MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE

CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS

March 11, 2008

Mayor Essary called the special 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                                                 John Hightower, Attorney

Councilman Keith Brown                                              Ruthie Sager, City Administrator

Councilwoman Susan Schwartz                                  Steve Smith, Director of Public Works

Councilman Dave Ellis                                                  Kelly Johnson, City Secretary

Councilwoman Cooky Mays (appointed 3/11)              Tom Ramsey, P. E. Klotz Associates

Councilman Jay Smyre

II.                DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF COOKY MAYS TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF COUNCIL MEMBER POSITION IV.

Mayor Essary explained that Cooky Mays had signed up as a candidate to fill the unexpired term of Position IV in the May 2008 Special Election.  The last day to sign up was March 4, 2008.  No other candidate completed the application for the position; therefore, Mayor Essary recommended that the Council appoint Cooky Mays to fill the vacant position on City Council.

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Smyre to appointment Lula Belle Maddox Mays, known as Cooky, to fill the unexpired term of Councilmember Position IV.  Motion carried 4-0.

The Statement of Elected Official and Oath of Office were administered to Cooky by Mayor Essary.

III.             DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL JUDGE.

Carl Moerer, Presiding Judge of the Bunker Hill Municipal Court recommended appointment of Brian M. Chandler to fill the vacant position of Associate Municipal Judge, formerly held by Stanley Binion who passed away in December 2007.

Motion was made by Councilwoman Mays and seconded by Councilman Ellis to accept the recommendation of Judge Moerer to appoint Brian M. Chandler to the position of Associate Municipal Judge of the Bunker Hill Municipal Court.  Motion carried 5-0. 

Brian Chandler arrived later in the meeting and thanked Council for the opportunity to serve the city as Associate Municipal Judge.

IV.              GREET GUESTS, MAYOR’S REPORT

A.  UPDATE ON TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM FUNDING           

      Mayor Essary informed Council that on March 4, 2008, he traveled to Austin to visit with staff at the Texas Municipal Retirement System regarding the employee pension.  Chief Brye, Chief Calagna, and two fire commissioners, who are members of the compensation committee, also attended the meeting.

B.     2008 VILLAGES INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL

      Mayor Essary reported that the 2008 Festival will be held in honor of former Mayor Bill Marshall.  Ms. Sager explained that Bunker Hill’s role in the 2008 Villages Festival is for the Mayor to serve as chairman of the finance committee.  Mayor Essary has accepted that role.  Letters requesting donations will be mailed to vendors in early May.

C.   TEALWOOD HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING

      Mayor Essary stated that he attended the Tealwood Homeowners Association Annual Meeting on February 26, 2008.  He stated those in attendance are really focused on what the city is doing to designate the median as a city park.  They are also very focused on what the city is doing regarding the neighborhood identification marker.

D.     DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF JOEL PHIPPS TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to accept the recommendation of Mayor Essary and appoint Joel Phipps to the Planning and Zoning Commission.  Motion carried 5-0.

V.                 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 FEBRUARY 19, 2008 REGULAR MEETING

B.   MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 28, 2008 SPECIAL MEETING

C.   MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 28, 2008 ORIENTATION

D.  PURCHASE OF HYDRO-JET TRUCK THROUGH HGAC

E.   KLOTZ ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES RENDERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS:

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

VI.              CITIZENS’ COMMENTS

There were no citizen comments.

VII.           DISCUSSION REGARDING UTILITY COMPANY EASEMENT RIGHTS

Steve Smith, Director of Public Works, explained CenterPoint Energy’s tree trimming practices.  He stated that the company employs a forester to give direction to the contractor they have hired to do the actual trimming.  If a resident refuses entry to a property a survey company and an officer is requested at the site before exercising their easement rights.

VIII.        DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST FOR PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL OF THE 10.01 ACRES OUT OF THE 20.80 ACRES, LOCATED AT 430 BUNKER HILL, KNOWN AS THE HOLY NAME RETREAT.

Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Bill Purifoy, reported that the Board approved the preliminary plat as submitted.

After a lengthy discussion, motion was made by Councilman Brown and seconded by Councilwoman Mays to approve the preliminary plat as presented of the 10.01 acres out of the 20.80 acres located at 430 Bunker Road, known as the Holy Name Retreat.  Motion carried 5-0.

IX.              DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST FOR PRELIMINARY PLAT APPROVAL OF 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.  THIS TRACT IS PROPOSED TO BE SUBDIVIDED INTO NINETEEN LOTS OF AT LEAST 20,000 SQUARE FEET.

After a lengthy discussion, motion was made by Councilwoman Schwartz and seconded by Councilwoman Mays to approve the preliminary plat as presented of 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.  Motion carried 5-0.

