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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-08-08Regular Meeting Euless City Council August 8, 1978 CALL TO ORDER 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, Glenn Walker, and Robert Pippin. (Absent was Councilman Charles Hunt.) Also present were City Manager W. M. Sustaire, City Secretary Della Houy, City Attorney James Nokes, City Engineer Greg Dickens, and Assistant City Manager John Lynch, IV. V ISITORS Visitors in attendence were Messrs, Ted H. Martin, Ross Wileman, Gerald R. Proctor, John Narsutif, and Ray Clemons; Mrs. Ted H. Martin, and Miss Debbie Wormser. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Mrs. Willie Mae McCormick. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated July 25, 1978, were approved as written. CONSIDER SECOND AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE ILO. 552 FOR CHANGE OF ZONING FROM "PD" PLANNED DEVELOPMENT TO "R-2" 11AO - FAMILY LW ELL I NG DISTRICT ON A PORTION OF TRACT A -R. WILSHIRE VILLAGE SOUARE Mr. Pippin moved to approve second and final reading of Ordinance No. 552, rezoning a portion of Tract A -R, Wilshire Village Square from "PD" Planned Development D i strict to "R -2" Two-Family Dwelling District. Mr, Walker seconded the mottion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Messrs. Pippin, Walker, Ozebek, and Mrs. McCormick Nays: None Mayor Samuels declared the motion carried. (Page Two, Regular Meeting, Eujess City Council, August 8, 1978) fl. AUDIENCE REQUESTED BY RAY G. CLEMONS - STORER CABLE T. V. Mr. Ray Clemons, Sarasota, Florida, stated he is here tonight to propose a cable television system for the City of Euless, and has submitted a formal proposal to the City Manager. He stated that Storer Cable T. V. is the eleventh largest cable television company in the United States and their main interest has been in the broadcasting industry, and they have been a leader in the broadcasting industry for a number of years. He stated they have been in the cable television business for a great number of years and now own eighty systems throughout the United States, namely Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, California, Arizona, and some newly acquired systems in Texas. He stated they are actively engaged in trying to acquire new franchises, and are very interested in this area as this area will be a very viable cable television business area. He stated they propose th bring to the City of Euless, a cable system consisting of thirty -five channels, the finest cable television system that can be built today, He stated that within these thirty -five channels they propose to bring the premium in television viewing such as home box office; fanfare, Madison Square Garden,Sports, channel 17 out of Atlanta, and an independent station from Chicago. He stated they feel that they can be successful here and that they can enhance the City of Euless by being herer, t h a t i t l l w iI be mutual on both parts. He stated they operate the largest cable television system in Florida, and are endorsed by the Mayor of Sarasota. He stated they are able and willing to immediately negotiate a franchise that the City w i 1 I be proud to have, Mayor Samuels stated that approximately five years ago several companies made presentations to the Council but the Council never did get a chance to approve or disapprove a franchise because of loss of interest by the companies, and because of this the Council wonders if there is enough interest now to warrant them taking the time to enter into a fran- chise making the cable available to the citizens within a reasonable length of time. Mr. Clemons stated the market has changed in the past several years with the advent of satellite communication. He stated he had planned to be here for his presentation earlier, but his territory is all over the United States and he is just now able to be in Euless. He stated he has been in Denton working since May and w i l l be bidding for their franchise. Mr. Ozebek inquired if there are a number of cable television companies and what the difference is between them? Mr. Clemons stated that there are several factors that have to be considered in trying to select one company over another. Some of the questions to be considered are, is the company financially able to construct it, what type of equipment will they use, what is their track record, and how do they perform? He stated their criteria is the best in the country, (Page Three,. Regular Meeting„ Euless City Counci 1, August 8, 1978) that they are not the largest, but the best, He stated they w i l l do nothing to embarrass the City of Euless if theu choose the Storer Company. Mr. Clemons stated they are offering an emergency over -ride alert on the system that will be there for pending disasters at no additional charge. Mayor Samuels stated he visited with the City Attorney who is reviewing the contract from the first company that appeared before the Council. He stated Mr. McFarland indicated that Hurst, Euless, and Bedford need to select the same sompany, that Mr. McFarland has been in contact with the city attorneys from Hurst and Bedford and they are compiling a questionnaire of forty questions that they want each company to complete, so the Councils will have something to rely on when they write the specifications. Mr. Ozebek inquired the range of franchise fees and what these fees are based on? Mr. Clemons stated the fees are governed by the Federal Communications Commission and they range from 3% to 5 %; the three percent is automatic and if the City wishes to charge 5 %, they must prove to the Federal Communications Commission that it costs them that additional two percent to administer cable television in the