HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 01.24.2005 CC-RThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the
above date with Mayor Gary Nelon presiding.
Council Present. 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 E. Carls, City Attorney; Sandra D. Lee, City. Secretary; Micki
Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Laurie Brewer, Controller; Anthony Lincoln, Fire Chief;
Clay Shell, Assistant Fire Chief; Amelia Sondgeroth, Director of Community Development; Bobby Ray,
Chief Planner; Ed Polasek, Chief Long -Range Planner; Dave Hall, Director of Inspections; David Munk,
Development Engineer; Mike Mayben, Energy Services Manager; Glenn Dishong, water Services
Manager; Mark Miller, Transportation Services Manager; Joel weaver, CIP Coordinator; Tom Benz,
System Engineering Manager
• 1 . _ • • r - s• a
Called to order at 04:00 PM
A Presentation of an Insurance Services Office (ISO) update to provide information to the City Council on the
current status of Georgetown's Public Protection Classification rating -- Anthony Lincoln, Fire Chief
Lincoln explained how the Insurance Services Office identifies, evaluates, and rates a community's Public
Protection Classification. He noted that the ISO evaluates according to the alarm system, fire suppression,
water supply, and the Texas "Exception" Addendum which grades on enforcement of the fire prevention
code, fire investigation, commercial fire inspections, public fire safety education, construction code
enforcement, and compressed air foam system located on fire equipment. He said the City is currently
rated at "4," and he thinks there's a possibility to move the rating to a "3" or possibly a "2." He noted that
the insurance premiums for residents of Georgetown would be lower if the rate is lowered. He explained
that the City is rated on the number and type of equipment, number of fire stations, hydrants, fireflow
pressure, and requirements for commercial/residential sprinkler systems. He said the ISO will not rate a
City unless the City requests a re -rating or the City has an incident. Lincoln said staff will review the issues
and probably request a re -rating. There were questions and comments from the Council.
B Discussion and possible direction from Council regarding Public Improvement and Street Assessment
Policy --- Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations
Nelon confirmed that the City is allowed to assess for public improvements. Briggs said the Georgetown
Utility System (GUS) Board recommends a model of how to use assessments. He presented the
discussion questions, dealt with by the GUS Board, and gave Council the recommendations from the GUS
Board. He described, with a flow chart, how decisions would be made regarding funding improvements
such as roads, sidewalks, and drainage projects. He said a Public Improvement Disrict (PID) gives the City
the opportunity to gain back 100% of the funding. He said assessment is more complicated and returns
only 90% of the incremental value. There were questions and comments from the Council.
C Discussion of Affordable Housing related to the Housing Tax Credit (HTC) Program and Section 8 Rental
City Council Meeting Minutes/January 24, 2005
Page 1 of 2 Pages
Assistance Vouchers -- by Ray, Chief Development Planner and AmE 3ondgeroth, Director of
Community Developmen.
Nelon noted that Council has received a letter from the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs describing the four projects in Georgetown that are requesting tax credits. Ray explained the Tax
Credit Program giving Council information regarding the point scoring system used by the State to evaluate
each project. Nelon noted that in the letter from TDHCA, the City Council does not enter into the decision
as to which project receives the tax credits. There were questions and comments from the Council,
particularly regarding property maintenance.
Naomi Walker of the Georgetown Housing Authority spoke to the Council, saying the Housing Authority
administers three programs in Georgetown. She answered some of the questions asked previously in the
meeting by the Council, particularly regarding property inspections. She said she thinks the median
income for a single person in the Austin area is $45,000. There were further questions and comments from
the Council.
D Council Calendar
- Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, January 25, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber
- Board/Commission Interviews by Council Subcommittee on January 24, 25, and 26th
5:39 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.
E Sec.551,071: Consultation with Attorney
- Pending or Threatened Litigation
- Brazos River Authority regarding Operations and Maintenance of the Stillhouse Raw Water Pipeline
- Legal Advice Regarding Agenda Items and other Matters
F Sec.551,072 Deliberation on Real Property
- Discussion and possible action regarding acquisition of property for downtown parking
G Sec.551.087 Economic Development
- Discussion or deliberation regarding commercial or financial information that the City has received from a business
prospect that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the City and with which the City is
conducting economic development negotiations
H Sec.551.086 Public Power Utility Competitive matters
- Consideration 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 -- Michael W. Mayben, Energy Services Manager and Jim Briggs, Assistant
City Manager for Utility Operations
- Consideration and possible action to award bids for Electric System Construction and Maintenance and Electric System
Construction Trenching and Conduit Installation for F.Y.2005 in the amount of $900,000 to Flowers Construction
Company, of Hillsboro Texas. Michael W. Mayben - Energy Services Manager and Jim Briggs - Assistant City Manager
for Utility Operations
6:22 p.m. returned to Open Session and adjourned
• .s aN -• t ''
d
TA749MTJ=
City Council Meeting Minutes/January 24, 2005
Page 2 of 2 Pages
Attest: r
City Secretary Sandra