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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966/10/17-Agenda-Pre-Council s^ MINUTES Mw Pre-Council Conference October 17, 1966 Present Late Absent 1. Barr 7. Shannon (Item 2) 9. Stovall 2. Jones 8. Hoover (Item 11) 3. Kemble 4. Deen 5. Hamm b. Eagle I t e m Follow-Up 1. State Highway Department Public Hearing DICK - get copy of proposal for I-35W, on I35W from Johnson County Line to McAllister Road, for Mr. Jones this week, as re- The City Manager reminded the Council that the quested by Mr. Jones after the Council StaLe Highway Department would hold a public hear- meeting. ink; on the improvement of Interstate 35W from I-820 south to the Johnson County line at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 18 in the Hallmark Baptist Church, 73UO South Freeway. 2. Land Acquisition - Fire & Police Training NAN Center (IR #1072 and M&C L-1404) Mayor Pro-Tem Jones expressed concern about the current total estimated cost of this project, includ- ing architectural fee.-. The City Manager discussed rile costs with him, including the commitment to date for architectural fees as outlined in IR #1072. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones said that he figures the commitment to the project is $742,000 to date in bond funds, and he a:,ked what costs would be handled in the budget. The City Manager said that the pistol range equipment amount- ing to ahouc $20,000 is the major budgeted item. He :;aid it was not in the current construction contract. The City Manager said that the bottle filling system is an item for the Fire Department, estimated to cost $5,000, and to be paid from budget funds. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones asked what amount of money i�- involved in site improvements. The City Manager replied that this is approximately the total of items 2 and 7 on the architect 's estimate of cost. Councilman Hamm asked if $60,000 is enough for the facilities outlined in item 4 of the architect's estimate of cost. The City Manager replied that he hoped it was, but none of the facilities have yet been designed. He said the staff is going to try to have a first class facility, but keeping in mind the amount of available funds for the project. At the regular meeting, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones said lie was concerned that the proposed land acquisition (M&C L-1404) is not consistent with the project as de:�cribed in the bond election. He said he felt that not having parcel 7 would not restrict the project. Councilman Hoover said he concurred in this opinion. A motion Lo approve M&C L-1404 failed (Councilmen Iliannon, Hoover, Haum and Jones voting NO). -2- i. Supplemental Grant Request - Neighborhood DICK & NOBLE - prepare a comprehensive Improvement Program (IR #1070 and M&C G-1005) progress report on the NIP program, to include before and after photos, for There were no questions on this item at the submission to Council in early November Pre-Council Conference, when first brought up. 1966. At a later point in the Pre-Council Conference, Councilman Kemble asked the Neighborhood Improvement Coordinator about the status of the program. The Coordinator said that all survey work is completed and that grants and loans were started through pro- cessing two weeks ago. He said about 50 grant ap- plttcation:; are now in, and that loan applications will pick up from now on. Councilman Kemble asked if there had been any actual work done in the areas. The Co- ordinator said the work is just now starting since some grants had been approved and some contractors hired. Councilman Kemble asked if the "fly-by-night" contractors are being kept out. The Coordinator said there has so far been only one reported case, and that his counselors are warning all property owners to safe- guard against this. Councilman Kemble asked about the street work. The Coordinator said that the engineering of street improvements has been underway, and that bids should be out soon for this work to be done as one pro- ject in each code area. Councilman Eagle asked if any local groups have offered assistance. The Coordinator said the Worth Heights church groups have been particularly active as have the PTA and a civic group in the North Side Area. He said no assistance outside the neighborhoods has been offered yet, but would be welcome. At the regular meeting Councilman Hoover said he wondered why 22 NIP people can't process one loan per day each. He said the way he figures is that with two additional loan processors and 223 loans per year to make, divided by four total loan processors, that this meant about 1 loan per week per processor. He said he has not yet been furnished information de- sired about the status of the program, what has been spent, number of automobiles being used, and other details. Mayor commented that this information has been available right along, and that he felt the staff would be unduly burdened by preparing it again in writing. A motion to approve M&C G-1005 was approved 5 Lo 3 (Hoover, Shannon, Jones voting NO). _ 4. Award of Contract for Blue Line Reproduction NAN Services (M&C P-547) Mayor Pro-Tem Jones said he had asked for a delay on this so that Councilman Stovall could look aL it. The City Manager said that the M&C had been reviewed by Councilman Stovall before it was sent to Council, and that he (Stovall) had said the recom- mendations are appropriate. Councilman Hamm said that Mr. Stovall had told him the same thing. At the regular meeting, M&C P-547 was approved unanimously, -3- ,. Use of Water from Benbrook Reservoir HARDY - Please handle. (M&C G-1009) Councilman Hamm said he was happy he insisted on proceeding in this manner. The City Manager :;aid that the staff has found the Corps of Engineers willing to talk on the matter. At the regular meeting, M&C G-1009 was approved unanimously. 6. Lancaster Parking Lot Improvement & Lease NAN (M&C's C-820 and C-821) Mayor Barr asked how much more land was acquired for parking by demolishing the Red Front store build- ing. The City Manager replied about }calf-again increase. rlayor Barr commented that the increase in the monthly lease amount on the parking lot is increased more than one half. The City Manager confirmed that it was. He said also that there will be considerable beautifica- tion and improvement of this parking lot by the City. At the regular meeting M&C's C-820 and C-821 were approved unanimously. 7. Land Acquisition and Architectural Services- NAN Fire Station Number 24 (M&C's L-1430 & C-819) There were no questions on these items, and they were approved at the regular meeting. 8. Traffic Safety Statistics Analysis - NAN September 1966 (IR #1071) The Police Chief gave the Council the highlights of the report presented in IR #1071. Councilman Kemble asked if the Police are writing more tickets now. The City Manager replied that the Chief is em- phasizing safety and enforcement much more and that more policemen were writing tickets regularly. Councilman Hamm asked how much help the ambu- lance service has been to the patrol service. The Police Chief said this has meant an excellent im- provement in patroling, but that he doesn't par- tirularly like being in the ambulance business. Councilman Eagle commented that he heard a policeman say that since he was having to write ticket:; while operating an ambulance, that the Accompanying firemen should carry along a 'twet tow .Ick" to put out fires. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones commented that the dedica- tion of the Fort Worth Safety Center was held last Friday and that the new Executive Director of the Fort Worth Safety Council, Mr. Terrell, is putting new activity into the local program. The Police Chicf confirmed that there should and will be a revitalized safety program, particularly toward better public education. Councilwoman Deen asked if there is a report on the income to the City from ambulance operation. The City Manager said that no significant amount has yet been collected since it had only been just billed. -4- The 4-The City Manager commented that the Safety Coordinating Committee has met regularly and is doing a fine job, with much better participation by outside agencies. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones said he would like to commend the committee for its good activity. 9. Comparative Prices for Concrete Paving NAN (IR #1069) There were no questions on this item. 10. Traffic Handling at Football Games NAN Councilman Kemble said that he had received some complaints on traffic handling at the Arkansas- TCU game on October 1, but he noted that the Mayor had sent the Council a letter from a satisfied citi- zen on this matter. The Police Chief said the department studies the traffic flow and sets up a system of one-way streets around the stadium before and after games. He said his reserve department of 50 men, 45 off-duty over- time officers, and the regular on-duty officers, handled the crowds. He said solo motorcycles and radio communications helped very much. Councilman Hamm commented that a helicopter may be needed. Chief Hightower commented that one problem is that there are fewer off-street spaces at and near the stadium than formerly (15,000 a few years ago, now down to 6,000 spaces). Councilwoman Deen asked if the Chief had seen the editorial in the morning paper on the St. Louis Department. The Chief said he had. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones commented that the Police Department should get together with the Kiwanis Clubs on the matter of gum machines in business places. The Police Chief said he was in conversation with the clubs on this matter at this time. i1. Council Invitations DICK - gave Lions Club regrets that no Councilmen could attend. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones reminded the Council Members that they had been invited this evening to Shady Oaks Country Club for a 7:30 dinner, with the Baptist Radio and TV Center people. At the regular meeting, Mayor Barr reminded the Council. that the Lions Club had invited the Council Lo dinner this evening at the Roundup Inn. No one indicated he would attend. 12. City Manager Absence DICK - good luck: The City Manager asked the Council if anyone objected to his attending an ICMA meeting in Phoenix next week and taking some vacation following. There was no objection. 13. Mayor's Report on New York and Washington D.C. NAN Mayor Barr said that during his visit with President Johnson on Saturday, October 15, that the President suggested that cities should cut back on all possible expenditures and help ease the money situation. He said the economy is so vigorous that the money demand is too great. He said the Federal -5- Government is cutting back $3 billion of expenditures until January 1 , 1968. The Mayor said that he did not feel that there werc any Fort Worth projects that could be delayed, especially since the City Hall project is already behind the original schedule and won't be under con- struction until January 1, 1968 anyway, since the architect has not yet been selected. The Mayor said he doesn't think Fort Worth is contributing to the overall problem. Mayor Barr said he doesn't think the President means to cut out all capital improvement projects. He said the President did not discuss the stock market or taxes, but confined his remarks to urban problems. Councilman Shannon said that perhaps some of the paving projects might be slowed down. Mayor Barr com- mented that most of the City street projects are in the nature of maintenance and replacement of worn out fa- cilities and needed to be continued. Councilman Hamm commented that one way to cut costs might be to take alternates on pavements for certain axle loads. At the regular meeting, Mayor Barr reported on the trip he had to New York and New Jersey preceding the President 's meeting. He said that he and others of the Regional Airport Board observed an FAA experi- mental project on a simulated operation of the proposed Regional Airport and that it seemed a very useful project to him.