HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 02-20-07 WebA G E N D A
#2704
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2007 AT 5:00 P.M.
3:00-4:00 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION: CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY
REGARDING POSSIBLE LITIGATION AND PURCHASE/SALE OF
WORCOLA PROPERTY, SECTIONS 551.071 AND 551.072, GOVERNMENT
CODE
4:00-5:00 PM WORK SESSION FOR AGENDA REVIEW
I.INVOCATION
– Human Resources Director Luanne Hanford
II.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
– Human Resources Director Luanne Hanford/Boy Scouts
III.INTRODUCTION OF COUNCIL –
Mayor James H. Holmes, III
IV.INTRODUCTION OF STAFF
– City Manager Bob Livingston
V.AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: CITY EMPLOYEE
CERTIFICATION OF APPRECIATION: Sally Lane, Representative for the City of
University Park to the American Red Cross, Dallas Area Chapter, from 1985-1999
CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION: Ragland, Strother & Lafitte for their assistance in
obtaining a grant for the City of University Park Fire Department from the Fireman’s
Fund Insurance Company
VI. CONSENT AGENDA
A.ANNUAL REPORT: Traffic Stop Data and Analysis
B.CONSIDER: Agreement for Street Light Service with TXU Electric Delivery
C.CONSIDER: Addendum No. 4 to contract with Alan Plummer Associates for
engineering services to develop a sound study for design and operation of booster
pumping station at Germany Park
D.CONSIDER: Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes for February 6, 2007
VII.MAIN AGENDA
A.REPORT: From Public Safety Committee on block parties
B.CONSIDER: Proposal from C&P Engineering to develop an updated traffic signal
timing plan
C.DISCUSS: Council’s position on whether Potomac Park should be sold to Southern
Methodist University
D.CONSIDER: Award of contract to Holt Power Systems to furnish an emergency
generator for the Peek Center expansion project
E.CONSIDER: Proposal for AT&T E911 System for Peek Dispatch Center
F.CONSIDER: Proposal for computer network switches for City Hall and Peek Center
G.CONSIDER: Ordinance revising City of University Park Code of Ordinances Section
3.1500, right-of-way construction
VIII.ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
Anyone wishing to address an item not on the Agenda or having questions about items on
the Consent Agenda should do so at this time. Questions and comments regarding Main
Agenda items were made when that item was addressed by the City Council.
As authorized by Section 551.071(2) of the Texas Government Code, this meeting may be
convened into Closed Executive Session for the purpose of seeking confidential legal advice from the City
Attorney on any agenda items listed herein
IX. INFORMATION AGENDA
REPORTS, BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
A.BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
B.CAPITAL PROJECTS REVIEW COMMITTEE Minutes for October 9,
2006
C.COFFEE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE
D.EMPLOYEE BENFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
E.FINANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
F.PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE
G.PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
H.PROPERTY CASUALTY & LIABILITY INSURANCE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
I.PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes for January 18,
2007
J.PUBLIC WORKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
K.URBAN DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
L.ZONING ORDINANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
e 19
ppr eciat ·
Ion
Presented to
~~~
In recognition of fourteen years of service
From 1985 to 1999
As the Gty of University Park Community Liaison
To the American Red Cross
Dallas Area Chapter
~~/ 4 7
James H. Holme, III, Mayor / Dlte
~
AGENDA MEMO
(02/20/2007 AGENDA)
DATE: February 13, 2006
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Gary W. Adams, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Annual Report on Traffic Stop Data and Analysis
Background/Analysis
Per Article 2.134 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, this report is being submitted to
the governing body of the City of University Park and reflects all traffic stops conducted by
officers for the year, as well as an analysis of the collected data. For the calendar year 2006,
the University Park Police Department made 3,515 traffic stops. Of those stops, 2,788 were
Caucasian (79.3%), 209 were African American (5.95%), 326 were Hispanic (9.27%), 105
were Asian (3%) and 87 (2.48%) was other or unknown. There were a total of 2 searches,
both were conducted under probably cause circumstances. Both searches were on Caucasian
drivers.
In reviewing the data for the five year period, as presented in this report, it is difficult to
identify on-going patterns that would suggest racial profiling.
The Department received no citizen complaints of racial profiling.
The Department will continue to research various ways to review its policies and procedures,
as well as traffic contact and accident involvement data to insure everything reasonably
possible is being done to prevent the occurrence or appearance of racial profiling by the
members of the University Park Police Department. For example:
1.All Department directives are being reviewed by command staff for any needed change
or updates.
2.The Department will continue to comply with all state, federal and Commission on
Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agency mandates and/or standards related to the
prohibition of racial profiling.
3.The Department will continue to conduct periodic reviews of mobile digital recordings
documenting police traffic contacts. Reviews are done to assist in ensure compliance
with equipment operation requirements as well as to review officer conduct and
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS 75205 TELEPHONE (214) 363-1644
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performance.
4.The Department will continue to provide a means of citizen complaint reporting and
will review and investigate all complaints against the Department or its employees.
5.The Department will continue to meet with the Public Safety Advisory Committee and
will solicit its input regarding racial profiling concerns as well as any other areas of
citizen concern pertaining to police policy and procedure or public safety.
Attachments:
Full annual report available for review in the Office of the Chief of Police.
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS 75205 TELEPHONE (214) 363-1644
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AGENDA MEMO
(02/20/2007 AGENDA)
DATE: February 14, 2007
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Kent Austin, Director of Finance
SUBJECT: Street light agreement with TXU Electric Delivery
Background
Once the Texas electric industry became deregulated in 2002, cities were free to choose their
own electric provider for their various needs. City electric uses range from building lighting
and traffic signals to swimming pool pumps and irrigation controllers.
One type of service unique to municipalities is street lighting. This service remains regulated,
and although cities are billed for electric service by their Retail Electric Provider (REP), they
interact directly with the Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP, or wires
company) regarding street light issues.
University Park has about 600 street lights throughout town, and street lights comprise 22%
of the City’s electric consumption. Most street lights are unmetered and so carry a flat charge
each month. Although rates vary based on the type of lamp, wattage, and pole ownership, on
average the wires company charges for street lights are about $10/month.
Before deregulation, the TDSP (TXU Electric Delivery) had numerous formal and informal
agreements with area cities regarding street light service. To bring order to this situation,
TXUED is encouraging cities to approve a standard Agreement for Street Lighting Service.
The agreement has been reviewed and endorsed by Geoffrey Gay, the attorney who serves as
legal counsel to the TXUED Cities Steering Committee.
Key sections of the proposed Agreement include:
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Section 3, Contribution-In-Aid-Of-Construction (CIAC) – cities are not required to
pay CIAC (upfront capital charges for new facilities) unless they request facilities
exceeding the established base level (i.e., wooden poles).
