Metropolitan Planning Organization

MINUTES LAWTON METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION Minutes of the Lawton Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting held June 27, 2013, in the City Hall Auditorium, 212 SW 9th Street, Lawton, Oklahoma. The agenda for the meeting was posted on the bulletin board in City Hall in compliance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Chairman Pat Henry. MEMBERS PRESENT: John Jones John Pereira Jim Nisbett Dave Davison David Denham Pat Henry Neil Springborn MEMBERS ABSENT: Ron Jarvis (excused) Charlotte Perkins (excused) ALSO PRESENT: Richard Rogalski, Secretary Steven Greb, Assistant City Attorney John C. Mackey, Legal Counsel Debbie Dollarhite, Senior Planner Ha Vu, Transportation Planner Jackie Monette, Recording Secretary CONSIDER RECOMMENDING THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COMMITTEE APPROVE THE LAWTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY (LMATS) BOUNDARY FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PURPOSES. Title 23 U.S.C., Section 134, states the boundaries of a metropolitan planning area shall be determined by agreement between the MPO and the Governor and shall encompass at least the existing urbanized area and the contiguous area expected to become urbanized within a 20-year forecast period for the transportation plan. The boundary map must be submitted to FHWA and FTA after approval by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Governor. Included with your agenda was the current LMPO Boundary Map which includes most of the city limits (excluding Fort Sill). Based on the 2010 Census data, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation recommends the boundary map be modified as shown on the attached map. It should be noted that even though Fort Sill will be included in the LMATS boundary, the LMPO will not be required to include transportation-related projects on Fort Sill in the LMPO’s Transportation Improvement Program nor include streets on Fort Sill in our long-range transportation plan. The effective date of the boundary change is July 1, 2013. 469 LMPO Minutes June 27, 2013 It is anticipated the Policy Committee will approve the map on June 28, 2013. Rogalski stated that ODOT looks at the census tract area and takes in the urbanized areas, as well as areas that will be urbanized in the next twenty years. He stated that the corridor between the city of Cache and the city of Lawton will eventually urbanize and basically connect, but it is still sparsely occupied and probably will stay that way for some time. He added that an adjustment for that area was not included for that reason. Rogalski stated that ODOT creates the map and presents it for approval. He stated that the current boundary map was created using the 2000 Census, and the proposed boundaries were created using the 2010 Census. He stated that there was expansion to the boundaries on the east side of the City, and a small area near Railroad Street that was removed from the map. He stated that the boundaries on the west and southwest have been extended as well. He added that Fort Sill is included in the boundaries, but ODOT spending is not included in property on Fort Sill. Commissioner Pereira asked what street was at the far east of the boundary. Rogalski stated that the boundaries will go to 75th Street on the east. He added that it is the area where Valley View Estates is located. Commissioner Pereira asked if the boundaries would include areas northeast of East Cache Road and Flower Mound Road, and down to Gore Boulevard. He stated that there are some areas there that are on City water, and there is a lot of development happening there. Rogalski stated that there are some areas to the east of the city limits that are still able to obtain city water service and are not included in a rural water district. He added that properties located in a rural water district may have accessibility to City water if the rural water district gives their approval. He stated that ODOT also included the area that will encompass the property around the nine mile sewerline, as it is in the process of being developed. He stated that he was a little concerned that the industrial area further south and east of Flower Mound Road and Lee Boulevard was not included in the new boundaries. Commissioner Pereira asked if ODOT’s project redesigning the Interstate 44 and Highway 62 interchange on track. Rogalski stated that it is a little bit delayed due to some changes that Fort Sill requested, but right-of-way acquisition and design are in process right now. Commissioner Pereira asked when Highway 62, east from Interstate 44 to Flower Mound Road would be expanded. Rogalski stated that it is moving forward, but it has been broken down into two phases so that it will be more easily funded. 470 LMPO Minutes June 27, 2013 MOTION by Denham, SECOND by Jones, to recommend the Transportation Policy Committee approve the proposed LMATS boundary for transportation planning purposes. AYES: Jones, Pereira, Nisbett, Davison, Denham, Henry, Springborn. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED 7 – 0. COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS OR COMMENTS None. SECRETARY’S REPORT Rogalski stated that Isaac Akem with Federal Highway Administration has been discussing changing the future of the MPO. He stated that they would like to see approval of these issues to be a two-part process, instead of a three-part process as is happening now. Currently, the Transportation Technical Committee researches and recommends, the MPO approves and the Transportation Policy Committee would be the final deciding body. He stated that the Transportation Technical Committee is the recommending body, and the MPO will actually be made up of elected officials and be more like the current Transportation Policy Committee. He stated that the Planning Commission (CPC) will no longer be designated as the LMPO. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION None. Meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m. _______________________________ Pat Henry, Chairman LMPO jm 471