HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-20 - Regular City Council
MINUTES OF REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING
City of Stephenville - City Council
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2002– 5:30 P.M.
The City Council of the City of Stephenville, Texas, convened on May 21, 2002, at 5:30 p.m.,
in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 298 West Washington Street, for the purpose of a Regular
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 Moser
Council members : Ed Horton
Joe E. Cude
Bill Corbin
Perry Elliott
Bea Marin
Absent : Rusty Jergins
Malcolm Cross
Richard Petronis
Others Attending : Mike Castro, City Administrator
Randy Thomas, City Attorney
Cindy L. Stafford, City Secretary
I.CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the Stephenville City Council was called to order at 5:32 p.m. on
Tuesday, May 21, 2002 by Mayor John Moser. Mayor Moser declared a quorum
present.
II.CITIZENS’ GENERAL DISCUSSION
No one wished to address the council.
II.PRESENTATION OF PROBLEM ORIENTED POLICING—Chief Roy Halsell
Police Chief Roy Halsell made this presentation. Problem Oriented Policing revolves
around public relations and problem-solving methodologies. This has become the
primary strategy for many police departments. It was implemented in the Police
Department in November.
Regular Council Meeting –May 21, 2002
Stephenville City Council
Benefits of Problem Oriented Policing include:
Employees are trusted to use discretion, authority, and innovation;
Problem solving support/participation required at every level of organization, and
it shows when it isn’t present;
Frustration related to dealing with chronic problems is reduced;
Communication improves among co-workers, units, and community members
with everyone uses a common language or approach for solving problems;
There is more time to spend on projects of interest, rather than on nagging,
persistent problems;
Repeat calls at specific locations will be reduced;
Community satisfaction with police services will increase.
Halsell stated that the reality of policing is that 20% of time is spent in actual law
enforcement. The other 80% of the time is spent maintaining order, resolving
disputes, and dealing with traffic issues. Crime is concentrated—10% of the offenders
account for 55% of crimes. Ten percent of the victims account for 42% of
victimization; and 10% of locations account for 60% of the police calls for service.
There are four main points to problem solving:
1.Everyone in a police agency needs to focus on public safety outcomes.
2.Focus on effectiveness (did it work?) not on efficiency (how many).
3.Things are connected—repeat calls indicate a problem not just an isolated
incident.
4.There are people other than the police and CJS who can significantly impact
crime in our communities.
Problem solving involves identifying the problem, understanding the conditions that
give rise to the problems, developing and implementing long-term solutions tailored to
relieve the problem, and determining the impact (effectiveness) of the solutions to the
problem.
III.FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT—City Park Master Plan—Aquatic
Complex Financing
Drew Wells provided a presentation outlining the scope of the project. The proposed
Aquatic Complex will include a new activity pool with various water features, a
bathhouse/concession building, a new mechanical/filtration system, and rehabilitation
of existing pool. The probable cost for the project if $1,822,997. This project would
be funded partially through a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant in the
amount of $500,000, and the city would be obligated to fund the remaining balance of
Regular Council Meeting –May 21, 2002
Stephenville City Council
$1,322,997.
City Administrator Castro made a presentation on the financing of this project:
$500,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant
$500,000 Funds in reserves
$822,997 Funded through certificates of obligation
Anticipated funding through a ten-year note at approximately 4.25% interest. This
would involve an increase in the tax rate of 1.62 cents per $100 valuation. The
average household would see an increase in their tax bill of $8.80 per year.
In response to questions concerning the city’s financial position regarding the
uncertainty with which we face several large capital projects, he explained as follows:
TMDL Improvements: Original estimate $1.08 million; funding requirement
occurring FY06; funded through sewer rate increase.
Water Well Improvements: We are in the final stages of completing three new ground
water wells. We are looking at additional well fields, which includes site acquisition.
The HDR Engineering study completed in 1999 stated that in order to implement a
ground water strategy, it would require an increase in water rates by 112% over the
time period allowed for these improvements.
Belt Filter Press: Cost is $1.3 million, and the debt has already been incorporated in
the sewer rate.
Stormwater Drainage: Anticipated cost, $18.5 million. Monthly fees ($2 to $5) to be
implemented for each water customer on the water bill.
Transfer Station: Cost, $1.6 million, recovered through tipping fees charged to waste
contractors.
Wetlands Project: Assessments are underway by Corps of Engineers, which will bear
most of the cost.
Bosque River Trail: Cost, $1.85 million. Texas Department of Transportation will
pay 80% of the cost and the city will pay 20% ($400,000). These monies have already
been set aside.
Airport Improvements: Cost, $855,000 for Phase I. Revenues from the additional
hangars will finance the city’s debt.
