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Home My WebLink AboutMIN 01.12.2010 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor George Garver presiding. �.Pouncil Present, 1; • Keith Brainard, Dale Ross, Gabe Sansing, Ben Bill Sattler Oliver, Pat Berryman, Patty Eason Staff Present, -- Paul E. Brandenburg, City Manager; Mark Sokolow, City Attorney, Jessica Hamilton, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Chief Financial Officer; Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations; ' • - • • - • • • r • •T 1 ? NITA 0 17, Mayor call the meeting to Order at 4:07 p.m. Council recessed to Executive Session under Section 551.086 -- 4:07 p.m. Council returned to Open Session -- 4:25 p.m. A Presentation and action on a Southwestern University Wind Service Agreement Motion by Eason, second by Sansing to authorize the execution of an electric service agreement with Southwestern University for a term not less than December 31, 2014 and up to December 31, 2028 at rates, terms and conditions provided in the service agreement. Approved 6-0 (Sattler absent) Briggs gave a brief overview of the agreement and said the contract was deliberated in December 2008. He said the City had discussions with area businesses, including Southwestern, about the potential of being able to use wind energy to meet their energy needs and strategic goals. With a Powerpoint presentation, he said this agreement will make Southwestern University 100 percent wind power through 2028. He said they will be the first college or university in Texas to use 100% wind energy. He spoke about the various wind power sources that will be used for the service agreement. He showed Council a photograph of the Trent Mesa wind project. He said Southwestern University uses the energy equivalent of 450 homes and noted this advances the goal of Southwestern to be carbon neutral. He said this also advances Georgetown Utility System's goal of having 30 percent renewable energy by 2030. He said this is the first step in long term energy inependence, energy diversity and meeting the consumer needs of the citizens of Georgetown. He said this continues a long standing tradition of public-private partnerships in the community and with others outside the community. Briggs recognized Greg Hall of AEP Energy Partners, the business partner in this arrangement. Hall said he is excited to be a part of this event and being a partner of sustainable and renewable energy. He spoke briefly about the history of AEP and said it has been a pleasure to work with Georgetown Utility Systems. He said he is glad to see the support of Southwestern University in this effort. Briggs thanked Richard Anderson, VP for Fiscal Affairs at Southwestern for his work with the City. He introduced the President of Southwestern, Jake Schrum, to the City Council. Mayor said the City is deeply indebted to Schrum for his presence and the outstanding elements he brings to Southwestern and the community. Schrum thanked the Council as well as City Council Workshop Minutes/January 12, 2009 Page 1 of 3 Pages Southwestern's partners. He said Southwestern is one of the reasons why Georgetown is one of the best places to live in this country. He spoke about Southwestern's efforts to make students care about something other than themselves, including the world they live in and the environment. He said he would like for Southwestern to say that it takes sustainability seriously. He said this generation of students believes that his generation has not done well when it comes to the environment. He said what is driving this are the bright, courageous leaders and students in the room. He said the students met with City representatives when they found out that it would be possible to use renewable energy. He said, because of these efforts, he does not have concerns as to whether or not Southwestern is putting leaders out in the world. He said this is a historic moment and noted it is the first university in the state of Texas and only the sixth university in the United States to make this step. Mayor thanked Briggs and read a proclamation recognizing the environmental and stewardship efforts of Southwestern University. B Workshop discussion and possible action regarding the questions to be used in conducting the 2010 City of Georgetown Quality of Life Survey -- Micki Rundell, Chief Financial Officer Rundell reviewed the item and said this survey was initially conducted in Fall of 2000 and it has grown into a key component to the budget process. She said, from the survey, the City gathers a lot of information on bond projects, customer service levels and economic development. She said Council has been provided with a draft survey as reviewed by the General Government and Finance Subcommittee. She introduced Andrea Thomas from National Service Research. Speaker, Thomas, gave a brief background of National Service Research and said she met with Brandenburg and Rundell and noted they spoke about the survey that was conducted in 2008. She said, through their discussions, the survey that is before the Council is the version she recommends. She noted a lot of these questions were asked in 2008 and said the continuity is very important.. Mayor asked and Thomas said every question except the transportation questions are new. She noted all but 7 questions were repeats from last year. Eason asked why the question of ethnicity was dropped and noted she said she thinks the question is important so that the City can get an equal representation from various ethnicities around the County. Thomas said, since this survey includes other similar questions and is getting quite long, she took it out but has no problem putting it back in again. Eason said she would like for that question to be included. Sansing asked and Thomas said a person does not have to answer that question if they do not want to do so. Thomas also mentioned that citizens will be able to do the survey online. Oliver asked and Rundell explained the reasoning behind the change in dollar amount for the cost to the tax payer as it relates to the transportation questions. Oliver asked and Eason said there is a big difference between a commuter and passenger rail. She said that terminology makes a big difference in terms of funding at the federal level. Brainard suggested grammatical changes and clarifications to questions 6 and 14. Brainard said, on question 41, it would be good to consider changing the options to meet, exceed and does not meet. Sansing asked why question 31 about the tax rate and whether it is too high should even be included in the survey. Brainard responded and asked whether or not someone should assume that every person thinks the tax is too high. Brainard added, in his opinion, it is an important question. Thomas said that question has been in the survey since 2002 and noted 52% of citizens said the tax rate was about right last year. Oliver said three-fourths of the people in the community do not even know what they pay in City taxes. Mayor added, if people perceive their taxes are high, the City's next bond issue is in jeopardy. Mayor spoke further about why he thinks the tax question is an important one. Ross noted the purpose of the survey is for perception and not accuracy of responses. Ross said, on question 28, for letter B make the option "lower fees/incentive program." Thomas said the only downside to that would be the representatives would have to try and describe the incentive program to each person and that woud not be efficient. Eason asked and Thomas said there is a way for someone to say they like all of the choices given to them. Berryman said it is important to put something in the survey about incentives. Mayor said and Thomas agreed they could come up with an example to give for an incentive program. Motion by Brainard, second by Berryman to remove the question of ethnicity from the survey. Eason spoke about why having that question is important. Berryman said and Eason noted the City will get different responses from different populations in the City. Brainard said his policy making on the dais is not governed by the color of someone's skin, race or ethnicity. He said this is a community and he is interested in solving problems for an entire community and not for a section of the community. Oliver disagreed with Brainard and said the Council is not tracking individuals in that instance. He said, if the City finds different responses from different sections of the community, it is an important piece of information for the City to have. Ross asked and Rundell said the City would be able to use the survey in different ways according to the needs of each department. Ross said it is an anonymous survey and people do not have to answer the questions. He said, if they remove the question of ethnicity, the City should also remove the question of gender or age. There was much discussion on this issue. Vote on the motion: Denied 4-2 (Sansing, Ross, Oliver, Eason opposed) (Sattler absent) City Council Workshop Minutes/January 12, 2009 Page 2 of 3 Pages Council recessed to Executive Session under Sections 551.071, 551.072 and 55.1074 -- 5:18 p.m. Council returned to open session and adjourned -- 5:50 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 05:50 PM. City Council Workshop Minutes/January 12, 2009 Page 3 of 3 Pages Attest: SecretaryNWica Hamilton