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Home My WebLink About032414 CC MinThe City of West University Place A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL Bob Fry, Mayor Susan Sample, Mayor Pro Tern 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 workshop and regular session on Monday, March 24, 2014, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University, West University Place, Texas beginning at 6:10 p.m. Agenda Items were as follows: Call to Order. Mayor Fry called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room. Council and Staff in attendance were: Councilmembers Heathcott, Johnson and Yehle, City Manager Ross, Assistant City Manager /Public Works Director Peifer, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Parks and Recreation Director O'Connor, and Police Chief Walker. Mayor Pro Tern Sample was absent. SPECIAL MEETINGIWORKSHOP Workshop Agenda item was as follows: 1. Facilities Master Planning Matters related to master planning. Recommended Action: Discuss and take any desired action. City Manager Ross presented and said the City underwent a master planning exercise in 2006 -2007, primarily to decide the location for the new Police Building. He said with completion of the police facility, the new parks & recreation facilities, and considering the recent actions regarding the City - owned Westpark property and other properties like our Wastewater Treatment Facility and our Ruffino Hills (old solid waste landfill) property, it appears to be a good time to review and update the Facility Master plan to properly prepare for the future. Mr. Ross said after going through the master planning process, this Council can decide if it wants to initiate a part of the plan at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. He said if Council agrees to move forward, the process will include the evaluation of all properties and facilities owned by the City and the West U Baptist Church (WUBC). Once completed, a presentation of various options will be presented to Council for consideration and discussion. Councilmember Johnson asked if this should be postponed until a new Council is in place. Mayor Fry said he thinks it is important to get something started. City Council Minutes, March 24, 2014 City Manager Ross said the projects can be separated, if necessary. He said if nothing else, going through this master planning process will prove if there is a desire to move Public Works before deciding what to do with the West Park property. Mr. Ross said a Facilities Master Plan is only one component of a Comprehensive Plan. He said there is Land Use Plan, Major Thoroughfare Plan, Wastewater Plan, etc., so if this Council desires, it could update the Facilities Master Plan now and then make it part of the Master Comprehensive Plan later. Councilmember Yehle said an issue that needs to be resolved is the property owned by the church (WUBC). He said there are also down the road issues that could pop up. He said if the City was to receive an offer on the West Park Property, staff wouldn't know how to react, because the City won't know if the land is needed. City Manager Ross said the master planning exercise using a consultant will flush out a lot of the uncertainties and provide options. Councilmember Heathcott said he thinks it is time to start planning because at some point in time, the church will decide it needs to do something, so he feels that if the City wants to really try to consolidate properties to create bigger plots, this would be a good time to begin looking down the road toward the next 20 or 30 years. He said one of the drivers when looking at this could be the timeframe of when (current) City bonds are repaid. After discussion, Councilmember Johnson moved to approve $15,000.00 to be used in the process for the development of a master plan. Councilmember Yehle seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Heathoott, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample With no further business to discuss, Mayor Fry adjourned the Workshop a 6:30 p.m. REGULAR MEETING (6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers) Agenda items are as follows: Call to Order. Mayor Fry called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room. Council and Staff in attendance were: Councilmembers Heathcott, Johnson and Yehle, City Manager Ross, Assistant City Manager /Public Works Director Peifer, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Parks and Recreation Director O'Connor, Finance Director Daugherty, and Police Chief Walker. Mayor Pro Tern Sample was absent. Councilmember Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Secretary Lenz confirmed that the Notice of the workshop and regular meetings was duly posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. 2 of 4 City Council Minutes, March 24, 2014 2. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to Council relating to agenda and non - agenda items. There were no public comments. 3. Houston Surface Water Rate Increase Matters related to an ordinance increasing the City's surface water rates. Recommended Action: Approve Ordinance on the first of two readings. City Manager Ross presented and stated that this increase is to recover the cost of purchasing treated surface water from the City of Houston and to continue to help the City's pay -as- you -go water main replacement program. City Attorney Petrov, who is also the Chair of the Houston - Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD), explained the reason for having to pay Houston for the water. He stated that the regulation of the HGSD require the Harris - Galveston area to convert, at least in part, to surface water to alleviate some of the pumpage of groundwater (to reduce subsidence). Mr. Petrov said West U has a program whereby it uses groundwater credits through a conservation education program that enables us to be on a 50/50 surface water /groundwater, but it still has to purchase 50 percent of its surface water from the City of Houston, which is the only regional surface water in the area. Councilmember Yehle moved to approve an ordinance to increase the rate the City charges for surface rates on the first reading. Councilmember Johnson seconded. Councilmember Yehle said this is a significant element in the revenue model for the City's water program and he understands it is natural to have wild swings in wet years and dry years, but given the experience the City has had in the past and projection for drier years, has the City changed the volume model in any way? Mr. Ross responded that the City has not recently changed the water models associated with the rate structure, but said he and Finance Director Daugherty have discussed it and will most - likely include the costs for a rate analysis in the 2015 Budget. At this time a vote was made on the motion Ayes: Fry, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample 4. 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 Minutes of February 24 and March 10, 2014 City Council Minutes. Recommended Action: Approve Minutes. 3of4 City Council Minutes, March 24, 2014 B. Arbor Day Proclamation and Tree City USA Designation Matters related to recognizing the City's designation for 2013 of Tree City USA and proclaiming April 12, 2014 as Arbor Day in West University Place. Recommended Action: Proclaim April 12, 2014 as Arbor Day in West University Place and recognize the City's designation for 2013 of Tree City USA. C. Judson Park Tennis Court Matters related to approval of the Judson Park Tennis Court plans as submitted and allowance of a variance to the existing zoning regulations. Recommended Action: Approve the new Judson Park tennis court plans as submitted and allow for a variance to the existing zoning regulations for the construction of the court, fences and lighting. Mayor Fry moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: Sample 5. Council /City Manager Reports City Manager Ross reported that the positions for both the Communications Manager and the Executive Assistant have been advertised with a closing date of April 21, 2014. Councilmember Johnson reported that Council and staff attended a reception this evening for former mayor John Neighbors who contributed many years of service to West U. 6. Adjourn With further business, Councilmember Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 p.m. Councilmember Yehle seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: None Pr y. Thelma A. Lenz, City Secretary Date Approved 4 of 4