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Home My WebLink AboutMIN 10.23.2006 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor- • presiding. Council Present. Council Absent. Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Doug Smith, Henry Pat Berryman Carr, Farley Snell, Ben Oliver ................. Staff Present. 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; David Morgan, Police Chief; Mike Mayben, Energy Services Director; Keith Hutchinson, Pubic Information Officer; Cathy Leloux, Court Administrator A Presentation of the County's Regional Habitat Conservation Plan -- Patty Eason, Councilmember District 1 and Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager Eason introduced Yantis who introduced Gary Galbreath, with SWCA, managing principal, and project manager of the Plan, and Dr. Steven Caruthers, founder of SWCA and the principal author for the Habitat Conservation Plan. Galbreath said the final draft is to be ready by mid -2007, and there will be at least two opportunities for public input. Dr. Steven Caruthers noted that copies of the draft plan are available. He said the Plan will show how some habitat will be removed, but after that, the species will be better off. He said there would be specific areas set aside to provide habitat. He said thereby each individual developer or land owner will not have to deal with the Fish and Wildlife. He said they are dealing with two species of endangered bugs and two endangered birds. He noted that a Project Status Report had been provided to the Council on the dais. He said there are 20 additional cave species that could show up as endangered any time, but they will also be saved when the listed bugs are saved. He noted that this Plan does not include the Georgetown salamander. He said It is being "put off' as an additional species that will be dealt with in Year 5 of the Plan, after they know more about how to deal with it. He said there are a variety of ways to fund the Plan, such as tax increment financing. He said there are mitigation fees whereby developers can pay $100 per acre for "insurance" that the karst that might be found on their property is already covered in the Plan. Snell asked and Caruthers read a paragraph from the Plan regarding tax increment financing and how that will assist in the conservation program. There were other questions and comments from the Council. B Discussion regarding the Downtown Historic Tax Exemption -- Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager Yantis noted that there have been two presentations to Council regarding the different tools to use to improve the downtown. He said staff is moving toward the implementation of a tax exemption. He explained the purpose of a tax exemption and explained the eligibility criteria and the formula for allowing exemptions, as well as the City Council Meeting Minutes/October 23, 2006 Page 1 of 3 Pages process to implement exemption. Sansing asked about the required percentages of the first floor space to be used as retail in the implementation of the exemption status. There was further discussion. Nelon asked and Yantis said there would be a multi -faceted proposal. Oliver said there needs to be an objective definition of "historic" rather than just "old." Smith questioned how to judge whether a property's assessed value increases because of an overall increased rate or because of an improvement made to the property. There was further discussion. C Discussion regarding a status report on the City of Georgetown's progress relating to the implementation of the Downtown Masterplan and the City of Georgetown cost participation in the Downtown -- Paul Brandenburg, City Manager Brandenburg said there had been interest by the Council recently about the amount of money the City has invested in the downtown. He noted that the City has already paid for studies that have been done, and for the most part, the City has followed the recommended suggestions. He suggested that the City have he studies updated. There was discussion as to whether to bring back Consultant Nore Winter, noting there are no funds in the budget that was just approved. There were further comments from Council. D Discussion regarding possible installation of Red Light Cameras in the City of Georgetown -- David Morgan, Police Chief and Paul Brandenburg, City Manager Brandenburg noted that red light cameras are becoming popular in the Metroplex and also in the Houston area, so it was decided to present the information for the Council to see if they want to pursue it. He said the staff feels it is a safety issue in Georgetown, emphasizing that it will not be considered a revenue maker. Morgan said the Attorney General gave an opinion that allows cameras to be installed on TXDOT-controlled intersections. He said the City would deal with a third party vendor, and there would be no cost to the City. He said photos would be taken of license plates of vehicles that run a red light, and the vendor would send the fine notice to the violator and collect all fines. He said the violator may appeal to the City and to the Municipal Court, saying it would be a civil violation and it doesn't go on the driving record. He said the registered owner can communciate back to the vendor about the vehicle, if someone else was driving. He said it is predicted that this will reduce the number of injury accidents in Georgetown. He noted that if an officer gives a ticket for running a red light, it is a criminal violation and goes to Court. He said the City will work with the vendor to do a study on 7 to 10 intersections. He told Council there were 200 citations this year for running red lights. He said the vendor gets paid their expenses from collecting the civil fines. Smith said there's a lot of controversy about this issue, so he doesn't want Georgetown to "lead the charge." He said it looks like outsourcing police services. Eason said it makes sense to allow a machine to take over a menial task to save the police officers for more important issues. Carr said this is similar to putting computers in the police cars, saying he understands some of the fear, but the City can't afford to expect officers to work in the same mode as they have for the last 25 years. Nelon asked and Morgan explained about the stacking cameras that have already been installed in some Georgetown intersections for several years. Oliver said there are issues to be worked through, but the issue needs to move forward. He asked and Morgan confirmed that the tapes could be used for other purposes as well. 5:19 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 - Evaluation of the LCRA Wholesale Power Contract -- Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations -Transamerican Underground vs. Arch Insurance Co., C.G. Carieton 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 - Application by MUD 19 for a Sewer Utility Certificate of Convenience and Necessity - Stanford v. City of Georgetown , Cause No. 06-634-C26, filed in the 26th Judicial District of Williamson County, Texas - Consideration and possible action to approve Agreed Orders issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in Docket No. 2004 -0409 -PST -E and Docket No. 2004 -1746 -MWD -E. - Discussion and possible action relating to zoning and other permit approvals for GISD City Council Meeting Minutes/October 23, 2006 Page 2 of 3 Pages - Consideration and possible action concerning the acquisition of 5.107 acres from Bobby Ray Guthrie, Trustee, for future City electric department operations and warehouse, a public use, including consideration and possible action on a Resolution authorizing condemnation. F Sec 551,072: Deliberations about Real Property - Consideration and possible action concerning the acquisition of 5.107 acres from Bobby Ray Guthrie, Trustee, for future City electric department operations and warehouse, a public use, including consideration and possible action on a Resolution authorizing condemnation. G Sec. 551.086: Competitive Matters Consideration and possible action related to the City of Georgetown Energy Services Department marketing for renewable programs and surge protection program and electric rate ordinance updates -- Mike Mayben, Energy Services Manager, Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations N Sec.551.087: Deliberations 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. 6:30 p.m. -- returned to Open Session and adjourned •' . .i •• IO � s City Council Meeting Minutes/October 23, 2006 Page 3 of 3 Pages Attest: