Port Authority Advisory Committee Webex Meeting
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June 16, 2020 These are the minutes of the regular meeting of the Port Authority Advisory Committee (the Cornrnittee) held on June 16, 2020 via conference call due to COVID-19 restrictions place on meetings in person. The meeting was caned to order at 9:07 a.m. by acting Chair Cmis Fisher with the following cornrnittee members present: Port Authority AdvisoryCommittee: Chris Fisher Acting Cha'rr - Port of Beaumont Roger Guenther Houston PortAuthorily Ron Mills Port of Port Mansfield Larry Kelley Port of Port Arthur Walker Smm Port ofHarligen Alan Ritter Speaker of the House Appointee Phyllis Saathoff Chair - Port Freeport Absent Michael Plank Lt. Governor Appointee Absent Sean Strawbridge Port of Corpus Chiti Absent A public notice of tm meeting containing all items on the proposed agenda was filed in the Office of the Secretary of State at 8:05 a.m. on June 3, 2020 as required by Government Code, Chapter 551, referredto as "The Open Meetigs Act." ITEM 1. Call to order. Phyllis Saathoff, chairperson, Port Freeport, was unable to attend the meeting and appointed Chris Fisher, Port of Beaiunont, as acting chair. The Port Authority Advisory Cornrnittee Meeting was called to order by the acting chai@erson, Chris Fisher, atapproxirnately 9:07 a.m. ITEM 2. Introduction of committee members and TxDOT staff. Chris Fisher, acting Chair, asked committee members, TxDOT and guests to introduce themselves. ITEM 3. Approval of the March 20, 2020 meeting minutes. (Action). Ron Mills, Port of Port Mansfield, made a motion that the meeting minutes be acceptedwith a second by Larry Kelley, Port of Port Arthur, and the committee approved the minutes of the March 20, 2020 meeting by a vote of 6-0. ITEM 4. Update on the Rider38 proiect list. Stephanie Cribbs, TxDOT Maritime Division, presented information on the projects for the Rider 38 grant which was approved by the Texas Transportation Cornrnission on May 28, 2020. The Committee was informed that the Advance Fundig Agreements will soon be released by TxDOT's Office of General Council and they will be sent to the TxDOT district offices. Mrs. Cribbs informed the Committee that, with the Rider 38 project award, it brings the total amount of money issued to ports for access improvement right under $IOOM[L. See attached for presentation. June 16, 2020 ITEM 5. Approval of the budget request forthe Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund. (Action) Chris Fisher, acting Chair, opened the discussion regarding the budget request for the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund. Mr. Fisher stated that the total amount was for $1,692,518,256 and asked the Committee their thoughts on the amount of the request, should the request stay at the total ask or should they discuss lowering the amount of the request. After a short discussion, a motion was made by Larry Keney, Port of Port Arthur, to accept the full amount of the request and submit the number to TxDOT. Roger Guenther, Port Houston, second the motion and the motion passed 6-0. See attached for presentation. ITEM 6. Discussion on the status ofthe 2021-2022 Port Mission Plan. Patricia Hasan, TxDOT Maritime Division along with TxDOT commissioned consukant AECOM presented anupdate on the Port Mission Plan. No cornrnents were provided by the Committee See attached for presentation. ITEM7. Approvalofthebudgetrequestforthe2021-2022PortCapitalProgram. (Action) Chris Fisher, acting Chair, opened the discussion regarding the budget request for the 2021-2022 Port Capital Program. Mr. Fisher statedtmt the total amount was for $1,035,896,442. Larry Kelley started the discussion stating that his opinion was to keep the request at the full request. This would show the state Legislature the need of the ports, to show how much eachport is contributing to maintaining and/or improving their por. Roger Guenther agreed with Mr. Kelley and added that the Port Capital Program has not been funded thus far but it would send a clear message that the ports needs are increasing every year. Chris Fisher asked if some of the projects should be cut to bring the total amount of the ask down or should any funds be requested at all due to the current economic situation caused by COVID-19. After a short discussion, the Committee felt the entire ask should be submitted. The common reason being that the Port Capital Program has not been funded yet and this ask, &e the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fiu'id, will show the growing need of the ports. A motion was made by Ron Mills, Port of Port Mansfield, to accept the budget request at the full ask price. Larry Kelley second the motion and the motion was passed by a vote of 6-0. See attached for presentation. ITEM 8. Public comment Melanie Alvord, TxDOT Federal Affairs, reported on the Maritime