HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 09.01.2005 CC-SThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Special Session on the above date with Mayor
Gary Nelon presiding.
Council Present: 1'� Council Absent:
Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Doug Smith, Henry All Council Present
Carr, John Kirby, Farley Snell, Ben Oliver
Staff Present:
Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City
Manager for Utility Operations; Patricia Carls, City Attorney; Sandra Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, r
Director of Finance and Administration; Laurie Brewer, Controller; Terry Jones, Purchasing Director;
Lorie Lankford, Accountant III; Carmen Spies, Accountant 11; Danella Elliott, Finance Administrative
Assistant; Randy Morrow, Director of Community Services; Kimberly Garrett, Assistant Director of �I
Recreation and Programs; Paul Pausewang, Vehicle Service Center Supervisor; Glenn Dishong, Water
Services Manager; Tom Benz, System Engineering Manager; Kevin Russell, Human Resources Director;
Shelly Hargrove, Tourism Director and Main Street Manager; Anthony Lincoln, Fire Chief; Kevin Stofle,
Assistant Police Chief; Mike Mayben, Energy Services Manager; Keith Hutchinson, Public Information
Officer
Public Hearing -® Called to order at 5:00 p.m.
Mayor announced that there are 25 families from the coastal area that were visiting Georgetown and have
been impacted by the hurricane because they will not be able to return home. He announced that a
contact person for people who need help is JoAnn Ford and gave her phone number. He explained that
the area churches, through the Interfaith Task Force, are able to house refugees.
A Public Hearing on 2005/06 Annual Operating Plan
Rundell gave a summary of the proposed budget, saying that it is policy compliant. With a slide
presentation, Rundell explained the budget of $132 million.
Brandenburg reviewedt the Council priorities of: Continued Revitalization and Economic Development,
Continued Maintenance of the Overall Transportation Plan; Continued Implementation of the Downtown
Master Plan; Improvement of the Quality of Services While Keeping Property Taxes Low; Continued
Funding for Economic Development/Industrial Recruitment; Improved Emergency Response Levels;
Alleviation of Immediate Traffic Congestion; Expansion of the Sewer Maintenance Program to Include
the Edwards Aquifer; Expansion of Recycling/Environmental Opportunities; Expansion and
Coordination of the Parks System; Update of the Century Plan; Development of an Affordable Housing
Program; Expansion of the Records Management Program; Implementation of the Airport Master Plan;
and Ensuring Adequate Staffing and Related Compensation for Non-public Safety Employees
Rundell gave a financial overview, including a review of the sales tax, saying she is projecting
conservatively, and noted there could be an impact from the hurricane and the cost of fuel. She said
there will be some fee adjustments. She explained the Capital Improvement Program and listed the
proposed new debt, including the funding of the new Library and Fire Station.
Special City Council Meeting Minutes/September 1, 2005
Page 1 of 5 Pages
Brandenburg summarized the proposed budget by saying that all Council priorities have been
addressed through new or expanded programs. He said there is funding for continued maintenance
and expansion of utilities; compensation and benefits have been improved; and staff levels have been
improved.
Nelon announced that there would be a three-minute rule for speaking at the public hearing and asked
Council if they had questions.
There were questions from Smith regarding the Williams Drive Gateway, saying GISD is planning to
close McCoy Elementary, and that would add a substantial amount of acreage into the proposed
gateway planning. Brandenburg responded that GISD has been notified and will participate in the
discussions as to what will be done.
The Public Hearing was opened at 5:40 p.m.
Speaker, Don Padfield, with additional minutes ceded from Adrienne Padfield, complimented the staff
regarding the budget but asked Council to consider a change in the property tax. He displayed some
graphs to show what he termed as "people tax," which he said was a combination of sales tax and
property tax. He said the property tax keeps going up and he doesn't understand why. He said 1 % of
the sales tax was to be used for property tax relief, but it hasn't helped.
There were no further comments. The Public Hearing was closed at 5:50 p.m.
5:50 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.
B Sec.551.071: Consultation with Attorney
- Pending or Threatened Litigation
- Legal Advice Regarding Agenda Items and other Matters
- Discussion of legal issues related to expansion of city limits and
extraterritorial jurisdiction
- Discussion and possible action regarding contested case hearing on City
of Leander's requests to amend CCN Nos. 10302 and 20626 (Application
Nos. 34789-C and 34790-C); SOAH Docket No. 582-05-7095; TCEQ Docket No.
2005-0864-UCR
C Sec.551.086 Public Power Utility Competitive Matters
- Power Supply Options for 2006 as recommended by the Georgetown Utility Systems Advisory Board
6:30 p.m. -- returned to Open Session
Regular Session ®- Called to order at 6:30 p.m.
D Action from Executive Session
Motion by Smith, second by Sansing that the City of Georgetown move forward with the acquisition of
energy for power supply year 2006 under our existing wholesale contract with the Lower Colorado
River Authority, without exercising the market pricing options for a fixed percentage of energy.
Approved 7-0.
Motion
by Smith, second
by Kirby that staff
begin the process of investigation of lower cost options for
energy
supply in the year
2007 and beyond,
immediately. Approved 7-0.
Legislative Regular Agenda
Council will individually consider and possibly take action on any of the following items:
E Discussion and possible action to adopt a resolution accepting the proposed Transportation Improvement
Plan and approving the adopted 2005/06 Budget for the Georgetown Transportation Enhancement
Corporation (GTEC) -- Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration
Special City Council Meeting Minutes/September 1, 2005
Page 2 of 5 Pages
Rundell explained the item, saying the the GTEC Budget, totals $12,309,075, of which $10,646,075 is for
transportation projects, including the Northeast Inner Loop at Lakeway Bridge, Southeast Arterial One,
Hacias Los Lobos, the Southwest Bypass, the Williams Drive widening, and various specified economic
development related projects. She said the budget includes sales tax revenues for 2005/06; debt proceeds
related to the Northeast Inner Loop/Lakeway Bridge Project, the Southwest Bypass Project, and the
Williams Drive Widening Project; Public Improvement District assessment for debt service related to the
Wolf Ranch Project, which is unfunded by 53% of the GTEC revenue generated within Wolf Ranch; debt
service related to the 2005 bond issue, as well as proposed debt service for any new bond issue; and
projects listed for public hearing, as well as, administrative, supplies, and general engineering expenses,
which do not require a public hearing. Snell asked about the contingent condition placed by Council on
Park Central and 500 S. Austin Avenue. He said he knows there is an agreement that has been signed for
500 S. Austin Avenue, but is concerned about Park Central.
Speaker, Royce Lindsey, said he has serious concerns about traffic impact on Leander Road as it effects
the school zone and the additional truck traffic, which he said is already quite heavy. He said last year
there was a school child hit by a truck at a school crossing with the guard present. He asked for something
to be done to minimize the number of trucks on the road. He said this budget includes work on half of the
Southwest Bypass. He said he thinks there is no plan for how to complete the project. He asked not to
move forward on half a plan.
Speaker, Keith Brainard, said he agrees with Lindsey and is very concerned about the truck traffic on
Leander Road. He asked Council not to do anything to increase the truck traffic, and he expressed concern
that the second half of the Southwest Bypass would be delayed.
Speaker, Patty Pondrom, said she is also concerned about the increased truck traffic. She asked that
Leander Road not be used as a bypass for truck traffic in order to keep it off of SH29. She said she thinks
the southbound service road to be constructed on IH35 will be a viable alternative. She said she also does
not want the easy access spur from SH29 eastbound onto southbound FM2243 until this road is connected
to IH35.
Speaker, Joe Pondrom, said he agrees with all the previous speakers and spoke about the presentation
from Briggs at the GTEC Board Meeting. He said there was a proposal suggested to stop the eastbound
traffic on Leander Road at the new bypass and "run them" up to SH29.
Sansing asked Briggs to share the information he gave to the GTEC Board. Briggs said this portion of the
bypass would allow truck traffic to use the widened SH29, moving east over to IH35, and thereby avoid
using Leander Road. He said Leander Road does not have a "free right" onto southbound IH35 and there
is a lot of stacking that occurs during peak hours. He said this helps to reduce traffic speed and is used by
truck traffic leaving the quarry and heading south on IH35 to a job site. He said giving them an alternative
to get to IH35 would be valuable to them as well as to the safety of the school children on Leander Road.
He agreed with Patty Pondrom, saying there is consideration to delay the construction of the "free right"
until the southern portion is constructed. Nelon pointed out that this would give a north/south alternative to
keep school buses off the main lanes of IH35. Sansing noted and Briggs confirmed that this project would
not be completed for approximately 3 1/2 years.
Motion by Sansing, second by Eason to adopt the budget for GTEC. Motion by Smith, second by Kirby to
amend the motion, asking that Project 148, the easy free -right from SH29 to the bypass for truck traffic not
be completed until project 14C, Leander to IH35, is complete; and that eastbound trucks on SH29 not be
diverted to the bypass until 14C is complete. He said this should keep the trucks continuing straight
through on SH29. Approved 7-0.
Kirby said he will vote for the motion as amended, but doesn't think this is the time to do the Lakeway
bridge. He said there is a shortage of funds in the GTEC money and that some of the funds should be
conserved. He said he would vote for the motion, but doesn't think the Park Central Road should be a part
of the GTEC Budget. He said he thinks it is a substandard road and should be brought up to standard by
the developer and those that will use it.
F Consideration and possible action to approve an interlocal operating contract between the City of
Georgetown and the Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation (GTEC) for the 2005/06 fiscal
year -- Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration
Special City Council Meeting Minutes/September 1, 2005
Page 3 of 5 Pages
Rundell explained the item. Motion by Sansing, second by Smith to approve the interlocal operating
contract. Approved 7-0.
G Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution to accept the 2005 Tax Appraisal Roll for the
City of Georgetown as presented by Deborah Hunt, Tax Assessor -Collector -- Micki Rundell, Director of
Finance and Administration
Rundell explained the item. Motion by Smith, second by Eason to approve the 2005 Tax Appraisal Roll.
Approved 7-0.
H First Readings
1. First Reading of an ordinance levying a tax rate for the City of Georgetown for the tax year 2005 --
Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration
Rundell explained the item and read only the caption on first reading, after having satisfied the
requirements of the City Charter.
Speaker,
Don
Padfield, said
he
would prefer
that the Council adopt the budget
as proposed by the City
Manager
and
said he thinks
the
proposed increase in the
property tax is out of
line.
Motion by Snell, second by Eason that the property tax be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of
$0.35909, of which $0.21996 will be for maintenance and operations and $0.13913 for interest and
sinking.
Snell explained the reason for the proposed increase, being to cover the debt from construction of the
new library, increase the number of police and fire personnel, and provide 95% market adjustment of
Round Rock compensation for municipal employees.
Motion by Oliver, second by Kirby to amend to increase the property tax by the adoption of a tax rate
of $0.34626, of which $0.20713 will be for maintenance and operations, and $0.13913 will be for
interest and sinking. He explained his motion.
Smith noted that he was absent when the $0.35909 was approved last month. He said the voters did
vote a 1/8 cent sales tax for property tax relief and 1/8 cent for economic development, saying the
reason the sales tax passed was because of the "carrot" of property tax relief. He said he thinks to go
just under the rollback rate at this time is not wise.
Nelon said he would
speak in favor
of Oliver's amendment
because that
amount was the proposed
amount from the City
Manager, and
the City should look at
the timing of
when the rate could go higher.
Kirby said he also supports Oliver's motion. He compared municipal budgeting with private corporate
budgeting and compared the City of Georgetown budgets for the last three years to the City of Round
Rock's Strategic Plan and Budget. He demonstrated some charts that he had asked finance staff to
prepare. He noted that the additional taxes will be paid by the non -frozen taxpayers. He said he
prefers the $0.34626 tax rate as proposed by Oliver's motion.
Carr said he likes Oliver's motion, saying it is a good compromise.
Sansing said the 1/8 cent has been accounted for in this year's budget. He said he supports the
increase to add the extra fire and police personnel and build the library. Oliver explained that the
number of personnel was in the original budget as proposed by Brandenburg, saying it was the salary
increases that would be funded by the proposed increase.
Eason
said
she prefers to
ensure the salary increases with the increase in the property tax rather than
wait to
see
if the sales tax
revenues are adequate.
Snell said he predicts that with whatever number comes in, Georgetown will be at 90% of Round Rock
in compensation.
There was further discussion.
Special City Council Meeting Minutes/September 1, 2005
Page 4 of 5 Pages
Vote on Oliver's amendment: Approved 4-3 (Eason, Snell and Sansing opposed)
Vote on original motion as amended: Approved 4-3 (Eason, Snell and Sansing opposed)
2. First Reading of an ordinance adopting an Annual Operating Plan Element of the Georgetown
Century Plan (budget) for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2005, and ending September 30, 2006;
adopting the Annual Amendment to the Century Plan -- Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and
Administration
Rundell read only the caption of
the ordinance on first reading after
having satisfied the
requirements of
the City Charter. Rundell noted
that the ordinance was prepared at
the $0.35909 rate.
Brandenburg
explained that at the lower rate,
it would be suggested that the new
hires be handled at
half as many as
were proposed to be added, while
keeping the salaries for all city employees at 95%. Then, if there is
enough revenue at mid -year the
other
half
can
be
hired.
There was discussion. It was generally determined that Brandenburg's suggestion was a good plan.
Rundell explained that the change in rate would lower the General Fund by about $250,000.
Motion by Sansing, second by Snell to adopt a budget based on the $0.34626 rate. Approved 7-0.
Brandenburg confirmed that the second reading of the ordinance would contain the adjusted numbers
and an explanation.
3. First Reading of an ordinance amending Sec. 2.08.010 "Administrative Divisions and
Departments" of the Georgetown Code of Ordinances -- Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and
Administration
Rundell read only the caption of the ordinance on first reading after having satisfied the requirements of
the City Charter. She said there were no changes from last year. Motion by Smith, second by Oliver
to approve. Approved 7-0.
Discussion and possible action regarding a proposed "Short Term Supplemental Water Supply
Agreement" with the City of Leander -- Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations and
Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney
Briggs explained the supplemental water supply agreement as proposed by the City of Leander. He said
based on staffs review of the agreement, there are some competitive issues involved with the agreement
that may not be beneficial to the City of Georgetown. He asked Council to not approve the agreement.
Motion by Smith, second by Kirby to reject the agreement. Approved 7-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Approved:
Special City Council Meeting Minutes/September 1, 2005
Page 5 of 5 Pages
Attest:
Sandra D. Lee, City