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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/05/1996 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1996 The Work Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 6:40 p.m. on the 5th day of September, 1996, at City Hall with the following Council roll call: William Manning, Mayor Present Bill Longo, Councilmember Present Mary Watts, Councilmember Present David Stanwick, Councilmember Absent Wilma Avey, Councilmember Present John Dillard, Councilmember Present David Kovatch, Councilmember Present and with six present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: Mayor Manning opened discussion directed at Councilmember Watts and Councilmember Longo both of whom had requested committees. Mayor Manning said those requests would be addressed at the Work Session scheduled for September 23, 1996. Addressing Councilmember Longo, he responded to a request that Council meetings end by 10:30 p.m. Mayor Manning did not feel that would be a good idea to set a deadline but informed the Council that any one of them could make a motion to adjourn a meeting at any time. 1. WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS THE 1996-97 MUNICIPAL BUDGET Continued from the August 26, 1996 meeting, items were discussed as follows: 8. Create Board to plan city wide activities Councilmember Avey requests a citizens' board for the purpose of working together to promote city activities. Mayor Manning asked Pam Nelson, Parks and Recreation Director, what her plans were to add activities. She responded saying most activities that have been added have been at Hidden Cove Park. If the Council would like additional activities within the City, she does not currently have the staff to acconunodate that. Councilmember Kovatch added that the thought was not to use current staff. Councilman Avey said she would like to a couple of thousand dollars put aside for future events. Johnny Smith, City Manager, informed the Council that we may not have any extra money for the next budget year. There is only normal growth rote that will increase the revenues with no rote increases planned. Discussion followed regarding our current reserve and lowering to a 30-day reserve. Tony Johnston, Finance Director, explained the budget would be tight and we should be conservative with add-ons. Mr. Smith explained that if items are added, other items should be removed to balance the budget. Direction to Mr. Johnston was to earmark $6,000 not going to be used for a Planning Department intern and this item would be reviewed at mid-year. Councilmember Longo would like to see fireworks considered. Mr. Smith suggested possibly jointly sponsoring an event with Lewisville, Frisco or Little Elm. Councilmember Watts added that she supports what the newly formed Board would accomplish. She felt the proposed budget has not addressed the desires of the citizens. Discussion followed regarding current activities and age groups targeted. 9. Sidewalk from Independence Drive to the Amphitheater in Bill Allen Memorial Park. Councilmember Watts informed the Council that the estimate for the sidewalk is $8,800 with a cost per home involved at $88. She feels residents should not have to walk through mud and weeds to get to the park. Pam Nelson, Parks and Recreation Director, said the drainage area needs to be considered before planning sidewalk. Mayor Manning pointed out that the sidewalk among other items were eliminated since the city mn out of grant money to f'mish the park. Pam Nelson said she felt safety and security items should be addressed first. Councilmember Kovatch suggested the Council direct the City Manager to look at budget to see if another project might be postponed in place of this one. Mayor Manning said that these are the kinds of items that should be given to staff before department budgets are created. Johnny Smith advised that improvements to Bill Allen Memorial Park are part of the Comprehensive Plan. 10. List of expenditures initiated by council in the 1995-96 fiscal year. Tony Johnston distributed a list of capital expenditures. Counciimember Watts had requested the list to see how many purchases had been generated at Council's request. It was determined that all items had been generated by staff and approved by Council. 11. Purchasing Agent Councilman Avey expressed her desire for a Purchasing Agent. Margaret Burkett, Personnel Director, informed the Council that Frisco might be interested in sharing a Purchasing Agent, but not in the upcoming budget year. Councilman Watts said one of the reasons for hiring a Purchasing Agent would be to save the City money by having oversight of writing bid specifications. After discussion it was determined this item would be reviewed mid-year. 12. Request from The Colony Youth Services Coalition for a facility for the Boys & Girls Club Johnny Smith explained that the Club would like to use the site of the former Civic Center and that the Club will try to get a grant to build a new facility. Mr. Smith said the City's intention for that site had been a centralized recycling center. He has other sites he might suggest to the Club. Another option might be the four acres earmarked by Centex for the City to be considered for a Senior Center. That site could be used or possibly sold to the Boys & Girls Club. The Council was in agreement that the Boys & Girls~Club are welcomed in The Colony. Councilman Longo suggested Mr. Smith bring suggestions to the Council regarding a possible site. 13. Request from Senior Citizens for assistance with a van. Mr. Smith was contacted by the Senior Citizens initially to request for a full year of funding of insurance. They (Seniors) has since received a pledge of about $7,200 to cover almost a year's worth of maintenance, gasoline, insurance etc. The request is now for $300.00 to be added to the new budget for the remainder of the year. Mr. Smith suggested that by next September, if the Seniors have not already raised the money themselves, the City can consider assistance at that time. Councilmembers Longo and Avey voiced opposition to the City's involvement. Mayor Manning added his concern. 14. Break out of the following: Streets - $130,000 - what part is for sidewalks? Drainage - $56,000 - what part is for Strickland? Councilmember Dillard expressed his concern and desire to fred more money in the budget for street repairs. Discussion followed regarding the current condition of the streets. Councilmember Longo noted that some of the streets are 23 years old and it's only natural they should now need major repairs. Discussion followed regarding temporary patches before winter. Councilmember Avey asked if streets in Eastvale could be included in bond package? Mr. Smith responded that those streets could be included but almost certainly not without a tax rate increase. Councilmember Watts mentioned considering irrigation when planning street repairs. Several streets were mentioned during further discussion as priority for repairs. The Council directed Mr. Smith to bring suggestions back to them for further consideration. It was a concensus of opinion that selected streets could possibly be repaired with emergency patching. At this time there was lengthy discussion regarding confusion over the budget by some Councilmembers. Councilmember Avey stressed her confusion on what the council had actually approved or not approved. She did not understand that there was a concensus of council opinion regarding personnel issues. She suggested that when information is introduced to the council, any updates to that information be submitted in the same format. Discussion followed regarding the sequence of events in council's review of this year's proposed budget. Councilmember Avey indicated she was not understanding of the budget process that had occurred. Mayor Manning then polled the Council regarding acceptance of the budget. It was concensus that each councilmember could approve the budget with the exception of street repairs. Margaret Burkett then addressed the council regarding an item on the next council meeting agenda, increase in health insurance premiums. With no further business to address, Mayor Manning adjourned the meeting at 9:49 p.m. A~.OVED: ATTEST: Wi~'~W. Manning, Mayor