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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2012-03-05 MinutesMINUTES 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 — MARCH 5, 2012 WORK SESSION The City Council of the City of North Richland Hills, Texas met in work session on the 5 th day of March 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Workroom prior to the 7 :00 p.m. regular Council meeting. Present: Oscar Trevino Mayor Tito Rodriguez Council, Place 1 Vacant Council, Place 2 Tom Lombard Council, Place 3 Scott Turnage Council, Place 6 Tim Welch Council, Place 7 Staff Members: Mark Hindman City Manager Jared Miller Assistant City Manager Karen Bostic Assistant City Manager Jimmy Perdue Director of Public Safety Mike Curtis Managing Director Vickie Loftice Managing Director Patricia Hutson City Secretary Monica Solko Assistant City Secretary George Staples City Attorney Mary Peters Public Information Officer Kristin Weegar Assistant to City Manager John Pitstick Director of Planning & Development Larry Koonce Finance Director Clayton Comstock Senior Planner Craig Hulse Economic Development Director Mark Mills Budget Director Gregory VanNieuwenhuize Assistant Public Works Director Stacy Udoni Public Works Management Assistant Absent: Tim Barth Mayor Pro Tem, Council, Place 4 David Whitson Council, Place 5 Call to Order Mayor Trevino called the work session to order at 6:01 p.m. A.0 Discuss Items from Regular City Council Meeting There were no questions from the Council. City Council Minutes March 5, 2012 Page 2 A.1 North Tarrant Express Update Mr. Craig Hulse, Director of Economic Development, updated the Council on the North Tarrant Express project. Mr. Hulse provided information on accessibility and closures of on and off ramps. Council was given an update on Monday's closure of the Davis Boulevard ramp to southbound 820 and TxDOT plans to reopen the ramp. Mr. Hulse discussed the access to Holiday Lane and Loop 820 from Maplewood Avenue and Oncor aerial utility adjustments on the north side of Loop 820. The Council expressed their displeasure with TxDOT extending the Davis Blvd southbound ramp closure from a weekend closure to three weeks. The Monday morning ramp closure not only severely impacted traffic flow through the City but impacted police, fire and EMS's ability to respond to emergencies. Council was also displeased with the change in plans to close several concurrent ramps at the same time. The City had been told in the planning stages that concurrent ramps would not be closed at the same time to minimize the impact to businesses. Staff will forward Council's displeasure with the situation to TxDOT. Council also asked Staff to erect four way stop signs at Maplewood and Cummings during the closure of Maplewood at Holiday Lane and to erect "No Truck" signs in the residential neighborhood while traffic is being detoured to Lola and Cummings. B.0 EXECUTIVE SESSION - The City Council may enter into closed Executive Session to discuss the following as authorized by Chapter 551 Texas Government Code B.1 Executive Session: Pursuant to Section 551.071 Texas Government Code for _Consultation with Attorney regarding Pending Litigation - 1) State of Texas v City of North Richland Hills (No. 2011 - 002840 -1); and 2) State of Texas v City of North Richland Hills (No. 2011 - 000462 -1) B.2 Executive Session: Pursuant to Section 551.072 Texas Government to deliberate the purchase exchange lease or value of real property in the southeast quadrant of the City Mayor Trevino announced at 6:24 p.m. that the Council would convene into Executive Session as authorized by Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, pursuant to the following sections: 1) Section 551.071 to consult with Attorney regarding pending litigation on 1) State of Texas v. City of North Richland Hills (No. 2011- 002840 -1); and 2) State of Texas v. City of North Richland Hills (No. 2011 - 000462 -1); and 2) Section 551.072 to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property in the southeast quadrant of the City. City Council Minutes March 5, 2012 Page 3 C.0 Adjournment Mayor Trevino announced at 6:39 p.m. that the Council would adjourn to the regular Council meeting. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING A.0 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Trevino called the meeting to order March 5, 2012 at 7:06 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Oscar Trevino Tim Barth Tito Rodriguez Vacant Tom Lombard Scott Turnage Tim Welch Staff: Mark Hindman Jared Miller Karen Bostic Jimmy Perdue Mike Curtis Vickie Loftice Patricia Hutson Monica Solko George Staples Absent: David Whitson Mayor Mayor Pro Tem, Council, Place 4 (present at 7:19 p.m.) Council, Place 1 Council, Place 2 Council, Place 3 Council, Place 6 Council, Place 7 City Manager Assistant City Manager Assistant City Manager Director of Public Safety Managing Director Managing Director City Secretary Assistant City Secretary Attorney Council, Place 5 A.1 INVOCATION Councilman Lombard gave the invocation. City Council Minutes March 5, 2012 Page 4 A.2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilman Lombard