Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 01.07.2008 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor Gary Nelon presiding. Council resent: ICouncil sent: Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Keith Brainard, Bill All Council Present Sattler, Pat Berryman, Farley Snell, Ben Oliver Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations; Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney; Sandra D. Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Leticia Zavala, Controller; Terry Jones, Support Services Construction Manager; David Morgan, Police Chief; Rachel Osgood, Environmental Services; Elizabeth Cook, Interim Planning Director; Jordan Maddox, Planner II; Ed Polasek, Principal Planner; Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director; Anthony Lincoln, Fire Chief; Keith Hutchinson, Public Information Officer; Stephanie McNickle, Planning Specialist; Karen Frost, Planning Administrative Supervisor Policy Development/Review Workshop ® Call to order at 04:00 P A Discussion and possible action regarding the financial issues of the Sanitation Fund -- Micki Rundell, Director Finance & Administration With a slide presentation, Rundell explained issues of the Sanitation Fund, including the current rate, and debt service on bonds. She said the General Fund loan repayment of $70,000 has not been included in the Fund. She said the current rates being charged to the customers don't allow for expansion of new programs such as household hazardous waste, and recycling. She said funds will be needed for new environmental concerns, saying some have community benefit, and asking if the General Fund should subsidize the community benefit. She said currently the Sanitation Fund is an Enterprise Fund and is self supporting. She said it requires 1.5 times debt coverage, funds for capital investments, and a contingengncy fund. She explained that if the Sanitation Fund were a Special Revenue Fund, it would be for specific purposes. She said some cities consider solid waste collection as a general fund. But others, such as the cities of San Marcos, Conroe and Killeen, consider sanitation as an enterprise fund. Rundell said the staff recommendation is to create a solid waste Special Revenue Fund (SRF), eliminating the sanitation fund as an enterprise fund, and creating a recyling services department. She said the General Fund could cancel the $70,000 loan, the sanitation bond would be a tax -supported debt, and excess funds in the SRF at year end would fund new recyling programs. She said if this was done, it would delay a garbage rate increase, provide funds to implement new programs and expanded services, and recognize financial cost to the community (transparent to public) for implementation in 2008/09 Budget. Briggs talked about programs that would need a funding source, saying expanding options offer greater ability for people to dispose of hazardous waste and would make it easier, more efficient, and more effective for residents to get rid of computers, waste oil, paint, and other hazardous material. Sansing said he is impressed with the way the transfer station looks at this time. He asked how this change would effect TDS, and Rundell said it should make it easier for TDS. Sattler asked how the effectiveness would be measured, and Briggs said it is being tracked now and will continue to be tracked. Sattler discussed concern from his constituents that at this time there is an extra fee to dispose of oil, stacked cardboard, etc. Brandenburg said the City could absorb the cost of the extra recycling; and said public education, even through the school district, will help increase the volume of recycled material. Oliver asked how the City could afford to City Council Meeting Minutes/January 7, 2008 Page 1 of 3 Pages enact these new free progr, but not charge for them. Rundell said old fu; from the old Sanitation Enterprise Fund could be used for the new programs, because the new SRF Fund would cover the debt coverage. Berryman asked if the staff could check to make sure a person is a citizen, rather than the citizen having to show their license and a bill. She asked if this could be made more user friendly. Briggs noted there is a level of security on the account files that would not allow the staff at the transfer station to obtain account information. He said they're working on a system for times when the customer doesn't have their bill. Berryman said in Austin, they're talking about charging residents for not recycling, and she doesn't want to see that happen in Georgetown. Briggs talked about "Pay as You Grow" programs in some cities, where customers pay extra to put out more garbage cans at the curb, but doesn't want to do that in Georgetown. Motion by Snell, second by Sansing to direct staff to proceed with the program outlined in this presentation. Sattler asked and Rundell confirmed that Council will be the decision makers on the SRF fund and what is included. Sansing said he thinks there should be an incentive to customers who recycle. Briggs noted that the City has to pay to get rid of the recyled materials. He said across the country there is not enough recycling to warrant industry paying for the recyled materials. Approved 7-0. 