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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/19/1986 City Council 00237 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON JUNE 19, 1986 The SPECIAL SESSION of the City Council of the City of The Colony~ Texas was called to order at 7:30 p.m. at Griffin Middle School on North Colony Blvd. with the following members present: Larry D. Sample Mayor ~.ic!~ ~arris Coun dflman Tom Arrambide Councilman (arrived at 8:00 p.m) David W. Dye, III Councilman Don Amick Councilman Harvey Bradley Councilman Marlene Poole Councilman and with a quorum established, the following item was addressed: 1. TOWN HALL MEETING REGARDING THE PROPOSED FRISCO AIRPORT Mayor Sample opened the meeting by thanking the Holy Cross Catholic Churda for allowing the City to use their sound equipment for this meeting. The Mayor then present information on the proposed Frisco Airport, showing a map indicating that the airport is bounded on the north by FM 720. The Mayor went on to say that the 5000 foot runway is approximately 10,000 feet from the northern city limits of The Colony or about 1.9 miles and that construction is set to begin August 1, 1986. Mayor Sample showed the lay out of the airport pointing out runway 17, the north approach and runway 35, the south approach. The Mayor said that Carpenter Road is to run along the airport on the east side. Mayor Sample, using an overhead projector went through the brochure for the airport, NORTH DALLAS JETPORT, stating that it would service Class A,B, and C level planes and pointed out a specific statement regarding Visual Flight Rules (VFR) "This degree of individual judgment and control, not often available at more highly controlled airports, simplifies aircrew workload and streamlines operations. Mayor Sample then referred to a letter from the FAA to Mr. Greg C. Morse, Vice President of Frisco Airport Partners, Inc. in which was stated; t here is no objection to the proposal from an airspace standpoint provided: a.the transmission line which crosses the south end of the runway is relocated so as to provide a clear 20:1 approach surface. b. Any instrument approach procedure to the airport be established only to runway 17. This provision is based on the significant adverse effect an approach procedure to Runway 35 would have on aircraft departing Dallas-Love Field and Addison Airports. This does not preclude an aircraft executing an approach to Runway 17 and circling to land Runway 35. Mayor Sample said that in negotioations with the developers of the airport, the City had suggested that the runway be slanted in a southeast direction. The Mayor also said that he had spoken with Rick Salwyn of E.D.S. who stated that E.D.S. is neutral and has 'refused to buy property at the airport. Mayor Sample then enumerated the steps the City had taken to halt the construction of the airport. 1. Mayor Sample went to a Frisco City Council meeting and publicly asked for relocation of the runway. There was no response and the zoning passed. 2. Mayor Sample met with the F.A.A. to no avail 3. The City of The Colony letters along with citizens ~etitions were sent to the F.A.A. in protest of the airport. 4. The City of The Colony attempted to intervene with the P.LkC. Hearing for the moving of the T.P. & L. easement. The intervention was denined. 5. The City through Mayor Sample negotiated with Doell-Morse, the developers who did ask the City to list what The Colony wanted them to do. There were many talks and a list was drawn up but Doell-Morse would make no committment and agree to any of the changes. Mayor Sample stated that on May 30, 1986 at 10:30 a.m. he met with Greg Morse regarding the following items with the following listed results. A. Flights over The Colony - non agreeable B. Noise Consideratons - none agreeable C. Hour limitations of no flights between 10p.m. and 6a.m. - not agreeable D. No expansion of the runway - not agreeable E. Re-location of the runway - not agreeable F. No south expansion of the runway - not agreeable Mayro Sample said that Mr. Morse stated he did not want The Colony to have any say over the airport, and if a Class action Law Suit is filed he would counter sue collectively and individually, naming Larry D. Sample. Mayor Sample said the City could pursue Noise Abatement Ordinances and Height Restrictions but that both are hard to enforce. The Mayor said the City could also file a City Suit or a Class Action Suit, going on to say. that the City Suit requires the City showing damages and that since the City is not a land owner they would not be able to show any large decrease in property values due to the airport. The Mayor said that a Class Action Suit is filed on behalf of each and every resident of the City and can expand and cover property value of each and every piece of property in the City. He said that this type of suit is not instigated by the Mayor and Council but by the citizens. Mayor Sample said there would be a degree of risk since the company will probably counter sue and that it could get very expensive. He went on to say that the City could pay the attorney fees and indemnify the damages which of course would mean tax dollars.. There followed several questions from the audience. Where is Doell -Morse getting the money? Mayor - From a private investor, we don't really know who they are. 8:00 p.m. - Councilman Arrambide arrived at this time, after the conclusion of business. Is this political with Frisco? Why