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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2007-01-22 Minutes MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION AND REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, HELD IN THE CITY HALL, 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 - JANUARY 22, 2007 WORK SESSION The City Council of the City of North Richland Hills, Texas met in work session on the 22nd day of January, 2007 at 5:45 p.m. in the Council Work Room prior to the 7:00 p.m. regular Council meeting. Present: Oscar Trevino John Lewis Ken Sapp Suzy Compton Tim Barth David Whitson Scott Turnage Tim Welch Staff Members: Larry J. Cunningham Richard Torres Ogden Bo Bass Karen Bostic Patricia Hutson Monica Solko George Staples Mary Edwards John Pitstick Larry Koonce Mike Curtis Thomas Powell Dave Pendley Kyle Spooner Carrie Poston Drew Corn Eric Wilhite Jimmy Perdue Greg VanNeiuwenhuize Call to Order Mayor Mayor Pro Tem, Place 1 Council, Place 2 Council, Place 3 Council, Place 4 Council, Place 5 Council, Place 6 Council, Place 7 City Manager Assistant City Manager Assistant City Manager Managing Director Administrative/Fiscal Services City Secretary Assistant City Secretary City Attorney Public Information Officer Director of Planning & Development Finance Director Public Works Director Support Services Director Building Official Information Services Director Information Services Assistant Director Budget Director Chief Planner Police Chief Public Works Assistant Director Mayor Trevino called the work session to order at 5:45 p.m. A.1 Discuss Items from Reqular City Council Meetinq City Council Minutes January 22, 2007 Page 2 Councilman Turnage asked for clarification on Agenda Item F.3 - GN 2007-009 rejecting bids for access control system at the new library. Larry Koonce, Director of Finance, explained that bids were solicited for the access control, closed caption television (CCTV), and security systems at the new Library. Each system was a separate bid package and the vendors were instructed to submit their bids in separate envelopes. Some vendors were not bidding on all three systems. For the bid opening most of the vendors put all their bids in the same envelope and there was no way to tell which system they were bidding on. When the bids were opened, only two vendors submitted bids for the access control system. In comparing the two bids one of the companies stated their bid was higher because they did not carefully read the specifications and included items being furnished by the general contractor. With only two bids submitted and the second bid being higher than it should be, it is recommended to reject the bids for the access control system and re-bid the project. It is normal practice to have at least three bids before it goes to Council. A.2 IR 2007-014 Wastewater Rehabilitation Proiect - Priority 3 Repairs (Aqenda Item E.1 ) Mike Curtis, Director of Public Works, presented a PowerPoint presentation. He explained that North Richland Hills received its AO (administrative order) from the EPA on February 20, 1996, which required the City to conduct a Sewer System Evaluation Survey (SSES) of its existing system. The purpose of the AO was to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows which were caused by wet weather infiltration and inflow (1/1). The evaluation of the City's wastewater system was completed in early 1998 and consisted of evaluating approximately 2,500 manholes and 1.5 million linear feet of pipe. The repairs were regarded as individual projects and were ranked in terms of importance and then divided into 3 priorities. Priority 1 and 2 projects were those projects that would have the most significant impact in improving the 1/1 problem. Priority 3 projects were those that needed to be completed, but the EPA agreed that they were not significant enough to warrant a strict deadline. After the completion of the study, the EPA then mandated that the Priority 1 and 2 projects be completed by April 2003 and did not specify a deadline for the Priority 3 projects. The City began working on the Priority 3 projects after the completion of the Priority 1 and 2 projects. The study identified over 900 repairs that needed to be made to the City's system under the Priority 3 category. During the past 4 years Public Works staff has completed the majority of the Priority 3 projects in house. The remaining 53 projects represent those that are the most complicated. The remaining repairs were grouped together as a single project and were approved in the 2006/07 Capital Projects Budget titled "Wastewater System Rehabilitation Project - Priority 3 (EPA)." One of the Council agenda items will be to approve the engineering agreement with a consulting firm to begin the design for this project. Council asked what the cost of construction would be for all 53 projects. Mr. Curtis replied that it was estimated at approximately $500,000. City Council Minutes January 22, 2007 Page 3 A.3 IR 2007-004 Update on the Voluntary Siqn Removal Assistance Proqram Dave Pendley, Building Official, presented a PowerPoint presentation updating the Council with before and after pictures of businesses that took advantage of the Voluntary Sign Removal Assistance Program. It