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BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES from April 23, 2014 Cape Girardeau Public Library – Cape Girardeau Download PDF Board Minutes from 4/23/2014 Board Voting Members Present: Mr. Chauncy Buchheit, Southeast Missouri Regional Planning & Economic Development Commission Mr. Charlie Herbst, Cape Girardeau County Mrs. Barbara Lohr, City of Jackson Mr. Scott Meyer, City of Cape Girardeau Mr. Harry Rediger, City of Cape Girardeau Mr. Jim Roach, City of Jackson Board Ex-Officio Members Present: Mr. Mike Brandon, Missouri Department of Transportation Ms. Mandi Brink, Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority Mr. Steve Duke, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Mr. Dan Overbey, Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority Mr. Matt Seiler, Missouri Department of Transportation Technical Planning Committee Members Present: Mr. Rodney Bollinger, City of Jackson Mr. Drew Christian, Southeast Missouri Regional Planning & Economic Development Commission Mr. Joe Killian, Missouri Department of Transportation Mr. Larry Payne, Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce (Transportation Committee) Staff Present: Ms. Molly Hood, City of Cape Girardeau Mr. Ryan Shrimplin, City of Cape Girardeau Call to Order Chairman Buchheit called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Introductions The group went around the room, with each person giving a brief introduction. Tracey Glenn with the MoDOT consultant team was in attendance. Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization Board Meeting Minutes April 23, 2014 Page 2 of 3 Public Comments There were no public comments. Adoption of Agenda The April 23, 2014 Board Meeting Agenda was unanimously approved for adoption upon motion made by Vice Chairwoman Lohr and seconded by Mr. Roach. Minutes The minutes of the March 19, 2014 Board Meeting were unanimously approved upon motion made by Mr. Rediger and seconded by Mr. Herbst. Communications from the Chairman There were no communications from the Chairman. New/Unfinished Business Chairman Buchheit opened the public hearing on the draft Public Participation Plan. There being no questions or comments from the public, the hearing was closed. Mr. Shrimplin stated that staff had not received any questions or comments to date. He added that the public comment period closes on May 6, 2014. Ms. Hood stated that a notice of the public hearing was published in the Southeast Missourian on April 13, 2014. The Board reviewed the prioritized project list for the proposed transportation sales tax, as recommended by the Technical Planning Committee. Ms. Hood gave an overview of the process used to score and rank the forty-one projects in the list. The top ten projects represent all modes of transportation (roads and bridges, transit, bicycle and pedestrian, aviation, waterways, and rail). The number one priority is improvements to Interstate 55. The Committee acknowledged that this project consists of several smaller projects that could be completed over time. As such, the Committee directed staff to “give away” portions of the project, if necessary, in order to gain funding for the other portions. If additional concessions need to be made, staff is to start with the tenth ranked project and work upward. Mrs. Glenn added that the list does not contain maintenance projects, which the Committee decided to take “off the top” to ensure that infrastructure conditions do not fall below acceptable levels. Mr. Roach made a motion to approve the prioritized project list for the proposed transportation sales tax. Mr. Meyer seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Chairman Buchheit explained that MoDOT has requested that each RPC and MPO submit a letter stating its organization’s position regarding taking transportation sales tax revenues “off the top” to fund 1) improvements to Interstate 70, and 2) operations for Amtrak. The amount for Interstate 70 is estimated at $1.2 billion; the amount for Amtrak is estimated at $150-$300 million. The final decision will be made by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. If the decision is made to not take funds “off the top” for Interstate 70, then it will be up to the RPC’s and MPO’s that have Interstate 70 within their planning area to make an allocation from the funds their area receives. If funds are not taken “off the top” for Amtrak, then Amtrak will need to continue its current practice of lobbying the state legislature annually for an appropriation from the state’s general revenue fund. Mr. Meyer made a motion to ratify the Technical Planning Committee’s recommendation to not support taking transportation Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization Board Meeting Minutes April 23, 2014 Page 3 of 3 sales tax revenues “off the top” to fund improvements to Interstate 70 or to fund operations for Amtrak. Mr. Rediger seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Other Communications Chairman Buchheit stated that the SEMO RPC asked him to support the projects on SEMPO’s list at the upcoming regional prioritization meetings with MoDOT, and encouraged SEMPO staff to do likewise. Adjournment Upon motion made by Mr. Rediger, seconded by Vice Chairwoman Lohr, the meeting was adjourned unanimously at 2:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ryan Shrimplin