Loading...
07.12.2005 Town Council MinutesIOSPER WN OF Call to Order I Roll Call. Meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. Roll call was taken by the Town Secretary Minutes (approved) Regular Meeting of the Prosper Town Council 601 South Church Street Prosper First Baptist Church Children's Building (S. Wing) Tuesday, July 12, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. Council present included: Mayor Charles Niswanger, Mayor Pro -Tem Lisa Dritschler, Ane Casady, Kevin Drown, Mike Wadsworth, and David Bristol. Staff present included: Town Administrator, Doug Mousel and Town Secretary, Shanae Jennings. 2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance There was no invocation or pledge of allegiance at this meeting. 3. Announcements of dates and times of upcoming community events There were no announcements at tonight's meeting. CONSENT AGENDA (Items placed on the Consent Agenda are considered routine in nature and are considered noncontroversial. The Consent Agenda can be acted upon in one motion. A majority vote of the rncil is required to remove any item for discussion and separate action. Council members may vote nay on any single item without comment and may submit written comments as part of official record.) 4. Consent Agenda MINUTES a. Consider and act upon minutes from the following Council meetings: (SJ) • June 28, 2005 Regular Meeting • July 5, 2005 Budget Workshop ORDINANCES b. Consider and act upon an Ordinance for the voluntary annexation of a tract of land located in the Jeremiah Horn Survey, Abstract No. 411, Collin County, Texas, containing approximately 2.022 acres of land, and being more generally located on the south side of CR 933, 2,000± west of Custer Road. (SJ) c. Consider and act upon on Ordinance for the voluntary annexation of a tract of land located in the Jeremiah Horn Survey, Abstract No. 411, Collin County, Texas and the Larkin McCarty Survey, Abstract No. 600, Collin County, Texas, containing approximately 73.038 acres of land, and being more generally located on the south side of East First Street, 2,000± feet west of Custer Road. (SJ) d. Consider and act upon an ordinance denying the request of Atmos Energy for a gas rate increase. (DM) �e Town Secretary requested that item 4a be pulled from the consent agenda and considered at the following council meeting. Page 1 of 5 Motioned by David Bristol, seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Lisa Dritschler to remove the minutes from the consent agenda. Motion approved 5-0. Motioned by Mayor Pro -Tem Lisa Dritschler, seconded by Kevin Drown to approve consent agenda items 4b, 4c, and 4d, subject to staff lommendations. Motion approved 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENTS (The public is invited to address the Council on any topic. However, the Council is unable to discuss or take action on any topic not listed on this agenda. Please complete a 'Public Comments Form" and present it to the Town Secretary prior to the meeting.) 5. Comments by the Public There were no comments by the public at tonight's meeting REGULAR AGENDA (If you wish to address the Council during the regular agenda portion of the meeting, please fill out a "Speaker Request Form" and present it to the Town Secretary prior to the meeting. Citizens wishing to address the Council for items listed as public hearings will be recognized by the mayor. Those wishing to speak on a non-public hearing related item will be recognized on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of the Mayor and Town Council.) PRESENTATIONS 6. Hear and discuss a presentation by Freese and Nichols regarding the Town's treated water system project. Brian Colthorp, Freese and Nichols, 1701 North Street, Dallas, Texas presented to the Council. Mr. Colthorp showed on a map the point at which the Town of Prosper would tap into a water source through a pipeline in Wylie at the North Texas Municipal Water District. In general, he covered the project overview, existing water systems, water system schematics, water system issues, demand projections, site selection criteria, site alternatives, ground storage tanks, pump stations, pipelines, recommended facilities, possible savings and a timeline. Hear and discuss presentations by the following firms regarding consulting services for the selection and appointment of a �wn Administrator: (SJ) a. Ralph Andersen & Associates b, The Waters Consulting Group, Inc. Chuck Roahr, Ralph Andersen and Associates, 2210 Blue Cypress, Richardson, 75082 — Mr. Roahr presented their services to the council. He indicated that his firm is a national firm, he has been with the firm for 13 years and he represents the Texas branch of the firm. They conduct searches for administrators, managers, fire and police chiefs, and other administrative positions. Mr. Roahr pointed out that most of the candidates which are presented to Council are known by the firm and can more readily be screened and that they offer a guarantee that if, within the first two years of employment, the town administrator resigns or Council dismisses the town administrator for cause, then Andersen and Associates will reconduct the search at no cost to the Town, minus fees to Andersen and Associates. Generally, it takes