City Council Special Meeting

May 29, 2012 The Bastrop City Council met in Special Workshop Meeting on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bastrop City Hall Council Chambers, 1311 Chestnut Street, Bastrop, Texas. Members present were Mayor Terry Orr and Council Members Dock Jackson, Joe Beal, Ken Kesselus and Willie DeLaRosa. A. CALL TO ORDER At 6:07 p.m., Mayor Terry Orr called the meeting to order with all members present with the exception of Kay Garcia McAnally who was absent. Mayor Orr stated the Council will be addressing Agenda Items D, E and F before the Workshop Session. D. CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BASTROP, TEXAS AMENDING THE CITY OF BASTROP’S DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF TOTAL PRODUCTION CAPABILITY AND THE PERMITTED WATER TIMES FOR “STAGE 3” RESTRICTIONS; PROVIDING THE CITY MANAGER WITH AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL WATER RESTRICTIONS DURING CERTAIN EVENTS; DECLARING A SAFETY AND HEALTH NECESSITY TO DISPENSE WITH TWO READINGS OF THE ORDINANCE DUE TO PUBLIC EMERGENCY; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Manager, Mike Talbot stated the revisions to the Ordinance had been sent out to the Council. Mr. Talbot stated some adjustments were made to the Drought Contingency Plan to bring it into compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality guidelines. Mr. Talbot stated most importantly he will have authority to take steps to protect the health and safety of citizens. Mayor Orr read the following caption of the Emergency Ordinance: An Emergency Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Bastrop, Texas amending the City of Bastrop’s Drought Contingency Plan revising definitions, amending the permitted water use and watering times for all water stages; providing the City Manager with authority to impose additional water restrictions during certain events; providing for increased public notice, declaring a safety and health necessity to dispense with two readings of the Ordinance due to public emergency; providing a severability clause; and providing an effective date. Willie DeLaRosa stated if Council agreed the Mayor should be included to have the same authority as the City Manager, just in case of the absence of the City Manager. City Manager, Mike Talbot summarized the changes in Stage 2 which basically still has watering on odd and even numbered days but limiting the times between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and between the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. Mr. Talbot reviewed the changes in Stage 3. Mayor Orr requested that the public be informed of the new restrictions in a way other than the City’s website. Mr. Talbot stated he will be mailing a letter to all Bastrop water customers. Joe Beal moved to adopt the Emergency Ordinance. Seconded by Willie DeLaRosa and carried unanimously. E. CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF BASTROP, TEXAS APPROVING AN EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY RELATED EXPENDITURE, IN EXCESS OF $50,000 PURSUANT TO THE APPLICABLE GENERAL EXEMPTION SET FORTH IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE §252.022 ET SEQ. City Manager, Mike Talbot stated the Utility Committee met at 4:30 p.m. today and recommends the following: 1) The City Manager meet with K. Friese & Associates to revise the long-range study that the Council had previously looked at and approved; 2) Re-scope the short-term options; 3) Request that Mr. Bene prepare a scope of service to drill a test hole at Mayfest Park and after the test hole is drilled the information is given to the Utility Committee to discuss findings; 4) Continue discussions with Aqua Water Supply Corporation; 5) the City Manager to meet with LCRA regarding possible partnership; 6) Continue program of cleaning wells “C”, “D” and “E”; 7) Put Well “H” in operation since the City received the permit; and 8) move forward to make Well “I” operational. Discussion was held among Council and Mr. Talbot. Ken Kesselus moved to substitute what the Utility Committee recommended for what Mike had suggested and anything else the test hole might show deemed necessary. Motion was seconded by Joe Beal. City Attorney, J.C. Brown asked if the Council was acting on the posted Resolution. Joe Beal stated he believes what the Council has discussed is the Resolution and the Council has clarified items surrounding the need for the Resolution. Ken Kesselus withdrew his motion. Joe Beal withdrew his second to the motion. Joe Beal moved that the Council approve a Resolution approving an emergency public health and safety related expenditure, in excess of $50,000 pursuant to the applicable general exemption set forth in the Local Government Code §252.022 et seq., as clarified by the discussion held by Council. Motion was seconded by Willie DeLaRosa. Willie DeLaRosa stated that in lieu of what he considers an emergency or dire need, who is looking for other potential sites? Joe Beal stated that action the Council took previously and never was withdrawn, was to approve that long-term study by K. Friese & Associates, and by approving