MINUTES AZLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 3, 2016

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1 STATE OF TEXAS COUNTIES OF PARKER AND TARRANT CITY OF AZLE The City Council of the City of Azle, Texas met in Pre-Council Work Session at 6:00 p.m. and convened in Regular Session at 6:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 613 Southeast Parkway, Azle, Texas, on the 3rd day of May 2016 with the following members present: Alan Brundrett Bill Jones William Chambers David McClure Paul Crabtree Lee Barrett Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Council Members Constituting a quorum. Councilman Rouel Rothenberger was excused from tonight s meeting. Staff present was: Tom Muir City Manager Lawrence Bryant Assistant City Manager Susie Hiles Assistant to City Manager Norma Zenk City Secretary Cara White City Attorney Renita Bishop Director of Finance Rick Pippins Chief of Police Kenny Wilson Fire Marshall Darrell West Police Lieutenant Curren McLane Library Director Karen Dickson Economic Development Director Jason Wiedeman Cross Timbers Golf Course Keith Harris Cross Timbers Golf Course GM Jimmy Duvall Storm Water / Streets Manager Kyle Culwell Parks/Streets Superintendent Ryan Hill UT. Maintenance Supervisor Cat Schlueter Human Resources Manager The following items were considered in accordance with the official agenda posted on the 29th day of May PRE-COUNCIL WORK SESSION 6:00 p.m. Mayor Brundrett called the pre-council work session to order at 6:06 p.m. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS INTERVIEWS Conduct interview with Jon J. Gilson for the Crime Control and Prevention District. Council interviewed Jon Gilson and thanked him for his interest and participation in a city board and reminded him of the importance of attendance. Council and staff discussed the Consent and Regular agenda and agreed to place agenda items 3, 4, 5, and 6 on Consent. AGENDA ITEM 5: Mayor Brundrett recognized City Manager Muir who stated some of the golf course equipment was near its end and would need to be replaced. Mr. Muir introduced Golf Course Superintendent Wiedeman who gave an in-depth review of the equipment being proposed for the Cross Timbers Golf Course (CTGC) noting this was a five year purchase lease that included a tractor mower, fairway aerifier, pull-behind rough mower, and a greens aerifier. Mr. Wiedeman stated this equipment had a good life span and the CTGC would maintain them noting the equipment they currently leased would not last five years compared to the proposed equipment which has a life of fifteen plus years. He stated the greens aerifier currently used was a rental and was being used only twice a year, where ideally the greens should be aeriated monthly or fifteen times a year. Mr. Wiedeman stated the fairway aerifier was a slicer to help open up the soil and release some compaction caused by cart traffic. Council and staff discussed funding of the purchase lease noting it would be best to have the city purchase the equipment from the General Fund or the royalties from the natural gas fund and have CTGC pay it back to keep from incurring high interest. In response to Council s questions regarding funding, City Manager Muir stated the city could fund this purchase from the General Fund but not the gas royalties in that the gas fund did not have that enough to cover this purchase. Council stated this would be a good idea and save the tax payers over eight thousand dollars in interest considering the monies in 1

