City Council

Belton City Council Meeting February 28, 2017 - 5:30 P.M. The Belton City Council met in regular session in the Wright Room at the Harris Community Center with the following members present: Mayor Marion Grayson, Mayor Pro Tern David K. Leigh and Councilmembers Craig Pearson, Dan Kirkley, Jerri Gauntt, Paul Sanderford and Guy O'Banion. Staff present included Sam Listi, Gene Ellis, John Messer, Amy Casey, Brandon Bozon, Erin Smith, Chris Brown, Kim Kroll, Paul Romer, Bruce Pritchard, Wes Gilbreath, Byron Sinclair, Judy Garrett, Matt Bates, Cynthia Hernandez, Charlotte Walker and Aaron Harris. The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag was led by Public Information Officer Paul Romer, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas Flag was led by Councilmember Craig Pearson. The Invocation was given by Steve Cannon, Director of JAIL Ministry. 1. Call to order. Mayor Grayson called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. 2. Public Comments. There were none. 3. Presentations and Recognitions: Recognize City of Belton's Lena Armstrong Public Library for being awarded the 2016 Achievement of Library Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association. City Manager Sam Listi presented the 2016 Achievement of Library Excellence Award to Director of Library Services Kim Kroll, and congratulated her and the Library Staff on the achievement. Consent Agenda Items 4-7 under this section are considered to be routine by the City Council and may be enacted by one motion. If discussion is desired by the Council. any item may be removed from the Consent Agenda prior to voting, at the request of any Councilmember. and it will be considered separately. 4. Consider minutes of February 14. 2017. City Council Meeting. 5. Consider an appointment to the Hill Country Transit Board of Directors. Dan Kirkley was appointed to another four-year term. 6. Consider approval of an amendment to the employment agreement for the City Manager. 7. Consider an ordinance declaring unopposed candidates elected to office and canceling the May 6, 2017. General City Election. Belton City Council Meeting February 28, 2017 - Page 2 Upon a motion by Mayor Pro Tern David K. Leigh , and a second by Councilmember Craig Pearson , the Consent Agenda, including the following captioned ordinance, was unanimously approved by a vote of 7-0. ORDINANCE NO. 2017-02 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELTON, TEXAS, DECLARING UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES IN THE MAY 6, 2017, GENERAL CITY ELECTION ELECTED TO OFFICE; CANCELING THE ELECTION; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDENANZA NUMERO 2017-02 UNA ORDENANZA DEL A YUNT AMIENTO DE LA CIUDAD DE BELTON, TEXAS, DECLARANDO QUE CANDIDATOS SIN OPOSICION EN LA ELECCION GENERAL DE LA CIUDAD DEL MAYO 6, 2017, SEAN ELEGIDOS AL CARGO; CANCELANDO LA ELECCION; PROVEYENDO UNA CLAUSURA DE DIVISIBILIDAD; Y PROVEYENDO UNA FECHA DE VIGENCIA. Finance 8. Consider a resolution directing the publication of notice of public hearing regarding the possible issuance of General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2017, and other matters related thereto. Director of Finance Brandon Bozon said that the City's outstanding Combination Tax and Limited Revenue Certificate of Obligation, Series 2007, becomes callable on August 1, 2017. He said that these bonds carry an average interest rate of 4.13%. He explained that the current, low interest rate environment presents the opportunity to refinance these bonds to achieve debt service savings. Based on current estimates, the net present value of the savings over the ten-year remaining life of the bonds could be as high as $226,000. Mr. Bozon reviewed the schedule that will allow Staff to execute the refunding at a time when interest rates are most favorable . He added that the refunding will only occur if a net savings, inclusive of all costs and fees, will be realized . The first step is to publish notice of a public hearing to be held on March 28 , 2017. Upon a motion by Mayor Pro Tern Leigh , and a second by Councilmember Pau Sanderford , the following captioned resolution was unanimously approved by a vote of 7-0. RESOLUTION NO. 2017-11-R RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL Belton City Council Meeting February 28, 2017 - Page 3 OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2017, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO. Planning and Zoning 9. Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from Commercial Highway to Planned Development Commercial Highway Zoning District for a recreational vehicle park on a 12 acre tract of land at 5353 South Interstate Highway 35 Service Road, located on the east side of South Interstate Highway 35, extending to Toll Bridge Road and approximately 0.45 mile south of Shanklin Road. Mayor Grayson explained that the applicant has requested that the item be tabled indefinitely. Upon a motion by Councilmember Dan Kirkley, and a second by Councilmember Jerri Gauntt, item 9 was tabled indefinitely by a vote of 6-0-1 with Councilmember Pearson abstaining. 