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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 Page 2 of 5 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. Page 3 of 5 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. Page 4 of 5 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 Page 5 of 5