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HomeMy WebLinkAbout98 1203 min MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION December 3, 1998 The Plainview City Council met in a Work Session on Thursday, December 3, 1998 at the Plainview Convention Center. Mayor Lloyd C. Woods called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. Councilmembers present were: Sam Parker-Precinct 1, Mary Jane Shanes-Precinct 2, Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4, Ross Owen-Precinct 5, Bobby McGehee-Precinct 6 and Irene Favila-Precinct 7. Councilmember Rey Rosas-Precinct 3, was granted an excused absence. Staff members present were: Jim Jeff.ers-City Manager, William Mull-Police Chief, Dale Simpson- Civil Service Director, John Castro-Community Services Director, Roland Asebedo-Fire Marshal, Pat Hernandez-Municipal Judge, John Berry-Asst. Director of Public Works and Karen McBeth-city secretary. OPEN MEETING 1. Invocation. Mayor Woods gave the invocation. 2. Review City Council Agenda for December 8, 1998. The Mayor and Council reviewed the agenda for the upcoming Council Meeting. The following items from that agenda were discussed: e) Consider agreement for Farming Services with Robert Wilson on the City of Plainview Solid Waste Landfill. City Attorney Wally Hatch explained this is the annual renewal of a contract we have had with Mr. Wilson for several years. There is no CRP contract this year, but the grass land may be used for grazing or bundled for hay. Mr. Wilson is willing to farm it on a contract basis and it is in row crops. Consider declaring the property at 14th & Vernon, owned by the City of Plainview, as Surplus Property. Mr. Jeffers told the Council this lot is the site of an abandoned water well owned by the City. It is a vacant lot and the City Will have to "cap" the well, at a cost of approximately $3,000. The lot can then be sold on a "bid" basis with the minimum bid set by appraisal. Consider renewal of the Fire Service Agreement between the City of Plainview and Hale County. Mr. Jeff.ers said this agreement is identical to the previous one. It will be sent to Hale County for their signatures, eSsentially on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. Resolution No. R98-115. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Plainview, Texas, authorizing and supporting grant application to the Texas Department of C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 1203 wsmin.wpd Page 1 of 3 Housing and Community Affairs for HOME Funds. John Castro, Director of Community Services, told the Council the application package is close to being finished. This is similar to rehab programs we have handled in the past. One difference, is the homes which are to be rehabilitated (brought up to code) have to be inspected prior to work being done by an independent, licensed, real estate inspector. Mr. Roger Dowdy has agreed to do this. The inspector will determine what is needed in each residence to bring it up to code, and approximately what it will cost. The grant is for $300,000 and there is $16,000 per home for repairs. Mr. Castro said the actual work will be done by contractors, on a contract basis between the home owner and the individual contractors, not a contract with the City. There are twelve homes on the waiting list, and they will be re-evaluated and repaired first, then homes will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis, as they qualifiy. This project must be completed within fourteen months. The homes must meet certain criteria, such as owner occupied with no delinquent taxes and no delinquent mortgage payments. 3. City Council Reports. No reports were given. 4. TCA Cable TV Franchising. City Attorney Wally Hatch reported on the negotiations and proposed franchise agreement between the City and TCA Cable TV. He said he submitted a 40 page draft agreement to TCA, and they sent us two pages of "changes." He said some were minor technical changes, but there are a few major points of disagreement. He said the law says we can go up to 5% for right-of-way "rental." The agreement says we have the right of first refusal in the event of sale. They may or may not furnish internet availability. When the "build out" (i.e. upgrading) is finished, the boxes will be used only for pay-per-view and premium channels. Negotiations are continuing regarding the emergency alert channel. The City is hoping for a government channel. Future telephone service through TCA will have a separate franchise agreement. A "deposit" requirement was left out, but we did raise the bond requirements. The area of franchise is still a point of contention. The City says the area of franchise should extend to the City's extra territorial jurisdiction (1 mile outside city limits), TCA disagrees with this. The City's contention is TCA uses city ROW to reach that area with service, therefore they should pay for this use. There is no precedent for this. TCA proposed a contract is for 15 years, we asked for a stipulation that in the 8th or 9~h year the City can review it, and change k; they disagreed. Mr. Jeffers said the ETJ proposal may be used as leverage at some time in the future, it is a good bargaining point. Mr. Jeffers said the 5%, which is more than the present contract calls for, will give the City extra money to purchase equipment for City Hall, so all Council meetings could be televised as well as committee meetings, school meetings and other special programming. He said Wayland Baptist University would have to be involved, and he believes it would be educational. Mayor Woods stated he believed a government channel would be excellent. Councilmember McGehee said he liked the idea of a 15 year contract that can be reviewed in 8 or 9 years. He asked if the government channel and the black-out channel would be one and the same? Mr. Jeffers said maybe. Councilmember Parker asked if the term re- build and build-out were the same? Wally Hatch said yes. Councilmember Parker asked if the fiber- optic system would allow subscribers to use as an internet modem? Mr. Hatch said it could be, but it would have a premium. Councilmember Favila said she felt a long contract of 15 years should have a point of review, and 8 or 9 years into the contract was a good time for review. Councilmember C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 1203 wsmin.wpd Page 2 of 3 Hutcherson asked how much a government channel would cost? Mr. Jeffers said he did not know. Councilmember Owen asked if any of the ETJ was annexed, would we collect franchise tax on it immediately? Mr. Hatch said yes. Mr. Hatch said Seth Ward is included in their benchmark calculations. Mayor Woods, Councilmembers Owen, Hutcherson and Shanes were interested in having a govemmental channel, but want a cost estimate. Councilmember Parker said he would like to see a government channel, wants the City Manager and City Attorney to pursue the ETJ idea and to raise the franchise fee to 5%. 5. Broadway Street striping. Mr. Jeffers said some Councilmembers have suggested not putting the center stripe, nor parking slot stripes on the newly exposed brick streets on Broadway. He said there is some liability we risk if there are no stripes marking the roadway. Mayor Woods said he would like to see the bricks remain unmarked, there are some older streets in town that are not marked. Councilmember Parker said he did not see leaving it unmarked as a major problem. The consensus was to leave Broadway unmarked. 6. Boards, Commission and Committees. Mr. Jeffers told the Council to recruit citizens to serve on the numerous boards, commissions and committees of the City. He said there were several blank applications included in their agenda packets. 7. City Manager Reports. Mr. Castro said he had visited with Mike Craig regarding the on/off ramps recently requested by the City. He said a report will be forthcoming. The on/offramps along 1-27 will be done in the foreseeable future. There is government money available for 24th Street repair/rebuild in the future. Getting the State to declare 24th Street a state highway is remote. Mayor Woods adjourned the meeting at 1:00 p.m. Passed and approved on December 22, 1998. Karen McBeth, city secretary C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 1203 wsmin.wpd Page 3 of 3