HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/03/1987 City Council HINUTES OF THE CITY CO.OIL HEETING 00~' '
HELD ON
AUGUST 03, 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 3rd day of
August, 1987 at City Hall with following Council roll call:
Don Amick, Mayor Present
Rick Harris,Mayor Pro-tem Present
Johnny Spears,Councilman Absent, due to business
Michael Robinson,Councilman Present
Steve Glazener,Councilman Present
Harvey Bradley,Councilman Present
Marlene Poole,Councilman Present
and with six members present a quorum was established and the
following items were addressed:
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Amick led the Council and the audience in the Pledge
of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
2. CIT!ZEN INPUT
Steve Bissett, presented a five (5) page open letter to the
City Council regarding the 1987/88 Budget. Mr. Bissett did
not read the letter but asked the Council to do so and also
gave them each a packet of tea. A copy of the letter was
handed to members of the press. (See attachment "A")
Ken Wood, thanked the City Manager and the Police Chief for
their prompt response to his inquiry regarding parking in
front of cluster mail boxes, stating that he understands it
is a more complicated matter than it appears.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Amick summarized the items on the Consent Agenda for
the audience.
A. CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD ON JULY 20 AND 23, 1987
Councilman Poole moved to approve the minutes as written and
Councilman Harris seconded the motion which carried with a
unanimous roll call vote.
B. CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF A LETTER OF RESIGNATION
FROM GEORGE GILLETT, MEMBER OF THE LIBRARY BOARD
Councilman Poole said she regrets this resignation, thanking
Mr. Gillett for all the work he has done. Councilman Poole
moved to accept the resignation, effective the end of August
and Councilman Harris seconded the motion which carried with
a unanimous roll call vote.
C. CONSIDERATION OF AN EASEMENT OF RIGHT OF WAY FROM THE
UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR THE
MAINTENANCE, INSTALLATION AND REPAIR OF TWO RAW
WATERLINES
City Manager said this is relative to the effluent line
going to Stonebriar Country Club development. Councilman
Poole moved to approve the easement as presented and
Councilman Harris seconded the motion which carried with a
unanimous roll call vote.
D. CONSIDERATIOR OF RATIFICATION OF THE EVIDENCE OF
HNDERSTANDING AGREEMENT WITH IBM
MaTer Am±ck stated there were two tTpograph±cal errors on
the agreement that had been corrected. Councilman ?oole
moved to approve the ratification of the agreement and
Counc£1man Harris seconded the motion which cart±ed w±th a
unan±mous roi1 cali vote.
E. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 19 OF
THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATING TO TRAFFIC,
ESTABLISHING NEW SCHOOL ZONES
Councilman Poole moved to approve the ordinance as
written and Councilman Harris seconded the motion which
carried with a unanimous roll call vote.
4. CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE AND AWARD OF BIDS FOR THE
PURCHASE OF WEIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR THE RECREATION CENTER
Mayor Amick noted the amount of money saved by staff and
praised Ms. Sylvia Brantley, Park and Recreation Director
for her efforts as well as the assistance members of the
Police Department had given her. Councilman Harris moved to
accept the bids award the bid to Nordic Fitness Products in
the amount of $5838.62 for free weights and accompanying
equipment and the Exercise Station and to Haden Company in
the amount of $425.00 for the Exercise Cycle,as recommended
by staff. Councilman Bradley seconded the motion which
carried with a unanimous roll call vote.
5. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF WEIGHT
EQUIPMENT FOR THE RECREATION CENTER
Councilman Harris moved to approve the Ordinance as written
and Councilman Bradley seconded the motion which carried
with a unanimous roll call vote.
8. CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZATION OF A CONTRACT FOR WRECKER
SERVICE
Mayor Amick said that a recommendation had been received
from the Chief of Police to contract with Kampers Korners
Wrecker Service out of Little Elm, Texas, going on to say
that this company had been serving the City of The Colony
satisfactorily for the past ten years. Councilman Harris
moved to approve the contract and Councilman Robinson
seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call
vote.
9. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF FINAL PLAT FOR TACO BELL
RESTAURANT TO BE LOCATED AT 5005 MAIN STREET
Mayor Amick suggested that Council review the plat and the
Site Plan (Agenda Item #10) simultaneously and the Council
agreed. Councilman Harris asked if there is a curb cut in
this plan. Gil Brown of Taco Bell said there is one
proposed at the northeast end of the tract and there is
already one at the southeast end. Mayor Amick stated that
Council is approving in conjunction with a memo from Tommy
Turner in which P & Z recommendations were outlined. City
Manager Hall noted that recommendations had been addressed
on the plan and the site plan by Taco Bell. Mr. Gil Brown
said Item # 1 under site plan in Mr. Turner's memo did not
appear on the site plan but would be addressed and changed.
This item read as follows: 1) At the northeast side of the
site, adjacent to the parking lot, a five (5') foot radius
be cut into that curb cut.
Councilman Bradley asked if there would be a common access
to the Carlisle property and Mr. Brown stated there would
be. Councilman Harris asked if there would be a sidewalk in
front of the property and Mr. Brown stated there would
Councilman Harris asked when they anticipate being open and
Mr. Brown said 60 days after they receive their building
permit. Counc±lman Glazener moved to approve the final plat
as presented and Council Bradley seconded the motion which
carried with a unanimous roll call vote.
10. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF SITE PLAN FOR TACO BELL
Councilman Bradley moved to approve the Site Plan as
presented and Councilman Peele seconded the motion which
carried with a unanimous roll call vote.
7. RECEIVE REPORT FROM SYLVIA BRANTLEY REGARDING SENIOR CITIZEN
PROGRAMS
Ms. Brantley addressed the Council and the audience stating
that there are lots of senior citizens in The Colony and
that the City had been approached by George Lindquist for a
meeting for their group; the Trailblazers. Ms. Brantley
said the packet presented to the Council had been put
together by her assistant Barbara Rellihan, stating that
there are from 600-1000 senior citizens with approximately
75 active in the Trailblazers, and that they will be unable
to meet in the First Baptist Church as they have in the
past. Ms. Brantley said the group has asked to meet in the
new Recreation Center. Councilman Peele said it had been
suggested that the old City Hall be used for a Senior
Citizen Center. Mayor Amick asked Ms. Brantley if this
building would suffice and she stated that it would. Mayor
Amick said he has no real problem with using the old
building but would like to use the new building if possible,
stating that the plan was to shut down the old City Hall to
save the City money in operation of a building. Councilman
Harris mentioned the item regarding preparing food and
stated that he was not sure that would be a good thing for
the City staff to get into. Mayor Amick agreed stating that
the City should maintain the facilities for the group as the
do other groups, ie.; playing fields, etc. but not do
everything for the groups. This will be further studied
before any decision is made.
6. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING STATE HIGHWAY 121
BYPASS OPTION E-2
City Manager Hall gave background on the bypass and the
widening of SH 121. Mr. Hall said that since the last
Council meeting, he and Mr. Hal Jones had attended a meeting
with the Highway Department and other cities and that the
recommendation of Staff and Mr. Jones due to the outcome of
that meeting, is to table the Resolution. Councilman Peele
moved to table this resolution, stating she was unhappy with
the wording because it does not address the problem of
traffic coming from the bypass onto 4 la. ne 121 just before
423. Councilman Robinson seconded the motion, which carried
with a unanimous roll call vote.
There followed a lengthy discussion regarding the two
options available for the bypass. Mr Jones said that
circumstances had changed since the last Council meeting.
He went on to say two weeks he felt this was a cut and dried
situation to either go with option E-2 or A. He said there
is still concern regarding the traffic dumping onto a 4 lane
highway, stating that the Barton Ashman study showed an
interchange on 423, but that this was not addressed by the
State, however he said all agreed it is necessary. Mr.
