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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-03-03 Regular Meeting CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS AGENDA REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 1976 at 7: 30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 413 MAIN STREET I. CALL TO ORDER II. INVOCATION - Councilman Dalton III. CITIZENS REQUEST AND/OR MISC. REPORTS & DISCUSSIONS IV. CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES (February 24, 1976) V. OLD BUSINESS A. City Council to discuss the widening of the bridge on Dove Road. B. City Council to discuss any new proposals received on construction of the golf course. C. City Council to discuss the construction of the Tanner Log Cabin for the Historical Society. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. City Council to discuss the purchase of an accounting machine. B. City Council to discuss the feasibility of using the old Heritage Mobile Home manufacturing building as a future maintenance building. C. City Council to discuss the possibility of extending the water line along Timberline Drive to accommodate Los Robles Drive. VII. ADJOURN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 6252-17, V.A.T.C.S. , AS AMENDED BY CHAPTER 227, ACTS OF THE 61ST LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION, THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA WAS PREPARED AND POSTED ON THIS THE 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1976 AT 10: 30 A.M. C ITY SEC AR STATE OF TEXAS Q COUNTY OF TARRANT � CITY OF GRAPEVINE O The City Council of the City of Grapevine, Texas convened in regular session at 7:45 P.M. on this the 2nd day of March, 1976 with the following members present to-wit: Doil Dalton Mayor Pro-Tem � Thelma Conine Councilwoman Larry Oliver Councilman Willis Pirkle Councilman Bob Murphy Councilman Charles Dunn Councilman constituting a quorum, with Mayor William D. Tate absent, with Floy Ezell City Manager Jim Hancock Assistant City I�Ianager Shirley Armstrong City Secretary Ray Hutchison Acting City Attorney Mayor Pro Tem Dalton called the meeting to order and i�elcomed the guests. The first order of business was for the City Council to hear Citizen�s request a.n.d miscellaneous discussions. �ouncilman Murphy complimented City Ma.nager Floy Ezell for the additional summary information included with the agenda packet. The riext order of business was for the City Council to consider the minutes of the February 24, 1976 meeting. Councilman Dunn made a motion to approve the minutes as published. The motion was seconded , by Councilman Pirkle and prevailed by the following vote: Ayes . Dalton, Conine, Murphy, Oliver, Pirkle and Dunn �""''�, Nays : None ! Absent: Mayor Tate The next order of business was for the City Council to discuss the widening of the bridge on Dove Road. Mayor pro tem Dalton stated that the bridge to be discussed was the one just west of Dove elementary. He further explained that the existing bridge is very narrow and has been a contributing factor in several accidents. Councilman Dunn asked if the bridge was widened the proposed 3� feet on each side, would it then be as wide as the existing road. City P�anager Floy Ezell answered that tl�e existing concrete banister would be removed and metal guardrails erected. The width of the driving surface on the bridge would then be approximately 27' which would be as wide as the street. The City NIanager commented that this adjustment would not be a complete solution because the bridge would need to be widened considerably if and when Dove Road is v�idened to Kiribell Road. However, he stated that for a minimum expenditure of approxi- mately �63000 the existing bridge could be corrected to accomodate t���o-��ay traffice. Councilman Pirkle asked the City Mana�er if he had contacted Tarrant County about some assistance in this matter. The City Manager answered that he preferred to have the Council's approval before asking for County funds. T�layor pro tem Dalton �,, stated that it was his understanding that City funds were available from the operating fund of Capital Improvements. The City Manager stated that that was correct but he did feel that some assistance �•�ould be offered by Tarrant County. Councilman Pirkle made a motion that the City Council autP�orize the City Staff to make the necessary expenditure to widen the brid�e on Dove Road. The motion ti•�as seconded by Councilwoman Conine and prevailed by the follou�ing vote: Ayes . Dalton, Conine, I�iurphy, Oliver, Pirkle, and Dunn Nays . None Absent: P�ayor Tate � � � � � The next order of business was for the City Council to discuss any new proposals received on �;onstruc�ion of the golf course. The City Manager stated that Mayor Tate was in receipt of another proposal from Southwest Golf and Development Corporation. He further commented that since receiving the proposal Mayor Tate had been in contact with Mr. Smith of said company and discussed various points in detail. The City Manager then suggested that the City Attorney briefly explain the written proposal for the benefit of the Council. Following is a summary of the information Attorney Hutchison conveyed to the Council. � Mr. Hutchinson commented that the latest proposal from Southwest � Golf and Development Corporation dated February 23, 1976 is substan.tially different and more realistic in terms of actual �' accomplishment than the initial proposal reviewed some time ago. � The multity of the proposal is for Southwest Golf and Development Corporation to take the Corp land that the City is leasing from the Corp below the dam and build, then operate and