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Home My WebLink About112700R CC Min -.J/ /p/f . /7/.//(1" .J .' . CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27,2000 MUNICIPAL BUILDING COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3800 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD 7:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Regular Session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers on November 27, 2000, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Public Works Director, Finance Director, Building Official and Building Administrative Assistant were also present. Council Member Grubb was absent. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 24th day of November 2000 at 2:00 p.m. Public Hearin~. A Public Hearing was held before the Zoning and Planning Commission and the City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas. The purpose for the hearing was to provide an opportunity for parties in interest and citizens to be heard in relation to proposals to amend the City's Zoning Ordinance and subdivision ordinance. Members of the Zoning and Planning Commission present at the meeting were Chairman Charles Nelson, Karol Musher, Larry Kelly, Marilyn Griffin, Marc Boucher and Stephen Poh1. The public hearing was called to order by Mayor Lewis and Mr. Nelson at 7:35 p.m. Mr. Nelson presented the preliminary report from the Commission. In order to ensure understanding of the proposed "Omnibus I" changes, Mr. Kelly read through the changes, while providing explanatory comments on various items. City Attorney Jim Dougherty requested that the memo prepared by Police Chief Kevin Begley on sexually oriented businesses be entered into the record of the meeting. Members of the public were invited to ask questions or speak concerning the proposed amendments. Michol O'Connor, 6119 Lake, expressed concerns about the proposed changes in determining the natural ground level with regard to building height limitation. She commented that flooding was a concern on her property. Council Member Bertini asked the Fire Chief to comment on the fire safety impact on the higher homes and limitations on access. City Council Regular SeS~HJll, November 27, 2000 David Cole, 4104 Cason, addressed high output lighting. He commented that his neighbors share a security light. There being no other residents wishing to speak on the proposed changes, the public hearing closed at 8:20 p.m. All statements, exhibits and documents will be made a part of the official record of this hearing. There were no written comments on this topic. Members of the Zoning and Planning Commission left the meeting to consider comments from the public. Ordinance providin~ for increased annuities. Matters related to the first reading of Ordinance No. 1667. Mayor Lewis read the caption of Ordinance No. 1667 as follows: An ordinance providing for increased prior and current service annuities under the act governing the Texas Municipal Retirement System for retirees and beneficiaries of deceased retirees of the City of West University Place, and establishing an effective date for the ordinance Copies of Ordinance No. 1667, in the form proposed for adoption, were available in the Council Chambers. Finance Director Walter Thomas reported that in the last five years the City Council has authorized increases to annuities paid by the TMRS to the City's active retirees (or their surviving spouses) three times. The TMRS provides for an annual annuitant increase based on percentage of the consumer price index. If increases are adopted annually and inflation remains under control, the cost of the increase is minimal. Funds are available in the 2001 budget to increase the City's retiree annuity by 70% of the percentage change in the consumer price index from December 1999. The cost to the City is approximately $5,000. Mayor Lewis commented on some of her concerns regarding the annual increase. A motion was made by Council Member Ballanfant, seconded by Council Member May, to adopt Ordinance No. 1667 on the first reading. I 2 nno?24 City Council Regular Ses::",m, November 27, 2000 A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini and May None Council Member Grubb Voting Nay: Absent: LocallLon~ Distance Telephone Services. Matters related to a telephone services contract with Southwestern Bell. Fire Chief Terry Stevenson reported that approximately three years ago the City wanted to subscribe to T -1 local service. This service provided the City lower rates, clearer transmission and provided caller ID on inbound calls. At that time SWB was unable to provide T-I service without the City having to change its main telephone numbers. MCI offered the City T-I service using the City's existing telephone numbers, so the City changed its service to MCI at that time. Service from MCI has been problematic. Service was erratic in the beginning and MCI has not been able to bill the services properly and the City has not had a dedicated account representative. Also, since our initial arrangement, MCI has merged with W orldcom. Staff was concerned about the level of service the City would receive from MCI-Worldcom. The City retained Herbst and Associates to evaluate our telecommunications needs. SWB now provides TI service for all local telephone vendors through its Mohawk Exchange facility. SWB can retain the same telephone numbers that are currently active. Further SWB will be able to consolidate all of the City's services into a single bill and provide simplified repair processing. Herbst and Associates has recommended that the City select the "most reliable vendor" and believes that SWB is the best choice. In order to obtain cost-savings rate from SWB, a 60 month contractual commitment from the City is required. This contract is estimated to reduce local telephone service costs by approximately $6,700 per year. Council Member Bertini commented that he had reservations about contracting with Southwestern Bell and that his personal experience with the company has not been satisfactory. He encouraged the Staff to carefully consider the language in the contract. A motion was made by Council Member May, seconded by Council Member Ballanfant, to accept the staff s recommendation and approve the contract with S WB for T -1 services through the State purchasing contract. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: V oting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini and May 3 City Council Regular SeS~HJll, November 27,2000 Voting Nay: Absent: None Council Member Grubb Bid award for Priority Area 7B. Matters related to bids received November 9, 2000 for infrastructure improvements in Priority Area 7B. The following bids were received: Bidder Bid Amount Conrad Construction Company Texas Sterling Construction Contractor Technology, Inc. $6,416,060.25 $6,583,269.75 $6,641,611.80 Public Works Director Ed Menvi1le reported that Conrad Construction is the apparent lowest responsible bidder and is lower than the Engineers estimate by $221,939.75. This under run is due in large part to the northern Yz block of paving on Mercer, Sewanee, Westchester and Rutgers being removed from the project design. A motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member May, to award the contract to Conrad Construction for their most advantageous and low bid in the amount of $6,416,060.25 for infrastructure improvements in Priority Area 7B contingent upon approval from the Texas Water Development Board. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini and May None Council Member Grubb Voting Nay: Absent: Bid award for Pretreatment of Trees. Matters related to bids received November 9, 2000 for the pretreatment of trees III Priority Area 7B. The following bids were received: Bidder Bid Amount Texas Tree Company Trees, Inc. $18,354.60 $19,825.00 4 {!O(\99g City Council Regular Ses~l\Jll, November 27,2000 Mr. Menville reported that pre-treatment of trees is a process which precedes construction and is designed to protect trees which might be most impacted by the work of the general contractor and, to insure that these same trees have the greatest chance for survival. The work generally includes trimming the umbrella of the tree, root feeding, in some cases tree removal, and treatment for insects. A motion was made by Council Member Ballanfant, seconded by Council Member May, to award a contract to Texas Tree Company in the amount of $18,354.60 for the pre- treatment of trees in Priority Area 7B. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini and May None Council Member Grubb Voting Nay: Absent: Staff Report. City Manager Sherman Yehl commended the Public Works Director for working diligently over the last several years and finally receiving reimbursements in the amount of$161,000 from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. City Secretary Kay Holloway reminded the City Council of the tree lighting ceremony to be held December 4th at 6:30 p.m. Council Comments. Council Member Bertini commented that their was an error III his article for City Currents. Mayor Lewis commented on the bridges to be installed over Poor Farm Ditch. Adjournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member May, to adjourn. The Regular Session adjourned at 8:33 p.m. 5