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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/25/1995 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON September 25, 1995 The Work Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 6:30 p.m. on the 25th day of September, 1995 at City Hall. ROLL CALL: William Manning, Mayor Absent, Military Service Bill Longo, Councilmember Present Mary Watts, Councilmember Present Kay Hardin, Councilmember Present Rob Burchard, Councilmember Present John Dillard, Councilmember Present David Heiman, Councilmember Present and with six present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH TCI CABLE COMPANY The City is in the process of re-negotiating the franchise agreement with TCI Cable and the council requested public input regarding the service and satisfaction with that company. Jo¥ce Fulco, 4712 Clover Valley listed two complaints: 1) main reason for subscribing to cable (vas for the weather channel and every time it rains or we have any bad weather the cable goes out, 2) Slow response to calls for service. Mayor Pro-tem Dillard said he had served on the Cable T.V. committee previously and noted there are no other companies interested in coming to our city. Councilman Longo said he thinks the main problem is old equipment and poor reception. Tom Benge, 5013 Stanley listed the following complaints: 1) In stormy weather, one of the two (cable) boxes in his house goes out while the other works well, 2) we cannot call The Colony office and speak to anyone, we have to call another office, 3) there is no updating of equipment or services, 4) poor reception. There followed a general discussion regarding the service from TCI and the proposed changes to the franchise agreement. Mr. Smith said he is working with TCI to amend the agreement to ensure The Colony receives the same quality of service as other cities they serve. The Council was given a draft of the new agreement and asked to review it before the October 2, 1995 meeting. There will be a work session prior to the regular meeting to discuss the agreement. 2 2. JOINT WORK SESSION WITH THE LIBRARY TO DISCUSS FACILITY NEEDS Members of the Library Board present were: Diana Kruzich, Jayme Skelton, Pat Riggs, Wayne Bullard, and Dorian Barton. Also present was Joan Sveinsson, Library Director. Using the overhead projector, Mr. Bullard gave the council a presentation which included: Situational Awareness, Library Goals, Interim Plan and Long-range Plans. Mr. Bullard pointed out changes in the Library since it's inception. He noted the patron visits have increased 71%, circulation has increased 44%, and the collection has had a 100% plus increase since 1987. Shelving capacity is at 78.6% of maximum, the average growth over the past 5 years has been 8% per year. It is estimated the current facility may last another 4 years. Ms. Sveinsson showed the council photographs taken by Ms. Skelton to indicate the usage, lack of space and amount of shelf space in the current facility. Mr. Bullard listed the Library Goals as follows: * Keep pace with our community needs, * Enhance the quality of life for the taxpayers, * Be a reflection of the cultural integrity of our community and named the objectives to reach these goals: * Space to accommodate patrons, materials, emerging technologies, * Customer service oriented and user-friendly facility, * Multi-purpose cultural facility to serve all age groups. Mr. Bullard said the first step had been a patron survey which the board used to determine needs. The following ten categories are what the community stated as needs to be addressed: Hours of Service, Staffing, Space, Books, Videos, Activities, Periodicals, Research/Reference, Computers and Music. The interim plan recommended by the Library board and staff is to hire a professional library architect to review the current building for possible renovation and addition to handle the needs until such time as a new facility can be built. The board recommends adding on an area approximately 2000 square feet in size to the front of the building to be used as a new circulation desk and meeting room. The current meeting room would be converted to shelved space for books and the current circulation desk would be renovated as office space. Based on estimates, this renovation may cost $240,000.00. There was a lengthy discussion regarding current and future needs of the library, including how the needs may change in light of new technology. It was generally agreed that a long range plan must be put in place to accommodate the future needs of our community. Ms. Riggs said there are many needs in our community that must be met but told the council that it is imperative the council give attention to the Library so that the children in our community will continue to have a place they can go to learn and grow. The council and board agreed the first step is to seek an architect to help in this process. Ms. Sveinsson suggested the architect who worked with the Town of Flower Mound, noting he is currently working on the new national library standards. This item will be addressed at the upcoming capital projects work shop. It was noted that this should be a part of the Master Plan for the city. Funding options were discussed. The general