X.                 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 9 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS, BY ADDING TO SECTION 9-26 THEREOF TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMIT ON STONEY CREEK DRIVE, PLANTATION ROAD FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH MEMORIAL DRIVE SOUTH TO THE CITY LIMITS, WARRENTON DRIVE, AND LONGWORTH LANE TO 25 MILES PER HOUR IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 545.356 OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE; AUTHORIZING THE PLACEMENT OF SPEED LIMIT SIGNS ON SAID STREETS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF AN AMOUNT NOT LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) OR MORE THAN TWO-HUNDRED AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($200.00) FOR VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION HEREOF; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Schwartz to approve the ordinance as written.  Motion carried 5-0.

XI.              DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PAYMENT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000.  THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE REQUESTED AN AMENDMENT TO OUR TREATED WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CHANGE THE SECOND POINT OF DELIVERY TO THE INTERSECTION OF VALLEY STAR DRIVE AND STONEY CREEK DRIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CITY OF HOUSTON CONSTRUCTION JOB.  UNDER THE AMENDMENT, THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE WILL PAY FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A 12-INCH WATER LINE RUNNING ON STONEY CREEK DRIVE FROM GESSNER DRIVE TO NAUGHTON.  BUNKER HILL VILLAGE WILL PAY 40% OF THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE UPGRADE ($150,000) OF AN 8-INCH WATER LINE TO A 12-INCH WATER LINE.  THE SECOND CONNECTION ENABLES THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE TO MORE ECONOMICALLY ACCESS THE CITY OF HOUSTON WATER LINE.  

Motion was made by Councilwoman Schwartz and seconded by Councilwoman Mays to approve payment to the City of Houston in the amount of $150,000 for the reason stated above.  Motion carried 5-0.

XII.           CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT

A.  WILLIAMSBURG LANE DRAINAGE AND ASPHALT OVERLAY

      This project is on schedule and should be complete by the end of April.

B.   TIMELINE FOR MEMORIAL DRIVE OVERLAY

      Tom Ramsey, P.E., reported that the left turn lane from Gessner northbound west to Memorial will be bid as an alternate with the Memorial Drive Overlay Project.  Plans for the left turn lane will be ready by mid April.

C.     TIMELINE FOR LEFT TURN LANE FROM GESSNER NORTHBOUND WEST TO MEMORIAL

The Memorial Overlay will be bid and ready for the contractor to start work at the beginning of summer.

XIII.        DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ACCEPTANCE AND EXECUTION OF DRAINAGE AND PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENTS FROM RESIDENTS ON WILLIAMSBURG LANE

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Smyre to authorize the Mayor to execute the drainage and public utility easements from the residents on Williamsburg Lane.  Motion carried 5-0.

XIV.        CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

A.     ROOF REPAIR TO CITY HALL IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,525.00

Ms. Sager reported that repairs to the City Hall roof are complete.

B.     CITY OF HOUSTON AUTHORIZATION TO OVERLAY THEIR PORTION OF MEMORIAL DRIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE

Ms. Sager reported that the city of Houston has no objection to Bunker Hill funding the overlay of their half of Memorial Drive from approximately Hibury Drive to Briar Forest Road with the provision that the paving entity coordinate with PWE-traffic permits for lane closures per standard procedures.

XV.           FIRE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

A.     FIRE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES

Mayor Essary reported that the department will soon take possession of the new pumper truck.  The compensation committee is still meeting.

XVI.        POLICE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

A.     POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES

Councilman Ellis stated that the department ended the year with an estimated surplus of $150,000.  The department is using the same auditor as Bunker Hill Village.  The vehicles have new graphics. 

B.     DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING REQUEST FOR 2007 INTER-BUDGET TRANSFERS PER THE ANALYSIS OF THE DECEMBER 2007 FINANCIALS.

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Schwartz to approve the inter-budget transfers as presented.  Motion carried 5-0.

XVII.     DISCUSSION REGARDING LOCATION OF THE TWO CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE IDENTIFICATION SIGNS APPROVED IN THE 2008 G&A CAPITAL OUTLAY BUDGET.

Mayor Essary was asked to report back to Council regarding the proposed location and design of the two city identification signs that are included in the 2008 budget.  Councilman Ellis and Councilman Brown said the city committed to Tealwood to locate two signs on Gessner.  Mayor Essary said when the plans are complete he agreed to take them to the officers of the Tealwood Homeowners Association for their review.

XVIII.  ADJOURN

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Mays to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 p.m.  Motion carried 5-0.

Approved and accepted on April 15, 2008.

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DERRY D. ESSARY, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Kelly Johnson, City Secretary