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Min 06/16/2015 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES June 16, 2015 Page 1 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Wichita Falls, Texas Memorial Auditorium Building June 16, 2015 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 DeAndra Chenault - Councilors Michael Smith - Tim Ingle - Tom Quintero - Brian Hooker - Stephen Santellana - Darron Leiker - City Manager Kinley Hegglund - City Attorney (absent) Julia Vasquez - First Assistant City Attorney Tracy Norr - City Clerk - - - - - - - - Mayor Barham called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. - - - - - - - - Item 2a - Invocation Captain David Swyers, Salvation Army, gave the invocation. - - - - - - - - Item 2b - Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Barham led in the Pledge of Allegiance. - - - - - - - - Item 3a – Proclamation – Juneteenth 150th Anniversary, Wichita Falls Juneteenth Committee 8:32:13 AM Mayor Barham proclaimed June 19-21, 2015 as Juneteenth Days in Wichita Falls and encouraged citizens to champion freedom, appreciate the value of friendship, and to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES June 16, 2015 Page 2 A representative of the group spoke about the importance of remembering Juneteenth and invited people to celebrate the activities planned for this commemoration. . - - - - - - - Item 3b – Presentation – Texas Healthy Communities Silver Award – Texas Department of State Health Services 8:35:59 AM Jane Schwartz, Texas Healthy Communities Program, p resented the Texas Healthy Communities Silver award in recognition of the programs in place for promoting healthy living in Wichita Falls. - - - - - - - Item 4 - Comments from the Public to Members of the City Council Concerning Items That Are Not on the City Council Agenda. 8:40 AM David Brock, 320 Hilltop, said he continues to have problems at 810 Irene and the police will not help with enforcement. The tenant has a lot of trash in the yard and leaves nails in the street. He said the tenant claims a relationship with a police officer. He asked for help in resolving the issue. Carl F. Priebe, 507 Barker Drive, asked about the decommissioning of the water reuse system. He asked why the reuse water would not be used. Mayor Barham replied tha t the project was meant to be temporary, and the pipe is being reused in the permanent indirect reuse project. The permanent reuse will allow additional water reuse. He added that he thinks the community will continue to conserve water. Charles Barr, 2100 Indian Heights, said Lake Kemp water levels have not been reported on the city’s website. He asked what is being done for using Lake Kemp as a water source. He was told the plan is to continue using it. The microfiltration system necessary to use La ke Kemp water cannot be used while the direct reuse project is in place. Anthony Carlisle, 1648 Pearl Avenue, said the sidewalks are cracked at 8th and Ohio. He said the contractor should be not used again. He talked to the City Engineer and was told the funding isn’t available for the high -quality jobs. He challenged the council to go out and walk around the city to look at the curbs and sidewalks. He said the streets are not in good condition, and the street supervisor needs to better prioritize the jobs. He said the council is resistant to the idea of grants to replace the curbs and sidewalks. Darron Leiker said last time Mr. Carlisle was in to complain about sidewalks, he went out and found only superficial hairline cracks. The 8th and Ohio intersection is still under warranty. It has not had its final inspection yet. Candace Phillips, 1417 Gladiolus, said her concerns are the overgrown lots. She said the lot owners need to be contacted to take care of the problem. She said that businesses d on’t want to come to the eastside because of flooding problems. She asked if there is more that can be done to prevent the flooding. She said many on the east side don’t have flood insurance or money to take care of problems. She asked how she would get a response. Mr. Leiker said he would meet with her individually to address these concerns. She also asked why Washington - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES June 16, 2015 Page 3 Jackson panels were changed. She was told the school board would have to address that question. Mayor Barham added that extensive work was done along the river in clearing out brush and other projects, but there are federal regulations on when the work can be done. A lot of the problems on public property have been mitigated, but some private owners are resistant to getting the work done. Getting the undergrowth cleared will help with the flow of the river. - - - - - - - - Item 5 - Consent Items 9:02:20 AM 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 Smith, Quintero, Hooker, Ingle, Santellana and Chenault. Nays: None Item 5 - Approval of Minutes of the June 2, 2015 Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Item 6 –Receive Minutes Minutes of the following boards and commissions were received: (a) W ater Resources Committee, March 10, 2015 (b) Water Resources Committee, March 12, 2015 (c) Traffic Safety Commission, April 1, 2015 (d) Water Resources Committee, June 4, 2015 - - - - - - - - Item 7 – Public Hearing on the Proposed 2015-2019 Five-Year Public Housing Agency Action Plan and the First Year Action Plan 9:03:18 AM Mayor Barham opened the public hearing at 9:03:28 AM. Jim Dockery said the council annually reviews the plans for the Section 8 Housing program. Every five years we are required to develop a five -year action plan. There are three areas recommended for modification: criminal background checks, nu mber of years