Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes – 13 July 2016

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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 – Regular Meeting

Date:
07.13.16        Time:
6:00PM     Location:
Macon-Bibb County P & Z Commission, 10th 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 Absent
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 Present
John Swint CAC/Commission District 5 Present
Vacant CAC/Commission District 6 ————————–
Shelvy Neal CAC/Commission District 7 Present
Amber Jones CAC/Commission District 8 Absent
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 Absent
Tina Hopper CAC/Disabled Population Representative Absent
Ella Mumphery CAC/Disabled Transportation User Absent
Rachel Hollar CAC/Environmental Representative Present
Mary Lou Ezell CAC/League of Women Voters Present
Michael Colbert CAC/Macon Housing Authority Present
Jada Robinson CAC/Transit User Present
Donald L. Druitt Visitor Present
Jim Lidstone Visitor Present
Lawrence Mink Visitor Present
AGENDA
1 Call to Order
2 Adoption of Agenda – Action Item
3 Public Comment Period (5 Minutes)
4 Approval of previous MATS CAC Minutes (April 13, 2016) – Action Item
5 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan Update
6 Old/Unfinished Business

  • Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Vacant Positions
7 New Business

  • Notification of FHWA / FTA Proposed Rulemaking: Consolidation of MPO’s (Metropolitan Planning Organizations)
  • Smart Growth America
8 Project Status Report – Agenda Item
9 Next meeting dates
10 Announcements
11 Adjourn

MINUTES

  • Called to Order:
    6:10PM by John Swint, CAC Chair
  • Prayer:
    Louis F. Tompkins, CAC Member
  • Adoption of Agenda – Action Item:
    Approved with the recommendation to add the “Smart Growth” discussion under new business.
  • Public Comment Period (5 Minutes):
    Members of the general public were offered 5 minutes to address the committee. Mr. Mink addressed the committee and indicated that he’s observing the meeting and taking notes on SPLOST projects or any planned road projects to share with residents along the Bass Road area. Mr. Lidstone spoke about a childhood obesity prevention program called Live Healthy Baldwin to encourage residents to become physically active, as well as, a 33-mile Central Georgia Rail Trails project which is an option for a healthy form of transportation.
  • Approval of previous MATS CAC Minutes (April 13, 2016) – Action Item:
    A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the minutes as presented with the necessary correction under agenda item #5 “Mr. Michael Brown instead of Ms. Michael Brown”. Approved
  • 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan Update – Agenda Item:
    • Draft Goals & Objectives: Brad Belo presented a summary chart of the goals, objectives and performance measures. Goals are categorized under 3 areas: FAST Act National Goals, State Goals and MATS LRTP Regional Goals. The goals from these categories were combined to draft the MATS LRTP Update Goals. Mr. Belo also described how each MATS LRTP Goal connects with the MATS 2040 LRTP Update Regional Performance Measures.
    • Draft Revenue Projections: Mike Greenwald described the various color coded network years (Blue 2020 Network Year; Peach 2030 Network Year; Orange 2040 Network Year). These network years are important because they are the sorting categories for each of the project as to how GDOT will evaluate each project. Green colored projects were recommended to the MPO by GDOT. Red colored projects relate to Bass Road. The Purple colored projects were recommended to the MPO as part of the comments received from public outreach activities dating back to June 15, 2016. Mike Brown asked that “In reference to cycling and pedestrian specific projects, what guidelines are in place when these projects get to the engineering phase”. The response was that the engineering process happens when the projects are included in the TIP. Mike Greenwald suggested to the committee to focus on projects in the 2030 network year (Project priority #21 – 60). Project priority #34 -35 relates to Bass Road. The Seventh Street Truck Route project was moved to Priority #36 at the recommendation of the County Engineer. It was mentioned that this is a project that the Mayor campaigned on and this project may need to be reconsidered regarding the movement of network years. Forest Hill Road project was moved to the 2030 network. Project #’s 39, 40, 41 and 42 were added to this list based on comments received during the public engagement activities. The total cost of overall projects is over $1 billion dollars. A question was asked, what improvements could be made to Coliseum Drive in conjunction with the I-16/I-75 improvements, i.e., (Rear entrance/exit access to Second Street near the Chamber of Commerce). It was also mentioned that transit projects will have its own list. Mike Greenwald mentioned that revenue projections are suggesting that we’re not where we need to be to pay for all the projects, however, the projections may balance once local revenue estimates from Jones & Monroe counties are provided. Additionally, this is based on whether or not GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation) decides to totally fund some projects that don’t require local match. Anticipated estimated revenue is calculated at a 1% inflation or 2% inflation recommended by GDOT (Conservative estimate or relaxed estimate). SPLOST Funds and LMIG (Local Maintenance Improvement Grants) are another source of revenue for projects. The CAC recommends that MATS staff calculate the revenue projections with the 2% inflation across the board for cost and revenues regarding the proposed LRTP project list.
    • Draft Project List: The CAC recommends to move the Seventh Street Truck Route Project back into network 2020. A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the two recommendations suggested by the CAC to forward to the MATS TCC and Policy Committees.
  • Old/Unfinished Business:
    • Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Vacant Positions: Commission District 6 remains vacant. Additionally, Amber Jones, Commission District 8 submitted a letter of resignation. By majority vote, the CAC voted to declare Commission District 8 vacant.
  • New Business:
    • Notification of FHWA / FTA Proposed Rulemaking: Consolidation of MPO’s (Metropolitan Planning Organizations):
      Mike Greenwald indicated that on Monday, June 27, 2016 U.S. DOT released a notice explaining that there’s an effort to combine MPO’s that serves multiple urbanized areas which has to make justification as to why the MPO’s should remain separate entities (Macon and Warner Robins) and not consolidate. The CAC voted to oppose the idea of any proposed rulemaking regarding the consolidation of MPO’s. MATS staff will share a link with the CAC to read and learn more about the proposed rulemaking.
    • Smart Growth America:
      Ms. Mary Lou Ezell suggested that MATS staff should research more information regarding Smart Growth America shared by Lee Martin and bring the information to the next meeting in October 2016.
    • Planning 101 Orientation: It was mentioned that an orientation should be done once all positions are filled on the MATS CAC.
  • Project Status Report – Agenda Item:
    The GDOT project status report was distributed to meeting attendees for information.
  • Next meeting dates:
    The next meeting of the CAC is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at 6:00PM as a regular meeting.
  • Announcements:
    • Macon – Bibb County Pedestrian Safety Stakeholder Summit, Tuesday, August 16, 2016, 8:30AM – 12Noon at the Macon – Bibb County Government Center, 700 Poplar Street, Macon, GA.;
    • 2040 LRTP public outreach schedule remaining dates; and
    • A “Planning 101” session will be scheduled for new and current CAC members
  • Adjourn:
    The meeting was adjourned at 8:13PM