HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_08.10.2018Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the
Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas
August 10, 2018
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Board Members Present: John Marler - Board Chair, Dan Jones, Robert Redoutey, Sheila Mills,
Doug Noble, Troy Hellmann
Board Members Absent: John Hesser, Ron Bindas - Vice Chair, Donna Courtney - Secretary
Staff Present: Wes Wright, Russ Volk, Octavio Garza, Jim Briggs, Ed Polasek, Nat Waggoner,
Emily Koontz
Others Present: Gary Reed, Carl Norris, John Milford, Richard Valentine, Trae Sutton - KPA
Engineering, Ross Hunter, Ross Scott, Josh Crawford, Wendy Dew, Terry Reed, Douglas
Haegebarth, John Muchler-Aguirre and Fields, Brad Lamb-GTU Jet, Patrick Taylor -Kauffman
Associates, Ashley McClain -Cox -McClain Environmental
Regular Session
A. Call to Order: Meeting called to order by John Marler at 10:OOam
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.
C. Industry/CAMPO/TxDOT/Transit Updates: Ed Polasek gave updates. Next council
meeting they will be taking an agreement with Southwestern University to allow
students and faculty to use their Pirate cards as buses passes for GoGeo. The university
will pay the city $2,500 for the first year and then the city will evaluate ridership and
renegotiate that contract after the first year. This will make it easier for students and
faculty to access the GoGeo program. The city has met with TxDot on the Leander Road
project. The public meeting may be delayed because it looks like the schematic has not
been finalized due to some concerns by Leander on the alignment. The city is working
with them on how to move the project forward specifically so the city can get started on
the bond and the Campo project for Leander Road.
D. Airport Monthly Update: Russ Volk gave updates. Airport master plan now has all
inputs from FAA and TxDOT Aviation incorporated into the latest version. Runway
Rehabilitation project is out for bids. There is a bid out later this month for the new
overlay of the runway itself. They have been focusing on several initiatives in the airport
primarily some hangar upgrades and some door seals. Fuel price comparisons are
included in the packet. Airport is running in the black for the fiscal year. Should wrap
up the fiscal year with three straight years of operating in the black. Jim Briggs made a
statement that Russ Volk is retiring. Marler presented Volk with a certificate of
appreciation signed by all present board members.
Citizens Wishing to Address the Board: The following people with the Airport
Concerned Citizens (ACC) signed up to speak to the Board on Item G:
Wendy Dew - 6 minutes
E. June 2018 GTAB Updates: Wright gave updates. All updates included in the packet.
Mills asks about possible improvements for DB Wood and Wright responds that there is
nothing in the next year's fiscal budget, but there was a package for improvements in
the 2015 road bond program and is set for 2020-2021. Hellmann asks about the
intersection at DB Wood and 29. Wright responds that the county is working with
Georgetown and the state to improve the intersection - looking at putting in a turn lane
and widening the intersection. This is not a bond program project. Marler asks about
repaving in the Sun City area and Wright responds that there will be golf cart
transportation for people that need it.
F. Presentation and discussion on the City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update Process -
Nat Waggoner, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager. Comp Plan Schedule is included
in packet.
Legislative Regular Agenda
G. Consideration and possible approval of the Minutes from the June 08, 2018 Meeting -
Emily Koontz - Board Liaison. MOTION by Dan Jones, second by Sheila Mills to
approve the minutes as presented. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Bindas, Courtney, Hesser -
absent)
H. Consideration and possible recommendation to renew the current contract with Avfuel
Corporation to supply aviation fuel (Jet -A and 100LL/Avgas) and services to the
Georgetown Municipal Airport, City of Georgetown, in the estimated annual amount of
$2,600,000.00 - Russ Volk, C.M., Airport Manager. Avfuel won the initial bidding
competition. Resulted in a two year contract with three one-year renewal options. The
city is coming the end of the two year period and would like to renew for the first one-
year option. Avfuel has been great to work with and they put in a lot of effort to make
sure we keep in the fuel we need to supply our airport businesses and users.
MOTION by Doug Noble, second by Troy Hellmann. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Bindas,
Courtney, Hesser - absent)
I. Consideration and possible recommendation to adopt the Draft Airport Master Plan. -
Russ Volk, C.M., Airport Manager and Octavio A. Garza, P.E., C.P.M, Public Works
Director. Multiple firms submitted proposals - Kauffman and Associates won the
consulting proposal and have been exceptional to work with. This airport has
undergone comprehensive review and created a master plan. FAA requires master
plans. Master plan is included in the packet. Marler asks and Volk confirms that what
the board is voting on is simply adopting the plan and the recommendations within.
