MINUTES

WATAUGA CITY COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2007

6:30 P.M.

 

The City Council of the City of Watauga, Texas convened in pre-council at 6:30 p.m. and in regular session at 6:37 p.m. with the following present:

 

            Harry J. Jeffries           Mayor

Seth Thomas               Mayor Pro Tem Place 5

            Earnest P. Koontz       Council Member Place 1

            Richard Helmick         Council Member Place 2

            Roy Meyers                 Council Member Place 4

            Lee Griffin                  Council Member Place 6

            Jerry Adams                Council Member Place 7

 and

            Janina Jewell               Director of Finance/Acting City Manager

            Jenny Gravel               Attorney

            Daniela Place              City Secretary

            Sandra Morgan           Assistant Finance Director

            Marcia Reyna              Director of Human Resources

            Johnnie Reagan           Director of Public Works

            Janina Jewell               Director of Finance

            Bud Joyce                   Interim Chief of Police Division

            Bill Crawford              Interim Chief of Fire/EMS Division

            Martha Chambers        Library Director

            Albert Garcia Jr.          Fleet and Building Maintenance Manager

            Sal Torres                    Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services

with

Council Member Mike Steele absent with prior notice given.

 

PRE-COUNCIL

 

REPORTS:

 

There were no reports.

 

DISCUSSION OF CITY COUNCIL AGENDA:

 

There was no discussion of the City Council agenda.

 

CITIZEN’S OPEN FORUM:

 

Mr. Nelson Stoppiello, 7104 Lyndale Court addressed the City Council.  The topics were: 

 

1.                  Location of the new fire department and the insurance rate.

2.                  People who leave flyers on doors and the potential danger of them checking doors to see if they are unlocked.

3.         Increase the number of sidewalks, especially around parks.

4.         Keeping garbage bins out of public view.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT BY CITY COUNCIL IN RESPONSE TO CITIZEN’S OPEN FORUM

 

There were no comments by the City Council.

 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

 

CALL TO ORDER:

 

Mayor Jeffries called the special City Council Meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.

 

INVOCATION:

 

Council Member Griffin gave the invocation.

 

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG/TEXAS PLEDGE:

 

 Mayor Jeffries led the Pledge to the Flag and the Texas Flag.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS CONSTITUTED IN PRE-COUNCIL:

 

Council Member Koontz moved to approve the agenda as constituted in pre-council.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Helmick, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

Aye:                Griffin, Thomas,  Helmick, Myers, Koontz, Adams

Noes:               None

Absent:            Steele

 

PRESENTATIONS:

 

1.   Carolyn S. Sims, Precinct Administrator, presentation on Northeast Tarrant County JPS Clinic

 

Gary Fisk, County Commissioner with Precinct 3, introduced Tarrant County Administrator G.K. Maenius and President and CEO of JPS David M. Cecero who spoke

 

 

 

to the Council about the proposed Northeast Tarrant County JPS Clinic.  The following proposed scope of services for the clinic was discussed:

 

Primary Care Providers:  Center will start with four providers:  2 family practice physicians, internal medicine physician, and 1 obstetrics/gyn nurse practitioner.  Anticipated patient visit volume during last half of FY 08 is 9,500 and 19,000 for the full year FY09.

           

            Direct Provider Support Staff:  Normally consist of nurse, medical assistant, and registration representative for each provider, or a 3-1 ratio.  For 4 providers, 12 direct support staff would be needed.

 

            Indirect Support Staff:  Center will be staffed with 15 additional staff members. 

 

            Provide Lab Draw Services:  Provide lab blood drawing and other specimen collection.  Also perform limited point-of-care testing and microscopy provider testing.

 

            Full Pharmacy Services:  Prescription intake and pick-up service on-site.  Pharmacy will have a wide range of medications in stock.

 

            Radiology Services:  Provide plain x-ray, mammography, and ultrasound testing on-site.

           

            Social Work Services:  Assists patient and families in accessing community services and resources.  Also provide case management services.

 

            Financial Screening:  Assist applicants in enrolling in JPS Connection program.  Also assist in referring potential qualified patients to Medicaid, Medicare Part D, CHIPS and Special Grants.

 

Janina Jewell read a letter sent by Council Member Steele sent a letter expressing his opposition to the JPS Clinic. 

 

After questions from several Council Members, the Mayor thanked them for their presentation. 

 

PUBLIC HEARING:

 

  1. This Public Hearing is being held for citizen input on the proposed budget for the Crime Control and Prevention District for the 2007-08 Fiscal Year

 

 

 

 

At 7:10 p.m. the Mayor recessed the special City Council meeting and opened the public hearing.  There being no comments from the public, the public hearing was closed at 7:11 p.m.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

 

1.      Discussion and action on an Ordinance Amending Chapter 4 of the Watauga Code of Ordinances  by adding  Article 4.2200,  Section 4.2201 and 4.2202 that would require childcare facilities to provide information to their clients regarding registered sex offenders.

 

As the sponsor of this agenda item, Council Member Helmick explained that in April a citizen came forward to obtain a permit for a childcare facility in her home. And a registered sex offender lived on the same street.  He said that he was uncomfortable and believed this Ordinance would ensure that the parents know that a registered sex offender lives within 1,000 feet. 

