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08 Council Minutes (08/24/01)MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL August 24, 2001 The City Council of the City of Paris met in special session Friday, August 24, 2001, 6:00 P. M., Paris Junior College, Applied Technology Building, Room 1016, 2400 Clarksville Street, Paris, Texas. Mayor Michael J. Pfiester called the meeting to order with the following Council Members present: John F. Bell, Joe E. McCarthy, Richard Manning, Kevin Gray, John A. Carter, Jr. and Benny Plata. Also present were City Manager Michael E. Malone, City Attorney Larry W. Schenk, and City Clerk Mattie Cunningham. The invocation was given by Gene Anderson, Director of Finance for the City of Paris. The Mayor invited public input from interested citizens with regard to the budget. There was no input from interested citizens of Paris proposing services or projects to be included in the 2001-2002 City of Paris Budget. Mayor Pfiester presented a visual aid on character building to the City Council and those in the audience. City Manager Malone advised that they would be considering the Engineering Department's budget at this time and said there were no additional changes to what was proposed. He went over the personnel that was in the proposed budget. City Manager Malone advised that there is $26,800.00 budgeted for Machinery, Tools and Equipment, and $24,000.00 for a vehicle. On a question by Mayor Pfiester regarding the breakdown of the Machinery, Tools and Equipment, Gene Anderson advised that when they looked at that account, the city did not have a City Engineer, and in order to create a budget for this department, they brought forward items that were requested in the previous year that were not purchased this year, or not budgeted. He said there was a computer projector for $5,000.00, there were four PC workstations at $20,000.00, and $1,800.00 for a push cable for the TV sewer camera. Terry Townsend, Director of Public Works said that the computer projector Special City Council Meeting August 24, 2001 Page 2 and the push cable for the TV sewer camera have already been purchased. Mr. Townsend advised that the car that the City Engineer requested was cut from the budget last year. City Manager Malone told the City Council that the new City Engineer would like to have a car allowance. After discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to reduce the account for Machinery, Tools, and Equipment by $24,800.00 leaving a balance of $2,000.00, and to cut $24,000.00 for a vehicle, and to consider placing a car allowance in the budget for the City Engineer. The City Manager said that the next department to be considered was the Public Works Administrative Division of the Public Works Department, and Terry Townsend is the Director. City Manager Malone went over the personnel for this department with the City Council. He pointed out that there are no capital items in this budget. City Manager Malone advised that $40,000.00 had been budgeted for a power generator, but it was cut out of the budget. Terry Townsend came forward and discussed the need for the power generator with the City Council. Mr. Townsend said that during the ice storm they were without power for two days, but the possibility of needing the power generator again could be 10 to 20 years from now. There were no additions to or reductions in this budget. City Manager Malone said the next budget for consideration was the Parks- Recreation and Rights-of-Way Division of the Public Works Department. City Manager Malone advised the City Council that there were a number of cuts that were made in this budget. The City Manager went over the personnel in this department with the City Council. Terry Townsend came forward discussing the Farmer' s Market, telling the City Council that they have had the best year at the Farmer's Market since he has been with the City. They had four vendors that were there this year. Mr. Special City Council Meeting August 24, 2001 Page 3 Townsend said they were not trying to stay with vegetables only; there are vendors selling meat and plants. He said they were trying to expand the use of the facility. He advised that the person in charge of the Farmer's Market is a part time position and she is paid for a period of about five to six weeks at $400.00 a pay period. Mr. Townsend said that under Machinery, Tools and Equipment, he has budgeted $60,000.00 because last year was the first year that the Parks and Recreation Division of the Public Works Department has had the responsibility of maintaining the rights-of-way along with the maintenance of the playgrounds for the parks and there was uncertainty as to what to expect. Mr Anderson said the expenditure from this account through July was $42,000.00, and if you distributed this out, it would be approximately $50,000.00. Mr. Townsend pointed out that this division was responsible for the debris removal and often worked around the clock during this last year. The City Council agreed to leave this account as it is. Mr. Townsend said that $42,856.92 was proposed for a lease purchase of an excavator has been cut from the proposed budget. Mr. Townsend said this is one of his high priorities, because he has spent $25,000.00 trying to keep his old excavator going. The total cost for the excavator is $170,000.00. Mr. Townsend told the City Council that his number one priority is the Bywaters Park Peristyle Project which is deteriorating. Mr. Townsend advised that he had a historical/structural engineer come up from Austin to take a look at the Peristyle who thinks it could be wavering pretty bad as one post is cracked all the way through. Mr. Townsend said this is a 1930's structure. City Manager Malone said that if the peristyle were determined to be in danger of collapse and we had no money to restore it, that we would probably have to disassemble it and store it until funds were available. City Manager Malone said this is a restoration project that potentially industry might help support. Mr. Townsend said he had an estimate of $7,000.00 from a company to come in, bring their engineers in, and report on what work will have to be done on Special City Council Meeting August 24, 2001 Page 4 the Peristyle. They will create plans and specifications for the project. After discussion, the City Council agreed to place $7,000.00 in the proposed budget for a study to be made regarding the Peristyle. Mr. Townsend said another part of the project is the floor of the Peristyle. He said the floor is cracked