HomeMy WebLinkAbout211011 CC MinThe City of West University Place
A Neighborhood City
CITY COUNCIL STAFF
Susan Sample, Mayor David J. Beach, City Manager
John Montgomery, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Bounds, Olson and Olson, City Attorney
John P. Barnes, Councilmember Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary
Melanie Bell, Councilmember
Shannon Carroll, Councilmember
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in a workshop and regular meeting on
Monday, October 11, at 6:00 p.m., in the Municipal Building at 3800 University Boulevard, for the purpose
of considering the agenda of items listed. The meeting was held in person, but the public was also able
attend via Zoom.
Agenda of as follows:
WORKSHOP (6:00 p.m.)
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
Mayor Sample called the workshop to order at 6:00 p.m. In attendance in person were Mayor Pro Tem
Montgomery and Councilmembers Barnes and Carroll. Councilmember Bell attended via Zoom from
Boston.
Staff in attendance were City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, Assistant to the City Manager
Thompson, and Public Works Director Barrera
Michael Moriarty and Michael Shelton with Kimley-Horn Associates were also present.
2. Wastewater Reuse Update
Matters related to an update on the City’s wastewater reuse. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works Director
Public Works Director Barrera presented and said that this is the final update for the Preliminary
Engineering Report for the Wastewater Reuse. He said before moving into the design phase, staff is
looking to begin negotiations with the identified end-user and the city attorney to structure an agreement.
After an introduction by Mr. Barrera, Michael Moriarty, Project Manager with Kimley-Horn, spoke and
reviewed the agenda for the presentation. Highlights from the presentation were:
• PER Recommendation
Recommends developing the non-potable reuse system using an elevated storage tank
Profit for offsetting a portion of the cost of conventional wastewater treatment
Reducing demand on regional potable water supplies
Improving sustainability economically, environmentally, and sociall
• Scenarios Considered
Three pipeline alignments
Three pressure scenarios
Elevated Storage Tank (EST)
Ground Storage Tank (GST)
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Direct Pumping (Did not spend much time discussing because this option was not feasible
with the end user and their needs)
• Pressure Scenario Analysis/Descriptions
o Elevated Storage Tank (EST). Non-potable reuse includes construction of a booster pump
station to convey treated effluent from the WWTP to user locations. This will require
approximately 9,500 linear feet of reclaimed water main. A tertiary filter with a pump system
is also necessary to provide additional treatment of the chlorinated wastewater. This
scenario will include a 250,000-gallon elevated storage tank (EST) and a booster pump
system to pump the reclaimed water into the EST.
Consultant’s preferred choice/recommendation
Advantages: Constant pressure without electronic control; provides equalization, smaller
site footprint.
Disadvantages: Capital cost, permitting, aesthetics
o Ground Storage Tank (GST). Non-potable reuse includes construction of a booster pump
station to convey treated effluent from the WWTP to user locations. This will require
approximately 9,500 linear feet of reclaimed water main. A tertiary filter with a pump system
is also necessary to provide additional treatment of the chlorinated wastewater. This
scenario will include a 250,000-gallon ground storage tank (GST) and two booster pump
systems to pump the reclaimed water into the GST and from the GST to user.
Advantages: Provides equalization, better aesthetics
Disadvantages: Higher O&M, requires HPT, larger site footprint
o Direct Pumping. Non-potable reuse includes construction of a booster pump station to
convey treated effluent from the WWTP to user locations. This will require approximately
9,500 linear feet of reclaimed water main. A tertiary filter with a pump system is also
necessary to provide additional treatment of the chlorinated wastewater. This scenario will
include a booster pump system to pump the reclaimed water to user. No storage will be
provided in this scenario.
Advantages: Lowest capital cost, smallest footprint
Disadvantages: No equalization, requires HPT, complex controls
• Project Cost/Schedule
o Estimated cost is $4.8 million (City Manager Beach noted that the number increased from the
number at the time of the feasibility study due to the need of a tank)
o Total construction and design – approximately 28 months (if state permitting and design can
be occur concurrently)
• Remaining Actions for PER
o PER Acceptance: City Council to accept the final PER (November)
o Finish Draft Agreement: Finish drafting the agreement between City and end user.
