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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 1985-11-11 Special ��5 SPECIAL MEETING FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL NCIVEMBER 11, 1985 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL THAT - WAS HELD ON NOVEMBER 11, 1985 AT CITY HALL AT 7 :00 PM WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT CONSTITUTING A QUORUM: • ,, � MAYOR RALPH LOWE COUNCILMAN LEON BROWN COUNCILMAN JAN JORDAN COUNCILMAN PHYLLIS LEE COUNCILMAN EVELYN NEWMAN COUNCILMAN JOE PRIHODA COUNCILMAN BOB WICKLANDER CITY MANAGER JIM MORGAN CITY SECRETARY DELORIS MCKENZIE MAYOR LOWE ANNOUNCED THAT ALL THREE COUNTY BOND ISSUES PASSED Q WITH FRIENDSWOOD HAVING APPROXIMATELY 20$ V OTER TURN OUT WHICH �` WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTY. GAlV ESTON � COUNTY WAS V ERY HAPPY TO SEE THE TURN OUT IN FRIENDSWOOD AS IT ,�'� MADE A DIFFERENCE WHETHER THE I5SUES PASSED OR NOT. MORE THAN � 100 V OTES WERE CAST IN FRIENDSWOOD AGAINST THE FLOOD ISSUE AND Q MAYOR LOWE STATED HE FELT THERE WERE A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE THAT JUST DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE FLOODING PROBLEMS IN FRIENDSWOOD. � COUNCILMAN JORDAN ANNOUNCED THAT GALV ESTON COUNTY COMMI5SIONERS COURT V OTED TODAY TO PROCEED WITH A TYPE OF FINANCING CALLED AN ADVANCED REFUNDING WHICH THEY WILL BE REFUNDING ALL THERE EXISTING DEBTS AND INCLUDING $8 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE JAIL IN A NEW BOND ISSUE AND BECAUSE OF SOME PROVISION IN THE TAX LAW, AND THE WAY THIS BOND ISSUE IS BEING STRUCTUREd THERE WILL BE NO TAX INCREASE FORSEEN AND THERE V ERY WELL MAY BE NO TAX INCREASE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE BOND ISSUE AS WELL IF THE PROJECTED TAXABLE VALUES TURN OUT THE WAY THEY HAV E BEEN CALCULATED. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL BE GOING TO NEW YORK WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK TO APPLY FOR A RATING ON THIS ISSUE AND HAV E ASKED COUNCILMAN JORDAN TO GO ALONG WITH THEM. THEY ARE TRYING TO HOLD ON TO THE AA RATING IN VIEW OF ALL OF THE ADV ERSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY AND COUNCILMAN JORDAN IS GOING ALONG AND EXPLAIN SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON. MAYOR LOWE AND RALPH MILLER, CHAIRMAN (�F PLANNING AND ZONING CALLED A JOINT DOCKETED PUBLIC HEARING TO ORDER TO RECEIV E INPUT REGARDING PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE FRIENDSWOOD ZONING ORDINANCE - SIGNS - TO ALLOW PORTABLE SIGN5 FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER FOR COMMERCIAL USE. MR. RAY MILBY. MEMBER OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE APPEARED BEFORE COUNCIL TO REQUEST THIS BE CONSIDERED AS MANY BUSINESSES IN TOWN ARE SUFFERING EC�NOMTC SET BACKS AND STATING HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP TO GET FRIENDSWOOD RESIDENTS TO SHOP AT HOME. THE CHAMBER � IS PROPOSING ONE PORTABLE SIGN FOR EVERY TWO BUSINESSES IN SHOPPING CENTERS AND INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSE5 UTILITIZING ONE SIGN. MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY APPEARANCE BOARD ASKED THAT CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT GO INTO THIS REQUEST THAT IT COULD LEAD TO OTHER REQUEST FOR HOLIDAY SIGNS AND WHY NOT USE THE TEMPORAY SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE. ELOIS HURZELER, CHAIRMAN OF CAB STATED IT WAS FELT THAT THE CITIZENS FAV OR THE SIGN