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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987/08/25-Minutes-City Council COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1987 COUNCIL CHAMBER SEQ ABSENT: None. 1r (b 01 ro I. ITEMS TO BE CONTINUED OR WITHDRAWN Consideration of adoption of ordinance setting ad valorem tax rate, withdrawn by Councilman Lancaster. II. ITEMS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA M&C G-7195 - Amending Chapter 22, Article VII, Division 2, Registration, of Code of City of Fort Worth - withdrawn for discussion by Councilwoman Webber. M&C G-7197 - Completion of Xeriscape Demonstration Garden - withdrawn for discussion by Councilwoman Webber M&C G-7206 - Ordinance Amendments to Chapter 25 - Application Fees - continued for one month by Councilman Gilley. III. BOARD/COMMISSION CHANGES Councilman Gilley reappointed Tom Sassman to the Human Relations Commission. IV. COMMENTS AND REQUESTS A. Councilman Lancaster asked City Manager Douglas Harman to meet with Richard Aughinbaugh concerning Commanche Peak financing of Erath County and Stephenville Reservoir. B. Concerning the city's bicycle registration program, Councilwoman Webber asked if the registration number can be used to identify stolen bicycles. Lt. Ratliff, of the Fort Worth Police Department, responded that the registration numbers can be used to identify stolen bicycles. He said that the Police Department plans to make bicycle registration a part its children's safety program. C. Councilwoman Webber asked if the city would be able to save money by not finishing the Xeriscape garden. Richard Sawey, Water Director, indicated that the completion of the Xeriscape garden is necessary to comply with state water conservation requirements. The state requires water departments to instruct citizens in the development of draught-tolerant gardens. The city's Xeriscape garden is a demonstration garden to show citizens the various types of plants which require minimal irrigation. D. Councilman Lancaster asked Mr. Sawey how much water is used to irrigate the garden. Mr. Sawey indicated that various zones within the garden are metered independently, and the data could be collected for Council review. E. Concerning the proposed M&C to cancel the city's contract with Lone Star Auctioneers, Councilman Williams asked Wade Adkins, City Attorney, if the action would remedy past mistakes in awarding the contract. Mr. Adkins indicated that the cancellation of the city's contract with Lone Star Auctioneers would allow the contract to be re-bid with proper specifications. F. Councilman Zapata asked Mr. Adkins what the city's chances would be of winning a law suit which might result from the contract dispute. Mr. Adkins indicated that the Legal Department is prepared to defend the city if a suit is filed. G. Councilman Garrison stated his belief that Council had been pressured by both parties in the auctioneering contract dispute and that the un-pressured advice of the City Attorney should be taken. H. Regarding a proposal to raise various development fees (M&C 7206), Councilman Gilley stated that fees should not exceed the cost of providing the service. I. Regarding the same proposal, Councilman Lancaster stated that the fees should recover all of the costs involved in providing the services. V. CITIZEN PRESENTATIONS A. Sub-standard Housing Abatements. 1. Jon Zacarro, Frances Owens, Pedro Rodriquez, Jr. , Gerry Mooney, and Alan Murphy appeared before Council to ask for time extensions in order to continue repairs on sub-standard houses. Council indicated that unless the houses are up to code within the allowed extensions, they will be demolished. B. Proposed Budget 1. Earle P. Shields, Jr. , Chairman of the Fort Worth Crime Commission, appeared before Council to request that additional funds be added to the Police Department budget. Mr. Shields indicated that Fort Worth has a crime rate ten percent higher than Dallas, which has the highest crime rate for cities with populations over 500,000. Mr. Shields suggested that the high crime rate will have a negative impact on convention business and business retention. 2. Councilman Gilley asked Mr. Shields if the one-hundred new officers added this year in the Police Department have helped. Mr. Shields indicated that some types of crimes are down slightly but that it took all year to get all the policemen hired; therefore, the department is only now feeling the impact of the increase. 3. Rachel Gooch, of the Friends of Libraries, appeared before Council to ask that proposed cuts to the library budget be reconsidered. She stated that Friends of Libraries helps the libraries by purchasing furniture and equipment and that the cuts come at a critical time. She believes that full funding of the library budget will help to reduce the crime problem. 4. Sister Mary Fullbright appeared before Council to oppose efforts to set the ad valorem tax at its current rate. 5. James Goodwin appeared before Council to express his concern that the proposed budget will prompt a property tax increase.