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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 02.12.2007 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor Gary Nelon presiding. Council Present: Council sent: Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Doug Smith, Henry All Council present Carr, Pat Berryman, Farley Snell, Ben Oliver Staff Present: Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney; Sandra D. Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; David Miller, Police Chief; Kevin Stofle, Assistant Police Chief; Terry Jones, Support Services Construction Manager; Anthony Lincoln, Fire Chief 11 11 1 A Discussion regarding the status of the implementation of recommendations outlined in the ERA (Economic Research Associates) Report --Paul E. Brandenburg, City Manager Brandenburg listed the recommendations from the ERA Report and noted to Council the items that have been accomplished thus far. He noted that staff had discussed the City's progress toward implementation with Council at a workshop in October. Of those recommendations, a downtown corporation has not yet been established. He noted that the Master Plan has been developed and implementation is ongoing. He said parking practices have been implemented with several new parking lots and a 2 -hour parking zone, noting that building the Library has created a need for more parking. Nelon asked the purpose of the Downtown Development Corporation. Yantis said the idea was to have an organization that would focus on redevelopment activities in downtown, saying a corporation is one way to accomplish that, but there would need to be a funding mechanism. There were comments from the Council. Nelon said it is important to make rental property affordable downtown. Sansing suggested more owner -operator businesses. There was a suggestion that the property owners could be contacted by letter to answer survey questions. B workshop discussion and possible direction to staff regarding the upcoming 2007/08 budget process and time line -- Micki Rundell, Director Finance & Administration Rundell spoke to Council about the proposed budget calendar. She said it is very important that the Council be available in accordance with the proposed budget calendar in order to accomodate publications, special notices, and special public hearings. She also noted in the packet of information there is a matrix that shows the Council Priority Goals and Strategies for 2006/07. She gave an overview about procedures for Council to review and revise those goals and strategies. Rundell asked for Council direction for focusing on specific goals and establishing priorities. Rundell noted that Finance has been visiting with all the boards and commissions to find City Council Meeting Minutes/February 12, 2007 Page 1 of 3 Pages out their wish lists and those will be shared with Council. C Discussion and possible action to provide staff direction regarding Citywide Communications (radio) System -- Paul Brandenburg, City Manager Brandenburg said this is an ongoing item over the last several years to update from analog to digital. He noted that the County is putting all of the County law enforcement and emergency providers on the same system. He said it is a planned to match the City's communication system with the new one from the County and for other cities. Assistant Police Chief Kevin Stofle described the current system 800 mhz system purchased in the late 1980's. He said in 1998, Williamson County, Georgetown, and Round Rock "bought in" to the same system and were the envy of the nation. He said, however, Motorola is ceasing to service this sytem in the next few years to upgrade to digital for increased capabilities. He said the City of Austin was invited by the federal government to apply for a $6 million inneroperability grant, and they have been awarded that money. He said they are the only entity to receive that grant. He said Austin accepted the grant and gave it to Williamson County for upgrading the system, except $450,000 that City of Austin matched in order to upgrade their system to allow the other cities to join. He said Williamson County matched the $1.8 million, and will become the owner of the system and the other cities will be provided with ability to participate. He said the grant will cover the towers and everything except the individual radios. Smith asked and Stofle responded that the cost to the City will be $1.5 to $2 million. Rundell explained that the cost will be rolled into the bonds for the recreation center. She said there will be an item coming to Council at a future meeting to include $750,000 so the equipment can be ordered and be ready in August of 2007. Berryman asked and Stofle gave assurance that the system to be purchased by the County will be reliable and useful in the future. Stofle said the City of Austin now has other grants that they need to apply for but can't until this one is complete, so everything has to be ordered, shipped, built, and tested by January, 2008. There were further questions from the Council. Sansing asked and Rundell noted that the City would be very clear in what is being funded with the bond issue. D Discussion regarding the review of the City of Georgetown's current Principles for Economic Development Incentives and to develop procedures for working with the County, other governmental agencies, and/or other business enterprises on economic development agreements -- Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director and Paul E. Brandenburg, City Manager Brandenburg explained that the principles were adopted in 2003 and reapproved in 2005. He asked Council for their input. Brandenburg suggested that these principles could be reviewed by the GUS, GTEC, and GEDCO Boards. Sansing said he has seen areas in the Principles that need to be updated, such as adding technology advantages to the incentives and adding Texas State to the colleges that are in the area. Smith noted that there are benefits available regionally. Nelon agreed, saying economic development projects in one part of the region will help everyone. He noted the County doesn't have an economic development division. 5:15 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 - Henderson v. City of Georgetown and Bishop Gregory Aymond for the Dioceses of Austin , Cause No. A06CA082 SS; United States District Court, Western District of Texas - Stanford v. City of Georgetown , Cause No. 06-634-C26, filed in the 26th Judicial District of Williamson County, Texas - Residual Partners LLC v. City of Georgetown, Cause No. 07-093-C26, in the 26" Judicial District, Williamson County, Texas. - Mark Shelton v. Rodney Eric Wise, Shanna Elaine Shelly, David Earl Morgan, City of Georgetown , Cause No. A07 CA063 LY, In the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division F Sec 551.072: Deliberations about Real Property - Discussion and possible action concerning the acquisition of a 0.04 acre Clear Zone Easement and denial of access on property owned by Threadgill Oil Co., Inc., located at 705 N. Austin Avenue, in connection with the proposed Texas Department of Transportation/Austin Avenue Maintenance Project -- Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations Citv Council Meeting Minutes/February 12, 2007 Page 2 of 3 Pages and Patricia E. Caris, Brown & Carls, LLP, City Attorney G Sec. 551.087: Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations - Discussion and possible action regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; and deliberation of the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described above - Project Fortress 6:04 p.m. -- returned to Open Session and adjourned aproved Attest: t A t aygf' Gary Nelon City Secretary Sandra Lee City Council Meeting Minutes/February 12, 2007 Page 3 of 3 Pages