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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 1987-03-09 Special ��ie) SPECZAI� MEETING FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL MARCH 9 , 1987 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDSW�OD CITY COUNCZL THAT WAS HRLD ON MARCH 9 , 1987 AT CITY HALL AT 7 : 00 PM WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT CONSTITUTTNG A QUORUM: MAYOR RALPH L . LOWE � .. MAYOR PRO-TEM JAN JORDAN COUNCILMAN JZM 4iARRELL COUNCILMAN PHYLLIS LEE COUNCILMAN ' FVFLYN NEWMAN COU NC I LM A N JO E PR IH OD A CQUNCILMAN BOB WICKLANDER CITY MANAGER ANNETTE BRAPJD PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MELVIN MEINFCKE CITY SECRFTARX DELORIS MCKENZIE MAYOR LOWE WFLCOMED MEMBFRS OF F30Y SCOUT TROOP �1k2 TO THE MEETING . T'"'I (� MAYOR LOWE RFRUESTED COUNCILMAN WICKLANDFR TO REVZEW � CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FROM FEMA AND REPORT LATER OI3 IN THE � MEETING. m MAYOR LOWE REPORTED THE CITY HAS RFCETVED NOTIFICATION FROM Q HARRIS COUNTY REGARDING A PROPOSED PARK AT WHISP�RZNG PINES ANn OXNARD IN FOREST BEND Si1BDIVISION, MAYOR LOWE REPORTED THE CITX � HAD RECEZVED CORRESPONDENCE FROM FOREST BEND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION STATING THEY WERE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS PARK BEING DEVELOPED AND HAD REQUESTEn HARRIS COUNTY TO DO S0 . MAYOR LOWE STATED THE PROJFCT TO WZDEN FM 2351 AND FM 52$ FROM FM 518 TO IH 45 WAS GOING TO COST APPROXIMATELY MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS �'OR CULVERTS, CURBS AN� GUTTERS AND FSPLANADFS. MAYOR LOWF REPORTED HE TALKED TO THE STATF RECENTLY AND NOW THE STATE WSLL PAY THE COST AND INSTALL CURBS AND GUTTERS AND ESPLANADES IF THE COUNTIES FURNISH THE RIGHT OF WAY. IN GALVESTON COUNTY THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO THF 6-LANE CONCEPTS, PUT IN THF CURB AND GUTTER AND PAY THE ADDITIONAL MQNEY FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY. A MEETING SHOULD BE SET UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND MAYOR LOWE URGED COUNCSL TO ATTEND THIS MEETING TO HELP DECIDE WHAT IS J3FST FOR THE CITY OF FRIENDSWdOD . MAYOR LOWF STATED TO THE CITY MANAGFR THE CITY NEEDS TO GET AS CLOSE TO THF $150 ,000 FOR MOVING THE WATER LINES AS POSSIBLB WITH THE CITY MANAGFR ADVISING SHE WAS WORKING ON THIS. MAYOA LOWE ASKED THE CITY MA�IAr,ER IF 6-LANES GO IN ON FM 528 WHICH WILL BE 15 TO 30 FEFT ADDITIONAL WIDTH, WILL THF NEW 1 b-INCH WATERLIN.F, THAT WAS JUST INSTALLED HAVE TO BE MOVFD? PU9LIC WORKS DIRECTOR STATED IF THEY HOLD TO THE CENTSR OF THE R:CGHT OF WAY, THF CITY WOULD HAVF TO MOVE THE WATFR LINF IN PLACES. MAYOR LOWE STATRD IT IS POSSIBLE GALVESTON COUNTY HAS ENOUGH MONEX LEFT OVFR TO HELP PAY TO MOVE THIS LINF OVER . MAYOR LOWE REPORTED THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMFNT HAS PLACED POLES FOR SPEED LIMIT SIGNS IN FRONT OF THE NEW CITY HALL SITE ANn ZN , FRaNT OF THE FLAG POLES AT STEVENSON PARK . MAYOR LOkdE AEPaRTED H� ASKED THE CONTRACTOR WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MOVE THESE POLES AND THE CONTRACTOR STATED IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $600. 