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HomeMy WebLinkAbout99 1216 min37 MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 16, 1999 The Plainview City Council met in a Special Council Meeting on December 16, 1999, at City Hall, 901 Broadway, Plainview, Texas. The notice of this meeting was posted at 9:00 a.m. December 13, 1999. Mayor Woods called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Councilmembers present were: Sam Parker-Precinct 1, Ross Owen-Precinct 5, Bobby McGehee-Precinct 6, and Irene Favila-Precinct 7. Absent were Councilmembers Mary Jane Shanes-Precinct 2, Rey Rosas- Precinct 3, and Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4. Staff members present were: James P. Jeffers-City Manager and Sharon Wyatt-Main Street Coordinator. OPEN MEETING Discussion of City Departments. Water. The City Council observed these positive aspects concerning the City's water supply: Excellent staff, plenty of water currently available, Roberts County water importation project, good distribution system, cheap rates, green parks, and the system is well maintained. The following topics were issues of concern: Water conservation, taste, poor distribution system, finite supply, how to fund improvements, and public awareness. It was noted taste and distribution issues were currently being addressed. It was the consensus of the Council that emphasis should be placed on public awareness and conservation in order to address the finite water supply. As a part of the conservation plan City Administration is to build proposals concerning enforcement action for those who waste water, prepare an educational program and funds for implementation with emphasis on educating Plainview Independent School District Youth, consider developing a new well field outside of the City, the City must be a roll model for conservation, the conservation plan must be in writing, the City should consider ascending water rates to discourage water usage and the City should develop a proposal for selling bottled water as a conservation measure. Wastewater. The positive aspects of the wastewater collection and treatment included: It is an untapped resource (the treated water could be sold and/or utilized for economic development), a good staff at the wastewater treatment plant, City has a good lab, and the plant is "fine." Expressions of concern included: Relations with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, too many rules, the plant is antiquated, the plant has a limited capacity, the collection system is poor, and the cost is frightening. Miscellaneous discussions revolved around hook-up statistics for Seth Ward, contracting out the construction and operation of the wastewater treatment plant, utilization of prison labor in the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, making certain all treatment options are 99 1216 Minutes Page I of 3 explored, and determine whether or not a special assessment charge could be placed on the water bill which would cease once the wastewater treatment plant bonds are retired. Code Administration. The Council expressed the following positive aspects of Code Administration: They send out letters, Director is well qualified; clean city, Code Enforcement .Officers are in a no-win predicament, written rules are good, City does a good job with the staff it has, and the City has~good equipment. The following expressions of concern were made: The City needs.to lead by example, the department has poor public relations, lax enforcement, lack of flexibility, lack of consistency, need more employees~ need to follow-up on enforcement issues, should be higher fines, and there should be more personal contact. Following a lengthy discussion the Council agreed the first order of business was to change the public perception of Code Administration and the other issues would fall in place. Economic Development. The Council expressed the following positive observations: plainview/Hale County Industrial Foundation, tax abatement (needs to be fully implemented), the public forums held by Ben Akande, City support, Main Street and the Downtown Association, the community's assertive attitude, and there is adequate money going to Economic Development. The Council expressed the following concerns: Lack of County-City cooperation, general lack of understanding what constitutes real growth, lack of minority representation on the Plainview/Itale County Industrial Foundation Board as well as the lack of turnover on the Board, illegal drug traffic takes away from economic development, a lack of cooperation of all groups, a need to focus on high income job recruitment, code administration may take away from economic development effortS, a need for a vocational/technical training program, growth is undirected, Plalnview/Hale County Industrial Foundation does not support housing, a need for,County government reform, and a need for an outlet mall. Councilmember Hutcherson entered the meeting at 11:45 a.m. It was the consensus of the Council to focus efforts on the recruitment of a vocational/technical training institute and the creation of higher paying jobs with an emphasis on locally owned businesses~ Animal Control. The Council expressed the following concerns: Humane Society role, Adopt-a-Pet program, what's being done to control wild animals such as coyotes and skunks in the City, public relations, does the City have enough staff, is the City doing enough to address cmelty cases including fighting animals, status of the spray/neuter programs, and impact of Seth Ward on animals-at-large. It was the consensus of the Council to focus on public relations issues, the role of the Humane Society, and the status of the Adopt-a-Pet programs. The City Council provided the following list of projects they would like to see addressed in the future (Councilmember Rosas left the meeting at 12:40 p.m.): Texas Department of Transportation participation in 24th Street, library improvements, police department building improvements, acquisition of the Plainview Apartment lake site, continued improvements of the water system, continued support of the Ports-to-Plains project, and encouragement for the Chamber of Commerce and Plainview/Hale County Industrial Foundation to become involved financially~ 99 1216 Minutes Page 2 of 3 Miscellaneous Topics. The Council encouraged continued development of intemet access of public information. The Council also requested Cox Cable provide a status report on their completion schedule for improving the system with fiber optics. The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. Passed and approved on December 28, 1999. e ff.~¢~, C-~ 99 1216 Minutes Page 3 of 3