HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/26/1998 City Council MINUTES OF rilE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON
JANUARY 26, 1998
The SPECIAL SESSION of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order
at 7:00 p.m. on the 26th day of January, 1998, at City Hall with the following council roll call:
Mary Blair Watts, Mayor Present
Bill Longo, Counc,~member Present
Bernetta Henville-Shannon, Councilmember Present
David Stanwick, Councilmember Present
Wilma Avey, Councilmember Present
John Dillard, Couqcilmember Present
Dave Kovatch, Councilmember Present
And with seven members present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed:
3.0 REGULAR AGENDA:
3.1 Consideration of approving the assignment of the contract between the City of
The Colony and Club Fore Sports Center to Mr. David Rennhach
Mr. Lambert advised the council that under the terms of the agreement approval of council
is required for the current owners +~o sell to Mr. Rennhach. Councilmember Avey asked about the
development plan, noting that some things on the plan had not been done. Mr. Chip Jones explained
that over the years, the plan has been modified and the priorities shifted. He stated the original
Exhibit "A" was just an informal plan of what they had wanted to see happen at the facility. Mr.
Jones advised the new owner has ~ new development plan.
Mr. Rennhach addressed the council, giving his background and presented his resume for their
information.
Councilmember Avey asked if the city attorney had reviewed this contract. Staff'advised that
the city attorney wrote the contra,::t. This is just an action taken in compliance with that contract.
Councilmember Kovatch clarifie~i that if the council does not approve this sale, the land will sit
empty.
Motion to approve the sale- Il ~ovatch; second Dillard.
Councilmember Henville-5i harmon asked to see the new development plan and any changes
to the site plan. Mr. Rennhach a?.reed to provide those items. Councihnember Dillard called the
question. Vote was taken as follows:
006?9°
Motion carried with all members voting aye
6.0 DISCUSSION ITEMS
6.1 Trolley System
Mr. Lambert advised this item is for discussion only, explaining that the money goes to SPAN.
He clarified that SPAN carries $5 million insurance. Discussion followed regarding the age of
children allowed to ride the trolley without a parent. Mr. Lambert asked for direction whether to
pursue the trolley system or not. He said the council left $35,000 in the budget, $5000.00 of which
has been allocated to Special Events, leaving $30,000, which could be used for this purpose.
Councilmember Longo said we need the residents' input and suggested putting a survey on the water
bills.
Councilmember Kovatch agreed we need to know if ti,,~ citizens want this system. He
expressed concem about small children on the bus without supe~.'ision. He suggested reviewing this
at mid-year along with other projects that didn't get approved in the budget.
Councilmember Avey said the Special Events Board is thinking about using the trolley to
transport people to the fireworks display in July and suggested doing the survey then. She stated
there is no rush to put it in place.
Erika Lissberger with SPAN addressed the council, stati:Lg the trolley costs $20.00 an hour
to operate so a suggested beginning, promotional charge would be $.25 per child and $.50 per adult,
stating the charge should never be more than $.75 per person. She said the city could set the hours
of operation. Ms. Lissberger said the survey on July 4th is a good idea.
Mayor Watts suggested doing a trial run and a survey on the next three-day weekend.
Councilmember Stanwick said he has serious concerns about safety of unattended children
and that he does not believe there is a need for this to be an on-going service. He did agree it would
be a good idea for special events. Councilmember Kovatch reiter.tted the concern for safety of kids
and agreed with waiting until July 4th for the survey.
Councilmember Dillard stated we have the highest tax ra~ e in the metroplex; we just passed
a new sales tax; public transit is not a requirement of government and that this is a waste of taxpayers'
money.
Councilmember Henville-Shannon said we need to know if the residents want this service.
Councilmember Dillard said his constituents want the taxes lowered and this is not something that
will benefit them.
Mr. Lambert asked when the council wants to do the survey and how. Mayor Watts
suggested a questionnaire in The Leader. Councilmember Avey said she thinks putting something
on the water bill is fine and a survey on July 4th also.
Mr. Lambert said he understands the survey will be done on July 4, 1998.
6.2 LAKE SHORE STUDY
Mayor Watts stated the Corps of Engineers is ready to update their Master Plan, at a cost of
$100,000, and they (Corps) would be glad if The Colony would plan the Eastern Shore. She said she
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contacted two companies regard?~g the cost to develop a ShoreLine Master Plan and the estimates
are $50,000 to $60,000.
Mr. Lambert said this was discussed at the council retreat in December but the council at that
time felt there was no money for tlSs project. He said there is still no money, but the study will need
to be done and added to the Comp;ehensive Plan at some time. He said it could be cost shared with
other cities around the lake.
Councilmember Longo se. id he knows this is important but the money should be spent on
Stewart Creek or Hidden Cove Park and suggested this project go to EDC.
Councilmember Stanwick, referring to a map given to the council for review, stated that the
23 miles of shore line is misleading, noting the shoreline includes Hidden Cove Park, residential area,
golf course, etc. Councilmember Stanwick said there appear to be only three areas lef~ for
development and that he is not sure it is worth spending that much money for a plan. He suggested
that perhaps the plan could be done in-house. Councilmembers Dillard, Kovatch, Avey and Henville-
Shannon agreed that EDC should pursue this project.
Mayor Watts said the council can't pass this off.to EDC. She said the Corps is already doing
their plan and The Colony needs to identify and capitalize on as many revenue generating projects as
possible.
Tim House, Matthews-Southwest, said the Corps does like studies and that sometimes they
(studies) overcome a delay. He said he thinks this plan can be accomplished at a much lower cost.
Mr. House agreed that EDC is a good group to pursue and that his company will work with them,
noting they (Matthews-Southwest) has studied their shoreline already.
Johnny Smith, representing Tomlin Properties, stated his company has just purchased Lone
Star Ranch and noted that much of the development to the north (of The Colony) is based on the
shore line and they are very intere:;ted in its development. He said Tomlin Properties would work
with the city and help any way they can with EDC.
Councilmember Stanwick ~'uggested splitting the shoreline into two sections; (1) recreation
and (2) commercial, which might make the plans small enough to be done in-house with very little
help.
Councilmember Kovatch st.~ted that he knows the council cannot tell EDC, but he thinks that
is the proper way to go and that we should ask them to consider it. He agreed with Councilmember
Longo that the city does not have the money.
Mr. Lambert said the council can ask the developers on the shore to share in the cost, i.e.
Matthews-Southwest - $10,000, ['omlin Properties - $10,000, Golf Course - $10,000, Little Elm -
$10,000 and The Colony - $10,000. If the EDC takes on the project, the developers can still share
in the cost.
Councilmember Henville-Shannon said all existing information needs to be gathered fi'om the
developers before proceeding. Mayor Watts asked if there was a consensus to proceed with the study
through one of the EDC Boards, with the developers sharing in the cost.
Tim House said lots of the 3hore line happens to lie in city parks and advised that Matthews-
Southwest did not agree to pay $i 0,000 toward this project. Harry Persaud said the Planning Dept.
can help, noting the purpose of the plan is to pull together all types of uses for the property.
Councilmember Longo stated aga~,~ that there is no money for this study and there are many other
needs. He went on to say we have ft nailed down Wal-Mart yet and we may have to pay $100,000
for a traffic signal. Councilmember Kovatch said again this needs to go to the EDC.
With no further business to address, Mayor Watts adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
Patti A. Iticks, TRMC, City Secretary
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