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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 08.10.1999 CC-W&RThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor MaryEllen Kersch presiding. Coouncil Absent: Charles •Burson,Barton,' • • - Ferd Tonn,- Bain, ShortyValdez,Susan • •. Bob Hart, City Manager; George Russell, Assistant City Manager; Marianne Banks, City Attorney; Sandra Lee, City Secretary; Murray Blackman, Assistant to the City Manager; Susan Morgan, Director of Finance and Administration; Verna Browning, Director of Community Services; Jim Briggs, Director of Community Owned Utilities; Pablo Holguin, Director of Employee and Organizational Services; Anthony Lincoln, Fire Chief; Ed Barry, Chief of Development Services; Wendy Walsh, Development Planner; Tom Bolt, Plan Reviewer; Clyde von Rosenberg, Chief Long -Term Planner; Jim Babcock, Development Technician, Kathy Ragsdale, Utility Office Director Convened at 5:37 p.m. A Discussion of how water quality impacts growth patterns and policy decisions -- Bob Hart Hart explained to Council the Certificates of Convenience and Necessity as they pertain to water supply. He noted that the City will work with both Chisholm and Jonah Special Utilitiy Districts to ensure an adequate water supply in the future for the Georgetown community. He also spoke to Council about the need to manage the inevitable growth in order to provide an adequate transportation network to assist with the north/south movement of traffic. Regular Session - To convene Executive Session Called to order at 6:48 p.m. Executive Session B Sec.551.071 consultation with attorney C Sec.551.072 deliberation on real property D Sec.551.075 conference with employee City Council Meeting Minutes/August 10, 1999 Page 1 of 4 Pages Reconvened at 7:00 p.m. E Action from Executive Session Motion by Hoyt, second by Valdez, to authorize payment of up to $25,000 for legal services to the Lloyd, Gosselink Law Firm. Approved 7-0. Mayor, Council, City Manager, and staff comments and reports Urban Design Workshop - August 18, 1999 Texas Municipal League Regional Meeting - September 16,1999 Bain asked Council to reconsider the weed ordinance in regard to citizens participating in the Texas Wildscapes Program. He also asked if the right of way had been secured for the Holly Street extension. Hart said he would confirm that all property owners regarding the Holly Street extension have been identified. Bain asked Hart about the new federal regulations on notification to users regarding water content. Hart said that is in his list of tasks. Bain also asked the other Councilmembers for their permission to release home and business addresses and phone numbers to the requesting public. It was determined that the City Secretary will provide a form on which the Councilmembers may indicate the information they wish to be made public. Hoyt noted that she and Barton would be attending the CAPCO Meeting tomorrow. G ICitizens wishing to address the Council Wanda Smith, Transportation Director for the Georgetown Independent School District, appealed to Council to help the school district obtain signage from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for Highway 971 in the vicinity of Pat Cooper Elementary School. Hart said he was told by TxDOT that they will do some feasibility studies. Burson asked and was told the City did not have the authority to put up signs on the state highway. Mike Henry, 412 Reinhardt Boulevard, noted that the road connecting 971 with the park has no signage. He also requested that a police officer at least witness the traffic situation at Pat Cooper Elementary and, if possible, provide some traffic control. Della Green, 1901 Vine Street, told Council that City Code Enforcement had put an impoundment sign on her vehicle parked in front of her house because it doesn't have a current inspection sticker. She asked that the City not discriminate. She pointed out that the lot adjacent to her property, owned by a Councilmember, has weeds exceeding the allowed height and there are two boats parked on her street, neither of which have received attention from the City. Statutory Consent Agenda H Consideration of approval of the minutes for the Regular Council Meeting on July 27, 1999 -- Sandra Lee Lyda noted that he had abstained from the vote on Item S and that was not adequately explained in the minutes. I Consideration of acceptance of the City's Investment Report for the Quarter ended June 30, 1999 -- Micki Rundell and Susan Morgan J Consideration of a resolution to accept the 1999 Tax Appraisal Roll for the City of Georgetown as presented by Paula J. Cockrum, Tax Assessor -Collector -- Susan Morgan K Consideration of authorizing the Mayor to execute a memorandum concerning the extension of the allowed time for the use of the City Manager's vacation hours to the end of the calendar year -- Bob Hart Motion by Barton, second by Valdez to approve the Consent Agenda with the correction to the minutes. Approved 7-0. City Council Meeting Minutes/August 10, 1999 Page 2 of 4 Pages Legislative Regular Agenda L Second Reading of an Ordinance to extend the school speed zone on Leander Road -- Bob Hart Hart read the caption on second reading. He noted that this was a good example of how the City has worked with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) for the safety of school children, saying TxDOT has been responsive to the needs of the City. Motion by Tonn, second by Barton. Approved 7-0. M Consideration of a vote to place adoption of the proposed tax rate on a future agenda and set a public hearing on the proposed tax increase -- Susan Morgan Morgan noted that this ordinance is required because of a law that will no longer be in force next year. She noted