HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda CC 12.12.2017 WorkshopNotice of M eeting of the
Governing B ody of the
City of Georgetown, Texas
December 1 2, 2 01 7
The Ge orgetown City Council will meet on December 12, 2017 at 3:00 PM at Co uncil Chambers - 101
East 7th Street
The City o f Georgetown is committed to co mpliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If
you re quire assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the ADA,
reasonable assistance, adaptations, or ac c ommo datio ns will be provided upo n request. P lease contact
the City Se c retary's Office, at least three (3 ) days prio r to the scheduled meeting date, at (512) 930-
3652 o r City Hall at 113 East 8th Street fo r additional information; TTY use rs ro ute through Relay
Texas at 7 11.
REVISE D AGENDA
Policy De ve lopme nt/Re vie w Workshop -
A Re vie w o f the City’s Investment P olicy and discussion of recommended changes for 2018 --
Elaine Wilson, Controller
B Prese ntation and discussion regarding po licy for placement of small c e ll nodes by wireless
netwo rk providers within public rights-of-way -- Glenn W. Dishong, Utilities Director
C Update and discussion regarding po ssible termination of, or amendment to , the Development
Agre ement Regarding Annexation and Develo pment of Cowan Springs and possible new utility
agre e ment between P ulte and the City -- Wayne Reed, Assistant City Manager and Wesley Wright,
Syste ms Engineering Director
D Prese ntation on annexation requireme nts and discussion on establishing an annexation strategy --
Sofia Nelso n, P lanning Director, Charlie McNabb, City Attorney and Wesley Wright, Systems
Engineering Director
E Discussion o f possible projects to be c onsidered for application submission in response to
CAMP O Call For P rojects related to TxDOT funding sources available for funding years FY19 to
FY2 2 -- Edward G. Polasek, Transportatio n P lanning Coordinator
F Update and direction regarding the City Council's Vision and Strategie s -- David Morgan, City
Manager and Jack Daly, Assistant to the City Manager
Exe cutive Se ssion
In compliance with the Open Meetings Ac t, Chapter 551, Government Co de , Verno n's Texas Codes,
Annotate d, the items listed below will be discussed in closed session and are subject to action in the
regular se ssio n.
G Se c . 55 1.0 71 : Consul tati on wi th Atto rney
Advic e from attorney about pending o r contemplated litigation and othe r matters on which the
attorney has a duty to advise the City Co uncil, including agenda items
- We stern District Water Agreeme nt with Orchard Ridge -- Wesley Wright, P.E. Systems
Engineering Director
Page 1 of 104
- Texas Crushed Stone Industrial Agreement
Se c . 55 1.0 72 : Del i berati ons about Real Pro perty
- Cowen Creek Interceptor Easement Acquisitions -- Travis Baird, Re al Estate Services
Coo rdinato r
Se c . 55 1:0 74 : Personnel Matte r s
City Manager, City Attorney, City Se c retary and Municipal Judge: Consideration of the
appointment, employment, evaluatio n, reassignment, duties, discipline, o r dismissal
Se c . 55 1.0 86 : Certai n P ubl i c P ow e r Uti l i ti es: Competi ti ve Matte r s
- Quarterly P urchase Power Update
Adjournme nt
Ce rtificate of Posting
I, Shelley No wling, City S ecretary for the C ity of Geo rgeto wn, Texas , do hereby c ertify that
this Notic e o f Meeting was posted at City Hall, 113 E. 8th Street, a p lac e read ily acc es s ib le to
the general pub lic at all times , o n the _____ day of _________________, 2017, at
__________, and remained so p o s ted for at leas t 72 c o ntinuo us ho urs p receding the
s cheduled time of s aid meeting.
__________________________________
Shelley No wling, City S ecretary
Page 2 of 104
City of Georgetown, Texas
City Council Workshop
December 12, 2017
SUBJECT:
Review of the City’s Investment Policy and discussio n of reco mmended changes fo r 20 18 -- Elaine Wilson, Controller
ITEM SUMMARY:
The purpose of the Investment P olicy (Po licy) is to provide the framework fo r managing the City’s investments in a way
that mitigates risk while optimizing returns. The po licy is modeled after P ublic Funds Investment Act (P FIA)
recommendatio ns.
According to the Act, Council must approve the po licies on an annual basis. The City’s Investment Advisors, Valley Vie w
Consulting, have recomme nded updates to the policy that are outline d in the presentation. The full version of the policie s
with tracked changes is also provided.
The General Government and Financ e (GGAF) Bo ard reco mmended the policies to Council at the meeting Decembe r 11,
2017.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None
SUBMITTED BY:
Elaine Wilson, Controller - SP
ATTACHMENT S:
Description
Investment Polic y FY 2017 Tracked Changes
S ummary of C hanges Memo
Investment Polic y Pres entatio n
Page 3 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 1
CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS INVESTMENT POLICY As amended December 12December 13, 2016, 2017
SECTION 1: SCOPE & OBJECTIVES 1.1 SCOPE This Investment Policy applies to all financial assets of the City of Georgetown, Texas, which includes the City of Georgetown Economic Development Corporation and the Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation, held in all funds. 1.2 STATEMENT OF CASH MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY The City will maintain a comprehensive cash management program to include the effective collection of all accounts receivable, the prompt deposit of receipts to the City's bank accounts, the payment of obligations to comply with State law and in accord with vendor invoices, and the prudent investment of idle funds in accord with this Policy. 1.3 OBJECTIVES The City's investment program will be conducted to comply with Texas Government Code Chapter 2256 (the Public Funds Investment Act) and accomplish the following objectives, listed in priority order: 1. Safety. The City will give priority to the preservation and safety of the principal invested. Investments will be made in a manner that will mitigate credit risk and interest rate risk. 2. Liquidity. The City will maintain the availability of sufficient cash to pay obligations of the City when they are due. 3. Public Trust. Investment Officers shall seek to act responsibly as custodians of the public trust. Investment Officers shall avoid transactions that might impair public confidence in the City’s ability to govern effectively. 4. Yield. The City will invest idle cash in a manner that will maximize earnings to the greatest extent possible, consistent with State and local laws and the objectives of safety and liquidity listed above. It is also the objective of the City to diversify its investments to eliminate the risk of loss resulting from over concentration of assets in a specific maturity, a specific issuer or a specific class of investments, when appropriate. It is the intent of the City to hold investments to maturity. SECTION 2: STANDARD OF CARE 2.1 PRUDENCE Investments will be made with judgment and care, under circumstances then prevailing, that persons of prudence, discretion, and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not for speculation, but for investment, considering the probable safety of their capital and the probable income to be derived. The City Council recognizes that in maintaining a diversified portfolio, occasional measured losses due to market volatility are inevitable and must be
Page 4 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 2
considered within the context of the overall portfolio's investment return, provided that adequate diversification has been implemented.
In determining whether an Investment Officer has exercised prudence with respect to an
investment decision, the determination shall be made taking into consideration:
A. The investment of all funds, or funds under the City’s control, over which the Officer had
responsibility rather than a consideration as to the prudence of a single investment.
B. Whether the investment decision was consistent with the written Investment Policy of the
City.
The Investment Officer, acting in accordance with written procedures and exercising due
diligence, shall not be held personally responsible for a specific investment's adverse credit risk
or market price changes, provided that these deviations are reported immediately to the City
Manager and/or the City Council and that appropriate action is taken to control adverse
developments. 2.2 ETHICS & CONFLICT OF INTEREST Investment Officers and employees involved in the investment process will refrain from personal business activity that could conflict with the proper execution of the investment program, or which could impair their ability to make impartial investment decisions. Investment Officers and employees will comply with all disclosure and reporting requirements of Section 2256.005 (i) of the Texas Government Code. 2.3 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY The Finance Director, Treasurer, and Controller are the City's Investment Officers. The Finance Director is responsible for overall management of the City's investment program and may direct the other Investment Officers in his/her duties. Accordingly, the Investment Officers are responsible for day-to-day administration of the investment program and for the duties listed below: 1. Maintain current information as to available cash balances in City accounts, and as to the amount of idle cash available for investment; 2. Make investments and maintain written procedures for the operation and internal control of the investment program consistent with this Policy; 3. Ensure that all investments are adequately secured; and 4. Attend training relating to investment responsibilities under this Policy as required by Section 2256.008 of the Texas Government Code. Ten (10) hours of investment training must be completed within twelve (12) months of attaining the position of Investment Officer, and thereafter, eight (8) hours of training must be completed within a two-year period that begins on the first day of the City’s fiscal year and consists of the two consecutive fiscal years after that date. To ensure quality and capability of investment management, all Investment Officers shall receive training from an independent source that addresses investment controls, security risks, strategy risks, market risks, diversification of investment portfolios, and compliance with the Public Funds Investment Act. The Training sponsored by any of the following organizations is approved: Texas Municipal League
Page 5 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 3
Government Finance Officers Association of Texas (GFOAT) Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Government Treasurers’ Organization of Texas (GTOT) University of North Texas Texas Tech University Center for Professional Development Unless authorized by law, no person may deposit, withdraw, transfer or manage in any other manner the funds of the City. SECTION 3: INVESTMENT STRATEGIES 3.1 OPERATING FUNDS Operating Funds are defined as cash and investments used for day-to-day operations that do not fall into one of the other categories. Operating Funds will be invested in a manner suitable to provide adequate liquidity for the anticipated operating needs of the City. Investments of Operating Funds shall be limited to a weighted average maturity no greater than one year and any one investment may not exceed 36 months without authorization by the City Manager. All investment instruments must meet credit and safety criteria as required by the Public Funds Investment Act and this Policy. All investments shall be of high quality with no perceived default risk. Operating Funds will remain sufficiently liquid to enable the City to meet operating requirements that may be reasonably anticipated. If utilized, securities with active and efficient secondary markets are necessary in the event of unanticipated cash requirements. Operating Funds’ maturities will be staggered based on the City’s anticipated operating needs, and the investments may include financial institution deposits, U.S. treasuries and agencies, state and municipal debt instruments, investment pools, and money market mutual funds. Investment of Operating Funds will be structured to attain the highest possible yield given the liquidity and safety requirements. 3.2 CONTINGENCY RESERVES (or operating reserves) Contingency Reserves are the minimum fund balance/working capital requirements as defined by City Council in the Annual Operating Plan. Contingency Reserves’ balances may be used to cover any cash operating shortfalls due to the timing of bond issues, revenue receipts, etc. The funds will be invested in a manner suitable to cover operating shortfalls that may be reasonably anticipated. All investment instruments must meet credit and safety criteria as required by the Public Funds Investment Act and this Policy. All investments shall be of high quality with no perceived default risk. Investments of these funds may exceed 24 months with prior approval of the City Manager if short term cash flow needs are not evident. Any one investment may not exceed 36 months in maturity length. The weighted average maturity for these funds may not exceed 24 months. Contingency Reserves investments will remain sufficiently liquid to meet City needs in the event of an operating shortfall, and if utilized, securities with active and efficient secondary markets will provide marketability necessary should the need arise to liquidate the investment prior to maturity. Contingency Reserves’ maturities will be diverse to cover possible operating shortfalls, and the investments may include financial institution deposits, U.S. treasuries and agencies, state and municipal debt instruments, investment pools, and money market mutual funds. Investment of Contingency Reserves will be structured to attain the highest possible yield given the liquidity and safety requirements. 3.3 DEBT 3.3.1 Reserves. Debt Reserves are defined as bond reserve funds required to be set aside in accordance with bond covenants. The City’s bond covenants do not require the City to maintain any reserve funds. Therefore, the City’s investments are not adversely affected by any reserve requirement conditions.
