July 11, 2002, 8:30 A.M.
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ABILENE, TEXAS
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY
HALL
The
City Council of the City of Abilene, Texas, met in Regular Session on July 11, 2002, at 8:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall. Mayor Grady Barr was present and presiding with
Councilmen Norm Archibald, Anthony Williams, Jimmy
McNeil, and Councilwoman Kay Alexander.
Also present were City Manager Larry Gilley, Assistant City Manager
Michael Morrison, City Attorney Sharon Hicks, City Secretary Jo Moore, and
various members of the City staff. Councilmen Kris Southward and John Hill were
absent.
Councilman
Anthony Williams gave the
invocation.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by five-year-old Megan and seven-year-old Emily Standridge. Megan and Emily’s parents, Susan and Police Sgt. Stan Standridge, were in attendance. Mayor Barr read a letter from a representative of the KOA Campground commending Sgt. Standridge for his assistance during the recent flood emergency.
Mayor Barr
expressed appreciation to Councilmen Archibald and McNeil for their support to
City Manager Larry Gilley and staff during the recent flooding; and thanked the
National Guard, Dyess personnel, and the many other organizations and
individuals involved. Mayor Barr
announced that he and Mr. Gilley will tour some of the flood-damaged area this
afternoon with Governor Perry.
Mayor Barr, assisted by Employee Committee chair
Anita Vigil, presented the Employee
Scholarship Fund Awards to the following individuals or their
representatives: Cameron Lee Williams, son
of John Williams, Firefighter; Matthew Douglas Redman, son of Michael Redman,
Treatment Plant Operator II, Water Treatment; Tiffany Rachelle Mundschenk,
daughter of David Mundschenk, Engineering Technician II, Design Services;
Michelle Renea Dudensing, daughter of Debbie Dudensing, Secretary I, Police
Training; and Kami Erin Keefer, daughter of Tony Keefer, Fire Captain, Fire
Operations.
City Manager Larry Gilley introduced Sgt. David Gage, who gave a presentation on the Police Department Community Services Division. Sgt. Gage’s presentation included the Division’s motto, mission, responsibilities, programs, and the operating budget.
Mayor Barr commended the Police Department Division Presentation, noted the benefits of all of the division presentations, and requested the City Manager continue to schedule the presentations.
No Council action was required.
2.0 There being no corrections, additions, or
deletions to the June 27, 2002 regular City Council minutes, Councilman McNeil made a motion to approve the
minutes as printed. Councilman Williams seconded the motion and the motion
carried.
AYES: Councilmen Archibald, Williams, McNeil,
Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.
NAYS: None.
Councilman Archibald made a motion to approve consent agenda items 3.1 through 3.11, and first reading of item 3.12. Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.
AYES: Councilmen Archibald, Williams, McNeil, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.
NAYS: None.
Resolutions:
3.1 Oral Resolution approving a Street Use License request from Enprotec, Inc., for the installation of monitoring wells related to 1017 Pine Street, and authorizing the Mayor to execute the street use license.
3.2 Oral Resolution approving a Street Use License request from Meridian Alliance Group, LLC, for the installation of monitoring wells related to 2702 Ambler Avenue, and authorizing the Mayor to execute the street use license.
3.3 Oral resolution approving the Mayor’s appointment of Robert R. Hawley, D.D.S., to the Abilene/Taylor County Public Health Advisory Board, term expiring November 2004.
3.4 Resolution confirming a hearing officer, approving a financing by the Stamford Higher Education Facilities Corporation for the benefit of Abilene Christian University, and authorizing the Mayor to approve certain related matters.
The Resolution is numbered 20-2002 and is captioned as follows:
RESOLUTION CONFIRMING A HEARING OFFICER, APPROVING A FINANCING BY THE STAMFORD HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES CORPORATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ABILENE TO APPROVE CERTAIN RELATED MATTERS.
3.5 Oral Resolution authorizing the payment of $146,064.19 to Harris Acoustics, Abilene, Texas for Sayles Blvd. paving repairs from College Street to S. 5th Street resulting from water line replacement.
3.6 Oral Resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept the EPA Vulnerability Assessment Grant Agreement in the amount of $115,000.00.
Bid Awards:
3.7 Civic Center Auditorium carpet replacement, Bid #CB-2082. The bid was awarded to Waldrop’s Furniture Inc., in the amount of $169,343.55, as recommended by staff.
3.8 Grape Street pavement rehabilitation Phase I, Bid #CB-2085. The bid was awarded to Contract Paving Co., Tye, Texas, in the amount of $359,546.67, as recommended by staff.
3.9 Reconstruction of South Pioneer from S. 1st to S. 7th, Bid #CB-2086. The bid was awarded to J. H. Strain & Sons, Inc., Tye, Texas, in the amount of $527,842.47, as recommended by staff.
3.10 Emergency purchase of City Hall chiller and rental of temporary chiller system. Payment was authorized as follows: 1) Trane chiller (factory) in the amount of $80,756.00; 2) Trane portable/temporary air system in the amount of $10,500.00; 3) Boyd Fencing Company in the amount of $300.00 per month; and Multex Mechanical in the amount of $1,000.00 for removal of the old chiller and installation of water lines; all as recommended by staff.
3.11 Southwest Drive rehabilitation from S. Clack to Elm Creek Bridge, Bid #CB-2088. The bid was awarded to Contract Paving Co., Tye, Texas, in the amount of $593,341.59, as recommended by staff.
Ordinances:
3.12 Z-02602 – Rezone from AO & PDD-48 (Agricultural Open Space & Planned Development District-48) to PDD (Planned Development District) zoning district property located at 5500 Hwy. 277, and set a public hearing for July 25, 2002 at 8:30 a.m.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ABILENE, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 23, SUBPART E, “ZONING,” OF THE ABILENE MUNICIPAL CODE, CONCERNING PDD-76 PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT; CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING, PROVIDING A PENALTY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
REGULAR AGENDA
Resolution: (considered at 9:00 a.m.)
4.1 Sharon Hicks, City Attorney, briefed the Council on a
Resolution, proposed as a result of the July 6, 2002 area-wide flooding,
extending the emergency declaration of the City of Abilene, extending the
emergency powers and providing for a process to assist with recovery efforts.
City Manager Larry Gilley updated the Council on where the City is in the recovery process, noting the need for flexibility to work with affected victims. The following reservoir conditions information was distributed to Council:
Lake Fort Phantom: gained 25,141 ac. ft. (up 9.4 ft)
currently 4.7 ft. below spillway
holding 76% of capacity
in a 100-hr period (July 6-10, 2002) approximately 4,800 ac. ft. of gain was pumped from the Clear Fork of the Brazos
Lake Abilene: gained 4,000 ac. ft. (up 10.4 ft.)
currently 5.9 ft below spillway
holding 54% of capacity
Lake Kirby: gained 6,100 ac. ft. (up 12.0 ft.)
currently full
holding 100% of capacity
spilled July 6 at 11:30 p.m.
Mr. Gilley stated to help facilitate the recovery process for individuals federal financial assistance is needed and requires assessment of damage, which staff has been doing.
Andy Anderson, Director of Public Works, briefed the Council on 1) debris collection and removal, 2) status of minimal infrastructure damage, reporting that a section of Rebecca Lane lost pavement and Corsicana, which is under construction, lost some base material, and 3) ongoing and future efforts. Mr. Anderson noted the National Guard, inmates, and ACU students have been helping with recovery efforts.
David Wright, Director of Finance, briefed the Council on the need for 1) a consolidated disaster recovery summary outline, and 2) a declaration for Public Assistance.
Cassie Hughes, Building Official, briefed the Council on actions taken by City staff: 1) prioritized areas for evaluation, 2) addressed residential safety issues (pilot lights out, etc), and 3) assisted citizens in stressful situations. Ms. Hughes stated affected businesses are dealing with a loss of sales & revenue, resulting in an economic loss.
Council and staff discussion included: 1) the possibility of public assistance; 2) working closely with State and County officials to assess and clean up damage; 3) the city having to bear the expense if public assistance isn’t received; 4) providing information to citizens and the tremendous cooperation from the local media in helping to do that.
Council commended staff for having quickly notified them of the emergency situation and on staff’s expertise in responding to the state of disaster.
Councilman McNeil made a motion to approve the
Resolution extending the emergency declaration of the City of Abilene,
extending the emergency powers and providing for a process to assist with
recovery efforts, as recommended by staff.
Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.
AYES: Councilmen Archibald, Williams, McNeil,
Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.
NAYS: None.
The Resolution is numbered 21-2002 and is captioned as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ABILENE EXTENDING ITS EMERGENCY DECLARATION, EXTENDING ITS EMERGENCY POWERS AND PROVIDING FOR A PROCESS TO ASSIST WITH RECOVERY EFFORTS.
Mayor Barr recessed the Council into executive
session pursuant to Sections 551.071, 551.074, and 551.072 of the Open Meetings
Act, to seek the advice of the City Attorney with respect to pending and
contemplated litigation, to consider the appointment and evaluation of public
officers, and to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real
property.
The Council reconvened from executive session and reported no action taken.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Jo
Moore Grady Barr
City
Secretary Mayor