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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_11.08.2019Minutes of the Meeting of the Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas November 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 - Board Chair, Dan Jones, George Brown, Doug Noble, Ercel Brashear, Robert Redoutey, Board Members Absent: Rachael Jonrowe, Sheila Mills Staff Present: Wes Wright, Ray Miller, Emily Koontz, Joseph Carney, David Morgan, Wayne Reed, Tristan Whitmire, Christi Rawls Others Present: Carl Norris -ACC, John Milford -ACC, Wendy Dew - ACC, Terry Reed - ACC, John Mutchler - Garver, Lucra Murgua - Garver, Michael Newman - KPA 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. Updates to various planning initiatives by CAMPO and TxDOT transportation improvement projects as wells as an update on GoGeo Operations. Ray Miller gave updates. All updates included in the packet. Noble asked and Miller replied that the ridership just counts the trips, not people. Brashear asked and Miller responded that the ridership numbers are currently at about 50% of the original figure the Council set up to determine the project was viable. D. Discussion regarding the Airport Monthly Update and Project Time Lines - Joseph A. Carney, C.M., Airport Manager and Ray Miller, Acting Director of Public Works. Joseph Carney gave updates. All updates included in the packet. Bindas asked and Carney replied that this will be the new format for airport monthly reports from now on. Noble asked and Carney replied that the new maintenance building will be a brand new building and that it is FAA regulations to have a security fence around the airport. 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) - Statement attached to minutes. Wendy Dew - 6 minutes (extra 3 minutes donated by Terry Reed) - Statement attached to minutes. E. November 2019 GTAB Updates - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager. Wesley Wright gave updates. All updates included in the packet. Bindas asked and Wright responded that Northwest Bridge is moving - the city moved their lines and our waiting on some poles, but some construction should begin before the holidays. Legislative Regular Agenda F. Consideration and possible approval of the Minutes from the October 11, 2019 Meeting - Emily Koontz - Board Liaison. MOTION by Brashear, second by Brown to approve the minutes. APPROVED 6-0-2 (Mills, and Jonrowe - absent) G. Consideration and possible recommendation to award a contract to Patin Construction, LLC of Taylor, Texas for the construction of the Shell Road Sidewalk Improvement project in the amount of $229,825.00 - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager. MOTION by Brown, second by Noble. APPROVED 6-0-2 (Mills, and Jonrowe - absent) H. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve Task Order KPA-20-004 with Kasberg, Patrick & Associates, LP of Georgetown, Texas, for professional services related to the Lakeway and Williams Drive Intersection improvements in the amount of $252,450.00. - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager. The intent with this project is to improve the intersection with turning lanes to improve the flow of traffic. Brashear asked and Wright responded that this item is for design only. Bindas asked and Wright responded that the next item on the Williamson Drive Corridor Plan will be the access study. MOTION by Brashear, second by Brown. APPROVED 6-0-2 (Mills, and Jonrowe - absent) I. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve the City of Georgetown's Bicycle Master Plan. - Ray Miller, Director of Public Works. Presentation included in the packet. Bindas asked and Miller replied that on Williamson there would be a buffered bike lane. Brashear asked and Miller replied that the cost does not include renovating pavement, but Miller also stated that the projected costs could decrease as parts get merged into other projects. MOTION by Brashear, second by Redoutey. APPROVED 6-0-2 (Mills, and Jonrowe - absent) Adjournment Motion by Brashear, second by Noble. APPROVED 6-0-2 (Mills, and Jonrowe - absent) Meeting was Adjourned at 11:09 AM Approved: Attested: Con>aHfindas - Chair Tian Jon 1- Secretary Emily ontz — GTAEWoard Liaison GTAB STATEMENT NOVEMBER 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), a group of over 100 city households. My comments this morning on behalf of the ACC continue the four ACC statements from August 9th through Ms. Dew's statement this morning focused on our ACC demands for a professional study showing how the Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU) can be seamlessly relocated to a safe, superior, and protected site at no cost to current taxpayers. When the old Airport Advisory Board developed without critical public participation the 1980 GTU Airport Master Plan, the scientific knowledge of the EARZ, the Edwards Aquifer, and mapping of both had not been developed to their extent today. Now we know different. If a GTU adjacent property had been prior developed for use as a livestock feedlot/packing and rendering plant or a munitions or hazardous materials production plant and been previously grandfathered into the city during that time, the city leaders would have taken notice and pressed by public objections for its relocation long before now. Because the GTU is an airport, with recognized value to the overall local economy and public official's concealment of its hazards from the ground dwelling public, our city leaders have resisted recommendations for its relocation to a safe, superior site. The ACC September 13th statement described historical actions leading to the legislature's statue requiring TxDOT to provide a State Airport for Central Texas and the agency's professional study to determine needs for such an airport. That 2003 20 year study showed minimum requirements to the year 2023 as 750 acres, a runway minimum of 7,000 ft and cost of $59 Million. Our area has experienced a surge in unexpected added growth and aviation needs since 2003 with more on the way. City, TxDOT and FAA officials have been working for the past near 30 years to make that state statute fit the GTU. Trying to fit those 10 pounds of need into the 3 pound GTU bag will politically tear this city apart. Seamless relocation of the GTU is