City of Farmers Branch

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda

City Hall Plaza

13000 William Dodson Parkway

Farmers Branch, Texas

Monday, March 3, 2003

7:30 P.M.

 

 

The following members of the City Council were present:

                                   

                        Mayor                                                              Bob Phelps           

                        Mayor Pro Tem                                                Charlie Bird           

                        Deputy Mayor Pro Tem                                    Paul Walden           

                        Councilmembers                                               Bill Moses

                                                                                                Jim Robbs

                                                                                                Calla Davis

 

 

The following members of the Administration were present:

           

Interim City Manager                                        John Burke

Assistant City Manager                         Linda Groomer

City Secretary                                                  Cindee Peters

Assistant to the City Manager                           Margaret Somereve

                        Assistant to the City Manager                           John Roach

                        City Attorney                                                    John Boyle

Fire Chief                                                         Kyle King

                        Police Chief                                                      Jimmy Fawcett

                        Director of Engineering                         Jerry Murawski

                        Director of Public Works                                  Mark Pavageaux

                        Director of Community Services                        Michael Spicer

Director of Parks and Recreation                     Jeff Fuller

Director of Economic Development                   Norma Nichols

Communications Director                                  Tom Bryson

                        Recording Secretary                                         Suzanne Reynolds

 

 

Mayor Phelps called the City Council meeting of March 3, 2003 to order at 7:30 p.m.  The meeting was televised.

 

A.1      INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

 

Reverend Richard Seymour gave the invocation and Councilwoman Davis, led the pledge of allegiance.

 

A.2      REPORT ON STUDY SESSION ITEMS.

 

Mayor Phelps and the City Council gave a brief summary of the items discussed in Study Session prior to the regular meeting.

 

Mayor Phelps congratulated Margaret Somereve for being elected as Chair of the Governmental Aggregation Project (GAP).

 

A.3      PROCLAIM MARCH 2 – 8, 2003 AS “SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK”.

 

Mayor Phelps proclaimed March 2 through 8, 2003 as “Severe Weather Awareness Week” and presented Chief King with a proclamation.

 

A.4      PRESENTATION OF SERVICE AWARD.

 

Mayor Phelps presented a twenty-year employee service award to Mateo Gonzalez of the Public Works Department.

 

A.5      PRESENTATION BY DAVID MERRITT, CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, OF THE 2002 ANNUAL PLANNING AND ZONING REPORT.

 

David Merritt, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, presented the 2002 Annual Planning Report to the City Council and gave a brief description of the report.

 

A.6      DEMONSTRATION OF THE NEW INTERNET UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM.

 

Hong Sae, Information Services Manager, presented a demonstration of the City’s new Internet online utility billing system. 

 

A.7      PRESENTATION OF BOARD APPLICATIONS.

 

            There were no applications presented.

 

B.0       CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING AS CONSENT ITEMS AND TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

 

Mayor Phelps stated consent items are items that are to be considered and action taken that may not need discussion individually.  Any member of the City Council or the audience may request to withdraw any item from the consent items and place the item before the Council for full discussion.  The concept for the consent items is established in order to speed up discussion for those items that need more time for discussion.

 

A motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bird, seconded by Councilman Moses, all voting “aye,” approved the Consent Agenda as submitted.

 

B.1       APPROVED MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 17, 2003.

 

B.2       ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2003-023 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A JOINT ELECTION CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY OF DALLAS FOR THE MAY 3, 2003 CITY COUNCIL ELECTION.

           

B.3       ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2003-033 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR BIOTEL SYSTEM BIOMEDICAL ONLINE SUPERVISION SERVICES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

 

B.4       APPROVED AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A RELEASE OF LIABILITY FORM WITH FORD VILLA OPERATING ASSOCIATES, L.P./BGK TEXAS MANAGEMENT, INC. FOR USE OF ITS PARKING FACILITIES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS HELD DURING THE 2003 CALENDAR YEAR.

 

B.5       ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2003-030 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE SMALL EQUIPMENT FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASING COOPERATIVE.

 

C.1      CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.

 

John Wells, 13521 Heartside Lane, commended the Mayor and City Council for not conducting an outside search for a City Manager, for hiring from within and appointing John Burke as Interim City Manager.

 

D.1      CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 2003-028 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH GRAHAMS WRECKER SERVICE TO PROVIDE TOWING AND IMPOUND SERVICES FOR THE CITY AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

 

Mayor Phelps presented the following information.  The City entered into a wrecker contract with Grahams Wrecker service in 1999.  That contract is now expired.

