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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-04 - Regular City CouncilMINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING City of Stephenville - City Council TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1992 - 7:00 P.M. The City Council of the City of on February 4, 1992 at 7:00 p. Belknap, with the meeting being giving the date, time, place prescribed by Article 6252-17, present, to wit: Stephenville, Texas, convened in regular session m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 354 N. open to the public and notice of said meeting, and subject thereof, having been posted as Section 3A, V.T.C.S., with the following members Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem: George Swearingen Alan Nix Donald L. Zelman Scott Evans Ray Reynolds William F. (Bill) Johnson Jim Bostic Lavinia Lohrmann Absent: Sam Taylor II Others Attending: Don Davis City Administrator Joyce Pemberton City Secretary Randy Thomas City Attorney I. Mayor George Swearingen called the meeting to order and declared a quorum present. ,ram II. PRESENTATION OF EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS. F 1 Mayor George Swearingen presented service awards to the following employees: Choyia Holder 5 years Customer Service Department Charles Elliott 10 years Fire Department Donald Hensley 10 years Police Department Wanda Woods 10 years Police Department Ted Helms 15 years Police Department Phil Carr 20 years Police Department III. PERSONAL APPEARANCES BY CITIZENS. A. Single Member Districts - Dr. Dan Collins Dr. Dan Collins, representing the Citizens' Committee for Single -Member Districts, presented the recommendation that the City Council place the issue of single -member districts on the May 2, 1992 ballot for the citizens to decide and, simultaneously, commission a committee of the Council's choosing, and they offer their services from this citizens' group, in addition to any council people or others that the Council would employ, to hold very thorough public forums and education pro- cesses and news releases to let both sides of this issue be heard, aired, argued and debated in every way possible. It will not cost the citi- zens, through the city government at any rate, one cent to put this initiative out for the voters. He asked that such a motion be placed before the Council and let the citizens choose. Dr. Collins also presented the following names, as the Citizens' Committee for Single -Member Districts: Dr. Joe Autry, Mr. Bee Bentley, Mr. Don Coan, Mr. Larry Collins, Dr. Malcolm Cross, Dr. Jeremy Curtoys (ex-officio), Mr. Frank Garcia, Dr. 0. A. Grant, Dr. Chris Guthrie, Mr. Tim Lohrmann, Mr. Brig Lopez, Dr. Keith Madison, Dr. Jerry Madkins, Ms. Delma Martin, Ms. Louise Pless, Ms. Jean Riggs, Ms. Barbara Schmidt, Ms. Mary Waldie, Mr. Gary Ward, and Mr. Joe Welch. - 152 - Councilmember Alan Nix commented that, as this is such an important issue and one that will affect the City for many years to come, he would hate to see the Council act without a better knowledge than he had on the subject. He recommended delaying any action until the Council can have a work session to get more information on this issue, so the Council can be more informed and know more about the options and what will be required from the City and the voters as well. Councilmember Lavinia Lohrmann suggested having the work session as soon as possible because there will soon be a time problem and it is very important to get it on the May ballot so we will not be paying for another election. !� Councilmember Ray Reynolds commented that these are some of the things that could be worked out, if the Council goes ahead with a work session as soon as possible. He said he certainly would like more information. Mayor George Swearingen asked Dr. Collins if his "working partners" would object if the Councilmembers wanted to put additional people on this Committee before approving the Committee. Dr. Collins answered that their goal was as they stated it. They are not exclusive and, as long as it can be moved along in a timely manner, they would be happy to have all input they can. Councilmember Scott Evans commented that he felt the Council has plenty to do and we have an opportunity to let someone else do some work for us. He said he felt comfortable the list of names submitted and he was one that was real concerned that this committee not be stacked. Also, he does not have a problem with them going ahead with what they have planned to do. He said this was an opportunity to let the citizens, this group, become more involved in what is going on at City Hall. Councilmember Alan Nix commented that the problem he had with letting this Committee go ahead, and putting it on the May ballot, is you are asking the people to vote on an issue. After more discussion, Councilmember Scott Evans made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Lavinia Lohrmann, to empower the Citizens' Committee for Single -Member Districts (as listed above) to pursue the possibility of single -member districts. The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY. IV. MATTERS BY COUNCILMEMBERS. A. Call the City General Election. Councilman Alan Nix made the motion, seconded by Councilman Bill Johnson, to call the City General Election for May 2, 1992, for the purpose of electing a mayor and councilmembers for Places 2, 4, 6, and 