ORDINANCE AS IS AND ASKED HAS EVERYONE CONSIDERED THE BACKLASH EFFECT THIS CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE COULD MAKE AND THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CAB MEMBERS SUPPORTED THE ORDINANCE AS IS. A LARGE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL BUSINESSE5 WERE IN THE AUDIENCE TO SUPPORT THIS REQUEST AND STATED THAT INCREASED SALES MEANS MORE TAX DOLLARS FOR THE CITY. IT WAS STATED THAT THE CHAMBER MEMBERS WERE SUPPORTIV E OF THE SIGN ORDINANCE BUT THAT THE BUSINESSES IN TOWN NEEDED HELP DURING THE HOLIDAYS. 1 426 COUNCILMAN JORDAN EXPRESSED SHE FELT THAT THE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE THE SAME AS IN THE ORUINANCE FOR REQUIREMENT FOR PERMIZ'S, SIZE, ON PREMISE AND A SURVEY BE MADE OF MEMBER5 OF CHAMBER USING SIGNS, HOW MANY DAYS LEFT THEY COULD USE ACCORDING TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE AND THE NUMBER WHO HAV E NO OTHER ALTERNATIV ES. COUNCILMAN JORDAN ALSO STATED SHE FELT SIX CROS5 REPRESENTATIV ES OF CHAMBER MEMBERS SHOULD PLACE ON FILE WITH THE CITY SECRETARY THE AMOUNT OF RECEIPTS FOR DECEMBER 1984 AND THEN FILE A COMPARATIV E FOR DECEMBER 1985 TO SEE IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE � ALLOWING PORTABLE SIGNS . IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT POSSIBLE SHOULD • ,, LOOK AT THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER, NCJVEMBER AND DECEMBER TO HAV E AN � IN DEPTH L�OK AT THE CIVERALL RECEIPTS. HEARING NO FURTHER INPUT, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. MAYOR LOWE AND RALPH MILLER, CHAIRMAN OF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION CALLED A DOCKETED PUBLIC HEARING TO ORDER TO RECEIV E INPUT REGARDING PROPOSAL TO CONSIDER A REVISION OF THE FRIENDSWOOD � ZONING ORDINANCE, 84-15, TO DELETE THE SENTENCE IN SECTION 7 , G- 4; "THE COMMERCIAL, RETAIL, AND SERVICE USES PERMITTED IN THIS DI5TRICT SHALL NOT EXCEED FOUR THOUSAND (4,000) SQUARE FEET IN GROSS FLOOR AREA FOR ANY LOT OR PREMISES. " CHAIRMAN MILLER EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF PLANNING AND ZONING, THAT WHEN THE NEW ZONING ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN, THERE WERE TWO MAIN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, ONE OF THEM A COMMERCIAL SHOPPING CENTER AND THE OTHER ONE A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTER. THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTER HAS SMALL LOTS AS INTENDED FOR SMALL BUSINESS TO BE LOCATED NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS TO SERVE THOSE AREAS. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS CENTER WAS THE BUILDING SITE COULD BE NO MORE THAN 4, 000 SQ. � FEET AND THE IDEA WAS TO LIMIT THE SIZE OF BUSINESSES NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS BUT AFTER WORKING WITH THIS DESIGNATION IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO LOCATE NEAR THESE RESIDENTIAL AREAS THAT NEED TO BE MORE THAN THE ALLOWED 4,000 SQ. FEET. THERE ARE OTHER RESTRICTIONS I1V NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTER THAT PREVENT IT FROM BEING A BIG BUSINESS, THEREFORE PLANNING AND ZONING RECOMMEND THE 4,000 SQ. FEET . REQUIREMENTS BE REMCN ED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER DESIGNATION. MR. GREG POWELL ASKED THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT BE CONSIDERED FAVORABLY AS THIS CHANGE W(�ULD ALLOW A PROPOSED CHILD CARE CENTER TO BE BUILT. HEARING NO FUTHER INPUT THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. MAYOR LOWE ANNOUNCED THAT COUNCIL HAS RETAINED BERNARD JOHNSON ENGINEERING TO DO A DRAINAGE SURVEY OF INDIVIDUAL AREAS �F THE CITY AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAV E A MASTER PLAN THAT WILL WORK AND BE BENEFICIAL NOT ONLY TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION BUT ALSO TO THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT ITSELF AS WE � CONTINUE TO WORK TO RESOLV E THE FLOODING PROBLEM. MAYOR LOWE PRESENTED HIS PLAN TO FORMULATE AND APPOINT A RECONCILLATION COMMITTEE, CHARGED WITH REVIEWING ZONING AND SUBDIVISION LAWS AND ANY OTHER LAWS THEY MAY DEEM NEEDING REVIEWING. MAYOR LOWE SUGGESTED MEMBERS BE MADE UP OF ONE MEMBER FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ELECTRICAL BOARD, COMMUNITY APPEARANCE BOARD, CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS ARBITRATION COMMITTEE, BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS� INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND ONE AT LARGE MEMBER. DISCUSSION WAS HELD BY CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WITH THE CONSENSUS THAT THIS WOULD BE V ERY BENEFICIAL T� ALL CONCERNED TO ALLEVIATE CONFUSION, TO CLEAN UP PROCEDURES AND INTERPRETATION AND THAT THE LAWS OF THE CITY SHOULD BE CONTINUALLY REVIEWED TO STAY UP WITH GROWTH AND CHANGES WITHIN THE CITY. 2 ��� **MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN LEE TO APPROVE MAYOR LOWES /�j���! � RECOMMENDATION TO FORM A RECONCILATION COMMTTTEE MADE UP OF � MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO REVIEW EXISTING ORDINANCES. - SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PRIHODA. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. MAYOR LOWE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION TO RALPH MILLER AND MARY BROWN FOR THE MANY HOUR5 AND THEIR ENDEAVOR5 TO THE CITY � .� IN SERVING ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. I DISCUSSION WAS HELD REGARDING SERVICE ENTERPRISE OFFER OF A ONE MILLION ELEVATED STORAGE TANK AND A 1/2 MILLION GROUND 5TORAGE TANK IN THE AMOUNT OF $425, Q00 TO BE PLACED IN THE 321 ACRE SITE WITH 1/2 ACRE BEING DONATED TO THE CITY TO PLACE THE WATER STORAGE ON. COUNCIL REQUESTED THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK INTO THE CONDITION OF THESE TANKS AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL. CITY MANAGER REPORTED THE ELEVATED 5TORAGE TANK BEING COMPLETED AT THIS TIME HAS NOT BEEN PAINTED AND THE OBSTROCTION LIGHT HAS NOT BEEN PUT ON TOP. THE OBSTRUCTION LIGHT WILL BE INSTALLED BY THE CITY AND Q THE CONTRACT TO SERVICE ENTERPRISES WILL BE LESS $1, 250 DUE TO � THE CITY PUTTING THIS LIGHT IN. COUNCIL GAVE THE CITY MANAGER CONDITIONAL PERMISSION TO PURSUE INFORMATI�N PERTAINING TO THE 1 C�I MILLION GALLON STQRAGE TANK IN THE AMQUNT OF $365 THOUSAND AND TO Q PUT ON HOLD THE 500 GALLON TANK IN THE AMOUNT OF $55 THOUSAND. Q � COUNCILMAN WICKLANDER READ INTO THE RECORD THE LETTER RECEIVED FROM GALVESTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY ON SURFACE WATER AND REQUESTED COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE JIM MORGAN AND HIMSELF TO WORK WITH GCWA ON AN ENGINEERING STUDY FOR 5URFACE WATER. IF THE CITY GOES FORWARD WITH SURFACE WATER THRU GCWA, THERE WILL NOT BE ENGINEERING COST BUT IF THE CITY DOES NOT GO WITH GCWA THE CITY PAYS THE ENGINEERING COST WHICH THE STUDY WILL BE NEEDED HOWEVER THE CITY GOES. **MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN BROWN TO AUTHORIZE COUNCILMAN Q ^ WICKLANDER AND CITY MANAGER JIM MORGAN TO WORK WITH THE GCWA TO p7��Q� PRCIVIDE THE SCOPE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED IN ORDER THAT GCWA MAY PREPARE COST FOR ENGINEER WORK FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN JORDAN. MOTION APPRW ED UNANIMOUSLY. **MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN NEWMAN TO ACCEPT TIMBERFIELD SUBDIVISION ROADS AND UTILITIES CONDITIONALLY UPON CITY MANAGERS o�D� '�(S RECOMMENDATION TO WITHHOLD FINAL APPRCJVAL UNTIL A ONE YEAR MAINTENANCE BOND IS PRE5ENTED. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN LEE. MOTION APPRCIVED UNANIMOUSLY. **MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN LEE TO ACCEPT CITY MANAGERS RECOMMENDATIONS TO AWARD BID FOR 5LOPE MOWER TO LANSDOWNE-MOODY aDp�'Q� COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $12, 988 AND TO AWARD BID FOR TELEMETRY RADIOS TO MOTOROLA COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS IN THE AMOUNT OF $27 , Q20 . SECONDED BY C�UNCILMAN PRIHODA. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. CITY MANAGER AIJVISED SERVICE ENTERPRISE CORPORATION FINAL PAYMENT LESS $1, 250 FOR OBSTRUCTION LIGHT, WAS RELEASEED LAST WEEK FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ELEV ATED WATER STORAGE TANK. CITY MANAGER DISCUSSED WITH COUNCIL THE RE-CONSTRUCTION OF FM-518 FROM WHISPERING PINES TO LEAGUE CITY/FRIENDSWOOD CITY LIMIT LINE �AND REQUESTED COUNCIL TO AI7VISE IF THE CITY WANTED CURB AND GUTTER AND RAISED MEDIAN IN THIS AREA. COUNCIL A17VISED THE CITY CONSIDERED THIS RURAL SECTION AND THEREFORE DID NOT WANT CURB AND GUTTER IN THIS AREA BUT DID WANT RAISED MEDIAN AND THE CITY UNDERSTANDS THE WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN. COUNCIL ADVISED THE CITY WANTED TO BE INVOLV ED IN THE DIRT THAT WOULD BE PUT IN THE MEDIAN. COUNCIL AI7VISED CITY MANAGER TO CHECK WITH THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THIS PLAN IS ALLOWABLE AND TO CHECK THE COST TO THE CITY. 3 428 DISCUSSION WAS HELD REGARDING THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPAR'I'MENT `1'URNEU DOWN THE CITY'S RECOMMENDATION (JN MEDIAN CUTS AT THE FIRE STATION AND PROPOSED CITY HALL SITE AND ASKED ABOUT THE POSS�BILITY OF NO MEDIAN IN THIS AREA, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT POSSIBLY THE MAY�R' S OFFICE COULD TALK TO THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT REGARDING THIS MATTER. THE CITY MANAGER IS TO CONTACT THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS THESE ITEMS AND ALSO TO DISCUSS WTTH THEM THE NEED FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT FM528 AND SUNSET AND IF THE STATE WILL NOT PUT ONE IN POSSIBLY THE CITY CAN PUT THIS BADLY � - NEEDED LIGHT IN. COUNCILMAN BROWN REQUESTED COULD WE DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE GRASS GROWING W ER THE CURBS INTO THE STREETS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AI7VISING THIS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY UTILIZING THE SMALL DISK AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IS LOOKING INTO THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. COUNCIL CONVENED IN EXECUTIV E SESSION ACCORDING TO TEXA5 OPEN MEETINGS LAW ARTICLE 6252-17 , TEXAS V ERNONS CIVIL STATUTES (g) PERSONNEL. COUNCIL RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION WITH NO ACTION BEING TAKEN. MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED TO ADJOURN AT 10:05 PM. MAYOR LPH L. LOWE DELO 2S MCK ZI CITY 5ECRETARY � 4