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Section 4, Service Subject to Company’s Tariff – the Agreement must be consistent
to the company’s tariff (regulated rates) schedule.
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Section 8, Relocation of Facilities – cities may require the electric company to
relocate the light (facility) at the company’s expense to permit widening or
straightening of streets.
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS 75205 TELEPHONE (214) 363-1644
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Recommendation
City staff recommends approval of the proposed Agreement for Street Lighting Service.
Attachments:
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Agreement for Street Lighting Service By and Between TXUED and City of
University Park
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Memo from Geoffrey Gay to Cities Served by Oncor (TXUED), 4/25/2003
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TXU Electric Delivery Tariff 6.1.1.6
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University Park streetlights report
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS 75205 TELEPHONE (214) 363-1644
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AGENDA MEMO
(02-20-07 AGENDA)
DATE:
February 15, 2007
TO:
Bob Livingston
City Manager
FROM:
Gene R. Smallwood, P.E.
Director of Public Works
SUBJECT:
Consider addendum no. 4 to the City’s contract with Alan Plummer
Associates to provide engineering services associated with
development of a sound study related to the design and operation
of the booster pumping station at Germany Park.
Background.
At their 02.21.06 meeting, the City Council approved a
contract with Alan Plummer Associates in the amount $343,056 for the design of
the proposed booster pumping station in Germany Park. Several public hearings
ensued in which neighboring residents voiced concerns about several issues
including underground versus above ground facility, architectural compatibility
with surrounding residential properties, traffic, parking, playground facilities, and
sound.
All of the aforementioned issues are being addressed in the design, except the
concern about noise. Even though staff reported visits to pumping stations in
other communities and recounted testimony from abutting residents that sound
was not an issue, there was still doubt from those in attendance at the public
hearings. To that end, staff solicited a proposal from Alan Plummer Associates
(APAI) commissioning a sound study. They arranged for a sub-consultant to
collect sound data prior to construction of the pumping station, provide expert
advice to provide sound mitigation assistance during design, collect sound data
after the pumping station is in operation, and prepare a report of the findings.
Discussion.
Staff recommends City Council approval of the addendum to the
Alan Plummer Associates contract in the amount of $8,675.
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS 75205 TELEPHONE (214) 363-1644
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MINUTES
#2703
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2007, 5:00 P.M.
Mayor Blackie Holmes convened the city council into an executive session in the conference
room at 3:00 p.m. for deliberation regarding purchase/sale of Worcola and Fondren Property
under Section 551.072 of the Government Code. The executive session was closed at 3:57 p.m.
No action was voted on or taken during the meeting.
Mayor Blackie Holmes opened the regular city council meeting at 5:00 p.m. in the Council
Chamber. Present were Mayor Pro Tempore Harry Shawver and Councilmembers Syd Carter,
Kelly Walker and Jerry Grable. Also in attendance were City Manager Bob Livingston, City
Attorney Rob Dillard and City Secretary Nina Wilson.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
PROMOTION OF POLICE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN AND SERGEANT: Chief of Police
Gary Adams made a presentation before the council promoting Sergeant Bob Flood to Captain
and Officer Jim Savage to Sergeant.
DEPARTMENT PIN: City Manager Bob Livingston presented a 15-year department pin to Pat
Brignon, Maintenance Technician in the Utilities Department.
Mayor Pro Tempore Harry Shawver moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Councilmember
Walker seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve the following:
CONSENT AGENDA
CONSIDER REQUEST TO ABANDON STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY ADJACENT TO 7304
TURTLE CREEK BOULEVARD: This item was removed from the Consent Agenda so that the
owners of 7304 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Mr. & Mrs. Guy Marcus, could discuss with the council
the issue of buying all of the right-of-way (ROW) along their Stanford frontage rather than a
portion of it. The south property line adjacent to the Stanford ROW is approximately 10’ north
of the sidewalk. They had requested the city abandon a strip 4.5’ wide for 68.9’ for a total of
310.05 square feet. The city council felt that the frontage in its entirety should be sold as one
parcel rather than a partial parcel. Staff will get an evaluation for the entire parcel so that Mr. &
Mrs. Marcus can decide what they would like to do.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: For January 16, 2007.
MAIN AGENDA
PUBLIC HEARING FOR REQUESTFROM SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY TO
PURCHASE POTOMAC PARK: Mayor Holmes made the following remarks before opening
the public hearing: “Several months ago, Southern Methodist University (SMU) officials
notified the City that the University would like to purchase Potomac Park for future use. That
request put in motion procedures that include tonight’s public hearing. Last December, the
Presidential Library Search Committee announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations
with SMU regarding the George W. Bush Presidential Library. While the University has yet to
be awarded the library, and no specific site on the campus has been designated, this tract of land
could be a component for this would-be project. That being said, I want to highlight a few
points:
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I want to make it clear that we are holding this public hearing in an abundance of caution
to make sure that the City complies with both the Texas Government Code and the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Code regarding the sale of park land. This hearing is not being held to
satisfy the requirements of the 2006 amendment to the City Charter that calls for a public
vote any time the City wants to use more than 5,000 square feet of parkland for nonpark
purposes.
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The City election for the sale of Potomac Park will take place Saturday, May 12, 2007.
The ballot question will stipulate that, if voters approve the sale of Potomac Park, the
land will be sold to the University, and the City will only use the proceeds to acquire or
improve other property for public park purposes.
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Tonight’s hearing is for the benefit and education of our residents. The decision on
whether to allow the sale of this property rests with University Park voters on May 12.
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As such, and because this park space is located within the boundaries of University Park,
only University Park residents will be allowed to address the Council during tonight’s
hearing. Those who live outside the City are welcome to provide written comments for
the Council to review.
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Abiding by established procedures for all public hearings involving the Council and its
boards and committees, each speaker is asked to limit his or her remarks to 3 minutes.
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All residents who plan to speak during this hearing must fill out a green information sheet
before addressing the Council. Blank sheets are located at the registration table at the
front of the Council Chamber. Once you have filled out your information, please hand it
to our City Secretary Nina Wilson.
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While the strip of land being discussed tonight is named Potomac Park, this undeveloped
parcel, slightly larger than ¾ of an acre, is located just behind the Mockingbird Plaza
Shopping Center. It has no amenities, such as playground equipment, playing fields,
benches or fountains and, at no time, has the City considered developing this strip of land
for park use.
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Lastly, I would remind everyone to direct their remarks to the issue at hand – the
potential sale of this property on Potomac Avenue. Accordingly, comments that are in
support or opposition to the policies of the Bush Administration or the Bush Presidential
Library are not in keeping with the focus of this hearing.”
