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HomeMy WebLinkAbout031207R CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL AND REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, MARCH 12, 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 March 12,2007, with the following members present: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen presiding, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle. The City Manager, City Secretary, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Police Chief and Assistant to the City Manager were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 9th day of March 2007 at 5:00 p.m. Special Special Mayor Pro Tern Cohen stated to the citizens in attendance at the meeting that with respect to the improvements of the police station or potential land swap with the West University Baptist Church there has never been a discussion of taking anyone's property by eminent domain. It was not discussed by the Councilor in the City Manager's letter. She stated that she wanted to put that fear and concern to rest for the citizens. The City Council is looking at all possibilities to come up with the best solution to resolve the problems with the Police Station. One possibility that was discussed, in the scheme of many options, was purchasing adjacent property if the owners were willing to sell their property. She stated that the Council regrets that people were in fear that their homes were going to be taken. Council Member Yehle stated that he supported what Mayor Pro Tern Cohen said one hundred percent and that she focused on the fact that the Council is talking about the Police Station and because it happens to be the area adjacent to private property that was the focus. But there are actually several focuses that are part of an overall planning exercise that the Council is trying to evaluate certain situations with the public works building with the way services are delivered to try to determine the best way to use the property that is there. Many plans were on the table to address different pieces and elements of that problem. It is more than just the police station that is causing this planning to go on. Council Member Woods stated that he had already spoke with all of the residents in the area and told them that it was never his intent to take their land. Public Safety and Facility Improvements. Matters related to public safety and other facility improvements including a preliminary design. City Council Regular and Special Session, March 12, 2007 City Manager Michael Ross reported that at the February 8 Special Meeting, the City Council authorized the Staff to begin preliminary design for Public Safety Improvements to include a new police station, emergency operations center (multi-purpose room), strengthened communications room, and facility improvements to increase operational efficiency. Pierce Goodwin Alexander Linville (PGAL) was retained to complete the preliminary design. Over the last three weeks staff has been developing preliminary options with PGAL. The original 2007 Budget estimate for Public Safety Improvements was based solely on renovating and expanding the existing police station including an emergency operation center. Through this preliminary design process it has been shown that renovating the existing building is not feasible. In addition, due to site constraints, Option 6 is limited to a two-story construction and addressing identified inefficiency in the Fire Department's current facility, while Option 2 requires the relocation of Public Works Administration and Field Operations. Jeff Gerber with PGAL presented the two options that were not contingent upon land exchanges. The following are brief explanations of the options: Option 2: Relocates the Police Station to the Public Works site located between Amherst and Milton and moves the existing Public Works Administration to the City Hall site and relocates the field operations side of Public Works to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Site. Estimated Project Cost: $6,003,000. (This does not include an estimate for relocating PW operations to the Wastewater Treatment Plant site. Option 6: Constructs a new two story Police Station on, and attached to, the existing City Hall and provides a planned area for possible relocation of PW Administration at a future date. It would not necessarily affect PW operations at this time. Estimated Project Cost: $5,013,000 (Police Only) and $5,634,000 (Police & Public Works). Project funding sources could be certificates of obligation and monies from the sale of existing City property. The Executive Summary and budget estimates from the 2002 West U Police Department Needs Assessment completed by Brinkley-Sargent Architects is available as a reference. The City Council discussed the site plan options and rough schematics with the general square footage. This item will be discussed further at the next meeting. 2 City Council Regular and Special Session, March 12, 2007 Adiournment. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Woods, to adjourn the Special Session. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 4-0. Formal Session Citizen Comments. Mayor Pro Tern Cohen invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. There were not any citizens who wished to speak at this time. Meet the City Day and Arbor Day. Matters related to Meet the City Day and Arbor Day including a Proclamation setting the date for March 31, 2007. Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Chris Peifer reported that the City of West University Place has received the Tree City U.S.A. award for the past seventeen years from the National Arbor Day Foundation. In order to receive this recognition a City must maintain the following standards: · A Tree Board, Department, Professional Forester · A Tree Ordinance · A Forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita · An Arbor Day Proclamation and Celebration Arbor Day will be celebrated in conjunction with Meet the City Day and the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Colonial Park. Arbor Day is a method to educate the community about trees and the environment. Meet the City Day is a chance for residents to meet city staff from all departments and to be educated about each department's function. There will also be equipment displays (solid waste, police, fire and operations vehicles). This year the celebration and festivities include games, give-a-ways, 2 clowns, balloons, caricature artist, face painting, free popcorn, snow-cones, hotdogs, drinks and much more. There will be fun educational booths for all to 3 City Council Regular and Special Session, March 12, 2007 enjoy. A live band will provide entertainment. A notice was placed in the March water bills for all residents, an article will appear in the spring issue of City Currents, and news releases will be sent to the local papers. Free trees will be available for home planting to the first 100 families. A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to proclaim March 31, 2007 as Arbor Day in the City of West University Place and officially announce March 31, 2007 as Meet the City Day. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 4-0. Council Member compensation and amended election ordinance. The notice for this agenda item was posted in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Matters related to City Council compensation and amended election ordinance Mayor Pro Tern read the caption of Ordinance No. 1844 as follows: An ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas amending Chapter 2, Administration and Finance, Article 1, in general, of the West University Place code of ordinances, by adding a new section 2-4 entitled City Council Members Compensation and matters related thereto. Copies of Ordinance No. 1844, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mayor Pro Tern read the caption of Ordinance No. 1845 as follows: An ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas amending Ordinance No. 1841, for purposes of designating a new presiding judge for the Central Counting Station and ordering a joint and concurrent special election for ratification of an increase in compensation for service as Mayor or Council Member to be held in connection with the City's Regular Election for Mayor and Council Members and the City's Special Election for Charter Amendments on May 12,2007 Copies of Ordinance No. 1845, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Copies of Ordinance No. 1845, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. 4 City Council Regular and Special Session, March 12, 2007 City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway reported that on February 26, 2007 the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1844 on first reading to increase the amount of compensation paid to the Mayor and Council Members for performing their duties. The amount adopted is $400 per month for Mayor and $200 per month for Council Members and would become effective on January 1, 2008 if ratified by voters at the next general election of the City in accordance with the requirements of the City's Charter. The City Council also adopted Ordinance No. 1845 on first reading amending Ordinance No. 1841 to add an additional proposition concerning Council compensation to the May general election and a provision changing the name of the Presiding Judge of the Central Counting Station. If Council chooses not to adopt the proposed changes to their compensation, Ordinance No. 1845 would need to be adopted to change the name of the Presiding Judge and language regarding the compensation would be removed from the amendment. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Segal, to adopt Ordinance No. 1844 on the second and final reading approving an increase to the compensation of election officials. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Voting Nay: Absent: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen, Council Members Segal and Yehle Council Member Woods None The motion passed 3 -1. A motion was made by Council Member Woods, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to adopt Ordinance No. 1845 on the second and final reading adding Proposition 7 to the ballot for the May General Election and changing the name of the Presiding Judge of the Central Counting Station. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 4-0. City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular and Special Session conducted on February 26, 2007. 5 City Council Regular and Special Session, March 12, 2007 A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to approve the minutes as amended. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 4-0. Council Reports. There were not any reports given at this time. City Mana2er Report. Mr. Ross reported that the Staff received a copy of an email that was sent to several residents along Poor Farm Ditch alerting them to a Harris County Flood Control District project that might occur regarding possible encroachments by property owners. Staff is not aware of any West University Place property that is encroaching at Poor Farm Ditch. The email was not from the West University Staff. Adiournment. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Woods, to adjourn the Regular Session. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 4-0. The City Council adjourned the Regular Session at 6:46 p.m. 6