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Home My WebLink About02 1219 minThe City Council met on December 19, 2002 at 11:30 a.m. at the Plainview Convention Center, 2902 West 4th Street, Plainview, Texas. The agenda for this meeting was posted in City Hall at 11:00 a.m. on December 16, 2002. Mayor Lloyd C. Woods presided. Councilmembers present were: Kelvin Tipton-District 1, Mary Jane Shanes- District 2, Belinda Pena-District 3, John Bertsch-District 4, Ross Owen-District 5, Buddy McGehee-District 6, and Irene Favila-District 7. Staff members present were: James P. Jeffers-City Manager, Elizabeth Regner- Assistant City Manager, Dale Simpson-Director of Civil Service, Will Mull-Police Chief; Wally Hatch-City Attorney, John Castro-Director of Community Services, Brice Clements-Engineer and Assistant Director of Public Works, Jack Keller-Budget Manager, Gary Glass-Fire Chief, Jason Thompson-Main Street Coordinator and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary. News media representative present were: Richard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald Guests present were: G.K. Reddy, Kevin Carter, Neal Burnett, Don Book, Jim Mock, Brian Pohlmeier, Jim Ferrell, Chris A. Gregg, Mike DeArmond, Rollie Hyde, Paul Reynozo, Coleman Williams, John Anderson, Lena Faye Hill and Joe Fackel Councilmember Bertsch delivered the Invocation. Joe Fackel with Community ID presented the Phase I report. He stated the City had been divided into three zones. Zone 1 being the historical district, Zone 2 being 1-27 (southwest border) and Zone 3 being the northern border. The three zones share dominant sections. Upon the request of the City Manager, they had looked at Staples and said that it probably did not fit with other Iocators. He listed Cabela's (a business similar to Bass Pro Shop), Cracker Barrel, HEB Foods, Big 5, Mazzio's Pizza and outlet stores such as London Fog and American Tourister as possible businesses. Zone 2 would be the best area based on availability of buildings. He commented that mix drink authorization would enhance the possibilities of restaurants coming to town. Mr. Fackel stated Phase II would compare the City with up to 2,500 possible retailers. They would create customer retail recruiting packages and/or create developer packages. There was no public comment. John C. Anderson, Chairman of Plainview First recommended the City enter into contract for Phase II. Phase II would take approximately 45 days. Joe Fackel stated he would give the City a 10% discount off of the charge of $40,000 for Phase II at a total cost of $34,000. Mayor Woods moved the City participate in Phase II. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Favila and carried unanimously. Regarding the Chamber Hotel/Motel Budget, Brian Pohlmeier stated the Chamber budget proposal made at the last meeting was still available. Jim Jeffers stated audits have not been conducted and that the Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau 127 City of Plainview Minutes December '19, 2002 Page 1 of 5 128 (CVB) operate in different fiscal years. The Hotel/Motel Tax Code states that 1/7th of hotel/motel tax (HOT) funds must be spent on advertising and detailed records must be made. Mr. Jeffers presented four different possible budget scenarios. Scenarios 1 and 2 make it tough for the Chamber to operate and 3 and 4 make some cuts on personnel costs. The City currently provides the Chamber with free office space at 710 West 5th Street and 70% of the Hotel/Motel Tax. The current contract requires that an audit be performed. The Chamber needs to develop and implement a five-year strategic plan, which will lay out a road map with benchmarks to monitor progress and create greater accountability, said annual plan is required by state law. The Chamber has been lax in submitting quarterly reports to the City. Said reports are required by contract and State law. City administration will develop a new format for reporting and will closely monitor the submission of reports and will analyze said reports. Discussion was had on the different budget scenarios with the Chamber's recommendation being to use their proposed budget and the City proposing that as a matter of law, the only options would be budgets 3 and 4. Councilmember McGehee stated he felt the $10,200 budgeted for advertising for the Fair should be considered part of the I/Yth advertising requirement. Mr. Pohlmeier stated that the majority of the money provided for community grants was spent on advertising, but documentation was not provided since trying to get copies after the fact was extremely difficult. He stated they might have to go by reimbursable only. Councilmember Owen moved the City adopt Budget #4. seconded by Councilmember Shanes. The motion was duly Mr. Jeffers stated any changes in the budget would have to be approved by a budget amendment. Brian Thomas stated some of the pass thru funds had already been disbursed. He was advised that such would be taken into account. Councilmember Owen called for the question. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Favila. Mayor Woods and Councilmembers Bertsch, Pena, Favila, Shanes and Owen voted for the original motion of Councilmember Owen to adopt Budget #4. Councilmembers Tipton and McGehee voted "against" the motion. The motion carried. City Manager Jim Jeffers provided a brief explanation of some of the changes in the Management Contract for use of Hotel/Motel Tax by the Chamber of Commerce: · The contract calls for a five-year strategic plan to provide specific goals and objectives to enhance tourism and conventions. · Annual budget must be approved by City prior to implementation. The Chamber may do line item transfers with approval of the City Manager. All expenditures must be properly documented. · Chamber to employ a qualified fulltime Conventions and Visitors Director and pay her/him a competitive wage. · The CVB Committee shall be composed of 15 members with seven appointed by the City and eight appointed by the Chamber with the Chamber to determine the City of Plainview Minutes December 19, 2002 Page 2 of 5 terms of the members. The City Manger or designee will serve as ex-officio member. · The Chamber is to provide quarterly reports, with the City to determine the format. · The Mayor will serve asa voting member of the Chamber and will serve as a voting member of the Chamber Executive Committee. · 70% of hotel tax to be provided to Chamber on a quarterly basis. Monies must be utilized in the promotion of tourism/convention activities in the City in accordance with state law, City ordinances, and City resolutions. · The Contract will be for a two-year term and may be terminated with 90 days notice by either party. 