HomeMy WebLinkAbout210322 CC MinThe City of West University Place
A Neighborhood City
CITY COUNCIL STAFF
Bob Higley, Mayor David J. Beach, City Manager
Kevin Trautner, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Bounds, City Attorney, Olson and Olson
John P. Barnes, Councilmember Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary
Lauri Lankford, Councilmember
Ed Sobash, Councilmember
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met via Zoom in a workshop and regular
meeting on Monday, March 22, 2021, beginning at 5:30 p.m. due to social distancing guidelines
suggested by the CDC in light of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19).
WORKSHOP (5:30 p.m.)
1. Call Workshop to Order/Roll Call
Mayor Higley called the virtual meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Trautner and
Councilmembers Barnes, Lankford and Sobash were all present.
Staff present were City Manager Beach, City Attorney Bounds, City Secretary Gilliam, Police Chief
Walker, Sergeant Support Services Ly, Assistant to the City Manager Thompson, and Police
Dispatcher Emily Beard.
2. Virtual Gate Project
Matters related to an update on Phase I and discussion on Phase II of the Virtual Gate project. Mr.
Ken Walker, Police Chief
Police Chief Walker gave a presentation that summarized the following:
Houston’s Police Chief twice stated that Houston is looking at another huge year for homicides.
Fewer people are applying to become police officers.
More officers are leaving their departments, and in many cases, leaving the policing profession
well before they reach retirement age.
A growing number of current officers are becoming eligible for retirement.
Chief Walker provided stats for Phase I of Virtual Gate:
During one hour on March 16, 2021, there were 499 LPR reads with only 14 to be inaccurate.
He noted that the inaccuracies could be for various reasons, mostly due to paper plates which
accounts for a 97.2 accuracy rate.
Phase I has 15 locations. The remaining eight (8) locations are within the City of Houston’s
Right-of-Way and staff is working its way through the permitting process.
After Chief Walker’s update, Police Dispatcher Beard gave a presentation on the operational side of
Virtual Gate and answered questions from Council.
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City Manager Beach noted the tentative timeline for Virtual Gate – Phase II:
Council award April 12, 2021
Notice to Proceed May 3, 2021 (no later)
Permitting/Construction May – November 2021
Mayor Pro Tem Trautner recommended proceeding as promptly as reasonably practical.
Councilmember Sobash said he is disappointed with the results of Phase I. He said he sees a lot of
promise, but he was expecting more hard results at the end of Phase I. He said it feels like Council
is moving forward, and he thinks it should, without evidence that the system is turning into the
expectations set out for it.
Chief Walker said Phase I is still not complete as more cameras will be installed. He said he was
surprised at the number of hits already received and that he is confident in the system and convinced
that it will pay off.
Councilmember Barnes confirmed with Public Works Director Barrera that the installation of cameras
will not warrant the removal of any trees.
3. Adjourn Workshop
At 6:25 p.m., Mayor Higley closed the workshop.
A copy of the workshop audio in its entirety is on the City’s website or a copy of the audio and/or presentation
can be obtained from the City Secretary’s office.
REGULAR MEETING (6:30 p.m.)
4. Call Regular Meeting to Order/Roll Call
Mayor Higley called the virtual meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Trautner and
Councilmembers Barnes, Lankford and Sobash were all present.
Staff present were City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, City Attorney Bounds, Public Works
Director Barrera, Assistant to the City Manager Thompson, Police Chief Walker, Finance Director
DuBose, IT Director Davenport, Communications Coordinator Cuccerre, Chief Building Official Chew,
and Fire Chief Taylor.
Richard Wilson, Chair of the Zoning and Planning Commission and Evan Duvall, BBG Consultants
5. Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmembers Lankford and Sobash led the Pledge.
6. Public Comments
This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to the Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items.
Alida Drewes, 6112 Fordham, was signed up to speak, but did not answer when called upon to do so.
