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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968/01/29-Agenda-Pre-Council MINUTES PRE-COUNCIL CONFERENCE January 29, 1968 Present Late Absent 1. Sarsgard 7. Guinn (Item 2) McKinley 2. Dunham 8. Hoover (Item 2) 3. Kemble 4. Stovall 5. Wilson 6. Kersnick I t e m Follow-up 1. Public Relations Program (IR #1336) EHC - Agenda 2-5-68 Councilman Dunham stated it was his opinion that the City Government must be engaged in public relations activities to acquaint citizens with the operations and functions of the City Government and to give citizens the opportunity to speak to local government officials regarding needs of the various neighborhoods and aspirations for the future growth of the City. He questioned what method would be employed to attract and stimulate attendance at the various neighborhood meetings. City Manager McMahan replied that it was the intention, as partly outlined .in the costs section of the report, that the City would work through existing organizations, such as PTA, civic groups, church groups, etc. , to get support of officers of various organizations and to assist in advance planning regarding dates location and other matters pertaining to the neighborhood meetings. Councilman Kemble inquired whether the meetings would be separate or in concert with the other meetings with which the city staff would make preliminary contact. The City Manager replied that it was anticipated that there be separate neighborhood meetings on behalf of the City and that the other various groups would cooperate and coordinate in stimulating attendance at the meetings. There was some concern by Councilman Kersnick that there might be overlap into areas of responsibility of the Community Relations Commission, but Councilman Dunham remarked it was his understanding that the CRC worked in specialized areas where there were peculiar problems under consideration and no overlap would be created. Major concern of several Councilmen was the likelihood of broad citizen participation in the meetings. Councilmen Kemble, Wilson and Sarsgard acknowledged the need for information which would come from citizens at such meetings and inquired to the City Manager if there were precedence for success of the methods planned in publicizing and producing such neighborhood meetings. City Manager said a similar pattern was used in 1965 bond program which produced good turnouts in various neighborhoods, pp and he mentioned the success of a program recently undertaken in OFFICIAL R�p Phoenix along the same general format. CITY Councilman Dunham remarked that he had discussed the matter ry�" with officials in the civic affairs division of Texas Christian FT. 410VP1ti TGh. -2- �,. „", University who advised that the program not be limited to the various levels of school connected families and parents, but that the program be opened to all groups and classes of persons within the community. He stated his opinion that the development of such program was certainly worth the initial cost of $2,100 proposed. City Manager indicated that he and the staff would develop presentation material and set up initial meetings in various neighborhoods on an interim basis if the City Council wished to proceed with the program. He remarked thatthe, materials produced would be useful for other purposes, such as presentations before civic groups and orientation of council members and staff members, even if the information program proved to be unworkable. Although Councilman Kersnick was not enthusiastic about the possible success of the program, there was a consensus among those present that staff begin preparation of material for a start by April 1 and that there be an evaluation of the possible continuation of the program by May 1. Councilman Hoover was not present at the discussion of the matter during the pre-council conference, but later informed the City Manager of his desire to place the matter on the formal agenda for the meeting of February 5, 1968. 2. Saginaw Water and Sewer Service (M&C C-1149) NAN City Manager reported to Council that standard policy had been followed in the drafting of the water and sewer contracts with the City of Saginaw. In response to question by Councilman Dunham, he explained that the City's responsibility for construction of a $97,000 approach main is the responsibility of Fort Worth because the line lies within the City and will be subject to use by future development on either side of the new line. It is standard policy, the City Manager said, for the municipality to receive Fort Worth water at the city limits. Councilman Sarsgard inquired when the contract would be effective and the Manager replied that charges would not bommence until the water line was connected, probably about the first of August, 1968. Councilman Dunham observed that the cost of the raw water was relatively insignificant by comparison with the total cost of water. Councilman Stovall inquired why the rates would have been effective as of October 1, 1967. City Manager replied that the rates and standard contracts are subject to review in accordance with information being prepared for the City Council for submission within the next ��{ �two weeks. F { There was some doubt expressed by Councilman Wilson .4iY W)WARY that a five year rate review was frequent enough, but the �! YtJ rry City Manager explained that there must be sufficient stability � u t', TIX. in the price to attract users, and also afford sufficient `. -3- flexibility 3-flexibility to permit the City of Fort Worth to recover all of its costs. The manager explained that the rate structure is developed in such a manner as to meet the mid-point of the five year period so that the possibility of long term disadvantageous water rates would be alleviated. It was the consensus of Council Members to approve both contracts, which action was taken during the regular session. 