2 reserve were not growing with a one percent interest rate. Assistant City Manager Bryant recommended the council keep the same payback schedule as staff presented so that CTGC could safely repay this debt in five years. City Attorney White recommended the council authorize the city manager to either purchase the equipment outright or execute the purchase lease since the agenda item only noted the purchase lease Mayor Brundrett adjourned the pre-council work session at 6:19 p.m. REGULAR SESSION CALL TO ORDER 6:15 p.m. Mayor Brundrett called the regular session to order at 6:25 p.m. and thanked everyone in the audience for attending tonight s meeting. INVOCATION Pastor Tom Kolb from The Church on the Hill gave the invocation. After the Invocation, Pastor Tom Kolb of The Church on the Hill invited everyone in the city to the 3rd Annual Heroes 24 Hour BBQ on Saturday, May 21, 2016 and thanked the city s employees for all their work and participation in the community. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Brundrett led the Pledge of Allegiance. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS: 1. Proclamations by Mayor Alan Brundrett: Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Month May Municipal Clerks Week: May 1-7 Public Service Recognition Week: May 1-7 Peace Officer Memorial Day May 15th and National Police Week: May National Public Works Week: May Emergency Medical Services Week: May Mayor Brundrett read and presented Proclamations to all organizations being recognized. 2. Presentations: Presentation of City and Departmental Awards for Calendar Year Fire Department Fire Marshall Kenny Wilson Fire Service Excellence Award: John Behm Emergency Medical Services Excellence Award: Jimmy Smith Police Department Chief of Police Rick Pippins Civilian Award: Elsie Plaunty Supervisor of the Year: Bob Spohn Officer of the Year: Angel Perez Administration Assistant City Manager Lawrence Bryant Administrative Employee of the Year: Felicia King Public Services Employee s Choice Award: James Pipla, presented by Storm Water/Streets Mgr. Jimmy Duvall Employee of the Year: Jay Baker, presented by Utility Maintenance Supervisor Ryan Hill Cross Timbers Golf Course CTGC General Manager Keith Harris Employee of the Year: Naomi Russell 2

3 2015 CITY OF AZLE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR City Manager Muir presented Beth Smith, Library Assistant I with the 2015 City of Azle Employee of the Year Award for her eager and positive attitude. Mr. Muir stated Beth was considered an exemplary employee by her peers and her extraordinary patience and understanding with library patrons had made her well loved by many. Mayor Brundrett and Council thanked all the employees for keeping the city running smoothly and gave kudos for their hard work. Presentation of the Quarterly Investment Report for month ended March 31, Mayor Brundrett recognized City Manager Muir who introduced Finance Director Bishop. Ms. Bishop gave a brief review of the Quarterly Interest Earnings. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Mayor Brundrett recognized Bobby Grantham, 1121 Shadow Ridge Drive, Azle, Texas who stated he had saved enough money to build his disabled wife a car port but was told by city staff that his proposed carport would be in violation of city ordinances regarding driveways, curbs, and setbacks. He stated he would like the Council to consider making an exception to the setback issue in that they have lived in Azle for many year and in the past five years he and his wife had become disabled and needed the carport. City Manager Muir stated he would contact him to discuss this issue. CONSENT AGENDA 3. Consider approving the Minutes of the April 5, 2016 and April 19, 2016 regular City Council meetings. 4. Consider accepting the resignation and approving the appointment to the following Boards: Randall Reed, resignation, Traffic & Transportation Commission, Place 3 Jon J. Gilson, appointment, Crime Control & Prevention District Place 3 for an unexpired term ending October 31, Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute an equipment lease for four (4) pieces of equipment for Cross Timbers Golf Course. Authorize the city manager to purchase the equipment through the General Fund and allow Cross Timbers Golf Course to repay this debt in five years; or execute the purchase lease. 6. Consider accepting the bid tabulation and awarding the bid for the Wells Burnett Road Rehabilitation Project. Bid Awarded to Reynolds Asphalt in the total amount of $187, Councilman McClure moved to approve the Consent Agenda Items 3, 4, 5, and 6 as presented and discussed during pre-council work session. Mayor Pro Tem Jones seconded the motion. DISCUSS, REVIEW, AND DIRECT STAFF 9. Discuss, review, and direct staff regarding the proposed renewal of the solid waste and recycling contract / franchise agreement with Community Waste Disposal. Mayor Brundrett moved Agenda Item No. 9 and recognized City Manager Muir who gave a brief review of the solid waste and recycling contract with Community Waste Disposal (CWD) noting the five year agreement would expire on January He stated CWD was proposing to extend the current agreement for another seven years rather than five 3

