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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 05.24.2004 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: !j Council Absent: Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Doug Smith, Jack I Mark Ramsey Noble, John Kirby, Farley Snell is Staff Present: --- --- - t Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City j Manager for Utility Operations; Trish Carls, City Attorney; Sandra Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Eric Lashley, Library Director; Ed Polasek, Chief Long -Range Planner; Chris Bryce, GIS Analyst; Mike Stasny, Utility System Information Manager; Randy Arrington, Information Technology Systems Analyst; Mike Mayben, Energy Services Manager; Travis McLain, ii I Airport Manager; Laurie Brewer, Controller; Glenn Dishong, Water Services Manager Policy Development/Review Workshop - Called to order at 5:00 p.m. A Joint Workshop with Library Board -- Eric Lashley, Library Director and Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager Library Board Chair Judy Parks noted that the Board supports the Bond Election. She noted that the Library Board also is requesting additional funds in this year's budget for continued weekend hours on Saturday and Sunday. She said they would also like to have funds for additional security cameras as recommended by the Library Director and the Police Department. She told Council the Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library support construction of the new Library and will contribute $300,000 for new furnishings and $10,000 for the bond election campaign. She said the Friends Book Sale contributed $12,000 to the Library. B Report to Council from Rudd & Wisdom, Inc, consulting actuaries regarding the impacts of Proposition 13 and related exemptions on the City of Georgetown's property tax rates and related revenue stream -- Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration and Paul Brandenburg, City Manager Rundell introduced Toby Tobleman, Actuary of Rudd & Wisdom, Inc., who said he wished he could give the City a clear forecast of the budget outlook regarding proposed exemptions and possible election results. He said there are many variables to be considered. He said Proposition 13 sets up the scenario that one group of people will pay lower taxes and the other group will pay higher taxes. He reviewed a report included in the Council Agenda packet, explaining tables of effective tax rates per $100 valuation with criteria such as "with current exemptions," "with a successful Proposition 13 Election, " with increased exemptions," and "increased exemptions along with Proposition 13." C Geographic Information System (GIS) Update Presentation -- Chris Bryce, GIS Analyst; Randy Arrington, Systems Analyst; Ed Polasek, Chief Long -Range Planner and Amelia Sondgeroth, Director of Planning and Development Services Polasek explained the Geographic Information System (GIS) is a geographic feature combined with other City Council Meeting Minutes/May 24, 2004 Page 1 of 3 Pages data such as names, addresses, and other parcel information. Bryce gave Council an update on the GIS Plan in Georgetown. He said all the data sets have been created, giving 120 layers of information to use with the system, such as streets, addresses, parks, council districts, utility lines, school district, etc. He noted that high resolution aerial photography is incorporated into the system. He said, last year, with Council's support, the address street centerline data and address data points were created to assist the 9-1-1 network and emergency providers, which means that now, when a 9-1-1 call comes in, the location can be found immediately. He said as of June 1, 2004, anyone with Internet access will be able to use the program to view and to print out maps. Bryce noted that Randy Arrington of the Information Technology Division led the way in implementing this program at the City. There were questions and comments from the Council. Bryce said updates will be done weekly to correspond to annexations, zoning, and other changes. D Airport Safety and Control Tower at the Georgetown Municipal Airport -- Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager and Paul Brandenburg, City Manager Brandenburg introduced Mark Dietz, Chair of the Airport Advisory Board, who gave a report regarding the Airport Board's deliberations concerning the safety of the airport and the neighborhoods surrounding the airport. He said when the possibility of an airport control tower was introduced before, there was not enough knowledge, and the Council, at that time, chose to not go forward with the tower. He told the Council that *there is the ese+ves approximately $54 million in economic activity that comes to the community from the Airport annually. He said they have learned that an airport control tower would assist in monitoring the 250+ aircraft based at the Airport now, and in 20 years, it is predicted there will be 405 aircraft at the Airport. He said there are 127,000 operations annually, relating to approximately 350 per day, and it is expected that there will be a 15% increase in the number of operations unrelated to whether there is an airport control tower. He said right now with a single radio frequency, some pilots do not use the radio. He told the Council, with a tower in place, pilots are mandated to contact the tower, which will allow controllers to monitor the position of the aircraft, spacing them to prevent collisions. He described the current use of the runways and air patterns at the Airport, and said a tower would prevent the type of collision that occurred recently at the Airport. He said the Airport Board is adamant about safety measures to prevent further accidents, and said it has been determined by consultant, GRW Willis, Inc., that with a tower, noise can be reduced. He said there would be no cost to the citizens of Georgetown for a tower because the FAA will provide 90% of the cost and there is "local money" to pay for the City's share. He said the Airport Board recommends that the Council request TXDOT to begin the process to secure a tower. (*as clarified by Snell at the June 8, 2004 Council Meeting) Snell asked and Dietz explained that the "local money" belongs to the Georgetown Pilot's Association for support of a control tower at the Airport. Snell asked if a new feasibility study would need to be done. Yantis answered that TXDOT will use the same study that was done before. Snell asked about the possibility of "hardening" one of the runways. Dietz responded that there is a good possibility of new surfacing, but probably not hardening. Smith asked what hours the tower would be manned. Dietz replied that the tower would be staffed by the FAA from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Kirby said he has heard that the reason FAA is giving us the 90-10 price is because they want us to be the regional airport. Dietz said it is just a change in FAA policy. He said the Board is in favor of a Regional Airport somewhere other than Georgeown. E Council Calendar Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, beginning with a workshop at 5:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers at the northeast corner of Seventh and Main Streets Brandenburg reminded Council of the 5:00 p.m. workshop with the Citizen Bond Committee and the regular Council Meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. on May 25. 6:20 p.m. -- recessed to 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. F Sec.551.071: Consultation with Attorney - Pending or Threatened Litigation Brazos River Authority regarding Operations and Maintenance of the Stillhouse Raw Water Pipeline E.O. Sharp Butane Co., Inc. v. City of Georgetown, Texas, Cause No. A -04 -CA -299 -SS, in the United States District City Council Meeting Minutes/May 24, 2004 Page 2 of 3 Pages Court, Western District of Texas, Austin Division - Negotiations with LCRA on Power Agreement - Legal Advice Regarding Agenda Items and other Matters - Legal Issues Regarding Proposed Sale of Del Webb/Pulte "Northern Lands" G Sec.551.087: Deliberations Regarding Economic Development Negotiations - Potential abatements and incentives for prospective downtown development projects H Sec.551.086 Competitive Matters Consideration and recommendation for extension of the contract between McCord Engineering, and Georgetown Utility Systems, 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 Sec.551.072 Deliberation on Real Property Consideration and possible action to authorize the acquisition of approximately one-half acre in connection with the expansion of the Berry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant - Discussion and possible action regarding TxDOT's proposal to purchase City -owned property for SH 130 right-of-way -- Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations Returned to Open Session and Adjourned at 7:33 p.m. City Council Meeting Minutes/May 24, 2004 Page 3 of 3 Pages Attest: City Secretary Sandra Lee"