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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987/08/04-Agenda-City Council-Worksession A G E N D A COUNCIL/STAFF WORK SESSION TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1987 IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL MEETING PRE-COUNCIL CHAMBER FOR DISCUSSION ONLY 1 ) Ai r Quality Status Report (Ozone) (I .R. No. 7208) - Ramon Guajardo, Assistant City Manager (30 Min .) 2) A Review of Code Enforcement Activities - Tom Davis, City Services Director (15 Min.) 3) Monthly Operating Report - Charles Boswell , Management Services Director ( 15 Min.) 4) Animal Shelter Alternatives (I.R. No. 7209) - Ramon Guajardo, Assistant City Manager (15 Min.) FOR FUTURE ACTION 5) Indemnity Ordinance - Wade Adkins, City Attorney and Bill Herrington, Risk Management Director ( 10 Min.) 6) Ad Valorem Taxes on Recreational Watercraft - A. Judson Bailiff, Finance Director (10 Min.) OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY T. WORTH, TEX. COUNCIL WORKSHOP 1' n AUGUST 4, 1987 Q(/� f- iYF!, PRE-COUNCIL CHAMBER 0 1987 ABSENT: Councilmen Estil Vance, Jr. and Louis Zapata �. ITEMS 1. PROPOSED CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION DATE - WADE ADKINS, CITY ATTORNEY Wade Adkins, City Attorney, informed Council that the City Charter Review Committee has decided that a November charter election is not practical given the work which remains. According to the election laws, the next available date for which the charter election could be scheduled would be the first Saturday in January 1988. After that date, the next allowable date would be in May 1988. 2. AIR QUALITY STATUS REPORT (OZONE) (I.R. NO. 7208) - RAMON GUAJARDO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER Ramon Guajardo, Assistant City Manager, introduced John Promise of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), who spoke to Council about the issue of air quality in the Metroplex. The Environmental Protection Agency has threatened Fort Worth and the other cities of the Metroplex with economic sanctions unless something is done to bring ozone levels into compliance with EPA standards. Ozone is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas which forms when sunlight strikes gasoline fumes and automobile exhausts. It can be particularly harmful to young children and the elderly. Though the ozone problem has existed for many years, the EPA's latest actions result from the metroplex's failure to submit an acceptable state implementation plan (SIP) for improving air quality. The sanctions, if imposed, will consist of restrictions on the location of new industries and the expansion of existing industries that are known polluters. To deal with EPA's threats, NCTCOG has developed the following six point action plan: 1. Visit Washington on Fact-Finding Mission. 2. Develop Unified Position Statement 3. Determine if State Implementation Plan Could be Developed Which Demonstrates Attainment 4. Meet With Other Regions 5. Seek Modifications to Clean Air Act 6. Consider Litigation City Manager Douglas Harman asked Mr. Promise to identify key Congressional decision makers in the air quality issues. Mr. Promise stated that Congressmen Dingal and Waxman and Senator Mitchell are the key decision makers because of their membership on environmental committees. Mr. Harman also asked what other Texas cities such as Houston, Beaumont, and E1 Paso did to avoid the threat of sanctions. Mr. Promise suggested that the other cities submitted plans which demonstrated attainment, but which were unrealistically optimistic. Councilman Lancaster asked Mr. Promise to identify the level of ozone at which human health is in danger. Mr. Promise indicated that concentrations at or above .12 parts per million are considered dangerous to human health. Mr. Harman indicated that much of the responsibility for reducing automobile emissions rests with the federal government. He indicated that automobile emission controls are most effective when installed at the factory. Dr. Brooks Taylor, Director of the Health Department, stated that 60-70% of Fort Worth's ozone problems result from automobiles. The remaining portion results from industrial pollution. Councilman Williams suggested that Fort Worth should join with other cities, through such organizations as the National Urban League, to work on solutions to air pollution problems. Mayor Bolen indicated that we need both clean air and fair treatment in our efforts to deal with the problem. Dr. Taylor summarized his thoughts on the air pollution issue as follows: 1. The metroplex did not submit a plan which showed attainment of air quality standards. 