The CRA Role in Resiliency
4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Palma Ceia 3-4
Community Redevelopment Agencies can help with resiliency issues, which are a hot topic in Florida’s urban areas. Both arenas include issues that are long term in scope, broad in application and involve many “moving parts.” How can this dramatic urban planning challenge be incorporated into CRA plans? We will identify some guiding principles for budgeting and implementation. We will also share practical tips for framing discussions and managing projects. Finally, we will compile a “cheat sheet” of resources for collaborative success.
Moderator: The Honorable Peter Altman, Councilmember, City of New Port Richey
Speakers: CJ Reynolds, Director of Resilience and Engagement, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and Evan Johnson, AICP, LEED AP, Business Development Manager, Pinellas County
The Honorable Peter Altman Mr. Altman is a Councilmember in the City of New Port Richey. He is a CPA and has managed over 20 Community Development Districts (CDDs) in Florida. Born in St. Petersburg, Peter is a USF graduate with an Accounting Degree. As the former Mayor, he also served as the Finance Director for the city. Reelected in 2018, he serves as an elected official member of the Florida Redevelopment Association. He is a local government representative member of Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
CJ Reynolds Ms. Reynolds is the Director of Resilience and Engagement for the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. She is also the staff lead for the Tampa Bay Regional Resilience Coalition, which was formed in 2018 and currently includes 28 local governments. CJ has more than 25 years of experience working with scientists, local governments, professional associations, agencies and the private sector to identify and address emerging risks through innovative research and training partnerships. As the Resilience Coalition lead, she works with elected officials and staff to support integration of resilience strategies into all departments and plans. From 2011 to 2018, CJ was a researcher at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, where she developed and coordinated federal grant research projects involving local governments to assess attitudes related to risk, adaptation strategies and municipal finance. Prior to moving to Florida, CJ was the Director of Industry Education at Merieux NutriSciences, a global food testing and consulting company, where she led the development of technical services and training for new food safety regulations and standards. She has also served as the director of public relations for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. CJ has a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University.
Evan Johnson Mr. Johnson is the Business Development Manager for Pinellas County. Mr. Johnson has worked with Florida communities on a wide variety of projects across the state for the past ten years, public and private sector. He is a committed historic preservationist, an urban design and mobility-oriented urban planner, and he has special experience in the critical interplay of land use and transportation. He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Florida State University. He was awarded Young Planner of the Year in 2008 by the American Planning Association, and Planner of the Year by the American Planning Association Florida Sun Coast Section in 2008. He serves on the Board of Directors, Friends of Tampa Union Station, Inc., and was elected President in 2014, as well as the Board of the Florida Redevelopment Association.