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Apr 9, 20239 min read

11 April 2023 Council Meeting

Updated: Apr 21, 2023

  • Agenda items: Joint Solid Waste Agreement with neighboring cities with Republic Waste Services; STEP grants – Click It or Ticket and Operation Slow Down; ordinance for Fire Marshal and Fire Department; sex offenders registry for Willow Park; appoint Fire Marshal John Schneider to the Police Department Committee; dispose or donate surplus office items and equipment; Executive Session - contracts for the purchase of 120 El Chico along with adjoining unimproved property

  • Location and Time: El Chico City Hall, 120 El Chico Trail, Suite A, Willow Park, TX 76087, 6PM

  • Meeting Page (agenda packet, minutes, video) / Video Facebook FB after Executive Session *Minutes approved during the next city council meeting.

  • Council approves sex offender ordinance, [11 April 2023 Council Meeting review, child safety zones, 2 STEP grants for WP Police Dept, contract with Republic Waste, ARP funds going for new sewer line], The Community News, 14 April 2023

  • Latest Update: Friday, 21 April, 2023, added minutes

  • Tags: #EMSFirePoliceAmb #WastewaterTreatmentPlant #ARPA #CityHall



 

Public Comments

Minutes: Dr. Susan Bohn, Superintendent for Aledo Independent School District spoke before the City Council regarding 2023 AISD Bond.


Agenda Items

6. Discussion/Action: to authorize the Mayor to renew and amend the current Joint Solid Waste Agreement with Republic Waste Services, entered into with the City of Hudson Oaks, City of Aledo, Town of Annetta, Town of Annetta North, City of Annetta South, and the City of Willow Park effective through April 30, 2026.


  • Background: The existing joint solid waste agreement between the cities and Republic Services expires April 30, 2023. In preparation for this, city staff has been negotiating with Republic on a renewal of the joint solid waste agreement with the cities.

Republic’s intent was to establish a long term partnership with the cities to support their required investment in assets and infrastructure to support the new agreement. The proposal as set forth in the attached documents is that beginning May 1, 2026, Republic’s garbage, trash, and recycling collections will all be by polycarts, and Republic agrees to utilize an entirely new fleet of automated side loader (ASL) trucks to service all the cities for garbage, trash, and recyclable materials; however, Republic may utilize its existing fleet for brush and debris collection and disposal.


Additionally, the cities’ existing disposal agreement with Waste Management expires April 30, 2026. Because of these changes in structure to begin May 1, 2026, it was decided to enter into a renewal of the existing solid waste agreement beginning May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2026, when the disposal agreement will end, and then enter into a new joint solid waste agreement to begin May 1, 2026 detailing the use of the new ASL trucks by Republic and changing the disposal terms since the disposal agreement with Waste Management will no longer exist.


Attached you will find both a proposed renewal and amendment to the existing solid waste agreement to begin May 1, 2023, and a proposed new joint solid waste agreement to begin May 1, 2026.

B Renewal and Amendment Agreement (2023-2026)

  • Renewal and Amendment Agreement (2023-2026)

The terms and conditions of the current joint solid waste agreement remain in effect, except to the extent modified in the renewal document. There are no further renewals of the current agreement permitted. Services continue during the renewal term as curbside “take all” services.


The required minimum tons per year of solid waste to be disposed of was amended from 35,000 tons to 19,000 tons annually.


Aledo was added to the table of collection schedules to change from their existing once a week solid waste service to twice a week service as with the other cities.


The base rate schedules are increasing slightly for 2023 from $16.79 to $17.63. A fixed 4% annual increase to the base rates is built in each year of the renewal, on May 1, 2024, and May 1, 2025.


Aledo was added to the provisions regarding billing and franchise fees as exist for the other cities.


