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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 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 October 22, 2001, with the following members present:
Mayor Pro Tem May presiding, Council Members Farley Griffin and Jackson. The City
Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Finance Director and Public Works Director
were also present. Mayor Lewis was absent.
The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code,
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Chapter 551, on the 19 day of October 2001 at 1:00 p.m.
Agenda Review:
The City Council reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under
consideration with the Staff.
Sidewalks.
Matters related to sidewalks, construction plans and criteria, material and design
standards, street width and grade changes, parking regulations, tree preservation, ADA
compliance and criteria and related items. This may also include specific plans for
Priority Area 9, which is the area bounded by University Boulevard, Buffalo Speedway,
Bellaire Boulevard and Poor Farm Ditch.
Mayor Pro Tem May reported that the Sidewalk Committee had recently developed and
tested a rationale for the location of sidewalks based on the accessibility to each property.
Fronts of houses would have a sidewalk; side streets would have one sidewalk to
establish connectivity. They also followed a methodology that looked at the percentage
of complete sidewalks. The Committee also discussed recommending that the City hire a
sidewalk coordinator, which would probably be a landscape architect who would be able
to coordinate the activity of foresters and engineers and work with the individual property
owners at specific problematic situations.
The City Council discussed narrowing the streets in Priority Area 9 and grade changes.
They also addressed cost estimates and the responsibility for future maintenance of the
sidewalks.
Council Member Griffin stated that the City should set priorities of repairing and
replacing the broken sidewalks first and infill where sidewalks are missing and then any
City Council Special Session, October 22, 2001
funds that are left from the five million dollars could be used to install sidewalks where
they do not exist.
Council Member Farley requested updated cost estimates on constructing sidewalks with
ADA compliant ramps.
The City Council recessed the Special Session at 7:30 p.m. to convene in Regular
Session.
The Special Session reconvened at 7:55 p.m.
Perimeter easements.
Matters related to the acquisition of easements for sewer upgrades.
Public Works Director Ed Menville reported that the Staff was attempting to acquire
certain easements as part of the City?s perimeter infrastructure program to repair old
sewer lines. As of this date the proposal received from a consultant was too expensive
and the Staff is attempting to find a better approach.
Mr. Menville stated that an update would be presented at the first meeting in November.
Weslayan traffic study.
Matters related to a preliminary report on the Weslayan Street traffic study prepared by
Wilbur Smith Associates.
City Manager Sherman Yehl reported that the traffic study was done at the
recommendation of the Traffic Task Force based on a petition that was submitted by a
number of residents along Weslayan Street. They had identified a number of issues such
as speeding cars, illegally passing vehicles, difficulty for pedestrians at crossings and
noise. The Traffic Task Force had suggested a traffic study be done to consider
improvement options and the City retained Wilbur Smith Associates to conduct the study.
Mr. Yehl suggested that the study be referred to the Public Safety Board for their review
and consideration and to bring back a recommendation to the City Council.
The City Council agreed to refer the report to the Public Safety Board.
Report from Board or Commission Liaisons.
The City Council reported on Board or Commission meetings attended by the liaisons.
Council Member Farley reported that the Zoning Board of Adjustment met and heard two
requests for variances. Both were approved.
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City Council Special Session, October 22, 2001
Council Member Griffin reported that the Zoning and Planning Commission had set
priorities for the next six months. She also reported that the Adult Services Board would
be purchasing furniture for their seating area.
Council Member May reported that the Parks and Recreation Board held two public
meetings to discuss the development of Colonial Park. Comments from the public would
be considered and possibly incorporated into the plans.
Charles Nelson, Chair of the Zoning and Planning Commission, presented a working plan
for the Commission over the next six months.
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 Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley, to adjourn. The
Special Session adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
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