HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_04.12.2019Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the
Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas
April 12, 2019
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Board Members Present: Ron Bindas — Board Chair, Dan Jones, Robert Redoutey, John Hesser,
George Brown, Ercel Brashear, Doug Noble, Dan Jones
Board Members Absent: Sheila Mills, Troy Hellmann
Staff Present: Wes Wright, Emily Koontz, Ray Miller, Octavio Garza
Others Present: Terry Reed -ACC, Carl Norris -ACC, John Milford -ACC, Philip Huntley —
Garner, Michael Miles
Regular Session
A. Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Chairperson Ron Bindas 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 Board Members and Visitors: All board members, visitors, and staff
were introduced.
C. Industry/CAMPO/TxDOT/Transit Updates: Miller gave updates. Updates included in
the packet. TxDOT has been looking for ways to improve the intersection at SH29 and
I35, but there are a lot of constraints such as existing businesses. Intersections are graded
A-F and the proposed improvements allow the intersection to function at level C. The
main drawback is that the first signal west of 35 at Wolf Lakes will function at level F
which seems to be unavoidable. The city will work on synching and timing the signals to
make traffic move as smooth as possible. Jones asked about timeframe. Miller replied
that funding was not secured yet so the project is several years out. Wright added that
there is a desire with TxDOT to expedite this project, but that once it begins he estimates
it will perhaps be a ten year project due to the amount of traffic, retail, and growth in the
area. Miller presented transit numbers for GoGeo. Brashear asked about usage on the
routes and if there is a way to evaluate the ridership activity on a year to year basis to
see whether it is increasing or decreasing. Noble asked about Lyft ridership numbers
and Miller responded that they started the program in July 2018 and exceeded their
funds of $25,000 by January 2019.
D. March 2019 GTAB Updates — Wesley Wright, P.E. Systems Engineering Director/Michael
Hallmark, CIP Manager. Wright gave updates. All updates included in the packet.
E. Airport Monthly Update: November 2018 GTAB Updates: Garza gave updates. All
reports included in the packet. Garza announced that an airport manager candidate has
been offered the job and has accepted. Garza covered airport financials which are
included in the packet. Brashear asked and Garza asked the fuel sales are a primary
source of revenue for the airport. Bindas asked and Garza responded that the current
hangar waitlist is over two hundred. Bindas asked if the city could look into building
hangars at the airport or to find out what the financial implications are to build. Brown
added that there was a study done several years ago about the shade hangars that
Bindas was asking about. Brown explained that the study showed that cost to build and
maintain versus the rental income from those hangars didn't justify it and that the city
would have a better return on their investment with enclosed hangars. Bindas asked
about more detailed financial reports and Garza replied that he can work on gathering
more detailed information.
Citizens Wishing to Address the Board: The following people with the Airport
Concerned Citizens (ACC) signed up to speak to the Board on Item E:
Carl Norris - 6 minutes (extra 3 minutes donated by John Milford)
Legislative Regular Agenda
F. Consideration and possible approval of the Minutes from the March 08, 2019 Meeting -
Emily Koontz - Board Liaison. MOTION by Brashear, second by Brown to approve the
minutes. APPROVED 7-0-2 (Hellmann and Mills - absent)
G. Discussion on the proposed FY19 Capital Improvement Plan - Wesley Wright, P.E.,
Systems Engineering Director. Wright provided board members with a copy of the draft
CIP plan. Further discussion and official presentation about the CIP will happen at the
regular May meeting. (no action required)
Adjournment
Motion by Hesser, second by Brown. APPROVED 7-0-2 (Hellmann and Mills - absent)
Meeting was Adjourned at 11:45 AM
Approved: Attested:
a11 indas 16hair Dan Jo es - Secretary
Emily Ko n z - GTAB Bo aison
GTAB STATEMENT
APRIL 12, 2019
AGENDA ITEM "E"
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) demonstrated by preparation of a federal funded
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as appropriately amended for all major federal action
taxpayer grants for the Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU). The current 52 project, $60
Million PROGRAM of new GTU capital improvements for continued expansion of aviation
operations meets the criteria for a major federal action.
This is the 92nd presentation by ACC members to the city council and GTAB since January 14,
2014. My comments this morning address the Master Plan Update portion of agenda item "E",
Airport Monthly Report.
Currently, three contested city council district positions are up for a May 4, 2019 Election. An
underlying debate theme is focused on government transparency and accountability due to the
secret conception, development and implementation of the city's electrical system renewable
energy program fiscal debacle. Another publically unreported secret program of the city is the
shroud of secrecy thrown over continuous aviation operations expansion through four GTU
master plans since the 1980 plan and the 2016-2036 Airport Master Plan of this agenda. By
implementation of these GTU master plans, based aircraft and take off and landing operations
have expanded from 48 based aircraft and 85 operations per day in 1980 to over 500 aircraft and
up to 764 operations per day proposed by the new Airport Master Plan and its $ 60 Million
PROGRAM. In addition, the new PROGRAM includes doubling the strength of RW 18/36 and
extending its length from 5,000 to 6,000 ft to accommodate dual or more wheeled aircraft of
150,000 lb gross weight or more and charter passenger aircraft of 80 to 100 passengers, thus
adversely impacting the entire environmental character of the GTU.
City council approved this new Airport Master Plan on September 11, 2018 and incorporated it
into the 2030 Comprehensive Plan based on lies by city staff that it had been approved by both
TxDOT and FAA. ACC demanded that city council demand staff documentation of such
approvals, but council ignored the demand and passed the fraudulent Airport Master Plan and
made it part of the city charter. As of today, seven months later, TxDOT and FAA have not
approved the plan.
By the staff briefing notes for this item, the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) is proposed for FAA
approval this month. By FAA regulations, no grant may be implemented for a new planned
PROGRAM project until after the ALP is approved. Doubling the strength of RW 18/36 with a
$5,165,000 federal and state grant under the fraudulent guise of a previous planned project at
10% of the cost for its existing 5,000 if is one of the projects of the new PROGRAM. Upon
completion, its new strength design will be used for its 1000 if extension. By silently ignoring
FAA's own regulations, staff is advising this board that FAA is violating its own regulations and
state statutes. By email dated April 11, 2019, this board was copied a January 22, 2019 email to
federal officials citing five (5) principal reasons that FAA must reject any ALP approval
proposed by the new Airport Master Plan.
By email dated March 23, 2019 copied to District 5 Councilman, Kevin Pitts, this board was
requested to respond to the councilman and ACC either that documentation of answers to four
(4 ) commitment questions poised to him did not exist or with GTAB documentation responding
to and addressing the four questions. With no response to the ACC, it is recorded that no such
documentation exists for either option and governmental secrecy prevails for the four (4) critical
airport expansion question issues of. denial of public workshops and hearings, the Airport
Master Plan, RW 18-36 Rehabilitation, and the 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update.
Mr. Chairman, the ACC demands full public information and transparency of the Airport Master
Plan by GTAB sponsored public open meetings and hearings for planned GTU continued
expansion of aviation operations.. The ACC will continue its demands to federal officials for
preparation of an EIS for the GTU $60 Million PROGRAM.