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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