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Home My WebLink About082701S CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2001 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Special Session in the Municipal Building Conference Room (3800 University Blvd.) on August 27, 2001, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin, and Jackson. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Police Chief, Finance Director, Public Works Director, Parks and Recreation Director and Assistant City Manager/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 24 day of August 2001 at 4:30 p.m. Agenda Review: The City Council reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under consideration with the Staff. Matters related to Resolution No. 2001-19 Council Member Griffin suggested that since Gene Womack had indicated that he would not be able to accept the position on the Public Safety Board then Clint Faulkner should be asked to serve. Edloe Street Linear Park. Matters related to the Edloe Linear Park including the design concept, walk bridges, grant application and light poles. City Manager Sherman Yehl reported that the City had received notice from the Texas Parks and Wildlife that the Edloe Street Linear project was not being recommended for funding. Mr. Yehl suggested that the City take a minimal approach to the project such as continuing with the installation of the walk bridges, relocating the light poles and cleaning up the oleanders. Cost estimates would be presented during the budget process. Council Member Griffin commented that she wanted to make sure that most of the oleanders would remain. She inquired about the placement of the light poles and the oleanders that would be affected. City Council Special Session, August 27, 2001 Mr. Yehl stated that Houston Light and Power would probably only need 6 to 12 inches around the poles and that the damage to the plants should be minimal if not then the City could replant. Council Member May addressed the bubble outs on Edloe Street. He requested that the City consider changing the street design to make a gradual gradation to the bubble outs instead of approaching a sudden obstruction in the road. Mayor Lewis suggested that lights for the bridges be included in the cost estimates. The City Staff will include all the Council?s suggestions in the cost estimates. Reclassification of Mercer Street. Matters related to the reclassification of Mercer Street and parking restrictions. Mr. Yehl presented a report on traffic volumes on Mercer Street. He stated that the Staff did not have good data between Bissonnet and University because of the infrastructure construction on Mercer. He suggested providing permitted parking to several of the residents on Mercer who are currently not allowed to park in front of their homes. The City Council recessed the Special Session at 7:30 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. The Special Session reconvened at 8:02 p.m. The City Council continued the discussion of Mercer Street. The City Council agreed that parking permits should be issued to several of the residents on Mercer. Council Member Farley suggested that volume measurements should be taken with on street parking and without parking. He stated that Mercer should be conformed back to a normal residential street like the surrounding streets instead of a minor collector with heavy usage. This could possibly be accomplished by allowing parking on the street. The City Staff will present information at a later date on how and when the readings on Mercer will be taken. Report on Police officer recruitment. Matters related to a plan for the recruitment of Police Officers. Police Chief Kevin Begley presented a plan for recruiting strategies and hiring process to the City Council. He suggested that the Police Department begin recruiting officers 2 City Council Special Session, August 27, 2001 outside of the immediate area like Tyler, Longview, Laredo, McAllen, Midland and Odessa. He stated that this process would recruit areas that involve less direct competition, generally lower salaries and benefits and insufficient equipment. Council Member Farley volunteered to help with the recruitment ad. Property located at 4210 Bellaire Boulevard known as Y.M.C.A. (a) Matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property. Mr. Yehl reported that for the past several months the City has been negotiating with the Greater Houston YMCA for the purchase of their facility located on approximately 4.65 acres of land at 4210 Bellaire Boulevard. Since the City?s original offer several inspections have been conducted to determine the condition of building components, including asbestos, lead paint, structural, and mechanical equipment. As a result of these inspections and further review of the tax-exempt debt financing of the Y a First Amendment to Real Estate Sales Contract has been prepared which identifies the modifications to the original agreement as well as outlines items to be addressed as standard and routine maintenance and to be completed by the Y before the City takes occupancy Certificates of Obligation in the amount of $3,370,000 are proposed to finance the purchase of the YMCA. Debt service on the COs would add approximately $100,000 to the City?s 2002 debt service In order to issue the COs, the City must publish a Notice of Intent to Issue Certificates of Obligation. The COs cannot be issued until 15 days after the first notice is published. The proposed schedule calls for the Council to issue the COs at a special meeting to be held on September 17, 2001 with a closing date between September 18 and September 30. Depending on the time period needed to have the COs issued, as an interim measure a Resolution for Reimbursement of Expenditures has been prepared as well. This would permit the City to expend funds for the acquisition prior to the time the City would receive the proceeds from the COs. Frank Ildebrando of Dain Rauscher and Tom Sage of Vinson & Elkins were present at the meeting to discuss the issuance of the certificates of obligation. (b) Matters related to Resolution No. 2001-21. A resolution expressing intent to finance expenditures to be incurred. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Griffin, to approved Resolution No. 2001-21. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: 3 City Council Special Session, August 27, 2001 Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson Voting Nay: None Absent: None (c) Matters related to Resolution No. 2001-20. A resolution authorizing publication of notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation. A motion was made by Council Member Farley, seconded by Council Member May, to approve Resolution No. 2001-20. 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 (d) Matters related to the first amendment to real estate sales contract for the purchase of the Y.M.C.A., including lease provision A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Griffin, to approve the first amendment to the real estate sales contract for the purchase of the Y.M.C.A., including the lease provision. 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 Farley, to adjourn. The Special Session adjourned at 8:56 p.m. 4