06-02-2005 (Citizens Bond Committee) Minutes MINUTES
Wylie Citizen Bond Advisory Committee
Thursday,June 2,2005—6:30 p.m.
Wylie Municipal Complex—Council Chambers
2000 State Highway 78 North
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chairman Jay Whitlow called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. with the following
Committee Members present: Vice Chairman Marvin Fuller, Daniel Chestnut, Doris Craighead, Jim
Cummings, Jamie Gregg, Jim Griffin, Janet Johnston, Linda Jourdan, Dennis Larson, Mike Phillips,
Chris Seely, and Jeri Smith. Committee Member Chuck Kerin arrived at 6:39 p.m., and Committee
Member Grace Morrison arrived at 6:50 p.m.
Staff Present were: City Manager, Mark Roath; City Engineer, Chris Hoisted; Finance Director, Larry
Williamson; Interim Library Director, Donna Shirley; Public Information Officer, Mark Witter; Public
Services Director, Mike Sferra; WEDC Executive Director, Sam Satterwhite; and Executive Assistant,
Brandy Brooks.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Anne Hiney, residing at 301 N. Cottonbelt and representing the Parks and Recreation 4B Board,
addressed the Committee. She told the Committee that Founders Park needs to be completed,
Community Park needs to be updated, and the Wells property needs to be master planned and
developed. She cited a study that contained citizen input on what was needed for parks improvements.
She mentioned that her opinion of the Wells property was that it was purchased as parks and open
space, and asked that the Committee remember that, at least partially, it should be open space. Ms.
Johnston asked when the study was completed; Ms. Hiney informed the Committee that the study was
adopted in December of 2002. Vice Chair Fuller asked if there is a prioritized master list of projects for
the 4B.Ms. Hiney and Mr. Sferra stated that there is a Parks Master Plan, and the items contained in the
study are prioritized in the Plan. Mr. Chestnut added that many of the items on the list could be
completed with one building, i.e.,the Senior Center,Teen Center could be a single building.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
2. Presentation, via PowerPoint, City facilities such as City Hall, Library, Community Center,
Public Works facilities,etc.(M.Roath and others).
Mark Roath reviewed the City's current facilities and the increasing need for space both for citizens and
to improve service quality to the citizens of Wylie. He briefly reviewed the Wells property as a
potential location for City facilities. He then discussed City Hall, which houses six departments; two
Portable Buildings at different locations, which house three departments; Akin Pavilion, which houses
parks and recreation staff and equipment; Animal Shelter; Community Center; Fire Administration,
which is located in commercial space; Public Works Service Center, which houses all staff, equipment,
as well as equipment and automotive maintenance.
He then introduced Interim Library Director, Donna Shirley, who spoke about the space needs at the
Library. She told the Committee that the Library is in need of additional space for materials, separate
collections, reading programs, studying, computers, special events, and staff. Ms. Johnson asked what
the daily count of patrons is. Ms. Shirley told the Committee that it can be as many as 700 at times. Ms.
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Citizens Bond Advisory Committee
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Johnson then asked about the square footage of the Library, and Ms. Shirley informed the Committee
that the Library is approximately 7,000 sf.
Mr. Roath then explained that while there is an enormous need for space, the City is not in a position to
build everything at once. He discussed the re-utilization of current facilities once new ones were
constructed, such as using the existing Library as a Center, and the existing City Hall as a Public Safety
building.
Mr. Larson asked if a new City Hall is more needed than a new Public Safety building. Mr. Roath
explained that the number of departments that are in need of space would be best served by constructing
a City Hall, and using the existing building for expansion of Police, Courts and Fire Administration.
Mr. Roath also mentioned using Certificates of Obligation for expansion of the Public Works facilities
and Fire Station#3.
There was discussion of using the front portion of the current City Hall site for construction of a new
facility; however, due to the commercial value of the land, the City plans to explore the sale of both the
front portion of the Municipal Complex site, as well as the portion that the building is currently located
on. Mr. Larson then asked about the current value of and commercial interest in the land. Mr. Roath
stated that the current belief is that the front parcel could bring as much as $1.5 million. Mr. Sam
Satterwhite stated that the front parcel's value will only increase as other commercial tracts in the area
are developed. Mr. Roath stated that the value and timing of the sale of the current tract is also
contingent on a developer being interested in the 15 acres to the West, and including the City's tract in
their acquisition.
Mr. Roath asked that the Committee keep in mind the timing of building a new facility of any kind.
Overall, to build a facility, it will take approximately 2 % - 3 years for architect selection, design and
construction. He reviewed the remainder of projects, including streets and parks. Further, he added that
Sam Satterwhite asked that a project be given for the Committee's consideration and passed out
information on the project request. He requested that the Committee continue to receive Citizen Input
through the website until a final decision had been made.
