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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. Special Council Meeting Thursday, November 2, 2000 Page 2 of 6 Pages 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 Special Council Meeting Thursday, November 2, 2000 Page 3 of 6 Pages 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. Special Council Meeting Thursday, November 2, 2000 Page 4 of 6 Pages 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