HomeMy WebLinkAbout101308R CC Min®rf 0 The City
A Neighborhood City
CITY COUNCIL
Bob Kelly, Mayor
Bob Fry, Councilmember
Phyllis Cohen, Councilmember
Chuck Guffey, Councilmember
Michael Talianchich, Councilmember
of West University Place
STAFF
Michael Ross, City Manager
Alan Petrov, City Attorney
Thelma Lenz, City Secretary
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in regular session Monday, October
13, 2008, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, West University Place, Texas,
beginning at 6:30 p.m. to consider the following:
MAYOR KELLY CALLED THE REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Those also present: Mayor Pro Tern Fry, Councilmembers Cohen, Talianchich and Guffey, City
Manager Ross, City Secretary Lenz, City Attorney Petrov, Assistant City Manager/Public Works
Director Pfeifer, Finance Director Daugherty, Assistant Finance Director Thomas, Parks and
Recreation Director O'Connor, and Police Chief Walker.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG
NOTICE. City Secretary Lenz confirmed the notice of this meeting was duly posted in accordance
with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 19th of September 2008 at 3:30 a.m.
Public Comments
Citizens who wish to address items that are not on the agenda will be permitted to speak
to the City Council at the microphone after introducing themselves and giving their address.
[Note: State law will not permit the City Council to fully discuss debate or consider items that
are not on the agenda. Items that cannot be referred to the City Staff for action may be placed
on the agenda of a future City Council meeting.]
There were no speakers to come forward to address items not on the agenda.
Citizens who wish to address agenda items
Citizens who wish to address specific agenda items will be permitted to speak to the City
Council at the microphone after introducing themselves and giving their address.
Citizens may speak and discuss the November 4, 2008 bond election and city recreational
facilities.
Herman Dobbs, 3521 Nottingham, spoke to say that he has been a taxpayer for over 33
years and is opposition of the bond issue. He said as a regular user of the Colonial Park gym,
he has found the claims of the buildings conditions exaggerated. He also stated that he was
City Council Meeting, October 13, 2008
astonished that Council would vote for the bond election at a time when there were already
dark clouds on the economic horizon and that it seems there was blatant propaganda in the
latest issue of the City Currents. He said to suggest that the West U tax base would likely
increase significantly over the next three years, indicates that our privileged community would
not be affected by the raging economic storm. Mr. Dobbs also stated that there is no mention
of rapidly rising municipal bond rates, only that a suggestion that the City knows exactly what
the costs of the bonds will be. He also stated that he thought this bond issue represented an
extravagance, but now he feels it represents folly.
Susan Ohsfeldt, 4101 Tennyson, also spoke on the bonds. She referred to a printout from
Assistant Finance Director Thomas' office, which shows the structure of the bonds to be where
there is no principal reduction in the first 9 or 10 years and that in exchange for borrowing, in
this instance the example was $15 million, we would end up paying back in taxes $26 million.
She asked why the bonds are being structured to where we are throwing money away on
interest and why are they not being amortized in a more fiscally responsible way. Ms. Ohsfeldt
said also said looked at the plans for the recreation center and one of the most troubling things
for her is that we are putting in a City organized and subsidized daycare center, which is what
is stated on the website. She said she doesn't think we have any business providing daycare
services that are sponsored by the City.
Joe Foster, 3715 Tangley Road, spoke to say that given that West U's recent experience has
been that projects funded by bond propositions have substantially gone over their initial cost,
and with the expectation that the Rec Center bond proposition, if it passes, will do the same, he
would ask that the mayor and council publicly say how they prepare to cover an overrun on the
$13.8 million bond issues, particularly if it is significantly in 7 digits.
Mayor Kelly responded that if that were to happen, as we proceed further, we would determine
what our options would be at the time. He said with this Council, and if the next Council is as
conservative, the likelihood of that happening would be small, but yet it is always good to have
a contingency to figure out what we would do if it did happen. He said he's read that municipal
bond issues are favorable and attractive to the investment community right now, because of the
relatively low risk involved in them. He said with our ratings, the City should be able to get a
very good interest rate, at least in the foreseeable future.
Councilmember Guffey pointed out that we wouldn't be issuing the bonds immediately, but
rather in the next two years.
John Neighbors, 2809 Wroxton, spoke as co-chairman of the Senior Services Board and
reported that at the Seniors Board's monthly meeting last Thursday all fifteen members had an
opportunity to review the proposed Parks and Recreation program. He said after a good
discussion, the Board voted unanimously to approve and recommend the support of the Parks
and Recreation program.
Councilmember Talianchich stated that he is a fiscal conservative and believe that half the
citizens in West U are and said now is the time to be reducing our debt and not increasing it.
Councilmember Guffey stated that he is also a fiscal conservative and believe that pouring
money down a rat hole to repair the old facilities is not fiscally responsible. He said for $13
million we will save a whole lot of money on maintenance in the future.
Councilmember Talianchich responded that we don't need to spend much to make it workable
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City Council Meeting, October 13, 2008
Councilmember Guffey responded it would be only a one time repair as opposed to 40 years
Councilmember Talianchich stated that it might be appropriate at another time in the future to
start spending money, but said now is not the right time. He said both the Rec Center and
Colonial Park will be repaired by insurance funds and brought up to scratch.
Councilmember Guffey said the buildings are 60 years old, so we'll be repairing and patching
these buildings for the next 30 or 40 years. He said if we put in new facilities, we'll save all that
money.