maintai.n an eighteen hole golf course, pro shop, cart storage� maintenance and parki.ng on the 600 plus acres. Then, he commented, they would propose to sublease from the city to the corporation for an initial period of twenty-one yeaxs at a nominal rental because they are putting in the capital facilities. The nominal rent would be $100 per year and then the lessee would have a right to terminate at the end of any three year period during the course of the lease. They do ask for some options to extend� (which the city cannot now grant) but with permission of the Corp it would be possible. It�s been the Corp�s general practice to grant extensions if necessaxy to accomplish public projects. Basically they would operate and maintain the course, the City would extend utilities out there and then Southwest Golf and Development Corporation would be subject to ad valorem taxes like any other private owner. The lessee would furnish insurance. Southwest Go1f and Development Corporation proposes to finance these capital facilities by what they call mortgage financing. The City has to assume that they're talking about taking their sub-lease to a lender and financing it based on the sub-lease subject to the rights of the City. They cannot place a mortgage on the City's rights and so any mortgage they would enter into to finance capital improvements would be strictly subject to the City's rights under the sublease between the City and Southwest Golf and Development Corporation. They do ask that the City obligate itself to pay what they call "operating deficits" result- ing from a mortgage payout exceeding net operating income. Attorney Hutchison explained that what they are saying is that if their mortgage payments were �250,000 for example� and the total net operating income for the yeax was on.ly �225,000 then they would ask the City to pay the �$25,000 difference. In other words, contribute that amount to keep the project on an on-goin� basis. This does raise some policy questions that the City Council would have to decide. A city can make financial committments in future years but at the ti.me it is done� they have to levy an indeterminate tax or appropriate some other available revenue for the purpose of sustaining that obligation if and when it arises. If the City were inclined to do this, there would be no problem. The policy decision would have been made and the contract would be valid. On the other hand if the City entered into a contract and agreed to do this and did not make the prop�r provision� then the contract itself would not be valid and hence they couldn't finance. Therefore it�s a threshold of conceptual and policy questions the City Council would ,.,, have to decide. The thing the City would have to consider are some ' new policies of the Attorney General. If a city has contigent liabilities outstanding� then those liabilities have to be considered � in connection with the issuance of bonds. He further coramented that the City is under a limited taxin� power of $2.50 and some quantity of tax rate would be allocated to this obligation even though it is contingent. However, he acknowledged, this is one area that would require further study and we would recommend that the City consider a lot of other factors before actually making the final determination. This is not to sug�est that this may not prove to be a very sound proposal� but just that the City Coun.cil and City Staff need to be II fu11y informed on some other implications. To consumate a proposal along this line it would require confirmation of the lease agreement �aith. the Corp in asking the Corp to grant the City the privilege to grant these extensions and renewals. It would then call for a lease agreement to be prepared that would have to be highly sophisticated. It's always been a major concern that this be a quality effort. There would be some independent questions that would be raised at the time the proposal was reviewed, but they would basically relate to the matter of quality. Mayor pro tem asked if the Coun.cil members had any questions concerning the golf proposal. Councilman Dunn asked if the City would be respon- �; I; sible for getting utilities to the course as well as paying for them as they are consumed. The City Attorney answered that it was his under- standing that the City provide utility facilities as well as payi.ng for consumption. Councilman Murphy stated that to his understanding this proposal was similar to the Woodbine Development Company proposal. The City Attorney explained that the difference is that under the Wood- bine proposal, the City would be issuing bonds under special law that would accommoda.te this particular type project. Then the City would � lease to Woodbine and Woodbine �aould pa.y the City a rent equal to the � debt service requirement on the bonds. He further stated that this is not what Southwest is proposing. Councilman Dunn asked if (under the sophisticated sublease mentioned earlier), could the City reserve the ri t of a roval concernin architectuxal plans and design. The � PP g City Attorney answered that the City could reserve all types of quality control. There was no further discussion concerning the golf proposal. The next order of business was for the City Council to discuss the construction of the Liberty Park Log Cabin for the Historical Society. � The City Manager stated that he just wanted to call to the Council's attention the fact that Mr. Ha11 plans to begin construction of the cabin within the next few days. The present plan is to have the cabin completed by July. He reminded the Council that money for this purpose was approved in the Tourist and Convention Bureau Budget