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Melanie Bell, 3123 Plumb Street, spoke regarding water fountains around the City. She asked
whether all the water fountains in the City would be turned back on and in what timeframe. City
Manager Beach said staff would research the issue and contact her with the findings.
7. COVID-19
Matters related to COVID-19. Recommended Action: Discuss and take any desired action. Mr. Aaron Taylor,
Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator
Chief Taylor reported:
COVID positivity rates, cases, and hospitalization rates continue to drop.
City staff is looking to start phasing back in senior programs.
COVID hospitalizations for the region dropped to 8.31
Texas has been below the 15 percent threshold since February 9.
Only 2,400 new cases reported in Texas as of March 20.
The positivity rates for Texas is 5.76 percent; Harris County is at 10 percent; the Texas Medical
Center is at 5.3 percent.
Texas Medical Center is reporting that the ICU status is back within Phase I capacity.
West University Place has 559 total confirmed cases; 13 active cases; 543 recovered cases;
and 0-5 deaths. Harris County and City of Houston merged databases, so it may be that the
City now has three deaths. Chief Taylor said the City no longer has access to the same
database for information, but will try to confirm the number of deaths.
Vaccine data indicates that 22% of Texans have received at least the first dose of the vaccine
and 11% are fully vaccinated.
8. Zoning Ordinance Amendments
Matters related to amending the Zoning Ordinance. Recommended Action: Approve ordinance amending
the Zoning Ordinance on the first of two readings. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works Director
Public Works Director Barrera began the discussion and stated that the proposed ordinance is the result
of comments received at the Joint Public Hearing held on March 11, 2021.
Zoning and Planning Commission Chair Wilson spoke to say that at the suggestion of the City’s new
attorneys, the language regarding through lots was slightly tweaked from what was presented at the
Joint Public Hearing. Mr. Wilson noted that the tweak does not change the intent as it was just clean up
to remediate the unintended consequence from the literal definition currently in the ordinance.
Councilmember Lankford inquired about the “no street access” language relating to through lots. City
Attorney Bounds said the intent when drafting the ordinance was “vehicular access” and suggested that
Council propose that the language define “access” as “vehicular access” and he will include the change
in the ordinance for approval on second reading.
Regarding pervious areas, Chair Wilson stated that since the Joint Public Hearing a new proposed Note
7 was added. He said the proposed ordinance states that all pervious area required in the front yard,
which is 50 percent, must be natural vegetation or landscape areas that receive rainwater and allow it to
pass through or be absorbed.
In response to a question by Councilmember Lankford, Mr. Wilson said the intent of the ordinan ce as
drafted is to allow Astroturf in front yards, provided that it is actually pervious.
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Evan Duvall, consultant, stated that the intent of the added note was to make sure that pervious pavers
of any type couldn’t be no more than 50 percent maximum, but ZPC did want to give allowance for
Astroturf and gravel as long as they are considered landscape areas.
Councilmember Lankford moved to accept the Zoning amendment to Appendix A, Article 7, Section 7-
101, Table 7-3 and Table 7-5a on the first of two readings. Councilmember Sobash seconded the
motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Higley, Trautner, Lankford, Sobash
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: Barnes
Councilmember Lankford moved to accept the Zoning Ordinance amendment with the one change to
the through lot ordinance (Appendix A, Article 7, Table 7-2 Note 1), adding “vehicular access” on the first
of two readings. Councilmember Sobash seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Higley, Trautner, Barnes, Lankford, Sobash
Noes: None
Absent: None
9. Report from the Zoning and Planning Commission Regarding Municipal Overlay
Matters related to a report from the Zoning and Planning Commission regarding Municipal Overlay.
Recommended Action. Receive report. Mr. Gerardo Barrera Public Works Director and Mr. Richard Wilson,
Chair of the Zoning and Planning Commission.
