HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 1982-08-02 Regular 327
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL
', August 2 , 1982
I A Regular Meeting of the Friendswood City Council was held at
the City Hall on Monday, August 2 , 1982 , at 7 : 30 p.m. with the
following members present :
( Mayor Ralph Lowe City Attorney Larry Schenk
Councilmen : Leon Brown City Manager Jim Morgan
Todd Stewart City Sect. Bobbie Henry
Bob Wicklander
Jan Jordan
' Evelyn Newman
' Loren Wood
With a quorum present , and with none absent , the following
� business was transacted :
I � INVOCATION by Rev. Quinton King, Southgate Baptist Church.
�
(� APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Minutes of a Regular Meeting of July 12 ,
� a Regular Meeting of July 19 , and a Special Meeting of July 26
, � were approved as corrected.
Ii ANNOUNCEMENTS & COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR
1. Bell Telephone will be displaying a phone system at City Hall
at 10 : 00 a.m. on Tuesday which may be of interest as a good
system for the city to install.
2 . He called attention to a news clipping relative to billboards
I� which might re£lect on the city ' s sign ordinance .
3. Council is invited to participate in a parade in South Houston
`— on August 7 .
� . The Mayor displayed a map of an area which has been discussed
as a possible industrial area in Brazoria County. He said
that Councilman Newman is to pursue this matter.
5 . Council has been invited to meet with Commissioner' s Court
at 11 : 00 a.m. on August 9 to discuss the County' s participa-
tion in drainage projects in Friendswood. Councilman Stewart
was asked to invite the Drainage District to this meeting
and to be the Council ' s guest for luncheon that day.
6 . TML Region 14 ' s Annual Meeting will be held on August 19 at
the Summit in Houston.
7 . A check from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department represents
the final payment on a three-year park improvement grant
program with Friendswood.
8 . A quarterly franchise check received from Texas-New Plexico
Power Company this week for $30 , 899 . 61 is the largest ever
received. Mayor Lowe pointed out that alrthough this money
is a help to the city government, it also represents larger
payments for service by some Priendswood homeowners .
i
REPORT FROM COUNCIL - Councilman Wicklander explained a problem
� whlch has been presented b Mar
� Y y Queen Catholic Church. For purpose
_.. of safety and traffic movement, they want to establish an exit
from the Church property onto Queen` s Lane , a private road owned
by the Glynn Lunneys . The Church proposes to add 10 feet of right-
of-way to Lunney' s 30 Poot right-of-way and pave a 24 foot strip
500 feet long to their exit driveway, bringing it up to city
specifications , if the city will , upon completion, accept this
portion of the street for maintenance .
328
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Council felt that because of the safet'y factor involved the city I
could make this an exception to the general requirement for 60
foot right-of-way for streets ; however, it was stated that this
may require a variance from the Planning Commission. The matter '
will be referred to P&ZC . '
PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
l. Mrs . Julie Lucas , who lives in a townhouse on West Castle-
harbor, received word that the street number wi11 be changed. -- '
She felt that there is a better solution to the numbering I,
problem in this area than was proposed by the committee making �
the study. Mayor Lowe proposed that she set up a meeting with
Van Williams , chairman o£ the study committee , the Postmaster,
and herself to see if they can come to an understanding of a
better numbering system.
2 . Jim Baker has requested water and sewer service from the city
for his proposed mobile home park just outside the city limits
in Pearland` s ETJ. Mr. Morgan reported that these utilities
are available at Mr. Baker' s location, but noted that water
may have to be billed at a per-unit cost as is done within
the city limits . Council directed that Morgan proceed with
negotiations on the project with Baker and come back with a
riem recommendation for Council consideration.
REPORT FROM ENGINEER ROBERTS ON STATUS OE PLANS FOR GREENBRIAR '
BRIDGE - Don Roberts reported that he , Malcolm Collins , and Ted
Bogren , utilizing a study made by Gerry Pate several years ago ,
recommend a 90 foot three-span bridge at an estimated cost of
$150 , 000 versus the originally suggested 70 foot single span at
an estimated cost of $172 , 000 . If proposed changes in the creek '
bed are made , the bottom of the bridge would be at 23 feet and
the top of the pavement at 25 feet.
He said that as soon as they can reconcile the difference between 1
this report and that of the Corps of Engineers , he will then I
proceed with final specifications for the bridge.
PUBLIC HEARING ON REVENUE SHARING - At the appointed time , the
Mayor called the public hearing on the 1982-83 Revenue Sharing
Budget to order. He read the following figures to the audience :
Anticipated Revenues from the Federal Govt . $93 , 350 . 00
Proposed Budgeted Expenditures - Drainage
Improvements $93 , 350 . 00
He asked if anyone present wished to address this matter. There I
being no response , the Mayor declared the hearing closed. '
PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 1982-83 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET I
I
Mayor Lowe called the hearino to order and introduced Councilman
Jan Jordan. Jordan , using posters showing pertinent numbers ,
outlined to the audience the expected revenues , expenditures , and
debt service , and by diagram showed proration of expenditures to
the various city departments . '
Mrs . Marilyn Lunney was introduced as a member of the County Tax
Appraisal Appeals Board. She made a short explanation of the -,
present work of the Board.
Mayor Lowe called for comments or questions on the proposed � �
budget from the audience. Several comments were made including
a request that more money be spent on streets , a question as to
whether the creation of the proposed Public Services Department
will be a savings or additional expnese to the city, and a
suggestion that holding the line on employees salaries would
reduce the budget considerably. To one statement objecting to
city funds being allocated for drainage Cthe feeling being that
this is the responsibility of the Drainage District) Mayor Lowe ,
= with concurrence of the City Attorney , stated that drainage is
one of the legal responsibilities of city government and can not
be delegated to another entity .
