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CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2005
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD.
5:00 P.M.
The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building (3800
University Blvd.) on December 5, 2005, with the following members present: Mayor Pro
Tem Cohen presiding, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle. The City Manager,
City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Finance
Director, City Planner, Fire Chief, Police Chief and Assistant to the City Manager were
also present.
The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code,
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Chapter 551, on the 30 day of November 2005 at 1:00 p.m.
Formal Session (in the Conference Room)
Citizen Comments.
Mayor Pro Tem Cohen invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come
forward as their names were called.
Ramsay Elder, 2821 Tangley, reminded the Council that over the last ten years, looking at
the Capital Improvement Plan relating to Parks, 94% of the dollar value has gone to the
West side of the City. At the same time if you look at property tax revenue over 60% of
the tax payments are made by residents East of Poor Farm Ditch. He asked the Council to
make the purchase of park space on the East side a priority.
Mayor Ballanfant arrived at 5:30 p.m.
Municipal Wireless and Broadband Projects.
Matters related to municipal wireless and broadband projects.
City Manager Michael Ross stated that one of the Council?s goals was to evaluate WiFi
and see if it will be feasible for West University and in what form. He introduced Bryan
Thompson, President and CEO of RedMoon Broadband.
Mr. Thompson stated that RedMoon specializes in WIFI projects and has some
experience with municipalities. He provided some information on the service and
potential user rates. Mr. Thompson stated that to place an umbrella over the whole city
would be between $275,000 and $300,000.
City Council Regular Session, December 5, 2005
The City Staff stated that the WiFi system could be used to read meters and provide better
and quicker access to data for safety applications.
The City Council asked questions about a feasibility study and a city survey to determine
if such a system is economically viable.
Mr. Thompson stated that the cost of a feasibility study could be between $5,000 and
$15,000. The study would be at no cost to the City unless the Council decides to use the
study to solicit other bids or proposals.
The City Council requested that Mr. Thompson provide more information on costs
associated with a feasibility study at the next meeting.
Zoning and Planning Commission.
Matters related to the Zoning and Planning Commission including Resolution No. 2005-
14 appointing members.
A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Segal, to
approve Resolution No. 2005-14 appointing the following members to the Zoning and
Planning Commission:
Steve Brown Position 1, Chair
Jeffrey Horowitz Position 2, Vice Chair
Beth Beloff Position 3
Les Albin Position 4
Robert Inaba Position 5
Michael Silver Position 6
Mac McManus Position 7
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
Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Matters related to the Zoning Board of Adjustment including Resolution No. 2005-15
appointing members.
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City Council Regular Session, December 5, 2005
A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to
approve Resolution No. 2005-15 appointing the following members to the Zoning Board
of Adjustment:
James Jordan Position 1, Chair
Richard J. Wilson Position 2, Vice Chair
Jeann Howse Position 3
Mark Plagens Position 4
Frank Vargas Position 5
Stephen Stewart Alternate A
David Theis Alternate B
Vacant Alternate C
Vacant Alternate D
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
Building and Standards Commission.
Matters related to the Building and Standards Commission including Resolution No.
2005-16 appointing members.
A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to
approve Resolution No. 2005-16 appointing the following members to the Building and
Standards Commission:
Bryant Slimp Position 1, Chair
David Flame Position 2, Vice Chair
Brian Hoogendam Position 3
Peter Benjamin Position 4
J. Denis Powers Position 5
Dave Miller Alternate A
Michael Talianchich Alternate B
Muddy McDaniel Alternate C
Kevin McMahon Alternate D
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
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City Council Regular Session, December 5, 2005
Absent: None
Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board.
Matters related to the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board including Resolution
No. 2005-17 appointing members.
A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to
approve Resolution No. 2005-17 appointing the following members to the Recycling and
Solid Waste Reduction Board:
Orval Marlow Position 1, Chair
Steve Stelzer Position 2, Vice Chair
April Rapier Position 3
Mark Gandy Position 4
Michael Connolly Position 5
Yvonne Jacobs Position 6
Lawrence Selna Position 7
Darrell Wachel Position 8
Jan Kellogg Position 9
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
Senior Services Board.
