City Council hears about annexation, apartments

During its regular Sep. 19, 2017 meeting, the Forney City Council met and in summary:

• Recognition of Police Department employees for their work during Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
  Chief Sherwin spoke about Det. Sandra Rankin, stating she was a member of the TX Air National Guard, for which she was called for a planned month-long deployment providing shelter management in Nacogdoches. Forney PD recently gave her a commendation.
  Chief Sherwin then spoke about dispatcher Paula Fitzgerald, who is a member of TX Emergency Response Team, she volunteered to work at Ingleside PD about 10 miles from Rockport. The team leader there commended her work. She was given the Star Award which is good for a day off.
  
• Watch Video
  
• Mayor Pro Tem Penn proclaimed Sept. 19 National IT Professionals Day after citing the importance of IT services.
  
• Presentation by Terri Shatter of ONCOR -
  Ms. Shatter spoke about the feeder at Pinson & &740, which was scheduled for trimming in fourth quarter, but has now been completed. She detailed the 3 power outages in Heritage Hill area, which totaled 5 hours. There was another outage affecting Magnolia. They are going back and trimming the single phase lines; they are about 1/3 done, there are over 100 lines that need to be trimmed. They have a lot of employees out due to the hurricane relief. She spoke about the alert mechanism at oncor.com. She apologized to the residents for the inconvenience.
  Mr. Myers asked if no outages since Aug 25th? Correct. Trimming schedule is 5-7 years, the have over 1 million miles of line. Ms. Powers said was an outage today, Aimee & Pine, wants her to look into it. Ms. Powers asks about the difference guard lights vs street lights - guards usually at a residence, on shorter poles, paid for by resident.
  
• Public comments - this lasted 52 minutes: Watch Video
  
  • People speaking against the proposed annexation by Mesquite: Tracie Clay, Donna Smith, Daniel Plumer, Kristina Bamer, Daniel Brummett, Mack Baber, Merle Baker, Amber Jensen?.
    
  • People speaking against the apartments in Windmill Farms: Jessica Pickett, Kelli Speer, John Rooney, Mike Taylor, Jason Williams, Ashlyn Gordon, Shawn Galbraith, Greg Thompson, Deborah Williams, Robert? Speer, Todd Suddoth, Kevin McClure .
    
  • Mr. McNear spoke stating the city needs leaders, not managers.

• Approved, as consent items:
  
  • acceptance of the Public Improvements for Brooklyn Village.
    
  • final plat for Park Trails Phase 3, located north of Ridgecrest Road and Longhorn Lane in the City of Forney, Texas.

• Approved an Ordinance adopting the amended budget for fiscal year 2016-2017.
  Ms. Woodham said this will amend current budget. Watch Video
  
• Approved an ordinance adopting the annual budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18.
  Ms. Woodham said budget was presented in two Public Hearings, made couple adjustments since then due to city managers severance, a total of 487k requiring additional 238k. Staff had additional revenue of 149k. Other departments have agreed to delay future new hires for 6 months to provide the remaining $89k. Mr. Myers asked if 200k in contingency fund still exists? Yes, after tax reports come in, could see if can use for new positions.
  Mr. Thatcher says if proposing an effective tax rate that is higher, and will bring in additional revenue, must be two motions.
  
• Approved an ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for Fiscal Year 2017-18.
  
• Approved an Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances by amending the Master Fee Schedule to reflect changes to certain fees and miscellaneous permits.
  Ms. Woodham said the budget includes an increase in water & sewer rates, along with some permit? fees, meter fees going from 1k to 2.5; Mr. McGee asks about $480 fee for Non-profit concession stand fee, can Non-profit be excluded. Mr. Thatcher said would need some research, make sure not overly broad in scope. Ms. Woodham said the schedule will come back in a month.
  
• Approved a multi-family site plan for Parc at Windmill Farms, located north of U.S. Highway 80 and west of Windmill Farms Boulevard in the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the City of Forney. Watch Video
  Mr. Morgan briefed council: the property is included in a developer agreement, approved in 2003 - this property is not in city limits, there is no zoning control - can only look at plats, not use, signage, landscaping, etc. This agreement say can tie standards to site plan, that is what P&Z review is based on. Developer requested alt materials - P&Z didn't approve that, must be 90% masonry. Accessibility is one entrance, P&Z stipulated another. City does not issue permits in ETJ.
  Ms. Penn asks if there is no motion, what happens. Mr. Thatcher said could discuss in exec session.
  After the item was approved, most of the crowd angrily left.
  
• Council viewed a presentation from the Forney Independent School District and then approved an Ordinance amending Ordinance 17-20, adopting the 2015 edition of the International Building Code. This allows the FISD to use the building plans they had in place which does not require the extreme storm shelter.
  FISD Superintendent Suzanne Mcwilliams spoke, apologized for not being at last meeting to answer questions; Watch Video she and the FISD Board appreciate them taking student safety into consideration.
  council moved to reconsider the item.
  Ms. Powers moved to approve ordinance 17-43; motion passes with Ms. Penn nay.
  
• Approved a Resolution approving the Interlocal Agreement Regarding Regional Capacity, Management, Operations and Maintenance (RCMOM) Program with North Texas Municipal Water District.
  
• Took no action on Trinity Street Sidewalk Connectivity.Watch Video
  
• Approved making improvements to Lovers Lane.
  After a presentation of 3 options by Richard Dormier, council approved option 2, a "temporary solution" of underground 12' pipes for drainage, filling in ditches for $65k.
  
• Approved a Resolution approving an agreement between the City of Forney and Specialty Land Services, LLC for Right-of- Way / Easement Acquisition Services.
  Mr. Medford briefed council, have 3 staff members who attempt to obtain ROW, he related the benefits to having a firm handle this task. Ms. Penn asks if this was budgeted; Mr. Medford said would be 50k cap funded by CIP balance. council questioned how this has been handled so far, and how the city would be charged. Mr. Johnson said would much prefer not be done in-house; want people who are trained.
  
• Re: the October 3, 2017, City Council meeting and National Night Out.
  Mr. Medford said this conflicts with council meeting; Chief Sherwin knows of 2 events.
  Council approves starting Oct 3 meeting at 4pm.
  
• Mr. Thatcher recommends executive session.
  
• Council Comments - Ms. Powers asks about Sharing The Love funds. Mr. Moon thanks Mr. Medford for stepping up, & people for showing up. Mr. Johnson also thanks Mr. Medford and people who showed up.
  
• City Manager’s report - College St. fence replacement, staff working on paperwork; downtown will be temporarily open for parade on Sep 30; Trinity St punch list next week; Redbud have agreement with Atmos to adjust gas line; congrats to Charity on promotion to Assistant Finance Dir.;Sat. Oct. 7 animal shelter grand opening; Mr. Moon asks if can get notice about ribbon cuttings. Mr. Medford said staff found funds to cover Sharing The Loves' requested additional funds.
  
• Held a 90-minute executive session re:
  
  • North Texas Municipal Water District
    
  • Memorandum of Agreement with the Forney Messenger, Inc.
    
  • Wynne Jackson Development Agreement
    
  • The Villages of Fox Hollow Public Improvement District

• Re: a Resolution approving a Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Forney and the Forney Messenger.
  Ms. Powers moves to allow interim city manager to execute the agreement, motion approved.
  
• Re: proposals for Interim City Manager Services
  Approved authorizing interim city manager to execute an interim services agreement with SGR.
  
• Re: proposals for an executive search to hire a City Manager
  Approved authorizing interim city manager to execute agreement with SGR.
  
• Took no action on the City's administrative procedures related to personnel exit interviews.
  
• Adjourned at 2357.