MPO TPC/TAC Board Minutes - 12/19/2003Approved January 21, 2004 CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
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TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE (TPC) MEETING
WICHITA FALLS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
December 19, 2003
Present:
Mayor Bill Altman, Chairperson ♦Members
Don Sheppard, Lakeside City
Jeff Watts, City of Pleasant Valley
Joe Nelson, TxDOT, District Engineer
Linda Ammons, City Council Representative
Scott Taylor, Director of Public Works
Carolyn Askins, TxDOT, Transportation Planning Assistant ♦ Staff
Darron Leiker, ACM /Dir. Traff., Trans. & Avia., Interim MPO Director
Karen Montgomery- Gagne, Planner III
Lin Barnett, Transportation Planner II
Phillip Lujan, TxDOT, Interim Dir. Trans. Planning & Development
Tammy Marlow, TxDOT
♦ Ex- officio
Bettye Tanner - Shelby ♦ HNC
Jon Moller, Citizen ♦ Guests
Woodrow (Woody) Gossom, County Judge, Vice - Chairperson ♦Absent
Dennis Wilde, NORTEX Regional Planning Commission
Johnny Burns, City Council Representative
I. Welcome & Introduction.
The Chairperson, Mayor Altman, called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. Introductions
of everyone present were made.
II. Review of the TAC Minutes of December 5, 2003 — No Action Required
Mayor Altman asked for comments; none were received.
III. Discussion, Recommendation, and Approval of the Use of a Qualified
Consultant to Complete the 2005 — 2030 Metropolitan Transportation Plan
Update
Mr. Leiker, at the recommendation of TAC and MPO staff, asked the board to consider
authorizing the use of a consultant to complete the MTP for 2005 — 2030. He
commented that completing the update would take almost the entire year of 2004. He
pointed out the fact that the MPO was currently understaffed and that neither he nor Mr.
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Barnett was with the City when the 2000 — 2025 update took place. Also, FHWA has
implemented more rigid requirements when submitting the updated plan. Mr. Leiker
showed there was adequate funding for hiring a consultant and that it would qualify as
an eligible expense. He commented on other MPO's within the state that have used
consultants successfully and were pleased with the results. He then went through the
FY 2004 UPWP budget summary to show what funds could be used for the update,
commenting that with the departure of Mr. Seese, there would be additional funds
available that normally would have been used for salary.
Mr. Leiker outlined the City of Laredo's MTP from 2000 — 2025 and the sample RFP
presented today, commenting that MPO staff felt it was important for the board to see
what kind of product could be gained from a qualified consultant. He commented that
with TPC's approval of the sample RFP that staff be allowed to start mail -outs
immediately. January 23, 2004 was the indicated deadline for receipt back from the list
of consultants. The Project Evaluation Committee would then consider the proposals on
two factors (1) previous experience and (2) the ability to complete the project on time.
Mayor Altman asked for clarification as to the sample RFP enclosed in the packet,
whether it was the sample from Laredo or one that staff proposed to use. Mr. Barnett
explained that file on the disk had been reworked from the Laredo sample to reflect the
Wichita Falls MPO's requirements. Mr. Leiker explained that staff took the samples from
Laredo and Victoria and tailored them to meet Wichita Falls needs.
Mr. Nelson commented the RFP would probably need some additional rewording, but
otherwise, it appeared to be a good document. Ms. Askins commented that Mr. Tim
Juarez, TxDOT (TPP), had forwarded the samples to Wichita Falls as good examples of
how to formulate the RFP.
Mr. Taylor asked if a Bicycle Master Plan would be included in the MTP Update. He
stated that, if so, it should be clearly stipulated in the RFP. Ms. Askins commented that
it would become part of the MTP update. Mr. Leiker commented that it would be a
distinct planning element along with aviation and public transit.
Mr. Taylor also wanted to know how the process of the review would be handled. How
would final selection be presented to the TPC for approval? Mr. Leiker commented that
the Project Evaluation Committee would, with today's authorization, establishes the
evaluation criteria and, based on those criteria, select the consultant without bringing
the issue before TPC again. He suggested adjusting the date for receiving the
proposals and then presenting the recommendation at the January 21'c TPC meeting.
The general consensus of the board was to set up interviews with the final list of
selected consultants. It was recommended that the RFP reflect the fact that the selected
consultants would be required to appear for interviews. It was recommended the list be
narrowed down to 3 to 5 finalists. Mr. Taylor commented negotiations on price would not
occur until after the most qualified consultant was selected.
Mayor Altman suggested delegating the wording of the RFP to a three person
subcommittee consisting of Mr. Leiker, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Nelson or their designee.
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Once the wording is unanimously agreed upon, the RFP should be sent out. He also
suggested the three person subcommittee be used as the Project Evaluation
Committee. The consultant selected would then be presented to TAC and TPC for final
approval.
Mayor Altman made his above comments a formal motion. Mr. Watts seconded the
motion, which passed unanimously.
IV. Public Comment on Any Item Not on the Agenda
No comments were made.
V. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 a.m.
Mayor William Altman, TPC Chairperson
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