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HomeMy WebLinkAbout99 0309 min MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MF. ETING City of Plainview March 9, 1999 The Plainview City Council held a meeting at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 1999 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: Sam Parker-Precinct 1, Mary Jane ShaneS-Precinct 2, Rey Rosas-Precinct 3, Ross Owen-Precinct 5, Bobby McGehee-Precinct 6, and Irene Favila-Precinct 7. Councilmember Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4, was absent. Staff members present were: Jim Jeffers-City Manager, John Castro-Director of Community Services, Wally Hatch-City Attorney, John Berry-Assistant Director of Public Works, Gary Glass-Fire Chief, Dale Simpson-Civil Service Director, Cindy Gasaway-Main Street Coordinator, Norman Huggins- Finance Director, William Mull-Police Chief, and Karen McBeth, city secretary. News media present: Richard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald and tv crew from Wayland Baptist University. OPEN MEETING Invocation - The Honorable Ross Owen Pledge of Allegiance - Scout Justin Masters led the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Recognitions - Mayor Woods recognized the athletes from Plainview Christian Academy and gave each participant a Certificate of Appreciation. Mayor Woods also presented a Proclamation declaring March Mental Retardation Awareness Month to the local MHMR office. 3. Consent Calendar - Councilmember Bobby McGehee moved to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Favila. Mayor Woods and Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Owen, McGehee and Favila voted "yes" on the motion to approve. None voted against. a) b) c) d) e) Minutes of February 18, 1999 and February 23, 1999 were approved. Departmental Reports were accepted. Expenditures were approved. Excused absence was granted to Councilmember Hutcherson for this meeting. Consider adoption of a policy statement for the City to participate in sidewalk demolition. Policy was adopted. Budget amendment. Ordinance No. 99-3209. An ordinance of the City of Plainview amending ordinance No. 98-3196 to appropriate water and sewer funds in the 1998- Council Minutes of March 9, 1999 Page 1 of 3 1999 Budget for renovations to the Milwee lift station. Ordinance was approved for first reading. g) Budget amendment. Ordinance No. 99-3210. An ordinance of the City of Plainview amending ordinance No. 98-3196 to appropriate funds in the 1998-1999 Budget to purchase a dump bed for Parks Department truck. Ordinance was approved for first reading. h) Budget amendment. Ordinance No. 99-3208. An ordinance of the City of Plainview amending ordinance No. 98-3186 to appropriate funds in the 1998-1999 Budget for Animal Control building maintenance. Ordinance was approved for first reading. i) Consider appointment to the Board of Minimum Housing. Julio Cavazos and Julie Flores were appointed to the Board of Minimum Housing as alternates. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS Consider request of James Odom for disannexation of property located in Plainview, Hale County, Texas and is described as: 145.86 acres out of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 33, Block No. JK-2, G.C.& S.F. Ry. Co. Tom Hamilton, attorney for James Odom, told the Mayor and Council he hopes to come to some agreement with the City through continued dialogue, rather than through litigation, and asked if consideration of this could be postponed, or tabled? Mayor Woods moved to table this request and Councilmember Owen seconded the motion. Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Owen, McGehee and Favila, and Mayor Woods voted "yes" on the motion. None voted against. 5. Plainview Housing Authority annual report. Dwain Dodson, Chairman of the Plainview Housing Authority board of directors, told the Mayor and Council that the Plainview Housing Authority was created in 1978 to provide safe housing for farm laborers. Since that time the farm industry has changed and while it still makes room for seasonal farm workers, the 160 apartments in the Date Street complex and the 48 apartments at the Barrington primarily provide low rent housing. The highest rent paid at the Date Street complex is $295 a month, and this includes utilities and cable tv. It was originally built with grant money and is regulated by the Farmers Home Administration. He said the houses built for low income families have all been sold, however at a loss. He said an audit report will be ready soon and will be given to the City. There are plans to build four to six houses outfitted for handicapped people. These will be built without loans or grants. He said the Date Street complex was free of debt. Mr. Dodson said the Housing Authority, as a tax free entity would like to make a donation of $2,500 to the police department, the fire department and the sheriff's department. David Mull, Hale County Sheriff, accepted the $2,500 check on behalf of the sheriff's department and thanked the Housing Authority and Mr. Dodson. Council Minutes of March 9, 1999 Page 2 of 3 6. Annual report from the Animal Control department. John Castro, Director of Community Services, said according to the Humane Society of the United States, animal control is made up of five functions: an enforceable ordinance, a good shelter facility, an efficient field service program, an on-going public education process and a method of financing all these services. We have a good ordinance and it addresses all the things it is supposed to. First of all loose animals, the licensing of animals, and fines for those that violate those laws. Our sheltering facility is a good facility, but it needs work, and the Council approved an ordinance tonight to allocate funds for repairs. The field service program is a good program from the enforcement aspect, but a really good field program should inform and educate the public and we are a little lacking in that aspect of it. Last year animal control impounded 1,959 animals. That dogs and cats and everything else, of those 727 were reclaimed. We get a lot of animals that people drop offand just do not want anymore. We euthanized 1,525 animals because no one wanted them. We adopted out 182. It does not bode well, which is why we need to do a better job of educating the public to spay or neuter their animals so we do not have an excessive animal population. The financing of the facility is done through the City. Our annual budget is $84,726 and $10,000 of that is for the Humane Society. We work in partnership with the Humane Society in the enforcement of our ordinance that deals with cruelty cases. The total revenues generated by the animal shelter for 1998 were $11,467 which is quite a bit short of the $84,000 needed to operate the program. Mayor Woods thanked Mr. Castro for his report and encouraged the public to have their pets neutered and spayed. He also encouraged people to adopt animals from the Humane Society. 7. Open Forum. Hear citizens requests and comments per Open Forum Policy. Councilmember Sam Parker encouraged everyone to visit the Unger Library and listed the many services available that are free to the citizens of Hale County. Adjournment. Mayor Woods moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 p.m. Councilmember Owen seconded the motion. The Mayor and the six Councilmembers present voted "yes' on the motion. Approved on the 23rd day of March, 1999. Karen McBeth, City Secretary Council Minutes of March 9, 1999 Page 3 of 3