should be emphasized that owners were not required to take advantage of this program. Several owners declined to participate in the program, while others were most willing to receive the assistance. Since August of 2004, approximately $11,000 has been utilized to voluntarily remove eleven (11) pole signs under the program: 3 siqns removed in 2004: 7563 Boulevard 26 - "Service Merchandise" 6955 Boulevard 26 - two signs at "Pioneer Oil/Food Mart Convenience Store" 4 siqns removed in 2005: 7904 Bedford-Euless Road - "Déjà Vu Hair Salon" 4235 Road to the Mall - "Mobley's Car Wash" 7501 Davis - dilapidated billboard located on the Winn-Dixie site 5209 Rufe Snow - "Tippins Restaurant" 4 siqns removed in 2006: 5064 Davis - "All About Insurance" 6535 Boulevard 26 - auto repair shop 3909 Vance - "Town and Country Cleaners" 7205 Bedford-Euless Road - "Jubilation Nightclub" Since the inception of the program, staff has recorded an additional seven (7) pole signs that have been removed on the business's own accord without expense to the city. Additionally, a photo inventory has been conducted on the remaining non-conforming pole signs that may be eligible to take part in this program. Staff will continue to make business owners aware of the program and encourage voluntary participation. There were no questions from the Council. A.4 IR 2007-010 Consensus to Consider Amendinq Zoninq and Buildinq Code Construction Standards Dave Pendley, Building Official, presented the item. A City Council member requested that staff research modifications to the respective sections of the zoning and building codes which govern the types of materials and construction that are approved for use in our city. As has been the practice in the past, staff is seeking a consensus from the City Council on whether to approach the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Construction Code Board of Appeals for their recommendations that would ultimately amend the zoning ordinance and our adopted building codes. City Council Minutes January 22,2007 Page 4 Recommended chanqes: · A requirement that would necessitate the use of metal posts on privacy fences. · A requirement that would prohibit the use of wood based products such as cellulous-fiber siding (or other similar materials) when used on eaves and non- masonry chimneys. · A requirement that would mandate the use of opaque glazing on second story windows in new homes overlooking a neighboring residence. · Adopt requirements that would mandate LEED certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is a "green building" rating system that is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance, sustainable, and energy efficient buildings. City Council agreed that the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Construction Code Board of Appeals needed to review the items and give their input and recommendations and present their recommendations back to Council at a later meeting. A.5 IR 2007-013 Park and Ride Facility Mike Curtis, Director of Public Works, presented a PowerPoint presentation updating the Council on the Park and Ride Facility. In 2002, the City received approval of a grant from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (COG) to construct a Park and Ride lot at the northeast interchange (Davis Boulevard/Bedford-Euless Road/l.H. 820 area). The land where the Park and Ride lot is planned to be constructed is owned by TxDOT and is being used as a permanent staging area. Various City employees from Public Works, Parks and Recreation and the City Manager's Office have had several meetings with TxDOT representatives during the past 7 to 8 months explaining the City's plans for this area and asking TxDOT to relocate the staging area. After receiving very little support from various TxDOT staff members, a letter was sent to the District Engineer on September 5, 2006 explaining the City's plans. After a meeting with the District Engineer at her office, staff from Public Works and the City Manager's Office were told that TxDOT could not give up the site as a permanent staging area. Since the City could not get a commitment from TxDOT in how the staging area will look, staff has some serious concerns about this location being the best site. Another important development that has occurred over the past few years is the progress that the region has made on regional rail system planning and the location of proposed rail stations. The City received the grant for the park and ride lot at the northeast interchange site before the regional rail study and planning efforts had begun. Since the approval of the grant, it now appears that a better location for a park and ride lot may be at the proposed Iron Horse Rail Station site. This proposed site is located on the western edge of our community and in very close proximity to the proposed managed lanes access point associated with the upcoming I.H. 820 expansion project. City Council Minutes January 22, 2007 Page 5 After brief comments by various members of the Council, the Council concurred that some landscaping would need to be done at the TxDOT staging area and also requested looking at alternate locations for the park and ride. Council also wanted to know if the grant money was transferable, what was the process in transferring the grant money, and how to get an extension on the deadline to use the grant money. Mr. Curtis was waiting on a call back from COG on the grant questions and would bring back the answers to Council at a later meeting. A6 IR 2007-015 Update on May 12. 2007 Council Election Patricia Hutson, City Secretary, presented the item to Council. She informed the Council of the need to delay calling the election until details for a joint election could be worked out with the County. Normally the City Council Election is called at the Council meeting prior to the first day to file for office. Because the first day to file for office this year is Saturday, February 10, we would typically call the election at the January 22 Council meeting. However, this year our plans are to delay calling the election until the February 12 Council meeting. Even though we have not officially called the election, candidates will still be able to file for office beginning February 10 and proceed with their campaign. The decision was made not to call the election at the January 22 meeting because later this month Tarrant County Elections will be requesting that all entities conducting an election enter into a joint contract. The County is still working out the details of the joint election. They have advised that their plans are to meet with all entities on Monday, January 29th. At the meeting, they will be presenting the joint contract and other election details. They have indicated that their plans are for the May elections to be conducted similar to last year's election, which provided for uniform early voting hours throughout the County and allowed voters to vote at any of the early voting locations within the County. Additional information will be provided after the meeting with the County on January 29th. Council asked since there were only two election dates per year, we would probably have to have joint elections from here on out. Mrs. Hutson replied that Tarrant County had informed her that we would definitely go joint because of election equipment. A7 IR 2007-016 Discussion of Proposed Renovation at Iron Horse Golf Course Club House Richard Torres, Assistant City Manager, presented a PowerPoint presentation of pictures showing much needed renovations at Iron Horse Golf Course Club House. Renovations include replacing tile, counters, fixtures and stall dividers in the bathrooms; replacing carpet throughout; replacing tile and adding tile in some of the higher traffic areas; replacing counter tops in the restaurant area; resurfacing the kitchen floor; replacing ceiling tiles; replacing wall paper; new paint; etc. The total estimated cost for doing all needed work within the Club House is approximately $120,000. City Council Minutes January 22,2007 Page 6 There are other needed improvements throughout the golf course in areas such as in the cabooses, pump houses, and cart shed. The City has been brushing up on estimates for replacing the HV AC units at the Club House which are on borrowed time. This project is included in the FY '06/'07 budget. We believe that staff can act as the general contractor on most of these needed projects saving time and costs for the City, similar to the improvements recently accomplished at City Hall. We also believe that some of the improvements can be programmed into next years operating budget without jeopardizing the operations at Iron Horse. Council concurred with staff recommendation to begin renovations at Iron Horse Golf Course. B.O. Executive Session Mayor Trevino announced at 6:40 pm that the Council would adjourn into Executive Session as authorized by Chapter 551, Texas Government Code to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property. C.O Adjournment Mayor Trevino announced at 7:07 p.m. that the Council would adjourn to the regular Council meeting. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING A.O CALL TO ORDER Mayor Trevino called the meeting to order January 22,2007 at 7:13 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Oscar Trevino John Lewis Ken Sapp Suzy Compton Tim Barth David Whitson Scott Turnage Tim Welch Mayor Mayor Pro Tem, Council Place 1 Council, Place 2 Council, Place 3 Council, Place 4 Council, Place 5 Council, Place 6 Council, Place 7 City Council Minutes January 22, 2007 Page 7 Staff: Larry J. Cunningham Ogden Bo Bass Richard Torres Patricia Hutson Monica Solko George Staples City Manager Assistant City Manager Assistant City Manager City Secretary Assistant City Secretary Attorney A.1 INVOCATION Councilman Sapp gave the invocation. A.2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilman Sapp led the pledge of allegiance. A.3 SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S) AND RECOGNITION(S) Ms. Kathy Luppy, Chairperson of Keep NRH Beautiful and Councilwoman Compton recognized the Keep NRH Beautiful Clean Campus Awards recipients: · Academy at Carrie Francis Thomas - 8200 O'Brain Way · Birdville High School - 9100 Mid-Cities Boulevard · Green Valley Elementary - 7900 Smithfield Road · Mullendore Elementary - 4100 Flory Street · North Ridge Elementary - 7331 Holiday Lane · North Ridge Middle - 7332 Douglas Lane · Smithfield Middle School - 8400 Main Street · Snow Heights Elementary - 4801 Vance Drive · Walker Creek Elementary - 8780 Bridge Street A.4 CITIZENS PRESENTATION Mrs. Laverne O'Steen, 8429 Emerald Circle, appeared before the Council and presented a picture of a crumbling wall that she had previously presented during City Council Minutes January 22, 2007 Page 8 Council meetings in 2006. Mrs. O'Steen expressed the same concerns with the wall that she expressed at previous council meetings in 2006 and there being no action to correct the problem. A.5 REMOVAL OF ITEM{S) FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA None. 8.0 APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS APPROVED 8.1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 8,2007 CITY COUNCIL MEETING 8.2 GN 2007-004 RESCHEDULE MARCH 12, 2007 COUNCIL MEETING TO MARCH 19,2007 8.3 PU 2007-003 AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF 100 DESKTOP COMPUTERS FROM DELL IN THE AMOUNT OF $124,623. 8.4 GN 2007-008 APPROVE INTERLOCAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE NCTCOG FOR RECEIVING FUNDING FOR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT UNDER THE 2006 CLEAN FLEET VEHICLE CALL FOR PROJECTS - RESOLUTION NO. 2007-005. MAYOR PRO TEM LEWIS MOVED TO APPROYE THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILWOMAN COMPTON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS C.o No items for this category. PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT City Council Minutes January 22, 2007 Page 9 D.O No items for this category. PUBLIC WORKS E.1 PW 2007-003 APPROVE ENGINEERING AGREEMENT WITH LOPEZGARCIA GROUP, INC. FOR THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM REHABILITATION PROJECT - PRIORITY 3 REPAIRS - RESOLUTION NO. 2007-008 APPROVED Greg VanNeiuwenhuize, Public Works Assistant Director, presented the item. This Capital Improvement Project (CIP) includes the design and construction of the remaining "Priority 3" repairs and rehabilitation to the City's wastewater system as determined by field investigations and outlined in the Sewer System Evaluation Study completed in 1998. The study identified over 900 Priority 3 (less serious) problems that needed to be addressed. The majority of the Priority 3 repairs have been completed, but the remaining, more complicated repairs (53 overall) have been included in this project. After the completion of this project all of the Priority 3 repairs will be complete. The LopezGarcia Group was selected by the committee due to their principal engineers' previous experience on similar projects. In fact, the project manager is the same engineer that performed the design for North Richland Hills on the Priority 1 and 2 repairs and has designed hundreds of North Richland Hills' projects since the 1970's. The engineering fee for this project is a lump sum fee in the amount of $98,115. Design fees for these types of projects are generally higher because of the number of different project locations and the relatively small size of each individual project. Surveying and field investigations take much longer for this type of project versus a project that is at one location. Staff believes that the fee negotiated is a fair and reasonable fee for this type of project. Design will begin as soon as the agreement is approved by Council and is scheduled to be complete by June 2007. Construction is scheduled to begin in late July 2007. Sufficient funds have been approved in the 2006/2007 Capital Projects Budget for this project. COUNCILMAN SAPP MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION No. 2007-008. COUNCILMAN WELCH SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-0. City Council Minutes January 22,2007 Page 10 GENERAL ITEMS F.1 GN 2007-005 APPROVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS AND ATB SERVICES COMPANY, LLC FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ALARM ORDINANCE - RESOLUTION NO. 2007-004 APPROVED Jimmy Perdue, Chief of Police, presented the item. Council approved the ordinance for regulating alarm businesses, systems and users on December 11, 2006. The Police Department has reviewed the products currently available through A TB Services and believes that A TB Services, LLC offers the City of North Richland Hills the best value and quality of products and service. It is the City's intention to join Irving via an inter- local agreement with the City of Irving, using Irving's bid for a contractor to manage, maintain, and facilitate North Richland Hills Alarm Ordinance. The Irving bid was awarded to A TB Services, LLC. A TB Services, LLC has submitted an agreement for services to the City of North Richland Hills. The agreement calls for an initial two year term renewable for an additional two year term upon the expiration of the initial term unless A TB Services, LLC is notified in writing at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the agreement. A TB Services, LLC will develop and maintain an automated system and the on-going administrative expenses to support the registration, tracking and billing under the alarm ordinance. A TB Services, LLC shall be compensated for services based on a portion of fees collected, as listed in the fee schedule of the contract, but only to the extent the entire fee is collected under the Ordinance by A TB Services, LLC. COUNCILMAN