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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/12/1998 City Council 0,0-6 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 12, 1998 The REGULAR SESSION of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas, was called to order at 7:35 p.m. on the 12th day of January, 1998, 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 members present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1.0 ROUTINE ANNOUNCEMENTS, RECOGNITIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS: Invocation - Rick McCoy, Calvary Christian Center Presentation of the Colors and Pledge of Allegiance - Cub Scout Pack 395 1.1 MAYORAL COMMENTS: ~> Members of the council, staffand financial advisors traveled to New York City last XVeek to meet xvith Standard and Poor's, Moody's and FSL Insurance Co. in an attempt to have the city's bond ratings improved. We made a faultless presentation and should know the results by Wednesday of this week. Councilmember Longo praised Tony Johnston and his staff for their work in preparing for this trip. ~> March 6-10, 1998 is the National League of Cities conference in Washington D.C. Councilmembers need to aavise the City Secretary as soon as possible if they wish to attend. Appointments will be scheduled with legislators, the Corps of Engineers and other agencies. Councilmembers Longo, Henville-Shannon, Avey, Mayor Watts, and Mr. Lambert will be attending. ~ "Zoning News" article regarding xvaterfront development. A lakeshore study is needed. ~> F.M. 423 improvements timetable - three days of good weather and the new lane will be opened. Thc other side may be complete in 120-160 days. ~ ~> Have received a verbal proposal from SPAN for a Trolley system in the city. Propose 6 hours a day at $20.00 per hour, one uolley, and one driver. ~ Councilmember Longo said ~he Fire Department needs a tandem trailer to pull a house which will be used for training child ritz safety. 1.2 CITY MANAGER AND STAFF REPORTS Betty McKean reminded everyone of the sales tax election on January 17, 1998. There will be a community forum Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. Ms. McKean explained some 00678 possible uses for this funding, if passed. Councilmembcr Kovatch thanked the committee members, board members and Ms. McKean for their hard work toward the promotion of this issue. City Secretary, Patti Hicks, reiterated the need to know about National League of Cities. Proposal to use the Optiscan equipment from Denton County for the May election. Council agreed to pursue. 334 persons have voted early as of 5:00 p.m. today. =:> Canvass of sales tax election cannot be held on Monday. Consensus is to hold the meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 1998. Three board vacancies. Interviews prior to the meeting on January 19, 1998. All agreed. North Texas Commission "Greatest Challenge", event on January 22, 1998. No one is attending. Mr. Lambert reported that bidding on the signal light at F.M. 423 and Cougar Alley and the construction of Memorial Drive and the wastewater line for Wal-Mart are ready for advertising. Mr. Lambert asked the council if they wanted to pursue the electronic voting system or wait until we move into the new building. Discussion followed regarding need for this type of system, whether the council chambers will be in the new building or be left in this building. Consensus was to hold off on this system. Mr. Lambert said the next step in the Food Lion renovation is to select an architect and the council will have to decide then whether they want the chambers moved or not. =:> Councilmember Stanwick asked the City Secretary to research if The Colony Courier qualifies to become the city's official newspaper. 1.3 CITIZEN INPUT - None 2.0 DISPOSITION OF MINUTES 2.1 Approval of minutes of the council meetings held December 11, 15, and 29, 1997 Motion to postpone the minutes of the December 15, 1997, meeting so more details of the Austin Ranch Developer's Agreement could be added to them - Avey; second - Henville-Shannon, carried with all members voting Aye. Motion to approve the minutes of the December 11 and 29, 1997, meetings as written - Kovatch; second - Henville-Shannon, carried with all members voting Aye. 3.0 REGULAR AGENDA: 3.4 Consideration of appropriate action regarding Texas utilities electric rate request case before the Public Utilities Commission Jean Hooker with T.U.E. addressed the council regarding the tariffs. She explained that the PUC approved a settlement that would lower residential bills 4% effective January 1, 1998, and an additional 1.4% decrease effective in 1999. Commercial rates will be decreased by 2%. This is a two-year agreement, which they believe is fair to all. She further explained the council is just being asked to approve the three tariffs. T.U.E. has made ordinances available for council's consideration. John Hill, City Attomey, said he received an ordinance from Jay Doegy representing a coalition