The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMIN 04.25.2004 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. Council Absent: Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Doug Smith, Jack ,All Council present Noble, John Kirby, Farley Snell, Mark Ramsey �I Steffi Present: a ja Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations; Trish Carls, City Attorney; Sandra Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration Called to order at 4:01 p.m. A Discussion regarding the Williamson County Conservation Foundation and the City of Georgetown's participation in the creation of a regional habitat conservation plan -- Patty Eason, Councilmember for District 1 Eason asked Assistant City Manager, Tom Yantis, to explain the item. Yantis explained that he and Eason had attended a meeting of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation to learn the process to establish a program for the County to determine how to mitigate the impact of development on endangered and threatened species. He introduced Karalei Nunn and Charlie Crossfield who are members of the Foundation. Crossfield gave a history to the Council regarding the difficulties encountered by developers. He explained that if a cave is covered, there must be comparable property elsewhere containing the species found in the cave. He said the State Fish and Wildlife Department asked the County to establish the Foundation. He noted the Williamson County Regional Park contains karst features and thereby allows mitigation for extending Parmer Lane. He said developers can come to the Foundation and acquire credits for the land that must be set aside. He said the Foundation has received a $200,000 grant for locating karst in the County, but they still need $100,000 more and the State is asking for participation from other entities besides the County. Nunn explained that thriving caves keep the Acquifer and rivers alive. She said besides the cave bugs, and two birds that are listed, there is a list of twelve others that are being considered to be listed as endangered or threatened. She said Lakeline Mall was delayed four years because a harvestman beetle was found and it took that long to acquire mitigation. She said the goal of the Foundation is to allow planning entities to move forward to accomodate growth over the next 50-100 years, and with a plan in place, there will be the benefit of adequate water. She said sensitive habitat land is banked and open space is preserved, saying an approved plan allows the opportunity for federal money for mandates of the Environmental Protection Agency. She said the Foundation is asking for $15,000 from the City and told the Council they are also asking other cities and developers in Williamson County to participate. Smith asked for clarification about property being set aside. Nunn and Crossfield explained that more City Council Meeting Minutes/April 26, 2004 Page 1 of 3 Pages acreage is set aside than is taken, and the caves must be maintained in perpetuity. Yantis noted that the City will run into this problem with the development of the Southwest Bypass. He said there is an action item for the Council on the agenda for the meeting tomorrow evening. B Update on Facilities Bond Program -- Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager Yantis noted that over the past 2 1/2 months, the Bond Committee, staff, and consultant, Bruce Holsher, have met twice to familiarize the Committee with the Facilities Plan. He said Croslin and Associates has developed floor plans and elevations of some of the buildings. He said the Bond Committee will meet again next week to consider estimates of cost for each facility, what it means to the tax rate, and how long it will take to construct the facilities. Yantis said the information should be presented to the Council on May 25. He told Council that the Bond Committee is considering facilities for five departments of the City: the Public Library, the Recreation Center, the Community Center, the Information Technology Department and the Fire Department which involves the relocation of Fire Station I to a new location and moving the offices of Fire Administration. He said the new Library will be built on 8th Street directly behind the current Police Department, between Rock and the abandoned part of 4th Street. He said a preliminary site plan has been done. He told Council the site for the new Fire Station will be on property across from the GMC, which gives good response time because of easy access to major roadways. He said the expanded Recreation Center will contain an indoor pool and an outdoor pool with improved water features, and the City will close the existing pool in San Gabriel Park. He said the placement of the new indoor and outdoor pools will be done as to eliminate duplicate staffing of the facilities. He said there will also be a Teen Center at the Recreation Center. He said plans are for Information Technology and Fire Administration to be housed in the existing Library building, leaving open the children's area as a community meeting facility. He said there is also the possibility of putting Information Technology and Fire Administration in the Williamson County Appraisal District building, recently purchased by the City. He said regarding the Community Center, the original plan was to work within the existing structure, and renovate the restrooms and kitchen. He said the Bond Committee is now exploring the possibility of additions to the existing building. C Presentation by John Gavurnik of a proposed downtown development project -- Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager Yantis introduced John Gavurnik to explain his proposed project at 2nd and Austin Avenue to be known as River Place. Gavurnik introduced Madison Smith, partner in Overland Partners. He and architect, Cliff Wittingslaw, gave a slide presentation of the proposed project containing office, retail, restaurants, and residential units surrounding a courtyard and overlooking the river and Blue Hole Park, with the possibility of an outdoor amphitheater. He spoke of concern for the widening of Austin Avenue. Gavurnik described two handouts he provided to the Council and said he is asking for incentives because of a lot of extra cost to develop the site using quality design and materials. He said this would be the northern gateway to downtown and should be a first-class development. He said this would attract people to Georgetown, assist tourism, and provide a number of jobs. He noted he will go before the Commissioners Court to request the use of the County Parking Garage in the evenings, which will alleviate some of the parking problems with the development. Councilmember Smith had questions and comments regarding parking. Ramsey questioned the left-hand turn when heading north on Austin Avenue. Nelon asked about the negotiations with the state regarding the dam. Gavurnik said he and Parks Director, Randy Morrow, had discussed the issue and will work together to satisfy the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the dam. D Council Calendar - Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at 6:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers at the northeast corner of Seventh and Main Streets 5:05 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. 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 City Council Meeting Minutes/April 263 2004 Page 2 of 3 Pages Legal Issues Regarding Proposed Sale of Del Webb/Pulte "Northern Lands" F Sec.551.087: Deliberations Regarding Economic Development Negotiations - Potential abatements and incentives for prospective downtown development projects G 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 The meeting was adjourned at 06:35 PM. ayor a'ry NeTon City Council Meeting Minutes/April 26, 2004 Page 3 of 3 Pages Attesto/, r ' � 52",4, X City Secretary Sandra Lee