Apr 16, 2024 Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

[1. Call to Order.]

[00:00:04]

16TH, I CALLED THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE METROPOLITAN PLANNING TO ORDER. I WILL NOTE THAT PUBLIC

[2. Consideration and Take Action on the minutes of the February 20, 2024 meeting.]

>> I UPSET -- ACCEPT. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.

[3. Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action on the Metropolitan Planning Area Boundary Expansion.]

>> AYE. >> MINUTES ARE APPROVED. WE WILL MOVE TO NUMBER THREE, RECEIVED A REPORT, HOLD A DISCUSSION, AND TAKE ACTION ON THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA

BOUNDARY EXPANSION. >> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE AND I AM NOT GOING TO COVER ALL OF THIS, I WILL TURN IT STRAIGHT OVER TO MATT AND LET HIM PRESENT. THANK YOU.

AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, ALL, FOR HAVING ME BACK TODAY. IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE MONTHS AND IT IS GOOD TO BE BACK. TODAY, I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE THINGS STAND WITH THE DRAFT METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA BOUNDARY, WHICH AS ELISE NOTED, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. HERE IS THE AGENDA I WOULD LIKE TO COVER WITH YOU, ALL, TODAY. WE WILL START WITH SOME BRIEF INTRODUCTIONS AND JUST REMIND YOU OF WHERE WE ARE ON THE PROJECT SCHEDULE, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROJECT BACKGROUND AND GOALS, AND RECAP WHERE WE LEFT OFF AT THE LAST POLICY BOARD MEETING, WHICH WAS BACK IN FEBRUARY. AND THEN, FROM THERE, WE WILL JUST PROVIDE A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE NOW, AND WHERE THE DRAFT BOUNDARY STANDS BEFORE GETTING INTO A DISCUSSION AND A VOTE ON THE DRAFT. SO, QUICK INTRODUCTIONS, WE COVERED THIS LAST TIME, BUT I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU, ALL, OF WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS. OF COURSE, YOU COME ALL, ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE ABILENE MPO STAFF. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT SHANNON HAWKINS FROM TEXDOT HAS JOINED US AS A NEW LIAISON AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THE PROJECT HERE TODAY, SO WE APPRECIATE HER HEALTH AND SUPPORT WITH THIS DRAFT TODAY.

FROM THE INCOME SIDE, WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT SINCE LAST FALL. JIM MANAGER, OR PROJECT MANAGER, COULD BE HEARD TODAY. MY NAME IS MATT GENOVA, I AM A TRANSPORTATION PLANNER WITH AECOM. SO, HERE IS THE PROJECT SCHEDULE. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE IN THE HOME STRETCH OF THIS ALL LEOPARD, WHICH REALLY, TECHNICALLY, BEGAN ALL THE WAY BACK IN JANUARY OF 2022. WE AT AECOM JOINED THE PROJECT LAST FALL, IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023. THIS IS WITH TTI DOING SOME WORK PRIOR TO THAT, IN EARLY TO MID 2022. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE HERE IN APRIL OF 2024 NOW, AND THE GOAL OF TODAY'S MEETING IS TO HAVE THE BOARD TAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER TO ENDORSE THE DRAFT BOUNDARY. SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND WITH WHY WE ARE DOING THIS PROJECT, WHAT BRINGS US HERE TO THIS CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, THE GOAL FOR REVISING THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA BOUNDARY IS REALLY TO UPDATE THE BOUNDARY PERIODICALLY, ESPECIALLY AFTER EVERY 10 YEAR CENSUS, TO MAKE SURE THE BOUNDARY REFLECTS CURRENT GROWTH PATTERNS IN THE REGION, REFLECTS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN THE REGION AS IT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION. THE GOAL OF THIS OVERALL PROJECT IS JUST TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT WHERE THE BOUNDARY STANDS, BASED ON ALL THE GROWTH THAT HAS HAPPENED, REALLY SINCE 2006, WHICH IS WHEN THE CURRENT BOUNDARY WAS ADOPTED. SO, OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, THE REGION HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY AND THAT IS WHAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY. REALLY, ONE PRIMARY GOAL IN THIS IS TO ENGAGE A RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS.

THAT INCLUDES AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BOUNDARY EXPANSION COMMITTEE WHICH WAS FORMED TO ADVISE THIS PROJECT, BUT ALSO INCLUDES FORMER MPO BODIES, INCLUDING THE MPO'S TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, OR TAC, AS WELL AS YOU HERE AT THE ADVISORY BOARD, AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS TO GET THEIR INPUT ON THE DRAFT BOUNDARY, SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL TALK ABOUT TODAY. SO, AS YOU WILL REMEMBER, THIS IS WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST TIME. THIS IS THE BOUNDARY THAT WE HAD DRAFTED, BASED ON INITIAL INPUT FROM THE BOUNDARY EXPANSION COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS INPUT FROM THE MPO'S TAC. SO, I AM NOT GOING TO GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A REMINDER OF WHERE WE LEFT OFF AT THE LAST MEETING. BUT, THIS IS THE BOUNDARY THAT WE TALKED THROUGH BACK AT THE FEBRUARY POLICY BOARD MEETING. AND SO, AT THAT MEETING, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GROWTH PATTERNS IN THE REGION AND WHAT THOSE LOOKS LIKE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. BUT THEN, ALSO, LOOKED

[00:05:01]

