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HomeMy WebLinkAbout041006R CC Min CITY COUNCIL REGULAR AND SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, APRIL 10 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 April 10, 2006, with the following members present: Mayor Ballanfant presiding, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods and Yehle. The City Manager, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Finance Director, Parks and Recreation Director 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 6 day of April 2006 at 4:00 p.m. Special Session Recreation facilities. Matters related to the City?s recreation facilities including policies regarding use and rentals. Parks and Recreation Director Tim O?Connor commented that the City Council has requested a review of the policy issues regarding the use of the West University Recreation Center Gymnasium by youth, teens, and adults, verses gymnasium rentals. Council also requested a comprehensive revenue analysis specific to the gymnasium. After a complete discussion of this item, the City Council agreed on the following directives to Staff: Hours of Operations: Revise both the West University Recreation Center ?Hours of Operation? Schedule and the Colonial Park Pool ?Hours of Operations? Schedule, to be accurate and easier for the general public to understand. The current Colonial format was preferred and is to be used for all PARD hours-of-operation schedules in the future. Post the revised schedules on the City?s website as soon as possible. Prepare an ?insert? of the hours-of-operation schedules for the most current Leisure Guide publication and make those available to all of our WURC, Colonial Park Pool, Senior Center and Community Building customers. Be certain that the facility bulletin boards reflect accurate information at all times. City Council Regular and Special Session, April 10, 2006 Gymnasium Rentals: No allowance should be made for ?off weeks? when entering a Rental Agreement. Example: If an individual or group is wanting to rent the gymnasium for Monday evening volleyball practice - 7 until 9pm for ten weeks, but only needs the gymnasium for eight of those weeks, they will be required to pay for all ten Monday?s. The logic is that the timeslot becomes ?un-usable? and very difficult, if not impossible, for staff to effectively schedule for other uses. Staff will survey other municipalities, with a single gymnasium, and determine how they handle comparable rental arrangements Staff to investigate and implement separate Resident and Non-Resident rental rates for the WURC gymnasium. The John Lucas Rental Agreement must be revisited and adjusted to reflect an equitable rental fee is being assessed. Instructor Contracts: Staff will formulate a chart of all the different Instructor Contract Agreements that are current. Chart will identify 1) Name of Class; 2) Description of Class; 3) Fee?s Charges for registration ? resident and non-resident; 4) Length of Class ? total number of classes, total number of hours; and 5) Percentage of registration fees paid to the instructor. Staff will develop a ?formula? of percentages to be paid to contract instructors, to insure equity and based on the ?current market? hourly pay- rate for each specific class. Miscellaneous: Staff will order ? This Lane Reserved For ? lap swimming, swim lessons, or tri- swim? signs for each of the swim lanes at Colonial Pool. This should assist customers and staff in clearly defining the specific use allowed in each lane. (signs will be portable and posted only when needed) Staff will order a ?Lap Swimming Etiquette? sign and post in an area where it can be viewed by all lap swimmers. This should assist novice lap swimmers in better understanding how to ?share? a lane with other lap swimmers. Staff will have all hours-of-operations and all registration/admission fees reviewed and endorsed by the Parks Board prior to presenting to City Council and/or implementation. Staff will continue to promote ?public open-play? hours for the WURC gymnasium, in an effort to increase that participation level. Staff will continue to investigate the possibility of re-locating some of the heavily participated programs; specifically gymnastics, dance and senior exercise, to the WURC, in an effort to alleviate the parking issues impacting the Community Building. 2 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 10, 2006 Adopt a block program. Matters related to an ?adopt a block? program for the beatification of the 3700 block of University. City Manager Michael Ross reported that it appears that the University Boulevard medians in the 3700 Block of University Boulevard are in desperate need of a makeover and an ongoing higher level of maintenance. Currently, the same City contractor that maintains the grass around the municipal facilities maintains these medians. That level of service is typically referred to as the ?mow, blow and go? level of maintenance. Staff has requested and received an estimate on a premium level of plantings and maintenance for the medians within this block of University Boulevard. The initial plantings (complete replacement other than trees) and maintenance for the first year is estimated at $48,000. Each subsequent year would cost approximately $30,000 for the four seasonal plantings along with the proper level of maintenance (weekly visits). Staff believes that there may be an interest in an ?Adopt-A-Block? program for this area in West U. This type of program has been successful in the nearby museum district as well as in several other cities. If Council desires, the City could fund the initial plantings for this year (approx. $18,000) once the sponsorship of the ongoing maintenance is finalized. Staff would propose an ?official? Adopt-A-Block sign at each end of the 3700 block of University Boulevard with the donors name[s] on the sign plate[s] underneath the sign. The City Council questioned the use of additional signs in the City. They agreed to allow the City Manager to discreetly explore the feasibility for donations. Advertising in the newspapers should not be used at this time. The City Council recessed the Special Session and convened in Regular Session. 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. Property and Facility Master Planning. Matters related to City Property and Facility Master Planning including the award of a contract to Pierce Goodwin Alexander and Linville (PGAL). 