Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout99 0126 min MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING City of Plainview January 26, 1999 The Plainview City Council held a meeting at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 26, 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, Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4, Ross Owen-Precinct 5, and Irene Favila-Precinct 7. An excused absence was extended to Councilmember McGebee-Precinct 6. Staff members present: Jim Jeffers-City Manager, John Castro-Director of Community Services, Wally Hatch-City Attorney, John Berry-Assistant Director of Public Works, William Mull-Police Chief, Gary Glass-Fire Chief, Roland ASebedo-Fire Marshall, Norman Huggins-Director of Finance, and Karen McBeth-city secretary. News media present: RiChard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald, and Wayland Baptist University-television crew. OPEN MEETING Invocation - The Honorable Rey Rosas Pledge of Allegiance - Scout Landon Walker 2. Recognitions - PoliCe Chief William Mull recognized Pat Mogg, the Police Department Records Clerk, and CaPtain Michael Carroll, for twenty years service with the City of Plainview. 3. Consent Calendar - Councilmember Favila moved to approve the Consent Calendar and Councilmember Owen seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously with Mayor Woods and six Councilmembers voting "yes" to the motion. a) b) c) d) Minutes of January 7, 1999 and January 12, 1999 were approved. Departmental Reports were accepted. Expenditures were approved. Excused Absences e) Budget Amendment. Ordinance No. 99-3203. An ordinance amending Ordinance No. 98-3186 to appropriate funds in the 1998-99 budget for the purchase of a forklift for the Recycling Center. Second Reading. Passed and approved. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 4. Hale County Appraisal District annual report. Linda Jaynes, Chief Appraiser for the Hale County Appraisal District reported to the Mayor and Council the State Legislature created central appraisal districts in 1979, as a subdivision of the State, to assure the centraliZation of records and appraisals on all property that is taxed. She said the Minutes of January 26, 1999 Page 1 of 4 Appraisal District is audited annually. The District is governed by a 13 member board chosen from all participating taxing entities. The Appraisal Review Board deals with property values. State law requires property to be reappraised every three years, however the present Board requires that it be reappraised every other year. She said the taxing process begins with evaluation, then the protest phase, then it is rated for taxing, and the final process is collection. Property owners are allowed to pay out the assessed taxes over a period of time if they are unable to pay it all at one time. She stated it is difficult to collect some delinquent taxes, however 50% of the delinquent taxpayers will come in if notified prior to a law suit. Sometimes there is no other choice but to go to a tax sale. The delinquent rolls get smaller every year. Councilmember Owen asked how many protests the Review Board heard last year? Ms. Jaynes said 50 asked to be reviewed, but the Board only met with about 12. Councilmember Owen asked if any of these were adjusted? Mrs. Jaynes said none of the ones which went to the Board. Zone Case 671 - 402 & 404 W. 17th St. Ordinance No. 99-3202. An ordinance amending the zoning map of the City of Plainview, Texas to rezone property located at 402 & 404 W. 17~ Street from a M-l/C-3, light manufacturing & general commercial business to a R-2 residential district; Cumulativeness clause; Conflict clause; Severability clause; And effective date. First reading. Director of Community Services reviewed the proposed Zone change. Mr. Jose Pardo has requested this change so he can build a home on these lots. The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended this change stating this would be a better use of these lots and would blend well with the neighborhood. Councilmember Parker moved to approve Ordinance No. 99-3202. Councilmember Rosas seconded the motion. Mayor Woods and Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Hutcherson, Owen and Favila voted "yes" on the motion. None voted against. Cable Franchise. Ordinance No. 99-3205. An ordinance of the City of Plainview, Texas, granting to TCA Cable TV of Amarillo, Inc., its successors and assigns, a franchise for a period of 15 years, to erect, maintain, and operate a cable type television system in the City of Plainview and to erect, maintain and operate its poles, towers, anchors, wires, cables, electronic conductors, conduits, manholes, and other structures and appurtenances in, over, under, along and across the public streets, highways, alleys, bridges, and other public ways and places in the City of Plainview; Prescribing compensation for the privileges conferred under this franchise; Prescribing conditions governing the operation of the business insofar as it affects the use of public property for the purpose of such business under this grant; providing for severability; And an effective date. Second reading. Mayor Woods told those assembled the negotiations for the cable franchise has been going on for several months and if anyone had questions, Mr. Hatch, City Attorney, would be happy to answer questions, or review the ordinance. There were no questions asked of Mr. Hatch. Councilmember Favila addressed Mr. Pete Strom, local manager of TCA Cable TV, stating she had a lady call her with concerns that Channel 20, the weather channel, was misleading. She asked why the temperatures and precipitation was so different from what local channels gave? Mr. Strom said it depends on Mi~xutes of January 26, 1999 Page 2 of 4 where the instruments are located. He said the readings at one part of the city will be different from readings taken at another part of the city. Councilmember Owen moved to approve Ordinance No. 99-3205 and Councilmember Hutcherson seconded the motion. Mayor Woods, Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Hutcherson, Owen and Favila voted "yes" on the motion. None voted against. 