TURNAGE MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION No. 2007-004. COUNCILMAN WHITSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-0. F.2 GN 2007-006 ADOPT 2007 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM APPROVED Karen Bostic, Managing Director, presented the item. The proposed 2007 Federal Legislative Program was discussed with Council at the January 8, 2007 Work Session. The wording change to Immigration Reform on page 10 suggested by Council has been incorporated into the document. City Council Minutes January 22, 2007 Page 11 The four guiding principles used to develop the program are: · Support for local control; · Insuring a predictable and sufficient level of revenue to manage local affairs; · Opposition of unfunded mandates; · Support of legislation that increases the quality of life for citizens of North Richland Hills. The City's positions on various issues fall into the following categories: Protecting Local Programs, Powers and Revenues · Internet Sales Tax · Telecommunications & Information Technology · Community Development Block Grant Protecting the Homeland · Homeland Security · Public Safety & Collective Bargaining Unfunded Mandates · Immigration Reform When the Federal Legislative Program of the City is approved by City Council, this will be given to Congressman Burgess, our U.S. Senators, and other area congressional representatives. COUNCILWOMAN COMPTON MOVED TO APPROVE GN 2007-006 THE ADOPTION OF THE 2007 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. COUNCILMAN BARTH SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-0. F.3 GN 2007-009 REJECT BIDS FOR ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM AT NEW LIBRARY APPROVED Larry Koonce, Director of Finance, presented the item. Bids were solicited for the access control, closed caption television (CCTV), and security systems at the new Library. A pre-bid meeting was held with 14 vendors attending. Each system was a separate bid package and the vendors were instructed to submit their bids in separate envelopes. Some vendors were not bidding on all three systems. For the bid opening most of the vendors put all their bids in the same envelope and there was no way to tell City Council Minutes January 22, 2007 Page 12 which system they were bidding on. When the bids were opened, only two vendors submitted bids for the access control system. Four bids each were received on the CCTV and security systems. These bids were less than $25,000 each. Some of the vendors that could have bid on the access control system stated their current work load before the end of the year prevented them from bidding. In comparing the two bids Interface Security stated their bid was higher because they did not carefully read the specifications and included items being furnished by the general contractor. With only two bids submitted and the second bid being higher than it should be, it is recommended to reject the bids for the access control system and re-bid the project. COUNCILMAN WHITSON MOVED TO APPROVE GN 2007-009 TO REJECT THE BIDS FOR ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM AT THE NEW LIBRARY. COUNCILMAN TURNAGE SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-0. F.4 GN 2007-012 APPOINTMENT TO SUBSTANDARD BUILDING BOARD - PLACE 2 APPROVED Councilman Sapp presented the item. Councilman Sapp advised that Place 2 on the Substandard Building Board was currently vacant; he was recommending the appointment of Thomas Moreau to fill the unexpired term. COUNCILMAN SAPP MOVED TO APPROVE GN 2007-012. COUNCILMAN WELCH SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 7-0. F.5 INFORMATION AND REPORTS Councilwoman Compton made the following announcements. The North Richland Hills Fire Department is now offering classes each month in CPR and the use of Automated External Defibrillators. Upcoming classes are scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24th and Saturday, February 10th. The cost is $25 per person. For more information, please call 817-427-6900. City Council Minutes January 22, 2007 Page 13 The Neighborhood Services Department is holding a LitterNot cleanup event from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 27th, Volunteers will meet at the Neighborhood Services Building on Dick Fisher Drive and pick up litter in the rights of way. For more information please call 817-427-6651 . The North Richland Hills Parks and Recreation Department will host its 16th Annual DaddylDaughter Valentine Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, February 10th at the BISD Fine ArtslAthletic Complex. For additional details, please call 817-427-6600. Kudos Korner -Officer Matt Jackson, Police Department. A call was received from a resident expressing gratitude and thanks to Officer Jackson for assisting her handicapped nephew with changing a flat tire. Officer Jackson saw that they were having trouble and stopped to see if he could help. He even carried the spare tire to a service station for air, since it was nearly flat as well. The resident said Officer Jackson's "attitude was one of the best she had ever witnessed in a police officer." F.6 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Trevino adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.