Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout092500R CC Min/9 /p o el o CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 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 September 25, 2000, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney and Finance Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 22 "a day of September 2000 at 5:00 p.m. Citizen Comments. Mayor Lewis invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Carolyn Sacchi, 3768 Rice Boulevard, spoke in favor of the bond issue for sidewalks. John Sumner, 3305 Tangley, discussed the lack of a curb cut or ramp at the Tangley Street Bridge where it meets Edloe. Ramsay Elder, 2821 Tangley, objected to the recent survey on leaf blowers that was distributed by the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board. Recognition of millennium citizens. The City Council recognized David Marks, Peter Taaffe, Russ Schulze and Taylor Cooksey for their leadership in the Stella Link Redevelopment Project. Proclamation for Fire Prevention Week. Matters related to a Proclamation to participate in Fire Prevention Week to be recognized during October 8 —14, 2000. Fire Marshall Alvin Collins presented the Proclamation to the City Council. He reported that the Fire Department would be going into schools and training the students on how to exit the home in case of a fire. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Grubb, to approve the Proclamation recognizing Fire Prevention Week on October 8 —14, 2000. City Council Regular Session, September 25, 2000 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 calling election on proposed Charter amendments, Matters related to the first and final reading of Ordinance No. 1654. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1654 as follows: An ordinance ordering an election within the City of West University Place, Texas for the purpose of submitting proposed charter amendments to the qualified voters of the city; making provisions for the conduct of such election; and declaring an emergency Copies of Ordinance No. 1654, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. A motion was made by Council Member Ballanfant, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to adopt the first and final reading of Ordinance No. 1654 calling an election on the proposed Charter amendments for November 7, 2000. 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 calling election on competitive nay initiative, Matters related to the first and final reading of Ordinance No. 1655. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1655 (a) as follows: (a) An ordinance ordering an election with the City of West University Place, Texas for the purpose of submitting an initiated ordinance to the qualified voters of the City; making provisions for the conduct of such election; and declaring an emergency. (b) An ordinance ordering an election with the City of West University Place, Texas for the purpose of submitting both an initiated ordinance and an alternative ordinance to the qualified voters of the City; making provisions for the conduct of such election; and declaring an emergency. City Council Regular Session, September 25, 2000 Copies of Ordinance No. 1655, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. City Attorney Jim Dougherty reported that Ordinance No. 1655 would submit the initiated ordinance that is contained on the petition to the voters for their action. It is a requirement of the City Charter that if the initiated ordinance is not adopted by the City Council, it must be submitted to the voters. Ordinance No. 1655 does not, in any way, constitute favoring or opposing the initiated ordinance but simply puts it on the ballot for November 7, 2000. A motion was made by Council Member Grubb, seconded by Council Member Ballanfant, to adopt the first and final reading of Ordinance No. 1655 (a) calling an election on the initiated ordinance for November 7, 2000. A vote was taken on the motion with the fallowing result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May . Voting Nay: None Absent: None Resolution accenting Certified Tax Roll. Matters related to Resolution No. 2000 -14 accepting the Certified Tax Roll. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that State law requires that each year the Council formally receive certain specific information about the property tax roll. In order to comply with that requirement, the City's Tax Assessor /Collector calculates the effective tax rate, the roll-back tax rate, certifies the tax collection rate and arranges for any required publication. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Truth in Taxation laws Could result in delays in assessing the 2000 property taxes or in injunctions against collecting 2000 property taxes. The Truth in Taxation laws requires the City Council to acknowledge the receipt of the certified appraisal roll from the Chief Appraiser. The same laws require the City's Tax Assessor to inform the City Council about two comparative tax rates. The effective tax rate is essentially the rate that the City would levy to generate the same property tax revenue as the preceding tax year. The roll back tax rate is the effective tax rate adjusted for changes in the City's debt service. These rates provide information to the Council about the City's tax revenues. They also provide triggers for additional required publication of information about the City's property taxes and, in some cases, an opportunity for the citizens to invalidate a proposed property tax increase. A motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member Grubb, to approve Resolution 2000 -14. I City Council Regular Session, September 25, 2000 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 Ammintment O.f Bnnd C ounsel_ Matters related to an agreement appointing Vinson and Elkins as Bond Counsel in connection with the proposed issuance of the bonds to be voted on November 7, 2000. Mr. Walters reported that the City needs to engage a firm to provide bond counsel for any bonds that might be approved at an election oa- November 7, 2000. Vinson & Elkins has provided excellent service as the City's bond counsel in the past and has submitted an engagement letter to provide bond counsel for the proposed issue. Vinson & Elkins fees for this service are expected to be $10,000 (.002 of $5,000,000). An informal inquiry indicated that this fee is competitive. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Ballanfant, to approve the agreement with the Sam of Vinson & Elkins to serve as bond counsel. 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 August 28 and September 11, 2000 A motion was made by Council Member Ballanfant, 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 Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None 4 City Council Regular Session, September 25, 2000 Council comments. Council Member Ballanfant commended the citizens of Deer Park who recently approved a bond issue that included sidewalks. Council Member Bertini welcomed the Fire Marshall who is helping to improve the City's ISO rating. Adjournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Ballanfant, to adjourn. The Regular Session adjourned at 7:52 p.m. E