HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_05.12.2017Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the
Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas
May 12, 2017
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Board Members: Steve Johnston - Chair, Ron Bindas - Vice Chair, Donna Courtney -
Secretary, Mark Allen, Troy Hellmann, John Marler, Doug Noble, John Hesser
Board Members Absent: Sheila Mills
Staff Present: Mike Babin, Wesley Wright, Jana Kern, Mark Miller, Russ Volk, Ed
Polasek, Octavio Garza, Nat Waggoner, Tristian Whitmire
Others Present: Carl Norris, John Milford, Dennis Hegebarth - ACC, JJ & Jeff Parker -
Citizens
Regular Session
A. Call to Order Mr. Johnston called the regular GTAB Board meeting to order on
Friday, May 12, 2017 at 10:02 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: Working with TxDOT and CAMPO on the
Unified Transportation Plan to include the Mobility 35 intersection
improvements. At the moment there is funding for the Williams Dr. intersection
improvement; and they have programed funding for the Leander Road
intersection improvements and potentially the Southeast Inner Loop intersection
improvements.
D. May 2017 Project Updates - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering
Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager
Wright gave an overview of the projects and Nat Waggoner gave an overview of
how the May 11, 2017 open house for the Austin Ave Bridge project went.
E. Discussion regarding the Airport Monthly Report and Project Time Lines. - Russ
Volk, C.M., Airport Manager and Octavio A. Garza, P.E, C.P.M., Public Works
Director.
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 April 14, 2017. - Cindy Alejandro - GTAB Board Liaison
Motion by Marler second by Bindas to approve the minutes as presented.
Approved 8-1 (Mills absent)
G. Presentation and discussion on the proposed FY18 Capital Improvement Plan
(CIP) - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director
Mr. Norris spoke on this item. His comments are at the end of these minutes.
Wright presented the 2018 Capital Improvement Plan to the Board.
Motion by Hellmann second by Noble to approve the proposed FY18 Capital
Improvement Plan. Approved 7-1-1 (Mills absent, Marler opposed)
Adjournment
Motion by Hellmann second by Noble to adjourn meeting. Approved 8-1 (Mills
absent). Meeting adjourned at 11:03 AM
Approved-.
Steve Johnston Chair
ted:
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Donna Court4Secre
Cindy Alejan — GTABI oard Liaison
GTAB STATEMENT
MAY 12, 2017
AGENDA ITEM "G"
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL - 2018 GTAB CIP
Good morning Mr. Chairman, members of the Georgetown Transportation Advisory 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 66th presentation by ACC members to the city council and/or the GTAB demanding
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regarding federal funding and
fiscal transparency for the Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU). The GTU is a documented
health and safety hazard and subject of public controversy and any action for maintenance
and/or expansion should be addressed through preparation of a NEPA provided
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). My comments this morning address Item "G", Airport
CIP, Design Runway Rehab, Construct Runway Rehab and Taxiway Edge Lighting.
Both Design Runway Rehab scheduled for FY 2018 at a 10% cost of $16,500 and Construct
Runway Rehab scheduled for FY 2020 at a 10% cost of $500,000 for a total project cost of
$5,165,000 is a project strongly opposed by the ACC since prior to its request to TxDOT by the
city manager letter dated June 30, 2015. That request was for two projects, one for rehabilitation
design and construction for Runway 18-36 at a total cost of $3,235,000 to resurface and double
its strength from its existing 30,000 to 60,000 pounds single wheel load capacity and the second
to resurface Runway 11-29 to retain its current 12,500 pounds single wheel load capacity.
The city's description of Runway 18-36 as rehabilitation of its asphalt surface is dishonest,
totally misleading and a disservice to the general public. This proposed federal and/or state
taxpayer funded action is to provide accommodation by GTU of larger, noisier and more
dangerous aircraft on a day and night basis including dual wheel aircraft of up to 150,000
pounds gross weight and capable of 80 or more charter passengers or equivalent cargo weight.
The project will add significant added cumulative adverse health and safety adverse impacts to
the human environment to an already documented health and safety hazard. The project has no
master planned justification. Its adverse human environmental impacts, mitigation measures
and practicable alternatives have never been examined. It's 60 % increase in cost from the
original request has never been explained or justified. The original request justification that the
increased pavement strength is needed to be consistent with GTU's current fleet mix and airport
design category is bogus. The GTU fleet mix is currently consistent with its FAA authorized
current pavement strength of 30,000 pounds single wheel loading. The project was not a
portion of the 2005 GTU master plan construction program and has no independent
environmental clearance. There is no FAA or TxDOT requirement for the project. The runway's
surface could be rehabilitated as proposed for runway 11-29 and its current FAA strength
retained for about $423,000 or a 92 % decrease in the CIP budgeted cost. The project has never
been openly reviewed and exposed to public participation and comments.
It is recommended that the GTAB table any action for CIP budget approval recommendations
for this project pending its inclusion in the current new GTU master plan, 16MPGRGTN, where
its need, justification and appropriate NEPA level reviews can be completed. Then, if NEPA
compliant, placed on a GTAB agenda for recommendation to city council.
The Taxiway Edge Lighting project is the remnant portion of the original 25 project
1514GRGTN construction program delayed by TxDOT and now scheduled for FY 2018. It
remains opposed by ACC on basis that the entire 25 project program of which it was a part was
excluded from the NEPA and preparation of an EIS by an unjustified categorical exclusion. In
addition, the Minute Order for grant approval for the 25 project program was approved by the
Texas Transportation Commission on January 28, 2016 primarily on basis of false testimony by
local and state officials. The ACC will continue to oppose the entire 1514GRGTN program
including this remnant portion to state and federal authorities and demand preparation of an
EIS for the entire program for NEPA compliance.
Mr. Chairman, I welcome any questions or comments from the board.