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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/20/1986 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 20, 1986 The REGULAR SESSION of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on the 20th day of October, 1986 at City Hall with the following City Council roll call: Don Amick Mayor - Present Rick Harris Councilman - Present Tom Arrambide Councilman - Present David W. Dye, III Councilman- Present Harvey Bradley Councilman - Present Marlene Poole Councilman - Present and with six members present, a quorum was established and the following items of business were addressed: 1. CLOSED DOOR SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY ARTICLE 6252-17, V.A.C.S. SECTION 2G, REGARDING PERSONNEL, TO WIT: A. INTERVIEW FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS After reconvening in Open Session and with no action to be taken at this time, regarding the Closed Door Session , the Council addressed the following items: 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Amick led the Council and the audience in the Pledge fo Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America 3. CITIZEN INPUT Pat Parsons spoke representing the Colony Youth Soccer Association. Mr. Parsons cited several concerns regarding the soccer fields at Turner St. Park, including the failure of the hydromulch, the fields were not crowned, the lights don't work, the drainage is horrible (water stands) damaged sprinkler heads. Mr. Parsons said the sprinkler head damage was called in three weeks ago and nothing had been done yet. Parsons also asked why the baseball fields are in such good shape and the soccer fields are so bad, goirig on to say that he thinks the contract on the fields should be called and also cited poor maintenance of the fields. Mr. Parsons said there had two broken arms this season due to City employees driving over the fields when wet and creating ruts. Parsons also said that the sprinkler system had come on on Friday night and left the fields too wet to play Saturday morning, saying he thought the maintenance men had done this but after talking to Jeff Overfelt (Athletic Field Supervisor for the City) he realized that was not the case. Mr. Parsons said the association wanted Park and Recreation to be delegated enough authority to be able to deal with them instead of everything being brought before the Council, such as the moving of a storage building to the fields at Carney. Janice Carroll told Mr. Parsons that particular action did go before Park and Recreation not City Council Mr. Parsons then stated that the Flag Football Association had played on the fields at Turner on Sunday while they were too set and had ruined them. Mr. Parsons said he thought the Football Association was to play at Stewarts Creek Park and also that he felt that association should be held responsible for the damage done to the fields. Mr. Parsons did say the Carney fields are in great shape. Mr. Tim Tennyson also spoke regarding the same subject stating that he had spoken to Jeff O~?erfelt regarding the sprinkler system and felt that it was a honest mistake but that they did have~all several games due the water on the fields. Mr. Tennyson said that if the Football Commissioner would look at the fields the same as the Soccer Commissioner does and not allow play when the fields are too wet it would be helpful. He said they should be contacted and made aware of the situation. Councilman Poole asked if anyone from Park and Recreation was contacted to let them know. Mr. Tennyson said no. 00250 Mr. Tennyson said this was his first time to serve on the Soccer Association and he really wanted to have a good repoir and communication with the Park and Recreation Department. Mr. Parsons said they had talekd to the police department regarding the destruction to the fields done by persons using the fields for the wrong purposes but that there is no ordinance to allow them to remove persons from the fields. Janice Carroll responded to some of the concerns stating that there had been three bids for projects on Turner Street , including dirt work. Ms Carroll stated that crowning had not been done on the fields due to -- the great expense and the engineer had said that was not the best method for drainage at that location. Councilman Harris agreed that the crown lng was not done but that it was at the engineer's recommendation not because of the expense. Mr. Parsons asked why it was not working. Mayor Amick said the engineer would be brought out to view the problems and would someone fxrom the association be willing to point the specific areas. Councilman Harris said some of the problems were created by the very heavy rains , the lights being installed and the hydromulch being done after the dirt work was completed. Mayor Amick said the staff had suggested waiting until next season to play on these fields but because the kids needed a place to play the fields were opened this season. The Mayor said the hydromulching is an ongoing job and perhaps it failed this year because of the rush, stating that it will be done again. Mayor Amick also said the engineer would be asked to re-look at the fields. Regarding the lights, the Mayor said there is a short in the wires running under the fields. Janice Carroll said the light man will be repairing the short tomorrow. Mayor Amick said the baseball fields had light problems also and that the maintenance people would be spoken to about driving on [he fields. The Mayor said the Flag Football Association would be dealt with through the park and Recreation department. Mr. Parsons asked if an Ordinance would be passed that would allow the fields to be closed when wet. Janice -- Carroll said the Ordinance is not necessary, the City has the authority to close the fields. Mr. Parsons asked if the Field Commissioner could put the signs up when necessary. Janice Carroll said that would be not problem as long as someone with the City was notified. Mr. Parsons wanted to know if another field could be located for the football games. Mayor' Amick said the City would do what ever they could. Mr. Parsons thanked the Council for listening and stated that there are Mot of angry people in the City due to these problems. Janice Carroll said the Association is welcome to review the plans and specs for the work done at Turner Street. Mayor Amick said that Soccer fields will always be harder to maintain simply due to the number of people on the field at one time, but that the City has no intention of be partial to any organization over another. Tim Tennyson said perhaps a bond issue to build more fields would be good and said the association would help. Terry Fortino spoke up and said that he voted for the first bond issue because he thought it would result in good fields and he feels he was lied to stating the end result was not what was promised and that he would not vote for another bond issue for that reaons. Mayor Ahiick said tl~ intent was not to lie and that the crowning was not done due to the engineer's recommendation going on to say that the vote was for Park and Recreation improvements to soccer and baseball fields and to pocket parks and to softball fields. The Mayor said all the money was not to be spent on -- Soccer, and the City would try to solve the drainage problem. Mr. Fortino said he thought there would be more fields and the present ones would beupgraded, stating there are not enough fields in the city. Councilman Harris said no one intended to lie and that he was sorry Mr. Fortino felt that way, going on to say that he spent 8 years coaching and was upset by the problems too but that the fields are in better shape today than they have ever been before. Councilman Harris stated that the practice fields cannot be improved because the City cannot afford to sprinkle every field in the City that is used for practice, going on to say that this must be taken slowly and it will improve, stating the fields will be better next year. Mr. Jack Richards said he thought the Soccer Association would have control of the lights. Councilman Harris stated that the lights will come on at 5:00 p.m. and go off at 11:00 p.m. and that the field commissioner will be issued a key and when the key is inserted the lights will come on. Mr. Richards also stated that there is always vandalism going on at the Frisbee Gold Course and that the Police never patrol there. Mayor Amick asked if anyone else had anything to say other than the problems already mentioned. Items mentioned are as follows: Fire ants, ramps on bridges are slick when wet and the rails have splinters in them. Mark Huckleberry said the two fields for smaller kids are unplayable and mu. st be repaired this week, stating there is a 2. foot drop off on one end. Tim Reeshaw said the sprinkler heads are too high. Monty Hubbard said that if the hydromulch had been done in June there would not be a problem with grass now. Tracy Rolston wanted to know how many kids pay in each sport in the City stating that the little kids can't play on the multi purpose fields going on to say the City has ignored the little ones. Mayor Amick said that was not true, the City merely took existing fields and improved them. Louise Rice said the City is doing a good job but would like to have a break- down of the money spent in each area. Mayor Amick said we would get that information to her. Marlene Robbins asked what Pee Wee football would do to the fields. Mayor Amick said that Pee Wee football would not play here until there was a field available, going on to say that he felt the little kids who play "herdball" really do not damage the fields very much. Mr. Huckleberry stated that he took offense to the Mayor's term "herdball" saying that is the attitude the City has always taken regarding the younger kids in sports and he is tired of it. He also wantedto know if the fields would be looked at this week. Mayor Amick apologized for his remark, stating he certainly did not mean to offend anyone and stated the fields would be lookd at this week. Steve Morgan said he has the background and would like to review the plans. The Mayor said that would be O.K. Janice Carroll then gave some of the figures spent on Turner Street. Don Amick, Mayor took this time to appoint Councilman Dye to serve as the liason to the Youth Advisory Board and to appoint Rick Harris as liason to the park and Recreation Board, both effective immediately. 4. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Amick summarized the items on the Consent Agenda and stated that he was pulling items 4G and 4D from the Consent agenda for discussion. A. CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 29 AND OCTOBER 6, 1986 COUNCIL MEETINGS. Councilman Poole moved to approve the minutes as written, and Councilman Bradley seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. B. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY'S INTENT TO PROVIDE LOCAL SUPPORT THE THE GOLONYPUBLIC LIBRARY. Councilman Poole moved to approve the Resolution as written and Council- man Bradley seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. D. CONSIDERATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF FOLLOWING NAMED PERSONS TO ADVISORY BOARDS FOR THE CITY OF THE COLONY: PARK & RECREATION - DEE COLE AND WAYNE SANDY LIBRARY BOARD - GATHI KOELLING YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD - LORA TERRY, ANGIE LANG, GREG OVERFELT Mayor Amick said that the Council did interview two persons earlier in the Closed Door Session and asked if the Council wished to add these two to the appointments to the Youth Advisory Board. Councilman Dye moved to appointment the above named persons and in addition, Laurie Nopp and Jason Beard to the Youth Advisory Board. Councilman Poole seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. C. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS ADOPTING THE ENGINEERING DESIGN MANUAL AND THE STANDARD CON- STRUCTION DETAILS AS THE STANDARD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC WORKS Asst. City Manager, Bill Hall said he realized that these documents had been reviewed for a very long time, but that the final documents had just ~ been received a few days ago and in reviewing them with Hal Jones, traffic engineer, and Terry Millican, engineer for the water department, he discovered some problems, particularly with traffic. Mr. Hall said that Mr. Jones had made some recommendations sometime ago and they were not included, going on to say that none of these things were major and this could be passed and then amended later. Mayor Amick asked if Janice Carroll still recommended approval. Ms. Carroll said that she knows of the concerns, but that Bridgefarmer is just more restrictive than Jones/Friebele stating that the City needs to adopt these documents and amend them later if necessary. There followed adiscussion regarding the function of three engineers for the same entity and the pros and cons of delaying the passage of the documents. Councilman Harris said that three engineers would never agree and he would like to see this passed tonight and look at corrections in two weeks. All the Council agreed but Councilman Dye. Mr. Dick Weaver asked how these standards compare to the COG standards. Mr. Hall said these standards were for developers and the COG addresses the mechanics, stating there is not a conflict. Mr. Hall said the COG standards are a part of the Water and Sewer Codes the Council adopted recently. Mayor Amick read the caption of the Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS ADOPTING THE ENGINEERING DESIGN MANUAL AND THE STANDARD CONSTRUCTION DETAILS AS THE STANDARD FOR. THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC WORKS; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY -- CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) AND A SEPARATE OFFENSE SHALL BE DEEMED COMMITTED EACH DAY DURING OR ON WHICH A VIO- LATION OCCURS OR CONTINUES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Councilman Harris mvoed to approve the Ordinance as written and Councilman Poole seconded the motion. Councilman Harris said he doesn't think the City recovers the cost on such things and directed the staff to charge money for these manuals as the City was charged. The Motion carried with the following vote: Harris - Aye; Arrambide - Aye; Dye - No; Bradley - Aye; Poole - Aye Amick- Aye. 8. MAYORAL PROGLMATION PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 26 THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 1986, AS CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ACTION WEEK. Mayor Amick read the Proclamamtion as written: WHEREAS, the City of The Colony is concerned for the welfare of all its citizens; and WHEREAS, the economy in the State of Texas is undergoing serious stress; and __ WHEREAS, many residents of The Colony are suffering financially due to extended unemployment; and WHEREAS, there is a local volunteer non-profit organization Christian Community Action, which works to assist families in financial disress; NOW, THEREFORE, as Mayor of the City of The Colony, Texas I do hereby proclaim the week of October 26 through November 1, 1986 as CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ACTION WEEK and urge all citizens of The Colony to participate in this observance by supporting the goals and activities of this organization by all available means. Hereby proclaimed this 20th day of October, 1986. (s) Don Amick, Mayor, Ctiy of The Colony Attest: (s) Patti A. Hicks, City Secretary 7. CONSIDERATION OF A CHANGE ORDER FOR MARCON CONSTRUCTION CO. IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,792.00 FOR THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX Jim Gilliland of F.R.S. was present at the meeting and said that Lone Star Gas Co. does have a rebate program and that F.R.S. had thought that rebate would cover the City's cost. Gilliland said that upon further review they found that was not so and that there would be a charge of $1792.00 to the City. Mr. Gilliland explained how the fee will be charged and how the rebate will work, covering the deletions and additions on the Change Order. Janice Carroll said that Randy Roper of Lone Star Gas had received and reviewed this also. Mayor Aniick asked how much savings this resulted in for the City. Mr. Gilliland said approximately $20,000.00 Councilman Harris moved to approve the change order and Councilman Arrambide seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. At this time, Janice Carroll stated that she did meet with Leon Marshall of Marcon Const. today and that he advised the color boards would be in this week. Mr. Marshall also told her that the City Hall would be complete by Christmas. Mayor Amick said he would rather be in the Library first to save paying rent on that space, and asked if we could be in the Library while the other construction was still going on. Mr. Gilliland said he would investigate that and get back in two weeks with Council. EMERGENCY AGENDA ITEM: 1. CONSIDERATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MAYOR PRO-TEM Councilman Dye moved to appoint Councilman Rick Harris as Mayor Pro- tem and Councilman Arrambide seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. At this Council took a 5 minute recess. 