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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/20/1984 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS HELD ON AUGUST 20, 1984 The Special 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 D. Sample Mayor Rick Harris Councilman Noel Long Councilman Helen Gray Councilman Don Amick Councilman Charles Dodds Councilman Marlene Poole Councilman with all members present, a quorum was established. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Sample led the Council and members of the audience to the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag. 3. PRESENTATION OF PLAQUES OF APPRECIATION TO THREE BOY SCOUTS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS Mayor Sample recognized the following scouts for their work in the community. 1) Jeff Christianson for building the gazebo at Lion's Club Park, 2) John Cassidy for the ticket booth at Stewart Creek Park and 3) Ricky Weixelbaum for the gazebo at the Historical Park. He awarded each of the Scouts with a Certificate of Appreciation and advised them they would be receiving formal plaques as soon as they arrive. Mrs. Dee Cole and Mr. Cliff Orme, Members of the Parks & Recreation Board were present and participated in the awards ceremony along with the Mayor. Mayor Sample thanked the Scouts for their valuable service to the City. Janice Carroll, City Manager, spoke briefly of the contributions the Scouts are continually making to the City. She mentioned the proposed adopt a park program and said the Scouts had already expressed their interest in adopting a park. Mayor Sample called for a brief recess to allow picture taking and to allow all the scouts to leave the building. He then reconvened in open session at 7:40 p.m. 4. CONSIDERATION OF MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER City Manager Carroll advised the Council that the first Monday in September is Labor Day and recommended they formally change their regular meeting dates in September to the 10th and 24th. Following a brief discussion on the subject, Councilman Amick moved to adopt the 10th and 24th as the regular meeting dates of the month of September, 1984. Seconded by Councilman Gray, the motion passed with the following roll call vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None 5. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 19-11 OF CITY CODE WITH RESPECT TO SPEED LIMITS ON SCHOOL DAYS DURING DESIGNATED HOURS City Manager Carroll, said the Ordinance was drawn up to include all school zones. Since that time, it has been discovered that Morris T. Griffin Middle School will still maintain the 8:30 a.m. start time in the mornings. Following a brief discussion regarding school hours, Mayor Sample read the following Ordinance Caption: 00182 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 19-11 WITH RESPECT TO SPEED LIMITS ON SCHOOL DAYS DURING DESIGNATED HOURS; DIRECTING THE ERECTION OF NECESSARY SIGNS; PRO- VIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH OFFENSEAND A SEPARATE OFFENSE SHALL BE DEEMED COMMITTED UPON EACH DAY DURING OR ON WHICH A VIOLATION OCCURS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Councilman Amick made a motion to adopt the ordinance reflect- ing the extended school zone hours to be 7:00 a.m. til 9:00 a.m. on all crosswalks. Seconded by Councilman Poole, the motion passed with the following roll call vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None 6. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED TAX INCREASE Councilman Dodds made a motion to open the public hearing. Councilman Poole seconded the motion and opened the hearing. City Manager Carroll, referred to the tax code to explain how taxes are raised by a city and how the formula to do so works. She said the City is proposing a 1¢ tax increase. This would mean if you have a $70,000 house, your are now paying $259.00 per year. With the 1¢ increase, your taxes on that house would be $266.00. Lorraine Thompson, a resident at 4225 Iola Street, asked what the City planned to use the additional money for. Ms. Carroll said primarily for contingency reserve; however, it would also cover additional personnel such as, three lieutenants for the Fire Department, one Police Investigator, and two maintenance men in the Public Works Department. With no further comments by Council or residents, Councilman Dodds moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Council- man Amick, the motion passed with the following roll call vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None 8. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS TO PREPARE THE CITY AUDIT FOR THE 1983/84 BUDGET YEAR City Manager Carroll advised the Council that five audit proposals have been recieved and briefly reviewed each one. She then recommended the Council choose from on of the following a) Rylander, Clay & Opitz, b) Deloitte, Haskins & Sells, or c) Rutherford, Taylor & Co. Mayor Sample mentioned the Price Waterhouse proposal. His opinion was, even though they didn't necessarily satisfy our every request in their last audit, they have taken the necessary steps to resolve their personnel problems. They heve been very apologetic and feels they should be considered again. Ms. Carroll reco~aended staying with a firm for more than one year and staying with a Big "8" firm because of the help they could render in the Bond Issue. Councilman Dodds made a motion to interview Ms. Carroll's three recommendations as well as Peat, Marwick & Mitchell. The motion died for lack of a second. Councilman Amick recommended a committee be set up to interview the four recommendations. Mayor Sample added that he would like to talk to Price Waterhouse as well. Councilman Dodds then moved to have the Council interview the five firms mentioned. .This motion died for a lack of a second as well. 00182z, Councilman Poole suggested the proposed committe interview all firms that submitted proposals. Councilman Long said the committee could review each firm and bring a recommend- ation back to Council. Mayor Sample then took a straw poll of the Council to determine their preference, a committee or full Council, as follows: Full Council: Councilmen Harris, Long, and Gray Committee: Councilmen Amick, Dodds, Poole and Mayor Sample The Mayor then asked for volunteers to serve on this committee. Councilmen Dodds, Harris and Amick volunteered. Councilman Long then made a motion to appoint Councilmen Dodds, Harris and Amick to a committee to review the audit proposals, interview the firms and make their recommendations to Council. Seconded by Councilman Poole, the motion passed with the following roll call vote: Ayes: Ail members present voted aye Noes: None 9. DISCUSS 1985 DENTON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT BUDGET City Manager Carroll said she has spoken