Loading...
MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 11/17/2004 (2) 'TEX- 21 TRANSPORTATION EXCELLENCE FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY-. Tnn BRINGING TEXAS THE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IT NEEDS AND DESERVES 2004 TEX-21 OFFICERS KENNETH A.MAYFIELD,CHAIR MARK SCOTT,SECRETARY SANDY GREYSON,TREASURER Dallas County Commissioner Corpus Christi Councilmember Dallas Councilmember DORA G.ALCALA,VICE CHAIR DOLORES BRIONES,VICE CHAIR ROBERT ECKEI_S,VICE CHAIR JACK MI LER,VICE CHAIR Del Rio Mayor El Paso County Judge Harris County Judge Forme Denton Mayor Transportation EXcellence . 1C1 for the 21st Century November 17, 2004 ALLEN•Peter Vargas ! 1 ECEIVED IN AUSTIN•Will Wynn BEE COUNTY*Jimmy Martinez CITY CLERK'S OFFICE BEEAR COUNTY•Lyle Larson Ms. Lydia Torres BRAZOS CouNTY•Randy Sims City Clerk Date / 1 ' 9NON' BROWNSVILLKen Shatter To" City of Wichita Falls By Time �5 •15cn BURLESON•Ken Shatter CARROLLTON•Becky Miller P.O. Box 1431 -- CARTHAGE•Charles Thomas Wichita Falls, Texas 76307-1431 CEDAR HILL•Robert K.Franke COLLEGE STATION•Ron Silvia COLUN COUNTY•Jack Hatchell Re: Significant Membership Opportunity from Transportation Excellence for CONROE•Jerry McGuire the 21st Century(TEX-21) COPPELL•Jayne Peters CORPUS CHRISTI•Mark Scott DALLAS•Sandy Grayson• Dear Ms. Torres: DALLAS COUNTY•Kenneth A.Mayfield DEL Rio•Dora Alcala' DENTON•Pete Kamp Recently, while going through our membership, we recognized that the City of DESOTO•Michael Hurd Wichita Falls is not currently a member of TEX-21, one of the State's most DUNCANVILLE•Grady W.Smithey,Jr. influential transportation organizations. Knowing that multimodal transportation EL PASO•Joe Wardy• EL PASO COUNTY•Dolores Briones issues are of great importance to the City of Wichita Falls, we would like to present FARMERS BRANCH•Bob Phelps you with some information about our organization and invite your careful FLOWER MOUND•Van James FORT WORTH•Mike Moncrief consideration regarding potential membership. FRISCO•Mike Simpson GRANBURY•David Southern Roughly four years ago, a handful of public officials met informally to seek out ways GRAND PRAIRIE•Jim Swafford to improve Texas transportation. From this humble beginning, TEX-21 was created, GREENVILLE•Jim Morris GRIMES COUNTY•Frank Glass and today our organization includes representatives governing in excess of two- HARRIS COUNTY•Robert Eckels' thirds of the state population. Even as other states have taken notice and sought tc h Ha,WALKER,&HARPER,L.P. •Chip Harper follow our lead, TEX-21 has remained an innovator in transportation public policy. Chip HIDALGO COUNTY•Ramon Garcia HOPKINS Hou870NCMich e•ClBetrry Millsap We would like to cordially extend an invitation for the City of Wichita Falls tc •HUNTSVILLE•Kevin Evans become an official member of TEX-21. The growth and development of TEX-21 I-69ALLIANCE•Rose Hernandez is proof positive that Texas communities are willing to work together for equitable IRVING•Stephen W.McCullough KELLER•Lyle H.Dresher multi modal transportation legislation that is safe, efficient and effective. WE KILLEEN•David Blackburn believe that the City of Wichita Falls could be a significant partner in our efforts tc LANCASTER•Joe Tillotson improve the State's transportation infrastructure. LAREDO•Elizabeth G."Betty"Flores LUBBOCK•Tom Martin• MCKINNEY•Thad Helsley TEX-21 has made remarkable strides during its short existence, quickly becominc MESQUITE•Mike Anderson recognized as the preeminent voice regarding Texas' transportation issues MIDLAND•Rick Menchaca• Perhaps, the best testament to our success is the consistent support we hay( MIDLOTHIAN•Paula Baucum MOTRAN ALLIANCE,INC.•James Beauchamp received from the local, state and federal levels of government. Our cooperativf NORTH RICHLAND HILLS•Oscar Trevino approach has consistently gained praise from policymakers in each of thes( ODESSA•Richard N.Morton,Jr. PHARR•Leo"Polo"Palacios realms. PLANO•Ken Lambert PORT OF HOUSTON•Jim Edmonds Federal Support PORTS-TO-PLAINS TRADE CORRIDOR •Michael Reeves RICHARDSON•John A.Murphy We have successfully developed and maintained a TEX-21 Congressional Caucu: ROCKWALL•Julie Couch ROWLETT•Shane Johnson that includes 100-percent of the State's 34 Congressional Delegation members A: SANANTONIO•Edward D.Garza• a result, we have been able to sustain a vocal presence in Washington, D.C. TARRANT COUNTY•B.Glen Whitley• TEMPLE•Jonathan Graham TExARKANA•George T.Shackelford URS CORPORATION•Don Watkins WAXAHACHIE•Joe Jenkins WYLIE•Mindy Manson •CO-CHAIRS Page 2 State Support At the state level, we have created and maintained a TEX-21 Legislative Caucus that has established a