Jones said that representatives from Bright Bank and E-
Systems were present at the meeting and that they gave
different viewpoints than they had previously regarding
right of way for the bypass. Bright said they may give
right of way if there is no clover leaf. E-Systems said
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they will give right of way only if the State goes with
Option E-2. Mr. gones suggested the Council take no action
until August 17, 1987. Councilman Poole and Mayor Amick
asked about stating that we (The Colony) wants the freeway
to extend past 423. Mr. gones said that does need to come
from the City with the support of the surrounding cities.
There followed a lengthy discussion regarding the proper way
to address this problem as well as just how far we should
ask the State to extend this freeway, ie.; the tollway,
Paige Rd., Central Expressway. Councilman Bradley said we
shouldn't do anything to jeopardize the widening of 121 to 4
lanes. Mr. Jones agreed and said the State has asked for
comments by mid-August and that by then we should know more
about how the two major property owners (Bright and E-
Systems) are going. Councilman Poole asked how much bond
funds The Colony would have to match with the State to get
the bypass through and past our City. Mr. Jones said he
does not really have a good estimate but stated the total
length (from DFW) is estimated at 130 million dollars.
There then followed discussion regarding the feasibility of
extending North Colony Blvd. to Spring Creek Parkway or
Legacy. Mayor Amick asked for direction from the Council
before August 11, 1987 because he would probably talking to
the City of Plano at that time regarding the White and the
Shaddock and Cook properties.
With no further business to address, Councilman Harris moved
to adjourn and Councilman Poole seconded the motion which
carried with all members voting Aye.
Mayor Amick adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.
APPROVED:
Don .... Maybf
ATTEST:
~.~a~~ H-~s, City Secretary
C~lony city council
An open letter to memb~A~~""
Not all government projects are created equal. To illustrate this, please
imagine a sliding scale marked from "very essential" to "not essential"
On such a scale all The Colony's government expenditures could be ~ranRed.
W .... people would place highway construction and public education at one enc~
~lowers for a park would surely fall at the other end. Even though no
.. .. ndividuals would do it exactly the same, remaining projects would be
placed at points across the entire length of the scale.
It is not the intent of this letter to argue the exact percentage of
projects that should or should not be funded by taxes. Suffice to say,
I feel the proper percentage is far less than presently established.
After you have ranked the Colony's projects in your own mind, consider
my arguments to focus on the "less essential" ones. Even if you cannot
bring yourself to rate more than a few projectsin that category, I would
consider it a step in the right direction.
As you begin work on the municipal budget for fiscal year 1987-88,~ I'd like
:sue a'challenge: restore some liberty to the taxpayers by slashing
th[ ~udqet. As you consider every expenditure, let the following "litmus
test" guide your budget ax. Ask yourself, "Could the free market or
volunteer community organizations conceivably achieve a similar result?"
If the answer is yes, then government has no place interfering and no tax
dollars should be spend, regardless of how desirable the asset may be.
Furthermore, you must not use this approach to divert funds to other
areas. Steps must be taken to actually reduce taxes, franchise fees, and
other revenue sources. Move to reduce present government responsibility and
thereby cut staff, red tape, and paper work to the bare minimum.
I do not mean to suggest that any of you knowingly seek to reduce the
freedoms of others. On the contrary, many well meaning people enter political
office with admirable intentions. There is nothing wrong with a desire to
implement improvements for our city. But, I contend that certain projects
are not the proper concern of government. When you serve in the roll of
elected official, you must resist the temptation to subsidize special
interest groups. It is generally done at the expense of some minority.
The rights of individuals and those of minorities should be your primary
concern.
Suppose a handful of people asked the city to erect a beautiful statue.
I hope the attraction of the idea would not blind you to the negative side o~
democratic rule. Our Founding Fathers were strongly opposed to democracy.
realized that majorities ar~ notorious for rejecting and trampling on the rights
of individuals. James Madison, for instance, wrote that "democracies have ever
been spectacles of turbulence and contention~ have ever been found incompatible
with personal security, or the rights of property..." Owing to their love of
liberty the Founding Fathers in fact rejected Democracy and instead established
a Republic. Contrary to popular mythology a Republic is not a Democracy.
