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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/25/1983 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1983 4:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Halter, Councilmen Boughton, McIlhaney, Prause, Anderson, Runnels, Reinke COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Non e STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Bardell, City Attorney Denton, Director of Capital Improvements Ash, Council Coordinator/Deputy City Secretary Martin, City Secretary Jones, Administrative Asst. Nowlin, Parks and Recreation Director Beachy, Asst. City Attorney Locke VISITORS PRESENT: See guest register. Mayor Halter signed a proclamation in honor of the Veterans of Foreign War and the Buddy Poppy sale to be held on Saturday, May 28, 1983. ~enda Item No. 1 - Council Concerns. Councilman McIlhaney stated that when West Luther Street was gra~ed, the gravel was pushed into the ditches and is now causing problems with rain water runoff into the street. Councilman Anderson stated that the restrooms at Anderson Park are constantly locked when the park is being used. He indicated that they should be left open during the daytime hours for people using the park. Councilman Runnels stated also. that Central Park restrooms have been locked City Manager Bardell pointed out that the City has had problems with vandalism. He stated that he would check into having the restrooms remain open during daytime hours. Councilman Prause asked if the City Council will be discussing the Tarrow Street rezoning at the May 26th meeting. Mayor Halter replied that the item is on the agenda. Councilman Boughton stated that the Finance committee would like to have a meeting on Monday, May 30, 1983. Councilman Runnels reported that the dealership at the corner of Holleman and Texas Avenue has cars parked on public easement, restricting visibility of drivers. Councilman Reinke stated that she was contacted regarding the high grass that needed to be mowed on Jersey Street located between Dexter and 003907 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1983 PAGE 2 Fairview St. She stated that the Urban Planning Department is holding a special seminar on Zoning Administration on Friday, May 27th. She asked if any members of the city staff will be there. City Manager Bardell replied that the City has not been notified of this seminar. Councilman Reinke stated that the Community Center Board was curious as to what the City Council will be doing about the Teen Center. Councilman Boughton stated that she has talked with the city staff regarding the funding of the Teen Center and that the Parks Board is planning to present this item to council in the near future. A1 Pedulla, Community Center Advisory Board Chairman, indicated that he had sent a letter to the council regarding the Teen Center recently. Mayor Halter stated that he was not aware of the letter. The staff will meet with representatives of the Community Center Board to present the item at a later date. ~enda Item No. 2 - Presentation from Sta~e Center regard%qg building plans. Jim Wilson, President of the Stage Center, presented the proposed concept plans of the Stage Center building. He presented the proposed plans and usage of the building by the Stage Center group and other organizations. He stated that the facility will be an asset to the Northgate area. He indicated that Stage Center hopes to raise, through private donations, $525,000 for the construction cost. Councilman Anderson asked what the additional $125,000 would be used for if the construction project is estimated to cost $400,000. Mr. Wilson replied that the additional $125,000 will be used for the parking lot construction and to maintain the building over the next few years. Elton Adams, architect of the proposed building, included that the additional money will be used for the parking lot, lighting, and landscaping. He showed the council a model of the proposed building. The Council discussed the scheduling of the Center, the renovation of the old building, maintenance of the building, parking requirements and driveway openings, occupancy, phasing of the construction, and finan6ing the construction project, City Attorney Denton pointed out that the Stage Center will sign a contract either for ten years or for fifteen. After further discussion by the council regarding Stage Center's proposal, Mayor Halter thanked the Stage Center group for their presentation and 003908 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1983 PAGE 3 answering the council's questions. Agenda Item No. 3 - Discussion pertaining to new GTE rates. Bill Drennan, General Manager for the telephone company, presented the various changes in GTE rates. The FCC has been in the process of de-regulating GTE for the last 10-15 years and they are almost totally de-regulated. Effective May 20, 1983, the Public Utility Commission authorized some changes in the way they charge for their services. He explained the new GTE services and rate increase. Mayor Halter, asked if there was anything in the new rate increase that allows for local metered service. Mr. Drennan, stated that the Public Utility Commission did approve optional metering service. Councilman Runnels, asked if there was likely to be a reduction in rate because now the repair cost will be made explicit. Mr. Drennan, stated that rates had been restructured so that repair charges are no longer included in certain cases. Councilman Reinke, asked if customers would have to pay the service charge if a telephone man came out to check on a problem but did not make a repair. Mr. Drennan, stated that if the problem was within the customers house then they would have to pay the service charge. After further discussion regarding the GTE rate increase, Mr. Drennan presented the council with a copy of the Texas Rate Case presented by GTE to the PUC. He also included copies of the news release which was given to the press. Agenda Item No. 4 - Discussion of date for CIP Bond Election. Mayor Halter presented the item and stated that the CIP committee recommended September 10, 1983 as the date for the bond election. Mayor Halter pointed out that the City will need to hold a Charter election this year and suggested that both the Charter election and the Bond election be held at the same time. He stated that the Senate is now considering a bill which would limit a City to four dates in the year with one wild card date for holding all elections. The proposed dates are the following: (1) 3rd Saturday in January (2) 1st Saturday in April (3) 2nd Saturday in August (4) 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November in odd number years only. City Attorney Denton pointed out that the bill should be decided on by Monday, May 30th. He stated that there is a need to have the Charter election as soon as possible so that the proposed revisions, if passed, 003909 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1983 PAGE 4 could be made. Director of Capital Improvements Ash stated that the process for organizing a bond brochure would take approximately 6 weeks before the election date. He indicated that there are 19 propositions to be considered in the bond election. He stated that the propositions total over $48,000,000 and sufficient time will be needed for local citizens to review same before the election. City Manager Bardell pointed out that a joint election could be held in November but this would delay the bond projects. Mayor Halter stated that he felt the August 13th date would be the best date to hold a joint election. Councilman Reinke expressed that the City should hold the Charter election in August and the Bond Election in September. She felt the Bond brochure will need sufficient time for citizens to review. The council discussed combining some of the nineteen propositions to reduce the total number. After discussion, the number was reduced to eleven proposals. After further discussion regarding the various dates for an election, the council tentatively set August 13th for a joint election until the staff could contact the financial advisor regarding the bond election date and the City Attorney could find out Qhether the wild card date in the proposed bill in the Senate will include Charter elections. Agenda Item No. 5 - Closed session to discuss pendiq~ litigation [6252-17~)-~. The council moved to closed session and later reopened to the public. Agenda Item No. 6 - Adjourn. Mayor Halter adjourned the meeting. ATTEST: Di~n Jones,/~/it~- Secretary APPROVED: . ~ _ 003910 GUEST REGISTER WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 25~ 1983 .1=00 P.M. PLEASE SIGN BELOW= 0 10. 11. 12. 13. 1,t. 15. 16.