strong record of success. During the most recent legislative session, our Caucus members successfully passed 12 or our 14 major legislative initiatives, including truck lane restrictions, access management improvements, funding development for the Texas Mobility Fund, early right-of-way acquisition, increased capabilities for Regional Mobility Authorities (RMAs) and various other issues impacting highway safety. Furthermore, we have maintained an effective working relationship with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). In fact, four times each year, TEX-21 meets with TxDOT Executive Director Michael Behrens and his senior staff to discuss our legislative goals. This level of access to significant transportation officials was virtually unheard of prior to the formation of our coalition. lri IQIICrlye5 The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has estimated that current funding levels would support only 30 percent of the State's needed transportation projects. Meanwhile, Texas' population is projected to increase by a minimum of 71.5 percent to approximately 50.7 million citizens by 2040. As a result, the current situation will only worsen without significant change. Such change can occur through a variety of funding opportunities, which TEX-21 is working diligently to explore. Among these possibilities is an increase in the State's rate of return on gas taxes sent to the federal government. These returned dollars are used to fund needed highway maintenance and new construction projects. Presently, Texas ranks last in this category, seeing approximately 87 cents back for each dollar it sends to Washington. Meanwhile, scores of other states are receiving more than two dollars per dollar sent and, in the most extreme scenario, more than four dollars are returned. TEX-21 Membership The Bylaws of TEX-21 provide that the membership dues for cities and counties are based on population. We strongly encourage you to consider this opportunity. Upcoming events include our end of year TEX-21 Statewide Quarterly Meeting in Corpus Christi, December 16-17. Your participation in TEX-21 events and in our specific efforts at the state and federal levels will make a great difference for you, your community and for the State of Texas. We would like to thank you for considering partnership in TEX-21. The investment in time and financial resources each member has brought to our organization has resulted in exponential success. We anticipate major strides being made in Texas transportation, and we invite you to join our effort. Please feel free to contact our public policy consultants, Dean International, Inc., at 214.750.0123, or you may contact any of us directly with any questions you may have. We thank you very much for your time and consideration and look forward to speaking with you in the near future. With Highest Regards, /auddaiii/ TEX-21 Chairman County Commissioner Dallas County DEAN INTERNATIONAL,INC. Public Policy Consultants 8080 Park Lane,Suite 600,Dallas,Texas 75231 Phone:214.750.0123 Fax:214.750.0124 y TEX-21 TRANSPORTATION EXCELLENCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY BRINGING TEXAS THE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IT NEEDS AND DESERVES Transportation EXcellence for the 21st Century EXCERPT: TEX-21 BYLAWS Revised November, 2003 2.2 Membership Dues. All members shall be required to pay annual membership dues to TEX-21 in such amounts as established from time to time by the Executive Committee. The membership dues owed and payable shall be due within 30 days of the beginning of TEX-21's fiscal year (October 1 - September 30) or in the case of a new member immediately as a condition of becoming a member. The dues shall be set by the Executive Committee, which may make distinctions in the dues payable by members. No member is assuming or agreeing to pay any monetary or other obligation other than to make the contributions provided by this Section 2.2. Schedule of Membership Dues: A. The membership dues for a municipality or county shall be based on population according to the schedule below. Population Dues > 500,000 $25,000 200,000 - 499,999 $20,000 100,000 - 199,999 $15,000 50,000 - 99,999 $10,000 25,000 - 49,999 $ 5,000 < 24,999 $ 2,500 B. The membership dues for other entities shall be based on gross revenue according to the schedule below. Gross Revenue Dues > $50 M $25,000 $25 - <$50 M $20,000 $10 - <$25 M $15,000 $ 5 - <$10 M $10,000 $0.5 - <$ 5 M $ 5,000 < $0.5 M $ 2,500 C. The membership dues for Associate Members shall be determined according to the schedule below: Associate Members Dues For-profit Corporation $ 5,000 Not-for-profit Corporation $ 2,500