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Home My WebLink About021400S CC Min ~ /\ o ~ /'\ { , CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14,2000 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Special Session in the Municipal Building Conference Room (3800 University Blvd.) on February 14,2000, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Public Works Director and Parks and Recreation Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 11th day of February 2000 at 3:30 p.m. A!!:enda Review: The City Council reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under consideration with the Staff. Matters related to Ordinance No. 1635 Chairman of the Zoning and Planning Commission Charles Nelson presented a preliminary recommendation from the Commission regarding the peripheral areas and the commercial district. The proposal would be to modify existing regulations and add new regulations applicable primarily to non-single-family districts. Amendments to the text of the zoning ordinance include regulations such as density, yards or setbacks, landscaping, trees, privacy, garage space, parking and access, drainage, and sidewalks. Ordinance No. 1635 would call a public hearing on the above proposal during the City Council meeting set to begin at 7:30 p.m. on March 27,2000. Edloe Street Linear Park. Matters related to the development of the Edloe Street Linear Park and cost estimates. Parks and Recreation Director Mark Mailes reported that Harris County has agreed to install three footbridges at the dead ends of Robinhood, Plumb and Tangley. In order for the county to consider assisting with additional costs, they have requested that the City Staff submit cost estimates that reflect the entire cost for the linear park located in the easement area west of the ditch between Sunset and Rice Boulevard. Jim Patterson from White Oak Studio presented some conceptual drawings for the Edloe Street Linear Park. Included are a pathway that would connect with the bridges and L_ __ _. J__-.:...JI .1:---.--- ; -":.-'~ _ _,,"",-~_".~.L~lUillL!lllliUtH 1~IIJI,Uili,',1 -III,":I' .--.,...-....,..._..,.",-e..,.-".,-=~...............- (\, City Council Special Sesskr.d~ February 14, 2000 /~ (~ provide a safe walking/biking trail for children and adults. Also discussed was ornamental fencing and lighting standards, landscaping and benches. Council Member Ballanfant inquired about the contract the city has with White Oak Studio to develop a parks master plan and if his contract included the Edloe Street Linear Park. He commented that the Parks and Recreation Board should be charged with producing the final plans along with Jim Patterson. City Manager Sherman Yehl stated that Mr. Patterson was currently working on an hourly basis and his contract would need to be renegotiated to include the Linear Park. Council Member Ballanfant stated that the contract should include a design proposal for the Edloe Street Linear Park from Sunset to Georgetown, around JMH to Rice Boulevard, and from the Scout House around the elementary school to the Rice Pocket Park on Auden. The plan should include the same fencing, columns - and lighting as presented in the initial drawings. The City Council endorsed the concept as discussed and presented by White Oak Studio. ISO ratint!: report. Matters related to a report on the ISO rating. Fire Chief Terry Stevenson reported that additional training hours is necessary in order to achieve a better ISO rating. The continued education classes are required on a monthly basis and must be conducted jointly with the City of Bellaire, which is West University's mutual aid partner. The joint training exercises must meet applicable ISO standards or regulations. Chief Stevenson stated that they are currently working with the City of Bellaire for the use of their facilities for the training. Chief Stevenson also reported that the City was currently taking applications for the Fire Marshall position. Police Chief Kevin Begley reported that he has met with a design firm for the remodeling of the dispatch center. Conceptual designs will be presented at a later meeting. The police department is currently taking applications for police officers and a dispatcher. The City Council recessed the Special Session at 7:30 p.m. The Special Session reconvened at 8:05 p.m. Report on Traffic Study. Matters related to a report from the Traffic Task Force on traffic calming in Hot Spot No. 1 and 3. 2 L-- 01 City Council Special Ses~.l""'1, February 14,2000 /~ I,,) Members of the Task Force present at the meeting were Joe Studlick, Jerry Gips, Hugh Schwanecke and Jennifer Sickman. Mr. Gips reported on the 3700 block of Sunset, Hot Spot No.1. He stated that the Traffic Task Force believes that there is a traffic concern on Sunset. They also believe that when the infrastructure improvements are complete the traffic speed and volume will increase. The Task Force submitted the following recommendations: . Visually narrow the 3700 block of Sunset by creating a parking lane on both sides of the street that contrasts with the driving lanes in color, texture and possibly elevation. This work can be done when the street is resurfaced. They presented two illustrations. Figure 1 has a 7-foot wide parking lane on either side of the 30-foot wide street. Figure 2 has a 7-foot wide parking lane defmed by a 1 ~ foot to 2 foot wide strip of textured surface. The parking lane could be constructed of pavers or textured concrete. . Place a crosswalk of similar textured surface across Sunset at both the Edloe and Auden intersections. . Increase traffic enforcement on this block, possibly utilizing unmarked radar patrols. . Encourage residents to plant trees in the right of way to cause a