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HomeMy WebLinkAbout98 1008 minMINUTES ,CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 8, 1998 The City Council of the City of Plainview, Texas met in a Work Session at 11:30 a.m. at the Plainview Convention Center. 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. Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4 was granted an excused absence. Staff.members present were: Jim Jeffers-City Manager, John Castro-Director of Community Services, Capt. Dan Miller-Police Department, John Berry-Asst. Director of Public Works, Wally Hatch-City Attorney, Dale Simpson-Civil Service Director, Gary Glass-Fire Chief, Norman Huggins-Finance Director, Christina Bonner-assistant city secretary and Karen McBeth-city secretary. Guests present: Pete Strom-TCA Cable TV News media present: Richard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald. Mayor Woods called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m. Invocation - Councilmember Ross Owen. Review City Council Agenda for October 13, 1998. The following items on that agenda were discussed- 5. Fair Theatre. City Manager Jim Jeffers said members of the Board of Directors for the Fair Theatre will be at the Council Meeting to give a report on what has been done to date and to ask for additional funding to finish the project. He said they may ask for $20,000 or $30,000. He said there are sufficient funds in the Hotel/Motel Tax account available to fund this request. 6. Consider approving the "Agenda" for the Economic Development Task Force, chaired by Benjamin Akande. Councilmember Parker asked if Dr. Akande would look into vocational training? Mr. Jeffers said yes, he will investigate it and report to the Mayor and Council. Mr. Jeff.ers said the Plainview Independent School District should do this, but they have not been forthcoming. He said Dr. Akande has a personal interest in this area. Councilmember Parker asked if there was a conflict for Dr. Akande, since he was employed by Wayland Baptist University and the vocational classes would be conducted by South Plains College or PISD? Mr. Jeff.ers said South Plains College has said they would not offer anything that was in competition with WBU. Councilmember Shanes asked who determined the membership of the Task Force? Mr. Jeff.ers said, essentially he and Dr. Akande. Councilmember McGehee asked if this would cost the City anything? Mr. Jeffers said yes, but only minimally. Possibly some travel expense. Councilmember Parker asked if the people on this Task Force were the appropriate people? Mayor Woods said, most definitely. Councilmember Rosas C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 1008 wsmi~.~,'~e 1 of 3 asked if the City Council could add some people to the Task Force? Mr. Jeffers said the Council approved his staffing of this Task Force with the appropriate people, agreeing to keep it small. He said the Council will approve or disapprove of everything the Task Force recommends. Councilmember Rosas asked if the Council could attend the meetings? Mr. Jeffers said, yes they are open meetings. ' 7. Consider including the 1600 block of West 21st Street in Phase II of paving program. Councilmember Rosas said he was called by residents who live in this area right after the recent rains. He said the residents are not happy with the streets and the drainage in this area. These residents have presented him with a petition requesting the street be paved. He continued stating that 14th Street is also very bad and this street should be paved also. Mayor Woods said all residential paving should be done by assessment. He said he was not against this area being paved, but it is not in the budget at this time. He said the Public Works Department need to develop a plan and all unpaved streets be paved systematically, but should be paid for by the adjoining property owners. Mr. Jeffers said the exception to this is through grants for major thoroughfares. The Infrastructure Committee said 26~h, 32r~ and Joliet Streets should be the first phase of paving and will be done this year with no assessment program. Phase II includes 11th Street and some additional streets, but there is not enough money budgeted for these additional streets. He further stated that most of the signees of the petition are not the property owners. He suggested these streets be reviewed by the engineering department and recommendations be made as to when and how these streets are to be included in a paving project. 11. Resolution No. R98-114 A Resolution of the City of Plainview, Texas waiving collection of retroactive franchise fees from TCA Cable TV per the fifth circuit court decision regarding franchise fees. City Attorney Wally Hatch told the Council that the Court has ruled that there are additional monies which can be paid to municipalities. The amount is something close to 2 to 3 cents per customer, per month. Pete Strom, local TCA Cable TV representative, said this fee would be passed on to the customer. Mr. Strom asked the Council to waive the collection of this fee, retroactively, until TCA will begin collecting and paying this additional fee in November. The time of waiver is from September 22, 1997 through October 31, 1998. Mr. Strom stated he believed he would lose customers if the amounts within that time frame were to be added to customers accounts now. Councilmember Owen stated he felt TCA Cable was a business partner of the City and he did not want to impose a hardship on the cable company. Mr. Jeff'ers said the City can waive this without making any appreciable difference in the amount of money the City will receive from TCA, only about $2,000. Councilmember McGehee said that by waiving this fee for this time frame, the City might be setting a precedent which other franchise agreements are handled. City Attorney Wally Hatch said we would be setting a precedent by waiving this additional cost. He said Belle Telephone and Energas, as well as other right-of-way users may take issue with this and cost us in the long run. 13. Consider modifications to the Humane Society contract and the employment of additional employees for the Animal Control Department. Mr. Jeffers said he has met with the Humane Society and this topic may be pulled from the agenda. He said the Humane Society has agreed to honor their contract and the City will not be required to hire additional personnel. C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 1008 wsmi~.~e 2 of 3 4. La Mesa Subdivision Unit #5 - Plat utility reimbursement (fire station site). Mr. Jeff`ers told the Council that when the Plainview Independent School District built La Mesa school, they paid for the utilities. When the City bought the site for the new fire station and platted it, the school system is entitled to be reimbursed $7,239.31. Mr. Jeff`ers said he could pay the school that amount, or he could ask them to waive payment, if the Council recommended it. After a short discussion Councilmember Shanes moved to have Mr. Jeff`ers request they waive this refund. Councilmember Rosas seconded the motion. Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas and Favila voted "yes" to the motion. Councilmembers Owen, McGehee and Mayor Wood s voted "no". The motion carried. 4a. Combination Re-Plat of Lot 154, Westridge Park Addition, Unit No. 6, Plainview, Hale County, Texas. Mr. Jeff`ers explained this re-plat was in order and staff recommended its approval as presented. Mayor Woods moved to approve the re-plat and Councilmember Owen seconded the motion. Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Owen, McGehee, Favila and Mayor Woods voted "yes" to the motion, none voted against. The combination re-plat was approved. 5. 1998 Street Improvements. Consider award of bids (North Joliet, 32"a Street and 26th Street). Thrasher, Inc. bid $223,874. Lipham Construction Co. Bid $302,670. Mayor Woods moved that the bid be awarded to Thrasher, Inc. Councilmember Owen seconded the motion. Mayor Woods and Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Rosas, Owen, McGehee and Favila all voted "yes" on the motion. None voted against. The bid was given to Thrasher, Inc. in the amount of $223,874. 6. The Infrastructure progress report was distributed to those present. 7. City Manager Reports. Mr. Jeff`ers said construction for the building to house chemicals has been put on hold for now. He said the finance offices were progressing, the new computers have been installed and in six weeks the water, personnel and finance departments should be completely moved into the building on 7th Street. He said bids were being received for moving the Municipal Court into the present City Hall. The new Fire Station should be complete within twelve months. He said the building in the 7th Street Park will be moved "some place" and a new building can be constructed at that site, but not this year. He said some of the asphalt has been removed from Broadway. It looks good in some places, and not so good in others. Another block will be done within a few days. He said the traffic lights at 24th & Joliet are due to be installed before the end of the month. He reported cleaning on the digesters at the wastewater treatment plant will be completed by January 1, 1999. He said the bids for relaying water lines will be let sometime this winter. Assessment plans for expanding the water treatment plant are being done by Parkhill, Smith and Cooper engineering firm. Mayor Woods adjourned the meeting at 1'12 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED on October 27, 1998. Karen McBeth, city secretary C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 1008 wsmi.O.v~e 3 of 3