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Home My WebLink About06/09/1997 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON JUNE 9, 1997 The Special Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:05 p.m. on the 9th day of June, 1997, at City Hall with the following Council roll call: Mary Blair Watts, Mayor Present Bill Longo, Councilmember Present Bernetta Henville-Shannon, Councilmember PreSent David Stanwick, Councilmember Present Wilma Avey, Councilmember Present John Dillard, Councilmember Present Dave Kovatch, Councilmember Present and with seven present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 7:08 p.m. 2. EXECUTIVE SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551.074 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE RELATING TO PERSONNEL, TO-WIT: A. KAMEN, ET AL VS CITY OF THE COLONY 9:15 p.m. reconvene 3. CONSIDERATION OF ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION TO BE TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION No action taken 4. CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PREPARE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BONDS FOR WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS Motion to instruct City Manager to prepare for the issuance of revenue bonds for the water tower south of SH 121, water tower on Wynnewood Peninsula and Eastvale water system improvements - Kovatch; second - Dillard, carried with all members voting Aye. 10. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF THE DAY CARE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 3 006581 Sam Chavez, City Planner, explained to the Council the need for an ordinance amendment. He explained that the intent of the proposed ordinance is to allow group day care homes and registered family homes as accessory uses in residential districts with the exception of a day care center which would require approval of a specific use permit. He further explained that Council can either adopt a spedal set of standards or adopt straight across the board as the State allows. Jo Burke. 5117 Gilliam Cr., representing Family Child Care Association explained what the State requires for child care and requested that the existing ordinance be modified to address the two forms of in-home child care and that her organization be allowed to give input to the Council at the first meeting in July. Sam Chavez stated it would be approximately 60 days before it could be brought before Council and suggested a work session for the Planning and Zoning Commission to receive input from dtizens. Liz Ripperger. 5909 Stewart Blvd.. explained her position regarding this proposed amended ordinance and explained required licensing by the State. Melissa Burns. 7045 Fox Dr., explained that she is not in favor of public day care but prefers in-home child care because of the attention given her children. Councilman Kovatch apologized to the citizens for the delay in addressing the proposed ordinance. Councilman Kovatch asked Sam Chavez what was the quickest way to correct this situation. Mr. Chavez explained that the quickest way would be to amend the schedule of uses and add two additional categories of child care. The ordinance could be amended -- later. Councilman Longo stated his position in favor of in-home child care contrary to rumor. Councilman Kovatch continued by saying the City needed to allow the State to regulate. It was consensus of the Council to continue with the necessary process to amend this ordinance. 5. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE CITY OF THE COLONY Sam Chavez gave the Council a brief explanation of how the Comprehensive Plan was prepared and asked for approval. Councilman Avey asked for clarification on some of the maps and that the Johnson Tract be included in the city limits. She also asked that the "Entertainment District" be placed in another area. She reminded that she and Coundlman Stanwick had asked Planning and Zoning to use cross references for P&Z issues that come forward that reference the applicable sections of the Comprehensive Plan. Sam Chavez explained that was a standard policy. Councilman Avey suggested possibly a numeric or alpha or combination be assigned to the key goals and objectives. Discussion followed among the Council regarding the procedure for changing the approved Comprehensive Plan. Councilman Stanwick asked, with Coundl permission, to direct the City Manager to provide each Councilmember 11" x 17" color copies of the comprehensive land use map. Mr. Chavez said his intent was to provide copies of the future land use plan and on the back the thoroughfare plan to use for quick reference. 006582 Motion to approve Comprehensive Plan as presented - Stanwick; second - Dillard Councilman asked Mr. Stanwick if he wanted to include the mention of moving the "Entertainment District" in Eastvale in his motion. Councilman Stanwick replied that he wanted to leave the Plan as is and revisit it later since it can be modified at any time. Councilman Henville-Shannon asked what the procedures were for modifying the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Chavez replied it can be amended at any time. Council can direct staff to proceed with an amendment. Councilman Avey asked again that if there's no objection to removing it in the future, why not change motion now. Coundlman Stanwick responded that maybe the assumptions that decided that issue should be modified, but the assumption was that the area was prime real estate and if a developer wanted to come in and buy one entire side of FM 423, this allows us to say this is a possible use for that area. It's still zoned residential until changed. Councilman Longo stated the residents in that area are concerned with that classification and he felt it should be changed. Discussion followed regarding the issue of removing the classification. Councilman Dillard called the question. Motion carried with the following roll call vote: Ayes: Henville-Shannon, Stanwick, Dillard, Kovatch, Watts Nos: Longo, Avey 6. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING ADDING APPENDIX C - PARK DEDICATION Sam Chavez gave brief overview of Planning and Zoning Commission action taken on this item. Councilman Stanwick asked Pam Nelson, Parks and Recreation Director, if funds could be used in any area. Ms. Nelson responded the funds could only be used in the same planning area. Councilman Longo asked what would happen if no one in a particular planning area wants to dedicate land and give us money, what do we do with the money. Ms. Nelson responded the money could be utilized for pfirchase of land within a particular planning area, or for developing park area that already exists. Discussion followed regarding the options available to the City. Motion to approve ordinance as written - Kovatch; second - Longo, carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 7. PLANNING AND ZONING ORIENTATION BY CITY PLANNER This item was tabled until a future date. 8. COUNCIL COMM1TFEE APPOINTMENTS 00658; Mayor Watts announced council committee appointments. Longo: Beautification, Cable Programming, Metrocrest, Fees, Personnel Henville-Shannon: Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, Personnel Stanwick: Solid Waste, Regional Wastewater Review Avey: Fees, Finance, Special Events Dillard: Solid Waste, Finance Kovatch: COG representative, EDC, Personnel, Special Events Watts: Fees, EDC, Cable Programming, Beautification, Finance Mayor Watts explained that by State Law the Council appoints members on the Animal Advisory Committee and Councilman Kovatch has indicated an interest. Motion to appoint David Kovatch to Animal Advisory Committee - Longo; second - Dillard, carried with all members voting Aye. 9. RECEIVE PRESENTATION REGARDING THE CARVER BOARD GOVERNANCE POLICY This item was tabled until a future date. 11. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF AN ETHICS ORDINANCE This item was tabled until a future work session. Councilman Avey and Councilman Stanwick both expressed the desire for an informal work session to discuss this issue. It was also discussed that Margaret Burkett, Personnel Director, be in attendance since she has some concerns regarding this ordinance. Several of the points are already covered in the City Personnel Policy and Charter. Councilman Avey expressed that if there is State Law covering these points, duplicate work need not be done. Mayor Watts directed Patti Hicks to combine this topic with the Carter Board Governance Policy for a work session. Ms. Hicks suggested June 23 for the work session. 12. CONSIDERATION OF CITY ATFORNEY APPOINTMENT Mayor Watts read from a memo received from Pete Eckert, City Attorney, requesting the City appoint John Hill as City Attorney for a six-month period to be reviewed at that time. Motion to appoint John Hill as City Attorney for a six-month period - Dillard; second - Longo John Hill addressed the Council and explained that their firm operates such that if Mr. Hill is unable to attend a Council meeting, Mr. Eckert will appear in his place and he would count on him for support. Motion carried with all members voting Aye. With no further business to address, the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. APPROVED: attl~ Mayor ' ATTEST: ~'Ruthann Devff~, D' ~' eputy Cit~Secretary City Secretary [SE~.] 7