HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES_GTAB_07.11.2014Notice of Meeting of the
Georgetown Transportation Advisor- Board and the
Governing Body of the Cite of Georgetown, Texas
July 11, 2014
The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If
you require assistance in participation at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the ADA,
reasonable assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon request. Please contact the
City at least four (4) days prior to the scheduled meeting date, at (512)930-3652 or City Hall at 113 East 8th
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Board Members: Rachel Jonrowe — Vice Chair, Scott Rankin, Ray Armour, Chris H'Luz, John Pettitt,
Steve Johnston
Board Members Absent: Truman Hunt — Chair, John Hesser — Secretary, David Johnson,
Staff Present: Ed Polasek, Jana Kern, Wes Wright, Bill Dryden, Nat Waggoner, Bridget Chapman, Curtis
Benkendorfer, Jim Briggs, Mike Babin, Mark Miller
Others Present: Hugh Norris, John Milford — ACC, Bruce Barton — Omni Properties, Jacob Walker —
Citizen, Tom Crawford — 2015 Road Bond Committee, Ron & Catherine Bindas — Citizens (Airport users),
Mark Allen — Longhorn Properties, Matt Loeschman — Wilco Sun, and Sue Hains - Citizen
Regular Session
A. Call to Order: Ms. Rachel Jonrowe called the Regular GTAB Board Meeting to order on Friday,
July 11, 2014 at 10:00 AM
Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to
convene an Executive Session at the request of the Chair, a Board Member, The City Manager,
Assistant City Manager, General Manager of Utilities, City Council Member, or legal counsel for
any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551, and
are subject to action in the Regular Session that follows.
B. Introduction of Visitors
C. Industry/CAMPO/TxDOT Updates: The CAMPO Call Committee has selected a new director.
D. Discussion regarding the Project Progress Reports and Time Lines — Bill Dryden, P. E.,
Transportation Engineer, Mark Miller, Transportation Services Manager, Nat Waggoner, PMP 0
Transportation Analyst and Edward G. Polasek, AICP, Transportation Services Director.
E. Discussion regarding the Airport Project Progress Report and Time Lines. — Curtis Benkendorfer,
Acting Airport Manager and Edward G. Polasek, AICP, Transportation Services Director.
Mr. Norris spoke to the Board. See statement at end of minutes.
Legislative Regular Agenda
The Board will individually consider and possibly take action on any or all of the following
items:
F. Review and possible action to approve the minutes from the Regular GTAB Board meeting
held on June 13, 2014 — Jana Kern
Motion by Johnston, second by Pettitt to approve minutes as presented. Approved unanimously
6-0 (Hunt, Johnson, & Hesser absent)
G. Discussion and possible recommendation to Council to alter the speed zones along Northeast
Inner Loop between FM 971 and University Avenue to remove the reduction in the speed limits
of an existing, non-compliant school zone. — Bill Dryden, P.E., Transportation Engineer, and
Edward G. Polasek, AICP, Transportation Services Director.
Dryden stated that a citizen has challenged the validity of the school zone at NE Inner Loop by
Forbes Middle School and Cooper Elementary School. There was lengthy discussion on the traffic
and pedestrian patterns today and what it could be in the future when this area develops.
Dryden also stated that if the school zone was removed it would be much harder to re-establish
it. Briggs stated that by leaving the school zone in place it brings awareness to the drivers in that
area that there are schools there.
Motion by Armour, second by Pettitt to leave the NE Inner Loop school zone in place.
Approved unanimously 6-0 (Hunt, Johnson & Hesser Absent)
Recessed into Executive Session at 10:44 AM
H. Executive Session: Called to order at 10:46 AM
In compliance with the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551. Government Code, Vernon's Texas
Codes, Annotated, The items listed below will be discussed in closed session and are subjected to
action in regular session.
Section 551.071 Consultation with Attorney
Airport Update — Bridget Chapman, City Attorney
Returned to Regular Session at 12:10 AM
I. Action from Executive Session
No Action Required
Adjournment
ournment
Motion by Pettitt, second by Armour to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned at 12:11 PM.
