1998-11-16 CC MinutesCITY OF FARMERS BRANCH
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 16, 1998
COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY HALL
7:30 P.M.
The following members of the City Council were present:
Mayor Bob Phelps
Mayor Pro Tern Charlie Bird
Councilmembers Berry Grubbs
Bill Moses
Jim Robbs
The following members of the City Council were absent:
Councilmember
Calla Davis
The following members of the City Administration were present:
City Manager Richard L. Escalante
Assistant City Manager Linda Groomer
Assistant City Manager John F. Burke
City Attorney John Boyle
City Secretary Cindee Peters
Director of Community Services Tom Scales
Director of Planning Michael Spicer
City Engineer Jerry Murawski
Director of Parks & Recreation Jeff Fuller
Library Director Mary Jane Stevenson
Police Chief Jimmy Fawcett
Fire Chief Kyle King
Director of Public Works Mark Pavageaux
Assistant to the City Manager Margaret Somereve
Assistant to the City Manager John T. Roach
Traffic Engineer Dave Davis
Recording Secretary Suzanne Reynolds
Mayor Phelps called the City Council Meeting of November 16, 1998 to order
at 7:38 P.M. The meeting was televised.
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A.1 INVOCATION.
Councilman Robbs gave the invocation and Councilman Moses led the
pledge of allegiance to the flag.
Mayor Phelps announced Councilwoman Davis was not present due to
illness.
A.2 CONSIDER ACCEPTING A DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $2000
FROM SOUTHWESTERN BELL TO THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH
FOR BRANCH CROSSING TREE PLANTING PROGRAMS AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mrs. Clem Lear, Director External Affairs, Southwestern Bell, presented a
$2000 check to the Mayor and City Council for the Revitalization Project
- Tree Planting Programs in the Branch Crossing area.
A motion by Mayor Pro Tern Bird, seconded by Councilman Grubbs, all
voting "aye," accepted the donation in the amount of $2000 from
Southwestern Bell and instructed staff to send the appropriate letter.
A.3 PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 19TH OF EACH YEAR AS STATE OF TEXAS
ANNIVERSARY REMEMBRANCE (S.T.A.R.) DAY IN FARMERS
BRANCH.
Mayor Phelps stated that Mr. Daniel Kulvick asked the Council to pass a
proclamation for S.T.A.R. day. Mayor Phelps read the proclamation and
proclaimed February 19, each year, as "State of Texas Anniversary
Remembrance (S.T.A.R.) Day" in Farmers Branch, Texas.
A.4 PRESENTATION OF SERVICE AWARDS.
Mayor Phelps presented a five-year employee service award to Robert
Carrera of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Mayor Phelps presented a ten-year employee service award to Kerry
Phillips of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Mayor Phelps presented a ten-year employee service award to Bob Bull
of the Parks and Recreation Department.
A.5 PRESENTATION OF BOARD APPLICATIONS.
There were no applications presented.
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A.6 REPORT ON STUDY SESSION ITEMS.
Mayor Phelps gave a brief summary of the items discussed in Study
Session held prior to the regular meeting.
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING AS CONSENT ITEMS AND TAKE THE
APPROPRIATE ACTION B.1 - B.4.
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.
A motion by Mayor Pro Tern Bird, seconded by Councilman Robbs, all
voting "aye," added Agenda Item D.2 to the Consent Agenda.
A motion by Mayor Pro Tern Bird, seconded by Councilman Robbs, all
voting "aye" adopted the following amended Consent Agenda.
B.1 APPROVED MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF
NOVEMBER 2, 1998.
B.2 APPROVED THE FINAL PLAT OF VALWOOD SERVICE CENTER
FIRST ADDITION FOR THE DFW FREEPORT/ROYAL TRADE
CENTER J.V.
B.3 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 98-154 APPROVING AMENDMENT
NO. 2 TO THE DEVELOPER'S CONTRACT WITH AMERICAN
REALTY TRUST RELATIVE TO CENTREPLACE ONE
DEVELOPMENT.
B.4 APPROVED THE FINAL PLAT OF MERCER CROSSING ADDITION,
LOT 1 BLOCK B. FOR AMERICAN REALTY TRUST, INC.
D.2 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 98-151 NOMINATING GLAZER'S
WHOLESALE DRUG COMPANY, INC. AS AN ENTERPRISE
PROJECT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2303, THE TEXAS
ENTERPRISE ZONE ACT.
Mayor Phelps read the Consent Agenda items to the audience and home
viewers.
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C.1 CITY MANAGER REPORTS.
City Manager Richard Escalante presented an informative report on the
status of various projects and activities in the City.
D.1 CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 98-149 AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ATLAS
ENTERPRISES, INC. FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAYS AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION.
Mayor Phelps presented the following information. Staff has negotiated
with Atlas Enterprises, Inc. to provide the fireworks displays for the Tree
Lighting ceremony on December 4, 1998, the Dallas Symphony
Orchestra concert on June 5, 1999, and the Independence Day
celebration on July 3, 1999. The fireworks displays will be of a low-level
variety similar to past event displays presented at City Hall and the
Historical Park.
