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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987/09/29-Minutes-City CouncilCOUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 29, 1987 COUNCIL CHAMBER ABSENT: Councilmen Gilley and Lancaster I. ITEMS TO BE CONTINUED/WITHDRAWN M&C G-7206 -Ordinance Amendments to Chapter 25 -Application Fees (held over from a previous week) -continued one week for Councilman Gilley. M&C G-7255 -Ordinance Amendments to Chapter 25 -Application Fees (held over from a previous week) -continued one week for Councilman Gilley. M&C P-2179 -Purchase Supportive Service by Employment and Training Programs - continued for sixty days by Councilwoman Webber. II. ITEMS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA M&C P-2179 -Purchase Supportive Service by Employment and Training Programs - withdrawn by Councilwoman Webber. III. BOARD/COMMITTEE CHANGES Councilman Zapata appointed Mr. Rudolph Archenhold to Place 4 on the Charitable Solicitations Review Board. IV. COMMENTS AND REQUEST A. Regarding payment of a settlement in a lawsuit against the city, Councilman Williams asked City Attorney Wade Adkins if the city is liable for an accident resulting from a downed sign if the city does not know the sign is down. Mr. Adkins referred the question to Risk Manager Bill Herrington who stated that in this particular case (M&C G-7269), there is evidence that the city knew of the downed sign in time to repair it, and that it is in the best interest of the city to pay the settlement. By paying the settlement, however, the city does not admit liability. B. Regarding the purchase of supportive service (day care) by Employment and Training Programs (M&C P-2179), Councilwoman Webber asked if the city can delay action pending public hearings and continue under the existing agreement. Richard Sapp, Employment and Traning Director, responded that continuing under the current would require Council authorization. Council voted to extend the current agreement for sixty days. V. CITIZEN PRESENTATIONS A. Improvement District Benefit Hearing 1. James Mabe, George Sawyer, Larry Taylor, and Helen Wallace appeared before Council to ask that their assessments be lowered because they are on the perimeter of the improvement district. They claim that they have not benefited from the improvements by Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. as much as they initially had hoped. Real Property Director Mike Pyles conceded that it may be one more year before all the benefits are realized by the perimeter property owners. Mr. Ken Devero, Executive Director, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., explained the many improvements which have been made in the district. Councilman Vance stated that he was not comfortable with selective decreases of assessments in the fringe areas of the improvement district. He stated his belief that decreases should be consistent. Councilman Garrison stated that in a democracy not everyone benefits equally from all of the laws. B. Sign Ordinance 1. Mr. Larry Land appeared before Counc il to express his belief that the city's sign ordinance is too restrictive and that it is putting sign painters out of business. Development Director Joe Bilardi indicated that all signs on the outside of buildings fall under the ordinance and that part of the reason for the ordinance is aesthetics. Councilman Zapata asked that the ordinance be reviewed so that the art of sign painting does not die in Fort Worth. C. Gift Policy and Board and Commission Appointments 1. Ben Ann Tamayko appeared before Council to read a letter from the Fort Worth League of Neighborhood Associations requesting the development of a gift policy and training and orientation for new appointees to city boards and commissions. City Manager Douglas Harman stated that the city is already developing a gift policy which will be completed soon. Councilman Garrison asked Mrs. Tamayko if she wanted new appointees to have some sort of orientation prior to appointment. Mrs. Tamayko responded that some people are not fully aware of their responsibilities upon accepting an appointment and that an orientation might help people in deciding whether to accept.