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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967/08/07-Agenda-Pre-Council ..hk MINUTES PRE-COUNCIL CONFERENCE August 7, 1967 Present Late Absent 1. McKinley 7 . Hoover (Item 2) 8. Sarsgard 2. Kemble 9. Dunham 3. Kersnick 4. Wilson 5. Stovall 6. Guinn I t e m Follow-up to Granting of Easement to TESCO - Meacham Field NAN (M&C's L-1922 and IR #1238 - held over from a previous week) The Mayor asked the City Manager to discuss the Meacham easement. The City Manager described the project. Mr. Kemble asked why the wires were not being moved under- ground. The City Manager said that the primary reason for not moving the wires underground at this time was the cost factor. He also said that the Airport Board had decided to wait for construction of the new runway before putting the lines underground . The City Manager said that the NE-SW runway would not be extended but that the N-S runway would; and, at the time of the construction of the runway extension, the lines can be removed altogether. Mr. Kemble asked about the relocation of utility lines interfering aircraft landings at the present time. The City Manager said that the lines are in the process of being moved out of the clear zone area and that the project is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. Granting the easements was approved during the regular meeting. 2. A Report of the Ambulance Study Committee EHD - Please implement Council decision. The Mayor asked Mr. Stovall to discuss the thinking of the Ambulance Committee in submitting its proposal. Mr. Stovall reported that the City has been paying $8 per call to a maximum of 450 calls or $3600 a month to Gold Cross . He presented a tabulation of the non-pickup calls made by Gold Cross for each month. He said that these were calls initiated by the Police Department which the contractor providing ambulance service to the City must make and there- fore the City should pay something for the no-pickup calls. He said the committee was proposing that Gold Cross receive $20 for each non-pickup call up to 150 calls per month, for the next six months . Mr. Kersnick observed that it appeared to be that the committee was suggesting that the City guarantee non-pickup calls rather than provide subsidies for every call. Mr. Stovall agreed and said that it was a case where the City would be paying for service that the City was demanding. Mr. Wilson suggested that in any event the company is being subsidized but that this ap- peared more palatable to him. The City Council approved Alternate # 2 of the Committee report at its regular meeting. 3. Paving Improvements MAN The City Manager asked for questions concerning the benefit hearings scheduled on the agenda, but there were no questions asked. 4. Demolition of Substandard Buildings and Site MAN Clearance - Long Avenue Improvements - (M&C's C-1023 and C-1024) The Mayor asked Mr. Hoover whether he had any questions about item number 5 on the Pre-Council Conference agenda. The City Manager gave a brief report on the background of the City's program of demolishing substandard buildings . Mr. Kemble re- marked that liens are put on the property and wanted to know how much interest was charged. Mr. Shepherd reported that in- terest was charged on the lien at 6 per cent for 40 months . He also said that the houses in the demolition program are only houses that are impossible to rehabilitate. The City Manager mentioned that the program started last year and that this is the second group of buildings that the City will be razing and filing liens against the property to recover the cost. Mr. Wilson observed that this would be an acceleration of the program. The Mayor asked why certain units were deleted from the project and the City Manager and Mr. Shepherd replied that to date these were property owners who have complied with the City code after the advertisements for bids were published. Mr. Shepherd also pointed out that a number of the structures scheduled to be demolished are tied up in estate litigation and unless the local government takes action to have them razed, nothing can be done. 5. Realignment of Long Avenue east of Deen EHD - notify Public Works to Road (IR #1248) proceed with change order, necessary legal procedures, The discussion turned to the matter of realigning Long and exploration of railroad re- Avenue east of Deen Road. The City Manager began the dis- routing to avoid a number of cussion pointing out that the General Industrial Corporation grade separations. has acquired some property in the 36th Street area under the North-South Freeway and has asked the City about the possi- bilities of realigning the Long Avenue Extension across its property. The Public Works Department evaluated the request and is proposing a more northerly routing of the Long Avenue pro- ject. The Public Works Director said that the 36th Street project could be narrowed somewhat if the Long Avenue Exten- sion as proposed in IR #1248 were approved. He also pointed out that approval of the project would require new hearings and additional cost in the neighborhood of $100,000 . The long range plans for the Long Avenue Extension include a tie- in at Beach and Broadway Streets. Mr. Hoover asked whether the extension would have any effect on the on-off ramps at I-35W. Mr. Graham said that the U. S. Bureau of Roads has jurisdiction in the matter and that he is informed that no additional ramps or access points will be allowed because of the large bridges in the area. The Mayor asked a question about the cost of service roads on a 50-50 basis. Mr. Graham replied that the City does not participate in the cost of interstate highways at all. On non-interstate highways, landowners and the Highway Department share the cost of service roads on a 50-50 basis. Mr. Hoover asked about the approximate date for completing the west leg of Loop 820. Mr. Graham said that the Highway Department has accelerated the program to North Main Street but that the en- tire Loop project has not yet been approved. Mr. Kemble asked whether 33rd Street would be affected in the contract under discussion to realign Long Avenue. He was told that the 33rd Street project had to be completed before work could begin on North Sylvania Street. He said that the work on 33rd Street is now complete; Additional discussion ensued concerning right-of- way for the proposed realignment. The City Manager noted that Mr. DuBose would be assessed for road construction on his property. Mr. Hoover asked whether Sylvania Avenue will tie in with the new Long Street alignment. Jack Graham said yes and that it could be,scheduled now or later with the Sylvania to Odom Road Improvement project. Some discus- sion followed concerning realignment of railroad tracks and elimination of grade crossings for the street system in the northeastern corner of Fort Worth. The Mayor suggested that if we were going to be buying any land from the railroad, we ought to get started on the project now. At the conclusion of the project the City Manager asked the Council for guidance concerning the realignment project; the consensus appeared that the staff should go ahead with the realignment project . 6. Reorganization of the City Manager's Office EHD - List on Pre-Council for 8/14/67. The City Manager pointed out to-the Council that he has a vacant position in his office and suggests that the recom- mendations of the Growth! Fort Worth Committee - that an Assistant to the City Manager for coordinating developers ' contracts -- be established. He pointed out that the 1967-68 proposed budget includes a Senior Analyst to assist in handling the administrative work load of the City Manager's Office. He requested guidance of the Council. Mr. Hoover suggested that additional study be made before the Council made any decisions . He asked for an informal study session. The Mayor suggested that an employee of the City staff should be named to the position. Mr. Kemble said that it was the City Manager's prerogative to appoint personnel and all that the Council could do was to establish a position and tell the City Manager what they expected the position to do. Mr. Stovall suggested that the City Council meet informally after the regular Council meeting to consider the matter further. It was agreed to meet in informal session after the regular meeting. r , Street project had to be completed before work could begin on North Sylvania Street. He said that the work on 33rd Street is now completes Additional discussion ensued concerning right-of- way for the proposed realignment. . The City Manager noted that Mr. DuBose would be assessed for road construction on his property. Mr. Hoover asked whether Sylvania Avenue will tie in with the new Long Street alignment. Jack Graham said yes and that it could be, scheduled now or later with the Sylvania to Odom Road Improvement project. Some discus- sion followed concerning realignment of railroad tracks and elimination of grade crossings for the street system in the northeastern corner of Fort Worth. The Mayor suggested that if we were going to be buying any land from the railroad, we ought to get started on the project now. At the conclusion of the project the City Manager asked the Council for guidance concerning the realignment project; the consensus appeared that the staff should go ahead with the realignment project . 6. Reorganization of the City Manager's Office EHD - List on Pre-Council for 8/14/67. The City Manager pointed out to -the Council that he has a vacant position in his office and suggests that the recom- mendations of the Growth! Fort Worth Committee - that an Assistant to the City Manager for coordinating developers ' contracts -- be established . He pointed out that the 1967-68 proposed budget includes a Senior Analyst to assist in handling the administrative work load of the City Manager's Office. He requested guidance of the Council. Mr. Hoover suggested that additional study be made before the Council made any decisions . He asked for an informal study session. The Mayor suggested that an employee of the City staff should be named to the position. Mr. Kemble said that it was the City Manager's prerogative to appoint personnel and all that the Council could do was to establish a position and tell the City Manager what they expected the position to do. Mr. Stovall suggested that the City Council meet informally after the regular Council meeting to consider the matter further. It was agreed to meet in informal session after the regular meeting.