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HomeMy WebLinkAbout071105R CC Min CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, JULY 11, 2005 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular and Workshop Session in the Municipal Building (3800 University Blvd.) on July 11, 2005, with the following members present: Mayor Ballanfant presiding, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle. The City Manager, City Attorney, Assistant City Secretary, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Fire Chief, Parks and Recreation Director, City Planner and Finance Director were also present. Council Member Cohen was absent. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, th Chapter 551, on the 7 day of July 2005 at 5:45 p.m. Formal Session (in the Council Chambers) Citizen Comments. No citizens wished to address the City Council at this time. Refunding bonds. Matters related to refunding bonds and issuance. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that the City may have an opportunity to refund outstanding revenue bond issues to reduce future debt service payments by as much as $105,000. This is a savings that is net of the cost of issuance. 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 $2.4 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 and help to maintain our outstanding bond ratings. The City?s Financial Advisor, Ryan O?Hara with RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc. presented an overview of the refinancing. Council Member Yehle inquired about the administrative costs associated with the refund. Mr. O?Hara stated that the administrative costs were approximately $120,000. City Council Regular Session, July 11, 2005 A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Woods, to authorize Staff and Dane Rauscher to proceed with preparing the 2005 Revenue Bond refunding as proposed. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Cohen Friends of West University Place Parks Fund. Matters related to the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund including Resolution No. 2005-05 appointing Susan Boyce as a member. Donna LaMond, Executive Director of the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, commented that the Friends would like for Council to consider appointing Susan Boyce as a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. A motion was made by Council Member Woods, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to approve Resolution No. 2005-05 appointing Susan Boyce to the Board of Directors of the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Cohen Parks and Recreation Master Planning Task Force. Matters related to the Parks and Recreation Master Planning Task Force including the appointment of a Task Force member and Council liaison. Tim O?Connor, Parks and Recreation Director commented that on January 10, 2005 Council appointed a twelve (12) member Park Master Planning Task Force. The ?make- up? of the Council appointments to the Task Force is as follows: 2 members from the West University Parks Board. 1 member from the Friends of West University Parks Inc. 1 member of the Senior Citizens Board. 2 City Council Regular Session, July 11, 2005 5 members to be appointed by Council. Council members? Fogler and Woods were selected to serve as Council Liaisons Parks and Recreation Director to serve as the City?s Staff Liaison. Mr. O?Connor stated that the Task Force currently has two vacancies on the Park Master Planning Task Force. The vacancies are Former Council Member Fogler and former Council Member Farley?s appointment, Mr. Frank Erzinger. Staff recommends that Council appoint a Council Liaison to replace former Council Member Fogler and an individual to replace Mr. Erzinger. After discussion of this item, the City Council agreed not to fill the vacancies or take any action at this time. National Incident Management System. Matters related to a National Incident Management System including Ordinance No. 1805 Mayor Ballanfant read the caption of Ordinance No. 1805 as follows: An ordinance relating to Homeland Security and the National Incident Management System; 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. 1805, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Fire Chief Steve Ralls reported that the National Emergency Incident Management System will provide a consistent nationwide approach for all government entities to work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents regardless of their size, cause or complexity. A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to adopt Ordinance No. 1805 on the second and final reading with an amendment to Section 7.021 changing the date to March 1, 2004. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Cohen 3 City Council Regular Session, July 11, 2005 Vehicle Exhaust Removal System. Matters related to a vehicle exhaust removal system including a bid received on June 27, 2005. Mr. Ralls reported that in 2004, in an effort to enhance Firefighter safety, the Fire Department applied for and received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the Department of Homeland Security. A portion of the grant included a vehicle exhaust removal system. The diesel exhaust fumes emitted from the Fire and EMS vehicles are toxic and known carcinogens. In March of 2005, City Council authorized acceptance of the Grant. Formal bid requests were sent out that met State and City Purchasing procedures and guidelines. The responses to the bid requests were opened on June 27, 2005. Air Cleaning Technologies submitted the only bid that was received by the City Secretary in the amount of $50,550. The Federal share is $45,495 (90%). The City share is $5,055 (10%). This proposal reflects the turnkey project cost. A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Segal, to award the bid and approve the purchase in the amount of $50,550 from Air Cleaning Technologies, Inc. for the purchase of a vehicle exhaust removal system. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Cohen Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. Matters related to self contained breathing apparatus including bids received on June 27, 2005. Mr. Ralls explained that a portion of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, as described above, also included replacement of all of the department?s Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). This purchase will ensure that West University Place Firefighters will have the best respiratory protection available to operate in most types of hazardous environments. Formal bid requests were sent out that met State and City Purchasing procedures and guidelines. The responses to the bid requests were opened on June 27, 2005. Municipal Emergency Services submitted the low bid in the amount of $46,622. The Federal share is $41,959.80 (90%). The City share is $4,622.20 (10%). This bid proposal is for 13 complete SCBA units. 4 City Council Regular Session, July 11, 2005 A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Woods, to award the bid and approve the purchase in the amount of $46,622 from Municipal Emergency Services, Inc. for the purchase of 13 self contained breathing apparatus. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Cohen City Council minutes Matters related to the minutes of the Regular Session conducted on June 27, 2005 and Special Session conducted on July 1, 2005. The City Council voted 4-0 to approve the minutes of the Regular Session on July 27, 2005 as amended and the minutes of the Special Session on July 1, 2005 as presented. 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. Mr. Ross reported that Metro City Construction LLP has begun work in the City on Nottingham and Wakeforest and will be proceeding over to Pittsburgh and Brompton. Council Member Segal stated that he wanted to echo the comments made by Mayor Ballanfant when he expressed his gratitude for the speed in which the City managed this change over of work from Contractor Technology, Ltd. Mr. Ross stated that it was an enormous combined effort between the Consulting Engineers, the Bonding Company, City Staff and the City Council. City Attorney Jim Dougherty stated that there was nothing new to discuss regarding Agenda Item No. 13 of the Workshop Session. The City Council did not meet in Workshop Session at this time. 5 City Council Regular Session, July 11, 2005 Adjournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Woods, to adjourn. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Cohen The Council meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m. 6