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1959-08-03 CC MinutesMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF COUNCILMEN FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS August 3, 1959 The City Council convened in a regular meeting on August 3, 1959 at the Community Building at 7:30 P. M. with the following present: Mayor Councilmen City Manager Administrative Assistant City Secretary Lawson Lewis Thomas Reeder H. N. Mallon John Wilsey Oley Attebery Don Knox J. M. Orman Wm. H. Mallery Dorthanna Williams Mr. Glenn Hayden, Pastor of First Baptist Church gave the invoca- tion. The minutes of July 6 and July 20 were approved. ORDINANCE NO. 198-AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NO. 152 Upon a motion by Councilman Wilsey, seconded by Councilman Knox, an ordinance was passed amending Electrical Code Ordinance No. 152. Jack McInnish., City Electrical Inspector and Mr. Bill Pool of Texas Power and Light Company, were present to explain this amendment to the Council. Councilman Wilsey asked if the Electrical Inspector was in favor of this amendment, Mr. McInnish said he was. Council- man Mallon asked if other cities in the area have this regulation. Mr. Pool told him they do and this should have been in the original code but in error had been omitted. Caption of the ordinance reads as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 152, THE ELECTRICAL CODE, BY DELETING THE PRESENT SUB-PARAGRAPH (6) OF SUB-PARAGRAPH h OF ARTICLE 4 OF SECTION XI, RULES AND REGULATIONS, BY REGULATING THE INSTALLATION OF SERVICE ENTRANCE CONDUCTORS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND DECLARING AN.EMERGENCY. VISITORS Mrs. Doris Hopper, 13936 Stardust Lane, appeared before the Council to ask for an adjustment in her water bill. She had a hidden water leak and when she received her bill, had a plumber check her plumb- ing and a bad connection was found. Mrs. Hopper presented a state- ment from the plumber and also the faulty connection. Councilman Wilsey asked if it wouldn't be against our policy to make an adjust- ment. City Manager Orman explained that a hidden leak could be treated differently from an obvious leak where an excessive amount of water would be used. He explained that in making this adjust- ment the City could charge only the amount that the City would have to pay for this water and the City would not lose any money. Coun- cilman Reeder moved that an adjustment be made according to this plan, seconded by Councilman Attebery, passed unanimously. Mr. Knox Pyle, 1603 Fuller Drive, Dallas, appeared before the Coun- cil to discuss a trunk sewer line installed by H. D. Lewis in Val- wood Park Installment No. 14 in 1957. Mr. Pyle said Mr. Lewis understood the City was to collect pro rata shares of this sewer as other developers tied into it. Mr. Orman said this trunk sewer runs along Cooks Branch and several developers such as Cato Corp., Bardena Corp. and Valwood Shopping Village are now using it. Mr; Lewis said that the City had agreed to collect as each development tied into this line. The minutes of September 16, 1957 were read by Mr. Orman, "The Council approved the engineer's cost break down of the extension of Cook's Branch trunk sewer main - - - - - - - . The City will not be responsible for the cost of this sewer line." Councilman Mallon said the Council had looked over this plan and had agreed that the dimensions were fair according to the amount of property owned by each developer in the area, therefore, he feels the City should help in collecting this money for H. D. Lewis without being responsible for it. The sanitary sewer had to go through this area and Mr. Lewis agreed to pay all the cost with the understanding that other developers would pay their part as they tied on. The Council authorized City Manager Orman to write letters to all developers involved. Councilman Wilsey said any help promised developers should be docu- mented - such as Mr. Kaspar's new development. Councilman Knox asked if there is some way this could be entered on the maps or filed so that in any transaction this would show up. Mr. Orman said a file could be set up on each sub-division with copies of all documents referring to this particular property. BIDS FOR FIRE HOSE Upon a motion by Councilman Knox, seconded by Councilman Reeder, City Manager Orman was authorized to advertise for bids on 2400 ft. of 2-1/2" Fire Hose and 1000 ft. of 1-1/2" Fire Hose for the new fire truck to be delivered this month. Mr. Orman told the Council they would have to sell some bonds to pay for this hose. Councilman Knox said some bonds would have to be sold to pay for the truck and they could sell enough to pay for all. Mr. Orman explained that he ~a~ is working on the budget to see how much will be needed for the Police Station, too. ANNEXATION ORDINANCE NO. 186 Upon a motion by Councilman Wilsey, seconded by Councilman Attebery, the Council passed the second and final reading annexing two tracts of land disannexed by the City of Dallas. The first reading was passed on June 15, 1959. DESIGNATION OF FIRE LANES - ORDINANCE NO. 199 Upon a motion by Councilman Knox, seconded by Councilman Attebery, an ordinance was passed granting authority to City Manager Orman, or the Traffic Engineer, to designate certain streets within the City as fire lanes and to take necessary steps to prohibit parking in the designated fire lanes. The first fire lane to be established is the east side of Bee Street between Valley View Lane and Valwood Parkway. The purpose of this ordinance is to allow easier travel for fire trucks enroute to an emergency area. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT City Manager Orman explained to the Council that he had talked with Attorney Nichols and the State Law has recently changed on this board. Two alternate members may be designated and now five members must be present with at least four members voting for any change. The members of this board will have to study the Zoning Ordinance and be very familiar with it. The names submitted for this board were: Bob Knight, Bob Langdon, Addison Bradford, Ollie Bullock, Chuck Hart and C. Bell Sample. Councilman Mallon asked about men who had been on the Planning and Zoning Commission that would have had some experience and would be familiar with the Code. The Council author- ized Mr. Orman to contact these men. FURNISHING WATER TO GREENHILL SCHOOL IN ADDISON Greenhill School has purchased 80 acres in the City of Addison to build a private school. They have asked the City of Farmers Branch to agree to furnish water to their property. Mr. Orman explained they would have to do two things, get permission from the City of Addison to serve property in their city limits with water and get permission from the City of Dallas to give service outside our City. Councilman Knox moved that the request by Greenhill School in Addi- son be denied, seconded by Councilman Attebery, passed unanimously. Following this action the Council had an open discussion on the merger with Addison. Mayor Lewis had been invited . to meet with the Addison Council at their next regular meeting. He has been asked to come alone. Councilman Mallon suggested that since this may well be the meeting which will determine the merger, Mayer Lewis get Attorney Nichols and Planning Consultant Bob Hollin to help him with graphs and charts and all information available so that he will be able to answer any question on any subject concerning the merger of the two cities. Councilman Attebery said he agreed with this idea. Councilman Reeder said he believes the two main things they will ask about are representation and taxation. Coun- cilman Mallon said since Mr. Nichols is City Attorney for both cities he will probably be present and he could present some of the facts. F1 1 WATHENIA PARK ADDITION Mayor Lewis presented a plat on this addition and told the Council that the Planning and Zoning Commission has approved apartment buildings in this area behind the City Hall but have specified the first building be built on a different lot from the one the builder has a commitment on. Councilman Attebery said he could not see this any more than telling a developer where to build his first house and asked if there is a time limit on the beginning of the building. Mr. Lewis said there is a time limit on the commitment, also, if the builder has to change the location of this first building he will have to start all over with the loan company and it will be a hard- ship on him. Councilman Mallon suggested they have a joint meeting with the Planning and Zoning Commission real soon, within the next few days and asked if the Council could call a public hearing and set the date now assuming they will have the recommendation by the time of the public hearing. He said they did not want to delay any building as important as this is to the City. A tentative date of Monday, August 10, was set for this meeting. BILLBOARDS City Manager Orman told the Council the city does not have an ordin- ance as such but does have mention in the Building Code and Zoning Ordinance. Advertising is allowed in commercial zones and lower classifications. A church is allowed a sign of a certain size and in a certain place. A developer is entitled to one sign and it can remain until 85% of the houses are sold. Mr. Orman reported that a clean up campaign on signs is now under way and there are several signs in violation. MISCELLANEOUS City Manager Orman reported on the following: Bourdon Smith is still out of town and he had no report from the Juvenile Committee. Lone Star Gas Company's contract does not mention seals on meters. For complaints he will need addresses. There are two Imported Fire Ant beds behind the City Hall. The State and Federal Government will treat them at no cost to the City. Mr. L. F. Bearden's trial is set for Wednesday night, August 5th. Mr. Bearden had been to Mr. Orman's house the Thursday night before and said he was willing to move the garage. rn Councilman going north Gibson had was asked t Mallon asked if there was any activity on Dennis Road of Valley View Lane. Mr. Orman reported that Mr. John an appointment with Mrs. Fry about another matter and o see what her feelings are on the easement. Councilman Attebery asked about Valley View Lane and Webb Chapel Road improvements. Mr. Orman said he had talked with Mr. Roy Ras- berry of the County Shop about improving Valley View from Holbrook to Marsh Lane and from Dooley Road to Inwood Road. Councilman Mal- lon asked about the right-of-way and Mr. Orman said the City has all it needs (80 ft.). Councilman Attebery asked what the City needs on this, money for curbs and gutters? Mr. Orman reported there is a state law the City has to pay 10% of the cost. Council- man Mallon asked if it is too early to think of major improvement on Valley View Lane. Mr. Orman said, yes, unless they want to think about a new bond issue. No formal action was taken by the Council. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. 1 1 ity Secretary 1--~7