SO, WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AREA JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY AROUND THE CALLAHAN DIVIDE AND WHETHER OR NOT THERE MIGHT BE SOME OPTIONS FOR REMOVING THAT AREA BECAUSE NOT THAT MUCH GROWTH IS ANTICIPATED IN THAT AREA. AGAIN, WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES, AS WELL. WE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW THE TAC AND POLICY BOARD REPRESENTATIONS MIGHT CHANGE WITH THE NEW BOUNDARY AND WE WILL ALSO COME BACK TO THAT TODAY. WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC, WE HEARD THAT THERE REALLY IS GROWTH HAPPENING AROUND THE REGION, BOTH EAST AND SOUTH OF THE EXISTING BOUNDARY. WE HEARD FROM EXISTING MEMBERS, YOU EMPHASIZED PLANNING FOR THAT GROWTH IS IMPORTANT. WE ALSO HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT EXPANDING THE BOUNDARY TO FAR WITHOUT CONCERNING SOME OF THE OTHER IMPLICATIONS FOR THAT. THERE IS A DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THE REVISED BOUNDARY IS, IT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE REGION BUT DOESN'T BECOME SO LARGE THAT IT IS REALLY TAKING IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT EXPECTED TO GROW SO MUCH THAT IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO PLAN FOR. AND THEN, WE ALSO JUST HEARD SOME QUESTIONS GENERALLY ABOUT HOW COMMUNITIES CAN BEST ENGAGE WITH THE MPO PROCESS SO THAT IS, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF THIS OVERALL PROCESS, TO MAKE SURE COMMUNITIES FEEL AS IF THERE VOICES BEING HEARD IN THE DRAFT BOUNDARY. SO, AS OF THE LAST MEETING, WE HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL STEPS. AS I NOTED EARLIER, WE HAVE DONE LOCAL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, SO THANK YOU TO RITA AND E'LISA FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK ENGAGING AROUND THE REGION, WHICH IS ANTICIPATED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT BOUNDARY. SO, WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THOSE STAKEHOLDERS. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE GOT SOME QUESTIONS THAT THE POLICY BOARD RAISED AT THE AST MEETING BACK IN FEBRUARY, SO WE DO WANT TO COME BACK TO THESE TOPICS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING YOUR CONCERNS IN FULL. BASED ON THOSE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE DRAFTED A REVISED BOUNDARY, AND WE PRESENTED THAT REVISED BOUNDARY TO THE MPO'S TAC BACK ON MARCH 6TH AND ENDORSED FROM THE TAC. SO, PICTURED ON THE SCREEN HERE IS THE DRAFT BOUNDARY, SO THIS HAS BEEN UPDATED FROM THE LAST TIME THAT WE TALKED BACK IN FEBRUARY. I JUST WANT TO FLAG ON THE SCREEN HERE, THE TWO CHANGES THAT ARE REALLY MADE BETWEEN THE FIRST DRAFT AND THIS SECOND OR FINAL DRAFT, AND THE FIRST CHANGE YOU WILL NOTICE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CORNER OF THE REGION, THE BOUNDARY HAS BEEN PUMPED OUT SLIGHTLY JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST, TO TAKE IN SLIGHTLY MORE AREA AROUND HIGHLY -- HIGHWAY 36. WE HEARD THERE IS GROWTH HAPPENING IN THAT PART OF THE REGION AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DRAWING THE BOUNDARY TO CLOSE IN TO THE CURRENT BOUNDARY TO WHERE SOME OF THE GROWTH IS NOT INCLUDED. SO, THAT CHANGE IS MADE REALLY JUST A MINOR OVERALL CHANGE. AND THEN, THE SECOND CHANGE TOWARD THE TOP OF THE SCREEN, YOU WILL SEE AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE REGION, THAT IS NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE BOUNDARY, SO WE HAVE SOME FEEDBACK FROM LOCAL

[00:10:03]

AND THEN, I DID WANT TO COME BACK TO THIS TOPIC, IT IS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME. WE HAVE LOOKED AT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRY TO REDUCE SOME OF THE BOUNDARY AREA, OR THE AREA WITHIN THE BOUNDARY ALONG THE CALLAHAN DIVIDE. AS YOU, ALL, NO THERE ARE NOT CLEAR LANDMARKS AROUND THE REGION SO ONE OF THE GOALS FOR THIS PROCESS OVERALL IN DRAWING THE NEW BOUNDARY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOUNDARY ITSELF IS CLEAR AND THAT IT FOLLOWS CLEAR LANDMARKS AND MAKES PLANNING FOR THE REGION EASIER. THERE IS NO DEBATE ABOUT WHERE EXACTLY DOES THE BOUNDARY FALL IN THIS AREA? SO, WE STARTED TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PART OF THE REGION AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY GOOD LANDMARKS TO POTENTIALLY REDUCE SOME OF THE AREA IN THAT REGION. BUT, NOTHING REALLY JUMPED OUT AS A CLEAR LINE THAT WOULD SORT OF MAKE SENSE AND WOULD FOLLOW A CONSISTENT BOUNDARY. THERE IS A GAS LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH THERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SORT OF NOT A MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY OR COUNTY BOUNDARY, OR ROADWAY, OR SOMETHING THAT IS EASIER TO IDENTIFY. SO, OUR RECOMMENDATION AFTER GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND CONSIDERING THESE OPTIONS IS TO SORT OF LEAVE THAT SORT OF THE REGION AS IS, AND INCLUDE THE CALLAHAN DIVIDE AREA. AND, YOU KNOW, OUR RECOMMENDATION REALLY COMES FROM THE FACT THAT BESIDES THEY'RE NOT BEING A GOOD BOUNDARY TO FOLLOW THERE, THERE ISN'T A LOT OF DOWNSIDE IN CONCLUDING THAT AREA, EVEN IF THERE ISN'T A LOT OF GROWTH THERE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS, IN POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT. YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT AREA INCLUDED WITHIN THE BOUNDARY DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE PLANNING FOR THE REGION ANY MORE DIFFICULT AND SO, THAT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION, IS TO JUST SORT OF LEAVE THE BOUNDARY AS SHOWN, WITH THE SOLID RED LINE THERE. ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP AT THE LAST MEETING WAS AROUND HOW CHANGING THE BOUNDARY WOULD IMPACT MPO'S CATEGORY TWO FUNDING FROM TXDOT. SO, WE WERE ASKED TO BRING SOME MORE INFORMATION TO THIS MEETING ABOUT THAT TOPIC, AND SO WE WANTED TO SORT OF COME BACK TO THAT AND MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING IT. WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE HERE IS A PIE CHART THAT REFLECTS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FORMULA CONSIDERATIONS THAT TXDOT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CALCULATING EACH MPO'S CATEGORY FUNDING.

AGAIN, THESE ARE CATEGORY TWO FUNDS THAT THE MPO CAN SPEND THROUGH ITS TIP ON TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AROUND THE REGION. SO, AGAIN, THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT FACTORS.

THE MOST HEAVILY CONSIDERED FACTORS IN THE FORMULA INCLUDE POPULATION AT 25% AND ALSO TOTAL VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, WHICH INCLUDES BOTH ON AND OFF OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM, AND THEN OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTORS INCLUDE TRUCK VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, FATAL AND INCAPACITATING CRASHES, AND SEVERAL OTHER FACTORS HERE. AND SO, YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A RANGE OF VARIABLES HERE, ALL OF WHICH WILL CHANGE, TO SOME EXTENT, AS A RESULT OF THE REVISED BOUNDARY. IT -- SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT WILL CHANGE THE MOST INCLUDE POPULATION, VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED -- AGAIN, BOTH ON AND OFF SYSTEM FOR ALL VEHICLES, BUT THEN SPECIFICALLY FOR TRUCKS. AND ALSO, ROADWAY MILES USING BOTH THE CENTER LANE AND LANE MILES.

SO THAT WILL CHANGE, CERTAINLY, AS PART OF THE NEW BOUNDARY. BUT, IN CONSULTING WITH NPO STAFF AND TXDOT STAFF ON THIS, THERE ARE A A LOT OF OTHER CHANGES THAT IMPACT THE MPO'S OVERALL FUNDING. THAT CAN INCLUDE OTHER MPO'S AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT ARE ALSO INCLUDING CHANGES TO THEIR BOUNDARIES. MANY OF THOSE AROUND THE STATE ARE CURRENTLY ONGOING, SO THERE ARE ALSO THOSE THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY CERTAIN AT THIS STAGE AND ALSO ONE MPO THAT IS BEING CREATED FOR THE FIRST TIME DOWN IN TEXAS IN EAGLE PASS. THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY CHANGE THE OVERALL DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO ALL MPO AROUND THE STATE, JUST RECOGNIZING THERE IS AN EXTRA MPO TO ACCOUNT FOR. AND THEN FINALLY, MPO -- TXDOT IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE UPDATED MODEL FOR THE STATE. THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON ALL THE VARIABLES ON THE LAST SLIDE THAT I SHOWED YOU, INCLUDING POPULATION, LANE MILES, ALL OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. SO, BECAUSE THAT MODEL UPDATE IS ONGOING, THOSE DATA ARE