The fireworks contract allows for a total of thirty-three minutes of
fireworks displays: three minutes for the Tree Lighting ceremony, ten
minutes for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra concert, and twenty minutes
for the Independence Day celebration for a total of $33,000.
Funding for the fireworks displays has been budgeted in the Hotel-Motel
fund.
The Director of Parks and Recreation recommends adopting Resolution
No. 98-149 authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with
Atlas Enterprises, Inc. for fireworks displays on December 4, 1998, June
5, 1999, and July 3, 1999.
There being no discussion, a motion by Councilman Grubbs, seconded by
Mayor Pro Tern Bird, all voting "aye," adopted Resolution No. 98-149
authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Atlas
Enterprises, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $33,000.
D.2 CONSENT.
D.3 CONSIDER COUNCIL TRAVEL REPORTS AND REQUESTS AND TAKE
THE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
There were no travel reports or requests.
D.4 CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.
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There was no citizen participation.
MAYOR PHELPS ANNOUNCED THAT THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION WERE DISCUSSED IN THE 4:00 P.M. STUDY SESSION.
MAYOR PHELPS EXPLAINED THE CITY COUNCIL CONVENED INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:06 P.M. AND CONCLUDED AT 7:35 P.M. AND
CONVENED FOR 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.
E.1 a DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS -TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE -
SECTION 551.074
1. DISCUSS APPOINTMENT TO THE VALWOOD IMPROVEMENT
AUTHORITY.
2. DISCUSS APPOINTMENTS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF
ADJUSTMENT AND BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS.
3. DISCUSS APPOINTMENT OF A CRIMEWATCH DIRECTOR.
Mayor Phelps and members of the City Council discussed personnel
matters.
EA b DISCUSS REAL PROPERTY - TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE - SECTION
551.072
1. DISCUSS LAND ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT
13214 ROSSFORD STREET, 13201 DENTON DRIVE, 9018 DENTON
DRIVE AND 9019 DENTON DRIVE.
2. DISCUSS LAND ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT
13303 DENTON DRIVE AND 2335 JETT STREET.
3. DISCUSS SALE, LEASE & EXCHANGE OF LAND IN THE OLD
FARMERS BRANCH AREA.
4. DISCUSS LAND ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT
12950 EPPS FIELD ROAD.
Mayor Phelps and members of the City Council discussed possible land
acquisition.
E.1 c DISCUSS PENDING AND CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION -TEXAS
GOVERNMENT CODE -SECTION 551.071
1. DISCUSS POSSIBLE LITIGATION WITH TCI CABLEVISION OF DALLAS
FOR VIOLATION OF ORDINANCE 2390 AND 2391.
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2. DISCUSS CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION REGARDING LONE STAR GAS
COMPANY'S REQUEST FOR A RATE CHANGE.
Mayor Phelps and members of the City Council discussed possible
litigation concerning TCI and Lone Star Gas.
E.2 CONSIDER NECESSARY ACTION ON PERSONNEL MATTERS
DISCUSSED IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Mayor Phelps stated the appointment to the Valwood Improvement
Authority would be postponed until the December 7, 1998 City Council
meeting.
Mayor Phelps called for necessary action on personnel matters.
A motion by Councilman Grubbs, a second by Councilman Robbs, all
voting "aye", reappointed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Building
Code Board of Appeals Clyde James, David Stack, and appointed Ben
Robinson to Alternate Position 2 with terms to expire December 1, 2000.
Councilman Grubbs explained that Herbert Hooker requested to not be
reappointed and Chairperson Junie Smith had stated he would be truly
missed.
Mayor Phelps stated the appointment of a Crimewatch Director would be
postponed indefinitely.
E.3 CONSIDER NECESSARY ACTION ON REAL PROPERTY DISCUSSED IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Mayor Phelps called for necessary action on real property.
A motion by Councilman Moses, a second by Councilman Robbs, all
voting "aye", authorized purchase of 13214 Rossford Street, 13201,
9019 and 9018 Denton Drive for $235,000, allowing Mr. Tim Adkisson
to occupy the building at 13214 Rossford Street for a period of 16
months and paying Mr. Tim Adkisson the cash sum of $10,000, and
allowing Mr. Ben Adkisson to occupy the building at 13201 Denton Drive
until April 15, 1999.
A motion by Mayor Pro Tern Bird, a second by Councilman Grubbs, all
voting "aye", authorized staff to purchase the right-of-way from
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in the amount of $8,000.00.
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Mayor Phelps reported the City Council was updated by City Staff on the
sale, lease and exchange of land in the Old Farmers Branch Area. No
action was necessary.
Mayor Phelps reported the City Council was updated by City Staff on
land acquisition of real property located at 12950 Epps Field Road. No
action was necessary.
E.4 CONSIDER NECESSARY ACTION IN PENDING AND CONTEMPLATED
LITIGATION DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Mayor Phelps reported members of the City Council were updated on
contemplated litigation. No action was necessary.
F.1 ADJOURNMENT.
A motion by Councilman Moses, a second by Councilman Grubbs, all
voting "aye", adjourned the City Council meeting of November 16, 1998,
at 8:15 p.m.
Mayor
City Secretary
Volume, 79, page 49