HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 08.25.2003 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the
above date with Mayor Gary Nelon presiding.
'ICouncil Present: ,Council Absent:
(Mayor Gary Nelon, Doug Smith, Mayor Pro Tem, IIAII Councilmembers Present
(Jack Noble, Gabe Sansing, John Kirby, Farley
'Snell, Ken Evans, Patty Eason
j Staff Present:
Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City
Manager for Utility Operations; Trish Carls, City Attorney; Shirley Rinn, Deputy City Secretary; Micki
Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration, Carla Bourland, Director of Human Resources, Amelia
Sondgeroth, Director of Planning & Development Services, Ed Polasek, Long -Range Planner, Mike
Mayben, Energy Services Manager
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Policy Development/Review Workshop - Call to order at 4:00 p.m.
A Presentation by Beverly Silas and Neal Kocurek from Envision Central Texas
Neal Kocurek and Beverly Silas presented information regarding the process that Envision Central Texas utilized to
develop recommendations for jurisdictions to utilize in their planning efforts, including transportation, growth projections
and land use. Told the council that they have had numerous planning sessions throughout the Central Texas region and
those sessions have been successful in developing the models. The models will be presented to the public and there will
be a time period between October 6-26, 2003 so that the general public can provide information as to how they feel about
each of the scenarios. There has been tremendous outreach to encourage public input, including underserved and
minority communities. The Council was told that Envision Central Texas has modeled their process after Envision Utah to
see how their "vision" was developed and how the recommendations have worked since it was completed. There is no
requirement that the jurisdictions adopt the recommendations of Envision Central Texas. Envision will remain in existence
once the models are completed. Envision will update the plan every five years or so. Discussion regarding how
implementing these models can be expensive and will take a lot of time and effort to implement. Discussion regarding
how Envision Central Texas' scenarios will be meshed with local jurisdiction's current long-range plans. For example, the
downtown masterplan.
Further discussion whether this is a tool for general education for everyone to learn about issues before you spend a lot
of money on an election that may not be supported and how the elements of the "vision" can be utilized in local
jurisdictional planning.
B Discussion regarding downtown public improvement financing options, downtown development incentives and downtown
business retention and assistance tools --Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager
Tom Yantis gave a presentation to Council regarding our "vision" for downtown and gave an overview of some of the
tools that could be utilized to implemented our "vision" of our downtown. Discussion regarding the goals that need to be
implemented, including infrastructure, promotion of existing business retention and expansion and the encouragement of
new development and redevelopment. He told council that they would be provided information regarding different
financing options and that staff would like for council to indicate which options they felt comfortable with and which ones
they did not.
City Council Meeting Minutes/August 25, 2003
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There was discussion regarding Public Improvement Districts, Municipal Management Districts, Tax Increment Financing,
the use of the city's general fund to finance specific projects, the use of general revenue funds, Empowerment Zones, 4A
corporations, the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the strategies by which the city can accomplish this
goal, the "economic development rate" for electric service and how this option could be utilized and implemented, the
use of a historic property tax exemption, as well as tax abatements for private capital investment. Staff also told council
that it would have to look at all of these options to see if use of one would impact the use of another. There was further
discussion regarding the new development and redevelopment in the downtown area and strategies to accomplish this
goal, including Neighborhood Empowerment Zones, Property Tax Abatements, Public -Private partnerships.
Staff will bring an action item to the next Council Meeting regarding the options that council was the most interested in,
including TIFs, Utility Rate, Exemptions for Historic Properties, and allocation of General Revenue Funds.
C Discussion regarding proposed Health Insurance "Opt -Out" Program -- Paul Brandenburg, City Manager
Brandenburg discussed a proposal by which employees could "opt -out" of the City's health insurance program. Council
indicated support of the program.
Recessed to Executive Session at 6:05pm
Reconvened at 7:01 pm.
Adjourned 7:02pm.
Council Calendar
- Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2003, at 6:00 p.m., in the San Gabriel Room, Georgetown Municipal Complex
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 Litigation
- Thomas L. Suarez, Jr. vs. city of Georgetown, Texas, City of Georgetown Police Department, Georgetown Police Sgt. Kelly Devoll,
Georgetown Police Officer Jack Lacey, Matt Painter, Brian Grubbs, Cause No. 03-113-C368 in the 368th Judicial District Court of
Williamson County, Texas
- Matthew Painter and Brian Grubbs, Plaintiffs v. David Morgan, individually and in his Official Capacity as Chief of Police of the
Georgetown Police Department; Robert Hernandez, individually and in his Oficial Capacity as Captain of the Georgetown Police
Department, Gary Todd Terbush, individually and in his Oficial Capacity as Lieutenant of the Georgetown Police Department; Georgetown
Police Department; and the City of Georgetown, Defendants, Cause No. A03-CA-014JN, In the United States District Court for the Western
District of Texas, Austin Division.
- Potential Litigation/Settlement Offers
- John Simmons, d.b.a. Georgetown Aviation Facilities Complaint to FAA
- Legal Advice Regarding Agenda Items and other Matters
F Section 551.072 deliberation on real property
- Discussion and possible action regarding acquisition of property for downtown parking.
G Section 551.086 Economic Development
- Discussion and possible action regarding economic development incentives for a commercial project at the intersection
of Austin Ave. and University Ave.
H Sec.551.086 competitive matters
- Consideration and possible action to approve payment, to McCord Engineering, to provide engineering services related
to the planning, design, and review of the City's electric system improvements, system construction, system expansion
(due to development), and system mapping --Michael W. Mayben, Energy Services Manager and Jim Briggs, Assistant
City Manager for Utility Operations
I Sec.551.074 personnel matters
- Performance Review of Council -appointed employees
- City Manager Annual Performance and Compensation Review
City Council Meeting Minutes/August 25, 2003
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