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HomeMy WebLinkAbout98 0507 min MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Plainview City Council May 7, 1998 The Plainview City Council met in a Work Session at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 1998, at the Plainview Convention Center. Mayor Lloyd C. Woods presided. Councilmembers present were: Larry Dickerson-Precinct 1, Mary Virginia Kirchhoff-Precinct 2, Rey Rosas-Precinct 3, Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4, Ross Owen-Precinct 5, Buddy McGehee-Precinct 6, and Irene Favila-Precinct 7 and Councilmembers Elect; Sam Parker and Mary Jane Shanes. Staff members present were: Jim Jeffers-City Manager, Norman Huggins-Director of Finance, William Mull-Police Chief, Ches Carthel-Director of Public Works, Dale Simpson-Director of Civil Service, Pat Hernandez-Municipal Judge, Roland Asebedo-Fire Marshall and Karen McBeth-city secretary. OPEN MEETING 1. Councilmember Ross Owen gave the Invocation. 2. Review Council Agenda for May 12, 1998 City Council Meeting: No. 7 on the Agenda, Ordinance No. 98-3168, which prohibits livestock in any of the City's parks, was reviewed by Public Works Director Ches Carthel. He explained this ordinance was prompted by a complaint regarding someone riding horseback near Kidsville in the Regional Park. The ban on livestock was reviewed by the Parks Advisory Commission and they recommended an ordinance prohibiting such. Councilmember Owen stated he did not want any area inside the city limits used by livestock. He asked if the ordinance could state it would be reviewed in six months? Carthel said if the Council wished for it to, it would stipulate this. Councilmember Dickerson suggested the city might have designated areas for horseback riding. Councilmember Rosas and Councilmember Favila both said they were undecided on this issue. Councilmember Hutcherson said he had no objection to the ordinance and felt it should be reviewed at a later date. Councilmember Elect Shanes said it would be good to have a designated area for riding horses. Ches Carthel said the area behind K-Mart, following the draw, down to 1-27, could be specified as the area for horseback riding. Councilmember Elect Parker said it was a good idea to have a place for horses, since this was West Texas and that is our image, but he wondered if there were prairie dog holes in the area which might be hazardous? Mr. Carthel said yes, there were prairie dog holes, ground squirrel and snake holes too, probably. Councilmember McGehee inquired if the city could be held liable if a horse stepped in a prairie dog hole? City Attorney Wally Hatch, said specifically, but there is the assumption of risk by anyone using public open spaces such as parks. Councilmember Kirchhoff asked if signs should be posted stating "Ride At Your Own Risk?" Mr. Hatch said we could, but it would not really make a difference. Councilmember Elect Shanes asked if the city had other designated activities areas? Mr. Carthel said yes, there is a specific golf practice area, baseball diamonds, dirt bike area, soft ball fields, etc. There were no other questions. C:\MyFileS\Work SeSsion Minutes\98 0507 wsmin.wpd Page 1 of 5 No. 8 on the Agenda: Ordinance No. 98-3169. Parks-Deposit and Rental Rates for Community Centers. Public Works Director Ches Carthel reviewed the ordinance which increases the rates and deposits for the community buildings available for rent to the public. City Manager Jim Jeff`ers told the Council that not-for-profit organizations such as the Plainview Independent School District, are not charged. We use their buildings, they use ours, we do things together in their facilities and ours. There was no discussion of this ordinance. No. 9 on the Agenda: Ordinance No. 98-3170. Budget Amendment - Traffic Control Department. Mr. Carthel reviewed the ordinance stating it appropriated money to pay for contracting with a private firm to stripe dividing lanes, turning lanes, and other street striping. The City owns a machine that does this, however it is over 15 years old and the manufacturer has been unable to supply repair parts to make it operable. This will be done on a bid basis, but Mr. Carthel stated he felt this $9,500 already in the budget and the $13,000 appropriation would adequately cover the cost. Councilmember Owen asked how many miles of striping there are within the City? Carthel said 24 miles. Councilmember McGehee asked why the budgeted amount of $9,500 was so low? Carthel said there was some paint left in inventory. He said there are new laws which prohibit the use of lead or oil base paints, this leaves water base paint which washes away and wears off quickert. The City normally stripes twice a year. Mayor Woods recommended the budget amendment be