HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 03.08.2004 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: i' Council Absent:
Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Doug Smith, JackI All Council present
Noble, John Kirby, Farley Snell, Mark RamseyI,
Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City
Manager for Utility Operations; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Amelia
Sondgeroth, Director of Planning and Development Services; Ed Polasek, Chief Long -Range Planner;
Keith Hutchinson, Public Information Officer; Carla Benton, Development Planner; Melissa McCollum,
Development Planner; David Munk, City Engineer; Karen Frost, Administrative Assistant to Planning and
Development Services; Mark Miller, Transportation Services Manager; Glenn Dishong, Water Services
Manager
Called to order at 4:00 p.m.
A Overview and discussion of the upcoming 2004 Citizen Survey -- Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and
Administration
Rundell gave a brief overview, saying the intent of the survey is to measure customer satisfaction
as well as to determine whether there will be support for tax increases to support services. She introduced
Chris Beck with Montgomery and Associates who explained the "mechanics" of the survey. He said this will
be a telephone interview with 52 questions regarding living in Georgetown and should take about 15
minutes. He said this will be similar to the survey done in 2001, so direct comparisons can be made. He
said 400 phone numbers (listed and unlisted) will be chosen randomly and the questions will identify the
ethnicity, age, and gender of the participant. Beck said it could take 22 or more attempted phone calls to
obtain one answered survey. He said the survey is to start on Thursday, will take 10-14 days to complete.
Rundell said the results will be presented at the April 12 Council Workshop. There were questions and
comments from the Council, generally agreeing that they prefer more specific questions, particularly
regarding increasing the sales tax for economic development.
B Overview of Century Plan Amendment Process -- Amelia Sondgeroth, Director of Planning and
Development Services; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; and Paul Brandenburg, City Manager
Brandenburg noted the large volume of documents currently used as guiding and planning tools
for the community. He said this will be an attempt to consolidate those planning guides and update the
Century Plan. Sondgeroth described this as an effort to provide a unified summary of all the various plans.
She noted that a Committee would be formed composed of at least two representatives from each of the
Council -appointed boards and commissions, and said there will also be a public involvement process. This
summary document will be integrated into the City's Operating Management Plans, the CIP, the Annual
Budget Process, and the Division Strategic Plans. She stressed the need to identify four or five major goals
to be the focus of all implementation or action plans. She shared with the Council two sample plans from
other cities. She noted that staff will do the writing with the help of a consultant and facilitator. She
emphasized that this is a two-phase project to produce a summary, and a study of the current plans. There
City Council Meeting Minutes/March 8, 2004
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were comments and questions from the Council. Sansing said he thought this would be too much extra
work for the planning staff. Brandenburg noted that the staff prefers to work closely on this project, and
they have more knowledge for the contents, having exerienced the creation of the documents. Snell
confirmed with Yantis that this will be a new, more concise document to replace the Century Plan, saying a
comprehensive plan is called for in the City Charter.
C One -Year Review of the Unified Development Code -- Bobby Ray, Chief Current Planner and Amelia
Sondgeroth, Director of Planning and Development Services
Sondgeroth gave Council a review of the development action since the Unified Development Code
was adopted in March, 2003, and reviewed the proposed amendments. She said there will be two public
workshops, one with the Planning and Zoning Commission, then two public hearings in May and June.
Sondgeroth recognized staff members, Bobby Ray, Carla Benton, and Melissa McCollum, noting that they
were very helpful in working on the UDC. Sansing asked and Sondgeroth responded regarding project
status tracking, saying there should be an automated tracking system by next year. There were questions
and comments from the Council.
Nelon questioned Yantis about the "gateway" signs. Yantis noted that the signs had been put out
for bid and only one response had been received, so it was re -bid a few weeks ago.
D Council Calendar
- Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at 6:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers at the
northeast corner of Seventh and Main Streets
- Deadline for filing an application for a place on the General Election Ballot at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March
15, 2004,
- TASUS Groundbreaking on Thursday, March 18, 2004, at 10:00 a.m.
5:08 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
- Lower Colorado River Authority regarding purchase of the Lost Pines Generating Unit from Calpine
and Load Cap Impact
- Legal Advice Regarding Agenda Items and other Matters
- Proposition 13 Tax Freeze and Tax Exemption Issues
F Sec.551.072 deliberation on real property
- Consideraton and possible action to approve the draft proposal for acquisition of property for the effort termed the
"jug -handle" road for connection to the Inner Loop North East -- Mark Miller, Transportation Services Manager and Jim
Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations
- Discussion and possible action regarding acquisition of property for downtown parking and city facilities
Approved:
6:12 p.m. -- returned to Open Session and adjourned
Attest:
Gait Nelon ` `pity Secretary Sandra Lee
City Council Meeting Minutes/March 8, 2004
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