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HomeMy WebLinkAbout032700R CC Min _\1.0 n ---./ ':J ,-- CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2000 MUNICIPAL BUILDING COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD 7:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers on March 27,2000, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Police Chief, Parks and Recreation Director and Public Works Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 24th day of March 2000 at 5:15 p.m. Recomition of members of the Home Place Celebration team. The City Council made a presentation honoring the Home Place Celebration poster contest winners and all members of the team. Public Hearin!!:. A Public Hearing was held before the Zoning and Planning Commission and the City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas. The purpose for the hearing was to provide an opportunity for parties in interest and citizens to be heard in relation to proposals to amend the City's Zoning Ordinance and subdivision regulations. Members ofthe Zoning and Planning Commission present at the meeting were: Vice- Chair Marilyn Griffin, Larry Kelly, Marc Boucher, Bob Higley and Stephen Pohl. The public hearing was called to order by Mayor Lewis and Mrs. Griffin at 7:35 p.m. Members of the public were invited to ask questions or speak concerning the proposed amendments and regulations. Arthur L. Hirdler, 6416 Community, addressed Table 7-4b regarding single-family privacy protection note 7. He commented that the language was onerous and a better solution could be found. Ann de Rouffignac, 4040 Ruskin, presented written comments to the City Secretary. She commented that she was concerned about the possibility of substantial impact on traffic along Ruskin as well as increased parking by non-residents brought on by the opening of the Whole Foods store on Weslayan. Ellis Mills, 4012 Ruskin, addressed concerns about the noise that could possibly be generated by the air compressors at the Whole Foods Market. r --,-- -1-:1 [-.-..--- -'-'m--) ;j 111111~:.lr -------------------------T-,---------'7CO'f:1'~'1If~n"'1ff'~:'------------_.___.u____ 1 ----,-----~------ -/\ , , o City Council Regular Sesswn, March 27, 2000 All statements, exhibits and documents will be made a part ofthe official record of this hearing. Written comments on this topic were given to the City Secretary. There being no other residents wishing to speak on the proposed zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations, the public hearing closed at 7:58 p.m. Resolution appointin~ member to Senior Services Board. Matters related to Resolution No. 2000-02 appointing Maureen Beck to the Senior Services Board. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Ballanfant, to approve Resolution No. 2000-02 appointing Maureen Beck to the Senior Services Board. 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: Ordinance relatin!!: to a municipal consent for telecommunications facilities. Matters related to the second and fmalreading of Ordinance No. 1640. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1640 as follows: An ordinance approving and authorizing a municipal consent and construction permit for certain telecommunication facilities; and containing findings and provisions related to the subj ect. Copies of Ordinance No. 1640, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Public Works Director Ed Menville reported that AT&T Local Services has requested permission to install 65 feet of underground conduit in Academy Street. The conduit would be located just west of the existing curb line and north of Cason Street. The conduit enables- them to run their communication cable underground from. an existing overhead pole position to a vault in the Academy right-of-way. The municipal consent provides for a non-refundable application fee of $850.00 plus a construction plan review fee of $100.00. The right-of-way fee would be $13.00 quarterly. 2 /'\ i ' / City Council Regular Sessron, March 27, 2000 CJ A motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member May, to adopt Ordinance No. 1640 on the second and final reading. 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: Ordinance amendin!!: buildin!!: code. Matters related to the first reading of Ordinance No. 1642. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1642 as follows: An ordinance relating to sidewalks; amending the code of ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject. Copies of Ordinance No. 1642, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. City Attorney Jim Dougherty reported that there were two alternate versions presented to the City Council. One was a draft of work done by the Zoning and Planning Commission and the other one was from Council Members Grubb and Bertini. He stated that as he understood the Council's direction in the Special Session, they would like to do a blend of the two versions. This would be to take the base draft recommended by the Commission and strike exceptions b(3} and b(5) and renumbering accordingly. A motion was made by Council Member Grubb, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to adopt Ordinance No. 1642 on the first reading as amended and stated by the City Attorney. 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: Ordinance relatine: to zonin!!: and subdivision re!!:Ulations. Matters related to the first reading of Ordinance No. 1643. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1643 as follows: 3 I' - "'';'If:l':f'~II!f~''''"'1n~~~--- -- - -T- /~ , I City Council Regular SesSWIi, March 27,2000 o An ordinance relating to subdivisions; amending the code of ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subj ect. Copies of Ordinance No. 1643, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. A motion was made by Council Member Ballanfant, seconded by Council Member May, to table the first reading of Ordinance No. 1643. 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: Ordinance relatine: to personal wireless service facilities. Matters related to the first reading of Ordinance No. 1644. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1644 as follows: An ordinance amending the zoning ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas to provide for personal wireless service facilities; extending the temporary limitation period on certain right of way permits and approvals; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject. Copies of Ordinance No. 1644, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mr. Dougherty reported that Ordinance No. 1644 is the comprehensive regulation of wireless service facilities that has been worked on for at least a year now. The joint public hearing was held last December and the Zoning and Planning Commission has considered the _ proposal and issued their fmal report in favor of the proposed amendments. In the special session, there was a suggestion to reword one of the provisions in the PWSF schedule under application No.4. to include not only within three miles of the site but also include within the city. Mr. Dougherty stated that also in Ordinance No. 1644, Section 2 is a temporary extension of the rules for right-of-way use, which is related to this ordinance. It is a companion ordinance that needs more work and in order to give more time to work on the right-of- way ordinance, this would extend the temporary limitation into July. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Ballanfant, to adopt Ordinance No. 1644 as amended on the first reading. 4 L.... . _L..___-LIl r- 'n!::J. _____~~L_.Ii.tJLl . l'l"L:E~:""Ir'1;c"'-------~--------'--''''--''-----'----'---'--- -- .~ . I City Council Regular Session, March 27, 2000 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: Maintenance a!!:reement with Harris Countv Flood Control District. Matters related to a maintenance agreement with the Harris County Flood Control District relating to an outfall channel. Mr. Menville reported that this agreement relates to a ditch that is commonly called the Kilmamock Ditch. The facility is east of the railroad tracks and south of Thoede Auto Supply. It is an open channel ditch that extends south to Braes Bayou. He stated that the city staff has been working for many years trying to get the maintenance agreement in place. The agreement as presented is now acceptable to all parties involved. A motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member Grubb, to approve the agreement with the Harris County Flood Control District for the maintenance of Kilmamock Ditch. Council Member Bertini introduced. and recognized Herb Herndon with the HCFCD for making the agreement possible. Council Member Bertini stated that he wanted to express his personal appreciation for the work Mr. Herndon has done on behalf of the citizens of West University Place. 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: Report re!!:ardin!!: the hirin!!: of additional police officers and citations issued. Matters related to a report from the City Staff on the status of hiring two additional police officers and the number of citations issued. Police Chief Kevin Begley reported that in adopting the budget, Council increased the authorized sworn staff from 21 to 24 officers. This resulted in three vacancies on January 1,2000. There was an existing vacancy, which was created by an employee leaving in early November, so the city was actually left with four vacancies to fill. Two officers were hired in early 2000 and are currently in the training process. 5 r-- ,--':'1-- r-- - - . -'.m-. 11,!III,..r '-.-~~---T-"--------'--'~f!ITJr:llr~""1Tf,=':nC'-- -~ .'1 City Council Regular Sessmn, March 27,2000 () In early discussions regarding the filling of the vacancies, it was decided that an attempt would be made to fill two positions utilizing federal funding under the COPS Program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. At the time the first two officers were hired, the grant was not available; thus it was hoped that it would be available in time to fund the remaining two positions. On March 7, 2000, the Department of Justice announced funding availability for the COPS program. The deadline for submission of applications is May-31, 2000. It is anticipated that actual funding would not occur until September or October. Grant funding may not be used to pay for officers already employed by anagency. Despite the uncertainties of the COPS grant funding, the recruiting process has continued. Job announcements have been faxed to all six of the local police academies and the staff has received several responses. Historically, this venue is the source ofa significant percentage of applicants. An advertisement has been placed in "The Blues" newspaper (a police trade paper widely read in the greater Houston area and throughout the state). One ad has already run and a second is scheduled for the next issue. An advertisement has been placed on the Texas Municipal League publication "Texas Town and City" web site. The position has also been posted on the "Law and Order" web site. Both of these web sites are accessed frequently by officers both in Texas and across the nation. Plans have been made to place an - advertisement in the Laredo newspaper in an attempt to draw qualified personnel from that area. Advertisements have been placed in the Houston Chronicle twice to date, but have received no response. The city has historically had little or no response from local newspaper advertising. Lastly, a recruiting flyer has been sent to the Regional Planning Commission academy in Midland, Texas and to other academies in West Texas. The flyer was also sent to the Chairman of the Law Enforcement school at Odessa College. Chief Begley stated that the staff believes that the approach above will produce an adequate pool of qualified candidates from which to fill the vacant positions in a-timely manner. Depending upon the direction Council wishes to proceed relative to the COPS funding, the remaining positions can be filled as early as June. Efforts to date have resulted in seventeen applications currently on file. The staff also provided a report on citations issued over the past five years. A motion was made by Council Member Grubb, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to accept the report as presented by Chief Begley, to proceed with all deliberate speed to hire the two additional police officers and to proceed to submit a "COPS" application for additional officers. 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: 6 ""1ll1 I;.~'d! i:III.lI.,r -----T~-~'TIm':rmr~'"'Ilr'f,. - !~ City Council Regular SessIifn, March 27, 2000 CJ Citv Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Special and Regular Sessions conducted on March 13,2000. A motion was made by Council Member Ballanfant, seconded by Council Member Grubb, to approve the minutes as presented. 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: Staff report. City Manager Sherman Yehl reported that METRO is now enforcing traffic laws on some of the West University streets. He also reported that the heater for the pool at Colonial Park needs to be repaired and will probably take three to four weeks. Council comments: Council Member Grubb thanked Chief Begley for his report. Council Member Bertini commented that the Traffic Task Force was meeting on Tuesday,i\priI4th. Mayor Lewis commented that the concert tickets for the Home Place Celebration were on sale. Adiourmnent: With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member May, to adjourn. The Regular Session adjourned at 8:18 p.m. The City Councilreconvened the Special Session in the Council Chambers to consider the remaining items on the agenda of the Special City Council meeting which, began at 6:30 p.m. on March 27,2000. ... 7 ~ ~~ -"'-'1.LI.~L~~-'-----.---I--'--------,-,c~'J~!l'~ur~r.r~ur"lr-'