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Min 08/05/2014 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 5, 2014 Page 1 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Wichita Falls, Texas Memorial Auditorium Building August 5, 2014 Item 1 - Call to Order The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas met in regular session on the above date in the Council Chambers of the Memorial Auditorium Building at 8:30 o’clock a.m., with the following members present. Glenn Barham - Mayor Tim Ingle - Councilors Ben Hoover Annetta Dotson - Michael Smith - Brian Hooker - Tom Quintero - Darron Leiker - City Manager Miles Risley - City Attorney Tracy Norr - City Clerk Mayor Barham called the meeting to order. - - - - - - - - Item 2a - Invocation Reggie Coe, Pastor of Grace Church, gave the invocation. - - - - - - - - Item 2b - Pledge of Allegiance Fred Lentz, a World War II veteran, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Lentz told of his experiences in the war. - - - - - - - - Item 3a -Employee of the Month Chief Borrego recognized Sarah Park, as the Employee of the Month. Mayor Barham presented a plaque, a letter of appreciation, restaurant tickets, and a check to Mrs. Park and thanked her for her service. - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 5, 2014 Page 2 Item 3b – Proclamation – Health Center Week, Community Healthcare Center Mayor Barham presented a proclamation establishing August 11-15, 2014 as Health Center Week and recognizing the accomplishments of the Community Healthcare Center. - - - - - - - - Item 4- Comments from the Public to Members of the City Council Concerning Items That Are Not on the City Council Agenda. Robert Whiteley, 1105 Scott, addressed the council representing the firefighter’s association. He thanked the council for their service and asked for consideration of salary increases for firefighters. He referenced a salary survey that had been distributed to the council, noting that the salaries are in the bottom five percent of the benchmark cities. He said over 40 percent of the trained firefighters in Wichita Falls have gone to other departments in the last five years. - - - - - - - - Item 5 – 6c– Consent Items City Manager Darron Leiker gave a briefing on the items listed under the Consent Agenda. Moved by Councilor Smith that the Consent Agenda be approved. Motion seconded by Councilor Ingle and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Hoover, Dotson, Quintero, Hooker, Smith, and Ingle. Nays: None Item 5 - Approval of Minutes of the July 15, 2014 Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Item 6a – Resolution No. 84-2014 Resolution No. 84-2014 Resolution to Approve Change Order No. 1 for the Completion of the 2013 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project in a Deductive Amount of $39,759.00 Item 6b – Resolution No. 85-2014 Resolution No. 85-2014 Resolution Awarding Bid for the Purchase of One 60,000 GVW Cab and Chassis, and One 64,000 GVW Cab & Chassis to Grande Truck Center in the Amount of $249,626.49; with the Option to Purchase Three Additional Units in October of 2014 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 5, 2014 Page 3 Item 6c – Resolution No. 86-2014 Resolution No. 86-2014 Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of One Automated Side Load Sanitation Body and One Front Load Body through the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative from Heil of Texas in the Amount of $243,590.00; with the Option to Purchase Three Additional Units in October of 2014 Item 7a-b –Receive Minutes Minutes of the following boards and commissions were received: (a) Wichita Falls 4B Sales Tax Corporation, October 30,2013 (b) Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation, June 17, 2014 - - - - - - - - Item 8a – Ordinance No. 34-2014 ORDINANCE NO. 34-2014 Ordinance Amending Section 106-126 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Wichita Falls, to Increase Retail Water Rates; Providing for Codification; and Providing an Emergency and Immediate Effective Date Moved by Councilor Dotson that Ordinance No. 34-2014 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Hooker. June O’Hara, 4113 Aspen Street, said elderly people on social security would have to take money from their food bills to pay the increase. Linda Tingle, 1415 North 10th Street, said elderly and those on fixed incomes and disability cannot pay it. People have conserved since the drought and there must be other ways rather than raising the water rates. Barbara Reed, 2 Hyde Park Court, asked if business rates are also being increased and was told it applies to them also. She said people are being punished as they have cut back on consumption and the rates are increasing. She said she does not believe meters are being read monthly. Mayor Barham added that bottled water is about $1.38 per gallon. City water costs an average of $.006 per gallon. With the rate increase the rate increase will go to $.009 per gallon. He said providing water is a business and must meet its expenses as well as future projects. Marion Stade, 4801 Greenbriar, said she runs a little library in her yard and also teaches. She said she understands business. She suggested bottling the city water for sale. She also suggested removing the drought restrictions and making a sliding scale for water use. She also suggested reducing the rate if the lakes reach 25 percent levels. Mayor Barham noted there is already a sliding rate scale for large water users. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 5, 2014 Page 4 Mark Bacon, 4703 Langford Lane, asked if the rates will drop after the drought ends. Darron Leiker said the staff does not anticipate water usage to increase to previous levels after the drought ends. He said the council can always consider lowering rates if the revenue is not required for infrastructure maintenance and future projects. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Quintero, Dotson, Ingle, Smith, Hooker, and Hoover. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8b – Ordinance No. 35-2014 ORDINANCE NO. 35-2014 Ordinance Waiving Section 3140 of Appendix B (Zoning) of the Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances to Allow for a Maximum Lot Coverage of 60% in the Pillars Addition (Pillars Court) Moved by Councilor Hooker that Ordinance No. 35-2014 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Dotson and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Quintero, Dotson, Ingle, Smith, Hooker, and Hoover. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8c – Ordinance No. 36-2014 ORDINANCE NO. 36-2014 Ordinance Amending the Employee Benefit Trust Agreement to Update Titles of Trustees and Delete an Unfilled Trustee Position Moved by Councilor Hoover that Ordinance No. 36-2014 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Ingle and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Quintero, Dotson, Ingle, Smith, Hooker, and Hoover. Nays: None - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 5, 2014 Page 5 Item 9a – Resolution #87-2014 RESOLUTION NO. 87-2014 Resolution Approving the Programs and Expenditures of the Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation (WFEDC) and Amending the Budget to Include Up to $185,500 for the Hunting Titan Recruitment Project Moved by Councilor Smith that Resolution No. 87-2014 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Ingle. Joel Sansing, facility manager, explained the horizontal drilling process. He said there are currently 36 employees and plan to expand to 60 employees or more. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Quintero, Dotson, Ingle, Smith, Hooker, and Hoover. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 9b – Resolution #88-2014 RESOLUTION NO. 88-2014 Resolution Approving the Programs and Expenditures of the Wichita Falls 4B Sales Tax Corporation Board of Directors and Amending the Budget to Include Funding Up to $134,351 for Capital Improvement Projects to the Farmer’s Market Moved by Councilor Hooker that Resolution No. 88-2014 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Hoover and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Quintero, Dotson, Ingle, Smith, Hooker, and Hoover. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 10a – Staff Council Discussion Darron Leiker addressed questions about water meter reading. He said city policy is to read every meter every month. There may be less than 1% of meters which are not read because they are not accessible. Those customers are notified they are receiving an estimated bill. He discussed the process for reading meters. Jack Murphy gave an update on the Riverside Cemetery Expansion project. He showed concept plans for the expansion. - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 5, 2014 Page 6 Item 10b – Discussion of Items of Concern to Members of the City Council Members of the City Council presented the following matters: Councilor Quintero said he met with people in the Green Tree addition to talk about beautification and revitalization of the Missile Road area. He encouraged other neighborhoods to make their areas better. Councilor Dotson said she received a question from a citizen about graffiti cleanup. Mr. Leiker asked for the address so city crews could respond. If it is private property, the property owner is responsible. Code Enforcement handles the situations. Councilor Dotson asked if non-potable water providers are required to get a permit or if they pay taxes. She was told a permit is not required and the city does not track or enforce sales tax. Lou Kreidler added that if the water is being used in a public pool, a permit is required. Councilor Ingle asked about the division of the water rate increase for projects. He was told about 15% is for future projects and most of the revenue would be used to cover shortfalls. He discussed water sources and water revenues. He also thanked Larry Ash of the Veterans Advisory Committee for getting Mr. Lentz to the council meeting. Councilor Ingle said he attended Deer Fest and was pleased with the participation. He asked for an update in building code changes. Councilor Smith said there is work needed in the downtown area for the upcoming Hotter’N Hell event. He also said there is a trash problem along Kell. He was told the city tries to coordinate with TxDot crews for cleanup. He also asked for a report about in the Code Enforcement department during the budget meetings. He asked for a report on the smoking ordinance. Lou Kreidler said there a few complaints that are being addressed. Free signs are being distributed to local businesses. Overall response has been positive. Councilor Smith noted the number of calls received weekly by the police department. He also said a good report from Castaway Cove had been received. He said there are traffic problems around Lawrence Road, Sikes Center area, and the McNeil/Call Field intersection. He asked for consideration of library needs during the upcoming budget process. Councilor Hoover said he had been contacted about potholes at the Kirk/Cedar Elms intersection. He noted the drought outlook forecasts a little relief from the drought in the fall months. - - - - - - Item 11 – Executive Session City Council went into Executive Session at 10:52 a.m. in accordance with Texas Government Code §551.071, §551.072, and §551.087. City Council reconvened at 12:04 p.m. Mayor Barham announced that no polls or votes were taken during Executive Session. - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 5, 2014 Page 7 Item 12 – Appointment to the Water Resources Commission Motion by Councilor Ingle to appoint Steve Smith to the Water Resources Commission to fill a vacancy for a term to expire December 31, 2014. Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Quintero, Dotson, Ingle, Smith, Hooker, and Hoover. Nays: None Item 13 - Adjourn City Council adjourned at 12:05 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED this 19th day of August, 2014. ___________________________________ Glenn Barham, Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________________ Tracy B. Norr, MMC, City Clerk