HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-10 N` MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
EULESS CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 10, 2009
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Euless City Council was called to order by Mayor Mary Lib
Saleh at 4:08 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, in the Precouncil Conference Room
of City Hall, 201 North Ector Drive. Those present included: Mayor Mary Lib Saleh,
Mayor Pro Tem Linda Martin, Council Members Tim Stinneford, Leon Hogg, Donna
Mickan, Glenn Porterfield and Perry Bynum.
During the precouncil meeting:
• City Secretary Susan Crim announced upcoming city activities and events.
v Assistant Director of Planning and Development Chris Barker reviewed the
agreement being proposed for reclaimed water service between the City of Fort
Worth and the City of Euless and gave a tentative timeline for the project.
• Director of Planning and Development Mike Collins reviewed the proposed
development agreement between the Villages of Bear Creek Property Owners
Association and the City of Euless which will allow the construction of subdivision
identifiers and landscaping within the medians of Mid-Cities Boulevard east of
Bear Creek Parkway.
y Director of Planning & Development Mike Collins discussed the latest revisions
being considered for the City's sign ordinance and compared the provisions of
ordinances from 10 other cities.
r Director of Planning & Development Mike Collins reviewed the City's current
masonry standards and discussed the possibility of revisions or a combination of
material types and architectural styles and elements.
• Parks Manager Randy Smith reported that the City's swimming pools are in
compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act, which requires that all drains
have covers that meet federal guidelines and all pool systems have secondary
safety systems.
✓ City Manger Gary McKamie gave an update on the Texas Star Conference Centre
remodeling project and stated that it is progressing according to schedule.
ti.,, ➢ Director of Finance Vicki Rodriquez reported that the car rental tax revenue was
down slightly, but not as much as the previous month.
City Council Minutes Page 2 of 7 February 10, 2009
r Deputy City Manager Loretta Getchell reported that the City's bond rating was
recently upgraded by Standard and Poor's from AA- to AA. Euless was one of 26
municipalities in the South to receive an upgrade.
�- Fire Chief Robert Isbell discussed the possibility of the City Council approving a
resolution that would allow the City Manager to enact or rescind an outdoor burn
ban without the City Council having to take action. He said the item would be on
a future agenda.
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 scheduled items.
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
City Manager Gary McKamie, Deputy City Manager Loretta Getchell, Associate City
Attorney Paul Wieneskie, City Secretary Susan Crim, Director of Public Works Ron
Young, Director of Economic Development Bill Ridgway, Fire Chief Robert Isbell, Police
Chief Mike Brown, Director of Parks and Community Services Ray McDonald, Director
of Planning and Development Mike Collins, Director of Finance Vicki Rodriquez, City
Engineer Robert Barker, Senior Civil Engineer Allen Harts, Assistant Director of
Planning and Development Chris Barker, Public Works Manager J. T. Ackerman, Fleet
and Facility Administrator Kyle McAdams, Texas Star General Manager Glenda
Hartsell-Shelton, Library Administrator Kate Lyon, Special Projects Manager Kay
Godbey, Information Services Administrator Dan McLain, Computer Services Specialist
Brett Bennett, Purchasing Manager Mike Lowry, City Planner Stephen Cook, Library
Technical Specialist Becky Moren, Public Works Equipment Operator Jeff Richardson,
Communications and Marketing Manager Betsy Deck and City Secretary Office
Secretary Ann Pope.
VISITORS
Carroll Scott, Charles Dibrell, Reverend Royal Farris, Lisa Bynum, Jerrie Keller, Susan
Rogers, Iris Elliott, Esther Johnson, Julie Watkins, David Ware, Sharon Vogelsang-
Karpenko, Stuart and Lawson Deck, Grant and Jennifer Moren, Lindsey Huffman, Billy
Beacham and Greg Roemer.
INVOCATION
Reverend Royal Farris, Pastor, Life Connection Church gave the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Glenn Porterfield led the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Council Minutes Page 3 of 7 February 10, 2009
ITEM NO. 1. PRESENTATION OF EMPLOYEE SERVICE PINS
Director of Public Works Ron Young introduced Field Tech II, Jeff Richardson of the
Public Works Department and informed the City Council members about his training
and accomplishments.
City Manager Gary McKamie introduced Communications and Marketing Manager
Betsy Deck and outlined her responsibilities and community service leadership abilities.
Betsy introduced her husband, Stuart and their son, Lawson.
Library Administrator Kate Lyon introduced Technical Specialist Becky Moren, and
described her accomplishments and talents in teaching computer skills to staff and
patrons at the Library. Becky introduced her son, Grant and his fiancé Lindsey
Huffman, and her daughter, Jennifer and friend Billy Beacham.