 

Council Member Adams expressed opposition to the Ordinance for the following reasons:

 

*          That ought to be the responsibility of the parents or guardians of the children, and the City, and not that of the childcare facility.

           

*          The proposed Ordinance does not apply to all facilities where children congregate, such as the City Public Parks, Library, Community Center, Skateboard Park and schools.  This is improper discrimination in my view.

                                  

*          The Ordinance would give parents and guardians a false sense of security.

           

I cannot find that the database required by the proposed Ordinance to be consulted by parents and guardians of children enrolled in a childcare facility to determine if a person required to register as a sex offender resides within 1,000 feet of the facility provides for such determination.

 

*          Registered sex offenders are already prohibited by Ordinance from residing within 1,000 feet of premises where children gather, excepting those registered sex offenders who established permanent or temporary residence prior to the adoption of the Ordinance. Thus, the proposed Ordinance would have relevance to only those “grandfathered” by this exception.

 

*          The proposed Ordinance contains no provision for determining whether parents or guardians received the required notice.  This, on that basis alone, the Ordinance would be difficult to enforce.

 

 

*          Nothing in the proposed Ordinance prohibits a registered sex offender who lives more than 1,000 feet from the childcare facility from entering the 1,000 foot “child safety zone.”

 

*          The proposed Ordinance would be an unnecessary burden on the City’s Police Department, as well as the City’s Childcare facilities and would accomplish nothing of any value.

 

Council Member Griffin stated he was not opposed to the Ordinance however; the Ordinance did not contain an affirmative defense nor was there a penalty for non-compliance.  

 

Council Member Helmick stated that he agreed with Council Member Griffin and that the Ordinance could be brought back a penalty clause written into it.

 

Council Member Helmick moved to take no action.  Mayor Pro Tem Thomas seconded the motion, which prevailed as follows:

 

Aye:                Griffin, Thomas,  Helmick, Myers, Koontz, Adams

Noes:               None

Absent:            Steele

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

1.   Discussion and action on approval of the proposed budget for the Crime Control and Prevention District for the 2007-08 Fiscal Year.

Director of Finance Janina Jewell reported that the total recommended expenses for the Crime Control and Prevention District budget are $1,757,913 of the estimated available resources of $2,411,432 for an estimated ending fund balance of $653,519. 

Council Member Lee Griffin made a motion to approve the budget for the Crime Control and Prevention District for the 2007-08 Fiscal Year.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Koontz, which prevailed by the following vote:

Aye:                Griffin, Thomas, Helmick, Myers, Koontz, Adams

Noes:               None

Absent:            Steele

 

2.      Discussion on the City Manager’s Proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08 with possible Council action to change, by adding or deleting, items to the proposed budget prior to formal adoption on September 10, 2007.

 

Finance Director Janina Jewell gave an over view of the proposed budget. 

After discussion, Council Member Lee Griffin made a motion to bring the proposed budget back with the suggested changes calculated into the budget.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Koontz, which prevailed by the following vote:

Aye:                Griffin, Thomas, Helmick, Myers, Koontz, Adams

Noes:               None

Absent:            Steele

 

3.   Discussion and action to place a proposal to adopt a tax rate of $.580763 per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2007-08 on September 10, 2007 City Council agenda as an action item. 

Council Member Koontz moved to place a proposal to adopt a tax rate of $.580763 per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2007-08 on the September 10, 2007 City Council agenda as an action item.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Helmick which prevailed by the following vote:

Aye:                Griffin, Thomas, Helmick, Myers, Koontz, Adams

Noes:               None

Absent:            Steele

 

4.      Discussion and action on setting public hearings on the proposed tax rate of $.580763 per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2007-08 on August 22, 2007 during the special meeting at 6:30 p.m. and on August 27, 2007 at the Regular Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.

 

Council Member Koontz moved to set public hearings on the proposed tax rate of  $.580763 per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2007-08 on August 22, 2007 during the special meeting at 6:30 p.m. and on August 27, 2007 at the Regular Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Helmick, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

Aye:                Griffin, Thomas, Helmick, Myers, Koontz, Adams

Noes:               None

Absent:            Steele

 

5.      Discussion and action on approval of award of project for sidewalk construction on Hanson Drive in the amount of $41,241 to Reliable Paving Inc. of Arlington, Texas

 

Council Member Koontz moved to award the project for sidewalk construction on Hanson Drive in the amount of $41,241 to Reliable Paving Inc. of Arlington, TX.  The motion was seconded by Council Member Griffin, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

Aye:                Griffin, Thomas, Helmick, Myers, Koontz, Adams

Noes:               None

Absent:            Steele

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

 

There was no executive session held.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

With there being no further business to discuss at this time, Mayor Jeffries adjourned the meeting at 8:33 p.m.  

APPROVED:   this 10th day of September 2007

SIGNED:        this 10th day of September 2007

  

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                                                    APPROVED:

 

 

                                                                                    ____________________

                                                                                    Henry J. Jeffries, Mayor

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

________________________

Daniela Place, City Secretary