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HomeMy WebLinkAbout221114 CC MinThe City of West University Place A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL STAFF Susan Sample, Mayor David J. Beach, City Manager John Montgomery, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Bounds, Olson and Olson, City Attorney John P. Barnes, Councilmember Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary Melanie Bell, Councilmember Shannon Carroll, Councilmember CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in a workshop and regular meeting on Monday, November 14, 2022 at 6:00 p.m., in the Municipal Building at 3800 University Boulevard, for the purpose of considering the agenda of items listed. The meeting was held in person, but the public was also able attend via Zoom. WORKSHOP (6:00 PM) 1. Call Workshop to Order Mayor Sample called the workshop to order at 6:00 p.m. In attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery, and Councilmembers Barnes, Bell, and Carroll. Staff in attendance were City Manager Beach, Public Works Director Barrera, and HR Director Urban. City Secretary Gilliam was absent. 2. Update on Traffic Study and Regulatory and Supplemental Traffic Signs Matters and discussion related to an update on the previous traffic study and the process for installation of regulatory and supplemental traffic signs. Recommendation Action: Discuss and provide feedback and/or staff direction. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works Director Public Works Director Barrera gave an update on the traffic study and regulatory and supplemental traffic signs. 3. Adjourn Workshop Mayor Sample adjourned the workshop at 6:32 p.m. Audio of the workshop is temporarily on the City’s website. If the audio is no longer on the website, you can obtain a copy from the City Secretary’s office, as well as any presentations. REGULAR MEETING (6:30 PM) 4. Call Regular Meeting to Order Mayor Sample called the regular meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. In attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery, and Councilmembers Barnes, Bell, and Carroll. Staff in attendance were City Manager Beach, Public Works Director Barrera, Parks and Recreation Director White, HR Director Urban, Interim IT Director Brown, Fire Chief Maxwell, Communications Coordinator Cuccerre, and Police Chief Walker. City Secretary Gilliam was absent. City Council Meeting Minutes, November 14, 2022 2 of 5 Harris County Flood Control District representatives, Director of Engineering Imelda Diaz, Capital Projects Manager John St. Romain, and Interim Deputy Director Scott Elmer, were also present. President Tim Buscha, Sr. Project Manager Marcel Khouw, and Senior Project Manager Carol Harrison with IDS, the City’s Engineers, were also present. 5. Pledge of Allegiance Councilmember Carroll led the Pledge of Allegiance. 6. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to the Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items. Speakers are required to register in advance and must limit their presentations to three minutes each. Collin Bray, 3610 Tangley, spoke via Zoom regarding Poor Farm Ditch and suggested covering the portions of the ditch that are not where the current crosswalks are and leave parts of the ditch open. Melissa Pifko, 3418 Amherst, spoke via Zoom regarding Poor Farm Ditch and said she thinks the condition of the ditch right now is dangerous and scary and should be fixed as soon as possible. Carlos Herdocia, 4145 Swarthmore, spoke via Zoom regarding Poor Farm Ditch and said he noticed the state of disrepair and said the City should do with tax dollars what should be done as a responsible entity. Eddie Matthews, 5906 Fordham, spoke regarding the traffic study. He said the stop signs and actions the city has taken does little to cover all the traffic issues he has seen. Kevin Hool, 6409 Virginia, deferred his comment on Poor Farm Ditch until discussion of the item. Christian McMurphy, 6413 Virginia Ct., deferred his comment on Poor Farm Ditch until discussion of the item. Paige Goodwin, 6429 Virginia Court, deferred her comment on Poor Farm Ditch until discussion of the item. Kevin Boyle, 6425 Virginia Court, deferred his comment on Poor Farm Ditch until discussion of the item. Lynn Rosas, 6433 Virginia Court, deferred her comment on Poor Farm Ditch until discussion of the item. Dick Yehle, 6401 Rutgers, spoke regarding Poor Farm Ditch and said the ditch between University and Holcombe is collapsing and it is past time to do something about fixing it. 7. Appointment of IT Director Matters related to appointing Russell Brown as IT Director. Recommended Action: Approve the City Manager's appointment of Russell Brown to the position of IT Director and give his Oath of Office. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to approve the City Manager’s appointment of Russell Brown as the City’s IT Director. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll City Council Meeting Minutes, November 14, 2022 3 of 5 Noes: None Absent: None Following approval of the appointment, Mayor Sample gave IT Director Russell his Oath of Office. 8. West U Centennial Matters related to The City’s Centennial. Recommended Action: Discuss and provide feedback. Ms. Bianca Cuccerre, Communications Coordinator Communications Coordinator Cuccerre gave a presentation on how staff is preparing for the City’s Centennial in 2024, including branding/tagline, redesign of the City’s flag, merchandising, proposed events, etc. 9. Poor Farm Ditch Update Matters related to an update from Harris County on Poor Farm Ditch. Recommendation: Discuss and provide feedback. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager Representatives of the Harris County Flood Control District, Imelda Diaz and John St. Romain, and Interim Deputy Director of Engineering gave an update on the status of the project. During discussion, Mayor Sample paused to take public comments from residents that deferred their comments. Kevin Hool, 6409 Virginia, spoke to say he feels strongly about the green screen and hopes that the design maintains the trees in some way. Christian McMurphy, 6413 Virginia Ct., spoke to say that the 90 percent design is a little shocking because it seems to fall in the same category as the last design. He said he looks forward to having fruitful discussions to find a path forward that will maintain green space with live oaks and maintain the character of the neighborhood. Paige Goodwin, 6429 Virginia Court, spoke to echo her neighbors on Virginia Court. She said the green space is incredibly important to them. Kevin Boyle, 6425 Virginia Court, spoke to say the residents of Virginia Court look forward to working with the Flood Control District to develop a 90 percent solution that serves all parties. Lynn Rosas, 6433 Virginia Court, spoke to say that all of them on Virginia Court are very invested in this decision and has been for years and would like very much to be involved in the decision-making process. After the public comments, there was further discussion and then Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved that the Mayor a letter of support to the stakeholders of the project – the residents south of University to Holcombe – with the proviso that the City conduct a feasibility study at our own expense or at a partners expense if we can find one, to explore opportunities north of University. Failed due to lack of a second. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to accept the letter signed by Andrew Chan, Mayor of Southside Place, and to have our mayor, Susan Sample, sign the letter in support of the design with the condition that we have the opportunity to address residents’ concerns with the County. Councilmember Bell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Bell, Carroll Noes: Barnes City Council Meeting Minutes, November 14, 2022 4 of 5 Absent: None Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to consider alternatives on the other half of the ditch a feasibility study to explore the possibility for residents to reclaim land to explore something of beneficial use besides a cement ditch. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery withdrew the motion and Council directed staff to bring back a draft scope of work for the project for review and discussion at the next Council meeting on December 5. Audio of the discussion is on the City’s website or contact the City Secretary’s Office for a copy of the audio. 10. Additional Water Modeling Update Matters related to additional water modeling results. Recommended Action: Discuss, provide feedback and/or take any desired action. Mr. Gerardo Barrera, Public Works Director and Ms. Carol Harrison, City Engineer Public Works Director Barrera introduced Tim Buscha with IDS, the City’s Engineer, who gave a presentation to update City Council on water modeling results and to provide project options. After the presentation and discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved that staff pursue projects 1 through 4 on the list of considerations for improvements without approval of funding at this time. Councilmember Barnes seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 11. Consent Agenda All Consent Agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member requests in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. A. City Council Meeting Minutes Approve City Council Minutes of November 7, 2022. Recommended Action: Approve City Council Minutes of November 7, 2022. Ms. Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary Councilmember Barnes moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 12. Recess Regular Meeting and Convene Executive Session Council will meet in an executive session in accordance with Sections 551.071 and 551.072 of Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code to consult with the City Attorney and to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, respectively. At 9:06 p.m., Mayor Sample recessed the regular meeting and convened an executive session per Sections 551.071 and 551.072 of the Texas Government Code. 13. Adjourn Executive Session and Reconvene Regular Meeting City Council Meeting Minutes, November 14, 2022 5 of 5 Council will reconvene the regular meeting and take action from Executive Session, if any. At 9:42 p.m., Mayor Sample adjourned the executive session and reconvened the regular meeting. 14. Adjourn Regular Meeting With no other business before the Council, at approximately 9:43 p.m., Councilmember Barnes moved to adjourn the regular meeting. Councilmember Bell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None Audio of the meeting is temporarily on the City’s website. If the audio is no longer on the website, you can obtain a copy from the City Secretary’s office, as well as any presentations. Prepared by: Thelma A. Gilliam, TRMC, City Secretary Council Approved: December 5, 2022