CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

OF THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS

SEPTEMBER 16, 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

Councilman Dave Ellis                                                                                                  Kelly Johnson, City Secretary                                                 

Councilwoman Cooky Mays                                                                                         Steve Smith, Director of Public Works

Councilwoman Susan Schwartz                                                                                    John Davis, P.E., Langford Engineering, Inc. 

                                                                                                                                  Tom Ramsey, P.E., Klotz Associates, Inc.

Absent:

Councilman Jay Smyre

II.                GREET GUESTS, MAYOR PRO TEM’S REPORT

The Mayor reported the status of the city as a result of Hurricane Ike.  He stated that Council should be tremendously proud of Ruthie, Steve, Gama, Oziel, and Fray on the job they did during the hurricane.  The city crew had all the primary streets cleared by Saturday afternoon and all the secondary streets cleared by Sunday afternoon.  Steve Smith stated he estimated that Bunker Hill Village had more than 1,000 trees down.

Mr. Smith stated that on Sunday morning Harris County Flood Control W151 drainage structure was at the top of its banks.  As a result of W151 being at its banks and higher than Strey Lane water began to back up onto Strey Lane which caused sheet flow going over to Knipp Road.  As soon as daylight came the city crew was out cleaning inlets on Knipp Road.

Mayor Essary said that he and staff had met with a FEMA representative today and was told that Bunker Hill Village has a 72 hour window for debris removal to be reimbursed at 100%.  The Mayor also said that he wanted the public to know that they are not to touch down power lines and to bring storm debris to the street.  The Mayor also said the city had suspended all tree permits and if a homeowner is requesting a fence permit the city is not requiring a fee.

THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEM IS ADDED AS AN EMERGENCY ITEM TO THE AGENDA OF THE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 AT 5:00 P.M. AT CITY HALL.

CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO CONSENT TO THE MAYOR’S DECLARATION OF LOCAL DISASTER AS A RESULT OF HURRICANE IKE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2008.

Motion was made by Councilwoman Schwartz and seconded by Councilwoman Mays to approve the emergency resolution as presented.  Motion carried 4-0.

III.               DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF APPRAISAL ROLL, ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR'S CERTIFICATE AND RELATED INFORMATION; DESIGNATING A PERSON TO CALCULATE CERTAIN TAX RATES, MAKE CERTAIN PUBLICATIONS AND PERFORM OTHER RELATED TASKS; DECIDING ON THE AMOUNT OF SURPLUS AND UNENCUMBERED FUNDS TO BE USED TO PAY DEBT SERVICE; AND CONTAINING RELATED PROVISIONS

Ruthie Sager stated the 2007 adjusted taxable value is $1,121,586,596 and the 2008 taxable value is $1,214,213,117.  She also said the effective maintenance and operations rate for 2008 is $0.154644/$100 and the rollback maintenance and operation rate is $0.167015/$100.  Ms. Sager went on to say the highest rate Bunker Hill Village could adopt without being subject to a rollback would be $0.277939/$100.

Ms. Sager said the total effective rate for 2008 is $0.266723/$100.  If the city wanted to increase the levy in 2009 from 2008, the state law requires public hearings and notices.

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to approve the acknowledgement of the receipt of the certified appraisal roll as written in item three.  Motion carried 4-0.

IV.                NOTICE OF THE EFFECTIVE AND ROLLBACK TAX RATES FOR 2008 TAX YEAR.

The 2008 effective tax rate is $0.267723/$100 and the 2008 rollback tax rate is $0.277939/$100.

V.                  DISCUSSION OF 2009 PROPOSED BUDGET

Councilwoman Mays stated she wanted the timing of the budget process to be changed when dealing with Memorial Villages Police Department and Village Fire Department.  Mayor Essary stated he is very aware of the problem and wanting to get a resolution from Council to go to the departments annually and request they stay within certain guidelines.

Councilman Ellis stated that he was not sure that the fire and police commissions were aware what the state legislators have done in terms of exposure to rollback rates.  He continued to say Bunker Hill Village is being squeezed by the increases from both Memorial Villages Police Department and Village Fire Department.

With the proposed budget shortfall Mayor Essary is proposing adoption of the rollback rate; move some capital to the 2005 Bond Fund; and lower reserves.  Mayor Essary also stated that the budget that is being proposed does not keep the water system whole.  The Mayor said he will address the water rates at the October meeting.

VI.                DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING 2008 PROPOSED MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING TAX RATE TO FUND THE 2009 BUDGET

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to approve two public hearings on the proposed Maintenance and Operating Tax Rate of .167015 per $100 valuation.  Motion carried 4-0.

VII.             DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING 2008 PROPOSED DEBT RATE TO FUND THE 2009 DEBT OBLIGATION

Motion was made by Councilman Brown and seconded by Councilwoman Schwartz to approve two public hearings on the proposed Interest &Sinking Tax Rate of .110924 per $100 valuation.  Motion carried 4-0.

Another motion was made by Councilwoman Mays and seconded by Councilman Ellis to schedule the public hearings on October 3, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and October 9, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.  Motion carried 4-0.

VIII.        DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF THE CITY’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL’S 2009 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to approve Councilwoman Schwartz as Bunker Hill Villages Houston-Galveston Area Council representative and Councilwoman Mays as the alternate.  Motion carried 4-0.

IX.               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)      AUGUST 19, 2008 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

B.     AUGUST 2008 FINANCIAL REPORT

C.     KLOTZ ASSOCIATES, INVOICE NO. 808107, DATED AUGUST 20, 2008 IN THE AMOUNT OF $265.00 IN CONNECTION WITH MEMORIAL DRIVE AND GESSNER ROAD LEFT TURN LANE

D.     AAA ASPHALT PAY ESTIMATE NO 3 IN THE AMOUNT OF $234,652.11 FOR MEMORIAL DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilman Brown to approve the consent agenda as presented.  Motion carried 4-0.

X.                  CITIZENS’ COMMENTS

Carolyn Hart, 2 Rip Van Winkle, discussed her concerns about her trees and the drainage along Rip Van Winkle.

XI.               JOHN DAVIS, P.E., LANGFORD ENGINEERING, INC, PROGRESS REPORT ON SECOND SURFACE WATER LINE CONNECTION AND REHABILITATION OF WATER WELL BEHIND CITY HALL

John Davis said the water well testing is almost complete and they found levels of concern in all three aquifers.  Mayor Essary asked how Mr. Davis was coming on the design of the second surface water line connection.  Mr. Davis estimated he could have the line complete the first quarter of next year.  Councilman Ellis stated that by adding this second connection it would give Bunker Hill Village blending capability.

XII.             CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

No comments

XIII.          FIRE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

No comments

XIV.           POLICE COMMISSION REPORT

Mayor Essary asked Chief Brye for an update on the traffic issues along Plantation, north of Memorial Drive, during high volume times.  Chief Brye said he met with the principal and president of the PTA of Frostwood Elementary in regards to child safety and the inconvenience the school is causing the neighborhood residents.  Chief Brye said he told the representatives of the school to try and mitigate the number of cars and minimize the number of problems the police department is having there.  He said the school will try and push more carpooling.  Chief Brye said the school also will allow Bunker Hill Village to put something in under the Mayor’s signature in their Tiger Newsletter about the situation.  Mayor Essary said that one thing Council is considering is a no parking, no standing sign for approximately 250-300 feet along the east side of Plantation.

There was no Police Commission meeting last night.

XV.             ADJOURN

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Schwartz to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m.  Motion carried 4-0.

Approved and accepted on October 21, 2008.

_______________________________________

DERRY D. ESSARY, Mayor

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

Kelly Johnson, City Secretary