Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout052002S CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, MAY 20, 2002 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Special Session in the Municipal Building Conference Room (3800 University Blvd.) on May 20, 2002, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Public Works Director, Police Captain, Parks and Recreation Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, th Chapter 551, on the 17 day of May 2002 at 4:00 p.m. Colonial Park redevelopment. Matters related to the bids received for the redevelopment of Colonial Park, including funding, utilities and an agreement with the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund. Parks and Recreation Director Mark Mailes presented the results of the bids for the redevelopment of Colonial Park. Representatives from Reliant Energy-Entex Charles Langford, Stephen Greenley and Tal Centers were present at the meeting and presented a report regarding the abandonment of the deep well ground bed that was installed in 1977. Council Member Griffin asked Mr. Langford why they recently capped the ground bed if there are no emissions and it is considered dead. Mr. Langford stated capping was a normal procedure. Entex decided to disconnect this ground bed from their system and relocate to a new location yet to be determined. The equipment has been removed from the park and the bed is no longer active and there will be no reaction from the system. A representative from Entex assured the City Council that if any part of the anode were left in the ground, they would assume any liability. The City Council discussed the relocation of the utility lines and who was responsible for funding. This item is on the Regular Session for formal consideration. Survey relating to building standards. Matters related to a citizen survey regarding building standards including cost estimates. City Council Special Session, May 20, 2002 City Manager Sherman Yehl reported that the Building Standards Commission, at their May 2, 2002 meeting, voted to request that City Council establish funding for a survey to solicit selected citizens input on the quality of materials used in the construction of the homes they have purchased. That request was presented to City Council at the meeting of May 13. Surveys are an excellent way to solicit opinions and comments from residents. However, in order for surveys to be valid, they must be free from bias. In addition to identifying when to survey, the survey administrator needs to know, in particular, what to ask and how to ask. The draft survey provided by the BSC, at first review, appears to be very biased in its format. It is suggested that the survey be redrafted and pretested before use. Staff estimates the cost between $3,000 ? $4,000. Mr. Yehl stated that the Staff is recommending that council approve a budget of $3,500 to fund a survey prepared by staff that will solicit valid responses from affected residents. It is staff?s recommendation that should the City Council desire to conduct a survey on behalf of the BSC that a budget of up to $4,000 be approved and staff authorized to work with the BSC in preparing a survey instrument. Les Albin, a member of the Building and Standards Commission was present at the meeting and fielded questions from Council on the intent of the survey. The City Council agreed to fund the survey but would like the final draft to be submitted to Council before distributing and prior to spending money. Report on tree damage on Werlein and Tangley. Matters related to a report regarding tree damage in Priority Areas 7B and 8. Mr. Yehl presented the following status report concerning alleged tree damage due to infrastructure construction at 2720 Werlein and 3421 Tangley (Priority area 7B and 8). 3421 Tangley ? 36? diameter Live Oak . During installation of a handicap ramp on the south-east corner of Tangley and Sewanee a number of roots were cut or damaged. One root that measured approximately 3? diameter and several roots less than 1? diameter were cut. A larger root was also damaged. This is not, in the opinion of the urban forester, a significant amount of root loss and the tree should not be impacted. However, since we are going into the summer months, dry weather root stimulation has been scheduled for May 17, 2002. Construction will continue on the handicap ramp with a few alterations in design. 2720 Werlein ? 17? & 15? diameter Pecans. During the excavation of the old street and driveway approaches the contractor damaged tree roots past the zero curb cut line. Forestry Associates, Inc. inspected the damage and issued the attached recommendations. 2 City Council Special Session, May 20, 2002 Forestry Associates? findings indicate that this damage should not kill the tree but may cause some twig dieback. Recommendations include root stimulation and monitoring of trees for any signs of stress. The contractor was informed on April 26, 2002 in writing of their responsibility to mitigate damages to the trees. The contractor has informed staff that the mitigation is scheduled to be completed on May 17, 2002. City Council Procedural rules. Matters related to a draft of City Council procedural rules. The City Council requested that an ordinance be prepared for the next regular session adopting the procedural rules. The City Council recessed the Special Session at 7:27 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. The Special Session reconvened at 8:46 p.m. Report from Zoning and Planning Commission. Matters related to a report from members of the Zoning and Planning Commission regarding set back requirements and other items addressed by the Commission. Chair of the Zoning and Planning Commission Charles Nelson addressed the progress regarding the set back requirements. He stated that Council Member Griffin had initiated this topic and ZPC members Stephen Pohl and Mary Nelson were the ones taking the lead of this item. Mr. Nelson reported that the general consensus of the community is one of privacy over safety. A final report will be submitted in the near future. Council Member Griffin requested that she be involved in any future committee meetings to discuss this item since Chairman Nelson appointed her to the committee at a previous ZPC meeting along with requesting involvement with the Fire Department. Report from Board or Commission Liaisons. The City Council reported on Board or Commission meetings attended by the liaisons. Council Member Jackson reported that the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund hired an Executive Director and she will be starting June 19, 2002. Inquiries, requests and complaints. 3 City Council Special Session, May 20, 2002 The City Council reviewed matters received from the public and referred them to the appropriate department or will place them on a future agenda for consideration or action. Matters related to the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment or duties of a public officer or employee. a. Appointment of member to the Zoning and Planning Commission b. Appointment of interim City Manager Closed Executive Session to be held under Section 551.074, Texas Government Code. The City Council convened in Executive Session at 9:10 p.m. The City Council closed the Executive Session at 10:05 p.m. and reconvened in special session. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member May, to appointment Michael Ross as the Interim City Manager. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None Proposals from Executive recruitment firms. Matters related to Request for Proposals received from executive recruitment firms. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Griffin, to table this item. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: Council Member Farley Absent: None Adjournment. 4 City Council Special Session, May 20, 2002 With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley, to adjourn. The Special Session adjourned at 10:06 p.m. 5