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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/07/1993 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993 4:00 P.M. COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ringer, Councilmembers Brown, Schneider, Mcllhaney, Crouch, Gardner, Kennady STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Ragland, Assistant City Manager Brymer, Assistant City Manager Woody, Public Information Officer Calliham, City Secretary Hooks, City Attorney Locke, Assistant City Attorney Coates, Executive Director Fiscal/Human Resources Schroeder, Executive Director Management Services Piwonka VISITORS PRESENT: See guest register Agenda Item No. 1 - Cerl~cates of Appreciation. Randall Pitcock presented a brief overview of the Big Event. He showed slides of different homes freshly painted, repaired and brush removal. Ms. Gayle Schmidt and Mr. Bill Schroeder were not able to attend the meeting to accept their certificates of appreciation. Agenda Item No. 2 - Consent agenda items listed on Thursday, April 8th cor~ent aaenda. Councilman Gardner removed Agenda Item No. 3.8. Mayor Ringer removed Agenda Item No. 3.6 and 3.12. Councilman Mcllhaney removed Agenda Item No. 3.2, 3.9, and 3.10. Agenda Item No. 3.2 - Contract with RAM Communications Consultant to acquire a PBX telephone system and provide support for E-911 system improvements. Councilman Mcllhaney asked Mr. Simpson questions about the accounting procedure to repay the debt. Mr. Simpson replied the switching system and the lines are dedicated for the service area of the city will be the main part of the repayment of the debt. Ms. Mcllhaney asked how this will be separated in order that it does not become a factor in the cost of utilities and determining rate increases. Mr. Simpson replied that the loan amount from the utility fund will be calculated with the interest. The department's line item in the budget will repay the debt as well as the utilities cost. Mr. Ragland added that this will not be a negative impact on the rates. Agenda Item No. 3.6 - Street lighting materials for Holleman Drive at Wolf Pen Creek tn be awarded to Iow bidder meeting specifications, Power Supply in the amount of $12.960. Mayor Ringer stated that he forwarded a letter from Gary Halter to Mr. Woody related to street lights and star gazing. Mayor Ringer inquired about the type of lights, Mr. Woody replied that these lights are conventional lights and high pressure sodium. City Council Workshop Meeting Page 2 Wednesday, April 7, 1993 Discussion was held on metal halide lights and "shoebox" lights. Mr. Jim McCord addressed the Council. Agenda Item No. 3.8 - Consideration of final replat of two lots in Redmond Terrace 1st Installment. Councilman Gardner asked if there are concerns with the floodway. City Engineer Pullen replied that the lots are generally below the floodplain. Mr. Pullen added that there is a substantial portion of the lot outside of the floodway. When the flood control structure is added to the golf course, this will have a positive effect on this property. Agenda Item No. :~.9 - Preliminary Plat - Edelweiss Phases II and III. Councilman Mcllhaney asked if sidewalks will be required on cul-de-sacs on Aster and Brussels Drive. Senior Planner Jane Kee replied that the sidewalks are not being required on the cul-de-sacs. Cul-de-sacs will be located on Victoria with sidewalks on both sides of the street. Councilman Mcllhaney preferred one sidewalk along Brussels Drive. Senior Planner Kee stated that she will talk to the developer prior to tomorrow's meeting. Agenda Item No. 3.10- Preliminary Plat- Elm Crest Subdivision. Councilman Mcllhaney expressed concern about approving the preliminary plat without knowing the revisions to the master plan. Senior Planner Kee explained that she has seen conceptual plans which indicates the road will connect at the southern end of Rock Prairie Estates. Agenda Item No. 3.12 - CBDG Funds for program of Public Services Agency. Mayor Ringer announced that discussion of this item is on today's agenda. A~_end-_ ~em No. 3 - A&M United Methodist Church requested $20.000 CDBG funds as m_at__~hina funds for housing construction project. Community Development Director Jo Carroll and Rev. Scott Dornbush, Associate Minister of A&M United Methodist Church, and Glenn Patton, Vice President of the Youth Council came forward to address this item. Jo Carroll explained the requested proposal consisted of CDBG funds to purchase construction materials and supplies and skilled laborers as needed. She presented slides of the proposed location for a new house on Oney Hervey street. The present owner is receptive to the idea. Glenn Patton explained the proposed fund raisers to assist in funding. He described past ventures of the Youth Council to assist Iow income families. The church members will be involved in the project. Further discussion was held. Agenda Item No. 4 - Public Services Department requested CDBG p.u. blic service _a__aencv_ funds for fundin¢~ an apprenticeship pre_ram for At-Risk Youm. Jo Carroll introduced Paula Rails of the Community Development Department. Ms. Rails presented an application for CDBG funding received from the Public Services Department for a youth apprenticeship program. Twenty