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HomeMy WebLinkAbout060408S CC Min CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TEXAS CITY COUNCil SPECIAL SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. ATTENDANCE Mayor/Councilmeinbers: Mayor Kelly, Council Members Cohen, Fry, Guffey and Talianchich City Staff: City Manager, City Attorney, Acting City Secretary, Finance Director, IT Manager, Parks and Recreation Director, and Police Chief Parks Sub-Committee Members: Russ Schulze, Janine Schueppert, Mardi Turner, John Neighbors CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Kelly called the Special Meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. 1. Recreational Facilities The following items outlined below were discussed. I. Planning Process Overview presented by Russ Schulze. II. Financing presented by Walter Thomas and Ryan O'Hara (Bond Counsel). a. Fiscal impact of funding a Municipal Bond Package with a monthly tax increase for $5M, $lOM, $15M. III. Leisure Programming Needs presented by Tim O'Connor. IV. Engineering Reports presented by Michael Ross and Tim O'Connor. V. Conceptual Designs presented by Jeff Gerber. "Some members of Council would like to see more green space around the pool. VI. Non-Resident Use presented by Tim O'Connor. This item was discussed with item # III. VII. Estimated Operating & Maintenance Budgets presented by Tim O'Connor. This item was discussed with item # III. VIII. Planning Forward. The following items will display abbreviated comments made during the discussion of such items. These comments are not in the order in which they were made. IX. Should Council consider Rec. facilities needs first and then cost or do we consider a dollar amount first regardless of needs? Cohen - believes we are balancing the needs and the cost effectively. We have an abundance of information. Out subcommittee has sifted through it all and presented us with a plan and I think we should follow tluough with it. Fry - supports the decision of the Parks subcommittee. 1 Sl step is to take what the Parks subcommittee thinks are the needs, the 2nd step is to see if we can afford it and what it cost to do it and see if we can sell it politically. Guffey - also supports the Parks subcommittee decision. We really have a great plan. I personall y would like a little more green space. City Council Meeting. June 4, 2008 Talianchich - the dollar amount is the first need. Whether we have great facilities or not doesn't have anything to do with people wanting to live in West U. I want to do what the people want. Kelly - also believes we have been balancing the needs with the cost all along but we are a little bit heavier on considering the needs. X. Should we consider the Rec. Center, Colonial Park and the Commnnity Bnilding as all intelTelated and thus creating the need to look at them at the same time or do we look at them as independent of each other and thus look at each separately? Subcommittee - the cost factor will be increased if we treat each facility separate. All facilities are interrelated and need to be addressed at the same time. Cohen, Fry, Guffey, Kelly - all agree that each facility is interrelated to the other and need to be considered as a whole. Talianchich - does not think they need to be considered together and each facility could be repaired at separate times. Each facility could have its' own bond election. T. O'Connor - there is staging and phasing that needs to be considered for continuity of programming and minimizing the downtime of programs that our citizens participate in currently. Also there are cost issues on delaying the project and how the project is phased. XI. Are there any prime directives that have come out of the citizen input such as "don't use any more green space than currently being used." Cohen - the people will use the facilities if they are built properly and meet their needs. Fry - the subcommittee's recommendation will fill the needs of what the citizens want. Guffey - wants West U to have first class facilities. Talianchich - does not think Colonial Park is shabby; all it needs is new batlu'ooms and new electrical equipment for the pool. The Rec. center needs to be demolished for green space. Kelly - the residents of West U are building quality homes and we need to have facilities that fit the character of this City. XII. What are the needs? Example: does West U need 2 pools, more indoor space, and/or a covered pool? Cohen -is in favor of a covered pool. Fry - there is a need for a covered pool. Page 2 of 4 City Council Meeting. June 4, 2008 Guffey - we need 2 pools. A covered pool is not absolutely necessary but there is an expectation for it. Talianchich - do not need a covered pool. Need a lap pool for adults and a children's pool. Also need to reduce offered programs and have all programs for West U residents only. Kelly - there is a need for 2 pools and more indoor space. Does not want a bubble and is not sure we need a covered pool. O'Connor - all facilities are being used. We have listened to what the people want and provided programs asked for increasing the use of our facilities. XIII. Can the needs be met by repair of existing facilities or do they need to be replaced or added to? Cohen - this community understands that replacing is the best option. Guffey - cost is almost as much as repairing. Spend a little more to get first class quality. Talianchich - major renovation is not needed. We can get it done with minimal renovations, no structural renovations. Kelly - there was a time when homes and such were remodeled now days, they are being rebuilt. If you look at the cost difference, we need to replace our facilities. XIV. Where should the needs be located? - This item was addressed within other discussions. XV. What is the best way to pay for the needs? Tax dollars, naming rights, etc. Cohen - do not use corporate naming rights but individual naming rights might be useful. Fry - is it wOlth establishing a committee to look into naming rights? Guffey - agrees with Talianchich and is also against advertising in public spaces. Talianchich - I am against naming rights. The amount of money you get for it is not going to be a great deal. I don't like adveltising in public space. John Neighbors - glad we are separating corporate naming rights and individual naming rights. Russ Schulze - Friends of West U Parks is already looking into the naming rights issue. Between Friends and the Parks Board we can look into this for more detail. Kelly - this needs to be looked into. Page 3 of 4 City Council Meeting, June 4, 2008 Further comments: Cohen - many decisions have not been unanimous but those differences have not led others to lobbying independently and not respecting the consensus of the group. Talianchich - the voice of the people who do not speak up are not being represented. I am pursuing exactly what I believe in. The people will judge and that's fine by me. I do want to express the "other side" and will continue to do so. I'm going to be fighting hard to fail this bond issue. Unless we go back to the people with another iteration, you will not get my support. Fry - thanked everyone for the hard work that has gone in to all the gathering and putting together the information. Guffey - this is the best presentation of findings we have had so far. Kelly - thanked everyone. This has been a real team effort and we still have a ways to go. This is a very exciting thing that has fallen into our laps. We have a chance to make an impression on the wants, needs and quality of life for West U. Mayor Kelly Adjourned the Special Meeting at 8:30 p.m. Motion: To adjourn the meeting Made by: Fry Seconded by: Cohen Action: Passed 5-0 Voting Aye: Mayor Kelly, Council members Cohen, Fry, Guffey and Talianchich Voting Nay: None These minutes are excerpts from the Council proceedings. A recording of the meeting is on file in the City Secretary's office. Prepared by: Gayle Schultz, Acting City Secretary Approved: Ie ,;)3-O'iJ' Date of Approval Page 4 of 4