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Home My WebLink AboutMIN 03.09.1993 CC-RThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in regular session on the above date with Mayor Leo Wood presiding. Council Members Present: Ferd Torn Mike McMaster Doris Curl Bill Shelby Shorty Valdez Jane Voltz Winfred Bonner Staff Present: Bob Hart, City Manager Marianne Landers Banks, City Attorney Susan Morgan, Director of Finance Ed Barry, Director of Development Svcs. Hugh Anderson, Chief of Police Les Bunte, Fire Chief Workshop Council Members Absent: ION Bonnie McLain, Accounting Supervisor Terry Jones, Purchasing Agent Sandra Lee, Deputy City Secretary 930125 Report on Australia Management Exchange Program/Bob Hart Hart related the similarities of local government issues faced by Georgetown and Beechworth, Victoria, and shared innovations by Australian cities regarding communications with citizens and promotion of local tourist attractions. Executive Session - Called to order at 6:40 p.m. 930126 Sec.2(e) Legal Report Discussion of pending and potential litigation/Marianne Banks 930127 Sec.2(f) heal Estate Discussion of potential acquisition of real property/Marianne Banks Regular Session - Called to order at 7:25 p.m. Action on executive session items 11Nt I Minutes of City Council Meeting March 9, 1993 Page 1 of 5 Pages Consent Agenda 930128 Approve of meeting minutes-- Regular Meeting of Feb. 23, 1993/Elizabeth Gray 930129 Amend janitorial contract with Janim `ng adding Municipal Court Building and History and Visitor Information Center in the amount of $3360.00/Terry Jones and Susan Morgan 930130 Award bid for two -ton asphalt roller to Romco Equipment in the amount of $12,318.00/Terry Jones and Susan Morgan 930131 Approve Board of Adjustment application fee waiver request for McIntire Nursery, 303 Leander s • Barry 930132 Resolution abandonmig two 51 Public Utility Easements located along t common1' of Lotsand 3, Block 0 Sierra Vista Section1 Barry 930133 Resolution abandoning one 10' Public Utility Easement located along the (PULLED) Clear SpringsRoad property line of 1 Block i Oak Crest, Section Barry 930134 Authorization to pay the City's pro -rata portion of the cost of operating the Williamson County Appraisal District, in the amount of $24,000/Susan Morgan 930135 Award bid authorizing purchase of vehicles from multiple vendors in various amounts/Terry Jones and Susan Morgan 930136 Approve contract with Williamson County for the City to provide rural protection , amount of $60,000/Les Bunte 930137 Approve stipulation with Texas Utilities concerning electric service line to Dove Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant and amendment to City's Electric Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCl)/1\4arianne Banks Motion by Valdez, second by Tonn to approve the Consent Agenda. Approved 7-0. ReiAj. i . •Citizensto address the Council. There were no citizens who wished to address Council. 930139 Mayor,Council, l staff commentsand reports 0 Crop Walk proclamation --Tom Minutes of City Council Meeting March 9, 1993 Page 2 of 5 Pages Mayor Wood read the proclamation and presented it to a delegation from the Georgetown Ministerial Alliance and to Ernest Irons from the Caring Place, 930140 Presentation by County Commissioner David Hays regarding Austin Metro By" Pass and resolution requesting the Texas Department of Transportation to consider feasibility of a route designation from Temple to Seguin via Taylor/Commissioner Hays Hays explained that the Commissioners' Court is requesting support for this by- pass in addition to lending their support to the MoKan Project and the widening of I-35. They are also requesting support from the City of Round Rock and the Chambers of Commerce of Round Rock and Georgetown. Mayor Wood relayed that he had spoken personally with Congressmen Pickle, Laughlin and Smith regarding these highway issues. Motion by Tonn, second by Shelby to approve the resolution of support for the construction of the by-pass. Approved 7-0. audit93#141 Report and acceptance of CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Reportl management letter, and single !ofor r September 30, 1992/Susan Morgan and Bob Hart Morgan introduced Earl Maxwell and Steve Canable of Maxwell, Locke & Ritter. Maxwell explained the CAFR and reported no findings of material weakness. The report will be submitted to GFOA for competition of Excellence in Financial Reporting. The City of Georgetown CAFR has won this title for several years. Maxwell explained the Single Audit Report, and noted that it tracks Federal grants totaling more than $2.9 million with cash receipts of about $700,000 in 1992. He noted to Council that the Report to Management showed no material weaknesses. Mayor Wood commended the staff. 