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HomeMy WebLinkAbout102411R CC Min®rd& 0 The City A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL Bob Fry, Mayor Susan Sample, Mayor Pro Tem 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 regular session on Monday, October 24, 2011, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, West University Place, Texas beginning at 6:30 p.m. 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 Johnson and Yehle, City Manager Ross, ACM/Public Works Director Peifer, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Finance Director Daugherty, Fire Chief Ralls, Parks and Recreation Director O'Connor, and Police Department Support Services Supervisor Forge. Mayor Pro Tern Sample and Councilmember Heathcott were absent. Pledge of Allegiance: A Boy Scout led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. Judson Park Improvements Matters related to approving Friends of West U Parks Fund ("Friends") expenditures for improvements to Judson Park. Parks and Recreation Director O'Connor and Friends Chair Leah Ragiel presented this item. Ms. Ragiel said in February 2011, City Council gave Friends the approval to spend $176,040.00 for Phase I of a two Phase project to improve Judson Park. She said Phase I improvements were undertaken this summer, and with an unexpected savings of $31,192.25, Friends is now in a position to fund the second Phase of the project. Mr. O'Connor reminded Council that although this project does not involve any tax dollars, approval from Council is a required formality as set out in the Friends Charter. Councilmember Yehle moved to approve Friends funding Phase II of the Judson Park Redevelopment Plan at a cost of $20,359.70. Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample, Heathcott 2. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items. of West University Place Nabila Kinghorn, 3402 Tangley, spoke to say that she is concerned with the Direct Link monitoring fee increase. She thinks incremental increases are necessary for services, but said she is concerned City Council Minutes, October 24, 2011 that the major jump in fee will deter existing and future clients and then the City will eventually no longer find it a feasible service. Ms. Kinghorn said she would hate to lose the service because it is one of the most wonderful features of living in West U. 3. Employee Benefits Trust Consider and take action authorizing the Trustees of the City of West University Employee Benefits Trust to consider and take action to amend the City of West University Employee Benefits Trust. Human Resources Director Standorf presented this item and explained that on July 14, 2008, City Council approved the creation of the Employee Benefits Trust and authorized the Declaration of Trust that allows the City to purchase employee benefits without sales tax being included in the premiums, which saves the City approximately 1.5 to 2 percent on its related benefit premiums as allowed by the Texas Insurance Coded. Ms. Standorf said staff is recommending amendments recommended by the State's Comptroller's office. She said including the recommended changes in the Trust document allows the City and the insurance carrier to comply with the State Comptroller's requirements. As recommended by Ms. Standorf, Councilmember Yehle moved to authorize the Trustees of the City's Employee Benefits Trust to take action to approve amendments to the Declaration of Trust. Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample, Heathcott At 6:40 p.m., Mayor Fry recessed the City Council meeting in order to Chair the meeting of the Employee Benefits Trust. At 6:41 p.m., Mayor Fry reconvened the regular City Council meeting. 4. Fee Schedule Amendments Matters related to the City's Fee Schedule including review of proposed changes and consideration of an ordinance on the second and final reading. City Manager Ross presented and said City policy states that fee schedules, user charges, and chargers for utility services should be reviewed and adjusted annually to insure that current rates are both equitable and sufficient to cover the cost of providing the service as deemed appropriate by Council. Mr. Ross said in reviewing the fees this year, staff noticed that the Direct Link fee had not been periodically adjusted; so, at the previous Council meeting, staff recommended increasing the fee from $25 to $39 per month. However, after further review of the cost to provide the service and inflation rates, staff is now recommending an increase from $25 to $35. He said the proposed fee is extremely competitive in the market for the level of service received and said that staff will aggressively market the service and continue to monitor the service over the next year to see if further adjustment, up or down, should be made in the 2013. Councilmember Yehle moved to adopt the proposed Fee Schedule for the 2012 Fiscal Year on second and final reading. Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion. Page 2 of 4 City Council Minutes, October 24, 2011 Mayor Fry agreed that the proposed price is a good deal, but said we let review of this fee get away from us and said staff has been instructed to monitor the cost very closely annually so that we can avoid having this type of increase in the future. City Manager added that staff's recommendation, and subsequently an addition to Councilmember Yehle's motion, also includes the request for Council to give the Parks and Recreation staff the authority to deviate from the Parks and Recreation Fee Schedule for the purpose of facilitating special events, programs, and promotions. At this time a vote was made to motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample, Heathcott 5. Adoption of the 2012 Budget Matters related to an ordinance approving and adopting a budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2012 appropriating funds for such budget; containing findings and provisions relating to the subject; and declaring an emergency. Councilmember Johnson moved to adopt the Budget for the Fiscal Year January 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2012. Councilmember Yehle seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample, Heathcott 6. Adoption of the 2012 Tax Rate Matters related to an ordinance approving and adopting the 2012 Tax Rate, and declaring an emergency. Councilmember Yehle moved to adopt an ordinance levying and assessing ad valorem property taxes for the year 2011. Ayes: Fry, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample, Heathcott 7. 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 October 10, 2011. B. Sludge Hauling Contract Matters related to an agreement extending the contract for sludge hauling as allowed in the existing contract. Page 3 of 4 City Council Minutes, October 24, 2011 C. Fund Balance Policy Matters related to the City's Fund Balance Policy. D. Municipal Setting Designation Matters related to approval of a resolution supporting the application of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a Municipal Setting Designation at 7405 Almeda Road, Houston, Texas, and execution of the corresponding Indemnity Agreement. E. to a resolution appointing members to the Item 7(c) was pulled from the Consent Agenda at the request of City Manager Ross. Councilmember Johnson moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented, with the exception of Item 7(c). Councilmember Yehle seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample, Heathcott 8. Reports by Council/Staff City Manager Ross announced that the City's contractor for mosquito spraying services will be out twice a week through November, except for Halloween night. 9. Adjourn With no other business before the Council, Councilmember Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Councilmember Yehle seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample, Heathcott ~70 2z, Date Approved Page 4 of 4 Meeting adjourned.