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Home My WebLink About210510 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, Olson and Olson, City Attorney 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, May 10, 2021, beginning at 5:45 p.m. due to social distancing guidelines suggested by the CDC in light of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19). Agenda items were as follows: WORKSHOP (5:45 p.m.) 1. Call Workshop/Roll Call Mayor Higley called the special meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. Council and staff attending were Mayor Pro Tem Trautner (arrived at 6:10 p.m.), Councilmembers Barnes, Lankford and Sobash, City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, City Attorney Bounds, Public Works Director Barrera, and Assistant to the City Manager Thompson. Jeff Gerber and Gerri Gusler with PGAL Architects also attended. 2. Recess Workshop and Convene Executive Session City Council will recess the regular meeting and convene into executive session in accordance with the Texas Government Code. Before recessing the workshop and convening the executive session, City Manager Beach provided high-level overviews of the facilities conditions study and the vulnerability assessment. City Manager Beach discussed the project scope for the facilities assessment, which was to review City facilities to identify sub-par conditions and deficiencies. The facilities included in the assessment were: • Municipal Building • Public Works Administration Building • Public Works Operations Building • Public Works Maintenance Building • Utility Facilities (Pumping Stations, Treatment Plant, Water Towers) • Recreation Center • Colonial Park Pool • Community Building / Senior Center • Scout House City Council Meeting Minutes, May 10, 2021 2 of 4 • Library (Exterior only) Mr. Beach then discussed the vulnerability study and noted that the scope of the study is to identify natural and manmade vulnerabilities that exist at City facilities and recommend possible solutions. He also noted that the same facilities were assessed as those in the Facilities and Conditions study. The presentation included summarizations of findings and recommended improvements. Mr. Beach stated that the next steps for both the Facilities Assessment and the Vulnerability Study is to the complete the Facilities Master Plan, which is budgeted for 2021, and identify items for the 2022 Budget prior to completion of the Facilities Master Plan. Mr. Beach said the assessment report would be presented to Council for acceptance at its meeting on Monday, May 24, 2021. At 6:16 p.m., Mayor Higley recessed the workshop and convened a regular session per Section 551.076 of the Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, related to security devices/vulnerability assessment. 3. Adjourn Executive Session and Reconvene Workshop 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 6:27 p.m., Mayor Higley adjourned the regular session and reconvened the workshop. No action taken. 4. Adjourn Workshop At approximately 6:27 p.m., Councilmember Sobash moved to adjourn the workshop. Councilmember Barnes seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Higley, Trautner, Barnes, Lankford, Sobash Noes: None Absent: None Audio of the workshop in its entirety is on the City’s website. You can also obtain a copy of the audio and copy of the presentation available in the City Secretary’s office. REGULAR MEETING (6:30 p.m.) 5. Call Regular Meeting to Order/Roll Call Council and staff attending were Mayor Pro Tem Trautner, Councilmembers Barnes, Lankford and Sobash, City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, City Attorney Bounds, Public Works Director Barrera, and Assistant to the City Manager Thompson. 6. Pledge of Allegiance Councilmember Sobash led the Pledge. 7. Public Works Week – Proclamation Matters related to a proclamation to proclaim the week of May 16-22, 2021 as Public Works Week. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works Director City Council Meeting Minutes, May 10, 2021 3 of 4 Mayor Higley read the Proclamation and proclaimed May 16-22, 2021 as Public works Week in West University Place. 8. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to the Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items. David Cole, 4104 Cason, did not speak due to technical difficulties. Robert Shulman, 6331 Sewanee, spoke regarding the proposal to change the speed limit to 25 mph. He said he found nothing in the study to support the change. Adam Zeger, 3928 Byron, spoke to say he thinks the City needs stop-sign cameras. He said stop- sign runners is going to be the biggest threat and the cause of any accidents, especially at College and University. 9. Budget Amendment Ordinance Matters related to an ordinance amending the 2021 Budget in support of West University Place youth sports. Recommended Action: Approve ordinance on the first and final reading. Mayor Bob Higley Mayor Pro Tem Trautner confirmed with City Attorney Bounds that what is being proposed and the way it is structured – $62,500 to the West U Little League and $62,500 to West U Softball – is legal. Mr. Bounds said yes, the City could enter into contracts for services with the associations along the lines that were outlined in the contract he sent out today. Mayor Pro Tem Trautner said he proposes deleting the auto renewal language. City Attorney Bounds said it has been deleted in the revised draft. Councilmember Barnes said if Council is going to seek legal advice from its attorney, then Council should move into Executive Session, so he moved to go into Executive Session. Councilmember Sobash seconded the motion, which City Attorney Bounds announced was per Section 551.071, Attorney-Client matters regarding an item on the agenda. Ayes: Higley, Trautner, Barnes, Sobash Noes: Lankford Absent: None At 7:29 p.m., Mayor Higley adjourned the executive session and reconvened the regular session. City Attorney Bounds said no action was taken in executive session. He said in regards to the Budget Amendment Council will defer that item until a special meeting on Friday, May 19, when a budget amendment and draft contract that addresses the expressed concerns relating to the contract. 10. 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: • The COVID hospitalization rate for the City’s trauma service area is at 3.97percent. • Only 1100 new cases reported as of yesterday. • Positivity rates continue to decline. • Rate of fatalities have continued to decrease. City Council Meeting Minutes, May 10, 2021 4 of 4 • Texas it is at 4.16 percent. • Harris County is at 9 percent. • Texas Medical Center ICU statutes is reporting 4.1 percent capacity. • Harris County Public Health data indicates West U to have 585 total confirmed cases, 581 recovered cases, and active cases and deaths range from 0-5. • Data indicates that 40 percent of Texans have received at least the first dose of vaccines and 30 percent have been fully vaccinated. • City staff is continuing to take steps in the re-opening timeline presented to Council in April. 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 Minutes Approve Minutes of the regular meeting of April 26, 2021. Recommended Action: Approve Minutes of April 26, 2021. Ms. Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary B. Citywide Speed and Safety Plan Ordinance Matters related to an ordinance approving the Citywide Speed and Safety Plan. Recommended Action: Approve the ordinance adopting the proposed amendments to Chapter 46, Article II that adds Section 46-47.01 to the Code of Ordinances on the second and final reading. Mr. Gerardo Barrera Public Works Director City Manager Beach spoke to say that David Cole, who signed up to speak but had connectivity issues, sent an email to Mr. Beach and requested his opposition to the speed limit change be noted for the record. Councilmember Barnes moved to present the Consent Agenda as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Trautner seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Higley, Trautner, Barnes, Lankford, Sobash Noes: None Absent: None 12. Adjourn Regular Meeting Councilmember Sobash moved to adjourn. Mayor Pro Tem Trautner seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Higley, Trautner, Barnes, Lankford, Sobash Noes: None Absent: None Audio of this meeting in its entirety is on the City’s website or you can obtain a copy from the City Secretary. Prepared by: City Secretary Thelma A. Gilliam Approved by City Council on: May 24, 2021