Tuesday, August 4, 2009

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

6:00 P.M.

 

 

1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Robin Border called the City of Hilshire Village Council Meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. at 8301 Westview, Houston, Texas 77055.

Invocation was given by Mayor Pro Tem Castro.

 

1.2. Present were Mayor Robin Border, Mayor Pro Tem Connie Castro and Council Members Cheryl Wolfe, Edward Davis and Shannon Whiting. Council Member Bristow was absent.

 

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

 

2.1 A motion was made by Council Member Whiting to make repairs to the sewer line at 8014 Burkhart, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro. The Mayor explained that the City has been making repairs to the section of sewer line at 8014 Burkhart for years. After looking at the camera of the pipes, the joints were found to be bad. There is root intrusion on every joint. Either a spot fix for approximately $1200.00 to $1400.00 to fix each joint or we can replace 67.7 feet. The Mayor recommended that the City replace the sewer line with either quote from Severn Trent or from CMI/HDR. Council Member Davis and Council Member Wolfe agreed that the pipe should be replaced using the low bid from CMI/HDR. Mayor Pro Tem Castro suggested we should have a “not to exceed price” since there was not a written quote from CMI/HDR. Council Member Wolfe asked why CMI/HDR was less expensive than Severn Trent. The Mayor stated CMI/HDR was using a method of pipe bursting to make the repairs and Severn Trent was replacing the sewer line and they would have to cut the driveway and then replace the driveway. Council Member Whiting amended her motion to read for possible action on repairs to sewer line at 8014 Burkhart not to exceed $5,000.00, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro. A vote was taken to approve repairs to the sewer line at 8014 Burkhart not to exceed $5,000.00, the motion passed unanimously.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

 

Mayor Border advised Council that Grady Farris had filed a lawsuit against Mayor Robin Border, the City’s Building Official, Ted Lazarides, the City’s Engineer, HDR/Claunch and Miller, and other residents of Hilshire Village. He stated that the City needs to have a special meeting to discuss this subject in regards to who will be representing the City and who would be paying for this representation. A meeting was set for August 7, 2009 at 6:00 PM.

 

Council recessed at 7:00 P.M.

 

Council reconvened at 7:45 P.M.

 

 

 

3. DISCUSSION ITEMS:

 

3.1 FYE 2010 Budget for General Fund, Restricted Fund and Utility Fund.

Mayor Border went over the budget line for line answering questions and concerns by Council. Concerns discussed included the ongoing shortage of revenues versus increasing expenses. Possible solutions discussed included increased water rates, additional fees assessed for garbage pickup, and higher tax rates. Council Member Wolfe discussed her concern that the appraised values of some properties have not been updated by HCAD to reflect recent construction projects.

 

4. Adjournment: Council Member Whiting made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by all Council Members.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                        ____________________

                                                                                                                                                                        Mayor Robin Border

 

ATTEST:

 

__________________________

Susan Blevins, City Secretary