3 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 10, 2006 Mr. Ross reported that in March 2006, the City Council authorized the City Manager to interview professional service firms to complete a condition assessment and master plan for all West U municipal buildings and property. The following four firms were interviewed: Bay Architects, 3D/I, Gossen Livingston, and Pierce Goodwin Alexander Linville (PGAL). Based on qualifications and experience, the Selection Committee recommends awarding the contract for the West U City Property and Facility Master Planning to PGAL of Houston, TX. PGAL is an established area firm with recent master planning and facility assessment experience in Sugar Land, Pearland, and League City. This agreement requires the consultant to determine the current condition of all municipal buildings, fair market value of city owned land, department space needs assessment (current & future), and to develop a master plan for the location of city owned properties and facilities. City parkland, such as, Judson Park, Wier Park, etc., will not be included in the condition assessment. Mr. Ross stated that this item was not in the 2006 Budget as originally adopted, but funds could become available due to operational savings sufficient to fund this project by the end of the year. If savings are not sufficient, a budget amendment will be submitted at the end of the year to appropriate the funds. Jeffrey Gerber, President & CEO, of PGAL was present at the meeting. The City Council asked numerous questions about the inclusion of Colonial Park and the Recreation Center in their study. The City Council requested that PGAL report to Council on their initial findings and ideas before any preliminary document is prepared or put on paper. The Council would like to better understand the limitations and opportunities that PGAL might perceive and that the Council may have more incite to pass on before the preliminary document. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Woods, to appropriate up to $30,000 for the Level 1 work for the Property and Facility Master Planning by PGAL. 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 A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Woods, to authorize the City Manager to negotiate an agreement with PGAL in the amount not to 4 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 10, 2006 exceed $30,000 to implement the Level 1 work on the Property and Facility Master Planning 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 Water rates. Matters related to water rates including Ordinance No. 1825. Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1825 as follows: An ordinance relating to water rates; amending the fee schedule of Code of Ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject. Copies of Ordinance No. 1825, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that Ordinance No. 1825 raises the water rates charged to the residents of the City of West University Place by 1.5% in response to a rate increase of 3.6% assessed by the City of Houston for treated surface water. This cost is approximately 25% of the total expenditures in the Water Fund. Mayor Ballanfant thanked the City Attorney for his review of the Water Contract with the City of Houston. A motion was made by Council Member Woods, seconded by Council Member Segal, to adopt Ordinance 1825 on the second and final reading increasing water rates 1.5% due to the City of Houston?s water rate increase. 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 Urban Forester. Matters related to the Urban Forester position including Ordinance No. 1826. 5 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 10, 2006 Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1826 as follows: An Ordinance relating to the appointment of an Urban Forester; 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. 1826, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Ron Wicker reported that in 1992, the City of West University Place adopted the Urban Forest Preservation and Enhancement Ordinance, establishing the importance of tree protection in the City of West University Place. To date, West U has set an example for other cities in tree protection and enhancements and our residents, builders, and contractors understand the importance we place on tree protection and preservation. Section 82.8. Administration; appeals, etc., of ?The City Manager shall appoint an experienced this ordinance, currently requires and qualified person to be chief urban forester for the city, which shall be a full- time, city employee position.??The City The current ordinance also provides that Manager may designate one or more other urban foresters to act in the absence of the chief; persons so designated may not necessarily be employees of the City, but the City Manager shall make an adequate provision for obtaining their services by contract if they are not City employees?. The attached Ordinance 1826 will amend the Urban Forest Preservation and Enhancement Ordinance and allow the City Manager to appoint the Urban Forester, whether that position is a full-time employee or a consultant. This will provide the greatest flexibility in filling this position with the most qualified candidate and ultimately benefit the City by having a candidate that it highly qualified in one or both of the disciplines. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to adopt Ordinance No. 1826 relating to the appointment of an Urban Forester on the 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 Code of Ordinances. Matters related to the Code of Ordinances including Ordinance No. 1827. 6 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 10, 2006 An Ordinance adopting an amended codification of Civil and Criminal Ordinances; amending the existing Code of Ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; adopting penalties; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject. Copies of Ordinance No. 1827, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. City Attorney Alan Petrov stated that prior to his starting as the City Attorney, the City entered into a contract with the Municipal Code Corporation (MCC) to update and re- codify the City?s Code of Ordinances. MCC recently delivered a product to the City, which is the re-codification and the last step of that process is for Council to adopt as its official City Code this document. Some of the major changes that were made involve the renumbering of some of the sections of the City Code but there should not be any substantive changes made. It is simply taking the existing ordinances of the City, inserting amendments that were made since the last codification and reformatting the document as a whole. Mr. Petrov stated that he did learn from the City Secretary that there were some ordinances from last year that were inadvertently left out. He suggested that the Council adopt the ordinance on the first reading and postpone the second reading until the final document is complete. A motion was made by Council Member Woods, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to adopt Ordinance No. 1827 on the 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 City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular Session conducted on March 27, 2006. A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to approve the minutes of March 27, 2006 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 7 City Council Regular and Special Session, April 10, 2006 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. 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 Woods, 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 7:32 p.m. 8