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Home My WebLink About08/04/1997 City Council 0O663.8 CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 4, 1997 ITEM DESCRIPTION SOURCE STATUS 1.0 ROUTINE ANNOUNCEMENTS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATION: 1.1 Call to Order - 7:30 P.M. All Councilmembers present. Watts 1.2 Invocation - J.R. Warden, Paul Koenig, St. Peters by Koenig the Lake Episcopal 1.3 Pledge of Allegiance Watts 1.4 Mayoral Comments Watts Mayor Watts thanked all those who attended the open house on July 29, 1997 and reminded everyone of National Night Out on August 5, 1997. She also reminded people that early voting for the Bond Election ends Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. and that the bond election and the Homestead Exemption Election are both on August 9, 1997. She said with the 423 construction there wilt be some closures. We will advise of schedules when we have them. 1.5 CITY MANAGER AND STAFF REPORTS Lambert 1. He will be in the dunking booth at Stewart Peninsula for National Night Out. 2. Council is encouraged to attend the TML quarterly regional meeting on August 26, 1997. 3. This is Ben Tinsley's last night to cover The Colony for The Leader newspaper. 4. Hopefully a planner will be hired this week and on board soon. 5. Councilman Henville-Shannon had breakfast with the Society of Military Engineers this morning. She got some good information and will share that with the council. CITIZEN INPUT Dick Weaver, 4940 Hackney- addressed the council regarding ad valorem taxes, the certified tax roll, valuation, etc. He as~ced the council to reduce the tax rate this year because if not, the taxes will, in effect, go up about 8%. Mike Lynch, 4921 Roberts - addressed the council regarding the condition of streets and encouraged people to vote for the bond issue on August 9, 1997. Mr. Lynch also addressed the solid waste contract stating that we are aclually paying $.55 more and getting less service. There is still no new contract for recycling service. Terri Goebel, 5123 Ragan Rd, encouraged people to vote for the bond issue on August 9, 1997. 2.0 DISPOSITION OF MINUTES: 2.1 Approval of the minutes of the council meetings Hicks Approved held June 23 and July 21, 1997 Motion to approve as written - Kovatch, second Stanwick, carried with all members voting Aye. 3.0 REGULAR AGENDA: PUBLIC HEARINGS: None RESOLUTIONS: 3.1 Consider adopting resolution for submission to TML Lambert No action Annual Conference. Council is to think about this and give suggestions to the City Manager for submission by September 15, 1997. ORDINANCES: None 4.0 CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed below are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of an item unless a Councilmember requests it, at which time it will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. RESOLUTIONS: 4.1 Consider approval of agreement with Denton County Watts Approved Commissioners Court to cable cast weekly meetings. Motion to approve - Longo; second - Henville- Shannon, carried with all members voting Aye. ORDINANCES: 4.2 Consider adopting Ordinance No. 97-989 amending the Bormann Approved Zoning Ordinance by amending the schedule of uses relating to In Home Day Care. Councilman Avey Public pulled to clarify some changes made today. Hearing Motion to approve as amended and presented by held staff- Avey; second - Kovatch, carried with all 7/21/97 members voting Aye. Bid Awards - None 5.0 OLD BUSINESS 5.1 Old Business Status Report - Mr. Lambert reported that Watts On-going the Centrifuge and aeration systems are still set to be complete by mid-September. 006G4 } 6.0 DISCUSSION ITEMS: 6.1 Work Session regarding 1997-98 Annual Budget Johnston Pat Dunlap presented his departmental budgets as follows: PUBLIC WORKS Specifically discussed was (1) back hoe (currently equipment is being leased at $1800 per month.), (2) opticom questioned - there is no grant available, however the State might help with installation along 121, (3) vehicle shelters - 4 proposed but not as high a priority as other items; Councilman Avey suggested building a facility for Public Works with covered parking around it. She said even though the employees want pay increases, fi~cility is important. Councilman Stanwick asked where the money for a building would come from. Discussion followed. Mayor Watts said a meeting is set with space planners and asked if the council wanted her to direct them to meet with the employees (public works) and then give an estimate on a building. There was not a consensus for this direction. Councilman Stanwick then asked if all the council was "O.K." with reducing the reserve from 45 days to 30 days. Mr. Lambert commented that with the $400,000 in the land fund, the reserve is 58 days. Discussion of department budget continued. WATER PRODUCTION, WATER DISTRIBUTION, WASTEWATER, PUBLIC WORKS ADMIN., FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND RECYCLING Specifically discussed was the need for microfilming, microfiche, scanning and reading equipment. There are many old plans and documents in the Utility Administration building that need to be protected in this manner. Discussion followed. Mr. Dunlap also reiterated the need for $20,000 in radio equipment to replace outdated equipment being used currently. Councihnan Avey requested a council only budget work session. Work session set for August 11, 1997 following the canvass of the bond election and the work session to discuss the August 18, 1997 regular agenda. Meeting set tbr 6:00 p.m. Councilman Stanwick commented that we just completed a Comprehensive Plan and now we need 00GG41 a Capital Improvements Plan. He expressed concern that if the $14.5 million bond passes and we issue $4 million in revenue bonds there will be no capital improvements for at least 3 years. Councilman Avey said she wants a small budget for Special Events Board. Councilman Stanwick said we need to budget for payment of the $15,000 attorney fees for the Eastvale litigation as set out in the settlement agreement. Mr. Lambert discussed hiring the Economic Development Director and proposed hiring her on a contract basis, not as a full time employee, then if the sales tax election fails in January she would no longer be employed. Discussion followed with Stanwick, Dillard and Longo expressing concern over hiring this person at this time at the proposed salary of $65,000. Mayor Watts asked for a consensus to fund this position in the 1997-98 budget. The Mayor said the primary function of this person will not be to get the sales tax election passed, but to seek out the types of businesses the citizens of the city want and to travel over the country, if necessary, to accomplish that. Councilman Dillard asked if there was enough money to fund such travel expenses. After further discussion, Mr. Lambert said he would be hiring her this week. 7.0 EXECUTIVE SESSION - None With no further business to address, Mayor Watts adjoumed the meeting at 9:45 p.m. APPROVED: - Mar)' Blair '~atts, Mayor - ATTEST: Patti A. Hick, TRMC, City Secretary