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1990-07-09 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES187 MINUTES OF A RBGLXM MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS HOLD ON JULY 9, 1990 AT 7:30 P. M. IN THE CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS The meeting was called to order with the following present: Mayor Councilmember/Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Acting City Manager City Attorney City Secretary C. V. (Vic) Coppinger David L. Smith D. A. Miller, Jr. Randy K. Weber William E. Wolff James DeShazer Lester Rorick Kay Krouse Absent From The Meeting: Councilmember Richard Tetens. The Invocation was given by Councilmember Randy Weber. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember D. A. Miller. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Weber, that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 25, 1990 be approved as presented. Motion passed 4 to 0. MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT Mayor Coppinger issued a proclamation proclaiming July 21, 1990 as "Pearland Night with the Astros". Accepting the proclamation were Patty Bates, Clean Pearland Coordinator; Matt Kastel, from the Houston Astro Office and Frank Varro, a Pearland resident who will be singing the National Anthem. Mr. Kastel presented Council with old Colt 45 baseball caps. Mayor Coppinger issued proclamations, one in English and two in Spanish, proclaiming July 12, 1990 as "Boy Scout Troop No. 464 International Scout Exchange Day" in Pearland. COUNCIL ACTIVITY REPORTS Councilmember Miller reported attending some informative sessions at the T.M.L. conference in Lubbock at the end of last month. Councilmember iMiller reported that he has reviewed 35 applications for the City Manager's position which included three from out of State, five from inside our City and one from Alvin, and he is ready to present to the committee those applicants: that he feels are most qualified out of the 35. Councilmember Smith reported that he recently toured all of the City parks and he feels that some are in poor condition as far as being City parks. Councilmember Smith reported that the Clear Creek Regional Flood Control Steering Committee will meet here at City Hall this Wednesday evening. Councilmember Smith reported meeting with the Drainage District No. 4 this morning and they discussed the drainage work project they feel will benefit the Corrigan Subdivision. Councilmember Smith informed that the Drainage District is interested in obtaining a piece of machinery that the City proposes to sell at our upcamsng auction and he would like to recommend that the City Attorney draw up the appropriate papers to transfer this machinery to the Drainage District. ME -01-01 i% Mayor Coppinger read portions of a letter to Council from Elliott Mdore, President, of Clean Pearland, which listed suggestions made by the Board ,for possibldO projects during the upcoming budget year. Mayor Coppinger stated that he felt' the letter contained a lot of good quality of life features. Councilmember Weber reported on attending some very informative sessions at the T.M.L. Conference in Lubbock and a recent luncheon with Commissioner Billy Joe Plaster. Councilmember Weber reported receiving a citizen complaint about a drainage problem on Longherridge and a complaint about the City charging a deposit for use of the scoreboard mechanism out at the park. Councilmember Wolff commented he felt that at the intersection of Old Alvin Road and F. M. 518, the crosswalk painted across the easterly portion of F. M. 518 was a potential hazard to pedestrians because those using that crosswalk will come directly in along the traveled roadway of Old Alvin Road. Councilmember Wolff suggested that the City Engineer investigate the possibility of installing pipe and having the crosswalk go over into the parking lot and avoid leading directly into a traveled roadway. At the request received from Al Lentz, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Councilmember Wolff stated that he felt there should be some recording made of the final determinations of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and he would like to suggest that the City Attorney investigate the possibility of having some type of declaration of the findings of the Board recorded in the Deed Records of Brazoria County. This would allow some future owner of a piece of property, through a title search, to have access to any determination the Board may have made on that property. Councilmember Wolff suggested the possibility of placing a stop sign on McLean Road at Walnut before it arrives at F.M. 518 to help alleviate the ongoing traffic problems in that area and requested that a engineering study on this be made by our Traffic Engineer. In describing the water system in our City, Councilmember Wolff suggested that Council consider adding an engine driven booster pump to the water system at City Hall which would allow us, under emergency conditions, to utilize the capacity in the ground storage tank, roughly 330,000 gallons of water. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS When questioned by the Mayor, Acting City Manager Jim DeShazer responded that the City's Emergency Operations Plan is currently being updated with the aid of our Emergency Management Coordinator, Ray Blaylock, and when completed it will be distributed for Council's review. City Manager DeShazer reported that, in preparation of hurricane season, City Staff has been checking our power supplies, starting the diesel and gasoline engines, making sure they are running all right. They started up the emergency generators at the Police Department and City Hall, making sure they are running properly. In addition our telephone system is now on the generator system so we will have the use of our telephones when there is a power loss. City Manager DeShazer advised that he and Ray Blaylock will be attending :a Disaster Recovery seminar in League City in the latter part of July. City Manager DeShazer reported that: 1) work on the Dixie Farm Road bridge began last Tuesday; 2) City crews completed the removal of utility lines off of the Longherridge bridge; 3) City crews will begin, in the morning, recutting the ditches along Magnolia Road, and with a roller, borrowed from the City of Alvin, they will be compacting the dirt before the lime stabilization; and 4) the County crews finished paving Veterans Drive last week and we will be striping it along with Old Alvin Road from F. M. 518 south. CITIZENS 1. Glenn Stanford, 5306 Apple Springs. Mr. Stanford informed that after attending the Drainage District meeting this morning and hearing the discussions concerning the drainage in South Corrigan and seeing an item on the agenda tonight concerning Corrigan drainage, he does not wish to speak at this time. 2. Marsha Ebeling, 5404 Groveton Lane. Mrs. Ebeling informed that she had made a presentation to the Parks Board in June and became interested in how the Board operated. Mrs. Ebeling read from a section of the Bylaws of the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Board in which At states that Board members' terms shall be for two years with no limitation on reappointment for consecutive terms. She stated that in checking with Barry Lastik, Parks Supervisor, she was informed that the current Board members have not been reappointed for over five years. Mrs. Ebeling then submitted to the Council names of citizens who she said were interested in serving on the Parks Board. 3. Mrs. Ivy, 5201 Shank Road. Mrs. Ivy requested the following things to be done on Shank Road: 1) the road needs to be resurfaced; 2) culverts need to be lowered on either side of the road for proper drainage; 3) large culvert needs to be replaced on Mykawa Road; and 4) Woody Road right-of-way needs to be cleared to Orange for an emergency escape route. Mrs. Ivy stated she would like to inform Council of the following: 1) no one from the City came to get the residents out on the day of the fire; 2) she has reported very strong odors coming from the Solvents and Chemicals and these odors are burning to the eyes, nose and throat; and 3) she has complained about strong paint odors coming from that same business. Lastly, Mrs. Ivy questioned when and how was the waste stored in front of the Churchman's property going to be removed. City Manager DeShazer responded that he net today with members of the Texas Water Commission regarding this matter and they will be working on the removal of this waste. DOCKETED PUBLIC HEARINGS - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE PURCHASE OF COHKJNICATIONS SWITCHER AND SOFTWRRE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE MOBILE DATA TERMINALS IN THE POLICE DEPAR'MNIT Councilmember Smith informed that he feels this equipment will provide greater protection to the officer in that it allows him the use of a computer within the vehicle without going through the dispatcher. This will be a joint venture, through an interlocal agreement, with the City of Friendswood. Chief of Police..Randy Garner stated that, in essence, with this purchase we will be getting a quarter of a million dollars worth of equipment for $50,000. The interlocal agreement will have Friendswood pay all the maintenance fees for the next several years, Chief Garner informed. In general'CoumLil discussion it was pointed out that there is money in the Police Department budget to purchase this equipment. It was moved by,-Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Miller, that Staff be authorized -to proceed with the purchase of the communications switcher and the software for the operation of the mobile data terminals for the Police Department. Motion passed 4 to 0. AUTHORIZATION'" TO HAVE PROFILE SURVEY MADE FOR DRAINAGE FROM CORRIGAN SUBDIVISION NORTH TO HICKORY SLOUGH Councilmember Smith related that in corresponding with the Texas Water Rights Commission, City Staff has been informed there is no problem nor any permit required from the State to divert water from the ditch that goes through the Corrigan addition north to Hickory Slough. What is proposed is to study the feasibility of a ditch all the way from Fite Road to Hickory Slough and the feasibility of diverting that water and blocking that ditch with hand -operated gates at Fite,Road. If this program will work, Councilmember Smith stated, it will not only help South Corrigan but North Corrigan and Willowcrest as well. Councilmember Smith proposed that Council authorize an amount up to $2000 to study the feasibility of this program and stated that this price was based on information he had received from an engineering firm that had done the original work for the construction of Corrigan and has many of the necessary drawings. Councilmember Smith stated that he would be willing to work with Staff on this matter. Council discussed the possibility of using a local engineering firm, whether or not another engineering firm would be willing to do the work for that amount, and whether or not the amount should be increased. It was moved by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Weber, that Staff proceed, with the authorization of $2000.00, to have a profile survey made on the Corrigan ditch north to Hickory Slough. Motion passed 4 to 0. NEW BUSINESS APPOINTMENT Off' MEMBERS TD THE PARK HOARD FOR A TWD -YEAR TERM It was moved by Councilmember Wolff, seconded by Councilmember Smith, that this item be placed on a future agenda. Motion passed 4 to 0. ADJUSTMENT IN SICK PAY FOR GLENN STANFORD Council discussed with Glenn Stanford the amount of accumulated sick pay he was paid at the time of his retirement. Mr. Stanford stated that the accumulated sick leave was earned at the time he was Police Chief but that he was paid for it at the pay rate of Captain and he felt that the $576.00 difference was due him. Acting City Manager Jim DeShazer informed that, in obtaining an opinion from the City Attorney, Section 143.045 of the Local Government provides that compensation for accumulated sick time shall be calculated at the highest pay classification of such person in the last six (6) months; therefore, Mr. Stanford: was paid in that manner at the time of his retirement. It was moved by Councilmember Wolff, seconded by Councilmember Weber, that Glenn Stanford be paid the $576.00 that he feels is due him.i' Motion passed 4 to 0. MEETING WAS RECESSED AT 9:04 P. M. MEETING RECONVENED AT 9:14 P.M. COUNCILMEhBER DAVID SMITH WAS ABSENT FROM THE CHAMBERS AT THIS TIME NEW BUSINESS (CONTINUED) DETERMINING CHARGES FOR CONNECTIONS TO WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS OF THE CITY There was a general discussion between Council and City Staff regarding the variation from one subdivision to another in City time and City forces when making water and sewer taps. It was the consensus of the Council that the City Manager study this matter further and bring a recommendation back to Council.. CITY POLICY ON COMMERCIAL TRASH PICKUP Councilmember Miller informed that this item was placed on the ag@hda U&vause' a complaint he had received from a business owner, who expressed h"18.,Ctucern liver` the fact that he would be charged a heavy commercial trash pickup fee when he has debris such as grass clippings, tree limbs and brush to be picked up at his businesses; and that homeowners with the same type of debris are not being charged. Councilmember Miller stated he feels in this case the business owner is being penalized for cleaning up around his businesses, making the. area more attractive. In general discussion it was mentioned that the business owner was not charged the fee for this heavy commercial trash pickup and it was suggested that the City Manager review cases such as this type because similar situations should warrant similar results. DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC WORKS PROGRESS Council had a lengthy discussion with the City Manager concerning the public works department and the shortage of employees in that department. Different avenues for solving this problem were discussed and it was generally agreed that the salaries should be competitive to keep good personnel. Council recognized from the audience residents on Longherridge Street who had written the City Council concerning their drainage problem on Longherridge Street. City Manager DeShazer informed Council of the schedule for moving, into Longherridge, the piece of machinery necessary to do the drainage work and assured them that the work will be done. F -TINTS -F-17, The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P. M. Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this z; day of 4J A.D., 1990. 41 04 Mayor ATTEST: City S retary 191