 

In December 2002 the Police Department sent out three Requests for Proposals for the purpose of granting an exclusive contract to one wrecker service for the towing and impoundment of abandoned vehicles, prisoners’ vehicles and disabled vehicles.

 

On January 28, 2003, proposals were returned from Graham’s Wrecker Service and Walnut Hill Wrecker Service.  Both met the minimum stated requirements and specifications required by the City.  Grahams Wrecker Service is currently providing the service specified in the Request for Proposals and is performing that service in a satisfactory manner.  They have the experience, equipment and personnel to continue to provide quality service to the citizens of Farmers Branch.  The contract is proposed for three years with the option of two one-year extensions.

 

There being no discussion, a motion by Councilman Moses, seconded by Councilman Davis, all voting “aye,” adopted Resolution No. 2003-028 authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Graham Wrecker Service to provide towing and impound services for the City.

 

D.2      CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 2003-035 AWARDING THE BID FOR THE MUSTANG TRAILS PARK EROSION CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS TO CRAIG OLDEN, INC. AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

 

Mayor Phelps presented the following information.  The 2002-2003 Capital Improvement Program Budget provides funding for erosion control improvements at Mustang Trails Park in the amount of $421,865.

 

Mustang Trails Park, which lies between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Valley View Lane near Templeton Trail, is traversed by Farmers Branch Creek.  The creek banks along the park are eroding, and erosion control improvements are needed to protect the bank to insure that Valley View Lane and adjacent public utilities are not threatened.  The proposed improvements will consist of gabion walls along the portions of the creek experiencing erosion, gabion mattresses along the creek bottom beneath the bridges, and placement of rock at the base of the existing gabion walls and manhole.

 

There is $222,065 available for construction after expenditures for engineering, including surveys, geotechnical analysis, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis of alternative designs, and design of the alternative selected by the City for implementation.  The improvements have been permitted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

 

On February 11, 2003, two bids were received and opened for the erosion control improvements at Mustang Trails Park.  All bids met specifications and the low bid was received from Craig Olden, Inc. in the amount of $154,977.00.  Craig Olden, Inc. has performed similar work for the City of Farmers Branch in the past.

 

There being no discussion, a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bird, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Walden, all voting “aye,” adopted Resolution No. 2003-035 awarding the bid for the Mustang Trails Park Erosion Control Improvements to Craig Olden, Inc. in the amount of $154,977.00.

 

D.3      CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 2003-031 AWARDING THE BID FOR THE 2002-2003 SIDEWALK REPAIRS AND CONSTRUCTION TO KEN DO CONTRACTING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

 

Mayor Phelps presented the following information.  Requests for bids for the 2002-2003 sidewalk repairs program were mailed to ten vendors.  Five bids were received and opened on February 11, 2003, and all bids met specifications.  Ken Do Contracting submitted the lowest bid meeting specifications in the amount of $65,160.00.  The bid request was prepared on an estimated quantity of work. The work items were bid on a unit price basis, and the contractor will be paid only for work actually performed.

 

Funds in the amount of $139,200.00 are included in the 2002-2003 Public Works operating budget for the sidewalk repair program. The normal amount of repairs were included within the bid request, however the bids received were low compared to the last years price. This favorable bid presents the opportunity to increase the number of repairs that are normally done in a year’s time. Based on the relatively low unit prices received in this year’s bid, all of the repairs identified to date can be completed with a proposed bid award of  $120,000.00.  With those repairs accomplished, $19,200.00 could be returned to the general fund.

 

The Director of Public Works recommends that the bid for sidewalk repairs and construction at various locations be awarded to Ken Do Contracting on a unit price basis, for the total not to exceed $120,000.00.

 

Councilwoman Davis asked Public Works Director Mark Pavageaux if the manhole covers on the streets are included in this project.  Mr. Pavageaux replied it is not in this contract; that is a street repair.  He stated repairs around manholes are generally performed by City crews. 

 

There being no further discussion, a motion by Councilman Robbs, seconded by Councilman Moses, all voting “aye,” adopted Resolution No. 2003-031 awarding the bid for sidewalk repairs and construction at various locations to Ken Do Contracting for a total not to exceed $120,000.00.

