COUNCIL MEETING July 15, 2008

 

 

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

Invocation was given by Council Member Wolfe.

 

                        1.2. Present were Council Members Cheryl Wolfe, John Denninger, Shannon Whiting and Zandra Anderson. Mayor Pro Tem Connie Castro was absent. Also present were Efrain Him, P.E., of Claunch & Millers, Inc., (CMI) Engineer for the City, David Olson of Olson and Olson, Attorney for the City and Chief Gary Finkelman.

 

                        1.3. Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting of June 17, 2008: It was moved by Council Member Whiting, seconded by Council Member Anderson that the minutes be approved with changes supplied by Council Members and the Mayor. Vote was taken. Motion carried unanimously. The minutes for May will be ready for August’s Council Meeting.

 

2. CITIZENS COMMENTS: Bill Bristow, 1233 Pine Chase, has concerns regarding 5.1 and legal fees.

3. REPORTS TO COUNCIL:

 

                        3.1. Police: Chief Gary Finkelman discussed his written report to Council and citizens. Total calls for service numbered 93, including 10 alarm calls. There was a very minor accident on Glourie. A residential burglary happened in the middle of the night. The police department is working the case and it can not be discussed at this time. The Police Department is still working on the indecent exposure to a child case. They will not stop working the case until it is solved.

                        3.3. Treasurer: Financial statements were submitted in the Council packet. The City’s two T-Bills are up for renewal at the end of August. Mayor Border stated that a budget workshop needs to be scheduled. Mayor Border stated that he had worked with the City Secretary and the Treasurer to redesign the financial statements so they will be easier to read. The statements were separated by restricted and unrestricted funds. Mayor Border stated that he wants our bank charges evaluated due to excessive charges.

 

3.4. Engineers: Efrain Him of CMI gave his report regarding Ridgeley Drive Reconstruction Project. The City has ordered new electrical service for the lift station facility. On June 19, 2008, testing of the lift station was performed. A second inspection was set for July 11, 2008. Both lift stations will be run for seven days. After the new lift station has passed the seven day test the old lift station equipment will be demolished and removed.

                        Paving & Drainage Improvement (Package 3) AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc., has completed the subgrade and base course work on Mallie Court and the segment of Ridgeley Drive from Burkhart to Wirt Road. The final 1 1/2 –inch layer of asphalt surface will be laid after all three phases of the project are completed.

                        Phase II – AAA is cleaning and regrading the ditches and performing driveway culvert adjustments on Burkhart Road and Ridgeley Drive between Burkhart and Archley Drive North.

                        CMI has revised the proposed headwalls to allow better construction clearances and minimize the risk of damaging trees, while maintaining structural integrity at Channel Crossings B and C.

                        CMI recommends payment to AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc., for an amount of $222,328.31 for completion of approximately 38.55% of the work.

                        Mayor Border wanted Council’s thoughts on AAA working weekends. Council stated to let them work to get the job completed as soon as possible.

                        Council Member Anderson asked Efrain Him of CMI to look at the asphalt regarding the amount of gravel aggregate being used.

                        Council Member John Denninger asked why CMI installed culverts between Tribble and Denkins lots. Efrain Him stated the culverts were installed due to safety issues; the ditch was too deep. Efrain stated that a change order was issued by Mayor Border. Council Member John Denninger wanted to know who could make a change order. Council Member Denninger did not understand how the change could be approved without Council’s approval. Mayor Border stated that he would place this on the Agenda for next month as an action item.

 

Out of Order:

 

                        6.1 Council Member Anderson made a motion to authorize payment to AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc., for pay Application No. 5 for work related to the Ridgeley Drive Paving & Drainage Improvements Project in the amount of $222,328.31, seconded by Council Member Denninger. A vote was taken to authorize payment to AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc., in the amount of $222,328.31 and the motion passed unanimously.

 

                        3.5: Building Official: Ted Lazarides, Building Official, had previously distributed his written report. Ted stated that there were 16 building permits issued and that he has approved a major remodeling at 1327 Glourie and one new house at 1225 Pine Chase. The culvert issue for 8213 Mallie Court has been resolved and a new driveway permit has been approved.

                        Ted Lazarides requested an increase for the inspectors that work in the City from $40.00 to $50.00 per inspection.

                        Council Member Anderson wants Ted Lazarides to sign all new construction permits.

                       

                        3.6. Mayor and Council: Mayor Border announced that Harris County Flood Control District approved partial payment of the culverts for Ridgeley Project for approximately $110,000.

Mayor Border met with Schaumburg & Polk Engineers to learn more about their company.

Mayor Border met with a group of other Mayors with Senator Dan Patrick regarding state legislature’s unfunded mandates. It was our City’s turn to host the Mayor’s luncheon. Representative Beverly Woolley was also invited to discuss state mandates.