'�� 329
When all who wished to speak had been heard, Mayor Lowe closed
the public hearing.
RESOLUTION ENDORSING CLEAR CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT TAX INCREASE
introduced by Councilman Jordan. Mayor Lowe asked that she read
the resolution; it was then presented for Council action .
MOTION: (Jordan) To adopt the resolution endorsing CCDD tax ,l�
increase and urge citizens to vote favorably on the issue . �
� Second: Wood �
--- Couneilman Stewart suggested tha.t a "the" be eliminated from �
the third WHEREAS for clarification purposes . Jordan agreed
with this.
During the ensuing discussion , some members of the Council indi-
cated they could not endorse the tax increase in the absence of
information as to what would be accomplished with the additional
� funds , and what the increase would cost the average tax payer, i. e .
if a homestead deduction will be allowed such as that being given
T'I by the city and school district . Mayor Lowe asked the city ' s
(,� finance officer to present figures showing comparison between the
(� dollar and percentage tax increase proposed by the three entities
' ,� based on information which has been made public at this time .
a Several statements from the audience ranged from approval of
the tax increase for the Drainage District to a suggestion that
the Drainage District be dissolved.
, Council members indicating opposition to the resolution bacause
of lack of adequate information , requested that Councilman Stewart
secure answers to their questions from the Drainage District and
report back to Council. Pending receipt of this information on
, the tax increase , Councilman Jordan withdrew her motion for
, adoption of the resolution until next Monday night ' s meeting.
Councilman Wood withdrew his second.
� RESOLUTION N0. R18-82 - APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO
EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT N0 . 1 TO EXISTING PROFESSIONAL
COUNSELING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN INTERACT COUNSELING AND
THE CITY.
MOTION: (Jordan) To adopt Resolution R18-82 . /��
Second: Newman l�
Vote: Unanimous FOR MOTION CARRIED
REQUEST FOR RATE INCREASE FROM BEST WASTE SYSTEMS INC - As holder,�;�
of the garbage collection contract for Friendswood Best has
requested an 8% increase in rates for both residential and ���
commercial service , effective November 1 , 1982 . Mr. Morgan recom-
mended that Council approve the inerease based on justification
given by Best.
MOTION: (Newman) To concur with the recommendation of the
City Manager and grant the 8% rate increase for Best . ��
Second: Stewart ?/nJ
Vote : Unanimous FOR MOTION CARRIED ��C�c�
, DELINQUENT TAX �TATEMENTS - Draft of a letter to be included with
! second notice delinquent tax statements was presented by the
_ ! City Attorney. The letter will be retyped on city stationery ,
signed by the Mayor, and copies made for the Tax Office ' s mailing.
WATER BILLS TO CONTAIN REQUEST FOR DONATION TO AMBULANCE SERVICE i,"
MOTION: (Jordan) To include on water bills a request for a `�� I
—�1. 00 per month per customer donation to be used to help /,
defray cost of operation o£ the City' s ambulance service. c�
Second: Newman /�
Vote: Unanimous FOR MOTION CARRIED �
330 /�u9u,sr a, l 9��. �
MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS OR STATEMENTS RELATIVE TO FUTURE AGENDAS
1. The a.ttorney said it will be necessary for Council to call a �
hearing on HL&P ' s rate increase. He will check out the date . I
2 . Jordan said the people involved in street number changes on �
Greenbriar would like some in-put into the decision. Mr.
Morgan is to contact them regarding a meeting with the Council
or the Committee.
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3 . Wood said the ordinance for street name and number changes I
was scheduled for first reading tonight . Mayor Lowe said '
the ordinance should be postponed until final decision has
been reached on the Greenbriar situation and on the problem
in Sunmeadow presented earlier this evening. �i
4 . Brown asked if tennis court fees are sufficient to cover �
cost of the lights . Mr. Morgan said he will check this out . �
5 . Newman asked that the question of a fee Por recreational
areas and video games be investigated and a recommendation
made to Council by Mr. Morgan. �
On questions directed to the City Attorney, he stated:
l. An executive session need not be posted on the agenda prior '
to a meeting to be legal ; only an announcement that Council
will recess to an executive session and under what section '
of the Open Meetings Law. He also stated, however, that it
is better policy to include such a session on the posted
agenda whenever possible. I
2 . Without its being listed as an agenda item, Council may hold �
a discussion as to whether a subject is to be placed on the
next agenda for action. He emphasized, hoiaever, that t}iis
would not include deliberation of the merits of the subject i
itself, only placement of the subject on the next agenda , !
for such deliberation.
, i
Mayor Lowe cautioned against City officials requesting opinions
from the Attorney which would require extensive research and
significant cost to the City when such opinions were not needed
primarily for the City' s benefit. The attorney indicated that
standard procedure is for contacts with the attorney to come
through the City Manager, City Secretary, or Mayor; all other
directives should come from the Council as a body.
EXECUTIVE SESSION - Council recessed to an executive session
under Section 2Cg) Article 6252-17 of Vernon ' s Texas Civil
Statutes . No formal action resulted from this session. i
ADJOURNMENT - Motion was made by Councilman Stewart , seconded by I
Councilman Wicklander that the meeting adjourn. The meeting
was adjourned at 12 : 25 a.m. �
� �
L @ G Z-��
City Secretary
APPROVED:
��.���'� --,
� ��
'Mayor I