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CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND REGULAR SESSION
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2004
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD.
5:30 P.M.
The City Council convened in Workshop and Regular Session in the Municipal Building
Council Chambers (3800 University Blvd.) on October 25, 2004, with the following
members present: Mayor Ballanfant presiding, Council Members Segal, Fogler and
Woods. The City Manager, City Secretary, Assistant City Manager/Public Works
Director, Police Chief, Parks and Recreation Director and Operations Superintendent
were also present. Council Member Farley arrived at 6:36 p.m.
The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code,
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Chapter 551, on the 21 day of October 2004 at 2:30 p.m.
Workshop Session (in the Bill Watson Conference Room)
A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Segal, to
change the order of the agenda items and to consider item #3 first.
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
?Master? Interlocal Cooperation Contract.
Matters related to a ?Master? Interlocal Cooperation Contract between the City of
Southside Place and the City of West University Place.
City Manager Michael Ross stated that the purpose of the Interlocal Agreement was to
formalize the agreements between West University Place and Southside Place relating to
governmental services. These services are building regulations, emergency medical
service and street sweeping.
The City Council discussed the delegation of authority by the West University liaison
under the contract and proposed changes to the annual payment schedule.
This item will be presented at the next regular session.
City Council Regular Session, October 25, 2004
Parks and Recreation Master Planning.
Matters related to Parks and Recreation Master Planning including all parks and
recreation areas in the City, conceptual plans, development and construction, outside
professional services, surveys, and the appointment of a Task Force.
Parks and Recreation Director Tim O?Connor presented an outline that identified needs
and significant considerations for parks and recreations in the City.
The City Council addressed each item on the outline and made changes to reflect their
opinions and ideas.
Scott Burdine, President of Tri-Sports, spoke to the Council about the Association?s need
for field space and the use of the Recreation Center athletic fields.
A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Fogler, to
recess the Workshop Session at 6:26 p.m.
Formal Session (in the Council Chambers)
Citizen Comments
Mayor Ballanfant invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come
forward as their names were called.
Mark Evans, 3601 Robinhood, requested that a permanent stop sign be installed on
Robinhood so that he would be allowed to keep his shrubs in the City?s right-of-way.
Ramsay Elder, 2821 Tangley, requested that the Council consider purchasing land for a
park in the East side of the City.
Dennis Ewbank, 4008 Rice, stated that he moved to West University because of the
strong deed restrictions. He requested that the current ordinance restricting chickens in
the City not be amended.
Sidewalks.
Matters related to sidewalks including change orders for Projects 1 and 2 and the use of
alternate materials.
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Ron Wicker reported that the City is nearing
the completion of Sidewalk Improvement Program, Project 1 in the original amount of
$767,715.00. Sidewalk Improvement Program, Project 2 was awarded in the amount of
$839,235.00. State law allows municipal contracts to be increased up to 25% of the
original contract amount. Because of the excellent unit prices received in these contracts,
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City Council Regular Session, October 25, 2004
staff feels that it is in the best interest of the City to extend the contract amount up to 23%.
This extension will allow the contractor to begin construction of the sidewalks on the north-
south streets in Priority Areas 7A and 7B.
A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Farley, to
approve Change Order No. 2, in the amount of $176,574.45, for additional sidewalks and
wheelchair ramps, increasing the total contract amount to $944,289.45 and to approve
Change Order No. 1, in the amount of $193,024.05, for additional sidewalks and
wheelchair ramps, increasing the total contract amount to $1,032,259.05.
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
Utility line relocation and discontinuation of service
.
Matters related to utility line relocation and an order to discontinue service from old
water and sewer lines.
Operations Superintendent Patrick Walters reported that the Public Works Department,
after several attempts to achieve voluntary relocation of services, is requesting
authorization to abandon all old mains, thereby terminating service to any properties that
may be connected to the soon to be abandoned mains. This is for all areas west of the Poor
Farm Ditch.
Public works employees have visited each property and verified the status of the
connection. Public Works employees also have attempted to communicate directly with
each property owner / resident and discuss the required relocation.
Fifteen residences have not completed relocation as of noon on October 18, 2004. Two are
elderly widows and one is disabled. Staff is working with these three toward providing
financial assistance. Staff has been unsuccessful at contacting the property owners at two
properties. Staff will continue this endeavor. One property is pending demolition within the
next two months. The remaining 11 property owners have expressed the desire for
additional time to allow them to acquire funding and to acquire contracts with plumbers.
A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Fogler, to
accept the Staff?s recommendation to approve the order modifying a proposal for
discontinuation of service from old water and sewer lines.
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City Council Regular Session, October 25, 2004
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
Chickens and other animals.
Matters related to chickens and other animals including Ordinance No. 1778.
The City Staff requested that this item be removed from the agenda at this time.
The City Council agreed.
City Council minutes.
Matters related to the minutes of the Regular Session conducted on October 4, 2004.
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Council Member Segal commented that the minutes of October 4 are correct as
presented but that he wanted to point out that he made a motion to request an agenda item
at the next meeting but withdrew that request later. He stated that he wanted the minutes
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of October 25 to reflect that the staff did not fail to present an agenda item.
A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Segal, to
approve the minutes as presented.
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
Intergovernmental & Infrastructure Issues; Staff or Council Report.
Matters relating to intergovernmental relations and agreements including negotiations,
extra jurisdictional meetings, regional issues, City of Houston Water Rate Increase,
Metropolitan Transit Authority agreements, infrastructure projects, drainage, flooding,
Kirby Drive construction, Center Point Energy Entex, gas rates and coalition, Cason
Street entrance to the West University Recreation Center, 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.
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City Council Regular Session, October 25, 2004
Mr. Ross reported that Center Point Energy would be installing two demonstration
streetlights in the esplanade of University Boulevard.
A motion was made by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Fogler, to
adjourn the Regular Session and reconvene in Workshop Session.
The City Council reconvened the Workshop Session in the Bill Watson Conference
Room at 7:10 p.m. They continued their discussion of the Parks and Recreation Master
Planning.
The City Council requested that the basketball court at Wier Park be placed on the next
agenda for discussion.
Rice Pocket Park.
Matters related to the Rice Pocket Park including the appointment of members and a
Council Liaison to the Task Force.
Mr. O?Connor reported that during the October 4, 2004 City Council Meeting, Council
discussed and voted on a motion to appoint six members to the Rice Pocket Park Task Force.
Those appointments are as follow: Brennan Reilly and Cheryl Hoyal ? Parks and
Recreation Board, Joni Fichter and Kim Wilson ? Friends of West University Place Parks
Fund, Inc., Stan McCandless ? West U Citizen and Tim O?Connor ? Staff Liaison.
A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Mayor Ballanfant, to appoint
Council Member Segal as the Council Liaison to the Rice Pocket Park Task Force.
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
A motion was made by Council Member Woods, seconded by Council Member Fogler, to
appoint Stan McCandless as Chair of the Rice Pocket Park Task Force.
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
City Manager.
Matters related to the evaluation, employment and duties of a public officer or employee.
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City Council Regular Session, October 25, 2004
A motion was made by Council Member Fogler, seconded by Council Member Farley, to
table consideration of this item until a future council meeting.
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
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 Woods, to adjourn. The
Council meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
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