1997-12-02 CC MinutesCITY OF FARMERS BRANCH
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
DECEMBER 2, 1997
STUDY SESSION ROOM
CITY HALL
4:00 P.M.
The following members of the City Council were present:
Mayor Bob Phelps
Mayor Pro Tem Calla Davis
Councilmembers Charlie Bird
Bill Moses
Jim Robbs
The following members of the City Council were absent:
Councilmember Berry Grubbs
The following members of the City Administration were present:
City Manager
Richard Escalante
City Attorney
Matthew Boyle
Assistant City Manager
John Burke
Fire Chief
Kyle King
Police Chief
Jimmy Fawcett
Director of Communications
Donna Huerta
City Secretary
Cindee Peters
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER.
Mayor Phelps called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
2. DECLARE AN EMERGENCY UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 551.045.
A motion by Mayor Pro Tem Davis, a second by Councilman Robbs, all voting "aye",
declared an emergency meeting to protect the health, safety and welfare of the City of
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Farmers Branch and to protect the property and interest of the City due to the urgency
and necessity, which was not reasonably foreseeable, to offer a reward for information
leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for the fire at
the Historical Park.
3. CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 2367 OFFERING A REWARD FOR
INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND INDICTMENT OF THE
PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE WHICH DESTROYED
THE DOUBLE CRIB BARN AT THE FARMERS BRANCH HISTORICAL PARK
ON NOVEMBER 27, 1997 AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps stated the proposed ordinance would allow the City of Farmers Branch
to offer a reward of $2,000 for anyone who has information leading to the arrest and
indictment of the person or persons responsible for the fire at the Historical Park.
City Manager Richard Escalante stated the ordinance gives the Fire Chief discretion
regarding the disbursement of the reward funds.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bird asked if it had been determined what caused the fire.
Fire Chief Kyle King stated all information so far leads the Fire Department to believe
this fire was set and not caused by any electrical or other problem.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bird asked if the court would decide if the fire was intentional
or accidental.
Fire Chief Kyle King stated his staff would be responsible for building a case if they
felt the fire was intentionally set.
Police Chief Jimmy Fawcett stated the charges against the person or persons could
range from arson to criminal mischief.
Mayor Pro Tem Davis asked if staff knew yet how much the cost will be to replace the
structure.
City Manager Richard Escalante stated he does not have a figure on the cost of
replacement.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bird asked if the structure was insured.
City Manager Richard Escalante stated the structure was insured but does not know
how the insurance company will handle the claim because of the historic value.
Councilman Moses asked if someone could remain anonymous if they had information
on the fire at the Historical Park.
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Police Chief Fawcett stated he was not sure if the person could remain anonymous,
but could check with Crimestoppers and see how it might be handled.
City Manager Richard Escalante stated the telephone logs used by employees is public
record and did not know how this might apply to someone requesting to remain
anonymous. He stated staff would check into this.
Fire Chief King stated the Fire Department plans to visit the neighborhood around the
Historical Park to see if anyone might have seen something and also will visit the
schools.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bird asked how the $2,000 might be divided if more than one
person gave helpful information.
Fire Chief King stated it would depend on the information he received from each
person as to how much money they might receive.
Councilman Robbs asked if there was other vandalism at the Historical Park.
City Manager Richard Escalante stated the person or persons had broken some lights
and broken a lock on a door.
There being no further questions, a motion by Councilman Moses, a second by Deputy
Mayor Pro Tem Bird, all voting "aye", adopted the following captioned Ordinance No.
2367.
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE OFFERING A REWARD FOR
INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND INDICTMENT OF THE
PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE WHICH
DESTROYED THE DOUBLE CRIB BARN IN THE FARMERS BRANCH
HISTORICAL PARK IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,000.00.
4. ADJOURNMENT.
There being no further questions, a motion by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bird, a second
by Mayor Pro Tem Davis, all voting "aye", adjourned the special meeting of December
2, 1997 at 4:25 p.m..
c~ . -
Mayor
City Secretary
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