HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 05.31.2001 CC-SThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the
above date with Mayor MaryEllen Kersch presiding.
Council Present. Council Absent.
Charles "Ross" Burson, Clark Lyda, Sam Pfiester
Llorente Navarrette, Ken Evans, Jack
Noble, Doug Smith
.Staff Present:
George Russell, City Manager; Marianne Banks, City Attorney; Sandra Lee, City
Secretary; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager/Director of Information Resources;
Verna Browning, Director of Community Services; Amelia Sondgeroth, Director of
Development Services; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Don
Ward, Systems Engineering Manager; Terry Jones, Purchasing Director; Eric Lashley,
Library Director
'• i= - •s
TI
MOMMOTUM,••
A Review and discussion
concerning
redistricting, timeline,
charge to citizens' committee, and process for
appointment of citizens'
committee
-- Marianne Banks and
George Russell
Council discussed the timeline and charge and Mayor reviewed the names of the proposed committee
representatives from each council district.
B Discussion of issues in the City Charter which may be included in a charge to a Charter Review Committee
-- Marianne Banks and George Russell
There was discussion as to how to comply with the law that says only one subject recommended by the
Committee can be amended by the Council.
Banks noted that Council should expect information from Consultant John Olson within 30 days.
C Review and discussion of Economic Development Commission's purpose, charge, organization, and
current issues -- MaryEllen Kersch
Kersch asked Council for their opinion of the major issues regarding the Economic Development
Commission.
Council generally responded that after listening to tapes of the Economic Development Commission
Meeting on May 17, they have determined that there are communication issues that need to be resolved,
particularly involving the organizational structure of economic development and the charge to the
Commission. There was discussion as to the method for addressing the issues. Council said they are
anticipating receipt of a letter from the Commission and acknowledged that they have been invited to join
City Council Meeting Minutes/May 31, 2001
Page 1 of 5 Pages
the Commission at their next meeting on Thursday, June 14.
D Discussion of the local hotel occupancy tax, including without limitation tax rate and gross collections,
permitted and required uses of tax collections, oversight and administration of tax collections, role of the
Council, historical role of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), relationship to Main Street Program,
continued desirability and effectiveness of levying tax, benchmarking of results, current CVB budget and
expenditures to date, policy issues regarding use of tax collections -- Clark Lyda
Lyda reviewed the information provided in the attachment and suggested that Council take more control of
the allocation of the revenues from the tax. Council asked for a "break -down" of the expenditures being
made from the occupancy tax and destination of the brochures being produced with the tax money.
Bill Lipscomb, in the audience, gave a history of what was done with the tax money several years ago when
he was Chair of the CVB.
5:33 p.m. -- recessed for Executive Session
E Sec.551.071 consultation with attorney
- Pending Litigation
- City and George Russell, in his official capacity as Acting City Manager and as Office for Public
Information v. John W. Cornyn, Attorney General of Texas; Cause No. GV -001865 (353rd District
Court of Travis County)
- Domel v. City, Cause No. 94-020-C368 (368th District Court, Williamson County)
- Georgetown Waterpark, Ltd. v. City, et al.; Cause No. 00-209-C277 (277th District Court of
Williamson County)
- Walker and Shell Road Golf Center, Inc. v. City; Cause No. 00-083-C277 (277th District Court,
Williamson County)
- Wallace v. William Joseph Pascoe, Jr., Gary Todd Terbush, David Morgan, Chief of Police and City;
Cause No. A -00 -CA -609 -SS; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- City v. Doug and Doris Pierce; Cause No. 00-552-C26 (26th District Court, Williamson County)
- Potential Litigation
- Code Enforcement Actions
. Legal/Risk Management Issues
- Legal Advice concerning agenda items
- City Charter
F Sec.551.074 personnel matters
. Performance Review of Council -appointed employees: City Manager and City Secretary
- Selection of interim City Attorney
G Sec.551.072 deliberation on real property
- Lease of city -owned property
- Acquisition of property
There was no Consent Agenda scheduled for this meeting.
Called to order at 6:59 p.m.
H Action from Executive Session
!Motion by Noble, second by Smith to appoint Cathy Riedel as Acting City Attorney. ,approved 6-0.
