HomeMy WebLinkAbout00 0608 min MINUTES
Plainview City Council Meetin,q
June 8, 2000
The Plainview City Council met on June 8, 2000 at 11:30 a.m. at the Plainview
Convention Center. Notice of this meeting was posted at City Hall on June 2, 2000 at
11:00 a.m. Mayor Lloyd C. Woods presided. Councilmembers present were: Sam
Parker-District 1, Mary Jane Shanes-District 2, Mike Hutcherson-District 4, and Irene
Favila-District 7. Councilmembers Rey Rosas, Ross Owen and Bobby McGehee were
not present, with excused absences.
Staff members present were: Jim Jeffers-City Manager, Rusty Reese-Parks
Superintendent, Sean Lanier-City Engineer, John Berry-Director of Public Works, Dale
Simpson-Civil Service Director, Greg Zielinski-Code Enforcement, John Kelley, Pat
Hernandez-Municipal Judge, Wally Hatch-City Attorney, Gary Glass-Fire Chief, William
Mull-Police Chief, Norman Huggins-Director of Finance, John Sigwald-Librarian, and
Karen McBeth.
Guests were: John Kelley of Parkhill, Smith and Cooper, Inc. and Larry McNutt, local
businessman.
OPEN MEETING
Review June 13, 2000 City Council Agenda. Items from that agenda that were
discussed were:
4. Award of bids for water treatment plant improvements. Bids were received
from Missouri Valley of Amarillo for $2,324.552.00; Cajun Constructors in
Dallas for $2,370,000.00; and from CCA, Inc. from Georgetown for
$2,576,800.00. Staff recommended going with the lowest bid.
Ordinance No. 00-3257. An Ordinance calling and setting the date for a
Special Municipal Election; Designating the election for the adoption an
amendment to the Charter term provision; Appointing election officials;
Setting hourly rate for election officials; And posting notice of election. First
Reading. Mr. Jeffers reviewed the ordinance and distributed information from
the Secretary of State regarding the election. The election will be held on
Saturday, August 12, 2000, and will be submitted to the Justice Department
for approval following the election.
Ordinance No. 00-3255. An Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 99-3230 to
appropriate funds in the 1999-2000 Budget for the purchase of automated
catalog computer. First Reading, John Sigwald, Librarian of the Unger
Memorial Library, said the monies would provide six access terminals to the
Internet, replacing four older ones. The City will appropriate $6,000 to go with
the $30,000 grant received. The terminals will be purchased through the
approved State vendors. This will make the library catalog available on line.
Review of Sign Ordinance (Portable Signs). Greg Zielinski gave an overview of the
present status of "portable signs" within the City, particularly along West 5th St. He said
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these signs were never meant to become permanent, no matter how long a proprietor
may leave them in place. He said such signs are illegal in Lubbock, and Amarillo has a
120-day permit for them. The permit must have identification of user, must pay storage,
fines, etc. if not properly licensed. The proposed ordinance has two options: (a) Adopt
the ordinance with the following change: "Portable signs that will be up for less than
seven (7) days will not require a permit. POrtable sign permits will be for a maximum
period of 90 days and no more than one permit will be issued within a six (6) month
period for a portable sign on the same tract/lot; (b) Leave the ordinance "as is" and give
sign owners 30 to 90 days to acquire a permit. Once a permit is acquired, the sign will
be inspected to be sure it is properly anchored and well maintained. A Code
Administration Officer will make the determination on maintenance. The Council
discussed the options. Mayor Woods said he understood the need for truly, temporary,
portable signs such as auctioneers use for a period o¢ not more than seven (7) days
without a permit, but stated he believed all others should be permitted for a short period
of time. Larry McNutt, a local auctioneer, aSked if the ordinance is left "as is" will his
signs, which are up only a day or so, have to be permitted? John Castro said yes.
Councilmember Parker asked if the Council could adopt part of option (a) and part of
option (b)? Mr. Jeffers said if they chose to do so, they could. Mr. McNutt asked what a
permit would cost? Mr. Castro said $20 every 90 days. After further discussion, the
consensus was to permit the portable signs for 90 days, but make a separate
designation for the temporary portable signs that are used less than a week. Mayor
Woods recommended the Council vote on it. Mr. Castro will get everyone an ordinance
to review.
Review of proposed wastewater rates to finance improvements to the wastewater
treatment plant. The Council reviewed the rates from cities of like size, including the
base monthly minimum, the rate per 1,000 gallons, monthly cost at 5,000 gallons,
monthly cost at 10,000 gallons. Staff presented several options for the City, including
$7.00 monthly base rate (increase of $1.00), $1.20 1,0000 rate (present rate is $.44),
5,000 gallon cost $13.00 (present rate is $8.20), 10,000 gallon cost $19.00 (present rate
is $10.40). The proposed increases should provide $80,000 more annually than the
$848,000 payment for bond sales of $10,000,000 at 5.75% interest. Estimates are
based on current water consumption and interest rates indicated maY change. Rates
may need some fine-tuning after a year or two experience. Mayor Woods
recommended approving the staff suggestions for increases, which will produce the
$928,000 and provide the required projected need. Mr. Jeffers asked when the
proposed increases should take effect? NoW? October 1, 2000? Mayor Woods asked
that this item appear on the last June agenda for vote and then get it into effect.
Councilmembers Favila and Hutcherson agreed it should become effective on October
first. Mr. Norman Huggins, Director of Finance, said he would prepare the ordinance
and recommended it become effective in early fall, like October 1, 2000.
Councilmember Sam Parker asked when water rates would be considered? Mr. Jeffers
said during the budget workshop process.
Plans for bidding Seventh Street Park Community Center building. Dale Simpson
displayed a photo of the site in the Seventh Street Park where the City is looking at
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constructing a building similar to the Rotary Building in Regional Park. There is $98,000
in the budget for a building and the Lions Club is donating $10,000. The estimated cost
is $65 per square foot. This does not include the dirt work that needs to be done. This
site is in a flood plain and needs 34"of dirt to be added. Councilmember Favila asked if
there was a possibility of using prison inmates for part of the construction work? Mr.
Simpson said the problem would be with the contractor's insurance. Councilmember
Shanes asked what the proposed cost would be for a building the size of the Rotary
Center? Mr. Simpson said $120,000 and the City doing the dirt work. Councilmember
Hutcherson asked if a metal building would be cheaper?. Mr. Simpson said yes, by 20%.
Mr. Jeffers said if there were no Objections, staff would proceed with bidding and ask for
options in the bid as to material. Mr. Jeffers said funds would be solicited informally
from other groups.
Award of bids on surplus property. City Attorney, Wally Hatch, said the surplus
property at 209 E. Brazier received a bid from Roy J. Thompson, 107 E. Givens in
Plainview. He bid $100 for the property, which has an appraised value of $1,000. He
recommended the City award them this property and get it back on the tax rolls.
Councilmember Hutcherson moved Mr. Thompson be awarded this property for the
$100 and Councilmember Shanes seconded the motion. Mayor Woods,
Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Hutcherson and Favila voted "yes" on the motion.
None voted against.
Mayor Woods moved the meeting adjourn, Councilmember Hutcherson seconded the
motion, which carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 1:04 p.m.
Passed and approved on June 27, 2000.
Karen McBeth, City Secretary
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