Page 6 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 4
3.3.2 Interest & Sinking (or debt service funds). Interest and Sinking funds are defined as those funds accumulated to meet periodic payments required by bond and note maturity schedules. The investment maturities are limited by pertinent debt service requirements and tax laws limiting accumulation and earnings for such funds, and investments should be made in a manner suitable to comply with applicable requirements and payment schedules. The investments must meet credit and safety criteria as required by the Public Funds Investment Act and this Policy. All investments shall be of high quality with no perceived default risk. The funds shall be invested to ensure adequate funding for each consecutive debt service payment, but shall not exceed the debt service schedule. Involuntary liquidation of investments is highly unlikely due to the nature of these funds. Interest and Sinking fund maturities will be diversified by matching them to the debt service payments of the City, and the investments may include financial institution deposits, U.S. treasuries and agencies, state and municipal debt instruments, investment pools, and money market mutual funds. Investment of Interest and Sinking funds will be structured to attain the highest possible yield given the liquidity and safety requirements. 3.4 BOND PROCEEDS (capital improvement funds) Bond proceed funds are defined as those funds received from the sales of City bonds or notes and not otherwise set aside for debt service or reserve purposes. These funds typically include money to fund infrastructure, construction, or other large projects. The investment maturities are limited by pertinent project draw requirements, applicable bond covenants, and tax laws governing earnings for such funds, but may not have a single security greater than 36 months, unless a flexible repurchase agreement is used in accordance with Section 4.1.5 of this Policy. Investments must meet credit and safety criteria as required by the Public Funds Investment Act and this Policy, and should be made in a manner suitable to meet project requirements. All investments shall be of high quality with no perceived default risk. The funds shall be invested to match projected cash flow requirements with sufficient liquidity to meet unanticipated project outlays, and maturities shall not exceed the expected project completion dates. Bond proceed maturities will be diverse to provide necessary liquidity based on project needs, and investments may include financial institution deposits, flexible repurchase agreements, U.S. treasuries and agencies, state and municipal debt instruments, investment pools, and money market mutual funds. Investment of Bond Proceeds will be structured to attain the highest possible yield given the liquidity and safety requirements. SECTION 4: AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS 4.1 AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS City funds may be invested in the following authorized investments: 4.1.1 Financial Institution Deposits. Certificates of Deposit and other evidences of deposit at a financial institution that, a) has its main office or a branch office in Texas and is guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or its successor, b) is secured by obligations or in any other manner and amount provided by law for deposits of the City, or c) is executed through a depository institution or approved broker that has its main office or a branch office in Texas that meets the requirements of the Public Funds Investment Act. All financial institution deposits in excess of the FDIC insured amount must be collateralized as described by Section 5.5 COLLATERALIZATION. 4.1.2 U.S. Treasuries and Agencies. Obligations of the United States of America, its agencies and instrumentalities, including other obligations, the principal and interest of which are unconditionally guaranteed or insured by, or backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or its agencies and instrumentalities, including obligations that are fully guaranteed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or by the explicit
Page 7 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 5
full faith and credit of the United States. Such obligations include letters of credit of the United States or its agencies and instrumentalities, including the Federal Home Loan Banks. 4.1.3 Investment Pools. Investment pools that meet all requirements of the Public Funds Investment Act, including the following criteria: a. An investment pool must provide an offering circular or other similar disclosure instruments and provide monthly and transaction reporting as required by Section 2256.016 of the Texas Government Code. b. Investment in a new pool will require the approval of the City Council. c. A public funds investment pool created to function as a money market mutual fund must (1) mark its portfolio to market daily, (2) include in its investment objectives the maintenance of a stable net asset value of $1 for each share and (3) be continuously rated no lower than AAAm or at an equivalent rating by at least one nationally recognized rating service. 4.1.4. Money Market Mutual Funds. No-load government money market mutual funds if the fund: a. Is compliant with the Public Funds Investment Act; a.b. Is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission; b.c. Marks its portfolio to market daily; c.d. Includes in its investment objectives the maintenance of a stable net asset value of $1.0000 for each share; d. Is continuously rated no lower than AAA or at an equivalent rating by at least one nationally recognized rating service. 4.1.5. Repurchase Agreements. Fully collateralized repurchase agreements that: a. Have a defined termination date; b. Are secured by cash or obligations as allowed by the Public Funds Investment Act and this Policy; c. Require independent third party safekeeping of all securities prior to the release of any funds; d. Are placed through a primary dealer or financial institution doing business in Texas; and e. Do not create a reverse repurchase agreement by the City. Construction, capital improvement and bond proceed funds may utilize a flexible repurchase agreement, or similar agreement, that allows expenditure-related withdrawal of funds, without penalty, with an average life and termination date limitation based on the anticipated draw schedule. Any repurchase agreement shall require the execution of a mutually acceptable Repurchase Agreement. 4.1.6. Municipal Issuers. Obligations of: a. The State of Texas or its agencies and instrumentalities; and b. Counties, cities, and other political subdivisions of the State of Texas rated as to investment quality by a nationally recognized investment rating firm not less than A or its equivalent.
Investments securities purchased prior to this Policy’s revision, that do not meet the
revised requirements of this Policy, are not required to be liquidated. The City shall
monitor each security’s investment’s status to determine whether it is in the best interest
Commented [RL1]: SKA - why delete the the
other obligation and FDIC language, and
exclude MBSs?
Page 8 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 6
of the City to hold or liquidate the investmentsecurity.
4.2 CREDIT RATING REVIEW AND EFFECT OF LOSS OF REQUIRED RATING
Not less than quarterly, the Investment Officers will obtain from a reliable source the current credit
rating for each held investment that has a Public Funds Investment Act-required minimum rating.
