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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 03.10.1992 CC-R• 1 me) ma • The City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in regular session on the above date with Mayor Bill Connor presiding. Council Members Present: Mike McMaster Jane Voltz Ferd Torn Bill Shelby Bob Schrawger Winfred Bonner Shorty Valdez Staff Present: Bob Hart, City Manager Marianne Landers Banks, City Attorney Elizabeth Gray, City Secretary Hugh Anderson, Chief of Police Jim Briggs, Director of Public Utilities Glenn Reynolds, Director of Finance Hartley Sappington, Director of Comm. Svcs. Ed Barry, Director of Development Services Council Members Absent: None Bonnie McLain, Accounting Supervisor Bill Dixon, Personnel Director Terry Jones, Purchasing Agent Brad Stratton, Public Affairs Officer Sandra Lee, Staff Asst. to City Manager WORKSHOP 920086 Discussion of Ends for Police Service/ Mayor Connor Mayor Connor asked each Councilmember to share his/her feelings regarding the purpose of the Police Department. The Councilmembers mentioned: problem solving, showing more interest in the protection of persons and property, emphasis on crime prevention, vehicle fleet visibility, getting to know the citizens, and maintaining a professional staff. Chief Anderson reviewed the history of a community -oriented approach to public safety. McMaster said it will be important to explain this change in approach so that the citizens understand what police are doing when they stop and "visit" with people on the street. The Mayor noted that the City is actively involved in preventive -type activities, such as D.A.R.E., which result in more informed citizens and less crime. Minutes of City Council Meeting March 10, 1992 Page 1 of 8 Pages McMaster stressed the importance of promoting the "first there" policy to citizens. It may need to be more widely publicized so that citizens understand and support it. The Council discussed protecting individual rights vs. protecting "good" from "bad". Hart stated that "good vs. bad" is antithetical to the concept of community -oriented policing. Chief Anderson stressed that community -oriented policing is more labor intensive than the traditional "respond to calls for help" approach. Therefore, it is usually implemented in specific geographic areas, based on tactical objectives. The Council discussed studies evaluating the four-year effects of the D.A.R.E. Program. The Council agreed that daily activities for the Police Department should include: covering school zones, visibility in high crime areas, training, contacting citizens and training on crime prevention, D.A.R.E. programs, and business visitations. EXECUTIVE SESSION In compliance with Article 6252-17, V.A.C.S., the items listed below were discussed in closed session, and were subject to action in the regular session that followed: 920087 Sec.2(e) Legal Report Discussion of pending and potential litigation/Marianne Banks 920088 Sec.2(f) Real Estate Discussion of potential acquisition of real property/ Marianne Banks 920089 Sec.2(g) Personnel Appointments to boards, commissions, and committees Steering Committee of the 1992 Business Retention Survey Board. of Adjustment 920090 Sec.2(r) Staff Report Discussion of Industrial Prospect/Bob Hart REGULAR SESSION - Called to order 7:12 p.m. Action on executive session items 920088 Sec.2(f) Real Estate Discussion of potential acquisition of real property/ Marianne Banks Motion by McMaster, second by Valdez to approve the resolution to acquire property for the location of the Dove Springs Wastewater Treatment Facility, related facilities and for other municipal facilities. Approved 7-0. Minutes of City Council Meeting March lo, 1992 Page 2 of 8 Pages 920089 Sec.2(g) Personnel Appointments to boards, commissions, and committees Board. of Adjustment Motion by Torn, second by Shelby to approve the appointments of Carolyn Purcell to permanent committee member from alternate member and Mike Barnes to alternate member. Approved 7-0. Steering Committee of the 1992 Business Retention Survey Mayor Connor appointed Councilmembers Jane Voltz and Ferd Torn to the Steering Committee. PUBLIC HEARING 920091 Public Hearing on a grant application to the State of Texas-CIDBG Governor's Special Assistance Fund for Small and Minority Business for a loan for Poly Resource Recycling Inc./ Bob Hart Hart read aloud the Announcement of Intent to Use CDBG as included in the agenda packet for this item. Mayor Connor asked for comment from the public. A citizen asked what effect this plastic recycling company would have on the business that the Rockhouse conducts in recycling household plastics. Hart introduced Mr. Benjamin Mosier, Vice President of Poly Resource Recycling, Inc., who said that his company recycles post-industrial plastics from the semi- conductor and computer industry. Ted Dummer asked about the possibility of toxic waste products contaminating the environment. Mr. Mosier explained that the process is one of grinding the plastic and condensing the granules. There is no washing, no liquid waste to affect the ground water supply. Mayor Connor closed the hearing at 7:30 p.m. Consent Agenda Consideration of and possible action on the following items, 920092 Approval of meeting minutes-- Regular Meeting of Feb. 25, 1992/Elizabeth Gray 920093 Pulled (See Regular Agenda) 