2018_02.15 CC MinutesKENNEDALE
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KENNEDALE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING 1 February 15, 2018
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 405 MUNICIPAL DRIVE
WORK SESSION - 5:00 PM 1 REGULAR SESSION - 7:00 PM
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Jan Joplin called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m.
Mayor Brian Johnson arrived at 5:25 p.m.
II. WORK SESSION
A. Hold interviews of candidates for appointment to City Boards and Commissions
At this time, City Council interviewed Jadey James in the Jury Room.
B. Discussion of items on Regular Session
There was no discussion at this time.
C. Hold a discussion and provide staff direction regarding the development of a policy for the
calling of Special Meetings of the City Council and for the identification of items to be
included on the Council's Agenda for future consideration
City Manager George Campbell asked for direction from Council so that a policy could
be drafted. City Attorney Wayne Olson stated that the Charter provides that a Special
Meeting may be called at the request of three Councilmembers, but that because three
members constitutes a quorum, Council must be careful to operate in such a way as to
avoid violations of the Open Meetings Act. He suggested adopting a policy so that, in
time - sensitive situations, Council would have an avenue for calling a Special Meeting
outside of discussion during a posted open meeting.
After lengthy discussion, Council requested that Olson draft a policy regarding the
calling of Special Meetings and the placement of items on the agenda to be presented to
Council at the Monday, March 5 Special Meeting.
D. Discussion of budget amendments
Mayor Pro Tem Jan Joplin stated that she requested this item because during the
budget process, there was consideration of cutting several line items that ended up
being included in the budget. She requested individual discussion of her proposed cuts
and potential adjustments to Fire Department salaries. Council requested that this
discussion of specific line item cuts be placed on the next agenda.
E. Discussion of water /sewer rate review /reduction
Councilmember Gilley stated that he believed the Water & Sewer Fund is now healthier
than the last time Council had considered an adjustment in Summer 2017, and asked
405 Municipal Drive, Kennedale, TX 76060 1 Telephone: 817 -985 -2100 1 Fax: 817- 478 -7169
that discussion of the health of the Water & Sewer Fund and what effect rate
adjustments might have on that fund be placed on an upcoming agenda.
F. Discussion of Charter amendments
Council discussed the possibility of term limits, single- member districts, and caps on
water and wastewater rate increase percentages. Mayor Johnson asked that Council
forward their nominations for three members for a Charter Review Committee, which
would include himself and Councilmembers Gilley and Lee, with the goal of having
proposed Charter amendments on either the November 2018 or May 2019 ballot.
G. Discussion of Purchasing Matrix Amendment
Finance Director Brady Olsen stated that he had surveyed other cities, focusing on
those in the region and /or of a similar population. City Manager Campbell pointed out
the restrictiveness of limiting staff's power to $10,000 without requiring Council approval.
Finance Director Brady Olsen was directed to prepare an updated purchasing matrix
and further comparison data for the next meeting.
Council recessed at 6:43 p.m., until the Regular Session.
III. REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Johnson opened the Regular Session at 7:05 p.m.
IV. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Johnson (arrived at 5:25 p.m.); Mayor Pro Tem Joplin, Place 5; Rockie Gilley,
Place 1; Liz Carrington, Place 2; Sandra Lee, Place 3; and Kelly Turner, Place 4. Absent: None
Staff: City Manager George Campbell, City Secretary and Communications Coordinator Leslie Galloway, Finance Director
Brady Olsen, Fire Chief Mike McMurray, Police Chief Tommy Williams, Public Works Director Larry Ledbetter, Public Works
Superintendent Larry Hoover, Library Director Amanda King, City Attorney Wayne Olson
V. INVOCATION
Mayor Pro Tem Jan Joplin provided the invocation.
VI. UNITED STATES PLEDGE AND TEXAS PLEDGE
VII. VISITOR /CITIZENS FORUM
No one requested to speak.
VIII. REPORTS /ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Updates from the City Council
Councilmember Gilley stated that he spent some time researching the initiative
sponsored by Governor Greg Abbott to give citizens the ability to cap property tax rates.
Councilmember Lee thanked the Mayor for inviting her to the Mayor's Council and some
other upcoming events. She added that she had spent some time visiting with the
NAACP and her attorney.
Mayor Pro Tem Joplin stated that the last Council meeting was adjourned early
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because, in her opinion, the agenda was not chronological, and that she had since
contracted outside counsel to negotiate agenda items for a Special Meeting and was
appreciative that those requested items were on tonight's agenda. She stated that she
attended the Parks & Recreation Board and Planning and Zoning Commission meeting
and learned about several upcoming events and potential developments in the City, and
met with the President of the Kennedale Professional Firefighters Association and
discussed turnover and the desire for a salary step plan.
Councilmember Turner stated that he had attended several meetings of the Tarrant
County Emergency Preparedness Planning Committee and about $1.8 Million would
soon be allotted to this area (16 counties) for items including night vision goggles, bomb
team training and resources, traffic direction devices, and communication equipment.
B. Updates from the City Manager
City Manager George Campbell stated that water contract discussions with the City of
Arlington were ongoing, the site tour was complete, an agreement was being drafted,
and plans to repair the water tower had been put on hold as it may not be necessary,
depending on negotiations. He added that preliminary discussions had begun with
Arlington regarding improvements to Sublett Road and the bridge near the new Kroger
(at 287), but that, if these talks proved successful, it would be a multi -year process.
C. Updates from the Mayor
Mayor Johnson stated that Theatre in the Park was rehearsing, with a play scheduled for
late April; Tarrant County College and the Kennedale Historical Society are partnering
for monthly history lectures at the Kennedale Library; he recently spoke to Dr. Allan
Saxe's class at UTA; he was appointed as chair of "Partners in Hope" a One Safe Place
committee aimed at engaging the public in conversations about domestic violence; he
attended the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition (TRTC) meeting where mass
transit and infrastructure needs were discussed; he attended the Mayor's Council where
homelessness, child advocacy, and flu season were the focus; on February 22, the
Mayor's Council will discuss distribution of CDBG funding; he attended the Southeast
Tarrant Transportation Partnership (SETTP) meeting and encouraged the public to be
engaged in the discussion about the redesign of the 1- 20/820/287 interchange; and he is
running a marathon with Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter to raise funds to send children to
Camp Hope through One Safe Place.
IX. MONITORING INFORMATION
A. Monthly Financials — January 2018
There was no discussion at this time.
B. Schedule of Investment Activity for quarter ending December 31, 2017
There was no discussion at this time.
X. INCIDENTAL ITEMS
XI. REQUIRED APPROVAL ITEMS (CONSENT)
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A. Consider approval of minutes from January 12, 2018 regular meeting
B. Consider adopting Resolution 518 for a grant application to the Justice Assistance Grant
(JAG) Program for rifle- resistant body armor
C. 2017 Racial Profiling Report from the Police Department
Motion To Approve all required approval items on consent agenda, except item B
(Resolution 518). Action Approve, Moved By Turner, Seconded By Carrington. Motion
passed Unanimously.
In response to Councilmember Lee's question, Police Chief Tommy Williams confirmed
that there were no matching funds required from the City.
Motion To Approve adoption of Resolution 518. Action Approve, Moved By Turner,
Seconded By Lee. Motion passed Unanimously.
XII. DECISION ITEMS
A. Presentation by City Secretary of Certifications of Citizens Petitions for recall under Article
XI of the City Charter
City Secretary Leslie Galloway certified to Council that two separate recall petitions were
filed by John Clark on Monday, January 8, 2018 — one regarding Sandra Lee, Place 3
(containing 501 signatures, of which at least 425 were verified as adequate and
complete); and one regarding Jan Joplin, Place 5 (containing 498 signatures, of which at
least 421 were verified as adequate and complete). She added that this was a sufficient
number of verified signatures on each, and that the Charter directs the City Council to
call a Special Election to determine whether these two Councilmembers shall be
recalled. She added that the next Special Election date that meets the requirements of
the charter and state law is Saturday, May 5, 2018.
City Attorney Wayne Olson stated that it was the City Secretary's duty to certify the
petition and that the Charter requires the City Council, after that certification, to vote to
hold a recall election. Mayor Pro Tem Joplin stated her opinion that those circulating the
petitions had misrepresented the facts to signers.
B. Consider approval of Resolution 516, calling a Special Election for May 5, 2018, pursuant
to Article XI of the City Charter
Motion To Approve adoption of Resolution 516. Action Approve, Moved By Turner,
Seconded By Carrington. Motion passed 4 -0, with Joplin abstaining.
C. Consider approval of Resolution 517, calling the General Election for May 5, 2018
Motion To Approve adoption of Resolution 517. Action Approve, Moved By Lee,
Seconded By Turner. Motion passed Unanimously.
D. Discuss and consider scheduling a Special Session of the City Council
Mayor Johnson stated that there had been a lengthy discussion during the Work
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Session and that there would be a Resolution establishing a policy for calling Special
Meetings and placing items on the agenda at an upcoming meeting.
City Council decided to hold a Special Meeting on Monday, March 5, to further discuss
several items from tonight's Work Session, including budget amendments, a policy for
calling special meetings and placing items on the agenda, and the purchasing policy.
Councilmember Gilley also asked that, going forward, Economic Development
Corporation (EDC) financial and activity reports be added to Council agendas.
E. Consider making appointments to various Advisory Boards and Commissions including: the
Economic Development Corporation Board, Parks and Recreation Board, Board of
Adjustment/Building Board of Appeals, and Planning and Zoning Commission
Motion to Approve the appointments of Stan Seat to the Economic Development
Corporation (EDC) Place 1; Ralph Grimes to EDC Place 5; Councilmember Sandra Lee
to EDC Place 7; Josh Hayes to the Parks & Recreation Board Place 6; Jadey James to
the Planning & Zoning Commission Place 6; to move Josh Altom to Place 2 of the Board
of Adjustments /Building Board of Appeals, leaving Place 8 vacant. Action Approve,
Moved By Gilley, Seconded By Mayor Pro Tem Joplin. Motion passed Unanimously.
F. Consider appointment of Chair and Vice Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission
Council asked that the Planning & Zoning Commission membership forward a
recommendation for Chair and Vice Chair.
G. Consider appointment of Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Adjustment/Building Board of
Appeals
Council asked that the Board of Adjustment /Building Board of Appeals membership
forward a recommendation for Chair and Vice Chair.
XIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council did not meet in Executive Session.
XIV. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION, AND TAKE ACTION NECESSARY PURSUANT TO
EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF NEEDED
XV. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 7:51 p.m.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
BRIO JO SON, MA OR
11 ESLIE GALLOWAY, CITY SECRETAR
IC101 ri
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