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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTEC_11.19.2008Minutes of the Meeting of Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation and the Governing Body of the City of Georgetown, Texas Wednesday, November 19, 2008 The Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Wednesday, November 19, 2008. Board Members Present: Gabe Sansing - President, Ben Oliver - Vice President arrived at 2:13 p.m., Ray Amour - Secretary, Paul E. Brandenburg - General Manager, Micki Rundell - Financial Director, Bill Sattler, Henry Boecker, Ricki Salazar Board Members Absent: Dale Ross Staff Present: Jim Briggs, Jana Kern, Tom Benz, Mark Miller, Lori Lankford, Joel Weaver, Tom Yantis, Bill Dryden , Peggy Leatherman, Mark Thomas Others Present: Kim Molnar, Melissa Lawrence, Billie Reaney - citizens, Barbara Nelson, Damon Connor - Citizens Academy, Joan Schroeder - R.O.C.K., Gary Gamer - HDR, Bill Caffey - Klotz Associates. Minutes Regular Meeting Mr. Gabe Sansing called the regular GTEC Board meeting to order on Wednesday, November 19, 2009 at 2:04 p.m. Sansing stated that at this time the Board will move to Item "B" - Public Hearing. Board may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene in Executive Session at the request of the President, a Board Member, the City Manager in his capacity as General Manager of the GTEC Corporation , the Assistant City Manager, 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. A. Consideration and possible action to determine the project eligibility for the 1608 Park Lane Street ROW and Williams Drive Gateway Improvements. -- Ed Polasek Discussion: Sansing asked if there was any discussion from the Board. Sattler asked how long has this property been on the market. Ms. Lawrence stated that it has been on the market since September 1, 2008. Sansing stated it was his understanding that with the purchase of this property, Park Lane will be able to continue through to Northwest Blvd. going behind the new hotel that is being built. He also felt that any road that would help alleviate the traffic on Williams Drive would be helpful. Boecker stated that the expenditure of the GTEC funds must be for streets, roads, drainage, and other transportation system improvements, including maintenance and operating expenses that are associated with such projects. This property is not a part of any project that we know of today, furthermore, we do not know that it will be a part of a project. At this time Boecker does not feel that GTEC should be spending their funds on this property. If the City wants to buy this property that would be up to the City. This is not a part of the transportation system improvement. Brandenburg stated that the City has a Master Plan showing that there is a road way going through two properties, one being 1608 Park Lane. There was extended discussion on this item. Action: Motion by Boecker, seconded by Sattler, to delay any motion on eligibility until the project becomes more viable and specific, and when staff knows that this property will be a part of a transportation improvement project. Discussion: Oliver stated that the GTEC Board members have determined, by its polling, that this is an eligible project. There was discussion that the Board does have the right to change its position. Motion Fails 2-4-1 (Boecker & Sattler for, Sansing, Oliver, Amour & Salazar against, Ross absent) Action: Motion by Armour, seconded by Oliver that the Georgetown Transportation Enhance ment Board, following guidelines provided by the City Attorney, finds Transportation Projects numbered GW 0 (Williams Drive Gateway Improvements) & GW 1 (1608 Park Lane street ROW) eligible for 4B funding, because it: (1) conforms to the ballot language establishing the sales tax; (2) constitutes one or more costs authorized by statute; (3) is one or more of the types of project authorized by statute, documented by the GTEC Board Ranking of Eligibility: Ranking Summary completed in November 19, 2008. Approved 4-2-1 (Sansing, Oliver, Amour & Salazar - for, Boecker & Sattler - Against, Ross Absent) MOVED TO ITEM "C" B. Public hearing by the Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation (GTEC) regarding the expenditure of 4B sales taxes for 1608 Park Lane property. -- Micki Rundell Discussion: Rundell stated the clarification for this particular project is, if this project is pro ved by findings that support that funds be used for this purpose; no funds can be expended for sixty (60) days after the date of the public hearing. Sansing/Brandenburg stated that this project was discussed at a Council Meeting in September 2008 in executive session. Action from this meeting was "Motion by Berryman, second by Oliver that the City Council authorize the Assistant City Manager and the Finance Director to continue to explore funding options for the acquisition of property in the Williams Dri ve Gateway using a combination of Certificates of Obligation and funds from the City’s 4A and 4B corporations, and to report back to the City Council on those matters in October or as soon thereafter as possible. Approved 7-0" Because of this action this project was presented at the October GTEC meeting and the Board members were requested to do the eligibility findings and to set a public hearing which brings us to today. As stated by Rundell if this project is supported, funding could not take place fo r sixty (60) days after the public hearing date. PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: Melissa Lawrence stated her family lives at 1608 Park Lane and has been at this residence for about eight years. We have been working on improvements to our home for about a year, trying to getting it ready to sell. At about the same time we put our home on the market, notices started coming out about the Williams Drive Gateway Project. Whether this project was on the back burner before that, it did not really come to fruition until there was an article in the paper about buying out McCoy. There were notices sent from the Planning and Zoning Commission about wanting to rezone that area to some, but not all of the residents, in this neighborhood. My position is personal. I cannot justify anything monetarily to you that this would be a good purchase. This is not why I am here. I want you to know the position that the City has put us in. We have spent thousands of dollars fixing up our home over the last year - granite, tile, new paint, hardware, stainless steel appliances getting ready to