City. He stated that the franchise tax is based on the gross receipts. Mr. Clemons stated they have been in contact with the local educators and school officials in the junior college level and the school board in the area and offered their services and to find out what they want in this area. He stated they feel that these three cities are cities of vision and they feel that their company is a company with vision and this is the way they do business and they want to do business here. Mayor Samuels inquired if they have con- sidered a location for the receiving station? Mr. Clemons stated their engineering staff is looking for the best location now and in a very short time they anticipate opening an office here to answer any questions the people may have. Mayor Samuels inquired what type of participation from the citizens would be required to make it a viable finan- cial proposition and how long would they allow for people to sign up for the service? Mr. Clemons stated cable television is a long term investment, and if forty percent of the people were to sign up it would become viable. He stated they anticipate fifty percent to sixty percent with what they have to offer. He stated they feel that they would get forty percent at first passing. (Page Foul, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, August 8, 1978) Mr. Clemons stated they propose to construct the entire system within two years, that's the maximum, that they feel they can have it completed in less time, He stated this would be',the three cities of Hurst, Euless, and Bedford, and if Euless was the only city it would take somewhat less time and the first customers would be on line within six months. Mr. Sustaire inquired if they intend to begin work immediately? Mr. Clemons stated the engineers would begin immediately and they would begin applying for all permits from the Federal Communications Commission, and would have the entire job complete by 1980. Mayor Samuels stated if Mr. Clemons can provide a contract t o the City Manager, we w i l l defer it to the City Attorney for his review. Mayor Samuels asked Mr. Clemons to complete his questionnaire as soon as pofsible so the Council can review it CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT Mr. Nokes stated they have been in contact with the city attorneys of Hurst and Bedford on the cable television question and they have compiled the questionnaire which was submitted to the four com- panies. He stated when these questionnaires have been completed and returned, the attorneys w i l l meet and review them, as they feel that the three cities should cooperate and compare notes before making a decision. Mayor Samules stated that he heard that Witchita Falls had written the strictist specifications and it may be to the advantage of Euless to obtain copies of the specifications from Witchita Falls and also from Denton to assist them in writing their specifications. Mr. Ozebek inquired why go out for bids? Mayor Samuels stated we go to bids to get the best rate for the citizens, and in his opinion it would be an influencing factor if they could locate the tower on the HEB administrative building property and could service Euless, Hurst, and Bedford in a reasonable period of time, Mayor Samuels stated the questionnaire may be the nucleus of a good set of specifications. CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT IV, NORTH MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Dickens stated the south section of North Main Street is complete except for the final layer of top -mix. asphalt, (Page Five, Regular Meeting, Euless City Council, August 8, 1978) a few minor things and final clean -up. He stated on the northern section all the u t i I i ty and stub -outs have been completed. He stated the contractor lacks some fence set back, curb and gutter and grading. He stated the con- tractor has the bottom and two walls of one -half of the culvert poured and is wording on the wing walls and the top of the culvert. V. APPOINTMENT TO COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL CONCERNS Mrs. McCormick moved to appoint Frances LaFerney to the Council for Social Concerns. Mr. Walker seconded the motion and the vote is as follows: Ayes: Mrs. McCormick, Messrs. Walker, Ozebek, and Pippin, Nays: None LETTERS OF COMMENDATIONS Mayor Samuels declared the motion carried. VI. POLICE DEPARTMENT Mayor Samuels stated Chief Wilson of the Police Department, received a letter from the City of Colleyvillecommending Police Officers Richard Clark, Steve Ernest, Mike Harris, and Randy Byers for their dedication and professionalism in assisting them in some multiple arrests. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Mr. Sustiare stated he received a letter from Mr. Harold Copher commending the employees in the water department fo r working so diligently in repairing an eight inch water main during the hot weather we had on July 14, 1978. The men were E. W. Northcutt, Jack Bullard, Danny Phillips, and R, C. Montgomery and the subcontractors for the North Main Street improvements. Mayor Samuels requested these letters be made a part of the employees personnel record. (Copy of letters on file in Council Exhibits in Office of City Secretary.) VII. STATUS CF OAKWOOD ACRES Mr. Pippin inquired if there has been any further resolution to the problem in the Oakwood Acres Apartment Complex? (Page Six, Regular Meeting, Eu1ess City Council, August 8, 1978) Mr. Lynch stated the staff has worked out an agreement with an arrangement whereby we have programmed a solution to the problems and hopefully we will be able to finish the project without any further problems, VIII. ADEURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8 :40 p.m. APPROVED: Mayor ATTEST: City Secretary