Min 04/01/1986 210
Wichita Falls , Texas
Memorial Auditorium Building
11 April 1 , 1986
Items 1 & 2
The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met in regular
session on the above date in the Council Room of the Memorial Auditorium Building
at 8:30 o'clock A.M. , with the following members present.
Gary Cook Mayor
Charles Harper
Charles Thomas
Lindsey Walker Councilmen
Bill Palmer
Craig Wilson
James Welburn
s
James Berzina City Manager
H. P. Hodge, Jr. City Attorney
Wilma J. Thomas City Clerk
Fred L. Werner Chief Accounting Officer
The invocation was given by Ray Hennigh, University United Methodist
Church.
Item 3
Moved by Councilman Palmer that minutes of the meeting held March 18,
1986, be approved.
Motion seconded by Councilman Wilson, and carried unanimously.
Items 4a-7a
j Moved by Councilman Walker that the consent agenda be approved.
b Motion seconded by Councilman Welburn.
Item 4a
Tracy Moer, a Central Garage employee, was honored as Employee of the
Month for April . Mayor Cook presented him with a plaque, a city pin, and
two tickets each to a theatre and dinner.
Item 5a
ORDINANCE NO. 24-86
AN ORDINANCE CLOSING, VACATING, AND ABANDONING A TEN (10) FOOT
WIDE EAST-WEST UTILITY EASEMENT IN Lot 2, BLOCK 173, HIGHLAND
ADDITION, WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item 5b ORDINANCE NO. 25-86
AN ORDINANCE CLOSING, VACATING, AND ABANDONING A PORTION OF A TWENTY
(20) FOOT WIDE, EAST-WEST UTILITY EASEMENT LYING ON THE COMMON
LOT LINE OF LOTS 2A & 7, BLOCK 18, MIDWESTERN PARK SUBDIVISION,
WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
211
Item 5c
ORDINANCE NO. 26-86
ORDINANCE WAIVING SECTION 25-69 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ALLOW
THE SHRINE CIRCUS IN D. L. LIGON COLISEUM ON MAY 23-25, 1986
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and Welburn
Nays: None (Councilman Harper did not vote because he is a member of the
Shrine. )
Items 6a-c
Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Electrical Examiners held March
13, 1986, were received.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission held March
12, 1986, were received.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Minutes of the meeting of the Clean Community Commission held March 12,
1986, were received.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item 7a
A tax refund was approved in the amount of $654.42 to Cameron-Brown Mortgage
Company because of a double payment.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item 8a
ORDINANCE NO. 27-86
ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 22-1 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF WICHITA FALLS TO PROVIDE A PENALTY OF A FINE NOT TO EXCEED
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200) FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION
Moved by Councilman Palmer that Ordinance No. 27-86 be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Thomas.
Councilman Thomas confirmed that the fine could not be any greater.
Councilman Walker wanted to know the difference between this and the old
ordinance on parks? Police Chief Harrelson explained. Councilman Walker
asked what would happen where curbs are not in place? Chief Harrelson stated
that we did not have any specific violations of this that could be cited in
court.
The motion was carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item 8b
A proposed ordinance was presented rezoning 2.41 acres out of Lot 3,
Block 1 , Highland Addition, from multi-family residential to general commercial .
212
I Item 8b, cont'd.
Mr. Roger McKinney, Planning Director, stated that passage of this ordinance
will require six votes. A motion was made by Councilman Thomas, for discussion
and passage, and seconded by Councilman Wilson.
1 Councilman Thomas asked who was not in favor of it going back to commercial ?
Mr. McKinney stated that the objection came from Parker Square. They objected
to the intended use of a mini warehouse facility.
i
Steve Schifman, of San Antonio, appeared as owner of the property in
Parker Square, along with Dennis Probst, of Probst and Boyd. Mr. Schifman
? noted that they have a design for these mini storage warehouses. Mr. Waggoner,
of the Parker Square Bank, felt that the property should be used for retail .
; The bank' s main objection is the visibility of the storage area. Mr. Schifman
stated that it would be color compatible with the apartments. There would
jbe a 6-foot wire guage fence, with landscaping and buffering from the apartments.