Zoning and Planning Commission Chair Wilson stated that, essentially, the proposal is to put all city-
owned properties into an overlay district. He said the Zoning and Planning Commission (ZPC) wants
feedback from Council because one of the sections categorically exempts the City from broad sections
of the ordinance and ZPC had some concerns. He said there is a lack of enthusiasm on the ZPC about
pushing this any further, but wanted feedback from Council.
After a brief discussion, City Manager Beach withdrew this item from further discussion as there seems
no desire to move forward on it.
10. 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 Minutes
Approve Minutes of the regular meeting of February 22, 2021.
B. Budget Amendment
Matters related to an ordinance amending the 2021 Budget for purchase order rollovers, capital
project carryovers, and fund balance transfer. Recommended Action: Approve ordinance on the first
and final reading. Ms. Katherine DuBose, Finance Director
C. Purchasing Policy
Matters related to a resolution adopting the City's proposed purchasing policy. Recommendation:
Approve resolution adopting the City's purchasing policy. Ms. Katherine DuBose, Finance Director
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D. Accept Study Reports
Matters related to accepting reports of completed studies. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works
Director: Recommended Action: Accept studies. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works Director
E. Storage Area Network and Backup Infrastructure Replacement
Matters related to amending the 2021 Budget and approving a contract to replace the City's
Storage Area Network (SAN) and backup infrastructure. Recommended Action: Amend the 2021
Budget and approve contract. Mr. Kevin Davenport, IT
F. 30-Day Extension to Memorandum of Understanding with West U Baptist Church
Matters related to approving a Memorandum of Understanding with West University Baptist
Church for parking lot usage. Recommended Action: Approve Memorandum of Understanding with
the West University Baptist Church and authorize the City Manager execute the Memorandum of
Understanding. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works Director
Councilmember Lankford requested to remove Item 10B from the Consent Agenda for discussion.
Councilmember Sobash moved to approve the Consent Agenda, with the exception of Item 10B as
presented. Councilmember Barnes seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Higley, Trautner, Barnes, Lankford, Sobash
Noes: None
Absent: None
Councilmember Lankford had a question regarding “administration” under the General Fund relating to
Poor Farm Ditch. She said she thought this was an item at the beginning of this Council’s term so she
was surprised to see it lopping into 2021. City Manager Beach responded and confirmed that this sas
an item at the beginning of this Council’s term. He said the funds are associated with engineering costs
related to the Poor Farm Ditch project.
Mayor Higley clarified that the City wants to have a memorialization of the plan that this Council produced
in the first few months of their term. He said this Council would like to project to the Harris County Flood
Control District that West U and Southside Place agree to the plan. He said the City will be contacting
Southside Place to get a response or the City will move forward on its own.
Councilmember Lankford also questioned the line item “engineering services for legal services,” which
Finance Director DuBose noted was a typographical error. Ms. DuBose said it should be “legal services”
only.
With no further questions, Councilmember Barnes moved to approve Item B. Councilmember Lankford
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Higley, Trautner, Barnes, Lankford, Sobash
Noes: None
Absent: None
11. Recess Regular Meeting and Convene into Executive Session
City Council will recess the regular meeting and convene into executive session in accordance with the
following provision of Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code (TGC):
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Mayor Higley recessed the regular meeting at 7:07 p.m., to convene an execution session in accordance
with Section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code to conduct a private consultation with the City’s
attorneys.
12. Adjourn Executive Session / Reconvene Regular Meeting
Matters related to any desired action resulting from the executive session. City Council may take action
on the matters discussed in Executive Session as deemed appropriate.
At 7:20 p.m., Mayor Higley adjourned the executive session and resumed the regular meeting. No Action
taken.
13. Adjourn Regular Meeting
At 7:20 p.m., Councilmember Barnes moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Lankford
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Higley, Trautner, Barnes, Lankford, Sobash
Noes: None
Absent: None
Prepared by: City Secretary Gilliam
Approved by Council: April 12, 2021