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.
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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
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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
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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
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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