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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 2006-11-20 Special 11/20/06 2583 STATE OF TEXAS )( CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )( COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )( NOVEBER 20, 2006 )( MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2006, AT 5:00 PM AND A REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00 PM AT FRIENDSWOOD CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT CONSTITUTING A QUORUM: MAYOR DAVID SMITH MAYOR PRO-TEM CHRIS PEDEN COUNCILMEMBER JOHN LECOUR COUNCILMEMBER JIM HILL COUNCILMEMBER JAY HORECKY COUNCILMEMBER MEL MEASELES CITY ATTORNEY JOHN OLSON (arr. 7:00 PM) CITY MANAGER BO MCDANIEL CITY SECRETARY DELORIS MCKENZIE Councilmember Ewing was absent from the meeting. Mayor Smith called the meeting to order. 5:00 PM—CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION Council convened into Executive Session in Accordance with the Texas Government Code, pursuant to Section 551.072— Deliberation regarding Real Property and Section 551.074— Personnel Matters. Council convened into Regular Session at 7:00 pm with no action. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION 6:00 PM—SPECIAL RECEPTION A reception was held in the foyer of City Hall to welcome new City Manager Bo McDaniel. 7:00 PM— REGULAR SESSION The invocation was given by Director of Public Works Kaz Hamidian. Mayor Smith led the Pledge of allegiance to the United States and to the State of Texas. SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The grant award from Wal-Mart Foundation to Friendswood Police Department was not presented, and will be rescheduled for a later date. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Don Seyfert, 2304 Old Road, addressed Council and recommended the verbiage for Vision 2020 be reviewed regarding eliminating eminent domain. 11/20/06 2584 Fred Krch, 209 Dawn, addressed Council and handed out Foundations of Freedom, Handout for Foundation for Economic Education and a copy of a memo given to the Charter Review Commission, his memo asks to simplify the wording for General Powers, restrict the use of eminent domain and hope everyone enjoys Thanksgiving and remember what it stands for. Steve Carpentieri, 602 Pine Needle, addressed Council and stated he is the owner of Stefano's Pizza in Friendswood, stated he is interested in purchasing a lot that is owned by Friendswood so that he can build a restaurant, has submitted a contract and wants to know if the City is interested. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMMITTEES AND SPECIAL REPORTS Jim Reinhartsen, President of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, gave an oral annual report. Council received the report and asked several clarifying questions and thanked Mr. Reinhart for the report. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager Bo McDaniel reported on the new City Manager orientation process, expressed thanks and appreciation to the Mayor and Council and community for the honor of tonight's reception and for being hired as the City Manager, stated he greatly values the opportunity to meet members of the community that he will be serving, also thanked the Mayor and Council for their input and patience as he completes his orientation to Friendswood as the new City Manager, currently conducting in-depth interviews with key Staff inembers to familiarize himself with the unique nature of Friendswood and its municipal organization. Staff has been very supportive and constructive in this process and such is recognized and appreciated by the City Manager, also in the process of scheduling individual meetings with all members of Council to get their personal input on issues of orientation that they desire him to appreciate and understand. The Mayor and Council are reminded to consider community stakeholders he should meet and interview to help with the City Manager's orientation. Any citizen desiring to meet with the new City Manager is encouraged to do so, by calling the City Manager's office. Citizen input is desired and welcomed to round out the City Manager's orientation. City Manager Bo McDaniel reported on Future Agenda Items, commented on a list of future work session items that Staff can consider based on Council's preference. Council can allow the City Manager to set the work session agenda based on his interpretation of the Council's collective consensus or Council can establish a collective consensus priority for future work session topics. To meet that goal, he has also included a ranking/tabulation section to score Council's individual preferences should they prefer to formally express their preference for future agenda items. Once received and tabulated, the results will be distributed to Council and serve as their direction for future work session agendas. New items may be added as needed in the future. To accommodate those items Staff will redistribute the revised list of discussion topics and re-tabulate, etc., accordingly. City Manager Bo McDaniel reported on drainage and detention for exploring soccer field options. There has been some discussion regarding a joint use opportunity for Drainage District detention ponds that would allow the City to use the space for sports fields when not inundated with water. If Council is so inclined, the City Manager asks that Council request the City Manager to explore how Staff may proceed, include options, costs, timing, authorizations, etc. and report back on a future agenda for required action by Council to approved joint use opportunities. City Manager Bo McDaniel gave an update on the Glenshannon Drainage Project. The City Manager and Staff inet with Ms. Kelly McKnight and Ms. Arlene Caldwell on Wednesday, November 15, to discuss this project. Provided Council with a summary of that meeting and an action plan of the path forward to begin construction and complete the project. Asked that Council feel free to ask any questions regarding this or other drainage matters they have interest in. 