HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_03.13.2015Notice of Meeting of the
Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the
Governing, Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas
March 13,2015
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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 Truman Hunt — Chair, Rachel Jonrowe, John Hesser, Ray Armour - Secretary, Chris
H'Luz, Steve Johnston, John Pettitt — Vice Chair, Donna Courtney, Scott Rankin,
Board Members Absent: All Present
Staff Present: Ed Polasek, Jana Kern, Mark Miller, Mike Babin, Bill Dryden, Russ Volk, Lisa Haines, Skye
Mason, Wes Wright, Nat Waggoner
Others Present: Tom Crawford — Road Bond PAC Chair & GTEC Board Member, Trae Sutton — KPA,
Hugh Norris, James & Avis O'Connell, Bob Meeker, Terry Reed, John Milford, & Frances Dressler - ACC
Regular Session
A. Call to Order: Mr. Truman Hunt called the regular GTAB Board meeting to order on Friday,
March 13, 2015 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: There are a number of Transportation Bills that we are track.
One has made it out of the Senate and is headed to the House. This Bill is to insure that the majority
of the vehicle sales tax is to go to the Road Bill. This could mean over $25 Billion over a 10 year
period. This will require a vote. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor promise to stop the
diversion of fuel tax to public safety and transfer it to the Transportation Bills.
D. Discussion regarding the Project Progress Reports and Time Lines —Bill Dryden, P. E., Transportation
Engineer, Mark Miller, Transportation Services Manager and Edward G. Polasek, AICP,
Transportation Services Director.
E. Discussion regarding the Airport Project Progress Report and Time Lines. — Russ Volk, Airport
Manager and Edward G. Polasek, AICP, Transportation Services Director.
Persons signed up to speak on this item: Hugh "Carl" Norris— See presentation at the end of these
minutes.
Legislative Regular Agenda
The Board will individually consider and possibly take action on any or all of the following items:
F. Nominations and election of Vice -Chair of the GTAB Board. — Truman Hunt — GTAB
Chair Person
Mr. Hunt opened the floor for nominations: Chris ITLuz nominated John Pettitt for Vice Chair.
Motion by HLuz second by Johnston to elect John Pettitt as Vice -Chair of the GTAB Board. Approved
unanimous 9-0
G. Nominations and election of Secretary of the GTAB Board. — Truman Hunt, GTAB Chair Person
Mr. Hunt opened the floor for nominations: Pettitt nominated Chris H'Luz - H'Luz turn down -
H'Luz nominated Ray Armour - Armour accepted. Motion by Hesser second by Pettitt to elect Ray
Armour as Secretary of the GTAB Board. Approved unanimous 9-0
H. Review and possible action related to the Day and Time of GTAB Board Meetings. — Truman
Hunt, GTAB Chair Person
Mr. Hunt informed the Board of the current day and time of the GTAB Board meetings asking if there
was any thought on changing the day or time. There was none. GTAB Board Meetings will be on the
second Friday of the month at 10:00 AM. Motion by Johnston second by Jonrowe to keep the GTAB
Board meeting on the same day and time. Approved unanimous 9-0
I. Review and possible action to approve the minutes from the Regular GTAB Board meeting held on
February 13, 2015. — Jana Kern - GTAB Board Liaison
Motion by Hesser second by Pettitt to approve the minutes as presented. Approved unanimous 9-0
J. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve an Agreement to Terminate Lease with the
Apollo Composite Squadron, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol —Russ Volk, Airport Manager and Edward
G. Polasek, AICD, Transportation Services Director
Mr. Volk stated that this has to do with the dilapidated building. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was to
renovate this building for use as a base of operation. They are unable to complete renovations or move
the building. We will terminate the lease, demo the building and this property will be turned into a
parking lot in the future. Question was asked if CAP is in agreement to terminate was informed that
the agreement has already been signed by CAP. Motion by Armour second by Hesser to terminate
lease agreement with Apollo Composite Squadron, Texas Wing, Civil Air Patrol. Approved
unanimous 9-0
K. Consideration and possible recommendation to GTEC for approval of the 2015/2016 Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) — Edward G. Polasek, AICP, Transportation Services Director, and Nat
Waggoner, PMP®, Transportation Analyst
Polasek explained how the TIP process works. Then gave a presentation to the Board.
Motion by Pettitt second by Hesser to approve the GTEC TIP for 2015/16. Approved unanimous 9-0
Adjournment
Motion by Pettitt second by Armour to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned at 11:11 AM
Approved: Attested:
144-4,x—
Truman Hunt - Chair Ray Amour - Secretary
_Aar.
