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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 Page 1 of 2 Pages 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 Page 2 of 2 Pages