Loading...
04/16/2007-CC-Minutes-RegularMINUTES: CITY COUNCIL APRIL 169 2007 PRESENT: Mayor Higgs, Councilman James, Councilman Glenn Ervin, Councilman Robert Patton, Councilman Walker, Councilman Garza OTHERS PRESENT: City Manager Jack Smith, City Secretary/Assistant City Manager Rose Chavez, Kim Cox, Thomas Muir, Kay VanHuen, KayCee Parrott, Bill Fuller, Gail Parramore, Peggy Haskins, Nancy Cooper, Jeri Kane, Melissa Ritchie, Barbara Martin, Carl Sadau, Ruby Davis, Reverend Raymond Logan 1. Mayor Higgs called meeting to order, Rev. Reginald Logan led Invocation, followed by Councilman Patton leading Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENT AGENDA 2, a) Approve Minutes: April 2, 2007 -Minutes b) Disbursements Motion was made by Councilman Patton to approve consent agenda with minutes and disbursements as presented. Seconded by Councilman Garza. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Citizen's Input: Citizens are allowed 3 minutes to speak. The City Council is unable to respond to or to discuss any issues that are brought up during this section. Rev. Reginald Logan, of Galilee Baptist Church, 300 Willow, addressed the City Council about a problem they are experiencing at Cammie Patton Park. Rev. Logan indicated there is increasing noise and late night usage of the park. The neighborhood is disturbed when children want to use the park, especially the basketball court and are not allowed because A those who are there already. They would like the Mayor and City Council to review and request that this issue be on the agenda for the next meeting to hopefully arrive at some resolution. Ben McQuien, 4 Sandpiper, addressed City Council concerning problems with the homes that were built by Jake Sampson in the Sable Creek subdivision. He indicated that he has already had the Texas Residential Construction Commission inspect his home. He requested that he would like the City Council to show them how they can prevent bad workmanship of a builder who is allowed to conduct business in this community. Mr. McQuien requested to be on the next agenda. Barbara Martin,108 Colonial Heights, addressed the City Council concerning her utility bills. She received a bill that was $1,036.93 during the high months. She advised that she paid it and went on. She expressed that the fluctuation in utility bills is a concern. She expressed concerns regarding her utility bills and requested the City do an audit. Ryan Kane, 66 N. Highland, addressed his problem concerning Sampson Homes and his warranty work repairs. He has a roof leak in his garage and provided pictures of the problems. Mr. Sampson will not correct problems or return phone calls. He expressed that Jake Sampson should not be allowed to build homes in Sanger and requested to be on the agenda for the next meeting. i Nancy Cooper, 74 N. Highland, addressed the City Council concerning the problems she is having with her Sampson Home and presented pictures of these problems. She expressed her frustration concerning Jake Sampson and his lack of response to correct the problems with their home. She requested that this issue be on the next agenda. Aaron Ritchie, 2 Sandpiper, also expressed his frustration concerning Jake Sampson and his lack of response in correcting his problems with his home. He advised that he has taken time off his job when Jake has told him he would send someone to correct his problems and no one ever shows up. He also requested this item to be on the next agenda. City Manager advised that Mr. Ritchie stated they had a sign in the windows and it seemed to have done some goods however, the homeowners' association has rules against this and since then the signs have been taken off the windows. The residents are trying to stay within the rules of the Homeowner's Association. Mr. McQuien responded to this statement and indicated that people have freedom of speech and he would like a copy of this ruling. 4. Consider and Possible Action on Appointment of Member to the Historical Preservation Commission. Motion was made by Councilman Ervin to appoint Terri Patton to the Historical Preservation Commission. Seconded by Councilman Walker. Motion carried 44. Councilman Patton abstained. 5. Discussion on Ordinance #04-97 -Flood Damage Prevention. Councilman Ervin asked if the items he had requested to be changed had been done. Rob Woods, City Engineer, indicated it has to be done by the City Council. Councilman Ervin indicated some of the changes were on page Al -City Administrator Larry Keesler needed to be changed and on page 41 and page 50 -dates and information need to be corrected. Discussion on Ranger Creek and the area where the developer is damming up natural water flow. City Engineer indicated that it is within their perimeter as part of their erosion control measure that is in place. The developer can do this if he has a permit. City Engineer advised that the developer has indicated they have a permit and he has requested a copy for his file. City Council discussed that the City Engineer should be the Flood Plain Coordinator and that he should review and make amendments for the next City Council meeting. 6. Conduct Public Hearing to Consider Ordinance #04-08-07 - Amending the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance by Amending Section 42.2 Special Definitions and Amending 30.2 Schedule of Uses, Amending the Code of Ordinances by Amending Section 3.104 Sign Regulations. Mayor declared Public Hearing opened. Kay v anHuen addressed the City Council and indicated that she has asked a lot people for an opinion and she would rather see neon signs in the windows than the yellow banners. Neon is an art and does not look "trashy." Ben McQuien spoke against the neon signs and said it does look "trashy." Banners are not visible from the road. Mayor declared Public Hearing closed. 