Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967/05/08-Agenda-Pre-Council MINUTES Pre-Council Conference May 8, 1967 Present Late Absent 1. McKinley 5. Stovall (Item 1) 8. Hoover 2. Sarsgard 6. Wilson (Item 1) 9. Kersnick 3. Kemble 7. Guinn (Item 6) 4. Dunham I t _e m Follow-Up 1. Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Improvements on Texas, Tenth, NAN and Taylor (M&C G-1086) The City Manager reported that this project will be before the Council for benefit hearing on the proposed as- sessments this morning. He said the City will pay for all replacement curb and gutter and for sidewalk in good condi- tion which has to be replaced to meet new line and grade. He said that credits to property owners for sidewalk have been proposed wherever possible. Mayor McKinley asked what the 38 per cent assessment figure is. The City Manager replied that the total net as- sessment of 35.3 per cent is the amount of the total cost of the program which will be paid by assessments against bene- fitted owners. He said the remainder will be paid by the City- at-large. At the regular meeting, the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department made the staff presentation on the project. Mr. Charles W. Scaling, representing the owner of property at the southwest corner of Tenth and Taylor, protested the pro- ject and claimed that the sidewalk at this property does not need replacing. Mr. Alexander for Mrs. Maud Pennington, owner of property at Cherry and Tenth, also protested the project. Mayor Pro-Tem Sarsgard asked how the staff determined how much assessment to recommend. The Chief Engineer replied that such factors as the age of the sidewalk, whether it could be repaired, and the grade differentials, were taken into con- sideration during his personal inspection of each property, and assessments were determined accordingly. Mr. L. T. Meacham, the independent appraiser retained by the City to evaluate benefits on this project, testified that the benefits are equal to or in excess of the assessments pro- posed on this project. In response to questions from the City Attorney, Mr. Meacham said that the property represented by Mr. Scaling would be benefitted because of the drainage improve- ments on the street and on the site, by uniform curb and gutter, by the increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic after the im- provement, and the safety of the sidewalk, particularly for ladies in heels. He said that presently the sidewalk area is muddy in rainy weather, and that weeds and grass are prevalent in cracks now. Mr. Meacham testified that the access will also be im- proved at the Pennington property, and in both cases the benefits are equal or in excess of the proposed assessment. By voice vote, the Council unanimously approved M&C G- 1086. 2. Report of Ambulance Study Committee GENE - follow up on Phillips permit and implement City pay Councilman Stovall, Chairman of the Ambulance Study ment for Police emerency cal Committee. told rhP C'.ni,nri l rhar h;a rnmmi rrPP 'c rPrnmmPYl,�a- T.ii fh Pn1 i rP nenartmet. i tion was contained in the letter sent to the Council last GENE - Draft memo for HDM Friday. He said this appeared to be the best arrangement on financial report to that could be made for the time being. Aughinbaugh. Councilman Kemble commented that under this arrange- ment Gold Cross Ambulance Company will get most of the emer- gency calls from the Police Department, which condition has not existed in the past. Mayor Pro-Tem Sarsgard asked if the committee thinks this is a temporary arrangement only until August when the new ordinance is effective. Councilman Stovall replied that he thinks it is, and that it is the same kind of arrangement now in effect with Gold Cross in San Antonio, Baytown and Wichita Falls. He said that when the City operated the ambu- lances last fall it cost the taxpayers $42,000 per month. He said this arrangement will amount only to a $3,600 subsidy per month, on a temporary basis. He said the committee was faced with a problem a few weeks ago when the finance company hold- ing the paper on the Gold Cross equipment appeared to impound it for non payment, and the City would have been forced immedi- ately back into the ambulance business. He said the committee desires to keep the business in private hands if at all possible. Councilman Dunham asked what long range plan the committee has discussed for ambulance service. Councilman Stovall said the committee believes the City-at-large should not pay for ambulance service and that the individuals receiving this ser- vice should pay if at all possible. He said it will cost at least $25,000 per month for the City to operate an emergency ambulance service, or 4 cents on the tax rate. At the regular meeting, Mr. Tom Phillips appeared before the Council to request an invalid coach permit for the Phillips Ambulance Service. He said his service operates from Haltom City, but occasionally needs to operate in Fort Worth. The City Attorney told Mr. Phillips that application forms will be ready in a few days and that there would be no need for Mr. Phillips to return to the Council about his request for a permit. Under "Special Items " at the regular Council meeting, Mr. Wallace Craig appeared for the Biggers Funeral Home, saying that he was opposed to a subsidy being granted for a private enterprise. Other persons appeared on this matter, and follow- ing a lengthy discussion, the Council (by vote of 6 to 1, Mayor McKinley voting NO) approved the committee recommendations, with the exception that the $8.00 per call payment would be for emer- gency calls only, and not invalid coach service. 3. Award of Contract - Tappan and Folwell Blvds. NAN at South Campus, Tarrant County Junior College (M&C C-943) The City Manager reported that these street improvements are desired by the Junior College to be started immediately in order to be ready for the fall opening of this campus. He said that the City will pay $63,000 of the cost, based on standard participation policies. The Public Works Director described the work to be done on this project. There were no additional questions, and at the regular meeting M&C C-943 was approved unanimously. 4. Additional Information Requested on Advance Land NAN Acquisition (M&C G-1090) for City Hall Site The City Manager said that the resolution proposed for the Council specifically excludes a Main Street mall as part of the officially adopted downtown core plan. 3 Councilman Stovall asked when the Texas-13th Street connection project will be coming up. The Public Works Director replied that the engineering has been completed about three weeks but that project is not scheduled until later in 1967. Councilman Stovall expressed concern that the Council have some time to review the project before its approval. At the regular meeting, M&C G-1090 was approved unani- mously without further comment . 5. Citizens request for Service (IR #1184) NAN The City Manager said that this is a new procedure to be installed which he hoped would speed up responding to com- plaints and citizens ' requests for service. He requested Council Members to contact the Manager's Office when complaints are received. Councilman Kemble commented that this is a needed and good system. 6. Lease of Regional Airport Property (M&C L-1802) NAN Councilman Kemble asked what crops are raised on this land. The City Manager replied that maize and wheat are be- ing raised this year, and cotton was raised last year. Coun- cilman Kemble said he feels $4 per acre is too low a rental. Mayor McKinley commented that $5 is the going rate. The City Manager said that the $4 is the best figure that could be ob- tained and that the lease is only until September 1, 1967, when the land is then needed for airport purposes. At the regular meeting M&C L-1802 was approved without further comment. 7. Suggested Orientation Program for Members of DICK - have Hardy make ar- the City Council (IR #1186) rangements for lunch on May and be ready with Water Dept, The City Manager asked if this program meets the ap- presentation on May 22. Tel: proval of Council Members. The consensus of the Council was Aughinbaugh to arrange for that it is all right. bus with speaker. The City Manager said that there is a conflict on May 15 with the suggested first tour with the Kimbell Foundation people. He suggested the first tour be held on Monday, May 22. He said the tour could be completed by 2:30 or 3:00, and that lunch would be planned at the Holly Treatment Plant. 8. Board of Equalization HDM - discuss with Mayor The City Manager said that the Council needs to make appointments for the 1967 Board of Equalization within two or three weeks in order to make the regular hearing schedule. Councilman Stovall suggested that the Mayor appoint a Council committee to recommend persons for this board. He said that although the fee was raised from $75 to $100 per day last year, it was still difficult to obtain qualified board members . Mayor McKinley said he wished to discuss the matter with the City Manager before appointing a committee to recom- mend a Board of Equalization. 9. City's Investment Policy DICK - get copies of M&C on investment policy for Council In response to a question from Mayor Pro-Tem Sarsgard, this week with brief IR of the City Manager described the current investment policy of transmittal. the City. He said he would send Council Members a copy of the M&C establishing this program last year. 4 The City Manager said that the City normally invests in certificates of deposit at local banks, except that $1,000,000 maturing each month is maintained in U. S. Treasury bills, so that good cash availability is guaranteed. He said that Monday' s Treasury Bill auction rate determines the Thursday bank's certificate of deposit rate on City investments. He said also that repurchase agreements are made with the local banks for short term (2 or 3 weeks) investments. Mayor McKinley asked why a bank is permitted to place se- curities on the City deposits in another bank. The City Manager replied that the bank trust departments are best equipped to handle this sort of security. Mayor McKinley said this appears to be a "ring-around-the-rose' arrangement. The City Manager replied that this system places the securities out of control of the placing bank, and also these are not part of the deposits of the safekeeping bank. He said that there is a limit in any single bank on purchase of certificates of deposit of not over 50 per cent of the bank's capital and surplus.