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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 07.25.2005 CC-RThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Doug Smtih presiding. Council Present: !Zouncil Absent: Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Doug Smith, Henry .;Gary Nelon, Ben Oliver arrived at 5:00 p.m. ilCarr, John Kirby, Farley Snell i' Staff Present; Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney; Sandra D. Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Randy Morrow, Director of Community Services; Eric Lashley, Library Director; Judy Fabry, Library Administrative Assistant j 19 0 Called to order at 04:00 PM A Overview of Cable Television in the City of Georgetown -- Paul Brandenburg, City Manager Brandenburg explained that the purpose of this workshop item was to explain the City's authority regarding the Cable Television Franchise in Georgetown. He explained that there is seldom any cable competition because of the infrastructure required to be in place in order to transmit signal. He said, typically, once a company completes the infrastructure, it usually becomes "for sale" to be purchased by larger, national companies. He said the current franchise was for 15 years and then was extended for 10 more years, saying it will be in effect until 2013. He said there are special parts of the agreement that will need to be reworked when the opportunity arrives. He confirmed that the rates are federally set and the City has no control over the rates being charged to the customer. He said city auditing has produced a figure of $57,975 owed to the City from Cox Communications, the current franchise holder. He noted that there are sections of the agreement that are not being met at this time, and those will be discussed with Cox. He said the City will continue to expand the use of the existing Channel 10, but without further funding in the budget, it would be difficult for the City to go beyond what is currently being provided. It was also noted that considerable time is spent by the Public Information Office preparing public service announcements for the school district and other non-profit organizations. He said municipalities are not allowed by law to provide cable. There were questions and comments from the Council. B Presentation from the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Board regarding Heritage Trolley Tour and Project 1900 -- Kent Huntsman, Chair of CVB; Shelly Hargrove, Tourism Director and Main Street Manager; and Randy Morrow, Director of Community Services Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Board Chair, Kent Huntsman, told Council that the CVB prepares a number of different packages to invite tourists to come to Georgetown. He said the CVB recently heard a presentation on Project 1900 from Larry McCormick, saying the CVB Board was excited to see if the City could participate in such a program, and he introduced McCormick to give the Council an overview of that project with emphasis on the use of a trolley. McCormick gave Council a vision of what Georgetown would look like in 2009, if Project 1900 matures as is planned. He described a gathering of artisans in various locations around the square. He said to enhance the historic heritage of Georgetown, there would be a trolley that would provide a shuttle for shopping in the downtown area as well as at the new Wolf Ranch Shopping Center. He said there would be no capital investment in the trolley, saying the trolley and an operator would be provided free of charge by through a contract with* CARTS. He spoke about similar programs in Paducah, Kentucky and Santa Anna, California. He said the newly -formed Arts and Culture Board would be a major component of Project 1900. City Council Meeting Minutes/July 25, 2005 Page 1 of 2 Pages Chair Kent Hui.,.,nan closed by saying Project 1900 would furthe, Jefine Georgetown as a tourist destination. He said there are no purchasing costs, but there would be operating costs of approximately $112,320, half of which would be paid by CA come from the City, and half from other sources.* He said the $130,000 trolley is available free ewe* right now, but said it might be better to develop the artisans program before using the trolley as a shuttle. He said there is an opportunity to sell advertising inside and outside the trolley. There were numerous questions from the Council. Dave Marsh of CARTS explained that the trolley is the same as the Austin "dillos" and will carry 28 people. He said they are costly to operate and are high maintenance for CARTS, but would have atmosphere suitable for Georgetown and would be provided free. There was discussion that the opening of Wolf Ranch Shopping Center is a good time to start this project. Sansing said the thinks this would be a way to help keep downtown Georgetown alive. Dean Domingo of Wolf Ranch Shopping Center said he thinks it is a feasible option for Wolf Ranch and the corporate office is willing to participate. Kirby suggested a faster shuttle in the beginning. Sherry Sables Scherry Chapman*, representing the Georgetown Heritage Society, said they provide tours of the downtown and historic homes, but large tour buses are not able to go into some of the streets where the historic homes are located, whereas the trolley could, and the Society would provide docents to ride the trolley for tours. McCormick said using the dillo would provide atmosphere and character. (*as corrected by Snell at the August 9, 2005 Council Meeting.) C Council Calendar -Regular Council Meeting, Tuesday, July 26, at 6:00 p.m. at the Council Chamber, 101 E. 7th Street - Monday, August 8, 4:00 p.m. 2005/06 Budget presented at regular Council Workshop - Tuesday, August 9, 4:00 p.m. 2005/06 Budget, continued, if necessary, prior to 6:00 p.m. Council Meeting - Wednesday, August 10, 2005/06 Budget, continued, if necessary - Monday, August 22, 4:00 p.m. Public Hearing on Proposed Tax Rate presented at regular Council Workshop - Tuesday, August 23, 6:00 p.m. Public Hearing on 2005/06 Budget, prior to 6:00 p.m. Council Meeting - Thursday, September 1, Special Council Meeting for First Reading of Budget Ordinances, approval of GTEC Budget and related Transportation Improvement Plan, and approval of Georgetown Village Public Improvement District #1 Budget - Monday, September 12, 4:00 p.m. regular Council Workshop, at the Council Chamber, 101 E. 7th Street - Tuesday, September 13, 6:00 p.m., Second Reading of Budget Ordinances at regular Council Meeting 5:08 p.m. -- recessed into 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 - Pending or Threatened Litigation - Legal Advice Regarding Agenda Items and other Matters - Discussion and possible action regarding legal issues related to the proposed contract and offers of financial or other incentives to a business prospect seeking to locate, stay or expand at 500 S. Austin Avenue E Section 551.072 - Deliberations Regarding Real Property - Discussion and possible action regarding purchasing parkland on the West side of IH 35 - Discussion and possible action concerning terms for acquisition of a Right -of -Way Easement from Westinghouse Road Ventures (William & Rebecca Booth) and Bill and P.D. Chapman for the realignment of CR 265W to avoid the removal of large oak trees within the existing right-of-way F Sec.551.086 Public Power Utility Competitive Matters - Discussion and possible recommendation to authorize purchase from Cox Communications joint fiber facilities and to allow for separation and relocation of existing fiber currently owned by Georgetown Utility Systems from fiber owned by Cox Communications - Discussion and possible action to approve payment to McCord Engineering to provide engineering services related to the planning, design, and review of the City's electric system improvements, system construction, system expansion (due to development), and system mapping - Discussion and possible action regarding a resolution of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas regarding competitive matters for purposes of the Public Information Act and the Open Meetings Act; and repealing conflicting resolutions G Sec.551.087: Deliberations Regarding Economic Development Negotiations - Discussion and possible action regarding legal issues related to the proposed contract and offers of financial or other incentives to a business prospect seeking to locate, stay or expand at 500 S. Austin Avenue The meeting Was adjourned at 06:00 PM. Approved : Mayor Myor Pro Tem Doug Smtih City Council Meeting Minutes/July 25, 2005 Page 2 of 2 Pages Attest. ,J f� City Secretary Sandra Lee