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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965/05/03-Agenda-Pre-Council r -% A G E N D A PRE-COUNCIL CONFERENCE 8.30 A�M., May 3, 1965 1) Attendance at U. S. Conference of Mayors - Mayer Barr 2) Group Insurance for City Employees (M&C C-491 - held over from last week) 3) Corporation Court Report - Council Courts Oommittee 4) Use of Coliseum for Professional Ice Hockey (I.R, #724 - hold over from last week) 5) Eighth Avenue Paving (M&C G- 792) 6) Paving Improvements at 17 Locations on the North Side (M&C C-498) 7) Westland Water Transmission Main (M&C C-497) 8) Report on Horse Lot at 3008 Bright Street (I.R. #728) 9) Other M&C's of May 3, 1965 10) Other Items r r A PRE-COUNCIL CONFERENCE MINUTES MAY 3, 11)6', Present . Late: Abount : 1 . Barr 7. Stovall (Item 1 ) Jones 2 . Eagle 8. Hoover (Item 4) 3. Kemble 4. Shannon 5. Hamm 6. Mrs . Deen I t e m Follow-Up 1 . Attendance at U.S. Conference of Mayors NAN The Mayor reported to the City Council the upcoming U.S . Conference of Mayors to be held in St.Louis from May 29 thrii June 2 and stated he would attend if desired ry the Council . The Council agreed that the Mayor should attend as the representative of the City, and a motion to send the Mayor to the Conference was approved in the regular Council meeting. 2 . Group Insurance for City Employees (M6rC C-491) EHD - prepare I .R. transmitting data on Blue Cross School 's Plan. The City Manaver inquired if any Council Members had questions regarding the proposed group insurance plan for City employees in addition to those asked last week. Councilman Shannon stated that he desired more time to study the proposal , approximately two more weeks . Councilman Flamm indicated lie, too, would like to hold action on this proposal for another weer The Consensus of the Council was to hold the proposal for at least one more week . Councilman Stovall inquired of the Personnel Di- rector if this proposal was held up for at least another two weeks , would it affect the cost to the City. The Personnel Director replied that no cost problem would be encountered by withholding action4on this policy for at least two more weeks . Councilman Stovall inquired if the present policy the City has with Aetna would cover City employees until the proposed policy is acted upon. The Personnel Director replied that the existing Aetna policy would cover City employees until action is taken by the Council on the proposed plan. Councilman Stovall also requested comparable infor- mation on the proposed plan for the City of Fort Worth and that plan recently adopted by the Fort Worth Inde- peudent School District . Councilman Stovall inquired of the Personnel Di- rector if Aetna would return to the City the unused premium funds, less retention. The Personnel Director replied that it would take approximately one to one and one-half years , but the unused premium funds would be returned to the City. 3. Corporation Court Report - Council Courts BATEMAN - please follow cep on lease Committee with County. Councilman Stovall inquired if any Council Members had questions regarding; the Corporation Court Report. Mayor Barr inquired what kind ot action would be required Ad% -t- on this report. Councilman Stovall replied that a change in ordinance would be necessary and that Council approval of the recommendations regarding the new 2-year lease arrangement and the conver- sion of the 1st floor court room into 2 court rooms was required. Mayor Barr requested that the recommendations of the Court 's Committee regarding the Corporation Court's operating procedures be held over for one week. The City Manager requested the City Council to consider approving the new lease arrangement with the Commissioners Court of Tarrant County and the conversion of the 1st floor court room into two court rooms . The consensus of the Council was to ratify the new lease arrangement with the Commis- sioners Court of Tarrant County and the conversation of the lst floor court room into 2 court rooms , and to hold up for one week the Committee 's recommendation regarding the Corporation Court 's operating procedures . Such action was taken in the regular Council meeting. 4. Use of Coliseum for Professional Ice-Hockey MAGNESS - verbally instructed by (I.R. 124 held over from last week) JLB to proceed with contract nego- tiations , in cooperation with The City Manager reported that a meeting had Legal Department. been held May 1 , 1965 between Mayor Barr, Councilman Kemble, a representative of the City staff , a repre- sentative of the St Paul ice-hockey team and two Tulsa oil men (interested in purchasing rights of the team) regarding the use of the coliseum for pro- fessional ice-hockey. The City Manager reported that lie was out of town that weekend and requested that the two Council Members present at the meeting Mayor Barr and Councilman Kemble, comment on their impres- sions of the meeting. Councilman Kemble stated that the meeting proved to be quite informative. Councilman Kemble further reported that as a result of this meeting, lie proposed a resolution permitting the City to enter into negotiation with the representative from the St. Paul team regarding the use of the coliseum for professional ice-hockey. This resolution was read to the Council. Councilman Harms in- quired of Councilman Kemble how he felt about the use of the coliseum for ice-hockey following this meeting. Coun- cilman Kemble said that he had changed his mind from last week and now believed that the use of the coliseum for ice-hockey would be a good investment. Also, Councilman Kemble stated the City would reap benefits from public ice skating and the Ice Capades . He estimated the City would recover the coat of its investment in approximately 5 to 6 years. Mayor Barr indicated that this resolution would only commit us to negotiate for a contract that was agreeable to both parties . Mayor Barr stated that the St. Paul re- presentative would not agree to a definite three-year lease agreement, but would agree to two years , with an escape clause thereafter. This two year provision would "" -3- allow S- allow the hockey team to withdraw from this contract if aster the first two years tate ice-hockey pros-,ram was unsuccessful. Also, the Mayor rvported that the St. Paul representative was tentatively agreeable to the City having a clauee in the contract providing; for a raise of rental rate:, if the ice-hockey program WON sucGesSful. Councilman Shannon inquired of Councilman Kemble as to who the local people were who were ready to in- vest approximately $50,000 in this program. Councilman Kemble replied that none of the parties were known at this time. Councilman Shannon said that on the basis of the comments made he favored the idea; but desi,•es that a good contract protecting; the City's interest be obtained. Councilman Hoover indicated that he was under the impression a written report was to be submitted to the Council for its review as to why the repair of the ice rink was not considered at the tenAnaLion of Rip Johnson's --antract regarding, the use of the coliseum ice facilities . Mayor Barr replied that to his knowledge no request was made for the staff to prepare a written report, but that data was to be gathered for oral presentation to thO Coun- cil . The City Manager reported that Lite primary reason for not considering, the repair of the ice rink when the Ice agreement with Mr. Rip Johnson.was terminated was that there was no prospects for professional ice-hockey at that time. The City Manager reported that under the present contract arrangement with Mr. Rip Johnson, Lite City would receive all rental revenue from ice-hockey events and that the City would receive 25% of conces:;ion :;ales. This 2`-% concession right now received by the City is 2�% higher than Ott! old contract arrangement which was 22';y. Cottnci loran Hoover stated that he thought it would 1)L' in order to make attendance and revenue studies of past ice-hockey events , public ice skating, , and previous Ice Capades programs. Councilman Stovall stated that he did not think this type of study would provide reliable in;ormation in regard to the contract presently before the Council. Councilman Stovall stated that on the basis of the new concession arrangement, if the ice-hockey contract was approved, the City would receive approximately $1.'-,000 .;ore concession revenue per year. Councilman Stovall then read a report prepared by Public Works when the Council tudivd the possible repair of the ice rink at Lite time Mr. Rip Johnson's contract was re-negotiated . The Public Works report indicated $98,000 would be required to com- pletely repair the ice rink facilities. Councilman Stovall inquired of the City Manager what the difference was in the $98,000 figure and the $112,000 figure quoted in I.R. 724, regarding the use of the coliseum for professional ice-hockey. The City Manager referred this question to the Builidng,s Man- ager, who reported that the $98,000 figure quoted in the Public Works Report included the entire job - such as thu re-placement of the ice-making; equipment, Lite floor, the pipe sy4tem, etc . The $112,000 figure said the Buildings Mana,;er dov: not in- clude Lite replacement of the reirig;eration unit, but it does -4- AWA include purchase of basic ice-hockey equipment (scoreboard, dasher boards, etc . ), minor repair to the refrigeration unit to make it operable and the installation of a new pipe systema. The Buildings Manager reported that a survey was made at the time of the termination of Mr. Rip Johnson's contract as to the possibility of repairing; the old pipes . It was found at that time that to tear out and repair the pipes in such a fasion as to make them operable would be too costly. Councilman Hamm stated that lie thought it would be desirable to install the pipes over the existing concrete floor rather than to dig np the existing; pipe system and repair it. Councilman Eagle inquired how much the present floor would lie elevated to pro- vide for the installation of pipes over the exiting; concrete floor. Councilman llamm replied that it would elevate the floor approximately 4 inches. Councilman Hamm said that lie thought the Council should approach this contract realistically, and that we could estimate the life of the newly installed floor to be approximately 24 years , but that to estimatr the ice refrigeration equipment, currently being used to last that Long; would not be feasible. However, Council- man Hamm believos the current approach of making; minor repairs to the refrigeration equipment is realistic and that if the contract is approved and the ice-hockey pro- gram proves to be successful , plans could be made at that time to extensively repair or replace the ice re- frigeration equipment. Councilman Eagle inquired if there were any plans for the installation of icr facilities in the new Tar- rant County Convention Center. Mayor Barr replied that the Tarrant County Convention Center did have some pre- liminary plans for the installation of ice facilities, but that no funds were available for its imm,ediate in- stallation. Mayor Barr further reported that the repre- sentative from the St . Paul Ice Hockey Team indicated the best location of the ice-hockey team would be at the Will Rogers Coliseum, rather than in downtown Fort 'Worth. The general consensus of the Council was to approve the resolution authorizing the City to enter into negotia- tion regarding the use of the coliseum for professional ice-hockey, and such action was taken in the regular Coun- cil meeting . 5. Eighth Avenue Paving (M&C G-792) JIM WRIGHT - draft memo of .instruc- tions to Public kbrks and Legal . The City Manager inquired if any Council Members had questions regarding; the 8th Avenue paving; project. The City Manager reported that some ohjection could be expected from property owners Mr. & Mrs . J.11. Scott, Lots 8 and 9, Block 5, Enderly Park Addition, who have improvements that encroach on City property. Mayor Barr inquired how long the Scotts had had possession of this property. The City Manager replied, since 1934. Mayor Barr inquired if the City had ever taxed the owners for the City-owned land on which the building; is located. The City Manager reported that the property owners had never been taxed for the land on which AWk improvements encroached. Councilman Hoover inquired if the City knew it owned that ;property when it authorized the building of 'he improvement. The City Manager reported that he did not know. The City Manager stated that as a matter of law, the City was not obligated to make the property owner any reimbursement for this taking of right-of-way, since the property was the City's . However, the City Manager stated that there is a possible moral problem involved on behalf of the City in regard to this property. The City Manager further stated that a small reimburse- ment offer had been made to the property owner, but that no final arrangements had been made . Mayor Barr stated that he desired for the Council to act in accordance with what was morally right rather than what was technically right, The general consensus of the Council was for the City Manager to proceed with negotiations as is currently being done, providing reimbursement if it is considered in order. 6. Paving Improvements at 17 locations on the North NAN Side (M&C C-498) The City Manager reported that a Mr. Moore would be unable to attend the benefit Bearing for this assess- ment paving project on the Northside and requested special permission to be heard by the Council this morn- fnR_ The consensus of the Council was to hear Mr. Moore. _ 7. The Westlandc Water Transmission Main (M&c c-497) HARDY - please continue negotia- tions with Tarrant Utilities The City Manager reported that construction of the Westland Water Transmission Main would put the City in a p-)sition to provide water to the Westland community, but that problems remained in dealing with the private water company now serving the area, since a purchase price had not been agreed upon. He said there were 3 alternatives for resolving the problem with the private utility - 1) Agree with the Tarrant Utilities Corporation on a fair price - one that could be recommended to the Council for its approval ; 2) Condemn the property, which has not been done before; or 3) Duplicate the system by providing parallel lines, which has been done before, but does not generally provide for service to all of the existing customers and is originally higher in terms of capital outlay costs . Councilman Hoover stated that the City would be furnish- ing fire protection to non-customers with the installation of parallel lines „ The City Manager replied that this would be true. The City Manager stated that there was a pollution problem in this area due to inadequate septic tanks .. The City Manager reported that correction to this problem is biting provided for in the CIP which has been approved by the Council with the standard provision that the affected parties will pay for the excess footage. r 0904 -b- Councilman Shannon inquired if it was necessary to have approval of construction of the line before negotiation with the Tarrant Utilities Corp. was com- pleted , The City Manager reported that the Tarrant Utilities Corp. was under no pressure to sell . The City Manager stated that with the approval of the con- struction of the main by the City Council , it should provide the City with a stronger negotiation position. Councilman Hoover stated that if the City voted to construct parallel lines , it should make the Tarrant Utilities Corp., more anxious to arrive at a compromise decision. The general consensus of the City Council was to approve the Westland Water Transmission Main con- struction contract and such action was taken at the regular Council meeting- 8. Water Department Meter Problem NAN The City Manager reported his concern regarding the theft of Water Department meters . City Manager stated that the problem was under investigation by the Water and Police Depts . At the present time, City Man- ager stated he would prefer hot to discuss the matter until more time was given for investigation of the problem. Councilman Kemble inquired who would be using the stolen water meters ., City Manager replied that probably only private water firms or other municipalities would find use for the meters , Councilman Eagle inquired if the theft might possibly be for salvage sales . City Manager replied that at this time this was not known. Mayor Barr stated lie would desire the staff to investigate the possibility of closer inventory procedures throughout the entire City or- ganization. The City Manager replied that such a study would be conducted and inventory controls , where necessary, would be provided , 9 - Report on Horse Lot at 3008 Bright Street (IR #728) NAN The City Manager stated that the Public Health Di- rector was present to answer any questions regarding the horse lot complaint at 3008 Bright :. The Public Health Director reported that there was one horse in the horse lot and that no health problem existed . The Health Di- rector further reported that there had been no health prob- lems discovered in previous investigations and that in his opinion no health hazard existed and there was no need to revise the health ordinances in regards to the keeping of animals within the city limits . City Council accepted the findinxs of the report :