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HomeMy WebLinkAbout99 0121 min MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION January 21, 1999 The Plainview City Council met in a Work Session at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 21, 1999, at the Plainview Convention Center, 2902 West 4th Street. 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, and Irene Favila-Precinct 7. Councilmembers Mike Hutcherson- Precinct 4 and Bobby McGehee-Precinct 6 received excused absences for this meeting. Staff members present: Jim Jeffers-City Manager, Cindy Crasaway-Main Street Coordinator, Dale Simpson-Civil Service Director, John Castro-Director of Community Services, John Berry-Assistant Director of Public Works, Pat Hernandez-Municipal Judge, William Mull-Police Chef, and Karen McBeth-city secretary. News media present: Richard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald. Guests present: Jeff Noble and Pete Strom Following the Invocation given by Norman Huggins, the Council reviewed the agenda for the meeting of January 26, 1999. The Council discussed the following items: 5. Zone Case 671 - 402 & 404 West 17th St. Ordinance No. 99-3202. An ordinance amending the zoning map of the City of Plainview, Texas to rezone property located at 402 and 404 West 17th 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. John Castro, Director of Community Services told the Council this ordinance will allow Jose Pardo to build a house on these lots. The lots are on a corner and the south half is zoned manufacturing/general commercial. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of this zone change. Mr. Castro said he saw no problems with the request. Councilmember Parker asked how many letters were mailed out to adjacent property owners about this change? Mr. Castro said ten were mailed out, only two were returned. One for and one 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 its affects the use of public property for the purpose of such business under this grant; Providing for C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\99 0121 wsmin.wpd Page 1 of 4 severability; And an effective date. City Manager Jka Jeffers said the franchise is substantially the same, except for the franchise fee. It is now 3%, State and Federal Law recognized 5% as a fair rate and this rate is what is in the franchise agreement. The City can use part of the fee to establish a Government Access channel. The total fee goes into the general fund, along with property tax and sales tax. The increased franchise fee can help hold the line on property tax. The increase will be passed through to customers, a small amount in their cable TV billing each month. Councilmember Owen said he noted the agreement is for 15 years and asked if there is a mechanism in place to raise the percentage fee? Mr. Jeffers said the 5% is fixed unless the law is changed and there is a review period after eight years. Councilmember Favila asked if the County and the School District have been contacted about having their meetings televised? Mr. Jeffers said no, but they will be when the government channel is operative. Mr. Pete Strom, manager of TCA Cable TV, said they can do the same thing the City does. Councilmember Parker asked if historically TCA is responsive to public needs? Mr. Strom said yes, TBA is being returned to the line up due to public demand. He said a survey form was placed in the local paper and TCA took the results into consideration. Councilmember Parker asked if TCA continues to encourage people to do a bank draft? Mr. Strom replied yes. Mr. Jeffers said it is a non-exclusive franchise. 4. Sidewalk repair - review of existing and proposed policy. Mr. Jeffers said the present policy says the property owner maintains the sidewalks; property owners pay for the installation of sidewalks and they enhance the value of the property. Many sidewalks are presently in ill repair and City staff has recommended a change in the policy to encourage property owners to repair and/or replace sidewalks. The City may take care of demolition and disposal of the old sidewalk and the property owner pay for the new sidewalk. The cost of demolition and disposal is approximately $7,000 and the new sidewalk cost is approximately $2,100, all depending on size. Mayor Woods said this is a good idea. He asked if this included commercial property? Mr. Jeffers said yes. Councilmember Rosas asked if this included alleys? Mr. Jeffers said the City maintains the alleys and property owners pave the alleys as a matter of choice. Mr. Jeffers said if the City has to break up sidewalks to repair water lines, the City replaces the sidewalk. He said City staffwill inform those who inquire about this and pursue this change in policy, if there were no objections. The consensus was to pursue the change in policy. 5. Paving Phase Two. Mr. Jeffers gave the Council a list of streets and asked the Council to go through the list and rate each street from 0 to 10 on the need for repair, with 0 being none and 10 being the highest need. These ratings will be tallied, averaged and the findings will be studied and discussed. He said John Berry will take any, or all, Councilmembers on a tour of streets if they desire. Once streets and their needs are identified, all will be considered. Repairs will be done on an assessment basis, unless the Council determines otherwise. The first determination should be need. Economic determination will be made later. Dips are listed last and they can be improved. Mr. Jeffers asked that the ratings be turned in prior to the next Work Session. 