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2002-03-18 CC MinutesCity of Farmers Branch City Council Regular Meeting Agenda City Hall Plaza 13000 William Dodson Parkway Farmers Branch, Texas Monday, March 18, 2002 7:30 p.m. The following members of the City Council were present: Mayor Bob Phelps Mayor Pro Tern Calla Davis Councilmembers Bill Moses Jim Robbs Paul Walden The following member of the City Council was absent: Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Charlie Bird The following members of the Administration were present: I City Manager Richard Escalante Assistant City Manager Linda Groomer Assistant City Manager John Burke Assistant to the City Manager Margaret Somereve Assistant to the City Manager John Roach City Attorney Matthew Boyle Director of Equipment Services Don Moore Director of Economic Development Norma Nichols Director of Public Works Mark Pavageaux Communications Director Tom Bryson Director of Community Services Michael Spicer Library Director Mary Jane Stevenson City Engineer Jerry Murawski Police Chief Jim Fawcett Fire Chief Kyle King Director of Parks and Recreation Jeff Fuller Recording Secretary Suzanne Reynolds Mayor Phelps called the City Council meeting of March 18, 2002 to order at 7:32 p.m. The meeting was televised. A.1 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Volume 88, page 65 Reverend Chris Seidman with Farmers Branch Church of Christ gave the invocation and Mayor Pro Tern Davis led the pledge of allegiance. A.2 REPORT ON STUDY SESSION ITEMS. Mayor Phelps and City Councilmembers gave a brief summary of the items discussed in Study Session prior to the regular meeting. Jeff Harting, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation, gave a report on the New Recreation Center Design. Councilman Walden asked Mr. Harting about alternative funding for this project. Mr. Harting replied there are two things that staff is working on. One opportunity is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant, which the City did not receive on their first attempt and will have time to submit a second time. In addition, staff will be approaching the Metrocrest Hospital Authority and other private organizations to find sponsorships for the cardio/weight room to help offset the cost. Councilman Walden asked Mr. Harting if the display boards and the rendering of the Recreation Center Design would be at the Community meetings on Tuesday and Thursday. Mr. Harting replied yes. A.3 PRESENTATION OF BOARD APPLICATIONS. There were no applications presented. AA CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. There was no citizen participation. Mayor Phelps stated Mayor Pro Tem Bird was not in attendance. A motion by Councilman Walden, seconded by Councilman Robbs, all voting "aye," excused Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Bird from the Council meeting. B.0 CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING AS CONSENT ITEMS AND TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION. Mayor Phelps stated under the title of 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. Volume 88, page 66 A motion by Mayor Pro Tem Davis, seconded by Councilman Moses, all voting "aye," accepted the Consent Agenda with one change to the minutes of March 4, 2002. B.1 APPROVED THE MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 4, 2002 AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. B.2 ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 2659 SUSPENDING THE PROPOSED TARIFF AND SCHEDULE OF GAS RATES PROPOSED BY TXU GAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY AND AUTHORIZING THE STEERING COMMITTEE TO HIRE LEGAL COUNSEL AND RATE CONSULTANTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF NORTH TEXAS METROPLEX CITIES DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CITIES TO RETAIN LEGAL COUNSEL AND RATE CASE CONSULTANTS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO INTERVENE IN RELATED DOCKETS BEFORE THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION; AND SUSPENDING THE PROPROSED TARIFF AND SCHEDULE OF RATES OF TXU GAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY. D.1 PRESENTATION ON STATION AREA PLANNING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. John Roach, Assistant to the City Manager, presented a report on the Station Area Planning and showed the City Council and audience a four-minute video. Michael Spicer, Director of Community Services, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Station Area Planning. Dave Davis, Traffic Engineer, discussed the traffic issues of the Station Area Planning. Councilman Moses asked if the construction of the interchange at Valwood Parkway at IH35E is the same type of construction being done on Valley View Lane at IH35E. Dave Davis replied that it is the same type of construction with an addition of a lane in each direction and a westbound turn