Jana R. Kern - GTAB Board Liaison
GTAB STATEMENT
MARCH 13, 2015
AGENDA ITEM "E"
AIRPORT PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT AND TIME LINES
Good morning Mr. Chairman, members of the GTAB, city staff and ladies and gentlemen. For
the record, my name is Hugh C. Norris, Jr. My wife and I reside at 4400 Luna Trail. I am a
member of the Airport Concerned Citizens (ACC).
This is the 37th presentation by members of ACC to the city council and to the GTAB since our
statement to city council at its January 14, 2014 meeting. At that meeting we requested a hold
on all then pending five (5) federal funded programs for the Georgetown Municipal Airport
(GTU). These presentations have been in pursuit of the moral and legitimate rights of the
general public for public participation in decisions for use and expenditure of federal funds for
development of expanded aviation operations at the airport. Such public participation would
be a product of legitimate and complete environmental review consistent with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) instead of piecemeal cherry -picking of segments of the total
capital improvement programs for maintenance and expanded operations at the airport.
My statement this morning is to present comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment
(DEA) prepared by TxDOT for the Fuel Farm refueling station component which is only one of 24
components of the GTU 2015 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Preparation of this
document was associated with our continuing requests to federal authorities, beginning in
June 2014, for National Environmental Policy Act reviews of federal grant funding for the
airport. In terms of magnitude, a possible final cost of local and federal funds for this one
capital improvements program could exceed 60 percent of the total funding for the airport's
past over 70 years history prior to 2012. When combined with the other grants, envisioned by
our January 2014 request, the total cost of these new programs could exceed the total cost of
the entire over70 year history of the airport.
Since we began our pleas for NEPA reviews city officials and staff have repeatedly described
these improvements as "just some safety and maintenance improvements" or "just airport
safety and reliability improvements". Nothing could be farther from the truth.
When one examines the purposes and objectives of the 2005 Master Plan Update by GRW-
Willis, Inc., from which all the programs and their components for federal grants since 2005
have their origin, there is no mention of an identification of projects for "safety",
"maintenance" or "reliability" improvements. On the contrary, the engineer is clear that his
contract is to identify the service capacity needs of the airport for an expanding general
aviation operations customer base for the time period of 2004 to 2024.
The National Environmental Policy Act does not deny federal funding, but it does require that
local officials and the federal agency determine in advance of irretrievable commitment of
funds the extent of adverse environmental impacts. Appropriate and full compliance with
NEPA requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), or at least an
extensive and complete environmental assessment appropriately scoped to account for all
practicable alternatives and potential direct, indirect, secondary, and cumulative impacts. To
date, the only true NEPA review in the history for airport grants has been with the recent
preparation of the DEA for the fuel farm, but this exercise is lacking in its scope and fails to
address all impacts of the entire GTU 2015 capital improvements program of expanded
operations program elements.
Our airport has a long documented troubled past of over 20 years of citizen protests and
concerns of environmental and safety issues due to its location in the heart of our growing city
and its aviation industrial operations being atop the environmentally sensitive Edwards
Recharge Zone. Specific protests were centered on objections to any increases in more, heavier
and noisier aircraft take offs and landings. The location of our airport is not its highest and best
land use. It is in the wrong location for our growing city and can and should be relocated to a
superior, environmentally approved rural location.
The problem with this current Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) is that the Fuel Farm is a
single segmented or "cherry picked" component. It is one of 24 total components that when
completed and combined as a whole constitute the GTU 2015 capital improvements program
(CIP). A DEA for the fuel farm alone does not provide for assessment of the short term, long
term and cumulative negative impacts on the human environment of the 24 program
components. The DEA doesn't even include all practicable alternatives applicable to the fuel
farm. Nor is the fuel farm relocation described or categorized as just one of all the many
airport maintenance and expanded operations program elements.
For these reasons the ACC will provide review comments and encourage all other affected
parties to do likewise to demand a full legitimate process for preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement for the GTU 2015 CIP. Use of our federal funds for the airport must not be
left to the sole discretion of those who use the airport for fun and profit. This is the only
process by which the general citizen public, who actually own the airport, and those outside the
city who will be impacted, to become aware of the totality of negative human environmental
impacts of this capital improvements program. A process that should include an examination
of all practicable alternatives to the program.
Mr. Chairman, it is respectfully requested that this board recommend to the city council that, in
response to the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Fuel Farm, the city council endorse for
it and the general public at large, a recommendation to TxDOT for the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement for the GTU 2015 capital improvements program as a whole.
Mr. Chairman, I welcome any questions or comments from the board or staff.