HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GGAF_06.16.2015Minutes of she Meeting of the
GENERAL GOVE NME T AND INANCE ADVISORY A (GGAF)
City of Georgetown, Texas
Jena 16,2015
The General Government and Finance Advisory Board met at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 in the Georgetown
Communications and Technology Conference Room, located at 510 West 9`" Street, Georgetown, Texas.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Keith Brainard, Chair, Tommy Gonzalez, John Hesser, Ralph Mason, Thomas Bonham
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF/OTHERS
PRESENT: David Morgan, Micki Rundell, Laurie Brewer, Chris Foster, Leticia Zavala, Jack Daly, Eric
Nuner, Bridget Chapman, Wayne Nero, Cory Tchida, Keith Hutchinson, Kimberly Garrett, Tadd
Phillips, Corey Hendon, Terry Putnam, Citizen
A copy of these minutes, containing detailed information on the items listed below will be available in the Finance and
Administration Office, Iocated at 113 East Stn 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 3:32 p.ni.
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 Comicil
On a subject that is posted on this agenda: Please fill out a speaker registration form. Clearly print your name and the leiter
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
The Board will individually consider and possibly tape action on any or all of the following items:
Keith Brainard, Chair, called to meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.
A. Review minutes from the May 27, 2015 GGAF meeting— Danella Elliott, Executive Assistant
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Park,B. Consideration and possible action to approve an Interlocal Cedar rparticipate Agreement
Chief of Police.
Chief Nero gave a presentation and explained that since 2004, the City of Georgetown has maintained a SWAT
Program. The team strength ranges annually from 8-15 personnel, which includes specially trained and equipped
tactical operators and crisis negotiators. The current program is outside of nationally recommended best practice
standards and is limited in operational capability due to manpower, equipment, and budgetary constraints. The cities of
Cedar Park and Leander are similarly situated.
Over the last two years, the Police Chiefs of Georgetown, Cedar Park, and Leander have been engaged in dialogue
regarding the feasibility of combining tactical resources under one unified program that is designed specifically to
comply with NTOA best practice standards. As a result, we have held several strategy meetings and more recently
conducted joint training in furtherance of these discussions.
It is the recommendation of the three Chief s that we pursue this joint endeavor as we are in collective agreement that a
regional team is the most efficient and effective manner in which to meet NTOA standards, which will significantly
reduce unnecessary risk and exposure to liability.
Chief told the board that there is not a line item for tactical operations. There is currently a $5,000 request in the
FY2015/16 budget for participation in this program. He also requested to reorganize other funds within the operations
budget and when combined with the requested $5,000, will establish a new line item in the amount of $25,000. This
will cover needed equipment, training, and operations/maintenance costs.
Terry Putnam, citizen, spoke on this item. He said that with the SWAT program, we would be calling the shots, and it
would be under our own Police Chief. He was in agreement with most points of the Interlocal Agreement, but
suggested to scale back the scope and not try to be "everything to everyone" and use tight controls on where to deploy
units.
The Board discussed this in depth. The general consensus seemed to be that we already participate in a program with
the County and this would add extra liability, duplicate services, and the benefit to the City is just not warranted at this
time. They suggested revisiting it in 3 years. Tommy made the motion to not approve the ILA, but then retracted the
motion.
The board decided to table this request at the GGAF level and Tasked David to put this items in the ftinding discussions
(luring the budgetprocess.
C. Update on revenues and expenditures from Suddenlink cable PEG Fee — Keith Hutchinson, Public
Communications Manager
Keith Hutchinson explained that the Suddenlink local cable franchise expired in February 2013. Since that time,
Suddenlink has operated under the statewide cable franchise, which contains a provision for a I percent PEG fee for
capital expenses for City cable operations. (PEG stands for Public, Education, or Government access cable channels,
like GTV channel 10.) Revenue from the PEG fee totals approximately $140,000 annually, which has been used for
replacement of cameras and video/audio equipment in the Council Chambers, installation of cameras and video/audio
equipment in the public library community rooms, and other equipment for video production for GTV channel 10.
PEG fund revenue is being used to purchase a video editing computer, camera, lighting kit, and other equipment for
the Multi -Media Specialist who starts next week.
Tommy asked if we are able to use this for our own PSA announcements. He suggested filming our Teen Court on
Channel 10 to "showcase" this outstanding program.
He asked Keith if there was a list of priorities and suggested maybe doing one large project a year, and set aside
money for future projects. Keith and Micki explained that use of the money is part of the budget process; this has to
be appropriated.
Tadd gave an overview of the current fiscal year employee compensation programs, and previewed compensation for
the next fiscal year. He also gave the current status of City's retirement plan and asked GGAF's input on group health
plan employee cost-sharing.
Tommy said that it was fantastic that 61% of employees rated Exceeds or Excellent and this should be highlighted and
made known.
Ralph asked to have an explanation of the evaluation process added to a future agenda.
The board asked for the Civil Service percentage of the overall GF budget, as well as non -Civil Service. Tadd will
bring this information back on .Tune 24"', as well as having a philosophical discussion on group health plan
employee cosi sharing
E. Update and discussion on the Garey Park Funding and Operating Plan — Laurie Brewer, Assistant City
Manager, Kimberly Garrett, Parks & Recreation Director and Chris Foster, Manager of Resource Planning
and integration
Laurie and Kimberly Garrett gave an overview of the background and history.
