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Home My WebLink AboutMIN 06.26.2006 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.a CouncilAbsent: 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; Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations; Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney; Sandra D. Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Keith Hutchinson, Public Information Officer; Eric Lashley, Library Director; Laurie Brewer, Assistant Director of Finance and Administration; Glenn Dishong, Water Services Manager; Mark Miller, Transportation Services Manager; Mike Mayben. Energy Services Director Policy Development/Review Workshop - Called to order at 4:00 PM A Texas Department of State Health Services on Smoking -- Paul Brandenburg, City Manager Dr. Philip Huang, Medical Director for Chronic Diseases, with the Texas Department of State Health Services, said second hand smoke is recognized as a hazard by all health organizations, and a new Suregeon General's report will be released tomorrow. He explained that there are 69 known carcinogens in second-hand smoke that can cause lung cancer and coronary heart disease in adults, and respiratory problems, ear infections, and SIDS in children. He said at least 13 states have 100% smoke-free laws that effect restaurants, bars, and music venues. In Texas, the cities of EI Paso, Austin, Laredo, and Beaumont have passed 100% smoke-free ordinances. Mayor Nelon noted that Austin's ordinance has only one exemption --for charitable bingo. Wong said the issues effecting employers are: increased absenteeism, higher health insurance cost, worker's comp claims, accidents and fires, property damage, smoke pollution, illness and discomfort among non-smokers, and increased liability to employers. He suggested that one should look at objective data such as state sales tax reports for a sufficient period of time both before and after the ordinance goes inito effect and account for underlying economic conditions, while using appropriate statistical methods and looking at sources of funding (restaurant association or tobacco vendor). He showed various charts showing very little difference in sales after passage of smoke-free ordinances, and therefore no adverse impact on the economy. He demonstrated a chart of the EPA Air Standards. He said there is clear international scientific consensus that second-hand smoke poses significant risk to non-smokers. He said it has been proven that exposure cannot be suitably reduced by special ventilation or filters. There were questions from Council. B Presentation and discussion of the Arts and Culture Board's proposed method of funding of public art for capital improvement projects funded in whole or in part by the City of Georgetown -- Eric P. Lashley, Library Services Director Paul Gaffney, Chair of the Arts and Culture Board, noted that four of his colleagues from the board were City Council Meeting Minutes/June 26, 2006 Page 1 of 3 Pages present in the audience. He reviewed a proposed ordinance. He said he and the Board are suggesting that 2% of all capital improvement projects be set aside for public art. He said the Board suggests setting up a Public Art Panel to make decisions about where the art would be located. Nelon asked, since the large projects have to go to the voters, how would it be described to the voters in order to allow the project to be included with the bond issue. Snell noted that the water and wastewater projects don't go to the voters. Oliver asked and was told that the Finance staff had not been included or asked to advise as to how this program would be structured. There was further discussion as to how the issue would need to be described to the voters for an election. Smith suggested that method to use would be to allocate a percentage of the General Fund. Snell said he would rather see the percentage tied to the buildings, rather than tied to every project, such as streets, etc. Brandenburg said if there are overruns on a project, the "art item" would be the first thing that would be cut from the budget. Eason suggested a combination of a percentage of a project along with a line item in the General Fund. Berryman suggested that art from our own area be used, and not go out to other states to procure art. There was further discussion. Nelon suggested that staff take Council's input and bring back an item that would allow the Council to express their direction to staff. C Discussion on November 6 Election for street maintenance sales tax -- Laurie Brewer, Assistant Director of Finance and Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration Brewer gave Concil a map with a legend showing streets that have already been completed, some that have been funded by 1/4 cent sales tax, and the streets that are proposed for the funding. There were questions from the Council. Brewer gave a slide presentation showing the history of the sales tax option. She reviewed a timeline for education of the voters, saying any language used would need to be approved by the bond counsel, so that there is no coercion, just facts. Snell suggested that there be an item at a regular meeting, with the camera coverage, in order to get the information out to the citizens. D Update on the City of Georgetown Long -Term Water Supply -- Glenn Dishong, Water Services Manager and Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations Briggs briefed the Council on the background for item on tomorrow agenda regarding the long-term water contract with LCRA/BRA. He said the legislature made water available to Williamson County from the Brazos Basin through the pipeline to Lake Stillhouse Hollow. He said some water has been made available to the City to replace dependence on the Alliance Water from the Colorado River. He said currently there are 6,720 acre-feet in the Lake Georgetown System, 15,448 acre-feet from Lake Stillhouse Hollow and 6,944 acre-feet in the Alliance Contract. He compared the prices and rules and regulations involved in obtaining the water from each of those sources. He said the LCRA Alliance contract can be replaced by the Brazos Basin water, freeing up the Alliance water to Round Rock and Cedar Park. He said staff is recommending that the City execute a contract for 10,000 acre-feet of additional BRA water, and rlease the 6,944 acre-feet of Alliance water. Nelon said he attended a recent BRA update, and said the City of Georgetown is in an unusual position in that Georgetown has 50 years of water in its future, which many cities cannot say. He commended staff for their long-term work on a future cost-effective water supply. Carr asked and Briggs said the City's supply of well water is at about 3500 acre-feet. He said that supply won't grow, it will stay static. Sansing asked about BRA "overselling" their capacity and possibly giving our water to some other city. Briggs said there is a provision in our contract that, within a certain timeframe there could be a renewal, if the City of Georgetown has a need. 5:47 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 F Sec.551.086 Competitive Matters - Consideration of Power Supply options for calendar year December 2006 -December 2007 -- Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations G 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 City Council Meeting Minutes/June 26, 2006 Page 2 of 3 Pages 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. 6:25 p.m. -- resumed Open Session and adjourned The meeting was adjourned at 06:25 PM. WER May Gary Nelon City Secretary Sandra Lee City Council Meeting Minutes/June 26, 2006 Page 3 of 3 Pages