consensus from council was the interim plan is feasible and an architect should be found to help with the planning and to estimate costs for the interim plan and with the long range plan. 7:55 Recess 8:10 Reconvene 3. JOINT WORK SESSION WITH THE COLONY MUNICIPAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED GOLF COURSE ON WYNNEWOOD PENINSULA Members of the EDC Board present were: Gary McClure, David Stanwick, Jerry Sebastian, Tommy Thompson, Ronnie Fischer and Economic Development Coordinator, Lori Harlan. Gary McClure, president of the EDC introduced Mr. Greg Cory with Economics Research Associates (ERA), whose firm prepared the feasibility study on the proposed golf course. Mr. Cory stated his firm is very optimistic about this project and recommend whole heartedly that the city move ahead with the full 36 hole development as soon as possible. He cited location, economics of the area and the physical design of the course as key factors in the favorable recommendation. The firm reviewed comparable courses in the area to make it's conclusions. Mr Cory said this is a very healthy market and an ideal situation for The Colony. He said the city is surrounded by the fastest growing counties in the area and average income is high. He said the demand (golf tee times) is there and the existing area courses cannot come close to meeting it, even if the proposed new courses are built. The demand will be approximately 400,000 rounds over what can be satisfied. Net income in the third year is conservatively projected at $1.3 million. Mr. McClure said this is a very viable project and an opportunity for the city to add one of the most positive amenities we will ever have in The Colony. The EDC strongly recommends we move forward with this course by selling revenue bonds. Councilman Heiman said the study was done on the basis of a municipally owned course and asked if the board has looked into a privately owned course. Mr. McClure said they had not researched private courses in the same depth as they had a municipal course. Ms. Harlan said several private developers have tried and failed and noted the timing in this project is important. Mayor Pro-tem Dillard said we want a project the city can be proud of and that the city should have a part in sharing in the revenues. Councilman Heiman asked what is happening that keeps us from building the course in another year (if we don't do it now). Mr. Smith said if the course was to be built on private property, the developer could use the 4 property as collateral, but since this is Corps property that is not possible in this case. He went on to say we need to come to closure on this project, noting the city has been trying to get a golf course on Wynnewood for about 10 years or so. He said council formed the EDC to pursue the golf course and their recommendation is that revenue bonds is the best alternative. Councilman Heiman stated that the city does not need to run a golf course. Mr. Smith said the golf course will give people a reason to come to The Colony and even if the course itself does not make money, it will bring more money into the city just by bringing more people into the city, which he said is an economic development goal. Councilman Watts stated that if we do not build this course now, our window of opportunity will close. Mr. Rob Farrell, with Matthews Southwest, stated that if this project could have been done by a private developer it would have already been completed. He said every great municipality in this area has public golf and the fact that this would be on Corps property makes it a great deal because there is no debt for the land. Councilman Burchard said he is concerned about the negative impact on the taxpayers is the project fails. Councilman Hardin said the people don't know that the city will be responsible for paying the bonds if the course doesn't make it. David Stanwick said if the city is in control of the course, it will be better than if a private developer has control of the project. Councilman Watts said we paid $20,000 for this feasibility study and the study states this is a very positive project. Golf Course consultant, Tripp Davis said historically, municipal courses do not fail unless they are poorly designed and managed badly. He said ERA is the best in their field. Tommy Thompson said ERA studies have been off by an average of 10%, usually the studies underestimate the positive impact. He said the underwriters for this project are very comfortable with the revenue and debt projections. Councilman Longo said if we move ahead, The Colony will be the second city in the area to build a course on Corps property and asked how Grapevine gets along with the Corps. Mr. Cory said there are many course all over the country on Corps property and getting along with them is really not an issue. The Corps is glad to have the property used and maintained. Councilman Burchard asked why someone would drive past several other courses to play this one. There was general discussion regarding golfers and how far they typically drive to play golf and why. Mr. Cory said this course will be unique and will draw from all over the area. Councilman Watts said Councilman Heiman has been a proponent of the 1/2 cent sales tax and she went on to say that