2000-08-17 CC MinutesG
1
CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
WITH THE PARKS & RECREATION BOARD
AUGUST 17, 2000
STUDY SESSION ROOM
13000 WILLIAM DODSON PARKWAY
7:30 P.M.
The following members of the City Council were present:
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tern
Councilmembers:
The following members of City Staff were present:
City Manager
Assistant City Manager
Assistant City Manager
Director of Parks & Recreation
Director of Communications
Athletic Coordinator
Park Superintendent
City Secretary
Bob Phelps
Bill Moses
Jim Robbs
Charlie Bird
Calla Davis
Paul Walden
Richard L. Escalante
Linda Groomer
John Burke
Jeff Fuller
Tom Bryson
Anne Coe
Charles Cancellare
Cindee Peters
The following members of the Parks and Recreation Board were present:
Chairman
Board Members:
Those absent were:
Barney Wood
Margaret Young
Jaye Goodson
Allan Moore
David Martinez
Jimmy Thompson
Roy Morales
Joan Abbey
Mayor Phelps called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
Volume 84, page 64
DISCUSS A PROPOSAL BY THE CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ACQUIRE A PORTION OF FARMERS
BRANCH PARK TO REDESIGN THE FIELD LAYOUT FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THE FARMERS BRANCH PARK TO TRADE OTHER PROPERTY AND TO
DISCUSS ITS IMPACT ON PARK AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps explained that the City has been involved for several years
with the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District to locate a
school in Farmers Branch. Mayor Phelps stated he would like staff to present
the proposal the School Board has offered to build a school in Farmers
Branch.
Mr. John Burke, Assistant City Manager, gave a history of events dealing
with the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District from the
bond election to the current proposal by the School Board.
Mr. Allan Moore, Parks and Recreation Board member, asked if the School
Board has the legal authority to take Farmers Branch Park.
Mr. Escalante explained the legal requirements for the City to exchange
property with the school district, eminent domain procedures and read the
state statue concerning special provisions for sale or trade of public park
property to allow a different use of an existing park.
Mr. Moore asked if the School Board has sought to purchase land in the area
of Farmers Branch Park and if they have ever used eminent domain to
purchase property.
Mr. Escalante explained the City is unaware of the School Board trying to
purchase any property in the area of Farmers Branch Park. Mr. Escalante
stated the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District staff has stated they
have not used eminent domain to acquire property for a school.
Ms. Anne Coe, Athletic Coordinator, gave a brief presentation of how the
proposal would affect Farmers Branch Park. Ms. Coe showed several charts
on the current layout of Farmers Branch Park and the proposed layout of
Farmers Branch Park as presented by the School Board.
Mr. Burke gave a report on the financial ramifications to the City should a
school be built on park property including environmental testing, demolition
of existing buildings in the area, and the redesign of Farmers Branch Park.
Volume 84, page 65
Mr. Escalante gave a summary of how Cox Park may be affected by any
exchange of property offered by the School Board in exchange for a portion
of Farmers Branch Park. Mr. Escalante also stated staff has looked at other
alternative locations to build a school as follows: (1) current proposal; (2)
move the proposed school to the three acres on Josey Lane and lose less of
Farmers Branch Park; (3) ask the School Board to buy and build a practice
field if they build on Farmers Branch Park; (4) property owned by the School
District on Fyke Road; and (5) expansion of Montgomery Elementary.
Mr. Frank Shor asked if the 17 homeowners who were approached by the
School District were aware of this proposal by the School Board.
Mr. Escalante stated he did not know if they were aware of this proposal.
Mr. Moore asked if the School Board had ever attempted to purchase the
Valwood Shopping Center.
Mr. Escalante stated at one time they investigated the possibility but
determined it would be too expensive.
There followed a discussion as to whether the City should purchase the 17
homes and use the property as a park or approach the School District to buy
the property to locate a school on this site.
Mayor Phelps explained it was not the City's responsibility to find the
location for the future school.
Mr. Escalante stated the City Council and staff would like to hear from the
users of Farmers Branch Park to see if the proposal offered by the School
Board would meet their needs.
Mr. Larry Ott stated the proposal does not have enough room for sport
practices, baseballs would be hit into Josey Lane and the traffic from the
new school and from the existing Mary Immaculate School would create
hazards for children in the area.
Mrs. Linda Ott asked what percentage of Farmers Branch children would go
to this school.
Mr. Escalante stated approximately 50% of the school children attending the
proposed school would be Farmers Branch children.
Truett Ball with the Girls Softball League stated Farmers Branch Park is very
unique in that it accommodates all types of athletic games, and the traffic
would be too hazardous with the field layout.
Volume 84, page 66
Matt Wunsch with the Soccer Association voiced his concern that this
proposal would be useless for soccer practices and the safety of children
would be too hazardous because of the traffic.
Raymond Deleon with Little League Baseball stated the proposal would only
allow one sport to practice at any one given time of the day.
Rod Duncan with the Football League explained they could practice or have a
game only with no other sporting activities going on when they were using
the field. He also explained the proposed layout would only be good for the
smallest children to practice and it would be located too near Josey Lane
traffic.
A motion by Margaret Young, a second by Jimmy Thompson, all voting
"aye" from the Parks and Recreation Board, to communicate to the School
Board they were not in favor of this proposal.
Mayor Phelps asked that representatives from the Sports Council and their
supporters please call or write the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School Board
and voice their opposition to this proposal.
ADJOURNMENT.
A motion by Councilman Bird, a second by Councilman Walden, all voting
"aye", adjourned the meeting at 9:13 p.m.
Volume 84, page 67
City Secretary