Light Posting

Due to a death in the family, posting will be light over the next few weeks.

Beware the Progressive Agenda

A Progressive master plan for the Minneapolis-St-Paul region is being unveiled and gives insight into the progressive's agenda.  An excerpt from the Wall Street Journal.  http://www.wsj.com/news/articles/  Subscription required to read entire article.

Here in the Twin Cities, a handful of unelected bureaucrats are gearing up to impose their vision of the ideal society on the nearly three million residents of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro region. According to the urban planners on the city’s Metropolitan Council, far too many people live in single family homes, have neighbors with similar incomes and skin color, and contribute to climate change by driving to work. They intend to change all that with a 30-year master plan called “Thrive MSP 2040.” . . .

Thrive MSP 2040 is part of a nationwide movement called “regionalism.” Regional planning of infrastructure is important, of course. But regionalism, as an ideology, is about shifting power away from local elected officials and re-engineering society on behalf of “equity” and “sustainability.” According to regionalist guru David Rusk, author of the book “Cities Without Suburbs,” federal programs that promote regionalism should strive to produce “racially and economically integrated and environmentally sustainable regions.” . . .

The council has provided few details, beyond noting that it will emphasize construction of low-income housing in “higher-income areas.” But the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development—the source of the $5 million planning grant used to fund the racial mapping—says that mapping is intended, in part, to identify suburban land-use and zoning practices that allegedly deny opportunity and create “barriers” for low-income and minority people. Under its forthcoming “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” rule, HUD will provide communities with “nationally uniform data” of what it views as an appropriate racial, ethnic and economic mix. Local governments will have to “take meaningful actions” to further the goals identified.

Georgetown residents must be on guard against this kind of regional planning that shifts power away from the local citizens.

Be Watchful!

City Should Use Caution in Spending as Recession Looms

The latest layoff data presented by Challenger Gray indicates that Texas is realizing the effects of lower oil prices.

Even though, Georgetown and Williamson County are not directly involved in the oil business, the oil business has an impact on city finances through sales and other taxes in addition to general consumer confidence.  There are also manufacturing and oil service business that have a presence in Williamson County.  The city needs to be prudent in spending the citizens money.

The watchword is CAUTION!

City is Spending Your $s at Next Council Meeting

Almost the entire agenda for the next council meeting, May 12, 2015, is dedicated to spending money.  $28,653,000 of new bonds are to be issued and $8,035,000 is allocated to reissuing new bonds in place of existing bonds at lower interest rates. A short description of the new bonds follows:

2008 Road Bond	$4,450,000.00
Sidewalks & Pool Refurb	$2,520,000.00
Public Safety vehicles & Equip, 10yr	$900,000.00
Public Safety vehicles & Equip, 7yr	$700,000.00
Water Services	$750,000.00
Stormwater Drainage	$2,245,000.00
Rivery Parking Garage	$6,145,000.00
Water Services Improvements	$8,490,000.00
Electric System Improvements	$2,453,000.00
	$28,653,000.00

The 2008 Road Bonds were previously approved by the voters and this funding is to complete FM 1460 improvements.  The 7 year bonds for Public Safety vehicles is for the purchase and equipping two new ambulances.  It should be noted that the principal and interest payments for the drainage, water and electric services bonds are expected to be paid by existing fees on citizens and users.

It is interesting to note that the city has committed to funding the parking garage associated with Rivery Park, the new Sheraton Hotel, condo, and apartment complex on Rivery Blvd near Home Depot and Walmart.  A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) was previously formed to use the increased tax revenues generated by the development to pay for the bond principal and interest.  According to the agreement with the developer, any shortfall in revenue will be made up by the developer, thus mitigating tax payer exposure.

The other $8+ million is dedicated to refunding existing bonds.

		Amt Saved
Refunding Existing CO&GO Bonds	$4,350,000	$359,049
Refunding Existing Utility Bonds	$3,685,000	$46,000
	$8,035,000	$405,049

 

Watch the Money!

Ordinance Proposed for Medical Transfer Services

A previous post described some of the possible issues with the City controlling non-Emergency Transfer Services in the city.  The proposed ordinance, http://agendas.georgetown.org/CoverSheet.aspx?ItemID=10339&MeetingID=1110, is even more anti-business than anticipated. The first reading will be at the May 12 Council Meeting.

There are dozens of individual requirements listed in the proposed ordinance, but, several deserve special mention.

1.  The private company must participate in the Fire Departments Continuous Quality Improvement program when requested.

2.  The Fire Chief may ride on any ambulance at any time for evaluating medical and/or driving performance.

3.  No diesel powered ambulance may be used in excess of 200,000 miles.

4.  No gas powered ambulance may be used in excess of 125,000 miles.

5.  The vehicle chassis may not exceed 7 years from the date of manufacture.

6.  The private company must have a preventative maintenance program and maintain vehicle service records acceptable to the city and reported quarterly to the Fire Chief.

7.  Ambulances may be inspected at any hour and location by the city. All ambulances must pass inspection and display a sticker so certifying.

8.  Providers may not charge any patient or any other payer less than the Medicare allowable rate.

These and other provisions seem particularly egregious and burdensome to private businesses without a demonstrable payoff for the citizens of Georgetown.  No data has been presented identifying the scope of problems that this ordinance is designed to correct.  Such a franchise requirement currently does not exist in Georgetown or Williamson County to this writers knowledge. It appears that this proposed ordinance is a solution looking for a problem!

The City Council should be minimizing regulations and ordinances that impose burdens on legitimate business that do not materially increase public safety.

This ordinance is clearly not required unless new data is forthcoming that justifies the increased bureaucratic burden.

Georgetown Makes National News Twice in One Month!

The first time was for going 100% green energy. Now from PJMedia:

"Things got real awkward during a council meeting in Georgetown, Texas, when an unidentified councilman excused himself to use the bathroom. Unfortunately, the man forgot to turn off his microphone, so everyone heard his trip to the lavatory as it was amplified throughout the meeting. It seems he also forgot to wash his hands.

Rachael Jonrowe, the city’s mayor pro tem who tried her best to speak seriously about infectious diseases while the man relieved himself, was not immediately available for comment or additional information. But we have to admit, she handled it really well."

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/05/03/georgetown-town-council/