the only sane political alternative. A variety of relocation models are available for study by a joint venture of professionals. The most favored by ACC is an "Airport Authority" recommended by CH2MHi11, Inc. in its 2013 GTU "Business Case Analysis". Why? Because an airport authority can be legislatively created and protected to operate outside the city limits, entirely off the EARZ, with access to key roadways, and by a board of directors under city control. The model most favored is a modified type of the Ft. Worth Alliance Airport (AFW). The AFW is a product of a partnership between a private land owner, the City of Ft. Worth and FAA. A similar airport developed by Georgetown leadership and financing would provide all Reliever Airport services envisioned by the legislature for ABIA and Central Texas of a vast array of flight services, charter passenger, air cargo, corporate and government aviation to serve the entire region. In lieu of destruction of city neighborhoods, this regional Reliever Airport could provide runways of 8 to 10,000 ft with strength for regional aviation needs, relocation of existing GTU FBO's, protection from non compatible land uses, safe flight rules, provisions for adjacent private land development, utilities, connecting roadways, and taxes for appropriate entities. As previously described, the ultra -upscale highest and best land use retail value of GTU property is in excess of $100 Million. Moreover, based on the 164 acres Wolf Lakes Village projected 2050 taxable value, developed GTU's taxable property valuation could exceed $6 Billion. Targeted Certificates of Obligation to developed GTU ultra -upscale properties even under today's tax rate would exceed $25 Million per year. In addition, the city could ensure to prospective purchasing site developers extension of needed utilities, off -site improvements, and a TIRZ for all public facilities required for construction of GTU properties. It is important for the city's planning purposes that prior to the end of this calendar year the City Council establish a Blue Ribbon Committee charged with implementing a professional study showing how the GTU can be seamlessly relocated at no cost to existing taxpayers. Let's work together to create a safer, superior, GTU for the health, safety, and environment of our Central Texas region and protect our "City of Excellence". Mr. Chairman, this board must recommend to the city council to act on this stated need immediately. Questions and comments are requested from the board GTAB MEETING - NOVEMBER 08, 2019 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 Citizens (ACC). My comments address ACC demands for a professional study showing how our airport can be seamlessly relocated at no cost to existing taxpayers. As a citizen and taxpayer of Georgetown, I am a co-owner of the airport unlike TxDOT and FAA who behave as if they own it. In its current location approved by our leaders for permanent placement in the heart of our planned city rapidly growing to 200,000, it remains a hazardous threat to the health, lives and properties of our citizens, the esteem of our future city and a regional hazard. It's inevitable expansion with the city's growth will result in unacceptable operations, extended runways, destruction of existing neighborhoods and will politically tear this city apart. Other cities facing similar situations have relocated their airports. Near examples are Temple, and Austin. Others exist across the nation such as St. George Airport that I use when visiting Utah family. These examples show that FAA not only approves airport relocations to safer, superior sites, but in some cases will provided grants to assist relocation and in all cases has continued grants for the new location. What this city desperately needs is an airport relocation plan. This board has the authority to make a recommendation for such a plan to City Council. We are all familiar with the concept of trading the value of a property for another by written agreements. This can be done for the seamless relocation of the airport to a safe, superior site at no cost to existing taxpayers. We need a plan developed by professionals. In this case, our professionals must be experts in FAA airport design and regulations, negotiations and document preparations with private owners and governmental units, and highest and best use land conceptions, land sales and closings. One won't find these and other areas of expertise in one firm. If I were in charge of a Blue Ribbon Committee for the plan and its mission as stated, I would demand a planning agreement between the city and a single joint venture of professional firms and individuals with one firm in charge selected on basis of demonstrated expertise in joint venture management to fully implement the study's mission. Our airport has tremendous highest and best land use redeveloped value. The property is in the planned heart of our city, three miles from Court House Square and Old Town, and within the fastest growing metro -area in the nation. It has ready access to IH-35, SH 130, the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, major city roadways, and other highways. It is surrounded by utilities, quality schools, and is leveled and drained for rapid development. Current developments such as the Rivery, Wolf Ranch Center, Wolf Lakes Village and development of the old Mueller Airport property demonstrate its best use would be as the financial and business center for Georgetown including up -scale shopping, restaurants, and residential housing. Our ACC August 9, 2019 statement outlined six tools or issues readily available for use by a selected professional joint venture consultant team for the study. There are others. The City Council routinely funds projects for excess budgeted revenues, over $1 Million for Austin Ave. Bridges alternatives, city offices, other federal funded projects including a recent $390,000 cost share for a bus line few folks ride. This study is vital for the future of our city and region. Mr. Chairman, this board has the responsibility of its appointed public service members to recommend to the City Council that it establish, prior to the end of this calendar year, a Blue Ribbon Committee to implement this vitally needed study. Comments and questions to me would be appreciated.