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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMn 02-07-06 31 MINUTES #2604 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2006, 5:00 P.M. Mayor Blackie Holmes opened the 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. A WARDS AND RECOGNITION DEPARTMENT PINS: City Manager Bob Livingston presented pins to the following: Administrative Secretary Paula Roussey, Facilities Maintenance, 25 years; Gardener Robert Ramon, Park Department, 20 years; Administrative Secretary Kathleen Mashburn, Finance Department and Dispatcher Gus Walton, Communications, 15 years for a total of 75 years of service to the City of University Park. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR The information from Randy Newsom, Area Manager for TXU Electric Delivery, regarding the feasibility of moving the 138kV transmission line to Northwest Highway or Northaven was removed from the agenda. Councilmember Carter moved approval of the Consent Agenda with a minor word correction and typing error made to the minutes of January 17. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts seconded and the vote was unanimous to approve the following: CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDER REQUEST FROM HIGHLAND PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TO RESERVE GOAR PARK FOR EASTER SUNRISE SERVICES: The church will set-up at approximately 4:00 a.m. and usually leave the park no later than 8:00 a.m. The set up for the event includes a P A system, five to six tables, and a large tarp for the congregation to sit on. The church estimates approximately 700 participants will be in attendance. CONSIDER REQUEST FOR GOAR PARK RESERVATION FOR PARK CITIES REPUBLICAN WOMEN ON AUGUST 27,2006: The Park will be used from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The group anticipates between 200-250 individuals in attendance. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: For January 17 and January 31,2006. MAIN AGENDA CONSIDER APPRO V AL OF OFFICIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND TXU ON FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR UNDERGROUNDING UTILITY LINES ALONG ROUTE OF THE 32 TXU 138 KV TRANSMISSION LINE: The City and TXU Electric Delivery reached an agreement to hire an outside engineering firm to conduct a study on the feasibility of placing electric transmission, electric distribution, cable, and telephone services underground along the entire route of the 138 kV transmission line. The agreement stipulates that the City will delay consideration of an ordinance restricting the height of utility poles installed along the route, and TXU Electric Delivery will cease all planning and design activities related to the transmission line project until the study has been completed. The City will fund the entire cost of the feasibility study. The firm conducting the study should be selected in time for Council consideration and approval at the February 21 meeting. Additionally, initial study findings were to have been reported to the City and TXU Electric Delivery at the March 21 Council meeting; however, that date seemed too ambitious. The report will be presented to the Council when the feasibility study has been completed. According to the agreement: the City agrees to delay consideration of any ordinance, resolution or other order attempting to limit the height of poles or appurtenances that may be used for placement and support of the 138 kV transmission line facilities of TXU Electric Delivery running through the City's alley easements between Amherst and Stanford (2900 block through 4400 block), University and Daniel (2700 block through 2800 block), and through the parkway of Boedeker (6500 block through the 7200 block); TXU Electric Delivery agrees that it will not go forward with its proposed complete replacement of the existing line during the term of this agreement. TXU Electric Delivery will do those activities necessary to maintain the existing structures, including replacement of some poles with similar design and height poles as currently exist, in order to ensure the integrity of the electric facilities; the parties jointly agree that this agreement shall be in effect for a reasonable period to allow the City to conduct and act upon a study to determine the feasibility of placing the 138 kV transmission line underground. If the poles are replaced, TXU will notify the residents in plenty of time before the work starts, the poles will be wooden and of the same height. Councilmember Shawver moved approval of the agreement. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the agreement between TXU Electric Delivery and the City regarding the 138 kV transmission line. CONSIDER RESOLUTION REGARDING CONTINUED EFFORTS TO ENFORCE MINOR IN POSSESSION/CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS: The Department's work has resulted in almost 500 arrests in the past five years. During the last regular legislative session, an amendment to the Alcoholic Beverage Code added civil liability to the already existing criminal responsibility of adults who are convicted of furnishing alcohol to minors. The law continues to allow a parent to furnish alcohol to his or her own child. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts moved approval of the resolution. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve continued efforts to enforce Minor in Possession/Consumption of alcohol and tobacco products. RESOLUTION NO. 06-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF THE UNIVERSITY PARK POLICE DEPARMENT IN ENFORCING JUVENILE VIOLATION OF STATE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO LAWS AND ENCOURAGING THE UNIVERSITY PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT TO USE THIS CHANGE IN THE LAW TO MAKE ADULTS AWARE OF BOTH THEIR CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LIABLITY IN FURNISHING ALCOHOL TO MINORS. 33 CONSIDER INST ALLA nON OF A SIDEWALK, WEST SIDE, 7800 BLOCK TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD: On December 13, 2005, staff presented Council with a request to construct a sidewalk along the west side of Turtle Creek Boulevard adjacent to the property at 3500 Greenbrier, directly across from Caruth Park. The sidewalk is continuous to the north and south of this property along Turtle Creek Boulevard; however, there is no sidewalk currently adjacent to the property. After visiting with the property owner and looking at the site, staff recommends one of the following two options if a sidewalk is needed. Cost estimates do not include labor. Option 1: Install a 5-foot wide sidewalk along the back of the curb with a small, stacked brick retaining wall. Two large trees would be lost, and several small saplings would need to be transplanted. A back of curb sidewalk would also require the installation of a new curb and gutter. Estimated Costs of Option 1: $5,000- $7,000. Option 2: Install a meandering 4-foot wide sidewalk that would avoid the two trees to the west; however, the sidewalk would be placed closer to the property line. The largest tree, a red oak, would probably be lost or damaged. Significant landscaping, grading, and irrigation