won't they consider moving the runway? Mayor - Does not feel The Colony has a bad relation with Frisco, but thinks Frisco guaranteed there would be no flights over a very large land owner's property, going on to say that the area around the airport is Watson-Taylor property and Phillips Ranch. Are people aware that there will be an elementary school built on the B.B.Owens property and that the planes will fly directly over the school? Mayor - Airport developers said that they were there first. How many sapces are to be at the airport? What will the amount of traffic be in one day? Mayor - Could not answer Who owns Phillips Ranch and will there be any fuel storage tanks in the area? Mayor - Speculation and rumor says that Ross Perot has bought the ranch and yes, there will fuel storage tanks there. Mr. Lofthus said the City has instigated a law suit against Norman Wilkins, stating that the Mayor had been incorrect in an earlier statement. Mayor Sample said yes, that was correct, but that it was not for money but an injunction. Would the developers have to buy more land to turn the runway? Mayor - yes, they owuld and it would be impractical. Mayor sample said that the monthly projection of flights is as follows: 100 multi-engine 100 single-engine 500 jets 500 turbos Could we appoint a committee to act on very specific details? Mayor - that is a good idea. How many small airports are there in our area? Mayor - At least 9, maybe more Have the developers been asked if the airport could be rotated counterclock wise? Mayor - Yes, and the F.A.A. said that would be acceptable and preferable. Could we suggest a slight re-location of the runway and possibly help offset the cost? Mayor - Possible, but not likely. What will we do if the airport happens to capitalize on development? Mayor - we have no plans Councilman Amick said that we only have two developers in The Colony, one of which is IBM and we have been trying to get them to build for years and Henry Billingsley, who may or may not be interested in the airport. How much would the suit cost? Mayor - Possibly $50,000.00 How much time do we have to act? Mayor- We need to act within 30 days Have we gotten the cost for movirJg the T.P. &L. easement' and who pays? Mayor - The developer pays the cost of between 2 - 3 million dollars. How big a fire department do we have? Mayor - three paid men per shift plus volunteers. Have there been any studies done regarding the good benefits from the airport? Mayor - No, it would benfit the businesses using the airport. Were the developers asked to this meeting and were any aviation people invited? Mayor- No The ground breaking was scheduled to be in March then June, and now August, maybe the company can't get enough support. What does the McKinney Airport think, will they help? Mayor - Yes, they have problems with the design. Does the developer have all the spaces leased? Mayor - They are not lesing the spaces, but selling them and they had to have a pre-sale of 40 lots to ensure financing. They had sold about 40. What happened to the heliport? Mayor - The F.A.A. approved it but we don't plan to build it now. It would not really stop the construction of the airport. Mayor Sample then ask several questions of the audience and ask for a show of hands. 1. How does this audience feel about Noise Abatement and Altitude Restriction Ordinances in The Colony? Response - Full support 2. Shoud the City pursue either a City or Class Action Law Suit? Response - Majority support 3. How does this audience feel about a 5¢ tax increase to handle the Class Action Suit? Response - Majority Support 4. How does this audience feel about a 10¢ tax increase to handle the Class Action Suit? Resonse - About half support 5. How many wuld agree with indemnifying the persons involved in the suit by raising the tax rate 5 - 10¢? How many would agree to The Colony financing the legal fees with an increase of 1¢ on';the tax rate? These last two questions brought about more questions fromt he audience. Who are these persons involved and is this auaience speaking for the whole city? How does the Council feel about this? Mayor Sample said these persons would be chosen. Jim Vanderburg, Chamber of Commerce President, stated that only about 125 people were present and that is not a fair representation of a population of 20,000.00 Why not have a referendum election. Mayor Sample said there is not time for that. Councilman Amick said the purpose of this meeting is to gathe information from the general public because the Coucnil has done all it can do without going into court. He stated that the Council is very uncomfortable with the idea of a law suit and that it would cost money. Mr. Lofthus suggested that we welcome the airport with open arms stating that no city ever amounted to anything without an airport. There were several other general comments and questions after which the Mayor had a list placed in the front of the meeting room for persons to sign their name if they were willing to be named in the Class Action Suit. Mayor Sample then introduced each Councilman and gave their district stating that he is the Mayor of the whole City and that this Council wants to do as the citizens of this community wish. Councilman Amick then made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Bradley seconded the motion which carried with all members voting Aye. Mayor Sample adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: Patti A. Hicks, Clt~ Secretary [SEALI