HomeMy WebLinkAboutMn 09-04-07
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MINUTES
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS
COUNCIL CHAMBER - CITY HALL MODULAR BUILDING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2007, 5:15 P.M.
Mayor Holmes opened the regular City Council Meeting at 5: 15 p.m. in the Council Chamber in
the City Hall Modular Building. Present were Mayor Pro Tempore Harry Shawver and
Councilmembers Syd Carter, Jerry Grable and Kelly Walker. Also in attendance were City
Manager Bob Livingston, City Attorney Rob Dillard and Assistant City Secretary Brandy V oge.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
DEPARTMENT PINS: City Manager Bob Livingston presented Sanitation Driver III, Lupe
Gracia, with a 25 year pin, Maintenance Technician II, Streets Division, Rene Rodriguez, with
a 20 year pin and Maintenance Technician II, Utilities Division, Octavio Villa, with a 10 year
pm.
Mayor Pro-Tempore Shawver moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Carter
seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the following:
CONSENT AGENDA
CONSIDER AND ACT ON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BOUNDARY
ADJUSTMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS ON NORTHWEST
P ARKW A Y: This ordinance replaces Ordinance 07/08 dealing with the annexation of the strip
of land adjacent to Northwest Parkway, between Airline and Hillcrest. The previous ordinance
included a service plan, prepared by City of Dallas staff, which was not germane to a six-foot
wide strip of parkway. The new ordinance replaces the service plan with one that is more
appropriately defined.
CONSIDER AND ACT ON AN ANNUAL INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH DALLAS
COUNTY TO COORDINATE A COUNTY-WIDE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
DISPOSAL PROGRAM FOR FY2008: This Interlocal Agreement with Dallas County is an
annual renewal of the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program that was initiated in 1994.
Citizens of University Park have used either local events, usually held quarterly in one of the
local communities, or the Home Chemical Collection Center (located at 11232-34 PIano Road)
to dispose of their paint, herbicides, pesticides, etc. University Park's annual contribution to the
program is funded as a $25,000 expenditure from the proposed Sanitation Division FY 2008
Budget.
CONSIDER AND ACT ON AN ADDENDUM TO THE CONTRACT WITH R.L. GOODSON
IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,500 TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES ASSOCIATED
WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HYDRAULIC ANALYSIS OF TURTLE CREEK SOUTH
OF CITY HALL (PROJECT NO. 48700): At the December 19,2006 meeting, the City Council
approved a contract with R.L. Goodson to perform engineering services associated with the
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modeling of stormwater flows in Turtle Creek south of City Hall. Since December, the
consultant has developed the hydraulic model to the extent of conceptualizing the general type
and size of the proposed McFarlin bridge replacement structure. In order to expedite the project,
staff has asked him to expand on his scope of services to consider the impact of alternatives for
the existing dam downstream of McFarlin. The proposed addendum will conclude with specific
recommendations for the McElvaney Dam and the replacement of the McFarlin Bridge. Staff
requested that that "Limit of Liability" clause be removed from the contract.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: FOR AUGUST 28,
2007.
MAIN AGENDA
PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED FY2008 BUDGET AND PROPERTY TAX RATE:
Texas statutes require that cities provide notice and hold public hearings before adopting an
annual budget and property tax rate. Mayor Holmes opened the Public Hearing. The proposed
FY08 budget of $39.577 million is 4.48% larger than the adopted FY07 budget of $37.879
million. The proposed budget includes a tax rate decrease, rate increases for water and sewer
service, and $5.163 million in capital project funding. The Finance Advisory Committee met
August 16 to review the proposed budget. Although a quorum (six members) was not present,
the five attending Committee members recommended approval of the proposed budget. They
made two other recommendations: 1) that the three-officer traffic enforcement unit be approved;
and 2) that the City's percentage contribution to the firefighter retirement fund not exceed the
percentage contribution to the Texas Municipal Retirement System. The Employee Benefits
Advisory Committee met August 30 to review the salary and benefits elements of the budget.
Following review, they unanimously recommended approval of the proposed FY2008 budget.
