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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976/12/27-Agenda-Pre-Council MW A G E N D A Pre-Council Conference 8:30 A.M. , Monday, December 27, 1976 1) CETA Title I Modification (Recommendation No. 2) (M&C C-3618 and IR #2827) 2) Outside Display of Furniture on Hemphill Street (IR #2825) 3) Police Management Information System (M&C G-3257) 4) CITRAN Fare Structure and Elderly and Handicapped Hours (M&C G-3258) 5) Contract for Ambulance Service (M&C C-3632) 6) Fort Worth Economic Development Corporation (M&C C-3624 and IR #2829) and Economic Development Policy Board (IR #2830) 7) Contract Application to Purchase Institute of Transportation Engineer Training Program (M&C TE-141) 8) Cancellation of Lake Worth Lease with Mr. Haddon Hertel (IR #2828) 9) Other M&C's of December 27, 1976 10) Other Items OFFICIAL RE 10 CITY S"CRETARY FT. WORTH, TEX. i .W 14W SUMMARY PRE-COUNCII. MEETING DECEMBER 27, 1976 Present Absent Overcash Meadows Woods Bradshaw Rimmer O'Neill Parmer Cunningham Newkirk ITEMS: FOLLOW-UP: 1. CETA Title I Modification (Recommendation No. 2) (M&C C-3618 and I.R. No. 2827). City Manager Line explained that this item { had been held over by the Planning Committee but that the Committee had recommended approval. Councilman Newkirk questioned the audit pro- cedure for all CETA programs, in particular, if the Department of Labor audits or if COG audits these projects. Richard Sapp replied that COG Committee audits projects twice a year and that the Department of Labor audits every other year. Councilman Newkirk asked if GAO was auditing the CETA program. R. N. Line stated that GAO only audits where there is missing property involved and that they have not audited our CETA programs. Councilwoman Rimmer wanted to know how many people would be involved in the CETA program. She stated that she had asked for a summary of activities of the CETA program several months ago. Councilman Cunningham stated that there were big, thick evaluations available. Vernell Sturns stated that such a summary was being prepared and would be avail- able shortly. 2. Outside Display of Furniture on Hemphill _ Street (I.R. No. 2825) . r 1 City Manager Line asked if a copy of the I.R. has been mailed to the people involved on Hemphill Street. Gary Gwyn said that the I.R. had been mailed but that there had not been sufficient time to reach them yet. It was asked that this item be back on Pre-Council Agenda for the next week's meeting. OFFICIAL RECORD CITY S -2 qW 3. Police Management Information System (M&C G-3257) . Mayor Overcash introduced the item. Council- manIVA Parmer asked if the M&C only involved the supposedly matching funds. City Manager Line stated that the City had found no federal or state funds for such a project. Councilman Parmer asked how could the project be set up with only the City's share of the project. Mr. Line explained that it would take considerably more time, like two to three years. Councilman Parmer stated that with matching funds the project might have been finished in a year. Chief Brown stated that his staff had gone scrounging to other cities and found some existing programs that could be used. Councilman Bradshaw said it was interesting that a $188,000 City share federal project could be done in the City in-house for only $138,000. Councilman Cunningham asked if we should have planned this project this way from the beginning. Mr. Line explained that over the next three years the project would cost the City more than the estimated $188,000. Councilman Newkirk said that the federal government had spent millions of dollars across the country on such projects, therefore there should be ample existing programs to draw from for this project. 4. Citran Fare Structure and Elderly and j Handicapped Hours (M&C G-3258) . Councilman Bradshaw asked if Councilman Woods' CP had not been presented, would this increased fare have been presented to the Council. Mr. Line stated that the increase would have been presented before the end of the fiscal year. Mayor Overcash raised the question that if the City increases the fares, the ridership will go down and, therefore, be counter-productive. Mr. Line introduced the Chairperson of the Committee, Mrs. Rachel Gooch. She stated that the trend had changed and that increasing the fares does not necessarily mean a reduction in ridership. She stated that the Committee asked that an in-depth study be made of the present fares before the CP was presented. Councilman Cunningham asked how long would it take to make such a study. Jim McMeans estimated that it would take six to seven months, and there might be some regional type funds available for such a study. Councilman Cunningham asked about the CITY -3 qW scope of the study. Jim McMeans discussed the economics and policy and referred to Alton McDonald. Mr. McDonald stated it would take nine to 12 months. He stated that the cost of provid- ing a ride had gone up considerably and was noted in his report. Since over 60% of the elderly and handicapped ride during the peak hours for work- type rides, the $63,000 would make the budget out of balance considerably at the end of the year. He re- emphasized that bus ridership was down over the past six months; also that there had been a change in thinking of which he referred to a San Francisco