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Home My WebLink About052200R CC Minj CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, MAY 22, 2000 MUNICIPAL BUILDING COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD 7:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers on May 22, 2000, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Finance Director, Police Chief and Public Works Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 19a' day of May 2000 at 2:30 p.m. Mayor Lewis invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Serpell Edwards, 3751 Rice, thanked the City Council for their consideration of the problems the residents on the 3700 block of Rice have had recently with the batting cages on the softball fields. He asked that everyone honor past agreements concerning the playing fields. John Merrymont, 3735 Rice, commented that he appreciated the City Council 's involvement in removing the batting cages. Betsy Edwards, 3751 Rice, commented that she wanted a more definitive policy in place regarding the playing fields. Amy Karges, 3747 Rice, thanked the City Council for honoring their agreement regarding the batting cages. She asked for a date of when the cages would be removed. Ken Hoffman, 4212 Ruskin, spoke to the City Council about increasing the police and fire personnel salaries. He stated that the starting salary for police officers is $28,000 a year which breaks down to $13.00 an hour. He commented that this was not competitive. George Boehme, 3005 Robinhood, commented that he wrote a column about police salaries and has never gotten as much response as he did about this column. Everyone was amazed that the fire and police were paid so little. He stated that police and fire should be paid the top salaries not the average. Wayne Donoaho, 6124 Kirby, spoke to the City Council about the recent zoning change affecting the peripheral developments. He invited the council to back out of his driveway to see for themselves that there was not a problem backing out on Kirby. //' City Council Regular SeL, May 22, 2000 Gary Toy, owner of the property on Kirby and Plumb, commented that he opposed the recent changes to the zoning ordinance because he could no longer build townhouses on his property. Carolyn Allen, 6204 Kirby, commented that she opposed the recent changes to the zoning ordinance. She asked for copies of the new zoning changes. Carmen Flores, 6130 Kirby, commented that she wanted to build two townhouses on her property and found an architect who could meet the previous zoning rules but with the new changes it was now impossible. Nathan Reinhardt, 6126 Kirby, asked the City Council to consider changing the zoning ordinance so that he can develop townhouses on his property. He felt he has lost value on his property because of the recent changes. Rich Langenstein, 6528 Westchester, presented a copy of a petition to the City Council. The initiative would set mandatory minimum salaries for peace officers and firefighters serving West University. Alan Blakemore, 6445 Brompton, commented that the protection of the citizens is the City Council's first responsibility. He stated that the city has lost most of its tenured officers because of the low pay scale and the only way to deal with it is with a citizen's initiative. Robert Hall, 6004 and 6008 Kirby, commented that he was not informed about the recent zoning changes. He stated that he wanted to build townhouses on the property and will not be able to do so now. Bike Helmet Ordinance. Matters related to the first reading of Ordinance No. 1646. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1646 as follows: An ordinance relating to bike helmets; amending the code of ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject Copies of Ordinance No. 1646, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Police Chief Kevin Begley reported that at the City Council meeting of May 8, 2000, the use of protective headgear by bicyclists was discussed. The Staff was directed to review state law and to prepare a local ordinance requiring the use of a helmet if state law did not address this matter. Currently, there is no requirement for bicyclists to wear protective headgear while riding within the city. 2 City Council Regular Ses—ii, May 22, 2000 J Chief Begley stated that the staff has reviewed state law and local city ordinances and believes that it is in the best interest of the community to enact an ordinance requiring the use of helmets for those under the age of 18. A motion was made by Council Member Grubb, seconded by Council Member May, to adopt Ordinance No. 1646 on the first reading. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None Resolution appointing a member to the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board. Matters related to Resolution No. 2000 -03 appointing Orval Lee Marlow, II as a member of the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board. A motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member May, to approve Resolution No. 2000 -03. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballar fant, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None Resolution appointing Deputy Court Clerks. Matters related to Resolution No. 2000 -04 appointing Maxine Stevenson and Janet Mynatt as Deputy Court Clerks. A motion was made by Council Member Ballanfant, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to approve Resolution No. 2000 -04. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None City Council Regular S ' �,y May 22, 2000 Resolution for Public Access Channel. Matters related to Resolution No. 2000 -05. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Resolution No. 2000 -05 as follows: A resolution approving an application to the City of Houston for "P.E.G." cable programming and agreeing to abide by applicable ordinances and any authorization granted pursuant thereto; and containing findings and provisions related to the subject. City Manager Sherman Yehl reported that under the current franchise agreement public education and government access channels (P.E.G.) are not currently provided on the West University cable television system provided by Time Warner. The resolution allows the city to apply to the City of Houston for these access channels. Specifically, it would allow for the transmission of the H.I.S.D. channel and the Houston Community College channel in West University. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to approve Resolution No. 2000 -05 and amending the cover letter to read Texas Cable Partners instead of Time - Warner, Inc. and adding the words if practical at the end of the first sentence in the second paragraph. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Special and Regular Sessions conducted on May 8 2000. A motion was made by Council Member Grubb, 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 Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None 4 City Council Regular Sess._ -I May 22, 2000 Council comments. Council Member May thanked the citizens who spoke at the meeting. He commented that their were some issues that needed to be solidified. Council Member Bertini commented that he wanted to send out a "get well wish" to Vic Stanek who recently had heart surgery. Adiournment. 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 May, to adjourn. The Regular Session adjourned at 8:22 p.m.