HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 11.10.2003 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the
above date with [Mayor Gary Nelon presiding.
Council Present: iCouncil Absent:
Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Doug Smith, Jack ;.Ken Evans due to resignation, Farley Snell
Noble, John Kirby
;Staff Present: ------- ----- ---------- --- --- ------
Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations; Trish
Carls, City Attorney; Sandra Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration;
Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director
Called to order at 4:03 p.m.
A Discussion regarding a possible partnership between the City and Habitat for Humanity -- Jack Noble,
Councilmember
Jack Noble noted that affordable housing was one of the Council's budget priorities for this year, and
Council has allocated $12,000 to Habitat. He introduced Dr. Ronald Swain of Habitat for Humanity who
thanked the Council for their contributions of grants, lots at reduced prices, and staff and Council time to
participate in discussions. with a slide presentation, Swain explained that there is a great need for
affordable housing in Georgetown. He told the Council that Habitat is targeting families who earn 25% to
50% of the median income. He said volunteers do most of the work with donated materials. He said
families who qualify must provide a down payment and "sweat equity." He said Habitat sells the houses at
cost, interest free for 20 years. He said within the past three years, Habitat has built eight homes for
families with 26 children who are at poverty level. He said there are three homes under construction to be
completed by February 2004. He gave Council a list of the projected activities for Habitat and listed ways
that the City and Habitat could form a possible partnership. He said they are continually looking for
buildable land.
Mayor Nelon asked, and the following Habitat members in the audience introduced themselves: Beverly
Carrigan, President; Bill Peel, Barbara Shove, Curtis Mickan, Carol Parsonage, Bob Hallmark, Herman
Knodel, Harold Steadman, and Jack Noble. Noble thanked the City staff, particularly Assistant City
Manager, Tom Yantis, for assistance in preparing this presentation.
There were questions from the Council regarding selection of families, and Bob Hallmark of Habitat spoke
to Council about possible properties to be used for buildiing houses. City Attorney Trish Carls was asked if
there is a way to exempt an entity or individual from being classified as a "developer." She responded that
the only way to handle that would be to apply waivers. Yantis said because Habitat is a non-profit, the
requirement to provide certain public improvements becomes an exhorbitant cost to be absorbed, so staff is
looking to Council for a method for non -conforming uses. Nelon said Council has made it a priority to
address affordable housing, so a precedent is set to grant variances, etc. Yantis said the costs would not
go away, they would just be shifted from the developer to the City, which would become the City's
contribution as a partner with Habitat. Carls said there are grants that allow fee waivers to count as
City Council Meeting Minutes/November 10, 2003
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matching conributions. Yantis noted that the City is now participating in the CDBG Federal Grant Program.
There was much discussion from the Council. Nelon said he feels he is hearing that the Council desires to
partner with Habitat and at some future agenda, perhaps a method could be posted on which Council could
deliberate. Yantis noted that Habitat has the assistance of a title company that has donated their time to
research the title of any proposed property selected by Habitat. Bill Peel and Curtis Mickan suggested that
all potential inspections on a Habitat house should be listed in advance, to save having to deal with
numerous different inspectors. It was determined that staff would investigate the possibility of using an
independent contracted inspector who might be hired to specifically handle Habitat's projects. Mickan
noted that the City of Dallas and other cities around Georgetown give lots to Habitat without charging any
development fees because they want to contribute toward affordable housing.
B Discussion and direction to staff regarding the Special Election and setting the date -- Sandra Lee, City
Secretary and Trish Carls, City Attorney
Carls explaiined that when Evans announced his resignation, a calendar was put together, but the dates
would not comply due to the primary election on March 9. She told Council that there is an action item on
tomorrow's agenda to reschedule the special election to December 20, 2003. She noted that the filing
period is considerably short, which becomes one week instead of one month. She said candidates could
begin filing on November 12, 2003, and the deadline to file is Wednesday, November 19, 2003.
C Council Calendar
- Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, November 11, 2003, at 6:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers at
the northeast corner of Seventh and Main Streets
Yantis noted that on December 8 there will not be a workshop. The workshop will be held on Tuesday,
December 9, at 4:00 p.m. prior to the Council Meeting on December 9. It was also noted that December 8
may need to be used for a personnel hearing.
5:02 p.m. -- recessed to Executive Session
Executive Session
In compliance with the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code, Vernon's Texas Codes, Annotated, the
items listed below will be discussed in closed session and are subject to action in the regular session that follows.
D Sec.551.071 consultation with attorney
Pending Litigation
Legal Advice Regarding Agenda Items and other Matters
E Sec.551.071 consultation with attorney and Sec. 551.074 personnel matters
- Discussion and possible action related to setting a hearing date and establishing prehearing and hearing procedures for
employee disciplinary appeal of Gary Beyers
F Sec.551.086 Economic Development
- Discussion and possible action regarding economic development incentives for a commercial project at the intersection
of Austin Ave. and University Ave.
- Discussion regarding economic development prospects regarding Toyota suppliers
G Sec.551.072 deliberation on real property
- Consideration and possible action to authorize the purchase of 33.16 acres of land out of the John F. Ferguson Survey,
A-231, from the Georgetown Independent School District for purposes of constructing and operating a regional
wastewater treatment plant to be known as the "Mankins Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant", and to authorize the
Mayor to execute the attached purchase contract and interlocal agreement therefor and any other related documents to
complete the transaction
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