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Home My WebLink About052690S CC Min . . - t CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION ~e~.vlONDAY, MAY 26,1998 UBLICWORKS CENTER 3826 AMHERST 6:45 P.M. The City Council convened in Workshop Session in theCOllll'llttl.litJUu;1ding (h 11I4 Aaaen) on May 26, 1998 with the following members present: Mayor Fogler presiding, Council Members Sparkman,.' Davis, Neal and Starich. The City Manager, City . ,- ..' Secretary, City Attorney, Fire' Chief, Acting Police Chief, Finance Director, Parks and Recreation Director and Public Works Director were also present. AGENDA REVIEW: The City Council. reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under consideration with the Staff. WHITT JOHNSON PARK: SW A Architects presented a concept plan for Whitt Johnson Park to the City Council. Parks and Recreation Director Mark Mailes reported that a Town Meeting would be held on Sunday, June 7 at Whitt Johnson Park to receive input from residents aboutthe plans. NON-RESIDENT FEES: The City Staff presented a report to the City CounciFon non-resident fees for the . recreational classes. Mr; Mailes reported that recently, the Parks and Recreation Department surveyed five cities. to determine their'. fee policies. for recreational classes. Of. those cities' surveyed, only West University Place andBellaire charge additional surcharges to non-residents. ill West U, non-residents makeup approximately 33% of the participants that enroll in classes and, on average, pay 15-20% more. On January 1, '1998, the fees. for non-residents were increased from · $5 to $10 more than the charge for residents, so there is some concern that another increase would decrease non-resident participation. Another increase does not seem justifiable at this time. However, staff will continue to monitor fees and charges and make changes as market conditions dicta.te. .oj j,- ,~UJ . -.'''.....,. ILl II' I , .nmw,. ,'~'~IllUIi!I.lIt_I.I~-'" . ==rmmmmrrFln!llfr:'.---------'---~ QUARTERLY REPORT: The Staff presented the Quarterly Report to the City CounciL BANKING RELATIONS: The City Council considered continuing' banking services with Compass Bank: NA who assumed the assets of West University Bank: and the responsibility of acting as the City's Depository . Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that in 1996 the City entered into a depository agreement with West University Bank:. The agreement had a four-year term, and was to remain in effect until March 31, 2000. In. connection with this agreement, the City entered into a safekeeping agreement with Texas Independent Bank:. Recently, Compass Bank: NA assumed the assets of West University Bank: and the responsibility of acting as the City's Depository. Because of its size, Compass is able to offer the City a broader range of services, such as an officer whose specialty is public funds management. As part of the transition, Compass Bank has requested that we move our safekeeping arrangements to the Federal Reserve Bank:, Dallas. All provisions of the original agreement with West University Bank:remain. A motion was made by Council Member Davis, seconded by Council Member Sparkman, to authorize the City to continue banking relations with Compass Bank: NA, successor to West University Bank:'s contracted role as the City's Depository Bank:. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Voting Nay: Absent: Mayor Fogler, Council Members Sparkman, Davis, Neal and Starich None None WATER CONSERVATION PLAN REPORT: The City Staff presented a report on the City's Water Conservation Plan to the City CounciL Public Works Director Ed Menville reported that on January 1, 1994 an agreement was executed between West University Place and Houston,' which allows West U to purchase surface water from Houston. The requirement to use surface Water comes from Harris - Galveston Subsidence District by powers given to them by the State.' Based on the 2 directive from the subsidence district, West U is required to.obtain 80% of its water from surface water and 20% from deep welL Miscellaneous Provisions, Article VII, Section 7.02 of this agreement, requires a Water Conservation Program be approved by the City. The plan was approved by City Council and submitted with the surface water agreement. Houston does not have its own Water Conservation Plan, and it is unknown what impact such a plan, when adopted, will have on our supply during a drought. The surface water contract, however, contains wording that could have an impact on our supply during such times. Article V of the contract allows Houston to apply Force Majeure as a means of curtailing water supply. Drought conditions are included in the definition of Force Majeure. Section 5.03, Delivery Limitations; Suspension of Services reads, West University Place is not guaranteed any specific quantity of water whenever Houston's water supply is limited... The Water Conservation Plan for the City consists of two parts. The fIrst is the Water Conservation Plan itself, which includes utility evaluation, public involvement in the planning process, alternatives plan description, and implementation and enforcement. The second is the Drought Contingency Plan, which consists of drought contingency measures, a mandatory curtailment program, information and education, implementation and enforcement, and an update of trigger conditions. The objective of the conservation program is to reduce the quantity required for each water-using activity, in so far as is practical, through the implementation of efficient water Use practices. The programs are tools thatwater purveyors should have available to operate effectively in all situations. 1998 BOND ISSUE UPDATE: The City Council reviewed revisions to project costs estimates associated with the issuance of $7,835,000 in Public Improvement Bonds and $1,415,000 in Water Revenue Bonds. Mr. Thomas reported that recently the City Council approved proceeding with the process to issue $7,835,000 in Public Improvement Bonds, and $1,415,000 in Water Revenue Bonds. Revisions to the project cost estimates will require $1,335,000 increase in the amount of bonds sold. The tax-supported bonds will add an estimated $575,000 to the Debt Service Fund's expenditures. Assuming that assessed values increase $30 million from the $1.5 billion valUe on the 1997 tax roll, the property tax rate will have to increase almost four cents per $100 valuation in 1999 to support the. new debt service. This rate increase is equivalent to $120 per year in additional property taxes on a $300,000 home. Factors that could impact the tax increase needed to fund the new debt are: 3 _~1 ..- ~~----"'9~!mI':fFF1Ir.lTT'F-'-- __ .U._. ._~- · Growth in assessed values beyondprojected $30 million. This seems likely in view of the overall increases in property values in Harris County. · Use of interest earned On the bond proceeds to offset the tax increase. Interest on $8.9 million for one year at 5.2% amounts to $465,000. A portion of this interest couldbe used to defer the tax increase into the future. The revenue-supported debt will add approximated $510;000 in additional debt service to the Water and Sewer Fund. This is the equivalent of a $7.20 per month increase in each users utility bilL PAVING OF UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD: The City Council discussed paving of University Boulevard from Auden Street to Poor Farm Ditch. Mr. Menville reported that the Staff was recommending that the paving of University Boulevard from Auden Street to Poor Farm Ditch and the paving of Edloe Street between University and Rice be deleted from the paving program this year. The paving would be delayed until the City Staff receives a recommendation from the Consulting Planners . The City Council agreed that the paving should be deleted at this time. APPRAISAL: The City Council considered a request to authorize an appraisal of the property located at 4120 Byron. The City Council authorized the Staff to move forward with an appraisal of 4120 Byron. INQUIRIES. REQUESTS AND COMPLAINTS: The City Council reviewed matters received froIIl 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 Neal, seconded by Council Member Sparkman, to adjourn. The workshop session adjourned at 9:22 p.m. 4 1,1 I, ,&11, ,.,11 dIn rc-TI, I , .m;!..". ; ;.;!,oli!llltlo:liiI-.r-' . . 'rnmmr:l'Tln'np,r--