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HomeMy WebLinkAbout022299R CC Min -" CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1999 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY 7:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on February 22, 1999, with the following members present: Mayor Fogler presiding, Council Members Neal and Starich. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Police Lieutenant, Parks and Recreation Director, Finance Director, Public Works Director and Plant Manager were also present. Council Member Starich.led the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Members Davis and Sparkman were absent. CITIZEN COMMENTS: Mayor Fogler invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Arthur L. Hirdler, 6416 Community Drive, presented a letter to the City Council requesting that the minutes of a previous Council meeting be changed to correctly spell his name. He also requested a more thorough transcription of the minutes. CHLORINE GAS STUDY: Consideration was given to authorizing Claunch and Miller to perform an Environmental Protection Agency Risk Management Study in the amount of $20,000 to identify alternatives for the use of chlorine gas at the Sanitary Sewer Treatment Plant. Public Works Director Ed Menville reported that the Environmental Protection Agency Risk Management Rule Part 68 has mandated that any. entity which stores, uses or manufactures certain regulated compounds in quantities over a specified threshold limit must prepare a Risk Management Program Alternative Study. The regulated compound utilized by our City is chlorine gas. The study consists of two parts. Part one is to determine and publish the impact of a chlorine leak in the area based on the quantity stored at our treatment plant. This includes the development of a worst-case release scenario and alternative release scenarios. This also requires development of response plans and operating procedures for handling these compounds, including coordination with local emergency response planning authorities and notification to the potentially affected public of the extent of the worst case scenario. It is staffs opinion that the worst-case scenario preliminary fmdings may be controversial. These findings could indicate that in case of a worst case release, a cloud of chlorine gas extending approximately 3.5 miles beyond plant site would develop. This would create conditions that would be. immediately dangerous to life and health through this area. This area includes Rice School, apartment complexes, commercial area, and the Astrodome Complex. [The USEPA-RMP requires compliance with development and public notification by June 21, 1999. This division intends to be fully in compliance by the end of May 1999.] Part two is an engineering study to determine if there are alternatives to the use of chlorine gas. The intent of the proposed study is to provide design specifications and pricing for alternatives to chlorine gas at the City's waste water treatment plant. Identification and use of an alternative disinfection process will eliminate the need to perform leak impact studies in the future. Mr. Menville stated that Dieter Ufer of Claunch & Miller is the engineer who originally designed the plant for the City. Mr. Ufer is very familiar with the workings of the plant and is in a position to evaluate the effectiveness of a change in the disinfection process. After a full and complete discussion, a motion was made by Council Member Starich, seconded by Council Member Neal, to authorize Claunch and Miller Inc. Engineering Consultants to perform the study for an amount not to exceed $20,000. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Voting Nay: Absent: Mayor Fogler, Council Members Neal and Starich None Council Members Davis and Sparkman CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: Minutes of the Workshop and Regular Sessions conducted on January 25, 1999. A motion was made by Council Member Neal, seconded by Council Member Starich, to approve the minutes as presented. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Fogler, Council Members Neal and Starich Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Members Davis and Sparkman COUNCIL COMMENTS: Council Member Neal inquired about the noisy air conditioner in the renovated City Hall building. Council Member Starich inquired about the closure of Weslayan Street. 2 ~,~ -, ~.,-- cr---:fl . .........-..--"- ~ ilL".,. - -~~-o:"'9l'flff11mf!'111l11rr.'f'"T--- 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 Starich to adjourn. The Regular Session adjourned at 7:47 p.m. 3 ~-,,-------,--,'~-'f'''-=rrPffl1l~101----'---'''---'--~'