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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 10.21.1992 CC-S05 t • # ! a!i The City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Special Session on the above date with Mayor Leo Wood presiding. Council Members Present: Ferd Torn Winfred Bonner Shorty Valdez Mike McMaster Jane Voltz Doris Curl Staff Present: Marianne Landers Banks, City Attorney Sandra Lee, Deputy City Secretary Hugh Anderson, Chief of Police Jim Briggs, Director of Public Utilities Council Members Absent: Bill Shelby Brad Stratton, Public Affairs Officer Workshop --Called to Order 6:37 p.m. 920457 Discussion of downtown parking regulations Curl thanked the members of the community that had come to take part in this workshop. Brad. Stratton explained the survey that had been distributed to downtown businesses regarding the parking situation. The following citizens and interested parties spoke before the Council regarding the parking situation: Jim Korus - member of DGA - asked Council for an incentive for the businesses who refrained from parking on the square. Also asked that the City install signs to direct people to the City parking lots. Sharon McCarty - has fought the parking issue for eight years, including a "letter to the editor" in the newspaper. Would like to see enforcement. Suggested that tires be marked on a random basis so no one would know when. She would gladly pay the tickets for her customers and will advertise such. Minutes of City Council Meeting October 21, 1992 Page 1 of 4 Pages Mayor Wood asked Brad Stratton to contact Nations Bank to see if part of their parking lot could be used for public parking or designated parking for employees working on the square. Martha Allen - would regulate her employee parking. Handcrafts Unlimited opposes the two-hour parking limit. Cerise Gideon - requested more signs about public parking and complained about no public restrooms in the area of the square. Bill Harris - doesn't want to see enforcement right away. Suggested self - policing and should include the block off the square as well. Bill Edmonston - unhappy with the Old Grace Church building taking away parking spaces, poses a problem for volunteer firemen finding a place to quickly park their vehicles in order to respond to a fire call. Thanked Council for the opportunity to speak on this issue. Mayor Wood invited County Judge John Doerfler to speak. Judge Doerfler said that the parking issue had been discussed at the previous two Commissioners' Court meetings. He stated that he had no control over the individual county employees who violate the parking rules. He put out a memo last week asking them to comply. Mayor Wood thanked Judge Doerfler and noted that Judge Doerfler was "leading by example". Ercel Brashear - needs instant access to his vehicles. Complained that he would be unhappy if he was forced to comply with the two-hour limit. Suggested to Council that they cancel the Farmers' Market every Thursday afternoon because they and their customers take up valuable parking spaces and don't spend money anywhere else. He also complained that the downtown retailers don't cater to shoppers after 5:00 p.m. He expressed satisfaction with the current parking situation. His customers have never complained about not being able to find a parking space. Also would like to see public restrooms located in the area of the square. His office is open on Saturday. Shoppers and tourists come in his office and ask to use his restroom. Then as they leave, they pick up a free map. Voltz asked who had put up the "county official" parking signs around the courthouse. Public Utilities Director Jim Briggs responded that the City sign shop had made the signs about seven years ago and installed them at the request of the County. Last year, signs Minutes of City Council Meeting October 21, 1992 Page 2 of 4 Pages were added for designating places for customers paying taxes, and for loading and unloading prisoners. Mayor Wood explained that when he had been City Manager, the County had complained about the judges not being able to find parking places, so that's why they were given permission to erect designated parking signs. Now that the Criminal Justice Center is occupied, the District Judge sign should probably come down. It might be nice to leave a sign for the Justice of the Peace. Norma Davis of the County Auditor's Office announced that beginning next day at 8:00 a.m., the employees in the Auditor's Office will be "mandated" to park off the square. Jean Brashear - asked how soon the grassy area at the Old Grace Church site could be made into a parking lot. Jim Briggs said that approval was needed from the Texas Water Commission. He estimated that it would be March or April before the parking lot would be completed. Ms. Nash of Our House to Your House suggested that shop owners could display a sign in the window of their car explaining that they were a shop owner and would only be in that parking space for a short time, with a phone number to call if they abused the privilege. Voltz thanked the shop owners and the County for participating in this workshop discussion. A shop owner asked about parking in the "red zones." Mayor Wood asked Chief Hugh Anderson to respond. City Attorney Marianne Banks stated that the Fire Marshall enforces the parking in the "red zones." There has been no enforcement since the Council mandate that there would not be any enforcement of the parking regulations on the square. Voltz said she would like to see the City parking lots made more secure, with better lighting and police patrol. Curl stated that she is a member of the Urban Design and Historic Preservation Working Group and that she would take the parking issue to them. McMaster said he thought this was about the 12th time the Council had reviewed the parking situation. He suggested that the Council go as a group to speak to the known offenders. He suggested reserved parking for employees and incentive prizes for employees who use the public parking lots. Minutes of City Council Meeting October 21, 1992 Page 3 of 4 Pages Council agreed that self -policing is essential, and that they would request that an item be put on the next Council Agenda to remove the signs around the courthouse, except for the sign of Justice of the Peace Jim Bitz, and that they wanted to hear comments from Nations Bank regarding the use of a portion of their parking lot. Mayor Wood thanked the Council and the audience for attending the workshop. Regular Session --Called to order at 7:50 p.m. 920458-B Nomination to fill a vacancy on the Williamson County Appraisal District/Leo Wood Mayor Wood informed Council that Lorente Navarette had been nominated by the School Board to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Marty Tyree. Voltz asked about the qualifications for nominating someone to fill the vacancy. It was explained that votes are allocated based on each entity's tax rate time total property value. Consequently, votes of the City of Round Rock and Round Rock School District, have the most votes. The City of Georgetown and GISD have to combine or vote for the same person in order to compete. Williamson County splits their votes among the cities. Mayor Wood read the resolution. Motion by McMaster, second by Bonner to unexpired term of Marty Tyree. Approved 6-01 The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m. nominate Lorente Navarette to fill the These minutes were compiled by Sandra Lee and reviewed by Elizabeth Gray. Approved: Wood, Mayor Minutes of City Council Meeting October 21, 1992 Page 4 of 4 Pages Attest: Elizabeth Gray, City