[00:15:01]

AGAIN, THE TWO MAJOR CHANGES FROM THE BOUNDARY THAT WE DISCUSSED BACK IN FEBRUARY INCLUDE ADJUSTING THE AREA AROUND THE NORTHERN END OF THE REGION NEAR HANSEN, AND ALSO THE AREA AROUND HIGHWAY 36 OF THE SOUTHEASTERN EDGE OF THE REGION. AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING AND THE DIFFICULTY OF CALCULATING A NUMBER THERE, BUT DID WANT TO AT LEAST REMIND YOU, ALL, OF THE DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT ARE INCLUDED THERE AND GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW THOSE MIGHT CHANGE. AND THEN COME ON REPRESENTATION, FINAL TOPIC HERE, THE POLICY BOARD WOULD EXPAND TO INCLUDE CALLAHAN COUNTY, AND TAC WOULD EXPAND TO INCLUDE CALLAHAN CANTU -- COUNTY AND THE NEW MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE BOUNDARY. SO, LAST THING HERE BEFORE WE COME TO DISCUSSION AND REQUESTED ACTION, REALLY JUST A PREVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE GOING FROM HERE. AND SO, TODAY, YOU HAVE TWO VOTES ON THE AGENDA. ONE IS ON THE BOUNDARY ITSELF, WHICH IS THIS AGENDA, ITEM THREE, AND ITEM FOUR, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS IS A VOTE TO CHANGE THE MPO'S BYLAWS TO REFLECT THE BOUNDARY CHANGES. AND SO, REALLY, BOTH OF THOSE VOTES ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO FINALIZE THE BOUNDARY FOR SUBMISSION TO THE TEXAS GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND TO TXDOT, AND A REVIEW BY BOTH OF THOSE PARTIES WILL ULTIMATELY FINALIZE THE BOUNDARY, AS DRAFTED. AND SO, AFTER TODAY'S MEETING, THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE WILL BE WORKING ON, SUPPORTING NPO STAFF AND COMPILING MATERIALS FROM THIS EFFORT, GETTING THOSE SUBMITTED TO TXDOT AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR APPROVAL. SO, REQUESTED ACTION FROM YOU ALL TODAY IS TO, OF COURSE, OPEN IT UP FOR A DISCUSSION, LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS ON THE BOUNDARY, AS DRAFTED. AND THEN, IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING, TAKE A VOTE ON THE DRAFT BOUNDARY, AS EXPECTED. I WILL CLOSE BY JUST PULLING UP THE DRAFT BOUNDARY BACK ON THE SCREEN HERE FOR YOUR REFERENCE AND I AM HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS, AS NEEDED.

THANK YOU, ALL, FOR YOUR TIME.

>> I WILL JUST SAY THAT THERE IS A RESOLUTION INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE, SO AS PART OF THE MOTION, WE BLOCK THAT RESOLUTION AS SOMETHING TO MOVE ONTO.

>> IT DOESN'T SPECIFICALLY CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT PUBLIC COMMENT BE ON EDDIE ITEM, IF THERE IS SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK. I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT IF HE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ONE OR TALK ABOUT THE NEXT ONE.

[00:20:02]

>> AND I WILL JUST NOTE THAT WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTING TO ALL THE AFFECTED MUNICIPALITIES. THE ONLY ONE WE HAVEN'T VISITED WITH YET IS LONG, AND WE WILL MEET WITH THE NEXT TUESDAY AFTER CITY COUNCIL MEETING. BUT, ALL THE ONES THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED TO, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EMPSON, WERE EXCITED ABOUT BEING A PART OF THIS.

>> THANK YOU, LISA. >> I WILL SAY, JUDGE CROWLEY CAME WITH ME TO ALL OF THE 'S, SO HE DID A GOOD JOB WITH THAT

ONE, TOO. >> IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION ON APPROVING THIS DRAFT?

>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A

[4. Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action on the MPO By-Laws.]

>> TRENTON. >> APPROVED?

>> IT GOES TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. A FULL DISCUSSION TO TAKE ACTION ON THE MPO BYLAWS.

>> INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET IS THE CHANGES WE ARE PROPOSING TO THE BYLAWS. I AM GOING TO GO OVER EACH OF THOSE. ON THE FIRST PAGE, YOU CAN SEE THE COVER DATE WOULD BE CHANGING.

WE ADDED IN A SECTION POINT 707 WHICH IS FOR THE MEETINGS, THE CALLAHAN COUNTY JUDGE STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 10, U.S.

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 25. WE REMOVED STATE SENATOR IN DISTRICT 24, THAT WAS DUE TO REDISTRICTING. THEY ARE NO LONGER A PART OF THIS AREA. AND THEN, THE CALLAHAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE DESIGNATED ON THE TAC. ON THE NEXT PAGE, YOU CAN SEE THE CITY OF BUFFALO GAP MAYOR, CITY OF HARLEY, CITY OF LON, MAYOR DESIGNEE, CITY OF MERKEL, MAYOR DESIGNEE, AND THEN THE CITY OF TY PUBLIC WORKS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE ALL THE REST HAVE ONE. IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT FAVOR, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT REMOVING THAT AND I WILL SAY AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT, WE WERE IN TY. I DID MENTION THAT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY. THEY DIDN'T SEEM TOO UPSET ABOUT THAT. SO, THAT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. AT THE BOTTOM THERE, YOU CAN SEE THE TXDOT DIRECTOR MAINTENANCE OR DESIGNEE, THE REASON FOR THAT IS PREVIOUS TO THAT, TXDOT HAD DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, IT WAS ONE POSITION WHEN THEY SPLIT IT, IN ORDER TO GET MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION INTO THE TAC, THAT IS WHY WE WERE ADDING THAT PARTICULAR ITEM. NEXT AREA THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE, WE HAVE SEVEN VOTING MEMBERS, WE ARE CHANGING THAT TO EIGHT. ONE OTHER AGENCY, CHANGING THAT TO TWO. AND THEN, THAT SECTION WE ADDED IN ABOUT THE MEETINGS, THE REASON FOR THAT, IT INCLUDES A VIRTUAL OPTION AND INCLUDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CALL A MEETING. SO, YOU CAN HAVE WHERE THERE IS MAYBE A MEETING CALLED BY THE DIRECTOR OR ANY FIVE MEMBERS CAN CALL A MEETING AT ANY TIME. AND THEN, WE ADDED IN THE AMENDMENT STATES AT THE END THERE AND THAT IS JUST FOR TRACKING PURPOSES AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. THE TAC DID NOT SEE THAT, BUT WE DID DISCUSS WHO WOULD BE ON THE COMMITTEES, AND THEN THE ACTION -- THIS IS A DRAFT, ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT, THE BYLAWS CAN'T BE APPROVED UNTIL THE GOVERNOR APPROVES A BOUNDARY AND ONCE HE APPROVES A BOUNDARY, THEN WE WOULD BRING THE BYLAWS BACK TO GOLF FOR FINAL APPROVAL ON THOSE. BUT, WE NEED A DRAFT TO SEND IN WITH THE PACKET, SO THAT IS WHAT THIS AGENDA ITEM IS FOR.

