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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2005-07-25 Minutes MINUTES OF THE PRE-COUNCIL AND REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, HELD IN THE CITY HALL, 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 - JULY 25, 2005 PRE-COUNCIL SESSION The City Council of the City of North Richland Hills, Texas met in Pre-Council session on the 25th day of July, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. in the Pre-Council Room prior to the 7:00 p.m. regular Council meeting. Present: Oscar Trevino John Lewis Jo Cox Suzy Compton JoAnn Johnson David Whitson Nancy Bielik Staff Members: Larry J. Cunningham Richard Torres Ogden Bo Bass Karen Bostic Patricia Hutson George Staples Mary Edwards John Pitstick Larry Koonce Mike Curtis Dave Green Kyle Spooner Drew Corn Jimmy Perdue Richard Abernethy John Lynn Richard Kitchen Absent: Tim Welch Call to Order Mayor Councilman Councilwoman Councilwoman Councilwoman Councilman Councilwoman City Manager Assistant City Manager Assistant City Manager Managing Director Administrative/Fiscal Services City Secretary City Attorney Public Information Officer Director of Development Finance Director Public Works Director Chief Planner Information Services Director Budget Director Police Chief Assistant to City Manager Assistant Police Chief Assistant Police Chief Mayor Pro Tem Mayor Trevino called the Pre-Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1. Discuss items from Reqular Julv 25. 2005 City Council Meetinq IR 2005-101 - Water and Sewer Cost of Service Study - Councilwoman Cox advised she was not able to find where Council had approved the study rates in April of this City Council Minutes July 25, 2005 Page 2 year. Mayor Trevino advised that the Council had approved the Master Plan Impact Fee Study and rates. Mr. Curtis advised the impact fee rates were adopted by Council earlier in the year. Staff was asked to verify the approval date. After presentation of Item 2, Staff advised that Council approved the Master Plan and Impact Fee Study and impact fee rates on March 28, 2005 with an implementation date for the new fees being April 1 , 2005. 2. IR 2005-101 Presentation of the Water and Sewer Cost of Service Study Mr. Koonce advised that rate analyst, Ms. Carolyn Marshall, CPA, would present to Council the cost of service study. Ms. Marshall presented a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the methodology of the study, revenue requirements, cost allocation and the rate development process. Ms. Marshall advised that several different rate structures had been considered and it has been determined that the existing rate structure is the most logical at this time. Council was advised that the City's base, volume water and sewer rates have not changed since 1994. The study recommends a minimal increase in sewer rates and a marginal increase in water rates to be phased in over a three-year period to minimize the affect of the increase on customers. To further minimize the impact of the increase, the recommendation is also to use the Rate Stabilization Reserve established several years ago by the City Manager. Any rate increases would be implemented in the fall or winter when water consumption is lowest. Ms. Marshall presented the current rates as well as the phase-in increases up to year 2008 for water and sewer. In 2006, increases will be 5 cents for base rate, 6 cents for the volume rate and no increase to sewer rates. The increases over the three-year period are: water base rate from $9.00 to $9.30, volume rate from $2.45 to $2.69, sewer base rate from $7.22 to $7.27 with no increase to the sewer volume. Councilman Lewis clarified that if approved, this increase will be the first to the City's base, volume water and sewer rates since 1994. Fort Worth and Trinity River Authority increases are not controllable by the City and are passed on to the citizens. Mayor Trevino introduced the City's new Police Chief Jimmy Perdue. 