11/20/06 2585 Council asked about the Glenshannon Drainage Project and the Soccer Fields option and gave City Manager direction to move these projects forward and bring back information back for Council's consideration. Council asked about getting reports on the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and scheduling a future workshop on CIP projects. ACTION ITEMS **Councilmember Measeles moved to authorize the Mayor to execute a contract amendment with the City of Houston for expansion and upgrade of the Southeast Water Purification Plant and for pre-purchase of additional capacity at the Southeast Water Purification Plant. Seconded by Councilmember Hill. The motion was approved 6-0. **Councilmember Peden moved to approve action regarding the specifics of broadcasting City Council meetings. Seconded by Councilmember LeCour. ***Councilmember LeCour moved to amend the main motion to provide for a trial period of 90 days and to air any other time than 7:00 if Staff determines other times. Seconded by Councilmember Peden. The motion to amend was approved 5-1, with Councilmember Measeles opposed. ****The main motion as amended was approved 5-1, with Councilmember Measeles opposed. Mayor Smith suggested holding a workshop quickly to identify those items of high priority that need to be moved forward quickly on those that have been bonded, not drainage and not as pertains to Vision 2020, setting priorities. City Manager Bo McDaniel stated any project that has been voted on and bond has been sold, need to move forward with these projects and need not be re-visited, move forward to develop the next priorities. Mayor Smith stated some of the projects may need to be re-visited due to additional funding. Councilmember Horecky suggested scheduling a workshop as soon as possible as set priorities, do not re-visit those that have had bonds sold, develop a consensus and put on agenda and vote on it. Councilmember Peden stated the information that staff has provided is good, will need to look at debt level and determine what that maximum is going to be, need to have a discussion on financing and look at that funding element, Friendswood debt level is very low in comparison to other cities. Mayor Smith asked if the city would have good understanding regarding bonding and financing information in a week. City Manager Bo McDaniel explained some of the financial considerations that may need to be considered and look at policy. Mayor Smith stated he will work to schedule a workshop as soon as possible, thanked outgoing Community Development Director Dan Johnson for information and for being here tonight. A standing ovation was given for Dan Johnson and thanks for a job well done as Community Development Director. City Manager Bo McDaniel stated Mr. Johnson is still on the clock on a contract basis. Mr. Johnson addressed the draft CIP and recognized Staff that has worked on the document. Council thanked Staff for priority rankings and the explanation will be a big help. A workshop will be scheduled as quickly as possible to further work on the CIP. **No action was taken regarding the City of Friendswood's Capital Improvements Program. Mayor Smith suggested validating Vision 2020 by holding a town meeting or by a more scientific method by using a formal survey and suggest this be determined In the CIP workshop, wants to learn what the citizens want today. Councilmember Peden suggested to use the term update or amend rather than validate, was prepared 1998 and not adopted until 2005 and was probably outdated at that time, thinks as soon as possible and would prefer in-house without hiring a consultant, possibly the 15 items are not in right order at this time. Councilmember Horecky stated he has read Vision 2020 a number of times, was a program but was not followed, 13 or 15 core items were identified, was done from the bottom up, did backwards, did not follow what the citizens wanted, needs updated. Mayor Smith stated there is a significant difference in a statistical survey than a phone survey, does not think there is a City department 11/20/06 2586 that can do that for the City, thinks it would make a big difference as to getting the objective answer. City Manager Bo McDaniel stated he thinks control group should be registered voters, new versus older residents, possibly those lived here five years and those that have lived here over five years. Councilmember Hill stated he thinks the duty of Council and Staff is to get this information, vision 2020 is still a good plan, just was not followed Mayor Smith thinks that 13 of the 15 has not changed, may be able to identify 5 or 6 that Council identifies that are easy to decide. Councilmember Hill stated if do top 6 or 7, will be broke. Councilmember LeCour stated he thinks some of the wording is vague and unclear, needs leadership, citizens elected Council to provide that leadership, thinks that take to the community in different forums to develop what is wanted in Friendswood in next 5 or 10 years, hear form those that are not happy, reluctant to hire a firm to do a survey that believes is responsibility of the City to do. Mayor Smith stated he thinks a more accurate study will be beneficial, concerned about the ones that not able to get Council consensus on, not taking about taking this document and getting comments on. Councilmember Measeles spoke regarding Vision 2020, stating 1 - 15 wording was meant to be vague, more information in the document that explains what is meant, thinks do need to take back to the community, does not think Council or Staff can do this, thinks take to outside source, thinks this community has changed. Mayor Smith stated the Community and Economic Development Committee (CEDC) wants to meet with Council, thinks planned for December. Economic Development Coordinator Karen Capps stated CEDC has been talking abut survey and talking to University of Houston about if they can do the statistical survey. Mayor Smith asked City Manager Bo McDaniel to develop a timeline and action needed to get to that position and to partner with