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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993/09/07-Agenda-Pre-Council BUDGET STUDY SESSION TUE,SD Y, SEVVEMBER 7, 1993 EN'[MEDIA'IT ' ICY FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL ILWORKSESSION PRE-COUNCIL CHAiVTBER QTY COUNCIL WORKSESSION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7., 1993 1:00 P.M. PRE-COUNCIL CU AMBER 1) Responses to M&C's Continued from a Previous Week - None 2) Questions Concerning Current Agenda Items - Bob Terrell, City Manager 3) Purchase of Customer Information and Billing System and Acquisition of Consultant Services (M&C C-13986) - Mike Groomer, Assistant City Manager 4) Regulations Concerning Fences-Joe Bilardi,Director of Development;Tom Davis, Director of City Services OP,` 5) Discussion of Cable Regulation - Pat Svacina, Assistant to the City Manager 6) Discussion of Proposed T.U. Electric Audit - Costa Triantaphilides, City Internal Auditor 7 ' City Council Requests for Future Agenda Items THE PURPOSE OF A PRE-COUNCIL MEETING HELD PRIOR TO A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS TO ALLOW THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INFORMALLY DISCUSS ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND TO SECURE INFORMATION FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND THE STAFF.ALTHOUGH THE MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,CITIZENS ARE REQUESTED TO RESERVE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FOR THE SUBSEQUENT COUNCIL MEETING SO THEY WILL BE A PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD. "This facility is wheelchair accessible. For accommodations or sign interpretive services, please call the City Manager's Offs at 871-6140,48 hours in advance." off ICIAI WHO cm 91RITARY jT. WORTN, TL. a i a NOTES FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 1993 PRE-COUNCIL AND COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 8, 1993 CITY MANAGER'S STAFF MEETING PRE-COUNCIL 1. Responses to M&C's Continued from a Previous Week - None. 2. Questions Concerning Current Agenda Items M&C G-10320 - Public Hearing for Public Improvement District No. 2 and Action Concerning the Annual Plan of Service, Budget and Setting of Benefit Hearing for Fiscal Year 1993-94 M&C G-10321 - Public Hearing for Public Improvement District No. 4 and Action Concerning the Annual Plan of Service, Budget and Setting of Benefit Hearing for Fiscal Year 1993-94 COUNCIL: Mr. Barr asked what the boundaries are of the two PIDs. STAFF: Mr. Adkins stated that they are both located in the Park Glen area of the city, and that we will provide him with a map of 'the PIDs. ACTION: Provide map of the PIDs to Mr. Barr (and' other Councilmembers?) 3. Purchase of Customer Information and Billing System and Acquisition of Consultant Services (M&C C-13986) SUMMARY: ACM Groomer, Richard Sawey, and a representative of MICON, Inc. provided an overview of the installation and implementation of the recommended customer information and billing system for the Water Department. COUNCIL: Mr. Meadows asked if we received bids on the privatization of the billing function. Mr. Barr asked the timeframe for full implementation of the new system, as well as what comprises the savings that would be realized. STAFF: Mr. Sawey responded that we did seek proposals for privatization and received four proposals, none of which served our needs appropriately. Mr. Sawey responded that the timeframe for full implementation is 18 months, and that the savings to be realized would be in personnel time either eliminated or utilized elsewhere. He stated that savings would not be realized until the system is ful OFFICIAL P,LCORD 1 CITY SLC►NARY FT. WORTH, IEX. COUNCIL: Mr. Meadows expressed concern that going to the new system might not result in hard dollar savings. He also expressed concern regarding MICON's role in the process and their involvement in the future implementation of the system. STAFF: Mr. Sawey stated that MICON has provided valuable assistance regarding project management and evaluation, and that they are needed to facilitate transition to the new system. COUNCIL: Ms. Woods asked how many fewer positions would be needed to operate the new system. Mr. Silcox asked if the 3-year pay-back would begin immediately or following the 18-month implementation process; and if it would affect ratepayers through increased rates. He also asked how much time would be freed up on the mainframe by going to the new system. STAFF: Mr. Sawey responded that 13 positions have been identified within the Water Department that could be reduced with the implementation of the new system; that the pay-back would begin following the 18-month implementation