Reauthorizat'ion Act of 2020, maritime issues that included the House INVEST in America Act, and the failed amendment to reform distribution of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Revenue. (See attached presentation. See attached for presentation. Roger Guenther stated that the Texas Ports Association will be hosting to discuss their legislative agenda for the upcorning session. Larry Kelley stated he would &e to thank TxDOT Maritime Division for an their efforts and hard work on an the programs that the Committee is presented. Stephanie Cribbs stated that the next meeting will have an agenda item of norntjng/re-nominating a new chairperson. June 16, 2020 ITEM 9. Adiouni. (Action) With no further business, a motion by Larry Kelley was made to adjourn the meeting and second by Roger Guenther. The motion passed 6-0.the meeting was adjourned by Chris Fisher, acting chair, at 10:49 a.m. AJ'PROVED: Rider Grant Program Maritime Division Footer Text JuneJune 16, 16, 2020 2020 Rider Program Contributions Footer Text June 16, 2020 2 Port Mission Plan Review Tricia Hasan, Program Coordinator, Maritime Division Chris Levitz, PE, Project Manager, AECOM TxDOT Maritime Division JuneJune 16, 16, 2020 2020 Contents 1 2022-2023 Port Mission Plan Overview 3 2 Port Capital Investment Report 4-6 3 Ship Channel Report 7-8 4 Port Connectivity Report 9-11 5 Legislative Update 12 6 Next Steps 13 TxDOT Maritime Division June 16, 2020 2 2022-2023 Port Mission Plan PORT MISSION PLAN Connectivity Port Facilities Ship Channel Improvement Port Connectivity Report Port Capital Investment Report Ship Channel Report TxDOT Maritime Division June 16, 2020 3 Port Capital Investment Report . 2022-2023 Project Inventory – 31 total eligible projects . 8 participating ports including: – Calhoun Port Authority – Port of Beaumont – Port of Brownsville – Port of Corpus Christi – Port Freeport – Port of Galveston – Port of Orange – Port of Port Arthur . Thank you to the participating ports, it is a wonderful selection of projects! TxDOT Maritime Division June 16, 2020 4 2022-2023 PCP Project Submissions Port Funding Requested by . 31 submissions Project Type including 30 capital Port Facilities projects and 1 study 26 Projects . Ports submitted 1-10 $510M Transportation applications each 0 Projects . 7 submissions were $0M repeats from the 2020-2021 PCP Total $1.04B Waterways 5 Projects 1 Study (0.4%) $526M TxDOT Maritime Division June 16, 2020 5 Port Capital Investment Report Project Scoring . Project Impact Categories Economic Operational Enhanced Safe Secure Other Impact Impact Connectivity Operations Benefits . Scoring Process – AECOM (engineering consultant) prepared Project Write-Ups for each submission for scoring – Projects scored by three independent professional engineers with extensive maritime experience – Projects will be evaluated on two Project Impact Categories, selected by the submitting port, with a maximum score of 10 points per impact category (total maximum score of 20 points per project) TxDOT Maritime Division June 16, 2020 6 Ship Channel Improvement Report Authorized Projects: Federal / NFS Federal NFS Funding Non-Federal Sponsor Project Total Cost Share Allocations Identified Sabine-Neches Navigation Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel District Improvement $ 1,400,000,000 60%/40% $ 34,620,000 $ - Cedar Bayou Navigation Cedar Bayou Channel District Improvement $ 52,800,000 90%/10% $ 41,730,000 $ - Port Freeport Navigation Freeport Harbor Channel District Improvement $ 324,590,000 60%/40% $ 19,000,000 $ 130,000,000 Port of Corpus Christi Corpus Christi Ship Channel Authority Improvement Project $ 651,085,000 61%/39% $ 148,048,000 $ 140,958,000 Brownsville Navigation Brazos Island Harbor Channel District Improvement $ 301,952,000 75%/25% $ - $ - Feasibility Studies: Non-Federal Federal / Federal NFS Funding Project Status Total Cost Sponsor NFS Share Allocations Identified Port of Houston Houston Ship Channel Expansion Signed Chief’s Authority Channel Improvement Feasibility Study Report $ 876,848,000 53%/47% $ 1,130,000 $ 27,307,822 Calhoun Port Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Signed Chief’s Authority Feasibility Study Report $ 218,325,000 64%/36% $ - $ - Port of Corpus Corpus Christi Ship Channel Deepening Christi Authority Feasibility Study Study Ongoing $ 525,000,000 0%/100% $ - $ 7,300,000 Total Cost Federal Allocations NFS Funding Identified $ 4,350,600,000 $ 244,528,000 $ 305,565,822 TxDOT Maritime Division June 16, 2020 7 Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund . Overarching goal remains to capitalize the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund (SCIRF) and Loan Program . PAAC Action: Recommend a funding request for the SCIRF – Previous request was $450M – Discussion and approval of budget request will take place after this Presentation TxDOT Maritime Division