Jeff Sandford, representing the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce,
Regular Council Meeting –May 21, 2002
Stephenville City Council
reminded the council that part of the chamber’s mission is to improve the quality of
life through community development, economic development and tourism
development. He said that the board feels that the proposed aquatics center is a
program they support and a program which is directly related to all three areas of
development. He said he would like the council to take a step forward and approve
this project.
Eloise Horak said that she is worried about the increase in taxes. She said she is very
much opposed to this project and that the money should be spent much more wisely.
Elizabeth Zickefoose said that there are many people in the community who cannot
afford an increase in taxes.
Mike Scott, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, said that he feels
very strongly that the work that has been done on the Park Master Plan to upgrade
our facilities and creating a recreational environment for our citizens is conducive to a
great way of life and can’t be thrown aside at this time. “If we don’t continue to move
forward, then we will eventually die. The way of life that we have in Stephenville, the
things that we do for our children, the great place that it is for kids to grow up, is the
way I describe it to everybody that I talk to about Stephenville. They’re growing up
going swimming in a swimming pool that’s 55-60 years old. We owe it to our children
and the youth of Stephenville of today and tomorrow to continue to move forward,
and I think it would be a travesty if we did not continue to do that at this time.”
MOTION was made by Bea Marin to approve the proposed financing request for the
aquatics center. MOTION FAILED for lack of a second.
Mayor Moser then moved to the next agenda item.
IV.PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
A.Traffic Study for Closure of Streets in the Area of Tarleton State
University
Ed Horton reported that this committee met with Tarleton State University officials,
the superintendent of the Stephenville Independent School District, and Alan Nix.
They discussed temporary closure of the streets and also the possibility of another
traffic study to determine the effects of the temporary closure.
Alan Nix addressed this issue. He said that this was not a good economic decision. He
said that the city is looking at selling valuable property for a lot less than the
property’s worth, then take the proceeds from that sale and spend, probably all of it,
to try to take care of the effects of closing the streets.
Regular Council Meeting –May 21, 2002
Stephenville City Council
Frances Nix said that the streets belong to all of the citizens of Stephenville and “are
not yours [council’s]”. She said, “You cannot give away something that does not
belong to you, and ‘giving’ is the correct word here.”
Betty Heath said that the problem is that the students meander across the street with
no organization whatsoever.
George Black said that Stephenville has a shortage of through streets and that we
should not close one of them down.
Johnny Huffmann said that he agreed with comments made by the previous citizens.
MOTION by Perry Elliott, second by Bill Corbin, to continue to work with Tarleton
to enhance traffic flow and student safety and authorize staff to work with Tarleton to
develop joint measures to enhance traffic flow and student safety. MOTION
CARRIED by the following vote:
Ayes: Council members Horton, Corbin, Marin, and Elliott.
Noes: None
Abstentions: Council member Cude (conflict of interest)
B.Discussion of Timetable for Stormwater Utility District
Horton reported significant action items as follows:
Meetings with the top 25 businesses to review the master plan and changes.
A public hearing to be conducted on June 18.
Adoption of the ordinance creating the stormwater utility district.
Establishing fees on August 4.
Billing to begin on October 1, 2002.
V.WATER PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT—Update on Water
Improvements
Danny Johnson, Director of Utilities, reported as follows:
Lilljedahl Well: Test pump has been set and will be testing next week.
Pack II Well: Ready for operation.
Farrar Well: Ready for operation.
Pump station is on schedule. Completion will be the latter part of July.
Projected date for getting water from the wells is August 1.
VI.CONSENT AGENDA
Regular Council Meeting –May 21, 2002
Stephenville City Council
Councilmember Cude asked that Item A. be removed from the Consent Agenda and
acted on separately. MOTION by Joe Cude, second by Bill Corbin, to approve Item
B. as set out below. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous roll call vote.
MOTION by Joe Cude, second by Bea Marin, to approve the minutes of the Regular
Business Meeting as corrected. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous roll call vote.
A.Approve Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of May 7, 2002
B.Bid Award on Demolition of Substandard Structures
VII.CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
City Administrator reported that the Summer Series of the Concert in the Park
would begin on Thursday, May 23, at 8pm featuring Davin James.
Castro reported that the city auction netted $10,628.00.
VIII.COUNCIL MEMBER’S DISCUSSION OF OTHER MATTERS
Mayor Moser gave a report on a meeting which was held on May 20, 2002 of mayors
of cities on the Bosque River along with the TNRCC concerning the establishment of
total maximum daily load (pollution control plan) as it applies to the wastewater
treatment plants of communities on the Bosque River.
IX.ADJOURN
MOTION by Joe Cude, second by Bill Corbin, to adjourn the meeting. MOTION
CARRIED by unanimous vote at 7:30 p.m..
____________________________________
John Moser, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Cindy L. Stafford, City Secretary
Regular Council Meeting –May 21, 2002
Stephenville City Council