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HomeMy WebLinkAbout071000R CC MinJ CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, JULY 10, 2000 MUNICIPAL BUILDING COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD 7:30 P.M. 0�o I/ The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers on July 10, 2000, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Parks and Recreation Director, Public Works Director and Utilities Superintendent were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 7a' day of July 2000 at 3:00 p.m. Citizen Comments. Mayor Lewis invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Ken Hoffman, 4212 Ruskin, spoke about freedom of speech and the future of the city. Jimmy Bryant, 4101 Albans, commended the Council for taking action on the police and Ere salary issue. RecoLmition of millennium citizen. The City Council will make this presentation at a future council meeting. Fee Ordinance. Matters related to the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 1648 Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1648 as follows: An ordinance establishing and reestablishing fees and charges for activities, goods and services provided by the City; containing a provision to authorize the City Manager to establish fees and charges in certain circumstances; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject. Copies of Ordinance No. 1648, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. City Manager Sherman Yehl reported that separate building permits were issued for each of the various aspects of a construction project. Since each permit takes about twenty to i City Council Regular Ses3 , July 10, 2000 thirty minutes to complete, contractors usually spend a significant amount of time at the building division each day. Reducing the number of permits and the time to enter the permit data into the computer would reduce the wait. This change also necessitates an adjustment in the applicable fees. Additionally new construction fees for new single family residential and all other occupancies should be increased to be consistent with a fee structure recommended in the 1997 Southern Building Code Congress International code for the Houston Metroplex area. Also included in Ordinance No. 1648, is an insufficient fund charge for automatic debiting for the payment of utility fees. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to adopt Ordinance No. 1648 on the second and final 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 Ordinance relatine to salaries. Matters related to the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 1649. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1649 as follows: An ordinance relating to salaries; requiring surveys and schedules to set salaries at or near market for most employees, but five percent above market for public safety employees; 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. 1649, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mr. Yehl reported that Ordinance No. 1649 had been prepared to require the city manager to conduct an annual salary survey as part of the budget process. This ordinance would commit the City to paying market wages and to target public safety wages to market plus five percent. A motion was made by Council Member Grubb, seconded by Council Member May, to adopt Ordinance No. 1649 on the second and final reading. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: 2 City Council Regular Ses'smn, July 10, 2000 Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None Agreement with Reliant Energv BL &P. Matters related to an agreement with Reliant Energy BL &P to replace and relocate the wood poles with concrete poles along the Edloe Street Linear Park. Public Works Director Ed Menville reported that the Edloe Street Linear Park is located on the East side of Edloe and extends from Sunset Street south to Rice Boulevard. In addition to the construction of a new sidewalk and three pedestrian walk bridges in this park, Reliant Energy will be relocating the existing power poles from their present location next to the curbline on the east side of Edloe Street to a new position just west of the bank of Poor Farm Ditch. At the City's request, they will be replacing the wooden poles with new concrete poles. While, under the terms of the franchise agreement, the cost of the relocation is borne by Reliant Energy, the cost of upgrading to a concrete pole is the City's responsibility. The cost to the City is $35,150. This contract is exempt from the open bidding processes because the poles are owned and maintained by Reliant Energy, which operates under a franchise with the City and is the sole provider of electricity for the City. A motion was made by Council Member Ballanfant, seconded by Council Member May, to authorize the City Manager to execute the contract authorizing the replacement and relocation of poles along Edloe Street from Sunset Street to Rice Boulevard at a cost of $35,150. 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 Bid Award for Visual Abatement Barrier. Matters related to informal bids received for the construction of an abatement barrier on Ruskin Street. Mr. Menville reported that over the past several months residents have requested a brick wall to screen the view of the Southwestern Bell parking lot located at the corner of Ruskin and Academy Streets. The proposal calls for the construction of a visual barrier 8' tall and 310' long along the South Ruskin Street right -of -way. The wall will begin ---- ------ .. - n City Council Regular SessYOS, July 10, 2000 approximately 20 feet east of Academy Street and run east inside the street easement and parallel to Ruskin terminating at an existing private wall. The barrier will be constructed of pre -cut concrete panels with a brick wall design and a painted finish. Written quotes were received from two companies that provide and install pre -cast concrete panel walls. The low quote was from Fencecrete America, Inc. of San Antonio, Texas for $14,988.50. At this time, Southwestern Bell, River Oaks Homes, Tramell Crow and Whole Foods have agreed to share in the cost of construction. Construction should begin in approximately four to six weeks. The City will prepare the site for construction and paint the new barrier and the existing wall along Ruskin. A motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member May, to approve the issuance of a Purchase Order to Fencecrete America, Inc. of San Antonio, Texas for $14,988.50 to construct a Visual Abatement Barrier along Ruskin Street 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 City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Special and Regular Sessions conducted on June 26, 2000. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to approve the minutes as presented. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfam, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None Council comments. Council Member Bertini commented that the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board was having a meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Traffic Task Force would be meeting the following Tuesday on the 1 e of July. Council Member Ballanfant commended the City Attorney and the Public Works Director on the project with Reliant Energy involving the relocating of the utility poles. 4 City Council Regular Seshun, July 10, 2000 Council Member Grubb commented on the 0 of July parade. 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 May, to adjourn. The Regular Session adjourned at 7:45 p.m.