Approved unanimously 6-0 (Hunt, Johnson & Hesser Absent)
Approved:
Rachel Jonrowe — Vice Chair
Attested:
John Hesser — Secretary
Jana R. Kern — GTAB Board Liaison
Statement from Mr. Norris:
GTAB MEETING - 071114
AGENDA ITEM "E"
AIRPORT PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT AND TIME LINES
POINT PAPER
Movie Line — Cool Hand Luke - "What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate" - Verbal
flair at June meeting - Mutual need for venting — This is 14 th presentation by ACC to the
GTAB since February 2014
Secretary of Transportation letter — Handout — Cause for letter: GTAB Belligerence, Lies,
Stonewalling — Concern for July Date for Work Order for Runway Lighting Contract -
--Next Steps
AL Repeat Of Previous 7 Specific ACC Requests Stonewalled Since February 2014:
1. GTAB Request City Council to implement ACC January 14, 2014 consensus request
2. GTAB staff briefing- Gantt Chart — 20 project elements in TxDOT CIP for GTU — Need for
GTAB Management.
3. GTAB staff briefing -12 Ac. Land Acquisition — background of need - Other FAA deficiencies
Before or After Land Acquisition Need — current status for completion and by whom
4. Request for GTAB Workshops — Note June Minutes Attachment — ACC Questions — Reduce
ORR's
5. GTAB request to City Council for Engineering Feasibility Study for Alternate Williamson
County Regional Airport
6. GTAB request to City Council for Consultant Contract for Hearings/Consensus Process
7. GTAB request to City Council for Blue Ribbon Committee for Management of New Airport
Feasibility Study and Consensus Process Consultant Manager.
June23,2014
The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx
U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Office of the Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Foxx:
This is an urgent request that you direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
place an immediate and permanent hold on issuance of any further Federal grant funds to the City of
Georgetown, Texas related to the city's Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU) capital improvement
program (CIP) pending completion of an Environmental Impact Statement followed by a citizens
consensus of endorsement or rejection for use of said funds for all GTU improvements.
Implementation of the current Federally funded GTU CIP will subject the general public both within
and without Georgetown, Texas to a future of degrading safety, environmental, social and cultural
impacts.
To date, no public hearings as required by 49 USC 47106 (c)(1)(A)(i)), FAA Order 1050.1, FAA Order
5100.38C, FAA Order 5050.48 and other applicable Federal grant public participation requirements
have been held by the city in the history of the GTU. The location of the GTU is the critical factor that
mandates implementation of these cited public participation regulations.
This request is made on behalf of the Airport Concerned Citizens (ACC), a group of local Georgetown
citizens and the general public of the city. We made our initial formal request to the City Council on
January 14,2014 for a hold on the GTU Federally funded capital improvement program (CIP) pending
completion of a public participation process concluding with a citizens consensus of endorsement of
the program. Our request was ignored. Since that date on a monthly basis we have faithfully made
repeated requests, recommendations and statements regarding the city's airport planning and
improvements program both to our City Council and the Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board
which provides oversight on airport issues. Portions of the current Federally funded GTU 201412015
CIP are currently underway. The city continues to ignore our urgent requests.
The City of Georgetown is located in the fastest growing regional metropolitan area in the nation. The
city's population has more than doubled in the past decade. It is projected to expand from its current
population size of over 50,000 to near 200,000 in state water planning future projections. The city's
citizen owned GTU of 652 acres is planned and zoned as a Planned Unit Development for Industrial
use and is located in the heart of the growing city. Implementation of the current Federally funded GTU
CIP will produce a future where aircraft landings and take offs will occur in day and dead of night in
the worst possible weather conditions over homes, schools, hospitals and businesses by an ever
expanding number and types of general aviation aircraft.
