Travis County Commssioners Court
December 10, 2002
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Item 3
Item no. 3 is to consider appointment of three members to represent Travis County on the central Texas regional mobility authority board, and take appropriate action. We were blessed with about 19 applications. Outstanding applicants, which we short-listed to nine. They, too, were outstanding. And we interviewed those nine as a court. I'm happy to say I really found all of them to be not only qualified but post says qualification -- possess qualifications beyond my expectations. Unfortunately all nine cannot serve. So our job today is to try to choose three to represent Travis County. I was advised last night by commissioner boatright and representative krusee that Williamson county will have its three representatives next Tuesday. And they expect the governor to have the chair appointed either late this month or the first part of January. I've had a couple of conversations with members of the court, one on one. So unless there's objection, I would like to try a motion for three persons, and if that motion gets a second, we will have an opportunity for discussion that members of the court want to have. I move that we appoint the following three persons to represent Travis County on the central Texas regional mobility authority board: henry gilmore, lowell leiberman and johannan zmud.
>> second.
>> any discussion of the motion?
>> who were those three again, judge.
>> henry gilmore, lowell leiberman, johanna zmud. All of these individuals indicated that they would have the time necessary to commit to this endeavor. We indicated that in our view, during the first 18 months, it would be time intensive. All of these individuals have substantial professional commitments, but they all have a record of public service and volunteering for a variety of community projects elsewhere and here and so I'm confident that they would not have applied and answered the question in the affirmative if they did not have the time. Any discussion?
>> judge, I wanted to very quickly say that I think you captured all of the sentiment. I went back and reviewed our vision statement that we worked on very hard about the kinds of individuals that we were hoping to simply at tact to even apply. I also took a look at the resumes at the folks that are serving in a similar kind of capacity up at north Texas and in harris county. And I think the three individuals that have -- that we are bringing forward today would be -- would stand up to any of the folks that are already serving in that capacity already with -- with high standards and I think we will be very proud of the three individuals that we are bringing forward.
>> I did ask Williamson county if they would object to -- to Travis County residents filling their appointments and they said they didn't believe the law allowed that. We were struck --
>> certainly the governor has the opportunity to put another Travis County resident on there, but that is something that's not within our control.
>> any more discussion.
>> yes, judge, I have a few words that I would like to say. I guess the viewing public and folks that -- that may be watching today and not aware of the long, hard struggle that we have been dealing with as far as dealing with the r.m.a., This I a step whereby we can proceed in looking at some serious, serious congestion traffic problems here in the central Texas area. I would like to thank this commissioners court for allowing me to play a lead role in looking at this. Comparing the -- under the assistant county attorney here, tom nuckols, when I first asked him about this statutes, that's already on the books, as far as the regional total authority, he diligently looked at that, knowing that we were looking at traffic congestion, back into 2000, right around the end of 2000, I guess afnltd bringing that back -- and bringing that back to the commissioners court. Of course the court at that time allowing me to proceed in the -- in that direction. Of course, going down this bumpy road, we ran into a lot of problems. Then with the advent of the regional mobility authority, which the voters of Texas overwhelming approved to allow counties to created a regional mobility authority, we compare it to two. The regional toll way authority versus the regional mobility authority. And of course at that time we decided to go forward with the regional mobility authority. So I would like to thank tom nuckols with Travis County, tom, thank you a lot, because you put a lot of time and it's not over with yet. [ laughter ] so we are still going to depend on you to put more time on this. I would like to thank everybody on commissioners court. Commissioner Sonleitner, judge, you have been with the subcommittee on the r.m.a. Board, very strategic, having a definite benefit, thank you for your hard work and leadership role that you played in this, also.
>> thank you, commissioner.
>> also, commissioner daugherty, I know that you are new on this, but I know that you have a lot of expertise in Travis County in -- expertise in transportation in Travis County. Your heart is really for moving this traffic congestion here in the central Texas region. Of course, this is another step of many steps that we must take as we proceed and go forward. Of course I would just like to thank the court again for allowing me to play that lead role and of course it's not over. We still have some house keeping that we need to do to ensure that we get the best regional mobility authority in the state of Texas because everyone is watching this model. It's a model. It hasn't been done, it's a history-making events. I think it's one of the most significant things that we can do to have -- to help relieve the traffic congestion off i-35 and other [inaudible] parts here in the county. So it's allowing projects that we are looking at, but of course selecting these board members this morning with the interest of doing just that, how to relieve and when can we relief the traffic congestion -- relieve the traffic congestion off of these cars. So again I would like to tell everyone thanks. Commissioner Moore is not here at this time, but she also played an integral part in this. So we will embrace this and watch it, just like a fox watching a hen house. We are going to watch it very closely and make sure that the state legislature do the things that we ask them to do that makes it more flexible, make it more regional, so we can generate the type of revenue that can offset any type of debt encroachment in the future. Again I would like to thank the court for allowing me to participate in the role in which you allowed me to participate in. Of course I will continue this role as a member of the subcommittee along with the judge, the r.m.a. Subcommittee. Again, thank you, judge, for you all allowing me to do this work. I really appreciate it. Thank you.
>> any additional comments?
>> it was great working on the subcommittee to come up with the finalists. Thank you.
>> since this issue has been so much fun to work on, can we have it back on the agenda next week? [ laughter ] [multiple voices] let me explain. You all voted a couple of weeks ago to accept the minute order. Today you have appointed your directors. Texdot rules in r.m.a.'s say technically that's supposed to be in the same resolution, just as a house keeping matter, we can come back next week and have the appropriate resolution drafted for you all to adopt. We can send that to texdot for their files so there's no question as to the appropriate procedures were followed.
>> just say yes. [ laughter ]
>> okay.
>> very quickly, I just wants to say again thank you to the folks that were finalists in this procedure. I think all of us thoroughly enjoyed, it was a long day. But I think we all thoroughly enjoyed hearing folks that care very passionate about transportation and mobility in a very broad spectrum of what that means and to really present some very interesting ideas and I think there were some good ideas that were presented that I hope can continue on forward, even if there -- if they are with other individuals in that leadership role. But I really enjoyed the time that we spent with the finalists, they really were very thoughtful and I wish we had more slots than three. But unfortunately all that we have got is three.
>> joe gieselman, if you are listening, your shop, t.n.r., I would like to thank you and your staff because you also played an integral part to where we are now.
>> let's see if we can delay this further. Any more comments? [ laughter ]
>> one more, judge. Just teasing you.
>> all in favor of the motion? That passes by unanimous vote. Thank you very much.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 2, 2003 10:25 AM