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Home My WebLink About020998W CC Min CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9,1998 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800'UNlVERSITY BOULEVARD 6:45 P.M. The City Council convened in Workshop Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Boulevard) on February 9, 1998 with the following members present: Mayor Fogler presiding, Council Members Starich, Neal and Sparkman. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Fire Chief, Parks and Recreation Director, Public Works Director and Finance Director were also present. Council Member Davis arrived at 8:30 p.m. AGENDA REVIEW: The City Council reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under consideration with the. Staff. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The City Council discussed goals and objectives with the Chairperson from the Parks and Recreation Board Marcela Chennisi FLEXIBLE SPENDING PLAN: The Staff presented a recommendation regarding a Flexible Spending Plan for City employees. City Manager, Sherman Yehl reported that, with the selection of new health and dental carriers, the City will experience a net reduction in health care premiums of $116,000 in FY98. In selecting a new health insurance carrier, the City benefited from a substantial reduction in premium costs. As a result, it was suggested that these savings be shared with employees in the form of a contribution to individual health care flexible spending accounts. These accounts are permitted by Internal Revenue Service regulations and provide for both employee and employer contributions to these accounts. Employees are obligated to use or lose the monies set aside for a flexible spending account. Funds remaining in the individual accounts at the end of the year are returned to the City. Employees can receive reimbursements for health care costs not covered by their benefits package, including prescription and' office visit co-pays, prescription eyewear, and elective certain surgery. "'-"~~fmlflr.Tf!l:tff'~-. . The staff recommended that approximately half of the annual savings in insmance premiums be used to establish individual employee health care spending accounts. Based on the amount available and number of employees, it is recommended that $500 per employee be allocated for this account. The remaining balance of the savings will be returned to the City's General Fund. The City Council authorized the City Staff to move forward with the flexible spending . account. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: The City Council discussed setting a senes of monthly meetings .with government officials. Mr. Yehl stated that dming the development of the City's Strategic Plan, the Council identified, as a strategic priority, the desire to expand influence of West University Place in regional issues. Several action steps were envisioned to carryout out this priority, including: . Developing a master list of regional meetings and programs; . Establishing joint Council/regional commission meetings; and · Assigning staff/Council members to liaison with regional commissions Several issues have been identified lately, however, that require a direct approach with other elected officials. For example, the commercial and residential developments along Bissonnet and Buffalo Speedway have serious traffic implications to West U and ditch maintenance with Harris County Flood Control is a constant concern. The matter of a fair share of tax dollars being reinvested in West U from other taxing jurisdictions also needs to be addressed. One approach that would help facilitate direct contact would be to establish individual monthly luncheons with key elected and appointed officials. There would be no formal agenda, but Council Members would have the opportunity to directly raise issues of concern with those responsible. Staff from the respective jmisdictions would then be responsible for follow-up and reporting on the issues that were discussed. The City Council agreed with the Staff recommendation to establish a government relations program as outlined above. The City Council recessed the Workshop Session at 7:30 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. The Workshop Session reconvened at 8:37 p.m. Council Member Davis joined the meeting. 2 .,,-"L.o....__ ~.-.I ~-----l .". . '.1"'-::: .... t.I:Drlrrm!lfI"lll~!"f'~----------"--~~-7~='~~ CONSULTING PLANNER: The City Council discussed fIrms that were interviewed for the City's Consulting Planner. Mr. Yehl reported that in November 1997, a Request for Qualifications was .issued inviting interested firms to submit proposals to provide consulting planning services. The City was seeking a fIrm with proven success in planning urban communities, particularly in the neo-traditional style as well as one that could develop a comprehensive vision for the City's future. The City was seeking a fIrm skilled in multi-discipline areas to: . Develop Comprehensive and Master Plans; . Develop a unique identity for West U; . Review existing traffic patterns and develop recommendations for traffic calming; . Develop a plan for Center City redevelopment; . Develop crime reducing environmental design elements; . Review current zoning regulations relating to site development; . Review current perimeter zoning regulations; . Prepare a disposition plan for underutilized City property. Seven fIrms submitted proposals and five fIrms were invited to make presentations before a joint selection committee. The committee members spent many hours reviewing the proposals and interviewed each of the five fIrms over a two-day period. Upon completion of the presentations, three of the firms were requested to provide supplemental information regarding the design and graphic elements of their proposals. Based on the review of proposals and presentations, the committee recommended that The Goodman Corporation (TGC) be retained by the City to provide planning and related services. The Goodman Corporation is a nationally recognized consulting fIrm, based in Houston, with specialized skills in the relationship of transportation and land use 'planning. What strengthened The Goodman Corporation's proposal, however, was the selection of the other team members for this project. The Goodman Corporation submitted their proposal in association with Peter H. Brown Civic Design and EDA W, Inc. Peter H. Brown Civic Design, also of Houston, provides the project team with extraordinary land use planning and urban design skills. EDA W of Denver, Colorado, is an international landscape architecture, urban design, and environmental planning firm with significant experience in detailed planning, streetscape design, graphics, architectural guidelines, civic identity, and urban landscaping. 3 Mr. Yehl reported that it is estimated that the full cost of services will be approximately $250,000 over the next three-year period. A budget amendment will be required for FY98 and funds appropriated infuture years. The City Council asked that The Goodman Corporation make a presentation at the fIrst meeting of the City Council in March prior to the execution of a formal agreement for professional services. EVALUATION AND COMPENSATION OF STAFF: The City Council considered the evaluation and compensation of specific. members of the Staff (City Manager and City Secretary.) A motion was made by Council Member Neal, seconded by Council Member Davis, to provide the City Secretary with a $300.00 per month car allowance, to increase the City Manager's salary to $88,000.00 per year plus one additional week of vacation, to make these adjustment retroactive from January 1, 1998, and to allow the City Manager and City Secretary to partiCipate in the City's Cost of Living Adjustment. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Fogler, Council Members Starich, Davis, Neal and Sparkman None None Voting Nay: Absent: . INQUIRIES. REQUESTS AND COMPLAINTS: The City Council reviewed. matters received from the public and referred them to the appropriate department or agreed to place them on a future agenda for consideration or action. ADJOURNMENT: . With no further business to come before City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Davis, seconded by Council Member Sparkman, to adjourn. The workshop session adjourned at 10:15 p.m. 4 :t', rT.fr:-,