The provision requiring Republic to pay an outside disposal fee into an escrow account for the benefit of the cities [relating to Republic disposal of solid waste from customers outside the city limits of the cities utilizing the reduced municipal disposal rate negotiated with Waste Management] was amended to require quarterly payments by Republic into an escrow account maintained at the depository institution of Hudson Oaks for the benefit of all the cities jointly, and such deposit shall be accompanied by a reconciliation and accounting by Republic of the monthly tonnage reports to verify the amount being deposited. This should help with the issues encountered with this provision under the existing solid waste agreement. Additionally, Republic has confirmed that the escrow balance as of October, 2022, is $86,978.33, and they have paid such amount into the escrow account being maintained by Hudson Oaks.


7. Discussion/Action: to authorize the Mayor to execute a Joint Solid Waste Agreement with Republic Waste Services, entered into with the City of Hudson Oaks, Town of Annetta, Town of Annetta North, City of Aledo, City of Annetta South, and City of Willow Park effective May 1, 2026.

  • See Agenda Item 6

  • Exhibits: Joint Solid Waste Agreement


8. Discussion/Action: to allow for the implementation of STEP grant – Click It or Ticket. #EMSFirePoliceAmb

  • Background: Click It or Ticket

    • The purpose of this grant is to increase occupant restraint use in all passenger vehicles and trucks.

    • Conduct high-visibility saturation patrols within the Enforcement Zone(s)

    • Perform media campaigns and community education events

    • Increase enforcement of traffic safety-related laws regarding the use of safety belts

    • Increase public education and information campaigns

    • In 2021, there was a 14% increase from 2020, in the number of fatalities involving not wearing a seat belt.

    • Our agency worked one (1) fatality crash in December 2022, where speed and no seatbelt were factors.

    • This program has saved (statewide) over 6,972 lives, prevented more than 120,000 serious bodily injuries, and saved Texas more than $26.3 billion in related economic costs, since its inception 20 years ago.

    • Our goal is to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to children and adults

    • Enforcement waves: May 22 – June 4, 2023

  • Additional Information:

    • Grant Match is a 79.27% / 20.73% split

    • Grant funding requested to be awarded by TxDOT: $3,000

    • TxDOT Match: Up to $2,997.60

    • City Match: Up to $783.94

  • Exhibits: STEP – Click It or Ticket packet (includes budget summary and zone map[s]).

  • Willow Park Civics Research


9. Discussion/Action: to allow for the implementation of STEP grant – Operation Slow Down e-Grant #EMSFirePoliceAmb

  • Background: Operation Slow Down

    • The purpose of this grant is to increase enforcement of traffic safety-related laws to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes.

    • Conduct high-visibility saturation patrols within the Enforcement Zone(s)

    • Perform media campaigns and community education events

    • Increase enforcement of traffic safety-related laws regarding speed

    • Increase public education and information campaigns

    • Speed is the most common factor in crashes in Texas. At least 1/3 of crashes are related to speed.

    • Our agency worked one (1) fatality crash in December 2022, where speed and no seatbelt were factors.

    • Enforcement waves: July 14 – July 30, 2023

  • Additional Information:

    • Grant Match is a 79.27% / 20.73% split

    • Grant funding requested to be awarded by TxDOT: $3,000

    • TxDOT Match: Up to $2,997.60

    • City Match: Up to $783.94

  • Exhibits: STEP – Operation Slow Down packet (includes budget summary and zone map[s]).

  • Willow Park Civics Research


10. Consideration/Action: to amend Chapter 5, Fire Prevention and Protection of the City Code of Ordinances. Amending Article 5.02 Fire Marshal and Deleting Article 5.03 Fire Department. #EMSFirePoliceAmb

  • Background: On March 25, 2023, Parker County Emergency Service District #1 received command of fire prevention and protection for the City of Willow Park as approved by the annexation election on November 8, 2022. With this change the city needs to amend Article 5.02, Fire Marshall, which will remain in place with recommended updates. Since the Fire Department duties and responsibilities will be with the ESD, Article 5.03 will be deleted in its entirety.

  • Exhibits: Fire Marshall ordinance.

  • Willow Park Civics Research:

    • During the 14 March 2034 Council meeting the council approved an "interlocal agreement with Parker County ESD No. 1 transitioning fire department employees and certain equipment to the ESD No. 1."

