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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/26/1983 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1983 4:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: VISITORS PRESENT: Mayor Halter, Councilmen Anderson, Boughton, McIlhaney, Prause, Reinke, Runnels None City Attorney Denton, City Secretary Jones, Deputy Finance Director Schroeder, Parks Director Beachy, Assistant City Attorney Locke, City Engineer Pullen, Fire Chief Landua, Personnel Director Gray, Assistant Zoning Official Dupies, Tax Assessor/Collector Dickson, Administrative Assistant Nowlin, Purchasing Agent McCartney, Council-Coordinator Jones See guest register Prior to Agenda Item No. 1, Mayor Halter signed a proclamation designating the week of November 1, 1983, through November 4, 1983, as "National Medical Assistants Week" in College Station. Debbie Bruce accepted the proclamation. Agenda Item No. 1 - Council Concerns. Councilman Reinke stated that she had read in the Dallas Morning News that the City of Dallas is refusing to allow Lone Star Gas Company to charge the two dollar audit fee. She stated that she asked City Attorney Denton to check into the matter. Councilman Reinke inquired about unlocking the restrooms at city parks, specifically at the soccer fields. Councilman Boughton stated that there is really no solution for the problem concerning the restrooms. She noted that the Parks and Recreation Board has been discussing the situation. Councilman Reinke commented on the traffic problem on Nunn Street between Lincoln and Walton. Councilman Runnels stated that the behavior of the TAMU bus drivers is something less than desirable. He requested that the University be contacted to inform them about the situation. 00/ 106 NORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING NEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1983 PAGE 2 ~ayor Halter stated that he would ask City Manager Bardell to write a letter to the University informing them of the situation. ~ouncilman Boughton stated that the bicyclists are not obeying traffic regulations and requested that the police department start cracking down on them. Councilman McIlhaney stated that the red light that occurs with the left turn signal at FM 2818 is out. Council McIlhaney reported that she had received some calls about the lack of a fire hydrant on West Luther Street. She asked Fire Chief Landua to find out whose responsibility it is for installing the hydrant so that she can relay the information to the citizens. Mayor Halter informed the Council about the Sesquicentennial Committee that the cities of Bryan and College Station and Brazos County are working together to form. He requested that the Council submit names of citizens for the committee. He explained that the three entities had formed a staff committee for the Sesquicentennial to serve as a liaison committee. He noted that he had asked Peggy Calliham, Director of the Community Center, to serve as the staff representative from the City of College Station. He asked the Council to suggests some activities that the Sesquicentennial committee might undertake. Agenda Item No. 2 - Discussion of personnel report relating to employee benefits. Personnel Director Gray presented the item. He explained that the ordinance concerns various facets of the retirement system - Updated Service Credits and Increased Benefits to retirees. He stated that the proposed ordinance will allow the city to improve the retirement system within the city's budgeted means. He explained that the Updated Service Credit will use an employee's average monthly salary over a recent three year period rather than a career average, and that annuity benefits will increase by a maximum of seventy percent of the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index during a specific period as prescribed by law. Personnel Director Gray referred to a chart showing several possible plans and stated that the staff recommends proposed plan number one for the Updated Service Credits and the "A" plan for annuity increases. Councilman Runnels asked how much more these changes will cost the city. Personnel Director Gray explained how the percentage increase is calculated and stated that the actual increase is .37 of one percent times the total membership payroll which is approximately seven million dollars. Mayor Halter asked if each individual city's service credits are maintained 00/ 107 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1983 PAGE 3 separately and how the money is invested. Personnel Director Gray replied affirmatively and stated that there is a broad diversity of investments. Mayor Halter thanked Personnel Director Gray for the presentation and stated that the Council will be voting on the ordinance at the Regular Meeting, October 27, 1983. Agenda Item No. 3 - Consideration of grantin~ Livestock permit (Applicant - Russell Hanna). City Secretary Jones presented the item. She stated that the applicant, Russell Hanna, has requested the permit to keep two horses on his property in the Sandstone Addition. She further stated that the Brazos County Health Department inspected the building site and that they have no objections to the approval of a livestock permit. Councilman McIlhaney asked if any other permits had been approved in that area. Councilman Reinke asked if the neighboring residents had been notified. City Secretary Jones noted that a letter was sent to property owners within 200' of the site when the applicant applied for a variance. After further discussion, Councilman Runnels moved to grant a livestock permit to Mr. Russell Hanna. Councilman Anderson seconded the motion which was approved unanimously, 7-0. .A.~enda Item No. 4 - Discussion of CIP Recommendations and Scheduling. Councilman Runnels referred to a memo from Director of Capital Improvements Ash, that pointed out that the figures involved would need to be increased by three to five percent to allow for inflation, since the first estimates were made. Each proposed item was discussed separately, as follows: Propositon No. 1 - Oversized Participation, Water and Sewer Mayor Halter stated that the word "oversized" may have negative connotations and suggested that the word "major" might be a more accurate description of the activity. Councilman McIlhaney inquired about any current bills the city might have for oversized participation. 