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Home My WebLink AboutMIN 07.10.2006 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 Absent, 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; Barbara Quirk, Acting City Attorney; Sandra Lee, City Secretary; Shirley Rinn, Assistant to the City Manager; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Glenn Dishong, Water Services Manager; Kathy Ragsdale, Utility Office Director; Mark Miller, Transportation Services Manager; Leticia Zavala, Accounting Manager; Randy Morrow, Director of Community Services; Kimberly Garrett, Director of Parks and Recreation; Anthony Lincoln, Fire Chief; Kevin Stofle, Assistant Police Chief; Lorie Lankford, Accountant 111; Terry Jones, Construction Manager; Laura Wilkins, Administrative Supervisor of Georgetown Utility Systems; Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director; Mike Mayben, Energy Services Director; Tom Benz, Systems Engineering Manager Policy Development/Review Workshop - Called to order at 4:00 PIVi A Applicant Presentations and Discussion of Community/Social Services and Children's and Youth Program Funding Applications for FY'06-07 -- Paul Brandenburg, City Manager Brandenburg noted that the City received 14 requests for funding assistance of approximately $356,000. He said Council has allocated abase budget of $272,000. He reminded Council that there is a change this year regarding funding for youth programs being separate from the other social services funding. He noted that the Council Subcommittee to be appointed tomorrow night will make the determinations as to the allocations of funding. He said an allocation of $73,135 is included in the base budget for the Williamson County and Cities Health District, based on a per capita rate. He called attention to the increase to $2.05 per capita requested by the Health District. He noted that staff is checking with other cities in Williamson County. The following organizations spoke to Council regarding their requests for funding: Assistance League of Georgetown, Bluebonnet Trails MHMR PRIDE, Faith in Action Caregivers, Georgetown Community Service Center/Caring Place, Georgetown Project, Habitat for Humanity, Literacy Council, Lone Star Circle of Care, Pregnancy Center, Stonehaven Senior Center, Williamson County and Cities Health District, Williamson County Crisis Center, Williamson and Burnet County Opportunities (WBCO). Mayor noted there would be a Council subcommittee appointed tomorrow night to review the applications and make recommendations for Council approval at a subsequent meeting. 5:30 p.m. -- recessed 5:40 p.m. -- resumed City Council Meeting Minutes/July 10, 2006 Page 1 of 3 Pages B Preliminary 2006107 Budget Presentation -- Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration Printed handouts were given to the Council, and Brandenburg told Council the detail would be presented to Council on August 7 and 8. He gave some highlights of the proposed budget to implement the Council priorities, which are: continue revitalization and economic development; alleviate traffic congestion; continue implementation of the Downtown Master Plan; improve the quality of services while keeping property taxes low; improve emergency response service levels; expand and coordinate the parks system; continue efforts for community long-range planning; develop an affordable housing program; expand recycling opportunities; ensure adequate staffing and competitive compensation for non-public safety employees; continue implementation of the City's Facilities Plan; and increase operational efficiency and financial integrity. Brandenburg explained that the priorities were not listed in rank order. He assured Council that they will be presented a good budget to meet priorities and keep service where it is or improve. He said Council will get to see the cut list. Rundell reviewed the 2006-07 Proposed Budget Preview. She said the assessed valuation is $3.1 billion, saying there has been large commercial growth and this is a 17% overall increase over 2005. She said the estimated preliminary effective tax rate is $0.35864. There were questions from the Council. She said there are no proposed water, wastewater, or stormwater rate increases. She noted that the sales tax revenue is 20% greater than in 2005, saying the majority of that is coming from building materials. She said 24.7% of the General Fund Budget is now funded by sales tax. C Recreation Center Expansion Estimated Cost and Timeline for Construction -- Terry Jones, Support Services Director and Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration Rundell noted that over the last year, when they talked to Council about the fire station and the community center construction, they noted that there could be issues related to cost overruns on the recreation center. She reminded Council that $10 million was approved by the voters and of that, $9.75 million was designated for construction at about $1.73 per square foot and construction was planned to start in 2008 or 2009. She said it is now known that there will be cost increases due to rising construction and materials costs, rising fuel costs, impacts from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last August, and regional commercial construction, including roads and highays. She said the contractor on the Library had to honor pre -hurricane cost increases. She listed various options to fund additional costs, saying the design could be modified to allow construction to begin in 2007; the project construction could be delayed until after the May election where the voters would be asked for addtional funding; construction of the total project could be moved forward by issuing certificates of oblication for the difference; or the project could be downsized to meet the approved funding, eliminating features such as the teen and senior centers, indoor pool and or outdoor pool feature, or build a smaller gymnasium, smaller fitness area and smaller locker rooms. She noted that there would be an action item on the agenda tomorrow night for Council to determine the option to use. There were questions from Council. Yantis said staff has not received hard numbers from contractors yet, saying currently all the numbers are estimates. Rundell said she thinks the City can still do the project without increasing the tax rate that was promised to the voters. It was noted that staff expressed concern about downsizing after allowing the public to expect certain amenities. It was generally decided that Council wants to give the voters what they want and expects staff to tell them how that will return to them financially. Chuck Croslin gave Council some statistics about the changes in construction numbers over four years. Sansing asked and Croslin agreed to reduce his management fee to assist the budget. Morrow said 11 years ago the City had the same kind of discussion with struggling over spending over $1 million to build the recreation center. He said there are 50% more recreation memberships this year than last year, and he feels the Center is a big asset to the community. 7:07 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 City Council Meeting Minutes/July 10, 2006 Page 2 of 3 Pages E 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. The meeting was adjourned at 07:25 PM. ary Nelon City Secretary Sandra Lee City Council Meeting Minutes/July 10, 2006 Page 3 of 3 Pages