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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7345 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7345 P.1 0 T f 4,,o To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 17, 1989 Z5 Subject: TARANTULA TRAIN PROJECT t 0 7 S - I----------- At the January 10, 1989 Pre-Council meeting, the Tarantula Corporation pre- sented its conceptual plans for a Railroad Excursion project in the City of Fort Worth. Their idea involves linking four entertainment and cultural areas of the City which includes the Stockyards, the Cultural District, the Fort Worth Zoo and the Central Business District, by rail access. This informal report is a draft of recommendations which could be considered in an M&C for adoption by City Council . The purpose of the M&C would be to refer the Tarantula Train Project to community groups and City staff for comments and recommendations to be given to the City Council at a subsequent date. The M&C would outline the preliminary stage in the process which would lead to a Coun- cil decision on whether to endorse conceptually the project and whether to en- dorse conceptually specific extensions. City Council could encourage each group to indicate to City Council whether the group endorses the general con- cept of the Tarantula Train Project and to make whatever recommendations they wish concerning specific extensions of the train (i .e., to the Zoo, into the Cultural District, to the Stockyards and other possible extensions) . Staff offers the following recommendations: 1) That Mr. Bill Davis of Fort Worth and Western Railroad and Taran- tula Corporation present their plans to all interested groups. These groups should present to the City Council their written comments re- garding reaction to the conceptual idea of the project. 2) That the City Manager's Office prepare an analysis of the train project and make appropriate recommendations regarding the conceptual approval and the possible individual line extensions. The staff would be called upon to identify all important issues the City Council should consider prior to making future decisions regarding the project. Council could receive public comment on this report before taking ac- tion on it. 3) That the City Council set a time frame for receiving responses in writing from these groups. A period of 60 days should be sufficient from the time of adoption of the M&C regarding the process. 4) That at the end of this sixty-day period, the Council receive the community input and staff report and determine a time for a vote on whether to endorse the concept so the Tarantula Corporation can deter- mine whether to proceed in developing more detailed plans. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7345 p-2 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council C3,i January 17, 1989 X C, Subject: TARANTULA TRAIN PROJECT 5) The Tarantula Project Presentation should be made by the Tarantula Corporation to the following groups: 1. Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Area Councils and other business groups 2. Black Chamber of Commerce 3. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 4. Cultural District Committee 5. Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. 6. Fort Worth- Convention and Visitors Bureau 7. Fort Worth Zoological Association 8. Friends of the Parks 9. League of Neighborhoods, Neighborhood Associations and Neighborhood Advisory Councils 10. Historical Associations 11. Official Boards and Commissions Appointed by City Council 12. Other Special Boards and Commissions, including Railtran and the Transit Authority 13. Streams and Valleys Committee 14. Any other groups deemed appropriate by City Council or 00,11 those who have an interest they wish to express The City Manager's Office will coordinate a staff committee to conduct a review of the project. Willa Lister, Assistant to the City Manager, will coordinate this effort for the City Manager and track the meetings related to this project. This level of staff effort assumes serious City Council interest in whether the project is desirable and feasible. During this preliminary analysis phase, it will be important that a clear distinction be made between the plans and program ideas of the Tarantula Corporation and the City government staff which is evaluating whether to recommend endorsement of the project in concept and whether to help facilitate subsequent implementation steps. It is the staff' s view that the train project could have important tourism and cultural opportunities for the City of Fort Worth and therefore, should be given serious evaluation. The process of reviewing the train project should be care- fully and systematically directed by the City Council in order to avoid any mis communications or confusion regarding the status of the project. The above pro- cess is designed to encourage thoughtful discussion prior to presenting the ques- tion to City Council as to whether the overall concept and possible line exten- sions should be endorsed in principle and should be pursued by the Tarantula Corporation. If the project is pursued, the City' s involvement in the project should be carefully identified at each step of the process. 17ev Douglas Harman City Manager DH:kc L ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS