HomeMy WebLinkAbout031014 CC MinThe City of West University Place
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 a regular session on Monday, March
10, 2014, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University, 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. in the Conference Room. Council and
Staff in attendance were: Mayor Pro Tern Sample, Councilmembers Heathcott, Johnson and Yehle,
Assistant City Manager /Public Works Director Peifer, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Police
and Police Chief Walker. City Manager Ross was absent.
Councilmember Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Secretary Lenz confirmed that the Notice of the meeting was duly posted in accordance with the Texas
Government Code, Chapter 551.
1. Public Comments
This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to Council relating to agenda and non - agenda items.
There were no public comments.
2. Consent A_aenda
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. Credit Access Businesses
Matters related to an ordinance regulating credit access businesses, including payday loan
businesses, in West University Place. Recommended Action: Consider approval of an ordinance
regulating credit access businesses in the City of West University Place on second and final reading.
Councilmember Yehle requested that credit access businesses be removed from the Consent
Agenda for discussion.
Councilmember Yehle said he doesn't have a problem with what is being proposed, but rather has a
problem with it being proposed at all, because he considers the preponderous of City Council's
business should be things that affect West U residents, either positively or negatively. He said in
regards to this item, there has been nothing presented that indicates that West U people are being
damaged by that type of business or that this type business is an attractive nuisance of any kind and
City Council Minutes, March 10, 2014
that by all accounts, they comply with state law. He said he is concerned about singling out what one
might call social issues because he doesn't know where it will lead.
Councilmember Yehle also stated Houston enacted a smoking ordinance and West U did not follow
because it wasn't deemed necessary for West U. He said there has been one incidence where West
U enacted a law and then became the test case for a bigger company, which was Comcast. He said
although the City was reimbursed by the Texas Municipal League (TML), it was an all- consuming
issue for some time so, with that said, it's just the nature of the proposal that he objects.
Councilmember Heathcott moved to approve the ordinance on the second and final reading. Mayor
Pro Tern Sample seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes:
Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle
Abstain:
Yehle
Noes:
None
Absent:
None
3. Council /City Manager Reports
City Manager Ross was out on Spring Break. Assistant City Manager Peifer did not have a report.
Councilmember Yehle reported that last week he attended the State of the County address presented
by Judge Ed Emmett. He said Judge Emmett reflected on the fact that Houston and parts of
unincorporated areas of Harris County have about the same number of people and there's an
imbalance and overlap in the services (transportation, emergency response, etc.) being provided.
Judge Emmett is advocating for some kind of regional coordination to serve the people living in those
two respective areas. Councilmember Yehle said Judge Emmett's reflection was that the City of
Houston has already annexed the corridors along the freeways where the retail and commercial
benefits are, but it didn't reach out and annex the subdivisions as they were developed. He said that
was the plan, but Houston has not done that, yet, and unless Houston steps up its rate of annexation,
it needs to do something else.
Councilmember Yehle said there is probably a message there for West U, Southside and Bellaire to
consider as these cities move ahead.
Mayor Fry reported that before the Council meeting, he visited the Police Department before the shift
change to tell them that they are very much appreciated for their work and the way they represent the
City. He said the City has excellent people in its Public Safety Department.
4. Adjourn
With further business, Councilmember Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:36 p.m. Mayor Pro
Tern Sample seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Johnson, Ye
Noes: None
Abse None
A. Lenz, City Secretary 4ZAt D Approved
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