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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes 2010-06-07 Regular 06/07/2010 3342 � STATE OF TEXAS )( CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )( COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )( JUNE 07, 2010 )( MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 07, 2010, 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 COUNCILMEMBER MICHAEL BARKER COUNCILMEMBER JIM HILL COUNCILMEMBER PAT MCGINNIS COUNCILMEMBER BILL HOLBERT COUNCILMEMBER JIM BARR ACTING CITY MANAGER BOB WIENERS CITY SECRETARY MELINDA WELSH Councilmember Rivera and City Attorney Bobby Gervais were absent from the meeting. Mayor Smith called the meeting to order. 7:00 PM—REGULAR SESSION � The invocation was given by Pastor Lynn Colby with Calvary Church. Mayor Smith led the Pledge of Aliegiance to the United States and to the State of Texas. OATH OF OFFICE The Honorable Judge Richard Flake administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected Pat McGinnis. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Fred Krch, Friendswood resident, addressed Council and stated he would like to congratulate new Councilmember McGinnis and hopes the new administration is as successful as the Veterans Memorial. Mr. Krch further stated that the people are the City, not the City Manager or Council but the people. Mr. Krch also spoke regarding his opposition to the proposed Transportation District, stating people cannot afford it. Scott Gordon, Friendswood resident, addressed Council and stated he enjoys the work The Lighthouse Charity Team has done with the City in the past and is kicking off a fundraising drive. The team is looking for monthly donations so that they will be able to continue to take care of the City. Jeff Smith, Assistant Fire Chief of Galveston, stated he would like to thank Council for their support of The Lighthouse Charity Team, excited about scope of what Lighthouse Team does as they look at ways to help Friendswood, sees help needed outside Friendswood, requests have been overwhelming from families of children with cancer and families that have lost loved ones, is thankful for the support of � Council and public, is blessed, please continue to support The Lighthouse Charity Team. Jared Dyess addressed Council and stated he would like to offer congratulations to newly elected Councilmember McGinnis and would like to give him a keepsake of his election to City Council. He presented Councilmember McGinnis with a framed Friendswood Journal newspaper article. 06/07/2010 3343 � CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Acting City Manager Bob Wieners stated he would let Council speak regarding the Veteran's Memorial Project during the Communications from Mayor and Councilmembers. RESOLUTIONS **Councilmember Hill moved to approve Resolution R2010-19 - a Resolution of the City of Friendswood authorizing the Police Department to apply for funding with the U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program. Seconded by Councilmember Holbert. The motion was approved 6-0. Councilmember Hill stated he thinks the program is a great deal and a 50/50 match of $10,000, and asked if the $5,000 will come out of General Fund or the Police Department budget. Acting City Manager and Police Chief Wieners responded that the funds will come out of the Police Department budget. *'"`Councilmember Barr moved to table R2010-19 authorizing the Police Department to apply for funding with the U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program. No one seconded to table R2010-19. Councilmember McGinnis asked Chief Wieners if officers already have vests or is this is a new effort. Chief Wieners answered that it is a standard application that the City has participated in since the program began. The program is a federal grant that helps with officer safety and helps pay for individual's "�"` armor. Most every officer has a vest and is mandatory in the City of Friendswood that officers wear bulletproof vest. All detectives have body armor on the inside of their City vehicles so they can respond to a scene when appropriate. Councilmember Hill stated he has a son who is a police officer and knows bulletproof vests become obsolete after a while since ammunition and other weapons improve, would like the best vests available. Councilmember Barr suggested that the resolution be tabled until the new Councilmember is elected, unless the program is time sensitive. Chief Wieners stated the program is time sensitive and was scheduled to be on the previous agenda for discussion, however, the meeting did not take place. The grant has already been signed and is pending on Council approval. Councilmember Barr stated he is okay to move forward. **Councilmember Hill moved to approve Resolution R2010-22 - a Resolution of the City of Friendswood appointing the Depository/Authorized Signatories for the City of Friendswood Hurricane Disaster Recovery Projects, Texas Department of Rural Affairs, Texas Community Development Block Grant Program Contract No. DRS010048. Seconded by Councilmember Holbert. The motion was approved 6-0. Councilmember Hill stated this is a requirement, grant has been approved, grant will provide natural gas generators for the water wells and lift stations and will help fix Fire Station No. 3 in Forest Bend Subdivision. Fire Station No. 3 has been in disrepair for a long time, since Hurricane Ike. Council has to ...,, follow the appropriate steps to get the grant and will help repair the fire station, is very important and fully supports the program. 06/07/2010 3344 ..... Councilmember Holbert stated this is a requirement to designate personnel to sign the grant and also stated the program will provide backup generators for water wells during storms. Mayor Smith stated signatory authority would go to City Manager Roger Roecker and Administrative Services Director Cindy Edge. Councilmember McGinnis asked what the timeline on the project is, is it a shovel ready project, and why it takes so long. Councilmember Barr stated that Grant Consultant Sherry Riveron informed him that grants have to go through the appropriate steps and process, if you do not go through the process correctly funds may not get reimbursed. Assistant to the City Manager Nick Haby stated this item is for housekeeping purposes and has to be in place to receive consulting from LJA Engineering. LJA Engineering will visit the sites when they receive the Notice to Proceed from the State which will guarantee the funds will be reimbursed. Sherry Riveron notified the City that the Notice to Proceed is in the mail. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember McGinnis stated he and Mayor Smith attended a public hearing regarding the proposed Galveston Transportation District. He further stated there were not many people there that spoke against the district, the Mayor spoke and accurately reflected Council's past discussion and was voted to create ,�� it. Councilmember McGinnis pointed out that Council's discussion was whether to be part of the district and not necessarily whether to create it, others at the transit meeting did not want a new taxing district, brought documents to the meeting regarding rail, the district says they are not going toward rail but could change in the future and become a taxing district. Councilmember Holbert thanked Jay and Joann Horecky for their time and effort regarding Veteran's Memorial dedication last Monday, stated it was a great day. Councilmember Hill stated he would like to thank Jay Horecky for his hard work on the Veteran's Memorial. Mr. Horecky took over two years to build the flag, thinks Mr. Horecky could do in 2-3 months now. Councilmember Hill thanked everyone for all the effort and fundraising for the memorial and thanked the Chamber of Commerce for their help in getting funding started and also thanked Friendswood Journal reporter Jim Maloney who kept the memorial funding on the front page and stated Mr. Maloney would take a picture every time an individual donated. The memorial will be a landmark and a fitting tribute to all our veterans who have served. Councilmember Hill stated he was proud to be a part of the Veteran's Memorial and knows how hard the flag was to build and offered thanks again to Jay Horecky. Councilmember Barr stated he asked Joann Horecky how the memorial dedication went since he had been out of town and got chills down his spine when he heard about the flybys and how many people attended. The Challenger Baseball League is having a fundraiser for the Little League World Series and stated if the public has an interest the league is in need of volunteers and thinks it is a great program. Tom Goodwin has taken on the league for quite a few years and would appreciate the help. Councilmember Barker agreed with the discussion regarding the Veteran's Memorial and stated he has known that the memorial has been Jay and Joann Horecky's dream for about four years and also thanked everyone for being a part of it. Councilmember Hill is being modest about his contribution to the memorial in which he played a big part as well. The City will have a memorial to be proud of for years and years to come. 06/07/2010 3345 � Mayor Smith stated the City should be proud of the memorial and thanked Jay and Joann Horecky and Steve Hayden, thinks it should be impetus to continue the annual Memorial Day celebration. Mayor Smith reminded everyone that the Fourth of July events are coming up and come celebrate the evening program on the night of July 4th and the daytime parade will be July 5th. This year the City will have two days of celebration. Mayor Smith congratulated the Friendswood Mustang football team and reported that he made a presentation to Clear Brook High School, which was recognized for being an exemplary school and presented plaques to the valedictorian and salutatorian. CONSENT AGENDA **Councilmember Barr moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented A. Authorize Council to invoke Rule 1(A) of the Rules of Procedure to schedule the second regular meeting of June for Monday, June 14, 2010, to canvass the votes of the June 5, 2010, Special Runoff Election B. Approve Minutes of the March 18, April 5, April 19, May 3, 2010, Meetings. Seconded by Councilmember Holbert. The motion passed 5-1 with Councilmember McGinnis opposed. A motion was made and approved to adjourn at 7:34 PM. avi J.H. Smith Attest: � CX �.��� o� F RIEIy�s Melinda elsh, TRMC � �y City Secretary � � C� p * * s ��rF oF ��+� �