>> SO, WITH THIS CHANGE, THAT WOULD CHANGE THE VOTING MEMBERS TO AN EVEN SIX. THAT IS ONE THING I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE OKAY WITH? AND THEN, THE QUORUM FOR THE POLICY BOARD IS THREE, AND IT WILL TAKE FOUR VOTES EVEN WITH THE SIX

MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE. >> OKAY.

>> IS THERE ANY CONCERN WITH HAVING SIX MEMBERS?

>> NO. I MEAN, ALMOST EVERYTHING WE DO IS UNANIMOUS.

IT IS RARE THAT WE HAVE A SPLIT VOTE. BUT, IF IT IS A TIED VOTE, THE MOTION FAILS AND WE JUST HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION TO SEE IF WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. SO, I AM

COMFORTABLE WITH SIX. >> SO, THE CHANGES SHE BROUGHT UP, ANY SUGGESTIONS WITH WHAT IS THERE? MOVING THE

[00:25:03]

>> NO, THERE IS A POTENTIAL THERE WITH THE BYLAW CHANGES THAT WE MIGHT DROP THAT DOWN TO ONE TO BE FAIR TO THE OTHER CITIES, AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THAT AND THEY DID APPOINT CODY ELLIS, WHO IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOP INCORPORATION, THEY DID MAKE A COUNCIL ACTION TO APPOINT HIM TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE TAC.

>> SO, HE IS THE DESIGNEE? >> SHE IS THE DESIGNEE FOR THE MAYOR, SO THE MAYOR MAY COME SOMETIMES, BUT HE IS THE

DESIGNEE, SO SHE CAN FILL IN. >> SO, NO CONCERNS WITH THAT?

>> I THINK IT SEEMS FAIR. >> LISA PRESENTED ALSO CHANGING THE QUORUM FOR THE POLICY BOARD FOR FOUR VOTES.

>> YES, SIR. >> SO, AGAIN, THERE IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM, BUT IT'S SOMEBODY WANTS TO ADDRESS THIS IN ANY WAY? NO HANDS ARE GOING UP. SO, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DRAFT CHANGES TO THE MPO BYLAWS, TO BE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE BOUNDARY

EXPANSION. >> SECOND.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A

[5. Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on projects for the Carbon Reduction Program.]

>> AYE. >> THE PROPOSED BYLAWS ARE APPROVED. ITEM NUMBER FIVE, RECEIVER REPORT, HOLDER DISCUSSION AND TAKE ACTION ON THE PROJECT FOR THE CARBON

REDUCTION PROGRAM. >> OKAY, SO, INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET IS SOME INFORMATION ON THE CARBON REDUCTION PROGRAM.

SO, WHERE WE ARE AT, THE CURRENT SITUATION IS THAT TXDOT GOT WORD IN FEBRUARY THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CARBON REDUCTION PROJECT BY MAY. SO, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THAT IS WHAT THIS AGENDA ITEM IS FOR. SO, RIGHT NOW, THE ESTIMATES FOR 2025 UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM ESTIMATES FOR THE 10 YEAR SPAN IS 4,000,320 4575. WE CAN PROGRAM UP TO FOUR YEARS OF FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AND THAT IS WHAT YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM, THOSE ARE ESTIMATES FOR '25, '26, '27, AND 228. THE PROJECT SELECTION SUBCOMMITTEE MET ON MARCH 8TH, AND WE DISCUSSED A SHARED USE PATHS THAT YOU SEE THERE, THAT RUNS ALL THE WAY FROM I-20 ALL THE WAY TO U.S. 177 ON 134 AND 138. SO, THAT WAS A PROPOSAL THAT CAME OUT OF THE MEETING.

WHAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH, THIS IS FOR PHASE ONE THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN, THIS WILL BE FOR MILITARY DRIVE TO 277. AND I DON'T KNOW IF MICHAEL HAS ANYTHING TO ADD ON THAT, BUT WE THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FUND THAT PROJECT WITH THAT $1,720,923. AND WE DID GO OVER THIS OF THE MEETING AND THEY DID HAVE APPROVAL. MICHAEL, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD? OKAY. BUT, WITH THIS, WE THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FUND THAT PROJECT. IT IS ASPHALT, I BELIEVE? IS THAT CORRECT, MICHAEL? THEY WILL LOOK AT AND EVALUATE THAT, BUT IT MIGHT BE AN ASPHALT, SHARED USE PATHS ALONG THE ENTIRE WAY. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THAT IS, EXACTLY? WHAT A SHARED USE

PATHS IS? >> YES, SIR. A SHARED USE PATHS IS A 10 FOOT WIDE, EITHER ASPHALT OR SOME TYPE OF SURFACE COVER AND BASICALLY IT CAN BE USED FOR BICYCLES OR PEDESTRIANS, SO BOTH CAN USE THAT PATH RATHER THAN JUST A

PLAIN CYCLE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> IS IT SEPARATE FROM THE ROADWAY?

>> YES, SI. IT WOULD BE OFF THE ROAD. IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO A SIDEWALK, JUST WIDER AND WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MATERIAL. PROBABLY NOT CONCRETE FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

>> AND THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE DISCUSSION? BEFORE DETERMINING HOW LONG -- HOW FAR THE LIMITS WOULD HAVE TO BE? BECAUSE GRANTED, I THINK THAT ASPHALT IS A LOT MORE MAINTENANCE THAN IF YOU JUST POUR CONCRETE SIDEWALK.

THERE IS MORE ONGOING COST INVOLVED.

>> ONE OF THE SITUATIONS WE ARE RUNNING INTO WITH THEM NEEDING THIS BY MAY, THEY HAVE TO GET IT APPROVED PRIOR TO THEM ISSUING A CONTROL MEMBER, ACS J NUMBER. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, IT HAS TO GO TO FEDERAL HIGHWAYS BEFORE IT CAN EVEN DO THAT. SO, IN ORDER TO GET IT IN THE TIP AND HAVE IT BY MAY, THIS IS HOW

[00:30:01]

>> THERE IS AN EXISTING PLAN FOR THAT ALONG TEXAS AVENUE.

SO, ARE WE GOING TO FINISH THAT LITTLE SEGMENT?

>> WE GOT SOME GRANT FUNDING A WHILE BACK, WE BROUGHT THIS UP TO U.S. 277 AND THEN ACROSS THE NOW IS BEING COMPLETED, THEY ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON IT AND IT GOES SOUTH 14TH ALL THE WAY FROM BARROW AND ALL THE WAY UP. THERE IS A SEGMENT ON TEXAS AVENUE THAT WILL BE CONNECTED, BUT IF IT GOT CONNECTED, YOU WOULD HAVE THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE ONLY PROBLEM WE HAVE ON THAT IS THAT IN TEXAS AVENUE, THERE IS NO SIGNAL, SO IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE ACROSS THE ROAD. IT WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE SOME SORT OF A SIGNAL OR SOMETHING TO CROSS TO TEXAS AVENUE ALONG WITH THAT SIDEWALK.

>> WELL, WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE

STREET? >> NO, SIR. THEY ARE STILL EVALUATING THAT. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY ARE STILL LOOKING AT WHERE THEY WILL HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY TO DO THAT. AND THERE MAY BE A POTENTIAL THAT YOU COULD CROSS AT ONE OF THE SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS, DEPENDING ON THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS PROJECT? OR, SUGGESTIONS FOR

ANY CHANGES TO IT? >> JUST A NOTE, I GUESS, THE PREVIOUS FUNDING WAS SPENT ON THE TRANSPORTATION INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM, SO THAT IS WHAT WE HAD SPENT THE PREVIOUS REDUCTIONS, SO THIS WOULD BE THE 24TH THROUGH 29TH.

>> TALKING ABOUT COST, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE COULD GET THERE AND ESTIMATES OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS COULD SHORTEN THE AMOUNT OF DISTANCE?

>> YES, SIR. THAT IS A POSSIBILITY, TOO. I THINK YOU REALLY NEED SOMEBODY TO GET IN THERE AND START DOING THE PLANNING WORK AND DESIGN WORK TO SEE IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY IN HOW MUCH FUNDING WE HAVE AND WHAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. THERE MAY POTENTIALLY BE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, TOO, THAT WE COULD FIND, SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING WE WOULD LOOK AT AS WE GOT CLOSER TO IT.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT

THEY REALLY -- >> I THINK WE HAVE HAD A COMMENT REGARDING THAT ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. EXPRESSED A

DESIRE FOR WORKING ACTIVITY. >> YES, SIR. AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS PHASE ONE. SO, WE COULD BREAK IT UP IN DIFFERENT PHASES, TOO. THE OTHER PHASE, WHICH RUNS FROM MILITARY DRIVE ONTO IH 20, TXDOT IS LOOKING AT THOSE SIDEWALKS HERE, SO THAT WOULD BE A CONNECTION, TOO, WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE THE BICYCLE PATH THAT LEADS UP TO THERE, AND THERE COULD BE SOMEBODY ON THE BICYCLE PATH OR ON THE SIDEWALK TO CONNECT

TOGETHER. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE UNDER CONDITION.

>> MOVED. >> SECOND.

[6. Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on an amendment to the FYs 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).]

>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY,

AYE. >> AYE.

>> OPPOSED? MOTION IS APPROVED. ITEM NUMBER SIX, RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLY DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC HEARING, AND TAKE ACTION ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2026 TRANSPORTATION

IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, TIP. >> THIS IS THE CURRENT TIP, TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, RUNS FROM 2023 TO 2026. THIS IS AMENDMENT FIVE IN THIS DOCUMENT, THE MAIN PART OF THIS AMENDMENT IS FOR THE TRANSIT PORTION, SO WE ARE UPDATING THE TRANSIT WORKSHEETS WITH PROJECT FUNDING INFORMATION, SO THIS DOES REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ONE, AND THE SUBMITTAL FOR THE PUBLIC INFORMATION WAS APRIL 5TH, WHICH WAS MONDAY AT 8:00, BUT IT IS ALSO OPEN FOR TODAY, SO I WILL SHOW YOU WHERE WE HAVE THE COMMENTS ON THAT IN JUST A MOMENT. IF YOU LOOK HERE ON THE TRANSIT, WE MADE LOTS OF CHANGES SO IT WAS HARD TO DO ANY REDLINING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMENDMENT DATE AND ACTION THERE, YOU CAN TELL WHAT WE DID. FOR EXAMPLE, ON THAT FIRST ONE, WE CHANGED THE PORTION YEAR AND THE FUNDING INFO CHANGED. THE ONE RIGHT DOWN FROM THAT, WE ADDED THAT IN, THAT IS A NEW PROJECT, SO THAT MAY 2024 AD MEANS IT WAS ADDED INTO THIS TIP. YOU CAN GO INTO EACH OF THOSE AND SEE WHAT WE DID TO EACH OF THOSE. MOST OF THOSE WERE THE FUNDING CHANGING. THIS WAS JUST TO ALLOW TRANSIT TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FUNDS FOR SOME OF THE GRANTS THAT WENT BACK. IF YOU NOTICE, THAT VERY FIRST ONE IS

[00:35:02]

QUESTIONS. >> THE SIGN-UP DOES CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> MOVED.

>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE.

[7. Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on the FYs 2025-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).]

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE TIP AMENDMENT IS APPROVED. WE MOVED TO NUMBER SEVEN, RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLD A DISCUSSION AND POLLED PUBLIC HEARING AND TAKE ACTION ON THE FISCAL YEARS 2025-2028 TRANSPORTATION AND PRESENTATION -- IMPROVEMENT

PROGRAM. >> THIS IS THE NEW PROGRAM, THE 25-28 TIP THAT IS JUST DUE ON JUNE 18TH. WE WANT TO GET IT APPROVED SO WE CAN GET IT INTO THE STATE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE EAST STEP PORTAL. THE DOCUMENT WASN'T SUBMITTED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW FROM APRIL 25TH 2024 TO 8:00 A.M. ON APRIL 15TH AND IT IS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS MEETING TODAY. LOOKING AT THIS, THIS IS THE HIGHWAY PORTION OF IT, FIRST. THERE ARE NO PROJECTS IN 2025. IN 2026, WE HAVE ONE PROJECT, WHICH IS THE INTERSTATE 20, THIS RUNS FROM FM 600 TO STATE HIGHWAY 361. THIS ONE IS IN THE CURRENT TIP, BUT IT HAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, INSTEAD OF FM 600, IT GOES NEAR JUDGE ELY, SO THAT IS A CHANGE TO THIS DOCUMENT, AND THERE WERE SOME CHANGES TO ENGINEERING, AND RIGHT AWAY, PURCHASE COST IN THE INFORMATION. THIS IS FOR THE 2027, AND YOU CAN SEE IN THERE INCLUDED ON THAT, YOU HAVE THE FM 89 FROM THIS IS FROM FM 7072 ELM CREEK, WHICH RIGHT NOW, THAT IS CLOSE TO THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY LIMITS, AND RIGHT BELOW THAT, YOU HAVE A BUSINESS 83, WHICH IS AT PINE STREET, SO THAT IS A PINE STREET INTERCHANGE THAT WE DISCUSSED. I WILL MENTION THAT AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING, THIS WAS JUST A PIECE OF THAT PROJECT, JUST RIGHT THERE AT THE PROJECT INTERSECTION. RIGHT THERE ON 2027, WE HAVE THE FM 707, AND IN 2027, THE LOOP, IH 20 TO 1750 AND THEN THE NEXT PROJECT IN 2027 WAS THE

[00:40:02]

AND THE TRANSIT -- THE 2025 IS WHAT YOU SAW IN THE PREVIOUS TIP, SO THAT WAS TRANSFERRED OVER INTO THE PREVIOUS TIP, THE SAME AS WHAT WAS IN 2025. THE 2026, THE SAME THING, THAT IS TRANSFERRED OVER FROM THE PREVIOUS TIP INTO THIS NEW ONE.

