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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMn 01-17-06 26 MINUTES #2602 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS TUESDAY, JANUARY 17,2006,5:00 P.M. PRESENTATION Mr. Michael Egan, Vice-President of The Dallas Marketing Group, presented the Final Report of the Community Survey to the City Council. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor B1ackie Holmes convened the City Council into an Executive Session in the conference room at 4:03 p.m. to receive legal advice from the city attorney under Section 551.071 of the Government Code. The Executive Session closed at 4:29 p.m. No action was voted on or taken during the meeting. WORK SESSION FOR AGENDA REVIEW PROJECT NO. 43710 UPDATE FOR BOX CULVERT AT CITY HALL BY JESKE CONSTRUCTION: The construction of the box culvert is ahead of schedule; however, the rain has caused a delay for the opening of University Boulevard. It is now scheduled to open the end of January. An alternate program for job site security was approved for the remainder of the work on the Box Culvert. CITY HALL/GOAR PARK LANDSCAPE UPDATE: Director of Parks Gerry Bradley presented a Power Point on the recent landscape improvements. Four bald cypress trees were delivered from the Meyerson Symphony Center on January 12 and planted in Goar Park. The trees were free and the price for delivery and planting was $2400 per tree for a total of $9600. Three live oak trees will also be added to Goar Park from the Northwest Water Tower. Two trees will also be added at Curtis Park, as well as, a new fountain. Mayor Blackie Holmes then opened the regular meeting of the City Council. Present were Mayor Pro Tempore Jim Roberts and Councilmembers Syd Carter, Kelly Walker and Harry Shawver. Also in attendance were City Manager Bob Livingston, City Attorney Rob Dillard and City Secretary Nina Wilson. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION DEPARTMENT PIN: Mayor Holmes presented City Manager Bob Livingston with a 15-year pin. Mayor Holmes stated that University Park is known as a great place to work and live and, through Mr. Livingston's efforts, dedication and the staff he has chosen, the City is now rated the #1 Suburb. ANNOUNCEMENT: Mayor Holmes announced that during the Executive Session, the City Attorney was instructed to draft an ordinance to be considered at the February 7 City Council meeting to the effect that the TXU 138 kV transmission line poles should be no higher than the existing poles. Letters to that effect will also be sent to Tom Baker, Chairman and CEO, and Randy Newsom, Area Manager, of Texas Electric Delivery. Councilmember Walker moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts seconded and the vote was unanimous to approve the following: 27 CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDER ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 2, CODE OF ORDINANCES, SECTION 2.606, DOGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY: The amended ordinance will read: "A person commits an offense if, without the express permission of an authorized school official, he or she allows, suffers, permits a dog under his or her ownership, custody, or control to go on or be on any school grounds or other property of the Highland Park Independent School District, or any private preschool, kindergarten, primary or secondary school, at any time, or to go on or be on any sidewalk, parkway or public property abutting school property while school is in session." Concerned parents and officials have requested that the City's current ordinance prohibiting dogs from the school grounds and properties of the Highland Park Independent School District be amended to include adjacent sidewalks of schools and school property while school is in session and without the express consent of school officials. ORDINANCE NO. 06/02 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, AS HERETOFORE AMENDED, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 2, SECTION 2.606 "DOGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY" TO PROHIBIT DOGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY OR ON SIDEWALKS OR P ARKW A YS ADJACENT TO SCHOOL PROPERTY; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY 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 APPRO V AL OF PURCHASE OF TAPE BACKUP SYSTEM AND STORAGE AREA NETWORK (SAN): The system covers backup and security for the City's data files, the application software that creates and maintains those files, and allows recovery of mission-critical systems in the event of equipment failure or the need for disaster recovery. As the City has installed more high tech capabilities and upgraded existing software, the need for more disk capacity has grown at a rapid pace. To address the continuing need for increased disk capacity, a more robust and dynamic storage system is needed. Purchase of the equipment and software totals $127,737.25. CONSIDER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF MESQUITE FOR USE OF COMPO STING FACILITY: The City currently disposes of all yard waste and brush at the City of Mesquite's composting facility. As the current agreement is about to expire, Mesquite has proposed a new agreement to extend the use of the compo sting facility for another three years. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: For January 3, 2006. MAIN AGENDA CONSIDER REQUEST FROM SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY (SMU) AND PRESCOTT REALTY GROUP FOR CITY TO SPONSOR SUBMISSION TO NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (NCTCOG) FOR A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT: The grant, submitted with SMU and Prescott Realty Group, will be for an area bounded by Central Expressway, Mockingbird, Greenville and Yale/SMU Boulevard. One of the major goals is to improve pedestrian access in the area; specifically, access from the DART rail station to the east side of the SMU campus, constructing a pedestrian bridge over Central Expressway. City staff believes that good pedestrian access will be important also to City employees who utilize public transportation. As a governmental entity, the City must be the sponsor since any funds will come through NCTCOG from the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) and other local sources. 