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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-03-27 - Special City CouncilM SPECIAL SESSION - TUESDAY MARCH 27, 1979 - 7:00 P.M. CHAMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY HALL, CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS The City Council of the City of Stephenville, Texas, met in Special Session Tuesday, March 27, 1979 at 7 o'clock p.m. with Mayor Pro Tem W. M. Irwin,presiding. Councilmembers Mike Leese, Calvin A. McGee, Charles Riggins, Raymond Anderson, E. W. Ferguson, Larry Hammett, and Linda Chew were present. Mayor Donald R. Jones was absent: Others attending the meeting were City Administrator Marshall Shelton, Administrative Assistant Kurt Ackermann, Director of Public Works R. Y. Gann, Chief of Police Mike Watkins, Fire Marshall Kenneth Haley, Director of Parks & Recreation Ronnie Isham, Tax Assessor Robert Groves, City Secretary Joyce Pemberton, Mr. Don Coan, Mr. Brad Allen, Mrs. Betty Heath, Mrs. Lavania Lohrmann, Dr. James Finney, Dr. Nathan Cedars, Dr. Lamar Johanson, Mrs. Virginia Dorris, and many others. (List attached). Mayor Pro Tem Irwin called the meeting to order. I: PUBLIC HEARING ON 8E, BLOCK 139 Mayor Pro Tem Irwin explained that this was a public hearing for consideration on the rezoning request submitted by Mr. Brad Allen on Lot 8E, Block 139, City Addition. Mr. Allen is requesting the zoning to be changed from R -1 to R -2 for the purpose of constructing a rehabilitation center for the care of handi- capped persons. Mayor Irwin said the Council would hear the people wishing to speak who are in favor of the rezoning, then they would hear the people wishing to speak against the rezoning. Mr. Brad Allen came forward to make his presentation. Mr. Allen said his proposal, in his opinion, would be equitable for the surrounding property owners in the area as well as for the use of the property which has been vacant for a number of years. Mr. Allen explained that his proposal was for a residential rehabilitation center for the care of handicapped persons. The center will be partially staff- ed with professional persons to help the handicapped persons become more self supporting. Mr. Allen gave a slide presentation during which he explained what he was planning for the center. In closing his presentation, Mr. Allen pointed out that he is proposing a 164 foot buffer zone, that this center is a need of the area, that it would be an asset to the city and, he feels it is a solution to the zoning problem of this area. Mayor Pro Tem Irwin read a letter from Mrs. Helen Martin, a member of the Zoning Board, in which Mrs. Martin stated her reasons for supporting this re- zoning request. Mrs. Virginia Dorris, a member of the Zoning Board, came before the Council to present her reasons for voting to deny Mr. Allen's request. In her presentation, Mrs. Dorris reminded the Council that, at the time the request for the Stephenville West Apartments was granted, the homeowners in the surrounding area did come to the Zoning Board and the City Council request- ing that the property be left R -1: The Zoning Board was unanimous in their de- cision to leave the buffer zone for these people in the area. She feels that she made a commitment at that time to these property owners. Also, the owners of the Stephenville West Apartments came to the Zoning Board requesting a change of zoning to build additional apartments. They were turned down unanimously because the Zoning Board still felt they had a commitment to the residents in this area. In closing her presentation, Mrs. Dorris asked that the Council take into strong consideration that it does not make any difference what type facility is proposed to be constructed, they must look at it as strictly a zoning issue only. Anything that is permitted in an R -2 District can be built on the property. The Council should consider this as a zoning issue on the property itself. Attorney Richard D. Coan came before the Council as a paid representative for Mrs. Moorhead and Mr. Dan Rambo opposing said rezoning. Mr. Coan filed a "FORMAL NOTICE IN OPPOSITION OF REZONING OF LOT 8E, BLOCK 139, CITY ADDITION ", with the City Secretary. (A copy attached to and becoming a part of these minutes). M In his presentation, Mr. Coan explained each of the items listed in the formal notice of opposition. In closing his presentation, Mr. Coan asked that the Council take into consideration the fact that Mr. Allen has not presented a change of circum- stances or a compelling reason for a change of zoning. After much discussion, Councilman McGee made the motion that the City Council deny the request for the rezoning of Lot 8E, Block 139, City Addition, from R -1 to R -2 and made the following statement in conjunction with the motion. The