HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015.08.18 City Council Meeting Minutes169
City of University Park City Hall
3800 University Blvd.
University Park,TX 75205
Meeting Minutes
City Council
Tuesday,August 18,2015 5:00 PM Council Chamber
EXECUTIVE SESSION
3:30 -4:00 P.M.Pursuant to TGC§551.071(2),the City Council met in closed session to
receive confidential legal advice from the City Attorney regarding property tax exemptions.
No action was taken.Executive Conference Room,1st Floor,City Hall.
PRE-MEETING WORK SESSION(S)
4:00 -4:15 P.M.Director of Community Development Pat Baugh proposed a
committee-based plan for the process of revising the Zoning Ordinance.No action was
taken.Council Conference Room,2nd floor,City Hall.
4:15 -5:00 P.M.The City Council met in open work session to receive agenda item briefings
from staff.No action was taken.Council Conference Room,2nd floor,City Hall.
I.CALL TO ORDER
Present:5 -Mayor Olin Lane,Councilmember Taylor Armstrong,Councilmember Bob
Begert,Councilmember Dawn Moore and Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Stewart
A.INVOCATION:Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Stewart
B.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Stewart /Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts Tucker Russell and Michael Anderson of Troop 82,and Trevor
Thacker of Troop 42 assisted Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Stewart in leading the
Pledge of Allegiance.The scouts were present as part of earning their
Citizenship in the Community merit badges.
C.INTRODUCTION OF COUNCIL:Mayor Olin Lane,Jr.
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D.INTRODUCTION OF STAFF:City Manager Robbie Corder
Staff in attendance included Community Information Officer Steve Mace,
Director of Information Services Dale Harwell,Chief of Police Greg Spradlin,
Director of Public Works Bud Smallwood,City Secretary Christine Green,
Director of Finance Tom Tvardzik,Director of Parks Gerry Bradley,
Communications Specialist Amanda Hartwick,former City Manager Bob
Livingston,Deputy Director of Public Works Jacob Speer,Fire Chief Randy
Howell,Community Development Director Patrick Baugh,Library Director
Sharon Martin,and Director of Human Resources Luanne Hanford.
II.AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Mayor Pro Tem Stewart presented retiring Director of Public Works Bud
Smallwood with a framed certificate in recognition of his 29 years of service
to the City of University Park.Mayor Lane presented Mr.Smallwood with his
retirement check.Both praised Mr.Smallwood for his many excellent years
of service to the City of University Park.Former City Manager Bob
Livingston remarked on Mr.Smallwood's positive impact on the City during
his tenure and wished him well in retirement.
III.CONSENT AGENDA
15-403 Consider a Resolution renewing the City's Investment Policy
City Manager Corder said that this is a required adoption by the City Council
of the City's Investment Policy.There are no substantive changes to the
policy since it was last approved on October 21,2014.The Finance
Advisory Committee recommended approval of the policy at its June
meeting.
This Resolution was approved.
Enactment No:RES No.15/004
15-404 Consider a Resolution adopting Financial Management Policies
The City Manager said that this resolution adopts the City's Financial
Management Policies.There are no substantive changes to the policies
since they were adopted by the Council in 2011,but the Government
Finance Officers Association recommends annual review and adoption of the
policies as a best practice.The Finance Advisory Committee reviewed the
Financial Management Polices at its June meeting and recommended
approval.
This Resolution was approved.
Enactment No:RES No.15/005
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City Council Meeting Minutes August 18,2015
15-405 Consider approval of the minutes of City Council Meeting on August 4,
2015 with or without corrections.
The minutes were approved.
Approval of the Consent Agenda
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tern Stewart,seconded by Councilmember
Armstrong,to approve the Consent Agenda.The motion carried by the
following vote:
Aye:5 -Mayor Lane,Councilmember Armstrong,Councilmember Begert,
Councilmember Moore,and Mayor Pro Tem Stewart
IV.MAIN AGENDA
15-402 Public Hearing on Proposed FY2016 Tax Rate
Mayor Lane opened the public hearing.Finance Director Tom Tvardzik gave
a Powerpoint presentation to explain how the proposed tax rate was derived.
