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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMn 05-20-0833~ MINUTES #2735 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS COUNCIL CHAMBER - CITY HALL MODULAR BUILDING TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2008, 5:00 P.M. At 3:01 p.m., Mayor James H. Holmes, III, convened the City Council into an Executive Session in the Fire Department Training Room under Section 551.071 of the Government Code for consultation with the City Attorney regarding possible litigation. The Executive Session ended at 4:04 p.m. No action was voted on or taken during the session. Mayor Holmes opened the regular City Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber in the City Hall Modular Building. Present were Councilmembers Syd Carter, Jerry Grable and Bob Clark. Mayor Holmes announced that Mayor Pro-Tempore Kelly Walker would arrive late. Also in attendance were City Manager Bob Livingston, City Attorney Rob Dillard and City Secretary Kate Smith. One Boy Scout was in attendance. He introduced himself and told the Council which merit badge he was working on: Kevin Moses, 3541 Marquette. Former Mayor Pro Tempore Harry Shawver was in attendance. Mayor Holmes presented Mr. Shawver with his retirement plaque which was unavailable for presentation at the previous City Council meeting. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Holmes continued to the Consent Agenda. He indicated that the Consent Agenda consists of items considered routine in nature and that are passed in one motion. Mayor Homes announced that he would like to pull off two items for discussion. The first was Item D, Consider and Act on an Amendment to the City Code banning the keeping of fowl within the City of University Park. Mayor Holmes noted that Julius Stener who had requested a permit to keep two chickens at the May 6, 2008 meeting was present. Julius addressed the City Council and re-stated his request to keep two chickens in his backyard. Mayor Holmes thanked Julius for his comments and said the City Council had granted the permit at the May 6, 2008 meeting. The second item the Mayor requested to be pulled from the Consent Agenda was Item E, Consider and Act on Change Order No. 3 with Rebcon, Inc. to modify the sidewalk along the north side of the Northwest Parkway Screening Wall. Mr. Jim Doster, 3201 Northwest Parkway was present at the meeting and requested to address the City Council. He thanked the City Council for the modifications that had been made to the wall regarding adding space for additional landscaping on the north side of the wall, and for decreasing the width of Northwest Parkway to allow for additional green space on the south side of the wall. He also thanked Public Works Director Bud Smallwood for his assistance on the project. Councilmember Carter moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Grable seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the following: - 331 CONSIDER AND ACT ON A RENTAL REQUEST FOR BURLESON PARK FOR THE SUSAN G. KOMEN BREAST CANCER 3 DAY WALK: Staff has been contacted by representatives of the Susan G. Komen organization regarding a 3-day Breast Cancer Walk ending in University Park. Organization representatives have requested reserving Burleson Park to act as a holding area for walkers prior to entering the SMU Campus for closing ceremonies. The event and park reservation is scheduled for Sunday, November 9, 2008. The organizers anticipate over 3,500 participants. If this reservation is approved by the City Council, staff would recommend the following criteria be followed by the Susan G. Komen organization: develop a form letter to be distributed to residents within 600 ft. of the park; provide adequate restroom facilities based on number of participants; pay park reservation fee of $1,000.00 (includes part of Saturday, all day Sunday and part of Monday); pay refundable security deposit of $300.00 and provide police security at the organization's expense. CONSIDER AND ACT ON APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH THE MANAGEMENT CONNECTION TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC PLANNING SERVICES FOR THE CITY COiJNCIL AND STAFF: In past years, the City Council and staff have participated in a joint strategic planning session to develop goals and plans for the future. One of the firms suggested by several cities in our relative size range was Mr. Joe Gonzalez of The Management Connection. It is recommended the Council approve a contract with The Management Connection in the amount of $9,800 plus reasonable expenses. CONSIDER AND ACT ON A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING COUNCILMEMBER WALKER FOR A POSITION ON THE NCTCOG EXECUTIVE BOARD: Councilmember Kelly Walker has applied for a position on the North Central Texas Council of Governments' Executive Board. Earlier this month, as part of the application process, Mayor Holmes sent a letter from the City Council supporting her appointment. This resolution is further acknowledgment of that support. RESOLUTION NO. 08-12 