sell our house at a reasonable price. Moreover, at the time we are trying to sell our home stuff starts coming out about the Gateway, which legally we have to disclose this information to a ny future buyers. Not only did we lose buyers, in the first three weeks that we had our house on the market, we lost four buyers - one family and three real estate agents that were looking to purchase the property as an investment for a rental. As stated, we fixed up our home to sell as a family home and the agents did not feel that they could get their money back as a rental. If this does not go through, and the Gateway Project exists and continues to exist, we will have a virtually impossible task in selling our home, and we will be stuck there until the City decides what to do with the Gateway Project. I do not think its fair to us, and I do not think that it is fair for any of the residents in our neighborhood. I do not know what is going to happen with the woman down the street. Unfortunately, she passed away this week, but her house is going to be sitting there. All of these things, when we have to disclose this, it really put us at a detriment to try to sell our house. I have lost sleep, I cannot eat, and I am totally stressed out about this because I am in a place that I do not want to be in anymore. We want to expand our family, we want to adopt children, and we do not have the room in this house to do that. This house a 1400 SF house. It has served our purpose it is a wonderful home. It is a home that we started to raise our children in, but right now, it is too small. For the asking price of $130,000.00 compared to the improvements and the cost that the Gateway Project is going to have that will be i n the millions. With developers and putting the other roads in, this is a drop in the bucket for the Corporation and the City. I ask that you take that into consideration when your choosing whether or not to fund this. That there are real people involved; It is not just a project, it's not just homes; It's families. Thank You for letting me speak. Sansing asked if there was anyone else wishing to speak, there was none and he closed the Public Hearing at 2:10 p.m. MOVED TO ITEM "A" C. Consideration and possible approval of the minutes from the regular meeting held October 15, 2008 . -- Paul E. Brandenburg Discussion: None Action: Motion by Oliver, seconded by Amour to approve the minutes as presented. Approved 6-0-1 (Dale Ross absent) D. Discussion and possible action regarding the Project Progress Report and time lines including projects: Lakeway Drive Overpass ,Southeast Arterial 1, Southwest Inner Loop (Project 14A), Southwest Bypass (Project 14B) Northwest Blvd. Overpass -- Joel Weaver/Tom Benz Discussion: Weaver presented the project reports: Lakeway Drive Overpass - No Change Southeast Arterial 1 - No Change Southwest Inner Loop (Project 14A) - Staff is presenting today (Item G) to set a public hearing to amend the GTEC Budget to provide funding for design schematic and plans specifications & estimate for construction of Southwest Innerloop. Southwest Bypass (Project 14B)- Gary Gamer of HDR gave the Board a power point presentation Northwest Blvd. Overpass - Bill Caffey of Klotz & Associates, gave the Board a power point presentation Action: None E. Presentation of Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corp. monthly financial report. – Micki Rundell Discussion: Rundell presented the monthly financial report for October 2008 Action: None F. Discussion and possible action to approve an interlocal agreement between the City and GTEC regarding funding arrangements for the Williams Drive project. -- Micki Rundell Discussion: Rundell stated that at the November 6, 2008 meeting, GTEC approved providing up to $3 million to the City for advance funding related to the Williams Drive widening project with the County. These funds were to be paid in increments of $1.5 million annually from the existing fund balance of the Corporation, and would be repaid at a future date by the City, most probably after the City completed the remaining funding to the County. Several Board members had concerns about using the majority of available funds for this purpose and the possibility of missing an opportunity to fund other economic development projects. In response to those concerns, a different funding plan is being proposed. Instead of funding the entire $3 million, GTEC would fund the first five years of debt service on bonds to be issued by the City. The City would issue $1.5 million in debt in May 2009 with the remainder in May 2010. GTEC would pay the annual debt service for the first five years of each issue, thereby, requiring less cash outflow for GTEC. The City would then assume the debt service in year si x, then repay GTEC for their contributions at that point. In this scenario GTEC's contribution is estimated at $1,061,576.00, which is considerable less than the original request of $3 million., Action: Motion by Sattler, seconded Boecker, to approve a funding agreement for RM 2338 (Williams Drive) between the City of Georgetown, Texas and the Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation. Approved 6-0-1 (Ross absent) G. Consideration and possible action to set a date for a public hearing to amend the 2008/09 GTEC Budget to provide funding for the engineering design work for the Southwest Inner Loop, TIP Project # 14A. -- Bill Dryden/Tom Benz Discussion: Power point presentation was provided. Staff is requesting that a public hearing be set for next GTEC Board meeting (December 17, 2008) to amend the 2008/09 GTEC Budget to provide funding for the engineering design. Action: Motion by Boecker, seconded by Oliver to set a public hearing for December 17, 2008, and to appropriate the funds at that time. Approved 6-0-1 (Dale Ross absent) Discussion: Boecker stated that his term is up and has enjoyed the four years that he has spent on the GTEC Board. He also stated that Georgetown is very fortunate to have such competent, dedicated, capable, elected officials and volunteers on these Boards. Even more so the capable and competent City Staff that they have and their dedicated work that they do. This is a very fortunate City. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you. Motion by Salazar, seconded by Oliver to adjourn meeting. Approved 6-0-1 (Dale Ross absent) Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 03:54 PM. Approved : Attest: _______________________ ________________________ Gabe Sansing - President Ray Armour - Secretary