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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965/04/26-Agenda-Pre-Council • r` MINUTES PRP_-COUNCIL CONFERENCE APRIL 26, 1965 Present: Late: Absent : 1. Barr 7. Hoover (Item 1) None 2. Jones 8. Shannon (Item 1) 3. Kemble 9. Hamm (Item 2) 4. Stovall 5. Eag le b. Mrs. Deen I T E M Follow-up: 1 . Group Insurance for City Employees (M&C C-491) The City Manager inquired if any Council Members had questions regarding the proposed group insurance plan for City employees. Councilman Kemble inquired if the new insurance plan would affect the life insur"nce of retired City employees. The Personnel Director answered that the proposed insurance plan would not affect the insurance of the retired City employees. Councilman Stovall inquired if the cost to the retired City employees for the proposed group insurance plan would be any more costly than it presently is. The Personnel Director indicated that the cost to retired employees would not be increased. 'lhe City Manager reported to the City Council that the proposed Blue Cross-Blue Shield group insurance plan is better than the one we presently have and generally offers broader coverage. Mayor Barr inquired if the committee studying the group insurance plans unanimously approved the Blue Cross-Biue Shield group insurance plan. The Personnel Director replied that the committee had given its unanimous support to the Biue Cross-Blue Shield plan. Mayor Barr also inquired why in the rate analysis section of the M&C had the recommendation been based on a two-year period for the Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan and on a one-year period for the Travelers plan. The City Manager replied that the Travelers rates were sufficiently high so that an increase after one year would be considered less likely, therefore a two-year guarantee period was considered not necessary. Blue Cross had, on the other hand, lower rates and a two-year guarantee was considered to be in the best interest of the City. The City Manager stated that F it appeared that the City would benefit most from a two-year guarantee of the lower rates by Blue Cross, while with the higher Travelers rates, the additional premium to guarantee rates did not seem necessary. Concensus of the Council was to deter the proposal for one week, and this action was taken at the regular t:ounc it mewting. -3- libraries if federal funds are accepted for the construction and operation of the branch libraries. Mr. Bass replied that the local library boards determined the books to be placed in the branch libraries. Councilman Hoover said that he thought it necessary that the books be selected by the local boards and not by the federal government or a designated representative of the federal government. Councilman Hoover then read an article from the April 21, 1465 edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram regarding the purchase of school books. Councilman Hoover after reading this article, further stated that he sees no difference between book collections and Salaries as far as expenditures of federal funds are concerned. Councilman Shannon then inquired if the Texas State Library Department determined only the amount of money to be used for the construction and operation of branch libraries. Mr. Bass replied that the Texas State Library Department did determine only the amount of money to be used in the construction and operation of libraries. Mayor Barr inquired of Mr. Hoover that if operational funds were available for use by the Fort Worth Library Board, would it be acceptable to Mr. Hoover for the additional funds to be used for salaries. Councilman Hoover replied that he could not answer this question until he could study the manner in which the funds would be applied for salaries. The City Council unanimously approved the recommenda- tions of the Library Board in the Council meeting. 4. Letter from a Citizen Mayor Barr indicated that he had received a letter from Mrs. Dwight C. Butson regarding a suggested improve- ment of City H;lll space needs and the main public library. T1ae Mayor reported to the City Council that the City Manager would distribute the letter to the Council this week for its consideration. 5. U4e of Coliseum for Professional Ice Hockey (I.R. 724) The City Manager inquired what the pleasure of the Council was in regard to this proposal. Councilman Kemble stated that he was opposed to spending this amount of money on such a short-term project. Councilman Janes inquired of the City Manager what was meant by the statement "the estimated $112,000 cost of equipping the coliseum for professional ice hockey, if desired by the City Council, could probably be financed from savings that accrued in General Fund departmental appropriations in the tirst half of the 1964-65 fiscal year. " The City Manager replied that from an analysis of the operational situation of the General Fund at this time and projected throughout the balance of this fiscal year, that it -4- appeared the General Fund would have sufficient savings to cover the cost of this proposal. The (:i Ly M mager further stated that the savings that would accrue in the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year would revert back to the General Fund surplus revenue account. Councilm.