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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987/07/21-Agenda-Pre-Council PRE-COUNCIL MEETING JULY 21, 1987 PRE-COUNCIL CHAMBER ABSENT: Councilmen Steve Murrin, Jr. and Louis J. Zapata ITEM 1. HEARING BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO ABATE PUBLIC NUISANCES (M&C G-7137) - TOM DAVIS, ACTING CITY SERVICES DIRECTOR Tom Davis, Acting City Services Director, presented a video tape showing the nuisance properties which the City Services Department is asking to have abated. The residential properties were strewn with trash, debris, and old automobiles. Mr. Davis indicated that the City Services Department had been working with some of the residents for several years in an attempt to have them clean up their own property. All efforts to date have been unsuccessful. An approval from Council would allow City Services to establish a deadline by which the properties must be cleaned-up, or the Department may clean-up the property and place a lien on it until the resident pays for the clean-up. Councilman Williams questioned the role of city inspectors. Mr. Davis indictate that at times the inspectors initiate actions against nuisance properties, but most of the actions are initiated by citizen complaints. Councilwoman Webber asked if people will be charged if the city must clean-up the nuisance property. Mr. Davis explained that when the city must clean-up nuisance property, a lien is placed on the property and the resident is charged a $200 administrative fee. Councilman Gilley asked what happens to the outstanding citations when a lien is placed on property. Mr. Davis stated that the resident must still appear in Court and pay any related fines or charges. 2. SELECTION OF ARCHITECT FOR DESIGN OF THE FIRE STATION NO. 2 RENOVATION (M&C C -10404) - CHIEF H. L. MCMILLEN, FIRE CHIEF Councilman Williams indicated that he had met privately with Fire Officials and was now satisfied with the plans for the Fire Station. There was no other discussion. 3. ACQUISITION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY/RECONSTRUCTION OF BRYANT IRVIN ROAD NORTH, PARCELS 4 6 8 (M&C L-9286) - MIKE PYLES, REAL PROPERTY DIRECTOR Mike Pyles, Real Property Director, presented a chart to Council showing the existing right-of-way on Bryant Irvin Road North and two alternatives. The first alternative calls for a ten feet right-of-way. Four feet of property would have to be purchased from property owners on the west side of the street. The second alternative would allow for an eight feet right-of-way, and would require no land purchases except in the northeast section of the proposed improvement. Mayor Bolen asked Mr. Pyles if Mrs. Ann Smith, who represents the property owners in opposition to Alternative One, had seen the plans for Alternative Two. Ms. Smith, who was at the meeting, indicated she was there to see the plans at that time. Mr. Pyles indicated that Alternative Two may save the city as much as $70,000 over Alternative One. The plans for Alternative Two are currently being evaluated by staff. 4. LOW RENT PUBLIC HOSING PROPOSAL (MSC F-7103) - COUNCILWOMAN NELL WEBBER Mayor Bolen indicated that discussion of the public housing proposal would be postponed until the Housing Authority and owners can settle on a price for the proposed complex. 5. AUCTIONEERING SERVICES (MSC P-2057) - A. JUDSON BAILIFF, FINANCE DIRECTOR Judson Bailiff, Finance Director, informed Council of a decision by the Legal Department which states that auctioneering services no longer qualify as a professional service and, therefore, may not be contracted through RFPs. Instead, the competitive bid process must be used. Mr. Bailiff indicated that the City Services Department developed bid specifications which require the auctioneers to have five years of experience with municipal auctions. As a result, Lone Star Auctioneers, with whom the city already has several contracts, cannot meet the five-year bid requirement. Because of the difficulties resulting from the unexpected change in procedures, the equipment which should have already been sold is sitting idle. The earliest likely date for an auction is sometime in September. Compounding the problem is the fact that funds from the sale of the equipment have been budgeted in this year's budget. Councilman Williams asked Mr. Bailiff if any of the contractors who responded could meet the five-year previous experience requirement. Mr. Bailiff indicated that only Rene Bates can fulfill the requirement. City Manager Douglas Harman reiterated the need to proceed with the auction as quickly as possible because the storage facilities are already full and the money from the sale of the equipment has already been budgeted. Councilman Williams asked what would happen if Council gave its approval to an auctioneer immediately. Mr. Davis indicated that sufficient lead time is required to locate potential buyers, some of whom are international, before the auction can be held. The first realistic date, therefore, is in September. Councilman Williams stressed the importance of staff members avoiding situations such as this in the future. 6. 9-1-1 UPDATE (I.R. NO. 7206 AND RESOLUTION) - ROD BREMBY, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER Rod Bremby, Assistant to the City Manager, notified Council that the protocol converter ("black box") should arrive July 28th. He indicated that the data processing staff is working on a contingency plan in case further problems develop. Mayor Bolen asked what is the advantage to developing something in-house. Mr. Bremby indicated that the in-house efforts would assist with the testing of the new system. Councilman Williams asked what the cost to the city is for the in-house efforts. Mr. Bremby indicated that the city would be reimbursed by the 9-1-1 Board for any cost associated with the implementation of the new emergency system. Council also reiterated its belief that the "cut-over" date should be postponed until adequate testing of the new system can be completed. QUESTIONS/ANSWERS CONCERNING CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS - DOUGLAS HARMAN, CITY MANAGER Douglas Harman briefly discussed with Council the resolution establishing official boundaries for the Cultural District. The official disignation of cultural district will allow for signage and may impact future planning and development of the area. The district includes all area bounded by Sixth and Seventh Streets on the north, the Trinity River on the East, I-30 on the south, and Margaret, Owasso, Watonga, Clarke, and Haskill on the west. Mayor Bolen reminded Council of upcoming budget workshops. 8. JAIL SITE ISSUES Council decided that discussions with county officials are needed to clarify issues and concerns about the planned remote jail facility planned for northeast Tarrant County. Council members are frustrated with the lack of communication on the part of some county officals. Mayor Bolen was directed by Council to call a joint meeting between Council and county commissioners to discuss the issue further.