5. RECEIVE A BOND PROJECT REPORT REGARDING PARKS Janice Carroll referred to the memo in the packet from Sylvia Brantley regarding Bridges and B.B. Owens Park landscapting. Ms. Brantley said that the Park & Recreation Board had met and discussed putting shrubs in and around the tennis courts at Bridges Park and along the burm at B.B. Owens Park. Ms. Brantley said this had been in response to citizens not wanting head lights shine' into their homes from the park- ing area at B.B Ownes. Mayor Amick asked if this wouldn't block the view of the parks from the road and the police would not be able to see into the tennis courts. Ms. Brantley said only on the southwest side and the south end.. Then the Mayor wanted to know how the shrubs at B.B Owens would be watered since there had been no sprinkler installed in that area. Ms. Brantley said either by installing a sprinkler or by the maintenance department. Councilman Harris suggested that trees be added for a wind break at the tennis courts along with picnic tables and perhaps at B.B. Owens also. Ms. Brantley said she did not think there was enough room at B.B. Owens for trees. Councilman Poole suggested using the weaving material available for chain link fencing. Ms. Brantley said she did not believe the posts wet, strong enough to hold up if there was a strong wind. Councilman Poole asked that costs for re-doing the fence be checked into. After a brief discussion, the Council agreed perh_aps plants would require less maintenance. Councilman Harris stated again that it should be trees not shrubs to block head lights and also said that if you really wanted to block the lights you would need to burro along the street. Mayor Amick asked if there had been any complaints regarding this and Ms. Brantley said no. Mayor Amick asked why we fixing a problem if there is not one. Councilman Bradley said that he believes the City is trying to keep a promise. Councilman Harris again stated that it should be trees not shrubs due to the height of the athletic tighting not car head lights. Mayor Amick asked Ms. Brantley to come back to Council with c.4~e ba¢4¢ ~ 4;e, uncil~it,~-some alternative. 00'250 Ms. Brantley then addressed Lions Cluk Park, stating that she had talked with Chief Ristagno regarding a parking lot at the park by the pavilion. She said the Lions Club had approached the Park & Rec Board about this. According to the Chief of Police this is one of the most heavily used parks on the week ends and Mayes Street gets very congested. Mayor Amick asked the land across the street fromt he pavilion belongs to the Presbyterian Church and if so coudl the City use that area for parking so that the park land is not use up. Ms. Brantley said she v~uld check into that. Mayor Amick also said that if we do provide an area for parking then parking on the street would have to be banned. Councilman Bradley reminded the Council that it is already a long walk from the street up to the pavilion and if people have to park across the street it will be even longer. Councilman Harris suggested looking for unuseable land within the park to locate the parking lot. Ms. Brantley said she would bring back some alternatives to the Council. Councilman Poole then brought up the fact that the Sorority City Council is having difficulty raising enough money to install a sprinkler system at the pocket park at Keys and Newton and asked if the City could defray some of that cost. Mayor Amick asked if the City employees could install a sprinkler system there and asked that the cost be obtained from Jerry Van-Y. Ms. Brantley said all the organizations are having trouble raising enough money to really do the expensive projects. Mayor Amick said that since there was no neighborhood park in that particular area(Keys and Newton) maybe the City should use bond money to help develop this park. Councilman Harris said this is a problem in all the pocket parks. Councilman Bradley asked how much money was left in that fund. Janice Carroll said around $96,000.00. Mayor Amick asked if the Council has a problem with asking Park & Rec to re-allocate some bond funds to help develop the pocket parks at Slay/Baker, Keys/Newton/ August and Latimer Cir. The Council all agreed that was not a problem. Councilman Bradley made a statement regarding parks in general, saying that for about a year a group of people in the City had worke] very hard to build a pavilion at Stewart Creek Park and to date, they have raised approximatley $3000.00 and need approximately $5000-$7000. The Councilman asked if the City could help. Mayor Amick asked if the Council has a problem with Park & Recreation coming forth with uses for the money and then reminded everyone forme~ Councilman Helen Gray had suggested some full grown trees at Perryman park. Ms. Brantley said that we have to be careful there due to the power lines. 6. RECEIVE A BUDGET REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER Councilman Arrambide moved to table this item due to the late hour. Councilman Dye seconded the motion which carried with all members voting Aye. At this time Mayor ^mick called item #1 back to the table. 1. CLOSED DOOR SESSION as authorized by Article 6252-17, V.A.C.S., Section 2g, regarding personnel, to wit: B. City Secretary After reconvening in open session, and with no action to be taken by the Council regarding the Closed Door session, Councilman Harris moved to adjourn and Councilman Poole seconded the motion which carried with all members voting Aye. Mayor Amick adjourned the meeting at 11:58 p.m. APPROVED: Don Amick, Mayor ATTEST: Patti A. Hicks, City Secretary