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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/16/1987 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL M~ETING HELD ON JULY 16, 1987 The Regular Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on the 20th day of July, 1987 at City Hall with following Council roll call: Don Amick, Mayor Absent Rick Harris,Mayor Pro-rem Present Johnny Spears,Councilman Present Michael Robinson,Councilman Absent Steve Glazener,Councilman .Present Harvey Bradley,Councilman Present Marlene Poole,Councilman Present and with five members present a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Pro-rem Harris led the Council and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America 2. CITIZEN INPUT Harvey Bradley, 4949 Strickland reminded everyone of the Town Hall Meeting to be held Thursday, July 23, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. at Griffin Middle School, to discuss the proposed consolidation with the City of Eastvale, and urged all to attend. Mr. Bradley also stated that on August 1, 1987 there would be a group of people at City Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to answer any questions regarding the three issues on the upcoming election~ Consolidation, Hospital District, and E9-1-1. Ken Wood, 5000 N. Colony stated that a truck has blocked the cluster mail box for his residence and he has not been getting his mail. Mr. Wood said he understands that there is no law to prohibit this parking and that the police department or the post office can do nothing about it, requesting that City staff investigate State and Federal regulations to see if there is any way this parking can be prohibited. Mr. Wood said perhaps the City could pass an ordinance prohibiting parking in front of the cluster boxes. Mayor Pro-rem Harris asked City Manager Hall to research this problem and get back to Mr. Wood. EMERGENCY AGENDA ITEM 1. READING OF AN EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY TO THE CITY OF PLANO IN THE LOSS OF CITY MANAGER ROBERT WOODRUFF Mayor Pro-rem Harris read the following letter which was signed by the Council and City Manager and sent to Mayor Harvard: July 20, 1987 To The Honorable Mayor Jack Harvard, City Council and Staff of the City of Piano: Please accept this as an expression of our grief at the loss of your City Manager, Bob Woodruff. Our thoughts and prayers .go out for all of you and to Mr. Woodruff!s family and friends at this time of tragedy. He will be greatly missed among his peers. In sympathy, 3. PRESENTATION OF THE 1987/88 MUNICIPAL BUDGET Mr. Hall, City Manager, referenced his letter to the Council, which was included with the budget as presented, stating that there are some changes this year as compared to years past. Mr. Hall said one change is that the budget has been prepared on a computer work sheet, stating that this is a more direct method and shows better comparisons of expenditures past, present and projected. Mr. Hall went on to say that the main objective in preparing this budget had been to obtain an acceptable tax rate and maintain the highest level of service possible. There was a brief discussion regarding the format and establishing budget work sessions. Mr. Dick Weaver asked what the proposed tax rate would be and Mr. Hall said if there are no changes, it will remain at $.75. Councilman Poole moved to established budget work sessions on August 10 and August 13, 1987. Councilman Bradley seconded the motion which carried with all members voting Aye. 4. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Pro-rem Harris summarized the items on the Consent Agenda for the audience. A. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 1987/88 BUDGET AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY,~ TEXAS PROVIDING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 1987 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1988; PROVIDING A TIME AND PLACE FOR SAID PUBLIC HEARING, TO WIT: ON THE 17TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1987 AT 7:30 O'CLOCK P.M. AT THE COLONY CITY HALL; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE Councilman Glazener moved to approve the Ordinance as written and Councilman Poole seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. B. CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON JULY 6, 1987 Councilman Glazener moved to approve the minutes as written and Councilman Poole seconded the motion, which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. C. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF AN ENHANCED 9-1-1 EMERGENCY DISTRICT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS IN SUPPORT OF THE CREATION OF AN ENHANCED 9-1-1 EMERGENCY DISTRICT WHEREAS, the City of The Colony, Texas is a City that lies wholly or partly within Denton County, Texas; and WHEREAS, a Denton County Area Enhanced 9-1-1 Emergency District will benefit the residents who live in the District by providing the technological equipment to improve emergency response time; and WHEREAS, the Denton County Commissioners Court will call an election for creation of a Denton County area Enhanced 9-1-1 Emergency District on August 8, 1987, to confirm the creation of a proposed District: BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas by approving this resolution publicly supports the passage of an Enhanced Emergency 9-1-1 District; and BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the City of The 002'7 Colony elected officials assist the Denton County Area Enhanced 9-1-1 Emergency District Board in working towards a successful outcome of the August 8, 1987 election. PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 20TH DAY OF JULY, 1987. (s)Don Amick, Mayor ATTEST: (s)Patti A. Hicks, City Secretary Councilman Glazener moved to approve the resolution as written and Councilman Poole seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 5. RECEIVE PRESENTATION OF A PROPOSAL FOR ESTABLISHING A MUNICIPAL DAY COURT City Manager, Hall explained the reason for pursuing Day Court as a heavy docket, stating that officers have to be called in from home and/or off the street to testify and Day Court would relieve some of the burden of overtime and time away from patrol. Brenda Mosley, Court Clerk referenced her memo stating that taking pleas is a judicial duty and only the judge can perform it, going on to say that Day Court would allow for one of the night court sessions to be a "Pre-trial" session, used by the judge to explain defendant's rights, for attorney/defendants to enter pleas, motions, requests for continuances, etc. or to pay their fines. Ms. Mosley went on to say that pre-trial sessions could be held at night or day, stating that is it is held from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon that would allow people to schedule their hearing for that afternoon, which would keep people from missing more than one day of work. Ms. Mosley said that hearing trials in the afternoon will allow officers to be called in from the street, stating that peak hours for the police department is the evening shift, not the afternoon. She also said this will cut down on overtime for officers. Councilman Bradley said this would cut down on overtime for court personnel also. Mayor Pro-tem Harris asked if other cities hold day court and Ms. Mosley said Lewisville, Flower Mound and other smaller cities are going to day court. Councilman Spears asked if we would have to have another judge on staff. Ms. Mosley said just for the day court is in session not full time. Mr. Hall said this is not ready for Council action, but was brought before them for comments and will be brought back after the move into the new building since the location now would not allow for day court. At this point, Councilman Poole asked Mr. Hall about progress on the new complex and how the walk-through had gone. Mr. Hall said it was overall very good, with all the items listed being minor. Mr. Hall stated the Municipal building and the Library are both very close to completion. 6. RECEIVE REPORT ON THE STATUS OF STATE HIGHWAY 121 City Manager Hall referenced a memo to Council in their packets and introduced Mr. Hall Jones, traffic engineer to address two options being considered for the 121 bypass around Lewisville (See attachment "A"). Mr. Jones said the State did a feasibility study regarding 6 alternate routes and determined Route E-2 and Route A to be the best. Mr. Jones said the main problem is the transition on the east end of the bypass onto 4 lane 121 just west of The Colony. Jones said there will be a public hearing in January 1988 for citizen input and then the plans will be submitted to Austin with a report and by September 1988 the process for obtaining right of way can begin as well as utility maps begun, with construction beginning by 1992. Mr. Jones then outlined the two routes stating that the O0- State favors the E-2 which is the straighter road and goes through E-Systems. Jones said Route A goes through Bright property, going on to say E-Systems will donate all of the right of way if the State approves the E-2 route but will not donate any if they approve Route A, noting that Mr. Bright will not donate any right of way for either route. Mr. Jones said the State is asking cities to pass a resolution in favor of one or the other route. The bypass will run from west of 1-35 to FM 544 mentioning again that the State realizes the problem of dumping freeway traffic onto 4 lane 121 approximately 1 mile west of FM 423. Mr. Jones said it is possible that this freeway could extend all the way to Highway 75 and suggested that in the resolution our City passes, that we state which option we prefer and specify conditions, one of which should be to request the freeway go past FM 423. There followed a lengthy discussion regarding the two options. Mr. Jones said the resolution would be needed by mid-August. At this time, Mayor Pro-tem Harris asked Mr.~ Hall to give a brief update on the EAS case. Mr. Hall stated that Southwestern Bell stated they would like to eliminate ECC (long distance calling) in The Colony stating they said we could keep it and not pursue EAS. Mr. Hall stated our attorneys in Austin had made it clear to the PUC that we would not give up ECC and will continue to pursue EAS. Councilman Poole said Mr. Hall should review the original transcript of the first PUC hearings in which it was stated that The Colony would not give up current service. With no further business to address, Councilman Bradley moved to adjourn the meeting and Councilman Poole seconded the motion which carried with all members voting Aye. Mayor Pro-tem Harris adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m. APPROVED: Don ~%~i'c'k, M ATTEST: ~ C~c~r e~t ar y OF LEWISVILLE CITY OF CITY OF