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HomeMy WebLinkAbout14 0703 Council minutesThe City Council met on July 3, 2014 at 11:30 a.m., at the Plainview Convention Center, 2902 W. 4th Street, Plainview, Texas. The agenda for this meeting was posted in City Hall at 10:00 a.m. on June 30, 2014. Mayor Wendell Dunlap presided. Councilmembers present were: Charles Starnes -District 1, Larry Williams -District 2, Norma Juarez -District 3, Teressa King -District 4, Susan Blackerby-District 5, and Lionel Garcia -District 6. Councilmember Eric Hastey-District 7 was absent. Staff members present were: Jeffrey Snyder -City Manager, Sarianne Beversdorf- Director of Finance, Mike Gilliland -Director of Public Works, Rusty Reese -Parks Superintendent, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief, Ken Coughlin -Police Chief, Isauro Gutierrez - Information Technology Specialist, Arthur Wall -Street Superintendent, Judy Rasher - Community Services Secretary and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary. News Media Present: Caleb Hatch, Plainview Radio and Homer Marquez, Plainview Herald Guests Present: Beverly McCaskill, Ron Trusler and Phyllis Wall Councilmember Lionel Garcia led in the Invocation. Jeffrey Snyder, City Manager reviewed the Skate Park project. In December 2010, the Vision Skatepark Plainview group made a presentation to the City Council regarding the possibility of building a skate park for the community. After some discussion, Council asked staff to work with the group to develop a plan that would include a design, cost estimates and a potential site location. The City retained Spohn Ranch as a consultant to assist in the design and cost estimates for this project; this company specializes in skate park design and construction all across the United States. Working with Spohn, several meetings were held and other input sessions from the Vision Skatepark Plainview group which resulted in identifying a location and a design for the skate park. In addition, Spohn provided an original cost estimate of $317,000 to construct the park. This project was deferred to the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee to be included in the Parks and Recreation section discussion of the Comprehensive Plan and out of that process it was prioritized as a potential project to be considered in the future. In addition, the Parks Advisory Board is in the process of updating the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces (PROS) Comprehensive Master Plan. The first priority identified in this plan is the development of a Skate park for the community. Staff recently had Spohn update the cost estimates to remove the Xeriscaped area in the middle of the original park design based upon input from the Vision Skatepark Plainview group. The new proposed cost for the park is $350,000. As a comparable, Staff contacted American Ramp Company that handles Design -Build skate park projects like this. They provided a cost estimate of $300,000 on a similar design concept. Councilmember Williams asked if the money is available for this. Mr. Snyder stated that there is $250,000 in capital improvements. There is also $25,000 through the Parks Advisory Board. City Council Minutes July 3, 2014 Page 1 of 3 333 334 Councilmember Starnes stated that he has never seen a skater. He asked where are they and where is the interest? Why don't they come raise some funds? Mayor Pro Tem King stated she has had at least 10 people come to her and ask for a skate park. Councilmember Blackerby asked why Spohn. She was advised that both companies are reputable companies. The American Ramp Company design is less because it does not have as many pre -cast elements. Councilmembers Blackerby also asked who would maintain. She was advised that we would be responsible for maintenance. Phyllis Wall stated she is the Vision Skatepark group liaison. She said the students are there. There about 300 skateboarders. These are kids in our city and she believes it will deter crime. Mrs. Wall stated it does not matter what company is used as long as the components are there. Mr. Snyder presented information on the City Seal Coat Program. The City first contracted out its annual Seal Coat program in 2012 because of staffing issues in the Street Department that made it not possible to perform this service in 2011. With continued concerns over staffing, the City continued to contract out this service in 2013 and now 2014. The City Council has expressed interest in reassessing the possibility of the City restarting the seal coat program in house. Mike Gilliland, Public Works Director, along with Arthur Wall, Street Superintendent are present to provide more information. The seal coat program requires 13 to 15 employees. Right now there are only 11 budgeted positions. This year 110,000 square yards is costing us $1.90 a square yard and $1.95 with engineer work. It will cost $32,600 in labor costs (1 full time and 2 part time positions), 120 hours on equipment at a cost of $32,200, materials cost of $126,750 and $11,500 in fuel costs for a total of $203,050. This comes out to $1.84 per square yard. The pros are that it will save a few pennies. The cons is the sustainable labor minimum of 13 people. We currently have 10 people plus 1 temporary position. We have five experienced people who are 30 — 35 year employees. Councilmember Garcia expressed concern over liability of doing own seal coating because of an injury to an employee in the past. Councilmember Blackerby asked what size of cities comprises the 20 city group. She was advised these are mostly small cities and not big enough to do their own seal coat work. Mayor Pro Tem King stated employees will be already on payroll and that from a business perspective it would put our employees to work. Councilmember Williams asked Arthur Wall what he would prefer. He stated that he would have to rebuild the program and with the inexperience it would be dangerous. City Council Minutes July 3, 2014 Page 2 of 3 The Council and staff reviewed the agenda for the City Council meeting of July 8, 2014. 335 There being no further business, Mayor Dunlap adjourned the meeting at 12:44 p.m. /l.C.�:G4.Grr✓ /i Belinda Hinojosa75 City Secretary City Council Minutes July 3, 2014 Page 3 of 3