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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTAB_08.13.2021Minutes of the Meeting of the Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board and the Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas August 13, 2021 Board Members Present: John Hesser, Michael Miles, George (Jerry) McCulley, James Hougnon, Alfred Hajka, Amanda Parr, & Jake French Board Members Absent: Robert Redoutey Staff Present: Eric Johnson, Nathan Parras, Wesley Wright, Cindy Medrano, Sheila Mitchell, Katherine Clayton, & Chris Pousson Others Present: Heather Witte, Ray Bruett, Melva Harbin, Larry Brundige, Ken McHenry, Jonathan Tronson, Derek Mayo, & True Sutton Regular Session A. Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Chair John Hesser at 10:02am 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 board members, visitors, and staff were introduced. C. Public Wishing to Address the Board On a subject not posted on the agenda: Persons may add an item to a future Regular scheduled Board agenda by filing a written request with the Staff Liaison no later than one week prior to the Board meeting. The request must include the speaker's name and the specific topic to be addressed with sufficient information to inform the board and the public. Only those persons who have submitted a timely request will be allowed to speak. For Board Liaison contact information, please logon to http://georgetown.org/boardsandcommissions At the time of this posting, no persons had signed up to address the Board. D. August 2021 GTAB Updates — Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/ Chris Pousson, CIP Manager • Wright provided the board with transportation updates throughout the City of Georgetown. • The board had clarifying questions related to the duration of the projects and the stage of certain projects. Wright clarified duration and stage for the projects the board asked about. • Miles provided the board and staff with concerns on the DB Woods Rd. Project. ■ Three citizens had public comments and shared concerns on the DB Woods Rd. Project: Heather Witte, Ray Bruett, & Melva Harbin. • Wright provided the board with a summary of past road bonds and the approved projects that came of each that led to the current road projects. Board asked if city staff would meet with individual property owners. Wright assured that staff will meet with individual property owners on how the project will impact them individually. • Board asked who establishes criteria on speed limit on roads. Wright answered that speed limits are set by council following certain criteria. Wright also stated that speed limits are also set based on speed studies. E. July 2021 Financial Overview of Airport Fund and Budget Report Workshop — Nathan Parras, Assistant Finance Director • Parras provided the board with the July financial overview related to the airport. Including a change in the airport budget. The board had a clarifying question related to the employee moved from customer care to airport and who they report to. Parras clarified that this employee reports to the airport manager and is located at the airport. • The Chair updated the board on the meeting he had with city staff related to the budget report and on an update that would simplify the monthly report for the board. The board had a question on a certain amount on a past budget report. Parras clarified that it was an error on the report that has since been corrected. F. July 2021 Airport Monthly Report - Joseph A. Carney C.M., Airport Manager • Johnson provided the board with the monthly airport update for Carney. • Johnson provided the board with an update on the new Public Works Administrative Assistant who will replace the current board liaison at the next meeting. ■ The board has a question on the square footage of the maintenance building. Staff provided a rough estimate on the square footage based on the project cost. • There were two statements submitted for this item. The statements are attached to the minutes. Legislative Regular Agenda G. Consideration and possible action to approve the July 9, 2021, minutes of the Georgetown Transportation Advisory Board - Cindy Medrano, Board Liaison • MOTION by Hajka, second by Hougnon. APPROVED unanimously 7-0- 1 Redoutey Absent H. Consideration and possible recommendation to award a contract to Austin Traffic Signal Construction Co., Inc. of Pflugerville, Texas for all parts for a total amount of $405,716.00. - Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Chris Pousson, CIP Manager • Wright shared a visual of the rapid flashing beacon considered for approval. The board asked if the rapid flashing beacons are solar powered, Wright clarified that they are solar power. • MOTION by McCulley, second by Miles. APPROVED unanimously 7-0- 1 Redoutey Absent I. Consideration and possible recommendation to award a contract to Austin Traffic Signal Construction Co., Inc. of Pflugerville, Texas for all parts in the amount of $860,016.00. -- Wesley Wright, P.E., Systems Engineering Director/Chris Pousson, CIP Manager ■ The board had a clarifying question on the location of these signals and timeline. Wright clarified the locations and timeline to about nine months. • MOTION by Hougnon, second by Miles. APPROVED unanimously 7-0- 1 Redoutey Absent J. Consideration and possible action to approve a First Annual Renewal Agreement with Asphalt Inc. of Austin, Texas for the purchase of Asphalt Mixes, in amount not to exceed $180,000. — Eric Johnson, Public Works Director and Molly Ritter, Public Works Operations Manager. ■ Johnson specified an oversight on the renewal of this contract that has continued on a monthly basis. MOTION by Miles, second by McCulley. APPROVED unanimously 7-0- 1 Redoutey Absent Adjournment • MOTION