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HomeMy WebLinkAbout95 0314 min MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING City of Plainview March 14, 1995 The Plainview City Council held a meeting at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 14, 1995, in the Council Chambers of the Plainview City Hall at 901 Broadway. The Council met in Pre-Session at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Lloyd C. Woods presided. Councilmembers present were: Alton Jackson Sr.-Precinct 1, Mary Virginia Kirchhoff-Precinct 2, Rey Rosas-Precinct 3, Mike Hutcherson- Precinct 4, Barbara Dorman-Precinct 5, Dwain Dodson-precinct 6 and Irene Favila-Precinct 7. Staff members present were: James P. Jeffers-City Manager, Wally Hatch-City Attorney, Ches Carthel-Director of Public Works, Muff London-Director for Community Development, Norman Huggins-Director of Finance, Roy L. Osborne-Chief of Police, Barbara Sullivan-Municipal Court Judge, Dale Simpson-Civil Service Director, Bruce Watson-Fire Chief and Karen McBeth- City Secretary. News media present: Richard Orr of the Plainview Daily Herald, Cathy Frye with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and Wayland Baptist University television crew. OPEN MEETING 1. Invocation - Mike Hutcherson 2. Recognitions/Oath of Office - Mike Hutcherson, Councilmember, presented a Certificate of Appreciation to J. B. Roberts, who has resigned from the Plainview/Hale County Airport Board of Directors after twenty years of service. Peter Moll was sworn in as a member of the Plumbing Board. 3. Consent Calendar - Mike Hutcherson moved to approve the Consent Calendar as presented; Barbara Dorman seconded the motion; the motion carried unanimously. a) b) c) Minutes were approved. Departmental Reports were accepted. Expenditures were approved. d) Board, Committee and Commission Appointments: No appointments were made. e) Parks Advisory Board. Ordinance No. 95-3035. Second Reading. An Ordinance of the City of Plainview establishing a Parks Advisory Committee; Providing for their appointment; Terms of Office, Duties and Responsibilities. The ordinance was approved. 1 of 5 f) Codification Adoption. Ordinance No. 95-3036. Second Readine. An Ordinance adopting and enacting the "Plainview City Code," compiled and codified by authority of the City Council; Containing the permanent, general ordinances of the city; repealing all ordinances and parts of ordinances of a permanent, general nature not included in the Code in full or by reference; Providing a penalty for wrongfully changing or tampering with the Code; Regulating the bringing of the Code up to date; Providing for certification of copies of the Code, and for sale of copies thereof; And prescribing the time when the Code shall become effective. The ordinance was approved. g) Street Dedication - Kermit Drive. Consider acceptance of 0.079 acre tract to be dedicated by the Church of Jesus Christ, L.D.S. as an extension of Kermit Drive. The property was accepted. h) Plat · Gardenville. Consider acceptance of the combination plat of Gardenville Subdivision, Unit No. 4, Plainview, Hale County, Texas. Plat was approved. i) Plat · Westwind. Consider acceptance of the preliminary plat for the Westwind Subdivision, Unit No. l, Plainview, Hale County, Texas. Plat was approved, subject to final submission. j) Highway - Trade Corridor. Resolution No. R95-107. A Resolution of the City of Plainview, Texas, expressing support for "La Entrada A1 Pacifico" Trade Corridor. Resolution No. R95-107 was adopted. k) Bid · Surplus Property · 600 E. 6th Street. Consider award of bid. A bid of $10,101.10 was received from Mark Marley accompanied by appropriate cashier check. The bid was awarded to Mr. Marley. 1) CRMWA. Consider endorsing legislation in support of the Lake Meredith Salinity Control Project, eliminating a provision in Home Rule Charters or Ordinances of any member city that might conflict with the authority of City Councils entering agreements with Canadian River Municipal Water Authority. Legislation was so endorsed. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 4. Annexation - East Highway 70. A Public Hearing concerning the proposed annexation of approximately 294 acres along East Highway 70 from Milwee Street to the West boundary of the prison site with the North boundary the railroad and the South boundary approximately 1000 feet South of Highway 70. Muff London, Director for Community Development, reviewed the annexation proposal, stating the many advantageous of being inside the city limits. She stated the reasons for needing to annex this particular corridor was the need to control growth and clean up this avenue into the city. Mayor Woods opened the floor for a Public Hearing. Those speaking for the annexation were: Jimmy Raymer, who owns property in the area, stating he would like to see sewer system accessibility. He stated code enforcement 2 of 5 would promote a better first impression to visitors to the city. Speaking against the annexation was Pete Rodriguez, owner of Pete's Palladium, an Hispanic dance hall located in the area. He stated he was afraid the curfew would interfere with the fifteenth birthday parties, for which many people rent his place of business. He also expressed concerns about the amount of city tax he would have to pay and the expense of tying onto the water and sewer lines. Craig Silverthorne expressed concern that the area being annexed was mostly farm land and the fact that property owners would have to pay a high price to tie onto water and sewer lines. Bill Kraft, owner of Perkins Mobile Home Park located in the area of annexation, said he was neither for nor against, but did have some concern that the city taxes would impact those who were on a lower and limited income. He asked for cooperation on the part of the city staff, the council and the property owners affected by the annexation. He stated he believed all these problems could be worked out. City Manager, Jim Jeffers, stated that anyone who wanted to tap onto the water system could pay the tapping fee, approximately $250, and the city would supply water. The sewer line will not be ready until a later date, therefore he could not supply any information regarding the cost of tying on to it at this time. Director of Public Works, Ches Carthel said his department has not run cost estimates on the sewer because there is more than one option available and all will need to be examined. Mayor Woods declared the Public Hearing closed. The vote on the annexation ordinance will take place in City Hall on April 6, 1995, at 12:00 p.m. 5. Precinct Two - Public Comment. Mary Virginia Kirchhoff, Councilmember for Precinct Two, welcome the people who live in her precinct and thanked them for being at the council meeting. She asked all those who live in her precinct to come forward, one at a time, for any public comment they might have. Pete McDonald, 900 S. Broadway, asked when a supermarket would be opened in their area. Mr. Jeffers stated that the city continues to talk with Mr. Lowe who has stated he has definite intentions of opening a supermarket in the old Furr's building, but has not given an exact date. Mary Virginia Kirchhoff reported that S.W. 4th St. is currently under construction for paving. She said Texas Department of Transportation is considering the extension of SW 4th to FM400 as part of the State Highway system. 6. Streets · Paving Assessment. Consider a request from the First Assembly of God Church to initiate paving assessment proceedings on 13th Street, between 1-27 and Jefferson Drive. City Attorney, Wally Hatch, reviewed the paving policy of the city. The First Assembly of God Church, who is building a new church building, are willing to pave their half of the street, but cannot get the owners of the property acros~ the street to pave their half. The church has asked the City Council to assess the property owners for their half of the paving. This is a time consuming process, but they want the process started. Mr. Hatch explained there are other options which are being reviewed, but in the interest of time they want to request the assessment process be started in any event. Rey Rosas made a motion the City begin assessment proceedings regarding the paving of this street; Barbara Dorman seconded the motion; The motion carried unanimously. 7. Prairie House · Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund. Consider a request from Prairie House for financial assistance from the City of Plainview Economic ..... 3 of 5 Development Revolving Loan Fund. Paul Johnson, Acting President of Prairie House, a non profit elderly care home in Plainview, borrowed $100,000 from the city's revolving loan fund in January, 1994, and is presently current on their payments. The home has experienced some severe cash flow problems and is requesting to borrow an additional $50,000 from the revolving loan fund with which they can pay taxes and certain other expenses. This will be repaid at 5 % interest over a period of five years, and will be secured the same as the previous loan. Mr. Johnson reported that Prairie House has received approval for a Medicare license, which will improve their cash flow situation, and they have made arrangements through M.E.T., Inc., to train nurses aides, which will help Prairie House as well as the community. Mary Virginia Kirchhof and Dwain Dodson, of the City Council, have been made ex-officio members of the Prairie House Board of Directors. Dwain Dodson made a motion to loan Prairie House the $50,000 they have requested on the same terms as the previous loan agreement; Mike Hutcherson seconded the motion; the motion carried unanimously. 8. Conventions and Tourism. Hear report from Roxie Igo with the Plainview Chamber of Commerce. Roxie Igo, the Director for the Chamber of Commerce Tourism and Convention Bureau of Plainview, spoke to the Council concerning her activities toward soliciting people and organizations to hold meetings in Plainview, as well as to enhance meetings already scheduled to be held here. She reported that Plainview is the perfect size to exhibit hospitality with a personal touch. She said tourism is a $2.2 billion dollar business in Texas, and that last year the Hotel/Motel tax paid to Plainview was $141,000. She asked the Council and staff, as well as citizens, to supply the names of people and/or organizations which she might contact about holding meetings here in Plainview. 8a. COPS Fast Grant - Police Chief Roy Osborne explained that in November, 1994, the Council had authorized him to apply for the COPS Fast grant through Washington, D.C. This is a program for funding new police personnel for cities of ess than 50,000 population.. So many cities applied for the grants that only 75 % of the amount requested is being awarded. The first year the city will receive $23,510 and the city will not have to add any money to fund this personnel; the second year the city will receive $18,447 from the grant and have to supply $6,149 for equipment; and the third year the grant supplies $13,276 with the city spending $12,459. Dwain Dodson stated he felt that while everyone is concerned about crime in Plainview, this grant was not "free money," and he did not believe Plainview needed this grant. Alton Jackson stated this was something like welfare and since it would cost the city money for a vehicle and equipment, he did not like it. Rey Rosas said that while the city needed a new police officer and felt the department already had a car the new police officer could use. Mike Hutcherson stated the city loses from one to four police officers a year through attrition, and this was certainly an economic way to add to the police force now. Irene Favila expressed concerns about purchasing an additional vehicle. Barbara Dorman stated this was not "welfare" nor was it "free money," it is tax dollars paid by this city coming back to Plainview to be used for Plainview citizens. Mayor Woods said the Council gave Chief Osborne permission to apply for the grant, the city is need of additional police officers, and he hopes the Council votes to accept this grant money. Mike Hutcherson made a motion to accept the COPS Fast grant; Barbara Dorman seconded the motion. Mary Virginia Kirchhoff, Mike Hutcherson and Barbara Dorman 4 of 5 voted for the motion; Alton Jackson, Rey Rosas, Dwain Dodson and Irene Favila voted against the motion. The motion failed. The COPS Fast grant will not be accepted. 9. EXECUTIVE SESSION. Discussion of pending or contemplated litigation. This meeting is authorized by [TE×. REV. CIV. STAT. Ann. Art. 6252-17, Sec. 2(g) (Vernon Supp. 1994)] (Vandygriffe & Fowler v. City of Plainview et al.) The Council moved into Executive Session at 8:47 p.m. 10. Litigation. Consider action per the Executive Session as such pertains to Vandygriffe & Fowler v. City of Plainview et al. The council reconvened at 9:55 p.m. in open session. Barbara Dorman made a motion that staff proceed as outlined in Executive Session; Dwain Dodson seconded the motion; the motion carried unanimously. 11. Adjournment - Mayor Woods adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m. Passed and approved this 28th day of March, 1995 Lloyd C. Woods, Mayor ATTEST: K~ren McBeth, City Secretary .... ~' 5 of 5