Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988/01/12-Agenda-Pre-Council � � s PRE-COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 12, 1988 �/ oil PRE-COUNCIL CHAMBER �t`C, � ABSENT: Councilman Zapata It Oj ITEMS: 1. UPDATE ON GATEWAY PARK MASTER PLAN - RALPH EMERSON, PARK AND RECREATION DIRECTOR Park and Recreation Director Ralph Emerson updated Council on the Gateway Park Master Plan. According to Mr. Emerson, Gateway Park resulted from a study in the early 1970's which sought an appropriate site for a regional park. The park is located on the site of a former sewage treatment plant. Mr. Emerson stated that Gateway Park Master Plan is divided into four phases, and the first phase, which includes softball fields and picnic areas is three- quarters complete. A contract for construction of the concession stand was recently let. A lighted soccer field, nature trails, and additional picnic areas will be added in subsequent phases. Mr. Emerson stated that ninety-nine percent of the design for Gateway Park will be done in-house. He further indicated his desire to seek out revenue producing events for the park. 2. PROPOSAL TO CHANGE CITY COUNCIL NIGHT MEETING AND WORKSHOP - DOUGLAS HARMAN, CITY MANAGER City Manager Douglas Harman recommended changing the monthly night meeting and the City Council Workshop from the first meeting of the month so as not to conflict with the meeting of the D/FW Airport Board. Because Mayor Bolen and Councilman Zapata are both members of the D/FW Board, they frequently miss a portion of the workshop. Mayor Bolen suggested that the workshops be delayed until 2:00 p.m. or later to allow time for the D/FW Board meetings. 3. STATUS REPORT ON MUNICIPAL BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS (I.R. NO. 7248) - TOM DAVIS, CITY SERVICES DIRECTOR AND NACY AMOS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS Assistant Transportation and Public Works Director Nancy Amos updated Council on plans for the move of City Secretary, Legal, and City Manager's Offices to the third floor. Councilman Williams asked where money for new furniture will come from. Ms. Amos indicated that some of the money for new furniture was set aside from a previous bond program and that the rest of the money will come from capital reserves. 4. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CLEANUP (I.R. NO. 7249) - TOM DAVIS, CITY SERVICES DIRECTOR Citv Services Director Tom Davis updated Council on efforts to clean up hazardous materials at the Southeast Landfill expansion site. City Council had earlier approved a contract with Leak-Tec Corporation to clean up the site and remove approximately 200 barrels of hazardous materials to an approved hazardous dump. As work began at the landfill expansion site, however, more barrels and containers were discovered. Mr. Davis stated that because of the additional barrels, bringing the total to 905, the contract would have to be amended. Costs for the clean up are expected to increase from $96,445 to $500,000. The highest part of the cost is for the final storage of the hazardous material in a hazardous material dump site. Mr. Davis stated that the containers of hazardous waste were dumped at the site illegally and that the responsible party cannot be traced. 5. REPORT ON CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE - WILLIAM SARSGARD, CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Charter Review Committee Chairman Bili Sarsgard reported that the final report of the Committee has been submitted to Council. Mr. Sarsgard thanked City Attorney Wade Adkins and Assistant to the City Manager Ann Diveley for their assistance and staff support. According to Mr. Sarsgard, many of the Charter revisions recommended by the Committee are intended to bring the City Charter into compliance with state law. While the Committee discussed the option of increasing the number of single- member districts from eight to ten in the early 1990's, no recommendation regarding the issue has been brought forward at this time. The Committee did acknowledge that future population growth may necessitate additional single- member districts in order to assure continued minority representation. Councilman Gilley asked if the Charter Review Committee had considered revising the charter to include an automatic trigger which would require the addition of districts should the population reach or exceed a specified level. Mr. Sarsgard stated that the Committee had considered such a trigger but that the Committee members could not agree on an appropriate trigger. Councilman Williams asked if the Committee had considered a provision to limit the number of terms that a Council Member may serve. Mr. Sarsgard stated that such a provision had been considered but was not recommended by the Committee. No consideration was given to changing the length of terms or of staggering the terms of Council Members. Mayor Bolen commented that the obvious time to consider adding new districts is after the 1990 census data is available. Mr. Sarsgard stated that revisions regarding the Internal Auditor were developed by a subcommittee of the Charter Review Committee before being approved by the full Committee. The recommended changes call for the Internal Auditor to be appointed by the City Council just as the Citv Attornev is. At1W _1"k 6. REPORT ON EMPLOYEE RETIREMENTS - A. JUDSON BAILIFF, FINANCE DIRECTOR Finance Director Judson Bailiff reviewed recent changes in the city's retirement ordinance. Included in the change is a redefinition of disability. Previously, an employee could only receive disability if the disability precluded any job with the city. With the change in the ordinance, an employee can qualify for disability if the disabling condition precludes continuing in the job the employee had at the time of the disability. Mr. Bailiff stated that all changes in the retirement policy had been approved and recommended by an actuary. Councilman Williams emphasized the need for proper screening of prospective employees for pre-existing medical conditions prior to an offer of employment. Mr. Bailiff also reviewed recent trends in the number of retirements. He stated that the recent decline in the number of retirements may be do to the slower economy. 7. STOCKYARDS UPDATE - DOUGLAS HARMAN, CITY MANAGER Councilman Williams reminded the public that in spite of the recent closing of Billy Bob's Texas, there are other businesses in the Stockyards. Mr. Williams also stated that in spite of public criticism, he believes that the Council made the only appropriate decision in not buying property from Stockyards 85. City Manager Douglas Harman stated that at a recent Convention and Visitors Bureau meeting, hotels and businesses expressed concerns that the closing of Billy Bob's would adversely impact their businesses. Councilman Garrison stated that the City's Legal Department had concerns that Stockyards 85 could not deliver clear title to the properties at the Stockyards. Councilman Vance requested that staff develop a long range policy for the Stockyards and that title searches be conducted for any buildings that may be of interest to the city in the future. Councilman Murrin reiterated that the Stockyards is much more than just Billy Bob's and will not fold just because Billy Bob's closed.