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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_01.09.2006Minutes of the Meeting of Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas Monday, January 9, 2006 The Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Monday , January 9, 2006 presiding. Board Members Present: Jack Noble - Chair, Johnny Anderson - Vice Chair, Ricki Salazar - Secretary, Henry Carr, Doug Smith, Charlene Mendoza Board Members Absent: Howell Jones Staff Present: Paul Brandenburg, Jim Briggs, Jana Kern, Micki Rundell, Ed Polasek. Joel Weaver, Tom Benz, Mark Miller, Joe Lara, Laurie Brewer, Mark Thomas Others Present: Ercel Brashear - GISD Minutes Regular Meeting Meeting called to order by Mr. Jack Noble @ 1:00 p.m. A. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the meeting held December 5, 2005. Jana Kern Discussion: None Action: Motion by Smith, seconded by Anderson to approve the minutes as written. Approved 6-0 (Howell Jones absent) B. Discussion and possible action related to the Board's recommendation that Council authorize staff to formulate a funding plan and finalize contract negotiations with TxDOT; and also recommends that Council consider approving the Pass Through Toll funding plan, contingent upon State approval. Jim Briggs and Micki Rundell Discussion: Briggs updated the Board on where we are on Pass Through Toll funding. Prior to December 25, 2005, we had some discussions with some members of Council along with the Mayor about monitoring what was happening with Pass Through Tolling, in conjunction with some of the transportation improvements Georgetown has lined up as part of the Thoroughfare Plan. The legislature in the last session, approved an arrangement were Cities, Counties, local Government - other than the State,could advance transportation projects in there area by a mechanism called Pass Through Tolling. This is not a toll road type of tolling it is a type of funding mechanism by which the State has certain part of money; the local entity has a part of the money. This will get the project on the ground quicker by going into a contract with a local government. The project could be built faster, so more vehicles are freed up from congestion. Back in the Fall, Williamson County made their request for $151M. for Pass Through Funding Improvements. That was approved by the State and they are now working on a contract. What this means to Williamson County instead of paying the $151M, their cost will now be around $20-$24 M. Therefore, we, The City of Georgetown, would not have to bear the full burden of funding for some of our roads we have submitted a requested for proximately $160M. In your packet, you have listed the projects that were submitted. Rundell explained to the Board how the financing would work. We have visited with the City Bond Council and with the financial advisor. What we have learned is that this is a funding mechanism. It is contingent to escalate projects. The projects that have to be approved have to be on then State System or in their forecast in order for them to be eligible. Pass through tolls represent payments by TxDOT to an entity over time based upon actual traffic. These payments may be used to offset project-related financing on qualifying projects that otherwise would not be built for many years by TxDOT. Determination of the amount the TxDOT will pay annually for each project is a negotiated process, based in large part on the relative importance and the inflated forecast future cost of the project. Actual pass through toll payments will take into account the actual vehicle miles traveled during the payment period compared with contractually guaranteed minimum and allowable maximum annual dollar payments. Complete discussion is on tape. Ercel Brashear - Representing GISD: The School District went to the Commissioners Court to discuss the possibility of including a portion of HWY 29 and any subsequent bond application or pass through tolling applications that county may be taking up. We have visited with TxDOT in August and again in September to talk about a track of land that the district is buying on the east side of SH 130. In the discussion about what the TxDOT time line was or highway improvements they suggested that this is exactly the kind of project they thought ought to be funded through the pass through tolls and take it to the County they are putting a package together. We did that, I have visited with the County last week, and their response was "it really to small of a project, you are not thinking large enough". The County suggested that we bring it to the City, although the County did approve our request if they have flexibility in the future and they are going to put another package together, this would be one of the projects they would be willing to consider. From that meeting I have come in here today to tell you that GISD has an interest if there is flexibility in your program. If you have the opportunity to focus on HWY 29, we are interested in that portion of that roadway from Inner Loop Road out to/past SH 130, and out to CR 104. We are looking for you to have that on your radar screen if possible. We want you to be aware that we are going out there to build a school and if this is a mechanism to help get roadway improvements done then we would like to encourage you to do so. Question from Smith - Is it a done deal to build the school out there? Ans by Brashear - The district seems to think that it is a done deal. The District took it to the voters and said, "this is where we want to build a school" and then bond issue passed. That does not mean that it will happen. Question by Anderson - What would be the time schedule for building the new school? Ans by Brashear - The goal now is to have the Ninth Grade Center open in three years. Then at some point in the future to turn that into the second high school. The belief is that probably within eight years from now the second high school is kicked in. The transportation facility is proposed for that site as well. That will allow the district to move the bus barn off the existing high school site so the new stadium can go there. It will be a multi use parcel. Anderson asked - So that will give us the opportunity if we do not get it in this go around to get it into another go around. Ans by Brashear - Yes that is what I am here to do is to say if you do this again and the State tells us that they visualize this happening on an annual basis. If that is the case and Georgetown is going to do that more than once, we just would like for you to be cognoscente of HWY 29 meeting many of the requirements that you are looking for. Action: Motion by Carr, seconded by Salazar, to approve the submittal to the State, and recommend to Council that we pursue the contract with the State to get the projects listed for $160m. Question by Anderson - What is the approval process for this? Ans by Briggs - It will go to the District Engineer. It will be reviewed by his staff and the Chief Financial Officer with the Commission, headquartered in Austin. They will discuss this item to see whether they have funding available. Then the engineering staff looks at it to see if they are viable projects. At that point when he gets an indication that yes this thing could make. He proposes a date on which he would carry it to the Commission. The Commission gives him the authorization and a vote to go and negotiate the contract. Once the contract is inked and approved at that point everything will be a go. Approved 6-0 (Jones absent) C. Discussion and possible action related to the process for formulating the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP); including discussion of the current year's TIP and ideas from the Board related to the TIP for 2006/2007. Jim Briggs and Ed Polasek Discussion: Polasek present this item. Polasek explained what the process entails. GTEC determined that there were $153m total of eligible projects over the next five years. That is no were close to the funding capabilities of the GTEC Board. GTEC has determined that these projects are eligible, but there is no way they can build all of these projects. We are about to begin the eligibility process again with GTEC. I am working with the consultant to get a contract amendment so they can go through and update the model based on current conditions. We have a list of projects; we know what is eligible and not eligible. We also know that GTEC cannot fund all of the eligible projects. Briggs discussed the relationship between GTAB & GTEC. GTAB can send projects to GTEC to see if the project qualifies. GTEC could respond, no it does not qualify, yes, it does qualify and we have funding, or yes, it does qualify, but we have no funding. GTAB in its self does not have any funding. However, GTAB can look at the overall community needs as far as transportation, recommending priorities to GTEC as they go through their process of prioritizing projects. GTEC will get their TIP book at their March meeting. Once GTEC has reviewed/prioritized the list of projects, GTAB will get their TIP book. Lengthy discussion about the TIP books and what qualifies. Full discussion is on tape. Action: None Motion by Anderson, seconded by Smith to adjourn meeting. Approved 6-0 (Jones absent) Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 02:23 PM. Approved : Attest: _______________________ ________________________ Jack Noble - Chair Ricki Salazar - Secretary