+n Kemble inquired if it would be possible for the lce Hockey Association to obtain a portable rink ac their expense to be used in our facility. The City Manager stated that he doubted whether this would be practical. Councilman Shannon inquired of the recent negotia- tions with Mr. Rip Johnson aL the Municipal Buildings West concerning his concession rights and the use of the ice facilities in the Municipal Buildings West. li this proposal was granted, Councilman Shannon wondered how it would affect the decision of the Council in regard to Mr. Rip Johnson's contract. The City Minager replied that Mr. Johnson had been relieved of paying for the ice facilities, but that his concessions payments had been increased. Overall, the C ty Manager stated, the Council 's decision on Mr. kip Johnson's participation in the Municipal Buildings West provided a slight savings to Mr. Johnson. Councilman Shannon then stated that he thought it would be advisable for Lhe City to review Mr. Johnson's contract again if this proposal was accepted. Mayor Barr inquired if Mr. Johnson would receive any pant of the public ice skating revenue if this proposal was approved. The City Manager replied that Mr. Johnson would not receive any of such revenue. Councilman Hamm inquired if the 1;45,000 figure which represents the amount local interests would invest in this proposal was a firm commitment or not. rhe City Manager replied that it was his understanding that the investment of $45,000 in the St. Paul Club had been arranged. The City Manager said that he would obtain more information on this matter. Councilman SLovall stated that he felt a definite decision should be made regarding which facility should handle ice events - the County Convention Center or the Will Rogers Coliseum. Councilman Hoover referred to the most recent monthly financial report of the City in regards to the loss of income at the Municipal Buildings West. City Manager reporLed Lhat the loss of income was due to at least two reaso:is: 1) the City was not receiving revenue for ice events; and 2) the money from the Shrine Circus Fnot the u.,e of the Municipal Buildings facilities has been received yet. Overall, the City Manager rted that the usage of the Municipal Buildings tacilities has been about the same as in previous years. Also, the City Mcinager reported that the. operational and maintenance cost of the facilities have been approximately the same. T1te City Council inquired of the Municipal Buildings ?-'.onager as to how the brochure recently prepared has been received. The Buildings M;,nager stated that the brochure A.zd been received quite well. lie further reported that while on a recent trip to New York, he booked four performances from tour theatrical agencies and has had, since his return to Dort Worth, two inquiries from two other theatrical agencies as to events possibly being placed in Fort Worth. The Buildings Manager attributed his success in New York primarily to the impression of the brochure and the personal appearance before the agencies. The Buildings Manager further reported that he thought we would have an automobile show within the next tew years and that the City recently obtained the State Jaycee Convention for the year 1967. Councilman Eagle inquired as to the life expectancy of the ice equipment, in connection with this proposal. Tlie Buildings Manager replied that the ice equipment consisted of the installation of a system of pipes, which would have an average life expectancy of 15-20 years. Councilman stovall inquired how many days the old conCract Mr. Johnson had with the City of Fort Worth allowed for ice skating. The Buildings Manager reported that Mr. Johnson had 1U0 days in which skating could take place at a charge of $100 per day; but that the most number of days ever used within the 100 day allot- ment was 76. Tfie Buildings Manager further reported to the City Council that the Coliseum was not being used for any events in the month of December and that this month could be used for playing ice hockey and public ice skating. Councilman Kemble inquired if there were any ice hockey teams in the City of Dallas. The Buildings Manager reported that there were no ice hockey teanis in the City of Dallas. Councilman Kemble asked if there was an ice rink in the City of Dallas. The Buildings M,inager replied that there was an ice rink in the City of Dallas, but that it was not large enough to facilitate an ice hockey team. The Buildings Manager commented to the City Council on the success of the ice hockey team in the City of Tulsa. -tI- 10% Councilman Hoover stated that he would desire additional information on this= proposal, particularly as Co why we did not repair the ice rink at the time we terminated the ice agreement with Mr. Rip Johnson. Councilman Kemble said lie would like to know about the operations of ice hockey teams in other cities, particularly in regards to the success of these ice hockey teams. Ilie City Council requested additional information on this proposal, and referred it back to the City Manager. 