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Home My WebLink About041315 CC Min0 The City of West University Place A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL STAFF Bob Fry, Mayor Michael Ross, City Manager Susan Sample, Mayor Pro Tern Alan Petrov, City Attorney Ed Heathcott, Councilmember Thelma Lenz, City Secretary Joan Johnson, Councilmember Dick Yehle, Councilmember CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in a special meeting /workshop and regular meeting on Monday, April 13, 2015, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University, West University Place, Texas beginning at 5:45 p.m. SPECIAL MEETING (held in the Council Chamber Conference Room at 5:45 p.m.) Agenda Items were as follows: Call to Order. Mayor Fry called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. in the Council Chamber Conference Room. Council and Staff in attendance were: Mayor Fry, Mayor Pro Tern Sample, Councilmembers, Johnson and Yehle, City Manager Ross, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Assistant City Manager /Public Works Director Peifer, Police Chief Walker and Reid Wilson, City's legal consultant for matters pertaining to the properties in the 3800 blocks of University and Amherst. Councilmember Heathcott did not attend the special meeting /workshop. 1. City Facilities Master Planning — Real Estate Matters related to the citizen survey results. Recommended Action: Discuss and take any desired action. At 5:46 p.m., Mayor Fry recessed the special meeting /workshop and convened into Executive Session in accordance with Section 551.072 in Chapter 551, Open Meetings Act, of the Texas Government Code (discussion about the value or transfer of real property and other real estate matters) and Section 551.071 in Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code (consultation with legal counsel to seek or receive legal advice). Present for Executive Session were: Mayor Fry, Mayor Pro Tern Sample, Councilmember Joan Johnson, Councilmember Dick Yehle, City Manager Ross, City Attorney Petrov, City Secretary Lenz, ACM /Public Works Director Peifer and legal consultant Reid Wilson. At 6:23 p.m., Mayor Fry closed the Executive Session and reconvened the Special Meeting/Workshop. 2. Adjourn With no action taken, Mayor Fry closed the Special Meeting/Workshop at 6:23 p.m. City Council Minutes, April 13, 2015 REGULAR MEETING (held in the Council Chambers 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 Council Chambers. Council and staff in attendance were: Mayor Pro Tem Sample, Councilmembers Heathcott, Johnson and Yehle, City Manager Ross, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Assistant City Manager /Public Works Director Peifer, Police Chief Walker, Assistant Public Works Director Beach, IT Director McFarland and Senior Services Manager Brooks. Michael Revis, Boy Scout Troop 55, 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. 3. Public Comments This was an opportunity for citizens to speak to Council relating to agenda and non - agenda items. Alida Drewes, 6112 Fordham, spoke regarding the proposed land swap and said the church has the right to put what it wants on its properties, because the church provides a place to go when the City refuses services to its citizens. Eddie Matthews, 5906 Fordham, spoke regarding the Facilities Master Plan. He said during its final two meetings last month Council instructed the City Manager to (a) finalize the City Master Plan and bring to Council for approval and (b) authorize publication of the intention to issue Combined Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation; the latter to fund the relocation of the Public Works Maintenance Facility to Dincans and property exchange - related costs. He said in addition, Council has already instructed the City Manager to take such actions necessary to relocate the Public Works Maintenance Facility. Mr. Matthews stated that Council is seeking to spend public money and, to his knowledge, residents have never been given a full, detailed financial presentation on the costs of these potential projects and so he asked that at the next regular City Council meeting, before any final decisions are made or irreversible actions taken, that residents be given a detailed financial presentation by City staff or consultants that answer the following questions: Relocation of Public works Facility to Dincans • What are current estimated costs, upfront capital and ongoing operating costs to relocate to Dincans? Will operating costs increase over current site level? • Has any assessment been made of the costs of (1) keeping the current site and just maintaining until its useful life expires or (2) keeping current site, but with an upgrade to extend its useful life? • Could the City outsource maintenance work by either (1) using a City of Houston or other neighboring municipality's facility or (2) to an independent third party? Potential Property Swap • What are the appraised /market values of City and Church properties to be swapped? Would this be an equal value swap