percent of the grant monies may be used for the administration of city programs, and 15 percent allocated toward City Council Workshop Meeting Wednesday, April 7, 1993 Page 3 social service agency funding. The remaining 65 percent is used toward other eligible activities such as housing programs, code enforcement, etc. According to the funding policy, the Council can allocate social service agency funds internally prior to the funding process for outside agencies. Ms. Rails presented a list of nineteen outside service agencies who applied for the 15 percent funding. The Public Service Department's application is eligible for funding. Staff recommended approval for funding. Director of Public Services Joe LaBeau explained the program. This program is designed for the youth who are not college bound. It is a part of the youth development program known as Teen Leadership. The intention of the program is to combine their summer work experience with the youth development program. Other staff members of the Public Services Department will be active in the program. Questions from councilmembers were directed to Mr. LaBeau about the program. Mayor Ringer called attention to the sources of funding if the council wants to proceed with the project. The $24,000 may be withdrawn from available designated funds and council may direct the committee to work with the remaining funds. Or, direct the joint relief funding committee to decide if funding is available. Discussion continued. City Manager Ragland reported that it is very important to develop a relationship with the families and schools in order to establish accountability at the home, work environment and school environment. Councilman Mcllhaney remarked that she received a book from Jo Carroll on why primary functions fail and how they can succeed. The author approaches these problems as community problems and the community should address them. A work program with mentors is a meaningful aspect. Councilman Schneider agreed that the mentoring program is essential. He asked if the businesses could contribute? City Manager Ragland replied that Teen Leadership is set up through corporate sponsorships. For this project, the city would be the corporate sponsor. The Mayor remarked there are three options if the council decides to approve the project: One funding source is the CDBG funds, subtracting $24,000 from the total monies available. Another funding source is the CDBG funds in which the Joint Relief Funding Review Committee is asked to evaluate the project along with the other applicants. A third funding source is to allocate funds from the general fund revenues. After further discussion about funding sources, the councilmembers commended the staff for this tremendous program. .,~4]enda Item No. 5 - Councilmember's request on policy Issues for future council meetina aaendas. Councilman Crouch asked the council to discuss the arrangements for meeting the new TAMU Board of Regents on a future agenda. She also requested that the land use plan for the entire city as part of their visionary concept be planned for a future agenda. City Council Workshop Meeting Wednesday, April 7, 1993 Page 4 Mayor Ringer asked the councilmembers to complete their report card of weaknesses and strengths. ;~li]~m mmittee meetin . Councilman Mcllhaney reported on the City Affairs Committee meeting. First, council should begin to plan for a dinner with the Board of Regents at the Plaza Club. She asked staff to help coordinate this event. Councilman Kennady acknowledged the changes to the social service agency policy as previously discussed by the City Affairs Committee. The entire Council expressed their comments. This item shall be placed on a future agenda for consideration by this Council as well as the Bryan City Council agenda. Councilman Kennady left the meeting at 5:45 p.m. Councilman Mcllhaney stated that the committee also discussed another issue relating to the fact that outside agencies have offered programs for housing, etc. that might not meet the city's goals or the community development goals and the city has not been involved in the process. The subcommittee developed a resolution which states that when another governmental agency is making a decision regarding residential prop.erty within our community, the city would like to be notified and participate in the discussion. The subcommittee asked that this resolution be placed on the next agenda for consideration by the council and forward to legislative representatives, etc. Councilman Brown reported that the County Health Department officials met with TAMU officials to discuss a joint program with the County Health Department and the results were positive. Councilman Crouch asked that she report on her trip to South Carolina at the next workshop meeting. Agenda Item No. 7- Council Calendars. Mayor Ringer reminded the Council of their photo session Thursday evening. He also mentioned that he and Councilman Mcllhaney met with Pat Cornelison to discuss several issues. The Economic Development Corporation would like to present quarterly progress reports to both councils. Also, this will hopefully gain media exposure. Ag_enda Item No. 8 - Adiourn. Mayor Ringer adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m. Secretary Connie Hooks