COUNCIL MEETING August 19, 2008

 

 

1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Robin S. Border called the regular meeting of the City of Hilshire Village to order at 7:00 P.M. at 8301 Westview, Houston, Texas 77055.

Invocation was given by Council Member Castro.

 

                        1.2. Present were Council Members Cheryl Wolfe, John Denninger, Shannon Whiting, Zandra Anderson and Mayor Pro Tem Connie Castro. Also present were Efrain Him, P.E., of Claunch & Millers, Inc., (CMI) Engineer for the City, David Olson of Olson and Olson, Attorney for the City, Manisha Patel, City Treasurer and Ted Lazarides, City Official.

 

2. CITIZENS COMMENTS: Bill Bristow, 1233 Pine Chase, stated the special meeting was not posted on the website and he and everyone else did not know about the hearing.

Judy Shields, 1302 Glourie, stated that she did not want to see the City have too many ordinances which controlled the look of the City, causing it to lose its uniqueness.

 

3. REPORTS TO COUNCIL:

3.4. Engineers: Efrain Him of CMI gave his report regarding Ridgeley Drive Reconstruction Project. Utility Improvements (Package 2) – The lift station passed its seven day continuous test and the old lift station has been dismantled. Metro City delivered the auto-dialer system to City Hall per request of Vernon Kahanek, City Utility Coordinator.

Metro City is working on the rehabilitation of the wet well from the old lift station. It will be converted into a sanitary sewer manhole and is scheduled to be done on August 15, 2008.

                        Paving & Drainage Improvement (Package 3) AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc., has installed 60” RCP, the headwalls and footings, manholes, 18” storm sewers and safety end treatments and water line segment in Channel Crossing B (Ridgeley Drive North of Burkhart). AAA has also installed the 60” RCP, headwall footings and the manhole in Channel Crossing C (Burkhart).

                        CMI recommends payment to AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc. (Pay Application No. 6) for an amount of $186,366.27 for completion of approximately 47.47% of the work.

 

4. ACTION ITEMS (CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION):

                        4.1 Mayor Pro Tem Castro made a motion to authorize payment to AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc., for Pay Application No. 6 for work related to the Ridgeley Drive Paving & Drainage Improvements Project in the amount of $186,366.27 seconded by Council Member Whiting. A vote was taken to authorize payment to AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc., in the amount of $186,366.27 and the motion passed unanimously.

 

                        4.2 Council Member Denninger made a motion to approve an addition authorizing 24” culverts as opposed to open ditch (on a portion of the south side of Ridgeley east of Mallie Court, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro. A vote was taken to approve 24” culverts on a portion of the south side of Ridgeley east of Mallie Court and the motion passed 3-2. Council Members Wolfe and Whiting and Mayor Pro Tem Castro voted for the motion and Council Members Anderson and Denninger against the motion.

 

                        4.2A Council Member Denninger made a motion to approve an addition of two sections of culvert along West Burkhart, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro. A vote was taken to approve the addition of two sections of culvert along West Burkhart and failed 1-4. Mayor Pro Tem Castro voted for the motion and Council Members Wolfe, Anderson, Denninger and Whiting against the motion.

 

4.3 Council Member Wolfe made a motion to allow Mr. Teas, 1202 Ridgeley Drive, a permit to replace his existing parking pad, seconded by Council Member Whiting.

Mr. Teas explained that all he wanted to do was replace the parking pad that was removed by the Ridgeley Road Construction. Mr. Teas stated that the parking pad would be exactly the same size.

A vote was taken to approve a permit be issued to replace 1202 Ridgeley Drive parking pad and failed 1-4. Mayor Pro Tem Castro voted for the motion and

Council Members Wolfe, Anderson, Denninger and Whiting voted against the motion.

 

The Mayor excused City Engineer Efrain Him of further attendance at the current Council meeting.

 

OUT OF ORDER

5. REPORTS TO COUNCIL

 

5.1. Police: Chief Gary Finkelman discussed his written report to Council and citizens. There was one arrest for an outstanding warrant for intoxication and one motor vehicle burglary.

 

5.2 Fire Commissioner: Alternate Fire Commissioner Labbe’ gave his report to Council stating it was very quiet in the City this month. The one problem the Fire Department had was establishing a location of a house fire in another Village. Labbe’ also stated that a lightning strike had damaged some equipment; however, the loss was covered by insurance.

 

4. ACTION ITEMS (CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON):

 

                        4.4 A motion was made by Council Member Anderson to approve an Ordinance governing the size and number of drive and sidewalk crossings of the City’s Right-of-Way for each residential lot, seconded by Council Member Denninger. Mayor Pro Tem Castro felt the ordinance was not comprehensive enough for corner home driveways with detached garages. Mayor Pro Tem Castro distributed photographs showing different driveways that needed more than 16 feet. She stated that the driveways needed to be at least wide enough for 2 car widths. After discussion Council Member Anderson amended the motion to read 22 feet in width for a single driveway and a change of wording on Article 7.400. to read “BLOCKAGE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY”, seconded by Council Member Denninger. A vote was taken to approve the Ordinance provided by Council governing the size and number of drive and sidewalk Crossings in the City’s Right–Of-Way, the ordinance passed unanimously.