00 TO RELOCATE THESE POLES. MAXOR LOWE ASKED COUNCIL DID THE CITY WANT TO PAY THIS COST TO HAVF THE POLE.S MOVED? COUNCIL STATED THEY WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLFM AND TAKE CARE OF THE MATTER. MAYOR LOWF REQUESTED COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT COULA, MEFT WITH THE CITY MANAGER AT $ :3Q A . M, ZN THE MORNING TO LOOK AT THE POLES AND LET HRR KNOW HOW THEY FEF�, AF30UT MOVING THFM. MAYOR LOWE STATED HF HAD SPOKEN TO JIM GREEN WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT REGARDING THF EROSION OF THE WALL AT THF, DITCH 118 AND BLACKHAWK 330ULEVARD . MAYOR LOW� AT THIS TTMF RECOGNYZED THAT JIM GR�:EN WAS UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE AUb2ENCR ANb R�QUESTED MR. GRFEN TO ADDRESS COUNCTL REGARnTNG THIS MATTER. 224 MR . GRFEN STATFD HF HAD GONF OUT TO INSPECT THR SITR AND FOi1N1) IT TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. MR . GREEN S7'ATED HF DIDN � T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT COULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT AID HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS AS TO WHO BUILT THIS, WHO ENGINEERFD AND FINALLY WHO INSPECTED THE PROJFCT? MR. GREEN STATED THAT IN THE MORNING HE WOULD HAVE HIS WATFR SHED COORDINATOR START WQRK ON ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS AKD FFFLS CERTAIN IT� S JUST A CASE OF GOING TO THE CONTRACTOR AND GFTTING THF' NECESSARY REPAIRS DONE. . ,, COUNCILMAN WICKLANDER REQUESTFD MR. GREEN TO GIVE THF COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON THE CLEAR CREEK PROdECT. MR. GREEN REPORTED RIGHTS OF WAY ARE BEING ACQUIRED , ADJUSTMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO PIPFLINE BETWEFN THE RAILROAD AND HIGHWAY 146 , A MEETING WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS REGARDING PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION AND ALSO DISCUSSED PROPOSAL BY THF FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT REGARDING LOCATION FOR GATE DFVICE, WHETHER THE WEST OR THE EAST SIDE OF HIGHWAY 146 , WORKING ON PXPELINE ADJUSTMEKT ON THE WESTERN END OE' THE LAKE , AWARDFD AN OVERALL SURVEYING CONTRACT FOR PHYSICAL SURVEYING AND MAKING OF THE PLATS TO DO FURTHER ACQUISITION UPSTREAM AND THERE IS A CHECK OFF DATE COMING WITHIN THIRTY DAYS . C�UNCILMAN WICKLANDER REPORTED THE FEMA CORRESPONDENCF WAS IN RESPONSE TQ CORRESPONDFNCE SENT BY THE CITY REQUESTING EEMA UPDATE THE FLOOD MAPS FOR FRIENDSWOOD BASED UPON DATA THAT WAS SUBMITTED FROM BERNARD JOHNSON, INC. FOR THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD. THIS CORRESPONDENCE STATED A REVISION TO THE EFFECTIVE FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY DATED APRIL 18 , 1983 HAS BEEN INITIATED AND SHOULD BF RELEASED TO THE COMMUNITY IN PRELIMINARY FORM TN MAY 1987 . MAYOR LOWE STATED THAT LAST WEEK HE HAD REPORTED THAT MR. LEONARD VINCIK FOR THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSIONER RON CROWDER FOR GALVFSTON COIINTY AGREED TO SPLIT THE $7 , 370 COST FOR MODI�ICATIOH OF TWO INI,ETS NORTH