HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_02.09.2018Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the
Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas
February 09, 2018
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Board Members Present: Steve Johnston - Chair, Ron Bindas - Vice Chair, Donna Courtney -
Secretary, John Hesser, Sheila Mills, John Marler, Troy Hellman
Board Members Absent: Mark Allen, Doug Noble
Staff Present: Mike Babin, Wes Wright, Russ Volk, Octavio Garza, Paul Diaz, Travis Baird,
Laura Wilkins, Emily Koontz
Others Present: Carl Norris, John Milford, Wendy Dew, Dennis Hegebarth, Don Smith, Richard
Gottleib, Alyson DeMaio, Chris Graf - (Airport Concerned Citizens), Josh Crawford - Garver,
Jacob Green - Garver, Christophe Wood, Brad Lamb - GTU Jet, Trae Sutton - KPA Engineering
Regular Session
A. Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Mr. Johnston at 10:00am
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: All visitors and staff were introduced.
Citizens Wishing to Address the Board: The following people with the Airport Concerned
Citizens (ACC) signed up to speak to the Board on Item C:
Hugh C. Norris Jr.
C. Airport Update -Russ Volk gave update. Construction project wrapping up. Contractor
down to about six punch line items - expected completion next 30 to 60 days. Airport
master plan is still on hold by order of FAA Headquaters. Johnston asked what the delay
was. Volk explained the delay - FAA needs to verify operations numbers for the 2015
and 2016 years before moving forward. Operations, fuel sales, and hangar tie -down
reports in the packet. Volk gave brief explanation of inclement weather problems -
overcast and freezing temperatures - these weather problems caused decrease in
takeoffs, landings, and fuel sales in last four to five weeks. Volk talked about the impact
of increasing oil prices per barrel - climbed in the neighborhood of 25 to 30 cents per
gallon in the last 60 days. Fuel prices linked to weekly index from the industry. Airport
budget comparison and detailed monthly financial reports are in packets. Still running
in the black and on track for the year. No Action.
Hugh C. Norris Jr. spoke on this item for 6 minutes - John Milford donated his 3
minutes to him.
D. Industry/CAMPO/TxDOT/Transit Updates: Ed Polasek out due to illness. Octavio
Garza gave update. No industry updates. Update CAMPO/TxDOT on mobility 35 - state
highway 35 and 29 overpass - we are making sure the structure that is built is sufficient
for traffic volumes. Transit updates in relation to GoGEO agreement on ridership -
ridership is below what projected, but it is a new program on a fixed route so that is to
be expected and will be picking up. Working with Southwestern University to create a
card to help increase ridership. Garza explains promotional brochures that are two
dollar coupons for riding the bus to encourage increased ridership. These vouchers were
handed out to the board members. Courtney asked if there have been any questions
about the website - specifically about ease of use and clarity of information. Garza
responds that he is working with CapMetro to make the website more user friendly.
Hesser requests financial numbers for the GoGeo project in addition to ridership
numbers. No Action.
E. January 2018 GTAB Updates: Wright gave updates. All updates included in the agenda
packet. Questions - Bindas asked about sidewalk studies underway specifically in Sun
City. Wright responded that there are no specific studies being done currently, but
referenced a comprehensive sidewalk ADA study done a few years ago and that we are
currently working on fixing deficiencies outlined in that study. Bindas talked about
safety concerns about intersections (change of atmosphere) requesting more changes.
Garza commented on an incident that occurred at an intersection in Sun City and
informed board that we hired an engineer to look at how to make the crosswalk safer in
house through the Public Works department. Hesser asked and Wright responded
affirmatively that Sun City would be included in that study. Hesser asked that copies of
the study be sent to the board. Wright responded that it would be emailed to the board.
No Action.
Legislative Regular Agenda
F. Consideration and possible approval of the Minutes from the January12, 2018 meeting -
Laura Wilkins - Board Liaison.
Changed the name of the secretary. MOTION by Hellman, second by Marler to
approve the minutes with a change to the name of the secretary to correctly show the
secretary as Donna Courtney. APPROVED 7-0-2 (Noble and Allen - absent)
G. Consideration and possible recommendation to award a contract to Stateside Right of
Way Services, for real property acquisition and relocation services on the Northwest
Boulevard Bridge Project in the amount of $78,850.00 - Travis Baird, Real Estate Services
Coordinator
Mills asked if there was state and federal funding on the project or if it was all city of
Georgetown. Baird responded that it was all city of Georgetown. Troy Hellman recused
himself. MOTION by Marler, second by Mills to recommend award of a contract to
Stateside Right of Way Services for real property acquisition and relocation services on
the Northwest Boulevard Bridge Project in the amount of $78,850.00. APPROVED 6-0-2-
1(recused) (Noble and Allen - absent, Hellman - recused)
H. Consideration and recommendation on Task Order KPA-18-006 to Kasberg, Patrick, &
Associates of Georgetown, Texas in the amount of $553,015.00 for professional services
related to the 2018 Street Maintenance and Curb & Gutter projects -- Wesley Wright,
P.E., Systems Engineering Director.
Wright gave updated map handouts. Explained map and upcoming projects. Hesser
asks about project materials used before in Sun City and Wright responds that we are
using a new product which is a pavement seal and we do not expect same problems
from before - has abrasive matter that is smooth, but not slick. MOTION by Hellman,
second by Marler to recommend approval of Task Order KPA-18-006 to Kasberg,
Patrick, & Associates of Georgetown, Texas in the amount of $553,015.00 for professional
services related to the 2018 Street Maintenance and Curb & Gutter projects. APPROVED
7-0-2 (Noble and Allen - absent)
I. Consideration and possible recommendation to award a contract to C3 Environmental
Specialties, LP, of Schertz, Texas for the construction of the Serenada Drainage
Improvements in the amount of $115,808.50. - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering
Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager.
Wright talked about gutters that need repairs and are contracting out because of
previous engagements by city crews. C3 has done this work previously. Courtney asked
about timeframe and Wright responded that we will start about March or early April
and will be about a 90 day project. Hellmann asked if all residents affected are within
the city limits. Wright responded that they are all within the Georgetown city limits.
Mills asked about homeowner notification. Wright responded that they will knock on
doors and talk to homeowners individually. MOTION by Mills, second by Hesser to
recommend award of a contract to C3 Environmental Specialties, LP, of Schertz, Texas
for the construction of the Serenada Drainage Improvements in the amount of
$115,808.50.. APPROVED 7-0-2 (Noble and Allen - absent)
J. Consideration and possible recommendation to award a contract to M.A. Smith
Contracting of Austin, Texas for the Old Town Drainage Improvements project, in the
amount of $215,116.00 - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Michael
Hallmark, CIP Manager.
Wright talked about two CIP - 201h/College near railroad to created positive drainage -
Church St. between 19t1, and 2011,, pick up unorganized drainage. We have permission
from the railroad. About 120 day job. MOTION by Courtney, second by Mills to
recommend award of a contract to M.A. Smith Contracting of Austin, Texas for the
Old Town Drainage Improvements project, in the amount of $215,116.00. APPROVED
7-0-2 (Noble and Allen - absent)
K. Consideration and possible recommendation for approval of Air Traffic Control Tower
Operations Agreement between FAA and Georgetown Municipal Airport. - Russ Volk,
C.M., Airport Manager and Octavio A. Garza, P.E., C.P.M, Public Works Director.
Volk thanked Johnston for his service. Recent FAA Inspection went very well. FAA
provides staffing from lam to 10pm. Just needs an updated approval. Has been
approved by the city attorney's office. Hesser asked if there has been any significant
changes in the contract. Volk responded that there are no significant contract changes.
MOTION by Marler, second by Hellman to recommend approval of Air Traffic
Control Tower Operations Agreement between FAA and Georgetown Municipal
Airport. APPROVED 7-0-2. (Noble and Allen — absent)
L. Consideration and possible recommendation for approval of landlords consent to Sub-
lease Agreement between GAABT Aviation, Inc. DBA GTU Jet and A.C.S. Avionics,
LLC — Russ Volk, C.M., Airport Manager and Octavio A. Garza, P.E, C.P.M., Public
Works Director.