(Necessary to submit Reuse authorization to TCEQ)
o Final Reuse Negotiations: Finalize negotiations with user for pricing and/or cost sharing
After a few questions and answers from Council and staff, Councilmember Barns moved to adjourn the
workshop at 6:22 p.m. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll
Noes: None
Absent: None
3. Adjourn Workshop
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At 6:22 p.m., Councilmember Barnes moved to adjourn the workshop. Councilmember Carroll seconded
the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll
Noes: None
Absent: None
Audio of the workshop in its entirety is temporarily on the City’s website. If the audio is no longer on
the website, you can obtain a copy from the City Secretary’s office.
REGULAR MEETING (6:30 PM)
Call Regular Meeting to Order
Mayor Sample called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. In attendance were Mayor Pro Tem
Montgomery, and Councilmembers Barnes and Carroll. Councilmember Bell attended the meeting via
Zoom from Boston.
Staff in attendance were City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, Public Works Director Barrera,
Parks and Recreation Director White, Finance Director DuBose, Fire Chief Taylor, Assistant to the City
Manager Thompson, and Urban Forester Koehl.
4. Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Barnes led the Pledge of Allegiance.
5. Public Comments
This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to the Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items.
Speakers are required to register in advance and must limit their presentations to three minutes each.
Alida Drewes, 6112 Fordham, spoke regarding senior fees. She said it is time raise the senior
exemption and help the seniors.
6. Arbor Day Proclamation
Matters related to Proclaiming October 22, 2021 as Arbor Day in West University Place. Recommended
Action: Proclaim October 22, 2021 as Arbor Day in West University Place. Mr. Craig Koehl, Urban Forester
Mayor Susan Sample
Mayor Sample proclaimed October 22, 2021 “Arbor Day” in West University Place.
7. Chevron Houston Marathon
Matters related to the 2022 Chevron Houston Marathon. Ms. Susan White, Parks and Recreation Director
Parks and Recreation Director White presented and said the marathon will be held on January 16, 2022
and that it will be the 50th anniversary of the race. She said for many years West U has been the route
for a portion of the race and staff would like to continue the tradition, which requires a portion of University
Boulevard and Weslayan be closed to vehicular traffic from 6:15 am to 11:15 am. She said the Mayor’s
Breakfast is also tradition and is a great place to watch the race and cheer on the runners.
After comments from Race Director and President Emeritus of the Board Brant Koch and long-time
committee member and resident John Stokes, Councilmember Bell moved to take the necessary actions
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to support the 2020 Chevron Marathon. Councilmember Barnes seconded the motion. MOTION
PASSED.
Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll
Noes: None
Absent: None
8. Council Liaisons to Boards and Commissions
Matters related to the selection and appointment of Council Board liaisons to the City’s Boards and
Commissions. Recommended Action: Staff recommends that Council discuss and take any desired action. Mr. Dave
Beach, City Manager
City Manager Beach presented and provided a brief background on appointments. He noted that the
previous Council appointed liaisons to the Parks Board (which was also the liaison to the Friends Board,
but it was noted that the two could be split), the Senior Services Board and the Solid Waste and
Reduction Board. Mr. Beach said traditionally, Council liaisons are not appointed to the BSC, ZBA, or
ZPC due to appeals and other things pertaining those boards and commissions that might have to come
before Council.
Regarding the Sustainability Task Force, City Manager Beach said council could appoint a liaison, but
he thinks there is a solid group of 11 and a liaison is not necessary.
After discussions on schedules and preferred boards of the councilmembers, Mayor Pro Tem
Montgomery moved to appoint members as follows:
Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery Parks Board
Councilmember Bell Friends of West U Parks Board
Councilmember Carroll Seniors Board
Councilmember Barnes Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board
Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll
Noes: None
Absent: None
9. COVID-19 Update
Matters related to COVID-19. Recommended Action: Discuss and take any desired action. Mr. Aaron Taylor,
Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator
Fire Chief Taylor reported the following:
COVID-19 Update
• Cases are continuing to decrease
• In Texas, there were 4,200 new cases as of the last Friday
• COVID hospitalization for the City’s trauma service area has decreased to 10 percent.