! It will not be the usual metal building. It will have concrete driveways,
; computer gate, etc. No boats or recreation vehicles will be allowed. The
' Planning and Zoning Commission approved it.
I) The motion failed by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Walker, Palmer, and Wilson
Nays: Councilmen Thomas and Welburn
Item 8c
A proposed ordinance was presented rezoning a tract of land in Block
41 , Floral Heights Addition, from Single Family to General Commercial . A
' motion was made by Councilman Welburn, for discussion, and seconded by Councilman
Thomas. A letter was received from Mr. Sink in opposition to rezoning due
to a residence close by. Councilman Harper noted that the Planning and Zoning
Commission unanimously recommended disapproval . Mr. McKinney explained the
reason for that disapproval .
The motion failed by the following vote.
Ayes: None
Nays: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Item 8d
ORDINANCE NO. 28-86
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE
OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS
Moved by Councilman Wilson that Ordinance No. 28-86 be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Palmer.
Roger McKinney explained the reasons for some of the changes. He mentioned
that since the election it would also allow for the sale of mixed beverages.
Also, convenience stores located in heavy commercial areas was requested to
be allowed. If you have a beer and wine off-premise license you cannot have
another license of that type. What we have done here is make an amendment
to allow them to do that. State law makes no stipulation on the alcoholic
content. He stated that there would really be no change from what is sold.
It could still be an incidental use. Councilman Wilson stated that we have
several areas that are included here. He would like us to seek out developers
and homebuilders to get their input on these changes. The variance procedure
should be presented to us in a separate ordinance. He believes this was
considered when this board was set up, and it is an unusual set of circumstances.
He would like to table this ordinance to secure input from the North Texas
homebuilders, developers , etc.
Moved by Councilman Wilson that we table this matter.
Motion seconded by Councilman Welburn.
213
Item 8d, cont'd.
Councilman Thomas thought that perhaps we should not table all of it.
Mr. McKinney stated that it could require two months for wine only conditional
use package store.
Moved by Councilman Wilson that Section 11 be deleted.
Motion seconded by Councilman Palmer.
Councilman Harper stated that the reason this is in here is because of
the Brook Street situation with the ambulance, without a hearing on the variance.
The Board of Adjustments and Appeals passed the variance, and no one was there
to speak on it.
The amended motion was carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and Welburn
Nays: Councilmen Harper and Thomas
The motion on the ordinance, as amended, was carried by the following
vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item Be was deleted.
Item 8f
ORDINANCE NO. 29-86
AN ORDINANCE CLOSING, VACATING, AND ABANDONING CHATEAU COURT, A
PUBLIC STREET IN THE CHATEAU ADDITION, WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, AND
WAIVING SECTION 9B (j) APPENDIX A, CITY OF WICHITA FALLS CODE OF
ORDINANCES (COMPREHENSIVE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE NO. 2118) REQUIRING
DRIVEWAYS OPENING ON TO A PUBLIC STREET
Moved by Councilman Welburn, for discussion, that Ordinance No. 29-86
be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Harper.
Councilman Thomas asked Roger McKinney to explain this. Mr. McKinney
stated that this is the Christie property. It appeared that the driveway
would encroach on the existing residences. The developer is looking at a
private street. He plans to submit it to Engineering for consideration in
case they want to later make it a public street. The street light costs will
now have to be borne by the developer.
The motion was carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item 8g
ORDINANCE NO. 30-86
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING A TAX FREEZE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOR
THE ROUTE BUILDING AT 503 8TH STREET, WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS
Moved by Councilman Welburn, for discussion, that Ordinance No. 30-86
be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Harper.
Councilman Harper asked if the Route Building is not in the Tax Increment
Financing district? Mr. McKinney stated that it is not a tax abatement, but
a tax freeze. It is a separate provision of the tax code. City Attorney
H. P. Hodge concurred with Mr. McKinney. Tax abatement for historic structures
214
Item 8g, cont'd.
comes under a different statute than tax abatement on others. Councilman
Harper concurred that this is a 100 percent freeze for eight years. It would
be based on the pre-rehabilitation value of the property. Mr. McKinney stated
that when it was originally presented, the staff requested that we not use
a flat rate. The ordinance applies for a flat 8-year freeze. Councilman
Wilson stated that abatement and tax increment financing are tools we use
to provide improvements for the City. This gentleman knew going in that there
was a wide range of tax abatement available to him when he recently purchased
it from the City. He stated that he is not in favor of this.
