HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_08.14.2015Notice of Meeting of the
Georgetown Transportation Ad -ison :Board and the
Governing Body of the City, ofGeorgetown, Texas
August 14, 2015
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Board Members Truman Hunt — Chair, John Pettitt — Vice Chair, Ray Armour - Secretary, Rachel
Jonrowe, Chris H'Luz - Arrived at 10:05 AM, Donna Courtney, John Hesser arrived at 10:26 AM
Board Members Absent: Scott Rankin, Steve Johnston
Staff Present: Jim Briggs, Ed Polasek, Jana Kern, Mark Miller, Bill Dryden, Russ Volk, Bridget Chapman,
Mike Babin, Paul Diaz
Others Present: Tom Crawford, - GTEC Board Member, Ron Bindas, John Milford, Carl Norris, Dennis
Hegebarth, A. O'Connell, Lori Ford, Terry Reed, Robert Melsh — ACC, Ryan Blair — HDR, KENT
BALLENTINO - CITIZEN, KEN MABE - GTU JET TEXAS AVIATION PARTNERS
A. Call to Order: Mr. Truman Hunt called the regular GTAB Board to order on Friday,
August 14, 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: CAMPO has put out a short call for non -road
projects for fy17-19. We put in for sidewalk projects for about $2M.
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, AICD, 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 Norris — See presentation at the end of these
minutes.
Legislative Regular Agenda
0 0
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 July 10, 2015 — Jana Kern
Mr. Pettitt stated that he was at the July meeting and would like the minutes to reflect
that. Minutes have been corrected.
Motion by Jonrowe second by Pettitt to approve minutes as amended. Approved
Unanimous 6-3 (Rankin, Johnston, & Hesser absent)
The Board decided to discuss items G, H, & I together then make a motion for each item.
G. Consideration and possible recommendation to adjust Airport Fuel Flowage Fee and to
adjust the "Fee" every two years thereafter according to the Dallas, Fort Worth, TX CPI -
W number. — Russ Volk, C.M., Airport Manager and Edward G. Polasek, AICP,
Transportation Services Director.
Motion by Jonrowe, second by Pettitt to keep the current fuel flowage rate of 0.1542 per
gallon and to ensure that this rate is looked at a minimum of every two years. Approved
Unanimous 7-2 (Rankin & Johnston absent)
H. Consideration and possible recommendation to adjust Avgas (100LL) Fuel Margin and
to adjust the "Margin" every two years thereafter according to the Dallas, Fort Worth, TX
CPI -W number. — Russ Volk, C.M., Airport Manager and Edward G. Polasek, AICP,
Transportation Services Director.
Motion by Jonrowe second by Pettitt to adopt a rate of $ 0.5208 for Avgas and to ensure
that this rate is looked at a minimum of every two years. Approved 5-2-2 (Hesser &
H'Luz opposed, Rankin & Johnston absent)
I. Consideration and possible recommendation to adjust Commercial Wholesale Jet -A Fuel
Margin and to adjust the "Margin" every two years thereafter according to the Dallas,
Fort Worth, TX CPI -W number. — Russ Volk, C.M., Airport Manager and Edward G.
Polasek, AICP, Transportation Services Director.
Volk informed the Board that a Public Meeting was held at the Airport. There about 40
people along with several staff. Volk stated that a power point presentation was given to
the group. Lengthy discussion concerning all of the fuel margins
Motion by Jonrowe second by Hesser to adopt a new rate of $0.50 for Jet -A and to
ensure that this rate is looked at a minimum of every two years. Approved Unanimous 7-2
(Rankin & Johnston absent)
EXECUTIVE SESSION - NOT NEEDED
In compliance with the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code, Vernon's
Texas Code, Annotated; the items listed below will be discussed in closed session and
are subject to action in the regular session.
