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HomeMy WebLinkAbout99 0819 min MINUTES PLAINVIEW CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION August 19, 1999 The Plainview City Council met at the Plainview Convention Center at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 19, 1999. Notice of this meeting was posted in City Hall on August 16, 1999, at 11:00 a.m. Mayor Pro Tern Ross Owen presided. Councilmembers present were: Sam Parker- Precinct 1, Mary Jane Shanes-Precinct 2, Rey Rosas-Precinct 3, Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4, Bobby McGehee-Precinct 6, and Irene Favila-Precinct 7. Mayor Lloyd C. Woods was absent. Staff members present: Jim Jeffers-City Manager, John Castro-Director of Community Services, Gary Glass-Fire Chief, John Berry-Director of Public Works, Dale Simpson-Civil Service Director, Wally Hatch-City Attorney, Will Mull-Police Chief, Norman Huggins-Director of Finance, and Karen McBeth-city secretary. Guests present: Jeff Noble-Downtown Beautification Committee, Kenneth Coates-Downtown Association, and Ron Trusler-Central Plains MHMR. OPEN MEETING 1. Invocation - John Berry Review of August 2zl, 1999 City Council Agenda - The following items were discussed: t) g) Consider award of bid for the Fire Department Thermal Imaging System. The city has received two bids for the Thermal Imaging System. This unit is a device, which enables firefighters to look into a smoke filled room/building and locate people, pets, as well as dangerous substances, which give off heat and are a potential hazard. Mr. Jeffers said the system would also be used for fire inspections. The system is capable of locating any "hot spot," such as over-heated wiring, hot ballast in a lighting system, and other fire hazards. The unit will most likely be kept in the fire command vehicle since it goes'to most every fire alarm. Approval of a contract with Parent's Place, Inc. to provide various services for the citizens of Plainview. Mr. Jeffers said Parent's Place has acquired the necessary insurance. Resolution No. R99-105. A Resolution of the City of Plainview suspending the effective date of the proposed increase in gas utility rates of Energies for 90 days; Authorizing the participation of the City of Plainview, Texas, with other service area cities located within the West Texas distribution system of Energas Company in a Steering Committee into the reasonableness of the Energas Company Rates; Naming a representative to the Steering Committee; And providing an effective date. Councilmember Irene Favila has filed a Conflict of Interest regarding this Worksession Minutes 99 0819 Page 1 of 3 item. Mr. Jeffers said Energas has stated their intent to raise their rates by 8+%. This Resolution puts off the rate increase for 90 days, giving the City time to join with other affected cries in the area, appoint someone to a Steering Committee which will hire a rate expert, an attorney and likely a CPA to study the rate increase. They will then negotiate with Energas on the increase and if unable to reach an agreement, the Railroad Commission will issue a ruling. The last time Energas raised its rates they agreed not to ask for another increase for two years. They honored that agreement. Mayor Pro Tem Owen asked when this was? Mr. Jeffers said 1996. Councilmember Parker asked who pays for the "experts"? Mr. Jeffers said Energas pays, but the cost will be passed on to the consumer. Councilmember McGehee asked if all the area cities participated in the Steering Committee? Mr. Jeffers said most of the larger cries would. He said some of the smaller cities might not. 6. Plainview-Hale County Industrial Foundation. Annual Report and Consider contract for economic development services. Councilmember Parker asked how much the contract was for? Mr. Jeffers said $25,000; the same as last year. Parker asked if a representative of PHIF would be at the meeting? Mr. Jeffers said yes. City Council repons. Councilmember Mary Jane Shanes said she has received numerous complaints from the public about the "rebuild" of the cable TV system and the amount of time it was taking. She spoke with Pete Strom, Cable TV manager, and his answers were very technical but he was unable to give her a definite time frame. Mr. Jeffers said Mr. Strom would be at the next Worksession. R99-104. A Resolution of the City of Plainview, Texas approving an application for funding through the Texas Department of Economic Development Main Street Program. Mr. Jeffers reviewed plans for Millennium Square, which is to be constructed on the vacant lot West of (behind) the Post Office and North of Morgan-Eaves Agency. The plan is to relocate the mailboxes, create a parking area, construct a pavilion with landscaping, a gazebo, possibly a reproduction of an antique clock and/or a fountain. The application must show the City has at least 20% matching funding. A portion of the lot itself is to be purchased by the Downtown Association and donated and its other owners will donate the remainder of the lot. Mr. Jeffers said the competition for these grants is extremely intense. The application must be complete and in Austin by August 31, 1999. The results will not be known until November, and probably not funded until January or February of 2000. Councilmember Roses asked if there would be a flagpole? Mr. Jeffers said there could be. Councilmember Shanes moved to adopt R99-104. Mayor Pro Tem Owen asked if anyone had considered the fact we will be investing about $86,000 in downtown and did not invest $70,000 for an entrance to Wayland Baptist University? Mr. Jeffers said putting in a parking lot and moving the mail boxes out of the extremely rough alleyway will help keep the Post Office downtown and create parking for the refurbished Fair Theatre fall into the economic development category. Councilmember McGehee asked if the letter from the Historic Commission would be part of the application? Mr. Jeffers said comment from the Historic Commission had to be included. He said the letter was complimentary to the plans for parking and the beautification efforts, however they did not like the plans for the street comers. Councilmember Parker seconded the motion to adopt R99-104. Mayor Pro Tern Workscssion Minutes 99 0819 Page 2 of 3 Owen asked if we could get additional citizen participation even if we get the grant? Mr. Jeffers said possibly. Councilmember McGehee asked if the City is committed to the 20% matching funds? Mr. Jeffers said yes. Councilmember Shanes called for the question. Councilmember Favila seconded the call. Mayor Pro Tem Owen, and Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Hutcherson, McGehee and Favila voted "yes" on calling for the question. On the motion to adopt Resolution R99-104 Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Hutcherson, McGehee and Favila voted "yes." Mayor Pro Tern Owen voted "No." Report on effectiveness of De-watering Box at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Director of Public Works, John Berry told the Council the de-watering box has processed 60 to 70 thousand gallons of sludge. He said they are modifying some piping to accommodate the box, but the de-watering box is working. He said it was gaining on the backed up sludge. Review of draft policy on funding Social Programs. Mr. Jeffers went over the draft of a policy for funding social programs that he had given the Council earlier. Councilmember McGehee asked for an example of an "agency," and asked if it would be like the Salvation Army? Mr. Jeffers said yes. Councilmember Rosas asked if the YMCA would be such an agency? Mr. Jeffers said no, the YMCA is recreational, not social. Mr. Jeffers said as state and federal funding has been cut, more and more agencies have asked the City for money. Mr. Jeffers said the funding would be tied to the budgeting process and each council would determine the amount of social funding it would commit to. Councilmember Shanes said this policy would make the process simpler. Councilmember Rosas stated he did not believe it should be tied to the budget process. This discussion will be continued at the next Worksession. Overview of Annexation legislation. John Castro, Director of Community Services reviewed the recent legislative changes in the annexation process. The legislation was not "city friendlv." Municipalities are required to have a detailed service plan for areas annexed. Public Hearing must be posted and held and cities must provide full services to the annexed area within 2 ½ years. Overview of the Open Meetings Act. City Attorney Wally Hatch told the Council of the changes in the Open Meetings Act. The changes primarily center around Closed, or Executive Sessions. The "staff briefing" is no longer permitted. All deliberations, except those explicitly listed for closed meetings, must be done in a public forum. All actions taken by the Council must be done in open meetings, but this has not changed. The discussion of economic development has been added to the list of things, which are permitted to be discussed in Closed Meetings. 9. Mayor Pro Tem Owen adjourned the meeting at 1:15 p.m. Passed and approved on September 14, 1999. / Karen McBeth, city secretary Worksession Minutes 99 0819 Page 3 of 3