HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984/05/01-Agenda-City Council-Worksession .City Council/Staff WorksessionAdk
May 1, 1984
Absent
Wetherby
ITEM REFERRED T0:
1) Fort Worth Action Strategies Update
Shelton: Discussed the April 30, 1984 Star-Telegram editorial on growth.
Strategic planning is planning for where we would like to be in
the next 20 years, not planning for where we think we will be
given the current statistical trends. The focus will be from a
city, school and chamber perspective. This is the first plan
known in the country which combines all three sectors in a united
effort to plan strategically. The agendas are not yet set.
Toal: Explained the process that will be used in strategic planning. First,
a comparison of Fort Worth with other similar sized cities will take '
place to see where we are with relationship with peer cities. Next
the most important issues facing the City will be identified and
comprehensive plans to address those issues will be developed.
Emphasis will be on developing an action plan to address 4 to 10
high priority "do-able" goals.
Bolen: Give me an example of something we can't do or won't do. (Toal: The
greenbelt trail through the City is one example. It would be
beautiful, but too cost prohibitive.)
2) Fort Worth Housing Authority Status Report
Garcia: Reported on the activities of the Housing Authority, and the status
of new public housing in Fort Worth . Suggested the constituion of
a Blue Ribbon Task Force to develop a housing plan for the City
of Fort Worth.
Lancaster: How many public housing units are there? (Garcia: 1400 plus 1600
units for Section 8 housing. What concerns me is that the 94
units not approved is probably our last shot at adding additional
housing. There has been no additional units added to the family
housing stock since 1964. ) Are the 1600 units in the private
sector worked satisfactorily? (Hanratty: Yes.) How long has the
Section 8 program been in existence? (Hanratty: Since 1975 to 1976.)
Bolen: Which is most cost effective? (Hanratty: If the supply of housing is
adequate the voucher (Section 8) can work, but if the supply is
inadequate then there are limitations.)
Stute: How many residents 65 or older are at the low income level (below
$5000 gross income)? (Hanratty: I don't know.) What is the cost
to deliver Section 8 units compared to the rental units? (Hanratty: RECORD
Debt service is not built into public housing rental costs. Main- [.
tenenace and operating costs including utilities cost $110 per oDC�pt ct ARy
per unit.)
Lancaster: I have a study that states Public Housing directly benefits 34%
participants, Section 8 directly benefits 56% of the participants
and the Voucher system directly benefits 85% of the participants.
City Council/Staff WorkseO `I.on
— lay A, 1984
Page 2
(Hanratty: If there is a supply problem, the benefits are about
the same regardless of the system.)
Bagsby: As long as the units are at 80%. (Hanratty: We may be at the 80%
rate but if 4 and 5 bedrooms are unavailable, we still have a
problem.) If units are available, the voucher will work.
(Hanratty: Yes.) The premise is that no additional units will
be built; are other cities providing units in other ways?
(Hanratty: Yes. San Francisco is writing down the cost similar
to a bond; Baltimore is unsing incentives to renovate existing
stock; Montgomery County, Maryland is expanding units by zoning;
San Diego requires the provision of a certain number of affordable
housing units per single family units constructed.) We need to
look at alternate means of providing housing for these 2000
(number of families on the Authority's waiting list. (Hanratty:
2000 is optimistic, some won't apply.)
Bolen: Where are the 2000 people? (Hanratty: Some are doubled and tripled
up in units and others are living in substandard structures.)
Do you make an attempt to prioritize the list? (Hanratty: No.)
This seems to be an opportunity to alleviate the substandard housing
problems (with prioritization) . (Hanratty: We see no alternate
resources. There are no mid-term housing facilities in Fort Worth.)
Bagsby: Is that a big percentage? (Hanratty: No, but we get calls from
service agencies needing information regarding resources.)
Bolen: This is a harder problem than we may think and we're going to
have to address this problem.
3) Proposed Change Order No. 9, Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits
Building (M&C C-8354-1
Terrell: Discussed M&C.
Johnson: Has the committee reviewed the change order? (Lancaster: We don't
know anything about it.)
Johnson; Is it reasonable and acceptable? (Newkirk; -Yes.) Next!
4) Change Order No. 30 and 31, Police Administration Building and
Parking Garage (M&C C-8359)
Ivory,. Reviewed the M&C regarding the change orders.
No questions. asked.
5) Update Concerning Texas Utilities Electric Companies Ra en �C,�i� R�
Case 1f r�
Aughinbaugh; Updated the Council on the status of the rate case.
No questions asked.
-9itp-Council/Staff Workse on Anhk
May 1, 1984
Page 3
6) Update on Brush Pick-up
Ford: Updated the Council on the progress of the brush pick-up crews.
Bolen: When have you been out on the street? (Ford: I'm out every day.)
Williams: How many crews do you have? (Ford: Six.) Who should citizens
call for collection times? (Ford: 870-7940.) Collection should
be normal this month? (Ford: Collection should be at the normal
collection date.)
Bolen: If you're anticipating that the load is off there will be problems.
