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HomeMy WebLinkAbout042301S CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2001 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Special Session in the Municipal Building Conference Room (3800 University Blvd.) on April 23, 2001, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Finance Director, Fire Chief, Police Captain and Public Works Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, th Chapter 551, on the 20 day of April 2001 at 3:00 p.m. Agenda Review: The City Council reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under consideration with the Staff. High output lighting devices. Matters related to the requirements of high output lighting devices. City Manager Sherman Yehl commented that at the Council Meeting of April 9, 2001, Stephen Stewart of 3828 Ruskin raised a question about the City’s ordinance regarding high output lighting. Mr. Stewart is adjacent to a house under construction that has several spotlights that distribute light on to the Stewart property. th At the April 12 Zoning and Planning Commission meeting the issue of high output lighting was discussed. It was the consensus of the commission that the current ordinance needed to be revised. The City Attorney along with City Staff is working on the amendments and will have a final draft for the commissions review at their next regular meeting. Elevated storage tank. Matters related to a feasibility study on the joint use of an elevated storage tank. Utilities Superintendent Patrick Walters commented that at a recent joint meeting with the Southside Place City Council, staff was directed to explore the feasibility of a combined elevated water tank that would serve both communities. The main concern in sharing a tower arise in that construction of a tower with separate water compartments would be almost impossible and would escalate the cost above that of individual towers. Most other City Council Special Session, April 23, 2001 methods of sharing a tower involve the intermingling of water from the two systems, which the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission will not allow unless the systems are combined into a single system for monitoring and regulatory compliance. Three approaches have been identified: 1. Create a common water authority to supply water to all customers in both cities. ?? Would require complete engineering review of both systems to insure that regulatory compliance could be met for pumpage, storage and firefighting flows. 2. Create multiple interconnects from West U's system to Southside Place's system and supply 100% of Southside Place's water supply through meters. ?? Would eliminate the need for Southside Place to maintain ground storage, elevated storage and pump stations. ?? Southside Place's water wells could be sold to West U. and provide additional emergency supply in the event of supply problems from the City of Houston. ?? Would require complete engineering review of both systems to insure that regulatory compliance could be met for pumpage, storage and firefighting flows. 3. Create a metered pressure controlled interconnect between West U. and Southside Place and install a pressure vessel in Southside Place to buffer pressure created by their pumps. ?? Would require Southside Place to operate a slightly higher pressure than they currently operate. ?? Would create an interconnect that would open and operate only when Southside Place's system pressure was below a preset value. If not operated regularly could create water quality issues. ?? Would create an additional "Source of water" for Southside place requiring additional monitoring. Mr. Walters stated that the first two options may not be acceptable to Southside Place residents. Conversations have been held with TNRCC regarding option three, and questions have been raised about the ability of this approach to meet the elevated storage requirements for Southside Place and the requirements for interconnects between the water systems. As a result, this does not appear to be a realistic option as regulations and operational issues could be prohibitive. The City Council agreed that both Cities should continue with plans to construct separate elevated water towers. 2001 Bond issue. 2 City Council Special Session, April 23, 2001 Matters related to the issuance of $3.015 million in water and sewer revenue bonds, Series 2001A and $4.5 million in water and sewer revenue bonds, Series 2001B. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that the financing arrangements for Priority Areas 7B, 8 and 12 included the $7.5 million that would be raised by selling revenue bonds. The sale of these bonds was delayed by the need to increase water and sewer rates to meet the legal requirements set out in the City’s current outstanding Bond Orders. The Series 2001A will be sold to the Texas Water Development Board Revolving Loan Program. In the past, bonds sold under this program have resulted in substantially lower interest rates. The 2001B series will be sold on the open market. If the current market conditions remain, we expect that the average coupon for the $4.5 million 2001B bonds would be 5.25% and the average coupon for the $3.105 million 2001A bonds would by 4.5%. Mr. Thomas presented a tentative schedule of events, which provided details about the events leading up to the bond sale and debt service schedules that detail the estimated debt service the City will incur when the bonds are issued. The City Council authorized the staff to proceed with the issuance of Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2001A and 2001B. Public Works Director recruitment. Matters related to a status report on the recruitment of a Public Works Director. Mr. Yehl reported that the City had received more than 50 applicants for the position of Public Works Director and the Staff needs assistance in recruiting and conducting preliminary interviews. He requested that the Staff be allowed to execute an agreement with a head hunter for this assistance. The cost would be approximately $8,000. The City Council authorized the City Manager to engage a head hunter for the recruitment of a Public Works Director. Report from Board or Commission Liaisons. The City Council reported on Board or Commission meetings attended by the liaisons. Council Member Bertini reported that heavy trash day was scheduled for April 28, 2001. City Attorney Jim Dougherty reported on the lighting devices as discussed by the Zoning and Planning Commission. Matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property. 3 City Council Special Session, April 23, 2001 Property located at 4210 Bellaire Boulevard known as Y.M.C.A. The City Council did not convene in executive session to discuss this item. The City Manager reported that the purchase date of the Y.M.C.A. had been extended. An environmental report should be presented for review in the near future. Adjournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member Grubb, to adjourn. The Special Session adjourned at 7:17 p.m. 4