THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009

PUBLIC HEARING & SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING

6:00 PM

 

1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Robin Border called the City of Hilshire Village Special 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 Shannon Whiting, Edward Davis and Bill Bristow. Council Member Cheryl Wolfe was absent.

 

2. CITIZENS COMMENTS: Paul Maddock, # 8 Hilshire Oaks, stated there is a problem at the entrance. The problem was caused by the repaving at Ridgeley because the ground is now soft. He said the problem was on the City’s property.

 

Helen DiBona, # 5 Hilshire Oaks, stated the runoffs from the subgrade are going to deteriorate Ridgeley Road before its time. She stated adding asphalt to the sides may not solve the drainage problem caused by the Ridgeley construction. She stated Ridgeley Road should have been completed to engineering standards and not the responsibility of Hilshire Oaks residents.

 

Council recessed the Council Meeting at 6:08 PM.

 

The Public Hearing was started at 6:08 PM.

 

3. DISCUSSION:

 

3.1 The City’s Proposed 2009 total Rollback Tax Rate of $0.552646/$100 an increase of $0.024051 versus the 2008 rate of $0.528595/$100 valuation for 2009

 

CITIZENS COMMENTS/PUBLIC FORUM: None

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS: None

 

The Public Hearing was closed at 6:15 PM.

 

The Council Meeting reconvened at 6:15 PM.

 

3.2 2010 General Fund and Utility Fund Budget:

 

Mayor Border went over the garbage fee stating it had been reduced a fraction from the last meeting. He stated if the City decides to charge the residents the rate per house per month would be approximately $15.00. Mayor Border stated per Council’s request the budget now includes payroll taxes for the retirement fund. He stated water rates will be going up considerably. Council Member Davis stated there was a segment on the news last night regarding the fact that the City of Houston was raising water rates and this would cause Hilshire Village to raise its water rates. Mayor Border stated the City needs to generate a fund to replace the City’s infrastructure. The fund needs to be at least $55,000 a year.

 

 

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

 

4.1 A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Castro to approve an ordinance amending FYE 2009 Budget, seconded by Council Member Whiting. Mayor Border stated City Secretary Blevins prepared the worksheet to balance the budget. In the first section all items had previously been approved by Council for payment. In the second section the money was received in the prior year so the money will be transferred from retained earnings. In the Utility Account Council also approved all invoices which create an increase in the budget. City Secretary Blevins stated after the audit the budget will most likely need to be amended again. A vote was taken to approve the motion to approve an ordinance amending FYE 2009 Budget and the vote passed unanimously.

 

OUT OF ORDER:

 

4.4 A motion was made by Council Member Bristow to authorize AAA Asphalt Paving, Inc. to perform repairs to the pavement at Hilshire Oaks Court and Ridgeley Drive in the amount of $4,404, seconded by Council Member Davis. Mayor Pro Tem Castro stated she was confused by the Hilshire Oak’s citizen’s comments. She stated Council had already explained the drainage issue would be fixed under warranty. She thought the home owners had agreed to pay a portion of the repairs. Mayor Pro Tem Castro stated Council already agreed AAA’s quote was the best method to use and the City would use the Ridgeley Beautification Funds to fund one half of the project. She was opposed to the City paying the full amount because eventually the new construction would compact itself. Council Member Bristow said he would like to hear some more alternatives and table this until the next meeting. Council Member Whiting thought there was going to be a contribution from the home owners and thought the citizens had already agreed the AAA contract would be the best solution.

 

Helen DiBona said the residents thought this should be a City project because it affects the whole City. The citizens had said they would pay $100 a household but they worried about being held liable for the work. They were also concerned these repairs would not fix the problem. Helen DiBona stated she could not get answers from the City’s engineer. She stated AAA had told her these improvements will aid in the drainage situation but would not resolve the issue.

 

Council Member Davis stated the road was engineered and built correctly. Mayor Border suggested this item be tabled.

 

A motion was made by Council Member Bristow to table the repairs at Hilshire Oaks Court and Ridgeley Drive, seconded by Council Member Davis. A vote was taken to table the motion to make repairs at Hilshire Oaks and the vote passed unanimously.

 

Bill Chesney, # 3 Hilshire Oaks, stated he also does not think there is a solution at this time. He said Ridgeley Road was widened. Bill Chesney said he would help with the contribution so a solution can be achieved.

 

4.2 A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Castro to authorize Severn Trent to perform a water valve inventory and assessment per Severn Trent’s proposal for time and material not to exceed $5,000, seconded by Council Member Davis. After discussion Council decided the work was important and needed to be done. A vote was taken to approve the motion to authorize Severn Trent to perform a water valve inventory and assessment not to exceed $5,000 and the vote passed unanimously.

 

4.3 A motion was made by Council Member Whiting to authorize HDR/CMI to update water valve data and mapping, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro. Mayor Border stated HDR/CMI would do the mapping for $1,480.00. A vote was taken to approve the motion to authorize HDR/CMI to update the water valve data and mapping and the vote passed unanimously.

 

4.5 A motion was made by Council Member Whiting to approve an ordinance establishing 2008 tax year and each subsequent tax year a homestead exemption, seconded by Council Member Bristow. Mayor Border said this is adding the words “subsequent tax year” into the ordinance so the City does not have to approve an ordinance every year unless the City wants to change the exemption. A vote was taken to approve the motion to approve an ordinance establishing 2008 tax year and each subsequent tax year a homestead exemption and the vote passed unanimously.

4.6 A motion was made by Council Member Whiting to approve an ordinance establishing 2008 tax year and each subsequent tax year a disabled exemption, seconded by Council Member Davis. Mayor Border said this motion was the same as the homestead exemption. A vote was taken to approve the motion to approve an ordinance establishing 2008 tax year and each subsequent tax year a disabled exemption and the vote passed unanimously.

                                               

4.7 A motion was made by Council Member Davis to authorize payment of Lopez Utilities Contractor, LLC invoice in the amount of $5,200.00 for repairs to the sanitary sewer line and extra service to reconnect and add a cleanout at 8010 Burkhart, seconded by Council Member Bristow. Mayor Border stated this item was increased by $1000 because there was an additional connection on the line that needed to be connected to the new line. He authorized Lopez Utilities to do the additional work. Mayor Border stated the cleanouts are done properly. A vote was taken to approve the motion to authorize payment of Lopez Utilities’ invoice in the amount of $5,200 and the vote passed unanimously.

 

4.8 A motion was made Council Member Whiting to approve an amendment to Ordinance Number 599 to read “City Council may impose a fee for the collection of garbage, trash, recycling, yard debris, rubbish, industrial waste and junk, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro. Mayor Border stated this amendment was being changed to add recycling and yard debris so if the City wants to charge a fee for these items it can. A vote was taken to approve the motion to amend Ordinance Number 599 to read City Council may impose a fee for the collection of garbage, trash, recycling, yard debris, rubbish, industrial waste and junk and the vote passed unanimously.

5. CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION: NONE

 

6: Announcements: NONE

 

7. Adjournment: Council Member Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council Member Whiting.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                        ____________________

                                                                                                                                                                        Mayor Robin Border

 

ATTEST:

 

__________________________

Susan Blevins, City Secretary