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Home My WebLink About08/24/1981 City Council 000943 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY HELD ON AUGUST 24, 1981 A REGULAR 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 Charles Dodds Councilman Councilman Freeman Upchurch was not in attendance and Councilman Gary Shipman was not in attendance due to a business obligation; however, a quorum was established. 1. BRIEFING SESSION The Council did meet in a briefing session to discuss very briefly with the City Manager, Dan Savage, the following atenda items; however, no action was taken at this time. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilman Adeler moved that the minutes of the August 10 Work Session be approved as presented. Seconded by Councilman Dodds, the motion was passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None 3. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST BY FOX & JACOBS, INC. FOR "COTTAGE" BUILDING PERMITS IN SECTION # 27 Mayor Turner gave the background of this request, and the consensus of the Planning & Zoning Commission. He advised also that this item was tabled at the August 17 regular meeting. Councilman North at this time made the motion to lift the moratorium on building permits to allow Fox & Jacobs to construct homes on 153 lots located in Subdivision Section #27 north of Keys Drive, with the clarification that no additional permits will be issued until the study regarding the size of homes and attached garages is completed. This motion was seconded by Councilman Adeler. At this time, Mr. Savage did interject that it was Member Frank Henry of the Planning & Zoning Commission who did suggest that the Council proceed with allowing Fox & Jacobs to build the additional homes, as he personally felt that it was not proper to delay in light of the fact that Fox & Jacobs does meet all city codes and ordinances. This also was the consensus of the entire Zoning Commission Board. Councilman Adeler did clarify also that these cottages would be brick and all have enclosed garages. There being no further comments, Mayor Turner called for a vote on the motion on the floor. The motion passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Councilmen North and Adeler Noes: Councilman Dodds 4. PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE Mayor Turner explained that because the Council at this time had no recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission, they were legally bound not to open their Public Hearing. He further advised that the Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing will be reconvened at their regular meeting held on September 1. -1- 000944 5. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PROPOSED TAX INCREASE OF 13.5% Councilman Dodds moved that the hearing be opened. Seconded by Councilman North, the motion was passed by the following vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None Mr. Dan Savage, City Manager, explained the proposed tax rate of 42¢. He stated that 4.12¢ would be used for debt service retirement and that the balance will be applied to the general fund. This tax rate of 42¢ represents a 5¢ increase per $100 valuation. He felt it very important to note that one reason for this increase is the extremely small increase in the city's basic tax base, which makes it extremely hard to carry on a successful budget process. He did advise that a second notice will be published in the paper advising when the tax levy ordinance will be passed. Mayor Turner then opened the hearing to comments from the audience. There were no comments for or against the tax increase. At this time, Councilman Dodds moved to close the hearing and directed the staff to prepare an ordinance levying a 42¢ ad valorem tax rate for the year 1981. Seconded by Councilman North, the motion was passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Ail members present voted aye Noes: None 7. CONSIDERATION OF JOINING TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE IN THEIR INTERVEN- TION ON THE SOUTHWESTERN BELL RATE CASE Mr. Savage advised the Council that we had received additional information from Don Butler's office, Texas Municipal League, regarding the rate increase filed by Southwestern Bell on June 15, 1981. He advised that the increase requested is almost $470,000,000 per annum and that $400,000,000 of this request would be placed on local exchange users both business and residential. He advised the Council that the effect on The Colony would be the following: 1. Residential rate would increase from $5.70 a month to $11.15 a month. 2. Business rate would increase from $14.45 monthly to $28.45 monthly. He further advised there would also be other adjustments in services provided to residential and business concerns. The TML formula to determine the cost per city is 3.5¢ per capita. This would bring the cost for The Colony to approximately $400, which Mr. Savage advised the Council would be a worthwhile expenditure. At this time, Councilman Dodds moved to approve joining Texas Municipal League in their interven- tion on the Southwestern Bell rate request increase. This motion was seconded by Councilman Adeler. Councilman North asked that it be clari- fied as to where the funds would come from for this expenditure. Mr. Savage advised the Council that the funds would come from the professional service classification in the General Administration budget, however, he felt that the funds would be allocated from our carryover amount. There being no further discussion, Mayor Turner called for a vote on the motion on the floor. The motion passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None 8. CLOSED DOOR SESSION DEALING WITH PERSONNEL A. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT & APPEALS B. LIBRARY BOARD Councilman North moved to table this closed door session, particularly dealing with the Library Board until another meeting where there was a more adequate location to conduct such a session. Seconded by Council- man Adeler, the motion was passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None -2- 000945 9. CONSIDERATION OF BOARD APPOINTMENTS A. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT & APPEALS B. LIBRARY BOARD Mayor Turner stated that the Council was not prepared to appoint a Library Board, however, they were prepared to appoint a Board of Adjust- ment & Appeals at this time. He then presented the following names: Don Lusk, Gerald "Jack" Finley, Roosevelt Johnson, Bob Hauck and Michael Leddy. At this time, Mr. Savage explained the purpose of this board and its function briefly. Mayor Turner explained to members of the audience that these citizens were chosen by the Council after numerous closed- door discussions primarily for their technical expertise. At this time, Councilman North moved that the above-mentioned people be appointed as a Board of Adjustment & Appeals for a term of two years. Seconded by Councilman Dodds, the motion was passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Ail members present voted aye Noes: None At this time, Councilman North also moved to table the appointment of the Library Board until the August 31 meeting. Seconded by Councilman Dodds, the motion was passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None 6. RECEIVE STATUS REPORT ON PARK & RECREATION SUMMER PROGRAM Mr. Herold apologized for his tardiness to the meeting and, at this time, presented the following numbers that participated in the Summerfun '81 Program: CHILDRENS' REGULAR CLASSES: Archery 8 Baton 35 Bowling 28 Cheerleading 16 Fishing 22 Golf 10 Guitar 6 Gymnast/Tumbling 22 Karate 33 Model Building 7 Modern Jazz 10 Spanish 5 Tap/Ballet 16 Woodcraft 6 Trampoline 33 SPECIAL EVENTS: Colony Sports Camp 36 Concert Under the Stars 55 Dog Show 15 MOVIE SERIES: China Syndrome 35 Flash Gordon 102 ADULT CLASSES: Aerobics 44 Jazzercise 320 Western Dance 54 -3-