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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-02 - Regular City CouncilMINUTES OF GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING City of Stephenville - City Council TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1997 - 7:00 P.M. The City Council of the City of Stephenville, Texas, convened on December 2, 1997, at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 354 N. Belknap Street, for the purpose of a General Business Meeting, with the meeting being open to the public and notice of said meeting, giving the date, time, place and subject thereof, having been posted as prescribed by Chapter 551, Government Code, Vernon's Texas Codes Annotated, with the following members present, to wit: Mayor John Pollan Councilmembers Jerry B. Madkins Barbara Terrell K. H. Conatser Billy Bob Hodges Bea Marin Bill Corbin Marshall Shelton Joel Hillin Others Attending Don Davis, City Administrator Cindy L . Stafford, City Secretary Randy Thomas, City Attorney I. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Pollan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and declared a quorum present. II. CITIZENS' GENERAL DISCUSSION No one addressed the City Council. III. AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD REPORT --Consider Recommendation for Hiring an Engineering Firm for Design of Airport Improvements Mayor Pollan recognized the members of the Airport Advisory Board, who are: Mike Waters, Chairman; Dr. Jim Terrell, Curry Nelms, Charlie Roe, Larry Mills, Robert McBride, and Dr. Dwayne Snider. Pollan informed the Council and audience that this board has met many times in the last three months with all board members General Business Meeting -- December 2, 1997 present at each meeting. Pollan thanked the members for devoting many hours toward the work in planning for improvements for the municipal airport. Pollan further advised that the Airport Advisory Board is working in conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportation in planning fora $1 million upgrade of Clark Field. On behalf of the Council, Pollan expressed his appreciation to the volunteer members of this board for their hard work and effort. Chairman Mike Waters made his report to the City Council. He reported that this board has met on an ongoing basis for a couple of years, and in the last few months, the board has met more regularly. He stated that the board considered 17 engineering firms who expressed interest in the contract to do the engineering for the airport improvements. After reviewing the written proposals of the 17 firms, four firms were then chosen to be interviewed. They are Hibbs and Todd, Abilene; KSA Engineers, Austin; Smith -Western, Georgetown; and Parkhill, Smith, and Cooper, Lubbock. Personal interviews with representatives of these firms were conducted. KSA Engineers was the firm selected by the board, and the Airport Advisory Board is recommending that the Council employ KSA for professional design services. Councilmember Shelton made a motion to accept the Airport Advisory Board's report and employ KSA Engineers out of Austin to provide professional design services for improvements at Clark Field. Councilmember Corbin seconded the motion which passed by unanimous vote. IV. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REPORT Mayor Pollan opened a public hearing to consider rezoning from B-2 "Secondary and Highway Business District" to B-2/MH "Secondary and Highway Business District/Manufactured Housing District", Pt. N. Lot 1; Block 3; Sims Additions, known as 430 Morgan Mill Road. Speaking in Favor of the Rezoning: No One Speaking in Opposition of the Rezoning: No One Mayor Pollan closed the public hearing. Councilmember Conatser moved to adopt Ordinance No. 1997-21 rezoning from B-2 "Secondary and Highway Business District" to B-2/MH "Secondary and Highway Business District/Manufactured Housing District", Pt. N. Lot 1; Block 3; Sims Additions, known as 430 Morgan Mill Road. Councilmember Marin seconded the motion which passed by unanimous vote. General Business Meeting -- December 2, 1997 OJO 7 3 V. NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT Councilmember Terrell gave this report. She reported that the committee received a good number of applications from citizens for places on boards. Terrell also thanked the staff at the Stephenville Empire -Tribune for running articles about this subject. She pointed out that all the terms are for two years except the Park and Recreation Advisory Board, which is a three-year term. Councilmember Terrell moved to accept the following nominations for positions to the boards and commissions. Councilmember Hillin seconded the motion which passed by unanimous vote. Planning and Zoning Commission Board of Adjustment Place 2 Virginia Dorris Place 2 Malcolm Cross Place 4 Nicki Beth Jones Place 4 Les Gandy Place 6 Rusty Jergins Alternate 1: Ed Schulze Place 8 Helen Martin Alternate 2: Jo Ann Phillips Place 10 Jubel Caldwell Building Board Mechanical Board Place 2 Fred Parker Place 2 Mike Walker Place 4 Eddie Caudle Place 4 RichardAldefer Electrical Board Plumbing Board Place 2 Kenneth Howell Place 2 Brent Bledsoe Place 4 Steve Jenkins Place 4 Clarence Young Place 6 Larry Graham Dangerous Buildings Abatement Board Airport Advisory Board Place 2 Steve Rice Place 2 Michael Waters Place 4 Vance Wade Place 4 Jim Terrell Place 6 Dan Hunter Place 8 Larry Mills Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Caryl Chilton Mark Murphy Councilmember Terrell mentioned that the Nominations Committee had been advised by the Erath County Appraisal District that the Appraisal District Board of Directors would soon be considering nominations for the Appraisal Review Board. Terrell stated that no one on the committee had made any suggestions for this board. General Business Meeting -- December 2, 1997 00073&1 Terrell said that if a councilmember wished to nominate anyone for consideration to the Appraisal Review Board, they should do that by December 31. VI. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT Councilmember Madkins gave this report, stating that the committee is making two recommendations. This first recommendation is that there be no merit pay awards for the current year. The Council had previously approved to award $5,000 ($500 award to ten people). There were no nominees from the city staff. He stated that due to various reasons, there were several problem areas identified, which the staff and employees are working to correct. Councilmember Madkins made a motion that there be no merit pay award for the fiscal year 1997-98, and that merit pay awards be postponed until fiscal year 1998-99 and the budget amount will be for $5,000, and increase the amount from $500 per employee to $1,000. Councilmember Terrell seconded the motion which passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Madkins, Terrell, Hillin, Corbin, Conatser, and Hodges. Noes: Councilmembers Shelton and Marin. Councilmember Madkins then moved to adopt the Suggestion Program for city employees as submitted (copy attached). Councilmember Corbin seconded the motion which passed by unanimous vote. VII. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION FOR PARK MASTER PLAN REFORMATTED PRIORITIES City Administrator Don Davis explained that the City has been notified by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that the City Council needs to officially approve the reformatted priorities for the resubmittal of the park grant application. Davis explained that between the time the first application was filed and present date, the rankings with the TPWD and the procedure by which they score the rankings have changed. Davis stated there has been no change in the priorities themselves, but only reformatted them. Councilmember Corbin made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 1997-9 adopting an amendment to Section Seven Project priorities Table 7.1 and 7.2 of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Councilmember Madkins seconded the motion which passed by unanimous vote. General Business Meeting -- December 2, 1997 00073%. VIK CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A NEW CITY LOGO City Administrator told the Council that a final draft of a new city logo has been presented with the agenda. He explained that the trees on the logo is symbolic of the Cross Timbers area in which Stephenville is situated, and the blue "S" represents the Bosque River. He stated that assets within our geographic area were selected for use in the logo. Mayor Pollan explained that the process in which nominees were selected for the logo has been ongoing for many months. Pollan stated that many different sources were contacted and asked for their ideas. These sources include the Art Department at Tarleton State University, art classes at Stephenville High School, citizens of Stephenville solicited through news articles, as well as friends and relatives of counci mem ers. Councilmember Conatser asked what precipitated the need for a new logo, and asked, "What was wrong with the one we had?". Davis explained that with the change in location (address and telephone), this provided an opportune time at which to change the logo. He added that a new logo, together with the completion of a new City Hall and other new facilities, marks a fresh direction and attitude. Councilmember Shelton said that he liked the old logo better than the proposed logo. Secondly, he said it was time that the City start thinking about ways to save money instead of spending money. For the latter reason, he stated he would be opposed to it. Davis stated that there would be no additional expense with the new logo. The stock of the old logo has been depleted, so there will be no waste there. Signs on the vehicles will be changed as the vehicles are replaced. Councilmember Corbin moved to adopt the logo (attached hereto). Councilmember Hillin seconded the motion which passed as follows: Ayes: Councilmembers Madkins, Terrell, Hillin, Corbin, Hodges, Marin. Noes: Councilmembers Shelton and Conatser. Councilmember Conatser requested that Item D. "Bid Awards --Food Inspection" be removed from the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Madkins moved approval of the remainder of the Consent Agenda (Items A. through Q. Councilmember Marin seconded the motion which passed by unanimous roll call vote. General Business Meeting -- December 2, 1997 li-Q1 .-37 IX. CONSENT AGENDA: A. Approval of Minutes of Regular Business Meeting on November 4, 1997 B. Bid Specifications 1. Vehicles 2. Asphalt and Base Material 3. Street Signs 4. Defibrillator 5. Brush Chipping C. Sale of City Property --Scrap Metal D. Bid Awards-- Food Inspection Councilmember Conatser stated that the position of Code Enforcement Officer had been created several years prior and wondered if the person holding the position of Code Enforcement Officer could, with additional training, also conduct food inspections. David explained that a food service inspector be a registered sanitarian and that there is certain training and education required for that certification. The City's current Code Enforcement Officer does not have that certification. Conatser asked if it would be feasible for our Code Enforcement Officer to obtain this certification. Davis stated that he would get the necessary information and report back to the Council at a future meeting. Councilmember Madkins moved to approve Item D. Bid Awards --Food Inspection. Councilmember Hodges seconded the motion, which passed by unanimous roll call vote. X. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT City Administrator Davis reminded the Council that the City Hall Open House will be held on Thursday, December 11, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and encouraged all councilmembers to attend. Davis also reminded the Council of Christmas on the Square from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on December 11, and Christmas in the Park on that same date from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. General Business Meeting -- December 2, 1997 0 000', 7 3 � Davis said that organizations have made inquiries concerning donating trees for the Downtown Plaza. After consulting with the landscape contractor, it has been determined that for a tree, a donation of $3 00 would cover the cost of the tree and a plaque designating the donor. Davis then introduced the City's new purchasing agent, Diana Wood. XI. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Johnq4.,;O/M Q4n.�/ ollan, Mayor ATTEST: Cindy L . �rd, 9lty SOAary 111 General Business Meeting -- December 2, 1997 7 :