adopted. Councilmember Rosas said he agreed, many of the streets were dangerous without proper striping. No. 10 on the Agenda: Resolution No. R98-108. Declaration of Surplus Property in the 7~ Street Park. Dale Simpson told the Council the building on the corner of 6th and Joliet, which was used for many years as the Women's Club and has been given to the City, is in such need of repair it would cost about the same to bring it up to City code and ADA requirements as it would to build a new building on this site. The Resolution allows the City to take bids on the building, which will include moving. Mr. Jeff`ers stated the City would do well to give the building to someone for moving it away. Mr. Simpson said the building has been cleaned up on the inside and has been used for storage. There was no further discussion. 3. City Council liaison reports: Councilmember Bobby McGehee reported on the "Good Neighbors" meeting recently held in Floydada. He said the Probation Officer of Floyd County has a counseling program for parents and juveniles who are in trouble. It is an "open door" policy, but if the juveniles walk out, they go to jail. Wally Hatch, City Attomey, said another program being used in Matador, allows the juveniles to go home at night and spend the day out, but they wear the "jail" clothes all of the time. Mr. McGehee said the Floyd Co. program was meeting with some success, primarily because the parents are required to be as involved. 4. Multiple family housing project - continued review. C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 0507 wsmin.wpd Page 2 of 5 John Castro, Director of Community Services, reviewed several proposal for housing studies for the City, ranging from $2,500 to $50 thousand, to determine the need for rental units within the City of Plainview. The studies would detail the number of units, the type of units, etc. Mayor Woods stated this topic has been exhaustively discussed. He said it was dear the City does not want apartment complexes. Duplexes or single family houses are what is needed. He said he felt the City should not build housing with bonds, these units would not be on the ad valorem tax rolls. He said the City should not go into competition with private industry. He said he was not interested in pursuing this further. Councilmember Owen asked if Corplan or Everett was apartment style? John Castro said Corplan was the apartment complex style. Everett builds the quadruplex units, either in a group or throughout the town. Councilmember Owen stated he believed some people who work in Plainview are not going to ever move to Plainview. He said there are several individual builders who are building small duplexes as well as some houses. He said he did not think the City should get into the building business. Councilmember Rosas said he would like to see a study done. Since Excel is planning to expand, and WalMart will expand, the City should having housing available. He said he thought many of the people who commute to work in Plainview, would move into the City if they had adequate housing. City Manager Jim Jeffers noted many of the resident landlords do not want the City to build any housing. Councilmember Favila stated the City needs affordable housing. She said most houses and apartments are not affordable. Many of the landlords have sub-standard houses. Most of the people that need houses only make minimum wage. She said we need to do a study to determine what we need. Councilmember McGehee asked Councilmember Rosas if he owned rental property? Mr. Rosas said yes. McGehee asked if he had a problem with someone building more housing in competition with him? Rosas said no, not at all. City Manager Jeffers said in response to Favila, a couple of years back the City declined a rental property rehab grant, but the make up of the Council has changed since then, this Council might do differently. Councilmember McGehee said he would prefer to subsidize rental owners, perhaps in the form of tax abatement to individuals who build new housing. Councilmember Parker said we might do a survey among the realtors. Mr. Jeffers said such a survey is being conducted, but is not complete. He also stated the owner of the Plainview Apartments was C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 0507 wsmin.wpd Page 3 of 5 not at all pleased with the idea of the City building rental property. Councilmember Favila said she wants the feasibility study placed on an agenda. Mr. Jeff`ers said we need to determine and establish the parameters of such a study. Councilmember Favila said it should be done inexpensively. Mr. Jeff`ers said one was done several years back by Steve Rogers, and at that time it was referred to the Housing Authority. Mayor Woods said this can be discussed at the Retreat on May 14. Councilmember McGehee said we should get information from realtors regarding sales and rentals and also contact renters and make an in-house survey. ACTION ITEM: Election 1998 - Official Canvass - Resolution No. R98-107. A Resolution of the City of Plainview, Texas, canvassing the results and declaring the results of a General Election held on May 2, 1998. The city secretary read the Resolution, stating the number of votes for each candidate and declaring those elected. Lloyd C. Woods was declared elected as Mayor, Sam David Parker was declared elected as Councilmember of Precinct 1, Mary Jane Shanes was declared elected as Councilmember of Precinct 2, Rey Rosas was declared elected as Councilmember of Precinct 3, and Mike Hutcherson was declared elected as Councilmember of Precinct 4. Councilmember Ross Owen made the motion to approve Resolution R98-107 as presented; Councilmember Kirchhoff` seconded the motion. The Mayor and all seven Councilmembers present voted in favor of the motion. The resolution passed. 6. EPA Notice of Proposed Assessment of Class II Civil Penalty (Waste Water Treatment Plant). Mr. Jeffers said that he, Wally Hatch, Ches Carthel and Jim Mathews will meet with the Environmental Protection Agency next Tuesday and will return with more in-depth information regarding the waste water treatment plant. Discussion of safety issues at the intersection of 24th & Joliet (Coronado School). Councilmember Favila said she has received phone calls from the mother of the teenager who was hit when crossing 24th at COronado School. She said she received other calls also, and they are all concemed with safety at 24* & Joliet. There are no flashing lights, nor crossing guards at this school intersection. Some drivers are not aware there are children crossing here and the speed limit is 40 miles per hour. Mrs. Favila asked the Council to approve blinking lights and crossing guards for Coronado School. Mayor WoodS asked how many children have been hit at this intersection? Police Chief Mull said this is the first child to be hit on the street, and he ran against the light. Two other young people have been hit on school property. Mr. Woods asked how much a crossing guard costs? Mull said about $2,800 a year, with the school and the City splitting the cost. C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 0507 wsmin.wpd Page 4 of 5 Councilmember Favila said busses from other schools, with younger children, also stop at Coronado. Councilmember Owen asked when the proposed "drive around" Coronado would be done. Mr. Jeff`ers said the "drive around" proposed to use the City easement, and should be in place by next school year. Also a traffic signal will be in place by then. He said two school zone signs, possibly four, could be put in at a cost of $1,250 each. Mr. Jeffers said the traffic signal would have turn signals which would more efficiently expedite traffic at 24~ & Joliet. 'The Council further discussed using police during the morning and afternoon rush; paving around the school; making it a school zone speed limit, since it is not a State.highway the Council can dictate the speed limit; and discussing this further at the Retreat. 8. Uniforms for "Office" employees: Mr. Jeffers told the Council the office employees will enjoy the benefit other departments have, that of being provided with "uniforms." Mr. Huggins and a committee of office employees researched and have found a company that can economically provide professional and quality separates, with the City providing $225 a year per employee, the same as other uniformed employees. The program will be voluntary. Councilmember McGehee asked if the program is completely voluntary? Mr. Jeff`ers said yes, but the majority of the office workers were in favor of it. The council did not object to City administration implementing the program. 9. City Manager Reports: Ches Carthel, Director of Public Works, distributed to the Mayor and Council a print out of infrastructure repair/replacement schedule. He said Phase I has been implemented. Mayor Woods asked if a part-time engineer would help? Carthel said it could, if the Mayor and Council wanted to. Councilmember McGehee asked how a percentage of completion and percentage of budget used would be reflected? Carthel said in a spread sheet, once a month. McGehee. suggested an engineering student from Tech to do an internship with the City to help with the unusually large number of projects going on in the City this year. Carthel said he could look into this. McGehee suggested this schedule of infrastructure projects be sent to the Bond Infrastructure Committee also'. 10. The meeting adjourned at 1:07 p.m. Passed and approved on May 26, 1998 Karen McBeth, city secretary C:\MyFiles\Work Session Minutes\98 0507 wsmin.wpd Page 5 of 5