What’s New at the TBRPC
Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
The tougher challenges of the 21st century require regional thinkers, conveners and problem solvers. Since 1962, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council has brought together local governments and gubernatorial appointees to coordinate planning for the Region’s future. TBRPC provides a venue for analyzing issues, resolving problems, and sharing solutions among the jurisdictions in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas Counties.
ABOUT
To serve our citizens and member governments by providing a forum to foster communication, coordination, and collaboration in identifying and addressing issues and needs regionally.
TBRPC stands for Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, an association of local governments and gubernatorial representatives.
Florida’s Regional Planning Councils (RPCs) are public organizations that serve as bridges between state and local governments representing an area in which resources, characteristics, and issues co-exist. RPCs provide comprehensive planning and intergovernmental coordination for managed, responsible growth.
Florida Statutes 186.502(4)(1) recognize RPCs as Florida’s only multipurpose regional entities in a position to plan for and coordinate intergovernmental solutions to growth-related problems on greater-than-local issues, provide technical assistance to local governments, and meet other needs of the communities in each region.
TBRPC was established as Florida’s first regional planning council in 1962, when representatives from St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa recognized the need for regional coordination. They believed growth and community issues extend beyond county and municipal boundaries, a concept that still defines the Council’s purpose today. TBRPC is one of ten regional planning councils in Florida.
The region’s six counties, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas are required by law to exercise regional cooperation through membership on the Council. Other municipal members are Bradenton, Clearwater, Dade City, Dunedin, Gulfport, Largo, Madeira Beach, New Port Richey, Oldsmar, Palmetto, Pinellas Park, Plant City, Safety Harbor, Seminole, South Pasadena, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Temple Terrace, and Treasure Island.
These governments are represented on the Council by elected officials appointed by their local boards. They comprise two thirds of the Council’s membership. The Governor appoints additional members, making up the remaining third of the Council. There are also four ex-officio members representing the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection, and Enterprise Florida.
TBRPC’s specific duties include maintaining Future of the Region: A Strategic Regional Policy Plan for the Tampa Bay Region, environmental management, water quality and emergency preparedness planning, protection and restoration of the Tampa Bay estuary, economic analysis, coastal zone management, housing and infrastructure analysis, hurricane evacuation and recovery planning, development of regional impact review, local government comprehensive plan review, cross acceptance, dispute resolution, and review of transportation plans.
