Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout072699S CC Min• 0 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION MONDAY, JULY 26, 1999 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Workshop Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on July 26, 1999, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Police Chief, Finance 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. CITIZEN REQUEST: Matters related to the property located at 6416 Community Drive and a letter dated December 9, 1998 from Arthur L. Hirdler. City Manager Sherman Yehl reported that Mr. Hirdler submitted a letter to the West U City Council requesting the following: • The immediate removal of the City planted vegetation and stepping stones by the sanitary lift station and replanting of grass; • Enact an explicit right to the owner of 6416 Community Drive to determine the vegetation in the area between the property's southern boundary and the Byron east- west center line; • Provide for a natural pathway from the SLS wooden fence enclosure; • Enact an explicit declaration that no sidewalks shall be installed in the area immediately south of 6416 Community Drive and north of the Byron east-west center line; • Explicitly include in Chapter 18 that West U utilize nearby property owners' and/or residents decisions about what is and is not being a Good Neighbor to them in applying the ordinance; • Place the current above ground equipment at the SLS below ground in the same location with a traffic rated top; • Ensure that West U has employees that meet the criteria mentioned in Comments in general section; • Enact an explicit declaration that West U will not trim trees immediately south of 6416 Community Drive and north of the Byron east-west center line; and • Explicitly declare that if telephone lines are used to monitor the SLS that the lines will be placed underground and in such locations to not impact the tree(s) City Council Workshop *ion, July 26, 1999 • immediately south of 6416 Community Drive and north of the Byron east-west center line. While these issues have been addressed with Mr. Hirdler many times over the past four years, staff was unable to successfully negotiate an arrangement that was acceptable to him. Fortunately, Mayor Lewis was able to meet with Mr. Hirdler over the past week and agreed the City would remove the stepping stones on the north side of the lift station and replant the area with grass. In addition, several of the shrubs and trees will be removed on the south side to allow equal access to the path on both sides of the lift station. Mr. Hirdler would also like to provide the ground maintenance for this area. The Staff believes this action will address Mr. Hirdler's immediate concerns. The City Council directed the Staff to move forward with their recommendation. CITY INTERSECTION DESIGN: Matters related to the City intersection design and cost estimates. The City Council addressed cost and scheduling for the design of the intersections at Auden and Rice, University and Edloe, Edloe and Rice, and Auden and University. The City Council agreed with the concept for the design as presented by Council Member May and the City Staff. The City Staff will move forward with a change order in Priority Area 7A to include the design at the intersection of Auden and Rice. USE OF FUNDS FROM THE CONGESTION MITIGATION/TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT: Matters related to a request to dedicate the funds received from the Congestion Mitigation/Traffic Management Agreement for the hiring of three new police officers and associated equipment. Mr. Yehl reported that at the City Council meeting of July 12, 1999, the City Council approved an agreement with METRO for Congestion Mitigation/Traffic Management funds in the amount of $259,000 a year for 10 years. However, the receipt of these funds was not unanticipated. In the Infrastructure Report provided to Council dated May 24, 1999, staff provided the latest Schedule of Cash Requirements under an accelerated construction schedule, which Council has initiated. This schedule includes a $270,000 annual intergovernmental transfer through at least the year 2004. Dedicating the $259,000 annual METRO payment to fund police officers would result in a minimum shortfall of $1.3 million available for infrastructure repairs. With the total cost of street improvement estimated to exceed the $45 million in General Obligation City Council Workshop0sion, July, 26, 1999 0 bonds authorized by the bond election, the City may find itself near the end of the project with the need to have another bond election to complete financing. While the City could shift costs of a street related operation from the General Fund to this grant agreement and allow those unused funds to hire police officers, that transfer does not address the shortfall in the infrastructure program and the potential need to provide additional funding in the future. Mr. Yehl stated that it is the staffs recommendation that Congestion Mitigation/Traffic Management funds not be used for the hiring of police officers but to be utilized for infrastructure financing as originally anticipated. The City Council requested to continue the discussion of this item during a budget workshop session to be held at a later date. Mayor Lewis reported that the METRO police officers were willing to partner with other agencies and patrol the streets in West University where their buses run. Any revenue received would go to West University. Council Member Bertini requested information on the hiring requirements, age and length of service for METRO police officers. The City Council recessed the Workshop Session at 7:30 p.m. The Workshop Session reconvened at 7:55 p.m. REPORT FROM BOARD OR COMMISSION LIAISON: The City Council reported on a Board or Commission meeting attended by the liaison. Council Member May reported on the meeting held by the Building and Standards Commission. 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. MATTERS RELATED TO PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR A SETTLEMENT OFFER: Class Action Suit, City of Wharton vs. H.L.& P. Closed Executive Session to be held under Section 551.071, Texas Government Code. City Council Workshopf-psion, July 26, 1999 The City Council convened in Executive Session at 8:50 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, and Attorney Sherry Chandler from the law firm of O'Quinn & Laminack were also present. The City Council closed the Executive Session at 936 p.m. and convened in open session. RESOLUTION RELATING TO CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS: Matters related to Resolution No. 99-12. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Resolution No. 99-12 as follows: A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF VOLUNTARY CLASS ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF TEXAS MUNICIPALITIES A motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member Grubb, to approve Resolution No. 99-12. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, May and Grubb Voting Nay: None Absent: None ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member Grubb, to adjourn. The Workshop Session adjourned at 9:41 p.m. 4