2007-08-21 CC MinutesCity of Farmers Branch
City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
City Hall Plaza
13000 William Dodson Parkway
Farmers Branch, Texas
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
6:30 p.m.
The following members of the City Council were present:
Mayor
Bob Phelps
Mayor Pro Tern
Tim O'Hare
Deputy Mayor Pro Tern
Ben Robinson
Councilmembers
Jim Smith
David Koch
Tim Scott
The following members of the Administration were present:
City Manager
Assistant City Manager
Assistant City Manager
City Secretary
Assistant to the City Manager
Director of Economic Development
City Attorney
City Attorney
City Engineer
Director of Equipment Services
Director of Community Services
Finance Director
Director of Public Works
Director of Parks and Recreation
Library Director
Police Chief
Fire Chief
Director of Communications
Recording Secretary
Gary D. Greer
Mary Jane Stevenson
Greg Vick
Cindee Peters
John Roach
Norma Nichols Reed
John Boyle
Michael Kallas
Jerry Murawski
Kevin Muenchow
Michael Spicer
Charles Cox
Mark Pavageaux
Jeff Fuller
Danita Barber
Sid Fuller
Kyle King
Tom Bryson
Suzanne Reynolds
Mayor Phelps called the City Council meeting of August 21, 2007 to order at 6:31
p.m. The meeting was televised.
A.1 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Councilman Scott gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Volume 100, page 2
A.2 RECOGNIZE THE PALAESTRA GYMNASTIC CENTER TEAM LOCATED
IN FARMERS BRANCH.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. Following months of rigorous
competition at local, regional and state meets, gymnasts from the Palaestra
Gymnastics Center Team in Farmers Branch won top honors at the USA
Gymnastics Junior Olympics Tumbling and Trampoline National Championships
in Memphis, Tennessee in June.
In addition to numerous Top 10 honors, many members of the team earned
medals in various events. Hannah Sheaffer won gold in Level 5 trampoline.
Andrew Shurtleff won silver in Level 9 double mini. Mary Beth Weathers won
bronze in Level 10 double mini and Austin Clayton won bronze in Level 8
tumbling.
Manager and lead instructor of The Palaestra, Becki Weathers, said that more than
1,900 athletes from across the country were competing in Memphis so the honors
earned by our local athletes was quite an accomplishment.
Members of the team include Ashley Alexander, Stewart Brackett, Austin
Clayton, Alexandra Fincher, Andrew Johnson, Victoria Lovell, Meghan
Mehaney, Katie Mentesana, Hanna Sheaffer, Andrew Shurtleff, Mary Beth
Weathers and Sigourney Weathers. Palaestra coaches include Teresa Alexander,
Gary Hedrick and Erin Fortner.
The Farmers Branch City Council joins the citizens of our community in
congratulating these young athletes on their achievement through the year and
especially at this national competition.
Mayor Phelps stated members of the team and Ms. Weathers were not present to
accept certificates recognizing their accomplishments.
A.3 CONSIDER PRESENTATION AND DONATION(S) TO FARMERS BRANCH
LEGAL DEFENSE FUND AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mike DeValle presented a check to the Farmers Branch Legal Defense Fund in
the amount of $480.
A.4 PRESENTATION OF SERVICE AWARD - DEPUTY CHIEF MARK YOUNG
- POLICE DEPARTMENT - 25 YEARS.
Mayor Phelps presented a 25-year employee service award to Deputy Chief Mark
Young with the Police Department.
Volume 100, page 3
A.5 PRESENTATION OF BOARD APPLICATIONS.
There were no applications presented.
A motion by Deputy Mayor Pro Robinson, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern O'Hare,
all voting "aye," reappointed Jeanne Sawyer, Clyde Phillips, Gene Bledsoe,
Ernest Tiller, and appointed Ruth Fuls and Sam Allen to the Senior Advisory
Board.
A.6 REPORT ON STUDY SESSION ITEMS.
Mayor Phelps and the City Council gave a brief summary of the items discussed
in Study Session.
