Loading...
1961-03-06 CC MinutesMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING CITY COUNCIL FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS March 6,1961 The City Council met in a regular meeting on March 6, 1961 at the Community Building at 7:30 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Pro-Tem John Wilsey Councilmen H. N. Mallon Don Knox Bill Hamilton City Manager J. M. Orman Assistant City Manager John C. Dodson City Secretary Dorthanna Williams Mayor Attebery and Councilman Page were absent. Mayor Wilsey called the meeting to order. Mr. Carl Matthews, Pastor of Valwood Baptist Church gave the invocation. Minutes of regular meetings, February 6 and February 20, were considered and approved. FINAL REPORT FROM SANITATION COMMITTEE Mr. Glenn Long, Chairman of the Sanitation Committee, presented the 4th. and 5th. installments of the Committee's study and recommendations. After looking over the reports Councilman Mallon asked, are you in favor of having a contractor collect the garbage: Mr. Long said, yes. Council- man Mallon asked, this Mr. Duncan collects for Arlington, would he collect for us, buy our equipment, etc? Mr. Long said, yes, he or others, he has a copy of a 15 year contract Mr. Duncan has with the City of Arlington. Mayor Wilsey said he believed the Council should study these reports and then they would like to have Mr. Long meet with them to answer any ques- tions they may have. The Councilmen then expressed their appreciation for the thorough study and report. REPORT ON COOK'S BRANCH DRAINAGE PROBLEM Mr. W. D. Oradat, Chairman of the Cook's Branch Committee introduced Mr. Powell and Mr. McMullen of the engineering firm of Powell and Powell. Mr. Powell said this study was made from M-K-T Railroad to Josey Lane. They presented two plans that they would recommend, one an open plan estimated to cost $100,000; the other a closed plan estimated to cost $500,000. The Council will study the recommendations for the proposed bond issue. REPORT ON COOK'S BRANCH CHANNEL CHANGE Mr. McMullen said they have nothing definite to report. They are working on the alignment, they had it mapped out at one time but Dr. Thompson was not satisfied with it, but now they are going ahead with the align- ment and they should have a report pretty soon. Page 59 .nom CROSSING SIGNALS AT VALLEY VIEW AND FRISCO RAILROAD Mr. R. A. Rorie, Vice President-Superintendent, of the railway company was present for a discussion of the signal for the crossing. He gave a report of a count taken at the crossing a few months ago. This report shows that more trucks than cars use this crossing. He asked, is the City willing to cooperate in the cost of this signal? Mayor Wilsey asked the cost of the signal. Mr. Rorie said, $7,500. Councilman Hamilton asked, how fast are the trains going through this crossing? Mr. Rorie said, 40 miles per hour. Councilman Knox said there has been two accidents at this crossing and it seems it would be cheaper for the railroad to put up signals. Mr. Rorie asked the Council to consider that they have 5,000 miles of tracks. Councilman Knox said, it is a blind crossing, his feeling was, if the railroad will not install a signal then the City should draft an ordinance to control the speed of trains at 10 miles per hour. Once Valley View is improved as planned it will be traveled even more. Councilman Hamilton asked, what is the peak period? Mr. Rorie said, 5 to 6 p.m. Councilman Hamilton than asked, what type signals they installed? Mr. Rorie said, blinking light signals, they are installing lights as fast as they can. He said the sight distance at this particular crossing is a problem. Councilman Mallon asked, would it hurt the company to slow down the trains at this crossing? Mr. Rorie said, yes, they would like to be financially able to put lights e°verywhere. Councilman Knox said, the railway company is taking the majority of the risk away when the install signal lights. $7,500 is a drop in the bucket to a life of a citizen of Farmers Branch. What is the railroad's feelings about this signal light? Mr. Rorie said they are hit hard at this time by Carrollton, they are putting part of these lights in with some federal aid. Farmers Branch can put a fair speed limit there, then some day the company will put a signal there, maybe one year, maybe five years. Councilman Knox said, we don't want to be unfair but we do want some protection. The visibility is the main problem there. Councilman Mallon said he thought Mr. Rorie was doing a good job but believed they will have to put in a signal. Mr. Rorie said they have gotten some relief in Fort Worth, they pay half the cost of signals there. They hope other Home Rule cities will do the same. Mayor Wilsey said, we just have the one crossing in Farmers Branch so we are not trying to ask for five signals. This is a reasonable request and the Council can only face the problems in Farmers Branch. The Council asked for one from the Katy Railroad after an accident. Councilman Knox said, if we put a speed limit on it will have to cover the whole city. Mayor Wilsey asked, how far are you prepared to go at this time? Mr. Rorie said he had hoped to get some contribution toward this, if he told them that night they would put in the signal it may be a year or longer before it would be installed. Page 60 Councilman Knox moved, instruct the City Manager to have an ordinance drafted to regulate the speed of trains throughout the City at 10 m.p.h. at any crossing not guarded by signal lights, seconded by Councilman Mallon, all voting "ayes". Mr. Rorie asked, if and when Valley View Lane is signaled can we expect relief? The Council assured him they could. The Council then instructed the City Manager to have the speed limit on Valley View Lane lowered from 50 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h. on each side of the crossing. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PARK BOARD-BEAUTIFYING VALLEY VIEW AT HIWAY 77 After hearing the recommendations Councilman Knox moved, accept the site plan entitled "alternate scheme", grade land and maintain after planting, actual planting and securing of plants will be responsibility of the Council of Garden Clubs, seconded by Councilman Hamilton, all voting "ayes". The Park Board recommended the Council accept the plan of the Till and Toil, Johnston Park and Valwood Park Garden Clubs. Councilman Hamilton moved, accept plan for concrete curb around ligustrum and a new canna bed along the south side of the swimming pool, seconded by Councilman Mallon, all voting "ayes Councilman Hamilton moved, pass a resolution to Council of Garden Clubs commending them on their actions in projects beautifying the City, seconded by Councilman Knox, all voting "ayes". The Park Board requested that these names be considered to replace Delbert Moore who had resigned. Mario D'Orsareo, Tom Reeder and George Oyester. The Council agreed to get more information on these recommenda- tions before appointment. DATE SET FOR MEETING ON HOSPITAL SPECIAL PERMIT Monday, March 13, 7.00 p.m. was the date and time set for the special meeting to consider the restrictions to be placed in the special permit for the Metropolitan Medical Center, BLOCKING HEARTSIDE STREET AT VALWOOD SCHOOL A report from Fire Chief Yager recommending against closing off the street was received by the Council. He reported Heartside would no longer be used as a fire lane north of Amber Lane. In the future Josey Lane will be used as a running street to Valwood Parkway. Councilman Knox said he would hate to close off the street. Councilman Mallon said, in New York many streets are called pl ay streets and are closed to through traffic, he would be in favor of closing the street. Councilman Hamilton said the main thing is to keep the children off the street., City Manager Orman said the city has a 20 m.p.h. limit there Page 61 and he endorses their using of the park in a joint use of playground and parks. Councilman Hamilton said, have the City Manager instruct them to keep the children off the street and get the fire lane changed. COUNCIL OF GARDEN CLUBS City Manager Orman explained a letter had been received from the Council of Garden Clubs requesting the eradication of poison ivy from the Gussie Field Waterworth Park. It had been referred to the Street and Park Diaision for action and a letter written to the Council advising them of the action. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX ROLL DELETION Upon a motion by Councilman Knox, seconded by Councilman Mallon, all voting "ayes", a resolution was passed deleting various delinquent real estate and personal property taxes owed to the City deemed uncollectible for these reasons: removal of assets, changes ow ownership and in some cases the legal limitation has been passed. Section 1. For the years 1347 through 1058 in the total amount of $275.43, which includes all delinquent taxes on both Real Estate and Personal-Property owed to the City of Farmers Branch, Texas for the years prior to 1x53. AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTY ON FIRE CALLS Upon a motion by Councilman Hamilton, seconded by Councilman Knox and passed unanimously, an ordinance was passed for the annual agreement between the City and the County whereby the City answers certain County fire calls. The City is guaranteed $2,500 for these services. DISCUSSION OF 1961 TAX PROGRAM After some discussion it was decided this was not the time to change any thing at all pertaining to taxes rate, ratio, etc. TRADE WITH CARROLLTON ON SEWAGE TREATMENT City Manager Orman said this involves an area in Farmers Branch at the west end of Valwood Parkway in Farmers Branch and an area in Carrollton at Spring Valley Road and Dennis Road. It was determined the area in Carrollton will probably be a shopping center. Councilman Mallon said he would hate to help Carrollton develop an area in competition with our shopping center. The Council gave instructions to adivse Carrollton they were not in agreement on a trade. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER City Manager Orman reported at Valley View Lane and Webb Adjournment. the traffic signal light had been installed Chapel Road. Dorthanna Williams, City Secretary Page 62