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HomeMy WebLinkAbout062507R CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL AND REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, JUNE 25, 2007 MUNICIP AL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 3:00 P.M. The City Council convened in Special and Regular Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on June 25, 2007, with the following members present: Mayor Kelly presiding, Council Members Fry, Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Finance Director, Parks and Recreation Director and Building Official were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 20th day of June 2007 at 4:45 p.m. Special Session General Orientation and Goals and Obiectives. General orientation and the setting of goals and objectives, including: (1) City Charter, City ordinances, and City policies and procedures (e.g., agendas, meetings, appointment procedures), (2) roles of Council, staff, boards, commissions, committees and others, (3) Open Meetings Act, Public Information Act and other state and federal laws and constitutions, (4) departmental projects, programs, activities, staffs and budgets (Police, Fire, Public Works, Finance, Parks and Administration Departments), (5) planning, zoning and other regulations, (6) City facilities and projects (e.g., recreation facility, sidewalks, drainage improvements, infrastructure), (7) City finances (e.g., taxes, other revenues, expenses, debt), (8) regional issues, including intergovernmental relations, (9) Council goals and objectives, and (10) other related matters. Finance Director Walter Thomas presented an overview and summary of the 2007 Budget. The City Council and Staff discussed goals and objectives and agreed on the following goals: 1. Remediate Flooding and Drainage in Priority Area 2 2. Pursue Purchase and Development of Additional Park Space within target area. 3. Create plan for possible relocation or upgrade of Public Works, Police and other City facilities. 4. Develop and implement City Wide Street Lighting Program 5. Develop plan to encourage redevelopment of the Town Center Commercial Areas. City Council Regular and Special Session, June 25, 2007 6. Develop and implement plan for Recreational Facilities, including Colonial Park and Recreation Center. 7. Review and improve revenue stream. 8. Evaluate process of securing building permits with the goal of improving service. 9. Evaluate employee benefits in an attempt to lower costs while continuing to provide appropriate level of benefits. 10. Develop naming rights plan for parks and recreational facilities. 3936 Marlowe Street: Weslayan 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, Legal Counsel Charles Dippel and James Dougherty 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: 15 p.m. After the closed, executive session, the Mayor announced, in open session, that the City Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 6: 10 p.m. Park Property. Matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property for park purposes. 2 City Council Regular and Special Session, June 25, 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 (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 and Legal Counsel Charles Dippel 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 6:10 p.m. After the closed, executive session, the Mayor announced, in open session, that the City Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 6:30 p.m. Adiournment A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Fry, to adjourn the Special Session. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Kelly, Council Members Fry, Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 5-0. Formal Session Citizen Comments There were not any citizens who wished to speak at this time. Recreation Specialist. Matters related to a Recreation Specialist Position including approval to fill the position. Parks and Recreation Director Tim 0' Connor reported that during the 2007 Budget Process, staff requested a full-time Recreation Specialist position. Council approved the position to be filled July 1, 2007, contingent upon City Council approval prior to the position being posted/filled. Reasoning for the position not being approved for the full year involved waiting for the outcome of the November 2006 Bond Election, since several Council Members felt that the scope of that 3 City Council Regular and Special Session, June 25, 2007 position might change, depending upon the Bond Election results. The primary justification for the position involves the assuming of Community Building front-line duties, allowing for the Administrative Manager, upgraded from Administrative Assistant on January 1, 2007, to effectively facilitate the additional duties identified in that job description. A motion was made by Council Member Fry, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to authorize the City Manager to allow staff to proceed with filling the position of Recreation Specialist. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Kelly, Council Members Fry, Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 5-0. Salva2e and Demolition. Matters related to salvage and demolition including Ordinance No. 1848. Mayor Kelly read the caption of Ordinance No. 1848 as follows: An ordinance relating to salvage and demolition; amending the code of ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject Copies of Ordinance No. 1848, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Building Official Sean Landis reported that Ordinance No. 1848 reflects clarification of Sections 18-1 and 18-65 of the Code of Ordinances, specifically by adding the definition of "demolish" and "demolition" and a provision to further delineate the difference in salvage and demolition. These amendments were primarily written to control the amount of salvage occurring in structures slated to be demolished. Currently, the ordinance requires a permit for the demolition of any structure. The permittee is required to notify the Building Official when the work begins and complete the work within 10 days. A permit is valid for up to 60 days. The amendments will provide an avenue for removal or "salvage" of interior non-structural elements provided no external changes occur. This amendment is intended as an additional tool to keep exterior structural elements from being removed, thereby resulting in possible open and vacant, unsecured structures, which can become an attractive nuisance. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Talianchich, to adopt Ordinance 1848 regulating Savage and Demolition on first reading. 4 City Council Regular and Special Session, June 25, 2007 A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Kelly, Council Members Fry, Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 5-0. Flood Dama2e Prevention and Floodplain Re2ulations. Matters related to flood damage prevention and floodplain regulations including Ordinance No. 1849. Mayor Kelly read the caption of Ordinance No. 1849 as follows: An ordinance relating to flood damage prevention and floodplain regulations; amending the code of ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject. Copies of Ordinance No. 1849, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mr. Landis reported that the City of West University Place entered the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1978. A condition of participation in the NFIP is adoption of a flood damage prevention and protection ordinance and adoption of the most current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS). As a result of tropical storm Allison, revising and remapping all of the FIRMs for Harris County, including West University Place, was accomplished. Preliminary maps were published in September 2004 and the final maps were published June 18, 2007. The revised FIRMs will increase the amount of property located in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). The SFHA includes most of the properties located south of University Boulevard between Poor Farm Ditch and Kirby Road. Additional SFHA includes a block wide strip from Riley north to Amherst, between College and Auden. The BSC and ZPC have discussed the possible ramifications of the expanded floodplain during several meetings and workshops over the past three years. City Council directed the BSC and ZPC to review and study the floodplain regulations and the revised floodplain maps and insurance study and make recommendations for possible amendments to the flood protection and prevention regulations of the City. Ordinance 1849 contains amendments as recommended by the commissions. It provides for adoption of the minimum state and federal floodplain regulations, adopts the revised FIRM's and FIS, and amends the International Residential Code, 2003 edition, to reflect the map revision date. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Fry, to approve Ordinance 1849 on first reading. 5 City Council Regular and Special Session, June 25, 2007 A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Kelly, Council Members Fry, Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 5-0. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Matters related to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. This item was withdrawn from the agenda. 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. The original lease agreement has lapsed and HISD has 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 Attorney has reviewed and approved the agreement. A motion was made by Council Member Fry, seconded by Council Member Guffey, to approve the attached Lease Agreement between the City of West University Place and the Houston Independent School District A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Kelly, Council Members Fry, Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 5-0. 6 City Council Regular and Special Session, June 25, 2007 City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular and Special Session conducted on June 11,2007. A motion was made by Council Member Fry, seconded by Mayor Kelly, to approve the minutes of June 11, 2007 as presented. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Kelly, Council Members Fry, Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 5-0. Council Reports There were not any reports given at this time. City Mana2er Report There were not any reports given at this time. Adiournment A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Fry, to adjourn the Regular Session. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Kelly, Council Members Fry, Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich None None Voting Nay: Absent: The motion passed 5-0. The City Council adjourned the Regular Session at 7:05 p.m. 7