B.0 CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING AS CONSENT ITEMS AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps stated consent items are items that are to be considered 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 consent items is to
speed up discussion for those items that need more time for discussion.
A motion by Mayor Pro Tem O'Hare, seconded by Councilman Smith, all voting
"aye," approved the Consent Agenda as submitted.
B.I APPROVED MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST
6, 2007.
B.2 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2007-107 ACCEPTING A PETITION
FROM RESIDENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF
ROAD HUMPS ALONG THE 13900-14000 BLOCKS OF BEE STREET
BETWEEN COOKS CREEK AND VALWOOD PARKWAY.
B.3 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2007-108 AWARDING BIDS FOR THE
ANNUAL PROCUREMENT OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL MATERIALS
AND EQUIPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $111,464.90.
B.4 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2007-099 APPROVING THE
PURCHASE OF FURNITURE FOR FIRE STATION NO. 3 FROM
WILSON OFFICE INTERIORS IN THE AMOUNT OF $108,270.34.
B.5 ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 2925 AMENDING THE CITY OF
FARMERS BRANCH CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 82,
TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES, ARTICLE II, DIVISION 5, SECTION 82-
73, SPECIFYING THE PLACEMENT OF STOP SIGNS ON
Volume 100, page 4
WESTBOUND MIRA LAGO BOULEVARD AT LAGO VISTA WEST;
NORTHBOUND LAGO VISTA EAST AT MIRA LAGO
BOULEVARD; AND EASTBOUND HUTTON COURT AT HUTTON
DRIVE.
ORDINANCE NO. 2925
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH,
TEXAS; AMENDING THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH
CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 82, TRAFFIC AND
VEHICLES, ARTICLE II, DIVISION 5, SECTION 82-73,
SPECIFYING THE PLACEMENT OF STOP SIGNS ON
WESTBOUND MIRA LAGO BOULEVARD AT LAGO VISTA
WEST; NORTHBOUND LAGO VISTA EAST AT MIRA LAGO
BOULEVARD; AND EASTBOUND HUTTON COURT AT
HUTTON DRIVE; REPEALING ALL CONFLICTING
ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY CLAUSE;
PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
B.6 ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 2927 AMENDING CHAPTER 82 OF
THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH CODE OF ORDINANCES BY
AMENDING ARTICLE VI, AUTOMATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL
ENFORCEMENT, SECTIONS 82-401-82405, MAKING IT A CIVIL
OFFENSE TO RUN A RED LIGHT.
ORDINANCE NO. 2927
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH,
TEXAS, MAKING IT A CIVIL OFFENSE TO RUN A RED
LIGHT; AMENDING ARTICLE VI IN CHAPTER 82 OF THE
FARMERS BRANCH CODE OF ORDINANCES; PROVIDING
FOR A CIVIL PENALTY; PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN
DEFENSES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
B.7 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2007-106 AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
WITH THE CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT RELATIVE TO THE ROSE GARDEN IN GUSSIE
FIELD WATTERWORTH PARK.
B.8 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2007-109 AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR
WAREHOUSE STORAGE SPACE AT 4350 BELTWOOD PARKWAY
NORTH IN FARMERS BRANCH.
B.9 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2007-110 AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE LEASE
AGREEMENT WITH METROPCS TEXAS LLP, AS SUCCESSOR TO
Volume 100, page 5
THE INTERESTS OF NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC,
SUCCESSOR OF SOUTHWESTERN BELL WIRELESS, INC. FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3723 VALLEY VIEW LANE.
C.1 CITIZEN REQUESTED ITEM: CONSIDER REQUEST OF CLAIRE
SCHOENECK TO HAVE AN APPRECIATION DAY FROM THE
COMMUNITY WATCH COMMITTEE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Claire Schoeneck, 3737 Blue Trace Lane, asked the Council to delegate a First
Responders Appreciation Day in conjunction with the 911 Emergency Tele
Communicators Appreciation Day.
Mayor Phelps stated he is in agreement with this request.
