TUESDAY, April 21, 2009

COUNCIL MEETING

7:00 P.M.

 

 

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

No invocation was given.

 

                        1.2. Present were Mayor Robin Border, Mayor Pro Tem Connie Castro, and Council Members John Denninger and Shannon Whiting. Also present were Efrain Him, P.E., of Claunch & Miller, Inc., Engineer for the City, Chief Gary Finkelman, Spring Valley Police Department, Tom Archer, Fire Commissioner, and David Labbe’ Alternate Fire Commissioner and Ted Lazarides, Building Official.

 

2. CITIZENS COMMENTS: NONE

 

3. REPORTS TO COUNCIL

 

3.1 Police: Chief Finkelman gave his report. He stated that there were eight (8) vehicle burglaries of which six were on Hickory Shadow in one night. There was one (1) arrests made where a citizen was stopped for a traffic violation and was found to have no license. Chief Finkelman explained that the miscellaneous column on the activity report is going to be higher because the police department uses this category to log in their routine stops to check on businesses so that they have a time line in case some type of incident arises. The Chief also stated that the department hired a new officer which makes their manpower at 100%. Council Member Whiting asked the Chief to have the officers watch for people running the stop signs on Ridgeley. He agreed to do that.

3.2 Fire Commissioner: Commissioner Archer reported that March was a quiet month with only one (1) ambulance call. He reported that the Commissioners are going to stick to the request of zero increases in the budget. The Commissioners will do this but they are concerned with pay increases and losing personnel because of other cities offering better packages. He said that he knows the Cities are concerned with the unfunded liability to TMRS. He explained that the liability is there only if the Fire Department or TMRS were to dissolve. They are trying to schedule a workshop for Mayors and Council Members. Mayor Border stated Hilshire Village and other cities are concerned with the unfunded liabilities. He stated the other concern was that TMRS has requested to the State Legislation that they wanted to guarantee a 5% return to their members. Mayor Border stated he wanted the Commissioners to vote the way the City wants them to and that they can not do this without the City telling them what the City expects. Commissioner Archer said the Cities need to be careful that they keep their good people and not lose them to competitors. The Mayor said he was very thankful for their ownership of the Fire Department.

3.3 Engineer’s Report: Efrain Him of HDR/CMI gave his report regarding Ridgeley Drive Paving and Drainage Improvements (Package 3). He stated that AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc., has substantially completed the project. A walkthrough will be next week and Council is invited to attend. A punch list will be made and after these items are corrected HDR/Claunch and Miller will do a final inspection and then the close-out documents will be submitted to the City. Efrain discussed HDR’s involvement with CDBG and ORCA for the City. HDR/C&M recommends payment to AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc.’s Pay Application No. 14.

 

Mayor Border asked if Efrain had talked to the Meyers and addressed their problems. The decision was made to meet with them on their issues after the Ridgeley walk thru.

 

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

 

4.1 Mayor Pro Tem Castro made a motion to authorize payment of AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc.'s Pay Application No. 14 for work related to the Ridgeley Drive Paving & Drainage Improvements Project (Package 3) in the amount of $212,615.41, seconded by Council Member Whiting. A vote was taken to approve the motion to authorize payment to AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc., in the amount of $212,615.41 and the motion passed unanimously.

 

The City Engineer was excused at this time.

 

3. REPORTS TO COUNCIL – Continued

3.4 Auditors review 2007-2008 Financials: Robert Belt gave the auditors report giving the City a clean, unqualified opinion which is the highest level of assurance that they can provide. Robert Belt stated that all disclosures have been included and the financial reports are materially correct.

 

Robert Belt reported that the Primary Government Operations is based on a full accrual basis and the total assets were $5,276,541; total liabilities $895,723, and the total net assets were $4,380,818. He stated the Proprietary Fund (water and sewer) had total assets of $1,779.751; total liabilities of $10,397 and total net assets of $1,769,354.

 

Robert Belt stated the General Fund had an ending fund balance of $402,237 and Metro ending funds were $2,289,177.

 

Robert Belt stated the Proprietary Fund (water and sewer) had total operating revenues of $304,240 and total operating expenses of $305,384, giving a operating loss of $1,144. He stated that these numbers did include depreciation.

 

Mayor Robin Border asked Robert Belt if $50,000 for depreciation would be a good number for the City to Budget. He asked if the City should be budgeting actual dollars for capital replacement. Robert Belt stated that in his opinion the City should borrow the money at the time of replacement. That way the people living in the City at that time would pay for the infrastructure. Council Member Denninger stated that he felt that the people living in the City at this time are not paying for the infrastructure at this time.

 

Mayor Robin Border stated that he wanted this Council to realize that the City has a revenue problem and that the City needs to find a way to handle this problem. He stated the easiest way to solve the problem is with taxes. Mayor Border would like to seek and examine other remedies for this revenue challenge.

 

Council Member Whiting asked how much longer the City could sustain this type of deficiency. She asked: “looking at the Balance Sheet what was the City’s reserve”. Robert Belt stated $402,237.

 

Mayor Border stated that he wanted to let Council know that he was going to approve some small items to be repaired while AAA is still in the City.

 

4.2 A problem with the culvert at the residence of Margaret Lodge (1110 Glourie) was discussed. Council stated they could not vote without recommendations from the City’s Engineer. Mayor Border asked the City Secretary to have HDR study this problem and give recommendation and cost on the culvert.