10. Consider authorizing the City Manager to enter into a professional services agreement with Kasberg, Patrick & Associates related to the design, bidding and construction contract administration for the Chisholm Trail Hike and Bike Grants and Special Projects Coordinator Aaron Harris provided background information on this project. He said that Belton's current hike and bike trail extends from IH-35 at Confederate Park to north of W MLK Jr. Ave along University Drive. The Sparta Road Reconstruction Project will include a 10-foot hike and bike trail along Sparta from Commerce to Loop 121. He added that this project will connect the City's trail network, and provide pedestrians a vital north/south link by creating a safe railroad underpass. Director of Internal Services/City Engineer Angellia Points provided the Council with a map showing the trail alignment as well as examples of typical trail railroad underpasses. Mayor Grayson asked if the tunnel will be lit. Mrs. Points responded that it will be lit, and the engineer is working that into the design. Points explained that Kasberg, Patrick & Associates was selected as the top ranked firm from a Request for Qualifications procedure, following receipt of proposals from KPA Engineers and Maldonado-Burkett. KPA's total cost for preliminary design, final design and construction administration is $467,075. Mr. Harris reviewed the grant funding that is available for this project. He said that the preliminary estimate for design was $405,000, but no budget amendment is requested at this time. Mrs. Points reviewed the timeline for design and construction. She said that easements will be needed from a couple of property owners, and there will be reviews by both TxDOT and BNSF, which adds to the timeframe. She said that the trail is anticipated to open in 2020. Belton City Council Meeting February 28, 2017 - Page 4 Upon a motion by Councilmember Paul Sanderford, and a second by Councilmember Guy O'Banion, item 10 was unanimously approved by a vote of 7- 0. 11. Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute interlocal agreements with the Salado Volunteer Fire Department and the Central Bell County Fire Department for automatic assistance response (automatic aid). Fire Chief Bruce Pritchard explained that interlocal agreements are needed for automatic assistance on the southern city limits with Salado Volunteer Fire Department and in the southwestern city limits with Central Bell County Fire Department. Chief Pritchard said that the first agreement is between Belton Fire Department and Salado Volunteer Fire Department to establish an automatic response to specific areas within the city limits of Belton and Salado. He said that the City currently has a Mutual Aid Agreement between the two departments to assist when specifically requested by either department; however, the agreement has not been updated in several years. Mayor Grayson asked if Salado will want to include the school, and Councilmember Pearson added the Scott & White Clinic as well. Chief Pritchard said that he will speak with the Salado Chief adding those sites. Chief Pritchard said that the agreement with Central Bell County Fire Department is new, and it will establish an automatic response to specific areas within the city limits of Belton and Nolanville. These agreements will allow for automatic deployment of appropriate emergency vehicles to specific areas outlined in the agreements without a specific request from either department. Pritchard said that call volume in both areas has been low. However, he added that in the event trucks are deployed outside the City limits, and a fire occurs inside the City limits, Belton Fire Department has multiple contingency plans in place with surrounding communities to help when needed. He said that these agreements will help with added manpower and water resources in those outlying areas of the City. Councilmember Jerri Gauntt asked if these agreements will help with the City's ISO rating. Chief Pritchard said that they will not change the ISO rates, but they will help by providing a lower classification, which in turn helps property owners obtain insurance. Although she has some discomfort with taking trucks outside the city limits, Mrs. Gauntt is in favor of the agreements. City Manager Sam Listi asked Chief Pritchard to clarify between mutual aid and automatic aid. Pritchard said that with automatic aid, the primary agency is dispatched, and simultaneously Belton Fire will be called out for automatic response unless occupied and unable to respond. With mutual aid, the responding fire department will call for aid if needed. Belton City Council Meeting February 28, 2017 - Page 5 Upon a motion by Councilmember Kirkley, and a second by Councilmember O'Banion, item 11 was unanimously approved by a vote of 7-0. 12. Consider the following: A. Authorize the forgiveness of liens related to the property generally located at 1013 N. Beal Street; and B. Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the Better Belton Foundation for the purchase of 310 Alexander Street. City Manager Sam Listi said that the Harris Park Splash Pad is outgrowing its space. Recently, we approached an adjacent property owner to discuss purchase of a lot that would allow for some expansion and possibly the addition of a pavilion. The Better Belton Foundation is the current owner of the property. Mr. Listi said that a contract has been negotiated that includes a purchase price of $18,000 plus closing costs, as well as the forgiveness of liens on another property that was purchased by the Better Belton Foundation at 1013 North Beal Street. The liens total $5,445.90, and Listi added that the City's hard costs were less than $2,000. Mayor Grayson said that she can attest to the overcrowding at the Harris Splash Pad, as she has tried to take her grandchildren there. Councilmember Gauntt added that she had always hoped for a snow cone stand to open on the adjacent property. Upon a motion by Councilmember Pearson, and a second by Councilmember O'Banion, items 12A and 12B were unanimously approved by a vote of 7-0. There being no further business, Mayor Grayson adjourned the meeting at 6:07 p.m. ----- ATIEST: