HomeMy WebLinkAbout071111R CC MinThe City of West University Place
A Neighborhood City
CITY COUNCIL
Bob Fry, Mayor
Susan Sample, Mayor Pro Tern
Ed Heathcott, Councilmember
Joan Johnson, Councilmember
Dick Yehle, Councilmember
STAFF
Michael Ross, City Manager
Alan Petrov, City Attorney
Thelma Lenz, City Secretary
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in special and regular sessions on
Monday, July 11, 2011, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University, West University Place, Texas
beginning at 5:45 p.m.
SPECIAL WORKSHOP (BEGINNING AT 5:45 IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Fry called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. Council and staff in attendance were: Mayor Pro
Tern Sample, Councilmembers Heathcott, Johnson, and Yehle, City Manager Ross, City Secretary
Lenz, City Attorney Petrov (arrived at 5:50 p.m.), Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Peifer,
Police Chief Walker, and Assistant Public Works Director Dave Beach.
Agenda items were discussed as follows:
1. Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board
Matters related to a report by the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board.
Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board (RSWRB) Chair Jan Kellogg, Vice Chairman John
Wilkerson, Julie Edwards, Yvonne Jacobs and Carolyn Betti were present to introduce themselves
and to give Council an overview of what the Board has been doing and what it envisions for
recycling and solid waste reduction in West U.
Chair Kellogg stated that in 2008, the RSWRB did a telephone survey with 650 respondents. She
said the results of the survey were that 94% of our citizens are aware of curbside recycling; 80%
are aware of RecyclExpress; 91 % recycle curbside; and 50% use RecyclExpress. She said there is
a high level of awareness and participation, but only 14% of engagement, which means that
residents are only recycling 14% of possible recyclable items.
Member Julie Edwards reviewed a slide presentation with Council. Some of the highlights she
pointed out were:
Current Solid Waste Program. Currently garbage is collected twice weekly with
unlimited resident-provided bags; recycling is provided once weekly with one or more
City-provided 18 gallon blue bins; there is heavy-trash drop off 2-3 times a year; and
yard waste is picked up with garbage and sent to a landfill (as of 2006).
National trends. Nationally many cities have changed to automation, including Houston,
Dallas, and San Antonio. She said the City of San Antonio is experiencing a 300%
City Council Minutes, July 11, 2011
increase in the tons of recyclables, a reduction in lost time accidents to almost zero,
reduced operating cost due to labor savings, and the ability to attract and retain high
quality workers.
• Automation benefits to West U. Benefits to the City include reduced operating costs,
increase in recyclables due to single stream recycling, the ability to track volumes for
rate and route restructuring, conversion to weekly pick-ups, improved hygiene, higher
employee safety and decreased liability for the City.
• Hurdles to overcome. The biggest hurdle to going automated will be the public's
reaction to aesthetics and maneuverability, perceived noise issues, general resistance to
change, and the capital outlays would be higher than maintaining the current manual
collection process. However, funds are available through grants that would result in
annual cost savings to the City.
• Program education. The RSWRB is committed to working with City Council to
communicate and educate the community on the rationale for the proposed changes in
services via news releases, education events, program guide, email information
distribution, and web postings.
• Key operational and financial impacts. Financially we would see an annual city-wide
operational savings of $272,000 in the first year, which translates to $4.20 per household
monthly. She said the incremental capital expenditures would be $1.2 million, and the
internal rate of return would be 19% with a 4.5 year payback.
• Proposed action. If City Council opts to automate the City's waste collection services,
the decision to implement the program should be made within the next 2 to 3 years due
to current equipment obsolescence. She said automation would affect the collection of
solid waste, recyclables, and yard waste and said implementation would require at least
a one year lead-time.
Councilmember Yehle asked where residents would keep three bins. Mr. Beach said some will
keep them in the garage and some might keep them on the side or back of the house, but ultimately
it will be up to the resident.
