HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda_LTF_09.22.2022Notice of Meeting for the
L egislativ e Task F orce
of the City of Georgetown
September 22, 2022 at 5:30 P M
at Community Room, City Hall at 808 Martin L uther K ing St, Jr. Georgetown, Texas
78626
T he C ity of G eorgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you
require as s is tance in partic ipating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the ADA, reas onable
as s is tance, adaptations , or ac commodations will be provided upon request. P leas e c ontact the C ity S ec retary's
O ffic e, at leas t three (3) days prior to the sc heduled meeting date, at (512) 930-3652 or C ity Hall at 808 Martin
Luther King Jr. S treet, G eorgetown, T X 78626 for additional information; T T Y users route through R elay
Texas at 711.
P ublic Wishing to Address the B oard
O n a s ubjec t that is posted on this agenda: P lease fill out a speaker regis tration form whic h can be found at the
Board meeting. C learly print your name, the letter of the item on which you wish to speak, and pres ent it to the
S taff Liais on, preferably prior to the start of the meeting. You will be c alled forward to speak when the Board
cons iders that item.
O n a s ubjec t not posted on the agenda: P ersons may add an item to a future Board agenda by filing a written
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s peaker's name and the spec ific topic to be addres s ed with sufficient information to inform the board and the
public . F or Board Liaison c ontact information, pleas e logon to
http://government.georgetown.org/c ategory/boards -commissions /.
A At the time of the posting, no one signed up to speak.
L egislativ e Regular Agenda
B C all to O rder - Ariel Traub, Intergovernmental R elations Manager
C R oll C all - Ariel Traub, Intergovernmental R elations Manager
D C ons ideration and possible action to approve the minutes of the previous Legislative Task F orc e Meeting
of 09.08.2022 - Ariel Traub, Intergovernmental R elations Manager
E C ons ideration and possible action regarding G eorgetown's S tate Legis lative Agenda - Ariel Traub,
Intergovernmental R elations Manager
Ce rtificate of Posting
I, R obyn Densmore, C ity S ecretary for the C ity of G eorgetown, Texas, do hereby c ertify that this Notic e of
Meeting was posted at C ity Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. S treet, G eorgetown, T X 78626, a plac e readily
acc es s ible to the general public as required by law, on the _____ day of _________________, 2022, at
__________, and remained s o posted for at leas t 72 c ontinuous hours prec eding the s cheduled time of said
meeting.
__________________________________
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R obyn Dens more, C ity S ec retary
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Legislative Task Force
September 22, 2022
S UB J E C T:
C onsideration and pos s ible ac tion to approve the minutes of the previous Legis lative Tas k F orce Meeting
of 09.08.2022 - Ariel Traub, Intergovernmental R elations Manager
IT E M S UMMARY:
F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
..
S UB MIT T E D B Y:
Karen F ros t, Deputy C ity S ecretary
AT TAC H ME N T S:
Description Type
Minutes _LTF_09.08.2022 Backup Material
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Minutes of a Meeting of the
Legislative Task Force of the
City of Georgetown, Texas
Thursday, September 8, 2022
The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). If you require assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined
under the ADA, reasonable assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon
request. Please contact the City Secretary's Office, at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled
meeting date, at (512) 930-3652 or City Hall at 808 Martin Luther King Jr. Street, Georgetown,
TX 78626 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.
Ariel Traub called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. Members in attendance: Wendy Cash, Nosa
Asowata, Christine Tomaszewski, David Valdez, Laura Klein Plunkett, Chere Heintzman, Robert
Case, Paul Secord, Gordon Pierce, and Lawrence Romero
Absent – Chad Holz, Larry Raper, Dawn Korman, Michael Price, PJ Stevens, Scott Macmurdo
Staff in Attendance: Nick Woolery; Assistant City Manager; Laurie Brewer, Assistant City
Manager; Ariel Traub; Intergovernmental Relations Manager; Leigh Wallace, Finance Director;
Nathan Parras, Assistant Finance Director; Chelsea Solomon, Water Utility Director; Daniel
Bethapudi, Electric Utility General Manager; and Cory Tchida, Police Chief
Guests in Attendance: None
Regular Session
B Call to Order- Ariel Traub, Intergovernmental Relations Manager
Ariel Traub called the meeting to order at 5:33 PM
C Roll Call – Ariel Traub, Intergovernmental Relations Manager
Ariel Initiated introductions of members and presenters present
D Consideration and possible approval of the minutes of the August 11th and August 25, 2022 Legislative
Task Force meetings -- Ariel Traub, Intergovernmental Relations Manager
Gordon Pierce made the motion to approve the minutes and Christine Tomaszewski seconded. There
were no nays. Motion to approve the minutes passed.
