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Home My WebLink About121498S CC Min "' CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1998 COMMUNITY BUILDING 6104 AUDEN 6:45 P.M. The City Council convened in Workshop Session in the Community Building (6104 Auden) on December 14, 1998, with the following members present: Mayor Fogler presiding, Council Members Davis, Neal, Sparkman and Starich. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Finance Director, Police Chief, and Public Works Director were also present. AGENDA REVIEW: The City Council reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under consideration with the Staff. Council Member Neal arrived at 7:00 p.m. Council Member Davis arrived at 7:15p.m. POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING REPORT: The City Staff presented a report on staffing in the Police Department. Police Chief Gary Brye stated that a study was prepared to determine. whether current staffing levels are adequate based. on workload assessment and increased requests for non-traditional police services in the Police Department. The study contained two sections: current staffing and proposed staffmg changes and resultant improvements. The department currently has a minimum staffing level of three officers on duty during each shift, 365 days a year. This staffing study did show by workload analysis that the Department is able to meet the current minimum requirements. However, based on the expectations of citizens and the department's dedication to increase its "service delivery" philosophy, continuing efforts will be met with difficulty. The study included an analysis of adding one, two, or three new officers to each patrol shift. The result of each proposal does have a positive impact on service delivery, officer satisfaction, visibility, and minimum staffing levels. Based on this projected analysis, the addition of two officers to each patrol shift and the addition of two marked. patrol vehicles would allow the department to increase its minimumstaffmg level to four officers per shift. This would allow for greater visibility, increased potential for bicycle patrol and other community patrol methods, increased -,-.....t-. - -n-~l1f1'Imrr.' ability for continued training and education, and decrease the overtime allotment needed for shift coverage if someone is absent. Annual costs range from $120,000 to $500,000, depending on the level of service, this equals a tax rate increase between one and 3.25 cents to the current operating rate. Chief Brye reported that if the Council decides to increase staffing, a recommendation would be made in the fiscal 2000 operating budget. WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE mSTORlCAL SOCIETY: Janice Donalson and June Begeman from the West University Place Historical Society presented a request regarding the advance purchase of their new book Stepping Back in Time. Mrs. Donalson stated that the Historical Society was requesting that the City assist in the expense of publishing the first printing of Stepping Back in Time. The cost to print 1500 copies will be approximately $7,500. Without external funding, the book cannot be published. To help in funding this book, the Historical Society requested that the City purchase 500 copies at a pre-publication cost of$12 per copy. A motion was made by Council Member Neal, seconded by Council Member Davis, to approve the purchase of 500 copies of the book Stepping Back in Time at $12.00 each. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Fogler, Council Members Neal, Davis, Sparkman and Starich None None Voting Nay: Absent: The City Council recessed the Workshop Session at 7:30 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. The Workshop Session reconvened at 9:20 p.m. SIDEWALK EVALUATION STUDY: The City Staff presented a report on sidewalk conditions and replacement costs. City Manager Sherman Yehl reported. that for the past several months staff has been reviewing sidewalk conditions and replacement costs. Claunch & Miller, the City's consulting engineers, have prepared a report which identifies the need and cost of replacement or installation of continuous sidewalks throughout West U. 2 While cities frequently are involved in limited sidewalk repair programs, particularly as part of a downtown investment strategy or through the use of federal Community Development Block GraIit funds for neighborhood improvements, a comprehensive approach as the City Council discussed at their last meeting is not that common. Assuming both the costs of construction of new sidewalks and perpetual maintenance responsibility, based on experience and anecdotal reports, are also uncommon. There are three primary approaches available to financing such a program: Special assessments or liens on individual property owners when the City orders the sidewalks to be repaired or replaced, the issuance of certificates of obligations, or bonded indebtedness. Because of the comprehensive nature of the program proposed, the potentially large expenditure of public funds that would be required and the advantage that property taxes provide to federal tax obligations, it would seem appropriate that residents be asked, in the form of a bond referendum, whether or not there is community support for a sidewalk replacement program. Claunch & Miller note in their report that the cost of replacing unacceptable sidewalks and installing sidewalks where' currentIynone exist would cost $3.9 million (inclusive of all construction, engineering, legal and administrative costs). As a follow-up to their report, we also requested a ballpark estimate on costs to replacing existing, acceptable three foot wide sidewalks to a four foot wide standard. These replacement costs add an additional estimated cost of between $1.4 million and $2.1 million. Mr. Yehl stated that, regarding liability, conversations with the Texas Municipal League Risk Pool report that the City's exposure would increase slightly under the above proposal. Underwriting costs would also increase somewhat, however, that is primarily related to the required increase to the budget for construction costs and future maintenance of sidewalks. Based on the initial review of this matter, comments solicited at recent town meetings, and the current condition of sidewalks, it is staffs recommendation that the City proceed with developing a comprehensive sidewalk replacement program. This would include additional town meetings to review the proposal with residents, development of a sidewalk component as part of the comprehensive plan, and the creation of a citizens committee to recommend a funding mechanism or referendum for later in 1999. It will be appropriate that the activity be referred to the consulting planners and be included as part of the comprehensive plan. A motion was made by Council Member Davis, seconded by Council Member Starich, to have as many as two Town Hall meetings to discuss replacing and installing sidewalks and place this question on the ballot for voting by the citizens, including a bond referendum at the next election. 3 .L .... ~..l... L................. _--------'---.J--'l&..Ii::,. --~_.._.-----.rr"'::lill=mlllrrrr.-...-_.... A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Cbuncil Members Davis, Sparkman and Starich Voting Nay: Mayor Fogler and Council Member Neal Absent: None Motion carried. The City Council will approve the wording that is to be placed on the ballot. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: The City Council discussed the status of the volunteer Boards and Commissions and their liaisons. VISION 2020: The City Council discussed the Comprehensive Plan. INQUIRIES. REQUESTS AND COMPLAINTS: The City Council reviewed matters received from the public and referred them to the appropriate department or agreed to place them on a future agenda for consideration or action. MATTERS RELATED TO PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR A SETTLEMENT OFFER: (I) 4130 Riley and requested zoning relief including litigation Closed Executive Session to be held under Section 551.071, Texas Government Code. The City Council convened in Executive Session at 10:43 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Fogler presiding, Council Members Neal, Davis, Sparkman and Starich. The City Manager, City Secretary and City Attorney were also present. The City Council closed the Executive Session at II :02 p.m. and reconvened in Workshop Session. A motion was made by Council Member Davis, seconded by Council Member Starich, to authorize the City Staff to engage John Hightower with the firm of Olson and Olson to provide legal services to the City in connection with a legal dispute relating to a house being constructed at 4130 Riley. 4 ~_. _11"..._ 1~:r.::::1 ........1.l...I~,------------ ----------------~~ll!rnI'ImTTI'ImIf'rr' A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Fogler, Council Members Neal, Davis, Sparkman and Starich None None Voting Nay: Absent: ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Starich, seconded by Council Member Davis, to adjourn. The Workshop Session adjourned at 11 :05 p.m. 5 ., .1" _I uUln IT !r" , ,lbl,. ,;.L'I." . ---- -------T'r..~nrmrrnrnfl"l:-'~