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2005-01-24 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON JANUARY 24, 2005, AT 6:30 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS. The meeting was called to order with the following present: Mayor Mayor Pro -Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember City Manager City Attorney City Secretary Tom Reid Charles Viktorin Richard Tetens Woody Owens Larry Marcott Kevin Cole Bill Eisen Darrin Coker Young Lorfing Others in attendance: Deputy City Manager Alan Mueller; Executive Director of Community Services Nick Finan; Executive Director of Economic Development Corporation Fred Welch; Marketing Manager of P.E.D.C. Will Benson; Business Retention & Expansion Manager Karen Dickson; City Engineer Doug Kneupper; Parks & Recreation Director Rhonda Cyrus; Public Works Director Jerry Burns; Purchasing Officer Gordon Island; and Senior Planner Theresa Grahmann. PURPOSE OF HEARING — TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND TESTIMONY REGARDING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT TO TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE TO GATHER INFORMATION FOR THE CENTENNIAL/MAGNOLIA CORRIDOR PARK PROJECT. Ms. Rhonda Cyrus, Director of Parks and Recreation. STAFF REVIEW City Manager Bill Eisen stated the project was discussed with Council in prior meetings. Council was able to see how the project was developed. Next Monday is the deadline for the submittal of the grant application. On the next regular agenda, Council will be asked to approve the grant application. Parks & Recreation Director Rhonda Cyrus stated the project has really taken shape. This project will have approximately seven miles of linkage throughout the corridor, which is really impressive. Centennial Park will be linked to an Educational Nature Center, which would be connected to the Southwest Environmental Center (SWEC). The schools will be included in this process. Detention basins with trails will be a part of the project in order to have a useful recreational area. The components of the project is Page 1 of 5 —1 /242005 a proposed educational trail; storyboards will be placed in this area to promote the history of Pearland and the educational environmental assets of Pearland and the region. This would also promote migratory flying zones. Tourists will be able to read the information on the storyboards and see what migratory birds are passing through the area of Pearland. The skate park project initiated this entire project. The City is really excited to have the YMCA as a partner in this venture. Soccer fields would be placed in Centennial Park. Expansion will take place as the budget allows. Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 will allow the City to place a recreational easement along the drainage area. Softball fields will be included in Centennial Park. An outdoor learning center will also be included in the project. School curriculum will be used to help structure the area that surrounds the learning center. A basketball area and picnic facilities will also be included in the project. Senior Citizens will specifically have an area for exercise and trailing. The block grant funds will be used for this portion of the project, which includes a padded trail. A hockey rink is also an addition to the park. Some of the partners of this project include the Coppinger YMCA, Pearland Independent School District, Brazoria Drainage District No. 4, Keep Pearland Beautiful, Seagrant Program, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, Brazoria County, Pearland Historical Society, Cycling Club, Parks & Recreation Board, and the Pearland Leadership Group of 2004. A support letter has been received from the office of State Representative Glenda Dawson. CITIZEN COMMENTS Jennifer Ainsworth of the YMCA addressed Council and stated the Coppinger YMCA is in support of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant. Superintendent of Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 Mike Yost addressed Council and stated the District supports this project and will be approving some letters of support during an upcoming Wednesday meeting. The District hopes the City is successful in receiving the grant. Executive Director of Keep Pearland Beautiful Linda Cowles addressed Council and stated that during last weeks board meeting, the board members voted unanimously to support the project. Part of the Hike & Bike Fund has been pledged for part of this project. Director of the Bay Area Boy Scouts of America Roy Louris addressed Council and stated the troops were comprised of 41 Eagle Scouts this year; 17 came from the Pearland area. Each troop has to complete 100 hours in projects. This project will allow many opportunities for the scouts and everybody. Page 2 of 5 —1 /242005 Pearland Historical Society President John Mark addressed Council and stated the Historical Society is endorsing this project. This fits in with the discussion that is currently taking place in the Old Townsite Meetings. Gay Kenning of the Cycling Club stated the Cycling Club is very excited about this project. There are approximately 120 members within the club. The Cycling Club commends Ms. Cyrus in her efforts. Vice Chairman of the Parks & Recreation Board Ben Carranza addressed Council and read a letter of support from the Parks & Recreation Board: The City of Pearland is a rapidly growing community. The need for recreational opportunity is rapidly increasing due to the population explosion . The Centennial / Magnolia Corridor Park Project is one of the first corridor projects in the City to link neighborhoods together while preserving important habitat. The other key component to the grant include: • Follwing the approved Master Plan and incorporating each of the ideas. • Developing the Strong educational ties with the school district to support outdoor classroom development. • Working with numerous local partner to develop the fabric of the community through sponsorships. • Provide needed recreational opportunities for the elderly. • Providing new and needed Recreational amenities for the community. • Providing recreational opportunities for the "At Risk Students" by utilizing the appropriate tools such as a skate park. • Providing trail linkages for hike and bike trails. • This community has shown its strong support for the project by raising the matching funds through community