Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee

Wednesday, 9:00 a.m., May 29, 2002

Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
Item
No.
Subject Public Hearing
Agenda Item No.
  Approval of the Committee Minutes from the previous meeting.  
  Summary of Minutes  
1. Chairman's Charges (Oral Presentation) Committee Only
2. FY03 G. O. Bond Resolution
Staff: Steve Whiston
6
3. Other Business  

Summary of Minutes
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
AD HOC Infrastructure Committee
January 16, 2002

NO MEETING OF THE AD HOC INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ON APRIL 3, 2002

JANUARY 16, 2002 MINUTE SUMMARY (BELOW)

BE IT REMEMBERED that heretofore on the 16th day of January 2002, there came on to be heard matters under the regulatory authority of the Parks and Wildlife Commission of Texas, in the Commission Hearing Room of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Headquarters complex, Austin, Travis County, Texas beginning at 4:10 p.m., to wit:

I. COMMISSION ATTENDANCE:

Katharine Armstrong Idsal, Chair
John Avila, Jr. (absent)
Ernest Angelo, Jr.
Alvin L. Henry (absent)
Mark E. Watson, Jr. (absent)
Philip O’B Montgomery, III
Joseph Fitzsimons
Donato Ramos

II. OPENING STATEMENT: Commissioner Ramos called the meeting to order.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Ramos asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the November 07, 2001 meeting. He then placed a motion for approval. The motion was moved by Commissioner Fitzsimons, seconded by Commissioner Montgomery and carried. The motion passed unanimously.

IV. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE:

1. BRIEFING – Chairman Charges

Presenter: Mr. Robert L. Cook

Robert L. Cook, Interim Executive Director, stated to the Commission that the primary charge was to prepare for and execute the upcoming Proposition 8 bond issue and that Mr. Boruff would be addressing this charge in his briefing to the Commission today.

2. BRIEFING – Proposition 8 Briefing and Issues

Presenter: Mr. Scott Boruff

Mr. Scott Boruff, Director of the Infrastructure Division, briefed the Commission on the newly passed Proposition 8 bond issue. The bond issue is part of an $850 million general obligation bond approved by the Texas voters on November 6, 2001. Of the $850 million, the legislature authorized Texas Parks & Wildlife to receive $101.5 million for the purpose of construction and repair projects. He reminded the Commission that back in 1996, an Infrastructure Task Force identified a backlog of critical repair needs totaling $75 million. The 75th Legislature authorized $60 million in revenue bonds to help address those issues, but the agency still faced a $15 million backlog. The passage of Proposition 8 addresses the remaining backlog and will provide the agency with an additional $54 million for ongoing scheduled repairs to prevent a backlog from occurring again.

The bond also provides $32.5 million to be used towards five specific projects: $12.5 million--Battleship TEXAS, $4.1 million--Levi-Jordan Plantation, $1.1 million--National Museum of the Pacific War (Admiral Nimitz), $2.58 million--Sheldon Lake, and $12.255--San Jacinto Battleground.

He further explained to the Commission that the bond is scheduled for release over three bienniums. The first issue of $36.68 is scheduled for release in September 2002. For this issue, $15 million is allocated for the remaining critical repair backlog, $16 million is allocated for scheduled repairs, and $5.68 million is allocated for the specific projects.

For the FY 04/05 biennium, $18 million is allocated for scheduled repairs and $16.255 is allocated for the specific projects.

In the FY 06/07 biennium, Proposition 8 authorizes $30.6 million. Of that amount, $20 million is allocated for scheduled repairs and the remaining $10.6 million is allocated for the specific projects.

He then moved on to explain the bond approval process. Currently all divisions are developing their capital needs list for the bond program. In April, the final list will be given to the Executive Director for approval. The approved list will then be presented for Commission approval during the May Commission meeting. In June, the capital needs list for the bond program will be submitted for approval and processing through the Texas Public Finance Authority (TPFA) and the Bond Review Board. After approval, funds for the first issue will be released for expenditure this September.

V. OTHER BUSINESS: None

VI. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Commissioner Ramos adjourned the January 16, 2002 meeting of the Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.


Committee Agenda Item No. 1

AD HOC Infrastructure Committee
Chairman's Charges
May 2002

(This item will be an oral presentation.)


Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter: Steve Whiston

Ad Hoc Infrastructure Committee
FY03 G. O. Bond Resolution
May 2002

(This is Public Hearing Agenda Item No. 6.)