CM 1987-07-22 Minutes of July 22, 1987
The City Council of the City of Coppell met in Joint session on
Wednesday, July 22, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dogwood Room of the Harvey
Hotel at 4545 West John Carpenter Freeway. Th~ following members were
present: Lou Duggan, Mayor
Dean Wilkerson, Councilman
~1 Walter PettiJohn, Councilman
Tom Morton, Councilman
Bill Smothermon, Councilman
Jim Cowman, Councilman
Mark Wolfe, Councilman
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Stanton was attending another meeting on behalf of the
City. Also present were City Manager Alan D. Ratliff, City Secretary
Dorothy Tin,ohs and Finance Director Frank Trando.
Members of the School Board present were:
Judi Baggett, President
Lanny Jackson, Vice-President
Roy Brock, Trustee
Foy Layton, Trustee
Royce Lively, Trustee
Ralph Seeley, Trustee
Barb Schmidt, Trustee
Also present was Superintendent David Stanfield.
Mayor Duggan called the City Council to order and Judi Baggett called
the School Board to order. School Board Trustee Foy Layton gave the
invocation and Mayor Duggan led those present in the Pledge of
Allegiance. Mayor Duggan and President Baggett then gave opening
remarks for their respective groups.
Item 1: Discussion and consideration of joint long term planning for:
a. School development and construction
b. Facility planning/Joint use of facilities, i.e., swimming
pools, recreation centers
c. Development and use of comprehensive plans
Dr. Stanfield gave an overview of the 1985 School Bond Program and the
status of each project. He stated that projections for total build-out
indicate the need for seven elementary site, two Junior high sites, and
two high school sites.
Discussion next centered on the possibility of a Joint library and the
Joint use of school facilities for recreational type uses. City Manager
Alan Ratliff spoke on his experiences with this type of project and
stated that the City and School may want to put together a Joint
committee to explore this option. It was the consensus of both the City
Council and the School Board that, at the next joint meeting, a task
force would be endorsed and assigned to look into the Joint use of
facilities.
Finally, under this item it was the consensus of both the City Council
? and the School Board that the Comprehensive Plans of each entity would
be exchanged with each other so that both would be more aware of
proposed future development and planning.
Item 2: Discussion of tax rates.
Councilman Wolfe stated that the recent tax evaluations resulted in
lower property values for some residential properties in Coppell. This
could be due partially to the large number of foreclosures this year
(71) as opposed to only eight to ten per year over the last few years.
It was felt by both entities that the tax rates should be kept as Iow as
possible.
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Item 3: Discussion and consideration of Economic Development activities
and strategy.
Councilmen Cowman and Morton gave a report on recent activities of the
City's Economic Development Board. Councilman Cowman stated that most
of our neighboring cities use part of their hotel tax to fund economic
development projects; however, since Coppell does not have any hotels
within its City limits and does not anticipate any in the near future,
this source of funding is not available. A demographic study is being
proposed that is estimated to cost $30,000 and would take approximately
six to eight weeks to complete. The School Board indicated that since
they have most of the information available to them that would be
generated from a demographic study, some consideration and thought would
have to be given prior to their agreeing to assist in funding of a
project of this nature.
Other topics discussed under this item included 1) the appointment of a
school board trustee as liaison to the City's Economic Development
Board, 2) the need for a written incentive plan for proposed
developments, which would include Joint funding of an economic
development director and the school's participatiom in continued adult
education training.
Item 4: Discussion of roll of City Council Liaison appointees to
Coppell Independent School District.
Mayor Duggan stated that the role of this Council member is to provide
commaunication dialogue and resource information both for the City
Council and the School Board. They are able to relay the mood of the
Council to the School Board on issues that come before the School Board,
but they are not able to act as the official spokesman for the Council.
Item 5: Discussion and consideration of participating in funding of
school crossings and crossing guard program.
Discussion was held on the need for a school crossing and signage at
Austin Elementary School on Moore Road. It is the opinion of the School
Board that this crossing designation is needed. City Manager Alan
Ratliff and School Superintendent David Stanfield will work together for
mutual resolution of this item.
Item 6: Discussion and consideration of connnnmity goals and objectives.
This item has been discussed throughout the entire meeting. An
additional topic that was discussed was the fence that is to be
constructed between Austin Elementary and No. 2 Fire Station on Moore
Road. The School Board questioned who would be building the fence and
how it was to be funded. It was the stated that the wall was to be a
four foot screening masonry wall. Originally the safety factor, the
liability issue, and the requirements of the subdivision ordinance were
the reasons why the wall was required. The City's Fire Chief has stated
that he would monitor the safety feature without any fence in place for
a period of time and determine if the need is present for the screening
wall. A second option was to build a chain link fence with photina
shrubs being placed on the street side of the fence. This would be a
less expensive type fence, but would accomplish the same objective. It
was the consensus of both the City Council and the School Board that the
staff of both entities would check into this possible option.
The meeting was then adjourned.
ATTEST:
Dorothy Timm~ne,~Ity Secretary
MNITS07/22/~7
MNITSI