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Gulf Coast Rail District Board of Directors met Jan. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
A meeting of the Gulf Coast Rail District Board of Directors was held on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Houston TranStar and via video conference. In attendance at the meeting were Directors Ronald A. Beeson, Trey Duhon, Robert A. Fry, Jr., Veronica Chapa Gorczynski, Jon Keeney, Carol Abel Lewis, Bruce Mann, and Allen Owen. Absent were Directors Michael Dyll, Abigail M. Gonzalez, Christopher Lane, Tina Arias Peterman, and Jeff Ross. Written notices of the meeting including the date, hour, place and agenda for the meeting were posted with Harris County, with the Secretary of State, and at the Gulf Coast Rail District office located at Houston TranStar in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. The inaudible portions of the recording were removed from these minutes.
Chairperson Lewis: Alright. So, thank you to everyone who’s online. We appreciate you. We recognize that we need one more person to actually begin. We’re expecting two more so whichever one of them clicks on first we’ll go ahead and get started. Appreciate your time today, of course.
Director Keeney: In the interim, can we go around and introduce ourselves?
Chairperson Lewis: Absolutely.
Director Keeney: Because I don’t know everybody.
Chairperson Lewis: So, we will do that. Thank you for that suggestion. We’ll go around and introduce ourselves in just a second. I’m Dr. Carol Lewis. I serve as chair here for Gulf Coast Rail District and we’ve got some folks that we’re welcoming to the table today and very happy that you’re here.
Director Keeney: Thank you.
Chairperson Lewis: Go to my right I think makes sense.
Ms. Katherine Parker: Katherine Parker, executive director for the Gulf Coast Rail District, and welcome to everyone. Happy new year.
Director Gorczynski: I’m Veronica Chapa Gorczynski. I am the president of a management district in the East End, so I’m responsible for the 16 square miles between downtown and Port of Houston. I am in my first year being appointed as a Harris County appointee. Got into transportation issues because I sit with the Houston-Galveston Area Council on the Transportation Advisory Committee and the TIP. So, I’m in the East End which has about 40% of the rail traffic for the entire region that comes through our neighborhood. So, I’m really grateful to get to see you all in person. It’s weird for me because I’m used to everyone in one dimension. Wow, I can actually touch people. It’s great…
Director Duhon: My name is Trey Duhon. I’m the county judge in Waller County. Very nice to meet everybody. Unfortunately, this will be my last meeting. I’ve been on the board... I don’t know how long I’ve been on the board.
Chairperson Lewis: Since at least 2008 maybe.
Director Duhon: Yes.
Chairperson Lewis: It’s been a long time.
Director Duhon: Yes, maybe even before that. Anyway. Really enjoyed my time on the board but, if everything goes as planned this Friday, I’ll be sworn in as the chairman of the H-GAC. So with everything else on my plate, I’ll be handing the baton to Commissioner Kendric Jones who is our commissioner of precinct three. So, I’m leaving you in very good hands. He has a ton of energy and is a force to be reckoned with. And I think he’ll be a great addition to the board. But for those that I haven’t met before, very nice to meet you all.
Director Keeney: Thank you.
Chairperson Lewis: Alright. Lisa has given me the thumbs up, so we’ve got our quorum, but we’ll continue with introductions around the room.
Ms. Jean Mann: Yes. My name is Jean Mann. I’m representing County Judge Mark Keough. I’m the government relations manager for Montgomery County.
Mr. Steve Clark: Hi. My name is Steve Clark. In my capacity today, I’m here as an interested citizen. Dr. Lewis, it’s very nice to see you again.
Chairperson Lewis: You as well.
Mr. Steve Clark: I was previously leading the rail business in engineering for an engineering firm that’s here in Houston. I guess I retired in the depths of COVID and have been kind of out of the picture for a little while. Now that things are really pretty much fully back to normal, you’ll probably see my face around here and there. I’m pleased to be here. I used to come to these meetings just about every month, so it’s nice to be back.
Chairperson Lewis: Great.
Mr. Chris Palis: I’m Chris Palis, the representative of Municipal Accounts and Consulting who’s the District’s bookkeeper. So, appreciate you all and enjoy coming here and talking with everybody.
Director Keeney: Jon Keeney, I’m mayor of Taylor Lake Village and I’ve been appointed by Mayor and Council to be on this commission. I’m also on the Houston Pilot Commission as a commissioner appointed by the Governor.
Director Fry: Bob Fry and I represent METRO.
Mr. David Abraham: David Abraham and I’m the assistant director for strategic planning at HCTRA.
Chairperson Lewis: Wonderful. Could we get our board members who are online, if you all would introduce yourselves to us, please?
Director Owen: This is Allen Owen. I can see everybody, but I can’t get my speaker to work so I’m on the phone. I’m Allen Owen and I represent the Fort Bend County Mayors.
Director Beeson: This is Ron Beeson representing Harris County.
Director Mann: Bruce Mann with Port Houston. I think I’ve been on or around the Rail District since about 2014. Thanks.
Chairperson Lewis: Great. Thank you, everyone. Alright, so we will officially call the meeting to order (2:06 p.m.). I’m Dr. Carol Lewis, presiding officer of the Gulf Coast Rail District. I’m going to call our meeting to order today. It’s January 17th, 2023. The meeting is being conducted with options to participate in person or by video conference. The public meeting location is Houston TranStar, 6922 Katy Road, Houston, Texas. We’re in conference room 120A today. Is that correct?
Director Keeney: No, 216.
Chairperson Lewis: 216.
Mr. David Abraham: It was close.
Ms. Katherine Parker: That’s our normal spot.
Chairperson Lewis: I was going to say, I don’t think we’re in 120A today. Alright, we’re in room 216. The video conference is conducted through Microsoft Teams and that link can be found in the meeting invitation, the agenda, and the public postings. The meeting is open to the public. The public will have the opportunity to address the board with a limit of three minutes per speaker. When addressing the board, please turn your microphone on, raise your hand, and then we will acknowledge you. For board members who are participating by video conference, in accordance with the provisions of section 551.127 of the Texas Government Code applicable to governmental bodies that extends into three or more counties, we are by that able to have the meeting with video conference with me as the Chair in attendance. When we vote, please make sure that we can see you and hear you when we record our votes. As required, I’m physically present for the board meeting, and then I’m going to ask Judge Duhon if he would do the board roll call for us to satisfy our quorum.
Director Duhon: Madam Chair, I did keep track of everybody during introductions. Just for the purposes of the record, I know we’re not showing Michael Dyll, Abigail Gonzalez, or Jeff Ross as attending. Is anybody online by chance, any of those individuals? I didn’t think so. Tina Peterman, I think, will be connecting in later. Is she online as well? No. The only one on the list that I don’t believe I heard anything from earlier was Christopher Lane from Galveston County.
Ms. Lisa Patke: Correct.
Director Duhon: Okay. But with everybody else that’s present, we do have eight board members that are present, and we do have a quorum.
Chairperson Lewis: Perfect. Thank you so much, Judge Duhon. Report from the treasurer, Director Owen please.
Director Owen: Yes, Madam Chairman, I would ask Chris Palis to give us our treasurer’s report.
Mr. Chris Palis: Okay, so everyone should have a copy of the bookkeeper’s report dated January 17th, 2023. If you turn to page two, you’ll see the cash flow report for the checking account starting with a balance of $79,321. And you can see the disbursements here totaling $5,052, leaving a balance of $74,268. Page three is a listing of the account balances of the District. At the top, you can see the CDs and then the money market at Texas Class and then the checking account with a grand total of $1.4 million. Page four is the actual verse budget for December of 2022. You see total contributions totaling $3,494 and then total expenses totaling $682 leaving a net contribution of $2,813. And then on page five is just the pro bono items, you can see the in and out equaling $10,384. Again, excess revenues totaling at $2,813 for there. Then obviously, you can see the year-to-date budget for the whole year, the fiscal year 2022. And then like always, pages six, seven, eight, and nine is just the grant status activity and no new activity on this since it was last reported there. Also, there should be a quarterly investment report showing the District’s earnings ending September 30th, 2022, so obviously we’ll have the fourth quarter most likely next month when that gets released. But you can see here on page three, total interest earnings of $5,983 for the quarter, quarter three from July 1st to September 30th, 2022.
