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HomeMy WebLinkAbout092407R CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL AND REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:00 P.M. The City Council convened in Special and Regular Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on September 24, 2007, with the following members present: Mayor Pro Tem Fry presiding, Council Members Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich. The City Manager, Assistant City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Fire Chief and Finance Director were also present. Mayor Kelly was absent The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter th 551, on the 20 day of September 2007 at 3:30 p.m. Special Session Kirby Drive enhancements. Matters related to aesthetic enhancements to Kirby Drive. Jamie Brewster, Executive Director, Upper Kirby District, requested that the City Council authorize the City of West University Place to participate in the Kirby Drive Starscape Project, which extends from Holcombe to Westheimer. They requested $125,000 ($62,500 per intersection) from the City to be applied to the brick-paved crosswalks at University and Sunset Boulevards. No action was taken at this time. 2008 Budget calendar. Matters related to the 2008 budget calendar including a schedule for workshops and special meetings. Finance Director Walter Thomas discussed the budget calendar with the City Council and Staff. The budget completion date is set for November 12, 2007. The City Council tentatively set the th first budget workshop for October 17 beginning at 12:00 noon. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Guffey, to adjourn the Special Session. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: City Council Regular and Special Session, September 24, 2007 Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tem Fry, Council Members Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich Voting Nay: None Absent: Mayor Kelly The motion passed 4-0. The City Council adjourned the Special Session at 6:30 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. Formal Session Citizen Comments Mayor Pro Tem Fry invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Patrick Starich, 4125 Southwestern, commented that the Community Center pool was overcrowded. He stated that residents were not able to use the pool to the full extent due to many non-residents using the facility. Mr. Starich provided written comments to the Council. Water rates. Matters related to water rates and other fees including Ordinance No. 1852. Mayor Pro Tem Fry read the caption of Ordinance No. 1852 as follows: An ordinance relating to water rates; amending the fee schedule of 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. 1852, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that a significant increase in the rate charged by the City of Houston for treated surface water took effect on September 1, 2007. Water and sewer rates need to be increased if this added cost is to be passed on to the final customer. Ordinance 1852 increases fees associated with water and sewer service 10% to provide revenues to fund the current City of Houston rate increase and also to fund another 3% rate increase expected on April 1, 2008. If approved, the increase would appear on October bills, which reflect consumption through September 30. 2 City Council Regular and Special Session, September 24, 2007 A motion was made by Council Member Guffey, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to adopt Ordinance No. 1852 on the second and final reading. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tem Fry, Council Members Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich Voting Nay: None Absent: Mayor Kelly The motion passed 4-0. Appraisal Roll, Tax Rates, etc. Matters related to the 2007 Appraisal Roll, effective tax rate, etc. and including Resolution No. 2007-17. Mayor Pro Tem Fry read the caption of Resolution No. 2007-17 as follows: A resolution acknowledging receipt of Appraisal Roll, Assessor-Collector?s certificate and related information; designating a person to calculate certain tax rates, make certain publications and perform other related tasks; deciding on the amount of surplus and unencumbered funds to be used to pay debt service; and containing related provisions. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that the State of Texas Truth in Taxation laws require the City Council to formally receive certain specific information about the property tax roll: Council is required to acknowledge the receipt of the certified appraisal roll from the Chief Appraiser. The City?s Tax Assessor is required to calculate, inform the City Council, and publish two comparative tax rates. The is the rate that the City would levy to effective tax rate generate the same property tax revenue as the preceding tax year. The roll back tax rate is the effective tax rate adjusted for changes in the City?s debt service plus an eight percent increase to the effective maintenance and operation tax rate. These rates provide information to the Council about the City?s tax rates and revenues. They also provide triggers for additional required publication of information about the City?s property taxes and, in some cases, an opportunity for the citizens to invalidate a proposed property tax increase. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Truth in Taxation laws could result in delays in assessing the 2007 property taxes or in injunctions against collecting 2007 property taxes. 3 City Council Regular and Special Session, September 24, 2007 A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Talianchich, to adopt Resolution No. 2007-17 as presented. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tem Fry, Council Members Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich Voting Nay: None Absent: Mayor Kelly The motion passed 4-0. Sidewalks. Matters related to sidewalks including a change order to contract for the completion in Priority Areas 10 & 11B. Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Chris Peifer reported that in 2000 the City embarked on a sidewalk improvement program with the passage of the Sidewalk Proposition for $5 Million. In 2002 the City received an additional 1.5 million from METRO for use and City Council adopted a Sidewalk Master Plan to outline the priorities for addressing areas that had sidewalk deficiencies. The City has awarded four sidewalk contracts since that time; each one for approximately $1 million. City Council approved the maximum change orders allowed by law to each contract in order to maximize the savings on construction. In November of 2005 and February of 2006 City Council revised the master plan to include additional sidewalks. Consistent with the staff?s status presentation of November 2006, the construction of this alternative transportation network is nearing completion with the final (approximately) 17,000 LF of sidewalk. The work to be completed includes some minor areas throughout the City, but focuses on the areas, which were included in the November 2005 and February 2006 revisions to the plan. Please note that although the plan was revised further appropriations were not made, therefore staff will be including the appropriation of the 2008 Metro Transportation Grant in the amount of $259,000.00, also consistent with Staff?s prior report to Council, in the upcoming budget. Further, please note that the change order also includes $285,838 for the construction of Kirby Drive Sidewalks, to be funded by the City of Houston via an interlocal agreement currently in negotiations. In January of this year Council approved a Change Order to the subject Infrastructure Completion contract adding bid items for sidewalks. This facilitated staff in negotiating reduced prices for the remaining work to be done in completion of the Sidewalk Master Plan. Approval of this Change Order, and the mentioned future appropriation, will be the vehicle for completion of the revised and approved Sidewalk Master Plan consistent with available funding. A motion was made by Council Member Talianchich, seconded by Council Member Guffey, to approve change order # 4 in the amount of $907,523.00 4 City Council Regular and Special Session, September 24, 2007 A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tem Fry, Council Members Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich Voting Nay: None Absent: Mayor Kelly The motion passed 4-0. City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Special Session conducted on September 13, 2007 and Regular and Special Session conducted on September 10, 2007. A motion was made by Council Member Guffey, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to approve the minutes of September 10 and 13, 2007 as presented. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tem Fry, Council Members Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich Voting Nay: None Absent: Mayor Kelly The motion passed 4-0. Fundraiser for Patrick Walters. Matters related to a fundraiser for Patrick Walters including setting a date, place and time. City Manager Michael Ross reported that the City Staff would like to have a fundraiser for Operations Superintendent Patrick Walters who has been unable to work for the last year. The City Council agreed that the Staff should have a fundraiser. Council Reports There were not any reports given at this time. City Manager Report There were not any reports given at this time. 5 City Council Regular and Special Session, September 24, 2007 Adjournment A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Guffey, to adjourn the Regular Session. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Pro Tem Fry, Council Members Cohen, Guffey and Talianchich Voting Nay: None Absent: Mayor Kelly The motion passed 4-0. The City Council adjourned the Regular Session at 7:00 p.m. 6