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HomeMy WebLinkAbout042307R CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL AND REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2007 MUNICIP AL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Special and Regular Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on April 23, 2007, with the following members present: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen presiding, Council Members Segal and Yehle. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director and Building Official were also present. Council Member Woods was absent. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 19th day of April 2007 at 4:30 p.m. 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. Robert Reid, 5815 Lake, requested trees to replace the ones that were cut down because of the sidewalk installations. Patsy Graham, 6346 Mercer, stated that she was opposed to the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance relating to front porches. Les Albin, 3817 Southwestern, stated that he was a member of the Zoning and Planning Commission and encouraged the Council to adopt the proposed zoning amendment relating to front porches. Reschedulin2 City Council meetin2. Matters related to rescheduling the City Council regular session meeting on May 28, 2007. City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway reported that the second regular session scheduled for May 28, 2007 falls on Memorial Day and the Staff is requesting that this meeting be changed to May 21 st. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Segal, to change the council meeting date from May 28 to May 21, 2007. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: City Council Regular and Special Session, April 23, 2007 Voting Aye: Voting Nay: Absent: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen, Council Members Segal and Yehle None Council Member Woods The motion passed 3 -0. 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. 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). 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 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. Mr. Peifer reported that the Staff was bringing this proposed amendment forward for consideration on the second reading. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Segal, to approve Ordinance No. 1840 on the second and final reading. 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 None Council Member Woods 2 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 23, 2007 The motion passed 3 -0. HISD Lease A2reement. Matters related to a Lease Agreement between the Houston Independent School District and the City of West University Place in conjunction with West University Tri-Sports Association. City Manager Michael Ross reported that in September 2005, the City approved a lease renewal with Houston Independent School District (HISD) for the use of the tract of land at the West University Place Elementary School site. This property is owned by HISD and the previous agreement allowed limited use of certain portions of the property and to jointly administer the use of the site as a licensee with West University Tri-Sports Association. Unfortunately, due to HISD's delay in processing, the original lease agreement lapsed and HISD has since submitted a new agreement for the City's approval. This agreement would begin on May 1,2007 and expire on April 30, 2012. The City Council asked numerous questions regarding the lease agreement. After discussion of this item, the City Council agreed to table consideration of the HISD Lease Agreement at this time. City Council minutes Matters related to the minutes of the Regular and Special Session conducted on April 9, 2007 and Special Sessions conducted on April 13 and 14,2007. 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: Voting Nay: Absent: Mayor Pro Tern Cohen, Council Members Segal and Yehle None Council Member Woods The motion passed 3 -0. Council Reports Council Member Yehle reported that he attended the inaugural classical concert series in the Park. He commended Charles May for his work on the first class event. 3 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 23, 2007 City Mana2er Report Mr. Ross reported that the City received two proposals for healthcare coverage. Out of those two, United Healthcare was the overall best plan and was selected by the City. This plan will expire in 16 months, which coincides with the 2009 budget preparation process. Council Member Segal clarified that the City did get a second response to the RFP and they were slightly cheaper under some analysis for a one-year period. Mr. Ross stated that by taking the breakdown right now of family versus employee only, they were $84.00 a month cheaper. However, it was a 12-month only plan and there was impact to pre-existing conditions on employees. Council Member Segal commented that since the citizens passed the provision allowing the City to use RFP's and negotiate and if the Staff goes out in advance for RFP's, the City might have had a chance to negotiate and maybe in the future that opportunity will be taken. Mr. Ross agreed. Council Member Yehle stated that the City might need to factor in the cumulative effect of staying with the same vendor versus being a new client with a new vendor every year. Mr. Ross stated that the Staff has completed an inventory of special sidewalk materials mainly decomposed granite. There were numerous areas in the City that warranted decomposed granite installation because of tree roots that the City paid to have put in and maintains. There were a few other residents who selected the decomposed granite on their own and they paid for it and are responsible for maintenance. Mr. Ross reported that the City will begin a program of regularly inspecting areas where decomposed granite was used; those that are the City's responsibility will be repaired and, where applicable, agreements with residents for perpetual maintenance by them will be enforced. Mr. Ross reported that the City of Houston has raised water rates by 20% to municipalities that buy bulk water effective September 1, 2007. A report and recommendation will be brought forward at a later date. Mr. Ross reported that he met with Richard Lewis from the City of Houston regarding WiFi and they do have the ability to contract with other municipalities within the city limits of Houston. Mr. Lewis indicated that he would anticipate Earthlink installing WiFi when they were doing this region of Houston so West University would be included in that area if we came to terms and had an interlocal agreement between the City of Houston and West University Place at that time. Mr. Lewis will be sending over a draft interlocal agreement for the Council to review. Mayor Pro Tern Cohen asked about the time frame. 4 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 23, 2007 Mr. Ross stated that it was a two-year total plan but they have not yet broken out the six regions so it is unknown the exact order of the installations although it has been said that downtown will be first. Cohen asked if the people within West U would then contract with the City of West University for WiFi in their homes. Mr. Ross stated that residents would contract with Earthlink. Adjournment A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Segal, to adjourn the Regular Session. 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 None Council Member Woods The motion passed 3 -0. The City Council adjourned the Regular Session at 7:12 p.m. Special Session Personnel Matters. (City Manager and City Secretary) The City Council agreed to begin the Executive Session with Legal Counsel Susan Bickley and City Attorney Alan Petrov in attendance because their presence was necessary for the Council's consideration of the issues. At this point in the meeting, the Mayor Pro Tern 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 551.074 (personnel matters, to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or employee), Texas Government Code. After the announcement, the City Council conducted a closed, executive session beginning at 7:17 p.m. 5 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 23, 2007 City Manager Michael Ross and City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway were invited to attend the meeting at different times during the session. After the closed, executive session, the Mayor Pro Tern announced, in open session, that the City Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 8:56 p.m. Adiournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m. 6