The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMIN 10.27.2009 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor George Garver presiding. CoTTIMS,frresento�%171�L•I: Keith Brainard, Gabe Sansing, Dale Ross, Ben III All Council present. Oliver, Pat Berryman, Bill Sattler, Patty Eason is Paul E Brandenburg, City Manager; Mark Sokolow, City Attorney; Jessica Hamilton, City Secretary; Kimberly Garrett, Parks and Recreation Director; Randy Morrow, Director of Community Services; Jim Briggs Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations • M 1f - •r - •- -• •s ••-> �� 1�, A Presentation and discussion on Lake Georgetown Project -- Kimberly Garrett, Parks and Recreation Director and Randy Morrow, Community Development Director With a PowerPoint Presentation, Garrett gave an update of Lake Georgetown and introduced Council to Brian Schaffer, Director and CEO of the Texas Association for Campground Operators (TACO). Garrett reviewed past Council action on this issue and said staff took Schaffer and other consultants to Lake Georgetown for at tour. Speaker, Brian Schaffer, introduced himself and spoke about how he was introduced to the Lake Georgetown Project. He gave a brief history of the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) and said they wanted to explore the idea of having the City enter partnership with the Corps of Engineers. He spoke about the benefits of partnering with the Corps, including utilizing facilities and expanding amenities as well as attracting visitors to the area while serving the residents. He also listed the challenges that can come with this project including the ongoing funding and maintenance. He described the current environment at Lake Georgetown. He said there are some camping faciltiies being utilized and noted there is already an established clientele. He added the park is close to Austin, which is a large population center that wants to be outdoors and recreate. He reviewed the current funding issues related to this project. He noted the Corps is not in a position to make the kind of significant improvements or maintenance that the City needs but he added the risk can be minimized by expanding the City's partnership with the Corps. Schaffer spoke to Council about the current RV industry. He noted the fastest growing element of the industry is cabins and cottage rentals and he described those type of opportunities. He said the cabins are fully furnished and offer home amenities, yet a person can experience a camp lifestyle. He noted the City can also benefit from Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT tax) with these cottages. Eason asked and Schaffer confirmed the cottages and cabins can be removed from the area in case of flooding. Schaffer spoke briefly about complimentary revenue streams including kayaking, rowing and golf carts. He noted these type of activities provide minimal expense with maximum returns. He also spoke about the possibility of having marinas, camp stores and convenience stores at Lake Georgetown. Schaffer described the initial assessment of Lake Georgetown and said the campgrounds are in fair condition, but noted the recent drought has added to deferred maintenance. He provided suggestions for the next steps in this project. He noted the City should discuss options with the Regional Corps Office in Louisville. He also indicated the City should review agreements and operational examples of current partnerships as well as have a mini feasability study to ascertain investments and returns. He said, ultimately, costs are low and the industry has a large City Council Workshop Minutes/October 27, 2009 Page 1 of 3 Pages growth potentia( at this time. Sansing commented on and Schaffer described the current cabin units at Lake Georgetown and how they can be moved. Sansing said he thinks this is a great idea and he sees a large potential for growth. He asked about the marinas and whether Lake Grapevine is a Corps Lake. Schaffer confirmed Grapevine is a Corps Lake and they do, in fact, allow marina usage. Eason said the City has to be careful about pollution in the Lake, as it is the City's main source of drinking water. She said her worry is the overpopulation of the Lake and the creation of excessive pollutants. Sattler asked and Schaffer siad the money the Corps receives from the use at the Lake will go to the Federal government. Sattler asked and Schaffer said the Corps receives enough funds "to get by." Speaker, Carey Weber, Lake Manager with the Corps of Engineers at Lake Georgetown, said they collect recreation user fees and all of those fees are returned to the general treasury and the Corps does not receive any revenue from those funds. Sattler asked and Weber said they collect about $400,000 and the Corps allocates around $1 million to use to maintain the Park. Sattler asked and Weber confirmed there is currently an operating deficit. Schaffer spoke about the current camping fees. He noted the current numbers are low and added the City could partner with the Corps so the fees would double. Oliver asked and Schaffer said the services that will remain and what will change in a partnership will be determined as the City moves forward with the project. Schaffer said the camping opportunities will stay open but the newer sites would be available at a higher cost. Speaker, Doug Cox, Regional Partnership Program Manager, said the Corps is required to charge only a certain amount of money for services. He noted they can not market the services they have. He noted, by partnering with the City, they could market their services and bring in more visitors year round. Brainard spoke about the Land Water Conservation Fund and asked about the source of those monies. Cox said the Corps of Engineers does not operate that fund. Brainard asked and Cox said the Corps likes to partner with the jurisdictions in which these type of lakes lay. Brainard asked and Weber said the City could also incorporate the County and State into the partnership if it so chooses. Ross asked and Schaffer said the vast majority of people using the lake were non-residents of the City of Georgetown. Ross asked and Schaffer said the City could offer a discount to the citizens of Georgetown. Mayor asked and Schaffer said the next step would be for the City to meet with the Corps and explore ideas as well as limitations for the future. Berryman asked and Schaffer said, after the partnership, usage fees will control the crowding at the Lake. Berryman asked and Weber said the 13 mile trail around the Lake would also be improved with the partnership. Weber noted the trail is one of the most difficult things to manage around the lake because there is a wide variety of opinion and desire in the community about how it should took. Ross said the Council needs to see the scope of what the City is asking the Corps to do in this type of agreement. Mayor asked and Brandenburg said staff will continue to work wtih the Corps on the scope of this partnership and bring an item back to Council for action at a future meeting. There was much discussion. B Presentation of "Community of Choices" DVD -- Patty Eason, Councilmember District 1 and John Marler, President of Marfam Computer Solutions Eason introduced Marler and said the DVD has a lot of great information and noted it is shown to all new Main Street Managers in Texas. She noted it was shown at the Williamson Museum for the entire month of May, which is Preservation Month. Marler thanked Council and said he is at the meeting because he has a great love for the City and was appointed as a member of the Economic Development Advisory Board. He said the DVD emphasizes the fact that economic development does not need to be anything but in context with historic preservation. He told Council to pay attention to the major "chain" buildings in the video that complied to the cities that held those buildings to its standards. Marler showed the video to Council. Marler gave a brief overview and described the "takeaways" the Council should get from this DVD. He said the City's economic well being does not depend on anything but the character of the City. Mayor thanked Marler for his presentation. Council recessed to Executive Session at 5:16 p.m. under Sections 551.071, 551.0725 551.074 and 551.086 Council returned to Open Session at 5:55 p.m. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 05:55 PM. Approved : Attest: City Council Workshop Minutes/October 27, 2009 Page 2 of 3 Pages City Council Workshop Minutes/October 27, 2009 Page 3 of 3 Pages Hamilton