HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 11.02.2000 CC-SRegular Session: Called to order at 5:35 p.m.
1. Discussion and possible action regarding the Texas Department of
Transportation's Austin Avenue widening and bridge replacement project.
Kersch called on Jim Briggs to give an overview of the reason for the discussion
and introduce the speakers from the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT). First to speak was Tim Weight, Assistant Area Engineer, who
described the restoration of the two bridges as needing attention as soon as
possible. He said his office appealed to the State office to include money to
improve Austin Avenue with a raised median due to the number of accidents
involving left turns. He spoke of having met with business owners and interested
Tom Moriarity, Consultant on the Downtown Revitalization Strategy raised issues
affecting implementation of the plan. He listed the following issues: (1) schedule
. when it begins and how long it will take, causing a slow down of traffic flow,
affecting sales and sales tax revenues; (2) how to attract significant investment
in downtown during the construction period; (3) how to achieve the best design
solutions to reinforce the character of downtown and Austin Avenue as a
"gateway" to downtown; and (4) how to structure a process to work as partners to
make the project successful.
Weight agreed Moriarity's issues need to be addressed. He said construction
has been delayed because of the age of the structures, saying they did a "4F"
analysis, due to the historic value of the structures, using a variety of scenarios,
including the scenario that TxDOT would do nothing and attempt to create an
alternate route. He said the analysis showed the proposed construction project
as the best option. He said he expects construction to begin in May with a 14- to
18 -month timeframe. He said TxDOT has added $400,000 of their money to try
to speed up the project, saying also that the bridge structures would need to be
built one-half at a time, a very time-consuming process, in order to continue
traffic flow during the construction. He said getting rid of some of the "fancy"
design extras would speed up the process and reduce the cost. He also
described an "incentive/disincentive" process, saying this project does not qualify
for that process according to State standards, but the City could specifically
request that process in the contract and would need to contribute funds. He
estimated that process would save approximately 3 to 4 months, but could be
Special Council Meeting
Thursday, November 2, 2000
Page 1 of 6 Pages
very costly. He said TxDOT is still considering alternate routes in order to allow
traffic to avoid the construction, but the alternate routes would cause increased
wear on other city streets. He said there would be times when traffic on Austin
Avenue would be completely shut down, and that they would try to schedule a lot
of the work at night but would need help from Council to allow them to perform
noisy construction late at night.
Moriarity asked Weight if there were a public process to allow citizens to give
input on the widening project. Weight explained the design has already been
done, but agreed that TxDOT would try to incorporate specific amendments if
requested by the Council.
When asked by Burson, Weight said the bridge project would definitely be done
due to the age and deterioration of the existing bridges and the road widening
would need to be done consecutively in order to avoid disrupting traffic again at a
later date.
Gerald Pohlmeyer of TxDOT noted that much of the design has already
incorporated specific Georgetown characteristics such as stamped concrete or
paver bricks in the sidewalks areas, landscaping, and antique light poles.
Weight suggested that citizens could call or come by the TxDOT office on South
Austin Avenue at any time with questions or suggestions.
Weight reported the accident statistics on Austin Avenue from Williams Drive to
Sixth Street for the last four years.
Jim Dillard, 1404 Maple Street, representing the Heritage Society, said they
have concerns that if the North Austin widening is successful, TxDOT might want
to do the same on South Austin Avenue which would have a very negative
impact on the historic district. He asked that the bridges be done the same as
the bridge on Highway 29. He also expressed concern for the trees and the
portions of right of way that business owners would have to abandon to make
room for the widening. He also suggested money be spent on the completion of
the loop.
Weight said they would do everything they could to protect the trees.
Virginia Fischer, owner of a ladies' boutique on Main Street for the last three
years, said she has recently relocated to the old David Love Building on Austin
Avenue. She spoke of having experienced a decrease in business during the
construction of the City parking lot at the corner of 6th and Main, and now will
experience another decrease due to the Austin Avenue construction.
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Thursday, November 2, 2000
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Paula Ettleson, 207 Norwood West, spoke in favor of the improvements.
Janna Briggs, 210 Woodstone, said she is concerned about safety and did
research that shows an average of almost 11 accidents per month on the portion
of Austin Avenue where the widening will take place. She said she would like to
see the project go forward.
Glenda Overfelt, speaking as the President of the Downtown Georgetown
Association, said she owns a business on Austin Avenue. She expressed
concern for the safety of her clients and asked that there be adequate
communication from TxDOT regarding the various phases of construction.
Kersch asked Weight how he plans to communicate with the affected persons.
He said in the past, on other projects, TxDOT faxed a newsletter to all the
business owners. He said they have also held "milestone" meetings that helped
to keep people informed.
Jim Aldrich, Woodview Drive, said he used to live in a town where they shut
down both directions of a bridge for five years, and people still managed to get
around the construction. He complimented TxDOT and said he would like to see
the project go forward.
Becky Smith, 200 Woodmont Drive, said she has "soon-to-be teenaged"
children and would like to see the improvement projects go forward.
Leo Wood, 117 Spanish Oak Circle, told Council he promotes highway
improvement projects in Georgetown since he was appointed by the Council as a
representative to the Regional Transportation Planning Organization. He said he
feels the funds that have been designated to Georgetown should be used, and
he supports the project.
Renee Hanson, 1252 Austin Avenue, thanked Council for the opportunity to
voice concerns and thanked TxDOT for their participation.
Brad Gurlee, representing Texas Heritage Bank, said the bank's biggest
concern is safety and noted that he supports the safety improvements that will
be brought about by this project. He said the bank has paid for a traffic study in
the hopes of obtaining a traffic light at Morrow and Austin Avenue.
Roy Headrick, 1250 Main Street, said he would like to see Austin Avenue take a
different route.
Burson clarified the street -closing activities involved in the bridge restoration. He
complained that people are incorrectly turning left across the double yellow
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Thursday, November 2, 2000
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stripes, and said he thinks the raised median is a good idea. He pointed out that
the construction on the widening would not take that much longer than the bridge
restorations.
Hoyt
said
she is in favor
due to the safety concerns and feels that TxDOT will
work
with
the downtown
business owners.
Bain said he uses the bridges several times a day and agrees that the area is
dangerous. He agrees that the project should go forward and said he feels
TxDOT will work with the downtown business owners. He said he feels investing
in downtown will occur once the improvements have been made. He also said
he thinks if the City turns down TxDOT, they would not take Georgetown
seriously in the future.
Kersch asked Moriarity if he now feels less concerned about the project. He said
he agrees that the project needs to be done, but hopes that working as
"partners" will help get it done the best way possible.
Tann said he wholeheartedly supports the project. He said keeping the public
informed is very important and thanked TxDOT for their participation.
Navarrette asked if TxDOT has contacted the homeowners that live on Austin
Avenue in the area that will be affected. Weight said TxDOT would hold an
informal meeting involving homeowners and business owners prior to finalizing
the designs. Navarrette pointed out that it was his predecessor who made the
motion to approve the project in December of 1999. He said he doesn't think
this project would have any impact on the charge to the Funding Committee, and
he asked about improvements to Austin Avenue north of Williams Drive.
Weight explained future plans for improving Austin Avenue north and south,
saying the intersection of Lakeway and Austin Avenue will probably be done
sooner than originally planned, possibly in December.
Navarrette asked about the intersection of Morrow and Austin Avenue and
Weight said TxDOT plans to work with City staff to do that project in conjunction
with the improvements to Highway 971.
Regarding purchasing right of way, Weight noted there was only one portion at
the corner of Williams Drive and Austin Avenue that might need to be acquired,
saying it would be quicker if the City could acquire that right of way.
Kersch suggested that a formally -structured meeting schedule be created in
order for TxDOT to receive input from citizens, business owners and Council.
Weight said he felt a quarterly basis would be good.
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Thursday, November 2, 2000
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Lyda said the previous Council had voted for the project without knowing that the
business owners and citizens had not been consulted. He said a large amount
of the accidents on Austin Avenue occurred at the intersections with Williams
Drive and 6th Street. He said he feels this project will not do anything to correct
those intersections. He pointed out that $750,000 has been dedicated in the
Capital Improvement Projects fund for the bridge project. He said there has
been a lack of communication, and the City should be considerate of the
businesses whose sales tax revenue will be lessened. He feels the Victorian
flavor to be incorporated on the bridges should not be done. He said if safety
were the big concern, there were things that could have been done before now.
Hoyt said she thinks safety is the overriding problem.
Weight said TxDOT would do everything possible to impact downtown as little as
possible. He said he doesn't think there is anything that forces him to put the
bridges back to their original design. He said the intent was to make the bridges
mimic the downtown, and that was the reason for the Victorian light standards.
He said he feels this project will impact the two big problem areas on Austin
Avenue. He said he could improve the problems at 6th Street if he could remove
the parking on Austin Avenue.
Weight said there would be a meeting with the citizens at some point in the
future once the environmental reports have come in. He said the speed issue
needs to be controlled with enforcement.
Gael Dillard, 1404 Maple, thanked Lyda and Navarrette for their positions and
outlook on this topic. She said if the bridges are not safe, then they should be
replaced. She clarified the amount of property to be acquired to widen Austin
Avenue. Weight said no additional right of way would need to be acquired
because they would use existing right of way. She said she feels the bridges
should be done, but instead of widening Austin Avenue, stop lights and police
enforcement should be used.
Lyda confirmed that there would be an additional 16 feet added to Austin
Avenue. Weight said existing right of way would be used. He said the only
encroachment they have discovered is the awning over the gas pumps at the
small service station just south of Williams Drive on the east side of Austin
Avenue. He doesn't anticipate a problem with the underground gasoline tanks.
He said signals could not be installed unless the intersection "meets warrants."
Briggs said the City has even offered to pay for the signal, but TxDOT still cannot
install a signal at that intersection.
Special Council Meeting
Thursday, November 2, 2000
Page 5 of 6 Pages
Cliff Green, 1402 B Leander, said he is in support of the project and disagrees
with Lyda's opinion of supporters of the project.
Navarrette said he appreciates the work that has been done by TxDOT, but feels
there are too many unanswered questions. He said he feels the people who live
in the project area should have input in the process.
®tion by Lyda, second by Navarrette that the City Council reaffirm its
commitment to the prior resolution in favor of this project with the condition that
the City of Georgetown, in cooperation with TxDOT, make every reasonable
effort to minimize the negative impact of the project on the businesses and
residences along the route and in downtown Georgetown and that they make
every reasonable effort to achieve a design that is sensitive to the character of
Austin Avenue and the downtown square. Approved 6-0. (Pfiester absent)
Briggs asked for clarification as to whether Moriarity would be the point of
contact on design issues. Banks noted that would not be in the scope of his
contract. Moriarity said he is not asking for an expansion of the scope of his
contract. He suggested including a "building outline" on the road construction
plans.
Kersch told Briggs that she would come up with the names of some people who
would be willing to work with TxDOT regarding design issues.
7:57 p.m. recessed for Executive Session
Executive Session
2. Sec.551.072 deliberation on real property
- Update on Acquisition of Property to be Used for City Facilities
3. Action from Executive Session
There was no action from Executive Session.
Motion to adjourn at 8:18 p.m.
Approved:
' 0 )
MaryEllen Kersch, Mayor
Special Council Meeting
Thursday, November 2, 2000
Page 6 of 6 Pages
Attest:
Sandra Lee, City Secretary