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS, AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR COUNCILMEMBER KELLY WALKER'S APPLICATION FOR A POSITION ON THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS' EXECUTIVE BOARD. CONSIDER AND ACT ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CODE BANNING THE KEEPING OF FOWL WITHIN THE CITY OF LJNIVERSITY PARK: At the its last meeting, the Council directed the City Attorney to draft an amendment to the Municipal Code that would ban the keeping of fowl in the City of University Park. This was done after the Council approved the keeping of two chickens by a local student who had applied for a permit to keep them. The permit was allowed under the current version of the Code. Council indicated they would approve a permit for the resident to keep those two chickens during their lifetime but that no new chickens could be brought in, and that the permit would be cancelled upon the removal or death of these particular chickens. ORDINANCE NO. S/30 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, AS HERETOFORE AMENDED, 332 BY AMENDiNG ARTICLE 2.300 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROVIDE REGULATIONS FOR THE KEEPING OF FOWL; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDiNANCES iN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVFIOR EACH O FENSETAND P OVIDING AN EF EICTIVE HLTNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) DATE. CONSIDER AND ACT ON CHANGE ORDER NO. 3 WITH REBCON, INC. TO MODIFY THE SIDEWALK ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF THE NORTHWEST PARKWAY SCREENING WALL: At the May 6, 2008 Council Meeting, residents from the 3200-3300 block of Northwest Parkway expressed their desire for the City to modify the sidewalk along the north side of the wall to provide space for landscaping. Staff initiated a change order to the contract with REBCON, Inc. for the work. The cost associated with the sawing and removal of a portion of the sidewalk is $25,500. CONSIDER AND ACT ON APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: For May 6, 2008 and May 13, 2008. MAIN AGENDA DISCUSS COFFEE PARK PLAYGROLJND FiJNDRAISING COMMITTEE: Park Director Gerry Bradley stated that staff had recently been approached by a group of UP citizens who are interested in developing a fund raising initiative in an effort to raise money to support the Coffee Park Barrier- Free Playground. The project is scheduled to be advertised soon with an anticipated ground- breaking in the fall of 2008. University Park resident Chris Murzin was present at the meeting to address the City Council on the issue. Mr. Murzin said that the current plan for the playground was wonderful and that staff has done a lot of work to make it as barrier-free as possible. Mr. Murzin said that he recognized the additional expense of the barrier-free items to the playground and as a result would like to form a committee to raise these funds and awareness that a barrier-free playground is meant to be inclusive for all people. Mr. Murzin proposed a"head-shaving" event on Saturday, May 31 S' at Coffee Park for the first fundraising activity. Mr. Murzin also recognized that the proceeds from the 4~' of July Fun Run will also go to the playground fund. He continued that the group has already come up with a"tag line" for their efforts and that is "Embracing the past, building the future." Finally, Mr. Murzin presented a$500 check to the City to kick-off the fundraising effort. Mayor Holmes told Mr. Murzin that they could use the park on Saturday, May 31 St for the event and that he and the City Council supported his fundraising efforts. CONSIDER AND ACT ON CURTIS PARK POOL IMPROVEMENTS - PHASE I BIDS: On May 7, 2008, staff opened bids for Phase I of the Curtis Park Pool Improvements. The estimated project budget was $600,000.00. Bids were received from three vendors with the low bidder being Sunbelt Pools. The low base bid, including selected alternates came in at $567,401.00. The following is a break down of the total projects cost: Sunbelt Pools Base Bid including alternates, $567,401.00, Gallagher Construction Management (5%), $30,000.00; Project Contingency (7%), $40,000.00; and Material Testing, $10,000, for a total project cost of $647,401.00. Councilmember Grable moved approval of the Phase I bids for the Curtis Park pool improvements. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the Phase I bids for the Curtis Park pool improvements. CONSIDER AND ACT ON NORTHWEST PARKWAY SCREENING WALL LANDSCAPE --- DESIGN PROPOSAL: On Monday, May 5, 2008, staff inet with homeowners who reside between 333 Airline Road and Hillcrest Avenue, and are impacted by the wall project. During the meeting, staff received input from the residents on the proposed landscape plan. Staff contacted GGOA Architects and asked the firm to submit a proposal for landscape design plans for the Northwest Parkway Wall, the median at the intersection of Northwest Highway/Hillcrest Avenue and Artha Garza Park. Staff has selected GGOA Architects due to their involvement with the'design of the Northwest Highway Wall project and the Coffee Park