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Home My WebLink About1964/09/08-Agenda-Pre-Council PRE-COUNCIL CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 8, 1964 Present: Late: Absent: 1 . Friedman 8. Hoover(Item 1) None 2. Barr 9. Jones (Item 1 `, 3. Kemble 4. Shannon 5. Hamm 6. Stovall 7. Hardin4_ I t e m Follow-Up 1 . Membership Dues - American Municipal Ass 'n NAN Mayor Friedman reported that he had requested that this item regarding the City's payment of $1 ,000 for membership dues in the A.M.A. be placed on the Pre-Council Conference Agenda. The Mayor stated that he felt the City should not pay the annual dues for membership since lie felt no ser- vice was received from the organization. Councilman Hamm stated that he and Councilman Hoover had attended the AMA conference this year, and that he felt the City could spend its money to better advantage. Councilman Kemble indicated that he felt the City should maintain its membership in the Texas Municipal League, but should not be a member of the National Association. Councilman Barrrand Jones indicated they were in favor of re- taining the membership in the A.M.A. Consensus of Council was to consider this item at the next budget study session. 2. Report on Police Operations - Labor Day Week- NAN end The City Manager reported for the information of Council that an additional 150 police personnel had been placed on duty during the evenings over the Labor Day week-end and that it was felt that the increased police patrol activity had been very beneficial since the number of arrests were up substantially and the number of criminal incidents reported had decreased substantially. The City Manager advised the Council that this type of in- tensified enforcement activity would be repeated in the future. 3. Proposed Revision of Fire Code - I.R. 615 CKD - GET INFORMATION ON QUESTIONS FOR TRANSMITTAL TO CITY COUNCIL The City Manager reported that the proposed revision of the fire code had been prepared by the Fire Dept in cooperation with the Legal Dept, and that representatives of both departments were present to answer questions concerning the proposed code revision. Councilman Hoover inquired about y nr- 11 the section on explosives and small arms ammunition ��` l�L�� which was indicated in the I.R. to be covered in ft via, 1. 0. the revised code under Article 12, and stated that he had not found reference to small arms ammunition in this section of the revised code . Chief Owens ,.61, -2- reported 2-reported that there was no section in the revised code which would prohibit an individual from lead- ing his own small arms ammunition. A question was also raised concerning the pro- vision in the revised code which requires matches which had been removed from their original container to be stored in metal boxes . Reference was made to supermarket and cigar stands where individual boxes of matches were stored on shelves and counters which would be prohibited under this section of the pro- posed code. Councilman Hamm referred to the section of the revised code relating to the processing of magnesium, and inquired why the requirement had been established for a permit to be obtained for processing of more than 10 pounds of magnesium since a smaller quantity of this material was extremely dangerous . The City Manager reported that the proposed code was being submitted to the Council prior to a request for action in order for these and additional questions which might be raised to be considered. Council Mem- bers with additional questions concerning the proposed code were requested to contact the Fire Chief or the City Manager's Office. 4. Free Swimming at Lake Worth (I.R. 613) CKD - draft letter re Park and Recrea- tion Department assuming Casino Beach The City Manager reported that this Informal operations . Report had been submitted in response to a request from the City Council for information regarding the history of swimming at Lake Worth. Council inquired concerning a report on the Park & Recrea- tion Department's policy regarding free swimming at Lake Worth which had been requested at the previous Council meeting, and was informed that this information had not yet been received from the Park and Recreation Dept. Councilman Kemble stated that he felt the City Council should turn over control of the Casino Beach area to the Park and Recreation Board for its consideration regarding lease of the facilities or operation by the Park and Recreation Dept. Mayor Friedman stated that he felt this was a good idea, and at regular Coun- cil meeting, the City Manager was instructed to negotiate with the Park and Recreation Dept re- garding its assuming control of the operations at Casino Beach. S. Purchase of Combination Backhoe and Front- NAN end Loader (M&C P-388, Page 7) The City Manager reported that this purchase recommended acceptance of other than the low bid �+ I�+IaL RU ND since the first three bidders had submitted pro- IIFI ICUIAL posals based on equipment which did not meet the ��I1 �r�7� minimum 11,000 pound weight requirement included 11 I u�.bin the specifications . In response to a questionFT. ��i�rii�� -3- from Councilman Hamm concerning the specifications not being clear, the Water Director reporter that the specifications had clearly set forth the mini- mum 11 ,000 pound weight requirement. Council approved the recommendation for pur- chase of the equipment meeting specifications at regular Council meeting. 6. Letter from Aviation Board regarding Avia- EHD - get date and draft latter r,, tion Director's Salary City Council Councilman Kemble referred to the letter which had been received from the Aviation Board concerning the recommendation for increase in salary of the Aviation Director, and stated that justification for the recommendation was not pro- vided in the letter. Mayor Friedman stated that the Aviation Board had invited any Council Member desiring additional information regarding the recommended salary increase to appear before the Aviation Board. Councilman Harding reported that he had com- pared the proposed salary to be paid to the Avia- tion Director and that the salary increase would make the Aviation Director the highest paid in the southwest, including the Houston Airport Director. The Mayor reported that the Aviation Director had been employed at a salary of $15,000, with the understanding that within a two-year period the salary would be raised to $17,500. The Mayor pointed out that the present salary of the Aviation Director was $17,400, and that the proposed increase was in accordance with the normal step advancement of the salary plan. Councilman Harding requested information con- cerning the reported $1 ,000,000 deficit which had been incurred by the Aviation Department during the past three years . The City Manager reported that this might be correct if the debt service require- ments of the airport were included, but that the operations of the airport, excluding deb _ service had produced a profit . The City Manager also re- ported that the airports in Dallas and Houston ex- perienced similar deficit situations if debt service were included. The Mayor requested the City Manager to advise the Council of the next meeting of the Aviation Board. 7. Fluoridation of Water Supply CKD - complete IR requested by City Council Councilman Harding stated that he was in favor of tabling indefinitely the question con- cerning fluoridation of the City water supply. DDr The Mayor reported that the Medical and Dental rOFFICIAL `�:��GSocieties were preparing to have u briefing for Sir` j_- � Council Members regarding fluoridation of the C�� ii' City water supply. 74, Tri Council took no action concerning Councilman IT. MIRTH, liX' ldh� ,Aft -4- harding's request for tabling of the fluorida- tion matter. 8. Vacancy on Library Board EHD - draft letter of contratulations for my signature Councilman Hoover stated that he proposed to recommend the appointment of Mrs . Edity Deen to fill. the current vacancy on the Library Board, and Mrs . Deen's appointment was approved at regu- lar Council meeting. 9 . Additional Information - Canton Drive Assess- NAN ment Paving (I.R. 614) The City Manager reported that in accordance with a previous request of the City Council, the Canton Drive paving project had been divided into three units for consideration of improving only a section of the project. It was reported that the unit from Lancaster to Craig Street had been deter- mined to be needed for traffic circulation, and that this unit had been added to the Craig Street paving project. The City Manager reported that the other two units did not indicate sufficient property owner approval to justify improvement at this time. Council did not indicate disapproval of the action taken by the staff in regard to this project. 10. Maddox Avenue Bridge Over Sycamore Creek NAN (M&C C-369) Councilman Jones stated that he had inspected the proposed Maddox Avenue improvement project as outlined in the Capital Improvement Program, and that tie questioned the improvement of the west unit of the project from the freeway to Riverside Drive inasmuch as this area was primarily resi- dential and the proposed project would reduce the front yards of the adjacent residential properties . The City Manager reported that this improvement project had been included in the projects for which voter approval had been obtained in the 1958 bond election. Councilman Barr stated that he felt Maddox. Ave should be improved since the present facility was in need of resurfacing and carried a heavy load of traffic. Council approved the award of contract for the Maddox Ave Bridge at regular Council meeting. 11 . Second Budget Study Session LINE Consensus of Council was to hold the second budget study session at 4 P.M., Friday, ScpoLem- ber 11 . L �l .0 Li+ C9iY SJR: