HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 06.11.2007 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the
above date with Mayor Gary Rlelon presiding.
Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City
Manager for Utility Operations; Patricia Carls, City Attorney; Sandra Lee, City Secretary; Mark Thomas,
Economic Development Director; Rachel Osgood, Environmental Services; Leticia Zavala, Controller;
Joe Lara, Chief Financial Analyst; Kimberly Garrett, Parks and Recreation Director; Randy Morrow,
Director of Community Services; Anthony Lincoln, Fire Chief; David Morgan, Police Chief; Roland Waits,
Police Captain; Glenn Dishong, Water Services Manager; Kathy Ragsdale, Utility Office Manager; Keith
Hutchinson, Public Information Officer
PolicyDevelopment/Review Workshop- Call to order at 4:01 P
A Discussion and presentation regarding proposed Hotel/Conference Center -- Paul E. Brandenburg, City
Manager
Brandenburg noted that for the last few months the City has been working with Dan Clark of LedgeStone Group
regarding a hotel/conference center in the Rivery. He introduced Marlene McMichael who introduced Dan Clark
who spoke to Council about the proposed Summit at Rivery Park. He said that although Georgetown has
beautiful amenities, there is no high-end hotel or conference center, and he and his three partners saw that as a
prospective need with other services such as restaurants. He said they have found a location that serves the
vision for a Class A hotel of 320 - 420 rooms, depending on the economic analysis; with a conference center to
accomodate 1500 to 2500 people; a Class A office building of up to six stories; office condominiums; and two
high-end Class A restaurants. He said they will incorporate the old oak trees and create a walking venue,
saying the potential hotel will have some input in the design and overall theme of the area. Mayor asked it the
city development process would begin after flag tenants have signed up or before. Clark said discussions with
main -line flags are proceeding at this time. Sattler asked and Clark responded that the hotel would be eight to
ten floors and the office building will be six floors. Snell inquired and Brandenburg said there are very good
reasons to go up instead of out, even the issue regarding endangered species. Berryman said this is what the
City has been wanting, including connectivity throughout the river and parks for biking and walking. Clark
responded that connectivity is important to the ambience of the hotel/conference center.
B Discussion and presentation regarding Texas Life Sciences Commercialization Center -- Paul E.
Brandenburg, City Manager and Mark Thomas, Economic Develoment Director
Brandenburg said the strategic plan is still being put together. He introduced Dr. Ronald Swain, representing
the Economic Development Committee of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, who gave a presentation on
the validation study. He told Council that Peterman Consulting handled the feasibility aspect and would be
presenting preliminary recommendations. He introduced Russ Peterman of Peterman Consulting and Danny
Klinger from Angelou Economics to present the findings. Peterman noted that the study has been underway for
City Council Meeting Minutes/June 11, 2007
Page 1 of 3 Pages
four months, but actual plan, jmg has been taking place for the past three or four years. He said the Chamber of
Commerce is involved in this, with assistance from Southwestern University, the University of Texas, and Texas
A & M University. He said Angelou Economics is looking into the macro economics. Peterman told Council
when people say "bio tech," it means a lot of different things to many different people.
Danny Klinger, Junior Project Manager from Angelou Economics, said their goal was to determine enough "deal
flow" to fill the space of a biotechnical and life sciences commercialization center. He said the biotech industry
is growing rapidly, and gave Council definitions of biotechnology, saying "narrowly" it is defined as knowledge of
biological processes that are microscopic, and the broader approach is the capture of all sorts of industries such
as pharmaceuticals, and the manufacture of diagnostic devices; and in that case, the term is known as life
sciences. He said the biotech industry will offer many job opportunities for the future, with a high annual average
wage of $69,000. He said employment in biotech is currently at 6,000. He told Council the biotech companies
are formed on the basis of discoveries made out of universities, and companies want to be able to partner with a
university. He said Austin, as a region, is not as strong as others because of the lack of a four-year medical
school, but he said there is a lot of interest in this area coming out of the west coast.
Peterman said a report will be prepared in the next couple of weeks to show Georgetown to be a viable market
place, and there will be a lot of capital flowing into this project. He said Georgetown is in a great geographic
position, and biotech and lifesciences would be a "seed" for growing a Georgetown Technology Gateway
Corridor. He said this is a very attractive industry and there is a good probability that it would be self-sufficient
within three years. Brainard asked if this industry needs to rely on public tax incentives. Peterman noted that
the main incentive for these companies is the facility, itself, in a good environment. Berryman asked several
questions including "clawback vs. intentional flow." Peterman said the companies will be so happy to be here,
they're not necessarily looking for handouts.
C Consideration and recommendations
from the City Council for the development and
implementation
of a city
ordinance
related
Manager
to the
registration
of
alarms
--
Roland
Waits, Captain and
David
Morgan,
Police
Chief
Captain Roland Waits said the Police Department is responding to false alarms at the rate of 1500 per year,
with 99% being false. He said this is wasting tax payer money and creating some complacency in the officers.