about 90 days for the entire process. The fee for the search is $14,500 and an expense to the company of $5,250 throughout the process. The payments are progress payments. Searches were recently conducted by their firm in Forney, Shenandoah, and Palestine. Pam Storaci, Waters Recruitment, 2695 Villa Creek Drive, Suite 104, Dallas, TX — They are the largest public sector search firm in the State of Texas. Their main office is in Farmers Branch, as well as offices in Bellevue, WA, Austin, TX and Cleveland, OH. The firm holds over 30 years of experience. They conduct searches for all department head level positions, to include city managers, town administrators, HR directors, public works directors, city secretaries, etc. In order to seek out a new administrator they will develop a profile and implement a strategy, establish a search strategy and identify quality candidates, screen candidates, conduct initial interviews and report preliminary findings, conduct background interviews and reference calls and finalize the search. Typically it will take about 120 days to go through the process. Waters consulting offers a one year guarantee; if the person does not work out they will offer the search over again for no fee, except for the expenses to the company. The fee structure will range from $16,800 to $17,800 and expenses will range from $1,500 to $2,000. Payments are broken into three 30% payments and a 10% payment once the person is hired. the end of both presentations, Council took a short recess at approximately 7:52 p.m. Council reconvened from recess at approximately 8:00 p.m. Page 2 of 5 Mayor Charles Niswanger spoke about a member of the Prosper community who is a retired city manager of Plano that has helped other communities such as Melissa and Celina place city administrators. He indicated that one option to seek out a new town administrator would be to have that person work with other Mayors and city administrators in interviewing and selecting a new town administrator by way ,-),fa panel. He also suggested it was only an option he wanted to present, it would be time consuming, and he felt it could be successful; iwever, he reiterated it was only an option. 8. Consider and act upon selection of a preferred and secondary firm for the Town to negotiate a contract to perform consulting services for the selection and appointment of a Town Administrator. (SJ) Mike Wadsworth indicated that he was concerned about one firm being present and one firm not being present during the discussion and selection process of the primary and secondary firms. David Bristol indicated that both firms were invited to stay and one chose to leave because of an obligation and one was able to stay. The Council proceeded with discussion over the two firms, and at one point David Bristol asked Waters Consulting if they would be willing to honor a two year commitment in the event that the new Town Administrator was fired for cause or resigned within the two years. Contrary to their initial commitment to only give a one year guarantee, Ms. Storaci spoke with individuals from the firm via the telephone and she committed to the Council that they would honor a two year turnover commitment. Motioned by Mayor Pro -Tem Lisa Dritschler, seconded by David Bristol to select Waters Consulting as the primary firm and Andersen Consulting as the secondary firm for the Mayor to negotiate a contract to perform consulting services for the selection and appointment of a Town Administrator, subject to the firm committing to a two year turnover guarantee. Motion approved 4-1. Mike Wadsworth opposed, however, he did indicate that though his vote was in objection, he does have confidence they will do a great job. 9. Hear and discuss a presentation by Texas First Group regarding interim Town Administrator services. (SJ) Kerry Sweatt, Lakey, Texas. He is one of two of the co -creators of the Texas First Group, the other being a man by the name of Don Davis. Mr. Sweatt stated that they have placed interim administrators in towns the size of 1,000 to anywhere up to 150,000 inhabitants. All personnel who are placed on an interim basis are either retired or in transition city managers. He stated that their appointments are not appointments for permanent hire, but only for a temporary replacement. There is no continuing obligation to the Town to continue to utilize Texas First Group when the Town decides it is time to move forward, and the cost of the services are based on the current budget of the )id town administrator, plus overhead of commuting or housing costs. 