would be required in the front and side yards for this option. Estimated Costs of Option 2: $20,000-$30,000. The property owners are not in favor of constructing a sidewalk with either option, since both include significant loss of a tree(s) and extensive landscaping. Council decided to consider other options and report on them at a future meeting. CONSIDER ENHANCEMENTS AND MODIFICTIONS TO THE CITY'S WEB SITE: Activity on the site has steadily increased from 2,000 visits per week in January 2003 to an average of 6,697 for 2005. Also, since the City hired a Community Information Officer who is making a concerted effort at community outreach, weekly visits have averaged between 8,000 and 9,000. The recently completed Community Survey pointed to the need for improvement among "tech savvy" citizens less than 45 years of age with children and with new residents to the City. Consequently, the home page will be redesigned; information on the direct alarm monitoring section will be enhanced and new interactive forms will be added for Alarm Permits and for Subscriber Data/Contacts; easily maintainable flash maps of the City will be introduced to denote the location of Capital Improvement Projects, mile-per-year projects, right-of-way construction, etc.; a new community calendar with new icons will be introduced specifically targeting the parks; interactive park maps for the eight major parks will be introduced; a survey module will be added that can be used to poll users for input on various topics of interest. The scope of work will also include the migration of the Web site from the existing server at the SBC E-Services Hosting Facility to a new larger web server. Imaginuity Interactive's fee for the implementation of these changes is $52,600. Mayor Pro Tem Roberts moved approval of the proposal from Imaginuity Interactive, Inc. to provide City Web site enhancements and modifications in the amount of $52,600. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the proposal. Mr. David Wright, 7706 Southwestern, suggested that membership, agendas and minutes be posted on the Web site for boards and committees so that residents can have more input. CONSIDER EXTENSION OF INTERIOR DESIGN CONTRACT: At the March 16, 2005 City Council meeting, Council approved an interior design contract for City Hall renovation with Ms. Onesia Rigney of Anderson Furniture Studio. The amount approved by the City Council was $10,000. Ms. Rigney has been working on this project since that time. As of her last invoice, received by the City on January 4, 2006, her work has exceeded the $10,000 initially approved, which covers approximately 133 hours of work at $75.00 per hour. At the January 18, 2006 committee meeting, the committee reviewed all invoices to date, and Ms. Rigney outlined the work still ahead. 34 The City Hall Renovation Committee recommends a contract extension, which would take the contract amount to $20,000 total. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts moved approval of the extension. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve an extension for the interior design contract of Ms. Onesia Rigney. CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO TXU STEERING COMMITTEE: The City Council appointed a steering committee comprised of residents living along the route of the proposed 13 8k V transmission line improvement to develop a solution with TXU to meet the needs of the community and TXU. James Martin, 3920 Amherst, submitted his resignation from the committee due to a conflict of interest. Council suggested Josiah Daniel, 2904 Rosedale, be invited to join the committee. If he is unable to serve, Don Laidlaw, 4200 Amherst, will be contacted by Councilmember Carter. Councilmember Walker moved approval of the appointments. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve a new appointment to the TXU Steering Committee. CONSIDER COOPERATIVE PURCHASE OF TWO 2006 CHEVROLET T AHOES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT: The Fire Department will purchase two 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Package Vehicles for the Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Marshal available through Caldwell Country via the Tarrant County Purchasing Cooperative for $29,837 each for a total amount of $59,674. The Fire Marshal's current 1993 Ford Explorer will be sent to auction. The Deputy Fire Chief s vehicle is a new addition to the fleet. Councilmember Shawver moved approval of the purchase. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts seconded, and the vote was unanimous to purchase two 2006 Chevrolet Tahoes for the Fire Department. CONSIDER RESOLUTION CALLING GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR PURPOSE OF ELECTING MAYOR AND FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS ON MAY 13, 2006 AND ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO CONSIDER CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS ON MAY 13, 2006: A General Municipal Election and Special Election are being ordered for Saturday, May 13, 2006, for the purpose of electing a mayor and four councilmembers to serve for a term of two years and to consider two amendments to the City Charter. The election will be conducted at the City of University Park City Hall from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on May 13,2006. Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted at City Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. beginning Monday, May 1, 2006 and continuing through Friday, May 5, 2006, and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. beginning on Monday 8, 2006 and ending Tuesday, May 9, 2006. The following amendments will be considered: Proposition No.1, " Shall Chapter 10 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of University Park be amended to add a new Section 10.05 to read as follows: 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." Proposition No.2., "Shall Chapter 13 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of University Park be amended to add a new Section 13.16 to read as follows: 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." Mayor Holmes moved 35 approval of the resolution and ordinance calling the election. Councilmember Shawver seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the resolution calling for the election of a mayor and four councilmembers and an ordinance approving a special election to consider two charter amendments. RESOLUTION NO. 06-02 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, CALLING AN ELECTION ON SA TURDA Y, MAY 13, 2006 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MA YOR AND FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS ; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE NO. 06/03 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS, ORDERING A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2006, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER; CREATING A SINGLE ELECTION PRECINCT; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE; AND FIXING THE TIME, PLACE AND MANNER OF HOLDING SAID ELECTION. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. PASSED AND APPROVED this 21st day of February 2006. ATTEST: 36