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Home My WebLink About010807R CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL AND REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2007 MUNICIP AL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 5:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Special and Regular Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on January 8,2007, with the following members present: Mayor Ballanfant presiding, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Finance Director, Police Chief, Fire Chief and Parks and Recreation Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 4th day of January 2007 at 5:45 p.m. Special Session West University Place Recreation Center and Colonial Park. Matters related to the West University Place Recreation Center and Colonial Park including plans for the redevelopment of both. Members of the Parks and Recreation Board present at the meeting were Chair Russ Schulze, Janine Schueppert and Mardi Turner. Mr. Schulze presented the request for qualifications to hire a consultant to review the parks planning. They requested the following action: 1. Authorize City Staff to request Statements of Qualifications (RFQ) for a consultant to assist in identifying the priorities for redevelopment of Colonial Park and The Recreation Center. 2. Authorize City Staff to work with the Parks Board to: · Review the RFQ's returned to the City; · Determine criteria for selecting a consultant; · Conduct interviews with two or more consultants responding to the RFQ in a timely manner. · Select the consultant to propose to Council 3. Authorize City Staff to work with the Parks Board to Request a Proposal (RFP) from the consultant based on the scope of services. City Council Regular and Special Session, January 8, 2007 · Request Proposal for work (RFP) from consultant and negotiate final agreement for Council's consideration. · Mid February recommend consultant and proposal to City Council for consideration to perform work. The City Council reviewed the draft RFQ and suggested several changes. The City Council agreed that the Parks Board and City Staff should go forward with the Request for Qualifications and Proposal. Park Property. Matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property for park purposes. City Manager Michael Ross presented maps with the status of various properties in the City for potential purchase by the City for park property. The City Council reviewed the maps and agreed that the property for parkland should be at least 10,000 square feet or greater. They requested that the City Staff along with the Parks Board update the maps and to continue to look at properties for potential purchase. The City Council adjourned the Special Session at 6: 15 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. Formal Session Citizen Comments. Mayor Ballanfant invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Linda Lewis, 6701 Brompton, encouraged the City Council to move forward with the development of the Recreation Center and Colonial Park. She stated that the Council had all of the information they need to make decisions for the facilities and that they should be considered together not as individual facilities. CenterPoint Ener2V Franchise A2reement. Matters related to a CenterPoint Energy Franchise Agreement with the City of West University Place including Ordinance No. 1839. Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1839 as follows: An ordinance granting to Center Point Energy Houston Electric, LLC the right, privilege and franchise to use the public rights-of-way and to use, license, or exploit the Company's facilities within the public rights-of-way to conduct an electric delivery business in the City and for such 2 City Council Regular and Special Session, January 8, 2007 other business purposes as the company may desire from time to time, specifically including, but not limited to, the granting of access to those facilities for the delivery of broadband over power lines or similar service within the City of West University Place, Texas. Copies of Ordinance No. 1839, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mr. Ross reported that at the December 11, 2006 meeting, Council approved the Franchise on the first reading. Clarification was requested from CenterPoint regarding use of their infrastructure by the City to provide WiFi service to residents. CenterPoint reported that at this time they are reluctant to include any language in the agreement to address the possible use of their infrastructure for that purpose. They are comfortable that their existing policies allowing use of their poles for a fee will be adequate to accommodate the City in providing WiFi service. The City current franchise with CenterPoint expires on March 15, 2008 and this franchise amends the prior agreement and extends the term by 25 years to March 15,2033. It is estimated that the new franchise agreement will increase the annual revenue to the City by approximately $35,000. Mike Boone of CenterPoint Energy was available during the meeting to answer questions. The City Council asked questions and expressed concerns about the franchise agreement. Council Member Woods commented that he did not care if the WiFi service was a separate agreement but that he wanted it concurrently agreed upon. After a discussion of this item no member of City Council made a motion on this item. Council Member Yehle requested that the City Manager be directed to continue discussions with CenterPoint Energy to make some progress on the troublesome issues that have been pointed out in public session and through correspondence. The City Council agreed. Broker/Dealer A2reement. Matters related to a Broker/Dealer agreement including Resolution No. 2007-01. Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Resolution No. 2007-01 as follows: A resolution approving brokers from which the City would purchase investments; authorizing a letter agreement; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that the State and City ordinances require the City purchase securities only from Broker/Dealers specifically approved by City Council. Currently 3 City Council Regular and Special Session, January 8, 2007 there are three approved broker/dealer firms: Coastal Securities, Morgan Stanley and NBC Capital Bank. The City sent a request for information questionnaire (RFI) to all broker/dealers that have recently expressed an interest in providing investment services. This form gathers information about the firm including financial data, references, sales volume, and supervision. The City also requires each firm to certify that it has read and understands the City's investment policy. Further, each firm is also required to certify that it will not offer the City any investments that do not meet the criteria established in the investment policy. Three broker/dealers responded to the request for information: . Tony Sekaly with Coastal Securities . Howard Ledet with Morgan Stanley · Taylor Howell with Vining Sparks All three responses were complete and all are recommended for approval. A motion was made by Council Member Woods, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to approve Resolution 2007-01 authorizing Coastal Securities, Morgan Stanley and Vining Sparks as authorized investment securities broker/dealers for the City. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 5-0. City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular and Special Session conducted on December 11, 2006. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to approve the minutes of December 11, 2006 as amended. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 5-0. 4 City Council Regular and Special Session, January 8, 2007 Council Reports. There were not any reports given at this time. City Mana2er Report. Mr. Ross reported that the City of Houston's contractor is now impacting the southern residents of the City. The first street to be closed will be Cason at Kirby. The Staff is monitoring traffic flow. City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway reminded everyone of the Chevron Houston Marathon to be held on January 14,2007. Adjournment. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Segal, to adjourn the Regular Session. The City Council adjourned the Regular Session at 7:15 p.m. 5