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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 0503 minThe Plainview City Council met on May 3, 2001., 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 April 30, 2001. Mayor Lloyd C. Woods presided. Councilmembers present were: Sam Parker-District 1; Mary Jane Shanes-District 2; Rey Rosas-District 3; Mike Hutcherson-District 4; Ross Owen-District 5; Buddy McGehee- District 6; and Irene Favila-District 7. Staff members present were: James P. Jeffers-City Manager; Dale Simpson-Civil Service Coordinator; John Berry-Director of Public Works; Matthew Tsakanikas-Main Street Coordinator; Sean Lanier-Assistant Director of Public Works/City Engineer; William Mull- Chief of Police; Wally Hatch:City Attorney; Norman Huggins-Director of Finance; Gary Glass-Fire Chief; Pat Hernandez-Municipal Court Judge and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary. News media representatives present were: Richard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald. Guests present were: Ron Trusler-Central Plains Center. Judge Pat Hernandez delivered the invocation. The Council and Staff then reviewed the agenda for the City Council meeting of May 8, 2001. City Council Reports - Councilmember Favila reported that Star Career Training had opened a semi-truck driving school. They are officed at the Plainview/Hale County Airport. Councilmember McGehee reported he had attended the Ports-to-Plains Board Meeting. He stated the Texas Department of Transportation would consider final designation of the Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor route on May 31 st. Councilmember Shanes stated that Councilmember McGehee, Sean Lanier, John Berry and she had attended the Hale County Appraisal District Board Meeting. She expressed concern about the company being used for the purchase of the GSI mapping system. She felt that there might be a conflict of interest since Linda Jayne's brother was part owner of the company being used for the purchase. Wally Hatch presented a request by Keith Billington on behalf of Wells Fargo for a waiver of the replatting requirements of Plainview Subdivision Ordinance No. 89-2807 for Gardenville Subdivision Unit No. 4, Plainview, Hale County, Texas. Such ordinance requires the property to be replatted when less than five acres are sold. The present owners have filed bankruptcy and Wells Fargo is in the process of selling the property. Councilmember Owen moved that Wells Fargo be granted a waiver of the replatting requirements of Plainview Subdivision Ordinance No. 89-2807 for Gardenville Subdivision Unit No. 4, Plainview, Hale County, Texas. The motion, duly seconded by Councilmember Hutcherson, carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Jeffers advised the Council that the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority is looking to acquire additional water rights. It is believed that the current water rights should suffice for at least the next 30 to 60 years. However, private entrepreneurs have begun purchasing water rights adjacent to the Authority's water rights, which could in fact 205 City of Plainview City Council Minutes May 3, 2001 Page 1 of 3 206 deplete or interfere with CRIVlWA water rights. He stated that purchasing additional water rights would extend the debt service by about six additional years. The Council expressed their desire to pursue this project. Mr. Jeffers stated the City would not submit an application for the RSVP program since Wayland Baptist University is applying. This is based on the previous request of Council that application be submitted only in the event there was no local sponsor. Mr. Jeffers gave the boundaries for the residential reinvestment zone in the Thunderbird neighborhood. They run from West 24th Street to Columbia Street then North 140 feet past 32"a Street then west to Quincy Street and back to 24th Street. He stated that new construction would pay no city property taxes for five years. He also stated that he had visited with County Judge Bill Hollars and he had expressed an interest in the County participating, but would have to take such to the Commissioner's Court. Mr. Jeffers stated the Plainview/Hale County Airport recently received the following bids for the resurfacing of runways: Amarillo Road Company, LP - $1,892,658.50; Granite Construction Company - $2,088,897.95; and West Texas Paving - $2,588,105.00. The bid is expected to be awarded to the lowest bidder being Amarillo Road Company, LP who had provided good references. This amount was greater than the budgeted amount of.$1,771,000.00. Mr. Jeffers stated the Non Primary Entitlement Funds Program would contribute $150,000.00 if matched with 10%, a portion of which may be used for the cost overrun. Other Non Primary Entitlement monies will be used to bring runway lighting into compliance with FAA regulations. Hale County has already approved their match of $7,500.00. Mayor Woods moved that the City fund $7,500.00 in order to receive $150,000.00 from the Non Primary Entitlement Funds Program. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Shanes. Councilmember Hutcherson abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Hatch reviewed renewal of FAA building leases of the airport, which included donation of a building to the airport board, which lies just West of the control tower. Councilmember Shanes moved to accept the free building lease. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember McGehee. Councilmember Hutcherson abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest. The motion carried unanimously. Chief Mull stated that our current juvenile curfew had expired in August 2000. This had not become evident until January 2001. The law requires cities must have statistical data to prove the need to maintain a curfew. He stated the City of Plainview did not have to refund any money and had stopped enforcing the curfew in January 2001. Chief Mull stated the police department was in favor of a curfew along with most public officials. The previous curfew hours were: (1) from 11:00 p.m: on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday until 6:00 a.m. of the following day; and (2) 12:01 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. on any Saturday or Sunday; (3) 12:01 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. on any day of the week beginning on the day that Plainview lSD releases students for the summer recess, and ending the last weekday immediately prior to the date Plainview lSD begins the subsequent fall term. The curfew applied to any person under seventeen years of age with each violator receiving two written warnings and then custody arrest. There are ten defenses listed under Section 17-42. Chief Mull stated that 279 warnings had been issued; 41 citations issued; and $8,348.00 in fines (some of these worked off as community service) from 1997 to the present. City of Plainview City Council Minutes May 3, 2001 Page 2 of 3 Mr. Jeffers stated that because of the recent Supreme Court case the Council needs to seriously consider whether to impose a curfew.' The Supreme Court states there must be a reason for a juvenile curfew. He stated back in 1997 statistics showed there to be a problem and thus the juvenile curfew was justified. He stated the Youth Advisory Commission might oppose the juvenile curfew. It will be scheduled for first reading on the May 22, 2001 City Council meeting. Matthew Tsakanikas stated that SPS had donated $1,000.00 and Energas had donated $3,000.00 toward eight $500.00 grants to be provided to the main street properties for fa~:ade improvements. The applications should be submitted by June 15, 2001 and will be awarded on June 29, 2001. He stated the Downtown Association and Beautification Committee would be making the decision as to who was awarded the grants. Mr. Tsakanikas also stated that he had visited with the local banks and they would be providing Iow interest rate loans for the larger projects. American State Bank would provide five year amortized loans at four percent and other banks would provide loans at the Wall Street Journal rate less one basis point with a minimum loan of $5,000.00 and a maximum loan of $10,000.00. City officials and employees are not eligible for the grants. John Berry provided a report on the Water Line Replacement Project. He said they were installing about 800 feet a day (approximately 2 blocks) and were almost finished with Area 1. Previous tests showed five to ten gallons per minute from the meter and now it was showing 28 to 32 gallons per minute at the meter. Mr. Berry stated the contractor would be leveling yards and seeding. Mayor Woods adjourned the meeting at 12:45 p.m. Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary 2071 City of Plainview City Council Minutes May 3, 2001 Page 3 of 3