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HomeMy WebLinkAbout102802R CC Min CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 28,2002 MUNICIP AL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers (3800 University Blvd.) on October 28,2002, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Farley, Griffin and Jackson. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Finance Director, Police Chief and City Planner were also present. Council Member May was absent. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 25th day of October 2002 at 4:00 p.m. Formal Session Citizen Comments. Mayor Lewis invited citizens who wished to address the City Council to come forward as their names were called. Arthur L. Hirdler, 6416 Community, presented a letter to the City Council regarding sidewalks. He stated that he opposed the proposed recreation loop with mile markers and wide sidewalk width and that it sounded like the jogging path that the residents rejected years ago. He also stated that there should be pervious, tree friendly sidewalks in the City. Prooerty located at 3771 Rice Boulevard. Matters related to the property located at 3771 Rice Boulevard including Ordinance No. 1722. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1722 as follows: An ordinance relating to parks; dedicating the property known as 3771 Rice Boulevard as a park; amending the code of ordinances of the City of West University Place, Texas; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject Copies of Ordinance No. 1722, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. City Council Regular Session, October 28, 2002 City Attorney Jim Dougherty reported that this was the second reading of the Ordinance that has already been reviewed and was requested by the City Council to dedicate the property as a public park. A motion was made by Council Member Griffin, seconded by Council Member Farley, to approve Ordinance No. 1722 on the second and final reading. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Voting Nay: Abstain: Absent: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Farley and Griffin None Council Member Jackson Council Member May The motion passed. Fees for solid waste services. Matters related to fees and charges for solid waste service including Ordinance No. 1723. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1723 as follows: An ordinance establishing and reestablishing fees and charges for activities, goods and services provided by the City; containing a provision to authorize the City Manager to establish fees and charges in certain circumstances; and containing findings and provisions relating to the subject Copies of Ordinance No. 1723, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that during the discussion of the budget for 2003 and also in 2002 there was a need for a solid waste rate increase. This ordinance would establish that solid waste increase as a $1.50 for all residents and would produce about another $100,000 a year. The fund has lost approximately $76,000 each year over the last several years. This additional revenue is needed to bring the revenues in line with the expenditures. The ordinance amendment proposes the following changes: . Increasing regular Solid Waste fees from $14.25 to $15.75 per month. . Increasing Senior discounted Solid Waste fees from $6.50 to $8.00 per month. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley, to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 1723. 2 City Council Regular Session, October 28, 2002 The City Council asked questions regarding the loss of revenue and the increase to the Senior citizens. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Voting Nay: Absent: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Farley and Jackson Council Member Griffin Council Member May The motion passed. Police motorcycle. Matters related to a motorcycle for the Police Department. Council Member Farley commented that this matter was discussed during the budget process and a resolution was never reached. One common refrain that is heard from residents throughout the City is concern over vehicular traffic. He stated that research has indicated that motorcycle traffic enforcement is one of the most effective means. Police Chief Kevin Begley addressed safety issues. He stated that motorcycle police officers have a fraction of the number of accidents per mile driven as officers in patrol cars. Motorcycles are a lot safer now then they use to be because of the anti-lock brakes, improved lighting systems, video cameras and moving radar. Council Member Griffin asked questions about the price of the motorcycle and safety issues with regard to the amount of rainfall in the Houston area. She also addressed Insurance coverage. The City Council agreed to defer this item until the next meeting. Poor Farm Ditch oedestrian brid2es. Matters related to the pedestrian bridges along Poor Farm Ditch. Public Work Director Ron Wicker reported that some time ago, the West U City Council approved the design of the bridge columns. Construction proceeded and everything completed except the construction of the brick columns, which has delayed the final completion of the project. The problem was the original light fixture design was too large for proper mounting on the designed columns. Tim Hansen was asked to do whatever was necessary to correct the problems and he has now submitted a revised design. There are no budget impacts as Mr. Hansen has agreed to pay for any extra charges associated with the original design problems. 3 City Council Regular Session, October 28, 2002 Mr. Wicker stated that Staff has reviewed the latest design and found it acceptable as designed if: 1) Re-approved by the City Council 2) Mr. Hansen obtained the Seal of a Registered Professional Structural Engineer, 3) All additional cost was the responsibility of Mr. Hansen. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Griffin, to approve the redesign of the columns. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Farley, Griffin and Jackson None Council Member May Voting Nay: Absent: City Council minutes. Matters related to the minutes of the Special Session conducted on October 7, 2002 and Regular Session conducted on October 14, 2002. A motion was made by Council Member Jackson, seconded by Council Member Farley, to approve the minutes as presented. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Farley, Griffin and Jackson None Council Member May Voting Nay: Absent: Staff report. City Manager Michael Ross reported that the staff attended a meeting with the principal of the West University Elementary and the Southside residents regarding University Boulevard's conceptual drawings. Comments were received and weekly meetings will take place to continue to work through the design. Mayor Lewis requested that this item regarding the City Center be placed on the next agenda. Council comments. Council Member Griffin commented about vandalism problems on Belmont, Duke and Pittsburg. 4 City Council Regular Session, October 28, 2002 Council Member Farley thanked the Recycling Board members and City Staff for their work on heavy trash day. He also thanked everyone involved in the sidewalk presentation. The City Council recessed the Formal Session to convene in Informal Session at 7:20 p.m. Informal Session Tree preservation. Matters related to tree preservation including the Tree Trust, tree protection and replacement during construction, tree master plan, etc. Nes Tesno, City Planner/Forrester, stated that the current Tree Trust Balance is $31,625.60. Approximately, $22,000 will be used to plant the 67 30-gallon trees next month. Mrs. Tesno submitted the following report: Tree Trust Status. Tree removal applicants are required to replant trees when healthy trees are removed in the city of West U. The exact number of replacement inches is dependent upon an evaluation of the tree taking various characteristics into account such as species, condition and size. The West U Tree Trust was implemented to give an alternative to replanting trees onto the property. Applicants may donate $100 per inch into the Tree Trust. These funds are used to plant trees in other areas of the city. All residents are given the opportunity to apply for a free tree. Last year 133 trees were planted in the fall. Currently, there are 67 applications for 30- gallon trees that will be planted next month. Trees for Houston, a nonprofit organization, manages the West U Tree Trust. Tree Replacement Requirements. The City regulates the removal of healthy trees. Upon application a tree is evaluated and applicants are informed of the number of diameter inches they are required to replace. They have a number of options: 1) Plant the required inches 2) Plant trees elsewhere in the city 3) Donate to the West U Tree Trust 4) A combination of the above options. Replacement trees must be a minimum of a 2" diameter tree and at least 75% of the inches must be trees that are on the qualified tree list. The qualified tree list is a list of preferable trees that do well in our area. These trees must be planted on the subject property unless the subject lot already exceeds its Minimum Planting Standard (Dependent on lot size, a certain number of trees are required on the property) and they 5 City Council Regular Session, October 28, 2002 have submitted documentation that the trees are planted elsewhere in the city. All trees are inspected and measured by staff to confirm compliance. An applicant can also donate money to the Tree Trust as previously mentioned or replace by a combination of options. Tree Master Plan. The City does not presently have a street tree master plan. A street tree master plan is a planning and management tool that usually includes an inventory of all city trees and a policy on removals, replacement, and maintenance requirements. An inventory could document condition, size, species and any other characteristic that would help the city manage its urban forest. This inventory could then be used to plan removals of any hazardous trees, pruning of low limbs, or removals of undesirable trees. Inventories also record empty spaces that allow for planting of trees. A tree planting program can be implemented that would plant desirable trees in appropriate locations. Policies for street trees can be as simple as removing any hazardous trees and replanting or a plan to remove undesirable trees as the City of Southside Place has done with their tallow tree removal and replacement program. The City of West U does not maintain the trees in the right of way; it is left to the adjacent homeowner to care for these trees. Currently, the City has only a partial inventory of trees due to the infrastructure program. However, this inventory is incomplete and needs to be updated (it has been several years since the most of the data was collected). Many cities with geographic information system (GIS) capabilities maintain this information digitally and can access it readily. The current data is not readily accessible. Mrs. Tesno stated that the Staff was recommending the following: West U Tree Trust. A tree removal permit cost $25 for a healthy tree; the cost has not changed in 10 years. Permits for dead, diseased or dying trees are free of charge. Staff recommends that the cost of a tree permit be increased to $50. It is not recommended to increase the per inch cost of a donation to the Tree Trust. Increasing this figure will most likely deter applicants from donating. Tree Master Plan. A current and well maintained inventory of street trees in our city could be an effective tool for the management of the urban forest. Funding would have to be budgeted; there are grants that can be applied for to help defray the costs. Staff will investigate this issue. Once the initial inventory is completed staff can maintain the database. Dependent upon the scope of the Tree Master Plan some of it can be funded through the Tree Trust (i.e. planting). Other actions such as removals and pruning would have to be budgeted. The City Council agreed that Staff should begin to develop a street tree inventory and a simple Tree Master Plan that includes identification and removal of hazardous trees and low limbs. 6 City Council Regular Session, October 28, 2002 Quarterly report. Matters related to the third quarter report. The City Council reviewed the quarterly report. Board or Commission meetin2s. Matters related to Board and Commission meetings (Zoning & Planning, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Building & Standards Commission, Parks & Recreation, Public Safety, Senior Services, Recycling & Solid Waste Reduction and Drainage Committee) including reports from Council liaisons. There were no reports during this meeting. 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 Council meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. 7