129 Jim Ferrell stated it was hard to have a five-year strategic plan with a two-year contract. He felt it would help if they were both closer together. ~ Brian Thomas stated there are currently 23 people serving on the CVB Committee and prefers to not eliminate any of them. He felt a larger committee generates ideas. The average attendance is 10 to15 people and the group meets once a month on the 4th Tuesday' of the month for one to one and one-half hours. Councilmember Bertsch stated there needed to be some type of protection for the City on the Chamber building. There should be a contract if the Chamber were to break away from the CVB, then they would have to terminate the lease. Mr. Jeffers stated the lease agreement would be a separate issue and such would be looked into. Councilmember Owen moved the Contract be amended to require a three year strategic plan and that the number of appointees to the CVB Board by the Chamber be unlimited. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Tipton. The motion carried with Mayor Woods, Councilmembers Tipton, Shanes, Pena, Bertsch, Owen, and McGehee voting "for" the motion and Councilmember Favila voting "against." Mary Ann Rojas, Executive Director of Work Force Development presented information on a new project entitled WorkSource of the South Plains. The project, which promotes job retention, has received $20,000 to provide training in the City of Plainview and has asked the City to match this amount. The City would be able to decide on the applicants and would be able to look at the applicants on a case-by-case basis. The City would also be able to access this money for training. The City of Plainview is the first community that has been asked to participate. There was no public comment. Councilmember Bertsch moved that the City move forward with the project. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Favila. Mr. Jeffers reiterated that this would be a one-time commitment from January 1, 2003 through February 29, 2004 and that the City had agreed to spend up to $20,000. City of Plainview Minutes December 19, 2002 Page 3 of 5 1,30 Councilmembers Shanes, Pena, Bertsch, McGehee and Favila voted "for" the motion and Councilmembers Owen and Tipton voted "against" the motion. Mayor Woods did not vote on the matter since he had left the meeting earlier. The motion carried. Jim Jeffers, City Manager advised the Council that Bill LaFont et al wanted to donate property located at 1101 Broadway to the City. The Hale County Appraisal District shows the appraised value of the property at $1,666.00. Councilmember Owen moved the City accept the gift from LaFont et al. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Favila. The motion carried with Councilmembers Tipton, Shanes, Pena, Owen, McGehee and Favila voting "for', the motion and Councilmember Bertsch voting "against." The Council reviewed the backhoe bids. Three bids were received as follows: Yellow House Machinery $54,361.00, Scott Tractor - $57,900.00 and Warren Cat $63,754.00. Councilmember Tipton stated it was better to award the bid locally, but since the local bidder did not fall within the required 3%, the City would have to award the bid to Yellow House Machinery. Councilmember Owen moved the bid be awarded to Yellow House Machinery, the Iow bidder. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Tipton and carried unanimously. City staff presented the following recommended board appointments: Board Appointee Term Parks Advisory Board Carlene Kirby January 1, 2007 Community Relations Commission Joe Soils January 1, 2004 Community Relations Commission Irene Alfaro January 1, 2006 Community Relations Commission Ida Tyler January 1, 2005 Community Relations Commission Don Hill January 1, 2006 Building Trades/Fire Code Board of Appeals Lynn Davis January 1, 2007 Building Trades/Fire Code Board of Appeals Chds Lefevre January 1, 2007 Board of Adjustment Max Browning (ALT) January 1, 2005 Board of Minimum Housing Mignon Williams January 1, 2005 Board of Minimum Housing Garry A. Petras January 1, 2005 Board of Minimum Housing Joyce Patton January 1, 2005 Board of Minimum Housing Terry Carter January 1, 2005 Parks Advisory Board Cadene Kirby January 1, 2007 Parks Advisory Board Barbara Ramirez January 1, 2007 Planning & Zoning Commission Bill Rollins (ALT) January 1, 2005 Planning & Zoning Commission Norvene Owens (ALT) January 1, 2004 Planning & Zoning Commission Terry Carter (ALT) January 1, 2005 Councilmember Shanes moved that the Council accept the recommended board appointments. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Owen and carried unanimously. The Council then reviewed the next item: consider and take appropriate action on Statement of Intent of Atmos Energy Corporation to increase service charges effective January 10, 2003. Mr. Jeffers advised that Councilmember Irene Favila had declared a conflict of interest and would not be involved in the discussion and decision-making on the matter. Atmos Energy proposes the following changes: City of Plainview Minutes December 19, 2002 Page 4 of 5 131 SerVice Charge Description Turn on new. serVice 'with meter set) Turn on service shut-in test required) Turn on service meter read only required) Proposed Charge · During/After Business Hours $3Z00/$48.00 $23.50/$35.25 $15.00/$22.50 Increase During/After Business Hours $8.50/$12.75 $4.50/$6.75 $4.5O/$6.75 Miscellaneous service calls $11.25/$16.88 $.075/$1.13 Reconnect delinquent service or service temporarily off at customer's request $37.50/$56.25 $8.00/$12.05 These changes would affect approximately 7,313 consumers in the City and would generate approximately $23,313 or 0.0048% increase in the Company's aggregate revenues. Mr. Jeffers advised the Council that all cities are taking no action except for Lubbock, who voted to suspend rates for 90 days and call for a public hearing. Mike DeArmond with Atmos Energy stated the delinquent customers were allowed to pay out delinquencies over a two to three month period. Upon the recommendations by City Manager Jim Jeffers, Councilmember McGehee moved the Council take no action. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Owen and carded unanimously with Councilmember Favila abstaining due to a conflict of interest. Mayor Woods and Councilmember Pena did not vote on the matter since they had left the meeting earlier. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:50 p.m. Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary City of Plainview Minutes December 19, 2002 Page 5 of 5