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Home My WebLink About030909R CC Min0 The City A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL Bob Kelly, Mayor Bob Fry, Councilmember Phyllis Cohen, Councilmember Chuck Guffey, Councilmember STAFF Michael Ross, City Manager Alan Petrov, City Attorney Thelma Lenz, City Secretary CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in special session Monday, March 9, 2009, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, West University Place, Texas, beginning at 6:45 p.m. to consider the following: Council and staff in attendance: Mayor Kelly, Mayor Pro Tern Fry, Councilmembers Guffey and Cohen, City Manager Ross, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Parks Board Chair Schulze, Parks and Recreation Director O'Connor, Chief of Police Walker, ACM/Public Works Director Peifer, and Jeff Gerber, Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville. WORKSHOP: Mayor Kelly called the special meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. in the Council Conference Room. Agenda item were as follows: CALL TO ORDER 1. Councilmember Michael Talianchich Matters related to the resignation of Councilmember Michael Talianchich, including discussion and possible action to accept the resignation and discussion and possible action relating to an appointment to fill the vacancy, if necessary. In response to Mayor Kelly's question as to whether Council has to officially accept the resignation, City Attorney Petrov explained that the Election Code specifies that a resignation is effective when either accepted or 8 days after its tender. Mayor Pro Tern Bob Fry moved to approve acceptance of Michael Talianchich's resignation effective March 9, 2009. Councilmember Guffey seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Guffey, and Cohen Noes: None Absent: None Regarding filling the vacancy, City Attorney Petrov explained the Charter states that Council will fill any vacancy within 60 days, but if not, a special election would be called to fill the vacancy. He said with the election coming up in May, if Council does nothing, the process will take care of itself. Mayor Kelly asked for a motion to fill the vacancy. With no motion from the floor, the seat will remain vacant until the May election. 2. Recreational Facilities Matters related to the City's recreational facilities. of West University Place Jeff Gerber with Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville (PGAL), Parks Board Russ Shulze, and City manager Michael Ross presented this item. City Council Minutes, February 23, 2009 Mr. Schulze started by saying that the Parks Board was unanimous in support of the recommendation of Jeff Gerber; although two of the Parks Board members felt there should be a viewing of the pool in an area of the building where people can socialize and watch their kids. Mr. Gerber then presented the latest plans to Council with changes that he believed would satisfy the concerns of the two Board members. After Mr. Gerber's presentation, Mayor Pro Tern Fry moved to approve Option C. Councilmember Cohen seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Guffey, and Cohen Noes: None Absent: None Mr. Gerber discussed and showed Council a 3-D presentation of a building mass option that was presented to the Parks Board and what the Parks Board agreed on and recommends. City Manager Ross reminded Council that if they approve the option recommended by the Parks Board, they are approving a 10-foot higher roof pitch. Mayor Pro Tern Fry moved to adopt building mass Option C. Councilmember Cohen seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Guffey, and Cohen Noes: None Absent: None 3. Real Estate Matters related to the acquisition or sale of properties, including but not limited to the following properties: • 4204 Cason • 6738 West Point • 3501 Corondo Court Mayor Kelly recessed the Workshop and convened into Executive Session at 6:15 p.m. in accordance with Section 551.072 of Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. Those in attendance were Mayor Kelly, Mayor Pro Tern Fry, Councilmembers Cohen and Guffey, City Manager Ross, City Attorney Petrov, City Secretary Lenz, Parks and Recreation Director O'Connor, Parks Board Chair Steve Schulze, and Jeff Gerber of PGAL. At 6:34 p.m., Mayor Pro Tern Bob Fry moved to adjourn the closed session and reconvene into workshop. Councilmember Cohen seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Guffey, and Cohen Noes: None Absent: None With no action taken, Mayor Pro Tern Bob Fry moved to adjourn the Workshop at 6:34 p.m. Councilmember Cohen seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Guffey, and Cohen Noes: None Absent: None City Council Minutes, February 23, 2009 REGULAR MEETING: Mayor Kelly called the regular meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Agenda items were as follows: Pledge of Allegiance Pledge to the Texas Flag Boy Scouts from Troop 55 led the Pledges. Notice: Matters related to the notice of this meeting. City Secretary Lenz confirmed that the notice of this meeting was duly posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. 4. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to Council relating to agenda or non-agenda items. Speakers are required to address Council at the microphone and give their name and address before addressing their concerns. [Note: State law will not permit the City Council to fully discuss, debate, or consider items that are not on the agenda. Items that cannot be referred to the City Staff for action may be placed on the agenda of a future City Council meeting.] Chris Mooney, 4019 Swarthmore, spoke regarding community aesthetics and is concerned about a house built on his block and the negative impact it will have on the neighbors and to resale values of his home. He asked that the City investigate an aesthetics or architectural review panel that would participate in the design and planning process to find an architectural identity. 5. Consent Agenda All Consent Agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member requests in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. A. City Council Minutes Approve City Council meeting minutes of February 23, 2009. Mayor Pro Tern Fry moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Councilmember Cohen seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Guffey, and Cohen Noes: None Absent: None 6. Reports A. Discussion of the City's emergency and non-emergency communications to residents. Mayor Kelly explained that this topic stems from an incident that occurred in Houston on the other side of Bissonnet from West U and the misinformation that resulted from communications released from Southside Place to its residents that eventually got to the residents of West U. Due to the miscommunications and in an effort to provide more reliable information to our residents in emergency and non-emergency situations, in addition to the City's Code Red system, it was suggested that a communications task force be appointed and Councilmember Cohen be its chair. City Council Minutes, February 23, 2009 Councilmember Cohen said she envisions a forum for community discussions of ideas for how information that is deemed appropriate might be disseminated to residents in a reliable and simple way; and, understanding that the task force is not to substitute its judgment for that of the police and to work closely with City offices, particularly the police department. Laura Britton, 3802 Marlowe, thanked Mayor Kelly for being receptive and on top of the emails and addressing the issue so quickly and she volunteered to her services to the task force and has a list of people who are interested in participating. Michael Ross suggested to Councilmember Cohen that the initial meeting begin with a presentation of what we can currently do with the tools we have and then listen to ideas on how to make improvements. Mayor Pro Tern Fry moved to create the task force for the limited purpose of discussion of the city's emergency and non-emergency communications and nominate Phyllis Cohen to chair it. Councilmember Guffey seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Guffey, and Cohen Noes: None Absent: None 7. Executive Session (if necessary) Council reserves the right to at any time during the session convene in a closed session pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, for reasons including but not limited to: Section 551.071 (consultation with legal counsel to seek or receive legal advice or consultation regarding pending or contemplated litigation); Section 551.072 (discussion about the value or transfer of real property and other real estate matters; Section 551.074 (personnel matters); 551.076 (deliberation about security devices); Section 551.087 (deliberation regarding economic development). 8. Convene into Open Session Not applicable. 9. Adjournment Councilmember Cohen moved to adjourn the regular meeting 7:00 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Fry seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Guffey, Cohen, and Talianchich Noes: None Absent: None Prepared by: ma A. Lenz, City Secretary Date Approved: /ns,l UNl 0 a v ~ rxx as