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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 08.13.2007 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor Pro Tem Gabe Sansing presiding. Council Present: Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Bill Sattler, Farley Snell, Ben Oliver On! 113 Council Absent.a Mayor Nelon, Keith Brainard, Pat Berryman Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant 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; Bobby Ray, Director of Planning; Ed Polasek, Principal Planner; Elizabeth Cook, Principal Planner; Jordan Maddox, Planner; Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director; Mark Miller, Transportation Services Manager ' • • •III • • r t • • •f i A Comprehensive Plan Process Update -- Ed Polasek, Principal Planner and Bobby Ray, Director of Planning and Development Polasek noted that staff is preparing for the second round of meetings with the public, and wanted to present the current status to the Council. He reviewed the Charter requirements for updating the Comprehensive Plan. He noted that this revision will include separating the City budget from the Plan. He reviewed the accomplishments of the Steering Committee, noting that Mayor Nelon is the Chair. He introduced Roberts, Wallace and Todd, consultants, John Fernsler and Sylvia Vargas. Fernsler did an overview, calling the Plan Georgetown's 20 -year "To -Do" List. He listed key areas of consensus such as Strengths: 1) small town/historic character; 2) Georgetown's people; 3) quality growth preparation; 4) parks and natural areas; 5) location and accessibility; and 6) Southwestern University, Sun City, and the community's safety level. He listed the Weaknesses as: 1) lack of public transportation and road connectivity; 2) misconception of lack of economic development/industrial recruitment; and 3) need for a stronger tax base and quality local jobs. He listed the Opportunities as: 1) improving educational, civic, and cultural opportunities; 2) retaining unique community character; 3) improving transportation; 4) planning for future land use and well-managed growth; 5) economic development/tax base growth; and 6) leverage of the City's ownership of public utilities. He listed the Threats as: 1) unmanaged growth; 2) failure to plan future infrastructure capacity; 3) public attitude of apathy/divisiveness; 4) transportation problems; and 5) inadequate planning for health and social service needs in the community. He noted that there are four major themes to the Plan: Quality of Life, Sustainable Development; Balanced Transportation/Efficient Mobility, and Effective Governance. He said the final Plan is expected to be complete in the next few months. Vargas reviewed the four primary land use goals: 1) Promote sound, sustainable and compact development patterns with balanced land uses, a variety of housing choices and well -integrated transportation, public facilities and open space amenities; 2) Promote sound investment in Georgetown's older developed areas, including downtown, aging commercial and industrial areas, and in -town neighborhoods and other areas expected to experience land use change or obsolescence; 3) Provide a development framework for the fringe that guides sound, sustainable patterns of land use, limits sprawl, protects community character, demonstrates sound stewardship of the environment, and provides for efficient provision of public services and facilities as the City City Council Meeting Minutes/August 13, 2007 Page 1 of 2 Pages expands; and 4) Maintain atiu "strengthen viable land uses and land use pattei„s (e.g., stable neighborhoods, economically sound commercial and employment areas). Polasek noted that on August 23rd and 24th there will be two public meetings which have been advertised and will be posted to allow attendance by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. B Discussion regarding guidelines and criteria governing tax abatement agreements -- Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney; and Paul Brandenburg, City Manager This item was postponed due to expected loss of quorum at 5:00 p.m. C Transportation and Road Project Update -- Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Opertaions This item was postponed due to expected loss of quorum at 5:00 p.m. 4:41 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 - 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 - Discussion and possible action regarding Williamson County MUD No. 19, request for sewer Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (Application No. 35375-C) (SOAH Docket No. 582-07-0786; TCEQ Docket No. 2006 - 1810 - UCR) - Consideration and possible action regarding legal issues related to public financing requirements for new and existing special districts -- Carol Polumbo, McCall, Parkhurst & Horton, LLP E Sec.551.086 Competitive Matters Discussion and possible action related to the City of Georgetown power supply options for LCRA 10% Market Participation for 2008-2010 Energy Years -- Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations 5:06 p.m. -- returned to Open Session and adjourned The meeting was adjourned at 05:06 PM. Approved : 111 _ ;.,_ City Council Meeting Minutes/August 13, 2007 Page 2 of 2 Pages Secretary Sandra Lee