Chairperson Lewis: With that, are there any questions from anyone?
Director Owen: Madam Chair, I would entertain a motion to approve the treasurer’s report and to approve Resolution 23-01 ratifying our payments.
Chairperson Lewis: Let me mention a couple of things. We’ve got some background noise so somebody might need to cut a speaker off. But we need you on camera according to the rules in order to vote and make a motion. I know you said you’re having some difficulties. Director Owen: Yes.
Chairperson Lewis: So, you can be on your phone for audio and have the computer on for the camera. That’s fine, if you’re able to do that for us.
Director Owen: Give me a minute. I’m having computer problems this morning. If you’ll give me a minute, I will be on.
Chairperson Lewis: Okay. While we give you that minute, let me go back to item number three, confirm the meeting posting compliance with the Open Meetings Act and we were up by two o’clock on Friday, so I do want to confirm that officially.
Director Mann: While he’s getting on camera, I’ll go ahead and second the motion, Bruce Mann. Director Owen: Yes.
Chairperson Lewis: Okay. We can’t really second it until we can see him.
Director Fry: You want somebody here to do it?
Director Keeney: Yes.
Director Duhon: Did he make the motion, or did he call for it?
Director Keeney: Yes.
Director Duhon: Was he asking for a motion?
Director Keeney: I’ll also move.
Director Owen: I called for it. I know I just called for the motion.
Chairperson Lewis: He called for the motion.
Director Mann: Alright.
Director Keeney: I will move to approve.
Director Mann: Well, I’ll make the motion, Director Mann.
Chairperson Lewis: Okay, so we’ve got two folks. Bruce Mann, he asked first. Bruce said he would second, right?
Director Keeney: Yes. Here’s your motion.
Chairperson Lewis: So, we’ll have Keeney to make the motion, Bruce Mann to second. So, all in favor?
Board: Aye.
Chairperson Lewis: Any opposed? Alright, thank you. We have that moved and confirmed. Director Duhon: Madam Chair, do we need to go back to number four to approve the minutes? Director Keeney: The minutes.
Chairperson Lewis: Yes, we do. We need to go back to item number four for the minutes. I was just looking at that, Judge Duhon.
Director Duhon: Alright. Everyone should have a copy of the minutes from the last meeting. Hopefully, everybody’s had a chance to review that. I’ll go ahead and make the motion to approve the minutes.
Director Keeney: Second.
Chairperson Lewis: Second, Keeney. All in favor?
Board: Aye.
Chairperson Lewis: Any opposed? Okay, thank you. Alright. Now we have you on camera, Mayor Owen, so we’re good to go.
Director Owen: I’m voting.
Chairperson Lewis: Good. He’s voting, that’s perfect. Alright.
Director Owen: I still have no microphone or speaker, but I can see you and I’m on the phone so I’m voting.
Chairperson Lewis: Right. That works. Thank you.
Ms. Katherine Parker: Thank you.
Director Keeney: Thank you.
Director Duhon: Madam Chair, point of clarification. On number five, did we approve the treasurer’s report and 23-01?
Director Keeney: That was my motion.
Chairperson Lewis: I think we approved 23-01 because the treasurer’s report doesn’t have to be approved.
Director Owen: Yes.
Director Duhon: Okay, very good.
Chairperson Lewis: It’s just the next one.
Director Owen: Right.
Chairperson Lewis: Thank you for that question though. Alright. So, we now have done – I just want to confirm – one, two, three, four, and five because we’ve been jumping off order today. We’ll attribute it to January. So, now we’re on to item number seven, public comments. Is there anyone in the public who would like to address us today? Lisa, if you can help me because I actually can’t see the screen.
Ms. Lisa Patke: No hands.