if consummated? • If there is a difference in appraised values, how and by whom is this being negotiated? Are any compensatory payments to be made and by whom? He said this question is moot if any transaction is a straight equal value swap. 2 of 4 City Council Minutes, April 13, 2015 o If the City retains use of its Facilities Administration Building (if a swap occurs) via a lease, what are its terms? Are they in line with market? Mr. Matthews said he doesn't think it is unreasonable to ask that residents be given this information since they are the ones paying for it. Chuck Marshall, 4142 Riley, spoke regarding term limits. He said the mayor and city councilmembers are limited to two 2 -year terms and this year all terms are expiring and so the election could result in a totally new City Council without any experience or "corporate" memory. He said because of this, he would request that the new Council look into implementing staggered terms with possibly three or four -year terms. 4. St. Mark's Episcopal Church Day Proclamation Matters related to a proclamation proclaiming April 26, 2015 as St. Mark's Episcopal Church Day in the City in celebration of its 75th Anniversary. Recommended Action: Proclaim April 27, 2015 as St. Mark's Day in West University Place. Mayor Fry read, and then presented, the proclamation to a representative from the church in attendance. The presentation was followed by a brief photo op. 5. Older Americans and Volunteers Month Proclamation Matters related to a proclamation proclaiming May 2015 as Older Americans and Volunteers Month. Recommended Action: Proclaim May 2015 as Older Americans and Volunteers month in the City of West University Place. Mayor Fry proclaimed May 2015 as Older Americans and Volunteers Month in West University Place. Senior Services Board Chair Pieter Vranken thanked the City and Council for its support and said the work of the staff is outstanding. He made a special recognition of the Board's youngest supporter, Naina Pai, who raised more than $700 through bake sales to buy two Knox Boxes for the Good Neighbor Team's delivery services. The presentation was followed by a photo op. 6. 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 said in a letter from the City of Houston dated March 1, 2015, it was announced that its annual treated surface water rate adjustment, pursuant to its Ordinance 2010 -305, the rate increase effective April 1, 2015 would be 4.4 percent or approximately $0.12 over the current rate of $2.72 per a thousand gallons. Mr. Ross said in order to continue recovering the full cost of purchasing this treated water, and maintaining the "pay as you go ", it is necessary for the City of West U to adopt a 1.4 percent rate increase. He said for a resident who uses 12,000 gallons of water, the rate will increase by $1.32 per month and recommended Council approve adoption of the ordinance on the first of two readings increasing water rates by 1.4 percent, effective June 1, 2015. Mayor Fry confirmed that the City is required by the Houston - Galveston Subsidence District to receive a certain percentage of its water from the City of Houston because of subsidence laws passed a long time ago. Mr. Ross said typically 80 percent of the overall water has to be surface water, but the City takes advantage of education credits used in elementary schools to educate children about conversation and it reduces the 80 percent to 50 percent. 3of4 City Council Minutes, April 13, 2015 Councilmember Heathcott moved to increase West University Place's water rate by 1.4 percent, effective June 1, 2015, on the first of two reading. Mayor Pro Tern Sample seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: None 7. 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 Mach 23, 2015 and Special Meeting Minutes of March 30, 2015. Recommended Action: Approve Minutes. B. Ruskin Rehabilitation Project Matters related to the closing and acceptance of the Ruskin Rehabilitation project. Recommended Action: Accept completion of the Ruskin Street Rehabilitation Project. C. Matters related to changing the May 11, 2015 City Council Meeting to May 4, 2015 and changing the May 25, 2015 Council Meeting to May 18, 2015. Recommended Action: Change regular meeting of the City Council from May 11, 2015 to May 4, 2015 and the regular meeting of the City Council of May 25, 2015 to May 18, 2015. D. Harris Systems USA Contract Matters related to a contract with Harris Systems USA. Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. E. Purchase of Garbage Truck Chassis Matters related to accepting the bid award for Bid No. 15 -01 for the purchase of a new garbage truck chassis. Recommended Action: Accept the bid for the purchase of anew garbage truck chassis. Mayor Pro Tem Sample moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Fry, Sample, Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle Noes: None Absent: None 8. Adjourn Reaular Meetina With no further business to is :6:55 p. a� eB. A. Lenz, adjourned the Regular Meeting at approximately Dat Approved T�'KfJT).* 4of4