Mayor Holmes then opened the public hearing. Dr. R. Gerald Turner, President, Southern
Methodist University, presented his opening remarks regarding Potomac Park. Those who spoke
in favor of the sale of Potomac Park to SMU were: Bob Clark, 7715 Turtle Creek; Dawn Moore,
3515 Colgate; Marc Hall, 3610 Haynie; Ed Freeman, 3012 Potomac; Curtis Zimmerly, 3816
Purdue; Catherine Taylor, 3944 Stanford. Those opposed to the sale of Potomac Park to SMU
were: Tom Blackwell, 3833 Wentwood; Beth Blankenship, 3333 Rankin; Scott Douglass, 2709
Westminster; Sam Boyd, 3728 Binkley; Mary Lou Neil, 3421 Haynie; Irene Mitchell, 4135
University; John Weston, 4053 Purdue; Madeleine Hervey, 4309 Hyer; Julie Gwynn, 3008
Hanover. Mike Boone, a member of the Southern Methodist University Board of Trustees,
presented closing remarks for the university. Mayor Holmes then stated that the council’s
position on whether Potomac Park should be sold to SMU would be announced at the February
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20 city council meeting. Mayor Holmes then closed the public hearing.
CONSIDER RETAINING SERVICES OF A CONSULTANT TO REVIEW SPECIFIC
BUILDING ISSUES IN SINGLE- AND MULTI-FAMILY DISTRICTS AND THE NEED FOR
MINIMUM LAND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO REGULATE FUTURE RE-
DEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING BUILDING SITES: On October 5, 2006, the city council held
a public discussion on the subject of regulating the size of single family homes. On January 16,
2007, the city council received a report and discussed specific issues affecting new construction
in multi-family districts. Developing minimum standards to improve the quality of development
in the multi-family districts and regulating the building envelope for single family construction
requires specific knowledge, expertise and time to work through the process with builders and
residents. Staff proposed the city retain the services of a consultant with the appropriate
experience to generate customized development standards which are to be adopted and used to
regulate the future re-development of existing building sites. Those in favor of hiring a
consultant were: Matthew Dixon, property owner of 3448 Rosedale; Don Gale, 3712 Binkley
and Taylor Armstrong, 3801 Centenary. Lee Roever, President, Park Cities Historical and
Preservation Society, was also in favor of hiring a consultant and also preserving older homes.
Councilmember Grable moved that the city retain the services of a consultant to review current
building issues and develop appropriate standards for development. Councilmember Carter
seconded, and the vote was unanimous to approve retaining the services of a consultant.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE FOR DRIVEWAY STANDARDS AND OFF-STREET PARKING
REQUIREMENTS IN MULTI-FAMILY DISTRICTS: The current development trends in the
multi-family districts point to two major issues impacting the neighborhoods: the proliferation of
driveway approaches with direct access to the street resulting in the loss of on-street parking
spaces, and multi-family construction designed and built for three-bedroom units and providing
two parking spaces per dwelling unit, meeting the minimum requirements of the comprehensive
zoning ordinance. The proposed ordinance would regulate the number and location of driveways
as follows: the aggregate of driveway approaches should not exceed one driveway per street
frontage per platted lot, provided that additional driveways with a minimum of 100’ of street
frontage, measured from center line to center line, separating them, shall be permitted and that
multiple driveways providing direct access only to an alley be permitted. In addition, the
proposed ordinance provides for an increase in off-street parking spaces to one space per
bedroom plus one additional space per 10 bedrooms or fractions thereof for visitor parking.
Since this is an amendment to the City’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, the Planning and
Zoning Commission must hold a public hearing and forward a recommendation to the council
before the ordinance is adopted. Matthew Dixon, 3448 Rosedale, voiced his concern over
additional spaces per 10 bedrooms and also prohibiting circular drives. Councilmember Walker
moved that the discussion be sent to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a public hearing.
Mayor Pro Tempore Shawver seconded, and the vote was unanimous to have a public hearing
held by the Planning and Zoning Commission before the ordinance is adopted.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ENGAGEMENT LETTER WITH BROWN MCCARROLL,
L.L.P., TO REPRESENT CITY IN CONNECTION WITH TXU’S APPEAL OF CITY’S
ORDINANCE REQUIRING REMOVAL AND RELOCATION OF 138 KV TRANSMISSION
LINE:
On December 19, 2006, the city council passed Ordinance 06/35 requiring TXU Electric
Delivery to remove and relocate the 138 kV transmission line from its current route connecting the
Lomo Alto and Greenville substations outside of the city limits of University Park. Subsequently,
TXU filed an appeal with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) claiming the city enacted
the ordinance “in excess of its statutory authority.” The appeal requests the PUC grant interim relief,
so that relocation activities, as specified in Section 2 of Ordinance 06/35, do not have to begin by
April 1, 2007. Additionally, the appeal asks the PUC to determine whether the city had property
authority to enact Ordinance 06/35 and to hold the provisions of the ordinance void. Mayor Holmes
moved that an engagement letter from Marianne Carroll, Brown McCarroll, L.L.P. to represent the
city in connection with the TXU appeal be approved. Councilmember Carter seconded and the vote
was unanimous to approve hiring Marianne Carroll to represent the city in connection with TXU’s
appeal of the city ordinance requiring removal and relocation of the 139 kV transmission line.
CONSIDER AWARD OF BIDS FOR ROOFING FOR CITY HALL PROJECT, RELOCATED
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SHOP AT PEEK SERVICE CENTER, AND
MISCELLANEOUS PROJECT CHANGE ORDERS: The original bid for the City Hall Roof
was rejected primarily because of the issue surrounding the inability to match the existing clay
tile roofing material. Gallagher solicited new bids with several alternative materials finding
materials that would work; but, with only one bidder, Creative Roof Systems, the bid was higher
than the original bid. Staff and Gallagher reviewed the details of the roof bid with the council’s
oversight committee, who unanimously recommended approval of the contractor’s bid with an
alternative material supplier, US Tile. The bid for the US Tile roof and appurtenances is
$889,850. The chill water pumps could not be installed in the location shown on the plans and
keep the existing building in operation; therefore, an alternative location had to be designed,
structurally and mechanically, that would allow the existing mechanical equipment to operate
until the old building is vacated for renovation. The redesign and relocation costs are $15,330
and $28,578 respectively. Council took previous action to reject bids for a stand-alone building
to house our Facilities Maintenance operation, which had to be relocated to make room for the
new Dispatch Facility at the Peek Service Center. Staff suggested to council at that time that the
$200,000+ cost of that new building could be reduced significantly if the facilities maintenance
shop could be constructed within one of the parking areas on the first floor of this building. Bids
were received from existing subcontractors, who are constructing the dispatch facility, for a
change order cost of $26,925. Several changes were necessary to the Peek Center electrical
contract to accommodate new Security-AV-Computer contracts at a change order cost of $4,477.
