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Home My WebLink About070901R CC Min CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, JULY 9, 2001 MUNICIPAL BUILDING COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD 7:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers on July 9, 2001, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Fire Chief, Finance Director and Public Works Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, th Chapter 551, on the 6 of July 2001 at 5:00 p.m. Proclamation recognizing West University Place Citizen of the Year. A Proclamation was presented to Mary Lee Gray for being named the West University Place Citizen of the Year. Proclamation recognizing girl?s softball team. A Proclamation was presented to members of the West University Place Under 10 Girls Softball Tournament Team. Proclamation recognizing girl?s softball team. A Proclamation was presented to members of the West University Place Under 12 Girls Softball Tournament Team. Citizen Comments. Mayor Lewis invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Hal Collins, 3212 Albans, spoke about the trees in front of his home possibly being damaged from the infrastructure improvements. Nancy Bass, 3160 Bellaire, presented a letter from Mike Plotkin, 3901 Case, regarding the flooding in his area. Paula Doughty, 3840 Byron, spoke about the flooding in her area. She stated that she got 12 inches of water in her house and that the flooding has gotten worse since the infrastructure improvements. Mark Lowes, 3836 Villanova, commented that College Street has always flooded and that it has not gotten any better since the infrastructure improvements. He asked if the City Council Regular Session, July 9, 2001 Council knew if the problem was with West University?s storm sewers or if the problem was down stream. Mayor Lewis commented that everyone who signed up to speak to the City Council wanted to address the same topic of flooding. She suggested that the Council skip to item #9 which was going to address issues having to do with drainage in their area. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley, to take the agenda items out of order and move to item #9. 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 Drainage study on Southwestern. Matters related to authorizing Claunch & Miller, Inc. to begin a study on the flooding problems in the 3800 and 3900 blocks of Southwestern Public Works Director Ed Menville reported that the Staff was recommending that the City Council authorize a hydraulic study of the area using the City?s consulting engineer Claunch & Miller, Inc. Claunch and Miller would submit a plan showing how the study would be carried out, the methodology to be used, and a cost estimate of the study. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member May, to authorize Claunch & Miller, Inc. to perform the study. Mr. Menville introduced James Andrews, Vice President of Claunch & Miller, Inc. Mr. Andrews answered numerous questions regarding the study. Mayor Lewis invited residents to continue with their comments as their name was called. Robert Franco, 3804 Oberlin, suggested that the water from Southside Place was draining toward West University. Scott Frisbie, 3814 Southwestern, stated that College at Southwestern was the only street without storm sewer drains. Darryl Friday, 3787 Bissonnet, suggested that the flooding was coming from Braeswood in the City of Houston. Fran Griffin, 3826 Villanova, stated that it has always flooded at Villanova and College. 2 City Council Regular Session, July 9, 2001 Dawn Rubin, 3816 Marquette, asked what the flood study was looking for. Mr. Andrews stated that they would like to study the entire Braes Bayou water shed and use the topographical information to analyze the flow and look at relief systems. Mindi Wachtel, 3836 Riley, commented that the flooding has never been as bad as it is now. Marlene Champion, 3832 Southwestern, commented that the streets have flooded many times and that residents in the area had requested drains previously. Edward Lin, 3819 Villanova, suggested sending a survey to residents to see which houses are getting flooded and then truly assess the high and low points. Michele Grace, 3823 Marquette, commented that 16 of the 18 homes in her area got water in them. Doris Ross, 3811 Riley, commented that the new drainage system in her area did not help the flooding. Wayne Donnelly, 3813 Byron, commented that the drainage problem has gotten worse. There being no other persons wishing to speak, Mayor Lewis called for a vote on the motion. 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 Ordinance amending Chapter 12. Matters related to the first reading of Ordinance No. 1687. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1687 as follows: An ordinance relating to poison ivy and other conditions on private property; amending the existing code of ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject Copies of Ordinance No. 1687, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. 3 City Council Regular Session, July 9, 2001 Fire Chief Terry Stevenson reported that the State Legislature made changes in the Government Code relating to the enforcement and notice requirements needed for certain Health and Safety Statues. Chapter 12 is amended to reflect these changes. The new amendment gives the Mayor or an official designated by the Mayor the authority to abate a public nuisance and to obtain and attach a lien on property for expenses incurred by the City due to abatement. The amendment also changes the definition of weeds to include poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac plants regardless of their heights. A motion was made by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member Griffin, to adopt Ordinance No. 1687 on the first reading. 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 Waterworks and Sewer System Revenue Bonds. Matters relating to the first and final reading of Ordinance No. 1688. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1688 as follows: An ordinance of the City of West University Place, Texas, authorizing the issuance and sale of $3,015,000 waterworks and sewer system revenue bonds, series 2001B; providing the details relating thereto; and declaring an emergency. Copies of Ordinance No. 1688, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that the financing arrangements for Priority Areas 7B, 8 and 12 included $7.5 million that would be raised by selling revenue bonds. The sale of these bonds was delayed by the need to increase water and sewer rates to meet the legal requirements set out in the City?s current outstanding Bond Orders. Mr. Thomas stated that this bond issue is the second of a two-part revenue bond issue that was budgeted in the 2001 Budget. The Council has already authorized and the Staff has issued Series 2001A bonds. The 2001B Bonds are to be sold entirely to the Texas Water Development Board Revolving Loan Fund. The interest rates are very favorable at a 4.08% weighted average. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member May, to adopt Ordinance No. 1688 on the first and final reading. 4 City Council Regular Session, July 9, 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 City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Regular and Special Sessions conducted on June 25, 2001. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member May, 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 Griffin requested an opportunity to tour the City facilities. She also requested information on retention ponds. 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 Regular Session adjourned at 8:35 p.m. 5