partnerships. The Parks Board support these types of initiatives to create the overall benefits for the community. I applaud there effort to apply for matching grants to maximize the community donations. Sincerely, Roy Loris Pearland Leadership Group of 2004 Member Gordan Island addressed Council and presented a check in the amount of $2080 in support of the project. He stated each Leadership Class designs a project and the 2004 Class decided to emphasize a project regarding community, family, and enhancing the quality of life within Pearland. The Page 3 of 5 —1 /242005 funds are contributed for a statue to be placed in the park. The statue has been chosen and the check amount is presented as a contribution for its purchase. It will be located in the children's area of the Park. The statue will be a display scenery of children. Bryan Kline of Ion Design Group addressed Council and gave some background information on the grant submittal process. He stated the Pearland Community is taking a tremendous step forward. This grant is a 50/50 matching grant of $500,000 to $500,000. It will be applied for on January 31, 2005 and will be announced on July 31, 2005. A three-year time period will be given to carry out the project. This grant is dependant upon a layer commitment in regards to road projects of the City. The pledges are conditional upon the City receiving the grant. In the event that a grant is not forthcoming, those pledges would be returned to the sponsors. This is part of the Parks Master Plan and includes each of the discussed activities and sponsors that were adopted by the City of Pearland. Texas Parks and Wildlife will come by during the Spring to do a site visit and by July will have a determination. Helen Beckman, 2705 Churchill, addressed Council and stated she is a longtime supporter of the Pearland parks and trails. This is a dream come true. She has hoped for this for a long time. She congratulated Rhonda Cyrus on accomplishing it thus far. She has no doubt that this project is going to happen. She is very happy about it. She is currently the Chair of the Keep Pearland Beautiful Hike & Bike Committee. The Hike & Bike Committee has pledged $6400 for this project. Dale Pillow, 2302 Meadow Green Drive, addressed Council and stated she does grant writing and is so impressed with the amount of community support that Ms. Cyrus has been able to achieve and the amount of partners associated with the project. This is so impressive and very impressive to the authority issuing the grant. She is confident that this grant will be approved. She hopes that in the future this could possibly be extending into the Old Townsite. David Courtney, 3829 Meadow Lark Way, addressed Council and offered his support for the program. He thinks this is amiable idea. The idea of governmental entities, private entities, and public entities working together is great and should be a model for any future projects. As a west side resident, he welcomes it. COUNCIL/STAFF DISCUSSION Councilmember Tetens stated it is a great project and he is proud of Rhonda Cyrus and all the people involved with the project. This will be a great asset to the community. Page 4 of 5 —1 /242005 Councilmember Cole stated we should also get a letter from Senator Mike Jackson in support of the project. Councilmember Marcott stated a student was concerned about the Skate Park being eliminated from the project. He asked Rhonda Cyrus to confirm for the parents and students that the Skate Park is still a part of the project. Rhonda Cyrus stated without the Skate Park this project would not exist. Support letters have been signed. Councilmember Owens stated he is glad to see this taking place and commended Ms. Cyrus on doing a good job. He is glad to see the community involvement. Mayor Pro -Tem Viktorin stated he supports the project. Projects like this have a way of generating momentum. Congratulations on a job well done. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 14th day of February—, A.D., 2005. Tom Reid Mayor ATTEST: Page 5 of 5 —1/242005 THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON JANUARY 24, 2005, AT 6:30 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS. The meeting was called to order with the following present: Mayor Mayor Pro -Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember City Manager City Attorney City Secretary Tom Reid Charles Viktorin Richard Tetens Woody Owens Larry Marcott Kevin Cole Bill Eisen Darrin Coker Young Lorfing Others in attendance: Deputy City Manager Alan Mueller; Executive Director of Community Services Nick Finan; City Engineer Doug Kneupper; Public Works Director Jerry Burns; and Senior Planner Theresa Grahmann. PURPOSE OF HEARING — ABANDONMENT OF A SIXTEEN FOOT (16') UTILITY EASEMENT ON LOT 14, BLOCK 4 OF THE PINE HOLLOW ESTATES SUBDIVISION, SECTION ONE. Mr. Darrin Coker, City Attorney. STAFF REVIEW City Attorney Darrin Coker stated, as in the past, whenever the City has received a request for abandonment of a right-of-way or easement, pursuant to the City Ordinance, a Public Hearing has to be held before the Council and formally by way of Ordinance to abandon the easement or right-of-way. Mr. Darby has requested the abandonment of the sixteen -foot utility easement that runs along the side of his house. Based on the provided information, he plans to build an attached garage. As a result of this, the utilities currently in the area will be relocated. Mr. Darby has since contacted all of the utilities involved. The utilities have indicated, including the City, that there is no objection to the abandonment of the easement. Mr. Darby did not want to pay for the removal of the utilities until Council takes action on the abandonment. It is an item on tonight's Regular Meeting Agenda for consideration. CITIZEN COMMENTS: None. Page 1 of 2 — 1/242005 COUNCIL/STAFF DISCUSSION Councilmember Marcott asked if this has been presented to the Homeowner's Architectural Review Commission for determination. Craig Darby, 3805 Pine Branch Drive, addressed Council and stated the request has not been presented to the Homeowner's Architectural Review Commission. The plans are currently being drawn and prepared. He is asking for an initial commitment from Council before proceeding with the costly project. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the A.D., 2005. om Reid Mayor ATTEST: Page 2 of 2 —1 /242005 14th day of February—,