CM 1998-07-20 MINUTES OF JULY 20, 1998
The City Council of the City of Coppell met in Special Called Session on Monday,
July 20, 1998, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of Town Center, 255
Parkway Boulevard, Coppell, Texas. The following members were present:
Candy Sheehan, Mayor
Marsha Tunnell, Mayor Pro Tem
Greg Garcia, Councilmember
Chuck Sturges, Councilmember
Pat Keenan, Councilmember
Doug Stover, Councilmember
Larry Wheeler, Councilmember
Bill York, Councilmember
Also present were City Manager Jim Witt, City Secretary Kathleen Roach and City
Attorney Peter G. Smith.
REGULAR SESSION (Open to the Public)
1. Call to order.
Mayor Sheehan called the meeting to order.
2. Discussion of status of water supply in the City of Coppell and
implementing Phase II of the Daily Water Conservation Plan, as
adopted by City Council on July 14, 1998.
Ken Griffin, Director of Engineering and Public Works, made a presentation to the
Council and asked to have Phase II of the Water Plan implemented at the
direction of the City Manager. Councilmember Sturges praised staff for all their
work regarding the water crisis. Councilmember York asked about the industrial
areas watering on Friday and compliance measures. Councilmember Keenan
indicated he was not in favor of implementing Phase II at the present time and he
would like to give time to getting the word out to everyone of the latest plan.
Councilmember Wheeler would llke to see the present plan continue for at least a
week to get a gauge on it. Councilmember Stover stated he felt we may be moving
too soon. Councilmember York voiced his concern about having enough water in
the system for the community and for safety reasons. Mr. Griffin stated that the
CM072098
Page 1 of 4
rate of flow controller would only allow 13 million gallons of water a day to be
received from Dallas. Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell asked Mr. Griffin to compare the
water usage per capita of the citizens of Coppell to neighboring cities. Mr. Griffin
stated during a 24-hour period Coppell had used 600 gallons per capita as
compared to Lewisville at 300 gallons per capita and Carrollton at 400 gallons per
capita. Councilmember Sturges moved to implement Phase II of the Daily Water
Conservation Plan at the discretion of the City Manager. Council]member York
seconded the motion; the motion carried 5-2 with Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell and
Councilmembers Garcia, Sturges, Stover, and York voting in favor of the motion
and Councilmembers Keenan and Wheeler voting against the motion.
Councilmember Wheeler stated his vote was simply that he felt Council could hold
off another week, but in the spirit of unity and the desire to emphasize how
strongly Council is concerned about the water situation, he would like to change his
vote to an affirmative vote. City Attorney Peter G. Smith advised that a motion to
reconsider would have to be made and then restate the original motion.
Couneilmember Wheeler moved to reconsider the previous vote. Councilmember
York seconded the motion; the motion carried 6-1 with Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell and
Councilmembers Garcia, Sturges, Stover, Wheeler and York voting in favor of the
motion and Councilmember Keenan voting against the motion. Councilmember
Sturges moved to approve implementing Phase II of the Daily Water Conservation
Plan, as adopted by the City Council on July 14, 1998, with implementation to be at
the discretion and sole authority of the City Manager. Councilmember York
seconded the motion; the motion carried 6-1 with Mayor Pro Tem Tunnell and
Councilmembers Garcia, Sturges, Stover, Wheeler and York voting in favor of the
motion and Councilmember Keenan voting against the motion. Councilmember
York expressed his appreciation to the employee in water utilities who had worked
127 hours over the last week.
3. Discussion of an Economic Development Incentive Agreement
and a Tax Abatement Agreement with Beck Realty Group and
GTE.
Mayor Sheehan advised that Couneilmember Keenan had filed a Conflict of
Interest with the City Secretary. At this time, Councilmember Keenan excused
himself from the dais. City Manager Jim Witt made a presentation to the Council
advising that this item was for a Resolution of Intent and does not excuse GTE from
the normal process. City Attorney Peter G. Smith made a presentation to the
Council stating that essentially what is being requested of Council is to approve a
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate the terms of an economic
development incentive agreement and tax abatement agreement. Deputy City
Manager Clay Phillips stated that Council had been interested in the cost of the
roadway and that cost would be roughly $$25,000. Councilmember Sturges
inquired as to Section 6, paragraph D regarding the creation of jobs and paragraph
CM072098
Page 2 of 4
F. City Attorney Peter G. Smith stated the provisions of the proposed Resolution
are the minimum requirements. Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell stated she had the same
problems as Councilmember Sturges regarding the wording of "reasonable best
efforts." Councilmember Stover indicated he felt this would be a beneficial
development to the City of Coppell and he would support the resolution with some
modifications. Ken Griffin, Director of Engineering and Public Works, indicated
that the entire length of the roadway project would be 5400 feet. Councilmember
Wheeler indicated he would be more comfortable if the resolution did not contsln
the word "execute" and that he believed this project could be an exciting addition to
the City of Coppell. City Attorney recommended to Council to strike "AND
EXECUTE" from the caption and substitute "FOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL;" in
Section 1 strike "and upon approval as to form by the City Attorney, to execute" and
substitute "therefore for City Council approval;" in Section 2 add new sentence
"GTE and Beck as apphcable shall comply with the City of Coppell tax abatement
guidelines and make formal application to the Economic Development Partnership;"
in Section 4, Paragraph G change to read "that GTE will employ approximately two
thousand (2,000) people at the FACILITY each year," In Section 5 to strike "and
upon approval as to form by the City Attorney, to execute" and substituting
"therefore for City Council Approval." Councilmember Sturges moved to approve
Resolution No. 072098.1 authorizing the City Manager to negotiate an Economic
Development Incentive Agreement (striking the words "and execute") and further
modifying the following: 1) Section 1 -- strike "and upon approval as to form by the
City Attorney, to execute" and replace with "for City Council approval"; 2) Section II
-- add sentence "That GTE and Beck as applicable will comply with The City of
Coppell's Tax Abatement Guidelines and make formal application to the Economic
Development Partnership."; 3) Section V -- strike "and upon approval as to form by
the City Attorney, to execute" and replace with "hereby authorized to negotiate for
City Council approval." Couneilmember York seconded the motion; the motion
carried 6-0 with Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell and Councilmembers Garcia, Sturges,
Stover, Wheeler and York voting in favor of the motion.
4. Consider approval of a Resolution authorizing the City
Manager to negotiate and execute an Economic Development
Incentive Agreement and a Tax Abatement Agreement with
Beck Realty Group and GTE, and authorizing the Mayor to
sign.
This item was considered under Item 3. See Item 3 for minutes.
Mayor Sheehan announced that a Budget Workshop would be held on Monday,
July 27, 1998. City Manager Jim Witt advised that hopefully the City would have
some final evaluation numbers from the Dallas County Appraisal District.
CM072098
Page 3 of 4
Councilmember Keenan asked that various options be considered as notification
regarding the Water Conservation Plan.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was
adjourned.
Candy Sheehan, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kathleen Roach, City Secretary
CM072095
Page 4 of 4