last January. The next order of busi.ness was for the City Council to discuss the purchase of an accounting machine. The City Manager stated �hat an extensive study has bee�. made concerning the updating of our account- ing equipment. He fur.ther commented that he does not feel the City is '�i ready for a more sophisticated program at this time. A used Burroughs L-4000, identical to the one we now have, has been located for an estimated cost of $8700. The City Manager acknowledged that since the machine is the exact duplicate of our present machine� the programs would be interchangeable and the accounti.ng system greatly improved. He further commented that $5000 is available in the finance department reserve for replacement fund. The difference could be made up out of the utility department reserve fund. Councilman Oliver asked how long the City has had our present machine. The City Manager answered it was approximately four yeaxs old. He further commented that he felt our old machine� plus the proposed machine would accommodate the City's d r e t another t e fo c' nee fo at 1 as hre to ur years. Coun ilman Dunn made a motion to accept the recommendation of the City Manager and approve the purchase of the Burrou�hs L-4000 accounting machine at an estimated cost of �8700. Councilman Oliver seconded the motion and the motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes . Dalton, Conine� Murphy, Oliver, Pirkle, and Durin Nays : None Absent: Mayor Tate The next order of business was for the City Council to discuss the feasibility of using the old Heritage Mobile Home manufacturing building as a future maintenance complex. The City Manager gave a brief history stating that studies have been made on the possibility of erecting a new maintenance building. The estimated cost of a new building would be �53,000 for 4,200 square feet. The old Heritage Mobile Home manufacturing building alone has approximately 24,000 square feet. In addition, there are four buildings adjacent to the larger one, as well as seven acres of land available. The City Manager recommended that each councilman look at the building and � give his opinion at a later date. Councilman Murphy stated that he has observed the building and was especially impressed with the excess doors available for heavy maintenance equipment. Councilman Murphy then asked how much money it would take to change the i.nterior of the building to meet the needs of a Police Department. The City Mana.ger answered tha.t he preferred to heax the Council members ideas of feasability before any estimates were ma.de. Councilman Murphy then asked if the present foundation would support heavy mai.ntenance equipment. City Engineer� Eddie Cheatham answered that the building had an excellent foundation for that purpose. Councilman Dunn asked if the Police Department was moved to this new location, would it require remodeling the old Police Department for expansion of the present Fire Station. The City Manager answered that it would call for some expenditures for that purpose. Councilman Oliver asked if funds are still available for the police station. The City Manager answered that funds have been set aside each year for that purpose. The City Manager stated that he preferred not to pass up an opportunity of this type without advising the Council. There was no further discussion on this item. The next order of business was for the City Council to discuss the possibility of extending the water line along Timberline Drive to accommodate Los Robles Drive. The City Manager gave a brief history and pointed out the area in question on a zoning map. He explained that the present 12" water line needs to be extended east along Timberline Drive to the first drainage area approximately 1100 feet; then south along the creek to I�os Robles Drive, approxi.mately 700 feet. Easemen.ts for the 700 feet along the creek would have to be obtained. Then, he acknowledged, the City would need to go east along Los Robles Drive with a six inch water line to the last improved lot in the addition� approximately 1100 feet. The City Manager further stated that several people in this area have come to City �a11 requesting water service. He commen.ted that the work could be done/C �y employees by hiring three men and one machine to work by the hour. He state that this line would follow our master plan for the water distribution k" system. The City Manager further stated that the estimated cost is $18�500 to be financed from the reserve for construction fund. There was little discussion and Councilman Pirkle made a motion to authorize the City Staff to proceed with plans to exten.d the water line along Timberline Drive to accommodate Los Robles Drive at an estimated cost of $18�500. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Conine and pre- vailed by the following vo�e: Ayes : Dalton, Conine� Murphy, Oliver, Pirkle, an.d Dunn Nays : None Absent: Mayor Tate Councilman Dunn stated that he would like to have a progress report on Dove Road. The City Manager stated that the work was about 9'� completed. The City Manager further stated that condemn.ation proceedings were in progress on one piece of property on the north end. Work has not yet begun on Dove Loop as right-of-ways axe still trying to be established. Completion date is scheduled for 200 calendar days from January 5th. There being no further busi.ness� Councilman Durin made a motion to adJourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Oliver and all present voted aye. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M. PASSED AND APPROVED this the � da.y of 1976. _ ,;-;?;, ��� � - MAYOR . °�=- ATTESTs � City Se retary