Sec 551-071- Consultation with Attorney
- Implementation of Aviation Fuel Charge including Fuel Flowage Charges. - Bridget
Chapman, City Attorney
K. Action from Executive Session - No action needed
L. Discussion and possible action on moving the September 11, 2015 Board meeting to
another day. - Jana Kern, Board Liaison
Kern informed the Board that there is a Purple Heart event on Sept 11, 2015 and was
asked to check with the Board to see if they would consider moving the meeting to
another day. Motion by Pettitt second by Hesser to move the September GTAB meeting
to September 10, 2015 at 10:00 AM. Approved Unanimous 7-2 (Rankin & Johnston
absent)
Adjournment
Motion by Hesser second by Jonrowe to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned at
11:29 AM�
,Approved: Attested:
ruman Hunt -Chair Ray Armour - Secretary
Jana R. Kern - GTAB Board Liaison
Ai GIST 14,2015
AGENDA ITEM "E"
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 46 th presentation by members of ACC to the city council and/or the GTAB since
January 14, 2014. These presentations have been in pursuit of the public participation rights
of our citizens regarding use of our federal tax funds for the Georgetown Municipal Airport
(GTU) as provided by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The GTAB is charged to advise and assist the City Council on transportation issues including
the GTU. Such responsibility includes being the information gateway between the city
government and the general public on GTU issues for council recommendations.
Nineteen months ago the ACC began its request for a hold on all federal funds for GTU
improvements pending provision of public participation as would be provided by
compliance of the city, TxDOT and FAA with the NEPA. As GTAB is aware, the GTU is a well
documented source of citizen complaints and opposition extending back in time to the
extension of Runway 18-36 and relocation of Lakeway Drive during the period of 1987 to
1991 up to the current time The principle core of citizen opposition to GTU "improvements"
in the past and present is the issue of expansion of aviation operations.
The GTAB and its staff have repeatedly over time sent to City Council GTU aviation operations
and land expansion recommendations on the basis of "safety" and "compliance with FAA or
TxDOT directives". None of these recommendations has been submitted with
documentation of a single FAA safety inspection report or written directive mandating a
single one of these recommendations. They have all been city plans and desires to market
the GTU for expansion of aviation operations. In addition, none of the federal grants
provided for GTU demonstrate NEPA compliance.
On issues regarding the GTU throughout the period from 1987 to the present time our city
leaders and staff have repeated their mantra in various forms to the citizenry and the press of
"we're not expanding anything", "we're not extending runways", and "all we're doing is
some safety and maintenance for the boys". It is past time for the city to drop the facade of
its GTU improvements and open GTAB meetings to full public vetting of its council GTU
recommendations
This most recent city request to TxDOT for 901 federal grants for "safety" improvements for
repairs to the two runways 11/29 and 18/36 in amount of $3,475,000 is a classic use of facade
and misleading of the public. All airport runways need routine maintenance. Repairing
surface cracks in both runways is a legitimate concern. Use of federal funds for such purpose
when in compliance with NEPA is justifiable. But repair costs on basis of staff's estimate for
repairing, marking and grooving of these surfaces to maintain their mutual design load
carrying capabilities can be done for about 25% of the requested funding. The other near
75% of the requested cost is specifically for upgrading Runway 18/36 to accommodate a
whole new group of heavier and noisier aircraft waiting in the wings to be added to GTU's
expanded air fleet.
The GTAB and staff are well aware of the engineering characteristics of both runways as
described by the Airport Master Plan and the most recent FAA general aviation information
to owners and pilots. The general aviation users of GTU have adapted to these design
limitations of 30,000 pound single -wheel loads for Runway 18/36 and 12,500 pound single -
wheel loads for Runway 11/29. Most aircraft over 20,000 pounds gross weights use dual
wheels on each strut which spread their total weight over more pavement area and allow
heavier aircraft weights. The result of implementing the proposed upgrade to Runway 18/36
would enable a new group of dual wheel aircraft of weights up to 150,000 pounds to be
accommodated. Due to lack of full and complete public vetting of the background and
rationale for this most recent GTAB council recommendation, the public is unaware of the
expansion of aviation operations this proposed upgrade of Runway 18/36 would produce and
its detrimental impacts on existing homes, schools, churches, and business around and near
the GTU.
During the consideration of this recommendation by City Council at its June 23, 2015 meeting
no discussion of the added cost or adverse impacts of this requested upgrade of Runway
18/36 was provided by council members or staff other than statements by Mr. Polasek of
"nothing will be lengthening the runway or allowing bigger aircraft" and "this will just be
improving the pavement and runway quality".
Mr. Chairman, in order to assure the general public that our city leaders stand by and warrant
their statements of no expansion of GTU aviation operations, it is requested that the GTAB
require staff to place an item on GTABs September meeting agenda recommending to City
Council an ordinance permanently prohibiting any respective accommodations on Runways
18/36 and 11/29 of any aircraft of more than 30,000 and 12,500 pound single wheel loading
and any aviation operations in excess of 6,000 per month.
Mr. Chairman, I welcome any questions or comments.