Carpet tiles in the Dispatch/Emergency Operation Center Project needed to be changed to non-
static materials to alleviate problems with computer operations. The change order will net an
increase of $12,199. From a long-term maintenance perspective, laminate countertops do not
wear in this type of application. The change order is in the amount of $3,812. Following are the
change orders discussed in the above description:
CITY HALL
Contract
Increase Proposed Council Action
Roof Bids $889,850 Award contract to Creative Roof Systems $889,850
Chill Water Pumps $ 28,578 Award change order to SkiHi Mech-Electric $21,915
Award change order to Tru-Grid $3,135
Award change order to Piper-Weatherford $2,678
Award change order to Groves Electric $850
Leo A. Daly (Design)
Chill Water Pumps $ 15,330 Discuss addendum to LAD contract $15,330
PEEK SERVICE CENTER $ 26,925
New Facilities Maintenance Shop Award change order to Piper Weatherford $3,442
Award change order to Morris Drywall $12,072
Award change order to Liberty Park Painting $6,036
Award change order to Firetrol $3,875
Award change order to Salve Door $1,500
Misc. Electric Changes $ 4,477 Award change order to Abel Electric $4,477
Non-Static Carpet $ 23,650 Award change order to Prestige Interiors $23,650
Award change order to Spectra Flooring ($11,451)
Solid Surface Countertops $ 3,812 Award change order to Medco $3,812
Subtotals
$992,622
TOTAL $981,171
Councilmember Carter moved approval of the bids. Councilmember Grable seconded, and the
vote was unanimous to approve $981,171 bid for the roof at City Hall, the relocated Facilities
Maintenance Shop at the Peek Service Center, and the miscellaneous project change orders.
CONSIDER TRANSFER OF LIBRARY ACCOUNT MONEY TO UNIVERSITY PARK
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY: Since the mid-1980’s, the city has held donated money intended
for a University Park library. The donations originally came from a Cub Scout fund raising
effort. The money has been accounted for separately and is credited with interest earnings once
a year; the current balance is $28,819.60. Recently, the city received a letter from David Ellis,
President of the University Park Friends of the Library (UPFOL). The Friends request that the
city’s library account money be transferred to the UPFOL. This will consolidate their assets and
relieve the city of the responsibility to hold the funds.
TH
CONSIDER CHANGING DATE OF MARCH 20 CITY COUNCIL MEETING: As Mayor
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Holmes will be unavailable for a March 20 meeting, the city council scheduled for that time
will not be held. The next city council meeting will be April 3, 2007.
ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
Max Fuqua, representing the University Park Merchants Association, expressed his concern
regarding a Resident Only Parking Zone for Snider Plaza. City Manager Bob Livingston assured
him that there was no proposal regarding a Resident Only Park Zone now.
There being no further business, Mayor Holmes adjourned the meeting.
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PASSED AND APPROVED this 20 day of February 2007.
James H. Holmes, III, Mayor
ATTEST:
Nina Wilson, City Secretary
AGENDA MEMO
(02/20/2007 AGENDA)
DATE:
February 12, 2007
TO:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM:
Gary W. Adams, Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
Report from Public Safety Committee on Block Parties
ITEM:
During the December 5, 2006, City Council Meeting, a recommendation was made to
consider making changes in the manner in which the City handles requests for block
parties, and as to whether or not to continue allowing block parties. After much
discussion from the council and members of the audience, the item was sent to the Public
Safety Committee for further review and a recommendation.
The Public Safety Committee met on January 18, 2007. The block party issue was on the
agenda for discussion and recommendations. There were several suggestions made as to
how the city should handle block parties in the future. In the end, the committee agreed
unanimously to recommend that the city, on a one year trial basis, refrain from allowing
street closures on Halloween night 2007. The city would continue to provide barricades
st
and signs for block parties at any other time of the year, but not on October 31, or
Halloween.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the council follow the recommendation of the Public Safety
Committee and not allow residents to block streets off for block parties on Halloween
night 2007.
Attachments:
Public Safety Committee meeting minutes.
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS 75205 TELEPHONE (214) 363-1644
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Public Safety Advisory Committee
MINUTES
January 18, 2007
The Public Safety Advisory Committee of the City of University Park met on Thursday,
January 18, 2007 at 6:00 P.M. in the Court Room of City Hall at 3800 University Blvd.,
Dallas, TX 75205. The following are minutes of that meeting.
Committee Members Attending:Staff Members Attending:
Robert, Boyd, Chair Gary W Adams, Chief of Police
Kirk Dooley David Ledbetter, Fire Chief
Dr. Doug Turgeon Syd Carter, Council Liaison
Ed Crissey Jerry Grable, Council Member
Doug Bruton Jacob Speer, Asst. Public Works Director
Jackie Brewer Robert Brown, Administrative Captain
Francie Johnsen Dorris Certain, Accreditation Manager
Charles Terrell, Jr. Officer A.J. Sherrill
Doug Woodward Donna Wilkerson, Administrative Assistatant
Amara Durham
James Garner
Robert Boyd, Chair, opened the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
Committee members introduced themselves.
Chief Adams introduced staff members present including new School Resource Officer A.J.
Sherrill. Officer Sherrill is a five year veteran of the University Park Police Department. He
was an officer in Abilene for 10 years prior to coming to University Park. An outside consultant
was hired to perform an assessment center. The process included two high school students.
When the results of the assessment were presented to Chief Adams, Officer Sherrill had the
highest score. Chief Adams also stated that he spoke with Mr. Williams, the Asst. Principal from
the high school, and asked for his input. He stated that he felt Officer Sherrill was the better fit
for the position. Also, the two high school students involved felt Officer Sherrill would be able
to relate to the students better. Officer Sherrill has been in the high school for two weeks and is
already building a great report with the students.
Capt. Robert Brown has recently accepted the position as Chief of Police in Duncanville.
The city council has asked the Public Safety Advisory Committee to discuss Halloween night
block parties and send a committee recommendation back to the council.
Jacob Speer, Asst. Public Works Director, explained the policy and history of block parties in
University Park. In the past, residents would go to Dispatch, inform the dispatcher that they
PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
Page 1 of 5
would like to have a block party and were told to go to the Friendship lot to pick up signs/cones.
The signs/cones were not always returned. Over time, residents became too comfortable with
this policy and would help themselves to the signs/cones. The police department had no way of
knowing where block parties were taking place. A few years ago, the city began asking for a
Block Party form to be filled out. City staff began delivering and picking up the signs/cones.
On Halloween night 2006, the city had requests for 46 block parties. This took city crews a total
of 3 working days to deliver and pick up the signs/cones. The crews that transported the signs
were pulled off of other city work during this time. Some of the requests came in as late at thirty
minutes before the start time of the block party. This request was the highest number of block
th
parties that the city has seen. Historically, July 4, the weekends before school starts and after
school is dismissed, and Texas/OU weekend are busiest times for block party requests.
Typically, these weekends bring in 15-20 requests. As long as the request is submitted with three
days’ notice, city crews have ample time to prepare signs and distribute them.
