don Looker Potter Park Advisory Board Davie D-17 Betty Bekowsky Rolling Hills Golf& Tennis Club Davie D-18 Stirling West Condo Assn Davie D-19 Nova Townhomes #3 Davie D-22 Neil Starr Nova Village H.O.A. Davie D-2 Brenda Wolk Arrowhead H.O.A. Davie D-3 Chris Gianni Marlboro Estates Condo Assn Davie D-4 Sharon Gibson Hilcrest 4100 Condo Assn Davie D-5 Nova North Condo Assn. Davie D-7 T. J. Slocumb Silver Lakes H.O.A. Davie D-10 Frank Dickinson University Village Condo 2 Assn Davie D-16 Lloyd Cretisinger TownHomes at Orange Dr. H.O.A Davie D-20 Frank M. Beisler Everglades Lakes HOA Davie D-21 Ruth Vaughn Everglades Mobile Park Davie D-23 Matt Becker Exotic Acres Davie D-6 Don Smith Arrowhead Country Club H.O.A. Davie D-8 Norman Blanco Villas of Arista Park Davie D-9 James DeHart Melrose Manors H.O.A. Fort Lauderdale B-7 Kevin J. Loy Oak River H.O.A. Fort Lauderdale B-1 Virgil Niederriter Riverland Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-3 Roger Suarez Sunset Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-2 Kelly Manning River Oaks Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-5 Elizabeth Hays River Run Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-4 Yvonne Burton Arapahoe Farms HOA Fort Lauderdale A-4 Southwest Coalition of Civic Assn Fort Lauderdale B-6 Diane Russo Lauderdale West Assn Fort Lauderdale B-8 Lenora Chechla Emerald Hills H.O.A. Hollywood A-1 Emily Maxim Carriage Hills Condo Assn Hollywood A-2 John Passalacqua Hollywood North Beach Assn. Hollywood A-3 John Gattuso Breakwater Surf Club HOA Fort Lauderdale B-26 Albert Miller Chula Vista Isles HOA Fort Lauderdale B-27 Cindy Jacobson Greater Flamingo Park Civ. Assoc Fort Lauderdale B-28 Craig Canning Lauderdale Isles Improv. Assoc. Fort Lauderdale B-29 Alex Cabrera Riverland Village Civic Assoc. Fort Lauderdale B-30 Fredric Buresh Riverland Woods HOA Fort Lauderdale B-31 Brian Sayer Riverlandings HOA Fort Lauderdale B-32 Mike Franco Emerald Oaks Hollywood A-5 Judy Weiss Hollywood Gardens Assoc. Hollywood A-6 Townhouses of Emerald Hills Hollywood A-7 Cynthia Sherr Oakridge HOA Hollywood A-8 Clive Horwitz Oakridge POA Fort Lauderdale A-9 Map Point Landrum & Brown Team March 2007 Appendix B.2 Focus Group Meetings

68 FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DRAFT THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

APPENDIX B.2 FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS

FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FINAL B.2.1 INTRODUCTION APPENDIX B.2 FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS The Focus Group process was intended to provide a forum for the