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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/30/1989 City Council V0 `' pp MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 30, 1989 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 30th day of October, 1989 at City Hall with the following Council roll call : Don Amick, Mayor Present Rick Harris, Mayor Pro-tem Present Steve Withers, Councilman Present Mike Alianell , Councilman Present Steve Glazener, Councilman Present Dick Weaver, Councilman Absent Joel Marks, Councilman Present and with six present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Amick led the Council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Mayor Amick and the Council agreed that it would not be necessary to give the Pledge of Allegiance at work sessions and directed the City Secretary to refrain from placing it on work session agendae. 2. RECEIVE REPORT FROM BILL HALL, CITY MANAGER REGARDING PROPOSALS FOR USER FEE STRUCTURE Mike Russell covered his proposal for new registration and permit fees as follows: Registration Fees : Contractor $15 .00 a year Food Service Mgr. $35.00 - 3 years There was a discussion regarding fast food managers. Mr. Russell advised that if a manager leaves, the new manager must be registered and stated the 3 year registration was set because the state requires re-certification every 3 years. Councilman Harris suggested an annual fee of $20. 00 and all agreed. With regard to the contractor ' s registration, Councilman Marks asked how that would be enforced and Mr. Russell said at the time a contractor applies for a building permit, they must either show registration or register at that time. Mr. Hall said this could possibly prevent occurrences such as Cockrell , when the contractor took the owner' s money and never completed the house. Mr. Russell said The Colony is one of the few cities that does not charge such a fee. After a brief discussion, all agreed both fees should be $20 . 00 per year and directed this item to be placed on the November 6, 1989 agenda for action. Permits Present Proposed Inground Pool By valuation (UBC) $75.00 Above Ground Pool By valuation (UBC) $50.00 Res. Satellite Dish By valuation (UBC) $35 .00 Comm.Satellite Dish By valuation (UBC) $60.00 Fences $12 .00 $20 .00 Irrigation $ 5 .00 $20 .00 Residential Reroof By valuation (UBC) $15 .00 Mr . Russell said issuing permits by valuation is inequitable . A brief discussion followed. Councilman Harris suggested that fencing, irrigation and roofing permits should all be $20 . 00 . Councilman Withers asked what constitutes fence repair and Mr. Russell said if 50% or more of the fence is being replaced it does require a permit. There was a brief discussion regarding inground and above ground pools and the difference in staff involvement. After discussion all Council agreed with the following schedule and 00338 directed this item be placed on the November 6, 1989 agenda for action: Inground Pool $100 .00 Above Ground Pool $ 50 .00 Res. Satellite Dish $ 50. 00 Comm.Satellite Dish $100 . 00 Fences $ 20 .00 Irrigation $ 20 . 00 Residential Reroof $ 10 .00 3 . REVIEW CHAPTER 6 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELATING TO SIGNS Councilman Marks said that all involved with the last election had a good experience and stated this ordinance needs to be clarified, noting that some signs were as large as 16 square feet and when they were questioned, the signs were cut into 3 separate signs, then stacked so that they appeared as one. Councilman Withers asked what the word "around" means . Councilman Marks said he wants to discuss size not location. A general discussion followed. Mayor Amick asked Mr. Hall to take the general concerns and draft an amending ordinance for review, defining boundaries , number of feet from polling places , in medians or not, etc . Councilman Harris said he thinks there should be not limit on election day. Mayor Amick appointed a committee of himself, Bill Hall and Mike Russell to work on the ordinance. Councilman Marks said we need to limit the distance between signs , to keep candidates from using creative sign methods and the Mayor asked if we need to address the number of signs in a yard. Councilman Harris said , with regard to creative signs, that his was the large sign that was cut into 3 at the last election and admitted that he would have just removed the sign, but the actions of the opposition caused him and his organization to create the stacked signs, which he added was totally legal within the ordinance. Councilman Harris went on to say that signs on election day do not win the election and the only reason the creative method was used was to irritate those who opposed them, going on to say that if he had been approached personally, he probably would have removed the signs. Councilman Harris said there is an easy fix and that is to limit the height of the sign from the ground. Mayor Amick asked the Council ' s opinion regarding three items before referring this to a committee, signs in medians and number of signs in residential yards, results as follows: Signs in medians on election day - All against except Alianell and Marks . Signs in City Right of way on Election Day - All in favor. Number of signs in yards increased to 5 - All agreed. 4. REVIEW CHAPTER 5 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL CONTROL Councilman Glazener said he had requested this item so that the Dallas Ordinance could be reviewed with regard to enforcing noise and odor violations . After a brief discussion, it was decided this item should be put into committee and studied by the Exotic Animal Committee. 5. REVIEW ESTABLISHING TIME LIMITATIONS ON DEBATE IN COUNCIL MEETINGS Councilman Glazener said he did not really want to limit debate , but feels that the Council does not use meeting time efficiently, and suggested that a time limit could be set for debate and for citizen input. There was a general discussion regarding methods of handling citizen input. Councilman Glazener suggested that all Councilmembers should come to the meetings prepared and ready for debate instead of asking questions during the meeting. Councilman Marks said it appears that debate is usually between sides and the Mayor seems to allow it to continue as long 00313 as it is in his favor, but cuts it off when it is not in his favor. Mayor Amick said he calls for an end to debate when he realizes that it has gone on for too long and said he does now put a motion on the floor before allowing debate, reminding the Council that anyone can call the question at anytime. Councilman Withers suggested a pre-council work session before each meeting to get questions answered. Councilman Harris said that Councilmembers should never use citizen input as a personal forum as has sometimes happened. The City Secretary advised the Council that there are several books available to them which suggest efficient ways in which to handle council meetings . Mayor Amick said that all Council should ask their questions of the City Manager before the meetings and should also check out the books in the City Secretary' s office and review them. 6. REVIEW POLICIES REGARDING USE OF CITY VEHICLES Councilman Marks said he requested this to be on the next regular session not a work session and that he did not receive a phone call during the poll because he was not in his office last Tuesday, going on to say he did not want to discuss this tonight. Mayor Amick said he felt this item would be better discussed in a work session and had asked Patti Hicks to poll the Council , which she did and a majority of the Council wished to discuss it at this meeting. Mayor Amick went on to say that in light of the letter to the editor which Councilman Weaver had written with regard to this subject, he felt it needed to be discussed tonight. The Mayor did state that he felt the letter was not professional and it was not appreciated. Councilman Marks said again, he did not want to talk about this tonight, because he did not have hi$ background information since he did not know it would be on this agenda. Mayor Amick said he had reviewed the city policy enclosed in this packet and that he does not have a problem with it . Councilmen Glazener and Harris both agreed with the policy. It was generally agreed that the item, could, however, be put off until another work session. Mr. Hall asked permission to speak, asking what staff is supposed to do when they read in the paper that there is a problem. Mr. Hall said he had prepared some responses to the article and to a letter received last week but stated he needs direction for himself and the staff. Mr. Hall went on to say that he does not appreciate being caught blind sided in a council meeting my the councilmembers. Mayor Amick agreed and said that is not good for morale, stating that Mr . Hall should always be made aware of problems perceived by councilmembers , and went on to say that it is difficult for city staff to function when they are being publicly judged in the local paper and by innuendos. Councilman Glazener asked the Mayor to get a consensus regarding this item even needs to be discussed further. Councilman Withers - yes , Councilman Alianell - No. Councilman Marks said he thought this would be discussed at another work session and now we are discussing it tonight, or at least polling the council to see if we will discuss it. Mayor Amick said the City Manager made a good point, that we (Council) need to let him know how we feel . Councilman Marks agreed it should be discussed tonight. Councilman Harris said he has no problem with discussing it tonight, however, he said he is sorry Councilman Weaver is not present, stating he felt it was appropriate that this is the night before Halloween and it is apparent that Mr. Weaver is on another witch hunt. Councilman Harris said he had done some research due to the letter to the editor and found the Mesquite and Denton have take home policies almost identical to ours, except ours is in more detail . The Councilman went on to say that Denton had gone to a take home policy for high visibility and economics. Councilman Harris stated he felt as soon as this item is over, Councilman Weaver will find another cause, going on to say this is a good policy and it should stand, asking the Council to tell Mr. Weaver to stop addressing city problems to (;0339 .'. the newspaper. Councilman Marks said he has no problem with the take home cars , the problem is with department heads using city cars for personal use outside the metroplex area, stating he checked with the City of Irving who said that their employees can take the city vehicle out of the area on official business, but cannot take their family, going on to say that our Police Chief and Fire Chief can take their cars on vacation. Mayor Amick said that policy was established years ago probably because the salaries were so low and the Council had felt it was a good benefit, stating he had spoken to some cities who use car allowances , but The Colony chiefs are hands on supervisors and a car allowance would not be appropriate. Chief Ristagno said the use of the city vehicle was a condition of his employment and that when he is out of the metroplex on personal business , he pays for gas , oil and maintenance. Mayor Amick asked if there is a need to change the policy, stating this item had been approached wrong , through use of citizen input regarding the truck parking ordinance. Councilman Harris said that city staff really has nothing to do with this policy, this policy was approved by Council not staff and the staff should not take the heat. Bill Hall said he doesn' t mind the heat, but he has to know the question before he can answer it, going on to say that he will be responding to Mike Lynch' s letter regarding the vehicle policy. Councilman Harris said if there is a problem, the Council should go to the right person and Mayor Amick said such things should be brought to him or Bill Hall and if it involves personnel then it can be discussed in a Closed Door Session, but should not be bog down regular sessions, citizen input or the paper. Councilman Withers did suggest that the Council review the policy and the letters and then P Y if there is a need, it can be brought back for discussion . Councilman Glazener suggesting encouraging the press to ask the council and staff for facts before printing items. Councilman Marks asked the Mayor to speak to Councilman Weaver regarding the opinions expressed in this meeting concerning his actions so that he is aware of them, going on to say he did receive 3 calls regarding city cars used for out of state vacations but if the policy is O.K. with the Council , then it is O.K. 9 : 10 p.m. 7. CLOSED DOOR SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY ARTICLE 6252-17 , SECTION 2G, REGARDING PERSONNEL, TO-WIT: A. DEPARTMENTAL EVALUATIONS Upon reconvening in open session, and with no action to be taken regarding the closed door session, Councilman Harris moved to adjourn and Councilman Alianell seconded the motion, which carried with all members voting Aye. Mayor Amick advised that beginning November 6 , 1989 , there will be a Pre-council work session for answering questions , held before each regular session, to begin at 7: 00 p.m. Mayor Amick adjourned the meeting at 10:45 p.m. APPROV : z;e2 :14r/ Don Amic , ayor :7791ST: 4y:& a Patti A. Hicks, City Secretary [SEAL]