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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKFB Minutes 2012-06-19Keep Friendswood Beautiful Board Minutes June 19, 2012 BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE Sherry Goen Susan Stephens Frank Garza Paul Marx Todd Mendenhall Kaye Corey Pat Sullivan, Guest James Toney, Director of Community Services Kimberly Ramirez, Staff Billy Enochs, Council Liasion 1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. 2. Discussion/approval of May 22, 2012 minutes: Paul Marx made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, Susan Stephens second the motion and the motion was approved unanimously. 3. Communications/Guest: 4. Discussion regarding the Property Maintenance Code: Assistant City Manager Morad Kabiri was on hand to discuss the PMC; it’s a code that comes in a variety of forms. It was established by the international council of cities. This code has been on the books for 25 years. We don’t have the staffing or resources of the same extent the code requires. Friendswood has 1and a 1/2 code enforcement officers; other cities that are larger than us are staffed with quite a few more individuals. As we received calls on code violations, we investigate it. This entails cutting peoples grass, it’s a 9"requirement, if the facility is not secured we are required to fix it or we board it up ourselves, it’s not pretty but it helps from further damage. Staff is not opposed to implementing the PMC but we have to ramp up resources or find what issues on different properties are in disrepair, like a section of siding that is damage. We are waiting from direction from council. Council has asked to meet with KFB, P & Z and CEDC. I’m here to ask for suggestions or answer questions. Morad asked, “I’m opened to take questions”. Paul asked if there’s a difference between the maintenance codes when it’s a substandard structure or if it’s potentially going to collapse. We don’t have the authority of entering the facility to evaluate the property. Paul said theirs a property that has holes on the roof and walls have been hold up with 2 x 4's. Morad stated that the property on Shadowbend is now in the process of demolishing the garage and there will be cleanup to the property by the owners. If they don’t the city will be a citation. Morad said we have had numerous conversations with the owner and had boy scouts and habitat for humanity offer to help with this property and the owner always turned down the help. Cathy Gray takes care of swimming pools that are not fenced or the condition of the water has turned black. We can’t enter someone’s backyard as of right now. Kaye asked what you need to do that. Morad stated that anything that we can see from the public right away, it does give some additional leverage. Morad stated some are in full support and some state that this is my private property leave me alone. Kaye stated if there’s a city ordinance or a property maint code that can help us, it’s useful. Morad stated to implement this we need the resources for this. We would then be responsible to paint someone’s pool, replace someone’s window. Sherry asked if the PMC overrides HOA's? Morad said we still need the resources. Those homeowners don't have the funds to repair or they refuse to repair. Todd stated that HOA’s need to be in charge of residential and the city should be in charge of commercial property. Morad said a good example is at Forest Bend, the house has been abandoned the house is vacant, there’s not a backyard fence, windows are broken, the structure is boarded up and the house is not very pretty to look at but it's safe. With the PMC, we would have to convince the bank to replace all the windows and doors and if they don't do that we have to pay for it. Susan asked if it’s been on the books for 25 years, why would you give up an ordinance that would give the city control, at some time you could increase the budget. Morad stated which ones to you bug and the ones you don't. Our concern again is selective enforcement some issues are more severe than others. With commercial property and with our fire code, their property has to be inspected on annual bases. We have 14,000 residential structures in Friendswood. If the structure is not fit for occupation we have to find another place for that homeowner. Pearland and League City, Sherry states they have resources and more staff. Morad is suggesting properties like Shadowbend we're able to address this outside the PMC. Council is looking for consensus from the board. Get us the resources or reduce the scope. No one wants to repeal the PMC, the board agreed to make a motion keeping the PMC, with modifications. Kaye questioned why all of a sudden you can’t walk up a driveway and look at a car, before you could but all of a sudden you can’t. Morad stated that the inability to walk-on the property is a license issue not an ordinance. The issue can be resolved with questions to our attorney. Paul stated that 1 & 1/2 people code enforcement staff on a $4,000 budget that would be difficult for anyone to do. Paul suggested it to be modified or simplified. Morad said we can email you a link of the actual code. The board said they would be open to that. 5. Discussion and possible action regarding: A. Volunteer Sheets: Sherry stated, if you haven't turned them in please do. B. Median Maintenance: Kaye asked if we will be