City Council Minutes

TUESDAY, June 15, 2010
REGULAR 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 Council Member Post.

1.2 Present: were Mayor Robin Border, Mayor Pro Tem Connie Castro and Council
Members Shannon Whiting, Stephanie Post, Edward Davis and Bill Bristow. Also
present were Chief Gary Finkelman, Spring Valley Police Department, Efrain Him, P.E.,
Claunch & Miller, Inc., Engineer for the City, Manisha Patel, City Treasurer and City
Attorney, David Olson, Olson & Olson. Ted Lazarides, Building Official, arrived late.

2. CITIZENS COMMENTS:

Diane Rager, 8213 Mallie Court, stated there was a congregation of homeless people
at the intersection of I-10 and Wirt Road and was wondering why they were at that
location and not at the other locations along I-10. She also reported people soliciting at
the Home Depot on I-10.

Jerry Bridges, 7915 Hilshire Green, stated several of the neighbors on his street were
upset about the appearance of the house at 7919 Hilshire Green. He stated the
shrubbery was over grown and has lots of varmints living in it. Mr. Bridges said everyone
is concerned about safety and the ability for someone to hide behind the shrubbery.

3. REPORTS TO COUNCIL:

3.1 Police: Chief Finkelman said during the month of May there was one (1) arrest for
public intoxication and one (1) burglary where a purse was stolen at Big Little School.
The Chief said regarding the homeless people at Wirt Road and I-10 the City of Houston
Police Department has jurisdiction and Spring Valley Police Department was aware of
them. The reason they are not at the other intersections along I-10 is because the other
areas are in Spring Valley’s jurisdiction and they keep them away. Chief Finkelman
stated he was not aware of the Home Depot situation and would check into it. The Chief
also stated they had had DeltAlert (emergency notification company) hooked up at the
Police Station and it is a very useful tool in case it is needed.

3.2 Fire Commissioner: Mayor Border reported there have been two (2) meetings
since the last Council meeting. The first was a regular fire commissioner meeting where
99% of the discussion was on the budget. The second was a Mayor’s workshop to
discuss the budget. Mayor Border stated the budget was presented with a two (2)
percent increase in operation and a lower than zero (0) percent in capital. He said there
is no money being put away for new equipment. The Mayor said the problem the other
Villages have with approving this type of budget is they are not able to give their own
City employees these types of benefits and increases.

3.3 City Secretary: City Secretary Blevins reported the Building Official went by the
Hilshire Green residence and reported the yard does look neglected but there are other
yards that look the same around the Village. However, he stated there was a fence
across the front of the yard made out of chicken wire and that was against the City’s
ordinances. City Secretary Blevins reported the water bills were mailed out. She stated
the cost on the Farris lawsuit to date was $28,388.79. City Secretary Blevins thanked
Mr. Lyons for his contribution of mailing the VIF contributions letters. She also thanked
Council Member Bill Bristow for trimming the trees and Mayor Border for pressure
washing the sidewalk at the City’s office. City Secretary Blevins explained the consent
Agenda stating the amount for Amegy Bank needed to be changed from $115.63 to
$203.89. Council Member Whiting said correspondence needed to go out reminding the
residents the reason why their water bills have increased. Mayor Border requested
Council Member Whiting to prepare an email to be distributed. City Secretary reported
she had contacted Harris County Flood Control District regarding Mr. Rains, # 9 Pine
Creek, request to clean the creek behind his house. She reported at this time HCFCD
has not been able to get hold of Mr. Rains to get into his back yard.

OUT OF ORDER

3.5 Treasurer’s Report: Manisha Patel presented the financial statements. She
stated she was working with Amegy Bank in regards to transferring the $200,000 sitting
in the checking account that belongs to Metro into a CD. Mayor Border stated the City
needed to be aware that the City of Houston is drastically increasing the waste water
fees. Spring Valley received their increase on sewer and their rates almost doubled.
City Secretary Blevins said she had done a comparison and if Hilshire Village gets the
same type of increases it would be devastating. Mayor Border said the City of Hilshire
would have to pass on any increases to the residents.

3.6 Engineer’s Report: Efrain Him of HDR/CMI stated in reference to the City Hall
emergency generator project that he had been talking with Ted Lazarides regarding
using a residential generator instead of a commercial generator to save money. Efrain
stated he had one (1) quote and would bring it to Council next month after he received
additional quotes. Efrain reminded Council that Dabhi Engineering Associates invoice
for $1,327.50 will need to be paid next month. Council discussed the needs of the City
and what kind of generator was needed.

Efrain stated the Texas Department of Rural Affairs is in the process of preparing the
contract agreement for the Pine Chase Glourie drainage project. The funding allocation
for the City under this program is $204,682. Mayor Border stated he would like to see
the work done immediately before another hurricane hits our area.

Efrain stated the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Conservation Office
(EECBG) has allocated $23,030 funding for the City with no cost sharing requirements.

4. ACTION ITEMS (CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION):

4.1 No motion was made authorizing Severn Trent to make repairs to the Cities
water line at the corner of Westview and Bridle Spur. Mayor Border stated the
repairs were not started as anticipated and Severn Trent did not expect it to be a
complicated job. City Secretary Blevins said she would keep Council informed of the
situation.

OUT OF ORDER

3.4 Building Official: Ted Lazarides stated there were eight (8) permits issued and
twenty-five (25) inspections completed in the month of May. He stated that he had
reviewed the house plans for 1241 Archley and had gone over all inconsistencies and
had the home owner initial the corrections. Ted Lazarides recommended that Council
give approval to the Gordy’s to pull a permit.

