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Home My WebLink AboutCC Minutes 2006-12-11 Regular, Work Session 12/11/06 2599 STATE OF TEXAS )( CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )( COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )( DECEMBER 11, 2006 )( MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS HELD ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2006, AT 6:00 PM AT THE 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 LAURA EWING COUNCILMEMBER JOHN LECOUR COUNCILMEMBER JIM HILL COUNCILMEMBER JAY HORECKY COUNCILMEMBER MEL MEASELES CITY MANAGER BO MCDANIEL CITY SECRETARY DELORIS MCKENZIE Mayor Smith called the meeting to order. 6:00 PM —WORK SESSION Discussion was held regarding the City of Friendswood's Capital Improvement Projects. City Manager Bo McDaniel gave a brief overview and highlights of the CIP program, regarding purpose and goals, addressed the City Manager's restraints/objectives, gave a recap/status on progress of Capitol Improvement Projects (CIP) to date, CIP funding issues/goals/objectives, discretionary/non-discretionary options/limits, next CIP Phase capabilities/Staff recommendations, Council's CIP priorities, next phase, policies, parameters, Council's concerns/comments and next step. Councilmember LeCour stated he has concerns that the City cannot manage projects, continues to see them slip, cannot see what progress, where projects are, if slipping why, possibly a learning curve? City Manager Bo McDaniel stated he needs a little more time to give his opinion as to how it has been handled in the past, could be something worse, is not opposed to responding to that question, could look to see how it functions under a new administration, adjustments may need to be made. Mayor Smith stated may find opportunities to better understand and how to gain insight. Councilmember LeCour gave examples from when he was first elected, information provided to him, information shared with Staff, information on managing projects, new information provided is better, still lacking, does not see percentage of completion, would like to see once a month. City Manager Bo McDaniel stated he understands what is being said, not receiving status reports and when asked did not get meaningful information, will look at this to see if adjustments need to be made, additional training may be needed. Councilmember LeCour stated this is a pretty easy process, would be willing to help to understand. City Manager Bo McDaniel suggested considering a policy proposal and have Council consider it. Mayor Smith suggested developing the rules of engagement, may be a shift in paradigm, need to develop so that Staff understands and can work on it. City Manager Bo McDaniel stated he wants the process to be what Council wants that will be meaningful to them. Councilmember Peden referenced the draft CIP book that Council received, understanding process, questioned if Vision 2020 is included in its entirety, reviewed with Staff and consultant the factors used, where are the water and sewer issues addressed, difficult to understand rationale, understand there is excess reserve in water and sewer, good starting point, not perfect, some projects are addressed and some have been resolved, need to work on what is the Council's priority so that Staff can begin work on the projects, Council recognizes how important all of this work is, need Staff help in order to understand in order to make educated decisions, drainage improvements and status, there was available funds, help to understand why were those projects identified not done, Master Drainage Plan from 1993 to 2003, 20 12/11/06 2600 projects were identified, but were not done, asked how it was prioritized, help to understand, is it because not enough Staff or need to outsource it, what, basically because the CIP list was not completed in last 1'h years, last eight months this Council has worked on other things, money that is there now is new money, has not been there for 20 years, biggest mistake is that this Council has not focused on this plan, why are the projects not all being worked on, the bond funds come due at different times, Staff works on a lean Staff, no reason not to be working on projects that bonds have been sold, if not enough Staff then outsource it, whatever it takes, all projects have contingency funds built in, use them, get those projects started, if seven projects determined to do next year and Staff cannot handle, then outsource, have to watch out for busting tax base, have to watch schedules regarding operation and maintenance and tax rates, goal tonight is to determine where to get started, which project to work on in conjunction with resolving some of the issues discussed, recommended getting those off the table, those that have already been funded and anything that Council determines they want to remove from the list entirely, there are 30 projects on G.O. side and 30 projects on water and sewer side, suggest begin with the 30 projects on the G.O. side, worked on eliminating those that have no consideration, the projects are Brittany Bay Boulevard, Friendswood Link Road, Clover Acres drainage, Fire Station #4, Missions Estates Outfall, and Glenshannon drainage improvements, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) funding is responsible for Brittany Bay Boulevard and Friendswood Link Road, bonded funds are committed for the other four projects, these are the projects to be the top priorities in 2007, if Staff needs help in this area will bring back for Council consideration, some of these projects may take as long as 18 months, some outside forces that cannot control timing, give flexibility to Staff to move forward with these projects. Regarding the next section of projects, identified 12 projects from Sunmeadow drainage improvements Phase 2-5, Melody Lane, West Spreading Oaks, Annalea/Whitehall drainage improvements Phase 2-4, West Winding Way and Briarmeadow Drive, can move forward on those projects that have been funded, to encumber funds must have contract in place, restricted reserves are not encumbered and could be changed by future Councils, will address the issues of how to fund additional funds as needed, discussed the ranking of the FM 2351 drainage outfall, TxDOT is committed to 15% funding but funding availability is not there until there is a project design, probably the most cumbersome, many easements will need to be acquired, discussed the difference in the Sunmeadow project and the FM 2351 project, discussed the difference of the impact of the two areas, discussed doing some of the drainage projects in phases, discussed various methods of drainage using open or closed culverts, Staff to report to Council a schedule regarding projects and funding availability per year including TxDOT funding and when would becomes available, look at varying funding sources, contracts will be in place and encumber funding for the 4 projects identified, Clover Acres drainage, Fire Station #4, Mission Estates outfall and Glenshannon drainage improvements, discussed methods to get involvement from stakeholders that will be affected to get help with the FM 2351 project Tributary A & B. Discussed where to go from here, gather information from Staff and continue to determine priorities and funding, include discussion regarding unfunded mandates such as records retention facilities, Lake Friendswood, bond funded to be contracted in first quarter, remaining streets and drainage as discussed and if consensus to add records retention and Lake Friendswood, additional discussion regarding Harris County request regarding the extension of EI Dorado to Blackhawk with a right turn only, City cost of approximately $250,000, would help with egress, TxDOT would help with the funding for a signal light at Blackhawk, Council consensus to include in 2007 projects, look at design of traffic signal avoiding the cable design, willing to fund the extra to create a palatable entryway into the City. Most of the project for Brittany Bay will be paid for by developers, cost may go up on this project as the identified cost is an estimate. Discussion was held regarding the Panhandle area of Friendswood, discussed a cost sharing process to be built in phases to provide for water and sewer infrastructure to the Beamer/Dixie Farm area which will have a significant economic benefit, asked Staff to bring back to Council in phases, would like to see some kind of study regarding impact that would be experienced and a reimbursable plan, looking for something that would help bring in sale tax dollars. If it benefits the whole community, could charge a pro-rata share of cost to tie into the infrastructure, could recoup majority of line. Discussion regarding something to plan for the future, may need to plan for the Clear Creek Project and downtown aesthetics improvements, would like to put those on the table for future discussions, may want to offer matching dollars as an incentive, caution putting a lot of City dollars into this, without matching. Staff will give Council regular reports on projects, Staff has a clear direction to 12/11/06 2601 move forward, Council wants to see some progress and Staff will continue to work on the priorities of the projects in the water and sewer funds and will meet with Council in workshop as early as possible and propose to adopt projects by Resolutions do be completed in phases. Mayor Smith brought up the development of Lake Windemere and a records retention building for Council's consideration. This meeting was adjourned at 8:27 PM. r � , ,.�.. .... � M r David J.H. Smith Attest: � � . D loris McKenzie, TR C City Secretary �.— �