MATS CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING 
MINUTES SUMMARY
MACON-BIBB COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
682 CHERRY ST., SUITE 1000
MACON, GEORGIA 31201

Meeting Description:  MATS Citizens Advisory Committee Regular Meeting
Date:   05-11-11 	Time: 5:00pm	         Location: P & Z 10th Floor Conference Room 

ATTENDANCE LIST	
NAME	REPRESENTING	
Gregory L. Brown	Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	
James P. Thomas	Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	
Don Tussing	Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	
Gregory T. Floyd	Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	
Ken North	Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission	
Michael Ryan	CAC/City Ward 3	
Anthony Cunningham	CAC/City Ward 4	
Stella Tsai	CAC/City Ward 5	
Ron Lemon	CAC/County District 2	
Tony Blash	CAC/Jones County	
Susan Hanberry – Martin	CAC/Environmental Representative	
Lindsay Holliday	CAC/League of Women Voters	
Nicholas Pietrzak	CAC/Neighborhood Organization	
David Scott	CAC/Transit Ridership	
Agnes Donaldson	Concerned Citizen	
Lee Martin	Concerned Citizen	
AGENDA	
1	Call to Order	
2	Adoption of Agenda – Action Item	
3	Approval of Minutes from previous meeting(s):  March 9, 2011 - CAC Meeting – Action Item	
4	Presentation of Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) FY 2012 – 2015:  Agenda Item	
5	Presentation of Final Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) – Action Item	
6	Presentation of Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Amendment – Agenda Item	
7	Old/Unfinished Business
§1	CAC Vacant Positions
§2	Noise Barriers:  Proposed Public Meeting	
8	New Business	
9	Next Meeting Dates	
10	Adjourn	
MINUTES

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 @ 5:05PM by CAC Vice-Chairman, Ron Lemon.  

Adoption of Agenda:  APPROVED

Approval of Minutes from previous meeting(s): March 9, 2011:  A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the minutes as presented.  APPROVED

Presentation of Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) FY 2012-2015:  Ken North began by providing a brief overview of the document, which is a four-year capital improvement program drawn from the 2035 Transportation Plan.  The TIP outlines the roadway, airport and transit projects planned for the MATS Study Area during fiscal years 2012 – 2015. Additionally, Mr. North presented the major changes to the TIP from the previous year.  The changes presented are as follows:
1	Project Name:  SR 11/SR 49/US 41 @ Rocky Creek:  This is a NEW project added to the TIP in 2011. (Bridge Replacement)  - Right of Way is scheduled for 2015 and Preliminary Engineering in 2012
2	Project Name:  Jeffersonville Road:  Construction is scheduled for FY 2015 for all phases of the project:  (Widen to four thru lanes with a continuous left turn lane from Emery Hwy to Walnut Creek Bridge; Bridge Widening at Walnut Creek; and Widen to four thru lanes with continuous left turn lane from Walnut Creek to Recreation Road / Millerfield Road to Bristol.
3	Project Name:  Forest Hill Road:  Construction has been changed to FY 2013 for the Widening from two lanes to three lanes from Wimbish Road to Northside Drive and the bridge widening at Sabbath Creek.  However, the construction date is undetermined for the widening from 2 to 4 thru lanes from Vineville Avenue to Wimbish Road with turn lanes as need.
4	Project Name:  Capital Schedule for Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority:  New Maintenance Facility @ $450,000 in FY 2014 and 2015; FY 2013 plans are to rehab 4 Buses for route service as well as perform a transit ridership and route study and in 2012 MTA will be purchasing some additional signs for the Terminal Station.  
5	Project Name:  Airport Master Plan:  This is a NEW project added to the TIP.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the Draft TIP as presented.  During the discussion, Michael Ryan presented the following amendments:
6	Jeffersonville Road:  Eliminate the continuous left-turn (middle) lane and utilize the resulting space for bike/pedestrian lanes on both sides of the roadway for all 3 sections of Jeffersonville Road.
7	Forest Hill Road:  Eliminate the continuous left-turn (middle) lane between Wimbish Road and Northside Drive and utilize the resulting space for bike/pedestrian lanes on both sides of the roadway; reduce the four-lane section from Wimbish Road to Ridge Avenue to 3 lanes and utilize the resulting space for bike/pedestrian lanes.
The CAC APPROVED these amendments.

Additional amendment:  Noise barriers (concrete absorbent barriers) should be a part of the draft TIP document.  The barriers should extend from Hardeman Avenue to Rocky Creek Road especially in areas where residential structures will be impacted and barriers should be installed north of the I-16/I-75 interchange along the Winship Hills area.  Jim Thomas advised that the draft TIP document is not where the noise barriers should go, but instead in the LRTP.  Jim also advised that this discussion should be included under Old Business at the Policy Committee meeting.
No action was taken on this amendment.

Page 64:  Project History:  Forest Hill Road History – Dr. Holliday mentioned that the project history description of Forest Hill Road does not reflect all of the public’s opposition.  A motion was made and properly seconded that the Forest Hill Road Project History should reflect that opposition has been continuous, broad and growing.  APPROVED

Additional concerns from Dr. Holliday:
Page 3 – Dr. Holliday needs more clarification on the meaning of STIP Funds
Page 67 – Dr. Holliday needs more clarification on the meaning of hardship acquisition.

Dr. Holliday also mentioned that the CAC membership list needs to be updated before the final TIP is produced.  

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the draft TIP with the recommended amendments.  APPROVED

A motion was also made and properly seconded to direct the CAC Chair or anyone representing the CAC to vote in favor of the draft TIP document only if the recommended amendments are adopted by the Policy Committee.  APPROVED  

Presentation of the Final Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP): Action Item:  Greg Floyd provided an overview of the purpose of the UPWP which is a document detailing how the local MPO spend its planning dollars.  No significant changes were made since the presentation of the draft UPWP.  A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the Final UPWP.  APPROVED

Presentation of Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Amendment:  Agenda Item:  The MPO has been requested by GDOT to add a new project to the LRTP and TIP which is a bridge replacement project in Jones County along SR 49 @ Norfolk Southern Railroad with construction beginning in 2016.  A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the amendment as presented.  APPROVED

Old / Unfinished Business:
1	CAC Vacant Positions:  It was recommended to make a final decision on the potential members at the July 13, 2011 CAC meeting.  Mr. Tony Blash will contact GiGi Rolfes; Ms. Stella Tsai will contact Douglas Park and Mr. Ron Lemon will contact Lynn Farmer prior to the next CAC meeting.  
2	Noise Barriers:  Proposed Public Meeting:  Mr. Michael Ryan provided a verbal summary of the contents of the noise barrier letter that he provided via email immediately following the March 2011 CAC meeting.  Mr. Ryan will bring the letter to the CAC meeting in July 2011 for final action.  The CAC also feels that a public meeting regarding noise barriers should be held in an effort to gather public comments throughout the City.  The CAC will wait to hear Mayor Reichert’s response before taking action. 

New Business:  There was no new business.  However, CAC members voiced their displeasure with the I-75 road construction north of Pierce Avenue.  Mr. Ryan mentioned that during the College Hill Corridor Meeting held by Planning and Zoning, one of the proposals during the public meeting was to close Coleman Avenue / Linden Avenue at Mercer Village.  This proposal is not a good idea.  No action was taken on these items.

Next Meeting Dates:  Regular meeting date:  July 13, 2011  
  
Being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:00PM.

*Please Note:  A recorded tape is available in the planning office for detail minutes from the May 11, 2011.