HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018.12.18 City Council Meeting Minutes618
City of University Park City Hall
3800 University Blvd.
University Park,TX 75205
Meeting Minutes
City Council
Tuesday,December 18,2018 5:00 PM Council Chamber
EXECUTIVE SESSION
3:00 -4:00 P.M.Pursuant to TGC§551.071,the City Council met in closed session to
discuss the legal ramifications of 1)potential property acquisition and 2)potential property
annexation with the City Attorney.No action was taken.Executive Conference Room,1st
Floor,City Hall.
PRE-MEETING WORK SESSION(S)
4:00 -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
Rollcall
Present:5 -Mayor Olin Lane,Mayor Pro Tem Taylor Armstrong,Councilmember Randy
Biddle,Council member Gage Prichard and Councilmember Liz Farley
A.INVOCATION:Director of Communications &Marketing Steve Mace
B.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:Director of Communications &Marketing Steve Mace /
Boy Scouts
C.INTRODUCTION OF COUNCIL:Mayor Olin Lane,Jr.
D.INTRODUCTION OF STAFF:City Manager Robbie Corder
Staff in attendance included Director of Communications &Marketing Steve
Mace,Director of Information Services Dale Harwell,Chief of Police Greg
Spradlin,City Secretary Christine Green,Director of Public Works Jacob
Speer,Public Works Operations Coordinator Jodie Ledat,Fire Chief Randy
Howell,Director of Parks &Recreation Gerry Bradley,Library Director Sharon
Martin,Director of Finance Tom Tvardzik,Assistant City Manager Lea Dunn,
Communications Assistant Paige Ruedy,and Director of Community
Development Patrick Baugh.
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II.AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
None
III.CONSENT AGENDA
18-286 Consider approval of an ordinance amending the FY2018 Executive
Department budget.
City Manager Corder said that this ordinance amends the FY18 Executive
Department budget to accommodate an unbudgeted expense in the amount
of $66,791 paid to Gateway Strategies,LLC,dba Catalyst Group for a parking
analysis in Snider Plaza.
This ordinance was adopted.
Enactment No:ORO No.18-046
18-287 Consider approval of an ordinance amending the fiscal 2017-2018
budget to provide for a transfer from the General Fund to the Equipment
Services Fund.
City Manager Corder said that this ordinance amends the budget to
accommodate the newly-created in-house Mile-Per-Year construction crew.
The amendment will transfer $443,900 from the General Fund into the
Equipment Services Fund.This is a one-time transfer to cover the purchase
of 10 pieces of equipment.
This ordinance was adopted.
Enactment No:ORO No.18-047
18-288 Consider approval of the minutes of the December 4,2018 City Council
meeting,with or without correction.
The minutes were approved.
Approval of the Consent Agenda
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Armstrong,seconded by
Councilmember Farley,to approve the Consent Agenda.The motion carried
by the following vote:
Aye:5 -Mayor Lane,Mayor Pro Tem Armstrong,Councilmember Biddle,
Councilmember Prichard,and Councilmember Farley
IV.MAIN AGENDA
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18-240 Consider approval of a license agreement with Caruth Preston Road
Associates for use of a portion of the Preston Road Right-of-Way
adjacent to the Plaza at Preston Center.
Director of Public Works Jacob Speer gave a presentation.He said that this
request is from the Plaza at Preston Center shopping center to make
improvements within the right-of-way along the east side of Preston Road.
He showed illustrations of the current conditions with the proposed
improvements superimposed on top.These improvements are intended to
provide ADA compliance and more uniform parking conditions.Proposal also
includes an area north of Villanova.
Mayor Lane said that he believes adding the ADA compliance with these
improvements is important.Jacob said that this is the only way to meet this
requirement and also maintain the parking levels needed in this area.
Councilmember Farley asked if there is still sufficient room for cars to back
out onto Preston Road when the parking spaces are moved closer to
Preston.Jacob said "yes",there will be a buffer of five feet to allow cars to
back up into the traffic lane.Mayor Pro Tem Armstrong said that he believes
this is one of the nicest shopping centers in the City,and although he belives
this plan is well-done,he's concerned about the danger of cars backing up
directly onto Preston Road.He's concerned about adding to what he believes
is heavy traffic in this area.Jacob said "yes",they could do a traffic study
here to count how many cars are using this unofficial traffic lane,but it would
be challenging survey to complete.Council member Prichard asked about
adding head-in parking rather than diagonal parking.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Armstrong,seconded by
Councilmember Farley,that consideration of this agreement be postponed
until a traffic analysis of the area can be completed.The motion carried by the
following vote:
Aye:3 -Mayor Pro Tem Armstrong,Councilmember Biddle,and Councilmember
Farley
Nay:2 -Mayor Lane,and Councilmember Prichard
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18-283 Consider approval of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of
the City of University Park,Chapter 12,Article 12.01,Section 12.01.011
to Regulate the Use of Motor-Assisted Scooters.
