Weatherford
Weatherford City Council, Nov. 13, 2012: 10 items, 1 split vote; public hearing and consider approval of Resolution R2012-29 designating a certain area
0 consent items, 10 regular items, 2 public hearings, 1 executive-session topic; 10 recorded votes. Written from the minutes.
Hold a PUBLIC HEARING and consider approval of Resolution R2012-29 designating a certain area within the corporate boundaries of the City as a Reinvestment Zone, as authorized by Section 312, Texas Tax Code, for commercial/industrial tax abatement, for property identified as an 8.0 acre tract of land out of the R. Inman Survey, Abstract No. 726, commonly known as 825 East Interstate 20, City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. Dennis Clayton, Executive Director of Weatherford Economic Development Authority, presented this item. The City anticipates the execution of an economic development agreement CC111312 Page 1 of 6 on the subject property. The City is required to designate by Public Hearing and Resolution a Reinvestment Zone in accordance with Section 312 of the Texas Tax Code, prior to entering into such an agreement. Section 312.002 of the Texas Tax Code states that a taxing unit must designate a Reinvestment Zone in order to enter into a commercial/industrial tax abatement agreement. The City Council adopted the current "City of Weatherford Guidelines and Criteria Governing Tax Abatement Agreements" in February 2012. Mr. Clayton stated that the Weatherford Economic Development Authority recommended approval. Mayor Hooks opened the public hearing at 6:36 p.m. As there were no speakers, Mayor Hooks closed the public hearing at 6:36 p.m. On the motion of Heidi Wilder, [...]
Hold a PUBLIC HEARING and discuss and consider Ordinance 595-2012-44 approving a Zoning Change for property currently zoned AG Agricultural to be rezoned C2 Commercial/Interstate, for property located at 825 East Interstate Highway 20, City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. Craig Farmer, Director of Planning and Development presented this item. Mr. Randy Reid applied for a Zoning Change for property currently zoned AG Agricultural to be rezoned C2 Commercial Interstate, located at 825 East IH-20. The City's Future Land Use Map designates the subject property as Commercial; therefore, this request is consistent with the Future Land Use Plan. This item was reviewed at public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) on October 24, 2012 and, by a vote of 6-0, the PZB recommended approval of the Zoning Change. At the PZB public hearing, one citizen spoke in opposition. Mayor Hooks opened the public hearing at 6:41 p.m. As there were no speakers, Mayor Hooks closed the public hearing at 6:41 p.m. On the motion of Jeff Robinson, second by Waymon Hamilton, the Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 595-2012-44 approving a zoning change for 825 E IH-20. Motion carried 5-0.
CC111312 Page 2 of 6 Discuss and consider authorizing the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc. to update the city parcel data base and associated billing information for the Storm Water Utility System. The agreement will not exceed $307,067.00. Terry Hughes, Director of Capital Transportation Projects, presented this item. The Storm Water Utility System is funded by a fee based upon impervious area and is collected through the City's bill for public utilities. In newer residential and commercial areas associating the impervious area to the correct property owner is a straightforward process because plats have been filed with lot and block information. In older residential and commercial areas of the City, the process is far more complex because the parcel data has not been updated. Through this agreement, Freese and Nichols, Inc. will produce updated parcel data, which can easily be correlated to the property owner and meter for correct billing. It will also include the City’s entire ETJ. Mr. Hughes explained the Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) of 3,300 square feet, stating that a sample of 100 residential properties all over the city averaged 3,300 square feet of impervious area. Commercial properties will be billed per ERU. The data provided through this agreement will be used to tier the system in the future. The data is [...]
Consider and/or act upon approval of Ordinance 594-2012-43 amending the approved budget for the period between October 1, 2012, and September 30, 2013. This item was removed from the consent agenda and discussed at this point in the meeting. Chad Janicek, Director of Office of Management and Budget, presented this item to the Council. This item includes housekeeping items, moving non-departmental funds into the City Manager’s Office, a rollover for strategic planning, creation of the Storm Water Utility Fund, and a temporary transfer from the General Fund to the Storm Water Utility Fund to pay for the study that was approved on the previous item. Council discussed transferring the dollars from fund balance, repaying the fund balance as fees are collected, and the possibility of other funding opportunities. One consideration was to postpone other purchases or projects to avoid drawing down the fund balance. Payback is expected to occur within six to seven months. The transfer puts all of the expenses into the same fund. Dollars will be transferred from the General Fund, expenses will be coded there, and then, after revenue is collected, the transfer will be made back to the General Fund. On the motion of Jeff Robinson, second by Waymon Hamilton, the Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 594-2012-43. Motion carried 5-0.