7. Report on Fair Theatre activities. Muff London, Board President, said a lot of progress has been made at the theatre. She said David Wilder, Board Member, would give a more detailed update. Mr. Wilder said he had hoped to be further along by this date, but when you are dealing with volunteer labor and funding by donation, sometimes time tables fall by the wayside. He said the Fair Theatre, when finished, will be an excellent theater for Plainview. It will be good for downtown, good for the schools, and good for the economy of Plainview. He said the facility has all new wiring, completely painted, 150 seats completed, balcony is complete, control room is 90% complete, third floor is 90% complete, lobby is 95% finished, and the concession area has only just begun. He said the brick front is complete and has replicated doors installed. He said he was well pleased with the way it is coming together and invited the Council to come down and go through it. He anticipated it would open May, 1999. Fire Code. Ordinance No. 99-3204. An ordinance of the City of Plainview, Texas, amending Ordinance No. 88-2765 of the Fire Code, providing for the adoption of the Uniform Fire Code (1997 edition), including the Uniform Fire Code Standard Article 10, Article 24, Article 52, Article 62, Article 74, and Article 79; Also providing for the adoption of the International Conference of Building Officials of Whittier, California; Providing for certain amendments thereto; Providing penalties of violations thereof} Severability clause; Cumulativeness clause; Conflicts clause; And effective date. Second reading. Mayor Woods explained Ordinance No. 99-3204 was to update the Fire Code and bring it in line with the Building Code which was recently updated. The two work hand in hand. Mayor Woods moved to adopt Ordinance No. 99-3204. Councilmember Rosas seconded the motion. Mayor Woods, Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Hutcherson, Owen and Favila voted "yes" on the motion. None voted against. 9. Annual report of the Finance department. Director of Finance, Norman Huggins, told the Mayor and Council the City of Plainview has a $12.6 million budget, with $2.1 million provided by ad valorem taxes, $2.6 million from sales taxes, and the remainder in fees for services the City provides. The water and sewer utility charges are in the low 5% in the State, while still providing good service. The new landfill will provide for solid waste disposal for the next 100 years. He said the Police and Fire departments take $4 million of the $12.6 million budget. These are the two services most people think of when they think of services provided by the City. The City will soon have a new Fire Station, many new street improvements, new and/or replaced wamr lines, and all at no rate increases and no tax increases. The financial services of the City moved to a new location in October, located at 121 West 7th Street. He said the City was on Minutes of January 26, 1999 Page 3 of 4 very sound financial footing and the Mayor and Council could be proud of the good stewardship they have provided. I0. Open Forum. Hear citizens requests and comments per Open Forum Policy. No one spoke on the Open Forum. 11. Closed Session. Deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment or duties, removal, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee, board, commission, or committee member, or to hear complaints or charges. [Tex. Gov't. Code Section 551.074].(The Human Relations Commission, Board of Adjustment, Planning & Zoning Commission, and South Plains Housing Finance Corporation). A Closed Session was not held. 12. Consider appointments to the Boards, Commissions and Committees. City Secretary, Karen McBeth, reviewed the applications for appointments. Mr. Willis McCutcheon V has applied for the South Plains Housing Finance Corporation board and his application shows he meets the requirements; Frederick A. Camp has applied for a place on the Board of Adjustment and his application shows he meets the requirements. Councilmember Owen moved to appoint Mr. McCutcheon to the South Plains Housing Finance Corporation board and Mr. Camp to the Board of Adjustment as an alternate. Councilmember Rosas seconded the motion. Mayor Woods, Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Hutcherson, Owen and Favila voted "yes" on the motion. None voted against. 13. Adjournment. Mayor Woods moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Owen seconded the motion. The Mayor and the six Councilmembers present voted unanimously in favor of adjournment. Passed and approved on February 9, 1999. Karen McBeth, City Secretary Minutes of January 26, 1999 Page 4 of 4