2. Fort Worth is at the mercy of the Texas Air Control Board for technical data. 3. Fort Worth should focus on plan revision and improved measurement. 4. National measures are more effective than local measures at reducing air pollution. S. Perimeter counties must be included in the effort to improve air quality in the metroplex. Mr. Harman emphasized the need for resolving the problem because of the negative impact sanctions would have on new industrial development. Councilman Lancaster emphasized the need for clean air. Mayor Bolen suggested that Congress has loosened national regulation of air quality while at the same time making localities more accountable. 3. A REVIEW OF CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES - TOM DAVIS, ACTING CITY SERVICES DIRETOR Delayed one week. 4. MONTHLY OPERATING REPORT - CHARLES BOSWELL, MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR Charles Boswell, Management Services Director, distributed a report to Council which highlighted a number of accomplishments of the previous month. Olivia Rodriguez, Volunteer Coordinator, spoke briefly on the progress of FAVOR, • Fort Worth's volunteer program. She indicated that the program continues to grow as departments identify new areas for volunteer assistance. Currently eleven departments have liaisons who sit on the volunteer committee. Next, Diana Heiner, Municipal Courts Director, spoke to Council about some of the highlights the city's court system. She indicated that a new multiple offender parking docket had been very successful in clearing up parking outstanding parking offenses. Since March, 3285 cases have been cleared and $23,498 in fines has been collected. Councilman Williams asked if the Court accepts credit cards for the payment of fines, and Ms. Heiner indicated that a the court is accepting credit cards on a trial basis. 5. ANIMAL SHELTER ALTERNATIVES (I.R. NO. 7209) - RAMON GUAJARDO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER Ramon Guajardo, Assistant City Manager, introduced Dr. Brooks Taylor, Director of the Health Department, who spoke to Council about alternatives for funding a new animal shelter. Dr. Taylor indicated that six alternatives had been studied which included the following: 1. Lease Purchase Option; 2. Immediate City Financed Construction; 3. Include the project in the next bond election. Dr. Taylor indicated that the lease purchase would probably cost the city the most of the options considered. Councilman Lancaster questioned Dr. Taylor as to what criteria were used to evaluate the alternatives. Dr. Taylor indicated that the alternatives were evaluated based on their ability to meet the city's need over the next twenty years. Councilman Lancaster then asked Dr. Taylor if the existing facility can be improved. Dr. Taylor indicated that the current site is part of a proposed park and that the facility barely meets state standards. Councilman Lancaster suggested that we make temporary improvements to the shelter until the project can be placed on the next bond election. Councilman Murrin suggested that the Mayor appoint a committee of concerned and qualified citizens to study the alternatives and to develop new ones. Councilman Gilley stated that he is against using a "bandaid" approach to the animal shelter problem. 6. FINAL REPORT ENGINEERING STUDY OF PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES, DELEUW, GATHER AND CO. - GARY SANTERRE, TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR Gary Santerre, Director Transportation/Public Works, introduced Mr. Graziano of DeLeuw, Cather, 6 Company to review the final report on pavement maintenance. Mr. Graziano indicated that the consultant's study generally supports the city's current pavement maintenance practices. The study does recommend classroom training and more formal scheduling of work. Mr. Santerre indicated that he is pleased with outcome of the study and that he agrees with most of the recommendations. He indicated that one of the biggest problems the street maintenance crews face is being pulled off scheduled work to make non-emergency repairs requested by upper-level management staff or by council members. 7. INDEMNITY ORDINANCE - WADE ADKINS, CITY ATTORNEY AND BILL HERRINGTON, RISK MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR No discussion. 8. AD VALOREM TAX ON RECREATIONAL WATERCRAFT - A. JUDSON BAILIFF, FINANCE DIRECTOR Judson Bailiff, Finance Director, presented Council with information on the collection of an ad valorem tax on boats. Mr. Bailiff indicated that the city would spend approximately $7.50 to recover $10 in tax revenue. The total net revenues from the tax would equal approximately $10,000. After a brief discussion, Council decided that the revenues generated by the tax would not Justify the cost of administering it.