led the pledge of allegiance. A.3 SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S) AND RECOGNITION(S) - CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 Mr. Larry Koonce, Finance Director, introduced Mr. Clay Caruthers, Director of Finance with the City of Hurst and member of the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas. Mr. Clay Caruthers presented the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Comprehensive Financial Report ending September 30, 2010 to the City. The City has received the Certificate of Achievement Award for the last 28 years. Fifteen percent of the cities in the State of Texas and five percent of the cities in the United States received the award. A.4 CITIZENS PRESENTATION Earl Rose, 2408 Dawn Mist Drive, representing the DFW Texans Professional Indoor Football Team came forward. Mr. Earl wanted to inform Council of the new indoor football league at the North Richland Hills NYTEX Sports Center. Mr. Earl invited Council and the community to come out and support the local teams in their first home game opener on April 29th. A.5 REMOVAL OF ITEM(S) FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA None. B.0 APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS APPROVED B.1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 27, 2012 CITY COUNCIL MEETING City Council Minutes March 5, 2012 Page 5 COUNCILMAN TURNAGE MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 4 -0. Mayor Pro Tem Barth present at 7:19 p.m. C.0 PUBLIC HEARINGS CA GN 2012 -020 PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE ADOPTING YOUTH PROGRAMS STANDARDS OF CARE - ORDINANCE NO. 3189 APPROVED Mayor Trevino opened the public hearing and called on Ron Newman, Park and Recreation Program Coordinator to come forward. Mr. Newman summarized the item. The item is to consider approval of an ordinance readopting the North Richland Hills Youth Programs Standards of Care. Because the Parks Department offers day camp programs for children ages five to thirteen, the City must meet day care licensing requirements or file for an exemption of the Child Care Standards and Regulations. To receive exempt status, municipalities must submit a copy of program standards, a notice of a public hearing for the program and a copy of the ordinance adopting the standards. The Park and Recreation Department's day camp program meets and in some areas exceeds many of the standards listed in the state's Child Care Standards and Regulations. All of the Standards of Care in the Parks Department's day camp policies and procedures have been in place for several years and are used in the staff training process prior to camp starting each year. The exemption application and formal adoption of the Youth Programs Standards of Care and ordinance is an annual requirement. Staff recommends approval of the ordinance following the public hearing and public input. Mayor Trevino called for anyone wishing to speak for or against the request to come forward. There being no one wishing to speak, Mayor Trevino closed the public hearing and called for the motion. COUNCILMAN LOMBARD MOVED TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 3189. COUNCILMAN WELCH SECONDED THE MOTION. City Council Minutes March 5, 2012 Page 6 MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 5 -0. D.0 PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT Items to follow do not require a public hearing. No items for this category. E.0 PUBLIC WORKS No items for this category. F.0 GENERAL ITEMS F.1 GN 2012 -022 CONSIDER ALL MATTERS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO ORDERING AND HOLDING A BOND ELECTION, INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ORDERING SUCH ELECTION (RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -008). APPROVED Mayor Trevino advised that Item F.1 was not a public hearing but asked if citizens would like to comment on the subject he would like to hear from them. Mayor Trevino inquired if there were any objections from the Council. The Council had no objections to hearing from the citizens. Councilman Rodriguez, Task Force Streets Sub - committee Chairman, presented a summary of the activities and recommendations of the Community Improvements Program Task Force. The task force was in charge with evaluating city facilities and streets and making recommendations to the Council for future projects. Councilman Rodriguez recognized the members of the task force in attendance. The task force utilized two sub committees — Facilities Sub - committee chaired by Councilman Lombard and the Streets Sub - committee chaired by Councilman Rodriguez. The task force as a whole adopted all rankings of the sub - committees. The Streets Sub- committee evaluated all residential and collector streets and created different street packages for different funding levels. The conclusion of the task force was that now is not the time to take on an extensive street bond project due to the significant traffic impacts associated with the Loop 820 project. The Facilities Sub - committee focused on an in -depth look of the age, condition, size, use and functionality of all city facilities, ranked possible alternative