6. Acquisition of Right-of-flay - 8th Avenue Widening (M&C's L-642, L-645 and L-646) Councilman Jones asked if the amount being paid for right-of-way on the project is in line as to the estimates of the cost of this project, appraisals requested by the City, and recent sales in this area. The City Manager replied that the amount being paid for the right-of-way on Lhe 8th Avenue project is generally in line with appraisals and sales in this area. The City Manager further reported that $20,000 was provided In the 1965 Capital Improvement Program for purchase of right-of- way on this unit and that the cost of purchase of right-of-way would probably be more than this amount. In relation to the University Drive improvement project, Councilman Hamm inquired of the Council if it had not been their consideration to held up the Arch Adams project. The general concensus of the Council was that the Arch Adams project was not requested to be held up. Council approved the 8th Avenue land M&C's in the regular_Council meeting. 7. Interim Agreement for Sewer Main Extension gene - has followed-up with Santa Fe. to Santa Fe Industrial District (M&C C-495) The City Kinager inquired if any Council Members had questions regarding this interim agreement. The concensus of the Council was to ratify this interim agreement, and this action was taken at the reg u1ar Council meeting. _ 8. Purchase of Paper (M&C P-434) Gene - work with Rubottom to secure All-America watermark, if possible. Councilman Stovall provided a letter to the City Manager indicating his assurance that the quality of the raper met the specification require- ments. Councilman Stovall also requested that in L'obtapn he urchase of this paper that the City Manager a watermark indicating All-America City on the aper. '11ie concensus of the Council was to ratify the purchase of the paper, and this action was taken .it the regular Council meeting. �. S.{ndy Lane l,: dening and Paving (1.R. 717) 'rhe City Manager requested the Council 's guidance on this. project. Councilman Shannon inquired about a 1.50(1 toot street section on Sandy Lane south of ,le,idowbrook Drive that was paved approximately two years ago, and asked if this particular portion would hive to be Lorn out and widened in this project. The CLty Man Iger replied that this particular portion on this project would be widened in the future, but not now. The City Manager reported that the primary reason for constructing the street to 60 feet was to provide for future requirements. The City Manager stated that if we widened the street to b0 feet at this point now, it kill save the neighborhood from damage in the future and will provide general savings to the taxpayers. Councilman Shannon inquired if the City had conducted a traffic flow count on Sandy Lane. The City Monager reported that traffic wa:, light on the 6treet at this time and no traffic flow count had been conducted on this street. Councilman Shannon asked if there were not other streets in fort Worth that should be u+i LeeL in width before Sandy lane is widened, which is located on the outskirts of the City. The City V !ntger replied that several streets within the City limiLs :.hould be widened and that this was taking place in all parts of the City. The C,'ty Manager reported that on this particular street, the City was trying to avoid having to widen a narrow street in the future by ?roviding for future needs at this time. Councilman Hoover read a letter to the Council dated .lune 25, 1964 sent to Mr. Grove from C. 1-1. Thelin, PubLic Works Director, which stated that Sandy ..ine w.iuld be 40 feet in width in lieu of 60 feet. Councilman Hoover inquired as to why the City was changing, from a 40 feet width to 60 feet again, and also kho was to contract the work on this project - the developer or the City. The City Manager stated th.it the Public Works Department had no authority to indicate the width the street would be constructed, and that the contract would be let by the City. The C: ty Manager further stated that if we were to build the street at a 40 foot width this time, it would not prohibit the City from having to expand it in the future. Councilman Hoover requested information as to the reason for the small gap between the 1500 toot widening V Oak - - JO% stretch and the 251.jU foot stretcli. Councilman Hoover expres:,ed the opinion that he would like to see the City provide more continuous construction on street improvement projects. l7he ; andy Lane widening; and paving project was considered by the City Council in the regular Council meeting, and was deferred for 2 weeks for additional study. Ilie ba I ince of the items on the Pre-Council Agenda were not discussed by the City cuuncil .