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CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCILFEBRUARY 1, 2005 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Chris Brown called the regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. The following council members and staff were present: Mayor Chris Brown Mayor Pro Tem Clay Walker Councilman Joe Crouch Councilman Freddie Taylor Councilman Larry Powers Councilwoman Lydia Bryant
Staff: Marc Maxwell, City Manager Gale Roberts, City Secretary Jim McLeroy, City Attorney Peter Karstens, Finance Director Johnny Vance, Dir. Community Development Absent: Councilman Garry Jordan
PLEDGE AND INVOCATION Mayor Brown led in the pledge to the flag and Councilman Joe Crouch led the invocation. MANAGER’S REPORTCAPITAL CONSTRUCTION DIVISION –CRAIG STREET - The Craig Street reconstruction project is nearing completion. Capital Construction crews have replaced 380’ of water main, have constructed 390’ of storm water drains and reconstructed nearly 620’ of Craig Street in reinforced concrete. We should be done soon. IMAGINATION MOUNTAIN RESTROOMS Work is finished on the new restrooms at Imagination Mountain in Coleman Park. The Council set a $35,000 budget for the project. The Kiwanis Club will present a $10,000 to the City tomorrow at 12:30 pm, and we will unveil the new “Kiwanis Falls” sign. The $10,000 donation is included in the $35,000 budget. WOODBRIDGE - Work on the Northwood and Amberwood cul-de-sacs is nearing completion. In fact, Northwood is completed, and we lack 1 or 2 pours on Amberwood. The CIP Program calls for an additional $47,200 in improvements on “various segments” in the Woodbridge addition. We will most likely finish Ramblewood with that money. We will likely need to budget for some additional road work in the Woodbridge Addition next year. ACCIDENTS AND CLAIMS - We had 2 minor liability claims in January. Both were for damages caused when sewer backed up into private residences. No Worker’s Compensation claims were submitted in January. FINANCIAL REPORT - Finance Director, Peter Karstens will give a summary of year to date revenues and expenditures. PITCHED ROOF PROJECT - Construction continues on the roof at City Hall. The Council budgeted $355,742 to construct pitched roofs on City Hall, the Water Treatment Plant and the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Of that budget, $107,501 comes from our property insurer, TML. You may recall that we submitted a claim in the summer of 2003 for hail damage. I am hopeful that this project will conclude before the next City Council meeting. PACIFIC PARK SPRAY GROUND - The Capital Construction Division should begin work on the spray ground this month. CONSENT AGENDA The following items on the Consent Agenda were reviewed: Consider for approval: regular City Council minutes of January 4, 2005; Planning and Zoning Commission minutes of January 17, 2005; Parks and Recreation meeting minutes of January 25, 2005; Economic Development Corporation minutes of December 27, 2004 and January 24, 20050. Councilwoman Lydia Bryant moved to approve the items from the consent agenda as presented. Councilman Taylor seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.DISCUSSION/ACTION ON FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2414, A REZONING OF 1272 TEXAS STREET Ordinance No. 2414 was heard on the first reading, a city initiated rezoning for property located at 1272 Texas Street, being further described as Lot 16-12 of Block 218 from Single Family (SF-6) to Heavy Commercial (HC). Director of Community Development Johnny Vance presented the staff report stating the proposed zoning is consistent with the land use plan. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval. There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve the ordinance on first reading. Councilwoman Bryant seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2415, A REZONING OF 1275 AND 1281 TEXAS STREET Ordinance No. 2415 was heard on the first reading, a city initiated rezoning for property located at 1275 Texas Street, being further described as Lot 2 of Block 218 from Single Family (SF-6) to Heavy Commercial (HC) and property located at 1281 Texas Street, being further described as Lot 20 of Block 218 from Single Family (SF-6) to Heavy Commercial (HC). Director of Community Development Johnny Vance presented the staff report stating the proposed zoning is consistent with the land use plan. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval. There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve the ordinance on first reading. Councilwoman Bryant seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 879 AMENDING THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN The City of Sulphur Springs is requesting to amend the Parks and Recreation and Open Space Master Plan to include a skateboard facility at Old City Park and a splash and spray aquatic activity pad at Pacific Park. Approval of this resolution would identify priorities and allow the city to pursue grant funding possibilities. The City of Sulphur Springs is also in receipt of a letter requesting a skateboard facility and a petition with 305 signatures. Mitchell Cordova, 515 Church Street, spoke in favor of the amendment and particularly the skateboard facility. Mr. Cordova explained that skateboarding is a sport and the skateboarders need a place to utilize, minimizing the calls from property owners to the police to remove the skateboarders from their property. Director of Community Development Johnny Vance presented a staff report and also stated that the splash and spray aquatic activity pad is in the preliminary stages. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve Resolution No. 879 as presented. Councilwoman Bryant seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB The Boys and Girls Club received a grant to operate a satellite program. They would like to operate this program out of the H. W. Gray’s building at Pacific park. Under the terms of the terms of the grant the club would need to operate the program 5 days a week for four hours per day. They propose to operate Monday through Friday from 2PM to 6PM. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommends approval. Ms. Pryor, Program Director for the Boys and Girls Club addressed the City Council and stated that the grant also requires a sign. City Manager Marc Maxwell said the sign could not be placed on the building but could be hung with chain to the other wooden sign at the building. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilwoman Bryant made a motion to approve the interlocal agreement. Councilman Powers seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON DIRECTION TO PROCEED WITH REFUNDING PROCESS OF THREE BOND ISSUES Finance Director Peter Karstens presented the staff report and introduced Mr. Dan Almon with Southwest Securities. Mr. Almon is our financial advisor and he made a presentation explaining the refunding process for the three bonds to the City Council. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilwoman Bryant made a motion to approve proceeding with the refunding process the audit as presented. Councilwoman Bryant seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 883 ABATING SHOW-CAUSE AND ACCEPTING SETTLEMENT WITH TXU ELECTRIC DELIVERY This item was pulled from the agenda and will be on the March 1, 2005 agenda. DISCUSSION/ACTION RESOLUTION NO. 881 SUSPENDING AN INTERIM RATE ADJUSTMENT (GRIP RATE INCREASE) PROPOSED BY ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION City Manager Marc Maxwell presented the staff report stating that Atmos Energy, formerly TXU Gas, made a filing at the City and the Texas Railroad Commission in December 2004, notifying the city of its intent to increase distribution rates to all customers effective February 15, 2005. This resolution will indefinitely suspend the implementation of the proposed GRIP rate increases within the city, appoint the City Manager as the city’s representative on a Cities’ Steering Committee, authorize intervention in any RRC or court proceedings related to the proposed GRIP rate increases, and require Atmos Energy to reimburse the City reasonable costs associated with the City’s review of the GRIP rate increase filings or participation in any subsequent proceedings. There was no one present to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Councilwoman Bryant seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 882 RATIFYING THE CITY’S INTERVENTION BEFORE THE RAILROAD COMMISSION REGARDING THE FILING OF A GAS COST PRUDENCE REVIEW BY ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION City Manager Marc Maxwell presented the staff report stating that in 1997 the Railroad Commission ordered TXU Gas (Atmos) to file a prudence review every three years to demonstrate that its gas costs are reasonable and necessary. Atmos made that filing in September 2004 which is now docketed as GUD No. 9530. This resolution will appoint the City Manager as the city’s representative on a Cities’ Steering Committee, will ratify invention and require Atmos Energy to reimburse the City for reasonable legal and consultant expenses. There was no one present to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Councilman Taylor seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION TO CONSIDER BIDS AND AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR MOTOROLA JPS – RAYTHEON RADIO EQUIPMENT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT Police Chief Bayuk presented the staff report stating the City will be purchasing this radio equipment with a Homeland Security grant that was approved by the City Council August 3, 2004. The City advertised for bids and received one bid from Inter-County Communications Inc. in the amount of $19,970.31. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilwoman Bryant made a motion to award the contract to Inter-County Communications Inc. Councilman Taylor seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON ABATEMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR CONDEMNED STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 215 FULLER STREET Pastor Gatlin made a presentation to the City Council requesting the City of Sulphur Springs to tear down the structure at 215 Fuller Street. Mr. George Preston, an attorney representing the owner Tony Cooper, addressed the council. Mr. Preston requested at least 120 days to abate the structure. Director of Community Development Johnny Vance stated the property should be completely cleared including the concrete to bring the property into compliance. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilwoman Bryant made a motion to declare the property a public nuisance and order abatement by demolition within 120 days. Mayor Brown seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON ABATEMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR CONDEMNED STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 220 MIDDLE STREET There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilwoman Bryant made a motion to declare the property a public nuisance and order abatement by demolition within 30 days. Councilman Crouch seconded and the vote was unanimous with the exception of that Councilman Powers abstained from voting. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON ABATEMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR CONDEMNED STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 117 GAINES STREET Attorney George Preston, representing property owner Tony Cooper, requested 120 days to abate the structure. Councilman Crouch made a motion to declare the property a public nuisance and order abatement by demolition within 120 days. Councilman Taylor seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 878 CALLING FOR ELECTION FOR PLACES 6 AND 7, NAMING THE ELECTION JUDGES AND SETTING DATE FOR EARLY VOTING Councilman Taylor made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Councilwoman Bryant seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 880 APPROVING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REGION IV EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER WHICH SPONSORS THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING NETWORK AND THE CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS The Cooperative Purchasing Network is another cooperative purchasing network like HGAC and Buy Board. Joining with them will give the City another option for purchases goods and services. Councilwoman Bryant made a motion to approve the interlocal agreement as presented. Councilman Taylor seconded and the vote was unanimous. VISITORS/PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Brown suggested a workshop in the near future to discuss the possible rehabilitation of the downtown area. The workshop will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Municipal Building on Tuesday, February 22, 2005. ADJOURN With all business complete the meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 1, 2005 |
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