Any Authorized Investment that requires a minimum rating and does not qualify at any time during
the period, is considered to not have the minimum rating. The City shall take all prudent measures
that are consistent with this Policy to liquidate an investment that does not have the minimum
rating. 4.3 COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW All authorized investments outlined above must meet the requirements of the Public Funds Investment Act. No investment may be made in any instrument except as provided above. 4.4 CASH ON HAND Cash resources required for the immediate needs of the City, and not otherwise available for longer term investment, will be placed in account(s) at the City's Depository/ Depositories, in local government investment pools and/or money market mutual funds. Such account(s) will earn interest at the highest rate(s) provided in the respective depository contract(s). SECTION 5: SAFEKEEPING AND CUSTODY 5.1 AUTHORIZED BROKER/DEALERS and INVESTMENT POLICY CERTIFICATION Authorized investment securities may be purchased only through brokers/dealers who are licensed and in good standing with the Texas Department of Securities, the Securities Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or other applicable self-regulatory organization. The City Council will, at least annually, review, revise, and adopt a list of broker/dealers who are authorized to engage in investment transactions with the City. The list is approved and included in Attachment “A” of this Policy. Before engaging in investment transactions with an financial institution, broker/dealer, Investment Pool, or Money Market Mutual Fund,a discretionary investment management firm, the Investment Officers will have received from said pool/firm a signed Certification Form. This form will attest that the individual responsible for the City’s account with that pool/firm has received and reviewed the City’s Investment Policy and that the pool/firm has implemented reasonable procedures and controls in an effort to preclude imprudent activities arising out of investment transactions conducted between the City and the firmtransactions conducted between the City and the pool/firm that are not authorized by the City’s Investment Policy, except to the extent that this authorization is dependent on an analysis of the makeup of the City’s entire portfolio, requires an interpretation of subjective investment standards, or relates to investment transactions of the City that are not made through accounts or other contractual arrangements over which the pool/firm has accepted discretionary investment authority. The letter must be signed by a Qualified Representative as defined by the Public Funds Investment Act. “Qualified Representative” means a person who holds a position with a business organization who is authorized to act on behalf of the business organization and who is one of the following:
Page 9 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 7
(1) for a business organization doing business that is regulated by or registered with a securities commission, a person who is registered under the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; (2) for a state or federal bank, a savings bank or state or federal credit union, a member of the loan committee for the bank or branch of the bank or a person authorized by corporate resolution to act on behalf of and bind the banking institution; (31) for an investment pool, the person authorized by the elected official or board with authority to administer the activities of the investment pool to sign the written instrument on behalf of the investment pool, or (42) for an discretionary investment management firm registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or, if not subject of registration under the Act, registered with the State Securities Board, a person who is an officer or principal of the investment management firm. 5.2 AUTHORIZED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Financial institution deposits and other evidences of deposit may be purchased at qualified City Depositories and other financial institutions. Qualifications will be determined by the Investment Officers. The City must have a written agreement with the Depository and other financial institutions, and that depository and other financial institutions must meet all State Laws for deposit of public funds. The City's main operating Depository/Depositories will be selected as provided by law and the City’s purchasing procedure. 5.3 INTERNAL CONTROLS The Finance Director will establish and maintain procedures for the execution of the investment program and these procedures will address internal controls to mitigate risks of intentional or inadvertent mismanagement or misappropriation of funds. All investment transactions will be documented by the Investment Officers. The Investment Officers, or through the City’s Investment Advisor, may make investments orally, but will follow promptly with a written confirmation to the financial institution or broker/ dealer, with a copy of such confirmation retained in the City's files. All trades, purchases, and sales, excluding cash equivalent transactions, will be completed through a competitive process. Where appropriate, at least three (3) quotations will be solicited for each such investment made. Market value of the portfolio and each investment will be monitored at least quarterly through industry standard publications/sources for market data such as, but not limited to, The Wall Street Journal or Bloomberg. 5.4 SAFEKEEPING All securities purchased by the City under this Policy must be designated as assets of the City, must be settled on a delivery-versus-payment (DVP) basis, and must be protected through the use of a third-party custody/safekeeping agent. The City will enter into a formal agreement with an institution of such size and expertise as is necessary to provide the services needed to protect and secure the investment assets of the City. 5.5 COLLATERALIZATION To the extent not insured by federal agencies that secure deposits, City funds (including financial institution deposits and CDs) must be collateralized in compliance with the Texas Public Funds
Page 10 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 8
Collateral Act and pertinent federal banking regulations. With the exception of deposits secured with irrevocable letters of credit at 100% of deposit plus accrued interest, the aggregate market value of pledged securities shall be equal to at least one hundred two percent (102%) of the deposit plus accrued interest less an amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Should the depository fail to adequately maintain the required collateral level, the City may increase the minimum to 110%. The City reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to accept or reject any form of insurance or collateralization pledged towards its deposits. Institutions serving as a depository will be required to sign a Depository/Collateral Agreement with the City. The collateralized deposit portion of the Agreement shall define the City’s rights to the collateral in case of default, bankruptcy, or closing and shall establish a perfected security interest in compliance with Federal and State regulations, including:
• The agreement must be in writing;
• The agreement has tomust be executed by the Depository and the City contemporaneously with the acquisition of the asset;
• The agreement must be approved by the Board of Directors or designated committee of the Depository and a copy of the meeting minutes must be delivered to the City; and
• The agreement must be part of the Depository’s “official record” continuously since its execution. Securities pledged as collateral must be retained by an independent, third party custodian and marked as pledged to the City. The City will be provided the original safekeeping receipt from the custodian on each pledged security. With the exception of the Federal Reserve Bank, the City, financial institution, and the custodian will operate in accordance with an acceptable custodial agreement. The City's Investment Officers must approve in writing the release of collateral prior to its removal from the safekeeping account in accordance with the terms of the depository and/or custodial agreement.
The financial institution(s) with which the City invests and/or maintains deposits will require the
custodian to provide monthly a listing of the collateral pledged to the City marked to current market
prices. The listing will include total pledged securities itemized by name, CUSIP, type and
description of the security; safekeeping receipt number; par value; current market value; maturity
date; and Moody's or Standard & Poor's rating, if available.
SECTION 6: REPORTING
6.1 QUARTERLY REPORTING The Investment Officers shall prepare, sign and submit to the City Council a quarterly report on investment transactions for all funds covered by this Policy. The report will be prepared in compliance with the Public Funds Investment Act. The report will cover the investment position of the City at the end of each fiscal quarter. The contents will include at a minimum: 1. Beginning and ending market value and accrued interest of the portfolio; 2. Beginning and ending market value and book value, maturity date, type of funds, interest coupon, and yield for each separate security; and 3. A statement as to the compliance with this Policy and State law. 6.2 ANNUAL REPORTING Within 90 days following the end of the fiscal year, the Investment Officers will present to the City Council or the General Government and Finance Advisory Board a comprehensive annual report on the investment program and investment activity. In addition to the information required for
Page 11 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 9
quarterly reporting, the annual report will include a review of the activities and return for the twelve months, suggest Policy revisions and improvements that might enhance the investment program, and include an investment plan for the ensuing fiscal year. The annual report may be a component of the quarterly report. 6.3 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS In order to To evaluate portfolio performance of funds subject to this Policy, the City establishes “weighted average yield to maturity” as the standard portfolio performance measurement. The portfolio’s performance will be compared against appropriately competitive and reasonable benchmarks, including money market mutual funds or investment pools of similar make-up and maturities. 6.4 COMPLIANCE The quarterly reports shall be formally reviewed and a compliance audit of management controls and adherence to this Policy as it relates to the City’s investments and investing activity will be performed on an annual basis in conjunction with the City’s annual financial audit. The results shall be reported to the City Council. SECTION 7: POLICY REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS This Investment Policy will be reviewed by the City Council on at least an annual basis as required by the Public Funds Investment Act. The City Council shall adopt a written instrument by rule, order, ordinance, or resolution stating that it has reviewed the investment policy and investment strategies and the written instrument so adopted shall record any changes made to either the investment policy or investment strategy.
Page 12 of 104
City of Georgetown Investment Policy Page 10
CITY OF GEORGETOWN INVESTMENT POLICY Attachment “A” Approved Broker/Dealer List
Coastal SecuritiesFTN Financial
Duncan Williams Hilltop Securities Multi-Bank Securities Raymond James
Rice Financial Wells Fargo Securities
These broker/dealers meet the City’s Investment Policy requirements.
Page 13 of 104
Page 1 of 3
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: December 6, 2017
TO: Mayor & Council
David Morgan, City Manager
Laurie Brewer, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Elaine Wilson, Controller/Karrie Pursley, Treasurer
SUBJECT: Proposed Updates to City of Georgetown Investment Policy
ATTACHMENTS: Redline version of the City of Georgetown Investment Policy
The City’s investments are guided by the City’s investment policy, which was created pursuant to
Chapter 2256 of the Texas Government Code, known as the Public Funds Investment Act (PFIA).
The law requires the governing body of local governments to review the policy annually. City staff
and its investment advisory firm, Valley View Consulting, L.L.C., have reviewed the current policy
and made recommended changes to enhance the policy and make minor language clarifications.
There has been no state legislative changes since last year’s review.
These proposed changes will be reviewed by GGAF on December 6, 2017. The policy and proposed
changes will be reviewed at the December 12, 2017 Georgetown City Council Meeting.
A summary of the changes proposed is outlined below.
Section 2.3 Delegation of Authority
Addition of the Treasurer position.
Section 3.1 Investment Strategies
Addition of State and Municipal debt instruments
Section 3.2 Contingency Reserves
Addition of State and Municipal debt instruments
Section 3.3 Debt
Addition of State and Municipal debt instruments
Section 3.4 Debt
Addition of State and Municipal debt instruments
Page 14 of 104
Page 2 of 3
Section 4.1.2 Treasuries and Agencies
Clarification on letters of credit.
Section 4.1.4 Money Market Mutual Funds
Minor wording clarification.
Section 4.1.6 Municipal Issuers
Minor wording clarification.
Section 4.4 Cash on Hand
Minor wording clarification.
Section 5.1 Authorized Broker/Dealers and Investment Policy Certification
Updated with the 2017 Legislative changes in regards to the PFIA, including removal of specific
references to banks, financial institutions, and broker/dealers.
Section 5.5 Collateralization
Minor wording clarification.
Section 6.1 Quarterly Reporting
Minor wording clarification.
Section 6.3 Performance Standards
Minor wording clarification.
Attachment “A”
Change in approved brokers from Coastal Securities to FTN Financial
Upcoming Legislative Changes
These changes incorporate all changes made in the 85th Texas Legislative session. We do not
expect any further changes to the PFIA or the Public Funds Collateral Act until 2019 during the next
biennial session.
