HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GUS_04.09.2010
Minutes of the Meeting of the
Georgetown Utility System Advisory Board
and the Governing Body of the
City of Georgetown, Texas
Friday, April 9, 2010
The Georgetown Utility System Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Friday , April
9, 2010.
Board Members Present:
Bill Sattler - Chair, John Nett - Vice Chair, Richard Lenning - Secretary, Fred Beach, Stephen Quinn,
Robert Young
Board Members Absent:
Patty Eason
Staff Present:
Jim Briggs, Rachel Osgood, Micki Rundell, Chris Foster, Ken Arnold, Glenn Dishong, Tom Benz, Sheila
Mitchell, Mark Sokolow joined during Executive Session
OTHERS PRESENT: Verna Browning, Texas Disposal Systems (TDS)
Minutes
Regular Meeting
Board may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene in Executive Session at the request of the
Chair, a Board Member, the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Council Member, or legal
counsel for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551,
and are subject to action in the Regular Session that follows.
CALL TO ORDER 2:01pm
I. STAFF BOARD COMMENTS/QUESTIONS:
(This is a short informational time regarding items where specific actions are not reque sted or needed)
A. Introduction of Visitors
Verna Browning, TDS
B. Project Progress Reports
Discussion: Lenning asked and Briggs answered on current schedule for
Water Treatment Plant; all still on schedule. Sattler requested item for
May meeting to form Selection Committee from GUS Board for CMAR
(Construction Manager At Risk) Selection Committee.
C. Meeting Process
D. Industry Updates
II. LEGISLATIVE REGULAR AGENDA:
(This is for specific action items considered by the Board – greater than $50,000 in value)
E. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the regular GUS Board
meeting held on March 24, 2010. -- Sheila Mitchell
Discussion: Nett asked to please reflect no action was taken on item 'R'. No other
comments. Mitchell will revise to reflect request.
Action: Motion by Young, seconded by Lenning to approve the minutes from the
regular GUS Board meeting held on March 24, 2010, with notation on item 'R'
for no action taken.
Approved: 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
MOVED TO ITEM H --
Motion by Lenning, seconded by Beach, that Item 'F' is a competitive matter to be discussed under
Executive Session under Chapter 551 of the Texas Gove rnment Code of the Energy Services
Department as provided under Section 551.086.
Approved 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
III. RATES:
EXECUTIVE SESSION Called to order 3:12pm
Sec.551.086 Competitive Matters
The GUS Board will go into Executive Session under Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code to
discuss matters or take action on a "competitive matter" of the Energy Services Department as provided
under Section 551.086
F. Discussion on progress related to the City of Georgetown Power S upply Options at the
expiration of existing contracts. -- Jim Briggs
Motion by Lenning, seconded by Nett to return to Regular Session. Approved 6 -0-1 (Eason absent)
RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION Called back to order at 4:00pm
G. Action from Executive Session.
Action: Motion by Nett, seconded by Lenning for the City of Georgetown to pursue
a contract with City Public Services to supply the 10% MPO (Market Price Option)
for the terms of December 25, 2010 - December 24, 2011.
Approved: 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
ITEM H PREVIOUSLY COVERED -- MOVED TO ADJOURN
IV. STRATEGIC ISSUES
H. Discuss strategies related to increased services provided for solid waste recycling and
impacts to current solid waste collection operation. -- Rachel Osgood, Jim Briggs
Discussion: Briggs gave history on contract process and current agreement,
noting the upcoming RFP process for services and reviewing timeline. Briggs noted
now is the time to determine what services we want to provide to be included in
the RFP. Discussed Citizen Survey feedback on current services provided. Briggs
noted amount collected is less than contracted amount. Briggs discussed site visit
with Osgood to the transfer station for the City of Frisco, TX and their processes
and fees both Frisco and their citizens pay. Quinn commented on excellent level
of service and excellent value he feels he receives as a citizen. Lenning asked and
Briggs answered about adjusting rates based on base weight. Nett asked and Briggs
answered question on performance based contracts. Briggs clarified the goal is to
determine what services do we want to offer? Lenning inquired about establishing
recycling classes based on what is being recycled by customers? Briggs presented
questions to the Board -- 1) Do we want to recycle? Answer is yes and Citizen's want
to recycle with more collection container options/offerings. 2) If the current method of
recycling is not effective, then what do we do to change that process? Beach asked is
recycling convenient for customers? Osgood stated success in recycling is based on
education about recycling. Briggs noted if offerings are increased, costs could be
affected. Beach asked and Browning (TDS) answered question about r ecycling items
other than #1 & #2 plastics, due to costs and facilities available to process. Quinn
stated concerns of offering larger sized recycling carts and whether or not people
would physically be able to use them and whether they could be used in
neighborhoods with certain restrictions; also could be a storage issue. Lenning asked
about discarding certain items (washing machines, etc.) once a quarter -- can we
do the same for cardboard, clean lumber, etc. once a quarter? Briggs OK with pricing
the option of collection of certain items once a quarter, however he feels citizen's may
want service more frequently. Lenning asked about special pricing for certain
customers who will sign up as a business user/home business user to have recycling
picked up at their home? Overall, these considerations are increasing convenience of
recycling. Briggs summarized by stating discussion can be carried back to a future
Board meeting to determine direction to head with recycling program options.
Action: none taken
MOVED TO ITEM F --
Motion by Quinn, seconded by Nett to adjourn meeting at 4:02pm. Approved: 6-0-1 (Eason absent)
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 04:02 PM.
Approved : Attest:
_______________________ ________________________
Bill Sattler - Chair Richard Lenning - Secretary