Councilman Palmer noted that the ordinance on the books states that if
you do certain things, you qualify for tax abatement. The gentleman that
bought this building has qualified for it. Councilman Wilson stated that
he does not deem that the structure is in need of tax relief to encourage
its preservation. Councilman Thomas feels that we should encourage people
in this area to do whatever they can to make improvements. Mayor Cook stated
that he feels Mr. Kramer exercised his judgement in developing this area.
He bought it because it was our intention to get it back on the tax roll to
keep from again stabilizing it further.
Councilman 'Walker asked for the reason of the eight years in this ordinance?
Mr. McKinney replied that Ordinance No. 28-84, when adopted, provided for
an eight-year freeze. There were other options presented at that time. it
was the feeling of the Landmark Commission and City Council at that time,
that this was the best incentive for trying to get people to take these
properties, and renovate them.
The motion was carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, and Welburn
Nays: Councilman Wilson
Item 9a
Discussion was held on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager
to negotiate contracts with financial institutions for alarm monitor service.
Councilman Thomas asked if this includes any Savings and Loans? Police Chief
Harrelson stated that it does. Councilman Thomas stated that he could not
participate in this because he is on the Board of one of them. Councilman
Harper also noted that he would not vote or enter into the discussion because
he is also on the Board of one of them.
Councilman Wilson was concerned about locking us in for five years.
City Attorney H. P. Hodge suggested adding the phrase, "as it now exists or
may hereafter be amended" at the end of the last paragraph.
RESOLUTION NO. 41 -86
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE
CONTRACTS WITH WICHITA FALLS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR ALARM MONITOR
SERVICE
Moved by Councilman Palmer that Resolution No. 41-86 be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Wilson, and carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and Welburn
Nays: None
Item 9b
RESOLUTION NO. 42-86
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT WITH THE BOYS'
CLUB OF WICHITA FALLS, INC. TO LEASE AN ADDITIONAL TEN ACRES AT
LAKE KICKAP00
Moved by Councilman Thomas that Resolution No. 42-86 be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Harper.
215
Item 9b, cont'd.
Graham Ball , representing the Boys ' Club, stated that they wanted to
take some property adjacent to the present boys' club, and clean it up for
their use, as part of their camp development.
The motion was carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item 9c
RESOLUTION NO. 43-86
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE WICHITA
FALLS BASEBALL ASSOCIATION FOR MAINTENANCE OF KIWANIS PARK BASEBALL
FIELD #4
Moved by Councilman Thomas that Resolution No. 43-86 be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Welburn, and carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item 9d
RESOLUTION NO. 44-86
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH COMMAND
DATA SYSTEMS FOR HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TO SUPPORT A POLICE MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEM
Moved by Councilman Palmer, for discussion, that Resolution No. 44-86
be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Harper.
Councilman Palmer stated that a vendor had complained that he did not
get a fair shake. Chief Harrelson stated that he believed that he did get
a fair shake. Councilman Palmer also asked if some of this Cad system is
for the Fire Department? Chief Harrelson stated that it is. It can also
be used by the court system. Mr. Barrett stated that the Fire Department
would have access to the information in the Fire Department in the Cad system.
They would also like to have a full blown fire information management system.
There will be a terminal at Central Fire Station, and they will have access.
Councilman Thomas asked if the Fire Department has been getting the proper
amount of input? Mr. Barrett stated that they have been. The Police Department
will have the control over it, but fire dispatchers will also handle it.
There will be cross training. Councilman Thomas noted that the Fire and Police
Chiefs get along now. Mr. Berzina stated that a board is set up to review
this operation periodically. It will consist of the Fire and Police Chiefs,
and someone from his office.
Mr. Barrett stated that the original cost was estimated to be $500,000
for fire, police, and the county. He does not think that will be sufficient
now. They need to discuss this to see where they can get the money. This
equipment will handle the new function, plus the present system will be expanded.