The problem with the high number of party requests this year was that it caused gridlock in the
city. Several streets were shut down for blocks. The majority of these block party requests were
not for legitimate block parties. They were just to shut down the street to keep traffic off while
kids were trick or treating. City staff estimates that 90% of the requests were not for actual block
parties.
There were three EMS calls on Halloween night between the hours of 6 to 10 p.m. One of these
calls was in the northwest part of the city were numerous streets were blocked off. EMS
personnel had to get out of the ambulance and move the barricades at each end of the block
before continuing on to the call. This resulted in a much longer response time. Fortunately, this
time, this did not cause any severe health problems to the patient. The block party instruction
packet clearly states to that emergency vehicles must be allowed access to the block and
someone must be available at all times to remove the traffic cones and signs if necessary. No
one was near the signs to move them for EMS personnel.
City staff realizes that there are greater issues at hand. Some UP residents request block party
signs in an attempt to keep non-residents from driving the streets on Halloween night.
Committee members had many suggestions/recommendations with city staff responding:
1.Have residents pick up/drop off the signage on Halloween to cut down on city
expense/time. City staff stated that the problem this would pose would be that no one
would know which streets would be blocked off all around town.
2.Require a fee for block parties on this night and use the money to offset the cost of putting
more police officers on the street to run radar. Chief Adams stated that the police
department usually has more officers working on Halloween, but the call volume also
increases on this night. UP does not have the manpower to do nothing but write tickets
all night.
3.If EMS has a call, and no one is there to move the barricades, then deny the block the
request to have another block party. Staff stated that keeping track of denials and the
process of denying someone a block party would be difficult.
PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
Page 2 of 5
4.Can the city enact a curfew on Halloween? Chief Adams stated that the crime rate in UP
does not justify a curfew.
5.Enforce the three-day time frame on the application. If it is not turned in three days in
advance, then simply deny the request. Jacob stated that by enforcing this, it still does
not help the logistic problem that the city is having on Halloween.
6.A suggestion was made to ask for a deposit to accompany all block party requests. Jacob
stated that in the past, the city required a deposit from construction companies to ensure
that the lots stayed clean during construction. The $100 deposit was such a small
amount, that no one came back to claim the deposit once the job was completed. An
audit was conducted and tens of thousands of dollars in deposit fees were found to not be
claimed. The record keeping/finance aspect of a refundable deposit is very time
consuming.
7.A suggestion was made for EMS crews just to drive over the barricades in the event of an
emergency. Chief Ledbetter stated that he would not allow his crews to do this. This can
damage the ambulance/fire equipment.
8.A suggestion was made to limit the number of block parties a block can have to two a
year. Jacob questioned the logistics behind this idea. Who wants to be the city employee
who has to tell a resident no you can’t have a block party? He states that typically blocks
that have parties have the same ones year after year: Halloween and the weekends
surrounding the start/dismissal of the school year.
9.No two contiguous blocks should be allowed to have the streets blocked off at the same
time. This would pose a zig-zag problem for EMS.
10.The suggestion was made to simply do away with Block Parties on Halloween.
11. A suggestion was made to only allow a certain number of Block Parties on Halloween
night. Jacob stated that since a majority of these requests were not real block parties, we
would have residents upset that they were denied a request for a legitimate party when
the next block asked for their street to be blocked off and they were not having a party.
They just simply wanted the street closed.
12.A suggestion was made to require the requestor to provide a number for the dispatch
center to call if, in the event of an emergency, some one needed to move the barricades.
Staff stated that if it is not a block party, then there might not be anyone around to move
the barricades. This might be an instance that where Code Red could be activated for a
particular block to give notification to move the barricades.
13.The question was raised about changing the speed limits in the city on Halloween to20
m.p.h. Chief Adams stated that this could not be done.
14.A suggestion was made that a Block Party Committee be formed to discuss this issue.
One committee member reiterated that the Council had asked this committee to come up
with recommendations, not form another committee to make the decision.
The question arose on what consequences the city could impose on those who do not follow the
rules. Also, who would enforce the rules?
Chief Adams suggested that if the committee recommends that block parties/street closures are
allowed on Halloween, then the police department will set up a command post in the
communications center with a large map of the city. Each street closure would be marked on the
PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
Page 3 of 5
map and police/ems would be notified of any block closures along the route of their call. This
would speed up the arrival times.
Councilmember Grable stated that this many street closures pose a problem with our mutual aid
requests with Highland Park and Dallas. If HP or Dallas is responding to an emergency in our
city, they may not be able to find the fastest alternate route. Also, street closures give a false
sense of security to parents. Children are out in the streets after dark and it is simply not safe.
Mr. Boyd raised the following question to the committee: Can we all agree that block parties are
not stopping non-residents from coming in the city on Halloween? The committee agreed.
Committee members discussed that it is not right for residents to look for a way to keep others
out of their city. Some are in favor of allowing everyone who wants to come in, to be able to
come in.
Dr. Turgeon stated that the problems during street closures do not always come from non-
residents. He has seen an instance where an angry resident drove around the barricades and over
a lawn just to get to his residence.
Mr. Boyd then asked the members, by show of hands, to vote on the recommendation from
the committee. He asked which members were in favor of denying any street closures on
Halloween night, October 31, 2007 as a one time trial, only. All committee members were in
agreement.
In closing, Mr. Boyd told the committee that Chief Adams was staying on with the city as the
Chief of Police. He asked the Chief about the new Captain opening. Chief Adams stated that it
would be filled internally and had excellent candidates that had applied.
It was also recommended that at some point, the committee discuss the Bush Library and School
Safety.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The next Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for
at 6:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room of City Hall.
Recommendation to the City Council from the Public Safety Advisory Committee in
regards to Block Party requests on Halloween:
The committee recommends, as a one time trial on October 31, 2007, that the
city allow block parties to continue on Halloween. These block parties would
have no assistance from the city. This meaning that no cones and/or
barricades would be provided by the city. The committee recommends that
PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
Page 4 of 5
the city not allow any street closures on this particular night due to EMS
crews’ slower response time to emergencies. No streets may be barricaded or
blocked off at any time on Halloween. This poses a safety issue. The
committee recommends that no cones/barricades be provided by city crews
for block parties on this one day/night only. The committee agrees, should
the council direct, to review this policy again next year with an eye toward
making the recommendation permanent.
_________________________
Robert Boyd, Chair
PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
Page 5 of 5
AGENDA MEMO
(02-20-07 AGENDA)
DATE:
February 15, 2007
TO:
Bob Livingston
City Manager
FROM:
Gene R. Smallwood, P.E.
Director of Public Works
SUBJECT:
Consider proposal from C&P Engineering to develop an updated
traffic signal timing plan.
Background.
