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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-04-05422 MINUTES #2501 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2005, 5:00 P.M. Mayor Holmes opened the meeting of the City Council. Present were Mayor Pro Tempore Jim Roberts and Councilmembers Syd Carter, Harry Shawver and Kelly Walker. Also in attendance were City Manager Bob Livingston, City Attorney Rob Dillard and City Secretary Nina Wilson. AWARDS & RECOGNITION RECOGNITION: Fire Chief David Ledbetter recognized Fire Marshal Carl McMurphy and presented him with a plaque acknowledging his efforts with Southern Methodist University's Great Escape Program. The program has been recognized by the National Association of College and University Residence Halls. DEPARTMENT PINS: City Manager Bob Livingston presented a 30-year pin to Sanitation Crew Leader Juan Martinez, a 15-year pin to Police Officer Curtis Ellenburg and a 1 O-year pin to Police Department CID Sergeant Bob Flood for a total of 55 years of service to the City. Code Enforcement Officer Russell Craig, Building Department, was unable to attend to receive his 15- year pin and will be scheduled at a later date. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR Ms. Julie Scharr, 3515 Haynie, spoke on behalf of the Lovers Lane Architecture & Landscape Committee, regarding outdoor lighting. She requested the date and location of the sample lights that are to be installed. Public Works Director Bud Smallwood stated they would be delivered within the next 30 days and would be installed at the intersections of Hunters Glen and Lovers Lane, Vassar and Lovers Lane and Baltimore and Lovers Lane. Mr. Bruce Fry, 3456 Lovers Lane, spoke against the reduction of the parkway on the north side of Lovers Lane. He expressed his desire that more consideration be given to the project. Public Works Director Bud Smallwood made a presentation on the Lovers Lane project and Dannie Cummings, C&P Engineering, spoke on the width of the parkway in regard to the safety of the children. Mr. Smallwood and Mr. Cummings both stated that the safety of the children had been considered in realigning the street and that there would be no unusual danger in this realignment. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts moved acceptance of the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the following: CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDER COOPERATIVE PURCHASE OF CITY UNIFORMS FROM CEN-TEX UNIFORM SALES VIA AN EXISTING CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF FT. WORTH: Cen-Tex has provided good clothing and customer service since their original contract began in September 1996. Approximately $19,000 per year is spent on uniforms for Public Works and Park employees, excluding work boots. 423 CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: For December 14, 2004. MAIN AGENDA CONSIDER SPECIAL PARKING PROVISIONS FOR UPCOMING STATE GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Highland Park High School will be hosting the Texas State High School Gymnastics Championships on April 28-30, 2005. It is estimated there will be an additional 150 to 200 cars parked in the area during that time period, as well as 12 to 16 buses. Mr. John D. Short, 6957 Orchid Lane, and supporters of this event have requested the City relax enforcement of the Residential Parking District. The City requested the school, or supporters of the gymnastics championship events, provide door hangers to notify residents in the affected area of the temporary relaxation of the ordinance and that a contact number be made available for residents to contact event organizers regarding any issues or problems with parking during the event. All Residential Parking Signs will be bagged to ensure the ease of parking and smooth flow of traffic. Councilmember Shawver moved approval of the special parking provisions. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the provisions for April 28-30, 2005. DISCUSS RECOMMENDATION FROM PUBLIC WORKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY FOR SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE ON THE PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY: Earlier this year, the City Council received a citizen request that would place the responsibility for sidewalk maintenance and replacement upon the City. The Council referred the request to the Public Works Advisory Committee (PWAC) for discussion and recommendation. After considerable discussion, PWAC recommended (6 in favor, 2 opposed) that City Council not change the existing ordinance and leave the responsibility for sidewalk replacement with the abutting property owner. Council requested staff check with cities that do shared reimbursement and report back to the Council in Mid-February. CONSIDER AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND PARK AND DALLAS COUNTY PARK CITIES MUNICIPAL UTILITIES DISTRICT (DCPC MUD) FOR WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANS: The City of University Park, The Town of Highland Park and the Dallas County Park Cities Municipal Utility District are proposing a partnership to complete the water conservation plans and drought contingency plans. Under the attached Letter of Agreement, DCPCMUD will contract with Alan Plummer & Associates and pay fifty percent (50%) of the total costs associated with completion of the water conservation and drought contingency plans for each entity. The City of University Park and The Town of Highland Park would each pay twenty-five percent (25%) of the total costs and would be invoiced by DCPCMUD. The proposal from Alan Plummer & Associates totals $38,900 with an additional $5,000 in fees for optional services. Mayor Pro Tem Roberts moved approval of the agreement. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the water conservation and drought contingency plans. CONSIDER ORDINANCE FOR RAIN SENSORS: As stipulated in the water conservation requirements set forth by the State of Texas, cities must implement regulations which prevent unnecessary water usage by irrigation systems on all properties. The City Code of Ordinances currently requires a freeze sensor be installed on all new lawn sprinkler systems in order to prevent such systems from operating during freezing conditions. A rain sensor would prevent 424 sprinklers from running during a rain or immediately thereafter. Councilmember Walker moved that an enabling ordinance amending Section 3.2204 of the University Park Code of Ordinances requiring the installation of a rain sensor switch on all new irrigation systems in the city be approved. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the ordinance. ORDINANCE NO. 05/01 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 3 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADD A NEW SUBSECTION 3.2204 (f), "RAIN SENSOR"; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. CONSIDER DISCLOSURE ON MOWING BID: On December 14, 2004, the City Council awarded a bid for mowing to Earth Green Landscaping and Maintenance, Inc., for $72,060.00 annually. On December 15, it was brought to the attention of the Director of Parks that Earth Green's owner, Jose De La Cruz, was married to a City employee, Municipal Court Clerk, Yaneth De La Cruz. City Attorney Rob Dillard suggested that disclosure of the company/employee relationship be made to the City Council as part of a City Council meeting agenda. The duties and reporting relationship of Yaneth De La Cruz are unrelated to the operations and bid process overseen by the Park Department. No unfair advantage was gained by Earth Green due to Mrs. De La Cruz's employment with the City. The recommendation to select Earth Green was based upon careful and diligent review of their bid including personal inspections of their equipment, customer site evaluations and telephone reference checks with Earth Green customers. The entire selection process was open and transparent and conducted in accordance with all City and State purchasing requirements. There is no evidence that either Mr. De La Cruz or Mrs. De La Cruz behaved improperly in any way relative to the mowing bid. The fact of the bid award to a company owned by the spouse of a City employee is more coincidence than conflict. Councilmember Carter moved that the bid be reaffirmed. An amendment will be applied to future bid documents that will spell out the necessity for bidders to disclose relatives employed by the City. Mayor Holmes seconded, and the vote was unanimous to reaffirm the awarding of the bid to Earth Green Landscaping and Maintenance, Inc. CONSIDER RESOLUTION REGARDING DALLAS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN: The Dallas County Emergency Management Division has updated the Dallas County Emergency Management Plan and is requesting a resolution passed by the City Council authorizing the City Manager to adopt the revised plan. The plan has been reviewed and meets the requirements of the Governor's Division of Emergency Management for the State of Texas. The plan will provide Dallas County cities with assistance from Dallas County resources in the event of an emergency beyond the control of City resources. Mayor Pro Tem Roberts moved approval of the resolution. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve authorizing the City Manager to adopt the revised plan. 425 RESOLUTION NO. 05-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK TO FORM A REGIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF DALLAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING AND RECEIVING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE. REVIEW DESIGN/DOCUMENTATION CONTRACT WITH ALTERNATIVE PRESENTATION SERVICES (APS) FOR AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT IN CITY HALL RENOVATION: Alternative Presentation Services (APS) was contacted regarding the audio visual portion of the City Hall renovation. A meeting with Sherman Lanning and Skip Mussett of APS was held in November 2004 to discuss the scope of the project. The design and documentation portion of the contract is $11,800 and will include a complete system design, a complete set of shop drawings, attendance at all contractor meetings and final budget of the system. Councilmember Shawver moved approval of the contract. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to contract with Alternative Presentation Services for audio visual equipment for the City Hall renovation. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. PASSED AND APPROVED this 19th day of January 2005. ATTEST: r i~'~~cretary (7~'~s H. Holmes IIIfMayo~