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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-06-27 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE EULESS CITY COUNCIL 'taw JUNE 27, 1995 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Euless City Council was called to order by Mayor Mary Lib Saleh at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, 1995, in the downstairs Administration Building Conference Room. Those present included Mayor Mary Lib Saleh, Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Baker and Council Members Carl Tyson, Todd Smith, Charles Miller, Glenn Walker and Henry Boatright. Precouncil discussion was held on agenda items and other scheduled items. A closed session was held to discuss pending land acquisition and personnel matters as authorized by Sections 551.072 and 551.074 of the Texas Government Code. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF SCHEDULED ITEMS - COUNCIL CHAMBERS The Euless City Council continued their meeting in the Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m. for the consideration of the scheduled items. Staff Members Present Tom Hart, City Manager; Bob McFarland, City Attorney; Joe Hennig, Assistant City Manager; Susan Crim, City Secretary; Randy Byers, Director of Development and Public Works; Tom Cox, Director of Administrative Services/Economic Development; Rick Herold, Director of Community Services; Lee Koontz, Fire Chief; Paul Kruckemeyer, City Engineer; Gary McKamie, Police Chief; 't.. Diana Ortiz, Director of Finance; Janina Haylet,Accountant; Clyde Cullum, Reserve Police Officer; Margarita Valladares, Police Dispatcher; Corporal Marco Valladares, Police; Karla Cunningham, City Secretary's Office Clerk; Michelle Wyman, Community Affairs Administrator; Scott Campbell, Administrative Assistant. Visitors Elsie Boatright; Sue Boatright; Billy Owens and George Zahn, Planning and Zoning Commission; Wes Scott, Chairman, Library Board; Leon Hogg, Chairman, Parks & Leisure Services; Andy Chesney, Charter Review Committee and other visitors as noted on the Visitor's Register. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Mary Lib Saleh led the Pledge of Allegiance. INVOCATION Council Member Carl Tyson gave the invocation. ITEM NO. 1: PRESENTATION OF EMPLOYEE SERVICE PIN Mayor Saleh presented Margarita Valladares, Police Dispatcher, with a 15-year service pin. COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 27, 1995 PAGE 2 Noir ITEM NO. 2: PUBLIC HEARING - SPECIFIC USE PERMIT #95-12-SUP Mayor Saleh opened a public hearing at 7:06 p.m. to hear public input on the request of James C. Hobbs for a Specific Use Permit for a 75' private radio antenna within an R-1 (Single-Family Detached District) for Lot 3, Block 1, Timberline Estates; described as 612 Live Oak Drive. Randy Byers, Director of Development and Public Works, reviewed the proposed amendments. Mayor Saleh asked if there were any proponents to the request. Mr. Jim Hobbs, 612 Live Oak Drive, the applicant for the specific use permit, addressed the Council Members requesting permission to allow his 75' radio antenna to remain in place at his home. He stated he had inquired of the previous owner if such an antenna would be allowed and he checked the deed restrictions for possible prohibition of it. He said he did not think about checking with the City and proceeded to put up the antenna, acting in good faith. An additional proponent to the request was Bobby Black, 610 Live Oak Drive, the next door neighbor to Mr. Hobbs. He stated that he felt the tower would be best suited at its present height rather than at 35' which the law requires. He further stated that he felt the neighborhood would experience interference on their televisions and other appliances if the tower is lowered. Mayor Saleh asked if there were any opponents to the request. Mr. Bob Yosten, 702 Live Oak Drive presented 28 letters in opposition to the tower from neighbors including some from the Wilshire Neighborhood Association. He felt Mr. Hobbs should have to comply with the present Code requirements. Mr. Wes Scott, 1802 Toplea, Vice-President of the Wilshire Neighborhood Association, stated that he felt the tower was too tall, was unsafe and that the applicant should have to comply with the present City Code. Hearing no other opponents or proponents Mayor Saleh closed the public hearing at 7:25 p.m. ITEM NO. 3: DISAPPROVAL OF SPECIFIC USE PERMIT #95-12-SUP Councilman Tyson said he felt the current Unified Development Code was not written to prohibit antennas of this height, but to require that a permit be obtained. Councilman Miller asked the opponents who were present if they felt the antenna at 35' would be preferable to the current one at 75'. Several persons expressed a desire to not have the tower at any height. Councilman Miller stated that he was not in agreement with a tower of 75'. Mayor Pro Tem Baker pointed out that people often are not aware of City codes and do not know they should obtain a type of permit. He stated in accordance with State law, persons within 200' of the applicant's address were notified of the public hearing tonight and he appreciatd the comments from the Wilshire Neighborhood Association, but the consideration should be given to those persons within the 200' radius. He felt the private radio might be useful in case of emergency and that he did not have a problem with the 75' antenna. Mayor Saleh stated the City is encouraging neighborhood associations to improve the looks of the community and that she would not want a 75' antenna in her neighborhood. COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 27, 1995 PAGE 3 Now Councilman Smith said the decision made by the Council should consider if there exists circumstances that justify an antenna exceeding the ordinance limitations, and he did not feel that large trees interfering with reception was adequate reason. He asked Mr. Hobbs if he had support from neighbors other than his two next door neighbors. Mr. Hobbs stated that he had a few others call him in support. Councilman Miller commented that neighbors two houses away on either side were not in favor of the antenna. Mayor Saleh pointed out that 28 persons had signed letters against the request. Mayor Pro Tern Baker moved to approve the Specific Use Permit #95-12-SUP, 75' private radio antenna, within the R-1 zoning district located at 612 Live Oak Drive. Council Member Tyson seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Boatright, and Mayor Pro Tern Baker. Nays: Council Members Smith, Miller, Walker, and Mayor Saleh. Mayor Saleh declared the motion failed. Mr. Hobbs inquired as to how much time he would have in which to take the antenna down. City Manager Tom Hart replied that he would have 30 days. ITEM NO. 4: PUBLIC HEARING - SPECIFIC USE PERMIT #95-13-SUP fir. Mayor Saleh opened a public hearing at 7:52 p.m. to hear the request of R.M. (Bud) Taylor for a Specific Use Permit for a self-storage facility within a C-2 and I-1 (Community Business and Light Industrial) zoning district for tract 4B1 B, A.M. Downen Survey, A-415, on the south side of the 1100 block of W. Euless Blvd. Randy Byers, Director of Development and Public Works, reviewed the proposed facility and stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission had approved the request with the stipulation that the 6' chain link fence around the property be equipped with three strands of barbed wire across the top. Mayor Saleh asked if there were any proponents. Bud Taylor, Nacogdoches, Texas, stated that he and his partner currently operate four such facilities and that they believe there is a need for one in the City of Euless. As there were no other proponents, Mayor Saleh asked if there were any opponents. There were none and the public hearing was closed at 7:56 p.m. ITEM NO. 5: APPROVAL OF SPECIFIC USE PERMIT #95-13-SUP Several council members asked about the fencing and Assistant City Manager Joe Hennig stated that the consideration at this time is for the specific use permit and other issues will be discussed at the time of approval of the site plan. Director of Development and Public Works Randy Byers stated that the offsite draining issue will also need to be resolved at the time of considering the ,`' site plan. COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 27, 1995 PAGE 4 Mayor Pro Tern Baker moved to approve the Specific Use Permit #95-13-SUP for a storage facility within the C-2 and I-1 zoning district for Tract 4B1 B, A. M. Downen Survey, A-415, on the south side of the 1100 block of W. Euless Blvd. Council Member Boatright seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker and Boatright, Mayor Pro Tern Baker and Mayor Saleh. Nays: None Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. ITEM NO. 6: APPROVAL OF FIRST AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1179 Council Member Boatright moved to approve the first and final reading of Ordinance No. 1179, amending Chapter 30, "Fees", to revise fees listed in that chapter. Council Member Walker seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker and Boatright, Mayor Pro Tem Baker and Mayor Saleh. `gar Nays: None Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. ITEM NO. 7: APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SCHRICKEL ROLLINS & ASSOCIATES ON ATHLETIC COMPLEX, PHASE I Council Member Miller moved to authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement, as amended and presented to the Council, with Schrickel, Rollins & Associates of Arlington, Texas to develop Athletic Complex, Phase I, construction documents. Mayor Pro Tem Baker seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker and Boatright, Mayor Pro Tem Baker and Mayor Saleh. Nays: None Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. Councilman Miller reported it is anticipated that Phase 1 of the Athletic Complex will include a combination of four baseball and softball fields, three soccer fields, one T-ball field, a pavilion, a playground, an amphitheatre, a fishing pier, three sand volleyball courts, trails linking together ``` these facilities, ten picnic stations and associated parking and signage for these amenities. COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 27, 1995 PAGE 5 ,n,,, ITEM NO. 8: APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SCHRICKEL ROLLINS & ASSOCIATES ON THE GOLF COURSE Council Member Miller moved to authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement, as amended and presented to the Council, with Schrickel, Rollins & Associates of Arlington, Texas, to perform engineering services related to the proposed Euless Golf Course. Mayor Pro Tern Baker seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker and Boatright, Mayor Pro Tern Baker and Mayor Saleh. Nays: None Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. ITEM NO. 9: APPROVE CONTRACT WITH CONLAN ENGINEERING FOR GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION OF PROPOSED GOLF COURSE SITE TO ASSIST THE GOLF ARCHITECT AND CIVIL ENGINEERS IN THEIR DESIGN AND FUNDS FOR SUBSIDIARY SURVEYING AND CLEARING COSTS. Council Member Miller moved to approve the contract with Conlan Engineering for Geotechnical Investigation of proposed Golf Course site to assist the golf architect and civil engineers in their �.• design and funds for subsidiary surveying and clearing costs. Mayor Pro Tem Baker seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker and Boatright, Mayor Pro Tem Baker and Mayor Saleh. Nays: None Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. ITEM NO. 10: APPROVAL FOR CITY MANAGER TO RENEW AGREEMENT WITH TARRANT COUNTY FOR THE COLLECTION OF 1995 PROPERTY TAXES ON BEHALF OF CITY OF EULESS Council Member Walker moved to approve the City Manager to renew the agreement with Tarrant County for the Collection of 1995 property taxes on behalf of the City of Euless. Mayor Pro Tem seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker and Boatright, Mayor Pro Tem Baker and Mayor Saleh. Nays: None Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 27, 1995 PAGE 6 Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. NOW ITEM NO. 11: ACCEPTANCE OF THE EULESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ACTIONS ON JUNE 22, 1995 Mayor Pro Tern Baker reviewed the figures contained in the revised Half Cent Sales Tax Budget for the period of FY 93/94 through FY 95/96 as recommended by the Euless Development Corporation as follows: 1) the Library project totals $5,732,546 that will include the construction, fixtures, furniture, books and everything that it will take to get it up and running; 2) the Parks area totals $5,542,788 that includes land acquisition, first phase of athletic complex, and golf land development costs that will come back to the half cent sales tax fund after the golf course is funded; 3) Economic Development fund is budgeted at just over $1 million for incentives and other projects. Debt service is included with a total of $15,199,135. Council Member Miller moved to approve the Euless Development Corporation actions on June 22, 1995. Mayor Pro Tern Baker seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker and Boatright, Mayor Pro Tern Baker and Mayor Saleh. Nays: None Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. City Manager Tom Hart reported that this budget will need to be revised periodically as we see how the sales tax revenues grow. The next objective is to get more money into the Athletic Complex. Mayor Saleh pointed out that this budget is being revised from approximately $12,000,000 a year ago to the $15,199,135 at this time. ITEM NO. 12: BOARD APPOINTMENT Mayor Pro Tern Baker moved to appoint Keith Eggers to the Planning & Zoning Commission, Place 6, for a term to expire December 31, 1996, to fill the position vacated when Carl Tyson was elected to the City Council. Council Member Miller seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker, Mayor Pro Tern Baker and Mayor Saleh. Nays: None Abstain: Council Member Boatright Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 27, 1995 PAGE 7 ITEM NO. 13: ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATIONS FROM AND APPOINTMENT(S)TO THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD Council Member Miller moved to accept the resignations of Judith Cannon, Place 6, and Sharon Sperry, Alternate, from the Community Advisory Board and to appoint Michael Sampson to Place 6 with a term to expire December 31, 1996, and Gary Waldron as an alternate, with a term to expire December 31, 1995. Council Member Walker seconded the motion. Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker and Boatnght, Mayor Pro Tem Baker and Mayor Saleh. Nays: None Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. ITEM NO. 14: APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 13, 1995 REGULAR MEETING Council Member Tyson moved to approve the Minutes of the June 13, 1995 Regular Meeting as presented. Council Member Walker seconded the motion. `'" Ayes: Council Members Tyson, Smith, Miller, Walker and Boatright, Mayor Pro Tern Baker and Mayor Saleh. Nays: None Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried. ITEM NO. 15: REPORTS a) City Manager City Manager Tom Hart reported that the Tarrant County Junior College unanimously voted to participate in the Tax Increment Financing District for the proposed mall in Euless. The Hurst- Euless-Bedford Independent School District, Tarrant County, and the Hospital District have already voted to participate. b) City Attorney City Attorney Bob McFarland reported that he earlier submitted a comprehensive report to the Council and Staff on the significant legislative session for cities. There were over 5,000 separate bills and resolutions filed in the 140 day period, one of the largest number of bills ever filed by a legislature. Of those 5,000 bills, almost 20% affected municipalities. Mr. McFarland's office monitored approximately 700 bills that could have affected the City of Euless. There were 1,101 COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 27, 1995 PAGE 8 bills passed and over 200 of them affected cities. In the final analysis only about 110 bills affected the City of Euless. Three of them would have had an adverse effect on the City of Euless. Governor Bush vetoed only 23 bills of the 1,101 that were passed, and 3 of the ones he vetoed were the 3 that would have adversely affected the City of Euless. Mr. McFarland stated that in his fifteen plus years of observation of the legislature on a first-hand basis, cities fared better than any other year that he could recall in the past. The most important benefit for the City of Euless was the legislative curation of the Education Code, regarding the establishment of the effective tax rate in a school district participating in a tax increment financing district. That issue was addressed in three separate bills and all three bills passed. Mr. Lynn Moak, education consultant, is currently preparing a report for the City Council covering the legislation resolving the issue. Mayor Saleh expressed appreciation to Bob McFarland for his efforts in following the legislation that will enable the local school district to participate in the City's tax increment financing district. She stated that the TIF district for the new mall would not have been possible without this legislation. City Manager Tom Hart also thanked Mr. McFarland for the long hours he worked during the legislative session on behalf of the City. Councilman Smith asked if there was opposition to the legislation for the TIF district. Mr. McFarland stated that the opposition had been only from those who were concerned that the legislation might conflict with other provisions in the school financing laws. It was primarily from those who did not understand the provisions of the legislation we were supporting. c) Staff The staff report by Michelle Wyman on the recycling program was postponed until the next meeting. d) City Council Mayor Saleh welcomed Councilman Boatright back after being absent for several meetings because of illness. Councilman Boatright congratulated City Attorney McFarland on his work in the legislature. He introduced his wife, Elsie, and daughter, Sue from Florida, who were present in the meeting. He thanked the staff and council members for their prayers, concerns and cards during his illness. Councilman Walker also welcomed Councilman Boatright back to the council meeting. Councilman Miller said he was glad the plans for the Athletic Complex were moving along and thanked the staff, the Parks and Leisure Services Board and the Euless Development Corporation for their work on the project. Mayor Pro Tem Baker stated he was glad to see Councilman Boatright back. He congratulated Margarita Valladares on her fifteen years of service to the City. He expressed appreciation to Bob McFarland for his work on the legislation. COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 27, 1995 PAGE 9 Councilman Smith joined in welcoming Councilman Boatright back to the meeting. Councilman Tyson also congratulated Margarita Valladares and stated that when the staff conducted the new council member orientation, he visited the Police Department dispatch area and was very impressed with the difficult task of a dispatcher. He told Mr. Boatright it was an honor to serve with him on the City Council. Mayor Saleh reported that three community leaders, Ruth Millican, Warren Fuller, who was the first Mayor of Euless and Walter McCormick had passed away during recent weeks. Mayor Saleh stated that she recently attended one of the most interesting and informative meetings of her tenure as Mayor when she attended the Mayors' Conference in Miami, Florida. There were 250 mayors in attendance from across the country to hear many outstanding speakers and learn how other cities deal with their problems. There were many opportunities to learn about good things that happen when cities work together. She said she had a lot to brag about in Euless. Mayor Saleh reminded those present that Tish Hinojosa will be appearing at the amphitheatre in the Villages of Bear Creek Park Saturday, July 1. ITEM NO. 16: ADJOURN Mayor Saleh adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m. APPROVED: C./� l,Cliy O�•v�✓ 7 Mary Lib SalehqMayor ATTEST: CO"�/l/iii/ Susan Crim, C C, City Secretary