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Home My WebLink About071210R CC Min(rdl 0 The City of West University Place A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL STAFF Bob Kelly, Mayor Michael Ross, City Manager Bob Fry, Councilmember Alan Petrov, City Attorney George Boehme, Councilmember Thelma Lenz, City Secretary Steven Segal, Councilmember Chuck Guffey, Councilmember CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in regular session on Monday, July 12, 2010, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, West University Place, Texas beginning at 6:15 p.m. SPECIAL WORKSHOP Agenda items were as follows: CALL TO ORDER Mayor Kelly called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. Also in attendance were: Mayor Pro Tern Fry, Councilmembers Boehme, Guffey, and Segal, City Manager Ross, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Public Works Director/ACM Peifer, and Police Chief Walker. 1. Solicitation Matters related to the regulation of door-to-door soliciting and advertising Councilmember Segal moved to go into executive session in accordance with Section 551.071 in Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code (consultation with legal counsel to seek or receive legal advice or consultation regarding pending or contemplated litigation). Mayor Pro Tern Fry seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Boehme, Guffey, Segal Noes: None Absent: None At 6:33 p.m., Councilmember Segal moved to close the Executive Session and reconvene into open session. Mayor Pro Tern Fry seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Boehme, Guffey, Segal Noes: None Absent: None With no action taken, Mayor Kelly adjourned the workshop meeting at 6:33 p.m. REGULAR MEETING (BEGINNING AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS) Agenda items were as follows: City Council Minutes, July 12, 2010 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Kelly called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Also in attendance were: Mayor Pro Tem Fry, Councilmembers Boehme, Guffey, and Segal, City Manager Ross, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Peifer and Police Chief Ken Walker. A boy scout in the audience led the Pledge of Allegiance and Pledge to the Texas Flag. City Secretary Lenz confirmed that the Notice of the regular meeting was duly posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. 2. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items. If the topic the speaker wishes to address is on the agenda, the speaker can either speak at this time or defer his/her comments until such time the item is discussed. Speakers are advised that comments cannot be received on matters which are the subject of a public hearing once the hearing has been closed. Michael Lipsey, with My Fit Foods located at 5410 Kirby, stopped by to let residents and Council know they are in the area at Kirby and Sunset. Dianne Wells, 3816 University, spoke regarding the Houston-Galveston Subsidence District agenda item. She said if Council supplies the venue and publicity she would be happy to coordinate a water- wise presentation for our community. Council directed her to the City's Senior Services Division and the Recycling Board. Judge Robert Hinojosa, 312'h Family District Court of Harris County, stopped by to say hello as part of his effort to meet citizens and city councils in the Houston area. Gary Racklin, 2915 Pittsburg, spoke to compliment Public Works Department staff Chris Peifer, Dave Beach, and Gerardo Berrera for the fantastic, expedient, and professional service they provided when he contacted the Public Works Department regarding a problem he had with cable and telephone lines hanging low behind his home. 3. CenterPoint Energy Rate Increase Matters related to a Statement of Intent and Application for Authority to Change Rates that CenterPoint Houston filed with the City of West University Place. Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Peifer presented this item and informed Council that CenterPoint has applied for a rate change. He then introduced CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric Service Area Director Diane Hasell to provide more background information. Ms. Hasell spoke to say that CenterPoint Houston has filed a rate case with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and that she recognizes that the City is considering an ordinance tonight to decline the rate increase so that the existing rates would stay in effect. She said ultimately, in that case, instead of Council hearing the case with CenterPoint Energy or instead of the rates going into effect immediately, the case would go before the PUC and be heard as a system-wide case. Ms. Hasell explained that if the City approves the proposed ordinance to decline the increase, the existing rates would stay in place until a decision is made by the PUC. She said if the PUC approves the rate increase the rates would be system-wide so that each city would not have a different set of rates. 2of4 City Council Minutes, July 12, 2010 City Attorney Petrov explained that if the City does not adopt an ordinance approving or declining the rate increase, the rates will go into effect and we'll be charged the new higher rate. Councilmember Guffey asked if the rate will be retroactive if instituted. City Attorney Petrov said it could be. Mayor Pro Tern Fry moved to decline any and all changes in the rates requested by CenterPoint Houston and its Statement of Intent and that CenterPoint existing rates should stay in effect. Councilmember Boehme seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Boehme, Guffey, Segal Noes: None Absent: None 4. Consent Agenda Ail Consent Agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member requests in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. A. City Council Minutes Approve City Council regular meeting minutes of June 28, 2010. B. Interlocal Agreement with Houston -Galveston Coastal Subsidence District Matters related to an Interlocal Agreement with the Houston-Galveston Subsidence District for educational credits. Mayor Pro Tern Fry moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Councilmember Segal seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Boehme, Guffey, Segal Noes: None Absent: None 5. Reports by Council/Staff A. Report on the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS). Councilman Steven Segal Councilmember Segal reported that he attended a TMRS Advisory Board meeting. He said 16 of the 19 members were present and they voted unanimously to ask the staff to bring back specific wording for a recommendation to restructure the funds into one account for consideration at our August 26, 2010 meeting. He said if it passes at the August 26 meeting, it will be presented to the TMRS Board on August 27, 2010 and if the TMRS Board passes it, it will then move on to the legislative process. Councilmember Segal there are currently three funds within TMRS: The Employee Fund, the Municipal Fund, and the Current Service Annuity Fund (CSAF). He said under the current structure, it's very different from a private pension plan, because a private plan is only one fund and everything is paid out of that one fund. He said currently, in TMRS, the employee's money goes into one fund, the municipal money goes into another fund, and then when someone retires, the amount required to fund the annuity for that retiree goes over to the CSAF. He said, essentially, this makes the retirement fund 100 percent funded and the municipal fund is drained every year. 3of4 City Council Minutes, July 12, 2010 Councilmember Segal said that with restructuring it will all be one fund, although the money will be accounted for separately. The single fund would contain employee money and city funds for both active and retired employees. The restructuring is expected to result in an estimated reduction in our unfunded liability of $5,000,000 and reduce our annual funding rate by approximately 2 percent. Councilmember Segal said regarding two other issues, there is not yet a consensus. One issue is to amend the provision with respect to the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment). He said the other is issue is to offer a two-tier plan, which would presence the TMRS retirement system as it is for current employees, but change the plan for new employees beginning on a certain date. He said there are so many alternatives that he thinks it is a long way from the committee reaching consensus but is something that will certainly be discussed over the years. With no further business before the Council, Councilmember Boehme moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:05 p.m. Councilmember Segal seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Kelly, Fry, Boehme, Guffey, Segal Noes: None Absent: None ~ESj p gE9 g Adjourned. Fo`` re B m (J A.'Lenz, City Secretary Date Approved: 4 of 4