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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-08-23Regular Meeting Euless City Council August 23, 1977 CALL TO ORDER N° 225 The regular meeting of the Euless City Council was called to order at 8 :00 p.m., in the Council Chambers of Euless City Hall by Mayor Harold Samuels. Other members present were Mrs. Willie Mae McCormick, Messrs. Raymond Ozebek, Charles Hunt, Glenn Walker, and Robert Pippin. Also present were City Manager W. M. Sustaire, City Secretary Della Houy, City Attorney Bob McFarland, City Engineer B i l l Flowers, and Assistant City Manager John Lynch, IV. V ISITORS Visitors in attendance were Messrs. Bob Mercier, •J i m Hickerson, John Scott, B i l l Thompson, Don Johnson, Rick Barnes, and Joe F. Moreland; Mesdms. Lou Mercier and Barbara Johnson. 1 NVOCAT ION The invocation was given by Mr. John Lynch, IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated August 9, 1977, were approved with the following corrections. Page Two, Item 1 1 , Paragraph Two - Mr. E l l iott stated there are fifty -nine (59) residential lots proposed. Page Five, Item V I , Paragraph Three and Page Six, Paragraph Six - Correction to spelling of Cummings Drive. PUBLIC HEARING - ZONING CASE NO- 261 - REQUEST OF GENE WHITE FOR CHANGE OF ZONING FROM "I -1" LIGHT INDUSTRIPL WITH "SP" SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO "C -2" COMMUNITY BUSINESS — DISTRICT ON TRACT 1E, fl-N H. HAVENS SURVEY, ABSTRACT 685 Mayor Samuels opened the public hearing on Zoning Case No. 261, for change of zoning from "1 -1" Light Industrial District with "SP" Specific Use Permit to "C -2" Community Business District and recognized Mr. Joe Moreland. N° 226 (Page Two, Regular Meeting, Euless city Council, August 23, 1977) Mr. Moreland stated he is representing Dr. Gene White, for the rezoning from Specific Use back to the previous zoning of "C -2" Commercial. Mr. Moreland stated they appeared before the Planning and Zoning Commission, and he w i l l be glad to answer any question the Council may have. Mayor Samuels inquired in regard to the business that was to use the Specific Use zoning, if this did not material ize. Mr. Moreland stated that the business did not materialize. Mr. Hunt inquired what business is proposed at this location. Mr. Moreland stated a boat and auto repair, sales and service i s proposed fo r this location. Mayor Samuels inquired if there were other proponents; there being none, he inquired if there were any opponents; there being none he declared the public hearing closed. Mr. Pippin moved to concur with the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the re- zoning of Tract 1E, John H. Havens Survey, from "1 -1" Light Industrial District with "SP" Specific Use Permit to "C -2" Community Business District on first reading of ordinance. Mrs. McCormick seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Mr. Pippin, Mrs. McCormick, Messrs. Walker, Ozebek, and Hunt Nays: None Mayor Samuels declared the motion carried. II PUBLIC HEARING FOR POSSIBLE ALLOCATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS Mayor Samuels opened the public hearing for possible allocation of Community Development Block Grant Funds and recognized Mr. John Lynch, Assistant City Manager. Mr. Lynch stated that $450,000 have not been used out of the 1977 Community Development Block Grant Funds and now these funds have been reallocated into a slosh fund for eligible cities to compete for. He stated that to meet federal requirements in our application for these funds, we must have two public hearings, the first of which was 111° 227 (Page Three, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, August 23, 1977) held on August 11, 1977. He referred to a chart, stating the eligible activities and requested citizen input. He stated the primary goals that must be followed are aid to blighted or deteriorated areas, rehabilitation of structures, and benefit to areas of low to moderate income persons. He stated the City can apply for a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $250,000 and this grant is available to a sixteen (16) county area, and you basically have to have a housing rehabilitation section in order to be considered. Mayor Samuels inquired if a certain percent is required for housing rehabilitation. Mr. Lynch stated that there is no actual limit, but that 25% is recommended. He stated that the City staff recommends a target area of Midway Park, with the rehabilitation of the streets and utilities, and 25 %- 30 %for housing rehabilitation to en- courage residents to repair and weatherize their homes. Mr. Hunt inquired if he could be more specific on the target area. Mr. Lynch stated it would be the eastern portion of Midway Park along North Main Street, south of Harwood Road. Mr. Ozebek inquired if there is certain criteria that the City has to follow in operating this grant. Mr. Lynch stated that basically anyone within the target area will be eligible for grants or loans from this grant, that there are some broad guidelines that are set up as to how you are to administer these funds, to be sure the money is spent for the purpose it was intended. Mr. Lynch stated the pre - application is a broad description of what the City is trying to accomplish, and if we are selected to receive the grant, the City will have to submit a full application, at which time project guidelines will be defined in greater detail. Mayor Samuels inquired if there were any other proponents; there being none, he inquired if there were any opponents; there being none, he declared the public hearing closed. RESOLUTION NO. 410 Mr. Hunt moved to approve Resolution No. 410, encouraging the City staff to develop the application for the Community Development Block Grant Funds as recommended by the City staff. N° 228 (Page Four, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, August 23, 1977) Mr. Walker seconded the motion and the vote i s as follows: Ayes: Messrs. Hunt, Walker, Pippin, Ozebek, and Mrs. McCormick Nays: None Mayor Samuels declared the motion carried. III PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1977-78 Mayor Samuels opened the public hearing on the proposed budget for the fiscal year 1977-78, and recognized Mr. John Lynch. Mr. Lynch presented the proposed budget for 1977 -78 and stated that the budget is a balanced budget. He stated there are some areas where there is an increase over last year's budget, and our water and sewer budget w i l l indicate a large increase in expenditures due to debt service requirements which we have incurred through Trinity River Authority, by virtue of our contract with them. Mr. Lynch reviewed the budget, as f o I lows: REVENUES Taxes $1,621,229 Sales Tax & Mixed Drinks Tax 420,000 Utility Franchises 332,750 Fines, Permits, & Licenses 264,500 Interest, Rents, Inspections 73,000 Swimming Pools 24,000 Current Services 9,490 Water and Sewer 1,944,250 Total Budget $4,689,219 Beginning- Balance 575934 Total $5,265,153 EXPENDITURES Pub is Safety $1,372,116 General Fund Non - Departmental 584,876 Parks and Recreation 429,814 Administration 366,006 Public Works 352,437 Planning and Development 90,200 Water and Sewer 2,069,704 Total Expenditures $5,265,153 N° 229 (Page Five, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, August 23, 1977) Mayor Samuels inquired if the City w i l l have a beginning balance at this point next year. Mr. Lynch stated that this year's budget had a beginning balance of approximately $371,000 and v■,e had a balanced budget for the year. Mrs. McCormick inquired if this in- cludes an increase in personnel. M r . Sustaire stated vie w i l l have an additional ten (10) personnel, five (5) staffing the service center, three (3) in the police department, and two (2) in the fire department, Mrs. McCormick stated it reflects well on the administration and staff to have a beginning balance of this size. Mr. Sustaire recognized the Finance Director, Jim Nickerson, and all other members of the staff for having been largely responsible for controlling expenditures and helping produce the large beginning balance. Mayor Sarnuels inquired if there were any other proponents; there being none, he inquired if there were any opponents; there being none, he declared the public hearing closed. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE APPROVING BUDGET Mrs. McCormick moved to approve the budget as presented, for the fiscal year 1977-78, effective October 1, 1977, on first reading of ordinance. Mr. Walker seconded the motion and the vote i s as follows: Ayes: Mrs. McCormick, Messrs. Walker, Pippin, Ozebek, and Hunt Nays: None Mayor Samuels declared the motion carried. IV CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 409 APPROVING $7,000 TAX EXEMPTION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS Mayor Samuels read Resolution No, 409, granting an increase in the homestead exemption from ad valorum taxes for those persons over 65 years of age, providing the governing bodies of the Cities of Hurst and Bedford, and the Hurst - Euless- Bedford Independent School District grant a like exemption. N° 230 (Page Six, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, August 23, 1977) Mrs. McCormick moved to approve Resolution No. 409, approving the increase in the homestead exemption from ad valorum taxes from $3,000 to $7,000 for persons over 65 years of age, providing the governing bodies of the Cities of