AND 2026, '27, '28, ARE ALL THE SAME. SO, THIS IS JUST THE SAME PROJECTS, WE WILL DO AN AMENDMENT ON THAT WHEN TRANSIT HAS A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT THE FUNDING IS. THEY HAVE RUN A LITTLE BIT BEHIND BEFORE, SO SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW THE FUNDING UNTIL THEY ARE LATER IN THE YEAR. THIS IS THEIR TRY TRANSIT FINANCIAL SUMMARY, SO ALL OF THOSE THAT I JUST SAID ON THE TRANSIT ARE SUMMARIZED HERE ON THIS PAGE. AND THEN, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ADDED, SO, WE UPDATED SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN THE REPORT CORRESPOND TO PROJECTS, PAGE 37 THROUGH 45. SOMETHING NEW THAT WE ADDED IN THIS APPENDIX A LISTING OF GROUP PROJECTS, THE LAST PAGE ON YOUR DOCUMENT, PAGE 46. WHAT THAT SHOWS IS EACH OF THOSE ARE GROUPED, AND SO SOMETIMES THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW WHERE WE HAVE GROUP PROJECTS, SO THIS IS WHERE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN THAT IS IN RED, THAT IS THE FM 34 38 THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED WITH THE SHARED USE PATHS. THIS IS TO DETERMINE WHAT FEDERAL HIGHWAYS MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND HAVE ACS J ASSIGNED TO THAT FOR THE AMOUNT OF CATEGORY 10, THE CARBON REDUCTION PROGRAM AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. SORRY, ONE MORE PAGE. THE RECAP, THESE ARE CHANGES THAT WILL OCCUR TO THE FINAL DOCUMENT. SO, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS, WE WILL UPDATE THAT IF WE RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS TODAY. TWO FUNDED HIGHWAY PROJECTS MAP, IT IS BLANK IN YOUR DOCUMENT RIGHT NOW. I DON'T HAVE THAT UPDATED, SO HOPEFULLY, I WILL UPDATE THAT AT SOME AMENDMENT IN THE FUTURE AND THEN THE HISTORY OF THE TIP AND TIP AMENDMENTS , THAT DATE WILL ALSO CHANGE. THE TAC AT THE MARCH 26TH MEETING DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND I WANT TO RECOMMEND ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE THERE, THAT IS A MAP I DID, I WAS SO PROUD OF MYSELF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT, IT IS THE 2020 URBANIZED AREA, SO WE UPDATED THE URBANIZED AREA AND PUT IN THE MPO PLANNING AREA.

THAT WILL CHANGE, TOO, ONCE WE FIND OUT FROM THE GOVERNOR HOW THAT BOUNDARY WILL CHANGE. THE ACTION THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS APPROVAL OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 MONTH IS 2028 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. WITH THAT, I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> SO, WE WILL DO AN AMENDMENT TO THIS, ONCE WE GET THE NEW BOUNDARY APPROVED?

>> YES, SIR. WE MAY HAVE TO DO AN AMENDMENT TO THIS ONE AND THE PREVIOUS TIP, JUST DEPENDING ON HOW LONG IT TAKES IN THE PROCESS. THIS ONE WON'T GO INTO EFFECT INTO SOMETIME IN TWO OCTOBER, THEY ARE NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL TAKE EFFECT, BUT WHENEVER THEY TAKE ACTION ON IT, THE OTHER ONE WILL DROP OFF, SO IT JUST DEPENDS IF YOU GET APPROVAL, PRIOR TO THAT.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> THIS ITEM ALSO CALLS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE ITEM.

SEEING NO ONE. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC AREA. FOR ANY PUBLIC QUESTIONS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE NEW

TIP. >> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE.

[8. Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action on Authorizing a Professional Services Contract with Huitt-Zollars, Inc for the FYs 2025-2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).]

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION IS APPROVED. MOVING TO NUMBER NUMBER EIGHT, RECEIVER REPORT, HOLD A DISCUSSION, AND TAKE ACTION ON AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT

WITH , FOR 2025. >> IN OUR CONTRACT, IS FOR THE USE HUITT-ZOLLARS INC., IT COVERS 2025 THROUGH 20 50. THE

[00:45:07]

THIS IS STARTING ON PAGE 13 OF THE DOCUMENT, AND IT HAS THIS SCOPE OF WORK. SO, YOU CAN SEE ATTACHMENT A IS THE SCOPE OF WORK. IT LISTS THE SIX TASKS WE HAVE IN THERE, SO EACH OF THOSE TASKS WILL BE MET BY THE CONSULTANT. THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING SELECTION COMMITTEE MET ON APRIL 8TH, AND A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH HUITT-ZOLLARS INC. AND THE MTP, AS I SAID IS DUE ON DECEMBER 17TH. THIS IS GOING TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE MPO FUNDS, WHICH IS THROUGH OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM. IT IS TASK 4.1, THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN. WE DID SEND PART OF THIS TO THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. BUT AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE TO THE APRIL DATE, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PRESENT ANYTHING TO THEM AT THEIR MEETING. THIS IS AUTHORIZING THE LAST CONTRACT WITH HUITT-ZOLLARS INC. FOR THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THE FIXED AMOUNT OF 150,000 AND ALSO INCLUDES THE RESOLUTION THAT WOULD BE GOING BEFORE AND WE WOULD FORWARD THAT ON. SO --

>> THE MOTION WILL COVER BOTH THE CONTRACT AND ?

>> YES, SIR. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR LISA ON THIS ITEM? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? A SECOND?

[9. Discussion and review of transportation projects. (TxDOT Staff, City Staff, CityLink Staff)]

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.

>> AYE. >> OPPOSED? CONTRACT IS APPROVED ALONG WITH RESOLUTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. ITEM NUMBER NINE, DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL FROM

TXDOT. >> IT AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. ABILENE ENGINEER FOR TXDOT AND I WILL PRESENT BOTH OUR PLANNED PROJECTS AND OUR CURRENT CONSTRUCTION. I DID MAKE A NOTE TO MYSELF TO HIGHLIGHT UP FRONT, THIS IS A WORKS ZONE AWARENESS WEEK FOR 2024, SO IT IS OUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN. WE ARE ASKING DRIVERS TO STAY ALERT AND SLOW DOWN THROUGH ALL OF OUR WORK SOUNDS. SO, IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY WEARING THE FANCY, ORANGE RIBBON, THAT IS WHAT THEY REPRESENT. SO, WE WILL START WITH OUR PLANNED PROJECTS. IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING ALONG ON THE MAP, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE NUMBERS IN THE BLUE CIRCLES, AND FOR THOSE PROJECTS, THE LIMITS ARE REPRESENTED BY THE OVERLAPPING CIRCLES, THE DIFFERENT COLORS REPRESENT DIFFERENT YEARS FOR ANTICIPATED LETTING. SO, SITE ONE IS HIGHWAY 36, THAT IS THE SUPER TWO HIGHWAY PROJECT. THAT ONE HAS MOVED UP FROM '27 TWO FISCAL YEAR '26. THAT IS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF PROJECTS THAT WILL CREATE SUPER TWO, HE MUCH FROM ABILENE TO THE FRONT PLAINS. SITE TWO IS -- ACTUALLY, THAT IS THE FIRST ONE ON THE PLANNED LIST. WE HAVE ANOTHER CONSTRUCTION OUTSIDE OF THE APPEALED BOUNDARY. SO, THAT ONE WILL GET UNDERWAY SOON. SITE TWO IS FM 18, THAT IS AN OVERLAY FROM STATE HIGHWAY 36 OUT TO THE COUNTY LINE. AND SITE THREE IS THE FIRST PROJECT OF THE CARBON REDUCTION THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, AND THAT PROJECT INCLUDE 10 CAMERAS AND TWO DMS BOARDS. THE CAMERAS ARE SCATTERED ALONG ROUTE 22.

I ALSO THINK THERE IS ONE OR TWO ON BUFFALO ROAD AND 277.

ANYWAY, ANOTHER GOOD PROJECT FOR US UNDER THE CARBON REDUCTION PROGRAM. SITE FOUR IS A WIDENING PROJECT ON FM 750 FOR INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD TO JUST SOUTH OF COLONY HILL.

THAT WILL ADD IN TURN LANES. AND SITE FIVE IS OUR BIKE AND

[00:50:05]

THAT IS ANOTHER ONE OF OUR PROJECTS. SITE 11 IS OUR CONCRETE BARRIER ON WINTERS FREEWAY. SITE 12 IS A -- SORRY, LOST TRACK. OH, I'M SORRY. THAT IS OUR FURNITURE PROJECT ON I-20 TO IMPROVE THE SOUTH EXIT ROAD. SITE 13 AND SITE 14 GOOD TOGETHER. THAT IS OUR ROAD OVER THE FAST PROJECT. THAT IS BASICALLY THE SOLE FOCUS OF THE MPO PROJECT.

SITE 15 IS WIDENING OF FM 82 TO THE WEST OF FM 600. SITE 16 IS ALSO AN FM 1082, EAST OF THE SPILLWAY IN THE SOUTH.

THEN, SITE 17 IS EAST LAKE ROAD, AND OVER 33, YOU SEE AN OVERLAY. SITE 18 IS THE BIG JUDGE ELY OVERPASS PROJECT, ANOTHER BIG OVERPASS PROJECT ON I-20. SITE 19 IS AN OVERLAY ON STATE HIGHWAY 51 AS YOU HEAD OUT OF TOWN BEYOND THE CONCRETE LIMITS. ALL RIGHT. MOVING INTO THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION, THESE WILL BE THE NUMBERS THAT ARE IN THE RED CIRCLES IN THE LIMITS OF THE PROJECTS, REPRESENTED BY THE PINK SORT OF HIGHLIGHT. SO, I HAVE CITES ONE, 10, 11 ARE ALL PART OF THE SAME PROJECT. IT HAS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, AND THAT IS OUR HIP PROJECT THAT IS ADDING CABLE AND CONCRETE BARRIER. ON 322, THAT WILL BE INSTALLING CONCRETE BARRIER AND THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT YET BECAUSE THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THE CABLE BARRIERS THAT ARE NORTH OF TOWN, NORTH OF 83, WHICH IS ONGOING. SITE TWO -- AND YOU WILL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, I HAVE A DUPLICATE UNDER THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION SITE. THEY ARE ACTUALLY THE SAME PROJECT, SO YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE NUMBER EIGHT ON THE MAP. THAT IS THE U.S. 277 OVERLAY PROJECT THEY HAVE ALREADY MAILED OUT, AND THEY HAVE DONE THE REPAIRS, SO NOW THEY ARE GETTING READY TO START.

>> BRYCE? >> YES, MA'AM?

>> THE ONE IN YOUR PACKET IS OLD, BUT THE ONE ON THE SCREEN IS CORRECT, SO JUST KNOW THAT I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

>> OKAY. >> YES, THE ONE ON THE SCREEN IS CORRECT, BRYCE. THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW ALONG IN THE PACKET AND IT IS NOT CORRECT.

>> I GOTCHA. OKAY. >> SITE THREE IS THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT ON EAST SOUTH SEVENTH STREET. THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN GOING PRETTY WELL. THE LAST OF THE RAIL IS SCHEDULED ON THURSDAY, AND THEN THEY JUST HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE REST OF THE APPROACHES AND TIE IN THE REST OF THE CEDAR CREEK TRAIL. LET'S SEE. SITE FOUR IS THE RAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ALONG SOUTH FIRST , BUSINESS 20. THAT ONE IS STILL UNDER ITS DELAYED START FOR REQUIRED MATERIALS. I DID RECEIVE CONFIRMATION THAT AFA ON THE DECORATIVE SIGNALS, I BELIEVE, HAS BEEN SIGNED. SO, MOVING FORWARD ON THOSE ORDERS.

FORGIVE ME. I AM LOOKING OVER AT MAX TO MAKE SURE MY INFORMATION IS CORRECT. SITE FIVE AND SITE SEVEN GO TOGETHER. THAT WAS ANOTHER HS IP PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF

[00:55:01]

IT IS GOING TO CREATE AN ISSUE BUT AS FAR AS THE OVERALL CONSTRUCTION, THAT JOB IS GOING REALLY WELL. SITE 13, THE LAST ONE I'VE GOT, IS THE OTHER PROJECT, THE OTHER I-20 OVERLAY AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT ONE IS STILL GOING.

>> THANK YOU, BRYCE. >> THAT IS ALL I GOT.

>> WHAT IS THE PROJECTED TIME AND DATE ON ROAD EASTERN?

>> I'M SORRY, WHICH ONE? >> 12? THE NEW ONE?

>> OH, OKAY. THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION?

>> JUST A BALLPARK COMPLETION DATE?

>> YEAH. >> I SHOULD HAVE THAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I THINK -- GOOD GRIEF. I DON'T HAPPEN TO REMEMBER. IT IS END OF THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE. THE AP WANTS TO ADJUST SOME OF HER STUFF. AND FOR ADJUSTMENT, THEY HAD A WINDOW THEY HAD TO GET THROUGH HER COT TO DO THAT. I THINK THE DELAYS I AM UNDERSTANDING ARE THE DELAYS THEY ARE PROVIDED DOESN'T FIT OUR SCHEDULE VERY WELL. SO, IT IS GOING TO PUSH OUR COMPLETION DATE INTO EARLY NEXT YEAR.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR BRYCE?

>> THANK YOU, BRYCE. >> NOW, WE WILL MOVE TO THE

CITY OF ABILENE REPORT. >> I WAS VERY CONSISTENT. THE ONE IN YOUR PACKET IS NOT GOING TO MATCH, EITHER, BUT THE ONE ON YOUR SCREEN IS THE CORRECT ONE. I APOLOGIZE, AGAIN.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS, I AM MAX JOHNSON, PUBLIC OR DIRECTOR. I HOPE THIS ISN'T NEWS TO YOU, BUT SCOTT CHANDLER HAS DEPARTED THE CITY. HE WAS MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND CIVIL ENGINEER WHO GAVE THESE IN THE PAST. SO, I WILL INVITE ONE OF OUR ENGINEERS TO COME FORWARD AND

GIVE THE UPDATES. >> I AM WILL, I AM WITH THE ENGINEERING DIVISION. STARTING FROM THE TOP, HONEYBEE, PROCESSING, MOVING FORWARD, SAME FOR MAPLE. THAMES, 27TH, ALL NEARING COMPLETION. THE 14TH WALKABILITY PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD NOW. S 13 HAS A FEW FINAL ITEMS ON THE LEFT.

THE FESTIVAL DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY AWAITING SOME ITEMS ARRIVING. WILSON'S SEVENTH IS CURRENTLY CLOSED, AND IS BEING WORKED ON, NOW. 27 SIGNAL PROJECT HAS NOT STARTED.

CAN'T VERY TRAILS IS CURRENTLY WORKING AND WORKING FAST OVER THERE. CYPRESS STREET, WE ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED ON FOURTH AND CYPRUS. PEBBLE BEACH REPAIR, AWAITING FINAL CONTRACT. BELMONT, WHICH IS ON YOUR LIST, IS ACTUALLY ENTIRELY COMPLETE. I HAD IT AT 0%. BUT, SCOTT FINISHED IT LAST WEEK. AND THE MEMORIAL SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS, ONCE AGAIN, CONTRACT, THAT IS 23 FAIRWAY OAKS, ALSO IN CONTRACT. ON THE DESIGN SIDE, JACOB MARTIN AND MABEL, WE HAVE TWO NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS AS A NEST EGG FOR THIS YEAR AND THREE PROJECTS FOR NORTH 18TH, SOUTH SEVENTH. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR WILL? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WILL.

GOOD JOB. AND THERE IS NOTHING FOR CITY OF ABILENE TODAY?

[10. Discussion and review of reports:]

>> NO, SIR. AND I DID HAVE THE DATE RIGHT ON THAT ONE.

>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 10, DISCUSSION OF REVIEW OF REPORTS. WE WILL START OFF FIRST WITH THE

[01:00:03]

FINANCIAL STATUS. >> OKAY, SO, INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, WE DID -- Y'ALL HAVE THE DECEMBER AND JANUARY BILLINGS IN YOUR PACKET. YOU CAN SEE THERE THAT WE HAVE ONLY RECEIVED ONE WORK ORDER. WE ARE DOWN TO $2984.34. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED OUR CARRYOVER, NOR HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY MORE AUTHORIZATIONS. I SENT AN EMAIL TO TXDOT PREVIOUSLY BACK IN FEBRUARY, AND THEN I FOLLOWED FOR FEDERAL HIGHWAYS TO GIVE THEM THEIR APPROVAL AND ONCE THEY HAVE THAT APPROVAL, THEY RELEASE THOSE FUNDS, BUT ACCORDING TO WHAT PHILIP TOLD ME AT TXDOT, JUST SUBMIT OUR BILLINGS AND THEY WILL PAY THEM AS THEY COME IN. SO, EVEN THOUGH THAT FUNDING LOOKS A LITTLE SCARY, WE ARE STILL GOOD, THEY WILL PAY THEM AS THEY COME IN. SO, WE HAVE THE AUTHORIZATION ON 69 591 60, EXPENDITURE OF 6666 80 WITH A REMAINING BALANCE OF $2984. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? WHAT ABOUT THE OPERATIONS REPORT?

>> OKAY. THE FULL PACKET IS INCLUDED -- THE FULL DOCUMENT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET. SOME OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT, WE SPENT A LOT OF THIS TIME FROM FEBRUARY 10TH THROUGH APRIL 9TH WORKING ON REPORTS, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE BOUNDARY EXPANSION. SO, THOSE ARE LISTED THERE. YOU CAN SEE THE NUMEROUS PLACES THAT WE WENT TO DO THE BOUNDARY EXPANSION MEETINGS, AND THEN THE COLLABORATION AND THE BUDGET, AND WE STILL HAVE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH JUST THE GENERAL MPO STUFF. WITH THAT, I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OPERATIONS REPORT.

>> ANY QUESTIONS ON OPERATIONS? MOVING ONTO DIRECTORS REPORT.

PERMISSION, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF THE FEDERAL HIGHWAYS IS HERE, AND SEE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES? SAME THING WITH TXDOT WITH SHANNON, IF THEY WANT TO COME UP, IF THAT IS OKAY WITH YOU.

>> IT AFTERNOON. CRYSTAL SHOP, TEXAS DIVISION PLANNER. I WAS PREVIOUSLY THE PLANNER FOR ABILENE, BUT NOW, I AM PASSING IT DOWN TO MY -- WE HAVE A NEW PLANNER IN THE OFFICE, SO HE WILL BE THE PLANNER REP FOR ABILENE. SO, I COME ON BY JUST TO MEET ALISA AND OUR STAFF. AND WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER PROBABLY TOMORROW OR THIS AFTERNOON JUST ON AN NPO ITEM SO, VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WILL BE TAKING OVER FOR CRYSTAL.

THANK YOU FOR MEETING TOMORROW WITH OUR STAFF. I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. NICE MEETING YOU GUYS.

>> OKAY, GREAT. >> HI, I AM SHANNON HAWKINS. I HAVE BEEN WITH TXDOT OVER 10 YEARS. I WAS A PLANNER FOR THE FORT WORTH DISTRICT, AND NOW, I AM WORKING FOR TPP DIVISION AS AN MPO PLANNER. SO, I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED ABILENE AS ONE OF MY MPO'S. SO, I HAVE ONLY BEEN ON THE JOB A COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT I AM LEARNING A LOT, AND I LOVE WORKING WITH

THESE PEOPLE. SO, THANK YOU. >> THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> ON THE DIRECTORS REPORT, THE STAFFING, THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNER HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE JUNE, WE ARE STILL ACTIVELY RECRUITING FOR THAT. THE YEAR END REPORT, THE ANNUAL LIST OF OBLIGATED PROJECTS, WE STILL HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IN 2023, SO STILL WAITING ON INFORMATION FROM TXDOT, THE AUSTIN DISTRICT, TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO US. UNDER THE SAFETY PLAN, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE BUT WE DID HAVE OUR FIRST KICKOFF MEETING THAT WAS ON MARCH 21ST AT THE TEMPLE MEETING IN AUSTIN, AND THE ARE GETTING READY TO SEND MORE INFORMATION OUT TO US, SO WE WILL SEE MORE OF THAT COMING OUT IN THE NEXT MEETINGS WITH THE SAFETY PLAN. THE 2023 AND WILL AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC COUNTS REVIEW, WE MET WITH PUBLIC WORKS STAFF, AND WE MET OVER SOME OF THE COUNTS. WE HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THEM, AND SO WE SUBMITTED THAT TO AUSTIN TXDOT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT, BECAUSE THERE WAS SUCH A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE 2022 AND 2023 COUNTS. SO, WE ASKED THEM TO VALUE THAT AND MAKE SURE THERE WEREN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE COUNTS WE WERE RECEIVING ON THAT, SO WE WERE WORKING ON THAT, AND GETTING

[01:05:03]

QUESTIONS. >> MOVED TO ITEM NUMBER 11, OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO MAKE COMMENTS ON MPO ISSUES. WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? OR, SUGGESTIONS? MOVING ON. ITEM NUMBER 12, OPPORTUNITY FOR BOARD MEMBERS, TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, OR MPO STAFF TO RECOMMEND TOPICS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION OR

ACTION. >> SOMETHING THAT E'LISA NEEDS TO HAVE ON THE FUTURE AGENDA . SEEING NONE. I DO NUMBER 13, WHICH IS ADJOURNMENT. IT IS TO: 36 P.M. PARTICIPATE EVERYONE PARTICIPATION AN

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.