this Resolution, the previously approved scope will be modified to include short-term elements (test hole) and longer term elements. City Secretary, Teresa Valdez called the roll for the vote on the motion. Motion carried unanimously. F. CITY MANAGER TO DISTRIBUTE DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE ON CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHICH ORDINANCE WILL BE PLACED ON THE JUNE 12, 2012 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATIN, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FIRST READING. City Manager, Mike Talbot stated in response to a Council request, a draft Ordinance has been prepared amending City Code on City Boards and Commissions. Mr. Talbot distributed the Draft Ordinance to Council and requested that the Council please let him or City Attorney, J.C. Brown know if they have comments and/or changes. City Attorney, J.C. Brown stated that if there is a particular government board/commission missing from this Ordinance it is likely they are controlled by State Law, etc. B. WORKSHOP SESSION – THE BASTROP CITY COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN SPECIAL SESSION AND CONVENE INTO A WORKSHOP SESSION TO DISCUSS: 1. CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS REPORT PREPARED BY KATHERINE RAY & ASSOCIATES REGARDING ISSUES, CONCERNS, POLICIES, PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY OF BASTROP. At 6:37 p.m., Mayor Orr convened the Bastrop City Council into a Special Workshop Session to discuss: A. City Council Strategic Directions Report prepared by Katherine Ray & Associates regarding issues, concerns, policies, programs, projects and economic development opportunities for the City of Bastrop. Katherine Ray reviewed the Long-Range Strategic Directions Report she had prepared following the Council Strategic Planning Retreat held on May 5, 2012. Ms. Ray reviewed the Council’s key issues and priorities which are: 1) Develop New Comprehensive Plan for the City of Bastrop; 2) City Manager’s Budget Needs (includes retirement/healthcare benefit policies); 3) Get out ahead of Formula One Facility; 4) Develop/review incentive plan to attract businesses to City on a Continual basis; 5) How to better incorporate the Colorado River into the City of Bastrop; 6) Feasibility of developing our own City services/Police dispatching service; and 7) Develop a reasonable, practical, long-term water plan for the City of Bastrop. City Manager, Mike Talbot recommended that Council move Priority No. 7 to the number one position since the Council had just passed a Resolution at this meeting addressing this. It was the consensus of Council that Priority No. 7 be moved to become Priority No. 1. Mayor Orr stated he would like Parks & Recreation (particularly about development of a Recreation Center in Bastrop) added to Page 9 of the Report. Discussion was held among Council and Ms. Ray regarding the Top 7 Long-Term Priorities and Strategic Directions for the Future. Katherine Ray stated she will get the final report to Council by early next week. City Manager, Mike Talbot stated staff comments were incorporated in the report. Mayor Orr encouraged the City Manager to keep the City’s Directors in the loop regarding these priorities and asked that they keep this Report in mind. Mayor Orr stated the Council is open and this is not a closed box so if Directors feel something is really important they should share it with Mike or the Council. C. THE BASTROP CITY COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN WORKSHOP SESSION AND RECONVENE INTO SPECIAL SESSION TO TAKE ANY NECESSARY ACTION(S). At 7:53 p.m., Willie DeLaRosa moved to adjourn workshop session and reconvene into special session to take any necessary action(s). Motion was seconded by Dock Jackson and carried unanimously. No action was taken. G. EXECUTIVE SESSION – THE BASTROP CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN A CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551 TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING: 1. SECTION 551.072 – DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY: ACQUISITION, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES. At 7:54 p.m., Mayor Orr convened the Bastrop City Council into a closed/executive session pursuant to the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551 to discuss the following: 1. Section 551.072 – Deliberations about Real Property: Acquisition, exchange, lease or value of real property for public purposes. H. THE BASTROP CITY COUNCIL WILL RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION TO DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND/OR TAKE ANY ACTIONS NECESSARY RELATED TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. At 8:22 p.m., Mayor Orr reconvened the Bastrop City Council into open session to discuss, consider and/or take any actions necessary related to the executive session. No action was taken. I. ADJOURN At 8:23 p.m., Joe Beal moved to adjourn. Seconded by Willie DeLaRosa and carried unanimously. APPROVED: ATTEST: _________________________ ___________________________ Terry Orr, Mayor Teresa Valdez, City Secretary