10. Discuss, provide direction to Town staff, and/or act upon an agreement with Texas First Group to provide interim Town Administrator services to the Town. The Mayor indicated he would like to see someone from another city come over to Prosper and work as the town administrator on an interim basis. He proposed that an assistant city manager for the City of Plano be a consideration. Council is open to and would like to pursue discussions with alternative options regarding interim services, but is not opposed to pursuing an agreement with Texas First Group if alternate options can not be identified. Motioned by Mike Wadsworth, seconded by Dave Turley to table this item until July 19, 2005. Motion approved 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11. A public hearing to provide the Town's water customers an opportunity for public input regarding the Town's water supply and associated discussion. (DM) Motioned by Mike Wadsworth, seconded by Kevin Drown to open the public hearing. Motion approved 5-0. Mayor Charles Niswanger opened the public hearing at 8:41 p.m. Jeff Burandt, 1540 Gentle Way, Prosper, TX — He feels the citizens of Prosper recognize when water is not in ample supply, when firemen and police don't show up and when roads are not in good condition, and he hopes that the council pays close attention to those needs. btioned by Dave Turley, seconded by Mike Wadsworth to close the public hearing. Motion approved 5-0. Mayor Charles Niswanger closed the public hearing at 8,44 p.m. Page 3 of 5 David Bristol indicated that he would like to see the annual water report that is distributed be sent out with the Town's Logo represented on the front page, clearly identifiable Town information, and clearly conveyed water information as opposed to what was distributed this year. 12. A public hearing to provide input to the Town Council regarding the public's use of the high school library through an jreement between the Town and Prosper Independent School District. (DM) Motioned by Kevin Drown, seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Lisa Dritschler to open the public hearing. Motion approved 5-0. Mayor Charles Niswanger opened the public hearing at 8:51 p.m. Rudy Guererro, 2C Rhea Mills Circle, Prosper, TX — Rudy commented that he knew we had a library but he did not know it was a public library. He said his wife went to McKinney to join the McKinney library because they didn't know where to join to go get books. He said he thought it would be a good idea if the school could send flyers home with their children so that parents could read about the ability to utilize the school library for public use. Morris Atkinson, 405 North Parvin, Prosper, TX — He said he is here to hear comments about the library and the use of the library, He works at the library. He said the library is open approximately 25 hours a week, with about 7-8 people in attendance at the library per day during the summer. He indicated one of the main problems is that the community library does not have a direct phone number, and individuals have to go through the high school switchboard to get to the library — which is not always possible in the summer months. Motioned by Mike Wadsworth, seconded by David Bristol to close the public hearing. Motion approved 5-0. Mayor Charles Niswanger closed the public hearing at 9:02 p.m. Mike Wadsworth agrees that it doesn't matter how much we publicize the library, he doesn't feel the community will pay attention to it because it is not related to roads, police, fire, and other resources which are clearly expressed as important by the community. He feels the money could be spent towards a library, but in a different capacity. Mayor Pro -Tem Lisa Dritschler indicated that she is aware of several individuals in the Hispanic community who utilize the library for both neneral use and summer programs. She does not want to deny Hispanics in the community and some other individuals who do not ;lierwise have the ability to be involved in summer programs the access to the library. David Bristol said the alternative is that there is no access to the public library for the public if the Council decides not to pursue a joint agreement with the library forjoint use; therefore, before anything is decided, Council should consider all alternatives. DEPARTMENT ITEMS 13. Discuss and provide direction to Town staff regarding truck routes within the Town. (I(M) Mayor Charles Niswanger requested that the Council defer discussion of this item to a later Council meeting, as the Police Chief was unable to be present tonight. 14. Consider and act upon 1) an amendment to the agreement between Collin County and the Town of Prosper regarding emergency medical services and 2) a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute the amendment. (RT) Motioned by David Bristol, seconded by Kevin Drown to approve an amendment to the agreement between Collin County and the Town of Prosper regarding emergency medical services and 2) a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute the amendment. Motion approved 5- 0. 15. Discuss and provide direction to Town staff regarding the preparation of ethics, conduct, and procedure policies of the Town Council. (DM) Council would like to defer this item to a later date when a new town administrator has been appointed. Possibly direct Town Staff to schedule topic(s) for discussion at a future meeting. Mayor Pro -Tem Lisa Dritschler would like to discuss the interim town administrator appointment options at the next meeting. • Mayor Pro -Tem Lisa Dritschler would like an update on mosquito testing. • Mike Wadsworth would like the town administrator to review the communication policy drafted for the Town prior to his last day. Page 4 of 5 17. Adjourn ,,-Nj tioned by Dave Turley, seconded by David Bristol to adjourn. Motion approved 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Attest: /17 Shanae Jennings, T n Secretary .0 Page 5 of 5