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
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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.