all the way across and could possibly be causing the problem. Mr. Townsend said the top of the Peristyle is just flat and suggested the city could put some type of cap or slope on top of it to keep the water off of it. There was discussion of spending from the 2000 Certificate of Obligation funds for the restoration of the Peristyle. The City Council instructed Mr. Anderson to check the certificate of obligations and see what the money can be used for and the balance in that fund. City Manager Malone asked the City Council if anyone remembers the discussion during a previous meeting of the uniform cleaning allowance in the amount of $17,100.00 that was not in the budget for the Fire Department. He advised that this is something that we are obligated to pay to the firemen and it is not in the budget. The City Council was in agreement to add back to the Fire Department's budget the $17,100.00 for uniform cleaning allowance. It was the consensus of the City Council to cut $5,000.00 from the Machinery- Tools and Equipment line item in the Parks, Recreation, and Rights of Way Division, leaving a balance of $55,000.00 in that account. City Manager Malone told the City Council that the city did not get the grant for the Depot Project and that there remains $50,000.00 in the budget for this project. Mr. Townsend advised that there was a pavilion and walking track that was included in this project. Mr. Townsend said he felt that if the City Special City Council Meeting August 24, 2001 Page 5 Council wanted to, he could build the pavilion and walking track for that $50,000.00. Councilman Carter wanted to know if the City Council wanted to spend $50,000.00 on this project, or would they rather spend the $50,000.00 on some of the other parks. After discussion, the City Council agreed by consensus to cut the $50,000.00 out of the project for the Depot Park and place in the budget $25,000.00 for the M.L.K. Park Project; $15,000.00 for the Culbertson Park Project; and $10,000.00 for the Bywaters Park Electrical project. Councilman Plata stated that he would like to see if the city could get the tennis courts at Paris Junior College resurfaced and install the new lighting purchased by the college. Mr. Townsend advised that last year one of the things that the City Council eliminated from the budget to fund Record Park improvements was fencing that had been proposed for the Culbertson Parks Tennis Court. He said he put it in this year's budget, but that it go cut out. Mr. Townsend said the other project deleted was the Paris Junior College's tennis courts improvements. The courts do need to be resurfaced at about $3,500.00 a court which will cost approximately $50,000.00. City Manager Malone advised that he had talked with Bobby Walters about the project and the city would be taking over the cost of the lighting. City Manager Malone advised that Paris Junior College already has new lights purchased and the city would get with them and get the lights on. He was not sure that the college is in the position to share the cost of improving the courts at this time, but he could approach them and talk to them about this project. Councilman Plata said he would like to see the money going to Culbertson be placed in the Paris Junior College Project. He requested that the City place $15,000.00 in the Paris Junior College Project because he is confident that some citizens would come forward and try to raise approximately $10,000.00 to complete the project. The City Council was in agreement to place $15,000.00 in the budget for resurfacing the tennis courts at Paris Junior College. Special City Council Meeting August 24, 2001 Page 6 Mr. Townsend advised the City Council that all of the underground wiring at Bywaters Park is rotted and is need of being replaced. After discussion it was the consensus of the City Council to add $10,000.00 to the budget for Bywaters Park for electrical work. City Attorney Schenk advised that the city has received $15,000.00 from the lady's insurance company for the damage to the Gateway sign. The City Attorney advised that he would check and see if the city's insurance would cover some of the cost of the sign. Mr. Townsend told the City Council that the walking track at Oak Park was in bad shape and in need of resurfacing with asphalt because it is washes out every time it rains. The City Council agreed to place $10,000.00 in the budget for the walking track at Oak Park. Mr. Townsend advised that in the budget there is a capital expenditure for a shade structure and a heater for the Aquatic Center in the amount of $25,000.00. After discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to cut $10,000.00 from that account leaving $15,000.00 in the budget for the shade structure at the Aquatic Center. They also agreed to add $10,000.00 for the resurfacing of the walking track at Oak Paris. City Manager Malone advised that the Main Street budget contains supplies and contractual expenditures for this program. Mr. Townsend said he had requested additional funds for promotional activities because Ms. Pope is working with the Main Street program on a big festival which will be downtown. There were no changes in the Main Street budget. Mr. Townsend advised that the next division for consideration was the Special City Council Meeting August 24, 2001 Page 7 Sanitation Division of Public Works and went over the personnel in that department. He said there are two six foot mowers in this budget, and advised that they wear the mowers out really fast. Mayor Pfiester wanted to know if the cost of bulk pick up and brush pick up come out of this budget. Mr. Townsend advised that those costs do come out of this budget. Mr. Pfiester stated that he was for a user fee and discussed this matter with the City Council. Mr. Townsend advised that he does have figures on the fee, but he did not bring them with him tonight. He said that Sherman, Denison, and McKinney do charge a fee for bulk and brush pick up. Ifa resident of the city wants their brush picked up, they call the city, and a $5.00 charge is placed on the water bill and the city picks up the debris. The resident can bring the debris to the waste site and there is no charge. After further discussion, the City Council asked Mr. Townsend to bring the information back and come up with an estimated cost as to what is it would cost the City of Paris verses what the city is bringing in for that cost of service. There being no further of business, the meeting was adjourned. ATTEST: MICHAEL J. PFIESTER, MAYOR MATTIE CUNNINGHAM City Clerk