4.2 A motion was made by Council Member Bristow to approve the construction and
drainage plans at 1241 Archley, seconded by Council Member Davis. Efrain Him stated
he did not anticipate any problems with the drainage plans for 1241 Archley; however,
he was still waiting on the paperwork from Centerpoint releasing the encroachment.
Efrain recommended that Council give a conditional approval to the 1241 Archley
residents.

David Olson said that the burden falls on the home owner to make sure they are not
encroaching on the aerial easements. He recommended that Council approve the
permit conditionally upon the City’s Engineer’s written approval after he receives
CenterPoint’s release.

Council Member Bristow amended his motion to read “to approve the construction and
drainage plans at 1241 Archley conditionally upon written approval by the City
Engineer”, seconded by Council Member Davis. A vote was taken to approve the
motion approving the construction and drainage plans at 1241 Archley
conditionally upon written approval by the City Engineer. The vote passed
unanimously.

4.3 A motion was made by Council Member Whiting to approve the waiver of
irrigation installation permit fees for residents who are authorized to install sprinkler
systems to include the watering of the newly planted trees and plants in the Ridgeley
Drive cross-culverts, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Castro. Council Member Whiting
stated the question came up last month if watering the plants voids the City’s warranty
with Trees for Houston. She spoke to Trees for Houston and they said it would not void
the contract. Council Member Whiting stated this waiver of irrigation permit was only for
the extension of water sprinkler system in the City’s culverts. A vote was taken to
approve the motion to waive the irrigation installation permit fees for residents
who are authorized to install sprinkler systems to include the watering of the
newly planted trees and plants in the Ridgeley Drive cross-culverts. The vote
passed unanimously.

The Building Official was excused at this time.

The City Engineer was excused at this time.

4.4 A motion was made by Council Member Davis to direct the City’s Fire
Commissioner to vote for the appointment of an Interim Fire Chief at the Village Fire
Department, seconded by Council Member Post. The Mayor stated the auditors were
hired to do a “head to toe” audit on the Village Fire Department and the question came
up on how they are going to send an auditor in without any power. It was suggested the
person doing the audit from McGrath and Associates take over as interim Fire Chief.
The person McGrath chose to do the audit was a Fire Chief for a fire department that
served seven (7) cities. Mayor Border stated if Dave Berousek, from McGrath &
Associates, was voted to become the interim Fire Chief then Chief Poirier would “ride
down” and assume his prior duties.

Council Member Bristow questioned how the interim chief would have his expenses
paid. Mayor Border stated the expenses would be paid out of the audit cost and he
would be living in a motel and would be flown home once a month. Council Member
Bristow asked if this person was qualified to be the chief and the Mayor’s answer was
“yes”.

Council Member Post stated she did not think it was a good idea to have the head of an
agency be the same person that is auditing the agency. Mayor Border said the only
reason they were considering this solution was to give the auditor the power to get the
right answers. Council Member Post thought this created a conflict of interest and
wanted to know if this was standard procedure. Mayor Border reminded Council
Member Post the position was temporary and it was not a permanent position.

Council Member Whiting said she thought it would be an independent audit because the
interim chief would not be applying for the new chief position. Mayor Border stated if
David Berousek was not the interim chief there would be an excellent chance he would
not be in the position to get all the information that was needed to do the audit.

Council Member Davis thought it was an innovative idea. He thought it was a perfectly
good idea and would keep the animosity away from the newly hired fire chief.

A vote was taken to approve the motion to direct the City’s Fire Commissioner to
vote for the appointment of an Interim Fire Chief at the Village Fire Department.
The vote passed 4-1. Mayor Pro Tem Castro, Council Members, Davis, Bristow,
and Whiting voted for the motion and Council Member Post against the motion.

4.5 CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION: NONE

The City Attorney was excused at this time.

5. DISCUSSION ITEMS:

5.1 Mayor Border invited everyone to the Fire Department meeting on Monday where
they will discuss the budget.

6. REPORTS TO COUNCIL

6.1 Mayor and Council:

Mayor:     NONE

Whiting:
       Bridle Spur: The resident at 1306 Bridle Spur has turned in their release of lien.
Council Member Whiting stated she has repeatedly told the Bridle Spur residents even if
the City accepts the dedication of the Bridle Spur Road it does not mean the street
would be repaired immediately.

          Ridgeley Improvement Committee: Council Member Whiting stated the
Committee was working on a list of shrubs to purchase.

7. CONSENT AGENDA:

7.1 A motion was made by Council Member Whiting to accept the consent agenda,
including the change in disbursement to Amegy Bank from $115.63 to $203.89, including
Minutes of the Council Meeting of May 18, 2010 and the Special Council Meeting of
June 2, 2010, seconded by Council Member Davis. A vote was taken to approve the
motion accepting the consent agenda including the change in disbursement to
Amegy Bank from $115.63 to $203.89, including Minutes of the Council Meeting of
May 18, 2010 and the Special Council Meeting of June 2, 2010. The vote passed
unanimously.

8. ADDITIONAL CITIZENS COMMENTS:   NONE

9. ANNOUNCEMENTS: NONE

10. ADJOURNMENT: Council Member Davis moved to adjourn, seconded by all of
Council. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 P.M.



       ____________________
       Mayor Robin Border
ATTEST:

__________________________
Susan Blevins, City Secretary