September 26, 2002, 8:30 A.M.
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ABILENE, TEXAS
The
City Council of the City of Abilene, Texas, met in Regular Session on September 26, 2002, at 8:30 a.m. in the City Council
Chambers of City Hall. Mayor Grady Barr
was present and presiding with Councilmen Kris Southward, Anthony Williams,
John Hill, Jimmy McNeil, and Councilwoman Kay
Alexander. Also present were City
Manager Larry Gilley, Assistant City Manager Michael Morrison, City Attorney
Sharon Hicks, Acting City Secretary Debbie Hurley, and various members of the
City staff. Councilman Norm
Archibald was absent.
Councilman John Hill gave the invocation.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Brett Greenfield, a fifth-grader from Austin Elementary. Brett’s parents, Mike and Patty Greenfield, were also in attendance.
Mayor Barr presented the following Proclamations:
October, 2002 as “National Physical Therapy Month”,
October
20, 2002 as “Pink Ribbon Sunday”; and
October,
2002 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month”.
Mayor Barr announced that there would be no Division Presentation today, but the presentations will resume at the first meeting in October.
2.0 There being no corrections, additions, or
deletions to the September 12, 2002
Regular City Council Meeting Minutes, Councilman
Southward made a motion to approve the minutes as printed. Councilman Williams
seconded the motion and the motion carried.
AYES: Councilmen Southward, Williams, Hill,
McNeil, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.
NAYS: None.
Mayor Barr stated that Item 3.2, Oral Resolution approving the DCOA’s annual contract renewals with the City of Abilene, Abilene Industrial Foundation, Inc., Small Business Development Center, and Chamber of Commerce for the Military Affairs Committee, will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. Councilwoman Alexander made a motion to approve consent agenda items 3.1 and 3.3 through 3.6 as recommended by staff. Councilman Southward seconded the motion and the motion carried.
AYES: Councilmen Southward, Williams, Hill, McNeil, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.
NAYS: None.
Resolutions:
3.1 Oral Resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept an airport improvement program grant if offered from the Federal Aviation Administration for projects at Abilene Regional Airport.
3.2 Removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered separately. Oral Resolution approving the DCOA’s annual contract renewals with the City of Abilene, Abilene Industrial Foundation, Inc., Small Business Development Center, and Chamber of Commerce for the Military Affairs Committee.
3.3 Oral Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement not to exceed $115,000.00 with Freese & Nichols, Inc.-Jacob & Martin, Inc. for vulnerability assessment for the water utility system.
3.4 Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a ground lease agreement with the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA) for a new facility at Abilene Regional Airport, and amendments to other existing ground leases with DCOA for Eagle Aviation Services, Inc. (EASI) leased hangars.
The Resolution is numbered 27-2002 and is captioned as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ABILENE, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A GROUND LEASE WITH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE (DCOA) FOR A NEW 52,250 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AT ABILENE REGIONAL AIRPORT IN ABILENE, TAYLOR COUNTY, TEXAS, TO BE CONSTRUCTED BY DCOA FOR THE BENEFIT OF EAGLE AVIATION SERVICES, INC. (EASI).
3.5 Resolution providing for approval of an application for grant funds from the State of Texas for a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program.
The Resolution is numbered 28-2002 and is captioned as follows:
A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR A SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.
Bid Awards:
3.6 Crew cab pickup truck for Airport, Bid #CB-2105. The bid was awarded to Big Country Dodge, the low responsible bidder in the amount of $29,785.00, as recommended by staff.
REGULAR AGENDA
Resolutions:
3.2 Removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered separately. Lisa Hughes, Director of Economic Development, briefed the Council on the Oral Resolution approving the DCOA’s annual contract renewals with the City of Abilene, Abilene Industrial Foundation, Inc., Small Business Development Center, and Chamber of Commerce for the Military Affairs Committee.
Ms. Hughes stated Council has before them the
annual renewal of the contract between the City and the DCOA, contracts between
the DCOA and the Small Business Development Center, and the Industrial
Foundation contract including the Chamber Military Affairs Committee. Ms. Hughes further stated the DCOA contracts
with the City of Abilene for staff, where currently funding for the 7 positions
that are approved within the DCOA is reimbursed. A Business Manager’s position that has been vacant for awhile has
been advertised but has not had a successful candidate. Because of that vacancy, there is a lower
cost within the salary total grant dollar amount. A request to upgrade that
position to an Assistant Director’s position has been made. There is also an
Administrative Secretary position that is currently vacant. Ms. Hughes noted the DCOA board has agreed
to pay the $7,000 City’s membership fee to the Texas Midwest Community Network.
Ms. Hughes stated the Small Business Development
Center contract has not increased since the 1999-2000 contract year. Staff is proposing a contract increase in
order for the SBDC to assume new responsibilities such as certifications for
minority/women owned businesses, historically underutilized businesses,
disadvantaged business enterprises, and government contracting. Ms. Hughes further stated the SBDC currently
has one full time staff person who has a variety of responsibilities including
government contracting and procurement.
The City has never fully funded the SBDC contract, and the maximum the
City has reimbursed is $121,000. Since
the inception of the contract in 1990, the SBDC has assisted 969 businesses
which includes 1583 full time employment positions, 1170 part time positions,
and a capital investment back to the community of $4.5 million.
The contract with the Abilene Industrial Foundation
has decreased, mainly due to a marketing campaign last year where a large
volume of printing was done, which will be re-utilized again this year.
The Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs committee
contract which the City has never fully funded has not changed.
Mayor
Barr acknowledged Ken Burgess, President of the Development Corporation, and
thanked him and the Board for their dedicated work.
Council and staff discussion included: 1) the City’s
$59,770 increase being due to the request to fill and upgrade a position as
noted by Ms. Hughes and as a result of how adjustments are handled, 2) staff
noting the Small Business Development Center is serving its purpose, 3) the
change seen in SBDC clients in the past year from entrepreneurial to young
businesses looking to expand, 4) SBDC now doing some packaging of SBA loans,
with staff consisting of 5 full time and 1-2 part time employees, 5) the City
funding approximately 33% of the SBDC budget, and reimbursing $60.00 per hour
for client services; 6) the City of Abilene contract funding being largely for
personnel and janitorial services for the ARBEC, followed by business
development and travel which includes recruitment; and 7) one-fourth of the
DCOA budget for sales tax being allocated for payroll and the Industrial
Foundation.
Councilman Southward made a motion to approve by Oral Resolution the DCOA’s annual contract renewals with the City of Abilene, Abilene Industrial Foundation, Inc., Small Business Development Center, and Chamber of Commerce for the Military Affairs Committee; as recommended by staff. Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.
AYES: Councilmen Southward, Williams, Hill, McNeil, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.
NAYS: None.
4.1 Mayor
Barr stated the Oral Resolution
authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Application Service Provider
agreement with ADP for hosting and processing human resource management and
payroll systems has been removed from the agenda to allow staff additional time for further research and study.
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 10:00 a.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Debbie
Hurley Grady
Barr
Acting
City Secretary Mayor