09-13-1988 (City Council) Minutes 143
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 13, 1988
The City of Wylie City Council met in regular session on
Tuesday, September 13, 1988 at 7 :00 P.M. A quorum was
present and notice of the meeting had been posted in the
time and manner required by law. Those present were Mayor
Chuck Trimble, Mayor Pro Tem John Akin, Council Members
Ortie Messenger, Bud Naish, Jim Swartz , Marvin Blakey and
Chris DiTota, City Manager John Pitstick, City Secretary
Carolyn Jones, Finance Director James Johnson, Code
Enforcement Officer Roy Faires, Chief of Police Royce
Abbott, Assist. City Engineer Ron Homeyer, Public Works
Superintendent Don White, and Fire Chief Larry Allen.
Mayor Trimble called the meeting to order and gave the
invocation.
PUBLIC MEETING 1988/89 BUDGET AND TAX RATE FOR THE CITY OF
WYLIE: City Manager John Pitstick stated that in two weeks
there would be a public hearing on the General and Utility
Fund Budgets . City Manager John Pitstick presented the
budget, it was noted that there had been a lot of meetings
and late hours spent in preparing this coming years budget.
There has been a loss in collection of taxes, it used to be
you could count on 95% collection rate, but today we are
only collecting about 85 to 90%. There was also a large
amount charged to Agricultural use this year over last years
amount. This is a direct impact to our revenues, the
agricultural and loss of tax collections . Council and staff
are recommending an increase in tax rate from $ .50 to
$.5125 , with the following new programs and equipment:
Monthly newsletter to all citizens
Improved training for city employees
adding one part time receptionist
Chief Building Official taking over duties as Fire
Marshall
Combining Records Clerk and Police Secretary into one
job
Police Administration Assistant transferred to City
Manager' s Office for complete compiling and cross
referencing of all city ordinances and assist in
annexation proceedings
One Fire Support Vehicle
One Fire Rescue Boat
New Hydralic Air Bag Rescue system
Library Directors Salary funded through Meadows Grant
and outside support
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Continuing active membership in North East Texas
Library System (this system has donated a number --*�
of books and equipment to our Library)
One Park Employee dedicated solely to maintain
Community Park (to be hired in February)
Park and open Space Upgrade - two new lawn mowers,
extending sprinkler system, playground equipment
upgraded, State Highway Beautification Grant to
construct landscaped entry ways on FM 544 and
Highway 78
Continual upgrade of street program
Shifting Vehicle Mechanic to night duty for more
efficient services
Upgrading of Animal Shelter
Council has decided to set aside an increased amount for the
Reserve Account.
Councilman Naish requested City Manager John Pitstick to
talk on the revenues being lowered and that each department
head would be accountable for their budget. City Manager
John Pitstick said staff has been very conservative in
estimating our revenues for the upcoming year and also that
each department would be held accountable for their own
budget expenditures.
Councilman Messenger stated that when the City Manager John
Pitstick first went over the amount of increase in
Agricultural use, the staff tried to get this turned around
but the appraisal district turned us down. City Manager
John Pitstick said in agricultural use, if you have crops or
cattle and you have claimed agricultural use but decided to
sell for development, then the City can roll your taxes back
for five years, or the number of years your property has
been in the city limits up to five years .
Councilman Naish thanked the staff and other council members
for the time spent and the work done on the budget.
Councilman Swartz stated that the Council has tried to keep
expenses down. I am sorry there is not more people here so
they would know we tried to keep expenses down.
Mayor Pro Tem Akin stated for the first time, I have missed
some of the budget meetings . The Council and staff went
item by item through each department. I appreciate this.
We do have adequate reserve and this will help on the bond
ratings. Everyone is not aware of the hard ships the City
has had during the past few years. I feel the Council has
done an outstanding job and I appreciate the staff .
Councilman Blakey said the Council has been aware of the
economy and we have tired to apply this to the upcoming
budget.
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Cecelia Wood of 515 Woodhollow Dr, stated , speaking as a tax
payer, I appreciate your keeping the tax rate low.
