City of Canyon Commission Meetings

City Commission Meeting August 18, 2014 The City Commission of the City of Canyon met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers of the Civic Complex. Mayor Alexander presided over the meeting with the following Commissioners in attendance: Mayor Pro-Tem Jed Welch, Gary Hinders, Justin Richardson, and David Logan. Also present were the following City Staff: City Manager Randy Criswell, Assistant City Manager Chris Sharp, City Secretary Gretchen Mercer, Fire Chief Mike Webb, Parks and Recreation Director Brian Noel, Golf Course Superintendent John Haun, Golf Course Manager Casey Renner, Librarian Sandra Munger, Assistant City Manager for Special Projects Jon Behrens, Director of Public Works Dan Reese, Police Chief Dale Davis, Code Enforcement Director Danny Cornelius, and City Attorney Chuck Hester. Item 1. Call to Order. Mayor Alexander called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. Item 2. Invocation. Commissioner Logan gave the invocation. Item 3. Pledge of Allegiance. Chief of Police Dale Davis led the Pledge of Allegiance. Item 4. Approval of Minutes of the Meeting of August 4, 2014. Commissioner Logan moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Hinders, to approve the minutes of August 4, 2014. Motion carried unanimously. Item 5. Public Forum – Comments from Interested Citizens. Les Miller – 4 Macy, Canyon East Subdivision. Mr. Miller stated he supported the park in the Canyon East Subdivision. James Barrington – 14 Cherrywood Square, Canyon, Texas. Mr. Barrington stated he was in favor of taking care of the swimming pool, whether by repairing, replacing or expanding. Mr. Barrington said the pool gets a lot of use by citizens and he encourage the Commission to move forward with the study to get the right answers. Greg Ragland – Mr. Ragland stated he does not live in the City of Canyon, but is the president of the Canyon Swim Team. Mr. Ragland stated he hoped consideration would be given to the survey done by the Pool Committee and a 6 lane lap pool deep enough for diving and a water park be considered, all that provides many health benefits. Mr. Ragland stated Canyon High School had been approved to sponsor a Canyon Swim Team and currently the team uses the pool at WTA&M University, but there were many scheduling problems there, so the team often travels to Hereford for practice. Mr. Ragland said a pool would draw in swim meets, triathlons, and give Canyon a chance to compete. Currently he has 45 kids interested in the swim team. City Commission Meeting August 18, 2014 Page 2 of 5 Dr. Nabarun Ghosh - #6 Quay Lane – Resident of Canyon East Subdivision, Canyon, Texas. Dr. Ghosh said he has lived in Canyon 15 years after living in 4 different cities. Dr. Ghosh said he likes Canyon and the best part is the community. He stated support for developing a park in the Canyon East Subdivision as it would be an asset providing a safe area for children. Item 6. Update From City Staff (Status of Audit, Water Usage, Sealcoating). City Manager Randy Criswell gave brief updates as follows. Mr. Criswell said the Auditors are trying to schedule an audit committee meeting and hope to get that done by the end of August, meaning the audit must be very close to completion. Mr. Criswell presented water use graphs provided by Public Works Director Dan Reese. Mr. Criswell commended Mr. Reese in the addition of daily averages to the graph and stated the use is good, the rain has been very beneficial. Mr. Criswell stated sealcoating had begun and confirmed with Public Works Director Dan Reese that it should be completed by Tuesday or Wednesday this week including cleanup. Item 7. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Resolution No. 12-2014, Ordering a Local Option Election. City Manager Randy Criswell presented Resolution No. 12-2014 for consideration. Mr. Criswell explained the two petitions circulated were verified with the required number of signatures and the next step was to call the election to allow the voters to decide. Mr. Criswell stated the petitions were for two propositions as follows: “The legal sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption only”, meaning beer and wine could be sold at a grocery store, or convenience and taken off premise for consumption; and for “The legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders only”, with a food a beverage permit being available only to establishments deriving at least 51% of their revenue from food. This would include all types of alcoholic beverages. After discussion, Commissioner Logan moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Richardson to approve Resolution No. 12-2014 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 12-2014 A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Canyon, Texas, Ordering a Special Local Option Election for “The Legal Sale of Beer and Wine for Off- Premise Consumption Only” and “The Legal Sale of Mixed Beverages in Restaurants by Food and Beverage Certificate Holders Only” to be Held in the City of Canyon on the 4th Day of November 2014; Designating Polling Places; Ordering Notices of Election to be Given; Authorizing Execution of Joint Election Contract; Providing a Repealing Clause; Providing a Severability Clause; and Providing for an Effective Date. City Commission Meeting August 18, 2014 Page 3 of 5 Item 8. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on the Proposed Budget for Potter Randall County Emergency Communications District for 2014-2015. Director of the Potter/Randall Emergency Communications District Greg Green presented the proposed budget for the 911 District. Mr. Green recognized Police Chief Dale Davis as the newest member of the 911 Board. After brief discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Welch moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Hinders to approve the Potter/Randall 911 budget as presented. Motion carried unanimously. . Item 9. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Plat for Southwind Addition Unit No. 2. Code Enforcement Director Danny Cornelius presented a plat for Southwind Addition Unit No. 2 for approval. Mr. Cornelius stated Larry Wilhite had submitted the plat and although it was not within the city limits of Canyon it was within the one mile Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Mr. Cornelius said Southwind Addition Unit No. 2 was south of Canyon, west of Hwy 87 between Rice Road and Pondaseta Lane. Mayor Alexander asked if there were alleys planned in the subdivision. Mr. Cornelius stated there was not, that alleys have been discussed by Public Works Director Dan Reese, City Manager Randy Criswell and himself, and they require a lot of maintenance with the trend leaning towards no alleys. Mr. Cornelius stated there were pros and cons to alleys, but it looks to be a good trade off to not have alleys alleviating the extra maintenance. Mayor Alexander stated Mr. Wilhite had a lot of experience with subdivisions and the city is very pleased with his developments. Mr. Cornelius stated the Planning and Zoning Commission had reviewed the plat and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the plat to the City Commission. After discussion, Commissioner Logan moved, duly seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Welch to approve the plat for Southwind Addition Unit No. 2 as recommended. Motion carried unanimously. Item 10. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Palo Duro Creek Golf Course 3rd Quarter Report. . Golf Course Superintendent John Haun and Golf Course Manager Casey Renner presented the 2014 3rd Quarter Report for the Palo Duro Creek Golf Course. Mr. Haun and Mr. Renner reported rounds were down by about 15% mostly due to inclement weather and stated area golf courses were experiencing the same numbers. After discussion, Commissioner Richardson moved, duly seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Welch to approve the 3rd quarter report as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Item 11. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Request to United States Army Corps of Engineers for Inclusion in List of Possible Section 205 Project Feasibility Studies. City Manager Randy Criswell presented the opportunity to participate in the Section 205 Project Feasibility Study. Mr. Criswell gave a brief history of the development of the Palo Duro Creek Restoration Foundation founded in the mid 2000’s, a non-profit entity created with the desire to City Commission Meeting August 18, 2014 Page 4 of 5 have the Corps of Engineers study, design and build flood prevention and beautification along Palo Duro Creek. Mr. Criswell stated at that time the Corps informed the City they had been prohibited from taking on any new 205 studies due to limited funding, but if they were ever given any more funding, the Canyon project could be considered. Mr. Criswell stated he was recently contacted by the Corps and informed there is some funding for Section 205 Feasibility Studies inquiring if the City of Canyon was still interested. Mr. Criswell stated if the City was interested our name would be thrown into the hat for consideration along with other flood prone areas, so no guarantee we’d make the cut. Mr. Criswell said if the city was selected, the Corps would pay the first $100,000 of the study with any overages split 50/50 between the city and the Corps. Mr. Criswell said once the study was complete, the City could choose whether or not to proceed with the construction of the improvements. Mr. Criswell said if the City did decide to proceed, we would match the Federal money with 35% of local match, of which 10% had to be cash. However, at any time we chose, we could back out of the project up until we committed to fund the actual project. Mayor Pro-Tem Welch asked if the goal of the study was aesthetic or preventive, and if the flood prone areas had always been considered in a “flood zone”? Mr. Criswell stated he always told the Foundation it was not a beautification directed study but a preventive one, and that prior to the 1978 flood, there wasn’t a designated flood zone and no flood insurance requirements. Commissioner Hinders stated he thought the city should continue with the process with nothing to lose and it would be moving forward. After discussion, Commissioner Hinders moved, duly seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Welch to complete and file the Letter of Request to be considered for the Section 205 project. Motion carried unanimously. Item 12. Budget Work Session. Mayor Alexander gave a brief overview of the budget from the first budget work session. After discussion, Commissioners directed staff to put together numbers for various areas to be presented at the Commission Meeting August 25, 2014. Item 13. Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Budget For Fiscal Year 2014-2015. Mayor Alexander opened the Public Hearing for the Proposed Budget For Fiscal Year 2014-2015. There being no comment, Mayor Alexander Closed the Public Hearing. Item 14. Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Tax Rate For Fiscal Year 2014-2015. Mayor Alexander opened the Public Hearing for the Proposed Tax Rate For Fiscal Year 2014- 2015. There being no comment, Mayor Alexander Closed the Public Hearing. Item 15. Executive Session Pursuant to Texas Government Code §551.072 Deliberation Regarding Real Property, §551.087 Economic Development Negotiations, §551.071 Consultation with Attorney, and §551.074 Personnel Matters (CEDC Board of Directors, City Manager, City Attorney, Municipal Court Judge, City Engineer). Mayor Alexander indicated the Commission would adjourn into executive session at 7:06 p.m. City Commission Meeting August 18, 2014 Page 5 of 5 Item 16. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Items Discussed in Executive Session. Upon returning from executive session at 10:10 pm, no action was taken. Item 17. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Meeting Dates for the Month of September and October 2014. After discussion, Commissioners set the October meeting date for Monday, October 20, 2014 as the only meeting for that month. Item 18. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Pro-Tem Welch moved this meeting be adjourned. __________________________ Quinn Alexander, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________ Gretchen Mercer, City Secretary