CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE

MINUTES

CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS

REGULAR MEETING

OCTOBER 16, 2007

Mayor Pro Tem Essary called the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bunker Hill Village to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 11977 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas.

I. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Present: Also in Attendance:

Councilman Keith Brown Ruthie P. Sager, City Administrator

Councilwoman Susan Schwartz Tom Ramsey, P. E., Klotz Associates, Inc.

Councilman Dave Ellis Laurie Gantt, Permit Clerk

Mayor Pro Tem Essary Loren Smith, Attorney, Olson & Olson

Councilman Jay Smyre Mike Ogden, P. E., Klotz Associates, Inc

Manu Isaac, P.E., Klotz Associates, Inc

Absent: Kelly Johnson, City Secretary

Absent: Steve Smith, Director of Public Works

II. PUBLIC HEARING – PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2008 BUDGET

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO SPEAK AND SHALL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD

Mayor Pro Tem Essary called the Public Hearing to order and invited all interested persons to speak.

There being no one interested in speaking, motion was made by Councilwoman Schwartz and seconded by Councilman Brown to adjourn the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0.

III. GREET GUESTS, MAYOR PRO TEM’S REPORT

A. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING VACANCY ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

Mayor Pro Tem Essary reminded Council that the appointment to fill the vacancy on Board of Adjustment will be on the November agenda for consideration and if anyone has a recommendation, please submit their resume prior to the meeting.

IV. CONSENT AGENDA:

“ALL MATTERS LISTED UNDER CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION, THERE WILL NOT BE SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS. IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WILL BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.”

A. MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS:

1) SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

2) OCTOBER 2, 2007 SPECIAL MEETING

3) OCTOBER 2, 2007 PUBLIC HEARING

B. AUGUST 2007 FINANCIAL REPORT

C. THIRD QUARTER INVESTMENT REPORT

D. BUNKER HILL VILLAGE DELINQUENT TAX ROLL AS OF 09/18/2007

E. CALCO CONTRACTING, LTD., PAY ESTIMATE NO 9, CUT OFF DATE SEPTEMBER 30, 2007, IN THE AMOUNT OF $903,621.01

F. KLOTZ ASSOCIATES, INVOICE 907060 DATED SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,224.02 FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FROM AUGUST 16, 2007 TO SEPTEMBER 15, 2007 IN CONNECTION WITH BUNKER HILL ROAD/MEMORIAL DRIVE SIDEWALK AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to approve all items on the consent agenda. Motion carried 5-0.

Wayne Derrick, 12406 Pinerock Lane (713-464-8877) said the way to decrease cut-through traffic is to make traffic go smoothly on the main arteries. Spoke in favor of the left turn lane at Memorial Gessner intersection.

Sally Curtis, 338 Tamerlaine (713-827-7747) reminded everybody that Ed Hanson gave a study showing the comparison between 2007 and 2002. He stated the traffic going north on Memorial from Gessner is less today than it was in 2002.

Andrea Hite, 219 Gessner (713-467-9885) asked if there would be a vote today. She said her belief is the left turn lane will not decrease the cut-through traffic.

Deborah Straughn, 155 Stoney Creek (713-467-2040) spoke as President of Whispering Oaks Civic Club. She said of the emails she received, there was an 85% support for installation of a left turn lane from Gessner going north to Memorial west. She read a few of the comments from residents who signed an on-line petition.

Maureen Erney, 242 Stoney Creek Drive (713-465-4149) said she is a 30 year resident of Bunker Hill Village. Ms. Erney agreed with the engineer, stating that not putting in a left turn lane will continue to increase the cut-through traffic in the neighborhoods.

Hugh Rawls, 41 year resident of Frostwood, not in Bunker Hill Village, asked if high tech lighting would improve mobility at the intersection.

Mike Ogden, P. E., Manu Isaac, P.E., and Tom Ramsey, P. E., of Klotz Associates Inc addressed issues that were brought up at the public hearing held on October 2^nd. He also explained split phasing.

Mayor Pro Tem Essary asked each member of City Council if they would like to comment. Councilman Brown said he is undecided but we have to do something and it appears we may not have much in the way of options. Councilwoman Schwartz said one day the traffic is fine and the next day she is stuck in traffic so at this point, she is undecided. Councilman Ellis said safety is the number one priority but a close second is our obligation to our constituents to maintain the neighborhood and that is in direct conflict with desires of thousands of non Bunker Hill residents who want to use this as a cut-through major artery. Being a long time resident of the area and watching what happened to Piney Point when they connected San Felipe with Memorial, he stated that it is his firm belief that if we don’t manage this responsibility with some real deliberate thought and justification a higher power could make this decision for us. Councilman Smyre said response time for police and fire is of great concern to him and he will do whatever he can to address the safety issue. Mayor Pro Tem said he does not want Gessner to be widened. He further stated that we cannot control development beyond our jurisdiction and it is very unfortunate that Bunker Hill Village has been put in this position.

Mayor Pro Tem Essary stated that seventy-nine percent of the general operating budget in Bunker Hill Village goes to the police and fire departments. He invited Chief Calagna and Chief Brye to discuss response time.

Cleve Calagna, Chief of the Village Fire Department, addressed the reduced response time and difficulties involved in getting the emergency vehicles to Zone B, west of Strey Lane.

Chief Gary Brye, Memorial Villages Police Department said the police department vehicles are much easier to maneuver than the fire department but they have seen an increase in traffic. He stated that the largest traffic accident location is within one block of the Memorial Gessner intersection.

Mayor Pro Tem Essary appointed a committee consisting of Councilman Brown and Councilman Ellis to meet with the current and incoming presidents of the Tealwood Homeowners Association.

A. AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS, GENERAL BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2008; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CITY FOR SUCH YEAR AS REFLECTED IN SAID BUDGET; ESTABLISHING THE PROCEDURE FOR INTRA-BUDGET TRANSFERS; AND CONTAINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT.

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Smyre to approve the ordinance adopting the General Budget for the Year 2008 as captioned above. Motion carried 5-0.

B. APPROVING AN AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF $0.167279 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION EXPENDITURES

Motion was made by Councilman Brown and seconded by Councilwoman Schwartz to approve the tax rate of $0.167279 for the 2007 tax year. Motion carried 5-0.

Motion was made by Councilwoman Schwartz and seconded by Councilman Brown to approve an ad valorem tax rate of $0.122418 for the 2007 tax year. Motion carried 5-0.

D. AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AD VALOREM TAXES OF THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS, FOR THE YEAR 2007; PROVIDING THE DATE ON WHICH SUCH TAXES SHALL BE DUE AND PAYABLE; PROVIDING FOR PENALTY AND INTEREST ON ALL TAXES NOT TIMELY PAID; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT OR IN CONFLICT HEREWITH

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Schwartz to approve the Ordinance providing for the levy and collection of ad valorem taxes for the year 2007. Motion carried 5-0.

VII. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING OPTIONS FOR DECREASING TRAFFIC CONGESTION THROUGH THE MEMORIAL DRIVE AND GESSNER ROAD INTERSECTION AS WELL AS ADDRESSING THE SAFETY ISSUES AND NEIGHBORHOOD CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC.

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to table this item. Motion carried 5-0.

VIII. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS, BY DELETING ALL OF SECTION 16-26 OF ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 16 THEREOF AND SUBSTITUTING THEREFOR A NEW SECTION 16-26; ESTABLISHING RATES TO BE CHARGED BY THE CITY FOR WATER, SANITARY SEWER AND SOLID WASTE SERVICES; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT OR IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.

Motion was made by Councilman Brown and seconded by Councilman Ellis to approve the above captioned ordinance establishing rates to be charged for water, sanitary sewer and solid waste services. Motion carried 5-0.

Tom Ramsey stated that the Bunker Hill Road Project should be completed in approximately one month.

Tom Ramsey stated that they would model the recent rain event to see what impact it had on W151. Councilman Ellis stressed the fact that the engineers have repeatedly told council that detention to the north of Bunker Hill Village is a must.

Tom Ramsey stated that the sidewalk on Taylorcrest should be finished by the end of the week.

A. NOTICE THAT THE HOLY NAME RETREAT CENTER PLANS TO SUBDIVIDE APPROXIMATELY NINE ACRES OF THEIR TWENTY ACRE TRACT LOCATED ON BUNKER HILL ROAD

Representatives from the Holy Name Retreat Center informed us last month that they are planning to subdivide a portion of their 20 acre site located on Bunker Hill Road. They are in the process of putting together a package of information that will be given to developers. The preliminary sketch that was shown to us had 17 lots. After a developer is selected, we will be given more information on their plans.

This year all five members of the city council have agreed to attend the Annual Conference of The Texas Municipal League November 7-9 in Dallas.

Ms. Sager gave the dates available at the Houston Racquet Club for the annual appreciation dinner. Councilmembers agreed on December 5.

We have received the Class A Groundwater Certificates for 15.036 million gallons of groundwater credits from the City of Houston. If the bacteria samples taken on Friday at the Taylorcrest plant come back as negative we will begin taking surface water again.

Councilmembers have committed several hours, on October 30 and continued on October 31, to review the overall operations of the city with staff. The meeting will be posted on our website.

Alternate Fire Commissioner Keith Brown reported that there are some administrative issues that the commission is working through. They are under budget and the city will receive our pro rata share in the near future. A new pumper truck is scheduled for purchase in 2008.

Peter Slot reported that bids for insurance coverage for employees of the Police Department, Piney Point and Bunker Hill Village are being reviewed and will be presented to the Police Commission on October 29.

Commissioner Slot complimented the councilmembers on the fantastic job they have done in carrying on city business after the death of Bill Marshall.

Motion was made by Councilman Brown and seconded by Councilman Ellis to adjourn the meeting.