CM 1998-09-22 MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 22, 1998
The City Council of the City of Coppell met in Regular Called Session on Tuesday,
September 22, 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, Counei]member
Pat Keenan, Councilmember
Doug Stover, Couneilmember
Larry Wheeler, Counc. ilmember
Bill York, Counc. ilmember
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 and adjourned into Work Session.
WORK SESSION (Open to the Public)
2. Convene Work Session
A. Review of Telecommunications Board reconnnendation
regarding Cable Franchise.
B. Review of Agenda Items.
RECEPTION FOR BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE MEMBERS
IN ATRIUM FROM 6:30 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M.
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REGULAR SESSION (Open to the Public)
3. Invocation.
The Reverend Joyce Cravens, First United Methodist Church, led those present in
the Invocation.
4. Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Sheehan led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Sheehan advised that Items 8, 11 and 14 would be pulled from the agenda.
5. Presentation honoring former Councilmember Sturges.
Mayor Sheehan presented a plaque to former Councilmember Sturges commending
him on his contributions to the City of Coppell.
6. PROCLAMATIONS:
A. Consider approval of a Proclamation naming the month of
October 1998 as CRIME PREVENTION MONTH, and
authorizing the Mayor to sign.
B. Consider approval of a Proclamation naming the week of
October 23 through October 31, 1998 as RED RIBBON
WEEK, and authorizing the Mayor to sign.
A. Mayor Sheehan read the proclamation for the record and presented the same
to Officer Mary Seck, Crime Prevention Officer, and McGruff, the Crime Dog.
Mayor Pro Tem Tunnell moved to approve a Proclamation naming the month
of October 1998 as Crime Prevention Month, and authorizing the Mayor to
sign. Councilmember Garcia seconded the motion; the motion carried 6-0
with Mayor Pro Tem Tunnell and Councilmembers Garcia, Keenan, Stover,
Wheeler and York voting in favor of the motion.
B. Mayor Sheehan read the proclamation for the record and presented the same
to Officer Mary Seck, Crime Prevention Officer, and McGruff, the Crime Dog. -
Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell moved to approve a Proclamation naming the week
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of October 23 through October 31, 1998 as Red Ribbon Week, and authorizing
the Mayor to sign. Counc. ilmember York seconded the motion; the motion
carried 6-0 with Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell and Couneilmembers Garcia,
Keenan, Stover, Wheeler and York voting in favor of the motion.
Officer Seck discussed crime prevention and announced the Coppell Police
Department would host a Meet the Chief' reception and open house at the Justice
Center on October 15, 1998/rom 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and on Friday, October 16, 1998
the Metrocrest area will host a kickoff breakfast for Red Ribbon Week.
Counc. ilmember York reiterated that the Council had made alcohol, tobacco and
drug prevention a priority for the City.
7. Swearing in of new Board/Commission]Committee Appointees.
Mayor Sheehan swore in all Board/Commission/Committee appointees who were
present.
8. Presentation to Council by Lynn Lantrip, Regional Public
Sector Marketing Manager, Waste Management of Texas.
Thi.~ item was pulled from the agenda.
9. Citizen's Appearances.
A. Ed Caldwell, 601 Shadowcrest, requested an additional two minutes and
requested to see a consensus of council on the decision. Mayor Pro Tern
Tunnell moved to deny the request for additional time. Couneilmember York
seconded the motion; the motion carried 6-0 with Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell
and Couneilmembers Garcia, Keenan, Stover, Wheeler and York voting in
favor of the motion. Mr. Caldwell addressed the council concerning
complaints regarding police officers.
CONSENT AGENDA
10. Consider approval of the following consent agenda items:
A. Consider approval of minutes: September 8, 1998
..... September 10, 1998.
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B. Consider approval of signing a Cooperative Purchasing
Agreement between the City of Coppell and County of
Denton, and authorizing the Mayor to sign.
Couneilmember York moved to approve Consent Agenda Items A, B and Item 12
awarding a design contract to Freese and Nichols Inc. for the design of Coppell
Road from S.H. 121 to Sandy Lake Road in the amount of $160,650.00, and
authorizing the Mayor to sign. Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell seconded the motion; the
motion carried 6-0 with Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell and Councilmembers Garcia,
Keenan, Stover, Wheeler and York voting in favor of the motion.
11. Consider approval of an Economic Development Incentive
Agreement between the City of Coppell and GTE, and
authorizing the Mayor to sign.
This item was pulled from the agenda.
12. Consider approval of awarding a design contract to Freese and
Nichols, Inc. for the design of Coppell Road from S.H. 121 to
Sandy Lake Road in the amount of $160,650.00; and authorizing
the Mayor to sign.
This item was considered with the Consent Agenda. See Item 10 for minutes.
13. Consider approval of a Resolution transferring cable television
franchise from Paragon Communications to Texas Cable
Partners, and authorizing the Mayor to sign.
Peggy Quinn, Chair of the Telecommunications Board, made a presentation to the
Council. Counc. ilmember Wheeler stated he had some concern voting on something
that the Council had no control over since the ownership can change without
Council approval. Susan Patten, representing Paragon Cable, addressed the
method of selection for the new additional channels. Couneilmember Garcia
inquired as to whether some of the city's concerns would be taken into
consideration. Ms. Patten stated they wished to provide a good service to the
citizens of Coppell. Councilmember Keenan asked the Telecommunications Board
to continue to work with the new company and advised that the FCC had mandated
Paragon Cable to obtain approval from the Council on the merger. Couneilmember
Stover inquired about the new channels and the pricing. Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell
moved to approve Resolution No. 092298.1 transferring cable television franchise
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from Paragon Communications to Texas Cable Partners, L.P., and authorizing the
Mayor to sign. Couneilnqember Garcia seconded the motion; the motion carried 6-0
with Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell and Councilmembers Garcia, Keenan, Stover, and
York voting in favor of the motion and Couneilmember Wheeler abstaining, said
abstention counting as a vote in favor of the motion, per the Home Rule Charter,
Section 3.1 lB.
14. Consider appointments of a voting delegate and two alternate
voting delegates to cast the City of Coppell's votes at the
Annual Business Meeting of the National League of Cities.
This item was pulled from the agenda.
15. Consider approval of a Resolution declaring the correct
pronunciation of our fair City as COP'PELL, and authorizing
the Mayor to sign.
City Manager Jim Witt made a presentation to the Council and read the resolution
for the record. Couneilmember York moved to approve Resolution No. 092298.2
declaring the correct pronunciation of our fair City as Cop'pell, and authorizing the
Mayor to sign. Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell seconded the motion; the motion carried 6-0
with Mayor Pro Tern Tunnell and Councilmembers Garcia, Keenan, Stover,
Wheeler and York voting in favor of the motion.
16. City Manager's Report.
City Manager Jim Witt discussed the MENOL Point and approaches to the
airport.
B. City Manager Jim Witt gave an update on Fairway Drive and advised that
the light and crossing will be open and running approximately mid-October.
17. Mayor's Report.
Mayor Sheehan thanked City Staff who participated in the Boards/
Commissions/Committees Reception, especially the City Secretary
Department.
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B. Mayor Sheehan advised she had met with a business owner who was
concerned about lack of compliance with the sign ordinance and requested
that the Sign Ordinance Committee reconvene to look at enforcement issues.
C. Mayor Sheehan announced that the GTE groundbreaking ceremony would be
held Thursday, September 24, 1998 at 9:00 a.m.
D. Mayor Sheehan stated she, Councilmember Keenan, Gary Sieb and Isabelle
Moro attended the North Texas Conference on Economic Development on
Friday, September 18, 1998.
E. Mayor Sheehan addressed the substance abuse project that the City had
been working on. Councilmember Stover stated he had attended a meeting
with the Executive Director of the Starfish Foundation.
F. Councilmember York advised that Senator Jane Nelson had spoken at the
last Chamber luncheon.
G. Counc-ilmember York thanked Good Morning Texas for coming to our
community on Friday, September 18, 1998.
H. Couneilmember York stated that Saturday had been the opening day for the
Coppell Soccer Association and the Coppell Baseball Association and
commended the Leisure Services Department on their preparation of the
fields and facilities.
I. Couneilmember York invited everyone to a luncheon at the Senior Center on
Wednesday, September 23, 1998 and advised that flu shots would be given at
the Senior Center on October 21, 1998.
J. Councilmember Wheeler expressed his desire to hear a presentation from the
Sports Council.
K. Councilrnember Wheeler indicated he had full faith and confidence in the
Coppell Police Department and welcomed Roy Osborne as the new Police
Chief.
L. Couneilmember Keenan seconded Couneilmember Wheeler's comments
regarding the Police Department.
M. Couneilmember Keenan discussed the school districts that are attended by
Coppell students and reminded everyone of the bond election to be held on
October 3, 1998.
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-- N. Coun¢ilmember York stated the Freeport Exemption was discussed at the
school board meeting and they would be interested in reviewing the study.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (Closed to the Public)
18. Convene Executive Session
A. Section 551.072, Texas Government Code - Deliberation
regarding real property.
1. Land Acquisition.
Mayor Sheehan convened into Executive Session at 8:48 p.m. as allowed under the
above-stated article. Mayor Sheehan adjourned the Executive Session at 9:05 p.m.
and reopened the Regular Session.
REGULAR SESSION (Open to the Public)
19. Necessary action resulting from Executive Session.
There was no action necessary under this item.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was
adjourned.
C andy Sheehan, Mayor-
ATTEST:
Kathleen Roach, City Secretary
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