period; and that it would not affect ratepayers. He stated that all time being used by the billing system on the mainframe would be freed up for other uses, but that ISS would have that information. COUNCIL: Mr. Barr asked why start-up costs with the privatization option would be so high. He also expressed concern about where the savings will come from and the impact to the General Fund. Mr. Meadows expressed concern about the privatization aspect. ACTION: Provide information to Council regarding the costs associated with the privatization option, the impact to the General Fund of going to a new system, the actual savings that would be realized with the new system, and the affect on mainframe operations. 4. Regulations Concerning Fences SUMMARY: Joe Bilardi provided options to resolve the front-yard fence issue, including amending the zoning ordinance to allow for 6' fences in front yards and adopting an ordinance that would grandfather in all that are currently in existence. Mr. Terrell stated that we have already implemented a moratorium on issuing citations to those who already have fences in violation of the ordinance. Mr. Bilardi stated that staff will bring forward an action item in order to adopt the actual moratorium, if Council so desires. COUNCIL: Mr. Meadows asked if we could simply lower the processing fee and send each case through the Board of Adjustment process. 2 OFFVAl RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. Y,'ORTH, TEX. STAFF: Mr. Bilardi stated that sheer numbers would overwhelm, because they have to notify all property owners within 200 feet, and they expect a large number of cases will need to be processed. COUNCIL: Mr. Barr and Mr. Meadows stated that we need to create a streamlined, effective, reduced-fee process that uses the Board of Adjustment process currently in existence. ACTION: Create a streamlined, reduced-fee process through the Board of Adjustment to process the fences currently in existence. Bring forward to Council an action item that will adopt the moratorium on currently existing, see-through fences. 5. Discussion of Cable Regulation SUMMARY: Pat Svacina provided an overview of the Cable Act of 1992, and the City's role. COUNCIL: Mr. Barr asked if the cable companies have the right to petition not to be regulated if usership falls below the 30% level. STAFF: Mr. Svacina stated that as long as usership is below the 30% level, they have the right not to be regulated, but if it exceeds the 30%, the City has the right to regulate. ACTION: None. 6. Discussion of Proposed T.U. Electric Audit SUMMARY: Costa T. provided a brief overview of his proposal to audit T.U. 's gross receipts for the years 1988 through 1993 . COUNCIL: Mr. Barr asked if there are outside firms that could be called upon to perform the audits, if necessary. Mayor Granger asked if Costa's group would provide information as to what level of funds we should be receiving in the future. STAFF: Costa responded that outside audit firms are available, but that they normally ask for 50% of what they recover. He also stated that they would provide information as to the level of funds from T.U. that we should expect in the future. COUNCIL: Mayor Granger asked if his newly formatted reports to council would include the expected return of each area audited, and if Council would continue to receive reports on all major findings until they are corrected. OFFICIAL RECO'D 3 CITY sa C1111ARY V1. tiGR�H, TEX. STAFF: Costa responded that he will incorporate the expected return in his annual audit plan, and that his staff is developing a database that will track major findings until they are corrected. COUNCIL: Mr. Silcox asked if Internal Audit can report to Council when those companies that have received tax abatements are out of compliance. STAFF: Mr. Adkins responded that the contracts require that they be audited on an annual basis, so the information could be provided to Council annually. ACTION: None. 7. City Council Requests for Future Agenda Items a) Ms. Haskin asked to be appointed to the Housing Programs Committee. ACTION: b) Mayor Granger requested that on next Tuesday's Pre-Council agenda we include an opportunity for a presentation regarding the State Highway Department's committee for the design of the new I-30. They would like to request $30, 000. COUNCIL MEETING VI. Items to be Withdrawn from the Consent Agenda M&C P-6646 - Exercise the Option to Renew the Purchase Agreements with Multiple Vendors to Provide Laboratory Analytical Services to the Environmental Management Office. This item was withdrawn from the consent agenda by Mr. Terrell to make a correction in a vendor name. This item was later approved as corrected. M&C P-6648 - Purchase of Services