Chairperson Lewis: We’re good? Okay, alright, great. Thank you. Seeing none, we will move on to item number eight, discussion and possible action on Resolution 23-02 ratifying committees for the GCRD Board of Directors. So, item 23-02 takes us through our board ratifications again. You will see here that Judge Duhon’s name does show. What we will be doing, Judge Duhon, and I think we can get someone to make that motion, we could actually... Yes. I think we can actually go ahead and put on Mr. Jones’ name because one does not have to be on the board to be on a committee. So, I think we can go ahead and put his name on even though next month would be the ratification of his board position.
Director Duhon: Do we need a motion to amend the resolution?
Chairperson Lewis: Yes.
Director Duhon: I’ll make the motion to amend Resolution Number 23-02 so that anywhere my name appears as Judge Trey Duhon, that’s going to be replaced by Commissioner Kendric Jones. Director Keeney: Kendric Jones.
Chairperson Lewis: Motion.
Director Duhon: That would be under Bylaws and Passenger Transit.
Chairperson Lewis: Motion. Is there a second?
Director Mann: I’ll second it, Bruce Mann.
Chairperson Lewis: Thank you. Any discussion? All in favor?
Board: Aye.
Chairperson Lewis: Anyone opposed? Alright, thank you.
Chairperson Lewis: With that, going on to this resolution. This resolution, section six of the bylaws for Gulf Coast Rail District allows the Chair at any time to designate from among the directors one or more ad hoc standing committees, each of which shall consist of two or more directors. And whereas pursuant to section six, the chairman designates the following committees. The thing that I want to draw your attention to is Houston Area Rail
Transformation. The other committees are the standing committees that we’ve always had and that were previously approved. The addition of Houston Area Rail Transformation is what I want to call to your attention. So, you will recall from our past really several months of meetings that the Gulf Coast Rail District through one of its committees will create a programmatic approach to addressing rail planning in our region and pursuing additional rail funding to materially improve transportation in our region of how we are both compatible with and working with railroads in terms of mobility throughout the region.
Ms. Katherine Parker: The one-pager is included.
Chairperson Lewis: Pardon?
Ms. Katherine Parker: The one-pager is included.
Chairperson Lewis: Okay. Ms. Parker has reminded me that the one-pager is behind the resolution for those who’d like to maybe glance at it for a little more background in terms of what we’re talking about doing. So, this will be a committee of Gulf Coast Rail District. Per our guidelines, we have more than two of our board members on, but you will see that there is an attached list of invited member attendees to this board as well. So, I’ll start with the board members who have consented to participate as part of Houston Area Rail Transformation, and they are Bruce Mann who will serve as Chair, Michael Dyll who will serve as a board member. Mayor Jon Keeney and Veronica Chapa Gorczynski are GCRD board members who will be on this committee. If you look at your invited list which is... Which is where?
Director Fry: On the back.
Chairperson Lewis: On the back. Okay, good. Thank you. On the back, I was looking for it somewhere else. So, on the back, we have a long list of invited members – Fort Bend County, Harris County, City of Houston, Waller County, Galveston County, Montgomery County, Chambers County, Brazoria County, Union Pacific Railroad, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Port Terminal Railroad Association, Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company, Canadian Pacific/Kansas City, Amtrak, USDOT, METRO, TxDOT, and H-GAC. So, each of these entities will be invited to invite a member to sit on the Houston Area Rail Transformation group. So, that is advanced for board consideration; therefore, be it resolved that the Board of Directors of Gulf Coast Rail District will ratify this resolution confirming both the Houston Area Rail Transformation and the other committees.
Chairperson Lewis: So, I will pause now for I guess a motion first and then discussion. Director Keeney: So, you’re asking for a motion to approve that?
Chairperson Lewis: Please.
Director Keeney: Yes. I will so move.
Chairperson Lewis: Okay. Moved by Director Keeney. With that, floor is open for discussion. Oh, we don’t have a second. I need a second before we open discussion, I believe. Director Duhon: I’ll second.
Director Beeson: I’ll be glad, Director Beeson.
Director Duhon: Go with Ron.
Chairperson Lewis: Okay. Great, Director Beeson, thank you for that second. Discussion? Director Keeney: I would simply like to thank the chair for thinking through this process and also Katherine in putting together this ad hoc committee. I think it’s going to move us forward at a much faster pace.
Chairperson Lewis: Thank you for that. We would also recognize that this committee and the whole action of Houston Area Rail Transformation has had probably multi-months communication with pretty much everyone throughout the region who has a role to play in this. So, there has been a planning committee of sorts that’s contributed really to everything, including the name. So, we probably had four meetings and 15 iterations getting to the name of the organization. For your information, we’re working on everything that will go with it—the vision statement, the goal statements, a list of projects that we want to take in early on. And what we know is that there are quite a few funds available from the Infrastructure Bill that was passed and signed by President Biden last year, a lot of money. And they’ve actually created new categories that would fund railroad participation with the idea of making communities better. And so, we want to be able to take advantage of that and this is one avenue that will allow us to do that and open doors for us in that vein.
Director Keeney: I was particularly encouraged. I forwarded an article to both you folks that there is actually a model in the Dallas area where there is an integrated facility that integrates rail, air, trucking, and local transportation, and it’s already set up. It’s pretty good that the state has somewhat of a model that we can observe and steal as much as we possibly can from their experience.
Chairperson Lewis: Okay. And hit me on the hand for saying it, and not give credit to Dallas. Director Keeney: I know. It was hard for me to say Dallas. I apologize for that.
Chairperson Lewis: It’s okay, I understand. Sometimes it’s necessary. Alright. Other discussion? Alright. If not, I’ll call the vote. All in favor?
Board: Aye.
Chairperson Lewis: Any opposed? Alright, great. Thank you. It passes and is approved. We’re going to be looking forward to this. It’s going to be quite activity-intense because there’s going to be a lot that we need to do to get started. If I have another comment in that regard, I’ll just wait until my 10A in just a minute to make it. But thank you and we’re really looking forward to getting HART moving and taking it to really the ultimate and getting it to do all the things that we envision that it will do. Alright, so thank you much.
Chairperson Lewis: That takes us on to item nine, report from the executive director. Ms. Parker?
Ms. Katherine Parker: Thank you so much. Good afternoon to everyone and happy new year to all that I haven’t spoken to. Just a few updates from me. First of all, the GCRD website, the next slide, we’ll do a little click-through here. It is up and running finally. Should click on there and see if we can get in hopefully. This is basically the first page. Of course, there are pull-downs you can click and go through our vision and mission. And then also there are pictures of each of the board members. Of course, as with anything, we’ll have to make updates. So, for our new board members, I will reach out to you for new headshots and also welcoming all of our new appointees. The 23rd of January is when the terms expire, we sent out letters to each of our member entities. We’re giving them opportunities to give us that information back whether they’ll continue with their current appointees or new appointees. February is when you will see an update with those changes in names. We’re looking forward to that and we want to thank all those who have worked diligently to this point to help the Rail District move forward. So, it’s available. You can go through and click. Lisa has done quite a bit of work to make updates to the changes that we needed as far as some of our graphics and projects and studies that we’ve done in the past, resources. Also, I want to point out that the position that we’ve talked about in the past, the project manager part-time position, is posted on the website here. So, I’m asking the board members if you would send that around to people who you might think would be interested in this position. It will be open till the 9th of February so it’s up for 30 days on the website and the description and everything is there available. If you have any questions, you can give me a call or email and I’ll answer as needed. That represents our website and we’re happy about having that together.
Next, I have on here annual payments. I just want to give you an update. Just as we send out information about our new appointees, we also send letters out about our annual payments as well. To date, Harris County sent their assessment of $75,000 and Waller County sent theirs of $5,000, so those have been deposited into our account. As others come in, we’ll make reports as well.
Two other items. I participated in the H-GAC Peer Exchange which was December 13th through the 14th, and I think I just have a photo of Dr. Lewis. She presented on the first day, I think, panel and I might have been the second day, but it gave us an opportunity to partner with the FRA to talk about local freight and technology issues here. We also had an opportunity to talk with the CREATE representative as we’re starting with our HART transformation, Houston Area Rail Transformation effort. And so, it was a great two days of information galore. But it’s also an opportunity to see how other people are doing things in their region and how they are affected by freight. It’s also an opportunity for Houston to kind of showcase what is happening here with us.