3. IR 2005-100 Review of Tarrant County Transportation Bond Proqram Mayor Trevino advised he had asked Mayor Pro Tem Welch to sit as the City's representative on the County's Evaluation Committee and believed the County accepted his nomination of Mayor Pro Tem Welch. Mr. Curtis presented a PowerPoint presentation explaining the Tarrant County bond program for voter consideration in May 2006. The program will include $200 million for transportation improvement projects and Tarrant County is asking cities to submit local projects for inclusion in the program. Tarrant County will be forming a Project Selection Committee to review and rank the projects submitted by the cities. Requirements for City Council Minutes July 25, 2005 Page 3 project submittal include a council resolution to be submitted by August 19 that supports the projects and identifies approved funding sources. The projects must either be a lane expansion project or an air quality improvement project. Staff is recommending the collector streets which were approved in the 2003 bond program be submitted - Rufe Snow Drive (Mid-Cities Boulevard to Hightower Drive), North Tarrant Parkway (Davis Boulevard to Whitley Road), Grapevine Highway/Harwood Road Intersection, Davis Boulevard/Mid-Cities Boulevard Intersection, Davis Boulevard Lane expansions and Douglas Lane (Hightower Drive to Starnes Road). The projects selected by Tarrant County will be funded 50% from the Tarrant County program. Mr. Curtis advised staff would bring a resolution containing the list of projects to the next council meeting for approval. Mr. Curtis asked Council if they concurred with the list of projects recommended by Staff or if there were any other projects council would like to see included in the resolution. Mayor Trevino commented he did not hear any council members commenting against the list and he believed Council was in agreement with the list of projects recommended by Staff. 4. Adjournment Mayor Trevino announced at 6:37 p.m. that the Council would adjourn to the regular Council meeting. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Trevino called the meeting to order July 25, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Oscar Trevino John Lewis Jo Cox Suzy Compton JoAnn Johnson David Wh itson Nancy Bielik Mayor Councilman Councilwoman Councilwoman Councilwoman Councilman Councilwoman Staff: Larry J. Cunningham Ogden Bo Bass City Manager Assistant City Manager City Council Minutes July 25, 2005 Page 4 Richard Torres Patricia Hutson George Staples Assistant City Manager City Secretary Attorney Absent: Tim Welch Mayor Pro Tem 2. INVOCA TION Councilman Whitson gave the invocation. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Boy Scout Troop 341 led the pledge of allegiance. 4. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS IR 2005-098 GOVERNOR'S COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - LYNN LANTRIP TO PRESENT AWARD TO KATHY LUPPY Mr. Lynn Lantrip presented to Keep North Richland Hills Beautiful Chair Kathy Luppy the Governor's Community Achievement Award recognizing the exemplary overall effort made by North Richland Hills to beautify and improve the Community. The Keep NRH Beautiful Commission won the first place award in their category and received $130,000 from the Texas Department of Transportation to be used for landscaping improvements along State maintained highways in the City. Ms. Luppy presented the award to Mayor Trevino. YARD OF THE MONTH - KATHY LUPPY Keep North Richland Hills Beautiful Chair Kathy Luppy and Councilwoman Compton recognized the Yard of the Month recipients: Katheryn & Steve Papagno, 6500 Brighton; Edyth McCoy & Bill Johnson, 4925 Harrell; Terry & Delores Browning, 6029 Riviera; Jack & Peggy Evans, 7632 Terry; Bob & Jackie Hellums, 6001 Lake Way; Kevin Lund, 7556 Hightower; Chris and Joanne Jordan, 8315 Thornridge Drive; Roger Wall, 7824 Hidden Oaks; John Lamkin & Sherry Terry, 7913 Shady Oaks Drive; Diamond Loch Homeowners Association, Roger Paschal, President, was recognized as the Texas SmartScape Winner and Taco Bueno, 5165 Rufe Snow was recognized as the Business Landscape Winner. City Council Minutes July 25, 2005 Page 5 OATH OF OFFICE AND SWEARING IN OF CHIEF OF POLICE City Manager Larry Cunningham presented warrant of appointment to Chief Jimmy Perdue. Mayor Trevino administered the oath of office to Chief Perdue. Mr. Cunningham advised a reception was being held for Chief Perdue at Iron Horse Golf Course on August 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. IR 2005-099 PRESENTATION OF THE VENUE AT HOME TOWN PROJECT BY KENNIS KETCHUM, PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT LLC, AND DAN QUINTO, ARCADIA DEVELOPMENT Mr. Dan Quinto, Arcadia Development