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HomeMy WebLinkAbout021405R CC Min CITY COUNCIL REGULAR AND WORKSHOP SESSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2005 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:00 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular and Workshop Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on February 14, 2005, with the following members present: Mayor Ballanfant presiding, Council Members Segal, Farley, Fogler and Woods. The City Manager, City Secretary, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Finance Director, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Parks and Recreation Director and Risk Manager were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, th Chapter 551, on the 10 day of February 2005 at 4:55 p.m. Workshop Session (in the Conference Room) Parks and Recreation Master Planning. Matters related to Parks and Recreation Master Planning with members of the Parks and Recreation Master Planning Task Force for discussion of all parks and recreation areas in the City, conceptual plans, development and construction, outside professional services, guidelines for Task Force members and surveys. Members of the Parks and Recreation Master Planning Task Force introduced themselves. Present at the meeting were Chairperson Nina Springer, Greg Jarvie, John Vogel, Russ Schulze, Rhia Perkins and Cindy Hassler. The City Council and the Task Force discussed guidelines and goals and objectives for the Master Planning project. The Task Force?s primary scope of responsibility is as follows: A) Review the existing 2000 Park Master Plan, 2001 Colonial Park Design Development report and the 2000 Assessment of Parks and Recreation Needs in West University Place. B) Explore opportunities and develop recommendations for improving the existing parks system. C) Examine the potential growth and re-development of the city over the next 5 to 10 years, and assess where additional parkland and recreational facilities need to be located, and which types of facilities are most needed. D) Prioritize key recommendations of the Parks Master Plan so that the most significant deficiencies are addressed as quickly as possible. City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 E) Determine what outside professional resources may be needed to facilitate the West University Place Parks Master Plan. F) Identify and meet with special interest ?Focus Groups?, who need to be given the opportunity to provide input regarding the facilities and amenities to be considered/incorporated in the re-development of existing facilities and in the development of new facilities. G) Identify potential funding sources for the implementation and management of the Parks Master Plan. H) Present a draft of the Task Force recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Board, the Friends of West University Parks Fund and the Senior Services Board for review and comment. Following Task Force considerations of any such comments, present final Task Force recommendations and proposals to Council. The City Council recessed the Workshop Session at 6:30 p.m. The City Council reconvened in Formal Session at 6:35 p.m. Formal Session (in the Council Chambers) Employee Benefits . Matters related to employee benefits including participation in an exploratory insurance pool and the preparation of a letter to C-CBS (City-County Benefit Services) authorizing the City's participation in the exploratory RFP process in the amount of $2,500. Risk Manager Wendy Standorf reported that the Staff is interested in looking at alternatives to the health insurance programs and contacted the Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC) to see if they had any type of program in place through their cooperative purchasing agreement and if they could recommend a consultant. They indicated that while they did not have this type of program in place, they would be interested in exploring the opportunity. They also recommended City County Benefit Services (C- CBS) as a consultant who is the consulting firm they use for their benefits and they are extremely familiar with the needs of political subdivisions. Bob Treacy from C-CBS was present at the meeting to answer questions. The initial process is an exploratory process, which includes requesting proposals from insurance carriers. Pooling is a relatively new concept for the insurance carriers. While they are familiar with writing insurance documents with large corporations that have satellite offices, a pooling of individual political subdivisions is a new concept in which they are interested. It is the Staff?s belief that a larger pool will result in lower more stable healthcare costs. Should the exploratory request for proposals (RFP) results determine that our City would get 2 City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 a better medical insurance package (price and benefits), staff would recommend participating in the interlocal pool. C-CBS will provide overall leadership and a lead advisory role for steering this exploratory development process, which includes: 1. Strategy development for positioning the HGAC-R1 Cooperative in the most favorable light to qualified group medical carriers such as Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, and United Healthcare. 2. Assist all member entities with data formatting for group risk evaluation. 3. Develop an RFP for Group medical coverage. 4. Monitor the RFP process. 5. Provide detailed RFP evaluation to determine probability of continuing. 6. Assist Board members with Council presentations for awarding a Group Medical Contract if an HGAC-R1 contract is finalized and awarded by the Board. The City Council asked numerous questions regarding the City?s participation in the pooling. A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Segal, to authorize the City Manager to forward a letter, after review by the City Attorney, and expend $2,500 to C-CBS, who will be acting as the Agent of Record on behalf of the HGAC-R1 Insurance Pooling RFP exploratory process. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley, Fogler and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: None Refunding bonds. Matters related to refunding bonds and issuance. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that the City may have an opportunity to refund portions of several outstanding bond issues to reduce future debt service payments by as much as $1 million. The recent upturn in interest rates has not precluded the City from issuing refunding bonds. A higher interest rate allows the City a greater yield on funds invested in escrow accounts used to liquidate future debt service payments. The City?s Financial Advisor, Frank Ildebrando with RBC Dane Rauscher, Inc., was present at the meeting. He recommended that the City consider issuing approximately 3 City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 $28 million in refunding bonds, the proceeds of which would be used to call outstanding bonds or be placed in escrow to defease future debt service payments. Based on analysis provided by RBC Dane Rauscher, Inc., the City could save as much as $1 million in future debt service payments, a savings of approximately 3% of the net present value of current debt service. In the past, the City has used a threshold of approximately 2% to establish the viability of refunding proposals. Additionally, while refunding the City?s revenue bonds will not result in a significant reduction in debt service, it would eliminate the need to reserve about $2.7 million for future debt service by replacing the reserve requirements with a surety bond. The elimination of these reserve requirements will improve the City?s financial position. A motion was made by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member Segal, to authorize Staff and Dane Rauscher to initiate the process to issue refunding bonds. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley, Fogler and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: None Side and rear yard projections (calling joint public hearing). Matters related to side and rear yard projections including Ordinance No. 1781. Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1781 as follows: An ordinance calling a Joint Public Hearing on a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas, regarding side and rear yard projections; prescribing procedures and notices; containing findings and provisions relating to the subject; and declaring an emergency Copies of Ordinance No. 1781, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Ron Wicker stated that this proposal is to amend the zoning ordinance pertaining to buildings that project into the side and rear yards and the location and height of mechanical equipment in said yards. Table 7-6, Projection Schedule allows buildings to project into these yards. Certain conditions must be met for these projections to be allowed. One such condition is that there is no window, door or opening (except for opaque, non-operable openings or skylights) above the ground floor within 10 feet of another building site. This has been interpreted that it includes within 10 feet; the Zoning and Planning Commission (ZPC) any window 4 City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 believes that the intent was only to regulate windows that actually face the adjacent properties. In the past this has restricted windows on the front of garages. These windows are often needed for emergency egress. A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Segal, to adopt Ordinance No. 1781 calling a Joint Public Hearing on the proposal to amend the zoning ordinance relating to side and rear yard projections. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley, Fogler and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: None Old Stock housing (calling joint public hearing). Matters related to old stock housing including Ordinance No. 1782 Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1782 as follows: An ordinance calling a Joint Public Hearing on a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas, regarding old stock housing; prescribing procedures and notices; containing findings and provisions relating to the subject; and declaring an emergency Copies of Ordinance No. 1782, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mr. Wicker reported that earlier this year City Council asked the Building and Standards Commission to investigate the preservation of ?old stock housing,? which generally means smaller homes older than 40 years. After their initial review, a report was forwarded to the ZPC. The ZPC decided that the most beneficial way to preserve ?old stock housing? was to grant more flexible criteria for an applicant to be granted a variance to remodel, or enlarge one of these old stock homes. In addition, the ZPC is recommending allowing special exceptions in regard to side and rear yards (setbacks) and the open area requirement on these existing home sites. Council Member Woods commented that he thought the language in the proposed amendment was vague. A motion was made by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member Fogler, to adopt Ordinance No.1782 calling a Joint Public Hearing on the proposal to amend the zoning ordinance and Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances relating to old-stock housing. 5 City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley and Fogler Voting Nay: Council Member Woods Absent: None Parking and uses (calling joint public hearing). Matters related to parking and uses including Ordinance No. 1783 Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1783 as follows: An ordinance calling a Joint Public Hearing on a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas, regarding parking and uses; prescribing procedures and notices; containing findings and provisions relating to the subject; and declaring an emergency Copies of Ordinance No. 1783, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mr. Wicker reported that this proposal is to update the zoning ordinance relating to uses (especially ones requiring special exceptions) and parking requirements. This proposal would: 1. Confirm that certain uses (e.g. schools, places of worship) may be located anywhere in the city. 2. Require special exceptions where there is a ?high density occupancy? which is defined to include gatherings that cause traffic impediments. 3. Allow the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) to issue special exceptions for private schools on split sites (partly in C districts). 4. Provide updated and more flexible parking regulations for institutions (e.g. community center, library school places of worship). 5. Allow more joint use of off-street parking spaces, with ZBA approval. 6. Allow above-grade parking in the C district, with ZBA approval and update and revise related wording in the Zoning Ordinance. A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Woods, to adopt Ordinance No. 1783 calling a Joint Public Hearing on the proposal to amend the zoning ordinance relating to uses and parking. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: 6 City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley, Fogler and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: None Trees (calling joint public hearing). Matters related to trees including Ordinance No. 1784. Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1784 as follows: An ordinance calling a Joint Public Hearing on a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas, regarding qualified trees; prescribing procedures and notices; containing findings and provisions relating to the subject; and declaring an emergency Copies of Ordinance No. 1784, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mr. Wicker stated that last year, during the review of Chapter 22, ?Urban Forest Preservation and Enhancement,? a recommendation was made to require one qualified tree in the front yard on building sites. This was a requirement several years ago in the original tree regulations. A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Segal, to adopt Ordinance No.1784 calling a Joint Public Hearing on the proposal to amend the zoning ordinance regarding qualified trees. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley, Fogler and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: None Planned development districts (calling joint public hearing). Matters related to planned development districts including Ordinance No. 1785. Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1785 as follows: An ordinance calling a Joint Public Hearing on a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas, regarding planned development districts; prescribing procedures and notices; containing findings and provisions relating to the subject; and declaring an emergency 7 City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 Copies of Ordinance No. 1785, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Mr. Wicker reported that last year, City Council requested that the Zoning and Planning Commission (ZPC) investigate redevelopment regulations in commercial districts. The ZPC determined that by allowing more flexible rules for planned development districts (PDD?s), it might encourage redevelopment in commercial areas. The proposal would allow the possibility of zero front yard setbacks in the commercial district, allow two or more owners in the C district to join together to apply for a PDD (currently all the land must be owned by one person), and would modify the square footage requirements for the smallest PDD?s. The possible zero front yard setbacks could encourage pedestrian oriented buildings built adjacent to the sidewalk. Allowing two or more owners to join in on the PDD makes sense in a community like West University Place where most commercial building sites are small and could not meet the squarefootage requirement. The square footage requirement was updated to reflect this possible joining of building sites. A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Farley, to adopt Ordinance No. 1785 calling a Joint Public Hearing on the proposal to amend the zoning ordinance relating to planned development districts. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley, Fogler and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: None Depth and width measurements (calling joint public hearing). Matters related to depth and width measurements including Ordinance No. 1786. Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1786 as follows: An ordinance calling a Joint Public Hearing on a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas, regarding depth and width measurements; prescribing procedures and notices; containing findings and provisions relating to the subject; and declaring an emergency Copies of Ordinance No. 1786, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. This proposal is to amend the definitions of ?depth? and ?width? in Article 2 of the Zoning Ordinance. The purpose of this amendment is to facilitate the acceptance of the nominal site dimensions from a recorded plat by the building official. Due to latter 8 City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 surveys showing actual dimensions to be a few inches different from the platted dimensions, building sites were being put into non-compliance. This proposal will also decrease the number of cases sent to the Zoning Board of Adjustment when the latter surveys place their building sites in violation of the zoning ordinance by not meeting minimum size requirements. A motion was made by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member Fogler, to adopt Ordinance No. 1786 calling a Joint Public Hearing on the proposal to amend the zoning ordinance relating to depth and width measurements. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley, Fogler and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: None The City Council recessed at 7:35 p.m. and reconvened at 7:37 p.m. Parks and Recreation Master Planning. Matters related to Parks and Recreation Master Planning including the role of the council liaison, appointment or re-appointment of a council liaison. The City Council discussed the role of a Council Liaison and their performing according to the Council?s directive. Council Member Farley commented that he felt a Task Force should report to the Council as a whole and not have a designated council liaison. A motion was made by Council Member Farley to withdraw the nomination of Council Members Fogler and Woods as the Council Liaisons to the Parks and Recreation Master Planning Task Force. After further discussion and because of a lack of a second, Council Member Farley withdrew his motion. Members of the City Council agreed that the Task Force is a voting nine-member board and the Council liaisons would not vote. The Liaison would not be an active participant in the process so the integrity of the citizen Task Force would be preserved. City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular Session conducted on January 28, 2005 9 City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Farley, to approve the minutes as amended. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley and Fogler Voting Nay: Council Member Woods 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. The City Council requested that the Staff bring a revised agreement with MSC Properties for the lease or sale of the Westpark Property. City Manager Michael Ross reported that Center Point Energy would be installing demo street lights in the City Center on Wednesday. Council Member Farley left the meeting at 8:00 p.m. The City Council recessed the Regular Session at 8:00 p.m. and reconvened in Workshop Session in the Bill Watson Conference Room at 8:03 p.m. Matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property for park purposes in the area of West University Place First or Second Addition (Area East of Poor Farm Ditch; South of University Boulevard; West of Wakeforest and North of Holcombe). 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 (Chapter 551.072 of the Texas Government Code) under which the meeting would be held. After the announcement, the City Council conducted a closed, executive session beginning at 8:03 p.m. 10 City Council Regular and Workshop Session, February 14, 2005 After the closed, executive session, the Mayor announced, in open session, that the City Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 8:35 p.m. A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Fogler, to authorize the City Manager to bring offers for the purchase of additional park land in the subject area. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Fogler and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Farley Adjournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Segal, to adjourn. The Council meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m. 11