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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993/05/04-Agenda-City Council-Worksession CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION TUESDAY, MAY 411993 3:00 P.M. PRE-COUNCIL CHAMBER 1) Responses to M&C's Continued from a Previous Week a) M&C BH-0117 - Benefit Hearing for the Assessment Paving of Mississippi Avenue from East Berry Street to Glen Garden Drive (Continued 4/06/93 by CM) (Groomer responding) b) Questions Concerning Current Agenda Items - Bob Terrell, City Manager 2) IMR Analysis of the Water Department - Mike Groomer, Assistant City Manager 3) The Working Connection Defense Conversion Adjustment (DCA) Project -- Carswell Air Force Base - (I.R. 7715) - Libby Watson, Assistant City Manager 4) Park and Recreation Department Reservations, Special Events and Festival Equipment Policy and Fee Proposal - (I.R. 7716) - Libby Watson, Assistant City Manager 5) Restoration of Swimming Pools at Hillside and Lake Como Parks - (M&C G-10148) - Libby Watson, Assistant City Manager 6) Award of Contract for Financial Auditing Services for the City of Fort Worth to KPMG Peat Marwick, Certified Public Accounting Firm - (M&C C-13819) Charles Boswell, Assistant City Manager 7) Legislative Update, Charles Boswell, Assistant City Manager 8) City Council Requests for Future Agenda Items 'This facility is wheelchair accessible. For accommodations or sign interpretive services,please tall the City Manager's Once at 871-6140,48 hours in advance' OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TJX. IX NOTES FROM MAY 4, 1993 PRE-COUNCIL AND COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR MAY 4, 1993 CITY MANAGER' S STAFF MEETING PRE-COUNCIL MEETING 1 . ) Responses to M&C's Continued from a Previous Week a. ) M&C BH-0017 - Benefit Hearing for the assessment paving of Mississippi Avenue from East Berry Street to Glen Garden Drive . Mr . Groomer explained that paving assessment issues had been previously discussed in April , and that the consensus of the Council had been that a benefit hearing should be held. Church property should be assessed along with everyone else at the residential rate. Mr . Adkins explained the difference between ad valorem taxes and special assessments and stated that there was no constitutional reason church property should be exempt from special assessments . b. ) Questions concerning current agenda items - 2 . ) IMR Analysis of the Water Department Mr . Groomer explained the impact of proposed EPA mandates and their effect on water and wastewater rates . Mr . Chappell recommended consideration be given to the possibility of selling the water utility. Mr . Groomer introduced a representative of IMR who made a formal report: The IMR representative explained that while the Water Department operated well in particular areas , numerous opportunities existed to improve the department operation. IMR conducted a series of "brown paper" analyses , conducted supervisory interviews, and reviewed historical data and noted specific areas where improvements were recommended. The areas included Field Operations, Water Pollution Control , and Customer Services . IMR explained that in these divisions , the Water Department suffers from inadequate estimation of times related to work accomplishment , little overtime control , lack of effective supervision, inaccurate reporting, high lost time, and few provisions for handling work backlogs . In the area of water production, IMR stated that few opportunities for improvement existed. IMR explained 2 . 3 million dollars in savings could be realized by the Water Department if IMR was permitted to implement its recommendations (for a fee of $912 ,000) . Mr . Terrell explained that the expected total cost to bring the Water Department into compliance with all expected EPA requirements , and make the needed improvements to the current system was $100 million. Mr. Sawey explained that $47 million would be needed to repair or replace the page 2 wastewater collection system, and $53 million would be needed for maintenance improvements . The Water Department maintains over 2 , 100 miles of distribution lines . Therefore, a large maintenance staff is needed to deal with the frequent main breaks that occur. The improvements needed are capital -intensive, and once made would reduce the size of the staff needed for maintenance. IMR summarized by stating that currently the Water Department is struggling to maintain the system as it is . IMR proposes to develop and implement cost savings methodologies which will save the department $2 . 3-2 . 6 millions . The project is expected to last six months at at cost of $912 ,000 . The goal is to free up additional resources necessary to meet federal mandates, and local objectives . IMR recommended a single phase approach emphasizing cost avoidance techniques . Mr . McCray expressed concern about the cost of maintenance, and stated that he did not favor a rate increase just to keep maintenance personnel on board. Mr . Groomer explained that rates are based on costs of providing the service. Mr. Terrell stated that the purpose of the study was not to protect positions . Terrell recommended proceeding with the entire IMR study. Mr. Chappell asked how the study was to be paid for . Terrell explained that Mr. Groomer and Mr . Sawey were working on a methodology for payment which would be presented at a future meeting. 3 . ) Working Connection Defense Conversion Adjustment (DCA) Project -- Carswell Air Force Base ( I .R. 7715) Ms . Watson explained that the funds provided for assistance to citizens of Fort Worth affected by the Carswell closure appeared to exceed the need. Since fewer citizens will be adversely impacted, approximately $900,00 was being returned to the State for use elsewhere. Ms . Watson emphasized that this was in fact a positive, because the overall negative impact of the Carswell closure is actually less than originally anticipated. 