Page 15 of 104
Page 3 of 3
Page 16 of 104
FY2017 Annual Budget
GGAF December 11, 2017
City Council December 12,2017
Investment Policy
2018
1Page 17 of 104
FY2017 Annual Budget
Purpose
•The Investment Policy sets the objectives and
strategies for investing the City’s available cash and
reserves
•The Policy follows all of the rules in the Public Funds
Investment Act (PFIA)and is recommended by the
Investment Advisors
•Council required to review and adopt the policy
annually
•Last reviewed and adopted December 2016
2Page 18 of 104
FY2017 Annual Budget
Administrative Changes
•Adding the Treasurer as an authorized Investment
Officer
•Stating which funds can invest in State and Municipal
bonds
•Operating Funds
•Contingency Reserve Funds
•Debt Service Funds
•Capital Improvement Funds (Bond Proceeds)
•Verbiage changes to more closely match the PFIA
wording
3Page 19 of 104
FY2017 Annual Budget
Substantive Changes
•Changes to PFIA
•Section 4.1.4 Money Market Mutual Funds
•PFIA removed requirement of Net Asset Value of 1.0000 to correspond
to SEC removal of this requirement for Prime funds last October
•City choosing to keep this requirement which will be found in
Government Funds
•PFIA changed wording to comply with SEC Rule 2a-7 from a stated
weighted average maturity –City policy will be to comply with this
change
•Section 5 –Broker/Dealers Certifications
•PFIA removed requirement for broker/dealer certifications except for
local government investment pools and discretionary investment
advisors
•City is removing portions of Section 5 that no longer apply
4Page 20 of 104
FY2017 Annual Budget
•Broker/Dealer List Changes
•Remove Coastal Securities
•Add FTN Financial
5Page 21 of 104
City of Georgetown, Texas
City Council Workshop
December 12, 2017
SUBJECT:
P resentation and discussio n regarding policy for placement o f small cell nodes by wire less network providers within
public rights-of-way -- Glenn W. Dishong, Utilitie s Directo r
ITEM SUMMARY:
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
SUBMITTED BY:
Glenn W. Dishong - Utilities Director
ATTACHMENT S:
Description
S mall Cell Deployments and S B 1004 Presentation
Page 22 of 104
PRESENTED BY:
GLENN DISHONG, UTILITY DIRECTOR
Small Cell Deployments
and
SB 1004 Requirements
Page 23 of 104
Communications Scenario Pre-SB 1004
Applied to “wired” communications companies
Franchise requirement
Customers known
Franchise fee to GF
City electric utility required to allow attachment
Pole attachment agreement
Pole attachment fee to electric utility
Page 24 of 104
Small Cell World
Wireless technology
Need density
No franchise needed
Unable to determine what customers are “connected”
Texas Local Govt Code Ch 284 applies
Requires expanded installation
Expanded use of utility poles
More than just utility poles
Required processing times
Fee limitations
Page 25 of 104
SB 1004 Requirements
City still controls ROW
ROW use goes beyond
utility poles
Street lights
Traffic lights
Free standing poles
Fees for use
Utility Poles –Electric Fund
Other Poles –General Fund
Design Manual Required
Appropriate standards
Where
What
How
Page 26 of 104
SB 1004 Continued
Expanded use of utility
poles
Design requirements must
be set
Traditional pole
attachment for wire
connections to nodes
Use of poles for devices
Non-discriminatory rates
Pole attachment rates
apply
Page 27 of 104
Policy Enactment
Ordinance
Sets out legal requirements including
Permitting
Processing times
Fees
Pole Attachment agreement (if needed)
Reference to Design Manual
Readings in January
Design Manual
Referenced by Ordinance
Amended and approved by staff
Page 28 of 104
Design Manual
Locations for Node Support Poles or attachment
Restricted ROW
Parks
Residential Areas
Historic Districts
Preferred ROW
Industrial Areas
Highways
Retail and Commercial
Reasonable design or concealment
Installation <300 from historic site or structure is discouraged
Must comply with underground requirements
Page 29 of 104
Design Manual
Installation Preference
Micro Network Node
lashed to communication
line between utility poles
Utility poles
Service poles
Street Lights
Traffic Signals
Street Signage
New Node Support Pole
Ground equipment
Page 30 of 104
Design Manual
Other Requirements
Cannot obstruct, impede, or hinder travel or public safety
Obstruct or hinder ability to ascend or do maintenance
Cannot violate NESC for utility service poles
Size limitations
Load analysis
Interference analysis
Relocation or removal for maintenance
Relocation or removal for safety
Removal for obsolescence
Page 31 of 104
Review
Design Manual
In progress
Ready upon 2nd reading of ordinance
Ordinance Readings in January
Pole Attachment Agreements
Already exist for some “wired” companies
May need to amend to address equipment
Permitting process
Need to amend to include equipment, Service Poles and Node
Support Poles
Page 32 of 104
The End
Questions?
Page 33 of 104
City of Georgetown, Texas
City Council Workshop
December 12, 2017
SUBJECT:
Update and disc ussio n regarding possible termination o f, or amendment to, the Deve lo pment Agreement Regarding
Annexation and Deve lo pment of Cowan Springs and possible new utility agreement between Pulte and the City -- Wayne
Reed, Assistant City Manager and Wesley Wright, Systems Engineering Director
ITEM SUMMARY:
Staff is reco mmending amending or te rminating the existing Developme nt Agreement regarding the Anne xatio n and
Development of Co wan Springs (referred to as the “Development Agreement”) and seeking Council's co ncurrence to
proceed. The multiple owners have consented to the termination with the deal po ints pro vided in this c ove r sheet. This
item is being c oo rdinated with Council’s recent approval to annex roughly 500 acres represented by Highland Village and
Somerset Hills (portio ns o f Co wan Springs) o n November 2 8th and c onsideration of PUD zoning on the majority of
property on January 9th: Sun City Te xas Somerset PUD (Amendment 1) for 7 68 .9 acres; Somerse t Hills PUD for 3 79 .6
acres; and Highland Village P UD with 120 .5 acres, a combined total of 1,269 acres. If the P UDs are appro ved by Council,
it will effectively bring the entire Co wan Springs property into the City and pro vide fo r PUD zo ning that will make the
property subject to the City’s regulatio ns, which is the major intent of the e xisting Development Agreement. The
following provides a histo ry of the Development Agreement, inc luding amendments, and a summary o f the propo sed
terms and conditio ns o f terminating it.
Background
The City entered into the Develo pment Agreement with Somerset Hills, Ltd., (referred to as the “Developer” and “Owne r”
in the Agreement) in 2006 concerning the po tential annexation and development of some 1,202 ac re s o f land to
encourage orderl y and effi ci ent l and deve l opment o f roughl y 1,202 ac r es l o cated w i thi n the Ci ty’s
Extraterri tori al Juri sdi cti on (see Attachment 1 ). The Development Agreement was amended twice over the next six
years incorporating additio nal land as well as removing some to o. At present, the Development Agreeme nt applies to
approximately 1,269 acres of private property. Of this total, some 769 acres o f the Cowan Springs property have been or
are in the process of being developed as part of Sun City; at the time o f the approval of the Development Agree ment in
2006, the City did not anticipate this property wo uld include age-restricted residential dwelling units.
Original Develo pment Agreement (May 2006)
The City Co uncil appro ved the original Develo pment Agreement in May 2006. The Development Agreement set fo rth
authorized uses of the pro perty (some existing uses and agricultural uses) and defined events c onstituting consent to
annexation of the property. Consent to a vo luntary annexation was triggered by an application for annexation or any one of
three other actions: a) the owner submitting an applic atio n fo r a site plan, preliminary plat, or any other developme nt-
related application applying to all or any portion of the pro perty; b) change in existing use s o n all or any portion of the
property from the existing agricultural and/or vehicle storage uses; o r c) receipt o f an application by the City for wate r,
wastewater, or electrical service(s) for all or any portio n of the property. In exchange for this arrangement and as lo ng as
the o wner remained in full compliance with the Develo pment Agreement, the City agreed to not pursue involuntary
annexation thro ugh its term, which is May 23, 20 21 , unless sooner terminated thro ugh mutual consent.
The City has benefited from entering into the Development Agre e ment by gaining the Owne r/Develo per ’s consent to the
following terms and co nditio ns:
City Regulations Imposed on Land Develo pment. Owner consented to impose all of the City’s
laws, o rdinances (including UDC), regulatio ns, technical manuals, policie s and requirements to
any future land development even if such develo pment occurs outside o f the city limits,
e xc luding City taxation. Upon annexation of any po rtion of the property, all City regulations,
including taxation, would apply like any other property.
Impe rvious Coverage. Gro ss lot coverage or impervious coverage was established fo r each
re sidential lo t and overall.
P roperty Owners’ Association . Deve lo per agreed to establish a Property Owners Association(s)
Page 34 of 104
to own, operate or maintain common areas within the property that are not owne d by a special
district o r political subdivision.
No New Spe c ial Districts. Exce pt fo r existing Road Districts with Williamson County, the
De veloper c anno t apply for, support, sponsor, o r seek third party sponsorship for any special
districts or municipalities of any kind witho ut the prior consent of the City Council.
P arks and Recreational Facilities. The developer must comply with the City’s UDC with regard to
parkland, trails, and open space.
Scho ols. The developer must negotiate in go od faith with the Geo rgeto wn ISD concerning the
lo c atio n of a school site within the property (to serve sc hoo l age children living in the
de velopment).
Fire Services. The Developer agreed to pay $630 per residential unit at the time of building
pe rmit as a contribution in aid of a fire statio n to serve the property. If requested by the City, the
de veloper must dedicate a two acre site to the City for a fire station.
Electric Services. Deve lo pe r agreed that the City would be the electric utility se rvice provider
for the property within the City’s c e rtified electric service area.
Retail Solid Waste Dispo sal Services. Developer agreed the City will provide solid waste
disposal to customers within the pro pe rty.
Retail Water Utility Services. Developer agreed that the City would be the retail water utility
service provider for the pro perty. In addition, the developer agreed to commenc e co nstruction of
a ce rtain sixteen inch (16 ”) water line (“Offsite Water Line”) on or before the final platting of
the 1 ,70 0th single-family residential unit on the property and complete c onstruction on or before
the final platting of the 2,000th single -family residential unit.
Retail Wastewater Utility Services. De veloper agreed that the City wo uld be the retail wastewater
utility service provider for the property. The City co mmitted to pro vide 0.87 Million Gallons per
Day (“MGD”) peak c apacity, which was e stimated to serve 1,6 00 residential units, non-age
re stricted. The parties agreed to inc re ase capacity as follows:
o City agreed to cover the co sts associated with designing and constructing a new
wastewater treatment plant (“WWTP”) when actual wastewater flows warrant the
inve stment by the City to build suc h plant;
o Developer agreed to cover the co sts asso ciated with designing and constructing a new
lift station and force main sufficient to serve the pro perty to the ne w wastewater treatment
plant fro m the property.
o Agreement expressly states “City agrees to diligently pursue commencement and
c ompletio n of the new wastewater treatment plant when warranted and when nec e ssary to
meet wastewater service require ments” (Section 13.0).
o Developer agreed to convey at no cost to the City a twenty acre (20 ac.) site located on
the pro perty at a mutually agreeable location for the new wastewate r treatment plant.
Impac t Fees. Developer agreed to pay the City’s water and wastewater impac t fees in place at
time o f approval of final approval o f the plat for the portion of the pro perty that includes that
se rvic e connection.
The agreement has been and is binding on successors and runs with the property. This has allo wed the City to enforce the
terms and conditions of the agreeme nt on purchasers o f portions of the property, like P ulte the present master developer
of Sun City. Co nversely, it has provided predictability to developers, like Pulte, who have sought to develop po rtions of
Cowan Springs.