opposing this rate decrease. This ordinance also approves the rate decrease, however, it also allows for the city to participate in this coalition. The coalition believes the rates should be even lower. A second ordinance he provided approves the rate reduction and does not call for the city to participate in the intervention. Mr. Hill recommended approving the rates and join in the intervention. Councilmember Kovatch moved to postpone action until January 19, 1998. Ms. Hooker said T.U.E. provided a "Me Too" ordinance that approves the tariffs but allows other items to be decided by the PUC. Approving the tariffs does not compromise the city's position on any other matters in this case. Councilmember Stanwick reiterated that this ordinance only approves the rate reduction and gets the rate as PUC approves, stating he does not see a need to intervene. Alter lengthy discussion, Councilmember Dillard seconded the motion to postpone to January 19, 1998. Further discussion followed regarding whether to intervene or not. All agreed the rate reduction should be approved. Councilmember Dillard called the question and the vote was taken as follows: Motion to postpone to January 19, 1998 - Kovatch; second - Dillard, failed with the following roll call vote: Ayes - Longo, Dillard, Kovatch Noes - Henville-Shannon, Stanwick, Avey, Watts Motion to approve Ordinance No. 2 as presented by City Attorney which offers a statement of our position but no intervention - Stanwick; second - Dillard, carried with the following roll call vote: Ayes - Henville-Shannon, Stanwick, Avey, Dillard, Watts Noes - Longo, Kovatch 3.1 Consideration of approval of the preliminary and final plats for the PaigedSouth Colony Addition Mr. Harry Persaud addressed the council stating the request is for approval of the preliminary and final plats for Lot 1, Block A, Paigc/South Colony Addition, located on the northwest corner of South Colony and Paige Road. The Planning and Zoning Commission considered the matter on December 9, 1997, and voted unanimously to recommend approval subject to the stipulation that the site plan and engineering plans are to be approved by the city. Motion to approve as presented - Kovatch, second- Stanwick, carried with all members voting Aye. 3.2 Consideration of approval of the final plat for Legend Glen, Phase 1 Mr. Persaud addressed the council stating the request is for final plat for the Legend Glen, Phase 1 Addition, located east of Moming:star drive and north of Memorial Drive. The Planning and Zoning Commission considered the matter on December 9, 1997, and voted unanimously to recommend approval with two stipulations (1) Engineering and construction plans to be approved by the city (2) homeowners' association deed restrictions shall be filed with the final plat and copied to the city. Motion to approve as presented - Kovatch, second- Dillard, carried with all members voting Aye 3.3 Consideration of a resolution supporting the Byrd-Gramm Amendment relating to the "Gas Tax Honesty Program" Motion to postpone to January 19:1998 -Avey; second - Dillard, carried with all members voting Aye. 5.0 DISCUSSION ITEMS 5.1 Developer's agreement regarding the Wynnewood Peninsula Development Mr. Lambert said it is time to begin discussions regarding the above named agreement. The council needs to consider who should serve on the negotiating team. Mayor Watts said this will be a totally different situation than Austin Ranch, noting there are two developers, not one. Councilmember Henville-Shannon urged a work session aider the committee meets and is ready to make recommendations. Councilmember Avey suggested an initial meeting ~vith the t~ull council, allowing each member ten minutes to give ideas, then the committee can negotiate, then another work session. Councilmember Kovatch said a ~vork session is not needed Councilmembers should give their ideas to the committee members in writing. He recommended the Mayor chair the committee and then name two more members. Councilmember Longo said a committee is O.K., but a work session is needed before a vote is taken. Mayor Watts appointed Councilmembers Stanwick and Henville-Shannon to serve on the Committee with her and Mr. Lambert. 9:30 p.m. 6.0 EXECUTIVE SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551.074 AND 551.071 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE RELATING TO PERSONNEL AND LITIGATION, TO- WIT: A. CITY MANAGER EVALAUATION B. BNRCC V. CITY OF COLONY C. JWV V. CITY OF COLONY D. GOODY-GOODY V. CITY OF COLONY E. GIBSON V. CITY OF COLONY 10:20 p.m. 6.1 Consideration of any appropriate action to be taken as a result of the executive session. Action was necessary on item A and was taken as follows: Motion to give the City Manager a 4% increase with the next evaluation to be done in December, 1998 - Henville-Shannon; second - Dillard, carried with all members voting Aye. With no further business to address, Mayor Watts adjourned the meeting at 10:21 p.m. APPROVED: Patti A. Hicks, TRMC, City Secretary