Chief of Police Spradlin gave a presentation.He said that this ordinance wil
amend the ordinance passed at the December 4 City Council meeting by
removing the requirement to wear a helmet.This change was requested by
the SMU student body,and the Council directed staff to present the ordinance
with the amendment for their consideration.
Mayor Lane recognized Nick Barber,Regional Operations Manager for Lime
Bike,who spoke in support of this ordinance.He said,however,that the 10
mph scooter speed limit is too slow and that 12-15 mph is better.
SMU's Paul Ward,VP of Legal Affairs and Government Relations,spoke.He
said that the University administration and student body supports this
ordinance and also understands that there will be a reconsideration of the
matter in six months.
Council member Farley said that she has difficulty supporting this ordinance
because the ordinance prohibits the use of motorized scooters in other parts
of the City based on safety concerns,but allows motorized scooters on the
SMU campus and bordering City property.She says this is not consistent.
She would prefer that the scooters be relegated to SMU private property and
not be allowed on University Park streets or sidewalks at all.She noted that
the Public Safety Committee had voted unanimously not to approve this
exception to the scooter ordinance.
A motion was made by Councilmember Randy Biddle,seconded by
Councilmember Gage Prichard,to adopt this ordinance.The motion carried
by the following vote:
Aye:3 -Mayor Lane,Councilmember Biddle,and Councilmember Prichard
Nay:2 -Mayor Pro Tem Armstrong,and Councilmember Farley
Enactment No:ORO No.18-048
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18-284 Consider approval of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of
the City of University Park to regulate scooter sharing/rental service
entities.
Chief Spradlin gave a presentation.He said that this ordinance regulates the
motorized scooter operators.He said that the ordinance requires that the
scooters be equipped with lights for nighttime use,that the operator maintain
a 24-hour customer service hotline,that the users park the scooters on a
hard surface off the public right-of-way in an upright position,that the scooters
be equipped with geo-fencing to regulate area of use,and that the scooters
have a maximum speed of 10 mph.Additionally,Chief Spradlin said that
while helmets are not required by the ordinance,the operators should
encourage helmet use.
Mayor Lane said that he wants the motion to reflect that this ordinance has a
trial period and will be reviewed in June.Mayor Pro Tem Armstrong asked
Nick Barber of Lime Bike about the effectiveness of the geo-fencing as a way
to regulate use of the scooters.Mr.Barber said that the geo fencing is
effective,and they have a 24-hour service team that quickly responds to
complaints if scooters are outside the allowed operating area.
A motion was made by Councilmember Randy Biddle,seconded by
Councilmember Gage Prichard,to adopt this ordinance,with the caveat that
the ordinance be reviewed at the end of June 2019.The motion carried by the
following vote:
Aye:4 -Mayor Lane,Mayor Pro Tem Armstrong,Councilmember Biddle,and
Councilmember Prichard
Nay:1 -Councilmember Farley
Enactment No:ORO No.18-0249
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18-285
V.PUBLIC COMMENTS
VI.ADJOURNMENT
Consider a request by SMU to abandon alley right-of-way between 3130
and 3160 Daniel Avenue.
Director of Public Works Jacob Speer explained that SMU has requested that
the City abandon a section of alley right-of-way off Daniel.The right-of-way
area is 3,210 square feet.SMU would like to redevelop the adjacent
properties as housing for upper class students.He said that staff is seeking
direction from the Council as to whether they are interested in abandoning the
property to SMU.
Councilmember Prichard asked if these properties are tax paying properties.
Robbie Corder said DCAD lists both properties on Daniel as exempt.
Councilmember Biddle asked about the utilities on the property.Jacob said
that the City will require SMU to relocate the utilities at SMU's expense.
Councilmember Prichard said his amendment is that the staff should collect
back taxes if properties not tax exempt.City Attorney Dillard said that DCAD
determines tax exemptions based on the application from the owner.Robbie
Corder said that he would follow up on this request.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tern Taylor Armstrong,seconded by
Councilmember Liz Farley,to proceed with this alley right-of-way
abandonment request by seeking a property appraisal.The motion carried by
the following vote:
Aye:5 -Mayor Lane,Mayor Pro Tem Armstrong,Councilmember Biddle,
Councilmember Prichard,and Councilmember Farley
None
As there was no further business,Mayor Lane adjourned the meeting.
ATIEST,;>_nl
~Y~/
Christine Green,City Secretary
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