Loading...
2005-09-19 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2005, AT 7:00 P.M., IN THE FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS. Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 7:16 p.m. with the following present: Mayor Tom Reid Mayor Pro -Tem Kevin Cole arrived at 7:35 p.m. Councilmember Richard Tetens Councilmember Woody Owens Councilmember Charles Viktorin City Manager Bill Eisen City Attorney Darrin Coker City Secretary Young Lorfing Absent: Councilmember Larry Marcott Others in attendance: Executive Director of Community Services Nick Finan; Executive Director of Economic Development Fred Welch; Police Chief J.C. Doyle; Fire Chief Paul Jamison; Public Works General Superintendent Danny Cameron; Deputy City Attorney Nghiem Doan; Fire Marshal Steve Chapman; Deputy Fire Marshal John Durham; EMS Director Jeff Sundseth; Project Director Joe Wertz; Planning Manager of Community Development Lata Krishnarao and Senior Planner Theresa Grahmann. PURPOSE OF THE MEETING: COUNCIL ACTION — RESOLUTION NO. R2005-145 — A RESOLUTION AND ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2005. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Tetens made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Owens, to approve Resolution No. R2005-145. Councilmember Tetens read Resolution No, R2005-145 reporting the results of the Special Election held on Saturday, September 10, 2005. There were 2,496 valid and legal votes cast for the Proposition: Authorizing the City of Pearland, Texas to establish a limitation ("tax freeze') of the amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on the homestead of a person who is disabled or sixty-five (65) years of age or older and receives a residence homestead exemption, as Page 1 of 6 — 9/19/2005 authorized by Article Vlll, Section 1-b (h) of the Texas Constitution, formerly known as Proposition 13. For the Proposition 2,278 91.82% Against the Proposition 203 8.18% The City Council of the City of Pearland, Texas, thereby officially and affirmatively declares that the Proposition Authorizing the City of Pearland, Texas to establish a limitation ("tax freeze") of the amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on the homestead of a person who is disabled or sixty-five (65) years of age or older and receives a residence homestead exemption, as authorized by Article VIII, Section 1-b (h) of the Texas Constitution, formerly known as Proposition 13 is approved. City Manager Bill Eisen stated there are two items on the agenda relating to the Tax Freeze. Item No. 1 is a formal acceptance by the City Council of the election results. Item No. 2 is the formal adoption of the Ordinance that implements the Tax Freeze. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Tetens, Cole, Owens, and Viktorin. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 3 to 0, with Councilmember Marcott absent. Mayor Pro -Tem Cole arrived at 7:35 p.m FIRST AND ONLY READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1229 — AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, AMENDING ARTICLE II, OF CHAPTER 28, "TAXATION" OF THE PEARLAND CODE OF ORDINANCES, BY ADDING SECTION 28.1.2 RELATING TO AN AD VALOREM TAX FREEZE FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE DISABLED OR 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Owens made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Tetens, to approve Ordinance No. 1229 on its first and only reading. City Manager Bill Eisen stated this ordinance specifies that persons eligible for the freeze that paid taxes for the 2005-2006 fiscal year would freeze for any future taxes. Mayor Pro -Tem Cole stated he was at Parent/Teacher Night at the High School. He apologized for being tardy. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Viktorin, Cole, Owens, and Tetens. Page 2 of 6 — 9/19/2005 Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, with Councilmember Marcott absent. SECOND AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1226 — AN ORDINANCE LEVYING TAXES FOR THE USE AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, AND PROVIDING FOR THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND OF THE TAXABLE YEAR 2005, AND APPORTIONING EACH LEVY FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Mayor Pro -Tem Cole made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Tetens to approve Ordinance No. 1226 on its second and final reading and moved that property taxes be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.674400/$100 valuation. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Tetens, Owens, Cole, and Viktorin. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, with Councilmember Marcott absent. SECOND AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1225 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE ADOPTING A REVISED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2005, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2006. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Viktorin made the motion, seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Cole, to approve Ordinance No. 1225 on its second and final reading. City Manager Bill Eisen stated this Ordinance provides for the adoption of the City's fiscal year budget. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Viktorin, Cole, Owens, and Tetens. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, with Councilmember Marcott absent. COUNCIL ACTION — RESOLUTION NO. 2005-144 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, CONSENTING TO DUAL CERTIFICATION OF THE CEDAR GROVE MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY (SEWER ONLY). Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Page 3 of 6 — 9/19/2005 Councilmember Viktorin made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Tetens, to approve Resolution No. R2005-144. City Manager Bill Eisen stated this relates to a mobile home park located in the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction. This particular location was overlooked when the City obtained the Certificate of Convenience and Necessity to provide utility service in all areas of the ETJ. They are asking now for a Certification so that the company that has been providing the service in this area can begin to charge for the sewer service. The City would reserve the right to serve the area and the property. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Tetens, Owens, and Viktorin. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 3 to 0, with Mayor Pro -Tem Cole and Councilmember Marcott absent FIRST AND ONLY READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 220-9 — AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, AMENDING ARTICLE Il, RATES AND CHARGES, OF CHAPTER 30, UTILITIES, OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND CODE OF ORDINANCES, AS IT MAY HAVE BEEN, FROM TIME TO TIME, AMENDED, TO AUTHORIZE THE COLLECTION OF AN ACCOUNT INITIATION FEE; HAVING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND A REPEALER CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY BECAUSE THE NEED TO REGULATE UTILITIES INURES TO THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND, THEREFORE, BEARS DIRECTLY UPON THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENRY. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Tetens made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Owens, to approve Ordinance No. 220-9 on its first and only reading. City Manager Bill Eisen stated this Ordinance would adopt a new fee associated with initiation of the utility service in the City. There would be a $10 connection fee to recover some of the costs of setting up a utility account. It would only be a one-time fee and apply only to those persons in the future to set up water and sewer services; it would not apply to any persons who already have services with the City. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Viktorin, Cole, Owens, and Tetens Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, with Councilmember Marcott absent. Page 4 of 6 — 9/19/2005 THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.045 (b) 2 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT "A REASONABLE UNFORESEEN SITUATION." COUNCIL ACTION — REGARDING THE CITY OF PEARLAND'S EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR HURRICANE RITA. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Owens made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Viktorin, to discuss Ordinance No. 1225. City Manager Bill Eisen gave an update on where the City is in regards to Hurricane Rita and as of now all information shows that there will be a direct impact on our area. He stated a meeting was held today at the Emergency Operations Center with the director and staff and also all of the department heads who play a key roll in both the actual event of an emergency itself and in the events after. Also, on September 20, 2005 there will be a meeting at County level of all Emergency Management personnel to coordinate activities and will continue to take place as more information is known. Fire Marshal Steve Chapman gave a brief presentation to show what may happen in the Pearland area as well as the Galveston area in the event of a Category Five hurricane. He stated Pearland is not in Zone C; just on the edge of it, which is close to Friendswood. This presentation and the house preparation information are on the City's website. Councilmember Owens stated that if the City distributes any flyers or handouts, it should be put on official City paper or color coded in a certain way so that the residents are aware that it is actually from the City of Pearland. Fire Marshal Steve Chapman stated the City has a subscription to Impact Weather which monitors the weather 24/7. If there are any updates or changes, Mr. Chapman is automatically paged with the update. City Manager Bill Eisen stated that the key staff would be present during the storm. Councilmember Owens asked when an announcement would be made by the School District to let residents know when school would be closing and re -opening. Mayor Reid stated that if anyone has any helpful information, they could talk with the City Manager. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION — RESOLUTION NO. R2005-140 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, Page 5 of 6 — 9/19/2005 APPROVING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE PEARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Tetens made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Owens, to approve Resolution R2005-140 on its second and final reading. City Manager Bill Eisen stated some of this is an on-going informal agreement the City has had with the School District for a while. This will put the agreement in writing and make both parties clear on it. The agreement sets aside the Junior High South Campus, which is on Bailey Road, as a back up Emergency Operation Center. The District indicated that if the building needed to be a shelter, the Red Cross could make that call. Also, the School District would make their buses available for those who may not have other means of transportation. It also indicates the District will make available vacant tracks of land so that as the clearing is being done, the debris can be dumped on the vacant sites and picked up later. This would allow the clean up process to be done quicker. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Tetens, Owens, Cole, and Viktorin. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, with Councilmember Marcott absent. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 14th day of November , 2005. ATTEST: •' � 'Yn # rte Tom Reid Mayor Page 6 of 6 — 9/19/2005