Mayor Saleh presented Jeff Richardson and Betsy Deck their 5-year service pins, and
Becky Moren was presented a 10-year service pin.
ITEM NO. 2. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION
Council Member Porterfield read the proclamation for National Engineers Week and
presented it to Director of Public Works Ron Young, City Engineer Robert Barker and
Senior Civil Engineer Allen Harts proclaiming February 15 — 21, 2009 as National
Engineers Week.
ITEM NO. 3. PRESENTATION OF QUARTERLY WASTEWATER REPORT
Director of Public Works Ron Young gave a wastewater report for the October to
December, 2008 quarter. He reported a reduction in overall city calls as well as
customer calls for maintenance problems. He attributed this to the investment the City
Council is making in upgrading and replacing wastewater mains, the Public Works
personnel on-going maintenance work, and the application of degreaser in those areas
with the highest concentration of grease in the mains. Once the goal of reduced calls is
realized, more effort can be invested in resolving problems with the lateral lines which
are the responsibility of the customers.
Director of Public Works Ron Young displayed a map of the city divided into four areas
to highlight the reduction of calls over the previous year as well as the location of city
and customer calls for the 2008 year. There was a total of 55 calls in 2008, 19 were
generated by the city and 36 were customer calls.
ITEM NO. 4. ANNUAL RECYCLING REPORT
Greg Roemer, President, Community Waste Disposal (CWD) gave an annual recycling
report. He indicated that citizen calls to CWD were up in 2008, and he credited this
increase to the change in schedule of pick-up days and having a new driver. Both
events created confusion on the part of the citizens and on the part of CWD. It was
noted that in the latter part of 2008 the citizen calls declined.
City Council Minutes Page 4 of 7 February 10, 2009
Overall recycling was down in 2008 and he attributed this to the decline in the
newspaper business. The participation in the blue bag program is steady. A change in
apartment collection has changed from two bins for a separate collection of glass, cans
and newspapers to single string collection with one bin for all items.
Mr. Roemer appreciated the opportunity to partner with the city in recycling and raising
awareness of the need to conserve our resources. Placing recycling bins at Arbor Daze,
and having a new truck in our area with the City logo is sending a positive message to
the citizens. Mr. Roemer presented Mayor Saleh with an Outstanding Recycling
Program Award, made from recycled bottle glass, in recognition of the 1,074 tons
recycled in 2008 in the City of Euless.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council Member Stinneford motioned to approve Consent Agenda Items numbered 5
and 6.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin seconded the motion.
Ayes: Mayor Saleh, Mayor Pro Tem Martin, Council Members Stinneford, Hogg,
Porterfield, Mickan and Bynum
Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried.
ITEM NO. 5. APPPROVED RENEWAL OF BID NO. 009-07
Authorized the award of the second of three, one-year options for the renewal of Bid No.
009-07 to Whitmore & Sons, Inc., P. O. Box 210203, Bedford, Texas, in the amount of
$129,130 for mowing maintenance of city medians and city parks; and authorized the
award of the second of three, one-year options for the renewal to O'Donnell's
Landscaping Services, 2140 Southlake Boulevard, Southlake, Texas, for mowing
maintenance of City Hall campus, city facilities, city right-of-way and Police and Courts
campus in the amount of $63,584.28, which includes a 1.8% CPI increase over last
year's contracted amount.
ITEM NO. 6. APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Approved the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 27, 2009.
REGULAR AGENDA
ITEM NO. 7. APPROVED FIRST AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1840
Council Member Hogg motion to approve Ordinance No. 1840 extending certain
specified traffic rules that apply to roads owned by the City of Euless, Texas, to the
roads in "The Courtyards Addition".
Council Member Stinneford seconded the motion.
City Council Minutes Page 5 of 7 February 10, 2009
Ayes: Mayor Saleh, Mayor Pro Tern Martin, Council Members Stinneford, Hogg,
Mickan, Porterfield, Bynum.
Nays: None
Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried
ITEM NO. 8. APPROVED FIRST AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1841
Council Member Porterfield motion to approve Ordinance No. 1841 amending Chapter
82, "Traffic and Motor Vehicles", Article III, "Operation of Vehicle", "Section 82-61,
"Speed Limits — Generally", of the Euless Code of Ordinances establishing an alley
speed limit of 20 mph; and Section 82-62, "Same — On certain streets and portions of
streets", of the Euless Code of Ordinances amending the speed limit for Gateway
Boulevard from Mid-Cities Boulevard north to Glade Road from 30 mph to 40 mph and
for East Harwood Road from North Main Street east to State Highway 360 from 35 mph
to 40 mph.
