Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout041403R CC Min CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2003 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers (3800 University Blvd.) on April 14, 2003, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Finance Director, Parks and Recreation Director and City Planner were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, th Chapter 551, on the 11day of April 2003 at 4:40 p.m. Formal Session Proclamation for National Public Works Week. Matters related to a Proclamation for National Public Works Week to be celebrated May 3 – May 9, 2003. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member Jackson, to approve the Proclamation for National Public Works Week. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None Proclamation for Arbor Day 2003. Matters related to a Proclamation celebrating Arbor Day on May 3, 2003. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member May, to approve the Proclamation for Arbor Day 2003. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: City Council Regular Session, April 14, 2003 Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None Signs. Matters related to sign regulations including Ordinance No. 1733. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1733 as follows: An ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas, regarding signs; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject. Copies of Ordinance No. 1733, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Nes Tesno, City Planner, stated that this was the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 1733, which amends Chapter 3 of the Code of Ordinances regarding signs. Key changes will be: ?? Clarify that only outdoor signs are regulated. ?? Allows signs in vending machines. ?? Adds restrictions on ground signs (monument, pylon or pole signs, etc), limits on numbers, location, design and height. ?? Adds restrictions on Building Mounted signs, limits on size, projections, canopy signs and height. ?? Power line separation. ?? Limits display area for fixed signs (5% to 3% of site area). ?? Allows two semi-fixed signs at unoccupied homes (i.e. house under construction), no limit on size of semi-fixed for occupied homes. ?? Raises maximum display area from four square feet to five square feet for signs at single-family residences and imposes max limit to 32 square feet of display area. ?? Clarifies that flags are allowed without limit at occupied single-family residences. ?? Allows banners, subject to certain limits except at unoccupied sites. The public hearing was held on March 10, 2003. The Zoning & Planning Commission voted to forward their final report to Council with no changes. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley, to adopt Ordinance No. 1733 on the second and final reading. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: 2 City Council Regular Session, April 14, 2003 Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None Driveways, etc. Matters related to driveways, maneuvering areas, curb cuts, etc, including Ordinance No. 1734. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1734 as follows: An ordinance amending the zoning ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas, regarding driveways, curb cuts, etc.; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject Copies of Ordinance No. 1734, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mrs. Tesno reported that this was the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 1734 for driveways, maneuvering areas and curb cuts. The proposal to amend Table 7-5a, Sections 10-102 and 10-103 and Article 2 is as follows: (1) Clean up of regulations, including some cross-referencing, definitions and reorganization. (2) All 30-foot-wide driveway for side facing garages with three or more bays (compared with 20 feet under current ordinance). (3) Add measurement rules for maximum driveway width and maximum curb cut width (Note: driveway maximum widths would be measured in the street area—i.e., the ROW and in the front yards only. As a result the maximum widths would not apply elsewhere. Curb cut widths would be measured at the edge of the roadway.); and (4) Allow parking pads, stub driveways or other maneuvering areas in residential front yards connected to a major thoroughfare (i.e. Kirby, Bellaire or Bissonnet), to allow vehicles to turn around and enter thoroughfare going forward. The public hearing was held on March 10, 2003. The Zoning & Planning Commission voted to forward the final report to Council with no changes. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley, to adopt Ordinance No. 1734 on second and final reading. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: 3 City Council Regular Session, April 14, 2003 Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None Friends of West University Place Parks Fund; Colonial Park. Matters related to the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, including expenditure of $16,500 for improvements to Colonial Park. Parks and Recreation Director Mark Mailes reported that specific items were purchased at the Park Lovers Ball for installation at Colonial Park. Items included trees, a bench, porch swing, and a spring rider. In addition, the Friends approved additional monies for the purchase of a second spring rider and a seesaw snake at Colonial Park. Finally a donor wall/memorial is desired to recognize contributors for Colonial Park. Mr. Mailes stated that the total amount requested is $16,500. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member Farley, to approve the expenditure in the amount of $16,500 for improvements to Colonial Park. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None Water rate analysis. Matters related to a water rate analysis and a proposed contract. Mayor Lewis requested that this item be tabled until the next council meeting. City Council meeting dates. Matters related to City Council meetings for the month of May. City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway reported that State Law requires that the City Council convene to conduct the local canvass not earlier than the third day or later than the sixth rd day after the election to be held on May 3. The City Staff is recommending that a thth council meeting be held on Tuesday, May 6 instead of May 12 to canvass the returns of the election and to conduct normal business. 4 City Council Regular Session, April 14, 2003 The second council meeting date in May falls on Memorial Day this year. Staff is th recommending that this meeting date be changed to Monday, May 19. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Jackson, to approve the meeting date changes for the month of May. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None West University Recreation Center (YMCA facility). Matters related to the West University Recreation Center (YMCA facility) including possible agreement with Houston Independent School District for the temporary use of the property. City Manager Michael Ross reported that representatives from the Houston Independent School District have expressed a desire to work with the City of West University in developing an agreement for them to utilize the YMCA facility and grounds for up to two years while the Mark Twain Elementary School is demolished and rebuilt. Mr. Ross introduced Richard Lawrence, District Superintendent of Rebuild HISD. th Mr. Lawrence reported that on November 5 the voters overwhelmingly passed an $808,000,000 bond election for schools and HISD is now beginning to get that project underway. One of the schools slated for replacement is Mark Twain Elementary and he has been diligently looking for alternatives for children during the time that their school is being rebuilt. One site considered is the Pershing Middle School campus for a temporary school. However, the land is very limited and traffic and parking could be a problem. Mr. Lawrence stated that the HISD staff has reviewed the YMCA site on Bellaire Boulevard and they feel that if they had the opportunity to lease that facility they could create a fairly good school during the interim time. Approximately 18 temporary buildings would be placed on the soccer fields each holding two classrooms and using the offices and gymnasium as a multi-purpose room. The facility would be returned to West University Place in better condition than before if they were able to come to an agreement. The site does have driveways for buses to pull off to load and unload children and there is adequate parking for the faculty. Council Member Griffin asked if the abatement of the asbestos was part of the negotiations. 5 City Council Regular Session, April 14, 2003 Mr. Lawrence stated that the abatement would be a part of the negotiations as well as some of the ADA issues that would need to be addressed. Council Member Farley asked about the time frame for demolition and rebuilding of Mark Twain. Mr. Lawrence stated that it was about a two-year time frame but this would depend upon when the YMCA facility was available. Mayor Lewis asked Mr. Mailes about the advantage of leasing the building in terms of the planning process for the eventual use of that property. Mr. Mailes stated that leasing the building for the next two years would give the Staff more time to do the planning and raise money or generate funds. Mayor Lewis asked about the use of the swimming pool and facilities during the off- season. Mr. Lawrence stated that there could possibly be some activities in the swimming pool. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member Jackson, to authorize the City Manager to negotiate an acceptable agreement with HISD for the use of the YMCA property and, if necessary, to utilize experts for the negotiations. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular Session conducted on March 24, 2003. A motion was made by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member May, to approve the minutes as presented. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None 6 City Council Regular Session, April 14, 2003 The City Council recessed the Formal Session to convene in Informal Session at 6:55 p.m. Informal Session 2003 Certificates of Obligation. Matters related to 2003 Certificates of Obligation including a schedule of events, projected debt service and estimated tax impact. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that in 1995 the voters approved issuing $63 million in bonds to finance the largest public works project in the City’s history. At that time, the plan was to basically reconstruct the City’s entire infrastructure, with the exception of a few of the newer utility lines and some portions of existing concrete paving in the City. In 2002 the City issued the last of those authorized bonds. By the end of 2002 the City had projects underway with construction costs estimated to be over $26 million. Construction projects including paving the 3700 block of University Boulevard, Area 11B, Area 10, and drainage engineering for priority Area 2 are now ready to begin. These projects are estimated to cost over $17 million. As of January 1, 2003, the City had $17.4 million on hand. METRO funds and interest will provide another $1.5 million, giving the City $18.9 million to finance the remaining costs of construction. The estimated cost to complete all projects is $28.6 million, leaving the funding short $9.9 million. In order to finance this shortfall, the City’s Financial Advisors, RBC Dain Rauscher recommends issuing $9.9 million of Certificates of Obligation. This bond issue will increase future debt service requirements by just over $600,000 annually. The Debt Service tax rate would rise by $0.015 cents to $0.255 cents per $100 valuation in 2004 Budget Year. If no further debt is issued (and a assumed 2% growth in assessed values materializes) the rate will stabilize and begin to decline, as assessed values further grow. This is intended to be the final funding bond issue for the Infrastructure Replacement Program. Of course the amount of the cost to complete all projects related to the Infrastructure Program is based on numerous estimates. Should these estimates prove to be too conservative, future revenues dedicated to the program could be diverted to other projects or to debt service. Should the estimate prove to be insufficient, funding would come from the General Fund Balance or a future bond sale. Based on these estimates the total cost of the program is expected to be over $82 million. Funding sources include $73 million in debt, $4 million from METRO; and $4 million construction period interest earnings and $1 million in contributions from General Revenues. 7 City Council Regular Session, April 14, 2003 Mr. Walters introduced Frank Ildebrando from RBC Dain Rauscher. He reviewed a tentative schedule for the sale of $9.9 million of Certificates of Obligation. A motion was made by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member May, to approve a of schedule of events for the sale of $9.9 million of certificates of obligation. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None Board or Commission meetings. Matters related to Board and Commission meetings (Zoning & Planning, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Building & Standards Commission, Parks & Recreation, Public Safety, Senior Services, Recycling & Solid Waste Reduction and Drainage Committee) including reports from Council liaisons. Mayor Lewis reported that the Zoning and Planning Commission discussed the building framed area. She requested that the item relating to setbacks be placed on the next regular session. Inquiries, requests and complaints. The City Council reviewed matters received from the public and referred them to the appropriate department or will place them on a future agenda for consideration or action. Staff report. Mr. Ross reported that he and the City Manager from Bellaire had a very positive meeting with the City of Houston’s Council Members Goldberg and Keller to discuss the train noise and they agreed to have their legal staff talk with the City’s legal staff and begin working on an interlocal agreement. Mr. Ross also reported that streetlights would be discussed at the next meeting. He also th reminded the Council that a public meeting would be held on May 7 at 6:00 pm to discuss the 3700 block of University Boulevard. Adjournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley, to adjourn. The Council meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. 8