8. The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY. B. Councilman Scott Evans made the motion, seconded by Councilman Don Zelman, to appoint Louise Skipper as Election Judge and Gloria Taylor as alternate Election Judge. The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY. C. Consider Policy On Change Orders To Contracts. Don Davis, City Administrator, presented a recommendation that any change order involving an increase of more than $5,000 be presented to the Council for approval prior to issuing a change order; change orders of less than $5,000 would be presented to the Council for information and approval after the fact. The reason for $5,000 is that the Charter provides that purchases exceeding $5,000 must be brought to l ` the Council for formal approval, as well as the Purchasing Manual. Councilman Ray Reynolds made the motion, seconded by Councilman Scott Evans, to approve and accept the recommendation that any change order involving an increase of more than $5,000 be presented to the Council for approval prior to issuing a change order; change orders of less than $5,000 be presented to the Council for information and approval after the fact. The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY. D. Committee Assignments. - 153 - S Mayor Swearingen recommended that Councilman Don Zelman be appointed to the Landfill, Nominations, and Public Health & Safety Committees. Councilmember Lavinia Lohrmann made the motion, seconded by Councilman Bill Johnson, that Councilman Don Zelman serve on the Landfill, Nominations, and Landfill Committees, The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY. E. Status Report on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expanison. Ray Longoria, representing Freese & Nichols, Inc., and Dino Ferralli, representing Schrickel & Rollins, presented a status report on the wastewater treatment plant expansion. They indicated they would take bids in April 1992 - begin construction in July - finish by winter of 1993. No action taken. V. COMMITTEE REPORTS. A. Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee submitted the following appointments for Council approval: PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION: PLACE 2-Virginia Dorris 4-Nicki Beth Jones 6-Jerry Madkins 8-Lyle Lacy 10-Billy Hassler BUILDING BOARD: PLACE 2-Fred Parker 4-Eddie Caudle PLUMBING BOARD: PLACE 2-Don Huffman 4-Clarence Young 6-John Weber BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: Robert Fain Les Gandy Malcolm Cross Vernon Sweeney Mark Kaiser Terry Shell, Alternate Helen Martin, Alternate ELECTRICAL BOARD: PLACE 2-Cary Eaves 4-Steve Jenkins MECHANICAL BOARD: PLACE 2-Curtis Starnes 4-Bobby Mangrum Councilmember Lavinia Lohrmann made the motion, seconded by Council - member Alan Nix, to approve the recommendations as submitted by the Nominations Committee. The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY. Mayor Swearingen, with the consent of the Council, asked the Nominations Committee to study the length of terms, the maximum number of years a person may serve on the various boards and commissions and make a recommendation to the Council. B. Damage Claims Committee. 1. The Committee recommended denying the following claims: Wilma M. Ash - Claim in the amount of $181.00 - reimbursement for glasses broken in a fall on a city sidewalk. Henry Lee Baker II - Claim in the amount of $264.37 for damages to his vehicle received when he ran over an open manhole. Councilman Alan Nix made the motion, seconded by Councilman Don Zelman, to deny the two claims listed above, as recommended by the Damage Claims Committee. The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY. VI. CONSENT AGENDA: A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 7, 1992 and January 22, 1992 - Joyce Pemberton, City Secretary, made a correction of the minutes of January - 154 - 22, 1992, Item VII, second paragraph, $2,000 was paid to Huckabee & Donham Architects for site development plans on the Berry Property instead of $3,600. Councilman Ray Reynolds made the motion, seconded by Councilman Alan Nix, to approve the minutes of January 7th and January 22nd, 1992, with above correction. The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY. VII. BID CONSIDERATIONS: A. Consider Bids For Renovation of Police Station. After some discussion, Councilman Jim Bostic made the motion, seconded by Scott Evans, to award the contract for renovation of the police sta- tion to Bob Kimball in the amount of $11,524.00. The motion carried UNANIMOUSLY. VIII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. Don Davis, City Administrator, reminded the Council of Ronnie Isham's memo in their agenda packets regarding street damage from the rain and advised that Mr. Isham will have a damage assessment in March. IX. CITY COUNCIL/CITIZEN GENERAL DISCUSSION. Larry Mayfield, representing Rob Parnell, addressed the Council regarding the overflowing sewer manholes on Graham Street. He said their parking lots were deteriorating and he believed it was the City's responsibility for clean-up and expense for repair of the parking lots. Mayor George Swearingen advised Mr. Mayfield that the Council could not take any action as this was not an agenda item. There being no other business to come before the Council, Mayor Swearingen adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. 7AT T: e emberton, City Secretary eor wearingen, Mayor - 155 -