Master Plan. The contract for landscape design services with GGOA Architects is in the amount of $15,500.00. Councilmember Clark asked Park Director Gerry Bradley if he gives the architect direction on plant materials. Mr. Bradley responded that he gives the architect a rough design and that they expand his initial ideas. Mr. Bradley added that the plan will be reviewed by homeowners adjacent to the wall, the Park Board and the City Council. Public Works Director Bud Smallwood noted that the planting beds on the north side of the wall had increased slightly in size and had gone from 24 inches to 30 inches. City Manager Bob Livingston verified that Mr. Bradley had planned for a sign identifying Artha Garza Park. He confirmed that there was a sign planned. Councilmember Grable asked if irrigation was planned on the north side of the wall. Mr. Bradley confirmed that irrigation was planned. Councilmember Clark asked since the park is not used as much as some of the others, could he look at plants that use less water? Mr. Bradley responded that he would look at this and noted that there will be a mix of plant materials used. Councilmember Carter moved approval of the Northwest Parkway Screening Wall landscape design proposal. Councilmember Clark seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the Northwest Parkway Screening Wall landscape design proposal. CONSIDER AND ACT ON A REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL CROSSING GUARD AT AMHERST AND DICKENS: The police department received a request form the PTA to provide a school crossing guard at the intersection of Amherst and Dickens on the north east side of University Park Elementary School. The police department requested a traffic study be conducted by C& P Engineering to determine the need for a crossing guard. Upon the completion of the study, C& P Engineering made the recommendation to add a crossing guard at the intersection of Amherst and Dickens based on numerous factors. Councilmember Carter asked Police Chief Gary Adams when the position could be filled. Chief Adams responded that they would fill the position as soon as possible. Councilmember Grable moved approval of the request for an additional crossing guard at Amherst and Dickens. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the request for an additional crossing guard at Amherst and Dickens. CONSIDER AND ACT ON 1NCREASING THE FINE FOR OVERTIME PARKING IN SNIDER PLAZA: Currently the fine for overtime parking in Snider Plaza is established at $15.00 per violation. There is a$5.00 court cost added which makes the total fee collected for overtime parking $20.00. Police Chief Gary Adams stated that due to the continued abuse of overtime parking and demands being made on the city by the merchants to free-up more parking, it's recommended that the City Council increase the amount of the parking fine. Mayor Holmes stated that the City Council discussed this item in the pre-session, and it was proposed to increase the violation to $30.00, with a$5.00 court cost, to set the total fee collected for overtime parking at $35.00 per violation. Mayor Holmes clarified that this increase would apply citywide, not only to Snider Plaza. Mayor Holmes then moved approval of increasing the fine for overtime parking citywide as follows: $30.00 per violation and a$5.00 court cost, for a total fee of $35.00. Councilmember Clark seconded, and the vote was unanimous to increase the fine for overtime parking citywide to $35.00 per violation. 334 DISCUSS LEED CERTIFICATION & GREEN PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND OPERATIONS: Staff inet with architects from Leo A. Daly to discuss the feasibility of obtaining LEED certification for City Hall. This item was placed on the May 6`~' City Council agenda, but the item was tabled due to time constraints for discussion. In addition to the LEED certification, staff would like to present the City Council with a number of options for green programs, services, and operations that could be implemented to supplement the City's existing green activities. However, staff was not ready to present these options to the City Council, and requested this item be brought back for discussion during the June 17~' City Council meeting. Mayor Holmes acknowledged the item would be brought back on June 17~'. DISCUSS CREATION OF A RETAIL/COMMERCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Mayor Holmes asked staff to include an item on the agenda to discuss creation of a Retail/Commercial Advisory Committee covering all shopping areas in the City. Mayor Holmes noted that this item had been discussed by in the City Council pre-session meeting. Mayor Holmes stated that the current Snider Plaza/Hillcrest Strategic Plan Committee was a good special purpose committee and could transition to a standing committee to review ongoing retail and commercial area issues once their initial charge is complete. He noted that a few additional owners and merchants from Lovers Lane and Preston Center should be added to the committee. PASSED AND APPROVED this 3id day of June 2008. J es H. Holmes, II , Mayor ATTEST: