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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_02.08.2019Minutes of the Meeting of the Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas February 8, 2019 The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require assistance in participation at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the ADA, reasonable assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon request. Please contact the City at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled meeting date, at (512)930-3652 or City Hall at 113 East 8th Street for additional information: TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. Board Members Present: Ron Bindas - Vice Chair, Dan Jones, Robert Redoutey, Sheila Mills, Troy Hellmann, John Hesser, John Marler - Board Chair Board Members Absent: Doug Noble, Donna Courtney - Secretary, Dan Jones Staff Present: Wes Wright, Jim Briggs, Emily Koontz, Ray Miller, Laurie Brewer, David Morgan Others Present: Terry Reed -ACC, Carl Norris -ACC, John Milford -ACC, Trae Sutton - KPA Engineering, Josh Crawford, Wendy Dew -ACC Regular Session A. Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Chairperson 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: Ray Miller gave updates. Miller gave handouts which are included in the packet. Hellmann asked and Miller responded that the GoGeo numbers presented were actual ridership. D. Airport Monthly Update: Garza gave updates. Reports are included in the packet. Airport Master Plan was been adopted. Airport improvements - yesterday received the letter from the design engineer notifying the contractor that they are clear to proceed, their clock starts February 18th. Phase one begins February 181h. TxDOT required contractors to purchase all materials needed before so there will be no wait for materials. Will be shutting down runway 1836 on March 411,, though all dates are weather - dependent. Around April, both runways will be shutdown. Marler asked and Garza responded that this will last from April 5th to April 161h. All of the alternatives were approved including paving the shoulders. Hellmann asked and Bindas responded that January had a huge spike in fuel sales because of the good weather and many people were trying to complete their flight training. Marler asked and Garza responded that the city is still in the process of interviewing Airport Manager candidates. Mills asked and Garza responded that closure of airport runways are published in the appropriate places. Citizens Wishing to Address the Board: The following people with the Airport Concerned Citizens (ACC) signed up to speak to the Board on Item D: Carl Norris - 6 minutes (extra 3 minutes donated by John Milford) E. November 2018 GTAB Updates: Wright gave updates. All updates included in the packet. Marler asked and Wright responded that the number of parking spots are about fourteen. Policy Development/Review Workshop F. Discussion and update on various road bond projects -- Wesley Wright, PE, Systems Engineering Director. This item was moved to the end of the agenda. Wright gave handouts which are included in the minutes. Bindas asked and Wright responded that the plan for Berry Creek was to widen it to four lanes. TxDOT is looking to make improvements to the intersection of Berry Creek and 195. Hellmann asked and Wright replied that there will probably be about four million in cash from the 2008 Road Bond Projects to use on Berry Creek. Marler asked and Wright responded that the bond was a contract with the voters so that they are only capable of doing the specific projects based on how the debt was allocated. Morgan explained that the way the language was for the issuance for debt, the funds can only be used on these specific projects. Hellmann asked and Morgan responded that there is $21 million authorized, but not issued so it is not money that will be wasted, the city is not obligated to be issued and is not extra cash available. Mills asked and Wright responded that the $11.6 million from 2015 Road Bond Projects that will most likely not be spent can be allocated to any project on the list. Hellmann and asked and Wright responded that DB Wood has not been designed yet. Morgan said that the city has a five-year plan to phase projects in a way to allow for growth to pay for this plan and for the tax rate not to be shifted. Legislative Regular Agenda G. Consideration and possible approval of the Minutes from the January 11, 2019 Meeting - Emily Koontz - Board Liaison. MOTION by Mills, second by Bindas to approve the minutes as presented. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Courtney, Noble, and Jones - absent) H. Consideration and possible recommendation on Task Order KPA-19-003-TO with Kasberg, Patrick, and Associates of Georgetown, TX in the amount of $456,500.00 for professional services related to 2019 Street Maintenance -- Wesley Wright, PE, Systems Engineering Director. Wright explains that this is their annual street maintenance task order. Wright explains that they are looking hot -in -place and sealant options for road maintenance. The proposed streets are in the packet. This is just the design task order. Hellmann asked and Wright responded that last year's projects will be completed by the end of spring and the current year's projects should be done by the end of summer. MOTION Hellmann by, second by Hesser. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Courtney, Noble, and Jones - absent) I. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve task order KPA-19-001-TO with Kasberg, Patrick & Associates, LP of Georgetown, TX ("Engineer") for Professional Services for the design of SE Inner Loop (FM 1460 to Austin Avenue) and Southwestern Boulevard (Raintree to SE Inner Loop) in the amount of $1,362,935.00. -- Wesley Wright, PE, Systems Engineering Director. This is for design of roadway improvements — will take road from two lanes to four lanes. With increased traffic, city feels this project needs to be moved forward. GTEC has budgeted money to complete construction. Southwestern Blvd was included in the 2015 Road Bond Project for design and construction. Included for design and construction. Will provide four lanes for increased access. MOTION by Bindas, second by Hellmann. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Courtney, Noble, and Jones — absent) J. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve funding for Atmos Gas relocation work necessary to facilitate the Northwest Blvd Bridge Extension in the amount of $135,153.02 -- Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager. Wright explains that this is for utility relocation. Funding is available from the 2015 Road Bond Project. MOTION by Hellmann, second by Bindas. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Courtney, Noble, and Jones — absent) Adjournment Motion by Hesser, second by Mills. APPROVED Meeting was Adjourned at 11:22 AM Approved: Attested: onaId Bindas - Chair ecretary GTAB STATEMENT FEBRUARY 8, 2019 AGENDA ITEM "D" AIRPORT MONTHLY REPORT Good morning Mr. Chairman, and members of the GTAB. My name is Hugh C. Norris, Jr. My residence is 4400 Luna Trail, Georgetown, Texas. I am a member of the Airport Concerned Citizens (ACC). The ACC is a major community public interest stakeholder group demanding compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for all federal and state taxpayer funded grants for the Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU). This is the 90th presentation by ACC members to the city council and GTAB since January 14, 2014. My comments this morning address the Runway Rehabilitation Project Report portion of Agenda Item "D". According to staff notes, the TxDOT developed contract for this project, "RW 18/36 Rehabilitation", 1814GRGTN, was awarded to a Pflugerville contractor and issued a Notice to Proceed without an executed Airport Project Participation Agreement or any prior approval actions by this board or the city council. ACC has addressed and opposed this project in multiple prior statements to this board and most recently at the November 9, 2018 and January 11, 2019 board meetings. ACC objections to this project initiated when it was first proposed by staff at the GTAB May 2015 meeting. ACC objections are based NOT on the runway's need for surface protection, BUT on the strengthening of the runway to accommodate heavier, noisier, more dangerous aircraft. All ACC objections and specific concerns have been contemptuously ignored without comment by this board and city staff. The current fiscal problems for customers of the electric system portion of the Georgetown Utility System are recognized by all as one in which public input and participation was denied in the conception, development and implementation of the new program. Secrecy prevailed. Government transparency was non-existent. Now, the public is paying the price. A similar cloak of secrecy, misinformation and lies has shrouded the city's development of our GTU as a dangerous military and civilian Reliever airport for the Central Texas Region in the very planned heart of our growing city and atop the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. The proper method for public input and participation of our impacted community for GTU development by use of federal and state funding is by adherence to the federal law, NEPA, demonstrated by preparation of a fully scoped Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and its Record of Decision (ROD) for the new 52 projects, $60 Million PROGRAM of airport capital improvements proposed by the new Airport Master Plan. That PROGRAM includes the "RW 18/36 Rehabilitation" project described in staffs outline for this agenda item. This board should understand that an EIS preparation process and its ROD does not terminate a proposed grant action. The process provides the general public and interested agencies a full opportunity to examine ALL impacts of a proposed funding action, mitigation measures for elimination or reduction of adverse impacts, and full examination of All practicable alternatives to the action. The ROD contains the conditions, if any, for the project to proceed. The FAA and TxDOT federal and state taxpayer funding agencies for the GTU are determined that no EIS will be prepared on the $60 Million PROGRAM or any of its projects on the premise that the GTU's location is irrelevant and no adverse impacts will occur now or in the future by the PROGRAM or any of its projects. TxDOT, on its own with FAA's approval, has determined the "RW 18/36 Rehabilitation" project is categorically excluded from the NEPA and EIS preparation. These public agencies focus on safety and need of aviation operations and pay no demonstrated concern for the safety, health and environment of those on the ground. The FAA welcomes NEPA/EIS law suits by alarmed plaintiffs demanding compliance with the rule of law. The agency enjoys using its bastions of taxpayer paid lawyers NOT to argue NEPA or EIS issues, but for endless court continuances and delays to fiscally bleed the plaintiffs into submission and withdrawal. This board has clearly expressed the position of our city leaders that "Unless notified by a federal authority or a court order to the contrary, all public demands for compliance with the NEPA will be considered irrelevant.". Faced with these options, the ACC continues its demands for NEPA/EIS compliance to local, state and federal officials. The ACC statements for the November 2018 and January 2019 board meetings identify a broad listing of fraudulent defects of this "RW 18/36 Rehabilitation" project that this board and staff continue to ignore with no professional response. Mr. Chairman, the ACC again demands a fully scoped GTAB open public hearing for this project prior to any board recommendations to the city council.