CC111312 Page 3 of 6 Discuss and consider authorizing a change order to the contract with Ed Bell Construction Company for work needed to finalize the Interstate Highway 20 frontage road project between FM 2552 and SH 171. Terry Hughes, Director of Capital Transportation Projects, presented this item. The project contract with Ed Bell Construction was in the amount of $24,678,908.62. Previous change orders for this project include: No. 1 reduced the contract by $300,846.28; No. 2 was in the amount of $161,969.95 and was paid by the engineering firm; No. 3 was in the amount of $23,121.28; No. 4 was in the amount of $24,829.28; and No. 5 was in the amount of $22,986.75. This change order, No. 6, is in the amount of $126,184.45 and will finalize the work on the project. Some of the items included in the change order are sandblasting and painting the top railing of the retaining walls, removing and replacing the crash attenuators on the U-turn bridges, and additional sign placement. The City has collected $31,252.26 from insurance companies to pay for the crash attenuators. Change orders bring the final contract price, after other funds have been factored in, to $24,543,932.23. Funds are available for this change order in the capital transportation fund. On the motion of Mayor Pro Tem Craig Swancy, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the change [...]
Mr. Hughes noted that, including this change order, the project still totals approximately $130,000 less than the original contract amount. Consider the renewal of the attached Interlocal agreement between the City of Weatherford and Parker County to provide fire and rescue services to a portion of unincorporated areas surrounding the city limits. This year's contract is for $61,976. This is approximately $23,500 above last year's contract. Paul Rust, Fire Chief, presented this item. Through the interlocal agreement, the City will provide fire and rescue services to a portion of unincorporated Parker County areas surrounding the City limits. This contract is in the amount of $61,976 and is approximately $23,500 more than last year's contract. On the motion of Mayor Pro Tem Craig Swancy, second by Waymon Hamilton, the Council voted unanimously to approve the interlocal agreement with Parker County. Motion carried 5-0.
Consider and/or request approval to purchase the new fire engine. The price of the new engine is $528,500. Chief Rust presented this item. The cost includes all purchasing fees. The department will receive $35,000 for trade-in of the unit that the new engine will replace. The total cash purchase price for the new engine is $493,500. The engine specifications are for a Pierce Dash CF PUC. CC111312 Page 4 of 6 This is $1,500 under the budgeted amount. On the motion of Mayor Pro Tem Craig Swancy, retired Weatherford Firefighter, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of the new fire engine. Motion carried 5-0.
Continue discussion regarding possible refunding options of City debt obligations and consider approval of Resolution R2012-30 directing staff and financial advisor on what option to proceed with for the City. Janina Jewell, Chief Financial Officer, presented this item and reviewed four possible refunding scenarios based upon the Council’s discussion in October. Ms. Jewell provided a Preliminary Analysis Based on NBQ Market Rates as of 11/8/12 from First Southwest and introduced Boyd London and Marti Shew of First Southwest. Ms. Jewell suggested that a competitive sale would provide the best options for the City. The Council heavily considered Scenarios 3 and 4. On the motion of Jeff Robinson, second by Mayor Pro Tem Craig Swancy, the Council voted to approve Scenario 4. Motion carried 3-2 with Heidi Wilder and Waymon Hamilton voting in opposition. On the motion of Jeff Robinson, second by Mayor Pro Tem Craig Swancy, the Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution R2012-30. Motion carried 5-0.
Request applicants for Boards, Commissions, and Committees. Councilmembers Craig Swancy and Jeff Robinson issued a plea to the citizens of Weatherford to apply for vacancies on the city's boards and commissions. Current openings exist on the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, the Building and Standard Commission, and the Historic Preservation Commission. Within the next six months, additional vacancies will exist on the Library Board, the Parks and Recreation Board, and on the Planning and Zoning Board. CC111312 Page 5 of 6
1 resident spoke during citizen comments on non-agenda items; the minutes record the topics. The Ledger counts residents at comment and does not name them.
Weatherford Economic Development Authority 4th Quarter Report. No action was required or taken on this item.
Future agenda items: Ms. Wilder requested a Work Session to evaluate the City’s organizational efficiencies in conjunction with the annual audit.
Action on executive session items: To take action, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, VTCS, (Open Meetings Law) in accordance with the authority contained in: Section 551.087- Deliberations regarding economic development negotiations: Weatherford Entertainment, LLC On the motion of Mayor Pro Tem Craig Swancy, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to approve economic development agreement with Weatherford Entertainment, LLC. Motion carried 5-0.
Executive session topics, as posted: accordance with the authority contained in: Section 551.087- Deliberations regarding.
Compiled from the city secretary's minutes by the Ledger's extractor, in the minutes' own wording, item by item; the Ledger adds no characterization. Read the minutes for the full record.
Sources: City of Weatherford: council minutes, Nov. 13, 2012 (Granicus); Agenda for this meeting (Granicus); Meeting video (Granicus)