sites for facilities, evaluated facility placement and type in City Council Minutes March 5, 2012 Page 7 surrounding and similar communities and ultimately created preliminary reconstruction and relocation options. The Sub - committees then reassembled as a Task Force towards the end of the summer to move forward as a singular body to address the more complex issues associated with the facility challenges. All preferences and rankings established by the Sub - committees were re- confirmed and adopted by the task force as a whole upon completion of the Sub - committee meetings towards the end of the summer. Councilman Lombard presented the task force's discussion and recommendations for city facilities. Councilman Lombard discussed their assessment of the current city facilities and future needs. Councilman Lombard provided a brief summary of key municipal facilities, the Loop 820 expansion project and studies prepared by the city related to the expansion project. The pre -1995 design of the 820 expansion project did not impact city facilities and included a total of 9 lanes within the existing right of way. The current NTE expansion plans involve a significant expansion of right of way for a total of 14 lanes significantly impacting the Recreation Center / Municipal Court and City Hall facilities. Impacts to the Recreation Center / Municipal Court include the facilities failing to meet city codes and standards, loss of parking spaces and emergency vehicle access and loss of functionality of the main entrance. Impacts to the City Hall / Police Facilities include the facility being non - compliant with city codes and ordinances, loss of parking and loss of functionality of main entrance. Councilman Lombard discussed the task force's evaluation of sites and preferences. The task force's location preferences are: #1 — locate City Hall, Court and Public Safety facilities at former North Hills Mall site; #2 locate City Hall, Court and Public Safety facilities at current City Hall site (would require the acquisition of the homes in the neighborhood to the east); and #3 locate City Hall and Court at current City Hall site and move Public Safety to the Mid Cities site (city -owned property off of Dick Fisher). Councilman Lombard discussed the task force's evaluation and consideration of cost comparison options, and financial criteria and assumptions. The task force's recommendations to Council are to • defer a street bond program for three to five years, • recommendation of a facilities project to construct new facilities • location preferences • all facilities at the old mall site • all facilities at the current city hall site • facilities split at the current city hall site and the Service Center. • Maximum cost - $70 million • Up to 4 cent tax rate increase • Recommend the council call a bond election for May 12, 2012 to fund municipal facilities. Mayor Trevino called for anyone wishing to speak for or against the bond request to come forward. City Council Minutes March 5, 2012 Page 8 The following task force members spoke in support for calling the bond election. Both expressed their support of the open and transparent process that allowed them to evaluate city needs and make their final recommendation of a facilities project to construct new facilities. Mr. Mark Wood, 6617 Precinct Line Road, NRH Mr. Jay Bruner, Senior Pastor of Center Point Church, 7804 Mid - Cities Blvd, NRH The Mayor and Council expressed their appreciation to the members for their work. COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION (RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -008) ORDERING AN ELECTION TO BE HELD MAY 12, 2012 FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS. COUNCILMAN LOMBARD SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 5 -0. G.0 EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS G.1 ACTION ON ANY ITEM DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION LISTED ON WORK SESSION AGENDA No action needed. H.0 INFORMATION AND REPORTS H.1 ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilman Lombard made the following announcements. The NRH Public Library and Carter Blood Care will host a blood drive from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7. This event will take place in the Community Room of the Library, which is located at 9015 Grand Ave. No appointment is necessary as walk -ins are welcome. For more information, call the Library at 817 - 427 -6814. The NRH Public Library is hosting a free grant seeking workshop for nonprofit organizations on Wednesday, March 14. The workshop will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Community Room. Please call 817 - 427 -6814 for more information. City Council Minutes March 5, 2012 Page 9 Kudos Korner - Rebecca Vinson at Municipal Court. An email was received thanking Rebecca for her work in getting a citation matter resolved. The citizen stated that Rebecca was absolutely wonderful and so easy to work with and was truly an asset for the city. H.3 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Trevino adjourned the meeting at 8:11 ATTEST: H ikicia PiUtson, - Ut%Secretary z r r h •� ' O ••• y a / .............