statement being that most of the people present were present at the time the Council was considering the apartments. At that time, there were people on the Council here that were not then. There is nothing binding on them, but, the Council did state at that time, that they were setting up a buffer zone to protect their property. Councilwoman Chew made the second to the motion. Councilman Hammett said he agreed with Councilman McGee in that the Council does have a commitment to the people from prior meetings. For that reason he will vote against this rezoning request, but this facility is something the city needs. Councilman Leese said he was in agreement with Councilmen McGee and Hammett, but he said he would like to commend Mr. Allen for an excellent presentation and he is in no way against the facility, but it is just keeping in mind the previous commitments and that it has to be considered zoning first and not what is to be put there. Mayor pro tem Irwin then called for question on the above motion. The motion carried unanimously., ITEM II: MRS. BETTY HEATH SPEAKS TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE EMT TRAINING AND RELATED DATA.- Mrs. Heath stated that on the evening of March 6th she monitored a council meeting in which the value of the different levels of emergency training was discussed as well as the educational and testing processed through which certifi- cation insuring the ability to perform at these levels was achieved. She said that as she listened to Fire Marshall Haley's data.presentation, she became skeptical of his statistics. That his evaluation of the EMT training was con- tradictory to that usually held by medically trained professional people. Mrs. Heath advised the Council that she had asked Dr. James Finney, Trinity Emergency Medical Services, and Dr. Nathan Cedars, Stephenville Hospital, to address the Council on the value of EMT trained personnel to operate the ambu- lance. Dr. Finney and Dr. Cedars are both present and ready to address the Council. Dr. James Finney addressed the Council relating to the training level of the emergency ambulance personnel or personnel dealing with vehicle and emergency departments. Dr. Finney explained that the Trinity Emergency Medical Services program had started with the communications and the basic training, such as, ECA, EMT, EMT with special skills and paramedics. He outlined that Trinity Emergency Services had paid for the first EMT's to go through Tarleton State University for the City of Stephenville. Also they had installed the radio in the city's emergency vehicle and the base station at the hospital. They have trained numerous persons in emergency work and are now going into Advanced Life Support training. They are now in the process of installing equipment in Erath County to put the emergency vehicles in contact with 2 emergency rooms in hospitals in Fort Worth and now have equipment in Erath county costing approximately $75,000. In closing, Dr. Finney said he would certainly hate to see the City of Stephenville lower their standards and drop back to ECA trained personnel when EMT's with special skills are needed very much. Dr. Nathan Cedars addressed the Council in support of the EMT training for personnel operating an emergency vehicle. Dr. Cedars explained that the hospital and staff were very much in favor of the training program with the goal being to have trained personnel operating the emergency vehicle that can treat patients on the scene before transporting them to a hospital. Dr. Cedars said that he would certainly like for the city to continue to require EMT trained personnel to operate the emergency ambulance. Fire Marshall Kenneth Haley addressed the Council stating that his object is to improve the ambulance service. He said it is his belief that the ambulance service has improved 300% over the past three years. There is no way to keep 17 completely trained persons in the department at all times. He explained that ` there are about 8 or 10 actual life or death situations per month that his de- partment deals with and the rest of'the ambulance runs are transfers. Mr. Haley said he does not believe there is a need in this city for 17 paramedics. That as long as there is one EMT trained person in the back of the ambulance with the patient that is all that is needed. Councilman Hammett said it was his understanding that was what was decided in the March 6th meeting. Councilwoman Chew said that she thought the doctors and most people present would agree that it would be extremely difficult for this city to keep 17 highly trained personnel available at all times for the emergency ambulance service. Fire Marshall Haley said that it was his goal and belief that his de- partment would have an EMT trained person available at all times