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