C.2 PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDER REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE
FINAL PLAT OF VALLEY VIEW/STAFFORD BEING A REPLAT OF LOTS
17,18 AND PART OF LOT 19 OF VALLEY VIEW NO. 1 ADDITION AND
TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. The proposed Final Plat of
Valley View/Stafford is a 0.574-acre site that is zoned Planned Development No.
79, which is known as Branch Crossing. The owners of the property, Paul and
Telea Stafford, are proposing to combine Lots 17, 18 and part of Lot 19 of Valley
View No. 1 Addition into one lot for the construction of a new home. A 7.5-foot
utility easement is being dedicated at the north property line. The proposed Final
Plat for Valley View/Stafford conforms to all the zoning and subdivision
requirements.
The Texas Local Government Code requires that a public hearing be conducted
for all replats in residential zoning that do not vacate a preceding plat; that a
public notice be published in the newspaper; and that notifications be sent to
owners of lots in the original subdivision and that are within 200 feet. A public
notice was published in the Dallas Morning News and the required notifications
were mailed.
Texas law requires that a final plat must be approved if the plat meets all the
City's zoning and subdivision requirements. The Final Plat of Valley
View/Stafford is consistent with the Texas Local Government Code and with City
requirements for a final plat.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the proposed
Final Plat of Valley View/Stafford.
Mayor Phelps opened the public hearing.
Volume 100, page 6
Paul Stafford, 12923 Epps Field Road, respectfully requested Council's approval
of the final plat of Valley View/Stafford being a replat of lots 17, 18 and part of
lot 19 of Valley View No. 1 Addition.
A motion by Councilman Smith, seconded by Councilman Koch, all voting "aye,"
closed the public hearing.
Councilman Koch asked the applicant if he could give Council details of his
home. Mr. Stafford gave the Council a description of the home.
There being no further discussion, a motion by Mayor Pro Tem O'Hare, seconded
by Councilman Scott, all voting "aye," approved the proposed Final Plat of Valley
View/Stafford.
C.3 PUBLIC HEARING: TO CONSIDER MAINTAINING A $0.4945 PROPERTY
TAX RATE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. A public hearing is being
held to consider maintaining a 49.45-cent property tax rate for the 2007-08 fiscal
year. In compliance with the State Property Tax Code, the City Council passed a
motion during the August 6, 2007 City Council meeting proposing that the City
maintain a 49.45-cent property tax rate. No tax rate was adopted at that meeting.
Two public hearings regarding this proposal were scheduled, one for tonight, and
the second one on September 4, 2007. Tax rate adoption is scheduled during the
City Council meeting on September 18, 2007.
Mayor Phelps opened the public hearing.
A motion by Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Robinson, seconded by Councilman Scott,
all voting "aye," closed the public hearing.
D.I CONSIDER COUNCIL TRAVEL REPORTS AND REQUESTS, AND
COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND ORGANIZATION REPORTS, AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
There were no travel reports, requests, Council committee or organization reports.
Mayor Phelps announced that the City Council convened into Executive Session. The
meeting convened into Executive Session at 7:19 p.m. and concluded at 9:20 a.m. The
Executive Session convened after the items had been discussed in the General Session.
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.
Volume 100, page 7
E.1 DISCUSS PENDING AND CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION - TEXAS
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071.
Ramos v. City of Farmers Branch
Barrietos, et al., v. Farmers Branch
Villas at Parkside Partners, et.al., v. Farmers Branch
Alfredo Vasquez, et.al., v. Farmers Branch
Valentine Reyes, et.al., v. City of Farmers Branch
Mayor Phelps stated the City attorney would be present to discuss this item with
the City Council.
F.1 CONSIDER NECESSARY ACTION ON ITEMS DISCUSSED IN THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Mayor Phelps explained the City Council was updated on the items in Executive
Session on no action was necessary.
F.2 ADJOURNMENT.
1
A motion by Councilman Robinson, a second by Councilman Scott, all voting
"aye", adjourned the City Council meeting of August 21, 2007 at 9:23 p.m.
Bob Phelps, Mayor
Cindee Peters, City Secretary
Volume 100, page 8