We will also be preparing for the upcoming FRA Rail Safety Summit which will be in March. Let me make sure. No, May, we’ve had to change that date a few times. May, I want to say 9th and 10th. And this is kind of a draft of the Summit series. I was on a call just this week about who we will be inviting, and what topics we’ll talk about. Some of the expectations are that we will have first responders, we will have experts in the field, planners who are able to speak about trespassing, blocked crossings, safety issues, even homelessness as it relates to near rail locations. So, all of those are some of the Summit ideas that we’ve come up with that will be tailored to the Houston region. When I attended this same Summit in Raleigh, they were tailored to some of the issues that they’re experiencing there.
So, I will reach out to the board members with probably a survey or email if you would like to be a part of this project or you have someone that would possibly be a speaker. We really want to kind of dig down at the table during this series to get information about what’s happening in our areas and some of the challenges that we’re facing. The last day of the Summit, the FRA will talk about funding opportunities and will really give us some insight about what they are looking for. So, I think this coupled with the HART effort will have us in a good position for these grant opportunities that will be coming out soon. And maybe by that time we will know who has been awarded money from the last round of the call for projects. I think that’s the last thing I had on my list. Any questions?
Director Keeney: May I ask one clarifying question?
Ms. Katherine Parker: Yes.
Director Keeney: As we have a part-time engineering position, would we be willing to accept a part-time person from a larger engineering firm that would dedicate a certain amount of hours as opposed to an actual separate person? That would be one way to solve that problem.
Chairperson Lewis: So, here’s what I would think about that. If they were a person who was willing to come onboard without their overhead, we might consider it. But the thing about if they’re working for an engineering company, would they be willing to work for us without their overhead. That’s what we’re trying to avoid... Not trying to. That’s what we’re avoiding by having the position ourselves.
Director Keeney: Sure.
Chairperson Lewis: Is that there’s no benefits associated with it, so it’s just the straight salary that we’re offering.
Director Keeney: Just straight hours is what we’re looking for.
Chairperson Lewis: Exactly.
Ms. Katherine Parker: Right, right.
Director Keeney: Okay.
Ms. Katherine Parker: And currently under our project development line item, that’s where we’ll take this money to fund that position. So, we currently have $100,000 allocated there, and $50,000 would be for the position. So, that’s kind of our mindset behind that. They will also help with this HART effort, but also everything else related, GCRD-related.
Director Keeney: Okay. Thank you.
Chairperson Lewis: And so, while an engineer might be appropriate, it’s actually a project manager position so it does not have to be someone who’s been an engineer.
Director Keeney: Okay.
Chairperson Lewis: Because there are other folks even within those engineering companies who have a lot of experience but are not exactly engineers and may have come from other disciplinary backgrounds.
Director Keeney: Well, there’s one other avenue. I don’t know the current engineering manager for Harris County. I had a relationship with the previous one, but they have lots of staff expertise that we utilized at the Harris Center a great deal and at a very reasonable rate, so that might be an avenue. That was just a simple hourly rate that we paid.
Chairperson Lewis: Thank you.
Director Gorczynski: It’s a great idea.
Director Keeney: Yes. I don’t know the person now.
Chairperson Lewis: Alright. Thank you for that.
Ms. Katherine Parker: You said Harris County?
Director Keeney: Yes. Head of Engineering.
Ms. Katherine Parker: That’s probably Patrick now.
Chairperson Lewis: Anything else for Ms. Parker’s report? The next item is announcements from me, starting with the HART update. The only other thing I would want to mention that’s a partner to what we’re talking about with HART is that we’ve talked before about the Rail Relocation Fund that is a part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s umbrella but had never been funded. It was started in 2005 by the Legislature but they had not put any money in it. So, we started off being very bold and wanting $2 billion put in it for the entire state of Texas which would allow us to compete for those funds. We started to get positive response because there’s now $200 million in there. So, that’s a good start. We do want to continue to work with those that we know in the Legislature to see if we can get that amount raised. So, if you have relationships – board members – with people in the Legislature, we would not mind anyone advocating for it. Again, it’s the Rail Relocation Fund. It’s a part of the TxDOT portfolio. And Ms. Parker can actually probably send you a one-pager on the Rail Relocation Fund as well.