Council Member Mickan seconded the motion.
Ayes: Mayor Saleh, Mayor Pro Tern Martin, Council Members Stinneford, Hogg,
Mickan, Porterfield, Bynum.
Nays: None
Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried
ITEM NO. 9. HELD PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVED RECOMMENDATION
FOR SELECTION OF THE 35TH YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT (CDBG) PROJECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009-2010
Mayor Saleh opened the public hearing at 7:31 p.m. and Assistant Director of Planning
and Development Chris Barker reported that the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) annually appropriates funds to entitlement communities through
the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. These funds are targeted
to benefit low to moderate income persons and are to be used for the development of
viable urban communities by providing decent housing, suitable living environment, and
expanded economic opportunities.
The City of Euless has identified, as part of the city's five year master plan and in the
recent update to the Parks Master Plan, the need for a new Senior Citizen Center
Facility. The Senior Citizen Center Facility Project will allow the City to serve the
growing elderly population by expanding services and programs for senior citizens.
Senior Citizen Centers provide benefits to a clientele who are generally presumed by
HUD to be low to moderate income without regard to the area in which they reside. As
such, Senior Citizen Center Facilities are not required to be located within an eligible
target block area. All 35th Year CDBG funds are proposed to be used for engineering,
surveying and other professional design services relating to the new Senior Citizen
Center.
City Council Minutes Page 6 of 7 February 10, 2009
Total funding allocation for the 35th Year CDBG program has not yet been finalized.
Tarrant County Community Development (TCCD) has indicated that our allocation
should be an estimated $355,000. After deducting the twenty percent (20%), or
$71,000 in administrative fees paid to TCCD as established in the Joint Administrative
Agreement, there would be an estimated $284,000 available in CDBG funds for the 35th
Year CDBG program.
There were no proponents or opponents and Mayor Saleh closed the public hearing at
7:34 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tern Martin motioned to approve the recommendation to designate the 35th
year Community Development Block Grant project for Project Year 2009 to be used for
the professional architectural services related to a new Senior Citizen Center to be
located at 300 Midway Drive.
Council Member Stinneford seconded the motion.
Ayes: Mayor Saleh, Mayor Pro Tem Martin, Council Members Stinneford, Hogg,
Mickan, Porterfield, Bynum.
Nays: None
Mayor Saleh declared the motion carried
ITEM NO. 10. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
ITEM NO. 11. REPORTS
CITY ATTORNEY
Associate City Attorney Paul Wieneskie had no report.
CITY MANAGER
City Manager Gary McKamie had no report.
CITY COUNCIL
Council Member Mickan congratulated Jeff Richardson, Betsy Deck and Becky Moren
for their service to the City. She said she attended ribbon cuttings the previous week for
the Sears Appliance Center and Freddy's Frozen Custard and expressed what great
assets they will be to the city. She also noted that Dr. Bob Tafel, who serves as the
City's Health Authority, was inducted into the HEB Sports Hall of Fame. He has served
as the Trinity High School team doctor for many years and has provided physicals and
affordable or free care for students who have limited means.
City Council Minutes Page 7 of 7 February 10, 2009
Council Member Martin expressed her congratulations to Jeff Richardson, Betsy Deck
°•- and Becky Moren for receiving their service pins, and to the engineers who are
celebrating Engineers' Week. She thanked all of the City employees for their dedication
to consistently do such a great job, and stated the City has a wealth of talent and each
employee is appreciated.
Council Member Hogg expressed his thanks to the employees.
Council Member Stinneford expressed his congratulations to Jeff Richardson, Betsy
Deck and Becky Moren for their twenty years of combined service to the city. He
congratulated the Finance Department for their work in obtaining the AA Bond rating for
the City. He said he was glad to see progress on plans for the new Senior Center and
thanked everyone who had been involved. He congratulated the City's engineers on
their celebration of Engineers' Week.
Council Member Bynum reminded everyone that this time of year we all need to be
aware of the weather and the importance of being prepared for emergencies with 72
hours of provisions for our families. He stated his appreciation to the city staff for their
dedication. He reminded everyone of the up-coming May elections and stated that he is
running for re-election and urged everyone to be sure to vote.
Council Member Porterfield expressed his agreement with all that was expressed by the
other council members.
r..
Mayor Saleh thanked the citizens who came to the meeting.
ITEM NO. 12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Saleh adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
APPROVED:
i
Mary Li% waleh
Mayor
ATTEST:
San Crim, T"MC
City Secretary