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HomeMy WebLinkAbout032612 CC MinThe City of West University Place L A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL Bob Fry, Mayor Susan Sample, Mayor Pro Tent 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, March 26, 2012, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University, West University Place, Texas beginning at 5:30 p.m. SPECIAL WORKSHOP (BEGINNING AT 5:30 IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM) Call to Order. Mayor Fry called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Council and staff in attendance were: Mayor Pro Tern Sample (arrived at 5:40 p.m.), Councilmembers Heathcott and Yehle, City Manaaer Ross, and Citv Secretary Lenz. Councilmember Johnson was absent. Workshop agenda item was as follows: 1. Parks Board Subcommittee Matters related to parkland acquisition. Parks Board Subcommittee members, John Wilkinson, Chair, Leah Ragiel, and Burt Ballanfant gave a presentation on the framework for future parks, which included status /background, criteria for more park space, funding options for more park space, finance options for securing more park space, and steps and timing to develop a 5 -year term/flexible strategy. The following points outline the presentation: Status/Background • 2000 Parks Master Plan. Plan is still in place and largely executed with support from the Friends of West U Parks Fund. One of the goals is to look at park development within walking distance of all the citizens in West U. Referendum. In 2006, a $2,000,000 parks acquisition bond was proposed and passed, but the bonds were never issued. The Bond Referendum is considered valid for 10 years, meaning there is a window of opportunity until 2016 for Council to issue those bonds based on that election. • Last Survey Conducted. Sentiments of residents have not been gauged since February 2000 when, at that time, 2/3 of the residents felt that the City should acquire additional parks. Criteria for More Park Space • Quadrant of City. 2006 Bond Referendum was for the area east of Auden and West of Buffalo. Page 1 of 5 City Council Minutes, March 26, 2012 • Minimum size. At one time there was a lot of sentiment for pocket parks being 50 x 100 acre foot lots, but the subcommittee felt that those aren't very successful, except for the Friends Park near the Community Center and feels that at least 100 x 200 (0.5 acres) is needed. • Boundaries. In terms of access, at least two sides of a prospective area should be without residences; corner lots are therefore preferred, similar to Whitt Johnson Park. • Access/Parking. For better access /parking, the preference is for the park to be on a secondary street rather than a main street. Ideally, it will be a through street, not a dead -end street. Funding Options • Build Capital Fund. Establishing a capital fund for parkland acquisition is proposed. Potential sources for funds are: seed money from City land sales, monthly surcharges on recreation fees, supplement donations through Friends, and dedicated bond issue.. Subcommittee does not favor one over the other. At this time, Mayor Pro Tem Sample arrived and Subcommittee Chair Wilkinson reviewed what had already been discussed. Finance Options for Securing More Park Space • Secure options for future "first rights" when sold. Have an agreement or an option in advance with landowners for first rights of refusal for the City, which was done for Colonial Park. • Reverse mortgage payments for phased ownership. If a person wants to stay, the City would pay them a monthly amount and gain equity in the property over a period of time. • Issue bonds. • Estate gifting and /or life annuities. Mr. Wilkinson pointed out that these are just concepts at this time and feels that the subcommittee needs to meet with City staff to figure out what is allowed and what is feasible. Steps and Timing to Develop 5 -year Term / Flexible Strategy • Seek staff and Council approval of framework (PRB, 10 2012). Meet with staff and Council to discuss framework and options. • Form task force with expertise in municipal financing (City, 20 2012). • Possible Referendum of Funding Option(s) (City, 40 2012). If any of the recommended funding options are accepted by Council, a referendum may be required and could possibly be on the November 2012 ballot. • Establish Parks Acquisition Capital Fund (City, 10 2013). If all things fall into place, a Parks Acquisition Capital Fund could be established. • Short List — 2 -3 options for suitable parks and secure first rights of refusal agreements (PRB & City, 20 2013). At the end of the presentation, Councilmember Yehle stated that he likes the thought process and the fact that the subcommittee consciously thought about pocket parks. He said one thing that puzzles him is the community's notion as to where parks should be, because he knows from past discussions that the City Center and the west side had adequate parks, but people seem to constantly want more parks without regard to the location. Page 2 of 5 City Council Minutes, March 26, 2012 Councilmember Heathcott said he thinks what was presented this evening is a great starting point for future discussions. At 5:50 p.m., Councilmember Heathcott moved to recess the open meeting and convene into executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.072, deliberation regarding real property. Councilmember Yehle seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Johnson In attendance for the executive session were: Mayor Fry, Mayor Pro Tem Sample, Councilmembers Heathcott and Yehle, City Manager Ross, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Parks and Recreation Director O'Connor, Parks Subcommittee Members Wilkinson, Ragiel, and Ballanfant, and former Parks Board Member Mardi Turner. Councilmember Johnson was absent. At 6:29 p.m., Councilmember Heathcott moved to adjourn the executive session and reconvene into open session. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Johnson 2. Adjourn. With no action being taken, Mayor Pro Tem Sample moved to close and adjourn the workshop. Councilmember Heathcott seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Johnson 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 6:34 p.m. Council and staff in attendance were: Mayor Pro Tem Sample, Councilmembers Heathcott and Yehle, City Manager Ross, ACM/Public Works Director Peifer, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Finance Director Daugherty, City Planner Scarcella, Urban Forester Koehl, and Police Chief Walker. Councilmember Johnson was absent. Pledge of Allegiance: Boy scouts from a local troop led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Public Comments There were no public comments. 4. Arbor Day Proclamation Matters related to a proclamation for Arbor Day and recognition of the City receiving the Tree City USA award. Page 3 of 5 City Council Minutes, March 26, 2012 Urban Forester Koehl presented and said Arbor Day is a way to educate the community about trees and the environment. He said this year the City's Arbor Day celebration will be held on March 31, 2012, at the Recreation Center and is being held in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Department's annual Eggstravaganza and that residents are invited to come by the Recreation Center to meet and talk with the urban forester. Complimentary trees will be available to the first 30 residents to visit the celebration. As per staff's recommendation, Councilmember Yehle moved to proclaim March 31, 2012, as Arbor Day in the City of West University Place. Mayor Pro Tern Sample seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Johnson 5. Water Rate Increase Matters related to the City of Houston's water rate increases, including adoption of an ordinance. Finance Director Daugherty presented and stated that the City of Houston's 3.3 percent increase in its water rates, coupled with Houston's 1.6 percent April 2011 increase, the cost of which was absorbed by the Water Fund, resulted in a 1.8 percent increase to West U residents to cover the incremental cost of purchased surface water. Mayor Fry confirmed with the City Manager that the City purchases approximately half of its water from the City of Houston. Mr. Petrov explained that the Subsidence District requires conversion to surface water and the way that the City does that is by purchasing surface water from the City of Houston, which is the only option, so when their rates go up, so do ours. Councilmember Heathcott moved to approve the ordinance for a rate increase of 1.8 percent on the first of two readings. Councilmember Yehle seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Johnson 6. 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 March 12, 2012. B. Errors and Omissions Exception Ordinance Matters related to an ordinance amendment recommended by the Building and Standards Commission that will remove the Errors and Omissions exception. Page 4 of 5 City Council Minutes, March 26, 2012 Councilmember Yehle moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Sample seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Johnson 7. Reports by Council /Staff There were no reports. 8. Adjourn At 6:41 p.m., Mayor Fry motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Johnson o' s es P e�par Thelma A. Lenz, City Secretary 6 Date Approved Page 5 of 5