    • Willow Park Civics > Issues > Fire Department and ESD1, includes Willow Park Civics Blogs. This is the results of the the Emergency Services District 1 (ESD1) annexation of the Willow Park Fire and Rescue Department during the November 2022 general election.


11. Discussion/Action: the City Council may consider, discuss and/or act on an ordinance regulating sex offender residency in the City of Willow Park.

  • Background: Establishment of an ordinance that defines child safety zones and regulates sex offenders required to register for offenses related to a victim less than 16 years of age or temporary residence within 1,000 feet of the child safety zones.

  • Willow Park Civics Research:

    • Willow Park Civics Blog > New Child Safety Zones ordinance enforcing sex offender laws in Willow Park.

    • US Dept. of Justice > National Sex Offender Public Website

    • US FBI > Safety Resources > Sex Offender Registry

      • Background on the National Sex Offenders Registry. Our Crimes Against Children Unit at FBI Headquarters coordinated the development of the National Sex Offenders Registry, which is currently managed by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS). The National Sex Offender Registry is a database available only to law enforcement that is maintained by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division.

      • Laws Governing Sex Offender Registries.

        • The Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act of 1996 (Lychner Act) requires the Attorney General to establish a national database at the FBI to track the whereabouts and movements of certain convicted sex offenders. The FBI's National Crime Information Center enables the National Sex Offender Registry to retain the offender’s current registered address and dates of registration, conviction, and residence.

        • The Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexual Violent Offender Registration Program, enacted in 1994, provides a financial incentive for states to establish registration programs for persons who have been convicted of certain sex crimes.

        • Megan’s Law, enacted in May 1996, amends the Wetterling Program legislation to give states broad discretion to determine to whom notification should be made about offenders, under what circumstances, and about which offenders.


12. Discussion/Action: to appoint Fire Marshal John Schneider to the Police Department Committee. #EMSFirePoliceAmb

  • Background: The City needs to appoint a new Police Department Committee member to replace former Police Chief Carrie Ellis. Staff is recommending Fire Marshal John Schneider.


13. Discussion/Action: to consider the use of the funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to construct a new sanitary sewer line along Bankhead Highway from Ranch House Road to the east city limits. #WastewaterTreatmentPlant #ARPA

  • Background: The project consists of approximately 5,500 linear feet of an 8” gravity sewer along Bankhead Highway from Ranch House to the east city limits. This project will allow service to the currently unserved areas east of Ranch House and south of Interstate 20.

  • Exhibits: • Sanitary Sewer Line Map • Preliminary Estimate - Project Total $1,152,768


14. Discussion/ Action: To authorize staff to donate surplus office items and equipment to non-profits organization and dispose of surplus office items and equipment that are deemed damaged. #CityHall

  • Background: The City has a surplus of office items and equipment (old desks, chairs, filing cabinets to name a few) in the old City Hall located at 516 Ranch House. These items will need to be removed from the building prior to demolition of the structure. Some of the items are damaged and need to be disposed of. Other items are still useful and could benefit non-profit organizations.

Informational

  • Mayor Comments

    • Minutes: Mayor Moss thanked everyone for their help. This is another great move and he appreciated everyone’s cooperation.

  • Council Comments

    • none

  • City Manager Comments

    • Minutes: City Manager, Bryan Grimes thanked staff for the last week in handling several meetings in a short time frame. He mentioned the next city council meeting on April 25th and that quarterly reports will be on the agenda. He also reported the pump station is 99.9% complete and the city should be on Fort Worth water permanently within the next 7 days. The city is hosting Willow Bark on Saturday, April 15th from 11:00 am - 4 pm at McCall Elementary.

Executive session

15. Discussion of purchase contracts for the purchase of 120 El Chico along with adjoining unimproved property. #CityHall

  • Minutes: The City Council may approve an improved property purchase contract with Parker County RE Partners, LLC for 120 El Chico. Additionally, the City Council may approve an unimproved property purchase contract with I-20 KC, LLC for unimproved property adjoining 120 El Chico.

  • Willow Park Civics Research:


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