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Home My WebLink About1977-05-17 - Special City CouncilSPECIAL SESSION - TUESDAY MAY 17, 1977 - 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 Tuesdaym May 17. 1977, at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Donald R. Jones present and pre- siding. Councilmembers Jim Chambers, Calvin McGee, Charles Riggins, Raymond Anderson, Ermer Ferguson, Larry Hammett` -and Betty Heath were present. Council- man W. M. Irwin was absent. Others attending the meeting were City Administrator Marshall Shelton, Dir. of Public Works R. Y. Gann, Assistant City Attorney Randolph Chandler, Admin- istrative Assistant Kurt Ackermann, City Secretary Joyce Pemberton, Mr. Jerry Singleton, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Walker. Mayor Jones called the meeting to order and expalined that the primary purpose of this meeting was to have a Public Hearing to consider the request from Texas Power & Light Co. for a rate increase. Mayor Jones advised the Council that, due to the ruling of the Public Utility Commission, this rate request is a decrease of approximately 20% from the rates filed in January, 1977. Mr. Jerry Singleton, local manager of Texas Power & Light Co., came before the Council to explain how and why the rate increase has been reduced. Mayor Jones opened the floor to the public for discussion. As there was no one wishing to speak, Mayor Jones closed the Public Hearing. After a lengthy discussion, Mayor Jones read the ordinance approving the rate schedules for Texas Power & Light Co. and Councilwoman Heath made the motion that the ordinance approving a rate increase for Texas Power & Light Co. be adopted. Councilman Riggins made the second. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Chambers pointed out that he didn't feel that the Council was adopting this increase on the merits of tonight's presentation, but in view of the fact that the Public Utilities Commission had granted said increase, which is a reduction of the rates requested, for the rural area and that, generally, what is granted for the rural areas is what is granted for the cities. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING RATE SCHEDULES TO BE CHARGED BY TEXAS POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY IN THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS, APPROVING SERVICE REGULATIONS FILED BY TEXAS PWOER & LIGHT COMPANY, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR SUCH RATE SCHEDULES, AND PROVIDING CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SUCH RATE SCHEDULES MAY BE CHANGED, MODIFIED, AMENDED OR WITHDRAWN. The bids on the police cars were tabled as the Chief of Police was unable to attend this meeting. Mayor Jones read a letter from the Stephenville Historical Society re- questing authority to construct two additional buildings, (1) a dogtrot cabin and, (2) a storage shed, in the museum compound. Dr. Robert Walker, vice president of the historical society, was present and gave each member of the coundil a map showing the present buildings and the proposed buildings. After some discussion, Councilman Anderson made the motion that the City Council grant the Stephenville Historical Society the authority to construct the proposed buildings as requested at no cost to the city. Councilman McGee made the second. Motion carried unanimously. City Administrator Shelton explained that the Humane Society had requested that the city furnish the funds for a 12' X 14' slab for the foundation of another pen for sick animals at the city dog pound. Mr. Shelton said Mr. Gann had est- imated the cost at $80.00. After some discussion, Councilwoman Heath made the motion that the city agree to pay the cost of the foundation for an additional pen for sick .animals at the city dog pound. Councilman Hammett made the second. Motion carried unanimously. Councilwoman Heath reported that her committee, appointed to study the county's request for the city to pay the salry of one jailer, had met and, as a result of that meeting, she has written County Judge Martin a'letter stating the position the city will take on said request. Mrs. Heath also stated that the city is in the process of compiling a proposal of the cost - shared services of the city and county to be enclosed with the letter. After Counciwoman Heath read above mentioned letter, Mayor Jones asked that the committee remain active. Once the letter and proposal have been submitted to the county, if there is no objection from the Council on the submission of this letter and proposal, to notify the County Commissioners that this committee MUM M will meet with them to discuss this proposal and when this has been done and an evaluation has been made, make whatever specific recommendations there might be back to the Council. Mr. David Montgomery came before the Council to present the second prelim- inary plat of the North Hillcrest Subdivision. Mr. Montgomery explained to the Council that, due to discussion with Mr. Shelton and Mr. Gann earlier in the day, he was presenting a second preliminary plat that Mr. Gann and Mr. Shelton had not seen. Mr. Montgomery explained that this new plat provides for the paving of that part of Bluebonnett Street adjacent to the property owned by himself and Toby Stone, based on the understanding he has with Mr. Stone. Also provides for Rosebud Drive to run perpendicular into Bluebonnett as was requested. Also pro- vides for the exclusion of the remaining lots to the west of the Stone property and west of the area where Rosebud Dr. comes into Bluebonnett as the city does not have any feasible means of raising the funds to finish the paving of Blue- bonnett Street. Mr. Montgomery then requested the Council to approve this preliminary plat. Mayor Jones pointed out that if the Council were to approve this plat as presented it would leave a portion of Bluebonnett unpaved. Mr. Montgomery stated that Stephenville Land, Inc. realized that Bluebonnett would have to be paved before any building permits would be issued in their sub- division. Mayor Jones asked if Stephenville Land, Inc. would give a letter of commit- ment to the City Council stating that upon development of the subdivision west of the proposed North Hillcrest Subdivision that the entire unpaved portion of Bluebonnett Street would be paved. Mr. Montgomery said he thought they would give such a letter. Also that Stephenville Land, Inc. had no idea that they would be able to get building permits to proceed with their subdivision without bringing the utilities up to the subdivision and that would mean completion of the Bluebonnett Street. So whatever the Council wishes or requires is what he will do to formalize this plat. Mayor Jones said his main concern in this is the paving of Bluebonnett St. from Toby Stone's property through the Stephenville Land, Inc. property as he could not see that Stephenville Land, Inc. would have any particular interest in that strip of Bluebonnett as it is not part of their subdivision. Mr. Montgomery said that Stephenville Land, Inc. would most certainly be interested in the paving of Bluebonnett because the city will not issue building permits or allow them to proceed with their subdivision if Bluebonnett is not paved. Mr. Montgomery also stated that the City Council had the power to re- quire whatever they want to as far as the development of a subdivision. Mayor Jones agreed and said he just wanted to make sure there would not be a mijsunderstanding later when Stephenville Land, Inc. started their subdivision and wanted building permits before Bluebonnett Street was paved. Mayor Jones said, in his opinion, this plat should go back to the Planning Commission for their approval. i Councilman Chambers said he felt the City Council should use the Planning Commission as is prescribed in the Subdivision Ordinance and that we should follow the procedures as outlined in the Subdivision Ordinance or either amend or rescind the Subdivision Ordinance. Councilwoman Heath made the motion that the preliminary plat of the North Hillcrest Subdivision be approved by the City Council, contingent upon approval as drawn, of the Planning Commission and this will be in conjunction with the drawing of the Stephenville Land, Inc. Councilman McGee made the second. Mayor Jones said that if the Planning Commission sees any problem that the Council be notified and he will call a meeting to try to work something out. Mayor Jones then called for question on the above motion. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Jones said that, assuming that the Planning Commission,approves the plat, we need to get the five (5) copies of the plat and the filing fee. There being no other business, Councilman McGee moved that the meeting ad- journ. Councilman Riggins made the second. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. T: ecretary