930142 Governance discussion regarding the cost allocation for the Joint Services Fund, winter averaging methodology and multiple meter charges./Susan Morgan and Bob Hart Hart outlined the Council discussion last year regarding recommendations on the utility funds. Maxwell explained that the report tested the balances, expenses and revenues, examined the allocations to the joint service funds, and examined policies and methodologies. All allocations were found to be properly applied and reasonable. Maxwell suggested that the Council monitor the allocations and revenue levels on a yearly basis. Minutes of City Council Meeting March 9. 1993 Page 3 of 5 Pages Morgan reviewed the records and procedures on winter averaging of sewer rates, and told Council that if the City implements new averaging procedures as proposed, the City would lose approximately $162,000 in revenue. McMaster feels that some people are being charged too much for sewer. He expressed concern about those people who have leaks due to frozen pipes. Morgan explained that the City will adjust the accounts for those people who bring in proof of having repaired broken pipes. Mayor Wood preferred to take up this discussion during the Budget Retreat in May. Tonn asked Morgan if she had an estimate on the revenues for the coming fiscal year. Morgan replied that she thinks there will be a slight drop in the wastewater revenue and possibly in the overall utilities collection. Hart warned of additional costs coming due to the additional $270,000 that was needed for the Dove Springs Plant and the cost of the Pecan Branch Interceptor line for the north side of town. Also, the City is currently having to haul sewage sludge to the landfill. They should be able to take it to the Dove Springs Plant once it opens. There has also been a State -mandated water quality study for a portion of the Gabriel River that is estimated to cost $250,000. Other cities are raising their rates drastically to cover the increased costs from State and Federal mandates. The City of Stephenville just raised their rates from $14/month to $38/month. Voltz would like to encourage dialogue and stated that the increased costs need to be made public. Also, if our system is unfair, that needs to be looked into. The overall priority is to make sure we can pay our way. McMaster would like to be able to find out what each customer actually puts out for wastewater and charge them for it. He also told Council of documented incorrect readings in the past when meters were read early or late, for instance causing a 36 -day reading in November, the first month for winter averaging. Mayor Wood said the Council needs to make a concentrated effort at the Budget Retreat to find a way to lower the utility rates. He stated that he would prefer to see the minimum charge lowered rather than changing the averaging procedure, so that every customer would see a reduction. Hart explained that one of the reasons that our rates are higher than they were in years past is because the operating and debt service costs of the individual utilities have now been identified, whereas in the past, it was not clear what their actual cost was. Minutes of City Council Meeting March 9, 1993 Page 4 of 5 Pages 930143 Ordinance No. 93-10 amending the 1992/93 Annual Operating Eleme (budget) to 'increase the Special Revenue Fund -Sierra Microwave Grant $19,271 for lease and easement receipts to be passed through to Texas Departme of •, (TDOC) and Sierra Microwave • o_ • .'-ai i Motion by Tonn, second by Shelby to approve this ordinance on second reading. Approved 7-0. 930144 Ordinance relating to the authority of the Traffic Engineer to designate truck routes and temporary speed zones in and around construction areas, and establishing enforceable speed limits for City streets/Marianne Banks Banks explained that this ordinance would allow temporary speed limits for construction vehicles on residential streets and authorize the signage for periods during development. Mayor Wood asked if this ordinance had been brought about due to the complaints from residents in the River Bend Subdivision. Banks confirmed that this ordinance was the result of those complaints and that it would impose fines for breaking the posted speed limits, but does not require reparation for damage done to the streets. Damages would be addressed in the Subdivision Regulations which will require developers to designate a traffic plan before beginning construction. 930145 Final Comments an! Evaluation of meetinImm Voltz asked to have a workshop at the next council meeting on the new Subdivision Regulations, Mayor Wood thanked the citizens in the audience for attending. The meeting was adjourned at 8:34 p.m. These minutes were compiled by Sandra Lee and reviewed by Elizabeth Gray. Approved: mss. Leo Wood, Mayor Minutes of City Council Meeting March 9, 1993 Page 5 of 5 Pages Attest: Elizabeth Gray, City