and Ms. Kennis Ketchum, Portfolio Development LLC, presented the concept for the Venue at Home Town. The Venue will be located at the intersection of Walker Boulevard and Grapevine Highway south of the City's new library site. Mr. Quinto highlighted the regulating plan showing the project site for the Venue, the site for the future proposed library and the connection of Simmons Street extension from Mid Cities Boulevard to Grand Avenue. A multi-family developed space of 175,000 square feet will occupy 189 residential units that will be comprised of 99 one-bedroom apartments, 80 two-bedroom apartments, and 10 three-bedroom apartments. The total project size for the Venue will be over 230,000 square feet. Mr. Quinto also highlighted the parking requirements, proposed site plan, streetscape, elevations, and design elements of the seven buildings. Mayor Trevino announced that Mayor Pro Tem Welch was absent because his grandmother passed away. Mayor Trevino thanked Assistant Chief John Lynn for serving as Interim Police Chief. 5. CITIZENS PRESENTATION Ms. Dawn Berndt, owner of the Dallas Diamonds Women's Pro Football team introduced members of the Dallas 2005 Diamonds. Ms. Berndt advised that The Diamonds call the BISD Fine Arts Athletic Complex their home and the team will be embarking on its 2005 season Saturday at the BISD Fine Arts Athletic Complex. 6. REMOVAL OF ITEM(S) FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA None. City Council Minutes July 25, 2005 Page 6 7. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS APPROVED A. MINUTES OF THE JULY 11, 2005 COUNCIL MEETING B. PU 2005-026 AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT MOBILE DATA COMPUTERS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM PORTABLE COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $261,078 C. PU 2005-031 AUTHORIZE CONTRACT FOR THE 2005 MISCELLANEOUS STREET SUBGRADE STABILIZATION PROJECT TO MCCLENDON CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $86,247 - RESOLUTION NO. 2005-056 D. PU 2005-032 AUTHORIZE CONTRACT FOR THE 2005 MISCELLANEOUS STREET SUBGRADE STABILIZATION PROJECT TO MCCLENDON CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $86,247 - RESOLUTION NO. 2005-056 E. PAY 2005-004 APPROVE FINAL PAYMENT TO RED RIVER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,684.69 FOR THE COLLEGE HILL BOOSTER PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS COUNCILMAN WHITSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6-0. 8. GN 2005-073 DENIAL OF INTERIM RATE ADJUSTMENT PROPOSED BY A TMOS ENERGY CORPORATION _ ORDINANCE NO 2840 APPROVED Ms. Karen Bostic, Managing Director, presented item. Atmos Energy filed in December 2004 a request with North Richland Hills for an annual gas reliability infrastructure program (GRIP) rate increase to be effective February 15, 2005. In January 2005, the City suspended the effective date of the proposed rate increase and approved participation in a coalition known as Atmos Cities Steering Committee, which is comprised of cities opposing Atmos' filing at the Texas Railroad Commission. Atmos' GRIP request failed to account for growth in numbers of customers, thereby undercounting the revenues it will receive from its proposed GRIP rate increase. Atmos' request also failed to recognize that Gas Utility Docket No. 9400 rates included profit based on TXU Corporation's capital structure rather than Atmos Energy's current capital structure. The counsel for the consortium of cities recommends finding that City Council Minutes July 25,2005 Page 7 Atmos' proposal is unjustified, unreasonable and not in compliance with the GRIP statute. Staff recommends denial of the Interim Rate Adjustment proposed by Atmos. COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON MOVED TO APPROVE ORDINANCE No. 2840, DENYING INTERIM RATE ADJUSTMENT PROPOSED BY ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION. COUNCILWOMAN BIELlK SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6-0. 