Numerous changes have been made to the City’s traffic
signals at 33 intersections. Over the past few years, we have installed battery
backup equipment, replaced loop detectors in the pavement (at each location)
with video diction, and linked the intersections by radio signal so they will work
in concert with each other rather than independently. The final step in efficiency
is to have a traffic consultant review the site conditions at each intersection and
provide computer modeling to develop the best traffic progression along the
City’s streets.
We asked Dannie Cummings to submit a proposal for the aforementioned work,
and, as an aside to this work, to review the signal timings at Lovers & Boedeker
and Lovers & Airline and determine whether off-peak timings could be
established to “slow” traffic along that stretch of Lovers.
Discussion.
Staff recommends City Council approval of the proposal from C&P
Engineering in the amount of $18,000.
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS 75205 TELEPHONE (214) 363-1644
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07.doc 9:57 AM 02/15/07
AGENDA MEMO
(02-20-07 AGENDA)
DATE:
February 15, 2007
TO:
Bob Livingston
City Manager
FROM:
Gene R. Smallwood, P.E.
Director of Public Works
SUBJECT:
Consider award of contract to Holt Power Systems to furnish an
emergency generator for the Peek Center expansion project.
Background.
With the additional electrical loads of the backup dispatch
facility and the emergency operations center (EOC), the existing emergency
generator is considerably undersized. To that end, we solicited a proposal
through the Texas Local Government Statewide Purchasing Cooperative
(BuyBoard). The 500 KW generator meets all of the specifications developed by
the MEP engineer. The current generator has relatively few hours and should
bring a considerable offset to the cost of purchasing the new equipment.
Discussion.
Staff recommends City Council approval of the proposal from Holt
Power Systems in the amount of $90,581.
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS 75205 TELEPHONE (214) 363-1644
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AGENDA MEMO
(02/20/07 AGENDA)
DATE: February 14, 2007
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jim Criswell, Director of Information Services
SUBJECT: Proposal for AT&T E911 System – Peek Dispatch Center
BACKGROUND:
One of the most critical components of a Public Safety Dispatch Center is the E911
telephone service. The City has leased the service from AT&T (formerly Southwestern
Bell Telephone – SWBT) for many years. To work out the details of adding a second
answering point at the Peek Center, the City’s Communications Supervisor, Denise
Rencher, began working with AT&T in 2006. It was discovered that the E911 system
currently in use at the City is no longer available, and AT&T recommended an upgrade to
the new Vesta Pallas E911 service. It is completely Cellular E911 compliant. The City
received proposals for purchasing the system and for leasing it. The cost of the purchase
option over a five year period was approximately $185,000 with the added cost of keeping
an inventory of spare parts for the system. The lease option for the same period was
$128,800 and AT&T provides all needed parts. After a thorough review of both options,
the economics of the five year lease was not only a better financial deal for the City, but
afforded a quicker response time for problems, and did not require an inventory of spare
parts. The AT&T representative indicated that the lease option was designed for smaller
cities, and the purchase option was designed for large cities.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the 5 year lease option for AT&T Vesta Pallas E911
Service. There is a one time charge of $67,207.95, and a monthly charge of $1,015.52.
Funds are available in the Wireless E911 Reserve balance sheet account funded by the
City’s portion of the wireless E911 fee charged on all cellular service.
AGENDA MEMO
(02/20/07 AGENDA)
DATE: February 10, 2007
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jim Criswell, Director of Information Services
SUBJECT: Proposal for Computer Network Switches – Peek and City Hall
BACKGROUND:
In conjunction with the remodel of City Hall, and creation of an alternate dispatch
operation at the Peek Service Center, the City’s network infrastructure will require
enhanced switching equipment to support the added workstations, security cameras, and
access control devices. Each computer on the network has a cable that runs back to a
switch. The switch controls and routes data traffic across the network to its destination. In
our new configuration, fiber optic cable will connect switches on each floor at Peek and
City Hall to form the network. The City has used Foundry network switches since 2002,
and they have been very fast and reliable. The current switches will be utilized in the new
configuration, and this proposal is simply adding network design enhancement and
capacity.
RECOMMENDATION:
The City has received quotes from CDW-G and Foundry Networks to provide the six
required network switches. Both of the bidders are listed on the State of Texas
Department of Information Resources contract list, which satisfies the bidding
requirement.
CDW-G $48,673
Foundry Networks $48,711
Staff recommends approval of the low bid by CDW-G of $48,673. Funds are available in
the Capital Projects Fund and have been approved by the Capital Projects Review
Committee.
AGENDA MEMO
(2/20/07 AGENDA)
DATE:
February 15, 2007
TO:
Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM:
Robbie Corder, Assistant to the Director of Public Works
SUBJECT:
Ordinance Revising University Park Code of Ordinances Sec 3.1500 Right-
of-Way Construction
ITEM:
Staff requests Council consideration of minor revisions to the University Park Code of
Ordinances regarding right-of-way (ROW) construction. Specifically, the revisions would
require any permit request for work that is to be completed in the ROW (typically
franchised utilities) to provide detailed engineering plans on a scale of one-eighth inch
(1/8”) equals one foot (1’), and to provide greater detail on the plans for landscaping.
Lastly, the revisions would require the permit holder to provide plans of record within ten
(10) days of work completion (the existing code only requires 90 days).
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance
3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS 75205 TELEPHONE (214) 363-1644
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ORDINANCE NO. _________________
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 ARTICLE 3.1500 RIGHT-OF-WAY
CONSTRUCTION TO REQUIRE INFORMATION FOR CONSTRUCTION
PERMITS AND FILING OF PLANS OF RECORD; 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.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UNIVERSITY
PARK, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That the Code of Ordinances, City of University Park, Texas, is hereby
amended by amending Article 3.1500 “RIGHT-OF-WAY CONSTRUCTION”, in part, as follows:
“ARTICLE 3.1500 RIGHT-OF-WAY CONSTRUCTION
…
Sec. 3.1502 Construction Permits
…
(c) The person requesting a permit will provide the director of public works or his/her designee
with documentation in the format specified by the public works department describing:
…
(2) Engineering plans for the overall site will be on a scale of one inch (1”) equals fifty feet (50’)
unless otherwise approved by the public works department. Engineering plans for site specific
locations will be on a scale of one-eighth inch (1/8”) equals one foot (1’);
(3) Detail of the location of all right-of-way and utility easements which applicant plans to use;
(4) Detail of all existing city utilities and other public utilities in relationship to applicant's
proposed route. Detail of all existing sidewalks landscaping including trees, shrubs, bushes, etc.;
…
Sec. 3.1504 “Plans of Record” Plans
(a) Right-of-way users will provide the public works director or his or her designee with “plans of
record” within ten (10) days of completion of facilities in the right-of-way…”
SECTION 2.
That all provisions of the Code of Ordinances of the City of University Park,
Texas, in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3.
