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HomeMy WebLinkAbout101402R CC Min CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2002 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers (3800 University Blvd.) on October 14, 2002, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members May, and Griffin. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Building Official, Operations Superintendent and City Planner were also present. Council Members Farley and Jackson were absent. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, th Chapter 551, on the 11 day of October 2002 at 4:20 p.m. Formal Session Citizen Comments. Mayor Lewis invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Dick Yehle, 6401 Rutgers, commended the City Council for adopting a responsible budget and particularly to Mayor Lewis for pointing out areas where money could be saved. Mr. Yehle also addressed the sidewalk policy and the sidewalk master plan to be presented by the SWA Group. He stated that the City had a bonafide city policy for sidewalks and the consultant?s plan did not come anywhere close to agreeing with the terms of the policy. He stated that the premise of the SWA plan is wrong and Council should reject the plan. Mr. Yehle submitted a letter with his formal comments for the record. Rose Greene, 6641 Buffalo Speedway, spoke to the Council regarding her continuous flooding problem on her lot because of the new home being built next door. Property located at 3771 Rice Boulevard. Matters related to the property located at 3771 Rice Boulevard including Ordinance No. 1722. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1722 as follows: City Council Regular Session, October 14, 2002 An ordinance relating to parks; dedicating the property known as 3771 Rice Boulevard as a park; amending the code of ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject Copies of Ordinance No. 1722, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. City Attorney Jim Dougherty reported that this Ordinance was requested by the City Council at the last meeting to dedicate the property as a public park. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member May, to approve Ordinance No. 1722 on the first reading. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May and Griffin Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Members Farley and Jackson Interlocal memorandum of understanding. Matters related to an interlocal memorandum of understanding with the Harris County Flood Control District and other cities regarding flood control and drainage. City Manager Michael Ross reported that the memorandum is being brought back because, as it worked through the rest of the cities, there were comments and questions regarding some of the language relating to the open meetings act. Mr. Dougherty stated that most of the changes were in Article 1 of the agreement having to do with the study group, its appointment and purpose. It is intended to make it clear that the study group was not a decision maker or governing body. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Griffin, to accept the interlocal memorandum of understanding and authorize the City Manager to sign. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May and Griffin Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Members Farley and Jackson 2 City Council Regular Session, October 14, 2002 Sanitary Sewer Pipe Bursting project. Matters related to a sanitary sewer pipe bursting project in Priority Areas 7B, 8, 9 and 12 including bids received September 18, 2002. Public Works Director Ron Wicker reported that the sanitary sewer pipe bursting project is intended to replace badly deteriorating sewer lines in West U, where normal replacement in front of houses is not reasonably possible. Pipe bursting is accomplished normally between manholes without the need for total excavation. It is placed in the space occupied by the current failing pipe. Contract completion is 120 calendar days and the project will be funded through a loan from the Texas Water Development Board, which was approved several years ago. Nine companies submitted bids for the pipe-bursting project. The following bids were received: Bidder Amount Pennstar, Inc. $404,470.00 PM Construction $474,630.00 Bearden Construction $487,220.00 Underground Technologies, Inc. $537,808.50 Kinsel Industries, Inc. $578,769.00 Troy Construction, L.L.P. $680,209.00 Horseshoe Construction, Inc. $705,050.00 Reliance Construction Services $750,248.00 Portland Utilities Construction $880,550.00 Mr. Wicker stated that the first 2 low bidders were disqualified because they did not meet the legal requirements of the bid specifications. Bearden Contracting Company was the lowest qualified bidder with a bid amount of $487,220.00. The engineering estimate for the project was $500,000.00. A motion was made by Council Member Bill May, seconded by Council Member Marilyn Griffin, to award a contract to Bearden Contracting Company in the amount of $487,220.00 for the construction of sanitary sewer pipe bursting project in Priority Areas 7B, 8, 9 and 12 contingent upon the approval of the Texas Water Development Board. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May and Griffin Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Members Farley and Jackson 3 City Council Regular Session, October 14, 2002 Rescheduling City Council meeting. Matters related to rescheduling the Council meeting of December 23, 2002. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member May, to , reschedule the meeting set for December 232002 to December 2, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May and Griffin Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Members Farley and Jackson City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular Session conducted on September 23, 2002. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Griffin, to approve the minutes as presented. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May and Griffin Voting Nay: None Absent: Council Members Farley and Jackson Council comments. Mayor Lewis congratulated H.I.S.D. for the being recognized as the top performing school district in America. It is a national award that includes $500,000 in college scholarships for students. Mayor Lewis welcomed Ron Wicker as the Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director. She also commented that she met with METRO and the small city Mayors at TransStar. This is a partnership between Harris County, the City of Houston, TxDot and METRO to provide an information network for traffic control and management. She stated that she would serve as Chair of a group that would provide information and educate the various communities about METRO?s plans for the rail system. The City Council recessed the Formal Session to convene in Informal Session at 6:55 p.m. 4 City Council Regular Session, October 14, 2002 Informal Session Site Drainage. Matters related to site drainage including drainage plans for new construction or grade raising, official site plans, fees, etc. Stephen Pohl and Anne Whitlock, members of the Zoning and Planning Commission, were present at the meeting. Mrs. Whitlock gave a brief overview of the work of a Subcommittee addressing drainage. She stated that with the construction of the new homes, with the raised grades and higher fences acting as damns, the older homes are now faced with problems because the water is no longer draining from their property. The Zoning and Planning Commission will be looking at an ordinance that will require an official site plan and changes to the drainage plan. The official site plan would allow for builders, homeowners, and city officials to have an accurate record of the sites blueprint without having to search at various locations. It would a serve as an aid to persons who must comply with applicable regulations during construction and beyond. The proposed ordinance would also give the Building Official more control over the process. Mrs. Whitlock stated that the current drainage plan does not require builders and homeowners to consider the effects of established drainage patterns from adjoining sites. In some instances, for a variety of reasons such as fencing, grade levels and landscaping, the rain water from adjoining sites is blocked from its natural flow pattern and the result can be temporary flooding. This item will continue to be addressed at the meetings of the Zoning and Planning Commission and then presented to the City Council. Board or Commission meetings. Matters related to Board and Commission meetings (Zoning & Planning, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Building & Standards Commission, Parks & Recreation, Public Safety, Senior Services, Recycling & Solid Waste Reduction and Drainage Committee) including reports from Council liaisons. There were no reports during this meeting. 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. 5 City Council Regular Session, October 14, 2002 Adjournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Griffin, to adjourn. The Council meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m. 6