CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

OF THE CITY OF BUNKER HILL VILLAGE, TEXAS

MAY 5, 2009 – 5:00 P.M. 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Essary called the meeting to order at 5:05 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                                                       Kelly Johnson, City Secretary                         

Councilman Dave Ellis                                                           Steve Smith, Director of Public Works                                                     

Councilwoman Cooky Mays                                                  City Engineer, Tom Ramsey

Councilwoman Susan Schwartz           (arrived @ 6:00 p.m.)                                                

Councilman Jay Smyre           

II.                DISCUSSION and possible action regarding the village fire department proposed 2010 budget.

Councilman Brown stated the Fire Commission is preparing a budget in accordance with the instructions from the mayors.  Councilman Brown said the budget will be flat with a 2% raise and will reduce the matching of TMRS funds from 2 to 1 to 1½ to 1.  He also stated there still is a great deal of reluctance and opposition to the TMRS changes within the Fire Commission.  The budget should be ready on May 18^th. 

No action was taken on this item.

III.             DISCUSSION regarding the rainfall event on April 28, 2009.

Tom Ramsey said Bunker Hill Village had a 100 year event in 3 hours in the early morning of April 28, 2009.  Gary Struzick commented that the rain gauge at Buffalo Bayou and Sam Houston Tollway showed during the hours of 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. 7.09” of rain.  Mr. Smith said Bunker Hill Village had an estimated 35 homes that had water in them.

Tom Ramsey and Gary Struzick with Klotz Engineering discussed the drainage issues of W151, W149, and W146.  There was much discussion with city council about drainage and flooding issues and what possibly could be done to improve those issues within Bunker Hill Village.  Mayor Essary stated a 10 or 15 year event is filling W151 and starting to backflow into the City.  Councilman Ellis wanted to go on record as stating W151 at 8½’ to 10’ of water begins to backflow into the city.

Some possible ideas that were discussed to improve flooding within W151 were detention in place, widening W151 channel, elevation banks along W151, flap gates, and keeping the water north out of Bunker Hill Village.  Mayor Essary said the number one problem in Bunker Hill Village is W151.  The mayor discussed possible legal action against METRO National to stop additional development north until there is a solution to the flooding in W151.

Mayor Essary said he would have an action item on May 19^th agenda for an engineering study for a short term, immediate approach to flooding issues to include W151, Carolane Trail and the area north of the retreat.  Also to be included in the study is a possible long term solution.

IV.             ADJOURN

Motion was made by Councilman Ellis and seconded by Councilwoman Mays to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Approved and accepted on May 19, 2009.

_______________________________________

DERRY D. ESSARY, Mayor

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

Kelly Johnson, City Secretary