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HomeMy WebLinkAbout070802R CC Min CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, JULY 8, 2002 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building Conference Room (3800 University Blvd.) on July 8, 2002, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson. The City Manager, City Secretary, Public Works Director, Finance Director, Building Official, Operations Superintendent and General Services Superintendent were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, nd Chapter 551, on the 2 day of July 2002 at 4:00 p.m. Informal Session, Bill Watson Conference Room Z&PC Appointment. Matters related to the appointment, evaluation and duties of a public officer(member to the Zoning and Planning Commission) Closed Executive Session held under Section 551.074, Texas Government Code. The City Council convened in Executive Session at 6:36 p.m. The City Council closed the Executive Session at 6:55 p.m. and reconvened in open session. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Jackson, to authorize the City Secretary to prepare a Resolution for consideration at the next regular session appointing Steve Stewart to the Zoning and Planning Commission. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None Abstain: Council Members Farley and Griffin The motion passed. City Council Regular Session, July 8, 2002 Sales tax. Matters related sales taxes, including a report from staff. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that every two years it is necessary to review sales tax revenues to insure that sales tax collected in West University is properly allocated by the State and credited to West U. As businesses apply for Sales Tax permits from the State they often list their addresses as being in the City of Houston. This results in the sales taxes that they collect being forwarded to the City of Houston. The Finance Department requested a list of sales tax permit holders located in the 77005 and 77025 zip codes. When the City received the list, the Staff identified businesses that were physically in West U, but had Houston listed as the jurisdiction. Mr. Thomas stated that of the 3,303 businesses listed, 259 of them appear to be incorrectly assigned to jurisdictions other than West U including Einstein Acquisition Corporation, JMH Market & Café, Inc., Meineke Discount Muffler and Whole Food Market. Of the 259 sales tax payers located in West U, 16 have gone out of business. The State has been contacted and they will contact the businesses to verify their location. Once this process is complete, the State will remit the sales taxes paid by the businesses in West U. The amount of additional sales tax could be more than $25,000. City Council meetings. Matters related to the City Council meetings, including meeting room facility and time of meetings. The City Council and Staff discussed conducting their meetings in one room instead of changing rooms between formal and informal sessions. The City Council agreed that the next meeting would be posted as convening in the Council Chambers beginning at 6:30 p.m. Report from Board or Commission Liaisons. The City Council reported on Board or Commission meetings attended by the liaisons. Council Member Farley reported that the Drainage Committee would be presenting a recommendation to the Council at the first meeting in August. Mayor Lewis reported that the Public Safety Board addressed speed limits around the city center and concerns regarding visibility triangles. She stated that the traffic consultant suggested that signage was all that could be done to address traffic problems on Weslayan. The Board was also designing a pilot program to address on-street parking. 2 City Council Regular Session, July 8, 2002 Inquiries, requests and complaints. 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. The City Council recessed the Informal Session at 7:19 p.m. to convene in Formal Session in the Council Chambers. Formal Session, Council Chambers Citizen Comments. Mayor Lewis invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. David Rosenthal, 2611 Cason, stated that he was having problems and was upset with the infrastructure improvements around his home. He commented that the road was put in lower and the sidewalk was inaccessible for a handicap person. Official newspaper. Matters related to newspapers, including the second reading of Ordinance No. 1713. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1713 as follows: An ordinance designating an official newspaper of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions related to the subject Copies of Ordinance No. 1713, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. The four bids received are as follows: Bidder Ad amount Cost per word West University Examiner $ 12.28 $.045 st Village News $ 40.54 $4. for 1 10 words & $.14/add?l words Houston Business Journal $255.00 $.62 Houston Chronicle $658.68 flat rate; $463.98/$10,000 contract $53.46 ?This Week? $.197 A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member May, to nd approve the 2 and final reading of Ordinance No. 1713. 3 City Council Regular Session, July 8, 2002 Council Member Griffin requested that the Council make a motion to reconsider this item and go back to the low bid. She reminded the Council that they are responsible for the finances of the citizens of West University and to take the third highest bid for a legal notice is not acting responsible. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member Farley, to reconsider the item appointing an official newspaper. Mayor Lewis stated that she would vote on each motion separately. She called for a vote on the first motion made by Council Member Jackson. Council Member Farley stated that Ordinance No. 1713 did not designate which newspaper was being considered. Mayor Lewis agreed and asked Council Member Jackson to amend his motion. Council Member Griffin stated that her motion to reconsider should be voted on first since Council Member Jackson?s motion needed to be amended. Mayor Lewis called for a vote on Council Member Griffin?s motion. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Council Members Farley and Griffin Voting Nay: Mayor Lewis Council Members May and Jackson Absent: None The motion failed. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Jackson, to adopt Ordinance No. 1713 on the second and final reading appointing the Chronicle ?This Week Section? as the official newspaper. Council Member Farley commented that the Council has taken a rather torturous path to accept a bid that is 4-½ times the cost of the lowest bid. He stated that he concurs with Council Member Griffin?s earlier statement that it is a flagrant waste of money and an act of silliness on the Council?s part. Council Member Jackson stated that he objected to those comments because the Council is now going through a rather intensive profile to hire a City Manager simply for someone?s education, which he did not feel was necessary. Council Member Griffin stated to Mayor Lewis that she has a duty to call Council Member Jackson?s comment down under the new rules adopted by the City Council. 4 City Council Regular Session, July 8, 2002 Mayor Lewis called for a vote on the motion. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May and Jackson Voting Nay: Council Members Farley and Griffin Absent: None The motion was approved. The Houston Chronicle This Week is the official newspaper of the City. Bid received for purchase of refuse truck. Matters related to a refuse collection truck, including a bid received on June 27, 2002 for purchasing a truck. Public Works Director Ron Willen reported that one bid was received for the replacement of a 1988 refuse collection truck from Longhorn International Trucks. Other manufacturers did not respond to the advertisement. Mr. Willen stated that HGAC has a standing contract for refuse collection trucks where a similar vehicle could be purchased. The HGAC vendors do not provide vehicles that meet our specs in regard to the maximum height and minimum yardage requirements. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member Jackson, to authorize the purchase of a refuse truck from Longhorn International Equipment, Inc. in the amount of $147,019.00. 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 City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular and Special Sessions conducted on June 24, 2002. th Council Member Griffin was absent at the June 24 meeting and abstained from voting on the minutes. She filed an affidavit with the City Secretary. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member May, to approve the minutes as presented. 5 City Council Regular Session, July 8, 2002 A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None Abstain: Council Member Griffin Staff Report. Interim City Manager Michael Ross reported that the City was working with the City of Bellaire to prepare and send out requests for proposals for the use of the Ruffino Road facility. Mr. Ross presented the new door hangers that will be used to improve communication with residents. Council comments. Council Member Griffin commented that she takes great offense with a fellow council member commenting that she is wasting the City?s money in her desire to go through the recruiting process, even if it is just to do the profile, knowing that the Council is trying to hire someone for the most important position in the City. She stated that she takes great offense that the Council has spent so much time trying to keep someone out of the Zoning and Planning Commission and yet do not even want to spend a dime doing any kind of recruiting for the most important position. Adjournment. 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 May, to adjourn. The Council meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m. 6