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HomeMy WebLinkAbout051407R CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL AND REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, MAY 14,2007 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 May 14,2007, 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, Finance Director, and Parks and Recreation Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 10th day of April 2007 at 4:00 p.m. Special Session 3936 Marlowe Street: Weslavan Street. Matters related to 3936 Marlowe Street (Peden property) and Weslayan Street (from Bissonnet Street to Bellaire Boulevard), including easement or right-of-way matters, house under construction, legal defense, permits, administrative proceedings, pending or contemplated litigation or a settlement offer, and purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property and related Issues. The City Council agreed to allow City Manager Michael Ross, City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway, City Attorney Alan Petrov and Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Chris Peifer and Legal Counsel Mark Breeding to attend the Executive Session because their presence is necessary for the Council's consideration of the issues. 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 551.071 and Section 551. 072 Texas Government Code. After the announcement, the City Council conducted a closed, executive session beginning at 5:32 p.m. After the closed, executive session, the Mayor announced, in open session, that the City Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 5:50 p.m. City Council Regular and Special Session, May 14, 2007 Park Property. Matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property for park purposes. 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 551.072 (purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property), Texas Government Code. The City Council agreed to allow City Manager Michael Ross, City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway, City Attorney Alan Petrov, Parks and Recreation Director Tim O'Connor, Legal Counsel Mark Breeding of Andrews Kurth, LLP, Park and Recreation Board Chair Russ Schulze and Parkland Acquisition Committee member Ramsay Elder to attend the Executive Session because their presence is necessary for the Council's consideration of the issues. After the announcement, the City Council conducted a closed, executive session beginning at 5:59 p.m. Mr. Schulze and Mr. Elder left the Executive Session at 6: 12 p.m. After the closed, executive session, the Mayor Pro Tern announced, in open session, that the City Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 6:29 p.m. The City Council recessed the Special Session at 6:29 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. The Special Session reconvened at 7: 19 p.m. The City Council continued their discussion of real property for park purposes. 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 551.072 (purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property), Texas Government Code. The City Council agreed to allow City Manager Michael Ross, City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway, City Attorney Alan Petrov, Parks and Recreation Director Tim O'Connor to attend the Executive Session because their presence is necessary for the Council's consideration of the issues. After the announcement, the City Council conducted a closed, executive session beginning at 7:20 p.m. 2 City Council Regular and Special Session, May 14, 2007 After the closed, executive session, the Mayor Pro Tern announced, in open session, that the City Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 7:57 p.m. The City Council adjourned the Special Session. 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. Kathleen Hwu, 3317 Plumb, commented that she would love to have a park in the area proposed on Tangley. Ally Hwu, 3317 Plumb, commented that she would love to have a park near her home. Emily Hwu, 3317 Plumb, commented that she would love to have a park near her home. Carolyn Phillips, 3312 Tangley, stated that she lives next door to the property being considered for parkland. She commented that she was opposed to the city purchasing the property for a park because it could possibly lower her property values. Nir Stanietzky, 3311 Tangley, stated that he was opposed to having a park on his street. Park Property. Matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property for park purposes. Council Member Yehle stated that he has seen studies showing that parks actually help rather than hurt property values, although the concern about not liking the extra activity a park brings is valid. He commented that as for price, land in West U is expensive and whatever the city pays is going to be market price. Star Citizen Award Pro2ram. Matters related to the Star Citizen Award Program including recognition of volunteers. Parks and Recreation Director Tim O'Connor reported that the City implemented the West University Place Star Citizen Awards Program in December of 2006. The purpose of this program is to publicly recognize exemplary efforts by citizens whose volunteer service significantly improves the quality of life in the community. Mayor Pro Tern Cohen presented awards to Eagle Scout Candidate Palmer Wilson for the Weslayan landscape island beautification project and to Vicki Grams and Penny Grams for co- chairing the Park Lover's Ball and their record breaking fundraising efforts. 3 City Council Regular and Special Session, May 14, 2007 2007 Bud2et Amendment. Matters related to a 2007 Budget amendment including Ordinance No. 1846. Mayor Pro Tern Cohen read the caption of Ordinance No. 1846 as follows: An ordinance amending the budget of the City of West University Place, Texas for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2007 and ending December 31, 2007; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject Copies of Ordinance No. 1846, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that an ordinance amending the 2007 Budget has been prepared. The reasons for the amendment are as follows: 1. The Personnel Table for the Administration Department provides a position titled "Assistant to the City Manager" with a salary range of $48,963 to $65,770. It is requested that the Budget Ordinance be amended to delete this position and add an "Administrative Assistant" position with a salary range of $37,981 to $51,043. This change will provide the Department greater administrative support and save salary cost. 2. The Finance Department's Budget increased $65,000 from $1,440,590 to $1,505,590 to provide funding to transition a replacement for the retiring Finance Director. Additionally the Personnel Table for the Finance Department reflects the creation of a Deputy Finance Director to be filled only during the transition period. 3. The Park and Recreation Department's Budget increased $16,700 from $1,612,390 to $1,629,090 to finance emergency replacement of the water heating system at the Colonial Park Pool. 4. Reduce the contributions expected from employees for dependent health insurance from $165,000 to $135,000. 5. Change the Personnel Table in the Public Works Department to reflect job reclassifications recommended to increase efficiency and decrease costs. The current forecast is that General Fund revenues will exceed the estimates used in preparing the 2007 Budget enough to offset the proposed increase in expenditures. Total revenues for the General Fund are expected to be $11,248,410, or $132,000 more than the $11,116,410 estimated. In the Employee benefit fund expenditures for payments to retiring employees are expected to be sufficiently under budget to offset the reduced employee contributions for health insurance. 4 City Council Regular and Special Session, May 14, 2007 The City Council requested that the position for the lead plant operator only be filled with the approval of Council and that this be noted on Attachment A. A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to approve Ordinance No. 1846 on first reading 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. Appointment of Assistant City Secretary. Matters related to the appointment of an Assistant City Secretary. City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway reported that Article VI, Section 6.03 of the Home Rule Charter allows the City Secretary to appoint Assistant City Secretaries in number as approved by the Council. The appointment of an Assistant City Secretary would allow them to use the City Seal, authenticate official documents and perform other duties in the absence of the City Secretary. A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to appoint Gayle Schulze as an Assistant City Secretary. 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 April 23, 2007 and Special Sessions conducted on April 27, May 3 and May 7,2007. A motion was made by Council Member Woods, seconded by Council Member Segal, to approve the minutes of April 23, 2007 as amended and the minutes of April 27, May 3 and May 7, 2007 as presented. 5 City Council Regular and Special Session, May 14, 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. Council Reports There were not any reports given at this time. City Mana2er Report There were not any reports given at this time. Adjournment 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 7:05 p.m. 6