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HomeMy WebLinkAbout032904S CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2004 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 5:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Special Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers (3800 University Blvd.) on March 29, 2004, with the following members present: Mayor Ballanfant presiding, Council Members Segal, Farley and Woods. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Finance Director, Operations Superintendent, City Planner, Building Official, General Services Superintendent, Senior Services Manager, and Parks and Recreation Administrative Assistant were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, th Chapter 551, on the 26 day of March 2004 at 4:15 p.m. Priority Area 8. Matters related to Priority Area 8 including the final acceptance of the work. Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Ron Wicker reported that Bearden Contracting Company, prime contractor on the Infrastructure Improvements in Priority Area 8, has completed all work and has submitted a final payment request in the amount of $411,761.73. This project involved the reconstruction of water lines, sanitary sewer lines, storm sewer lines and streets in the area referred to as Priority Area 8. The original contract amount was $7,194,227.50, with the final contract amount of $7,787,955.50, which represents an increase of 8.25 percent over the original contract. Nine change orders were authorized to complete the project amounting to an additional $593,728. Mr. Wicker stated that a question was raised concerning liquidated damages on this project. The engineers have reviewed the project records and agree that with the additional days added due to change orders and City delays, the total contract period was calculated to be 1,127 days. With the ?Notice to Proceed? dated February 18, 2001, this means that the time ran out on March 21, 2003. Based on these facts, there would not be any liquidated damages. Chris Claunch, John Rudloff and Mike Vandewater from Claunch & Miller, Inc. were present at the meeting. A motion was made by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member Woods, to accept the work completed by Bearden Contracting Company and approve the final payment in the amount of $411,761.73. City Council Special Session, March 29, 2004 A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Fogler City Center pedestrian enhancement project. Matters related to the City Center pedestrian enhancement project, including the addition of Auden Avenue, from University Boulevard to Rice Boulevard in the project. City Manager Michael Ross reported that there has been a desire expressed to include Auden Avenue, from University Boulevard to Rice Boulevard, in the City Center Enhancement Project. The bid opening for the project is currently scheduled for April 8, 2004 and the project is scheduled to go to construction at the end of the school year. The City?s consultant, Tim Hansen, is ready to go to work on the Auden Avenue design with approval. The City of West University Place must pay all of the costs associated with the Auden Avenue design since Auden was not included in the original scope of the project. It is estimated that the consulting work will not exceed $15,000. Funds are available in the City Manager?s contingency fund to cover this expenditure. In order for the estimated $135,000 of construction improvements on Auden to be included in the TxDOT STEP grant project, the original bid must come in under the overall project budget by at least that amount. Staff intends to wait until the bids are opened and, if the bid has room left to accommodate the Auden improvements, Hansen will then be authorized to perform the design for submittal to TxDOT for inclusion in the project. A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Farley, to authorize City Manager to expend an amount not to exceed $15,000.00 with Tim Hansen Landscape Architect. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Fogler A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Farley, to switch the order of the agenda by considering item # 4 first and then # 3. 2 City Council Special Session, March 29, 2004 A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Fogler Parks and Recreation Director. Matters related to the appointment, employment, evaluation, and duties of a public officer or employee (Parks and Recreation Director). Closed Executive Session to be held under Section 551.074, Texas Government Code. The City Council convened in Executive Session at 5:45 p.m. The Executive Session closed at 5:50 p.m. and the City Council reconvened in open session. A motion was made by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member Woods, to approve the appointment made by the City Manager of Tim O?Connor as the Parks and Recreation Director. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal, Farley and Woods Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Member Fogler Council Member Fogler arrived at 5:55 p.m. Boards, commissions and committees. Matters related to boards, commissions and committees including discussion of goals and objectives, creation of goals and objectives for boards and commissions and related matters. The City Council heard reports from the following Boards and Commissions: John Neighbors, Senior Services Board Co-Chair reported on the meals on wheels program, the Good Neighbor Newsletter and the Good Neighbor Team. Mr. Neighbors commented that the Board would like to expand their activities in the Community Building if current activities were moved to the Recreation Center because the seniors liked the central location of the Community Building. 3 City Council Special Session, March 29, 2004 Orval Marlow, Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board Chair, reported that the Board would like to increase recycling through education and is considering curbside heavy trash pickup. He stated that the vouchers for disposal of hazardous waste would expire soon and more would need to be purchased. They are also trying to increase recycling with the West University Little League and Tri-Sports. Mark Plagens, Chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, reported on the numerous variance requests that have come before the Board. Bryant Slimp, Chair of the Building and Standards Commission, reported that the Commission was working on four goals assigned to them by the City Council. They are reviewing foundation codes and practices, building codes and uniformity, building materials and retention of old stock houses. Ned Ross, Chair of the Zoning and Planning Commission, reported that the Commission is evaluating the zoning of commercial areas to allow or facilitate redevelopment, rebuilding or remodeling. They are also evaluating the 80% framed area, side setbacks and garage requirements. Walter Kronzer, Vice-Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board, reported that the Board would be transitioning with the new Parks and Recreation Director and working on programs for the Recreation Center. A survey to the residents will be sent out in the near future. He stated that they have reviewed the designs for the Rice Pocket Park and have eliminated all but four designs. Council Member Farley suggested a task force for the possibility of creating a dog park. Denis Powers, a member of the Drainage Committee, updated the Council on the drainage and flooding control project. The City Council and Staff reviewed their goals and objectives. These items will be presented with further details in the future. 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 Farley, to adjourn. The Council meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m. 4