to several other cities in Denton County and not talked to anyone yet who is planning to oppose the budget. Mayor Sample said he had heard a rumor that Carrollton may be withdrawing from the Appraisal District. He said if they do withdraw, it would cause our percentage to increase dramatically. He went on to say, he wants to see a Resolution opposing this budget on the 27th agenda. Councilman Poole said she would like to see a line item by line item budget. Councilman Dodds made a motion directing the City Manager to request a line item budget from Denton County Appraisal Distric~ have a Resolution prepared in opposition on the August 27th agenda and request a member of their board to be present at the 27th meeting to answer any questions the Council may have. Seconded by Councilman Poole , the motion passed with the following roll call vote: Ayes: All members present voted aye Noes: None 10. DISCUSS PROPOSED BOND PROPOSITION Ms. Carroll said she would rather see the Town Lake project included in the budget rather than on a Bond issue because of the cost. Councilman Poole asked where the proposed signalization would be. Ms. Carroll replied, North and South Colony Boulevards at FM423 at a cost of $60,000 each. Councilman Harris asked what determines the order of the issuance of bonds on the items that pass in the election? Ms. Carroll said the order is locked in by Ordinance. This information can be provided at the time of the election. Mayor Sample and Councilman Long had serious questions on the proposed cost of road construction. They suggested more investigation be done into the actual costs. Councilman Amick asked what the purpose of a Town Lake would be. Councilman Long replied, primarily to help eliminate the serious drainage problem with the storm sewers and run-off. Councilman Dodds added, it would clean up a health hazzard as well a beautify the City. Ms. Carroll said she has talked with some engineers regarding the area and they said the construction process for the sewers was not done adequately and the flow of water has dangerously eroded the area. Regarding a pedestrian overpass, Councilman Amick said he would like to see one at North Colony and FM423 because of the students 00182o going to Stewarts Creek Elementary are young and not as cautious as older students when crossing FM423. Mayor Sample said he is expecting Fox & Jacobs to give the City a parcel of park land within the next 30 days. Even if they don't, he feels there is to much Corps land in the area to even consider buying additional property for parks. Councilman Harris recommended a portable school zone sign be placed along FM423 until the road contruction is com- pleted. At this point, the Council took a short recess. The Mayor reconvened in Open Session at 9:05 p.m. and addressed the following agenda item. 11. REVIEW BUDGET FOR 1984/85 FISCAL YEAR Ms. Carroll reviewed several items, primarily the vehicle pool to purchase squad cars. Councilman Amick said using building permit fees to purchase our City vehicles will not keep working. He recommended trying to keep a contingency and put future vehicles in the operating budget. He said he would be in favor of purchasing two vehicles. Ms. Carroll recommended a 3 year lease/purchase. The Council agreed. Ms. Carroll said she has been pleased with the Councils direction on this budget and would have a finalized document ready for passage by Ordinance at the August 27th meeting. A tax levy ordinance will also be prepared for the 27th meeting. 2. CITIZEN INPUT Mayor Sample said, each speaker must be a resident or property owner in The Colony to speak. He advised the people signed up, that they would have only 5 minutes to speak. Carl Fischer, landlord, 3420 Lake Country Court, Farmers Branch was the first to speak. He asked the Mayor and Council to repeal Ordinance #278 because he feels it is unlawful and violates the civil rights of the tenants. He said he was speaking for 16 other landlords in this city who feel the same way. He felt the City should cite any and all residences that have unsightly exteriors. Her would like to see an ordinance prohibiting parking in the front lawns and one changing the weed ordinance for 12 inches to 6inches. Margie Carter, landlord, 1231 Chipawau, Richardson said she agrees with Mr. Fischer. She feels the ordinance is designed to harass landlords and their tenants. She wants to see this stay a good cohesive community. She went on to add, landlords in this City use local contractors and repairmen to keep their houses up. Marge McCormick, landlord, 1933 Camden Way, Carrollton said she has respectable tenants. Her properties are nice, clean and well kept. Mr. George McCormick, landlord, 1933 Camden Way, Carrollton was next to speak. His question was, if this ordinance is enforced as written, what is the citizens gaurantee that his civil rights will be maintained. He submitted some suggestions in writting to Council. Ways to strengthen the Certificate of Occupancy Ordinance. Mr. John Darling, landlord, 1018 Hampshire, Carrollton, said these problems can be worked out in a civil manner. Mr. Steve Bissett, tenant of Mr. Fischer, said people do not want government involved in their private lives. The burden of proof should be on the government to show due cause for the inspection. Government should protect but not interfere. 00182, Rose Aronowitz, landlord, 401 North Trail, Carrollton said, not everyone knows about this ordinance yet. She said her tenants don't want their homes inspected and they don't want to have to post a ntoice in public view showing they have had such an inspection. She resents the ordinance and complained that the Inspectors are not licensed by The State. With no further citizens signed up to speak, the Mayor made some final comments as follows. He will not tolerate this type of disruption of Council meetings. If they wish to pursue this matter further, it will be necessary to request , in writting, to be formally added to the agenda. Otherwise, if they try to pursue this matter in the same manner at any other Council meeting, they will be considered out of order and asked to leave. 12. CLOSED DOOR SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY ART. 6252-17 SECTION 2G OF V.A.C.S. REGARDING LIBRARY APPOINTMENTS AND MUNICIPAL COURT 7. CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO THE LIBRARY BOARD Councilman Long moved to table this item at the present time. Seconded by Councilman Poole, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. With no further action to be taken by the Council at this time, Councilman Dodds moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Councilman Long, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. Mayor Sample adjourned the meeting at 11:00 p.m. Approved: ~-~ La~y ~ S-ampl~, Mayor Attest: n~/~add, City Secretary [SEAL]