by Miles, second by Hougnon. APPROVED unanimously 7-0- 1 Redoutey Absent The meeting adjourned at 11:22 AM John Robert Redoutey — Secretary a ► �lI I wi OR Danielle:Board Liaison ACC GTAB STATEMENT AUGUST 13, 2021 AGENDA ITEM "F" 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 and speaking on behalf of the Airport Concerned Citizens (ACC). Since January 14, 2014, the ACC has made over two hundred public presentations and written demands for compliance with the NEPA by local, state and federal officials and full information public awareness of expansions of airport size, operations and alternatives. NEPA is a 1970 federal law requiring full public participation and awareness of impacts and alternatives to proposed federal and state funded local projects. We were preceded in our airport public safety concerns by an abundance of documented citizen complaints to city, state, and federal officials including an over 1,200 signature airport expansion opposition petition. Over the past 41 years since the 1980 Airport Master Plan that began state/federal funding of airport expansion, our city leaders have steadfastly refused to provide public meetings and hearings of any kind for citizen awareness of airport expansions, their impacts, and alternatives. WHY NOT? To extract concepts from the August 8tn Sunday Sun editorial, "Is this a good thing or bad thing? It all depends. It's complicated". AND, "Because it's complicated, it's time we talk, listen and reason together." There is a better alternative for our regional airport. It begins with local government transparency and the truth. Doubtless, the 1980 Airport Master Plan planning committee and engineers had no idea of the future explosive growth our Central Texas region would encounter and the inherent public safety and health hazards such growth would impose on our citizens with an expanding regional Reliever airport in the planned heart of our community and, with its tens of thousands of gallons of hazardous materials, totally atop the EARZ. Mr. Chairman, this board has the authority to fully inform our community by open public meetings of current and future airport safety and health impacts, mitigation measures and alternatives. Please do so. Thank you. I'm writing this letter to garner support so we can begin discussions about the possibility of moving the airport to a new location to ensure optimum water quality, overall safety to all citizens, and bring in valuable tax dollars for Georgetown, Texas. According to htt s: us. eor etown.or water where -does- eor etown- et -its -water Georgetown citizens have two main water sources. One is Lake Georgetown via Lake Stillhouse Hollow. The other is the Edwards Aquifer. The airport sits directly on top of the Edwards Aquifer. The runoff of jet fuels, oils and other pollutants flow directly into our water supply. And if there were ever to occur an explosion from stored fuels, the fire department could very well have to use PFAS (forever) chemicals. This could destroy life in the Edwards Aquifer and would create a toxic environment in the aquifer forever. This would, in turn, affect a large population of people throughout the Georgetown community. Also, as Georgetown continues to grow, housing developments and businesses are enclosing the airport. That means there is an ever-increasing chance of someone being harmed in the event of a crash. 70% of all crashes occur on takeoff or landing. Currently there are residential homes, businesses, schools, and churches near the airport. The airport sits on approximately 600 acres of land which could be sold for another, safer use and bring in tax dollars. It is my understanding that the airport is losing a lot of money. According to Paul J. Smith, Jr. "For the three years ending September 30, 2020, the Georgetown Airport had an operating loss of $1,792, 882. After adjustments for non -operating revenues and expenses, the net loss was $860,191. Had it not been for substantial donations and/or grants in 2018, the net loss would have been larger." Do you not find this incredible? What business can continue to operate, or would, within those parameters? If the airport was relocated, the money received from the sale could be utilized to build a better airport in a safer location and bring in tax dollars! Perhaps Amazon, Walmart or similar corporations could utilize the airport and surrounding area for support of their businesses. Not to mention the tax dollars that would be received from the future project placed on the land currently occupied by the airport. I don't have all the answers, but as we come together to forge a safer, more beautiful Georgetown the answers will unfold. Would it become park land? Would it be a housing development with large lots? Would there be a small portion of commercial businesses or perhaps another school? That's the excitement of the project! We could come up with a plan that benefits everyone and saves the quality of the water we drink, cook and bathe with. I mean, how many pollutants do you want to drink every day? If discussions can begin now, there would still be available land for the new airport. We could create a specific plan for the future and ensure a safer location. The new airport (in the new location) could grow in a safe manner, support businesses needing flight services, and make Georgetown even more attractive. It is a losing proposition to continue to invest in the Georgetown Municipal Airport in its current location. It's like putting a band aid on a problem, looking away and hoping for the best. I really appreciate the past Georgetown citizens and leaders for creating such a wonderful place to live, but we now need to move into the present and give us and our next generations a better future. Toni Condina 900 Stagecoach Drive Georgetown TX 78628