Briggs makes a statement that as a site plan comes into develop, it would have to
comply with the master plan and that land use items of the plan were important not
only for planes and hangars but for revenue to continue to support the operation as well.
Hellmann asks and Volk confirms that this plan has been reviewed by TxDOT and the
FAA to make sure it would meet all requirements and have all essential elements.
MOTION by Troy Hellmann, second by Dan Jones. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Bindas,
Courtney, Hesser - absent)
Citizens Wishing to Address the Board: The following people with the Airport
Concerned Citizens (ACC) signed up to speak to the Board on Item G:
Hugh C. Norris Jr. - 6 minutes
J. Consideration and possible recommendation on the Austin Avenue Bridges
Environmental Clearance Process and selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative -
Edward G. Polasek, AICP, Transportation Planning Coordinator. Polasek gave
presentation. Presentation is included in the packet. Marler asks and Polasek responded
that "no bill" means to leave it as it is. Briggs commented that "no bill' does not mean
that they would not continue maintenance. Hellmann asked and Polasek responded that
they like 6A better because impacts were less with new construction on the east side, the
right of way needed on the west side would be greater, and the Blue Hole park would be
impacted on the west side as well. MOTION by Doug Noble, second by Sheila Mills.
APPROVED 6-0-3 (Bindas, Courtney, Hesser - absent)
Citizens Wishing to Address the Board: The following people with the Airport
Concerned Citizens (ACC) signed up to speak to the Board on Item G:
Ross Hunter - 3 minutes
GTAB STATEMENT
AUGUST 10, 2018
AGENDA ITEM "D"
AIRPORT MONTHLY REPORT
Good morning Mr. Chairman, and members of the GTAB. My name is Wendy Dew. My
residence is 30109 Spyglass Circle, Georgetown, Texas. I am a member of the Airport
Concerned Citizen (ACC). This is the 84th presentation by ACC members to the city council
and/or the GTAB.
My statement this morning is a response to comments made by a board member at the last
meeting on June 8, 2018. A board member expressed being personally offended by public
statements inferring improper ethics, honesty and transparency issues with city officials. Other
board members agreed. By board rules, a response by the public at that meeting was not
allowed. It is perhaps appropriate that a board member made the comment because the ACC
has been offended numerous times over the past five years by city officials and a public
response is justified. On behalf of the ACC I will describe some, but not all issues which offend
the general public, are related to this agenda item, and need to be addressed for the public
record. They include, but are limited by time to :
• Refusal of city officials to exchange dialog with public speakers and respond to their
requests for staff information and justification for identified issues. Public officials can
take time yucking it up and backslapping with themselves and staff, but will not address
important issues when requested by the public who, by board rules, must remain
gagged and silent.
• Refusal of the city officials to meet with representative of the public in open public
workshops for detailed information on important issues that impact the public's safety,
health and property values and alternatives to proposed major airport construction
grants. This board has a responsibility to the public and the city council to consider
views of the public and staff prior to its decisions. You can't do that without engaging
the public for its views.
• An official public policy of lies regarding continued expansion of airport property and
aviation operations to transform our once publicly acceptable airport to a current health
and safety hazard and subject of public controversy.
• Lies by public officials in a state hearing that a local public hearing was held for a
pending federal funded project and that there is no expansion of aviation operations
being planned or implemented at our public owned airport. In fact, there have been no
federal structured NEPA level public hearings for a single federal or state funded airport
grant in the past 38 years. AND, aviation expansion facilities funded by the over $25
Million total in project grants have provided accommodations for expansion of based
aircraft from 48 to 405 and take off and landing operations from 85/day to 553/day.
The new 20 year airport plan and its $60 Million construction PROGRAM supports
operations up to 764/day.
• Refusal of city officials to fund a feasibility study for a seamless transfer of the current
landlocked airport in the heart of our city to a permanent, superior, safer site at no cost
to the city taxpayers.
• Refusal of city officials to work with FAA on behalf of the general public to establish
airport flight rules to prevent low level, debilitating noise, dangerous take off and
landing turning maneuvers over homes, schools, churches and businesses within the city
established "noise sensitive areas" when ample non-developed areas are available for
these maneuvers.
• Refusal of public officials to justify the proposed doubling of strength of Runway 18-36
and offer less costly resurfacing treatments to protect the runway's current strength.
• Collaboration of city officials with TxDOT and FAA to allow unelected bureaucrats to
make and determine Categorical Exclusions from EIS's and the NEPA contrary to federal
regulations that require airport Sponsors to submit proposed environmental clearances
to SBGP or FAA officials for their rejection, modification, or approval.