First Amendment to Development Agreement (Marc h 20 08 )
In March of 20 08 , City Council approve d the first amendment to the Development Agreement. This amendment added
roughly 361 acres to the 1,2 02 acre property. These pro perties are highlighted on Attachment 1. They are referred to as
the Myra Young Trac t and the Boot Tract. Substantive pro visions in this amendment modified the following provisions:
P arks and Recreational Facilities. This amendme nt clarified that the Develope r ’s obligation to
c omply with the City’s UDC with re gard to parkland, trails, and open space included the construction
Page 35 of 104
of a trail and low water crossing along the so uth side of Ronald Reagan Bo ulevard as shown in Exhibit
C.
Electric Services. In c onsideration of the City cove ring the capital investment to underground
distribution level service to the property, the Developer agreed to the City imposing a supplemental
e lectric c onnect fee for e lectrical c onnectio ns lo cated within the property until and up to $375,000.
Fo r a single-family residential unit, the fee is roughly $150.
Retail Water Utility Services. In additio n to the original te rms, the Developer agreed that the City
wo uld be the re tail water utility service provider for the Myra Young Tract, if the Chisholm Trail
Special Utility District (CTSUD) agreed to allow the City to dually certify the portion of the Myra
Yo ung tract that was in this special distric t’s service area. In addition, the City agreed to provide water
service for up to 2,000 single-family residential units (or nonresidential equivalent) upon the City’s
final acceptance of the Offsite Water Line as described in the original Development Agreement.
Retail Wastewater Utility Services. The amendment clarified and adde d c onditions as follows:
o Developer agreed to convey to the City within thirty (30) days o f the effective date of the
ame ndment property for the new WWTP, access and utility easeme nts, and a one hundred and fifty
foo t (150’) buffe r between the WWTP and future re sidential development, all at no cost to the
City.
o Once the City took po sse ssio n of the WWTP site, it agreed to pursue all necessary regulatory
appro vals required for a new WWTP. “Design and Constructio n Review Trigger” and a
“Co nstruction Trigger” were e stablished for the timing of the City’s constructio n of the new
WWTP.
o Develo per maintained obligation to design and construct a new lift station and force main at its
so le cost and would have a capacity interest in the city’s wastewater collection system for up to
0.8 7 MGD peak flow.
o City recommitted to provide 0.87 MGD peak capacity, which was estimated to serve 1,600
re sidential unit equivalents or nonresidential equivalents.
This was the extent of substantive amendments to the terms and conditions contained in the Development
Agreement.
Second Amendment to Development Agreement (February 20 12)
In February of 2012 , City Co unc il approved the second amendment to the Deve lo pment Agreement. This amendme nt
removed 33.54 acres from the Cowan Springs property to release it from the terms and conditions of the Developme nt
Agreement. Attachment 1 reflects the current extent of private property covered by the Development Agreement. No
other changes.
Termination or Amendment o f Development Agre e ment (for January 9, 2018)
Termination of the Develo pment Agreement as amended simultane ously with the entitlement of the Sun City Somerse t,
and Somerset Hills, and Highland Village P UDs, which are currently scheduled to be approved by City Council on January
9th could occur unde r the fo llowing terms:
Utility Agre e ment . P ulte , the Sun City master deve lo per, will need to agree to execute a utility agreement that
obligate s it to repay the City for its capital investment for undergro und e lectric and to construct and/or provide
easements to construct the water and wastewater infrastructure as shown on Sun City PP-2 01 7-0 17 Utility Master
Plan (se e Attachment 2), specifically:
o Each single-family residential unit shall be accessed a $150 supplemental electric connect fee
for ele c trical c onnectio ns located within Sun City (within extent of the Cowan Springs property)
up to $375,000 in co nsideration of the City covering the capital investment to underground
distribution level service in Sun City;
o Pay applicable City impact fees as is customary with each building permit;
o Extend existing wastewater interceptor with a 21" wastewater line (CC-1 2015
MASTERPLAN) from Pedernales Fall Drive to CR 245 at time of deve lo pment of the
subdivision;
o Off of the 21” waste water interceptor, extend an 8” waste water line (CC-1 2015
MASTERPLAN) at time o f development of the subdivision along the western edge of
Page 36 of 104
Ne ighbo rhood 68 to the so uthern boundary of the existing Ro nald Reagan Boule vard ROW,
c re ating a 8” wastewater stub for o thers to extend to their developme nt;
o Off of the 21” wastewater intercepto r in a location between Neighbo rhoo ds 6 2 and 72, extend
an 8” wastewater line (P ER COG WW0 1A 5' CL OFFSET) at time o f development of the
subdivision through Neighborho ods 69 and 70 to the cul-de-sac lo cated in Neighborho od 6 9 to
the southe rn boundary of the existing Ronald Re agan Bo ulevard ROW, c re ating a 8” wastewater
stub for o thers to extend to their de velopment;
o Fro m the lift station site , extend an 8” waste water line (8” WASTEWATER (TYP.) PER COG
WW01 A 5' CL OFFSET) at time of deve lo pment of the subdivision generally loc ate d in
Ne ighbo rhoods 76 and 7 8 up through an easement between lots as shown to the southern
boundary of the existing Ronald Reagan Boulevard ROW, c re ating a 8 ” wastewate r stub fo r others
to e xtend to their development;
o Co nstruct a forced main starting at the Future Lift Station Site, generally through
Ne ighbo rhoods 77, 79, and 80, up to Ronald Reagan Blvd. ROW to City standards and design;
o If other entities desire to develop and connect to City’s wastewater system in advance of Pulte
final platting any o f the aforementioned Neighborhoo ds, Pulte shall convey to the City all
ne c essary e ase ments for such infrastructure along with tempo rary easements for access and
c onstructio n ne c essary to perform the work at no co st to the City and free and clear of any liens
and encumbrances that would harm the City o r others from installing said utilities; and
o A term o f ten (10) years.
Outstanding item to address/resolve:
o Pedestrian Walkways. Cowan Springs Agreeme nt shows the developer (P ulte at this time) has
an outstanding obligation to construct pedestrian walkway and a low water cro ssing alo ng Reagan
Bo ulevard per Section 7 (Park and Re creatio nal Facilities) as amended in 20 08 .
In exchange for agreeing to the above, the City will co ntinue to represent it will pro vide so lid waste, retail water, retail
wastewater, and e lectric utilities consistent with c urre nt co nditions in the Developme nt Agreement, specifically:
Commit to a) provide retail wastewater service to the entire Cowan Springs pro pe rty, b) uninterrupted
wastewater se rvic e as the three PUDs deve lo p that make up the Co wan Springs property, c) co vering the cost to
design and construct the lift station when needed.
Sun City Texas Some rset P UD, Somerset Hills P UD, and Highland Village PUD
With the approval of these three (3) PUDs, the City will have entitled a total of 4,65 0 residential dwelling units (DUs)
along with 75 ac re s fo r commercial development. The residential components are broken o ut below:
Sun City Somerset PUD (768 .9 ac.) … 2 ,220 max units (1,85 0 single-family detached and 37 0
low density MF).
Somerset P UD (377.6 ac.) … 1 ,63 0 max units (830 SF detache d and 8 00 lo w density MF)
Highland Village PUD (120.5 ac.) … 800 max units (approx. 483 SF detached/lo w density MF and
2 96 high density MF)
To tal Max DUs = 4,650
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
If the City amends or terminate s the Development Agreement as desc ribed abo ve, there would be financial costs to the
City related to the lift station, which is included in our c urre nt impact fees. More importantly, te rminating the
Development Agreement removes the current c ondition for the City to construct the new WWTP based upon a
"Construction Trigger," whic h is not necessarily based on actual wastewater flows. Maintaining the Developme nt
Agreement through its term (May 23, 2021) would likely trigger the requirement to construct the new WWTP years in
advance of the actual need. Therefore an amendment or terminatio n to the Development Agre e ment will allow the City to
control when it de c ides to make capital investments in wastewater infrastructure to se rve the Co wan Springs property.
Termination
The Agreeme nt has a special provision that speaks to the termination of the agre e ment that is worth c alling out. Se c tion
27 states, "In the eve nt this Agreement is terminated by mutual consent o f the parties as provided for herein, the partie s
shall promptly execute and file of record in the offic ial Records of Williamson County, Texas, a document confirming the
termination of this Agreement, and other such do c umentatio n as may be appropriate to reflect the termination."
Page 37 of 104
SUBMITTED BY:
Wayne Reed, Assistant City Manager and Wesley Wright, Systems Engineering Dire c to r
ATTACHMENT S:
Description
S un City PP-2017-017 Utility MasterPlan
Co wan Sp rings Map (1,269 ac res )
Page 38 of 104
Page 39 of 104
Page 40 of 104
Attachment 1. Cowan Springs Property (Approximately 1,269 acres of private property)
Somerset Hills
~ 379 acres
Sun City Somerset
~ 769 acres
Highland Villages
~ 120.5 acres
Page 41 of 104
City of Georgetown, Texas
City Council Workshop
December 12, 2017
SUBJECT:
P resentation on annexation requirements and discussion o n establishing an annexatio n strategy -- Sofia Nelson, Planning
Director, Charlie Mc Nabb, City Attorney and We sle y Wright, Systems Engineering Dire cto r
ITEM SUMMARY:
Change i n State Law
On December 1, 20 17 , Senate Bill 6 becomes effective. The bill requires landowner or voter approval o f annexatio ns in
the state ’s largest counties (those with 500,0 00 population o r more) and in c ounties that opt-in to the bill through a
petition and ele c tion process. Cities not subject to S.B. 6 (i.e., those in counties with a population of less than 500 ,00 0
that are no t annexing into such a county and those in a county that has not held an election to be c ome subject to the bill)
may continue to annex under laws not affected by S.B. 6. Based on the 20 10 census and for the purposes of SB6
Williamson County has a po pulation of less than 5 00 ,00 0. However it is expected that at the time of the 20 20 census
Williamson Co unty will exceed a populatio n of 50 0,000 and therefore require landowner or vote r approval of
annexations.