That should any word, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase or
section of this ordinance or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be adjudged or held to be
void or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of said
ordinance or the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, which shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 4.
That any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this
ordinance or the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction in the municipal court of the City of University Park, Texas,
shall be punished by a fine not to exceed the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each
offense, and each and every day any such violation shall continue shall be deemed to constitute a
separate offense.
SECTION 5.
This ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage and the publication of
the caption, as the law and Charter in such cases provide.
DULY PASSED
by the City Council of the City of University Park, Texas, on the 20th day of
February 2007.
APPROVED:
______________________________
JAMES H. HOLMES III, MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:
______________________________ ______________________________
CITY ATTORNEY NINA WILSON,
CITY SECRETARY
(RLD/2-12-07) (ORD13827)
ORDINANCE NO. _________________
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 ARTICLE 3.1500 RIGHT-OF-WAY CONSTRUCTION TO
REQUIRE INFORMATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PERMITS AND FILING OF PLANS
OF RECORD; 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.
th
DULY PASSED
by the City Council of the City of University Park, Texas, on the 20
day of February 2007.
APPROVED:
______________________________
JAMES H. HOLMES III, MAYOR
ATTEST:
______________________________
NINA WILSON, CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS
CAPITAL PROJECTS REVIEW COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 9, 2006 AT 4:00 P.M.
MINUTES
Committee Members Present:
DeLorenzo, David
Hitzelberger, Barbara
Hoke, Patricia
Holmes, Blackie
Houseman, Don
Lane, Olin - Chair
Peek, Harold
Roach, John
Committee Members Absent:
Sharp, Chris
Staff Present:
Austin, Kent - Finance Director
Livingston, Bob - City Manager
Adams, Gary - Police Chief
Ledbetter, David - Fire Chief
Criswell, Jim - Info. Services Director
Whaling, Bob - City Engineer
Corder, Robbie -Asst. to Public Works Dir.
1. Call to order/Welcome
The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m.
2. Review revised five-year CIP (FY2007-2011):
a. CIP Summary FY2006-2011 -- Kent Austin presented the committee with a revised
five-year CIP summary for fiscal years (FY) 2006-2011. Total project expenditures
during the period amounted to $59.3 million, compared to combined beginning balance
and period revenues of$55.7million, resulting in a possible $4.3 million deficit by
FY2011. Mr. Austin noted that staff had spread out project expenditures to defer
potential deficits until FY2009.
b. Austin directed the Committee's attention to a summary five year expenditure
forecast and five year expenditure history. While proposed expenditures total $16.65
million for FY2007 and $15.15 for FY2008, Austin noted that historically the City has
spent about $6.5 million annually. Although the FY2007 and 2008 programs are sharply
higher than past years, Austin expressed doubt that actual expenditures would reach these
totals.
c. Next the Committee reviewed a five year worksheet of specific projects by
department. The City Engineer and Committee noted that the FY 2007 expenditure for
project 48500, Turtle Creek Blvd. Sanitary Sewer, seemed low. Robbie Corder indicated
that the FY 2006 expenditures for this project mistakenly included encumbrances in the
total expenditure for that fiscal year. Therefore, approximately $700,000 needed to be
added to the FY 2007 expenditure for project 48500. Following discussion, the
Committee directed staff to offset this increase by reducing other CIP project totals.
P:\Finance\Capital Projects\FY2007\CPRC minutes IO-9-2006.doc
1
d. Austin presented the committee with a fund report for the Capital Projects Fund for
FY2006. Project expenditures for the year totaled $7.58 million, while revenues totaled
$4.9 million, leaving an available fund balance of $16.8 million.
3. Discuss CIP changes (see paragraph 2.c. above)
4. Adopt FY2007 CIP budget.
Per the changes directed above, the Committee approved the FY 2007 CIP budget total of
$16,654,823 with modifications to project 48500 as previously discussed.
5. Projects update from staff/Q&A
The Committee and staff briefly discussed several projects.
6. Set next meeting date/Adjourn
The committee set the next meeting date for Monday, January 22,2007 (subsequently
changed to Monday, January 15,2007). The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:00
p.m.
a.J2
Olin Lane, Chair
Capital Projects Review Committee
P:\Finance\CapitaJ Projects\FY2007\CPRC minutes IO-9-2006.doc
2
Public Safety Advisory Committee
MINUTES
January 18, 2007
The Public Safety Advisory Committee of the City of University Park met on Thursday,
January 18, 2007 at 6:00 P.M. in the Court Room of City Hall at 3800 University Blvd.,
Dallas, TX 75205. The following are minutes of that meeting.
Committee Members Attending:Staff Members Attending:
Robert, Boyd, Chair Gary W Adams, Chief of Police
Kirk Dooley David Ledbetter, Fire Chief
Dr. Doug Turgeon Syd Carter, Council Liaison
Ed Crissey Jerry Grable, Council Member
Doug Bruton Jacob Speer, Asst. Public Works Director
Jackie Brewer Robert Brown, Administrative Captain
Francie Johnsen Dorris Certain, Accreditation Manager
Charles Terrell, Jr. Officer A.J. Sherrill
Doug Woodward Donna Wilkerson, Administrative Assistatant
Amara Durham
James Garner
Robert Boyd, Chair, opened the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
Committee members introduced themselves.
Chief Adams introduced staff members present including new School Resource Officer A.J.
Sherrill. Officer Sherrill is a five year veteran of the University Park Police Department. He
was an officer in Abilene for 10 years prior to coming to University Park. An outside consultant
was hired to perform an assessment center. The process included two high school students.
When the results of the assessment were presented to Chief Adams, Officer Sherrill had the
highest score. Chief Adams also stated that he spoke with Mr. Williams, the Asst. Principal from
the high school, and asked for his input. He stated that he felt Officer Sherrill was the better fit
for the position. Also, the two high school students involved felt Officer Sherrill would be able
to relate to the students better. Officer Sherrill has been in the high school for two weeks and is
already building a great report with the students.
Capt. Robert Brown has recently accepted the position as Chief of Police in Duncanville.
The city council has asked the Public Safety Advisory Committee to discuss Halloween night
block parties and send a committee recommendation back to the council.
Jacob Speer, Asst. Public Works Director, explained the policy and history of block parties in
University Park. In the past, residents would go to Dispatch, inform the dispatcher that they
PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
Page 1 of 5
would like to have a block party and were told to go to the Friendship lot to pick up signs/cones.
The signs/cones were not always returned. Over time, residents became too comfortable with
this policy and would help themselves to the signs/cones. The police department had no way of
knowing where block parties were taking place. A few years ago, the city began asking for a
Block Party form to be filled out. City staff began delivering and picking up the signs/cones.