that a separate meeting will need to be held to conduct the public hearing. She also noted that the ads are specified by the State and no changes can be made by the City, not even regarding the size of the print. She said the City will publish a notice of explanation next to the ad. Motion by Tonn, second by Burson to place the adoption of the proposed tax rate on the September 14 agenda and set the public hearing for the proposed tax rate on Wednesday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Council Chamber. Approved 7-0. N First Reading of an Ordinance to Rezone 19.31 acres in the Daniel Monroe and Frederick Foy Surveys, to be known as The Planned Unit Development of Sun City Georgetown, Phase 4-13, Neighborhood Seventeen A, from A, Agricultural to RP, Residential Planned, or any more restrictive district, located on Sun City Boulevard -- Tom Bolt and Ed Barry Bolt read only the caption of the ordinance on first reading after having satisfied the requirements of the City Charter. Motion by Bain, second by Barton to approve the ordinance on first reading. Approved 7-0. O First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend the Georgetown Subdivision Regulations with additional park land dedication zones and to establish a minimum width at the property line for lots on cul-de-sacs in rural subdivisions -- Clyde von Rosenberg and Ed Barry von Rosenberg read only the caption of the ordinance on first reading after having satisifed the requirements of the City Charter. He explained that the changes were relatively minor. He said the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board had approved of the additional park land dedication zones. He noted that there is currently no cul-de-sac rule in the Subdivision Regulations. Motion by Barton, second by Valdez to approve the ordinance on first reading. Approved 7-0. P First Reading of an Ordinance to amend Sec. 8.20.095 of the Georgetown Code of Ordinances and adding Sec. 8.20.105 relating to weed abatements -- Tom Leggitt and Anthony Lincoln Leggitt read only the caption of the ordinance on first reading after having satisfied the requirements of the City Charter. He told Council this changes the law to say that if one violation has already occurred in a year, then any subsequent violation could be dealt with without notice to the property owner. He said it also changes the height of the weeds to over 48 inches tall. Lyda asked if exceptions would be made for someone who purchases a piece of property and is not aware of the previous history. It was explained that this language is a part of the new state law, and Banks suggested that a note could be filed for record with the lien that is placed on the property. Hart said this is an attempt to eliminate the activity of repeat offenders. Jim Brown, 117 Randolph Road, told Council to reconsider the wording of the ordinance to clarify the terms used such as 'objectionable." He said it appears that the City just wants to collect money and not really clear up the problem. City Council Meeting Minutes/August 10, 1999 Page 3 of 4 Pages Hart noted that about five years ago, the City received information from the Wildflower Center, which helped the City deal with those issues administratively. Leggitt pointed out that the Council at that time eliminated that language from the ordinance other than to cover the time period when the wildflowers are in bloom. Hart said he feels the City can deal with the infractions administratively. Brown said there are arbitrary dates and plant heights in the ordinance. Motion by Barton, second by Valdez to adopt the ordinance on first reading. Bain asked that the adoption be postponed to take advantage of additional information. Barton said he prefers to get started with this ordinance amendment, saying it can be changed further at a later date. Banks clarified that the 48 -inch heighth was added by the State legislature this year and that is the minimum height that can be mowed by the City without notice to the property owner. Agnex Plutino, 200 Matthew Lane, representing the Native Plant Society, said she drove out to the Brown's property and found it very attractive. Bain said he agrees that the City needs to do something about the lots that are truly grown up with weeds, but doesn't want to create a problem for people like the Browns who wish to perpetuate native grasses and wildflowers. Lyda said he would like the City to address health and safety with these ordinances, not aesthetics. (as corrected by Clark Lyda at the Council Meeting on 8-24-99) Approved 4-3 (Bain, Lyda, Burson opposed) Q Consideration of acceptance of the resignation of two boardmembers of the Georgetown Village Public Improvement District No. 1 and appointment of two new boardmembers -- Bob Hart Hart explained that there is currently a five -member board. He noted that two members are seeking to resign and listed in the Agenda Item Cover Sheet were two other homeowners who have agreed to serve. Motion by Barton, second by Valdez to approve the resignations of Laura Naiser and Mike Cook and approve the appointment of Kent James and Bill Knodle. Approved 7-0. Lyda asked for a date for the follow-up governance workshop. It was agreed to hold the next governance workshop on Wednesday, October 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the Council Chamber. Lyda asked about the 413 directors. Hart will advertise for prospective directors. Lyda asked for status on the old cotton oil mill. Leggitt confirmed that the Code Enforcement Department is working on title research. Motion to adjourn by Barton. The meeting was adjourned at 08:35 PM. Ap roved t Mayor MaryEllen Kersch City Council Meeting Minutes/August 10, 1999 Page 4 of 4 Pages Attest--- ,- "City Secretary Sandra Lee