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CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 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 November 11, 2002, with the following members
present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson.
The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works
Director, Finance Director, Police Chief and City Planner were also present.
The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code,
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Chapter 551, on the 8 day of November 2002 at 1:00 p.m.
Formal Session
Mayor Lewis requested that the item relating to sidewalks be moved to first on the
agenda.
Sidewalks.
Matters related to sidewalks including the sidewalk master plan.
City Manager Michael Ross reported that the City received approximately 275 comments
regarding the sidewalk plan. Most were very good constructive comments that the Staff
has discussed with the consultant. There are some changes that the Staff is
recommending to Council in the Master Plan and SWA will be reflecting these in the
recommendation that will be returned to Council for approval.
Recommended changes include (1) all streets in the City of West University Place with
the exception of Coronado Court will have a sidewalk on at least one-side of the street (2)
there will be no recreational loop proposed in the plan and (3) there are no plans to
remove any sidewalks in areas that are not part of the construction process or called for in
the master plan.
Mr. Ross stated that this is a Master Plan with basically lines along streets and the Staff is
just trying to determine where the best place for the sidewalks to go. There has been no
detail planning at this point for what materials will be used or specific locations of the
sidewalks or specific timing of which sidewalk gets installed when. Those details will
occur in the next design phase. Full communication will occur with the homeowners.
Council Member May commented that it sounded as though the Staff is now back in
adherence with the Sidewalk Policy that the Council approved.
City Council Regular Session, November 11, 2002
Mr. Ross stated that the Master Plan more closely mirrors the wording in the Policy.
Council Member May requested that any areas where there are variances from the Policy
to highlight those for the Council.
Citizen Comments.
Mayor Lewis invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as
their names were called.
Beth Beloff, 3501 Nottingham, congratulated the Mayor and Council and City Manager
for supporting the participatory process to develop the Master Plan. In spite of the public
misinformation, the consultants have masterfully led the process. She stated that she
represented many in Area K who are party to the Area K agreement and that agreement
which was forged in the proceeding council and fortified in this council was fair and
reasonable. They are not opposed to sidewalks in Area K on one-side of the streets and of
a material that will not further damage the trees in the right-of-way. With respect to
parking, many blocks in this area still do not have no-parking signs and this has created
some serious issues regarding access and therefore safety. She encouraged the Council to
expedite the installation of these signs and further encourage the enforcement of no
parking where designated.
Jim Norton, 3312 University, stated that his major concern was answered with the
elimination of the recreational loop. He reminded the Council of the uniqueness of West
University, Southside Place, and Bellaire in that they are all self-governable but they are
surrounded by a big city. He requested that the Council respect the fact that good
intentions can have unintended consequences. Privacy and personal property should be
respected.
Ann McCay, 6220 Community, stated that she was speaking for Joan McCay who lives
on Carnegie, and who is totally opposed to the recreational loop.
Arthur L. Hirdler, 6416 Community, presented a letter to the Council. He commented
that the residents should be offered choices of pervious, tree friendly sidewalk materials.
He also stated that a thirty minute time limit for comments during the public hearing on
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October 23 and seven days to thoroughly consider what the sidewalk consultants had
thought over for months, was not enough time for West University residents? thoughts
and input. Mr. Hirdler also commented that he opposed the City making the City
Currents newsletter a quarterly publication in 2003.
Steve Naruk, 6619 Rutgers, stated that he opposes the recreational loop. He asked for
clarification of the primary, secondary and tertiary sidewalk systems.
Mr. Ross commented that these systems are really levels of importance and possibly
timing. The size of the sidewalk and materials are not a factor of these systems. All
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City Council Regular Session, November 11, 2002
sidewalks are planned to be 4 feet wide except possibly the ones on University
Boulevard.
Sharla Frost, 6336 Rutgers, stated that she opposes the recreational loop and thanked the
Council for listening to the will of the taxpayers on this issue.
Leo Sacchi, 3768 Rice Boulevard, stated that bicycles are whizzing through the stop signs
without looking. He commented that he opposes bicyclist riding down the middle of the
street because it is annoying and dangerous.
Jake Harrison, 6521 Rutgers, thanked the Council for their prompt attention in
eliminating the recreational loop.
Fees for solid waste services.
Matters related to fees and charges for solid waste service including Ordinance No. 1723.
Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1723 as follows:
An ordinance establishing and reestablishing fees and charges for activities, goods and
services provided by the City; containing a provision to authorize the City Manager to
establish fees and charges in certain circumstances; and containing findings and
provisions relating to the subject
Copies of Ordinance No. 1723, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the
Council Chambers.
Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that during the discussion of the budget for
2003 and also in 2002 there was a need for a solid waste rate increase. This ordinance
would establish that solid waste increase as a $1.50 for all residents and would produce
about another $100,000 a year. The fund has lost approximately $76,000 each year over
the last several years. This additional revenue is needed to bring the revenues in line with
the expenditures.
The ordinance amendment proposes the following changes:
Increasing regular Solid Waste fees from $14.25 to $15.75 per month.
Increasing Senior discounted Solid Waste fees from $6.50 to $8.00 per month.
A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley,
to approve the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 1723.
Council Member Griffin stated that she still has her concerns that they have not looked
into all of the alternatives of what should be done about changing the cost for solid waste
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City Council Regular Session, November 11, 2002
collection by possibly privatizing. She also expressed concern about raising the senior?s
fees.
Council Member Jackson commented that next year if the Staff intends to raise the fees,
to please include it in a tax increase so that it can be deducted.
A vote was taken on the motion with the following result:
Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley and Jackson
Voting Nay: Council Member Griffin
Absent: None
The motion passed.
Prevailing Wage rate.
Matters related to a prevailing wage rate including the adoption of a prevailing wage
schedule for construction work.
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Ron Wicker reported that municipal
capital projects require that local governments adopt Prevailing Wage Rates for their area
to insure minimum wages for various job classifications. This is part of the Davis-Bacon
Act requirements for all governmental capital projects. These wage rates are based on
prevailing wages paid in a particular geographic area. West U has previously adopted
wage rates for current and completed projects. These schedules need to be updated
periodically to insure compliance with the Act. Claunch and Miller our City engineers
forwarded a copy of current Prevailing Wages for the Houston area for highway type
construction work and requested that the attached schedule be adopted by City Council.
Mr. Wicker stated that this approval is required prior to bidding both Priority Area 10 and
11B and to keep in mind that these are minimum wage requirements and many local
contractors actually pay more than the listed hourly rates.
A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member Farley, to
approve the prevailing wage rate as presented.
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
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City Council Regular Session, November 11, 2002
City Council minutes.
Matters related to the minutes of the Special Session conducted on October 23, 2002 and
Regular Session conducted on October 28, 2002.
A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley,
to approve the minutes as presented.
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
Council comments.
Council Member Farley commented that his City email was not working and apologized
for not responding to some of the emails.
Mayor Lewis commented that a consolidated effort from Rice University, the Medical
Center, the Village Associates, the Upper Kirby District and West U is being put forth in
an effort to put together a proposal to present to the H-GAC asking for funding for a
trolley that would serve West U to the Medical Center. METRO might also partner with
the group to pay the difference that H-GAC would not pay.
The City Council recessed the Formal Session to convene in Informal Session at 7:17
p.m.
Informal Session
Mayor Lewis requested that the next 2 items be discussed together.
Public Safety Board.
Matters related to the Public Safety Board including function and goals.
Parking.
Matters related to parking including restrictions and emergency response.
Mayor Lewis reported that one of the goals for the Public Safety Board was to work on a
pilot parking program that might change the way the streets are used. There was no
recommendation made but in all fairness to the Board, the Council needs to determine
whether or not they should move forward. If this is not an appropriate task then should
they just be used on an as-needed basis.
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City Council Regular Session, November 11, 2002
Council Member Farley commented that when he was on the drainage committee, they
found it much easier that they had front-loaded the process with an expert, Claunch &
Miller, who provided them with a very thorough hydrology report. He stated that if the
Council wants to explore possibilities of restricting parking then the City should begin
with an expert and then bring in a citizen group.
Mr. Ross stated that the Staff is working with a Traffic Engineer, Samson Ukaegbu, to
begin looking at areas of the city where we know there are areas that signs need to be put
back up. The Staff is trying to cut down on the sign and pole pollution while at the same
time achieving the goal and clarity that the public needs.
Mayor Lewis suggested that Council Member May communicate to the Public Safety
Board that they will be used as an on-call Task Force rather than have them meet every
month.
City center project.
Matters related to the city center project, including presentation, proposed concept, etc.
(including plans for University Boulevard between Auden and Edloe).
Mr. Ross explained the proposed city center project. The proposed project has also been
presented to the residents of Southside Place, business representatives on Edloe and the
principal of the West University Elementary School.
Council Member Griffin questioned the ability for Fire Trucks to maneuver on University
Boulevard especially with the proposed esplanade. She asked Fire Chief Terry Stevenson
about the code requirements.
Chief Stevenson stated that the Fire Code requires that every building in the City should
have 20 feet of unobstructed access. However, there are negotiations on other streets in
the City and the Staff has worked with the designers to provide access. The esplanades
have been redesigned and there will be no-parking in the front of the homes in that area
where there are esplanades.
Council Member May commented that two years ago he had opposed a continuous
esplanade. He suggested removing the proposed esplanade and possibly widen the
sidewalks in front of the school.
After further discussion, Mayor Lewis asked if members of the Council were in favor of
the plan as presented.
Mayor Lewis, Council Members Jackson and Farley approved the proposed plan. The
Staff will proceed with the plan as presented.
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City Council Regular Session, November 11, 2002
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.
Council Member Griffin reported that the Building and Standard Commission denied a
variance to build an 8 foot fence that was only 2-1/2 feet of an existing building.
Mayor Lewis reported that the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund reviewed and
updated information about the Park Lovers Ball and fund raising. The Parks and
Recreation Board is exploring opportunities to perhaps have the design of the Rice Pocket
Park be done by students from Texas A&M.
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.
Adjournment.
With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made
by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member Jackson, to adjourn. The
Council meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
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