The Property/Casualty/Liability Insurance will meet August 31, 2007. The property tax is the
General Fund's primary source of revenue. The proposed FY08 rate is $0.26836, an 8.32%
reduction from last year's adopted rate of $0.29272. The certified taxable property base rose
13.3%. The proposed budget would collect $548,385 more in current property taxes than last
year, a 3.9% increase. Due to the intricacies of the official effective tax rate (ETR) calculation,
the proposed $0.26836 rate that will raise 3.9% more tax revenue represents an effective tax
increase of only 1 %. The Dallas County Tax Assessor-Collector performs the effective tax rate
calculation. The ETR's purpose is to identify the tax rate that produces the same revenue dollars
this year as last year. Instead of using the new 2007 certified tax roll ($5 .444 billion) as the base,
the ETR calculation considers only those properties that were on the tax roll one year ago, after
adjustment for changes in exemptions, values under protest, and court-ordered reductions. The
resulting tax base number is known as the "2007 Adjusted Taxable Value" and omits the $186
million added by new construction in University Park this year. This new construction makes up
17% of the $1.13 billion increase in the certified taxable value. At the same time, the taxes
levied one year ago are also adjusted for refunds and are known as the "Adjusted 2006 taxes with
refunds." Dividing this figure ($13.28 million) by the adjusted tax base ($4.677 billion)
produces an effective tax rate of $0.26569/$100. Comparing the new proposed tax rate of
$0.26836 against the ETR yields an effective tax increase of 1 %. While the average single-
family home, with a market value of $1.064 million, would pay $2,286 in City property taxes,
the existing 10% appraisal cap reduces the tax bill for residents who owned their home last year.
The proposed 8.32% tax rate reduction combined with the 10% appraised value increase results
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in a tax bill of $2,169, only $18 more than last year. Mayor Holmes closed the Public Hearing
and noted that adoption of the budget and tax rate is scheduled for the September 18 meeting.
CONSIDER AND ACT ON APPOINTMENT OF A BUILDERS COMMITTEE TO WORK
WITH THE CONSULTANT IN REVIEWING DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN THE SINGLE
AND MULTI-FAMILY DISTRICTS: On April 3,2007, City Council approved the Scope of
Services for Dan Sefko and Associates to review and make recommendations for updating the
current building and development standards in the Single Family and Multi-Family Zoning
Districts. As part of that review process, staff is proposing to incorporate the participation and
input from a Builders Steering Committee. In addition to this Committee, the consultant will
also work with the Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee (ZOAC) and the Planning and
Zoning Commission before final recommendations are forwarded to City Council. Staff
recommended appointment of the following builders: for Single Family Construction: Gage
Pritchard, George Lewis and Rusty Golf, and for Multi-Family Construction: Richard Means,
Don Gale and Matt Franklin. Councilmember Grable moved approval of appointment of the
builders committee to work with the consultant in reviewing development issues in the single
and multi-family districts. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to
appoint the builders committee.
CONSIDER AND ACT ON APPROVAL OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND SERVER
ENHANCEMENTS AND UPGRADES: Over the past year, the Information Services
Department has been heavily involved in building the computing infrastructure to support two
personnel moves, and the new Peek Dispatch Center. As a result of the required time
commitment to plan and successfully complete those projects, there are a number of planned and
budgeted system upgrades and enhancements that were delayed. Item #1: HTE Naviline Police,
Fire, and EMS Application User Interface. The HTE Naviline application user interface is a web
browser-based method to access the data contained in the Crimes, Fires, and EMS systems. It
allows the end users to retrieve the information using software with the look-and-feel of
browsing an Internet web site. HTE is recommending this change for all of their clients, and
supporting it with reduced annual maintenance costs. Sungard HTE Naviline licensing, training,
and implementation will cost $22,343.00 and the Dell Naviline Server, $3,779.25. This project
was budgeted in 2006, and the funds were carried over to the 2007 budget. Item #2: QREP Web
Public Safety Reporting Software. The HTE QREP Web Reporting System is required to make
Police, Fire, and EMS Calls for Service reports easily available with the Computer-Aided
Dispatch Version 6 software which has been in use since the Peek Dispatch Center was activated
on June 27, 2007. Sungard HTE QREP Web licensing and training will cost $10,040.00 and the
Dell QREP Web Server, $3,779.25. This project was budgeted in 2006, and the funds were
carried over to the 2007 budget. Item #3: Citrix Presentation Server Upgrade. The introduction
of Citrix into the City's network infrastructure has allowed both Staff and Council secured access
to data, and simplified the process of application support. The City is using the most basic
version of Citrix Presentation Server for doing application deployment and providing remote
access. With the purchase of the Platinum version of Citrix Presentation Server, a higher level of
service to the end user will be provided, and more tools will be available to help increase data
security and make the experience friendlier. There were four bidders for the Citrix Presentation
Server 4.5 upgrade. Staff recommends the low bidder, Dell Corporation for $21,319.71. Funds
are available in the 2007 Information Services budget. Item #4: AppSense Environment
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Manager. With the introduction of Citrix, and having many users access one computer to save
cost, user profile management has become a daunting task. There are constant corruption
problems with the user profiles, and inconsistencies in roaming profiles. With Epvironment
Manager the IS Department would be able to provide a standard desktop environment to be
delivered and maintained for all users, ensuring enforced protection from unauthorized changes.
There were three bidders for the AppSense Environment Manager software. Staff recommends
the low bidder, MTM Technologies for $6,735.50. Funds are available in the 2007 Information
Services budget. Item #5: Planned Replacement of the LaserFiche Document Imaging Server.
In June, 2003 the City implemented the LaserFiche Document Imaging software to capture
electronic copies of all agendas, minutes, resolutions, and ordinances, as well as Planning and
Zoning, Board of Adjustment, and building permit data. As part of the IS Department's planned
replacement program for servers, the 4 year old LaserFiche file server requires an upgrade. The
cost of the Dell LaserFiche Server is $3,779.25. This server is included in the approved 2007
Information Services budget, and funds are available. Item #6: Planned Replacement of the
Engineering Server. The Engineering File Server contains the City's parcel, tax roll, building
permitting, and code enforcement data, as well as the City's map data. As part of the IS
Department's planned replacement program for servers, the 4.5 year old Engineering file server
requires an upgrade. The cost of the Dell Engineering Server is $3,779.25. This server is
included in the approved 2007 Information Services budget, and funds are available.
Councilmember Walker moved approval of the computer software and server enhancements and
upgrades. Councilmember Grable seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the
computer software and server enhancements and upgrades.
CONSIDER AND ACT ON A RESOLUTION DENYING 2006 ATMOS GRIP RATE
INCREASE: This Resolution denies the Atmos Gas Rate Infrastructure Program increase
request for 2006, known as GRIP 4. This action is recommended by the Atmos Cities Steering
Committee (ACSC). The Committee's purpose is to assist its member cities in reviewing
requests by Atmos Energy Corp. (formerly TXU Gas) for natural gas rate changes. The City
Council suspended the effective date of the GRIP request on July 3, 2007. This action was also
recommended by the ACSC. During the suspension period, consultants and legal counsel for the
Steering Committee have examined the details of the GRIP request. The consultant identified
$3.4 million in expenditures that should be excluded from the GRIP calculation. While this is
not a large amount given the overall size of the GRIP request, excluding these items will benefit
A TMOS customers by reducing the proposed GRIP surcharge. A TMOS will likely appeal this
action to the State Railroad Commission, which is the appellate body for natural gas rate cases.
Councilmember Carter moved approval of the Resolution denying the 2006 Atmos GRIP rate
increase. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the
Resolution denying the 2006 Atmos GRIP rate increase.
RESOLUTION NO. 07-17
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS, DENYING THE
REQUEST OF ATMOS ENERGY CORP., MID-TEX DIVISION, FOR AN ANNUAL GAS
RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (GRIP) RA TE INCREASE IN THIS
MUNICIPALITY, AS A PART OF THE COMPANY'S STATEWIDE GAS UTILITY
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM; SUPPORTING STATUTORY REFORM OF THE TEXAS GRIP
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STATUTE, FINDING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS PASSED
IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC; AND PROVIDING FOR NOTICE OF THIS RESOLUTION TO
ATMOS ENERGY CORP., MID-TEX DIVISION AND THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE
DELEGA TION.
RECEIVE INFORMA TION REGARDING REVISIONS TO DART BUS LINES IN
UNIVERSITY PARK: Director of Public Works Bud Smallwood met with one of the System
Planners for DART regarding modifications they are suggesting that will affect bus routes within
University Park. Because of declining ridership in this part of their system, DART staff is
proposing to combine a couple of routes into a new line (route #539). The proposed 539 would
run from the Mockingbird Station west along Mockingbird to Hillcrest and run north on Hillcrest
to Lovers Lane, and then west to Love Field. They are proposing about fifty trips per day
(twenty-five in each direction). The old route #21 along Hillcrest north of Lovers would be
eliminated, and the route #8 running north of Lovers along Douglas would be eliminated. With
City Council concurrence, DART will make all public notifications and will plan to implement
the service changes in March of 2008. Councilmember Walker moved approval to authorize city
staff to provide a written acknowledgement to DART approving their revised service plan.
Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to provide DART with a written
acknowledgement approving their revised service plan.
DISCUSS DATES IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER FOR AN UPCOMING 2 HOUR
INCIDENT COMMAND COURSE TO BE GIVEN BY DR. THOMAS RUSSELL: Staff
requested that the Mayor and Council decide on a time to meet for a two-hour training course on
an overview of the Incident Command System (ICS). The program was recently released by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with a target audience of elected officials and
senior staff members. The course will be taught by one of the recent Leadership UP graduates
and member of the city's RACES group, Thomas Russell, M.D. After some discussion, the date
of October 2, 2007 at 1 :30 p.m., prior to the scheduled City Council meeting, was decided upon.
ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
Ms. Kitty Holleman, 3939 Marquette, stated that she felt the Bush Library should be placed at
the Hillcrest State Bank site and that this would be a much more appropriate location and would
be a great entrance to Snider Plaza and SMD. She also stated that SMU should build student
housing where the Bush Library is proposed.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 18th day of September 2007.
ATTEST: