HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-05-20 (Worksession) EULESS CITY COUNCIL
WORKSESSION
MAY 20, 1996
A worksession was held at 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 1996, in the downstairs conference room
of Building A, Municipal Complex, 201 North Ector Drive. Those present were: Mayor Mary
Lib Saleh, Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Baker, Council Members Carl Tyson, Leon Hogg, Charlie
Miller, Glenn Walker and Katie Edwards.
Staff Members Present
Tom Hart, City Manager; Joe Hennig Assistant City Manager; Lee Koontz, Fire Chief; Don
Wilson,Assistant Fire Chief; Gary McKamie, Police Chief; Captain Joey Ziemian;Captain Rod
Davis; Lt. Bob Freeman; Scott Campbell, Administrative Assistant; Cathy DiMaggio, Deputy
City Secretary
City Manager Tom Hart reviewed options for shared police facilities with the City of Bedford
which could include a jail, police station, court facility and communications. Mr. Hart said that
if the Council decided to foreclose on the Western Hills property, this would be done on the
second Tuesday in July at the earliest or the second Tuesday in August.
Mr. Gary Schon, Vice President, Phillips Swager Associates, distributed a draft of a report on
New a shared police facility for the Euless and Bedford Police Departments. Mr. Schon stated that
the study conducted by his firm had concluded that the most feasible option for the city would
be to build a new facility outside of the existing municipal complex. He reviewed figures on
the cost to renovate the Western Hills site if the city chose to acquire this property.
Discussion took place on possible alternate sites for the facility, the possibility of a joint jail
and separate police stations, and the possibility of locating both the facilities in Bedford.
City Manager Tom Hart said that after listening to discussion he would focus on a joint jail
facility at the Western Hills site and would use the timeframe on the Western Hills
foreclosure/acquisition as a guideline for determining when a final decision must be made.
City Manager Tom Hart discussed funding for the facility which would include the possibility
of issuing certificates of obligation or asking the voters for approval of general obligation
bonds. Mr. Hart stated that in addition to crime control tax funds, approximately $300,000
would come from the general fund, necessitating an increase in ad valorem taxes for debt
retirement.
Fire Chief Lee Koontz gave a report on the effects of the widening of Westpark Way on Fire
Station #2 located on Westpark Way. Chief Koontz requested Council consideration of the
purchase of property to relocate the fire station on Westpark Way near the fleet maintenance
facility or possibly a location on Raider Drive near Central Junior High School. A third, but
tow desirable option, would be to expand on the present site. Because of the widening of
Westpark Way to five lanes, the front of the property at Station #2 would be decreased by six
feet. Presently there is no room to pull the fire trucks through to turn around so trucks must
N.► be backed into the driveway. Because of significant additional traffic expected with the
widening of Westpark Way, an already dangerous situation would become even more so.
Chief Koontz recommended a training facility be built along with a 5,000 sq. ft. fire station at
a cost of approximately $675,000. Chief Koontz expressed concerns about deed restrictions
on towers and noise which would possibly prevent the facility from being built on the
Westpark Way site.
Chief Koontz stated that it is becoming very common to establish joint coverage agreements
with neighboring cities in order to efficiently cover residential and commercial properties within
the recommended radius. This joint coverage necessitates the need for joint communications.
Joint communications would require the addition of five dispatchers. There is a console
already available.
City Manager Tom Hart said he will have City Attorney Bob McFarland research the deed
restrictions of the Westpark Way property and the possible purchase of the 2.1 acres on
Westpark Way. A possibility also exists that the existing service center could be moved back
on the present lot and Station #2 could then be built on the front of the property if there is
enough room. Mr. Hart will report back to Council at the May 28, 1996 Council meeting.
Cathy DiMaggio
`vow Deputy City Secretary