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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/10/1981 City Council 000933 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY HELD ON AUGUST 10, 1981 A WORK SESSION of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas, was called to order at 7:30 p.m. with the following members present: Richard Turner Mayor Scott North Councilman Norman Adeler Councilman Gary Shipman Councilman Charles Dodds Councilman and with Freeman Upchurch not in attendance; however, a quorum was established. 1. CITIZEN INPUT Mayor Turner stated that he would call on each person that had signed the list to speak before the Council at this time. Helen Gray was first to be recognized, and she stated that she felt very strongly that absentee landlords were a major problem in the city, particularly when it comes to the upkeep of their lease homes. She recommended that the city pass an ordinance which would allow city employees to mow those personal yards in violation of the weed ordinance and bill the owners. It was also noted that the city itself was sometimes negligent in keeping its property mowed. Mr. Savage, City Manager, advised Mrs. Gray that the city was making every effort to keep up with the mowing of public right-of-ways and that the staff was looking into a revised weed control ordinance which should be in effect and working by next spring. Council- man North stated that he was concerned with the public right-of-ways, parti- cularly at the entrances to the city, and felt that they should be kept exceptionally clean. Sherry Rafferty was recognized and asked why Fox & Jacobs chose to build the cottages in The Colony. Mayor Turner stated that this would be addressed in the third agenda item. Jena Abbott asked why the city did not have a better location for City Council meetings. Councilman North advised her that meeting locations were sparse in the city, and normally there were only a handful of people in attendance. Mr. Abbott then stated that he was concerned that Fox & Jacobs did not maintain their land and would like to have some property mowed that was adjacent to their home. Mr. Graham advised that he would look into this matter. Mrs. Cunningham stated also that she was concerned with renters and asked that the City research what powers they can exert in the regulation of rental property. Michael Leddy stated that he felt that school crossing guards should be placed at Paige and North Colony Boulevard in the next school year. Mr. Savage advised that he would check with the Police Department on this. Councilman Dodds advised that many times, after the opening of the middle school, that youth could be used to supplement the adult school crossing guards. 2. RECEIVE PRESENTATION FROM CARROLL TRASH SERVICE Mr. Carroll stated that he did request to appear before the Council, and the purpose of this request was to update the city on his operations since, in the past, he has been working solely with the Municipal Utility District. -1- ooo88a He also stated that he would like to appeal to the City Council not to put up for bids the garbage service in the city when his contract expires December 31, 1981. He reported that he had taken an extensive telephone survey and that the majority of the citizens that he spoke to did recom- mend his contract be renewed and that they were pleased with his service. Mr. Carroll stated that he would like for the City Council to consider a ten-year franchise contract. Councilman Adeler asked if he was prepared to retain the same rate schedule if the contract was, in fact, renewed. Mr. Carroll said that he would agree to hold for a certain period of time but, of course, could not predict anything in the far future, as this rate is directly dependent upon cost to him. Councilman Adeler asked if he would consider a year-to-year contract. He advised the Council that a year-to-year contract would make it extremely difficult to purchase proper equipment, as his last truck cost $32,000. Councilman North stated that bidding was a standard procedure for a city to follow to get the best service for citizens and asked why he could not compete in this bid process. Mr. Carroll explained that he could not compete with the large companies as they do not have to make an immediate profit and, therefore, could under-bid. He explained that he was a small company, and this was his sole account, and that he must show a profit each year of operation. The Council did explain to members of the audience that it was the city's responsibility to grant a franchise ordinance to whomever serviced The Colony for trash pickup and that upon the expiration of Mr. Carroll's con- tract, this was the logical time to transfer this service from the utility district to the city. There followed a lengthy discussion of Mr. Carroll's service, with the majority of the citizens present expressing the fact that they were satisfied with his present service. 3. RECEIVE REPORT FROM FOX & JACOBS REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECTION 27 Mayor Turner at this time briefed the audience regarding the background of the petition presented to the Council and the subsequent moratorium that the Council had issued on all permits for the cottages, with the exception of the 90 cottages already sold. At this time, Frank Graham, a representative of Fox & Jacobs, Inc., answered questions from the audience regarding ground maintenance and rental property. He did clarify that Fox & Jacobs sold all of their product lines with the excep- tion of the Today IIs to people that did plan to live in the homes, not to rent. He also advised members of the audience that at the Planning & Zoning Public Hearing scheduled for August 18, he would present demographic information to give the members of the audience and the Planning & Zoning members information regarding customers that are purchasing this product. At this time, Mr. Graham presented three maps showing the locations of the Flair, Accent and Today homes in The Colony. He did give some background stating that prior to incorporation Fox & Jacobs was very careful to file extensive deed restrictions to protect the value of the homes and integrity of each neighborhood. This, he assured the audience, is of a benefit to Fox & Jacobs as well as to those that purchase the homes. The third map presented by Mr. Graham showed the portion of Section #27 located on the Stewart's Creek Peninsula west of F.M. 423 which contains 153 lots. These lots, Mr. Graham pointed out, were geographically isolated from other areas to be developed in the near future by Fox & Jacobs. He advised the Council that all of the cottages would be over 1,000 square feet and be constructed of a brick veneer finish. He assured the Council that Fox & Jacobs was not asking to be "grandfathered" and, if the zoning ordinance was, inlfact, amended to require that all homes be above 1200 square feet, Fox & Jacobs would £omply at that time. Mr. Graham then presented demographics to the Council which illustrated why this size home was in demand today. Council- man North asked if, in fact, the minimum square footage was set at 1100 square feet, could the smallest home, which is Model #270 at 1077 square feet, be increased to 1100. Mr. Graham stated that this could be taken under consi- deration, but he was not prepared to answer that question at this time. Councilman North also stated that he was concerned that there was an option on air conditioning. Herald Clizer of Fox & Jacobs sales advised the City Council that all of the homes did contain central air, however, there was an energy package which included a heat pump that was an optional feature. -2- 000935 Mayor Turner asked what was the approximate cost of each home per square foot. Mr. Graham answered $40 per square foot. Councilman Adeler was concerned that it be clarified that all cottages would contain enclosed, attached garages. Mr. Graham assured them they would. He again emphasized that this product does answer the market's demand for a lower-cost, entry- level home and that this area is geographically isolated. The Council was concerned with the urgency of this request, and Mr. Graham explained that prior to construction in this area the extension of North Colony Boulevard must be completed. He also advised that if the cottage product line was not sold in The Colony, Fox & Jacobs would suffer financially. At this time, the Council stated that they would take Mr. Graham's request under consideration at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting which will be held on August 17, 1981. Mr. Savage, at this time, took the oppor- tunity to clarify the Public Hearing scheduled for the amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance regarding the 1200 square feet and the attached, enclosed garages. 4. CLOSED DOOR SESSION A. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT & APPEALS B. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION C. LIBRARY BOARD Mayor Turner then announced that the City Council would meet in a closed- door session and that he did not expect any action to be taken after re- convening in open session. Upon reconvening in open session, and there being no further action to be taken by the Council, Councilman Dodds moved that the meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Councilman Shipman, the motion was carried by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Ail members present voted aye Noes: None Mayor Turner adjourned the meeting at 11:20 p.m. JAN%C~ CARROLL, CITY SECRETARY -3-