9. GN 2005-074 ADOPTION OF LOOP 820 CORRIDOR STUDY APPROVED Economic Development Director John Pitstick introduced consultants, Kurt Schulte from Kimley Horn and Dennis Wilson from Townscape. Mr. Schulte presented highlights of the project. The purpose of the study was to plan for the best use of land, promote good access and minimize conflicts between residential and non-residential properties. The Study recommends long-term strategies for improving the Corridor. Staff is recommending that the Loop 820 Corridor Study be adopted. If approved by Council, Staff will move forward in preparing a detailed implementation plan that will be brought back to Council in the near future. COUNCILMAN LEWIS MOVED TO ADOPT THE Loop 820 CORRIDOR STUDY, APPROVING GN 2005-074. COUNCILWOMAN BIELlK SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6-0. 10. GN 2005-075 CONSIDER REQUEST OF COUNCILWOMAN NANCY BIELlK TO APPROVE TRAVEL EXPENSES TO INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS CONFERENCE NO ACTION TAKEN Mayor Trevino advised Council item was placed on agenda by Councilwoman Bielik for Council to approve or disapprove her expenses for the trip she took to Las Vegas. Mayor Trevino advised her trip was taken at a time when the old travel policy was in effect and he did not feel it was within the authority of Council to discuss or vote. Mayor Trevino stated that since the old policy allowed a council member to take any trip without the consent of the Council, the Council then has no authority or right to say whether the City should pay for the trip. Councilwoman Bielik, not Council, should decide whether to accept city reimbursement for cost of trip. Mayor Trevino stated that City Council Minutes July 25, 2005 Page 8 as Mayor and Chair of the meeting he would not accept a motion for or against this item and will move to next item on the agenda. 11. GN 2005-076 APPOINTMENTS TO KEEP NORTH RICHLAND HILLS BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION PLACES 3 & 5 AND APPOINTMENT TO BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT PLACE 3 APPROVED City Secretary Patricia Hutson presented item. Councilwoman Compton is recommending the reappointment of Mr. Micah Beck to Place 3 on the Keep North Richland Hills Beautiful Commission and the reappointment of Mr. Jim Kemp to Place 3 on the Board of Adjustment, term expiring June 30,2007. Councilman Whitson is recommending the appointment of Ms. Vicki Propp to Place 5 on the Keep North Richland Hills Beautiful Commission, term expiring June 30, 2007. COUNCILMAN WHITSON MOVED TO APPROVE GN 2005-076 ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED. COUNCILWOMAN COMPTON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6-0. 12. INFORMATION AND REPORTS Councilman Lewis made the following announcements. The NRH Recreation Center will hold an open house on Saturday, July 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 :30 p.m. Visitors can register for fall recreation programs, meet instructors and see free class demonstrations. There will also be free equipment orientations in the newly renovated Fitness Center. For more information, please call the recreation center at 817-427-6600. The North Richland Hills Police Department has scheduled a National Night Out event from 11 :00 am to 1 :00 pm on Saturday, August 6. The event will be in the parking lot of Wal-Mart at 9101 North Tarrant Parkway. National Night Out is a wonderful opportunity for citizens to meet and interact with their police officers. Several displays, vehicles, and equipment will be available for the public to view. The event will also feature fingerprint kits, coloring books, sticker badges, and a visit from McGruff, the crime fighting dog. The North Rich/and Hills Fire Department recently received a $200 donation from the Sealy Mattress Company for Fire Prevention Education. The donation will go towards City Council Minutes July 25, 2005 Page 9 the purchase of educational materials to be given to children. Kudos Korner - Officer John Harding, Police Department - A letter was received from an out of town visitor commending Harding for his assistance changing a flat tire on Loop 820. The visitor was headed to the airport when a large spike disabled a tire on his van. Officer Harding noticed the situation, stopped, changed the tire and had the visitor back on the road in a matter of minutes. The visitor was immensely impressed with Officer Harding's efficiency, friendliness and obvious care for safety. 13. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Trevino adjourned the meeting at 8: 1 0 p. \\.. . "."111", ....\.... ~J..U ~AJ:... 4'1' ....,....),. ~::::.!.'!J~" ~~. ,,- ... ~ -f@~ "J'" '". ~ ~ : ...~~ A .¡:.. 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