replacing the crepe myrtles and rose bushes. James stated we were waiting to plant in the fall. Kaye said it doesn't look like more than 6 or 7 rose bushes need to be replaced. Kaye made a motion to replace the rose bushes on 518 not to exceed $100, Susan S second the motion and the motion passed unanimously. C. Budget Update: the board was given a spreadsheet of their current balance and the current balance is $3,634.94. Kaye stated that the master gardeners help donate flowers and plants to the city. They help create new beds in Stevenson and the Hangar. Kaye said she received a call from a resident when the city sprayed for bald moss and would like to plant oak trees and remove hackberries. James said some of that hackberry provides shade and he is hesitant to take those trees down. Kaye asked if the post office could be weeded. She thinks the issue is that the sun in on the bed until the afternoon. She said she’ll work on getting the bed weeded. D. Keep Friendswood Beautiful KFB Annual report to council: Sherry stated she did present the report to council. KTB Conference: Sherry stated we're lacking 1 person, Martha backed out. She stated if anybody can go, it would be appreciated. Sherry stated she will try to go Banners for Renwick Park/Pictures: James stated we're waiting for proofs, he stated Arnett used the Friendswood logo and the company (Arnett) has to recreate the Little League Logo. We obtain pictures of kids from the internet to use on the banners. Summer camp-Visit from KFB Mascot/Recycling Project: Sherry stated that Pat, Susan and I did the first summer camp presentation. We had games for the kids and stayed for an hour, the kids like it and were very attentive. KFB will be out there again on Friday. James stated that the presentation went great. E. Decision on Blackhawk Reader Board: James stated the HOA was in full approval of the sign going up, they will have their own meter and they will take care of their own water. It will be installed parallel to Blackhawk. F. Committees **KFB Fourth of July-Cotton Candy Fundraiser: Sherry stated we don't have enough people to participate but KFB will be in the parade, represented by Figgy. **Business Beautification Award-New Sign: Frank stated that sign will be resealed by sign city for free. **Sub Committee on Downtown Development Project: Paul stated that there in the process of finalizing the recommendation to council. Mona Miller did an outstanding view of presenting the KFB recommendation at the last P & Z meeting. **Park Pals Report/Fundraising: James stated we have received a total of $375 but has more around 5 to $600 and that park pal members still need to turn in the raffle sales. **Political Signs Committee James Toney fired out an email on whether or not we could change the ordinance but thinks we got some bad information on how League City had change their sign ordinance. Kaye stated that 1 can’t prohibit the sign from being placed during an election. She asked if we can write an ordinance that limits the numbers of signs that are put up. She stated that’s why I need an attorney's answer on what we can do. **G. New Business: Sherry stated she has an item that she would like to address with the board. She had a letter she wanted to read to the board. She states the next day after June’s council meeting I had several calls about the meeting. Someone told me to watch the meeting video where Councilwoman Brown made a comment while discussing the PMC. Sherry read her letter: See attached letter to minutes. The idea that she stated this is disturbing because when Councilwoman Brown was discussing this topic, it was at 4:30 in the afternoon and the receptionist heard that comment. Alley (receptionist) has been nothing but good to us. This is not the position of the KFB board and that private citizens should not include the name of the board when the board had never addressed this topic with the board at their meeting. Board members need to be aware of this while having transactions with a government elected council member. I don’t know why she said this and don't know why she said several members of the board said that. It’s something we have to be very aware of when speaking to council as a board member. Councilman Enochs stated, I’ve requested to have an agenda item on this topic on the next agenda. Sherry thanked Councilman Enochs very much. Sherry stated that my other letter is addressing the same statement but I ended it a little differently. I would like your permission to send it to a letter to the editor. Paul suggested sending it from the board. Kaye suggested that we will have Councilman Brown come back at us right away if we send it. Sherry stated that I attend a lot of council meetings and it’s time to call elected officials to task on what they say. The board voted to address the letter to the editor from the board. The board was all in favor. James Toney stated we will be getting bids for the large tree for Santa in the Park. Sherry asked if were still on board with Hometown Bank sponsoring the event, James stated yes. Susan S stated we talked about an adopt a street program and working with the seniors. Billy Enochs stated the Ms. Sullivan board member application will be on the July council agenda. **Next meeting July 24, 2012 6. Adjournment: the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Approved by: Kimberly Ramirez Date: __July 24, 2012_________