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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/25/1983 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY HELD ON JULY 25, 1983 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: Larry Sample Mayor Scott North Councilman Noel Long Councilman Norman Adeler Councilman Charles Dodds Councilman Marlene Poole Councilman and with Councilman Don Amick absent; however, a quorum was established. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Sample led the Council and members of the audience in the pledge to the United States flag. 2. CITIZEN INPUT Mayor Sample recognized Mr. Jim Westbrook, who wished to commend the Council for their negotiations on the high school site. Mr. William Alloy was recognized and asked who was in charge of safety at Stewarts Creek Park, particularly regarding the placement of buoys around an area for swimming. Mayor Sample explained that this would be the responsibility of the Corps of Engineers, and Councilman Dodds agreed. 4. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FROM THE COLONY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT TO ERECT A CITY IDENTIFICATION SIGN Jan/ce Carroll, City Manager, was recognized and stated that the Council did have in their packets information regarding costs on this type of sign. She stated that Board member Sandra Shearer was looking into options for paying for the sign out of interest from bond funds, in which case the city would not be involved in the financing. Mrs. Carroll advised that this might possibly come up in the 1984/85 budget year. At this time, Mayor Sample advised that there are plans for a nice entrance into The Colony at the intersection of FM 423 and State Highway 121, although the plans are not definite at this time. Mrs. Carroll explained that Board member Bill Longo had asked that the Council look at this information. Councilman North questioned the way in which this agenda item was worded, as it seemed as if the District weas asking for actual permission to erect this sign; he was concerned about our Sign Ordinance regulations. Mrs. Carroll clarified that they were not asking for permission to erect the sign at this time. Councilman Adeler asked at this time when we were going to change the street sign to show the designation of FM 423 as Main Street. Councilman Dodds stated that he thought this would probably be done when the new intersection was completed at State Highway 121. 5. REVIEW OF FILED BUDGET FOR THE 1983/84 FISCAL YEAR Mayor Sample recognized Janice Carroll, City Manager, and she stated that she had some information she would like to present to the Council prior to the final passage of the budget. She advised that today at 4:00 p.m. she had received the certified tax evaluation for The Colony. She stated that the evaluation was in the amount of $321,077,389 but that some of this would need to be deducted for personal property, due to a new law. -1- She advised further that the tax rate was based on a figure somewhat lower than this evaluation, which would make approximately a $500 difference in revenue. She stated that the staff would be going over revenues during the next week. She stated that some of the salaries need to be adjusted, for instance in the City Secretary department. She advised that the Professional Service in the Finance Department would be checked again to see if we could get a better idea of what the city now owes the Appraisal District. She asked the Council if they wished for staff to begin the process of choosing an auditor, and ~t was the consensus of the Council to begin th~s process now and to stay within the budgeted $8,000. Councilman North d~d feel that we should contact Peat Marwick Mitchell out of courtesy, but we should advise them of the $8,000 budgeted for this service this year. In the Municipal Court, she would like to increase the salaries of the judge and prosecutor. She advised that the staff was in the process of checking into "smart" typewriters for the Court area. She advised that Sylvia Brantley was concerned about the amount budgeted for electricity in the Parks and Recrea- tion Department and that this would be monitored. She stated that $400 would be added to the building rental account in the Parks and Recreation Department for maintenance fees. In the Community Development Department, she advised that Mr. Bradburry was concerned with Item 52, Traffic and Street Sign Maintenance. He felt that this might not be enough, as they will be doing 28 new intersections for Fox and Jacobs and there also might be a need for quite a few new directional and identification signs. Councilman North asked if Fox and Jacobs was still paying for lthe ID signs for new streets, and Mrs. Carroll answered that they were in the new subdivisions. Councilman Adeler asked if the $80 figure was the cost for one sign, and Mrs. Carroll answered that this was the cost of one sign plus the pole and installation. Mrs. Carroll advised that Mr. Bradburry had stated that we possibly should look at checking with Fox and Jacobs and raising the building permit to a straight cost for a $75,000 home, which would probably be around $350 to $400. Mrs. Carroll stated that this would be more in line with the Building Code. She advised that in the Fire Department, the training for the Fire Marshal would come out of the existing Education and Training and Travel accounts. Councilman Peele asked who this Fire Marshal would be, and Mrs. Carroll answered that she would recommend Fire Chief Ronnie Gothard, as he has most of the training already. Mayor Sample asked for the cost for this training, and Mrs. Carroll stated that the actual expense for courses was only $70 but that the real problem was that the training would take eight weeks. Mrs. Helen Gray, a member of the audience, questioned the need for a Fire Marshal and asked what this person would do. Mrs. Carroll explained some of the duties to her. Also in the Fire Department, Mrs. Carroll advised that Item 93, Vehicle Lease Purchase, needed to be $16,096. 3. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FROM THE COLONY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION TO INSTALL FENCING AT OFFICE CREEK PARK Mayor Sample recognized Janice Carroll, City Manager, and she stated that she had talked with Mr. Randy Bergfield and advised him that this item would be on the agenda tonight; however, he was not present at the meeting. Mayor Sample stated that the problem with this request was that the fencing might have to be moved within twelve months. Councilman Dodds was concerned that the memorandum from Sylvia Brantley, Recreation Superintendent, stated that she had told Mr. Bergfield that the c~ty would move the fencing when it became necessary. He had a problem with putting up the fence on this basis, and he stated that he would be in favor if the Softball Association would pay for themoving of the fence. Councilman North stated that he did not feel there would be that much involved in moving a fence jUSt a~O~d ~ outfield, which was what they were mainly concerned with. Councilman -2- North stated that he did not have any problem with the outfield fencing only, but he would not be in favor of any other fencing at this Site. Mayor Sample stated that one of the "sticky" points in these negotiations at the Office Creek Park site was the expense of moving things, and he did have a problem with this. Councilman North stated that he felt that the Softball Association Managers would be willing to move this outfield fence themselves. Mrs. Carroll stated that her viewpoint was that once this fence had been donated, it became city property, and it should be the responsi- bility of the city tomove it; however, the negotiations did change this situation somewhat. Councilman Adeler suggested a time frame limitation, i.e., if the fence needed to be moved within twelve months, the Softball Association would handle it, but if it could remain at the site longer than twelve months, the city would move it. Councilman North felt that the Softball Association should have the ability to mvoe this fence themselves if they would like to do this. Councilman Dodds moved that the 6-ft. fencing be allowed around the outfield and that at such time the city deemed it necessary to remove the fencing, the Softball Association be allowed to move it to a new site at their expense. Seconded by Councilman North, the motion passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None 7. CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENTS TO CITY BOARDS Mayor Sample stated that at this time, the Council would consider the resignation portion of this item. Councilman North moved to accept the resignations of Mr. John Turner and Mr. Richard Frohardt from the Parks and Recreation Board. Seconded by Council- man Dodds, the motion passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Ail members present voted aye Noes: None 6. CLOSED DOOR SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY ARTICLE 6252-17 OF VERNON'S ANNOTATED CIVIL STATUTES, AS AMENDED A. PERSONNEL B. BOARD APPOINTMENTS Mayor Sample announced that the Council would now meet in a closed door session and that there might be some action taken after this session. Upon reconvening in open session, Mayor Sample announced that no further action would be taken by the Council. Councilman Dodds moved that the meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Councilman North, the motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None Mayor Sample adjourned the meeting at 10:20 p.m. ATTEST: JANICE CARROLL, CITY SECRETARY -3-