28 The area is not within University Park, but the City's public works facility is located in the area. SMU and the Prescott Realty Group also own large parcels of property in the defined area, and the City would like to be involved in planning for the area which will probably be impacted by future construction. The grant will require a 20% local match, resulting in approximately a $1.4 million match. The City Attorney will develop an agreement stating that both SMU and the Prescott Realty Group will provide any match required and the City will be reimbursed for expenses incurred in administering the funds. Councilmember Shawver moved approval of the authorization to submit an application along with SMU and the Prescott Realty Group to NCTCOG for a Sustainable Development District. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the request. CONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE: This spring, the City Council will call a Charter Election to consider two issues requiring a vote by University Park residents involving using a park used for non-park City purposes. The wording agreed upon is as follows: Ballot Issue No.1: The City Council shall submit to popular vote any ordinance or resolution approved by the City Council which, if implemented, would have the effect of permanently changing the surface use of more than 5,000 square feet of (i) any green belt, field, wood, creek, pond, lagoon, or other water course that is one acre or larger in area, that is owned by the city, and that is being used as a park, or (ii) Elena's Children's Park; Ballot Issue No.2: If the area of any land owned by the city and being used as a park or of any city-owned green space located within or adjacent to any public street will be permanently reduced by a proposed, city-initiated public works project, the city shall give written notice of the proposed project (i) to the record owner of each lot any portion of which is located within 500 feet of the area where the reduction will occur (ii) prior to or concurrently with the advertisement by the city soliciting public bids for the proposed project. The City Attorney suggested that, if a Charter Election is called, the document should be reviewed in its entirety for other suggested changes. To accomplish this task, the City Council appointed a Charter Review Committee. Members of the Charter Review Committee include: W. Richard Davis, Chair; Alan Wasserman, Walt Humann, Gage Prichard and Barbara Hitzelberger. The Charter Review Committee met on September 22, 2005 and November 17, 2005. After review of the City Charter, the Committee reached a conclusion and submitted a report to the City Council dated December 14, 2005. The committee recommended the ballot issues listed above should be considered by the Council for submission at a Charter Election. It was also the opinion of the Committee that there were no other significant changes necessary at this point. Mayor Holmes moved approval of the recommendation from the Charter Review Committee. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts seconded, and the vote was unanimous to place both issues on the ballot for the election. CONSIDER PROGRAM EXPANSION OF TREES FOR TOWN PROGRAM: Since 1982, it has been estimated that the City of University Park has planted over 3,000 trees as part of the Trees for Town Program. The program was originally designed to plant trees in the public parkway adjacent to a resident's home for a cost of $1 00 per tree including planting by the City. In fiscal year 2005/2006, staff received orders for over 80 trees. Staff proposed expanding the program in 2006 by also allowing residents to purchase trees for planting on their own private property at a cost of $50 per tree including delivery only. Councilmember Walker moved approval of the program expansion. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to allow residents to purchase trees for planting on their property. CONSIDER EQUIPMENT DONATIONS TO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS: In the past, the Fire Department has abided by City policy placing no longer needed departmental items in the auction process to recoup at least some of the original cost of the item. City Attorney Rob Dillard pointed out that the City can legally donate items to the Texas Forestry Service and, in turn, the items 29 can be redistributed to volunteer departments. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts moved approval of the request. Councilmember Shawver seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve donating items no longer needed by the City to the Texas Forestry Service. REVIEW QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Finance Director Kent Austin presented the reports. Revenue is up. Investments went from $45 million to $50 million. REVIEW FOURTH QUARTER STRATEGIC GOALS: On December 14,2004, the City Council adopted six strategic goals and objectives. Four objectives have been completed: develop a plan to recognize model citizens in the community; install attractive signs in each park giving park history, regulations, and hours; evaluate the need for a specific position on City staff to manage Web site and cable channel content, media contacts, community relations, and produce publications; consider a citywide program for sidewalk maintenance. Eight objectives are in progress: develop traffic and parking improvements; communicate traffic realities; develop a Master Plan for. Snider Plaza and Miracle Mile areas; develop a New Resident Orientation Program; identify initiatives based on recommendations from the Park Advisory Committee; develop a unified design and standards for entrances to the City; assess the effectiveness of current communication methods and make recommendations for improvements; implement customer service/work order system (3-1-1 project). Two objectives have not been started: study feasibility of undergrounding Lovers Lane in Miracle Mile; conduct study of improving restrooms in the parks. The City Attorney reported that progress was being made on the Northwest Parkway Wall. Work is now being done on the conceptual plan and construction should start by the end of 2006. CONSIDER CHANGING CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATES IN MAY AND JULY: As the City will be conducting a City Council Election on Saturday, May 13, the May 16 City Council meeting was moved to May 23, at which time, the newly-elected City Councilmembers will be inaugurated. July 4th falls on the first Tuesday of the month; therefore, Council changed the first meeting in July to Wednesday, July 5. Councilmember Carter moved approval of the change in meeting dates. Councilmember Shawver seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve holding City Council meetings on May 23 and July 5. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. PASSED AND APPROVED this ih day of February 2006. ATTEST: