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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 05.08.2006 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, John Henry Carr Kirby, Farley Snell, Ben Oliver Staff Present, Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for UtilityOperations; Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney; Sandra D. Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Laurie Brewer, Assistant Director of Finance and Administration; Leticia Zavala, Accounting Manager; David Morgan, Police chief; Mark Thomas, Economic Development Director; Dave Hall, Inspections Director; Paul Pausewang, Facilities Coordinator; Anthony Lincoln, Fire Chief; Keith Hutchinson, Public Information Officer Policy Development/Review Workshop ® Called to order at 04:00 P A Workshop discussion regarding issues outlined in the Mid Year Status Report to Council -- Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration and Paul Brandenburg, City Manager Rundell distributed a handout, and Brandenburg began with a review of status, activity indicators, and projections. He gave a brief review of the program highlights for each department. Kirby asked to have specific goals in Code Enforcement. Sansing asked and Lincoln confirmed that Knox boxes are required for commercial buildings and voluntary for residences. Sansing encouraged increased assistance from the Police Department for the School District in regards to illegal drug usage, and asked for cooperation from the Georgetown Animal Shelter with the County Animal Shelter. Rundell said sales taxes have increased 20% over last year. Snell asked about the PID assessment and Rundell said Simon would need to give the City a check if the taxes are not high enough. She said construction in the City has increased, and inspection revenue is 58% higher than in 2005. She said expenditures are within projections. She said Utlity Fund revenues are higher, with utility expenses within projections. She emphasized that the Mid -Year issues are police staffing and gasoline/fuel costs. Sansing questioned the status of the STEP system for public safety personnel. Brandenburg said more time is needed to recruit to fill more positions. Rundell said the budget amendment will be on the Council agenda tomorrow. She gave Council a summary of the amendment. She listed the capital projects. She noted that the General Fund is policy compliant and self-supporting, and listed the revenues, saying conservation is key regarding expected debts, especially fuel cost increases. She estimated the total General Fund Contingency at $5+ million. Brandenburg read the proposed budget schedule, noting the first reading of the budget ordinance is planned for August 22. Sansing asked if the City is doing any joint purchasing with GISD. Rundell noted that the City has offered, but GISD has declined to participate. Sansing requested that the County, school districts, and other cities pool their resources regarding insurance. Brandenburg noted it was discovered that participating with the other entities would create increased rates for the City of Georgetown. City Council Meeting Minutes/May 8, 2006 Page 1 of 2 Pages B Facility Plan Update --Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager Yantis noted that 2 1/2 years ago, Council adopted the first Facility Plan. The plan, adopted in September 2003, listed a set of 5 -year needs and longer needs. He said a citizens bond committee was formed and bonds were approved by the voters. He noted that the Fire Station, Community Center, and Library are all under construction. He said the fire station will be renovated to house the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Visitors Center offices. He said funding from TXDOT will be pivotal in the plan. He said the staff overcrowding at the electric department, municipal court, and the fire stations needs to be considered. He told Council a needs assessment will be presented in the budget for the police department and municipal court. Yantis noted the following issues in the 5 -year plan: space constraints at City Hall and at Planning and Inspections; and the need for additional fire stations, a police substation west of IH35, and for a public parking garage on the west side of town. He noted that he thinks the City has an organized, forward -thinking plan to continue to supply services to the community. C Proposed MUD Policy -- Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager and Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney Yantis noted that Council requested a policy for acceptance of municipal utility districts. He said it will be necessary to determine the ultimate city limit boundaries, and within those boundaries the City should not accept MUD's, but acceptance of potential MUD's outside the boundaries should be reviewed, based on specific criteria. He noted that there is less than a mile between the City's ETJ line and the ETJ line of the City of Jarrell. He said discussions are continuing with the cities of Liberty Hill and Leander regarding establishing definite ETJ lines. He said the City has agreements with the cities of Round Rock and Weir. He distributed a print-out of the process used by the City of Fort Worth, describing the staff analysis and additional requirements for the City of Fort Worth to accept a municipal utility district. There was discussion and there were questions from Council regarding whether the City could deny a municipal utility district if the City of Georgetown utilities would be capable of supplying to that area within four years. Snell said he would like for Council to have a "tool" to be able to determine whether the City would approve or disapprove a proposed municipal utility district. It was confirmed that this policy will come to Council for approval. 5:20 p.m. -- recessed for 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 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. F Sec.551.074 Personnel Matters - Annual Performance Evaluation and Compensation Review of City Manager 6:00 p.m. -- returned to Open Session and adjourned The meeting was adjourned at 06:00 PM. City Council Meeting Minutes/May 8, 2006 Page 2 of 2 Pages Attes d City Secretary Sandra Lee