The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About230327 CC MinThe City of West University Place A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL STAFF Susan Sample, Mayor David J. Beach, City Manager John Montgomery, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Bounds, Olson and Olson, City Attorney John P. Barnes, Councilmember Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary Melanie Bell, Councilmember Shannon Carroll, Councilmember CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in special and regular sessions on Monday, March 27, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., in the Municipal Building at 3800 University Boulevard, for the purpose of considering the agenda of items listed. The meeting was held in person and via Zoom. SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA: 1. Call Special Meeting to Order Mayor Sample called the special meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council in attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery and Councilmembers Barnes, Bell, and Carroll. Staff present were City Manager Beach and HR Director Urban. 2. Convene into Executive Session City Council will convene into executive session in accordance with the following provision of Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code (TGC): At 6:01 p.m., Mayor Sample recessed the special meeting and convened an Executive Session to discuss the Municipal Court Clerk position as allowed per Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code. 3. Close Executive Session and Reconvene Special Meeting Matters related to any desired action resulting from the executive session. Mayor Sample adjourned executive session at 6:30 p.m. and reconvened the special meeting. No action was taken. 4. Adjourn Special Meeting At 6:30 p.m., Councilmember Carroll moved to close the special meeting. Councilmember Bell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None City Council Meeting Minutes, March 27, 2023 2 of 5 REGULAR MEETING AGENDA: 5. Call Regular Meeting to Order Mayor Sample called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Council in attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery and Councilmembers Barnes, Bell, and Carroll. Staff in attendance were City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, Public Works Director Cameron, Police Chief Walker, and City Attorney Bounds. Tim Buscha and Carol Harrison with IDS Engineering and Jim Webb with the Goodman Corporation were also present. 6. Pledge of Allegiance – Councilmember Bell led the Pledge. 7. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to the Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items. Clay Brett, 3720 Albans, read a comment into record on behalf of Dr. Jamie Padgett, resident at 3720 Wroxton and Chairwoman of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Rice University who agrees that the recommendation *not to proceed with any enclosure* of Poor Farm Ditch makes sense per model results. David Cole, 4104 Cason, reserved his comments until the Joint Public Hearing with the Zoning and Planning Commission. Spyros Maragos, 5932 Auden, spoke regarding construction next to his home and asked Council to “right the wrongs” before final inspection. 8. 2023 Arbor Day Proclamation / Tree City U.S.A. Designation Matters related to proclaiming April 1, 2023, as Arbor Day in West University Place. Recommended Action: Proclaim April 1, 2023, as Arbor Day in the City of West University Place. Mr. Craig Koehl, Urban Forester and Mr. Danny Cameron, Public Works Director Mayor Sample proclaimed April 2023, as Arbor Day in West University Place. 9. Joint Public Hearing with the Zoning and Planning Commission Matters related to a Joint Public Hearing to hear comments for and against amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. Recommendation: Hold Joint Public Hearing to hear comments from the public. Mr. Danny Cameron, Public Works Director Chair of the Zoning and Planning Commission John Cutrer called the Joint Public Hearing to order at 6:40 p.m. In attendance for the ZPC were Commissioner and Vice Chairman Wilson, Secretary Powell and Commissioners Fisher, Mazzu, Takashima, and Howard Mayor Sample called the Joint Public Hearing to order 6:40 p.m. In attendance for the City Council were Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery and Councilmembers Barnes, Bell, and Carroll. Chair Cutrer explained that the hearing was to hear from the public regarding proposed changes to the Code relating to the following: City Council Meeting Minutes, March 27, 2023 3 of 5 • Artificial Turf – Review the current regulations stated under Appendix A, Article 7, Table7-5a, Note 5 of the Code of Ordinances and determine if artificial turf should be permitted to be installed in front-yard landscape areas in lieu of natural vegetation. • Book Sharing Exchanges – Review current regulations for front yard structures stated under Appendix A, Article7, Table 7-6 of the Code of ordinances and determine if changes should be made to facilitate the installation of book sharing exchanges, generally know, and referred to as “Little Free Libraries”. • Curb Cuts – Review the current regulations for curb cuts stated under Chapter 70, Article2, Section70-27 and Appendix A, Article 7, Table 7-5a, Note 5 of the Code of ordinances and determine if changes should be made to clarify the approval process for additional curb cuts in certain street configurations. • 3/7 Exception – Review current side-yard setback requirements for narrow lots under Appendix A, Article7, Table 7-2, Note 2 of the Code of Ordinance when attempting to utilize the”3/7 Exception” and determine if changes should be made to add greater clarity to the existing exception criteria. After the briefing by Chair Cutrer, he opened the Public Hearing at 6:44 p.m. to hear from the public. David Cole, 4104 Cason, spoke regarding the hearing on book sharing exchanges (Little Free Libraries). He said this is something the City should not be dealing with and that none of the existing little free libraries meet the City’s requirements. With no other comments from the public, Chair Cutrer moved that all statements, exhibits and documents be made a part of the official record of this hearing and that the public hearing be formally closed. Vice- Chair Wilson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Cutrer, Wilson, Powell, Fisher, Mazzu, Takashima, Howard Noes: None Absent: None With no other comments from the public, at 6:54 p.m., Chair Cutrer moved that all statements, exhibits and documents be made a part of the official record of this hearing and that the public hearing for the Zoning and Planning Commission be formally closed. Vice-Chair Wilson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Councilmember Barnes moved that all statements, exhibits, and documents be made a part of the official record of this hearing and that the public hearing for the City Council be formally closed. Councilmember Bell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 10. On-Call Construction Materials Testing Services Matters related to awarding contract for Construction Materials Testing services. Recommended Action: Approve contract with All-Terra Engineering, Inc., for on-call construction material testing services and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. Mr. Danny Cameron, Public Works Director Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to approve the contract with All-Terra Engineering and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. Councilmember Barnes seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. City Council Meeting Minutes, March 27, 2023 4 of 5 Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 11. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grant Administration Matters related to grant administration for a $2.5 million grant from the EPA for the Milton Street Water Line Replacement Project. Action: Approve agreement with The Goodman Corporation in the amount of $85,904 to administer the grant and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager Councilmember Barnes moved to approve the agreement with The Goodman Corporation and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. Councilmember Bell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 12. Feasibility Study to Enclose Poor Farm Ditch – Phase I Update Matters related to an update on the hydraulic validation of enclosing Poor Farm Ditch between University Boulevard and Bissonnet Street. Recommended Action: Discuss and provide direction. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager Tim Buscha with IDS gave a presentation on the feasibility study to enclose Poor Farm Ditch. There were questions and answers during and after the presentation and City Manager Beach said upon hearing from Council, he said there are remaining funds that were budgeted for three phases of this project, so he will scratch the remaining two phases and repurpose the existing funds for the new scope of work, which is to look at not only the south portion of the ditch, but also look at what the future would be for the north portion. The Minutes were amended to add the following after discussion at the April 10, 2023, Council meeting: The City Engineer presented their findings for Phase I (Hydraulic Review) of the feasibility study to enclose the north section of Poor Farm Ditch from University Blvd. to Bissonnet St., which determined that it was not hydraulically feasible at this time, without adverse impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. To develop a proactive partnership with Harris County Flood Control District (District) on the future of Poor Farm Ditch, the City Council requested staff develop a level of effort to provide future options for an open channel design on the section between University Blvd. and Bissonnet St. Additionally, the City Engineer suggested doing a high-level review of the District’s current 90% design for the section between University Blvd. and Bellaire Blvd. and whether they are any adjustments that could be made to convey more water through this section and maintain the Atlas 14 requirements. After discussion, Council agreed unanimously not to complete Phase 2 and 3 of the Feasibility Study and to repurpose the remaining funds to look at the north section between University Boulevard and Bissonnet Street to evaluate the available options for an open channel design. 13. Consent Agenda All Consent Agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless at a Council member’s requests City Council Meeting Minutes, March 27, 2023 5 of 5 in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. A. City Council Meeting Minutes Matters related to approving the City Council Minutes of March 13, 2023. Recommended Action: Approve City Council Minutes of March 13, 2023. Ms. Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary B. Sanitary Sewer Lining Project Matters related to a contract for manhole lining. Recommended Action: Award contract in an amount of $250,000 for sanitary sewer lining services to National Works, Inc., and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. Mr. Danny Cameron, Public Works Director C. Storm Sewer Management Program (Maintenance) Matters related to a contract for sewer cleaning. Recommended Action: Award contract to National Works Inc., in an amount not-to-exceed $108,000, for storm sewer maintenance, and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract for this work. Mr. Danny Cameron, Public Works Director D. Street Maintenance (Pavement Lifting) Matters related to a contract for pavement raising to address water ponding issues. Recommended Action: Approve contract with Concrete Raising Corporation for an amount not to exceed $80,000 and authorize the city manager to execute the contract. Mr. Danny Cameron, Public Works Director E. Replacement of Assault Vests / Ballistic Plates Matters related to the purchase of assault vests and ballistic plates to replace expiring and out of warranty equipment. Recommended Action: Approve the purchase order with Velocity Systems in the amount of $67,687.00 for the replacement of assault vests and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. Mr. Ken Walker, Police Chief Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Councilmember Barnes seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 14. Adjourn Regular Meeting With no other business before the Council, at 8:10 p.m., Councilmember Barnes moved to adjourn the regular meeting. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None Audio of the meeting is temporarily on the City’s website. If the audio is no longer on the website, you can obtain a copy, and any presentation, from the City Secretary’s office. Prepared by: Thelma A. Gilliam, TRMC, City Secretary Council Approved: Approved (as amended) April 10, 2023