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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-09-2419° Regular Meeting Euless City Council September 24, 1974 CALL 10 ORDER The regular meeting of -the Euless City Council was called to order at 8:05 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Euless City Hall by Mayor A. C. Krause. - Members present were Mrs. Willie Mae-McCormick, Messrs. Wayne Wright, Harold Copher, Ray Ozebek, and Harold Samuels. Also present were City Manager C. J. Griggs, City Secretary Vada Ferris, City Attorney Bob McFarland, and City Engineer B i l l Flowers. VISITORS Visitors present were as follows: Ms. Barbara Burke, (Mid- Cities Daily News); Messrs. Kenneth Taylor, Don Perkins, C. Lee Evans, Max Evans, Warren Fuller, David Hughes, Walter E l l i o t t , B i l l Tappe, Marty Case, Don Armstrong, Noah Cureton, and Rick Vaughn. INVOCATION The invocation was presented by Mr. Harold Samuels. APPROVAL CF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated September 10, 1974 were approved as written. PUBLIC HEARING: ZONING CASE NO. 243. REQUEST CF MR. TROY FULLER FOR CHANGE CF ZONING FROM "C -1" NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT 10 "C =2" COMMUNITY BUSINESS DISTRICT ON TRACT 1J1 AND TRACT 1 1 , J.P. HALFORD SURVEY. (PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER CF NORTH MAIN STREET AND FULLER DRIVE.) Mayor Krause opened the public hearing and recognized Mr. Walter E I I i ott who advised the Council he i s repre- senting Mr. Troy Fuller in this zoning request. Mr. Elliott presented 130 (Page Two, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, September 24, 74) each member of the Council with a small colored plat of the property and stated Mr. Fuller requests a change of zoning from "C -l" Neighbor- hood Business District to "C -2" Community Business District, in order to build a Sonic Drive -in on this property. Mr. Elliott stated that the Sonic Drive -in is a leased operation with Mr. Max Evans, owner and manager. Mr. Elliott presented colored photographs of similar Sonic Drive -ins located in the City of Irving, Texas, and the City of Shawnee, Oklahoma. He stated that Mr. Troy Fuller will own the building and lease i t to Sonic D r i v e - i n . He advised t h a t the property w i l l be screen- ed to provide a buffer for the residences. Mayor Krause inquired if there were op- 'onents or proponents in this case. There being none, he declared the public hearing closed. Mr. Wright moved to concur with the recom- mendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve first reading of .the ordinance rezoning subject property as requested. Mr. Samuels seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Wright, Samuels, Copher, Ozebek, and Mrs. McCormick Nays: None Mayor Krause declared the motion carried. (Second reading of ordinance to be considered at next regularly scheduled Council meeting). PUBLIC HEARING: 1974 -75 ANNUAL BUDGET Mayor Krause opened the public hearing on the 1974 -75 Annual Budget and stated that some members of the Council are concerned about the eight (8) cents tax increase proposed to help finance this budget. Mr. Wright stated since the City of Bedford, Hurst, and Arlington have not asked for a tax increase for the next fiscal year and the City of Grapevine has lowered their tax rate, he suggest that this proposed budget be tabled until a later date. Mr. Ozebek stated that he would not have been in favor of a tax increase several weeks ago if the information on the budget had been available to him at that time, but he is opposed to a tax increase after studying the proposed budget; that it appears that, at some later date, a tax increase will be needed more than it is at the present time. 131 (Page Three, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, September 24, 1974) Mr. Copher stated that he also opposes a tax increase. However, i t costs to operate the City government just as it costs to operate a home or a business. Also, it should be taken into considerati -on that the City 'of Bedford does not have a paid fire department nor a park department. He stated that the services provided by the City of Euless are much greater than those provided by the City of Bedford; and the City of Hurst does not need an increase because of the money from sales tax at the Northeast Mall; and the Hurst rate has been ninety four (94) cents fo r several' years. Mr. Copher stated that he realizes there are some people i n the City of Euless on a fixed income and that a tax increase would be a problem for these people. Mr. Wright stated that he questions the increase i n expenditures i n some of the departments, especially i n the Park and Recreation Department. Mr. Samuels stated that if the Council approves an e i g h t (8) cents tax' increase, t h e cost w i l l be as follows: sixty five (65) cents a month for a $15,000 home; one dollar and eight cents ($1.08) f o r a $25,000 home and one d o l l a r and fifty two cents ($1.52) for a $35,000 home. Mr. Copher stated that he is not in favor of deficit spending; that it is most difficult to recover from deficit spending. Mr. Wright stated that he does not think it wi l l require an eight (8) cent increase for some of the additional services provided in this budget. Mrs. McCormick stated that she is willing to meet again to discuss the budget, but, at this time, she cannot say that a tax increase will not be necessary. Mr. Wright commented that he does not think the City Council has had the budget long enough to study it thoroughly. ' Mayor Krause recognized Mr. Don Perkins who inquired if this budget includes funds for the Bi- Centenhial projects. Mayor Krause stated that there are no funds in the budget for these pro- jects, but that funds needed will be taken from a reserve fund at the time the Bi- Centennial Committee's request for funds is approved by the Council. Mayor Krause recognized Mr. Bi 11 Tappe who inquired if the Civil Service program has added additional expenses for the City. Mr. Copher stated that the Civil Service Commission expenses has been very small t o the present time; t h a t there w i l l be additional cost at a later date when the Civil Service Commission becomes more active. (Page Four, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, September 24, 1975) There being no further discussion, Mayor Krause declared the Public Hearing closed. Mr. Copher moved to approve the budget as submitted w i t h an e i g h t (8) cent tax increase which w i l l bring the City tax rate to ninety three (93) cents. The motion died for a lack of a second. Mr. Wright moved as follows: (1) to postpone a decision on the proposed 1974 -75 budget and (2) schedule a meeting for Saturday, September 28, at 3:00 p.m. to further discuss the budget. Mrs. McCormick seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Wright, Samuels, and Ozebek and Mrs. McCormick Nays: Mr. Copher Mayor Krause declared the motion carried. Mayor Krause informed the Council that he wi I I not be present at the meeting on Saturday. However, if a quorum is not present, the Council should immediately adjourn without discussing the budget in order to comply with the State's open meeting law. APPOINT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT FOR 1973 -74 ANNUAL AUDIT Replying to a question by a member of the Council, Mr. Griggs recommended the Council appoint Arthur Young and Company, Fort Worth, for the 1973 -74 annual audit. Mr. Ozebek moved to concur with the recom- mendation of the City Manager and appoint Arthur Young & Company for the 1973 -74 annual audit_ Mr. Samuels seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Ozebek, Samuels, Copher, Wright, and Mrs. McCormick Nays: None Mayor Krause declared the motion carried. (Page Five, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, September 24, 1974) IV KOEN LANE DRAINAGE - MR. CURETON Mayor Krause recognized Mr. Cureton who inquired about the City's plan for the Koen Lane Drainage Project which has been pending fo r sometime. Mr. Griggs stated that Mr. Cureton was very cooperative in granting an easement to the City for the project, but there is an easement the City has been unable to obtain because of several un- divided ownerships. However, a Fort Worth attorney, representing the owners, is attempting to get the easement which is difficult because the owners are scattered throughout the United States and one is in Europe at the present time. Mr. Cureton stated that this matter has been pending for over a year and that he would like to see something done soon. Mr. Griggs explained that the City's policy is that 100 percent of the property owners invol -ved must agree to the proposed project and make easements available to the City. He stated the City is' - ropeful that 100 percent participation will be obtained in the Koen Lane Project. Mayor Krause instructed the City Manager to pursue the matter in order to finalize this project as quickly as possible. V MR, MARTY CASE, BLUE BONNET BRIDGE CROSSING Mayor Krause recognized Mr. Marty Case who inquired if the City of Hurst has been contacted about the improve- ment to the Blue Bonnet Bridge Crossing south of the Morrisdale Sub - Division which has been discussed by City Council on numerous occasions. Mayor Krause informed Mr. Case that he has discussed this matter with Mayor Hampton, of Hurst, and has been advised that the Hurst City Council has approved this project in their budget be- ginning October 1, 1974. Mayor Krause commented that he does not know when the project will begin. Mr. Case stated that there is silt and many willow trees in the Sulphur Branch drainage channel. Mayor Krause instructed the City Manager to see that the willows were removed from the drainage channel within the next few days. 134 (Page Six, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, September 24, ADJOURNMENT ATTEST: /s/ Vada Ferris City Secretary VI The meeting adjourned at 9 :05 p.m. APPROVED Mayor