CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

OF THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS

JUNE 17, 2008 – 5:00 P.M.

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

Mayor Essary called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 11977 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas.

Present:                                                                                               Also in Attendance:

Mayor Derry D. Essary                                                                        Ruthie Sager, City Administrator

Councilman Keith Brown                                                                      Loren Smith, City Attorney

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

Councilman Dave Ellis                                                                          Katherine Mears, P.E. Klotz Associates, Inc.

Councilwoman Cooky Mays                                                                  John Davis, P.E., Langford Engineering, Inc.

                                                                                                           Kelly Johnson, City Secretary                     

                                         Steve Smith, Director of Public Works

Absent:

Councilman Jay Smyre

II.                GREET GUESTS, MAYOR’S REPORT

A.     DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CANCELLATION OF JULY COUNCIL MEEETING

Mayor Essary stated that Bunker Hill Village generally does not have a July council meeting.

Motion was made by Councilwoman Schwartz and seconded by Councilman Brown to cancel the July meeting.  Motion carried 4-0.

B.     MAYORS’ MEETING WITH DAN PATRICK, STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 7

Mayor Essary stated he had lunch with Senator Patrick, the five Village Mayors and the Mayors of Tomball, Houston, Humble, and Jersey Village.  Mayor Essary stated Senator Patrick said from the state, senate, and legislative bodies it is a very good likelihood that they are going to raise the state sales tax. 

Also from the meeting Senator Patrick asked the Mayors if they want a ceiling on appraisals or a ceiling on revenue increases.  Mayor Essary stated the Village Mayors’ told Senator Patrick that ad valorem taxes are practically the villages only revenue source and to be mindful of that fact.  Mayor Essary also stated that he told Senator Patrick the villages continue having the biggest problem with the state not fixing the school finance problems.

Mayor Essary stated that the Village Mayors will be meeting with Beverly Woolley tomorrow and will be telling her the same thing.

III.             REPORT BY JOHN DAVIS, P.E., LANGFORD ENGINEERING, INC. ON REPAIRS TO WATER WELL #2

John Davis reported on the repairs to the well.  He stated they have repaired the top of the liner pipe.  Mr. Davis stated currently they are jetting the material that is built up at the bottom of the well.  Mr. Davis also stated they should be ready to televise the well again late Wednesday or Thursday morning.  There are two holes in the pipe that need to be patched.  Next week they will begin water sampling.

Councilman Ellis wanted to know if we were still on budget.  Mr. Davis responded that one hole at forty feet was not in the budget and that could run over budget $4,000 to $5,000.

If they don’t find anything in the debris at the bottom of the well, Mr. Davis stated the well should be up in 4 weeks.  Mr. Davis also stated we are currently pumping 1.8 million gallon of water daily.

IV.              REPORT BY CITY ENGINEER

A.     PROGRESS BY AAA ASPHALT ON LEFT TURN LANE AT GESSNER AND MEMORIAL DRIVE OVERLAY

Tom Ramsey stated that the project had begun.  Mr. Ramsey stated AAA Asphalt committed to do the work around Frostwood Elementary and the intersection of Memorial at Gessner before school starts in late August.

Steve Smith was asked when AAA Asphalt will be done with the left turn lane.  His response was in approximately three weeks.  Mr. Smith also stated they will begin work on the intersection of Memorial Gessner when they complete the left turn lane.

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 THE MAY 20, 2008 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

B.     MINUTES OF THE MAY 28, 2008 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING

C.         FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR MAY 2008

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

E.      LBG-GUYTON ASSOCIATES, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7,600.00 FOR SERVICES THROUGH TESTING AND OUTLINING REMEDIAL RECONSTRUCTION STRATEGIES FOR WELL #2 THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE WELL PROVIDING WATER OF ACCEPTABLE QUALITY

F.      GEOTEST ENGINEERING, INC. PROPOSAL FOR MATERIALS TESTING ON THE MEMORIAL DRIVE OVERLAY PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $34,383.00

G.     A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS, ACKNOWLEDGING REVIEW OF THE PUBLIC FUNDS MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT POLICY INCLUDING APPOINTMENT OF THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

Councilwoman Schwartz wanted to know why the Investment Policy was on the consent agenda.  Mayor Essary requested to remove item G from the consent agenda.

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Mays to approve the consent agenda, only items A through F.  Motion carried 4-0.

Mayor Essary requested item G. be put on August agenda so he could have time to review the Investment Policy.

