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HomeMy WebLinkAbout98 1105 min MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION November 5, 1998 The Plainview City Council met in a Work Session on Thursday, November 5, 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, Rey Rosas- Precinct 3, Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4, Ross Owen-Precinct 5, Bobby R. McGehee-Precinct 6 and Irene Favila-Precinct 7. Staffmembers present: Jim Jeffers-City Manager, Dale Simpson-Civil Service Director, John Castro- Community Services Director, Cindy Gasaway-Administrative Assistant, Gary Glass-Fire Chief, William Mull-Police Chief, John Berry-Assistant Director of Public Works, Norman Huggins-Finance Director, Pat Hernandez-Municipal Judge and Karen McBeth-city secretary. OPEN MEETING: 1. Invocation was given by Cindy Gasaway. Review City Council Agenda for November 11, 1998. The following items on that agenda were discussed. Item (i) Consider award of bids for Police cars. Police Chief Will Mull told the Council the bids received are for ten vehicles; five marked and five unmarked. Two bids were received, one from Jack Morris Ford of Plainview and South West Ford of Weatherford, Texas. Jack Morris Ford bid $20,081.15 per vehicle, total bid of$200,811.50. South West Ford bid $20,022.70 per vehicle, total bid of $200,227.00. City Manager Jim Jeff.ers reviewed the competitive bidding regulations regarding municipalities, that cities were required to take the lowest bid which met specifications. Councilmember McGehee asked if Jack Morris Ford would provide service and support on the vehicles even if the vehicles were purchased from South West Ford? Mr. Jeffers said yes, they are required to. Councilmember Owen noted the South West Ford bid did not include undercoating, which was specified, and asked if this made a difference? Mr. Jeffers said the police department likes the undercoating because it helps diminish road noise, but it did not make a significant performance difference. Councilmember Shanes stated she thought the bid should go to South West Ford, they were the low bidder. Councilmember Parker asked how it could be determined which was the most responsible bid? Mr. Jeff.ers said sometimes the way the bids are submitted, however, the Council must have valid reasons for not going with the lowest dollar bid. Mr. Jeffers said South West Ford would be notified so they can come to the Council Meeting and present their bid and Jack Morris Ford will be invited also. 3. City Council Reports. Mayor Woods reported the telecommunication companies are wanting to do away with the franchise C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 1105 wsmi~l~e 1 of 3 tax they now pay municipalities. He said Bell Telephone has over 100 lobbyists in Austin. Frank Sturzl, Executive Director of Texas Municipal League, said he needs help in combating this lobbying effort. Mr. Woods said doing away with the franchise tax would hurt cities and we need to do all we can to be sure this does not happen. Councilmember McGehee attended the meeting of the Municipal Solid Waste Advisory Commission of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. He said the reasons for the high dumping fees we have lie in Austin. He said the rules have no basis in logic or reality. He stated cities in our geographical location are at a disadvantage with other cities. We need to talk to our legislators at length about the discrepancies. He said he hoped the Environmental Alliance can help. Councilmember Parker said the Texas Municipal League conference he attended in San Antonio was very educational and he enjoyed it very much. 4. Review of Council Relations Policy Ordinance. Mr. Jeffers said the present Council Relations Policy if adopted into an ordinance has no real penalty, other than public censorship, for breaking any of the rules. He stated the determination of whether someone has broken one of the rules is entirely subjective and depends on interpretation. At some time a Councilmember may think the Mayor has let another Councilmember talk longer on a subject than he himself was allowed to. Is this "breaking" the ordinance? Or is it merely a difference of opinion? Councilmember Owen said if it is adopted into an ordinance anything could become a petty squabble. Mayor Woods said he does not see councilmembers picking on one another and everyone treats everyone else with respect. He stated he would like to see it made into an ordinance. Councilmember Favila asked Wally Hatch if he learned anything at his seminars about making the Relations Policy into an ordinance? Wally Hatch, City Attorney, said such an ordinance was discouraged because making it a law it became contentious and there is no end to the problems it could present. Councilmember McGehee said everything has a certain amount of subjectivity, and just because a certain phrase is interpreted differently by the Councilmembers, does not preclude a continuous stream of argument. Councilmember Parker stated there needs to be a Work Session devoted to this topic alone. He said, for instance, the section stating Councilmembers should "be prepared to come and discuss the agenda"; who is to determine who is "prepared" and who isn't? Mayor Woods remarked there was no reason to have a policy if it is not an ordinance. City Manager Jeffers asked the Council to please take home the proposed ordinance and read it. Councilmember Owen asked what difference there is in it being a Policy as opposed to an Ordinance? Jeffers said nothing really, since neither has any real "teeth." As long as the penalty is a verbal "slap on the wrist" and public embarrassment there is little difference. City Attorney Wally Hatch commented this is somewhat similar to the adage "you cannot legislate morality" i.e. you cannot make someone be courteous and kind. Mr. Jeffers said it will be discussed at the next Work Session. Councilmembers Favila and Rosas both stated they were against such an ordinance. 5. City Council Planning Meeting - November 12, 1998. Mr. Jeffers reminded the Council of the scheduled Planning Meeting for November 12, 1998 at the Convention Center, beginning at C:\MyFiles\Work SeSsion Minutes\98 1105 wsmi~.~e 2 of 3 9:00 a.m. 6. Broadway - Asphalt removal from bricks. Mr. Jeffers told the Council the removal of asphalt from the old brick streets has gone quite quickly and there is very little left. He said there are some manhole covers sticking up and a few holes to fill, but very little else to do to the bricks themselves. He said there has been no significant dollar cost, it has all been done in house and done at night so as not to disrupt downtown traffic. He said it should be finished shortly. The asphalt removed from the bricks is being stockpiled to use in other street repairs. He reported the City plans to buy a brick saw, a heater and jointing tool to help properly repair and replace bricks in the streets where needed These tools are not expensive and the outlay will be between $5 and $10 thousand dollars and if the Council has no objection these will be purchased in the near future. No one objected. Mr. Jeffers said Cindy Gasaway is doing work on the cost of putting medians down Broadway and this will presented at the next Work Session. Councilmember Parker asked if we could use the asphalt removed from Broadway to re-do some of the streets that need to be paved? Mr. Jeffers said not really, it was only good to repair alleys, but it did this very well. Mayor Woods adjourned the meeting at 12:50 p.m. Passed and approved on November 24, 1998. aren McBeth, city secretary C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 1105 wsmi~.~l~e 3 of 3