HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/14/2014 CDC Joint Work Session August 14,2014
MINUTES OF THE JOINT WORK SESSION OF THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
AUGUST 14th 2014
The Joint Work Session of The Community Development Corporation and City Council of the
City of The Colony, Texas, was called to order at 6:35 p.m. on the 14th day of August 2014, at
City Hall, 6800 Main Street, The Colony, Texas, with the following roll call:
Stephen Sohn President Present Pam Nelson- Staff
Kathy Braby Vice President Present Eve Morgan - Staff
Lisa Leary Secretary Present Kathy Neal - Staff
Donna Cole Member Present
Don Beckel Treasurer Present
Susana Perez Member Present
Allen Harris Member Present
Joe McCourry Mayor Absent
Kirk Mikulec Councilmember Absent
Richard Boyer Councilmember Present
Jeff Connelly Councilmember Present
David Terre Mayor Pro-Tem Present
Perry Schrag Councilmember Present
Joel Marks Councilmember Present
And with all CDC Board members present a quorum was established and the following items
were addressed:
1. Call to Order
City Council
Community Development Corporation—
Steve called the meeting to order at 6.35p.m.
2. City Council and the Community Development Corporation Board of Directors to
jointly conduct a work session to discuss upcoming/current CDC projects as follows
and provide direction to staff. Subject matter will include project planning and
development, budgets/funding, locations, scope of projects, and timelines.
Mayor Pro-Tem David Terre opened the meeting with a brief discussion regarding
citizen input. Citizen input will be allowed that is specific to the items on the agenda.
A. Policy regarding new landscaping and irrigation projects during drought/
watering restrictions -
CDC is dedicating a lot of funds for beautification and to doing more zero-
scaping in the process, but has concerns about the amount of water that will be
needed to get the landscaping established.
Council instructed the board to move forward with the landscaping but to be
responsible with the water usage. There is not a formal policy in place for
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landscape planting during drought conditions. This could be a discussion item
at a Council work session to discuss the need to develop a policy.
B. Proposed CIP Projects and equipment to be funded in 2014-15—
Steve began the discussion of the list of projects provided to Council—
Perryman Parking Lot— This will add 22 new parking spaces and is currently
being designed by Dunkin, Sims &Stoffels. We hope to have this ready for the
Christmas Spectacular, but we won't start it if we don't get a guarantee that it
will be finished in time, and we have to get approval from Oncor also.
Council instructed the board call special meetings if needed but to do whatever
needs to be done to have it finished in time for the holidays.
North Colony Bike Route & South Colony Bike / Trail — Ramps and cut-
thru connections will be added east of Paige Rd., and slip road cut-thru's like
the ones on the North Colony trail extension will be added on South Colony.
Council expressed their desire for continued expansion of the trail and
instructed the board to proceed with their plans.
West Shore Park Master Plan — Amenities for this park will include a
pavilion, playground, off street parking, and improvements to the trail path that
currently exists. Council questioned the need for a Master Plan, and Steve
explained that the desire for this park is for it to be a neighborhood park with
access to the lake.
Aquatic Park — Floating Play Feature & UV Sanitation — The current play
structure is being held together with tape and a new sanitation system needs to
be added to each pool.
Five Star — Mower, Utility vehicle/ groomer — This is to replace the current
mower with a mower that has a wider deck, and the field groomer is 11 years
old, worn out and needs to be replaced.
Councilman Connelly said that he does not have any issues with the $600,000
for the items on the list presented and thinks discussion is needed on the bigger
issue items and the other Council members agreed.
CVB Vehicle (1/3 cost) — This is a specialty type van to be used for traveling to
events and to haul supplies for the events. The CVB asked the CDC Board to
fund this, but they suggested it be split between CDC, EDC and the City. The
CDC Board has agreed to fund $10,000 but the Economic Development
Corporation (EDC) Board can only pay $5,000, so the CDC and the City would
have to increase their contribution to $12,500 each. Councilman Connelly said
he does not know if the city can help with this.
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C. Dog Park location and funding—
Eve briefly discussed the locations the board has been considering—
Taylor St. —there is no parking, it is in a flood plain
East Lake Highlands—half the field would be used for small dogs and
half would be used for large dogs, water and electricity are already installed, it
is located in a residential area on the south end but a buffer can be created to
help screen out the noise, the out of town soccer teams can be relocated to the
adult softball fields at BB Owen, and this location is across from the animal
shelter. The estimated cost for this location is $170,000.
Councilman Terre and Shrag expressed their concern about a temporary
location; it could delay making a decision on a permanent location. Pam told
them there is no other location; the CDC Board prefers the old driving range
but there is significantly more work needed there. Councilman Connelly is
opposed to any temporary spending for this project though he thought this is a
good location until he discovered this location could potentially be used for the
city's fleet service. Council instructed Pam to find out what the plans are for
the land at East Lake Highlands and to put$300,000 in the CDC fund balance
until a location is decided.
D. Veteran's Memorial Master Plan - funding
Veteran's Memorial — Council told the board that the board should plan on
funding the initial cost for the project. The board has budgeted$350,000, but
the cost has not been determined. Council instructed the board to continue with
the design process.
E. Lion's Club Pond Project and silt disposal options
Lions Club Pond— This project has been put out to bid twice and each bid was
rejected because it was over the budget. The major cost is the removal of the
silt. The silt has been tested for hazardous material, and there is none. The silt
could be disposed of in the city and used at the old driving range, the open area
north of Hawaiian Falls or offered to residents as fill dirt. Council instructed
Pam and Eve to bid the project as the silt is going to the landfill but to have an
alternate and deduction for The Colony location.
Project Manager — The board is asking for Council's support for this position.
There is an abundance of more work involving DRC reviews of city projects,
meeting with contractors on-site and reviewing plans;projects have been back-
logged and progressing slowly. A project manager would help keep projects on
schedule, this position could possibly be shared with another department, and
could be a long term position used to oversee multiple city projects and not just
Parks & Recreation or CDC projects. Council is not in favor of sharing this
position with another department. Councilman Terre added if the need can be
justified, he would support it, as there are times when it's needed to have
someone who can facilitate projects to keep them progressing on schedule and
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get them completed. A suggestion was made to use a contract person for this
position.
F. Proposed Stewart Creek Park enhancements
Lake Parks Fund—Stewart Creek Park Projects—
Irrigation / Trees — The board did not get the grant they applied for, but the
need still exists.
Lift Station— The current system does not work and can't be repaired. The park
host is going to be moved closer to the lift station so a sewer connection can be
added for them. This can be done in house.
Fishing Pier— This is included in the Stewart Creek Park Master Plan; it would
be on the point.
Pam told Council that lease payments from Hidden Cove Park, Blue Sky and the
Tribute are deposited into the Lake Parks fund as well as the fees collected at
Stewart Creek Park. Funding for some of these projects will come from the
Lake Parks Fund. Council instructed the board to proceed with these projects.
G. Cultural Arts Master Plan revisions—
Due to the Mayor's absence,there was no discussion of this topic.
3. Adjourn
Community Development Corporation
City Council
There being no further business to discuss, Steve adjourned the meeting for the Community
Development Corporation at 8:15p.m.
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Kathy Nea , Recording Secretary Steve S• , ' -sident
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