Mayor Kelly noted that it will be up to the majority of the citizens of West University Place as to
the direction they want our Parks and Recreation program to go.
Councilmember Cohen stated that she hopes the citizens look to the long view of what the
community needs and not solely look to today's economic climate, which may be very different
from tomorrow's economic climate. She said remember that the bonds will be issued a year or
two from now and there will be planning and discussion with the community as to the actual
specifics of the building. She said we should take a look as what the citizens as a whole need.
She said she thinks it is very important that citizens have up-to-date, ADA compliant facilities
that meet the needs of seniors, babies and everybody in between.
2. Public Hearing on Tax Rate
Matters related to the second and final public hearing to hear comments for or against the
proposed tax rate for the City of West University Place.
Mayor Kelly opened the public hearing at 6:48 p.m., and with no comments from the public,
closed the hearing at 6:48 p.m.
3. 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 Council
member 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 Minutes
Approve the special City Council meeting minutes of September 19, 2008, and the
special and regular City Council meeting minutes of September 22, 2008.
Councilmember Cohen moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilmember Guffey
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Kelly, Councilmembers Fry, Cohen, Talianchich, and Guffey
Noes: None
Absent: None
4. Rescheduling City Council Meetings
Matters related to rescheduling City Council meetings in November and December 2008 due to
Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Recommended Action: In November, change meeting
date from November 24 to November 17, 2008 and in December, change meeting date from
December 22 to December 1, 2008 to coincide with the tree lighting ceremony.
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City Council Meeting, October 13, 2008
Councilmember Cohen moved to reschedule the meetings as recommended. Councilmember
Guffey seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Kelly, Councilmembers Fry, Cohen, Talianchich, and Guffey
Noes: None
Absent: None
5. Election Agenda
Orden del dia referente a la elecci6n
Chddng trinh nahi sd cua cuoc bau cd
(a) Authorize execution of an Agreement with Harris County Relating to Joint Election to be
held November 4, 2008. Mr. Alan Petrov, City Attorney and Ms. Thelma Lenz, City
Secretary [see Agenda Memo 7A-B]
Autorizar la ejecucl6n de un convenido con el Condado de Harris en relaci6n con la
elecci6n conjunta del4 de noviembre de 2008.
Cho phep ky Thda Thuan vdi Quan Harris lien quan tdi Cuoc Bau Cu Ket Hop se duorc To
Chuc vao ngdy 4 thcing Muni mot, 2008.
(b) Authorize payment to Harris County for joint election costs.
Autorizar el pago al Condado de Harris los costos de la elecci6n conjunta.
Cho phep trd cdc khoan chi phi to chuc cu6c bau cu kit hop cho Quan Harris.
City Attorney Petrov presented and stated that because the date coincides with the federal
election being held by Harris County and to simplify the process the City is holding a joint
election with Harris County to split the costs associated with the election. He also explained
that due to the damage to the Recreation Center, the voting location for Precinct 133 is now
Colonial Park.
Mayor Pro Tern Fry moved approve item 5(a). Councilmember Cohen seconded the
motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Kelly, Councilmembers Fry, Cohen, Talianchich, and Guffey
Noes: None
Absent: None
Mayor Pro Tern Fry moved to approve item 5(b). Councilmember Cohen seconded the
motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Kelly, Councilmembers Fry, Cohen, Talianchich, and Guffey
Noes: None
Absent: None
6. Appointment of a Veterans Committee
Matters related to the appointment of a Veterans Committee to honor West University
Veterans.
Mayor Kelly explained how the idea to appoint a committee and the purpose came about. After
discussion, Mayor Kelly appointed Councilmember Guffey to serve as the Council liaison. City
Attorney Petrov suggested having a Task Force or Ad Hoc Committee to be charged with this
one task to avoid having an on-going committee.
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City Council Meeting, October 13, 2008
Councilmember Guffey and City Attorney Petrov will work on written procedures and
Councilmember Guffey will let Council know when he is ready to bring it before Council.
At this time, Mayor Kelly noted that the Council and Manager's reports are no longer on the
agenda. City Attorney Petrov explained that in light of a recent Attorney General's Opinion, the
reports listed on the agenda must be more specific as to what the discussions would be and
requested that this item be added to the next agenda for discussion.
7. Executive Session
In addition to any Executive Session listed above, Council reserve the right to at any time
during the session convene in a closed session pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas
Government Code, for reasons including but not limited to: Section 551.071 (consultation with
legal counsel to seek or receive legal advice or consultation regarding pending or contemplated
litigation); Section 551.072 (discussion about the value or transfer of real property and other
real estate matters; Section 551.074 (personnel matters); 551.076 (deliberation about security
devices); Section 551.087 (deliberation regarding economic development).
There were no Executive Session items for discussion.
8. Convene into Open Session
Not applicable as there was no closed session.
9. Adjournment
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you plan to attend this public
meeting and you have a disability that requires special arrangements, please contact City
Secretary Thelma Lenz at 713.662.5813 at least 24 hours prior to the meeting so that
reasonable accommodations can be made to assist in your participation in the meeting.
The Municipal Building is wheel chair accessible from the west entrance and specially
marked parking spaces are available in the southwest parking area. Special seating will be
provided in the Council Chambers.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tern Fry moved to adjourn the regular session at 7:02 p.m. Councilmember Cohen
seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Kelly, Councilmembers Fry, Cohen, Talianchich, and Guffey
Noes: None
Absent: None
j
Prepared by: ~
Thelma A. Lenz, City Secretary
Date Approved: - 3 7 Q O
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