In addition, the GTU is located totally over the Edwards Recharge Zone (ERZ), habitat for a host of
threatened and endangered species, and the water source for the Edwards Aquifer, the sole drinking
water source for millions of people in Texas. The city has previously been cited by the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for violations of ERZ rules for its GTU underground
fuel tanks. Environmental damage resulting from these violations is not yet determined. Aviation
industrial operations by private businesses for repairing and rehabilitation of piston and jet engines and
aircraft frame and interior stripping, repainting and reconditioning have been in operation at the GTU
for decades with no investigations of possible detrimental impacts on the ERZ by use, storage and
disposal of hazardous materials.
One of the current GTU CIP projects is a $200,000 master plan update which, in our ACC opinion, will
require the consultant to examine runway extensions by condemnation of residential homes, added
service capabilities for an expanded air fleet and development of over 100 acres of land for additional
aviation commercial/industrial support services in heart of our growing, expanding city. Experience of
EPA, TCEQ, AFCEE and other environmental oriented organizations experienced with rehabilitation of
Kelly AFB can attest to the types of hazardous substances and their environmental impacts are
associated with aviation and associated industrial type operations and activities.
There is an alternative to the currently sited GTU, a Williamson County Regional Airport. Said
alterative could continue to serve as a reliever airport, be sited in the northeast quadrant of city off the
ERZ, and outside the city's 2030 Projected Land Use study area.
This alternative site could be designed for all future reliever general aviation regional needs and be
properly protected with non -access easements. Further, this alternative could be operated to benefit all
regional taxing and political entities. The alternative site could be financed by conversion of the
existing GTU property to high value real estate. This would provide a perpetual flow of property and
sales tax funds to the city treasury. After sponsorship of over $23.5 Million of taxpayer funds for GTU
improvements, the city refuses to fund a professional consulting study to examine this alternative.
Unless immediate actions are taken pursuant to our above request, the Department of Transportation
could be held accountable as a fundamental responsible agent for future degrading city and
metropolitan areas should the current Federally funded GTU CIP continue on its present course.
Should added information be desired, please advise.
Respectfully,
Hugh C. Norris, Jr.
4400 Luna Trail
Georgetown, Texas 7 8628
{512)868-2718
Cnorris29@suddenlink.net
CC:
The Honorable John Cornyn, Senator for Texas
The Honorable Ted Cruz, Senator for Texas
The Honorable John Carter, Congressman - Texas 31St Congressional District
The Honorable Michael P. Huerta, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
The Honorable Gina McCarthy, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
The Honorable Charles Schwertner, State Senator District 5
The Honorable Marsha Farney State Representative, District 20
The Honorable Dale Ross, Mayor, City of Georgetown
The Honorable Valerie Corvy, Williamson County Commissioner Precinct 3
Dr. Brian W. Shaw, Ph.D, P.E., Chairman, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Mr. Ted Houghton, Chairman, Texas Highway Commission
Mr. David Fulton, Director, TxDOT, Aviation Division
Mr. Paul Brandenburg, City Manager, City of Georgetown
U.S. Department Office of the Associate Administrator 800 Independence Ave. S. W
Of Transportation for Airports Washington, DC 20591
Federal Aviation
Administration
Mr. Hugh C. Norris, Jr.
4400 Luna Trail
Georgetown, TX 78628
Dear Mr. Norris:
Secretary Foxx asked me to respond to your June 23 letter about Federal funding of projects
at Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU).
The State of Texas is a participant in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) State
Block Grant Program. The Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Aviation
Division coordinates project development for all reliever airports in Texas, including GTU.
In the Texas State Block Grant agreement with FAA, TxDOT's Aviation Division manages
GTU as the FAA's agent. Therefore, our Southwest regional office has made TxDOT's
Aviation Division aware of these concerns and will confer with them about their use of
Federal funding for projects at GTU.
The FAA encourages you to continue to communicate with the airport sponsor and TxDOT's
Aviation Division regarding any upcoming projects or planning efforts.
I trust this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Eduardo A. Angeles
Associate Administrator
for Airports