Paul Tucker , lives in Branch in the ETJ, putting a newletter
in your utility bills does not include us . We have no
communications with you. Mayor Trimble said not at this
time, but these letters would be available for pickup at
City Hall and around town. Mr . Tucker said we will have a
hard time getting here. Mayor Trimble said the act of ETJ
has been there for years, it has been put on us by law to
protect the ETJ. Just because it is outside the City, there
needs to be laws to see that it is developed properly.
City Manager John Pitstick said we could send some copies to
a general store if there is one in the area.
Ron Bentley 501 Stoneybrook - on the water proposal is this
going to pay direct on expansion of water/sewer. It seems
to me you could raise taxes and recover this and help the
citizens as they can recover on their income taxes if this
increase was on our city taxes. City Manager John Pitstick
said the Council wanted to be honest and if we spent money
on streets , then charge it to streets and if it was water
and sewer then charge it to water and sewer. There was
extensive discussion between Council and staff on this
matter.
Mr. Bentley said you do not think you could tell us about
the money in your news letter .
Councilman Messenger said the other part is some people do
not live in the City limits and we feel they should pay
also .
Councilman Naish said the General Fund has off set the
Utility Fund in the past and we do not want that , we want
the Utility Fund to stand alone.
Mr. Bentley said the senior citizens will be hurt the
worst. Mayor Trimble said water/sewer fund will be
discussed at length in two weeks and I would appreciate the
citizens coming. Mayor Trimble stated that most of these
cost are coming from a mandate from the Texas Water
Commission. Mayor Trimble thanked the Council for the hours
put into the work on the budget . Council has put in over
200 hours and staff more. It is going to be a hard year. I
am committed as a council person to make this budget work.
There being no other questions or comments from the
citizens, Mayor Trimble called for a recess before staring
the regular business meeting .
146
Mayor Trimble called the Council back to order for the
regular business meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes being submitted are for
the August 2nd, August 6th, and August 9th meetings.
Councilman Messenger corrected the statement in the August
6th meeting , Mr . Ron Jeffries will donate the labor if staff
gets the materials and paint, to say Mr. Jeffries said he
would donate the labor to construct a bath house for the
pool . There being no other corrections or additions to the
minutes, a motion was made by Councilman Messenger to
approve. Seconded by Councilman DiTota. The vote was as
follows : Mayor Trimble - in favor, Mayor Pro Tem Akin - in
favor , Councilman Swartz - in favor, Councilman DiTota - in
favor, Councilman Messenger - in favor, Councilman Blakey -
in favor , and Councilman Naish - in favor. This motion
carried with all in favor.
APPROVAL OF PROCLAMATION DECLARING SEPTEMBER 17 THRU
SEPTEMBER 23 AS CONSTITUTION WEEK: Mayor Trimble read the
proclamation and called for a motion. Motion was made by
Mayor Pro Tem Akin to approve the proclamation declaring
September 17 thru September 23 as Constitution week.
Seconded by Councilman Blakey. The vote was as follows:
Mayor Trimble - in favor, Mayor Pro Tem Akin - in favor,
Councilman Swartz - in favor, Councilman DiTota - in favor, --•�
Councilman Messenger - in favor, Councilman Blakey - in
favor, and Councilman Naish - in favor. This motion carried
with all in favor.
APPROVAL OF TUCKER ESTATES FINAL PLAT: This property is
located on the Branch Peninsula within the ETJ of the City
of Wylie. City Manager John Pitstick said this is being
brought back for a vote. This plat is divided from one lot
into three lots. North Texas Municipal Water District has
control over th septic system. This is in another water
service area and will not be served by Wylie. The main
concern is construction of a street. The plat is showing
one half of a cul-de-sac and street on the property. We
recommend approval of this with one half of a 27 ' concrete
street and cul-de-sac.
Mr . Tucker said the problem he has is the road . I have kept
the sell of the property to someone wanting to maintain the
house and lot. I have turned down sells because of them
wanting to put in junk yards. There is a County Road and
County is requiring 13 feet of easement with black top road .
There is nothing done by Wylie. The schools are in
Princeton, the water is from Culleoka , Police is out of
McKinney. I have already lost the sale of the land. I do
not understand why you want a concrete street. I can sell .-.,
the one lot to a person and he can put in a junk yard and
you can not control that.