OF WHISPERING PINES ON THE EAST SIDE BUT NOW THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT HAS SENT CORRFSPOND�NGF. STATING THE CITY AND COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO SPLIT THIS COST. MAYOR LOWE REQUFSTED THE CITY MANAGER TO CONTACT MR. VINCIK REGARDING THIS MATTER AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL . PAT RILEY AND JOF TEtJNISON APPEARED BEFORE COUNCIL AND GAVE A BRIEF HISTORX OF THE HIKE AND BIKE COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMFD OVFR TEN YEARS AGO FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOOKING INTO SAFE WAI�KZNG AND BIKING AREAS AND VARIOUS FUNDING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMF OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS. PAT RILEY ANNOUNCED THERE WERE STILL $2 , 000 LEFT IN THE BANR AND THE HIKE AND BIKE COMMITTEF WOULD LIKE TO DONATE THESE FtTNDS TO THE STDEWALK PROJECT AT JOI3ES HANGAR. A GROUP REPRESENTING USERS OF JONES HANGAR ACCEPTED THE CHECK AND THANKED THE HIKE AND BIKE COMMITTEE FOR THE DONATION. CITY MANAGER REPORT�D THE CITY COUNCIL HAD FUNDED AN ADDITIONAL $?_ ,000 OUT OF THE CONTINGENCY FUND TO BE USED FOR THIS SIDEWALK PROJECT. MAYOR LOWE STATED HE HAD MEASURED THE AREA FOR THE SIDF'WALKS WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 1775 SQUARE FEET AND COlVTACTED A CONTRACTOR WHO QUOTEn $?_ .25 PER FT. TO BUILD THIS SIDEWALK WHICH WOULD BE A PPR OXIMATELY :�3 , 9 95. JANIS LOWE , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REMINDED COUNCIL OF THE CHAMBER MEETING THtlRSAAY AT REED + S RESTAiIRANT AND TIiE GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE CITX MANAGER ANNETTE BRAND WHO WILL SPEAK ON "HOW TO RUN A CITY LIKE A BUSINESS" . MAYOR LOWE REMINDED EVERYONE THAT THE APRIL 4 , 1987 ELECTION BALLOT WILL CONTAIN TWO PROPOSITIONS WHICH VOTERS WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE YES OR NO At�D THE PROPOSITIONS ARE ( 1 ) SHALL THE C ITY OF FRIENDSWOOD CONTINUE IN ITS EFFORTS TO CONSTRUCT A NEW CITY HALL AND ( 2 ) WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD INCURRING DEBT , IF NECESSARY, TO PAY FOR THE NEW CITY HALL . A LENGTHY DISCUSSION REGARDING COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TAXES WAS HELD WITH COUNCILMAN JORDAN STATING SHE WOULD LIKF TO MAKR COMMENTS R F.(3A RD INa THE R EPO RT THA T WA 8 PR ESENTED BY THE C ZTY MANAGER AS PREPARED BY THE TAX COLLECTOR THRU FEBRUARY 1 , 19 $7 . 225 THf� REPORT INDICATFS THE CTTY HAS $?_81 , 33� .T.N DEGT.NQUFNT TAXES WHEN ACTUALLY AT THE END OF FEBRUARY THAT NIJM.BER WAS $254� 735. IN ADDITION TO THAT NUMBER, THE CITY HAS $453, 000 IN CURRENT YEAR WHICH WOULD BE 1986 PROPERTY TAX�S WHICH BECAMF DELINQUENT FEBRUARY 1 , BUT CANNOT FILE SUIT ON UNTIL JULY WHICH RESULTS TN A TOTAL OF OVER $700, 000 DELINQUENT TAXES dWED THF CITY . ALTHOUGH THE CITY CANNOT FILE SUIT ON THE $453, 000 UNTIL J [ILY , HOW THE CITY HANDLES COLLECTION OF THE APPROXIMATELY $255, 000 WILL BE A CLEAR INDICATOR TO THOSE THAT OWE THE $453 ,000 A5 TO WHETHER OR , � NOT THEY REALLY SHOULD BE MAKING ATTEMPTS TD MAKE PAYMENTS. COUNCILMAN JORDAN ALSO STATED THAT