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CM 1990-05-24 Minutes May 24, 1990 The City Council of the City of Coppell met in special called session on Thursday, May 24, 1990 at 7:00 pm at the Coppell Intermediate School, 400 Mockingbird Lane, City of Coppell, Texas. The meeting was a joint meeting with the Coppell School Board. The following members were present: Mark Wolfe, Mayor Bill Smothermon, Mayor Pro Tem Peyton Weaver, Councilman David Thomas, Councilman Tom Morton, Councilman Jim Cowman, Councilman Ron Robertson, Councilman John A. Nelson, Councilman Also present were City Manager Alan D. Ratliff, City Secretary Dorothy Timmons, various department directors and staff representatives, School Board members, and various School staff representatives. Item 1 Recycling Program Mayor Wolfe provided Council and Board members with information concerning recycling programs. Several citizens, who are interested in serving on a recycling task force, have been in contact with the Mayor to express their desire to see a recycling program established in Coppell. Mayor Wolfe requested that any School Board members that may be aware of citizens interested in serving in this capacity to let him know. He then introduced representatives from Texas Waste Management, Inc. who presented a video and information concerning a recycling program for the City. No action was taken on this item. Item 2 Austin Elementary School - Petition on Traffic Mayor Wolfe informed the School Board that the City Council had received a petition from the Austin Elementary and the Coppell Intermediate PTO'S concerning traffic conditions at the Austin Elementary School on Moore Road. Also discussed at this time was traffic control at the intersection of Moore and Bethel School Road which is south of the school zone area. The possibility of using a crossing guard at this intersection was discussed. It was stated that the fence at the northwest corner of this intersection has not yet been moved to improve site visibility. Staff was requested to check into the cost of the City moving this fence. Mr. Buddy Echols, Coppell ISD Superintendent, provided a report to the Council and School Board. He stated that the school is looking into alternatives to improve traffic congestion at the Austin Elementary site beginning next fall. The school will utilize a bus loop as a parent drop site and monitor its' use to see if it improves the traffic situation. Item 3 Consolidated Voter Location School Board President Judi Baggett informed the Council that the School Board decided not to move the voter location for the recently held May election on advice of their legal counsel due to the short time frame for obtaining Justice Department pre-clearance. However, the Board is under the distinct impression that the voter location will be moved for the upcoming year. A request was made of the School Board for the City to conduct absentee voting for any regular or special elections. City Secretary Dorothy Timmons stated that the relocation of the voting site for school district elections was encouraged by the City and that conducting absentee voting only for both the general and any special elections could be provided by City Secretary Staff as long as the same reimbursement arrangements for clerical support were carried forward in the future. School Board indicated that they would be agreeable to the same reimbursement arrangements as in previous elections. Page 1 of 3 Item 4 Summer Youth Program Councilman Ron Robertson presented this item to the Council. It is anticipated this program will begin the first of July at the Intermediate School on Mockingbird Lane. Three coaches and three people from the school system are anticipated to be employed to assist in this program which will eventually be a full-time summer recreation program. The City has allocated $12,000 at Mid-Year Budget for expenditures of this program. Board member Mike Clements stated that he felt that the partial summer program was a good start to a summer recreational program and felt that the newly budgeted Parks Director would help in developing this program. Formal approval for the use of school facilities will be considered at a later School Board meeting. Item 5 Tax Abatement Judi Baggett informed the Council of the school liaison members for tax abatement and City Council. Ms. Deena Reeve is the school appointment for the Tax Abatement Study Committee with Mike Clements and Paula Levelle being School Board liaisons to the city Council. Item 6 Policy of Charging Non Resident Tuition Fees Mayor Wolfe informed the School Board of a request received by the City concerning expressions of concern from the G.T.E. Relocation Center and others who are moving to Coppell and who are being charged a monthly fee for their children to enter and participate in the Coppell school program. The City has received requests to assist and approach the School district about the possibility of these people moving into Coppell being allowed to attend the schools without paying the fee. School Superintendent Buddy Echols provided Council with information concerning the School's policy on fees charged for non-resident students. Mr. Echols stated that the determining factor has been a State law that students actually reside in the school district in which they attend. A policy has now been developed that states that if proof of residence can be shown, such as a contract on a home or a lease for rental property, the school would allow the students to attend Coppell schools with the payment of a tuition fee based upon a cost per pupil amount that has been calculated to a daily basis. This fee is due and payable at the beginning of each month and is prorated for any refund due at such time as a family actually moves into the City. The reason for such tuition is that, if fees were not collected, City residents would be supporting non-residential students through their tax dollars. Item 7 Baseball Fields Councilman Ron Robertson and Sports Council President Dennis Kellum made the presentation to the Council. Mr. Kellum stated that the Sports Council is requesting assistance from the City and the School in the funding and maintenance of the facilities. Participation in the Children's Sports Associations have increased at such a rapid pace that availability of playing fields, lighting, maintenance, and restroom facilities are needed in greater quantities than what is available. Item 8 School Zone Policy/Crossing Guard Police officer Jerry Kelly made the presentation to the Council and the School Board. Mr. Kelly stated that the policy distributed is a school zone policy which is designed to provide uniform conformance for traffic control devices for use in school zone areas. This proposed policy is in the draft stage and will be completed at a later date. Mayor Wolfe requested that, at such time as this policy is adopeted, the school liaisons or the School Board consider a recommendation for a school crossing guard at the Moore and Beltline Road intersections as was discussed under Item 2. Item 9 DARE/Red Ribbon Committee Police Chief Neil McKinney and Police Officer Jerry Kelly made the presentation to the City Council and the School Board. Chief McKinney Page 2 of 3 stated that the Coppell ISD and the Coppell Police Department have pledged a mutual commitment for the Drug Abuse Resistance Program (DARE) to be implemented this fall school year. The DARE program will be followed by the Metrocrest Red Ribbon campaign which will ~e held in October. Councilman Cowman, Chief McKinney and Officer Kelly are coordinators of this program. Following both of these programs will be the MADD Red Ribbon campaign which will begin at Thanksgiving and continue through the holidays. Item 10 Wrangler Drive - Deteriorating Road Condition Mayor Wolfe informed the School Board that funds were appropriated at the recent Mid-Year Budget meetings for repair of Wrangler Drive. Public Works Director Steve Goram indicated that a contract with Dallas County for this repair would be forthcoming to the Council in June. Item 11 General Discussion - future agenda items and meeting date(s) Items submitted for possible future agenda consideration was a joint school/city park to be built on adjoining properties, the possibility of holding additional meetings throughout the year, a presentation by the School Board President, Judi Baggett, on a series of studies on apartments and their relationship to school children. School Board Superintendent Buddy Echols also presented information to both the Board and the Council on the impact of recent legislation involving school funding. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned. Mar~ Wolfe, M~ ATTEST: Dorothy T~mo~s, City Secretary Page 3 of 3