• Positivity rate in Texas is 7.95 percent, Harris County is 11.4 percent, and the Texas Medical
Center is 5.4 percent.
• The Texas Medical Center is reporting that it is at 82% of the combined Phase I and Phase II
capacities.
• Harris County Public Health data indicate that West U has had a total 774 cases – 756 have
recovered, 14 are active and a range of 0 to 5 fatalities.
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• Harris County Public Health data shows that 63.3 percent of the population has received at least
one dose of the vaccine and of the eligible population (ages 12 and up) 76.8 percent has received
at least one dose.
City Manager Beach informed Council that this would be the last COVID update. He said if there is a
spike in cases, the update would be added back to future agendas.
10. Budget Amendment for the Edloe Street Pathway Project Design
Matters related to an ordinance amending the 2021 Budget for the Edloe Pathway Project Design.
Recommended Action: Adopt the ordinance approving the amendment to the 2021 Budget in the amount of
$63,000 for design of the Edloe Street Pathway. Ms. Susan White, Parks and Recreation Director
Parks and Recreation Director White presented. She said funds were approved in the 2022 Budget for
this project, so this request is to essentially move the funding from the 2022 Budget to the 2021 Budget.
Councilmember Barnes moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion.
MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll
Noes: None
Absent: None
11. 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 Meeting Minutes
Approve City Council Minutes of September 27, 2021. Recommended Action: Approve City Council
Minutes of September 27, 2021. Ms. Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary
B. Resolution Adopting the FY 2022 Fee Schedule
Matters related to a resolution adopting the City’s FY 2022 Fee Schedule. Recommended Action:
Approve resolution adopting the FY 2022 Fee Schedule. Ms. Katherine DuBose, Finance Director
C. Houston-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) Waterwise Program
Matters related to the HGSD Waterwise Program. Recommended Action: Staff recommends that the
City Council approve the Interlocal Agreement with the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District and authorize
the City Manager to execute the agreement. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works Director
Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to remove Item B related to the Fee Schedule for discussion.
Councilmember Barnes moved to approve items A and C as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll
Noes: None
Absent: None
Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery said he removed this item for discussion because of concerns regarding
some of the fee increases. He said he does not want to make something (i.e. a variance) financially
cumbersome by raising fees, unless there is a reason for it. He said some of the fees were raised
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from $250 to $1000, so he thinks Council at least needs to understand the numbers before approving.
Public Works Director Barrera said the increase includes costs associated with special exceptions,
which require expenses such as signage, public noticing requirements, etc.
City Manager Beach said staff performed cost comparisons with other cities to see if the City was on
par and found that the City was on the very bottom the scale, so these increases puts the City slightly
above midpoint.
After further discussion, there was no action taken and City Manager Beach said staff would bring the
ordinance back before Council at a future meeting with more information.
12. Recess Regular Meeting and Convene Executive Session
Council will meet in an executive session in accordance with Section 551.072 of Chapter 551 of the
Texas Government Code to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property.
Councilmember Barnes moved to recess the regular meeting at 7:07 pm. and convene Executive
Session per Section 551.072 of Chapter 551 of the TGC. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery seconded the
motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll
Noes: None
Absent: None
13. Adjourn Executive Session and Reconvene Regular Meeting
Council will reconvene the regular meeting and take action from Executive Session, if any.
At approximately 8:04 p.m., Mayor Sample adjourned the executive session and reconvened the regular
meeting.
14. Adjourn Regular Meeting
With no other business before the Council, Mayor Sample adjourned the regular meeting at
approximately 8:05 p.m.
Audio of the meeting in its entirety is temporarily on the City’s website. If the audio is no longer on the
website, you can obtain a copy from the City Secretary’s office. Prepared by: Thelma A. Gilliam, TRMC, City Secretary Council Approved: October 25, 2021