E Presentation and discussion regarding Finance, Water, Electric, & Police – Ariel Traub,
Intergovernmental Relations Manager; Leigh Wallace, Finance Director; Chelsea Solomon, Water Utility
Director; Daniel Bethapudi, Electric Utility General Manager; and Cory Tchida, Police Chief
Leigh Wallace presented on multiple topics including debt financing, property taxes, and appraisals.
Leigh also provided a legislative outlook for the 88th session.
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Chelsea Solomon provided a very detailed presentation regarding the water utility for the City of
Georgetown that covered how the water utility works, water storage, wastewater treatment and
capacity, and topics that are anticipated to be discussed during the 88th session. Several Task Force
members asked questions regarding current capacity, water restrictions and fines, and groundwater
storage.
Daniel Bethapudi provided a concise, informative presentation regarding the city’s electric utility, how
it is structured, and priorities. ERCOT market redesign efforts were discussed with Task Force
members asking some questions about how that process works. Daniel also provided an outlook on
topics he anticipates will be discussed throughout the upcoming session.
Finally, Cory Tchida discussed recruitment efforts, the hiring process, and challenges within the police
department. He also discussed collaboration efforts with the school district on school safety. Task
Force members asked questions regarding recruitment tactics as well as school safety efforts.
F Public Comment
Lawrence Bailey addressed the committee regarding water concerns, TCEQ collaboration,
and other general requests.
Michael Spano addressed the committee regarding water concerns, aggregate mining, and
provided requests to be considered in the City of Georgetown’s State Legislative Agenda.
Adjournment
Ariel Traub adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m.
Approved by the Legislative Task Force on ________________________________________
Date
_____________________________ ______________________________
Ariel Traub, Intergovernmental Relations Manager David Morgan, City Manager
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Legislative Task Force
September 22, 2022
S UB J E C T:
C onsideration and pos s ible ac tion regarding G eorgetown's S tate Legislative Agenda - Ariel Traub,
Intergovernmental R elations Manager
IT E M S UMMARY:
F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
..
S UB MIT T E D B Y:
Karen F ros t, Deputy C ity S ecretary
AT TAC H ME N T S:
Description Type
2023 Draft State Legislative Agenda Backup Material
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88TH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
CITY OF GEORGETOWN
2023
STATE LEGISLATIVE
PROGRAM
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CITY OF GEORGETOWN 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The City of Georgetown’s Intergovernmental Affairs Program advocates, coordinates and advances
the City’s legislative agenda to enhance the City’s ability to govern and provide essential municipal
and community services. The purpose of the program is to ensure the City’s interests are protected
and enhanced through active involvement in the legislative process and strong intergovernmental
relationships.
The City of Georgetown’s 2023 State Legislative Program is formed and created by community leaders
to advocate for the citizens of Georgetown.
LEGISLATIVE AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL
AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
The City of Georgetown Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee is a Standing
Subcommittee, a permanent Subcommittee of the City Council established to coordinate City policies
related to state and federal legislation and local ordinances.
The Subcommittee oversees:
• development of state and federal legislative agendas
• position on local partner ordinances
• development of position papers
• policies and programs that promote interagency cooperation
• advocating activities
2022/23 Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee Members:
Mayor Josh Schroeder
Councilmember Kevin Pitts, District 5
Councilmember Jake French, District 6
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CITY OF GEORGETOWN 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE
The Legislative Task Force provided input to the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
Subcommittee on the issues relevant to the State Legislative Agenda in preparation for the 88th Texas
State Legislative Session. The Task Force met from July 2022 through September 2022 to develop a
draft Agenda for the Subcomittee’s consideration.
The Legislative Task Force is a special ad hoc group comprised of active leaders in the community -
the leadership of City Boards and Commissions. With the membership comprised of the Boards and
Commissions leadership, the Legislative Task Force are knowledgeable members of the community,
educated on City priorities, and representing a wide range of City interests.
