Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout93 0608 min0048 MINUTES Plainview City Council June 8, 1993 The City Council of the City of Plainview, Texas, met in a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 8, 1993, in the Council Chambers of the Plainview City Hall at 7:30 p.m., with Mayor E.V. Ridlehuber presiding. Councilmembers present were Alton Jackson - Precinct i, Mary Virginia Kirchhoff - Precinct 2, Medlin Carpenter - Precinct 4, Dwain Dodson - Precinct 6 and Irene Favila - Precinct 7. Members absent were Barbara Dorman - PreCinct 5 and DOn Dickson - Precinct 3 Staff present were James P. Jeffers - City Manager, Wally Hatch - City Attorney, Bill Hogge - Director of Public Works, Norman Huggins - Director. of Finance, Terry Powers Director of Human Resources, Muff London Director of Community Development, Captain Dan Miller, and Ginger Light - Deputy City Secretary. Media presentwas Richard Orr.- Plainview Daily Herald, Chris Vaughn - Lubbock AvalanChe Journal, and Ridiey Gibson - Plainview Cable TV. Guests present were Ray Purcell, J.B. Roberts, Eloisa Barrera, Josephine Salazar, Mike Hutcherson, Roger Gras, Harry Garretson, Willie Ansley, Gene Davis, Nina Morris, Rosa Zuniga, Rey Rosas, Rafael Lopez, Margarita Pedroza, Claudio Guajardo, Lionel Garcia, Socorro Gallegos, Antonio Gallegos, Livorio Garcia, Richard Egnew, Carmen Gonzales, Ish Gonzales, Gertrude Trotter, Cindy Jennings, Yolanda Rodriguez and Andy Rodriguez. OPEN MEETING An Open Meeting was held on the following subjects: 1. Invocation - Irene Favila Recognitions - Mayor Ridlehuber recognized the attendance of County Judge Bill Hollars and County Commissioner Nina Morris. Airport - Mr. J.B. Roberts spoke on behalf of the Airport Board. He first introduced the directors and stated that Plainview-Hale County Airport was voted the Best SmallAirport in Texas for 1991. The Airport continues to work with both the City and the County to provide for the future. Mr. Roberts stated that 95% of the funding comes from a trust fund, with the remaining 5% being split equally between the County and City. Mr. Roberts outlined the future projects of the Airport which are: (1) extension of runway 4-22 to make it more accessible to corporate jets, (2) extension of associated taxiways, (3) overlay of runway 13-31, and (4) improved instrument landing system. Citizen Cindy Jennings expressed concern regarding the maintenance of the property (i.e. weed control). Engineer Robert Gras explained that land and residences would be acquired for the extension of the runways. Ms. Gertrude Trotter ex-pressed concern over relocation for people who are leasing. Mr. Roberts stated that appraised values would be paid for land. Additionally, City Attorney Hatch explained that relocation funds are allocated for persons leasing or renting property. Ms. Jennings questioned Mr. Roberts as to why the land was not purchased when available, instead of waiting until the residences were reoccupied. Mr. Roberts stated that funding is only available when the project moves up on the federal government's list and not before that time.. Richard Egnew requested Page I of 4 0049 information on the time table for the project, which Mr. Roberts stated could be 3-4 years before commencement. Mr. Dodson made a motion to approve the projects, subject to the grant proposal. Mr. Carpenter seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Health Depm~tment - Mr. John Castro, Director of the Plainview-Hale County Health Department, came before the Council requesting authorization for the Mayor to execute a document which would provide for increased immunization for children. The monies would be used for computers and salaries necessary for the program. Ms. Kirchhoff moved to authorize the Mayor to execute said document, with Ms. Favila seconding the motion. All members present voted in favor of the motion. Water District Annexation - Bruce Rigler, Hale County resident, spoke on behalf of the group seeking to annex the remainder of Hale County into the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District. He stated that ten group members had gone before the District's Boardmembers in Lubbock that morning. District Boardmembers voted unat~imously to call for an election on August 14th to annex the remainder of Hale County into the District to protect future interests of water for all citizens of the County. Alton Jackson moved to pass Resolution No. 93-109 endorsing the project. Irene Favila seconded the motion, which was voted favorably by all members in attendance. Housing Rehabilitation - Counc4lmember Dodson motioned to authorize City administration, with the assistance of SPAG, to seek additional funding for grant monies to continue with housing rehabilitation efforts. Counc4lmember Favila seconded the motion which carried unanimously by all present. Budget Amendment/Fire I)~t - Fire Chief Bruce Watson spoke on behalf of the Fire Department which came requesting an additional $3,000 allocation to their budget to replace the Hurst Tool Power Plant whiCh operates the hydraulics for the Jaws of Life. Mr. Watson explained the after 13 years of service the unit had failed at a Student Government Day presentation. The City is currently borrowing a unit from the Hurst Company until a replacement may be purchased. Upon investigation, Mr. Watson found that the unit would cost $1,700 to rebuild and only $3,000 to replace. Medlin Carpenter moved to adopt the proposed budget amendment, -with Alton Jackson providing a second for the motion. All five member present voted in favor of the motion. Code Enforcement/Feedlot - Mayor Ridlehuber explained to Councilmembers, Staff and guests that Dr. Doug Armstrong, a veterinarian from Albuquerque, NM, has leased the feedlot Northeast of the city limits from Craig Silverthorne and intends on reopening the operation which will hold 5,000-7,000 head of cattle and will have an annual payroll of $225,000. City Attorney Wally Hatch has obtained a copy of the permit for the feedlot from the Texas Water Commission. Additionally, it appears that the feedlot is "grandfathered in" with regards to permitting from the Texas Air Control Board. Finally, the Mayor explained that the City's ability to control the feedlot is limited. Mr. Lionel Garcia addressed the Council on behalf of citizens in the Frisco area protesting the reopening of the feedlot. Mr. Garcia offered a petition with 966 verifiable signatures who opposed the opening of the feedlot. The citizenry stressed that they were not opposed to business, but the price they would pay for this particular business opening. Mr. Garcla outlined the groups concerns in the following fashion: (1) Environmental - including water contamination, water runoff into the playa lake, dust from the cattle, waste disposal, smell Page 2 of 4 OO50 and the flies; (2) Community - including traffic on streets, streets not being able to handle trucks, children playing in streets, disease carrying mosquitoes, reduced property value, City park adjacent to playa lake would not be utilized, 7-8 churches directly affected, and noise levels; and (3) Humanitarian - including homebound elderly can't/don't desire to move, smell due to rendering plant and feedlot, endangerment of children waiting for bus, Texas Migrant Council and Headstart program affected, family values decrease due to lack of quality time with children, children might jump fence, downtown would be affected, and current state of deterioration of corrals. Mr. Garcia invited all council, staff and citizenry to the group's next meeting on June 15th. Ms. Favila pointed out that the paper unfairly portrayed the City as uninterested in the problem in the Frisco area after the group's first meeting and she desired to set the record straight. Ms. Favila pointed out that staff had asked if they needed to be present and were told that the first meeting was organizational and Mr. Garcia did not see a need for their attendance. Dwaln Dodson voted to pass a resolution stating that the Council and Staff oppose the opening of the feedlot at its present location. Irene Favila seconded the motion. At this point, Ms. Kirchhoff desired to amend said motion to offer assistance in relocating the feedlot. Said amendment was acceptable to Mr. Dodson. Alton Jackson seconded this motion. The motion carried unanimously among the five members present. County Commissioner Nina Morris spoke in favor of relocating the feedlot to a more suitable location. At this point various citizenry spoke in opposition to the opening of the feedlot. Yolanda Rodriguez, a registered nurse, recalled a flood in the 1960's (during which the feedlot was open) in which water mixed with manure flooded homes and caused disease. Both Rosa Zuniga and Rafael Lopez told the Council of how much the community b~s worked to improve and that this would be a set back for the area. Pastor Gilbert Cantu expressed fears that church attendance would drop and fel't that the community was strengthened through the church. Both Jesus Barrera and Mr. Hinojosa were concerned with the fly problem. Others present who spoke in opposition included: MigueI Gonzales and Jose Barrera. Isabel Rodriguez asked about possible annexation of the area, to which the Mayor responded that annexation is usually for tax purposes and at the request of the property owner(S). Finally, Mr. Hatch explained the "grandfathering" rule from the TWC. He stated that their rules provide that the permit is good as long as the same structure is in place, rather than being required to have actual cattle on the premises for it to be considered operational. The permit is good as long as it is renewed. In reference to the pOrtion of the property withi the city limits, Mr. Hatch explained that city ordinances do not absolutely prohibit animals in the city limits, provided the number per square foot meets the standards set forth. Mr. Hatch felt that Mr. Armstrong 'wOuld probably not use the portion of the feedlot inside the city limits to avoid being regulating by the ordinance. Consent Calen~. a) Minutes b) Department Reports c) Budget Expenditures d) Bids. The Council awarded the bid for 2,000 pounds of grass seed to Ranchers and Farmers Supply of P]aiuview for the purchase of Arizona Certified, Hulled Bermuda Seed at $2.25 per pound. Complete bid tabulation is attached. Page 3 of 4 0051 e) Wastewater Ordinance No. 9312956. City Council passed this ordinance amending and malting additions to Chapter 24 of the Plainview Code of Ordinances to provide for the regulation of water contributed to the wastewater disposal system to prevent the introduction of inadequately treated wastewater into the system. Alton Jackson moved that the Consent Calendar be approved as presented. Dwaln Dodson seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 10. Executive Session - Mr. Dodson moved to retire to executive session. Mr. Carpenter seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. The City Council discussed in executive session, pursuant to TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. art. 6252-17, § 2(e), contemplated litigation regarding the Santa Fe Railroad crossing at 16th Street. The Council reconvened from executive session at 10:03 pm. 11. Streets/16th Stt-eet Rsih-oad Crossing - Counci]member Dodson moved that the City Manager, City Attorney and Director of Public Works be authorized to negotiate and/or litigate with the Santa Fe Raih-oad Company on opening the 16th Street crossing, within the parameters discussed in executive session. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Jackson and carried by a unanimous vote. 12. Adjou~-r-ent - Councilmember Dodson moved the meeting adjourn . The motion was seconded by Councilmember Kirchhoff and carried by a unanimous vote. There being no further business, Mayor Ridiehuber adjourned t]~ke meeting at 10:05 pm. ATTEST: K~ren McBeth, City Secretary Page 4 of 4