920094 Resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application through the State of Texas-CDBG Governor's Special Assistance Fund for Small and Minority Businesses for a loan to Poly Resource Recycling, Inc./Bob Hart Minutes of City Council Meeting March lo, 1992 Page 3 of 8 Pages 920095 Approval of Brazos River Authority Replacement Water Supply Agreement Amendment No.relativei 1991 payments/Bob Hart 920096 Resolution abandoning a ten (10) foot Public Utility Easement (PUE) and building setback lines on the common property line between Lots 18 and 19, Serenada West, Section IV, 504 and 506 La Paloma Drive/Fred Morris and Ed Barry 920097 Approval of contract with A -Way 'Tank Service in the amount of $58,990 for painting the San Gabriel Park Ground Water Storage Tank/Jim Briggs 920098 Approval of contract with River Oaks Construction Company --Holmes Excavating in the amount of $16,840 for construction of 2050 linear feet of concrete curb and gutter in Old Town/Jim Briggs 920099 Award of annual bid for water greeters to the Rohan Co. in the amount of approximately $7,875/Terry Jones and Glenn Reynolds Motion by Valdez, second by Schrawger to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of Item 920093 (pulled by Mike McMaster). Approved 7-0. Regular Agenda 920093 Resolution authorizing the City to furnish land for a community playscape and to maintain structure after it has been built/Randy Morrow (Pulled by McMaster) McMaster pulled this item at the request of the coordinator, Denise Lebowitz, who brought with her a large representation of citizen volunteers who wished to express to the Council their enthusiasm for the project. Randy Morrow introduced Ms. Lebowitz who fielded questions from Council about the estimated start date, schedule for construction, and cost. Once constructed, the playscape is expected to be maintenance free with the exception of $800.00 per year for a protective coating. 920100 i/Council. Mayor Connor announced that he had received six requests to speak at the time specific items were discussed. 920101 May/ and staff commentsand reports Bonner thanked the City for the flowers sent to him at the hospital. Schrawger congratulated the high school basketball teams who have recently gone to State Finals in AAAA UIL Competition. Minutes of City Council Meeting March 10, 1992 Page 4 of 8 Pages Mayor Connor noted that he had presented a proclamation to the girls' basketball team at the high school as they were leaving for semi-final competition last Thursday, that the boys' team will play the Number One team in the State, Pampa, next Thursday night, and he would like to invite the boys' team to a future Council Meeting to receive a proclamation. Mayor Connor also said that he had been contacted by John Kuhn, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Sign Advisory Board. Kuhn said they were unable to draw a quorum at the recent meetings of the Sign Advisory Board, and as yet had not been able to reach a decision to put forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission and on to Council for consideration. The Mayor told Kuhn not to wait for a quorum, but to take a consensus of opinion to the P & Z Commission. Then P & Z could hold hearings and make a recommendation to Council. The Mayor asked if Council had any objections to that procedure. No objections were noted. Mayor Connor also recounted a recent meeting with a GISD Board Member regarding the City's change of polling places for the May General Election. He told Council that he explained to the board member that the City decisions were based on voter accessibility and issues dealing with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and that the U. S. Justice Department has given their approval. McMaster welcomed back Mr. Bonner, and also spoke about the high school basketball honors. Hart asked Chief Anderson to read a press release that will be going to the news media regarding the level of certification of the officers at the Georgetown Police Department. All two dozen patrol and investigative officers have been trained and certified as crime prevention specialists or inspectors. Anderson believes that Georgetown is the first city to offer home security checks on a 24-hour basis, every day of the year. Consideration of and possible action on the following items. 920102 Discussion and approval of a Citizen Opinion Survey/Vic Biggerstaff and Bob Hart Hart introduced Vic Biggerstaff, an intern from Southwestern University, who has been working on compiling the citizen survey to be distributed to 1000 randomly - selected utility customers (inside and outside the City Limits). Motion by Schrawger, second by Shelby to approve the sample survey to be completed sometime in April. Approved 7-0. 920103 Resolution adopting the first group of Council governance policies/Mayor Connor Minutes of City Council Meeting March 10, 1992 Page 5 of 8 Pages Voltz pointed out that an incorrect version of the governance policies had been included in the agenda packet. Council agreed to recess temporarily while the most -recent update was obtained, and take the item up again at the end of the meeting. 8:05 p.m. Recess - 8:19 p.m. Resumed the Meeting 920104 • • staff regardingpreparation ofan ordmiance adoptmigParks Plan Element of the Century Plan/ Bob Hart Hart explained that following the workshop on the Parks Plan, two petitions in opposition were submitted to the City. Tonn expressed that he thought they would have another workshop with the Parks Committee in order to work on the actual wording of the Plan. Mayor Connor asked Council if they had any modifications to the Plan other than to the section pertaining to the river corridor. There were none. It was decided that another workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 1992, at 5:00 p.m. prior to the Council Meeting. Schrawger recognized the Parks Plan Working Group for their extensive time and input in developing the Plan Element, and noted that they would be the first to agree that individual property rights need to be considered. Mayor Connor recognized Mr. 0. V. Chafin of 120 Skyline Drive (outside City limits) who told Council that he and his neighbors had not been informed about the Parks Plan and are against any development that might interfere with the privacy of their properties, and submitted a petition containing the signatures of eight of his neighbors on Skyline Drive. ill 11111 11111 1'! Jill 11111 11 WIT, r WX Morrow gave a history leading up to the re -naming issue. Bonner said he of the doesn't understand why that park was named for the Chautauqua Society because he thought the actual spot where they met was across the river on a hill. Morrow said there was a foot bridge across the river at that time which meant that the Chautauqua Society probably used both sides of the river in their gatherings. Four citizens had requested to address Council on this item. Mr. Ed Steiner of 409 W. 3rd Street, said that he had originated a petition to have the name of the park changed to Edna Powell Park as a representative of the Teens for Tomorrow, a young people's organization which has disbanded. He feels that if the school district can name schools for living people, the park could Minutes of City Council Meeting March 10, 1992 Page 6 of 8 Pages be named for Ms. Powell. He suggested that only a portion of the existing park be changed to Edna Powell Park, with the other portion remaining under the current name of Chautauqua Park. Mr. Bernie Davies of 601 Rucker, who lives very close to the park, said that he was against changing the name of the park for historical reasons. Mr. Ted Dummer of 705 Bridge Street, provided Council with a petition of names of those people who live in the area immediately surrounding Chautauqua Park, asking that the name not be changed. He suggested that the people who actually live closest to the park should have more influence over the name staying as it is. Mr. Ed Sabella, of 305 Harmony Ln., supports the name being changed and wished to clarify the circumstances at the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting when the petition was brought to them to have the name changed. Bonner commented that when Steiner had brought the subject to the Council, he was instructed to take it to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, which Mr. Steiner did. Motion by Bonner to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board and change the name of the park to Edna Powell Park. Motion died for lack of a second. Motion by McMaster that a committee be organized to find proper recognition for Ms. Powell. He feels that the current name should not be changed due to the historical significance. One citizen has suggested setting up a scholarship fund in Ms. Powell's honor. Bonner state that, since there already is a scholarship fund, he is opposed to any alternative means of honoring Ms. Powell. Schrawger noted that "historical significance" brings tourism dollars, and for that reason wished to second the motion to organize a committee to honor Ms. Powell. Approved 5-2. (Bonner and Voltz opposed) 920103 Resolution adopting the first group of Council governance policies/Mayor Connor Mayor Connor asked Council if they were ready to discuss the resolution on the governance policies. It was decided to include this item on the Consent Agenda of the next Council Meeting on March 24, 1992. 1 1 , 11 11 J111 11119 Mayor Connor commended the councilmembers for their productive input, participation and for dealing well with policy decisions. He also welcomed Mr. Bonner back to the Council after his absence due to illness. Minutes of City Council Meeting March 10, 1992 Page 7 of 8 Pages Bonner asked for the status of the Housing Development Grant of $250,000. Public Affairs Officer, Brad Stratton, answered that when the remaining three houses had been inspected, the work would be put out for bids. Hart feels staff is having difficulty spending the time to work on the bid specifications, and that the staff that would handle that have been delayed by the recent rains taking priority. Voltz asked that the Police Department discussion of "ends" would be brought back at another Workshop. McMaster asked for the status of the natural lawn exemption of the weed ordinance. Hart explained that the exemption would come before Council soon, and that the weed ordinance is still in affect and would be handled with an aggressively by Code Enforcement. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. These minutes were compiled by Sandra Lee and reviewed by Elizabeth Gray. Approved: Mike McMaster, Mayor Pro Tem Minutes of City Council Meeting March 10, 1992 Page 8 of 8 Pages Attest: Z le... ElizabethR Gray, ty Secretary