2022/23 Legislative Task Force Members:
Laura Klein Plunkett, Animal Shelter Advisory Board
David Valdez, Arts and Culture Advisory Board
Michael Price, Building Standards Commission
Dawn Korman, Ethics Commission
Gordon Pierce, Firefighters’ and Police Officers’ Civil Service Commission
Robert Case, Georgetown Electric Utility Advisory Board
Larry Raper, Georgetown Housing Authority
Scott Macmurdo, Georgetown Water Utility Advisory Board
Lawrence Romero, Historic and Architectural Review Commission
Wendy Cash, Housing Advisory Board
Nosa Asowata, Library Advisory Board
Christine Tomaszewski, Main Street Advisory Board
Chad Holz, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Chere Heintzman, Planning and Zoning Commission: Appointed
Paul Secord, Strategic Partnerships for Community Services
PJ Stevens, Unified Development Code Advisory Commission
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CITY OF GEORGETOWN 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
PROTECT CITY OF GEORGETOWN
INTERESTS
The City of Georgetown (City) supports legislation that benefits the City and opposes
legislation detrimental to the City, including bills that:
• Limit the City’s ability to abide by the principle of self-government;
• Mandate increased City costs;
• Mandate decreased City revenue;
• Limit the City’s ability to advocate on behalf of the community through trade
associations and consultants; and
• Diminish the City’s authority to provide for the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
PRESERVE MUNICIPAL-GOVERNMENT
POLICY ENACTMENT
The City supports legislation that protects the rights of elected municipal officials to enact
ordinances that address the policy priorities and needs of cities’ residents, businesses, and
visitors.
PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WHILE
PRESERVING CURRENT SALES TAX
REVENUE
The City supports legislation that provides meaningful property tax relief to owners of
property in the City’s jurisdiction.
• The City supports transparency regarding property tax rates, property values, and
property tax income.
• The City opposes expansion of revenue, tax, or appraisal caps which limit the City’s
ability to raise sufficient funds to pay for critical municipal public policy services.
• The City opposes shifting the tax burden from one taxpayer to another taxpayer.
• The City supports maintaining provisions for debt financing so it can issue financial
debt to pay for such expenditures as infrastructure and equipment.
The City supports legislation allowing for the local sourcing of sales and use taxes for
internet orders.
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CITY OF GEORGETOWN 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
PROTECTING TAXPAYERS’ INVESTMENT IN
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND ASSETS
The City supports legislation that ensures the City can continue to own and operate the City of
Georgetown Utility Systems.
The City opposes legislation that negatively impacts the service level, stability, or return-on-
investment for its residents.
The City supports legislation that maintains state and regional water plans while preserving the
authority to continue the City of Georgetown Water Utility’s current operational system within its
current jurisdictional boundaries using tools necessary to provide a consistent water supply.
The City opposes legislation that would deny the City from being adequately compensated for
the use of its rights-of-way, would erode municipal authority over the management and control
of rights-of-way, or both.
KEEPING GEORGETOWN COMPETITIVE
The City supports legislation maintaining incentives that supplement local economic
development strategies to fund employee recruitment and retention.
The City supports the continuation of Type A and Type B sales tax that can be used to pursue and
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CITY OF GEORGETOWN 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR CURRENT
AND FUTURE GROWTH
The City supports legislation that would allow municipal-elected officials, municipal voters, or
both to approve city funding options to pay for construction, maintenance, and repair of streets,
sidewalks, and transportation authorities.
The City supports efforts to ensure the equitable distribution of state funding and the continued
full funding of Propositions 1 & 7, as well as the extension of the Proposition 1 sunset provision.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TO MAINTAIN
GEORGETOWN’S UNIQUE CHARACTER
The City supports legislation to maintain the municipal election officials’ authority to regulate
city growth and development through city land development ordinances.
Annexation:
• Primary Position: The City supports a position which would allow for pre-2017 annexation
requirements.
• Secondary Position: The City supports retaining requirements established in 2019
while expanding opportunities for voluntary annexation by property owners that are not
contiguous to the city limits and allowing for pre-2017 annexation requirements for areas
surrounded by City limits for contiguous City boundaries.
Development Process:
• Primary Position: The City supports legislation that clarifies that House Bill 3167 (86th
Regular Session) only applies to changes made to an application intake process or unified-
development-code-approval process while improving the opportunity to collaborate with
applicants to solve problems and challenges.
• Secondary Position: Support the retention of House Bill 3167 (86th Regular Session) for
only the largest of Texas cities or else allow for local control on decision making regarding an
applicant’s request for a waiver relating to House Bill 3167 requirements.
Building Codes and Materials:
• The City supports legislation that repeals amendments to House Bill 2439 (86th Regular
Session) which preempted cities from regulating building materials.
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CITY OF GEORGETOWN 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
PARKS AND RECREATION INVESTMENT FOR A
HEALTHY GEORGETOWN
The City supports legislation that enhances the investment in parks and open spaces and conserves
open spaces that connect communities safely to the mental, social, and physical benefits of outdoor and
recreational opportunities.