meeting this year whereby it was thought that the user should pay a larger portion of the cost. He stated that the increase could be delayed so that a study could be made but that he would prefer that the increase be granted at this time. Councilman O'Neill discussed the 40(,' fare and possible rider- ship drops. He also discussed the fact that the $63,000 cost for elderly and handicapped would only mean a $30,000 plus of City cost. Alton McDonald discussed the fact that a number of other large cities' bus systems fares were now as high as 65(,, per ride. City Manager Line asked Mr. McDonald to add information as to Jim McMeans' idea of a study. Mr. McDonald discussed some items that might be covered in the study but cautioned that the study might not show anything that the staff is not doing now. Councilman Woods stated he did not know of the other needs when he submitted the CP. He asked that the increase in fares and the elderly and handicapped provisions be granted. Mrs. Gooch also asked that the increase be granted now and a study be made later. Councilman Newkirk was interested in what might have been studied along the lines of using smaller buses during off-peak hours to save gas. Mr. McDonald said that this was an issue that haunted the industry. It would mean the need for two fleets of buses with additional shop ex- penses. Some cities are looking at this possibility. Councilman Bradshaw said this was similar to the taxicab concept earlier studied and determined not feasible. 5. Contract for Ambulance Service (M&C C-3632) . Councilman Parmer asked if Dr. Turner would like to speak. Dr. Turner stated that thek, Committee was happy with the contract. Councilman Bradshaw thought that the contract looked good; that it was a good step in the right direction. Councilman Newkirk asked Dr. Turner if the approach is working and how this compared to their original OFFj��A� �f A n QTY �� R -4 qW concept whereby the City would have taken on the ambulance service. Dr. Turner said that with the regional concept the ultimate system would be government operated. Councilman Parmer asked if the two stations proposed in the 1977 schedule with sophisticated cardiac equipment would be used just for runs of that nature. It was answered that they would not. This is only a phase operation until all stations have the equipment. Mayor Overcash spoke to caution that the budget will have to pay for it in the years to come. Councilman Bradshaw said that the ultimate system is what is needed and must have a high priority placed on it. 6. Fort Worth Economic Development Corporation (M&C C-3624 and I.R. No. 2829) and Economic Development Policy Board (I.R. No. 2830) . Councilman Newkirk said he was not against this item but that he did not have enough informa- tion and asked if this item could be delayed another _- `, ,`„ j.'c.� week. Vernell Sturns stated that it did not make a great deal of difference. The only thing was that i f they wanted to get under operation during the second year before the third year starts, which is shortly. Councilman Newkirk said he had not had time to digest I.R. No. 2830, as yet. Vernell Sturns discussed I.R. No. 2830, its coordinating activi- ties. Councilwoman Rimmer asked also for a delay and also why the $48,000 for staff and what was the staff to do. Olen O'Dell discussed the Economic Development Center in relation to con- tractors, insurance, Workman's Compensation and liability. Councilwoman Rimmer asked where will the Center be located. Mr. O'Dell stated it would be established away from the City Hall building. The operation would be mainly a pump priming effort to establish small contractors in business. Councilman Parmer asked what is the organization going to do. O'Dell answered with "to help small businessmen understand accounting, give advice, and provide bonding ability.” Councilman Cunningham asked how would this provide bonding. Mr. O'Dell answered that this would probably be accomplished by a bonding insurance pool. Councilwoman Rimmer referred to Training Skill and Minority Bank and asked why. Vernell Sturns stated that the needs were not clear; that the Committee had been work- ing on this for the last six months and that it was not clear as to exactly what the office will finally be doing; but the end result is still needed. Councilwoman Rimmer questioned the CETA : [OFFICIAL -S program for training skills. City Manager Line answered that CETA programs were mainly training workers, while this program would be training contractors. Councilman Parmer was concerned about duplication of effort with the Small Business Administration. Vernell Sturns answered that this effort would mainly be working with contractors that do not qualify for the Small Business Administration type of operations. Mayor Overcash stated that this pro- ject would be raising money from the private sector. Councilman Newkirk again asked for a delay. Mayor Overcash stated that the Economic Development Policy Board would be established from individuals recommended by certain groups and then the remainder at large appointed by the City Council. 7. Contract Application to Purchase Institute of Transportation Engineering Training Program (M&C TE-141) . City Manager Line stated that this was nearer and dearer to the heart of Mr. Johndroe, and for some time we have needed such a program.