(Ford: We are anticipating another surge of material, but with
overtime and three additional pieces of material we will be able
to handle the load.) Has there been an increase in paid pick-up?
(Ford: We discourage it; but we will show it.) Is there no way a
$35 will get a common carrier to pick it up? (Ford: That is an
excellent idea, but we can only refer them to the yellow pages
under general hauling.) How many days are you operating? (Ford:
Six.) With general people? (Ford: Pick-ups are made by machine
operators.) (Herchert: It would be possible to go to 7 days.)
Could we have future direction to bid out to a contract for
these situations? (Herchert: I believe so.)
Stute: Where did the UDAG crews go? (Ford: They were dropped when the
grant terminated.) What happened to the machinery? (Ford: Sold.)
When did we order the new equipment? (Ford: November.) It took
six months to get the equipment operable? (Ford: Normally, its
longer than that.) Is there no way to order complete trucks?
(Ford: Not like we want them.) Not any manufactured to your
satisfaction? (Ford: No.)
Bolen: Are you satisfied with the new equipment? (Ford: Yes.)
Brush Contractor: We are in the same cycle as the City. We have added three
additional pieces of equipment and a 15% increase in labor.
Lancaster: I would like to pass on compliments I've heard from citizens for
picking up small brush on your regular pick-ups.
7) Fire Department Organizational Analysis and Renewal Program
McMillen: Briefed the Council on the organizational analysis and renewal
program initiated by the Fire Department and also showed a v 1p t Rt
tape of the program's objectives and procedures. YFFib��� RGc R`I
c►� sECRE�� 1
Cassady: Discussed the disaster management plan and upcoming trip to4�jtA�
Maryland. , [1
Newkirk: The Airport Board recently approved a mutual aid agreement. Are we
developing a similar plan. (McMillen: A task force of County Fire
Chiefs worked on the D/FW committee in developing the aid agreement.
What we develop will tie-in to the D/FW plan.
City Council/Staff Worksen
—Aay 1, 1984
Page 4
Lancaster: Does your planning document include a reserve program? (McMillen:
Yes.) Good.
8) Follow-up on Council Retreat Priorities
Boswell: Discussed the retreat priorities with the Council and asked for
any suggestions or clarification of priorities.
Williams: I'd like to see some preventative maintenance in street repair.
Santerre said that we were some $100,000,000 behind. Also what
happened to the suggestion regarding some type of product put
into the street to make it more durable? There was also talk of
some new machinery that would assist in street repair.
Lancaster: The Mayor's task force is addressing those issues.
How do we have policy input in the budget development process,
like shifting resources into streets and better public safety?
Can we look at a line item and functional cost combination to
get earlier input? (Herchert: One way to get the message across
is by stating ideas in the retreat. Secondly, the task force
input will be significant. The decision-package method allow
shifting of resources in a fairly efficient manner. Most Council
members don't want to shift resources. If there is a clear
direction to cut, we will.
Line-item offers greater review. We can maintain functions
but transfer minimal funds elsewhere.
Newkirk: We can look at user fees and shift cost of new roads to developers
with an emphasis on street types.
Lancaster: If we say we're not giving additional money, but for growth and
inflation save these two areas, will staff develop a budget by
those measures? (Herchert: If that is the direction of the Council
we will do that, but I don't believe that is the direction of the
Council. We have whittled to such a point to where we can't
whittle any more. We need to either fund programs sufficiently
or drop them.)
I've never understood why governmental costs exceed growth and
inflation. (Bolen: Public demands more services. , We had options
several years ago to reduce costs by 1) shortening library hours,
2) reduce street sweeping, 3) reduce street lights; and 4) offer
once a week garbage collection. In each case we chose not to reduce
the services.
Herchert: The best single example is in Public Safety. In 1978 we had 550
police officers. This year we have 800 plus 40 officer position e�CQRD
that have been civilianized. This is an example of funding %jiltA
beyond inflation. CIT,
Lancaster: Fees have far exceeded the additional resources. (McKinney; In
eevelopment, yes, but not in Planning and Park and Recreation.
Fees are not covering the cost of supporting growth.)
City Council/Staff Workbession
May 1, 1984
Page 5
Williams: I think we need to look closely at public safety compensation
increases for police and fire.
Lancaster: The problem is how to pay for it. Staff is saying raise taxes,
I say transfer resources.
Williams: I thought staff understood the top priorities.
Lancaster: There are different interpretations. (Bolen: I think thats because
we tell them different things.) I understand that.
Herchert: That is the reason for discussion last month and today. A lot of
issues will be covered by the Blue Ribbon committee.
Bolen: It may be increased funding for maintenance.
Lancaster: What will the tax shift do? (Newkirk: We may need to look at
homestead exemptions.)
Williams: You are suggesting homestead exemptions? (Newkirk: What did
Dallas start at 40%?)
Herchert: They are down to 30% or 20% now.
Lancaster: We don't have the business base.
Bolen: It's a real dilemna.
Herchert: We don't have any easy answers.
Bolen: One problem in misunderstandings is the drifting in and out.
Attendance is a problem.
OfflCl RECORb
CITY SECRETARY
fT. AORTO, SEX•