09-02-2005 (City Council) Minutes MINUTES
WYLIE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Emergency Meeting
Friday, September 2, 2005
3:15 p.m.
Wylie Municipal Complex/Conference Room
2000 Highway 78 North
Wylie,Texas 75098
An emergency has been determined to exist in accordance with Section 551.045 of the Texas Open
Meetings Act because there is an urgent public necessity to accept refugees from Hurricane Katrina and
to maintain public order and peace and it was not reasonably foreseeable in time to post the meeting 72
hours in advance that Wylie may be accepting hurricane victims and refugees.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Mondy called the meeting to order at 3:16 p.m. Council Members present were: Councilman Merrill
Young, Councilman Earl Newsom, Councilwoman Reta Allen, and Councilman Carter Porter. Mayor Pro Tem
Eric Hogue and Councilman Rick White were absent.
Staff present were: City Manager, Mark Roath; Finance Director, Larry Williamson; City Engineer, Chris
Holsted; Planning and Zoning Director, Claude Thompson; Fire Chief, Shan English; Police Chief, Jeff
Butters; WEDC Director, Sam Satterwhite; City Secretary, Carole Ehrlich; and Public Information Officer,
Mark Witter.
INVOCATION&PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilman Newsom gave the invocation and Councilman Porter led the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
• Consider and act upon an emergency appropriation budget amendment,Ordinance No. 2005-40,
authorizing the expenditure of up to $100,000.00 over the next 30 days for the life, health,
property and public peace of the citizens of Wylie and refugees or victims of Hurricane Katrina
that may come to Wylie.
Staff Comments
Fire Chief Shan English addressed Council stating the purpose of the Emergency meeting. Chief English
stated that the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex would be receiving around 25,000 displaced Louisiana residents.
Upon their arrival to Dallas, they will be checked for weapons, helped to get them situated and they will be
dispersed into the community. Collin County has been asked to receive 2,000 people. Assistant Chief Flores
has been in contact with Homeland Security for Collin County. This morning, Judge Ron Harris along with
Mr. Kelly Stone, Department of Homeland Security asked the larger cities in Collin County; namely, the
cities of Frisco, Allen, Wylie, Plano and McKinney to locate a facility in their perspective cities for the
displaced Louisiana residents for an undetermined amount of time. The District Liaison for the Department of
Emergency Management-Garland informed Chief English that all resources from the Red Cross has been
tapped and that the City will have no help at this time and will be on its own for a while. Chief English stated
Minutes—September 2,2005
Emergency Meeting of the Wylie City Council
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that Mr. Stone, Department of Homeland Security advised to be informed when a location in each participating
city has been chosen and how many displaced Louisiana residents the City can take and support, and that the
City will be on its own for a week or two. Chief English stated that the President and the State has declared
this "A Disaster". He further stated that as far as reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management
Association (FEMA); as long as we complete the necessary paperwork and deductions, the City will be
reimbursed for overtime spent, any thing the City rent or that is related to housing the Louisiana residents and
taking care of them.
Emergency Operations Level 1 meeting has been held with the City Manager and staff to make sure we have
shelter in place to handle the amount of people we may receive and that systems are in place to support them
when they arrive. Chief English assured Council that we do have systems in place that can support these
people. Our first choice of location was the Armory, which is the best facility due to its setting and close
proximity to Wal-Mart. The second choice was the Batrix Hospital but was an option not open to us. The
third choice was First Baptist Church and the fourth choice was St. Anthony's Catholic Church, both are able
to handle our needs. Chief English stated that if Council approves and if the State gives the City permission to
use the Armory, the Armory can feed and house up to 250 people although this amount is beyond our capacity.
Chief English believes that we can take 50 people upfront at the Armory or at the churches and support them
until such time that services can be put into place such as long term housing,jobs and decent daycare set up for
their families. We do have the capacity to do about 100 people but Chief English stressed that until we accept
this amount of people, we would like to make sure that the other participating cities are doing their part.
Mayor Mondy asked Police Chief Butters to give an overview of the Police Department plans. Chief Butters
stated that temporary Texas ID's will be given and that there will be a check for any warrants outstanding.
Background checks for criminal purposes will be done. Chief Butters further stated that there will be an
officer onsite 24 hours at the Armory which is reimbursable 100% and that an officer liaison is there to deal
with any issues that may arise. Chief Butters did indicate that signing in and out will be done and that from a
security standpoint, the Armory is the best facility. Day care, employment and transportation needs are also
being taken care of.
Assistant Fire Chief Flores noted that in addition to the 50 people in the armory, there are twenty one (21) self
sufficient refugees living in Wylie. Councilwoman Allen asked how long we anticipate the use of the Armory
facility for the refugees. Chief English stated that it may be as long as six months. Mayor Mondy stated that
it is anticipated about a month but long term assistance may be needed.
Planning and Zoning Director, Claude Thompson addressed Council and stated that the facilities being used to
house the refugees are not zoned as residential. Mr. Thompson stated that Council can approve a temporarily
suspension of the Zoning Ordinance regulations and allow the use of non-residential facilities.
Council Action
A motion was made by Councilman Newsom, seconded by Councilman Porter to approve Ordinance No.
2005-40 approving an emergency appropriation of funds for the life, health, property and the public peace of
the citizens of Wylie Texas and the refugees of Hurricane Katrina and to temporarily suspend regulations of
the Zoning Ordinance in order to allow residential use of appropriate non-residential facilities to allow seven
(7) or more unrelated persons to domicile in Single family and Multi-Family facilities for City qualified
refugees. A vote was taken and passed 5-0 with Mayor Pro Tem Hogue and Councilman White absent.
Minutes—September 2,2005
Emergency Meeting of the Wylie City Council
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READING,Oki ORDINANCES TITLE & CAPTION APPROVED BY COUNCIL AS REQUIRED BY
WYLIE CITY CHARTER,ARTICLE III,SECTION 13-D.
City Secretary Carole Ehrlich read the caption of Ordinance#2005-40 into the official record.
ORDINANCE NO. 2005-40
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WYLIE, TEXAS AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 2004-29 (2004-2005 BUDGET) AND APPROVING AN
EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR THE LIFE, HEALTH,
PROPERTY AND THE PUBLIC PEACE OF THE CITIZENS OF WYLIE
TEXAS AND REFUGEES OF HURRICANE KATRINA; PROVIDING FOR
REPEALING, SAVINGS AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSES; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business before Council,Mayor Mondy made a motion to adjourn at 3:37 p.m. Consensus of Council was
to adjourn.
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Minutes—September 2,2005
Emergency Meeting of the Wylie City Council
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