Counci l strateg y
In 2016 and 201 7 the Co uncil identified a goal o f e stablishing an annexation strate gy.
Purpose of P rese ntati o n
On No vember 14th and Nove mber 28th the City Council received a presentation on SB6 and the new state require ments
regarding invo luntary annexation.The purpo se of this workshop item is to follo w up on the discussion that took place on
November 14 th and 28th and present to City Council state law requirements for extending utilities to areas identified for
consideration. Additionally, staff will review the are as initially presented o n Novembe r 14th and pre sent findings on e ach
area.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
n/a
SUBMITTED BY:
Sofia Nelson, CNU-A, P lanning Director
ATTACHMENT S:
Description
Annexatio n P res entation 12.12.17
Page 42 of 104
Annexation
City Council Workshop
December 12, 2017
Page 43 of 104
Presentation Team
•David Morgan, Wayne Reed, Laurie Brewer, Jim Briggs
City Manager’s Office
•Skye Masson and Charlie McNabb
Legal Department
•Wesley Wright
Systems Engineering Department
•Nat Waggoner
Planning Department
•Joe Sepuldeva
GIS
•Jess Henderson
Public Safety IT Operations Manager
Page 44 of 104
Purpose of Presentation
Seek Direction from City Council on the
following:
Are there areas that the City Council would like
staff to advance with annexation proceedings.
Page 45 of 104
Areas of consideration
Page 46 of 104
Shell Road 1Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric : PEC ( 3
properties in GUS
service area)
•Water: GUS
(planned 16”)
•Wastewater: GUS
(planned BCI)
Streets Minimal/Undeveloped
Properties 128
# in the
floodplain
11
# of
dwelling
units
27
Assessed
Value
$144,326,054
Est. Tax
Revenue
$611,942
Page 47 of 104
I-35 North of Westinghouse 2
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric : GUS and
Oncor
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater: GUS
Streets None/undeveloped
Properties 11
# in the
floodplain
0
# of
dwelling
units
1
Assessed
Value
$924,340
Est. Tax
Revenue
$3,919 Page 48 of 104
Inner Loop E. of I-35 and W. of 1460
3
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric: GUS
and Oncor
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater:
GUS
Streets None/undeveloped
Properties 11
# of
dwelling
units
3
# in the
floodplain
0
Assessed
Value
$6,926,984
Est. Tax
Revenue
$29,370
Page 49 of 104
FM 1460 S. of Inner Loop and N. of Westinghouse 4
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •GUS Electric
•GUS Water
•Primarily Septic,
but GUS
Wastewater
available in the
area
Streets Recently chip
sealed/good overall
condition/very
narrow/substandard/
no curb and
gutter/undefined
drainage
Properties 42
# of
dwelling
units
30
# in the
floodplain
6
Assessed
Value $15,419,100
Est. Tax
Revenue $64,760
Page 50 of 104
Logan Ranch 5Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric : PEC ( 10
properties in GUS
service area)
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater:
Septic
Streets Recently chip
sealed/good overall
condition/very
narrow/no curb and
gutter/undefined
drainage
Properties 78
# in the
floodplain
0
# dwelling
units
78
Assessed
Value
$49,299,331
Est. Tax
Revenue
$209,029
Page 51 of 104
Barton Tract
6
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric:
GUS/Oncor
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater: GUS
Streets None/undeveloped
Properties 1
# of
dwelling
units
0
# in the
floodplain
0
Assessed
Value
$177,297
Est. Tax
Revenue
$751
Page 52 of 104
Crystal Knoll
7
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric: GUS/PEC
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater: GUS
Streets Recently chip sealed/
overall good
condition/curb and
gutter
Properties 428
#of
dwelling
units
424
# in the
floodplain
6
Assessed
Value
$72,972,697
Est. Tax
Revenue
$309,404
Page 53 of 104
Golden Oak 8
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric: GUS
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater:
Septic
Streets Recently chip
sealed/good overall
condition/very
narrow/no curb and
gutter/undefined
drainage
Properties 49
# of
dwelling
units
49
# in the
floodplain
30
Assessed
Value
$17,201,517
Est. Tax
Revenue
$72,934
Page 54 of 104
Haverland Drive 9Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric:GUS/PEC
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater: Septic
Streets Some recently chip
sealed,some
unimproved/narrow,
substandard/undefined
drainage
Properties 18
# of
dwelling
units
14
# in the
floodplain
6
Assessed
Value
$3,778,688
Est. Tax
Revenue
$16,021
Page 55 of 104
Indian Creek 10Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric: Oncor
•Water: Jonah
•Wastewater:
septic
Streets Recent chip
seal/overall
excellent
condition/curb and
gutter
Properties 160
# of
dwelling
units
156
# in the
floodplain
0
Assessed
Value
$29,713,184
Est. Tax
Revenue
$125,983
Page 56 of 104
Oakcrest Estates 11
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric: GUS
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater:
Primarily Septic
Streets Recently chip
sealed/excellent
overall
condition/very
narrow/no curb and
gutter/undefined
drainage
Properties 226
# of
dwelling
units
213
# in the
floodplain
24
Assessed
Value
$87,363,958
Est. Tax
Revenue
$370,423 Page 57 of 104
Wood Ranch 12Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric: GUS &
PEC
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater:
Septic
Streets Recently chip
sealed/good overall
condition/very
narrow/no curb and
gutter/undefined
drainage
Properties 117
# of
dwelling
units
115
# in the
floodplain
0
Assessed
Value
$51,142,808
Est. Tax
Revenue
$216,845 Page 58 of 104
Legend Oaks 13Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities •Electric: PEC
•Water: GUS
•Wastewater:
Septic
Streets Recently chip
sealed/overall
excellent condition/
curb and gutter
Properties 45
# of
dwelling
units
45
# in the
floodplain
0
Assessed
Value
$15,423,431
Est. Tax
Revenue
$65,395
Page 59 of 104
Olde Oak 14Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities Electric: PEC
Water: GUS
Wastewater: septic
Streets Recently chip
sealed/good overall
condition/very
narrow/no curb and
gutter/undefined
drainage
Properties 32
# of
dwelling
units
31
# in the
floodplain
0
Assessed
Value
$8,834,716
Est. Tax
Revenue
$37,459
Page 60 of 104
Rabbit Hollow 15Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities Electric: GUS and
Oncor
Water: GUS
Wastewater: Septic
Streets Recently chip
sealed/good overall
condition/very
narrow/no curb and
gutter/undefined
drainage
Properties 76
# of
dwelling
units
60
# in the
floodplain
26
Assessed
Value
$13,202,580
Est. Tax
Revenue
$55,978 Page 61 of 104
Sedro Trail Drive/
Chaparro Estates 16
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities Electric: GUS
Water: GUS
Wastewater:
Streets Some recently chip
sealed, some
unimproved/sub-
standard/no
defined drainage
Properties 47
#of
Dwelling
Units
42
# in the
floodplain
0
Assessed
Value
$14,210,849
Est. Tax
Revenue
$60,253
Page 62 of 104
Texas Traditions and
County West 17
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities Electric: GUS &
PEC
Water: GUS
Wastewater:
Streets Recently chip
sealed/excellent
overall
condition/normal
street width/curb
and gutter
Properties 404
# of
dwelling
units
400
# in the
floodplain
7
Assessed
Value
$106,508,172
Est. Tax
Revenue
$451,594 Page 63 of 104
Serenada 18
Annexation Area at a Glance
Utilities Electric: GUS &
PEC
Water: GUS
Wastewater: septic
Streets Recently chip
sealed/good overall
condition/very
narrow/no curb and
gutter/undefined
drainage
Properties 911
# of
dwelling
units
900
# in the
floodplain
85
Assessed
Value
$284,980,575
Est. Tax
Revenue
$1,208,317 Page 64 of 104
Current Areas of Focus
1.Shell Road ( city limits to I-35)
2.I-35 North of Westinghouse
3.Inner Loop East of I-35 and West of 1460
4.FM 1460 S. of Inner Loop and N. of
Westinghouse
Page 65 of 104
Requested Direction from City
Council
Are there areas that the City Council would
like staff to advance with annexation
proceedings.
Page 66 of 104
City of Georgetown, Texas
City Council Workshop
December 12, 2017
SUBJECT:
Discussion of po ssible projects to be considere d for application submissio n in response to CAMP O Call For Pro jects
related to TxDOT funding so urces available for funding years FY19 to FY22 -- Edward G. P olasek, Transportation
P lanning Coordinator
ITEM SUMMARY:
CAMPO has a combined project call for all TxDOT funding sourc e s and categories. Jurisdic tions are being asked to
complete applications fo r any transportation: planning studies; preliminary engineering and design; and construc tion
projects. CAMPO Staff will assign pro jects to the appro priate funding catego ry based on the type of application. There
is an estimated $1 35 Million in traditional STP-MM (roadway, transit and bike/sidewalk, and $10 million in
Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (bicycle and pedestrian).
