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2010-03-29 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010, AT 7:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS. Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 7:46 p.m. with the following present: Mayor Tom Reid Mayor Pro -Tem Felicia Kyle Councilmember Woody Owens Councilmember Scott Sherman Councilmember Kevin Cole City Manager Bill Eisen City Attorney Darrin Coker City Secretary Young Lorfing Absent: Councilmember Steve Saboe. COUNCIL ACTION — RESOLUTION NO. R2010-37 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAM. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Sherman made the motion, seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Kyle, to approve Resolution No. R2010-37. Mayor Reid called a recess at 7:48 p.m. Mayor Reid called the Special Meeting back to order at 7:55 p.m. City Manager Bill Eisen stated, last Monday night, the City Council considered and approved a Resolution authorizing submission of a Grant for the Victim Assistance Program in the Police Department. At that time, the material you were provided included the incorrect Resolution which was for a different type of grant to a different agency. We are requesting that you approve the appropriate Resolution for this particular Grant Program. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Owens, Sherman, Kyle, and Cole. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, with Councilmember Saboe absent. Page 1 of 4 — 3/29/2010 COUNCIL ACTION — RESOLUTION NO. R2010-45 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE GULF COAST WATER AUTHORITY EXPRESSING THE CITY'S DESIRE TO EXTEND A WATER PURCHASE OPTION AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF 10 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Owens made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Sherman, to approve Resolution No. R2010-45. City Manager Bill Eisen stated as Council is aware the City has an agreement option to purchase through the Gulf Coast Water Authority ten million gallons a day in water from the Brazos River. The option period expires later this year and under the terms of that agreement, it cannot be renewed again unless we enter into a new agreement which provides for that contract to be extended with another renewal period. The City received notification last Friday from the Gulf Coast Water Authority that they would like to have from us a letter expressing intent to go forward with an extension or a new contract providing at least an additional six year time period. At that time, they did indicate to us that they were anticipating some changes in costs under the terms of the agreement. At this point, Council consideration of authorizing going ahead with a letter would not imply that we necessarily agree with those dollar figures; we are just trying to meet the time period deadline that we were given by the Gulf Coast Water Authority just to get a letter to them indicating that the City is interested in pursuing the additional six year option period. Assuming that Council moves ahead with sending a letter, we would want to look very carefully at these proposed dollar figures to determine how they were calculated and make sure that the City is being treated equitably in relation to the other communities that are members of the Gulf Coast Water Authority. It is recommended that Council authorize the Mayor to send a letter expressing interest in moving ahead. Mayor Pro Tem Kyle wished to clarify that we are just expressing an interest and not committing to do anything at this point. City Manager Bill Eisen stated yes, that is correct. There would be a formal agreement which would come to Council for consideration at a later date. Discussion ensued with Council, City Manager Bill Eisen, Finance Director Claire Bogard and Assistant City Manager Jon Branson. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Cole, Kyle, Sherman, and Owens. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, with Councilmember Saboe absent. Page 2 of 4 — 3/29/2010 COUNCIL ACTION — RESOLUTION NO. R2010-46 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, SUPPORTING THE CONSTELLATION PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA). City Council. Mayor Pro -Tem Kyle made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Sherman, to approve Resolution No. R2010-46. Councilmember Sherman stated this is modeled after a Resolution passed by League City. The current Federal Budget proposes the end of the Constellation Program. Mayor Parker and the City of Houston and cities around the region have banded together because of the economic impact this will have on our region. We could lose anywhere between four and seven thousand high tech jobs and it could be an estimated impact in the region of five hundred sixty million dollars. We have a lot of people who probably work at NASA who live in the City but more so, we have a lot of contractors who work in the City who will be affected by this. He stated he thought it would be good for the City of Pearland to get in line with our neighboring cities and voice our support for the program and our opposition for the cuts. Mayor Pro Tem Kyle stated, the research being done in this program is the type of research that keeps us as a leader in the world not just in our own region. If we lose this program, no telling how far we will set back ourselves internationally. In this market, where China is flexing its muscle and the European Union is trying to determine what it is doing, we as a county need to stay at the top of the heap when it comes to technological advancement. This is one of those programs that is not worth cutting and we would lose too much economically and internationally if we do cut it. Councilmember Sherman stated if Council does pass this Resolution, he would like to ask that the Resolution be presented to our congressional delegation. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Owens, Sherman, Kyle, and Cole. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, with Councilmember Saboe absent. OTHER BUSINESS: Council adjourned into Executive Session under Texas Government Code at 8:10 p.m. to discuss the following: Page 3 of 4 — 3/29/2010 EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 1. SECTION 551.074 — PERSONNEL MATTERS — REGARDING THE ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE CITY MANAGER. City Council. NEW BUSINESS (CONTINUED): Council returned from Executive Session at 9:27 p.m. COUNCIL ACTION — REGARDING THE ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE CITY MANAGER. City Council. No action taken by Council. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m. Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 12th day of April, A.D., 2010. ATTEST: ,--)" R" om Reid Mayor o ng 1-4667TAi VY Secretary ;r. �u Page 4 of 4 — 3/29/2010