He said in 1993, the top offender had 44 false alarms, and in 2004, there were 86 false alarms at one business.
He noted that the majority of the false alarms were employee error by not entering codes correctly, and noted
that 70% of false alarms are from commercial systems. He assured Council there will be a highly concentrated
education effort to make the public aware of the need to register their systems with the Police Department, and
ensure that users are trained in the use of the systems, which will eventually reduce the number of false alarms.
He told Council the proposed ordinance is being reviewed and will be brought back to Council for consideration
soon, and suggested a possible alarm coordinator as a half-time position for alarms and half-time as a records
clerk.
D Discussion regarding the Sanitation Services Contract for solid waste
and
recycling
services -- Rachel
Osgood, Environmental Services Coordinator and Jim Briggs, Assistant
City
Manager
for Utility
Operations
19:45 Briggs said this workshop is a preamble for two action items tomorrow night to renegotiate the current
contract and amendment of rates. Briggs said he and staff have been working on this since October with the
Focus Group and have received favorable responses about the current level of service. He told Council the
Georgetown Utility System (GUS) Advisory Board, with one modification, directed staff to bring the contract to
Council. He said the new contract includes quarterly free bulky waste pickup, ensures that rates cover costs of
services, redefines the contractor/City relationship; and continues to operate the collection and transfer stations.
With a slide presentation, he reviewed the proposed contract. He reviewed the "tier" rates for different levels of
service, Tier 1 being for customers inside the city limits with Georgetown utilities; Tier 2 being for customers
outside the city limits with Georgetown utilities; and Tier III for customers outside the city limits without
Georgetown utilities. He reviewed the proposed rates for both residential and retail. There were questions and
comments from Council.
6:36 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.
E 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
-Transamerican Underground vs. Arch Insurance Co., C. C. Carleton Industries, and Third Party Defendant the City of
Georgetown, Cause No. 06-121-C277, District Court of Williamson County, 277th Judicial District
City Council Meeting Minutes/June 11, 2007
Page 2 of 3 Pages
- Henderson v. City of Georgetu.vn and Bishop Gregory Aymond for the Dioceses of AUS. -In , Cause No. A06CA082 SS;
United States District Court, Western District of Texas
- Discussion and possible action regarding Williamson County MUD No. 19, request for sewer Certificate of Convenience and
Necessity (Application No. 35375-C) (SOAR Docket No. 582-07-0786; TCEQ Docket No. 2006 - 1810 - UCR)
- Discussion of legal issues related to the "Offsite Utility Construction Cost Reimbursement Agreement for ABG Subdivision"
and the "Development Agreement Concerning the ABG Subdivision."
- Discussion of legal issues related to the "Williamson County Regional Raw Water Line Agreement" between the Brazos
River Authority, City of Georgetown, City of Round Rock, and Jonah Water Supply Corporation, and the letter dated May 7,
2007 to BRA from Chisholm Trail SUD, Brushy Creek MUD, and City of Round Rock.
- Consideration and possible action related to the pending or threatened litigation against LCRA related to the Wholesale
Power Contract.
- Consideration and possible action to retain the firm of Allensworth and Porter to develop construction contract documents for
the South San Gabriel Wastewater Interceptor project.
- Mark Shelton v. Rodney Eric Wise, Shanna Elaine Shelly, David Earl Morgan, City of Georgetown , Civil Action No.
A -07 -CA -063 -LY, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas Austin Division.
F Sec 551.072: Deliberations about Real Property
- Consideration and possible direction to staff regarding the acquisition of property within the Williams Drive Gateway
Redevelopment Area consistent with the adopted Williams Drive Gateway Redevelopment Master Plan.
- Consideration and possible action concerning the authorization of a proposed Pipeline License between the City of
Georgetown and Georgetown Railroad Company, Inc. ("GRR") for an underground crossing of its railroad facilities in
connection with Project Lone Star Electric Service Project.
- Consideration and possible action concerning an offer submitted by the Texas Department of Transportation ("TxDOT") for
the purchase of a 0.156 -acre tract and a 0.135 -acre tract of land, owned by the City, in connection with TxDOT's
reconstruction of the Lakeway/IH-35 overpass at North Austin Avenue and Lakeway Drive.
- Consideration and possible action regarding the granting of an easement consisting of approximately 5.617 acres of land
situated in Lyndock Park for the South San Gabriel Interceptor Wastewater Line
- Consideration and possible action regarding the acquisition of an easement from IVA WOLF MCLACHLAN, BETTIE M.
WOLF, JANE WOLF ROBERTSON, JUDY WOLF HINDELANg, JAY LEON WOLF, JR., AND JAMES DAVID WOLF for the
South San Gabriel Interceptor Wastewater Line, a public use, including consideration and possible action on a Resolution
authorizing condemnation.
9:40 p.m. -- returned to Executive Session and adjourned
The meeting was adjourned at 09:40 PM1
ayor,Gary Nelon
City Council Meeting Minutes/June 11, 2007
Page 3 of 3 Pages
Attest:.,
f �t
City Secretary Sandra Lee