THROUGH�UT THF REPORT VARIOUS AMOt1NTS ARE NOTED UNCOLLECTABLE , BEEN TO LONG OR TO OLD , TRIED EVERYTHING, CAN � T MAKE THEM PAY, TO WHICH COUNCILMAN JORDAN COMMENTED THA T THE C ITY HA S N OT FILED SUI T AND IF THE C ITY WAS FILING SUIT ON A REGULAR BASIS, THEN THESE TAXES WpULDN ' T GET TO BE FIVE AND TEN YEARS OLD AND THEN IT WOULDN � T BE TO LATE TO FIND THESE DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS IN PARTICULAR, THE MOBIL� HOMF OWNERS, COUNCILMAN JORDAN COMMFNTED THAT ON REAL ESTATE TAXES THE REPORT STATED THESE TAXES ARE ALWAYS COLLECTED, COUNCILMAN JORDAN STATED SHE IS NOT SURE THIS IS ALWAYS SQ, AS SHE BELIEVFS THIS ONLY OCCURS IF THE LAND CHANGES HANDS. THE COMMENT IN THE REPORT ON 5--� DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS STATED TAXES WOULD BE PAID AT CLOSING , � COUNCILMAN JORDAN COMMENTED THAT THE RETAZL MERCHA[JTS WERE NOT � GIVEN THAT MUCH LEEWAY, HOMEOWNERS ARE CERTAINLY NOT GIVEN THAT � MUCH LEEWAY SO THEREFORE WHY SHOULD ANOTHPR GROUP BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY . PAYING PROPFRTY TAXES IS A COST OE DOING BUSINESS m AND DEVELOPERS AND HOME BUILDERS KNOW WHAT THOSE TAXES AS WELL AS Q HOMEOWNERS D0 . THE STATEMENT IN THE REPORT REGARDING PAYMENT PLAN COMMENTED THAT THERE WAS A LOCAL DEVFLOPER WHO OWFD A LOT OF TAXES, THE CITY LET HIM HAVE MORE TIME AND NOW THE DFVELOPER IS BACK IN BUSTNESS AGAIN, WHILE THIS IS GOOD, EVERY CITIZFN HAS THR OPTION OF A PAYMENT PLAN . COUNCILMAN JORDAN STATED SHE BELIEVES THE CITY IS OVERLOOKING THE TAXPAYERS WHO ARE PAYING THEIR TAXES ON TIME AND OVERLOOKING VOLUNTARY COMPLIANC.E ZS RFALLY THE DEST WAY TO COLLECT� PROPERTY TAXES BUT AGAIN THF .SIGNAL THE CITY SFNDS IS NOT GOING TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE. COUNCILP4AN JORDAN STATED THE CONTRACT WITH THE D�LIN(�UFNT TAX ATTORNFY IS ABOUT TO E}CPIRE AND THE CITY NEEDS TO VOTE WHFTHFR TO RENEW THIS CONTRACT OR WHETHER TH� CITY WANTS TO INTERVIFW OR RECEIVE PROPOSALS. COUNCILMAN PRIHODA STATED THE COMMITTEE OF HIMSELF, CpUNCILMAN JORDAN AND COUNCILMAN HARRELL ARE O.N THE SCHOOL BOARD AGFNDA FOR TOMORROW TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT WI TH THF DELINQUENT TAX ATTORNEY AND TO LOOK OVER THE CONTRACT THF CZTY HAS WITH THF SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR TAX COLLECTIONS. COUNCILMAN NFWMAN STATED THE DELINQUENT TAX ATTORNEY RECFIVES HIS PAYMFNT FROM WHAT HE COLLECTS AND ALSO STATED IN REFERENCE TO THE NINETEEN TO TWENTY YEARS THAT TAXES WERE DELINQUENT THAT THE ONLY TAXES LEFT FROM 1966 TO 1973 IS $296 . 00 AND THERF HAS BEEN ACTIVITY THROUGH OUT THE YEARS TQ TRY AND COLLECT THESE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES. COUNC ILMAN JORDAN STATED THE PROBLEM SHE HAS WITH THE CURRENT DELINQUFNT TAX ATTORNEY IS THE LACK OF RESPONSE ON HIS PART IS REPORTTNG TO COUNCIL OF HIS ACTIVITIES. CITY MANAGER STATED THAT THE NOTES REFERRED TO IN THF REPORT WERE COPIES OF HER VERBAL REPORT AND IF THFY WERF WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY TO IMPLY THAT THERE WAS A LACKADAISICAL ATTITUDE IT WAS NOT INTENDED AS THAT WAS NOT THE TONE SHE GOT WHEN