Georgetown City Council update

[caption id="attachment_36379" align="alignright" width="460"] Georgetown City Council members (front row from left): Rachael Jonrowe, Mayor Dale Ross, Patty Eason; (back row from left): Tommy Gonzalez, Keith Brainard, John Hesser, Jerry Hammerlun and Steve Fought[/caption] Meetings The council meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Georgetown City Council chambers 101 E. Seventh St. 512-930-3652 www.georgetown.org TV coverage Meetings are replayed on cable Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday following each City Council meeting. Each meeting is also broadcast on the citys website. Terms and compensation The mayor and council serve three-year terms with no term limits. The mayors salary is $550 a month, and council members each receive $400 a month. City Council 101 Georgetown City Council members are elected from single-member districts, and the mayor is elected at-large. Each council member must live in the district he or she represents. Dale Ross, Mayor, 2014-17 Patty Eason District 1, 2012-15 Keith Brainard, District 2, 2014-17 John Hesser, District 3, 2013-16 Steve Fought, District 4, 2013-16 Jerry Hammerlun, District 5, 2012-15 Rachael Jonrowe, District 6, 2014-17 Tommy Gonzalez, District 7, 2013-16 Big decisions made in 2014

• Residential development

The council approved several developments, including an expansion of Sun City, that will add more than 2,400 new homes and the Wolf Ranch Georgetown project a 755-acre master-planned community. Wolf Ranch Georgetown is expected to include more than 2,000 single-family, multifamily and age-targeted residences.

• Water

City Council approved conservation measures to help ensure the city's water supply into the future. The council approved amendments to the city's Water Utility Services ordinance at its April 22 meeting with the goal of reducing the city's per-capita per-day water use to 160 gallons.

• Budget

The council approved the city's $231.04 million 201415 fiscal year budget Sept. 9. The budget included a new fire-based paramedic program that is the subject of ongoing discussions with Williamson County. Also included were 32 new positions in a variety of city departments.

• Connectivity

Although decisions on two connectivity issues the Verde Vista roadway extension and the West Majestic Oak Lane connection are pending before council, the discussion about the need for connectivity was broached on several occasions. City Council heard concerns about connectivity through neighborhoods from residents during deliberations in June for the rezoning of a proposed 116-acre residential development behind the Woodlake neighborhood. Final decisions on the two pending issues could be made in early 2015. Top issues for 2015

• City facilities

With the police departments impending move into the new Public Safety Operations and Training Center (see Page 13), City Council could approve a plan to consolidate city offices into a civic center that could include the former library building and police headquarters. With the consolidation of offices, several other facilities throughout downtown could be sold for commercial use.

• Economic development

In December, City Council approved amendments to several agreements for The Summit at Rivery Park, a 32-acre development with a mix of single- and multifamily residential and commercial uses. The development agreement states must be completed by June 30, 2016.

• City leadership

On Nov. 13, City Council selected executive search firm SGR to help find a new city manager after Paul Brandenburg resigned Nov. 3. The council approved a separation agreement with Brandenburg after a special meeting Nov. 3 and named General Manager of Utilities Jim Briggs interim city manager. Mayor Dale Ross said council could be ready to approve a contract for the position in mid-April.

• Lone Star Rail District

At its Oct. 28 meeting City Council delayed approving an interlocal agreement with the Lone Star Rail District and the creation of a transportation infrastructure zone. The council asked the city's transportation and General Government and Finance advisory boards to discuss the proposal, which Ross said could be on the councils agenda at its Jan. 27 meeting.