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Home My WebLink About231113 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 Shannon Carroll, Councilmember Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary Clay Brett, Councilmember Matt Hart, Councilmember CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met on Monday, November 13, 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. The agenda was as follows: SPECIAL MEETING (6:00 PM) 1. Call Special Meeting to Order Mayor Sample called the special meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. In attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery, Councilmembers Carroll and Clay, City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, and City Attorney Bounds. Councilmember Hart arrived at approximately 6:15 p.m. 2. Recess Special Meeting and Convene Executive Session Mayor Sample recessed the regular meeting at 6:02 p.m., to consult with the city attorney as permitted by Tex. Gov’t Code Section 551.071 about: 1.A. City of West University Place v. Thomas Tran Park, Cause No. 2023-08661, Harris County District Court; and 1.B. City of Camden, et al., v. E.L DuPont de Nemours and Company, et al., Cause No. 2:23-cv- 03230-RMG-RMG, and In Re: Aqueos Film Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation, Master Docket No. 2:18-mn-2873-RMG, in the United States District Court, South Carolina; and 2. To deliberate real property in accordance with Section 551.072 of the Texas Government Code. 3. Adjourn Executive Session and Reconvene Special Meeting Matters related to any action resulting from Executive Session deliberations. Upon reconvening the special meeting at approximately 6:38 p.m., City Attorney Bounds requested that City Council authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to enter into a settlement agreement regarding the City of West University Place versus Park lawsuit. Councilmember Carroll made a motion to approve the request. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None City Council Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2023 2 of 5 4. Adjourn Special Meeting At 6:40 p.m., Councilmember Brett moved to adjourn the special meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None REGULAR MEETING (6:30 PM) 5. Call Meeting to Order Mayor Sample called the regular meeting to order at 6:41 p.m. Council in attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery and Councilmembers, Carroll, Brett, and Hart. Staff in attendance were City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, City Attorney Bounds, Fire Chief Maxwell, Assistant to the City Manager Bishop, Public Works Director Cameron, Assistant Public Works Director Cast, Finance Director Kalka, Finance Manager Walker, IT Director Brown, and Police Chief Walker Johnny Kim and Craig Maske with Half and Associates and Elizabeth Gilbert with Clark Condon were also present. 6. Pledge of Allegiance Andrew Svahn with Troop 442, Northern Star District Bay Area Council and West U Methodist Church Pack 266 led the Pledge. 7. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to the Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items. Speakers are required to register in advance and must limit their presentations to three minutes each. David Cole, 4104 Cason, spoke regarding the Buffalo Speedway planters and said he thinks $250,000 for six planters, plus the amount for upkeep, is expensive. He also asked why the piping was not installed first instead of spending money for boring and trenching now. Regarding the westside drainage and pavement improvements project, Mr. Cole said he would like the design team to make sure that the city is not throwing money at something that is not going to work. 8. Westside Drainage and Pavement Improvements – Additional Modeling Matters related to a presentation on westside drainage and pavement improvements. Recommended Action: Hear presentation and take any desired action. Mr. Danny Cameron, Public Works Director Halff Engineering presented an update on, and proposed alternatives to, the modeling study presented previously by the city’s then engineer HTJ and Cobb Fendley. They also discussed options for off-site detention that will be needed. After the presentation and discussion, City Manager Beach said the next steps will be to have follow-up discussions with the City’s consultants that seek out grants and come back to Council with a scope of work to move forward with the design. Mr. Beach said with the design, staff will be able to refine the costs and then look at funding options. He added that staff will also coordinate efforts for off-site detention with the Harris County Flood Control District. City Council Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2023 3 of 5 9. Buffalo Speedway Esplanade and Gateway Signage Matters related to gateway signage. Recommended Action: Discuss and provide feedback for color and material coordination to proceed with design. Mr. Danny Cameron, Public Works Director and Elizabeth Gilber, Clark Condon Elizabeth Gilbert with Clark Condon presented Council with color and material options for gateway signage and went over the cost estimates and project schedule. After discussion, Council said they like the terracotta blend with the limestone accent as recommended by Clark Condon. Ms. Gilbert said they will create alternative concepts and designs with the information provided and bring them to Council for final selection. RECESS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONVENE A MEETING OF THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TRUST (EBT) FOR WHICH A SEPARATE EBT AGENDA HAS BEEN POSTED. At approximately 7:58 p.m., Council recessed the regular meeting and convened a meeting of the Employee Benefits Trust. See EBT Minutes for any action taken. RESUME REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AFTER ADJOURNMENT OF THE EBT MEETING At 8:37 p.m., the Employee Benefits Trust adjourned its meeting and the regular City Council meeting resumed. 10. Transfer of Funds to Employee Benefits Trust Matters related to authorizing the transfer of funds from the City of West University Place to the City of West University Place Employee Benefits Trust to pay for employee-related benefits beginning with the January 2024 contribution. Recommended Action: Authorize the continued transfer of funds on a monthly basis from the city of West University Place to the City of West University Place Benefits Trust beginning with the January 2024 contribution. Mr. James Urban, Human Resources Director. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to authorize the continued transfer of funds on a monthly basis from the city of West University Place to the City of West University Place Benefits Trust beginning with the January 2024 contribution. Councilmember Hart seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None 11. Updates to the City’s Purchasing Policy Matters related to an update to the City’s purchasing policy. Recommended Action: Discuss and take any desired action, up to and including approving the resolution updating the purchasing policy. Ms. Neelie Walker, Finance Manager Following a presentation by Finance Manager Walker, Councilmember Brett moved to approve the resolution updating the purchasing policy. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None City Council Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2023 4 of 5 12. Designating Representatives to the Houston-Galveston General Assembly Matters related to designating a representative and alternate to the Houston-Galveston General Assembly (H-GAC). Recommended Action: Discuss and designate a representative and alternate to the 2024 H-GAC General Assembly. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager Councilmember Carroll moved to designate Mayor Sample and Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery as the representative and alternate, respectively, to the 2024 H-GAC General Assembly. Councilmember Brett seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None 13. Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation Matters related to a proposed settlement with 3M Company and Dow Chemical to provide money to water utilities to test for and treat PFAS in public water systems due to the potential hazards associated with PFAS. Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to opt out of the lawsuit, or to remain in the suit if the City of Houston does not opt out. Mr. Scott Bounds, City Attorney City Attorney Bounds presented and recommended that the city opt out of the lawsuit or follow City of Houston’s lead if they decide not to opt out. Councilmember Hart moved to authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to opt of the lawsuit or to remain in the suit if the City of Houston does not opt out. Councilmember Brett seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None 14. 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 a Councilmember requests an item be removed from the Consent Agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. A. City Council Meeting Minutes Matters related to approving the City Council Minutes of November 6, 2023. Recommended Action: Approve Minutes of November 6, 2023. Ms. Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary B. Election of Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors Matters related to a resolution electing Mike Sullivan to serve on the HCAD Board of Directors to represent cities other than Houston. Recommended Action: Adopt resolution casting the City’s vote for Mike Sullivan to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Harris County Appraisal District to represent cities other than Houston. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager City Council Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2023 5 of 5 C. Purchasing Cooperatives Matters related to approval of a resolution adopting the city’s purchasing policy. Recommended Action: Approve resolution, authorizing participation in Choice Partners, GSA Advantage, OMNIA Partners, PACE, Sourcewell, Texas SmartBuy, and TIPS for Cooperative Purchasing Services and authorize the City Manager to execute the required agreements. Ms. Neelie Walker, Finance Manager Councilmember Brett moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None 15. Adjourn Meeting With no further business, Councilmember Brett moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart 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: