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The Plainview City Council met on February 24, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council
Chambers of the Plainview City Hall at 901 Broadway. The agenda for this meeting
was posted in City Hall at 4:00 p.m. on February 20, 2009. Mayor John C. Anderson
presided. Councilmembers present were: Kelvin Tipton-District 1, Cathy Waggoner-
District 2, Belinda Pena-District 3, Ron Trusler-District 5, Wendell Dunlap-District 6 and
Roland Nash-District 7. Councilmember John N. Bertsch-District 4 was absent.
Staff members present were: Greg Ingham-City Manager, Mike Gilliland-Director of
Public Works, Leslie Pearce-City Attorney, Will Mull-Police Chief, Dale Simpson-
Director of Civil Service, Rusty Powers-Fire Chief, Delwin Derrick-Code Enforcement
Officer, Eric Turner-Main Street Coordinator and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary.
News Media Representative: Tommy Young-Plainview Daily Herald
Mayor John C. Anderson delivered the invocation and led in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Councilmember Trusler moved to adopt the consent calendar. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Dunlap and carried by unanimous vote. Items approved
on the consent calendar included the approval of the minutes of February 10, 2009 and
February 19, 2009; the granting of an excused absence to Councilmember Belinda
Pena; and the Financial Report.
Dr. Greg Clary, an Economist with the Texas Agri Life Extension Service, also the
Chairman of the Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship which is a state wide alliance
of everybody that does economic development and does entrepreneurship presented
an overview of the Plainview Entrepreneurial Guide Alliance Program (PEGA).
Greg Ingham, City Manager presented for consideration on second reading Ordinance
No. 09-3511, an Ordinance Authorizing the Transfer of Lot 3, Block 1, Country Club
Addition, An Addition to the City of Plainview, Hale County, Texas to Plainview Habitat
For Humanity, Incorporated, in Accordance With Section 253.011 and Section 272.001
of the Texas Local Government Code; and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute All
Documents Necessary to Transfer Ownership; the Transfer of This Property is Not
Subject to the Notice, Bidding, and Obtaining Fair Market Value Requirements of State
Law. The council is considering an ordinance authorizing the transfer of property
located at 2204 Norma to the Plainview Habitat for Humanity. They will in turn use this
property to provide single family housing to a low income household and put the
property back on the tax rolls. Habitat for Humanity made an offer to the taxing entities
for this property and all taxing entities involved have had to agree to this. Hale County,
Plainview Independent School District and the High Plains Underground Water
Conservation District have all consented to the conveyance of this property to the
Plainview Habitat for Humanity and it is now before the Council for your consideration to
make this transfer to Habitat for Humanity.
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment.
Bill Coleman, past president of Habitat for Humanity stated he had been contacted by
County Judge Dwain Dodson in 2008 and Judge Dodson stated the City had a house
City Council Minutes February 24, 2009 Page 1 of 6
that had been seized for taxes and that he had been working on a plan whereby that 279
property could be given to Habitat if Habitat would agree to rehab and place a family in
it. The chairman of the construction committee estimated it would cost around $20,000
to rehab the property. Such was presented to the Board of Directors and they
authorized him to find out what needs to be done to acquire the property. He was
advised by City Attorney Leslie Pearce and Attorney Rudd Owen that they would not
give the property to anyone, however, the City can deed the property to anyone wiling to
pay taxes, penalties, interest and attorney fees that had accrued. If an offer was
tendered in less than that amount, each taxing entity would have to approve such an
offer. Records in the office of the Hale County Appraisal District indicate there is
$3,377.57 in taxes owed, $2,870.00 in penalties and interest, $786.01 in attorney fees
and $2,022.00 in court costs for a total $9,055.58. Such was presented to the Habitat
Board of Directors at a meeting on November 17, 2008 to consider whether to pay full
price. To pay full price and put money into rehab of the house would take about
$30,000 to do both. The board voted to tender an offer of $4,500 for this property and
hope if we were to obtain the property, they could raise the funds to properly rehab this
house at a later date.
He stated if funds can be raised, it could be two or three years to complete renovations.
He understands that all entities are anxious to get this property on the tax rolls since no
taxes have been paid since 1997. He told the Council that if they agree to accept the
offer tendered by Habitat, he cannot guarantee a date when they will have a family in
the property and paying taxes. They are all volunteers operating with limited funds. He
did say however, that they will agree to begin paying taxes on that property now. They
will also visit with the Appraisal District to get the $49,000 appraised value down some.
He stated the Board would understand if the Council decided to sell this property by
public auction.
There was no other public comment. Councilmember Dunlap moved to approve
Ordinance No. 09-3511 on second reading. The motion was duly seconded by
Councilmember Truster.
Mayor Anderson asked for Council comment.
Councilmember Dunlap asked for an explanation that the Habitat program is not in the
rental business and that this will be sold to an individual and they will be a homeowner.
Mr. Coleman stated that the individuals put in 400 hours in sweat equity and the cost is
financed at no interest rate to the people. They make a monthly payment to Habitat on
a 20 year note. When this is done they own the house. Habitat is not allowed to have
rental property or income producing property. They have four families selected right
now.
Councilmember Tipton asked to go on record regarding why the property has been
vacant so long. He advised that it had been vacant so long because of IRS liens which
had been dropped one year ago.
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Mayor Anderson asked for a vote on the matter. Mayor Anderson, Councilmember
Tipton, Waggoner, Truster, Dunlap and Nash voted "for" the motion. Councilmember
Bertsch voted "against" the motion. The motion carried.
Chief William Mull presented the Racial Profiling Report. Councilmember Tipton
moved to accept the Report. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember
Waggoner and carried by unanimous vote.
Mike Gilliland, Director of Public works presented for consideration and to take
necessary action regarding Re-plat of part of Block 43 Lakeside Addition to Daffern
Subdivision Lot 1, City of Plainview, Hale County, Texas. This re-plat will allow the
construction of a Medical Clinic Facility. The street address for the 4.26 acre tract shall
be 1806 Quincy Street. Mr. Gilliland stated this was presented to the Planning and
Zoning Commission on February 12th in preliminary form. Mark and Robin McClanahan
are interested in replatting this property. Before going to the Planning and Zoning
Commission, notification was given to individuals within 500 feet around the property.
Ten responses were received in favor and one questioned why we were asking if they
were already under construction. On the South lot line there is a 20 feet utility
easement and right about the middle of the south line there is another 20 feet
easement. They agreed to get these easements for public use. They will be served
with domestic water and domestic sewer at these locations. They following is needed:
1. Certificate of Approval for Mayor and City Secretary's signatures;
2. legal documents;
3. tax certificate;
4. dedication deed for real property and public easements; and
5. Letter of Credit which will justify the public improvements for the property.
He talked to Planning and Zoning Commission about these items. They opened a
public hearing and had two people present to speak. One owns a business and one
owns a residence on Quincy directly across the street. They were concerned with a
drainage easement that this property is encumbered with on their north boundary. The
drainage easement apparently needs to be maintained frequently for the drainage to
work and not up across Quincy and enter into their business. Neither party was against
the project. Two physicians a part of this clinic stated they are working on
improvements to that drainage easement.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to go forward to the Council with the
conditions that they proceed with their legal documentation. To date we have received
the Certificate of Approval on the plat and it is in the form to be signed by the Mayor and
the City Secretary. We have received the filing fee. The dedication deeds are coming,
but they have not been reviewed. The letter of credit has been received and the City
Attorney needs to look it over and make sure it is what she needs. We have not
received the tax certificate and the dedication on the easements.
The City Attorney stated we did not have the easement.
Mr. Gilliland stated the easement would be given by the McClanahan's.
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281
Mayor Anderson asked if we would be approving this replat provided all of those
conditions are met as outlined by the two of you. He was advised that was correct.
Councilmember Dunlap moved to open the public hearing. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Tipton. The motion carried unanimously.
There was no comment from the public. Councilmember Bertsch moved to close the
public hearing. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Tipton and carried
by unanimous vote. The public hearing was closed at 7:44 p.m.
Councilmember Tipton moved to approve this replat on the conditions as outlined in the
presentation. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Bertsch.
Councilmember Bertsch asked what the property was zoned. He was advised by Mr.
Gilliland that the property is zoned C-3.
Councilmember Bertsch expressed concern about the drainage. He was advised by Mr.
Gilliland that when the lot is finished, drainage will be to the east back towards the
railroad tracks.
Councilmember Truster asked why construction has started. Mr. Gilliland stated the
general contractor got a little bit ahead of the game and they have been working
together since.
Mayor Anderson asked for a vote on the matter. The motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Delwin Derrick, Chief Building Official presented for consideration Ordinance No.
09-3512 on first reading, an Ordinance of the City of Plainview Amending the Plainview
Code of Ordinances to Create Article XXVIII of Chapter 20, Plumbing, in Order to
Establish the Minimum Standards for Installation of Irrigation Systems Within the
Corporate Limits of the City And the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction; Providing for a Criminal
Penalty, Class C Misdemeanor Not to Exceed Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for
Violation of the Code, Per State Law; Amending Chapter 20, Article X, Permits, Fees,
and Inspections, Section 20-99; Amending Chapter 20, Article XII, Conformance With
Code, Section 20-131; Chapter 20, Article XII, Add the Following Exception, Section
603.3.2; Severance Clause; Providing for a Continuation for Current Law; Repealer;
Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Penalty; Providing for Publication and
Effective Date. Mr. Derrick presented an overview of the landscape irrigation ordinance.
He stated any person who connects an irrigation system to the water supply within the
City or the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) must hold a valid license. These
individuals can be licensed irrigators or licensed plumbers or the homeowner can
perform the work themselves if it is their primary residence.
All irrigators or irrigation technicians must hold a valid state license, register with the
City, pay an annual City registration fee of $30.00 and provide either a surety bond in
the amount of $10,000 or general liability insurance in the amount of $300,000.00. He
did state that TCEQ did not require this for irrigators however he feels this would be in
the citizens best interest to require insurance for them also.
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An irrigator shall prepare an irrigation plan for each site where a new irrigation system
will be installed. All irrigation plans used for construction must be drawn to scale. The
plan must include, at a minimum, the following information:
• The irrigator's seal, signature, and date of signing;
• All major physical features and the boundaries of the areas to be watered;
• A north arrow;
• A legend;
• The zone flow measurement for each zone;
• Location and type of each;
• Controller and sensor (for example, but not limited to rain, moisture, wind, flow,
or freeze);
• Location, type and size of each;
• Water source, such as, but not limited to a water meter and point(s) of
connection;
• Backflow prevention device;
• Water emission device, including, but not limited to, spray heads, rotary sprinkler
heads, quick-couples, bubbles, drip ormicro-sprays;
• Valve, including but not limited to, zone valves, master valves, and isolation
valves;
• Pressure regulation component; and
• Main line and lateral piping;
• The scale used; and
• The design pressure.
The irrigation systems shall not spray water over surfaces made of concrete, asphalt,
brick, wood, stones set with mortar, or any other impervious material, such as, but not
limited to walls, fences, sidewalks, streets, etc.
Any commercial, industrial, multi-family, or residential customer class irrigation system
installed within the City on or after January 1, 2009 must be equipped with rain and
freeze sensors. Repairs to existing automatic irrigation systems that require
replacement of an existing controller must include a rain and freeze sensor designed to
inhibit or interrupt operation of the irrigation system during periods of freezing
temperatures and rainfall.
At inspection, it is determined that the irrigation system complies with the requirements
of this Chapter. A customer service inspection will be performed to insure that cross
connections do not exist on the property, which includes the inside and outside hydrants
and faucets. At inspection it is also determined that the appropriate backflow prevention
device was installed, tested, and test results provided to the City;
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Nash moved to approve Ordinance No. 09-3512 on first reading. The
motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Dunlap.
Mayor Anderson asked for Council comment.
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Councilmember Trusler asked about costs to homeowners. Mr. Derrick stated that he 283
didn't know and stated it depends on the homeowners.
Mr. Ingham stated that at the last session of the Texas Legislature the state passed this
bill for cities with population over 20,000. This has been mandated by the State
Legislature.
Mayor Anderson asked what if we don't approve this. He was advised by the City
Attorney that we would not be in compliance with TCEQ and could be penalized.
Mayor Anderson asked for a vote on the matter. Mayor Anderson, Councilmembers
Waggoner, Dunlap and Nash voted "for" the motion. Councilmember Tipton, Bertsch
and Trusler voted "against" the motion. The motion carried.
Mayor Anderson moved to go into Closed Meeting to deliberate the appointment,
employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer
or employee, or to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or employee. [Tex.
Gov't. Code Section 551.074]. City Manager Evaluation. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Dunlap and carried by unanimous vote.
Mayor Anderson recessed the meeting at 8:14 p.m.
Mayor Anderson called the meeting back in open session at 9:10 p.m.
Mayor Anderson moved to extend the current contract with the City Manager for two
years on the same basis of employment at time of hiring with no salary adjustment at
his request. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Trusler and carried by
unanimous vote.
There being no further business, Mayor Anderson adjourned the meeting at 9:12 p.m.
~~ ~ .
Belinda Hinojosa
City Secretary
City Council Minutes February 24, 2009 Page 6 of 6