VI.              CITIZENS’ COMMENTS

None

VII.           CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

A.     PRELIMINARY REPORT OF TAXABLE VALUES (PRIOR TO HEARINGS) FOR THE TAX YEAR 2008

Ms. Sager reported that the preliminary taxable values were in and from January 1, 2007 to January 1, 2008 there was a $136,959,491 increase or a 12% increase.  Ms. Sager stated this is before any hearings or new property.  Ms. Sager went on the say that with the increase we will probably have to decrease Bunker Hill Villages tax rate by 3¢.

VIII.        FIRE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

A.     FIRE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES

Chief Calagna reported on response time.  For reporting purposes he divided the city into three zones and concluded it’s a distance issue.  Mayor Essary stated it is a distance, speed and congestion issue.  Mayor Essary also stated if we are dealing with distance, speed and congestion issues with particularly EMS service, we should be discussing substations.  Mayor Essary stated he is not seeing any of that being discussed at Fire Commission Meetings.

B.     DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING 2009 PROPOSED BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,123,100.00.  BUNKER HILL VILLAGE ASSESSMENT IS 19% TOTALING $973,389.00

Chief Calagna stated the proposed 2009 General Fund budget is $4,948,100 and the proposed Sinking Fund is $175,000 for a grand total of $5,123,000.00.  He also stated they have a sliding scale for pay increases going from 0% to 4.5%.  Chief also clarified that the Sinking Fund is where fire trucks are purchased from.

Councilman Brown stated the 2009 proposed Fire Department budget is a reasonable budget and recommended approval.

Mayor Essary stated he was very satisfied with the fire service except for one thing that the Chief probably cannot do anything about.  The Mayor went on to say the response time in the western portion of the city continues to deteriorate.  The Mayor stated it’s a simple matter of where the Fire Department is located. 

Mayor Essary also stated he continues to think that Bunker Hill Village is paying more than its proportionate share.  Councilman Brown stated that the interlocal agreement for the Fire Department needed to be updated and at that point it may be the time to review the percentages the cities pay.

Motion was made by Councilman Brown and seconded by Councilman Ellis that the 2009 Proposed Fire Department be approved as presented.  Motion carried 4-0.

IX.              POLICE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

A.     POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES

Peter Slot reported that the commission met last night.  One of the things discussed at the commissioners meeting was the efficiency of the department.

B.     DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING  GREATER HARRIS COUNTY 9-1-1 EMERGENCY NETWORK NEIGHBORHOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM UPGRADE AGREEMENT

Chief Brye stated the proposed agreement is an update and upgrade to the Harris County 911 system so Harris County can bring everything in-house.  Chief Brye stated he encouraged continued participation and requested Bunker Hill to approve the agreement.

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Mays to approve the agreement as presented by the Police Department.  Motion carried 4-0.

C.     DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING 2008 BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR CRIME PREVENTION TECHNOLOGIES

Peter Slot stated that at last night’s meeting they decided to table the items on the budget amendment for crime prevention technologies because the Police Department had several requests in for grants on the amended items.  Mr. Slot stated these items will increase the efficiency of the department.  The requested items totaled $130,415.00.

Councilman Ellis asked Chief Brye to give a brief overview on the requested items.  Chief Brye stated the equipment included in-car laptop computers for $77,715; surveillance cameras for $4,500; FLIR infra-red cameras for $26,600; and one-in-car automatic license plate recognition system for $21,600.

No action was taken.

X.                 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF REPLATTING OF LOTS 3 & 4 BLOCK 1 OF OURLANE ADDITION V. 364 PG. 149 H.C.M.R. TO CREATE ONE SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT

Steve Smith stated originally this property was one lot and later was subdivided into two.  Mr. Smith and the City Attorney, stated approval of this plat does not need the approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission and does not require a public hearing.  Mr. Smith said state law provides that if all the homeowners in the platted subdivision have a sworn affidavit that they agree with the request, approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission and a public hearing is not required.

Both Mayor and Council expressed concerns that this did not require approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission and a public hearing.  Again the City Attorney assured all that as long as the city had affidavits from all the contiguous land owners no other meetings or hearings were required.

Motion was made by Councilman Brown and seconded by Councilwoman Mays to approve the replatting of lots 3 & 4, block 1 of Ourlane Addition contingent up the receipt of the approval of the homeowners as required by state statue.  Motion carried 4-0.

XI.              ADJOURN

Motion was made by Loren Smith and seconded by Councilman Ellis to adjourn the meeting at 6:07 p.m.  Motion carried 4-0.

Approved and accepted on August 19, 2008.

_______________________________________

DERRY D. ESSARY, Mayor

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

Kelly Johnson, City Secretary