City of Canyon Commission Meetings

City Commission Meeting March 16, 2020 The City Commission of the City of Canyon ,met at 4:30 pm in the City Commission Chambers of the Civic Complex. Mayor Gary Hinders presided over the meeting with the following Commissioners in attendance, Mayor Pro-Tem Cody Jones, Roger Remlinger, and Paul Lyons. Commissioner Randy Ray was unable to attend. Also present were the following City Staff: City Manager Joe Price, Assistant City Manager Jon Behrens, City Secretary Gretchen Mercer, Business and Community Development Director Evelyn Ecker, Director of Public Works Dan Reese, Canyon Economic Development Corporation Board President Don Lee, Interim Police Chief Ray Resendez, Utility Department Supervisor Eric Whitten, Interim Fire Chief Vince Whitfill, Director of Finance Joel Wright, Planning and Development Director Danny Cornelius, City Engineer Dwight Brandt, Parks and Recreation Director Brian Noel, and City Attorney Chuck Hester. Item 1. Call to Order. Mayor Hinders called the meeting to order at 4:34 p.m. Item 2. Invocation. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones gave the invocation. Item 3. Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Lyons. Item 4. Approval of Minutes of the City of Canyon Commission Meeting of March 2, 2020. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Remlinger to approve the minutes of March 2, 2020 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Item 5. Public Comment – Comments From Interested Citizens. No Public Comments were made. Item 6. Proclamation Recognizing April 1, 2020 as “CENSUS DAY”. Mayor Hinders read a proclamation stressing the importance of everyone participating in the 2020 Census. MAYOR HINDERS MOVED TO ITEM 11 Item 11. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Proposed Playground Naming and Approval of Fund Raising Campaign. Assistant City Manager Jon Behrens introduced the overall project history for the planned AMBUCS Park. Mr. Behrens stated the Canyon Parks, Open Space and Recreation Advisory Committee recommended naming the park “Kylie Hiner Memorial Playground” and agreed that City Commission Meeting March 16, 2020 Page 2 of 4 naming the playground after Kylie Hiner as significant. Kylie Hiner was loved and embraced by the community as she made a connection with and considered everyone she met as special. Mr. Behrens went on to say Kylie’s autism never seemed to get in her way or limit her ability to make friends feel special, remain independent and achieve success. Mr. Behrens said the Parks Committee hoped the playground would allow children and adults of all abilities to do the same. Parks Director Brian Noel presented a slide show of renderings of the proposed park. Vance Hall, representing AMBUCS, explained the proposed park, known as an “inclusive” park, and comparable to the playground located at Medi-Park in Amarillo, would allow brothers and sisters to interact. Mr. Hall said with the ramps and specialized equipment it would allow a child with disabilities to swing together with their sibling or parent or roll their wheelchair onto a specialized merry-go-round made for everyone. Mr. Hall stated the price tag of $1.2 million included complete design, construction, all sidewalks, site work, restrooms, shade pieces, play pieces and playground surfaces. Mr. Hall said $300,000 has already been raised without even putting the word out. Mr. Behrens stated former Canyon Mayor Quinn Alexander was heading the fund raising committee and invited him to speak. Mr. Alexander expressed appreciation to all involved in the project and spoke to Kylie Hiner’s presence in the community. Mayor Alexander also thanked all involved. Kylie’s mother, Mary Hiner then addressed the Commission thanking everyone in the community for their support and love of Kylie. Ms. Hiner stated naming the park in honor of Kylie meant everything to the family and she knew Kylie would love the idea of everyone enjoying the park no matter their situation. After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Remlinger to approve the naming of the park “Kylie Hiner Memorial Playground” and approve of the associated fundraising campaign. Motion carried unanimously. Item 7. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Audit of the Financial Statements of the City of Canyon as of and for the Year Ended September 30, 2019 as Presented by the Finance Director and Doshier, Pickens & Francis. Finance Director Joel Wright presented the 2019 Audit for approval. John Merriss of Doshier, Pickens and Francis was present to answer questions. Mr. Merriss reported the City of Canyon received a clean audit for 2018-2019. After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Remlinger to approve the 2019 audit of the financial statements for the City of Canyon as of and for the Year Ended September 30, 2019. Motion carried unanimously. Item 8. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Appointment of Auditor for City of Canyon’s Financial Statement Audit for Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2020. City Commission Meeting March 16, 2020 Page 3 of 4 Director of Finance Joel Wright recommended the appointment of Doshier, Pickens & Francis as the City of Canyon’s Auditor for FY 2019-2020. Mr. Wright stated he had worked with the firm over the years and felt they provided a great service. After discussion, Commissioner Remlinger moved, duly seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Jones appoint Doshier, Pickens & Francis as the City of Canyon’s Auditor for FY 2019-2020. Motion carried unanimously. Item 9. Presentation from City Engineer Updating Status of Current Public Works and Parks Projects. City Engineer Dwight Brandt updated the City Commission on current projects Brandt Engineers was currently working on. Informational only, no action required. Item 10. Informational Update on Pro Rata Agreements. City Manager Joe Price presented information related to Pro Rata Agreements from research as requested by the City Commission. The City Commissioners expressed appreciation for the information and directed staff to look into developing the process for implementation. Item 12. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Official Acceptance of Russell Long Blvd. from TxDOT. City Manager Joe Price stated as agreed between the City Commission and WTAMU, it was time to take official possession of Russell Long Blvd. Mr. Price stated this would allow for WT to do what they want in making Spur 48 a City Street instead of a State-owned Spur. Mr. Price said the road must remain open as a public right of way or else possession would revert back to TxDOT. The following has been agreed on by TxDOT before the City of Canyon takes formal possession. 1. 2” overlay project (trying to begin on Monday, March 16, 2020 – weather permitting) 2. Clean ditch near Hospital Drive 3. Install pavement markings and apply new striping after overlay At the request of the City of Canyon, TxDOT agreed to the following: 1. Fix identified areas that have base failures (Staff and Engineer walked entire Spur with TxDOT to identify these areas) Mr. Price said City Staff was currently in negotiations on the Interlocal agreement with WT for the continued maintenance of Russell Long Blvd. and that it would be brought before the Commission for approval. After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones Moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Remlinger to formally accept the Transfer of Right of Way for Russell Long Boulevard (Spur 48) and authorize City Commission Meeting March 16, 2020 Page 4 of 4 the Mayor or City Manager to accept the Transfer upon the completions as written in Resolution No. 08-2019. Motion carried unanimously. Item 13. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on 2020-2021 Budget Commitment to Purchase Two (2) Patrol Ford Explorers Interim Police Chief, Captain Ray Resendez, presented information related to ordering police patrol vehicles for 2021. Captain Resendez stated in order to be able to get 2021 Ford Explorer Police Pursuit Vehicles before Ford Motor Company orders a line shutdown, it was imperative for police departments to order early. Captain Resendez said to meet the timeline Commission approval was needed for funding of 2 patrol Ford Explorers for the 2020-2021 budget. Captain Resendez said the cost for the two 2021 Ford Explorer Police Pursuit Vehicles was $47,960 each, for a total of $95,920. After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Remlinger to approve a commitment for the allocation of funds to immediately purchase two 2021 Ford Explorer Police Pursuit Vehicles for the Canyon Police Department. Motion carried unanimously. Item 14. Executive Session Pursuant to §551.071 Consultation with Attorney, §551,072 Real Property, §551,074 Personnel Matters (Police Chief, Fire Chief, Planning and Zoning Board Appointment), and §551.087 Economic Development. Mayor Hinders indicated the Commission would adjourn into Executive Session at 6:20 pm. Item 15. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Items Discussed in Executive Session. Upon returning from Executive Session at 7:06 pm, the following action was taken. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Remlinger to appoint Bryant Coon to the vacated seat of Tim Gilliland on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Item 16. Adjourn There being no further business, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved this meeting be adjourned. ______________________________ Gary Hinders, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________ Gretchen Mercer, City Secretary