HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GGAF_07.15.2014 Minutes of the Meeting of the
GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND FINANCE ADVISORY BOARD (GGAF)
City of Georgetown, Texas
July 15, 2014
These minutes were approved at the August 27, 2014 GGAF Meeting.
The General Government and Finance Advisory Board met at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 in the
Georgetown Public Library Classroom, located at 402 West 8thth Street, Georgetown, Texas.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Keith Brainard, Chair, Tommy Gonzalez, Jerry Hammerlun, Joe Pondrom, Ralph Mason
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Paul Brandenburg, Micki Rundell, Laurie Brewer, Susan Morgan, Wayne Nero, Trish
Long, Jackson Daly, Ron Hobbs, Architect, Wadona Stich
A copy of these minutes, containing detailed information on the items listed below will be available in the Finance
and Administration Office, located at 113 East 8th Street, Georgetown, TX and can be found online at
http://agendas.georgetown.org/
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.
Regular Session – Called to order at 1:00 p.m.
The GGAF Board may, at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene an Executive Session at the request of the
Chair of the GGAF Committee for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code
Chapter 551.)
Public Wishing to Address Council
On a subject that is posted on this agenda: Please fill out a speaker registration form. Clearly print your name and
the letter of the item on which you wish to speak and present it to the Chair or Board Liaison, preferably prior to the
start of the meeting. You will be called forward to speak when the Board considers that item.
On a subject not posted on the agenda: Persons may add an item to a future Board agenda by contacting the Liaison
prior to the creation of the agenda for the following meeting, with the subject matter of the topic they would like to
address and their name. The Board Liaison can be reached at 512-930-3676 or by email at
danella.elliott@georgetown.org
Statutory Consent Agenda
The Statutory Consent Agenda includes non-controversial and routine items that Board may act on with one single
vote. A board member may pull any item from the Consent Agenda in order that the Board discuss and act upon it
individually as part of the Regular Agenda.
Legislative Regular Agenda
A. Walking tour of the old Public Library building located at 808 Martin Luther King Jr, the Police Station
at 809 Martin Luther King, Jr, and the Georgetown Communications and Technology facility at 510
West 9th Street. (no action item)
The City is preparing for the next phase of the Facilities Plan. The Police Department will move to its new
facility in the Fall, which will vacate 6,500 square feet in the Georgetown Communications and Technology
facility, 8,000 square feet on the first floor of the Police Station (Historic Light and Water Works Building), and
2,400 square feet on the second floor of the Police Station. Additionally, the old Public Library facility is
currently vacant (17,000 square feet).
A feasibility report was prepared by Nore Winter Company for redevelopment of these three facilities.
Additionally, a facilities master plan study was prepared by Ron Hobbs architects to determine the most suitable
immediate and future uses for these facilities.
GGAF members toured the facilities to familiarize themselves with the three facilities under review in order to
prepare for the discussion with Ron Hobbs Architects on recommendations for the sites.
The meeting reconvened at 1:45 pm in the Library Classroom.
B. Presentation, discussion and possible direction regarding phasing, funding and priorities for major
projects in the Five Year General Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for Parks, Downtown,
Sidewalks and Facilities. Laurie Brewer, Assistant City Manager and Micki Rundell, Chief Financial
Officer
Laurie explained that the five year CIP for fiscal years 2015-2019 was initially presented to the GGAF in June
The committee scheduled future discussion for projects that were considered to be beyond routine maintenance
and considered major improvements.
While the GGAF and the City Council review the CIP based upon the five year planning horizon, only the first
year is adopted during the budget process. This presentation on major projects will focus on the first fiscal year,
2014/15, as that is what will be considered during the budget adoption; however it is expected that more in
depth review will be taken for the City’s facilities plans, as a phasing of renovations for facilities in the City’s
Downtown West area are included as comprehensive redevelopment of the area.
Staff requested recommendations for next year and looking at the first step of a multi-phase project.
Included in the discussion were:
• Major Parks improvements that were recommended by the Parks Advisory Board.
• Downtown Master Plan improvements,
• Sidewalk Improvements
• Public Safety improvements
• Facility improvements.
The relocation of City services to the Downtown West area was recommended in the 2003 and 2014 Downtown
Master Plans. More detailed studies were completed in 2014 by an urban planning firm (Winter & Co) and an
architectural firm (Ron Hobbs Architects). Those studies were provided to GGAF members.
Parks:
Williams Drive Pool – discussion:
• Do an economic study – turn into commercial site?
o Money from pool sale has to be used for buying parkland, not to rebuild the pool
• Get an appraisal on the property
• Get utilization numbers
• Rebuild equivalent to a 50 M pool with adequate parking, taking into consideration that it is close to
Williams Drive and the Tennis Center and combine to add money back to the tax roll; do an Aquatic
Study
• Partner with GISD, etc to build social/competitive facility
• Pool is in good shape; structures are what is in bad shape
Motion made to get an appraisal on the property, and if relocation is the answer, it must be equivalent to 50M and
explore the possibilities of partnering with GISD
Unanimously approved.
VFW Park – discussion:
• Funded with bonds sold 2 years ago
• Construct in 2015
No motion needed.
West Side Park - discussion:
• Make this part of the study
• Possibility of using West Side Park as location for the new pool
• Price not to exceed $1.3M for VFW Park renovations
Unanimously approved.
Splash Pad discussion:
• Try to use existing parkland on Southeast side
• Make sure there is equitable distribution in the 4 quadrants of the city
• Suggest looking into locating an aquatic center on the Eastview campus
• $300,000 probably isn’t enough, so use the budgeted amount with the caviat to come back to GGAF with
additional requests before issuing CO’s
• Do a full analysis on the Williams Drive pool before making a decision
Unanimously approved
Downtown Master Plan discussion:
• $300,000 is budgeted to use where needed
• What is the parking lot value on the tax roll
o 40’ X 120’ for 11 spaces and $193,000 seems lot a lot of money
o Provide an appraisal and tax statement; bring back to GGAF for further discussion
The GGAF Board is concerned about the price. They would like for staff to continue discussion to substantially
lower the price on the price
Unanimously approved.
Sidewalks discussion:
The GGAF Board proposes to hold off on new sidewalks until the study is completed, but the match is proposed to
be bond funded from 2nd and Austin to College and 11th street rehab.
Emergency Warning System discussion: $1 Million (sirens and flood gauges)
• 75% is grant funded ($750,000) – FEMA; 25% match ($250,000)
• The Fire Dept with bring this to GGAF in August, as $250,000 will be needed
Facilities Master Plan discussion:
• Completed in 2003, updated in 2007
• Municipal Court is way too tight
• City Hall needs to be addressed
• Parking structure
West Side Service Center discussion:
• Additional $750,000 is requested
o Change the scope; originally it was to be for Utilities only
o This would add Conservation to the scope – 5,000 sq ft - $750,000
o The Conservation fee funds debt service
The GGAF Board is uncomfortable using community resources to a location that is far outside of town.
The purpose of Conservation is community outreach, and this is “not handy” and not a common source.
GGAF would like to review in August.
The board doesn’t support this idea. This will be brought back to GGAF for further discussion at a later meeting.
Downtown West discussion:
Repurpose:
• Library
• GCAT
• Police Station
Mr. Hobbs gave a presentation and an overview of the study, showing the different options available. Discussion
included:
• Note: This is not a five year fix
• Use HOT funds and move CVB
o The GGAF Board recommends leaving CVB where it is and sell current Council Chambers
• Each phase is “stand alone” and can be implemented as time and funding allows
After discussion amongst the GGAF members, their recommendation is to recommend Option B:
• relocate City Hall to the Old Library
• move Municipal Court to the GCAT Building, with the possibility of adding on to that
• leave CVB where it is currently housed
• give a 24 month maximum window to sell or repurpose the Police Building
Unanimously approved.
C. Discussion and possible direction to provide feedback on the potential Request for Qualifications for the
engineering and design services for downtown parking structure study, site study and conceptual plans.
Laurie Brewer, Assistant City Manager
Laurie explained that the City is seeking professional architectural and engineering consultants to provide
preliminary design services for a downtown parking structure that is proposed to be located on the city-owned
surface parking lot at 9th and Main Streets. This study will include traffic impacts, a site study and an estimate
of construction and operating costs. $400,000 is budgeted in the General Capital Projects Fund for this
preliminary work on the proposed parking structure. It is anticipated that this report will provide information
that will be the basis for final project plans, construction costs and operating costs for future budget impact.
These qualifications were developed and reviewed by staff, including engineering and transportation services.
This information was provided to the GGAF to determine if there are additional qualifications that should be
considered in procuring these professional services.
The Board agreed that this is a great opportunity, and that the RFQ was well done.
• Jerry suggested “investigating aggressively” to see if there is any interest in a design/build concept
• Seek additional help and resources (public/private input) to help get a definition of what we want, i.e.
looking at the downtown area, etc.
• Do an analysis to find the best location and retain an architect to develop the concept, i.e., possibility
of first floor retail, etc.
• The members suggested that we take a broad, conceptual approach, and seek an
architectural/engineering firm with very specific expertise.
Unanimously approved.
D. Adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 pm.
_____________________________________
Board Chair