3. Lease of Office Space - Meacham Field Administration EHC - Inform Beardslee Building (IR #1338) of decision of City Council. Councilman Kemble inquired whether the building was large enough to accomodate the request for space by the Agriculture Department and all others who would need space in connection with aviation affairs. The City Manager replied that after the rental to the agricultural agency, there would still be 6,000 square feet available for rental to aviation oriented industries. Councilman hoover inquired whether there had been an over building of facility at the airport, particularly with reference to the fact that the Aviation Board recommended a size and cost 1/3 higher than originally planned. It was replied by the City Manager that the Airport Board and the City expects there to be sufficient future leases to aviation connected enterprises to fully justify and utilize space available in the building. There is space available at the present time, he added, and the staff had been approached by the Department of Agriculture regarding temporary use of approximately 3,000 square feet for at least a five year period. The Manager reported the Aviation Board was not in favor of the leasing, but preferred to hold the space available for aviation connected industries. Councilman Kemble inquired whether the improvements to be installed by the Department of Agriculture could be salvaged for other uses. The Manager reported approximately $4,000 of the $20,000 could not be used for other purposes, but that most of the $16,000 worth of petitioning could be reusable. In response to question about when the building would be ready for occupancy, the City Manager replied to Councilman Stovall that the building will be ready for occupancy by March 15th, but that activity and use of the building depended on the date at which the north hangar could be removed and necessary ramp work completed. Further �VOU inquiries were made by Councilman Stovall about the time f V that movements would be made from the old terminal building �i1 E RIEU Y to the new terminal building. City Manager replied that the time of this transfer is dependent upon the installation of ► !. y141►�•• `'�' -4- low, new flight information facilities by the FAA in the new facility. Councilman Hoover joined with other Councilmen in the opinion that there should be no leases to industries not connected with aviation. It was the decision of the City Council to take "no action" on the Aviation Board decision and thereby confirm the action denying lease to the Department of Agriculture. _ 4. Sublease - Lake Worth Casino (M&C C-1148) NAN Mr. Cleon Gorbettappeared briefly to explain his desire for the sublease and confidence in the sub-lease operator whom he termed a responsible person and one who would make the building useful as a dance pavilion. City Council was in general agreement with the sublease, insofar as Mr. Gorbett would still be ultimately responsible under the contract for all necessary improvements and payments of rent. The sublease was approved during the regular Council Meeting. 5. Sublease - Frontier Airlines Office Building at NAN GSIA (M&C C-1152) City Council reached a consensus that the sublease should be approved with the understanding that the sublease did not affect the counter space at the terminal building nor the ultimate responsibility for the rent by Frontier - (Central) Airlines. The sublease was approved during the regular Council Meeting. 6. Acquistion of right-of-way - West Berry Street NAN Extension (M&C L-2131) Councilman Stovall indicated that the alignment of the roadway had been the result of extended negotiations several years ago and that the compromise location was one which had been reached in coordination with residents in the area. It was his opinion, Councilman Kersnick stated, that the roadway would cut across the campus rather than loop around the edge of the campus, and he expressed concern that there was only one bridge in Tanglewood over the existing Howards Branch. It was explained that the alignment had always been anticipated to go around the former golf course and that further improvements on Bellaire Drive South were awaiting realignments and flood channel by the Water Board. Councilman Stovall indicated that although the City had �, ��� an option years ago to acquire the land from TCU at its z -an original price, no monies were available at that time, �'��� LJ�� and that the City is lucky in acquiring the land for less LL +, i� ,,, than $200,000 at this time. + The acquisition of the land was approved by the City Council during its regular session. ' -5- 14W 7. Improvements on North Sylvania and Odom Road NAN (IR #1340) The City Manager briefly explained the progress of developments of streets and roadways in the area of the AMCOT properties and indicated the willingness of the City to cooperate in paving Odom from the North Freeway to Sylvania and from Sylvania to Beach Street as well as Sylvania northward to Odom Road simultaneously in coordination with AMCOT. There was extended discussion of right-of-way locations, alternatives for development of thoroughfares between Sylvania and Riverside Drive and the possible encouragement of the City to local property owners to plat the necessary right-of-way for thoroughfares which would be built in the area. It was the consensus of the Council to await develop- ment by the property owners in the area and give opportunity for the needed right-of-ways to be dedicated in advance of the thoroughfare and street improvements. � j All