The Project Call will be issued in December with a submissio n deadline in early January and the application process is a
data driven technic al process. CAMP O will be o ffe ring workshops throughout No vember and December to aid in proje c t
data preparation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
SUBMITTED BY:
Edward G. Polasek, AICP
ATTACHMENT S:
Description
P res entation
Page 67 of 104
CAMPO Project Call
2019-2022
City Council Workshop
December 12, 2017
Page 68 of 104
Project Call Expectations
Estimated $400 Million in three TxDOT categories
$135 Million in traditional STP-MM (roadway, transit, bike/ped)
CAMPO places project applications in appropriate
funding category
Eligible Projects include:
Planning Studies
Preliminary Engineering and Design
Construction
City of GeorgetownPage 69 of 104
Project Call Timeline
Date Item
12/8/2017 Sponsor Webinar (Application Form Review)
12/11/2017 Application Period Opens
1/18/2018 Application Period Closes (5:00 p.m. Central Time)
1/19/2018 Scoring and Portfolio Development
3/26/2018 Technical Advisory Committee -Information
4/1/2018 Public Comment Period Opens
4/9/2018 Transportation Policy Board -Information
4/9/2018 Public Hearing
4/23/2018 Technical Advisory Committee -Recommendation
4/30/2018 Public Comment Period Closes
5/7/2018 Transportation Policy Board -Approval
6/5/2018 Project Call Sponsor Workshop (Awarded Sponsors)
City of GeorgetownPage 70 of 104
Previous City of Georgetown STP-MM
Projects
Williams Drive Corridor Study
STP-MM Planning Study
FM 1460 Construction
STP-MM Partial funding for ETJ/RR portion
SE Inner Loop Corridor Study
STP-MM Planning Study
Williams Drive Widening
STP-MM Construction
Lakeway Bridge Reconstruction
STP-MM Construction
City of GeorgetownPage 71 of 104
Possible Project Submittals
Focus on 2008 and 2015 Voter Approved Bond
programmed improvements, on state system with
federal environmental requirements
Focus on 2017 Williams Drive Corridor Study
Implementation
Focus on Partnerships with Williamson County
and TxDOT to advance projects
City of GeorgetownPage 72 of 104
Voter Approved Bond Projects
On State System and programmed
Funding in FY 2019-2022
Leander Road Widening (Norwood Drive to
SW Bypass)
2 lane to 4 lane segment
TxDOT anticipated schematic FY 2018
No environmental approvals or ROW maps
City would pick up project with TxDOT as co-
sponsor
City of GeorgetownPage 73 of 104
Williams Drive Study Implementation
CAMPO Sponsored Platinum Planning Study
2015 Road Bond Intersection/Capital Pool as
possible match
Traffic Operations: Corridor Wide Driveway/post
box Consolidation Study
Traffic Operations: Intersection Engineering and
Construction at Lakeway/Booty’s, Wildwood, and/or
Woodlake
Traffic Operations: Upgrades signals and operations
in preparation for Traffic Management Center
Page 74 of 104
Partnerships with Williamson County
and TxDOT
SW Bypass/SE Inner Loop intersection with IH 35
Implements SE Inner Loop Corridor Study
Advance Mobility 35 project
Bridge and Intersection Improvements currently
unfunded in Mobility 35
Williamson County would complete application for
joint submittal by City and County
Equal participation by City/County with possible
funding sources for City being:
GTEC
2015 Road Bond Intersection Pool
2008 Road Bond SW Bypass Corridor Study
City of GeorgetownPage 75 of 104
In Summary
Feedback and Direction from City Council
Staff to Complete application(s) prior to
January 9, 2018 CC Meeting
Request submittal by January 18, 2018
deadline
Request letters of support as needed
City of GeorgetownPage 76 of 104
City of Georgetown, Texas
City Council Workshop
December 12, 2017
SUBJECT:
Update and directio n regarding the City Council's Vision and Strategies -- David Mo rgan, City Manager and Jack Daly,
Assistant to the City Manager
ITEM SUMMARY:
In November, City Council participate d in two 3-hour strategy sessions. The purpo se of these se ssio ns was to revisit and
confirm or refre sh the Council’s ro le, their rules o f engagement, their go als, and the City’s vision statement. Ultimately,
City Council developed nine strategies that, if e xecuted, will ac hieve their goals. City Co unc il also confirmed the vision
statement for the City.
Staff has developed a series of narratives assoc iated with eac h strategy and is hoping to confirm that the narratives refle c t
Council’s intent. Attached is a draft prese ntation, as well as a list of proposed narratives for each strate gy. Staff is asking
for Council to re vie w each narrative and provide fe e dback o r confirmation for each one.
P ending Co uncil direction, staff plans to de velop a list o f tactics to be executed over the c ourse of c ale ndar year 2 01 8.
These tactics will wo rk to wards achieving each strategy, and ultimately work to achieve Co uncil’s goals for the City.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None at this time .
SUBMITTED BY:
Jackson Daly
ATTACHMENT S:
Description
Co uncil Strategies Pres entatio n
Co uncil Strategy Narratives
Page 77 of 104
Council Strategy Update
December 12, 2017
Page 78 of 104
Agenda
•Background on Council Goal Setting
Process
•Review Role, Rules, Goals, Vision,
Strategies
•Direction and Next Steps
Page 79 of 104
Background
•Council goals help ensure clear direction to staff
regarding the vision and priorities of the Council.
•Four Council Visioning Sessions in November 2015
–14 strategies (42 tactics)
•Updates to Council on:
–March 22 & June 28, 2016
–Memo October 18, 2016
–January 10 & August 8, 2017
–Memo October 30, 2017
Page 80 of 104
Background
•Revisited Council goals on November 1 & 2
•Confirmed –
–Role of Council
–Rules of Engagement
–Vision statement
–Council Goals
•Refined Council Strategies (9)
Page 81 of 104
Role of Council
As a representative democracy,we provide a voice for,and
communication to, each district so that the Council can
make decisions that serve the best interests of the City of
Georgetown as a whole.
•Set policy,and exercise sound financial responsibility,and
hold staff accountable for results
•Ensure alignment between vision, goals, and strategies
•Identify and define key challenges and opportunities
•Establish the organizational culture of the City by leading
with integrity and upholding legal and ethical standards
•Ensure that City services emphasize public health, safety,
and opportunity
Page 82 of 104
Rules of Engagement
•To treat everyone with respect, courtesy,and civility
•To act collaboratively and promote and solicit an
open, honest, transparent,respectful,and
professional dialogue with each other,our citizens,
city staff,and other interested parties
•To honor our commitments
•To actively advocate for our point of view,but also to
recognize and respect the decisions of Council,even
though we might not agree with that decision (we will
not undermine the decisions of Council)
•To recognize any preconceptions that we may
have about certain individuals,groups,or
organizations Page 83 of 104
Goals
Culture
Georgetown is a truly diverse, vibrant, inclusive, and socially dynamic city
where everyone has the opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, our
economic, political, and social activities
Employee
Our outstanding and innovative City Employees work diligently to bring the
Vision of Council to life and deliver exceptional services to our customers while
exemplifying our Core Values
Internal Process
Our policies and procedures are easy to understand, and consistently and
professionally applied. Our internal processes are effective, efficient, fair,
inventive, and transparent, and make us a desired destination for residents and
businesses
Customer
Anyone interacting with the City will have such a positive experience that they
will tell everyone about it
Financial
To maintain a fiscal environment conducive to attaining the goals of the CityPage 84 of 104
Vision Statement Process
•One-on-one meetings with Council
•Two surveys
–551 responses and 616 responses
•Community Workshop
•Council Workshops on September 12 and
October 10
•Confirmed vision at Council goal setting
meetings on November 1 & 2
Page 85 of 104
New Vision Statement
Georgetown: A caring community
honoring our past and innovating
for the future
Page 86 of 104
Use of Vision Statement
•Helps with alignment across the City
•Serves as a building block for updating the
City’s comprehensive plan
•Drives future branding initiatives
Page 87 of 104
Strategies
1.Become a destination for unique experiences
2.Create a strategy to increase mobility
3.Promote greater diversity in our population and our
businesses
4.Create and maintain outstanding aesthetics and a welcoming
appearance and spirit
5.Annexation and MUD strategy
6.Monitor,promote,and communicate a long-term water and
utilities plan and strategy
7.Expand on our reputation as a City of Innovation
8.Increase our influence with State Government
9.Expand our role to develop collaborative strategies with GISD,
Southwestern,and other entities
Page 88 of 104
Strategy Narratives
•Identified nine (9) strategies that should be
pursued to achieve the goals of the
Council
•Staff developed narratives around each
goal to confirm meaning
•Reviewing and confirm each narrative
•Gives clear direction as staff develops
tactics
Page 89 of 104
1.Become a destination for
unique experiences
City Council recognizes the shifting trends related
to how people spend their time and money.
People are increasingly interested in “experiential
entertainment”. Changes in retail growth and
sales tax collections reflect these trends. People
want authentic and memorable experiences.
Georgetown is well-positioned to promote itself as
a destination city, distinct and unique from other
cities in the state.
Page 90 of 104
2.Create a strategy to increase
mobility
The most recent Citizen Survey highlights mobility as a key challenge for
Georgetown. In 2015, Georgetown voters approved the largest transportation
bond in the City’s history. The Council has been strategic in its debt program to
ensure adequate investment in infrastructure, while managing the impact of
debt on taxpayers.
The City’s road network is its most valuable asset. It is important that City
Council continues to have discussions regarding innovative approaches to
street maintenance and to adequately fund the maintenance program.
Furthermore, City Council recognizes the importance of capitalizing on
partnerships within the region to make transportation infrastructure more
feasible. Collaboration on master planning efforts and sharing costs will help
Georgetown prepare for increased demand on the transportation network.
Although a majority of the investment will be on roadway infrastructure, this
also includes collaborating on multi-modal projects such as sidewalk and
bicycle infrastructure.Page 91 of 104
3.Promote greater diversity in our
population and our businesses
City Council recognizes that diversity across all aspects of
society helps ensure better decision making. Diversity in
thought leads to better outcomes. Diversity helps the City
hedge against changes in the environment and economy.
A broad range of businesses and employers should be
recruited to Georgetown. Generally, growing the
commercial tax base in the City will help alleviate over
reliance on residential property taxes. A diverse business
sector necessitates a diverse housing stock. A variety of
services, resources, and amenities should be made
available to residents, including seniors, families, and
young professionals.
Page 92 of 104
4.Create and maintain outstanding
aesthetics and a welcoming appearance
and spirit
Georgetown has several key gateways leading into the
City. Moreover, Georgetown serves as the northern
gateway to the Austin region. As such, particular attention
and resources need to be directed towards ensuring
gateways are well-maintained and adhere to a high
development standard. As the City progresses through the
comprehensive plan update, specific focus needs to be
placed on developing a more refined vision and master
plan for the City’s gateways. Costs associated with
maintaining publically owned rights-of-way (including state-
owned property) need to be appropriated and expended at
a level consistent with Council’s vision.
Page 93 of 104
5.Annexation and MUD strategy
Changes in state law and significant population growth have
accelerated the need for City Council to adopt new annexation
strategies. The continued influx of Municipal Utility District (MUD)
requests is triggering the need for the Council to revisit its policies and
procedures related to these types of developments. These two
challenges in tandem exacerbate the need for the City to address its
strategies, policies, and procedures related to MUDs and annexation.
The City has worked extensively with developers to assist them in
delivering creatively financed residential products to Georgetown. As
laws related to annexation change, the City must be thoughtful in its
approach to permitting development in the extraterritorial jurisdiction
that may negatively impact the City in the future. Promoting high-
quality growth and equitable taxation and services is a priority for the
City.
Page 94 of 104
6.Monitor, promote, and communicate a
long-term water and utilities plan and
strategy
City Council recognizes the importance of thoughtful utility
management. As a purveyor of water, electricity, and
wastewater services, it is imperative that the City both
effectively manage and communicate plans associated with
all city-owned and operated utilities. Acknowledging that
the Texas electric and water markets are continually in flux
and will always experience changes, solutions need to be
presented to ensure the City’s financial position remains
strong, rates remain competitive, high-quality customer
service is emphasized, and ample resources are available
to serve the continually growing population in the City’s
service area.
Page 95 of 104
7.Expand on our reputation as
a City of Innovation
The City executed purchased power agreements to cover
Georgetown’s energy usage with 100% renewable energy,
making Georgetown one of the largest city-owned utilities
to do so. This alone has helped Georgetown brand itself
as an innovative city and garnered international acclaim.
City Council recognizes that in an environment where
taxation is limited and there is increasing regional
competition for taxable value and natural resources, the
City must find effective solutions and inventive methods of
service delivery. Being a forward-thinking organization will
allow Georgetown to elevate its profile in the region and
recruit like-minded businesses and residents.Page 96 of 104
8.Increase our influence with
State Government
The City of Georgetown and the State of Texas are
partners. Increasingly, the Texas Legislature has raised
concerns about city decision making, and State pre-
emption of local authority continues to be a topic of interest
at the State Capitol. As Georgetown continues to elevate
its presence in the region and in the state, the City Council
recognizes the importance of dedicating time and
resources to ensure the City’s interests are protected. The
City must work with State officials to find common ground
and shared goals. That said, there will be disagreements.
However, it is important that the City work to build and
maintain positive relationship with state agencies and
elected officials.
Page 97 of 104
9.Expand our role to develop collaborative
strategies with GISD, Southwestern,
and other entities
To remain competitive in the region, City Council
recognizes the importance of investing in opportunities for
young people. A healthy educational systems is critical to
ensuring a successful community. Georgetown I.S.D. and
Southwestern University are integral pillars in the
community and key city partners with the City. All three
entities must work in concert to maximize the impact of
limited resources. The City is well-positioned to provide
services and opportunities for youth to further their
education or career in Georgetown. The City is also
fortunate to be able to partner with Southwestern University
to capitalize on their thought-leadership and resources to
further opportunities for college students and graduates.
Page 98 of 104
Next Steps
•Feedback from Council
–Modifications and adjustments to goals or strategies
–Staff to take input and incorporate tactics into the
work plan, and will report back to Council
•Post on website
•Update in early-2018
–Staff teams will develop tactics to achieve strategies
–Some tactics will work to achieve several strategies
Page 99 of 104
Council Strategy Update
December 12, 2017
Page 100 of 104
Council Strategy Narratives
1. Become a destination for unique experiences
City Council recognizes the shifting trends related to how people spend their time and money.
People are increasingly interested in “experiential entertainment”. Changes in retail growth and
sales tax collections reflect these trends. People want authentic and memorable experiences.
Georgetown is well-positioned to promote itself as a destination city, distinct and unique from
other cities in the state.
2. Create a strategy to increase mobility
The most recent Citizen Survey highlights mobility as a key challenge for Georgetown. In 2015,
Georgetown voters approved the largest transportation bond in the City’s history. The Council
has been strategic in its debt program to ensure adequate investment in infrastructure, while
managing the impact of debt on taxpayers.
The City’s road network is its most valuable asset. It is important that City Council continues to
have discussions regarding innovative approaches to street maintenance and to adequately fund
the maintenance program.
Furthermore, City Council recognizes the importance of capitalizing on partnerships within the
region to make transportation infrastructure more feasible. Collaboration on master planning
efforts and sharing costs will help Georgetown prepare for increased demand on the
transportation network. Although a majority of the investment will be on roadway
infrastructure, this also includes collaborating on multi-modal projects such as sidewalk and
bicycle infrastructure.
3. Promote greater diversity in our population and our businesses
City Council recognizes that diversity across all aspects of society helps ensure better decision
making. Diversity in thought leads to better outcomes. Diversity helps the City hedge against
changes in the environment and economy. A broad range of businesses and employers should
be recruited to Georgetown. Generally, growing the commercial tax base in the City will help
alleviate reliance on residential property taxes. A diverse business sector necessitates a diverse
housing stock. A variety of housing options should be made available to residents, including
seniors, families, and young professionals.
4. Create and maintain outstanding aesthetics and a welcoming appearance and spirit
Georgetown has several key gateways leading into the City. Moreover, Georgetown serves as
the northern gateway to the Austin region. As such, particular attention and resources need to
be directed towards ensuring gateways are well-maintained and adhere to a high development
standard. As the City progresses through the comprehensive plan update, specific focus needs
to be placed on developing a more refined vision and master plan for the City’s gateways. Costs
associated with maintaining publically owned rights-of-way (including state-owned property)
need to be appropriated and expended at a level consistent with Council’s vision.
Page 101 of 104
5. Annexation and MUD strategy
Changes in state law and significant population growth have accelerated the need for City
Council to adopt new annexation strategies. The continued influx of Municipal Utility District
(MUD) requests is triggering the need for the Council to revisit its policies and procedures
related to these types of developments. These two challenges in tandem (changing state law
and the increase in MUDs) exacerbate the challenge. The City has worked extensively with
developers to assist them in delivering creatively financed residential products to Georgetown.
As laws related to annexation change, the City must be thoughtful in its approach to permitting
development in the extraterritorial jurisdiction that may negatively impact the City in the future.
Promoting high-quality growth and equitable taxation and services is a priority for the City.
6. Monitor, promote, and communicate a long-term water and utilities plan and strategy
City Council recognizes the importance of thoughtful utility management. As a purveyor of
water, electricity, and wastewater services, it is imperative that the City both effectively manage
and communicate plans associated with all city-owned and operated utilities. Acknowledging
that the Texas electric and water markets are continually in flux and will always experience
changes, solutions need to be presented to ensure the City’s financial position remains strong,
rates remain competitive, high-quality customer service is emphasized, and ample resources are
available to serve the continually growing population in the City’s service area.
7. Expand on our reputation as a City of Innovation
The City executed purchased power agreements to cover Georgetown’s energy usage with 100%
renewable energy, making Georgetown one of the largest city-owned utilities to do so. This
alone has helped Georgetown brand itself as an innovative city and garnered international
acclaim.
City Council recognizes that in an environment where taxation is limited and there is increasing
regional competition for taxable value and natural resources, the City must find effective
solutions and inventive methods of service delivery. Being a forward-thinking organization will
allow Georgetown to elevate its profile in the region and recruit like-minded businesses and
residents.
8. Increase our influence with State Government
The City of Georgetown and the State of Texas are partners. Increasingly, the Texas Legislature
has raised concerns about city decision making. State pre-emption of local authority continues
to be a topic of interest at the State Capitol. As Georgetown continues to elevate its presence in
the region and in the state, the City Council recognizes the importance of dedicating time and
resources to ensure the City’s interests are protected. The City must work with the State to find
common ground and shared goals. That said, there will be disagreements. However, it is
important that the City work to build and maintain positive relationship with state agencies and
elected officials.
Page 102 of 104
9. Expand our role to develop collaborative strategies with GISD, Southwestern, and other
entities
To remain competitive in the region, City Council recognizes the importance of investing in
opportunities for young people. A healthy educational systems is critical to ensuring a
successful community. Georgetown I.S.D. and Southwestern University are integral pillars in the
community and key city partners with the City. All three entities must work in concert to
maximize the impact of limited resources. As funding for education continues to be
constrained, the City is well-positioned to provide services and opportunities for youth to
further their education or career in Georgetown. The City is also fortunate to be able to partner
with Southwestern University to capitalize on their thought-leadership and resources to further
opportunities for college students and graduates.
Page 103 of 104
City of Georgetown, Texas
City Council Workshop
December 12, 2017
SUBJECT:
Sec. 551.071: Consul tati on w i th Attorney
Advice from attorney abo ut pending or co ntemplated litigation and o ther matters on which the attorney has a duty to
advise the City Council, including agenda items
- Western Distric t Water Agreement with Orchard Ridge -- Wesley Wright, P.E. Systems Engineering Director
- Texas Crushed Sto ne Industrial Agreement
Sec. 551.072: De l i berati o ns about Real P roperty
- Cowen Creek Interceptor Easement Acquisitions -- Travis Baird, Real Estate Services Co ordinator
Sec. 551:074: Personnel Matters
City Manager, City Attorney, City Secretary and Municipal Judge: Consideration of the appointment, employme nt,
evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal
Sec. 551.086: Ce r tai n P ubl i c Power Uti l i ti es: Co mpeti ti ve Matters
- Quarterly Purc hase P ower Update
ITEM SUMMARY:
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
NA
SUBMITTED BY:
Shelley Nowling, City Secretary
Page 104 of 104