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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMn 02-21-06 36 MINUTES #2605 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 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 Signs/Marking Technician Rodney Fant, Traffic, with a 1 O-year pin and thanked him for his years of service to the City. RECOGNITION OF BOY SCOUTS Boy Scouts Matthew Dalton, 2700 Westminster and Harrison Smith, 3517 Purdue and Brett Watson, 3914 Normandy, led in the Pledge of Allegiance and then introduced themselves stating the badge upon which they were working. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR Mr. Matthew Dixon, 3448 Rosedale, spoke on parking conditions on Hursey between Rosedale and Milton. Mr. Dixon noted that the inset parking on the west side of Hursey had been removed, which narrowed the street considerably. He requested the council look into the situation to see if the inset could be put back. The request will be acted upon and a report will be given at the next city council meeting. Councilmember Shawver moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the following: CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDER ANNUAL REPORT ON TRAFFIC STOP DATA AND ANALYSIS: Mayor Holmes requested Police Captain Leon Holman address the highlights of the report, which will be sent to the State of Texas. The report reflects all traffic stops conducted by officers for the year, as well as, an analysis of the collected data. For the calendar year 2005, the University Park Police Department made 3,351 traffic stops. Of those stops, 2,776 were Caucasian (82%),200 were African American (6%),278 were Hispanic (8%), 97 were Asian (3%) and (1 %) was other or unknown. There were a total of six (6) searches conducted that constituted consent searches under the legislation and required documentation. A breakdown of those searches included two (2) Caucasian drivers (33%), three (3) African American drivers (50%), and one (1) Hispanic driver (1%). Four of the six searches did not yield contraband or evidence of a crime. One search conducted was for officer safety, and one search was conducted after the odor of alcohol was detected on the driver and sobriety tests were administered. In reviewing the data for the four-year period as presented in the report, it was difficult to identify on-going patterns that would suggest racial profiling. Admittedly, there appeared to be some disparity among the ethnic groups identified regarding the number of searches and arrests; however, in the review of data related to searches, the numbers were so small that the addition of one person to any category could drastically alter the resulting percentages, and a review of arrest data after deletion of non-discretionary arrest~ revealed that arrests among racial/ethnic groups were more evenly distributed. The Department received - two citizen complaints of racial profiling. Racial Profiling was unfounded in the first complaint; however, all sworn personnel received documented training regarding appropriate officer/violator 37 contact. Regarding the second complaint, after reviewing the digital video recording, the officer was exonerated. The minimal number of complaints received by the department is viewed as a key indicator that citizens coming in contact with the University Park Police Department were satisfied that their treatment and/or their receipt of police services was fair and equitable. The full annual report is available for review in the Office of the Chief of Police. CONSIDER REQUEST FROM HIGHLAND PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOR RENTAL OF GOAR PARK FOR "LIVE ON THE LAWN" EVENT: The event will be Saturday, May 20, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with 500 in attendance. CONSIDER APPRO V AL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: The minutes were approved, with a correction of the name of Josiah Daniel instead of Josh Daniel, for February 7,2006. MAIN AGENDA DISCUSS TXU UNDERGROUND FEASIBILITY STUDY: Staff has been in contact with five engineering firms to submit a statement of qualifications to perform a feasibility study to underground all utilities along the entire route of the 138kV transmission line. Once a firm has been selected, staff will negotiate a contract for Council approval. Mayor Holmes announced that the residents will have a chance to comment on how the handling of the transmission line will be funded and where funds will come from before moving forward. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts moved approval of the negotiation of a contract for the feasibility study. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve moving forward with the negotiations. CONSIDER CHANGE ORDER NO.5 WITH JESKE CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,800 TO PROVIDE REMEDIATION OF RETAINING WALL ADJACENT TO GOAR PARK: Craig Olden, Inc., subcontractor for Jeske Construction, is nearly complete with work to structurally reinforce retaining walls along the west side of Goar Park. After the recent rainfall, a section of retaining wall failed at the south end of the park. To prevent any further deterioration of the wall and the adjacent property, staff instructed Olden to proceed with the work immediately. Councilmember Walker moved approval of Change Order No.5. Councilmember Shawver seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve change Order No.5 with Jeske Construction in the amount of $13,800. CONSIDER PROPOSAL FROM ALAN PLUMMER ASSOCIA TES, INC. TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES ASSOCIA TED WITH DESIGN OF GERMANY PARK BOOSTER PUMPING STATION: The contract between the City and the Dallas County Park Cities Municipal Utilities District places the responsibility for the design and construction of the Germany Park Booster Pumping Station with the City. A proposal, in the amount of$343,056.00 includes the engineering, architectural, surveying, and geotechnical services necessary to design the new facility. Additionally, the City has requested the consultant develop a surge analysis to determine the impact of water hammer during loss of power conditions on the Municipal Utilities District's transmission main as well as The Town of Highland Park's distribution system. Architectural services will include a design for the pumping station structure that will be compatible with the adjacent residential neighborhood. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts moved approval of the proposal from Alan Plummer Associates, Inc. Councilmember Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the proposal for engineering, and architectural services associated with the design of the Germany Park Booster Pumping Station. CONSIDER CONCEPT PLAN LAYOUT FOR KERWIN MEMORIAL SCULPTURE: Staff has been working with the Kerwin Family regarding the memorial statue's layout and type of materials used to support the statue's installation, which includes stone surfacing, plaque size and verbiage, plant material -~-"~-~-~----------_._~_._------_._- 38 installation and decorative lighting. The memorial dedication will be April 7, 2006. Councilmember Walker moved approval of the plan. Councilmember Carter seconded, and the vote was unanimous to proceed with the concept plan layout for the Kerwin Memorial Sculpture. CONSIDER REQUEST FROM HIGHLAND PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA "CELEBRATION 8 COMMITTEE" TO RESERVE CURTIS PARK SWIMMING POOL AND CURTIS PARK PICNIC AREA FOR ANNUAL GRADUATION PARTY: This is the annual graduation party for 8th Grade middle school students prior to the class entering Highland Park High School. The Celebration 8 Committee has requested Friday, May 12th, to host the event at Curtis Park. The committee anticipates 250 students in attendance. Councilmember Shawver moved approval of the request. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the annual graduation party for the 8th grade Highland Park Middle School students. CONSIDER TMRS/FFRF CONVERSION STUDY: In 2003, the City Council authorized the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) to study a merger of the City's Firefighter Relief and Retirement Fund (FRRF) with TMRS. Merger with TMRS was one option for dealing with the underfunded status of FRRF. The study progressed to a point, but was never completed as the TMRS Board placed a moratorium on considering mergers with other plans. TMRS is willing to engage in a conversion study again under the same terms as last time; namely, that the City formally commits to the effort and is willing to pay up to $10,000 for actuarial and legal work. Along with the study itself, TMRS will prepare a draft merger resolution and merger agreement. Councilmember Carter moved approval of the initiation of a TMRS/FRRF conversion study. Mayor Pro Tern Roberts seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the study. DISCUSS CROSSWALK ACROSS TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD AT CARUTH PARK: After discussing a sidewalk along the Turtle Creek frontage of 3500 Greenbrier, it seemed to staff that a reasonable alternative would be to place it mid-block, north of the alley. Traffic Consultant Dannie Cummings suggested that a crosswalk be designated between the alley and driveway for 3501 Caruth. The crosswalk would connect to the service drive at the northwest comer of Caruth Park. Because of sight distance requirements, one parking space immediately south of the crosswalk would be lost. Appropriate signage will be installed. Councilmember Carter moved approval of the sidewalk. Councilmember Shawver seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve a sidewalk mid-block, north of the alley, between the alley and driveway for 3501 Caruth. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. PASSED AND APPROVED this ih of March 2006. -",