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Motion by Noble, second by Burson to authorize the City Manager to spend $170,000 on the purchase of
park property that the Council has authorized him to negotiate. Approved 5-0. (Lyda abstained)
O Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to execute an Interlocal Agreement between
Williamson County and the City of Georgetown regarding the re -alignment of Shell Road -- George
Russell
Russell explained the item including the resolution of a safety hazard at Cedar Brakes Road and Williams
Drive, saying the funds would come from the County and then be reimbursed from assessments made on
the property adjacent to the road through a Public Improvement District. Ercel Brashear further explained
the project, displaying an overhead photo and showing a portion of property being donated by the Campbell
Estate which will require an amendment to the original agreements. Banks clarified that the County will
need to prepare the field notes and that would not be complete within 60 days, she asked for extension to
90 days. Motion by Lyda, second by Burson to approve the Interlocal Agreement with the extension to 90
days. Approved 6-0.
First Reading
of an ordinance
levying the 413
Sales and
Use Tax approved on May 5, 2001 dedicated for
transportation
improvements --
Micki Rundell
and George
Russell
Russell read only the caption of the ordinance after having satisfied the requirements of the City Charter.
Lyda asked Carol Polombo when the amendments to the 4B bylaws would be available. Polombo
explained that drafts will be available prior to the June 11 workshop. Lyda also asked for clarification of the
correct date for the beginning of collection of the tax, and Polombo confirmed that the date will be October
11 2001, rather than July 1 as originally assumed. Motion by Evans, second by Smith to approve the
ordinance on first reading. Approved 64
J Review and discussion of outstanding issues regarding Revised Traffic Analysis and Economic Impact
Study relating to the Rivery development -- George Russell
Russell explained a handout giving a variety of scenarios, showing that even in the "worse -case" scenario,
there are positive numbers regarding debt payment. Russell introduced Karen Beard of TIP Development
Strategies. Lyda asked if there were factors that weren't addressed in the report. Beard mentioned the
possibility of a tight -labor market but said that would be difficult to track.
Pfiester arrived on the dais.
Don Ward introduced Jack Jones from Alliance Texas and Sonny Kretzschmar from HDR who explained
the traffic studies. Lyda asked for an opinion of the traffic grade without the off-site transportation
improvements. Kretzschmar told Council the current grade level of traffic on Williams Drive is at Level C.
Lyda pointed out that according to the report, even if the improvements are built, at a cost of $11 or $12
million, the levels of service will still be degraded. He suggested there may be different areas where the
money could be better spent. Ward pointed out that even without the development, the section of Williams
Drive between IH35 and Country Club Drive would need to be expanded to eight lanes.
K Discussion and possible action regarding a request for financial support the Sertoma July 4th Fireworks
Display -- George Russell
Russell noted that in previous years, except for last year, the City has contributed funds for the Fireworks
Display. He said this year Sertoma is asking for $7500. Smith, a member of Sertoma, spoke in favor of the
Sertoma celebration and acknowledged that the City provides service, as well as a monetary contribution.
Evans said it is a part of tourism and said he would like to see the celebration grow with even more
community involvement. Motion by Smith, second by Evans to contribute $7500, at the City Manager's
discretion, to the Sertoma Club for the July 4 Fireworks Display. Navarrette said he felt this request should
follow the same procedure as requests from other non-profit entities. Noble suggested that Council wait to
see the figures on how much the City expends in service. Motion by Navarrette, second by Noble to
amend the original motion to defer the item until after the figures are supplied. Kersch stated that the
amendment could not destroy the main motion. Lyda appealed Kersch's ruling. Kersch explained her
ruling, saying that the way to resolve the issue would be to have the person who made the motion withdraw
the motion. Smith would not withdraw his motion. Kersch asked if the ruling of the chair should be
sustained. The ruling failed 4-2. Motion by Navarrette, second by Pfiester that this item be deferred to
the next Council Meeting. Approved 4-3. Motion by Navarrette, second by Smith to suspend the rules to
City Council Meeting Minutes/May 31, 2001
Page 3 of 5 Pages
allow tabling of this item for the next meeting. Approved 7-0.
8:19 p.m. -- recessed
8:30 p.m. -- resumed
Kersch explained that Banks advised that the previous motion be reconsidered so that the motion could be
redone to postpone to a "time specific." Motion by Lyda, second by Pfiester to postpone the item to the
June 12, 2001 Council Meeting. Approved 7-0,
L Consideration and possible action on appointment of a Redistricting Committee, adoption of the
Committee's charge and adoption of a timeline -- Marianne Banks and MaryEllen Kersch
Kersch recommended the appointment of the following members to serve as the Redistricting Committee:
Mary Steger, Chair; John Kirby (recommended by Sam Pfiester), Linda Turner (recommended by Ken
Evans), Nancy Weyrauch (recommended by Doug Smith), Councilmember Hoss Burson, Councilmember
Clark Lyda, Councilmember Llorente Navarrette, and Councilmember Jack Noble.
Della Green, 1901 Vine Street, said she hopes the Council will consider that the membership be diverse
and will represent not only racial or ethnic groups but also consider indemnification. She asked them to
keep in mind that single -member districts were drawn for minority representation and said she feels they
cannot draw lines based only on the hispanic population. She warned she would make an issue if there are
no people who "look like her" on the committee.
Motion by Navarrette, second by Pfiester to approve the recommended members, with Mary Steger as
Chair of the Redistricting Committee and to redraw but maintain the City's current seven single -member
districts. Approved 7-0.
Motion by Lyda, second by Smith to adopt the 2001 Timeline for the Redistricting Committee as provided in
the packet, provided that the initial meeting occur within 10 days with a maximum of up to 6 hours with the
consultant. Approved 7-0.
M Consideration and possible action on a scope of services for a GIS mapping services from AIMS to support
the work of the Redistricting Committee and prepare the single -member district map -- Marianne Banks and
George Russell
Banks asked for Council's approval of the scope of services. Motion by Lyda, second by Evans to approve
the scope of services. Approved 7-0.
N Consideration and possible action on a process for appointment of a Charter Review Committee and
adoption of a charge and timeline -- Marianne
Della Green spoke to Council regarding her interpretation of the Charter's reference to a quorum of the
Council and the Council -appointed boards.
Motion by Lyda, second by Navarrette to defer this item until the second Council Meeting in June.
Approved 7-0.
O Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to execute an Interlocal Agreement between
Williamson County and the City of Georgetown regarding the re -alignment of Shell Road -- George
Russell
This item was handled previously in this meeting following Item H at the beginning of the Regular Agenda.
P Consideration for the approval of a contract with Brinkley Sargent Architects to provide a site plan
schematic and cost estimates for the possible expansion of the Library in an amount not to exceed
$21,000.00 --Terry Jones and George Russell
Jones explained the item. Lyda
clarified
that the funds would
come from the interest on bonds. Navarrette
expressed concern about excess
traffic on MLK if 8th Street is closed. Motion by Navarrette, second by
Lyda
to approve a contract
with
Brinkley
Sargent Architects.
Approved 7-0.
Q Discussion and possible action regarding the selection of an architect to perform design work for the
renovation of City Hall -- Terry Jones
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Jones explained that the four architects who had presented proposals were interviewed today by the
Council Facilities Subcommittee. Noble spoke to Council regarding a public/private partnership with shared
space for financing options. Evans explained that Tom Nichols of 1113 Architects had suggested
partnering with retailers, in order to provide a financing method to build a bigger building. Smith said he
thought Brinkley Sargent was more creative with a courtyard that would open the building to the downtown
square. Evans said he recommended that the Council go with the architect that is local, but whichever way
the vote goes, the City will benefit because both architects are very well qualified. Motion by Lyda, second
by Noble to select Brinkley Sargeant as the architectural firm to do the design work for City Hall. Approved
6-1. (Evans opposed)
R Second Reading of an ordinance to extend the suspension of applications for manufactured housing
development projects within the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction for a period not to exceed six months --
Verna Browning and George Russell (to be considered no earlier than 7:40 p.m.)
Browning read only the caption of the ordinance on second reading. Motion by Evans, second by Smith to
approve Ordinance No. 2001-37. Approved 7-0.
S Consideration and possible action relating to the Economic Development Commission purpose, charge,
organization and current issues -- MaryEllen Kersch
Kersch suggested that the history of economic development in Georgetown needs to be shared with the
Commission. Kersch asked Lyda to present the historical issues to the Commission when the Council
meets with the Commission at the Joint Meeting on June 14. Kersch asked Smith, Evans, and Noble to
prepare to share their perspective with the Commission at that meeting.
T Consideration and possible action on the Request for Proposal for Legal Services for the City of
Georgetown -- George Russell
Russell explained the item, saying the request for proposal was aimed at quality and not necessarily the low
bid. He said the City's auditor has reviewed the proposals and recommended that the low bid with best
qualifications be chosen. Russell recommended that interviews be set with representatives of each of the
five firms that submitted proposals. He suggested that the legal needs of the City might be best served by
a combination of using one of the firms along with the current legal department. Motion by Lyda, second
by Pfiester to direct staff to attempt to schedule interviews June 5 through 8 on one or two consecutive
days, and failing that, for June 13th through 15th. Russell suggested that staff participate in the interviews.
Approved 6-1. (Navarrette opposed).
9:55 p.m. -- motion to adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 09:55 PM.
roved :
r MaryEllen Kersch
City Council Meeting Minutes/May 31, 2001
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City Secretary Sandra Lee