This is part of our overall plan to decentralize the record keeping.
Mayor Cook mentioned the Sheriff' s Department, which will need information
in this system. Mr. Barrett explained the equipment which will be purchased,
and what it has the capability of doing. We do not expect to look at major
equipment replacement for five to six years. We are probably looking at
$650,000 for the police system, $150,000 for the fire system, and $80,000
for the court system down the road. They would assign two people to the police
department who would handle all of this. These people would be more systems
managers. These machines do not require operators to run them.
216
Item 9d, cont'd.
Councilman Wilson asked about proprietary software in the public domain.
Mr. Barrett explained this is what we have in the current Cad system. Generally
speaking, it is a personal belief that you get what you pay for. Mr. Barrett
explained these proprietary software packages.
Councilman Palmer asked if it would constitute a conflict of interest
if he took part in this discussion since he had at one time a long-standing
association with a vendor of this type? City Attorney H. P. Hodge stated
that it does not represent a conflict of interest.
Mr. Barrett explained that they anticipate eliminating 8-12 positions
in Data Processing. A central data processing staff would not require many
people. The total operation would decrease by 50-75 percent. An up-front
capital expenditure will return to the city an overall decreased data processing
cost. These numbers are tentative at this time.
Councilman Thomas asked how we determine which system is the best? Mr.
Barrett stated that you try to determine your needs, and which software meets
those needs, and that determines the hardware you get.
Mayor Cook asked in this package of $461 ,000 up-front, how many terminals
will the county have? Major Trainham stated one. We are trying to design
a Cad system that we could eventually dispatch for Burkburnett, Iowa Park,
and Electra. Mr. Barrett stated that this will be made available to the County.
Major Trainham stated that they are looking at a stand alone system, also,
in case of a tornado, blackout, etc. He believes this is the best system
out there today. Lubbock, Waco, and Wichita Falls have all looked at this.
Chief Harrelson stated that he is satisfied that they are looking at the right
system.
Councilman Welburn asked how we are going to handle this data processing
attrition? Mr. Berzina stated that they have had meetings with the data
processing staff. Right now they are pulling very close together. This has
been a long study to get where we are today. We will get better information
by decentralizing the process. We hope attrition will handle most of it,
but right now the computer market is pretty full . With the time that it will
take, they hope attrition will take care of most of it. Down the road, there
will be a cost savings to us. It is a delicate thing we hope to handle.
It will not happen overnight. Mr. Barrett stated that they would be evaluated
over the next year or so on their productivity, and he believes the productive
employees will be found another position in the city. We have the time to
make these adjustments, and he feels it will be less painless than they think.
Councilman Harper asked how long it will take? Mr. Barrett stated it will
take nine to twelve months to get this system in operation. Portions of this
overall system can be brought up in less than a year.
Councilman Harper asked who will furnish the maintenance on the hardware?
Mr. Berrett and Chief Harrelson stated the hardware center in Oklahoma City
and Lawton. Software maintenance will come out of California. They will
plug into the equipment, and do the work out there.
Mr. Berzina stated that all this does is authorize us to bring a contract
back to the Council for their approval . Some of this may not be able to be
funded until next year. They need to talk to the County on what they need,
and what they want to pay for. He further commended Councilman Palmer for
having been such a great assistance to him on this matter.
The motion was carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item l0a
RESOLUTION NO. 45-86
RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT CONTRACT C, CYPRESS EXPANSION PROJECT, AND
AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE FINAL PAYMENT
Moved by Councilman Welburn that Resolution No. 45-86 be passed.
217
Item 10a, cont'd.
Motion seconded by Councilman Wilson, and carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item 10b
RESOLUTION NO. 46-86
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO
WITH WALLACE AND RAUB RELATING TO REVISIONS TO THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS
BUILDING
Moved by Councilman Harper that Resolution No. 46-86 be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Wilson.
Councilman Harper stated that before he got on the Council , they did
a considerable amount of remodeling on the police building, and this is right
in keeping with what they expected. Seven to ten years ago they found out
that the building is not square, and a row of columns was moved five feet
from where it was supposed to be. The original contractor for this building
was from Temple.