 

4.3 A motion was made by Council Member Denninger authorizing the City to open an interest checking account at Compass Bank to accept Hilshire Village utility payments, seconded by Council Member Whiting. Council wanted to make sure there were no hidden charges and it would not cost the City any money. City Secretary Blevins stated she was assured by Severn Trent and Compass bank that there would not be any charges. A vote was taken to authorize the City to open an interest checking account at Compass Bank to accept Hilshire Village utility payments and the motion passed unanimously.

 

4.4 A motion was made by Council Member Denninger to approve the request for landscaping in the City’s Right of Way at 1023 Ridgeley, seconded by Council Member Whiting. The home owner Kevin Madden brought pictures of what his lot looks like, explaining that they were trying to put river stone down in the City’s Right of Way to help with the drainage. He stated that they were trying to maintain and increase the flow of water and that this would be an asset to the City. The City Building Official stated that he did not approve the request because the City’s policy is that nothing should be put in the City’s right of way unless Council approves. Council wanted the City Engineer to look into this before a decision could be made. Council Member Denninger stated that the ditches are in the City’s right of way and that they are usually made of grass. The City’s streets are not designed for parking. The ditches are used for parking with 2 tires on and 2 tires off. Mr. Madden said that parking is not an issue. He stated there is a common area across the street for parking. He is also aware that the ditch can be used for parking and that he does not have a problem with that. Mr. Madden stated that the City has not maintained the ditch. Council Member Denninger stated that the City never neglects drainage and that nothing has been brought to the attention of the City. Council Member Denninger rescinded the motion until the City’s Engineer has looked at the elevations and the landscaping in the City’s Right-of-Way at 1023 Ridgeley.

 

The City Attorney was excused at this time.

 

5. REPORTS TO COUNCIL

 

5.1 Building Official: Ted Lazarides stated it was very quiet in the month of April. There were only three (3) misc. permits issued this month. He stated that there will be at least two houses to be built and three if Jay Tribble starts his house in the second half of the year.

 

The City Building Official was excused at this time.

 

5.2 Treasurer: Manisha Patel stated that a new report was submitted to Council. The total of the City’s Investments are $2,672,331 and this amount includes Metro. The Treasurery Bonds expire this month and she will be transferring the funds to the TEXPOOL account.

5.3 Mayor and Council:

 

Mayor Border stated that the status of Grant Money was reported by the City’s Engineer. The Mayor stated that he is spending a lot of his time looking for grants and money to be used on utilities. The Mayor encouraged Council to network with other Cities and see what information they can obtain.

 

Whiting: Bridle Spur – One of the City’s Residents has requested a letter by the City that would note that a minor encroachment would not be an issue if they sold there home.

 

Ridgeley Project Citizens Committee met to discuss the maximum of $40,000.00 that Council has approved. Council Member Whiting, Richard Weber and John Watson of Harris County Flood Control walked through the site and discussed the planting of trees. Harris County suggested waiting to plant the trees during the fall which is better time for survival. Over all irrigation is a big part of the issues and the City needs to be thinking about how they plan to handle it. The committee agreed that there needs to be a similar plan for all the culverts and that there needs to be an overall plan for the whole City. Safety Issues were brought up for the culverts and how that would be handled. Council Member Whiting asked Council if they wanted the Committee to make a presentation to Council before spending the money. Mayor Border suggested that the Committee look for a resident who might be an arborist and have the experience to advise the Committee without spending money.

 

5.4 HVCEFFC (Conduit Bonds): City Secretary Blevins stated there was

$1,049.37 in the bank at this time. The Mayor said he was trying to get the HCEFFC Committee active again.

 

5.5 City Secretary: Complaint Log: Council Member Whiting asked what was going on with the Glourie water issues. City Secretary Blevins stated that Mondre with Severn Trent was back on the issue and was flushing the lines. Council Member Whiting commented on the resident comment that the recycling was being taken to the dump. Mayor Border stated that information was incorrect. The material was being taken to a recycling company and not put in the dump. The election equipment was picked up today. Early Voting starts Monday. City Secretary attended a Salt Grass Chapter Meeting where the topic was “emergency management preparedness”. FEMA will be coming out tomorrow for signatures on the request for reimbursement. City Secretary Blevins attended a Village City Secretaries luncheon and they will be meeting once a month to share information and projects going on in their Cities. Mayor Pro Tem asked why Council Member Anderson had not signed a notarized disclosure form. She stated that the ordinance should be revoked if not all Council Members were going to turn the form in.

 

6. CONSENT AGENDA

 

6.1 A motion was made by Council Member Denninger to accept the consent agenda as presented, seconded by Council Member Whiting. A vote was taken to approve the motion to accept the consent agenda including Council Meeting minutes of March 17, 2009 and Special Council Meeting March 31, 2009 the vote was unanimous.

 

7. ADDITIONAL CITIZENS COMMENTS:

 

Paul Maddock, 8 Hilshire Oaks Court, requested that residents pick up after their dogs. He stated that the storm sewer at the corner of Ridgeley and Wirt is not draining. Mr. Maddock was told that after the Ridgeley project was completed the storm sewer would drain. He also stated further to the West where the resident wanted to put the landscape there is grass that has been run over by cars and it is a mess. Mr. Maddock stated something needs to be done to make the street more attractive.

 

8. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS:

 

Mary Border asked the Mayor to discuss the flooding of the ditch at 1320 Pine Chase. Mayor Border stated that the ditch on the Glourie side is higher than it had ever been. He stated that Ken Knop was concerned about flooding.

 

9. ANOUNCEMENTS: NONE

 

10. ADJOURNMENT: It was moved by Council Member Denninger and seconded by Council Member Whiting to adjourn.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                        ____________________

                                                                                                                                                                        Mayor Robin Border

 

ATTEST:

 

__________________________

Susan Blevins, City Secretary