He said that the Dallas County Appraisal District (DCAD)determines the
market value of property in University Park.The market value is adjusted by
exemptions to derive "taxable value."The "effective"tax rate (ETR)is a tax
rate,based on the new valuation,that would give the City the same amount
of tax revenue if applied to the same properties taxed in both years.The
"rollback"tax rate (RTR)equals the "effective"tax rate plus 8%.Taxpayers
may petition for a rollback tax election if the City proposes a rate higher than
the "rollback"rate.
At its meeting on August 4,2015,the City Council adopted a 2015 maximum
(not to exceed)proposed tax rate of .26979 per $100 of taxable value.Tom
Tvardzik said that staff is currently considering a budget tax rate of .25999
per $100 valuation.As this rate exceeds the ETR,the City is required to
hold two public tax rate hearings to receive comments.
Robbie Corder said that there will be also two public hearings on the FY
2016 proposed budget,so some of this material will be covered in more
detail.There were no speakers,so Mayor Lane closed the public hearing.
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15-401 Consider Traffic Signal Removal at Southwestern and Airline
City Manager Corder said that in April,the Council directed staff to remove
the flashing traffic signal at the Southwestern-Airline intersection.This was
based on the recommendation of a traffic engineer and the Public Safety
Advisory Committee.The signal heads were covered in burlap bags as the
initial step in closing the signal.Subsequently,the City received several
objections from residents,including from two property owners at the
intersection who said that they had not been notified of the change.
Mayor Lane said that based on the information staff received from residents
near the intersection and in anticipation of greater traffic volume in the future
on Airline,he would like the signal to remain in operation.
A motion was made by Mayor Olin Lane,seconded by Councilmember Taylor
Armstrong,to reinstate the flashing red lights at Southwestern and Airline.The
motion carried by the following vote:
Aye:5 -Mayor Lane,Councilmember Armstrong,Councilmember Begert,
Councilmember Moore,and Mayor Pro Tern Stewart
15-399 Consider City of University Park /Park Cities YMCA Facilities
Utilization Agreement
City Manager Corder said that the City of University Park and the Park Cities
YMCA have had a Facilities Utilization Agreement since 2005 that
establishes the responsibilities of both organizations regarding the use and
maintenance of athletic fields,and establishes fees and field-closure
policies.This is the next five-year increment of the same agreement,and it
includes a 3%escalator in cost for the YMCA.
A motion was made by Councilmember Bob Begert,seconded by
Council member Taylor Armstrong,to approve this agreement.The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye:5 -Mayor Lane,Councilmember Armstrong,Councilmember Begert,
Councilmember Moore,and Mayor Pro Tem Stewart
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15-400 Consider Amendment to Distribution Pole Attachment Agreement with
Oncor
City Manager Corder said that the City entered into a pole attachment
agreement with Oncor in 2013 to allow the City and its contractors to place
infrastructure on Oncor poles.Oncor requested various amendments to the
indemnification provisions of the original agreement (Section 12.
Indemnification,Consequential Damages and Texas Deceptive Trade
Practices -Consumer Protection Act).
The amendment has been modified based upon negotiations between the
City of Farmers Branch and Oncor.The amendments address various
concerns the City had with the original amendment as proposed by Oncor.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Stewart,seconded by
Councilmember Taylor Armstrong,to approve this amendment to the
agreement with Onor.The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye:4 -Mayor Lane,Councilmember Armstrong,Councilmember Moore,and
Mayor Pro Tem Stewart
Abstain:1 -Councilmember 8egert
V.PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
VI.ADJOURNMENT
As there was no further business,Mayor Lane adjourned the meeting.
Considered and approved this the 1st day of September,2015:
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ATTEST:<
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Christine Green,City Secretary
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