HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_07.08.2016Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Transportation Advisory, Board and the
Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas
July 08, 2016
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Board Members: John Pettitt — Chair, John Hesser — Vice Chair, Ron Bindas — Secretary,
Steve Johnston, Donna Courtney
Board Members Absent: Doug Noble, Troy Hellmann, Peter Behrman, Scott Rankin
Staff Present: Jim Briggs, Mike Babin, Ed Polasek Jana Kern, Bill Dryden, Mark Miller,
Nat Waggoner, Russ Volk, Paul Conomos,
Others Present: Carl Norris, John Milford, Bob Meeker — ACC, Tom Crawford — GTEC,
Ken Mabe — GTU Jet/Texas Aviation Partners
Regular Session
A. Call to Order — Mr. Pettitt called the regular GTAB Board meeting to order on
Friday, July 8, 2016 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:
■ Mobility 35 — Aesthetic Guidelines — Staff is working with TxDOT on the
aesthetic guidelines for the Mobility 35 program.
■ Williams Dr/I1-135 Intersection — Staff also saw a presentation then discussed the
design of this intersection. TxDOT did point out the differences between this
design and the one in Round Rock. Public meeting will begin in September 2016.
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.
Mr. Norris spoke on this item. His comments are 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. Review and possible action to approve the minutes from the Regular GTAB Board
meeting held on June 10, 20156- Jana Kern
Motion by Johnston second by Hesser to approve the minutes as presented.
Approved 5-0-4 (Hellmann, Noble, Behrman & Rankin absent)
G. Consideration and possible recommendation for the award of the annual bid for Grade
#4 and #5 chip seal trap rock ordered and delivered on an as needed basis to Vulcan
Construction Materials LLC of San Antonio Tx. in the estimated amount of
$126,603.00. - Edward G. Polasek, AICP, Transportation Services Director
Miller reported to the Board that staff only received one bid for this rock.
The rock will be used for two course chip seal. Miller also stated what streets would be
getting this treatment. Motion by Courtney second by Hesser to approve the annual bid
to Vulcan Construction Materials LLC of San Antonio Tx. in the estimated amount of
$126,603.00. Approved 5-0-4 (Hellmann, Noble, Behrman & Rankin absent)
Adjournment
Motion by Hesser second by Johnston to adjourn meeting Approved 5-0-4 (Hellmann,
Noble, Behrman & Rankin absent) Meeting adjourned at 10:46 AM
Approved:
John Pettitt - Chair
Jana R. Kern - GTAB Board Liaison
GTAB STATEMENT
JULY 08, 2016
AGENDA ITEM "E"
AIRPORT MONTHLY REPORT AND PROJECT TIME LINES
Good morning Mr. Chairman, members of the GTAB board, city staff and ladies and gentlemen.
My name is Hugh C. Norris, Jr. I am a member of the Airport Concerned Citizens (ACC).
This is the 57th presentation by ACC members to the city council and/or the GTAB since
January 14, 2014. These presentations are demands for compliance by the city, TxDOT and FAA
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regarding expansion of aviation operations
and fiscal transparency for the Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU). At the January 14, 2014
statement to the City Council we requested a hold on federal funds for our airport for five
federal grants the planning of which had not complied with NEPA. The federal grant for the 25 -
element, 1514GRGTN, of which the Fuel Farm is only one of the 25 -elements, was one of the
five.
The statement this morning is focused on the lack of comprehensive information regarding the
airport made available to the public. Such information, when provided at all by the local press,
seems always provided exclusively by city sources. The ACC is disappointed by such
information as it normally is riddled with false information, misinformation and no information
without any press contact with ACC members for alternate viewpoints. The copy of the Sun
article dated June 29, 2016 attached for your review is a classic.
Without chronological listing of counterpoints by successive article paragraphs, the following
issues are listed:
1. Nowhere is the primary concern of the ACC described. That concern being the ACC's
demand for respect for the rule of law, compliance with NEPA, by the city, TxDOT and
FAA for airport federal funding that has transformed the airport to a public health and
safety hazard and source of public controversy.
2. No information is provided that the origin of all 1514GRGTN "improvements" elements
is the 2005 Airport Master Plan that projected increased aircraft types, numbers and
operations to be accommodated across the 20 -year planning period with described
project elements for maneuverability and safety of these expanded aviation operations.
Airport safety and reliability was not a purpose of that master plan.
3. The photograph of a deteriorating runway accompanying the article is one of a group
submitted by the City Manger with his June 30, 2015 letter requesting TxDOT to 90%
fund a new 4" overlay of Runway 18-36 to accommodate a whole new class of heavier
aircraft. The Airport Manger has previously advised the GTAB that cracks in both
runways have since been repaired by city crews. Despite no justification for the 4"
overlay the city now plans to add to its FY 2016/2017 financial plans a new Airport CIP
item for this runway strengthening project.
4. The article is silent on the issue that there has never been a public hearing for
1514GRGTN. The only public hearing was for a narrowly focused Environmental
Assessment for the Fuel Farm element cunningly segmented from the 25 -elements of
1514GRGTN cynically for purpose of ignoring the over 100 public verbal and written
opposition statements objecting to the secondary adverse impacts from the expanded
aviation operations fueled and serviced by the totally unjustified 60% expansion of the
facility's storage capacity.
5. The article repeats the continuous and erroneous city statements that the city's cost
share for 1515GRGTN is paid by airport revenues. The city continues to make this claim
regarding all city cost shares for all airport grants. Anyone attending GTAB meetings
knows these statements to be absurd. All city grant share costs along with all interest
and other costs are quietly paid by other sources including electric utility revenue
bonds.
6. The article makes the claim that the ACC contends the city plans to expand the airfield.
That is a specific lie. The ACC has never made such a claim. The ACC principle
contention is that the city, TxDOT and FAA have, in the past, and continue to violate the
NEPA regarding use of federal funds for the airport. Anyone reviewing TxDOT's GTU
"Airport Project History" can clearly observe how the city has expanded airport facilities
over the past 37 years for support of expanded aviation operations without a single
legitimate NEPA review.
7. The article contains the city position of "There is no plan for expansion. There is no plan
for heavier planes to land at the airport". That statement is directly contrary to the City
Manager's letter dated June 30, 2015 to TOOT for funds to dramatically increase
accommodated aircraft weight for Runway 18-36 and the new FY 2016-2017 CIP item
for plans for a 4" overlay of Runway 18-36. That statement and one by the Airport
Manager that "The possibility increasing the size of planes has never even been
considered." is directly contrary to documented communications between him and
TOOT regarding increased strength and other improvements for both runways. These
"improvements" are being planned prior to any determination of needs for inclusion in
the new 20 year master plan, 16MPGRGTN.
Mr. Chairman, the ACC continues to be disappointed in so-called public information distributed
by city sources regarding the airport and city plans for its future. We demand compliance with
the NEPA.
Mr. Chairman, I welcome any questions or comments from the board.