4 . ) Park and Recreation Department Reservations, Special Events, and Festival Equipment Policy and Fee Proposal ( I .R. 7716) Mr. Zavala explained that current Park and Recreation Department fees are complex, and in some instances have a tendency to discourage the use of facilities due to excessive time required to obtain the necessary review and approvals . Mr . Zavala proposed a more streamlined "administrative review" and a simpler fee structure designed to enhance revenues and encourage more use of Park facilities . In some cases fees may be reduced or waived if page 3 the user will include the City of Fort Worth Park & Recreation Department as a "co-sponsor" of the event . The council had reservations about co-sponsorship which included giving up additional revenues . Mr . McCray expressed concern about the City's liability at events in which the City was a co-sponsor. Attorney David Yett explained that co-sponsorship would not in an of itself increase the City' s liability at an event held at Park & Recreation facilities unless it could be proven that an injury was the result of some neglect on the part of the City. Mr. Puente expressed concern about the revenue lost from co-sponsorship, and the lost control . Co-sponsorship implies an endorsement of the event . Does the City necessarily want to be associated with all events held on City facilities? Ms . Woods objected to any co-sponsorships which would cause a loss in revenue. Ms . Woods expressed a preference for a set fee structure instead of a percentage of concessions or revenues . The current ordinance requires all events to be approved by Council . Mr . Zavala recommended a more streamlined administrative process to expedite processing. Mr . McCray asked about long-term agreements . Mr. Zavala asked that the Council review the proposed ordinance changes and fee structure and asked that the issue be taken up again at a future meeting. 5 . ) Restoration of Swimming Pools at Hillside and Lake Como Parks (M&C G-10148) Ms . Watson explained that the current General Fund adopted budget for Park & Recreation Department includes $75, 330 for the operation and maintenance of public swimming pools at Lake Como and Hillside Parks, appropriated with the original expectation that grant funds would be obtained for the rehabilitation of the two pools to bring them up to satisfactory operating condition. Sufficient grant funds have not yet been obtained, therefore the Park & Recreation staff recommended transferring the $75, 330 to a Capital Improvement Fund and designated for improvements to the two pools . Since approximately $200, 000 will be needed to make the renovations, private foundations and neighborhood associations have been solicited to make up the difference. Private groups and foundations have expressed an interest in making contributions, since with this transfer, the City will be demonstrating a commitment to reopening the two facilities . Ms . Webber stated that this was a very good opportunity to provide structured recreation to youth, and encouraged Ms. Watson to pursue the private foundation contributions . page 4 6 . ) Award of Contract for Financial Auditing Services for the city of Fort Worth to KPMG Peat Marwick, Certified Public Accounting Firm (M&C C-13819) Mr . Boswell explained that the Council Audit Committee and staff had recommended that the contract be awarded to KPMG Peat Marwick. Since only Mr . McCray had been able to attend presentations made by Peat Marwick and Arthur Andersen, representatives of Arthur Andersen expressed a desire for an opportunity to present again before the entire Council , stating that City Council involvement was crucial to such an important decision. Representatives of Peat Marwick expressed frustration with the need to present their credentials and be re-evaluated a second time, after having been through an approved selection process . Mayor Granger asked that both firms present again at the next Pre-Council meeting scheduled for May 11 , 1993 at 8 :00 a.m. 7 . ) Legislative Update Mr. Boswell explained that the final calendar for the State Legislature had been established and that most of the City's agenda items were in process . Bills such as the one involving "problem bars" were approved unanimously by both the Senate and House. Bills dealing with the Court of Record--Limited Appeal , and the bill requiring the Water Commission to consider contract terms in rate disputes seemed to be on the way to being passed. Mr . Boswell stated that he would continue to keep the Council advised on a weekly basis . 8 . ) City Council requests for Future Agenda Items Ms . Woods requested consideration be given to an ordinance prohibiting the bagging of grass clippings for solid waste collection. Mayor Granger called for a show of hands . Motion was not approved. Ms . Webber proposed that more emphasis be placed on recycling and composting in order to address this issue. Meeting adjourned at 5 : 30 p.m. COUNCIL MEETING VI . Canvass of Returns and Declaration of Results of Mayor and City Council Election Held on May 1, 1993 4. Run off election called for Saturday, May 29, 1993 approved. Absentee/early voting begins May 17 , 1993 X. Presentations by the City Council 4 . Notice of intent to issue library certificates of obligation delayed for one week . XIV. Report of the City Manager 7 . MSC G-10148 Restoration of Swimming Pools at Hillside and Lake Como Parks. Mr. Meadows and Mr . Silcox expressed approval of the use of funds for this capital improvement and the participation by private foundations . XVI . Citizen Presentations Mr . Ross Haynes , Jr . expressed an urgent need to have paved sidewalks installed on Glen Garden Drive. According to Mr . Haynes , in the interest of the safety of children who walk to school along that street , paved sidewalks are crucial . Ms . Webber commended Mr . Haynes on his presentation, and expressed her support for this endeavor . Meeting adjourned at 8 : 15 p .m.