Volk talks about available hangars for renting out, GAABT approached by another
airport (ACS) to rent a hangar for relocation to Georgetown. Requires city consent to
sublease the hangar and office space inside because the city is the landlord. Hesser asked
about financial impact to city. Volk stated there is none. Johnston asked about increase
traffic at airport. Volk said there would be a slight increase of airplanes coming to be
repaired. MOTION by Marler, second by Hesser to recommend approval of landlords
consent to Sub -lease Agreement between GAABT Aviation, Inc. DBA GTU Jet and
A.C.S. Avionics, LLC. APPROVED 7-0-2 (Noble and Allen — absent)
GTAB STATEMENT
FEBRUARY 9, 2018
AGENDA ITEM "C"
AIRPORT MONTHLY UPDATE
Good morning Mr. Chairman, members of the Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board, city staff and
ladies and gentlemen. My name is Hugh C. Norris, Jr. My address is 4400 Luna Trail, Georgetown,
Texas. I am a member of the Airport Concerned Citizens (ACC).
This is the 79TH 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). My comments this morning address Agenda
Item "C" and specifically the item's Airport Master Plan (AMP) Report.
Three requirements are expected of the public from its local, state and federal governments: Honesty,
Transparency and Accountability. As regards use of state and federal funds for dangerously expanding
aviation operations development of the GTU as the Central Texas regional Reliever airport in the very
heart of our growing city and atop the Edwards Recharge Zone and compliance with FAA regulations for
development of the new AMP our city, state and federal officials have failed the public on all three
requirements.
The ACC's first public statement of January 14, 2014 requested a community consensus for use of such
funds as required by the NEPA and documented by the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
preparation process. City officials lied and circulated to the community, state and federal officials that
ACC demanded the closure of the GTU. In the meantime the city continued its now 38 year old public
manta of "We're not expanding anything at the airport". For these past four years, the ACC has made
repeated demands and requests to this board for preparation of fully scoped EIS's, open public NEPA
level review workshop meetings on proposed GTU grant funding, and staff responses or justifications to
legitimate public concerns and objections. The most recent public workshop request was last month,
January 12, 2018 by Ms. Dew. The single board requested staff response to legitimate public concerns
regarding a proposed grant project was squandered by circulation of a 50 page document totally ignoring
the cited issues and, instead, focused entirely on smearing and intimidating the ACC. All our requests
and demands for EIS preparation and open public hearings requests have been coldly ignored with no
comments or explanations by city officials. Public input and participation for use of state and federal
funding for the GTU has been soundly rejected by city, state and federal officials.
NEPA compliance for GTU grants is documented by FAA's preparation and public circulation of EIS's on
proposals for major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. This
provision is also the primary vehicle for achieving NEPA's ancillary goal of full public disclosure of the
environmental impacts of proposed major federal agency actions. All of the PROGRAMS of capital
improvements of the GTU 1980 master plan and its two update plans of 1998 and 2005 were major
proposed federal actions. Each had specific goals and objectives for facilities deemed essential for
expansion of numbers of based aircraft and take offs and landing operations of based and itinerant
aircraft. The 1980 master plan began the GTU transition from a socially acceptable local airport into a
dangerous Reliever airport for the Central Texas region designated to accommodate all military and
civilian aircraft of all sizes and uses capable of operating off its runways and do so located in the very
heart of our rapidly growing city and totally atop the Edwards Recharge Zone with major significant
adverse social, economic and environmental impacts. The two past update planned PROGRAMS and
the pending AMP further expand those aviation operation numbers. The pending AMP PROGRAM is
twice the cost of the total combined sum of all implemented GTU grants to date.
In lieu of NEPA compliance for GTU state and federal funding, TxDOT, with FAA oversight, pursues illicit
EIS avoidance practices to attain categorical exclusions from the NEPA for individual grants. These
practices include use of the type defective checklists provided to the board by Ms. DeMaio at the board's
January meeting. These checklists intentionally exclude any questions regarding whether the proposed
grant action is a component of or assists one or more planned PROGRAMs with goals for expanded
aircraft and/or operations accommodations and falsely certify known citizen objections and concerns.
Mr. Chairman, in the absence of public input and participation in development of the AMP and its
PROGRAM of capital improvements and no plans for EIS preparation by FAA for the PROGRAM, we
again request open public hearings for this new PROGRAM as recommended by Ms. Dew in her January
12, 2018 statement.
Mr. Chairman, comments from the board are requested.
Adjournment
Motion by Hellman, second by Hesser. APPROVED 7-0-2 (Noble and Allen — absent)
Meeting was Adjourned at 10:57AM
Approved:
v,&!
r'fohn Maher - Chaim
Attested:
Donna Courtney - Secret
Wiz,=
Acis — GTAB Board Liaison