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Mayor Pro Tem Akin asked mr. Tucker if he filed the plat in
McKinney. Mr. Tucker said McKinney said to bring it to
Wylie for approval .
Councilman Naish wanted to know if we could get this out of
the ETJ. Mayor Trimble said you can not , why we need it to
be governed for protection. It may never be in Wylie, but
we can control it until some other City can come into the
area. Mayor Trimble said there is no other City out there
at this time.
Councilman Naish asked City Manager John Pitstick to explain
the Subdivision Ordinance. City Manager John Pitstick said
the State has allowed this in order to have controls. You
will be in some City some day and this helps to have better
standards.
Councilman DiTota said we hear the same thing , we are to far
away and you do not care for us . Councilman DiTota said he
did not want to hear that because if it comes into the City,
we inherit it and we want it to be done right .
Mayor Pro Tem Akin said we have to treat them all the same.
There being no other questions or comments, Mayor Trimble
called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman
Messenger to approve the plat with a 27 ' concrete street as
drawn on the plat and to comply with the City' s subdivision
ordinance, NTMWD governed the septic system and water would
come from Culleoka. Seconded by Councilman Swartz. The
vote was as follows : Mayor Trimble - in favor, Mayor Pro
Tem Akin - in favor, Councilman Swartz - in favor,
Councilman DiTota - in favor, Councilman Messenger - in
favor, Councilman Blakey - in favor, and Councilman Naish -
in favor . This motion carried with all in favor.
AUTHORIZATION FOR STAFF TO SEEK BIDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
EQUIPMENT (BOAT) : Motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Akin to
authorize staff to seek bids for public safety equipment
(boat) . Seconded by Councilman Messenger .
Councilman DiTota wanted the bid specs to have Larry Allen' s
approval.
The vote on the above motion was as follows : Mayor Trimble
- in favor, Mayor Pro Tem Akin - in favor, Councilman Swartz
- in favor, Councilman DiTota - in favor, Councilman
Messenger - in favor, Councilman Blakey - in favor, and
Councilman Naish - in favor. This motion carried with all
in favor .
148
AUTHORIZATION FOR STAFF TO SEEK BIDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
EQUIPMENT (SUPPORT VEHICLE) : Motion was made by Councilman
Messenger to authorize staff to seek bids for public safety
equipment (support vehicle) . Seconded by Councilman Swartz .
The vote was as follows : Mayor Trimble - in favor, Mayor
Pro Tem Akin - in favor , Councilman Swartz - in favor,
Councilman DiTota - in favor, Councilman Messenger - in
favor, Councilman Blakey - in favor, Councilman Naish - in
favor. This motion carried with all in favor.
AWARD OF BID FOR BACKHOE FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT: Staff
recommends going with the low bidder, Machinery
International JCB 1500 Backhoe, in the amount of $31,397 .
There were four bids received. Motion was made by Mayor Pro
Tem Akin to award bid to Machinery International JCB 1500
Backhoe in the amount of $31,397 . Seconded by Councilman
DiTota. The vote was as follows : Mayor Trimble - in favor,
Mayor Pro Tem Akin - in favor, Councilman Swartz - in favor,
Councilman DiTota - in favor, Councilman Messenger - in
favor, Councilman Blakey - in favor, and Councilman Naish -
in favor. This motion carried with all in favor.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION DRAW #1 FOR XIT PAVING
AND CONST. , INC. : The construction draw #1 for XIT Paving
is in the amount of $66 ,070 .80. Assist. City Engineer Ron
Homeyer said the delay in Birmingham is due to Lone Star Gas
line being just under the road surface and this line is
being moved. Lone Star Gas is moving slow on this project.
