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HomeMy WebLinkAbout022706R CC Min CITY COUNCIL REGULAR AND SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2006 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 5:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular and Special Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on February 27, 2006, with the following members present: Mayor Ballanfant presiding, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Building Official, Public Works Coordinator, Operations Superintendent and Assistant to the City Manager were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, th Chapter 551, on the 24 day of February 2006 at 9:00 a.m. Special Session Boards and Commissions. Matters related to Boards and Commissions including interview with volunteers. The City Council interviewed residents, Sue Hanna and Randal Lepow, who wished to volunteer to serve on a Board or Commission. Sidewalks. Matters related to sidewalks. Public Works Coordinator Andrea Brinkley reported that on November 28, 2005, City Council revised and amended the Sidewalk Master Plan, adding 21,940 linear feet of sidewalk to primary, secondary and tertiary sidewalk routes. Additionally, City Council set aside a number of sidewalk segments for additional study by Staff as possible future additions to the Sidewalk Master Plan. At this time, staff has completed the study and recommends that all of the study segments (6,026 linear feet) be added to the plan. It is understood that some of these sidewalks are for long range planning purposes only and will not be installed until future redevelopment occurs. The Staff recommends the following additions to the Master Plan: City Council Regular and Special Session, February 27, 2006 Street From To Side Carnegie Poor Farm Ditch Buffalo Speedway South Cason West Point YMCA South Charlotte Tangley Plumb West Duke Buffalo Speedway Wakeforest South Edloe Rice University East Fairhaven Ruskin Bellaire East Stella Link Ruskin Bellaire West Wakeforest Tangley Plumb East Wakeforest University Cason East Weslayan Ruskin Bellaire East Staff will plan to monitor the current sidewalk installation projects over the next few months and come back to Council with a recommendation for further funding allocations if appropriate. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to adopt the Sidewalk Master Plan revisions and future additions as recommended by the City Staff with the decisions on construction to come later. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: None The City Council recessed the Special Session at 6:11 p.m. Formal Session Citizen Comments. Mayor Ballanfant invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. There were not any citizens who wished to address the City Council at this time. Parks and Recreation Board. Matters related to the Parks and Recreation Board including Resolution No. 2006-02 appointing a member to the Board. 2 City Council Regular and Special Session, February 27, 2006 Parks and Recreation Director Tim O?Connor reported that there was one vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Board and Dr. Randal Lepow was interested in serving. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Woods, to adopt Resolution No. 2006-02 appointing Randal Lepow to the Parks and Recreation Board. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: None Abstain: Council Member Segal Zoning Board of Adjustment. Matters related to the Zoning Board of Adjustment including Resolution No. 2006-05 appointing a member to the Board. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to adopt Resolution No. 2006-05 appointing Susan Hanna to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: None Kirby Drive Construction Project. Matters related to the Kirby Drive Construction Project including an update from Thompson Engineers. Harish Jajoo, City of Houston Senior Assistant Director of Engineering, gave a brief report on the background of the Storm Water project. He reported that Kirby Drive is one of three major storm water projects that are being constructed to alleviate the overflow in the existing storm water network. This project, along with an improved storm water system along Kirby, will include better street grades, new inlets to channel the water, new sidewalks, new signals and streetlights. Marty Cristofaro with TCB, Inc. and Kirby Project Engineer updated the Council on the current status of the Kirby project. He reported that Kirby Segment 1 is currently under 3 City Council Regular and Special Session, February 27, 2006 construction. Kirby Segment 2, which consists of 100 feet south of Dorrington Street to 100 feet south of Swift Street, will start within 45 to 60 days. Segment 3, which consists of 100 feet south of Swift Street to 100 feet south of Robinhood, will follow 6 to 8 months after Segment 2 starts, possibly October or November. Mr. Cristofaro stated that he has been asked by the Rice Village Association to not work stth in the Rice Village area from November 1 through January 15because of the holiday th season. So, they will not go north of University until after January 15. He commented that there will be a lot of traffic that has to be diverted. There are 50,000 cars a day that come down Kirby and all of it has to be moved. They are going to implement a bypass plan just to get the through traffic around the construction. A while back the City Council approved no parking signs along Buffalo Speedway and this will be the primary route for traffic diversion. The City Council asked questions about synchronizing the lights along Buffalo Speedway and restricting turns on certain streets to discouraged cut-through traffic. Council Member Yehle asked about the installation of new sidewalks on the west side of Kirby. Mr. Cristofaro stated that they were only putting sidewalks back where they currently exist. The City Council requested that the City Staff look into getting sidewalks installed on the west side of Kirby. Technical Codes. Matters related to the Technical Codes including Ordinance No. 1823. Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1823 as follows: An ordinance related to Technical Codes, 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. 