Mr. Larson asked if staff wants to put the buildings together in one area. Mr. Roath told the Committee
that there are several reasons to put most of the facilities in one area. First, it becomes a "one-stop
shop" for citizens, developers, land owners, etc. It makes it easier for the public to come and do their
business with several different buildings. Second, it allows cost savings. Parking and air conditioning
systems are just two necessities that can be shared. Third, it brings an amount of stature to the
Community. It would make the City easily accessible and bring focus to the area where the facilities are
built. He stated that the City has explored the possibility of utilizing a small portion of the Wells
property; however, he reiterated that Open Space and Recreation would be the primary focus of the
land.
1.Approval of the Minutes of May 19,2005
Chairman Jay Whitlow asked if there were changes that needed to be made to the minutes. The
Committee Members voted 15 -FOR and 0 -AGAINST in favor of approval.
Chairman Whitlow adjourned the meeting at 7:16 p.m. and he reconvened the Committee at 7:21 p.m.
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3.Discussion,and possible action,on ranking of various Capital Improvement Projects.
Chairman Whitlow explained the process of ranking the projects that had been presented to the
Committee. The process entailed selecting the top ten projects. Each Committee Member was to place
a red dot next to their top five, or critical, projects; the Members should them place a blue dot next to
their next five important, but not critical, projects. The Committee discussed changing the process;
however, the Committee decided that the process should be done and the results would be tabulated.
Chairman Whitlow asked Staff to calculate and post the results, using red dots to represent 2 points,
and blue dots to represent 1 point.
Once the exercise had been completed, the results were posted as follows: Sanden (2 lanes F.M. 544
to Brown), 6 red, 9 blue for a total of 21; F.M. 1378 (Brown to Parker), 9 red, 0 blue, for a total of 18;
Library, 9 red, 0 blue, for a total of 18; City Hall, 7 red, 4 blue, for a total of 18; Stone (Ballard to
Collins), 5 red, 5 blue, for a total of 15; Brown (F.M. 1378 to Ballard), 6 red, 2 blue, for a total of 14;
Brown (S.H. 78 to Anson), 5 red, 3 blue, for a total of 13; Public Safety, 4 red, 5 blue, for a total of
13; Phase I of Wells property Development, 4 red, 5 blue, for a total of 13; Park (McCreary to F.M.
1378), 4 red, 2 blue, for a total of 10; Park (Parker to Spring Creek), 4 red, 2 blue, for a total of 10;
Recreation Center and Park Admin, 1 red, 8 blue, for a total of 10; Founders Park, 1 red, 7 blue, for a
total of 9; Public Works, 3 red, 1 blue, for a total of 7; Animal Shelter, 2 red, 1 blue, for a total of 5;
Fire Training Center, 0 red, 5 blue, for a total of 5; Swift Water Rescue Simulator, 0 red, 5 blue, for a
total of 5; Fire Station#3, 2 red, 0 blue, for a total of 4; Outdoor Aquatics, 1 red, 2 blue, for a total of
4; Alanis (Twin Lakes to Stone Road), 0 red, 3 blue, for a total of 3; Sanden (F.M. 544 to S.H. 78), 1
red, 1 blue, for a total of 3; Community Park, 1 red, 1 blue, for a total of 3; Eubanks (Brown to S.H.
78), 0 red, 1 blue, for a total of 1; Park Maintenance, 0 red, 1 blue, for a total of 1; Senior Center, 0
red, 1 blue, for a total of 1.
Chairman Whitlow motioned to extend the Resident Feedback Form deadline to Thursday, June 9,
2005. The Committee agreed, and Chairman Whitlow asked staff to extend the form to accept
feedback until midnight, and include the citizen comments in their packets for the June 16 meeting.
The Committee discussed narrowing the project list and decided to focus on the projects that scored
double-digits. There were several questions about roadways, along with discussion of construction
plans for Sanden into the Wells property.
The Committee requested an overlay map of the City that shows current roads and the roads that are
listed as projects. Mr. Holsted ensured the Committee that he would make available maps to show the
requested information.
Chairman Whitlow requested Staff provide financial amounts for the double-digit projects, including
the cost and what the impact on the tax rate would be. The Committee requested information on
combining the Recreation Center with Aquatics, combining the Library with City Hall, and the
renovation of Public Safety versus building a new facility. There was discussion about the Animal
Shelter renovation/construction being funded through alternate means as well as its non-compliance.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business before the Committee, Chairman Whitlow adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m.
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Citizens Bond Advisory Committee
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Jay Whitlow,Chairman
ATTEST:
Mark B.Roath,City Manager
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