if we achieve what all the experts say we will with this course then the 1/2 cent sales tax would truly benefit The Colony because much of it will be coming from people other than our residents. She said based on the study, 90,000 to 95,000 people would be coming through our city to play golf. Councilman Heiman said he wants the course, but he does not want to rush into it. Mike Catt, business owner in The Colony, said as a businessman in the city, he deals with the city's reputation everyday and noted it is real. People think nothing is going on in The Colony and that the city is not business friendly. He said this is an economic development issue and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the economic development benefits to The Colony. He said private developers won't do the project because it is on 00 '88i Corps property. Mr. Catt continued, stating it would be O.K. for the city to run a business that makes revenue and that the city must get past the reputation of dumping on businesses. He said he hopes we will use the recommendation of the experts, stating his business is based on decisions such as this. He asked how many of the council have their business in this city and went on to say The Colony needs vision and to increase high quality development to get past the bad reputation. He said he wants the community to prosper. Councilman Burchard said everyone understands Mr. Catt's point and that all the council are seeking the best for this community. He said this council is living with the attitudes of past councils, and went on to say we (this council) have approved lots of economic development and that it is not the council that keeps businesses from coming here but the demographics. Councilman Hardin stated that the EDC is separate from the City, and they are responsible for the bonds. Councilman Heiman agreed, but stated if they default the city could get a bad bond rating. Chris Janning with First Southwest Company said that really depends on how the bonds are pledged. If they are pledged solely from the revenues of the golf course then the city has no legal liability and there would be no. immediate recourse to the city's bond rating. He said it could effect future bond sales for the city because some investors would look at that project. Mr. Smith noted the city could pay off the bonds, but there would be no requirement to do so. Councilman Burchard said he believes this issue will pass, but there is still a need to ask questions. Councilman Heiman said the money will go back to the Corps Parks not into the city's general fund. Mr. Smith said we already have a lease with the Corps and all three park leases will be amended. He went on to state the council has gone through the most tedious study he has ever seen, gathering input from the EDC, private sector parties, First Southwest and underwriters. He said if the council is not comfortable with this project now, they never will be comfortable with anything brought to them in the future. He said this is a good project. Tommy Thompson advised that in the future it might be possible to renegotiate the lease with the Corps so that some of the money could go into the General Fund. David Stanwick noted that if the city so desired, the golf course could be sold in 5 - 10 years for ten times the value which would be around $20,000. Mr. Cory said one of secondary benefits will be employment opportunities and the real estate prices around the course will be at a premium. Tripp Davis said he got involved over a year ago with this project and believes it will be one of the most unique course in the area. He said it will be as good a public course as you will find in this country. Mr. Woodward, associate of Mr. Davis, said they have a course in Atlanta which is the number one in the city and a course in Farmington, New Mexico which is the number one in the state. Mr. McClure said the EDC needs direction from the council on the next step, whether to sell revenue bonds or seek private funding. Mayor Pro-tern Dillard said an item will be on the next agenda and Mr. Janning agreed, the council needs to take formal action on the direction this should go. Councilman Heiman said he wants the agenda item to give 6 the option of both bonds and private funding. Mr. Thompson asked why both items are needed, stating that if the revenue bonds fail, then the EDC will automatically seek private funding. He said they are not going to just stop the project. Councilman Heiman again requested an item to be on the next agenda to request the EDC to seek proposals. Councilman Watts said the EDC was selected by the council as a whole and were given direction by the council to pursue a golf course. Much time has gone into this project and the EDC has come to the council with a very strong recommendation which is backed up by lots of authority. Councilman Hardin said it seems like we (council) are being obstinate, but the EDC has information the Council does not have and the project keeps changing. Councilman Burchard thanked the EDC for their hard work on this project. With no further business to address, Mayor Pro-tem Dillard adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m. APPROVED: fohn Dillard, Mayor Pro-tern Patti A. Hicks,TRMC, CMC/AAE City Secretary 7