■ Refusal of public officials to present in layman's terms documentation showing how
airport revenues are paying for all cumulative city shares of grants, interest on those
debts, and all cumulative airport maintenance and operations costs.
Mr. Chairman, I appreciate your willingness to try and educate yourself on airport issues, but
what you were given to review is a product of numerous lies given to FAA by the City and TxDot
officials. These are only a few issues of which the public is and has been offended and
demonstrate a clear need for open and fair dialog between city officials and the public
regarding airport issues.
GTAB STATEMENT AUGUST 10, 2018 AGENDA ITEM "I"
DRAFT AIRPORT MASTER PLAN
Good morning Mr. Chairman, members of the Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board. 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).
My comments this morning address agenda item "I", the staff proposed recommendation to
adopt the Draft Airport Master Plan. The ACC demands this item be postponed pending a full
vetting of this plan by a special GTAB public meeting.
The attached Staff Briefing Sheet portion titled "Item Summary" for this item is misleading
and false. Examples include:
1. The second paragraph describing purpose of the plan infers that expansion of aviation
operations by improved or new facilities to meet anticipated new demands is the only option
for the citizens of the city who actually own the airport. That single option is wrong! The
citizens are under no obligation to provide any improved or new facilities regardless of new
potential projected demands. FAA regulations prevent the agency from making or forcing such
intrusion on the rights of the airport owning citizens who may pref er to limit airport operations
to current levels while maintaining facilities to meet FAA standards and/or relocate the airport
to a safer, superior location or other options.
2. The third paragraph infers that the plan provided ample public input and participation in
development. That inference is demonstrably wrong! Members appointed to the plan's
Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) were limited to those devoted to continued expansion of
aviation operations. Specifically excluded were members of the public who shared legitimate
concerns of NEPA related adverse impacts to public health, safety, property detriment, and
continued public controversy due to continued expansion of landlocked aviation operations.
The general public could listen and observe PAC members focused only on continuing
operations expansion communicating with the consultants, but were denied any dissenting or
alternate view communications of their own. Such public concerns were prohibited and not
included indevelopment of any portion of the plan or its 20 year, $60 Million PROGRAM of
capital improvements intended for federal and state funding. Public Q & A's at the three
"Workshops" for completed plan portions and written comments provided through the plan
web site were quickly ignored without consultant comments and without notice and
elimination justification by the PAC and the consultant. To this date no documented public plan
commentaries and TxDOT and FAA review and responses have been made known to this board
or the general public. Public input and participation in development of the plan and its
PROGRAM were a cruel and demonstrable hoax.
3.The fourth paragraph states the plan was developed in accordance with FAA requirements.
Not true! Documented comments to the consultant identify specific portions of six chapters of
FAA AC 150/5070.6B, the primary regulation governing development of such plans, that were
omitted from study and commentary making the final plan and its PROGRAM irredeemably
defective. NEPA related adverse issues associated with the location of the airport in the very
heart of our growing city and totally atop the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone were ignored.
Documented past citizen opposition to adverse impacts arising by expanded aviation
operations were ignored. Issues of debilitating noise, safety, health issues, and property
damage of those on the ground under flight paths for take offs and landings were ignored.
Mitigation measures to eliminate or reduce adverse impacts due to continuation and expansion
of operations were ignored. Other airport expansion alternatives for a superior safer location
that deserved review and recommendations were ignored. Appropriate NEPA level reviews for
PROGRAM projects were ignored.
The city's Public Information Office through its outreach with all community press, news media,
TV, and social media is fully capable of providing full community awareness of documented
public comments on this plan's development, FAA and TxDOT review and responses to such
comments, and FAA's final comments to TxDOT for changes to this Draft Final Plan. With no
such prior comprehensive public and GTAB information, it is entirely premature for the board
to consider action on this item. Such action must be postponed.
Mr. Chairman, faced with such irredeemable defects in the current Draft Airport Master Plan,
lack of proper prior information for the public and the board, and fact that city staff has
scheduled a request to the Planning and Zoning Commision to make this defective plan an
update to the city's Comprehensive Plan, the ACC demands the GTAB establish a public meeting
for full community input and participation on this plan and a detailed transcript based report on
same for public record prior to any action recommendation on this plan to city council.
Comments or questions from the board will be appreciated.
Adjournment
Motion by Troy Hellmann, second by Dan Jones. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Bindas, Courtney,
Hesser — absent)
Meeting was Adjourned at 11:50 AM
Approved:
Attested:
Marler - Chair
Emily K ntz — GTAB Boa aison