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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/12/1990 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 12, 1990 The Special Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:00 p,m, on the 12th day of February, 1990 at City Hall with the following Council roll Don Amick, Mayor Present Bill Manning, Councilman Present Steve Withers, Councilman Present Mike Alianell, Councilman Present Steve Glazener, Mayor Pro-tem Present Dick Weaver, Councilman Present Joel Marks, Councilman Present and with seven present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. CLOSED DOOR SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY ARTICLE 6252-17, V.A.C.S., SECTION 2G, REGARDING PERSONNEL, TO-WIT: A. MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE Upon convening in open session the council addressed the following items: 2. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD ON JANUARY 22 AND 27, 1990 Councilman Alianell moved to approve the minutes with corrections as noted and Councilman Withers seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 3. CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF A LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Councilman Weaver moved to accept a letter of resignation from James Vanderburg, Planning and Zoning member, and Councilman Glazener seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 4. CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF AN AIR CONDITIONER FOR THE E 9-1-1 ROOM IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT Councilman Weaver moved to approve the recommendation from staff for installation of an air conditioner in the E 9-1-1 equipment room, and to take the $2000.00 expenditure from the General Government account, also as recommended by staff. Councilman Glazener seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 5. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSTON/GALVESTON COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF CITY EQUIPMENT Mayor Amick stated the purpose of this agreement is to save the city money. Councilman Manning asked if there was no organization in our area that offered this type of agreement and Mr. Hall said the local C.O.G. does not, noting that we have purchased items through the City of Dallas, but that there are only two C.O.G.s in Texas that enter into these agreements. Councilman Manning also asked why a full police package vehicle is necessary for the Fire Department. Bill Hall said this type vehicle has heavy duty suspension and other amenities, noting the Fire Marshal does do off-road driving. Captain Wallace said the life of these vehicles is greater, and although this is a staff vehicle, it is used for fire suppression and code 3 responses. Councilman Manning asked the difference in price and Chief Ristagno responded stating the vehicles purchased through the bid process last year were approximately $13,000.00. Mr. Hall did state that it is not necessary to go through the bid procedure with this agreement and we can get comparable or better equipment at better prices. Councilman Withers asked how much money is being saved and Mr. Hall said that is difficult to say without going out to bid to get prices, but the vehicle will be coming in under budget. Councilman Withers also stated that in the budget sessions, it was discussed that this vehicle should be down-sized. Mike Russell stated that when you order a police package, the model cannot be specified, noting that with Chevrolet you get a Caprice and with Ford you get a Crown Victoria. Councilman Alianell asked what would happen to the vehicle being used by the Fire Marshal now and Mr. Hall stated that this is the second hand me down vehicle for Captain Wallace, and that the current vehicle will either replace another vehicle in another department that is in worse condition or it will be auctioned. Councilman Marks moved to approve the resolution, authorizing the City Manager to enter into the interlocal agreement with Houston-Galveston Area Council to purchase equipment and Councilman Manning seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 6. CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZING INTERVENTION IN THE SOUTHWESTERN BELL RATE CASE Bill Hall said this issue first came up when we were close to settling our EAS case and the city did not act at that time, however, he went on to say that several cities have joined together, concerned that Southwestern Bell may attempt to pass the roll back of taxes to that company on to the consumer. Mr. Hall said this will not cost the city money, and may reduce our long distance charge. Councilman Alianell moved to approve intervention in the Southwestern Bell Rate case and Councilman Glazener seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 7. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, REGARDING SIGNS Councilman Alianell asked why the number 5 and Mike Russell said he looked at how many signs could feasibly be wanted and felt that 5 would allow for all possibilities, including a for sale sign. Councilman Marks asked about signs in commercial areas. There followed a lengthy discussion regarding the pros and cons with Councilman Marks stating he feels a candidate can get better visibility by putting signs in commercial areas. A lengthy discussion was held concerning signs in city easements/rights-of-way and front yards. Councilman Glazener said an easy solution is to do away with signs completely. Mayor Amick said he feels only easements and rights-of way around the polling places should be identified. Councilman Withers said just to restrict signs from residential easements. Councilman Aliane]] said he thinks the ordinance limits a person's right to express himsel f, noting that he asked permission to place signs in the easements in the last election and would like to see the ordinance stay as it is in that respect. Mayor Amick then asked for a consensus. Councilman G]azener said he likes the ordinance as it was. Councilman Weaver said he likes the ordinance as it was, but wants time extended for pickup of signs. Councilman Marks said he is not in favor of past practice. Ken Wood said a numerical limit on signs makes no sense at all, going on to say that a limit of one week to pick up signs in residential yards and 24 hours for those in city right-of-way should be enforced. Mr. Wood went on to suggest using the number of 'candidates or issues in each election as the guide to number of signs allowed. Councilman Manning said it appears that any restriction of number of signs is a restriction of freedom of speech and suggested no duplicates be allowed in one yard. Mayor Amick asked for another consensus on no limit on number of signs, restricted number and if so how many. Consensus as follows: Manning - No restriction in number; Withers- Restriction - 5 signs; Alianell - Restriction, 5 not adequate; Glazener- Restriction - zero; Weaver - No restriction; Marks - No restriction; Amick - No restriction. Councilman G]azener said the Council needs to think out thoroughly how this will affect the beauty of the city, noting that the ordinance had worked we]] until last year, going on to say the Council has now talked about this for one year, asking why we cannot just go back to the way it was before. Mayor Amick agreed, but said that we need to address issues such as no signs in medians and easements and unlimited number of signs in residential yards. Councilman Withers noted that Section 6-26 needed to state that the signs put up on election day only should be removed within 24 hours. Mayor Amick asked for a consensus on when to remove signs in residential yards and at the polls, which was as follows: Manning - Residential 5 days, polls, 24 hours. Withers - Residential 5 days, polls, by midnight. Glazener - Residential 5 days, polls, 24 hours Weaver and Marks - Residential 5 days, polls, 24 hours. Mayor Amick clarified the changes to be made in the ordinance as follows: No signs in easements, no number restriction for residential yards, 24 hours to remove signs from polling places and 5 days to remove signs from residential yards. All council also agreed to allow signs in corrmercial areas. Mayor Amick then asked for a consensus on designating the boundaries around the polling places, which was as follows: Manning - yes, Withers - no, Alianell - no, Glazener - no, Weaver - yes, Marks - yes, Amick - yes. In summary the Mayor re-stated the changes to be made; signs allowed in commerciallretail areas, restricted in residential area easements, no restriction on number of signs in residential yards, signs removed from polls within 24 hours, and from yards within five days of election, signs must be behind sidewalk in residential yards or 10 feet from the curb. 8. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Bill Hall advised that the Beckel law suit has been settled, noting that the amount of settlement was $3000.00, which will be paid by our insurance. Councilman Weaver advised of an emergency which occurred at the Civic Center and that there was no phone available for the Senior Citizens to use to call an ambulance, going on to say someone had to go across the street to use a phone to call paramedics. Councilman Weaver went on to praise the Fire Department for their quick response, stating a phone is needed in the Civic Center for such emergencies. At this time, the Council went back into Closed Door Session 1. CLOSED DOOR SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY ARTICLE 6252-17, V.A.C.S., SECTION 2G, REGARDING PERSONNEL, TO-WIT: A. MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE Upon reconvening in open session and with no further business to address, Councilman Weaver moved to adjourn and Councilman Marks seconded the motion which carried with all members voting Aye. Mayor Amick adjourned the meeting at 9:48 p.m. APPROVED: ~on ~i-L-ck, Mayork/" - ATTEST: Patti A. Hicks, City Secretary [SEALI