Mayor Border met with Brad Tutnjian with Center Point to discuss the Franchise Contract that is being negotiated by Olson and Olson.

Mayor Border attended a Metro groundbreaking for light rail on the East Side of Houston. He also attended the Hurricane Preparedness Assembly, the tour of the Port of Houston, and the Village Independence Festival. Mayor Border also met with the City of Humble’s Mayor trying to set up a committee on the state mandate.

Mayor Border discussed the six inch water main break on Hickory Shadows that left Hickory Shadows without water for several hours.

 

Council Member Whiting discussed the fact that there is no change in Bridle Spur right-of-way situation.

 

Out of Order

 

4. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Council Member Denninger to approve the agenda with the exception of Ted Lazarides’ invoice and seconded by Council Member Whiting. A vote was taken to approve the Consent Agenda less Lazarides’ invoice and the motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made to approve Ted Lazarides invoice in the amount of $3357.50 to be charged to permits and $80.00 of the invoice to be charged to the Ridgeley Construction account in the Utility fund for the lift station. The vote was to taken to approve Ted Lazarides’ invoice with the changes and the motion was passed unanimously.

 

                        Council Member Anderson requested that Council address the ordinance regarding size of houses versus the size of lots next month.

 

                        3.7. HVCEFFC (Conduit bonds): City Secretary Blevins reported $2,159.11 balance in the bank.

 

                        3.8. City Secretary: A list of citizens concerns was submitted to Council. There were three new move-ins and one move-out and one move from one address to another.

City Secretary Blevins again requested copies of all emails and for Council Members to take their NIMS’ course. The City has hired Judy Allan as a part time clerk. The new clerk’s main job duties at this time are answering the phones, handling complaints and processing the permits and inspections.

 

5. DISCUSSION:

5.1 David Olson, attorney with Olson and Olson, discussed the roles and responsibilities of Council Members and the Mayor. David Olson stated that the Mayor oversees the general welfare of the City on a day to day basis and Council oversees the Mayor. Council Member Denninger said that Council gives the Mayor his duties and that they are not broad. Mayor Border stated that a problem arises from Council calling staff directly without going through the Mayor. This can cause excessive charges to the City when fee paid staff have to answer to more than one person. These conversations are also uncomfortable to the staff, not knowing to whom they should answer.

Council Member Anderson discussed the fact that her request for items to be put on the agenda is ignored. The Mayor assured Council Member Anderson that her request was not purposely left off, and he was under the assumption that he had to have the wording of the ordinance in advance before putting it on the agenda. The Mayor stated that in the future he will make every attempt to make sure all requests are put on the agenda but mistakes do happen.

 

Council recessed at 10:35 PM for a break.

 

Council reconvened at 10:50 PM.

 

                        5.2 Council decided not to discuss the Ordinance governing the size and number of drive and sidewalk crossings until next month when it will be put on the Agenda as an Action item. Mayor Border brought up a statement by David Olson that the Ordinance needs to satisfy 100% of the affected residents or have a provision to handle any variances.

 

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

                        6.2 A motion was made by Council Member Denninger to authorize an increase of $10.00 per inspection to be paid to the City’s inspectors, seconded by Council Member Anderson. A vote was taken to authorize an increase of $10.00 to be paid to the City’s inspectors and the motion was passed unanimously.

 

                        6.3 A motion was made by Council Member Anderson to authorize the increase of $15.00 per inspection charged to contractor/residents to cover the increase of expenses, seconded by Council Member Denninger. The $5.00 difference between revenue and cost is to help defer the cost of the clerk, to cover the cost of office staff answering questions and to cover the extra cost of the City’s Building Official difference in his actual cost. A vote was taken to increase inspection charges by $15.00, making the new rate $65.00 per inspection and the motion passed unanimously.

 

                        6.4 A motion was made by Council Member Anderson to authorize the change of fees for a remodel/construction to have a minimum fee of $350.00 to ensure coverage of expenses for plan checking, seconded by Council Member Whiting. A vote was taken to have a minimum fee of $350.00 for plan checking for remodel or new construction and the motion passed unanimously.

 

                        6.5 A motion was made by Council Member Anderson to approve a revised Ethics Code Ordinance, seconded by Council Member Denninger. Council Member Anderson said that she would like to delete (mother, father, children, and/or siblings) “under disclosure is required by filer”. David Olson suggests that we should use the state ethics form. A vote was taken to approve a revised Ethics Code Ordinance and the motion passed unanimously.

 

7. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS: None

 

8. ADDITIONAL CITIZENS COMMENTS: None

 

9. ANNOUNCEMENTS: None

 

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

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                        ____________________

                                                                                                                                                                        Robin S. Border, Mayor

ATTEST:

 

__________________________

Susan Blevins, City Secretary