1823, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Chief Building Official Debbie Scarcella reported that the state legislature enacted a law during the last session requiring municipalities to adopt the 2003 International Building Codes as the construction standard for all commercial structures within their municipality. Staff has reviewed the entire family of the 2003 international codes and prepared the proposed amendments to the Standard Codes Schedule. 4 City Council Regular and Special Session, February 27, 2006 The Building and Standards Commission held several workshops and meetings refining the proposed amendments, and voted to support the recommended amendments at their meeting held on February 2, 2006. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to adopt Ordinance No. 1823 on first reading. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: None Structural framing and related elements. Matters related to structural framing and related elements including Ordinance No. 1824 An ordinance relating to structural framing and related elements; amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject. Scarcella Ms. Scarcella reported that the Building and Standards Commission has worked since last year on provisions to amend the Technical Codes Schedule to include structural framing provisions. These provisions would be in addition to, and in compliment with, the 2003 International Codes. The basic proposal sets out minimum requirements for construction and certification of the structural framing elements of a building and includes definitions that are consistent with the current requirements for foundation certification. The Building and Standards Commission held several meetings and workshops were held concerning the proposed amendments, and voted to support the proposed amendments at their February 2, 2006. The City Council asked numerous questions and made several suggestions relating to the proposed amendments. They agreed to consider the ordinance on first reading and the Staff will bring back suggested changes for the second reading. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to adopt Ordinance No. 1824 on first reading as presented. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: 5 City Council Regular and Special Session, February 27, 2006 Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: None Property located at 4213 Bellaire. Matters related to the property located at 4213 Bellaire Boulevard. Marshall S. Clinkscales, Jr., the City?s Broker from MSC Properties, Inc. reviewed the expressions of interest to lease the property at 4213 Bellaire Boulevard. He stated that he received two offers that range from $2,000/month to $2,500/month net to the City. Both indicate a willingness to negotiate. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to authorize the City Manager to negotiate a lease for Council approval for the property at 4213 Bellaire with a short term lease not to exceed 5 years, with appropriate legal devices to secure the City?s interest in the drainage facility located on the property. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: None Property located at Westpark Drive and Wakeforest Street. Matters related to the property located at Westpark Drive and Wakeforest Street including sell, lease or other related matters. Mr. Clinkscales discussed the options of either selling or leasing the City owned property on Westpark with the City Council. This item will be discussed further at the end of the meeting. Circulator Trolley. Matters related to a possible circulator trolley from West University to the Texas Medical Center/METRO?s commuter light-rail. City Manager Michael Ross stated that there have been continued discussions of a circulator trolley that might run from West University to Rice University and the Medical Center. He stated that he met with the University Place Association, the Rice Village 6 City Council Regular and Special Session, February 27, 2006 Alliance and the Rice University representatives. They originally hoped that there would be some funding for this type of trolley either by grant or by Metro but that seems remote now. Mr. Ross discussed the possibility of the City putting together a survey to be sent out in the City Currents to see if there is an interest for this type of service. A feasibility study could also be done with a shared cost of about $50,000. The City Council discussed the frequency of ride times and parking. The City Council agreed that they were not interested in funding a feasibility study. They asked that the City Manager work out the plan details before sending out a survey. City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular and Special Session conducted on February 13, 2006. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Woods, to approve the minutes as amended. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: None Intergovernmental & Infrastructure Issues; Staff or Council Report. Matters relating to intergovernmental relations and agreements including negotiations, extra jurisdictional meetings, regional issues, Interlocal Agreements with the City of Southside Place, Metropolitan Transit Authority agreements, infrastructure projects, drainage, flooding, Kirby Drive construction, Center Point Energy Entex, gas rates and coalition, City owned properties, potential purchase of property, City Center project, streetlights, railroad quiet zones and task force, board and commission liaison reports and related matters. This may include report(s) from staff and reports and directives to staff from Council Members. There were not any reports given at this time. Property located at Westpark Drive and Wakeforest Street (continued ) The City Council agreed to allow City Manager Michael Ross, City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway, City Attorney Alan Petrov, the City?s Broker Marshall S. Clinkscales and the 7 City Council Regular and Special Session, February 27, 2006 Assistant to the City Manager Dave Beach 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 551.072 Texas Government Code. After the announcement, the City Council conducted a closed, executive session beginning at 8:05 p.m. After the closed, executive session, the Mayor announced, in open session, that the City Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 8:30 p.m. This item will be discussed again at a later date. Adjournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to adjourn. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: None The Council meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m. 8