for the Preparation of Houses to be Painted by Various Vendors for the Housing and Human Services Department. This item was withdrawn from the consent agenda by Mayor Granger due to a conflict of interest. This item was later approved. M&C L-11325 - Redemption of Property at 1614 E. Harvey by Calvin Maddox. This item was withdrawn from the consent agenda by Mr. Terrell due to a card by Pat Taylor. This item was later approved. OFFICIAL ]TEX. 4 CITY SE FT. WOR M&C L-11326 - Granting Easement for Underground Facilities at Stonedale Road and Vickery Blvd. to Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. This item was withdrawn from the consent agenda by Mr. Meadows due to a conflict of interest. This item was later approved with both Mr. Meadows and Ms. Woods abstaining. M&C FP-3107 - Final Payment to J.L. Bertram Construction and Engineering Company for the Assessment Paving of Village Creek Road from Wilbarger Street to Richardson Street. This item was withdrawn from the consent agenda by Ms. Webber due to a conflict of interest. This item was later approved with Ms. Webber abstaining. VII. Items to be Continued or Withdrawn - None. IX. Presentations by the City Council 3) Second Supplemental Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of City of Fort Worth Texas Water and Sewer System Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 1993, and Ordaining Other Matters Related Thereto. ACTION: Delay one week. Place on agenda each week until market is right for refunding. 4) Resolution Establishing a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Advisory Committee. This item was approved. XIII. Report of the City Manager M&C L-11329 - Granting Easements for Equipment Stations to Southwestern Bell Telephone Company at Morning Dew Drive and Bellaire Drive South and Bellaire Drive South Near Bryant Irvin Road. This item was approved with both Mr. Meadows and Ms. Woods abstaining. M&C C-13985 - Amendment No. 1 to the Engineering Agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc. , for the Village Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, 24 MGD Expansion, Phase II-C, Construction Management. This item was approved with Mr. Meadows abstaining. M&C C-13986 - Purchase of Customer Information and Billing System and Acquisition of Consultant Services. This item was delayed for 2 weeks. ACTION: Delay M&C C-13986 for two weeks. Won mo 5 GlTll 52RY FT. ildRRfi, Tib(. XIV. Public Hearing for Public Improvement District No. 2 and Action Concerning the Annual Plan of Service, Budget and Setting of Benefit Hearing for Fiscal Year 1993-94 (M&C G-10320) . Following citizen presentation by Milicent Trelor, this item was approved. XV. Public Hearing for Public Improvement District No. 4 and Action Concerning the Annual Plan of Service, Budget and Setting of Benefit Hearing for Fiscal Year 1993-94 (M&C G-10321) . This item was approved. XVI. Budget Hearing Presentation by ACT included request for $300, 000 and a City Council liaison to work with ACT in implementing a jobs training program. XVII. Citizen Presentations 1) Will Ingram spoke about racism in Fort Worth. 2) Pedro Herrera spoke about false charges against Mexican juveniles by the FWPD. He also later spoke about fences in front yards. 3) John McDuff spoke about the library's need for additional materials, and urged support for the addition of $55,305 to the library's materials budget. 4) Reba Walls spoke on behalf of her sister, who is terminally ill and living in the flight path of Alliance Airport. ACM Guajardo stated that we could investigate buying out her property up front, and then receiving reimbursement from the FAA at a later date. ACTION: ACM Guajardo to investigate with the FAA the possibility of buying her property up front, then receiving reimbursement from the FAA later. 5) Barbara Johnson spoke in support of housing for displaced mothers. Ms. Webber agreed to bring this issue up in the Housing Programs Committee meeting. 6) Monte Elliott spoke on behalf of Southwestern Bell Telephone, stating that SW Bell is supportive of the ACT jobs training proposal. OFFICIAL RECORD 6 CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, T U. COUNCIL: Mr. Lane asked what other companies have shown an interest in this program. Rev. Jackson listed ten companies that have shown interest in committing to the program. Mayor Granger stated that we need specific commitments in writing. She stated that Council needs this type of information quickly, and in writing. Mr. Elliott stated that he would ask his employer to contact the Mayor. Members of ACT also stated that they would provide information to Council as they receive it. ACTION: None. 7) James Parker spoke in opposition to ACT. OFLWGRT�H, C 7 F