The motion was carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item 10c
RESOLUTION NO. 47-86
RESOLUTION APPROVING CHANGE ORDER NO. 2 FOR THE HOLLIDAY CREEK
EXCAVATION PROJECT PHASE ONE
Moved by Councilman Palmer that Resolution No. 47-86 be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Wilson, and carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item lOd
RESOLUTION NO. 48-86
RESOLUTION APPROVING EXECUTION OF CHANGE ORDER FOR HARRISON STREET
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Moved by Councilman Wilson that Resolution No. 48-86 be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Harper.
Mr. Bonnett stated that bands of concrete with bricks held in place will
be in the crosswalks. The intersection itself will be asphalt. They salvaged
160,000 bricks. IDC teams have been cleaning them. He stated that he has
found that some of these bricks have long legs.
The motion was carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
218
Item 1Oe
RESOLUTION NO. 49-86
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER #1 TO CONTRACT D, CYPRESS EXPANSION
PROJECT
Moved by Councilman Welburn, for discussion, that Resolution No. 49-86
be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Harper.
Councilman Thomas inquired if this has been started? Mr. Bonnett stated
that the line has not been started. No decision has been made on the tank.
The intention is to determine if the tank is repairable or not. We should
know this by April 15. A review process has been established. There is very
little expertise in this field.
The motion was carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Thomas, Walker, Palmer, Wilson, and
Welburn
Nays: None
Item lla
Consideration was given to a concessionaire contract adjustment for Josie
Pope at Williams Park, as previously discussed.
Moved by Councilman Palmer that the Williams Park concession bid of Josie
Pope be approved in the amount of 30 percent.
Motion seconded by Councilman Welburn.
Jack Murphy, Parks Director, stated that they are still looking at the
maintenance of the park.
Councilman Thomas asked Mr. Hodge about the legality of it, and if she
gets the park maintenance would they still lower it to 30 percent, from 50
percent? Mr. Hodge stated that if this were something that is required by
law to be awarded on bids , they would have no options, but since it isn't,
the Council may do whatever they want to which is fair. The City Council
has accepted a bid for 50 percent. The Park Department does not have any
authority to reduce it. Mr. Murphy stated that they are two separate issues,
and are unrelated. He does not know how maintenance will be handled. Councilman
Palmer also agreed that these items are unrelated. Councilman Walker noted
that both ball parks were busy last night. City Crews are doing maintenance.
Miss Pope needs to know something definitive. The concession needs to be
resolved.
Motion seconded by Councilman Palmer, and carried unanimously.
Item llb
Moved by Councilman Welburn that a council meeting be held on Tuesday,
April 8, 1986, at 8:30 A.M. , to canvass the results of the election to be
held on April 5, 1986.
Motion seconded by Councilman Palmer, and carried unanimously.
Item llc
Discussion was held on the waterfall project bids .
George Bonnett stated that they have had five meetings with the prime
contractor who was the low bidder, and on two occasions have met with Bowles
and his sub-contractor, Taylor Construction Company. A new set of plans has
been put out by Al Groves . As of last night, the prime contractor's price
is $365,000 with some provisos. The completion date was extended to five
months. Mr. Bonnett believes the price on this job is $300,000. The contractor
does not believe he can lower it from $365,000. Mr. Bonnett recommended that
the bid be rejected; readvertise on April 14, and open bids on May 16. He
219
Item llc, cont'd.
also recommended elimination of the 250 miles, and that trade restrictions
be dropped. The bids listed are the original bids.
Councilman Palmer asked if doing away with the aggregate finish was a
substantial cost factor? Mr. Bonnett stated it was not substantial . Councilman
Palmer stated that he would like this to be used throughout the river project.
RESOLUTION NO. 50-86
RESOLUTION TO REJECT BIDS FOR THE WICHITA FALLS WATERFALLS PROJECT
Moved by Councilman Harper that Resolution No. 50-86 be passed.
Motion seconded by Councilman Wilson.
Councilman Thomas asked Mr. Bonnett for his estimate, and he replied
$300,000 even. He also asked Mr. Bonnett where he thinks these bids are high?
Mr. Bonnett stated that he believes it is something only the contractor can
address. It was noted that donated concrete amounts to $14,000, and electrical
work $15,000, plus or minus. These donations would not reduce it to $300,000.
It would reduce the City' s expenditure, but not the contractor's cost.
Mayor Cook asked why the City does not act as the General , and deduct
these donations from the $300,000? Mr. Bonnett stated that they are not
satisfied with the prices they are seeing from the subs. He would be exceedingly
uncomfortable in going with the quotes they have. One option is to award
the bid, and work out a change order to bring it down to $365,000. The second
alternative is to reject bids , with the schedule outlines. The third
alternative is for the City to be the general contractor. They are pretty
well stretched out right now in his department. Councilman Harper stated
that he would be very much against that because we tried it on the golf course,
and we ended up paying much more for it. He would ask that we have a 250
mile limitation. There is some indication that others would bid. He is wondering
if we could put alternates in the bidding for the landscaping, with deducts
for electrical and concrete and landscaping? Mr. Bonnett believes this would
be optional .
Councilman Wilson asked Mr. Bonnett if he feels this adds competitive
benefits to the citizens? He noted that he supported this, but he believes
he made a mistake. Mr. Bonnett stated that the taxpayers are best served
by getting into as competitive a situation as possible. Councilman Harper
did not agree with that viewpoint, but in this particular case, because of
the type of project it is, we need to be as competitive as possible. We don' t
have experience in our local people in building a waterfall . Councilman Thomas
stated that he gets very nervous in re-bidding. The City built the Farmers '
Market, and he does not believe even the Good Lord himself can tell us what
that cost. He believed he would want to stay with the original contractor,
and put alternates and change orders in it.
The motion was amended to include the 250 mile radius, and was carried
by the following vote.
Ayes: Mayor Cook, Councilmen Harper, Walker, Wilson, Palmer, and Welburn
Nays: Councilman Thomas
Item lld
Terry Winn, 1401 Harris Lane, and Randy Graham, also from the City View
area, appeared in regard to the removal of a backstop at the ballfield on
View Park Lane. They have played on that field for five years, but one neighbor
has complained about the dust blowing in her house, and the backstop was removed.
A lengthy discussion of this situation was held, with a suggestion from Council-
man Thomas that a portable backstop be relocated somewhere else on that field
for this year. The Council agreed. Councilman Welburn also requested that
Mr. Murphy and the Park Board look at updating the ingress and egress and
parking at all of our parks. Williams Park needs more parking space. If
we took a look at all of our parks, and updated traffic and parking for those
who only want to sit and do nothing, our money will probably be well spent.
Mr. Berzina stated that a few months ago when he was looking for a Parks
Director, he was looking for someone who would look at the entire park system.
219
Item Ild, cont'd.
Jack Murphy has the job of doing this. We are expecting to take a hard look
at the entire situation. We need to go back with some of those hard decisions
as to what we keep, and their usage. Mr. Berzina supports Mr. Murphy in this.
Councilman Thomas noted that our parks were heavily used this past Sunday.
He estimated 3,000 to 4,000 in Lucy Park. He also saw a lot of violations,
such as motorcycles, and also dogs not on leashes. Williams, Scotland, and
Lucy Parks were used heaviest. He asked about crowd control procedures in
our parks. Councilman Welburn noted that spectators can provide a measure
of control . He also mentioned the difficulty of getting someone out if they
needed to go to the hospital . Mr. Murphy stated that they are trying to hire
someone Sunday through Thursday to take care of these types of situations.
Councilman Welburn stated that we need more hard surfaces for the people to
get on.
Councilman Walker asked about an area on Pecan and Swallow where a main
has been ripped up, and water stands. Mr. Bonnett stated that he would take
a look at it, and report back to the Council .
l
Item Ile
The City Council recessed into executive session at 11 :45 A.M. , according
to Article 6252-17, Section 2, Paragraphs (e) and (g) of the Revised Civil
Statutes.
The meeting reconvened at 1 :50 P.M. , and immediately adjourned.
PASSED AND APPROVED this ��`J'��. day of 1'� L,j � 1986.
Charles Harper, Mayor
I
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