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HomeMy WebLinkAbout230410 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 on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 6:30 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. 1. Called to Order the Regular Meeting 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, HR Director Urban, Parks and Recreation Director White, Senior Services Manager Brooks, Police Chief Walker, and City Attorney Bounds. Farrell Buller with 110% was also present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance – Councilmember Carroll led the Pledge. 3. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to the Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items. There were no comments from the public. 4. Older Americans and Volunteer Month Matters related to proclaiming May 2023, as Older Americans and Volunteer Month in West University Place. Recommended Action: Proclaim May 2023, as Older Americans and Volunteer Month in the City of West University Place. Ms. Toby Brooks, Senior Services Manager Mayor Sample proclaimed May 2023, as Older Americans and Volunteer Month in West University Place and thanked volunteers for their service. 5. Operational Analysis and Financial Sustainability Strategy Update Matters related to an update on the Operational Analysis and Financial Sustainability Strategy for the Parks and Recreational program by 110 Percent. Recommended Action: Receive update and provide any comments or direction to staff. Ms. Susan White, Parks and Recreation Director and Ms. Farrell Buller, 110%. Ms. Buller with 110% gave a presentation updating Council on the process, what has been done so far, and what the next steps are. She said the key objectives are for the Parks and Recreation Department to remain financially stable and to review current practices to ensure “best practices” for the department. City Council Meeting Minutes, April 10, 2023 2 of 4 Ms. Buller said the common thread in her interviews with Council were: • Sustainable funding and equitable practices • Resident and Non-Resident comparison • Reporting data • Facility utilization/duplication of services Regarding resident and non-resident comparison, Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery noted that one of the things the Parks Board explored that he does not think this study addressed directly is the recovery of costs residents bear by infrastructure that is funded through bond issues or long-term financing. Mr. Montgomery also pointed out, for the record, by going forward with the model outlined in the presentation, residents will continue to finance new facilities that will offer activities. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery also noted on behalf of the Parks Board, that this study was not an effort to identify services or categories that the city does not want to pay for or eliminate. Ms. Buller said the next steps are to establish recommended resident and non-resident cost recovery goals, complete an operational and program analysis, and to identify recommended strategies. Councilmember Carroll said prior to this process, she was not abundantly aware of how important it is to have non-residents participate in the programming offered to residents. 6. Colonial Park Pool Deck Matters related to rejecting bids for the Colonial Park Pool Deck project. Recommended Action: Reject bid proposals submitted by Shirley and Sons and Landscape Art, Inc., for the Colonial Park Deck Replacement project. Ms. Susan White, Parks and Recreation Director Parks and Recreation Director White presented. She noted that the low bid for this project came in over budget and was also incomplete. She said the second bid also came in over the budgeted amount and, therefore, staff recommends rejecting both bids. Ms. White said in lieu of the deck replacement, staff is obtaining pricing to remove a little over half the deck to do other improvements and updates that will create an enjoyable green space that will be within the budgeted amount. Councilmember Bell moved to reject the submitted bid proposals. Councilmember Barnes seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None 7. Professional Real Estate Services Matters related to awarding an agreement with Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc., for Professional Real Estate Services. Recommended Action: Approve the agreement with Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc., for professional real estate services and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager This item was removed from the agenda per City Manager Beach’s request and will be included in the agenda for the next meeting of the Council. 8. Consent Agenda City Council Meeting Minutes, April 10, 2023 3 of 4 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 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 27, 2023. Recommended Action: Approve City Council Minutes of March 27, 2023. Ms. Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to remove Item A, Minutes, for discussion. Regarding the feasibility study to enclose Poor Farm Ditch, City Manager Beach said that after reviewing the Minutes he felt that due to multiple directions given to staff by Council, the description in the Minutes did not fully convey what transpired and he wanted to be sure there is an accurate record. Therefore, Item 12(A) in the Minutes of March 27, 2023, was amended to include the following language proposed by City Manager Beach: 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. The entire Council agreed not to complete Phase II and III of the Enclosure Feasibility Study since the concept does not work from a hydraulic standpoint and repurpose the remaining funds to review the District’s 90% design for possible improvements in stormwater conveyance and evaluate available options for the section between University Blvd. and Bissonnet St. Mayor Sample said she would put first that Council was going to repurpose the funds to look at other options between University and Bissonnet, because that was the main purpose of it. The City Manager then suggested the following revised language for the third paragraph: The entire City Council agreed 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. After discussion, Council agreed unanimously to the revised language and Councilmember Barnes moved to approve the Minutes as amended. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Barnes, Bell, Carroll Noes: None Absent: None City Council Meeting Minutes, April 10, 2023 4 of 4 9. Adjourn Regular Meeting With no other business before the Council, at 7:13 p.m., Councilmember Barnes moved to adjourn the regular meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery 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: April 17, 2023