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HomeMy WebLinkAbout220110 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, January 10, 2022, at 6:15 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 and via Zoom. Agenda of Items: Workshop (6:15 p.m.) 1. Call Workshop to Order Mayor Sample called the workshop to order at 6:15 p.m. In attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery and Councilmembers Barnes, Bell, and Carroll. Staff in attendance were City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, Assistant to the City Manager Thompson, Parks and Recreation Director White, and Police Chief Walker. Mr. Justin Shultz, Chair of the Sustainability Task Force was also present. 2. Sustainability Update Matters related to an update from the chair of the Sustainability Task Force. Recommended Action: Receive update. Mr. Justin Shultz, Chair, Sustainability Task Force Sustainability Task Force Chair Justin Shultz gave an update to Council on what the Task Force has been doing since appointed. Mr. Shultz said the Taskforce started meeting in October and divided into four subgroups to look at different initiatives and then come back together to prioritize the initiatives before bringing them to Council. Mr. Shultz said the three main areas the Task Force is evaluating are: • Impact (Environmental, Economical and Reputational) • Implementation (How quickly and easily it can be implemented) • Costs (Short-term and long-term – from a capital and ongoing operational perspective) Mr. Shultz said in addition to those areas of evaluation, the Task Force is broadly grouping in energy, water, waste, and transportation and other ad hoc initiatives. Audio of the report is on the City’s website. You can also obtain a copy by contacting the City Secretary’s office. City Council Meeting Minutes, January 10, 2022 2 of 6 3. Adjourn Workshop Mayor Sample adjourned the workshop at 6:25 p.m. Regular Meeting (6:30 p.m.) 4. Call 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, Bell, and Carroll. Staff in attendance were City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, Assistant to the City Manager Thompson, Parks and Recreation Director White, Police Chief Walker, HR Director Urban, Public Works Director Barrera, and Finance Manager Walker 5. Pledge of Allegiance – A Boy Scout from Troop 266 led the Pledge. 6. Employee of the Year Recognition Matters related to the City’s Employee of the Year. Recommended Action: No action required. Mr. James Urban, Human Resources Director Human Resources Director Urban presented and announced Katie Wilson as the Employee of the Year. 7. Appointment of Finance Director Matters related to approval of the City Manager’s appointment of a Finance Director. Recommended Action: Approve the appointment of Marie Kalka as the City’s Finance Director. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager Councilmember John Barnes moved to approve the appointment of Marie Kalka as the City’s Finance Director. Councilmember Bell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 8. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to the Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items. On behalf of Bob Kelly, 3720 Plumb, City Secretary Gilliam read into record Mr. Kelly’s support of the Edloe Street Pathway project. He said the project would enhance the standard of living in West U. Lindsay Brett, 3720 Albans, spoke regarding the Edloe Street Pathway project. She said the existing sidewalk between Sunset and Albans is elevated and is not safe, so she and other families in the area are in favor of the pathway extending down to Albans. Ken Gullett, 3701 Albans, spoke to say safety should be the cornerstone of the project and proposed there be a 4 to 5 feet iron railing next to the curb to protect the youngsters inside the walkway. David Polyansky, 3748 Wroxton, spoke in favor of the Edloe Street Pathway project. He said there are so many pedestrians and bike riders forced to use the street because there is no sidewalk, which is a public danger. He asked council to consider the project favorably. City Council Meeting Minutes, January 10, 2022 3 of 6 Kirsten Polyansky, 3748 Wroxton, spoke in favor of the Edloe Street Pathway project due mainly to the safety issues. Cooper Polyansky, 3748 Wroxton, spoke in favor of the Edloe Street Pathway project. She said she walks and runs down Edloe all the time and urged Council to vote in support of the project for safety reasons. Eloise Polyansky, 3748 Wroxton, spoke to say she would like a sidewalk on Edloe so she can walk her dogs safely to Tiny’s for cookies. David Cole, 4104 Cason, spoke to say that he has no objection to the project, but pointed out a few things that Council and the design team should take into account, like the cost of relocating power poles, if necessary, planting concepts, and ramp orientation to avoid relocating electric. Mr. Cole also suggested that the ramp be re-worked to avoid the existing power pole so that the stop sign is located at a rational relationship to the intersection a. Stephen Damiani, 3746 Georgetown, spoke to thank Council for considering this project. He said one of Council’s function is to provide safety for the citizens and this project does exactly that. Mr. Damian’s daughters, Kristen and Katherine, also spoke to encourage Council to vote for this project. Dick Yehle, 6401 Rutgers, spoke in support of the project and said he thinks it is a fine way to integrate the bridge access on Edloe. Harry Weitzel, 3708 Albans, spoke to say he lives right where the proposed path ends and he is in strong opposition of the project. He said they bought that house because it is secluded and is one of the few places you can feel a little bit of privacy. Mr. Weitzel said the project would replace trees and grass with black rubber, which will destroy the integrity of that section of the neighborhood. He said the proposed project stops at his driveway, which is a safety and privacy issue for his family. Mr. Weitzel said this project makes their neighborhood less safe, reduces their privacy and the character of their house that they specifically picked because of where it was located. He and his family is very much opposed to the project and besieged Council to consider stopping at Sunset if it decides to move forward with the project. Catherine Weitzel, 3708 Albans, spoke in opposition of the project and said she believes it will go against the safety and privacy of the neighborhood. She said she feels this is not a good project because it would bring people into their neighborhood that has been a private spot and she does not feel it will be safe for her if dozens of people started walking into her driveway. Alida Drewes, 6112 Fordham, spoke regarding various topics, including not having access into the building 15 minutes ahead of the Council meeting, not having a park or dog park near her home, not having closed-caption meetings, and CDC guidelines relating to COVID. Gerald Bracht, 3615 Georgetown, spoke regarding the Edloe Street Pathway project. He said he personally does not think a pathway is necessary and if the pathway becomes something that people use, there will be a safety issue as a 5-foot wide pathway could get pretty crowed with bikes, skateboards, etc. He said Council should just landscape the area, replace the fence and add visual blockage along the fence line for privacy. Lauri Lankford, 3742 Wroxton, spoke to say that she is against the pathway project going north of Sunset up to Albans. She said the pathway project gives the false impression that it continues across City Council Meeting Minutes, January 10, 2022 4 of 6 Sunset easily and it encourages additional pedestrians into that area. She said she does not think it makes a lot of sense. Ms. Lankford said the pathway is separate and apart from an actual sidewalk being in that area. She said it is a difficult area for walking, so she does not oppose a sidewalk in that area. Gregg Thompson, 3758 Plumb, homeowner and owner of property of old JMH building, which is where this project looks like it terminates. He said he loves the idea of someone along the walking promenade and said it would encourage people to get out and walk. He said he is strongly in favor of the project and said nailing the trees and greenspace to create that feeling of privacy and nature is going to be important. Mr. Thompson also said if there is a way to bury any or all of those utilities without bankrupting the City, he encourages the City to do so. Martha Yates, 3728 Wroxton, said she is not opposed to the path to Sunset, but is opposed to it crossing Sunset because it is a bad idea, it is not safe, and it would bring more people across the intersection and into the area. Dan Reid, 3716 Wroxton, spoke to say he is not opposed to the regular path part, but is opposed to the continuation. He said it is an expensive path to his neighbor’s driveway. He said the continuation is dangerous because it brings people into the secluded nook where there is already a lot of traffic and he submitted a petition signed by 21 neighbors that supports the path ending at Sunset. 9. Building/Regulation International Code Council (ICC) Updates a. Public Hearing b. Matters related to an ordinance adopting new International Code Council (ICC) updates. Recommended Action: Adopt the 2021 International Code (ICC), 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) and local amendments, which amends Appendix C, Technical Codes Schedule of the Code of Ordinances on second and final reading. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works Director After a brief explanation of this ordinance by Public Works Director Barrera, the hearing opened to the public for comments. With no comments from the public, the hearing closed and Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to approve adopting the 2021 International Electric Code the 2020 National Electrical Code and local amendments, which amends Appendix C, Technical Codes Schedule of the Code of Ordinances on second and final reading. Councilmember Barnes seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 10. Edloe Street Pathway Project Matters related to the Edloe Street Pathway project. Recommended Action: Discuss and provide feedback. Ms. Susan White, Parks and Recreation Director Parks and Recreation Director White presented, along with Nick Rogles with Terralab Landscape Architects, and stated that in October 2021 Council approved a design contract to explore ideas for improvements near Poor Farm Ditch when the Oleanders were loss after Winter Freeze Uri. Ms. White said staff and the landscape architects have worked on refining the Edloe Pathway concept over the past couple of months, which included meeting with the Parks and Recreation Board to solicit their feedback and consideration. City Council Meeting Minutes, January 10, 2022 5 of 6 Before turning the presentation to review the preliminary concept over to Mr. Rogles, Ms. White reviewed some of the changes made to the presentation and pointed out that the budgeted amount of $400,000 for this project does not include relocation of power poles or any LED or solar lighting enhancements. Mr. Rogles began his presentation and said the goal of the pathway project is to improve connectivity throughout the neighborhoods so they explored all options as far as length of trail, where to connect, etc. Mr. Rogles also mentioned that this is more than a pathway project, because they are also looking at upgrading the fencing along the ditch that will run the entire length of the pathway. After Mr. Rogles’ presentation, he and staff answered questions from Council. Council encouraged residents to get involved in the process and attend all related meetings to provide their input. Audio of the entire discussion is on the City’s website. You can also obtain a copy by contacting the City Secretary’s office. 11. Utility Accounts – Annual Write-Off of Uncollectable Amounts Matters related to writing off uncollectible accounts dating back to 2018. Recommended Action: Authorize staff to write-off inactive uncollectable amounts from utility account outstanding balances for 2018 in an amount of $8,055.81. Mr. Neelie Walker, Finance Manager After a brief explanation by Finance Manager Walker, Councilmember Barnes moved write-off uncollectible account dating back to 2018 in an amount of $8,055.81. Councilmember Bell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 12. 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 December 13, 2021. Recommended Action: Approve City Council Minutes of December 13, 2021. Ms. Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary B. Interlocal Agreement with Southside Place Matters related to approving notice of City Manager to Southside Place regarding the term of the Interlocal Cooperation Contract for building regulation and emergency medical services. Recommended Action: Approve the notice. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented, with a note that staff keep Council apprised of the Interlocal with Southside. Councilmember Barnes seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None City Council Meeting Minutes, January 10, 2022 6 of 6 13. Adjourn Meeting With no other business before the Council, Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to adjourn the regular meeting at approximately 8:08 p.m. Councilmember Bell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None Prepared by: Thelma A. Gilliam, TRMC, City Secretary Council Approved: January 24, 2022 Note: Audio of the meeting in its entirety is on the City’s website. If for any reason you are unable to download the audio from the website, contact the City Secretary’s office to obtain a copy, as well as a copy of any presentation.