Director Keeney: Please.
Chairperson Lewis: It partners HART because that would be one of the sources that we would want to use for local match because that would give us our local money that we could use to leverage for a match. Other matched money would be from the individual entities themselves that are listed on the back. Any of the counties, any of the cities can be sources for local match for projects within their jurisdictions. So, just sort of food for thought as we’re thinking about that going forward.
Director Keeney: If I remember correctly, that included potential bond money through the counties for the matching funds?
Chairperson Lewis: You mean with the Rail Relocation?
Director Keeney: Yes.
Chairperson Lewis: You know what? I don’t know. I’m not going to be able to answer that question.
Ms. Katherine Parker: I’m not sure.
Director Keeney: Okay, that’s fine.
Chairperson Lewis: I’m not sure either.
Director Keeney: Okay.
Chairperson Lewis: Just thinking about how – and I’m going to look at Veronica for this too – thinking about how budgets come to us at H-GAC, we basically see the local match and then the federal share, and it doesn’t really ask how the local match comes forward. So, I guess if the local government is funding their match through the bond, I don’t think it goes to that level of inquiry.
Director Keeney: Okay.
Director Gorczynski: I think it’s considered the same now. I may be wrong, but I want to say in the cobwebs of my brain bonds equals GR and it’s allowed.
Chairperson Lewis: Yes.
Director Keeney: Okay.
Chairperson Lewis: Anything else on that particular piece? Alright. The next thing, upcoming meetings. You all know we like to start the year meeting with all of our member entities. Our meeting with Judge George in Fort Bend is already established. We’re working to get on everyone else’s schedules so that we can make the rounds. So, for whichever entity you represent, if you would want to reach out and help us in that regard, we would appreciate that. I think Harris County probably considers themselves that we’ve already spoken with them, so I think we’re fine there. But anyone else, which would be Fort Bend, Harris, and we’re working for the mayor. So, those are the ones that we’ve actually already either established or have in process. Everybody else, we have not started on. So, again, feel free to work with your designators about if they would like that briefing.
The other thing that I put there is that when we end up with new board members, we always do a briefing for the new board members. So, each new board member, that would be you, that would be on the calendar. So, that’s going to give us a lot of meetings to get through in the month of February. Because we have sort of a starter package that provides an overview of GCRD and all the things we do and everything we’ve got going on. So, that would be on our upcoming meetings list as well. And then just FYI, Houston Area Research Rail Transformation... I’m used to saying research with R because you know I’m a university researcher so R just kind of clicks with research. Our Houston Area Rail Transformation group, we’ll probably meet twice a month for a while as we’re getting things going. So, next meeting is...
Ms. Katherine Parker: It’s Friday.
Chairperson Lewis: I was going to say it’s the 20th.
Ms. Katherine Parker: 2:00 to 4:00.
Chairperson Lewis: Yes, this Friday from 2:00 to 4:00. Alright. Katherine and I are laughing because in the haste of my schedule I thought it was last Friday, so I showed up at it last Friday at two o’clock, and I’m calling Katherine, “All the doors are locked.”
Ms. Katherine Parker: I was like, “Dr. Lewis, what are you doing?”
Chairperson Lewis: I was at the meeting by myself. But this meeting this Friday, I will not be at the meeting alone. Others will join me. So, that will be this Friday as well. That’s an overview of upcoming meetings. Anybody have any questions about anything that I’ve mentioned in that regard?