00/ 108 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1983 PAGE 4 City Engineer Pullen stated that he has received several letters from developers requesting the city's participation in oversized water and sewer lines. He estimated current bills to be something less than $100,000.00. Mayor Halter stated that the projected figure is based on the requests for participation during the last three years. Councilman McIlhaney expressed her concern for getting an accurate figure for this proposal and stated that she would hate to see it underestimated. Mayor Halter asked the city staff to adjust this figure to allow for adequate funding for this proposal. Proposition No. 2 - Emergency Services Mayor Halter expresed his agreement with the CIP committee comments on this item. Councilman Boughton pointed out that $1,000.00 had been subtracted from the total figure and stated that the correct amount is $2,756,000.00. Councilman Boughton stated that the proposal for a fourth fire station should be included as a separate item on the ballot, or at least the money necessary for the land acquisition should be included because it was projected for the third year. Fire Chief Landua stated that the area annexed will eventally require two stations and the locations will depend on where the development occurs. He explained the fire insurance requirements for the city. Councilman Boughton stated that the voters should have the opportunity to vote on the fourth fire station as a separate item and suggested that the proposal be for the station and the site. She pointed out that two developments are well underway in the newly annexed area. Councilman McIlhaney asked if construction has begun on the third fire station. Fire Chief Landua explained that the city is working with the architects and will begin construction as soon as possible. Councilman McIlhaney expressed concern about changing too many items on the committee's report. Councilman Reinke stated that the committee tried to reduce the total dollars of the bond issue. Councilman Boughton moved to include the fourth fire station as a separate proposition in the bond election. Councilman Anderson seconded the motion which passed by a vote of 6-1. FOR: Mayor Halter, Councilman Anderson, Boughton, McIlhaney, Prause, Runnels AGAINST: Councilman Reinke 00~109 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1983 PAGE 5 Proposition No. 3 - Street and Sanitation Maintenance and Storage Facilities Councilman Anderson asked the staff for a more specific breakdown of how the funds will be spent. City Engineer Pullen stated that the amount shown includes renovation costs on the existing structures as well as the new construction costs. Councilman Anderson stated that he would like to research the costs further before the amount for the proposal is determined. Proposition No. 4 - Parks Mayor Halter stated that the committee in their report agreed with the Parks Board recommendations with one exception, that the committee considered neighborhood park improvements on a three year scale rather than a five year scale. Councilman Runnels asked if the source of discontent with the last proposition had been removed. Mayor Halter stated that the Bee Creek Recreation Center had been a major source of discontent and that it had been removed from the proposition. Proposition No. 5 - Street Improvements Mayor Halter stated that this proposition had been greatly scaled down. Councilman Runnels stated that the use of the word "oversized" should be avoided. Councilman Boughton stated that in reference to the construction on Southwest Parkway the $700,000.00 removed from the street rebuilding proposition is necessary and that she would like to see it left in the proposition. Councilman McIlhaney asked about a shortfall with the Holleman-Dartmouth project. City Engineer Pullen stated that the project is short approximately $200,000.00 due to the bridge structure required. Councilman Boughton questioned the amount allocated for bus turnouts and stated that the figure seemed low. Mayor Halter stated that the proposition is addressing only t~e three or four more critical bus turnouts. 00 .110 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1983 PAGE 6 Councilman Boughton moved to accept the CIP committee's recommendations in total with the addition of $800,000.00 for street rebuilding. Councilman Anderson seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 7-0. Proposition No. 6 - Lincoln/Ashburn to University Councilman Runnels stated that the issue of connecting Lincoln and Walton needs clarification. Councilman McIlhaney stated that the majority of the $495,000.00 is for improvements for the west end at Texas Avenue and stated that if the proposition is put on the ballot it should read Walton/Lincoln to University instead of Lincoln/Ashburn to University. Councilman Boughton moved to omit Proposition No. 6 on the committee's report from the ballot. Councilman Runnels seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 7-0. Mr. Codie Wells presented a petition to the council asking that Lincoln be paved from Ashburn to Munson. Councilman Boughton expressed her appreciation for Mr. Wells' comments on street plans that he made at the October 27th Regular Meeting. Steve Esmond stated that he would like Munson to be widened and a sidewalk installed to bring the street up to standards. Mayor Halter asked the Council to consider a date for the bond election. After some discussion, Councilman Boughton moved to set the date for the bond election for January 24, 1983. Councilman Runnels seconded the motion which was approved unanimously, 7-0. Mr. Jerry Cooper thanked the Council and stated that the propositions were well thought out. He stated that he is going to support the bond election. The Council concurred that a scaled down version of the previous brochure be prepared for the forthcoming election. Agenda Item No. 5 - Closed session to discuss personnel [6252-17(g)]. The Council moved to closed session and later reopened to the public. Councilman Prause was called away from the meeting during closed session. Agenda Item No. 6 - Action on closed session. 111 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1983 PAGE 7 Councilman McIlhaney asked the staff to contact Councilman Prause and schedule a meeting of the City Affairs Committee. Agenda Item No. 7 - Discussion of Council Meeting Procedures. Mayor Halter asked City Attorney Denton about any legal problems concerning notices, if zoning requests are considered at more than one meeting. City Attorney Denton referred to a memo that reviewed state requirements. Councilman Reinke inquired about the length of time required between Planning and Zoning Meetings and Council Meetings for an item being considered. City Attorney Denton stated that there are no time requirements. Councilman McIlhaney asked about the possibility of conducting a joint Public Hearing of the Planning and Zoning Commission and Council, but allowing each body to vote later at their regular meetings. Mayor Halter referred to an item from City Attorney Denton's memo concerning rezoning, which stated that anyone absent from the public hearing should not vote at the next meeting. He asked for clarification of the use of the word "should". City Attorney Denton stated that it is his conviction that if an individual is absent from the public hearing, said individual cannot vote on the item. Mayor Halter stated that the City Affairs Committee will come back with recommendations on Agenda Items No. 6 and 7. Agenda Item No. 8 - Adjourn. Mayor Halter adjourned the meeting. Approve /i," '"' ' Gary 'H~l~r, Mayor / Dian Jones, ~ty Secretary 00/ 112 5 m GUEST REGISTER WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 26, 1983 4:00 P.M. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. e 25. 26. 10o 27. 11. 28. 12. 29. 13. 30. 14. 31. 15. 32. 16. 33. 17 34. 00 1t3