A majority is not automatically aligned with what is "good" or "right"
It would not be acceptable if a majority of a town's people decided to lynch
someone without a trial. Why should it automatically be acceptable to spend
someone's money (contrary to his desires) at the direction of a majority?
Of course no form of government is perfect. There is no utopian society.
There exist situations where compromise is necessary. But, remembering my
intended focus on "non-essential" projects, these arguments are irrelevant.
You cannot convince me that the government has a right to take my money and
spend it on a swimming pool, no matter how many people voted for it.
Unfortunately, government does have the Dower to do so.
Time and time again, people lobby the government to spend taxes dollars on
their pet projects. No one admits their true selfish desires to see others
pick up part of the tab. Always we hear how the project will attract new
business and eventually lower our taxes. If you carry that idea to its
logical conclusion we should raise taxes sky high, fund everything that would
conceivably attract business, then watch businesses rush'in and provide
everything free.
3n when a project has wide sweeping side benefits for others, it is
simply unfair to expect everyone to share the same priorities. The man
who pays taxes to support a swimming pool, a recreation center, and lights
for baseball fields, has less earnings remaining to spend on a snow skiing
vacation, if that were his preference.
Is it any wonder that the size and cost of government spirals ever higher.
Politicians eagerly spend money on projects, then recount long list of goodies
during re-election speeches. Apparently the list has less appeal to the
average voter if it only includes "the preservation of personal freedoms"
and "the reduction of taxes". Then again, maybe no one~ has tried it.
Part of the problem is the one-sidedness of any lobbying, effort. Elected
of ~als get a distorted picture of the general consensus on such issues.
When I propose you reduce the size of city government, clearly any city staff
member who feels his job is at risk will make every effort to dissuade you.
Even if thousands of taxpayers agree with me, they are not likely to rush to
city hall to protest. They realize the personal tax bite for any single
political whim is very small when spread across everyone. Some people won't
expend the energy it takes to bend down and pick up a dropped coin. Is it
any wonder that they will'not spend hours at city hall fighting to maintain
control over little more? Because people value their time, politicians have
a convenient excuse to spend our money: he didn't hear anyone complain.
But that is not justification.
And so it goes. Thousands of projects, at all levels of government, are i id
for with tax dollars. The cost of any single pork barrel is usually thought
to be unworthy of the energy it takes to fight against it. However, taken
together, they drain our savings, contribute to inflation, and keep the national
debt on its skyward trek.
There is an alternative. The next time someone seeks funds (matching
or otherwise) for city brochure or promotional literature, I recommend
the City council refuse. The business, Realtors, and landlords who will
benefit most directly, should bear the cost. High-school yearbooks sell
advertising space in exchange for "contributions". The same approach can
be used to ~eep all financing strictly voluntary. If, by chance, insufficient
funds are raised, it would only prove that the free market can weed out a
bad idea when government subsidies would not.
Likewise, the government can get out of the "beautification business"
Refrain from employing People to plant flowers or shrubs in city parks.
Instead, encourage volunteers to "adopt-a-park". Let those who are most
interested in this kind of project, support it alone.
I'm not suggesting that these plans are easy. I'm not saying they
will cost less. However, they cost nothing to those who don't wish to
participate~ That is how it should be in a free country whenever possible.
In the volunteers-can-do spirit, I intend to donate two books to The Colony
public library: "Restoring the American Dream" 'by Robert J. Ringer and "Free
to Choose" by Milton and Rose Friedman. I hope you will look for them. Bo~~-~
books expand on the points I have tried to make here. Ironically, those who
disagree with these ideas can still take comfort in knowing the books won't
cost them a penny in taxes.
As I said, there is nothing wrong with your desire to see improvements
evolve from dreams into realities. As members of various community
organizations or as members in your church or temple, you can still achieve
much, I applaud the philanthropic spirit of so many citizens who spend their
own time and money to enrich The Colony. Respect the rights of others who
do not share your same vision. Pursue your goals outside of government and
wi ut the power to tax. This is the path to liberty.
Sincerely,
Steven M. Bis