CEDC's efforts. CEDC Chairman Deidre Carey Brown stated CEDC has been meeting and wants to include strategic planning as well as the vision 2020 issues. City Manager Bo McDaniel and Mayor Smith stated they will look at their calendars to schedule a meeti ng as q u ickly as possi ble. **No action was taken regarding validating Vision 2020. RESOLUTIONS **Councilmember Horecky moved to approve Resolution R2006-31 - a Resolution of the City of Friendswood, Texas, Galveston/Harris Counties, to award Bid No. 2006-17 designating the Reporter News as the official City newspaper. Seconded by Councilmember Peden. The motion was approved 6-0. ORDINANCES **Councilmember LeCour moved to approve Ordinance No. T2006-26, an ordinance An Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Friendswood, Texas, by revising the definition of"weeds" contained in Section 26-105 of Article IV of Chapter 26 thereof; providing that agricultural vegetation be excepted from abatement as a public nuisance; providing for severability; and repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith. Seconded by Councilmember Measeles. The motion was approved 5-1, with Mayor Smith opposed. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember Hill addressed park land and West Ranch Development and whether or not the City is interested in this park property. Mayor remembers negotiations and that Friendswood Development would do about a Million dollar improvements and then would dedicate to the City. The City would be the sponsor and the owner. Councilmember Measeles stated there has been discussion from the Clear Creek Nature and Cultural Tourism Council and is interested in having input to the property development, also need to get the Parks and Recreation Board involved, is a lot of interest and the City would like to have this parkland and would like to have some involvement in this. Mayor Smith asked City Manager Bo McDaniel to set up meetings to discuss with the Developer and give some thought to ingress and egress points and the location of this, Councilmembers Ewing, Hill, and Measeles stated it would be beneficial in helping with this project. 11/20/06 2587 Councilmember Hill discussed getting a large box retailer at West Ranch development, Economic Development Coordinator Karen Capps has been looking at this and talking to the developer for some time, retailers like to see some curbs and gutters before they decide to come in, retailers want to see the corners in. The developer is in the process of getting ready to sell lots. Mayor Smith stated that this discussion was held previously and wants to continue moving this forward. Councilmember Peden discussed Imperial Estates options for buyout properties, stated the City should take advantage of this beautiful area and preserve, suggested removing streets and/or providing for parking spaces and have green space, stated there are already drains in place, would like to see the park setting and soccer fields and move forward with making this an area that people could enjoy such as Stevenson Park, would like to have on agenda for a future workshop to consider and consider a budgeting. Mayor Smith suggested having the Parks and Recreation Board look at this proposal and workshop as soon as possible. Councilmember Horecky stated he had no report. Councilmember LeCour reported he attended tax appraisal reform forum appointed by the Governor and gave testimony personally as Councilmember, was rudely treated by Galveston County Appraisal District and if anyone in Friendswood is treated rudely wants to hear from them, provided input regarding support of tax cap, those in attendance at this forum were overwhelmingly in support of the tax cap and stated people are discouraged in protesting their taxes. Councilmember Peden thanked Councilmember Hill for bringing the park land topic up, stated he had lunch with City Manager Bo McDaniel and appreciated having time to get to know him, received the Focus on Friendswood this weekend and was very disappointed as that nothing was in the publication regarding the tax rebate and asked for a report as to why, commented that Milton Friedman passed away this weekend, stated he was the greatest writer on Economic Development. Councilmember Measeles stated parks are so vital to this community, attended the Parks and Recreation Board (PRB) meeting and they are looking at the Park Dedication Ordinance and Park Master Plan, the more involved early on is a big help, and the PRB needs more input from Council. City Manager Bo McDaniel stated it would be helpful to have a clear directive from Council for the publication of the Focus on Friendswood. Councilmember LeCour stated he thinks that the Focus on Friendswood has been used as a political tool, the 10% refund was a big issue, was on the radios and in news, the Focus on Friendswood has failed to let the citizens know and seems very suspicious. City Manager Bo McDaniel stated that future issues of the Focus on Friendswood will be distributed to Council before being published, need direction regarding tax refund as to what to do about checks that are not cashed. Mayor Smith stated this is the week of Thanksgiving, and most have many things to be thankful for, community is about families, and wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving. CONSENT AGENDA **Mayor Smith moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented with the exception of Item A. B. Approval of October, 2006 Property Tax Report. C. Approve Minutes of November 6, 2006 Meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Measeles. The motion was approved 6-0. 11/20/06 2588 **Mayor Smith moved to approve Item A. Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute a License Agreement with amendments to Section 10 for finro buyout properties located on Cherry Tree Lane. Seconded by Councilmember Peden. The motion was approved 6-0. A motion was made and approved to adjourn at 9:35 PM. � � David J. . mith Attest: � ��� f Ri�sj�� , , `�i1� � O D oris McKenzie, R C V � 0 City Secretary � # d► ���'E oF �rt��