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Home My WebLink About2013-02-23 Mid-Winter WS MinutesCITY OF EULESS CITY COUNCIL MID - WINTER WORKSESSION FEBRUARY 23, 2013 TEXAS STAR CONFERENCE CENTER EULESS, TEXAS Mayor Saleh called the worksession to order at 8:37 a.m. at the Texas Star Conference Center in Euless, Texas. Those present included: Mayor Mary Lib Saleh Mayor Pro Tem Perry Bynum Council Member Tim Stinneford Council Member Leon Hogg Council Member Linda Martin Council Member Glenn Porterfield City Manager Gary McKamie Deputy City Manager Loretta Getchell Assistant City Manager Chris Barker Director of Finance Vicki Rodriquez City Secretary Kim Sutter Visitor: Linda Eilenfeldt The City Council and staff discussed the posting of political signs on city -owned property on Election Day, specifically at polling locations, and also discussed the dissemination of materials /information to the City Council. Council Member Linda Martin stated that she would be interested in reviewing how other cities address the political sign issue. Mayor Pro Tem Perry Bynum stated that he appreciated the presentation related to the use of purchasing cards by city employees at the February 12, 2013, Precouncil meeting. Finance Director Vicki Rodriquez presented a financial update for Fiscal Year 2012 including the property tax values, property tax revenues, sales tax revenues, car rental tax revenues, franchise fee revenues, fines and fees revenues, license and permits, interest income, water and wastewater revenues, golf course revenues, and Texas Star Sports Complex revenues. She presented the revised revenue projections for Fiscal Year 2012 -2013 and gave a financial overview for the period ending January 30, 2013. As reported at the February 12, 2013, Precouncil meeting, City Manager McKamie advised that an impact fee study has been conducted. He explained the process and the cost associated with the study, and reported that the study supports an increase to the water and wastewater impact fees. Staff and the City Council discussed the process for implementing the increase in the fees. Finance Director Vicki Rodriquez then presented the financial outlook for Fiscal Year Council Mid-Winter Worksession Minutes Page 2 of 4 February 23, 2013 2013 -2014 including revenue and expenditure considerations. Discussion ensued regarding the current legislative session and bills that have been introduced, the direction of employee healthcare benefits, aquatic center opening, conversion of city vehicles to natural gas, and current staffing levels. Assistant City Manager Chris Barker provided an update related to the gas well pad sites throughout the City, including Bear Creek, Kramer, Arrington, and Mims pad sites. He advised that the wells at the Arrington pad site will be capped and abandoned. City Manager Gary McKamie inquired if there were any objections from the City Council to place single- family housing at the Arrington pad site. There were no objections from the City Council. Finance Director Vicki Rodriquez reported on the city's bonded General Obligation debt and advised that Euless is well below the average when compared with surrounding cities. City Manager Gary McKamie presented the proposed budget meeting calendar for the Council's review. Assistant City Manager Chris Barker addressed the City Council regarding the implementation of the new recycling options offered through CWD and addressed a question raised by Council Member Stinneford with regard to the parameters for bulk pick up items. Council Member Stinneford requested the telephone number for Allied Waste, the city's solid waste collector, be added to the water utility bills for customer convenience. Assistant City Manager Barker addressed the City Council regarding the minimum housing code, including the Tier statuses of the multi- family housing complexes in Euless. Assistant City Manager Barker provided a status update and presented plans for the extension of the reclaimed water line. He advised that Phase 1 of the project will begin in FY 2013. Deputy City Manager Loretta Getchell addressed the City Council regarding the purchase of electronic water meters and transponder. She advised that the cost is estimated to be approximately $4.5 million dollars and would be purchased with proceeds from a Revenue Bond Sale. The proposed purchase and installation date would be the end of 2014 and the installation of the meters and transponders for the entire city is estimated to take three to four months. The new technology would reduce the number of utility billing cycles from four to one. City Manager McKamie addressed the City Council regarding the proposed indoor / outdoor aquatics center including the construction process. He advised that fees to utilize the facility would be presented and discussed at the February 26, 2013, Precoundl meeting. Council Mid - Winter Worksession Minutes Page 3 of 4 February 23, 2013 City Manager McKamie provided an update related to the rewrite of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations. He advised that the proposed rules and regulations will be presented to the City Council for consideration once they have been considered and approved by the Commission. City Manager McKamie requested feedback from the City Council regarding the frequency of the Euless Today publication. It was the consensus of the City Council to remain with publishing the newsletter one time per month. City Manager McKamie advised that a developer is considering a single - family development on the east side of Gateway Boulevard, and asked if there were any objections from the Council for this type of land use. There were no objections stated by the City Council. Deputy City Manager Getchell addressed the City Council regarding the Capital Improvement Facility Plan. She presented a list of the completed projects as well as the proposed projects currently contained in the five -year plan. Additionally, she asked the City Council if they had any projects to be considered for the future. City Manager McKamie stated that Fire Station #1 will need a major overhaul/expansion at some point. Council Member Stinneford expressed concerns about the size of Fire Station #2 and the possible need for more space. City Manager McKamie stated that the Animal Shelter has been on the list; however, staff has indicated at this time that the facility is adequate. City Manager McKamie requested the City Council advise staff of any concerns or additional facility needs. Mayor Pro Tem Bynum inquired about adding distance markers to the trails system. Council Member Leon Hogg asked that staff consider adding curb and gutters to the remainder of the streets in the city that do not have them currently. Mayor Mary Lib Saleh requested that consideration be given to continue to provide buffering to the golf course from any adjacent developments. City Manager McKamie presented an update to the City Council related to the Glade Parks development. Deputy City Manager Getchell presented an update related to the goff course, including the greens replacement and bunker replacement. Council discussion ensued regarding the following: - Implementing a city -wide smoking ban - Recycling of plastic bags Council Mid-Winter Worksession Minutes Page 4 of 4 February 23, 2013 - Changes to the format, including discussion and start time related to the Precouncil and City Council meetings. Although posted, no closed session was held. - Economic development incentives as authorized by Section 551.087: and - Purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property as authorized by Section 551.072. The worksession was adjourned at 2:33 p.m. im utter, TRMC City Secretary