6. Downtown beautification - consider approval of the Mayor's Downtown Beautification. Committee recommendations. Mr. Jeff Noble, 4100 Villa Drive, addressed the Mayor and Council stating he has been involved in the downtown area for 17 years. He said any city can be judged by its downtown area and Plainview has Main Street Coordinator who has helped improve downtown. C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\99 0121 wsmin.wpd Page 2 of 4 The Fair Theatre is a major contribution to downtown Plainview. With the City's help and its contribution toward improvements, there are many things which can be done to improve this area. There were many ideas considered, such as planting trees, perhaps a median down Broadway, doing something with the old depot, perhaps removing some old buildings, repairing others. After the original brick streets were recovered from years of asphalt covering, the median idea was dismissed. However, this leaves many corners with problems. At 8th & Broadway a small pocket park could be built. Mr. Noble displayed drawings of suggested improvements. This would be in the lot facing Broadway but behind the Post Office. This could include planters, benches, a clock, and any number of landscape ideas. The Plainview Daily Herald sponsor a Year 2000 project and might place a statue in this park. Light poles could be installed from 5th St. to l0b St. He said the Post Office needs to remain downtown and one idea is to contribute to moving the after hours mail drop boxes and add parking to the downtown area. This would be along the back of' the park and accessible from the alley. He suggested local prison inmates could be used for construction work. He said architect James Robison has said he would be willing to cut his fee in half to design it. He stated engineers would be needed also. Councilmember Favila asked if the committee has asked owners of downtown property to donate towards the project. Mr. I of the lot. Mr. Jeffers said Council approval' to move the project to the next level. Mr. I3 and would they be angle or parallel? Mr. Nobl consensus was to go forward with the proje 7. Mayor Pro Tem- continue discussio] had asked to have the method by which the of a Mayor Pro Tern is done each May and Should there be certain criteria, such as tenun next election? The Charter requires that th, Jeffers asked if the Council wanted to Councilmember Owen said move forward. is chosen should remain unchanged. Thi Councilmember Owen said it needs to be th~ that is passed around. Mr. Jeff.ers said this 8. Texas Legislative Session - As the L Manager will continue to monitor happenin Councilmember Rey Rosas left the meeting ~/oble said Morgan-Eaves Agency will donate their half ~ould allow City administration to hire James Robison wen asked how many parking places would be created e said angle parking and approximately 150 spaces. The :t. There were no objections. on selection procedure. Mr. Jeff.ers said a Councilman dayor Pro Tem position is filled. The present selection is for one year. It is primarily an "honorary" position. requirement of two years, and the term to be until the Mayor Pro Tem be elected after each election. Mr. forward with this discussion. Mayor Woods and uncilmember Rosas said the way the Mayor Pro Tem s gave everyone a change to be Mayor Pro Tem. most qualified, capable person, and not just an honor ould be on an upcoming agenda. egislative Session moves forward, the Mayor and City s, and to react and speak out as needs be. Lt 12:55 p.m. 9. City of Plainview Personnel Policy t The City Manager said the new Personnel Policy has been given to the Council under Separate cox(er and he asked that theY review it. He said while the City Charter makes the City Manager respqnsible for the pOlicy, he will be asking the Council to affirm the policy so as to preclude any unknown legal actions. This will be on a February agenda. 10. Consider adoption of the prevailing wage schedule for select public work projects - Mr. Jeffers said there are State and Federal laws which require the payment of the prevailing wage for C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\90 0121 wsmin.wpd Page 3 of 4 public works projects. The wages are determined by survey and Plainview Independent School District has done such a survey within the past six months, the proposed wage list reflects the survey findings. This wage schedule needs to be adopted prior to bidding the new fire station. Mayor Woods moved to adopt the wage schedule. Councilmember Owen seconded the motion. Mayor Woods, and Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Owen and Favila voted "yes" on the motion. None voted against. 11. Economic Development Incentives Committee - review proposal and consider course of action. Mr. Jeffers said the Economic Development Incentives Committee will be on a February agenda. He said no word has been forthcoming from the County regarding the proposal so the Mayor and Council can make their determination and then the County and School District can decide what they wish to do. The majority of the projects pursued with Economic Development Incentives will be in Plainview, however it is possible a project/business/industry would be in another Hale County town. Mr. Jeffers said if economic development incentives were to be implemented through the proposed committee, the City would have to lead the way. There were no objections to this course of action. Mayor Woods adjourned the meeting at 1' 15 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED ON February 9, 1999. ? Karen McBeth city secretary C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\99 0121 wsmin.wpd Page 4 of 4