 

D.4      CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 2003-034 AWARDING THE BID FOR PAVING AT THE CITIZEN COLLECTION CENTER AT 1399 VALLEY VIEW LANE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

 

Mayor Phelps presented the following information.  The Citizens Collection Center at 1349 Valley View Lane is for residents to use to dispose of their waste or bulky items.  It is also for drop-off of recyclable items.  The facility is operated from Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through Monday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  This facility is being relocated due to the Right of Way required for the construction of the President George Bush Turnpike, which will cross through the existing site. The new location will be approximately five hundred feet to the east but within the same City property as the existing Citizens Collection Center. The new Citizens Collection Center will have a paved driving surface, a gate house, two additional disposal boxes for a total of four, an area for recyclable items to be dropped off, landscaping and a decorative metal gate. Funding in the amount of $200,000 is available for the construction of the new Citizens Collection Center.

 

Eighteen bids for the concrete paving were received and opened on February 18, 2003.  All bids met specifications.  The low bid meeting specifications was received from McMahon Contracting L.P. in the amount of $83,058.40.  The construction time is specified at 90 calendar days. 

 

Funds are available for the concrete paving at the new Citizens Collection Center in the Non-Bond, CIP Fund, Westside Improvements.

 

There being no discussion, a motion by Councilman Moses, seconded by Councilman Robbs, all voting “aye,” adopted Resolution No. 2003-034 awarding the bid for paving at the Citizens Collection Center to McMahon Contracting L.P. in the amount of $83,058.40.

           

D.5      CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, AND THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION BOARD AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

 

            A motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bird, seconded by Councilman Moses, all voting “aye,” appointed Robert Schies to Place 3 on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Building Code Board of Appeals and Fred Sawyer to Alternate Place 1 on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Building Code Board of Appeals. 

 

            A motion by Councilman Moses, seconded by Councilman Robbs, all voting “aye,” moved Tim O’Hare to Alternate Place 1 on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

 

D.6      CONSIDER COUNCIL TRAVEL REPORTS AND REQUESTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

 

John Burke, Interim City Manager, stated he, Mayor Phelps and staff members attended a meeting in Austin, on February 24, 2003 to meet with representatives of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to discuss the St. Stephens contamination site.

 

A motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bird, seconded by Councilwoman Davis, all voting “aye,” approved travel for Councilman Moses to attend the Texas Recreation and Parks Society Conference in San Antonio on March 26th through 28th.  Mayor Phelps stated that Barney Wood would be honored statewide at the TRAPS conference.

 

D.7      PRESENTATION OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND ORGANIZATION REPORTS.

 

Mayor Phelps stated on March 21st he attended the Interstate 35 – Interstate 635 Committee meeting with the Congressional delegation regarding the funding for the I-35/635 corridors.  On March 22nd he attended the American Asian Engineering Dinner held at the Omni Hotel in Farmers Branch.  On March 2nd he and members of the City Council attended the dedication of the Blair Intermediate School. 

 

Mayor Phelps announced that the Community Meetings would be held on Tuesday, March 25, at the Manske Library and Thursday, March 27, at the Farmers Branch Senior Center.

 

MAYOR PHELPS ANNOUNCED THAT THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WERE DISCUSSED IN THE 4:30 P.M. WORK SESSION.  MAYOR PHELPS EXPLAINED THE CITY COUNCIL CONVENED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 4:55 P.M. AND THEN CONCLUDED AT 6:23 P.M..  TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 551 OF THE OPEN MEETING LAW PROVIDES THAT SUCH ITEMS AS PERSONNEL MATTERS, LAND ACQUISITION AND PENDING AND CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION MAY BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION.

 

 

E.1       DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087.

Discuss economic development incentive package for a Farmers Branch company and take appropriate action. 

 

Mayor Phelps stated staff was present to discuss this item with Council.

 

E.2       DISCUSS LAND ACQUISITIONS - TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072.

 

Discuss potential sale, lease, or trade of City owned property at the southwest corner of Golfing Green Drive and Josey Lane and take appropriate action.

 

Discuss sale, trade or lease of City owned property or acquisition of property located in the area known as Old Farmers Branch and take appropriate action. 

 

Mayor Phelps stated staff was present to discuss this item with Council.

 

E.3       DISCUSS PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION - TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071.

 

Discuss status of environmental cleanup efforts at the former St. Stephens Dry Cleaners site located at 2788 Valwood Parkway and take appropriate action.

 

Mayor Phelps stated staff was present to discuss this item with the City Council.

 

F.1       CONSIDER NECESSARY ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

 

Mayor Phelps explained staff updated City Council on executive items and no action was necessary.

 

F.2       ADJOURNMENT.

 

A motion by Mayor Pro Tem Bird, a second by Councilman Walden, all voting “aye”, adjourned the City Council meeting of March 3, 2003 at 8:20 p.m.

 

 

 

_________________________________                  _________________________________

Bob Phelps, Mayor                                                      Cindee Peters, City Secretary