SHE MET WITH MS . CARBONE ANA MR. JOYNER. COUNCILMAN JORDAN STATED SHE , HAD NO CRITICISM FOR MS . CARBONE WHATSOEVER, THAT ALL OF THE DIRECTION SHE TAKES IS FROM THIS COUNCIL AND WHATEVER SHE DOES IN THE WAY OF LAWSUYTS COMES FROM THIS COUNCIL . COUNCILMAN WICKLANDER STATED HASN � T THIS COUNCIL DIRECTED MS. CARBONE TO DIRECT THE DELINQUENT ATTORNEY AS TO �dHEN HE FILES LA[1SUITS? COUNCILMAN JORDAN STATED T�HAT IT WAS HER UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS TURNED THIS OVER TO MS . CARBONE AND TOLD HFR TO MAKE THE JUDGMENT CALLS ON LAWSUITS. MAYOR LOWE REQUFST�n THE COMMITTEE GO AHEAD AND MEET WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND T.HEN BRING THIS BACK BEFORE COUNCIL FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. DISCUSSI�N WAS HELD REGARDING THE PROPOSAL FROM HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCSL F�R POOL EQUIPMENT LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH CQUNCILMAN JORDAN REPQRTF.D SHE HAD LOOKED INTO THIS PROPOSAL LAST YEAR AND AGAIN THIS YEAR AND DID NOT SEE AN ADVANTAGE TO THF CITY 226 TO FNTER INTO THTS A(3RFEMFtVT THIS YEAR AS TNF CITY � S CRFnIT' - RATING TS HIGH, THIS POOL IS FOR THE AENFFIT `OT THF SMALLER CITIES NEF'DING THE POOLING OF OTHER CITIES TO INCREASE THE CREDIT RATING. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN REGARDING THIS PROPOSAL. *+�MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN JORDAN TO APPROVE RESOLOTION N0. R87-7 , URGING THF MEMF3ERS OF THE LEGZSLATURE TO ADOPT LEGISLATION FOR THE REFORM OF TORT LAW, AND ADOPT LEGISLATION GOVERNING THE ,��CHARACTER AND AMQUNT OF DAMAGES THAT MAY BE AWARDED AGAINST . ,, MUNICIPALITIES IN TEXAS. � SECONDED $Y COUNCILMAN LEE. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY . CITY MANAGER REPORTED SHE HAb BEEN MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HFADS TO REVIFW DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS FOR EXCESS FUNDS BUT IT DOESN � T LOQK VERY PROMZSING . ASKED CITY COUNCIL IF THEY WERE AWARE THE PROPOSED CITY HALL UPSTAIRS BALCONY ONLY HAD ONE ENTRANCE WHICH IS THRU THE CONFERENCE ROOM? MAYOR LOWE STATED THAT IF THE PROPOSITION PASSES FOR THE CITY HALL THEN THE PLANS COULD BE REVIEWED FOR ONE FINAL REVISION DUE TO THE COST IHVO[,VED FOR THE ARCHITFCT TO MAKE CHANGFS. CITY MANAGER REPORTED THAT DUE TO THE SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING , SHE HAS APPOINTED DUANE HENGST AS HER SPECIAL ASSISTANT. MAYOR LOWE STATED HE FELT THERE SHOULD BE A NEW COMMITTEF FORMED WITH PaSSIBLY SIX TO EIGHT MEMBERS TO LQOK INTO VARIOUS MATTERS SUCH AS COMMUNITY APPEARANCE BOARD , POPULATION SIGNS, WELCOME SIGNS, BUDGET, RIGHT OF WAY NEEDS, STREETS, EXPANSION AND TIF_ INS OF EXISTING STREETS ANA OTHER MATTERS. MAYOR LOWE STATED THAT POSSIBLY MITCH WRIGHT COULD WORK ON THIS COMMITTEE WITH COUNCIL APPOINTING TWO MEMF3ERS, CITY MANAGER APPOINTING TWO MEMBERS AND POSSIBLY THE CHAMBER APPOINTING ' TWO MEMBERS. MAYOR LOWE SUGGESTED THIS COMMITTEE COULD BE CALLED THE "CASPAR" COMMITTEE. MOTION WAS MADE AND APPROVED TQ ADJOURN AT 8 : 20 PM. / MAYOR ALPH L. LOWE DELORIS MCKENZIE, C. C CITY SECRETARY