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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_09.11.2020 Minutes of the Meeting of the Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas September 11, 2020 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: Dan Jones, Robert Redoutey, James Hougnon, George Brown, Bryan Hutchinson, Rachael Jonrowe Board Members Absent: Sheila Mills – Board Chair, Michael Miles, Ercel Brashear Staff Present: Wes Wright, Ray Miller, Emily Koontz, Wayne Reed, Joseph Carney, Nathan Parras, David Morgan Others Present: Carl Norris-ACC, Phillip Huntley – Garver, Trae Sutton – KPA, Larry Brundidge Regular Session A. Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Vice-Chairperson at Hutchinson 10:00am 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. D. Airport Monthly Report - Joseph A. Carney, C.M., Airport Manager and Ray Miller, Acting Director of Public Works. Ray Miller gave updates. All updates included in the packet. There was discussion of the three open hangars on the airport and possible tours of the airport for new 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 E: Carl Norris – 3 minutes – Statement attached to minutes. E. September 2020 GTAB Updates - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Michael Hallmark, CIP Manager. Wesley Wright gave updates. All updates included in the packet. Legislative Regular Agenda F. Consideration and possible approval of the Minutes from the September 11, 2020 Meeting – Emily Koontz – Board Liaison. MOTION by Brown, second by Hougnon to approve the minutes. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Brashear, Mills, and Miles – absent) G. Consideration and possible recommendation on Task Order KPA-20-011 for professional engineering design services for FY21 Street Maintenance, Sidewalks, Traffic Signals, and Curb & Gutter improvements with Kasberg Patrick & Associates of Georgetown, Texas in the amount of $880,900.00 -- Wesley Wright, PE, Systems Engineering Director. MOTION by Redoutey, second by Jones. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Brashear, Mills, and Miles – absent) H. Consideration and possible action to recommend an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with Capital Metro for GoGeo Transportation Services for FY 2021 -- Ray Miller, Jr., Director of Public Works. MOTION by Brown, second by Redoutey. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Brashear, Mills, and Miles – absent) Adjournment Motion by Jones, second by Redoutey. APPROVED 6-0-3 (Brashear, Mills, and Miles – absent) Meeting was Adjourned at 11:09 AM Approved: Attested: ___________________________ __________________________ Sheila Mills - Chair Dan Jones – Secretary _________________________________ Emily Koontz – GTAB Board Liaison GTAB STATEMENT SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 AGENDA ITEM “D” AIRPORT MONTHLY REPORT Good morning Madam 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). Transparency and accountability are expected of governmental elected and administrative officials. Secrecy by public officials in use of taxpayer funds is not acceptable. That is why Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to provide NEPA compliance regulations for each affected federal agency. NEPA established requirements for prior open public structured hearings by federal agencies including FAA to fully enlighten a community receiving federal and/or state taxpayer funding for a local airport funding action, identification of potential social, economic and environmental impacts, mitigation measures to eliminate or reduce adverse impacts and fully examine all practicable alternatives to a proposed action including relocation of an airport to a safe, superior site. In 1993 Texas became a State Block Grant Program (SBGP) state and TxDOT was assigned the state agency to manage the SBGP. The SBGP provides a method for FAA's transfer of federal funds directly to Texas and TxDOT, but FAA cannot transfer its federal laws obligation including the NEPA. FAA must retain strict oversight of the SBGP. For the past 40 years and four Airport Master Plans, $32 Million of local, state and federal taxpayer funding have expanded airport acreage and hazardous operations. There has never been a single NEPA structured hearing on a single airport grant including the $60 Million CIP of which the Taxiway Lighting Project is a part. The city and TxDOT with FAA approval have determined that these hazardous location expansions cause no more impacts than repainting the airport entrance sign. This NEPA evasion is a violation of government transparency and accountability. Madam Chairman, this board has authority to discuss this important public issue openly or in Executive Session and recommend to the City Council that it provide a NEPA structured hearing affording the community an opportunity to determine airport expansions and relocation to a safe, superior site and must do so.