Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout112601S CC Min CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 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 November 26, 2001, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members May, Farley, Griffin and Jackson. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney 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 20 day of November 2001 at 5:00 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. 2001-30. City Attorney Jim Dougherty reported that Section 3 of Resolution No. 2001-30 was amended to change the officials designated to sign a site certificate on behalf of the City. Cardboard recycling and report from Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board. Matters related to cardboard recycling and a report from the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board. Chair of the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board Rick Jenkins reported that the Board was recommending that Council instruct City trash crews to leave plain cardboard at the curb for pick up with recycling items on each Wednesday. They would like this effective in December just in time for the holiday packages. Mr. Jenkins stated that as much as 3-5 tons of good cardboard is disposed of each week with regular garbage which adds up to approximately $7,500 a year in costs and lost income. Mr. Jenkins stated that he would present the sticker to be placed on plain cardboard being set out with regular trash at the next council meeting. City Council Special Session, November 26, 2001 Recommendation and report from Parks and Recreation Board. Matters related to a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board relating to the Y.M.C.A. usage and feasibility plans and the acquisition of additional land for park space. Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board Will Bertron reported that the Board recommended the following with respect to the Southwest Y.M.C.A. property: (1) That the City of West U undertake as soon as possible the effort and expense to make certain that any and all possible A.D.A. matters are properly identified well in advance of the City taking possession of the property. If any A.D.A. related issues become evident that would cause the City to legally not be able to enjoy immediate use of the facility as it is today, the Parks Board recommends that the City develop a plan to remedy the A.D.A. related issues as soon after possession as is possible. (2) That the City Staff, and the Parks & Recreation Department, led by Director Mark Mailes, and assisted by the Parks & Recreation Board, undertake the effort and expense within the next several months to develop a basic ?usage plan? for the YMCA that addresses how the City will utilize the facility upon it?s taking possession of same. (3) That the City Council of West U authorizes and agrees to fund a long term ?feasibility study? for the YMCA, to be initiated shortly after such time that the City takes possession of the YMCA property. Said study would likely engage the services of professionals such as architects and engineers, and should have a goal of resulting in a 15+ year plan for the possible redevelopment and long-term usage of the property. The City Council requested that the City Staff present a process and plan at a future council meeting. Mr. Bertron commented that the Parks Board has been asked to put on their next agenda a discussion about acquiring additional parkland. He stated that the Master Plan addresses areas in the city where no parks are located although those areas are close to the elementary school which has a playground. Property in this area can be in excess of a million dollars. Mr. Bertron stated that even though the Parks Board could come up with some kind of process or framework for evaluating properties, the funding issue still remains an open- ended issue that will need to be resolved The City Council recessed the Special Session at 7:30 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. 2 City Council Special Session, November 26, 2001 The Special Session reconvened at 7:57 p.m. Executive Director for Friends of West University Place Parks Fund. Matters related to the creation of a part-time position of Executive Director for the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. City Manager Sherman Yehl reported that since its inception, the Friends board has been totally volunteer driven. Over the 13 years Friends has raised over $1.15 million in funds for West U parks. However, due to the type and number of programs Friends is now operating, it is becoming more difficult to find a volunteer willing to take on the chair position, particularly for several years at a time. In addition record keeping and program consistency is starting to become inadequate with the volume of funds raised through Friends? programs. The fund currently has a balance of $450,000, not an unsubstantial fund to be managed by volunteers. The time may have come for the Friends to take the next step and hire a part-time Executive Director to be responsible for record keeping and storage of files, follow-up with donors, coordinating the annual Park Lovers? Ball, preparing and submitting foundation grant proposals, and serving as a central point of contact for all Friends? programs. The Friends have proposed a joint funding and management relationship with the City for a three-year period. During this period, the position would be evaluated and a determination made if the position could be made self-supporting through increased revenues. Initially, Friends would fund salary costs for Year 1 and it is proposed that the City would provide benefit costs that are estimated to be $10-15,000. During Year 2 salary costs would be split with the City, although the City would again assume responsibility for benefits. Should fundraising be successful during this second year, contributions from both the Friends and the City for funding the position could be offset by additional revenue. During Year 3, the City would assume risk for all costs if fundraising was not adequate to cover expenses. At the end of Year 3 the position would be evaluated and a decision made as to whether the arrangement should continue. During the tenure of the Executive Director, he/she would report to the City Manager relating to day-to-day responsibilities and report to the Chair of the Friends board regarding implementation of board programs and objectives. Over a three-year period direct and indirect costs associated with this position are estimated to be $165,000 with Friends contributing approximately $60,000 in direct salary expenses. Linda Gray, Chair of the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund was present at the meeting to answer questions. The City Council discussed contracting a person to serve as the Executive Director. 3 City Council Special Session, November 26, 2001 The Staff will report further on this agenda item at a future meeting. Re-appointment of Board and Commission liaisons. Matters related to the re-appointment of the City Council liaisons to the Boards and Commissions. The City Council liaisons beginning December 1 are as follows: Zoning and Planning Commission Danny Jackson Zoning Board of Adjustment Linda Lewis Building and Standards Commission Bill May Parks and Recreation Board and Friends of West University Place Parks Fund Marilyn Griffin Adult Services Board Linda Lewis Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board Mike Farley Public Safety Board Mike Farley 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 discussed property located on Bissonnet. 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 May, to adjourn. The Special Session adjourned at 8:22 p.m. 4