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HomeMy WebLinkAbout062501S CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, JUNE 25, 2001 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Special Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers (3800 University Blvd.) on June 25, 2001, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin, and Jackson. The City Secretary, City Attorney, Fire Chief, Police Chief and Public Works Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, nd Chapter 551, on the 22 day of June 2001 at 5:30 p.m. Agenda Review: The City Council reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under consideration with the Staff. Emergency preparedness. Matters related to a report on current procedure and emergency preparedness. Fire Chief Terry Stevenson reported that heavy rain from Tropical Storm Allison began falling at approximately 7 p.m. and by 3 a.m. approximately 8 inches of rain fell on West University. The heavy rains caused the water to rise so quickly that on-duty personnel were stranded in different locations of the city and on-coming personnel had difficulty reporting for duty. At 11:30 p.m. the dispatch center began receiving an alarming number of calls. The City of Houston lost much of their communications including 911 and their citizens began calling West University for help. These out of the city calls and the calls for automatic alarms and rising water in West University kept two dispatchers very busy. The Police Department had two Public Works vehicles that had been used earlier in the day and they pressed those into service. Due to high water and miscommunications about the location of keys for additional vehicles, the use of additional high water vehicles was delayed. Once the vehicles and keys were located they were placed into service and all calls were handled. Several citizens and stranded motorist were picked up by city personnel and relocated to the Public Works lunchroom. Due to short staffing and the high volume of calls, a public City Council Special Session, June 25, 2001 safety employee was not stationed in the lunchroom. As the call volume decreased paramedics made periodic visits to check on the occupants. During and after the storm the communications center remained operational. At no time did West University lose radio communications, dispatch capabilities, 911 or Direct Link. Chief Stevenson reported the following observations and suggestions: City Emergency Management Plan An Emergency Management Plan for West University Place has been in effect since 1982. It has been amended several times, with the last amendment coming in June 1998. The Emergency Management Plan is intended to provide guidelines for management of emergencies and disasters involving and impacting the city. The plan also allows the city to participate with Harris County in an integrated mutual aid arrangement in event of emergencies and disasters affecting both entities. The plan assumes that both organizations have plans, procedures and resources to handle normal response actions, and that these resources can be shared if needed. It is important that city staff remains current with the requirements of the plan and be prepared to react when an emergency arises. More frequent training and review of the operational plans is needed and will be scheduled. Vehicles Past experience indicates that water rises and falls quickly in West University and long term flood conditions aren?t expected. The use of Public Works large trucks with diesel engines has worked well and the practice should continue. Police Officers that are not familiar with large trucks should be trained. Also, both Police and Fire personnel should know the location of the required vehicles and their keys. Research high water vehicles and flotation devices. Shelters The City does not provide a building for mass sheltering of victims. The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army by agreement with Harris County and other participating cities provide these facilities. Past practice has been to provide a safe dry place for citizens and stranded motorists until a mass shelter is opened or the emergency passes and they can return to their homes or cars. Public Safety employees should be familiar with these procedures as well as the public. We need to develop better communications between the city and organizations that provide shelter and make sure during an emergency that the proper information is disseminated. Shell has offered their facility. This should be discussed with Southside Place. The city could reimburse Shell for the expenses. 2 City Council Special Session, June 25, 2001 Staffing The quick onset of the flooding and the time of day prevented the implementation of staffing procedures. The staffing shortage caused many public safety employees to work in excess of 24 hours straight without relief. Normal procedures provide for additional personnel to be brought in to provide relief. Public Education Need to put together public education materials or packet for emergencies. Council Member May suggested that the City have a plan to utilize someone as a contact person to start notifying residents of danger or flooding. The City could possibly have citizens who have boats that could be called for an emergency situation. Use of the Neighborhood Watch program was also suggested. Sidewalks. Matters related to the sidewalk improvement program and the establishment of a sidewalk implementation committee. Public Works Director Ed Menville reported that Mayor Lewis had requested that staff provide Council with a status report on the Sidewalk Improvement Program. At this time construction plans for Phase I (Areas A & B) of the sidewalk program have been completed and have been placed at the Community Center for review by residents. Approximately 31 responses have been received expressing desires and concerns about installation of sidewalks at specific addresses. Some responses have nothing to do with the sidewalks in the subject area, others were by residents not living in the initial area planned for construction, some have expressed a desire that no sidewalks be installed and some have asked that the sidewalk be moved to the curb or be made out of crushed granite. Staff is in the process of contacting each resident who expressed concern about the sidewalk at their home to determine what alternative course of action would be required at their home site. These comments will be submitted to our design engineers to be incorporated into their plans. It is estimated, as a result of the need to make contact with each residents, construction start will be delayed by approximately 2 weeks. Construction is projected to start on September 15, 2001. Phase II (Areas C, D &E) is in the process of being designed. 3 City Council Special Session, June 25, 2001 Council Member Farley inquired about the start date of September 15, 2001 and what was propelling the date. It being summertime, many people are on vacations. He suggested possibly setting up an advisory committee to help review the plans and develop a communications program with citizens to perhaps increase response. Council Member Farley asked if there was a specific compelling need for the early construction date. Mr. Menville stated that there was no compelling needs to move quickly and the September date was part of a schedule that was identified early on in the program. He stated that if the Council wished the process could be slowed down in order to receive a better response from the residents. Mayor Lewis commented that she was still not comfortable with the process. The previous City Council did some quick fixes in the case of Area K, but that she is troubled that the City is still moving forward without having a plan in place for the entire city. She asked if the Council thought it would be in the city?s best interest to slow the process down and to perhaps put in place and in writing for all to know, criteria for the sidewalk program including what would entitle a citizen to come forward and ask to have either no sidewalk or a sidewalk of alternative materials. She stated that she sees the potential for a mess if the City does not address this upfront. The City Council agreed that the sidewalk program should be slowed down. Dieter Ufer the consulting engineer from Claunch & Miller, was directed to continue obtaining background information and establishing drawings on the locations of trees for the construction. The City Council agreed to form a sidewalk review committee to establish rules and a policy statement that the Public Works Director and the residents could work within. The City Council recessed the Special Session at 7:30 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. The Special Session reconvened at 8:55 p.m. The City Council continued the discussion relating to sidewalks. Mayor Lewis requested that Council Member May be the liaison to the sidewalk committee. She also suggested that the committee include Beth Beloff, Mike McEnany and Vicki Smith. Mrs. Beloff suggested that the Committee include a tree expert and someone with experience on using alternative materials. 4 City Council Special Session, June 25, 2001 Board and Commission liaisons. Matters related to the appointment of Board and Commission liaisons. The City Council agreed to try rotating board liaisons every quarter. The new Council liaisons are: Council Member Jackson ? Neighborhood Safety Board Council Member May ? Parks and Recreation Board and Friends of West University Place Fund Council Member Farley ? Zoning Board of Adjustment Council Member Griffin ? Zoning and Planning Commission and Senior Services Board Mayor Lewis ? Building and Standards Commission and Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board Report from Board or Commission Liaisons. The City Council reported on Board or Commission meetings attended by the liaisons. Council Member May reported that the Building and Standards Commission discussed implementation of the International Building Codes. Mayor Lewis reported that the Parks and Recreation Board was gearing up for Phase I of the Colonial Park renovations. Matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property. Property located at 4210 Bellaire Boulevard known as Y.M.C.A. Closed Executive Session to be held under Sections 551.072 Texas Government Code. The City Council convened in Executive Session at 9:35 p.m. Rick Spencer and Marshall Clinkscales were present during the discussion. The City Council closed the Executive Session at 10:15 p.m. and reconvened in special session. Mayor Lewis called for a motion. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Jackson, to authorize City representatives to continue the negotiations for the purchase of the Y.M.C.A. 5 City Council Special Session, June 25, 2001 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 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 Special Session adjourned at 10:16 p.m. 6