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Home My WebLink About032607R CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL AND REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2007 MUNICIP AL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:20 P.M. The City Council convened in Special and Regular Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on March 26,2007, with the following members present: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen presiding, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Fire Chief, Building Official, Parks and Recreation 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 22nd day of March 2007 at 5:00 p.m. Special Special Friends of West University Place Parks Fund Matters related to the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund including an interview with Susan Sample. The City Council interviewed Susan Sample for a volunteer position on the Board of the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund. Adiournment A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Segal, 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 City Council Regular and Special Session, March 26, 2007 Mayor Pro Tern Cohen invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Linda Lowe, 4214 Oberlin, requested that the Council postpone a decision on the proposed framed area ordinance until after the election in May when there will be a full council. She also distributed letters from two residents on Amherst (Nanette Ragusa and Cindy Lillard) encouraging the Council to allow options when building front porches in the future. Luke Matthews, 4230 Amherst, stated that he was opposed to the proposed framed ordinance amendment. George Walker, 3930 Villanova, stated that the Council should not pass an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would limit architectural style on a 50x 100 lot. Bob Dorries, 4007 Arnold, stated that he was against the proposed front porch amendment because of the restriction it would put on the smaller lots. Bob McLamb, 3908 Milton, encouraged the Council to consider a plan that would relocate the public works facilities out of the town center. Friends of West University Place Parks Fund Matters related to the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund including Resolution No. 2007-03 appointing a new Board Member. Parks and Recreation Director Tim O'Connor reported that the Friends would like for Council to consider appointing Susan Sample as a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. Based upon her application and credentials, she would be a tremendous asset to the Friends Board. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Segal, to approve Resolution No. 2007-03 appointing Susan Sample as a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. 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. 2 City Council Regular and Special Session, March 26, 2007 Front Porches Matters related to front porches including Ordinance No. 1840. Mayor Pro Tern Cohen read the caption of Ordinance No. 1840 as follows: An ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas regarding front porches; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject. Copies of Ordinance No. 1840, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Building Official Debbie Scarcella reported that a joint public hearing with the City Council and members of the Zoning and Planning Commission (ZPC) was held on November 13,2006. The members of the ZPC voted on December 14, 2006 to forward a final report and proposed amendment to the City Council for consideration. The final report and proposed ordinance amendment limits the height of front porches that project into a front yard (front building setback) in single-family residential districts. The amendment pertains to single-family residential districts with a minimum front yard (setback) of twenty feet, and further limits the height of the projecting portion of the porch to an amount equal to the required depth of the front yard (setback). For example, if the depth of a front yard is 20 feet, the height of the projecting part may not exceed 20 feet. The existing requirements for porch projections (i.e., not designed or used for motor vehicles, volume limits, and required open areas) are not changed. This proposed ordinance amendment is an additional restriction that applies to West University Place's unusual allowance for projections or encroachments into a front yard or setback. In most other jurisdictions, front yards or setbacks are stringently preserved, allowing only minor encroachments or projections such as small front stoops or access steps. This amendment is not designed to discourage front porches or a sense of community and neighborhood familiarity, but is intended to control additional encroachments into the front yard or setback and preserve an open streetscape and allow adequate light and ventilation along those streetscapes. Council Member Woods arrived at 6:58 p.m. Steve Brown, Chair of the Zoning and Planning Commission, was present at the meeting to answer questions. The City Council asked numerous questions regarding the proposed amendment. They expressed their concern about preserving the front set back without discouraging front porches and the galleried architecture. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Segal, to table consideration of Ordinance No. 1840 until the next regular meeting. 3 City Council Regular and Special Session, March 26, 2007 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 March 12, 2007. A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Woods, to approve the minutes as presented. 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 Council Member Woods encouraged the City Manager to continue to push to get the City into Houston's WiFi program. Public Safety and Public Works Facility Plannin2 and Property exchan2e with West University Place Baptist Church Matters related to public safety and public works and other facility planning including a preliminary design and property exchange between the City of West University Place and the Baptist Church. The City Council agreed to allow City Manager Michael Ross, City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway, City Attorney Alan Petrov, Fire Chief Steve Ralls, Police Chief Ken Walker, Assistant to the City Manager Dave Beach and consultant Jeff Gerber from PGAL to attend the Executive Session because their presence is necessary for the Council's consideration of the issues. 4 City Council Regular and Special Session, March 26, 2007 At this point in the meeting, the Mayor publicly announced that a closed, executive session would be held and identified the section of the Open Meetings Law under which the meeting would be held. Closed Executive Session to be held under Section 551.072 Texas Government Code. After the announcement, the City Council conducted a closed, executive session beginning at 7:22 p.m. After the closed, executive session, the Mayor announced, in open session, that the City Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 7:45 p.m. The City Council and Staff continued their discussion of the public safety and public works facility planning Mr. Ross reported that at the March 12 meeting, staff presented two options (2 & 6) that would allow the City to construct a new police station on existing City property. At that meeting Council requested staff to review the possibility of addressing the Fire Department lack of female accommodations with Option 2. Below is a summary of the options including a new option (#8) that uses Church property along Amherst: Option 2A: · Estimated Project Cost: $6,365,000* · Police Station relocated to Milton/Amherst site (I-story construction) · Public Works Administration relocated to City Hall site (this option includes a small PW addition than shown in option 2). · Public Works Field Operations relocated to the Braeswood site. · Provides female firefighter accommodations within the existing 2nd floor footprint. Requires relocation of existing mechanical system, which would be addressed in the PW addition. · No property acquisition required. Option 6: · Estimated Project Cost: $6,398,000* · Police Station is an addition to the existing City Hall (2-story construction) · Public Works may be relocated to the City Hall site. · Public Works Field Operations may be relocated to the Braeswood site. · Requires no property acquisition required. Option 8: · Estimated Project Cost: $6,358,000* · Police Station is relocated to Church property on Amherst. · Public Works Administration is relocated to City Hall site. · Public Works Field Operations is relocated to Braeswood site. · Requires property swap with Church. *Please Note: The following costs are not included in the above "Estimated Project Cost": 5 City Council Regular and Special Session, March 26, 2007 · Construction Sequencing or Temporary Office Space: $TBD · Property Acquisition (if applicable): $TBD · Public Works Field Operations Relocation: $1,961,000 Project Funding: Certificates of obligation and sale of existing property. Mr. Ross stated that the Staff was requesting guidance on Council's preferred option, sequencing of relocation and funding sources. The City Council requested that the Staff spend time increasing the public awareness of the proposed projects. They asked that the Staff present detail layouts of the economic and non- economic benefits. PGAL will present elevation concepts along with the final preliminary designs. Adiournment A motion was made by Council Member Woods, seconded by Council Member Segal, 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 8:30 p.m. 6