7. Consider and Possible Action on Ordinance #04-08-07 -Amending the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance by Amending Section 42.2 Special Definitions and Amending 30.2 Schedule of Uses, Amending the Code of Ordinances by Amending Section 3.104 Sign Motion made by Councilman Patton to approve Ordinance #04-08-07. Seconded by Councilman Patton. Discussion concerning speck use permits. Motion carried unanimously. Caption as follows: AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE BY AMENDING SECTION 42.2 SPECIAL DEFINITIONS AND AMENDING 30.2 SCHEDULE OF USES, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 3.104 SIGN REGULATIONS. 8. Consider and Possible Action on Service Agreement with John Baines, C.P.A. Councilman Patton indicated that as a result from discussions about a month ago from citizens concerning electrical rates, his concern is that the City and City Council are losing confidence by erroneous rate changes. It is his concern that they need to provide information to citizens that everything is above board. Councilman Patton contacted four firms in Denton and three of them referred him to John Baines who is very knowledgeable of utility issue audits. Mr. Baines can conduct the audit from January of this year to the present billing cycle. This is to justify and verify everything is above board. This would also include an audit of the "Plus One" program. The service contract would be less than $25,000.00 and Mr. Baines has provided his credentials and an explanation of his services. Discussion on the audit and possibly for him to review multi -unit billings. Discussed that Mr. Baines proposal only included the electric rates. The Mayor indicated Mr. Baines would not have any idea on what rates to charge for water and sewer. Councilman Walker expressed concern regarding the fluctuating usage. City Manager advised that fourteen electric meters had been pulled and sent in for accuracy testing and all of them came back 99.9% accurate. Mike Prater, Electric Superintendent, indicated that the City Council discussed two different things. Is the audit going to check the meters or the rates? Mr. Prater indicated that in the Dallas Morning newspaper this week, there was a list of utility rates and Sanger is in the middle out of twelve or thirteen different providers. Mayor asked Thomas Muir (who will be serving on the Council after May 12 election since he is running unopposed), who also is a certified public accountant for his opinion. Thomas Muir indicated that the audit will probably cover a sample of the calculations for accuracy and the audit will not cover usage factors or the method of employees driving by every month with a measuring tool to pick up readings. The audit will consist on random calculations to check for accuracy. He suggested contacting Mr. Baines to appear before the City Council to get more information on the service he will be providing. Councilman James indicated that at the last meeting, staff went into great detail by providing information where the City's electric rate was averaged in the middle. They discussed that in this thirty -day cycle, only five days were above 30 degrees. It is not a question of rates. It was increased usage. Councilman James indicated in the City Council packet for tonight's meeting, staff again provided information on some of these houses at random where their high usage has dropped down considerably from the billing cycle in question. Councilman James expressed this is an election year and several people are running for Council If the City continues to spend money indifferent studies then how can they come up with monies to buy the land for a new City Hall. Councilman James expressed that he does not see the reason for spending these monies on all these different studies. The City Council is continuously spending taxpayers' monies in a lot of studies. This study will consist of random calculations of utility bills and the taxpayers will be out $20,000.00. Councilman James advised Mrs. Martin to get with Eddie, Mike and staff to find out what is wrong with the house in question and to see if she has a problem. Discussion continued. Motion made by Councilman Patton to table this item. Seconded by Councilman Ervin. Motion carried unanimously. 9. Consider and Possible Action on Pursuing Bid Proposals for Utility Rate Study. Tabled. 100 Consider and Possible Action on Ordinance #0444-07 - Annexing the Following Properties: A. NL HOBBS ADDITION, BLOCK A, LOT 5 B. NL HOBBS ADDITION, BLOCK A, LOT 4R Co ABSTRACT 299 REUBEN BEBEE SURVEY, TRACT 107, BEING 196.00 ACRES IN DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS D. ABSTRACT 8019 WM MASON SURVEY, TRACT 31, BEING 74.184 ACRES IN DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS Discussion on location of property. Motion made by Councilman Walker to adopt Ordinance #04-14-07. Seconded by Councilman James. Motion carried unanimously. Caption as follows: AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING THE HEREINAFTER DESCRIBED TERRITORY TO THE CITY OF SANGER, TEXAS AND EXTENDING THE BOUNDARIES OF SAID CITY SO AS TO INCLUDE SAID HEREINAFTER DESCRIBED PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, AND GRANTING TO SAID TERRITORY AND TO ALL FUTURE INHABITANTS OF SAID PROPERTY ALL OF THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF OTHER CITIZENS AND BINDING SAID FUTURE INHABITANTS BY ALL OF THE ACTS AND ORDINANCES OF SAID CITY. 11. Meeting adjourned. ATTEST: / MAY 1Higgs, 1, 1 Rose Chavez, City