canopy of tree limbs to further visually narrow the street. . Collect traffic surveys when parking lanes are complete to verify the effectiveness in reducing the measured 85th percentile speed. Currently, eighty-five percent of cars traveling on Sunset are going 30 miles per hour or less. . Use the criteria of 85th percentile measurement of 25 miles per hour. Increase complex traffic calming measures until this criterion is reached on at least three consecutive measurements. Council Member May raised numerous questions regarding the narrow driving lane in Figure 1 and 2. He stated the following reasons for not supporting the recommendations: · Traffic studies indicated 85% below speed limit · There is nothing to support de-facto enforcement of24MPH speed limit on one street. · . Permanent solution recommended is permanent, contrary to "Bertini" 90/90/90 methodology. · Permanent solution recommended lacks resident support according to February survey. · Permanent solution recommended appears excessive relative to "Cynthia Hall" literature cited. · Permanent solution recommended lacks lateral visuals per Cynthia Hall to interrupt sight lines. · Permanent solution recommended looks dangerous and visually extends sight lines. · Permanent solution recommended can't be applied to previous construction. · Permanent solution recommended is expensive. 3 , , L"Il'II",II.,..;r ----- r ---'-~Iffi~""r'rrf''''':r-'--~~--'-~-'-~~-''--! --- ,/'\ City Council Special Sesslod, February 14,2000 () A motion was made by Council Member Grubb, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to move forward with the Traffic Task Force recommendation for the 3700 block of Sunset and a tentative design of Figure -I. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini and Grubb Council Member May None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed. Mrs. Sickman presented the following recommendations for traffic calming in College Court, Hot Spot No. 3. . Improve safety near Judson Park: install a call box; make streets around park one- way; eliminate parking on one side of the streets surrounding park; install a crosswalk. . Slow traffic/reduce volume on Albans and Fairmont: install traffic circle at Albans and Fairmont; install crosswalk at Albans and Academy entrance. . Slow traffic on Community: install 2 traffic calming devices on Community between Emory/Lehighand Sunset/Dartmouth; install a crosswalk across Community at Bissonnet entrance. . Trammel Crow Realty: move parking lot entrance near post office south to offset it from Albans; move two mail boxes from Academy inside parking lot. . Increased traffic enforcement: request increased patrol and enforcement of speeding, stop signs and parking violations in and around the neighborhood. . Improve safety with crosswalks: install timed EastlWest crosswalks across Academy at Bissonnet and North/South crosswalks across Bissonnet at Academy; install East/West crosswalk across Community at Bissonnet; install crosswalk at Judson Park entrances; as part of the infrastructure design, incorporate crosswalks at all College Court entrances off Academy and Bissonnet. . Improve signage throughout College Court: West University signs at entrances to College Court; parking designation signs and playground/reduced speed signs at Judson Park; no parking signs on the West side of Academy. . Initiate discussions with the City of Houston concerning traffic directly impacted by streets under their jurisdiction. A motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member Grubb, to approve the recommendations for Hot Spot No.3 as presented. 4 (\ City Council Special Sessl-!, February 14, 2000 c) A vote was taken on the motion with the folloWing result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May None None Voting Nay: Absent: Capital Improvement Proiects. The City Manager presented a report on five-year capital improvement projects. Mayor Lewis requested that Council Member May be authorized to work with the City Staff and other volunteers to develop a proposal for streetlights. Ouarterly Report. Matters related to the Quarterly Report. The City Staff presented the fourth quarter management report for the period ending December 31, 1999. Strate!!:ic Plan. The City Manager presented a status update as of December 31, 1999 on the adopted Strategic Plan. Citv Web-site. The City Council reviewed the development of the City's Web-site. Report from Board or Commission Liaisons. Council Member Bertini reported that the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board was producing a refrigerator magnet regarding recycling to be given out during the Home Place Celebration. Mayor Lewis reported thatthe Home Place Celebration has been completely underwritten except for the cost of one band. Tickets will go on sale March 1. InQuiries. reQuests and comDlaints. The City Council reviewed matters received from the public and referred them to the appropriate department or placed them on a future agenda for consideration or action. Council Member Ballanfant reported that he had a comment from a resident who felt the Building Division was inefficient in acting upon or issuing building permits. 5 r~ 1 _ __ ..... ~.:--.:-".- "' "'",,-,-::::IL__ _ _"_.__~_~l.LJ.j,~II~j~ --~I~!1'!f!'~""P1n"~---- (\ City Council Special Sesslo-i1; February 14,2000 () The City Manager reported that he has requested a report from the Building Division on tracking permits. Adiournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Grubb, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to adjourn. The Special Session adjourned at 9:48 p.m. 6 L-__ r______~___~~ L -- ': .'II:C.:ll...-_ _ ________~____.L...._LL:21lJ 1 ulllITEr,--.-.-----,---- . Lltld~I~I. 01 ~__n_n__