® Garey Park is a 525 acre park that has been donated to the City of Georgetown by Jack and Cammy Garey.
Mr. Garey publicly made the announcement to City Council on September 14, 2004.
The 525 acres and the house were incrementally deeded over to the City with a life estate from 2004 to 2013.
Realizing this was a tremendous gift that would require a great deal of planning, the Parks and Recreation
Department had a master plan prepared that was adopted by City Council in 2006. The master plan was to be
used as a guiding document as to how Garey Park would be developed when the time came. Up
Until recently, the City did not know the exact date of when the park was going to be developed, but knew
that within three years of Mr. Garey's death the park must be substantially complete according the terms in
the MOU.
® Garey Park was always listed as a future park beyond 5 years on the Parks CIP as no one could predict the
timing of development.
® In 2008, the voters approved a bond for $35.5M which included $10M for the development of Garey Park.
The original master plan adopted in 2006 focused on preserving the natural beauty and character of the site, integrating
and connecting with the surrounding regional park systems, accentuating the river front, and creating an environment
for diverse recreation including a broad range of activities throughout the year.
The master plan concepts included a controlled entrance, an equestrian facility for day use, a playscape, splash pad,
dog park, open play areas, camping — retreat, group, and primitive, a meadow, an event area including an amphitheater
and festival grounds, gardens around the house, Garey House and a trail system for both pedestrians and equestrians.
The current planned elements are the same as what was originally planned in 2006. The current design process
involves taking the master plan vision and schematic design that was developed and refining it to a constructible level
of detail. The Garey equestrian facility has the opportunity to provide a venue for current events that are taking place
in the Rodeo Arena and the County Show Barn in San Gabriel Park. Removing the rodeo arena and show barn are a
vital piece as we look at opportunities to redevelop an Gabriel park. This can only be done if there are other venues in
which to host events taking place in those facilities. Investing in a covered equestrian arena will provide the City the
opportunity to gain back valuable parkland in the heart of Georgetown. In addition, a covered arena will allow year
round programming opportunities which will provide a greater revenue return.
® In 2006 when the Garey Park Master Plan was completed, the OPCC of Garey Park was $14,058.887 which
included a 30% contingency. The OPCC of the current design is 13,048,212 which includes a 20%
contingency.
After Mrs. Cammy Garey passed away in November 2012, Mr. Garey tenet with City Staff regarding
moving forward with the design of the park,
® In the 2013/2014 Parks CIP budget there was $1.5M budgeted for design of Garey Park. This amount
included the bidding and construction phase. A MOU was signed by both the City and Mr. Garey in June
2014 summarizing the details of the donation including timing and the matching gift of $5M from Mr. Garey.
After seeing the presentation on the plans for the park, Mr. Garey announced to the Council on April 14, 2015
that he would Iike to see the park built in his lifetime rather than atter his death. He is making plans to move
out of the house and gift over the $5M to the City at that time.
Once the City receives the $SM, the park must be substantially complete within 3 years which does not allow
for long term phasing. Mr. Garey has proposed a first amendment to the MOU which is attached.
Mr. Garey is also pledging to give the City the residual of his estate upon his death which is currently valued
at over $5M. This money is to be used for additional capital development that might be needed, not for
capital maintenance.
The original design contract with Baker Aicklen included an operations and maintenance plan to help staff plan and
budget for the upcoming park. This pian was prepared by Jim Rodgers who has approximately 40 years of experience
managing park development and operations in Williamson County and Central Texas. The current design contract
with Flalff Associates has provisions to finalize the plan as construction plans are finalized with exactly what will be
built.
® In the City's fiscal and budgetary policy, the overall Operational Cost Recovery for the Recreation Center and
Tennis Center is targeted to be between 50 — 60%. The median cost recovery for parks and recreation
agencies nationwide is 29.6%.
Cost recovery in the Garey Park Operations and Maintenance Plan was a straight calculation of revenues and
expenses.
® Based on a recent study by the National Parks and Recreation Association, when residents choose to invest in
parks, there is a positive Return on Investment to the community. Parks bring outside visitors into the
community which brings in new money that contributes to sales tax collections. Since Garey Park is not yet
built, an economic impact study on that park is difficult to conduct.
* The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation conducted a recent study published in November 2014 of the
economic impact of the 89 state parks across Texas.
® In the study, data was collected from 29 parks and extrapolated to the other 60 parks to get an estimate for all
89 State Parks.
o The 89 state parks in total cost about $57.5M to operate, but generated $568M of profit on retail
sales (including their own), $351M in value added services (transportation, insurance, repairs, etc.),
and boosted incomes in the State by $202M.
Parks play a vital role in tourism across the state and include both state and local parks.
Discussion among GGAF members included:
® Questioning that it may be a gift we cannot afford
We should determine costs of rentals, etc; put a certain amount of money aside yearly to support the down times
Discussion on the cost levet to maintain at an above-average level
Make sure we set up contengencies
® Will Mr. Garey's change of heart impact the tax rate?
The Board would like to look at Garey Park, along with the GCP and have phasing discussions to be able to '�pace
ourselves'� Laurie will include this in herpresentation
Adjournment nment
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Keith Brainard Date
Board Chair
Thomas Bonham Date
Board Secretary
1 12
Danella Elliott Date
Board Liaison