for emer- gency ambulance runs. That he would do the best he could with what he had. Also, that in all sincertiy, he was never so gald to see anybody get off the Board as when Betty Heath retired. Mayor pro tem Irwin explained that what had caused this discussion was the fact that, in previous meetings, there had been discussion pertaining to an educational incentive plan for city employees. In said discussion, it was discussed as to whether it be a job requirement for a fireman to have EMT or would that training come under the educational incentive pay. Mr. Haley in a previous meeting had stated that there was an 80% failure rate in the re- certification program. Dr. Lamar Johanson, Tarleton State University, said he would like to challenge Mr. Haley's statement. Dr. Johanson quoted that, according to his records, out of 19 persons enrolled in his class, with 18 eligible to take the skills test, 16 persons passed which equals a pass rate of 84.2 %. Mayor pro tem Irwin advised that there was no controversy among the Council on the EMT training. In the last meeting, the Council had made it a fob re- quirement to take the EMT training within 18 months after employment. The - Council does not feel that they have lowered the standards not do they want to lower the standards. In time, they may want to raise the standards. Councilman Hammett stated that it is hard to set and listen to how the standards have been lowered when an EMT trained person will still be in the back of the ambulance just as it has always been. Councilman Hammett also assured Dr. Finney and Dr. Cedars that when it reaches the point of having only ECA trained personnel that the policies will be changed immediately. The city has not lowered the standards. They just went about it in a different way. Mrs. Heath said she did not mean to indicate that the city had lowered its standards. Her point in being at this meeting was to correct the mis- information presented to the Council. Mrs. Heath presented some statistical data, such as, of the 17 persons involved with the ambulance service, 12 are EMT certified, 2 in training, 3 are not certified. Mrs. Heath quoted Mr. Haley from the March 6th meeting stating "Your ECA has 80% failure rate right now at Tarleton State University, thats your percentage of failure ". Dr. Johanson has said they have an 84.2% pass rate of the EMT class that was discussed. Either Mr. Haley or Dr. Johanson is 175.80 degrees wrong. One of them is wrong. The analysis of the pass /fail rate for the last EMT class is: the enrollemtn was 12, 10 success - fully completed the course, 2 retested of which 1 passed and l failed, there- fore, 11 passed and qualified for EMT with a 92% pass rate and 1 failed with an 8% fail rate. Mrs. Heath in her final statement, said she hoped the Council would always make their considered decisions based on well researched information. The city has good standards for the emergency personnel. Nobody here is suggest- ing that the standards have been lowered, but, the standards need to be maintained and to look dor more economical ways to do it. She asked that the Council see that the ambulance personnel are EMT trained and that one EMT trained person go on each call and that this requirement is written policy. ITEM III: COUNCIL AUTHORIZES $15,000 TO SENIOR CITIZENS FOR THE Mrs. Lavania Lohrmann presented estimates totaling $10,964.75 for the renovation of the building adjacent to the present Senior Citizens Center should they receive the grant to purchase said building. This total did not include some plumbing that she had just found out about. After considerable discussion, Councilman Anderson moved, seconded by Councilman Hammett, that the city guarantee $15,000.00 to the Senior Citizens Center for renovation of the building adjacent to said center should the grant be approved for the purchase of said building. Motion carried unanimously. ITEM IV: COUNCIL APPROVES GAS RATE INCREASE Mr. J. W. Beck, local manager of Lone Star Gas Company, explained the revisions in the rate schedule as had been recommended by the committee. Mr. Beck said this was a 7% rate increase as opposed to the 9.21% in j the original request. After considerable discussion, Councilman Riggins moved, seconded by Councilman Leese, to approve the 7$ increase in the rates of Lone Star Gas X 38 Company as recommended by the Committee and to authorize the Mayor to sign the ordinance authorizeing the rate increase. Councilman Hammett said he would like to commend the committee for all the time, effort and work they put in to arrive at these figures. Mayor pro tem Irwin called for question on the above motion. The motion carried unanimously. There being no other business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. ATTEST: ity Secretary 2 Mayor Pro Tem