HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987/12/22-Agenda-Pre-Council PRE-COUNCIL MEETING l
DECEMBER 22, 1987
PRE-COUNCIL CHAMBER ''; 8
WOO* ;
ABSENT: None.
ITEMS:
1. STAFF REPORT ON EMERGENCY PHONE OUTAGE - DOUGLAS HARMAN, CITY MANAGER AND
CHIEF MCMILLEN, FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief H.L. McMillen briefed Council on the phone outage which affected much
of southwest Fort Worth on Sunday, December 20, 1987. Problems with the phone
system were discovered around 6:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. The problems were
caused by water damage at one of Southwestern Bell's switching stations. A back-
up system, which normally would have provided service when the main system
failed, was also damaged by the water.
By 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning fire patrol units were on the streets with the
objective of providing emergency service. Off duty paramedics were placed on the
roving fire pumpers to provide first line emergency medical service. With the
cooperation of local news media, citizens were instructed to place a white flag
or towel in a window if they needed assistance. In addition, thirteen or
fourteen mobile phones were identified where people could go for help. Amateur
radio operators were very helpful as were some forty-five radio equipped private
vehicles and the Fire Department's Red Hat Volunteers.
Chief McMillen reported that there were five emergency medical situations during
the outage. Service was restored at 1 :30 a.m. Monday morning. Chief McMillen
stated that the experience will be helpful to the Fire and Police Departments in
planning responses to similar emergency situations that may arise in the future.
Volunteers, rescue personnel, and phone company employees were all commended for
helping to minimize the severity of the phone service outage.
2. SELECTION OF ARCHITECT FOR FORT WORTH Z00 CATS AND BEARS EXHIBIT (MSC C-10707
) CONTINUED FROM DECEMBER 18, 1987 - RAMON GUAJARDO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
Park and Recreation Director Ralph Emerson reported to Council on the selection
of the architect for the proposed Cats and Bears Exhibit at the Fort Worth Zoo.
Mr. Emerson stated that funding for the exhibit was identified in the last bond
election and that the site for the exhibit was identified prior to the
development of the Zoo master plan. The Zoo has received pressure from the
U.S.D.A and the Humane Society to correct the problems at the current cats and
bears exhibit.
According to Mr. Emerson, bids for construction of the cats and bears exhibit
were submitted by over thirty architects and evaluated by a committee comprised
of T/PW, Zoo, and Park and Recreation employees. After a second review of the
bids, Youngblood Architects Inc. was selected as the city's main contractor for
the design and construction of the exhibit.
Because Youngblood Architects Inc. has no experience in designing zoo exhibits,
the firm has sub-contracted with Larson Company, a nationally renowned zoo
design and construction firm, to ensure a top quality exhibit.
Councilman Williams asked Mr. Youngblood to state some examples of his firm's
previous projects. Mr. Youngblood responded that his firm has constructed office
buildings, shopping centers, town houses, and medical facilities as well as
recreation centers for the Citv of Fort Worth.
Councilman Murrin suggested that in the future, all involved parties should be
included earlier in the selection process.
3. QUESTIONS/ANSWERS CONCERNING CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS - DOUGLAS HARMAN, CITY
MANAGER
City Manager Douglas Harman recommended that the M&C authorizing and appointing
a committee to study developer fees be continued until January S, 1988.