CM 1992-02-17 MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 17, 1992
The City Council of the City of Coppell met in special called joint
Coppell ISD/City Council work session on Monday, February 17, 1992
at 6:30 p.m. in the Commons of Coppell High School, 185 Cowboy
Drive, Coppell, Texas. The following Council members were present:
..... Mark Wolfe, Mayor
Bill Smothermon, Mayor Pro Tem
Peyton Weaver, Councilman
David Thomas, Councilman
Tom Morton, Councilman
Ron Robertson, Councilman
John Nelson, Councilman
Also present were City Manager Alan D. Ratliff and City Secretary
Dorothy Timmons. Councilman Jim Cowman was not present. Those
present from the Coppell Independent School District were School
Board President Deena Reeve and School Board members Mike Clements,
Robert Key, Barb Schmidt, Paula LaVelle. Coppell ISD
Superintendent W. O. "Buddy" Echols and Superintendent Secretary
Brenda Vannatta were also present.
Mayor Wolfe and School Board President Deena Reeve called the
respective entities to order.
SPECIAL CALLED JOINT WORK SESSION (Open to the Public)
Item 1 Presentation by Fire Chief Clay Phillips regarding joint
efforts between the City of Coppell and the Coppell
Independent School District regarding the "Learn Not to
Burn" program.
Fire Chief Clay Phillips made a presentation to the City Council
and School Board representatives. Jan Stranski, Plano Fire
Department Coordinator, spoke and related how the program works in
Plano. Lee and Pinkerton Elementary Schools will probably be the
two schools used for the pilot program in Grades K, Pre-1 and 1.
Vonita White, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and
Instruction also addressed those present.
Item 2 Discussion and briefing on traffic concerns in and around
the school sites.
City Engineer Ken Griffin made a presentation to the Council and
School Board representatives. The original study focused on
recommendations for seven intersections. Three of those
recommendations were tabled until the March 10 City Council meeting
so that they could be discussed at this joint meeting. Those three
recommendations were 1) remove stop signs on Mockingbird Lane at
Sparrow, 2) leave stop signs as they are at Mockingbird and
Cherrybark, and 3) remove stop signs on Mockingbird Lane at Oriole
Lane. Mr. Griffin highlighted several issues and concerns that
were expressed in a meeting with citizens on January 21. These
concerns included 1) a no-left turn sign should be placed on the
east side of Moore Road at the south exit of Austin Elementary;
2) some type of safety education program concerning both bicycle
safety and child interaction with the street, should be presented
to the children either via the schools, the YMCA, or the Home
Owner's Associations; and 3) a safe school route plan should be
developed for the elementary schools as per the guidelines in the
School Zone Traffic Control Guidelines. Mr. Griffin will be
meeting with citizens in the area to discuss the recommendations of
the consultants.
Item 3 Reports and general discussion on community issues -
school sites, YMCA, playgrounds, water lines, economic
development, and library.
School Superintendent Buddy Echols reported that two school sites
in the Lakes of Coppell area have been purchased, one across from
Gibb's Station and the second one at MacArthur and Samuel.
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Mr. Echols also reported that bids have been accepted on an
addition to the current high school facility.
Councilman Robertson reported that the YMCA is presently
negotiating with the FDIC for a site at Georgetown Center and is
anticipating being open on April 1. The YMCA is also looking for
teen activities.
Parks and Recreation Manager Rick Wieland made a presentation
concerning the Robert Leathers Creative Playground to be located in
the Community Park on Parkway across from City Hall. Mr. Wieland
also presented information concerning water lines in relation to a
sewer line at the middle school baseball site.
Councilman Tom Morton gave a status report on the activities of the
Economic and Development Board, and reported that Kay Tiller has
been hired as a Public Relations person to promote the City.
Planning and Community Services Director Gary Sieb gave a status
report on the new library.
Item 4 Discussion and consideration of providing "Texas
Government Today" for high school social studies and
government students in Coppell.
City Manager Alan D. Ratliff made a presentation to the Council and
the School Board representatives. Information was received from
the Texas City Management Association for a program for students in
high school government classes. Cost is $7 per student per year
for approximately 70-80 high school students. The City is
requesting the School to fund the program if they are interested.
Buddy Echols indicated that the information has been sent to the
teachers to see if there is interest in including this program in
next year's budget.
item 5 Status report of joint usage facilities and programs:
Summer Recreation Program, tennis courts, Middle School
baseball facility, and discuss other related matters.
Parks and Recreation Manager Rick Wieland presented information
concerning the Summer Recreation Program which will be held between
June 15 and August 7. The budget for this program has been
approved.
Buddy Echols reported that installation of lights for the tennis
courts has enabled these facilities to be used at night.
Superintendent Echols stated that they have upgraded the timing
system so that it works better.
A status report was given on the middle school baseball facility.
There was discussion on putting grass on the infield. Maintenance
Foreman Micky Harper indicated that water lines are in place for
irrigation.
Planning and Community Services Director Gary Sieb discussed the
need to plat any school property that has not previously been done,
i.e., middle school property and Wrangler Drive as well as the high
school. The School Board will look into platting the property and
the City will handle the variance for the placement of refreshment
facilities.
Bill Markham from the baseball association, and Darcy Patterson
made presentations on those facilities.
Item 6 Discussion and consideration of allowing the use of
school facilities for citizen functions.
Coppell ISD Superintendent Buddy Echols gave a presentation on this
item. The school has policies in place for use of school
facilities. Some require fees and some do not. The City is
requested to have people contact Rick Foster in the Office of
Community Service.
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Item 7 Consider a joint newcomers meeting with the City of
Coppell, CISD School Board and the Coppell Chamber of
Commerce on a quarterly basis.
Councilman Ron Robertson made a presentation to council. The
proposal is to meet on a quarterly or semi-quarterly basis and send
invitations, to newcomers. Topics of discussion could be about the
City, businesses, schools, and special functions of the City.
Jerry Singleton from the Economic and Development Board also spoke
to Council and School Board and gave input on this proposed
project.
Councilman Robertson requested that this be placed as a future
agenda item to take action both at the Council level and the School
Board level.
Item $ Discussion and briefing on School Liaison Officer
Program.
Captain Gary Nix of the Police Department made a presentation to
Council and the School Board, and introduced the School Liaison
Officer James Ledet. Captain Nix reviewed projects of the School
Liaison Officer Program, including the bicycle safety program,
career programs, tours of Coppell Police facilities, special events
such as school dances, basketball and football games, SADD program,
lunch program, reading program, Red Ribbon Campaign activities,
assisting school personnel in truancy, disciplining, and
counselling programs, DARE program, and the Police Explorer Post
program. Police Chief Neil McKinney indicated that there would be
a graduation program for the DARE program on March 12, 1992.
Item 9 Status report of Robin Hood Bill and future tax rates.
Coppell ISD Superintendent Buddy Echols made a presentation and
reported that there had been a major development in the past two or
three weeks; the courts had declared the "Robin Hood Bill" as
unconstitutional; however, the courts stated that taxes still had
to be paid at the this time.
There being no further business to come before the Council the
meeting was adjourned.
Mark Wolfe, Mayor
ATTEST:
Dorothy Timmons,, City Secretary
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