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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS FEBRUARY 19, 2008 Mayor 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: Mayor Derry D. Essary Loren Smith, Attorney Councilman Keith Brown Ruthie Sager, City Administrator Councilwoman Susan Schwartz Steve Smith, Director of Public Works Councilman Dave Ellis Kelly Johnson, City Secretary Councilman Position IV Vacant Katherine Mears, Klotz Associates Councilman Jay Smyre
Samantha Winkelman, a Girl Scout and Jonathan Wilson, a Boy Scout led the Pledge of Allegiance. II. GREET GUESTS, MAYOR’S REPORT A. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SAMANTHA WINKELMAN. SAMANTHA WILL RECEIVE THE GOLD AWARD, THE HIGHEST GIRL SCOUT RANK, ON MARCH 8, 2008 Motion was made by Councilwoman Schwartz and seconded by Councilman Smyre to approve the Proclamation read by Mayor Essary and presented to Samantha. Motion carried 4-0. B. UPDATE ON TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM FUNDING Mayor Essary explained that the City, the Police Department and the Fire Department are receiving information from the Texas Municipal Retirement System regarding changes that are being implemented with the employee pension plan now in place. The preliminary rates to fund the pension plan, at the current level of benefits, are projected to increase. He further stated that a resident of Bunker Hill Village, who has worked with pension plans for a number of years, has offered us a certain number of hours at no cost to help the city analyze the changes that are being put forth.
Mayor Essary explained that it is his opinion that the small cities will not see further projects funded by Metro until at least 2011.
Mayor Essary reported that the city’s bonds have been downgraded because of the insurer. Both insurers of municipal bonds have lost significant portions of their equity because of the sub-prime mortgage problems. Councilman Ellis, who was on Council when the bonds were sold, stated that our bonds have fixed rates and have been rated and sold so it should not have an impact on the city. III. 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: JANUARY 15, 2008 REGULAR MEETING B. JANUARY 2008 FINANCIALS C. 2007 FOURTH QUARTER INVESTMENT REPORT D. KLOTZ ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES RENDERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS:
E. PURCHASE OF JOHN DEERE 310SJ BACKHOE LOADER IN THE AMOUNT OF $74,135.00 (HGAC CONTRACT) LESS TRADE-IN OF $9,500. TOTAL EXPENDITURE $64,635.00; BUDGETED AMOUNT $77,000 F. LANGFORD ENGINEERING, INC., INVOICE NUMBER 13606, DATED FEBRUARY 5, 2008, IN THE AMOUNT OF $476.91 FOR SURFACE WATER DISCUSSIONS, PERMIT NUMBERS FOR HGCSD AND COH PLAN REVIEW G. HUBCO, INC. INVOICE NO 13925 DATED JANUARY 15, 2008 IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,496.11 FOR WOOD LANE PAVING . THE FIRST THREE LOTS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WOOD LANE, TO THE CENTER OF THE STREET, ARE PUBLIC. THE BALANCE OF THE STREET IS PRIVATE. RESIDENTS ON THE PRIVATE PORTION FUNDED THEIR PRO-RATA SHARE H. PURCHASE OF SOFTWARE FOR MUNICIPAL COURT IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,345 INCLUDING 3 MONTHS MAINTENANCE. 2008 BUDGETED AMOUNT FOR THIS ITEM IS $14,995 Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to approve all items on the consent agenda. Motion carried 4-0. IV. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS – No comments from the floor. V. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROPOSAL FROM PREJEAN & COMPANY, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,500 TO PREPARE METES & BOUNDS DESCRIPTIONS FOR THREE ESPLANADES ON GESSNER ROAD FROM MEMORIAL DRIVE SOUTH TO THE BUNKER HILL VILLAGE CITY LIMITS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEDICATING THIS PROPERTY AS PARK LAND Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Schwartz to approve the proposal from Prejean & Company, Inc. The motion carried 4-0. VI. CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT A. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROPOSAL FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR MEMORIAL DRIVE & GESSNER ROAD LEFT TURN LANE AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL REDESIGN IN THE AMOUNT OF $33,400 Motion was made by Councilman Brown and seconded by Councilman to approve the proposal from Klotz in the amount of $33,400. Motion carried 4-0. B. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CHANGE ORDER NO. 5 TO THE BUNKER HILL ROAD PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $273,074.41 TO IMPROVE ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE CONDITIONS ALONG WILLIAMSBURG LANE Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Schwartz to approve Change Order No. 5 to the Bunker Hill Road Project. Motion carried 4-0. VII. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING AN AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BY METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE FOR FUNDING OF THE MEMORIAL DRIVE OVERLAY PROJECT Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to authorize entering into execution of the contract with Metro subject to any revisions relative to the portion being outside of Bunker Hill’s jurisdiction and subject to the City of Houston giving us written authorization to proceed and by adding the term solely to the first sentence in number V as follows: Bunker Hill Village is solely responsible for administering the design and construction contracts for the project. Motion carried 4-0. VIII. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSIDER CANCELLING THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 18, 2008 (SBISD SPRING BREAK WEEK) AND HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 11, 2008 Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to reschedule the Council meeting from March 18 to March 11, 2008. Motion carried 4-0. IX. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT A. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE AND SUBMIT TO TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY THE NOTICE OF INTENT (NOI) FOR STORM WATER DISCHARGES FROM SMALL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEMS (MS4) UNDER THE TPDES PHASE II MS4 GENERAL PERMIT (TX040000) FOR THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE Motion was made by Councilman Smyre and seconded by Councilman Ellis ratifying the action by staff who submitted the Notice of Intent for Storm Water Discharges to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Monday, February 11, 2008 as required. Mayor Essary again thanked Michelle Belco, Attorney at Law and a resident of Bunker Hill Village, for her expertise and the time she spent in assisting the staff in preparation of the Storm Water Discharge Permit. B. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING SIGNAGE RECOGNIZING THE CITY’S SUPERIOR PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY Steve Smith reported that a letter was received in January, 2008 stating that as a result of a recent sanitary survey and a review of our records, it has been determined that the public water system operated by the City of Bunker Hill Village meets the requirement for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Superior Rating. Motion was made by Councilwoman Schwartz and seconded by Councilman Brown to approve an agreement between the City and The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality granting permission to erect standard highway markers on recognized streets leading into the area served by the city. Motion carried 4-0. X. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT A. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING LOWERING SPEED LIMITS ON STONEY CREEK, PLANTATION RD (SOUTH OF MEMORIAL DRIVE), WARRENTON, LONGWORTH & VANDERPOOL City Attorney, Loren Smith, stated that the State Legislature passed legislation in 2005 which allows for residential speed limits to be reduced to 25 mph under specific criteria. This legislation was effective September 1, 2005. The criteria in the Transportation Code §545.356 (b-1) lists the criteria as follows: The governing body of a municipality, for a highway or part of a highway in an urban district in the municipality that is not an officially designated or marked highway or road of the state highway system, is 35 feet or less in width, and along which vehicular parking is not prohibited on one or both sides of the highway, may declare a lower speed limit of not less than 25 miles per hour, if the governing body determines that the prima facie speed limit on the highway is unreasonable or unsafe. After discussion the city attorney was directed to draft an ordinance designating the 25 mile speed limit on Stoney Creek, Plantation Road, south of Memorial Drive, Warrenton, Longworth and Vanderpool. The attorney reminded Council that Vanderpool has no parking on one side of the street. Staff was directed to contact the residents on Vanderpool to see if they wanted to have the no parking ordinance on their street repealed and the speed limit lowered to 25 miles per hour. XI. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT A. HOLY NAME RETREAT CENTER PLANS Ms. Sager reported that the preliminary plats were submitted to the City Secretary on February 14 for Greyton Place Subdivision which consists of 10.79 acres out of the 20.80 acres located at 430 Bunker Hill Road, known as the Holy name Retreat. The tract is proposed to be subdivided into nineteen lots of at least 20,000 square feet. She stated that a meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission to review the plat is scheduled for March 3, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Residents in the immediate area have been mailed copies of the agenda. B. ROOF REPAIR TO CITY HALL The Roof Condition Assessment from Amtech Building Sciences, Inc recommended a series of immediate repairs to eliminate leaks and that roof replacement should be scheduled within one to three years. C. UPDATE ON HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL STUDY ON W151 The City has received no new information from Harris County Flood Control District regarding W151. XII. FIRE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT A. FIRE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES Councilman Brown reported on the Village Fire Department activities as follows: The compensation committee is not ready to report to the full commission; the new engine is close to delivery; there are still problems with the walls and foundation of the building due to the collapse of the water pipes; and he has requested copies of insurance coverage documents to investigate the possibility of a claim for damages. B. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE MEETING Mayor Essary stated that he had attended the compensation committee meeting. There was discussion regarding having a third party compile the salary survey. He stated the Chief believes it would be a reflection on him. He was assured that is not the situation. XIII. POLICE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT A. POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES Councilman Ellis reported that the regular meeting was rescheduled to next week due to a lack of a quorum. XIV. ADJOURN Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to adjourn the meeting at 6:36 p.m. Motion carried 4-0.
Approved and accepted on March 11, 2008.
______________________________________ DERRY D. ESSARY, Mayor ATTEST:
______________________________________ Kelly Johnson, City Secretary |