lane. Councilman Moses asked Mr. Davis if he had any slides he could show the public that would show the improvements to the change. Mr. Davis showed the PowerPoint slides that were shown during the Study Session. Mr. Roach stated at the Community Meetings this week on Tuesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 21, 2002 the displays of the four options boards and sketches will be in the lobby of both facilities. He also stated there will be more Volume 88, page 67 chances for community input at future Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council meetings. Mayor Pro Tern Davis asked what type of on-street parking is envisioned on Valley View Lane. Mr. Davis replied that he envisioned parallel parking. Mayor Pro Tem Davis asked how another lane could be put under the Valley View bridge because she does not think there would be enough room. Mr. Davis replied that the curb lines would be pushed back as far as possible. At Valwood there are no center piers so the curb lines would be pushed back to the outside piers. Councilman Walden asked about the size of the Farmers Branch station and how would it compare in size with other stations such as Mockingbird, Plano and other transit sites. Mr. Roach replied the City of Farmers Branch study area from I-35 to Gussie Field Watterworth Park is about 100 acres. Phase I of the Plano downtown station is three and one-half acres and Phase II will be approximately the same size. Mayor Phelps asked if the seven acres in Plano included the buildings. Mr. Roach replied that, yes, this development extends from 15th Place to 16th Street, and from the tracks to Avenue K. Councilman Walden asked Mr. Roach what type of amenities would be in the public plaza or pocket parks. Mr. Roach replied for the larger plaza conceptually it would be a hard surface area with trees. Some of the pocket parks could be softer surfaces such as lawns, landscaping and benches. He stated it is envisioned that the larger public plaza area could be used for special events, much like City Hall Plaza is used now. Councilman Walden asked if the residential area would be rental or owned type properties. Mr. Roach replied the multi-family area is anticipated to be primarily rental properties at this time. One plan has the possibility of having town homes in the area. Councilman Walden asked what would be next on the time line. Mr. Roach responded that staff would like to bring the plan before the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council this summer for their adoption of the vision. Later staff would be looking more at details of the development including traffic. Mr. Roach also stated staff would begin working in partnership with property owners, potential property owners and developers. Councilman Walden asked what level of detail does the next phase entail. Mr. Roach stated in order to adopt a vision there is a level of detail that is needed. The vision will require some fine-tuning in regards to the location of the platform, public plaza, and should include public input. Volume 88, page 68 Councilman Walden asked when the construction on the DART station would start. Mr. Roach replied DART staff is in the preliminary engineering stage. Mr. Davis stated that the section of the rail line to Farmers Branch will take two and one-half years to construct and the anticipated opening is late 2007 or 2008. Councilman Walden expressed that a decision needs to be made soon on the name of the facility and where the boarding station would need to be. Mr. Roach replied DART has a general idea where the platform would be located, but the exact site has not been decided. He also stated in regards to the naming issues, he feels it should be thought about and considered over the next couple of months. Richard Escalante, City Manager, restated that a high degree of detail is not needed to determine which vision would be most suitable for the project and with additional public input there may be two or three additional alternatives. He stated the one issue that needs to be settled by this summer is the location of the DART station. He stated one alternative is to have the station as close as possible to Valley View. Another alternative have the station moved back with park space on one side or both sides of the station. Mayor Phelps stated these are all just concepts. He asked if there would be another DART meeting for citizen input. Mr. Roach replied he feels the appropriate time would be at the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council meetings, but DART is also having additional meetings on the Northwest Corridor on April 16 and 18, 2002. Mayor Phelps commented after receiving an agenda from DART that an item on the next DART meeting would be to award a contract for work on the Northwest Corridor. Mr. Escalante stated there would be discussion with the Planning and Zoning Commission to see if they would host the next meeting. He stated he would have more information after he meets with the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mayor Phelps invited the residents to attend the Community meetings on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at the Manske Library and Thursday, March 21, 2002 at the Senior Center. D.2 PRESENTATION OF WEST SIDE PLAN: CIRCULATION. Dave Davis, Traffic Engineer, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the West Side Plan: Circulation. D.3 CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 2002-036 AWARDING THE BID FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BROOKHAVEN CLUB DRIVE BETWEEN MARSH LANE AND THE EAST INTERSECTION OF GOLFING Volume 88, page 69 GREEN DRIVE TO SUTTON AND ASSOCIATES, INC. AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. Mayor Phelps presented the following information. The 2001-2002 Non-bond Capital Improvement Program fund and DART Local Assistance Program funds provides $2,090,000.00 for the reconstruction of Brookhaven Club Drive between Marsh Lane and the east intersection of Golfing Green Drive This section of Brookhaven Club Drive will be completely reconstructed with concrete pavement, new sidewalks, drainage improvements, water line improvements, and a new traffic signal at the intersection of Brookhaven Club Drive and Marsh Lane. Five bids were received and opened on February 12, 2002. All bids met specifications. Sutton and Associates, Inc. submitted a low bid in an amount of $1,904,502.50. Sutton and Associates, Inc. has provided adequate qualifications and references for similar work. The contract time is 365 calendar days. Of the bid amount, $59,053.50 is for Marsh Lane and Brookhaven Club Drive intersection improvements within the Town of Addison. Addison agreed to pay for the improvements within its city limits in an interlocal agreement approved by Addison City Council on February 26, 2002 and Farmers Branch City Council on March 4, 2002. After deducting expenses for design, geotechnical investigation and reproduction, there is $1,980,825 available in the project budget for construction. The City Engineer recommends adopting Resolution No. 2002-036 awarding the bid for the reconstruction of Brookhaven Club Drive to Sutton and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,904,502.50. Councilman Walden asked Mr. Murawski if the drainage issue at the end of north Pinehurst Circle would be addressed in this contract. Jerry Murawski, City Engineer, replied it would be done under a separate contract. The type of improvement to address the Pinehurst Circle drainage problem will be different from the drainage improvements on the Brookhaven Club Drive project. Staff intends to have the Pinehurst Circle drainage improvements under construction in early summer. If the Pinehurst Circle drainage improvements were included with the Brookhaven Club Drive project, the Pinehurst improvements would not be constructed until much later because of the preparatory work that must be done on Brookhaven Club Drive before the drainage improvements can begin. Councilman Walden asked when would the Brookhaven Club Drive project actually start. Mr. Murawski replied in 30 to 40 days. There being no further discussion a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Davis, seconded by Councilman Moses, all voting "aye," adopted Resolution No. 2002-036 awarding the bid for the reconstruction of Brookhaven Club Drive to Sutton and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,904,502.50. Volume 88, page 70 DA CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION BOARD, THE COMMUNITY WATCH COMMITTEE, AND THE SCHOOL- COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. A motion by Councilman Walden, seconded by Councilman Moses, all voting "aye," reappointed Nancy McIntyre to the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee; and Angie Mayo, Charles Montemayor, Rena Herod, Gene Sadler to the Community Watch Committee. D.5 CONSIDER COUNCIL TRAVEL REPORTS AND REQUESTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. There were no travel reports or requests. D.6 PRESENTATION OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND ORGANIZATION REPORTS. Mayor Phelps stated on March 5, 2002 he attended the celebration of the State of Texas Birthday hosted by Senator Florence Shapiro. On March 7, 2002 he and Charlie Bird attended the First Annual Reading Recovery Program at McLaughlin Elementary. On March 7, 2002 he spoke at Vivian Field Middle School congratulating them on their 40th Anniversary and their major renovation of the school and he also attended the Station Area Planning meeting held at City Hall. E.1 ADJOURNMENT. A motion by Councilman Moses, a seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Davis, all voting "aye," adjourned the meeting of March 18, 2002 at 9:05 p.m. or City Secretary Volume 88, page 71