HomeMy WebLinkAbout020899S CC Min
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1999
MUNICIPAL BillLDING
3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD.
6:45 P.M.
The City Council convened in Workshop Session in the Community Building (6104
Auden) on February 8, 1999, with the following members present: Mayor Fogler
presiding, Council Member Neal, Sparkman and Starich. The City Manager, City
Secretary, City Attorney, Police Chief, Finance Director and Public Works Director were
also present. Council Member Davis was absent.
AGENDA REVIEW:
The City Council reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under
consideration with the Staff.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY:
The City Council considered matters related to a telecommunications policy.
City Attorney Jim Dougherty presented proposed telecommunications. ordinances.
A jointworkshop will be held with the Zoning and Phinning Commission to discuss
telecommunications and right-of-way uses next month.
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER:
The City Council reviewed costs and publication schedules of the area newspapers.
City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway stated that recently the City Council requested
information concerning the cost of publishing legal notices in our official newspaper.
Since 1996, the City has designated the Village News for legal. publishing.
Section 2051.044 of the Government Code specifies the following as the type of
newspaper required for publications:
(a) The newspaper in which a notice is published must:
(1) devote not less than25 percent of its total column lineage to general interest
items;
(2) be published at least once a week
(3) be entered as second-class postal matter in the coUIity where published; and
(4) have been published regularly and continuously for at least 12 months before the
governmental entity or representative publishes notice.
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(b) A weekly newspaper has been published regularly and continuously under
Subsection (a) if the newspaper omits not more than two issues in the 12-month
period.
An Attorney General's opinion regarding the second class postage requirement for "
legal" newspapers states that that the second class requirement is "directory" and not
"mandatory" .
During 1998 the City Secretary published 33 notices. Based on a cost comparison survey
for a sample ad, the annual cost would range from $3,600 if we were able to publish all
ads inthe This Week section ofthe Houston Chronicle and $24,800 if all ads appeared in
the regular daily edition of the Chronicle.
In addition to the Village News, two other options are available - the Houston Business
Journal and the Daily Court Review. However, these per ad costs are fairly high.
The City currently uses several sources for publishing. While the Village News publishes
official notices, the Houston Chronicle and This Week are used as well. F or example,
Invitations to Bid are published .in the Chronicle to ensure maximum bid participation.
Because of notice' dates, the Chronicle is also used when timing is an issue.
Based upon review of ad costs and number of notices published, it is staffs
recommendation that the City continue with the present method of using Village News
for official notices, and supplementing the Houston Chronicle or This Week on an as
needed bases.
SIDEWALK PRESENTATION FOR TOWN MEETING:
The City Staff provided a preview of the sidewalk presentation to be used at the Town
Meetings scheduled for February 15 ~d February 28, 1999.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CONTRACT:
The City Staff provided an update on the renegotiations of the consulting contract with
the Goodman Corporation.
A draft of the comprehensive plan will be delivered to the Council Members when it is
made available from the Goodman Corporation.
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.
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ADJOURNMENT:
With no further business to come before the 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 9:25 p.m.
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