4:33 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. B Sec.551.071: Consultation with Attorney - Advice from attorney about pending or contemplated litigation and other matters on which the attorney has a duty to advise the City Council, including agenda items C Sec 551.072: Deliberations about Real Property - Possible aquisition of property for the proposed Public Safety facility - Consideration and possible action concerning the acquisition of a 0.368 -acre utility easement from Celebration Church for the installation of public utility improvements pursuant to a Consent Agreement between the City and NNP -Edwards, L.P. concerning the creation of Williamson County Public Utility District No. 15 -- Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney and Kent A. Sick, Attorney for the City - Consideration and possible action concerning the acquisition of a 0.243 -acre utility easement and associated 30 -foot -wide temporary construction easement from Westinghouse Road Joint Venture for the installation of public utility improvements pursuant to a Consent Agreement between the City and NNP -Edwards, L.P. concerning the creation of Williamson County Public Utility District No. 15 -- Patricia E. Carts, City Attorney and Kent A. Sick, Attorney for the City D Sec. 551.087: Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations - Discussions or deliberations regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the City Council seeks to have locate, stay or expand in or near the territory of the City and with which the City Council is conducting economic development negotiations; or to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect that the City Council seeks to have locate, stay or expand in or near the territory of the City and with which the City Council is conducting economic development negotiations. 5:15 p.m. recessed Executive Session and returned to Council Chamber for the Joint Workshop Joint Workshop of the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council E Proposed 2030 Comprehensive Plan: Executive Summary; Introduction; Plan Framework; Plan Elements: Land Use Element; Procedures for Plan Administration, Implementation, Monitoring and Updates; and Appendices, to replace the Century Plan: Policy Plan, Development Plan, and Future Land Use Plan -- Edward G. Polasek, AICP, Principal Planner and Elizabeth Cook, Interim Director of Planning and Development With a slide presentation, Polasek reviewed the current Century Plan, saying it requires review every five years. He said the Policy Plan was smaller than the city limits and the population estimates were out of date but still in the timeframe. He recalled that the firm of Walls, Roberts and Todd, consultants, were hired and have been working for a little over a year to produce a draft document. He said the Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing is still in session since December 4, and will be closed at a meeting tonight. Polasek noted all of the required public hearings that have been held and said public input has been received. He said the Steering Committee has recommended seven major changes. John Fernsler thanked Mayor, Eason and Snell for endless committee meetings and hours of deliberation that led to consensus which produced a draft document that is strong and defensible. He noted that the Charter sets out 14 specific elements for the comprehensive plan, saying all elements refer back to the Future Land Use Plan. He explained the 13 process steps, involving the steering committee, community forums, key discussion issues, and a Vision Statement of what is expected in this community in 2030. He said there will be strategic directions over the management of growth; going back to the community for acknowlegement of the changes that have been made; and there will be a style and format for all of the elements. He summarized an analysis of current conditions and trends, saying there is more than enough growing room City Council Meeting Minutes/January 7, 2008 Page 2 of 3 Pages inside the city limits and ex, rritorial jurisdiction to satsify growth needs fol Aher 20 years. He suggested being cautious in approving new developments that are not yet needed. He talked about Four Land Use Goals and described the Tiered Growth Framework. He said the City can't afford to open all of the available development area due to the need for expanded infrastructure, police, and fire services. He said Tier 1 contains the area already opened for development. He said originally it was considered the 10 -year growth area and is probably more than 10 -year growth. He said the policy should be to develop Tier 1 before going further out. He described the qualities of the other three tiers. Fernsler introduced Sylvia Vargas to explain how to implement the land use element. She demonstrated with a slide, the future land use map, depicting districts, nodes and corridors. She described the four land use designations: agricultural/rural, low density, moderate density, and high density. She said there are two commercial land use categroeis: commercial use and mixed use. She said the most important section is the Land Use Element: Implementation, including Plan Compliance; Plan Monitoring/Update every five years. Sattler asked for the timeframe. Polasek said it would be the second meeting in January or the first meeting in February after the new ordinance is drafted. Nelon noted that the Council is now leaving the dais to return to Executive Session, and the Planning and Zoning Commission will call their recessed Public Hearing to order and take action regarding their recommendation to the Council. 5:48 p.m. -- Council recessed to Executive Session 6:45 p.m. -- Council returned to Open Session and adjourned The meeting was adjourned at 06:45 PMD r ary Nelon City Council Meeting Minutes/January 7, 2008 Page 3 of 3 Pages Attest: