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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967/08/14-Agenda-Pre-Council f.4P Ar OW4 00 MINUTES PRE-COUNCIL CONFERENCE August 14, 1967 Present Late Absent 1. McKinley 7. Hoover (Item 2) 9. Dunham 2. Stovall 8. Guinn (Item 2) 3. Kersnick 4. Sarsgard 5. Kemble 6. Wilson I t e m Follow-Up 1. Budget study sessions FLOYD - make arrangements for staff support at sessions. The Mayor sought a consensus of the Council to set dates for budget study sessions . After some discussion, a decision was made to hold the first budget session on Monday, August 14, 1967. At the end of its regular meet- ing, the City Council decided to hold its first budget study session beginning at five o'clock in the evening, Monday, August 21, 1967. The location of the study ses- sion will be determined at the regular council meeting of August 21. 2. Reorganization of the City Manager 's Office NAN (Held over from previous week) In light of the proposed reorganization of the City Manager 's Office, the Mayor asked how much money would the City save if developers did more of their own engineering work. The City Manager replied that the staff had evaluated the workload, and, assuming that additional bond fund work is not done, one draftsman can be eliminated. Little savings would result in engineering work because �C glut„�, d►t��i� developers ' plans would still have to be reviewed. He went on to say that the proposed reorganization plan is t1l, not related to any change in engineering procedures which 0p�►1 . would require changing the developers ' policies. He sug- � w Pit gested that the Assistant for Community Development would be given a long-term assignment of reviewing the policies and suggesting and drafting changes to them. The City Manager also said that engineering personnel would be re- assigned to other work, especially that being done on con- sulting basis for the City now. The Mayor asked how much is being done on a consult- ing basis now, and the City Manager said it was a consider- able amount and pointed out the Long Avenue extension and the Oak Grove paving projects as examples. Mr. Kemble observed that the reorganization appeared to have two phases to it; 1) to fill the vacant position with an Assistant for Community Development, and 2) for the assistant to make recommendations for changes in the developers ' policies at a later date. The City Manager said that all that is at issue today is whether he should fill the vacancy in his office with an Assistant for Com- munity Development. He said that he desired a consensus of the council in terms of the Growth! Fort Worth Committee recommendation. Mr. Sarsgard remarked that it is a good study and that as far as he knows many of the developers are for its implementation. Mr. Kemble and Mr. Stovall agreed with the latter reminding Council members of the difficulties that the Council experienced with developers about a year ago and pointed out that the study took place over a ten month period. He said that many members of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, with whom he had many business contacts, are in agreement with the findings of the committee and went on to say that the vacant posi- tion should be filled with a qualified person to handle the developers ' contracts. Mr. "Stovall said that although the cost of the City Manager's Office budget will be increased, he felt certain that the increase would be offset by savings elsewhere in the long run. Mr. Hoover pointed out that there should be more study concerning the duties of the proposed position. He said that the Assistant for Community Develop- ment should not be an errand boy just walking the plans through the various departments. Mr. Stovall remarked that the new position will centralize decision making and elimi- nate many delays and red tape now experienced by the de- velopers. Mr. Hoover replied that there was a need to study the recommendations of the Growth.' Fort Worth Committee further. Dr. Guinn said that he had heard a great deal about the developers ' policies and felt that the gripes about them were mostly because of the red tape involved in processing the contracts. Mr. Wilson said that the reor- ganization plan should be implemented immediately and ob- served that the immediate expense will pay for itself in the long run in terms of better attitudes and cooperation between the City and the developers. Mr. Sarsgard expressed his agreement with the proposed reorganization plan. The Mayor said that it would probably take some time to see how the position would work out and told the City Manager that he should fill the vacant position as he had proposed it. 3. Oak Grove Road Benefit Hearing (M&C G-1119) NAN The Manager outlined the Oak Grove Road Paving project and said that he felt one person at least would ��'^ probably appear before the Council concerning it. He L,�J ��uasked whether the Council had any questions on the pro- �ject. Mr. Kemble asked whether this project would com-plete the plans for Oak Grove Road. The City Manager said �that it would tie from Felix to Loop 820. Hearings were closed and assessments levied_ at the regular meeting. 4. Benefit Hearings - Nine Locations - Southside NAN (M&C G-1120) The City Manager asked whether or not there were any questions about this project. Mr. Kemble asked whether the City was initiating any of the projects. The City Manager pointed out that Devitt Street between Main and Bryan and the Cantey tie-in with Stanley are City initiated to fit in with other projects in the area which are petitioned. Hearings were closed and assess- ments were levied at regular meeting. 5. Award of Contract Decatur Avenue (M&C G-1033) NAN Mr. Hoover asked about the status of the projects between 36th and 32nd street. The City Manager said the contract for that portion of Decatur Avenue has been awarded The contract was awarded in the regular meeting i 3 6. Award of Contract - Eight Locations NAN East Side (M&C C-1035) The City Manager said that three streets - Menzer, Watson, and Queen, will terminate in unplatted property under assessment policies, and no culs-de-sac or turnarounds will be provided. He pointed out that when the property is developed or is platted, the platted streets will tie in with these three streets. Contract was awarded in the regu- lar meeting. 7. Award of Contract - Storm Drainage in Northside NAN Neighborhood Improvement Area (M&C C-1036) Mr. Hoover asked when the Long Avenue, 33rd Project in the Neighborhood Improvement Areas would be completed. The City Manager said that the project was scheduled for completion in early 1968 and that at any rate, the Neigh- borhood Improvement Project would not be completed in the area until after Long-33rd is completed. Contract was awarded in the regular meeting. 8. Welch Avenue Storm Drain at Alta Vista EHD - List on 8/28/67 agenda. (IR # 1251) The City Manager said that the Welch Avenue Storm Drain reports had been submitted to his office by the Public Works Director and the Essex Company. He said that the Essex Company had asked for a deferment to August 28, 1967. Mr. Stovall asked whether granting the delay would cause any difficulties, and the City Manager said that it wouldn't. The City Manager said that the City has been in contact with Mr. Jack Howe concerning Woodway from Alta Mesa to Minot Streets. Mr. Graham discussed Woodway saying only that preliminary talks had been held. He said that he - - p. and Mr. Howe talked about the zoning problem concerning - i t.- duplex housing on Gorman and pointed out that at this time r�CC three alternatives appeared possible to solve the problem: Ty ,S u.V 111& 1) condemnation, 1 2) open the streetto Granbury, and 3) readjust the zoning to allow duplex houses. The Council granted the deferment as requested by the Essex Company. The Mayor asked about the status of closing Wedgwood Drive from Wolens Way to utility right-of-way (M&C P-248), and the City Manager said that it was on the regular agenda. The deferment requested by the Essex Company was granted. :90 Mr. Stovall asked whether the Council had any com- NAN ments concerning the proposed street name. change of Alta Vista Drive to North Beach Street. A few comments from the various Councilmen followed, but nothing definite was decided. At the regular meeting the request for name change was disapproved.