4 to allow continued low service fees noting CWD had only increased their fees by twenty percent in ten years. Mr. Muir introduced CWD President Greg Roemer who gave an in-depth review of the proposed seven year agreement noting this contract included an optional ninety-five gallon recycling cart or keep the current eighteen gallon recycling bins and the prescription drug disposal service. Council and staff discussed the rates and use of the automated side load service for recycling noting some of the streets in the city are narrow with bar ditches and the recycling truck would not operate effectively because there would not be enough room to place the carts. Council stated CWD had been a good community supporter and the city had not received many complaints and therefore agreed with staff to renew this contract for a seven year term. Council directed staff to move forward with the renewal of this service and prepare documents for council s consideration. Mayor Brundrett recessed the regular meeting at 7:55 p.m. and reconvened at 8:05 p.m. ACTION ITEMS 7. Consider any action on a request by the Cubs Scouts Camp Director Orin Buchanan to hold a week long Day Camp at Shady Grove Park and waive rental fees. Mayor Brundrett recognized Cubs Scouts Camp Director Orin Buchanan who gave a brief review of his request to use Shady Grove Park for their day camp, noting this year the district was broken into two separate camps to allow more participation. Mr. Buchanan noted scouts from the cities of Lake Worth and Fort Worth would also be attending this day camp and not just Azle scouts. Council and staff discussed the use of sections throughout the park for their activities and the need to close the park or use security rope, to rope off the intended sections. Mr. Muir introduced Chief of Police Pippins who stated the cub scouts were not requesting the park close, but staff was suggesting closure of the boat ramp and blocking some of the streets inside the park for the safety of the children in that the public should not be in the area where the children are participating in events. Council stated they would like to see signs erected to notify the public that these closures would take place for that one week, noting the entrances to the park and the playground area would remain open to the public. It was noted that even though each event would be around forty-five minutes long, the safety of kids running around while boats are launching was not safe, and therefore the boat launch ramp would be closed while the scouts are there. Councilman McClure moved to approve the request by the Cubs Scouts Camp Director Orin Buchanan to hold a week long Day Camp on June 20 24, 2016 at Shady Grove Park; waive rental fees; and direct staff to close the boat launch ramp and block streets inside the park. Councilman Chambers seconded the motion. 8. Consider any action on the proposed Façade and Signage Improvement Program guidelines, application, and agreement form. Mayor Brundrett recognized City Manager Muir who stated the Municipal Development District (MDD) had worked to developed a façade and signage improvement grant program, and the Director of Economic Development (EDD) Dickson was here for a presentation. He stated the MDD had unanimously approved this program and this agenda item was for council s consideration. Mr. Muir introduced EDD Dickson who gave an in-depth presentation of the proposed grant program noting this program was designed to impact properties located inside the city limits in an effort to revitalize the area with improved exteriors. Ms. Dickson stated the program would offer business owners or tenants a fifty percent matching grant up to ten thousand dollars toward improvements to building exteriors and a fifty percent matching grant for improved signage with a total of fifteen hundred dollars. Council and staff discussed the pros and cons of such program and the guidelines associated with this grant; and in response to Council s questions, Ms. Dickson stated this program would be jointly funded by the MDD and the City s 4

5 General Fund with the MDD awarding grants to businesses in the Tarrant County side and the City's General Fund awarding grants to the Parker County side of the city. Mayor Pro Tem Jones moved to approve the Fagade and Signage lmprovement Program, its guidelines, application, and agreement form. Councilman Chambers seconded the molion. MAYOR/COUNCIL COMMENTS OF COMMUNITY lnterest City Manager Muir invited Council of the employee recognition luncheon on Friday, May 6, 2016 at the Emanuel building at 11:30 a.m. He also noted Saturday, May 7, 2016 was the city wide clean up and Election Day regarding the seventeen propositions amending the City Charter. Mayor Brundrett reminded everyone to attend the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May sth and the Memorial Service f or Police Off icers at the Azleland Cemetery on Monday, May 1 6th at 2:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Brundrett adiourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m... PRESENTED AND AppRovED this th"\1d:y.r/oru.