Councilmember Yehle asked if the City will enforce keeping them out of the front yards beyond the
setback. Mr. Beach said yes and also said automation will require a complete overall of the City's
trash and recycling ordinance, part of which will be placement rules.
After more discussion, it was decided that the RSWRB should get more of an idea of what the
residents do or don't want and come back before Council with a more detailed presentation at the
second meeting in August. It was also decided that Councilmembers should submit questions to
City Staff for clarification by RSWRB during the August presentation.
Councilmember Heathcott said one thing he would like to see at the August meeting is what the
Board anticipates spending in capital expenditures to replace the existing program with trucks,
because he is concerned with taking on additional debt.
The RSWRB said as a group they think automation is the way to go.
At 6:20 p.m., Councilmember Heathcott moved to adjourn the workshop. Councilmember Johnson
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle
Noes: None
Absent: None
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City Council Minutes, July 11, 2011
REGULAR MEETING (BEGINNING AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS)
Agenda items were as follows:
Call to Order: Mayor Fry called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Council and staff in attendance
were: Councilmembers Heathcott, Johnson, Sample and Yehle, City Manager Ross, Assistant City
Manager/Public Works Director Peifer, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Police Chief Walker,
and City Planner Scarcella.
Pledge of Allegiance and Pledge to the Texas Flag: Davis Stubblefield with Boy Scout Troop 11 led
the Pledge of Allegiance and Pledge to the Texas Flag
Confirmation of Notice: City Secretary Lenz confirmed that Notice of the special and regular
meetings 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.
Ramsay Elder, 2817 Tangley, spoke regarding parkland acquisition and wanted this Council to
consider this issue as a high priority. He said past City surveys show that the City has one-tenth of
the parkland that it actually needs and that green space is the number one thing that citizens want,
yet after the 2008 bond elections and construction in 2009 and 2010, the City has less green space.
Mr. Elder said the 2000 Parks Master Plan promised a new park on the east side north of
University, a new park on the east side south of University, moving the basketball courts into the
larger parks, and moving a tennis court out, but none of that has happened. He said the east side
residents have to continually subsidize the excellent parks on the west side, so park projects on the
east side should be a priority of this Council.
3. Ordinance Calling Joint Public Hearing
Matters related to a an ordinance of the City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas,
calling for a joint public hearing with the Zoning and Planning Commission to hear comments for
and/or against minimum requirements for a conforming building site.
After City Planner Scarcella presented and explained the process and necessity for calling a joint
public hearing, Councilmember Heathcott moved to call for a joint public hearing on a proposal to
amend the Zoning Ordinance and Code of Ordinances for the City of West University Place
regarding minimum requirements for conforming building sites, prescribing procedures and notices,
containing findings and other provisions related to the subject and declaring an emergency of the
City Council to the City of West University Place and for the meeting to held on August 22, 2011.
Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle
Noes: None
Absent: None
4. City Council Goals
Matters related to City Council goals.
Page 3 of 4
City Council Minutes, July 11, 2011
Councilmember Yehle moved to adopt the draft 2011-2013 City Council Goals as published with
items 1-12 and 13, 14, 15, plus the six staff goals set out separately. Councilmember Sample
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle
Noes: None
Absent: None
5. Consent Agenda
All 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 minutes of June 27, 2011 and Workshop/Council Orientation Minutes
of June 30, 2011.
B. Resolution Appointing an Assistant City Secretary
Matters related to a resolution appointing an Assistant City Secretary (Rachelle Moody).
Councilmember Johnson removed Item A for discussion and moved to approve Item B.
Councilmember Yehle seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Councilmember Johnson said on page 3 of 6 under public comments, the last sentence should read
"he said we don't know when it will happen" and then moved that the Minutes be approved with that
correction. Mayor Pro Tern Sample seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
6. Reports by Council/Staff
No reports.
7. Adjourn
With no other business before the Council, Councilmember Heathcott moved to adjourn the
meeting at 6:42 p.m. Councilmember Yehle seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle
Meeting adjourned. ro
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Thelma A. Lenz, City ecretary Date pprove
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