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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994/12/13-Minutes-City Council-Worksession Notes from Pre-Council Work Session Tuesday, December 13, 1994 1. Report by the City Manager Mayor Granger brought the meeting to order at 8:40. Mr. Terrell reported on a trash problem at lake Arlington. Fifty (50) volunteers had been recruited and 178 bags of trash had been collected. He advised the Council of an on-going effort to improve the condition of the West side of Lake Arlington. The firms who were not selected for the delinquent tax collection contract have expressed their displeasure with the process, and have been afforded an opportunity to present their concerns to Council. Mr. Terrell advised that the problems reported in Orange County, California do not exist in Fort Worth. A department head reception will be held between 5:30 and 7:00 at Will Rogers. Mr. Groomer reported on the status of the Green Oaks improvement program. For the past 12 months, preparations and negotiations have occurred regarding the Eastchase/ Meadowbrook Development which will include commercial design and reconstruction of the interchange. The proposed development will include 55 acres West of Eastchase. The "anchor"tenant will be Target stores, others will join later. The project is expected to generate an additional one million dollars annually in sales tax revenue. 2. M&C G-10900 -Authorization for City Manager to Sign Petition Requesting that a Certain Area of land be Designated as a Reinvestment Zone by the City of Euless Mr. Groomer reported that Euless requested that this item be withdrawn at this time. 3. Questions Concerning Current Agenda Items Mr. Lane expressed concern regarding Golden Triangle Properties. Mr. Groomer reported on the condition of the proposed Hillwood Interchange. Groomer explained that Golden Triangle parkway will not be affected. Property owners assert that FM 1709 was supposed to be extended to Interstate I-35W. Minute Orders suggest that originally such a plan was proposed. Currently,there is no project on the State's list to do such an expansion. The series of minute orders precedes the Hillwood Interchange project. Lane asked what we were doing today. Groomer explained that Hillwood is a"demonstration project" This project is approved by the TxDOT with 80% federal funding. Groomer stated that we have worked through the issues to fund the local share. The Hillwood Group will front end the local share cost. The Hillwood Group proposed to develop the 7SECRETARY �... ANk. area with a shopping center. Mr. Lane asked whether there was anything we were doing which affects the outcome. FM 1709 is a county road not on any state plan. Groomer stated that we want to get the State to agree to make an alignment to extend 1709 to I-35. Lane asked whether there would be a connection between Keller and the Hillwood Exchange. Groomer answered no. Groomer explained that the current M&C item will approve an agreement which allows for the recovery of the City's 2.5 million share of the interchange cost. M&C G-10912 is a funding agreement to provide for the development of the Hillwood Exchange. Mr. John Nelson expressed concern regarding the Hillwood Exchange project. Mr. Nelson stated that in 1986, FM 1709 was on the master thoroughfare plan to be connected to I-35W. The City's proposed project has occurred without any public input. Mr. Lane asked about M&C G-10913. Mr. Lane wanted to know who the other members of the Commission were, and whether there was a more equitable way of letting Police and Fire employees have input in commission appointments. Lane felt that the Policemen and Firemen were not getting a"fair shake." Lane stated that he wanted to work with the manager to create something the Police and Fire Associations would be comfortable with. Meadows proposed that this discussion be postponed until the next meeting of the Inter/ Intra Governmental Committee. 4. Interloc_.al Agreement with Tarrant County for the Workforce Development Demonstration Pro-ject (M&C G-10915) Mr. Guajardo reported that the City has budgeted $100,000 for this project which staff recommends be funded. The project involves employers in the design of programs to ensure that when an employee completes the program,there will be jobs available for them to do. Mr. Guajardo recommended that the Council approve the Interlocal Agreement. Tarrant County pledged$230,000, Southwest Bell Telephone$20,000. The remaining $650,000 will come from JTPA. Mr. Barr observed that Bob Hampton and representatives of the Fort Worth Private Industry Council have provided a lot of momentum toward reconciling the many different perspectives. Mr. Lane recognized Mr. Barr for his efforts. The concept design was approved unanimously by the committee. Mr. Silcox expressed a concern about the commitment of funds. 5. Public Hearing and Ordinance Creating and Designating Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 1, City of Fort Worth,Texas in Downtown Fort Worth for Tax Increment Financing P=oses (M&C G-10911) Mr. Bill Wood presented. Mr. Lane asked about the composition of the board of directors. Mr. Wood explained that a board will be created within 60 days after tion DRIA1 RECORD 2 CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TEX. of the ordinance. Mr. Wood explained that only those entities and agencies who participate in the reinvestment zone project would have representation. If either the school district or any other participant should decline to participate,they would not have representation on the board. 6. Award of Construction Contract to the Buford Thompson Comp=for Construction of the New Livestock Facility and Arena at the Will Rogers Memorial Center (M&C C-14610) Mr. Groomer explained that under the original proposal, $8 million was the original cost. Fort Worth was to fund $4 million, and$2 million from stock show. The remaining$2 million was to be raised from private sources, with the responsibility for fund raising belonging to the stock show. The Stock Show previously requested and was granted special consideration o their rents. Negotiations took place revising the 15 year contract from$200,000 to$100,000 annually. Since the low bid on facility was $10,741,000 or $2.74 million higher than the $8 million originally proposed,the Stock Show has requested that the terms of their rental agreement be revised again to $10,000 annually for 10 years. The additional relief will afford the Stock Show the opportunity to raise the necessary funds to cover the difference between the original $8 million cost and the new $10.74 million cost. The City's and Stock Show's original combined commitments of$8 million are in the bank Mr. Watt assured the Council that the additional investment by the City in the form of reduced rents would result in an annual economic impact on the community of$20 million. Mr. Watt explained the discrepancy between the low bid and original cost estimate as the result of an escalation in construction costs. Additionally, $0.5 million in cost savings have been identified since the original construction estimates were prepared. 7. Fort Worth Crime Control and Prevention District UUdate Mr. Boswell advised the Council of a schedule change from December 9 meeting. The public hearing will be on December 21,at 3 p.m. in Pre-Council. The next meeting of the Committee will be on January 3, 1995. This will also be the first opportunity to adopt the plan. Mr. Lane asked for a list of Committee members . Mr. Barr asked about financing the program,and about management review of police department Mr. Silcox was concerned that the Board had not yet established a date for election. Mr. Silcox asked why staff was pushing the February date. Mr. Boswell explained that the date recommended by staff is tentative. Mr. Silcox asked for a reporting of"all tax dollars and staff time spent on developing the crime district to date"by December 15, 1994. Mr. Terrell explained that staff has accounted for direct expenses only. Mr. Silcox expressed concern regarding the amount of staff time spent to promote the crime district sales tax election,and the amount of time spent by police officers doing the same. Mr. Terrell explained that no police officers have been permitted to spend duty time campaigning for this project. Silcox stated that he"wanted to be on record"requesting costs should the election prove unsuccessful. LOFFICIA�LRECO,J, O RETARY ,3 , TEX. Chief Windham was asked by Mr. Jackson about zero tolerance. Chief Windham stated that permanent zero tolerance would be in effect in certain zones of the City. Mr. Terrell agreed to provide a report on the general cost of project if the Council was interested in that information. Mr. Meadows explained that to accurately account for staff time would be impossible Mr. Silcox repeated his concerns about the costs. Mr. Lane expressed his pride in the staff who had worked on the crime district. Mr. Meadows directed the Council to a front page story in the Dallas Morning News regarding Fort Worth's gang intervention program. 8. CIy Council Requests for Future Agenda Items and/or Reports None requested. OFFICIAL RECORD 4 CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TEX.