On Halloween night 2006, the city had requests for 46 block parties. This took city crews a total
of 3 working days to deliver and pick up the signs/cones. The crews that transported the signs
were pulled off of other city work during this time. Some of the requests came in as late at thirty
minutes before the start time of the block party. This request was the highest number of block
th
parties that the city has seen. Historically, July 4, the weekends before school starts and after
school is dismissed, and Texas/OU weekend are busiest times for block party requests.
Typically, these weekends bring in 15-20 requests. As long as the request is submitted with three
days’ notice, city crews have ample time to prepare signs and distribute them.
The problem with the high number of party requests this year was that it caused gridlock in the
city. Several streets were shut down for blocks. The majority of these block party requests were
not for legitimate block parties. They were just to shut down the street to keep traffic off while
kids were trick or treating. City staff estimates that 90% of the requests were not for actual block
parties.
There were three EMS calls on Halloween night between the hours of 6 to 10 p.m. One of these
calls was in the northwest part of the city were numerous streets were blocked off. EMS
personnel had to get out of the ambulance and move the barricades at each end of the block
before continuing on to the call. This resulted in a much longer response time. Fortunately, this
time, this did not cause any severe health problems to the patient. The block party instruction
packet clearly states to that emergency vehicles must be allowed access to the block and
someone must be available at all times to remove the traffic cones and signs if necessary. No
one was near the signs to move them for EMS personnel.
City staff realizes that there are greater issues at hand. Some UP residents request block party
signs in an attempt to keep non-residents from driving the streets on Halloween night.
Committee members had many suggestions/recommendations with city staff responding:
1.Have residents pick up/drop off the signage on Halloween to cut down on city
expense/time. City staff stated that the problem this would pose would be that no one
would know which streets would be blocked off all around town.
2.Require a fee for block parties on this night and use the money to offset the cost of putting
more police officers on the street to run radar. Chief Adams stated that the police
department usually has more officers working on Halloween, but the call volume also
increases on this night. UP does not have the manpower to do nothing but write tickets
all night.
3.If EMS has a call, and no one is there to move the barricades, then deny the block the
request to have another block party. Staff stated that keeping track of denials and the
process of denying someone a block party would be difficult.
PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
Page 2 of 5
4.Can the city enact a curfew on Halloween? Chief Adams stated that the crime rate in UP
does not justify a curfew.
5.Enforce the three-day time frame on the application. If it is not turned in three days in
advance, then simply deny the request. Jacob stated that by enforcing this, it still does
not help the logistic problem that the city is having on Halloween.
6.A suggestion was made to ask for a deposit to accompany all block party requests. Jacob
stated that in the past, the city required a deposit from construction companies to ensure
that the lots stayed clean during construction. The $100 deposit was such a small
amount, that no one came back to claim the deposit once the job was completed. An
audit was conducted and tens of thousands of dollars in deposit fees were found to not be
claimed. The record keeping/finance aspect of a refundable deposit is very time
consuming.
7.A suggestion was made for EMS crews just to drive over the barricades in the event of an
emergency. Chief Ledbetter stated that he would not allow his crews to do this. This can
damage the ambulance/fire equipment.
8.A suggestion was made to limit the number of block parties a block can have to two a
year. Jacob questioned the logistics behind this idea. Who wants to be the city employee
who has to tell a resident no you can’t have a block party? He states that typically blocks
that have parties have the same ones year after year: Halloween and the weekends
surrounding the start/dismissal of the school year.
9.No two contiguous blocks should be allowed to have the streets blocked off at the same
time. This would pose a zig-zag problem for EMS.
10.The suggestion was made to simply do away with Block Parties on Halloween.
11. A suggestion was made to only allow a certain number of Block Parties on Halloween
night. Jacob stated that since a majority of these requests were not real block parties, we
would have residents upset that they were denied a request for a legitimate party when
the next block asked for their street to be blocked off and they were not having a party.
They just simply wanted the street closed.
12.A suggestion was made to require the requestor to provide a number for the dispatch
center to call if, in the event of an emergency, some one needed to move the barricades.
Staff stated that if it is not a block party, then there might not be anyone around to move
the barricades. This might be an instance that where Code Red could be activated for a
particular block to give notification to move the barricades.
13.The question was raised about changing the speed limits in the city on Halloween to20
m.p.h. Chief Adams stated that this could not be done.
14.A suggestion was made that a Block Party Committee be formed to discuss this issue.
One committee member reiterated that the Council had asked this committee to come up
with recommendations, not form another committee to make the decision.
The question arose on what consequences the city could impose on those who do not follow the
rules. Also, who would enforce the rules?
Chief Adams suggested that if the committee recommends that block parties/street closures are
allowed on Halloween, then the police department will set up a command post in the
communications center with a large map of the city. Each street closure would be marked on the
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MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
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map and police/ems would be notified of any block closures along the route of their call. This
would speed up the arrival times.
Councilmember Grable stated that this many street closures pose a problem with our mutual aid
requests with Highland Park and Dallas. If HP or Dallas is responding to an emergency in our
city, they may not be able to find the fastest alternate route. Also, street closures give a false
sense of security to parents. Children are out in the streets after dark and it is simply not safe.
Mr. Boyd raised the following question to the committee: Can we all agree that block parties are
not stopping non-residents from coming in the city on Halloween? The committee agreed.
Committee members discussed that it is not right for residents to look for a way to keep others
out of their city. Some are in favor of allowing everyone who wants to come in, to be able to
come in.
Dr. Turgeon stated that the problems during street closures do not always come from non-
residents. He has seen an instance where an angry resident drove around the barricades and over
a lawn just to get to his residence.
Mr. Boyd then asked the members, by show of hands, to vote on the recommendation from
the committee. He asked which members were in favor of denying any street closures on
Halloween night, October 31, 2007 as a one time trial, only. All committee members were in
agreement.
In closing, Mr. Boyd told the committee that Chief Adams was staying on with the city as the
Chief of Police. He asked the Chief about the new Captain opening. Chief Adams stated that it
would be filled internally and had excellent candidates that had applied.
It was also recommended that at some point, the committee discuss the Bush Library and School
Safety.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The next Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for
at 6:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room of City Hall.
Recommendation to the City Council from the Public Safety Advisory Committee in
regards to Block Party requests on Halloween:
The committee recommends, as a one time trial on October 31, 2007, that the
city allow block parties to continue on Halloween. These block parties would
have no assistance from the city. This meaning that no cones and/or
barricades would be provided by the city. The committee recommends that
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MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
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the city not allow any street closures on this particular night due to EMS
crews’ slower response time to emergencies. No streets may be barricaded or
blocked off at any time on Halloween. This poses a safety issue. The
committee recommends that no cones/barricades be provided by city crews
for block parties on this one day/night only. The committee agrees, should
the council direct, to review this policy again next year with an eye toward
making the recommendation permanent.
_________________________
Robert Boyd, Chair
PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES JANUARY 18, 2007
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