MACON-BIBB COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

682 CHERRY ST., SUITE 1000, MACON, GEORGIA 31201

MATS CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING – MINUTES SUMMARY

Meeting Description:
MATS Citizens Advisory Committee – Special Called Meeting

Date:
01.13.16        Time:
6:00PM        Location:
Macon-Bibb County P & Z Commission, 10^th Floor Conference Room

			Absent / Present
NAME		REPRESENTING
James P. Thomas		Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	Present
Mike Greenwald		Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	Present
Gregory L. Brown		Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	Present
Ken North		Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	Present
Brad Belo		Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	Present
Lynn Farmer		CAC/Commission District 1	Absent
Sherry L. Moore		CAC/Commission District 2	Present
Arthur Hubbard		CAC/Commission District 3	Present
Bob Komlo		CAC/Commission District 4	Absent
John Swint		CAC/Commission District 5	Present
Vacant		CAC/Commission District 6	————————–
Vacant		CAC/Commission District 7	————————–
Amber Jones		CAC/Commission District 8	Present
Ivy N. Cadle		CAC/Commission District 9	Absent
David Gault		CAC/Jones County Representative (Dist. 4)	Absent
Cliff Howard		CAC/Monroe County Representative (Dist. 3)	Absent
Louis Frank Tompkins		CAC/AARP Volunteer	Present
Michael Brown		CAC/Bike-Pedestrian Representative	Present
Anthony Jackson		CAC/Board of Education Transportation Division	Present
Tina Hopper		CAC/Disabled Population Representative	Present
Vacant		CAC/Disabled Transportation User	————————–
Vacant		CAC/Environmental Representative	————————–
Mary Lou Ezell		CAC/League of Women Voters	Present
Michael Colbert		CAC/Macon Housing Authority	Present
Jada Robinson		CAC/Transit User	Absent
Lindsay Holliday		Visitor	Present
Lee Martin		Visitor	Present
Mike Wilson		Visitor	Present
AGENDA
1	Call to Order
2	Adoption of Agenda – Action Item
3	Introduction of Meeting Attendees
4	Public Comment Period (2 Minutes)
5	Approval of MATS CAC Minutes (October 14, 2015) – Action Item
6	MATS CAC Bylaws Amendments (meeting time & quorum) – Action Item
7	Public Participation Plan Amendments – Action Item
8	Presentation of LRTP Update – Conformity Determination Report (Air Quality) – Agenda Item
9	Presentation of GDOT TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) Amendments FY 2014 – 2017 – Action Item
10	Final approval UPWP (Unified Planning Work Program) FY 17 – Action Item
11	Update of Middle Georgia Airports – Agenda Item
12	Old/Unfinished Business
13	New Business
14	Project Status Report – Agenda Item
15	Next meeting dates
16	Adjourn

MINUTES

• Called to Order:
  6:05PM by John Swint, CAC Chair
  

• The CAC Chair announced that a quorum has not been met, but the meeting will proceed without a quorum.

• Adoption of Agenda – Action Item:
  Due to the lack of a quorum, the agenda was reviewed and presented for information, but no action was taken.

• Introduction of Meeting Attendees:
  Omitted

• Public Comment Period (2 Minutes):
  Members of the general public offered comments on agenda items as they were presented and under new business.

• Approval of MATS CAC Minutes (October 14, 2015):
  Due to the lack of a quorum, the minutes were presented for information, but no action was taken.

• MATS CAC Bylaws Amendments (meeting time & quorum) – Action Item:
  Mr. Swint reviewed over the amendments to the MATS CAC Bylaws. The changes in Article VI: Section 1 was mentioned where the meeting time changed from 4:00PM to 6:00PM; and Article VI: Section 5 where the quorum changed from eleven (11) members to seven (7) members. Due to the lack of a quorum, no action was taken.

• Public Participation Plan Amendments – Action Item:
  Ken North provided an explanation of the Public Participation Plan which is used as a forum to provide input from all segments of the community regarding the MATS Process and Mr. North also presented two revisions suggested by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The first revision added language on page 1 to read, “The public involvement process for the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is used to satisfy the Georgia Department of Transportation public participation process for the Program of Projects (POP)”. The second revision added language on page 12 to read “If it is necessary to amend the TIP, a 15 day public review and comment period will be required. If no significant comments are received, no further action is required once the proposed amendments(s) have been approved by the Policy Committee. However, if comments are received which the MPO staff considers as potentially significant, the comments will be presented to the Policy Committee for consideration and appropriate action. Where a TIP amendment requires changes to the source LRTP document, the TIP amendment and LRTP public comment period will run concurrently”. The revisions have been out for public review and no comments have been received. Due to the lack of a quorum, the report was received for information and no action was taken.