Alright, the next thing, Other Corridors Report. H-GAC, in my last conversation with them, which was about two weeks ago, was posting for the request for proposals for 90A, the South Main Corridor. So, we anticipate that that will be another really two months by the time the proposals get in, the decisions get made in terms of hiring the consultant. So, Ms. Parker will be on that selection committee as will others named by H-GAC. So, that is progressing. We have talked with H-GAC. You all may recall from previous meetings that we had kind of gone whether we wanted to talk to Harris County about funding out at Westpark or going with the money that H-GAC had already set aside for out at Westpark. As we investigated potential funding, we decided that it probably makes sense for H-GAC to continue with the money they had set aside for out at Westpark. So, they are going to begin that process of getting that money. It’s the same process that they had to go through to get 90A. So, in retrospect, it will be probably four months before they’re ready to issue RFPs for out at Westpark. We will talk with Harris County, which we have not done, about the portion.
So, when METRO ends, it ends at BRT. It’s a little bit past the Beltway. And so, the remainder of the facility that would be in Harris County, we would need for Harris County, Fort Bend County, along with H-GAC, to be in the decision making for this. That’s the one thing about H GAC taking lead is that it allows sort of the priority for the big portion of that BRT that’s in Fort Bend to be covered by H-GAC, but H-GAC still would cover the portion that’s in Harris County. So, it gives us that as an advantage. So, those are the two things that are moving in terms of the Other Corridors Report. Any questions about any of that or thoughts or comments? Alright.
I guess my last comment about that would be I was looking at something the other day talking about our big public major projects, and it reflected that you make a decision in 2012, and then the facility opens in 2025. It just takes a very long time. So, as we sit here, and I know I’m anxious about our corridors, the months that it’s taking us to get started are just sort of par for the course as we go and advance these large major corridor projects. So, hopefully by this time next year, 90A will be well along as will out at Westpark, and maybe we’ll have some other corridors to talk about by that time, we would like that.
Alright, so if there’s nothing else from anyone else, closing comments for the good of the order? Our next meeting is Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2023. So, I will entertain a motion to adjourn.
Director Duhon: Madam Chair, before we adjourn, I do want to say...
Chairperson Lewis: Please.
Director Duhon: ...again, how much I’ve enjoyed working with everybody the last few years on the board. And it does take a while to get these things going but I do think that we’ve made some headway and got this thing moving in the right direction. So, anyway, I appreciate it and appreciate the opportunity and wish everybody all the best.
Chairperson Lewis: Thank you so much. You know, it is our practice to have you come back one more time for us to give you the sendoff with photos. So, hopefully, you’ll be able to join us in February.
Director Duhon: If it’s Valentine’s Day, I’ll make an exception.
Ms. Katherine Parker: Oh, thank you.
Chairperson Lewis: Alright, great.
Director Owen: Madam Chair, this is Director Owen.
Chairperson Lewis: Yes.
Director Owen: I will extend an invitation to you to join us on the 16th of February as I take the Fort Bend Mayors on a tour of TranStar. It’ll be a great opportunity for you to meet with them.
Chairperson Lewis: Okay. Alright.
Director Owen: Lisa has all the information I think on it.
Chairperson Lewis: Alright. That sounds great. I hope it’s in the afternoon.
Ms. Katherine Parker: It’s 12:00 to 2:00.
Director Owen: It is. It’s at lunch.
Chairperson Lewis: Okay. Yes, because I’ve got an H-GAC that morning I know for sure from 9:30 to 12:00.
Director Owen: We’re going to meet in Missouri City and take a METRO bus with the mayors over to TranStar, so it’ll probably be one o’clock or 1:30 before we get there.
Chairperson Lewis: That’s perfect. Alright, I will make a note and plan to meet you here at one o’clock.
Director Owen: Good.
Chairperson Lewis: Alright, great. Anything else? Director Beeson, is your screen lighting? Director Beeson: Nope.
Chairperson Lewis: Alright. Well, I am entertaining a motion to adjourn.
Director Duhon: So moved.
Chairperson Lewis: From Judge Duhon and seconded by...?
Director Keeney: I’ll second.
Chairperson Lewis: Director Keeney. Thanks all, we’re adjourned (2:44 p.m.). See you all next month if not before.
https://www.gcrd.net/_files/ugd/609667_aa59bc1389034e1a856c24d1e8e05c59.pdf