for screening for criminal activities, and a waiting period if the tenant has been evicted. A fourth provision for veteran preference has been discussed but the Housing and Urban Development department will not allow it. He reviewed the program. Councilor Quintero asked if the new rules will be applied to the people currently in the program and was told those individuals are grandfathered in. He asked why the number of years for criminal screening was changed to ten. Pam Ibarra, housing generalist, said owners CITY COUNCIL MINUTES June 16, 2015 Page 4 are concerned that tenants are allowed to break the rules, get evicted, and get right back onto the waiting list. She said the ten-year check is the standard for the owners. Reverend Pamela Hart, 616 Dee Drive, said her question was about the ten-year period since most of the people cannot get rentals at regular apartments. She asked if that will cause homelessness. Jim Dockery said the intent is to eliminate the problem areas and the additional families will move up from the waiting list so the units will still be filled. Darron Leiker noted that our regulations were more lenient than other cities, so people had come from other cities to get into the housing here. Mayor Barham added that a lot of the requirements come from the federal housing department and we need to follow them in order to receive funding. She asked if there is any discussion about homelessness. Mr. Leiker said there are very few programs for grant funding to address homelessness. The city continually looks for opportunities to assist. Ms. Hart said housing for mentally ill individuals is hard to find in this area. Candace Phillips, 1417 Gladiolus, asked about the ten -year background check. Pam Ibarra explained the process for housing. She noted there is a grievance process if individuals are denied due to the background check. Ms. Phillips asked if the housing list transfers from city to city. She was told they must reapply. Ms. Phillips expressed concern about people being released from criminal institutions. Ms. Ibarra said federal law allows consideration of rehabilitated individuals, but an owner does not have to accept them. There were no other comments and the public hearing was closed at 9:22:59 AM. - - - - - - - - Item 8a – Resolution #59-2015 9:23:04 AM RESOLUTION NO. 59-2015 Resolution Approving the 2015-2019 Five-Year Public Housing Agency (PHA) Action Plan and the First Year Annual Action Plan Moved by Councilor Ingle that Resolution No. 59-2015 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Hooker and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Quintero, Hooker, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8b – Resolution #61-2015 9:37:30 AM RESOLUTION NO. 61-2015 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for Grant Funds to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program in the Amount of $33,272.00 with Co- Applicant, Wichita County Sheriff’s Office Moved by Councilor Ingle that Resolution No. 61-2015 be passed. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES June 16, 2015 Page 5 Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Quintero, Hooker, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8c – Resolution #62-2015 9:39:09 AM RESOLUTION NO. 62-2015 Resolution Adopting a Policy for Permitting Construction of Connections to the Circle Trail Mo ved by Councilor Ingle that Resolution No. 62-2015 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Quintero. David Brock, 320 Hilltop, said this is a great opportunity and should be marketed to businesses and apartment owners. He said he had also suggested us ing the old Day and Night store lot as a parking lot for trail access. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Quintero, Hooker, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8d – Resolution #63-2015 9:45:57 AM RESOLUTION NO. 63-2015 Resolution to Award Bid and Contract for Taxiway “C” Reconstruction Project at Wichita Falls Regional Airport to Mitchell Enterprises, LLC Moved by Councilor Ingle that Resolution No. 63-2015 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Quintero, Hooker, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES June 16, 2015 Page 6 Item 8e – Resolution #64-2015 9:51:51 AM RESOLUTION NO. 64-2015 Resolution Announcing the Termination of Drought Restrictions in Accordance with the City’s Water Conservation/Drought Contingency Ordinance Moved by Councilor Santellana that Resolution No. 64-2015 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Quintero. Stephen Smith, chairman of the Water Resources Commission, reviewed the recent action of the committee regarding the current water restrictions. He said there are proposed changes to the water conservation/drought contingency ordinance but they are not ready to be presented at this time. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Quintero, Hooker, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 9a – Staff Reports There were no staff reports. - - - - - - - - Item 9b – Items of Concern to Members of the City Council The council dispensed with this item. - - - - - - - - Item 10 – Executive Session City Council went into Executive Session at 9:57:42 AM in accordance with Texas Government Code §551.072 and §551.087. City Council reconvened at 11:36:46 AM Mayor Barham announced that no polls or votes were taken during Executive Session. - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES June 16, 2015 Page 7 Item 11 - Adjourn City Council adjourned at 11:37:00 AM . . PASSED AND APPROVED this 7th day of July, 2015. __________________________________ Glenn Barham, Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________________ Tracy B. Norr, MMC, City Clerk