Hurst and Bedford, and the Hurst - Euless- Bedford Independent School District grant a like exemption, effective January 1, 1978. Mr. Pippin seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Mrs. McCormick, Messrs. Pippin, Walker, Hunt, and Ozebek Nays: None Mayor Samuels declared the motion carried. V LETTER CF COMMENDATION Mayor Samuels read a I e t t e r of commend- ation from Mr. Jimmy Payton, Vice President of Trinity River Authority, commending Mrs. Willie Mae McCormick on representing the City of Euless on the TRA Advisory Committee, and advising that she has been appointed as Chairman of the Advisory Committee. VI C ITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT M r . McFarland stated he reviewed a l l the legal matters i n the pre - council meeting. Mr. McFarland stated the City is wanting to purchase a pick -up truck to be used by the Service Center, the vehicle now being used by that department is a police vehicle and conditions in the police department is such that as to require, as soon as possible, the availability of that vehicle for police work. He stated the City had re= cently taken bids for a similar pickup and had advertised for bids according to law, and had received numerous responses to the bid and had elected the low bid. He further stated that the low bidder has indicated that one additional pickup is available, which would be made available at that low bid price. Mr. McFarland stated that since it is an emergency that the police vehicle be returned to the police department, the charter provides that before any purchase or contract can be made for supplies or materials or equipment, the City will give ample opportunity for competitive bidding under such rules and regulations and with such exceptions, as the City Council may prescribe, or as provided by law, and the statutes do provide an exception for emergency situations, and if it is the Council's pleasure to declare an emergency in respect to that item, he thinks it is well within the City's purview to instruct the City Manager to effect the purchase. N° 231 (Page Seven, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, August 23, 1977) Mrs. McCormick moved to instruct the City Manager to purchase the pickup truck to be used by the service center for the low bid price. Mr. Ozebek seconded the motion. Mr. Hunt inquired of the City Manager how much money he anticipates saving by buying the 1977 Ford Pickup. Mr. Sustaire stated he has been advised t h a t the 1978 prices w i l l be 6% higher than the 1977 models, and the nearest bid on the last bids received was $800.00 more than the lowest bid. He further stated that if the bidding procedure is followed, the time frame is such that dealers will be forced to bid on 1978 trucks due to the new model year. Mr. Hunt stated that we know the difference between the 1977 models and the 1978 models will be $300.00 and other savings w i l l be speculation, but h is real concern is that by not going to bids, we tend to undermine the bidding system that would discourage further competitive bidding in the future. The vote on Mrs. McCormick's motion is as follows: Ayes: Mrs. McCormick, Messrs. Ozebek, Walker and P i p p i n Nays: None Abstain: Mr. Hunt Mayor Samuels declared the motion carried. VII COMMENTS Mrs. McCormick inquired of Acting P o l i c e Chief B i l l Thompson how they liked the Pontiac police cars. Mr. Thompson stated they liked them real well Mrs. McCormick inquired what type of construction is being done on Wilshire Drive. Mr. Lynch stated that the telephone company is doing some repair work on their lines. Mr. Hunt inquired the target completion date for the Public Safety Building. N° 232 (Page Eight, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, August 23, 1977) Mr. Sustaire stated he has been advised by DSA that they should be complete by January 1, 1978. Mr. Pippin inquired the anticipated date by the highway department for completion of Hwy. 183. Mr. Sustaire stated he has not been advised. Mr. Pippin inquired if the City could inquire the completion date from the Texas Highway Department. Mr. Sustaire stated that Mr. Lynch would write and get some information for the Council. Mr. Ozebek stated that we have had an extremely difficult summer and have had a lot of street problems and it appears that a lot of preventive work will have to be done before this fall before we start getting moisture or we will have every street in town coming apart. Mr. Sustaire stated the street department is working as fast as they can to repair these streets, as it is a result of the winter we had. VI I I ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. APPROVED: /s/ Harold D. Samuels Mayor ATTEST: /s/ Della Hour City Secretary