• Presentation of LRTP Update – Conformity Determination Report (Air Quality) – Agenda Item: Mike Greenwald mentioned that the TIP amendments that are recommended by GDOT requires an update to the (CDR) Conformity Determination Report. The CDR is part of the larger 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan to demonstrate that the list of transportation projects that are being proposed meets the requirements of the Air Quality Standards. The plan have to conform to air quality and be fiscally constrained which is to show that funds have been identified to account for the projects. The TIP amendments that were presented are primarily bridge repair work but not exclusively. Some questions were asked about the Jeffersonville Road widening project. The committee requested conceptual drawings for Jeffersonville Road project. There were also concerns about bridges throughout the county that have weight restrictions which causes school buses to be re-routed. Jim Thomas mentioned that these are not the only projects that are slated for repair. These presented TIP amendments are projects identified by GDOT. The status of the bridge on Log Cabin Drive was also brought up as a concern as to whether it is included as part of GDOT recommendation. As part of public comment, Lindsay Holliday also mentioned that he has some conceptual drawings for the Jeffersonville Road project and to also ensure that he is on the list to receive meeting notifications. Due to the lack of a quorum, the report was received for information and no action was taken.

• Presentation of GDOT TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) Amendments FY 2014 – 2017 – Action Item:
  Mike Greenwald presented the recommended TIP Amendments by GDOT that was discussed at the previous CAC meeting. No changes have been made to the amendments since then. They are going through the second hearing and will be adopted at the next MATS Policy Committee meeting. Due to the lack of a quorum, the report was received for information and no action was taken.
  

• Final approval UPWP (Unified Planning Work Program) FY 17 – Action Item:
  Ken North presented the final UPWP for FY 2017 that includes additional detail to work tasks project descriptions as recommended by GDOT. This document outlines all of the planning activities that the MPO will be involved in for the upcoming fiscal year which is 2017.
  

Task 2.10: Additional language added to include “Outreach activities will include public meetings, website notices, email blasts and other events”. CAC members suggested that for public meetings, there should be a generic Question & Answer informational sheet available and the time of day for public meetings should be accommodating for all.

Task 2.20: Additional language to include “The Macon MPO will seek out and consider the needs of those groups who are traditionally underserved by the existing transportation system, such as low-income and minority households, older adults and individuals with disabilities. In addition, the needs of transit riders will also be analyzed. These groups sometimes face challenges accessing employment and other services. Finally, the MATS Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) will be contacted in order to provide diverse positions”. CAC members asked the question, How will this be accomplished”? How can the CAC assist in this effort? (i.e., Transit Authority)

Task 3.20: Additional language to include “The MPO staff will identify areas comprised of groups who are traditionally underserved by the existing transportation system, such as low-income and minority households, older adults and individuals with disabilities. Data collection and mapping activities will done in order to identify environmental justice communities”.

MATS MOU: It was recommended to add the MATS MOU as a portion of the UPWP document.

Due to the lack of a quorum, the report was received for information and no action was taken.

• Update of Middle Georgia Airports – Agenda Item:
  The Middle Georgia Airport presentation will be moved to the next meeting.

• Old/Unfinished Business:
  
  • Seventh Street Truck Route Update: It was reported that the Mayor is pursuing every option to see what it is going to take to move the project up on the priority list. It is scheduled in the 2040 network year. GDOT has no interest in this project as they view it as a local project. The best scenario is to fund the project with local funds. General discussion was also had about improvements to Bass Road.
    
  • Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Vacant Positions: The CAC Chairman encouraged CAC members to be thinking of individuals to fill the following vacant positions: Commission District 6, Commission District 7, Disabled Transportation User and Environmental Representative.
    

• New Business:
  
  • Procedures for Adding Item to MATS CAC Agenda:
    CAC Chairman mentioned the procedures for placing an item on the MATS CAC Agenda and at this point, offered members of the general public address the committee for the public comment period.
    • Lindsay Holliday spoke briefly about the 3 airports in area: Herbert Smart/Downtown Airport; Middle Georgia Regional Airport and Robins Air Force Base. There is unused space near Robins Air Force Base. A joint use should be considered. The CAC should lobby for use of the unused property.
    • Mike Wilson, Wilson Electric Company talked in detail regarding the Second Street project that will condemn his property if the project is completed. Mr. Wilson is seeking leverage from the CAC to encourage the Policy makers to revisit the design/scope of the project. It was mentioned that the Second Street project concept came about as a result of a Charrette funded by the Knight Foundation.

• Project Status Report – Agenda Item:
  The GDOT project status report was distributed to meeting attendees for information.
  • Project Count #4: Which project is it? What is overflow?
    
  • Project Count #29: Have the traffic counts been revisited?
    
  • Project Count #40: Which bridge is it?
    
  • How does the projects get on the “project status report” list?
    

• Next meeting dates:
  The next meeting of the CAC is scheduled to be held on March 9, 2016 at 6:00PM as a Special Called meeting.

• Adjourn:
  The meeting was adjourned at 7:49PM.