Motion was made by Councilman DiTota to approve the
construction draw #1 to XIT Paving in the amount of
$66,070 .80 . Seconded by Councilman Messenger. The vote was
as follows : Mayor Trimble - in favor, Mayor Pro Tem Akin -
in favor, Councilman Swartz - in favor, Councilman DiTota -
in favor, Councilman Messenger - in favor, Councilman Blakey
- in favor, and Councilman Naish - in favor. This motion
carried with all in favor.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT TO APLHA TESTING, INC. FOR PAVEMENT
DESIGN FOR THE 1988 STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM: This
payment is in the amount of $7 ,515.00. Councilman DiTota
said it appears staff has split over run cost, are there any
ways to pickup additional monies from NTMWD or the various
utility companies . Mr. Homeyer said it has not been done,
as we try to work with other utility companies in locating
lines.
Councilman Messenger wanted to know if the payment is part
of monies allocated with Cummings and Pewitt fees . Mr .
Homeyer said we pay direct to Alpha but it is part of
Engineering and Construction staking of the street program.
Councilman Messenger stated he was not happy with Cummings ..w,
and Pewitt and feel they have gone over the contract . Mr.
Homeyer said it is an estimate not a contract. This is the
final bill .
149
Mayor Trimble said this is the part we have no road base on.
Motion was made by Councilman Blakey to approve the payment
of $7 ,515.00 to Alpha Testing , Inc. Seconded by Councilman
DiTota. The vote was as follows : Mayor Trimble - in favor,
Mayor Pro Tem Akin - in favor, Councilman Swartz - in favor,
Councilman DiTota - in favor, Councilman Messenger -
against, Councilman Blakey - in favor, and Councilman Naish
- in favor. This motion carried with six in favor and one
against.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: Mayor Trimble invited anyone wishing
to address the Council to come forward at this time, to
state their name and address for the record and to keep
their comments within two minutes. No one came forward at
this time.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Mayor Pro Tem John Akin stated his
appreciation for the cross ties being removed from Railroad
R-O-W. Also the information on railroad crossing at
McCreary Road, is there correspondence about County trying
to get the crossing moved when they put the road in. Also
the cemetery situation, this is a County road and it took a
long time to get the road paved. This was done because we
could foresee the need for this road . I would like to see
if we could continue on and try to get this road made into a
good road this year . Mayor Pro Tem Akin also ask the
Council and City staff to remember the open house for P.M.
Akin Elementary School at 2: 00 P.M. this coming Sunday.
Councilman Swartz stated his thanks for the citizens coming
out for the public meeting on the tax rate.
Councilman DiTota said he would be out of town Thursday and
would not be able to be there for the meeting . Also my
feelings and comments still hold on this sewer tap.
Councilman Messenger the creek in Rustic Oak , it is in real
bad shape, over grown weeds , water collects there, it is a
real hazard and needs to be look into. Councilman Messenger
also ask Chief Abbott if all the money has been used from
the Women' s League. Chief Abbott said we bought a VCR, VCR
camera, lock for door from lobby to jail area and safety
vest for the officers .
Councilman Blakey requested that Council look at Sanden
Blvd. and Spring Creek Parkway and see if it is possible for
the money to be moved from Spring Creek Parkway to Sanden
and complete at least one street . City Manager John
.ti Pitstick said we are planning on bring it back as soon as we
can. Mr. Ruben Delgado from County has been on vacation and
as soon as they are ready, which we hope to have this on the
September 27th agenda.
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Councilman Naish stated that one thing is Sanden should
commit for part of their street. There is need for work on
Brown Street. City Manager John Pitstick said these funds
are for major thoroughfares and concrete streets.
Councilman Naish said Highway 78 , right hand turn land,
where do we stand on this. Mr. Homeyer said he has not
received an answer back from the State yet. City Manager
John Pitstick said the State has said if we submit a plan
and we do all the work we can make improvements.
Councilman Naish stated he received a call from a lady about
fire arms being discharged and Dispatch told her the land
was not in the City. She called back and was told the owner
said he could do it if zoned Ag. Councilman Naish said his
concern is the way this was handled and also that the
Dispatcher knows where the city limits is. Chief Abbott
said they should be aware of what is in our City Limits as
they have a new map.
There being no other matters of discussion, a motion was
made to adjourn with all in favor .
/2/12
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Chuck Trimble, Mayor
ATTEST :
Caro yn es y Secretary = SEAL ei