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Home My WebLink AboutCC 2003-11-11 Minutes MINUTES OF THE GOAL SETTING WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, HELD AT GARRETT CREEK CONFERENCE CENTER, 270 PRIVATE ROAD 3745, PARADISE, TEXAS, NOVEMBER 11-12,2003 Council Present: Oscar Trevino Mayor Joe Tolbert Mayor Pro Tern John Lewis Council, Place 1 Scott Turnage Council, Place 2 Frank Metts, Jr. Council, Place 3 JoAnn Johnson Council, Place 4 David Whitson Council, Place 5 Tim Welch Council, Place 7 Staff Present: Larry J. Cunningham City Manager Greg Vick Assistant City Manager Richard Torres Interim Assistant City Manager Karen Bostic Managing Director Administrative /Fiscal Services Paulette Hartman Assistant to City Manager Patricia Hutson City Secretary Steve Brown Library Director Jim Browne Parks and Recreation Director Mike Curtis Public Works Director Debbie Durko Court Administrator Dave Green Zoning Administrator Patrick Hillis Human Resources Director Andy Jones Fire Chief Larry Koonce Finance Director Jenny Mabry Communications Director Dave Pendley Building Official John Pitstick Development Director Thomas Powell Support Services Director Tom Shockley Police Chief Kyle Spooner Information Services Director JoAnn Stout Neighborhood Services Director The City Council met November 11 beginning at 1:00 p.m. and concluded on November 12 for the purpose of reviewing and setting goals and priorities for 2003 -04. Mr. Jim Blagg, Senior Vice President, The Mercer Group, Inc. and Mr. Bill Bancroft, Principal, conbrio, were the facilitators for the work session. Council Work Session Minutes November 11 -12, 2003 Page 2 Mayor Trevino called the work session to order on November 11 at 1:00 p.m. with Council and Management staff present as recorded with the exception of Councilman Lewis. The Mayor advised that Councilman Welch would be leaving at 5:00 p.m. and Councilman Turnage would not be present on November 12. The facilitators briefly reviewed the agenda, the roles, rules and expected outcomes and objectives of the strategic planning work session. The City Manager was asked to give a status report on the city's progress in achieving the goals and implementing the action items and management agenda agreed to at the 2002 Goals Session. The City Manager reviewed the incomplete and on -going items and gave an update on the progress. Councilman Lewis present at 2:00 p.m. The Council and Staff were asked to look back to the year 1993 and create a history timeline of the City. The resulting timeline showed a period from 1993 to 1998 dominated by developers and reactive responses from Council and from 1998 to the present as being a more community minded era listening to the concerns of the citizens. The timeline also showed that the Council became creative in solving city issues and was willing to take risks to accomplish objectives. The City Manager reviewed the Economic Development Plan adopted by the Council in January 2003. The City Manager highlighted what needs to be done and the accomplishments. The Council and Staff identified trends affecting the city and its growth. Trends identified included running out of room in the city, growing population and service population, area cities competing for businesses, increasing traffic congestion, aging and build -out of surrounding cities, down zoning of commercial property to residential, big box stores pushing out the small businesses, diverse population and air pollution. Political factors identified were the difficulties in balancing the needs of providing quality services while keeping taxes low and the need for public money to stimulate private investment. Economic climate factors discussed included a declining or flat sales tax base, continuation of business development in the north, and ability to get the workforce to work or home with the increasing traffic congestion. Customer needs identified were parks, leisure amenities, restaurants, good city services with high expectations, continuation of fast police and fire response times, better transportation, more and better libraries, convenient access to city information on -line, clean neighborhoods and neighborhood redevelopment, good schools, health care facilities, and entertainment. Technology factors identified included the threat of internet shopping reducing sales tax and the internet allowing citizens a quick way to make demands on the city. The Council and Staff noted the following uncertainties — concerns with a possible rewrite of the State Tax Code as part of the special session for school finance and whether revitalization in the southern part of the city will work. The work session recessed at 4:30 p.m. and was called back to order at 6:25 p.m. Everyone present as recorded except Councilman Welch. The Council and Staff were asked to identify strengths, problems, opportunities and threats and select the most important. Under strengths, listed as the most important were the Council working Council Work Session Minutes November 11 -12, 2003 Page 3 well with city management and the political stability, a diversified tax base, quality of life amenities and the willingness to take risks. Problems listed as most important were revenues not keeping up with growth, approaching build -out, unfunded state /federal mandates, aging south side of city (infrastructure and housing) and North Hills Mall. Opportunities listed as most important were fix North Hills Mall, upgrade and widening of the 820 corridor and make the south side of the city younger. Threats listed as important were the political instability of future councils, legislature eliminating financial sources, municipal competition for business, and lack of knowledge of North Hills Mall. The work session recessed for the evening at 7:50 p.m. and was called back to order on November 12 at 8:00 a.m. All Council members, Management Staff and Directors present except for Councilmen Turnage and Metts. The Council and Staff broke into four different groups and envisioned what writers and editors of different magazines might say about North Richland Hills in the year 2008. The groups created a cover story of their vision. The City Council reviewed the goals established in 2002. The Council reaffirmed all six goals. Council then developed objectives and short term actions to accomplish the established goals. Goal: Safety & Security Objectives • Continue to provide top quality Fire, Police and EMS (Highest Priority) • Develop and implement security system around technology (High priority) • Keep pace with growth — Police, Fire, and Public Works • Continue to be the safest city in Tarrant County • Provide safe streets and neighborhoods • Improve facilities for enhanced services • Continue to improve preparation for major emergencies Short Term Action Items • Complete construction of two new fire stations ( #1 and #4) • Remodel two fire stations ( #2 and #3) • Develop funding plans for public safety technology upgrades (Radio, Computer, and GIS) • Evaluate Police parking at City Hall connected to 820 work • Locate funding for a third ambulance • Develop plan for reuse of Fire Station #4 • Continue vehicle replacement program • Evaluate staffing levels over the next 5 years — Police, Fire, Public Works Council Work Session Minutes November 11 -12, 2003 Page 4 Goal: Quality Development Objectives • Stimulate retail expansion (Medium priority) • Facilitate commercial development in Home Town (Medium Priority) • Create signature corridors • Develop and use a central city district • Develop enforceable development standards and ordinances • Build public facilities in Home Town Short Term Action Items • Market prime locations to hotel industry/conference center • Continue to implement city image study recommendations • Develop plan to fund operating costs of new public facilities (Library & Recreation Center) • Target businesses to locate in new development areas • Identify and protect prime vacant commercial land areas • Review overall marketing strategy for City • Explore conference center opportunities in conjunction with public facilities in Home Town area • Identify remaining 10% land for best use — retail, commercial, residential open spaces Goal: Financially Responsible City Government Objectives: • Expand City revenue base (Highest Priority) • Maintain Current Property Tax Rate • Stay on Schedule with 2003 Bond Projects • Maintain AA Bond Rating • Adhere to current Investment Policy • Continue pay -as- you -go approach to financing Short Term Action Items • Continue aggressive debt retirement • Evaluate outsourcing of services • Insure services are priced Appropriately according to market value • Support wine election • Investigate additional revenue sources • Investigate selling advertising on City vehicles • Evaluate health insurance program • Review investment strategy • Evaluate operating and maintenance costs of future facilities • Rebuild reserves • Evaluate best use of city property Council Work Session Minutes November 11 -12, 2003 Page 5 • Review size and scope of Home Town public facilities • Tout value, benefits and progress of bond projects • Oppose legislation eroding city revenues Goal: Quality Redevelopment and Reinvestment Objectives • Implement South Grapevine Corridor strategy (Highest Priority) • Increase code enforcement (Highest Priority) • Commit funds for public reinvestment (High Priority) • Complete 820 overlay study (High Priority) • Increase economic development in existing areas • Revitalize residential neighborhoods Short Term Action Items • Examine the historic value of Smithfield Corridor with rail possibilities • Rename Grapevine Highway • Re- examine public incentives for development • Stand behind code enforcement at Council level • Develop plan and evaluate funding sources and strategies for redevelopment • Increase and support code enforcement • Limit paper and painted signs in windows of businesses • Tap community development block grant funds for neighborhood improvement projects • Coordinate with non - profits for neighborhood improvement • Examine putting all utility wiring underground • Increase and improve relationships w /neighborhoods • Develop plans for public facilities at Glenview and Rufe Snow • Review sign ordinance enforcement Goal: Quality of Life Amenities for the Community Objectives • Enhance the public information initiative to include cable, web, newsletter (High Priority) • Maintain City's investment in public facilities (High Priority) • Maintain cultural programs and activities including public art (Medium Priority) • Deliver quality customer service to community (Medium Priority) • Continue neighborhood park initiative • Maintain core values • Preserve history and heritage Council Work Session Minutes November 11 -12, 2003 Page 6 Short Term Action Items: • Upgrade quality of entertainment programs • Expand marketing efforts for cultural activities • Evaluate public information initiative • Research coordinated comprehensive customer complaint system • Initiate a customer service training program • Explore & implement ability to transact NRH business on -line Goal: Effective Transportation System Objectives: • Expand mass transportation opportunities (Highest Priority) • Evaluate impact of 820 on public facilities (Highest Priority) • Improve air quality • Improve traffic flow • Improve quality of neighborhood streets Short Term Action Items • Fund preventive street maintenance program at same level • Implement 2003 Bond projects related to transportation • Evaluate Northeast Job Access Shuttle Program • Evaluate alternate routes during construction • Stay actively involved in 820 expansion • Evaluate signage • Improve synchronization of traffic signals • Continue to implement Trail System Master Plan • Implement Image Study recommendations on future street improvements • Remain involved in rail corridor study • Evaluate new permanent maintenance processes • Evaluate intersections for improvements including smaller intersections Councilwoman Johnson left the work session at 1:45 p.m. After discussion and rating by Council, the following objectives were established for 2003 -04. Highest Priority • Continue to provide top quality Fire, Police and EMS • Expand City revenue base • Implement South Grapevine Corridor strategy • Increase code enforcement • Expand mass transportation opportunities Council Work Session Minutes November 11 -12, 2003 Page 7 • Evaluate impact of 820 on public facilities High Priority • Develop and implement security system around technology • Commit funds for public reinvestment • Complete 820 overlay study • Enhance the public information initiative to include cable, web, newsletter • Maintain City's investment in public facilities Medium Priority • Stimulate retail expansion • Facilitate commercial development in Home Town • Maintain cultural programs and activities including public art Management will determine the placement of the short term actions with the objectives. Mayor Trevino adjourned the work session on November 12, 2003 at 2:30 p.m. APPROVED: Oscar Trevino — Mayor ATTEST: Patricia Hutson — City Secretary