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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. City of University Park Page 1 170 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18,2015 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 City of University Park Page 2 171 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. City of University Park Page 3 172 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18,2015 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 City of University Park Page 4 173 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18,2015 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: OlinL~-'M?:cp ATTEST:< ~~ Christine Green,City Secretary City of University Park Page 5