07 CAMPO Recommendation - Amended — original pdf

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BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Urban Transportation Commission Recommendation Number 20240305-007: Vote Apportionment in CAMPO WHEREAS, the CAMPO Joint Powers Agreement designates the Transportation Policy Board (TPB) as the governing body for CAMPO and is made up of 20 elected officials, including four members of the Austin City Council, and a representative from TxDOT and one from Capital Metro; WHEREAS, the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 directed Metropolitan Planning Organizations to “consider the equitable and proportional representation of the population of the metropolitan planning area”; WHEREAS, the current Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Joint Powers Agreement was signed on August 5th, 2013 by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), City of Austin, Capital Metro, the County of Travis, the County of Williamson, and the County of Hays; D R A F T WHEREAS, the City of Austin and the County of Travis collectively represent 56% of the population under CAMPO but only have 45% of the votes on the CAMPO TPB, and 11% of the of TPB Executive Committee; WHEREAS, Article V of the CAMPO Joint Powers Agreement states the agreement may be “renegotiated as necessary to meet changing conditions” by mutual agreement of the signing parties; WHEREAS, Section IX of the CAMPO Transportation Policy Board Bylaws states that the bylaws, including voting representation, “may be revised by approval of the TPB at a meeting at which a quorum, as defined herein, is present”. WHEREAS, on April 5th, 2022 the Urban Transportation Commission passed Recommendation 20220405-002E, recommending the City Council direct CAMPO to make a number of policy changes including the use of “an equitable, scenario-based planning approach”; and WHEREAS, on November 7th, 2023, City of Houston Proposition B passed, adding an amendment to the Houston City Charter may only participate in a Metropolitan Planning Organization if “votes on the governing board are apportioned proportionally on the basis of population notwithstanding statutory voting members.” NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that City Council members serving on the CAMPO TPB request that the CAMPO TPB form a Select Committee on Representation to consider the following issues: i. the current voting structure of the CAMPO TPB and its impact on regional growth, inequities in resource allocation, and the organization's responsiveness to the needs of historically underrepresented and underserved communities served by the organization; ii. the effectiveness of the CAMPO TPB Executive Committee, including whether the CAMPO TPB Executive Committee is in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act; iii. the process by which TPB Members elect the Executive Committee and the TPB Officers; iv. whether certain decisions should be made by a full vote of the TPB rather than by the Executive Committee or administrative review; and v. changes to the voting structure of the CAMPO TPB and its committees to ensure all communities are represented fairly; D R A F T BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that City Council members serving on the CAMPO TPB offer amendments to the TPB Bylaws to apportion votes on the basis of population, notwithstanding statutory voting members; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the aforementioned amendments fail to receive an affirmative vote by the TPB, the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that the City Council begin working with TXDOT and Counties of Travis, Williamson, and Hays to renegotiate or terminate the CAMPO TPB Joint Powers Agreement; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that the City Council direct the City Attorney to produce a memo regarding the City of Austin’s legal options for renegotiating, terminating, or withdrawing from CAMPO, the CAMPO TPB, or TPB Executive Committee. The memo should include an analysis of possible charter amendments and an evaluation of efforts to renegotiate or terminate Metropolitan Planning Organizations in other cities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that the City Council direct the 2024 Charter Review Commission to evaluate possible charter amendments regarding the City of Austin’s participation in a Council of Government or Metropolitan Planning Organization, and include a recommendation on the topic in their final report to the council. Motioned by: Commissioner Spencer Schumacher Seconded by: Commissioner Ruven Brooks Date of Approval: Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign) D R A F T