 

4.5 A motion was made by Council Member Denninger to approve the drafting of an ordinance for changing the general election back to an election where the candidates with highest vote count are declared the winner. A vote was taken to draft an ordinance changing the general election back to an election where the candidates with the highest vote count are declared the winner. The motion passed 3-2. Council Member Wolfe, Anderson and Denninger voted for the motion and Council Member Whiting and Mayor Pro Tem Castro voted against the motion.

 

The Mayor excused City Attorney David Olson of further attendance of the current Council meeting.

 

Council recessed at 9:28 PM for a break.

 

Council reconvened at 9:41 PM.

 

 

5. REPORTS TO COUNCIL:

 

5.3. Treasurer: Financial statements were submitted in the Council packet and City Secretary Blevins is working with Peachtree to create the reports in the way the Budget is presented.

 

5.4 Building Official: Ted Lazarides, Building Official, had previously distributed his written report. Lazarides stated that there were nine (9) new permits not related to new construction and one new home plan reviewed and approved. Lazarides stated that a Certificate of Occupancy was issued at 8213 Mallie Court on July 25, 2008. Lazarides requested Council’s approval to continue to enforce the protection of the City’s Water through the installation of vacuum breakers and that any health and safety items be enforced. The Council acknowledged that was the City’s intent.

                       

                        5.5. Mayor and Council: Mayor Border announced that he and City Secretary Susan Blevins met with Mary Cureau and Steve Peters with Amegy Bank to get an understanding of the City’s service charges and what could be done to reduce them. The decision was made to combine as many bank accounts as possible and have money deposited as an ACH transaction instead of a wire transfer.

 

Mayor Border met with City of Houston’s Mayor Bill White and other local Mayors regarding controlling the cost of surface water.

 

Council Member Whiting discussed the fact that there was no change in the Bridle Spur right-of-way situation and she was working to set a meeting with the Ridgeley Citizens Committee regarding their recommendations for planting and aesthetics.

 

                        5.6. HVCEFFC (Conduit bonds): City Secretary Blevins reported $2,163.11 balance in the bank.

 

                        3.8. City Secretary: A list of citizens concerns was submitted to Council. Council requested that City Secretary Blevins call CenterPoint to see if they would remove the tree at 8111 Bromley since it was in CenterPoint’s easement. There was one new move-in and no move-outs. City Secretary Blevins stated that she was checking on all the different restricted funds and their requirements.

 

6. Consent Agenda: A motion was made by Council Member Denninger to approve the agenda with the exception of 6.2 regarding the Proclamation for National Night Out, seconded by Council Member Whiting. A vote was taken to approve the Consent Agenda including all invoices submitted, Minutes of Regular Meetings for June 17, 2008 and May 20, 2008, and with the deletion of 6.2 regarding the Proclamation for National Night Out and the motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Council Member Whiting to enact a Proclamation for Nation Night Out to be held on October 7, 2008 from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. in Glenhilshire’s Cul de Sac, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro. A vote was to taken to enact a Proclamation for National Night Out to be held on October 7, 2008 from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. in Glenhilshire’s Cul de Sac and the motion was passed unanimously.

 

7. DISCUSSION:

.

                        7.1 Mayor Border discussed the City Budget FYE 2008/2009. Mayor Border stated that the changes requested by City Council at the budget workshop were made and asked if there were any questions or comments. City Secretary Blevins requested that Council review employee benefits. Council Member Denninger was concerned that the City was drawing money from its saving account because revenue was not enough to cover expenses. Council Member Denninger stated that decisions will have to be made in the future to rectify this situation. The decision was made not to have another workshop.

 

                        7.2 Council Member Anderson discussed the computation of net building area pursuant to Section 11.03 Dwelling Unit of the City’s Ordinances. She said that the way the ordinance was intended was that net building areas include all floors of a dwelling unit. City Attorney, David Olson stated that the ordinance reads net building area taken at grade level of the main building.

 

                        7.3 Council Member Anderson discussed the computation of net building area at the construction site at 1225 Pine Chase (not 1225 Archley). Council Member Anderson stated the house is too big for the lot and should not have been approved because it was not the intent of the City to use only the ground level of the building when computing net coverage.

 

8. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS: None

 

9. ADDITIONAL CITIZENS COMMENTS: Bill Bristow, 1233 Pine Chase, stated that he could not believe Council wanted to change the general election back to where the candidates with the highest number of votes were elected.

 

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS: None

 

11. ADJOURNMENT: It was moved by Council Member Anderson and seconded by Council Member Whiting to adjourn.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                        ____________________

                                                                                                                                                                        Robin S. Border, Mayor

ATTEST:

 

__________________________

Susan Blevins, City Secretary