03-30-1989 (City Council) Minutes 302
CALLED JOINT MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MARCH 30, 1989
The City of Wylie City Council met in a called joint session
with the Wylie Chamber of Commerce at 7: 00 P. M. in the
Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex on Thursday, March
30 , 1989 . A quorum was present and notice of the meeting
had been posted in the time and manner required by law.
Those present were Mayor Pro Tem John Akin, Council Members
Ortie Messenger, Jim Swartz , Bud Naish and Tom Pritzkau,
City Secretary Carolyn Jones, Elayne Mayes, President of the
Chamber and Bobby Abbott and John Fitzpatrick Board members
of the Chamber . Mayor Chuck Trimble and Councilman Marvin
Blakey were absent.
Mayor Pro Tem Akin called the meeting to order and gave the
invocation.
Mayor Pro Tem Akin welcomed the Chamber members, and made
the statement that the Chamber means a lot to the City as
well as to the citizens and community. Mayor Pro Tem Akin
said he hoped to be able to come to some kind of an
agreement on what would be best for the City through this
meeting.
Mrs. Mayes gave a brief statement about the Chamber meeting
and setting goals and adopting a purpose. Mrs. Mayes stated
the purpose of the Chambers was to unify, to support, to
Communicate, to maintain a Healthy Business and Governmental
Atmosphere in the City of Wylie. Mrs. Mayes thanked the
Council for this time and their willingness to work with the
Chamber.
Mr . Bobby Abbott made a statement regarding the sign
ordinance and stated as a representative of the Wylie
Business Area, the signs are to get the attention of the
people. They state the business or service that can be
obtained from this business. The business people of Wylie
feel the portable sign ordinance was not done with the best
interest of the citizens. The Board would like to suggest
that the portable signs be permitted , with a drawing
submitted showing the exact location of the sign and to show
it would be secured. We feel by having a permit issued
for all portable signs would give the City control to insure
that the signs were maintained and off the right-of-ways.
We recommend that Council accept these amendments.
303
Mayor Pro Tem Akin said no one showed up at the public
hearing or meetings where this ordinance was adopted .
Council felt there was no one opposed and that it was being
endorsed by everyone.
Mr. Abbott said he hopes to leave the meeting with an
understanding that the Chamber would start looking at the
Ordinances and giving Council our support and ideals prior
to ordinances being passed.
Councilman Naish stated that Council felt everyone was in
agreement with the sign ordinance as no one attended the
meetings .
Mr . Faires stated that when an ordinance like this is
brought forward, it is not on my behalf, but because someone
has said to do it. I research the material and bring an
ordinance back. This was brought forward some six months
before it was adopted . I talked with an attorney and he
said to give six months for compliance.
Mr . John Fitzpatrick said we are asking for Council to
define larger signs , and also to look at the section that
says no banners . Mr . Faires said the part about banners is
only addressed in the amendment and if Council so chooses,
we can amend it as they wish. I have no problems with the
banners as long as they are up high and no one can get
caught in them.
Mr . Abbott also stated that maybe the Chamber should work
with the businesses on keeping their flags/banners in better
shape and replacing them when needed .
Mr . Ted Mets , who lives in the Wylie Butane Mobile Home
Park, said I have a lot of difficulty trying to fine the
drive to turn into this park. The sign that was removed to
comply with your ordinance, marked this turn in and gave the
people the time needed to show they were turning. The sign
itself was a safety factor in making the turn into this park
at night .
Councilman Swartz said one thing he had found out is the
barber shop where I get my hair cut, did have a portable
sign out front. I asked if this sign helped and was told
yes, it gave the specials we were having that week and drew
attention to the shop. I ask since the removal of the sign ,
have you notice a difference in drop-ins for the shop. They
said yes.
Councilman Messenger said in Garland they have outlawed
portable signs altogether.
304
Mayor Pro Tem Akin stated that the staff has structured some —
of our ordinances after Garland and Plano, but we know we
are not Garland and Plano. The staff is trying to help
Wylie look better.
Mrs . Mayes said the Chamber is addressing the ordinance at
this time, we should have looked at it earlier and prior to
the adoption of it. The Chamber wanted to look at this
ordinance with Council and work together on it . I have been
here at your meetings, and you open and close public
hearings without comments because the people do not come.
Councilman Naish stated that he believes if Mr . Faires and
the Chamber had gotten together prior to this meeting these
things could have been worked out.
Mayor Pro Tem Akin said there are two entities here, the
City and The Chamber and both have the same mandates, to
work for the betterment of the City and citizens.
Councilman Naish said maybe the Chamber could do some
policing on the signs and help Mr. Faires with this problem.
Mr . Abbott said one thing that should be deleted is the fact
that a registered engineer has to put his seal of approval
on small signs. This cost factor is to great to expect �*
small businesses to deal with.
Mr . Faires request that Mr . Abbott and Mr . Fitzpatrick come
to his office and go over the changes and work with him on
the improvement of the sign ordinance.
Councilman Swartz said he liked the ideal of permits and Mr.
Faires having control over where they are put up and what
they look like.
Mayor Pro Tem Akin requested that Mr . Abbott and Mr .
Fitzpatrick meet with Mr . Faires and work on these ideals
and then let Mr . Faires bring it to Council for
consideration.
Mrs . Mayes thanked the Council for replacing the lights
bulbs in the downtown area and for sweeping the streets each
weekend.
Mr . Fitzpatrick said he appreciated the police walking the
down town area and going into the businesses to let the
owners know they are on duty. Mr . Fitzpatrick wanted to
know if the new City Manager had been hired, if so, we would
like for him to become an advisory member of our Board. We
found it very helpful when Mr . Pitstick came to our
meetings, we were informed of what the Council was trying to
do and we could help and support them.
305
Mr . Fitzpatrick asked how could the Chamber be more
available to the City.
Councilman Swartz said he has a hard time understanding the
Chamber with comments such as we have one grocery store, why
to we need another one. Is the Chamber wanting to help
attract more business into Wylie.
Mrs . Mayes said we are pro business, I have worked on
Brookshires and you will be getting a letter soon from them
stating that they have closed on the land. I found it was
not the desire for the board to take a stand, I took a
personal stand for Brookshires.
Councilman Naish said we are here to support the down town
businesses not just new businesses coming in. The Council
does need to support the old business and we will. The
Council does support Wylie.
It was suggested to have joint meetings quarterly, semi-
annually to help keep everyone informed.
There being no other matters of business for discussion, a
motion was made to adjourn with all in favor .
John Akin, Mayor Pro Tem
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ATTEST:
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Carolyn es ty Secretary
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