CONTINUATION OF A VIBRANT ARTS & CULTURE
COMMUNITY
The City supports legislation that funds the arts and libraries to support a strong and vibrant City of
Georgetown arts and cultural industry by:
• Preserving the use of Municipality Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) to fund the arts; and
• Maintaining municipality autonomy in allocation of HOT revenue
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CITY OF GEORGETOWN 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
CITY OF GEORGETOWN
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 87TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE’S
REGULAR SESSION IN 2021
PROTECT CITY OF GEORGETOWN INTERESTS
The City of Georgetown (City) supports legislation that benefits the City and opposes legislation detrimental to the
City, including bills that:
• Limit the City’s ability to abide by the principle of self-government;
• Mandate increased City costs;
• Mandate decreased City revenue;
• Limit the City’s ability to advocate on behalf of the community through trade associations and consultants; &
• Diminish the City’s authority to provide for the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
PRESERVE MUNICIPAL-GOVERNMENT POLICY ENACTMENT
The City supports legislation that protects the rights of elected municipal officials to enact ordinances that address
the policy priorities and needs of cities’ residents, businesses, and visitors.
PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WHILE PRESERVING CURRENT SALES TAX REVENUE
The City supports legislation that provides meaningful property tax relief to owners of property in the City’s
jurisdiction.
• The City supports transparency regarding property tax rates, property values, and property tax income.
• The City opposes expansion of revenue, tax, or appraisal caps which limit the City’s ability to raise sufficient
funds to pay for critical municipal public policy services.
• The City opposes shifting the tax burden from one taxpayer to another taxpayer.
• The City supports maintaining provisions for debt financing so it can issue financial debt to pay for such
expenditures as infrastructure and equipment.
The City supports legislation allowing for the local sourcing of sales and use taxes for internet orders.
PROTECTING TAXPAYERS’ INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC UTILITIES AND ASSETS
• The City supports legislation that ensures the City can continue to own and operate the City of Georgetown
Utility Systems.
• The City opposes legislation that negatively impacts the service level, stability, or return-on-investment for
its residents.
• The City supports legislation that maintains state and regional water plans and while preserving authority to
continue the City of Georgetown Water Utility’s current operational system within its current jurisdictional
boundaries.
• The City opposes legislation that would deny the City from being adequately compensated for the use of its
rights-of-way, would erode municipal authority over the management and control of rights-of-way, or both.
KEEPING GEORGETOWN COMPETITIVE
• The City supports legislation maintaining incentives that supplement local economic development
strategies to fund employee recruitment and retention.
• The City supports the continuation of Type A and Type B sales tax that can be used to pursue and retain
primary employer jobs.
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TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GROWTH
The City supports legislation that would allow municipal-elected officials, municipal voters, or both to approve
city funding options to pay for construction, maintenance, and repair of streets, sidewalks, and transportation
authorities.
The City supports efforts to ensure the equitable distribution of state funding and the continued full funding of
Propositions 1 & 7, as well as the extension of the Proposition 1 sunset provision.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TO MAINTAIN GEORGETOWN’S UNIQUE
CHARACTER
The City supports legislation to maintain the municipal election officials’ authority to regulate city growth and
development through city land development ordinances.
Annexation:
• Primary Position: The City supports a position which would allow for pre-2017 annexation requirements.
• Secondary Position: The City supports retaining requirements established in 2019 while expanding
opportunities for voluntary annexation by property owners that are not contiguous to the city limits and
allowing for pre-2017 annexation requirements for areas surrounded by City limits for contiguous City
boundaries.
Development Process:
• Primary Position: The City supports legislation that clarifies that House Bill 3167 (86th Regular Session)
only applies to changes made to an application intake process or unified-development-code-approval
process while improving the opportunity to collaborate with applicants to solve problems and challenges.
• Secondary Position: Support the retention of House Bill 3167 (86th Regular Session) for only the largest
of Texas cities or else allow for local control on decision making regarding an applicant’s request for a waiver
relating to House Bill 3167 requirements.
Building Codes and Materials:
• The City supports legislation that repeals amendments to House Bill 2439 (86th Regular Session) which
preempted cities from regulating building materials.
PARKS AND RECREATION INVESTMENT FOR A HEALTHY GEORGETOWN
The City supports legislation that enhances the investment in parks and open spaces and conserves open
spaces that connect communities safely to the mental, social, and physical benefits of outdoor and recreational
opportunities.
CONTINUATION OF A VIBRANT ARTS & CULTURE COMMUNITY
The City supports legislation that funds the arts and libraries to support a strong and
vibrant City of Georgetown arts and cultural industry by:
• Preserving the use of Municipality Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) to fund the arts; and
CITY OF GEORGETOWN
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 87TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE’S
REGULAR SESSION IN 2021
CITY OF GEORGETOWN 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
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