Matters related to Senior Services Board including Resolution No. 2005-18 appointing
members.
A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to
approve Resolution No. 2005-18 appointing the following members to the Senior
Services Board:
Stan McCandless Position 1, Co-Chair
John Neighbors Position 2, Co-Chair
Betty Aillet Position 3
Maureen Beck Position 4
Joseph Graf Position 5
Mary Lee Gray Position 6
Joan Johnson Position 7
Carolyn Sacchi Position 8
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City Council Regular Session, December 5, 2005
Vacant Position 9
Jo Lukens Position 10
Lyndon McKnight Position 11
Vacant Position 12
Mary Ryerson Position 13
Elizabeth Young Position 14
Cathy Wright Position 15
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
Municipal Court Personnel.
Matters related to municipal court personnel including Resolution No. 2005-19
appointing Judges and Deputy Court Clerks.
A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to
approve Resolution No. 2005-19 appointing the following Municipal Court Personnel:
Candelario Elizondo Presiding Judge (Division 1)
Robert Loper Associate Judge (Division 3)
Gail L. Akins Deputy Court Clerk
Maria L. Morris Deputy Court Clerk
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
Parks and Recreation Board.
Matters related to the Parks and Recreation Board including Resolution No. 2005-20
appointing members.
A motion was made by Council Member Yehle, seconded by Council Member Cohen, to
approve Resolution No. 2005-20 appointing the following members to the Parks and
Recreation Board:
Joni Fichter Position 1
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City Council Regular Session, December 5, 2005
David Stephan Position 2, Chair
Janine Schueppert Position 3, Vice Chair
Paul Brace Position 4
Laura Theis Position 5
Helen Talianchich Position 6
Mardi Turner Position 7
Charles May Position 8
Vacant Position 9
Council Member Segal requested that Position 1, which is a representative from the
Friends of West University Parks Fund Board, be left vacant until that Board has a chance
to recommend someone for that position.
Council Member Yehle agreed to withdraw Position 1 from his motion.
The City Council agreed to leave Position 1 vacant at this time.
A vote was taken on the amended motion with the following result:
Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Cohen, Segal, Woods
and Yehle
Voting Nay: None
Absent: None
Infrastructure work in Priority Areas 9, 10, and 11B.
Matters related to infrastructure work in Priority Areas 9, 10 and 11B including
authorizing and approving an agreement with St. Paul Travelers, related contracts,
agreements, surety bonds, completion, phasing, planning, etc.
The City Council agreed to allow City Manager Michael Ross, City Secretary Kaylynn
Holloway, City Attorney Jim Dougherty, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
Ron Wicker, Consulting Engineer Steve Ratcliff and Legal Counsel David Elder 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 551.071 Texas Government Code.
After the announcement, the City Council conducted a closed, executive session
beginning at 6:05 p.m.
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City Council Regular Session, December 5, 2005
After the closed, executive session, the Mayor announced, in open session, that the City
Council had concluded its closed, executive session at 6:35 p.m.
Mayor Ballanfant called for a motion.
A motion was made by Council Member Cohen, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to
authorize the City Manager in conjunction with the Legal Counsel to contact the Bonding
Company to give them a date to respond to the City Council with an offer and to inform
them that if there is no response the City will proceed with further alternatives to suggest
to them that they comply with the Bond.
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
3936 Marlowe Street; Weslayan Street.
Matters related to 3936 Marlowe Street (Peden property) and Weslayan Street (from
Bissonnet Street to Bellaire Boulevard), including easement or right-of-way matters,
house under construction, legal defense, permits, administrative proceedings, pending or
contemplated litigation or a settlement offer, and purchase, exchange, lease or value
of real property and related issues.
This item was not considered during this meeting.
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 during this meeting.
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City Council Regular Session, December 5, 2005
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 Segal, 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 6:36 p.m.
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